Stop ... Challenge ... Choose

“Your ears will hear a word behind you, saying, ‘This is the way, walk in it,’ whether you turn to the right or to the left.” Isaiah 30:21 (NET)

I recently read somewhere that we make approximately 5,000 decisions a day.  Wow!  I realize that I make a lot of decisions based on emotion or whether or not I am exhausted or not.  We make so many decisions throughout the day.  And while some may seem like insignificant decisions, others may huge life decisions. I decided to choose peace and joy and purpose today over lethargy and complacency. I choose to meet with God today before meeting with anyone else, however, some days I fail in that pursuit as well and it shows in my decision making on those days.Some of our everyday choices are completely random choices, while others are very important, however, they are all choice points.  Those seemingly small or large choice points may seem like insignificant decisions, yet they will lead us in a one direction or another.

We make daily decisions to either react in anger, or respond in patience and compassion in moments of conflict in our relationships. We choose to create drama and agitation with friends or co-workers, who may hurt our feelings or seem selfish or lack compassion at times. We have the daily opportunity to choose words that will affirm and encourage or cause pain and insecurity in our children.  There are so many situations in our daily walk where we are faced with frustration, disappointment, hurt feelings, anger, and pain. 

As part of our personal growth plan, Pat and I made a decision 3 years ago, to take back our physical health.  This was a major life change that has literally changed our life and restored our energy, vigor and vitality to run our race strong and to be there for our children and grandchildren for the long run.  It also ensured that we will enjoy life together well into our retirement years. One of the statements that one of our health mentors taught us was Stop…Challenge…and Choose.  We had to view our choices differently.  How would our food choices affect our physical health and our overall health goals? We had to stop and evaluate and choose the path that would lead to our desired goals.

Believe it or not, this same principal can be applied to our spiritual walk.  Learning to view our reactions to crisis and conflict from a different perspective.  We must STOP in the face of crisis/conflict … CHALLENGEour emotional response … and CHOOSEto respond from a place of our relationship with God.  We must not REACT but rather ACT UPON in order to have the best outcome for everyone involved. Asking ourselves key questions: How will my response/reaction affect my life and the life of those around me?  How will all those involved walk away from this moment.  Will relationships be severed or will they grow in maturity? Are my reactions creating a victim mentality and an attitude of constant offense or a lifestyle of gratitude and joy? 

Sometimes we have to change our perspective and our perception of life. There are times I have to choose to change how I interpret what’s happening around me.  Because how we perceive our circumstances, can make or break us in any given situation. Our perspective shapes us and how we think and how we engage with the people around us every day.  Perspective creates OPPORTUNITIES for growth or it can hinder our progress and restrict us in life. Our perspective can cause us to walk in constant offense and bitterness, jealousy and lock us up in the comparison prison where we never reach the potential that God has for us. There are days where I find myself making the following statements: I can’t…I will never make it to that goal…Why does that always happen to me…Why don’t they listen to me?  Can you see how that is reactive vs. proactive?  Always finding the bad in every situation.   When I find myself in those days, I have to stop…challenge…chooseto go into my prayer closet and find my place in the presence of my Savior to change my attitude to be that of….I CAN…I WILL…It’s going to be fine…God’s got this!...Keep going…persevere…keep your eyes on the prize set before you…I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me…I am more than a conqueror…With GOD NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!  Those are much more responsive and proactive attitudes….choosing to see the best in a situation (God’s view) brings about a totally different view.The right perspective says failure is part of learning and life is hard sometimes, but with God, we can do hard stuff!

God is calling us to change our perspectiveto see His faithfulness and His Power! To be aware of His able-ness not our weakness and limitations. A dear friend and fellow health coach, Terri Miller, said this to my husband, Pat, and I recently as we were discussing growth in our business.  She said…”Many people are just wanting the STAGE of SUCCESS …While others choose the STAGE of GROWTH”

WOW!  How true is that?! So many times we just want the outcome to glorify us and showcase our accomplishments and gifting’s, but we really should be choosing to always be in a stage of growth mindset. Look at Hebrews 5:12 (NET), “For though you should in fact be teachers by this time, you need someone to teach you the beginning elements of God’s utterances.  You have gone back to needing milk, not solid food” I can just hear the Father saying on those days when I have a rotten attitude or when I’m feeling sorry for myself, whining and griping, “REALLY Karen!...This again?”  “I thought we were past this already?”  For some of us, we are just waiting for someone to come along and put the spiritual bottle in our mouths to feed our insecurity and self-doubt and lack of self-worth.  Isn’t it time we graduate from that mindset already?!  I’m ready to put down the bottle and the pacifier and graduate to solid food that strengthens my mind, body and spirit!  I don’t have time for pettiness anymore!

Did you know that the Bible actually speaks about the power of the mind and our thoughts?! I LOVE THESE SCRIPTURES! Deuteronomy 30:19, “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses.  Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live.”We NEED to understand that life, love, joy, and peace are CHOICES!  We always give circumstances too much power and credit in our lives. It just seems too simple to believe that simply choosing love and joy is possible.Look at Romans 12:12, “Do not copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think.  Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” 

Changing the way we think, actually changes our perspective which changes the way we act! Paul’s words were not new!  The theme of Jesus’ first sermon was, “Change your mind” in Matthew 4:17.Jesus always challenged people to change their mind and their viewpoint.  All through the Bible it shows us that if we do not change our mind, we just impose our own biases and mindsets and labels on the words we read.The first thing we have to change is our perception…And that begins with OUR SELF not EVERYONE ELSE.  We need to change our perspective of who we are!

Ephesians tells us that we are God’s handiwork and that before the world was ever created he prepared us for great works.  Seeing the truth of God’s perspective about yourself is not about our self-esteem or arrogance or a pat on the back or even our happiness.  It’s about making the right choices for those we are called to reach, rescue and set free. It’s about stepping out in purpose and the destiny that God has called you to.

So how do we choose to change our perspective in real life?  

1.    Choose  - We can choose fear, insecurity, jealousy, bitterness and the lies of the enemy on a daily basis, or we can choose to believe that God is true to His word when He said, “Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think”. (Eph. 3:20)

Here is your choice today … In the face of crisis and conflict…

-       Choose to believe that you are loved by God –Romans 5:8, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this; While we were still sinners Christ died for us.”

-       Choose to live in freedom 

-       Choose to believe God has prepared you to do great things

-       Choose to believe you were created for purpose…on purpose

-       Choose to believe that with God…You will overcome 

Choosing means that you have control over thinking as a victim who is powerless or choose to be an overcomer, trusting that God’s word is TRUE!

God told us in 2 Timothy 1:7, that He did not give us fear (panic) but POWER…LOVE…SOUND MIND!

If God gave us POWER to change the atmosphere then we can change our perspective to Gods view point.  When our perspective is toxic to our soul, then we have the power to accept them or dismantle them and see through God’s view point.  

Without the weapons of POWER, LOVE, and a SOUND MIND that God gave us to conquer the thoughts of fear, we wouldn’t be able to follow through with this scripture, in the Message Bible phrased like this, 2 Corinthians 10:5-7, “We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of a life shaped by Christ.  Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.” 2 Corinthians 10:5, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

God’s word says that with the tools he gave us, we can actually capture and tear down specific thoughts in our mind, so I think it’s safe to say that we can conquer wrong thinking through Christ.  But how is that even possible?  IT’S ACTUALLY RIGHT IN PLAIN SIGHT IN THE BIBLE!  Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God” The power of prayer has been proven over and over throughout history. Capturing your thoughts requires stillness … UH OH!  Some of us just walked out of the room because that is nearly impossible with our busy hectic lifestyles. Most of us feel we have no time for prayer but if we don’t have time for prayer then our thoughts, emotions and feelings continue calling the shots in our life

2.    Change Your Thinking.

Stop…Challenge…and Choose is this :

Philippians 4:8, “Whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent and praiseworthy – think about such things.”

Every now and then, I run into someone who is different.  They are always happy, always calm, always think the best in people, nothing phases them, they are almost impossible to offend.  Their peace and joy are contagious. I walk away thinking…”Wow, I don’t know how they are that way, but I want to be that way.”  Then I have to realize…Philippians 4:8 – THEY CHOSE LOVE!  They chose to view life through God’s eyes and not their own. They chose God’s heart and fiercely rejected the negative lies of the enemy.

We can be the inspectors and quality controllers of our thoughts.  When the wrong perceptions and perspectives come along the conveyor belt of our minds and thought factory…We must examine them…challenge where they came from who they came from…if they don’t meet up with the standards of God’s Word…we can choose to remove them from our hearts/ minds and replace them with the word of God and what God says about us and over us.

Look what Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)tells us, “For the word of God is alive and active.  Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” More times than not, our thoughts and feelings are going to challenge the word of God.  The Word of God is going to challenge your fleshly thoughts and the rough and stubborn areas of our life. But it will also give you strength to lean in to the real answers and to the truth!  God’s word will shift your wrong mindsets and misconceptions and replace them with FAITH! It will heal your heart and comfort you in the darkest places of your life.Proverbs 23:7 lays it out so clear, “As someone thinks within himself, so he is.” God’s word does not offer empty promises, but real hope!

3.    Stop Comparing  - Can we please just stop comparing ourselves to other people and where other people are in life? 2 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV), “We do not dare classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves.  When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise.”  So many of us twist ourselves up in knots, never satisfied, trying to live up to someone else or be like someone else or something were not. (I’ve been guilty at times) Trying to fill some endless list of qualities and qualifications and capabilities that we think will somehow fulfill us or give us the attention that we so desperately desire in our flesh concept of success.  God doesn’t need another…..(Insert your name here)! HE NEEDS YOU!  He made you on Purpose…With a purpose!

Here is my challenge to everyone today– Instead of asking God to change your situation, complaining about your life, to change other people … Maybe we should ask God to change our perspective and our perception. How about we Stopblaming, making excuses, looking for reasons to be offended - Challengethe thoughts that were dwelling on - measure them up against the Word of God and what God says about us and over us - And Chooseto walk in Gods truth OVER the enemy’s lies.

Realize that so many times … The obstacle is the way!  Stope worrying about the obstacle and start viewing it as a means to the promise.  The way is THROUGH the SEA… THROUGH the PRISON…OVER the MOUNTAIN…THROUGH the FIERY FURNACE…THROUGH the LIONS DEN…and ON A CROSS!

How do you think God wants to change your perception/response today to life’s choices? Maybe you are dealing with fear, anxiety, anger, jealousy, bitterness or inadequacy?  Whatever you are facing…could it be that you have an opportunity to walk out of it with a TESTIMONY?! The Apostle Paul prayed that someone would be able to change their perception.  Look at Ephesians 1:18 (HCSB), “I pray that the perception of your mind may be enlightened so you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the glorious riches of His inheritance among the saints.” The (NLT) version says that “I pray your hearts will be flooded with light.” Can you imagine if you allowed God to direct your emotions, choices and attitudes?  Can you imagine waking up and walking through a dark situation or season, but then all of a sudden…All the lights get turned on for you?!  Psalm 119:105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” God walks with us in situations where it is hard to see clearly and illuminates the path by which we can be led to healing, wholeness, and freedom and joy.

In the 5000 plus choices you make today, I pray that you take a moment to STOP…CHALLENGE…CHOOSE.  I pray you ask the Holy Spirit for His guidance and His counsel and His direction before reacting.  CHOOSE to FOLLOW the Holy Spirit as HE LEADS the way.

PRAYER:  Dear Father, some days are challenging and my emotions get the best of me. Some days, my words or decisions come from a place of pain or frustration and insecurity.  Today, I want to see through your eyes in order to change my perspective. Today, as I make all those 5000+ choices, I ask that you turn on the flood light for my mind to see clearly. Walk with me, speak life to me, and remind me of how my emotions and choices affect others.  Help me to lead out of love and security in knowing who I am called to be.  Help me not to compare myself to others and fully embrace all you have called me to be. Help me to follow the leading of Your Holy Spirit so that I can be a life giver and encourager to those you bring into my life.  Help me to bring value through your Word in every situation.  As I draw near to you, I know you will draw near to me.  Thank you, Father, AMEN.

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Watch Evangelist/Author Karen Schatzline share this powerful new word on a recent episode of "The Breathing Room".

Too Much Baggage

We recently went on a trip.  Like normal, I took WAY TOO MUCH IN MY LUGGAGE! I always do!  Stuff I didn’t need, never used, unnecessary weight.  I pack it …. Just in case I might need it. Anyone else like me? 

I have learned that there are two types of people:

Type 1– The UNDER PACKER – This person just throws whatever in their bag and just wants to spend as little time as possible on the task.  They will just worry about what they didn’t bring when they get there.  This person causes me great anxiety! Lol.

Type 2– The OVER PACKER – This person will pack every single thing that will make the trip seem as if you never left home at all.  You will never lack or be in need of anything because you brought EVERYTHING!  You are prepared for every type of weather/event/or unexpected disaster! And on top of it all, they must completely clean/organize the house before leaving as if you may never make it back and someone will see your house un-kept. In case you haven’t guessed – I AM THIS TYPE OF PACKER

Did you know that there is another type of baggage that we tend to over-pack with, unnecessary items and and things we hold on to that weighs us down in life? Sometimes I have to just take a deep breath and unpack and restart to lighten the load. Why do we hang on to the emotional and spiritual baggage?  So many times, we hold on to hurt, pain, doubt, guilt, shame, fear, anger, insecurities and all kinds of issues that weigh us down.  It is unnecessary.  In all of these situations, the Bible tells us that we can let it go, clean it out, and move on and leave it behind.

Recently, while cleaning out closets, I noticed I had held on to items that were of no use and of no value to our lives anymore.  Why did we keep them?  We paid too much for them? We didn’t want to admit we never needed them to begin with? Or we fought so hard to get something we didn’t need? Just like we can become hoarders of stuff and things, many times, we can become Spiritual and emotional hoarders. Maybe sometimes, we use the extra baggage to hide behind because we feel inadequate and insecure.We find it so difficult to let go of old habits and old mindsets.  All The while, the Holy Spirit is trying to get us to unclench our tight knuckled fists to let go of the things that are holding us back and weighing us down, but so often, we just can’t let go, because we need them….Just in Case!  In case….What? 

In case God doesn’t do what He says He will do?

In case that person hurts us again?

In case we get disappointed again or mistreated again?

In case we need to use our anger/bitterness to get revenge?

In case we don’t get that job or opportunity?

In case we need to blame when things don’t work out the way we want?

In case we get sick again?

In case we get an unexpected bill in the mail?

Doesn’t it really boil down to lack of trust?  Do we really trust God?  In times of stress and pain, when we should be relying on God, these old mindsets rear their ugly heads and cause us more pain, grief and fear in our lives. How can we reach the place God has for us when we are so burdened down by all the load of baggage we have collected over the years?  Baggage like fear, anger, bitterness, jealousy and confusion?   What good can ever come from holding on to it? This baggage blatantly stands between us and our real, tangible Spiritual Growth and freedom. 

We have all picked up baggage along the way in life, odds are you picked up a few bags already today. Somewhere between the first steps out of the bed and reaching the front door you grabbed a few bags today.  You stepped up to the baggage claim carousel and loaded up.  Maybe you don’t remember doing it or it has become a daily habit that we are unaware of.  Today, Our baggage carousel is not at the airport….It’s in our mind. Maybe you have a suitcase of resentment or discontentment.   A duffel bag of exhaustion and weariness.  A carry-on of grief and lost dreams. Or maybe a backpack of doubt.  A beautifully decorated overnight bag of loneliness or a whole trunk-load of fear.

We carry the same emotional baggage with us into each new day and each new year.  Pretty soon your pulling more luggage than you can carry and we wonder why we are so tired, exhausted and mentally wore out by the end of the day.  How about we unpack the luggage today and clean it out? When our Spirits are so dry, weary and run down from carrying so much baggage, we can’t be who we need to be and do all that we are called to do.  We have no joy, hope or life to give to others. But the Bible tells us this…

Matthew 11:28-30 (tpt), “Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden?  Then come to me.  I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis.  Simply join your life with mine.  Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please.  You will find refreshment and rest in me.  For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.”

All throughout the Bible there were those who carried heavy baggage.  Their baggage could have hindered them from moving into their now moment and their destiny.  Some did allow their baggage to hinder their destiny,  In 1 Samuel 9 & 10, we learn about Saul.  Saul was chosen by God after the Israelites decided they wanted a King.  Saul had a lot of baggage.  Even though God chose him!  He still battled with holding onto baggage and even hid among the baggage.  He battled insecurity and inferiority even though he was tall in stature and a head taller than all the others.  He battled with trusting God and did everything his own way and in his own strength.  These issues would eventually lead to his demise.  He never laid down the baggage to step forward in what God had for him.

In Genesis 19, we are told of Lot’s wife, who turned into a pillar of salt, because she could not let go of the baggage in her life.  She held on to bitterness, familiarity, and did not trust God for something better. She could not let go of what seemed comfortable to receive her freedom. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want any excess baggage slowing me down or hindering my freedom and victory and purpose.  

Look at those who DID let go of the baggage in order to move on and get to the promises of God. Look at Noah…He was laughed at and mocked and made to feel stupid, but He trusted God’s will and God’s plan and he and his family were saved. Look at Moses…He had a LOT OF BAGGAGE…He was abandoned as a baby…rejected by his own people….he was a murder…left on the back side of the desert for years….Had a stuttering issue and lied to over and over….YET HE did NOT let it keep him from doing what God had called him to do and bringing deliverance to God’s people. However, the one bag he could not let go of, his anger, caused him to not get to enter into the promise land.  Look at David….1 Samuel 17…David was illegitimate …he was mocked by his brothers and could have held on to the baggage of loneliness while being stuck out in a pasture with a bunch of sheep.  He wasn’t even invited to be counted when all the brothers were called in for one to be anointed as king….Yet he would become king and be called a man after God’s own heart.  

Look at the book of Esther….Esther was an orphan who was a nobody…She was poor….She had to deal with racism and ridicule….She had every reason to carry around the baggage of despair…depression…anger….bitterness….and doubt….low self-esteem and insecurity.  Yet…She laid all the baggage down in order to step into her now moment and rescue an entire generation of people for God….What if she had not laid down the weight of her past and pain…An entire people group would have been erased from history.

No matter what baggage you are holding on to today, let it go!  You could be the very one to bring deliverance to a generation who have lost hope.  The enemy wants to keep you weighed down by all the baggage life has burdened you with.  Stop carrying things that were not intended for you and let God lighten your load.

Believe it or not….God gives us a word for every bag we have collected and what to do to let it go. If you don’t know what to do with that extra baggage, let’s start here:

1. If you are struggling with a bag of Sin today- 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”  How about letting go of it today and pick up freedom.  

2.  Bag of anxiety- 1 Peter 5:7 says, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” Philippians 4:6 says, Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Psalm 94:19, “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”

3.  Bag of Anger and bitterness - Ephesians 4:26 says,  “In your anger do not sin” Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.”  Proverbs 29:11 says, “Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.” Ephesians 4:31, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind ad compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

4.  Bag of  Worry  - Isaiah 26:3 says, “He will keep in perfect peace, those whose mind are stayed on Him.”

5. Bag of uncertainty of the future - Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

6. Bag of narcissism and no one else knows what you are facing- Hebrews 12:1,  “Therefore, we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”

7.  Bag of doubt and distrust - Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge God, and he will make your paths straight.” Matthew 21:21, “Jesus replied, "Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done.”

8. Bag of Fear - 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God has not given us a spirit of Fear, but of Power, Love, and a Sound Mind.” Isaiah 41:13-14, “'For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.  Do not be afraid, for I myself will help you,' declares the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.”

9.  Bag of insecurity and inadequacy- Philippians 4:23, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” James 1:5, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”

10. Bag of fear of FAILURE-   1 Chronicles 22:13 tells us that if we Follow God’s commands and He will give you success, do not be afraid. Proverbs 2:6-8, tells us that He plans success for the decent and honorable, he guards the course and protects the way of his faithful ones.  

So I ask you this today, as you are reading, "What baggage are you holding onto today and what baggage do you continually pick up every morning?" Isn’t it time to unpack the bags and let go of the unnecessary, unfruitful, burdensome baggage that has so weighed you down for such a long time. Aren’t you ready for the weight to be lifted so that you can run your race strong, free, full of joy and life and passion.  Let it go!

Make a quick list of all of your bags and how much time and energy you spend lugging them around.  Think about how your physical, emotional and spiritual health and growth has been hindered by them.  Take a few moments in prayer today as you finally lay them out one by one and put them in the discard pile for God to carry off to the dump.

As you unpack each area, ask God to fill that space and void with His love, joy, purpose, freedom and spirit.  This time, don't pick them back up.  Turn around and walk away and leave them at His feet!  God is saying to you, "Set that baggage down!"  You are carrying burdens you don't need to bear.  Come to me, EVERYONE.  He invites you and says, Matthew 11:28-30, "Are you tired?  Worn out?  Burned our on religion?  Come to me.  Get away with me and you'll recover your life.  I'll show you how to take a real rest.  Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it.  Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.  I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.  Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

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You can hear Karen Schatzline share more on "Too Much Baggage" by watching this powerful recent episode of her biweekly vlog, "The Breathing Room".  Just click the YouTube link below:

No More Excuses

I’m here to speak to those who are ready to leave your excuses behind. Excuses cause a chain reaction of always missing out on our miracle and our blessing and lead to situations that leave an imprint of regret. My question to you today is, “What is keeping you from your miracle?”  Are you waiting for tomorrow?  Have you allowed excuses to steal from you what God has for you today?  Tomorrow is the elusive hope that maybe what you’ve longed for, dreamt of and prayed for might actually come to pass!  Making excuses and Waiting for tomorrow is a way of putting off the God encounter that might require you to change!

I spent the entire first half of my life with “tomorrow” as my nemesis! Making excuses for why I wasn’t doing all that I was called to do! But look at how Jesus confronted excuses in John 5:1-6, “Soon another Feast came around and Jesus was back in Jerusalem. Near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there was a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda, with five alcoves. Hundreds of sick people—blind, crippled, paralyzed—were in these alcoves. One man had been an invalid there for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him stretched out by the pool and knew how long he had been there, he said, “Do you want to get well?”

Can I tell you today, I believe that so many of us are standing at “The crossroads of pity and power”!  I hear Jesus declaring to us, “Do you want to get well?” Can you imagine being so thirsty when you are only steps from the well of life, but being willing to die in a pit called excuses? I am calling you to action! I MUST WARN YOU! If you miss your moment today….Your grandchildren will someday miss the opportunity to brag about the freedom you delivered to your family! 

I can HEAR the sound of Marching! It is the sound of those that have waited on the sidelines, watching their family be distracted by the moral code of the world – All the while our savior is asking, “Do you want to get well?” If that is you, then it’s times to get in the pool and stop sitting on the sideline! I SEE the longing in the eyes of our families for hope to be revealed - and we must be the reflection in their pupil with our hand extended – saying, “Do you want to get well?”  I FEEL the tug – of the Holy Spirit saying, “Quit making excuses and climb to your feet and lead a revolution!” DO YOU WANT TO GET WELL? John 5:6, When Jesus saw him stretched out by the pool and knew how long he had been there, he said, “Do you want to get well?”

Here was this man, he was stuck only steps from the water, steps from his miracle, steps from his refreshing, but it may as well have been miles! This man’s mindset of blaming others stood in the way of his miracle. It was everyone else fault that he couldn’t get in the water and be healed! There have been times where God has had to wait until our excuses have run out so that he can give us what we dismissed as only a mirage of yesterday’s hope! But, TODAY is the day that superstition gets interrupted by the supernatural! 

The Bible says that Jesus went to Jerusalem. He ends up at the Pool of Bethesda. (A place that had five porches where the sick were divided into groups).   Here is what Bethesda means: house of mercy or house of grace. This was the place where the wounded, lame, crippled and diseased would camp out day after day. Here is the Superstition - the sick believed that periodically an angel would come down and stir the water! If the angel stirred the water then the first one to get in the water would be healed of all diseases! I’m so amazed that this place was called the "House of Mercy and Grace", but it was all dependent on works! They had to make it happen! Look at what Ephesians says about grace, Eph. 2:8, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God!”

Here is a rule: Grace means to empower! If you’re not at a place 

that is empowering you then you are not able to live a life of Grace!

Can you imagine? Each day these people stared at the water! Each day they watched for the whirlpool! Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months and months to years! Stuck in a cycle of pain/disappointment and every day waiting on tomorrow to be different.  It is a form of insanity to do the same thing every day, expecting a different result. These people knew each other by name. They knew each other’s pain. They knew each other’s story. They were a fraternity of people waiting for a miracle! It was every man for himself! When the water started bubbling up ... People started diving in!  I believe this is a key to see giving up excuses and seeing your miracle - When it becomes more about helping others and not ourselves we will see miracles! That is why I love the four guys in Mark 2:1-5. Remember these guys busted a hole in the roof to lower the paralytic down to Jesus. It wasn’t about them! Sometimes you got to get crazy enough to remove the roof! 

The Bethesda Pool was every man for himself! I imagine there was hair pulling, people kicking other people’s walkers…. Just mass hysteria….. They were either lethargic or alive it just depended who stirred the water! But before you judge them, think about us today, waiting on the right sermon, song or tweet or Instagram post. Key: THEY HAD MISSED WHO WALKED IN!  I wonder how often God walks into our homes, but we don’t notice because we have never included him in the plan or schedule for our day! These people were waiting on Mercy and Grace, but no one noticed that Mercy and Grace had just walked in. They were so desperate to be healed that they ignored the healer! They were mere steps away from an encounter, but they were so consumed with their issues that they probably thought Jesus was just the pool boy!

There was about to be an altar call at the city pool. This man was about to experience a powerful altar call!  He had waited so long! His tomorrow was about to become his today! Because there is but one place that will change everything!….  One place that will restore your joy!…. strengthen that which remains!….. stir you to change your world! ….. One place that will renew your mind and transform your heart! That place is called the altar! The Altar is the place where what you have been gets interrupted by what you can become! So, Jesus walks up to a guy who was lame whom had been sitting at the same church for 38 years. Watch now…Here comes the excuses! Jesus is asking, “Do you want to be healed and set free or not?” John 5:7, The sick man said, “Sir, when the water is stirred, I don’t have anybody to put me in the pool. By the time I get there, somebody else is already in.”

For 38 years he had been so close to healing and freedom, but had no one to help him get in! Key: You will never get free as long your blaming the ones who have gotten in your way! Dare we sit silently licking our wounds of yesterday’s failures while the enemy plots out tomorrows tragedies! God is asking… How long will you make excuses?!  will you choose me! What do you even BELIEVE?!  Jesus was asking this man, “Have you had enough?” Enough of the slavery! Your standing in the house of Mercy and Grace without even experiencing it! There comes a moment when your faith invites God into your issue, and He is forced to respond to your obedience. What has held you back and kept you from walking out your destiny must be put aside! Jesus is at the door knocking! (Rev. 3:19-20) 

It’s time to leave your pool of sorrow for the river of life! Here comes the powerful moment! IT’S TIME TO WALK IT OFF!  John 5: 8-9,“Jesus said, “Get up, take your bedroll, start walking.” The man was healed on the spot. He picked up his bedroll and walked off.” It’s time to activate your faith! It’s time to stand up and declare my God has healed me! Some of you have dreams that have died! You have been stuck as a slave to your circumstances! Blaming everybody else! Blaming everyone for your hurt/past/offenseIf you are holding everyone around you hostage to the pain of your past then you have now become the terrorist.  Get free so you can free others. I have learned that If the dream was easily obtained then we would have never learned the power of activating our faith.

I have come to tell you that this is your moment!

The water has been stirred! Get in the river of God! 

There are NO EXCUSES!

I made excuses for years, but when I picked up the freedom that was won for me on the cross and carried it out to the world as a testimony of God’s power, I found my purpose and my calling. It was then that I was able to shine light into the darkness and show others where hope could be found. You may have issues that have placed you by your “POOL OF BETHESDA”, waiting for your healing.  Perhaps it’s a dream that has died and needs resurrecting. Maybe you have been a slave to your circumstances for too long. Whatever it is, blaming and making excuses won’t bring you freedom.  It’s time to stop waiting on someone else to stir the waters of freedom in your life. Stop looking for another inspirational quote, tweet, or meme.  Realize, you have direct access to the throne room of God.  He is waiting for you to look up and see that He wants to heal you.

NO MORE EXCUSES …. TODAY IS YOUR TOMORROW!!!

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Hear Karen share more on "No More Excuses" on this episode of "This Breathing Room" by clicking below:

Attitude of Gratitude

It is Thanksgiving time, my absolute favorite holiday, along with Christmas. This past year has shown me a lot about being grateful.  I am grateful for my health, my family, God’s provision, contentment, peace, hope and many other things.  But, I believe that having an “ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE” is at the heart of finding that peace, joy, hope and a happy family and restored health and freedom in life. If we’re not careful, we can start to focus on everything we DON’T have and forget exactly what WE DO have and what GOD HAS DONE FOR US. I’m learning that a grateful heart sees each day as a gift. Thankful people focus less on what they lack and more on the privileges they have.

Gratitude has a way of getting us through the hard stuff, difficult times and the chaotic times. To reflect on your blessings is to remember God’s love and grace and mercy. To rehearse God’s  blessings is to discover His heart. To discover His heart is to discover not just good gifts but the Good Giver.

I love how the Message Bible translates 1 Thessalonians 5:18!  It says this,“Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens.  This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.”  I’m learning that not every day will be perfect, but I’m learning that in everything I do, an attitude of gratitude and praise, and worship can change everything!  It can change my mindset from focusing on me and whatever is bothering me to focusing on the One True God who has promised to provide for ALL my needs according to His riches in Glory. In Psalm 136, It states 26 times that we should give thanks to the Lord. We live in such an age of entitlement and “the world owes me” mentality, that we lose sight of gratefulness.  Next time we feel less than grateful, let’s remind ourselves of all we should be thankful for. The only thing we are entitled to do is give thanks to the Lord daily. Without His faithfulness, we would be lost forever!

Look at this scripture again in the (NIV)1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”. Can I be really honest? Sometimes it's the "all" in that verse that gets me. Most of us can be thankful, for lots of things, at lots of times, but in "all" circumstances? That can be a challenge. What about when you find yourself suffering sickness (Cancer), or defeat, what about when a loved one leaves this world too soon and you still can't see past your tears, or when you've been praying for your prodigal child to come home and it seems like the prayers will never be answered. What about when you're discouraged, disillusioned, and struggling with disbelief; or what about when you're overwhelmed, overextended, and just simply fighting being over-stressed; what about when the needs mount so high and your bank account is empty, or when life seems unfair, and the enemy seems to be camping out at your front door?  Yep, even these situations fall under the "In all" things, and honestly, they can be really hard to find gratitude in. Don’t you love how God's word never changes to fit our circumstances. His Truth rises above our circumstance, so that we can too. He doesn't say give thanks "in some of it" or “in the fun times”, but "in ALL things".

Because He says in Romans 8:28,  “And we know that IN ALL THINGS, God works for the good of those who love Him”.  He can take ALL the things and bring GOOD out of it. But are we willing to be grateful before we see the GOOD in it? IN ALL THINGS, we're gaining strength, we're gaining perseverance. In a culture that tells us that everything is based on how we feel, We're learning that true joy is never based on our feelings or our circumstances. God's ways are bigger, His thoughts are higher, and we can be assured that He holds us in His hands. He is with us always.

But for all its benefits, gratitude doesn’t often come naturally to us.  Look at Luke 17:11-19,  Jesus was met by 10 lepers and they all cried out to be healed and for Jesus to have pity on them. Jesus didn’t hesitate, He told them to go show themselves to the priest and as they walked, they were cleansed.  But look what happens next, “One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and THANKED HIM, and he was a Samaritan” Luke 17:15 -16

Jesus was amazed that only one man had thought to thank him. “Where not all ten cleansed?” he asked. “Where are the other nine?” Jesus looked at the one leper that came back to say thank you and said, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”   What did Jesus mean when he said, “well”.  To be made “WELL” means to be in good standing and in good favor. I believe that not only was the leprosy stopped and cleansed from his body but that He was completely restored and renewed.  His skin grew back, fingers grew back, limbs grew back, whatever he had lost was renewed.  Why?  Because he came back with thanksgiving and gratitude.  The other nine lepers were just cleansed, the leprosy stopped, but the 1 leper who came back with a grateful heart was made “well”, he was made whole. 

Being thankful, for me, should be an automatic response to knowing I’m forgiven when I know I don’t deserve it.  Recognizing God’s grace causes me to have a thankful attitude. No matter what you might be facing, the good news is this, you woke up this morning, He gave you today.  And if we're still here, living and breathing, then our every breath should bring praise and honor to Him.You never fight the battles alone. Stay strong. Choose joy. Choose to be grateful in it "all".

It takes time to develop a habit of appreciation for all He has done.  Why not start today?  Today is as good a day as any and I encourage you, pray, tell God how thankful you are for His grace He has given you.  Tell Him you accept His sacrifice for you and want Him to help you develop a rich and passionate appreciation for all He’s done for you.  Then watch how your thankfulness grows.  One way to acknowledge the good that God’s done in your life is to make a list of all that He has done for you. Start a gratitude journal by listing all the things you have to be thankful for.  Going over that list can improve your attitude of gratitude.  Cultivating a spirit of thankfulness honors God and strengthens our faith. It also strengthens our relationships with other people. We can’t be in a right relationship with God or with anyone without a spirit of thankfulness.

I love Thanksgiving!! It’s a great time of year to remind us to be thankful, but there is something so powerful about living a daily life of gratitude. It is not always easy to give thanks, but it’s what we must do in order to see God’s will accomplished in our lives. This is how we move into higher realms of faith for ourselves, for our family, for our city, nation and world. Satan is defeated when we have a thankful heart because thankfulness during difficulty is a sacrifice pleasing to God. Are you thankful? Thankfulness is the key that turns your situation around because it changes you, your outlook, and your attitude. There is power in a thankful heart.  So… what do you have to be thankful for today?  Take time this Thanksgiving to share with others exactly what you’re thankful for and praise God, for He is good!  Spend time in prayer today with paper and pen listing all that you are thankful for and watch how God responds. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
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For more on having an "Attitude with Gratitude", you can listen to Pastor Karen share about this blog on her video blog, "The Breathing Room", Episode 22, by clinking this link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ5iVlA4j7U&t=330s