Wednesday, July 30, 2014

The Only One That Matters

25 The fear of human opinion disables; trusting in GOD protects you from that. (Proverbs 29:25 MSG)

Yesterday, I found myself fretting over an honest mistake I had made, and how that would make someone in my life displeased with me.  I was carrying on with a constant barrage of negative thoughts about my character and my abilities.  There I was knee deep in the muck of lies and doubts.  I felt so horrible and anxious, and unable to focus on anything but what I thought the person thought about me.  This fussing went round and round my heart for awhile, until I recognized this situation as a light bulb moment from God.  How silly, wasteful, and selfish I had been for carrying on like I did.  I remembered who I was in Christ, ferociously loved and highly prized.  As such, I didn't have to fret over what I thought someone else thought of me.  Honest mistakes happen, you accept responsibility, and you do your best to make amends to that person.  I did the right thing and that was all that mattered to my Heavenly Father.  When you put it in that perspective, His is the only opinion that will ever matter.  

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Anew

"Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I’m about to do something brand-new. It’s bursting out! Don’t you see it? There it is! I’m making a road through the desert, rivers in the badlands. Wild animals will say ‘Thank you!’ —the coyotes and the buzzards— Because I provided water in the desert, rivers through the sun-baked earth, Drinking water for the people I chose, the people I made especially for myself, a people custom-made to praise me. (Isaiah 43:16-21 MSG)

Words fail me tonight.  God is so amazing and we are blessed beyond words as His beloved.  I can rest with ease tonight, as that promise settles on my heart.  Thank you, God.

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Trust, Not So Simple

God—you’re my God! I can’t get enough of you! I’ve worked up such hunger and thirst for God, traveling across dry and weary deserts. (Psalm 63:1 MSG)

I feel the of hunger this psalmist wrote about slowly seeping into my soul. I find, too, that The Father is beckoning me closer to His strong loving arms.  This is so what I need, but I find myself afraid to completely trust my all to Him as of late.  There is a part of me that holds back for fear of total surrender.  We all have had life fall out from under us at one time or another, and some of us a few more times than that.  That in and of itself can stir up a trust issue, and the need to feel in control.  The funny thing is, is that this only creates large amounts of stress and anxiety.  We get in a balancing act of having all our plates spinning, making sure none stop or crash to the floor.  Yuck!  We burn out, suffer exhaustion, and lack any true peace.  Why are we, why am I, so silly?  Why do we, why do I, carry a burden not meant for human shoulders?  Why do we, why do I run from the Father, who is waiting and willing to help? 
 Oh Father, slow us down tonight.  Speak continually and loudly to our troubled hearts.  May we hear You, stop, and collapse in Your waiting arms.  Help us to give back to You what is not ours.  May we continue to leave it in Your capable hands. Thank you for stirring our hearts to seek You and hunger for You.  Soothe our tired souls with Your quiet peace as we drift off to sleep, fully Yours.  Love You Father, Amen.

Sunday, July 20, 2014

The Mire of When

"God, how long do I have to cry out for help before You listen?".....
God says, "Look long and hard.  Brace yourself for a shock.  Something is about to take place, and you're going to find it hard to believe."
Habbakuk 1:1-5 MSG

Tonight, I find myself in Habbakuk's shoes asking "God, are you listening to me?"  When I don't hear God speak or see Him move as quick as I want Him to, I can feel so discouraged and disappointed.  My eyes can only see what is NOT happening, and I can find myself in a ridiculous pity party.  I know better, I have seen God work amazingly in my life countless times, but I still doubt foolishly.  I am just like Habbakuk crying out in self-imposed frustration. Our doubts cloud our view of who we know God to be.  He is the One that will answer revealing His beautiful will to us in His perfect timing.  He told Habbakuk, "Hold on, open your eyes wide and clear, peer through them deeply at Me, you will see My great will taking place for your very best."  This is the lens I want to look through when I find myself sinking in the mire of when.

Saturday, July 19, 2014

To Love Others

This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers, and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love? It disappears. And you made it disappear. (1 John 3:16-17 MSG)

I find these verses to be clear and straightforward, but difficult to follow through sometimes.  We all want and need help, that is a given.  However, helping and loving others can be something we want to ignore, because it's scary, because it beckons us out of our comfort zones, because it asks to give of ourselves, because it's risky, because it's costs us something.  How blessed we are that these fears didn't stop Jesus from dying to save us.  In that perspective, helping and loving others, doesn't seem so hard.  I pray we all can follow Jesus and love and help so freely.  Just cling to Him, He will lead you with wisdom and grant you peace to take action.  Your efforts done in His example will never be in vain.  He will use them to highly bless others.  Thank you Jesus for holding us up in every circumstance.

Friday, July 18, 2014

Cheerful and Thankful

Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 MSG)

Hmmm, this can be quite hard to do.  Life's difficult situations leave us running on empty, and they leave negative emotions in their aftermath.  How can I be cheerful and thankful for that?  What if I took a step back though and looked at the big picture?  Would I see beyond me to a friend hurting who needs my encouragement?  Or would I see the stranger beaten down by life that just a smile and a friendly hello would make all the difference to him or her?  You see God is working in every circumstance, and I just might be His Hands working in someone else's life.  This is what I need to be thankful for, that God is working in every circumstance seeking to lift me up.  What a comfort to know.  Maybe then I can truly be thankful and cheerful in every circumstance praying always because the God of the universe is always working for my good and to bless me beyond measure, and He also uses me to help do the same for others.  Wow, thank you Father!

Thursday, July 17, 2014

The Love of Jesus

So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it. (Colossians 3:12-14 MSG)

Love this translation of these verses.  It's a gracious reminder to love like Jesus loves.  He took on our sin and shame, so that we may be with Him always.  Jesus paid the price for you and me, and a high price it was.  He did it freely and willingly because He loves us so utterly and completely.  Take heart in that tonight, seek forgiveness for your sins, trust Jesus as your Savior, and walk with Him always.  Wrap yourself in His love as you drift to sleep tonight, secure and loved beyond measure.

Thank you Jesus for Your unending love and sacrifice to save us all.  Words can't express my thankfulness enough or the peace and love that reside in my heart next to You.  I love You so, and I trust my life to You.  Hold me close always.  I pray all these things in Your Name, Amen.

Saturday, July 12, 2014

Learning to Let Go

The moment your child is born he or she is no longer always with you tucked warmly and securely in your womb. You are excited to meet this little person that has been growing inside you for 9 months.  Once born, your joy of holding this little person in your arms is some of the greatest you will ever know.  You love your child instantly and forever.  I remember those moments so vividly, the love, the magic of new life, and the wanting to always protect this precious baby.

Little did I know, that being a Mama is always learning to let go.

The early days of being home with a new baby, you let go of your baby to the care of Daddy or Grandam because you are on the brink of exhaustion.  Oh how hard it is, to trust others to take care of your baby.  You want to do everything yourself and do that everything perfectly.  But you let go anyway, because you can't take care of your sweetheart, if you don't take care of yourself.

Six weeks fly by if you have to return to work, you find yourself filled with anxiety and tears over leaving your baby at daycare.  You feel guilty and overwhelmed for having to do it for financial reasons, or for you as a Mama that needs to work for the balance it brings to your life.  Whatever the reason for you returning to work, you let go, and you find the first days are the hardest, but you find you and your baby find a daily rhythm.

Next thing you know, it's kindergarten, elementary school, junior high, high school, then college or moving out.  Thankfully, I am not even to the kindergarten stage yet, but the time is still fleeting, always passing too fast.  Though, how sweet is the time, I have with my child, breathing in the joys of her new experiences, her innocence, and most importantly her unabashed love for me.  These things far outweigh the moments that sting of the letting go.  You see the letting go is the door opening to the next round of learning, growing, stretching, seeking, living life to the fullest, and loving wholeheartedly.  Rest in that and find comfort in that, as change is the one constant you have being a Mama.