Happy Independence Day

[Judy Harder]

Accepting Yourself

Oh Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. - Psalm 130:8

Many people seem to go about life with a kind of bravado . . . bold confidence and self-assurance. The truth, however, is that most of us wish we were different somehow. If only you were as outgoing as Jack . . . if you were as physically fit as Mary . . . if you had the financial sense of Tom . . . a full head of hair like John . . . or the quick wit of Connie. While it's okay to admire good traits in others, often this desire to be like someone else is actually a form of covetousness, or envy. So, how about learning to accept yourself as God has made you.

Before you can truly accept yourself, however, you need to see the truth about yourself, recognizing both the gifts and the limitations that God's given you. If you don't, you will constantly struggle to be someone you're not. 

One way to appreciate how God has made you is to read Psalm 139. The psalmist rejoices, "Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it."  (139:14) 

Each of us is unique and special . . . embraced and accepted by God himself . . . even though not one of us is perfect. Spiritual renewal cannot begin until you're willing to accept yourself as God made you. Once you accept the truth about yourself your focus can change . . . and you can bring great glory to God himself. He, after all, is the one who made you, and He is the reason we live.

"I am somebody. I am me. I like being me. And I need nobody to make me somebody."  - Louis L'Amour (1908-1988)

[Judy Harder]

When Tragedy Strikes

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.  - Psalm 46:1, 11

Knowing how to respond to tragedy is never easy. Maybe it's the terrible sense of loss you feel. Perhaps it's the desire to know why the tragic event happened that leaves you feeling alienated and alone. Was it something you did? Was it someone else's fault? Why did God allow it to happen? These questions usually go unanswered because "Why?" is almost always the wrong question. 

Remember Job? The Bible tells us Job was a godly man. Yet, he lost everything . . . his wealth, family, and his health. Why did all of this happen, especially to such a good man? When you read the story of Job, you'll discover his suffering was the result of spiritual warfare. Yet, Job didn't know this. His friends accused him of secret sin.  And as time passed Job grew increasingly upset and confused. He even began to question God's sense of justice.

In the end, however, Job's arguments were silenced before God.  While God never explained fully to Job why the disasters had befallen him, he did bring Job to a place of humble surrender. This increased Job's understanding of God and gave him the proper perspective to continue life. Neither Job nor any other man who has suffered a serious loss can ever fully understand why a catastrophe has happened. But if you're willing to seek God and surrender your life and your situation into his powerful hands, he'll do a work in you and through you that will restore your spirit and bring Him honor and glory.

"Tears are often the telescope by which men see far into heaven." - Henry Ward Beecher (1830-1887)

[Judy Harder]

Equipping the Called

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us. - Ephesians 3:20

When God called Moses to go before Pharaoh, Moses basically told God that He was making a mistake choosing him. God became angry, but Moses made an impact. God understood the fear Moses was experiencing and provided him with an assistant. 

You often think that God can't or wouldn't use you because of your past mistakes, or because you're not worthy. Do you think you're going to limit God and His power to use the most unlikely people in the most unlikely situations? I don't think so. I heard a pastor say, "God doesn't call the equipped, he equips the called!" I love that, because it means that God works through people like me who are the underdogs . . . the outcasts . . . the defeated. 

Remember the story of Balaam . . . how God spoke through his donkey? If he can use a donkey, he can use you, or even me! The Bible shows example after example of God using the least likely people to accomplish His will. David to slay Goliath. Moses to speak to Pharaoh. Gideon and a band of three hundred men to defeat the Midianites. A ragtag team of fishermen to turn the world on its heels with the good news of Jesus. 

They all had in common a willingness to be used by God. He just wants you to make yourself available to Him. You don't have to have it all together. If you wait for that, you'll never be ready. And don't get caught in the paralysis of analysis. Just express your will¬ingness to be used by God for His purpose, and take the first step to do something today. Don't limit yourself. God doesn't!

"It's kind of fun to do the impossible." - Walt Disney (1901-1966)

[Judy Harder]

Jesus Didn't Hurry

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. - Ecclesiastes 3:1

One of my staff members has a habit of reminding me that Jesus was never in a hurry. I'm always in a hurry, hoping for quick answers and looking for motion in the direction I want to go. But then I hear him say it again . . . "Jesus was never in a hurry."

I've thought about that and it makes me think of using a crock pot. The most tender, juicy meat you can fix is in a slow cooker. And, that's how it is with healing. Healing is a process that won't be hurried. It's a slow cooker experience. And if you accept that, it will take the pressure off you to finish it up.

God desires for you to pay attention to Him and his creation in your life each day. When you race through life doing everything as fast as you can, you miss some pretty awesome things along the way. Every challenge, every growth opportunity, every surprise that comes your way is an opportunity for your to look for God. 

Healing can be slow, but it doesn't mean you're not growing. Allow it to slow cook and you'll have a tastier recovery filled with some mouth watering nuggets of wisdom. Let the Master Chef do His job with you.

Jesus was never in a hurry. Why are you?

"Don't count every hour in the day, make every hour in the day count." - unknown

[Judy Harder]

Letting Go and Moving On

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. - 1 Corinthians 13:11

When was the last time you tried to break a habit, an old idea, a negative behavior pattern, or an unhealthy emotional recording from the past? It's not easy! Even though you know you need to, even though you know it would be a good thing to do and will result in a healthier or happier state, it's just a pain. And you'd rather live in the comfort of your misery, or so you think.

We often react like two year-olds whose parents are taking the bottle away. Tantrums, meltdowns, and tears always seem to be a part of the process.

What are you holding on to? What from the past are you hanging on to that you need to let go of? You know the things that tear you down and keep you from emotional health, but you just hang on to.

How many times has God given you the opportunity to give those things up because they keep you isolated and stuck, even poisoning your spirits? But it means letting go. That "S" word again . . . surrender. 

It takes a willing spirit. But you can walk in the victory that the Lord has already given you, if you choose it. Choose it today!

"Faith, as Paul saw it, was a living, flaming thing leading to surrender and obedience to the commandments of Christ." -A.W. Tozer (1897-1963)

[Judy Harder]

Not Too Broken to Fix

Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. - Jeremiah 29:12

I've had times in my life where I felt I was too broken to fix. Have you had those times? Are you in one of those times now? Do you know someone in one of those times?

I say, "one of those times," because that's what it is. 

None of us are ever too broken to fix. But we've all been in a spot where we felt so stuck that we thought we'd be there forever.  Haven't you felt that you were going to die in that spot because you were stuck there so long, and you couldn't see a way out, and you were getting comfortable being stuck?

Healing and recovery can be a long road. But if you take the first step, the road is one step shorter. And if you take the second step, it's two steps shorter. And you keep taking steps and the hope in¬creases and you don't worry any more that you'll be swallowed up with fear and you won't be paralyzed by the long road ahead. 

You'll get to a point that you'll look back and see how far you've come. You'll recognize that God honored your decision to take a step toward healing. He honored your decision to connect with others. 

"Never look down to test the ground before taking your next step; only he who keeps his eye fixed on the far horizon will find the right road." - Dag Hammarskjold (1905-1961)

[Judy Harder]

The Wait

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in Him, to the one who seeks Him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. - Lamentations 3:25-26

Do you find waiting tough? Most twenty-first century people do. We don't want to wait in traffic, wait in line, wait for the economy, or wait for a table. So the thought of waiting on God sets us back on our heels. We think our timing is what matters and then God says, "Wait!" And it can be especially difficult to wait on God. 

Look at this great promise from the prophet, Isaiah. "Those who wait on the Lord will find new strength. They will fly high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary.  they will walk and not grow faint." (40:31). And the prophet, Jeremiah, said, "The Lord is wonderfully good to those who wait for Him and seek Him. 

The Lord will reward you for waiting upon Him. You can remain calm when it appears that nothing is happening when you think it should. Waiting is a response contrary to the ways of the world. But when you learn to wait, you'll find the winds of adversity will lift you up, like wind beneath the wings of an eagle, instead of knocking you down. As you develop a patient faith in God, you will be able to endure to the end of the race . . . and win. As you seek God and wait on Him to complete His work in your life, you will be find strength. Try it and see!

"I couldn't wait for success, so I went ahead without it." - Jonathan Winters (1925-    )

[Judy Harder]

Honestly Admitting Our Needs

Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in Heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him. - Matthew 7:9-11

Are you reluctant to ask for help? You're definitely not alone. Too many of us are unwilling to admit we need help. We think it's a sign of weakness. But it's really a sign of pride and self-sufficiency, both which go against the grain of a healthy dependence upon God and the power of His Holy Spirit in our lives. 

God wants to give you good things. He's hoping you'll humbly admit that you have needs. Don't be afraid to ask others for help.  Remember, God made us to relate to one another, to love one an¬other. We weren't made to live life alone. If you're "the strong" one that is always lending a hand and seeing to it that others are taken care of, it's hard for you to let someone know you need help, but it's important that you do.

We need more two way streets in our Christian community.

"Refusing to ask for help when you need it is refusing someone the chance to be helpful." - Ric Ocasek (1949-    )

[Judy Harder]

Recovery is Like an Onion

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. - Galatians 5:25

Someone smarter than me said it: "Recovery is like an onion. All the layers that exist have to be peeled away." Well, if you're a connoisseur of onions, you know that there are different varieties. Some are really powerful and when you barely touch them they produce tears. Others are pretty sweet and they barely affect you when you chop them up.

And so it is with your peeling the layers in your healing process. Some layers will affect you more than others. But, if you realize that it's a process, and that God is with you every step of the way, you can face the pain of your past so that you can move beyond it and heal. Also, consider this: You are in the present. You lived through the reality, whatever and whenever it was, so you can certainly live through the feelings and memories of the reality today.

Make your one desire to be made whole and to be as much like Christ as you can be. When you do, you'll find God putting on your heart the desire and the courage to carry the message of hope and healing to those who are stuck in their pain.

Embrace the pain of the recovery and healing process. It will remind you that God is in control and you're being held in his arms, tight and secure as He walks you through it. It's means you'll take some steps of faith, and that will be pleasing to God and healing to you.

"We are all broken and wounded in this world. Some choose to grow strong at the broken places." - Harold J. Duarte-Bernhardt (1950-    )

[Judy Harder]

Reframing

The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. - Psalm 98:2

Have you ever had one of those days where nothing was going your way, and you just felt like God was against you? I know it's an over-inflated ego thing to think that way. But that's partly why I wrote my book, Reframe you Life. In that book I try to outline how you can change the way you view your life. 

Have you ever sat in the doctor's office waiting for the doctor, and he's running late. You become irritated at the doctor and his lack of consideration for other people's schedules. But instead of getting irritated, have you ever thought to use that time to think through more carefully what issues you want to discuss with the doctor, or to stop and think about your day, your week, or the things you want to do and people you want to call, or stop and use the quiet moment to spend some time praying for your friends and family. 

That's just a small example of reframing your thinking. Reframing will keep you from asking the "why" questions in life and just accept those things that don't have answer and move on. Yes, there's still pain to work through, but it helps to realize that everything in life hasn't been targeted to you. God is not your abuse. He is not your past. He is not all the bad and hurtful things that happened to you. He is a loving God who wants the very best for you and who went to great lengths to let you know how valuable you are. So valuable that he allowed his Son to go to the cross for you. 

Learn to reframe your thinking and you'll see life differently than you ever have.

"I'm not funny. What I am is brave." - Lucille Ball  (1911-1989)