Our family has been going through some growing pains.  Some very private things that Chris and I have no control over, except for our reaction to it.  One thing I’ve learned over the years is this…these moments, when faced in unity as a couple, create a much deeper bond and affection between us.

The Bible made it clear that as a woman, I am weaker.  People don’t like to discuss this and often try to cover it up, but I like to lean into it.  What exactly does it mean that I’m the weaker sex?

I used to hate this term, weaker.  I scoffed at the idea of it.  I hated the word submit and couldn’t imagine that God had decided my life would be subservient to my husband…

I was so deceived by the world.  So mistaken.  I have asked God to forgive me because I had wrongly accused Him of intentionally mistreating me merely because of my gender.

The truth is that physically I am weaker than Chris.  I’m actually glad that I am because, as a man, he is called to be protective over me…not vice versa.  I would have far less respect for him if I felt I could physically dominate him.  On the contrary, I embrace being protected.  It allows me to have a more intimate knowledge of what God does for me.  God uses Chris to show me what it feels like to be protected. 

God placed within Chris a fiercely protective heart.  Everything about him is wired to want to guard and protect, me and our children.  Sometimes that protection comes in ways I understand, and sometimes it doesn’t…therefore, in those moments I submit to him in this way…allowing him to fulfill his mandate to love me as Christ loved the church and laid down His life for her.

I can’t even tell you how many times Chris has played the part of the “bad guy” in a situation, allowing me to use him to buffer between me and a decision not to do something.  We allow our kids to use him as a “bad guy” …when they need an excuse to not do something.  Whether it’s a guy asking our daughter on a date or a friend wanting one of the kids to go to a movie they don’t want to see…they know they can simply say, “My dad doesn’t want me to do that.”  And we will stand behind them and support this.

Does this make sense?

Chris is essentially a stronghold for our family.  A place we know we can count on.  A protection that never leaves.  In this way he is absolutely loving me as Christ loved the church.  In this way he shows us the heart of our Father God.

So, here we are facing our current growth opportunity, and I noticed immediately that in deed and prayer Chris was going before me to protect my heart.  Hearing him do this in prayer took my breath away.  It was humbling.  It was beautiful.  It was true love.

In the midst of struggle, his first thought was to protect me.  That makes submitting and being the weaker sex far more beautiful. 

On this side of things, I see that most of the time when women balk at being labeled “weaker” and being instructed to submit in all things, it’s because they haven’t seen it working in a godly way.  But how will we ever get to see it in a godly way if we never allow God to work that out in our spouse?  Everyone must learn. 

Over the years, I’ve watched my husband move from a very earthly understanding of submission to this.  I’ve also seen him notice that scripture first says, “Submit one to another” …and his mind expanded to understand that we submit to each other in marriage too.

Submitting isn’t a bad word when you partner with Holy Spirit. 

I guess the real question is this…do you believe God works ALL things together for your good, or not?  Because if He said it, then He had a good plan for it. 

On a side note:  None of us is to submit to something that is against God.  We are not called to submit to a call to sin.  In other words, our husbands aren’t allowed to demand we submit to something God calls sin.  That should make things easier. 

But I digress…the whole point of today was this…

In this season, I have realized that God has given me a stronghold in my husband.  A physical manifestation of His protection over me, and I am so very grateful.

Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.  1 Peter 3:7

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.  Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord.  For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, His body, of which He is the Savior.  Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.  Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.  In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies.  He who loves his wife loves himself.  After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church- for we are members of His body.  “For this reason, a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”  This is a profound mystery- but I am talking about Christ and the church.  However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.  Ephesians 5:21-33

It’s time for us to live intentionally. 

Today is Sunday and I encourage you to make the most of it by getting away with the Lord.  Get alone with Him and ask Him for a reset.  Ask God to help you become more intentional in life. 

The enemy has been wreaking havoc on so many of us because of our passiveness.  Our unwillingness to become aware and make adjustments.

Things have gone way too far for us to not begin to pay attention.  We cannot be passive.

One of the greatest lies I was ever taught while a young person in church was that Jesus was passive.

That’s not at all true. 

He was humble, yes.  He had control of His anger, yes.  But passive?  No.

We must stop mistaking internal assuredness for passivity.  It’s not the same thing.

People can feel what spirit you are leaning into.  They can tell if you’re being forceful because of insecurity, anger, ignorance, resentment.  They can also feel quiet strength.  These are very different experiences for people.

Don’t be deceived.  The gnashing of teeth isn’t a show of strength.  It’s an admission of weakness. 

Don’t be deceived.  Love doesn’t tolerate all things.  That’s representative of abusive behavior.  Not love.

Don’t be deceived.  Politics isn’t separate from our Christlikeness.  We can’t do anything, as believers, separate from our salvation.  We are saved; therefore, all of our decisions reflect that salvation mindset.

Don’t be deceived.  There is a thick spirit of deception upon the earth.  That’s not hateful to say, it’s the truth and the truth will set you free. 

We must stop being passive in the name of Jesus…and begin taking territory in His name instead. 

When the Lord brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed.  Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy.  Then it was said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”  Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like streams in the Negev.  Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.  He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.  Psalm 126

We have an assurance.  A blessed assurance.  A hope beyond all hope. 

We have a God Who is THE Creator.

We can be confident that the protection of the Lord is firm.  Never shaken.  Our God is an eternal Father…that can be hard to comprehend, but it is the infallible truth. 

We are, as God’s children, in the greatest position of assurance possible. 

Have you considered that you are an actual child of God?

I mean really sat on this thought.

You are a child of God.  Not just in concept, but in truth.

We say it, we sing it, we read it…but most of us don’t act like we truly understand it.

Do you?

It’s a lot, really.  But you are a child of God when you are saved.  As that, you have enormous benefits.  Protection.  Safety.  Provision.  Eternity with Him.  Access to His miraculous powers.  Enduring mercy.  Stability. 

But just like a job that provides benefits, if you choose to opt out, you can.  The benefits are there, but many of us choose not to use them. 

I hope you choose to opt in.

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever.  As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people both now and forevermore.  The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, for then the righteous might use their hands to do evil.  Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart.  But those who turn to crooked ways, the Lord will banish with the evildoers.  Peace be upon Israel.  Psalm 125

Today I encourage you to spend time with God and ask Him what benefits He wants to introduce you to today.  Thank Him for these benefits and ask Him to teach you how to walk boldly in them. 

He loves you more than you could ever fathom.  It’s His pleasure and joy to lavish Himself upon you.

Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name.  Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits- Who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, Who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.  Psalm 103:1-5

When we are insulted for our faith.  When righteous living brings contempt from others.  When living a life of Truth makes some others fight against you…what are you to do?

I say it’s as easy as 1,2,3…or Psalm 123, that is.

I lift up my eyes to You to You Whose throne is in heaven.  As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God, till He shows us His mercy.  Have mercy on us, O Lord, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt.  We have endured much ridicule from the proud, much contempt from the arrogant.  Psalm 123

No matter what we are facing, our first response should be to lift our eyes to Jesus.  Lift our eyes to heaven so we can see rightly.  Rising above the clouds of accusation, ridicule, and assault and looking at the events from a heavenly perspective. 

True love and compassion for the lost can only come from finding a heavenly perspective. 

Seeing into the hearts of those who are enraged against us simply because we choose Jesus, can only happen when our eyes are fixed upon Him. 

I’ve been angry for quite some time.  Angry with the mob.  Those shoving their agenda and worldly agenda upon us.  Angry with the church.  Those hiding behind stage lights and fog, basking in applause as we watch our children being pursued by ravenous wolves from hell.  Yes, I’ve been angry.

As I have felt that anger continue on a slow boil for a long while, I kept praying.  I don’t want to be angry.  But it’s difficult not to be when injustice, incompetence, and inaction is all around.  Still, I kept bringing that anger to God.

God, I’m angry.  I would say all the time. 

Finally, one day, I saw.  I am not sure why it took so long or why this struggle was particularly harder than others, but I finally saw. 

As if my eyes had been fixed with new lenses from heaven, I began to see hearts.  Lost souls.  And a balance between righteous anger toward sin and a Father’s heart that desires that none be lost.  Oh, it can be hard and convicting to see from God’s eyes.

I’m going to be really honest for a minute.

It’s very difficult for me to imagine that God loves some of the current villains in our world.  Very difficult.  But how hypocritical can I be?!  Of course He loves them.  Of course, He wants to know them and for them to know Him.  Of course, He desires that they be saved.  Of course, Jesus died on the cross for them.

It’s so simple.  Yet feels so complicated… And there’s the crux of this whole thing…

We cannot navigate life with our feelings.  We must know and respond to what is true.

Have you ever learned the benefits of speaking the Word of God out loud? 

Years ago, I was taught to speak Scripture out loud.  Before that I was taught to pray out loud.  Now, I’m learning the benefit of speaking specific Scripture out loud multiple times, every single day.

For the last year or so, I’ve been speaking a specific set of Scriptures out loud every morning.  When I first began, our family didn’t know I was doing it, but we had immediate breakthroughs in some areas.  As I’ve continued to do this practice, we continue to have forward motion.  But I still felt something more needed to happen to push things past the invisible barrier I feel in my spirit.  So, I’ve started reading these Scriptures out loud 3 times every morning.  Meaning, I repeat each of the Scriptures 3 times out loud before moving onto the next.

The book I got the Scriptures from had said to repeat them 3 times a day, but when I first started, I felt I was doing good by getting it done once.  Let’s be honest, I’m an incremental person and most often God moves me into things in baby steps.  This allows time for my mind and heart to come into alignment with what He’s doing…and what He’s really teaching me in any given moment.  I know not everyone is this way, but it’s how I’m built.  I’m not afraid of small beginnings. 

But when it became clear to me that I needed to speak them 3 times in my morning ritual…I surrendered completely.  What a transformation I’ve seen!  Not in earthly things, yet, but I feel my spirit coming into agreement when I speak them now.  Before, I’d get through the one-time recitation and move on quickly.  Now, I feel the words coming into agreement with my heart as I repeat them 3 times.  It’s awe-inspiring.  God is really cool.

Today I encourage you to lean into speaking Scripture aloud daily.  Find a group of Scriptures that speak to specific needs or desires you have in your life and then speak the Scripture until…

Some have asked me how long I’ll continue with this grouping of Scriptures before I move onto others.  The answer is…until…  I have learned that some things don’t have a definite timeline, rather we do them until there is a full release.  Some release has come, but I’m holding on until the full release is felt.  Then I will move forward with new Scriptures.

Go and find Scripture that speaks to your life and then take this simple, yet powerful step and see what happens! 

I dare you.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.  Psalm 19:14

Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.  Psalm 141:3

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.  Proverbs 18:21

When I read through the New Testament, the parts when the apostles have been filled with Holy Spirit and are moving in power, unafraid…I am always in awe.  I love the stark transformation they had. 

Bold as lions and gentle as doves. 

Don’t you want to be bold as a lion and gentle as a dove?

I do.

Do you believe that boldness can also be gentle?  I do.  Because when we are emboldened by Holy Spirit, then we are able to be bold in humility…not pride.  This combination makes us strong and immovable.

Bold and humble. 

For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.  But thank God!  He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.  So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable.  Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.  1 Corinthians 15:56-58

When we operate in the victory Jesus gives, then we can move in bold humility…because we know we didn’t earn it.  It was freely given.  That fact alone ought to induce a feeling of humility and boldness.  What God gives, no one and nothing can take away.  It is settled. 

I encourage you to remind yourself Who God really is and not be distracted by the powers of this earth.  Then you too can become strong and immovable like Paul described. 

When we stand in the shadow of His wings, we become strong and immovable, not because of ourselves, but because we know Who protects us. 

When you face this day and every day after, begin by reminding your own heart Who goes through the day with you. 

It’s time to stop being afraid and begin being strong and immovable. 

Most of my life I would witness people who were at church every Sunday and at every church event throughout the week, crumbling in fear when faced with any and every problem.  This behavior is extraordinarily inconsistent.  Not at all a testimony of faith.  It just never made sense to me.

I refuse that life. 

I’m absolutely not perfect in this, but you better bet that when troubles come, if my first response begins to feel like fear…I’m about to step away and find peace before I continue.  It’s a practice.  It’s intentional. 

It also helps that I’ve since I’ve raised my family this way, they will confront me if they see me falling into fear.  What a blessing that is.  My kids will call out fearful behavior in me and others.  That is a huge blessing. 

So, I continue to work enthusiastically for the Lord as I learn every day how to walk in strong and immovable faith, instead of fear…how about you?

When we divide people into categories, we can see clearly that many people are attempting to bluff their way through life, while a few think about things. 

The majority of people actually don’t think things through anymore.  I’ve often wondered how so many were brought under this spell.  I can think back to my childhood, and it was then that I first noticed things that people simply fell in line with.  Regardless of whether it made sense or not.  Solely based on pack mentality.  Basically, I watched most adults in my life make decisions based on what was the status quo.  There was no room for original thought.

Now we live in an era of counterfeit original thought.

Those pretending to be original, but they are really just parroting sound bites and becoming like the masses…in their originality.  Is this too vague or do you understand what I’m saying?

I’m really talking about people who give in to the momentum around them, whether that is good, bad, or nonsense. 

I will not.

Something inside of me, and hopefully you, stands in complete disbelief of lies.  I hear a lie and even if everyone else seems to be falling for it, something in me won’t.  It feels as if I have a steel rod inside of me that won’t bend to a lie. 

I would imagine that steel resolve is the Holy Spirit living inside of me. 

Holy Spirit won’t lie.  Holy Spirit can’t lie.  Holy Spirit IS the Truth.  And that Truth lives inside of me…and hopefully, you. 

I believe we are in a time where the following of the masses is ending and there is an urgency to have personal relationship.  If each of us do not have a personal relationship with Jesus…we are in trouble. 

Imagine how much more useful and helpful the church universal would be if each member of the body had a personal relationship with Jesus.  Not just salvation, but an actual personal relationship.

I want my life to be truthful.  I don’t want to bluff my way through, do you?

Bluffing your way through life means, pretending to have depth, but knowing you really don’t.  It means pretending to have deeply held personal beliefs, when you know they’re really just what you’ve been told by your pastor or close friends and family. 

Are you courageous enough to lean into your relationship with Jesus and to ask Him to sort through your beliefs to determine those that are true and those that are not?  Are you courageous enough to ask God to remove every idle or wrong relationship in your life and to replace it with more of Him?  Are you courageous enough to entertain a life with Jesus that doesn’t rely heavily on the thought…this was just how I was raised, so it must be right…or this is just how I am, God understands and knows I can’t change that?

Hog wash.

Everyone can be changed.  Otherwise, God is a liar. 

I believe it’s time to ask God if we are believing truth or lies, in the way we have been walking through life with Him.  It’s time to discover the real Jesus, not just the version we’ve been led to believe is true.  It’s time to meet with Him, face to Face, and let Him show us Who He is and who we are.

It’s time to stop bluffing our way through life, and truly learn how to live!

The wicked bluff their way through, but the virtuous think before they act.  Proverbs 21:29

A field of lies is being planted.  Daily we are inundated with contrasting “truth” and “lies” …

Not just in America, this is happening in many other places.  A chess game over who will control the world.  An edging toward a one world government. 

We must be bathed in truth.  The truth.  The Truth.

Let’s look at some scripture…

The godly offer good counsel, they teach right from wrong.  They have made God’s law their own, so they will never slip from His path.  The wicked await in ambush for the godly, looking for an excuse to kill them.  But the Lord will not let the wicked succeed or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial.  Put your hope in the Lord.  Travel steadily along His path.  He will honor you by giving you the land.  You will see the wicked destroyed.  I have seen wicked and ruthless people flourishing like a tree in its native soil.  But when I looked again, they were gone!  Though I searched for them, I could not find them!  Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.  But the rebellious will be destroyed; they have no future.  The Lord rescues the godly; He is their fortress in times of trouble.  The Lord helps them, rescuing them from the wicked.  He saves them, and they find shelter in Him.  Psalm 37:30-40

The more that I consult Scripture, the more I am encouraged to stay the course.  All we have to do to be protected and even prosperous is to put our hope in the Lord. 

Life is truly simple, as I keep saying.

If we place our hope in Jesus, we will have all we need.  The thing I’ve noticed in our human nature is that often we know we should rest and hope in Jesus, but when trouble comes, we often do the opposite…therefore, making the problem worse.  It’s our own doing.  We make it worse.  It’s not the enemy.  Not the Lord.  Not our family.  It’s you and me.  We get in our own way.

We must steep ourselves in Scripture.  We must act like we know what we’ve read in Scripture. 

It’s go time.

It’s time to act like we know God.  Not just say it. 

We must be the wise counsel we just read about as we live from the counsel we receive in Scripture. 

Does this make sense?

I hope I have delivered wise counsel today.

I encourage you to lean into Scripture and ask God to give you wisdom.  He gives freely. 

Today, I encourage you to read the following Psalm aloud.  Read it once as it is written, then read it again and place “America” in all the places where it says, “my” or “me” …you get the point.

I was burdened with a heart to intercede for the Godly foundation of America.  This country has been hijacked and infiltrated, even in our government…especially, in our government…by our enemies.  These people become elected and then work to systematically destroy us.  They must be exposed by God and removed by God. 

America is the only bastion of freedom on this earth.  The only country established as one nation under God. 

What is the benefit of being a Christian nation? 

Christianity is the only religion that allows for all to have freedom.  No other religion does that. 

Christianity is the only religion that celebrates free will and gives the gift of choice.  No other religion does that.

America must stay strong.  We must take a spiritual stand as well as a voting stand for our country. 

Do not forget the wonder of our country.

One nation under God.  Indivisible. 

How long, O Lord, will You look on and do nothing?  Rescue me from their fierce attacks.  Protect my life from these lions!  Then I will thank You in front of the great assembly.  I will praise You before all the people.  Don’t let my treacherous enemies rejoice over my defeat.  Don’t let those who hate me without cause gloat over my sorrow.  They don’t talk of peace; they plot against innocent people who mind their own business.  They shout, “Aha!  Aha!  With our own eyes we saw him do it!”  O Lord, You know all about this.  Do not stay silent.  Do not abandon me now, O Lord.  Wake UP!  Rise to my defense!  Take up my case, my God and my Lord.  Declare me not guilty, O Lord my God, for You give justice.  Don’t let my enemies laugh about me in my troubles.  Don’t let them say, “Look, we got what we wanted!  Now we will eat him alive!”  May those who rejoice at my troubles be humiliated and disgraced.  May those who triumph over me be covered with shame and dishonor.  But give great joy to those who came to my defense.  Let them continually say, “Great is the Lord, Who delights in blessing His servant with peace!”  Then I will proclaim Your justice, and I will praise You all day long.  Psalm 35:17-28

Have you ever met a person, or been a person, who is constantly striving toward the next goal?  Someone who completes one task, takes no rest, and begins striving for the next.

That’s not a sustainable way to live.

It’s also impossible to experience truly being thankful when you never stop and sit in gratitude.

My generation was consumed by hustle culture.  Look where that’s gotten us.  Children being put to the side so we can achieve and now they are under the influence of demonic teachings at school and even sometimes at church.  More and more I am seeing people who I admired spiritually, have children grow up and become woke warriors.

I truly believe this is the fruit of hustle culture.

We forgot to take our time.  Cultivate our own hearts and steward our families well.  We forgot to establish a culture of contentment because of that hustle.  Hustle leads to discontent.  It says, nothing is ever enough.  You feed it and it only becomes hungrier.

This is why I’m convinced that hustle culture is also a snare of the enemy.

When something is unsatisfied and incapable of leading to rest, it’s not your friend.  It’s not God.

Then Jesus said, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you.  Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”  Matthew 11:28-30

When you reach a goal, take time to sit in the glory of that win.  Show gratitude toward God and worship Him.  Ask Him to restore and revive your soul.  Admire His goodness and be thankful.  Do this and don’t move forward until you feel Him guiding you onto the next step. 

This is a good practice.

We know from the Bible that many who receive miracles felt no need to show gratitude…as in the story of the ten lepers. 

Let’s strive for this one thing…to not be like those who forget the Giver as soon as the gift is received.