Posted on

Head Trash

Wish I could avoid topics like this, yet you just may find hope and freedom from awakening to this reality.

. . . I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

We love this truth. Jesus came to give us the abundant life, but that is only the last half of the verse — we tend to pooh-pooh the preceding part.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; . . .

Let’s be clear, only those who see Satan under every rock or who over-spiritualize things waste time on this. We’ve already won. There is no need to worry about an enemy, especially in our science-based 2017. He’ll be even less relevant in 2018.

Really? 

We could point you to the endless darkness of our world, but look inward to see if it applies to you. What conversations happen inside your head designed to steal your joy, kill your hope, or destroy your faith in Christ? Do you see:

A pattern in your messages?

An intentionality to crush your specific desires, dreams, and gifting?

That the messages are accusations “to” you, as in “You are an idiot.” “You will never be loved,” “You are a coward’” You are abandoned.”

Now stop and ask: With whom are you conversing, and what agreements do these conversations resurrect?

I AM an idiot! I will NEVER be loved! I AM a coward! I AM abandoned and alone!

Think this is random? The thief does come to kill, steal and destroy, even in 2017.

We’ve heard this called head trash.  Take it captive before it gets a foothold, and make significant strides towards the abundant life.

Realize you are conversing with something that hates you.

End the conversation. It can be that simple.

Pray in Christ’s name against the enemy — make it clear it has no place.

Remember truths spoken over you, as in I am His beloved, I have His warrior’s heart, I am a son or daughter of a King, I am free of the power of sin.

Sound crazy? Write down your inner thoughts for 20 minutes or so.

Prayer Idea: Stop! You have no place in my head and heart. Your words and accusations are lies. In the name of Jesus Christ, I command you to leave.  I choose to relish in the truths my God has spoken over me. I chose life and hope.

Killing your head trash might remove more drama from your life than you thought possible.

 

 

 

 

Posted on

Thank You

Husbands who died shielding their wives, women who gathered others to freedom, unnamed civilians who went back into danger to get people to safety, those who shook in fear but still fought to live, our first responders who ran into gunfire to save the wounded, an officer who was off duty but died serving others, a woman and her family who ran over 8 miles in terror,  stories of sacrifice, honor, survival and love.

These are examples of our true heart, how strangers literally fought FOR each other’s survival. This has also been evident in how people have come together in Irma, Harvey, and Maria.

We grieve greatly for those who have lost or who have endured wounding and must endure recovery.

We stand against the evil.

We thank all who sacrificed so lovingly for others.

We are so proud of so many of you.

We are praying for those who have lost and whose lives have been forever changed.

With very wounded hearts we say thank you. 

This photo is from a media source (we will remove if needed). 

 

Posted on

Unmasking Your True Design

“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. . . . And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ;”

“He gave some as,” hmmm.  Could our unique design and purpose be an intentional gift? Could the measure of our gift be allocated by none other than our creator?

Have you ever been given an assignment or tried something that no matter how hard you worked, you could never meet the expectations? Then you worked on something that seemed almost effortless, but because you saw it as easy you thought, “It’s not a big deal.” You may not realize it, but what you just so naturally completed, others saw as spectacular.

I was honored to have a leadership role that was primarily administrative.  It exhausted and at times even angered me — no matter how hard I worked, it was always an uphill battle. It just did not come naturally. Then I was given an odd responsibility to facilitate a potentially dicey communication in an interpersonally complex situation. When done, everyone said I was brilliant. They said my efforts looked effortless. The praise seemed undeserved contrasted with my “more important” responsibilities, but I did feel a spark  . . .

What gets in the way of our seeing Christ’s “He-gave-some” gift to us as valuable? What makes us believe that the glory God designed into us for His good works is meager, or even worse, worthless? Perhaps our enemy does not want us to live in the freedom and reality of our purpose that makes us dangerous for good. Maybe our enemy ties us up in insecurity and shame to keep us from living our God-intended life.

At an I Am Done event, you might just find your true design and purpose. Until then, here is a way to begin the process. Collect a handful of people who know each other well, and have everyone tell every other person what they see as:

Glorious about them

Their gifts

What makes them special

Take notes — some may cherish these words.

Instead of telling you what has happened doing this excercise with others, will let you discover this on your own.  Let us know below if you tried this, and the impact it had.

To you

 

A.E.I.B.