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 it's 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…

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I78nRedeZJk&feature=youtu.be

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...

Character

Our character, if not developed and matured, will eventually catch up with us and knock us down from the platform in which our gifting and talents have taken us.

We all have seen it.  Highly gifted performers who have the world's attention, but lack of character shows through in their actions and their credibility is marred.   Ministers, oftentimes those with a worldwide voice, but eventually their character flaws shine through and it's the very thing that dethrones them from their position.  Marriages that appeared "OK" suddenly end in divorce.  The "perfect" child becomes the prodigal... Why? Because the hidden issues of the heart have been ignored.

"The integrity of the upright will guide them, but the perversity of the unfaithful will destroy them." Proverbs 11:3

Our greatest weaknesses, if left undealt with, will surface to the top.  You can only wear a mask for so long. The rubber band eventually snaps and what used to hide you has now left you revealed.  The self constructed platform, that once elevated your ego, comes crashing down from the weight of the junk that was left unchecked. 

Band-Aids are not a substitute for surgery.  Developing our character is a deep work that requires facing our heart issues, not covering them up.   It takes place in deliberate, quiet, "at the feet of Jesus" moments: diligently exposing ourselves to the Word of God and letting it shine a light on those areas that do not line up. 

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  Point out anything in me that offends You, and lead me along the path of everlasting life." Psalm 139:23-24

Oftentimes we are blinded to our issues and need to seek professional help in order to work along with what God is trying to accomplish.  How do you know when greater help is needed?  Take a look at your relationships around you; take heed to what people have said about you that you rejected.  There could be truth if the majority are saying the same thing.  Ignoring it or making excuses won't bring healing.  Choosing to continue to dismiss it will result in the same broken road of loss. 

 

"The way of the fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice." Proverbs 12:15

 

"Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in the abundance of counselors, there is safety." Proverbs 11:14

 

The other day I learned of a great word picture.  We all have our accomplishments.  Things we've done or do in life that are honorable.  If you can, picture a trophy case that represent these things; a beautiful display of wonderful things you do.  However, all over the floor are piles of junk you have to step over in order to get to these tokens of success.  Are the trophies great?  Yes.  But they do not null and void the fact that we have a garbage heap on the floor.  The good we do in life does not excuse the bad.  Jesus Himself did not excuse sin and say, "Oh, it's okay.  You have a lot going for you over in this area."  No, He showed love and compassion but also clearly said, "Go and sin no more."  If we don't look away from the awards for a time and deal with the stained carpet, our character will never be developed.

 

Slow down and take a look at who you are.  Not at your accomplishments.  Not at your successes.  Not who you lead others or yourself to believe you are.  Not what your reputation says about you.  Who are you when no one else is looking?  What do you allow your eyes to let in and your ears to hear?  How do you treat people?  What heart attitudes reign behind your smile?  What would God say about your character?

Lord, we all have "stuff" that we cover up so beautifully. On the outside everything looks good and yet inside their is decay that needs a touch from You.  Whatever it is in our lives that is keeping us from fully serving and pleasing You, please shine a light on it.  Shine Your light on the ugly parts so that we can, with Your help, become all You have called us to be.  We want to be a living example of Christ in the earth - not a false representation that gives Him a bad name because of our undealt with "stuff."   We love You, Lord, and we desire to become more and more like You.

Never Overtaken

 

 

Dark clouds have fallen upon us

The enemy seeks to devour

But we trust in our Lord Jesus Christ

To deliver us from this oppressive power

 

We know Your power is greater

Quicker than any two-edged sword

We ask for Your help in this struggle

Oh King of kings and Lord of lords

 

 You are mighty and strong in battle

Your Word declares You to be

Place Your armor upon us

Prepare us for spiritual difficulties

 

Help us not to doubt You

Or try to fight this on our own

Lord, give us the strength to overcome

Give us peace we’ve never known

 

Satan is defeated

This war he’s already lost

No power can stand against us now

You declared it on the cross

1999

 

 

Pressing On

No matter what gets thrown smack dab in the middle of our "race" -  God's plan still remains intact.  He is not stopped by earthly circumstances.  Our purpose doesn't end at the rock in the road!  Our journey continues on to the other side.  All of the hurdle jumping and obstacle maneuvering develops character and endurance in us that becomes the needed strength for us to press on to the prize!

Father, even in the midst of the temptations and trials, we can have the confidence that You are working it all out for our ultimate good because Your Word declares it so.  We trust You.  We believe in Your love, a love that wants the best for Your children, a love that sees the end from the beginning, a love that doesn't see a situation in a temporal sense but by the eternal. 

We so often only see what is right in front of us; failing to remember that even when we can't see it You ARE working behind the scenes!  Help us, Lord, to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus!   As our example, He endured the race that was set before Him even to the point of death.  What appeared, in the natural, as a tragedy was actually a victory!  Lord, help us not to limit our sight on circumstances, setbacks, or on a single chapter in our lives...  We commit to press on despite  the current "backdrop" in our race KNOWING that the scenery is going to change and ultimate victory is ours through Jesus!  Amen!

"God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation.  Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him."  James 1:12

  "I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us."  Philippians 3:14 

 

 "And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose."  Romans 8:28

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

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.  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=f8TkUMJtK5k

 

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

Heaven's Will and Earth Collide

 

What is it that stopped Jesus in His tracks to tend to Bartimaeus' need in Luke 18:35-43? 

Here is a man who thought money or goods were his greatest need as he sat on the road begging that day.  That is until he overhears that Jesus is passing by.   Something stirs within him.  His spirit leaps when he hears that the Man of Compassion is in his midst.   Faith arises.  Bartimaeus becomes desperate to receive more than what a fallen world had dealt him.   He becomes bold.   He pushes past the fear of men; men, who had sight, yet were blind to what his soul was reaching for.   He refuses to keep silent.   He no longer accepts “the bad report,” but to trust in the Name above all names. 

 

Heaven’s will and earth collided that day.  Bartimaeus walked away with far more than eyes that could see, but a life changing encounter with Love Himself.  

 

 

Begging for what I thought

To be life’s greatest need

Until Love’s presence passed me by

And my soul cried to be freed

 

Refusing to keep quiet

A heart in desperate plea

To reach the ears of Messiah

Simple words - that I believe

 

Unashamed persistence

Abandoned fear of man

Confident pursuit in the One

Who holds my need in His hands

Relentless in pursuit

Crying out all the more

The King of Glory turns to me

“What is it your soul longs for?”

 

Simple faith and confidence

Stopped Mercy in His tracks

Healing my sight to fully see

True Love move on my behalf

 

-ets