So many of us are worried about fitting in. We’re so worried about being cool that we have forgotten what it is to make a stand for what is true.

The one true way of making a difference in this world is by igniting each of us by the spirit of God.

2 Timothy 3:12 - “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,”

It would appear from the verse above that maybe we’re afraid of persecution. Maybe we don’t want to speak up and tell others about Jesus, in fear of being ridiculed, laughed at, etc.

We all crave acceptance by others. We are on the wrong path when we seek most our validation of self-worth from the opinions of other people.

Think about this: when we are pursuing popularity as a means to happiness, we are flirting with idolatry.

God is the only one that can meet the needs of our personal worth.

Our desire to fit in should be found as having a good testimony in the world.

Fit into the mold God designed for you; not the world’s destructive idols.

Excuses were the beginning of sin, when the woman ate the apple and told God that the serpent deceived her and she ate the apple, believing satan instead of trusting God.

So, what’s your excuse? What’s your excuse for staying where you are? Are you in a stagnant relationship with God? Are you making excuses every Sunday why you can’t make it to church this time?

When God gives us direction, he expects cooperation, not excuses.

Or, are you feeling unqualified for what God’s called you to do? Are you His child, being obedient, but just afraid to lose the battle?

This is the time to ask God for strength. Just like in the song, “Confidence,” where it says, “give me faith like Daniel in the lion’s den; Give me hope like Moses in the wilderness; Give me a heart like David, Lord be my defense, So I can face my giants with confidence.”

Quit making excuses, avoiding God’s invitation. He’s asking you to trust Him and follow Him.

He’s got a plan for you to prosper. Quit stalling. He’s waiting.

Romans 2:1 - “Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things.”

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.”