“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

The other day someone introduced herself to me as “Plan B”. I had arranged to have a speaker for a mothers meeting at my son’s school. The original person invited couldn’t make it. Hence, “Plan B”. After listening to what “Plan B” had to share with the moms, I was once again reminded how God’s “Plan B” is so much bigger, richer and more fulfilling than our “Plan A.”

For those of us who are “planners”, sometimes known as “type A” people, it is oftentimes difficult to renounce control in the situations that present themselves around us. Joanna Weaver, author of “Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World”, writes regarding Romans 8:28: “It is God’s purposes, not mine, that must prevail. He is concerned not only with the individual need, but with the corporate need as well. God wraps up my good with your good and the good of both of us with the good of others. The plot lines of our individual stories weave together to form His master plan. Nothing is wasted. Nothing is left out. He knows the beginning from the end and He operates accordingly.”

Allowing ourselves the ability to relinquish control makes opportunities for God to fulfill His plan in our life as well as in the lives of others. Don’t get me wrong, being prepared and planning ahead are great qualities to cultivate in your life. But it is also important to remember that the shortest way from point “A” to point “B” is not always a straight line! As Weaver says, “There are no detours in God’s story line.” Everything has a purpose. What may appear to be a complication or a “bump in the road” may just become an opportunity to let God do something really wonderful in your life.

Seventeenth century satirist, Jean de la Bruyere, wrote “Man has but three events in his life: to be born, to live and to die. We are not conscious of our birth; we suffer at our death and most forget to live.” Are you really living, making every day really count or are you just trying to control every area of your life? My prayer is that we will not be so caught up in the planning or in the process of trying to get things done that we don’t live our lives to the fullest….God’s fullest for us.

My prayer is that God would help us to relinquish control. That we would allow God to be God in our lives. Scary as it may seem, let go of the controls! Life on auto-pilot is no where as exciting or as fulfilling as letting God work all things together for His good!

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” Proverbs 19:21

Recently in my devotional reading, I came upon a passage of scripture that intrigued me. Numbers 27:1-11. There are few references to the daughters of Zelophehad in the bible and yet they are responsible for a historical change in rules regarding Hebrew inheritance laws when there is no son to carry on the name of a deceased man.

The story goes like this. Zelophehad dies without having a son to continue his name. As a result, his daughters are not able to receive their father’s portion of the Promised Land. (Having had no son, the continuation of his family name depended on his heirs receiving land in his name.)

In a day and age when having a son was paramount, can you imagine what Zelophehad thought each time his wife gave birth to another girl! Here are the names of the girls and the meaning of their names:

Mahlah: Sickness
Noah: Timid
Hoglah: Partridge (or a bird that can not fly)
Milcah: Queen or loved one
Tirzah: Beloved or favored one

It is hard to understand why the first three daughters had such negative names. We need to remember that in ancient times, a name was not necessarily given at the moment of birth. Many named their children when they were toddlers and gave them their names according to the attributes they represented. Perhaps Mahlah was a sickly child and maybe Noah was timid but why would you name a child after a bird that cannot fly? Perhaps after time, and the recognition that Zelophehad would have no sons, Zelophehad was able to appreciate the unlikely gift of another two daughters….and their names show it.

I can’t imagine the first three sisters thinking they could ever present their right to fight for their inheritance before men like Moses, Eleazar the priest and the whole assembly of Israel. We don’t know the actual facts; but one can only assume that the two other sisters managed to convince them that they needed to speak as one and honor their father’s name. They weren’t asking for anything unjust in their eyes, being girls was just not reason enough to lose their inheritance. At a time when men had the final word, a lack of inheritance for these women meant they had no home, no chances for soliciting future marriages, in other words, without this inheritance they had no chance for a future. These brave gathered their courage and in one voice brought their petition for their father’s land before Moses and the leaders of Israel.

It was through the fearless of these five sisters that Moses brought their case before the Lord (Verse 5-7) and not only did they receive their inheritance, history was made for future generations who would petition for their rightful inheritance.

After reading these passages I felt like the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart regarding these five fearless women. These sisters challenge me to remember that no person, no demeaning words that were spoken to me or any act that occurred in my past has the power to hold me back from becoming the person God wants me to be or fulfilling the plan that God has for my life.

You may have woken up this morning feeling like your name is Mahlah, Noah or Hoglah but you need to remember that each of us has a destiny to fulfill and it is not your external value that determines it. You cannot amputate your history from your destiny. God calls common people to take uncommon stands!

Stand firm and take your rightful inheritance in Christ and fulfill that which the Lord has placed before you…..you are beloved and favored in God’s eyes!

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!”

P.S. Just as a footnote, Numbers 36:11 mentions that all the sisters find husbands. I love a happy ending!

Mahatma Gandhi once said, “If Christians lived according to their faith, there would be no more Hindus left in India.” It is said that this famous man of peace was captivated with the thought of knowing Jesus Christ. But it is said that when he met Christians, he felt let down by their example. Wow! Unfortunately, many people, like Gandhi, are attracted by the life and teachings of Jesus but are often disappointed when they meet Jesus’ followers.

Paul reminded the Christians at Corinth that “you are a letter from Christ, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stones but on tablets of human hearts.” (2 Corinthians 3:3) Evangelist, Dwight L Moody, said “Of one hundred men, one will read the Bible; the nine-nine will read the Christian.” And so goes the challenge, when someone meets us for the very first time, what do they think of us? Do we disappoint them or do we lead them towards Christ?

As Christians we should have Godly morals and values. Our words and our actions should represent Christ….but is that always the case? And is just being interpreted as a good and honest person enough to lead someone to Christ? Paul tells believers in 1 Thessalonians 1:6-8 that they should be “imitators of us and of our Lord’s” The believers testimony was so strong it says that “The Lord’s message “rang out” from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia, your faith in God has become know everywhere.”

God has been challenging me recently that my impression on people should be something more than just being a “good and honest” person. I ask myself, when people meet me do they sense that my kind actions are really the reflection of God’s unconditional love in my life or just the reflection of a good and moral upbringing?

For most Christians, myself included, it is difficult to take that extra step and let people know that the difference in us is Jesus. Most times we struggle with what will happen after the initial invitation. Will they still like us after they know we are a Christian or will they reject us? And perhaps even more so, are we willing to invest ourselves into them once we present them to Jesus? Sometimes it is just easier to be nice and hope that they will figure it out on their own. But the fact of the matter is, is that it was the agape love of Jesus that set us free.

Today, just as in ancient times, we are the living message of a living savior. Challenge yourself today to really think about what people observe about you when they first meet you. Are you a “living letter read by everyone”? The apostle Paul understood how important it was to represent Christ. Whether you are a minister, a pastor’s wife or a member of a local church, is your life worthy of imitation?

“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” Philippians 4:9

“And who knows but that you have come to a royal position for such a time as this?”
Esther 4:14

Lately, the Lord has been bringing to my mind several stories from the Bible about women who were fearless. Women such as the daughters of Zelophehad, the woman with the issue of blood, Rahab and lastly Esther.

I think the majority of us know the story of Esther and how she was able to save not only her own life but that of the Jewish people. God had led her to a specific place at a specific time for a specific purpose. A lot of times it seems like our destiny always seems to knock at our door when we are in the middle of a crisis and already feel overwhelmed and stressed out. Isn’t it fascinating how God can use a crisis to turn the direction we are walking in? It is when we are confronted with a crisis that God knows we are in a position to bring about our purpose or destiny…perhaps that is because it is during times of crisis that we are forced to depend on Him.

Many times the fulfillment of God’s purpose for our life requires much more than we are capable of. Esther realized that she had to take a huge risk if she was going to fulfill her purpose. As Beth Moore says, “Destiny can single out one person, but many times the decision that that person makes can have incredible and lasting consequences for others. Our destiny is not only vertical (God – man) but also horizontal (Man-man).”

I am sure that Esther did not feel very brave when she read the letter that her uncle had written her about the extermination of the Jewish people, or for that matter, when she walked before the king knowing she could face death for her brazenness. In one moment she went from a pampered queen to the leading protagonist in the liberation of her people. What we need to remember is that even though it seems as if God has put us in the wrong place at the wrong time, God has given us the dominion just for that situation!

“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

Every one of us has a decision to make. None of us are born brave, it is something we learn. It is possible that there is just one decision between you and the fulfillment of your destiny and purpose. Your external value can’t determine your destiny nor can your past determine your destiny.

“Sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world and the despised things, and that things that are not, to nullify the things that are, so that no one might boast before Him.” I Cor. 1:26-29

Today, God wants to ask you something very important questions.

Will you be a woman who lives fearlessly?
Will you take the risk necessary to fulfill your purpose and plan for God?
Will you live without fear of your destiny?

“And who knows but that you have come to a royal position for such a time as this?”
Esther 4:14

Today God gives you the opportunity to become the leading protagonist in the fulfillment of you destiny. What decision will you make?

BE A FEARLESS WOMAN!

“Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.” ! Cor 2:9

We live in dangerous times today. There is a real battle going on for your soul. We live in a world where it seems that what is “wrong” is right and what is “right” is wrong. Television, movies and media will try to convince you that you need what the world has to offer, but the truth is that they don’t often tell you that what they have to offer you is only momentarily pleasurable and oftentimes leads to pain and despair.

The saddest thing of all is that for many Christians, their relationship with the Lord is so superficial that they are constantly tempted to put aside what they know to be true for temporary pleasure.

“For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.”

Staying true to your convictions isn’t always easy. It almost seems that if you maintain biblical standards you are the odd man out. Talking about topics such as alcohol, (Should it be forbidden or is it not really relevant in today’s culture?) premarital sex, (Is it ok if you are engaged to be married or should you really wait until afterwards?) and even the Pentecostal experience itself, (Is it really outdated and not apart of our postmodern world?) create arguments not only amongst the unbeliever but amongst the body of Christ. There are times when I feel like maintaining Biblical values and standards make me look like a legalistic dinosaur!

Today more than ever, we need to stand firm in what the Bible teaches us. We need to be confident of what we believe in. Regardless as to whether everyone else seems to be moving in another direction, we need to know that we are standing firm in what we know to be true: God wants us to be a light unto the lost and become holy like He is holy.

My prayer is that you will read the Word, study the Word and know the Word! Use the Bible as a guideline for your decision making. Don’t let other people try to tell you what it right and what is wrong. Don’t be controlled by your desires or the wants and needs of others. Learn to recognize truth! Remember, we are living in dangerous times!

“But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation. If you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel. Col. 1:22-23

II Corinthians 3:2-3 & 5
“.. ²You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. ³You show that you are a letter of Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the Living God, not on tablets of stone but on the tablets of human hearts… .not that we are competent in ourselves, but our competence comes from God.”

WOW! What a challenge! These verses remind me that my words, my actions and my life itself are an open book to those around me. After reading those verses, I began to wonder what do people really see when they come in contact with me. Do they see me as a child of God who reflects the image of Christ, or do they see someone who is always frustrated trying to live by the letter of the law or perhaps as someone who is constantly trying to please others and conform to the teachings of the world?

Verse five reminds me that in my own strength I can do nothing that will draw people to Christ. It reminds me that I must depend on Him, completely, for any growth in my personal walk and for any ministry that proceeds from me.

So many times we worry about what others think about us, but I wonder how many times we worry about what kind of example we are for our children? (For those of you who don’t have children, we all have children that we influence) What kind of image do they perceive about us when it’s “just us” behind closed doors?

Psalm 101:2 inspires me! “I will lead a life of integrity in my home.” I ask myself, do my actions coincide with my words or do my children see me preach one thing and then do another? I think the greatest gift we can give our children is a life full of consistency. They need to see an example of a person who is doing their best to live for Christ and Christ alone. Of course there will be times when we make mistakes (we are human) but how important is it for our children to see parents who really live what they believe? Psalm 119:5 encourages me to live a life that reflects the image of Christ. “Oh that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees.”

That’s the kind of image I want to show my children and to those around me. I don’t mind if people see me struggle or even fall at times. What I want is for them to see is that I can acknowledge when I make a mistake, that I am willing to ask forgiveness and then am able to move on towards becoming the person God wants me to become.

Father, may my life always be seen as a letter from Christ written to those that know me, a letter that reflects the image of Christ.

“So we keep praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. Then the name of the Lord Jesus Christ will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is made possible because of the grace of our God and our Lord Jesus Christ.” II Thessalonians 1:11-12

Recently I was talking to a friend about what her most favorite things are and I began to think about mine. I have always had a love affair with flower gardens and butterflies! When my husband and I were dating, we would take long walks in Botanical Gardens and local parks. To this day we still love to take a stroll, holding hands, relating how our day has gone or what’s on our hearts.

When the Thomas Kinkade pictures became famous, I was fascinated with his renditions of gloriously beautiful garden landscapes. When I was a young girl, one of my favorite books was called “The Secret Garden” and one of my favorite hymns is (I know this dates me) “In the Garden”. I think you are getting the picture! I love flower gardens! They are a place where I can leave the worries and cares of life behind and spend quiet time with the Lord.

In this busy hectic life, it isn’t always easy to “take time and smell the roses.” But oh how important it is! Psalm 27:7-8 touched my heart during a particularly busy week.

“My heart has heard you say “come and talk with me” and my heart responds, “Lord I am coming.” (NLT)

What an invitation and yet how many times have we heard that still small voice calling out to us, whispering words of hope and comfort, and we have pushed it aside thinking “I’m just too busy” or “I can do this on my own”. My heart breaks to think of how the Lord must see us, running in circles helplessly, while He has the very peace and joy that we need if we would only call out to Him. My prayer is that I will listen to that small still voice, that I will enter into that secret place where only God and I exist, a place where I can leave refreshed and strengthened.

Take time to find that special place, wherever that is for you, and call out to God
“Lord I am coming!”

“The Lord will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength. You will be a well watered garden, like an ever flowing spring.” Isaiah 58:11 (NLT)

Poem

My Secret Garden
By Ellen DiTrolio

I go to my secret garden and meet
with my Savior there.
It’s a safe place and a haven,
a place where my heart knows no despair.

It is there in our secret garden,
He whispers His love to me.
Like a soft and refreshing fragrance
His love washes over me.

It is there that I am reminded
of who He is and what He has done for me.
A place of hope and renewal,
I rest in the shade of the trees.

For it is there He surrounds me with His presence.
What peace, o glorious mystery!
That when He sees me, He sees not my failures,
But only the Me that I can be.

I am like the bud of a flower in our garden.
Its beauty yet unseen,
Yet with promise of new life and glory
I feel His power flowing throughout me.

You water me with your presence
like the fresh dew from day to day.
You feed me and guard me from danger,
so that my roots are strong and do not sway.

And one day when I least expect it,
You whisper words of love to me.
“Now is your moment to flourish,
to open wide your delicate heart.
To look up towards me your creator
and to behold your purpose and its part.

For now is the time I have chosen
to reveal myself to thee,
as your King, your beloved and your savior,
I am He who has set you free!

Free to be who I made you,
regardless of what people may perceive.
It is you who will carry my fragrance,
the very essence of me!

Let me use your unusual beauty,
the beauty man can not see.
To draw them closer to me,
to reflect my glory in thee!

Have no fear my little flower
of what you are to be.
I your Father and Creator
walk beside you in victory!

Open your heart like the flowering petals,
for the time of your blooming has come.
The time to leave the shelter of my garden
and to make my fragrance known.

Don’t be afraid I will always walk with you.
Dare to embrace my purpose for you.
I will bless you, use you and flow through you.
For the day to bloom has come!”

“For your unfailing love is higher than the heavens, your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.” Psalm 108:4 (NLT)

On the nights that I have a hard time falling asleep, (unfortunately there are many) when
praying, reading, getting out of bed, or having a cup of hot chocolate don’t work, I resort to my final sleeping method: Using the letters of the alphabet to describe the attributes of God. (Awesome, Bountiful, Constant) … I know simple minds, simple pleasures! There are many nights when I go through the list two or three times before I sleep. (The goal is to use a different word each time around!) But I always stop and linger on the letter “F” because I always use the same word: “Faithful”, God has truly been faithful to me.

Have your ever read Psalms 136? Read it and be blessed! Twenty-six times the phrase
“His faithful love endures forever!” (NLT) is repeated. Can you imagine David heralding the great works of God and all the Israelites responding in one voice, “His faithful love endures forever!” WOW!

This week God performed an incredible miracle in our lives. One of those situations where you know that you just have to stand back and pray “Your will be done” because there is absolutely nothing humanly possible that can change your situation. Well God did just that!! For the last two days all I been thinking about are adjectives to describe God’s faithfulness to us! If you want to be blessed, think upon some of these words and see just how many times they are used in the Bible: (NIV)

Faithful: 157 Unfailing love: 25 Faithfulness: 50 Gracious: 46 Loving: 13 Amazing: 25
Trustworthy: 25 LOVE: 697 Merciful: 21

Blessed beyond words, I leave you with the words of the famous hymn, “Great is thy Faithfulness.” When life seems difficult or perhaps even like God doesn’t seem to be answering your prayers, remember GOD IS FAITHFUL! That doesn’t mean He’s only faithful when He answers our prayers, no, God is faithful in the good, in the bad and even
when we can’t perceive it. GOD IS FAITHFUL!

“Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father. There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not; As Thou hast been Thou forever will be.”
“Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, Sun, moon and stars in their courses above. Join with all nature in manifold witness, To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.”
“Pardon for sin and a peace that endures. They own dear presence to cheer and to guide. Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
“Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand has provided, great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!”

“Work at peace at living with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.” Hebrews 12:14-15 (NLT)

It’s a fact…life always isn’t easy. The truth is that people will let you down and that bad things happen to good people. Very few people go throughout life without facing a disappointment, a crisis or a tragedy. What is interesting to see, is how each person faces that crisis and even more so, how they are after the crisis.

It is easy to blame God when things go wrong. But the fact of the matter is that as long as we continue to live in a world where sin runs rampant, we will continue to suffer the consequences of living in such a world. The difference for believers is that we can go through difficult times knowing that we can be accompanied by a loving and caring God if we choose to. So the real question is; “When life treats you wrong…will you end up bitter or better?”

So what’s the key to keeping bitterness at bay in your heart? Daily renewal! Psalms 51:10-12 tells us:

Create in me a clean heart oh God; renew a loyal spirit in me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation,
and make me willing to obey you.”

While I know that God doesn’t make bad things happen, He does allow them to happen in our lives. We have the opportunity to choose whether we will grow and learn from the experience or whether we will become bitter. It is a daily struggle…but not unachievable.

The next time someone lets you down or things don’t go the way you planned or you are faced with an injustice, you get to choose, will you be bitter or will you come out of that experience a better person?

“No dear brothers and sisters I have not achieved it, but I focus on one thing, forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.” Philippians 3:13 (NLT)

There will always be critics. It seems at times that no matter what you do, it just isn’t good enough for some people. There will be times when others just won’t understand the motives behind your actions. That’s when we really need to rethink why we do what we do? Matthew 26:6-13 tells us the story of a woman who gave the best she could for her savior and then was actually criticized for it.

Matthew 26:6 begins our story: “There came to him (Jesus) a woman having an alabaster box of very precious perfume and poured it on his head as he sat eating.” Sounds beautiful right? Well listen to verse eight. “But when the disciples saw it they had indignation saying “why this waste? They asked. This perfume could have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.” This unnamed woman had given her most prized possession to anoint her Lord and yet she was criticized by all those who witnessed the event. I can imagine the shame she must have felt upon hearing those words. But listen to what Jesus tells her “Why are bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing for me….Wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” (vs. 10, 13) WOW!

It is estimated that at that time, the perfume stored in her alabaster box represented up to one years wages. Its fragrance would last a long time not only because was it costly, it was a fragrance of the highest quality. It was with this fragrance on Him that Jesus would go to the cross. This unidentified woman gave her best not only because it represented its extreme costliness for her (this could have been the perfume she had saved for her own burial) it also represented her thankfulness and her gratefulness to a savior who had changed her life.

She gave all she had to honor her Savior. Reading this passage of scripture makes me wonder if I too am giving my best to my Savior or do I just give Him the “extras” in my life?

Sometimes when you give your best others will not always understand it. They may not even like it. But I’ve always tried to live by the philosophy “I can’t be responsible for other people’s actions, but I can be responsible for my own actions.” While the disciples could only think of the costliness, I wonder if the Host, Simon, a Pharisee healed from leprosy, understood her reckless abandon. Isn’t it interesting how the same event can have different effects on people? What the woman gave, she did for Christ and not for anyone else in that room.

And so I ask myself, what is in MY alabaster box that I would be willing to give recklessly for my Lord? My prayer is that I will always be willing to do what the Lord asks of me, even if it is costly or even if it is painful, knowing that my actions will represent a thankful and grateful heart to my Lord.

Father, may the best of my life be a sweet smelling fragrance unto you.