The Easy Button

I love that commercial where individuals find themselves in tough situations and get themselves out by pushing the easy button. Man, I can't count the number of times that I wished for an easy button. When my husband had the nerve to ask for peanut butter cookies at 10:00 at night as though I really want to trudge down to the kitchen and put them in the oven, when I bounced a check yet again and my husband reminded me yet again to tell him when I wrote a check so that he could transfer funds from one account to another, when I was teaching Sophomore Comp. & Lit. my back was turned to the class while writing on the board and a student walked in late wearing a Spiderman mask and matching web attachment but acted as though he didn't know why the entire class erupted in laughter, when my youngest cut up in church and upon her removal screamed at the top of her lungs, because she didn't want the punishment that she knew would ensue, I thought the use of an easy button was highly appropriate at times like those. I liked the idea of an easy button, because it would have totally taken me out of any messy and uncomfortable situation where I would have had to crucify my flesh, where I would have had to think and reevaluate what it was I was doing and why, and where I would have been forced to question if my present set of actions were valid. I would have been avoiding situations that I must face and endure for my own good to bring about necessary changes in my thoughts, attitudes, actions, and speech. But rather than go through this, I could just press a button... a button of escape...a way out of the hot seat. It is tempting, isn't it? Imagine if an easy button had been in existence throughout the Bible. The Bible would surely tell a different story. We wouldn't have to "...look to the hills from which cometh our help..." We would all just look for the easy button. What if Moses and Aaron had an easy button when they went to Egypt to discuss with Pharoah allowing the Israelites to make a three day journey into the desert to worship their God. Moses and Aaron could have just hit the button and deliverance could have immediately come to the Israelites from Egypt? There would have been no plagues, no Passover, no crossing of the Red Sea, nor would there have been an opportunity for the Israelites to see the miraculous works of their God that would lead to their growing trust in him. What if King Nebuchadnezzar had an easy button at his disposal after Daniel interpreted his dream? Although, it would have saved him from living like a wild animal for seven years, it would have prevented him from learning humility and that God is in control of all. What if Abraham and Sarah used their easy button instead of waiting on the Lord to give them Isaac? How would he have learned to trust God that he would be a "father of many nations?" An easy button may seem like an appropriate fix for a bad situation, because it's quick, fast, and in a hurry, but it doesn't allow its user to look to the Lord to learn, to grow, and to be patient in their present situation. It negates the learning process associated with these situations. See, with one press of the button you transcend the obstacle that you're facing and are placed on the other side of it. It's instant deliverance from the situation without the benefit of the wisdom that comes from working through the situation. We would be a bunch of immature, paper thin Christians who never realize our full potential in Christ. We'd never have to reach our full potential, because we wouldn't have to rely on it, because with one press we'd simply find everything fixed. Once again, I'm reminded that there are no short cuts in Christ, for there is much to be learned through the process... the process of putting down the flesh, the process of being patient, the process of gaining wisdom, the process of growing faith, the process of becoming more and more like Christ. Right now, it's easy for me to feel this way about the easy button, because I'm not in the hot seat. Right now my husband isn't asking for cookies, I no longer teach high school English, and my little one now behaves just fine in church. However, I must remember that I should treat my husband to cookies in bed every now and again. He deserves this simple treat, because he does work hard. I must remember that kids will be kids no matter the age or the place. Just because I didn't find the Spiderman costume entertaining, it gave my second hour class quite a laugh and provided them with a little mental break from the lesson (I now find it hilarious everytime I think about it). I am reminded that children must learn to sit quietly in church and this usually doesn't happen over night, so I should have been more patient with my little one. Although I don't intend on finding myself in the hot seat any time soon; however, if ever I am, I'll have to remember my sentiments today about the easy button.

From Shepherd to Giant Killer

At one time or another we have all had giants in our lives. Those things that seemed to overwhelm us. They were the biggest of obstacles that we didn't know how to move or go through. We must remember that there is a giant killing process and that we too are, according to Pastor Ben Gibert, giant killers. The process can be found in 1 Samuel 16. It's the story of David and Goliath. Instead of saying,"Oh , that's such a nice story, but I already know it." We need to reread it and look for some things that maybe we missed the first few times that we read it. This story is not just about David beating the giant. It's about the process that David underwent in preparation for slaying the giant. It's about the process of the kingdom of God at work. In order for us to be effective in the kingdom of God as David was, we must understand what David did and then do it. We should reread it and place ourselves in the position of David. God expects us, me and you, everyday regular people to be giant killers just as David was. He was a regular everyday person too. He could have chosen to be scared and run and hide as the other Israelites did when Goliath challenged them; however, he chose to trust God as he did in other situations which prepared him for this one. It was the power of God that transformed David into a giant killer. That same power of God is available to us as well. In 1 Samuel 16:3 Samuel, a prophet of God, annointed David, "Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and from that day on the Spirit of the Lord came upon David in power." David had power, because the spirit of the Lord was on him. We have that very same power. Luke 10:19 states, "I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions, and [physical and mental strength and ability] over all the power that the enemy [possess]; nothing will harm you. That means that no Goliath can harm us. If we know who we are in God, nothing can have power over us, unless we allow it. In Samuel 17 David, who was delivering food to his brothers who were fighting in the army, heard Goliath who stood over nine feet tall) opposing the Israelites, and he saw the Israelites running away from the giant in fear. At that point, David had been under going preparation for this very moment. David asked in 1 Samuel 17:26, "What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and removes this disgrace from Israel? Who is this uncirumcised Philistine that he should defy the armies of the living God?" It didn't hurt that the reward was great wealth, marriage to the king's daughter, and an exemption from paying taxes. David was basically saying, "He must not know that we're fighting for the "living God." David may have been thinking, "If he didn't know it before he will soon find out, because it's going down! No one can oppose my God." David went to Saul in 1 Samuel 17:32 and said, "Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go fight him." Imagine how the king must have looked at him when he said that. The king probably shook his head and thought, "You little David? What can you possibly do to that giant? You're no fighter. You're just a shepherd. You'll get yourself killed for sure." Instead he said, "You are not able to go out against this Philistine and fight him; you are only a boy, and he had been a fighting man from his youth." That's when David explained his process to the king. David said to Saul, "Your servant has been keeping his father's sheep, when a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it. Your servant has killed both the lion and the bear; this uncircumsized Philistine will be like one of them, because he has defied the armies of the living God. The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of the Philistine." This was the process at work. David just told us how he was able to reach the point of slaying Goliath. He started the process by first killing a lion and then a bear. When a lion or bear came to carry off a sheep, he went after it. He rescued the sheep right out of the mouth of the beast. He said he seized the beast by its hair and struck it and killed it when it turned on him. This was David's preparation for killing Goliath. The Lord protected him from both the lion and the bear. His faith had already been tested and accomplished. He knew the Lord's protection was fail proof. He was ready to take on what others probably would have deemed the "big dog," Goliath. David saw Goliath as a "puppy." He was fighting for the living God. He couldn't lose! Nothing is too big for our God. He knew that the Lord would give him the victory. He was fearless in God, because he knew what God could do. He was a living witness to God's deliverance. God had raised him up for such a time as this! The king finally consented after which he attempted to outfit David in his own fighting attire, which he certainly didn't need. Because this was the Lord's fight, the Lord would perfectly equip him for it. David moved to meet Goliath with five stones and a sling. In 1 Samuel 17:45 the battle began, David said to the the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head." David said all you have are physical weapons. I have the Lord God Almighty. It doesn't get any bigger than that. David spoke the end result. He said, "This day, the Lord will give me the victory, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. He spoke exactly what he expected to happen. He said, "Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give all of you unto our hands." David was brave, bold, strong, and courageous in the Lord. While everyone else ran away, David was preparing to run at him. When Goliath opened his mouth to tell him what he was going to do, David didn't receive it. He knew his asignment was ordained by God. He in turn told Goliath he was going down. He proclaimed that the giant and his men would fall that day. David was saying that his slaying Goliath would be a testimony for all Israelites. After this, the whole world would know that there was a God in Israel. Before making his move David spoke, "All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's and he will give all of you into our hands." The fight was on. "As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly to the battle line to meet him. Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone; he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. Without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him." That was the battle. Through David, God took out Goliath with one shot. The Lord does not need the typical weapons of warfare to save his people. He is a supernatural God; therefore, he uses supernatural weapons. He uses the atypical, like a sling shot . Natural man would say that's ridiculous. What damage could possibly be done with a sling shot? But, it's not the sling shot. It is the annointing of God on David who is the possessor of the sling shot. According to Zechariah 4:10, "Do not despise small beginnings." David was a shepherd who grew to become a giant killer, a mighty warrior of God, and soon after king. I'm sure everyone was thinking what is this boy gonna do? I hope he doesn't get himself killed. See, it wan't what David was going to do, it was what David trusted God to do. He clearly stated, "The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of the Philistine." David was saying that the fight belongs to the Lord. The Lord is going to work this out. If he chooses a sling shot as his weapon of choice, then so be it. Natural man would say it can't be done. A boy with a sling shot against an accomplished giant with a sword. The Lord just said to Samuel, "The Lord does not look at the things men look at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." Man would look at the size and strength of Goliath compared to the small frame of David and would say this is a no brainer. I'm going with Golaith. God saw that David had a heart to love, serve, and trust him. David had to step out on faith and know that the Lord would keep him just as he did with the lion and the bear. He stepped out on faith and the Lord met him. That day all were amazed and knew their was a mighty God in Israel. We have the same power that David had. We must exercise it. David didn't just wake up one day and say that he was going to kill the Philistine. No, he went through a process. We must also go through a process for our own sakes, so that we know that we have a fail proof God. David started small as a shepherd. This was part of his process. He didn't despise it. He guarded his sheep as though his very life depended on it. He didn't let one sheep get away. He was diligent at his job. He went and seized his sheep from the paws of both a lion and a bear. He would not allow the beasts to stop him from doing his job. Doing his small beginning well is what elevated him to the position of slaying the giant. He didn't look for a way around it. He took out the opposition. What are we going to do. I'm talking to you and me. What are we going to do? I'll tell you. We are going to trust God right here where we are and do our small beginning. We aren't going to mumble, grumble, or complain about where we are now. We are going to learn our process at this level. We are going to learn right here and do what we need to do so that God can use us at the next level. We are going to proclaim a victorious end at the start of every situation. We are going to diligently buckle down and carry out our assignment. We are going to trust God in the small things, so that he can elevate us to larger things. We aren't going to receive any negative trash talking from the opposition, because we know that this battle is the Lord's. We are going to proclaim victory and victory only! We are going to rise up and be the brave bold, strong, courageous mighty warriors of God that we need to be pressing forth and fighting the good fight of faith as David did.

Preparing for Marriage

If you or someone you know is looking to be married to a Godly husband, please refer her to my post "Who Wants to be Married?" It will make all the difference in your life or hers. Preparing for a Godly marriage is a process. Your mind has to be in the right place. So many times women waste time fantasizing about a fairytale wedding and prince charming. Neither of them exist. Your time could be better spent studying the Bible and Biblically inspired books to find out what God has to say about marriage. Now should be the time that you prepare yourself for marriage. Don't wait until Mr. Right gets here. Begin now. Get everything in order...home, finances, health, mind, relationship with the Lord. Clean your house. Get rid of those things that you no longer use or are out dated. If you're not doing so, start a savings account. If you have any debts, pay them down. Get a physical. Make sure your health is in order. If you need to lose weight, then do it now. Ask the Lord to prepare your mind for marriage. Take your mind off yourself. Once you're married, it won't be about you anymore. You will become a "we." Put the Lord first. Spend time with him daily. Make it a priority to keep him first even after you're married. Be the person that you want to marry. If you know that you want to marry a good thing, then know that he does too, so get you're act together. Don't set such high expectations for him that you don't meet yourself. Think about what you're bringing to the table. Do what is listed in "Who Wants to get Married?" and soon your future husband will find you

A Great 2008

I hope you had a very merry Christmas. I am wishing you a wonderfully blessed New Year. Your 2008 can be great. It can be your best year yet. Don't waste these few days we have until the New Year. We must plan to have great years. This too is a process. Great years don't just happen. It is how we prepare for them that makes them great or how we don't prepare for them that makes them less than memorable. If you don't know what great things the Lord would have you to do, pray right now. Ask the Lord to reveal to you what great things he wants you to accomplish in 2008. Wait for him to reveal his plans for you. What you may have been planning and what he has planned could be two very different things. Get on the Lord's page. Once we know what great things we're to do then we should visualize our selves doing these things. What are you accomplishing? Who are you helping? What are you building? What contribution are you making to make this world a better place? See yourself doing these things. It's usually pretty easy to see ourselves doing great things; however, we must also see ourselves doing the planning for these great things. We can't go from doing nothing today to tomorrow saving the world, but we can plan today for tomorrow's great thing. What is our plan to carry out this great thing? What is the process involved in accomplishing this great thing? Success is a planned event. Remember, nothing in life just happens. If we aren't planning to be successful, we are planning to fail. Develop a plan that will help you to accomplish that great thing in 2008.

Who Wants To Be Married?

If you want to be married, this is a list of things that you should do in preparation for marriage. Preparing one's self for a Godly marriage is a process. This is not something that will happen over night. I repeat it is a process. How many months must a woman carry a baby before delivery? How long does it take to actually start a business? How long does it take to get a driver's license. Each of the items I just listed involves a different process. A process does not happen over night. This marriage preparation does work. However, you must be committed to do the work that comes with it. I did it and met my husband shortly after this.

Think about why you want to get married (be honest). Make a list. Make sure your reasons for wanting to be married are acceptable to God.

Become the type of person that you want to marry. Create a list of specific things that you want in a husband. Make sure you possess each thing.

Do you cook? If you answered, "No." You'd better learn.

Trash extra baggage. If you're carrying baggage from an old relationship or past hurt. Heal, forgive if you need to, and move on.

Sever all ties to past relationships. Get rid of old love letters, photos, and/or mementos from former beaus. No need to reminiscence about the past, because you're moving on.

Clean up. Clean up you mind and attitude. Clean up your apartment or house. Clean up your finances. Clean up your health.

Read the book of Esther in the Bible. Read carefully about the process that she under went in preparation to be received by the king. Meditate on her favorable characteristics.

Read Proverbs 31. Speak those things that be not and confess that you are a Proverbs 31 Wife. Understand what this type of wife looks like. This is your goal.

Read the Bible to find out what God says about marriage. Read Christian books to prepare your mind for marriage. While reading, find out what your role is to be in the marriage.

Pray about it. Tell the Lord you're ready to begin the marriage process. Let him speak to you about it. Tell him the type of wife you're ready to become. Specifically, list the characteristics you'd like your future husband to possess. Ask God to remove any marriage hindering attitudes from you. Pray for your future husband. You don't have to know his name or who he is. Pray for the protection, wisdom, favor, finances, and strength of your future husband. Those same things that you pray for yourself, pray for him. Allow the Lord to choose your husband. Once you've gone through the list, ask the Lord to bless you with eyes to see your future husband. The Lord doesn't care about "your type." He could care less about the type of guy you're usually attracted to. Get rid of that picture. The Lord looks at the inside. If you allow the Lord to choose your husband, he will bless you with so much more than you ever could have imagined.

20 Ways to Grow Up in God

I've compiled a list of "Ways to Grow up in God." Please don't think for one minute I only did this list for my readers. This list is compiled of the Ways that I've addressed, am addressing, and need to address consistently. So, by no means is this list just for you. Read the list slowly. Actually ponder each Way. Consider whether or not you need to incorporate a Way into your life. Pray about it. Ask the Lord if you need to incorporate a Way. He always knows best. Your starting point should be the answer to your prayer. If the answer to your prayer is, "Yes," ask the Lord to reveal to you which Way you should apply first. Ask him for the motivation to want to apply the Way, and then for the determination to hang in there during the application of the Way. Also, pray for the success in the mastery of the Way. After you've completed the prayer, confess the way in your life (speak it out loud). For example, I would confess, "I treat others the way I want to be treated." I should confess this at least daily, but it would be even better to confess it several times throughout the day. Romans 4:17 states that God calls those things that do not exist as if they already exist. We are to do the same. When we do this, we are aligning ourselves with the Word of God and allowing his plans to come to pass in our lives. Repeat this process for each Way the Lord reveals to you to apply until he reveals to you that you're finished with this list.



Think before you speak, instead of giving everyone a piece of your mind.


Exercise discipline and self control in every area of your life, instead of being slothful and out of a balance.


Pray for the needs of everyone, instead of just yours and your family's.

Look for ways to serve others, instead of trying to run everybody and everything.

Treat others the way you want to be treated, instead of reserving good treatment for family and friends.

Choose to live by the Word, instead of your emotions.

Realize that your pastor's sermon is for you, instead of your friend.

Ask the Lord to see your spouse the way that he sees him, instead of complaining about what you think is his every shortcoming

Take responsibility for your actions, instead of blaming others.

According to Pastor Michael Freeman, "Do not paint the wrong picture of sin."

Admit when you're wrong and say sorry, instead of acting like you're always right.

Choose to keep a positive perspective, instead of being beaten by worry.

Admit that you don't have to know every thing about everybody and turn a deaf ear to gossip, instead of being an "Enquiring Mind."

Pray everyday, instead of only when you need something.

Be a good steward over all that you have, instead of only those things you deem important.

Receive correction and instruction, instead of being unteachable.

Believe God for what you can't see, instead of limiting God to what you can only see.

Increase the time you spend reading the Bible, instead of only reading it during Sunday School and church as instructed by the teacher and the pastor.

Live up to those high expectations that you set for everyone else, instead of giving yourself an out.

Extend the benefit of the doubt to everyone again and again, instead of being so quick to make an assumption about them.

PROCESS 101:IT'S GROWING TIME

When my daughter was younger, she wanted to be a cheerleader badly. She couldn't wait for the little league football season to begin. She soon realized, however,that she didn't like practicing. When the other girls were stretching, she would be looking off across the field. If the team was jogging, she would be walking as slowly as she possibly could. When it came time to actually cheer at a game, she found that she didn't like that either. All of the other girls would smile brightly and were enthusiastic, not my daughter. She was always frowning and a few moves behind. She really didn't like anything about cheer leading other than the uniform. She absolutely loved wearing the Inkster Raiders uniform. It finally dawned on my husband and I that our daughter just wanted the uniform with no strings attached. She wanted the uniform without enduring the process to get it. I'm sure many Christians can relate to my daughter's situation. Because at one time or another in our lives, we too wanted something that we did not earn. We've seen Christians with the results of their harvests... cars, careers, jobs, husbands, health, houses, faith, or relationships with the Lord that we wanted and became angry, because we didn't have them. We had the nerve to want what they had (their harvests), even though we didn't do what they did (process) to get those things. In order to get those harvests, we have to put God first all the time, even when its not convenient. We shouldn't put him first to just to get things, but to get to know him. What better way to get to know him then by spending time with him praying and reading his word? Mark 6:33 clearly states, "But seek ye first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Some of us were seeking things when we should have been seeking God. When we put Him first, he gives us his very best harvest. The Lord revealed to me that the Kingdom of God is a process that must be endured. There is no such thing as a short cut in God. This process is stated in Mark 4:26-29, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain-first the stalk, then the head, the the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come." These verses in Mark describe the process of the kingdom of God in us. It starts small as a seed but grows to full maturity as a full kernel of grain that is ready to be harvested. If you want to go to the next level in God, you must go through a similar growing process. The seed went through stages of distinct growth. It all starts with the seed. The seed has to be planted. The stalk first appears, then the head, and the kernel. Notice, this growing period doesn't happen over night. It happens over time. This process was probably more than a little uncomfortable too. Imagine, that first sprout attempting to make its way through the hard soil. That sprout patiently displaces the soil that is directly in front of it a little at a time so that it can inch its way to the surface. The entire time growth is taking place although it is not obvious to the eye. Once close enough to the surface, the tiny sprout bursts through. That part of the process is probably shocking, maybe even stressful to the sprout's system, however the process isn't over yet. That sprout has to grow into a tall wheat stalk that has a head that contains a full kernel of grain. Wheat is measured in stages from 1 (sprout) to 11 (fully mature stalk of wheat). So, the growth process of the sprout must continue until it reaches full maturity as a stalk of wheat at 11. This is the very same process that Christians must endure if we want to grow up in God. Growing up in God happens gradually in stages. I heard Pastor Michael Freeman say it best, "The Kingdom of God is a process not an event." Do not despise the process. I know...I know the process isn't easy. But, what some of us are doing isn't easy either. It's just familiar. Really, I was tired of being in the same place for so long, and I was wondering when the Lord was going to move me to another level. All the while he was showing me what to do, but I wasn't listening. He was waiting for me to make a move in him. When I did, he began to reveal to me what I needed to do. Many times we want God to do the very things that we should be doing. Was this process easy? No. I can't lie to you. It was quite uncomfortable, but well worth it. I can't believe how much my perspective on life has changed. I always wanted to be a writer, but I couldn't seem to find any time to write. The Lord revealed to me that I had as much time as everyone else. I just had to use it properly. That meant becoming an early riser. Before, I never made it out of the bed before about 10:00 am. Now I'm up by 7:00 am, sometimes even earlier. Before, I ran late all the time. Now, I plan to be early. Before, I read the Bible a few times a week. Now, I study it daily. The process called for me to trash some of my old ways, because they were preventing me from doing the very things that I wanted to do. Do you want a harvest? If you answered yes, get ready to grow. Ask the Lord to reveal to you how his kingdom works. Then, ask him to work his kingdom principles in your life.