Do you see GOD in the DiaGnOsis?

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Philippians 4:4 ESV

Thank you, sweet friends, for allowing me the time to take care of family matters. Death is never easy-sudden or expected. This journey has been complicated and layered yet simple and straight forward. The bottom line is God has been, is, and will be glorified through each aspect. I want each of you to know your prayers and extension of love is greatly appreciated. There is a lengthy list of people who have gone above and beyond which I will forever be grateful.

Life lessons come in unusual ways. The Lord has been conveying lots of wisdom this past month-some of it I have been willing to receive and some-well let’s just say I am processing it. 😊

Lately, the word DiaGnOsis has been very present. You know that term easily defined as, “the identification of the nature of an illness or problem by examination of the symptoms” according to Webster. Permit me to share:

It is stage 4 cancer, and we need to do more tests.
Their condition from Covid is now fatal.
Good news-we can treat this ailment and restore your health.
The diagnosis 2 ½ years ago was conveyed: Limited lifespan.
It is not a sprain-it is a spiral fracture.
Hey! This is repairable and not as costly as I once predicted.
You have a condition which doesn’t respond to pain medication.
Super-you can ring the bell-the cancer is no longer present!
On closer examination, we have detected serious issues.
Fill in: _______________________________________________

We are continually given a diagnosis for many things in life. Good, bad, or ugly: the choice is to discover GOD in the midst. It is not always easy to see the Lord when receiving devastating and/or unwanted news. On the flipside, many times we forget to realize the Almighty Father is also in the middle of the good analysis as well.

God has allowed occurrences lately to force me to sit quietly. Being the “why bug” that I am, I have tried to identify the reason for the recent events. It seems the answer is basically to “look for Him”. Discover Him in my sorrow, physical pain, blessings, overwhelming joy, worship, conversations, family, interactions, work, commute, travel, cleaning, struggles, laughter, marriage, friendships, etc. WHY? Because I need to remember He is my Commander in Chief and Christ Jesus is my Kinsman Redeemer. No matter the situation or circumstance, God has clearly conveyed the true diagnosis: I AM GREATLY LOVED!

How do you face analysis in your life? Do you search for GOD in the DiaGnOsis?

In Philippians, Paul taught us the importance of seeing GOD in all things. He modeled the posture the Lord wants us to embrace in good times and in bad: count it all as joy. While in prison and before his execution, Paul wrote, “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” (Philippians 1:12-14 ESV).

Our obedience and attitude of faith helps us see GOD in everything regardless of the analysis. This is so evident in the life of Paul. He chose to cling to God’s assignment no matter the cost because he embraced the glorious outcome. Beaten, bruised, and knowing execution was around the corner, Paul continued witnessing and professing how the Lord was using every minute of his life as a testimony and encouragement for others. Regardless of the worldly DiaGnOsis, he saw the hand of the Lord in it all. WOW! Just WOW!

Paul’s life is a challenge for us to see GOD in all things and continue the race before us regardless.

I think I need an attitude of faith adjustment.

What about you?

May GOD be glorified in all that we do so others will know the one true Lord.

September 15, 2021 0

How’s Your Heart?

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27

Are you troubled? Has anything recently stirred fear in your life? Does the unknown future often ignite anxious feelings? What about the presidential election? How are you handling the wait?

Life has been a little “out-of-control” for me lately. 2020 has continued to deliver chaos and the unexpected. The year has been filled with all types of emotions, experiences, and newness. Yet I have noticed a peace and flexibility which I can only account as God.

PEACE-what a beautiful word. Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Hebrews 12:14. Imagine our nation today if we each choose to have peace within our hearts? Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7. Oh, to have a heart filled with peace and an obedient spirit to bring everything to the throne room of God.

So, let me throw you a curveball today…How’s your heart? Do you have peace within? Could there be anything in life worth disturbing this? What about the sins of our nation?

God captured my attention this week as I began studying Micah chapter one. Micah is known as a minor prophet who was used by God to warn Israel and Judah (both the northern and southern Jewish nations) of the coming judgment of God. In this chapter, Micah’s heart is revealed. He is troubled immensely by the sins of his neighbors and mourns for their judgment and unremorseful spirits.

BAM! This pierced my soul. Why? Because how often am I concerned about the sins of my neighbors? My own wavering mess is usually all I can focus upon. But Micah loved his neighbor deeply. His heart broke for their choices to follow a sinful pathway and was bold enough to allow God to expand his heart beyond his own life.

I had to ask myself, “How’s your heart?” Unfortunately, I found it self-centered and limited to the box I put it in. I had to ask, “Why doesn’t my heart break for the choices of our nation? How deep is God’s love within me? Have I allowed Him to penetrate my love for others the way Micah displayed in Scripture?”

Father God, we are a nation desperate for You. Thank you, Lord for opening my eyes. It is devastating the unrest and sin plaguing our country. Help us be more concerned for those in our world. Let us be bold in Your love and reach out to those around us. Use us, Oh God, to be Your light in the darkness. May we be concerned about the peace within every heart.

How’s your heart?

They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. 1 Peter 3:11

November 4, 2020 0

How to Handle Delays

Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 1 Peter 5:6 NIV

Hi friends! I am delighted you have stopped by today. Refining has been an amazing journey over the past sixteen months. It went from simple reflection on paper to small groups, retreats, online classes, Zoom meetings, one-on-one mentoring, Facebook, Instagram, and a blog. WOW! I am still in awe from God’s amazing work without delay.

As I reflect upon the journey, I can’t help but think about God’s timing. Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven”. The Lord’s timetable is perfect yet I often find myself existing elsewhere. I frequently have to remind myself of Isaiah 55:8, “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord.

Timing is a tricky issue. There are times we need to speed it up, slow it down, or even just wait. WAIT? Yes, that is a word I don’t like to hear either, especially in regards to my personal agenda. How often do you like to hear the words, “Sorry friend, there has been a delay in your plans” or “You will have to exhibit patience because this is impossible currently”? Urgh! My initial response-Are you serious?

What about you? How do you respond to delays? Is patience your strong suit? Are you the poster child for waiting? Most people try to avoid delays. They take a different pathway to work to avoid a school zone or travel outside of peak hours to avoid traffic. I am guilty of taking matters into my own hands when I believe my time waiting is deemed as wasteful.

2 Ways to Respond to Delays

Remain faithful and rely on God’s timing: What would you say if I told you our delays could be part of God’s plans? The Bible is filled with examples. Remember when David was anointed as a king? He had to wait 13 years before he was truly anointed. How did he respond? David remained faithful and loyal to the Lord. He trusted God’s timing.

The Lord has great plans. In our journey, He will expect us to exercise endurance and perseverance when our agenda is delayed. We can allow waiting to build our character. God has devised a reason for the postponement. Although the time lag may seem a waste, the Father will continue to stand beside us. It is up to us to permit God to continue in the driver seat and direct our pathway. Delays are a test of faith. They quickly reveal the ruling authority over our lives.

Take matters into your own hands: Although God doesn’t expect us to sit back and do nothing, He does want us to remain committed to His ways. For generations, we seem to struggle to be compliant. Think about Abraham. He decided he should get ahead of God to have a child.

We live in an instantaneous world where things come quickly-fast food, 2-day shipping, messaging, texting, quick pay, and the list continues. Why would we tolerate delays? They are a nuisance and we have been conditioned to believe we are better off taking matters into our own hands than waiting. So, jump on a solution and avoid waiting. Life is too short.

But God quickly reminds us of the test-the delay exam-Who do you truly honor? Are you more loyal to man’s ways or God’s direction? Do you fear being seen as a failure in the world’s eyes or do you really rely on God and His timing? Can you find joy in waiting? Do you have what it takes to be dedicated and constant in your faith when God seems to be dragging His feet? Are you devoted to fighting back those selfish agendas and committed to resist the enemy’s schemes?

Just food for thought…How do you handle delays? Better yet, how will you handle it the next time it rears its ugly head?

I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, And in His word do I hope. Psalm 130:5

October 24, 2020 0