I never dreamed in a million years I would be this long without a church to call “home”.  This is especially unnerving because I have an 8 year old daughter and I recall the foundation that church had in my life.   I know in a couple of cities I have lived in, the church I attended had a covenant that we repeated each Sunday.  Generally, it was worded like this:

We moreover engage that when we remove from this place we will, as soon as possible, unite with some other church where we can carry out the spirit of this covenant and the principles of God’s word.”

As I have moved, whether it was with my family relocating as a younger person or as an adult, I have hurriedly united in an attempt to keep the “covenant” I grew up on.  This last move, however, has felt almost impossible to find a resting place.  Sadly, I’ve lived here before and attended several of the more popular churches in the area.  I was blessed to receive great teaching everywhere I ‘ve been. I wish that were all I had to reflect on but unfortunately it’s not.

I’ve had my greatest hurts and setbacks in the church.  Rejection, ridicule about my “traditional” beliefs, immoral acts of others either presenting themselves before me or my greatest temptations to conduct my own immoral acts requisitioned by church pastors and leaders alike.

I’ll admit I’m at the closest point I’ve ever been to giving up on the four walls of the church.  I used to see friends I grew up with and served in the church choir and on the usher board with and wonder how it could be that attending a place of worship seemed the furthest from their mind on Sunday morning.  For me, it’s on my mind-always on my mind and I’m praying that God will lead us to where we need to be in this next season of our lives.

It’s not about “looking for perfection” because the moment I arrived that status would be tainted.  It’s about a place where the altar is still sacred, where I can sacrifice my praise and worship to a magnificent, Holy and righteous God and not leave the church building with more burdens than I arrived with.

Rick Warren, in the Purpose Driven Life, makes it so clear that we were created for fellowship- friendly association, especially with people who share the same interests.  I’m trying to make my way through the maze of situations, hurts and disappointments to see who shares the same interests as me in the church.  I’m still seeking, still hoping, still praying.

Part of being a cancer survivor is always trying to stay in a healthy place emotionally, physically and spiritually.  On this side of the cancer journey, that has been extremely difficult.  While I had hoped that the churches I attended be a catalyst in the journey to good health, sadly they’ve added more toxins than I ever imagined.  I’m glad I have the word of God in me.  I’m glad I strive to be the word of God in front of others.  I’m glad I can share with others with like interests outside of the four walls.

I’ve made it this long but I’m not comfortable.  Every week on the Monday Morning prayer call, I lift up churches-many I call by their name and the city in which they are.  I lift up their leaders and I pray that we will lead with integrity and that churches will be a place of refuge for hurting individuals to come to know and grow in Christ.

Through it all, I won’t quit searching.  I won’t quit praying.  I won’t quit believing that as Christ has spoken, “He has built His church on a solid rock and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18) As chemotherapy and radiation remove toxic cells from the body to help individuals live, I believe God’s word will continue to do the work to rid the church of the toxins that invade it. Toxic fellowship-it’s killing the church.  God’s word, however is alive and operating in the lives of the true believer.

Everybody has a first love. The one you never forget. The one you never get over. The one that everyone knows will always be first in your life.

In the natural, this person could pose problems for the other people you continue to try and have relationship with. Your first love has your heart and no one else can fully penetrate it either because you don’t trust them with that space or you long only for your first love to still occupy that space.

In the spiritual realm this could also pose problems. People will struggle when they recognize that God is your first love. They will be drawn close by the fruit that such a love relationship bears, yet as the world vies for so much of their attention, they find themselves on a roller coaster of sorts- wanting a closeness with you for the sweet spirit that resonates within you, yet rejecting you as they continue to try to hang on to the lures and lusts of the world.

As you strive to do God’s will, be willing to let only the word of God guide your choices. That same word will be the comfort that keeps you when the roller coaster flips upside down against the position you stand on.

May the grace of God and the sweet communion of the Holy Spirit rest, rule and abide with you forever. That’s an everlasting love that never wavers and never dies.

What is a game?  According to the dictionary it is a form of play or sport, especially a competitive one played according to rules and decided by skill, strength or luck.  I think the part of this definition that disturbs me most when I think of the games people have “played” on me or invited me to “play” in are the “rules” I was never given for consideration.

The most interesting thing I’ve noticed in this “game of life” is that often times once I learned the rules or adjusted my life to align with the reality based on evidence from the game, my actions disqualified me from playing in the game.  Being disqualified is one of the greatest disappointments of any athlete especially when you know you have what it takes to make it, to be victorious.

I encourage you today to keep the faith and never give up.  Never make up your own rules and play by the rules established in God’s word.  Let every ounce of His word do to the work in your life and be the “Game Changer”.  Work hard to not get bitter with others who either invite you into the game or other players of the game who are as innocent to the rules as you, but yet caught up in it anyway.

Love unconditionally, forgive often, and pray for the players! Go to war (God’s way) against the games-recognizing the game innovator himself-Satan is the only one really at play, seeking to kill, steal and destroy every ounce of your faith and will to do right.  Yes, Love the Player.  Hate the game!

Ask the fashion experts and they will tell you that there is a lot to be said about the power of colors in Corporate America. Below are just a few suggestions depending your intentions:

• If you want to establish trust and credibility, then blue is best. It is the safest color of all, universally liked by most men and women – however it has a certain predictability about it and suggests ‘conservative’.
• If you want to appear friendly & approachable – choose lighter colors such as mid tone blues and greens, blue-greens and teal, tan and peachy-orange.
• To be assertive – red, but it can also be threatening to others.
• To get noticed – red, if giving a talk to a large group – but it can be tiring if you are already overtired.
• To appear confident – blue-green is a good business color for women to wear, it suggests high self-esteem and confidence, yet is still friendly and approachable.
• To show dependability – green – be aware that it is also a color that is not always liked by others, even though it is the color of emotional balance.
• To appear neutral – grey or beige will do it. This can let your personality shine through, although you may also come across as a fence-sitter, keeping your true feelings to yourself – you may say what the client wants to hear, rather than the truth.
• To look professional with authority – dark blue or dark grey, which are the most business-like colors and good for credibility when promoting your business, yet these could be too overpowering and somber for many of your clients in a consultation.
• To shock and inspire your audience – magenta will do this for you.

I’ll admit that there was a time in my life when I was held hostage to the rules of the Corporate Culture. Admittedly, I attempted to do all the “right” things, wear all of the “right” colors and it did not serve me. When I decided to speak up for myself, I was labeled as not being “right” even by then trusted friends attempting to climb the Corporate Ladder themselves. I love, I love, I love letting the word of God do the work in my life! Two passages that I now rely on more than any fashion opinion are these:

I am overwhelmed with joy in the LORD my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels. (Isaiah 61:10 NLT) and “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future”, (Proverbs 31:25 NLT).

There is so much freedom in living a life sold out for Christ rather than a Corporate culture that will never fully embrace you that will show you no mercy and place even the greatest on of the sellouts on the chopping block if faced with a choice to do so.

Many say the color red has power and I couldn’t agree more. Red was the color of the dragon mentioned in the vision in Revelations 12 who attempted to sit at the birthing canal of the baby (thought to be Jesus) to devour Him at His very birth. This unsuccessful attempt renders the “red” dragon ineffective. This same sinless Jesus hung bled and died for the sins of many-yes His Red blood had the cleansing effect to wash each of us “White” as snow. My suggestion today is to allow the Holy Spirit, who Christ so graciously left with us here on this earth until His return to guide us and direct us-Let the peace of the Holy Spirit guide you into every decision you make including what style and color to wear. When we release societal views and completely put our trust in a matchless Christ, then and only then will we receive an Everlasting power. Embrace today Jesus Christ and receive the only real and lasting power!

There’s an old adage,  “there’s more than one way to skin a cat.”  Mark Twain used this version in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court in 1889: “she was wise, subtle, and knew more than one way to skin a cat”, that is, more than one way to get what she wanted. An earlier appearance is in ’Way down East; or, Portraitures of Yankee Life by Seba Smith of about 1854: “This is a money digging world of ours; and, as it is said, ‘there are more ways than one to skin a cat,’ so are there more ways than one of digging for money”. From the way he writes, the author clearly knew this to be a well-known existing proverbial saying.

Some writers have pointed to the use of this phrase in the southern states of the US in reference to the catfish, often abbreviated to cat, a fish that is indeed usually skinned in preparing it for eating. However, it appears that with multiple versions of the saying, its wide distribution and age, there are many ways to apply it but in general it means that for every situation there are multiple ways of achieving objectives or accomplishing tasks.

Today’s thought is that God has more than one way to bless us.  The scripture encourages us to “delight ourselves in Him and He will give us the desires of our heart.” (Psalm 37:4) Somehow we do the delighting but then we meddle in the methods we “think” God should use to give us what He has planned.  What I’ve found to be amazing is that God continuously gives us what we need for each season and in the midst of the changing needs, He gives us what we desire at the same time but often in totally different ways.  If you took the time to list your desires, you would see how He supported them but you would also see that in each season, He supported them differently.  Perhaps it was because He had the vision to see what was most important at the time.  Perhaps it was because He knew what you could handle at the time.  Perhaps it was not even about you but rather that someone else be blessed through your circumstance and your blessing in the midst was residual.

God is simply amazing.  His ways and His thoughts are far beyond our greatest comprehension.  Do your very best to stay open to the move of God in your life.  It’s so easy to get discouraged and to lose focus.  Go back to the various seasons in your life (especially if you’ve been faithful to God), and see how He has given you more than one what you needed but often what you desired.  I’m sure when you look back you’ll see that although it wasn’t the way you envisioned Him meeting the need or fulfilling the desire-GOD DID IT!!!!

Recognize that our omniscient, omnipresent, and omnipotent God can do what He wants to when He wants to because He is sovereign. Quit boxing Him into your limited way of thinking your desires should be fulfilled.  Our God is THE WAY and as such, has MORE THAN ONE WAY………Trust Him Today!!!!!

Today’s writing is a HUGE praise break!!! This week has been full of moments where I’ve had to stop and recognize that God has truly turned my situation. I’ve been in an empty place for a long time. So many times I’ve felt like giving up and so many times I’ve felt that even if the timing wasn’t mine to give up that because of my circumstances, my time had come and gone. Today, I recognize that my life, although in number may be more than ½ over, is just beginning as I continue to let the word of God do the work, transforming me and others around me, and being my compass and my guide for every aspect of my life. Today I celebrate a renewed hope in the things that God has promised me and while my limited mind continues to try and box God into my warped way of thinking, God continues to show up in my life in ways I could never imagine and I can embrace that each and every day He’s turning things around for His glory and for my good! I think my reflection today is best summed up in the words of Tye Tribbett:

Yes there were times in my life when I thought I would never make it. I almost went down I was out for the count I was through. But it was then when I thought it would end that I stood up again and What hell had for evil God turned it around for my good Sometimes I look back and I don’t know how in the world I made it All of those nights I would cry my heart so filled with pain Worry consumed me my whole life revolved around fear and stress I was tired and weak I just could not compete anymore

The devil thought he had me, Thought that my life was over. He thought I would give up, He thought I had no more. But that’s when someone greater stepped in my situation. My morning has now begun… He turned my mourning in to dancing! He turned my sorrows into joy! No more crying days, No more hurt and pain, No more guilt and shame, He turned it! No more loneliness, No more fear and stress, No more sadness, He turned it!

Sometimes when we come out of the storm and recognize how close we were to giving up, we ought to take a moment to stop, recognize from whence we have come, recognize who kept us through it all, and who it is that is now blowing our minds and blessing us beyond our wildest dreams by giving us more than our wildest dreams could imagine. The word of God said it this way:

^“17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. ¹⁸ And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. ¹⁹ May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. ²⁰ Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.”  Ephesians 3:17-20

He always does exceeding and abundantly above what we can ask or think!! You may be still waiting and for you I’ll still be praying.  As for me, I’ve got to stop and recognize that ————-HE TURNED IT!!!!!!!

I can vaguely remember the first time I was faced with a revolving door in a fancy office building.  I had become accustomed to the standard door with handle where just a simple tug made entry  and exit very simple.  Now I was faced with the task of determining the proper time to jump in and then ensuring when it was my time to get out, I did so quickly or risk being swept away by the glass door that seemed to be right on my trail.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize that life has had many revolving doors I’ve had to enter and exit.  Unlike the doors at most buildings that still provide you with an alternative standard door to choose, life has forced me on some revolving doors with no choice but to make tough decisions, when, where, how, why now, etc?.  The fact that I’m still here, even a little banged and bruised perhaps, but standing strong enough to assess that I must’ve gotten pretty good at knowing when to jump in and even better when to jump out.

In this life, there are many things that keep us bound.  Tradition is stifling our ability to reach new heights in ministry.  In many ways, the church has become stagnant, exclusive and ineffective.  I believe that God is calling us to assess where we are in the merry go around effect of the revolving door.  Open our eyes and see are we where we started, are we where we were headed or are we somewhere in the middle still trying to find our place?  Have we seen where we need to get off or get out but the fear of what we may face is more than we are willing to embrace?

Looking back over my life, I am eternally thankful for each time I chose the revolving door.  I am convinced that even in times where I didn’t have the good sense to get off the first time, God allowed me to stay in the rotation and used that time to grow me, to strengthen me, to prepare me for that moment when I would be brave enough to step out of that door into something new that He either needed me to do, go through, or just be there for someone else.

Our God is truly amazing!  Remember He has not given us the spirit of Fear, but of Power, Love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7)  Trust Him as you enter and exit the revolving doors of this life. Remember that it is Him working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him. (Philippians 2:13). Face the challenges with faith and watch Him do things that only He can do in your life.  Once you step off, you can look back and say, “This is the Lord’s doing and it is wonderful to see.” (Psalm 118:23).  Have faith and fear not The Revolving Door.

Lately, I’ve been receiving a warning on my computer because I need to update the virus software.  The message reads-Check Your Status-You’re at Risk.  Wow, what a word of caution that I view in the spiritual realm as well. While God is not quick to judge, He is a God that judges our sin and best we can offer God is to be quick to repent and turn our ways back to Him.  Pray for a heart that is convicted by all things and not just things that are easy but also those things of the flesh that we justify as being a weakness.

God is so loving and gracious to give us warnings when we are proceeding in ways that don’t line up with His word.  Notice I did not say don’t line with our personal convictions on matters but rather His word.  There is always a penalty for sin.  Jesus paid the ultimate price for our sins on the cross but this does not give us a pass to continue sinning.

Reality is, this should give us an humble spirit and an open heart to living a life that most resembles the life of Christ as He walked on this earth.

If we do the self-exam, each of us will find things in our heart that are out of sync with God’s will for us.  Like David, may we be willing to ask the Father to “create in us a clean heart and renew the right spirit within us.” (Psalm 51:10)  Let this prayer be a daily prayer as we seek to do God’s will. Not our will but His will be done.

Have you “turned on” and “tuned in” to the true Power Source in your life?  As you praise Him, He will begin to “boot up” and send you messages that are good and helpful instruction for your life.  He will also send you warnings when you are heading down a path that He has not orchestrated for you.  Today He’s simply needing you to turn Him on.  Through the blood connection, He can check you and warn you-Check Your Status-You May Be at Risk!

Ever had a moment when you realized you’d been thrown off by a distraction? Interestingly enough it didn’t have to happen under malicious intent but rather the simple, selfish choices of others seeking to satisfy their senses at any cost including your time and focus.

The deeper we allow our relationship with the Father to become, the quicker we realize these setups when they show up and the wiser we become in tactfully making sure that the time and energy lost is minimized.

At any cost, see the distractions for what they are and cut them at the root.  God is trying to take you to the next level, to your next assignment and while distractions will always come, none should be allowed to linger long.

“I want you to be free from the concerns of this life. An unmarried man can spend his time doing the Lord’s work and thinking how to please him. But a married man has to think about his earthly responsibilities and how to please his wife. His interests are divided. In the same way, a woman who is no longer married or has never been married can be devoted to the Lord and holy in body and in spirit. But a married woman has to think about her earthly responsibilities and how to please her husband. I am saying this for your benefit, not to place restrictions on you. I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible.” 1 Corinthians 7:32-35

There is no elimination of all distractions. They have a huge part in Satan’s attempt to discourage and deceive. Increased knowledge of God’s word coupled with lots of prayer and praise are the best weapons I can recommend to combat and reduce the ongoing attempts at mass distractions!