Just a few short years ago I was turning 30 in the most romantic city in the world. Although, I was stepping into a new decade (without a mate...in Paris, France - whoa is me), I was honored to be able to share this night with some of my favorite people in the world! My friends and i spent the day touring the Louvre, picnicking at the base of the eiffel tower, visiting the majestic sacre coeur, and enjoying a sophisticated french meal. I was overflowing with love and full of blessing. Just as soon as I thought the day couldn't have been any more exciting, we had one more adventure in store that none of us could have predicted...
My two girl friends and i left our group at the Eiffel tower pretty late. Unfortunately, in all of our joy, we failed to consider the most crucial element of the evening.... our returning transportation. We knew we could catch a series of trains to get back to the place we were staying, but the thought of those trains taking a rest for the late evening didn't even cross our minds. UNTIL... we saw everyone running for the last train (or so we thought). As soon as a few people began to whiz by, we caught on and followed....in super sonic warp speed. I'm sure we looked pretty funny with panic smeared across our faces at the alarming thought of missing our only ride and being stuck in downtown Paris with nowhere to go (more creepy than romantic after city hours). We ran as fast as our little American legs would take us.
We were so relieved to see the train still in it's station announcing it's final boarding call (or something like that) in french. We dove onto the train seconds before the door shut. Our rejoicing quickly turning into perplexity as we looked out the windows and noticed people blankly starring back. Our confusion fused into terror as we then realized that we were the ONLY 3 PEOPLE ON THE WHOLE TRAIN!!! Are you kidding me???? This was about the same time the lights starting flickering and turned completely black. All we could see now where the whites of our eyes which was plenty of evidence to reveal our state of sheer panic. Several minutes later our subway screeched to a halt in what looked like a train cemetery. Boxcar children series gone creepy. Greeeeeeeat. As soon as we stopped our Macgyver instinct must have set in as we all began looking for ways to escape. Since I didn't have chewing gum (hope you're all catching the 80's references, haha) I naturally gravitated to the windows to look for air, call for help, and possibly find a way to get out. One friend proceeded to pull every last emergency thingy, while the other one was trying to pry the doors open with her fingernails. We felt pretty helpless and pitiful until we finally got one of the doors open... then we pretty felt like Charlie's angels.
Our little adventure only got creepier as we exited the train and squeezed onto a tiny silver platform. At this point we started arguing about what to do next. In all of my brilliance I suggested we follow the tracks back to the station and pray that we could find our way from there. Thank God they didn't listen to me. And just like in a Hitchcock film, the shadow of a tall man stepped out of the door onto the platform where we were standing (as if there were enough room for one more shady character). For what felt like minutes He stood there laughing with this deep voice, shaking his keys, and saying something in french (i knew i should have paid more attention in class). The man opened each door door with ease using his magical keys... and we blindly followed him back through the train. Thankfully, He looked less like a murderer and a little more like a saint as we stepped into the light. Half way down the train we found another sweet little lost couple who had made the same mistake we had. We finally made it back to the front (or back??) of the train and the very generous man drove us back to the station so we could find our way home.
Praise God there was one more train that would take us home SWEET home. That night as I lay in the comfort and refuge of my bed, I thought about that conductor. I wondered how often that might happen to him, and if he always drives the lost puppies back to safety. I also thought about how easy it is to get lost when you are in a hurry, can't read the signs, or understand the foreign announcements for transportation termination. Then I thought about how similar life is to this kooky experience. Most of the time we are in a hurry to get somewhere, do something, or be somebody. The very word of God seems foreign to us unless a pastor or author can translate it. And how often we misunderstand the very one that created us out of His love. Before you know it, we hop on the wrong train going nowhere and have absolutely no idea how to get back. Frustration, guilt and fear set in as we wonder how in the world we ended up here once again.
But just like the story of the prodigal son, our Father sees our humble broken desire to return home and runs after us with all His might! Every single time we are lost, confused, or frightened is another opportunity to run to Jesus. My faith, love and trust for Him grows as He rescues, forgives, and leads me home. And the more time we spend in communion with Him, the more we will begin to feel found, redeemed, rested and adored in the arms of our loving Savior.
B90: (Psalm 102-119:80) David often suggested we "remember the wondrous works that He has done," and never failed to repeat the testimony of the Lord up until this point in history. As we, not only remember the testimonies of the bible, but also recount what God has done in our own lives we are symbolically driving a stake into the ground. This stake will not only glorify God in it's representation of His promises fulfilled, but it will also be a place to revisit in moments of forgetfullness. A place the helps you remember what He has done and what He can do. No matter how lost, confused or broken we think we are... we can ALWAYS return to that place. Even better than that, Jesus (if we ask) will be our own personal guide back to that solid stake in the ground. After all, that's the same stake that was pulled out from His hands. How then can we not trust the one who will lead us home? His promises are good, His portion was enough, and He will NEVER stop loving the heck out of us!
"Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life fro the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him..." Psalm 103: 2-11
Friday, August 12, 2011
Thursday, August 11, 2011
(day forty-three) ATTACK!!!
This weekend we sat on the 2nd floor of our deck to watch a family of bears brush by our cabin steps, sniff our garbage, and slip in between our cars. While some family members ran outside to see this rare occurrence, others ran inside to hide. So naturally we wrote a song called, "bear attack". Later I asked the cabin manager if there have ever been any REAL attacks out there and she said only one in about 20 years. I questioned further. Apparently, this very intelligent women decided to feed the bears (really? don't ever do this, k?)... and unfortunately ran out of food during this process. Oops. As she was walking (walking????) away the bear jumps on her back and attacks. I think she survived and, I hope, learned a good lesson. But don't go blaming the bear either... if you were that hungry you may very well do the same thing! If we let that one instance stop us from ever going back to the wilderness, we'd be missing out on so much.
As you probably know by now, the movie "Soul Surfer" is about a girl named Bethany Hamilton who gets her arm taken off by a shark while surfing. (This movie is excellent, please watch!!!) Most people would call this a "shark attack", duh. The shark probably wasn't seeking to attack, but was just a little hungry (like our fuzzy friend). The coolest thing about Bethany is that this event did not stop her from getting back in the water. She didn't allow the attack to paralyze her from the thing she enjoyed most in the world. In fact, that wasn't even an issue for her. Something the enemy could have easily used as an obstruction in her life was conquered with the courage and strength of the Lord. She faced her troubles head on and not only lives in that freedom, but inspires others to do so!
I've spoken to a lot of people recently who have experienced some sort of tragic event. Typically a steady stream of anxiousness follows. Maybe you haven't had to encounter pain; but most likely you've seen it, heard it or read about it. Movies and media can also feed into the enemy's ploy to paralyze God's kids. Fear is real, it's an epidemic, and it's a silent disease that's taking over the body of Christ. The problem is... most of us think it's "normal" to worry or stress because of the world's natural reaction to problems. Truth is: this is not how we are meant to live and I will not sit back and watch His children be consumed and frozen by the enemy's deception any longer! None of us should; it's time to point out the lies, shatter them with God's truth and live in FREEDOM. Don't we all want to see this in our lives and in those around us? Can you imagine what we would be capable of as believers if there was absolutely NOTHING holding us back???
I used to have the most random thoughts. I'd be walking down the stairs and something would say, "you are going to trip". Or I'd be driving through the mountains and I'd hear, "you are going to fall off the cliff." Or I'd be scared someone I loved would get hurt or die. If you're constantly succumbing to these lies, then you probably find yourself a bit edgy. Always expecting something bad to happen. Always in a state of panic... finding it hard to breathe at times.
Well, first of all we need to go to the root and REBUKE the spirit of fear. IT DOES NOT BELONG IN YOU. Secondly, we need to capture each of those fearful thoughts when they come and IMMEDIATELY turn them over to God without dwelling in them. Now, when those random thoughts come in... I rebuke them and pray the opposite. Just like that, I'm done... no need to fear or worry because it's now in God's hands. Thirdly, I finally realized how much fear was coming from things that I watched. So, I'd recommend not watching MOST t.v. and cutting out movies that instill some sort of fear in you.
Experiment: Watch Television for an hour and record the negative words you hear such as- death, sickness, hate, anger, abuse, tragedy, etc etc. Record the negative tones, screaming, loud noises (gun shots), etc. Then compare all of this with the positive things you hear and see. You might be amazed at how much fear is entering our homes through the tube (sometimes just being on in the background).
Today I was talking with a friend of mine whose son died a few weeks ago. She's still painfully walking through the loss, and probably will be for a little while. She told me that after He died, she feared the worst possible scenario for His soul. My friend was almost paralyzed by this fear... until she began to pray. Gutted, she asked for a peace beyond comprehension. Before, during and after the funeral she said that the Holy Spirit came over her and consumed her with His love. She felt pure peace, pure love and pure joy in those moments KNOWING that it had to be God. She is now a walking testimony of God's power in and through His kids. Her natural "earthly" tendency would be to anticipate tragedy again, but not now! Now... she's so full of God's supernatural strength and courage that she says she could tell anyone about the love of Christ (without fear)!
I recently had a friend tell say to me, "man, i'll be glad when we are in heaven and don't have to worry anymore." To that I simply replied... "we don't have to." I know what He was meaning but truly... we have countless opportunities to worry and DO have the option of tapping into His wealth of peace, truth, joy and rest instead. Remember: we are the intersection of heaven and earth. Just like mentioned yesterday, we have the awesome advantage of walking in that spiritual kingdom right now. If you're reading this and still don't quite understand take a look at the gospels when He talks about His kingdom and begin asking for God to reveal the truth and make it very real to you. Our heavenly Dad desires for us to be walking in complete freedom so we can fully experience His joy and peace in the midst of the chaos of the world. It is possible. Don't accept the enemy's cheap counterfeit in place of God's authenticity for you.
B90: (Psalm 78- 101:8) Again, David had plenty of opportunities to worry. All throughout his life he was a target. David could have been overcome by this fear and hid out in a cave the rest of his life, but David never stopped trusting or verbalizing His praise. He stepped out on faith countless times and found an endless amount of refuge in His protector. David knew what it was like to choose hope in hopeless situations and find freedom on the other side. To dwell means : To live as a resident; reside. Or to exist in a given place or state. Don't know about you, but I don't want to just visit the refuge of the Lord and live in a state of panic or fearful anticipation the rest of the time. I want to DWELL in that place, with HIM.
"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. YOU WILL NOT FEAR the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day; nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord your DWELLING PLACE- the Most High, who is my refuge- no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." Ps. 91:1-11
As you probably know by now, the movie "Soul Surfer" is about a girl named Bethany Hamilton who gets her arm taken off by a shark while surfing. (This movie is excellent, please watch!!!) Most people would call this a "shark attack", duh. The shark probably wasn't seeking to attack, but was just a little hungry (like our fuzzy friend). The coolest thing about Bethany is that this event did not stop her from getting back in the water. She didn't allow the attack to paralyze her from the thing she enjoyed most in the world. In fact, that wasn't even an issue for her. Something the enemy could have easily used as an obstruction in her life was conquered with the courage and strength of the Lord. She faced her troubles head on and not only lives in that freedom, but inspires others to do so!
I've spoken to a lot of people recently who have experienced some sort of tragic event. Typically a steady stream of anxiousness follows. Maybe you haven't had to encounter pain; but most likely you've seen it, heard it or read about it. Movies and media can also feed into the enemy's ploy to paralyze God's kids. Fear is real, it's an epidemic, and it's a silent disease that's taking over the body of Christ. The problem is... most of us think it's "normal" to worry or stress because of the world's natural reaction to problems. Truth is: this is not how we are meant to live and I will not sit back and watch His children be consumed and frozen by the enemy's deception any longer! None of us should; it's time to point out the lies, shatter them with God's truth and live in FREEDOM. Don't we all want to see this in our lives and in those around us? Can you imagine what we would be capable of as believers if there was absolutely NOTHING holding us back???
I used to have the most random thoughts. I'd be walking down the stairs and something would say, "you are going to trip". Or I'd be driving through the mountains and I'd hear, "you are going to fall off the cliff." Or I'd be scared someone I loved would get hurt or die. If you're constantly succumbing to these lies, then you probably find yourself a bit edgy. Always expecting something bad to happen. Always in a state of panic... finding it hard to breathe at times.
Well, first of all we need to go to the root and REBUKE the spirit of fear. IT DOES NOT BELONG IN YOU. Secondly, we need to capture each of those fearful thoughts when they come and IMMEDIATELY turn them over to God without dwelling in them. Now, when those random thoughts come in... I rebuke them and pray the opposite. Just like that, I'm done... no need to fear or worry because it's now in God's hands. Thirdly, I finally realized how much fear was coming from things that I watched. So, I'd recommend not watching MOST t.v. and cutting out movies that instill some sort of fear in you.
Experiment: Watch Television for an hour and record the negative words you hear such as- death, sickness, hate, anger, abuse, tragedy, etc etc. Record the negative tones, screaming, loud noises (gun shots), etc. Then compare all of this with the positive things you hear and see. You might be amazed at how much fear is entering our homes through the tube (sometimes just being on in the background).
Today I was talking with a friend of mine whose son died a few weeks ago. She's still painfully walking through the loss, and probably will be for a little while. She told me that after He died, she feared the worst possible scenario for His soul. My friend was almost paralyzed by this fear... until she began to pray. Gutted, she asked for a peace beyond comprehension. Before, during and after the funeral she said that the Holy Spirit came over her and consumed her with His love. She felt pure peace, pure love and pure joy in those moments KNOWING that it had to be God. She is now a walking testimony of God's power in and through His kids. Her natural "earthly" tendency would be to anticipate tragedy again, but not now! Now... she's so full of God's supernatural strength and courage that she says she could tell anyone about the love of Christ (without fear)!
I recently had a friend tell say to me, "man, i'll be glad when we are in heaven and don't have to worry anymore." To that I simply replied... "we don't have to." I know what He was meaning but truly... we have countless opportunities to worry and DO have the option of tapping into His wealth of peace, truth, joy and rest instead. Remember: we are the intersection of heaven and earth. Just like mentioned yesterday, we have the awesome advantage of walking in that spiritual kingdom right now. If you're reading this and still don't quite understand take a look at the gospels when He talks about His kingdom and begin asking for God to reveal the truth and make it very real to you. Our heavenly Dad desires for us to be walking in complete freedom so we can fully experience His joy and peace in the midst of the chaos of the world. It is possible. Don't accept the enemy's cheap counterfeit in place of God's authenticity for you.
B90: (Psalm 78- 101:8) Again, David had plenty of opportunities to worry. All throughout his life he was a target. David could have been overcome by this fear and hid out in a cave the rest of his life, but David never stopped trusting or verbalizing His praise. He stepped out on faith countless times and found an endless amount of refuge in His protector. David knew what it was like to choose hope in hopeless situations and find freedom on the other side. To dwell means : To live as a resident; reside. Or to exist in a given place or state. Don't know about you, but I don't want to just visit the refuge of the Lord and live in a state of panic or fearful anticipation the rest of the time. I want to DWELL in that place, with HIM.
"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, "My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler. YOU WILL NOT FEAR the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day; nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. Because you have made the Lord your DWELLING PLACE- the Most High, who is my refuge- no evil shall be allowed to befall you, no plague come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways." Ps. 91:1-11
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
(day forty-two) the unsinkable beautiful mess
Well folks, it's good to be back. It was a pretty darn good vacation too! Last friday my sis, the twins and I took off to meet all of our cousins in Gatlinburg, Tn. We had 6 kidos under the age of 5, and about 13 adults in a cabin overlooking the beautiful smokey mountains (and a family of black bears :). Although baby bath times were a bit chaotic, we had such a great time of fellowship and sharing the blessing of life with one other. Each person has quite a testimony over the last few years, and it's a precious time when everyone's reflection gives so much glory to God for making it through the thick. I saw so much giving, serving, sharing, and loving this past weekend. And I also realize how rare this is. Sadly, some people never get to see this type of family in action. Sure we had our messes and mistakes, but we also had plenty of forgiveness and laughter :) Moments of togetherness like this always teach us how messy life can be (especially with so many under one roof), how imperfect it is... yet how beautiful it becomes when the center is HIM. This is community; this is how our worldwide church family should, can, and will be. A beautiful mess.
Surprisingly, one of the most interesting outings our family took while visiting "hillbilly las vegas" was the titanic exhibit. What could've been a quite depressing two hour tour of tragedy was actually a good little revelation for me. (By now I'm sure you've realized I can find spiritual significance in just about anything. Haha. ) As you know the titanic's big tag line (pre-accident) was the "unsinkable ship". As you walk through the halls reading the stories, listening to the claims, and sensing the fear... you can almost taste the pride that threaded it's way through the ship's journey to it's fatal end.
When we boast of perfection we'll always fall short somehow, but when we consider ourselves a failure we fall short of God's "claim" on us. Believe it or not, both are pride... and both paths lead to destruction. Pride sank the unsinkable, it destroys relationships, severs marriages, defeats the poor, and truly keeps us from hearing God's voice. (And it's not because He's not talking.) When we realize how truly helpless we are in this world without God and decide to put our trust and confidence in Him... we finally begin to embrace our very own beautiful mess. Our eyes open to His love and lack of intimidation for our journey, and everyone elses for that matter. This is called: stepping into the kingdom He offers on earth now. We can actually walk around in the kingdom of heaven here.... before we die physically. "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done... on earth as it is in heaven." (Matt 6) This world (and our body) is fallen and broken, but He is perfect! Amen?
I know we all have our fair share of "icebergs". I'm positive every person reading this has experienced severe pain at some point in their lives. Some of you still have not fully gotten through it, and you may not be seeing relief in the distance. Why then would you believe someone like me telling you that the rescue boats have already been sent out and are on their way? Truth is, you don't have to believe me... you don't even have to believe God i guess. But that's EXACTLY why we have faith. We wouldn't even need it if everything happened the way we thought or expected. But we don't HAVE to guess either. Thankfully we have the option of trusting in a good good God who knows way better than we do. "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?" God firmly but lovingly tells Job. I don't know about you, but I would rather trust and rest than worry and fret in any and EVERY situation (big or small).
Icebergs, waves, and storms will come and most likely threaten our lives... at the very least our joy. But if we humbly choose to grab His hand and walk (ok, sail) with the one who IS unsinkable... we can rest assured that not only will we survive, we will thrive! Because of who we serve we are NO longer victims... but victors! Every breath is another opportunity to trust.
The following is part of an email I just received from a dear friend, I thought it fit appropriately with today's blog. This young woman has been through a lot the past couple of years, and I feel as though her personal revelation will release the Lord's healing hand in others lives tonight:
"It's taken me many years to get this far and it may feel like im near the end of some things but there is new exciting territory ahead on the other side of these seas. Ive been scared for a long time to know what they may be, but today God gave me joy in realizing it IS brighter and His light shall be enough motivation to step out. I was walking by moon light today when i realized the love of walking with god. I then recognized my fear of the unknown that would normally keep me home past dark. If I would've let the fear stop me, i would have missed the glorious opportunity to see Him. Its time to step into the unkown future with hope :)"
B90: (Psalm 57- 77:20) It wasn't hard for David to relate to the sea (or any of the people we read about in the bible for that matter.) If they weren't swimming in it, fishing from it, or walking on it... they were parting it. Try to picture yourself not "land-locked" for a moment while meditating on some of this scripture.
"Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God." Ps. 69: 1-3 I'm gonna skip to vs 29..." But I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high!" This is our morse code and Jesus is our translator.... this is our desperate plea for help. We all have these moments, some more than others.... and guess what? That's ok! God loves hearing our voice and He loves an open desired opportunity to move in a powerful way. Unfortunately sometimes we are silent; unwilling to ask, seek, or even cry out! David is a perfect example of calling out to the Lord. His songs are filled with dilemmas, questions, and wonders of God's mystery and will. But His call is always followed up with a declaration of God's character. You can almost see a visible shift in perspective after His cry and in His declaration. Believing God is who He is glorifying.... He begins to see the light and praise HIM!
Picking it back up again in Ch 69:30 David says, "I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs. When the humble see it they will be glad; YOU WHO SEEK GOD, LET YOUR HEARTS REVIVE. For the Lord hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners. Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them....." Amen.
Surprisingly, one of the most interesting outings our family took while visiting "hillbilly las vegas" was the titanic exhibit. What could've been a quite depressing two hour tour of tragedy was actually a good little revelation for me. (By now I'm sure you've realized I can find spiritual significance in just about anything. Haha. ) As you know the titanic's big tag line (pre-accident) was the "unsinkable ship". As you walk through the halls reading the stories, listening to the claims, and sensing the fear... you can almost taste the pride that threaded it's way through the ship's journey to it's fatal end.
When we boast of perfection we'll always fall short somehow, but when we consider ourselves a failure we fall short of God's "claim" on us. Believe it or not, both are pride... and both paths lead to destruction. Pride sank the unsinkable, it destroys relationships, severs marriages, defeats the poor, and truly keeps us from hearing God's voice. (And it's not because He's not talking.) When we realize how truly helpless we are in this world without God and decide to put our trust and confidence in Him... we finally begin to embrace our very own beautiful mess. Our eyes open to His love and lack of intimidation for our journey, and everyone elses for that matter. This is called: stepping into the kingdom He offers on earth now. We can actually walk around in the kingdom of heaven here.... before we die physically. "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done... on earth as it is in heaven." (Matt 6) This world (and our body) is fallen and broken, but He is perfect! Amen?
I know we all have our fair share of "icebergs". I'm positive every person reading this has experienced severe pain at some point in their lives. Some of you still have not fully gotten through it, and you may not be seeing relief in the distance. Why then would you believe someone like me telling you that the rescue boats have already been sent out and are on their way? Truth is, you don't have to believe me... you don't even have to believe God i guess. But that's EXACTLY why we have faith. We wouldn't even need it if everything happened the way we thought or expected. But we don't HAVE to guess either. Thankfully we have the option of trusting in a good good God who knows way better than we do. "Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?" God firmly but lovingly tells Job. I don't know about you, but I would rather trust and rest than worry and fret in any and EVERY situation (big or small).
Icebergs, waves, and storms will come and most likely threaten our lives... at the very least our joy. But if we humbly choose to grab His hand and walk (ok, sail) with the one who IS unsinkable... we can rest assured that not only will we survive, we will thrive! Because of who we serve we are NO longer victims... but victors! Every breath is another opportunity to trust.
The following is part of an email I just received from a dear friend, I thought it fit appropriately with today's blog. This young woman has been through a lot the past couple of years, and I feel as though her personal revelation will release the Lord's healing hand in others lives tonight:
"It's taken me many years to get this far and it may feel like im near the end of some things but there is new exciting territory ahead on the other side of these seas. Ive been scared for a long time to know what they may be, but today God gave me joy in realizing it IS brighter and His light shall be enough motivation to step out. I was walking by moon light today when i realized the love of walking with god. I then recognized my fear of the unknown that would normally keep me home past dark. If I would've let the fear stop me, i would have missed the glorious opportunity to see Him. Its time to step into the unkown future with hope :)"
B90: (Psalm 57- 77:20) It wasn't hard for David to relate to the sea (or any of the people we read about in the bible for that matter.) If they weren't swimming in it, fishing from it, or walking on it... they were parting it. Try to picture yourself not "land-locked" for a moment while meditating on some of this scripture.
"Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God." Ps. 69: 1-3 I'm gonna skip to vs 29..." But I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high!" This is our morse code and Jesus is our translator.... this is our desperate plea for help. We all have these moments, some more than others.... and guess what? That's ok! God loves hearing our voice and He loves an open desired opportunity to move in a powerful way. Unfortunately sometimes we are silent; unwilling to ask, seek, or even cry out! David is a perfect example of calling out to the Lord. His songs are filled with dilemmas, questions, and wonders of God's mystery and will. But His call is always followed up with a declaration of God's character. You can almost see a visible shift in perspective after His cry and in His declaration. Believing God is who He is glorifying.... He begins to see the light and praise HIM!
Picking it back up again in Ch 69:30 David says, "I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs. When the humble see it they will be glad; YOU WHO SEEK GOD, LET YOUR HEARTS REVIVE. For the Lord hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners. Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them....." Amen.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
just a little note....
Due to a little holiday with my cousins for the next 5 days, I'll be posting the next blog on next tuesday (8/9/11). If you are reading along with us, I'll just pick up where we left off. If you've made any other commitments during this "90 day" challenge it's probably good to try and keep those. Please read the very first post "90 days to becoming whole" if you haven't already. It explains the whole idea behind us challenging ourselves with mental, physical, and spiritual aspects for 90 days to create habits that promote a lifestyle of "wholeness". I've seen throughout scripture this phrase "wholly loved the Lord", and that peeks my curiosity even further. I've also been realizing that when we take a little more effort to dedicate ALL God's given us (the earth, the people in the earth, our body, mind, soul) and taking care of it properly (stewardship), He blesses that. When we give Him our first, He gives us His best. I know that we won't be completely WHOLE until the day we day, but we are already living in eternity so why not allow Him to start that process now? All ready I've fallen deeper in love with God, feel healthier and stronger than I ever have in my life (which also helps me do the things God's called me to do well), seen more miracles and blessings... and we're only half way through!!! I'd love to hear stories and comments from everyone out there reading this. It's always so good to encourage each other along and realize the importance of wholeness in Him, rather than letting our life just slip through our fingers by doing pointless things. Our life is so short!!! And it was meant for so much more than we give it credit for sometimes! YOU are a child of the most High King. With Him, the possibilities in life are endless. He wants to FREE you of anything that holds you back from living a full life so that you can be a proper representation of Christ. Don't waste another second letting life just happen. If you seek His face wholeheartedly, He will change your life forever! See you all in a few days. Be intentional with your time, invest in relationships, seek wholeness and freedom in your life and you'll begin to see it in others. Daddy loves you so very much...listen for His whisper :) Love you! Lindsey
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
(day forty-one) Everyday Justice
Instead of the usual blog today, I'm going to share an article with you that I just wrote for an online magazine. Social Justice is something that's very close to my heart. I'm realizing how much we have a part in global justice whether we are investing in freedom or slavery (unfortunately). When Christ frees us from slavery of sin, we naturally desire to see this freedom in others lives (spiritually and physically). God loves His kids all over this planet, and we should too... we are family after all.
Do you sometimes feel overwhelmed, helpless, or guilty when you hear about all the injustice and pain in the world? It's not that we lack compassion, it's just that in most cases we have no idea where to start. Although you are just one person... together we can do so much, even by starting small.
“When I was a young christian I was told that our job was to get people to heaven. The world (like now) was a mess, so evacuating people seemed like a good idea. What if instead I had been told that our main job was to bring the kingdom of God to our planet? What if that meant doing very practical things like advocating for people who were poor, voiceless and powerless? “ Jim Henderson
I love the definition Julie Clawson gives in her book "Everyday Justice" of JUSTICE: the practical result of loving God and loving others. Truth is: We need simple, positive, concrete ways that cause our lifestyle to be one that represents Christ well and in turn will effect important issues like fair trade, modern-day slavery, fossil fuel dependence, ethical eating and buying, and debt.
It's not only about “saving” or “rescuing” the world (which are very admirable goals), but it's about being a good steward of what God's given us no matter where we are. When we take care of “His stuff” that He's given us the right to use, He begins to bless our lives AND heal the world... one step at a time, one person at a time. But we must first look inward to our hearts. How do we love each person we encounter well? Then how well are we stewarding our earth? Simply asking yourself these questions is jump starting your assistance in the freedom of the world.
Most of us may hesitate to make changes in our buying and using because it effects our pocket book. In my case I've learned two very important lessons in this. I've seen that it actually cuts ways down on my spending because I either don't shop at the “normal” stores, buy fair-trade online, or shop re-sale. Also, I believe God will honor these small steps we take towards stewarding His earth and taking care of the people in it, even if it costs a little more sometimes. The more we invest in people's freedom (spiritually and financially) the more blessed we become.
Here are some more tangible ways to live this out: Buy fair trade chocolate, coffee and other products. (great resource! http://www.equalexchange.coop/) Be more self-sustainable by composting, recycling, carpooling, gardening... demanding less from the world and promoting your local community.
Shouldn't the church (us) be the ones to get excited about building gardens for the community, recycling their trash, and such? For some reason we tend to think that these things are not related to the gospel. But our everyday choices really do echo around the world, not to mention show our local community how much we care.
“Jesus' life, death and resurrection inaugurated a new kingdom, and he taught his disciples to live according to the revolutionary values of this kingdom of God: to care for the needy, to treat one's enemies with love, to feed the hungry, to work for justice, and make more disciples. Jesus wanted this peaceful revolution, his kingdom of justice and love, to spread.” Julie Clawson
B90: (Psalms 34- 56:13)
"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit." Ps. 34:18
"For the Lord loves justice; he will not forsake his saints, they are preserved forever..." Ps. 37:28
"Blessed is the one who considers the poor! In the day of trouble the Lord delivers him; the Lord protects him and keeps him alive; he is called blessed in the land; ou do not give him up to the will of his enemies." Ps. 41: 1&2
"God looks down from heaven on the children of man to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God." Ps. 53:2
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
(day forty) Open the floodgates!
Many topics are brewing around in my heart right now, but today I feel we need to talk about our testimony. First off, you ARE a living testimony and you HAVE a testimony. If you believe in Christ, have accepted and follow Him... then this is completely true for you. Your life is no longer yours, it's His (and He's kind enough to let us use it)... therefore you have the Holy Spirit living in and through you as a representation of the almighty King. So you are a living, breathing, walking testimony. If you don't believe that God has the power to heal, save, or move in miraculous ways... then you are probably a testimony to some false god. Let's hope this isn't the case, but as we discussed yesterday: we've got to own our faith. Why do we believe what we do? It's always good to take some time and examine where our hearts are in communion with the Lord.
You see, everything we say or do teaches somebody something. Are we testifying to His amazing love by loving on others well, or testifying to Him being a great dad because we are kids that have been provided for? Or are we teaching others to perform for our love, which in turn tells them something about a god they want nothing to do with? Others will see because of our unwavering trust and fearless faith in Him. Sure, we'll have small little "freak out" moments... but that's when we jump right back into the truth and cover ourselves like a blanket.
Just like the journey we've been on with Job the past couple of days, we know there are dark spots and dry seasons in all of our lives. But what we learn in those places is of utmost importance. Instead of giving up, we lean heavily on the truth of who He is and praise Him through that time. This really gives God a chance to reach the deep places in our life, find out what our hearts are made of... and replace lies we've believed with a fresh revelation of Him. I don't know about you, but if I were having some sort of open heart surgery... I don't think I'd wanna watch. (Maybe that's why He allows the lights to be turned out briefly? Haha.) And just so you know, He cares an awful LOT about us if He desires to go to the deep places of our soul and deposit His love. Guess what happens when you walk back into the light? A new testimony is born. Doesn't have to be our life story... but what is God doing RIGHT now in our lives. If we're listening to His whisper He's doing something new and incredible every day! And more times than not, that very thing is what speaks life into someone else.
I don't think we truly realize how POWERFUL our testimonies are. I sense there are still people reading this who don't think they have a testimony, and that's exactly what the enemy would want you to think. If you're scanning your brain to try and find something God's done in your life, then get on your knees and ask God to bring TRUE revelation into your heart RIGHT NOW of His love for you. If your heart is for Him everyday, He'll move through you in ways you never dreamed... and so your testimony begins.
Traveling through northern India I saw many people healed. Some people didn't get healed... physically. But we knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that God was healing a place in their heart. And we quickly realized that 'heart healing' was more important and ETERNAL than any physical healing could ever be. It's funny how much we desire to see temporary miracles to prove God's existence when the very unseen eternal miracle is the one that should be changing lives. This is why our testimony is SO important.
I've also seen people who have been physically healed testify to what God has done for them. A lot of times their heart was changed because of what He did physically. I don't think we testify to these miracles enough. And I truly believe that if we did... we would see MORE and MORE and MORE of them. Why? Because we are giving glory to the Lord first and foremost. Secondly, speaking these things out breaks spiritual strongholds in the atmosphere and makes room for God's healing hand to move about quickly and freely. Visual: I picture a large dam holding back all the blessings and miracles of the Lord. The dam is an earthly structure the enemy has constructed at an attempt to keep us from experiencing the glory of the Lord on earth. Yes, God is all powerful... but the more we praise and worship and testify to His goodness, mercy and love; the more cracks in the dam. I don't know about you, but I can't wait for that day to be flooded and sink in the weight of His glory!!!! I want to be ALL consumed by Him!!! Now, this is just a picture... so take what you want from it. But I do believe that our testimony releases more of that specific healing into the atmosphere and into others lives! (There's a good reason why we get chills when we hear the testimony of God's movement in others lives :)
A very nice lady who reads this blog sent me a link to her church's website. I was so blown away by how beautiful their fellowship was and how well they loved each other. The video I'm going to post is a sermon on Father's day; which I think is pretty fitting since we've been talking so much about God as our dad. Even more impacting is about half way through the pastor begins showing testimonies throughout the year... and it is SO POWERFUL. I was crying the whole way through. I hope you have some time to watch this and be moved and encouraged like I was. I really believe this is how church should be. A place where we encounter the love of God so profoundly, and experience so much freedom and joy... that no one walks into the building without a life-changing dose of the magnificent glory of God. So... how do we facilitate this? We pray, He moves, we testify... and His glory flows.
B90: (Psalm 9- 33:22) It doesn't take to long to realize David's heart and devotion to His dad. I love how in one chapter David is crying out to the Lord and the next He's praising Him to a place of new perspective... and God always comes through. It's a constant exchange of God's love and glory as David cries out, waits on Him, repents, declares His goodness, praises, waits some more... and God never fails to fill Him right back up and reveal His love to Him. Just like we grow muscle with exercise, so does our heart. This is the very reason why we should never stop crying out, never give up on Him, and never stop praising His name. To be "too old" or "too mature" or "too christian" to need Him is a huge misconception (a.k.a. Bull crap). The more our heart grows in the difficult and good times, the more capacity to know His love and to love others.
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart EXULTS, and with my song I give thanks to him." ~ david
Let this all marinate in your heart as you meditate on His word and He reveals His love for you today.
You see, everything we say or do teaches somebody something. Are we testifying to His amazing love by loving on others well, or testifying to Him being a great dad because we are kids that have been provided for? Or are we teaching others to perform for our love, which in turn tells them something about a god they want nothing to do with? Others will see because of our unwavering trust and fearless faith in Him. Sure, we'll have small little "freak out" moments... but that's when we jump right back into the truth and cover ourselves like a blanket.
Just like the journey we've been on with Job the past couple of days, we know there are dark spots and dry seasons in all of our lives. But what we learn in those places is of utmost importance. Instead of giving up, we lean heavily on the truth of who He is and praise Him through that time. This really gives God a chance to reach the deep places in our life, find out what our hearts are made of... and replace lies we've believed with a fresh revelation of Him. I don't know about you, but if I were having some sort of open heart surgery... I don't think I'd wanna watch. (Maybe that's why He allows the lights to be turned out briefly? Haha.) And just so you know, He cares an awful LOT about us if He desires to go to the deep places of our soul and deposit His love. Guess what happens when you walk back into the light? A new testimony is born. Doesn't have to be our life story... but what is God doing RIGHT now in our lives. If we're listening to His whisper He's doing something new and incredible every day! And more times than not, that very thing is what speaks life into someone else.
I don't think we truly realize how POWERFUL our testimonies are. I sense there are still people reading this who don't think they have a testimony, and that's exactly what the enemy would want you to think. If you're scanning your brain to try and find something God's done in your life, then get on your knees and ask God to bring TRUE revelation into your heart RIGHT NOW of His love for you. If your heart is for Him everyday, He'll move through you in ways you never dreamed... and so your testimony begins.
Traveling through northern India I saw many people healed. Some people didn't get healed... physically. But we knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that God was healing a place in their heart. And we quickly realized that 'heart healing' was more important and ETERNAL than any physical healing could ever be. It's funny how much we desire to see temporary miracles to prove God's existence when the very unseen eternal miracle is the one that should be changing lives. This is why our testimony is SO important.
I've also seen people who have been physically healed testify to what God has done for them. A lot of times their heart was changed because of what He did physically. I don't think we testify to these miracles enough. And I truly believe that if we did... we would see MORE and MORE and MORE of them. Why? Because we are giving glory to the Lord first and foremost. Secondly, speaking these things out breaks spiritual strongholds in the atmosphere and makes room for God's healing hand to move about quickly and freely. Visual: I picture a large dam holding back all the blessings and miracles of the Lord. The dam is an earthly structure the enemy has constructed at an attempt to keep us from experiencing the glory of the Lord on earth. Yes, God is all powerful... but the more we praise and worship and testify to His goodness, mercy and love; the more cracks in the dam. I don't know about you, but I can't wait for that day to be flooded and sink in the weight of His glory!!!! I want to be ALL consumed by Him!!! Now, this is just a picture... so take what you want from it. But I do believe that our testimony releases more of that specific healing into the atmosphere and into others lives! (There's a good reason why we get chills when we hear the testimony of God's movement in others lives :)
A very nice lady who reads this blog sent me a link to her church's website. I was so blown away by how beautiful their fellowship was and how well they loved each other. The video I'm going to post is a sermon on Father's day; which I think is pretty fitting since we've been talking so much about God as our dad. Even more impacting is about half way through the pastor begins showing testimonies throughout the year... and it is SO POWERFUL. I was crying the whole way through. I hope you have some time to watch this and be moved and encouraged like I was. I really believe this is how church should be. A place where we encounter the love of God so profoundly, and experience so much freedom and joy... that no one walks into the building without a life-changing dose of the magnificent glory of God. So... how do we facilitate this? We pray, He moves, we testify... and His glory flows.
The Lord's Prayer - Part 7 from Resurrection Fellowship on Vimeo.
B90: (Psalm 9- 33:22) It doesn't take to long to realize David's heart and devotion to His dad. I love how in one chapter David is crying out to the Lord and the next He's praising Him to a place of new perspective... and God always comes through. It's a constant exchange of God's love and glory as David cries out, waits on Him, repents, declares His goodness, praises, waits some more... and God never fails to fill Him right back up and reveal His love to Him. Just like we grow muscle with exercise, so does our heart. This is the very reason why we should never stop crying out, never give up on Him, and never stop praising His name. To be "too old" or "too mature" or "too christian" to need Him is a huge misconception (a.k.a. Bull crap). The more our heart grows in the difficult and good times, the more capacity to know His love and to love others.
"The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart EXULTS, and with my song I give thanks to him." ~ david
Let this all marinate in your heart as you meditate on His word and He reveals His love for you today.
Monday, August 1, 2011
(day thirty-nine) Rooted or Rotten?
The past few days I've been thinking a lot about expectations. So, I looked it up. Expectations:
1. A strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future. 2. A belief that someone will or should achieve something. Truth is, if our expectations are for the glory of the Lord that's great! And He wants to exceed all of them! Example: I'm expecting God's power to come through in this situation, or I'm expecting Him to work in this person's life, or I know my future is bright because I expect God to do great things in and through me. These expectations go hand in hand with praying into God's will and reading the truth we have available to us....being ROOTED in the source.
And i really hate to say this... but i truly believe any other expectations we could have for ourselves or others come from the desire to control. And that's no good...in fact, it's rotten. Control is simply based in fear and lack of trust. Now, if you are working I'm sure there are expectations that come along with the job. Even so, if you don't live up to these... there may be some sort of penalty in store. So many times we place these on others and when they fail we are disappointed or angry. On the contrary, we also put expectations on us... and beat ourselves up if we can't fulfill them. Every day the world puts expectations on who we are supposed to be, how we are to act... we should be good in school, get a decent job, marry a nice man, have beautiful children, be part of a church, drive a good lookin car, etc etc. And if you are a christian.... there are even more on top of that! What happens when we mess up? Or when something doesn't quite work out like you, your parents, your spouse, or the world planned it to?
Here's the thing. YOU are not a failure. You are a child of the King. Why then are we STILL basing so much of our life on performance instead of love. We celebrate people when they live up to our expectations so they will keep doing "good", and we punish when people fail with guilt, shame or anger. Here's a thought even more frightening... what are we teaching in church? Is it God's love and our action of that love that draws people to a place to be healed and experience this love? Or is it our agenda that pushes them there so they will perform better and probably find it harder to get up off the floor next time because of a failure to "live up"?
I know i talk about God's love ALL THE TIME, and you may be getting weary of the repetitiveness.... but I just feel like it's weighing on my spirit and it's something God really wants to drive home. I definitely DO NOT have all the answers... but i do know that the answers ARE in the spirit within us and in the word of God. Again, His expectations of us are simple. BE HIS KID. When we know how to be His kid first... we know how to love others well no matter where they are in life. We also begin to understand how to pray in His will because we are spending so much time at His feet. This is when we REALLY start to see things happen! Another thing that happens is we begin to praise Him and declare His goodness CONSISTENTLY, no matter what is going on.... because we know He deserves it and that is the only thing that will get us to that place of heavenly perspective.
LIES are all around us. The enemy LOVES to manipulate and twist things. He loves to destroy relationships of all kind.... especially marriages. He loves to tear friends apart, family members and even churches. Ugh. Stupid devil. We've got to STOP laying around and believing them friends! We must recognize that the lie obviously contradicts what God says about us, take hold of it... trash it, and fill back up with His truth! This is why our battles are not of this earth (Eph 6). And our battles are won by praising Him and meditating on His word! Then we see the lie for what it is, and have the strength to stand firm and resist. So instead of believing the lies, wanting control, manipulating, placing unrealistic expectations, or performing... we must learn how to be a child and sit at His feet listening to how much He adores us and the world. I know that God is a Just God... but I still wonder why we focus so much on his judgment as a way to finagle people to the cross. It began with love and will end with love.
B90: (Job 31:17- Ps 8:9) I made it out of Job!! Shwew, thought i would never leave that place. It's kinda like going to a movie for me, I get so emotionally attached to the characters that I actually feel what they are going through. A blessing and a curse I suppose. Our time in Job's story today was kicked off by our good friend Elihu. I seriously love this kid. Basically he says... I'm young, i've patiently and respectively waited my turn, now i'm ready to speak the truth. Here it goes. In Ch. 32: 8 & 9 Elihu tells Job and his "wise friends" that the answer is not found in experience or earthly wisdom, "but it is the spirit IN man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand." How often do we rely on what the world is telling us, rather than what God says... especially in the dark place. When we don't see or feel Him then we rely on the word... and as good friends we speak OUT the lies and speak IN the truth! Amen?
In Ch. 34 Elihu is calling out the lies and putting them to shame with God's truth! I love this Chapter. He's literally cutting the enemy in half with the sword, the truth of who God is. Once Elihu brings light to the REAL issue going on, it's a lot easier to see that in the midst of darkness satan took advantage of Job's perplexing turmoil with sneaky little lies. Then we can follow the rabbit trail as Job then sets false expectations for God as He tries to manipulate himself out of the situation He's currently in. Most of us can recall a time in our life when this has happened. And we all know how difficult it is to STAND and trust in this place. And in Job's defense, he had it haaaaaaard. But I truly believe this is one of the many reasons we have the story of Job: we have or will be in the dark place at this point, and all God expects of us is to be his kid by trusting Him as our Father and praising Him in the dark.
One of the coolest moments of my life is when my outreach team drove deep into the jungles of Malaysia to encourage some men who live in these underground hut things. They don't have ANYTHING... even their wives and children are in another country. These men are being hunted all day long by viper snakes, wild boars, and other wild animals. Not to mention the government, who wants them out or dead. When we got there it was so dark and they began to lead us deeper into the jungle to another little hut. When we got there, they broke out the guitars and started singing. I've never seen a group of men, who have absolutely nothing, worship God with such passion. All of this occurred in the black of night. This was THE most amazing love exchange with God that I've ever experienced. THIS is what awaits us when at our very worst, dry, weary, dark place... God shows up in a majestic powerful way. All we do is praise.
Then the Lord says..."Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness, that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home?"
(Ch. 38:19 & 20) After the Lord speaks, Job takes his beautiful mess and confesses and repents to the Lord. Then the Lord restores to Job much more than he had in the beginning.
"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers." ( Psalm 1: 1-3)
Just remember that even trees who are rooted to the source of their life go through dry and dark seasons. We must trust that we are connected to the source during those times, that He hasn't left us, to keep aligning ourselves with the truth, and to praise Him with our branches high! Pretty soon we'll return to basking in the sun bearing FRESH tasty fruit for all to feast on. And the glory will be all His. Amen!
And i really hate to say this... but i truly believe any other expectations we could have for ourselves or others come from the desire to control. And that's no good...in fact, it's rotten. Control is simply based in fear and lack of trust. Now, if you are working I'm sure there are expectations that come along with the job. Even so, if you don't live up to these... there may be some sort of penalty in store. So many times we place these on others and when they fail we are disappointed or angry. On the contrary, we also put expectations on us... and beat ourselves up if we can't fulfill them. Every day the world puts expectations on who we are supposed to be, how we are to act... we should be good in school, get a decent job, marry a nice man, have beautiful children, be part of a church, drive a good lookin car, etc etc. And if you are a christian.... there are even more on top of that! What happens when we mess up? Or when something doesn't quite work out like you, your parents, your spouse, or the world planned it to?
Here's the thing. YOU are not a failure. You are a child of the King. Why then are we STILL basing so much of our life on performance instead of love. We celebrate people when they live up to our expectations so they will keep doing "good", and we punish when people fail with guilt, shame or anger. Here's a thought even more frightening... what are we teaching in church? Is it God's love and our action of that love that draws people to a place to be healed and experience this love? Or is it our agenda that pushes them there so they will perform better and probably find it harder to get up off the floor next time because of a failure to "live up"?
I know i talk about God's love ALL THE TIME, and you may be getting weary of the repetitiveness.... but I just feel like it's weighing on my spirit and it's something God really wants to drive home. I definitely DO NOT have all the answers... but i do know that the answers ARE in the spirit within us and in the word of God. Again, His expectations of us are simple. BE HIS KID. When we know how to be His kid first... we know how to love others well no matter where they are in life. We also begin to understand how to pray in His will because we are spending so much time at His feet. This is when we REALLY start to see things happen! Another thing that happens is we begin to praise Him and declare His goodness CONSISTENTLY, no matter what is going on.... because we know He deserves it and that is the only thing that will get us to that place of heavenly perspective.
LIES are all around us. The enemy LOVES to manipulate and twist things. He loves to destroy relationships of all kind.... especially marriages. He loves to tear friends apart, family members and even churches. Ugh. Stupid devil. We've got to STOP laying around and believing them friends! We must recognize that the lie obviously contradicts what God says about us, take hold of it... trash it, and fill back up with His truth! This is why our battles are not of this earth (Eph 6). And our battles are won by praising Him and meditating on His word! Then we see the lie for what it is, and have the strength to stand firm and resist. So instead of believing the lies, wanting control, manipulating, placing unrealistic expectations, or performing... we must learn how to be a child and sit at His feet listening to how much He adores us and the world. I know that God is a Just God... but I still wonder why we focus so much on his judgment as a way to finagle people to the cross. It began with love and will end with love.
B90: (Job 31:17- Ps 8:9) I made it out of Job!! Shwew, thought i would never leave that place. It's kinda like going to a movie for me, I get so emotionally attached to the characters that I actually feel what they are going through. A blessing and a curse I suppose. Our time in Job's story today was kicked off by our good friend Elihu. I seriously love this kid. Basically he says... I'm young, i've patiently and respectively waited my turn, now i'm ready to speak the truth. Here it goes. In Ch. 32: 8 & 9 Elihu tells Job and his "wise friends" that the answer is not found in experience or earthly wisdom, "but it is the spirit IN man, the breath of the Almighty, that makes him understand." How often do we rely on what the world is telling us, rather than what God says... especially in the dark place. When we don't see or feel Him then we rely on the word... and as good friends we speak OUT the lies and speak IN the truth! Amen?
In Ch. 34 Elihu is calling out the lies and putting them to shame with God's truth! I love this Chapter. He's literally cutting the enemy in half with the sword, the truth of who God is. Once Elihu brings light to the REAL issue going on, it's a lot easier to see that in the midst of darkness satan took advantage of Job's perplexing turmoil with sneaky little lies. Then we can follow the rabbit trail as Job then sets false expectations for God as He tries to manipulate himself out of the situation He's currently in. Most of us can recall a time in our life when this has happened. And we all know how difficult it is to STAND and trust in this place. And in Job's defense, he had it haaaaaaard. But I truly believe this is one of the many reasons we have the story of Job: we have or will be in the dark place at this point, and all God expects of us is to be his kid by trusting Him as our Father and praising Him in the dark.
One of the coolest moments of my life is when my outreach team drove deep into the jungles of Malaysia to encourage some men who live in these underground hut things. They don't have ANYTHING... even their wives and children are in another country. These men are being hunted all day long by viper snakes, wild boars, and other wild animals. Not to mention the government, who wants them out or dead. When we got there it was so dark and they began to lead us deeper into the jungle to another little hut. When we got there, they broke out the guitars and started singing. I've never seen a group of men, who have absolutely nothing, worship God with such passion. All of this occurred in the black of night. This was THE most amazing love exchange with God that I've ever experienced. THIS is what awaits us when at our very worst, dry, weary, dark place... God shows up in a majestic powerful way. All we do is praise.
Then the Lord says..."Where is the way to the dwelling of light, and where is the place of darkness, that you may take it to its territory and that you may discern the paths to its home?"
(Ch. 38:19 & 20) After the Lord speaks, Job takes his beautiful mess and confesses and repents to the Lord. Then the Lord restores to Job much more than he had in the beginning.
"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers." ( Psalm 1: 1-3)
Just remember that even trees who are rooted to the source of their life go through dry and dark seasons. We must trust that we are connected to the source during those times, that He hasn't left us, to keep aligning ourselves with the truth, and to praise Him with our branches high! Pretty soon we'll return to basking in the sun bearing FRESH tasty fruit for all to feast on. And the glory will be all His. Amen!
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