Firstborn; I’m not one, by the way. That role would fall to my eldest sister, Vickie, bless her heart! A lot of responsibility falls on that firstborn child, none of which I would likely carry as well as she does. My husband is also a firstborn, bless his heart! No really! He’s so organized and list driven, I’m so thankful he’s a part of my life. Everything must have a plan to go with it, followed by a list from his handy dandy notebook which is never far from his side. I’m the ‘idea’ giver and he implements it. It’s like having my very own personal assistant. Gotta love those firstborns.

Did you know that Jesus is the firstborn of the Father? Well of course you did, who doesn’t know that! Perhaps what many of us miss is the fact that he was the firstborn of many siblings. That, my friends would be us. Romans 8:28-30 Phillips says it like this;  Moreover we know that to those who love God, who are called according to his plan, everything that happens fits into a pattern for good. God, in his foreknowledge, chose them to bear the family likeness of his Son, that he might be the eldest of a family of many brothers. He chose them long ago; when the time came he called them, he made them righteous in his sight, and then lifted them to the splendour of life as his own sons.

Now that ‘family likeness’ is not in physical appearance, because God is a Spirit and so he’s talking about that realm, that we have a likeness of his Spirit. Many of us are thinking, ‘Yeah, I don’t see the resemblance at all!’ God calls us to be like Jesus. Jesus said he only did what he saw the Father do so he imitated his Daddy. We are also to be imitators of Christ. Jesus trusted God’s plan, we must trust God’s plan. Everything God is or will be is LOVE. Everything born of Love is still Love. Our very nature should be the same love as the love of God. Healing the sick, a reflection of Love. Raising the dead, a reflection of Love. We must be motivated by the same deep love the Father has for us.

“Moreover we know that to those who love God, who are called according to his plan, everything that happens fits into a pattern for good.” Do you see that? Do you love God? Trust him, he has a plan. It may not look right, it may not feel good, but God has a plan. When the time is right, than the purposes of God will be revealed and everything will fall into place. I’m Jesus’ sister. A middle child. Content to know that as a firstborn, he has written it all down for me to easily reference. His Spirit is my personal assistant, keeping me on track because he has a plan and purpose for what I’m going through. His plans are to bless me. “He chose them long ago; when the time came he called them, he made them righteous in his sight, and then lifted them to the splendour of life as his own sons.”

Wow! Father, you never cease to amaze me. “I will find joy in the Lord. I will delight in my God. He has dressed me in the clothes of salvation. He has wrapped me in the robe of righteousness like a bridegroom with a priest’s turban, like a bride with her jewels.” (Isaiah 61:10) How wonderful are your plans for me. How deep and rich is your love for me. As you hold up the mirror to my spirit today, may I reflect the image of Love to all around me. May their lives be infused with Love and may the residual of that experience affect the lives around them as well. It’s in the name of Love I pray, Amen.

Psalm 103:1-5 GW; Praise the Lord, my soul! Praise his holy name, all that is within me.  Praise the Lord, my soul, and never forget all the good he has done: He is the one who forgives all your sins, the one who heals all your diseases, the one who rescues your life from the pit, the one who crowns you with mercy and compassion, the one who fills your life with blessings so that you become young again like an eagle.

Life isn’t always kind. It’s those times when I feel I have a hole in my heart, like someone carved ‘LOSER’ on my forehead, when nothing goes right, that’s when I must praise the Lord! When my mind is numb and my heart is heavy, THAT’S when I remember what a great God I serve. I must look at all He’s done for me! I must remind myself of the many times God has pulled me from the pit and crowned me with mercy and compassion. I must remember that “He has never seen the righteous forsaken or his seed begging bread.” I must not allow the pit to swallow me up!

Oh I COULD go there! I could allow myself to wallow in self pity, to sink deep into despair and no one would blame me, after all, you don’t know my story. I allowed myself to go there for 5 minutes this morning and I did NOT like those feelings. Then I remembered that He fills my life with blessings so that I am young again like the eagle. Verses 17-19 says; But from everlasting to everlasting, the Lord’s mercy is on those who fear him. His righteousness belongs to their children and grandchildren, to those who are faithful to his promise, to those who remember to follow his guiding principles. The Lord has set his throne in heaven. His kingdom rules everything.

His righteousness; his way of being and doing, belongs to my children and grandchildren and to those who are faithful to his promise and follow his ways. That’s me! I’m faithful to his ways. I choose to place my hope and trust in Him. No one can do what God can. Fear may try to creep in. It may knock at my door and cause me to panic, but I will hope in God.

Father, I repent of the temptation to lose hope. I repent of entertaining the thought that my problems are too large for you to handle. That must have made you smile. You who created the entire universe and everything in it.  You who cares for me as if I were your only child. You who always gives good gifts to your children. You are well able to keep what I’ve committed to you. You have a plan and purpose for my life and you’re in no way finished with me yet. Is anything too hard for you? Thank you that I can go back through your Word and see you as Champion and Hero. Thus you shall be to me and I will praise you in Jesus’ Name. Amen

There are times when things happen in my daily life that knocks the wind out of me. Anxiousness crowds out peace and opens the gate for fear, doubt and worry to rush in. It takes effort to return to the place of peace I once enjoyed. One thing I do is to remind myself who God is and why I trust in him. Sometimes all I have time to do is speak the name, Jesus, because he’s always near, a friend that sticks closer than a brother. I might say, “Holy Spirit, I need your wisdom! Calm my heart and return me to my place of confident trust.”

Isaiah 44:6 & 8; The Lord is the king of Israel. The Lord All-Powerful is the one who will set Israel free. And he says, “I am the only God. There are no other gods. I am the Beginning and the End. “Don’t be afraid! Don’t worry. I am the one who always told you what would happen. You are my proof. There is no other God; I am the only one. There is no other ‘Rock’; I know I am the only one.”

I have chosen not to fill my mind with things that will rob me of my peace. I’ve been criticized many times for hiding my head in the sand but truly, that’s not why I don’t watch the news or read the paper. I hear what’s going on with Ebola virus and ISIS, I intercede for those affected and I pray a hedge of protection around my family and our nation. I’m not naive to think that these things could not touch us, but I must do everything possible to protect my peace. I must remember that my God is All-Powerful, the only God. I must remember that He’s the Beginning and the End. I must remember that His angels surround me and that His covenant promises of protection are mine.

Philippians 4:6-7 says; Don’t worry about anything, but pray and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks for what you have.  And because you belong to Christ Jesus, God’s peace will stand guard over all your thoughts and feelings. His peace can do this far better than our human minds.

Did you see that? His peace will stand guard over all our thoughts and feelings. He keeps them in check. Not our peace, that is fickle! But HIS peace. Nothing can compare with His peace. Trust me, when it leaves, you know it!

So today as you go about your day and feel the cares of this life trying to drag you out of the peace of God, think on just who God is and what he is able to do. I love what Paul said in Philippians 4:8-9; Brothers and sisters, continue to think about what is good and worthy of praise. Think about what is true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected.  And do what you learned and received from me—what I told you and what you saw me do. And the God who gives peace will be with you.

Father, thank you for your peace. It’s really hard to describe. It’s like a down-filled comforter that keeps out the cold night, wrapping me up all toasty warm. There could be tentacles of ice all around my head but it can’t affect me in my place of peace. Whenever life gets overwhelming and I can’t do a thing about it, I come to you for you alone have the ability to take care of this. I’m absolutely confident that you love me and that it’s your goal to protect me and keep me, to care for me. So while the storm rages on the outside, I’ll be on the inside wrapped in you. No place I’d rather be than here in your arms. Amen

What has God asked you to do and are you doing it? Are you making excuses as to why you can’t do it? Do you allow your feelings or human logic to hold you back? Perhaps you lack the proper education or your job keeps you too busy to pursue ministry opportunities. That’s not going to fly with Jesus. You go after what you desire the most so what is it you’re pursuing? It’s one thing to go to church, hear the Word, receive the Word and love the Word, but it’s still another to carry that Word, live that Word and work the Word.

Mark 8:34-38; Then Jesus called the crowd and his followers to him. He said, “Any of you who want to be my follower must stop thinking about yourself and what you want. You must be willing to carry the cross that is given to you for following me.  Any of you who try to save the life you have will lose it. But you who give up your life for me and for the Good News will save it.  It is worth nothing for you to have the whole world if you yourself are lost.  You could never pay enough to buy back your life.  People today are so sinful. They have not been faithful to God. As you live among them, don’t be ashamed of me and my teaching. If that happens, I will be ashamed of you when I come with the glory of my Father and the holy angels.”

When I read this, I thought, ‘He could be speaking to us today instead of his disciples so long ago.’ I would have loved to hang out with Jesus, hearing first hand his every word, seeing the miracles, being one of his disciples, but guess what? The only difference between then and now is that there was one Jesus with them in the flesh, he was the first born of many brothers (Romans 8:29). We are to be like Jesus! Doing what he did, affecting lives as he did, healing the sick, raising the dead. He said, “Don’t be ashamed of me and my teaching.” He said to be like him. I’m not there yet! Are you?

Thank you Father for helping me to see how far I have to go but how close I am to the one who changes me. I want to be like your son, but I know that I must lose my own life to do that. I’m afraid. Draw me close to you. However painful that may be, it would be more painful to disappoint you by not trusting you with my life. Standing in front of you, face to face, I long to hear you say, “Well done! You’ve finished well, enter into my rest.” I don’t want any regrets. I don’t want to live selfishly, not even for one moment. I just love you so much. I don’t want to lose one of those you’ve placed in my path to affect for your Kingdom. Help me to be a faithful encourager. To challenge people to go deeper into your presence, to hunger for more of you. It’s in your precious name I ask this. Amen

King Soloman had a dream. God appeared to him and said, “What can I give you? Ask.” I love his response to the Lord in I Kings 3:9-14 MSG; “Here’s what I want: Give me a God-listening heart so I can lead your people well, discerning the difference between good and evil. For who on their own is capable of leading your glorious people?”

God, the Master, was delighted with Solomon’s response. And God said to him, “Because you have asked for this and haven’t grasped after a long life, or riches, or the doom of your enemies, but you have asked for the ability to lead and govern well, I’ll give you what you’ve asked for—I’m giving you a wise and mature heart. There’s never been one like you before; and there’ll be no one after. As a bonus, I’m giving you both the wealth and glory you didn’t ask for—there’s not a king anywhere who will come up to your mark. And if you stay on course, keeping your eye on the life-map and the God-signs as your father David did, I’ll also give you a long life.”

He asked for a heart that hears God and the ability to discern between good and evil. What a request! Such a wise request to ask of an all-knowing and all-wise God. Solomon recognized his need to have someone wiser than himself to go to, to talk to and to ask advice. So many of us would do well to ask the same thing from our Father. The beauty of this is that not only did God give him wisdom, he also gave him wealth, glory and long life to enjoy it all.

We’re all familiar with the life of Solomon. At the end of his life he wrote that there is nothing under the sun that satisfies but God. All the wisdom and wealth pales in comparison to communion with God. Friendships are wonderful; I relish all of mine.  Everyone God’s added to my life, both intimate friends and acquaintances, they are treasures to me, but there is one friend I hold dearer than any other and that is Jesus. In the words of the old hymn, “No one ever cared for me like Jesus. There’s no other friend so kind as he. No one else can take the sin and darkness from me. Oh how much he cares for me.”

I may not be as wise or wealthy as Solomon, but I have more than many because I have Jesus. I am rich in love. I wade knee deep in compassion. His tender mercies are new each morning. Each time the sun comes up, I hear him whisper his love to me. Every time I lay my head to sleep, I’m aware of him. The weather outside doesn’t affect that love, nor do rumors of wars or terrorists. His peace and presence guard my heart and mind. I am constantly watching and listening for my orders, where he leads me I will always follow. Faithful friend. Amazing lover. Ever present to help in time of need. Provider, Protector, Shepherd, Lion of Judah, King of kings, Lord of lords. My friend.

Thank you Father for the gift of your Son. I’m so comforted to know I’m never alone, he is always with me. The more I know you and your ways, the more I desire to be with you. You never mention my faults to me, you just cover them with your love. Please help me to love like that. To cover those around me with your love so that their sin is not even evident to others. Help me to shower them so with your love that they too are drawn to you. It’s your love that changes us. It’s changed me and I thank you.

I love the story of Joseph, the one with the coat of many colors, favorite son of Jacob. The older I get, the more I look back on my own life and realized just how intricate the detailed plans of God are for my life. My favorite take from his story is the end, when his brothers came to him and he revealed who he was to them.

Genesis 50:20, It is true that you planned to do something bad to me. But really, God was planning good things. God’s plan was to use me to save the lives of many people. And that is what happened.

They had devised evil in their heart for their brother. Jealousy and pride are never a great mix, are they? I personally think there are better ways to teach someone a lesson, but than, I’m not God. People do what they do and God is always working out the messes we get ourselves into. I can’t even imagine! I wonder if he ever just wanted a ‘do over’! Maybe that’s what he did with Noah. Regardless, Joseph trusted in God. He trusted that the covenant promise God made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob extended to him as well. He trusted that no matter where he was, God was with him.

Perhaps this is what we’re lacking today in our walk through life. Perhaps we don’t know who we are or whose we are. I Peter 2:9 & 10 says, “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.” 

We have been chosen to be Gods own special people and our purpose is to proclaim his goodness, to worship and praise his Name. How amazing! We are to be a praise to God in the earth. Our lives are a reflection of Him. Love should be the first thing people see when they look at us because we are made in His image and likeness. Our Father is love so therefore we should be love. Like Joseph, we should just know that God has plans for us and yield to HIS ability to make that happen, even out of bad things.

Father, thank you for making me your own daughter. I have inherited your smile, your laugh, your goodness, your mercy, your compassion and your love. I know that many of those attributes aren’t always on display, but you have cleaned me up and continue to make me more like you. I won’t focus on the bad in me, but the good that you see, for I am yours and you are mine. Your plans for me are good plans. Every detail of my life has been worked out so that your Kingdom will be seen on the earth. Your way of doing and being will be evident in those who are called by your name. You even take what my enemies mean for my demise and use them for good.

Continue to order my steps and surprise me in my journey, for my heart trusts in you. Hand in hand you will guide me, and I will follow you all of my days. It’s in the name of Jesus I ask this, Amen.

Unbelief puts you at odds with God. It can keep the supernatural from manifesting. Bill Winston

Mark 9:21-27, So He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.  And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!”  Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.

Notice what Jesus did here-he addressed the unbelief before he healed the boy. When the young boys dad acknowledged his belief in Jesus’ ability to heal and deliver his son, he asked for something so important that we all need to remember; “Help my unbelief!” Why? Because it’s not always easy to keep your focus on Gods ability when what you see with your eyes tries to pull you in the opposite direction.

James 1:2-7 says it like this; My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

I see that, don’t you? Doubt is like a wave in the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. If you let your mind go there, it drives you this way and that way, up and down, over and under. What if this happens, or what if that happens? What will we do? Where will we go? I know God CAN do it but WILL he do it? Will he do it for me? The answer is yes. Maybe not in your time but in His. It may be too late for you but it’s never too late for God. He can turn anything into a good thing if you’ll allow him to. Change your attitude to gratitude and get your praise on.

This is my prayer for you today: Ephesians 1:18-20 “I pray that God will open your minds to see his truth. Then you will know the hope that he has chosen us to have. You will know that the blessings God has promised his holy people are rich and glorious. And you will know that God’s power is very great for us who believe. It is the same as the mighty power he used to raise Christ from death and put him at his right side in the heavenly places.” My friend, do not doubt God, it’s only keeping you from receiving all he has planned for you. Instead, lift your hands and ask him to help you with your unbelief, then watch and see him work out all the details of his plans.

Have you ever put a puzzle together only to find there is a piece missing? You look in the couch cushions, under the chairs, everywhere you can think of but can’t locate that one piece that completes the picture you spent so much time putting together. How very frustrating! So you throw the puzzle away only to find the missing piece a week later in your closet, stuck to the bottom of your shoe.

I was listening to a teaching on Sunday morning that I had recorded, actually a three part series which I listened to twice by Creflo Dollar on unbelief. I had dvr’d it over a month ago, but sometimes God knows when you’re ready to hear something and receive it, so he saves it for a specific time. I can’t share the entire teaching, but I’d like to share a few points with you because I truly believe that this is an area of our lives that has to be dealt with so that we can see the manifestation of the promises of God come to pass in our lives.

Unbelief comes from the following:

1. Through ignorance. Simply not knowing or the lack of knowledge.

2. Through disbelief. This is defined as wrong teaching. Sometimes man will but his own twist on things based on his knowledge and not the revealed knowledge of God.

3. Through natural things. Our five physical senses will cause us to not believe in the promises of God.

4. Through a hardened heart. The more we focus on unfulfilled promises, we harden our heart to the possibility of it happening, thus rendering the Word of God ineffective in our lives.

I’d just like to focus on number 3 for a minute, because that seems to be where most of us tend to land. We are so affected by what we see with our natural eyes that we allow it to dominate us. Matthew 17: 15-17 tells about a man who had taken his epileptic son to the disciples to be cured but they couldn’t do anything, so Jesus cast out the demon and healed the boy. Go with me to verses 19-20, “Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?”  So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.”

So we see that it had nothing to do with their faith, but rather their unbelief. Tiny faith can move mountains, but doubt will keep it stuck right where it is. Do you see that? We don’t need more faith to obtain the promise, we just need to believe more than we don’t. Instead of throwing the puzzle away, ask God to show you where the missing piece is and wait for him to show you. We’re so impatient that many times we simply miss out because we can’t ‘see’ it. That is why it is so important to read the Word of God, to see what he did then and know that he is the same yesterday, today and forever. What he did for them, he will do for us.

Your age is not a factor. Your body is not a factor. Your job is not a factor. Your lack is not a factor. You need to change your thinking to BIG GOD, tiny problem. Romans 8:11 says; “But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” There you go! 

Father, thank you for giving me your Holy Spirit. He leads me into all truth, making me aware of how great you are. Thank you for putting things in perspective for me, showing me just how small the things I face are compared to your great and mighty power that works in me. This natural world has to respond to the supernatural power of God in me. I call forth life into visions and dreams. Is anything too hard for you, oh Lord? Like Abraham, I won’t consider what things ‘look’ like in this natural, ever changing world. I will only consider the promises you’ve made to me. I see you putting substance onto those dreams and breathing your life into them. I will accomplish the things you’ve told me to do and you will get all the glory for it. In Jesus Name, AMEN!

Philippians 3:17-19 ERV Brothers and sisters, join together in following my example. Also, learn by watching those who are living the way we showed you.  There are many who live like enemies of the cross of Christ. I have often told you about them. And it makes me cry to tell you about them now. The way they live is leading them to destruction. They have replaced God with their own desires. They do shameful things, and they are proud of what they do. They think only about earthly things.

How many know of someone who is directionally challenged? You know, you give them directions to get to a certain destination and they end up in the opposite direction, in a place you’re not familiar with and they call you, lost, wanting you to direct them out. All I can say is, thank God for google maps! LOL! I can’t tell you how many times this has happened to someone close to me, but enough where I’ve encouraged her to learn to use maps for herself so she can navigate herself out of where she is. The sad thing is, when she goes with her father, it’s like the blind leading the blind! Sometimes they will arrive fine at their destination, but coming back they get lost.

Although this has been the source of may good laughs, it’s never a fun thing to be lost. It can be frustrating for the person driving and the one trying to talk them out. (I think I just got a knot in my stomach thinking about it!) Thankfully, we have a Heavenly Father who is patient with us when we get lost, and we do. This world can be unfamiliar territory to us and God longs to show us which way to go if we’ll only take the time to sit with him and listen to his voice.

Psalm 89:14 NIV says; Your kingdom is built on what is right and fair. Your truth and faithful love lead the way in front of you.

His truth is his Word! In Psalm 23, David wrote that He leads me beside still waters and that he would not fear for God was with him. Psalm 119:11 says that I’ve hidden your Word in my heart that I might not sin against you. All great navigational tools to help guide us through life, yet we become wise in our own eyes and ways and think we can do it without help, without a map. We keep going until we are completely out of options and then we call to him, “We’re lost! We don’t know where we are! Can you help us find our way back?”

John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

“I once was lost, but now I’m found. Was blind but now I see!” Amazing Grace. Once you’ve experience the amazing grace of God and known the cost of that grace, you’ll appreciate the navigational tools God has given.  I don’t make a trip without checking my google app to see what the traffic looks like, what the best way to drive would be, but most of all, I consult with God. I ask HIM which way should I go, because I can see what it looks like right now, but he can see what is going to happen before I get there. That’s just one advantage of knowing God and relying on him for everything.

Father, you know the plans you have for me and I’m thankful that I hear your voice. Today might just be another day when I get up and go to work, but first, I just want to take time to be in your presence, to get direction for today. What would you have me pray? What would you have me do? Is there someone you want me to speak to today? Should I go this way to work or that way to work? Most important though, lead me in your truth. Reveal to me the mysteries in your Word so that I might gain wisdom and understanding. I have hidden your Word in my heart so that I might not get lost along the way. It’s in Jesus’ Name I ask this. Amen

Just wanted to share an amazing word from the Lord that I heard this morning during morning prayer. It was a part of a song we were listening to from IHOPKC (International House of Prayer, Kansas City). Let’s call this an addendum to this mornings blog. If you haven’t read it yet, take the time to do so.

Write your plans down
Write them down
I am with you to cause your plans to succeed
I’ve seen your heart and the way that you go
You know better than to trust yourself alone
But you’ve waited and you let me test you
And today I say to you trust My hand
Do you trust that I made you ready?
Do you trust that I want to bless those plans
Write them down
Don’t be afraid
Will you come out of your comfort zone?
Come out into the waters where you live by faith
Will you come out of your comfort zone?
Write down the very dreams in your heart and speak them to me
Go and write them down again
Tell me what you have on your heart
Don’t be afraid of the past
Don’t be afraid
I will give you the desires of your heart
I will make all your plans succeed
I will give you the desires of your heart.

Jeremiah 29:11 says; For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

It blessed me so much that I wanted to share it with you, the hopeless, the weary and worn. Your tears have been seen, your cries have been heard, place your trust in the Lord. Don’t be afraid to step out of the boat and walk on water. It’s what he created you for. Sure it’s scary, but he’ll carry you. Keep your eyes on him and he will keep you afloat when you feel you’re sinking. He’s your life jacket. He bottles all of your tears. He’s well able.

I’m excited for you. I’m excited for me! Makes me want to do the happy dance and I don’t care what people might think! Burdens are lifted. Yokes are destroyed. He wants us to walk in victory. He wants us to cheer even before we see the finish line. Woot Woot!