Problems are God’s way of leading you to something better.

If you are in God’s kingdom, He leads you. Sometimes His leading is through painful circumstances. We don’t like it, but we’ll like the place where He brought us. Adversity is a path to bliss.

Job first suffered, then he was blessed. Joseph was a slave and then in jail, then he was blessed. Daniel was exiled from his homeland and forced into the king’s service, then he was blessed. Before he became king, David was a fugitive in the desert.

Don’t be caught off guard (as I have). Feel God’s peace in midst of the turmoil.

The Bible is clear that God is (1) entity. Three distinct personalities – The Father, Jesus; the Holy Spirit.  To bring more clarity on God let me give you a few illustrations about singular words that have plural meanings.

• The body of Christ is (1) body yet has many members. 1 Corinthians 12
• A husband and wife are joined together in matrimony to become (1) flesh yet there are (2) people involved. Ephesians 5:31
• An ice cube, steam, and water are all (1) substance  in (3) different forms – H2O.
• God said, “Let us make man in our own image” Genesis 1:26

This great truth brings light to the subject of God in three distinct persons. The Bible is a beautiful textbook that teaches man to understand God, Christ, and the marvelous presence of the Holy Spirit who Jesus himself addressed as, “He”.

John 16: 13-14…Howbeit when :”he”, the Spirit of truth, is come, “he” will…

when I’m feeling overwhelmed

and my walls are closing in

that’s when I clearly see

what I’ve done again,

I’m trying too hard to do it on my own

forgetting all my strength 

comes from you alone

Help me not to try so hard-but to trust You more

Help me have the faith to see without my eyes

and to trust in You with all my heart

help me not to try so hard-but to trust you more

trust you more

letting go of everything

everything but You

all that matters in my life

is following Your truth

Your ways are higher than my own 

I put You on the throne 

all the days of my life

I seek Your will alone 

I was recently inspired to write this song- Trust You More. This past summer, our youth pastor preached a message that really touched my heart. He said…

The Tax Collector –

[Most of the time when the Bible mentions a publican, or a tax collector it is referring to a regular tax collector (publicanus) rather than a chief tax collector. The tax collectors were usually Jewish and therefore they were hated by their own people. When they collected their taxes for Rome they would turn over the required amount of money, and whatever they could add on for themselves is what they kept. They were known to be extortioners of large sums of money. Because tax collectors were in relationship with Rome, who were Gentiles in the eyes of the Jews, and hated for their domination, they were treated similar to the worst kinds of sinners and prostitutes.

Does he go about his business with a demonic scowl upon his face? Does he spew forth obscenities and stench with every breath? No. He probably appears just like…

Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. Ephesians 4:25

Transparency. It is something I have come to appreciate. The art of showing emotion, letting others in on what is going on in life. Not hiding behind a smile. Not painting on a happy face. Not denying struggles. Being completely, and totally honest with another.

It’s something I have grown to appreciate. but not something that was ever accepted as practice growing up.

I lived in a home full of “stuffers.” We grew up believing that old saying…you know, about not airing dirty laundry, or what not. You had a problem, you stuffed it. You were having a bad day, you stuffed your emotions and put on a smile. Look like you have it all together at all costs. Don’t let anyone know the real you. The real issues you face.

Well…