Break Every Chain

As our church is preparing to host the next "Stepping into Leadership" conference March 1-2, I have been dwelling on our conference title.  It's a title that stirs up great anticipation inside of me.  It's a topic that hits very close to home in my life personally.

"Break Every Chain"

That just creates excitement in my heart!  Too many Christians are walking around with chains on them...chains that are holding them back from the purpose that God has for their lives!!!  It's time to break those chains and find true FREEDOM!!!  I cannot wait to see what God does at this conference!!!!!!!

But as I've been praying for this, God has been stirring up something inside of me. 

Break EVERY chain.

Not just some chains.  Every chain.

I know from personal experience that it is easy to let God break SOME of the chains that we are bound with.  Now, I'm not saying the process is necessarily easy.  Instead I mean that there are often chains that we are willing to part with....chains that we want gone.  Those aren't as difficult to lay at the altar and say, "Here God, I don't want this anymore!"

But what about the chains that are buried deep within us?

You know what I'm talking about.  The chains that are hidden.  The ones that we don't want to ever admit that we have.  The ones that we are ashamed of.  The ones we would rather bury than deal with.  The ones that scare us.  The ones that we ignore, hoping that they will go away on their own.

It's time we let God break EVERY chain.

Not just the chains we want Him to.  Not just the ones we are comfortable about dealing with.

Every chain.

What is the chain that is holding you back?  What is the one thing you don't want to deal with....or admit?  What's the chain that you are trying to bury?  What have you been telling God you can't do--what's holding you back?

We aren't truly free until each and every chain is broken.

Every chain.

Then I started wondering....why do we keep that chain?  Why do we hold onto it?  I mean, the chains that hold us back do not have a lock.  We can decide at any point to put them down.   So...why don't we?  Why do we stay in bondage?

Maybe we're scared of dealing with it.  Maybe it has become such a part of us that we don't know how we would function without it.  Maybe we think that we can never change....that it is just "who we are"...that the chain defines us.  Maybe...just maybe...we actually like the chain.  Maybe leaving the chain will force us out of our comfort zone.

Whatever the reason for the chain, the solution is the same.  We can't fully break the chain on our own, but we CAN break it with God's help.

It's time to give God the chains.  It's time to allow Him to break every chain.

Yes.  EVERY chain.

It's time to ask God to show us the chains that are holding us back from being the men and women of God that we should be.  It's time to take the foothold away from the enemy.

And when that happens...when we truly lay the chains at God's feet...we will find true FREEDOM!

My Bling Purse

I like bling.  Sparkly.  Shiny.  Girly.  Sequins.  Pink.  ......all that fun stuff....

However, despite my love for bling, I don't usually find myself wearing much of it.  Bling is loud...attention-drawing...bold.  Me?  I'm not so loud...not so bold...and I really don't like the attention on me.  I love bling...but my personal jewelry collection has always been very conservative.  I would often see others wearing the jewelry I loved, but then would always assume it would never look good on me.  I guess you could say that I often admire bling from afar.

Until recently.

The last few years I have broadened my horizons.  Those who may remember, years back, I NEVER wore dangly earrings.  I never wore bracelets.  I only owed small and dainty rings and necklaces.  I guess it's been since I started making a lot of my own jewerly that I have found a love for more "blingy" items. 

...and then a few weeks ago I saw the purse.  Yes....the purse.  And I know what you're thinking....yes, I AM about to draw a spiritual application out of a purse.....

The purse...

Pink.  Sparkly.  Sequins. 

I instantly gravitated towards the purse.  My daughter was shopping with me and did not hold back as she exlaimed her extreme disgust for the purse I was considering. 

I held it up to the mirror next to the purse rack and tried to envision myself carrying the purse.  ...and though I loved it....it just seemed too bold for me.  I mean, could I actually see myself shopping at Walmart in sweatpants and carrying a pink sequin purse?  I might feel a little crazy doing that...

So I put the purse back.  Instead, I settled on a less flashy purple purse....which, I might add, my daughter ALSO hated....(tough!  I bought it anyway!)

But you know, as much as I like the purple purse.....I have found myself wishing I had the boldness and confidence to carry the pink sequin purse.  I regretted not buying that one.

Well, lo and behold....this weekend while shopping with my husband....guess what I just happened to find on clearance???????????????????????????????????

YEP!  You guessed it!  The pink sequin purse.  I found one left.  AND to top it off, I had a 30% off coupon.  I could spend just a few dollars and get the sequin purse that I had wished I bought. 

But you know, as I once again held it up in the mirror, I still had a hard time envisioning myself carrying the purse.

Is this really me? 

I mean...I knew it was me....deep down inside, I love this purse!  But could I really show that side of my personality to everyone around me?????? 

As I started to put it back on the shelf, I realized something.  I realized that everytime I look at the purse, I smile. 

Now that may seem silly.  But it's true.  The pink shiny sequins make me smile.  You know why?  Because that's the real me. 

And I started to think.....why is it that we often hide who we really are? 

Why do we wear masks?  Why are we afraid to let others see us for who we really are?

We are each so very special because God made us that way.  He made us unique....each with our own talents, abilities, personalities.....and when we hide who we are, we are hiding the masterpiece that God has made in us! 

I often find myself shying away from situations where I need to be bold...loud....as I know that I am quiet.  I often use that as an excuse and hold myself back.  But you know, God has made me to be more than just a quiet person who hides her true self.

Whatever God has made you to be......let it shine!  Be the wonderful person that God hand-crafted you to be.  Don't let your feelings of what others think of you dictate how you live your life.

It's time.  Pick up your "blingy" pink sequin purse and move ahead confidently knowing that God made you special!

No Excuses

New Year's resolutions. 

What thoughts do those words put into your mind?  Do they make you think of things you wanted to do, but then failed?  Do they make you think of things you started but didn't finish? 

It's easy to make a new year's resolution.  In fact, last year I had a whole list of things I wanted to do in the new year.  They were all great things that would change my life in a postive way. 

But did I do them all?  Did I follow-through?

Some, yes.  Some, partially.  And some......not at all....

I started thinking about this.  Why is it that it is so easy to make a new year's resolution, but so very hard to keep it?  Why do we do great with the new "promise" for a few months...but then slowly forget about it in time?  Why do we lose the passion to change?

Change is hard.  Change takes time.  But change is affected by things like laziness....old habits....and excuses.

Excuses. 

Wow that one hit me like a tons of bricks.

I look back at my life and I can see how the excuses I have made have put limitations on what I've done. 

Take running, for example...  In the past, I have always had a rule....."I will not run outside if it is below 40 degrees."  In saying that, it has severly limited how often I can run in the winter.  And me on a treadmill.....well, let's just say that doesn't always end well.....I need help with that one.

That rule has been something I lived by and never made an exception to.  That is.....until this year.  This year I decided to throw away the excuses.  WHY can't I run outside when it is 20 degrees?  Why can't I run in the snow?  And to take it out further..........Why can't I run in the pouring rain?  Why can't I run while on vacation? 

It has become a challenge to me now....if I have no excuses for running, what can I accomplish?  I have run in unfamiliar places.  I have run in the wind...the rain...the snow...the sleet....I have run when my snot froze to my face.  Basically the only things that keep me inside now are blizzards and dangerous low temperatures. 

But here comes the real reason for this blog...................................................................

What if we never gave God any excuses???

What if?  What could we do for God if we threw away all our excuses?  What could we accomplish...through Him...if we never held ourselves back? 

What if we had no excuses?

I know in my own life I have given God many, many excuses.....

I can't talk to that person...I don't know her well! 
I can't witness to them!
I'm scared to do that!
I can't lead worship...I don't play the piano well enough...
I can't speak in front of a large crowd....I'm shy!
I can't lead as well as so-and-so...
I can't drive the church van....I'm not good with big vehicles.  (THAT one is VERY TRUE!)
I can't be the type of leader you called me to be...
I can't be the type of parent you called me to be....I fail.

I can't.  I can't.  I can't.

Truth is, I can't do it.  I can't do it on my own.  I especially can't do it when I live in the excuses.

But...with God's power and help, I CAN! 

First step.  Take out the excuses.  That is my goal for this year.  NO EXCUSES!

Is it going to be easy?  No way!  Excuses are natural for me.  Excuses are what I'm use to.  Excuses keep me in my safe little comfort zone. 

But I wonder what God can do with a life of no excuses?

I challenge you to find out. 

What can God do through you if you don't give Him any excuses or limitations?????????

Let's find out!!!!!!!