Category: Trust God

Discontentment

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. ( Philippians 4:11)

Paul’s been through some stuff and he knows what it’s like from every angle of life, yet he knew and talked about being content more than anyone else.

Okay this is straight talk from myself for a minute. Discontentment is a sneaky enemy. I can get angry about something, it’s just there right now, in the moment and that’s that. Or fear, something happens or doesn’t happen and anxiety starts taking over right away, but discontentment hits when I least expect it, everything is just rocking along. My day will be going great, heck I may even be at church praising God and giving Him all the glory for all the good things He is doing in my life, done in my life and gonna do in my life and then like a thief in the night the enemy has come and stole my joy, got me thinking all kinds of things. Likely because I heard someone else talking about something and suddenly I felt I didn’t have what I thought I should have. Like,”Wouldn’t it be nice if we didn’t have so much to take care of around our home, we could be out doing what so-n-so is doing, wouldn’t that be nice?” Or “We sure didn’t think this whole retirement thing through like we should have had we, we would be doing a lot more than we are.” “Dang we are getting old, if we were young like them we could __________fill in the blank.” See how the enemy snuck that one right in there? I just went from being content and I really am for the most part, until the enemy comes along and gets in my head and I decide to entertain those thoughts and that’s all that is, is thoughts. God blessed us with a nice home, we have lived good healthy lives this far, if we would stop allowing busyness to steal our time we would take vacations, even just more day trips. We aren’t in lack, God has been good to us, so how did I suddenly just become discontent?

The Israelites’ journey in the dessert; despite being freed from slavery, they grew dissatisfied with God’s provision and complained against Him. Discontentment will cause us to start grumbling and complaining just like they did. We start acting like God is withholding good things or he doesn’t know what’s best for us. Paul tells us that contentment is learned. Paul struggled with imprisonment and hardship but wrote in (Philippians 4:11-13) that he learned the secret of being content in (any) situation, relying on the strength Christ provides. There is some true gain from having a relationship with God rather than all this worldly stuff that brings about being discontent, (1 Timothy 6:6) “godliness with contentment is great gain”. We need to set our minds on the things above, not on earthly things”(Colossians 3:2). We also need to protect our minds. I once read a book, “Where the mind goes, the man follows” and that is true. Don’t be a follower of the enemy, be a Christ Follower.

Peace On Earth

If my people who are called by name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

The word that stands out to me more than anything at the moment is: “IF”. If my people will humble themselves, seek, pray, and turn. This requires some heartfelt repentance here. This means there is going to be some deliverance, healing, restoration and going home. Most importantly a right relationship with the Lord.

We have got to be a people that acknowledges our weaknesses and submits to God’s authority. Take time to talk to God asking for his intervention. Desiring His presence and will, not just asking for His blessings. We need to stay in an active place of repentance, we have to consciously make a decision to stop sinning and start being obedient. We as parents don’t just keep blessing our children when they are doing the wrong thing, we make them earn it through respecting our authority over them, God does the same thing. We are trying raise obedient children and so is God.

God’s Promise, (“Then”) That’s when we receive the promise of His grace over judgment “when” His people return to Him. I know this promise was made to the ancient nation of Israel, but the principles apply to believers today to. God’s ultimate desire is restoration and forgiveness rather than permanent punishment. If we can do that we can have peace on earth.

Remember “IF” & “When” two very important words. If and when we will do it His way.

Moving Forward

I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. (Psalm 139:14)

If I am being held back from accomplishing anything, it is because of the battle between fear and faith. I know I have in the past and sometimes still find myself shrinking back in the present just not nearly as much as I use to, limiting my own self by doubting instead of trusting His calling. Because I have always had the people pleasing syndrome, spirit of perfectionism, I have allowed fear and insecurity to hold me back. Fear, failure, judgment, or even the unknown have been reasons for holding me back from stepping into my true identity. I spent a lot of time with the Lord trying to figure out how to move past this. Through much prayer and surrender God blessed me with a new boldness, one that makes me say now “YES I CAN” and “YES I WILL,” I’m not scared. If God called me to it, well he will obviously equip me to achieve the task. I’m moving forward, not backward. I am focused on my future, what’s ahead of me. God has been doing a new thing in me and I am not hiding who the new me is He is creating.

If God is calling you into something new, a new purpose, or bolder version of yourself, He promises He will be your strength. You just need to replace your internal doubts by renewing your mind with what Scripture says about your value and your purpose. Remember we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Eph. 2:10) Let your light shine, people need to see it, this is how we encourage others to move out of their fears and doubts, and move into their call, their purpose in life.

Moving Forward With Purpose and Taking People With me

Just Trust Me

“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt. 6:21)

This verse explains that giving up what you treasure is the ultimate way to align your heart and your trust with God. I know it can be hard to surrender or give up things that we deeply cherish. But when we do we are showing God that he is our priority over any earthly treasure we have.

Jesus taught that trusting him requires surrendering fear, relying on God rather than our self, and believing in his promises. He tells us that faith brings us peace during difficult times and assures us the believers of his constant presence and provision.

This here is the #1 foundational scripture calling for complete reliance on God rather than our own human logic, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your path” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Trust is the antidote to fear, “when I am afraid, I put my trust in you” (Ps. 56:3). “Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat? or “What shall we drink?’ …your heavenly Father knows that you need them all” ( Matt. 6:31-32) Again, TRUST! Trust is a huge thing for me. I have trusted so many people in my life and I’ve lived a long life and in all honesty, everyone of them have let me down in some way or another. I don’t say that to be mean or as to point fingers or wrong doings, I say that because we are imperfect. They couldn’t keep their word or in some cases simply made the choice not to. Though we fail in this area can I tell you, God doesn’t. God is not a man that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? (Numbers 23:19) If he said it, it is. You can trust him completely. God is entirely distinct from human beings because He is completely truthful, faithful, and unchanging. We humans often lie, break promises, or change our minds, God’s character guarantees that every word He speaks will absolutely come to pass. So, don’t be afraid to give things over to Jesus when he asks for them.

This week I handed over a 6 year ministry that I loved, trusting God to do a new thing, not just a new thing, but His will. When we trust like that we are giving Him something to work with. We are surrendering to His perfect will for us.

Loving Him …is Trusting Him

Pick Up Your Cross And Follow Me

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If any would come after me. let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34)

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.” And he said to them, “Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power” (Mark 8:35-38, 9:1)

The cost of discipleship includes being able to follow Jesus and to confess Him courageously. I wrote a couple days back regarding the attacks I had been receiving due to being courageous or my newfound boldness rather in speaking publicly in my blog which breadandwater.blog happens to be reaching people all over the world about Jesus Christ the Son of God. Just because people aren’t beheading me, or imprisoning me for speaking out about Jesus, there are people that don’t agree with me and will say and do things to try to shut me up. That is a type of persecution here in America. Over the past few years I have learned about surrender and that is what it is going to take to pick up your cross; complete surrender to God. It is a daily decision to deny your own selfish desires, put your ego and personal plans to death, (that’s what kind of death he is talking about), then follow Jesus’ teachings no matter the personal cost, that’s obedience. Jesus commands this in the Gospels, it is an absolute requirement for being His disciples, (Matt.16:24), (Mark 8:34) and (Luke 9:23).

Jesus meant that a true follower must be willing to put their old, self-centered life to death in order to live for Christ. Choosing God’s will over our own comfort, reputation, or worldly success. It is a daily willingness to accept the challenges and sacrifices that come with living righteously. It is a willing, active choice of surrender and obedience to God. These are areas I have been trying to exemplify for the past three years. I admit the cross can get pretty heavy at times, but I know the end results of picking it up and carrying it. I have been in another group as an admin. with a lifelong friend of mine for the past 6 years called Encouraging Each Other. I believe the Lord would have me step away from the administration part of that and pour my heart, soul and strength into my Blog. For one, my blog is under the direction of the Holy Spirit, there is an anointing on it and He tells me what to write. Encouraging Each Other can be anything that would lift another person up; such as positive sayings, quotes and testimonies of the wonderful things the Lord has done in people’s lives and I have shared many of those myself and plan to continue to. All of this is absolutely great. Except I believe the direction of my breadandwater blog is going more toward life instruction, growth, relational, and testimonial as well reflecting on the way we are living versus the way God tells us to live and of course the message and the urgency of salvation. I have been blessed to have been an administrator of Encouraging Each Other, one of the greatest parts of it for me, was welcoming new members into the group. I love seeing all the people that enjoy this group and how much it has grown. But, now it is time for me to pick up my cross and follow Jesus to where he is calling me. It has taken me forever to learn Surrender and Obedience and one day I want to hear well done good and faithful servant. As much as I want to see where he is leading me right now.

Now don’t hear what I am not saying as a Pastor I know once, actually many times would say. I am not asking y’all to leave Encouraging Each Other, matter of fact I am not leaving, but I won’t be admin. anymore, nor will I be posting my Blog on there anymore after today, but I will post words of encouragement when I have them and I will definitely be reading yours. I would like to ask any of you who have not already subscribed to my Blog if you find it of interest please do go ahead and subscribe. You will receive an email every time I post by subscribing. Or feel free to just pop in from time to time. I love all of you who are supporting me by reading now, y’all are the best and we are still family. And keep on Encouraging Each Other.

Little Holy Ghost Jr.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

I’m gonna start this right off with … GUILTY! I am SOoo guilty of trying to play Holy Ghost Jr with God, as if He needs my help …EVER! I know I am suppose to rely on God totally, trusting in his ways and his timing, let him carry my burden when I am overwhelmed, but I just think he might need my help once in awhile. Sadly mistaken, because he doesn’t. He absolutely knows what he is doing and it is perfect, if I will just stay out of the way. When he talks about Him being the vine and me being the branch, that means I am to stay connected to Christ not the other way around. It’s also not trying to carry the load that only the vine can carry. Being connected and being a Jr. are not the same. Matter of fact there is no such thing. All we do is complicate things for ourselves by getting in his way. I like to think of it as when I am working in the house, say cooking, and my husband says he will do the dishes afterwards. Now I am probably gonna hear it over this one, but just being a little honest here. I have my way of cleaning up the kitchen and it is not even close to the way my husband does it. In his defense he doesn’t ever say, “Hey let me clean the kitchen for you,” instead he says, “I’ll do the dishes.” You see in my thinking, if I am going to do dishes I am going to clean the entire kitchen, stove, countertops, maybe wipe down the fridge, a couple appliances, clean the sink afterwards you see where I’m going with this. When he does the dishes that is exactly what he is going to do, dishes. Here is another scripture for you, or me; “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts” Isaiah 55:8-9. How about this one; “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths” Proverbs 3:5-6.

The positive part of this is, I don’t have to rely on my own strength, ways or power to do the things. He tells me I can do all things (through Him) who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13). See He is not asking for my help, instead He is asking me to rely on Him, it is through Him that I will be able to do all things, not with Him. In Isaiah 40:29: “He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.” And lastly, 1 Peter 5:7: “Casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” I am guilty of getting in God’s way at times, but I also know I cannot do anything on my own without seeking Him first if I want it to turn out good or right. I’m not talking about the dishes, or cooking or doing the laundry, mowing the grass, those things. I am talking about the issues of life, the ones that require a BIG God and a little me. Less of me and MORE of Him. Another bad habit I once had, I say once because this one I am actually getting much better at. I am now releasing things over to God and letting him keep them. I am being more intentional and focused on staying out of his way. I have lived the role of playing Holy Ghost Jr and that’s all that was, playing. My life is no game, I am taking it seriously these days and I am taking God and His Word seriously. So if you are one that thinks God needs your help, I can assure you, He doesn’t. All he needs from you and I is to trust Him.

Let God be God

Regret

“Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it on my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil.3:13-14)

Paul could not get the past out of his mind, but he refused to let his past keep him from his progress toward his goal. He wanted to forget his self-righteous past (vv.4-7). He indicates that it was an ongoing process. His goal was to have his eyes so fixed on Jesus that all he could see was the prize, the victory. He wasn’t working for his salvation but rather for a reward. When we get right with Jesus there is a reward that no man can achieve on his own. We need to leave our past in the past. Too many people including myself are or have been walking around fully clothed in regrets. Maybe there was an outcome that didn’t turn out the way you expected and then suddenly you find yourself in regret, because it was caused by your decision or action. Maybe you regret actions you never took that you should have, that is one I tend to fall into these days. Sometimes I think about something good I could have done and didn’t. Regret leads to self-blame and even guilt. We need to be more like Paul, forgetting those past mistakes, move forward, quit allowing regrets to keep us from going for the prize that God has set before us. I realize in this scripture the prize is Jesus Christ, but God also has earthly prizes if I may say, blessings he wants to bestow upon us, if we will keep our eyes on Him. Shame and regret rob us from our blessings. January 1 of this year I made a commitment to stand on this one word “Intentional.” Well can I say, I haven’t been as faithful as I intended to be to that word in a couple areas of my life. See I set a pretty big goal for myself, I wanted to be intentional about EVERY area in my life. When I began to realize I wasn’t doing very well at it guilt, shame and regret for setting such a standard for myself set in. Fortunately, God allows for repentance and do-overs. He allows us to leave our failures in the past and press-on toward the prize. For me I hold myself to a higher standard than some, so it takes me a minute to get back in the race, but I have determination and I will persevere. Paul’s life was purposeful and he was constant. I have learned many things from Paul over the years, I’ve seen myself as the old Paul and the new Paul. My goal now is to remain steadfast, no regrets, just pressing on. I would also like to give credit to a dear friend of ours from our home Church in Texas for drawing this picture and gifting it to us 30 years ago, thank you Dori.

It’s Okay to Say NO

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is (Eph. 5:15-17)

Believers we have got to be careful how we live, making the most out of every opportunity, which sometimes is going to require us saying, “NO” so that we may be able to focus on what matters most. In the Bible “No” is considered as a vital part of stewardship, self-discipline, and healthy relationships. It is far from being a selfish act, it is often presented as a necessary boundary to protect our character, avoid burn-out, and make room to pursue God’s specific calling in our life. We need to use simple, direct, straightforward and honest communication with people. No need to over explain or try to make empty promises. Jesus said in (Matt. 5:37) “let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.” We should have such integrity that our words are enough.

So here goes the transparency, I have failed once again in an area, this time in not saying NO when I should have. I saw a situation that was not good and along with my husband being in agreement with me, we made a decision to do something about it. Well naturally it must have been the right thing to do since we both agreed, right? BIG “NO” it was NOT. Now because of our “word,” that integrity thing, it has turned into a very unwise decision on our part. We were careless in our decision making and we were interfering in something we had no business in, well at least that’s what the Word of God says in Proverbs 26:17, we didn’t go looking for that scripture either. God is good at pointing things out to you when you are somewhere you shouldn’t be. Through heartfelt repentance for not seeking God first on the matter, I know He is going to provide a way for this to end well. He takes bad and turns it to good, for those who love Him. I love Him alright, I just make mistakes sometimes, good-hearted one in this case, but still the wrong one. A little more transparency into my life of not saying NO when I should. I was sick Saturday night and Sunday, I couldn’t go to church so I stayed home and watched online, double portion just because I could and God knew I needed a double that day. I was sick because I had been overdoing it. I wasn’t allowing my body to rest like it needed, I wasn’t eating properly, being on the go non stop. I wasn’t saying NO to things I was being asked to do or assumed by some that I would just be there to do it. I never want to disappoint anyone if they are counting on me and there were people counting on me. Well when you get to many people at one time counting on you, there is no rest for the weary. I became really weary and sick. Now I am having to recoup and the older you get it seems it takes longer to get back up once you get down. There is a solution to all of this; it’s saying, NO. Again no lengthy excuses why, just simply, No, sorry not this time. Sometimes I need a break, I need to focus on me or something that really matters in my life that I am continually putting off because I am to busy being a YES girl.

If you are anything like me, first let me pray for you, it’s hard being me. Seriously though, you can approach people in honesty and decline without making any elaborate excuses. Like me, I worry to much what others think, and not enough about my own well being and what the cost will be if I say yes every time. Saying NO is healthy. It takes the pressure off us, allows us to retreat to pray and refocus. I have gone as far as stepping away from my calling before simply due to the fact I couldn’t or wouldn’t say no. Say “NO’ to protect your values to. Stay away from negative influences, ungodliness, temptations, those things erode our character. Proverbs 4:23 teaches to “guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” Being a “YES” girl has turned in to a poor habit that I am working to break. Yes is good when it is right, but No is good when it is the wrong thing to be doing. Phil. 4:6-7 is such good advice. Before we say or do anything we should PRAY and thank God and in turn we can have God’s peace. Y’all feel free to pray for me in this area of being able to say NO when necessary. Thanks in advance.

All Have Sinned

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23)

Understand, there are NO perfect people, EVERYONE has sin or has sinned and we are all in need of a Savior!

God looks at sin differently than we do. We have a tendency to see sin as; big sin, small sin, Not that bad, really bad. I just told a little white lie at least I’m not like So & So, God will forgive me. God sees sin as a serious transgression that separates us from Him, disobedience and not holding up to the standard He set before us, sin is sin and that’s that. Sin separates us from God, because God is holy, He cannot tolerate sin because it destroys the lives of His creation/us, this is a spiritual death. He loves us so much even in our worst of worst kind of sin He still gives us a way to be redeemed from the destruction of our sins. He says, “If we will confess our sins, turn away from them, and accept Christ, He promises that He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.

It’s time we quit letting sin dominate our lives, it is possible to live a holy life. Will we ever be perfect? No, but why not do what you can to be the best you can? If God is willing to provide us a way out through faith in Jesus, why not take it? It’s a free gift, who doesn’t like gifts? Underserved gifts at that. I know I don’t deserve what Jesus did for me on that cross, but He did it and that is my gift from Him. Have you ever tried to give a gift to someone and they refused it? Maybe they were hesitant about receiving it because they didn’t feel they deserved it. Do you remember how that made you feel, the giver of the gift? Maybe you didn’t have the extra cash to get the gift so you sacrificed something else so you could afford it. Maybe you made this person something, it came straight from your heart. When I think about all that Jesus went through, so that I could receive His gift, it literally tore me up inside when I realized one day that I wasn’t receiving it because I didn’t think I was worthy of it and how that had to make him feel. Like He didn’t do enough, maybe He should have suffered a little more, then I would have felt worthy of the gift. Seriously y’all? Get rid of the pride. Again, I didn’t deserve it, you don’t deserve it, but guess what? He wants you and I to have it, and though it doesn’t cost us a thing, it cost Him everything He had. I get that we have a sin nature, but we also have saving grace. I feel like I know that better than anyone. My sins have been more than I could bear so I am grateful for the gift and you should be to. I honestly don’t know what this new thing is God is doing in me, there seems to be new boldness rising up in me that I never had before. Maybe it’s because we are getting closer to Jesus returning or maybe it’s just me getting closer to going to be with Him. Whatever the reason, there seems to be an urgency within me to get the message across to everyone I can, that Jesus is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). Y’all whatever your sin is, it’s not worth it, let it go, let Jesus redeem you from it, take the gift.

Transparency

And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:13)

I’m still thinking about yesterday’s writing and how I shared a little more about my past sins and how being transparent is so important. I have been struggling lately with peoples hidden agendas, dishonesty, insincerity, trust in general. A real eye-opener for me has been, if someone will lie to you, they will lie about you. As I stated several times now, I am doing my best in being transparent in sharing my life do’s and don’ts with y’all, so in saying all of this I admit I have been guilty of what I am sharing about today. I decided it would be good to look up the topic of transparency in my Bible and see just what it has to say about it. I never want to fall into that trap again and prayerfully this will help you from falling into it as well.

We find that NOTHING is hidden from God as in the scripture above. Honesty is necessary for a restored relationship and cleansing with Him. We are encouraged to invite God to search our hearts, as in Ps. 139:23-24. So my first bit of advice is if you have been dishonest with anyone, now is the time to come clean, cleanse yourself from all unrighteousness. I know that might be scary, because some things we would like to pretend never happened or were never said and we feel shame. If you can’t do that right now then take it to God first, remember He already knows. Repent, ask Him to help you reveal the truth, He will I promise, remember I’m being transparent which also means I have been in this place before. In Ephesians 4:2: put away falsehood and speak truthfully to each other. James 5:16: encourages confessing sins to one another and praying for each other to bring about healing. So it’s more than just confession, through prayer and support from the one you bring it to, you can be healed of the hurt or the wrong doing. On a side note; can I just say, “making excuses for what you did or said or trying to justify the why, is NOT true confession”.

Transparency means walking in the light and not having secret, sinful lives (Eph. 5:8-13). Godly sincerity or walking in truth (2 cor. 1:12). This life can be hard enough at times without having the sin of lies to carry around to. For me personally, I know I am not perfect and I am transparent in letting that be known, but at the same time I carry baggage of sorts around with me that are extremely heavy and I have to drop to my feet time and time again at let Jesus have it, He is the One equipped to carry my sins, not me. Once left at the feet of Jesus I am FREE, free from whatever was hidden, oppression, guilt and shame. Don’t let the weight of these things keep you from living a life of freedom.

1 John 1:9: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us ….”

What are you waiting for? There is Freedom and Power in being transparent.