Brigitte Straub

Even though she is as liberal as it gets, Lisa Bloom made some good points in her book called “THINK”.

The basic premise of this book is that people need to start thinking for themselves. I have to agree.

On the airplane on the way to Ohio, I started reading the 600 page, hardcover bound book called “Original Intent” by David Barton. I’m not sure about you, but I am tired of all the chaos taking place within our government. With that said, what bothered me more was that I couldn’t exactly identify with facts what were lies and what was truth. Though my husband is a political guru, I couldn’t depend on him either to understand all that is taking place because of all the political jargon he used that made absolutely NO sense to me at all.

SO, I started reading, and for the first time (give me a break please, I AM originally a Canadian I read through the Declaration of Independence AND The Constitution.

WHOA! This book reeled me in, and I didn’t put the book down until after we had landed in Columbus (I read for almost 7 hours straight).

Politics doesn’t necessarily suit my fancy, HOWEVER, I realize as a U.S. Citizen now, I have an obligation to know the facts, and this book definitely opened my understanding to the foundation our government was laid upon.

Al right, with that said, I want to say that the SAME goes for being a Christian, and not reading the bible for ourselves, but listening to only what our pastors have to say and others while not studying the scriptures ourselves or having a personal relationship with God.

Shame on us! Seriously, I think it’s time to grow up. I look around me and can’t help but notice so many Christians; tame, with no backbone or confidence in God and in who they are. Now I know why. People aren’t reading and thinking for themselves, therefore cannot and will not experience God to the great measure that He desires for them.

We must begin to take initiative to learn the facts (truth) and stop allowing others to dictate our beliefs in every area of our life.

As for myself, I’m going to continue to work through this book and read original documents our founding fathers have penned themselves so I can begin to divide lies from the truth when it boils down to our Country.

I encourage you to do the same in whatever area you see fit. I believe that it’s our duty to THINK.

The Greeks have a mythological deity named Momus, the god of mockery and faultfinding. This faultfinder lives within each of us and comes against us, becoming the Critic that nags and bothers us trying to convince us through backbiting and sarcasm that we’re “stupid” and “dumb” for going after the things that we passionately desire.

It doesn’t matter as much where it comes from (the devil, people or maybe the beliefs we’ve formed about ourselves ). It matters more how to combat it; and I would encourage you to talk back. YES! Talk back to it.

We (meaning YOU and ME) are usually our own greatest obstacle to the very place we want to go. We let so much hinder us from pursuing our passions and desires; fear and doubt are the two greatest hindrances we embrace and entertain that keep us from moving forward.

However, if we truly want to, we can get over some of these things and get moving into the life we desire.

Replacing lies with truth is the most effective way and extremely powerful to overcoming that “critic”. Talking back to it every time it shoots darts that tell you, “it’s impossible”, “stop dreaming”, “who are YOU?”, with “everything is possible with God”, “I’m going to dream bigger”, “I am a child of God”.

THAT’S how you do it! Do it every time! Keep doing it until the lies disappear and don’t stop until you begin living out the truth of Who You are and Who God says you are.

I read a book a while back called, “God Chasers” by Tommy Tenney.

In the book, Tommy writes that what he calls a “God Chaser” is a person whose passion for God’s presence presses him to chase the impossible in hopes that the uncatchable might catch him.

The presence of God is something that I believe is so needed within our churches today. We have a whole lot of Program. Where is His Presence?

16 years ago, I had a personal encounter with God’s presence that changed my life. Ever since then, I’ve never been the same.

Prior, I had been broken, and I believe it requires a certain level of brokenness for us to feel His presence with us. Something happens in us when we become so desperate and hungry for Him; when we realize that everything else we’ve been striving for and trying to attain only fulfilled us but for a mere moment and then fled as fast as it came.

Jason Upton wrote a song about God’s presence that touches me every time I hear it called

It’s not hard to figure out why Katy Perry’s song “Firework” has become a great hit.

It begins with a couple “Do you ever feel’s”, and then progresses to an exhortation to “ignite your light and let it shine”, to the big boom at the chorus which encourages you to “show ‘em what you’re worth, let your colors burst”.

We have all been there…that place of feeling insignificant and desiring for others to see the potential that lies within.

It is true, that no one person on earth will believe in yourself more than you do; and what you believe about yourself directly affects how others view you and what you make of yourself.

But with that said, it is also true that there is One, that knows you even better than you know yourself, and what HE sees in you is by far greater than what you can even imagine lies within you.

The thing of it is, is that until you have given your life over to God and surrender to Him, you will never fully know who you are. Doesn’t it make sense, though? He created you. Why would we think we can “find ourselves” without Him?

You can be skeptical as long as you like, but until you experience the wholeness that comes from knowing God and allowing Him to speak into your soul and share with you His thoughts and intentions for you, you will never know.

The best part about all this though…is that if you want to know how significant you are and that you have worth, made with a purpose in mind, He will tell you. He is always speaking and desires for you to know that He delights in you.

You will find no greater fulfillment until you find Him.

We have entered yet another New Year, and with a new year comes many exciting and hopeful expectations of what could possibly be around the corner.

Many of us want to become more intentional in areas of our lives that need focus and attention…for some it’s their weight, others their careers and hopefully many others, their families.

I don’t usually tend to make New Years resolutions, but this year I decided that 2012 would be the year I would tackle every fear I’ve had; starting with scuba diving. Yes…it’s true, I’m afraid. I had a bad experience and don’t particularly like knowing my life relies on a cylinder pumped with oxygen while I’m 60 feet under water.

So…I have my bucket list of things I want to overcome, from some things small, to areas of my life that run a little deeper.

With that said, I was thinking about how many of us start out well but finish badly.

PERSEVERANCE is a key word of mine that you’ll see time and time again in my blogs. Why run a race at all if we don’t run it well? Why start something only to not finish it?

I don’t believe that many people really know what it means to persevere. Our culture has a mentality that allows us to just give up and quit when things get hard or when we “just don’t feel like it”. I’m sure you’ve heard that one a lot, especially if you have kids like I do. “Take your emotion out of it”, I tell them, wondering if they even really hear what I have just said.

Our hunger for what we really want ends up coming out through our actions. It’s when we start walking our talk that reveals the measure of passion.

Whatever your NEW YEAR’S Resolution is, may you go after it with full force, and not quit until you have exactly what you are wanting. Learn the art of PERSEVERING.