Coffee with Carole

How strong is your desire to sit at God's head table and hear, "well done, my good and faithful servant!"  

Sacrificing our wants and desires isn't easy but it is doable when you have a willingness to serve God with all your heart.  Making difficult choices and walking away from your vision to step into God's vision doesn't always feel comfortable.  

When we give up our goals and follow after God, it can be challenging.  At first, it may even feel like you are going backwards.  The enemy will try to scare you into thinking you are going to miss out on rewards and recognition. Don't fall for that lie.  

Deuteronomy 30:8-11 tells us that when we obey God, we step into blessings we never knew would exist.  While it may be difficult, He tells us that it is not "TOO DIFFICULT".  

Take the risk.  Walk into the unknown.  Leave your reputation, your sleep, you need to "fit in" with the crowd and GO!  Watch how God turns it into your biggest win!

Do you find yourself questioning whether it is God or you?  

When you "hear" from God are you able to check it against the Bible?  God won't contradict His word.  Are you going over and over and over it in your mind?  God doesn't obsess with the problem or situation.  He wants us to speak to the problem!  Are you fearing what you will lose out on or miss having or are you fearing the risk of uncertainty?  The enemy will want to keep you thinking you will lose out, God wants you to trust Him!  The world's answer to the question will make you doubt, fear rejection and make you obsess on the problem.  God's answer brings peace.  God never operates in confusion.  Are you looking for God's approval or man's?

Do you sweat the small stuff?  Do you find yourself losing your patience from your kids being kids?  Do you get anxious when you haven't yet heard back from the Dr.'s office or the job interview? Or, could you be like I was the other day when my husband came home and I was cleaning up a mess....

 What is most important to you?  Proverbs 14:29 says "Patience leads to an abundant understanding but impatience leads to stupid mistakes!"  Romans 15:1 (MSG) gives us a way..."Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?”  

When we feel ourselves getting to that point of overwhelm and frustration, let's remember to pause and pull from our strength....looking for ways to serve others instead of stir up conflict!

Many of us have a superficial knowledge of the Bible.  We know stories and concepts and have a few scriptures memorized.  However, if you don't internalize and apply the information, there isn't any meaningful connection made and it remains superficial and without significance.  Take time to not only read scripture but use it to change the way you are thinking and feeling!  When you have profound knowledge of a concept or idea, things begin to change.

Don't rush change.  Go at it one step a time!  

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We have all either heard or participated in gossip.  It is fun.  It is interesting.  We all like to be "in the know".  However, gossip is a sure way to ruin your reputation and integrity.  

Proverbs 18:7-8 tells us that rumors are "tasty morsels" and that the mouth gets you into trouble.  

Proverbs 21:23 tells us to keep our mouth shut and we will stay out of trouble. 

 If you hear yourself saying, "please keep this between you and I" or  "can you keep a secret?"  or someone asks you these questions, stop the conversation.  Don't receive or give any information.  Let it lie.  Stop and keep your mouth closed.  

Bottom line is this.  If you would not want your words broadcast on the 6 o'clock news, don't let them come out of your mouth.  (Proverbs 20:19)

Use your words to praise God and encourage and edify others. Lift up rather than tear down.  (James 3:2-12)

Fear paralyzes where faith mobilizes!  Fear stops you in your tracks, but faith moves you forward!  Following God is risky business.  Fear won't allow you take risks.  What fears do you have?  Do you fear cancer, death and dying?  Do you fear losing a job, your finances or your relationship?  Do you fear failure in your business or never having enough?  Whatever you fear, if you focus on that you will lose your vision and you will take your eyes off of the One who holds your peace.  Psalm 56:3 says, "whenever I am afraid, I will trust in you."  Do you spend enough time with God that you would recognize Him, trust Him and believe Him if you saw Him?  Keep stretching and taking steps in faith.

Change is happening all around us.  

What doesn't change?  God never changes. (Malachi 3:6)  His love never changes.(Psalm 136:26)  His word never changes. (Matt. 24:35. Isaiah 40:8)  His purpose never changes. (Psalm 33:11)  And, most importantly, His promises never change. (Hebrews 6:17-18) 

P- Is your position firmly planted in the word of God or in your comfort zone?

I- Where do you get your information?

V- What is the vision you hold on to? 

O- Do you see and obstacle or an opportunity? (Ephesians 4:14)

T- Take Action!  What action do you take?  Do you seize the opportunity and become spiritually grounded in immovable faith? (1 Cor. 15:58)

We depend on so many things.  We depend on our phones to work, our internet to be connected and secure, our cars to start, our partners to be there for us, etc...But what happens when something happens?  

What happens when the battery dies, the car breaks down, the person we relied on breaks our trust? 

 In most situations, God is the last resort when we have tried everything else.  We don't depend on God for everything.  We take most things for granted until something happens and then we end up blaming God for it... we ask, "couldn't He have kept it from happening?" 

Depending on God takes an intentional effort.  It isn't our natural response.  We get angry, frustrated and overwhelmed because we didn't go to God first with the issue.  If we would simply seek Him first, and dig into His word, while He may not give us all the answers, He will give us enough information so we can be in peace.   God does the how and you do the do.  ♥

Why is it so hard to follow God's will for our lives?  

Why do we get tired of being obedient? 

Why do we want to control the outcomes?  

Why do we lose patience in the process? 

Romans 12:2 (ESV) says, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." 

Our brains can hold a lot of information, but when the information is at war (worldly beliefs contradicting God's word) we become overwhelmed, exhausted and depressed.  It is just too much.  We try to hold on to what we know without letting go and letting God's word replace it.  My friend, the overwhelm, pressure and exhaustion is God's hand on your life.  He is molding and shaping you.  He is pruning away the parts that are holding you back.  You must make a choice to embrace it or retreat.  What will you choose?

Rejection is part of life.  There was no one more rejected than Jesus.  In fact, many of us are in positions, like Jesus, that make us targets for rejection and disapproval.  How do you handle it?  Do you point fingers and blame?  Do you withdraw and sink into the background?  When you feel "less than", are you shaken?  Do you feel trampled on by others?  No matter how much you were rejected, ignored, or mistreated, you have the ability for a "reset" and a "do-over"!  God shows us how to achieve the renewal of our minds...but we must do the do.  It takes daily, intentional effort.  When we feel that feeling of "less than" from our past, we must see it as another signal coming from God's lane departure warning system.  We are out of alignment with His word.  Seek Him.  It is the hardest work you will ever do, but it is the most rewarding.