​NOTHING! NO-THING shall be impossible....with God. The bible says that, right?

​That day was a normal weekend day. No, really it wasn't normal. It was a relaxed weekend day because I was just enjoying being in the moment. Enjoying time with family. Just BEING, instead of being rushed, being busy, looking to the next thing on the list. It was not an extra special time, but it was. You know those days?

​We sat for hours just catching up, laughing, sharing and just being together. No agenda between meal times except to give attention to each other. (That makes for a happy day when we slow down enough to let it happen)

Conversation went from what others in the family had been up to recently, what would be for supper, and all the in between.

​Although, one thing stood out to me from this ordinary day. As we bounced around about everything we could think of, eventually the discussion turned to one of those ongoing problems and how she was still praying continually for circumstances to be changed for the better.

​I said, "Me too." And I was praying. BUT only when I thought about it. I couldn't say, honestly, I was continually praying. It was more like when 'something happened again'.

 Do you know what I'm talking about? That situation where it has been the same ole thing for what seems like forever and just appears this is how it will always be.

​I realized this situation has been going on so long, it is considered 'the normal'. Just the way it is. There has never been a 'how it used to be' to this situation. It has always been this way. It has always been messed up.

​I have since pondered and prayed about this situation often. I realized there are times in  life, when a situation isn't a NEW mess. NEW messes are easy to remember to pray about because they disrupt our normal. But one that's been dysfunctional for longer than we can remember can become easy to FORGET to pray about.

​​This issue, deal, or dysfunctional situation, whatever you call it, could be many things. Probably different for each of you reading. It may be the child who has grown up with a parent or sibling bound up in addiction. It could be the little girl, now grown, who longed for a relationship with her daddy and never got it. It could be a teenager living in turmoil trying hard to live up a parents unrealistic expectations. It could be many things. It could be your situation.

Sometimes it can feel we are asking for a wish or a dream to happen. We come to prayer and don't even know what to ask. We have never seen it healthy or right, the way it is meant to be.

​But today, this is the POINT to remember:
GOD is the One who speaks the Impossible, POSSIBLE!

​When it feels pointless to pray anymore, ignore the popular saying "it is what it is"! God is looking at the same situation with bigger eyes today. Eyes that can see the past, the present and the future.

​"For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment."
- adaptation of  Luke 1:37 ( Amplified Bible by Joyce Meyer)

​I love this verse in the KJV and the extra emphasis added by J Meyer too.
WITH GOD NOTHING, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE!

​God reminds us that He sees and He cares. He knows this situation seems, or has been, a lifetime. He knows the tears. He knows the sleepless nights and the depression and discouragement you feel. He knows.

"NOTHING is IMPOSSIBLE". Never Stop Praying! Keep Coming to Me. Lay your Hurts Down. I hear every word.
NOTHING. EVER. is impossible for ME.- God
​

Prayer for us today:
​Father, THANK YOU. Just thank you for being You, the One who holds the universe in place each day & brings the sun each morning. I praise you for speaking into my heart a word about my situation, that even when I can't imagine it ever changing so much for it to be the way you intended, YOU can! Father, I want to see what YOU see is possible in this! Please meet us today as we bow in prayer and begin to show us what You see. Begin to energize our Spirit to imagine what you are going to do in our situations. I ask you to first and foremost begin in our hearts today with the changes to better know the glory that is to come. Change my heart. Change her heart Lord. Change us to see you, hear you and love you more and more every day. In Jesus' precious name. Amen

PS..REMEMBER MAY 20TH!! *READY* Retreat Day! Cairo, GA

​Have you ever awakened to a feeling of complete overwhelm? Almost as if you are being swept over by the huge waves over & over again and about to drown?

​There are days like that for all of us. At times, those days turn into weeks or months before we feel we can catch our breath again.

​BUT GOD...He sees. He knows. He is working even in these times, when we feel like He has abandoned us.

THAT IS NOT HOW GOD WORKS! He never leaves us.  He is always there, even if we can't see it or feel it. He promises this to us all throughout the scriptures.

 Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”​- Deuteronomy 31:8

​My friend, Laurie, is allowing me to share a personal story on this very matter. Laurie is a gifted writer and her heart is so set on Him that it pours out through her life and her writings. The more I get to know her, the more I love her and I think you will too!

Laurie writes:
This morning I woke up without the best outlook on life. I try to write down what's in my heart before I spend time with God. I do this because it is unreal how he will often speak to the details. That's the process of hearing from God. I used to think it was so complicated but it's totally not.

Journaling is saying to God, I believe you're going to talk to me. I believe it enough to get out my pen.

It seems the more faithful I've been to do this, the more I "hear" from Him....

This morning my words to God were...
"I feel a little bit like I'm drowning today"...and I proceeded to whine. I can do that with Him. 😉He gets me. (I'm sure somebody can relate to the drowning bit, right??!-sw)

I almost left it at that. I got up to start laundry and pour another cup of coffee and I thought, I can't leave it like this. I decided to "check my gauges" (the word, the Holy Spirit, Godly friends) and see what God had to say about where I was today. So I opened my devotion for today and began to read.

Before I could even finish reading the devotion, I had to write,"well God, you've done it again"...

The scripture reading with the devotional included....
As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!” He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.””     - ‭‭Luke‬ ‭8:23-25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Needless to say, my perspective shifted and I am filled with faith and hope. And I'm reminded
"It is well 🎶...the waves and wind still know His name".

Check with God. He's in the smallest details of our life. Always ask him what he has to say about it. And when you ask, be ready to listen. Get your pen out!
​- Laurie Helton

​I know Laurie's story encouraged you too! I told her how great you all are :)
Give her a shout out today and let her know how much you loved it!

THIS IS SO COOL! If you love music like I do, this is a website to save to your favorites list. I am making my way through the different verse-songs now. I am still very new and I haven't picked a favorite to share...yet!

​The music I have heard so far is along the lines of Hillsong, Elevation and those sorts of praise & worship bands. The are short songs that are pure scripture. I may need to suggest to them that I need them to repeat the passage reference 50x over at the end of the song?? I have such a hard time with that part. I try.
​
​I was introduced to The Verses Project by a friend. Actually this friend is one of my former Sunday School class members! She was in 7 & 8th grade when I taught her and came to love her. She has since been to Asia for a year as a missionary, came back to finish college and is now working full-time while taking seminary classes. She is a Jesus girl.

​It makes my heart smile so big when I teach beginner youth kids and then get to see them spread their wings as they grow into their own person and their own faith! I have learned so much from 'my kids' throughout my time teaching youth. Many times, it was me who was taught just by loving on and listening to them.

​Things like this are just a constant reminder that no matter what I thought I was doing FOR God, it was God blessing ME. Always.

So take a minute to check out THE VERSES PROJECT today and find your verse for March to memorize.  If we listen to it once a day this month we will probably have it down. We may have to sing it when we quote it, but that will be fun too, right?!

​LET'S DO THIS! Let me know what verse YOU pick!​

In my personal opinion, the worst type of enemy is a back-stabber or anyone who betrays me, or anyone for that matter. I see trust as the cement to all relationships. Even in work relationships, there must be a level of trust and knowing someone has your back if there is going to be cohesiveness in the work place. Even more so in friendships and romantic relationships.

​So here goes a HARD lesson today...are we called to "LOVE" the back-stabbers too!!?! How can God expect us to love people that betray us? Is it even possible to love them? Let's look at some scripture and see.

JOHN 13: 1-15 ( just read this story & let it soak in a few minutes!)

What really got me as I read this story again:
Jesus even washed the feet of Judas...the one who was to betray him in just hours! Jesus KNEW Judas the one who would betray him! Jesus KNEW he was about to get stabbed in the back!!

BUT get this, He served & loved Judas anyway.

Jesus did not skip over him. Jesus did not smirk and mumble while washing his feet...He served & loved REGARDLESS.

Think about it! Jesus was giving up ALL of his glory, power and majesty he could have demanded from them. He gave it all up to serve in the lowest position for His friends and Judas, His betrayer!

​Now I know me and I am not sure  I could .... or WOULD do this for someone I knew  had betrayed me! Not only was Jesus being nice, He was serving Judas and the others by performing the task that was given to the lowest servant on the totem pole!! Washing feet was entry level and just down right nasty back then! It would be much easier for me to call Judas out & tell everyone of the injustice. The Judas(s) deserve to be shamed and held accountable, right??....Jesus says no, not by YOU Sheila. Ouch

It is easy to serve & love the ones who appreciate our efforts but not the 'Judases'. It is humanly impossible to love those who betray us, but with God ALL things are possible. Jesus example is a hard one to follow when the last thing we feel like doing is good to those who hurt us and therefore 'do not deserve it' in our eyes.

The moment we deem the 'Judas(s)' unworthy of love will probably be the moment the Holy Spirit reminds us that WE DID NOT DESERVE SALVATION EITHER, but Jesus didn't withhold it from us.   (another punch to the heart)

​So HOW can we LOVE one who has betrayed us? Christian agape love is different than a friendship love or romantic love. Christian LOVE means you work diligently to forgive the offender, through prayer, godly council and obeying what God leads you to do to overcome this hurt. Christian love doesn't mean you have to invite them to dinner or do lunch on a regular basis.

This choice to LOVE the 'Judas" is between you & God more than between you and the offender really.  It doesn't mean what the offender did is excused, it only means you want a growing relationship with God MORE than you want revenge.

To love and serve requires that we forgive.  Can you say H.A.R.D? But remember, with God all things are possible!

I can promise that change will come when you begin to work through the hurt and anger, going to God in prayer AND a willingness to be obedient to what He tells you! He will begin to change YOUR heart and the way you think of that offender. It won't be easy or overnight, but He WILL make it happen if we truly want it.

He begins with us. He grows our heart's ability to see what Jesus did for us as we betrayed Him. Only when we understand that forgiveness, can we begin to forgive and love others in that Christ-like way!

The more I study the Bible and get to know my Jesus, the more I see how amazing He is! The night before he was to be crucified, he didn't ask for a special event. He didn't fall into a pity party. He didn't make it about himself at all!

​Jesus used his last night with the disciples to SERVE them. Jesus HUMBLED himself by washing the disciples feet. He SHOWED them by example on his last day of life what they were to do for others.

Jesus taught them that night to SERVE & LOVE even the betraying back-stabber.

Jesus showed us- YOU SERVE & LOVE Me & Others, God takes care of the rest.  John 13:1-15