Okay, in my world I admit that there are a few things that I really do not want to run out of and not have available when I need them. For example, diapers.... have you ever had to face the reality that you are out of diapers when changing a child? It is NOT pretty. Another thing I do not want to run out of is coffee.... my boys don't their mother to run out of coffee either! How about gas? My vehicle had a malfunctioning gas gage for a period of time and I ran out of gas twice.... once when I was driving and another when Reagan was driving. I still have a bolt of fear strike when the orange light flashes that we are running low on gas.
Perhaps nothing is harder, however, than the sinking feeling of emptiness within.... the moment when life and all of its needs is more than I can handle. When I realize that I have reached the end of my personal abilities, energy and time and yet what is ahead of me is beyond my limitations. Have you been there? Who hasn't been there before? Today, I read this from the book, Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, "Do not be ashamed of your emptiness. Instead, view it as the optimal condition for being filled with My Peace...Talk with Me about your struggles and feelings of inadequacy. Little by little, I will transform your weakness into strengths."
This morning, I felt so overwhelmed by all the tasks that await my attention. It seemed impossible to do it all and I began to feel so empty, tired, and self-focused. Gently, as I began to lift it all to Him and place my trust in His capable hands.... peace, flooded my mind and heart. My friend, I will never be able to handle all of life by my own strength or abilities, but in HIM I am perfectly designed and enabled to handle the plans He has for me. In HIM, we find complete-ness. I may or may not complete every item on my list to do today, but I can have peace knowing that He directs my paths and will work it all out for my good. He is faithful.
I also read this quote from Corrie Ten Boom from the book Once a Day,Everyday, "Conditions are always changing; therefore, I must not be dependent upon conditions. What matters supremely is my soul and my relationship to God." Glory! I can never control all the circumstance that will invade my world and life, but I can trust God to use it to grow my faith in Him and draw me closer to Him.
"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow- not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below- indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39 NLT (emphasis mine)
Father, help me to rejoice in all that you are able to do in and through me, today, when I so desperately needed to be filled with You. I trust you to handle all the details of this day ahead. I ask that you would grow my love, trust, and awareness of You through this day.
Monday, January 14, 2013
Thursday, January 10, 2013
From the Trash
I am not a morning person by nature. Some of you that know me personally are chuckling at that statement because you know that all too well. I have two sons that greet me each morning with thoughts of breakfast looming. Most of the time, that is their first statement, "What's for breakfast?" So, I drag myself to the kitchen, make coffee and try to oblige them as best as I can.
Yesterday, while making breakfast for the boys I noticed that Kendall was chewing on something. It took my coffee- deprived mind a minute to realize that I had not given him anything to eat. So, I asked him what he was eating and he informed me that he was eating dessert. I realized that he was munching happily on a dessert cake from some that we had purchased recently. I just couldn't figure out how he had gotten it.... they were high on a shelf in the pantry.... the older boys wouldn't give it to him because they know that I would not agree to it....hmmm. I questioned him, and he replied that he had gotten it from the.... (wait for it).... trash. TRASH???? What!?! Mortified, my mind quickly processed that he had not finished his dessert cake the previous night and apparently he had thrown it away, but he had not forgotten it. He ended up throwing it back in the trash, and I tried to get that image out of my head- I could still gag a little thinking about it. UGH!
Later, as I thought about the whole incident, I wondered if that is how God feels when we, as believers, "digest" unholy impurities into our lives.... How many times have we allowed things that we knew weren't spiritually nutritious into our lives because the temptation was so great? Maybe we thought it wasn't a big deal and that it wouldn't really affect us. Perhaps, it seemed harmless in that moment.... but, the evil one deceives us into thinking danger is harmless. In the end, regrets are plenty and we are left longing for purity. My friend, we must be careful of what we allow into our homes... of what we allow our eyes to see and ears to hear.
"So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I am the Lord your God. Keep all my decrees by putting them into practice, for I am the Lord who makes you holy." Leviticus 20:7-8 NLT
"But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God's love." Jude 1:20-21 NLT
"God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you."
1 Thessalonians 4: 7-8 NLT
My Friend, let us set our heart and mind about the task of purity and doing all that we can to keep our homes, bodies and spiritual lives holy and set apart for the tasks that God has for us. I do not want to miss out on what the Father has for me because I am spiritually unhealthy! Plus, as we raise our children, let us teach them the path of purity in all things- in our words, actions, activities and even in our reactions. In the words of a child's nursery song, "Oh, be careful little eyes what you see! Oh, be careful little ears what you hear!"
Yesterday, while making breakfast for the boys I noticed that Kendall was chewing on something. It took my coffee- deprived mind a minute to realize that I had not given him anything to eat. So, I asked him what he was eating and he informed me that he was eating dessert. I realized that he was munching happily on a dessert cake from some that we had purchased recently. I just couldn't figure out how he had gotten it.... they were high on a shelf in the pantry.... the older boys wouldn't give it to him because they know that I would not agree to it....hmmm. I questioned him, and he replied that he had gotten it from the.... (wait for it).... trash. TRASH???? What!?! Mortified, my mind quickly processed that he had not finished his dessert cake the previous night and apparently he had thrown it away, but he had not forgotten it. He ended up throwing it back in the trash, and I tried to get that image out of my head- I could still gag a little thinking about it. UGH!
Later, as I thought about the whole incident, I wondered if that is how God feels when we, as believers, "digest" unholy impurities into our lives.... How many times have we allowed things that we knew weren't spiritually nutritious into our lives because the temptation was so great? Maybe we thought it wasn't a big deal and that it wouldn't really affect us. Perhaps, it seemed harmless in that moment.... but, the evil one deceives us into thinking danger is harmless. In the end, regrets are plenty and we are left longing for purity. My friend, we must be careful of what we allow into our homes... of what we allow our eyes to see and ears to hear.
"So set yourselves apart to be holy, for I am the Lord your God. Keep all my decrees by putting them into practice, for I am the Lord who makes you holy." Leviticus 20:7-8 NLT
"But you, dear friends, must build each other up in your most holy faith, pray in the power of the Holy Spirit, and await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will bring you eternal life. In this way, you will keep yourselves safe in God's love." Jude 1:20-21 NLT
"God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you."
1 Thessalonians 4: 7-8 NLT
My Friend, let us set our heart and mind about the task of purity and doing all that we can to keep our homes, bodies and spiritual lives holy and set apart for the tasks that God has for us. I do not want to miss out on what the Father has for me because I am spiritually unhealthy! Plus, as we raise our children, let us teach them the path of purity in all things- in our words, actions, activities and even in our reactions. In the words of a child's nursery song, "Oh, be careful little eyes what you see! Oh, be careful little ears what you hear!"
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
In the Details
In the past several months, God has really been teaching me a lesson in regards to the daily details of my life. I tend to be a planner. I like knowing what we are intending to do any given day and often when I wake, my thoughts drift toward my plan for the day ahead. My boys have become accustomed to the daily briefing on what our plans are for the day. Now, while I believe that there are positives to this quality in my personality, God has been growing me in the small details. You are probably thinking...."What? Huh?"
In the past, I could get so worked up if all the details or man-made (aka Julie-made) plans for the day did not go as planned. I would become stressed out and not real enjoyable to be around. Ouch! Confession hurts, but truth heals. Our beautiful Father is revealing to me that He is in all the details of my life- and that He has them well under control. So, when traffic is bad, and it takes us longer to run errands than expected- it is okay. This week started with an unexpected guest making its arrival in our home...a stomach bug. When it hit me at church on Sunday morning, I saw God's hand in the extra worker that just showed up to help this week which allowed me to come home and rest. Our precious Savior had a different plan for me on Sunday. On Monday, I was better but still not ready to tackle all that I would have liked to have done on that day. Late in the day on Monday, Kendall became ill with our "guest" and changed all our plans for Tuesday.
Instead of being frustrated in all that I wasn't accomplishing over the past two days, I saw my Father in the details. He felt we needed extra rest, time to be together and just recover physically. If I say that I long to be in the Father's will, then I have to trust Him when He changes the plan for the day. There is freedom in that trust- the stress, concern and worry vanishes when I recognize that my Savior requires something different from me on that day, moment, hour..... He is in the details, but I must seek Him in them.
Today I read these words from Job while he was in the midst of hardship and heartache. His faith is so incredible - that even when his world fell apart, he trusted the Father.
"But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold. For I have stayed on God's paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside. I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food. But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind? Whatever he wants to do, he does. So he will do to me whatever he has planned. He controls my destiny." Job 23:10-14 NLT
Even when Job didn't understand what all was happening, he trusted the Father to be in the details of his life. He knew that God's plans and ways were higher than his. While I recognize that the challenges are a far cry from that which Job faced, I still believe that the Father is just as much in the details of my life as He was in the details of Job's life. He is in the details of your life too. If things are hard right now, just trust Him and continually reflect on His faithfulness and goodness to you in the past. Ask Him to reveal and show Himself faithful to you now. If life is going well, still seek Him in the details of your everyday events and have peace when He interrupts your self-made plans.
Father, give us eyes to see You in the details of our life....
In the past, I could get so worked up if all the details or man-made (aka Julie-made) plans for the day did not go as planned. I would become stressed out and not real enjoyable to be around. Ouch! Confession hurts, but truth heals. Our beautiful Father is revealing to me that He is in all the details of my life- and that He has them well under control. So, when traffic is bad, and it takes us longer to run errands than expected- it is okay. This week started with an unexpected guest making its arrival in our home...a stomach bug. When it hit me at church on Sunday morning, I saw God's hand in the extra worker that just showed up to help this week which allowed me to come home and rest. Our precious Savior had a different plan for me on Sunday. On Monday, I was better but still not ready to tackle all that I would have liked to have done on that day. Late in the day on Monday, Kendall became ill with our "guest" and changed all our plans for Tuesday.
Instead of being frustrated in all that I wasn't accomplishing over the past two days, I saw my Father in the details. He felt we needed extra rest, time to be together and just recover physically. If I say that I long to be in the Father's will, then I have to trust Him when He changes the plan for the day. There is freedom in that trust- the stress, concern and worry vanishes when I recognize that my Savior requires something different from me on that day, moment, hour..... He is in the details, but I must seek Him in them.
Today I read these words from Job while he was in the midst of hardship and heartache. His faith is so incredible - that even when his world fell apart, he trusted the Father.
"But he knows where I am going. And when he tests me, I will come out as pure as gold. For I have stayed on God's paths; I have followed his ways and not turned aside. I have not departed from his commands, but have treasured his words more than daily food. But once he has made his decision, who can change his mind? Whatever he wants to do, he does. So he will do to me whatever he has planned. He controls my destiny." Job 23:10-14 NLT
Even when Job didn't understand what all was happening, he trusted the Father to be in the details of his life. He knew that God's plans and ways were higher than his. While I recognize that the challenges are a far cry from that which Job faced, I still believe that the Father is just as much in the details of my life as He was in the details of Job's life. He is in the details of your life too. If things are hard right now, just trust Him and continually reflect on His faithfulness and goodness to you in the past. Ask Him to reveal and show Himself faithful to you now. If life is going well, still seek Him in the details of your everyday events and have peace when He interrupts your self-made plans.
Father, give us eyes to see You in the details of our life....
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Love Much
Every night before I go to bed, I go and check on the boys. I re-cover Kendall who often has moved enough to become uncovered. I also check Carson who sometimes needs an additional cover or may need to be uncovered as he tends to get hot when he sleeps. Caleb tends to be okay, but I still look in on him to make sure he has all that he needs. Every night, I go and check on them making adjustments for them as needed. Every night.... why? I can't help it. I can't laid down to rest until I know that they are cared for and prepared for the long night ahead. Most parents understand that need- the need to make sure that our children have all that they require in order for us to feel comfortable ourselves.
God is like that with us.... He tends to our needs out of His wealth of power, peace and riches. Even if it requires the life-blood of His very own Son, He stops at nothing to have a relationship with us and meet our needs. Unlimited resources are at His disposal and He will stop at nothing to watch us grow and mature in our faith and knowledge of Him. He desires a close, loving and intimate relationship with us and that is why He cares so much for our needs and concerns. Isn't that why we go to such lengths to care for our children? We want to see them grow and mature and have a loving, caring relationship with us.
"We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgement; because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love because He first loved us." 1 John 4:16-19 NASB
Truth is, as much as I want my boys to know that I love them and see all that I do for them- I want them to fall in love with God. My heart's desire is to reflect the love of the Father and Son into their lives through the enabling of the Holy Spirit within me. I want them to know that my love truly comes directly from the Father and His gift of life to us. The more I acknowledge, understand and see the love the Father has for me, the more my love for Him grows. It is then, when I am best able to share that love with others- my husband, my boys, and others in my life.
Today, stop and just reflect on the love that He has for you. In what ways, have you witnessed and experienced His love for you in the past few days? months? years? Reflect on your salvation and the heaven that awaits us and realize the great cost it required. How can we not feel overwhelmed by that kind of love? We are much loved .... let us go forth and love much.....
God is like that with us.... He tends to our needs out of His wealth of power, peace and riches. Even if it requires the life-blood of His very own Son, He stops at nothing to have a relationship with us and meet our needs. Unlimited resources are at His disposal and He will stop at nothing to watch us grow and mature in our faith and knowledge of Him. He desires a close, loving and intimate relationship with us and that is why He cares so much for our needs and concerns. Isn't that why we go to such lengths to care for our children? We want to see them grow and mature and have a loving, caring relationship with us.
"We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgement; because as He is, so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love because He first loved us." 1 John 4:16-19 NASB
Truth is, as much as I want my boys to know that I love them and see all that I do for them- I want them to fall in love with God. My heart's desire is to reflect the love of the Father and Son into their lives through the enabling of the Holy Spirit within me. I want them to know that my love truly comes directly from the Father and His gift of life to us. The more I acknowledge, understand and see the love the Father has for me, the more my love for Him grows. It is then, when I am best able to share that love with others- my husband, my boys, and others in my life.
Today, stop and just reflect on the love that He has for you. In what ways, have you witnessed and experienced His love for you in the past few days? months? years? Reflect on your salvation and the heaven that awaits us and realize the great cost it required. How can we not feel overwhelmed by that kind of love? We are much loved .... let us go forth and love much.....
Monday, January 7, 2013
Cuddles
This morning I was sitting on my bed and just savoring a time of quiet stillness when Kendall came into the room and climbed on the bed. He moved everything that was next to me so he could just sit right beside me. As it turned out, all he wanted was to be with his mommy- to sit close to me and cuddle. I have learned to never turn cuddles down knowing that all too soon the boys will grow and no longer search me out for that special time.
As we sat together, we talked, laughed, tickled and cuddled. Several times we just sat quietly and he laid his head on my shoulder to just rest with me. At one point, I did have to correct him - he is a two year old afterall! It was really a sweet time. God reminded me that is what He desires to have with me each day....
a time that I come and just sit in stillness with Him. In the stillness of His strong presence I can hear His voice better.
a time that we talk together. In that time with Him, I can pour out my heart to Him- struggles, joys, needs, praises and thanksgiving. Sometimes, that is when I am the most honest with myself in regards to matters of the heart.
a time of laughing and rejoicing. God wants us to rejoice in Him and all that He does for us. Sometimes, I just laugh and rejoice at the wonderful work of His hands in my life. When I see all that He does to meet and provide for us, how can I help but smile and praise Him?
a time of just resting in Him. Sometimes, I just need to rest in His strength and presence. To just feel His peace and trust that all is going to work out for my benefit, growth, and maturity.
a time of correction. Part of being in His loving presence is that I see my shortcomings more easily and He convicts me in areas that I need change. This is necessary if I am to continue growing in my faith. He only corrects those He loves deeply.
As much as Kendall enjoyed our time together, I think it meant so much more to me, as His parent. I know that soon he may not feel that need as much as he does now. I think God enjoys our time together more than I could ever appreciate as well. He knows how weak and feeble I can be in our times together and how much I need Him and that precious time to prepare for the day ahead.
Father, please stir and grow a desire in me to just be with You- to savor our time together. Thank you for reminding me of just how much I need that time of just being close to You.
As we sat together, we talked, laughed, tickled and cuddled. Several times we just sat quietly and he laid his head on my shoulder to just rest with me. At one point, I did have to correct him - he is a two year old afterall! It was really a sweet time. God reminded me that is what He desires to have with me each day....
a time that I come and just sit in stillness with Him. In the stillness of His strong presence I can hear His voice better.
a time that we talk together. In that time with Him, I can pour out my heart to Him- struggles, joys, needs, praises and thanksgiving. Sometimes, that is when I am the most honest with myself in regards to matters of the heart.
a time of laughing and rejoicing. God wants us to rejoice in Him and all that He does for us. Sometimes, I just laugh and rejoice at the wonderful work of His hands in my life. When I see all that He does to meet and provide for us, how can I help but smile and praise Him?
a time of just resting in Him. Sometimes, I just need to rest in His strength and presence. To just feel His peace and trust that all is going to work out for my benefit, growth, and maturity.
a time of correction. Part of being in His loving presence is that I see my shortcomings more easily and He convicts me in areas that I need change. This is necessary if I am to continue growing in my faith. He only corrects those He loves deeply.
As much as Kendall enjoyed our time together, I think it meant so much more to me, as His parent. I know that soon he may not feel that need as much as he does now. I think God enjoys our time together more than I could ever appreciate as well. He knows how weak and feeble I can be in our times together and how much I need Him and that precious time to prepare for the day ahead.
Father, please stir and grow a desire in me to just be with You- to savor our time together. Thank you for reminding me of just how much I need that time of just being close to You.
Thursday, January 3, 2013
He is My Life
"The giant step in the walk of faith is the one we take when we decide God no longer is a part of our lives. He is our life." Beth Moore, Praying God's Word Day by Day
Have you been there? Have you hit that place where you suddenly realize that all you have done before and your "token" efforts to be a Christian have fallen short? Did you still feel empty?
I did. I had accepted Christ as a child and had tried to make God an active part of my life. I attended church faithfully and would even stop to read scriptures when I could work it into my busy schedule. I would even acknowledge that I wanted Him to be first in my life. But, I still felt that I was missing something and I was- I was missing the intimacy with the Father that He longs to have with us. I found myself at the bottom of a pit of my own making and design. This pit was made by feeble attempts of being a Christian and times of living my life by the world standard instead of the Father's standard.
It was there, at the bottom of my self- designed pit, that my heart stirred with the longing for more. When I looked to the Father, He reached down and pulled me out to freedom, to purpose, to more love and intimacy with Him than I had ever known. My heart was so full to overflowing with love for the Father that I realized that was what I was missing.... Him. I no longer wanted to dabble in Him.... I wanted Him to be my life. The grace and love He offered me was so much more than I could ever imagine and I needed Him as much as the air in my lungs.
"Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life- even though invisible to spectators- is with Christ in God. He is your life." Colossians 3:3 MSG
"He said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important commandment.'" Matthew 22:37-38 Holman CSB
My friend, He wants to be our life- as close and needed as the air in our lungs. He wants to give us more that our mind's eye could imagine. No matter where we are in our faith, He longs to take us deeper in our relationship with Him. As we start this new year, let us make Him more than a priority- let Him become your life.
Have you been there? Have you hit that place where you suddenly realize that all you have done before and your "token" efforts to be a Christian have fallen short? Did you still feel empty?
I did. I had accepted Christ as a child and had tried to make God an active part of my life. I attended church faithfully and would even stop to read scriptures when I could work it into my busy schedule. I would even acknowledge that I wanted Him to be first in my life. But, I still felt that I was missing something and I was- I was missing the intimacy with the Father that He longs to have with us. I found myself at the bottom of a pit of my own making and design. This pit was made by feeble attempts of being a Christian and times of living my life by the world standard instead of the Father's standard.
It was there, at the bottom of my self- designed pit, that my heart stirred with the longing for more. When I looked to the Father, He reached down and pulled me out to freedom, to purpose, to more love and intimacy with Him than I had ever known. My heart was so full to overflowing with love for the Father that I realized that was what I was missing.... Him. I no longer wanted to dabble in Him.... I wanted Him to be my life. The grace and love He offered me was so much more than I could ever imagine and I needed Him as much as the air in my lungs.
"Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life- even though invisible to spectators- is with Christ in God. He is your life." Colossians 3:3 MSG
"He said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important commandment.'" Matthew 22:37-38 Holman CSB
My friend, He wants to be our life- as close and needed as the air in our lungs. He wants to give us more that our mind's eye could imagine. No matter where we are in our faith, He longs to take us deeper in our relationship with Him. As we start this new year, let us make Him more than a priority- let Him become your life.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
At His Feet
Well, I sit here in the warmth of my home and family, and just ponder the new year ahead. There is just something about the closer of one thing and the newness of another- just as chapters in a good book. However, for many of us, this isn't a good book, but our life. For many, the chapter of 2012 did not go as expected and they are longing for a new, fresh start. For some, 2012 was an incredible year of milestones and blessings. Most of us probably fall somewhere in the middle- with a mix of moments both high and low- so entangled and intertwined that it is hard to separate them.
The thought that hit me this morning is that no matter how we reflect on this past year, we can lay it all at the foot of the cross. Was this year incredibly difficult? Lay it at the foot of the cross. Was this year an incredible gift to you? Lay it at the foot of the cross. The Father is willing to take it all- whether good or bad- and it is a blessing to Him. Why? Because it shows that we trust Him. If we trust Him with our hurts, tears, joys and gifts then He can grow us, mold us, and our reflection changes into His perspective. Shouldn't that be our heart anyway? To see all of life from the perspective of the Father?
Today, take a moment to reflect on all that has been and all that you hope will be.... then, lay it all at His feet. You will feel such peace, comfort, and joy knowing that He will work it all out for your good and benefit. Blessings, my friend, blessings!
The thought that hit me this morning is that no matter how we reflect on this past year, we can lay it all at the foot of the cross. Was this year incredibly difficult? Lay it at the foot of the cross. Was this year an incredible gift to you? Lay it at the foot of the cross. The Father is willing to take it all- whether good or bad- and it is a blessing to Him. Why? Because it shows that we trust Him. If we trust Him with our hurts, tears, joys and gifts then He can grow us, mold us, and our reflection changes into His perspective. Shouldn't that be our heart anyway? To see all of life from the perspective of the Father?
Today, take a moment to reflect on all that has been and all that you hope will be.... then, lay it all at His feet. You will feel such peace, comfort, and joy knowing that He will work it all out for your good and benefit. Blessings, my friend, blessings!
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