BELIEVE

La-Tan and I met last year at the 2015 Writers Advance Bootcamp and have loved one another ever since.  La-Tan and I pray that you will be encouraged in this new year to just believe! Welcome
La-Tan.

BELIEVE 

by

La-Tan Roland Murphy

 My dear friend, Paula, gave me a tiny charm years ago. One powerful word is etched on its silver facing:  BELIEVE.

 So simple.

 So powerful.

 But, let's get real:  Believing is painfully difficult at times.

 I thought maybe some of you might need to be reminded today of this one simple, powerful word:  BELIEVE.

 I do!

Perhaps, some of you are struggling to believe that your life counts. Matters. Makes any kind of difference - to anyone on the planet.

 Friend, I've "been there, done that, and bought the T-Shirt" - a few times. I'm pretty sure we all have.

 "I don't know what you are holding onto today that's hindering your ability to believe with abandon. I'm guessing life has beaten you up pretty hard. Maybe the one person you put your hope and trust in failed you, betrayed you. You're left questioning:  "How could God allow such pain?"

Most of us struggle to believe God has a good plan for our lives, especially when our way is rocky. Struggle to believe we are enough. God is enough. For all of our days - enough.

 Each night, we lay our weary heads on our pillows, drifting off to sleep, believing in something. Mostly the wrong things:  Our coworkers will be on time. Our boss will pay us what we deserve, and on-time. Our car will start when the key is placed in the ignition. The the sun will rise again tomorrow, without question.

 The crazy thing is, the largest portion of our pint-sized faith is invested in something, or someone, without the least bit of hesitation:  We choose to BELIEVE:  The airline pilot (we know nothing about) is fully capable. With seat-belts firmly clamped, we snuggle-in for travel comfort with magazines in hand, tiny packages of peanuts, and juice to wash them down. BELIEVING in the capabilities of perfect stranger - the pilot - as he maneuvers the aircraft some 30-40,000 feet above the ocean, through bitter storms.

 Let's be honest:  Sometimes it's difficult to snuggle into BELIEVING in a loving, powerful, omnipotent God. But, I choose to believe. I BELIEVE he is truly enough. I choose to confess with my mouth and BELIEVE in  my heart that Jesus Christ is Lord and he will see me through every storm of life.

 I know... I'm standing on invisible tip-toes on my hand-made little "soap-box." But with good reason. You see, my heart is weary of watching the amazing people I love - living in despair and hopelessness. Because the truth is:  As we refuse to BELIEVE in the power of God's word and his sovereignty, our once confident heart breaks leaving us wide-open and vulnerable. Our belief system is gradually reshaped by opinions of others and worldly points of view. Suddenly:  Wrong seems right and right seems wrong as our belief system is broken.

 At my house, when something breaks (my computer for example), I google-search seeking answers written by the original creator.  Who better to know exactly how to mend the inner workings of my broken computer than the one who actually created it?

 When your life breaks, when my life breaks, instead of searching for answers to temporarily soothe our emptiness, let's agree to:  Simply choose to BELIEVE in the One who created us. The One who knows the number of the hairs on our heads. What if we sought for HIS original, sovereign truth - running to him for all of life's unanswerable questions?

 More than anything, this is what I want you to do today.  It's what I'm choosing to do:  Simply BELIEVE in the One who created you. Choose to believe His Holy Word holds all the answers, and all the mending-power needed for every broken experience life offers.  Choose to believe God has a marvelous plan mapped-out for a very special life - YOURS!

 My friend Paula BELIEVED these things and fought the good fight of faith while cancer ravaged her physical body. Now, she is experiencing the beauty of heaven healthy, strong, and free!

 CHOOSING to BELIEVE - regardless of our present pain, fixes our eyes on future joys.  Paula knew without a shadow of doubt her best days were ahead of her.

 No matter what you are going through, keep the faith. Greater things are yet to come. 

 Be:

 _Fierce.

 _Relentless.

and...

La-Tan Roland Murphy is a speaker, vocalist, and freelance writer with a passion for encouraging people to live life to the fullest.  As an established teacher of the word, La-Tan finds great joy in helping others discover their God given purpose.

She brings a unique style of humor to the platform, making her listeners feel as though they have known her for years.  With humility and vulnerability, La-Tan often shares her most embarrassing moments of life as a way of freeing others to be real.

 You can learn more about La-Tan by visiting : http://latanmurphy.com/

Being Dedicated

Ruth 1:16 NKJV

But Ruth said: "Entreat me not to leave you, Or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God.

Imagine with me for a moment. Your husband has died. You're left with no way to support yourself. What do you do? Well, Ruth goes with her mother-in-law and sister-in-law. Once in the city, from Naomi's urging, one woman returns home. The other refuses to leave her mother-in-law's side. Ruth tells Naomi that wherever she lives, she will live also. Her people will be Ruth's and her God will be Ruth's God. What dedication Ruth showed to Naomi.

When it comes to God, are will as dedicated to Him? Do we dedicate ourselves to God as Ruth did to a human being? Ladies, if she could dedicate herself to another person in that way, why can't we do the same with the Lord? In this new year, let's strive to be more dedicated to God.

Father, help each of us be fully dedicated and sold out to You in this new year. As Ruth dedicated herself to Naomi, help us to sell ourselves out for You this year. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Lord, I Need Your Hope

Lamentations 3:24

“The Lord is my portion,” says my soul,“Therefore I hope in Him!”

"You will need an assistant at Bootcamp next year." My dear friend reminded me of this fact after I had asked for her to step in and help get me to where I needed to be at this upcoming conference.  She explained that the people helping me would be missing out on valuable class time they'd spent a great deal of money to attend.  While my head knew she was right, my heart said otherwise.  I was comfortable with the ones I knew best assisting me.  As my emotions and depression began taking a firm grip, those feeling were running away from me faster than I could catch up.  Finally in absolute despair, I cried out to God.  "Lord, I need your hope and strength.  I can't make it through this alone." As I continued to call out the name of Jesus begging for a life preserver, once again my emotions settled back to bearable heights. My situation didn't change.  My need for an assistant was still there.  What changed was that I was finally letting God step in and take control of the situation.  I was finally realizing that no matter how much the depression and despair had me in its grip, God was still greater. His peace was greater.   

In your life, what has had you off balance emotionally? What has had you crying out to God for a life preserver? Let me encourage you, don't do it alone.  You'll wear yourself out.  Let Him take you by the hand and lead you through the troubled waters.

Father, thank You for providing a lifeline when we can't go on anymore.  I pray for each reader as she navigates the troubled waters of life.  Show her that she doesn't have to do it alone and

that You're there just waiting for her to cry out to You. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Walking Through The Valley

Psalm 23:4 NKJV 
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

"I'm sorry to tell you this, but Miss Thelma has just passed away." This was the news we received during our Judgement House a few months ago. To say we were in shock was an understatement. Miss Thelma was the type of lady who was a prayer warrior. She would pray over every pew and the choir loft each Sunday morning. With this news, our church began walking through a valley. As we walked through, we couldn't stay there. We had to keep going with what God was having us do. We couldn't stay in that place of sadness and grief; we had to move beyond it because God wouldn't want us to stay in a place of grief. Just as we couldn't stay in the valley from Miss Thelma's death, God doesn't want us to stay in the valley of financial despair, job loss or sickness. What valley are you facing today? Let me encourage you, ask the Lord to help you move forward in what He has for you.

Father, thank You for the valleys of life. But God, help each us to move past the valleys of our life. Give us the strength we need to move forward in what You have for us. In Jesus Name, Amen.