Daily Doses of Gospel "PiLLs": courage

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Have You Gone Out Full Only to Return Empty?

Read the Book of Ruth

How many of us have gone out ready to win the world, full of hope, dreams, and ambitions only to return gleaning sheaves of empty hopes and promises? Raped and victimized by this thing call life. That education you invested so much time and money or that marriage of many years that ended up in heart-breaking divorce, the ministry your poured into, the people you faithfully served that turned out to be a disappointment, the business deal that never took off, or the business that went bankrupt? How about the dream of motherhood and life-long parenting, only for it to be shattered by miscarriages, the inability to conceive, or death?

Have you gone out full like Naomi, which means "pleasant, lovely, and delightful", only to come back Mara, "bitter and sad"? Naomi knew the joy of going out full and the devastation of coming back empty. She knew what it felt like to have dreams dissipate like smoke rings in thin air. Does this sound anything like you?

Jeremiah 29:11 speaks of God's designed plan for our lives. He has a purpose for our lives, but it is only when we acknowledge Him will that plan be revealed. Life is a grindstone, and whether it grinds you down or polishes you depends on what you are made of and your view of God. Do you believe that God is in control of your most difficult circumstance? Your circumstance may have surprised you, but it didn't catch God by surprise.

If you've gone out like Naomi only to come back empty, then may I suggest that you give the broken pieces of your wounded life to the only one who can put it back together again. God can heal a broken heart, but He has to have all the pieces.

Narda Goodson

First Lady of Whitewright, Texas

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Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Understanding My Spiritual Armor

Understanding the spiritual armor is a must for every believer. Learning the art of your spiritual weaponries and knowing how to use them when your path becomes vague and formless, unclear and ambiguous, will carry you through any crisis in life. From rejection, to betrayals, from abuse, to rape and fear, suicide, an...d abandonment, I found the formula to overcoming life's challenges by mastering and understanding my armor. Your spiritual armor is God's gift to you for fighting the GOOD fight of FAITH.

We are to walk the path the Father has designed for us with confidence, courage, and compassion. There is unequivocally nothing or no one that can stop you or the work of God in you, unless you give them permission. Don’t you know that no one can make you feel inferior without your consent? Knowing who you are and to whom you belong to is a central element to fulfilling one’s destiny.

When facing life's challenges, you must know when to take off your stilettos and know when to put on your combat boots. As you tread through the isms and schisms of life, you will find that the greaves that shield your feet will protect and keep you from becoming weak and impaired. God’s promises that His prevailing peace will empower you to maintain an inexorable march despite the enemies attempt to take you down; for HE IS the glory and lifter of your head.

Every job is a self-portrait of the person who does it. So autograph your work with excellence. Do what you are called to do, beloved, and do it well. Do it in the power and strength of the Lord; for surely, the Lord will break asunder all plans and wicked devises.

If you are facing the turbulent storms and trials of life, it is helpful to often remember that the Lord of Hosts goes before you. So when you are tested, take courage, and in adversity, don’t flinch. For God has proven to be mighty in battle, faithful, and true. Shall He not rescue, deliver, and honor those who know and call upon His name? Be at peace, stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord.

In His Image,