Counting My Blessings

When we go through a difficult time (of which I've had quite a few in recent years), it's easy to become discouraged - even despairing.  The trials feel heavy, and we may not be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel.  The hard time, the suffering, the weights of what we're experiencing can be utterly overwhelming.

One important lesson I've learned is that I can choose victory - even while I'm crying out to the Lord for it.  I may not feel it.  The situation may not have changed.   The weights are still there.  But I can declare victory in Jesus name.  When I do that, something is released in me that gives me extra grace to walk through the trial.  And the Lord's strength and help begins to flow.  He has been so faithful to help me, to bring victory to me time and time again in the hard times.  I couldn't have made it otherwise.

"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.  What can man do to me?"  Hebrews 13:6

"You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great."  Psalm 18:35

"Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation."  Isaiah 12:2

"The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  Psalm 27:1

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."  Deuteronomy 31:8

I am so grateful for how the Lord has been with me through each trial, each difficult thing.  I truly don't know how people make it without the Lord.  I'm glad I don't have to try that.  He is right by my side each day.

I had one day in particular that was difficult this week.  Thankfully it wasn't to do with my physical health!!  It had to do with something I was trying to get done that was challenging.  In the midst of it as I was asking the Lord to help me, He reminded me of two things.

The first was to "count my blessings."  When I took a few minutes to do that, it was amazing how my whole outlook shifted from the problem to all the good things in my day, in my life.  It brought perspective!  From big things to little things, I saw all the wonderful blessings in my life!!

The second thing was a reminder that "laughter is the best medicine."  Smiling, laughing brings joy and helps lift the burdens we are carrying.  I recently came across a video that makes me laugh every time I watch it.  In the video a little baby girl interacts with her father in tearing up their electricity bill - while she giggles continually.  I don't think anyone can watch it without at least smiling, and probably laughing.  I love it!  Something so simple - but so full of joy.  I share the link below.

So, needless to say, after counting my blessings and laughing.....the burden of what I was dealing with was much lighter!  I still had to plow my way through it, but it wasn't as overwhelming.  I love how God reminded me of these truths. 

"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."  Zephaniah 13:5,6

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 

"With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall."  Psalm 18:29

"Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things He does for me."  Psalm 103:2 NLT

"Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things.  Philippians 4:8

I LOVE that last verse.  It covers it all.  When we think on those things, it puts anything else into the right perspective.  I have so very much to be thankful for!!!

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Temptation After Victory

Most leaders make their greatest mistakes after their greatest successes.  Beware the temptations that come after a great victory.  When things go well, don't let it go to your head.  Everything good in your life is a result of the blessing of God.

When God uses you, get on your knees and thank him.  He is the source and the goal of all that we do that has lasting value in people's lives.

When people honor you, simply say, "Thank you" and in the same breath say from the heart, "I'm glad God used me."

And mean it.

Five Relationships to Help You Finish Well

I've been thinking a lot lately about relationships that help us finish well. There are five that I can think of right away that have been extremely meaningful to me.

1. Spiritual mentors - who develop us. We need people who are further along than us in the race of life, people who keep us on track, ask us pointed questions, and raise concerns with us. Our responsibility to our spiritual mentors is to come to mentoring times well prepared, to have a list of 3-4 questions that are well thought through, and to be transparent without expecting our mentors to be responsible for us. When you anticipate being with them, draw them out in the area of their strengths. Ask them what their expectations or desires are for your mentoring relationship with them. Tap into the books they are reading. If we are to finish well, one major reason is we paid attention to our mentors.

2. Not-yet followers of Jesus - who focus us outside ourselves.  The quickest way to get out of touch with real life is to have no discipling relationships with pre-believers. We never grow beyond sharing the good news of Jesus with people. We are never too busy and never too important and never "not-called” or “not-gifted" to be discipling not-yet followers of Jesus to faith. Those who engage the lost, grow. Those who don't, stagnate in their relationship with Jesus. If we are to finish well, a crucial reason we do is that we are engaged in the lives of people outside the "bubble" of Christian culture.

3. Friends - who stick by us.  Good friends are there in the hard times and the good times. They "cheer and tear" at the right moments of life. We don't need friends who always agree with us, or who go silent when we are in pain, and who don't ask us the hard questions. We do need friends who know how to take the "mickey" out of us, who can just hang and enjoy good music or a great pub or movie. Life-time friendships are rare and are to be treasured and invested in wisely.

4. Leaders - who guide us.  A wise man once asked me, "Who can say no to you and make it stick?" That's a leader. It sticks because you want it to, not because they are controlling. Leaders are leaders in our lives because they impact our futures, they go before us to model the way, they walk beside us to coach us, and they come behind us to cheer us on. Your leaders may not be your best buddies, but they can be your best friend - in the sense that they see what you cannot see and they ask what others will not ask. They believe in you, but loyalty does not trump honesty in their relationship with you.

5. Heroes - who inspire us.  Choose your heroes well, because they impact you more than you think. You may or may not know them. They may or may not be alive. But you know them in the sense that you have gotten into their story and it has impacted your values and what you aspire for. You want to be like them. You hang on when it is tough because they did. You make good choices when you face impossible circumstances - because they did. They showed courage, faith, and integrity and that has pointed the way forward to you and stoked your heart to believe you can do it, too.

Joe Paterno made one bad choice and it marred his reputation and caused him to finish life in a crisis of doubt and disrepute. It's not worth it, nothing is. Those who hang in there, who keep their eye on the goal, who persevere and don't give up, they get the reward, they win the prize at the end of life.

I want to be one of those people. So do you. We can do it with God's help. Hang on to Him - He will see you to the finish line with fire in your heart and victory in your end-of-life resume.