Last week I was out and about finishing up purchasing food for the Christmas activities that lay ahead in the next few days. As I was standing in line at Wal-Mart listening to people complain about this and that, I was looking around when a woman came into sight. She was walking away from me when I saw the side of her face. It was different than anything that I had ever seen. As I gazed at her walking with a limp and a walker in her cart, I notice her hand as well. From what I could gather she had a disease on many portions of her body. My heart of compassion immediately welled up and within a few seconds I wondered what courage it took for her to be in public. What I realized next was what I would do if she had been walking toward me….all I wanted to do was smile at her and this great sense of love was in my heart for her. After pondering this for a minute or so, I said to myself, “I have absolutely NOTHING to complain about”. There is a lot going on about this scenario in my mind….
When I think in my life of a scenario that seems “bad”, in all reality there is nothing I have to complain about and nothing I should even be negative about. As I reflect on this, Philippians 2:14 comes to mind.
What has changed in my life from years ago… when I would have seen this woman I would have feared my reaction to her sending a similar message that others do. Because of the transforming work of God what is different in me is that I want to show her that in the smallest form of my smile is that she is loved.
Maybe you have seen the picture above. Depending on how you look at it, you can see an “old woman” or you can see a “young woman”. Depending on how you look at it is the key. For me, it depends on the filter I use to funnel things through, in turn, depends on how I react and respond to things. Lately my prayer/desire has been, “Abba, what filter am I using to respond to this? Is it your filter of love, because that is the only filter I want to use.”
Can you think of a scenario in your life similar to the one I described above? When you encounter someone “different” than you, what is your reaction?
Think over the last week to a difficult scenario, when you consider Philippians 2:14, ponder what the Holy Spirit may be inviting you to. Certainly there are scenarios that are difficult and need to be worked through, that is part of life but what does part does perspective play in it for you?
12/19/2011
“Peace on earth good will to men, and men have sought it from the start, I felt it when I asked you in, now peace on earth lives in my heart, now peace on earth lives in my heart.
Peace on earth the angel said, as peace lay in a manger bed, and not the peace that this world gives, but God with man has come to live…
Not to end all earthly war as countless souls were longing for, but through this this blessed holy child God and man are reconciled….
Empty was this heart of mine, and I longed for peace I could not find but finally I laid down my pride, now peace on earth lives here inside….”
Do you remember how you felt when you asked Him in? Where do you see peace on earth living in your heart today? When you think of peace on earth, does it look like the peace that lay in a manger bed? If you are wrestling with finding peace, do you notice anything that you might be resisting that God inviting you to?
May you sense a new place of peace this 2011 Christmas season as you reminisce about the opportunity every moment holds because of the gift of peace that came and lay in a manger bed…
12/11/2011
Seeing the holy in the ordinary!
Harvesting angels out of crumbs!
Spending your days in the fast lane of life impairs the quality of your seeing.
If you want to see to the depths, you will need to slow down.
You live in a world full of theophanies.
Holiness comes wrapped in the ordinary.
There are burning bushes all around you.
Every tree if full of angels,
But this can happen only if you are willing to unwrap the ordinary
by staying with it long enough to harvest its treasures.
Macrina Wiederkehr; A Tree full of Angels; Seeing the Holy in the Ordinary
A few weeks ago on a delightfully warm autumn day, I was at a leisurely pace while going about the task of the day: cleaning the house. (Keep in mind that leisurely and clean the house used to be two words that did not go together for me :-0) I was listening to contemporary Christian music, our youngest son was home and the only goal was completing my task and I had about five hours to do that. For some reason I start upstairs and make my way down and I usually begin with the bathroom. On that day I am so glad I kept with routine!
It was unseasonably warm so I decided to open the window for an exchange of air. As I did, bird movement in one of the two wild cherry trees directly behind our house, caught my eye. My heart stirred with delight because in an instant I knew I had never seen this bird before! With a smile on my face and in my heart, I took delight in this extraordinary ordinary experience. I watched this little white and black speckled bird as it spiraled around each branch pecking away at the bark. After just a few seconds I realized it must be a woodpecker of some sort. I watched for several minutes as he pecked away and then moved to the second tree. I had in mind to go and get a bird book a dear friend of mine let me borrow so I could identify this delightful little creature. But I waited and watched and took pleasure in this experience. Then I decided to scurry down stairs and get the book. Upon return, as I was flipping through the pages I glanced outside again and my mouth dropped open as I saw another bird I had never seen before!! I watched him for a short time and then with so much excitement in me, I gently walked away to get my son-I just had to show someone! As we approached the window it flew off, but I didn’t forget what it looked like.
Within the realm of a week or so the writing at the top of this post was in one of the readings during my quiet time. Reflecting on my bird happening (the owl experience had only happened 5 days prior to this one) I remembered this writing and was joyful that what was taking place is that I was seeing God’s Holiness in the ordinariness of His created. It, for me, was several burning bush moments.
Where are you taking the time to see holiness in the ordinary? Where can you slow down to see the depths? Look for one place this week where you can find holiness wrapped in the ordinary.
Etched in my mind are the downy woodpecker and the northern flicker-the two birds I identified in my trees. As I reflect on the verse from last week recognizing how much God cares for us, if these birds are etched in my mind, how much more are we etched in God’s? Oh, so much more, so much more.
My prayer for you as you go through this celebration season of our Savior’s birth….
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19
12/5/2011
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Matthew 6:26
Someone said to me this week, “you have bird on the brain.” This is so true! I receive it as a compliment. They said it because I shared that when I looked into the clouds one glorious morning the cloud formation looked like one huge bird flying straight at me and next to it there was what looked like the side view of a dove with an olive branch in it’ s mouth.
As I look back at my life I see the subtlety of marveling at birds. Starting with the mystery of the blue heron-aka “the dinosaur bird”, then the stirring in my heart of the hummingbirds I delight in, last year the joy I received discovering the many bird nests that I found around my house, now to the attention I am paying in the discovery of identifying new ones in my own back yard! I am recognizing that God and I connect in a special way as I observe His creation in nature. I am seeing more clearly that I am a nature girl!!!
I have been looking at my own unique journey and relating it to how God uniquely created His beautiful winged creatures. What I am paying attention to is this: each one with their own purpose, their own beauty, their own song, to some degree a character quality and much more I am not even mentioning.
As I reflect on the birds of the air and God’s intention and design for who He created them to be, and relating them to some things taking place in my life, I have observed several things. One that stands out to me is they do not let the elements of their surroundings deter them from accomplishing what needs to be done in a day. They keep moving forward in the midst of wind, rain, snow, threats, as well as enemies….I see that they do not give up! This will help me in several ways when I am in the midst of a struggle. One of the most significant is that in the midst of hard times, I will reflect and pray that God will help me to not let elements deter me from the purpose He has created me to do. This does not mean that I won’t have a hard time, or have emotions in the midst but that I will move forward with hope just as Jeremiah 29:11 promises.
How can you embrace that you are valuable in God’s eyes? When you read Jeremiah 29:11, where do you recognize that God has worked this out in your life? Thinking about elements, what do you allow to get in the way of what God has planned for you? What things in creation do you relate to?
Consider closing your eyes and just relaxing in the midst of hearing God’s gift to us in nature as you listen to the song for this week.
11/28/2011
Last week I was on “staycation”. I had been feeling I was in need of rest and that I did! I watched movies, and more movies, enjoyed being with family, took naps, did very little cleaning or tidying up and ate way to much. Throughout the week I was thinking about what I would like to write about in my post. Often I would sit down and write several lines about various things taking place in my life…
…the love in my heart for others; how I am full of thankfulness; how overwhelmingly blessed I feel; about beautiful and significant friendships; things God is speaking to me about; the four things I have determined I would like to do over the next year and a half (before I turn 50 :-0); how God is showing me a beautiful taste of how He unconditionally loves people right where they are; new birds that I saw and how He is using them significantly in my life and what He is showing me through them; scriptures that have been “jumping off the page”, songs that are so tenderly speaking to my heart…. I could go on.
As I ponder all the things I jotted down, there is a joy that stirs in my heart as I read them. I recognize that by His loving Grace HE is in every aspect of my life… the good, the bad, the mundane, my hopes, my dreams, my failures, my longings, my nows but not yets and much more. In this I celebrate!
What aspects of your life do you invite God into? Where do you see Him loving you in those places? When you hear the words spoken from Jesus, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” what stirs within you? Consider journaling your thoughts.
11/21/2011
Lord, thank you for setting me free. Free to blow bubbles, fly kites, listen to seashells, cuddle kittens, build castles in the sand, wish on stars.
Thank you for setting me free. Free to hunt for four-leaf clovers, explore branches, run laughing in the rain, walk barefoot, jump puddles, wave at trains.
Thank you for setting me free. Free to yellow my nose in buttercups, catch a firefly to see his light, pick the first wild strawberry, count the stars, talk to ladybugs, chase a thistle.
Thank you for setting me free. Free to see you in sunlight dancing on the water, dogwood smiling at the sky, willows curtseying to the river, azaleas flaming across the land, rainbowed cobwebs, drifting leaves.
Thank you for setting me free. Free to play with, wonder at and love all that you have given me. And free as well, to give it back to you. Souvenirs of Solitude by Brennan Manning
Even though I have not done these things for quite some time, I have gazed at the stars and once again said, “Oh God what an amazement this starry night sky is!” And this week I did talk to a lady bug and a few new birds I have never seen before!
The emphasis of the prayer above is thanking God for setting us free… because of our Savior we are free in every way. Whether we live in that or not, is our choice.
Recently the last thirty minutes or so as part of our staff meeting, we were given the gift of praying with each other. We divided into groups of 3 or 4. Our guidelines for our time were: “During this time of prayer, only give thanks and do not ask God for anything.” After we shared with each other verbally what we are thankful for-we moved into a time of thanking God for each other and what we are thankful for.
When you look at the prayer above how do you relate? How do you live in the freedom that Christ gives? As we move into the season of Thanksgiving, what would it be like to spend several prayer times only in thanksgiving for the many blessings in your life? One other consideration is to write your own version of the prayer above inserting where God has set you free.
Praying your Thanksgiving is filled with His presence.
11/14/2011
Talk about a total unplanned experience!!! Early Sunday morning as I was writing my post for this week about Thanksgiving (thinking all the while this should be my post for next week) all was silent in the house. My internet was not working, so I went into the den to reset the modem and as I was waiting, I thought, “Oh, that’s an owl outside. Wonder how close it is?” Then I went to another room and heard it again and realized from the depth of the tone it must be fairly close. One more time to the den and heard it a third time. So I put on my socks and shoes, and gently opened the door to go outside and investigate. Within seconds I could hear the deep “Hoot...hoot hoot”. I focused my attention on the tree line it was coming from. In the distance, I heard another “Hoot..hoot hoot” and wondered if this was a mating call or another male saying “this is my territory-you better leave.” As I paid attention to the hoot that was closest to me, I thought, “oh if only I could see this owl” then within seconds I saw it-there at the very top of a tree was the large outline of an owl. In a series of calls they began to call back and forth to each other. Excitement stirred in my heart when at one point I could tell that the one in the distance was getting closer and closer. All of a sudden I spied the second one at the top of another tree fairly close to the first one. Now I was dancing inside, anticipating what would take place next. Sure enough within five minutes the first owl flew toward the second owl on a branch in the very same tree. There was a new sound that I hadn’t heard previously-a constant steady “hoot, hoot, hoot” and then a little performance from owl #one. Shortly thereafter they both flew off and I was able to see their incredible wing span as they flew to the woods nearby. I walked away with such joy, receiving such a beautiful gift of God’s creatures in action. All in my backyard! I felt like a kid in a candy shop with no limitations! I am still thanking God for this wonderful experience!
In the midst of the excitement I carefully went inside to get my camera. I took quite a few pictures while all this was taking place but to no avail, I did not have the right equipment nor a steady handL That did not take away from my experience though and above is one of the pictures I captured.
It was one of those times that if I hadn’t paid attention to the invitation to go outside I would have missed a significant experience. What experiences have you had that were an unplanned? How have those experiences drawn you closer to God? Nature is one of my sacred pathways (drawing me closer to God), have you identified yours? If you have, journal about how you draw closer to God through that pathway. If not, Gary Thomas’ Sacred Pathways is a great resource to help you identify your pathway.
11/7/2011
The last two weeks I have had a strong desire to once again begin walking. My driveway provides a nice length and grade to get my heart going. In the past I have shared that there is much I encounter during those times, the warmth of the sun, smells in the air, animals that I get to observe and so much more.
Last week was a bit different. Because of my schedule I could only walk early morning, that is, “under the starry night sky”. Three days I walked with only the stars to light my path. One would think that I shouldn’t walk with only the stars to guide me but my desire was so strong I was determined to do it. In that place I moved quickly to trusting God to keep me from stumbling. Each walk was lovely and refreshing as I listened to worship music trekking up and down the driveway. I had no problems as God and I journeyed together on this path, me trusting him as I walked. I was mesmerized by the beauty of the night sky, marveling at His handiwork of the placement of the stars, hearing one or two bird songs all the while absorbing the words to the worship songs that stirred my heart toward Him. Then experiencing the gloriousness of the breaking of the dawn with colors streaming so rich in beauty my heart stirred with excitement and awe. This I believe moved me into the day with a light and joyful heart.
At the end of the week, I didn’t have to walk under the starry sky. Because it was daylight , there was less trust needed to “keep me from stumbling.” I thought I could do it on my own. Wouldn’t you know it, I turned my ankle twiceL. Thankfully I could keep going, but it started me thinking about times of trust.
Part of a quote I read recently came to mind as I pondered what had taken place. “My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end.” (Thomas Merton) When I meditate on these words it takes me deeper, realizing that in all circumstances I have to trust, when I can’t see and when I think I can see. I know not to trust in myself but to always trust in Him.
Where do you find yourself having a hard time trusting in God? What would it be like to trust him in the darkest places and well as the ones that look “well lit”? Do you sense any kind of invitation from God as you think about how you trust Him?
10/26/2011
When it comes to sunrises and sunsets, moonrises and starry skies I am just a little “childlike” taking in the delight of a glorious sight. Yes everyday it happens but something stirs in me when I take the few moments to look and delight in what takes place in the sky. I wonder, is it that place where deep calls to deep or at least the depth of my soul connects on some mysterious level with that of the gloriousness of my loving Father?
One cool evening sitting around a campfire trying to keep the chill off, I was in the “perfect spot.” A bright glow in the night sky caught my eye. “Oh, could that be the moon rising?” I thought to myself. I asked others around me and they too questioned if that might be the moon. I guess to some it seemed evident. Then I heard someone say, “What else would it be?” I watched intently, sitting at first. It seemed like quite a long time was passing as I stared at this beautiful off white glow at the horizon. Then I saw it! It was the moon! The glow now beaming like little flash lights glistening through the trees in the distance. I jumped up as if that would help me to experience this beautiful sight more deeply. Ever so quickly I watched it rise. Only seconds passed. Inch by inch it moved rapidly above the trees then in full sight. From my view 12 o’clock to 2 o’clock was shadowed. But it was bright and beautiful. Then moving ever so quickly into the night sky to do what God created it to do, ‘govern the night.’ At the most it was ten minutes of my day but it was delightful and stunning.
I am childlike when it comes to what my Daddy created. He intended that I enjoy all His creation, the sun the moon, the stars and so much more.
The next morning when taking my walk, there it was, the moon on the other side of the sky. I smiled as I remembered the joyful experience I had the night beforeJ
What do you delight in? Where are you childlike? Did you ever think intently about deep calls to deep?
10/16/2011
A friend of mine is sharing a book called, Souvenirs of Solitude by Brennan Manning. The sub-title is Finding Rest in Abba’s Embrace. At the time she gave it to me, I thought it would be awhile before I would be able to sit with it. Thankfully this weekend I had a bit of time to start the first few chapters. I am so glad I did!
Sometimes I wrestle with how I respond to things, such as… over joyful, too childlike, deeply moved, etc. When I read this it stirred me…
“More than a hundred years ago the atheist philosopher Friedrich Nietzche reproached a group of Christians: “Yuck, you make me sick!” When their spokesman asked why, he answered, “Because you redeemed don’t look like you’re redeemed. You’re as fearful, guilt-ridden, anxious, confused, and adrift in an alien environment as I am. I’m allowed. I don’t believe. I have nothing to hope for. But you people claim you have a Savior. Why don’t you look like you are saved?”
The author then goes on to look at Matthew 22 where Jesus describes the kingdom of heaven as a wedding feast. And asks these questions:
Do you really trust that you are going to a wedding feast that has already begun?
Do you really believe that God loves you unconditionally as you are?
Are you committed to the idea that the nature of the world is to be a celebration?
If you are, then in the words of Father John Powell, S.J., “Please notify your face.”
These are great reminders to me when I begin to wonder if I am over joyful, too childlike, and deeply moved. I can think of scripture for each of these concerns. So I ask myself, “Do I believe what scripture says? Do I trust my Savior and what he displayed as he walked here to show me how to live and love? Will I live and respond like I do?”
As you read this, what has stirred in you? What one question or statement stands out to you? Why? Consider journaling a prayer about this our Lord….
10/3/2011
Love
Mercy
Grace
Family
Friendship….
Sunrises
Sunsets
Hummingbirds
Roses
Autumn….
Lighthouses
Seashores
Hot Air Balloons
Literature
Music…
all these things and more touch me more significantly than yesterday, last week, last month, last year…all because my relationship with God grows each day as I trust Him in the midst of everything that life has to offer.
What touches you more today than yesterday? Why? This is the list of things that are significant in my life, where I find myself in gratitude for what I am blessed with. Consider a making a gratitude list of things that are significant in your life and how that has changed over the years.
9/26/2011
…the beauty of seeing things through
The last several weeks, song lyrics are having a deeper impact within my heart. This week’s song is “Loving a Person”. When I heard this song I took a look into my heart on the way I love others.
When you think of a relationship in your life, what makes it good and what has kept it a lasting relationship?
Real love in any relationship takes time. It is oh so much easier when the person is open to receiving it, as well as wonderful when they reciprocate in a similar way. But what about relationships that have been hard? Or what about the person that seems to get under your skin? God calls us to love each other, even our enemies. When I internalize this scripture, if I sense that there is something not right in a relationship that I have, I must look at my part in the relationship. After all, I am the only one I can change. I begin by asking God what He wants me to do. Then I look at any place I need to surrender to Him in the situation. Many times I find out much has to do with something that is going on within me, some form of pride, anger, or jealousy. More often than not I sense God asking me to have grace and compassion for the person and that drastically changes the way I respond.
We are broken people who are in need of someone to show us the Savior’s grace filled love. As you read the lyrics below think of one good relationship and one hard relationship in your life, consider writing out a prayer to God concerning the dynamics of both in what these words may stir in your heart.
Loving a person just the way they are, it's no small thing
It takes some time to see things through
Sometimes things change, sometimes we're waiting
We need grace either way
Hold on to me
I'll hold on to you
Let's find out the beauty of seeing things through
There's a lot of pain in reaching out and trying
It's a vulnerable place to be
Love and pride can't occupy the same spaces baby
Only one makes you free
Hold on to me
I'll hold on to you
Let's find out the beauty of seeing things through
If we go looking for offense
We're going to find it
If we go looking for real love
We're going to find it
I pray that in your relationships with others you recognize where God is inviting you to love them as He loves them. I pray that you embrace in each and every relationship that is in your life. That you would sense the invitation to surrender to the hard work and experience the beauty of seeing things through.
*As I write these words it is with full confidence that God calls us to love each other with truth. I would in no way want to give the thought that people should stay the way they are, that would be contrary to scripture. What I am asking is where do you begin to love others? Love them where they are now, if you are waiting for change it may never happen. Watch for opportunities to speak truth in love, do your part to love them as God loves them, you may be quite surprised at what takes place :)
9/18/2011
The last few weeks have been filled with quite a bit of business. In the midst of them I found myself having to move in a few seconds from focusing on one thing to a completely different thing. I would recognize immediately the hard place of leaving one thought and moving to the next and being fully focused. So I would say out loud, “breathe”. In it’s simplest form it was a prayer to focus on what was a hand.
On my way home from work Thursday, I turned on the radio and this song from Sara Groves (what a lovely voice) had just begun. As I listened this is what I came to: In the midst of everything, I know that He’s always been faithful to me. I was thankful for the timing of this song to bring me to this peaceful place of focusing on His faithfulness.
As you read these words in the rendition of this beautiful hymn, begin a list of His faithfulness in your life.
What would it take to get to the place of “This is the anthem” of your life?
Great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me
Morning by morning I wake up to find
The power and comfort of God’s hand in mine
Season by season I watch Him, amazed
In awe of the mystery of His perfect ways
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He’s always been faithful to me.
I can’t remember a trial or a pain
He did not recycle to bring me gain
I can’t remember one single regret
In serving God only, and trusting His hand
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He’s always been faithful to me.
This is my anthem, this is my song
The theme of the stories I’ve heard for so long
God has been faithful, He will be again
His loving compassion, it knows no end
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He’s always been faithful, He’s always been faithful
He’s always been faithful to me.
9/12/2011
In the last few weeks I have experienced an earthquake, a hurricane and a flood. As a follower of Christ one could say or move quite quickly to think-AHH, this is what scripture talks about around the time of Jesus return! Although this is quite true, the scriptures also say that no one knows the time or day of his return. What it says is that we are to be prepared for it.
A good friend of mine shared in an email her concern for me in the midst of hurricane Irene. It was evening when I responded and because I had much to accomplish that day on my to do list, I replied with a simple statement, “ I am finally able to rest in the midst of this storm.” Just before I clicked send, I reread the statement and what struck me was this thought: how often are we able to rest in the midst of the storms (messy circumstances) of our lives? Then other questions came, what does it take for me to rest and trust God in a storm of nature, or life circumstances? Why would I resist resting when I have read the scriptures about the storm that Jesus calmed? As I read the scripture in Mark 4 what is Jesus asking of me and or speaking to my heart about?
So how are you prepared for the storms of nature, the storms of life and Jesus return? Where is your focus when you are in the midst of the storm or the uncertainty of the exact time of his return? In the midst of where you are this moment concerning your focus in these circumstances, how is God loving you?
*The picture above is the lighthouse in Daytona Beach taken by a good friend and co-worker, Kevin Henderson. I am delighted that I had the opportunity to go to the top of this lighthouse. My sister took me there as a surprise while we were in Florida When I look at this picture there are many thoughts that go through my mind. One of them is, if I placed myself in the midst of this picture I would sense an invitation to rest, rest because of the beach, rest because of the beauty, rest because the lighthouse is a guide for safety.
9/5/2011
Rediscovering God
Several weeks ago I heard a song. The words that captured me were actually the title: Let Me Rediscover You by Downhere. This weekend I listened to it over and again, it has become a prayer for me.
As I look at the years of my own thinking, misinterpretation, and/or poor theological teaching, I recognize I created a box and put God in it, all the while thinking that I was discovering God. The older I get the more I desire to know Him as much as possible. So slowly and graciously as I sit with Him reading scripture, praying, in silence, looking for His activity in my life and various other ways, by continually connecting with Him I am rediscovering His character. God can never be “figured out”, I know that full well. What I know is, the more I sit with Him the more we get to know each other and the box is slowly fading away.
One way I am rediscovering Him is in the “both/and” scenario such as: Receiving God as a loving Abba (Daddy) when it seemed that mostly He was presented to me as an angry Judge and Rule maker ready to zap me the next time I sinned. I also had a hard time bringing together Creator God/ Supreme Being and Him desiring to be my loving friend. One other example is how He can hate sin and yet love unconditionally. Sure, someone can tell me and scripture says that God is all these both/and things (and oh so much more), but I have found that without intently looking at the example of Jesus, the power of the Holy Spirit and discovering them on my own, it stays only knowledge and it almost means nothing. As I continually receive His invitation to sit and be, I find that He shows me that He is the both/and God. He has also shown me this by reflecting on my own life as a loving mom and committed friend. If I can hold the both/and in relationship I sense Him having me look at it like this: “if you can do this my daughter, then it originated from me and I do it perfectly.” When I really consider this thought, I am humbled and awed at the same time.
What stirs inside you when you think about God in the “both/and”? When was the last time you discovered something about God that you hadn’t known before? If you look at your relationship with God and it is stagnate, what would it be like to make this song into a prayer? How might it change your life to embrace this: “Breathe in me your life anew and reveal to me the God I thought I knew.”?
Your spirit hovers over my waters
Your love burns longer than the sun
The skies of thunder echo you wonder
Your praises can't be over - sung
The whole Universe is witness
To only a part of what you've done
So let me rediscover you
And breathe in me your life anew
Tell me of the God I never knew
Oh, let me rediscover you
You see my weakness, my pride, my blindness
You wield your power through them all
Of all the mysteries, still, the greatest to me
Is that you're faithful when I fall
How can I say I know you
When what I know is still so small?
Let me rediscover you and breathe in me your life anew
Tell me of the God I never knew
Oh, let me rediscover you
Let me cry "holy, holy, holy"
Let me awaken to your majesty
And see a glimmer of your glory
Let me abide in you
let me rediscover you
and by your grace I'll follow through
reveal to me the God I thought I knew
let me rediscover you
And breathe in me your life anew
Tell me of the God I never knew
And let me rediscover you
Oh, let me rediscover you
Tell me of the God I never knew
Jesus, let me rediscover you.
8/29/2011
For a brief moment…
outside in the dark I turn to see a magnificent sky. Oh how I wished I could grab a camera to capture what I saw as I gazed at this beauty…
Above me, midnight blue sky stars twinkling in the expanse
Thumbnail moon in it’s brightness with the cast of it’s circumference in full view
At the horizon a hint of creeping sunlight
Silhouettes of every tree, bush and structure
The mist of the fog lurking as it mysteriously rises
Silence of any human or created object
Boisterous roosters, a multitude of crickets and the faintness of other insects during this gift of predawn
In the midst of this gaze there was a bit of a battle going on in my mind. Wanting so much for someone to have this same experience by capturing it on film, yet knowing if I left it would be gone upon my return. I sensed the still small voice within me saying, “Stay here, take it in, receive this as a gift, I know you want others to see it, but take this for you.” Then speaking to myself saying, “even if you had a camera by the time you got it and set it up (and knew what to do with it) the uniqueness of the moment would be gone.” I had to keep reminding myself to embrace the moment, that it will be gone soon and it’s not coming back exactly like this.
Staying in the moment…is that something that comes easy for you? Is that a practice you have put into place? The last two weeks, for various reasons, I have moved away from paying attention to what God has in store for me in the moment. But what the moment above has brought me back to is the reminder of the gift God has for me in the midst of a moment. If I look anywhere else there might be something I miss.
How do you stay in a moment? If you have moved to a place where it is to move away, what can you put into place that will redirect you? When you consider the things you might miss if you move away from the moment regretting the past or worrying about the future, consider the affect that will take place.
This was a prayer request of mine recently, how does it resonate with you? Several things are changing in my life and a few things are uncertain. Some days are good and I am focused on the moment and trusting God in the midst, other days come waves of doubt and I sit in the uncertainty. Could you please pray for me that I stay focused on what is true and what I know to be certain?
8/23/2011
Captivated…
I have found a new musical artist that I relate with very well. About two years ago a very good friend of mine addressed me as a “nature girl” in an email. At the time that I read it I did not recognize that about myself and responded to her asking if she sent the email to the right person? Her response was yes-she saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself… at all. As I began to pay attention it didn’t take me long to recognize that I am a nature girl! The words in this song express my heart toward God because I am captivated by Him in the ways that it describes.
Lyrics:
When I look into the mountains
I see Your fame
When I look into the night's sky
It sparkles Your name
The wind and the clouds and the blue in the sky
The sun and the moon and the stars so high
That's what draws me to You
I am, I'm captivated by You
In all that You do
I am, I'm captivated
When I wake unto the morning
It gives me Your sight
When I look across the ocean
It echoes Your might
The sand on the shore and the waves in the sea
The air in my lungs and the way You made me
That's what draws me to You
I am, I'm captivated by You
In all that You do
I am, I'm captivated
'Cause I am, I'm captivated by You
In all that You do
I am, I'm captivated
The wind and the clouds and the blue in the sky
The sun and the moon and the stars so high
The sand on the shore and the waves in the sea
The air in my lungs and the way You made me
The blood in my veins and my heart You invade
The plants how they grow and the tree and their shade
The way that I feel and love in my soul
I thank you my God for letting me, letting me know
I am, I'm captivated by You
In all that You do
I am, I'm captivated
'Cause I am, I'm captivated by You
In all that You do
I am, I'm captivated
What captivates you? Are there lyrics in this song that speak to you? If so, how? Maybe there is something that you have not experienced in your relationship with God that is mentioned in the lyrics and it stirs your heart. What would it be like to invite God into that place?
8/14/2011
Acute desire
Without suffering, happiness cannot be understood
The Lord is my Shepherd , I want for nothing.
The above are titles that I gave the last three posts. It is interesting when I state something that within a short time frame I will go through a season to help me “walk the talk”. God is oh so good to do this for me regardless of how hard it is.
Not too long ago I began sitting with God a bit differently, going through some exercises that I asked to be part of. As God and I work through this process, some things were confirmed in my relationship with Him and some things have been stirred up that I thought I had worked through. And then there have been these deeply felt emotions that have gone along with this movement
As I look over the past six weeks I recognize God has begun a process (which I stated a few weeks ago) of looking at what could be distracting me from our relationship. Surprisingly there were more things than I realized:-0!
God has been doing what I call a “solidifying work” in me.
To some they could be received as bad but I do not receive them that way. Ultimately I know they are for the transformation He wants to do in my life because He loves me dearly.
Here are some questions that I have asked myself to move closer to Him.
“Acute desire”: Do I only need God to help me when I am in the midst of trouble OR no matter the circumstances do I desire and embrace His presence and work in my life because He desires me to resemble His son?
“Without suffering, happiness cannot be understood”: When I suffer do I recognize that God is helping me to understand not only happiness, but compassion, mercy and grace for myself and ultimately others?
“The Lord is my Shepherd, I want for nothing”: In the midst of everyday life how can I live embracing that God is all I need and that there is nothing I desire but Him?
As He and I work through these things I know it is and will not be easy. For me, I need to remind myself this is not the Garden of Eden. Things have been tainted significantly by sin. So I ask myself: Am I willing to surrender to the hard work? My answer: Yes, I want what God desires: to be conformed to the image of His Son because He loves me so
Consider journaling and talking to God about how these statements and questions speak to your heart.
8/1/2011
Acute desire
“I want deliberately to encourage this mighty longing after God. The lack of it has brought us to our present low estate…Complacency is a deadly foe of all spiritual growth. Acute desire must be present…He waits to be wanted.” A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God.
Two weeks ago I read these words that made a strong imprint on me. “Acute desire.” As I rolled them again and again in my heart and my mind, I used the dictionary to plainly say what these two words mean concerning what I will look at in my relationship with God: Extremely serious about strongly wanting God.
At another point this past week I read the quote again with the ending words: “He waits to be wanted.” When I ponder through these words I recognize His patience as well as His free will to continually choose a relationship with Him.
As I look at how I connect with God, and how these words hit me I began to ask these questions:
What does acute desire look like?
How big is my want for God?
Do I recognize that He waits to be wanted?
How do you receive the questions above? If you had to explain what acute desire looks like how would you communicate it?
7/18/2011
“Without suffering, happiness can not be understood.” Dostoyevsky
Just after pondering this quote, I went deeper…
Without sickness, health can not be understood…
Without poverty, riches can not be understood…
Without failure, success can not be understood…
Without facing death, life can not be understood….
If you have faced suffering, what takes place in your heart as happiness or joy returns?
When you face sickness, what stirs in your mind as your health is restored?
If you have lived in poverty (or done without), what takes place when finances are stable or increase?
If you have failed, how did you look at any form of success that followed?
What about facing death, (of your own self or grieving that of someone else), how do you respond to the gift of life?
Consider inviting God to speak to you about the one that stirs your heart the most.
7/11/2011
The Lord is My Shepherd, I want for nothing
This week I have been looking at things that distract me from my relationship with Christ. So, I have invited God to show me the things that would hinder our relationship, i.e. things that become more important than Him. The way I know if something is a hindrance is that if this thing were taken away, if I could never have it again, how would I respond? If it’s not in a healthy response or I try to justify why I should have it, then I ask, “has this become an idol?”
As the week progressed I began to feel a tension as I looked at three things that kept coming to mind. I have not felt a tension like this in my soul for a while. So this for me was a hard place to be. Never the less, I know it is good and necessary and I can say, I wouldn’t want it any other way.
At one point during the week I thought of Job and the disastrous day when just about everything was removed from his life. I looked at how he responded, and what was left in his life. He had his wife, who was not helpful, and his three friends, who in the end should have just kept quiet. But what he did have, that was very good, was his open relationship with God.
The scriptures tell us that in all that took place Job did not sin. When I think about Job’s responses and questions, it is freeing to know that the God of the universe says Job did not sin as he conversed with Him. To me, as I read the account, Job wrestled with what took place and was able to communicate that with God. Our loving Father listened for a long time and then responded.
I used to think, how could Job have done that? Now I can see how gracious God was in his patient listening. Maybe even because Job shared his whole heart and as God allowed him to go on and on, it was the very avenue that he (Job) was then able to receive God’s exquisite response.
As I walk with God, He frequently shows me there is more to the scriptures than how I originally received them. It truly has become a love letter from God to me. As I look at the things that could be distracting me from my relationship with Him, I will repetitively remember the beautiful, open relationship that Job and God had and that is what I desire.
In the end what we will have is our relationship with God. Is there anything that is distracting you from drawing closer to Him? As you ponder, can you name it (them)? What would it be like to continually converse with God not holding back anything that is in your heart? Do you trust that God will love you in the midst of this place?
7/4/2011
Blue Heron (s)
Last week I was gifted with going to the beach. I have enjoyed going there since I was a young child. As I have stated in previous posts, there is just something about the atmosphere of the beach that relaxes me and gives opportunity to just “be”. When I sit on the beach the mystery of the ocean also reminds me of the mystery of our great and mighty God.
The weather was beautiful. I read, reflected and relaxed. My early morning “quiet times” weren’t quite like home, i.e. with all the business of a vacation town: street cleaning; garbage removal, hotel air conditioners and the like, but I choose to embrace the aloneness that God and I had together in the midst of the noise.
Each morning started in a special way…the first morning witnessing the blue/black sky continually lighten at the rising of the dawn…the next, seeing the deep blue sky with streaks of long clouds and the breath taking thumbnail moon appearing as they broke away. The third morning the sun was already shining in it’s brightness and as I looked up I saw five Blue Herons and delighted in this gift as normally I only see one flying solo at home.
The last and final morning the sky was already light blue and the sun was just peering through one bulky cloud boldly showing shades of glowing pink and luminous yellow. As I sat to listen to “How Great is our God” through my headphones, I once again saw five Blue Herons. I smiled in delight at the gift of seeing them a second time. A few minutes later In the midst of the song, while looking into the ever changing sky, my heart raced with joy as I spotted eleven Blue Heron flying together!
You see, for me, there is a story behind these birds. Previously I had no clue what bird they were. For years I named them a “dinosaur bird” because that is what it reminded me of. But in God’s providence many years later someone identified them for me. Previously it was an “I see it, but I don’t know it’s name, so I will name it what it resembles.” It was important for me to know what kind of bird it was but I didn’t take the initiative to find out and besides how do I Google this picture in my head or even on my camera to identify it!?! It sounded like too much work.
As I ponder this scenario it reminds me of life circumstances and how easily we pass things by until by God’s knocking and our inviting Him in do we identify what it really is?
How easily do you pass something by or try too quickly move through something in order not to take the time to truly identify it? An example would be a place that you are hurt but you don’t take the time to work through the grief. Or maybe you are angry and you don’t recognize that it comes from pain in your heart. Can you name a place where “I see it, but I don’t know it’s name, so I will name it what it resembles.” ? What would it be like to name something for what it really is and work through it? What if on the other side there is true freedom working through the mystery of what God wants to do in your heart? What would it take to embrace the work God wants to do and trust Him in the midst to name it for what it truly is?
6/27/2011
Mark 11:15-17
On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”
In the past when I heard or read this scripture I focused on Jesus anger at the money changers. At times I even wrestled with it, picturing my Savior angry was something I resisted looking at for a long time. Once I accepted that he would be angry with the injustice of what people were turning his Father’s house into, I became more settled.
Recently though I saw something I had never seen before…I was reading a devotional called “Daily Office” and after reading the above scripture the words I read next moved me to a new awareness: “Jesus intense anger…ought to make us gasp. He knows that if we don’t get to God, invaluable treasures will be lost or obscured. We lose the space where we experience God’s unfailing love and incredible forgiveness.”
When I read: “If we don’t get to God” it hit me deeply. Jesus anger goes much further than the injustice of the money changers. If I look at the scripture with the lens of “If we don’t get to God”, I see something different: Jesus deep love and desire for his Father’s beloved children to connect with our Heavenly Father without hindrances. It grieves me to think of people being hindered from invaluable treasures being lost or obscured in their relationship with God.
As I read further, “we lose the space where we experience God’s unfailing love and incredible forgiveness” it leads me to think what it would be like to lose what I have in God’s love and grace. This as well saddens my heart.
As I look at the “den of robbers” they not only robbed people financially but
robbed people from connecting with God
robbed people from forgiveness that is offered
robbed people from God’s unfailing love
robbed people from a beautiful relationship with God because they were creating hindrances to get to Him
I am glad that we have this example of Jesus’ heart to reflect on. My understanding of this scripture has been enlarged and has moved my heart to a deeper understanding of the great love our Lord has for us by removing hindrances.
How have you moved through scriptures that you don’t understand? What scriptures do you resist looking at? What would it be like to ask the Lord to take you deeper when you don’t understand or you resist? How do you display thankfulness when scripture is revealed in a new way?
6/20/2011
How do you celebrate the simple things in life, like a delightful day, an obedient child, easy traffic patterns, the “front row seat” at the grocery store and the clerk who helps bring a lightness to your day? What about times of celebrating the birth of a child, a wedding day, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and other milestones that take place in life?
There came a point on my journey where I was unsure if it was “ok” to celebrate milestones in life. When I began to reflect on celebration in scripture to see my Savior’s life, the first thing that came to me was Jesus at the wedding in Cana. He was with his family and friends at the holy commitment in the joining of a man and a woman. As I looked further, he didn’t just show up and then leave quickly, from the account he stayed quite a long time. (Not to mention this was the first recorded miracle performed by the request of his mother. But that is for another time.) Another place that I see he talked about celebrating were in the parables of “the lost and then found”. For me, as I think about those things I am reassured that it is good to celebrate!
As God would have it, I was sharing an evening with a beautiful group of ladies. At the end of our time together we were presented with an opportunity to start a “Daily Gratitude Journal”, which I had never heard of. The original idea came from “Sarah Ban Breathnach.” To explain, each night before I go to sleep, I am to write down 5 things that I am grateful for. For me this was a perfect way to simply celebrate and say thank you to my loving Daddy before I close my eyes to sleep.
On June 20th my husband and I celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. This will be the first journal entry that evening:) The second being our commitment to each other, celebrating the joyful times and the beautiful benefit of working through the messy times as well.
How do you view celebrating? Do you have everyday celebrations? What would it be like to write down at least one thing each day that you are grateful for-even further, starting your own Gratitude Journal? How is Jesus speaking to you right now and loving you in the midst of your thoughts?
6/13/2011
This week there were several moments where I “took a step back” and observed some beautiful things that were taking place all around me. The thought that went through my mind was “Wow, different things are taking place in this room, with different people and each one is doing what God has called them to do at this moment”. There were multiple things going on; some people were using their talents to achieve a task, some people were giving compassion, some were sharing blessings, some were being strong and courageous, and some were grieving. I was glad to be able to witness what was taking place and even be part of one of the scenarios. In all these situations I believe love was either being given or received in some form. Then I heard this song…
Have you moved to the place recognizing love: it’s all you need?
Could it be that: love will hold us together?
Have you experienced in your life a time where love: Made a shelter to weather the storm? What was that like for you?
Have you invited someone in your life to be a: brother’s keeper?
When the world looks at your life how could they yes about you to this statement: So the whole world will know that we’re not alone?
How can you live each day as “This is the first day of the rest of your life?”
6/06/2011
Gifts
When I was a child and young teen there was so much excitement that took place in me on occasions where I would receive a gift. Many times there was a build up of anticipation weeks prior thinking “what if I receive this” or “what if I receive that”? At times I would even move into fantasy world and imagine the impossible.
Over the years I began to recognize a pattern. Some times I dreamed too big and had expectancies only for them not to be fulfilled. Let down would take place, I would pout, and even sometimes become slightly depressed. Looking back I recognize that was all about me, not the giver…not a good place to be.
Another shift that took place was that I began to like being the giver rather than the receiver. As I look at that now, it could have been in my futile thinking that it was one way to control a gift giving situation. I recognize even in that, I would be disappointed if the receiver didn’t accept the gift the way I had anticipated they should…again that was about me.
Somewhere along the line God began to shift my thoughts and I moved out of unrealistic thinking. I recognized that financially it made more sense to ask for practical gifts. I remember one occasion my husband gave me a Kitchen Aid mixer. He felt like it wasn’t very romantic but I was thrilled because for years I had dealt with less than adequate mixers and that didn’t make baking much fun because I knew the frustration I would go through to get something mixed!
In God’s gentleness and love, slowly my view point about gifts has changed all together. I now hold gift giving and receiving loosely. This relieves much on various levels especially when I consider His ultimate gift to us.
There is a mind set in our culture that we “deserve” certain things. But when we are open and God shows us who we are in out sinful state, what do we really deserve? For me I recognize I deserve nothing, further yet I know I deserve eternity without Him. But that is not the loving God we serve. He is the giver of all good gifts. The one who gives us the best gift of all: his son so that we could spend eternity in paradise.
How do you receive gifts? What takes place inside of you when you give gifts? When you hear the word deserve or deserved what comes to mind?
The best gift given is unconditional love. How is that lived out in your life?
… remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Act 20:35b
5/30/2011
Roughly five years ago I read “Seizing Your Divine Moment” by Erwin McManus. God used the words in that book to help me take a look at the strength and courage of Jonathan (King Saul’s son) in a whole new light. I remember at that time having a hope and a prayer that I could somehow, someday, be a strong and courageous woman of God. For what I knew to be true about myself, in my humanness, was far from that. I was someone who avoided confrontation at all costs, would rather be behind the scenes than up front, one who would prefer to sit and listen rather than lead or teach and someone who rarely stepped out and took chances.
Today when I was pondering what I would share, much came together when I reflected on the last couple of weeks. At some point I had an “ah-ha” moment realizing God has moved me to greater strength and courage than I ever imagined. For instance, there were conversations I had where it was hard to speak truth but I knew that is what God was asking me to do~humm, strength and courage. There was a role I filled where I felt as though I did not know enough, but I did the best I could with what I did know~wow, strength and courage. With a gentle push, I stood in front of peers and spoke where normally I would have sat and listened~ once more, strength and courage. In a few weeks I will step out and lead a group of people in a new way~yet again a place of strength and courage.
Mostly because I am a creature of habit and one who used to prefer to stay in the boundaries, it took God’s orchestration of many things, including some very loving, encouraging people to journey with me to this new place concerning strength and courage.
Sharing this, I see where God has been at work to fulfill what His word says about each of His beloved children in 2 Tim 1: 7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
God’s word is true. It is because of His Spirit in me that I am in this place. Because He is blessing me with good friends who are reflecting Christ in my life and their call to “spur one another on” I have stepped out in trust and faith experiencing Him at work. I know that I have a long way to go and there may even be times that I step back into that creature of habit, but with God, I pray that new creature of habit forming reflects Christ more and more.
What area in your life might God be asking you to take a look at concerning your character? When you consider the work that God is doing in you at this moment, what places can you see His orchestration as you are conformed to the image of His son? Who comes along side you to spur you on? In what way can you spur them on?
5/23/2011
The Mirror
In my home I have a lovely full length mirror, like the one above. This week it was not in its normal place because it was used for an event at our church. As it was moved from the room I actually thought, “great, that will leave some extra space in here.” What I found out is that I use the mirror a great deal more that I thought and more even importantly how dependant I am on that mirror. After about two days without the mirror the Holy Spirit brought to mind many thoughts about looking at myself in the mirror.
These are the things that came to mind as I spent time thinking about the dependence of a mirror:
How do I reflect Christ? What if I was as dependant on the mirror for cosmetic things as I was at “taking a look” at my spiritual life. Even though I can’t “see” my soul, what if I envisioned God on the other side of the mirror looking in, what would He say? As I am gifted to love others how can I use this experience in my life to love them more?
Years ago you couldn’t have told me that this simple instance in my life would be where I saw God in the everyday ordinary: simply the removal of a mirror. I have used mirrors all my life to look at things cosmetically, but as God would have it, this simple act of removal has taken me to a deeper need of awareness in my life.
What in your life helps you look at yourself, that is, your character?
As you end each day what would it be like to look in the mirror and ask Jesus to bring to mind how you reflected him?
How are you defined?
James 1:22-24 22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
How does this scripture speak to your heart?
5/16/2011
What if…
Blessings by Laura Story:
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things
Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe
Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise
When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise
From the moment I caught the words of this song I connected with it specifically because I heard the words “What if”. As I began to listen more intently, I so appreciated the question, giving opportunity to look “outside the box” of human parameters.
When you consider your prayer life, how do you resonate with the first six lines in the stanza?
Reading further, how are you responding to the “What if” questions?
What new awareness’s are you noticing?
How are you inviting God to speak to your heart about how this has impacted you?
5/10/2011
True worship of God happens when we put God first in our lives. When what God says matters more than what others say, and when loving God matters than being loved.” Spiritual Disciplines Handbook
The last eight words of this quote have stayed with me all week. Being loved (and liked) by others has always been important to me, so much so that I know I can not say that there have been many times that I have moved to the place where loving God matters more than being loved. Wow, that was a hard truth to admit! But I am so glad that God in His loving grace has helped me to become aware of it. So, how do I move to that place? It will be a process and I know that I will not always be successful. What I know is now that I am aware of it, in a relationship struggle, I will begin to ask: Does loving You God matter more than being loved?
What places do you recognize you put God first in your life? Where in your life do you struggle with putting what others say above what God says? Does loving God matter more than being loved?
Considering this powerful statement, what does true worship look like for you?
5/2/2011
This week I concluded the last few chapters of A Praying Life by Paul Miller. In one section he describes how personal Psalm 23 is as we walk with the Shepherd because of the numerous times I, me and my appear throughout the passage.
Psalm 23 (NLT)
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.
2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.
3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.
4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid,
for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.
5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.
6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.
Have you ever taken scripture and personalized it? For me, I used to read the scriptures for information, rarely recognizing God intends for me to read it as a personal love letter. Over the past five + years that has changed significantly.
When I personalize the scriptures it moves me to a place of awareness in several ways. Although not every scripture I read will be exactly where I am on the journey, there is something that I can connect with or reflect on. In my thought process this is how I would personalize Psalm 23:
Lord you are my shepherd, I do have all I need. Show me that there are things I think I need but they are really only things that I want.
Many times you have allowed me to rest in green meadows and peaceful streams after a time of suffering and You have renewed my strength.
You guide me, not force me, along right paths when I open myself to hear your still small voice. When I do, I sense your Spirit encouraging my heart that I am bringing honor to your name.
When I have walked through dark valleys even though I may not move there immediately, I recall your word: “do not be afraid” and the promise that you are close beside me.
Because you are the Great Shepherd who lays down his life for his sheep the image of your rod and staff help me to know of your protection and that comforts me.
Although I do not have any human enemies pursing me, I know that there is an Enemy who would like to devour me. Because Jesus is my Savior I know you are preparing a banquet in heaven that I will share in and the Enemy will no longer be able to pursue me.
Often I feel unworthy, but when I reflect on this gift of life, I know you have honored me by anointing me and I sing Hallelujah as I know my cup overflows with blessing. I am oh so grateful!!
I continue to see your goodness and unfailing love pursue me each and every day and I treasure thinking about living in Your house forever.
How personal is God to you? If you have not taken God’s love letter and made it personal, what would it feel like to do that? If He doesn’t seem personal, is there any resistance taking place on your part?
Song of the week: My Shepherd by Michael Cord
4/25/2011
This week I began to envision those that went to the tomb early on Sunday morning…
I wonder, as they walked to anoint Jesus body properly with spices, what were they replaying in their minds? Most likely the events of a most horrendous Friday.
They had waited through the Sabbath in mourning. Now they were on the way to the tomb to do was necessary only to experience this…
Jesus Has Risen
1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
As you think about how you celebrated the resurrection, can you imagine what it was like for those that were grieving deeply to move to a place of hope in such a magnificent way?
Often last week’s quote has stirred in me several times. “Saturdays will come, and they will be painful. But remember: without Saturday, we don’t get Sunday. Jesus’ love is our hope for today and forever. We will grieve, but with hope.”
Those that witnessed everything about Jesus life experienced intimately this “without Saturday, we don’t get Sunday”. Oh what joy and hope they must have had that first resurrection Sunday!
For me this last week has been a place of looking forward to Sunday. I know what Sunday brings as I think about what God has done in my life through this Lenten season. What have your Saturday to Sunday seasons brought to your life? If you chose to “give up something” for Lent, what gift did you receive from it? How did you draw closer to God in this time? How will you carry this closeness with you as you walk with your God?
4/17/2011
Saturday by Steve Thomason
(From a Lenten devotional concerning Passion Week)
Saturday was a long and dark day. Not only did the disciples hide in fear for their lives but even worse, they grieved deeply. Soldiers had carried Jesus off to the execution the day before. Now their master was dead and the grief cut deeply, leaving them utterly hollow.
They had not signed up for this. Jesus was supposed to lead them to victory over oppressors, establish a nation, and allow them to bask in the joy of sweet justice. Pain and grief were not part of the package.
Perhaps you have felt like the disciples on that dark Saturday. I know I have. Over a fifteen month period I experienced the deaths of a friend, two grandmothers, a father-in-law, and the church that we planted, along with some other close calls. It seemed like everything around me was dying. I thought following Jesus meant victory and peace. All I felt was pain and despair. I wish I could say I handled it with poise and dignity. I didn’t. I toggled between numb denial and irritating doubt. I wondered if I was to blame and if God was punishing me for something. Perhaps I had been duped and the universe was really a cold, empty place.
I have to think that the disciples had to have similar feelings on that dark Saturday, as if all hope was gone. We feel this way because we face an important truth. The way of Jesus is a way of pain, grief, and sorrow. Jesus suffered much in his life—even before his arrest and execution. As a child he had to be hidden in Egypt in fear for his life. He wept over the death of his fiend Lazarus. He grieved over the blindness of Israel. He agonized to the point of blood in the garden of Gethsemane. He screamed out as he hung on the cross, “My God, my God why have you abandoned me?”
Jesus told us it would be this way. In Jesus’ final teaching, he said that God would prune the branches that clung to the Vine (John 15:1-17). Pruning hurts. To have large parts of your life severed is not a pleasant experience. Yet as the gardener knows, without pruning there is no life.
That is the way of God’s love and grace. God purifies us with pain. The disciples learned this and wrote to the churches about it. James said it is an opportunity for joy when troubles come because in the end it makes us complete. Peter told us that suffering refines out hearts like fire refines gold. Paul reached the climax of the whole process with one word—hope.
On Sunday the disciples became aware of a reality far deeper than Saturday’s grief. They met hope. Jesus plowed through pain and grief and came out the other side. Saturdays will come, and they will be painful. But remember: without Saturday, we don’t get Sunday. Jesus’ love is our hope for today and forever. We will grieve, but with hope.
As you and I walk though Passion week, what things do you think about concerning Jesus final week on earth? How do you relate to him as you think about suffering, pain, grief and sorrow? What are places you toggle between numb denial and irritating doubt? What would it take to shift to the place of recognizing God purifies us with pain? How can you move to a place where you consider troubles an opportunity for joy? Where is God meeting you right now?
There are several other questions I could ask concerning this writing, what I will leave you with is to consider writing a prayer to God about where you are right now in your relationship with Him when it comes to the places of pruning in your life.
4/11/2011
Fasting…
“…what can be gained from voluntarily giving up a presumed necessity? Throughout biblical and Christian History, many have fasted for reasonable and healthy periods. True, the expectations of instant gratification in our culture do not react well to the denial of nourishment. Could it be that God has something to reveal to us in the midst of our momentary self-denial?”
As I continue the committed surrender during Lent, I am finding out much about myself, how much I rely on instant gratification and or comfort I receive when I reach out for temporary benefits.
One of the things that I am abstaining from during this period is turning on the radio, specifically listening to music with lyrics. Most of my life I have enjoyed listening to the lyrics of a song. I consider a song a short story about someone’s experience. For me, they are an opportunity to relate, to have compassion, to look at love, to worship and much more. The long term benefits I am receiving as I deny myself and lean on Christ by not turning on the radio has several aspects.
~This past Sunday as I listened and joined in with worship songs, I had a deeper appreciation for them and considered the songs as a gift.
~In these times of not turning on the radio, there is much more silence. With that, I have deeper and more concentrated conversations with the Lord.
~God has shown me that when I am having a rough day I can easily use the lyrics of a song to move me through it.
When I think of the question above: Could it be that God has something to reveal to us in the midst of our momentary self-denial? I say yes and thank you Lord!
I am looking forward to Easter Sunday and knowing that I do not have to turn off the radio for the rest of my life. But what I have gained has been so beneficial.
There is less than 2 weeks until Easter Sunday where we will celebrate the resurrection of our wonderful Savior. As you press on these last days, what have you gained from self-denial? What long term benefits can you recognize so far? How will you continue to go deeper to see what God is doing in your spirit?
4/4/2011
Lent Week 5
Have you heard the statement, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”? I have found this statement to be true in almost every relationship that I have and or have observed.
A discovery moment came for me when I recognized that is true in my relationship with God. Sitting with Him in silence and solitude most every day has created the space and time for our relationship to grow where I know, that I know, it is true: He cares for meJ Somewhere along the line I mixed up the supremacy of God and how much He cares for me. I focused more on His dominance than His love. Now, the more I sit with him the more I recognize His great love for me (and you).
The connection came this week and was enhanced as I was reading Luke 15:1-32 of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son. It took me to a place of recognizing God’s great love for us in stories that we can relate to. For me in the parables there is a connection when it includes humanity and struggles we have in life. And that is just a minute part of our love letter from God.
What discovery moments have you had in this time of Lent? How do you respond when you read Jesus’ parables? Where do you recognize the heart of love from the Father in the stories Jesus shares?
3/28/2011
Lent Week 4
Up until this week my personal Lenten experience hadn’t included any uneasiness, it was actually the opposite, receiving joy as I sat with God’s Word in a new way. But on Monday things started to shift…
The week began with routine, however not long into Monday morning change began to take place. As the week went on, normalcy was disappearing (and I like normalcy). By Thursday morning I found my self waking in an odd mood. Some might describe it as “waking up on the wrong side of the bed” or “a funk” or “an attitude,” at any rate, I was there. I didn’t like it but instead of just asking God to “move me out of it” I asked Him to help me in the midst of it, to go deeper.
Many things unfolded in my mind and heart as I looked at things that had taken place during the previous days. As I began my intentional looking at what was taking place, God in his graciousness allowed me to see several things.
One of the places I was struggling was in my attempt of communication that resulted in non responsive person. As I dug deeper in thoughts and conversations with the Lord, I found myself having compassion at a different level with someone else who experienced the same thing in a similar situation. Gained insight number one: a newness of compassion.
As I looked at another place I was struggling I wrote this in my journal: There is rarely a time that I can’t find something to bring me comfort. If I feel uneasy, I grab a cup of coffee, a piece of chocolate or turn on the radio. If I am unsure of the result of a conversation, I will go and make sure I communicated correctly so that I know the other person and I are “ok”. Gained insight number two: I easily resist being uncomfortable and therefore control the situation in my own way.
Journaling more, I wrote: I don’t know that it’s necessarily bad to find comfort in some of this but I cannot depend on it like I should be depending on you Lord. In the same sense I don’t want to have a martyr mentality. Gained insight number three: resist finding comfort in earthly things for deeper dependence on God.
Contemplating a bit more I began reflecting on Jesus forty days in the desert without anyone or anything to comfort him. Gained insight number four: deeper and more intimate appreciation of what my Savior did for me.
Where do you find comfort? What would it be like to resist those comfort places for a day? What might God have in store for you in the midst of looking at the sacrifice of comfort to move even further in your dependence on Him?
Ephesians 1:17
asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. NLT
3/21/2011
Lent Week 3
Two weeks ago when I started sharing my journey through Lent, I purposefully did not go into the details of what I was surrendering. This allowed an opportunity for those reading this to see what the Lord may be speaking to their own heart about. I pray that a meaningful time of surrender is taking place and growth of dependence with Him is occurring.
For me, I chose to move to a greater dependence on the Lord through and with His Word. What I discovered during an organic process was that I shifted a little too far from a balance of God’s Word to other readings. I knew that literature from others had become very important in my life and although I love God’s Word, I didn’t seem to sit with scripture as much as I used to.
Healthy Christian literature is clearly a good thing and what unfolded this week was that through that literature, a form of nourishment was taking place in my life, specifically a type of nourishing love through other’s words. What is freeing in this process is that I do not feel guilty that I spent time in other readings. I believe that God used the many things I thirsted for in other’s words. Now that the thirst has been satisfied on one level, He is surprising me with what comes as a result through our “be still” times that are directly from His Word.
To describe what my times look like in this season, I am using The Mosaic Bible, (a Liturgical Bible, designed to be used in connection with the church year), as well as the questions below that came during one of the 90 minute times I described last week. This week focused on Romans 4:1-25.
~Where do I hear/see God’s heart of love in this?
~How does this story touch me?
~What affirmation do I hear from God in this?
~What love is the Father pouring out on me, here? now?
What is stirring in your heart at this moment? Where are you receiving the nourishment of love? What would it be like to write out the things you thirst for in the form of a prayer? If you choose to do this, pay attention to how God might be answering, it may come in unanticipated ways…
3/14/2011
Lent Week 2
Last week I was given the privilege to sit twice, uninterrupted for 90 minutes. A place to “Be Still and know that He is God”. Through a prepared presentation, this is what I was offered: quiet and silence, a look a confession and repentance as well as moving into resting in God’s love. This was presented through enhanced technology of something that has been named, “Visual Worshiper”. These moments with the Lord were filled with many things to lead me into Lent…
Scriptures of our love letter from God
Intriguing quotes to ponder
Snapshots of surrendered posture
Beautiful pictures of our Lord’s creation
Discovery questions to consider
Word promptings to be still with
(Click on the pdf and consider spending some extended quiet time with the Lord using this document.)
Quieting Confession Repentance God's Love
Many things came to mind as I journaled through that time and have carried over into this first week of Lent. God has been surprising me with what we have discovered together.
My prayer for you is that you have identified what you sense God has asked you to surrender during this time.
If you have identified something, how has your week gone as you have denied self? If you haven’t identified anything is there a resistance?
As you denied self, can you describe what it is like to move to that place of greater dependence on Him? If you were unsuccessful, where is God meeting you in that place?
3/7/2011
Lent
This week begins the Lenten season: The 40 weekdays from Ash Wednesday until Easter is observed~a season of fasting and repentance in preparation for Easter.
When you hear the word Lent, what is the first thing that comes to mind?
As I consider the thoughts I have had about Lent, this is what comes to mind: the giving up of something/a sacrifice. I did not understand the totality of it or the significance of this practice. I resisted learning about it because mostly I associated it with the giving up of some type of food, and I don’t do so well denying myself in that way. In my lack of self-denial and not wanting to fail, I resisted most attempts of going further.
This year, with God’s gentle nudging and prodding, He has touched my heart and I am ready to go deeper. Although I am no where near knowing the depth of what the disciplines of Lent will accomplish and what the sacrifices will produce, I know that I am in a place of readiness.
There was a process that happened organically over the last few weeks as God and I determined what it was that I was going to deny myself of for deeper dependence on Him. It would not be considered “traditional” but because of the “Be Still and Know that I am God” times in my life, I have determined what I will sacrifice.
This quote helped me to move to that place: “Deny self and replace it with relying on provisions that Christ gives.”
The limited understanding that I have of Lent and it’s outcome will have many facets, of which I am only at the beginning. What I know is that I am looking forward to the dependence and intimacy that will come with my Savior as I journey with Him in this Lenten season.
So as this week begins, is there anything that you sense God is asking you to consider giving up for deeper dependence on Him? When you determine what that is, how will you move to the place of relying on the provisions Christ will give in the midst of that place? What would life look like in a deeper place with Him?
2/28/2011
Opposites
Have you thought much about the opposites in your day? Not necessarily what is going on solely with you but maybe the difference between you and someone else?
One day this week from the time I woke until the time I went to bed, one good thing after another took place. At the rate it was going it seemed things could only get better. As each circumstance happened I reflected on the one before and that made that situation even more joyful.
At one point during that particular day I was in the midst of checking with someone on how they were doing. (I knew the day before it had been a pretty bad day for them because of their demeanor. I didn’t press for what was going on, what I did was hold them in prayer when they came to mind.) What was interesting as we were conversing, I said, “You seem better than yesterday” after a few comments, this response stood out: “Yesterday was so bad I went to bed early so it couldn’t get any worse.” At that moment I thought, wow, that is so opposite of where I am right now. I finished up the conversation mostly listening and without commenting on what my day was like. When I moved away from the conversation I considered the two opposite places. Surreal is where I found myself.
More opposites came to mind as I had quiet moments the next few days and although I do not know all that God wants for me, I will pay attention.
Old and New
Hope and Desperation
Control and Surrender
Strong and Weak
Good and Bad
Joy and Sorrow
When you notice a place of opposites in the next few days how will you respond? What will your prayer be as you consider how God may be speaking to you?
2/21/2011
“Has it ever hurt to hope?”
I was in the midst of a time to be with others sharing how God is speaking to us individually while reading the same material. The leader of the group had prepared some questions ahead of time for discussion. When we moved to the question, “Has it ever hurt to hope?” I was quickly distracted as the words penetrated my heart. Trying to stay attentive to what others were sharing and trying to pay attention to how God was speaking to me in the midst of the question. It was not easy because I found myself answering the question this way: I have chosen in certain circumstances not to hope so it won’t hurt. This thought kept stirring in me again and again. Finally we moved away from the question but I knew that I would go back to it the next morning in my time with my loving God.
As I sat the next morning pondering these words, several things came to mind. One of them being something I had recently read from Henri Nouwen: Optimism and hope are radically different attitudes. Optimism is the expectation that things-the weather, human relationships, the economy, the political situation, and so on-will get better. Hope is the trust that God will fulfill God's promises to us in a way that leads us to true freedom. The optimist speaks about concrete changes in the future. The person of hope lives in the moment with the knowledge and trust that all of life is in good hands.
I was mixing up optimism and hope. Optimism relies on things or a person that involves change. In this place it leads me to expectation. Hope on the other hand lends itself to trust and surrender in the midst of a circumstance. In this place God helped me to have a clearer understanding of these two minds sets in my life.
I would recently have considered my self an optimist. But when I move to expectation and begin to sense hurt I realize that I have shifted to a place of the unchanged in things or others that I have no control over. What I desire to do is honor God by looking through the lens of hope in His promises. Now that I have a clearer understanding of optimism and hope I am considering myself a person of hope. If God chooses to use me in a place of change to Him be the glory, but what I know is that I rely on hope in Him and not in change.
How has God used optimism and hope in your life? What would it take to look through the lens of hope on this journey with God? How would it affect your life and those around you if you became a person of hope?
2/14/2011
The Super Bowl
“If they didn’t persevere…If they didn’t dream.” These are words I heard just before the Super Bowl. Because I do not retain much in the media realm, I don’t remember who said the words, but what I do know is they caught my attention enough that I quickly grabbed my journal and wrote them down. The presenter was speaking of people who have made a difference in history for us as Americans. Along with his words there were scrolling pictures of those people. The one that stands out to me was Martin Luther King JR. In the midst of relaxing and watching the hubbub of this event, I sensed God’s still small voice at work.
The next morning when I sat down for my time with Him, I focused on those eight words that stood out to me so clearly and began writing. Below is an excerpt from my journal.
What if these people in history that have made a difference for our lives to be lived in freedom, didn’t persevere or didn’t dream? When I think about them most likely it was not an easy journey. It gives me encouragement as I look at their lives to journey along in the midst of the messiness that comes in life.
Although there are not many, some days I just get tired and do not have a desire to persevere or dream. However, because I have a God that loves me dearly, I sense a nudge from Him in the humanness of my giving up that goes something like this: What if you don’t persevere, what if you don’t dream? Those questions bring awareness to me and move me to a place that I look at. I don’t have an expectation to make a difference like Martin Luther King JR, but I do know that God has a desire for me to make a difference in the place and time where He has gifted me to live. He has never said the journey would be easy. I am thankful to have this anchor of realization of those who have made a difference for me and so many others…persevering and dreaming in the midst of a journey that isn’t always easy.
When you have days that you are tired and want to give up, what are things you can do or begin to ponder to move out of that place? What if you don’t preserve or dream? Is there a verse that comes to mind that would help you if you find your self in a place of tiredness?
2/7/2011
Thank You for Each Moment by Ted Loder
Lord, thank you for each moment,
for the blue-sky moment,
the softening earth,
the refreshing wind,
the yellow bush,
for my full heart
and the joy rising in me.
Soften me
to receive whatever comes as a gift
and to praise you in it.
Lord, thank you for each moment
for the twilight moment,
the pause,
the good tired,
for the quiet reflection,
the slowing down,
the mysterious sunset,
for the wisdom growing inside me.
Gentle me
to feel whatever comes as a gift
and to praise you in it.
Lord, thank you for each moment,
for the midnight moment,
the loneliness,
the fretful wondering,
for the watchful stars,
the long ache,
the sleepless wait,
and the hope straining in me.
Focus me
to see whatever comes as a gift
and to praise you in it.
….blue-sky moment, sunset moment, twilight moment and midnight moment…I praise Him in those moments as a gifts to me.
There are many moments in our lives. As I read these words, my heart is stirred in many ways as I consider the moments in my day. I can not help but smile as I think of the gifts that come my way.
What stirs in you? In what places are you softened? Gentled? Focused? As you ponder these words what causes your heart to reflect praise?
Enjoy this week’s song, it one of my favorite worship songs to sing
1/31/2011
How Great Thou Art
I was shuffling through some music videos on YouTube the other day enjoying each one. When I stumbled upon, “How Great Thou Art” it took me back about twenty years.
This classic hymn is rich in meaning and significant in remembrance for me. Rich in meaning because when I sing it, the words stir my soul. In remembrance because it was in a little church in the country that I remember it the most.
When I first sang it, because I had not been on the journey very long, these words stood out to me: And when I think that God his son not sparing, Sent him to die - I scarce can take it in, That on the cross my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.
Then a few years later as I thought more about eternity, these words were significant: When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation, And take me home- what joy shall fill my heart! Then I shall bow in humble adoration, And there proclaim, my God, how great thou art!
Now all these years later when I look at the words earlier in the song I think about the treasure God has given me in the joy I find in nature: When through the woods and forest glades I wander, and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees; when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur, and hear the brook, and feel the gentle breeze;
But all the time the refrain is true because many times through out my day, even though it might not be this exact song, my soul is singing: Then sings my soul, my Savior God, to Thee, How great Thou art, how great Thou art!
Is there a song that your soul sings? I have spoken of remembrance before, how does God use remembrance to stir your soul? What is your favorite song and why does it touch you?
1/23/2011
Frozen Lake Williams (30 Second Exposure)
These two quotes in italics are from “A Praying Life” by Paul Miller.
“I often find when God doesn’t answer a prayer, he wants to expose something in me.”
Exposing something in me…I have come to find that this is more often what happens when I become aware of what God wants to do in my life in many circumstances. And in the same vain with the quote below, once I moved to the place of realizing that I can’t change anyone’s heart and reflect on myself in a situation, it’s more about God shaping me into his Son’s image.
“Until we become convinced we can’t change our child’s heart, we will not take prayer seriously. Consequently, repentance is often missing. When we see for example, our son’s self-will, we usually don’t ask, How am I self-willed? or How am I angry? We want God’s help so we can dominate our son. We forget that God is not a genie but one that wants to shape us into the image of his Son as much as he wants to answer our prayers.”
After reading these quotes, Luke 6:41-43 came to mind. Years ago those verses were used to help me in a significant way in a very troublesome time in my life. Even though it is easy to play the blame game, God is so wonderful to remind us to look at ourselves first and work on the broken me. I have found that once I have moved to a place at looking at myself and asking these questions “What is true in this situation and what is my part in it?” the Holy Spirit shifts something in me and I approach situations very differently.
Have you ever heard of a breath prayer? Breath prayer described by Rick Warren: "One way is to use 'breath prayers' throughout the day, as many Christians have done for centuries. You choose a brief sentence or a simple phrase that can be repeated in one breath."
What would change if you used breath prayer in a challenging circumstance? What would your breath prayer be? Consider journaling about these quotes and scripture as well as breath prayer and see what God may do….
*The photo in this weeks post was taken by my son a few nights ago. When I read the caption “30 Second Exposure” The Holy Spirit stirred this thought in me…what if I applied the “30 second exposure” in life situations as I looked at myself before responding….
1/17/2011
Two Questions…
"Whatever else it's about, love is about reaching out and not losing heart. Will it make any difference? Yes, in my bones I trust it will. But when and where and how is God's business and takes God's own time. Our part is to respond to God's grace no matter how bad the world's news, or how hard the circumstance, or how frightening the way." The Haunt of Grace by Ted Loder
“Love is about reaching out .” Have you ever found yourself in a place where you have reached out to a person and then from your view it didn’t seem make a difference?
I find when I reach out in love, in as simple as a smile to as difficult as sacrificing for the needs of others, the gift that God gives me is knowing I have responded in a way that honors Him and gives the gift of love to another. I think the challenge is in our humanness before we move to that place of love we often filter it through “their deservedness”. (I am not speaking about enabling, that is for another day) That is where shifting to the place of “not losing heart by trusting God in the when, where, how and in His timing” is a place to shift to.
For me to walk through the circumstances in my life I have brought two questions into this year. It takes awareness on my part to move there. Listening and asking are key. Listening to the Holy Spirit when I ask these questions of myself: “What is true in this situation?” The other, “What is my part in it?”
These two questions have helped tremendously as I respond in love. Do I do it every time? No, unfortunately I don’t. But by God’s grace there is always a next time.
How do you reach out in love? When you find yourself in a place of “undeserved love”, what verse might you use to help you as you respond in love toward another?
What would it be like to trust God in that place?
1/10/2011
Solidifying
v. so·lid·i·fied, so·lid·i·fy·ing, so·lid·i·fies
v.tr.
1. To make solid, compact, or hard.
2. To make strong or united.
v.intr.
To become solid or united.
Have you ever had a time when you thought you “had gotten it”? That is, something in your character you and God had worked on and you felt sure that you were good to go to the next thing He wanted to work on only to find that wasn’t the case? And this time it was harder than the time before?
There are times where I sense that I have “gotten” something that the Lord wanted to develop in my character. One thing for instance, is security in relationships. Over the past 4 or 5 years I have had a sense of security with the friendships in my life. Then at a difficult time in another area of my life it seemed as if the bottom dropped out of security that spilled over to other places in my life. After asking God to show me if there was reason to think that I had done something and searching to make sure there wasn’t I found myself unsettled.
In my humanness, fear and doubt crept in. For several months I found myself questioning things that had previously been secure. I didn’t like being there, it was yucky and messy. But I leaned in and at one point when asked the question, “What do you think God wants to show you in this?’” I began reflecting on past times where something similar had taken place. That’s when I became aware of a pattern. I realized that God had used similar places in my life to say to my heart: Here is an area I want you to work on, now you have a good hold on it, but I want it to solidify. So, when it comes again, let’s step in this together, I am with you and I will never let you go. I want you to be strong, united and solid with this part of your character so that you can reflect my Son well.
In my sinful state there is always solidifying to do. I will never “arrive” on this side of eternity. But what I hold on to is remembering how God has brought me through each time to transform me into a closer likeness of His son.
Have you had a similar situation in your character development? What have you noticed in those situations? Where did you sense God loving you in the midst of those places?
1/03/2011
“Lord, show me the value of rest.”
Recently I was sitting with a good friend and she shared the above quote written from her journal. This was something she was paying attention to and knew she needed to look at in her life. I was delighted and intrigued by her words. ‘The value of rest’, these words are full of significance. For me, it took me to a place where I began thinking about the good things that God gives us that we neglect or do not value. Then as I went through the next several days, I found myself in conversation with the Lord asking him to help me be aware of things that I think are unimportant and to show me the value of and in them.
Asking is the beginning of awareness.
In the significant words from the quote above, as you continue to consider the newness of this year, what would change in your life if you asked God to ready your heart for awareness in your life?
VerticalCreativity.org
SacredEncounters.blogspot.comArchives
2011
2010
2009
Reflective Writings
Twilight
The Seals at LaJolla
The Momentum of Savage Lake
Awaiting Sunday's Dawn
Savoring a few Moments at Rainbow Pond
E-mail me RubyT@reflectionsthatcome.com
1