Encourage One Another

In the world today we are in constant competition and envy of each other whether it is conscious or sub-conscious. We are so connected with social media and our phones we see what others are doing or what they just bought that we would never have known 20 years ago. We get our feelings hurt when you see a couple of your friends get together & they didn’t invite you. We see someone just got a new (fill in the blank) and now you think you need to have one too. Amazon is only a couple clicks so why not?

I want to challenge my readers this week that instead of posting your highlight reel of your life, take the time to encourage someone instead. Notice something that they did and give them acknowledgement. If they are struggling with something, reach out & send an encouraging message. It doesn’t matter how strong or confident you think that person is. EVERYONE needs encouragement in their life. They need to know that someone cares.

When we build each other up, we make each other stronger. We build better, more authentic relationships. We start to trust each other and know that there is someone out there that has our backs. Who is that person for you? Who can you be that person for?

It starts with one text or phone call. It starts with a funny meme to make them laugh. It starts with allowing yourself to know that this world is temporary and that we need to be Jesus in this world.

Make someone’s day today by just showing up for them in whatever way you feel comfortable. Don’t do it because “you have to.” Do it because you want to. That person CAN tell the difference. Be your authentic self. There is only one of you out there. So be YOU!!

Need some ideas: check out this site for 100 ideas – https://sharinglifeandlove.com/blog/how-to-encourage-someone-100-unique-and-easy-ways/

This is the Day – Tim Tebow

Growing in Faith / By Stacy

Every morning, I spend 20 minutes on my treadmill and watch a Bible study series on RightNow Media. I love taking this time to learn about God and pray. It just starts my morning out right.

The past few days, I watched the “This is the Day” by Tim Tebow series. Here are my takeaways:

Life isn’t about ONE day. It’s about THIS day.

Question: Are you living out what God is putting on your heart?

You have today so you need to make it count. Live the extraordinary life and not the comfortable one. This means risking what people think about you to do what God is putting on your heart.

You can be extraordinary & humble all at the same time. This is what Jesus was. He did extraordinary miracles and always humbled himself with others. It’s not about the fancy exterior and external actions. It’s about the interior motives and your heart. Strive to have a Jesus heart.

When you get out of your comfort zone, the giants will come. Giants of self doubt, criticism, fear, ….. Remember that God is bigger than any giant that can come at you. Pray about it and more importantly listen.

We are not guaranteed tomorrow – only this day so live it to the fullest.

Here are some great verses to go with this message:

““When you are invited to a wedding feast, don’t sit in the seat of honor. What if someone who is more distinguished than you has also been invited? The host will come and say, ‘Give this person your seat.’ Then you will be embarrassed, and you will have to take whatever seat is left at the foot of the table! “Instead, take the lowest place at the foot of the table. Then when your host sees you, he will come and say, ‘Friend, we have a better place for you!’ Then you will be honored in front of all the other guests. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” he said, “don’t invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back, and that will be your only reward. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those who could not repay you.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭14‬:‭8‬-‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.14.8-13.NLT

“How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.”
‭‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬
https://bible.com/bible/116/jas.4.14.NLT

Worried & Stressed?

Growing in Faith / By Stacy

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭7‬ ‭NLT‬‬

You probably read the title and thought YES give me something I can use. Then you read the Bible verse and you were like REALLY…..

Going through the hard is well, hard. It’s so “easy” to keep trying it your way to get out it. It’s handing over that reign of control over to God that is probably about the same hard as what you are going through. Especially if you are type A personality like me.

Don’t underestimate the power of prayer. When you choose to give it ALL (and I mean all) to God you do get this sort of peace in your heart. It’s taking the burden of all you are going through and asking for help. God works in all kinds of ways. Help may come from a friend calling or texting, a random act of kindness, softened heart with the one you are praying for. The list goes on. His works are mysterious and wonderful.

With that mysterious and wonderful comes timing. We want it to be over NOW. Lord, get me out of this situation so life can be good again. Here’s the thing….He works in HIS timing and not OUR timing.

It sucks…it’s okay…you can think that too. But you can also think of how he is trying to use you in His big plan. He uses our struggles to further His kingdom.

What story can you tell from your situation that will help someone else? What have you learned about yourself and others?

But I don’t know enough…..

Leave a Comment / Growing in Faith / By Stacy

That’s the lie I told myself when I thought about sharing God’s word with someone who isn’t a Christian. It’s a scary thing sometimes. What if they ask you a question you can’t answer? What if they say something that makes you question your own faith? Those were excuses for me not to get out of my comfort zone.

Jesus’s last words on Earth before he ascended to heaven were recorded in the Acts of the Apostles where we are to be his witnesses telling everyone about Him. Someone’s last words are usually the most important and memorable.

“He replied, “The Father alone has the authority to set those dates and times, and they are not for you to know. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.””
‭‭Acts of the Apostles‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

It’s not about forcing your beliefs on someone. It’s about planting a seed in their heart. That seed may be quick to grow or it may take a couple seasons. Think of planting a flower bulb in the fall and having to wait through winter and part of spring for it to finally pop out of ground. It’s not about what we do, it’s about God continuously working in their heart with the seeds we planted. God makes the seed grow. We have a shared mission from Jesus that gives us purpose. We are to be God’s workers planting seeds wherever we go. It doesn’t have to big conversations or gestures. It is the small gestures of love and small chats. It’s showing God’s love with how we act. Showing what Jesus is all about instead of just talking about it.

That’s what Paul is telling the Corinthians.

“I planted the seed in your hearts, and Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow. It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. The one who plants and the one who waters work together with the same purpose. And both will be rewarded for their own hard work. For we are both God’s workers. And you are God’s field. You are God’s building.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭6‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul states it better than I ever could:

“For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is the power of God at work, saving everyone who believes—the Jew first and also the Gentile.”
‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬ ‭NLT‬‬

God takes ordinary people to do his good work. Stop thinking that you are not good enough or you don’t know enough.

You know the Good News: God sent his only son Jesus to die on the cross as the ultimate sacrifice. The only way to heaven is through the belief and faith in Jesus and only Jesus. It’s doesn’t matter what you did in the past. It’s not about all the good deeds. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the light. Our God is always present and ready to listen to you. You don’t have to go through someone else to get to him now. Jesus is your guy. Jesus is our savior.

Wants you truly believe that your life changes. You have a higher purpose now. Your mission is to go out and tell others. Your mission to share this good news so others may be saved.

Potiphar’s Wife – Bored to Distraction

Leave a Comment / Growing in Faith, Marriage / By Stacy

Being bored often leads to temptation. Temptation usually comes in the form of new and exciting. It’s something that gets us out of boredom that our lives can become. Temptation can be good as it can get you out of your comfort zone to join a group or do that thing that you always wanted to do. It can also be bad where you may do something you later regret. It can happen to any woman every day with tragic consequences.

”So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.“
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

So let’s do a little back story. Potiphar was the captain of the palace guards which means he was a well respected man. He bought Joseph as a slave when Joseph’s brothers sold him due to jealousy. (More of that back story read Genesis chapter 37) Potiphar brought home this handsome slave and made him responsible for everything he owned. It says in Genesis 39:6 that he only worried about food which probably means he may not be giving attention to his wife.

”So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat! Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man,“
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭39‬:‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Now Potiphar’s wife is not innocent in this situation, but she was probably bored and this Joseph was handsome. And he rejected her…. Sometimes when you get rejected it makes you want it more. It’s now a challenge to get that temptation.

I have empathy for her because I spent my youth chasing and being with the bad boys. And the funny thing is that is how Joe (my husband) got my attention in the first place. I was hanging out with his sister and he came to ISU for a concert. I remember sitting in the food court area and he ignored me the entire time. Guys did not ignore me…. That got my attention and made we want to get to know him. He was a challenge where if he did act interested I may have just ignored him. God works in funny ways like that.

Back to Potiphar’s wife’s story where she comes up with a plan to get what she wants. She sends her servants away. When we don’t want someone catching us doing something bad, we usually push them away. We don’t want to be judged because we know we shouldn’t be doing it in the first place.

Lesson 1: Don’t push your friends away when you are tempted. Bring them closer and lean on them. Have that authentic vulnerable conversation.

Tip: When you are at work, leave the office door open. Don’t go to lunch, dinner, coffee with just the two of you. One of the guys I work with actually did this with me. I invited him to coffee during covid and he brought his wife every time. At first I thought it was weird and now I have more respect for him.

Joseph being a man of God rejected her, but she somehow managed to grab his coat. (Joseph cannot keep his coats….). She made up a story to make her look innocent. She had to cover up what she knew she shouldn’t be doing in the first place.

Lesson 2: When we stumble, confession beats a cover-up. How easy it is to blame someone else when we’re tempted to sin. It’s “his” fault, “her” fault, or when all else fails, it’s God’s fault. Potiphar may not have seen through his wife’s lies, but the Lord we love looks straight into our hearts. Instead of going for a cover-up, let’s confess and repent.

Inspired From: Bad Girls of the Bible by Liz Curtis Higgs

Eve – Original Bad Girl of the Bible

Leave a Comment / Growing in Faith / By Stacy

Throughout the Bible, God tells us about some “bad” girls that made mistakes. Some of those were BIG mistakes. I think God put their mistake in the Bible not for us to judge them, but to learn from them.

I loved reading Liz Curtis Higg’s book – Bad Girls of the Bible and What We Can Learn from Them. She also has a series on Right Now Media for the book that is engaging and will have you laughing. Let’s get started with the original bad girl of the Bible.

Bad Girls of the Bible - by Liz Curtis Higgs (Paperback), 1 of 2

Eve was the original bad girl of the Bible.

She made the first huge mistake that brought sin into the world with her husband Adam. She allowed the serpents words to put doubt and even a little ego into her heart. The devil always has a base of truth, but sneaks in lies by expanding upon it. We can’t stop the whispering in our ears, but we can refuse to listen and respond.

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

Take time to read the Bible. This will prevent the “Did God really say…” doubt that can be so easily sowed into our heart. Eve added to the word of God when confronted with the snake. The Lord never told her not to touch it, just not to eat it. When we exaggerate God’s word we can sow seeds of doubt in the minds of others even if we mean well.

The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’” Genesis 3:1-3

The tree had been in the middle of the garden for who knows how long and they obediently avoided it. Suddenly the tree was the one thing on Eve’s wish it. She fixated on the tree instead of looking to God for the truth, seeking her husband for shared counsel (probably because she knew he would say no….), and looking at fruit that was available to her. Once this happens Satan doesn’t need to do anything else because the temptation will be so great. Where you focus is where you attention will go. Be self-aware if you are avoiding conversations with others that won’t tell you what we want to hear.

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8

God will always be a loving Father to us. After they ate the forbidden fruit, they realized that they were naked and covered themselves with fig leaves. This is what we tend to do also when we are living in sin or mess up. We try to cover it up or worse surround ourselves with people with the same sin so we don’t stand out. We try to hide just like Adam and Eve. God knew what they did and that they were hiding, but still called out to them. He is a God that provides and made them coverings with animal skins. This was the beginning of innocent blood being shed for our sins.

When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” Genesis 3:8-9

And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife. Genesis 3:21

We all fall short, but not short enough for his grace.

Tony Guthrie Shares: The Heart of God's Grace

Be an Abraham in a Nimrod World

1 Comment / Growing in Faith / By Stacy

“I see the shame-based fear of being ordinary because social media has taught you an ordinary life is a meaningless life.” – Brene Brown – Daring Greatly Book

An ordinary life can make a huge impact. The rise of social media has improved our life to keep us connected, but also diminished our life as we can get caught in the comparison loop that makes us feel ordinary. We see our friends going on big vacations, having fun when we were not invited, getting a promotion at work, etc…. We compare ourselves to that highlight reel when reality is probably something much different. Comparison is the thief of joy, especially for our youth that are focused on how many friends, followers, likes, comments they get. For adults, it can be their career, promotion, house, car, etc. We can wrap our identity in that instead of what we should. It becomes more about us and less about others. It becomes more about what people can do for us versus what they can do for others.

Abraham was an ordinary man that led an extraordinary life making a huge impact on the world. He made that impact by being humble and following God. Genesis 12 – Trusting God’s plan for his life even when it seemed impossible. There is another man in the Bible named Nimrod in Genesis 10. Many of you probably have never even heard of him. He was the first “celebrity” at the time known for his hunting skills. Genesis 10:9 “He was a mighty hunter before the Lord; that is why it is said, “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the Lord.” It was like people saying today, “Man, you are Nimrod good!” or “You have game like Nimrod.” You had Nimrod jerseys you wore. Genesis 11:4 – Nimrod and his followers were the architects of the tower Babel. They wanted to make their own kingdom and power/dominance by building the tower. It was based in fear that if they don’t do something they will be nothing. They were building their life for their own glory and power.

We cannot build our life for the temporary here on Earth. Everything in this world will fade. We need the solid foundation of God. We need to be an Abraham when our culture is telling us that we should be like Nimrod. Our human soul is too weighty for something so fragile. Chasing the temporary will have us running in the wrong direction. We chase things and when we get to the top, we think “Is this it?”

Don’t build out of fear but walk out on faith. Abraham built an alter to God while Nimrod built a tower for his own glory. Abraham got to touch all of lives, while Nimrod fades in the background that no one really knows who he is. God’s kingdom will never fade.

What does it look like to trust God with the course of your life?

What goals do you need to refocus to be more God centered?

How can you choose to be content with the life you have, and not covet someone else’s?

“Obviously, I’m not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ’s servant.” Galatians 1:10

Reference: Jesus in Our Generation by Ben Stuart

Adam and Jesus

Leave a Comment / Growing in Faith / By Stacy

A tree brought sin into the world and a tree took our sins away.

A Tree… Have you ever thought about how a tree has impacted our lives?

Adam ate the fruit from the forbidden tree that brought sin and shame to the world. This single tree that God told Adam and Eve not to eat from. Temptation will always be there even in the beginning of time. It’s part of our human nature that we have to strive to fight against. We do this by digging into the Bible, so we know the truth. We go to church and groups to be together with each other. We hold each other accountable and grow with each other.

Finding the right people to do life with is critical, but we also have to get out of our comfort zone to go out the people who are not like us. This is where Jesus came in. Jesus hung out with all the “wrong” people. He gives us the example of being able to avoid temptation and hang out with the people that need to know God.

There was another tree that made the BIGGEST impact to our lives. That’s the tree that was used to make the cross that Jesus died for our sins on. Jesus died so we could be saved. That would enjoy forever with God by his sacrifice. He was the ultimate sacrifice that we can never be worthy of. Jesus makes us worthy in God’s eyes. Jesus gave us grace so we must give grace to others.

God is Always at Work

Leave a Comment / Growing in Faith / By Stacy

Esther is someone that I would now consider a role model. If you haven’t read this book yet, get your Bible out and read it. It will inspire you, give you hope, and let you know that God always has a plan.

Here is the story in my own words and my own understanding. Esther becomes Queen after the original queen refused an order from the King. She was picked from among thousands of beautiful women. She was humble when it came to meeting the King and took others advice. Before she became queen, Mordecai adopted her. She was his cousin. He told her not tell the King where she came from or her religion. This will become important later in the story. Esther listened to him and the King never knew or asked. This is definitely a God plan in action.

Fast forward in the story – Mordecai overheard a couple guards talking about assassinating the King. He told Esther who then went to the King to save him. She saved the King with Mordecai’s help.

Meanwhile, Haman, who was the 2nd in command from the King, was a very prideful, boastful man. Everyone that he met had to bow before him. Mordecai refused to do this which made Haman so angry he couldn’t see straight. Haman went to the King and convinced the King that the Jews were a problem and they needed to be destroyed. The King trusted Haman and made the decree that a year from then every Jew can and would be killed. Mordecai and the rest of the Jews heard the decree and went into mourning. Basically waiting for their death. Mordecai went back to Esther to ask for help to save HER people. Remember, the King doesn’t know that she is a Jew. Esther at first refuses because you have to be called to see the King. If you just show up, you will be killed. Mordecai begs again and this time Esther agrees to do it even if it means she will die. She is willing to give up her own life to save her people. She asked Mordecai and the rest of the Jews to fast for 3 days beforehand. They all fast for the 3 days.

This is where the story gets fun. She goes to the King and requests a banquet with the King & Haman. The King is delighted to see her and basically tells her he will do anything she asks. She requests the banquet to which he agrees and has someone get Haman. During the banquet, the King asks her what she really wants. She tells him that she wants another banquet tomorrow with him and Haman and she will explain everything to him. Haman leaves the banquet feeling on top of the world and who does he run into but Mordecai. Again, Mordecai refuses to bow to him and Haman is seeing stars right now he is so mad. Haman gets home and boasts to his wife and friends about how important he is that Queen Esther only invited him and basically how great he is. He is still fuming about Mordecai that his friends talk him into putting up a 75ft pole to stake Mordecai on the next day after asking the King for approval.

That night the King can’t sleep so he has someone read to him the history of his reign. Just after the part about Mordecai saving him from the assassination attempt, Haman shows up with all intention to ask the King to kill Mordecai. Before Haman can speak, the King asks Haman how he should honor someone. Haman probably thinking the King was talking about him, tells him to put that person in the King’s robe and ride on the King’s horse telling everyone how great that person is. The King agrees and tells Haman to do that for Mordecai. Alright guys….come on….Mic drop right here. Can you just imagine Haman’s mouth drop open. Not only does Haman not get to kill Mordecai, he has to publicly yell around the entire city how great the man is!!

After basically humiliating himself, he went to the 2nd banquet that Queen Esther has requested. The King again asks Esther what her request is. This time she requests that her life and the life of her people be spared. It’s the tone she puts this request in that just has me in awe. She is humble, not manipulating. She speaks honestly to him that if it was them being sold into slavery she would remain silent, but this is not a trivial matter. The King has no idea that she is a Jew and asks who would do that to her. She points right at Haman. The King goes into a rage and leaves the room. Haman goes to Queen Esther basically pleading for his life because he knows the King will kill him. Haman falls on the couch and lands on the Queen just as the King was walking back in the room! Not only is is trying to kill the Queen, but also appears to be assaulting her. One of the King’s assistants spoke up and told the King that Haman has a 75 ft pole in his yard. The King used the pole that Haman wanted to kill Mordecai to kill Haman.

Mordecai then takes over for Haman. The King allows him to reverse the decree, but Mordecai adds into it that the Jews can kill their enemies on that same fateful day. In response to the new decree, many people became Jewish in fear. On March 7th, the Jews killed their enemies and the King even allowed a 2nd day on March 8th for them to finish their work. On March 9th, they rested which became the Festival of Purim.

There you have it. We will never know what God’s plan for us is. Most of the time, we have no idea why God is putting this in our life or making us go through something. There is a purpose for everything. God’s purpose is all knowing. We are intertwined together to make God’s plan come together.