Be still

 "The Lord will fight for you, all you only need to be still"

~Exodus 14:14

Wow!  This is the perfect verse right now!  Fear and anxiety is at an all time high is our nation and our world.

Do you ever feel cornered by situation, relationship or circumstance and fell helpless.  Like nothing you do would matter or ever help.  This verse is a reminder that we don't have to feel helpless or hopeless.  All you need to do is trust.  Trust that God is there and He will fight for you..

Even though it at times it sometimes feels like the walls are closing in around you, and that the struggles seem endless, God is calling you to, "Be Still & Trust Him".  

If God fought to gain victory over death, hell and the grave, then He is more that capable of fighting the smaller battles in your life.  Even if they don't seem small to you.  

My son had a t-shirt when he was smaller that said it all...

Little bitty fish (your problems), 

Great BIG God

Maybe you should quit trying to fight the battles alone and let God step in and fight along side, or better yet for you.  

"Your grace abounds in deepest waters

Your sovereign hand will be my guide

Where my feet may fail & fear summons me 

You've never failed and you won't start now."

So, listen to what God is telling you in the midst of your battle..

"(Fill in your name).......

Be Still & Trust me!"

- GOD

The trap of self-Criticism

 

“My dear children, let’s not just talk about love; let’s practice real love. This is the only way we’ll know we’re living truly, living in God’s reality. It’s also the way to shut down debilitating self-criticism, even when there is something to it. For God is greater than our worried hearts and knows more about us than we do ourselves.

And friends, once that’s taken care of and we’re no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we’re bold and free before God! We’re able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we’re doing what he said, doing what pleases him. Again, this is God’s command: to believe in his personally named Son, Jesus Christ. He told us to love each other, in line with the original command. As we keep his commands, we live deeply and surely in him, and he lives in us. And this is how we experience his deep and abiding presence in us: by the Spirit he gave us.”

1 John 3:18-24

DO you ever find yourself engaging in “debilitating self-criticism”?  Beating yourself up over your failures and short comings?  If so, you are missing a key point of the gospel.

God knows you.  Take a moment to let that sink in.  He created you.  Every detail about you.  Every flaw.  Every weakness.  He knows you better than you could ever know yourself.  And even so, his love is greater than your worried heart or your failures and short comings.

Hanging on to your mistakes displays a lack of trust in the absolute power of God’s grace.  By engaging in self-criticism and clinging to our mistakes and weaknesses, you are telling Jesus that you don’t trust when he said in 2 Corinthians 12:9,

“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Not only does it display a lack of trust in the power of His grace, it also keeps you from loving others fully. It will also keep you from receiving all that God wants to give you and from going the places He wants to send you.

Go to Jesus and confess any self-criticism you find yourself stuck in.  Ask Him to break the shackles and help keep you from obsessing over whatever failure or short coming it is that keeps you bound.

Surrender it to Christ.  Ask Him to come fill that space with love in practice to God and others.   And every time Satan reminds you of those things, remind him who it is you serve.  All your weakness and failure has been covered by God’s grace, through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross.

“He has saved us and called us to a holy life- not because of anything we have done but because of this own purpose and grace.  This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.”

2 Timothy 1:9

My current favorite Playlist

 

Never Give Up

 

I’ll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home.  I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out - plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

"When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. When you come looking for me, you'll find me. I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." God's Decree. "I'll turn things around for you.”

~Jeremiah 29:11-14

 

Have you ever watched someone suffer with hopelessness and despair?  Maybe that someone was even you.   Have you ever watched, knowing no matter how much you wanted you couldn’t fix it?  You couldn’t do anything but walk through or walk with that person through their circumstances? 

Sometimes circumstances are beyond our control and sometimes we fall into the belief, true or not, that what we wanted, hope for, dreamed of, will never come true.  

Most recently I have seen these feeling surface through my son.   I see him struggle with things that are beyond his control through teary eyes and a broken heart.  He has been a spectator to his father and my divorce, and he so desperately wants the love and attention of his dad.  He wants to know it’s not his fault we are divorcing and that he is not the reason his dad moved out.   But unanswered texts and broken promises often leave him wondering just that.   It leaves him feeling hopeless, unloved, and depressed. 

Maybe you find yourself in a situation that leaves you feeling the same way.  There is good new though…

Regardless of your feelings or circumstances, God has a plan for your life.  He promises us that He will never abandon us.  He has a plan that gives us the future we hoped for.

Guaranteed we will face hardships and trials along the way.  Some of those will seem so big that it feels like the whole world is shattering around you.  Some will feel so heartbreaking we don’t see any way out of them.  I am sure that right now that is how my son is feeling, and maybe you are too.

What we must remember is that God has a plan for us.  He has a plan for you.  And, yes, that even includes the worst parts of our lives.  Nothing surprises God.  He knew everything that was going to happen in your life.  None of it is a surprise to Him.  The amazing part is that if we allow Him into our circumstances, He will use them for good.  He can use the pain and hardship we face to change the trajectory of our heart.

Never forget you were chosen.  God has called you out and chosen you for a specific mission and purpose.  One that only YOU can fulfill.

The bible says,

“He who created a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ.”

~Philippians 1:6

God didn’t want us to walk down the path He chose for us, just to stop and give up when it gets hard.  He sees your pain and He is not done with you.  And maybe, just maybe this pain has everything to do with His preparing you for the good work he has placed inside you.  As long as you have breath left in you, His plan is still alive and unfolding in your life. 

The catch to this all is we can’t give up.  Even when it gets hard.  Even when it hurts.  And yes, even when we begin to loose hope.  We need to remember the most important part….

WE CAN’T DO IT ALONE!!!!  We need Him to keep going.  We don’t have to be strong because He promises His strength in our weakness.  We need to keep trusting Him and inviting Him into our mess.  Our pain.  Our desperation.  He wants to sit with us in our mess, pain, despair, and hopelessness.   He even wants to sit with us in our anger.  

God made each of us with a unique purpose.  He never wastes a hurt.   And He has a plan for your life.  He isn’t even close to done with you!  I guarantee you have something the world needs.  Someone out there will be ministered to because of the pain you’re going through.

SO….

DON’T GIVE UP!!!!

Who will you believe?

 

I don’t know about you, but I often struggle with all the voices around me telling me things about myself.  Sometimes, those voices are from friends and family.  Sometimes it is voices from my past, and sometimes, even my own voice that echoes in my head. 

When the voices cloud out the truth about who God says I am, I need a reminder of the Truth He has said about me.   I learned years ago that the best way for me to remember who God says I am is by writing down and memorizing Bible verses about who God says I am.

Here are some favorites…

 

I will never be shaken.

I wait quietly before God,
    for my victory comes from him.
 He alone is my rock and my salvation,
    my fortress where I will never be shaken.

Psalm 62:1-2

I am bold as a lion.

The wicked run away when no one is chasing them,
    but the godly are as bold as lions.

Proverbs 28:1

No weapon formed against me will stand.

But in that coming day
    no weapon turned against you will succeed.
You will silence every voice
    raised up to accuse you.
These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord;
    their vindication will come from me.
    I, the Lord, have spoken!

Isaiah 54:17

God will always lead me to triumph

But thank God! He has made us his captives and continues to lead us along in Christ’s triumphal procession. Now he uses us to spread the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume.

2 Corinthians 2:14

 

I cannot be separated from God’s love.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,[a] neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love.

Romans 8:38

 

I am chosen by God.

Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes.   God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

Ephesians 1:4-5

I am God’s workmanship and created for Good works.

 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Ephesians 2:10

 

I have not been given a spirit of fear.

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity or cowardice or fear, but [He has given us a spirit] of power and of love and of sound judgment and personal discipline [abilities that result in a calm, well-balanced mind and self-control].

2 Timothy 1:7

I am wonderfully made

I will give thanks and praise to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Wonderful are Your works,

and my soul knows it very well.

Psalm 139:14

 

I am beautiful

 And how will they preach unless they are commissioned and sent [for that purpose]? Just as it is written and forever remains written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”

Romans 10:15

I am fully known & lavishly loved by God.

 I am the Good Shepherd, and I know [without any doubt those who are] My own and My own know Me [and have a deep, personal relationship with Me]—

John 10:14

 

Before I formed you in the womb I knew you [and approved of you as My chosen instrument],

Jeremiah 1:5 a

I am special

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a consecrated nation, a [special] people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies [the wonderful deeds and virtues and perfections] of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

1 Peter 2:9

 

I am set apart.

for you are a holy people [set apart] to the Lord your God; and the Lord has chosen you out of all the peoples who are on the earth to be a people for His own possession.

Deuteronomy 14:2

But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself [and dealt wonderfully with] the godly man [the one of honorable character and moral courage—the one who does right]. 

The lord hears and responds when I call to Him.

Psalm 4:3

 

Who God says I am is infinitely more important than what the world says.   I am the only one who decides if what others say has power over me. 

Today I chose to believe what God says about me.

 

How about you… who will you believe?

Holy Laziness

 

Holy Laziness

“The Apostles then rendezvous with Jesus and reported all that they had done and taught.  Jesus said, “Come off by yourselves; let’s take a break and get a little rest.”  For there was constant coming and going.  They didn’t even have time to eat.   So, they got in the boat and went to a remote place by themselves.”

Mark 6:3-32 (the Message)

 

Busyness… It is a world-wide epidemic.  Too many things to do & not enough time to do them all.  The never-ending to-do list.  Can you relate?  I know I can!

 

Jesus is not in the business of over-working us.  A matter a fact it is not his plan for us.   HE ever intended for us to work tirelessly.   HE in no way has called you to a life of leisure.   There is nothing wrong with a little hard work.  Serving others.  Doing good.  And making a difference.   But God is also aware of our humanity. 

He wants us to go where he sends us.  To be obedient to His voice.  TO rest when He commands us.  And most importantly to seek balance because of our trust in Him, not because of our own frantic efforts. 

As Christians I think it is easy to work tirelessly doing good things.   Volunteering at church, giving our time to good causes, helping others.  But participating in the work of the kingdom is an invitation to be present with Jesus.  Not an excuse to abuse your body and spirit with constant rush.  IT is not an excuse to put others first at the expense of taking time to sit quietly at the feet of Jesus and letting Him refill you. 

Stop.  Listen.  Think…

Would you be willing to rest and break away form your hard work if Jesus asked you to?   Or would you be like I so often am and reply to His request with something like this…

But if not me, who will do it Lord?

As soon as I am finished.

 

We are all useless to the kingdom when we fail to take time to refill our own spirits.  Stop.  put on some worship music.  Open your Bible.  Pray.   Find a quiet space to just rest in His presence.  Lay out all your to-do lists Before Him today.  Remember that He is looking out for your needs.  Physical.  Emotional.  Spiritual.  Even we seem to forget them. 

Take time to praise Him for caring for you.  Ask Him today for wisdom to discern between hard work and needless hustle.   God want to help you find a balance between work and rest.  

Who do you know in your life that needs a reminder of this message today?  Is there someone in your life that is struggling?  Forgetting to eat and take time alone at the feet of Jesus to recharge?  Encourage that someone in your path who seems overworked that rest is vital.  Maybe even offer them a space to receive that stillness.  

Schedule yourself for some Holy Laziness!

Blessings Along the Path

 

 

“God took one look at me,

and look what happened-

I’m the most fortunate woman on earth!”

Luke 1:46-19 (the Message)

 

These words were spoken by Mary after the angel appeared to her, telling her that she would be carrying the savior.

Sometimes the very thing God uses in our lives to bless not only you but others may not look like a blessing at all.  There were many reasons for Mary to feel anything but “fortunate”.  She was an unmarried, pregnant, teenager.  The situation she found herself in brought many difficulties… Explaining her pregnancy to her boyfriend and family.  The nasty looks, gossip, and ridicule from the community around her.  Yet, in the midst of what could have brought sure panic and fear to her soul, she CHOSE to see the blessing and obey God.  Not only did she see the blessing, but she also described herself as the “most fortunate woman on earth!”

I’m sure being an unwed mother was not the path Mary saw for her life.   There are inevitably times in our lives when the path we find before us is not the path we’d have chosen for ourselves.   And it’s definitely not a comfortable one.

This is where we face the decision to step out in faith, follow Him into unfamiliar places and trust and obey him. At times the path can be dark and dangerous, but I promise you that if you keep your eyes on Jesus, He will direct your steps.

“We can make plans, but the LORD determines our steps.”

~Proverbs 16:9

 

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart;

and lean not on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge him,

And He will direct your path.”

~Proverbs 3:5-6

Through difficult times, if we keep our eyes in Jesus, He can lead us to blessings.

Regardless of how we find ourselves on the path, whether it is  because of the choices of others, paths we wandered onto ourselves, or paths we followed God down in obedience, determine to be the kind of person who is open, faithful and obedient so He can use you to do something amazing. 

Whatever the path you find yourself on, chose to walk day by day where His hand of blessing rests.  Sometimes, it is a daily choice to keep following Him in faith.  We must let go of the picture we have of what we think life is supposed to look like, the path we wanted to travel down.  You know that path with breathtaking scenery and scrumptious restaurants.  And trust that Jesus is there every step of the way…no matter how hard the steps may be to take. 

One thing I know for sure is that nothing I hold onto with human hands will ever compare to what God will place in my empty ones.   I simply have to trust.

Will I Ever get that Spark Back?

 

There is times in all of our lives when we face great tragedy.   We will experience gut wrenching loss and hardship.  Life can sometimes knock you to the ground and you feel like you may never get up again. 

Miscarriages. The death of a parent.   The end of marriage.

I’ve been there.   I have felt the sorrow of all of these.  It’s a deep brokenness.  The kind that rips you apart from the inside out.  The kind of pain that steals your joy and steals the sparkle that once filled your eyes.  The bounce from your step.  The smile from your face.  

You begin to fell like sadness has become your way of life.  Will you ever be happy again.  Is this your fate.   You walk through life feeling like you are on autopilot.   Will it be like this forever?

Tragedy changes us.  It will change how you look at life.  It changes how we experience the world around us and how we relate to others.   Some tragedy that we experience will have a lasting impact on the rest of our lives. 

But…

You don’t have to live in sadness forever.  You can get back that spark.  You can experience that bounce in your step again.  One day, you will find that even though you thought you forgot how, you will find your self smiling.  Genuinely smiling!  You will begin to hope again.  Dream again. 

Tragedy can ruin you if you allow it.  But…

If you allow God to step into your mess, your pain, your sorrows, your loss, He will help you find that spark.  I’ve encountered it in my own life.  I have witnessed others who have faced worst kind of pain and grief.  I’ve witnessed them climb out of the darkest, deepest of holes.   I’ve watched as they came back to life.  Smiled again.  Laughed again.  Hoped again.  Dreamed again.   I’ve seen the sparkle return to their eyes. 

How?  How do some people come back from such painful tragedy with such joy and grace?  I can only think of one possible explanation. 

GOD.

In the midst of great pain sorrow, they turn to God.  Only God can pull someone out of the deepest of pits.  Only God can breathe life into a hopeless soul.   Only God can remind us that there is more to His plan than pain and sorrow, even if we don’t see it.

I think back to times in my life when I have experienced heart wrenching pain and grief.   All I can think is, “How do people go through similar things without God in their lives?”  Without leaning on God, I could never experience joy amid pain.   Without God  I could have never experienced the total and complete healing that I have.  Without God I would still be walking around carrying some of the wounds from loss, pain and grief that I have known in life. 

So, when you face pain, loss, grief and tragedy, I beg you to invite Him into those emotions, those situations and allow Him to heal your broken heart. 

God will rescue you when you find yourself in a pit.

“I waited and waited for God;

At last he looked;

finally He listened.

He lifted me out of a ditch,

pulled me from the deep mud.

He stood me on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn’t slip.”

~Psalm 40:2 a (the Message)

 

God will sustain you when you find yourself sitting in darkness.

“Even to your old age and gray hairs I an He,

I am He who will sustain you.

I have made you and I will carry you;

I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”

~Isaiah 46:4

 

God will heal you and help you out of the pit.

“ ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.

There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, “

~Revelation 21:4a

 

“God cares for each one of us, and knows the unique ways our hearts have been wounded by a painful experience. Just as a physician treats each patient differently according to their needs, God will help you heal from your heartbreak in exactly the way you need.” (Dawnson McAllister)

 

God.  Only God can do that.

The safest place for your aching heart my friend is with Jesus.  He can heal your broken heart in ways we could never do with out him. 

 

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."

Psalm 34:18

 

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."

Psalm 147:3

"Fear not, nor be dismayed: for the Lord God will be with you; He will not fail you, nor forsake you!"

1 Chronicles 28:20

"My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart forever."

Psalm 73:26

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the sea."

Psalm 46:1-2

"For He has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So that we may boldly say, 'The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do to me.'"

Hebrews 13:5-6