The Power of Looking Up

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Hello precious and positive friends.  Looking forward to seeing you this week at Positive Woman Connection.  Tuesday at Prestonwood Country Club, Wed at Cottonwood Creek.  Our lesson is about the beauty Christ brings to our lives.  If you have ever wondered, “Am I beautiful?” You will be reassured as you hear this lesson from Colossians. See you soon.

Here’s a devotional thought to encourage you.

Missionary David Miner Stern was plunged into deep grief at the death of his young daughter. Try as he might, David could not seem to get over his great sorrow, even though he was a Christian and knew of the Lord’s care. In his depression, he visited his daughter’s grave every day. He had a walking stick that he used to touch the mound of dirt over her casket, and somehow this seemed to give him a small measure of comfort, as it made him feel as though he had some slight contact with her. The oppression of his grief was so severe that he feared he must give up his role as a missionary. But God in his gracious way brought him relief.

One day as he stood over the grave, David suddenly realized how wrong it was for him to fix his attention on the dead body of his daughter. The Holy Spirit began to impress on his mind what Jesus said to the thief as he was dying on the cross: “Today you will be with me in paradise.”11 The truth of the passage began to transform the way he was thinking and he started repeating the words “with Christ in paradise” over and over again as he walked home.

His mind opened up to the blessed reality of his daughter being with Jesus. He asked himself, “What more could I want for a loved one than this?” This comforting thought allowed him to resume his missionary duties with joy. Instead of dwelling on his daughter in the grave, he pictured her safe in the presence of Jesus.

By God’s grace and power, we, too, can see our circumstances in a different way. It’s time to let go of that old dream and walk hand in hand with the Lord into a new and different place. With our eyes looking up, we are able to catch a glimpse of a new and better dream. Most importantly as we look to Christ, we are reminded of his great and comforting love, which can soothe the pain and give us strength to move forward.

This blog is an excerpt from my book Thrive, Don’t Simply Survive (Simon and Schuster). The story of David Stern came from Roy B. Zuck, comp., Speakers Quote Book (Grand Rapids: Kregel, 1997), 180.

Take Your Eyes off the Past

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Hello my precious and positive friends. I look forward to seeing you next week at the Positive Woman Connection Bible study.  Please be sure to RSVP if you have not already done so.  We will meet on Oct 26 at Prestonwood Country Club 12 – 1. and On Wednesday, Oct 27 at Cottonwood Creek, 12 – 1.  Our topic this month is “Discovering who you are in Christ.”   See you soon. 

Here’s a devotional thought about the importance of moving forward from the past:

Looking forward to what God has in store can be difficult at times, especially when we have experienced pain or feel as though we are in a rut. Yet, it is important for us take small steps forward with our eyes looking to the Lord to guides us.  We must deliberately take our focus off past hurts and mistakes. Thoughts and reminders of your pain or disappointment or how things could have been may pop into your head now and then, but it’s time to leave the regrets behind and turn your eyes toward what God is planning for the rest of your life.

The apostle Paul offers us a good example. He could have chosen to live in his past, wallowing in regret about his former years before he knew Christ, but he chose to look forward. Here’s what he said to the Philippians: “I focus on this one thing; Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.”9

Whether you are dealing with a divorce or an injury or a loss, you have a choice whether you will dwell on what could have been and your past dreams, or move forward to what is next. One talent we have as women is to replay the “I’m Hurt” tape over and over in our minds. They hurt my feelings. He ruined my life. She was rude to me. God didn’t listen to me. Once you have grieved a hurt or loss, it is time to stop reliving it and playing back the video over and over in your mind. Again this requires forgiveness and strength to move on. We have a loving God who is able to give us the strength to forgive. Seek his help when you just can’t get to the place of forgiveness, and remember forgiveness is not inviting a person to walk all over you.  Sometimes we must set wise boundaries. Forgiveness is releasing the right to hold something over another person.  Let it go.

The only time Scripture tells us to look back is when we are remembering what God has done. The Israelites were told to set up markers and memorials to remember what God had brought them through. We, too, must reflect on God’s goodness and recognize all he has done, instead of reflecting on our past life and wishing it were still there. To passionately live the life we didn’t plan, we must turn our eyes upward instead of backward in order to go forward.

This blog is an excerpt from my book Thrive, Don’t Simply Survive (Simon and Schuster).

Change is in the Air

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October is a wonderful time to enjoy the changing tempatures as well as the changing colors of leaves.  Change can be good, but it can also be challenging.  I’ve invited my friend Jane Jarrell to share about a major change in her life.  Be sure to mark your calendar for our next PWC.  Oct 26 at Prestonwood Country Club or Oct 27 at Cottonwood Creek Baptist church.  Our lesson will be, “The Joy of Knowing Who you are in Christ.”  Looking forward to seeing you soon.   Now here’s my friend Jane…

Five years ago our life changed.

Shivering in a bland and blah curtained off out-patient cubicle came the shock of my adult life.  Awaiting a “procedure” sure to close the option of any other biological children. The doctor entered as they were about to roll me into the operating room and said; “I’ve got good news and bad, the bad news, we need to cancel your procedure, the good news; you are pregnant.” Yes, me, at 44 3/4 years old; a baby.

We had given up hope of another child but God was on His throne; grinning. Tipping the miracle scale in our favor; this procedure was canceled twice because of my mother’s health troubles. If my Mom had not broken her hip forcing the change in plans Luke my never have been part of our family. Hard to really say, as God is in the miracle business, in fact, he specializes in it.

We still look at Luke amazed. Amazed at God’s sense of humor, amazed we are the parents, amazed at a new creation. Grateful for a new direction, often curious if we have what it takes to be the parents he needs. Tired.  Never looking at the math equations showing us in our seventies at college graduation. Grinning at what God will do with our little man. Enjoying days infused with blowing bubbles in the wind, swinging high into the sky, dancing in the water hose.

Our little super hero flew in like a breath of fresh air in the middle of life.

  

Have you ever found yourself in the midst of a miracle? Do you feel as though you are waiting on a miracle that has yet to arrive? God asks us to accept each day as it comes to us, remembering He is sovereign over our life. Rejoice in the day He has made, by looking for His fingerprints in your circumstances. Instead of regrets or resentments, be grateful.

1 Thessalonians 4:17

“Pray continually and give thanks for whatever happens. That is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus.”

Jane Jarrell is a popular speaker and author.  You can learn more about her at www.JaneJarrell.com

 

Super Hero Luke Jarrell

Colossians Connection

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Positive Woman Connection

“Let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”  Hebrews 10:24

This week we started our new season of Positive Woman Connection.  I love PWC, because it is a place for us to join together as women not only to encourage one another, but also to study God’s word together. This year we are studying the book of Colossians, and what a powerful book it is!  If I were to describe the book of Colossians using three words, I would say it is about Christ, Confidence and Community. We learned this past week about the importance of knowing what we believe and the basis for our worldview.  My personal worldview is based on the foundation of the Bible. What about you? I believe the Bible is the inerrant word of God and that it gives us the basis of understanding who God is and what our purpose is in this world. Most importantly, the Bible reveals who Christ is and why God sent Him.

Colossians teaches us specific truths about Christ. In fact, theologians agree that it is one of the foremost books on Christology.  Here’s a how Paul described the majesty of Christ in Colossians, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”

What a wonderful God we serve! He has rescued us and given us a new life because of what Christ did for us on the cross. I want to encourage you to study Colossians for yourself, and if you live in the Dallas area, join us for one of the Positive Woman Connection Bible studies – or start your own in your city.  We meet at Prestonwood Country Club in north Dallas on the 4th Tuesday of the month and in Allen at Cottonwood Creek Church on the 4th Wednesday of the month.  For more information go to www.roaringlambsministries.org.   Hope to see you October 26 or 27 at PWC.

Feeling Frazzled?

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Is your day turning out a little different than you planned?  Maybe your life is going a different direction than you thought it would. God can use the twists and turns in our life to lead us on a new journey. He may have a greater, eternal purpose that we cannot understand right now, and we may not comprehend it until we see Jesus face to face. The question is, are we willing to recognize God has a design for our lives that may be more beautiful than we can imagine, or will we settle for discouragement, bitterness, and frustration?

Hope in God can turn disappointments into appointments to trust God. As the psalmist said in the midst of his sadness, “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.” We can find great encouragement from reading the words of the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah, who is known as the “weeping prophet.” Can you believe that? Encouragement from the weeping prophet! But I think you will be encouraged too. As Jeremiah grieved over the destruction of Jerusalem, he turned his eyes toward the day-to-day faithfulness of the Lord. Notice how Jeremiah’s discouragement turns into words of hope:

 The thought of my suffering and homelessness
 is bitter beyond words.

I will never forget this awful time,
 as I grieve over my loss.

Yet I still dare to hope
 when I remember this:

The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
 His mercies never cease.

Great is his faithfulness;
 his mercies begin afresh each morning.

I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;
 therefore, I will hope in him!”

The Lord is good to those who depend on him,
 to those who search for him.

So it is good to wait quietly
 for salvation from the Lord.”  Lamentations 3:19 – 24

Will you dare to hope as Jeremiah did? As he grieved his loss, he also declared, “The faithful love of the Lord never ends!” Yes, His mercy is new and fresh each morning. My friend, as you walk this new and different road, seek God’s goodness and mercy along the way. Cry out to him for help, and trust his faithfulness to get you through one day at a time. Not one of us has been guaranteed a perfectly happy life. The Bible reminds us, “The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.” Psalm 34

See you Sept 22 in Allen at Cottonwood Creek Baptist at 12:00. or Sept 28 at Prestonwood Country Club 12:00.