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Relationship And The Importance Of Consistency

by Alexxa Lowery
written by Alexxa Lowery

Consistency. A word that can trigger emotions.

I’m currently going through a change right now. In fact, I’m transitioning back into an atmosphere I once desperately needed to get out of. You see, change can be scary at times but sometimes it’s exactly what you need. Not everyone is opposed to the idea, but as I said before, the concept can be triggering to some.

Change

I remember growing up and change was something I knew quite well. My family was constantly on the move and new schools never felt long-term. I had no idea that laying down roots was crucial for a solid foundation. Leaders, friends, and familiar faces all go hand in hand with this idea. I had no idea how to do relationship with the people around me because truth is, I was never in a place long enough to try it. It wasn’t until I voluntarily left my hometown in San Diego after being there for a few years that I knew I was yearning for something more than just roots.

Consistency

Consistency. I had never lived out the true meaning of consistency. I went to ministry school up North and remember learning about pursuit. The pursuit of Jesus is something that never grows weary. He’s always consistent. I realized that Jesus was my true source of consistency. When it came to relationship between my family and me, and to my friends. In order to have relationship, consistency has to be part of the equation. I was desperate for relationship and because I never knew consistency, I faced challenges. Well, I have good news for you. Jesus is constant and He’s never-ending. If you get relationship with Jesus right, everything else flows into place.

Change can be scary. Consistency can be challenging. But, God is good and He chooses you. He’s constant and never grows weary. Choose Jesus today and watch the creator of relationship choose you.

1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

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transitioning
Faith

Obeying God While In The Hallway Of Transition

by Tytenisha Osgood
written by Tytenisha Osgood

Transitioning into a new season and acquiring the promises of God can be extremely frustrating. Transition requires patience, faith, and trust in God that you’re moving in the right direction for your life. Transition is like walking through a very long hallway (you may feel like you’ve been stuck in this place for a long time) going from one end of the hallway to the other. We all know what goes on in the hallways of life, your mind starts playing tricks on you. You start having conversations with yourself, “I can’t go back to the old things because I’ve fought too hard to be where I am now, but moving forward is such a challenge because I don’t know where I’m going.” Transition is weird, scary, awkward, and uncomfortable but it’s only for a season until you make it to the other side, and you’re almost there.

Have you been struggling to hear from God about your next steps? Are you trying to guess what God is doing in your life? Welcome to the club! I’m starting to realize God is being very secretive about what He’s doing in this season. I’ve had a couple of dreams over the past few weeks where I’ve found myself saying, “What’s going on, nobody tells me anything? Or, I’m in a facility with other people waiting for something to begin and I notice I’m underdressed. Everyone else is dolled up or decked out, but I look like plain Jayne. In the dreams, I know I’m where I’m supposed to be but whatever is going to take place is going to happen unexpectedly and without my interference. I believe there are a couple of reasons why God is being so secretive.

God is protecting our promises. If God was to let us in on everything he is doing and release the full blueprint of what is to take place in our lives, we would run ahead of God. Instead of partnering with Him, we would probably disrupt the plans he has for us in this season. The other reason I believe God is being so secretive is, if Satan knew the blueprint for our lives, you better believe he will sabotage and destroy every good thing God has in store for us.

So what should you do in the hallway of transition?

The short answer is “Obey God.” God has been speaking to me about doing the very last things he told me to do. We are so quick to move on to the next big thing that God has for us, but we haven’t put in enough time and energy to manage or complete the last assignment he gave us. God will not move on to the next thing until He is satisfied with your obedience to the task that He previously gave you. If you don’t remember what that was, ask Him. God repeats himself over and over in an area that we are responsible for until we get!

Just recently, I obeyed God in an area of my life that he was repeating himself in. God wanted me to commit myself to music ministry. This was an area that I was hurt in and was not going to be bothered with anymore. God would not let it go. He wanted me to commit myself to this particular group and finally, I did. When I obeyed God, musical opportunities opened up for me. Praise God!

If you have already obeyed God in the areas that he has assigned you to, praise God! Keep your focus on Him and continue to do what He says. If God tells you to write a book, start a youtube channel, go back to school, give someone $25, DO IT! Partnering with God means we obey whatever it is He tells us to do whether we feel like it or not, and especially when it doesn’t make any sense. It’s our obedience to God that determines how long we stay in the hallway of transition.

Tytenisha Osgood

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Articles

Enduring Gut-Wrenching Pain To Find Your New Beginning

by Jennifer LeClaire
written by Jennifer LeClaire

“Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Is. 43:19) I’ve noticed one change comes at the heels of another and then another—finally followed by the avalanche. Some of the changes are welcomed while others are gut-wrenching, even when you know it’s God’s will. We find ourselves searching for a new beginning.

Facing Sweeping Changes

Whether they are welcome or unwelcome changes, change can cause a whole range of fickle emotions. They ebb and flow with what seems like the powerful rush of a rolling tide. Understand this: The only thing that doesn’t change is God. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever see (Heb. 13:8). Everything else is subject to change. I won’t recite all the words of Solomon here, but suffice it to say that “to everything, there is a season, a time for every purpose under the heaven.” (Eccl. 3:1)

So if you are going through a season of change, how do you position yourself to walk worthy of your calling? How do you embrace the change that will produce more of the character of Christ and the fruit of the Spirit in your life—and perhaps in the lives of others involved?

emotional-pain

New Beginning And Learning to Let Go

Keeping your eyes on God, who doesn’t change, is the critical first step (see Heb. 12:2). The Lord really is your rock, your fortress, and your deliverer (see Ps. 18:2). His hope is the anchor of your soul (see Heb. 6:19). When you keep your mind on Him, you’ll remain in perfect peace even amid the most stormy changes (see Is. 26:3). When you keep your eyes on Him, you’ll find that road in the wilderness and the rivers in the desert that Isaiah prophesied (Is. 43:19).

Next, you’ve got to be willing to let go of what the Holy Spirit is showing you to let go of. If you want that new beginning, then you must let go. When you let go, He’ll show you what to do next, just like he showed Abram what to do when he left everything behind to follow God (Gen. 12:1-3).

The letting goes part is probably the hardest part of the change process. The pull you feel to keep going back to the same people and things God has told you to leave behind is often a soul tie. A soul tie is a deep emotional bond. When David met King Saul’s son Jonathan, there was an immediate bond between them. The Bible says, “The soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul” (1 Sam. 18:1). That’s intense. When you move on, sometimes you have to break soul ties, in the name of Jesus, before you can move forward full speed.

Pursuing the New Vision

Once you’ve let go of the people, places, and things holding you back, ask God for a new vision. What does God have next for you? I assure you He has a new thing in mind. God may even resurrect an old dream you thought was dead. You won’t see this spiritual vision come to pass overnight but with clarity, you’ll have the discipline you need to keep pressing forward (see Prov. 29:18).

During this transition time, pursue any emotional healing you need. We all suffer wounds from the words and actions of others, from the work of the enemy, from our own sinful mistakes, from disappointing life events, and even from doing the work of the ministry. Sometimes we have to suffer for Christ (see Phil. 1:29). It’s easy enough to get resentful, bitter, and unforgiving. But walking toward your new beginning means letting go of these things also. Be assured that God is using it all for good (see Rom. 8:28).

New Beginning: Final Words

Many men in the Bible suffered great losses on their way to greatness. Just look at Job, Joseph, and David. But all of these men endured the enemy’s best shot and took back what he stole—and then some. Each of them had a new beginning that brought glory to God. They persevered, kept their eyes on God, and waited on His deliverance. So, while you are enduring gut-wrenching pain, take comfort in God’s Word: “Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Is. 43:19) Amen.

 

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Family

Release Control To The One Who Made The Whole World

by Joanna Flavin
written by Joanna Flavin

My family is going through a big transition: we are moving. We aren’t going to move far, in fact, we don’t even want to leave our beloved friends or school district.  But, nevertheless, we are leaving behind the first home we have ever owned. And we are leaving the house that we brought two out of our three babies home to when they were born, but also the first home any of our kids remember. The truth is, we need more space for our wild, loud, and crazy boys, and we are ready to make a new house our home. But, it isn’t without a little opposition and battle for control from our children.

Humans Love Routine

Most people I know don’t love change, especially big life changes. Humans thrive on routine, knowing what to expect, and familiarity. Small children especially love routine. It makes them feel safe and they feel like they know what to expect in a world that doesn’t always make sense to them (or any of us really). So, when trying to gradually reveal to our kids that we are moving, it hasn’t always been well-received.

First of all, they didn’t even understand what the actual concept of moving meant and they had a ton of questions. “Will we bring our toys? Will the house already have toys? What about our TV? Will we go to the same school? How will we know if we have friends nearby? How long will it take? Is the house going to be bigger? What about our furniture?…” And on and on. Once I quelled all of their concerns about whether out nor they’d still get to watch their beloved Netflix cartoons, and keep all of their legos, you’d think we were good, right? Wrong. We started clearing out toys they didn’t play with anymore, clutter that was better at taking up space than it was useful, and we chipped away at our storage area in the basement. And each step brought more questions and concerns.

Control In A Time Of Change

The most traumatic part of the moving process for my kids so far (and our house isn’t even listed yet nor did we find a new house!!!) is watching me donate household items or put things on our curb for free pick up. We sold our patio furniture and my five-year-old stood on the set, protesting while the new owners were trying to load it into the u-haul. Then when I tried to give away a small outdoor coffee table to a friend, my kids hid it in the backyard so he couldn’t find it. I basically had to pry it out of their hands. It isn’t the particular items that they are having a hard time with. Trust me, my kids don’t look longingly at patio furniture on a daily basis. It’s the fact that this house and the contents in it are all they’ve ever known in terms of the security of home. This big change and transition are triggering a lot of fear and doubt of the unknown.

As I watch my kids white-knuckling old, rusty furniture I can’t help but laugh at how silly they’re being. I think of how we must look to God when we try so hard to control things in our lives instead of giving control to Him. Of course, He is a loving, kind, gracious God so He would never shame us or laugh in our faces about our control issues, but the Bible is pretty clear that He is in control and we are not.

God Is In Control. Period.

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (Matthew 6:26) The Lord cares about all His creatures and provides even for the flowers, birds, and other small animals of the Earth. Of course, He is going to provide for us. All we have to do is trust. Our biggest obstacle is letting our little brains think that they control things better than God can. We are driven by fear of failure, or fear of man and judgment, or fear of WHATEVER, so we try to take the reigns and do things our way. But God is bigger. ”For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.'” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Let God Do His Job

When we try to think like God, and do like God, and control everything like God it sucks the joy out of life. And we put so much pressure on our lives to BE God. Let’s start relinquishing control, giving to others freely, taking the leap of faith (like selling your house with nowhere else to live yet), and trusting that God will certainly take care of His children. Just as He takes care of the grass in the field. He’s got this…

“And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these. “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith! “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear for clothing?’ “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

“So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. (Matthew 6:28-34)

(And if anyone wants to pray my family sells our house quickly and finds a new one just as quickly that would be great and much appreciated!!!)

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The New You - One Step at a Time
Faith

The New You – One Step at a Time

by Paula R. Bryant
written by Paula R. Bryant

For the past (almost) seven years, I have battled an inner ear condition that limited much of what I was able to do. I had to limit stress, salt, caffeine, exposure to certain atmospheric conditions, and avoid a host of other things to best manage my wellness. The process, at times, was grueling. It was hard to see this “storm” was bringing about a “new me,” step by step. Are you working on a New You?

Recently, the Lord showed me how that extended battle had affected me far beyond my physical health. The unwelcome six-year illness had also affected my thinking, my emotions, and as a result, my habits, bringing on somewhat of a mid-life crisis. The chronic severe vertigo attacks and loss of equilibrium shook my self-confidence and even challenged my identity. It seemed everything I had been or had once done well was being ripped away.

Do you feel as though you can no longer do things you once did well? Have you suffered a loss so great that your mind is reeling, and you can’t imagine how you could ever recover? Perhaps you’re turning over a new leaf and want to change your routines? Maybe you made progress in the past only to fall short of achieving your goal more often than you liked.

The “New You” Is Emerging

As a believer, the key to coming through my crisis began with Christ. In John 6:22–29 (AMP), people who were amazed that Jesus had crossed the Sea of Galilee without getting into a boat, asked Him the next day, “…‘What are we to do, so that we may habitually be doing the works of God?’ (v. 28). Jesus said, “…‘This is the work of God: that you believe [adhere to, trust in, rely on, and have faith] in the One whom He has sent’ ” (v. 29).

Jesus hit the nail on the head. Often, we focus on what we either can or can’t do. This creates the mental framework for who we think we are. I had subconsciously done this for years. But, in truth, what we do comes from who we are—and our identity comes from God. So, we must ask ourselves: what do we really believe? That stormy night Jesus walked on water, and then calmed the sea, the disciples came to terms with just that.

God’s work in you is that you believe the Lord. He gave you gifts and callings (corporately and personally) that He’ll never take back (see Romans 11:29). However, your assignments can and will change through the seasons of life. In and through it all, Jesus remains the same, and He never stops leading us in taking our next steps.

Ask! Seek! Knock!

If you have been through a crisis or are in the throes of transition, be encouraged! Jesus can keep you afloat and get you to the other side, even if you can’t see how it’s possible. I once wrote that you can come all the way through and keep your momentum by learning to “Pause and A.C.T.” according to Luke 11:9–10:

  • Admit your feelings to God. Go to Him in prayer, and with thanksgiving, be brutally honest. Then “ask” the Lord (v. 9) to help you sort through your emotions and see things clearly. But don’t stop there.
  • Come into agreement with Him. While in His presence, “seek” Him by opening your Bible and letting the Holy Spirit guide you. Use your concordance, if necessary, and read what the Word says about your situation. But, once again, don’t stop there.
  • Take action. Start “knocking” by submitting to God and accepting His instructions. Then SAY what you’ve read; declare and personalize God’s Word. When you emerge from your quiet time DO what has God revealed for you to do.

New You: Keep Crossing Over

Yes, even after the most violent of storms, the “New You” emerges! Jesus promised in Luke 11:10 that when we keep asking, we receive; when we keep seeking, we find; and when we keep knocking, the door opens. I’m excited about where God is leading you! We have much to explore what it means to believe, but let’s pause here. Go to Jesus, my friend. Ask Him to call you out of the “boat” you’re in and begin to walk on the strength of His Word. You’ll get to the other side…one step at a time.

“…‘This is the work of God: that you believe…’ ” (John 6:29a)

 

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Faith

How To Navigate Transitions In Life

by Matt Brown
written by Matt Brown

Over the years, I’ve watched as friends have transitioned between jobs and opportunities. I myself have experienced my fair share of transition and with it can come a sense of loss.

It can be deeply unsettling when you move on from a job or opportunity that you have invested your heart and soul into. Transition is inevitable. Nowadays, the younger generation is experiencing vocational transition at a much quicker rate than past generations, and with it, they know this sense of loss well.

In seasons of transition, remind yourself of these 4 truths. They can bring stability and hope:

1. DON’T CRY BECAUSE IT’S OVER, SMILE BECAUSE IT HAPPENED

This is a great mantra. We cannot control everything in our lives. We cannot guarantee which opportunities will stay or go.

But we can celebrate the opportunities and successes that have come our way. We can thank God for His gracious provision, even after we’ve moved on from a job or opportunity.

Life is so much about perspective, and having a healthy perspective will help us in countless ways. God wants to give us a perspective of gratitude, no matter what transitions come our way.

2. YOUR IDENTITY IS NEVER WHAT YOU DO, YOUR IDENTITY IS A CHILD OF GOD

As a Christian, your life is now defined by what Christ has done for you. He has adopted you into the family of God (see Ephesians 1:5). You are loved, valued and given a great purpose in the kingdom of God (see 1 John 3:1).

No matter the jobs, roles, opportunities or titles you have in life, those are simply a side-note to a much greater title God has given you: a child of God.

No opportunity in this life can come close to what God has already given you when you received the Gospel.

So you can walk everyday in an unshakeable identity and purpose as His child. Transition may discourage you for a moment, but it cannot keep you down for long, because God has a greater purpose on your life.

3. GOD IS WORKING OUT HIS GOOD PURPOSES FOR YOU

It’s important to remember that God is just as invested in helping us fulfill his purposes for our lives, as we are.

The Bible tells us that God cares about the details of our lives (see Psalm 37:23) and he is preparing us for the good works He has prepared in advance for us to do (see Ephesians 2:10).

You can rest at night, and sleep in peace even in the middle of a transition (see Psalm 127:2) because God is looking out for you, and will help and strengthen you when your heart is His.

4. THE BEST IS YET TO COME

As a Christian, we can always say “the best is yet to come.” 

Adoniram Judson, a missionary to Burma for forty years once said, “The future is as bright as the promises of God.”

This isn’t to say life will always be easy. In fact, the Christian message is that this life will sometimes be difficult and painful. But Christ offers us comfort in this life, and an eternal hope that goes way beyond the pain of this life.

So the future is as bright as the promises of God, and the promises we have in the gospel are the brightest of all.

I do believe that God works to provide for our needs in this life, and he works to use us for great Kingdom purposes if we are willing.

This doesn’t necessarily mean we will have greater and greater income or opportunity, but it does mean He cares for us deeply as our Heavenly Father and works to meet our needs, though not necessarily all our “wants”.

But more importantly, God wants to give us something far greater than money or opportunity – an internal well being and heart-peace no matter our circumstances in this life.

When I look at the life of Paul, he faced an incredible amount of persecution for his faith, as he lived out his calling from God and spread the gospel. God did provide for him in many ways in his ministry, but ultimately, his hope, joy and peace in God’s promises was steadfast beyond the circumstances of his life. A pastor once said, “The good news of the gospel is that, no matter your circumstances in life, you get Jesus.” Paul exhibited this understanding – many of his most hopeful letters were written from a prison cell or while under house arrest. Paul saw a hope, joy, and peace that was tangible in Jesus, despite the hardships and adversity he continually faced. God wants to give us this same hope, joy and peace no matter our circumstances.

God gives us a bright hope in the gospel, no matter our transitions in life.  He will take care of us. If he was willing to give His Son for us, how much more will he take care of our needs in times of transition (see Romans 8:32).

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Articles

A Season of Transition

by Brian Taylor
written by Brian Taylor

It has occurred to me that many people today are in the midst of a transition. Children may be changing to a new grade in school or changing schools entirely. Adults may be transitioning from one economic status to another, one job status to another, or moving from one city to another. Some are changing churches while others are changing the way they think about a given situation as they approach a certain stage of life. Whatever the cause of the transition, one thing is for certain: the transition is often an uncomfortable place filled with many unknown factors.

When Joshua heard the word from the Lord that, “Moses My servant is dead,” it presented a moment of transition for him that must have been quite unsettling. Sure, Joshua had been a great warrior, a right-hand person to Moses as he led the people through the wilderness. He was a great friend to Caleb who, like himself, believed that they could do anything if God asked of them. However, this moment of transition was different for him. This was the first time he was the elder in the community, as everyone other than Caleb was a generation younger than they were. He had not known what it would be like to lead a people without being able to turn to Moses for confirmation. He was solely leaning on the Lord.

Like Joshua, as we are going through whatever transition that we are facing, we have to remember that we do not face it completely alone. We have a God who hears and will keep us in peace as we lean on Him at times of uncertainty. While the ground beneath us may feel unstable, He is our rock of stability and a sure foundation that will sustain us when everything else around us is shaking. He is our light when all around us looks dark and uncertain.

Take a page from the book of Joshua and “Fear not!”

Let this be a time where you become courageous. Dare to step boldly toward the place of God’s leading. He has never failed you before and He will not leave you on your own. It is a new day and a new opportunity to see what lies ahead.

When Christ came on the scene, it marked a great moment of transition once again for the people of Israel. It not only signified that God was with them, but it also signified that the Kingdom had indeed come. When Christ arose from the dead, it too signaled a transition for them. They were invited to have a part in the God’s Kingdom agenda restoring the operation of God’s Kingdom on Earth wherever they went. On the day of Pentecost, that invitation extended beyond the people of Israel to the nations.

Since that day, we have all faced a transition of one sort or another. With each transition, it is an opportunity to go higher, dig deeper, stand taller, be bolder, be more courageous, and become more fearless. Wherever you are in your life’s journey and whatever God has called you to during the transition that you are facing, know that God is by your side and ready to lead you through it as you show forth His kingdom in all you do.

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