Who Is The Better Driver?

“By day the LORD went ahead of them in a column of smoke to lead them on their way. By night he went ahead of them in a column of fire to give them light so that they could travel by day or by night.” (Exodus 13:21)

Although the Israelites packed up with plans to follow Moses as they began their freedom march out of Egypt, God actually led the way.

He was their GPS.

And regardless if it was day or night or what direction they were going… God determined their steps.

Oh, I love this visual because it demonstrates the perfect position that God should have in our lives – no matter the circumstance.

But so often, we leave Him in the dust as we find ourselves wandering without a map.

We take matters into our own hands.

We make decisions based on emotions and desires.

We lack wisdom and discernment in some areas.

As I look back on my life, I see countless times where I was so far ahead of God.

Sooo.  Many.

You, too?

And had I stopped to locate the position of God in my situation… I’d have seen He was barely visible in my rear-view mirror.

In those times, I decided to handle things my way…

Sometimes it was a purposeful veer in a different direction out of rebellion… and other times I didn’t even realize I was the driver.

But I’ve learned that when we are intentional to let God to lead, life is just better.  Now better doesn’t always mean easier.  It doesn’t mean “problem-free.”  It rarely means comfortable.

But it does mean He will keep us on a straight path.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”  (Proverbs 3:5-6)

When we submit… it means we follow.  And when we follow… it means we trust.

• His direction.
• His will.
• His way.
• His timing.

The backseat becomes a comfortable position, and we can rest knowing Jesus is at the wheel.

But when we choose to take the driver’s seat instead, we find ourselves without a GPS… unable to navigate the unknown terrain… in danger of making the wrong turn… and desperate for direction.

… Every stinkin’ time.

Sisters, let’s be women who allow God to lead.  Let’s choose to follow Him rather than see Him over our shoulder.

Let’s get comfy in the backseat.

REALITY CHECK:  What keeps you from handing over the keys?

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© 2012 careyscotttalks.com

Check out my resources HERE.

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I’m on the verge of a temper tantrum…

Oh I feel it coming.

Some days, it takes all I have NOT to let loose.

Other days I know I am one annoyance away from a temper tantrum.

I’d like to think it’s because I’m so busy with family obligations, ministry deadlines, end-of-year celebrations, and unavoidable chores.

But nope.  That’s not it.

I wish I could say it’s because I’m physically tired, politically exhausted and people drained.

Um… that’s not accurate either.

When I find myself overwhelmed…

When my patience is limited…

When my tolerance is absent…

When I want to unleash…

It’s because I’ve disconnected from my power Source.

Sheesh… when will I learn?

The reality is that this time of year IS my busy season.  September – December holds a lot for me and my family.

• It houses all of our birthdays.
• My wedding anniversary is celebrated.
• It’s my busiest speaking season.
• End-of-year and holiday festivities happen.
• Kids are busy with sports and after-school activities.

But so often… when my life gets busy, my time with God slows down.

And when I stop being intentional to connect with Him… I become serious temper-tantrum material.

Bleh.

I can be so nasty.

Anyone but me?

Have you heard the quote that says… “If the Devil can’t make you sin, he’ll make you busy” ?

This is a particularly devious tactic of his.

One of his goals is to stop communication between you and your Heavenly Father.  He wants us to get so weighed down by our schedules that we forget to connect with our Maker.

The Enemy wants our calendars to replace our Creator.

And here’s the scary part… It’s effective.

You see, when I find myself running from task… to task… to task… I become cranky. (hard to imagine, I know)

And when I become cranky… I become resentful.

And when I become resentful… I retreat.

And when I retreat… I sit in my muck and feel sorry for myself.

And rather than cry out to God for help and guidance and provision, I become silent and selfish with my time.

It becomes all about me.

But you know what?

That isn’t the kind of person I want to be. 

That isn’t the way I want to treat others.

But most importantly, that’s not how I want to treat God.

Busy or not…

Tired or not…

Overwhelmed or not…

I want my relationship with God to thrive.

And relationships thrive only when we pour into them.

Here’s how we do that…

“Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that’s in you, love him with all you’ve got!” (Deuteronomy 6:5)

So what if we did that?

What if when life gets big… schedules get crazy… to-do lists get long… people get annoying… and our calendars get crowded… we decided to press in to God more?

We loved Him with our whole heart.

We loved Him with all that’s in us.

We loved Him with all we’ve got.

You know what that does for us?

It takes our eyes off ourselves and places our focus on Him.

We gain perspective in our circumstances.

Our ability to extend grace is restored.

The peace of Jesus courses through our veins.

And the tendency we have towards melt-downs and temper tantrums lessens as we connect with the only One who can give us what we need to face the day.

Yep…THAT is the kind of person I want to be.

REALITY CHECK: How do you connect with God when life gets busy?  Or do you?

†††

© 2012 careyscotttalks.com

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Maybe you need to change your question…

I’m not trying to be disrespectful of my God and Creator, but sometimes I find myself… frustrated with Him.

… Can I say that?

Do you ever wonder why He allows certain things to happen?  And then in other situations – that could really use a big dose of God – things seem to stand still?

At times… I cannot wrap my brain around why God handles things the way He does.

• Sure, sometimes it makes complete sense.
• Other times, hindsight is 20/20.
• But sometimes, we are clueless.

Proverbs 3:5 in the Message says, “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own.”

This is hard for me.

You see… I’m a self-professed figure-outer.

The bottom line is that – I want to know.

I want to have a game plan in place.

I want to be able to make sense of things.

I want to see how things will end up.

I want to be able to predict the strategy… the ending… the answer… the direction.

But my humanness keeps me in a place where ALL I CAN DO is trust God.

And to be perfectly honest, at times that really annoys me.

Sheesh… I’m really throwing it out there today, friends. 

… Can anyone relate to this?

Listen, I’ve been a Christ-follower for years.

I speak and write about God’s goodness and faithfulness. 

I’m raising my kids to trust God and His timing.

I have seen God show up in huge ways in my life.

I know God’s plans are to prosper me and not harm me.

I know He will finish a good work in me.

I know His plans are to give me a hope and a future.

But there are times and situations where I struggle to understand God.

Really? You, too? 

In Isaiah 55:8, God says “I don’t think the way you think. The way you work isn’t the way I work.”

So maybe, I am asking the wrong question.

You know… that “why” question can get us into trouble.  Because the truth is that we may never know this side of Heaven.

What if instead, we asked God the “where” question?

Where are you in this?
Where do you want me to be?
Where do I need to submit?
Where in my thought life can I change?
Where can I co-partner with you?

When we do that, we are acknowledging that God is – indeed – present and active in our circumstance.

We are submitting to His authority… and His way of doing things.

We are asking to be part of His plan.

Sisters… doesn’t that make more sense?

Maybe what we need to do, is simply change our question.

♥

REALITY CHECK: In what situation do you need to change your “why” question to a “where” question?

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© 2012 careyscotttalks.com

Looking for ideas on raising Godly kids in today’s world?  You can find them HERE.

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He Knows What He’s Doing

“Real satisfaction comes not in understanding God’s motives, but in understanding His character, in trusting in His promises, and in leaning on Him and resting in Him as the Sovereign who knows what He is doing and does all things well.”  (Joni Eareckson Tada)

Maybe you are struggling today and need to be reminded of who God is.

I so get that. 

Life is big.  Decisions are hard.  People are confusing.

But God is so very good. 

Take some time to read these.  Soak them in.  Accept their reality.  Then lean and rest in Him… alone.

God Is All-Powerful… so He can help you with anything. “O Sovereign Lord! You have made the heavens and earth by Your great power. Nothing is too hard for You!” (Jeremiah 32:17).

God Is Present Everywhere… so He is always with you.  “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast” (Psalm 139:7–10).

God Knows Everything… so go to Him with all your questions and concerns.  “Oh, what a wonderful God we have! How great are His riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions and His methods! For who can know what the Lord is thinking? Who knows enough to be His counselor?” (Romans 11:33, 34).

God Never Changes… so your future is secure and eternal.  “Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above, who created all heaven’s lights. Unlike them, He never changes or casts shifting shadows” (James 1:17).

God Is Faithful… so you can trust Him to always keep His promises. “O Lord God Almighty! Where is there anyone as mighty as You, Lord? Faithfulness is Your very character” (Psalm 89:8).

God Is Love… so He is unconditionally committed to your well-being.  “May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. 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 really is” (Ephesians 3:17, 18).

God Is Merciful... so He forgives you of your sins when you sincerely confess them.  “The Lord is full of compassion and mercy” (James 5:11).

God Is Just... so He will always treat you fairly.  “I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve” (Jeremiah 17:10).

God Is Righteous… so live by His standards.  “The Lord is righteous in all His ways and loving toward all He has made” (Psalm 145:17).

God Is Holy… so devote yourself to Him in purity, worship, and service.  “Who else among the gods is like You, O Lord? Who is glorious in holiness like You-so awesome in splendor, performing such wonders?” (Exodus 15:11).

God Is Sovereign… so joyfully submit to His will.  “Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; You are exalted as head over all. Wealth and honor come from You; You are the ruler of all things. In Your hands are strength and power to exalt and give strength to all” (1 Chronicles 29:11, 12).

Whew… and that’s just scratching the surface.

The reality is that while we’ll never fully understand God’s ways or motives, we can learn to trust Him – His character and promises. 

How?

By looking at His faithfulness in our lives.

• He provides
• He defends
• He restores
• He heals
• He _______ (what would you add?)
  

I’ve learned that enough for me.

Is it enough for you?

♥

REALITY CHECK:  God knows what He is doing in your life.  And He promises to do it… well.  So what’s keeping your from trusting Him in your circumstances.

†††

© 2012 careyscotttalks.com

Looking for ideas on raising Godly kids in today’s world?  You can find them HERE.

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Struggling With The… “What If’s”

My family went camping this past weekend.

There is nothing like carving out a space in nature, propping up a tent,  lighting a fire, roasting hot dogs, fishing in the river, and sleeping with the sounds of nature ushering in sweet dreams.

But…

I stayed home.

While my description of camping above always sounds good in theory, I realize that my reality is totally different.

I love to be outdoors.

I love the smell of a campfire.

Smores are one of life’s great pleasures.

But that’s where it ends.  To be honest, camping to me is the Holiday Inn Express.

And while my husband and kids love spending the weekend in the woods, they bless the fact that I don’t.  I send them off with yummy food, comfy clothes and the promise of a big hug once they return home.

But this time of separation was a bit harder on me.

Not only was I unsure exactly where they were camping, I found myself struggling with the fear of “what if’s.”

What if one of my kids falls in the river and is swept away?

What if someone gets bit by a snake?

What if there’s a crazy man in the area looking to take out some aggression?

What if they encounter a mountain lion or bear?

What if my husband gets hurt and there are no other adults around to help?

I hate this feeling.

So all weekend long, I found myself pleading the blood of Jesus to surround them.  I prayed scripture over them.  I called down divine protection to encircle their campsite.  I asked the Kingdom of Jesus to rest on each of them.

Ugh.

I realize this isn’t how God wants things to be.

In the Bible, He commands us to not be fearful (or some variation of that word) 366 times.

We know He didn’t give us this Spirit of Fear (2 Timothy 1:7).

And we know that His perfect love will cast out all fear (1 John 4:18).

But to be honest, we are living in a wack-a-doo world filled with evil and hate in epic proportions.

• The intentionality of what happened in Aurora recently makes me sick to my stomach.
• The reality of sex-trafficking young kids simply for the perverted pleasures of others is hard to understand.
• The increase in bullying (and knowing first-hand how it affects kids) breaks my heart.

It can all be so overwhelming.

But this is where we have to be diligent to keep our heart and mind guarded. 

We have to take each fear that threatens our joy and freedom, and place it at the feet of Jesus.  We have to take our thought-life captive by stopping the destructive trails of “what if” thinking.

I’m not suggesting we turn a blind eye to the reality of life.  We need to know what is happening so we know how to pray.

What I am suggesting, however, is that rather than allow fear to render us helpless, paralyzed or ineffective… we talk it out with God.  We take it to the only One who can calm the storms of life.

And this verse reminds us of the posture we should take when fear threatens to knock us down:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God.”  (John 14:1)

Trust in God.

Trust in God.

Trust in God.

Rather than spend time worrying about the “what if’s” … trust that He is in all the details and fully-present in every situation.

Rather than release our inner-control freak to manage our families… remember that He is who He says He is, and will do what He says He will do.

Rather than allow fear to drain joy from our life… rejoice that He is mighty to save.

Rather than create unhealthy habits of protection… thank Him for loving us deeper than we can comprehend.

“Thank You Lord for being an anchor in the storms of life.  I am grateful that You are ever-present with me, my family and anyone who calls on Your precious name.  Father, I don’t want to be one to entertain the ideas and suggestions from the Enemy.  He is the father of lies and lives to discourage.  Instead God, I ask for You to fill me so richly with a Spirit of Faith that fear can’t find a way in.  I trust You with my life.  I trust You with my family.  I trust You with the details of my life.  Thank You for loving me so much.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.”

†††

© 2012 careyscotttalks.com

Need ideas on raising Godly kids in today’s world?  You can find some here.

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PRISON OF PERFECTIONISM: Perfection Paralysis

My husband is a brilliant writer.  If you doubt the truth of that statement, just read the blog he wrote for me last Monday.

Bril-liant.

As a matter of fact, he’s really the writer in the family.

Now, I do thank God for how He’s gifted me with the ability to make sense with words, but in all honesty… Wayne’s writing leaves me in the dust.

Several years ago, he entered a national writing contest with a prologue and three chapters of a Christian fiction book he’d written… and placed third.

At a writer’s conference he attended a short while later, a few key agents and publishing houses told Wayne to let them know when his book was completed… because they wanted to read it.

He serves as a national judge in that same writing competition that awarded him third place.  So each year, they send him entries in the fiction category to judge and score.

Yes… he is that good.

And until two nights ago, it had been six years since he’d written anything new in that book.

Six years.

If you’d asked him why the book had been collecting dust for so long, he’d tell you it was because of a demanding work schedule or a draining commute.

He’d say it was due to a strong sense of family, and he wanted to be a more devoted father and husband.

But if he were honest, he’d admit to being afraid of not being good enough.

He suffered from Perfection Paralysis.

Unless he could do it right the first time, he didn’t want to try it.  The thought of failing or not doing it perfectly kept him from moving forward in his gifting.

Ugh.

I cannot tell you how hard it was to watch this happen… especially for someone who runs onto the battlefield waving a sword screaming, “Towanda!” when something needs to be slayed or conquered.

For years…

I’ve sat by and watched this fear keep him from sharing his gift with the world.

I’ve begged for God to knock him upside the head.

I’ve pleaded with Him to put a burning passion to write inside my husband.

I have attempted to guilt Wayne into opening that book document again.

I have tried every argument and angle to get him to step into his calling.

But nothing worked.

Until two nights ago.

Can you relate?

So often, we find ourselves trapped in the prison of perfectionism because we allow the fear of failure to paralyze us.

We become ineffective.

We lose confidence in our gifting… our abilities.

We forget that God isn’t expecting perfection.

He want us to be prayerful… pliable… and purposeful.

Matthew 5:48 in the Message says, “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity.”

That’s a little in-your-face.

I like it.

Where do you need to grow up and be who God created you to be?

• Why haven’t you agreed to go where He’s called you yet?
• When will you share the message God has laid on your heart?
• How long will you ignore His calling for you to lead?
• What is keeping you from starting that project?

Sisters… where is the trust in your Heavenly Father?

Listen to me.

God doesn’t call the equipped.  He equips the called.

Perfection paralysis is a nasty tactic of the Enemy.

His goal is to destroy you and the plans God has purposed for your life.  And when you cower in fear of failure… the Enemy wins.

Whatever God is calling you to do, He will give you everything you need to do it.

Will the Enemy throw a wrench in your plans?  Yes.

Will he do all he can to discourage you?  Absolutely.

Will he try to distract or confuse you?  Yep.

Will he attempt to knock your confidence level?  More than likely.

Is it worth the risk? 

Worth the struggle? 

Worth the heat? 

Every time.

If God calls you… He will give you the ability to walk your journey… no matter what.

“There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.” (Philippians 1:6 MSG)

My husband is writing again.  He’s found his confidence, and every word he types encourages him to write the next.

It’s been a long journey to get here, but he is trusting that since God has called… He will equip.

You can trust in the same promise.

♥

REALITY CHECK:  What is God calling you to do that has you paralyzed with fear?  What are you going to do about it?

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© 2012 careyscotttalks.com

Need ideas on raising Godly kids in today’s world?  You can find some here.

Let’s Connect!  Follow me on Twitter, Book Me to speak at your event, Like my Facebook Ministry Page, Visit me each Wednesday at Moms Together.

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Climbing To Safety

The LORD Almighty is my strength.  He makes my feet like those of a deer.  He makes me walk on the mountains. (Habakkuk 3:19) GWT

I was driving through a canyon on my way up to my parents home in the mountains and noticed a sign on the side of the road that made me giggle.

It read, “In case of flood, climb up to safety.”

Um… seriously?

Doesn’t that concept seem a little… elementary?

Now I am not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I cannot imagine seeing raging flood waters begin to rise and decide the best course of action is to climb down into them.

That would show great stupidity and mean certain death.

But you know what?  I’ve actually climbed down into the flood waters of my circumstances a million times before.

You, too?

I can think of times in my life where I’ve been faced with rising waters in my marriage… with my friends… because of my health… regarding my children… and in our finances.

And rather than climbing up and away from those raging waters… I stepped down into them, willingly.

I bet you’ve followed the same path at times.

When those waters begin to lap at our heels, we…

• become fearful.
• look at others to save us.
• blame God.
• decided to do it our way
• allow anger to seep in. 
• feel entitled.
• entertain pride. 

Believe me, I’ve almost drown in life’s tumultuous waters.  The current can be so strong and the waves pound with great force.

But God.

He offers us safety.  Refuge.

He equips us for the battle.

He calls us to rise above.

Sisters, when we find our lives flooded with difficulty…when we watch as those waters threaten to take us under or sweep us away… we have a choice to make.

We can climb up to the safety of God’s protection, or 

We can tempt fate and try to navigate the swift waters alone.

We get to chose our journey.

If we decide to trust God, we can find the focus to climb harder than we thought.  We discover how important it is to firmly plant our feet with each step so we don’t slip.  We learn to not be distracted with the commotion happening below us.

We have to keep our eyes on God.

But so often, we give up and allow the current to pull us away. 

We become weary in the fight. 

We get beaten down. 

We begin to doubt we can handle this specific problem.

The Enemy tells us we are powerless… ineffective… and weak.

But God reminds us that He will give us all we need to become victorious.

I wonder what is causing the waters to rise in your life today?

• A betrayal?
• A medical diagnosis?
• Financial pressures?
• Resentment within your marriage?
• An addiction?
• Old tapes from childhood that keep playing?
• A child that challenges at every turn?

Sweet friends, you have a decision to make.

Will you climb up to safety… or step down into the dangerous current?

I hope to see you at the top.

Dear Father, thank You for always providing a way out for us through Your Son Jesus.  We appreciate that no matter where we find ourselves, You are there to help us and direct us and save us.  What a gracious God You are!  Father we are climbing up to You today with flood waters threatening to sweep us away, and we ask for You to protect us.  Lord, will You wrap Your arms around us keeping us dry in the storm we’re facing right now?  We need You.  We love You.  Thank You for Your promise of deliverance.  In Jesus’ name. Amen.

REALITY CHECK:  When life becomes flooded with challenges and struggles… climb up to the safety of God.

†††

©2012 careyscotttalks.com

Need a Mother’s Day gift idea?  Get my book - Raising Godly Kids – here.

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No More Nos

The other day, I asked my kids to empty the dishwasher.

This came on the heels of them tidying their rooms, putting away laundry, emptying the trash, and cleaning the bathrooms. So I was little concerned that I’d get some pushback with this next request.

You see, this year we’ve increased their allowance… and so we’ve increased their list of chores.

Momma likey!

To my delight, both kids answered… YES… and they came into the kitchen with smiles and completed their task.

No pushback.

No frustration.

No excuses.

They just said… yes.

When God asks you to do something, how do you respond?

So often, we find reasons why the timing is bad… or our calendars are too full… or we are the wrong person for the job.

Rather than tell God YES, we respond with a NO.

We tell our Creator… NO.

At CWAHM, I’m unpacking the concept of rejecting God’s plan.

I’m discussing why saying YES can be hard.

And I’m sharing a time when He asked me to say YES… and what happened when I did.

Maybe you have a story to share, too?

To read my post or leave a comment, you can find me by clicking here.  Hope you’ll stop by!

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REALITY CHECK:  You’ve been given a talent that the world needs now.  Will you share it?

©2012 careyscotttalks.com

Let’s Connect!  Follow me on Twitter, Book Me to speak at your event, Like my Facebook Fan Page, Visit me each Wednesday at Moms Together.

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What’s Your Excuse?

What is your response when God asks you to do something?

• Running away screaming like a little girl?
• Digging in your heels and refusing to budge?
• Plugging your ears and singing la-la-la-la?
• Acting like you didn’t know He was talking to you?
• Or raising your hand and saying, “Count me in!”

You get to choose how you respond. It’s your decision to make.

BUT… there is a right choice and a wrong choice.

When God asks us to follow Him, our response should be… yes. 

When God reveals our calling, our response to it should be… yes, please. 

When He wants to use us to further His Kingdom, we should say… yes, Father!

But so many times, our answer is “NO.”

Now while we may not literally say that exact word, sometimes our response to His request says just that.

• We tell God we are too busy with our families.
• We remind Him that we lack the confidence needed.
• We bargain, saying “I’ll do that, if you do this.”
• We try to convince God that He can’t use someone with our background.
• We ask Him to postpone His request until this difficult season in life has passed.

We justify our NO.

Don’t we realize what an honor it is to be asked by the Creator of the Universe to be a part of His plan?  Do we grasp the concept that if God calls us, He will equip us?

Sisters… He is asking you – inviting you – to be a part of something… big.

Something with an immeasurable eternal value.

Honestly, He doesn’t need us. 

He can accomplish anything He wants. 

He is capable of fixing every problem.

He can answer every question.

He can make anything happen.

So why then does He ask us to participate?

Because God created us for community, and longs to have an active relationship with us.

He also created us for a purpose.

According to Matthew 5:14, we are called to be the light of the world, meaning we are His plan to bring His message to this world.

Maybe you’re scared, thinking you don’t have what it takes.

You are not alone. 

Sometimes I doubt my ability, too.  We even see this battle with insecurity from Godly men in the Bible.  They, too, struggled to believe they had what it took.

• Moses initially said NO because of a stuttering problem.  But when he finally trusted God, he led the Israelites out of slavery.
• Jonah ran from what God asked him to do, but eventually overcame his fear of Nineveh and delivered God’s message.
• David continually messed up, but his desire to live for God prevailed and he’ll forever be known as a man after God’s own heart.

Rest knowing that if God asks something of you, He will give you everything you need to accomplish it.

You can trust God with your calling.

What God is asking might be out of our comfort zones.  Do it anyway.

It might be scary.  Do it anyway.

We might struggle wondering if anyone will respond to us.  Do it anyway.

It might not make immediate sense.  Do it anyway.

Sisters, we need to get over our fine selves.

It’s time to say YES to what God is asking.  Be done with finding convenient excuses and escapes.

He is asking.

How will you answer?

REALITY CHECK:  You can confidently say YES to God, knowing that if He calls you… He will equip you!

†††

©2012 careyscotttalks.com

Let’s Connect!  Follow me on Twitter, Book Me to speak at your event, Like my Facebook Fan Page, Visit me each Wednesday at “Moms Together,” Learn about LeadHer’s mission to equip women to make an impact for Christ.

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And The Result Will Be… Joy

Don’t be sad because the joy you have in the LORD is your strength. (Nehemiah 8:10b GWT)

I’ve been clinging to these words.

In the past 2 years, I have faced some of the biggest joy-draining challenges in my life.  It’s been – without a doubt – emotionally, spiritually and physically exhausting.

• I’ve faced a cancer diagnosis and two related surgeries.
• My family discovered a mammoth betrayal from a beloved uncle that resulted in his suicide.
• Our son was diagnosed with PTSD and depression from the effects of bullying at school.
• We left our church home of 12 years and lost dear friendships in the process.
• Our world was shaken when my husband was laid-off in this tough economy.
• My beloved grandmother died, leaving a hole in my life.

There have been times I’ve wanted to curl up in a fetal position and wave a white flag in surrender.

Can you relate?

But God makes us a promise we can’t deny.

When we press in during those times where we feel discouraged and dejected…

When we praise Him regardless of the storms we face…

When we trust that He is working it all out…

When we choose to remain faithful no matter what…

God will give us strength to stand.

But sometimes we are drama-mommas.

We think that since our life is experiencing a “rough patch,” we have to walk around with a scowl on our face.  We think that if we look sad enough, people will take pity on us.

We use this opportunity to make it all about us.

Please tell me I am not the only one?

But when we act that way, we are choosing not to accept God’s best for us.

We are looking for that same end result of strength in all the wrong places.

Then God whispers, “Beloved, don’t be sad.  Trust me in your journey.  Praise me for what I am planning for you because I have plans to prosper you and not to harm you.  Trust me and watch your joy arise!”

So I press in to Him.  I start believing that God is working it all out behind the scenes.  I see glimpses of His fingerprints.

• My heart begins to soften.
• The stress leaves my shoulders.
• My thoughts are more easily taken captive.

And then I watch it happen.

Money shows up anonymously in the mail.

The surgeon can’t find any traces of cancer.

A spirit-filled therapist counsels and heals my son.

Our new church introduces my family to a deeper relationship with Jesus.

My husband lands a job that makes his heart soar.

Listen, God really is who He says He is… and He really does what He says He’ll do.

Sisters… the joy you have from your relationship with God is what will give you the strength to press on in tough times.

Maybe you are having a hard time finding that joy right now.

Maybe life seems too big.

Maybe the light at the end of the tunnel really is a train.

If that is you, try this… Make a list of all the things He has done for you.

It will remind you… encourage you… challenge you to trust just one more time.

And the result will be… joy.

©2011 careyscotttalks.com

Let’s Connect!  Follow me on Twitter, Book Me to speak at your event, Like my Facebook Fan Page, Visit me each Wednesday at “Moms Together,” Learn about LeadHer’s mission to equip women to make an impact for Christ

Read Full Post »