The Battles We Face

Today I would like to talk to you about the battles we face, lies we believe and how they affect our walk with Christ. Let’s pretend we are a couple of old friends sitting across the table from each other sipping our coffee because that’s what I wish we could do for a conversation like this. This is a topic that could get pretty deep but I can only cover a part of the layers here on the blog. So let’s dive in shall we? 

Over the last few years, for me, it has felt like I just can’t catch a break. It feels like it’s always winter (spiritually and emotionally) even when it’s (physical) summer. It seems like every time I think I’m turning a new corner, like I will feel the sun again, I’m still face to face with winter. It is a little strange actually. I have felt it in my bones, in my soul that a season of rest is just on the horizon, the cloud will be lifted! I have felt it so strongly I even put it out there on social media. And then it doesn’t come. The winter settles in and I’m fighting against the grain again. And it starts to feel like it will NEVER come! When it gets to that point where I feel like I’ll never see the sun again (figuratively), I get weary and feel like throwing in the towel. 

Through all the battles I’ve had to face, I admit I have swallowed some lies. Somewhere along the way I bought this lie that if I just did all the right things that life would be peachy keen. I bought that lie that Christians aren’t supposed to struggle. And I bought the lie that if I was facing trial after trial that I was somehow being punished, but I couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong. This is how those lies work, I knew they weren’t true, it wasn’t something I said out loud but I sure was operating out of those lies. So I began feeling defeated ALL THE TIME. 

So the other day I had this realization. It was the kind of realization where you knew it all along but all of the sudden it becomes real to you in a new way and your perspective shifts. I realized I wasn’t facing reality! And the reality is that...

1. In this life we will have trouble. (“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 NIV)
2. We have a real enemy and he’s not just out for blood, he wants our soul (“The enemy pursues me, he crushes me to the ground; he makes me dwell in the darkness like those long dead.” Psalm 143:3 NIV)

So here’s the thing, the enemy (that’s Satan by the way) wants nothing more than for me to keep quiet and pretend like I have got it all together. He wants nothing more than for me to keep my depression buried never talking about it with those closest to me. He wants nothing more than for me to keep trying to manipulate things to seem like “I got this.” Satan skips along happily if I keep all that bottled up inside because then I’m not being effective. If he can keep me distracted by trying to tie up those battles in a neat little package so everything looks fine, then he’s winning and I’m not stepping into what God has for me. 

There are many things I don’t understand about the spiritual realm but if there’s one thing the last few years have taught me it is that the physical realm keeps us distracted from the spiritual. Paul talks about it... a lot! Sometimes the daily battles we face can keep us stifled, paralyzed almost. God’s word tells us that He will fight for us (“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14 NIV) but that doesn’t mean we are passive participants in the battle. If you read the rest of that story, Moses still had to use his staff and stretch out his hand and the Israelites still had to walk across the bottom of the sea. I don’t think crossing the sea between the parted waters was easy. Am I right? 

It’s not easy, facing our struggles and getting real with people. It’s not easy to face the battle every day, year after year. I thought my Christian life was supposed to be all peachy keen and if it wasn’t then I must be doing something wrong. It turns out, that’s just life. A season of rest may not be around the corner but I’m done letting Satan win because I’m waiting for rest. I don’t want to repeat the Israelites mistakes, moaning and groaning because they had to wait. 

Jesus gave us a battle plan. He gave us the armor of God, activated by prayer and I’m ready to suit up! 

“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” Ephesians 6:11-18 NIV

There is a song called Diamonds by the duo JOHNNYSWIM and to me it’s kind of an anthem for victory. Some of the lyrics are: 

“You’ve taken down so many others 

Oh but you’ll know my name when you see

And in these ashes I’m stronger still ...” 

I get all fired up and start pumping my fists because this is how I feel about my victory over Satan! He might keep trying to wear me down so he can take me out but in the ashes I am stronger! Each time I rise again I am stronger and stronger!

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV

My God is bigger than any battle I face. It is time for me to stop pretending like everything is fine all the time because sometimes it’s mostly not fine, and that’s okay. 

You don’t have to fight your battles alone either. Let’s boast in our weakness all for God’s Glory! We love you ladies and we are here for you! How can we be praying for you today?

Post by: Jimmie Lee DiIanni

Time Well Spent

My husband, Donald, and I went on a breakfast date the other day.  We have a special, out of the way place that we like to visit often. As we sat across from each other over a table of pancakes, bacon, and fried eggs, we reminisced about what our “dates” used to look like not that long ago...

Back when we only had two little ones, Donald and I used to work opposite shifts.  Even with our crazy schedules, we still had to utilize daycare.  Did I mention that our two oldest daughters are only 15 months apart? Well, they are.  That meant we had two babies in diapers at once. On top of that, one was on very expensive, super-special formula.  (One would have thought that each can was painstakingly crafted by hand by some sort of powdered formula artisans and packaged in a 14 carat gold canister, but I digress.)

Anyhow, we had no extra money at the time.  Like zilch.  That meant there were no movie dates or fancy dinners out.  Plus, since we worked opposite shifts, we really couldn’t take advantage the free babysitters we had. (Shout out to all the grandparents and Auntie Jill!)

Donald and I reached the point where we needed some way to have a “date” without leaving the house and without spending extra money.  That’s when I had the idea to start renting movies from the library.  It was free, I could request whatever we wanted to watch, and we could watch it at any time.  Plus, did I mention it was free?!? That’s when we also discovered that Aldi has some tasty (and inexpensive) snacks!  So for our “date nights” we would watch a movie and eat our special snack.  It wasn’t super fancy but it was exactly what we both needed at the time. 

Looking back I treasure those at-home “date nights”.  I wouldn’t trade them for anything.  Those evenings brought us time together as a couple to reconnect, have some laughs, all while we snuggled up on the couch.

Now we find ourselves in yet another season.  The season of all three kids in school all day.  The season of me staying home and Donald having a day off during the week that we can use to catch a matinee movie or enjoy breakfast out. And it’s amazing.  I like to think that we are even closer now and stronger as a couple for having endured that season of our marriage back then. Investing in your marriage in the here and now will always pay off as the years go by. 

And I like to think that’s how it is with our relationship with the Lord as well.  There will always be different seasons.  Seasons when you can dig down deep into His Word with no regard to time and seasons when maybe all you can read is but 5 minutes before the baby starts to cry.  Times when you are experiencing incredible closeness and times when you wonder if He is near (which, He so very much is, by the way). Seasons when you are on the mountaintop, praising Him and seasons when you are in the valley, crying out in prayer.

But can I tell you, it is so worth it to keep that relationship going.  It is so worth it to adjust and figure out a new way to spend time with the Lord when what you are used to gets mixed up. Maybe that means hanging out in your car just to get a moment alone and singing along to some worship music.  Maybe that means shifting your prayer time from the wee hours of the morning to the end of the day.  It could even mean putting down your phone (eek!) and picking up your Bible. Because the thing is, the closer you draw near to God, the closer He will draw near to you.  Your relationship with Him will grow deeper and stronger. And I promise you, just like a date with your sweetheart, it will never be time that is wasted but time well spent.

“I love all who love me. Those who search will surely find me.” Proverbs 8:17 (NLT)

Post by: Marcy Gates

Resolutions 2018

It’s customary in our culture to make New Year’s resolutions. In the past I have jumped on that band wagon. I have also fallen off that band wagon. And at times I have completely rejected the idea. Because let’s face it I almost always fail at my attempts to diet, exercise, get better at cleaning, wake up early or ... Gasp! Give up coffee!! Maybe you can relate?

So imagine my elation at the “One Word” trend that took place in the online blogging world several years back. I thought, “Hey! Yes! I can totally accomplish this! I can totally focus on one little word for a year. Easy peasy!” 

I would set aside some time to pray and worship before January 1st to specifically ask God what word He wanted to give me. I would write down that word, usually try to figure out what it meant and then come back to it every so often throughout the year. This worked well for me. 

Then I came across another trend (I was pretty active in the blogging community) of picking a verse for the year. Which was great too! I’d follow a similar pattern and ask God for verse. 

So now I’m up to resolutions, (which eventually morphed into goals) one word and one verse. All of which needed to be ironed out before January 1st of course. 

Now, a short story. The year 2016 happened to be a difficult one for me personally so near the end I needed big changes! There was another trend that had been floating around the online community that I followed. It was something called “power sheets”. It’s a terrific product created by a super talented and encouraging woman. And several other super talented encouraging woman were raving about using these power sheets on social media. So I, of course, needed to have these power sheets so that I could be successful like these other woman. I used some of my Christmas money (power sheets aren’t cheap), got the binder and went to town. I was going to start 2017 right! 

Now don’t get me wrong, for some people, power sheets can be a very useful tool. Except for me, life happened. It was another difficult year with a painful number of changes and I did not keep up. I felt guilty for spending the money, guilty for struggling to come up with goals, guilty for falling behind. Goodness gracious! I was getting caught up in what everyone else was doing, and what I thought I was “supposed to do.” But none of that was what God had for me. 

As it came near to the end of 2017 I felt the pressure to come up with goals or a word or a verse. But I felt God asking me to pause. In all honesty I was too tired not to. So I rested but still sought the Lord. At last, I didn’t feel pressure. I felt peace. 

“Then we will no longer be like immature children.  We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching.” Ephesians 4:14a (NLT)

At West Ridge, during the sermon on New Year’s Eve, Pastor John said something that stuck with me, “You don’t have to be like anybody else.” I believe he was referring to when you pray and his point was that your prayers don’t have to be perfect or sound like anyone else’s prayers. But that night as I thought about goals, AND my one little word, AND my verse, I felt God put on my heart, “You don’t have to be like anyone else.” I felt so much freedom in that. Even now writing about it, I get a little teary eyed as the freedom wells up in me! So I rested in that.

I still like the idea of goals and one little word or a verse but what I realized is it doesn’t have to look like somebody else’s. I could have no goals or carry goals over from the previous year. Even better I could have fun goals! I could keep the same word or verse if it hadn’t sunk in yet. I don’t have to feel pressure to ask for a new word! Or I could do nothing at all if I wanted. No goals, no word, no verse. I could just keep living my life. (But seriously what’s the fun in that?) The pressure was off and freedom took its place! 

So here it is! (Because FUN!) My line up for 2018!

Goals: 

1. Keep practicing hand lettering 
2. Learn to weave on a loom
3. Make some pottery
4. Always be (okay with being) myself! 

I’m keeping the same verse because sometimes “a new thing” takes time... 

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)

And last but not least, in faith, I chose the word “Redemption” because I’m believing God will redeem all of the things lost or stolen over the last two years. He’s in the business of restoration and I’m standing on His promise. 

I’ll leave you with this verse: 

“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” Proverbs 16:3 (NIV) 

I pray, sweet sisters, that you can hear the voice of God over your life loud and clear! Above all the noise and chatter of the world. I pray you find rest, redemption, streams of abundance, creativity, peace, and the Joy of Christ over the next year (and every one after). I pray the pressure is off and that freedom has stepped in in its place. Amen! 

Happy New Year! 

With much Love, 

Jimmie Lee 

It's January... Now What?

I love decorating the Christmas tree and going through all the ornaments.  Unwrapping each handmade one brings back memories of tiny hands and sticky crafts.  But there’s something I love even more...  putting it all away! Lol! I might be a bit weird, but there’s something about getting your house back to normal after the holidays that straight up makes me giddy!  I am all about sweeping up the pine needles and little bits of wrapping paper from under the table.  Tenderly wrapping up the ceramic Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus and the rest of the gang from the Nativity set in bubble wrap? Yes, please!

It can be so easy to clean up the mess the holidays leave behind and simply move on.  Pack it up and put it back in storage.  We can box it all up then set it aside until next December.  And you know, I think we can often do that with the message of this treasured season too. But isn’t that missing the point?  If you are heading into the new year, putting the lessons of the season in a box to collect dust (and stink bugs, ok, maybe that is just at my house) you may want to reconsider...

Let’s take a look at the wise men and follow their example.  “On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.” Matthew 2:11-12 (NIV)

First we see that the wise men bowed down and worshipped Jesus.  And then as good guests usually do, they presented Him with gifts. But verse 12 is what has been really jumping out at me as 2018 begins.  The wise men were warned not to go back to Herod so they returned to their country by another route. Perhaps taking the backroads as opposed to the interstate? (I’m kidding!)

When we meet with Jesus... When we worship Him, presenting our hearts to Him as our gift...  Do we go back to life as usual? Or do we return to life by another route?

Here’s the thing, if we pack up and put away all this Christmas season has done in our hearts.  If we set it aside and get back to the normal routine – we have missed the point.  We are heading back to Herod so to speak.

I don’t know about you but I want to come away from Christmas changed. My desire is to allow the transformation to take hold and stick with me. I want to carry that sparkle with me year-round!

So let’s break into this new year leaving a trail of glitter behind us!  Let’s carry Christmas in our hearts all year long.  May we all return to our “country” by another route – the Jesus route.  Changed and transformed! Never the same again...

Thank You Jesus for all You have done for us! Because of You, our lives are forever changed! Thank You that we can come into Your Presence.  One encounter with You and everything changes.  May we not return to our broken ways of living life but live life for You “by another route”.  Jesus, it is in Your mighty name we pray... Amen!

Post by: Marcy Gates

The Names of God

When I was a little girl my Pappy would call me his Peach or Peaches. My dad had a nickname for me too, he called me Buckaroo. When I played basketball in middle school my nickname was Little Red. In high school some of the kids called me James. While in college I had a group of friends that would switch the first and last initials and we would all call each other different names. I was, Limmie Jee. I fondly remember all these names. I can remember the person who started the nickname and look back affectionately on those relationships and what they meant to me at the time. 

I met my husband in college and quickly learned that names were also important in his family. The funny and also sweetest thing is how their nicknames for each other would morph. I can’t remember all of them. The best way for me to explain it is that they started out as one name, take Kenyan for example (my husband’s running nickname), and morphed into something completely different, like Yommers. Kenyan to Yommers? See hard to explain. Nonetheless it was an endearing quality I experienced in his family and he somehow now affectionately calls me Bagel. You’ll have to ask him how that started! (Because I can’t remember) He mostly just calls me babe though and rarely calls me by my actual name, Jimmie Lee. 

My oldest calls me “Hey Mom” and my youngest calls me mommy. 

That is approximately 9 different names I have had over my life time, not including my actual name. I have a feeling you might have some nicknames amongst your people too! Now let me tell you why I’m writing about names today...

Way back in October I participated in something called a “Hand Lettering Challenge” on Instagram. This consisted of using hand lettering to create a piece of art for each day’s prompt and then posting a picture. The prompts for that month were some of the names of God. Did you know that God has a whole lot of different names?! 

Each time I would hand letter the name for that day, I would also look up the scripture for that particular name. And it occurred to me that each person God has a relationship with has a different name for him. Many times it came from a promise or God’s faithfulness in that person’s life.  It made me think of all the different names I’ve had and all the different names I’ve had for people in my life and it just clicked and made sense. 

Each name had a special meaning to that person. For Hagar it was El Roi, the God who sees (Genesis 16:13) For Abraham it was Jehovah Jireh, God provides (Genesis 22:14). For Jesus it was ABBA, Papa (Galatians 4:6-7).

And of course during this season, it’s no different. He is Jesus, the babe who came through Mary. Emmanuel, God with us. Christ the Messiah. Prince of Peace. Yeshua, Deliverer. And so much more!

I have heard people be confused about how God could have so many different names. But I’m excited that through this hand lettering venture, God taught me a simple explanation that I’m so grateful for! 

Which one of God’s names resonates with you? What promises has He fulfilled in your life that brought you deeper into relationship with Him? How have you seen His faithfulness?

Post by: Jimmie Lee DiIanni

I Should Be...

I should be freaking out right now.  In fact, I should have been freaking out for a month now, at least. 

Deadlines.
Business/work pressures.
Kids.
Responsibilities.
Unexpected bad news.
Holidays.

The month of November has been full of ups and downs. And there’s every indication that December will be more of the same. But this season has been different for me. It would not be unusual for me to have mini meltdowns silently in my head for weeks, fretting over the things on the list above, only to have it all spill out in a major meltdown with tears and snot bubbles.

But this season, I’m finding myself much less stressed.  Things I used to worry about no longer cause my stomach to clench in knots.  In fact, I’m going to be bold and say that this season has been a season of peace. Now don’t get me wrong, I have shed some tears and had a couple moments of silent panic this month but it has not overtaken me.  

So what is different for me this month than in the past? My thoughts.

Philippians 4:6 instructs us not to be anxious about anything.  We are told to bring our prayers and requests to God with a thankful heart.  And then when we do that, the peace of God will guard our hearts and minds.  

But, you might say, “I’ve done that and I am still fearful, worried, stressed, etc....”

Well, let’s keep reading in Philippians, because this is key to moving forward...

“Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things.” Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

After you have prayed, after you have cried out to God – where do your thoughts go? Are they heading back into the mire of worry and stress?  Are they diving deep into the dark unknowns? Are you trying to be two steps ahead of whatever is chasing you down?

As I have navigated this month, I’ve tried to be very careful and purposeful in where my thoughts go.  And I’m not talking about “the power of positive thinking” here.  I’m talking about focusing my thoughts on Christ. After I have prayed and allowed God’s peace to wash over me, I’ve been careful to not let my thoughts wander but to keep them focused on God. My desire is to hold on to the peace He has graciously given me.

“You keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you.” Isaiah 26:3 (NLT)

Where are your thoughts heading today? What’s trying to dominate your mind? May I offer up a bit of direction? Here’s where I have been trying to steer my thoughts to lately... 

Whatever is true – remembering all I know about God from what He has revealed in His Word.
Whatever is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable – focusing in on Jesus and all He has done for me.
Whatever is excellent or praiseworthy – keeping my eyes open for all God is doing right now in front of me and thanking Him for it!

I hope that helps you, sweet friend, as much as it has been helping me!  May we move forward with our thoughts fixed on Christ and resting in the abundant peace that only He can give!

Post by: Marcy Gates

Whatever They Do...

Recently while I was at work one day, a customer wrote out a check to pay for her purchase. As I wrote down the information from her driver’s license, I noticed that she was born in 1924! My immediate thought was a question, “I wonder what she thinks about our culture today and the way the world has changed?” I kind of wanted to ask her out for a cup of coffee! I had so many questions! But a lot of times, I’m still shy, so I never asked her because I thought she would think I was weird.

The next day while I was counting money in the office, there was a note on her check for me. It read, “Was this woman really 93?!” It made me chuckle a little. But I just couldn’t stop thinking about how much life this woman has seen. What was it like in 1924? How have things changed for the better? How have things changed for the worse? 

And then I thought about the people in my life who have come before me, my great aunts and uncles, my grandparents, my parents, etc. I thought about the legacy they have left on my life and the legacy they have left on the lives of my children.

Our “Young Fishers of Men” series at West Ridge that Pastor John just took us through also came to mind. And I just felt an overwhelming thankfulness that I’m part of a church community who is passionate about investing in our young people. Another question I wanted to ask that 93-year-old customer was what she thought about this younger generation. As the parent of a teenager, and a leader in our youth group, I must say that I think this new generation gets a bad rap. Much like with anything else, you can’t really know about something unless you spend time learning about it. I have to say the teenagers in my life tend to blow me away over and over again. They struggle with the same things that I struggled with is a teenager and probably the same things that you struggled with as a teenager too. But ultimately the way they think, their heart, their passion, it all just blows me away!

I remember needing somebody in my corner when I was a teenager and young adult. I am proud to be part of a community that is going to stand in the next generation’s corner, cheer them on, and help them rise up to be the individuals that God made them to be. As we talked about in the series, so many young people in the Bible served God and changed the world for His kingdom and for His glory. We learned that age doesn’t matter, God can use anybody for His purposes. It’s with this perspective that we choose to move forward and invest in God’s kids of all ages!

And I just love when God makes these little connections for me whether it is between a sermon series at church, Bible verses in my devotional time, or whatever the case may be.  When these little connections pop up it’s a reminder to me that God cares and that He listens and that He still speaking.

At West Ridge, we are in a new series called, “Bless”. When we were discussing this past Sunday’s message in our small group, the end of Psalm 1:3 stood out to me, “...whatever they do, prospers.” (I’ll post the entire verse at the end of my post.) When a person follows the decrees of the Lord, whatever they do prospers.

Immediately my children, and their peers popped into my head! You see God is blessing and His blessing is eternal. Whatever they do, prospers. My children, your children, your neighbor’s children, they are a blessing from God. Much like a tree, children grow, develop, mature... they prosper! You want to see God’s blessing in your life? I challenge you to invest in a young person! Be their cheerleader, their shoulder to cry on, point them to the Word that will root them like a tree planted by the water. (Amen!) I’ll leave you with this key verse from the current West Ridge series“Bless”...

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers.”

Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV)

Post by: Jimmie Lee DiIanni