Each day, you have three choices: go backward, stay the same or go forward.

You should have seen the bruise on the back of my left thigh. It was the size of a deep purple softball!

I was training the only way I knew how to get my body into shape to enter a program I believed Jesus wanted me to be in. This way of training, however, is what caused the deep bruise to surface.

I did a little research and then signed up for a course that taught me a new way of training. Would it work? I didn’t know. I had never trained this way before.

I had a choice. I could keep doing what was comfortable and continue to hurt myself; or, I could trust and rely on their expertise and promises. I took the latter option and made it into the program.

Yes, change is uncomfortable. Yet, who is asking you to change? The expert trainer – the Spirit of Truth. He will guide you into the truth, which once it changes you, brings greater freedom and a stronger faith to face life’s daily struggles.

The Spirit has a proven track record as a trainer. He will make your life better, though not easier as you live in days where those who love Jesus are having their faith challenged.

The Spirit wants to stretch and make your faith stronger. You now have a choice. Go backward. Stay the same. Go forward. It’s not easy, but going forward is the best choice.

Some things can only be seen when Jesus lets us see them.

I worked at a summer camp where the campers played a game called “Hide and Seek.” They got points every time they “found” a staff member who was hiding somewhere on the premises.

They never found a certain member who hid in plain sight. This guy dressed up as a homeless person playing a guitar right in front of the general store.

This guy would take a sip from a bottle that appeared to be filled with beer whenever a camper came to the store. There was no way a Christian staff member would drink beer, especially at camp, right? Yet, the bottle was filled with sparkling apple cider!

They couldn’t “see” what was sitting right before their eyes.

Elisha’s servant had the same problem. All he could see was a huge army ready to imprison Elisha. What he couldn’t see was a wall of angels protecting them. It took the Lord to open the servant’s eyes to see what was in plain sight.

And so do you and me. We need the Spirit to open our eyes to see through the deception of the western culture of emotions, feelings, desires and individual truths based decisions and lifestyles.

If you want to stay out of the enemy’s prison, you must ask the Spirit to open your eyes to see what is in plain sight – Jesus and the truths He’ll give you to stay out of them.

Allow the Spirit to open your eyes to see what is in plain sight.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep – Romans 12:15.

This verse is hidden inside a section of scripture on how believers are to be connected through thick and thin.

Think about this for a second, though. What does it imply? You are connected with other Jesus believers!

Our world is so easy to bash the “church” for not being there, but are you there for them? There is an old saying, “The only way to have a friend is to be one.” Connectivity is a two-way street.

The word church has been abused and misused. It simply is a group of people moving toward Jesus together. This group can be as small as two and as big as one can be transparent with others so they will know when you’re hurting or rejoicing.

Walking this journey on planet earth is not an easy one. There are highs and there are lows. And both are greatly enhanced if we have others to share both.

Don’t let past hurts or run ins with the church keep you from being there for others in a way they can be there for you.

I sure do appreciate those who wish to stay connected with me. I love the out of the blue texts, “How are you doing?” Or, “I was just praying for you.”

How about you? Take the time to invest in others! Stay connected.

I have great plans for you, will you trust Me? – Jesus

This is a picture of Saul’s encampment in the Elah Valley during the time when David nailed Goliath. It was taken from a drone, which gives you the bigger picture of what took place here.

It can see two exits/entrances, which means it’s an encampment, not a city, which would only had one. Given it’s vantage point, it could see what someone on the ground couldn’t. 

It is the same with our God. He can see things we can’t. And because He does, His plans are not only much bigger than ours, but are so much better than ours as well. (Isaiah 55:9)

We can only know what we know when we know it. We have a limited human perspective; yet, God’s perspective goes far beyond ours. 

He knows what He knows, but that knowledge includes information from yesterday, today, tomorrow, as well as all the what ifs and possibilities. 

With our limited knowledge, which is sometimes fleeting, will we trust His unlimited knowledge even when we can’t see it let alone know it?  

Waiting is never easy, especially when you are used to doing something! God, however, promises to give us the strength to wait on His better plan, if we ask.

Ask for that strength. As you learn to wait, you’ll experience your God in ways you never thought possible when you didn’t.

Never give up as that’s when you’re ready to be used by God.

Imagine returning to your homeland in order to share Jesus only to be thrown into jail for 14 years! Gregory of Armenia had just that happen when King Tiridates III threw him into a pit used as a jail.

If we are honest, we probably would have given up sometime during those 14 years. Yet, God brought the king’s sister to keep Gregory alive.

Throughout that time, Tiridates battled with bouts of insanity. History records that he was controlled by a demon. Whenever he was lucid, though, he would ask to be healed. No one could.

Until one day, the King’s sister was allowed to bring Gregory from the pit. He was and did cast out the demon. Tiridates’ sanity was immediately restored.

This lead to the entire country of Armenia hearing about Jesus through the King and Gregory.

Fourteen years of waiting for God to intervene. Fourteen years of surviving on bread and goat’s milk alone. Fourteen years of hanging out in a gross pit.

Yet after those fourteen years, Armenia became one of the largest Christian nations on earth.

The Father’s plans are bigger than yours and will always come about…in His timing. You are His servant, not the other way around. So, in between your time and His, let the Spirit grow your faith and prepare you and others for His will to be done.