by Kelli Sanders | Nov 19, 2013 | Encouragement, Faith and Family, Help for Moms, Spirit Food, Spiritual Growth
You are called to be a vital part of something bigger than yourself! You can walk in your destiny & live out the dream God has placed in your heart when you dare to obey Him!
I was sitting on my couch drinking my coffee, and having my normal devotional time this morning when God reminded me of a message I shared at my Bible college in Southern California. In November of 2008 I was on furlough from the mission field, and I was invited to speak to students at the school of ministry where I was trained – what an honor! I distinctly remember this season of my life because there were many trials and tests of faith within the ministry, as well as external, political events that made life at that time quite exciting to say the least!
As I prepared to talk to the students I felt God wanted me to emphasize the importance of obedience, and to especially focus on the great BLESSING that is waiting on the other side of a choice to obey Him! He wants me to do the same today!
First, let’s examine the heart of what He is saying to you today. A great blessing is waiting for YOU! Where is it? On the other side of a decision YOU must make! What’s this decision all about? It is a choice to courageously obey His directives, OR to shrink back in fear and fail to walk in the plan He has for you.
My heart is exploding right now thinking of how BIG, how GREAT, how AWESOME the life is that our God created us to live! He has given each of us gifts, talents, and abilities that are the launching pad for our destiny in Christ! We were created on purpose, for a purpose! Never will you be as deeply, and fully satisfied with life as you are when you are living and walking in the path that God created you to live and walk in! It is a life lived for others, and it is a BLESSED life!
Count the cost…but don’t forget to count the payoff!
One of the primary deceptions of our generation is that rebellion is freedom, and obedience is bondage; that obedience is the “mark of a slave,” as it mentions above, yet the opposite is true! Is there a cost when we obey God? Emphatically, yes, but it also pays to obey!
Here is a case-in-point. When God directed me to move overseas I was at a high point in my career as a public school teacher. I had just purchased my second home, was doing very well financially, had all of my family around me, and I was actively involved in an amazing church! I had reached a very good place in life! When I considered what it would cost to obey God, doubt and fear would tag-team me and attempt to move me away from God’s perfect will for my life.
A few nights before I would board a plane for the Philippines I remember waking up in a panic! I was on a train running full steam ahead and I could not stop what I’d set into motion! I was leaving my family, my career, my church, my friends, my home country – it was as though everything I cherished was being stripped away from me! It felt like a high price to pay at the time!
Fast forward several years and I am speaking to students who are studying to live a life of ministry to God’s people, and daring them to fully obey His call! And you know what? I didn’t once mention any temporary sacrifice, or how hard it was, or how serving God turned out to be a bad deal – NO! Despite the testing and proving of my faith, all I could speak of, all I wanted to convey to them was the great BLESSINGS I had experienced when I chose to obey.
So what about you???
Is God stirring up vision in your heart? Is He gently speaking as you get quiet and listen? What is He telling you to do? Whatever it is, I dare you to obey Him! I may not know all or have all of the answers, but this I do know: God is faithful, and He will not lead you astray. Trust Him and BELIEVE in what He has placed inside of you. You are greater in Him, stronger in Him, smarter in Him than you ever thought or imagined. Walk in His plans for you and you will never regret it!
by Kelli Sanders | Oct 14, 2013 | Babies & Pregnancy, Encouragement, Faith and Family, Help for Moms, Spirit Food, Spiritual Growth
“Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.” ~ Luke 18:17
This is my first post in 6 weeks, and I’ll tell you why: I gave birth to that beautiful baby you see above! Staring into such a peaceful face will occupy a lot of your time, but even more, it will cause you to think, ponder, consider – meditate on, and be in awe of God. One of the things that the Holy Spirit has brought to me these past weeks is how much my Heavenly Father loves me – even more than I love my children! He’s also shown me that I can trust in that love. I can trust God’s character and His heart toward me.
If you’re like me – or any human being for that matter – there are times that you allow the cares of this world to weigh you down. There are times that you allow thoughts of doubt and fear to rob you of God’s blessings, and there are times that you are so focused on your tomorrows that you can’t enjoy your today. Sound familiar?
As a child of God you might think to yourself, “Of course I trust God’s heart toward me and His love for me!” Yet, when it comes to LIVING in that truth, many of us demonstrate through our actions that we trust in ourselves more. Tell me this, has God ever asked you to do something that didn’t seem to make sense? Has He ever asked you to take a step of faith, not knowing all of the details or how it would all work out? Did you jump out of the proverbial boat and walk on the water, fully persuaded that God would do what He said? In our finer moments we immediately obey God’s directives; however, most, if they are honest, will hesitate, drag their feet, or not take that leap of faith at all because of fear and doubt.
As human beings we reason and are rational. We want to see how A+B=C, yet many times God will only give you enough light to take that first step and He won’t show you more until you’ve ACTED on what He has already said! I believe that those who are reading this are doing so by divine appointment! God is waiting on you. You are not waiting on Him. As soon as you get settled in your heart that God wouldn’t lead you into poverty, lack, confusion or loss, you can take His hand like a little child and walk in His path, knowing that it leads to abundance, blessing, peace and life!
A few weeks ago I wanted to do something fun with my son before the baby was born. William is almost two, and he loves to run, climb and play! I thought I would take him to the park so we could have some fun. When I picked him up to put him in the car seat he started to resist, cry, arch his back (moms, you know what I’m talking about). I said to him, “If you just trust me I am trying to get you to a place that is going to bless you!” Well, if that word wasn’t Holy Spirit inspired I don’t know what is! Isn’t this what God is saying to us!? We resist, and cry and dig in our heels that we don’t want to do it, BUT GOD is calmly saying, “Just trust Me. It’s gonna be good!”
Trust is letting go. It is believing in and relying on something or someone. Trusting God and having faith like a child is very liberating! When you cast your cares on Him and simply hold His hand as He leads you, knowing it is going to be good, you can get happy! Dare I say, you might even get EXCITED for what is to come!
I am excited for you! Do you know why? You are reading this because God loves you so much that He wants you to get the answers to your questions about the next step! TRUST HIM! Trust His character, His integrity, His word, His faithfulness. I assure you, as soon as you trust and obey, He’ll take you the rest of the way!
by Kelli Sanders | Jul 30, 2013 | Encouragement, Faith and Family, Help for Moms, Spirit Food, Spiritual Growth
Have you ever considered whether you are making your mark on the world while you still have breath? It is time to take a look at your life and decide what matters most!
Dear friend, entrepreneur, stay at home mom, working woman or any woman desiring to effect her world and leave a legacy for future generations to follow:
What if I told you that your life really does matter, that you were created with purpose and destiny, and that you are more powerful and influential than you know? What if you started moving in the plan of God for your life, STARTING NOW, and began to effect change in the lives of your children, your family and your world?
One thing that constantly amazed me when I lived as a missionary in the Philippines was God’s divine ability showing up to impact the lives of people just because I showed up and was willing to let Him use me! Some people think that they are not smart enough, bold enough, young enough, old enough – whatever area it might be – people generally feel they “aren’t enough” to live a life of significance that influences others for good!
Here’s the thing, my friends, time is short. Life is short. Last week my dear friend’s husband died of cancer in his early 40’s, my uncle died of cancer a few days ago, still others I know have been diagnosed with terminal illness – all of them fairly young. My point is not to glorify sickness or provoke fear, but to ask YOU to consider the brevity of life, and to take stock of what YOU are doing to ensure you are making your days count!
What do you see first in the picture below?
If you are like most people you would answer, “A white dot.” The human brain tends to like focal points. The mind is fixed and it stays there. It takes some retraining of the mind to “see” all of that black space surrounding the white dot!
This is a good illustration of our daily lives. Our minds naturally gravitate toward the things in “our world.” We get so consumed in our daily routines, the cares of this life, and seeking security in the form of food, shelter and clothing, that we sometimes forget the bigger picture of, “Why am I here?” or “What is my purpose?” We are like that little white dot, surrounded by a much bigger picture, yet we can’t seem to lift our heads for a moment to see more, dream bigger, believe for greatness – because we are “too busy.”
Does this sound familiar to you? It should. I can’t count the number of times people, including myself, have allowed themselves to be swallowed up by life only to find that years have passed and they are still not doing what they were called and created to do! Jesus spoke of this in the Parable of the Sower when he demonstrated how the cares of this life could make the word of God fruitless in our lives. He also gave us a plan of action to avoid this pitfall – don’t seek after your food, shelter, clothing, etc. – seek God’s kingdom first and HE WILL take care of you!
Am I saying don’t work? Absolutely not! I am saying to change your focus! I am saying it is time to assess your priorities and identify what matters most! Your place of employment is not what matters most. Your paycheck is not what matters most. Your level of comfort is not what matters most. Here is what matters most: Are you using your God-given gifts, talents and abilities to lead those in your sphere of influence to a personal, living relationship with Jesus Christ?
You can do this as a mother, a teacher, a sales person, a business woman, a wife, a waitress, a pastor, a politician – where has God called you!? It is time to find out and to get yourself into position! What is holding you back? I can tell you:
F-E-A-R
It’s pretty black and white. You either trust God or you don’t. You choose faith or fear. You live for Him or live for yourself. You seek His kingdom or you seek yours. What is most important to you? Please, ask yourself in earnest. Look at your priorities and make any necessary adjustments because, as one who has left all to follow Him, I can tell you that there is no life more thrilling, more satisfying, more challenging or rewarding than the life lived for God! It’s time to erase fear and doubt, lift up your eyes and to SEE the potential of your life lived from a place of faith and trust! Let’s not live small, safe lives of comfort, but big, courageous lives worthy of our salvation!
As a daughter of God, a wife, a mother to my children, a friend and human being, my greatest desire is to please the heart of my Father God. I love Him and worship Him, and I want Him to love people through me. What about you? What is your greatest desire? When you look back on your life, what will have mattered most? Where are your priorities now, and where should they be? Do something brave today and surrender ALL to God. Ask Him for His plan, expect an answer, and then seek it with your whole heart!
I pray that the Holy Spirit speaks to you through this word, and that you are inspired to ACT on it!
by Kelli Sanders | Jul 3, 2013 | Encouragement, Faith and Family, Help for Moms, Motherhood, Spiritual Growth, Teenage Years
What is expected of most teens in modern day culture is rebellion, irresponsibility, immaturity and a general stage of confused “quasi-childhood” where the guidelines for when and how to become an adult are foggy at best.
If you are reading this and you are the mom of a teenager, I want to encourage you! The teen years don’t have to be DREADED years! They don’t have to be filled with worry, fear and low expectations! They can be very blessed years that become a learning and growing experience for both you and your teens!
We need a paradigm shift in our way of thinking about adolescence. Quite frankly many parents just want their teens to escape drug addiction and teen pregnancy, maybe graduate high school and eventually get a job. If they can accomplish that much in today’s culture, they have done a good job raising their kids. While all of the above mentioned goals are good to have, they cannot be the standard that we look to. With our expectations of young people at an all-time low, teens are meeting them…or even coming a little short.
Before you throw stones at me, there is no judgment here. You’re looking at a woman who did struggle with drugs as a teen and DID become pregnant as a teen – I’ve been there – but I desire that each generation after me reaches even more of their potential, and at an even younger age! I believe we all want that for our children!
So how do we navigate parenting in the teen years with great success? Very carefully! Here are a few things that have helped me walk the journey from diapers to the altar with that handsome young man in the picture above (my son, Seth).
Trust God!
Sounds simple enough, right? Yet almost daily there are opportunities to look at what you see in your teen’s life and start the cycle of worry in your mind! Here is a thought to meditate on: God loves your child more than you do and He is smarter than you! I know – hard to hear, but it’s true. He has the plan. He has the answers. He knows all the right ways to lead you as you make the daily decisions that effect this young person’s life.
Imagine for a moment a fish on a line. There are two forces at either end, each one struggling for power amidst the give and take until one of two things happens: the line is held too tightly, breaks and the fish swims away; OR, the line is too loose, there is no control and the fish swims away. There is a third possibility though. The wise fisherman knows when to tighten and when to release the line, drawing the fish into the boat and then, at his discretion, he sets the fish back in the water to swim free – both are happy. The fisherman wisely guided the fish to what it ultimately wanted anyway – freedom.
I cannot imagine how I would have navigated the teen years without God’s wisdom given to me daily in every circumstance. I had to know when to tighten the reins and when to relax them, when to allow my son to make his own decisions and when to set a firm boundary. This fine dance was masterfully guided by someone much smarter than me! The wisest fisherman I know!
Releasing your child to God’s care and trusting Him to guide you is one of the most precious pearls of wisdom I can give to any mom. It’s a simple but profound truth.
See the Good!
This is one of the biggest lessons I had to learn when I saw my son struggling with some poor decision making. I started to focus too much on the attitudes, behaviors and actions that I felt were stifling his growth, and I neglected to focus on the attitudes, behaviors and actions that were developing his character in a very positive way.
Here is the nugget to take away from this: When we speak to, magnify and focus on the negative that we see in our teens, we are creating an opportunity for them to do the same. When we speak to, magnify and focus on the good we see in our teens, we are also creating an opportunity for them to do the same. God spoke to my heart one day when I was allowing myself to become overwhelmed with some circumstances in my son’s life saying, “Acknowledge every good thing that is in Him in Christ.”
This is not an encouragement to ignore problems or fail to address a need for change; however, it is an encouragement to examine your heart. How do you speak about your child, and to your child. Is your focus on what they fail to do right? Is your focus on constant correction? Do they sense from you that you are consistently disappointed with them? How much do you speak to the GOOD in them? How much do you acknowledge when they please you – even in the small things?
Through every circumstance choose to see the GOOD. It takes faith – so have more faith in God’s ability to develop them than you do in the devil’s ability to destroy them! God is bigger!
Expect Greatness!
I want to leave you with the same thought that we began on – expectations. Don’t fall in line with the expectations of the majority. When you take a look at history, some of the world’s most influential leaders and nation changers were accomplishing great things in the years we now refer to as adolescence! Don’t look at these years in your teen’s life as the stage where they have zero responsibility, zero accountability and freedom to play all their days away. Soon they’ll be twenty something and still lack the skills, strength of character, and financial independence to get out from under your roof and into the great, big “real world.”
Instead, see these years as a launching pad for life! See them as years to develop God given talents, gifts and abilities! Expect greatness and you will be surprised at how your teen rises to meet those expectations! These are not pressure driven demands, but strong convictions that your teen can do and be more than you ever dreamed!
by Kelli Sanders | Jun 21, 2013 | Encouragement, Faith and Family, Help for Moms, Motherhood
If you’ve ever doubted how special and UH-mazing you are, you need to hear this!
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10 Things Every Mom Should Know!
Dear Mommy,
Please do yourself a favor and watch this video. Why, you ask? Because you need to smile today and this is GUARANTEED to make you smile (caution: it may even make you tear up a bit).
This isn’t a video that I helped to create – just something that I thought the world of moms needed to hear from the heart of a very cute and inspirational boy!
Enjoy and comment below if you thought this was as cute as I did!
by Kelli Sanders | Jun 8, 2013 | Bible Studies, Encouragement, Faith and Family, Help for Moms, Spiritual Growth
Being positive and thinking on good things is a choice. What are YOU choosing in the “daily grind” of your life? It could be making all the difference in the world. Read on to find out why.
Some surprising statistics show that as much as 77% of what people think is negative, counterproductive and works against them. In addition, people who grow up in the average household hear the word “no,” or they are told what they cannot do more than 148,000 times by the time they reach the age of 18! The culture we live in has the potential to produce in you a critical spirit that will cripple your life and relationships, limit your ability to succeed, and keep you from the joy that God intended for you to live in.
That negative thinking will stop faith, it will stop love, and it will leave you with a sense of hopelessness and despair! So how do you unlock the power of being positive!?
First, examine your own heart and identify what has brought you to the negative side of life. Is it:
- A critical family?
- Too many disappointments and broken promises? (e.g. “I tried that and it didn’t work.”)
- Dreams that haven’t come to pass? (related to marriage/divorce, death(s), job loss, etc.)
- Pride or insecurity?
- Past hurts that have hardened your heart? (unfaithfulness, betrayal, etc.)
No matter what has brought you to that place in your heart and mind, YOU can break free from the past!
God wants to bring you out of the “world’s” atmosphere (critical, harsh, mean) into the atmosphere of His kingdom (one of faith, hope, love, compassion and caring) so He can begin to release His power and His purposes IN you and THROUGH you! The world needs the creativity, life and light that are inside of YOU – yes you! But you must DO something to turn around and begin to swim against the world’s current. Are you ready?
Follow this road map to freedom and begin right now!
#1 Recognize Wrong Thinking
As an elementary school teacher I found that there were some classrooms in which children were always told the things they were doing wrong, and there were others in which there was ALSO an acknowledgment of what was done right and well. The atmosphere of the classroom largely depended on the mindset of the teacher. In a similar way, the atmosphere of a home can largely depend on the mindset of mommy.
Look honestly at your heart right now. Do you consistently look for, find, and expose the weaknesses, shortcomings, faults and failures of others? Do you set yourself up as judge, jury and executioner? Do you tend toward skepticism, envy and unbelief? Are you often frustrated, sarcastic and impatient with people? If you answered yes to any or all of the above, it is time to acknowledge that wrong thinking and make some adjustments.
#2 Choose to Change
It will profit you nothing to see a wrong spirit in the way you perceive life and people, and then to go on thinking the same way, and talking the same way because you will keep acting the same way and getting the same results! You can choose to change the way you think!
#3 Refrain from Criticism!
Katherine Marshall, wife of Peter Marshall (chaplain of the US Senate in the 40’s):
“One morning last week, God gave me an assignment one day. I was to go on a fast from criticism. I was not to criticize anybody or anything. For the first half of the day I simply felt a void almost as if I had been wiped out as a person. This was especially true at lunch. I listened to the others and kept silent. In our talkative family no one seemed to notice. Bemused I noticed that the world could apparently get along just fine without my penetrating observations but still, I didn’t see what this fast from criticism was accomplishing until mid afternoon. In the afternoon God gave me a new vision for my life, and it had His unmistakable stamp on it: JOY. Ideas began to come in a way that I hadn’t experienced them in years. Now it was apparent that what the Lord wanted me to see was my critical nature had not solved a single one of the many things that I had found fault with. What I had done was to stifle God’s creativity in me.”
When you stop complaining and criticizing, the joy of the Lord can bring creative power into your life! The problems you were complaining about, you will now have answers to! Try this for one hour, one day, one week, and see what it will do to plant the seeds of positivity in your thought life.
#4 Replace “Bad” with “Good”
This is what the world says:
Whatever is false, whatever is unworthy of respect and dishonorable, whatever is shameful and offensive, whatever is unjust and polluted, whatever is unlovely and unkind, whatever is rude and disgusting, if there is any bad news and failure, if there is anything worthy of fear and worry, think on and weigh and take account of these things.
This is what God says:
For the rest, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of reverence and is honorable and seemly, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely and lovable, whatever is kind and winsome and gracious, if there is any virtue and excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think on and weigh and take account of these things [fix your minds on them].
Once you recognize the negativity, choose to change, and practice refraining from the negative commentary, you may feel like Katherine Marshall – wiped out as a person! So what do you do? Replace the former way of doing things with a new way of doing things! Replace the “bad” with the “good.” YOU CAN DO IT!
Why is it worth it???
As a mommy you have tremendous power and influence in the lives of your children AND in creating the atmosphere of your home. Families thrive in an atmosphere of faith, hope, love, positivity and good words being spoken over them. Just think of what you can do to help your children believe that they can do all things through Christ! Just think of how your choice to make some adjustments today can affect lifelong change in future generations! CHANGE IS POSSIBLE AND CHANGE IS POWERFUL! I believe in you!
