It always makes me wonder when people don’t want to follow God. They say, “It’s not for me.” Or, “I’m glad you have your ‘religion,’ but I choose A, B, or C.”
Why? When all of what God promises us is so beautiful and what everyone wants.
To remain humble and fear God gets you riches, honor and a long life.
Is it the “fear God” part? That isn’t bad. Fearing God doesn’t mean you hunker down in his wrath. Fearing God means to…Okay…think back to when you lived at home and you thought about doing something not so smart and you in that same thought said, “Mom and Dad would kill me.” (Not literally, but you get my point. And, we’ve all said it.) THAT is fear of God. Knowing and acknowledging that what I’m doing is a bad idea and not doing it to save my hide. In the end, you want your parent/s proud of you. We all crave that. Nothing feels worse than a parent’s disappointment. Do you agree?
So today, do you want a chance at riches, honor and a long life? You can have it. It’s that easy.
1a: deliverance from the power and effects of sin b: the agent or means that effects salvation cChristian Science : the realization of the supremacy of infinite Mind over all bringing with it the destruction of the illusion of sin, sickness, and death 2: liberation from ignorance or illusion 3a: preservation from destruction or failure b: deliverance from danger or difficulty
Usually, we stick with meaning #1, which is good and all. It’s gets the point across and directly says why Jesus came here–to deliver us from the power and effects of sin.
I don’t know about you, but I really like meaning #2.
“liberation from ignorance or illusion”
Liberate ultimately means “to free.” But, it also means “to free (something, such as a country) from domination by a foreign power.”
When we are born onto this planet, we are of this world. We are dominated and oppressed by the spirits, principalities and sins that come with citizenship. We are susceptible to the illusion that comes with that meaning and we believe that what we see is reality. That this is the way we should operate in this space.
We are selfish and do not like to share.
We say “mine” and we like to say it a lot.
We also like to say “no”… a lot. Only to discourage a mom who is tired and just wants us to eat our peas.
We are constantly dominated by the “foreign power” on this planet — Satan.
Ephesians 2:1-3 says:
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.”
Ephesians 2 continues with…
4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
God’s grace. We are not products of our ourselves or our good deeds. We are not to be given credit for our salvation except in making one powerful decision — to follow our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to acknowledge that we are sinners, that He died on the cross for our sins and that he rose again on the third day. He did all this for US. For you and me, a pair of terrible sinners who couldn’t ever get out of this mess ourselves, but only through the grace of God.
“God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it.
I think a lot of us do. Maybe even all of us. Like we don’t belong or don’t fit in.
Today, a friend of mine shared a story about a song I first heard in Vacation Bible School. You may have heard of it. It’s called “The Butterfly Song” by Brian Howard. You can learn all about the song and about Brian’s new music here.
The song speaks of gratitude and the love of God.
But, most importantly to me, it speaks to all of us who feel at times like we are not special, like something is wrong with us or that we were a mistake.
No one is a mistake in the eyes of God.
Luke 12:6-7 says…
“Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.”
And, Psalm 139: 15-16 (ESV) says…
“My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”
You are not forgotten. You are not a mistake. You were put here on this earth for a specific reason ordained by God himself. A purpose chosen by Him to make this world a better place for us to walk in.
Now, it’s time to walk in it. To find it. To be it.
You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13-14). Stop doubting God’s ultimate plan. Stop believing other people. YOU are a child of God.
Here are the lyrics to “The Butterfly Song.” I really want you to pay close attention to the chorus:
‘Cause you gave me a heart And you gave me a smile You gave me Jesus And you made me your child And I just thank you, Father, for making me Me!
“You made me your child.” We as believers in Jesus Christ are adopted members of God’s family. We become children of God with all the benefits, favor and love of an adoring Father. He made each of us perfect. He made each of us exactly the way He sees us.
I know that may be hard to believe.
But, it’s true. You are unique, LOVABLE and a treasure.
Are you doubting this today? What would help you see just how much you are a blessing to our world and God? Let me know in the comments. Do you need to discover your purpose? Let’s chat.
Here are the complete lyrics to the song. What part is your favorite? I totally love the wiggly worm. He could hate being a worm and the whole being-eaten-by-birds thing. But, instead he is grateful for his squirm. LOVE IT!
The Butterfly Song
If I were a butterfly I’d thank you, Lord, for giving me wings
And if I were a robin in a tree I’d thank you, Lord, that I could sing
And if I were a fish in the sea I’d wiggle my tail, and I’d giggle with glee
But I’d just thank you, Father, for making me Me!
‘Cause you gave me a heart And you gave me a smile You gave me Jesus And you made me your child And I just thank you, Father, for making me Me!
If I were an elephant I’d thank you, Lord, by raising my trunk
And if I were a kangaroo I’d just hop right up to you
And if I were an octopus I’d thank you, Lord, for my good looks
But I’d thank you, Father, for making me Me!
‘Cause you gave me a heart And you gave me a smile You gave me Jesus And you made me your child And I just thank you, Father, for making me Me!
If I were a wiggly worm I’d thank you, Lord, that I could squirm
And if I were a crocodile I’d thank you, Lord, for my big smile
And if I were a fuzzy wuzzy bear I’d thank you, Lord, for my fuzzy wuzzy hair But I’d just thank you, Father, for making me Me!
‘Cause you gave me a heart And you gave me a smile You gave me Jesus And you made me your child And I just thank you, Father, for making me Me!
‘Cause you gave me a heart And you gave me a smile You gave me Jesus And you made me your child And I just thank you, Father, for making me Me! Source: Musixmatch
11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Ephesians 4: 11-16
I feel really distracted in 2020. It seems as though every day something new comes up. Something new and horrible. I know you’ve seen them. Those memes of everything that has happened so far from the horrifying effects of the coronavirus pandemic to the debilitating effects that racism continues to have on our nation, to the ludicrous idea of murder hornets and flying snakes. We as a people have gone through enough.
And, we still have five months to go.
A friend texted me today to ask for pray. She said that nothing is “wrong,” she “just has this feeling of being unsettled.”
We are being tossed in the waves.
14 Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. 15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
Ephesians 4: 14-15
As Christians, there comes a time we must choose. Do we choose to be tossed hither and yon by the speakers, the trash talkers; those in false authority who want to sway our minds to deception, hatred and fear? Or do we stand on that undeniable and irrational peace that we’ve been taught in the Word of God?
The unsettling she feels is the same I feel. This unsteadiness in these trying times hoping and praying for a release. But, a release is not happening. It is not coming.
Like a mother in birthing pangs, our world is in a stretching. We as believers must choose. And, like my friend who is feeling this in her spirit, we must pray for discernment to understand and know the will of God. The Lord God has us through this. The Lord God has our wants and needs in His capable hands. He will guide us through the green pastures to still waters (Psalm 23). He is our faithful shepherd ever diligent in our care. He has us. Always.
I want to instill this in you today. The shifting winds are not of God. These are a distraction of the enemy to get you off course, keep you unsettled and distract you from the work God has placed in you to do.
Have you been praying about an action only to find you can’t do anything due to COVID-19? Work around it–With God’s guidance. Safely, and with wisdom. God’s plans are never thwarted by the devil. They can be delayed (Daniel 10:11-14 See below.). But we will push forward. We will work forward to make His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven.
We love you, God. Please work through us, deliver us and protect. us. Amen.
11 He said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed, consider carefully the words I am about to speak to you, and stand up, for I have now been sent to you.” And when he said this to me, I stood up trembling. 12 Then he continued, “Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. 13 But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. 14 Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future, for the vision concerns a time yet to come.”
Writer’s Block. Have you had it? That itch to write at your keyboard but absolutely nothing comes out. Or, if something does dribble out, “RUBBISH!” you cry as you hit delete.
I am experiencing a case of Writer’s Block boogedies “write” now. (HAHA. Get it?)
But, I’ve developed some tips and tricks to help me and you stay on track, WRITE, and keep those evil Writer’s Block Boogedies at bay.
Tip #1. Free write. This is so hard for some of us. But, my first tip is just WRITE. No edits. No going back. Simply write and get it down on paper or on your screen. This gets your creative juices flowing, and more often than not, I’ve developed new characters, crazy worlds, better stories and have noticed my writing levels elevating.
Tip #2. The Most Dangerous Writing App. Do you need a little push into this free writing thing? The Most Dangerous Writing App allows you to free write for a specified time period. But, guess what? Stop writing for longer than five seconds and all of you work literally poofs away into cyberspace. And, you can’t get it back either. Evil, isn’t it? Yet, amazingly effective! I used this today for the first time, and I will be back. If mental distractions keep you from writing, this site is a must try!
Tip #3. Write something else. Jot down your grocery list, a list if your favorite books, or why you like those favorite books. Who’s your most beloved character? Why? Who’s your most beloved character in your own writing? Write it down. Now crumple up that piece of paper (Well, maybe not the grocery list) and get back to your WIP (Work in Progress)! The key here is to get back to YOUR writing.
Tip #4. Make your writing a habit. For years I felt as though I had to wait for my muse to show up and be ready before I could get words on paper. Now, with a daughter who doesn’t understand that mommy is a writer, I have a set time each morning that I deliberately write for myself and my clients. After I created a set schedule, do you know what happened??? My mind turns on every morning around 9am. It knows it’s time to work. I have made my writing a priority and a habit. I wouldn’t be posting this blog if I hadn’t. Set a time each day to make your writing—your passion—a priority.
Tip #5. Social media is a trap. Okay. This one was hard to write. As a social media strategist, I obviously survive on social media. But, wow do I get sucked in. Do you? My go-to for procrastination is scrolling my feed. Or, better yet—”I wonder who commented on my latest post?” Don’t do this. Don’t be like me. Do as I say, not as I do. Scroll to your hearts content. But, not during your writing time.
Writing is a process. And if you sit down long enough and experience Writer’s Block, you are most definitely a writer! Don’t overthink it. If your passion is writing, you were made for this. The words will come.
