Are You A Follower Or Just A Fan?

Fan: an enthusiastic admirer. A fan wants all the benefits of a relationship with Jesus without any sacrifice.

A follower must sacrifice and take up their cross.

The crowds of people that Jesus fed, healed, and taught were mainly fans. Most of them followed Him because they wanted something from Him. They praised Him as long as it was easy, but ran away when the going got tough.

Being a follower of Jesus isn't easy!

I want to be a follower of Jesus everyday, but I know there are days when I live as just a fan. Part of the growing process with Christ is realizing how much farther I have to go. I'm thankful that God is merciful and deals with me a little at a time. He is patient, loving and kind. I want to be more like Him and less like me.

It has nothing to do with "what" we do, but everything to do with "why" we do. It's a Jesus thing.

For His Glory,
Dalinda

Change Can Be Good

You will never change your life until you change something you do daily.- John Maxwell

Healthy choices are easy to put off until some future date. But procrastination, especially concerning matters of personal health, is at best, foolish and, at worst, dangerous. If you feel the need to improve your physical health, don't wait for New Year's Day; don't even wait until tomorrow. The time to begin living a healthier life is the moment you finish reading this sentence.

I must take up my cross...My cross. Stop blaming and finger pointing. I must take my issue to His cross and see my sin for what it is...sin. And I must be disgusted enough by my sin to truly want to do something about it.

Life is a gift...health must be earned. We earn good health by cultivating healthy habits. Look at your habits: how you eat, how you exercise, and how you think about your health. The only way that you'll revolutionize your physical health is to revolutionize the habits that make up the fabric of your day.

This is the time to commit yourself to a more sensible lifestyle. Each moment is too precious to waste.

Success doesn't always come in direct proportion to your measure of talent. Sometimes success comes to those with the fiercest determination to never give up.

God is a redeeming God and He can make all things new.

The journey to a new you begins now...and it begins with God.

"Whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, you must do it all for the glory of God." ~ 1 Corinthians 10:31

In His Mighty Hand,
Dalinda

Close Your Eyes, Clear Your Heart, Let It Go

We want to give our situations and trials to God for Him to use for His glory, not for us to become bitter about.

How dare I bless Him in my ease and curse Him in my trials. My God is God! His Deity is not dependent on my current situation. His Love is not dependent on my attitude!

In my strength, my gifts are 'D' effort at best, but when surrendered to Christ there is no end to what HE can do with them. Whatever I have the faith to surrender fully, willingly to rid myself of my comfort zone or my conveniences HE can make beautiful.

I pursue HIM and HE pursues His perfection in me. He desire me to see the world through His eyes, with His heart. There's no way for me to do that in my own strength.

I am determined to see God glorified through my mundane. Well, I see my everyday as mundane, but if I allow Him to use it, He can make my mundane...Miraculous.

I don't want to show everyone a "mock perfection." I don't want to be a Barbie Christian. I want my life to be a humble, honest reflection of where I am in my walk with Him!

We can't ever learn how to live real faith if we never need real faith.

Because He wants us to willingly let it go.

For His Praise and Glory,
Dalinda

Lighten Up

I am thankful for the moments of laughter to lighten the day. Laughter renews your zest for life too. If you've been feeling old and cranky lately, a good laugh can lift your spirits and renew your youthfulness.

Are you so serious about life that you've drained the creativity and joy out of it?

You lead a busy and productive life, but don't forget to make room for good times.

Always have something to look forward to. No matter how much there is to do, anticipating a coming pleasure can brighten your mood and help you accomplish today's tasks with zest.

The key is this: Meet today's problems with today's strength. Don't start tackling tomorrow's problems until tomorrow. You do not have tomorrow's strength yet. You simply have enough for today.

Lighten up and savor the simple joy of being alive.

Joyfully,
Dalinda

What Does It Matter?

What denomination are you?

Can I just suggest, what does it matter? If you believe that Jesus is the Son of God, who came to this earth in the form of a man , lived as a man, was crucified on the cross for our sins, rose from the grave in three days, and is seated at the right hand of the Father until He comes again...that's all you need to know about another believer. Everything else is relative.

Some of it is legalisms, some fanaticism, but if your core belief is truth, then you are brothers and sisters in Christ regardless.

We've just made up a bunch of rules, made 'church' and the body of Christ so much more difficult than it needs to be.

Grace- because of a personal relationship, not a bunch of rules.

Humbled,
Dalinda

Peace

Peace does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work. It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.

When your equilibrium is upset by complications or crisis, it is essential to step back, take a deep breath, and focus on God instead of the problem. God promises to take care of you. But if you are putting all your energy into worrying about the problem, it is almost impossible to hear the still, small voice of God in the situation. Only God can help you navigate the problems that seem too overwhelming to deal with.

When you focus on God's immense greatness, it puts your problems into perspective.

Spend time with God to discover the peace that passes understanding. Exchange fear for faith by concentrating on the greatness of God. You may not know why the hard times happen, but you do know whom you can trust in the midst of them.

I've learned that the Lord didn't do it all in one day. What makes me think I can?

I am so thankful for the peace of Jesus Christ that overwhelms, surpasses my needs, upholds my weak knees, and covers my heart and soul.

I need Him! He is the only solution to my trails.

Knowing God's peace not only transforms your life, it also transforms your perspective of who God is. When God walks through our circumstances with us, the grass really is greener on the other side. Not because our location or circumstances have necessarily changed, but simply because He is there with us.

Peace,
Dalinda

Claim The Blessings

Sometimes life can feel like a wrestling match. When the complexities of a challenging situation make you feel as if you are wrestling for your life, remember Jacob.

When times are tough and you're not sure how you're going to get through them, take a minute to acknowledge the help you have received instead of the needs you still have. Appreciate the gift and thank the giver. When you look back at how God has provided for you, it will inspire you to believe that God will provide for you again.

Know that the love of God is greater than all the challenges life can throw at you.

"Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him." ~Psalm 34:8

Blessings,
Dalinda

You Don't Have To Be In Prison To Be A Prisoner

One of the loneliest experiences you can have is when you're surrounded by people who don't understand your situation, your dreams, your interests, or your sense of humor. You may feel like the psalmist who wrote, "No one stands up for me; there is no refuge for me; no one cares about me" (142:4).

How do you handle life when your most alone times are when you're with people who are supposed to understand you?

The truth is we're all pretty much into ourselves. That's part of our sinful nature and it's not pretty. Because of that, people will let you down. When that happens, you may have the tendency to grow bitter because the people in your life didn't do what you needed or expected them to do.

Don't fall into that trap. Don't allow yourself to be a prisoner. Even though you are the one left to carry the heavy load, you must guard your attitude. (Hebrews 12:15).

Jesus is the only One who completely understands the entire situation, including the encouragement we need. He is faithful! He is all you need!

In Him,
Dalinda

Surrendering Control

This control nature of ours can get out of control!

We try to control too much, only giving Him the leftovers.

I am finding that it all comes down to seeking God's direction and listening to His voice, more that getting caught up in having to have things done in my way, my timing, and my plan.

When I focus on the Lord, everything about controlling circumstances and people sharpens into focus. The little things remain little, and the things that need my intervention get taken care of in His way, not mine. In the process, I'm exhibiting the love and compassion of Jesus and moving about reflecting Him, not me.

I'm definitely a "work in progress," but I am celebrating the growth I'm experiencing in this area. More miles to cover, but I'm gathering steam to make it happen with each step I travel with God.

Humbled,
Dalinda

The Beauty Found In The Mess

Isn't it odd that sometimes in the hardest periods of our lives, God does His best work?

I'm convinced God doesn't dislike tough times as much as we do. Oh, He hates sin, that's for sure. And I know His heart breaks for our pain. But tough times are kind of like the pain we might feel going to the gym. It hurts while we are there, bur there is a greater good coming forth. If we position ourselves to see His hand at work, we will see it.

Trials are no fun when we are going through them, but seeing God's hand weaving the threads toward a result bigger than our circumstance is life affirming, a true blessing indeed! Honestly, I actually feel the blessing in the midst of the trial, not because of anything I do, but because of His grace. His amazing grace!

HIM receiving Glory out of this little life is WAY more important to me than...anything else! For my life to be worthy of being set apart as a testament to our Great GOD...well, that rocks my socks off more than living a life according to my own convenience.

I am thankful for the lessons of life and the beauty found in the mess!

Blessings,
Dalinda

Stay Humble

I am thankful for the challenges in life that remind me that He is my strength.

In our weakness the Lord's strength shines through.

We need to fade so that God can shine. God has a greater purpose than our immediate comfort. Getting what we want, when we want it, is not always the best for us or glorifying to God.

What we should be concerned about is whether or not our actions and attitude are glorifying Him. Am I taking the credit for the work He has done in my life? We need to keep Christ and our reflection of Him at the center of our lives at every moment. The more we do that, the more instinctual it becomes. And instead of being prideful we become humble in His sight.

In order to combat pride in our lives, we must acknowledge that every good thing in our lives is a gift from God. We count our blessings, not draw attention to ourselves, but turn all praise and glory to God, our Loving Father, the Giver of Life.

God without man is still God. Man without God is nothing.

Humble In His Sight,
Dalinda

Joy Comes In The Morning

Satan knows that I don't feel well today and that I am already down because it is my Dad's birthday. He is using everything he can to bring me down even further. But with God by my side he will not succeed.

The devil is not happy to see us on our knees crying to God. We need to press through, press on and not give up.

God shows up in the dark times just as He is present in the light, but sometimes we hesitate to expose our challenges and struggles for fear of embarrassment or rejection. I try to avoid building those walls because I want people to know God's grace in their own lives and those are the moments we need it most!

If only we could remember that on the tail end of every sorrow there is a joyful tomorrow!

Humbled and undeserving,
Dalinda

Lift People Up

Words are important. Like nothing else they have the ability to hurt, to help, or to heal. And the words that Jesus spoke two thousand years ago had, and still have, more power than any words ever spoken.

A word of encouragement can go a long way in strengthening hearts. Whether the word comes from a friend, a spouse, a stranger, or straight from God's own Word, encouragement has power. It let's us know we're not alone. We have a support group cheering us on as we go through life. Out of that support group, God is our biggest fan. He wants you to succeed, and His help is just a prayer away.

Compassion is a big part of learning to love others as Jesus did. It is more than having pity on someone. It is feeling so deeply what someone else is going through that you're moved to do something to alleviate their suffering. Open your eyes to the pain of those around you today, and then allow God to touch others' lives through you.

You can be Jesus' hands and feet in today's world by consciously putting yourself in a hurting person's shoes and letting compassion inspire you to action.

My prayer is that you would step out and do something radical for Jesus. I guarantee He will help you with the details.

For His Glory,
Dalinda

Doing What Matters

We are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel.

Life is not fair. People will say and do things to hurt your feelings, things you don't deserve. But when someone mistreats you, try to see it as a chance to show them God 's grace and to grow in your own faith.

Don't try to get even or get the last word in. See how quickly you can forgive. And don't tell everyone around you what happened. Just let it go. Don't worry about what others think...God's opinion is the only one that really counts.

When it comes to making choices, loving God and others is always the right choice, no matter what the circumstance.

Blessings,
Dalinda

Our Strong Anchor

Unfortunately, we all face unexpected crisis situations in life. If we are wise, we'll prepare ahead for life's storms by building our lives on the solid ground of Jesus Christ and His Word rather than the shifting sands of this world.

Never cast an anchor in shifting sand.

When the flash floods of affliction wash over us, God will be our steady anchor if we trust in Him. The question is: How will you respond to life's storms? Will you resist God or allow Him to be your anchor?

The Lord Himself awaits to help us, if we only ask.

In His Grip,
Dalinda

Believers Are Achievers

Great men and women of God are not made on the peak , they are formed in the valley. What a comforting thing to know that if God is testing your faith, it's because He has somewhere He wants to take you. God has to prove you before He can promote you.

There are no short-cuts to any place worth going. The long road is also where God teaches me things I wouldn't learn otherwise.

God can make the impossible....possible. God can make the difficult easy.

Remember, that while we draw the breath of life in the mortal body that is so easily beset by sin, we have an adversary that will do everything he can to steal and kill our joy and peace with God.

How God sees us is not the problem. It is how we see ourselves that keeps us from succeeding. Each of us can succeed at being everything God intends us to be.

You and I think we are supposed to be achievers, and we are. But the way we achieve is to believe.

It is wonderful and comforting to know that when everyone else sees our faults, God still sees our possibilities. The Lord did not wait for me to get all fixed up before He got involved with me. He started with me where I was then and has been responsible for getting me to where I am today.

It should be a great comfort to us to know that what we cannot do for ourselves, the Lord will do for us, if we trust ourselves to Him.

Grace and peace,
Dalinda

A Walk Of Faith

When you're struggling with something, look at all the people around you and realize that every single person you see is struggling with something and to them it's just as hard as what you're going through.

God wants to take us to places we've never been. To heights we can't even imagine. In order to do that, we have to go through the low valleys, treacherous mountains, rough terrain, and narrow paths of life, places where we could easily get lost or cut off the track. And there is definitely no way we can just head off on our own and expect to arrive safely in the place He has planned for us. We will never know the joy of true freedom until we understand we cannot take a single step without His help.

God doesn't want us to just depend on Him as a last resort when we have a medical emergency or a financial crisis. He wants us to depend on Him for every breath we take. And, quite opposite of the way it may seem, that kind of dependent life is not stifling. It's liberating!

Learning to walk with God is a process. And just when we think we have it all figured out, God leads us into a new place where our old tricks won't work. In fact, it may seem like we're learning to walk again. And in a way we are. We enter unfamiliar territory and are soon reminded that, on our own, we stumble. Yet when we take His hand, we fly. God wants us to soar far above the limitations of our lives and ourselves. He wants to take us to a place we have never been before and can't get to from where we are without His help.

If you are at a place in your life where you feel like you can't take one step without the Lord's help, be glad. He has you where He wants you.

A man's heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.~ Proverbs 16:9

The path is not a punishment; it's a privilege. It's not a restriction; it's a reward.

Blessings,
Dalinda

TGFJ...Thank God For Jesus!

Has today been one of 'those' mornings for you?

Let me ask you a question...Why does this phrase have to be negative? Why can't one of 'those' mornings refer to a morning spent in God's presence? We seem to talk more about our bad mornings than our good ones. Are we glorifying God in this? NO! Let's change our focus. Instead of expecting it to be a bad day, let's expect it to be God's day.

TGFJ...Thank God For Jesus!

Have a blessed weekend everyone!

Shine on,
Dalinda

Setbacks

We all have setbacks in life. This is when it is important to keep your focus on God, not your circumstances. No one comforts better than Christ. In the midst of your circumstances, His presence brings comfort and strength. He may choose to restore your circumstances, but frankly He may not. Regardless, His grace is abundantly sufficient for you. His hand is on your life at this time of affliction. It's better than the hand of any friend, any partner, any parent, or any child, because when He touches, he brings great compassion and lasting relief. No one comforts better than Christ.

Our problem is that we focus our attention on the wrong thing. We see the fuzzy cocoon; God plans and sets in motion the butterfly. We see the painful, awful process; He is producing the value of the product. We see today; He is working on forever. We get caught up in the wrapping; He focuses on the gift, the substance down inside. We look at the external; He emphasizes the internal. He makes everything beautiful in it's time, including your loss, your hospital experience, your failures, your brokenness, your battles, your fragmented dreams, your lost romance, your heartache, your illness. And yes, even your terminal illness. Without Him, life is purposeless and profitless, miserable and meaningless. With Him, it will ultimately make sense.

In His Mighty Hand,
Dalinda

Putting A Positive Spin On Life

If you look for the bad in life, you'll find it!

I'm not saying lie to yourself, but I can tell you from personal experience that so much of what rattles around in your head has more to do with your perspective than with your real circumstances. If you look at yourself and at your surroundings and think negatively about them, then you start a cycle that is hard to break. But if you prayerfully spin your bad thoughts into truly positive, uplifting, thankful thoughts, then you start to focus on the blessings rather than the difficulties in your life.

Don't put your hope into things that change...relationships, money, talents, beauty, even health. Set your sights on the one thing that can never change: Trust in your Heavenly Father!

You've seen people treat this world like it was their permanent home. It's not. You've seen people pour time and energy into life like it will last forever. It won't. You've seen people so proud of what they have done, that they hope they will never have to leave...they will. WE ALL WILL. We are in transit.

The happiest people I know are the ones who have learned how to hold everything loosely and have given the worrisome, stress-filled, fearful details of their lives into God's keeping.

Joyfully,
Dalinda

Are You Spiritually Fit?

The journey toward spiritual maturity lasts a lifetime: we can and should continue to grow in the love and knowledge of our Savior as long as we live. When you cease to grow, you begin to die.

Ask the God who made you to keep remaking you. Every day you should learn something new. Every day you should grow. Every day you should be further along than you were the day before. We must each discover our God-given gifts and talents, what we are truly capable of, and then put ourselves to the task of developing those gifts, talents, and capabilities to their fullest extent.

And don't forget.... God will use anyone who has a willing heart as a means to advance His Kingdom.

Victory is not the absence of problems; it is the presence of God's power.... Walk in victory today!

Humbled and undeserving,
Dalinda