LIFE MOVES BY YOUR THOUGHTS

Our lives always move in the direction of our strongest thoughts. This short video will help you to identify the negative thought patterns that play over and over in your head. We all have these negative thought loops of cynicism, negativity, absolute-ism, or victimhood. 

Our thoughts determine how we see ourselves and how we navigate our daily lives. A negative thought pattern can cause much damage if we don't learn how to move past it. God can change our thinking, but first we must make an effort to identify the problem and  then train ourselves to think differently. 

LCBC is our new church. We attended for the first time today in Elizabethville, PA. The church is located across the parking lot from McDonald's. I have never received such a warm welcome from any church, ever. People don't just say, Hello and walk away. They spend time getting to know you. 

Today's sermon was not the topic above, but it was equally as good. And if you miss any sermons, you can catch up on what you missed via You Tube. The sermons at LCBC give you tools to live successfully in your everyday life by teaching scripture you can apply to your daily challenges. This is what people are craving. It's what we desperately need from a church, because the world is becoming so stressful, and we really need help today. 

What are your negative recurring thoughts that replay in your head every day? Mine right now are trust issues. I'm keeping people at a distance because I don't trust them. But I'm learning to change my thought patterns so that I can focus on more positive things. And part of the process for me has been explaining to the people I love why I have been struggling so much lately. 

I want a clean slate. And sometimes you can't have a fresh start until you address the past hurts that you stuffed deep down within yourself. I found the courage to tell my children what I've been through in the past year, because I've learned that when I suffer emotionally, it will eventually affect them. We see each other often and I can't hide my mental and physical stress for long. 

For months, I've been wanting to write about the power of our thought life and how we don't have to be helpless victims of our negative thought loops. This video is better than anything I could have written. We have the power to change the things we think about and in the process we can change the way we see ourselves and the way we see other people and situations. 

Watch the video because we all have negative recurring thoughts and they are affecting your life in a negative way. God wants you to be set free so your joy can be complete. 

SOMEONE I CAN TRUST

By Danelle Carvell

                                                                                               

                                                    

There's a freedom in knowing who you can trust.

                                                                                                        

Trust is a big word. It's so big that only one big person can live up to it. The reason that trust is such a big word is because it has so many requirements. 

In order to trust someone, that person must display a proven and consistent track record of caring for you, protecting you, standing up for you, showing up for you, looking out for you, never betraying you, and always being honest.

Who do you know that has done that for you on a consistent basis? Without intending to offend anyone, I can't think of a single person who has done that for me. And I have not done that consistently for anyone either. 

Trust allows people in your life based on their character and reliability. Trust is having faith in another person and having the confidence in their ability to protect and care for you. We normally do not want to associate with people we do not trust.

So what is it about God that makes Him trustworthy? We only need to look as far as His promises to us in the Bible.

• God will never abandon you or betray you.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them. For the Lord, your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you."  Deuteronomy 31:6

God will never betray me. And He will never abandon me. He was always there, even when I didn't feel His presence. My distance from Him was always my own choice. When I felt lost or alone, it was not because God abandoned me, but because I rejected Him. 

The reason why I know that for sure is because I am no longer rejecting Him, and I see the huge difference it has made in my life. The concept of God always being there is not something you could truly understand unless you begin seeking Him daily.

Not a day goes by when I don't feel His presence. He's there each day because I open the door each day. Even God can't walk through a door you choose not to open. People who cry out to God only when they need something might have a hard time finding Him. 

Are you quick to run and help someone who rarely talks to you? Is it easy for you to find your way to a place where you have never been before? Why would you expect God to rescue you when you don't have time for Him until you are desperate and need help?

• God always empathizes with you and understands your pain.

"The righteous cry out and the Lord hears them. He delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Psalms 34:17-18

How many times have you been disappointed because someone that you thought loved you did not care when you got hurt? Maybe they didn't respond to your hurt in the way that you expected. Or maybe they made excuses for the people who hurt you. Maybe they failed to validate your feelings. Maybe they responded in a way that suggested you were the one who was wrong. 

Human empathy has many flaws. But God's empathy is always perfect and always comforting. But in order to feel that comfort, you must spend time with Him. Read His word. Worship Him until the tears flow because you probably need that release. And pray for your heart and mind to be filled with His peace. 

• God always lifts you up and encourages you.

"God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."   1 Peter 5: 5-7

Do you find people to be naturally encouraging? Do you come home from a gathering with stories about how this person encouraged you and that person said such kind words to you? I don't. 

I could put together a list of times when I found people to be discouraging in the past year alone. People are not kind and encouraging by nature. Even those who attend church regularly can have a mean spirit that's obviously displayed in the things they say and do. 

But God will never treat you disrespectfully. Why would He? Do you treat the things that you create with disrespect? 

Before you were born, God knew your name. He knows exactly how many hairs are on your head at every moment. My hair has been thinning since Covid, and I'm sure God noticed that. 

He cares about every detail of your life and He wants to be your source of encouragement in a world that can crush your spirit with its cruelty. No one else can lift you up like God can, so don't depend on anyone else to cheer you on. 

• God never lies and he's always discreet.

"As for God, His way is perfect. The Lord's word is flawless. He shields all who take refuge in Him." Psalm 18:30

One of the fastest ways to destroy someone's trust is to lie. Honesty and trust are impossible to separate. God simply is not capable of lying because His flawless holiness makes any type of sin impossible. 

God also has perfect discretion. He repays everyone fairly. And he gets no pleasure from exposing your mistakes. God has divine discernment about everything you say and do, and He always makes the right call about your behavior. 

Unlike people, God is very good at maintaining silence when your conduct is of a delicate nature. He finds no satisfaction in gossip. You can tell Him anything and know that it will go no further. 

You don't have to worry about God hanging up all your dirty laundry for others to see if you have truly repented of your actions. But he has been known to expose the wrongs of those who refuse to turn from their wicked ways. His justice is always fair. 

• God always offers hope.

"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."

Jeremiah 29:11

I find it hard to understand where people get their hope if not from God. What keeps them going? What gives them hope for the future when everything is falling apart? How do they get through even a single day?

I am in the middle of a storm right now. I call it a storm because I choose not to share the details. But although this storm seems to have no resolution, I know that God is working on my behalf. I trust that I will see light break through the clouds at some point and I will again feel warmth in areas where I now feel pounded by hailstones. 

God's desire is that I will prosper, be in good health and be joyful. That does not mean I will not have to pass through some valleys along the way. But I know from experience that God walks with me, and all I need to do is stay close and He will lead me out of every one of life's storms. He has done this again and again. He has a proven track record of being someone I can trust. 

TROUBLING TIMES DESTROY RELATIONSHIPS

 By Danelle Carvell

                                                    

We are living in challenging times that are destroying relationships.

I have days when I feel consumed with troubling thoughts. The same concerns play over and over in my head until I want to take my head off and give myself a break. The real solution to this problem is not taking my head off, but taking my concerns to God in prayer. 

My latest book purchase has been such a blessing to me. I haven't seen anything like it when it comes to prayer books because of the way it is organized according to specific life problems. Today I was drawn to the chapter on relational conflicts. And after saying the prayers, I'm feeling that peace the Bible talks about that awaits those who seek God and spend time in prayer. 

I know that many people right now are having conflicts within their relationships. Life is difficult because of financial pressures and the chaotic things that are happening in our world. Feeling optimistic about the future is challenging when so many things appear to be hopeless. And this tension causes our relationships to suffer. 

But God is the only one who can change people, and this has been a hard lesson for me to learn lately. I can voice my opinion when I sense problems among people, but those problems cannot be resolved by my words. Prayer is the only thing that will bring resolution and restored relationships. 

The first thing I need when a problem arises is the ability to judge that problem correctly. A good starter prayer when you begin to sense a relational conflict is this:

"Help me to see beyond appearances, Lord. Stop me when I start presuming to understand when there may be things I don't see or comprehend. Give me a heart of wisdom to respond rightly and assume the best and not the worst."

The above prayer is on page 143 of Wanda Alger's book, and every prayer I put in quotation marks is also from her book. A clear and true perspective of the problem is important so we know how to pray about it and so we don't falsely assume and wrongly accuse. We should also ask the Lord to expose sins or strongholds in our own life that is blinding us to the truth. 

A second thing you should consider when a conflict arises is any part you might have played in the problem. Sometimes fights and quarrels with people are the result of our own desires that battle within ourselves. We are warned of this in James 4:1 

"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires that battle within you?"

And sometimes you might take things the wrong way and harbor offense about an insult that wasn't intended as such. In order to have a clear conscience and cleanse your heart and mind, you should pray for a renewed desire to walk in purity of heart and integrity towards others:

"Holy Spirit, show me if there is anything in my own heart that is causing offense or bitterness... I repent of any jealousy and covetousness that is stirring up my frustration...I choose to walk in the spirit and not according to my flesh."

Once you have reached the point where you know the problem is exactly as it appears and it has not been caused by anything within yourself, then you are free to express your concerns. But even here you need to be very careful, because this is where most people really mess up in my opinion. This is where I mess up myself.

When someone pushes my buttons, my first instinct is not to offer a soft, gentle answer as I smile and graciously suggest a peaceful resolution. I don't know anyone who does that, but that is what I should strive for:

"Give me the right words to say to diffuse any anger and hostility in this conflict. May we seek peace in resolving the issues and relate in a way that invites your presence and power, bringing us through in unity." 

When we feel attacked, words like patience, kindness and self-control are far from our minds. We want to prove our point and defend ourselves. We want to list the wrongs that were done to us and tell all our friends about it. We don't want to respect the thoughts and ideas of our offenders, and we don't care about their perspective on what happened. 

Proverbs 16:7 says, When the Lord takes pleasure in anyone's ways, He causes their enemies to make peace with them. 

I should strive to respond to conflict in a way that is pleasing to God, so that even those who oppose me will desire peace. God understands righteous anger. Even Jesus displayed anger. But we can't stay angry. And we have to be good listeners, willing to hear the other side before interrupting them and shutting them down. 

If ever there is a time for unconditional love, it is when you are at the receiving end of being torn apart by people:

"Keep me close to your heart so that I will act with love, compassion and forbearance. Especially for those who attack me, may your favor and blessing rest upon me with such power and protection, it stops the attacks and dissolves the conflict altogether." 

So after we have expressed our hurts and patiently listened to the offender's side of the conflict, what is the next step? This is where we need to maintain the right attitude because conflicts can take time to be resolved and sometimes they are not resolved. We must walk through the conflict with a right heart and a right spirit toward those we disagreed with. 

Ephesians 4:31 is a good scripture to focus on, and the prayer in Alger's book is this:

Lord, forgive me for any bitterness or anger against my brother or sister. I choose to forgive them for any offense and release them to you. I know you will honor my obedience and intervene on my behalf. Show me how to move forward with kindness and compassion so that you can resolve our conflicts in a godly way."

Sometimes we want to prove our point and defend our case more than we want to bring resolution. "We should strive to respond to conflict in a way that closes the door to the enemy and opens the way for God to bring clarity out of the chaos," Alger said. And sometimes the best way to do that is to walk away:

"Show me if and when it is time to walk away from a disagreement in order to maintain peace." 

For those who feel the need to seek advice about relational conflicts as they are waiting for a resolution, the Bible offers much wisdom. We can share our disputes with others if those people love the Lord:

"Father, help me to take my issues with another brother or sister to proper spiritual insight. I desire to seek your counsel and the wisdom from fellow believers first and foremost. Guide my pastors and church leaders in helping me resolve the issues so we can invite the power of your spirit to bring peace and unity."

We cannot be totally clean before God if we are in conflict with someone else. We should pray for a heart that seeks peace more than retribution. We should pray for help in going directly to those who have hurt us when that is possible. And we should pray that everyone involved will have a heart of compassion towards one another and pursue peace and restoration for the sake of all. 

I find myself lately needing to clean up my act and get closer to God, and it's hard for me to remember that I can't force others to do the same. I need to refrain from lecturing and let God work on them. But I know there are times when God chooses to speak through me in order to guide others in His direction. I can only pray for the wisdom to discern when to keep my mouth shut and when to speak.

Only God can change a heart. And that is why we pray for changed hearts and restored relationships. And as we are obedient, He is faithful to exalt us. 

"Lord, Remind me that my prayers will be hindered if my heart harbors resentment or unforgiveness towards another...Remind me of the blessings that come from resolving conflicts your way."

 

A POWERFUL WOMAN IN GOD'S EYES

Our culture tells women to be powerful and not needy. We feel pressure to solve problems without needing anyone. We are told that we should not feel discouraged, disappointed, sad or angry. But that pressure to have it all together does not come from the Lord. 

Lately I am allowing myself to feel emotions that people tell me I should not feel. I am allowing myself to be vulnerable. Allowing myself to cry. Allowing myself to feel weak. Allowing myself to be honest with no regrets. 

I am learning that there is power in yielding, submission and surrender because my own way of controlling things is not power at all if it's not pleasing God. Letting go and giving God control is where my power lies. I can offer my opinion about the wrongs in this world, but I cannot change people or fix their messes.  

The pressure we feel to fix things in our own strength causes anxiety, shame, and an endless cycle of troubling thoughts. But we don't need to be on top of everything all the time. We shouldn't be ripping ourselves apart because we don't have it all together. 

God is there in our places of anger, shame and fear. He is waiting for us in all our messy places. He invites us to sit down and be honest with Him. God loves when we are needy with Him. Jesus can walk with us through every difficulty if only we would invite Him.

I invite you to watch this powerful conversation between four women who lay their hearts bare and share all the struggles they face in a world where women have a tremendous amount of pressure on them.

Women hide the most from other women. We hate looking weak or inadequate to other women. 

When we become so spiritually mature that we can be honest about our shortcomings and the places where we feel inadequate, there is a comfort and a freedom in that. A powerful woman produces fruit in her life, and she can't produce fruit when she hides her problems from God and from trustworthy friends. 

We all long for a support system, and life can be very lonely when we reject intimacy with God and don't talk to anyone about the things we are going through. 

WILL YOU REGRET WHAT YOU TREASURED?

 By Danelle Carvell

                                                

We store up treasures in many ways. We even put them on display. But the most important and most lasting thing about treasure is where you store it.

The Bible is filled with symbolism and words that have a much deeper meaning than what we first comprehend. Sometimes we have to dig deeper to learn the true meaning of a scripture. 

For example, Matthew 6:20 says, "But store up your treasures in Heaven, where moth, rust and vermin do not destroy and thieves do not break in and steal." 

When most people hear the word "treasure" they instantly think about something that is worth money. So they assume that storing up treasure on earth would mean doing things that build wealth. But there is a deeper meaning to the word treasure.  A treasure is not just about money and wealth. 

The biblical meaning of treasure is anything that you value; precious things that are important to you; even treasured thoughts that are stored up in your heart and mind. 

So what are some ways that we store up treasures on Earth rather than storing up treasures in Heaven? I've been asking for examples so I can write this post. I will start with the examples that I was led to today. 

• When your to-do list becomes an idol that directs your life 

A better way to live each day is to ask Holy Spirit to guide you moment by moment. A successful day is not accomplishing everything on your list. A successful day is one in which you have stayed in touch with God and talked to him about every aspect of your day. Even if things remain undone at the end of the day, you can feel good about what you accomplished because you surrendered the day to Him. 

When we plow through the day looking to our own ideas and preferences instead of asking God for guidance, we store up treasures on Earth. When we are too focused on checking off a to-do list, we miss things and people that God wants us to pay attention to that day.

We must allow for interruptions in each day. Because that interruption could be a divine appointment that he wants you to keep. Don't be so driven that your only goal is to accomplish the task at hand. Ask God to take charge and then welcome any surprises he brings, even the unpleasant ones. 

• Judging a situation based merely on your own perceptions.

My husband gave me this example this morning. He said that from now on he is going to stop coming to his own conclusions about people and situations. Instead he is going to take everything to the Lord and ask what is true, and good, and right from God's perspective. By doing this, we become more aligned with His will and His plans for us. 

The Lord told Samuel not to look at appearances or stature. "Man does not see what the Lord sees, for man sees what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

How often do we judge others based only on appearances. We need to pray for a discerning heart so we can rightly understand situations and people from a heavenly perspective. Discernment is one of the greatest assets we can have. The treasure of a discerning heart can be used for good and for nurturing the well-being of others. 

Almost anything we do that is not obedient to God's word can be used as an example of storing up treasures on Earth. When we don't navigate life from an eternal perspective, we get our priorities messed up. Being prideful, arrogant, overbearing, conceited or domineering is another example. God tells us to humble ourselves and then He will exalt us. 

My last example of storing up treasures on Earth instead of Heaven is:

•  The way we spend our time. 

Since Covid, I have become more aware of how valuable time is and how important it is for me to spend my time wisely. Being locked down for months made all of us realize how many hours there are in each day. Are we using those hours selfishly or are we loving God and people with the time that we have?

 I still have a long way to go, but I am training myself to ask God where he wants me to spend time each day. I'm trying to spend less time on social media and in front of the TV. Most of my TV-viewing these days is not Hallmark anymore. That used to be my go-to channel, but now I'm listening to prophets and teachers who are helping me to understand the times and seasons we are living in. 

What I want from television now is not just entertainment. I want to learn something that will change me. I want to be inspired to share things that will stir a greater love for each other and a heart for seeking God. Because living from an eternal perspective means living for more than just yourself. And that is a good place to end this post. 

Are you thinking about yourself and your own ideas and your own wants most of the time? Or are you storing up treasures in Heaven by asking God what He wants you to think about and do each day? Are your words and actions merely pleasing yourself or are they pleasing God? 

Where is your treasure being stored? And will you have regrets when your time here has passed? Because you can't come back and fix it once you're gone.