On the Edge of the Promised Land

I'm sure you've heard how hot and dry the desert can be. I often think of the swirling dust storms and the furtive movements of the creatures that call the sun-scorched land their home. I think of the dry, cold nights, where you can see sky for miles and miles. The mere thought makes my mouth feel parched.

Yet, these days, it is not my body that thirsts; it is my soul. You'd never know it to look at or even have a casual conversation with me. On the surface, I project my normal congeniality and most are none the wiser. Yet, deep inside, my heart pants like the deer for water - Living Water (Psalm 42).

When I think about being in the spiritual desert, or wilderness, so-to-speak, I think about the Israelites after they left Egypt. What could have been a three-day journey turned into forty years. An entire generation perished during that time. They grumbled, they complained, and they longed to go back to the land of their captivity. Yet God still provided everything they needed, and even more, He travlled with them! Cloud by day and fire by night, the Lord never left them (Exodus 13). And, still, they longed for something more.

I am faced with the same situation, thousands of years after Moses led the Israelites to the edge of the Promise Land. I have been grumbling, I have been complaining and I have been longing to return to something more familiar. Yet, I know the Lord is with me and He is providing everything I need. His presence has never left me.

Earlier this evening, I participated in a wonderful online group chat. Something that really resonated in my spirit was that the Hebrew word for "fulfillment" means "verified promise." Think about that with me for a minute - the fulfillment of God's promise is verification that He meant what He said! So much more than a casual commitment, it is the realization of all things that God speaks into existence. So much more than words, it is THE Word, made flesh. It is Jesus, Himself.

As I pondered this revelation, it occurred to me how weak my faith has been. Instead of pressing in to God and following His path to the fulfillment of His promises for my life, I have been asking God to "verify" His promises on my terms! How pompous! Who am I to demand anything from the very One who gave me all that I have to begin with?

I have come to realize that in the desert, we are distracted by the problems we face. We forget about the oasis that awaits us. We instead seek out the outcome we hope for and get angry and bitter when we discover it's all been a mirage. And then we quit, right before we get to the place where we can rest. We sit on the edge of the Promise Land and blame God for all that went wrong.

I don't want to sit on the edge of the promise. I want to carry on the purpose I have been called to and see it fulfilled. I want to be like Joshua and let my faith lead me and shows me a land flowing with milk and honey instead of the giants who block my view.

Perhaps this holiday season, the dry places of my soul can be watered and renewed. For too many years, I've gone back to my own version of Egypt, and I have allowed my soul to be taken captive by the comfort of the misery from which I have been set free.

This is not where God has called me to stay. The Egyptians of my past have already been defeated. I have walked through the Red Sea and traveled a long distance. Now, as I stand on the edge of where God wants to take me, do I want to allow the fear of the unknown and my own preconceived terms of the awaited promise to keep me from tasting all that is good before me?

No, instead, I will press into God, asking Him to wash me with the cleansing rain that soaks the dry ground and gives life to my weary bones. The desert is giving way to the rich soil of God's goodness. No matter how far I have traveled or how much further I have to go, God has already verified His promises to me. There are too many to count, but I assure you, that the greatest of them has been in the coming of His Son, just over 2000 years ago and the salvation that came with Him.

May the fulfillment of God's promise to the world in His Son, Jesus Christ, renew your own journey as you move into the New Year. Don't stand on the edge of your Promised Land, taken captive again by the things that cannot be changed or affected by the pain you hold in your heart.

Let the Light of the World shine brightly on your future and may the joy of the season be yours to keep all the year through.

"For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ." 2 Corinthians 4:6

Even the Black Cloud Holds Rain

I used to think that depression was just a form of emotional stress.  I then learned that it has to do with chemical imbalances and other physiological sources.  But, I have learned that there is another component to it as well – something deeper, more powerful and potentially deadly.  It’s a spirit sent to distract, tranquilize and ultimately kill.

While this may sound a bit melodramatic, let me just start by saying I’ve been dealing with depression since I was a child.  Like many, I was a victim of sexual abuse at a young age, which lead to many other complicated emotions and personality traits.  I did not know it was considered abuse at the time, as I was six and my abuser was still yet a child himself at nine.  Yet, the black cloud that followed me from that moment on brought heavy seasons of pain, guilt and depression on and off throughout my life.  

We used to treat depression in Christians as taboo, almost as if it was spiritually impossible to believe in God and yet still feel down and out.  In recent years, both believers and non-believers alike medicate their emotions with prescriptions, holistic alternatives, and unfortunately, other self-directed methods that drive a person further down the emotional black hole.

Regardless of what psychologists and psychiatrists say, we cannot solve a spiritual problem with man-made solutions.  Our healing comes from deep within us, but only when we have tapped into the supernatural love and grace that was placed in us by our Creator.

Let me get real and raw for a minute.  Depression, anxiety and mental illness is a spiritual stronghold in my family.  It’s roots run deep and we have been unsuccessful in ridding our land of this curse.  It has caused me to think terrible thoughts, thoughts that lend themselves to leaving this life.  As disturbing as those thoughts are, I know that is not what God has planned for me. Nonetheless, the depression runs deep and seems to control me when life has seemed to beat me down.  But, I’m beginning to realize that I have been looking at this all wrong. What I see as a persistent black cloud of pain, the Lord sees as a source of renewing rain.

I believe I have mentioned before that I have learned that our lives are our land.  You and I have been allotted our own pieces of real estate in the scope of God’s Kingdom.  My responsibility is to tend to my plot -  ripping up my own weeds, tilling the soil, and spreading the seed.  I’m not to interfered with another’s plot unless I am directed to do so by the Lord.  I certainly can’t remove any of their weeds, because even weeds serve a purpose.  But, what about that rain?  

We can say that the rain comes from the tears we shed during the trials we face.  Yet, I believe I am learning that isn’t always the case.  The rain comes once we have hit rock bottom, cry out to the Lord in true surrender and He releases the Living Water upon our soil to renew our souls.  

That black cloud you think that has been following you, bringing you pain and heartache, is really the fullness of God’s mercy, waiting to be released upon the dry land of your heart.  We cannot loose the blessings of Heaven on earth if we continue to hold fast to the sin that binds us.  Whether it be simple and seemingly harmless or over the top, sin is sin and it separates us from our Father in Heaven.   His heart is to bless us, to see us flourish and grow and draw others to Himself through us.   Yes, even in the desert, He is present and He longs to shower us with His mercy.  Our job is to surrender ourselves to His will.

Surrender is more than just a white flag.  It’s more than just giving up and caving in.  Surrender to God is allowing the end of ourselves to give way to a new beginning in Him.  Sometimes we have to get to that end, to feeling downcast, desperate, on the brink of giving up altogether.  David felt that way.  In Psalm 43:5, we read “Why am I so depressed? Why this turmoil within me? Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God.” (HCSB).  

Yes, I will put my hope in God.   What others may mean for evil, God will use for good.  (Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28).  In my weakest moments, when I am looking up for answers and I see that black cloud following me, I will sing praises to my Lord and King, and lift my hands to receive the glorious renewing rain that has been stored up just for me.

"Ask rain from the LORD at the time of the spring rain-- The LORD who makes the storm clouds; And He will give them showers of rain, vegetation in the field to each man."  Zechariah 10:1 (NASB)

When Doubt Gets the Best of You

I’ve heard it said that we are own worst enemy.  In Scripture, our worst enemy is really Satan, the fallen angel who took one-third of Heaven with him in rebellion against God.  So, in reality, it has been said that we are our own worst enemy’s accomplice (I believe I can attribute that to Beth Moore).

Sometimes, it’s hard to differentiate between how much is my own doing (i.e., consequences of my actions and choices), testing appointed by God or spiritual attack from the forces of evil.  Many times I don’t even want to know the “why” behind the “what” because I just want to see the way through.

The Word of God says that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). Paul shares only two verses prior that this is the “secret” to living in all circumstances and situations.  After all, Christ has said,  “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9) because “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you” (Romans 8:11).  

So, why is it that we still feel so inadequate and ineffective?  Why do our feelings lie to us about what we can accomplish for the Lord?  Why does self-pity, depression, insecurity and immaturity seem to rule our hearts and minds right when we think we’ve begun to do something good?

I have written many an encouraging word for others.  I have spoken of trials being fertile ground for our growth, that we are royal heirs in the Kingdom of God, empowered by the Holy Spirit Who gives us everything we need to live life for our Lord and King.  Yet, as many truths flow forth from my fingertips to the screen into the hearts of God’s children, I fear I have not yet taken these things to heart and applied them to my own life.

Oh, I talk a good game.   Passionate in my quest for others to take hold of the truths that have been set before me.  Receptive of the Word for others, but so often, disregarding its application to my own heart.  None of this is done at the conscious level at first.  I get caught up in the moment, in the rush of seeing another heart encouraged, and another soul moved closer towards their reward in Heaven.  

But, as I look in the mirror, do I own the reality of what I preach?  Do I honestly live out the life I so desire others to embrace?

I have battled depression for over 25 years.  So many days I feel like that demon has been exorcised from my spirit and I have found victory in the Lord.  Then, there are those other days where I can’t look myself in the mirror, I can’t see the purpose of my existence in the universe and I feel like the biggest hypocrite in the world.  I rail against myself and God as if I wasn’t the born-again believer that I am.  

We get in the way of our own ministry when we fall victim to the fallen nature of our flesh.  Not only does our flesh lie to us about what we need to be successful but it will tell us that we are not worthy of the Cross.  How often do I tell others that Christ would die all over again for them if they were the only human being on the planet?  Yet, I still find myself feeling so inadequate and doubting the very gifts that God has sown into me.

And, as I sit here, the answer is so clear.  Even as our trials and testing are appointed by God, even as they are within the purview of God’s omniscience, there does remain an enemy of our souls.  His first known attack was on the very confidence we have in God.  In Genesis 3:1, Satan, in the form of the serpent, said to Eve “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?” (emphasis mine).  All he had to do was plant a seed of doubt.  What is doubt?  According to Professor Google, doubt is “a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction.”  Uncertainty is all it takes to cause us to call into question all that we know to be true.  Unless. . . .

Unless we are prepared.  Unless we are grounded.  Unless we are rooted so deeply in the Word of God that when the enemy whispers lies in our ear we can quickly discern and disarm them.  We have not been left to our own devices when it comes to defending what is true about ourselves.  We have been given the Armor of God – the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation, the shoes of the Gospel of peace, the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the very Word of God (Ephesians 6:13-17).

At the end of the day, we will be battle-weary.  But, the difference between walking wounded and being utterly defeated lies in our dedication to learning from our Commanding Officer.  Our Lord Jesus did not send us in to battle without first walking the front-line himself.  He is and always will be our ultimate example of how to endure to the end.  Even in the Garden of Gethsemane, twice Jesus asked His Father to take the “cup of suffering” from Him.  Yet, He yielded His will to that of the Father for our benefit - so that you and I could believe on Him and be reconciled to our Creator.

No matter what I go through, no matter how much I rail against God, nothing can change the fact that I am His child.  What does need to change is how I respond when the enemy enters my mind and disrupts my spirit.  

As I sit and reflect upon that statement, the choice I must make is clear.  Even greater still is the focus of my attention and whether or not I have truly surrendered ALL of myself so that I may be complete in Jesus.  

And, as I have written before, the word “surrender” means so much more than just a white flag in the middle of a fight.  If we write it like this, “sUrrENDer,” then we see the words within the word, “U END.”

Doubt may be a tactic of the enemy, but what I realize is that an act of my own will and consciousness must bring me to at the point where “I END” and God begins.  Only I can answer that question before the Lord.  And, each one of us must do the same.

“Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me. If you try to hang on to your life, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for my sake, you will save it.”  Luke 9:23-24

Be Careful Where You Till (A Flourish Devotional)

As I walk my dogs each morning, I pass a rose bush. Earlier in the spring, the bush budded with coral blooms, a beautiful sight, indeed. However, a broadleaf weed began to grow at the base of the bush. As each week passed, the weed grew taller and my dislike for it grew with it. The weed is now taller than the rose bush by at least 2 feet and is almost as tall as I am.

To be quite honest, every time I pass it, I want to cut it down. Yet, I have a problem: the weed and the bush are growing in my neighbor's yard three houses down. Let me tell you, if they were in my yard, the weed wouldn't have survived a week.

One morning last week, I passed the odd combination of plants, and the Lord said to me, "It's not your weed to kill. Every plant, no matter how beautiful or distasteful, has its purpose in my Kingdom." I heard what He said, but I didn't want to receive it.

Curiosity drove me to the internet to find out just what this weed, a.k.a, plant, might be. I discovered that it is called "Common Mullein" and actually has a variety of medicinal purposes, among other things. As it happens, the taller it grows, the more beautiful it becomes, as small, yellow flowers begin to appear as it reaches its maximum height. In my mind, pretty flowers or not, it was still just an overgrown weed.

You can only imagine the mixed feelings that followed. "But, Lord," I said, "it's such an eyesore! Why do they let it grow like that? Won't it hurt the rosebush? I wish I could cut it down!" But, as He always does, the quiet whisper of the Holy Spirit came and changed my point of view.

You see, as we discovered earlier this week, "trials till the soil of our souls so that the seeds of faith fall on fertile ground and take root." However, your trials are not the same as mine and vice-versa. The journey to our growth is individual, not collective, although you and I may be receiving the same message. The important thing to remember is this: we cannot till land that does not belong to us.

Jesus likened our hearts to that of soil in Luke 8, the Parable of the Sower. We will pick it up in verse 11:

“This is the meaning of the parable: The seed is God’s word. The seeds that fell on the footpath represent those who hear the message, only to have the devil come and take it away from their hearts and prevent them from believing and being saved. The seeds on the rocky soil represent those who hear the message and receive it with joy. But since they don’t have deep roots, they believe for a while, then they fall away when they face temptation. The seeds that fell among the thorns represent those who hear the message, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the cares and riches and pleasures of this life. And so they never grow into maturity. And the seeds that fell on the good soil represent honest, good-hearted people who hear God’s word, cling to it, and patiently produce a huge harvest. (Luke 8:11-15, NLT)

Most of us can quickly determine the nature of the soil of our own hearts. We'd like to say we are all "good soil." But, the reality is, many of us are still tilling our land, moving through trial after trial, ripping up weeds, planting new seeds and praying for growth.

I'd ask you to consider this, however: how many times have you looked at the trials in someone else's life and seen the hard ground, rocks, thorns and weeds? Have you felt like me and wanted to take charge of their lives and either turn them around or save them altogether?

You and I have no right to remove the obstacles in somebody else's life just because it makes us uncomfortable.

We are exhorted by the Apostle Paul, ". . . you must continually work out your own salvation with fear and trembling: for God is the One Who works in you, both to determine and to work, for His good pleasure.(Philippians 2:12b-13, The One New Man Bible, emphasis mine). My spiritual mama and counselor puts it like this: "Each one of us is working out his own salvation and deliverance." 

Just as Jesus likens our lives to the farmer's field, you and I can look at the landscape of our lives and realize that we have enough of our own tilling to do. We lack the time and energy to till someone else's. While it is important to come along side each other and lend a helping hand, ultimately, we are each responsible for the fruit in our lives. Only by walking with Jesus can we weather the storms, endure the trials and yield the harvest He has commissioned us to cultivate.

My point is this, whatever thorn or weed I see in my sister's life that makes me squirm and feel the need to remove, the reality is that she needs to work that ground with God, and I need to see her do it. Both of us will see the glory of God manifested in her life and the promise of His faithfulness fulfilled. We overcome by the "blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony" (Revelation 12:11). Sometimes, we need to allow the ones we love to endure pain, heartache, disappointment, sorrow, loss and devastation so that we all may rejoice in knowing that God is sovereign regardless of how ugly things look.

The Lord says to Hosea in Chapter 10, verse 12, "I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’" (NLT)

There are two ways to look at this verse, as we close. First we can identify "the hard ground of our hearts" to be the rocks, thorns and weeds that are left in our lives by a prior generation, placed by our own actions and choices, or allowed to exist because God has something to teach us. 

However, I'd like you to focus on a different part of the verse, "for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you."

The thought I'd like to leave you with is this:  The trials in our lives are appointed by God. There is no hair on your head that He does not know (Luke 12:7), nor is there a trial or challenge in your life that is unforeseen (Jeremiah 1:5, Ephesians 1:4). God chooses when to allow the trials in our lives because He is ready to do a work in us. There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1), so do not misunderstand me. Your path, your journey, your purpose, is entirely ordained and orchestrated by your Father in Heaven, to include when and where He chooses to grow you. 

As I said before, you and I can choose how we will receive the trials in our lives. We can allow our ground to remain hardened, full of fear, bitterness, unforgiveness and the heavy stones of unrepented sin. We can allow the thorns and weeds to grow, as improper thinking, willful ignorance and inappropriate relationships choke out the good seed that has been sown into our lives. 

Or, we can embrace the love of the Father, as He uses trials, purposely and carefully crafted, to grow our character, secure our foundation and allow the seeds of faith to flourish.

The Price of Growth (Declare - A Flourish Weekly Devotional)

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For the last couple of months, I have felt a deep stirring in my soul. It's hard to put into words, but it is like the rising tide of the ocean, slowly and steadily increasing from within. I sense it more acutely with each message I hear at church, each powerful believer I encounter, and most of all, as I spend time with the Lord.

Yet, as the tide ebbs and flows, I begin to realize that there is so much more within my reach. So many times it feels like God is calling to me, yet the voice is distant. I feel His presence, the warmth of His Spirit, and in an instant, it gives way to the cold of the world around me.

Perhaps you have felt like this on occasion. Perhaps you feel this way now. You may be wondering why this feeling takes hold of you at all.

That beckoning, that yearning, that pulls us into faith in the unseen is called growth. As our dear Flourish friend, Helen Baker, wrote, "Flourishing has everything to do with where we are planted and with our response to God during the good and bad times." Helen spoke of several Biblical heroes who grew in their faith through pain and heartache.

Growth comes at a price: the enduring of trials.

James 1:2-5 tells us:

“Don’t run from tests and hardships, brothers and sisters. As difficult as they are, you will ultimately find joy in them; if you embrace them, your faith will blossom under pressure and teach you true patience as you endure. And true patience brought on by endurance will equip you to complete the long journey and cross the finish line—mature, complete, and wanting nothing. If you don’t have all the wisdom needed for this journey, then all you have to do is ask God for it; and God will grant all that you need. He gives lavishly and never scolds you for asking.” (The Voice)

(click image to download printable scripture card)

According to the One New Man Bible, "A trial is a heavenly test that forces a person to choose between God's will and his own nature or understanding of what is right. By standing in faith, we serve as witnesses to the world of His power working through us."

Most of us shy away from any kind of test, spiritual or otherwise. We fear failure or exhibiting sub-par performance. I might be the odd woman out here, but tests in school came easily for me because I liked to study. I was "that" student (a.k.a. "the nerd"). Tests were the easy part of school for me. However, not everyone around me felt the same. I'd venture to say that a fear of failure was due to lack of preparedness or misplaced focus.

Isn't our daily walk with Jesus the same? Life's ebbs and flows cannot be predicted, but you and I can be prepared for them. It's an open book test! Yet, so many of us feel like failures because we are not studying the material. It is the heart of Flourish to teach you the methods and practices of getting in the Word each day,  born out of a desire to see your life transformed. Our hope is to see you experience the joy of growing in the midst of the trials you face:

“You should greatly rejoice in what is waiting for you, even if now for a little while you have to suffer various trials. Suffering tests your faith which is more valuable than gold (remember that gold, although it is perishable, is tested by fire) so that if it is found genuine, you can receive praise, honor, and glory when Jesus the Anointed, our Liberating King, is revealed at last.” (1 Peter 1:6-7, The Voice)

As we grow more secure in our identity in Christ, a transformation takes place. We become unsettled and uncomfortable in situations where we once felt content or indifferent. Our entertainment choices change; how we speak, think and act changes, and our circle of friends changes as well. We are moved to action where we once stood as bystanders, and we begin to question our old patterns and habits.

Trials till the soil of our souls so that the seeds of faith fall on fertile ground and take root. The Spirit of God waters those seeds, giving them the nourishment they need to grow deep and strong. Robust roots give us the strength we need to endure the hard times.

God gave me Jeremiah 17:7-8 as my life verse, and I believe that it sums up what my heart wishes to convey:

“But blessed is the one who trusts in Me alone; the Eternal will be his confidence.

He is like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots beside the stream.

It does not fear the heat or even drought.

Its leaves stay green and its fruit is dependable, no matter what it faces.” (The Voice)

Helen shared Psalm 92:12-15, which precedes Jeremiah, but speaks of the same rooting in the Lord:

"The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon. They are planted in the house of the LORD; they flourish in the courts of our God. They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the LORD is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him."(ESV)

Tests will come -- it's a given. But you and I have the opportunity to change our perspective about going through them. We can choose to grumble and fight against all that God is teaching us, or we can embrace the winds of change and choose to grow in the Light of the Son, receiving the sweet rain of mercy and grace from Heaven:

“And that’s not all. We also celebrate in seasons of suffering because we know that when we suffer we develop endurance, which shapes our characters. When our characters are refined, we learn what it means to hope and anticipate God’s goodness.” (Romans 5:3-4, The Voice)

In Him,

Embracing the Proverbs 31 Princess - even if she's tardy. . .

I had the honor and pleasure of following up the concepts of the Proverbs 31 Princess for the ladies of Flourish.  Additionally, they allowed me to speak about how the Lord developed this concept in me via a video interview.  I've just taken a little too long to post it.  Be sure to visit their website!  You are sure to be encouraged!

Should you feel so inclined to watch you can view the video here.

The article can be read below (and found here):

Embracing the Proverbs 31 princess

Earlier this week, we discovered that we are royalty. I pray that you have been able to meditate on and embrace this truth and your spirit has rejoiced! While we focused on Psalm 45:10, there is ample Scripture to verify that indeed our spiritual lineage is that of a royal family line.

1 Peter 2:9 tells us, “But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession.” (NLT).

Isaiah 62:3 says “You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.” (ESV).

And finally, 1 Timothy 6:15 declares that our triune God is “. . . the blessed and only almighty God, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords.” (NLT)

For many, accepting that we are a Proverbs 31 Princess is an act of faith, in and of itself. It’s contrary to the way we think. The majority of us have never been told that we are royalty, let alone that we’re worthy, beautiful, intelligent, and so-on.

Ladies, it’s time to see ourselves differently! You and I must take hold of the fact that God’s children are not like everyone else. We aren’t supposed to be! Deuteronomy 14:2 tells us, “You have been set apart as holy to the Lord your God, and he has chosen you from all the nations of the earth to be his own special treasure.” (NLT)

Still, just as our five Disney princesses yearned for affirmation of who they were on the inside, we must seek that affirmation from God in His Word. Being a princess can be a wonderful thing, but if you don’t know who you are without the crown, the crown has no worth.

In the early part of 2016, I personally wrestled with this truth. To be honest, I still struggle. I have the knowledge of who I am, Who my Father is and in Whose image I was created, but living that out proves to be difficult at times. It takes daily effort to remind myself who I truly am and not allow the world to define me.

As we dig a little deeper into our truth, I’d like to share with you some excerpts from a blog post I wrote last year:

“If you are anything like me, you want to be more than you are. We are always comparing ourselves to another woman who seems to have it all together. What we don’t see is that none of us really has it all together. Impeccably dressed, well-manicured, flawless makeup, charming children and handsome husbands all seem to indicate a perfect family life. But, we’ve all heard the cliché, ‘You can’t judge a book by its cover.’”

Behind all the outward perfection, there is likely to be a woman who is a complete and utter mess. Beautiful jars on the outside, but shattered pieces on the inside. Many of us don’t want to admit it, but we feel like failures for failing to live up to what we perceive should be the epitome of womanhood. We are a far cry from the woman whom we are called to be.

Many of us struggle with the notion of the Proverbs 31 Woman. I know I do. I have often thought that she was a woman of myth, a fictional character that could never materialize in the here and now. Even ladies of days past strove for the perfection that we have come to believe the Proverbs 31 woman exemplifies.What we fail to see is that the Proverbs 31 Woman is built into our DNA. We just have to learn how to tap into her.

It has been my own unwillingness to embrace that which is within me that has caused me to fail.

In my quiet time I asked God to help me understand. He told me this:

“Your worth is not measured by your ability to cook or clean. Your worth is measured at the Cross. I know you by your name. Not the dirt and the grime. But, I have called you to a purpose. To love Me above all else and follow My commandments. In loving Me, you will find your true worth measured by the cost of My Son’s very life, given for you.

“In serving Me, you will find joy, hope, peace, contentment and affirmation in knowing that you have pleased Me. Your family will feel loved and cared for. You are My vessel through which I can care for My son and My little child. I can perform many miracles, but I still need you to see that you are here on purpose; for such a time as this. . . .

“Do you see? You are more than what you believe yourself to be. . . . You are more than what you see in the mirror. You are more than what you see around you. Take hold of your destiny and purpose in ME first and the desires of your heart will be fulfilled.”

My dear friends, our lives must be a reflection of the One Who created us. We find ways to reject this truth, citing a traumatic childhood, failed relationships, negative influences and a myriad of other excuses. And, the crux of the matter is that I can share Scripture upon Scripture with you, but if you don’t desire to know who truly you are and reject the Word as it is given, it will be like seed scattered on rocky ground.

You and I have been given so much more than a magic pumpkin turned coach or a charming prince to woo us.

No, our Prince gave His very life for us at Calvary’s Cross to ensure our place in God’s kingdom was secured. Our worth can be seen in the nail-scarred hands of the One who loves us beyond measure. Ephesians 1:4 tells us that “Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.” (NLT)

Proverbs 31:10-31 provides with a model for being a Christian woman. This woman is set in the context of the culture of that time, but you and I can still aspire to be called “virtuous and capable.” Living in the modern age does not disqualify us nor does it nullify her. As I said earlier this week, it doesn’t matter what season of life you are in, you are the embodiment of the Proverbs 31 Princess.

God gave me a list of attributes that the Proverbs 31 woman exemplifies. They are not merely adjectives, but qualities which can truly become our identity. I created a word art printable that I would like to share with you.

Place it in a prominent place so you can encourage yourself when you don’t feel like you measure up. Feel free to share the printable with others as you partner together with sisters in your walk.

As we come to a close, my prayer for you is simply this: Embrace who you are.You are not defined by your past hurts or mistakes. You are not defined by your family strongholds. You are not defined by your career or your financial status.

You are precious. (Isaiah 43:4)

You are unique. (Psalm 139:14)

You are favored. (Proverbs 8:35)

You are called. (2 Timothy 1:9)

You are redeemed. (Isaiah 43:1)

You are loved. (John 3:16)

So, wear your crown with dignity. Serve the Lord with excellence, using the unique gifts and talents He has given you in the season and position to which you are called. Dress your heart with the royal robes of the Father’s love and embrace your status as the Daughter of the Most High King.

In His service,

Download a beautiful printable copy of the Proverbs 31 attributes HERE.

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The Proverbs 31 Princess and her ghost writer. . .

God never ceases to amaze me.  He places certain people in our lives when He sees it will be good and profitable for His sake.  A few months ago, I was invited to mom's night in with three other beautiful women.  I knew two of the three, and by the end of the night, I had definitely made a new friend.  

Jenny is one-half of Flourish, a ministry to women, dedicated to seeing them "flourish" in their knowledge of God's Word.  I'm always in awe of women who have the courage to put themselves out there and pour themselves out.  Jenny is no exception.  We spoke about writing, encouraging, ministry and homeschooling and I counted it joy to get to know her.

A couple of weeks ago, I ran into Jenny at an event and she mentioned to me about possibly being a guest writer for her ministry.  The excitement never left me and I began to pray about what God would have me share, whenever that may be.

Well, this week, I had the honor and privilege of writing the devotional for Flourish. What God gave me was an incredibly powerful message to share about the Proverbs 31 Woman, clothed in regal gowns. I additionally have the opportunity to expand upon the teaching later this week.  I am grateful for the edits Jenny and Mindy made to my submission and, again, humbled to actually be asked to write in the first place!

As a woman who loves words, words, themselves, cannot express the joy I have in sharing what I believe is God's heart for His daughters.  It's why I blog.  It's why I believe in the material God gave me to write in my book (which is still a work-in-progress!)  Perhaps this is just the nudge I need to hunker down and get that project done.  Ghost-writing isn't necessarily my thing, but I guess, if God allows me to write a message that will touch the hearts of His people, I am glad to be the typing fingers that sends gets it out.

In the meantime, I'd love to share with you the message of "The Proverbs 31 Princess."  Please be sure to check out Jenny's ministry, which she leads with her friend, Mindy, at Flourish. Sign up for their weekly devotionals and their upcoming Proverbs study! You can join them on Facebook here and stay encouraged all week long! 

And, without further ado:

No matter where we are in our walk with God, many of us struggle with our identities. Although we have called on Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we still struggle with who we are in Christ. We know we have become a part of God's family, saved by grace, given mercy, and forgiven of our sins. Yet, for many of us, we still don't know what that means in light of the person we see in the mirror.

There are two truths I believe God wants you to take hold of today.

You are a princess in the Kingdom of God.

You may have heard this popular inspirational quote, "I am the daughter of a King who is not moved by the world for my God is with me and goes before me. I do not fear because I am His." We love the truths expressed here, especially when we are trying to lift each other up during times of trial. However, this is not just a "feel-good" meme for us to post on social media and the walls of our homes, but a truth that God wants us to take hold of deep in our spirits.

While there are many Scriptures that represent the truth of this quote, I'd like for you to consider one of my favorites, Psalm 45. While it describes the royal court, the writer directly speaks of God on his eternal throne (Psalm 45:6). Additionally, scholars attribute the Psalm as describing Christ's relationship to the Church which is described as the Bride of Christ. Verses 10 and 11 in the New Living Translation state:

"Listen to me, O royal daughter; take to heart what I say.
Forget your people and your family far away.

For your royal husband delights in your beauty;
honor him, for he is your lord."

(click on image to download printable scripture card)

Did you catch that? We are "royal daughters" in the Kingdom of God. He delights in our beauty! Dear friend, did you know that it's not just the beauty that can be seen with the eyes that makes our Heavenly Father rejoice over us? It is our inner beauty that brings Him such joy! In 1 Samuel 16:7, God says that He "doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

This brings me to the next truth I'd like to share with you:

You are the embodiment of the Proverbs 31 woman.

For many of us, including myself, we read about the Proverbs 31 woman and immediately disassociate ourselves from her. She is described as a "wife of noble character" (v. 10) whose "children stand and bless her" (v.28), and most of the time we hardly feel we fit that description. Consider with me, however, that no matter what season of life you are in, you are a combination of the two truths I have set before you:

You are a Proverbs 31 Princess

You may be asking how in the world I have come to this conclusion. In our culture of film and various media, we are bombarded with images of those with whom we would gladly exchange places. We oftentimes identify with one of the characters we've seen portrayed in Disney films, famous for their female heroines portrayed in stories of adventure and romance. Perhaps you are like one of these fictional princesses:

• The wayward daughter who longed to be someone other than who she was and be part of someone else's world.
• The daughter who was stripped of her wealth and status, demoted to scullery maid, desiring nothing more than to be valued and cherished as she had been in the past.
• The beauty who willingly risked it all to save the only family she had left and subjected herself to the "savage beast."
• The independent, strong-willed princess who longed for a destiny other than her own and was beguiled by the ways of her culture while she tried to change her fate.
• The princess who was hidden and raised as a peasant girl until the day she learned of her true heritage, yet still fell to victim the very circumstances from which she was originally protected.

I do not have to name them for you to identify with them. All of them have experienced some kind of ordeal. And, all of them had to reach down inside themselves to find their inner strength.

Let's view the five young women I have mentioned in light of Proverbs 31.

• Each one, in the midst of her trial, desired to be someone she was not; yet, she found that her circumstances formed a strength of character which was "more precious than rubies," regardless of her station in life. (v.11)
• Each suffered some kind of hardship, but persevered as she found she was "clothed with strength and dignity." (v. 25)
• Each had to deal with darkness in the heart of those who oppressed her, yet she brought "good, not harm" to those around her and found a way to "extend a helping hand" and "open her arms" to those in need (vv. 10, 20).
• While young in age, each girl dug deep within herself to speak "wise words with "kindness." (v.26)
• These girls were “energetic, strong, and hard" working regardless of their position. (v.17)

The difference between these fictional princesses and you and me is that we truly are daughters of the most High King. Each one of us possess what we need to be the woman described in Proverbs 31. You don't have to be married and have children to fit her description. We all endure hardship and possess strength, dignity and integrity, serve others with kindness, energy, strength and hard work. We each have been given the Spirit of God, which enables us to live out these qualities in everyday life. Romans 11:9 tells us "The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you.”

So, rejoice, dear sister! You are not just an ordinary woman going through the throes of life, destined to stay where you are. You are the jewel in your Father's crown! You are a Princess who is every bit the Proverbs 31 Woman.

As the Scripture says, "There are many virtuous and capable women in the world, but YOU surpass them all!” Proverbs 31:29

Michelle Flaugh is a fourth-generation Russian Jew who became a believer in Messiah at the age of 25. While she grew up in Plano, Texas and has lived in numerous places, she calls Florence, Kentucky home. She is wife to Rob, momma to Kyra, and (step)mom to Cody and Amber. In addition to being a wife and mother, she homeschools Kyra and serves with several ministries. Her deepest passion is to share the heart of God with others so they can embrace their identity in Christ and learn to walk in the calling and purpose God has on their lives. She currently blogs, as the Lord leads, at Armsofgracejourney.blogspot.com.

The target is NOT the focus. . .

When Jesus spoke to  the multitudes, He spoke in parables. Parables are relatable stories with deeper meaning. The people of His day understood what He was referencing, but us modern day "scholars" need a little help. Interestingly enough, I feel like God speaks to me more through metaphors and similes. You know, the kind of statements that Forrest Gump made, "Life is like a box of chocolates. . ." I would venture to say, however deep you may find Forrest's statement, that God's Word takes us so much deeper when it comes to seeing things through His eyes.

I don't have an epiphany on what "life is like, " but what I do have is a new perspective on how to look at life and how I relate to God. And, as in many things, God spoke to me during an activity.

My husband took me to the shooting range a few weeks ago. Now, stick with me here, regardless of whether you enjoy shooting or are terrified of weapons (I used to be, too). I pray you'll find my lesson one you can glean something from either way. As usual, I digress. . .

Back to my story. . . As my hubby was coaching me and helping me tweak my skill, I had trouble focusing on my target. The more I focused on where I wanted the bullet to go, the more I missed. I can still hear his voice in my ear, "focus on the sights, not the target." Let me help you understand what he meant.

The majority of handguns have both front and rear sights. While the cosmetic makeup of the sights differ from weapon to weapon, their purpose is the same: line them up with the target. When training to use a handgun, you have to rely on the sights rather heavily. If the front sight is not lined up correctly with the rear sight(s), the bullet will end up anywhere but where you want it. While you need to aim correctly, where your eyes focus is absolutely key in your accuracy. Here's an image to help you ("POI" stands for "point of impact):

image courtesy of https://canadianshooter.wordpress.com/

As you can see (no pun intended), if your sights are out of alignment, you're not going to hit where you're aiming.

So here's where the crazy thing happened - I was adjusting my aim, focusing in on the sights, making sure they were in perfect alignment, and my eyes went in and out of focus. I wear no-line bifocals, so shooting can be a challenge in and of itself, but when my eyes are wigging out, well. . . . you can only imagine. Much to my surprise, however, when I had a clear sight picture, and my eyes were in perfect focus, I pulled the trigger and hit exactly where I was aiming.

It was then that I heard God's voice. "Isn't it the same with Me? When you are perfectly, intently and fully focused on Me, don't you have peace and feel fulfilled?" A smile crept upon my lips and I let out one of those "yeah, I get it" kind of laughs.

But, ever since that day, I have been mulling this over in my mind. How completely stunning and powerful is this truth? When we are not focused on the end game, on the final destination, on the "just one more thing" or even just when we stop flailing around in our emotional distress and purely focus on the Most High God do we have peace and joy. When all we want to do is please Him and bring Him honor and glory and praise with our lives, we have a deeper and fulfilling sense of purpose and destiny. When we finally surrender and pour ourselves out at the Cross, only to be filled with the love and peace of God, we are secure and joyful and whole. 

But, as soon as we let our focus wander, we sink in our hearts and minds, just like Peter sank in the water:

Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.” “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted. Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?” When they climbed back into the boat, the wind stopped. Then the disciples worshiped him. “You really are the Son of God!” they exclaimed. (Matthew 14:28-33, NLT)

Peter took his eyes off of Jesus and he fell.  Of course, Jesus rescued him, but the first thing He asked Peter was why he doubted!   Is that what happens when we doubt? It starts so subtly. We are reading or we are praying and a stray thought comes in and we shake our heads and try to refocus. Slowly, the minor disruption pulls a little harder, like the wind blowing on that stormy sea, until we are so distracted that we can no longer look at what we are doing and see God in it, when He clearly is in the middle of rescuing us from ourselves.  Doubt slowly enters our minds and the enemy snickers and starts dancing his little happy dance because he has been successful in throwing us off course. We begin to get consumed with overwhelming details that simply do not matter in the grand scheme of things and we forget that our Heavenly Father already has everything worked those pesky details out and knows exactly where we are and where our journey is taking us. But, before we know it, we are crying out from broken hearts and wounded souls because we simply let our focus drift.

Perhaps I have this backwards, but I feel like what God is telling me is don't worry about where you're going to end up - the destination itself isn't the primary focus.  Don't get me wrong, we have an eternal destiny that we are to strive towards, but we can't get there by focusing on ourselves and the minutia of life.  I don't know what voice you're hearing, but I keep hearing the Lord say to me, "Stay here, with Me, in this moment. Trust me. I already know where all this is going.  I've got it all under control." 

That is why I tell you not to worry about everyday life—whether you have enough food and drink, or enough clothes to wear. Isn’t life more than food, and your body more than clothing? Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? “And why worry about your clothing? Look at the lilies of the field and how they grow. They don’t work or make their clothing, yet Solomon in all his glory was not dressed as beautifully as they are. And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith? “So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. “So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. (Matthew 6:25-34, NLT, emphasis mine)

Seems so simple, doesn't it? Not a chance. It takes practice, determination, FOCUS, just as learning any skill does. If we worked as hard on learning more about God and strengthening our relationship with Him as we do to accomplish anything else in our daily lives, we would be so much happier and at peace.  

Set your clock. Make time to read and meditate on God's Word. The treasure that awaits you there is beyond your imagination. The wealth of this world is nothing compared to what God has for you. What Paul said centuries ago still rings true today. . .

I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him. (Philippians 3:7-9, NLT)

While it feels good to hit the target, the joy is fleeting and leaves us wanting for more. Focus in on Jesus and begin to feel a joy beyond words, a peace beyond understanding and a love which can not be measured.

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. (Ephesians 3:14-19, NLT)

Don't worry, you are not alone if you think you're lacking this kind of focus.  I am preaching to myself, here, too.  But, I'm ready to live for something and Someone other than myself and be filled with the promises God has for me.  Tell me friend, how about you?   

Happy New Year!

Isaiah 43:17-18