Strength in Christ

God has united you with Christ Jesus. For our benefit God made him to be wisdom itself. Christ made us right with God; he made us pure and holy, and he freed us from sin. Therefore, as the Scriptures say, “If you want to boast, boast only about the Lord.


1 Corinthians 1:30-31


I used to live in fear.  I would face the threats and abuse and then cave and succumb their demands.  It was a common routine and I lived in chains that bound me to a life that felt trapped and hopeless.  After months of character assassination and feeling completely beaten into the ground, I found freedom.  I found strength. I found confidence in who I am.  I found a love beyond comprehension.


Divorce is a touchy subject.  I have had friends and family who turned their back in judgement.  It is ok.  I have learned that no one ever knows what takes place in the life of another.  No one knows the hurt, no matter what form it takes, and the decisions in which we are left to make.  


I have heard story after story of Christian women who have walked the road in which I have had to walk.  Women who have been abandoned by everyone that they previously thought loved and cared about them but each story ends the same way.  They have the most amazing relationship with Jesus.  That is where I am!


I have listened to people spew and twist scripture as an expression of their judgemental opinion (not just about me but those special to me), make assumptions based purely on gossip and love with conditions. Has it been painful? Absolutely!  Would I change a minute of it?  NO way!  Without the events that I have experienced I would have never met the Jesus in which I now know.  


I have weeded out the things and the people in my life who were cancerous.  We all have them in our life.  Sometimes we need the trials and storms in order for God to “highlight” just who they are.  It can be painful to realize who they are and we might spend a significant amount of time fighting against letting them go but once they are gone, there is a peace from God confirming our choice.  


I lived in fear because of abuse.  I lived in fear of being alone.  I lived in fear of not being able to survive financially on my own.  I lived in fear because of what others believed about me.  I lived in fear because of my divorce.  I broke free!


Because of God’s great love and faithfulness, He showed me that every bit of fear that I held on to was fear that came from man.  None of my fear was based on His truth and His love for me.  They were fears that I allowed people to place into my head because of their lack of knowledge or faith in the true character of God. Now  my confidence and faith now come because of my strong confidence in who He is. 


I truly can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength!  All that I am, all that I have become and all that I still have left to do in my life will be because of His place in my life.  

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Could this be any clearer? Patience. We must wait on God’s time. He does NOT make mistakes.

God at Work

by Charles R. Swindoll

Read Esther 1:1–22

Memucan wanted an edict prohibiting Queen Vashti from ever entering King Xerxes’ presence again written into the law of the Medes and the Persians —the law which can never be changed. In that way, his suggestion would affect far more than Vashti; it would have a direct effect on everyone’s marriage. But if it was an attempt to get the women of Persia to have greater respect for their husbands, it was a strange way to make that happen!

What you have to keep in mind is that Esther doesn’t have the foggiest idea that any of this is going on; she knows nothing of the events transpiring in the royal palace. She also knows nothing yet about this “royal edict,” which will set events in motion that will totally change her own life. Esther is going about her no-big-deal business, living her everyday life, greeting the sunrise of each ordinary morning, carrying out her day-to-day responsibilities. Is she in for a surprise!

This is the wonder of God’s sovereignty. Working behind the scenes, He is moving and pushing and rearranging events and changing minds until He brings out of even the most carnal and secular of settings a decision that will set His perfect plan in place. We see that here, and we’ll see it throughout the story of Esther.

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking that God is asleep when it comes to nations, or that He is out of touch when it comes to carnal banquets, or that He sits in heaven wringing His hands when it comes to godless rulers (even today) who make unfair, rash, or stupid decisions. Mark it down in permanent ink: God isalways at work. But His ways are so different from ours, we quickly jump to fallacious conclusions and either react rashly or get paralyzed in panic.

Know this: God holds the future in His omnipotent hands. So you can rest assured.

Trapped

Woke up to this devotional this morning. So relevant for me and confirms that trusting Him is the only way.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.

Feeling Trapped
Glynnis Whitwer

“Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.” Psalm 107:13 (NIV)

Feeling trapped, with no way out, is a horrible place to be. I know. I’ve been there several times in the past few years.

When the housing market crashed in my hometown, our family-owned consulting firm almost crashed along with it. Contracts were canceled, potential jobs shriveled, credit maxed and investments bombed. Most of the trouble was out of our control, but some was from our unwise decisions.

One month dragged into another. Some weeks we barely squeaked by. I didn’t lose my faith in God’s provision, as He took care of our basic needs. But His timing to pull us out of the depths of our trouble was not mine. I cried out for a quick fix; He had another plan.

Before help came, God let us sit in the mess for a long time. In fact, we had to sit in a place of helplessness for longer than we wanted. All of our previous abilities to help ourselves were gone. Places that had previously been willing to extend a helping hand weren’t able to help. At times it felt like we had been abandoned. Was it because of something we had done? Maybe our unwise choices? Questions abounded.

But then God stepped in. And because we’d been sitting in that mess so long, our gratitude doubled. We clearly saw His hand at work. In hindsight, if we’d been able to help ourselves, we would have patted ourselves on the backs at our cleverness. Now, God gets all the glory.

You may be trapped right now and wondering if God will rescue you. Maybe you’ve made bad choices. Perhaps you have disqualified yourself from being saved. If that’s you, then I’ve got good news. No matter if your situation is of your own making or someone else’s, God cares and has a plan to save you.

Psalm 107 sings this truth. In this amazing passage we learn of God’s faithfulness to people in all kinds of difficult places: deserts, darkness and the foolishness of their deeds. Yet no matter where they were or what they had done, when they cried to God, He heard them. And He hears us today.

This Psalm isn’t just literature. It’s a message from the faithful of old, to the faithful of today. It was captured in writing so that when we feel lost, trapped, overwhelmed and afraid, we would read it and believe … believe that the God who brought deliverance then, will do so today.

Here’s just a portion of that scripture. When you have time, please read the entire passage. Psalm 107:10-13 (NIV):

Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness, prisoners suffering in iron chains, because they rebelled against God’s commands and despised the plans of the Most High. So he subjected them to bitter labor; they stumbled, and there was no one to help. Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.

God specializes in rescuing the trapped – no matter how they got there. He did it for me and He will do it for you.

Dear Lord, You alone know the fullness of my desperate situation. You know how trapped I feel right now. I haven’t done everything perfectly, and I confess my rebellious ways. Lord, You said if we called out to You in our distress, You would answer. So I’m calling out now. Please help. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Trust in God's justice

Be still in the presence of the Lord,
      and wait patiently for him to act.
   Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
      or fret about their wicked schemes.

Psalm 37:7

Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it.

1 Peter 3:13-15

I have been working the past few days on how to share with everyone my thoughts in regards to the events that have transpired over the past week.  I know there are those out there questioning many things.  Many wondering where God is or what He is up to and I want to assure you, He is up to something mighty!

Before I go any further, if you are reading this and do not know details and I have not personally spoken with you, shoot me an email at Ngreene75@gmail.comand I will let you know what is taking place.

Many know that I have been dealing with tremendous issues.  My faith has been shaken and tested.  My faith has grown beyond recognition but all because of the goodness and faithfulness of God.

For those who are questioning the decision that was made in court, I am one hundred percent confident that the right decision was made.  (If you would like more detail on why I believe in that way, email me as well)  For now, I will only share what God has confirmed to me over the past week in hopes that it will settle the questions in your mind a little.

To begin, I will go back to the story of Saul and David.  We are all tempted at times to take shortcuts.  David faced such temptations often in his life.  It had been prophesized that David would be the next King of Israel (1Sam 16:12-13).  He knew that he would one day assume the role as King but in the meantime, angry King Saul who wanted him dead was pursuing him.  An opportunity presented itself.  David found Saul sleeping and had the opportunity to kill Saul.  It was the chance to end it all.  God had said that He intended David to be king anyway, so why not now? In that moment, David could have ended his exile and become King.  He refused.  David chose not to compromise his integrity even though he desired the position as king. Accomplishing God’s will in any other way that God had planned was not acceptable to David.

As many of you know, I ventured into court representing myself.  God convicted me months ago that in order to glorify Him in all things, I had to go at this alone.  It took time to convince those that this was the right thing and in time, God took care of it for me.  I carried two passages with me into the courtroom.  The first was, “Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.” Romans 12:17-18.  I knew in my heart that in order to glorify God and respect the man I was once married to, I had to show him honor.  Let me just say, that was incredibly hard due to the circumstances that have taken place but through God’s strength, it was accomplished.  I went into the courtroom determined not to down anyone or lie. 

This leads to my second verse, which was, “And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say,  for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.” Luke 12:11. I did not go into court “prepared”.  I had so much information that I could have used to undermine my former spouse and those that stood with him but instead I trusted God.  As I sat in that courtroom it may have appeared as if I were sitting alone but I was not.  God was sitting in the chair right beside of me, His arm around me whispering, “I’ve got this.  Just trust Me.” That is just what I did.  I sat back and listened.  I listened to lies being told and heard God speak to my heart saying, “Be still.  I am here. I will reveal truth in My time.”  I heard my character being torn apart and heard Him say, “You are loved more than you can imagine.  You are my child and worth more to me than my own life. No one causes harm to My children and walks away without consequences.  Be still.  Wait for My time.”  I chose to trust and found comfort in His love.

Those on the other side have used the verse “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength” Philippians 4:19 as “their” verse but here is what I have to say to that, God was not honored in those things that were said or done in that courtroom. There was no strength shown on the opposite side.  No trust in God’s truth.  No trust in God’s faithfulness.  Most importantly, no respect for the word of God.  The things that took place on the other side of that room were not of God.  How do I know? Because God will not honor sin nor will He reward it. Scripture clearly states we are not to lie “You will destroy those who tell lies. The Lord detests murderers and deceivers” (Psalm 5:6), nor are we to slander a fellow believer “I will reject perverse ideas and stay away from every evil.  I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbors.I will not endure conceit and pride.” Psalm 10:4-5 I held tight to my verses and walked out of that courtroom with my integrity intact and knowing God was glorified through my (as well as those on my side) actions and words. 

As Christians, we have a tendency to put God in a box.  We confine our beliefs of Him to that small box.  We limit what He is able to accomplish in our lives because our faith is weak or lacking.  It is hard to see past what is happening at this moment but if you take a step back, look at the big picture, and remember how God has moved through this situation, it is easier to trust.  It is easier to accept His plan.

So with that being said, I have never been more confident that God knows what He is doing.  The decision made was planned out before the beginning of time.  God knew and knows how this entire story will play out and I am confident that I can follow Him until the end because He has not yet led me astray. 

This morning a good friend sent me a devotional by Charles Swindol.  God is good. He knew what I needed.

A Promise for “The Gentle”

by Charles R. Swindoll

Matthew 5:5 

What comes to mind as you read Jesus’s words, “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth” (Matthew 5:5)?

Truth be told, we may get a false first impression. We may think, Blessed are the weak for they shall become doormats. In our rough and rugged individualism, we think of gentleness as weakness, being soft, and virtually spineless. Not so! The Greek term is extremely colorful, helping us to grasp a correct understanding of why the Lord sees the need for His people to be gentle. The word is used several ways in extra-biblical literature:

·        A wild stallion that has been tamed, brought under control, is described as being “gentle.”

·        Carefully chosen words that soothe strong emotions are referred to as “gentle” words.

·        Ointment that takes the fever and sting out of a wound is called “gentle.”

·        In one of Plato’s works, a child asks the physician to be tender as he treats him. The child uses this term, “gentle.”

·        Those who are polite, who have tact and are courteous, and who treat others with dignity and respect are called “gentle” people.

So then, gentleness includes such enviable qualities as having strength under control, being calm and peaceful when surrounded by a heated atmosphere, emitting a soothing effect on those who may be angry or otherwise beside themselves, and possessing tact and gracious courtesy that causes others to retain their self-esteem and dignity. Clearly, it includes a Christlikeness, since Jesus uses the same term to describe His own character (Matthew 11:28–29).

And what does the promise mean “for they shall inherit the earth”? It can be understood as one of two ways—now or later. Either “they ultimately win out in this life,” or “they will be given vast territories in the kingdom, to judge and to rule.” Instead of losing, the gentle gain. Instead of being ripped off and taken advantage of, they come out ahead!

Even though from all outward appearances it seems the wicked are winning, it won’t last. They prosper in their way, their schemes work, their cheating and lying and unfair treatment of others appear to pay off. They just seem to get richer and become more and more powerful. But God says it won’t be forever (Psalm 37:7–11). The ultimate victory will not be won by the wicked. The “gentle” will win.

Believe that truth! Be different from the system! Trust your heavenly Father to keep His promise regarding your inheritance. It is you who will be blessed.

I'm Alive!!

You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing.
      You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy,
  that I might sing praises to you and not be silent.
      O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever!


Psalm 30:11-12

I’m alive!!  I feel more alive than I ever have in my entire life.  My life could not be any more perfect than it is right at this very moment.


I know for many reading this that may not make sense to you.  There are even some who would say that “someone who needs to talk about how happy they are can’t really be.”  Well this posting my friend, is for you. 


To begin I will share those things in which I am thankful for:


A God whose love is boundless and provisions are beyond comprehension!
Knowing Christ in an intimate way.
Finally understanding what it means to walk by faith and not by sight!
Understanding what “gives us this daily bread” means.
Finally living in the home of “my dreams!”
Having a sidewalk that leads to my front door that is lined with rose bushes.
Having a circle of friends who are genuine, godly, encouraging and loving.
Having a job I love and co-workers I enjoy being around.
Finally being at a place where God can use me.




I have everything I have ever wanted and more than I need.  There is nothing my life lacks right now.  Is that not amazing?  I am thirty six years old and feel totally complete.  The kicker is that it has nothing to do with stuff or a special someone but instead because God is all I need!  It is amazing!!!


I have learned to walk in the dark, without the ability to see an inch in front of my face.  I have learned to hold my Savior’s hand and allow Him to lead me.  I may not know where my next meal is going to come from, how I am going to put gas in my car or even how the monthly rent will be paid but without fail, God has provided each one.  Whether through a friend or family member, unexpected hours at work, or even unexpected checks in the mail, He has yet to fail to provide what I need. And He won’t!


I have learned to allow people in and not be afraid to let someone help.  I have learned that God uses others to bless us.  Sometimes they do not recognize themselves as being a blessing but instead of me being the burden but I see God working and know He has something special store up for them as well.  


God wants us all to experience this kind of life!  He wants each of us to live a life without fear.  A life that is rich and full of blessing that can only come from Him.  I hope that my life will be evident of His faithfulness and others will come to know Him in the same way!!

Mockery

What happens to those who mock God?  Do they truly face any type of consequences? Does God tolerate those who not only mock Him but His children as well?

A couple of weeks ago, I was told that my God is a joke.  Immediately my heart broke for that person. I did not feel any anger but instead pain for a life without Christ. 

How horrible to walk through life, seeing God work without the ability to recognize His presence.  The person who considers God a joke, has witnessed her children healed from sickness, has been blessed with many grandchildren and lived a lifestyle evident of God’s provision.  My heart is heavy.

People lie, devise evil schemes, hurt those they are to love, and kill with their tongues.  Each of these things is an offense that God takes very seriously.  There are those who claim His name yet walk in darkness.  They throw around scripture and put on church faces leaving many fooled. They commit religious fraud but there is One who cannot be fooled.  God sees into our hearts.  God knows our every thought, scheme and motive.  There is no hiding from God. Though you may try, He will expose your heart and you will reap the consequences of your mockery.

Why do people lie? God wants transparency and honesty.  Anything less cannot be accepted because He will not be mocked.  The problem is that we do not take God seriously and think that we can defend our sins, and He has to go along with it.  This way of thinking leads certain people to be overtaken by evil which leads to God being mocked that can only end in punishment.

“There was also a man named Ananias who, with his wife, Sapphira, sold some property. He brought part of the money to the apostles, but he claimed it was the full amount. His wife had agreed to this deception.

Then Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart? You lied to the Holy Spirit, and you kept some money for yourself. The property was yours to sell or not sell, as you wished. And after selling it, the money was yours to give away. How could you do a thing like this? You weren’t lying to us but to God.”

As soon as Ananias heard these words, he fell to the floor and died. …

About three hours later his wife came in, not knowing what happened. Peter asked her, “Was this the price you and your husband received for your land?”

“Yes,” she replied, “that was the price.”

And Peter said, “How could the two of you even think of doing a thing like this—conspiring together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Just outside that door are the young men who buried your husband, and they will carry you out, too.” (Acts 5:1-9 NLT)

I have seen God work in such amazing ways.  I have experienced His peace and my heart is full of joy.  I truly want to share that with people.  There are so many who are hurting.  There is hope.

God’s word is full of promises of His goodness and love.  There is hope when we walk with Him and trust Him in all things.

God’s word clearly states that vengeance is His alone. For those who mock Him, I pray.  For those who have been caught in the middle of the mockery, take comfort in His truth.  God is faithful to His promises.

The Lord your God will inflict all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate and persecute you.

Deuteronomy 30:7

Aha Moment-Don't miss it!!!

I am so excited!  I love those moments when God hits you suddenly with a divine revelation.  They are amazingly sweet but hard to come by if you are not still before Him.


Three days ago I received a devotional email about the Father of Lies (below).  I read it and passed over it because it was something I have heard and written about a hundred times.  Little did I know how greatly it would apply to my life just two days later. 


Track with me.  I’m standing in front of the mirror applying my eye shadow for work when goose bumps pop up on my arms and my hands begin to shake.  What in the world?  I could hear God speaking to my heart and as He spoke, a great peace fell over me. 


I believe that God is good!  I believe that He has gone before me and before my children.  I firmly believe that He has a plan that I do no not understand but I WILL choose to have faith in it because He has proven that He is good and that He IS faithful. 


For those who are feeling confused by the events that are transpiring, DON’T!  I promise you, that God is up to something incredible and we are going to get to be a part of it.  He is not just testing my faith but those who have supported and stood behind me.  Any feelings of doubt or confusion are NOT from God.  They are the enemy whispering lies into our ears in order to make us doubt our Mighty God!  


Protect your thoughts!  Read over Philippians 4:8-9. Read it again and again.  Think of truth and what we have seen transpire up to this point.  God will not be mocked and He does not tolerate disobedience of His word.  I believe that vengeance is His and His alone and He will set all things right according to HIS time and HIS will.  God’s got this!  He has won the victory!  Let’s praise Him for what He is doing !!

Father of Lies

Satan’s sway over mankind began when he turned the minds of Adam and Eve against God. In order to pull it off, he had to lie to them about God—and they had to fall for it. In that defining moment, he lied to them about God’s goodness, God’s Word, and God’s intentions (Gen. 3:1-6).

Satan is still up to his old tricks. Jesus said that when the devil “speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar” (John 8:44). It should not be surprising, then, that when trouble interrupts our lives, the father of lies whispers in our ears and suddenly we are questioning God’s goodness. When we are told to follow His commands, we wonder if His Word is really true in the first place. When Jesus tells us things like, “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth” (Matt. 6:19), Satan tells us that the good life is about piling up things here, causing us to doubt God’s good intentions.

Our problem is that we, like Adam and Eve, believe Satan’s lies. And when we do, our loyalty to God is compromised. Then our enemy slithers off to his next assignment, leaving us alone to face our regrets and the realization that his lies have seduced us away from our truest and dearest Friend. Who have you been listening to lately?

Satan can catch you by surprise
And stop you in your tracks,
So keep on guard and trust God’s Word,
Resist his strong attacks. —Branon

The power of Satan is no match for the power of God’s Word.

Waiting for a ram

You cannot just worship God when you are on the mountaintop.  Our true test of faith and trust comes from our experiences in the darkness of the valley.  Are we able to lift our hands and praise Him when things are not happening the way in which we would choose? 

Those moments in the valley come when we are not expecting them.  Life seems to be happening the way we want and suddenly, the floor falls out from under us.  We begin to ask where has God gone.  It suddenly seems as if we have been left to our own devices.  For me, I now recognize these moments as what I like to call, Spiritual intervention. God is placing us in time out. 

When life is good, we can become quite busy.  We become wrapped up in our families, church activities, and all the other events that life throws our way.  We still take time to attend church and read our bibles but because life is going so well, we often forget just Whom it is that is blessing us.  So that moment arrives when He must gain our attention and then we find ourselves in another valley.

God wants us totally and completely for Himself.  It is why we were created.  We are here only for His glory and no one else’s.  Quite a tough pill to swallow when you are a wife or mother.

I have to be confident that God knows what He is doing and only has my good in mind. His Word says “For I know the plans that I have for you. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)  I find great comfort in those words as I enter into a valley because I know that there is a reason and it is for my good. 

Now this was not always the case.  As I entered my first dark valley, I was scared, lost, confused and felt alone.  I truly believed that God had deserted me.  I wanted to give up and walk away but He began to work in my heart.

It began with returning to the story of Abraham.  For years, the story of Abraham and the command to sacrifice Isaac had been very meaningful to me.  It reminded me of God’s faithfulness and provision but it was not until I experienced my first big valley that I fully understood the greatness of this entire story.

Throughout the story of Abraham, there are moments where God gives commands, makes promises and follows through but that moment comes when Isaac is on the altar that would make me wonder, “Could my faith ever be that strong?” It was not until I took in the entire story from beginning to end that I was able to get through my valley and understand that yes, my faith could and would be that strong.

Life and praising God are easy when things are good and we are on the top of that mountain.  We find it easy to share His goodness with everyone but then suddenly that moment of testing arrives.  It is easy to trust Him when things are going our way but when the tables turn, where do we find ourselves. The game changes and we begin doubting God. Untrue thoughts enter our minds and we believe that He has forgotten about us.

Back to Abraham.  God gives him a son and then asks him to sacrifice his son.  Why?  I am sure Abraham did not understand God’s request.  Possibly, he thought, “Why would You promise me a son, give him to me and then take him away?”  but God had an answer.  God knew there would be a ram in those bushes and Abraham had seen with his eyes and heard with his ears enough to trust Him. He trusted God and knew that His plan was perfect and there was no reason to doubt what God was doing.

Imagine if you will the confusion that would be felt if God asked you to sacrifice your child. Who would you trust enough to confide in to tell?  Would you feel alone?  Where would you gather the strength and courage to follow through with the plan? Abraham was able because he had seen God move.  God had made promises and had followed through. He knew God was faithful. Abraham had no need to doubt Him now.

That is where I stand today.  God has a plan.  His plan is perfect.  There is a reason for everything.  Just like Abraham, I am a part of this story.  Just like Abraham, I  now wait for my ram because God has kept His promises this far and HE IS FAITHFUL!!!

Though my story may not play out as I would have written it or as anyone else for that matter would have written it, it will end the way in which God ordained it.  My children, one day, will look back on their mother’s life and know that she walked by faith and trusted God above all else.  They will know that when nothing made sense in life, she knew God was in control and there was no need to fear.  I WILL leave my children a legacy that they will be proud to share with their children some day. I will walk away with my integrity and a life that glorified God.

You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”

Deuteronomy 30:20