Destined To Be A Diamond!

Having been engaged a number of times, actress Zsa Zsa Gabor was asked whether a lady should give back the ring. Her answer? "Of course, darling, but first, you take out the diamonds." While this is a bit humorous, the message rings true-diamonds are valuable!! Not only are they valuable, they are beautiful. One would be hard pressed to find a naturally occurring substance that is comparable in beauty to a diamond. However, the diamond's beginning is a far cry from the sparkling beauty of a stone we see in the end. Indeed, it is hard to believe that something as ugly as coal can be transformed into something as magnificent as a diamond. Even though this is possible, understand that it is not an easy or quick process. It is believed that coal has to be exposed to a temperature above 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit and pressure almost 50 times greater than that of the earth's surface, and it has to constantly be exposed to these conditions over a very, very, long period of time. Without these 3 conditions-pressure, heat and time, it would never transform into a diamond.

Every piece of coal does not become a diamond. Only the ones that stand up under pressure and heat over time are formed into this valuable stone. Ladies, we need to be diamonds! We need to reflect the light of the Spirit of God to a dark, dark world!

I like what James 1:2-4 says about the pressures of life: Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. 3 You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. 4 So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way. MSG

James says we should consider it a gift when we encounter challenges in life so that we are not lacking anything!

Sometimes we may tend to focus too much on the failures in our lives, finding it difficult to move beyond them. Or we look at our circumstances, how we were raised, or our past. No matter what circumstances we may find ourselves in, God can and does use those to transform us, if we will but let Him. In order to be exactly what God calls us to be, we must stand up under the pressures of life and come out on the other side as a diamond. I believe that God looks at each one of us and sees great potential, just like that ole chunk of coal! He sees what we are and what we are destined to become-a valuable, beautiful diamond!

I am reminded of a woman mentioned in Hebrews 11:31 named Rahab - By faith-because she believed God and his power-Rahab the harlot did not die with all the others in her city when they refused to obey God, for she gave a friendly welcome to the spies.

Rahab was a prostitute. There was probably no other less likely person than Rahab for God to use, yet He chose her to help the children of Israel! Think about all of the negative labels put on Rahab because of her past - prostitute, worthless, broken, and used, just to name a few. Not only did God choose her to help His people, He chose her to be in the lineage of King David on down to Jesus, and she wasn't even an Israelite! Talk about a transformation! She was able to move beyond her past, beyond the labels others put on her to become a heroine and directly in the lineage of royalty! God saw in her the great potential to become that glittering diamond.

What negative labels or past may be holding you back from becoming the beautiful diamond God has called you to be? How about critical person, a doormat, insecure, promiscuous, addict, manipulative, or average? You may be thinking, "Can God still use me, even with my past?" God says a resounding, "YES!" Or maybe your past isn't filled with those things, but you think to yourself, "I am so inadequate. God couldn't use me. I don't have enough education or enough opportunities or enough..." Just fill in the blank, you get the picture.

The story of Rahab should give all of us hope. Think of the major challenges she had to face. Yet she risked her own life to help God's people, stood up under pressure, and believed in God and his power. My, how it paid off big for her! And it will pay off for all of us who, like Rahab, will dare to believe in the God of power and the Master of transformation. Acts 10:34 makes it plain, "...It's God's own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites!" When it comes to God, He has no favorites. God could care less where we come from or our past, He just wants to know that we believe His word and in His power.

When we are tempted to want a life free from difficulties, let us remember that diamonds are formed under pressure. But how do we stand up under pressure? Simple-we just never, ever give up. I have 5 boys and they all love to play baseball. I have enjoyed watching them play more baseball games than I care to count. If I've learned one thing about baseball, it is this, that when you swing the bat 3 times without hitting the ball, then you are out!  I'm so thankful that life ISN'T like baseball. Keep swinging the bat until you hit that ball, no matter how many swings it takes. God doesn't say, "You're out!" after 3 swings. And He is the only one that really matters! Ephesians 6:13 states, "...and, having done all, to stand." Put on the full armor of God, fight the good fight of faith, just keep standing and never, never give up and you will win! Look at challenges and pressures of life as a priceless gift and as wonderful opportunities to grow you and transform you into the precious and valuable diamond that you are! It's your destiny! This poem by Anne Linington sums it up well:

Diamond in the dark 
Formed by fire
Come to light
Cut and polished
Sparkling brightly
Multifaceted
Viewed against the darkness which gave it birth
Radiates the light supplying worth
And shines for all to see
Shines for all eternity

Because of Him,
Kim

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Better Not Bitter by Judi Jo Adams

Better not Bitter

It was in the middle of one of the hardest of days that I heard this challenging charge to my heart & it was right on time!   I thank God for the day someone said to me, “You can allow the situations of life to make you bitter or make you better!”   I looked at my attitude, checked my heart & an adjustment started that day that has carried me to where I am now.  As I type this letter, I’m a person who can look back upon all the toils of life & truly say that have made me better!  Where there was pride there is humility, where there was selfishness there is sacrifice & where there was more of me there is simply more of Him!

Have you ever read the beautiful story of Naomi & Ester found in the book of Ruth?   Naomi  & her husband Elimelech had left their home land, with their two sons, and journeyed to the land of the Moabites.  They lived there ten years, where both of their sons married and were living the good life.  Then, tragedy stuck, Elimelech died and with him his two sons also perished.  Now, facing an uncertain future where she was living, Naomi urged her two daughter-in-laws that she loved dearly to return to their homes.  She was going to make a journey back to the land of her people, the Israelites.

Oprah, one of the daughter-in-laws, went back to her home but Ruth made a statement that sends chills down my arms.  (Like my little Evan says, “It gives me chicken skin!”)  In Ruth 1:16 her answer boldly came, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.”  As the story goes on, together they return to Israel.  Then, while gleaning grain in the field of Boaz like a poor person, Boaz falls in love with her.  Ruth goes on to marry Boaz, one of the richest men in all the land, & brings Naomi into her home. Best of all, King David himself came forth from her.  She became the mother of kings!

Oh my!  Why does that story so grip my heart?  Along the way Naomi, whose name means “pleasant”, wanted to change her name to Mara which means “bitter”.   She felt this way because of how the situations of life had so affected her.  As you see in the story above, God had a plan for her life by using her sweet daughter-in-law Ruth; the Lord brought deliverance & even the lineage of a King to Naomi. No, Mara was not to be her name for God had a plan to make her bad circumstances blossom into one of the most beautiful lives ever lived.  He will do the same for you!

Now, both women had a part to play in the story!  Naomi had to obey & return home not knowing what would happen.  Ruth had to follow her heart, after losing her husband at a young age, by going to a land & a people she did not know.  We will all have challenges before us as well that we may think are impossible, but I want to encourage you to follow hard after God & see the victory.  The Word says in Prov 4:23 to “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”  So, guard your heart, keeping your eyes on Him, and you will not become a woman named “bitter” but remain “pleasant” before the Lord.

He is & always has been faithful.  He does & always will have a way out! We will & always will have to guard our hearts, knowing the one who went before Naomi still goes before us.  If she could have only seen ahead, the name Mara would have never rolled off her lips.  If we could see ahead, we would never allow life to make us bitter.  God has a beautiful plan for us too & it will truly be “pleasant” to your heart!

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Is Your Life Being Orchestrated by Tamera Ford

Is Your Life Being Orchestrated?

We’ve all seen at least one Christmas pageant that had cute little kids walking down the isle in oversized kings costumes. They proudly carry their version of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to the feet of baby Jesus, then wave at their parents.  My favorite part is when they try to kneel in those big robes. Super cute!  

The actual story is more than cute! The message bible puts it this way, verses 9-11  “Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time! They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.” 

I like how it says they could hardly contain themselves! The joy and excitement must have been overwhelming. They were in the right place at the right time! The Kings were being used in a divinely orchestrated plan of God.  Did they understand everything that was going on? Probably not! But their obedience allowed them to experience something amazing.

Joseph and Mary were in the same position. They had to choose to keep following God’s instructions. Going to Bethlehem with a very pregnant wife, during the busiest time of the year without a place to stay was a huge step of faith. I’m sure that as they looked around at the animals and hay that surrounded their newborn baby, they had a few questions running through their heads. 

They may not have seen the big picture but they didn’t have to. Their job was to obey. God was orchestrating their lives and as long as they stayed in the place of obedience they were also going to experience amazing things. When you are in obedience, you are in the position to see God move on your behalf. They literally went from having nothing to having gold and gifts laid at their feet. It was all a part of His plan. They would need the provision to make the next move…Eygypt.

When we surrender our lives to the Lord and position ourselves to obey his instructions, we are allowing Him to orchestrate our lives!  He knows the end from the beginning. He sees the big picture and knows what we need and when we need it. When we, by faith, obey His instructions, we line ourselves up with His provision. We may be on the receiving end, like Mary and Joseph or we may get to be in the position of giving, like the Kings. Either way, there’s nothing more exciting or fulfilling than being in the middle of God’s plan. 

What would the outcome have been if Joseph would have reasoned away the dreams or the Kings would have been fearful of man instead of recognizing God’s instruction? Just like them, we have the choice everyday to listen and position ourselves to be in line with God’s plan OR do our own thing. 

God is faithful! Put your trust in Him and His great plan for your life. No doubt, you’ll experience amazing things!

Need to pray? Father, I choose today to trust your plan for my life. I will not reason away your instructions. Instead, I position myself to be orchestrated by your hand. I will obey when you speak to me! Thank you for your provision and always meeting my needs! Thank you for loving me! In Jesus Name, Amen

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What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up by Trish Yanney

WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?

One day I was sitting with my son Austin and I asked him, “Son what do you want to be when you grow up?”  He responded, “Well, mom, I want to be an astronaut.”  Since then I have asked the same question and his answer seems to change as to whatever he is role playing at the time.  We go from astronaut to firefighter, to cowboy all depending upon what he is watching and playing with at that time.  And of course we moms always respond with, “Well, Austin, it is important that you do what God has called you to do because that will make you the most happy.”  This is good advice!  

Did you know we can know what God has called us to be?  But how do we find that calling?  God has given us the blueprint for life and that is His Word.  We can find ourselves in the Word and we can begin to walk His plan out for our life.    

   

Before I was married the Lord began to teach me how we can find ourselves in the Word and begin to confess over ourselves the Word until it becomes a reality in our life.  We see this principle in the life of John the Baptist where he found himself in the Word of God where he answered those who questioned him about his calling in life.  

John 1:19-23 says:

19Now this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"

20He confessed, and did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."

21And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the Prophet?" And he answered, "No."

22Then they said to him, "Who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us? What do you say about yourself?"

23He said: "I am 'The voice of one crying in the wilderness: "Make straight the way of the Lord," 'as the prophet Isaiah said."

(NKJ)

He didn’t just answer these men based on something he would like to do.  He found himself in the Word of God and confessed what God said about him.  

We also see this same principle in the life of Jesus who is our Lord and Savior and whom we are to be like.  

Luke 4:16-19 says:

16So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.

17And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

18"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; he has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed;

19To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."

(NKJ)

  

Jesus had to be a student of the Word and as he studied the scriptures He found Himself in the Word and began to fulfill that Word that was spoken by the prophets concerning his life and ministry.

God has given us His Word so we can find our purpose and calling in life and we can begin to walk out what the Word says about us.  

What is your calling today?  Ask the Lord to reveal your plan through His Word.  It is a hidden treasure and as you diligently dig deep into His Word the secret mystery will be revealed and you will experience true joy in life as you fulfill His calling.   

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