Monday, November 29, 2010

Surrender

There is a quiet place of silent surrender that remains in a heart yielded to Christ.
It is a place that keeps the heart anchored in the midst of a storm.
It is a place that knows rest in the midst of weariness.
It is a place that knows wealth in the midst of poverty.
It is a place that finds grace in the midst of depravity.
There is a quiet place of silent surrender.
Have you made that discovery?

"Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts."
-Psalm 139:23

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Counting Blessings

The call to live simply comes from a heart that loves deeply. This Thanksgiving let's count our blessings, not in the same way we count days on a calendar or money in our pockets, but in the way we count answered prayers and priceless relationships. I believe that in doing so we will be able to gage whether or not we are living simply or simply living.

What truly matters most to you this holiday season?

“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
-Jesus (Matthew 5:3-10)

Monday, November 22, 2010

In Ruins

There are some things we leave in ruins only for them to be filed away in the archives of our past. And that can be a good thing. But it can also be bad when relationships crumble or when dreams fall apart and we are left with nothing more than broken pieces.

What is in a state of disrepair in your life today? Perhaps it is time to rebuild.


A Time for Everything
1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

-Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Changing

Sometimes I believe we wander like the Israelites in the desert waiting for an "ah-ha" moment. When the reality is that God does not necessarily wait for that "ah-ha" moment to change us. Instead he has been changing us all along. So when doubt settles in as a dense fog and I feel blinded, I must remember that the righteous walk by faith.

"The righteous will live by faith." -Galatians 3:11

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Wisdom

Meet wisdom. She is the kind of girl every woman wants to be someday, as she carries nothing more than a child-like faith in her hands. While my hands cling tightly to that which I cannot keep and my faith gets muddled by the cares of this world. Until my Heavenly Father gently approaches me, putting wisdom's hand in mine.


Wisdom has built her house;
she has set up its seven pillars.
She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine;
she has also set her table.
She has sent out her servants, and she calls
from the highest point of the city,
“Let all who are simple come to my house!”
To those who have no sense she says,
“Come, eat my food
and drink the wine I have mixed.
Leave your simple ways and you will live;
walk in the way of insight.”
-Proverbs 9:1-6

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Reality Check

Easy Street seemed like a million miles from here. And yet even on a rainy day I could still see the sun. Then I woke up from my American dream and realized that not only do I live on Easy Street, but I helped build it.

Sunday, November 7, 2010

Perspective

Perspective can be somewhat hard to find. She sometimes travels incognito. But when we find her, she is always in the right place-halfway between grace and truth. And her smile speaks to even the most unfamiliar of strangers.

Have you found her? Or better yet, are you even looking?

Saturday, November 6, 2010

Mustard Seed Faith

Sometimes we fail to possess the faith we need because our needs already possess our faith. We may have a physical need the doctors cannot heal. We may have a financial need the banks cannot solve. We may have a relational need the counselors cannot address. And our needs grow into problems that hover over our faith like looming giants.

But Jesus does not call us to have a faith the size of mountains. He calls us to have a faith that can move mountains.

"You don't have enough faith," Jesus told them. "I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible." -Matthew 17:20

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Bondage

She suddenly finds herself saddled with insecurities and bridled with fear. She once ran free but now she feels tethered to something that will not let her go: bondage.

Who will be like Jesus and set her free?


"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners..."
-Isaiah 61:1-2

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

A Poem

The birds announce it's Tuesday morning!
And summer's strong hands have lost their grip on the air.
Now autumn takes the upper hand.

In this moment I long for Saturday
when the leaves whisper "hush, hush, hush"
as the rake sweeps them across the yard.

But still, I take comfort in knowing
that the sun will still peek through the trees in the late afternoon,
casting shadows over the tall grass.

The birds announce it's Tuesday morning!
And the leaves keep falling
just like they did on Saturday.