The past couple of days I’ve been busy looking backwards to 2018–as I gathered all the info and looked at the paid bills laying on my table I began to thank the Lord for His faithfulness. It was an interesting “coincidence” that I read “give to Caesar that which is Caesar” scripture yesterday morning. Like most people, I do not enjoy figuring out all the numbers involved. My situation is a bit different than most because as a small non-profit ministry there are extra steps involved. I send my information to a reputable tax preparer who stays up on all the tax changes and I am so grateful for their expertise.

This year I found myself grateful for the opportunity to celebrate God’s supply and grateful for simply my needs being met. As I sorted through my bills–everything from my utilities, my property taxes, medical and prescription bills and all the house maintenance issues that were paid this year I was overwhelmed at His faithfulness. Everyone was paid! Everyone represented God meeting a need. I just couldn’t help but thank Him for His faithfulness.

It wasn’t just my needs getting met, but also the blessing in looking at the financial gifts I was able to give when I received the giving statement from the ministries I gave too. I am a faithful “tither” and offering giver as well…so to really look at the numbers and thank Him for the opportunity to give was also refreshing.

Our church theme for last year was to “live generously”. It is an on-going underlying theme for this year as well. What a joy to participate–not just in giving financially to and through our church, but also individually to others. Due to maintenance issues with my home, I faced extra challenges this year. It was humbling when the Lord put it on others hearts to give to help offset my need. Thank you to all of you who helped in so many different ways. But it also brought back to mind the opportunities I took this past year to live generously as well. None of those opportunities will show up as a tax deduction, but I know that as I sow in one area, I shall reap in another.

This is the first year that I can remember where I actually thanked the Lord for the opportunity to really look at His financial faithfulness! I normally muddle my way through it all and just being grateful it is done…instead I am grateful for the new perspective He gave me in simply “doing my taxes”. He is truly a good and faithful God!

Condemnation, guilt or shame can cause us to try and prove our worth to the Lord which can often promote a sense of being driven or compelled to live up to a standard God has not set for us. It is a miserable place to be, and not God’s choice for his children. Only by applying His work on the cross will we come out of the condemnation, guilt and shame and into His marvelous light where we can be led by His wonderful Spirit.

So what does being led by the Spirit of God look like?

1. People who are led by the Spirit of God will be led into His Truth, which results in freedom. This freedom is full of life and liberty. Walking in this freedom brings security, not tormenting fear. John 8:32 Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. Psalm 25.5 And you will know the truth and the truth will set you free. John 8:32

2. The Spirit leads us besides still waters where our soul is restored. He leads me besides still waters; he restores my soul. Psalm 23:2,3 When was the last time you followed Him into stillness? A tattered soul is not a healthy soul. Take time to ask Him for His restoration. Follow Him to those places of healing. Do no be afraid of them.

3, The Spirit leads us in the paths which will glorify the Lord and causes us to walk uprightly and righteously. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Psalm 23:3. It isn’t about us, but we are called to live them for “his name’s sake”. He leads us away from selfishness and sin.

4. The Spirit does not leads us into temptation. For the honor of your name, lead me out of this danger. Psalm 31:3 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Matthew 6:13

5. We are led by His hand no matter where we may be. Again, we follow Him with the secure knowledge that He knows what the things that are on the path we encounter. If I take the wings of the dawn. If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea. Even there Your hand will lead me, and Your right hand will lay hold of me. Psalm 139;10 Even if we go astray, He will rescue us.

6. His Spirit leads us in safety and confidence if we keep following Him. But God led his people out like sheep, and he guide them like a flock through the desert. He led them to safety so they had nothing to fear. Psalm 78:53 Some people had wandered in the desert lands. They found no city in which to live. They were hungry and thirsty, and they were discouraged. In their misery they cried out to the Lord, and he saved them from their troubles. He led them on a straight road to a city where they could live. Psalm 107:4-7

7. His Spirit will lead us to change our ways when they are not His ways. Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance? Romans 2:4

8. His Spirit will lead us to pick up our cross daily. Then He said to them all, “if anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 923 Remember it isn’t all about us, but about Him!

We must prepare our mind for action against this other counterfeit spirit who would seek to drives to attempt to do God’s will by our own strength and for impure or mixed motives. God’s Spirit has a plan and purpose for each of us in helping establish His Kingdom. He desires to use us in such a way the He is glorified. It is not that we will not be “busy about our Father’s business”, it is that his Spirit is operating within us, allowing us to rest in our busyness, to trust in His time table and to enjoy the journey along the way.

One last thought. Unfortunately, driven people, especially leaders have a tendency to drive others. It is most essential that we are honest with ourselves as well as Him if we have been influenced by this driving spirit.

Father, I ask that you impart to us the ability, by your grace and Spirit to help us discern the difference between being led and being driven. Lead them besides the still waters, restore our souls so that we can begin again following your leadership to accomplish your plan and purpose.. This is a needed lesson. Please help us be aware when the enemy is lying to us about these things, that we may turn a deaf hear to Him and listen only to your voice, We trust you, my Father.

Standing in a Sunday service, the communion table set before us, the worship team wonderfully leading us into His Presence with beautiful words and music, friends all around–when my mind and spirit were assaulted by this overwhelming sense of failure, worthlessness and torment. Tormenting thoughts of why aren’t you ding more for the Kingdom began to swirl around my mind, making me feel so bad I wanted to run from the service. I began to fight these thoughts by praying in the Spirit, deliberately focusing my mind on Him and rebuking Satan. The struggle was quite real and the feeling of being a disappointment to our God was so strong. I began to cry out “help me, Lord”–as my mind began racing trying to defend myself through all the things I had “done” for Him while immediately counteracting it with “it’s not all about me” or solely about obedience and accomplishing His assignments for me life.

What was going on? Finally His Spirit cut through this mental chaos with the question “How much would you have to do for me each week to feel good about yourself? I immediately knew these tormenting thoughts were from Satan and are never satisfied. I said, “Lord you and I both know I am worthy only because of Your finished work on the Cross”. the siege lifted and I was able to truly enter into worship.

As I continued to pray, asking the Lord for further revelation, I began to understand that this was an extreme attack of something that can happen much more subtly and therefore is even much more insidious. The goal of these mental attacks is to move us form being led by the Spirit to begin driven to try and win approval, acceptance and appease and satisfy this god substitute.

This I not like our God. Yes, He does expect obedience and conformity to His Spirit. He does expect us to submit to His Lordship, but this all happens in the context of being led by His Spirit.

The definition of the word ‘driven” has a compulsive or urgent quality. The Bible refers to God driving out His enemies, or to Jesus driving out demons. Being driven compromises our peace. In an effort to “feel” values and worth a driven person often adds more busyness to their schedule. Since those things may be “good” things, but not God tings little or no fruit is born and the cycle intensifies. People who are driven instead of being led usually exhibit little or no joy in their activities. Driven people are driven back into the law, not into life.

Next week we will look at the blessing of being “led”! But in the meantime, take time to examine your life before the Lord, ask Him to show you any places you may be feeling “driven” and ask Him for His perspective.

(I wrote this article for Real Women, a newsletter published in 2008. I used it today due to a conversation that took place in our Life Group this week.)

“Stir up the gift of God which is in you” Paul wrote to his dear son, Timothy. (2 Timothy 1:6) Other translations exhort him to “fan into flames the spiritual gift God has given you.” 1 Corinthians 12:7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. Somebody else needs you to use your gifts.

A few weeks ago my power went out. Fortunately I have an alternate heating source, a wood stove insert. I have been saving some wood for just this scenario, but I struggled in getting the fire going. Starting fires from scratch can be difficult. My paper source was limited so it took me quite awhile to get that fire going. I had tiny matches, which with the draft from the stove kept blowing out before I got to the paper! But, I was determined to get the fire going so I could have heat and a place to boil water for my coffee!

In our earlier married life, my husband and I lived in several places where we used wood heat as our primary heat source. The difference between then and now (besides the fact he was usually the fire starter) was we kept the fired “banked” at night. There were usually coals that with a little encouragement or “fanning” the fire would quickly catch the new logs on fire. Paul’s encouragement to Timothy to “stir up the gift of God which is in him” speaks strongly to us today. Have the circumstances of your life caused you to let your gifts go dormant? These gifts can range from all of the spiritual gifts listed in Romans 12 or 1 Corinthians 12, of course. The gifts of encouragement, exhortation, comfort are so needed these days.

Stirring and fanning are very deliberate actions. We, as individuals are to stir up or fan our own flames. How do we do that? First we must believe there is a good gift that needs to be stirred. If your “fire” has gone out or dwindled to almost nothing, please know your gifts are important to those around you. Take time to pray, asking the Lord to bring His truth to the situation is vital. Satan would love for your fire to go out completely. Your influence to be shut down and the help it brings to others to be thwarted. I say it again, your gift is important. Your words of encouragement and caring may be the very thing that spurs another on to stir up their gift. Natural fires go out if the logs are separated. Spiritual life also diminishes if we try to do life alone. Timothy needed Paul’s encouragement. We need to encourage others to keep burning bright. Stir up any dormant gifts you have been keeping in reserve. Activate them, see what God will do in and through you.

Do you ever approach a new year like it was a “blank slate”? Just waiting to be written on? Seeing it as a fresh start? The cynical part of me thinks the only thing changing is the date I need to write on my checks (yes, I still write a few!). Fresh beginnings are actually available everyday. Leviticus reminds us that His mercies are new every morning. But I do know that we can use it as an opportunity to make some very really choices that can change how we will end 2019.

Those choices (others may call them resolutions) involve our will and our perspective. This past year our Life Group ladies did an in depth study of Lysa Terkeurst’s book Uninvited. (I have mentioned it before), but a phrase from that book brought me to some choices I include in every difficult situation I face. “What would it look like if I faced this situation “feeling loved?”. Of course I am loved. Jesus proved it by accepting His assignment on the cross for me. The choice I make is to believe it enough to let it really change my approach to Him and others and the challenges of life I face. It is not a magical phrase like abracadabra–but it has become my actual reality that I turn to when I begin to feel anxious, nervous, rejected or disappointed.

I have had a lot of expenses this year with my home. So I struggled a bit with how to “do” Christmas with and for my family. The “coffers” were looking pretty grim and especially when I anticipated what would have been left after I paid my bills. Instead of fretting, I said, “Lord, you help me. You know my budget and I ask that you give me creative solutions so I can be a blessing to my family and others. I choose to trust your love for me, my family and my friends. I am still loved by you. You love them. I release this situation into your hands”. Oh my what He did! I received extra cash from three friends and then an investment years ago by my dad showed up in a surprising, amazing over the top way!

The choice to be grateful for what I had, to trust Him with what I did not have, resting in His provision saved me from anxious moments of “what do I do”, “how do I do it?” That was my choice. The day that the investment showed up, I was in Walmart. Our power had been out for 14 hours–but was restored. I overheard a woman with two children talking about candles etc. I asked her if she was still without power. She said yes, that she had booked into a motel with her two children (2 and 6). The six year old said, “yes, we were down to two candles. Her mom, said “yes, one I use for my baths!” The daughter said and the other one we got at Daddy’s service.” I asked her “are you a widow?” She said yes, and I said, “so am I”. We hugged and maybe shed a tear or two. I asked her if she had a church family, she said I go to Life Church! I laughed and said, so do I! Because of God’s faithfulness I was able to purchase some craft supplies for them to do in the motel room. That is what they needed. It was a blessing to all of us. The mom felt loved and seen by her Savior. The girls were blessed with some tangible gifts of God’s care and a story they could tell. (By the way the Lord impressed me to go to Walmart at that time to pick up bread to have when my grand-kids were coming over later that morning. It was a bit of a struggle to climb out of my warm bed on a Saturday morning, listening to His voice. I am glad I made that choice!

Joshua 24:1: Choose you this day whom you will serve.  Choosing His way is much easier when we trust and rely on His grace and love. Father, I ask that as we approach this New Year that you will help us continue to grow in your ways. If there are still areas we have not learned to appropriate your love, I ask that you help us learn your ways. We choose your yoke today. we choose to accept your burden for us and walk with you. In Jesus Name Amen

It is even closer now. This wonderful amazing time we celebrate our Savior’s birth. When my children celebrated their birthdays (and now even our grandchildren) we would ask them how they wanted to celebrate their new milestone. We always tried to customize the party to truly honor the individual and their preferences. Yesterday, my granddaughter Malise was already planning her birthday–even though she doesn’t turn six until March!

So it led me to wonder–how would Jesus like his birthday remembered? I know it probably he was not born on December 25th–nobody knows exactly the date of His birth. As a family we have developed our own traditions–some we have had to adjust over the years as our family has grown and developed. I know some people always have a birthday cake for Jesus–but that was not something we chose to do–partly because some of our family does not do cake!

One of the more unique traditions we have developed is to give each other “word” gifts before we open our presents (for us on Christmas morning). We prayerfully try to communicate God thoughts to each individual. One year my son in law painted some prophetic artwork and shared his insights with each family. I was reminded of that special Christmas Word the other day as I saw it hanging in their living room. Part of last years word I received was that I was not alone, and that I did not have to figure out life alone.

My Word gift for my readers is to remind you that you too are not alone. That even during times of struggles and difficulties, our God is there with you. He has not forsaken you–nor will He. This part of your journey is just that–a journey. You will pass through these waters and get to the other side. You will become stronger, wiser and more conformed to His nature as you allow Him to lead and guide you–even through the hard places. You are blazing trails for others. It is not easy, but it is not impossible. You will make it. You will see His Handiwork. He will open your eyes, as you ask Him to show you where He is working. Faith is stirring. Use it to touch the lives of those around you through prayer, loving actions and words of encouragement. Do not give up or grow weary in well doing, for your reward in releasing your faith is real. Trust Him. Look to Him. Seek Him. It is so worth it my friends. Take time to bask in His love and care–for He is worthy, He is trustworthy and He is able to carry you through.

Merry Christmas!

God has freely given each of us an unlimited supply of words.  Words that can be used anyway we want–words that can build up and as we all know can tear down.  In one of my imaginative jaunts I wondered what it would be like if there was a meter gadget set by my mouth that monitored my words?  There is an idiom that encourages us to “weigh our words”.  So would my “foolish” words print out as nothing?  Weightless?  Would the harsher, harder words come forth in bold?  Or the ones printed in season come forth in gold?  Of course this thought is foolishness.  And who is to say a nonsensical fun conversation with a two year old is wasted words?  However, words are important!  They can add value to a person, or they can reduce a person to feel like they are nothing.  It is my goal to use them to add value to those I am around.  It’s not easy, and I don’t always do it “right”.

Words of course spring from our heart/soul.  James talks to us about it being a little “member” but it can stir up a forest fire.  But it can also calm the heart, bring hope to the hopeless and a word of encouragement to those who are discouraged.  I am so grateful to those who have spoken words of encouragement in my life–during my dark seasons.  Those timely words carry me through other dark times.  They are like a gift that keeps on giving.

Learning to give those words starts from an outward looking heart.  It takes intention and it takes governing our thoughts at other times.  Praying ahead of time for conversations we know are going to happen is a great place to start.  Asking the Holy Spirit to lead and direct them with His grace and love can open the door for His Words to flow.   Becoming a good listener is also super important.  I keep trying to get better at that part.  

Just remember if one word, spoken to you can change the course of your life, so can one word spoken with His love change the course of another’s life.  Reckless words pierce like a sword Proverbs 12:18; The tongue has the power of death and life (Proverbs 18:21
Which one will you choose to follow?  I know it is a struggle to control that little beastie–but we can do it with the Holy Spirit’s help.