Sometimes this phrase is much easier said than done. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path (Proverbs 3).
Rely on God to direct my steps and the steps of others. Wow, that's a big one!
Recognize that He is in control. Really? How about the times when I strongly believe that I know the right course of action to take? What do I do then?
I suppose that the key to all this is giving God His due as God. We say that He is all powerful, all knowing. Why then don't we act like we believe this? Why do we have mental meltdowns when stuff starts to hit the fan?
I venture to say that this is a tough one for me because I am the classic "Fixer." I hate seeing folks in pain or distress of any type. I will do all that I can to help them, to make things better. However, as of late, I am learning that we all grow as a result of our struggles, setbacks, disappointments, etc. So, for me to step in and play "savior" robs a person of their valley experience. At the same time, what may be perceived as a valley experience may actually be a mountaintop extravaganza. Sometimes it's all in our perception.
But regardless of where we may find ourselves, God is so good that even when we're in the valley, He supplies water. It's in the valley that He reveals Himself to us and if we're awake, we come out knowing some things we didn't know before. We come out knowing ourselves a little bit better. We come out knowing Him.
Valleys do not feel good but they are often the bridge we must cross in order to simply get to the other side.
Yes, trust in Him. He won't leave you hangin'. I speak these words probably more to myself than to you. Funny thing about writing, the words are life giving first to the writer and than hopefully to you, the readers.
Be blessed.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Say What? I Can't Hear You!
How exhilirating to know that there is Someone much bigger than you or I who can handle everything. Maybe that's why Psalm 46:10 says, Be still and know that I am GOD!
Could it be that in stillness, solitude, even silence, the answers we need come to us? Could this be when we take our eyes off of ourselves with all of our worrying and toiling and thinking and just stop and rest in the omnipotent, omniscient Creator?
Lately, my prayer time has become one of silence. No words, no requests, sometimes even no praise or worship, just silence so that I can hear. Sometimes He speaks and sometimes He doesn't and that's ok. This is very different for me having come from a place where I was taught that I had to move God's hands through prayer, praise and worship. I didn't know what it meant to be still before God. I didn't know what it meant to just chill out and see what God was doing.
Now, don't get me wrong, I believe there is much power in praise. Praise is often the very thing needed to lift us up out of ourselves and remind us Who is on the throne. But at the same time, there is power in stillness.
One life saving skill I learned as a preschool teacher was that if you needed to get the attention of a classroom of noisy children, the key was not to yell or try and raise your voice over theirs, but to speak softly so that they automatically had to quiet down in order to hear what you were saying.
I wonder if God knew this all along. The louder we get, the quieter He becomes until it finally (hopefully) dawns on us to be still and attune our ears.
Here's to you, happy quiet!
Could it be that in stillness, solitude, even silence, the answers we need come to us? Could this be when we take our eyes off of ourselves with all of our worrying and toiling and thinking and just stop and rest in the omnipotent, omniscient Creator?
Lately, my prayer time has become one of silence. No words, no requests, sometimes even no praise or worship, just silence so that I can hear. Sometimes He speaks and sometimes He doesn't and that's ok. This is very different for me having come from a place where I was taught that I had to move God's hands through prayer, praise and worship. I didn't know what it meant to be still before God. I didn't know what it meant to just chill out and see what God was doing.
Now, don't get me wrong, I believe there is much power in praise. Praise is often the very thing needed to lift us up out of ourselves and remind us Who is on the throne. But at the same time, there is power in stillness.
One life saving skill I learned as a preschool teacher was that if you needed to get the attention of a classroom of noisy children, the key was not to yell or try and raise your voice over theirs, but to speak softly so that they automatically had to quiet down in order to hear what you were saying.
I wonder if God knew this all along. The louder we get, the quieter He becomes until it finally (hopefully) dawns on us to be still and attune our ears.
Here's to you, happy quiet!
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Horse or Heir?
Psalm 32:8- I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with Mine eye upon you. Be not like the horse or the mule, which lack understanding, which must have their mouths held firm with bit and bridle, or else they will not come with you.
Don't be like an animal or beast of burden that refuses to move unless forced to. A horse is controlled by its owner with the use of a metal mouthpiece and headgear. God says He will counsel, urge, encourage and direct us with His eyes upon us. He will educate, enlighten, edify and guide us in the way that we should go. He expects us to respond promptly to Him of our own accord and not because we are forced to. God does not force us to do anything. His is a gentle prodding, a gentle leading from within. Sadly, many of us do not respond until we are knocked upside the head or faced with calamity and then we say, "Oh, maybe God's trying to tell me something."
Why do we prefer chaos over peace?
We call ourselves children of God. Why then do we find it so hard to hear and respond to His voice? Imagine calling out to your child and never getting a response or as a parent watching your child stumble and fall continuously because they refuse to hear you, to heed your counsel, your advice, and benefit from your experiences? Imagine then how God feels....
Perhaps the sound of God's voice is foreign to us because we've never spent time with Him to be familiar with it. Perhaps God assumed we would recognize His voice because as His children we would want to intimately know Him as He knows us.
It probably sounds odd to even fathom that God wants to reveal Himself to us. For many of us based on our religious upbringing and conditioning, we see Him as a dictator not at all interested in us or our well-being. But, He's not. God is love.
The question is when will you open your ears to hear and having heard, obey?
Don't be like an animal or beast of burden that refuses to move unless forced to. A horse is controlled by its owner with the use of a metal mouthpiece and headgear. God says He will counsel, urge, encourage and direct us with His eyes upon us. He will educate, enlighten, edify and guide us in the way that we should go. He expects us to respond promptly to Him of our own accord and not because we are forced to. God does not force us to do anything. His is a gentle prodding, a gentle leading from within. Sadly, many of us do not respond until we are knocked upside the head or faced with calamity and then we say, "Oh, maybe God's trying to tell me something."
Why do we prefer chaos over peace?
We call ourselves children of God. Why then do we find it so hard to hear and respond to His voice? Imagine calling out to your child and never getting a response or as a parent watching your child stumble and fall continuously because they refuse to hear you, to heed your counsel, your advice, and benefit from your experiences? Imagine then how God feels....
Perhaps the sound of God's voice is foreign to us because we've never spent time with Him to be familiar with it. Perhaps God assumed we would recognize His voice because as His children we would want to intimately know Him as He knows us.
It probably sounds odd to even fathom that God wants to reveal Himself to us. For many of us based on our religious upbringing and conditioning, we see Him as a dictator not at all interested in us or our well-being. But, He's not. God is love.
The question is when will you open your ears to hear and having heard, obey?
A Backward Glance
Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also- Matthew 6:21
The bible story of Lot's wife depicts, perhaps in a very exaggerated sense, what can happen when a person refuses to leave the past behind. In this account, an angel sent by God warned Lot about the destruction that God was preparing to unleash upon Sodom and Gomorrah because of the wickedness in the land (Genesis 19). Lot's family was to escape for their lives and not look back. Unfortunately, Lot's wife looked back from behind him and became a pillar of salt(verse 26). Her desire to remain literally immobilized her.
Oftentimes moving forward can be difficult. Life brings change and newness that we may not welcome. A few years ago, my family and I relocated from the east to the west coast. Although I was excited about starting a new life in a brand new place, I was terrified. All my life, I'd lived in one place surrounded by family and friends and was quite comfortable. Nevertheless, we took a step of faith and made the move. Outwardly, I said goodbye to my former life but inwardly I longed for what was and I resisted my new surroundings. I did not want to relinquish the old without knowing what the new would bring. My eyes and my heart remained fixed on what I'd left behind. I knew that I needed to shut the door to my past and turn with hope and expectancy toward my future. That knowing didn't happen overnight and some days were better than other days. But when I decided to let go and let God show me His goodness, His faithfulness and the immense blessing the move brought, not only to me but to my family as well, I couldn't help but give Him praise!
Like the angel who went before Lot's family to lead them to safety, I knew that God would go before us to prepare our path. Our part was to follow His lead and trust Him.
Remember, God never called us to do this life on our own. He is able and willing to help us. But, it's as you go that the way opens up for you and your next step is revealed.
Peace.
The bible story of Lot's wife depicts, perhaps in a very exaggerated sense, what can happen when a person refuses to leave the past behind. In this account, an angel sent by God warned Lot about the destruction that God was preparing to unleash upon Sodom and Gomorrah because of the wickedness in the land (Genesis 19). Lot's family was to escape for their lives and not look back. Unfortunately, Lot's wife looked back from behind him and became a pillar of salt(verse 26). Her desire to remain literally immobilized her.
Oftentimes moving forward can be difficult. Life brings change and newness that we may not welcome. A few years ago, my family and I relocated from the east to the west coast. Although I was excited about starting a new life in a brand new place, I was terrified. All my life, I'd lived in one place surrounded by family and friends and was quite comfortable. Nevertheless, we took a step of faith and made the move. Outwardly, I said goodbye to my former life but inwardly I longed for what was and I resisted my new surroundings. I did not want to relinquish the old without knowing what the new would bring. My eyes and my heart remained fixed on what I'd left behind. I knew that I needed to shut the door to my past and turn with hope and expectancy toward my future. That knowing didn't happen overnight and some days were better than other days. But when I decided to let go and let God show me His goodness, His faithfulness and the immense blessing the move brought, not only to me but to my family as well, I couldn't help but give Him praise!
Like the angel who went before Lot's family to lead them to safety, I knew that God would go before us to prepare our path. Our part was to follow His lead and trust Him.
Remember, God never called us to do this life on our own. He is able and willing to help us. But, it's as you go that the way opens up for you and your next step is revealed.
Peace.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
I AIN'T MAD AT YA!
Good News- God is not mad at you. He is not out to get you, trip you up, make you stumble and fall or put obstacles in your way. He has already made peace with you through Jesus Christ. So, if He's already extended to you the peace pipe, why do you still believe that He is your enemy?
The bible says that God was in Christ reconciling the world to favor with Himself, not counting and holding against men their trespasses but cancelling them and committing to us the message of reconciliation (2Corinthians 5:19). The phrase "the world," means just that, the world = everybody. God has already restored harmony between Himself and everyone. It is already done. He did it. Our job is to be aware of the wonderful gift He's already given, receive it, enjoy it and make use of it.
The word "favor" means to be to the advantage of a person. God has reconciled everyone for their advantage as well as His own. Why? He loves us. He wants us. He created us for Himself, not as a self-centered act on His part but as Someone who wants to share a good thing. He is for you, not against you. He is present to help not to destroy or hinder.
It is amazing to witness the difference in the approach of a person who believes God is there to benefit them and the one who believes God is an angry punisher. The one who is secure in God runs to Him during the good times and the bad times much the same way lovers run into the arms of one another. There in those arms they find safety, comfort, love, support, understanding and an overall sense of well-being. In contrast, the person who is afraid of God and believes He is malicious, unforgiving, and resentful, stays away from Him or comes near trembling in fear, expecting to be struck down. This type of person believes God is only appoachable when certain rules and regulations have been dutifully followed.
For example, I once believed that my faithful church attendance made me ok with God. I didn't know that showing up every Sunday didn't mean much when I didn't even like the people with whom I fellowshipped. It never crossed my mind that God was more interested in what was going on in my heart than in my attendance. I believed that I was meeting God's requirements and as a result He should be pleased with me. If I performed like a good girl and did all the right things then I believed He would bless me.On the other hand, if I missed a Sunday service or didn't pray every day and read my bible, I thought I'd failed, which meant God was mad at me and I hadn't lived up to His standards. Afterall, doesn't God bless us when we behave like good little boys and girls? Praise God, His blessings are not based on our performance. He's much bigger than that!
Someone said, "You cannot love what you fear." It is this unhealthy fear of God that keeps us away from Him, away from the One who's already taken a giant step towards us.
Several years ago, I attended a church where up and coming ministers were being groomed for the ministry. There was one young man who was very articulate, filled with biblical scriptures and just energized and overflowing with God. He talked about God all the time.
One day, I heard him say,"I'm scared. I don't want to go to hell." I was shocked and saddened to hear this from him because he sounded like a person who lived under the shadow of fear where one wrong move would mean severe punishment. He reminded me of a little boy frightened and scared to death of a father who had no mercy and no compassion. This young man's words reflected his life, which he lived very carefully like a person walking on eggshells, afraid that the smallest movement would wreck havoc everywhere. How stressful! His fiery preaching emanated from His cowering fear of God, not reverential fear and not from his love of God. Even though he was very vocal and prominent in the church, fear ruled his life. He was not sure if God was ok with him. All he had was the hope that in the end he would fare well and not go to hell.
The way a person sees God has an enormous impact on their life. It's vitally important to know that God loves us but we also need to regularly examine and if need be, change our view of God. In the bible, the book of Jeremiah 29:11 says that God's thoughts towards you are thoughts of peace and welfare to give you a future and hope. God is for you. He's always been rooting for you. He's already on your team.
Psalm 8:4- What is man that You, God are mindful of him and the son of earthborn man that You care for him? You have made him a little lower than heavenly beings, and You have crowned him with glory and honor.
I don't know about you, but to me this sound like you are God's good thing!
The bible says that God was in Christ reconciling the world to favor with Himself, not counting and holding against men their trespasses but cancelling them and committing to us the message of reconciliation (2Corinthians 5:19). The phrase "the world," means just that, the world = everybody. God has already restored harmony between Himself and everyone. It is already done. He did it. Our job is to be aware of the wonderful gift He's already given, receive it, enjoy it and make use of it.
The word "favor" means to be to the advantage of a person. God has reconciled everyone for their advantage as well as His own. Why? He loves us. He wants us. He created us for Himself, not as a self-centered act on His part but as Someone who wants to share a good thing. He is for you, not against you. He is present to help not to destroy or hinder.
It is amazing to witness the difference in the approach of a person who believes God is there to benefit them and the one who believes God is an angry punisher. The one who is secure in God runs to Him during the good times and the bad times much the same way lovers run into the arms of one another. There in those arms they find safety, comfort, love, support, understanding and an overall sense of well-being. In contrast, the person who is afraid of God and believes He is malicious, unforgiving, and resentful, stays away from Him or comes near trembling in fear, expecting to be struck down. This type of person believes God is only appoachable when certain rules and regulations have been dutifully followed.
For example, I once believed that my faithful church attendance made me ok with God. I didn't know that showing up every Sunday didn't mean much when I didn't even like the people with whom I fellowshipped. It never crossed my mind that God was more interested in what was going on in my heart than in my attendance. I believed that I was meeting God's requirements and as a result He should be pleased with me. If I performed like a good girl and did all the right things then I believed He would bless me.On the other hand, if I missed a Sunday service or didn't pray every day and read my bible, I thought I'd failed, which meant God was mad at me and I hadn't lived up to His standards. Afterall, doesn't God bless us when we behave like good little boys and girls? Praise God, His blessings are not based on our performance. He's much bigger than that!
Someone said, "You cannot love what you fear." It is this unhealthy fear of God that keeps us away from Him, away from the One who's already taken a giant step towards us.
Several years ago, I attended a church where up and coming ministers were being groomed for the ministry. There was one young man who was very articulate, filled with biblical scriptures and just energized and overflowing with God. He talked about God all the time.
One day, I heard him say,"I'm scared. I don't want to go to hell." I was shocked and saddened to hear this from him because he sounded like a person who lived under the shadow of fear where one wrong move would mean severe punishment. He reminded me of a little boy frightened and scared to death of a father who had no mercy and no compassion. This young man's words reflected his life, which he lived very carefully like a person walking on eggshells, afraid that the smallest movement would wreck havoc everywhere. How stressful! His fiery preaching emanated from His cowering fear of God, not reverential fear and not from his love of God. Even though he was very vocal and prominent in the church, fear ruled his life. He was not sure if God was ok with him. All he had was the hope that in the end he would fare well and not go to hell.
The way a person sees God has an enormous impact on their life. It's vitally important to know that God loves us but we also need to regularly examine and if need be, change our view of God. In the bible, the book of Jeremiah 29:11 says that God's thoughts towards you are thoughts of peace and welfare to give you a future and hope. God is for you. He's always been rooting for you. He's already on your team.
Psalm 8:4- What is man that You, God are mindful of him and the son of earthborn man that You care for him? You have made him a little lower than heavenly beings, and You have crowned him with glory and honor.
I don't know about you, but to me this sound like you are God's good thing!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)