Blog - A Broken Heart's GPS Christian Counseling and Resource Center (856) 473-5937 lauri@abrokenheartsgps.org

Being a Part of Something New

2/27/2015

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."--Isaiah 43:18-19(NIV)

For many of us, "new things" and changes are met with a measure of trepidation. We like the familiar. However, an affinity for the status quo can leave us in a stagnant place. Remember Lot's wife in Genesis 19? As she and her family were fleeing Sodom and Gomorrah to the new place, "new thing", God had prepared for them, she could not resist looking back to the former things. She missed the move of God. She missed the new thing.

As God is inviting us to experience and be a part of a new thing, we must resolve that whatever is behind us or in our past can never be compared to what our Father is presently doing.

Prayer:
Father, thank you for the new things you are doing. Help me to embrace this newness. Thank you for the miracles that you are performing in my life--making ways in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Give me spiritual eyes to perceive the panorama of what is springing up in my life, my family, my home. Help me to not ruminate and dwell on the past--I want to experience the new thing! In Jesus' name, Amen.

Putting OurTrust in His Name

2/26/2015

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God."--Psalm 20:7(NIV)

What have you placed your trust in? Is it a friend, your 401K, your education, your finances, your good looks, your skills or intellect? Many of us place our trust in people or things. The challenge with this is, things are temporal and people can disappoint. When this happens, our trust is shaken.

We can trust in the name of God. He is true to his name. If you need peace in your mind, trust in Jehovah Shalom--he is the God of peace. If you need healing, trust in Jehovah Rophe--he is the Lord God who heals. If you have a financial need, trust in Jehovah Jireh--he is the Lord God who provides. If you feel alone, trust in Jehovah Shammah--he is with you. No matter what you stand in the need of today, trust in I AM.

Prayer:
Father, in the name of Jesus. I thank you that you are I AM. Thank you that I can trust in you for whatever I may need. I thank you that there is power in your name, and when I call on you, you hear me. I thank you that whatever I need can be found in you.

Training Up!

2/25/2015

"Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it."--Proverbs 22:6(NIV)

We live in an age in which technology is the heartbeat of our world. Television, computers, tablets, smart-phones, etc. give us access to everything that the world has to offer in an instant. We can go to school on-line, shop on-line, pay bills on-line, learn how to play an instrument or speak a foreign language with the click of a button.

Our children have this same instant access; and as parents, guardians, grandparents, teachers, caregivers we must be keenly aware of the things our children have access to. There are websites and on-line videos that house illicit content that our children are acting out. There are prime time TV shows with questionable content that our children are viewing. There are songs with lyrics that carry undertones of rage, depression, and promiscuity that are children are singing.  The powers of darkness are seeking to train our children in a way, albeit popular, but not profitable for them. The word of God teaches us that there is a way that seems right or acceptable, but the end leads to death (Proverbs 16:25). Perhaps not physical death--but the death of innocence, dreams, ambitions--youth.

God commands that we train or teach our children "up"--note their talents, dreams, gifts, abilities and nurture them. Teach them the truths of God's word, so at the appropriate they can be launched into their God-ordained destiny (Psalm 127).  If we follow God's instruction, we are assured that our children will not veer from what they have been trained up in, because what they have been trained up in has become a part of who they are.

Prayer
Father, I thank you for the children that you have placed in my life. I thank you that they are gifts from you and that you have a purpose, plan, and assignment for them. I pray for wisdom and grace to train them up and to start them on the path that you have ordained for their lives.  I pray for knowledge, discernment, and understanding. Give me spiritual eyes to see the schemes and tricks of the enemy to ensnare my children. I pray that you would open the doors of communication between me and my children that I would be able to discern any inroads of the enemy. Reveal any secrets that my children may be hiding. Reveal any darkness that my children have been exposed to.

Thank you for equipping me to be a teacher, coach, confidant, and cheerleader for my children. In Jesus' name, Amen.

No Fear!

2/24/2015

"The LORD is my light and my salvation--so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble?"--Psalm 27:1(NLT)

Prayer:
Father, in Jesus' name, I thank you that you are my light--there is no darkness in you. I thank you that you save me, you rescue me, so I have nothing to be afraid of. Thank you for being my fortress protecting me from danger--protecting me from things that would cause me to tremble in fear. Father, may the truth of your word penetrate my heart and my mind, uprooting fear. Father, even those past events in my life that caused me great fear and distress--I give those to you. And, I receive your peace, your comfort, and protection. Amen.

The Shepherd

2/23/2015

"The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams."--Psalm 23:1-2

Prayer:
Father, I thank you that you are my shepherd. In you, I am whole and complete. I lack nothing, because you give me all that I need. Thank you for caring for my soul. Thank you for rest and peace I receive as I follow you. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Happy Birthday!

2/20/2015

Happy Birthday to my husband, Min. Scott McNair. (Pictured with our daughters, Abigail and Zoe')

February 19th, 2015

2/19/2015

"You Are Loved"

2/12/2015

“...Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love..."--Jeremiah 31:3(NKJV)

Some of the deepest core longings of the human heart are love, acceptance, relationship, and security.   When these core longings go unmet, the ache of the human heart is profound and at times unbearably overwhelming. Abuse, rejection, abandonment, violence, bullying, and trauma are some instances in which the longings of the heart go unmet. As a result, we begin a futile pursuit of "looking for love in all the wrong places". We look to people or things that we hope will relieve the pain of being denied a need, or at least bring temporary comfort and soothe the ache of a longing heart.

At the root of many emotional struggles and challenges, maladaptive coping skills, relational and behavioral problems is the unmet longing of the heart--the need to be loved, accepted, and secure. These longings are natural, instinctive, and designed by God. Only God can truly meet the needs and longings of the heart because he is love.

And, his love is unconditional and pure. It is not something we can earn--we already possess it. How can we earn something we already have? Even if you feel unworthy or undeserving of his love, it does not change the fact that you already have it. Simply open your heart and accept the gift that you have been given. If you made mistakes, done things you regret or are not proud of--simply ask for forgiveness.   Tell God you are sorry. His love even covers our sins.

Prayer:
Father, thank you that you love me. I thank you that I am special and that you care for me. I thank you for your unconditional love. I open my heart to you and I accept your perfect gift of love. I pray that you would forgive me of every sin and remove; uproot any thoughts that would keep me from embracing this truth. In Jesus' name,  amen.

"Good Things"

2/10/2015

"For the LORD God is our sun and our shield. He gives us grace and glory. The LORD will withhold no good thing from those who do what is right."--Psalm 84:11

One of the greatest tricks of the enemy is to an attempt to make us believe that God is withholding something from us. This deception goes back to the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3) when the serpent questioned Eve about eating the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

The Bible tells us that Jesus came to GIVE us a prosperous, abundant life (John 10:10). The Bible also teaches us that every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of lights (James 1:17). It is God's desire to bless us. He does not withhold anything good from us when we live righteously.

"Out of the Mouths of Babes.."

2/9/2015

"You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength,silencing your enemies and all who oppose you."--Psalm 8:2(NLT)

Our eight-year-old daughter, Zoe', recently shared with me her heart concerning child slavery. She said, "Mom, child slavery is an epidemic. And at the root of child slavery is hatred--grown-ups who hate kids, make them work when they should be playing so that they (adults) can sit in their chairs, sipping lemonade. What the world needs Bibles! If everyone had a Bible they could learn about God and his love."

A solution to a world-wide problem, "epidemic", from the mouth of a child--a revelation of the power of God's love.

Visit the "Zoe's Bakery of Hope" page under Holy Hill Ministries for more information on how you can help share the love of God with victims of child slavery and human trafficking.