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Word for the Year: Joy

John 15:9-11 (AMP)  I have loved you just as the Father has loved Me; remain in My love [and do not doubt My love for you]. If you keep My commandments and obey My teaching, you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and remain in His love. I have told you these things so that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy may be made full and complete and overflowing.

I tend to be joyful person. I have been through some trials in life, and I have been known to complain when it did happen thinking that I had a sympathetic ear. I have learned to not because some people used it against me. If you do not know this about me, my husband and I took over as the pastors of our church about thirteen years ago. Before that we served as associate and assistant pastors at the same church for nearly thirteen years. This has apparently given license for people to correct me from those that I submit to and those that I serve. I have had comments from “I love to see you serve me,” to “you are going to hell.” Then there are those that weaponize my words or actions, just to see me get corrected yet again. I have been hurt by people like you would not believe, but yet I am still here.

So, when God gave me the word “joy” for 2026 my first thought was “what is going to happen now?” The first book in the Bible I read for this year was Habakkuk. We ended 2026 in our church with not very good attendance, but deeper growth for those that wanted it and better giving. We ended 2026 not in a new building, as we had hoped for all year long, and now entering year seven in someone else’s building. We even got really close the last month of the year. So, I cried out to God, why? That is when I got the word “joy.” Habakkuk starts off in chapter one with, “O Lord, how long will I call for help and You will not hear?” When we have doubts about His goodness, He is still faithful. I read this book over and over again for a full week. God said He would show up in a mighty way. God told Habakkuk it would get worse before it got better. Yet Habakkuk responded in faith.

Habakkuk 3:17-19 (AMP) Though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive fails and the fields produce no food, though the flock is cut off from the fold and there are no cattle in the stalls, yet I will [choose to] rejoice in the Lord; I will [choose to] shout in exultation in the [victorious] God of my salvation! The Lord God is my strength [my source of courage, my invincible army]; He has made my feet [steady and sure] like hinds’ feet and makes me walk [forward with spiritual confidence] on my high places [of challenge and responsibility].

With every time correction has come into my life, I have checked it against the Word. When it lines up with His Word, I accept it gladly. It is a discipline from the Lord. He will help me change this within me. One thing I never did was bite back or disrespect the person it came from, even when malice was intended for me. I am grateful for the people that allow me to speak into their lives. I have learned from experience what it means to genuinely care for others. If we are afraid of correction, then we are missing out on something that is necessary for our spiritual maturity. There are so many babies still in the body of Christ because people are not allowing Word of God, the fivefold ministry and the body of Christ to do what they were given as gifts for.

The next book I read was Philippians. Paul is in prison, literally chained to a person that was guarding him, writing this letter. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. Happiness depends on our circumstances. Joy depends on our relationship with Christ. Paul had a confident assurance of God’s love and work in his life and the life of fellow believers. The secret to joy is grounded in our relationship with Christ. There are some that say, “I have lost my joy.” Have you lost Christ? Look back at John 15. Jesus is telling us the importance of our abiding in Him (our relationship with Christ). It all goes back to love. The real reason we have lost our joy, is because we have become self-involved. We look out for our own self-interests. We start asking “what about me?” We can have joy, even in hardships. Joy does not come from our circumstances. We are not to rely on what we have or what we experience to give us joy, but Christ within us.

Philippians 2:1-5 (AMP) Therefore if there is any encouragement and comfort in Christ [as there certainly is in abundance], if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship [that we share] in the Spirit, if [there is] any [great depth of] affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, having the same love [toward one another], knit together in spirit, intent on one purpose [and living a life that reflects your faith and spreads the gospel—the good news regarding salvation through faith in Christ]. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit [through factional motives, or strife], but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves. Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this same attitude in yourselves which was in Christ Jesus [look to Him as your example in selfless humility]

It is the confidence I have in Christ that I know that people have a problem with. It grieves me to know that what they most want they can have too. What is limiting others from attaining such? Not that I have arrived myself, it is to surrender more. I am pressing on. I will continue to press on. It is when we give up or find something else to get our identity in that we become stagnant in our spiritual growth. I desire for growth in all of His body. It is hard to watch people “lose their joy” yet with not receive the gift that will point them back to their dependency of Christ.

Which brings me to the third book of the Bible that I have read this year, Nehemiah. Being in leadership I have heard gripers and complainers or what our church needs to do, what we do not have that meets their needs and so forth. It is easy to sit back and analyze and talk about the problems that you see. Instead of gathering people to discuss, be like Nehemiah and pray then act. Nehemiah saw a problem, was distressed about it, didn’t complain about it, not wallow in self-pity about it, he took action. Nehemiah became a person who God could count on. He did not even allow the people who were giving false reports to distract him. He did not allow the ones who did not participate in the rebuilding get him discouraged (I need to work on that one myself). He not only rebuilt walls but wanted to align the people back to the heart of God. They spent days listening, being taught and implementing what they heard from the prophet Ezra as he read them the law. God does not want our actions without our faith. This is the book that we get “the joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10).” Another thing I got from Nehemiah is the importance of our praise and thanksgiving. I want to start off my closing prayer with what is written in Nehemiah 9: 6. Pray this prayer with me and add it what you are most thankful for.

You are the Lord, You alone; You have made the heavens, the heaven of heavens with all their host (the heavenly bodies), the earth and everything that is on it, the seas and everything that is in them. You give life to all of them, and the heavenly host is bowing down [in worship] to You. Jesus, Your Son, was with You at the time of Creation. We were created through Him and for Him. You sent Him in fullness of Love to die for our transgressions. You have forgiven us of our inequities and we in turn at to forgive others. We repent for not forgiving as you commanded. You gave us the gift of Your Holy Spirit. You gave us this gift to mature us and grow us. You also gave us the gift of the fivefold ministry and the body of Christ. Your desire has always been that we would work together to mature into a glorious Body. We thank You for desiring so much for our lives. We thank You that You desire for us to be full of joy and peace. Thank in our submission to self-control empowered by You we are secure in who we are in Your Son. You are forgiving, gracious and compassionate and abounding in love. You will never leave us nor forsake us. Even though hardships may come upon us, even persecution, You remain faithful. You are patient and keep your covenant of love. We love you. We choose to remain in Your Son. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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God said, don’t quit

Hebrews 12:2 (MEV) Let us look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

About eight years ago, around this time of year, my husband and I went through tremendous heart ache due to the church that we are leading. Some people that we love dearly decided that they did not want to be with us any longer. They had led and were very much a part of our life. They just did not want us to be their pastors, and it was due to an offense. We knew there were issues but did not know what. It was a punch in the gut, because they were not just a part of the church and leadership team, but they are also family.

My husband and I were at breakfast and talking about it just being too hard, and we decided to quit. We were going to give it up. We had taken on a financial giant, in running the church, and were paying for it personally, as the church did not have the funds to meet the needs. Not even five minutes after the agreement to quit came a phone call from a very trusted leader in our life. “God said, don’t quit.” Someone hundreds of miles away, not knowing the situation we were in, and God told him to tell us not to quit.

Daniel 7:25a (AMP)  He will speak words against the Most High [God] and wear down the saints of the Most High

The enemy wants to wear us down. I have to tell you, he has been busy at work lately. However, I put it together. He does not have a new trick, he wants to use the same ones and he will do them around the same time. Just like the seasons are there, so are the enemy’s schemes. This time of year again, I have been in a battle to not quit. He does it through the avenue of wearing us down. I have had two instances in the past two weeks of having to love through the hurts. Praying not to take an offense, to not take account of a suffered wrong, to not allow how others treat me determine how they treat them. Why? I am deeply loved and rooted and grounded in the love of Christ.

Did I have a moment to entertain what it would be like to quit? Yes. I imagined what it would be like and I grieved. I grieved because those thoughts were not full of faith. I had to cast them down and repent.

1 Corinthians 9:16-19 (AMP) For if I [merely] preach the gospel, I have nothing to boast about, for I am compelled [that is, absolutely obligated to do it]. Woe to me if I do not preach the good news [of salvation]! For if I do this work of my own free will, then I have a reward; but if it is not of my will [but by God’s choosing], I have been entrusted with a [sacred] stewardship. What then is my reward? [Just this:] that, when I preach the gospel, I may offer the gospel without charge [to everyone], so as not to take advantage of my rights [as a preacher and apostle] in [preaching] the gospel. For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to everyone, so that I may win more [for Christ]. 

I have heard it stated that when it comes to quitting church attendance, “my life is so much better.” When I imagined life without it, my heart ached. I cannot quit. Woe, is a word of grief. I have grieved because I have a deep love for people. I desire them to grow closer and deeper in this love that Christ has for us. I grieve when self wins over the life He desires for us.

Why do you think I have been challenged lately? I know. Just a couple of weeks ago I praised God for answered prayers. I encouraged you all to be patient in the waiting, but to also be faithful in what He has called you to right now. Don’t rush the solution, was a praise report of the faithfulness of our God. The enemy hates our praise. He wants to shut it down. Do not settle in for a pity party. Get you some confetti and start a praise party.

1 Corinthians 4:1-2 (AMP) So then, let us [who minister] be regarded as servants of Christ and stewards (trustees, administrators) of the mysteries of God [that He chooses to reveal]. In this case, moreover, it is required [as essential and demanded] of stewards that one be found faithful and trustworthy.

Faithfulness is one of the fruits of the spirit. I will not be very good at producing this fruit if I am not rooted and grounded in the love of Christ. I want to be trustworthy. I am reading Daniel and some of the things God revealed to him were because he was trustworthy.

Daniel 10:19 (AMP) He said, “O man, highly regarded and greatly beloved, do not be afraid. Peace be to you; take courage and be strong.” Now when he had spoken to me, I was strengthened and said, “Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me.”

The Lord has strengthened me. I am persevering in this time and looking forward to what lies ahead. I desire all that God wants for us in this life. The part that wants to quit, is a part of me that is still living and against the new life in Christ. I am asking the Holy Spirit to search within me. Reveal the areas that are broken and put them back together. I do not want to be deadened to what He calls glorious, His church. I am pressing forward. So here is a prayer I took from Habakkuk:

Creator, Abba, Father You are Holy. You are worthy of all Honor and Praise. Thank You for Your Son and the gift of the Holy Spirit. As with Habakkuk, though there seems to little fruit yielded and it is hard to see the blossoms, what has yielded looks to fall dead to the ground and rotted. We choose to focus on what has bloomed. We repent for making it all about us and self-focus. We choose to focus on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. We choose to rejoice in the Lord. We choose to shout in exultation in the victorious God of my salvation! The Lord God is our strength, our source of courage, our invincible army. He has made our feet steady and sure like hinds’ feet and makes us walk forward with spiritual confidence on the high places, of challenge and responsibility. We choose hope today. We choose forgiveness today. We choose love today. We choose joy today. In Jesus Name, Amen. (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

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Emotional Healing or Emotional Leading?

James 1:2-3 (AMP) Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace].

What happens when the saints start serving their emotions and are led by them? This was my question yesterday during prayer. Then I thought about this ad that came across my social media thread. It was regarding the benefits of somatic yoga, that they would help you release pent up emotions. I do stretches because I lift weights and exercise. I believe in emotional healing. So a couple of months ago I thought I would look up a You Tube video and give it a try. I had a deep grievance in my spirit and turned it off immediately. Why? God does not need my help in my emotional healing, He just needs my surrender. I believe sometimes we need a good cry and/or a good laugh. There is both godly sorrow and the joy of the Lord. You can walk in both and at the same time. I might hit on that in another blog.

1 Peter 5:6-11 (AMP) Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God [set aside self-righteous pride], so that He may exalt you [to a place of honor in His service] at the appropriate time, casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully]. Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour. But resist him, be firm in your faith [against his attack—rooted, established, immovable], knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being experienced by your brothers and sisters throughout the world. [You do not suffer alone.] After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace [who imparts His blessing and favor], who called you to His own eternal glory in Christ, will Himself complete, confirm, strengthen, and establish you [making you what you ought to be]. To Him be dominion (power, authority, sovereignty) forever and ever. Amen.

I have been in ministry for over two decades now. Although, I have had only one senior pastor, there have been many other leaders that I have had to submit to. I remember that I had someone tell me that I had a look that could bite a car in half. I laugh at it now, because although it hurt in the moment (and they could have used a little more grace in the correction) I did not use it as an excuse to hide. It does not matter that they may still use the same presentation and that they never saw the error in how they speak to people, it matters what I do. I have a choice in how I feel. No one can make me a feel a certain way unless I allow them to. I have a choice on how I correct after that. I have a choice to forgive.

A lot of the New Testament epistles are about our character development. I am not talking about a character in a story that we want to root for. They are talking about the change within to die to ourselves. We are still living beings and we have to make choices every moment of every day. One of the biggest choices is whether we are out for self preservation or willing to surrender to Christ. Our hearts have to be aligned with His.

2 Peter 1:5-8 (AMP) For this very reason, applying your diligence [to the divine promises, make every effort] in [exercising] your faith to, develop moral excellence, and in moral excellence, knowledge (insight, understanding), and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, steadfastness, and in your steadfastness, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly affection, and in your brotherly affection, [develop Christian] love [that is, learn to unselfishly seek the best for others and to do things for their benefit]. For as these qualities are yours and are increasing [in you as you grow toward spiritual maturity], they will keep you from being useless and unproductive in regard to the true knowledge and greater understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ.

What happens when our emotions become our god? We use terms like “God said” or the “the Lord told me to” quite loosely. I say that because we do not understand the reverence behind doing what God tells us to. It changes day to day, because we make different choices. I can talk to someone about something that God told them to do, and when they did not show up they tell me God told them to do something else. In reality they have been led by their emotions. However, I cannot say that to them because who I am I to question what God says. I do know His character and nature. If I was not stable in my relationship with Christ, and notice that it is their own immaturity, it could make me waiver in my faith. That is why it is so important that we have reverence in saying “God told me.” It reminded me of the prophet, Jeremiah (read Jeremiah and Lamentations). The King was wanting a favorable prophecy for the nation, other prophets would give it to him, all but Jeremiah. He was steadfast regarding the word of the Lord and it cost him physically and emotionally. We are given so many choices, what choice will you make.

Joshua 24:15 (AMP) If it is unacceptable in your sight to serve the Lord, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you live; but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

In our deep need for wholeness, let us not forget that Christ paid the price for it all. It is in Him that we are rooted and grounded. There is a work that needs to be done within us. There is a character development that He wants us to go through. He wants us to imitate Him as He imitates the Father. It takes time and it takes patience. We are not going to get it right all of the time. It matters that we are growing and we appreciate the growing moments. The roots have to grow deep in Christ. Abide in Him (John 15). We are going to make it through. He cares deeply for us.

Abba, our Father and our Creator, we honor You today with our thanksgiving and praise. You are a full of Mercy and Loving Kindness. You are Holy. Thank You for Your Son to bring us back to You. Jesus redeemed us to Your Presence. Thank You for the Holy Spirit to be our Comforter and our Teacher. We are sorry for the times we have made self preservation our goal. We repent for keeping the focus on ourselves and allowing our emotions to dictate our choices. We want to abide in You. We want nothing else but You. We know that trials are a part of our growth. You are developing us, not that we were not made perfect, but that we are being renewed in our thinking. You are Holy, and you desire us to be holy. We surrender to who You are. We choose forgiveness today. We choose joy today. We choose hope today. We choose love today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Soul Prospers

3 John 1:2 (AMP) Beloved, I pray that in every way you may succeed and prosper and be in good health [physically], just as [I know] your soul prospers [spiritually].

This is not a blog on if you live right you will not get sick. This is a blog on why it is important that our soul prospers. What makes up the soul? It is our mind, our will and our emotions. Your mind, and the words that come out of your mouth, will determine your acceptance of the Word of God being active in your life.

Romans 11:36,12:1-2 (AMP) For from Him [all things originate] and through Him [all things live and exist] and to Him are all things [directed]. To Him be glory and honor forever! Amen. Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies [dedicating all of yourselves, set apart] as a living sacrifice, holy and well-pleasing to God, which is your rational (logical, intelligent) act of worship. And do not be conformed to this world [any longer with its superficial values and customs], but be transformed and progressively changed [as you mature spiritually] by the renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His plan and purpose for you].

How can we expect to live a healed life if we neglect the need for inner healing. The renewing of my mind is to change my focus on His values and His attitude. Bitterness can grow in us until it turns into resentment and anger. The seed of it starts off with an offense. Do I get hurt? Yes. Do I get hurt by the body of Christ (the people in my church)? Double dose of yes. However, I cannot rehearse it. I even make it a point to delete the text or block the thread so that I cannot rehearse it. Rehearsing a hurt is renewing your mind to go further into the darkness. Why do I choose to let it go and renew my mind? Read Romans 11:36, if I do not honor God and desire to bring Him glory I will continue to live for myself and my mind, will and emotions will be led in that direction. Who am I really hurting by holding onto a grudge? Are you angry with those you are suppose to do life with? Are you angry with God? Bitterness is not the answer.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3 (AMP) If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love [for others growing out of God’s love for me], then I have become only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal [just an annoying distraction]. And if I have the gift of prophecy [and speak a new message from God to the people], and understand all mysteries, and [possess] all knowledge; and if I have all [sufficient] faith so that I can remove mountains, but do not have love [reaching out to others], I am nothing. If I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it does me no good at all.

Love is a choice, just like forgiveness is a choice. Our mindset matters to God. Do you know the definition of being double minded (James 1:7-8)? By your actions not matching your words and thoughts. We become unstable in our minds and think the worst of others. How can I change this? The answer is in the above verses. It is through the acceptance of the love God has for you. You will want to live a holy life that glorifies Him. It starts in the decisions we make in our mind. This is why we are told to not take an account of a suffered wrong (1 Corinthians 13:5). People are gonna do people things, even those that are Christians. They have not reached perfection yet, so stop expecting them to be perfect. I care about your soul, as a pastor does (Hebrews 13:17). Sharpening the sword of the spirit (reminding ourselves of the Word of God) brings inner healing.

Your soul is made up of your mind, will and emotions. Your thought life is the gateway to your soul. No matter what comes our way we can choose to live our lives in His love. Rooted and grounded in His love for us is so powerful. I can release the hurt, even when it was done on purpose. I can forgive, even when they do not deserve it nor ask for it. I do not have to rehearse the wrong even when they succeeded in that moment. My real success is that I kept my focus. The renewing of your mind [focusing on godly values and ethical attitudes].

Father, our Creator, and Most Marvelous Lord, we want to honor You with our lives today. Thank You for Your Son, that we are redeemed from the old ways of living, separated from You. Thank You for the Holy Spirit so that we can renew our minds daily. We repent for rehearsing anything other than Your words and precepts. We repent for making it all about us. We choose to forgive others of the wrongs they have done, for being self seeking themselves and especially forgiving ourselves for being led by our emotions. Help us to lead our feelings. Help us to focus on Your values and change our attitudes to glorify You. We choose forgiveness today. We choose hope today. We choose faith today. We choose love today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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Only You

Jeremiah 24:7 (AMP)  I will give them a heart to know Me, [understanding fully] that I am the Lord; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.

“Only You,” that is what I heard over and over again yesterday in prayer. As I was worshiping and giving Him first place. As I was praying over the men in our church. As I was praying over the worship team. As I was praying over the hallways and the fellowship hall. As I was praying for laborers for the harvest. As I was praying over those who serve in our children’s departments. As I was praying over our greeters and ushers. “Only You,” is what my heart was crying out for.

Why do we gather? Why do we worship? Why do we serve? “Only You!”

Jeremiah 29:13 (AMP) Then [with a deep longing] you will seek Me and require Me [as a vital necessity] and [you will] find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Psalms 37:4 (AMP) Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires and petitions of your heart.

How often we tell God that if He gives us our hearts desires that we will follow after Him. We try to bend Him to our will, instead of us surrendering to His. We want Him to fit into the idea of who He is to us. Instead of us trying to define Him according to our self seeking ideas.

Jeremiah 30:22 (AMP) Then you shall be My people, and I will be your God.

It’s our heart change to Him. What have we sought above Him? Maybe it is a job that would be fulfilling? Could it be a family that will need us and fulfill our every need for love? What about a peaceful home? The love of a spouse? None of those things replace the need for Only Him.

When I came to know Christ I was already engaged to my husband. It was the deep desire to be loved that I clung so hard to him. God was taking him on a journey and his passions had changed. The man I had known for the two and half years before was changing. God spoke to me and wanted my heart. He showed me the pedestal that I had my husband on, that I sought him to meet my every need. God wanted me to tear down that pedestal (that idol) and put Him there. That is when I gave my life to Him. It has been twenty five years since that moment, I have never forgotten it.

Isaiah 58:13-14 (AMP) “If you turn back your foot from [unnecessary travel on] the Sabbath, from doing your own pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a [spiritual] delight, and the holy day of the Lord honorable, and honor it, not going your own way or engaging in your own pleasure or speaking your own [idle] words, then you will take pleasure in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the high places of the earth, and I will feed you with the [promised] heritage of Jacob your father; for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

For twenty five years I have sought pleasure in doing for the Lord. There has not been a Sunday that I have not served. I have notebooks from the messages preached and hung onto every word, not because of the person, but because it is a Word for the body I was a part of. Even when I had kids, they were right there serving with me. If I did it for man, then I can tell you that I would not have stuck with it as long as I have. Have I been hurt by people? Yes. It is when we look at people that we get our focus off of Him and make it about us. I have been hurt by leadership. I have been abused by people in the church. I have been insulted about my looks. Yet, I serve Only Him. I honor Him.

That was my heart cry for the body of Christ. That we know “Only You.” That we focus on “Only You.” That we serve “Only You.” That we seek after “Only You.” That we are satisfied with “Only You.” Our purest worship is for “Only You.”

Yahweh, there is nothing to compare with You. We want nothing else but You. You are our One and Only. You are the King above all. You are Lord over all. Thank You for loving us with Your One and Only Son. We repent for setting anything else in the place that You are to be. We want Only You. We seek You as our vital necessity. We repent for making it about us by holding onto unforgiveness and withholding from the body of Christ. Forgive us as we forgive those that have done selfish deeds towards us. Grace and mercy are the fruits we eat of Your Presence. You left us Peace and we stand firmly in our redeemed stature. Look into our hearts and remove any area that will not yield to You. We choose love today. We choose joy today. We choose forgiveness today. We choose hope today. In Jesus Name, Amen.

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30 Days of Thanksgiving

Colossians 2:6-7 (AMP)  Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, walk in [union with] Him [reflecting His character in the things you do and say—living lives that lead others away from sin], having been deeply rooted [in Him] and now being continually built up in Him and [becoming increasingly more] established in your faith, just as you were taught, and overflowing in it with gratitude.

Every November I start each morning posting what I am thankful for. A heart of thanksgiving will overflow with gratitude. It is the fruit of us being deeply rooted in Jesus. It is proof of our faith. It helps build our faith because we choose to overflow in it with gratitude.

Last week my church finished up a six week small group plan following Get Out of Your Head, a study in Philippians, by Jennie Allen. The final chapter talks about anxiety. Could we be focused on fear of a real or, often really the case, perceived threat? Can we trust God, even if?

Philippians 4:8 (AMP) Finally, believers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute; if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things [center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart].

Philippians 4:8 is one of my go to verses that I often meditate on. Why? My mind wants to spiral into some crazy thoughts. Often we think of all the things that can go wrong when presented with a challenge. In reality the more success we have is when we focus on all the things that can go right. The same is with our relationships. If I cannot think of our brothers and sisters in Christ this way, I have a deep issue that has not been rooted in His love. If I cannot bring our minds to think on things that is worthy of praise, if I cannot implant His Word in my heart, I have a deep rooted issue centered on not trusting God.

A couple of years ago a church that we had a semi relationship with (our youth groups would get together) hurt me pretty bad. They had started using some of my youth leaders to do various helps in their church, without us knowing. These leaders eventually left ours to join in with their leadership team because of the relationship they developed. My heart hurt and we cut ties with that other church. Even though what they did was wrong, I became so consumed to what they did and what they are doing that bitterness and eventually depression set it. I had allowed it to do that to happen a year ago. I still had friendships in that church, but I cut off all communication with the pastors. I stayed away from my friends because I did not want to spew my hurt onto them. I do honor the office of a pastor and we should not use the reason of hurt to talk bad about them (James 4:11). When I did come together again, with my friend, I did tell them why, but I did tell the I her I was working through my hurt. I always encourage her to honor her pastors, to join in and help with the vision of the church. I have also started to pray for the church, not to see their errors, but to fulfill the vision that God put inside of them. I am not ready to see them again. I will continue to pray. I focus my mind on what is worthy of praise. They are called by God with a purpose. They are bringing people into the Kingdom.

You do not have to wait to feel good to start having a time of thanksgiving. Joy will start to come out of your praise. Praise even when you are hurting, that is the way out of it. Start with just one. You might say, I cannot come up with thirty things. Just think and be thankful one day at a time. Before you know it, you will have filled the whole month with thanksgiving. Here are a couple of ideas if you need help:

Father, I thank you for challenging us to see the best in others. My hearts desire is to grow close in your presence, because in your presence is fullness of joy. I repent for speaking words or having thoughts that slander my brothers and sisters in Christ. I choose today to think on things that pure, lovely, virtuous, and to not take an account of a suffered wrong. I speak blessings on those that hurt me. May they be successful and favored in every place they go. May they minister the gospel and set people free by pointing them to your Son. I am thankful for the forgiveness you have given me so that I may freely give it to others. Thank you for leading me. Thank you for the friendships that I have. I thank you that we point each other back to Christ. I thank you for surrounding me and rooting me in your love. In Jesus Name, Amen.