"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9
As I was driving to Bible Study on Saturday I felt the Lord speak to me in a still small voice. What I heard was this, "Laura, I know how you respond in suffering and I know how you respond in joy, but how do you respond in waiting?" Ouch! Not sure why He had to hit me with that one before 9 am, but dag-gone if He didn't! Needless to say, since that moment I have pondered that question. Quite honestly, I am a bit ashamed of what He's revealed.
Currently, I am in the midst of waiting for quite a few things. Things that I REALLY, REALLY want to happen TODAY! Interestingly enough, they are all in, what feels like, silent or stop mode. As much as I hate to say it, I have to admit that there have been moments that I have wavered in my faith- ugh! I haven't wavered in the way that I don't know, at my core, that God will provide in His way and in His time, but more in my faithfulness of standing firm on the promise that He's got the master plan figured out and will reveal it in His time and in His way. I have felt like He suddenly decided to take a vacation and left me here to dangle in the midst of unknown circumstances.
Part of the reason I have been so ashamed of myself is because I'm so quick to remind others that in the waiting we are to press into our faith and stand firm on the promises that God gives us, knowing that He always has our best in mind. (Not too sure why I am so confident in claiming that promise for others, but quick to think it doesn't apply to me.) Far too often, I think I know what is best for me so I decide to step ahead of God and take things into my own hands. Yeah, not such a great idea...
About a year ago, I was in the midst of a different situation where God called me to wait. After listening to me whine and belly ache about my circumstances, a friend of mine began asking me the following questions "What's keeping you from waiting? Are you afraid of being lonely? Do you think that you know better than God what is best for you in this situation? Are you afraid that you are missing out on something?" To each of those I thought, "YES! All of the above!" Luckily, that was just my initial reaction and not my true response. While I responded that in a sense all of those were fears of mine, I was gently reminded that God knows best. He reserves His best for me, if I am willing to wait on His timing.
One of the many things that I love about my God is how He provides messages that I need at just the time I need them. On Sunday, our Youth Pastor shared an experience with his 4 year old daughter that I loved and it tied in so beautifully to my current circumstances. He shared the story of taking his family on a trip to Kiawah Island. Neither of his girls had ever seen the beach, so he was looking forward to seeing their initial responses. The house that they were staying in was about 3 blocks off of the beach so they had a little jaunt to get there. Along the way, they passed a body of water and suddenly, his daughter cried out, "Daddy, Daddy, look at the water! Can I swim Daddy? Can I swim?" Based on the "don't feed the alligators" sign he deducted that the body of water was a swamp so he lovingly shared with her that they were actually going somewhere MUCH better! Initially, she didn't understand but soon enough they were on the beach and she was thrilled. How often do you and do I want to settle for the swamp when what God has in store for us is the beach, if we are just willing to wait!?!? Bam! God's 2' x 4' in my forehead. I cannot count the number of times that I have settled for that swamp and had I just pressed into my faith and what I know about the character of God, I could have been kicked back in a beach chair instead of fighting the danged alligators!
As I mentioned above, there are a number of things happening in my life where God is calling me to wait. My first instinct is to barrel through and force decisions to be made. Luckily, God doesn't have to use His 2' x 4' to make me listen or slow down as often as He used to. So, in the moments that I begin to panic, thinking that He's forgotten me, or thinking that if I just "tweak" or manipulate the situation a little that His answer will come more quickly or create the answers that I want RIGHT NOW, I remember that it is in the waiting that I often learn the most about His character.
Waiting is such a difficult thing, especially in our society of instant gratification. Often, when we wait people consider us to be lazy or aloof - our society has made us feel like we are to be "do-ing" How irresponsible of us to act before hearing from the Lord, thinking that we can handle what ultimately will be decided by Him in His time and because of His perfect desires for our lives.
As I mentioned in the opening of this entry the Lord said to me, "I know how you respond in suffering." I've got the suffering thing down - it's God & it's me and I can testify that it is only the Lord who got me through my darkest days -- He used many friends and family as His vessels, but ultimately it was He and I in the deepest valleys.
"I know how you respond in joy." Anyone who knows me knows that any joy I have in my life comes from the Lord. I give Him the glory. Without Him, I have nothing. I am nothing.
"But how do you respond in the waiting?" Hmmm... this is where I continue to be a work in progress... Today, I am choosing to stand on His promises and KNOW that He has the plan all figured out. It is difficult at moments in the day, but if I claim to believe God, then I have no choice but to stand firm and trust in His provisions for me - that means no manipulating, no moving ahead or side-stepping. It means standing still and waiting, believing, knowing and trusting in the One who calls me His. It means yearning to know God's heart, so that He can provide my heart's desires. It means asking Him to smash any plans that I have for my life, in order to follow His. It means believing in Him in the waiting.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Sunday, May 17, 2009
What Do You Know Today?
Matthew 6:34 - "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."
"What if I get sick? What if my kids get sick? What if I lose my job, or my house, or my car?" Do you ever find yourself asking these questions? I have, and I do, and what usually happens is that I continue to take that "what if" down a path to a place that is so far from where I am in the moment that I have created a fantastic fictional thriller. At times, it's a horror flick and other times I allow it to get so outrageous that it could be an award winning comedy. Regardless, my point is that when we allow our minds to start on that train of thought it often snowballs into a place that the fear of what "might" happen paralyzes us.
I share this because recently, for whatever reason, I've found myself much too often in the place of creating scenarios that may or may not ever happen. I remember being the midst of an extremely difficult place during my separation and calling a wise and dear friend. In a complete panic, I reeled off everything that I just KNEW was going to happen because of one decision that was made. In less than one minute, I must have exhausted her because she immediately interrupted me (and I remember because it is the ONLY time in 3 years that I ever remember her interrupting me) and said, "Laura - What do you know today?" I stopped and said, "What? What do you mean what do I know today?" She responded, "Just what I asked you. What do you know today?" So, I began to list what I knew in that moment about my circumstances. Anytime I attempted to throw in a "but, this..." she stopped me and said, "No- What do you know today?" After I finished listing what I KNEW about my circumstances in that moment, she said, "Ok. That is what you know today and that is all that you need to know today. God will reveal to you what you need to know tomorrow, well, tomorrow." WOW - Really? I don't know about you, but that is such a hard thing for me to grasp at times, because I am prideful enough to let Him know what I think I know on some things. (Ashamedly, too many things) Don't you love the fact that we can make God laugh?
As I have grown to better understand the character of my Shepherd, I have allowed those 5 words to settle into my soul. I now understand why my friend stopped me as quickly as she could from continuing to play out so many unknown scenarios. Because of the truth that she so tenderly spoke into my life that day, I have had the honor and privilege of speaking those exact words into the circumstances of others, providing the strength of knowing that God's got it. How awesome that we have a God who loves us so personally, that regardless of where we are in the moment, when we turn our thoughts to Him, He reveals to us just what we need to know it that moment, that circumstance or that day!?!? I don't know about you, but that is GOOD NEWS to me!
So, what do I know today? Today I know that I am healthy. Today I have 2 healthy children. I have a home, a job and a car. I don't know what God will reveal to me tomorrow as it relates to those or any other circumstances in my life, but for today I'm okay with what I know. More importantly, I know that no matter how crazy the story is that I concoct, my God is bigger. God has a better view than I. Re-focusing and remembering that allows me to rest in the truth that He reveals only what I need to know to get through each day and each circumstance as it arises. Also, I can rest assured, that my Lord, my Shepherd will not guide me any further than He intends in the moment.
If any of you, as you read this, are allowing your mind to race with the "what ifs" consider this my firm but loving and gentle interruption -- "Stop, sweet friend, and tell me what you know today."
Trust that God's got it and let Him take care of the details.
2 Corinthians 10:5 "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
Isaiah 26:3 "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you."
"What if I get sick? What if my kids get sick? What if I lose my job, or my house, or my car?" Do you ever find yourself asking these questions? I have, and I do, and what usually happens is that I continue to take that "what if" down a path to a place that is so far from where I am in the moment that I have created a fantastic fictional thriller. At times, it's a horror flick and other times I allow it to get so outrageous that it could be an award winning comedy. Regardless, my point is that when we allow our minds to start on that train of thought it often snowballs into a place that the fear of what "might" happen paralyzes us.
I share this because recently, for whatever reason, I've found myself much too often in the place of creating scenarios that may or may not ever happen. I remember being the midst of an extremely difficult place during my separation and calling a wise and dear friend. In a complete panic, I reeled off everything that I just KNEW was going to happen because of one decision that was made. In less than one minute, I must have exhausted her because she immediately interrupted me (and I remember because it is the ONLY time in 3 years that I ever remember her interrupting me) and said, "Laura - What do you know today?" I stopped and said, "What? What do you mean what do I know today?" She responded, "Just what I asked you. What do you know today?" So, I began to list what I knew in that moment about my circumstances. Anytime I attempted to throw in a "but, this..." she stopped me and said, "No- What do you know today?" After I finished listing what I KNEW about my circumstances in that moment, she said, "Ok. That is what you know today and that is all that you need to know today. God will reveal to you what you need to know tomorrow, well, tomorrow." WOW - Really? I don't know about you, but that is such a hard thing for me to grasp at times, because I am prideful enough to let Him know what I think I know on some things. (Ashamedly, too many things) Don't you love the fact that we can make God laugh?
As I have grown to better understand the character of my Shepherd, I have allowed those 5 words to settle into my soul. I now understand why my friend stopped me as quickly as she could from continuing to play out so many unknown scenarios. Because of the truth that she so tenderly spoke into my life that day, I have had the honor and privilege of speaking those exact words into the circumstances of others, providing the strength of knowing that God's got it. How awesome that we have a God who loves us so personally, that regardless of where we are in the moment, when we turn our thoughts to Him, He reveals to us just what we need to know it that moment, that circumstance or that day!?!? I don't know about you, but that is GOOD NEWS to me!
So, what do I know today? Today I know that I am healthy. Today I have 2 healthy children. I have a home, a job and a car. I don't know what God will reveal to me tomorrow as it relates to those or any other circumstances in my life, but for today I'm okay with what I know. More importantly, I know that no matter how crazy the story is that I concoct, my God is bigger. God has a better view than I. Re-focusing and remembering that allows me to rest in the truth that He reveals only what I need to know to get through each day and each circumstance as it arises. Also, I can rest assured, that my Lord, my Shepherd will not guide me any further than He intends in the moment.
If any of you, as you read this, are allowing your mind to race with the "what ifs" consider this my firm but loving and gentle interruption -- "Stop, sweet friend, and tell me what you know today."
Trust that God's got it and let Him take care of the details.
2 Corinthians 10:5 "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."
Thursday, May 14, 2009
God Can Win With Any Hand
“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:13-14
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
As you will see, I have overloaded this post with God's promises. As you read, I believe that you will understand why.
Yesterday I gave you a glimpse of the fears that paralyzed me for a good portion of my life and, I hope, provided some encouragement through what God has done in my life, to demolish those fears. Today, I will take all of that one step further.
As the title mentions, "God can win with any hand." A sweet friend of mine said that to me a few weeks ago and as I have allowed it to sink in, it continues to resonate with me daily as I reflect on my past and where God has brought me today. In my life, God wins. Each time I surrender (or trade in a card), He wins.
I'm not much of a poker player, even in the craze of Texas Hold 'em, but I do know that a poker hand consists of 5 cards. Depending on what cards are dealt we have a choice to keep our hand or trade in one or all cards.
Life with Christ is much like that, except that when we choose to keep the cards we often lose every time and give satan a very dangerous foothold. In my life, I've found that the cards I never wanted to trade in were the ones that caused shame, guilt and fear in my life. (Quite different from poker where we are quick to give up the "bad" cards!)
In order to be real and in an effort to share God's amazing love and power, I'll tip my hand:
1. Childhood Victimization
2. Eating Disorder
3. Abortion
4. Co-Dependency
5. Divorce
These are just a few of the things that created the fear that I shared yesterday. These are the things that held me captive in satan's playground. Satan taunted me; telling me that if others knew about those things that I would be ruined. He called me unworthy. He made me believe that even God couldn't love someone like me and He absolutely couldn't use someone like me. So, I held that hand as close to my chest as possible, refusing to trade out any cards. I believed the lies of satan and allowed those experiences to define who I was. That is, until I handed the first card to God. Wow! There was such a freedom in that! It was as if a major weight had been lifted. You would think that the freedom that came with handing Him the first card would cause me to throw the rest at His feet. Unfortunately, I handed God the one card that I believed to be least offensive. I thought that if I went with the worst, He would give up on me before I even got started and if I piled them on He would quickly tell me that I was a hopeless cause. So I continued to live teetering between freedom and fear.
I honestly don't know the day that I sat at His feet and began, one by one, to hand Him my cards. I just remember that as I shared each burden with him, God showered me with His grace and mercy, not only through His word, but through others who shared my experiences. It was like a healing balm for my scarred and broken heart. After quite some time, I realized one day that my load felt lighter, that He held all of the cards,and I was no longer racked with guilt because those events could not define me anymore. The word was out and satan no longer had his grip on me because God knew (even though He ALWAYS knew) and He still loved me. He still called me His child, He still called me beautiful! Instead, I was defined and am defined by Victory in Christ. He won! He wins! No matter what hand He holds, HE WINS!
I know that my hand may not resemble yours and I do not share my hand to do any more than show what God can do with it. As I've mentioned in many posts, I am nothing and no one without God and His tender mercy and grace. Most importantly, my life is nothing without His unfailing, unending love for me. He nailed every single card to the cross, long before I held it in my hand. He waits ever so patiently for us to hand Him our cards - not to punish us, but to allow Him to play the hand and win.
No matter what your cards read today, won't you go "all in?" It is so scary and it is painful and at times there will be backlash from the world, but I can promise you - based on what I know - that the freedom from holding onto shame, guilt and fear, is worth everything it takes to hand them over to the One who wins every time.
He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." Mark 5:34
"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
As you will see, I have overloaded this post with God's promises. As you read, I believe that you will understand why.
Yesterday I gave you a glimpse of the fears that paralyzed me for a good portion of my life and, I hope, provided some encouragement through what God has done in my life, to demolish those fears. Today, I will take all of that one step further.
As the title mentions, "God can win with any hand." A sweet friend of mine said that to me a few weeks ago and as I have allowed it to sink in, it continues to resonate with me daily as I reflect on my past and where God has brought me today. In my life, God wins. Each time I surrender (or trade in a card), He wins.
I'm not much of a poker player, even in the craze of Texas Hold 'em, but I do know that a poker hand consists of 5 cards. Depending on what cards are dealt we have a choice to keep our hand or trade in one or all cards.
Life with Christ is much like that, except that when we choose to keep the cards we often lose every time and give satan a very dangerous foothold. In my life, I've found that the cards I never wanted to trade in were the ones that caused shame, guilt and fear in my life. (Quite different from poker where we are quick to give up the "bad" cards!)
In order to be real and in an effort to share God's amazing love and power, I'll tip my hand:
1. Childhood Victimization
2. Eating Disorder
3. Abortion
4. Co-Dependency
5. Divorce
These are just a few of the things that created the fear that I shared yesterday. These are the things that held me captive in satan's playground. Satan taunted me; telling me that if others knew about those things that I would be ruined. He called me unworthy. He made me believe that even God couldn't love someone like me and He absolutely couldn't use someone like me. So, I held that hand as close to my chest as possible, refusing to trade out any cards. I believed the lies of satan and allowed those experiences to define who I was. That is, until I handed the first card to God. Wow! There was such a freedom in that! It was as if a major weight had been lifted. You would think that the freedom that came with handing Him the first card would cause me to throw the rest at His feet. Unfortunately, I handed God the one card that I believed to be least offensive. I thought that if I went with the worst, He would give up on me before I even got started and if I piled them on He would quickly tell me that I was a hopeless cause. So I continued to live teetering between freedom and fear.
I honestly don't know the day that I sat at His feet and began, one by one, to hand Him my cards. I just remember that as I shared each burden with him, God showered me with His grace and mercy, not only through His word, but through others who shared my experiences. It was like a healing balm for my scarred and broken heart. After quite some time, I realized one day that my load felt lighter, that He held all of the cards,and I was no longer racked with guilt because those events could not define me anymore. The word was out and satan no longer had his grip on me because God knew (even though He ALWAYS knew) and He still loved me. He still called me His child, He still called me beautiful! Instead, I was defined and am defined by Victory in Christ. He won! He wins! No matter what hand He holds, HE WINS!
I know that my hand may not resemble yours and I do not share my hand to do any more than show what God can do with it. As I've mentioned in many posts, I am nothing and no one without God and His tender mercy and grace. Most importantly, my life is nothing without His unfailing, unending love for me. He nailed every single card to the cross, long before I held it in my hand. He waits ever so patiently for us to hand Him our cards - not to punish us, but to allow Him to play the hand and win.
No matter what your cards read today, won't you go "all in?" It is so scary and it is painful and at times there will be backlash from the world, but I can promise you - based on what I know - that the freedom from holding onto shame, guilt and fear, is worth everything it takes to hand them over to the One who wins every time.
He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." Mark 5:34
"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." Romans 8:1
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
What's Fear Got to Do With It?
"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." 1 John 4:18
The first few times I read the above passage from scripture I didn't necessarily agree with it. I thought, "there is always fear." For close to 39 years, I lived in constant fear. Fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of disappointing others, fear of trying - just flat out fear.
For knowing something so well, I have struggled all week with finding a way to share how those fears paralyzed me. I've struggled because I don't want my fears to be the focus. Instead, my goal is to encourage any of you who may be living a life rooted in fear that there is hope!
Here is what I know. I spent the majority of my life not saying or doing things for fear that someone wouldn't like it, or worse yet, like me. I wore a mask that could be changed depending on the group or situation I was in. So, in essence, because of fear I really had no idea who I was, what I liked, what I wanted in life because it shifted. Most often it shifted depending on the relationship I was in. I molded myself, my thoughts, my beliefs, even my personal style to fit what someone else defined for me. All of this because of fear. Fear that if anyone knew the "real" me they wouldn't like me. What I didn't realize is that fear cost me authentic friendships and relationships because no one ever knew what to expect from me.
All of my life I was living to please others when there was only one person that I needed to live for - Jesus Christ. He created me in perfect love. He created me to be the person that HE designed, not one fabricated in fear.
When I made the decision to begin a new life as a single mom, I couldn't have any fear. It was not an option. I knew that because of the purest form of love that I had for my children I had to take the step and out of that love I had to push aside any fear. At that point in my life I had to remove every mask and become real. Become authentic. Become the Laura that God created. In doing so, I was able to better love my friends, my family and my God. There was no fear because I knew that a lot of people wouldn't like or agree with my decisions anyway. I chose to live for an audience of One. It has taken a good two years, but out of my love for God and all that He has done in my life, I had to take the step outside of any fear and begin writing. Does that mean that every time I post something I don't feel a wave of fear that someone won't like it? Absolutely not - but because I am writing the words that HE inspires as a love offering to Him and not to seek the approval of others, I can push aside the fear that Satan plants, telling me that I am not worthy, that no one will care, or people will hate it, and replace it with the perfect love that comes from my Savior.
As I continue on this journey, I know that the fears will arise, but I know now that I have a choice. I can choose to live in that fear, or allow God's love to replace it and press on.
Is there a dream that the Lord has placed on your heart that you have not yet begun to explore because you are afraid? He doesn't place them haphazardly or without equipping us for His call. Replace the fear with the perfect love of Christ and go for it!
The first few times I read the above passage from scripture I didn't necessarily agree with it. I thought, "there is always fear." For close to 39 years, I lived in constant fear. Fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of disappointing others, fear of trying - just flat out fear.
For knowing something so well, I have struggled all week with finding a way to share how those fears paralyzed me. I've struggled because I don't want my fears to be the focus. Instead, my goal is to encourage any of you who may be living a life rooted in fear that there is hope!
Here is what I know. I spent the majority of my life not saying or doing things for fear that someone wouldn't like it, or worse yet, like me. I wore a mask that could be changed depending on the group or situation I was in. So, in essence, because of fear I really had no idea who I was, what I liked, what I wanted in life because it shifted. Most often it shifted depending on the relationship I was in. I molded myself, my thoughts, my beliefs, even my personal style to fit what someone else defined for me. All of this because of fear. Fear that if anyone knew the "real" me they wouldn't like me. What I didn't realize is that fear cost me authentic friendships and relationships because no one ever knew what to expect from me.
All of my life I was living to please others when there was only one person that I needed to live for - Jesus Christ. He created me in perfect love. He created me to be the person that HE designed, not one fabricated in fear.
When I made the decision to begin a new life as a single mom, I couldn't have any fear. It was not an option. I knew that because of the purest form of love that I had for my children I had to take the step and out of that love I had to push aside any fear. At that point in my life I had to remove every mask and become real. Become authentic. Become the Laura that God created. In doing so, I was able to better love my friends, my family and my God. There was no fear because I knew that a lot of people wouldn't like or agree with my decisions anyway. I chose to live for an audience of One. It has taken a good two years, but out of my love for God and all that He has done in my life, I had to take the step outside of any fear and begin writing. Does that mean that every time I post something I don't feel a wave of fear that someone won't like it? Absolutely not - but because I am writing the words that HE inspires as a love offering to Him and not to seek the approval of others, I can push aside the fear that Satan plants, telling me that I am not worthy, that no one will care, or people will hate it, and replace it with the perfect love that comes from my Savior.
As I continue on this journey, I know that the fears will arise, but I know now that I have a choice. I can choose to live in that fear, or allow God's love to replace it and press on.
Is there a dream that the Lord has placed on your heart that you have not yet begun to explore because you are afraid? He doesn't place them haphazardly or without equipping us for His call. Replace the fear with the perfect love of Christ and go for it!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
True Radiance
Psalm 34:4-5 "I sought the Lord and He answered me; He delivered me from all of my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame."
Psalm 45:11 "The King is enthralled with your beauty, honor Him as your Lord."
I recently had the opportunity and blessing of spending the weekend with a group of friends from high school. What a joyful time to re-live our pasts... sort of. Much of the weekend we laughed and shared funny stories and at other times we cried and mourned the choices that we made that brought so much shame and guilt. Nonetheless, we loved one another through both and grew with one another at 40.
As I reflected on the many conversations I had, one word continued to come to mind. Freedom. There was such freedom in the weekend, not because we shared so much about our trials and tribulations but because each of us, at some point in these past 22 year, has sought the Lord, cried out to Him and allowed Him to deliver us from our fears. We have accepted, even if not wholeheartedly at times, that we are radiant when we turn to him. We are told in Psalm 45:11 that the King is ENTHRALLED with our beauty. That means that he thinks that we are beautiful when we're having a bad hair day, bad attitude day, and on our most beautiful days. No matter what, when we look to Him we are radiant and He is enthralled.
I don't know where any of you are today, but I encourage you to look in the mirror and remind yourself that no matter WHERE you are in your life that God loves you, He is in enthralled with you and when you look to Him that you are absolutely radiant.
I have struggled for the past few weeks with being overwhelmed and feeling like I am constantly going in 50 different directions, so what I share with you today, I find myself having to do as well. I don't feel radiant when I am absolutely exhausted, but today I choose to cry out to Him, turn to Him and let Him love me right where I am today.
Many Blessings & Much Love!!
The Funny Thing About Superheroes
Matthew 11:28-29 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."
Super Heroes are not real. They are only in cartoons, even when we believe that we ourselves fall into that category. As a single mom, I have found that more often than not, I have a Super Hero complex. I never want anyone to feel sorry for me. I never want to feel like a victim. I never want to think that I can't do it all. I mean, really, I do everything that 2 people do every single day. Isn't that part of the job description of a Super Hero?
The funny thing about single moms who think that they are super heroes is that we have a hard time hearing from others that we are not and that we should not, nor do we have to be. There is a natural "fighting" instinct when it comes to our world and we think because we are the ones living it that no one else can possibly see or understand our plight. What I am coming to learn about being a Super Hero is that all it does is create exhaustion and invite chaos.
God is NOT a God of chaos. God is a God of order. You can go back to Genesis to see that He did not create the whole world in one day, and with each creation there was order. He built the Tabernacle so specifically that you could never question His ability to be the Great Engineer. He loves order. He loves for His children to rest in that - not run around like crazy people.
Have you ever had someone speak truth directly to your heart, yet put up your Super Hero shield to block it because as a Super Hero (Single) Mom we think we know best? Often we do not. We are living in the midst of chaos and cannot see beyond the craziness. Running kids from one side of town to the other, running errands, trying to get the grocery shopping done, visit friends and maintain some semblance of balance in our lives. Many times we do not like hearing it in the moment -- probably because it is so true and we know that it is going to cause us to make some changes and while change is good, it is not always easy. It's time for us to re-calibrate our world so that we don't live in the center of chaos.
I am reminded to thank people for loving me enough to remind me to slow down, to remove the "S" from my chest and to rest. I need that perspective when I start flying too high and tackling too many tall buildings alone. I need the loving perspective of those outside my circumstances who can see clearly and not just be my "yes men." There are times, I'm sure, that I want and need to hear someone agree with me but after doing so, I need to hear the truth. Those who share are often outside of the storm (not a bad storm - just life) and can see from a completely different perspective. I am thankful that my friends and family love me enough to always share that. I'm not sure if anyone else is this way, but I'll share a little inside secret about me... if I initially get a little snippy it means that I know what I'm being told is what I need to hear - I'm just not quite ready to remove my cape. More often than not, in situations like that, I will awaken the next day to see the truth and the love in their words. It is at that point that I can step back and rest in the arms of the ONLY Super Hero.
Super Heroes are not real. They are only in cartoons, even when we believe that we ourselves fall into that category. As a single mom, I have found that more often than not, I have a Super Hero complex. I never want anyone to feel sorry for me. I never want to feel like a victim. I never want to think that I can't do it all. I mean, really, I do everything that 2 people do every single day. Isn't that part of the job description of a Super Hero?
The funny thing about single moms who think that they are super heroes is that we have a hard time hearing from others that we are not and that we should not, nor do we have to be. There is a natural "fighting" instinct when it comes to our world and we think because we are the ones living it that no one else can possibly see or understand our plight. What I am coming to learn about being a Super Hero is that all it does is create exhaustion and invite chaos.
God is NOT a God of chaos. God is a God of order. You can go back to Genesis to see that He did not create the whole world in one day, and with each creation there was order. He built the Tabernacle so specifically that you could never question His ability to be the Great Engineer. He loves order. He loves for His children to rest in that - not run around like crazy people.
Have you ever had someone speak truth directly to your heart, yet put up your Super Hero shield to block it because as a Super Hero (Single) Mom we think we know best? Often we do not. We are living in the midst of chaos and cannot see beyond the craziness. Running kids from one side of town to the other, running errands, trying to get the grocery shopping done, visit friends and maintain some semblance of balance in our lives. Many times we do not like hearing it in the moment -- probably because it is so true and we know that it is going to cause us to make some changes and while change is good, it is not always easy. It's time for us to re-calibrate our world so that we don't live in the center of chaos.
I am reminded to thank people for loving me enough to remind me to slow down, to remove the "S" from my chest and to rest. I need that perspective when I start flying too high and tackling too many tall buildings alone. I need the loving perspective of those outside my circumstances who can see clearly and not just be my "yes men." There are times, I'm sure, that I want and need to hear someone agree with me but after doing so, I need to hear the truth. Those who share are often outside of the storm (not a bad storm - just life) and can see from a completely different perspective. I am thankful that my friends and family love me enough to always share that. I'm not sure if anyone else is this way, but I'll share a little inside secret about me... if I initially get a little snippy it means that I know what I'm being told is what I need to hear - I'm just not quite ready to remove my cape. More often than not, in situations like that, I will awaken the next day to see the truth and the love in their words. It is at that point that I can step back and rest in the arms of the ONLY Super Hero.
Reacting vs. Responding
I have spent a lot of this week in "reaction" mode. Just a little something that I have learned about that mode -- it's not a good or fun place to be! How often do we immediately react to a situation or a question from our kids without thinking through it? How often, when confronted with something that we really don't want to hear, do we immediately react and jump on the defensive?
I have spent all week pondering this and have tried to come up with something profound to say about the situation and it boils down to this:
Reacting, for me, is acting in my flesh - and in my sinful nature -- it's a knee jerk, often brutally honest but not thought through answer.
Responding, on the other hand, allows me time to process what has been presented. Even if I still don't agree with what has been said or is happening, I allow myself the time to respond in love - saving myself and another a lot of heartache.
Don't get me wrong. There are definitely times that we only have time to react - when we see someone in danger, etc. but when faced with challenges or information that may hit a little too close to home, I am learning to pray that the Lord will help me to RESPOND and not REACT.
During the time that I was trying to come up with something much more eloquent than these random thoughts thrown on paper, I decided to look to see how many times each word was used in the Bible. I found quite a few times that God and others responded in the Bible, but not once was there a time recorded that God reacted. How much different would our lives be if God reacted to us every time we stepped outside of His will for us? Thank goodness we do not have to know!! Praise Him for His enduring love and willingness to respond to us, even in the form of discipline, as opposed to reacting to our sometimes childish ways.
"A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire." Proverbs 15:1 (The Msg)
"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17
I have spent all week pondering this and have tried to come up with something profound to say about the situation and it boils down to this:
Reacting, for me, is acting in my flesh - and in my sinful nature -- it's a knee jerk, often brutally honest but not thought through answer.
Responding, on the other hand, allows me time to process what has been presented. Even if I still don't agree with what has been said or is happening, I allow myself the time to respond in love - saving myself and another a lot of heartache.
Don't get me wrong. There are definitely times that we only have time to react - when we see someone in danger, etc. but when faced with challenges or information that may hit a little too close to home, I am learning to pray that the Lord will help me to RESPOND and not REACT.
During the time that I was trying to come up with something much more eloquent than these random thoughts thrown on paper, I decided to look to see how many times each word was used in the Bible. I found quite a few times that God and others responded in the Bible, but not once was there a time recorded that God reacted. How much different would our lives be if God reacted to us every time we stepped outside of His will for us? Thank goodness we do not have to know!! Praise Him for His enduring love and willingness to respond to us, even in the form of discipline, as opposed to reacting to our sometimes childish ways.
"A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire." Proverbs 15:1 (The Msg)
"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him." Colossians 3:17
Are you in the Middle?
I will refine them like silver and test them like gold. They will call on my name and I will answer them; I will say, 'They are my people,' and they will say, 'The LORD is our God.' " Zechariah 13:9
Based on everything I am reading right now, I feel like God is preparing me for some "firey trials" Do you ever feel that way? I keep reading devotions or excerpts from stories about how God refines us, purifies us through our trials. I'm not sure about you, but my first reaction is to resist them.
I relate those trials to something else that has seemed to repeat itself this week and that is, being in the middle. Seems like everyone I'm talking to right now is in the "middle" of something. What I've decided about the "middle" is that it is often a difficult place to be, if that is where we keep our focus.
I've spent much of the past two years in the "middle." It hasn't been until recently that I can appreciate that place and what God has done with me here. By being in the middle, as a single mom - not really single but not married, transitioning from one lifestyle to another and moving through seasons of life with my boys, I have had to trust God enough to know that He is working, even when I don't see or feel it and, often, when I don't understand His ways. Don't get me wrong, there have been many times that I've felt like I've been in the middle long enough and that God has somehow forgotten the desires of my heart so I've decided to forge ahead and get to the place that I want to be. What I have found is that often puts me right back on the other side, having to move back to middle until God calls me to move. And believe me, it is much more difficult the second time around! What I have learned about being in the middle, though, is that as tough as it can be, God is always working in order to prepare me for what HE has on the other side and God does nothing haphazardly. My job is to remain focused on Him and trust Him in that.
God has had to work extremely hard refining me - working out the fears that often paralyzed me, chipping away at the pride that kept me from seeing His best for me and healing the wounds that created strongholds in my life. I haven't always liked the process, but through it He is making me pure and making me in His image, allowing others to see His power and His glory in my life. I am not where I am today - happy, fulfilled, at peace - on my own. It is only through Him that I can stand on my own two feet and it is only through staying in the middle long enough for Him to work that I can move to the places He calls me.
Many of you are walking this journey today. I don't know what your "middle" is at this point but I urge you, sweet friends, to be still long enough, even when the fire feels too hot at your feet to allow Him to remove the impurities of fear, anxiety, pride, whatever stronghold it may be so that HE can shine brightly in you. I love you
Based on everything I am reading right now, I feel like God is preparing me for some "firey trials" Do you ever feel that way? I keep reading devotions or excerpts from stories about how God refines us, purifies us through our trials. I'm not sure about you, but my first reaction is to resist them.
I relate those trials to something else that has seemed to repeat itself this week and that is, being in the middle. Seems like everyone I'm talking to right now is in the "middle" of something. What I've decided about the "middle" is that it is often a difficult place to be, if that is where we keep our focus.
I've spent much of the past two years in the "middle." It hasn't been until recently that I can appreciate that place and what God has done with me here. By being in the middle, as a single mom - not really single but not married, transitioning from one lifestyle to another and moving through seasons of life with my boys, I have had to trust God enough to know that He is working, even when I don't see or feel it and, often, when I don't understand His ways. Don't get me wrong, there have been many times that I've felt like I've been in the middle long enough and that God has somehow forgotten the desires of my heart so I've decided to forge ahead and get to the place that I want to be. What I have found is that often puts me right back on the other side, having to move back to middle until God calls me to move. And believe me, it is much more difficult the second time around! What I have learned about being in the middle, though, is that as tough as it can be, God is always working in order to prepare me for what HE has on the other side and God does nothing haphazardly. My job is to remain focused on Him and trust Him in that.
God has had to work extremely hard refining me - working out the fears that often paralyzed me, chipping away at the pride that kept me from seeing His best for me and healing the wounds that created strongholds in my life. I haven't always liked the process, but through it He is making me pure and making me in His image, allowing others to see His power and His glory in my life. I am not where I am today - happy, fulfilled, at peace - on my own. It is only through Him that I can stand on my own two feet and it is only through staying in the middle long enough for Him to work that I can move to the places He calls me.
Many of you are walking this journey today. I don't know what your "middle" is at this point but I urge you, sweet friends, to be still long enough, even when the fire feels too hot at your feet to allow Him to remove the impurities of fear, anxiety, pride, whatever stronghold it may be so that HE can shine brightly in you. I love you
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