If you have ever worked in an office environment, or even a home environment, you’ll know that there are some days where you’re constantly putting out fires.

One problem gets resolved, while another one is brewing in the background.

It’s good to have conflict and struggle in life. It makes you appreciate the good times and the accomplishments of succeeding.

There have been times when I’ve seen God at work in my life, putting out the fires that come along. It’s in those times that I feel God closer to me than ever.

Just like in the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, God is always near.

Take time during the trials of life to recognize God. Look for His presence. See if you can figure out how God’s going to get you through the trial.

God’s looking for your trust in Him, especially in the fiery times of life. He’s waiting to see if you fall apart or stand with Him.

The story in the book of Daniel regarding the three men (Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego) tells where the men refused to bow down to King Nebuchandnezzar, and were thus thrown into a roaring furnace. They were litterally put into a fire, but their faith stood the test. They made it through without a burn or scratch. How? They trusted God to protect them and deliver them from the fire.

Where’s your faith when the fire gets hot?

Daniel 3:21 -22 - “Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics,[a] their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. 22 Because the king's order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. “

Suffering will take you to a new level of faith. Suffering is never anything that we hope for, but something we often avoid or dread.

God is the only one that can deliver us out of any trial.

All christians suffer. Either you have been through suffering, you are going through suffering or you will suffer in the future.

Our suffering is not random or without purpose.

There are several types of suffering. We can go through physical suffering, emotional and even spiritual suffering.

The one advantage in becoming a part of a church community is the group support that is available no matter what you’re going through.

Suffering can equip us for ministry. God may allow us to go through suffering, so that we can comfort others going through hard times.

God’s deliverance is His rescuing us from bondage or danger. Sometimes that deliverance is God simply walking through the trial by our side. He uses this time to comfort and encourage us, and to also mature us in our faith.

Are you going through a trial today? Ask God for help. Ask Him for a hiding place. Ask for deliverance.

Psalm 32:7 - “You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance.”

I grew up loving roller coasters. The faster and the more twists and turns, the more exciting. The ups and downs twists and turns made it all worth it.

Is your faith in God like a roller coaster? Do you find yourself so confident, on such a high that nothing can bring you down, and a few hours later you’re wallowing in self pity?

So how do we stop this roller coaster way of life? How do we balance our highs with our lows?

Faith is based on something that’s not seen. We can’t touch faith; we can’t visibly see faith. But, faith in God, gives us the ability to trust that whatever day God has planned for us, that He will be there through it all.

This also means that even though we may have everything going for us in the morning, when evening hits and things start to fall apart, our attitude shouldn’t change.

Faith = acceptance. Trust what is and accept what is to come.

2 Peter 3:9 - “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,[a] not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

Very few of us in America have experienced starvation, or even close to it. While other poor countries deal with this daily.

For Christians, the Bible is the voice of God communicating to us. It’s not a rule book, and it’s more than a collection of stories, and letters. Our foundation for a healthy relationship with God starts with communication. God’s word (the Bible) is His way of communicating with us.

If you’re not studying the Bible daily, then how are you going to keep the relationship with God going? Without God’s word guiding you each day, you’ll eventually run out of steam, slowing starving to the point of death of your salvation.

Rather than having a few verses that you’ve memorized, how about meditating on scripture, turning to scripture for strength and guidance.

The best kind of food for a Christian is to feed on God’s word. Get the hunger for righteousness that only God can fill. You’ll never be satisfied with what the world is offering.

Know the signs of spiritual starvation. Do you communicate with God daily? Does He know you and your needs? Are you filling your soul with His word?

Don’t neglect God’s provisions for you.

Isaiah 55:1 - “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”

God made man and God made a woman from the ribs of a man. He made us to be individuals, specifically different in a variety of ways.

Our conversations, whether intentional or casual can be interpreted to have different intentions. For example, my husband will ask, “are you ready to go?” I may say, “yes.” But in my mind, I’m multitasking, wondering how much I can accomplish before walking out the door. If I asked my husband whether he’s ready to go, he will usually respond with a yes, or no.

We can be intentional about many things, but are we intentional in our daily lives with God? Are we pursuing Him? Are we looking for ways to thank Him for our blessings? Does God interpret our relationship with Him as genuine, or are we intentionally leaving God out of our day?

How do others interpret your relationship with God? Or, do they even see you as Christian?

My prayer is that God is seeking me as I pursue Him. I pray that others see my intentions are pure and devoted to God.

Don’t let others get the wrong ideas about your intentions.

Intently ask God to show you how to love others and how to reveal to others your Godly intentions.

Ephesians 5:15 - “Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,”

Risks are a part of life. We take risks with people in relationships. We take risks in getting a job. We take a risk in getting in a car, on a plane, or crossing the road. We even take risks in what we eat.

But have you ever thought about taking risks with God? It’s different in taking risks with God in that it requires faith. For example, when I signed up for my first mission trip in 2017, I was unsure and nervous about the decision. I knew this was stepping out of the box for me, and wasn’t sure if I was ready for it. The risks were internal, emotional and spiritual.

But, for those of you who have followed my blog or read my book, Mission Possible, you know I did it! How? Faith. I trusted God in whatever was ahead of me. I trusted that He would be there every step of the way. My faith took me on a journey that although was rocky at first, landed me in the mission fields of Peru. You see, Satan likes it when he sees an opportunity, especially when we take risks. He wants us to fail and he will try anything to make us fail.

But, my God always wins! That’s my faith - 100% in God.

Try God. He’s worth the risks. Everything in this life is a risk. God uses people who are willing to take risks.

Are you in?

2 Timothy 1:7 - “For the spirit God gave us does not make u s timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”

Some families have their traditional holidays. Some, with some secret family recipes. This is a good thing. But, just try and get that secret recipe or secret ingredient that grandma puts in the pumpkin pie and you’ll realize soon that some things should be left alone.

There’s no secrets in God’s kingdom. There’s no mystery in how you can get to Heaven. God’s plan of salvation is laid out all throughout the Bible.

Romans 8:28 - “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,[a]for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Some people will look at the verse above and say, “just how do you know that God works out the good in all things.” Well, I can show you proof from the Bible, or I can tell you the times that He’s done this for me. And notice the end of the sentence. This is speaking to those who have been called for His purpose, not ours.

This means that God can take something that was meant for evil and turn it into something good.

He’s done it for me, many times and will do it for you. If and only if you give your life to Him.

What’s your family secret?

There’s no secret in God’s good plans for you. Trust Him today.

Have you ever crammed the night before an exam? Staying up all night, reviewing over and over again, you’re hoping, the most important items that will be on the test. And if you’re successful, you ace the test! Sometimes, it’s worth it, to cram for the test. But, what would happen if you actually studied all along the way, like from day one of the class?

Some people think they’re invincible. Some think they can wait until they’re all out of options, before turning to God. They will say, “I’ll let God in at the end of my life, when I’ve done all I want and need to do.” But, what if, tomorrow is the day you’ll be leaving this earth? You can’t cram in salvation then, can you? You can’t just say I’ve done some good things in my life, now, save me, God!

I’m not saying that you can’t be saved on your death bed, if you’re lucky enough to know you’re dying.

But, why waste your life? Don’t you want to live in peace, knowing that if you died tonight, you’d wake up in heaven? That’s such a wonderful feeling.

It’s not that I don’t have stress in my life. It’s what happens when I do have stress in my life that counts. I hand it over to God. Once my burdens are in His hands, I can be at peace. I can handle any test or trial that comes my way.

Don’t wait a day longer to give your life to God!

Proverbs 12:24 - “The hand of the diligent will rule, while the slothful will be put to forced labor.”