The Misery of Money

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"The Misery of Money" is the title that my pastor, Peppy DuTart of Crossroads Community Church in Summerville, SC, gave his sermon this week. When I first saw it, I groaned. (I believe everyone else did too.) However, it is exactly what I needed to hear and a theme that has been following me lately. I would like to share with you his basic message and what God showed me through his guidance.

James 5: 1-6 (ESV)
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. (2) Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. (3) Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days. (4) Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. (5) You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. (6) You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you.

Peppy proposed four indictments to the ungodly wealthy:

Indictment #1: The misery of hoarding wealth.

During ancient times, there were three standards of wealth: harvested grain, clothing and precious metals and jewels. These showed a sign of riches among the people and could be used to bargain and trade for other goods. However, James shows in verses 2-3 that those possessions that show you to be rich are temporary and will fade away in times if unused.

Your riches have rotted (James 5:2a)

James is referring to harvested grain when he says "riches." Those who had lots to store away for the winter months were considered rich. However, if grain was not distributed and used it would rot and be good to no one. 

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Your garments are moth-eaten (James 5:2b)

In the ancient times, many people did not have more than one or two sets of clothes. The ones considered rich would have many and flaunt them in front of others so everyone would know of their wealth. However, in time these clothes would reduce to rags and be eaten by moths. This is temporary wealth because it will ultimately fade away.

Your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure in the last days (James 5:3).

James is showing the worthlessness of storing treasure. He is referring to God's judgment of their hearts. Instead of sharing their wealth to help others to benefit their brethren, they kept it to themselves, not using it on anything at all.

There is something to be said for savings, it is important to have enough to cover the unexpected things that life throws at you. However, there is no reason to sit on your riches. This goes for all types of wealth. There is no reason to keep food until it will be no good to anyone, no reason to keep a bunch of clothes that you will never wear, and no reason to keep a bunch of money lying around serving no purpose at all. 

When we give these things to others, we help out our brothers and sisters in this world. When we share our food with the hungry, we are helping to sustain life. When we give clothes to ones who don't have it, we offer a since of security and protection for someone who doesn't have any. When we share our money, we help those in need. 

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Even when we buy goods to feed or clothe ourselves we are keeping our economy, circulating money so everyone can get the opportunity to earn for themselves. When we sit on our riches, we stale our entire community. Our things are meant to be used, not hoarded. It is even greater a deed when we can help the lives of others in the process.

This is the one that really stood out to me in light of us moving across the country to Seattle. I am one who loves to hang onto things. I like stuff, it makes me feel comfortable. However, I have been convicted in the past couple years to stop relying on being comfortable, to stretch my limits a little and live outside of my comfort zone. It has been scary, but God is also teaching me to be brave in the process. 

As I am packing our house to move, I have been looking at everything we own and deciding whether it is coming with us or going to someone else who could use it. I am excited to say that I have gotten rid of quite a lot of things that we don't use or we have aplenty of. On the other hand, I am still a little sad because I feel like I should be able to get rid of more. We are still moving a lot of things, probably more than we need. However, I just can't part with everything. Also, it is challenging to teach my daughter what I am only now truly learning. Thankfully, we are learning together. I try not to beat myself up to much about it because God is still working on me, and I will continue to learn and grow. 

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Indictment #2: The misery of illegally obtained wealth.

Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, are crying out against you, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts (James 5:4).

James is speaking specifically of those who do not pay employees fairly for good work. Unfortunately, this still goes on today. It is not always technically illegal (though sometimes it is absolutely illegal), but it is unfair. God will deal with unjust treatment of others in time with His judgment. When this type of unfair treatment occurs, both the money itself and the workers call out to God, letting Him hear of the discrimination that exists in the transaction.

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Indictment #3: The misery of self-indulgence

You have lived on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter (James 5:5).

This is another one that I deal with, though not as intensely. I believe it is a difficult one for most people, especially in America. We feel it is our right to get whatever we want for ourselves. Sometimes even at the expense of others or putting ourselves in debt. I have written before [From Consumer to Contributor] about how much I like to get things for myself, little things but nonetheless, it can easily get out of control. It is much more rewarding to give things to others as opposed to thinking only for yourself. 

I have a heart to give things to others, but I feel limited by my own interests and the little money I have to cover it all. I do not like to admit that I have often not given to someone else because I wanted something for myself more. It is selfish and wrong and I am trying to do better, praying for God to give me a generous heart and the courage to follow through. 

Self-indulgence really does cause misery because things do not make us happy. It is only a temporary relief to the desire in us to know others and the joy of helping them. It is the love God and of others that brings us joy, not stuff. That is an easy concept in theory and a hard one to practice. 

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Indictment #4: The misery of ruthlessly required wealth.

You have condemned and murdered the righteous person. He does not resist you (James 5:6).

This is not one that I have much familiarity with, but there are a lot of people who will stop at nothing for money or possessions. They will kill and steal to get what they want. It reminds me of another thief...the devil himself.

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10).

Satan is alive and present on the earth and his desire is to recruit people who will kill, steal and destroy just like himself. Thankfully, there is one greater than he. Jesus Christ came, sacrificing himself, so that we would have life and have it abundantly.

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There can be great misery in money when we handle it selfishly. However, money itself can be a great thing and can be used to advance God's Kingdom. 

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs (1 Timothy 6:10).

It is when the love of money overrides our love for God that we encounter problems. That is when it becomes idolatry. 

I just finished reading a chapter in a wonderful book by Derwin Gray called "Limitless Life" about this same subject. The chapter was called "From Consumer to Contributor;" it was eye opening. I never realized how much I was a consumer or how much I desired to be a contributor for God's Kingdom. Gray writes, "For where your heart is, your money will be also." He also states how important this subject is to Jesus because sixteen out of His thirty-eight parables are about money and possessions. In addition, there are three items as many verses on money in the Bible as on love. 

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It seems this struggle with money and possessions is as old as mankind itself. It is a subject that ancient civilizations dealt with and one we continue to deal with today. I am learning to simply not spend so much on things I don't need and to help others in any way I can with what I do have. I pray that God continues to put on my heart the needs of others. 

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:19-21).

{Limitless Life} From Consumer to Contributor

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I spent a lot of my life obsessed with materialism. It took me a long time to even realize it was a problem. I thought you were only materialistic if you had to have the best, biggest and newest. I would never dream of paying $200 for a pair of jeans, so I thought I wasn't materialistic at all.

Turns out that was not the case at all. I was extremely materialistic, just in ways that I didn't recognize. If I wanted a new book, I got it. If I wanted ice cream after dinner I got it. If I wanted to buy three cups of coffee in one day, it was no big deal. You get the picture. I didn't buy extravagant things, nonetheless, I bought things often. In addition, it depressed me when I did not get things.

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I had a problem. It wasn't until I was married, had our daughter and began living on a one-income budget so I could be a stay-at-home mom did I realize just how much money I actually spent. Something needed to change. I was a consumer and I was consuming too much.

Jesus wants us to grow from being consumers to become contributors. When He taught His early disciples to pray, He was teaching them how to move from being consumers to becoming contributors to His kingdom. ~Derwin Gray, Limitless Life, p138

In the regard of consumerism, I realized I was very immature. I had no self-control. My actions and my mood were dictated by what I could or could not have. That was not the life that God wanted for me, He didn't want me to be limited...He wanted me to be free.

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It took a long time to break free of consumerism. Honestly, I still struggle with it. I still want things, but I do not allow it to control me anymore. I am content with the things I have and I am learning to let go of things I don't as well as things I don't need or use anymore. Slowly I am able to turn my hoarding habit into a freedom from possessions.

I thank God for the change. I know I could not have done it on my own. I do not have the strength; thankfully, He has plenty to spare. I am learning how to be Jesus' disciple and pray instead of want. When I am overcome with consumer thoughts, I stop and pray. I thank God for what I have and pray for those who have so much less. It is amazing how perspective can change my attitude in a moment. I am in awe at how God can grant me the perspective to want to change. I thank Him and I want to be a contributor for His kingdom. I am ready to transform from a consumer to a contributor.

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This article is inspired by a Bible Study with Proverbs 31 Ministries 

while reading Limitless Life by Derwin L. Gray.

{Limitless Life} I am a Child of God - John 1:12

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John 1:12 -- "But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God."

I am a child of God! Those are powerful words. But what do they really mean? How do we get power from knowing we are children of God? And how do we become children of God?

I remember when I was young and lost. I was frightened of everything, but then I heard about Jesus. I knew of Him, but I didn't know Him. When I began to study the Bible and open my heart to God's Word, my whole world changed. I didn't know what it meant at the time. I still don't know that I can fathom the sheer joy and peace resulting from becoming God's child. There are not words for the transformation that occurs. But I know that I have strength now to overcome things I would have previously thought possible. There is true power in being called a child of God.

Everyone, all humans, were created in God's image (Genesis 1:27). However it is only after we believe and accept Jesus into our hearts that we have the right to be called a child of God. That is because a transaction takes place during the process of inviting Jesus into our hearts. We are born sinners, it is our nature. But while we were sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8).

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When we surrender ourselves over to Christ and allow Him to come into our hearts, He covers all of our sins: past, present and future. We are a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17) because He transforms us into a child of God. We now belong to Him. Therefore, when we die and must account for our sins here on Earth, we do not have to fear judgment. Instead, we only stand and say "I'm with Him" and point to Jesus.

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
Romans 5:1-5

Jesus continues to live in us and guide our hearts to be more like Him. Becoming a child of God is only the beginning. Throughout our lifetime God works in us through Christ to help us become more like him, to exhibit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23). We gain strength, confidence, wisdom and understanding through Christ's continuous guidance and protection.

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God loves His creation and desires for all to become His children. He is faithful, He is love, He is eternal and He deserves all glory.

The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
Romans 8:16-17

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We are heirs to the great King of Kings. The power behind the knowledge that we are children of God comes not from us, but from Him. As children of God, His strength is revealed through us. I am a child of God and I can do anything because with my God, all things are possible (Philippians 4:13).

Blessings,

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This article is inspired by a Bible Study with Proverbs 31 Ministries 

while reading Limitless Life by Derwin L. Gray.

{Limitless Life} God's Masterpiece

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Do you ever get the feeling God is trying to tell you something? That is how I have been feeling this week. This verse has been following me everywhere!

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
Ephesians 2:10

It is the memory verse for my bible study this week and it came up in my personal devotion time. A friend even gave it to me in a thank you note saying that she read the verse and I immediately came to mind. It seems when God wants to tell you something, He does not let it go!

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For we are God's masterpiece. What does that even mean? A masterpiece is a person's greatest work (dictionary.com). So I am God's greatest work. Okay, but me and everybody else, right? Well, yes, Genesis 1:27 says, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." We were all created in the image of God, so we [human beings] are His masterpiece.

So how does being God's masterpiece help me? Honestly, it doesn't always make me feel warm and fuzzy that God made all humans in His image. In fact, there are some humans that are just plain scary. First John 3:8 says, "Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil." The truth is there is evil in the world. Satan prowls around like a roaring lion (1 Peter 5:8) ready to infect the hearts of man with pride, lust and fear (among other evil things).

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However, just as God created us in His image, He also created us as individuals with our own unique story to tell:

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.
Psalm 139:13-16

We do not surprise God with our choices. He created us and gave us personality and spirit. He knows our flaws and He loves each of us anyway. We were all woven together, many pieces melting into one another, to create a greater story - God's story.

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Going back to 1 John 3:8 for a moment, John says that the reason Jesus appeared was to destroy the works of the devil, which is sin. Ephesians 2:10 says that God created us each anew through Christ Jesus. When Jesus sacrificed Himself, a perfect man and a holy God, He defeated sin and gave us a power that can change us completely if we only have the faith to believe. Jesus creates us anew - that means all those flaws that God already knows about is a moot point. We are no longer bound by our mistakes, we are set free by the truth of the One who loves us most (John 8:32).

Once free of bondage we can do all of the good things that God planned for us long ago. Not only can we do good things, but God is leading us to and through all of those things! Jeremiah 1:5 says, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." God knew what our potential was even before we were born. He gave that potential to us! It is up to us to make the choice to believe and to act, but God is behind us through the messes, through the trials, through the valleys. He is with us up to the triumph. He stands in our victory. He helps us find the message through the mess.

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For we are God’s masterpiece... We are His special possession (1 Peter 2:9). We are the many stories that He has masterfully woven together to create a great story. 

He has created us anew in Christ Jesus... 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." Jesus polishes off all of our rough edges. When we devote our life to being more like Him, we enter into a lifetime of joy and peace that only He can offer. We are no longer our old, sinful selves, we are anew, washed by the love of Jesus.

So we can do the good things he planned for us long ago...

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.
Ephesians 1:3-6

God created us to worship Him. He wants all of His children to be adopted as children into the Kingdom of God. He blesses us and loves us. There will be tough times, indecision, doubt, but behind all of that uncertainty is a God who just wants you to lift your hands and say, "Father, I trust you! Catch me when I fall, lift me up when I am down, and love me through it all. I thank you and I love you!"

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It seems Ephesians 2:10 has a lot to say to me. Thank you God for the persistence to show me the great love you have for me. I pray that you can learn from the lessons God teaches me and He touches your life in very special, personal ways. You are God's masterpiece, I am God's masterpiece, We are God's masterpiece and we are new creations in Christ. We can do the good things He planned for us long ago. Amen.

{Limitless Life} From Mess To Masterpiece

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I never really thought of myself as a mess. I thought I had it all together. I think that is worse. When life is going okay - where nothing is really bad but nothing is really great either - is the worse place to be. It is where I have been all my life. I am ordinary. I am normal. I'm nothing special.

I haven't been abused or abandoned. I haven't been addicted to hard drugs or experienced clinical depression. I have family and friends who love me, beyond that not many even know my name. I am not too tall, nor too short. I am not too skinny, nor would I consider myself obese (unless you look at a BMI scale, and even then I'm on the border -- arg). I have done nothing that sets me apart; instead, I've spent my entire life trying to fit in. I've felt like this has been my story. I am simply average. I'm caught in the middle of a mess and a masterpiece. I'm not quite a mess, but I don't feel I am a masterpiece either.

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The above picture really caught my eye because of the awesome drawing of a person held behind the lines of a paper. Only later did the quote really sink in. It was a perfect find for what was going through my head about my life as a mess. As I said, I never really thought I had a mess, but part of that is because I never thought about it at all. I always considered myself free. That is until I realized how much I let what others think of me dictate who I am. Those faint little lines that society draws was enough to but me behind bars of bondage. This realization was very hard for me. It is a lesson I'm still learning.

This past winter I did the "Breaking Free" Bible study by Beth Moore with a small group of ladies from my church. It was a wonderful study, a little intense, but I am still growing from it even after several months. I would recommend it if you ever get the chance to study it. Anyway, the point is that going into that study, I didn't think I had anything to break free from. I thought I was there to support others who I knew had a rough childhood or other things going on in their lives. I never thought it would pierce my heart so deeply.

It was through this study that I learned what "people-pleasing" really meant and had the realization that I was one. I wish we could have a people-pleasers anonymous with steps and everything. I thought I was free, but I was being held bondage by my unwillingness to say no, my anxiety over conflict, my frustration at constantly holding my opinion for fear of judgement, and my irrational desire to make others see me for who I thought they wanted me to be. I never knew how limited and restrained I actually felt.

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I feel ordinary and unimportant, but God has a greater perspective. God created me to be His masterpiece. I don't have to stay in this bondage of people-pleasing, God did not create me to be trapped - He created me to be free! Jesus said, "You will know the truth and the truth will set you free!" (John 8:32). I know the truth is that God loves me enough to send His Son to die for my sins (John 3:16). I know that someone who created me to be a masterpiece and loves me that much isn't going to be happy about me settling for a mediocre life.

I have begun to step out of the fear that judgment of others has buried me under. I am still walking towards freedom. But God is beside me every step of the way. I will be strong and courageous because I know my God is with me wherever I go (Joshua 1:9). I'm ready to stop believing I am resigned to be ordinary. I am ready to believe I'm God's masterpiece and do the good things He planned me for long ago.

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This article is inspired by a Bible Study with Proverbs 31 Ministries 

while reading Limitless Life by Derwin L. Gray.

{Limitless Life} From Addicted to Free

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I've never truly been addicted to anything. I have realized that I don't have an addictive personality. Thank you God!

That sounds prideful, it isn't meant to be. It is simply truth. Let me give you an example: I began smoking when I was a teenager. (Don't ever do that, it is a really stupid thing to do.) I was smoking for about six months, give or take. I should have been addicted. I knew others who had smoked less than I had and couldn't stop. However, one day I was running low on funds for the month and I had to make a decision, I could get a cup of coffee or a pack of cigarettes. I didn't even think twice, I wanted coffee much more than I wanted the cigarettes. So I bought the coffee. And that was it, I was done smoking. I think I've bought maybe two more packs of cigarettes over the course of ten years.

Another example is coffee. I know lots of people who are seriously addicted to coffee. I would drink about 3-5 cups of it a day during my college years, but when I changed environments - moved and began working - the habit vanished. I still enjoy a cup most mornings, but if I don't have it, it's no big deal.

I could give a few more examples like this, but I believe I've made my point. So when I begin thinking about addiction, I don't really have anywhere to go. That is until I read this...

Humans have an amazing ability to get addicted to just about anything—food, shopping, people-pleasing, and self-pleasing.
~Derwin Gray, Limitless Life, p31

Oh, I can be addicted to people-pleasing? That one hurts.

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It has only been within the last year or so that I even knew what "people-pleasing" meant or that it was bad. Nonetheless, I am a chronic people-pleaser. I try to be who others want me to be, I don't like to rock the boat, I am very indecisive and usually go along when others voice an opinion, I find it uncomfortable to speak my mind, I have a hard time saying no, I'd rather be nice than hurt someone's feelings with the truth, conflict gives my anxiety attacks, and I don't understand why people can just get along.

I always thought this trait of putting others in front of myself was a good one and what it meant to "lay your life down for your friends" (John 15:13). Honestly, it only made me depressed, insecure and unfulfilled. I felt worthless and stressed. I became too busy with too many things I couldn't get done. I had no time to fill my own heart so I was lacking when trying to help anyone else. I felt overwhelmingly ineffective.

This was a really hard lesson for me to learn, I am still having trouble with it. I slipped up again just a couple days ago by making lame excuses for simply not wanting to do something. Even though I've been working on this recently, I never thought about it being an addiction. I didn't do it for the pat on the shoulder, like I said I didn't realize I did it at all. It doesn't feel like addiction, it simply feels like my way of life. I have been learning the boundaries of this and where to draw the line. It is a constant balance of remaining kind and gentle to others, but also being true to myself.

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There may be some who are addiction to anything they come in contact with and there may be some, like me, who rarely truly get addicted to anything. No matter which category you fit it or if you are somewhere in between, we all struggle with priorities - the big and the small.

The reason for our addictive appetites is that we were created for worship. Worship has a powerful impact on us in that we draw our identity, worth, and purpose from the object of our worship. Identity tells us who we are. Worth gives us our value. Purpose gives us a reason for waking up every morning.
~ Derwin Gray, Limitless Life, p32

We want things that make us feel good. When you have a bad day, do you go to God? Do you worship your Creator that only produces good? No, probably not. I don't. I go to the show that I recorded on the DVR, a friend who will make me laugh, a glass of wine, a good book, or sometimes just to sleep hoping that tomorrow will be better. But those things are just idols. They are examples of things that we look for to make us feel better when all we really need is a good dose of positive energy from the One Who Created Us.

Things make us feel better for a little while. Our job, our title, our hobby, and our possessions give us identity and worth within our society. They can even us a reason to get up in the morning, but how do you feel at night? How do you feel in those moments where it is just you, with no walls up? Do you feel free?

I hope you do. But if you don't, you can. Worship God. Bring light to darkness. Bring innovation to familiarity. Bring color to gray. Bring creativity to routine. Bring courage to fearfulness. Bring song out of silence. Bring forgiveness out of resentment. Bring love out of hate. Bring freedom out of addiction.

God can do those things and so much more!

You are without limits because of the unlimited God who lives in you.
~ Derwin Gray, Limitless Life, p41

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 Be you. Be brave. Be free. Live a limitless life!

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This article is inspired by a Bible Study with Proverbs 31 Ministries 

while reading Limitless Life by Derwin L. Gray.

{Limitless Life} From Afraid to Courageous

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Freedom is a powerful word. Though sometimes I believe we take it for granted. Those who feel free don't think about it very much because they don't know what it means to be captive. On the other hand, those who feel bound to something (like fear or addiction for example) don't think about freedom very much because they believe it is not possible to obtain. For either group, freedom holds the power of life, the ability to love and the forethought of putting others in front of yourself.

I have been fearful for much of my life. I can't even explain why or the root of it. Nonetheless, I was always afraid of trying new things, meeting new people and going to new places. I didn't do very many exciting things growing up. I spent a lot of time with my family and spending time in places that were familiar. Now don't get me wrong, I had a wonderful childhood with family that never ceased to show their faithful love for me. I was blessed...still am. However, I was afraid.

I began to combat this fear of ...everything... beginning in middle school when a friend invited me to church. I found power in Jesus and began to take (very small) steps to face my fears. They did not go away, but I could find ways to live through them, taking on new things, new people and new places in stride. I was not without fear, but I could walk in faith that God would take care of me.

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My favorite bible verse during this time was Acts 20:22:

"And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me."

This was Paul speaking and I identified entirely with his words. I felt bound to do things that frightened me, I believe God challenged me simply so He could show me that He would always be with me. I did not know what would happen, but Paul did it anyway because God was with him. So I would do it anyway because God was also with me. It worked.

I have been gradually facing my fears since, for almost twenty years now, with Jesus by my side. There are still moments when fear of the unknown grips me, but I am amazed at how far I have come. Now some of the things that frightened me twenty years ago don't even phase me. I can only thank God for that. When I really stop and think about it, I can't believe I am even the same person. In many ways I am not, God transformed me.

My goal lately has been to do something brave everyday. (Today I did two.)

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This article is inspired by a Bible Study with Proverbs 31 Ministries 

while reading Limitless Life by Derwin L. Gray.