Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Getting Old

The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,
And He delights in his way.
Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the LORD upholds him with His hand. 
I have been young, and now am old… (Psa 37:23-25)

They say there are three signs of old age. The first is your loss of memory. I forget the other two. 

 As this year draws to an end and another year of my life is behind me, I find this psalm quite comforting.  For though at times I miss the days of my youth, I would not trade them for the days I am now in – there is a peace and contentment I never knew then – and a knowing that keeps me secure.  As David says, I may stumble but He is always there to lift me up with a gentle touch and a warm embrace.  And while there are things I may forget, I know that I am never forgotten and that He will always remind me of those things that I need to know – which is mostly Him.

Friday, December 23, 2016

Don’t worry about anything . . .

but throw your worries upon God.

This was part of my reading this morning.  I must confess, worry is something I’ve always struggled with.  I don’t want to worry because I do believe God is not pleased when I do but I’m not sure, once it starts, just how to stop it.    

This morning the last half of the verse really caught my attention – it was almost like a challenge, a test me and see sort-of-thing.  So I decided I’d give it a go and the following is my testimony.   

          
We’re currently in the mountains.  Several months ago I bought a shirt at a local thrift store.  It was a bit big, but perfect for wearing around the house with a pair of sweat pants.  I just leave it here, it’s my mountain shirt and in a funny way I look forward to wearing it when we’re here.

Well the last time we were here I couldn’t find it when we were getting ready to leave.  No big deal, but it “worried” me a bit.  When we got here this time, I immediately began looking for it and still wasn’t able to find it. 

This is where my testimony comes in.  After the reading from Philippians and pondering a bit, I decided that since I didn’t know where it was and that not knowing was “worrying” me, I would simply throw my worries upon God – after all, I was sure He knew where it was – so I left it with Him and went about my day.

As I was taking my morning shower, which I truly love on a cold winter’s morn in the mountains, out of the blue it occurred to me “look behind the dresser”.  And so that is what I did . . . and guess what was there.  Hidden and just barely visible –  was my shirt.

Now I realize with all the problems in the world today, finding a shirt is not a high priority.  But for me it was just an example of my Father’s love and care . . . and a bit of humor as well.  Isn’t He just amazing <3

Monday, December 19, 2016

A remembering and a prayer

I was reading this morning about a situation of a girl in high-school, shy and uncertain, and how she was bullied by others.  Remembering how in my youth others (even those who were supposedly my friends) would point out, with great delight, any flaws in personality or appearance.  For me it was having light facial hair, big breasts and even the fact that I wouldn’t “put out” for my boyfriend.  Those words and actions left open wounds that have healed over time as I’ve learned that I am not defined but what others think of me, but it has taken a life time and the love and grace of a loving Father.  And while the wounds have healed, the scars remain

But I have also come to accept these scars as trophies, blessings in disguise, because I am stronger and more secure because of them.  What the world may say is not who I am.  I am a daughter of The King, loved and adored and cherished: He has turned ashes into beauty, sorrow into joy and made whole what was broken.

My prayer is for those who have been bullied by the world, that they would come to know and accept that they are loved unconditionally; that they have a heavenly Father who is longing to embrace them and rejoice over them – if they will let Him.

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

A Personal Thanksgiving

Abba, we’re here.  Once again we made it safely to the mountains and thank You that they are still here.  I want to thank You for all that You do, have done and are doing in my life.  It was this time of year, so many years ago, that I surrendered my life to You and I am forever grateful for You calling me to be Your child.  Thank You for Jesus, for His life, death and resurrection.  For forgiving me and for desiring to be in relationship with me, for Your Spirit and His indwelling within my sinner’s heart.  For Your faithfulness even when I am not and for Your AMAZING Grace that has brought me thus far and will at last bring me home.  I just want to spend each and every moment loving You and being loved by You.  There is no greater joy than knowing I am Yours and You are mine.


Thursday, November 3, 2016

Praise

Praise has the power to heal.  Praise = admiration.  To not admire would mean to miss out of something.  To admire is to simply be awake, to have entered into the real world.  (Keller quoting CS Lewis)


This morning I started the day listening to the Prayer (David Archuleta), a recording I admire greatly.  Just hearing him sing, his voice joined with the other vocalist, the instruments and the words  . . . caused a response of such peace, joy and a surrender -  to be lost in the moment.  I’m just so grateful for the experience.  Such is admiration.  

This is what praising our Father is like.  It touches something so deep within us that we are changed by the experience.  It’s not something we can muster up or make happen.  It’s something we can enter into when we give Him the opportunity, to listen and just be present with Him, when we give Him our focus and attention . . . He is there with us and we are forever changed.



Saturday, June 4, 2016

Morning time in the mountains

As I sit here in the stillness of the morning I am so grateful just to be alive – physically and spiritually. To be able to experience all the beauty that surrounds me.  The chorus of little birds singing their songs, a cool breeze gently blowing in through the open windows, darkness slowing giving way to light, puppies at my feet and my life’s companion, my soul mate sitting in the next room. I have no need of anything because I all things in Christ. 

We’ve had some small trials while here.  The AC went out, we had to do some work for some clients while here, two of the puppies went on an adventure and we had to go and find them. Small things but each one created some stress – but with each one a blessing as well.  The weather has been very pleasant, so the AC is not really needed.  We have clients and they have provided us with a living.  And the puppies were found all safe and sound.

I desire to live each day with a heart of gratitude and thanksgiving for whatever may come my way.  I’m not there yet, but I’m confident that as a child of the living God, He will make it happen - by turning the ashes into beauty, by making a way where there was none, and by giving me a peace beyond understanding simply by trusting in Him.

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Standing fast . . .

Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. (Gal 5:1)

Freedom, not afraid of “going to hell”, not even a concern because of what He has done for me.  Freedom to know that when I fall into some sin, because I do continually, He forgives (has already forgiven) and I am restored.  Freedom to fail and not be afraid of disappointing Him.  Freedom from those who would insist that I live my life according to their convictions or expectations.  And with this amazing freedom comes a deep and abiding desire to please Him, to honor Him, to delight myself in Him and wanting Him to delight in me.

This desire is a gift/fruit of His Spirit in me, it’s not a “have to” but a “want to”.  Not something I do, but something He is doing in me.

Thursday, February 4, 2016

Joy comes

Yesterday was a day filled with stress and frustrations and feelings of being overwhelmed – and it just seemed to never end.  At one point I just prayed, let this day be over – because deep inside I knew or had hope that tomorrow is a new day

This I recall to my mind,
Therefore I have hope.
Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
“The LORD is my portion,” says my soul,
“Therefore I hope in Him!”


These verses are from the book of Lamentations – that’s some title - and the author was writing during a time of great distress – nationally and personally.  Yet these verses speak of an assurance that even in the midst of a “bad day” we can have hope because, as one who belongs to the LORD, we have His promise that if we will trust Him, He will make a way; that our hope in Him is a sure thing and He will not disappoint us.  Joy comes in the morning  . . . and in trusting in Him.

Monday, January 4, 2016

Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Phil 4:6)

This was the verse that I read this morning and I thought, how appropriate because I just spent a somewhat restless night due to “worry” or not being able to turn off my mind from thinking, which is often the same thing for me.

So I thought I’d do a little digging deeper and here is some of what I found: 

First off this is a command, not just an exhortation or something optional.  It is to be the habitual practice of a believer to not worry.  Paul is not saying that there are not reasons to worry, but he is saying that believers are to avoid this subtle and debilitating sin - because worry is a sin.  Nor does this mean we are to look at life through rose-colored glasses, that we are not to face reality? No. Paul says that we are to worry about nothing because we are to pray about everything. 

Worry is undue care and is an intrusion into God's arena. It makes us the father of the household instead of being a child. (D Guzik)

Vine adds that anxiety harasses the soul; it enfeebles, irritates, ruffles the temper, is a sign of mistrust and of failing obedience, and distracts the mind from communion with God.

From the spiritual point of view, worry is wrong thinking (the mind) and wrong feeling (the heart) about circumstances, people, and things. Worry is the greatest thief of joy. It is not enough for us, however, to tell ourselves to “quit worrying” because that will never capture the thief. Worry is an “inside job,” and it takes more than good intentions to get the victory.

So how do I avoid worry:

The antidote to worry is the secure mind: “And the peace of God... shall keep [garrison, guard like a soldier] your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7). When you have the secure mind, the peace of God guards you (Phil. 4:7) and the God of peace guides you (Phil. 4:9). With that kind of protection—why worry? (Wiersbe, W)

Barnes adds that Paul "does not mean that we are to exercise no care about worldly matters - no care to preserve our property, or to provide for our families (1Ti 5:8); but that there is to be such confidence in God as to free the mind from anxiety, and such a sense of dependence on him as to keep it calm.

Cast (in Hebrew = a command) your burden upon the LORD (releasing the weight of if) and He will sustain you. He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. (Ps 55:22)

I found the following by W Wiersbe writing on Psalm 55:22  to be helpful

This promise tells us that Christians do have burdens. David is not talking about concern for others, although it's good to bear one another's burdens. Instead, he means the burdens that the Lord allows each one of us to bear. One translation reads, "Cast what he has given thee upon the Lord." Burdens are not accidents but appointments. The burdens you have in your life today are what God has ordained for you--unless they are the result of your own rebellious sin against Him. Burdens help us grow; they help us exercise the muscles of our faith. They teach us how to trust God and live a day at a time. This promise also tells us that we can cast these burdens on the Lord. Peter said, "Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you" (notes 1 Peter 5:7). The Lord gives us the burden, and then He says,

"Now give that burden back to Me. But don't stop there; give Me yourself as well."

If we try to give Him our burdens without giving Him ourselves, He really can't help us. It's like stepping onto an elevator with many heavy packages and failing to put them down on the floor until you reach your destination. Let the elevator carry both you and your packages. Notice that the verse doesn't say He'll keep you from problems all the time. He's going to use problems to build your character. But he'll make sure the righteous will not be moved. Cast your burden on the Lord. Let Him sustain you today. Giving your burden to God is an act of faith. But giving yourself to Him and letting Him use that burden to help you grow is taking an extra step of faith. He will invest that burden in building your character. Give your burdens to the Lord today.