Has He Ever Failed?

Fear has a way of popping up frequently in our lives. This is the enemies way of trying to exalt fear over God’s Word. There are days and seasons in our lives where fear may seem to be gripping us. Times in my life where I sense fear or fearful thoughts I remind myself of the faithfulness of my God. I ask myself a simple question, “Has He ever failed me?” The answer is no.

Then I begin to think on how many times He has been faithful to me, my husband, our family, and our church. He NEVER ONCE has not come through. He NEVER ONCE has failed me. He NEVER ONCE has abandoned or forsaken me. When I begin to remember and remind myself of His faithfulness to me fear is driven out.

Joshua 23:14 “And behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth. Know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the Lord your God promised concerning you. ALL have come to pass for you; not one thing of them has failed.”

We serve a God who is good on His Word. If His Word says we can have it, then we can have it. If His Word says we can do it, then we can do it.

Today, remind yourself of God’s faithfulness to you. If he did it before He will do it again for you! HE HAS NOT AND NEVER WILL FAIL ME, and I know HE HAS NOT AND NEVER WILL FAIL YOU!

Safe Living Insults God

At a recent conference I attended, I heard one of the guest speakers say this phrase, and it stuck with me. He said, “stop insulting God with safe living!” As I ponder this statement I am consistently reminded that a life of faith is what pleases God. That is found in Hebrews 11:6 if you wanna go check it out. In fact, read the entire chapter because you will witness a whole bunch of real people that were used by God in extraordinary ways! This is what I am talking about with safe living.

We like to live life in the perimeters of me, myself, and I. Its a box that is super easy to fall into and not so easy to get out of. Life becomes monotonous as we eat the cereal of this box which is, wake up, go to work, come home, go to sleep…wake up, go to work, come home, go to sleep, and the cycle goes on and on. I would like to say something to you! God didn’t create you for you and give you all the giftings He gave you for you! Everything He has given to you is for other people! When you read Hebrews 11, notice that all these people attained a GOOD report because they lived life outside the box and in faith. Over and over it talks about by faith, by faith, by faith!! Every one of these stories includes ordinary people just like me and you who said yes to God and impacted millions, if not billions of people…how can I back that up?? Well these things were written thousands of years ago and today we are still encouraged by what they did! When you step out and obey God, its not just going to effect today for you, its going to effect eternity!!

So how do we get faith to do what God has placed us here for? Romans 10:17 says that faith comes by hearing and hearing Gods word. Time fellowshipping with the Father is going to build your faith to step outside of the safe living box and over into the God is moving in my life category!! If we want to see God move, we need to give Him something to move with. Ask Him today to use you and when you feel the tug on your heart (direction), just do what He says to do! There is nothing like being used by God to reach people! Step out of the safe side of life and over into a robust life of living by faith in what He said to you!!

Psalm 40

One of my favorite worship songs is taken directly from Psalms 40:1-3 (KJV).

I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.

He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord.

This passage of scripture is a great reminder of what God has done for us.

Living in Arkansas - I am familiar with ‘miry clay’. I can recall having to dig up a sewer line (more than once) which was surrounded with clay. It was so difficult to work in. The more you are in it, the more it sticks to your shoes, and it becomes a great burden. The psalmist tells us that God has lifted us out of this burden and put our feet upon a rock - a sure foundation.

Verse 3 tells us that he puts a new song in our mouths, and many will see this and put their trust in the Lord. This reminds me of a friend that I used to work with that was far away from God. He abused drugs regularly and was always in trouble. One day he came into work, and I could visibly see that he was changed. He had a genuine light in his eyes, and he told me that he had given his life to the Lord that weekend. From that moment on, he lived completely different than he had previously. God had given him a 'new song, even praise to our God!’

When people see a 'new song’ in someone (especially if they know how bad the 'old song’ was) they take note and are in awe of God’s work. This 'new song’ causes them to put their trust in the Lord! Take some time today to think about what God has done for you and give Him the praise He deserves.

Simply Believe

I love the simplicity of God’s Word. His creation is so intricate and detailed, yet the concepts of faith and Christianity in general are simple. He doesn’t make us jump through hoops and hurdles to obtain a certain title or destiny. Take faith for example. Having faith means you have heard God’s word on something, and you believe it. You heard the Word of God on the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and believed it, therefore you are saved.

Children don’t complicate faith, they simply believe. Whatever issue you might be facing today, regardless of the size of it, are you focusing on the issue? Are you making the situation more complicated than you should? I encourage you to get God’s word about it, and simply believe. Matthew 21:22 NIV If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.

Fact or Opinion?

In a recent leadership meeting, Kevin and Susan Fletcher spoke to us about our “hard drive”, and how we process information. I thought I would share a couple of nuggets with you today that ministered to me.

Did you know that just like a computer, we as human beings have a hard drive? What is that? It’s our core belief system. This system was formed in each of us the same way – our past experiences, how we were brought up as a child, our culture, circumstances, what was imparted to us through teachers, parents, friends, television, pastors, Sunday school teachers, books, grandparents … .well, you get the picture. Our hard drive has been programmed by many variables in our lives. It is through our hard drive that we relate to one another.

The greatest gifts that God gives us are PEOPLE. RELATIONSHIPS. We HAVE TO recognize that the enemy of our souls is going to attack in any way possible to bring hurt, offense, strife, misunderstanding, and ultimately a complete separation in what is meant to be our greatest blessings. And if we don’t recognize his tactics, as well as, acknowledge and accept responsibility for our own hard drive, our relationships are going to be in serious danger of blowing up.

Relationally speaking, we deal with two main categories: facts and opinions. Facts are indisputable and based on rational thought. Opinions are disputable, based on personal belief and, hear this, come from our emotional realm.

For example, if you and I pass each other in the hallway, how are you going to interpret that? How many times have we emotionally processed an event like this and formed – let’s call it what it is, an opinion? Based on our “hard drive”, we begin to formulate what actually went down. She didn’t stop and talk to me. We begin to read between the lines, and thoughts such as, “What have I done? I’m just invisible. I don’t matter. I thought we were friends. I don’t fit in here.” You know the drill. Through one little encounter, we have written a whole novel based on nothing but opinion! The fact is: we passed each other in the hallway. That’s it. Period.

We don’t see things as they are. We see things as we are. I’m going to repeat that just in case you read over it too quickly. We don’t see things as they are. We see things as WE are. We interpret things that people say and do through our past experiences, our values, and our culture, - through our hard drive, instead of based on actual facts of the event.

The really great thing about our hard drive, though, is that it can be re-programmed! My will cannot change my hard drive, but God’s Word can! Every single time I choose God’s Word, which is Truth, my set of core values is adjusted. Oh, thank God! We never have to be a prisoner of a hard drive full of bugs and problems, but we can be liberated by the renewing of our minds to God’s way of thinking!

Romans 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude] … .

Don’t settle for what you’ve always known, or believe the lie that change can never happen because that’s “just the way you are”. We can take on new thoughts, new ways of processing information, and new ways of living. God’s Word is powerful and sharper than any two edged sword and will reprogram our hard drive in the most glorious way! But, I’m not going to lie. It takes effort. It takes time. It takes being in His Word and making His Word final authority in our lives. WE renew our minds. It’s our choice, and it is our lifeline for enjoying the most precious gifts in our lives - our relationships.

How will you process the events of today? Is it fact? Or, is it opinion? Take ownership and know the difference!

I Could Care Less

“I could care less” can be far more a statement of faith than of neglect, if we are giving our cares to God like He asks us to. I remember one time when someone was asking me about something frustrating going on in my life. My response was, “I don’t care.” I wasn’t just saying that to be rude or act tough, but I had already given that care to God so I didn’t have to carry the weight of it. Our culture would have us think that not caring or not worrying is neglecting our responsibility as a spouse, parent, friend and employee. On the contrary, God’s word tells us the exact opposite in 1 Peter 5:7. I like how the GNT version reads below:

Leave all your worries with Him, because He cares for you.

This is what the role of cares and worries should be in your life, “left with Him.” For me to worry and fret about something all day is a waste of my time when 1) I’m probably worrying about something that WON’T happen anyway, 2) It will consume my thinking and make me unproductive in every role I’m playing that day, and 3) I can’t make the situation better by worrying or caring about it!

This is why our cares should be LEFT with God. In the hands of our loving Father who can turn our cares and worries into victories! The next time your tempted to worry or care, just tell yourself out loud that you could care less. Make it a point not to be careful AKA full of care, but rather carefree in the love of Jesus!

Jump In With Both Feet!

“You can be committed to church but not committed to Christ, but you cannot be committed to Christ and not committed to church.” -Pastor Joel Osteen

Wow. What a statement. You were never meant to do life by yourself. God created us to need each other! One of the main ways He has established to strengthen, equip, train, and encourage us in life is through His Church.

Did you know the only way you will flourish in life is to stay planted in the place (local church) that God has called you to? Psalm 92:13 says, “Those who are planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God.”

Being disconnected from the body of believers He’s called you to is like taking a branch that is connected to a large oak tree and cutting it off. It won’t take long before that beautiful healthy branch begins to wither and die. Those who are planted in a local church are some of the healthiest, most stable Christians. Those who bounce all over and never get rooted into a local church seem to have a life that reflects instability and confusion.


My encouragement for you today is:
1. GET PLANTED. Find the House [local church] that God has called you to. Plug in and use the gifts and talents that God has given you.
2. STAY PLANTED. Let your roots grow deep. Then you will begin to grow and flourish into the person that God has called you to be. Bearing much fruit! This only happens by sticking to the House [local church] He has called you to. Don’t let offense, bitterness or strife be an avenue that allows the enemy to pull you out.

Hebrews 10:25 “Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.”

Have you noticed someone at BC (or the church you attend) who hasn’t been there in awhile? Or seems to have drawn back? Or maybe it’s you? Just like Hebrews 10:25 tells us, love them and encourage them to jump back in! We need each other. Or if it’s you, encourage yourself. Get an accountability partner. Decide to be all in!

Make a commitment today to Jump in with both feet. And while you’re at it, grab a friend and jump together!

Rest For Your Soul

Have you ever just had an overwhelming sense of nostalgia? Nostalgia is defined as “a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations.” Sometimes the pressures, worries, and cares of life have a tendency to cause us to want to reminisce about the “good old days”….the days when we were young and carefree. And we become very nostalgic.

I’ve been there. It usually begins with thoughts such as these: There’s not enough money to pay the house payment, my son is sick for the third time this month, and the washer just blew up. It is just easier on my mind and emotions to think about when times were much simpler. It is easier to run back in time and remember the carefree days of my youth, than it is to stand and face the grown up problems I am experiencing now. But that is not God’s best. His best is that our lives would go from glory to glory to glory. He has plans for us….plans to prosper us and to give us a great future. So how do we do that when we feel like we are about to buckle under the pressure of it all?

Psalm 62:5-8 says, “Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”

Here we find David, a man who sought to please the Lord and who loved Him, commanding his soul (his mind, will, and emotions) to find rest in God. He reminds himself that God is his rock, his salvation, and his fortress and that his hope is from Him. When pressures come, and they will, we must command our minds, wills, and emotions to find our rest in God and His loving care for us. To take on the care of our problems will only cause us to focus inward and will cripple us from recognizing others’ needs. God cares for us, and we need to trust that He does. When our souls are at rest in Him, we will find ourselves peering less and less into the past and looking ahead to the bright and glorious future He has in store for us.

What is He saying to you today?

Matthew 6:33 says, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”

Today, you may be needing answers for a circumstance you are in or maybe you need God’s direction for the day. Have you sought after Him first? Have you inquired as to what He wants you to do or maybe even say today? You see God has ALL the answers, He knows all things. So why is it that so often we turn to our spouse for answers or direction or maybe a parent, a friend, or even a sibling? God knows the end from the beginning. He knows our future, Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” He has plans for us!

So, I encourage you today to put God first above all else. To inquire of Him what He has for you today and not only that but to continually be meditating on the word that He gives you for today. Speak it out of your mouth out loud. He has a plan and He wants us to seek Him first before we go to anyone else to get it! He is good and His plans are for our good so don’t be afraid of what He might say.

Living Sacrifice

Romans 12:1

I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship.

Under the old covenant God required a sacrifice in order to make atonement for sins. Under the new covenant, Jesus has already made the ultimate sacrifice with His own blood, and so there is no longer a requirement for the sacrificial lamb. But in this verse, Paul tells us to make a decisive dedication of our bodies as a living sacrifice. God no longer has any use of a dead offering. However, he does have use of a living sacrifice - a person that is willing to lay down everything and do what His will is.

God needs you. He needs ALL of you - not just a part. This is what Paul is talking about. Are there things that you are withholding from God? Many people think of worship as simply singing songs during a church service. But Paul tells us that offering our bodies as a living sacrifice (giving everything to God everyday) is true spiritual worship. Ask God if there is anything that you have not given totally to Him, and then be willing to offer everything you have to Him as a living sacrifice.

Love Isn't An Option

A while ago Pastor Nate and I had the opportunity to speak to all of our volunteers (BTeam) for our Team Night. This is always a night that Nate and I love and look forward to. We are always overwhelmed with gratitude to the Lord and the people He has brought to us with such pure, servants hearts whose desire is to lift the Name of Jesus higher.

As we were preparing yesterday afternoon for what we were going to share to the team I asked the Lord, “what’s on YOUR heart to tell them?" He then brought me to John 15:16-17 AMP:

16 "You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as presenting all that I Am], He may give it to you.

17 "This is what I command you: that you love one another.”

He starts here by saying, He chose us before we ever chose Him….what love the Father has for us! Then, He goes on to say, He planted us! This means He chose us, and then planted us where He saw fit in the body of Christ. He summarizes these points in verse 17 by commanding us to love one another.


We need to remember 3 things:

1. We are loved and chosen by Jesus. Even before we chose Him, He loved us and chose us!
2. He planted us. He chose a specific place for us in a local church. In that place (church body) we are to stay planted.
3. Love one another. Verse 17 isn’t an option. It’s a command. Jesus is telling us we MUST love one another.

From choosing to obey and do these 3 things we will bear much fruit and we will continue to keep on bearing fruit. The good thing about a fruit bearing tree is that not only is that tree fulfilling it’s purpose or doing what it was created to do, but it is also blessing others and causing them to “taste and see that God is good!”

Today, thank the Lord for the local church that He has called you to. STAY PLANTED where He has placed you. Thank the Lord for those relationships He has put in your life. Choose to love them and the gift and treasure that they are.

Choose love. Is what your about to do choosing love? Is what your Facebook post says showing love to someone else who reads it? Today, remember that you are either building up or tearing down. Today, choose love.

Prayer Works

Have you ever thrown a penny into a pond or fountain at the mall to make a wish? We may have all done it just for fun but most everyone knows that it just doesn’t really do anything but leave some vending machine change for the next kid that comes by and grabs it. (Don’t tell me you never did that as a kid)

Sometimes I feel like that is how prayer is treated in society these days. It’s a cute thing that kids do or a nice way to tell someone you feel bad for there situation. Friends, prayer is much bigger and much more powerful than a silly pond side wish, it’s the real deal! Let’s look at this verse that tells it straight forward…

James 5:16-18…The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working]. Elijah was a human being with a nature such as we have [with feelings, affections, and a constitution like ours]; and he prayed earnestly for it not to rain, and no rain fell on the earth for three years and six months. And [then] he prayed again and the heavens supplied rain and the land produced its crops [as usual].

God wants to use us in the earth as His hands, feet and mouth piece. When we align our hearts with His plan and begin to pray out His will, we will see His word come to pass in our lives and those around us.

I encourage you today to set aside time to commune with God and allow Him to speak through you in prayer. Let prayer become a part of your daily routine, and as you grow in prayer, you will grow in your relationship with Him. Give God a place to work in your life through prayer and watch Him do the work only He can do in you and through you!

His Word Was Sent to Heal

Do you have a symptom? Is your throat sore, or your head pounding?  Are you taking medications to “ease” the pain?  Whatever it is for you, whether its sickness or disease, poverty and lack, or just frustrated relations with people, I have something to show you in God’s word! 

Open your Bible to the book of Psalms, chapter 107 and begin reading this chapter.  Over and over throughout this chapter you see the unfaithfulness of man BUT the faithfulness of God!  There is a particular scripture in here that I am clinging to today, because just like you, I have things in my own life that I am going through! 

Psalms 107:20 ESV  He sent out His Word and healed (past tense) them, AND delivered them from their destruction.  

Are you searching for healing in any areas of your life today? Begin applying this scripture by speaking it out and it won’t be long…You will begin to experience your faith growing and your situation changing to align with God’s Word that healed you, and delivered you from destruction in your life.  

We can rejoice in thankfulness that His Word healed us and delivered us from our destruction.  What a GREAT God we have.  That even when we don’t have it all together, He still does, and His Word to us is here to help us in every area of life!