A One-Time Gift for All Time

The end of Holy week is a time to celebrate Jesus coming to the cross and being that sacrificial Passover Lamb so that we could have forgiveness of sins and a new life. I'm reminded of the Jewish tradition that God put in place, the sacrificial system that every year there would be a lamb slaughtered to make atonement for sin. All the sin would be put on the lamb, and then mankind would feel free from sin for a year. But every year they had to repeat that. And so I was thinking about that and the finality of what Jesus did on the cross. 

Jesus became the Passover Lamb for us, the only One without blemish. 

He never sinned. He was perfect, yet He took on our sin on the cross so that we could be freed and have new Life. 

He didn't do it just for one year. He did it for all people, for all time, for all sin. 

Yes, it's a gift you have to receive. But He did it for everyone. He took on the sin of everyone and He forgave us. For those who receive, He gave us new Life. So as I think about Holy week, and this amazing gift that Jesus gave us, it's a time to receive that gift, to receive that forgiveness and to receive that new Life that only He can give to each one of us. 

So as we celebrate, remember that it's not just a once a year thing. It's a one-time gift for all time. The forgiveness of sins and new Life in Christ. Let’s celebrate the resurrection as only those who have received that gift can.

If you have questions about today’s message, are tangled up in the circumstances of life, or just need to talk, please reach out to the Life Untangled team here: www.lifeuntangled.com/contact-us. You are not alone!

This Is Jesus

Holy week — it's my favorite time of year. It's a time to celebrate and rejoice, but before we get to that day, there was a time of sadness and that's what I want to talk about today — Jesus' journey through the Garden of Gethsemane. 

Just before Jesus went to the cross, He gathered up His disciples. There were 11 present with Him at that time, and He asked eight of them to wait outside the garden and took the other three, Peter, James and John, with Him into the garden. He said, “Will you watch and pray with Me? Because My soul is distressed and grieving, even to the point of death.” This was Jesus. This was the Man that was calm in the middle of the storm. This was the Man that had no worries when they said, “We’ve got 5,000 folks here that are hungry,” and He replied, “No worries. We've got a couple of fish and some bread.” 

This was Jesus, and He was grieved and distressed to the point of sweating great drops of blood. 

This is Jesus, who came to give His life for us. 

This is the Jesus who knew that in three days He would be resurrected. He wanted His friends to watch and pray with Him, for their own well-being, but also I think He wanted support. 

So there are two things I would like us to think about today. One is, how can we be a friend to someone who's really, really grieving? Jesus didn't say, “Fix it.” He just said, “Would you watch and pray with Me?” 

Secondly, Jesus went to Father. He went to Father and said, “I know I came for this. Everything's possible with You, but is there any other way? Is there any other way for Us to accomplish this salvation redemption thing without this cross?” Scripture tells us He went and prayed three times. He went back to His friends and went back to God three times. Scripture doesn't record God saying anything back to Jesus, but at some point, Jesus stood up and said, 

“It's not my will but Yours, God.” 

He stood up and said to His disciples, “Let's go. The hour has come.” What we see in that is even Jesus knew this was going to happen. He knew God was going to raise Him from the dead. This was a grievous, horrific thing to go through, but Jesus accepted it. We see Him in the garden accepting the reality of His purpose and coming to redeem mankind.

He accepted the fact that He was going to go through a very, very painful time on the cross for us. Sometimes in our lives, we feel like, “Oh my goodness, Lord, I can't go through this. I just can't. I just can't. Is there another way? Is there another way?” And God may say, “No, there's not, but know that I will be with you through every bit of it and there will be a victory when we get through this.” I encourage you to not skip over the Gethsemane part. 

Go with Father into that Garden of Gethsemane and let Him minister to you there. 

And then you can celebrate the victory together because after all, resurrection and life are coming.

If you have questions about today’s message, are tangled up in the circumstances of life, or just need to talk, please reach out to the Life Untangled team here: www.lifeuntangled.com/contact-us. You are not alone!

It's Not About Changing Our Circumstances

We are now approaching the Easter season, what many would consider a Holy time. And in the Christian calendar, I really think every day is Holy. But Easter is a special time where we celebrate the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus. I put myself back into the time when Jesus walked and the reaction from the Jews is this: He's presenting Himself as the Messiah and the Jews had certain expectations of what Jesus would do. 

They believed He was going to kick out the Romans, because they could not stand the Romans there; He was going to set up the throne in the kingdom of David and He was going to rule there. And boy, this was going to be a great time for them. Here comes the Messiah. The week before His crucifixion, they were singing to Him, “Hosanna to the son of David.” 

This guy, He's the Messiah. He's coming. Wow, this is going to be great. 

So really, they focused on their circumstances. They focused on all that Jesus was going to do for them. “He's going to change our circumstances. He's going to make us great again like the kingdom of David was.” And then one week later they crucify Him because He didn't change their circumstances. 

I think we sometimes expect Jesus to also focus on our circumstances. If He can just change my spouse, if He can give me a spouse, if He can give me children, or change my children. If He can give me the job and the position and the raise that I wanted. If He can take away my pain and untangle my life, man, if He could just do those things… And we focus on our circumstances and we think that's what Jesus the Messiah, that's what Jesus the Savior is about.

But really, our circumstances are not the real issue. Jesus came to deal with a much bigger issue. 

Not only did He come to die for our sins, pay for our sins, but He came to save us from ourselves and to give us Life, to give us something brand new, to give us peace regardless of our circumstances. And so as it approaches, let’s remember Easter is not about God fixing our circumstances. 

It's about God fixing us and untangling our lives. 

So I hope as you celebrate Easter that you don’t focus on what Jesus can do for you by changing your circumstances. But instead focus on what Jesus has done in you and to you, changing you. Have a great Easter!

If you have questions about today’s message, are tangled up in the circumstances of life, or just need to talk, please reach out to the Life Untangled team here: www.lifeuntangled.com/contact-us. You are not alone!

God's Presence in Grief

Do you have a heavy heart today? I do. I have a friend who's going through a major loss. It reminds me of a passage in Romans that says, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.” Romans 12:15 (NASB) Well, we've been weeping today. And when I think about my seasons of grief, I couldn't tell you what people actually said to me during those times,

But I can tell you who showed up, wrapped their arms around me, and caught my tears. 

So, if you have a friend who's going through a season of loss, why don't you try that? Just show up and be present. Instead of trying to get them to stop being sad, join them in their sadness. Take a box of Kleenex and weep with them. And if you're going through a season of grief, I encourage you to slow down and be aware of God's presence with you. He wants to comfort you in your grief, and when you slow down and do that, you will sense His presence. So, just remember that today, you are loved.

The Big Lie

I want to talk about a lie that's been foisted on us for centuries - “foisted” is an old word, and it means that a lie has been sold to mankind, to you and me, and it has dominated how we live. 

It's the lie that says, “I'm not okay, but if I really work hard, I can become okay.” Or maybe it's a variation of it, “I'm not okay. And if I hide from that, I can at least avoid people realizing that I'm not okay.” 

This lie started way back in the Garden of Eden when Satan said to Eve, “You know, you're not quite like God enough, so if you just eat from this tree, you can become more like God.” And both Adam and Eve bought into it, and so they sinned.

This lie has gone on down through the centuries, and the Old Covenant was God's effort to show mankind, “You can't measure up by your own effort.” But we still try, and we try, and we try, thinking if we just work hard enough we will be okay. Maybe it's in a dating relationship, where if we could just do enough, this person will like us. Maybe girls are thinking, “This guy will like me if I have sex with him because I'm not okay just as myself.” And oftentimes the guys are thinking, “I don't really feel adequate. But if I can conquer this woman, then I can prove that I'm adequate, and that I'm manly enough.” This same lie, that we don’t measure up, goes on at work and in relationships and families.

We believe that we are not okay, but that we can do something about it. The Pharisees struggled with this. When we read the gospels, we see that the Pharisees thought if they measured up to the performance of the law, then they would be okay. Consider the Pharisee who prayed, “Lord, I thank you that I am not like the sinner over there.” He bought into the lie and believed that, “I'm not okay, but I can do something to make myself okay.” 

The truth is, if you don't know Christ as your Savior, you are not okay. 

I hate to tell you that, but you're not okay. Because it's only by receiving the work of Christ on the Cross that makes you okay. That's what gives you His righteousness and His acceptance - it's not based on your work. And the big lie says, “I'm not okay, but I can do something to be okay.” Or maybe for you, it's, “I am okay. Look at all that I have accomplished.” But this is still the same lie; you are still trying to make yourself okay by your own performance. 

Thankfully, God provides us with a whole different solution. It's in Christ that we become okay, so that we can begin to rest. Jesus said, “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:29-30 (NASB) 

When we experience the sense of Jesus making us acceptable, then truly the yoke is easy and the burden is light.

Jesus Knows How You Feel

Life is hard. I hear that expression all the time, and indeed life can be hard. We can feel rejected and hurt. We can go through struggles and feel humiliation and embarrassment. Sometimes we face failure or things that just make life hard. And sometimes I share how I feel with my friends and they'll say, “Well, you know, it will be okay.” Or sometimes they'll say, “Just talk to Jesus about it. He'll guide you.” And they're right, He most certainly will. 

But sometimes I don't always feel like God understands. 

I don't know that Jesus can always identify with me and my struggles, but what I have learned is that He really can identify with us. 

I was reading the other day, in Philippians, about how Paul encouraged us to have the mind of Christ. He talked about how Jesus came down to earth where He “emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.” Philippians 2:7 (NASB) Why did He make Himself in the likeness of men? So He could be like us and identify with us! And He really can identify with us. I started thinking about it and realized that, 

Jesus was tempted, just like I've been tempted.

Jesus was betrayed, just like I have felt betrayed. Jesus was rejected, I have certainly felt rejected. He was misunderstood and falsely accused. I have felt those things as well. Jesus experienced pain, and I have too. I think we can all understand that we've all gone through those things. But do we know that Jesus can really identify with us? You may think about pain and say, “Well, He hasn’t had cancer.” No, but those nails hurt when they were driven through his hands. You may be thinking, “Jesus never had to deal with wayward children.” Well actually, yes he has! We may think that Jesus has never had to deal with some of the relational things like we have, and no, He may not have been married or had children, He may not have experienced pain in the same circumstances that we have, but He experienced the same type of pain and rejection and loss that we experience in those life events and circumstances. So He really does understand. He really does get us. 

Jesus really can identify with us in our pain and our sufferings. 

But the beautiful thing is that when we become a child of God, then we can identify like Jesus did with God in that place of peace, rest, contentment. The place of being okay in the middle of our chaos. We can understand that God is for us. And then we can have peace and look forward to Him meeting all of our needs. 

“And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 (NASB)

God can identify with us and our sense of sadness and loss and pain. But we can also identify with Him in joy and life, love and care, and all things that give us that abundant Life. 

So, the next time you’re feeling down in the dumps and things are not going well, just remember Jesus knows how you feel. And then let Him bring you to a place where you can experience Him in the middle of that chaos.

Abiding in God's Love

The Bible is full of many rich verses to lead us and guide us in life. They can also be a great source of encouragement when we’re struggling. Today, Michelle shares a Scripture verse that has brought her great comfort in the painful times of life. Find out the words that encourage her to know and believe the love God has for her, and for each of us.

Sometimes when we're facing difficulties in life, there are certain Bible verses that jump out and bring us a lot of comfort. One of those verses for me is in 1 John, “We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” 1 John 4:16 (NASB). This verse is impactful because first of all, it tells us, 

We need to know about the love of God. 

I wonder if you know about His love for you? Have you heard of the amazing gift that Jesus has provided in salvation for you? Maybe you've known that Gospel message, but you haven't stopped to really think about the dynamic of God's agape love - His unconditional love for you. That means there are no strings attached. And once you know it, have you come to believe it? Do you really trust His love for you or are you a little bit skeptical? The second part of this verse talks about abiding in God's love. 

There is no safer place to be than abiding in God's love. 

So I hope that this verse is impactful for you, that you would know, and believe, God's amazing unconditional love for you, and that you would rest, dwell, and abide in that love.

God Sees The Heart

Movies can be so thought-provoking. In today’s short video, Pam explains how a movie she watched years ago inspired her to look at life in a different way...God’s way.

Years ago, a movie came out starring Robin Williams called “Dead Poets Society.” It was about a teacher of a group of young men in an English class, who encouraged them to take a different perspective on life. He  wanted to encourage them to look at life and learning differently. And I thought, “What does God say about that?”

In 1 Samuel, God is searching to find another king to replace Saul. So he calls the prophet Samuel to go to the family of Jesse to look at Jesse's sons, to see if he can find a king. So Jesse parades his boys in there and Samuel looks, he sees the oldest son, Eliab. Samuel says, “Oh, he's the one, he's handsome and strong, and he looks like he can handle it.” And God says, “No, he's not My man.” Because you know what, God looks at things differently than we do. God doesn’t look at things as man does. 

We may look at the outer appearance, but God says, “I look at the heart.” 

Jesse made seven of his sons pass by Samuel, but God did not choose any of them. Samuel asked Jesse if he had any more sons. He said, “Well, I've got my youngest son, David. He's out tending the sheep.” And Samuel told Jesse to send for him and when he came in, God said, “He's the one.” David is the one we hear about later that God called a man after God's own heart. So, I wonder... how can we take that example into our hearts? Well, first of all, God sees us differently than we see ourselves. We look at the outer man. Oftentimes we look at our own outer man as we look at others, and that's not really a true picture. God wants us to look at His heart and to see our new heart.

In Ezekiel, we read, “Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26 (NASB). At the time of our salvation, we each get a new spirit and a new heart. God takes away our hearts of stone, those hard, not receiving, cold hearts and gives each one of us a new heart with a new spirit. And it's a heart of flesh. It's pliable and it can receive. 

So, as Believers, we each have a new heart and a new spirit. 

That means we can look at others, and ourselves, with our new hearts and spirits, and not look at others as men see us. So, as we go through life and when we look at other people, we think, hmm, how am I seeing them? Well, Paul comes along in 2 Corinthians and says, “Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.” 2 Corinthians 5:16 (NASB).

So Paul is saying, “I'm not looking through my flesh eyes, my preconceived ideas, my old perspective to see you. And I'm not looking at you as your outer man. I'm looking at your heart.” And I think that's such an encouragement for us to know that when we're in relationships, we can look at each other with our own new heart, the heart of God, and we can see into others, into their new hearts and their new spirits. 

Wouldn't life be grand if we were all looking at each other through the eyes and heart of God? 

I challenge you today when you see something that's really ruffling your feathers, just wait a minute and ask, “How am I looking at this? What's my perspective?” And ask God to give you His perspective.

You Are Not a Grasshopper

If you see yourself as small and insignificant, life is going to seem impossible. But with Jesus, everything is possible. There is hope for you today as you face your giants.

Today, I want to talk with you about grasshoppers. You know, those little green things that jump around in your yard. We also read about grasshoppers in the book of Numbers. The backdrop to the story is Israel has come out of the land of Egypt, out of bondage, and they are ready to enter the promised land. They sent spies to check out the land and they reported back that the land was good, but there were giants. They said, “There are big obstacles in the way. We can't do this. There's no way.” They said, “There also we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak are part of the Nephilim); and we became like grasshoppers in our own sight, and so we were in their sight.” Numbers 13:33 (NASB)

They saw themselves as grasshoppers.

If you see yourself as a grasshopper, or just an insignificant little bug, you're not going to take on the challenges of life. Life is going to be messy. It's going to be tangled because you'll be too afraid to attack the giants. You'll be too afraid to attack the obstacles in your life because you’ll think, “I'm just an insignificant, worthless little grasshopper.” And so it stifles you and paralyzes you when you have that mentality about yourself. The truth is, 

One grasshopper + God is enough to take on any giant. 

How do you see yourself? Do you feel like an insignificant grasshopper? 

But then there's a second side to this story. It says, not only did they see themselves as grasshoppers, but they said, “And these giants saw us as grasshoppers in their eyes.” Well, wait a minute. How did they know that? How did they know what the other people were thinking? 

The book of Joshua tells us the reality of the situation; the truth was the people feared Israel because they saw how God had led them out of Egypt and into the promised land. They saw how God had divided the Red Sea for them, and the inhabitants of the land were fearful of Israel. But the spies sent to explore had said they also saw Israel as grasshoppers. 

Often, we assign to other people what we assume they think about us. If we’re at a work party or social event, we assume that the people there probably think we are worthless. Or these people think I'm insignificant, or these people probably don't like how I look or dress. And we assume and assign thoughts to these other people based on what we feel about ourselves. We think, “Well, they just see me as a grasshopper.” The truth is, 

With Christ in you, you can conquer whatever God calls you to conquer. 

Whatever obstacle, whatever giant, with Christ you are enough. You are no grasshopper. You are a son or daughter of the King.

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Offering Acceptance When Behavior Disappoints

We live in a world of imperfect people. And the truth is that they will disappoint us. God calls us to accept others, but how do we do that when they let us down? In today’s short video, Pam reveals the key to accepting others, even when we don’t like their behavior.

Wouldn't it be great if everyone would just do what we thought was the right thing? Wouldn’t it be great if everybody in traffic stayed in their lane, or gave us a signal when they wanted to turn? Or if they wouldn't get in the turning lane too soon and block the entrance to your favorite place to get your sweet tea every morning? 

Well, this morning I was going to my regular place. I had my $1.06 in my hand and was ready to turn into the parking lot and get my tea, but I couldn’t turn in because other cars had gotten into the turning lane too soon and blocked my way. I was sitting there with my blood pressure rising, thinking, “It's 7 am, for heaven sakes! Where are all these people going?” That’s when God said to me, 

“Sweetheart, they're going to work, just like you are. They’re stressed and in a hurry, just like you are sometimes.” 

And I looked at the young lady that was blocking my way. She looked like a young mother with a little kid in the backseat, and God said, “She's just trying to get to work so she can make a living to take care of her family.” 

Immediately, the word acceptance popped in my mind. And I realized, you know, maybe she wasn't doing the right thing by being in the turning lane too soon, but you know what? She's still just a human being, hopefully God's child, doing the best she can. So when I realized that she was just trying to do life like I was, I relaxed and waited. And while I did, I thanked God for the times He had accepted me when I didn't do the right thing.” As Paul said in Ephesians, 

“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” Ephesians 1:6 (KJV)

God accepts me for who I am, even when I don't do what other people want or need me to do. When other people disappoint me and they don't do what I want them to do, I realize I do the same thing sometimes. I disappoint people. 

We don't do the right thing all the time, yet God still loves us so much. 

But do you know what? He wants us to extend that acceptance and love to other people. Something I've learned more and more in my life is to accept myself when I make mistakes, when I fall short, or when I disappoint people. The more I accept myself for who I am as a child of God - complete, righteous and Holy - the more I learn to accept other people. We all make mistakes; we all disappoint people. 

As I learn to accept myself more, I'm able to see that other people are struggling too. 

They are just like I am, trying to do the right thing, and do all things for all people sometimes. So maybe the next time you're in traffic and someone cuts you off, or maybe someone in your family disappoints you and doesn't do what you think they should do, just take a breath and say, “You know what? I know who they are. I can accept them even though I don't really like this behavior right now.” And then, let God show you how to walk through acceptance of yourself, as well as showing acceptance for other people. 

Remember, God always accepts us for who we are as His children and He wants us to extend His acceptance to ourselves and to others.

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God's Not Even a Little Bit Mad at You

The wrath of God is a concept we hear a lot about in church. When we fail, we worry that God is angry or wants to punish us. In today’s short video, Scott reminds us how we have been saved from the wrath of God, assuring us that God is not even a little bit mad at us.

Have you ever worried that God might be angry with you? I want to talk to you today about God's wrath. We hear a lot about it in churches. Maybe you blew it somehow or maybe you've failed. You've sinned again for the hundredth time. Is God angry at you? Paul tells us in Romans, “Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.” Romans 5:9 (NASB) So, we shall be saved because we are justified by faith. 

By the work of Christ, we are saved from the wrath of God. 

What does that mean? What is wrath? It's the idea of punishment or God’s anger. And we see here that God is not enraged at us. He is not furious. His wrath has been satisfied through Christ’s death on the Cross.

Jesus died for all our sins. He's not angry at us. He's not up in heaven walking around and shaking His head thinking, “I can't believe it! I'm so mad.” No, we're saved from His wrath. 

But you know what I struggle with? It's not the big wrath. It's the little things, like when I believe that God must be annoyed with me because I failed again. I believe God is perturbed. He's upset with me. He's ticked off with me in some way. He's disappointed in me because I caught Him by surprise and He didn't know that I was going to do that last sin. And so He's now disappointed and perturbed with me. And yet we're saved from the wrath of God. The big wrath and the little wrath. 

God is not even a little bit mad at you. 

Now, I think it grieves the Holy Spirit when we sin. Scripture tells us the Holy Spirit grieves. “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30 (NASB) But grief is not the same as anger. Grief is a sadness. And when we say God grieves, it’s because He knows sin is only going to hurt us. But He's not angry at us; we are saved from the wrath of God. We're even saved from God being perturbed with us. God is not angry at you. Jesus took that on Himself. Either Jesus died for all of our sins or His death didn't account for anything. 

You are saved from the wrath of God through Christ Jesus.

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Firmly Planted - Immovable in Any Storm

Sometimes we face trials and circumstances that leave us in chaos and feeling scared. In today’s short video, Pam reveals how choosing to trust Christ allows us to experience peace and joy through all of life’s ups and downs.

I recently returned from a trip out West. I got to see so many beautiful trees; aspens, redwoods, and all kinds of pines and cedars. And then I came home to the Southeast where we have these grand oak trees. Oh, they're just so majestic, so big, so huge! The other night, the wind was really blowing, and I was looking out the window and I saw just the tops of the trees swirling and moving. 

But the tree itself stood still.

It reminded me of the Psalmist who wrote, “He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.” Psalm 1:3 (NASB) 

I love that verse because sometimes we have trials and concerns and circumstances that leave us feeling scared. We can feel like we are swaying and moving and be fearful. But you know, when we plant our feet, our heart, in the living stream, the living water, God's Word, Jesus, Holy Spirit, then we are firmly planted there. 

We shall not be moved. 

So not only are we steady, secure, and immovable, but we produce fruit. What is the fruit? You know, the fruit in Galatians Paul talks about: “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 (NASB) We talk about the fruit of the Spirit of lot, I know, but it's such a beautiful thing. 

The Spirit is life-giving. 

Even in those times when the winds blow and our circumstances are chaotic and everything seems crazy around us, stay firmly planted in who you are in Christ, in His Word. Our fruit is produced in seasons; we can be kind to the unkind, when we need to show love to the unlovable, we can. When we need self-control when we feel tempted, that's an option for us always. So I encourage you today as you look at trees swaying in the breeze and know that you're firmly planted by the streams of living water in Christ Jesus.

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Time Heals Clean Wounds

Have you ever heard the phrase “time heals all wounds?” Have you really thought about it? 

Does time really heal all wounds? 

Have you ever had a time when someone did something or said something to you that really pushed your buttons? That’s a really good example of the fact that time doesn't heal all wounds. The truth is, time heals clean wounds. 

If you don't have a clean wound, it will fester and get infected. The wound may scab over, but it's not really healed. And that’s why when someone does something that pushes on that wound, we react.

Time doesn't heal all wounds. Time heals clean wounds. 

Wounds cause us to put up guards and withdraw from others. We can't let someone touch certain areas in us because that wound hasn't healed. Time doesn't heal all wounds. Time heals clean wounds. If you've got wounds that haven't healed, that probably means the wound has to be opened up and cleaned out. You may need to walk through forgiveness. 

“Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:31-32 (NASB)

“Forgive each other just as God in Christ has forgiven you.” How do we do that? If you have wounds that need to be cleaned out in order for time to heal it, you may want to talk to a trusted, mature friend or counselor or someone who can help you walk through this journey. And my friend, when the wound is clean, time will heal it.

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Taste and See

The beauty we find in nature is a good reminder that God invites us to use all of our senses to experience Him and get to know Him more deeply. In today’s short video, Pam shares about a trip out West and how reading about her destination and experiencing it were two totally different things.

Have you ever planned and planned something, only to find out that the reality of it is much different than you thought? Well, I've done that. I recently returned from a great trip out West, visiting the national parks. Before I went, I read multiple books and spent time looking at maps. I researched websites and I spoke with people. I got information from everyone and I felt like I was ready to go. But then when I got there, it was different...but pleasantly different. It turned out to be greater than I could ever have imagined! From the wildlife to the waterfalls, the sunrises to the sunsets, and the plethora of colors - everything was so big, vast, and majestic. The creation of it all was just awesome! 

As I was journaling one day, I realized I just couldn't put into words or take enough pictures to adequately share with others what I was seeing with my own eyes. 

There were no words to accurately describe what I was experiencing through my senses.

I mean, I could see things, and smell things, and touch things that I just couldn't describe in words. 

Then I realized that it’s a lot like that in our relationship with Christ. We can learn Bible verses, do Bible studies, read books, hear testimonies, and listen to songs... all of which are great opportunities to experience God. But, unless we put ourselves out there for the experience, we're gonna miss something. 

Had I not gone on my trip to the West, I wouldn’t have had that opportunity to experience the beauty of creation, the animals, and everything that I saw in my travels. I couldn’t experience it without actually going.   

God encourages us to explore Him with our senses. 

In the Psalms, we’re encouraged, “O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!” Psalm 34:8 (NASB) 

After Jesus rose from the dead, Thomas said, “Unless I touch His scars, I'm not going to believe that Jesus really rose from the dead.” Thomas wanted to experience Jesus for himself. As did the lady who was ill and said, “If I could just touch the hem of His garment, I would be healed.” 

In Corinthians, we read of the sweet aroma of Christ. 

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.” 2 Corinthians 2:14 (NASB)

So on and on we read that Christ encourages us to experience Him with the fullness of everything in us. He really wants us to look to Him and allow Him to speak directly into our hearts. And that beautiful verse that says, “Be still, and know that I am God…” Psalm 46:10a (NKJV) shows that He wants us to hear His words of wisdom and leadership. 

He is the Shepherd and we are His sheep. 

And as we hear His voice, we will follow Him. As we experience Him through our senses, our lives are changed and transformed. So I encourage you today to not just plan for things, not just read about God, but to really jump in with open arms to receive all that He has for you.

God’s Love is Like a Milkshake

When we look to others for love and acceptance, we often wind up feeling empty and unlovable. But when we allow God to fill us up, it changes the way we live and all of our relationships. In today’s short video, see how God’s love is like a milkshake. You’ll never look at a milkshake the same!

Have you ever felt empty? I know I have. 

Usually, that sense of emptiness goes along with some emotional needs that aren't being met. Maybe we feel unlovable or not good enough. Maybe we’re lonely, or just feel like we can't do anything right. Maybe we don't feel like we belong anywhere or to anyone. Maybe we don't feel good about ourselves and we're empty, drained, and just totally depleted of any joy or strength.

Times like this can make us feel like an empty glass; just totally empty, waiting to be filled by something or someone. 

Sadly, we look to other people to fill us, to show us that we’re lovable and that we’re accepted. We think that if we perform well enough, we’ll prove that we're adequate and good enough, that we have purpose and that we're smart. We look to all kinds of things to fill our empty glass, but God did not intend for anyone else to fill it but Him. In fact,

God gave us the emotional needs we have.

Not only did He give us physical needs like air, food, water, shelter, but He also gave us emotional needs for love, acceptance, worth, belonging, and security. We all have these basic needs that God has given us, and if He has given us those needs, we can know that He's the One that can fulfill them. Only God can fill us up with the sense of being loved and accepted, the feeling of being valued, and the confidence of being adequate and secure. 

As His children, we receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit when we receive Christ as our Life and our salvation. We may not know it or we may not feel it, but it's always there because He is always there. God wants to fill us up, kind of like a milkshake in a glass. 

He wants to fill us up, and when God fills us up, we know that we are loved and accepted.

He gives us value and He makes us secure in Him. When God pours into us, He fills us up to the brim with love, acceptance, worth, and security. And when that happens, we are free to do life and engage in relationships without always holding up our empty cup saying, “Please fill it. Please fill me. Love me, help me, care for me. Show me that I'm smart.” 

When we feel empty, we are constantly wanting to know those things and we look to others to fill us when God already has. Yes, we want to engage with other people; we are called to live in community, and of course we want to enjoy love and value and security with other people in that community. But that's the whipped cream and cherry on top of the milkshake - it’s not sustainable, but God's love is. 

God's indwelling Spirit filling us up is sustainable.

He will never go away. It's His perfect gift to us because He said, 

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” James 1:17 (NKJV)

And so we get to engage with other people, share love and receive love, and encourage one another as the body of Christ, as He called us to. But we can depend on Him to fill us up with everything we need for the living of life. He told us that He “has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3b (NKJV) We have everything we need for living this life. Thank you, Jesus! I'll remember this truth every time I have a milkshake. 

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Barking Up the Wrong Tree

The term “barking up the wrong tree” is a hunting term, but it can also be said that Adam and Eve were barking up the wrong tree when they ate fruit from the tree from which God had told them not to. Join Pam today as she reveals that just like Adam and Eve, we too have the choice to partake of fruit that can either lead us into conflict and frustration or into peace and rest.

Have you ever heard the phrase “barking up the wrong tree?” It’s when hunters would send their dogs ahead to chase the squirrels and raccoons in hopes that they would chase them up the tree. Then the hunter would run to that tree and look up in hopes of finding a raccoon, squirrel, or something for dinner. Well, that's how that phrase got started, and it is originally credited to Davy Crockett. But I really don’t think he was the first one to say it. I think it was actually God in the Garden of Eden with Adam and Eve. God said “From any tree of the garden you may eat freely; but from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall not eat, for in the day that you eat from it you will surely die.” Genesis 2:16b-17 (NASB) 

Well, you know the story. Adam and Eve ate from the tree and they did die. They died spiritually. They lost their connection with God. God was still present, but because of their choice, they were now living from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

They had to rely on what they knew as good and what they knew was evil. They were trusting in what they knew in order to do life. They no longer had their previous connection with God. As Believers, we have the Tree of Life in us, but we still make that same choice. Even though the Tree of Life, Jesus Himself, indwells us, we sometimes don't listen to Him and eat from that tree. We oftentimes partake of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; which is what I know, what I want to do, or what I think will work. That usually causes a lot of conflict, unrest, and exhaustion. 

When we eat from the Tree of Life that indwells us, we have a sense of peace and rest. 

The fruit we can experience when we trust Jesus is the fruit that Paul told us about in Galatians, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23 (NASB)

The Psalmist wrote about this in the first chapter of Psalms when he said we will “be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither.” Psalm 1:3 (NASB) I know that's the fruit that I want in my life. Instead of me trying to figure out how to do life on my own, I can experience love and joy, peace and rest, calmness and that sense of security with Christ. 

My hope for you today, is that you won’t choose the fruit from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, but in those everyday moments of decision,  you will choose the Tree of Life. 

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The Solution to Your Resolution

When we invite God into all parts of our lives, the questions we have, the worries we face, and the things we long to change, all become radically different! In today’s short video, Pam reveals the joy and freedom that comes when we exchange your resolutions for God’s solution.

Another new year, another new beginning, another chance to get it right - isn't that what we think to ourselves at the end of every year? It’s the time of year when we look back and think, “What was disenchanting about this past year? What did I do wrong? What goal did I not fulfill? How can I make this next year better?” That's what resolutions are all about, right? 

In previous years, I've made resolutions; new things to attempt and old things to try harder at, all in an attempt to have a better life. I would think, “I’m going to try to figure it all out this year! I’m going to pull myself up by my bootstraps, put things on my calendar, set my alarm clock, start going to the gym…” and the list went on! Well, I’m sure you’ve guessed that after only a couple of weeks of trying really hard, I’d already fallen short!

Perhaps we need to ask ourselves,

What am I missing on the inside that pushes me to want to make changes in my life?

And we can do this by going to God and asking Him to show us what we’re missing in our lives. We can go to Him and ask Him to reveal to us what’s causing us to want to make certain changes on the outside. 

In my experience, the changes we long to make in our behavior and habits are actually a reflection of what we're missing on the inside. Maybe we don't have a sense of belonging, or maybe we feel really insecure in life. Maybe we feel unaccepted, or unloved. Maybe we just have such low self-worth that we'll try anything to feel better about ourselves. 

When we invite God into all parts of our lives, the questions, the hurts, the worries - everything changes! My friend, you can trust God, invite Him in, and ask Him to show you who you are, show you your worth, show you how much He loves you. 

Perhaps in taking your questions to God, you’ll stop looking for external things you can  do to make you better on the outside, and instead, you’ll allow God to first change you on the inside which will motivate what you do on the outside. So, what would this look like in your life? Well, maybe if you let God show you your value you will want to be healthier, and the changes to your diet and exercise plan that you’ve wanted to make  won’t be so difficult. Perhaps in revealing His great love to you, you will crave time with Him and suddenly find yourself spending lots of it with Him. 

This year, I'm going to look to God as the solution to the resolutions I thought I wanted to make. 

As we trust Him as our solution, everything else will fall into place. My friend, let’s enjoy Him this new year, let’s allow Him to direct our steps moment by moment, day by day in His will for our lives, so that we can trust Him in all things and He will direct our path. 

Happy New Year from Life Untangled.

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The Hope and Comfort You Need This Christmas

Today, Michelle shares her personal story of infertility, and how she learned to find joy in the midst of sorrow.

For many people, Christmas is the happiest time of the year. For others, it can be a very painful season. 

For those who have just lost a loved one in the previous year, it can be a time of terrible loneliness. For those with family conflict, it can produce a lot of anxiety and stress. For many singles, they're longing for that Hallmark movie romance to blossom, but they can be left disappointed and feel displaced year after year. 

In my life, I have experienced many Christmases in the framework of infertility. While stores and commercials all promoted the ideal Christmas morning with ecstatic children ripping open their Christmas gifts, my home was empty. At church, it seemed that every sermon was about Mary's pregnancy and little baby Jesus. I was heartbroken because I couldn't get pregnant. 

How can your heart navigate Christmas when things in your life are less than ideal?

Let me share with you a few of the ways I’ve learned to experience joy, even in the midst of sorrow. First of all, consider the expectations that you're putting on Christmas and then inventory your feelings. What is it that your heart is experiencing? Is it loneliness or rejection? Are you feeling overlooked or insignificant? The most important thing I have learned is to invite Jesus into the middle of that experience. He understands. In fact, His first Christmas was quite messy. No one opened their guestroom for Him, He was born in a barn; there was no crib or warm receiving blanket. His first visitors were smelly shepherds, and when the king learned of His birth, he sent out a decree to massacre babies in order to try to kill Jesus. Jesus is called a Man of Sorrows, He was acquainted with grief. 

Jesus understands the feelings in your heart, but He also doesn't leave you in them.

God gives us the gift of grieving in the middle of our losses, so that we can identify how great the impact is of what we've lost, and bring those feelings and that hurt to Him for healing. Let Him speak truth and plant the seed of joy in your heart that Christmas is really about God's presence with us. 

Psalm 42 is a beautiful example of taking our hearts to God and letting Him speak. “Why are you in despair, O my soul? And why have you become disturbed within me? Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence.” Psalm 42:5 (NASB) Here at Life Untangled, that's our prayer for you, that you will experience comfort and healing in God's presence this season. 

Merry Christmas from all of us at Life Untangled!

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Child of God, His Face Beams with Joy Over You

Life can get messy, and when it feels like God is nowhere to be found we can lose our hope, peace and joy. But He is not far off, my friend! In today’s short video, Scott shares a Bible verse that will bring peace to your soul as you are reminded of Father’s great love for you.

Today's been a rough day, a messy day for me. I’ve faced everything from my truck breaking down, to family issues, to ministry issues... Doesn't life get messy sometimes? When life gets tangled, we can get very negative about it. We can begin to wonder, “Oh God, where are You? Are You even here for me?” 

There's a priestly blessing in the Old Testament that says, 

“The Lord bless you, and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you…” Numbers 6:24-25a (NASB) 

“The Lord make His face shine on you…” I've been giving these words some thought because when life is messy, it doesn't feel like God's face is shining on us, does it?

So, today, I'm going to give you some homework! There's a video I want you to take a few moments to watch on Youtube. It’s called “Still Face Experiment,” and you can find it here. It shows a mom interacting with her one year old daughter. At first, the mom is very engaged; smiling, laughing, happily looking at everything her daughter points to. Her daughter is very responsive, excitedly interacting with her mother. 

Then at a certain point, the mom turns away from the child and when she turns back she keeps her face completely still, showing no emotion or expression. Suddenly, this one-year-old child starts trying to get her mom to react to her, trying to get her mom back to her normal self. The child starts to act out, waves her arms, and starts to scream. At one year old, that child can read what's going on, it’s incredible! I challenge you to take just a moment and watch, and as you do, ask yourself how you see God's face when He’s looking at you? How do you view God? Is He for you? When He sees you, does He beam, does His face shine? 

When God sees you, His face beams with joy over you.

When parents delight in their children, their eyes sparkle. They glow with pride and love. The priestly blessing tells you that when God sees you, His face beams with joy over you. And when you have messy days, and God feels far away, go back to that verse in Numbers, and remember that His face shines upon you. And that is where you can find peace, no matter how tangled life may be.  

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Pursuing Peace - Letting Go of Being Understood

Communication is key. It is also very complicated. We all long to be understood but we can’t control how others receive what we say. In today’s short video, Pam reveals a powerful verse from Romans which will set you free in your relationships with others.

Do you want to be understood? I know I do. We have all kinds of ways of communicating in this world; we send emails, we make phone calls, we send text messages all in hopes of being heard and understood. Sometimes, especially when it comes to text messages, we hit send and then immediately question how our message will be received; will the person receiving it read between the lines? Should we have added an emoji? 

We want to communicate our words and feelings when we talk to someone. 

We all know how complicated text messages and emails can get, but even when speaking face to face with someone we don't always feel understood. We want to be heard, we want them to “get” us, but that doesn’t always happen because we can't control what someone hears, believes, or receives. 

What we can control, however, is how we express ourselves, and so that's what God calls us to do. 

And if you can believe it, there’s actually a verse in Scripture telling us just that! 

“If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.” Romans 12:18 (NASB) There are lots of situations beyond our control, especially when others are involved but, 

God calls us to do our part, to express ourselves kindly and lovingly, and what people do with that is up to them. 

Now, this doesn’t change the fact that we still want people to understand us. We still care when we’re misunderstood. We want to have good communication with others, between us and our families, our friends, our coworkers… I really want to have that, don’t you? And we can trust God with those desires. We can say, “Lord, I am going to speak my heart. You do with it what You will, I can't control the outcome.” 

So, the next time you feel like you're trying to hammer a point home to someone, take a step back, hand it over to God and let Him take it from there. As you give it all to Him, say, “Father, I can't convince them. Please make them understand. I'm going to entrust that part to You as I pursue peace within my heart and toward others.” 

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