You Are Not Everybody Else

Romans 12:6-8 (NIV)

6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.

In viewing a recent Joyce Meyer telecast, she spoke on being a difference to others and that when we are baptized and receive the Holy Spirit, we are different. She made a statement that has really rang true to me, “You are Not Everybody Else!”

There are times when I wonder why I can’t do what other people do and why I have to live the life that I do, but that same sentence comes to mind and it’s a reminder from God that we are called to be different.

I can remember times when my Mother would fuss at me in regards to some friends I had made at school and she would be upset at something I was doing, or just being the loving, caring Mother she was and she’d have the same sort of sentence, “You are not somebody else, you are who you are.” I used to think, well, why can’t I be like everybody else? Now I realize more than ever that I was called to be different even in my youth.

As I look back and see where I have made many mistakes, I know that God has used me to teach others or that he has put me through something so that I can be a witness to others. I so enjoy my fellowship with the women at our church and our group studies. We grow together, we share our lives, adventures, sorrows, pain, tears, joy and laughter. When you find those whom you can truly be yourself with and you don’t have to explain your whole life to, then you’ve really found good friends.

Sometimes we don’t need to hear the whole story, just where you are right now and just being your friend. Sometimes the whole story reaches the right person and they can relate more, because they too, have shared in that similar pain.

My prayer for you today is that you become connected to a group. That you find a place of fellowship with other believers and that you grow in your relationship with the Lord.

Originally written 7-28-07

 

Being Who You Were Created To Be

Ephesians 2:10 (New International Version)

10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

How many people really know the person that you really are? I can say there are very few people in my life that really know all the tragedies of my life, my desires and my shortcomings. They are the people whom I know and trust to be honest and forthcoming with me, to speak in love, and that also see a side of me that isn’t always willing to come forward.

When God reshapes you, molds you, and delivers you from bondage, you are able to be the person he created you to be and called you to be. What matters most is that you are serving him and that he is ultimately the only one that matters in the way you are thought of. What other people think of you doesn’t really matter, it’s what you think of yourself.

When I think about all the dreams, desires, and passions that I have in life, I realize that I am a person who has one thing that some may not have. I truly want to serve others and to be a blessing and positive influence in the lives of other people. I don’t want to be someone who is critical or wants to keep you from being all you can be, but that I want to encourage you to step out and enjoy life. I have not always been that way.

Women are known to be nurturers. Sometimes we mistake nurturing for controlling behaviors. We don’t have to tell people what to do, but to encourage them. Listening has been a skill that I have had to learn and realize that I don’t always have answers for other people’s problems, but they just need someone to vent to. Sometimes they answer their own questions and realize they already had the answers, but they just needed to hear themselves speak it.

Encouragement is defined as following by Dictionary.com: the act of encouraging. Encouraging is: to inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence.

In my next adventures of life, that is what I truly want to do for others. I want to be the encourager, the help mate, the one who others can depend on for kind words or kind actions when they are in need.

My prayer for you today is that you find encouragement in your everyday life and that you find time to encourage someone else along the way.

Originally written 9-03-07

 

Mary’s Baby

Luke 1:38 (NKJV)

Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

As I think of Mary and the whole story of Jesus, I think of a young girl who must have had a million questions for God about her future, but she decided that she would just live according to God’s purpose for her life. She had to subject to HIS WILL and not her own. In my T.D. Jakes Woman Thou Art Loosed Bible, he states that Mary didn’t say, “Let it be according to my marital status, my job, or according to what I deserve” but she said, “according to YOUR word.” She knew enough to believe God and to submit to Him.

When the Holy Spirit begins to overshadow your life you will see the power of Jesus do mighty things in your life. All the things that you thought you couldn’t accomplish, all the dreams and aspirations you’ve had locked up for so many years will start taking shape. When a broken person submits to God he does things that only he can do regardless of how you’ve previously fallen. Isn’t it wonderful to be loved by a God who continually loves us and disciplines us as well.

When I look at my own life, I can recount things that were not pleasing to God, but I also remember that he does not remember those things once we have repented. If only we could be the same way in many situations. We carry around old baggage; we keep the fires burning on something that has died many years ago.

A thought that continually comes to mind is the birth of Jesus. What a wonderful reminder of something so awesome and that it was given to me so that I may not go through this world with such burdens, anxieties and shortcomings. How can I not continue to do God’s will when he was so giving of his own son for me? How can I not teach and be willing to go wherever he wants me to go?

My prayer for you this day is that you begin to live your life “according to His will.” May you find that the path may be easier and less complicated if you are willing to surrender to Him. Merry Christmas!

 

PEACE

Luke 12:6-7 (NIV)

6Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. 7Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Peace is defined by dictionary.com as follows: freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, an obsession, etc.; tranquillity; serenity.

In my own life, I strive for peace. In order to do so, I have to continually meditate on the word and I have to make time to be quiet before the Lord. Sometimes when you don’t know the words to say in prayer, just the quiet and opening up of your heart to him is all he needs.

Sometimes you have to find peace or contentment in where you are at the moment. Sometimes a beautiful flower, a sunset, a bird chirping or a newborn babies cry are things that are peaceful. I enjoy going to the Pisgah Covered Bridge and just sitting and listening to the water as it flows down the stream. Many times I sit at night and just look at the stars and watch to see if there might be a glimpse of a shooting star. That can bring peace.

Peace is often just what you do in the midst of chaos. Sometimes we find peace in our friendships and in laughter. I have been blessed with a multitude of friends whom I can call on day or night. Each person brings something different to my life and they bring a different perspective to each new problem or each situation in my life. Sometimes we just laugh.

Peace is sometimes found in the writings of others. Some people don’t like to read, but it brings me peace. I love music, so I listen to CD’s that are uplifting and I can sing along to. I wouldn’t call my singing the best, but hey, do I do it anyway. A friend used to joke with me about seeing me on the highway and she’d say, “You were just singing and didn’t see me.” Honestly, with my lack of focus sometimes, I don’t need to see anyone on the highway, but the singing does make me happy and joyful.

In this stressful world, what we do in order to bring some sort of peace into our lives can make a difference. Being with your family, sharing stories with friends, taking time to listen to the elderly or just being by yourself can bring peace. Some people don’t enjoy being alone, sometimes I do and sometimes I don’t. I have a photo on my desktop for my computer and it’s my son on his motorcycle giving me the peace sign. You know, that brings him peace.

My prayer for you today is that you find some peace in your life. Whatever it takes and whatever way you decide to find it, find some PEACE.

Merry Christmas to all and be blessed during this special season of hope and peace!  For unto us was born a Savior who came that we may have peace on earth.

(originally written 8-28-07)

 

Joy In The Morning

Psalm 30:5

For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life; Weeping may endure for a night, But joy comes in the morning.

As I start to write this morning, I am reminded that joy can come into our lives first thing in the morning. If we get up with a “cranky” attitude, then the rest of our day will result in that same attitude. Coffee is one of my favorite things, and that first cup of coffee in the morning is the jolt that I need to get going. If we incorporate our Bible reading into this time and get up just a few minutes earlier, we would have a much better perspective on how to approach the upcoming day. Like many of us, we get up hurried and that’s how the rest of our day seems to turn out and Satan has a much easier chance of jumping into our lives and adding much more chaos and calamity to our somewhat simple world.

I began to research the above passage in the NIV Study Bible, it first referred me to the verse 2:5, where it says, “anger, wrath; God’s anger is always an expression of his righteousness, 7:11 says, “every day, God’s judgments are not kept in store for some future day, and 4:1 also says, “very often the righteousness of God in the Psalms (and frequently in the OT) refers to the faithfulness in which he acts.” Verse 54:7 also says, “remain lit for a night.” Lit refers to “come in at evening to lodge”, the figure is that of a guest lodging for only one night.

Recently I watched a movie where a core sentence was used many times throughout, “finding our center”. How do we find our center? One of Dictionary.com definitions of center is: a point, place, person, etc. upon which interest emotion, etc., focuses. If you were to center on joy each day and use it as the focus of your day, how much of a difference would it make? A few days ago, I went to the Boy Scouts Store to purchase a new scout uniform for my son. An attendant at the store had the surname, Joy. As she began to help me with my purchase, I noticed a “spark or joy” in her body language as well as her delight to share with me in my area of questioning about why her Mother named her Joy. She said, “I was my Mother’s JOY.” Wow, how she must have felt to know that she was her Mother’s joy and it gave me the “gospel goose bumps” in remembering that we are also God’s joy. What a pleasure it was to meet JOY.

I have also met HOPE. Hope, a black cat, was awaiting adoption at PetSmart. She was a playful, seven year old, positioned in the top cage beside Patches. Hope and Patches both rallied for my affection, my touch and my fingers to play with. She wouldn’t let me see as much of her as Patches, but she would glance with one eye at me as if she were smiling and presenting a glimpse of what could be a sweet experience with her, but was reluctant to let me rub her for an extended time. Her information card read: Very loving, affectionate, and has been waiting for a loving home for a long time. Hope had been waiting a long time…….is that how it is for many of us? Hope has been waiting for a long time and we are now receiving a glimpse of what God has promised us for some time, in his perfect timing?

This morning as I awoke to a marvelous landscape, the mountains of Asheville, NC. I can see how beautifully alive God’s creations are. I can see why Billy Graham loves this area so much. It’s God Country. The air is crisp and clean, the scenery is grand and luxurious. I stare in amazement of the wonders that only God could have created. Each mountain is placed with precision nestled amongst another, just as we are placed in specific places at different times of our lives. God has a perfect plan for everything, if we are faithful in our decision to follow him and leave our lives in his hands.

My prayer for you today is that you look at the wonders of God’s creations and become childlike again to his HOPE and JOY that continue to bless each of us.

 

Empty Hearts

Isaiah 55:10-12 (NIV) 

10 As the rain and the snow
       come down from heaven,
       and do not return to it
       without watering the earth
       and making it bud and flourish,
       so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,  

11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
       It will not return to me empty,
       but will accomplish what I desire
       and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. 

 12 You will go out in joy
       and be led forth in peace;
       the mountains and hills
       will burst into song before you,
       and all the trees of the field
       will clap their hands.  

Recently while sitting at my desk I gazed upon a heart shaped box with shells on it that a man brought me from Disney World.  He was a simple Hispanic man who took his family on the vacation of a lifetime.  He would share his stories with me about how much his family meant to him and how his children were so blessed to be living in Asheboro and receiving an education, etc.  Sometimes his English was broken, but we had an understanding between us that was from the heart. 

As I pick up the heart box, it rattles a bit.  I wondered what was inside of it and there is nothing inside of it, so whatever is rattling must be inside the lid.  The many shells are multicolored and one shell has a pearl inside it.  There is one large shell in the top corner of the box in which I always like to rub my fingers across just to feel the boundaries.  The funny thing about this box is that it was made in the Phillipines, distributed by a company in St. Augustine, FL, and the price tag was still on it.  No matter the cost it was given from the heart to me. 

As I open the lid of this box, the inside is covered with black felt.  It’s pretty but it made me think about what’s inside of our own hearts. “Are we black on the inside and rattling a bit in the mind?”  1 Peter 3:2-4 (NIV) states: 2when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. 4Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.

I started to think about my own heart and how many times I had been empty inside and thought only of myself instead of others.  You know you forget at times that you are not the center of the universe but that you are here to do something for God as you have been chosen by him “to do unto others as you would have done unto you.”  Sometimes I find that I’m just not cut out to do everything that I would like to do, but that I have to decide what is the most important things that God wants me to do and then go from there.   

I want my heart to be filled with grace, mercy and joy that only Jesus can supply.  I want to sing songs of praise and to be willing to step out in the New Year to a different life that is nothing like I’ve ever had before.  I want to continue to bless other people and to share God’s blessings with them.  So, whatever is in store for me, I will just be ready for the task ahead and know that God will equip me to do whatever he calls me do.  He will fill my heart with what is necessary to make a difference in the lives of other people.  

My prayer for you today is that you see what’s in your heart. Is it filled with love of mankind or just a love of self?  May you find this New Year full of new beginnings and new adventures. 

 

Out Of The Mouths of Kindergarteners

James 3:3 (NIV)

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 

Kindergarten is defined by Dictionary.com as follows:  A program or class for four-year-old to six-year-old children that serves as an introduction to school.    I am so amazed at the vocabularies of children who are in Kindergarten and how they are receptive to new words and new expressions.  We have been learning some big words in the past few months and I think my favorite thus far is cacophony.   For those of you who are saying, “What is cacophony?”  It is defined as:  a loud harsh or strident noise.

We have some really strange cacophonies in our classroom at times.  There are animal sounds, there are shrieks of laughter or shrills of some sort by boys who are trying to get each others attention, motor noises and then there’s the teacher who is trying to get their attention amongst all these other sounds.  I sometimes have to snicker at the multitude of noises.  As one who can ignore certain sounds and noises, there are some cacophonies that are just too much for me. 

 When I stop and think of what noises might be coming out of my own mouth and how I might be saying something to other people, I have to stop and rethink some of the things I might want to say or direct to another person.  Recently I was speaking to a man who asked me about the fruits of the spirit and I said, “I just want to be able to convey love when I speak.”  That is so hard to do sometimes. 

When you are a writer of devotionals, you want to convey a soft message to people about God’s love.  You also want to help people to be accountable but in a gentle way.  I recently received an email from a fellow church member that said, “God gave you such a talent of expressing your thoughts – you bless so many with your messages.”  I guess I had forgotten that this is a talent given to me by God and that without his intervention, I wouldn’t be able to write and convey what he wants for you to hear.  I have always enjoyed writing, learning and teaching. 

Each day is a new beginning for us.  Each moment is one that we can either share with another or we can keep to ourselves.  I find that listening and sharing in the lives of children keeps me young and keeps me refreshed in wanting to see them grow up to be responsible adults and that they have an awareness of how they treat other people.  Kindergarteners are so full of life and they sometimes think they already know everything, but when you show them something new, their little faces just light up and they want to tell each other and others what they have learned.

One of my favorite things about Kindergarten is what one little boy says to me each day, “Ms. Paula, I want you to hold my hand.”  That’s exactly what Jesus says to each of us.  Take my hand and walk with me and I can show you so many wonderful things.  I am amazed at the things I can learn when I am walking with him and he is holding my hand through many experiences.

My prayer for you today is that you take Jesus by the hand, walk with him and learn all about his marvelous ways.  You might be surprised of the new things he wants to teach you.
  

 

The Beauty of Christmas

 

Romans 15:7 (NIV)

 7Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 

Christmas is my favorite holiday.  The joy of the season, the giving of gifts and the birth of Jesus.  To many people, Christmas is about shopping, going to parties and being with friends.  I celebrate the greatest gift of all.  The small baby who became a man who took all our sin on a cross and was willing to sacrifice his life for us to have eternal life.

As I have been cleaning churches during this festive time I see the beauty of the advent candles, the gold, red and green colors that decorate the sanctuaries and the trees that glisten with ornaments and bright stars.  I also see the manager that Jesus was born in and how a meek couple was given a glorious gift on that night that would forever change the world. 

On a recent Joel Osteen broadcast, he stated the following, “Develop what God has given you.  Stay in your gifting.  You are in a class all by yourself, and you’re not like everyone else.”  Gifts of this season may be material, but the gifting that God gives you will last your whole life.  When you find what he has given you in the way of talents and gifts, then you should take those gifts and perfect them to be the very best that you can be for God.

Christmas is also a time of celebration.  Joel Osteen also says, “We should celebrate who God made us to be and that he has equipped us to do what he has called us to do.”  As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we should celebrate ourselves and what we can accomplish in God’s kingdom for him as well.  Jesus stands with his arms open to us and is excited that we are fulfilling the purposes that he needs us to be doing for him.

As you go forward this holiday season, be reminded of the birth of the baby who brought joy to this earth and was sacrificed for our sins and transgressions.   Remember to look at the “star” in you that you may fulfill your own purpose in God’s kingdom because of this precious baby.

My prayer for you today is that you find Christ  this Christmas and that you will be filled with the joy of the season.   

 

When NO ONE Is There To Help You

2 Kings 14:26 (NIV) 26 The LORD had seen how bitterly everyone in Israel, whether slave or free, was suffering; there was no one to help them. 

When I look at all the children of Israel suffered during their times in the desert, I begin to look at my own life and my own desert times.  In the desert is where you will find things about yourself that need to be changed.   

Just when you think that things can’t get any worse, they do.  And sometimes they come with great appreciation for others.  My niece and I had traveled to Greensboro one Saturday afternoon to spend some quality time together.  On our way there, I made mention that my car tires seemed to be riding a little strangely.  As we pulled into the High Point Mall, yep, there it was….a flat tire. 

Not sure that I could change a tire, we ventured to Sears and spoke with two gentlemen who offered assistance to us if we could get the car to their work bays, on the OTHER SIDE of the mall.  Needless to say, we knew we couldn’t since we didn’t have a way to pump up the tire.  So, one of the men graciously drove around the mall and proceeded to pump up the tire and left.  As we tried to drive around to the OTHER SIDE of the mall, the tire came off the rim.  We were stunned.   

So, we call the mall and a recording saying, “Your Sears store is closed.”  What?  The store is open and fully operational we said, and so we called 911 for assistance since no one else would stop to help us in the dark.  The 911 operator proceeded to tell me, “Policemen don’t change tires, WHAT IS YOUR EMERGENCY?”  That was my emergency and I proceeded to tell her thanks and hung up.  Again my niece practically runs through the mall and begs for assistance again. 

Well, the young man came and he changed the tire and we proceeded to the OTHER SIDE of the mall and bought another tire and had it put on.  The blessing in this story is that I had purchased the other tire at Sears only one year ago and we received a discount for the new one.  We were greeted with such warmth and compassion from two strangers who only wanted us to get home safely and one of the gentlemen’s Grandmother was someone whom I had worked with for several years at KFI.  So, in my desperate plea to God, “to send me an angel”, he sent me two or may I say five actually.

My son, his cousin and his Father were now in route to help us so that they could follow us back home and we could enjoy Krispy Kreme doughnuts with them as a small token of their sacrifice of a “Boys Night Out.”  Sometimes even in the midst of divorce and circumstances, those who knew you best, are still willing to help out when things are not the best in your life.  Even if they did it, because your niece was in the car.  (ha ha) 

As I got home that evening, I was joyful in the rewards that God had given me that day.  Quality time with my niece, seeing my son and his love of Krispy Kreme and also the fact that my niece found what I thought was my “stolen” camera.  The camera was in the ashtray of my car!!!  Can you believe that?!  In the ashtray.  I don’t remember putting it there, but it was there.  We were jubilant in finding the photos I thought were forever gone. 

God is so good to us.  I seem to forget that at times.  In the midst of chaos we find comfort in knowing that he is also looking after us and that is saving things for us and that he is willing to give us back what we thought we had lost.  In that same day I had to purchase another cellphone because my old one was not charging properly.  Thank you Lord, that I had a new one to make the necessary phone calls that evening. 

My prayer for you is remember that God always provides something good in every situation and that if you are wise enough to see his hand in everything in your life, then you will be more thankful of even the desert times.  He is always there when there is NO ONE else to turn to. 

 

The Broken Bridge

Psalm 147:3 (NIV)

 3 He heals the brokenhearted
       and binds up their wounds. 

Today was an incredible day.  I felt renewed from the extra hour of sleep I received from the “fall back” of time and there seemed to be something really different about me when I awoke this morning.  I had come to grips with some things last night in my prayer time and the one thing I realized was that I just wanted joy in my life.  That I didn’t need a roadmap to whatever came next but that I would be content with following the lead of the Holy Spirit.

Our church service went right along with some things that the Lord had already spoken to me about in the previous week.  It’s amazing how the Pastor and I are on the same “wavelength” with the Lord and I had already seen the triangular worship sign in the stars this week.  In a previous Beth Moore study a couple of years ago she made reference to the same thing and I had remembered that when things are in alignment with God’s timing and will for our lives that we can see the evidence of it in many ways.

In Sunday School we heard the testimony of a young lady who really has found the joy in her life.  I heard several words of affirmation from people who didn’t even know what I had been praying about, just in the conversation to each other or to me.  You see, if you are really listening for God’s voice he will send it in different ways and different avenues.  You just have to tune in to what’s being said and a lot of times you are not to be speaking.

The Lord had prompted me to get new batteries for my digital camera and that he wanted me to take photos today, where I had no clue.   I was hungry and went to Biscuitville and ran into my Mother and brother and they were to have “brunch” with my Grandmother.  In our conversations, there were words of affirmation again about certain things and unbeknownst to them.  I decided that I would shoot some photos of my Dad’s hometown, Franklinville. 

I headed over to the Andrew Hunter Bridge where in 1761 Andrew Hunter escaped from David Fanning Tory, riding Fanning’s horse, Red Doe, down Faith Rock into the river to safety.  I had been to this rock many times in the past and knew that my Dad and Mom and their friends had spent time there as young adults and that it was a favorite fishing spot for my Dad and his brother.  As I walked along the path I started shooting photos of different things, wasn’t really sure what the meaning of them was but they seemed to jump out at me from time to time.   On a tree there was a carving that said, Homeless,  I began to wonder if this was a sign from someone who really needed help and was never seen by the community.  

There was a rock that that had blood on it and a hand print and I wondered if someone had gotten hurt by slipping on the rocks or what.  That photo led me to Job 2:8, where Job scraped himself with pottery and made himself bleed from the painful sores that he had been inflicted.  It was a humbling reminder that as much as Job endured, he never lost his faith in God nor did he curse him.

There were thorns growing on a piece of wood which lead to Isaiah 7:19: “They will all come and settle in the steep ravines and in the crevices in the rocks, on all the thornbushes and at all the water holes.”   A reminder of the courage that Andrew Hunter must have incurred in his time of battle and uncertainty.  The leaves on this side of the water were incredibly crimson and thus sparked the verse from Isaiah 1:18:  18 “Come now, let us reason together,”
       says the LORD.
       “Though your sins are like scarlet,
       they shall be as white as snow;
       though they are red as crimson,
       they shall be like wool. 

You see, I had been battling my own thoughts this week of something that happened in years past and in this trip to the Faith Rock and then to the Kermit Pell Park, I saw the message that God really had for me.  It was one of forgiveness of myself and others and that I had to let go of old stuff in order to receive the new stuff.  The best reminder was a photo of boats on the shore that if you harbor unforgiveness, then you will not reach the potential that God has destined for you.    I had seen some numbers spray painted on the Hunter bridge and it was 4:20.  If you look up 1John 4:20 this is what you’ll find:  If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.” 

On the way home I stopped at a stop light on Hwy 64, many of you may know it and there stood a suit of armor at the local flea market.  I just laughed and said, “Lord you are too comical!”  He knows what it takes for me to see that I’m already covered with the armor and that I have to use it to be free in Christ.   As I started to write this devotional I took a glance at the clock and much to my surprise it said:  4:20!!  So, if you are harboring any unforgiveness towards anyone, now is the time to let it go and that includes me. 

My prayer for you today is that you find joy in God’s creations and that you see what he’s trying to tell you in your own life as well as helping others in their journey through life.