Tag: hopeforthesoul

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Prince of Peace

The Kedge Anchor

Photo by Artem Podrez on Pexels.com

It’s Christmas in July and so let’s celebrate our freedom and Jesus is the Prince of Peace, Isaiah 9:6. We all long for peace in this chaotic world. We don’t have to go far or look far to see the chaos in society today. There’s enough external chaos to distract us and keep us in an anxious state. Then let’s admit it, we can create our own chaos. A slip of the tongue, posting something we shouldn’t, not doing something we should or shouldn’t can all be the beginning of chaos. For myself, I don’t have try. Words slip out or I may misuse a word with unintended negative meaning, I’m horrible at math so I can send our checkbook in a downward spiral, not having my priorities straight, that’s just what I can do make my life a little chaotic.

Perhaps you have kids all with different activities, maybe you have over committed yourself at work or at church leaving you no time for family, for yourself or more importantly for God. Housework piles up, work piles up, maybe you’ve been so busy you forgot to pay the water bill. Life in itself happens. Turn on the news or open a social media app and the chaos surrounding us can be overwhelming, discouraging, leaving us to wonder is there any hope? We don’t need to look for chaos sometimes we create or it finds us.

But what we all are searching for is peace. We want order in the chaos. We may not be able to control the chaos in the world, but we can have peace in the chaos in our lives. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, Isaiah 9:6 -“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” I heard something the other day that I thought was interesting. I was watching the Bible (Season 3, Episode 8) Rountable on The Chosen app, Rabbi Jason Sobel refers to Genesis 1:2, he references the Spirit of God hovering over the deep when the waters were in chaos in the beginning and Matthew 14:26-33 where Jesus walks on water. He says in a “sense the storm represents the chaos in the beginning.” I highly recommend watching this Roundtable episode, at approximately 24:42 Rabbi Jason speaks of this. I believe that the Trinity was there creating the world. Jesus the Prince of Peace was there bringing order, peace to the chaos.

We are all looking for peace in our lives. I know many people are dealing with and struggle with anxiety, that alone creates chaos. They don’t need to look outside of their own hearts to see chaos and experience. Peace sometimes can be something we see as unattainable, almost impossible. But we can have peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace, Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father. We can pray for peace and God will give us peace. It’s been said that we shouldn’t pray for patience because God will send us situations to test us in patience. Does God test our peace if we ask for it? We may still struggle but that’s on us because we are sometimes reluctant to surrender. I don’t believe God will create disorder and chaos in our lives to teach how to have peace or to test us. We create the chaos. Adam and Eve created chaos in the Garden. God will use the chaos and disorder we create or whatever is around us to grow us or call us closer to Him. If we ask for peace, God will lead us to it.

The Bible tells us “Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it.” Psalm 34:14. We are to seek and pursue peace. If Jesus is the Prince of Peace, then we should be seeking Jesus and pursuing Him.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God

Matthew 5:9

Here are some verses:

John 14:27 – “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” (ESV)

John 16:33 – “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (ESV)

Isaiah 26:3 – You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” (ESV) (this is where I believe we need to surrender and fix our hearts and minds on Jesus).

Judges 6:24 – “And Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and named it Yahweh-Shalom (which means “the LORD is peace”). The altar remains in Ophrah in the land of the clan of Abiezer to this day.” (NLT)

Philippians 4:17 – “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (ESV)

2 Thessalonians 3:16 – “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.” (ESV)

Psalm 29:11 – “The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace.” (KJV)

Psalm 23 – “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams… “

This is what I have learned about prayer. Sometimes praying can be dangerous. Be careful what you pray for. While I don’t think God would lead us to chaos, I do think He will use the chaos that is already around us or the chaos we have already created for ourselves. He may open our eyes to it or make our hearts more sensitive to it so that He can work peace through and in us.

God is sovereign and will use anything to get our attention. He also doesn’t answer prayer as we expect Him to. Read the book of Habakkuk. God didn’t create the evil, He used the existing evil to defeat the evil surrounding Habakkuk. Not what Habakkuk expected. But I believe we can ask for peace and God will use the chaotic situation around us or in to draw us to Him or draw us even closer to Him. I don’t believe He will lead us to chaos and disorder. I could be wrong, but will He test us in trying to have peace? Like salvation, peace is there, we need to ask, we need to surrender. He leads, we need to follow. We may need to surrender and that may be something He is trying to teach us, there may be other things He could be trying to teach us. He could be leading us to “peaceful streams” and “green pastures” and we are the ones not following the right path.

We are free to celebrate Christmas anytime of year! So let’s celebrate the Prince of Peace, seek peace and pursue it!

Fruits of the Spirit

What Does a Jesus Freak Look Like?

The Kedge Anchor
Photo by Luis Quintero on Pexels.com

What does a Jesus freak look like? I imagine we all have a different image in our minds. Does it look like someone who has Jesus plastered all over their t-shirt, wears, crosses around their neck? Maybe it’s someone who wears all that and sports several tattoos. Or is it someone who is always quoting scripture with the above mentioned garb. Maybe they have strict moral behavior. How do you define a Jesus freak? Maybe Lonnie Frisbee and Jesus Revolution come to mind, great movie if you haven’t seen it, see it! (side note: Jonathon Roumie, great acting, he’s a chameleon).

Recently I was listening to a radio broadcast and a familiar question was asked. “If you were charged with being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?” I thought about that for a moment. Really think about it. Could I be convicted as a Christian or Jesus freak? What evidence is there? Well, I don’t wear a cross around my neck, I do wear some Chosen t-shirts and watch The Chosen. I don’t have any tattoos, I don’t always quote scripture. I don’t have strict morals, and I emphasize strict. I don’t drink alcoholic beverages, not by choice, but because they trigger migraines.
Then I though some more. Satan quote scripture. Satan and his demons disguise themselves to look like angels and nice people to tempt us. Satan makes evil things look good. Go back to the Garden. Satan was cunning, he didn’t look scary and he quoted scripture. Does that make him a Jesus freak?

If clothing, tattoos, speech, quoting scripture, cross wearing, always attending church, strict morals define Jesus freak, then I fall short. And probably wouldn’t be convicted. And the Bible says that the world looks at the outer appearance but God looks at the heart. 1 Samuel 16:7 – “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Revelation 2:23 – “And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.”

So I asked myself, what evidence do I have? What does my heart reveal about Jesus? Well, in a court of law, I guess my actions and deeds would be judged, but even then that could be subjective. But whoever is judging me better know scripture and most of all God’s heart. I am not perfect I fall short daily and without the blood of Jesus… well, I am nothing and can do nothing apart from Him, even breathe, for He gives me physical and spiritual life.

I guess best would to be judged according to the fruits of the spirit, – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23. Then I thought some more. Do I display any of this? I may some of the time and still God has a lot of work to do in me. Philippians 1:6 -“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.“

A Jesus freak can look like anything I guess. And even if someone is wearing scripture on their clothing, sporting tattoos, wearing crosses around their neck and always at church, God is looking at their hearts. They can still have fruits of the Spirit. So I guess the question should be, do we have enough of the fruits of the Spirit to convict us? I think Lonnie could have been convicted. He certainly had a heart for Jesus.

If any of this made sense, please comment. I’d love to hear your thoughts?

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“Wonder and Be Astounded“

The Kedge Anchor


A few years ago I read a book titled, Amazed and Confused by Heather Zemple. The book is based on the book of Habakkuk about his determination to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and how his expectations didn’t line up with God’s actions. Habakkuk wasn’t afraid to ask God questions about the evil and injustices he saw. How could a good God allow bad things to happen to good people? I think we all have asked that question at some point.
Habakkuk pleaded with God for revival in the hearts of those who were faithless and return back to God. “Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a
work in your days that you would not believe if told.” (1:5 ESV). God’s vision was one of warfare and exile. Not what one would expect from a “good God.”


The part about our expectations and God’s actions hit me. How often have you been in a situation where you are always thinking of a way out or a solution. “Maybe if I did this, “ or “Maybe if I try this,” or “What if I said this?” often mulling over and over in your head how things could possibly work out even after hours and days of praying. Exhausting, right?


I have learned there is two parts to walking through a trial and expecting an outcome. One, is waiting. Ugh I know. Habakkuk wasn’t afraid to pour out his heart to God asking questions why and how long to the injustices he saw, Habakkuk 1:1-4. (I encourage you to read Habakkuk, read some commentaries along with it, it’s only four chapters). Chapter 2:2, God instructs Habakkuk to write down His answer to warn others. God is telling Habakkuk in verse 3 to wait, wait for what He is going to do. I think it’s helpful to write down our prayers and requests in a journal and document when and how God shows up, so that we can look back and be reminded of God’s faithfulness. The hardest part about verse three, is wait. Ugh how hard is that?! Especially when it comes to injustice, we want results NOW!


Recently my husband and I were praying for a situation where he works. Everyone was pretty much unhappy and grumbling. I began to pray a dangerous prayer and ask God to work so that his workplace would be a blessing to everyone there and the community. Not long after that four people quit!! Not what we were expecting, maybe some changed hearts and attitudes, raises perhaps is what we were looking for. But God replaced those people with others who had better attitudes and wanted to work.


So we may find ourselves in a situation where we just don’t know how we are going to make it through. We have more month than money or a relationship is broken and it seems like a resolution is not going happen, we need and are looking for a miracle. We play over and over in our head various outcomes. We try to predict how God will work. Anyone else do this, it is just me? Do you find yourself predicting an outcome in detail? I do and it hasn’t worked for me, ever. All it does is frustrate me and causes me to doubt, a trap by our enemy.
Then God lovingly reminds me, Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.” “Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.” – Psalm 115:3. God is sovereign, He sees the big picture. What appears to be unfair
to us now, God is delivering us grace. That can be a hard pill to swallow. Through all the injustices we see now, all the heartbreak, God sees, He knows what He is doing. We need to have faith and trust Him.


The other thing I have learned, that when I am in the middle of doing life, living, doing
the things God has placed before, housework, making art, caring for someone else in need, noticing needs in others, anchoring in Jesus, actually letting go and letting God do His work, that things work out better than I can imagine. “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,” Ephesians 3:20 (NKJV). When I am not mulling over and over possible outcomes and not worrying, God will reveal His answer. Not. An. Easy. Task. I am still learning how to do this and I am seeing how God works without my trying to take over. My outcomes never line up with God’s. My expectations and God’s actions are never the same. It’s never what I expected, it’s always better, but sometimes I am confused by the outcome. That’s ok because, Isaiah 55:8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,…”


So I am learning that the only expectation I need to have is to expect God to work things out, for my good and His glory (Romans 8:28). It may not be the outcome I am looking for but God is sovereign and He sees the big picture. All we need to do, or learn to do, is trust, be obedient, remain faithful and faith-fueled. Stay close to God, it makes the wait easier.


Here’s something to think about, what is the difference between grace and fairness? What we think isn’t fair could be God being gracious and what we think isn’t grace could be God being fair. Romans 11:34, “Who can know the mind of God…”


Scripture verse to memorize – “Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.” – Habakkuk 1:5

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Design for Life Extra – Fear of Failure

The Kedge Anchor
Photo by Nathan Cowley on Pexels.com

How many times have I sat down to paint or hand letter and that inner critic starts chatting. Instantly I hear the voice that causes me to fear others will find out that I can’t really do this, I don’t know what I am doing, I’m no good at this. How many times? Every time. Something has to change.

There is a Christian principle in this. Matthew 23:11 and Matthew 20:27, to be first we need to be a servant. To be first we must be last. Mark 9:35 – “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” We need to humbles ourselves. Pride comes before a fall as Proverbs 16:18 reminds us. James 4:6 – “And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:10 – “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” We need to follow God’s design for life. Last to be first, humble to be lifted up, the opposite of what the world tells us, opposite of what our flesh tells us.

I began to realize, to stop the inner critic I need to stop thinking I need to be perfect, I need to get rid of any pride, I need to humble myself. I need to realize I am human, I make mistakes, I have made mistakes and will make mistakes. So let’s apply this to making art. What is keeping you back from making art, from focusing on that idea in your head you want to put on paper? What is keeping you back from living the design for life God has for you? I struggle with perfection, fear of not being perfect, fear f judgements. Here’s the thing, God doesn’t want my perfection, he doesn’t want my success, he wants my surrender. I need to surrender my will and desires to God. I need to humble myself and have a servant’s heart. I need to surrender, give up my desire to be perfect. I can’t be perfect, I never will be without the blood of Jesus Christ covering me. I need to stop trying to be perfect and not be afraid to fail, in my art or in life.

1 Corinthians 10:31 – So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Whether or not I think my art is bad or good, it doesn’t matter. I can do it for the glory of God. He can take my mistakes in life and turn them into something good, turning ashes into beauty. He can use my art for His purposes for His glory no matter what I think of it, no matter what anyone thinks of it. He can help me take the mistakes I make and turn them into something beautiful.

Recently, I read in a commentary by Matthew Henry, “Thinking good thoughts of God will fortify against Satan’s attacks.” Philippians 4:8 “…whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, … think on these things.”

So, when that inner critic starts chatting, regardless if you are working on a piece art or not, remember these tips: one, recognize, be aware of what or to who you are listening, you don’t have to listen to that. Two, humble yourself. Offer yourself, your work to God, allow Him to work through you, have a servants heart. God doesn’t want your perfection or success He wants your surrender and third, think good thoughts of God, think on good things, think about the times God has come through for you, recall the miracles God has performed in the Bible, the miracles He has performed for you.

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Remembering Charles Stanley

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Photo from Charles Stanley

“Well done thou good and faithful servant.” I am sure is what Charles Stanley heard when he met Jesus. Not knowing Dr. Stanley personally, he was faithful, loved God with a passion and not afraid to show it or tell it. He had his struggles as man and as a Christian and never held back how he dealt with them. But it was through those struggles that he was able to help others grow in grace and knowledge of God.

I can’t remember exactly when I first heard Dr. Stanley, but I can say that it was on the radio station my mom always had playing, WARV 1590, Warwick Rhode Island. : ) WARV has been broadcasting for over 40 years so it’s safe to say I grew up listening to In Touch. I always enjoyed listening to stories of his growing up and the trouble he would sometimes find himself in with his mother. His sermons would inspire me either by cutting deep and causing me to squirm or by opening my eyes and reminding me to how much God really loves me.

Praying for the Stanley family and for the ministry and the employees of In Touch as they celebrate the life of Dr. Stanley.

Coloring Page

Happy Good Friday – 2023 and FREE Easter Printable

The Kedge Anchor

Have you ever seen a baby bird or chick hatch? It is the most amazing thing to watch. Seeing new life is always encouraging and makes me happy. Baby chicks always remind me of the new life that spring brings. I love the blossoms despite the sneezing and coughing but it’s just an ahhhhh moment for me after a long cold winter.

These blossoms are just outside the house and God reminds me there is beauty in the struggle, even as we get ready to move and all the issues that come up, if we take the time to look there is beauty. God gave us new life through His Son. He can take our ashes and turn them into something beautiful.

Good Friday is the day the worst thing happened to the best person. This always gives me hope when I see something unfair or unjust and I ask why? If Jesus, perfect in every way took upon the sins of the world… how is that just? We live in a fallen world where we may have trouble, but Jesus overcame the world, John 16:33.

Jesus willingly died for our sins so that we could enter into His Kingdom with Him for eternity. He gives us new life.

Something fun for the kids and adults, a free coloring page. This is Sheldon. He’s been making an appearance since 2016ish on my various social media pages. This is free to print out. Make several copies have a coloring contest with the kids this Easter. Maybe stick some fun art supplies in their Easter baskets.

sheldon ccb2016Download Here

HAVE A BLESSED EASTER!

Trust God

When It Seems Like God isn’t Talking

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Photo by Obregonia D. Toretto on Pexels.com

When titling this post I was torn between the current title or “When We Don’t Hear from God.” But, I know this God is always speaking to us, we aren’t always hearing. Even if God is silent, He is still speaking to us, through His creation, through others.

God was silent for 400 years between the Old and New Testaments. We don’t know why God chose to be silent. I like to think that it was because people needed time to process what was taught (hold this thought) generations before or to rest a beat like in a musical piece, to highlight what was about to come in the New Testament, a theatrical pause. If you don’t think God is dramatic, read the book of Daniel and Revelation. But God doesn’t need to answer for His decisions. We just need to accept and trust. (I know not always easy). God may have been silent, but He was still working.

Today, God gave me an ah-ha moment. Have you ever experienced a “oh wow” revelation whilst reading God’s word? Heavenly information just keeps flowing. Sometimes I feel like I can’t keep up so my writing becomes almost illegible and I end up rewriting everything. Then the next day, I want more and I hear nothing. I get a little disappointed. Has this happened to you? What’s even more disappointing, the next day, I can’t remember what the passage of scripture was or what point God was trying make.

So, here’s what’s happening. My husband and I are getting ready to move and as you know the house is kinda outta sorts, boxes, not to mention a disruption in the daily routine, trying to keep up with my art projects and this blog, etc. Yesterday was one of those days where God revealed to me what I needed to focus on. He gave me Philippians 3:14 – “I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” I have so many things that I need to do, we all do, and I can get so distracted by one thing, to shift my focus not only from God but from the tasks He has for me. Then He brought to my mind, Nehemiah rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem. Nehemiah was focused (and a man of prayer). He had distractions and opposition (expect that especially when doing God’s work). But, yet Nehemiah kept the mindset he needed to finish the work God had for him. Nehemiah 6:3 – “And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” I cannot come down is the focus I need when distracted.

Ok so let me tie these verses together. God gave me Philippians 3:14, to press toward the goal. My goal right now is to not be distracted by the unsettled feelings, distrust and disappointment I have towards someone right now. We don’t have time to acquiesce to their requests that aren’t urgent. I have so many other things to focus on other than what I feel this person is trying to do to make our lives difficult and it’s distracting me from my focus on God Himself. God will be the judge, vengeance is His. (honestly for the life of me I don’t know what we did to make this person act the they are and I am asking God to reveal that to us).

Today, I wanted God to give me more. And guess what? Nothing. Say what?! C’mon I thought I was on a roll? Then another ah-ha moment. God wanted me to learn, commit to heart what I learned yesterday. The Bible is God’s word, the Bread of Life right? God wants me to chew on it, savor it. And like Mary in Luke 2:19 – “But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart.” God is giving me a pause before the next big reveal. He is giving me time process and treasure up. I am sure He is thrilled I want more but if I can’t remember what He spoke, what’s the point.

So the next time you sit down to read your Bible or do a devotional and you don’t hear anything from God, go back to the day before or a few days before and re-read the passage, maybe there’s something there you may have missed. Read your favorite verse and pick out the words that speak to you and look up the original Hebrew or Greek words. But don’t despair. Keep seeking Him. Be still and know that He is God. He may seem silent but He’s still working and still speaking.

art

Design for Life Extra – If Jesus Was Your Favorite Color

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Photo by Alexander Grey on Pexels.com

If Jesus was your favorite color, what would that be? Colors have values. Value is one of the seven elements in art; line, shape, space, form texture, color and value. “As an element of art, value refers to the visible lightness or darkness of a color” (thought.com). What a color is mixed with determines it’s value. or lightness or darkness.

Let’s take the color red and use watercolor to illustrate. Red is a primary color. There aren’t two colors you can mix together to make red. But red can be mixed with other colors to create various shades of red and other colors. Mix red with any of the other two primary colors blue and yellow and you get purple and orange. So with one color such as red we can create different levels of lightness and darkness by adding various amounts of water or pigment. Add lots of water and you have light wash of red or pink. By adding more pigment we are adding value or darkening the red.

The same principle can be applied to our relationship with Jesus. If Jesus was your favorite color what would that be? Jesus is the color in our lives, He adds value. Without Jesus we are nothing. That may sound harsh, but it’s the truth. We are all sinners fallen short of the glory of God – Romans 3:23. How much value does Jesus have in your life? Are you a light wash with some pigment or are you a bright, vibrant red with lots of pigment? How much pigment of Jesus are you adding to your life daily?

When we choose to serve God by serving others, when we seize opportunities to share what Jesus is doing in us, when we are praying and obeying we are adding pigment to our lives. We are deepening the value of who we are in Jesus. The blood Jesus that covers us and washes away all our sin gives us value. Only Jesus can take His deep, rich, red, precious blood and wash our hearts and make them white as snow. I can make lots of colors mixing paints and I can turn red into pink but I can not make anything white with the color red. How are you letting God add value to your life? Please comment below and please like and share this post. Thanks : )

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Design for Life – Alignment

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Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

There was a point and there are times where I felt like and feel like my prayers were and sometimes are hitting the ceiling. I begin to wonder if God is hearing me, why isn’t He answering me. 

But I know that’s not true. 1 John 5:14 “And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.” (ESV)

Jeremiah 29:12-13; “Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Psalm 116:1-2 ; I love the Lord because he hears my prayers and answers them. 2 Because he bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I breathe!”

So when I feel like I’m on mute, I stop and evaluate what am I doing or not doing? If I am spending time with God and my prayers still aren’t being answered, what gives? It’s not only to whom I am praying but what am I praying for. Are my prayers self centered? Am I asking for material things? I then realized I need to pray His will, “Our Father who art in Heaven hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done …”  Matthew 6:5:15. I realized I need to pray His will for my prayers to be answered. I needed to align myself with His plan (whatever that is) for me, or for the future.
 

After some research in scripture and reading some books on prayer, I already knew this but I’m not so sure I always practiced this. God may hear us but He won’t answer our requests if we have any sin or unforgiveness in our hearts.

Psalm 66:18; “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” 

Isaiah 59:2: “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will not hear.”

So now let’s look at how we can apply scripture to the design principle of alignment. Let’s define, in art terms, alignment. 

Art definition: “…it’s the foundation upon which your design stands and appears attractive to the viewers… alignment refers to the arrangement of different design elements on various positions. Alignment declutters the design and frees it from becoming a disorderly chaos. Believe me; no one likes a design with scattered text and misaligned graphics. It’s the worst design sin anyone can commit!” (https:// http://www.designmantic.com/blog/art-of-alignment-graphic-design/) 

When we aren’t aligned with God our lives can become chaotic and disorganized. I like how this definition states, “Alignment declutters the design and frees it from becoming a disorderly chaos.” I am sure it’s a pleasing sight to God when we are in alignment with Him. 

There are four ways to align objects, elements and text in a piece of art. 

  1. Center 
  2. Justified 
  3. Right flush 
  4. Left flush.

So how do we align ourselves with God? What does that look like? What does it look like and what happens when God is the center of our lives? What does God tell us? 

Seek ye first the kingdom of God – Matthew 6:33

 Have no other gods before me – Exodus 20:3 

To me, both these verses mean that God comes first.

How can we do that? We need to highlight some things in our lives, make them habits, make them a priority.

– Reading and spending time in God’s word – Matt 4:4 ““It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’

  • Prayer – 1 The 5:17; “Pray without ceasing”

    – Serving, our families, community, church 1 Peter 4:10; “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace:

    – Tithes and offerings – 2 For 9:7;”Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

    – Using our gifts and talents for God’s Kingdom – Romans 12:6;”Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them:…”
  • Obedience – John 14:15; “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
  • Forgiveness, asking God for forgiveness and forgiving others. Ephesians 4:23; “…forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”

These are all things that God asks us to do. This is His will for us.

Mike Donehey wrote a book, Finding God’s Life for My Will, Mike struggled for years wanting know God’s specific plan for his life, I think we all struggle with this. We want specifics. But Mike had an aha moment, he says; “Perhaps God isn’t giving me the plan because He wants to be the plan.” 

After all He is the plan of salvation, He is the way the truth and the life, John 14:6. There’s something else Mike said that struck me, “ God doesn’t want our success, He wants our surrender.” Whoa. We can align ourselves by making God the center of our lives, by surrendering ourselves, our plans, our desires to Him. We don’t have to work at being perfect, we don’t have to perform, we don’t even have to try. We don’t have to be successful. 

“Seek ye first the kingdom of God And His righteousness And all these things shall be added unto you.”

All these things being, rest, order, joy, peace. Our lives can become free of disorderly chaos when we are aligned with God and His word. His will for us is to be aligned with Him, He is the plan. If we are aligned with Him and we trust Him, and as we begin to hear His voice, we will begin to pray His will and He will lead us to take those steps of faith as Joshua and the Israelites did at the Jordon. 

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prayer

Praying Can Be Hazardous to Your Health

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“Be careful what you pray for, you might get it.” We’ve all heard that saying before. Sometimes what we get isn’t necessarily what we don’t want, it’s not what we expected and that can be either good or bad, depending on your perspective.

Think about the times you have prayed for someone, for their situation, for their salvation or for a situation to change and the outcome or the answer wasn’t what you expected. One thing that God has brought to my attention is as I pray I need to trust Him. Honestly, sometimes scenarios are going through my mind of how things will work out or how God will work things out. I don’t think that’s for me to know, I think that’s for me to trust.

“Not my will, but yours.” It’s God’s desire for all men to be saved, “This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” 1Timothy 2:3-4. When you are praying for someone to be saved and know Jesus as their Lord and Savior, what are you thinking?(Not “what ARE you thinking?) What are you imagining to happen? Maybe that they will be driving along one day and have this overwhelming desire to know Jesus and be forever changed. Not that, that can’t happen. But look at Saul or Paul, he was stopped dead in his tracks and made blind for a while. I know I think of easy transitions, smooth sailing for others and for situations. Rarely does that ever happen. That’s not how God works. I am learning that.

Only God can work through situations and change hearts and for Him to do that, He sometimes has to bring us and others to our knees, whatever it takes if we are sincere in our prayers. That’s also not to say we are wishing ill on them or bad things to happen, heavens no, we want to see changes and sometimes that takes hard times. Look at Jesus and His ministry. His ministry was to preach salvation to all. He came to earth as fully human and fully God as a baby to grow up in stature, teach, and to one day die on the cross and rise again in three days. Things got bad before they got better, same with Paul.

This was an “ah-ha” moment for me. When we are praying for God to change situations, change hearts, we need to be prepared that things may get worse before they get better. We need to trust God. We don’t know how God will work in each individual or situation. God knows the details of every challenging situation and the hearts of the people He created. He works “all things together for our good and His glory” Romans 8:28. God will work things out according to His plan, we have to trust. God may direct you or use you in the plan (be prepared for that) and He may give you specifics through the Holy Spirit pressing in on you to say something or do something specific.

Think back to Jesus in the Garden, things had to get worse before they got better. Sometimes we or our loved ones need to go through situations that will get worse before they get better.

We need to remember this:

  1. Trust God, His Providence, His timing.
  2. Things may get worse before they better.
  3. Ask for endurance, courage to get through the next few days weeks, months, however long it’s going to take for God to work things out.
  4. When we get to the other side, when victory comes, remember to give thanks. “Give thanks always” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16 so let’s remember days, weeks, months, even years later to recall God’s goodness in the situation, or any situation. It’s good to keep remembering what God has done for us.
  5. Keep praying for the situation or person. “Pray without ceasing.” 1 Thessalonians 5:17, Now that things have changed, ask God to help you not make the same mistakes, to keep walking in His light, continue to pray for the person or situation that the person will grow spiritually and the situation will remain stable.

We have to trust God when we are praying for changes in others and in situations. We can’t know how God will work things out, other than He will work them out according to His plan for our good and His glory and that can and will look totally different than what we imagine. That’s dangerous prayer, are we bold enough to pray dangerously?