By Paula Williamson, guest writer Have you ever faced overwhelming debt you didn’t know how you’d ever pay off? Have you ever done something so irreparable that you thought it could never be made right? Most of us have at one time or another. Those experiences weigh heavily on us, and sometimes they don’t go away without outside help. The good news is that we can be forgiven, not because we deserve it, but because of what Jesus Christ has done for us. It Is Written ROMANS 8:1 -2 Therefore there is now no condemnation at all for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. Walking Debt Free There is a freedom this world cannot offer, found in admitting our faults, failures, and sins before a forgiving God. His word says in 1 JOHN 1:9, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." We can also ask others to forgive us, and we must forgive ourselves. As far as it is up to us, we can be free by doing so. Prayer Lord, forgive me for my faults, failures, and sins. I choose to forgive myself. I reach inside myself, grasp the shame, guilt, and regret, and release them to You. Show me any lies I have believed as truth because of them. Renew my mind with truth. I forgive those who have hurt me. I let go of bitterness, resentment, betrayal, hurt, disappointment, and anger. I reach down inside me, pull them out, and release them to You. Show me any lies I have believed and restore truth within me. Forgive me for anything I have blamed on You. Reveal Your truth to me. Thank You for forgiving me. Takeaway I am not condemned!

By Paula Williamson, guest writer What Is Love? Children confuse love with parents giving them what they want. Youth confuse love with lust. Some of us get our definition of love from Hollywood or the world around us, but God is the source of love. It Is Written 1 JOHN 4:7-8 Beloved, let’s love one another; for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love. JOHN 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life. CORINTHIANS 13: 4-7 Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. 5 It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, 6 it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 it keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love vs Lust Lust is an uncontrollable desire for power, money, or physical or sexual pleasure. Its focus is self-gratification. It has nothing to do with love. The scripture goes so far as to say that the only way we can love is to know God. We have some confused thinking in our world. There are two great books at coadwordbook.com, written for preschoolers, elementary students, and teens, that explain the difference between lust and love. We need to teach our children well! Prayer, Lord. Your word says You are love. We are sorry for confusing lust with love. The world has misrepresented You, and imperfect parents and teachers have misrepresented You. Most of us do not know You for who You really are. Forgive us. We come to You today, asking You to teach us who You really are and to help us know and experience true love. Takeaway God is love.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer Bad Things Happen I don’t know where we get the idea that bad things happen only to those who behave badly. When bad things happen to people who behave badly, some think they got what they deserved. The crisis of faith arises when bad things happen to good and kind people. Trouble finds us all. The book of Proverbs instructs us in the way of wisdom, but no one is exempt from trouble. We live in a world where people do what is right in their own eyes and hurt others. Often, buried traumas lash out at innocent people. It Is Written 1 PETER 4: 12 -14 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though something strange were happening to 13 but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that at the revelation of His glory you may also rejoice and be overjoyed.14 If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory, and of God, rests upon you. The Promise God does not promise that bad things will not happen to us. He promises that the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon us. Because of that, we can find peace amid adversity, knowing that even Jesus, the Perfect One, was treated unjustly. Our strength to overcome comes from Him. So don’t be surprised or shaken, and don’t let adversity shake your faith. Adversity is part of life, not a personal indictment. Prayer Lord, thank You for all the scriptures in Your word that remind us that adversity is part of life. Thank You that You understand adversity and overcame it on the cross. Thank You that what You did enables us to overcome. Thank You that our strength to overcome comes from You. Takeaway We overcome adversity through Him!

By Paula Williamson, guest writer Do you ever feel like a small, insignificant spot in a great big world? You are not insignificant. God knows how many hairs are on your head. He notices when a sparrow falls to the ground. A sparrow is a common bird, yet God notices it. He knows you, not just about you, but He knows you intimately and personally. It Is Written LUKE 15:3-6 And so He told them this parable, saying, 4 “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and has lost one of them, does not leave the other ninety-nine in the open pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he puts it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my sheep that was lost!’ You Are Important He sees you, knows you, watches, and waits for you to call upon Him. He is always as close as a prayer. We have His word on it. The word of the Almighty God in Psalm 139 is my favorite passage in the Bible, and it shows how intimately we are loved. Scripture says we need only the faith of a little child who holds their arms up to their father. Prayer Lord, today I hold up my childlike faith and reach up to You. Would You help me believe I am valuable to You and that You see and hear me? I am grasping this word today. I long to be found and carried by You. Takeaway God cares for me.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer We can let many things define us, including our family of origin, our peers in school, co-workers, failures, failed relationships, Hollywood, Facebook, Instagram, or our own conclusions. How is that working? I’m guessing it’s fine if you grew up in a perfect family, haven’t faced many hardships, haven’t taken failures personally, have no learning differences, have a perfect body, and have great self-esteem. Most of us can’t say that. For some of us, life has been hard, trying, and marked by losses, disappointments, and failures. Where do we find our worth? It Is Written 1 PETER 1:3 -5 Blessed [gratefully praised and adored] be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant and boundless mercy has caused us to be born again [that is, to be reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] to an ever-living hope and confident assurance through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 [born anew] into an inheritance which is imperishable [beyond the reach of change] and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are being protected and shielded by the power of God through your faith for salvation that is ready to be revealed [for you] in the last time. Scripture Defines Believers These four verses tell us who we are: sprinkled with His blood, spiritually well, experiencing increasing abundance, and reborn from above—spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose, with an ever-living hope and confident assurance, an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, protected and shielded by the power of God. That’s who God says we are! Let everything else roll off! Straighten your crown and walk with your head up! Prayer Lord, I forgive those who labeled me and hurt me with their words and actions. I forgive myself for the ways I have failed and messed up. I let go of the names others have called me and the names I have called myself. I hold fast to who You say I am. Help me walk as the person You say I am and as You created me to be. Takeaway I am who God says I am.

By Paula Williamson, guest writer We are not exempt from trouble in this life. When I was young, I remember thinking that once I got out on my own, all my troubles would be over. Wrong! The troubles I had growing up were gone, but a whole new set appeared. Cars break down, days often exceed paychecks, there are still rules to follow, and conflicts to resolve. Life has an ebb and flow–times of refreshing, times of stress, storms, and sunshine. We cannot change that. Trouble follows poor choices, and problems are just part of life. One thing we can change is our perspective. It Is Written JOHN 14:1 -2 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. Look up Look up! When Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples, wanted to walk on the water, he did so until he took his eyes off Jesus and immediately began to sink. When trouble grips your heart, stop! Take a deep breath and seek the face of God. There is no despair there. He says, "Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God and also in Me." Ask for His help. The Book of Proverbs in the Bible offers guidance on avoiding trouble and gaining wisdom. It’s a great starting place. Prayer Lord, there are so many troubles in our world and in my circle of life that it’s overwhelming. Help me shift my gaze to You. Help me take my eyes off the troubles and look to You. Help me turn my worries into prayers. Help me read Your word to equip me with wisdom. I shift my gaze to You. Takeaway Help is available. Look up.

By Paula Williamson guest writer Decisions, Decisions There are so many decisions we must make every day. There are small decisions about what to wear, what to eat, and how to prioritize. There are sometimes major decisions about relationships, loved ones, health concerns, and finances. There are decisions we do not feel qualified to make. Where can we go for help? Please don’t go to AI first. It Is Written James 1:5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. God, His Word & Trusted Others The first thing we should do is ask God. Next, we should see what scripture says. The internet makes it easy nowadays. We can just Google scriptures on a topic. Sometimes wisdom comes as a still, small voice, sometimes as a knowing, sometimes in scripture or a song, sometimes through a stranger, but it will come. Listen and look for it. If we still need help, we can bounce our thoughts off a trusted friend and wait for peace to settle in our gut. If these do not help, maybe it’s not the time to make a decision. Prayer Lord, when I have a decision to make, help me pause what I am doing and always come to You first for wisdom. Give me ears to hear and patience to wait. Takeaway Wisdom comes from God.

By Paula Williamson guest writer Do you ever feel like you’re going under for the third time? I have! In those moments, I realize the power we hold. Many times in my life, even strangers have spoken a word that encouraged me. It felt like they threw me a life preserver. We know more than we think we do. We can tell without a word when someone is discouraged by the expression on their face, or even what’s behind the smile. Speaking an encouraging word is a gift. If you see someone with a great smile, tell them. If you see someone with beautiful eyes, tell them, “God sure gave you beautiful eyes.” We can use our words to speak life! When was the last time you used your words to encourage someone? It Is Written ISAIAH 43:2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you. God Still Believes in Us Every time I see a newborn, I smile and think, “God still believes in us!” His word is full of encouragement and wisdom. If we pass through waters, He is with us. If we pass through rivers, they will not overtake us. When we walk through the fire, we will not be burned. None of us are exempt from struggles or problems. What an encouragement it is to know that God promises to walk with us. We would not all be here today if God did not still believe in us and hope in us. There is a reason we are here. What a great day it would be if we simply spoke encouragement to a soul in need. Prayer Lord, thank You for walking with us through our trials. Thank You for believing in us and not giving up on us. Help us use the mouths You gave us to encourage others, especially those who don’t know You. Takeaway Someone may need a life preserver today.

By Paula Williamson guest writer I have been told by many people throughout my life that God does not hear their prayers. Life is full of ups and downs, storms and sunshine, but if our truth comes from personal experience, it will inevitably be flawed. Why? Because no one is perfect, nor does anyone have a perfect life. Consider the difference between two children, one raised in a dysfunctional family marked by fear, screaming, conflict, and substance abuse. These experiences shape that child’s worldview. It will likely be a fear-based view that casts the world as a bad place where no one can be trusted. Now consider the other child, raised in a healthy family where conflict is resolved peacefully and where truth, respect, and dependability are modeled. This child’s view would be that the world is a good place filled with good, trustworthy people and much to explore. These two children would have very different perspectives on the same world. Experience should not be our truth. A reliable reference source that has never been disproven is a good place to learn about truth. It Is Written 1 JOHN 5:14 This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, God Hears We know that if we ask according to His will, He hears and answers. How can we know we asked according to His will? We need to know what His word says. According to Lifeway research, only 20 to 30 percent of Americans have read the entire Bible once. Among those who profess to be Christians, only 30-32 percent have read the whole Bible. If we don’t know God and His heart, how can we pray according to His will? We can’t. We will miss the mark, blame Him for not answering our prayers, and base our understanding of prayer on personal disappointment. Prayer Lord, when the disciples asked You to teach them to pray, and You did so in Matthew 6:9-13 ‘Our Father, who is in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation but deliver us from evil.’ Help us to acknowledge You as Our Father, the Creator, and to revere You accordingly. Help us to be willing to lay down our will and our way, believing that You know better than we do. Help us to ask for what we need and to remember to forgive others as You have forgiven us. Help us not to give in to the temptation to live according to our fleshly desires, but to live for an audience of One. Takeaway God hears our prayers and knows what is best for us.

By Paula Williamson guest writer I have been asked what difference prayer makes. All we need to do is read the Bible to see what difference prayer makes. It is filled with miraculous stories about what happens when people pray. Our personal experience does not change scripture. It Is Written JAMES 5:13-18 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church, and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; 15 and the prayer of faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, [o]they will be forgiven him.16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. A prayer of a righteous person, when it is brought about, can accomplish much. 17 Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months. 18 Then he prayed again, and the sky poured rain, and the earth produced its fruit. The Impossible Becomes Possible In scripture, countless miracles have occurred in answer to prayer. In James 5, the sick are healed, sins are forgiven, rain is withheld and released, and much is accomplished. If none of those things happen, God asks us to pray. That alone should be enough reason! Prayer Lord, help me hunger and thirst for Your Word so my life is equipped to know Your truths. Help me turn every worry and fear into a prayer. Help me turn every judgment or concern about others into a prayer. Help me trust You above all else and bring every concern to You in prayer. Takeaway Prayer matters.

By Paula Williamson guest writer Wouldn’t it be great if we could look in the mirror and see who is doing the talking in our minds? If our mouths were moving, we would know it was us. If an angel were speaking, we would know it was God. If a demon were speaking, we would know it was Satan. It’s not that easy! It becomes easier when we are familiar with the Word of God. If we look through that lens, we can recognize when it’s not God, and that’s the best lens to use. When we look at ourselves and all our earthly knowledge compared to God, the Creator of the Universe, we all come up short. It Is Written 1 JOHN 3:8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. ROMANS 8:31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? The Good News! We can see the invisible through the lens of the Bible and through Jesus. Hebrews 1:3 says that Jesus is the exact representation of the Father. John 1:1 says, "In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God." We do not have to agree with every thought that comes to our minds, whether it is from ourselves or from demonic sources. In fact, 2 Corinthians 3:5 says, "we are destroying arguments and all arrogance raised against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." Prayer Lord, when our minds are swirling with thoughts, decisions, and negative thoughts, help us be still and focus on You and Your Word. Help us to Google scriptures that address what concerns us. Help us reject thoughts that do not align with Your Word. Help us come out of agreement with anything untrue and seek You first. Takeaway There is a battle for our minds, but God is for us, and through Jesus we overcome!