Isaiah 26:3 reads, "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is fixed on You because he trusts in You." I have a very busy mind. It races ahead of me in conversation, duty and thought. I have had to learn to exercise great self control over my mind, and God has helped me walk in that. At times it is as natural as breathing to rest in God. At other times, it takes every fiber of my being to stay the course.
What about you? How is your mind today? Scripture is filled with exhortations to trust in God alone, rest in God and find His peace. There are no qualifying times or events in our lives that He tells us to rest. It is an all the time encouragement from Him - in joy and in sorrow; in war and in peace; in fear and in courage. Rest in Him. He is able to hold us up no matter what comes.
The battlefield where we meet satan is our mind. Ephesians clearly shows us in chapter 6 that our battle is with spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places, and that our mind is the battleground. Truth is the power to win. God's truth. It is pictured as a sword - of the Spirit. An entire coat of armor is described in this passage. As a t-shirt I once saw said, "Don't battle naked!"
In Christ alone there is peace and hope and help. Quiet yourself in Him. Get to know Him. Rest in Him. Count your blessings when you cannot sleep. A mind/heart filled with gratitude cannot fear. It brings rest and peace.
" I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety." Psalm 4:8
Great study recommendation: "Lord, I Want To Know You" by Kay Arthur
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Little children
Jesus said more than once that entering His kingdom requires becoming as a little child. Have you watched a little child lately? I'm not talking about the kind who are in Walmart late at night (acting like a terrorist) when they should be in bed asleep. I'm talking about a little child who is able to just be a little child. They are full of wonder. They marvel at weeds and call them pretty flowers that smell good. They respect bugs and birds and breezes. They see the glory of God in the beauty of nature.
Little children are peaceful. They live in the moment, not even thinking of their next need. They laugh easily and sometimes cry easily when the need arises. They are not burdened with life or tomorrow. They live now. They trust and believe and love. Little children don't wear watches to hurry about and feel important. They don't keep a calendar. They pray readily, and spend their prayers saying thank you instead of asking for more. They love relationships. They bloom with lots of face time with people who love them. Children rest. They wake renewed and ready to go again.
There's a lot to be learned from a little one. We can't justify our craziness in life. It is chosen. It is repeated. It is even honored - and we train to do more. But Jesus, the Master teacher, says we must become as little children. Think about it. Pray about it. Let go of something that keeps you strained and stressed and worrisome. God will take care of the rest!
Little children are peaceful. They live in the moment, not even thinking of their next need. They laugh easily and sometimes cry easily when the need arises. They are not burdened with life or tomorrow. They live now. They trust and believe and love. Little children don't wear watches to hurry about and feel important. They don't keep a calendar. They pray readily, and spend their prayers saying thank you instead of asking for more. They love relationships. They bloom with lots of face time with people who love them. Children rest. They wake renewed and ready to go again.
There's a lot to be learned from a little one. We can't justify our craziness in life. It is chosen. It is repeated. It is even honored - and we train to do more. But Jesus, the Master teacher, says we must become as little children. Think about it. Pray about it. Let go of something that keeps you strained and stressed and worrisome. God will take care of the rest!
Friday, April 16, 2010
Peace! Be Still!
It started out as a beautiful evening I suspect. Sunset, breeze, gentle flowing water. Jesus and His disciples were in a boat crossing over to another side to teach and bless more people. It was so peaceful that Jesus was laying in the back of the boat asleep. And a storm arose.
Panic stricken, His followers were in a tizzy. Hmmmmm....tizzy. Not sure of the spelling, but certainly familiar with the emotion. Fear, doubt, anxiety, restlessness. You name it - they felt it. But for Jesus, it was so peaceful that He continued to sleep.
They could take it no longer. Master, do you not care that we are perishing? Do YOU not care? Perishing? Jesus slept through the storm. What are you doing in yours?
I've seen so many storms lately. A very sick nephew whose marriage is crumbling; his mother as she waits to see the impact on him; houses facing foreclosure; brain cancer in a 22 year old; businesses unstable; sudden sickness that threatens life; friends who need Jesus in their boat; broken arms; broken hearts; unemployment; and this just names a few of the storms I'm watching right now. Tizzy material for sure.
And what does the Master say? Peace! Be still! He calms the raging sea when it fulfills the Father's plans to show God's glory. He stands with us no matter what, speaking to our personal storm "Peace! Be still!" He is not sleeping. He is waiting for you to cry to Him for help - and trust Him no matter what happens in the storm.
I love this quote from Beth Moore. "The biggest reason why I can trust in the sovereignty of God is because I am so utterly convinced of the sweetness of God." Read the gospels and watch the love of Jesus flow to people in all circumstances. The Holy Spirit lives in every person who has given their life to Jesus. He is called the Comforter. Take a break from rowing the boat and simply sit with Jesus. Wait.....can you hear His whisper? Peace! Be still!
I would like to recommend a study I'm doing right now. It is "Lord, Help Me Grow Spiritually Strong in 28 Days", and it is by Kay Arthur and David Arthur. It will bless and strengthen your "cruise".
Panic stricken, His followers were in a tizzy. Hmmmmm....tizzy. Not sure of the spelling, but certainly familiar with the emotion. Fear, doubt, anxiety, restlessness. You name it - they felt it. But for Jesus, it was so peaceful that He continued to sleep.
They could take it no longer. Master, do you not care that we are perishing? Do YOU not care? Perishing? Jesus slept through the storm. What are you doing in yours?
I've seen so many storms lately. A very sick nephew whose marriage is crumbling; his mother as she waits to see the impact on him; houses facing foreclosure; brain cancer in a 22 year old; businesses unstable; sudden sickness that threatens life; friends who need Jesus in their boat; broken arms; broken hearts; unemployment; and this just names a few of the storms I'm watching right now. Tizzy material for sure.
And what does the Master say? Peace! Be still! He calms the raging sea when it fulfills the Father's plans to show God's glory. He stands with us no matter what, speaking to our personal storm "Peace! Be still!" He is not sleeping. He is waiting for you to cry to Him for help - and trust Him no matter what happens in the storm.
I love this quote from Beth Moore. "The biggest reason why I can trust in the sovereignty of God is because I am so utterly convinced of the sweetness of God." Read the gospels and watch the love of Jesus flow to people in all circumstances. The Holy Spirit lives in every person who has given their life to Jesus. He is called the Comforter. Take a break from rowing the boat and simply sit with Jesus. Wait.....can you hear His whisper? Peace! Be still!
I would like to recommend a study I'm doing right now. It is "Lord, Help Me Grow Spiritually Strong in 28 Days", and it is by Kay Arthur and David Arthur. It will bless and strengthen your "cruise".
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
The Hubble
"The heavens are telling of the glory of God; and their expanse is declaring the work of His hands." Psalm 19:1 David, the psalmist, inspired by God, wrote these amazing words about the heavens that you and I can see with our eyes alone. They are breath taking. Don't you love to sit on a clear night out away from city lights and just worship God for what He has created that you can see in the sky? I am overwhelmed by its majesty.
And now, we have the Hubble space telescope. I was blessed to sit in an IMAX Theatre and watch the Hubble movie yesterday. WOW. What it has found is beyond comprehension. The film spoke of billions of years - billions of light years away where some of the objects are. I can't get my head around that. My circuits blow just thinking of it.
And then it came to me. God is eternal. He always has been. At some point out of the amazing heavens He decided to form earth. They called it an oasis in the heavens. Hubble went out to see if there was another planet like earth in all the expanse of heaven. There was none to be found. God created this planet and its "unique in the universe" characteristics, making a perfect place for the human to live. The human made in His image. The human who would need water and air and sunshine and all the amazing living things on this earth. And the living things would need man. He created a system of inner dependence to call out to us from the heavens, asking us to depend on Him. He would walk with man. Man would sin and be seperated from God. He would come in the person of Jesus Christ to save man. Jesus would return to God and the Holy Spirit would come and be God livng in us as we journey on this earth. Fellowship with God personally, daily, moment by moment was once again available to those who would stop and be with Him! And all who will put their trust in Jesus will return to God when they leave this place. Just think what the view from God's throne must be!
By faith, I know that one day I will see that view. Paul tells believers in Jesus in Ephesians 2:5, "Even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus..." Chapter 1 tells us that Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God! We will see the view!
Don't get bogged down on planet earth. Look up! Read the Psalms and be blessed to be reminded that God's heavens are amazing - the Hubble has shown us pictures of what we could have never imagined! "Eye has not seen and ear has not heard what God has planned for those who love Him." (I Corinthians 2:9) The reward will be worth any sacrifice your choice for God costs you in this life!
And now, we have the Hubble space telescope. I was blessed to sit in an IMAX Theatre and watch the Hubble movie yesterday. WOW. What it has found is beyond comprehension. The film spoke of billions of years - billions of light years away where some of the objects are. I can't get my head around that. My circuits blow just thinking of it.
And then it came to me. God is eternal. He always has been. At some point out of the amazing heavens He decided to form earth. They called it an oasis in the heavens. Hubble went out to see if there was another planet like earth in all the expanse of heaven. There was none to be found. God created this planet and its "unique in the universe" characteristics, making a perfect place for the human to live. The human made in His image. The human who would need water and air and sunshine and all the amazing living things on this earth. And the living things would need man. He created a system of inner dependence to call out to us from the heavens, asking us to depend on Him. He would walk with man. Man would sin and be seperated from God. He would come in the person of Jesus Christ to save man. Jesus would return to God and the Holy Spirit would come and be God livng in us as we journey on this earth. Fellowship with God personally, daily, moment by moment was once again available to those who would stop and be with Him! And all who will put their trust in Jesus will return to God when they leave this place. Just think what the view from God's throne must be!
By faith, I know that one day I will see that view. Paul tells believers in Jesus in Ephesians 2:5, "Even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus..." Chapter 1 tells us that Jesus is sitting at the right hand of God! We will see the view!
Don't get bogged down on planet earth. Look up! Read the Psalms and be blessed to be reminded that God's heavens are amazing - the Hubble has shown us pictures of what we could have never imagined! "Eye has not seen and ear has not heard what God has planned for those who love Him." (I Corinthians 2:9) The reward will be worth any sacrifice your choice for God costs you in this life!
Choose your master! Choose well!
Jesus was speaking to a multitude of people over two thousand years ago about heart treasure when He told them, "No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth." (Matthew 6:24) He had just been talking about heart treasure and how our heart follows what we treasure. He comforts the people with the assurance that God will provide food, drink and clothing to them (and us) just as He does for the birds of the sky.
I have been on a journey for 20+ years trying to understand this truth. I have not been particularly wise about some money decisions. I still have some debt that needs to be paid. It is debt that God's Word offered council to never owe, but I either did not know or listen to His council, depending on my age and the point at which I acquired the debt. But the veracity of the promises of God are not contingent on my wisdom. It is a fact. God will fill my needs and yours if we first seek Him.
I have been trying to decide whether or not to take a class offered by a friend of mine to grow in my business. I have really been in a quandry about it. You might recall a post on the blog a while back about the boundary lines in my life. About satisfaction with your lot in life. Sometimes opportunities to grow are built on a foundation of making one unsatisfied with where they are to motivate them to move to a better place. So the old battle has been going back and forth in my mind for a few months, trying to discern what it is God would have me do. I asked Him for a specific scripture answer to my decision about beginning that class tonight.
And do you know what? He did. I went to my Bible study this morning, and there in the lesson written about giving was first a lesson about money. And of course, about the heart. The very scriptures He used to begin setting me free from this battle 20+ years ago He gave to me again this morning. I was amazed. I was overwhelmed. I wept. I really wept. I denounced the enemy for his lies once and for all.
And now, you're really not going to believe what I saw.
I looked out the window in front of me at a tree that had a year ago bloomed like never before only to die suddenly a few days later. It is still in the ground because my husband had hoped that perhaps it really wasn't dead and would bloom again this year. Behind the tree in the distance farther out in the yard was a beautiful blooming red bud tree (which we had planted as small sticks a few years ago). I looked through the dead tree and saw the living one. It was like a picture of the two masters. One gives life. One gives nothing because it is dead. I was amazed. I was overwheled at my faithful God who confirms His message so that I know without a doubt what I have heard from Him.
And now, you're really, really not going to believe what I saw.
There is a picture on the wall beside the window I was looking through. There was a reflection in the glass of that picture of a tree in our backyard that has also died this year. Behind it, I could see in the distance another beautiful, blooming red bud tree. It took my breath away as I realized I was seeing the picture again of life and death. Life to trust and treasure God and death in the treasure of money because it has no life. Immediately my mind was filled with "you have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand on me." Psalm 139 is an amazing Psalm about how God knows you. Take time to read it and believe that He knows how to quiet your heart and lead your way. Would you want to be anywhere else?
Don't waste your life trying to serve two masters. Seek the treasure of God with all your heart, and truly, all the things you need will be provided.
...and now I've seen Him use our dying trees! God uses whatever He chooses on this earth to teach His children! I LOVE my daddy!
I have been on a journey for 20+ years trying to understand this truth. I have not been particularly wise about some money decisions. I still have some debt that needs to be paid. It is debt that God's Word offered council to never owe, but I either did not know or listen to His council, depending on my age and the point at which I acquired the debt. But the veracity of the promises of God are not contingent on my wisdom. It is a fact. God will fill my needs and yours if we first seek Him.
I have been trying to decide whether or not to take a class offered by a friend of mine to grow in my business. I have really been in a quandry about it. You might recall a post on the blog a while back about the boundary lines in my life. About satisfaction with your lot in life. Sometimes opportunities to grow are built on a foundation of making one unsatisfied with where they are to motivate them to move to a better place. So the old battle has been going back and forth in my mind for a few months, trying to discern what it is God would have me do. I asked Him for a specific scripture answer to my decision about beginning that class tonight.
And do you know what? He did. I went to my Bible study this morning, and there in the lesson written about giving was first a lesson about money. And of course, about the heart. The very scriptures He used to begin setting me free from this battle 20+ years ago He gave to me again this morning. I was amazed. I was overwhelmed. I wept. I really wept. I denounced the enemy for his lies once and for all.
And now, you're really not going to believe what I saw.
I looked out the window in front of me at a tree that had a year ago bloomed like never before only to die suddenly a few days later. It is still in the ground because my husband had hoped that perhaps it really wasn't dead and would bloom again this year. Behind the tree in the distance farther out in the yard was a beautiful blooming red bud tree (which we had planted as small sticks a few years ago). I looked through the dead tree and saw the living one. It was like a picture of the two masters. One gives life. One gives nothing because it is dead. I was amazed. I was overwheled at my faithful God who confirms His message so that I know without a doubt what I have heard from Him.
And now, you're really, really not going to believe what I saw.
There is a picture on the wall beside the window I was looking through. There was a reflection in the glass of that picture of a tree in our backyard that has also died this year. Behind it, I could see in the distance another beautiful, blooming red bud tree. It took my breath away as I realized I was seeing the picture again of life and death. Life to trust and treasure God and death in the treasure of money because it has no life. Immediately my mind was filled with "you have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand on me." Psalm 139 is an amazing Psalm about how God knows you. Take time to read it and believe that He knows how to quiet your heart and lead your way. Would you want to be anywhere else?
Don't waste your life trying to serve two masters. Seek the treasure of God with all your heart, and truly, all the things you need will be provided.
...and now I've seen Him use our dying trees! God uses whatever He chooses on this earth to teach His children! I LOVE my daddy!
Friday, April 2, 2010
Wake up, parents!
I was deeply troubled this week as I watched a 10 year old boy desperately trying to talk with his dad who was too busy to listen to him. There are numerous warning signs in this particular family - screaming at the children, too busy to train and love their children, putting down the children, ignoring the children, just to name a few I observed in my 20 minutes in the home. What in the world happens when no outsiders are there when what I observed seemed so "normal" for the parents.
We all need "face time" with the significant people in our lives. Being in the same room with people does not equal face time - or affirmation of each other. It is like a wicked chain reaction is in place. People who were not loved and nurtured as children often turn in to adults who do the same. Addictions abound in our world, and I really believe they are often born (not always, of course), from some message received in childhood about their personal value. Many hurting adults are still in need of that love and affirmation that God intended they would receive in their childhood.
The good news? God is that perfect parent. Seek me and you will find me; call to me and I will answer; cast your cares on me....just to name a few of His calling out to us in love. I ask you to evaluate your practice of being fully present. Look your little ones in the face as you speak to them. Hold them, love them, assure them of your being there for them. Model for them what love is. And let God do the same for you. Spend time with Him. Let Him heal any missing spots in your soul - and then go and do the same for others.
Time is short, friends. Our world is coming apart because we have been too busy to take care of the most important blessing we have.....our relationships. Turn off the techy stuff - get outside if you must and FOCUS! Give peace to others and you will be blessed!
We all need "face time" with the significant people in our lives. Being in the same room with people does not equal face time - or affirmation of each other. It is like a wicked chain reaction is in place. People who were not loved and nurtured as children often turn in to adults who do the same. Addictions abound in our world, and I really believe they are often born (not always, of course), from some message received in childhood about their personal value. Many hurting adults are still in need of that love and affirmation that God intended they would receive in their childhood.
The good news? God is that perfect parent. Seek me and you will find me; call to me and I will answer; cast your cares on me....just to name a few of His calling out to us in love. I ask you to evaluate your practice of being fully present. Look your little ones in the face as you speak to them. Hold them, love them, assure them of your being there for them. Model for them what love is. And let God do the same for you. Spend time with Him. Let Him heal any missing spots in your soul - and then go and do the same for others.
Time is short, friends. Our world is coming apart because we have been too busy to take care of the most important blessing we have.....our relationships. Turn off the techy stuff - get outside if you must and FOCUS! Give peace to others and you will be blessed!
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