Author Archive
God Wants Us to Cling to Him!
Posted by: | Comments“As a loincloth clings to a man’s waist, so I created Judah and Israel to cling to me, says the Lord. They were to be my people, my pride, my glory–an honor to my name. But they would not listen to me.” Jeremiah 13:11 (NLT)
When I think of clinging, I am reminded of my kids when they were toddlers and would cling to my legs. Never before have I thought of this as something God would want. The picture that comes to my mind is “weak, frail, & needy”. Yet that is the word picture we are given in this scripture. He wants us to cling to him… like a little toddler would to his mother.
Are you clinging to God or something or “someone” else? Have you been clinging to a relationship or a person so tightly that you have lost your self in the process? We are to cling to God and love others.
Are you clinging to God for your protection, security, and love? If not, maybe that is why you are feeling unloved, insecure, and unprotected. When the storms of life pour down on your relationships; CLING to God!
How? Read his word everyday. Pray constantly. Get support from others who can pray with you.
Having Faith Means Taking Risks
Posted by: | Comments“Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. (Joseph was an honored member of the high council, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.)” Mark 15:43 (NLT)
Have you ever been tempted to hide your faith because you thought it might hinder you from getting that job you wanted or promotion at work? Recently, I was faced with this very temptation. I was suddenly unemployed and needing to begin an active search for work in a highly competitive job market. I quickly landed a temporary contract assignment with a company which was a huge blessing! However, in the back of my mind, I knew I needed to keep looking and get up to speed on all the latest techniques for gaining permanent employment.
I learned that its a whole new ball game when it comes to landing a job theses days. Recruiters are relying on social media sites like LinkedIn and Facebook to locate qualified candidates. I had a LinkedIn profile but used it to promote my speaking and writing ministry. My tagline under my name said “Writer, Speaker & Ministry Leader” or something like that. I also had links to all my websites and twitter profiles listed.
After learning how LinkedIn is a valuable tool to find a job; I decided to update my LinkedIn profile to include my previous jobs and list all of the types of responsibilities I had with each. I also promptly removed all my links to my ministry sites and changed my tagline to reflect what my current title was at the brand new job I had just started.
I thought if I had recruiters looking at my LinkedIn profile and saw my ministry links and tagline, they might not want to contact me for an interview…
I CAN’T BELIEVE THE HYPOCRISY OF THIS THOUGHT!
I look back now and am so embarrassed and hate to admit that I did that. It goes against everything I claim to be. I understand now in a very real and personal way, how it was so easy for Peter to quickly deny his involvement with Jesus even after their close friendship. I did the very same thing. I thought that I needed to hide who I am if I was going to get a job.
After all the miracles Jesus has done in my life; I so quickly erased any reference to him on my profile. But of course I was praying to him the whole time, asking him to help me find a permanent position. How quickly I adopted the world’s wisdom. I bought a lie that if I was going to be successful in my employment search, I should remove any reference to my faith in Christ. Really? Wow, now there’s a strong faith!
When I read about how Joseph took a risk by asking Pilate for Jesus’ body; a light bulb went on in my head. I can not live in faith without taking those same risks. If I am going to claim to fully trust in God; I must not worry that a company might see my LinkedIn profile and decide not to consider me for a job because of my faith.
I have since changed my profile back and will trust in God’s ability to provide for my needs the same way He has faithfully done over and over in my life.
How about you? Have you suddenly stopped trusting in God to provide for you in some area in your life? Have you taken matters into your own hands? Have you bought into a lie the world has adopted as truth?
Pray for God’s help today to see where He is wanting you to take a risk.
Though Peter denied Jesus, later he became bold in his ministry. Acts 4:13 “The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. The also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.”
-Kristy
God Is With You Right Now
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If you feel alone or discouraged; I have good news for you today. God is with you right now wherever you are. He can hear you. He can see what you’re going through. He wants to help you!
“The Lord said to Moses, ‘Warn your brother, Aaron, not to enter the Most Holy Place behind the inner curtain whenever he chooses; if he does, he will die. For the Ark’s cover–the place of atonement–is there, and I myself am present in the cloud above the atonement cover.’ ”
Leviticus 16:2 (NLT)
Sometimes we forget that God is with us. If God was that close then– just on the other side of a couple of curtains; think for a minute where He is now! Because of what Jesus did for us on the cross, we are able to have the Holy Spirit living in us today! STOP…think about this. Do you understand what I am talking about? I think this is great news!
He’s hearing your prayers, He’s seeing your tears. He cares about your busy schedule today. He desires to let you know…HE…knows your every thought…yes, everything. He wants you to trust He can help you no matter what the challenge or frustration you might be facing today.
“For he who avenges murder cares for the helpless. He does not ignore the cries of those who suffer.”
Psalm 9:12 (NLT)
God Works in Our Marriages Even if We Have Doubts!
Posted by: | Comments“The father instantly replied, ‘I do believe, but help me not to doubt!’” Mark 9:24
We can be honest with God when we have doubts. He knows we have them. The father in this story is replying to Jesus’ 
statement in verse 23 “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” Jesus went ahead and healed the man’s son even though he admitted to having doubts.
Everyday I weigh the statements and comments my husband makes and then with my own understanding make judgments whether or not He is moving toward Christ or away from him. This is a trap because Satan also put thoughts into my head and they are always negative. So when I constantly analyze my husband’s spiritual condition on a daily basis I find myself constantly feeling doubtful.
Thankfully, I am able to use my daily quiet time to refocus and refill with God’s promises and this verse in Mark chapter 9 gives me hope that even if I have doubts He will still work His miracles. Memorizing scripture has also been an enormous help when those doubtful thoughts come into my head throughout the day!
-Kristy
Words That Build Up!
Posted by: | Comments“Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” Ephesians 4:29
When I was eleven, I attended a Junior High “Lock-in” at my church. We were playing games and having fun when one of the leaders came up to me and another girl and asked us to come with them. We followed them downstairs to the basement where there was a youth pastor who had come down from Kansas City, I think, to speak to us kids that night. I said “I think” because I don’t remember anything that happened at the church after this brief encounter with him. He said that God had told him to tell us that we were going to grow up into strong women of God and then he wanted to pray for us.
That is all I remember about that whole event. To this day, 28 years later, his words have remained embedded in my mind. I didn’t know who he was because we had never met before that night yet his words have impacted my life like nothing else. In fact I think I might just start a little search to see if I can contact the leaders who were there to see if they remember who he was so that I can thank him for those incredibly powerful words.
So how about your words? Are they encouraging those around you or are they damaging those around you? Our words can make a huge difference in someone’s life. Don’t waste another minute. Email someone you love and let them know how special they are.
That Pastor who spoke those encouraging words to me probably has no idea that I can still remember that moment like it was yesterday.
God Loves You Inspite of Your Big Mistakes!
Posted by: | Comments“After looking in all directions to make sure no one was watching, Moses killed the Egyptian and hid the body in the sand.” Exodus 2:12 (NLT)
Doubting that God can use you to make a difference in this world? Feel like you won’t amount to anything? Plagued with guilt from past choices? This verse should wipe out any of those nagging doubts. God knew Moses’ past and still chose to use him to perform amazing miracles in Egypt eventually persuading Pharaoh to set the Israelites free.
Maybe you’re in a heap of trouble because you’ve just done a really dumb thing like buy that car you can’t afford or yelled at your kids for no reason, or used the Visa card one too many times and now you’re drowning in debt. My point here is that even if you are the cause of the trouble you’re in, God can still use you in great ways, too!
Will you decide to let God use your mistakes to make miracles today? If you’re thinking well Moses was probably a confident guy. Nope, wrong again. When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush calling him to be the one to lead the people out of Egypt; Moses protested over and over fearing the people wouldn’t believe him and complained he wasn’t good with words.
God already knows your big mistakes, your fears, and your doubts and He still loves you and has a plan and purpose for your future. Hope this encourages you today!
Don’t Let the Fear of Making Mistakes Stop YOU!
Posted by: | CommentsDo you ever feel inadequate to minister or share with other women? Do you ever hear that little voice that says “Who’s going to listen to you??” The fear of making mistakes keeps many of us fearful of stepping out in faith to pursue God’s calling for us. This morning’s podcast will help you overcome this fear so you can take that next step today!
Treasures In Our Trials: Psalm 34
Posted by: | CommentsToday’s Podcast:
Treasures in our trials podcast on Psalms 34
by Kristy Marcotte
How to Handle Parenting Criticism
Posted by: | Comments“I come to you for protection, O Lord my God.
Save me from my persecutors –rescue me.” Psalms 7:1
Moms,
We can often face loads of criticism when we try to raise our kids in a different way than our parents or our spouse’s parents raised us. God tells us in many places in His word that we should expect challenges and criticism from others. Many times Jesus was persecuted unjustly. He tells us that just like they persecuted him they will also persecute us.
I personally have felt heavy criticism for my parenting choices and for a long time it would really hurt me. I was too caught up in getting everyone’s approval and when I didn’t get it, I was crushed and broken- hearted over it.
It’s taken a really long time, but I have begun to realize that #1: The criticism may never end; and #2: I better look for approval somewhere else.
I have had to adjust my thinking and remember that I am to follow Christ and when I do that others may not always agree. Moms, I am not in any way, shape, or form telling you I have this mastered. In fact just this week I was challenged to either choose to believe what God thinks of me or allow the opinions of others overwhelm me with sadness consequently ruining my day.
Psalm 7:1 reminds us where we should go when we’re being criticized or persecuted. What also helps me to keep moving forward is reading certain scriptures over and over. I make sure I am filling my mind with the words of God and not the words of others. I would challenge you to do this.
When you’re being unjustly criticized by someone, instead of dwelling on it and letting it ruin your day, sit down and read some Bible verses. I promise you, your heart will feel better.
-Kristy
Our Thoughts Determine Our Outlook
Posted by: | Comments“On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)” John 7:37-39 (NLT)
Want to have a better outlook today? Think about this: If we believe in Jesus and have asked Him into our heart; we 
have his holy spirit living inside of us. Think about that. Are you discouraged right now? Are you worried about something? Are you uncertain and concerned about tomorrow? Are you depressed? Are you angry with someone? Chances are that you feel this way because of what you are thinking about. Our thoughts determine our feelings. Our feelings determine our outlook on a circumstance. Ultimately, our outlook on a circumstance determines our reaction to that circumstance.
I often discount positive thoughts because my circumstance seems so dismal and hopeless. We see death, destruction, doom all around and Jesus is telling us to hold on; he sees a miracle just around the corner. We immediately discount his encouragement because we can’t see beyond today.
How do you know what Jesus would say to you about your circumstance? Do these three things every day:
1. Read his word (Good place to start: Book of Matthew –first book of the New Testament)
2. Talk to him about everything you’re facing that day
3. Be quiet and listen
Next time discouraging thoughts flood your mind; stop, ask yourself: “Would Jesus be saying this to me?” If you read his word every day and talk to him every day; you will begin to discern real quick which thoughts are from Jesus and which ones are not.
-Kristy