Sarah Guldalian

A Willing Sacrifice

“I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father” (John 10:17b-18).

For 10 years, I traveled very regularly, primarily to New York City and Chicago. One of my habits was sharing about Jesus’ love with my cab drivers. This made for some interesting conversations. Many of them were encouraging.

I encountered several who thought, or tried to convince me, that their religion and mine had the same God. They would say they even believed in Jesus. It sounded deceivingly similar. Yet, near the end of the conversation, they would work to plant a seed – a very dangerous seed that, if believed, could uproot the truth of who God is, and who Jesus is, in a person… They would say that Jesus only died because God the Father made Him, but that He didn’t want to die. One man told me directly, using scriptures out of context, that Jesus didn’t love me, that He only did what His Father made Him do.

In case you have heard this and have questioned this, or you have experienced this same objection or doubt, I want to share this crucial verse from Jesus Himself: “I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father” (John 10:17b-18).

Jesus laid down His life for you, for us, out of His own willingness, out of LOVE. He chose to do this for us for our healing, our forgiveness, and to make us right with God so we could spend forever together… “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

It is SO crucial to our peace here on earth, and to our eternity after, that we recognize the truth and depths of Jesus’ love for us. It is also crucial that we are aware that the devil will use scripture out of context to uproot our fundamental beliefs and threaten our eternity. And it is crucial we stay in the Word of God to combat that with the truth of God’s Word! Or, if you are not a Christian, talk with a Christian friend about any of these things (like me)!

Here’s the truth: God loves you! Jesus loves you! Jesus died for you from His love. And there are not multiple ways to the Father, to Heaven. There is only one way to the Father, to Heaven, and that is through your faith in Jesus Christ as LORD – not as a prophet, teacher, or good person – as Lord. Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).

Jesus loves us so, so much, you guys. He dotes on you – no matter where you are or where you have been. He wants to spend eternity with you. After all, He created you out of His love and desire to spend time with you – together, in fact! He has changed my life, and I cannot keep quiet about what He can do. He is so, so good!

I want to encourage you that Jesus’ love for you is real. He willingly laid His life down for you because He wants to spend eternity with you. I encourage you to ask Him about His love for you today. Praying is just a conversation with God, and the Bible tells us that He is attentive to our cry: “This poor man called, and the Lord heard him; he saved him out of all his troubles” (Psalm 34:6). He is near, and He wants to save you from any trouble because of His vast and infinite love for you!

I know I cannot live a day without Him, yet His love is more than enough for every need in my life! I pray the truth of His love permeates your heart and mind today, in Jesus’ name.

Before the World Was Plastic

Once upon a time, there was no Facebook or Twitter.
Blogs were called news, offered by professionals, and the professionals were still professional, sharing facts and balance, weighing each angle, scouring for truth for truth’s sake.

Once upon a time, people took the time to know one another, to look beyond a persona, beyond the brand, beyond what they could get out of the other.

Once upon a time, knowing a person meant more than perusing their page. It meant observing their words, expressions, gestures, and the level of their warmth, knowing they were offered just for you in that moment. It was face to face and voice to voice. And so,
in those days, we actually did know someone. Rather than being artificially intelligent, feigning knowledge, we took the time, respect, and care to learn.

In those times, it was normal to be in a room with another person having a face-to-face, audible conversation. The exchange of feelings and ideas was captured in real time without a camera for playback or for the world to see. It was just for you. People thought more of others’ feelings and more of God’s view than the perception of their brand. They feared God more than public opinion. No meant no and yes meant yes. People said what they meant and stood by what they said.

Once upon a time, truth was what actually happened, not just what you could prove by the evidence that surfaced, or opinions repurposed through varying lenses lilted for one’s benefit. In those times, people apologized face to face, not through lawyers or news outlets. And when we communicated, it was for the benefit of the reader or listener, considering their feelings rather than
just the gratification of purging our own.

But that was once upon a time – wasn’t it? – before the world became plastic and manufactured. When that time was, I do not know, yet it is worth investigating how to find it again… for there is beauty in relationship, purity in truth and welfare in empathy.

And though the world has become eroded by man, and reconstructed by artificial parts and fictitious truth, each of us is real – flesh and bone, knit together by its original creator. We are authentic beings, made in the image of a loving, living, creative God, who is love … who is truth. Inside, we have a heart, fashioned like His, made by Him, but we need help finding our way back.

Thankfully, He is here – Immanuel, God with us. Today He says, “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezekiel 36:26).

God, Help us. Help me. I don’t want to be plastic or stone, artificial or fictitious. I want to be as you created me to be – full of love and truth, full of your Spirit. Help me to be as you have designed me to be, not as this plastic world has worked to fashion. I recommit myself to you today, the creator and king of the world.

Intangible Evidence

Evidence attests to, documents, supports and reinforces the validity of a claim or an assertion. Evidence verifies and confirms the validity of a proposition or a belief. Evidence is concrete. It proves a claim.

We want to see, feel, and touch evidence to believe it exists in order to believe there is a corresponding outcome. Yet, some evidence exists, is real, confirms and validates a true and actual outcome that we cannot see, feel, or touch. There is evidence that exists that we cannot hold in the palm of our hands yet is still proof, nonetheless.

For example, think of gravity. I cannot hold gravity in my hand. I cannot touch it, hold it, taste it or smell it. Yet, I cannot fly at my every whim. My evidence that gravity exists is that I am magnetized to the ground. In the same way, I cannot bottle, hold or see the wind, yet there is evidence that it exists by the trees swaying back and forth and leaves blowing about my yard.

In a similar way, how do you know, how can you verify, how can you prove that God made the earth? And is there proof that someone is a good and righteous person? A way to prove they believe in God? Or, how can you say, assert or confirm that it is time to grow your family or that it is time for you to move? You might know that you know yet friends or family say, “How do you know? Show me, let me touch the proof.”

Not all evidence is able to be seen or touched yet you know that what you sense is as real and as palpable as the chair you are sitting on, such as gravity and the wind are real. What can we call this evidence? Faith. “Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see” (Hebrews‬ ‭11:1‬).‬‬

Faith is real. Though you cannot touch it with your fingers or see it with your eyes, it is a true piece of evidence to God that is as real as gravity and the wind. In fact, faith is necessary to be “good,” to be righteous. It is evidence to God that we believe in Him. The evidence that we believe in God is our faith. “And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him” (Hebrews‬ ‭11:6‬ ‭NLT‬‬).

How do we understand, how do we know, that the entire universe was formed at God’s command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen? By faith.

How did Noah know to build a large boat to save his family from the flood? And how did God deem him righteous? How did Abraham act upon and obey God by leaving home and going to another land he did not know to receive his inheritance? How is it that Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and too old? “She believed!” It was all by faith.

Many believe the proof of their faith is the cross necklace they wear, or the good works they do, the nice things they say or the gifts they give. Though all of these things – gifts, philanthropy, acts of kindness – are good, they do not prove you are good or where your heart is. Though those kind gestures are nice, “it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him”
‭‭(Hebrews‬ ‭11:6‬ ‭NLT‬‬).

While people see your actions and might judge you by those, God sees our hearts and our motivations. He sees the truth. He can see if we have faith in Him or if we put our faith in ourselves, our money or others. He can see if we have love for Him and others, or if we are just out for ourselves, helping those who can help us in return. He can see if our hearts mirror His heart or if our hearts reflect the world’s ways.

To please God, to prove where our hope is, we must have faith in and believe in Him, knowing that He alone is good, and that He is powerful. Faith, though unseen by us, is seen by God. And there is a reward in it.

So, what does this look like for your everyday life?

Do you feel God nudging you? Is He continuing to put something on your heart again and again? Maybe like Sarah, He is telling you to step out into parenthood despite what the world or your career says. Or maybe He is nudging you to move your family though the opinion may be unpopular. Maybe He is giving you a heads-up (wisdom), like He did for Noah, to take measures and make lifestyle changes – as strange as they may seem – to protect and advance your family. Do you sense Him calling you to trust in Him, to put your faith in Him in ways that feel real and hopeful yet seem counterintuitive to what others say?

Though others cannot put their finger on this evidence, though they may not understand your reasons or motivations for deciding things as you are – with God! – God sees your faith. He sees your obedience. Your response to His call is evidence of your faith. It is proof that your heart is with Him, and He will reward your faith. He will reward your family and you (for generations to come!), for putting your hope in Him above and beyond all other things.

Read Hebrews 11 to see just how He rewarded all of the people listed above and so many more amazing stories. You will see that following God requires faith. It requires stepping out into the uncomfortable and the unknown, yet the reward is greater than any you have ever seen or could describe.

Is It Really Over?

When it’s over, is it really over? Or is it just the beginning?

The disciples mourned when Jesus had died. There were so many things they had to mourn. I imagine one was (what felt like) the loss of their ministry. The most important thing they had ever done came to a screeching halt. Could anything be this good again? Anything? But here comes Jesus (resurrected!) with new marching orders, a new call, and continued, deepened purpose:

“Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! Jesus came and told his disciples, ‘I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age’” (Matthew‬ ‭28:16-20).

Jesus says, I am passing the baton to you. My ministry is not over. It is not over in your lives. I am still in charge. I have not been overthrown. All authority has been given to me on earth and in heaven. And I am passing the baton to you here on the earth. It is yours now, yours to carry out in my name.

What had felt like it had dwindled, even ended – the ministry of the Lord through the disciples – had ramped up and expanded. They would be used in ministry across all nations. What they thought had come to an end was just ramping up, elevating in a new way. Their purpose had been renewed.

Would there be difficulty? Yes. Would there be persecution? Yes. But Jesus also promised to be with them always – all the way to the end. And this promise is good to us as His disciples today.

And so, for you, those of you who are mourning right now, who are concerned for the future of our country, I encourage you (and me) to recognize that the ministry of Jesus is not coming to an end with a national change in leadership. He is still and will forever be on the throne as the King of Kings.

“Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God” (Psalm 146:3-5).

Though our minds are tired and our adrenal glands fatigued, we must anchor ourselves. We must place our hope in God, the creator, sovereign King of the universe, not in ballots, platforms or electoral processes.

Now is not the time to give up, to throw in the towel. It is time for Christians to move to another level – to grab ahold of the baton, to rise up with boldness, and to speak up. We must go out in the authority of Jesus, introducing people to Him, teaching people of all nations and tribes all He has taught us.

You may want to hide out. You may be crying out. (You aren’t alone.) Yet it is time to step it up, to be bold, to exercise the authority given you in Jesus’ name to make disciples. It isn’t over. Ministry is ramping up in a new way and you have an integral part to play.

As my parents, both coaches, would tell me: Take a moment to cry, then dust yourself off, get back up and keep moving forward. This is no time to back down. It is time to hit refresh and to rise up in love with boldness.

Though it may feel difficult and your emotions might rage against you, I invite you to join me in these coming days in…

1) Sharing Jesus with those around you – through words and actions. He is the only answer to every issue in life. And He is still on the throne over all.

2) Pray for our leaders. The Lord is king over and able to guide even those you do not like. “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will” (Proverbs 21:1).

Where Are You?

Three days until the presidential elections…. It is noisy, it is windy, it is cold and brash out there. Let me ask: Where are you? Do you feel buried deep inside, hiding beneath layers of noise and cold, blowing winds?

Where are you in there? Can you find yourself amongst the noise? Can you hear yourself? Can you hear from the Lord? If not, what is clouding you? What intruder does not belong?

This is a great time for self-examination, to go from a global, national and digital view to a personal, introspective, heart view. Don’t wait. Today is a wonderful time to check in on ourselves, to check in with the Lord, to take inventory and to purge that which is sick and toxic, and to receive cleansing.

What weight or burden are you carrying that is not yours to carry? Are you carrying the anger you’ve picked up by others or by the news? Are you carrying the anxiety that the world, politicians and speakers have inflicted upon you? Are you carrying offense for someone else or shouldering their burden?

I am noticing a lot of layers clouding our hearts, cluttering our Godly desires and our usual outlooks. How have you changed? What have you picked up that is not yours to bare? Where are you inside of there? Are you ready to put the burden down, to relinquish it?

I am asking the Lord to help me, to search me… “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). Our purity and our peace are worth the search. It is for us and for those whose lives we touch. If you too feel hidden, even trapped, beneath the chaos, join me in this prayer.

Prayer Lord, the world feels like a mess. I feel anxious. I feel irritated. My love, trust and patience for others feels small. It feels threatened. I ask you to remove the sickness, the toxins that have seeped in during the chaos. Remove it. Remove anything in me that is sick, anything that is bad, anything dark or bothersome, in Jesus name. Create in me a clean, pure heart, oh God. Replace darkness with light. Replace doubt and fear with hope and trust in you. Cause your love for others to swell within me, and give me grace for myself during these trying times. May your good and your peace govern me, govern my family, and guard us. I ask you to hem me in before and behind. Hem in my family. You are our protector, our provider, our Lord and friend. I love you, Lord. Make me more like you and less like me, less like this world, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

The Super Power of Sense

In creating us, God equipped us with numerous senses to help us operate appropriately in every facet of life. These senses give us awareness of what is going on around us in the natural (tangible), the emotional (relational), as well as the possible (logic and reasoning). It is crucial we identify the importance of and place for applying each sense to use them as the superpower each is meant to be. When we apply the wrong sense for a situation, we often find ourselves in a dangerous position.

Let’s explore the senses God has gifted us:

For the natural – those tangible things happening around us in life – God has given us five major senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. Each sense serves a different purpose. Yet, each one can bring us awareness, enjoyment, and pain. They can also partner with one another to create heightened awareness, as in the example of enjoying the flavor of food through a combination of taste and smell. Likewise, watching and listening to a person as he or she speaks can help us understand what this person is really trying to communicate.

For the emotional, God gives us a deeper awareness in our hearts, where we can perceive situations in a more sensitive, empathetic way. Sometimes this leads us towards compassion for others. For example, this might lead us to recognize something is wrong with a person without being told. Likewise, our emotions might cause us to burn with anger. It is important to recognize that, unchecked, our emotions can lead astray, creating more alarm than is necessary. This is why you might hear a Christian pray, “Open the eyes of my heart, Lord.”

Without the Lord touching and opening our hearts to see things clearly, to see things as He sees them, we may perceive a person’s words or actions in a wrong way, mistaking love for judgement, kind act for control or take a general statement personally. Without the Lord’s help in perceiving a situation, we might jump to offense. As we have seen throughout history and today still, emotions can be used for good or evil.

For the possible – where we utilize logic and reasoning to think of potential outcomes, both for the positive and the negative – God has given us brains, minds wired and ready to alert us of the possibilities and dangers present now and in the future. By keeping a portfolio of experiences, our brains tell our nervous systems when to run (“fight or flight”) or tell parts of our bodies to hurt so we give attention to that area for mending (pain). Strategic thinking is a gift that, when coupled with emotion, can lead to great success. However, logic and reasoning can be used for bad. For example, if a person possesses mental intelligence but does not pair it with emotional intelligence (from the heart), you might find a disconnected, egotistical person.

With so many senses available to awake or alert us, all of which can be used for good or for bad, it is critical we have a compass. We need a guide to daily, even momentarily, know which sense is appropriate for each specific situation. This helps us to understand where a person is coming from and to understand what threats are real, rather than perceived. It is important we are guided in truth because there is danger in applying the wrong sense for a situation. You do not want to be found in your head for a matter of the heart or found in your emotions for a matter of logic.

Have you ever tried to unpeel an eggshell just by sight? Though it seems like the obvious way to deshell an egg, it is a hot mess. Too quickly, the whole thing can fall apart. Yet, when using your sense of touch to feel the layers, your sense of touch employs your logic and reason (the possible). You then understand what layer is for peeling and what stays. The result is a fully intact egg.

Likewise, if you have ever tried to fish something out of a very small opening – out of the mouth of a bottle or a small drain – you quickly learn that your eyes cannot focus that keenly. If you only use your sight and do not have precision sight, good luck. It requires your sense of touch, partnered with perception (the possible), rather than sight. [Isn’t it strange how sometimes we have to even close our eyes to perceive or calm pain in our bodies?] Another simple example is using your sense of smell rather than your vision to detect a snake in your basement. You need to use your eyes as the nose of a human is not as keen as the sense of smell an animal.

The same is true of how we discern situations. If we use the wrong sense, we might make a mess of things. You don’t want to be found in your head for a matter of the heart or found in your emotions for a matter of logic.

For example, should your daughter come to you broken-hearted, it would not be helpful in that moment to logically explain to her that the boy who dumped her would have likely made a low salary and moved to another city. Using logic instead of heart in that moment would likely cause a breach between your daughter and you, rather than bringing her comfort which creates a bond.

In the same way, we should not be found using logic and reasoning – leaning on our own understanding – when the Lord is trying to speak to us about a matter of the heart. It is important we are found with our hearts available to Him. When the Lord speaks to us, He is usually warning us of something important that will save our lives – most importantly, spiritually, but also physically. Or, He is comforting us, reminding us of His love which alters how we enter a situation or relationship.

Ultimately, we need a mother board directing and guiding our senses so we can use them for good, where we are successful spiritually, relationally, mentally, and physically. This is where a supernatural (spiritual) sense becomes so key.

When we ask Jesus into our life, we are given the most powerful sense of all – a sensitivity to the supernatural (spiritual).

The Holy Spirit, who is God’s Spirit, is deposited in us to guide us until we are in heaven with Him directly. The greatest sense He has given us is His alive, active Spirit in us, who heightens our awareness and directs our attention the right direction at the right time. We are wise to receive and to leave margin in our lives to hear the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit. It might be as simple as sensing, “That is not wise,” as we begin to approach a situation in the wrong way, with the wrong sense.

On our own, without the help of the Lord, we draw conclusions based on limited information and take things wrong, severing opportunities, relationships, even harming our own health. Without Him, we are groping blindly, not knowing which sense to employ in an important, complex situation impacting many.

The Holy Spirit is fully aware of what is going on from every angle. He helps us to see, perceive, feel, and know things our infinite senses, minds, hearts, and eyes cannot perceive. The Lord wants to make this available to us to guide us. He beckons us to rely on Him, to come to Him for wisdom and help to be successful in every facet of life. He offers this, from His love, in order to bless and protect us, as well as those around us.

If you are not a Christian, I encourage you to ask Jesus to come into your life, to be the Lord of your life so that you receive His gift of the Holy Spirit living with you and in you, giving you this supernatural gift of guidance. [If you are interested in learning more, I recommend visiting GraceSTL.org/WhoIsJesus for a quick video and prayer!]

If you are a Christian, you might join me in asking the Lord to help you create margin in your life – quieting the noise from others, pressures, and media – to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit more clearly to protect you and those around you.

Prayer Help us, Lord! Help us to not get lost or betrayed by our senses but to employ them in the appropriate ways for good, for power. We need you to be a success in any area of our lives! Thank you for your willingness and your abundant love towards us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Good Judgement

In a world where everyone is on edge and many at each other’s throats, I wonder how I can be a peace-maker rather than a peace-disturber… how I can bring peace amongst volatility. Admittedly, I often feel perplexed by this. Yet, in this quest, I have found a woman whose wisdom and good judgement so impress me. Her name is Abigail. She is from the Old Testament in the Bible. Let’s call her a successful case study of bringing peace into a hostile environment.

Abigail’s husband, Nabal, was rich and harsh. It seems he let his riches get to him, giving way to pride, arrogance, and entitlement. While his men were in the care of David, David protected them day and night, honoring Nabal. Now, returning them without a hair out of place, David needs a bit of support in return.

David sends one of his men to Nabal with his request. Nabal, prideful and greedy, dishonors David and his team’s efforts, as well as his own men, to get out of sharing what seems to be his duty to share. (I have been in a couple of business transactions like this, shocked at the disrespect after going out of my way for that person or company. Have you?) The insult and arrogance are not lost on David. He is not pleased with Nabal, who is clearly a “Godless fool” as his name means, unlike David.

David, now enraged with anger, gathers his men and heads straight to Nabal to vindicate himself by the sword. [Oh my, have I wanted to vindicate myself once or twice. I am sure you have too.] Yet, on his way, David is met by Abigail, Nabal’s wife, who has heard of the insult. Unlike Nabal, Abigail is wise, grateful, and emotionally intelligent.

Feeling the winds of strife blowing and aware of the bloodshed ahead, the Bible tells us, “Abigail acted quickly. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs and loaded them on donkeys.” Along with gifts, she brings wise, gracious words that honor David and the call God has put on David’s life.

Abigail, falling at David’s feet, says, ‘Pardon your servant, my lord, and let me speak to you; hear what your servant has to say. Please pay no attention, my lord, to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name—his name means Fool, and folly goes with him. And as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my lord sent. And now, my lord, as surely as the Lord your God lives and as you live, since the Lord has kept you from bloodshed and from avenging yourself with your own hands, may your enemies and all who are intent on harming my lord be like Nabal. And let this gift, which your servant has brought to my lord, be given to the men who follow you.”

Abigail cares. She is wise, and she cares. She cares not only for herself. In fact, she puts herself on the line, running to meet this angry mob of scorned men. She does it because she cares about all involved in this catastrophic situation: She cares about her men, as well as David and his men, and she protects her estate. Through good judgement, she brings honor to all, both now and, in David’s case, for the future as he will soon become king.

She says, “Please forgive your servant’s presumption…When the Lord has fulfilled for my lord every good thing he promised concerning him and has appointed him ruler over Israel,my lord will not have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself. And when the Lord your God has brought my lord success, remember your servant.’

In acting promptly with good judgement, Abigail mitigates loss and bloodshed. Her strategic gift to see the possible outcomes and her willingness to put herself on the line breaks strife and introduces peace. She turns this potentially disaster situation into a blessing for David and his men, ultimately costing Nabal’s lavish estate truly little, by offering up humility and gratitude. The result is good for her, peace among men and protection over David’s calling.

^“David said to Abigail, ‘Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who has sent you today to meet me. May you be blessed for your good judgment and for keeping me from bloodshed this day and from avenging myself with my own hands.^{’ “}Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him and said, ‘Go home in peace. I have heard your words and granted your request.’” [Excerpts taken from 1 Samuel 25:14-35]

Used of God, Abigail stops David from taking vengeance upon himself, heaping shame upon him through a rash reaction in anger. And God handles it for David. He brings vengeance upon Nabal for David when, 10 days later, Nabal dies of heart failure. Upon Nabal’s death, David, who is relieved God sent Abigail to intervene and so impressed by her, takes Abigail to be his wife.

In a world full of anger and anxiety, there is so much we, as women, can learn from Abigail. In a volatile situation, she used good judgement to halt the anger of men and to stop the bloodshed of hundreds. Through her example of acting quickly and graciously, we too can mitigate disagreements and bring peace within the workplace and our areas of influence.

When it comes to business and our professional interactions, let’s face it: We see the anger and wrath of man, which threatens everything people have worked for. May we be mitigators, not adding to the fall out, but pouring peace on the situation that changes the outcome for the positive. God, help us to practice wisdom and use measured words that we might be agents of peace in the places we work and in the environments we touch. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Love more. Cancel less.

I have experienced a strange phenomenon in which good people – those who have sacrificed their time, talents and resources for the good of others – are villainized rather than appreciated, suddenly put at an arm’s length with no explanation. They are simply canceled, all good erased, as if they no longer exist.

To be on the receiving end of this behavior is incredibly confusing, painful and heartbreaking. Many of us have been on the receiving end, and it hurts. Likewise, most of us have been the perpetrator at some point, canceling a friend or family member with no warning, conversation or explanation. They are suddenly dropped.

Perhaps we have convinced ourselves no one is this nice, believing they must be “up to something”; strings must be attached. Perhaps their kindness or their talents threaten us. We assume they must be exerting their power over us or are out for something more that we have yet to see. Perhaps they don’t do things exactly as we do, have a friend we wouldn’t, or believe slightly differently on a topic; and one day we turn our nose up, deeming them to be a “them,” not an “us”.

I look back wondering if I have done this to well-meaning, good-hearted people. I am ashamed to find I have done so at times in my haste to weed out the bad or to be sure I am not taken for. Insecurity, inferiority, or paranoia can manifest itself as self-protection and lead us to draw quick, irrational conclusions that hurt others. This is sad, and it is wrong. We wound each other so deeply when we do this.

We need one another, and we need to honor one another. We need to take time to see others for who they truly are. I pray, even in this evil world, that we can still believe in and recognize the good in people, that we can still accept love without questioning motives, that we can see the good in people rather than quickly jumping to judgement.

Currently, so many things stop us:

Doubt. We doubt that anyone can be good.
Complacency. We have allowed our hearts to be dulled amid our conspiracies, and it keeps us from caring.
Fear. We fear being taken advantage of and missing a red flag. Haughtiness. We believe our time and feelings are superior to others.

I pray this phenomenon among us stops. Through the Lord’s help, we can use discernment without cutting everyone out and alienating others.

The Bible helps us weigh the truth about people so our perspectives can be more balanced. It tells us this: “For a good tree does not bear bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” (Luke 6:43-45).

We do not need to be skeptical of everyone and everything, especially those who have continued to share love and bare fruit in our lives. I personally want to repent for my skepticism, for allowing my baggage to hurt good people, for not taking the time to rightly judge a situation, for quickly putting on my lens of judgement instead of love.

If you too want to change, if you want your filter to be cleansed, join me in asking the Lord to help us. I want to see others through a correct lens, through God’s eyes, His perspective. We need His help to reveal the truth of others’ motives; to preserve and protect relationships, to guard meaningful relationships rather than cancelling for fear of the bad.

Let’s stop cancelling each other and putting one another at an arm’s length, especially those whom we love and those who love us, “for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7), nor has He given us a spirit of haughtiness. Haughtiness and complacency come from our sinful nature.

My Prayer

Lord, would you cause your love to grow in us and abound towards others? Would you cause us to trust you more than we fear potential outcomes? Would you cause us to see others as you do? Would you remove the calluses and give us a clean heart? Help us think upon whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, and whatever is admirable. Please help us put aside any haughtiness or insecurity that isolates others and isolates us. Help us to be more like you, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Controlling Anxiety

Anxiety. I have struggled with it along the way. Maybe you have too. Numerous friends and acquaintances are struggling with it these days as pressures and responsibilities mount with limited resources available to assist their families or boost their businesses. Many are feeling paralyzed by their fear of the unknown.

If you are someone who is experiencing fear or anxiety, I want to share some of the things I have learned over the years to hopefully help you realize 1) you are not alone, 2) you are not weird, 3) anxiety is not your demise, nor is it your friend. But your life does not stop because of anxiety. You can push through it and move forward!

Here’s what I’ve learned:

Anxiety seems to hit you out of nowhere — when you finally have a moment to relax, ironically, or think you are totally fine. It feels like a shot of adrenaline has flooded your system, your heart nearly beating out of your chest, yet you feel weak. It can be very confusing and very scary. Though it feels like it’s come out of nowhere, I assure you it is coming from somewhere deep within.

During the day, on the go or in the hot seat before others, we often do what it takes to push through, portraying strength or stability. Yet, we often have emotions within the shuffle that we have stuffed down and ignored, taking no time to address.

As our bodies or minds begin to slow down, these emotions often surface, sending us into a tailspin. Perhaps you lay down only to find you are scared, shaky, your chest is tight or it’s hard to breath. In those moments, I have found it helpful to sit up and focus on two things on repeat:

1) Focus on Jesus. Imagining His eyes, we have a focal point for peace. Remembering He takes our yolk upon Him, we remember we aren’t alone.

2) Sitting up, focus on deep, cleansing breaths. It is not enough to tell yourself to “just breath” as you will freak yourself out more under pressure. Focus your mind, gently reminding yourself, “In through the nose (deep, cleansing, slow breaths), out through the mouth.”

3) Then think upon Jesus again. Ask Him to captivate your nervous system, to get your body in alignment with His word, and for the Holy Spirit to comfort you.

4) Focus on your breathing again… “In through the nose, out through the mouth.”

Later, perhaps another day that week, when you are calm, alone and able to sit down and reflect, pinpoint the things or people that trigger you to be anxious, angry, or to feel frustrated or invisible. Write out the factors that have a habit of riling you up, then come up with a plan to rewrite the script.

Come up with a plan to get power back in your life:
[After all, it’s your life!]

Flip off that station: Quit watching the news or reality TV.
Say no to the “friends” or family members who berate you.
Walk away from people who step over your boundaries.
Remove yourself from the situations that choke you.
Practice saying, “no,” and mean it.

Anxiety comes from feeling powerless. Yet, you are actually a giant with every super power when you have God living inside of you, His hand of protection over you and His angels surrounding you. Get your power back by surrendering your situation and relationships to God.

Ask God for His help to identify the problems making you feel oppressed.
Ask Him for wisdom and guidance on how to move away from those situations.
Ask Him for the grace and favor to do it.

Subtract chaos from your life. Infuse fun into your life! Add in joy-filled, faith-filled components:

Get a hobby. Take up painting, try sewing or dust off your bike.
Get healthy friends around you.
Journal your emotions. Don’t stuff them.
Go for a daily walk to increase endorphins, your “happy” chemicals.
Treat yourself. [Just watch your caffeine and sugar intake as these can increase your anxiety if overdone.]
Turn on upbeat music and dance or lip sync.
Get in nature. The beauty of God’s creation reminds us of His power, and our bodies love the fresh air He provides.

Take time to care of yourself! No one spends more time with you than you do. Be a good friend and caretaker. You matter. And, remember: You are not alone. You are not weird. Focus on Jesus. And, when in doubt, tell a friend.

Walk Away

Release. Resign. Renounce. Walk away from the darkness. Have nothing to do with it.Expose it for what it is. Renounce it from your life. Give darkness no power over your life, no time on your calendar, no fear over you mind, no platform through your discussions, no consideration in your plan-making.

“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them” (Ephesians 5:11).

Expose the things that creep. Call them out by name. Renounce them in the name of Jesus, and walk away. Live, breathe, think, speak and act under the covering of God, under the protection of His angels, by the wisdom given to you through the Holy Spirit, and by the strength of God’s power, operating with the authority given to you in the name of Jesus.

Create. Plan. Paint. Laugh. Write. Cook. Shop. Raise your children. Use your gifts. Live your life. Rebuild the ancient ruins. Restore the places devastated in your life. Sons and daughters, prophesy. Young men, see visions. Old men, dream dreams.

Walk away from the darkness, that which is not yours, and step into His glorious light. Step into your gifts. Step into your calling. It is time to awake.

Wake up. Slumber no more. Fear no more. Freeze no more.

Look forward. Contribute beauty. Plant. Create. Plan. Invest. Pray. Trust. Live. Life is happening beneath the drama. Step out of the drama. Step out of the cloud. Walk away from the darkness.

Trust God more than you fear others. “The fear of man is a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is set securely on high” (Proverbs 29:25).

So, go live your life. It was given to you. What will you do with it today?