By Paula Williamson guest writer The truth is—God is never far away. Yes, sometimes you may feel that way, but it’s not true. The world is full of difficulties and misfortune because God gave us all free will. These hardships are often the result of our own choices or the choices of others. God usually gets the blame—thus, we think He does not care. That’s not true. It is written: PSALM 139: 7 -10 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead), behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, 10 Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will take hold of me.   He Will Never Leave You From the time of creation, we were created for relationship with Him. In Luke 15, He is portrayed as the prodigal son’s father, standing at the end of the road, waiting for his son's return. He is always a prayer away.   Prayer This scripture says I cannot get away from Your presence, yet the circumstances in my life sometimes make me feel as though You are very far away. I do not  want to blame You for things You did not do. I am sorry. In my aloneness, I choose to believe You never leave me or forsake me. Here is my tiny mustard–seed faith. I come to You.   Takeaway We can count on His word–He is trustworthy

By Paula Williamson guest writer Don’t we all want to be known intimately? It often feels as though we carry invisible signs on our foreheads that read,  “Do you see me? Am I important? Do I matter?”  If you have been fortunate, you know the unexplainable gift of unconditional love and complete acceptance—warts, faults, and all. But what if you haven’t? What if you are still waiting—still standing there, holding your sign up high?   It Is Written PSALM 139:1–3 “O Lord, You have searched me thoroughly and have known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thoughts from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down And are intimately acquainted with all my ways.”   Here I Am, Waiting There is One who is waiting for you. You are important. You are valuable. You are loved. And you do matter. He knows you. He sees you. He understands you. He will not turn you away. You do not have to measure up or perform. You do not have to prove your worth. Just come—as you are.   Prayer Lord, You were there when I was knit into my mother's womb. Your Word says that You know me when I sit and when I rise. You know my entire life—my thoughts, and even the motives behind my thoughts. All my days are recorded in Your book, and every tear is caught in a bottle. You are intimately acquainted with me, always available—never too busy. I come, just as I am.   Takeaway He knows me. He gets me.

By Paula Williamson guest writer Scripture teaches that prayer has tangible impact. Elijah prayed for drought during Israel’s idolatry, and the land experienced three years without rain. After his confrontation with the prophets of Baal, he prayed again, and God sent abundant rain. The Bible reminds us that we do not receive because we do not ask, and that God responds when His people pray and turn back to Him. Prayer makes a difference.   It is written JAMES 5:13-16 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.   14  Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15  And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.   16  Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.   Prayer is the way we relate to God. We talk to people we love, and they talk back. The most trustworthy relationship you will ever have is with God. Prayer can cause the sick to be healed, rain in a drought, healing of land, make the impossible possible, and capture the ear and heart of God. He hears!   Prayer Lord, here I am, all I am, and all I am not. I bow before You, King of the whole earth to surrender my heart, and life. I bring to You all my concerns and lay them at Your feet. Teach me how to pray.   Takeaway God hears, and that makes all the difference.

By Paula Williamson guest writer Absolutely! Everything makes a difference. Even the words we speak and the thoughts we think. I can easily find my own thoughts spiraling downward to dis couragement. Did you know that one of the definitions of dis is the god of the underworld? Dis couraging thoughts and words are not from God. His word is full of encouraging promises that dis the enemy and bring courage to my heart.    It is written: PSALM 1:2 -3 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law [His precepts and teachings] he [habitually]meditates day and night. 3 And he will be like a tree firmly planted [and fed] by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season; Its leaf does not wither; And in whatever he does, he prospers [and comes to maturity].   Guarantee Who or what else in this world comes with a guarantee like that? God says it and I believe it!   Prayer Lord, Your word says that reading and delighting in Your word makes me like a tree firmly planted, without withering, and producing fruit in its season. You say reading you word causes me and all that I do to prosper and become mature. No one else and nothing else I know of can or does promise that. Thank You for that promise.   Takeaway Reading the Bible comes with a guarantee!

By Paula Williamson guest writer Fear Steals Fear imagined causes the same thing to happen in our bodies as a fearful experience–¬like being attacked by a bear. Our bodies do not distinguish between genuine and imagined threats. Think about that! Both scenarios trigger the same "Fight-or-flight stress response, flooding the body with cortisol and adrenaline, which raises our heart rate and blood pressure even if it is just our imagination!   It is written: 2 TIMOTHY 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.   What's Fear's Origin? When Adam and Eve were placed in the Garden of Eden, they had everything they needed, and only one thing was prohibited–the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It was only after the serpent tricked them into eating of that tree that they became afraid. FEAR does not come from God. I was fearful most of my life until I learned that is not the way God made me!   Prayer Fear does not come from You, Lord. You have given me power, love, and a sound mind and self-control. Help me remember that, when fear tries to overcome me, I have a say in the matter. Fear, begone in Jesus’ name!   Takeaway Fear is not my friend!

By Paula Williamson guest writer So many things in this world are invisible! The wind, words, thoughts, history, the air we breathe, smells, feelings, lies, truth, God, Satan, angels, and many other things are invisible but very real and impactful. In fact, these things are more real than the things we see and touch. The invisible is impacting our lives more than the tangible.   It is written: 2 KINGS 6:15 -17 The servant of the man of God got up early and went out, and behold, there was an army with horses and chariots encircling the city. Elisha’s servant said to him, “Oh no, my master! What are we to do?” 16 Elisha answered, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 Then Elisha prayed and said, “Lord, please, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha.   The invisible When Elisha and his servant saw the invisible, it totally changed their perspective. With their natural eyes, they saw the army of horses and chariots ready to kill them, but with their spiritual eyes and their faith, they saw God’s angels and the mountains filled with chariots of fire. The invisible God struck the visible army with blindness so that the very man they were after got away.   Prayer You, Lord, and Your mighty army, though invisible to my eyes, are for me. I don’t have to be afraid.   Takeaway God is for me!

By Paula Williamson guest writer How often do we accept our thoughts and feelings or the words of others without question? We don't have to. We are not powerless in the face of our thinking. Many of my own thoughts were shaped by my mother's negative worldview, but those were her thoughts and words—not mine to inherit. We are a new generation, defined by possibility.   It is written JEREMIAH 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the  Lord , "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.    As a teenager who had seen more sorrow than anyone would wish, one of the songs that echoed my life was " Reflections of My Life " by Marmalade . It was a terribly sad song with very depressing words, which really reflected my mom's view of life. It didn't have to be mine! We can choose to believe anything we wish, but God has a plan for us, too. We originated from His plan, and He says, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. How are your own thoughts and plans working?   Prayer Oh Lord, today is not the end of my story. I can let go of what is not working– thoughts and words from yesterday and hang on to Your truth about today, knowing my circumstances can and will change. I look forward eagerly to the fact that YOU are at work and that Your plans for me are good! Give me eyes that see like YOU; ears tuned to YOUR promptings, obedient hands and feet, and a courageous heart!   Takeaway I can change my thinking today!

By Paula Williamson guest writer   Perspective One day, I sat down and wrote all the things that were wrong with my life, thinking that would make me feel better. Zilch! Nada! Epic fail!   Then a still small voice floated into my thoughts–write down everything good. I confess, it was hard. I started with my senses–I could see, hear, smell, taste, touch, and then three pages later I was in grateful tears.   Human nature makes us prone to see, fixate on, and talk about the negative, but what if we didn’t? What if we shift our focus to the good, fixate on the good, talk about the good?   It’s a life changer! One day, after my older sister heard my list of complaints, she said, “Look for the good. If you don’t see it, look again; if you still don’t see it, look really hard.” What she said was a life-changer.   It is written: ROMANS 8:28 And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.   Focus I wonder what Joseph focused on in his dream as a child, and how that changed by the time he arrived on the throne. What did David focus on while hiding in the caves from Saul? What did Jesus focus on as He endured the cross? To have the peace and joy He died for, we must change our perspective and aim higher than what we see and hear in this physical world. If we want to live in peace, happiness, and contentment, we have to shift our perspective to focus on the good.   Prayer Oh Lord, no matter what comes my way, I have the victory! You cause all things to work for my good, whether for character building, humbling, maturity, or faith- building. I do not lose hidden in YOU.   Takeaway What a powerful place we stand. Shift your focus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. PHILIPPIANS 4:8

By Paula Williamson guest writer Interesting thing about the human mind–we can believe anything we want to believe. I wasted many years of my life thinking negatively, believing the worst, waiting for the next axe to fall, and living in dread. One day, I looked back and saw the results of that thinking.   I have also had the privilege of working with toddlers for many years. Some walk into the room smiling, alive, alert, and ready to live life with gusto. Others are hanging on their mom’s as if they are an appendage that has to be surgically removed and painstakingly cajoled into joining the fun, even though the entire room is set up for them to have a fabulous time. They sit and sulk in the corner, wanting something they do not have.   I challenge you–is what you are doing working for you? We have the power to choose what lives rent free in our minds, and what follows is the result of our own choosing.   Negative and positive people put their pants on the same way–one foot at a time. If what you have been doing isn’t working, dare to make a change.   It is written: HEBREWS 2:18 Because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted, He can help and provide immediate assistance to those who are being tempted and exposed to suffering.   God created us for a relationship with Him. He set the world up grandly like a mom planning the wedding of a lifetime. He spared no expense. He made every provision. He is a prayer away.   Prayer Oh Lord God, You understand our humanity. You created us. You made every provision–even wrapping Yourself in humanness and living life selflessly through Jesus. You spared no expense. All we have to do is let go of everything that hasn’t worked and call out to You.   Takeaway Help is a prayer away, one choice away.

By Paula Williamson guest writer Crushed but NOT Despairing We live in a world where most of the news we hear is bad, fearful, and negative. Some of us live in a head filled with the same thoughts, but there is a place you can find good news!   It is written: 2 CORINTHIANS 4:7-10 But we have this precious treasure [the good news about salvation] in [unworthy] earthen vessels [of human frailty], so that the grandeur and surpassing greatness of the power will be [shown to be] from God[His sufficiency] and not from ourselves. 8 We are pressured in every way [hedged in], but not crushed; perplexed [unsure of finding a way out], but not driven to despair; 9 hunted down and persecuted, but not deserted [to stand alone]; struck down, but never destroyed; 10 always carrying around in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the [resurrection] life of Jesus also may be shown in our body.   Good News Scripture tells us that we are pressed but not crushed, perplexed but not despairing, struck down but not destroyed–why? Because we have this treasure in our earthen vessels–the surpassing greatness of God who is greater than ourselves, giving strength that is not our own but His. I know Him better each day because I recognize my weakness and ask for His strength, His joy, His salvation, His wisdom, and I am always amazed at what changes about my day. Are you up for a trade?   Prayer Oh Lord, I can face today because You are with me. I will not be crushed, nor will I despair. Help me to live in such a way that others see this treasure, Your light in my earthen body!   Take Away There is a treasure residing within me not to illumine me but to draw others to that light.

By Paula Williamson guest writer What’s the point of today? The point of today depends on who you are listening to. Let that sink in for a minute. We can listen to our feelings, our flesh, our circumstances, the media, someone else’s opinion, a song–you name it. The point is, we have a choice. God created us for a purpose. Scientists have long been trying to prove God doesn’t exist. People have been long trying to prove the Bible is wrong, but when I look around the world, I don’t see it offering hope, peace, joy, healing, truth, and unconditional love. I found those things in Jesus Christ.   In scripture it is written of Jesus: ISAIAH 6:1-7 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and commissioned me to bring good news to the humble and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up [the wounds of] the brokenhearted, to proclaim release [from confinement and condemnation] to the [physical and spiritual] captives and freedom to prisoners, 2 To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord, and the day of vengeance and retribution of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 to grant to those who mourn in Zion the following: to give the m a turban instead of dust [on their heads, a sign of mourning], the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a disheartened spirit. So they will be called the trees of righteousness [strong and magnificent, distinguished for integrity, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. 4 Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, they will raise up and restore the former desolations; and they will renew the ruined cities, the desolations (deserted settlements) of many generations .   What the world offers does not compare Do you need your wounds bound up, your broken heart mended, comfort for mourning, the oil of joy for a disheartened spirit, purpose? According to scripture, Jesus offers that freely. He paid the price in advance. He is a prayer away.   Prayer Oh Lord, the truth is, today is an important day. With my childlike faith, I bow before You. Show me who You are. Show me who I am. Straighten up my crown, and with the power and the inheritance in which You have invested in me and others– show me the afflicted, the brokenhearted, the captives, the prisoners, those who mourn that my mouth might speak the good news of YOUR kingdom and Your truth so that together we can reclaim this world for You.   Take Away You have a purpose. You are part of a magnificent plan!

By Paula Williamson guest writer Have you ever felt that way? I have! One morning, life came crashing in on me, and I couldn’t take it anymore. I entertained the thought of letting it all out, but felt as if the dam broke, the tears would never stop. I entertained the thought of calling in work and taking care of the inner me. Then I did something so childlike. I stopped in my tracks and said, “Lord, would you do an oblivianectomy on me?” Yes, I made up that word, and something extraordinary followed. Just as I was about to burst into tears and fall on my knees, I felt as if something swooped in, took all the pain and tears, and carried them away. Gone, instantly, still standing–a moment before I was about to burst into tears, and the next minute everything was gone. I have no other explanation except that God heard and answered my childlike prayer.   It is written ISAIAH 43:18-19 “Do not remember the former things or ponder the things of the past. 19 “Listen carefully, I am about to do a new thing, now it will spring forth; will you not be aware of it? I will even put a road in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.   Prayer Oh Lord, help me let go of yesterday and leave it behind. You are the WAY MAKER and CREATOR of the universe. You are the GOD ALMIGHTY with a purpose and plan for anyone who believes in YOU. I want to grab hold of what YOU want to do today. I leave the baggage behind. Would You do an oblivianectomy on me? I release the past to you. I EXHALE and breathe in YOU!   Takeaway Sometimes all you need is childlike faith. Let it go…