Be Still

Burdened by life's challenges. Overwhelmed by surrounding pressures. Moments of anxiety convincing you that "down" is the only direction your life will spiral...

"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

This Scripture, so simple and yet so difficult. It's hard for us to wrap our minds around surrendering what appears insurmountable to someone else. Our worry gives us a twisted sense of control and we can't fathom victory in our lives apart from our own efforts. I mean after all this is BIG stuff we're faced with, but all of the stress and loss of sleep isn't quite working for us, is it?


Be still.

Part of the literal translation is "to let drop, let go, cease from striving, release." We need to drop our hands from fruitless, fleshly efforts, let go of the worry that torments our minds, tune out the other voices, and just release it to Him. KNOWING that He is God takes the pressure off of our shoulders to be in control, and allows Him to take over supernaturally. We need to get ourselves out of the way; lay back in His arms and know He's got this taken care of; that He only wants what's best for His child.


Yes, the giants in our life are big, but our Daddy is bigger!

Be still...

Love Your Neighbor

 

 

Is it merely a rule to live by?  Is it a way to prove our love for God?  Do we do it in hopes for a "blessed life?"  Surely loving others should be an attribute of those who say they love God, and there are indeed blessings in obedience, but ultimately all guidelines that God lays out for us are laced with an eternal purpose much bigger than ourselves.

The way we live our lives isn't only about us.  It isn't about being able to put a check mark on the clean conscience section of our Christianity.  It isn't even about hearing one day, "Well done, you good and faithful servant."  It's about people.  It's about every single person that God so chooses to cross our paths.  Starting in our homes with our spouse and children and stretching through every phone conversation, email exchange, and our day to day interactions.  All people.  We love others and do good because it is the right thing to do, yes, but also because in doing so it touches lives... for Him. 

When Jesus walked the earth, He presented a way of living among the people that reflected the Father.  This God they read about, this God they heard about... Jesus brought a visual of who that God was.  He came with a face to show He is a reachable God; making Himself available to all who called upon Him.  He came with skin to reveal He is a touchable God.  He came as a friend to confide in, and yet a servant that ultimately laid down His life for not only His friends, but for those who rejected Him.

We are called to do the same.  We are to put a face to the God we serve to everyone we encounter in life.  Our interaction with others is so far beyond doing right and being a nice person.  It is for the sake of THAT person.  We may never know on this side of Heaven what our influence will do, but it is so worth it.  Allowing God to shed His love upon others through us, what a privilege and responsibility to take seriously.

Think about this! Those who lowered the Apostle Paul through the window to escape the death threat on his life were actually letting down 13 books of the Bible! You never know the affect you have when you do something to help or encourage another... Your act of love could reshape one's entire future.  A generational domino effect!  :)

Woman at the Well

 

 

"You've been married FIVE times, are living with a man, and engaging in sex before marriage." 

Words of condemnation?  Was Jesus telling her she was unclean and needed to repent? OR were these words of compassion spoken from Love Himself? Perhaps revealing her secret in order to receive her heart.

He knew her.  He knew her pain. He knew her past.  He knew her present.   At that very moment, Jesus became the face of the Father that loves us no matter how stained and soiled we are.    Right smack dab in the middle of her mess, He initiates a relationship with her. 

This woman knew all about religion and the law.  I’m sure her family taught her the rules and traditions of what "worship" was to look like.  Yet her heart still ached.  There was a void that wasn't being filled by knowing all the right things to say and do.  She probably mastered the "art" of appearing religious, while maintaining a hidden lifestyle.   She grew to understand that acceptance and love are only given when you act a certain way and maintain a certain look.  Yet Jesus comes along and shows her another way.  He wasn’t interested in her weekly "timecard punch” at church, her singing a few songs, her fluent Christian lingo, or her proper and polite speech...  He wanted her eyes to be opened to true worship. Worship is about Him having all of her, and her having all of Him.  True worship is birthed out of relationship. 

He says, "I want you to understand My heart toward you.  I want you to know that I love you regardless of yourself.  I know all your weaknesses and sin struggles, and I still love you.  I already know that apart from My Spirit you cannot fix it yourself.  It’s out of a love relationship with Me where your true freedom is found.  Stop trying.  Stop beating yourself up because you keep messing up.  The more you drink of My life-giving water, you will learn how to just be.  It won't be striving anymore for you.  The only "doing" you need is to stay close to Me.   Staying close to Me is what worship is all about.  As I pour into you, who I've created you to be will come out naturally."

 

 

Drawing from a source

That is only temporary

A thirst never quenched

Issues only buried

 

A desire that is craved

But you never truly get

No matter how much you have

The need is never met

 

Come see what I offer

You’ll never again thirst

It’ll become a well within you

In which eternal life is birthed

 

If I told you all your secrets

And counted your failed tries

Would you draw from My well?

Where you’ll finally be satisfied?

 

(John 4)

 

Repentance

Oftentimes, we are so driven to a life of perfection and self willpower that our "repentance"  to God becomes a method.  It becomes about us; OUR feeling "a clean slate," OUR feeling "right," OUR success driven thinking to personally have victory over sin.  In doing so, we miss the real point of repentance:  An opportunity to connect with the very One whose heart we grieved.   A time to reflect on Who enables us to overcome.   A turning of direction.   A moment of embrace.   A beautiful occasion to hear, “You and I are okay.”

Worth It

As I walked one afternoon, I meditated on what may be two familiar verses to some:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” John 3:16

 “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

 

God loved us smack dab in the middle of our sin.  He demonstrated His love while we rejected Him.  He poured His life out as an offering with the chance we may never love Him back.  Why would He lay Himself down for us in the midst of our wickedness? Why would He provide a way of escape for us when we lived a life that mocked His ways?  Why?  In that moment of question, I felt Him gently speak, “Not because you were worthy of it, but because you were WORTH IT.”

 

Immediately I was reminded:

 

“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:12

It is not a suggestion, but a commandment to love as He loved.  We are called to love those who do not deserve it.  Just saying we love people isn’t what He meant.  Love is a verb.  It is demonstrated in our actions, in our attitudes, in our words towards EVERYONE… even the unlovely.  Yes, even the one who disrespects you, the one who speaks evil of you, the one who has smeared your name, the one who has broken your heart, corrupt leaders, misguided politicians, the harsh boss that takes you for granted…

We've become accustomed to the idea that we are only to respect and love those who have earned it and are deserving of it. However, God's ways are much higher than our human logic:

“You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy; But I tell you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you to show that you are the children of your Father Who is in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the wicked and on the good, and makes the rain fall upon the upright and the wrongdoers alike. For if you love those who love you, what reward can you have? Do not even the tax collectors do that?  And if you greet only your brethren, what more than others are you doing? Do not even the heathen do that?  You, therefore, must be perfect [growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character, having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:42-48

Each of us was once lost in our sin and living a life separated from God… and yet - Jesus found us WORTH IT.  When we're tempted to pull our judgmental swords and withhold “the love of God that has been shed abroad in our hearts” let’s remember where we came from and love those who have not yet found The Way. 

"And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?"  Romans 2:3-4

The goodness of God.  The goodness of God in what Jesus already did, the goodness of God in our everyday lives, and could it also be the goodness of God THROUGH US to others that will lead them to true repentance?  

 

May our love walk demonstrate the God who loved “while we were yet sinners.” May God's love in action - in us - be the very tool that gains us access to speak the Truth into those people’s lives who Jesus found WORTH IT! J

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xx0d3R2LoU

Intricacies of Life

 

Walking through a "year round" Christmas store, I couldn't help but notice all the varieties of Christmas villages on display. From afar, they looked nice;  caught my eye, but when I really got up close and saw all of the intricacies of each individual piece, it made the display that much more beautiful and appreciated.

I began to think about our lives and how all too often we look at the BIG picture and miss the "little" things. Years pass us by and all we can account for is eating, sleeping, and paying the bills  - a life of what appears mundane when you look through it with surface vision. 

Day after day we acknowledge the  existence of people, places, and things, but fail to notice their beauty. We grow weary concentrating on what we don't have and miss out on the enjoyment of what is right at our fingertips.  We get so stuck in our routines that we sacrifice relationships both in our homes and beyond the four walls.

Looking at the villages, I was also reminded of a couple verses in Psalm 139. "You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank You for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it."

When an artist puts detail into his creation: a painting, a sculpture, a writing,  it is placed there for a purpose... for the observer to take notice;  to find enjoyment in the beauty and uniqueness of it.

God is the Master Creator, the Master Artist, and He is into detail.  Everything He has ever created is an authentic masterpiece made for not only His pleasure but for ours! Our job is to slow down to find the joy in the NOW.

Let’s stop merely glancing over the big picture of life. Hit the “zoom” button and you’ll discover what a fleeting look will never see.

Begin studying the individuality of your children. Love them BIG right now in both their cuteness and what you may see as annoyances and quirks. Begin noticing the deeper things deposited within your spouse, your family, and your friends rather than year after year maintaining “how's it going?” shallow  relationships where you have no real desire to listen or share in either their joys or their troubles.   Quit being satisfied with the pet answer of, "It's going good," and begin to really care about people.   Care about them deeply.  Set aside your selfish, patterned day and allow for interruptions.  In time, it just may dawn on you that they were not interruptions at all.  These were the moments of true living like God intended. 

Seize opportunities to share life together and be an encouragement to one another.  Quit waiting for an "easier" or “more convenient” stage of life to live in the now. Before you know it, the chance you had is over and everything gets pushed off for a future that never comes.

“Slow down and smell the beauty in life.” e

Veils

Years ago I  was scurrying around the kitchen taking care of my children’s hunger while worshipping along with the music on my laptop.   Suddenly I  came to a dead halt; not knowing that MY "hunger" would be met that afternoon.  Leaning onto my elbows on the counter, eyes shut - the One being worshipped reached down to touch me: depositing into me the only way to feed my longing to know Him more intimately.

 

“…the veil of the temple was torn in two.” (Luke 23:45)

Ultimately the veil has already been torn for our free access to God, where we can come BOLDLY to Him, but we are well learned in hanging up our own self constructed veils that keep us from confidently approaching Him.

I see Jesus, just the lower half of Him, in a white robe.   His hands outstretched beckoning one to come to Him…

 

A woman, behind a white veil – sheepishly pokes her head around to see Him.   She knew Him.  He knew her.   That was evident.

 

As she made her way to Him, there were rows of veils to maneuver around.   Each veil had a name such as shame, hurt, bitterness, resentment, anger, guilt, abuse, abandonment; all in which were blocking her from coming to Him FULLY.  She longed to be with Him, but these veils…

She loves Him and is in relationship with Him.   She is a worshipper, but she only presents to Him the “pretty” parts -  ashamed of those unhealed, dark areas of her life.  

We think these veils protect us.   We shy away because of shame.   We even unconsciously doubt His acceptance of us.  We've allowed the image of our worth to be molded by the pain we've experienced  and the people in our lives that have rejected us for who we are.

The most intimate relationships are born out of being vulnerable to share your whole “story.”   This is why He is calling.   He longs for all of you, and He knows the healing power His presence brings. Beloved, He is beckoning you…

Longing for a love exchange 

Abandoned and free 

I anticipate our togetherness 

As you make your way to Me

  Suddenly you cower 

From Me, your eyes divert 

Veils drape around you 

Tailored by years of hurt
 

I see the shackles tighten 

Binding up your heart 

You hold from Me the broken

Only giving Me a part

 

A part of who you really are

A portion of your soul

I need to embrace it all

To mend and make you whole

Restoration only comes

To places you let Me touch

Press past your own resistance

I’m the One who you can trust

 

Anxiously I beckon you

As a husband to his bride

To make your way again

Confidently by My side

 

Recklessly abandoned

To My arms you quickly run

Cradled in My acceptance…

Veils dropping… one by one

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djrY_eFDOwE

Peace

A cycle of confusion, so constant, that contentment can never take root.  Band-Aids don’t heal and time never cures.   You’re surviving, but you’re far from living.  Your day becomes about holding it together, but inside you are crumbling. 

Maybe its pain inflicted upon you by another.  Your heart is unsafe.  You long for true acceptance and unconditional love.  Your level of peace is being constantly aware and managing your actions, denying your own desires if needed, or even talking about them.  You try and you try until you realize that even if perfection were possible, it wouldn’t be enough. Callous words leave your heart numb, and yet somehow you still feel the pain.  Every time.
 
Maybe you’re at war with yourself.  Choices in life have left you devastated, guilty, or full of shame.  Or you have something going on inside of you.  It doesn’t have a name or a known reason for being there.  It’s sad.  It’s angry.  It’s depressed.  It’s stressed.  It’s hopeless.  So… you enlist.  You enlist in a losing battle plan of addiction, self harm, or abusing others.

Only the One who made us can restore us back to wholeness. In the midst of your raging storm, I pray you look to Him ~ where your release and your peace is found.

Peace

Crashing waves

Bruise my shore

Howling winds

 Blow in once more

Torrential rains

Pelt my skin

Lightning bolts

Come again

Turbulent waters

Staggered stance

Cycle repeated

In this dying dance

 

Trembling knees

Strike the ground

 Eyes glance up

To where help is found
 

An instant hush

The storm to cease

All at once

A soul at peace…

Fear

 

We are all well acquainted with the emotion that bears a choke hold.  It's ruthless.  It's torment.  It's an enemy to faith, a thief that robs you of life - imprisons you to a false reality. 

Anxiety, depression, doubt, worry, hurt, anger, sadness, low self-esteem, unworthiness, hatred, prejudice.  It comes disguised underneath many different emotions, but it all comes down to one thing:

 

FEAR.

 

The paralysis for some is the dread of what could happen years down the road, anxiety associated with an unpredictable economy, and for many it is the torment of what today, the next hour, the next minute will bring. 

"...fear has torment." 1 John 4:18a

Fear is not only an emotion, but a spiritual force. It is very similar to faith in that both have an unshakable belief in an unseen future. Fear trusts circumstances, natural predictions, the enemy's lies, and self.  Faith trusts God and what His Word says.  Fear is negative faith. 

 

Fear is an enemy of God.  It in essence rips Him of His lordship in our lives. We become self focused and not God focused.  We put our trust in the wisdom of man rather than in the power of God (1 Cor. 2:5).  We no longer see Him for Who He is and who He desires to be in our lives...  He solely becomes a gateway to Heaven, but in our day to day living He is diminished to a dusty figure placed on a shelf.   

God is love, and the Bible says that Perfect Love casts out fear.  God is THAT perfect love. 

 

"There is no fear in love (dread does not exist), but perfect love turns fears out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment.  He who is afraid has not fully experienced His perfect love." 1 John 4:18

Father, we want to know Your love... Your love is our freedom.  Your love removes shackles. Your love delivers us from all fear.  You are not what our circumstances look like. You are not what the latest trends define You as.  We commit to growing in the knowledge of who You truly are as defined in Your Word, and through that knowledge - growing in intimacy with You... We know that in experiencing that intimate love - fear has no more room in our lives. Thank You for Your love and the hope and peace it brings.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEyRoj2sFc4

 

"I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." Psalm 34:4

 

Memorial Day

Father, we thank You for Jesus - the One who willingly laid His life down for our eternal freedom.

 We also thank You for the men and women who have served and are currently serving our country. Like Jesus, they have committed themselves and their time for the sake of freedom. They have unselfishly laid down their lives for us and even a future generation yet unborn.

We thank You for the Holy Spirit who is our Comforter. Comfort the families who have lost their loved ones while battling for our country's freedom. We are so thankful for the price they've paid. Comfort the families whose loved ones are away. Give them strength and courage to face each day.

We lift up those who are on the battle lines now and those who could be called at any time. We pray for their protection and safe return. We pray that their purpose in fighting for our peace not be in vain.

 We pray for the servicemen and women who do not know You. Send laborers into their path. May the blinders be removed and their eyes be opened to the Gospel message. We pray Jesus would become their hope and comfort, and that they would then unashamedly share their experience with Him to others. We pray for a domino effect to happen - that the saving message of Jesus would spread like wild fire!

 

We pray that the United States would come back to You. We pray that revival would be sparked in the hearts of all - that a great awakening would strike the land and Jesus would be glorified in America. Bless our country, Father. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBoMJmwNfbo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arSiv9PRo04

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