This morning, my mind keeps going round about one simple truth, and that is what I wish to share today:
HE IS LORD!
I am going to focus today on making sure than in everything I do, my life and my attitude reflect this awesome statement of truth. It's a reminder to trust and obey, to love and to awe, and also to not worry or stress. It's a reminder that I'm not under condemnation, but have been set free by the Ultimate Sacrifice. It's a reminder that every Word He's ever spoken will not return void. It's a reminder that all things are under His authority. WOW ... I'm so glad that HE IS LORD!
The musings of a mom who strives to live a life yielded to God through His grace alone & who has been liberated from the restraints of her past.
Have You Ever Been Transplanted?
Growing up, it was just my mom and me. That's it: two women. I had two awesome grandparents, and an amazing aunt and uncle, and two cousins ... but when it came down to it, it was just us two gals in the home on a regular basis. So when I got married and had to live with a man full time, you can imagine that it was a shock. I never knew people left toilet seats raised (and really, is it necessary?) ... or that there was a species out there that didn't get it (you know, my moods, my looks, and just my take on life) ... it was a surprise to say the least. One that I am so glad God gave me!!! Then we had kids. I had nannied, baby-sat, volunteered in the nursery, and been a camp counselor. I thought I was fairly well prepared for this new dimension to life. However, I got another surprise. I had no idea my heart could love this completely or overwhelmingly. I had no idea how the teensiest smile could make life seem beautiful, or one lone tear could make my heart clench in agony. Again, a beautiful surprise.
After a few years of marriage, God lead us to move to Alabama. This, I did not consider a surprise. A shock, certainly. A punishment, maybe. I just did not get it. After four years in Dixie, I still felt like an outsider being exiled to a strange land. So you can imagine my surprise when I was working in my new garden yesterday afternoon (a new adventure, and another pleasant surprise to find out how much I enjoy it!) when I realized that this had become home. I am excited about seeing my family in a couple of months, but nothing like I used to be. I used to look at a trip north like a visit to home, and not it's leaving home to visit family.
I think the realization came as I was transplanting the tomatoes and talking to them, telling them how pretty they looked in their new home. It hit me them. God had transplanted me into my new home and I had failed to sink roots and see the beauty in it. Because of that, any fruit that I've produced has been small and perhaps not as flavorful as it could have been. I know that any growth in my plants brings me excitement, but I also know that I will get a sense of excitement and satisfaction when I can harvest a crop from these transplants that will nurture and help sustain my family. I'm sorry that it's taken me so long to see this. God transplanted me, and any growth I've given Him has brought Him joy. But there is so much more I can do, and so much more I can grow and thrive and produce. And I feel like now my Father is starting to feel satisfaction and anticipation about me, because now He can use me to nurture and help sustain His children here.
What an exciting lesson from the garden!
After a few years of marriage, God lead us to move to Alabama. This, I did not consider a surprise. A shock, certainly. A punishment, maybe. I just did not get it. After four years in Dixie, I still felt like an outsider being exiled to a strange land. So you can imagine my surprise when I was working in my new garden yesterday afternoon (a new adventure, and another pleasant surprise to find out how much I enjoy it!) when I realized that this had become home. I am excited about seeing my family in a couple of months, but nothing like I used to be. I used to look at a trip north like a visit to home, and not it's leaving home to visit family.
I think the realization came as I was transplanting the tomatoes and talking to them, telling them how pretty they looked in their new home. It hit me them. God had transplanted me into my new home and I had failed to sink roots and see the beauty in it. Because of that, any fruit that I've produced has been small and perhaps not as flavorful as it could have been. I know that any growth in my plants brings me excitement, but I also know that I will get a sense of excitement and satisfaction when I can harvest a crop from these transplants that will nurture and help sustain my family. I'm sorry that it's taken me so long to see this. God transplanted me, and any growth I've given Him has brought Him joy. But there is so much more I can do, and so much more I can grow and thrive and produce. And I feel like now my Father is starting to feel satisfaction and anticipation about me, because now He can use me to nurture and help sustain His children here.
What an exciting lesson from the garden!
Wives, What Are We Saying?
I had an interesting experience yesterday. I was talking to the husband of a friend of mine and I mentioned that he was so wonderful to do so many great things for her and their child. His eyebrows flew up in surprise and he said, "What do you mean?" I wondered for a minute if I should back-pedal because he was upset that we talked about him, but I dismissed the thought because we hadn't shared anything intimate. She had just been bragging on how helpful he was, and how romantic and sweet he could still be after all this time. So I mentioned how she had bragged about him and how happy she still was with him after all this time. I said, "I just think it's wonderful, that's all." His shoulders sagged and he looked so defeated. "I wish she'd say something like that to me, just once. All I hear about at home is how many things still need to be done and how I just can't do enough."
Ow. Really? Wives, are your husbands feeling appreciated today? Yesterday? The day before? I know that I work very hard. I put in just as many hours a day, if not more, than my husband. Great; who cares? You know what, that doesn't mean a thing. I still need to appreciate his efforts. A long time ago, an older woman (see Titus 2) encouraged me to thank my husband for something every day. I make it a point to do this at least twice a day: once when he calls home from work to see how the kids and I are doing, and once before we go to bed. I also work on having the kids thank Daddy for things that he does that affect them, so that they learn not to take him for granted. I beg you, if you want to build your house, then lift up your husband. He loves you, provides for you, takes care of you, raises children with you ... he deserves it.
Now for the harder part: Do you have a husband who does not do those things? You are still not exempt. The Bible tells us that a gentle and quiet spirit is of great worth in God's eyes, and will win over our spouses. If we take on the attitude that says, "When you appreciate and love on me, I'll return the favor," we start a cycle. He's probably thinking that same exact thing. Begin to be appreciative for what he does do, and thank him for that. It's hard to do when it's not reciprocated, but it's important.
I remember a time that I prayed and prayed for my husband to really step up and be strong as the head of our home. It was during a time of transition for us, and I felt vulnerable and needed more support than usual. You know what God told me to do? He told me to bless Wonderful Hubby as though he were being exactly what I thought I needed, and to outright thank him for being such a strong, supportive husband. As I did that, something changed. I don't know if he did, or my heart did. It might be that I started to see him that way and it changed me. It might be that I blessed his heart and encouraged him more. Who knows? But I do know that my appreciation and heart attitude can change so much for my husband. Bless your hubby today, ladies, and lavish your love and appreciation on him regularly.
Ow. Really? Wives, are your husbands feeling appreciated today? Yesterday? The day before? I know that I work very hard. I put in just as many hours a day, if not more, than my husband. Great; who cares? You know what, that doesn't mean a thing. I still need to appreciate his efforts. A long time ago, an older woman (see Titus 2) encouraged me to thank my husband for something every day. I make it a point to do this at least twice a day: once when he calls home from work to see how the kids and I are doing, and once before we go to bed. I also work on having the kids thank Daddy for things that he does that affect them, so that they learn not to take him for granted. I beg you, if you want to build your house, then lift up your husband. He loves you, provides for you, takes care of you, raises children with you ... he deserves it.
Now for the harder part: Do you have a husband who does not do those things? You are still not exempt. The Bible tells us that a gentle and quiet spirit is of great worth in God's eyes, and will win over our spouses. If we take on the attitude that says, "When you appreciate and love on me, I'll return the favor," we start a cycle. He's probably thinking that same exact thing. Begin to be appreciative for what he does do, and thank him for that. It's hard to do when it's not reciprocated, but it's important.
I remember a time that I prayed and prayed for my husband to really step up and be strong as the head of our home. It was during a time of transition for us, and I felt vulnerable and needed more support than usual. You know what God told me to do? He told me to bless Wonderful Hubby as though he were being exactly what I thought I needed, and to outright thank him for being such a strong, supportive husband. As I did that, something changed. I don't know if he did, or my heart did. It might be that I started to see him that way and it changed me. It might be that I blessed his heart and encouraged him more. Who knows? But I do know that my appreciation and heart attitude can change so much for my husband. Bless your hubby today, ladies, and lavish your love and appreciation on him regularly.
My New Adventure!
My newest adventure has begun! In an effort to become a more frugal and prudent wife, I have analyzed our grocery bill and realized that a full third of our food expenses come from purchasing fresh produce. I then analyzed the cost of building raised beds, buying soil, seeds, and seedlings for the fruits and veggies we eat. It came out to the cost of one month's produce purchases. So I did it!
Yesterday we built 2 raised beds (ideally there will be 6-7 of them, but we are starting small to make sure we don't bite off more than I can handle and kill everything). Today I will set them up where they are going and condition the soil, then tonight and tomorrow we will plant! From seeds we will grow lettuce (all kinds!), corn, a couple of pumpkins, some tomatoes, some hot pepper varieties, and maybe sweet potatoes. From seedlings that are ready to go right now: bell peppers (red, orange, yellow, and purple), hot peppers (banana and jalapeno), some tomatoes, a cucumber, a pickling cucumber, and my favorite kitchen herbs. In a couple of weeks, I want to start raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, and maybe some grapes. I also have one canteloupe and one watermelon seedling ready to go! I'd like to expand to include more tomatoes, more peppers, and a few varieties of beans. I'm thinking about purple onions, and some potatoes, too.
I hope to get a dehydrator for Mother's Day or my birthday (hint, hint to any family who reads this...*smile*) so that I can dry the peppers, some of the fruit, and some of the herbs. I also want to learn how to can: jams, salsa, spaghetti sauce, and the veggies themselves. This will be quite an undertaking, and I'm genuinely terrified of the possibility of failing, but I think it will be worth it in the end. If I can grow enough to make the jam, salsa, sauces, and then just have some canned veggies, over the course of the year we should be able to save almost $1400 in groceries! That's amazing!
I'm off to play in the dirt now =)
Colossians 3:23 is a strict reminder that our best efforts are required. But for what, specifically? Paul was very clear: whatever you do! That means that I must be wholehearted in cleaning toilets, washing dishes, changing diapers, grading homework, vacuuming, folding laundry, weeding the garden ... just as I am wholehearted about enjoying family time, going on walks with my husband, blogging, cooking, and doing my devotions. There is no standard that adjusts from task to task. Whatever we do, we are to do with the enthusiasm and dedication that we would put forth if the King of Kings Himself asked us to do it.
I struggled with that yesterday. A lot. In yesterday's blog, I posted a series of questions I am trying to challenge myself with. They came from John Wesley, and I must say that if that is the level of introspection by which he measured his life, it is no wonder that he is one of history's most revered men of God. But it certainly got me to thinking about my own personal life and the example I set as a parent.
It is easy to be whole hearted as a parent when the kids are wanting to cuddle, or they are proudly displaying artwork they worked on so painstakingly. It's fun to parent and easy to dive right in when we are doing bed time prayers, morning sharing, or baking in the kitchen. But it's really, really hard to be wholehearted when it comes to the icky things. Such as discipline. It hurts my heart to tell my children "no" or to see them cry with disappointment because we are having a teaching moment instead of going out to play. Sometimes it's easy to "miss" them fighting with each other so that I don't have to sit them down and talk about showing love, or to overlook the petulant face that is really an attitude of rebellion when they don't want to pick up toys. I am learning, though, that I am hurting them when I am inconsistent and that this thing called parenting is more than an activity; it is my life's work. And as such, it must be done wholeheartedly so that I can raise them up as little people who know their God and love Him, as well as understand the lifestyle He desires for them to live.
My prayer today is that God helps me be wholehearted (consistent!) throughout today in my housework, my love for Him, and in my parenting. Making my home is how I serve God, raising my children is how I serve God, and both are an investment of my time into the future. I want to do it passionately!
Check Your Motives
John Wesley's Holy Club used to ask themselves these questions for personal devotions. I thought I would post them here.
1. Am I consciously or unconsciously creating the impression that I am a better person than I really am? In other words, am I a hypocrite?2. Am I honest in all acts or words, or do I exaggerate?
3. Do I confidentially pass on to another what was told to me in confidence? Can I be trusted?
4. Am I a slave to dress, friends, work or habits?
5. Am I self-conscious, self-pitying, or self -justifying?
6. Did the Bible live in me today?
7. Do I give it time to speak to me each day?
8. Am I enjoying prayer?
9. When did I last speak to somebody else with the object of trying to win that person for Christ?
10. Am I making contacts with other people and using them for the Master's Glory?
11. Do I pray about the money I spend?
12. Do I get to bed on time and get up on time?
13. Do I disobey God in anything?
14. Do I insist upon doing something for which my conscience is uneasy?
15. Am I defeated in any part of my life? Am I jealous, impure, critical, irritable, touchy, or distrustful?
16. How do I spend my spare time?
17. Am I proud?
18. Do I thank God I am not as other people, especially as the Pharisee who despised the publican?
19. Is there anybody whom I fear, dislike, disown, criticize, hold resentment toward or disregard? If so, what am I doing about it?
20. Do I grumble or complain constantly?
21. Is Christ real to me?
100 Random Facts...
...I'm not sure if there are that many interesting random facts about me, so I apologize for the un-interesting ones =)
- I got saved when I was 4
- I still remember the lesson Mrs. S was teaching when I asked Jesus to be my Savior
- I loved being a youth pastor
- I miss being in full time ministry
- That's how I ended up with my husband (we ministered together after college)
- I married my best friend from college
- After telling him "no way, no how, never" two years earlier
- I went to Zion Bible Institute in Rhode Island (now Zion Bible College in Massachusettes)
- I am enrolled full time now at Regent University
- I will graduate in only one more semester
- I want to pursue a dual Masters (my MDiv and Leadership)
- I'm kind of a geek, and I don't care
- I am 20-something and will be forever (wink, wink)
- I grew up in NY
- That makes me a YANKEE living in the "Heart of DIXIE"
- I have lived in Alabama for 4 years and I still hate sweet tea
- I love to cook
- I don't exactly love to bake
- I am horrible at following directions
- So my recipes are always "a pinch of that" and a "dash of this"
- I probably take a little too much pride in how much people love coming over for dinner
- I gave birth to the world's most beautiful girl about 5 years ago
- And the world's handsomest lil man almost 3 years ago
- We are a homeschooling family, just starting out
- I have only been an avid blogger for (almost) two months
- I love to write
- I love to read
- I love to take photographs
- My camera is broken, but when it works it's an extension of my body
- My favorite book in 9th grade was Gone With The Wind
- In 10th grade it was The Little Prince
- In 11th grade it was anything Shakespeare (mostly his sonnets, but also Taming of the Shrew ... and more!)
- I graduated at age 16 at the end of 11th grade
- I enjoy hiking
- I like water
- My favorite place in the world is a toss up between Newport, RI and Cape Cod, MA
- When I go home, I always visit Vanderbuilt Mansion on the Hudson River
- My mom raised me
- I was very close to my grandparents
- My grandfather was my childhood hero
- My aunt is the ultimate homemaker
- I want to be like her when I grow up
- My mom only wears purple so I rarely do
- One of my dearest friends has 8 kids, and homeschools them all (my inspiration!)
- Whenever we get to vacation at the beach, I feel like I'm in heaven
- My favorite sensation is sand under my toes
- My favorite noise is my kids' laughter
- My second favorite noise is the sound of the waves
- I have been to Bolivia
- I want to go back, very badly
- My mom and aunt graduated high school in Paris; I've never been (yet?)
- When people ask my favorite color, I never give the same answer twice
- Black probably is my very favorite color (for clothes)
- But then Green is (for general purposes)
- I love to decorate with fall tones
- My favorite season is fall
- Alabama doesn't really get a fall and that makes me sad
- I drive to NY every October because I love the foliage
- The smell of leaves burning is awesome
- I want to learn to bake bread from scratch
- My first attempt was rather heavy, but I'm not giving up
- Eventually, I want to do everything from scratch
- My new challenge is to only spend $65 a week on groceries (and diapers!)
- Potty training is the most frustrating part of being a mom at this point in my life
- I actually have dreams about going to the store and not buying diapers
- I missed my 10 year high school reunion
- I still think the calendar is wrong because it can't have been 10 years
- When I go home, I still get together with my best friends from high school
- We still all look exactly the same (actually, this one is pretty much true)
- I have 5 tattoos and want 3 more
- My nose is pierced
- I have a high heel addiction
- I also have a purse addiction
- And a jewelry one
- I love to experiment with makeup
- I never spend more than $15 on a purse or a pair of heels
- Jewelry I usually pick up for a buck or two on clearance or at yard sales
- The better the bargain, the more I enjoy wearing the outfit
- I am a recent fashion convert
- I am saving up to buy a new wardrobe when I reach my weight loss goal (I think I can do it for only $500)
- I have initiated a lifestyle change, not a diet
- I am 10% of the way to losing just over 100 pounds
- My kids love to exercise (they are my inspiration!)
- I have my own website at Your Fit Life Now
- I am planting my very first vegetable garden this spring/summer
- I'm starting it next week
- I want to learn to can and store my produce
- My favorite food ever is NY pizza (from NY)
- My second favorite is buffalo wings from Buffalo Wild Wings
- I hate to sweat
- But I love working out at the gym or to a good video
- That's why swimming is my favorite summer exercise (less sweat, great workout)
- If it were legal in Alabama, I'd be a midwife right now (or at least an apprentice)
- My favorite author is Lori Wick
- Or Francine Rivers
- I worked with a professional organizer to learn how to have an organized home
- I have 2 dogs
- One is a long haired chihuahua named Seamus (3.5 pounds!)
- The other is an American Eskimo named Tasha (she is our oldest child)
- I wanted something profound for #100 and I came up blank.
It's a Journey
I've often heard faith described as a journey. Well, it is. Our faith changes, grows, and hopefully gets much stronger as we walk through life. Yesterday afternoon I blogged about lifestyle changes and how I really wanted to have everything ready for Wonderful Hubby when he came home, and have dinner and dessert made so we could eat as a family. Then something happened that just shattered my heart and tested my faith. I admit to still feeling very raw and not seeing any way out of a mess that our own foolishness from the past helped create in the present. Wonderful Hubby reminded me that God is bigger and that no matter what, we just need to trust. I admit that I am having a hard time with that; I know He'll help us through, but I also know that we very well might (barring a miracle of grace) have to deal with the repercussions of our poor judgment. Anyone who prays, I appreciate your prayers.
God did give us little blessings: Lil Man slept through the night for the first time in a week, and so did the Princess, meaning that I got more than 1 hour of consecutive sleep - in fact, I got six and a half! And we were together. We got to lay in bed and snuggle last night, which was a treat, too. This morning, I got to spend some one on one time with the Princess who reminded me that Jesus loved me and died on the Cross for me. No, nothing has changed since last night, but I am seeing a very big opportunity for me to trust God in all things. I don't think it was a coincidence at all that God has had me meditating on that for the last week. What a great, loving, beautiful Beloved, Father, and Friend we have!
Today is going to be a simple day. We are going to meet a friend at the park so that I can get some fellowship and the kids can play with some friends. Then, we'll come home and finish the projects we started yesterday. Tonight, we'll eat outside and enjoy the sun together once Wonderful Hubby gets home. It will be (please, Lord!) a relaxing evening of family and fun. I hope you all have a great Friday!
God did give us little blessings: Lil Man slept through the night for the first time in a week, and so did the Princess, meaning that I got more than 1 hour of consecutive sleep - in fact, I got six and a half! And we were together. We got to lay in bed and snuggle last night, which was a treat, too. This morning, I got to spend some one on one time with the Princess who reminded me that Jesus loved me and died on the Cross for me. No, nothing has changed since last night, but I am seeing a very big opportunity for me to trust God in all things. I don't think it was a coincidence at all that God has had me meditating on that for the last week. What a great, loving, beautiful Beloved, Father, and Friend we have!
Today is going to be a simple day. We are going to meet a friend at the park so that I can get some fellowship and the kids can play with some friends. Then, we'll come home and finish the projects we started yesterday. Tonight, we'll eat outside and enjoy the sun together once Wonderful Hubby gets home. It will be (please, Lord!) a relaxing evening of family and fun. I hope you all have a great Friday!
From a more practical place...
I love to blog because it's writing, and I love to write. I love to blog because I most often type up parts from my prayer journal that are encouraging, and I feel like my purpose in ministry is to encourage women to love God and find their purpose as His beloved. I love to read blogs because I grow from them, and I find myself enjoying three main types of blogs:
Today I'm working on home maintenance: cleaning, laundry, and a little re-purposing of some items. My goal for today? To make our home feel homey before my Wonderful Husband comes home, so that he can sit down and relax after a very long day at work. To me, this includes the aroma of something cooking, a lack of chaos (if at all possible!), and a smiling wife. Even a year ago, this would have sounded very repressed to me, but God has given me a desire to literally be a home-maker, to look after my own and to not be idle (Proverbs 31 inspired) ... in addition to everything else I do.
So today I will be picking up our kitchen, living room, and homeschool/office space (it's not much to do, I just usually do it at night before bed). Then, I am going to prep dinner. It's simple fare tonight: tossed salad and caribbean-inspired quesadillas (stuffed with spices, chicken, diced peppers, tomatoes, cheese, turkey bacon, and pineapple). I am, however, going to bake dessert. I haven't decided yet if it will be a coffee cake topped with fresh berries and cream, or a batch of cookies ... it will depend on the results of my recon mission into the pantry.
Just tossing this out there to share a little bit of my life. I will do this while playing with kids, studying for college, and paying bills. I know, I know, sounds fabulous, right? Don't let the glamour of my life make you jealous ... ;) Actually, it is a pretty amazing life with some beautiful opportunities to enjoy being a mom and wife on a daily basis. And I'm off to be domestic!
- Blogs that help me grow as a Christian
- Blogs that help me become the woman I want to be
- Blogs that help teach me about homemaking and homeschooling
Today I'm working on home maintenance: cleaning, laundry, and a little re-purposing of some items. My goal for today? To make our home feel homey before my Wonderful Husband comes home, so that he can sit down and relax after a very long day at work. To me, this includes the aroma of something cooking, a lack of chaos (if at all possible!), and a smiling wife. Even a year ago, this would have sounded very repressed to me, but God has given me a desire to literally be a home-maker, to look after my own and to not be idle (Proverbs 31 inspired) ... in addition to everything else I do.
So today I will be picking up our kitchen, living room, and homeschool/office space (it's not much to do, I just usually do it at night before bed). Then, I am going to prep dinner. It's simple fare tonight: tossed salad and caribbean-inspired quesadillas (stuffed with spices, chicken, diced peppers, tomatoes, cheese, turkey bacon, and pineapple). I am, however, going to bake dessert. I haven't decided yet if it will be a coffee cake topped with fresh berries and cream, or a batch of cookies ... it will depend on the results of my recon mission into the pantry.
Just tossing this out there to share a little bit of my life. I will do this while playing with kids, studying for college, and paying bills. I know, I know, sounds fabulous, right? Don't let the glamour of my life make you jealous ... ;) Actually, it is a pretty amazing life with some beautiful opportunities to enjoy being a mom and wife on a daily basis. And I'm off to be domestic!
A Wonderful Opportunity
About a year and a half ago, I literally stumbled into what has become one of the most amazing opportunities I've ever been given. I am blessed to once a month be a guest chapel speak at the Alabama Teen Challenge Women's Training Center. If you've never heard of Teen Challenge and (a) would like a wonderful ministry to pour support into or (b) know someone with a life controlling problem (drugs, alcohol, eating disorder, etc), click on the link and look into it (they have hundreds around the country and even some internationally). Last night was my monthly date with the thirty women that are there at any given time.
I have to tell you, I wanted to cancel. I was exhausted, not feeling particularly well, and just generally cranky and lacking in joy. I had even gone so far as to dial the center to cancel several times that afternoon. I always hung up, though. It ended up that I went anyway, because I said I would be there and I wanted to keep my word. I'm so glad I did! Not only did I get to minister to them, but God refreshed my spirit and used some of the testimonies there to bless my heart.
I started out sharing what God has done in my life this past month. The biggest lesson He's been teaching me was from a guest blogger on Motivational Mondays over at Like a Warm Cup of Coffee about self-entitlement. Seriously, go read it if you didn't follow the link to it when I blogged about it a couple weeks ago. Anyhow, God has used that post to touch every single aspect of my life. Instead of feeling entitled to anything, God has asked me to love Him and love others, and that is it.
Then I shared about a dear friend and what she has taught me. One of the most precious women I have ever met is my dear sister in Christ, Laura. I will never forget the first time I asked her how she was doing (obviously frustrated, if I read her face and body language well!) and she said, "I'm doing great. God is giving me an opportunity to love." WHAT?!?!? She was finding it a challenge to deal with some people, and instead of harping on that, she saw the opportunity to love them. Several times over the last two years she has answered my question about life is going with, "Fine. God has given me an opportunity to..." and shared love, be patient, grow, trust, build faith, and so on.
That's the key. I'm not entitled to anything but loving God and others. But I do have the tremendous chance to view every situation, be it challenge or cherished moment, as an opportunity to develop the fruits of the spirit and the characteristics God desires a woman of faith and integrity to have. When you begin to look at all of life as an opportunity, you begin to the see the hope in just about every situation. My precious blogging friend Joye shared a part of her testimony just this morning and emphasized how trusting God and seeking opportunities can change a devastating opportunity (click HERE to go read about an awesome woman of faith's journey...bring your tissues and make sure your heart is ready to be ministered to).
I hope that you all have a blessed day, just brimming with opportunities!
The VISION: I Dare You!
I know it’s long. I know it’s probably weird and out of the box. But please, read it through. This is simply entitled “The Vision” and I referenced its origin at the end. When I read this, my spirit gets motivated and my heart begins to renew itself with the hope of what is going on in the hearts of many across the world. I hope that it reaches you! I’d love to hear what you think.
The vision?
The vision is JESUS-obsessively, dangerously, undeniably Jesus.
The vision is an army of young people. You see bones? I see an army.
And they are FREE from materialism.
They laugh at 9-5 little prisons.
They could eat caviar on Monday and crusts on Tuesday.
They wouldn't even notice.
They know the meaning of the Matrix, the way the west was won.
They are mobile like the wind, they belong to the nations. They need no passport. People write their addresses in pencil and wonder at their strange existence.
They are free yet they are slaves of the hurting and dirty and dying.
What is the vision?
The vision is holiness that hurts the eyes. It makes children laugh and adults angry. It gave up the game of minimum integrity long ago to reach for the stars. It scorns the good and strains for the best. It is dangerously pure.
Light flickers from every secret motive, every private conversation.
It loves people away from their suicide leaps, their Satan games.
This is an army that will lay down its life for the cause.
A million times a day its soldiers
choose to lose
that they might one day win
the great 'Well done' of faithful sons and daughters.
Such heroes are as radical on Monday morning as Sunday night.
They don't need fame from names. Instead they grin quietly upwards and hear the crowds chanting again and again: "COME ON!"
And this is the sound of the underground
The whisper of history in the making
Foundations shaking
Revolutionaries dreaming once again
Mystery is scheming in whispers
Conspiracy is breathing...
This is the sound of the underground
And the army is discipl(in)ed.
Young people who beat their bodies into submission.
Every soldier would take a bullet for his comrade at arms.
The tattoo on their back boasts "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain."
Sacrifice fuels the fire of victory in the upward eyes.
Winners.
Martyrs.
Who can stop them?
Can hormones hold them back?
Can failures succeed?
Can fear scare them or death kill them?
And the generation prays
like a dying man
with groans beyond talking,
with warrior cries, sulphuric tears and
with great barrow loads of laughter!
Waiting. Watching: 24-7-365.
Whatever it takes they will give:
Breaking the rules
Shaking mediocrity from its cosy little hide.
Laying down their rights and their precious little wrongs,
laughing at labels, fasting essentials.
The advertisers cannot mold them.
Hollywood cannot hold them.
Peer-pressure is powerless to shake their resolve at late night parties
before the cockerel cries.
They are incredibly cool, dangerously attractive inside.
On the outside? They hardly care.
They wear clothes like costumes to communicate and celebrate but
never to hide.
Would they surrender their image or their popularity?
They would lay down their very lives- swap seats with the man on death row- guilty as hell.
A throne for an electric chair.
With blood and sweat and many tears, with sleepless nights and fruitless days, they pray as if it all depends on God and live as if it all depends on them.
Their DNA chooses JESUS. (He breathes out, they breathe in.)
Their subconscious sings. They had a blood transfusion with Jesus.
Their words make demons scream in shopping centers.
Don't you hear them coming?
Herald the weirdos!
Summon the losers and the freaks.
Here come the frightened and forgotten with fire in their eyes.
They walk tall and trees applaud, skyscrapers bow, mountains are dwarfed by these children of another dimension.
Their prayers summon the hounds of heaven and invoke the ancient dreams of Eden.
And this vision will be. It will come to pass; it will come easily; it will come soon.
How do I know? Because this is the longing of creation itself, the groaning of the Spirit, the very dream of God.
My tomorrow is His today.
My distant hope is His 3-D.
And my feeble, whispered faithless prayer invokes a thunderous, resounding, bone-shaking great "Amen!" from countless angels, from heroes of the faith, from Christ Himself. And He is the original dreamer, the ultimate winner.
Guaranteed.
Taken from:
Greig, Pete and Dave Roberts. Red moon rising. Eastbourne, England: Relevant Books, 2005.
The vision is JESUS-obsessively, dangerously, undeniably Jesus.
The vision is an army of young people. You see bones? I see an army.
And they are FREE from materialism.
They laugh at 9-5 little prisons.
They could eat caviar on Monday and crusts on Tuesday.
They wouldn't even notice.
They know the meaning of the Matrix, the way the west was won.
They are mobile like the wind, they belong to the nations. They need no passport. People write their addresses in pencil and wonder at their strange existence.
They are free yet they are slaves of the hurting and dirty and dying.
What is the vision?
The vision is holiness that hurts the eyes. It makes children laugh and adults angry. It gave up the game of minimum integrity long ago to reach for the stars. It scorns the good and strains for the best. It is dangerously pure.
Light flickers from every secret motive, every private conversation.
It loves people away from their suicide leaps, their Satan games.
This is an army that will lay down its life for the cause.
A million times a day its soldiers
choose to lose
that they might one day win
the great 'Well done' of faithful sons and daughters.
Such heroes are as radical on Monday morning as Sunday night.
They don't need fame from names. Instead they grin quietly upwards and hear the crowds chanting again and again: "COME ON!"
And this is the sound of the underground
The whisper of history in the making
Foundations shaking
Revolutionaries dreaming once again
Mystery is scheming in whispers
Conspiracy is breathing...
This is the sound of the underground
And the army is discipl(in)ed.
Young people who beat their bodies into submission.
Every soldier would take a bullet for his comrade at arms.
The tattoo on their back boasts "For me to live is Christ and to die is gain."
Sacrifice fuels the fire of victory in the upward eyes.
Winners.
Martyrs.
Who can stop them?
Can hormones hold them back?
Can failures succeed?
Can fear scare them or death kill them?
And the generation prays
like a dying man
with groans beyond talking,
with warrior cries, sulphuric tears and
with great barrow loads of laughter!
Waiting. Watching: 24-7-365.
Whatever it takes they will give:
Breaking the rules
Shaking mediocrity from its cosy little hide.
Laying down their rights and their precious little wrongs,
laughing at labels, fasting essentials.
The advertisers cannot mold them.
Hollywood cannot hold them.
Peer-pressure is powerless to shake their resolve at late night parties
before the cockerel cries.
They are incredibly cool, dangerously attractive inside.
On the outside? They hardly care.
They wear clothes like costumes to communicate and celebrate but
never to hide.
Would they surrender their image or their popularity?
They would lay down their very lives- swap seats with the man on death row- guilty as hell.
A throne for an electric chair.
With blood and sweat and many tears, with sleepless nights and fruitless days, they pray as if it all depends on God and live as if it all depends on them.
Their DNA chooses JESUS. (He breathes out, they breathe in.)
Their subconscious sings. They had a blood transfusion with Jesus.
Their words make demons scream in shopping centers.
Don't you hear them coming?
Herald the weirdos!
Summon the losers and the freaks.
Here come the frightened and forgotten with fire in their eyes.
They walk tall and trees applaud, skyscrapers bow, mountains are dwarfed by these children of another dimension.
Their prayers summon the hounds of heaven and invoke the ancient dreams of Eden.
And this vision will be. It will come to pass; it will come easily; it will come soon.
How do I know? Because this is the longing of creation itself, the groaning of the Spirit, the very dream of God.
My tomorrow is His today.
My distant hope is His 3-D.
And my feeble, whispered faithless prayer invokes a thunderous, resounding, bone-shaking great "Amen!" from countless angels, from heroes of the faith, from Christ Himself. And He is the original dreamer, the ultimate winner.
Guaranteed.
Taken from:
Greig, Pete and Dave Roberts. Red moon rising. Eastbourne, England: Relevant Books, 2005.
And I Always Wanted Sisters.... *thanks*
Joye at The Joyeful Journey nominated me for the the Sisterhood Award. I am incredibly touched and she will never understand how, on a day when everything that could go wrong did and everything that couldn't still managed to, this gift of sisterhood made my heart smile. I am very new to the blogging community; other than the odd thought jotted down here and there, I've only been a blogger for about 6 weeks. In that 6 weeks, I've found so many women who bless me on a daily basis. They have motivated me to become the wife and mom that I strive to be by putting God first.
I blog because I have three passions outside of my family: (1) to minister to women and help them embrace their calling as the Beloved of Christ and to love Him desperately, (2) writing, and (3) photography. The blogging world is a place where I can engage all three, and be blessed by other wonderful women at the same time. Part of the honor of receiving the Sisterhood Award is to share with you ten blogs that display a great attitude of gratitude. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have!
- It's probably cheating, but Joye @ The Joyeful Journey is one of the most encouraging women of faith that I've met on here. I know it's odd, but I count her as a friend, an encourager, and a blessing. She has such beautiful reflections from the perspective of a woman, wife, and mom. She's awesome =)
- My next morning stop is always to Lisa @ Extravagant Grace. Lisa is the reason that I get up at "5 Whatever" every morning and get my quiet time with God. She has the gift of encouragement in spades! She is also a very talented graphic designer (a blog makeover with her flair is on my Christmas list for hubby already!) and a gifted writer.
- I also love my daily stop to Sarah Mae @ Like A Warm Cup of Coffee. Sarah Mae has a beautiful gift for expression and encouragement. She's never afraid to handle the tough issues, but she also brings a lighthearted side to faith that is so refreshing. She's done some great series (my favorite is a toss up between Marriage is Hard or Time Management).
- Exemplify Online is another spot that I find a wonderful place to visit. These women have a knack for writing, for reaching out to women, and have taken it even further. Exemplify Magazine is AMAZING, and they have a brand new online community forum where we can all interact personally with eachother and learn and play even more. This is also the home of the Kettle Club.
- I'm new at reading this one, but I've had a blast perusing the archives and hopping around. I can tell it's going to become a fast favorite: Balancing Beauty and Bedlam. There are some recipes in there that I can't wait to put to good use, not to mention a host of other things to make you smile.
- The Southern Housewife is fun, delightful, and delves into the truth of being a godly wife with passion. She is -of course!- sweetly hospitable; Bless her heart!
- Patty @ Patterings is a woman with a gift for writing. She participates in Fiction Fridays and I'm never disappointed when I read something she's written. She's also the genuine article; her truest gifts come from her heart and not just her keyboard.
- I also like to frequent blogs that help me enjoy being a stay at home mom who also homeschools. The Snails Trail is the place to go if you want to have fun with your kids and get some great ideas. Momma Snail is one busy lady and she is great about sharing. She also has a sister site about her CherishBOUND experience ... and since I won a contest of hers, I'll have more on that fun soon =)
- Another totally awesome site is Totally Tots. From Bible Bites to Tot's Plate to crafts, schooling ideas, and parenting help ... it's there! I am actually using this site as the primary resources for working with #2 ... and he's loving it.
- Last, but certainly not least, I would like to recommend The Surrendered Scribe. A very talented published author with a gift for reaching her readers, her blog is a great place to go. She's also generous with her time and advice, and has been an encouragement to me when I was ready to toss a dream to the side.
The Nature of Faith
I've been doing a lot of self-examination lately. Mostly, I've been thinking about the level of my faith and the integrity of my walk with God. The same questions keep coming to the forefront when I do:
Oswald Chambers said that "faith, as the Bible teaches it, is faith in God coming against everything that contradicts Him" (My Utmost For His Highest, Oct 31). He explains that faith is trusting God's character when you don't understand His actions. The epitome of faith is found in Job 13:15 when Job declared, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him."
I want to walk out that kind of faith. To know that even when I can't see or touch or even imagine God's presence, I know it is there because I trust His Word. To walk out my faith in such a way that it becomes a tangible part of my existence. To be a woman who stands firmly planted in God and when the storms rage stands peacefully in the middle of them because when I need Him to, my Savior will say "Peace, be still."
Have a great day ... and may your faith be built up just a little more today!
- Is worry a sin?
- If I have the faith to pray for a miracle, why am I surprised when God does one?
- How can I help my faith grow?
- Is my faith a good example to my children? Or do I need to change some things?
- Why do I have to act so exasperatingly human so often?
Oswald Chambers said that "faith, as the Bible teaches it, is faith in God coming against everything that contradicts Him" (My Utmost For His Highest, Oct 31). He explains that faith is trusting God's character when you don't understand His actions. The epitome of faith is found in Job 13:15 when Job declared, "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him."
I want to walk out that kind of faith. To know that even when I can't see or touch or even imagine God's presence, I know it is there because I trust His Word. To walk out my faith in such a way that it becomes a tangible part of my existence. To be a woman who stands firmly planted in God and when the storms rage stands peacefully in the middle of them because when I need Him to, my Savior will say "Peace, be still."
Have a great day ... and may your faith be built up just a little more today!
This week, I've had several encounters with people who feel
that the baggage they bring is just too much. Too much for whom?
For the God who shattered the power of sin, yanked the keys of
sin and death from the enemy, who supernaturally tore down the
veil in the Temple and allowed sinful man to be redeemed, who
healed the sick and raised the dead? Really? NEVER!
Easter (Resurrection Day)is living proof that nothing man can do is too
much for God. How do I know that? Because in one single moment,
Christ bore the sin of the entire world (past, present, and future) on His
shoulders while He hung on the Cross. But it wasn't the weight of that
sin that kept Him on it and killed Him. It was His extreme LOVE for YOU
that kept Him there. And three days later, He shook it off, left it in the
grave, and ROSE AGAIN! To all my blogging sisters, REJOICE! Nothing is
too much to bring to the Cross.
I serve a risen Saviour, He's in the world today;
I know that He is living, Whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer,
And just the time I need Him He's always near.
He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today!
He walks with me and He talks with me Along life's narrow way.
He lives, He live, salvation to impart!
You ask me how I know He lives: He lives within my heart.
In all the world around me I see His loving care,
And tho my heart grows weary I never will despair;
I know that He is leading Thro' all the stormy blast,
The day of His appearing Will come at last.
Rejoice, rejoice, O Christian, Lift up your voice and sing
Eternal hallelujahs To Jesus Christ the King!
The hope of all who seek Him, The help of all who find,
None other is so loving, So good and kind.
What About Saturday?
Everyone knows Good Friday and Easter Sunday, but what about Saturday? What happened two thousand years ago after the Crucifixion and before the Resurrection? We know that the disciples, Mary, and the others who loved Him mourned. There was probably wretched weeping and soul-wrenching sorrow. More than likely there was much confusion and despair because they had expected a display of might on par with their concept of a Messiah. All Hades probably started to break loose in festive displays of celebration that they had won, that sin was now going to have more strength, and that God no longer walked the earth to interfere. But we know that this was not a time of silence in the heavenly realm. I wonder if the angels around the Throne were waiting with eager and bated breath for the moment that the Gates of Hell would be cracked at their very foundations as the Blood of the Lamb seeped through them. Up on earth it might have been a time of silence interrupted only my muffled tears or agonizing cries begging God, "Why?". But in the spiritual realms, it was nothing like that. God knew. He knew that this was what all of history had been waiting for, the very earth groaning for. The heart of the Father was rejoicing because there was no longer a veil to stop His children from running to Him. Saturday was a beautiful day!
Final Words
This is probably one of my favorite statements in Scripture! When Jesus died, the veil in the Temple was supernaturally torn from top to bottom. This eradicated the barrier between God and man once again, allowing man to walk with God. It might not have been quite like Eden, but it was so much more intimate than anyone could have imagined. If this isn't beautiful enough, we have Christ's final words to ponder: "IT IS FINISHED!"
So what exactly was finished?
- First, we know that the barrier that prohibited man from entering God's presence was gone. SEPARATION was FINISHED! The Final Sacrifice had been made, the blood of the spotless Lamb shed for eternity, and sin conquered once and for all.
- That means my SHAME was also FINISHED! I no longer was bound by it the second that Christ died. Man was ashamed in the Garden of Eden because of his nakedness; because of the Cross we no longer need to live in shame and hide the effects of our sin. Rather, as the author of Hebrews says, we can approach the Throne of Grace boldly and with confidence because our Lord forgives our sin.
- SIN'S POWER over us was also FINISHED that day! We are still born into sin and sinful by nature, but we now have the Holy Spirit dwelling with us to guide us and lead us. We have a Beloved Lord living in our hearts.
GO READ THIS BLOG NEXT, PLEASE ... it is beyond words. WOW>
What is YOUR favorite part about Easter?
I want to hear from YOU! Go ahead and leave a comment or a link to your blog and share your favorite part or lesson of the Passion Week. Today I am going to talk to my children about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. There is something even more beautiful about the Cross when you consider that Jesus begged God to take the cup from Him if He could; His love for us was greater than His emotions! The other lesson we will take from the Garden is the need to spend time with Jesus in prayer ... and sometimes that is just waiting alertly to be ready for when He calls us. Okay now, it's your turn!
The Cross: God's Will & My Sin
Have you heard of "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers? If not, you need to. In addition to Scripture, this devotional is the way I start my day. I've been reading this every year for three years now and it's simple yet very deep truths always make me think. A couple days ago the devotion was entitled: The Collision of God and Sin. Whew. Think about this:The heart of salvation is the Cross of Christ. The reason salvation is so easy to obtain is that it cost God so much. The Cross was the place where God and sinful man merged with a tremendous collision and where the way to life was opened. But all the cost and pain of the collision was absorbed by the heart of God.
Too often when we think of the Cross, we think about what it means to us. We love knowing we are loved enough that God sent Jesus to die, that through His blood we find forgiveness, and that because of His death we have life. However, we don't always think of the cost. Because it has not cost us anything. God took it all; the pain, the death, the torture, the cost was absorbed by the heart of God. God's holiness and man's filth collided on that day in history and instead of being a horrible mess, it created a beautiful gate that we can walk through to live in His presence and in the liberty of salvation.
I leave you with this thought today:
The Cross is God exhibiting His nature. It is the gate through which any and every individual can enter into oneness with God. But it is not a gate we pass right through; it is one where we abide in the life that is found there.
Simple Prayer of a Princess
"Jesus, thank you for getting up on that cross. It must have hurt. I'm really glad You showed me how much You love me. Now that You don't live on earth any more, I hope you are comfortable living in my heart. I hope you have a great day in there, Amen."
That's what my little Princess prayed yesterday after we read her Little Girl's Bible account of what it must have been like to be Mary the week of Easter. To know your son was the Messiah and to watch all that He endured, but to know just as strongly that it was God's plan and all you could do was watch and pray. I was awed by her simple prayer of faith.
We are highlighting a view of Passion Week each day for our morning devotions. I'll be honest and tell you I'm not sure about teaching them the "Olivet Discourse" (Mt. 24-25) just yet. Some of those teachings seem pretty harsh when you think about that fact that they were pretty much His parting message. And yet, how could He share anything else with them? He warned them that there would be a time of trial coming and of separation and of testing. If He hadn't have warned them, they (we) wouldn't know to be prepared for that. Most scholars agree that these verses speak largely to the coming Tribulation and the Rapture. Some argue that this is a prophecy intended solely for Israel and has nothing to do with the global Church (I disagree, but it is a point of view that is out there).
So what will we talk about this morning? We will talk about how much Jesus loves us and wants us to be ready for Him whenever it is that He comes. Just like the ten bridesmaids with their lamps, waiting for the Groom to appear, so do we have to be ready. Where are you today? Are your affairs in orders? Is your heart anxiously anticipating the return of your Beloved? I know I can't wait! Every day I groom myself and try to make myself beautiful to Him; I am trying to live in a constant state of readiness.
Finding Focus
Yesterday was Palm Sunday and kicks off what is commonly referred to as Passion Week. Historically, this week has been celebrated in the church to remember the last week of Christ's life. However, this year I wanted to bring it home with me and share it with my children as well. I wanted to dissect His last week on earth and look at how we can apply what we learn here at home. I had planned to publish this post on Wednesday, but in light of today's visit At The Well I am moving it forward. The talk over there is about growing as an older woman. Bear with me as I wind around to what God has shared with me; I'm in a state of "wow" that He would speak so clearly to me through 2 very different blogs in such a timely way!
During my quiet time the Lord impressed upon me the fact that although I do so love learning from older women, I need to view myself as an older woman and recognize that my daughter is a younger woman. Although she is but five, she is learning about being a wife and a homemaker, a woman of integrity, and a Christian by observing my attitudes and behavior. God began to impress on me the changes that needed to be made in our home -by me!- to create a place where He is not only welcome, but Master of all we do and how we live. To do this, I would need to reorganize our time, daily habits, and a bit of our home. Needless to say, I was dragging my heels as this is no small feat. However, I felt like starting this week -Passion Week- might be a good idea. We could start our day talking about the last week of Jesus' life and begin to change our home to reflect the life that He has given us and asked us to live.
Then, when I went on over for my morning cup at Like A Warm Cup of Coffee, Sarah Mae had a guest post about giving life to your home. Needless to say, I am sensing that today is a "now moment"; God has been moving on my heart and it's time to step up to the plate ... NOW. I encourage you today to start out Passion Week thinking about what Christ did. That's what we are going to do today.
Knowing that His time on earth as a man was limited, what is it that He did? When someone is about to die, we often say they get their house in order. They organize their will, usually clean house, and then begin to make sure that everyone they love has a memory of a kind word or some meaningful letter. Sometimes they try to right wrongs. Well, what did the King of the Jews do to get His home in order? Luke 19:45-46 tells us that the first thing He did was go "home" and clean house. Jesus went into the temple, looked around at the clutter and mercenary people and the things that had a veneer of worship on them (but lacked the heart), and drove them out. He declared that, "My house is a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves!" With that, He made a whip out of cords and drove the money changers from the temple courts.
It's time. As a mom, you have little eyes watching you. If you have relationships with other women, they too observe what you do. It's time to be the Titus 2 "older woman" who lives in a way that honors God. The first thing to do is follow Christ's example. Start at home. Look around you:
- Are there things that debase the presence of God? Things that seem okay but that only add a veneer of godliness, and lack depth? The good is the greatest enemy of the best.
- Are there things that clutter your home, detracting from your purpose there as a wife and mother? Or things that distract you and your family from focusing on the Lord? These could be things, time allotments, or attitudes of the heart.
- What do you need to drive out? Once you've identified the problem(s), get housecleaning!
Fields of Grace is Now Graceful Abandon
My blog's name was Fields of Grace after one of my favorite songs by Big Daddy Weave. However, I have felt as though I needed to change it to reflect where I am and what the starting point is for what I share. It's kind of a pain, though, to change your blog name, URL, and update everyone. Not to mention the stress of having to pick the perfect name! So I set the issue aside. A few nights ago as I was typing up the next morning's blog entry, I felt the prompting again. After some frustrating minutes (or hours, whatever!) of brainstorming for the perfect name, I gave up.
Then, today, I was reading Exemplify's latest issue and their article entitled Ministry: Online (thank you, Amy Bayliss!) with advice on blogging. My URL should match my blog name. However, there is already a Fields of Grace at blogspot, and several others out there in internet world. This gave me just the push I needed to go ahead and change the name. Once I was really ready, it was kind of easy to rename my blog.
My personal theme for this season in my life is two-fold: grace and abandonment. Grace because I am recognizing that God's grace is the reason for my joy and freedom. Abandon means to leave utterly behind, to let go of completely, or freedom from something that has been released. I strive to serve and worship God with abandon, letting go of my sin, my selfishness, my past, my pride, and anything else that holds me back. I recognize that His grace is what allows me to do so. Hence, I welcome you to the newly named blog: Graceful Abandon. I hope you, too, will find the joy that comes through God's grace when you let go and worship Him unfettered.
Simple Saturday: Butterflies
I've always loved butterflies. They start out inching around on the ground and on trees as little caterpillars, then they wrap themselves up only to emerge as a beautiful butterfly. A song I loved as a child said "Bullfrogs and Butterflies, they've both been born again..." As I got older, I loved them because they symbolized beauty as a result of change. Now, it's related to the Butterfly Effect, as well.
As a woman, I've done a lot of changing. Some of it wasn't so great, but some of it is the reason I can fly today. However, it's important to appreciate every stage of development and to recognize that the past is the reason the present exists. There are things that I have done that make me want to hide in shame, but those same things are the reason that I can so richly appreciate God's love and grace. Butterflies are so fragile, and yet they are strong. God made them to change and to fly. He made us with the ability to change as well, and has allowed us through faith to mount up with wings as eagles.
This weekend, as we are at the Eve of Passion Week, think about the changes you've undergone. Look at the beauty of where you are today and thank God for change. Appreciate the grace, mercy, and love of the Father than lifts you up today. As spring is starting to encroach on winter's ground, enjoy the butterflies that will soon appear and allow them to remind you clearly of God's love for you and your beauty as a woman of change.
Hold it in, Give it all
I've got to tell you, I am married to a wonderful man of God. He works, and works hard. He maintains his standards of integrity all of the time, even when it doesn't seem like it will matter if he compromises a bit. He loves on our children and actively cares for them. He is interested in what they are learning and how they are developing as little people in the Lord. He cares about my dreams and passions, and does everything he can to help them become realities. He never speaks out to embarrass me if I am doing something he doesn't agree with; he'll wait until he's prayed about and then we'll talk in the privacy of our bedroom. He is a constantly wooing suitor who loves to romance me.
And yet, sometimes I still want to whine about my lot in life. How wretchedly human of me! Sometimes I get so wrapped in myself that I miss how great he is. That happened last night.
I had to hold back what I wanted to say to give my husband all the love that I could. I wanted to lash out because my feelings were hurt and my pride was a little battered. In fact, I started to; I was going to unload myself. Then I remembered that post about self-entitlement that I read last week and even blogged about the other day. The only things I am entitled to are: (1) to love God with everything I have, and (2) to love everyone else like He does.
To truly love my husband the way I am supposed to, I kept it in. I held back from responding to him so that I could take a moment at the feet of my Father to pour out my heart and ask for peace, grace, and love. And as I sat at Abba's feet, He shared with me things I had missed. He revealed how exhausted and run down my husband looked, and reminded me how the beginning of the month always brings the most stress at work for him. He pointed out that the reason my wonderful, precious husband was so exhausted was that he was working to provide for our family and to help me fulfill my dream and heart's desire of being a homeschooling mom.
When I got up from my place of prayer, I didn't have anything I wanted to say to my husband other than "I love you. Thanks for working for our family." I'm learning the hard lesson that sometimes the best way to give your all is to hold back yourself. You see, if I pour out "me", then I choke out the presence of God in me that He wants me to pour out. I don't know where you are or if you struggle with this sometimes too, but know that God can do anything in you that you allow Him to. I never thought I could have the grace to stay silent and find peace, but I am. What a blessing to grow closer to God and to my wonderful husband!
Worship's Heart
When the music fades, all is stripped away. And I simply come, longing just to bring something that's of worth, that will bless your heart. I'll bring you more than a song, for a song in itself is not what You have required. You search much deeper within than the way things appear; You're looking into my heart.
Most Christians that attend contemporary worship services are familiar with these words, penned by Matt Redman over a decade ago. This song was not born out of great passion, or amazing worship services. No, instead it was born out of a desperation to seek God without the trappings. Redman's church had reached a place of apathetic attendance and reliance on accessorized worship. It's easy to shake our heads and feel slightly smug inside knowing that's not us, but is it?
In a very bold and politically incorrect way (gotta love it!), Redman's pastor removed the sound system and worship team from the sanctuary. He asked his congregation what they were bringing to the worship table. The challenge was simple: to start being the producer instead of a consumer in the house of God. Today, I put before myself (and you, my fellow blogging buddies) that same challenge: Produce in your life a song of worship that is pleasing to God. Stop consuming His blessings and reaching for more. Start focusing on ways to bless the heart of God and begin to lavish your love on Him the way He has on you.
The chorus says: I'm coming back to the heart of worship, and it's all about You ... I'm sorry, Lord, for the things I've made it; it's all about You. Even now we enter a church and critique the musical abilities on a platform, or the preaching ability of the pastor. What about if we entered into each day, making our home God's house, and just worshipped Him? What if we went to church and appreciated the love that gets poured into creating a service there to minister to hearts? What if I stopped looking in the mirror, at my life, or at the world ~ what if I started looking up? You know, I think I'll do that. Today, I'm going to make everything I do an act of worship for Him and His glory. It's time for me to take a back seat and let God take the helm.
God, forgive me for making worship about what makes me feel good. Forgive me for fitting you into my life and worshipping You where I've put You and how I want to. Worship isn't about what you do for me, or even my love or gratitude because of it. It's about the fact that You are God and You alone are worthy. It's about the truth that You are sovereign and awesome and majestic. It's about the fact that you are the Alpha and Omega, the Giver of Life, and the I AM. Today, I want to worship You not for who You are to me, but simply for who You are.
Blessed is she who trusts in God
When one takes refuge in the Lord, it does not mean to hide in Him. The Hebrew word for refuge is gasah and means to place trust or confidence in. Therefore, we can interpret Psalm 34:8b as The one whose confidence/trust is in God is blessed. Verse 22 can be understood as no one who trusts in God will be condemned.
What does this mean? It seems simple enough, but is it? Trust and confidence are not easy to give. They are based on emotional attachments and developed relationships, and those take time. If we don't spend time knowing who God is, exploring His character, and building a relationship with Him, we can't trust Him or have confidence in His promises. That is why in verse 8, it says to first taste and see that God is good. That is getting up close to Him and laying a foundation for the confidence and trust we are to put in Him.
Take some time each day to get closer to Him and to trust Him more. Try to be intentional about putting your confidence in Him today. When you start to worry about all the things you need to do, stop and pray. Trust God to handle it once you ask Him to. When you begin to stress about things beyond your control, recognize God's sovereignty and pray. Then stop worrying and be confident that God loves you and will take care of you. When you begin to feel inadequate, know that God has created you for a unique purpose and will extend His grace as you need it; be confident in His promises.
Enjoy today ... trust God ... be blessed as you place your confidence in Him!
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