Today, Nothing is Impossible

Posted by Christy

“………..Nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matt. 17:20.)

Today…..it is completely possible to lead a life that stands on the power of the Lord for keeping the victory and takes God at His promises.

Today…..it is completely possible to cast all our care upon Him daily and to enjoy deep peace in doing it.

Today…..it is completely possible to have the thoughts and imaginations of our hearts purified, in the deepest meaning of the word.

Today…..it is completely possible to see the will of God in everything, and to receive it, not with sighing, but with singing.

Today…..it is completely possible by taking complete refuge in Divine power to become strong through and through; and, where previously our greatest weakness lay, to find that things which formerly upset all our resolves to be patient, or pure, or humble, furnish today an opportunity-through Him who loved us, and works in us an agreement with His will and a blessed sense of His presence and His power-to make sin powerless over us.

These things are DIVINE POSSIBILITIES, and because they are His work, the true experience of them will always cause us to bow lower at His feet and to learn to thirst and long for more.
We cannot possibly be satisfied with anything less-each day, each hour, each moment, in Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit-than to WALK WITH GOD.

“We may have as much of God as we will. Christ puts the key of the treasure-chamber into our hand, and bids us take all that we want. If a man is admitted into the bullion vault of a bank, and told to help himself, and comes out with one cent, whose fault is it that he is poor? Whose fault is it that Christian people generally have such scanty portions of the free riches of God?”*

*McLaren

How To Tip: A Day In The Life of A Powerful, Focused Leader

Posted by Christy

Even when He is busy, high in demand and hyper-focused on His work, what does He do? What’s the secret to being a powerful, sought after leader with stamina? What can we learn and do in our own lives to be that person too? Let’s lean in and take a look in a day in the life…..

Jesus’ ministry had just begun. He’s in Galilee, preaching the good news. As He walked along, He gathered Simon, Andrew, James and John and they went into the town of Capernaum. Right away Jesus preached a sermon that blew their minds, and then drove out a demon. As soon as they left church, He went to a friend’s house and collapsed on the couch exhausted and took a nap because He was done for the day. WRONG…..he healed Simon’s mother-in-law, who then, in turn, saw to their needs.

That same evening, after the sun had gone down, the WHOLE TOWN came pouring in with their various sicknesses and demon possessed loved ones. Because He had already done His daily deed of preaching a knock-out sermon, gone the extra mile and drove out a demon AND healed that sick woman, He informed them of His office hours, prayed for them and said He would see them then. WRONG….He ministered, He healed their sick, and demon-possessed loved ones.

Whoa…..pause! Can you imagine the exhaustion? I’m a crisis counselor, and I know when I’ve had a “big” day filled with a few heart broken, abused, and hurting people, I am worn out……and I don’t have the whole town at my door…..all in one evening (some days it feels that way). When I’m finished traveling and speaking somewhere, I’m ready to kick my shoes off, and hang loose for a while. And if it’s really late when I’m done, I look forward to sleep.

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark (around 4AM), He got up, went out, and made His way to a deserted place. And He was praying there. (Mark 1:35)

The very next morning, He didn’t sleep in. He knew to energize wasn’t by sleeping in. He didn’t say, well, God knows I did all that fantastic, powerful, life changing stuff yesterday and will understand that I’m exhausted and sleeping in. He kept His focus. He knew that was the first step to complacency.

You see, that time with the Father is what gives us what we need to do…what we are called to do….when we are called to do it

It’s our power pack. Remember, His desire….ABOVE ALL ELSE….is to spend time with us.

When Jesus was busy, in demand and focused on His work, what does He take time to do in this verse? It inspires me to focus on first things first…..powering up with the Giver of supernatural power. I don’t want to be complacent. I want to be on fire! I want to be a mover and shaker….a person who impacts and changes the lives of others. I don’t want to sit in the stands….I want to be right in there, leaning into all He has for me. I want to encourage, equip, and empower others to do the same. I want to make Kingdom differences. I want to walk in power with the King. I want to be like Jesus. May it be so for all of us reading this, Father, for Your glory!

How does it impact you?

Aha!! I’m shouting it high and low!

Posted by Christy

No matter what you think, or how you feel God really does have a mighty, wonderful, victorious plan for you:

“For I know the plans I have for you, “declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

God is in our corner!

God is crazy head over heels about us. He is for us and wants a thriving, growing relationship with us.

God’s love reaches into every corner of our lives and experiences:

(that you) may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide, and long, and high, and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:18-19 (emphasis mine)

His love is (verse 18):

Wide–It covers the breadth of our own experience, and reaches out to the whole world. It’s all inclusive. Wraps around us and our lives and covers as far as the east is from the west. He’s got you covered. Enveloped. Wrapped up in His everlasting arms. Every time we turn, there He is. Again. And again. And again. Hugs. Every time we need comfort, there He is.

Long–It continues the length of our lives. Never stops. Forever. His love never runs out or fails. Sometimes we can’t grasp how huge and lasting His love is. We think, “Boy, I’ve gone done it this time” and that we have really gone beyond His reach. Not so! Here He comes again in His power and strokes your beautiful face and says, no, I still love you and always will. And no matter how long a matter seems to go on, it won’t outlast Him. He’s got loooong arms darling

“In a world that’s full of fragile loves–love that abandons, love that fades, love that divorces, love that is self-seeking—–know that from God burns a love that will NOT be extinguished. It survives ANY situation and lives through ANY circumstance. Forever. Forever means forever. And that’s that.”

And, let me tell you that once saved always saved

High–It rises to the heights of our celebration and elation. He resides in our praises and joys. He brings them to us. Every good things comes from God.

He carries us to the place of praise

—blesses to the point of high praises…..gets me singing and shouting and doing the Jesus jig! He loves you t o-t h e-m o o n-a n d-b a c k! wrapped around for alllll eternity!

Deep–it reaches into the depths of discouragement, sorrow, despair, and even death. Down deep into the crevices of our lives. He carries our burdens.

He literally and physically reached down to our alienated position and adopted us into His family! Hallelujah! JESUS CAME DOWN!

His love is HUGE! It carries the width of everything. The length of everything. The height of everything. And into the depths of everything.

When you feel shut out or isolated, remember that you can never be lost to God’s love!

Verse 19 says:

and know this love that surpasses knowledge–that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God

God’s love blows my mind! When I see where I was….and where I could be now….where I DESERVE to be…were it not for His love…..it blows my mind and flips me out!!!

We’re “filled to the measure”. Filled up to the tip-top exactly where we need to be…when we need it….and in whatever the situation (recipe) calls for….of the fullness of Him. No imitation here….only the real deal. Whatever the moment, we’ll always be measured just right…on time every time…with enough of Him–always full. When I need more, He’ll be there. When I’m ok, He’ll be there too—always full!

Here’s the question: Am I walking around confident of this knowledge? When I walk in fear, am I doubting His ability and power to do this?

Am I not taking Him at His word….and calling Him a liar? Or, do I just think He’s bragging and weaker than He says He is??? No matter what I say or think….what are my actions really telling Him? Do I believe Him? I’d better start acting like it.

He has all authority and has given me the authority. Am I walking in the power He’s already given me?

He’s huge-He’s got this! It’s not in my strength anyway—

if I try it in my strength EVERYTHING will be messed up….

….Ahhhh! Aha!! Therein lies the answer, eh?

I love you deeply and pray for you, your marriage, your family, your relationships, your friendships, your influences, and your ministry.

Walk in the power of the King.

Don’t quit yet….He’s got cha pepper: Colossains 1:11-12

Posted by Christy

“being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the Kingdom of light.” Colossians 1:11-12

Here, Paul is continuing his prayers for the Colossian believers.

I don’t know about you, but endurance is what I need. At times I loose my pepper, a term my old track coach used to use.

Starting off is never hard for me…it’s the ‘keeping on’ as I round another lap, and another, and another I wonder if I’m ever going to be able to finish with the pepper. As I run and am pelted with this spiritual attack, that spiritual attack….the utter beatings from the enemy as we serve others….the times as a woman you never ‘get’ return for all you ‘give’. When we still haven’t seen a breakthrough on that thing we’ve prayed about forever….Sound familiar?

My coach taught me to stop thinking about when the race would end. With each lap, he would say, “you can give me just one more” and I could. I could give one more. At the end of the next lap, he would say, “just one more Christy” and I would run again. Endurance is what he wanted. He was training me in endurance to be a great long distance runner. He didn’t want me thinking about the other runners, he wanted me to finish….one lap at a time. And I did. Every time, and greatly so.

In my own strength I get impatient, wanting to see the results quickly. I’ve run long, and now I want to see the results, I’m tired. He supplies the patience to wait….and the endurance to keep running.

Being impatient is what causes us to give up…we want our way, and right now. If not right now, then we quit.

God gives us all the strength, endurance and patience we need for this life…and has enabled us to share in the SAME inheritance with all the saints in His Kingdom of light. Ohhhh, how I joyfully thank Him…because I don’t know about you, but, I sure ain’t saintly!

I thank Him for giving me what I don’t deserve….an eternity with Him paid for me by His own Son!! Whew! That makes me do the Jesus jig!!

Talk about keeping the pepper! We WILL keep the pepper by His glorious and mighty power!

With the joy of our salvation we run. We run with His gloriously mighty power…and with the pepper….and we don’t stop….and we completely go…… and keep going until the glorious day we are with Him in the Kingdom of light. He is faithful to complete the work He began.

Lord, I thank You. I thank You for the joy of my salvation. I thank You that You created me, died for my salvation, and give me all the strength, power, and endurance I need for my life here on this earth. What an awesome God You are. I adore You. I am Yours. In Jesus name, amen.