It was great to be together last week and learn a lesson about contentment.  Here’s a little devotional to remind us all that our strength comes from the Lord:

Sometimes I feel like I am in over my head in certain situations, but these are just the situations in which God loves to show His mighty hand. Think of Gideon who was up against thousands of Midianites with an army of only 300 men.  The victory was the Lord’s; not man’s.  Consider David with just five smooth stones against a giant Goliath.  And what about Daniel and Samuel and Joshua and Hezekiah; all in situations way over their heads, but with a great and mighty God on their side? 

When we remember these stories of faith-filled, God-sized victories we are reminded of God’s great ability and power. Sometimes our challenge comes in actually believing He cares about us and wants to intervene in our personal situations.  Yet the God of the big, miraculous Bible stories is also our loving heavenly Father who delights in the details in the lives of His children. 

 Several weeks ago I had that sinking feeling that I may be over my head.  I was scheduled to fly to Eugene, Oregon in order to shoot six videos in one day. Here’s how the day was set up, I was to shoot a video for a half hour, then have a half hour to change clothes, redo hair and make-up and go over my notes for the next video, then film another 30-minute video, then back to change, redo and study, then another video…  You get the picture.  From the moment I learned about the schedule I realized this was beyond me, but I also knew it was not beyond the power of God.  I prayed for God’s strength, wisdom and guidance.  I asked a team of friends to pray for me as well. 

The beautiful thing about doing these videos was that I knew I needed the Lord.  I couldn’t depend on myself alone; I knew I was dependant on the God who invites us to cast all our cares on Him.  When I am in a place beyond my own abilities and give my needs to God, then He gets the glory.  If I stay in a place of depending on my own abilities and depend on myself, well then, I tend to take the credit. 

To God be the glory.  This past weekend I filmed the videos in Eugene, Oregon and they went without a hitch! God gave me energy, and presence of mind from the beginning of our filming to the very last video. I know beyond a shadow of a doubt it was Him!

I don’t know what you are facing; it may be way beyond what you feel like you can handle.  I want to encourage you to look to your Provider, your loving Heavenly Father who is able to meet your needs in any and every situation.  Paul as a prisoner in Rome wrote, “My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”   He may not change your situation, but He can give you what you need in the midst.  

Points to Ponder:

• Don’t be afraid of situations which seem beyond your abilities.
• Remember you have a God who loves you and is able to meet your needs.
• Cast your cares on Him.
• Give Him the glory.

Just in case you were wondering, the videos I filmed were for my newest book with the wonderful people at Harvest House Publishing. The Bible Study videos will come out in November 2010. The title is “A Woman’s Passionate Pursuit of God.”  To read about another life lesson learned in Eugene this pasts weekend, go to my other blog:  www.positivemoms.blogspot.com

Looking forward to seeing you this week at the Positive Woman Connection.  Be sure to make a reservation with Donna Skell (dskell@roaringlambsministries.org)

Here’s a little devotional as we prepare to meet this week and learn about Contentment:

Are you a little tired, little worn-out, little overwhelmed?  Do you feel frustrated, dissatisfied or restless? I know, I sound like I’m doing an ad for Vita-Meata-Vegamin (from an old “I Love Lucy” segment for all of you too young to know), but to be completely realistic here, there are always going to be times when we do feel drained both physically and emotionally.  Where do we go for strength?

Certainly we must be deliberate about taking care of ourselves physically by eating right and getting the rest we need.  We can also find support emotionally through talking with a trusted friend, finding wise counsel or journaling.  As believers in Christ, God invites us to come to Him for strength. The Bible talks quite a bit about finding our strength in God.  Isaiah reminds us, “Those who wait upon the Lord will gain new strength.”  The Psalmist said, “The Lord is my strength and my shield.”  Paul said, “For Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 

Paul also talked about the strength  he found to be content in any and every situation, whether in plenty or in need.  He said he learned the secret to being content in every situation.  Here it is, “I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.”  He went on to say, “My God will meet all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Being content doesn’t mean God orchestrates everything to turn out perfectly for you.  It means God will strengthen you in and through your difficulties.  Lean on Him, look to Him, find your strength in Him.  He loves you and will provide for you. 

This week I am teaching about the power to be content in any and every situation.  If you live in the Dallas area, join me at the Positive Woman Connection on Tuesday, April 27 at Prestonwood Country Club on Preston Road in North Dallas.  I’ll also be teaching in Allen on Wednesday at Cottonwood Creek Baptist Church on Hwy 121.  Come learn more about the treasure of being content and finding our strength in Christ.

Hope it was a great Easter for you.  We had a tremendous time with our daughters (and our mastiffs) down in Austin. The bluebonnets were in full bloom and more brilliant than I have ever seen them before. 

Joy and Angel

Grace and Bentley

The week before Easter I was a t lunch with some friends and one of the girls asked, “So what’s everyone doing for Easter?” We all answered with about the same answer:  going to church, enjoying a family meal, coloring eggs and giving Easter baskets (yes we still that even though the girls are grown), but after I got home from my lunch with my friends I started thinking about what I really should be doing for Easter.  In light of what we are celebrating on Easter Sunday, I wish I would have answered my friends by saying, “I’m going to give the gift of mercy and grace to everyone I encounter because that’s the gift Jesus gave me on the cross. In honor of Him I’m going to die to my rights to hold something against another person.  I’m going to love and serve others as Jesus did.”

Think about the beauty of the cross and ponder the power of the resurrection. Romans 8:11 reminds us  that the same Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead, lives within us. He is able to give me what I need to love, serve and forgive the people around me.  The power of Christ’s resurrection is the cornerstone of our faith.  It is a reminder that we too will live with Christ in eternity.  It is also a reminder that His spirit gives us strength and power to love like Jesus loved and live like Jesus lived every day we are here on this earth. 

Yes, this Easter I still plan to give out baskets filled with goodies, but I also plan to give something much more significant.  I plan to give grace and mercy to the people around me and reflect Jesus’ love on Easter. I plan to walk in the power of the resurrection knowing that God is able to do a mighty and transforming work in and through me.

Positive Mom Moment:  Now that Easter is over, encourage your kids to continue to celebrate Easter all year long.  Talk about how you can continue to give kindness, forgiveness and love to others to honor Jesus. Use one of the leftover Easter baskets (after they have eaten all the candy of course) to put little pieces of paper with random acts of kindness which you all can do for others.  Sit down over dinner one night and brainstorm random acts of kindness together as a family.  Holding the door open, being nice to someone lonely, baking a cake for the new neighbor, writing a note to lift someone up…all of these can be written down as acts of kindness.  Then pick a piece of paper each morning and look for opportunities throughout the day.  Share at the dinner table how you were able to carry out your deeds.

 “Easter is to our faith what water is to the ocean, what stone is to the mountain, what blood is to the body.”   Raymond Linquist