Thursday, March 31, 2011

Taking Authority

Sometimes reluctance sneaks up from behind and taps me on the shoulder, reminding me of all the things I do not feel like doing. Then complacency whispers in my ear. Until I firmly remind them both that they are messing with the wrong person. And they back off apologetically before cowering in the corner.

"...the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."
-1 John 4:4

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

A Prayer

"'Two things I ask of you, O Lord; do not refuse me before I die;
Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say,
'Who is the Lord?'
Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God.'"
-Proverbs 30:7-9

How long has it been since we have prayed a prayer like this one?

Monday, March 28, 2011

Telling

The lines on my face tell the stories my mouth rarely tells. They tell of the apathy running through my veins when I come to the place where enough is really too much. They tell of the nights when I anxiously wait for the morning, like the darkness nipping at the heels of the dawn. They tell of my heart-felt desire to be a reflection of my Savior. Not a marred image, but a mirrored image. The lines on my face tell the stories my mouth rarely tells, but what my heart really feels.

"As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person."
-Proverbs 27:19

Monday, March 21, 2011

I Need

I need a holy perspective. In one moment, I feel like I have nothing but time on my hands. In other moments, time evaporates, leaving me so spread thin that there is not enough of "me" to go around. And I fall short. It is in those moments that I need God to do more than just fill in the gaps. I need him to fill me with his presence.

"But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'"
-1 Peter 1:15,16

Friday, March 18, 2011

Feelings

Sometimes she feels like a piece of paper saturated by the rain. Other times she feels like a strip of paint fading in the sun. Most times the cares of this life leave her feeling either soggy or weathered depending on the day...until he comes along and lets in a breath of fresh air.

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” -Jesus (John 16:33)

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Traveling Girl

She thought she would have to travel half way across the world to still the restlessness that stirred inside her heart. Until she realized the peace she was seeking could not be found by crossing land or sea, but in a foreign place unlike any she had ever known. A place called surrender.

"But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Jesus Christ. For he himself is our peace..." -Ephesians 2:13,14

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Simply Trust

Sometimes God likes to work behind the scenes. So we live by faith. We pray prayers that sometimes seem to go unanswered. We dig deeper in our pursuit of the Holy of Holies. But other times, God seems to show up in big ways. He defies death. He feeds the multitudes. He parts the sea. And whether in seemingly small ways or in obviously big ways, we simply trust he is faithful to work on our behalf.

"Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness."
Lamentations 3:22-23

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Directions

How to make a flame:
Step 1. Gather talents, gifts and abilities.
Step 2. Assemble together in one cohesive bunch.
Step 3. Ignite passion and hold it up against assembled talents, gifts and abilities.
Step 4. Fan flame.
Step 5. Shine.

"This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you..."
-2 Timothy 1:6

Monday, March 14, 2011

Devoured

Her lips are painted on. Her eyes are made up. Her hair is colored and teased. At one point in her life she was taught to never talk to strangers. But when she looks in the mirror, that's all she sees. It is a case of identity theft. But the thief is not lurking on the Internet or hiding in a dark corner. The thief is prowling around like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.

"Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour."
-1 Peter 5:8

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Reality

Reality chases after me like a wolf on the prowl, nipping at my heals with sharp reminders of its presence. So I run faster in order to escape, but the wolf remains hot on my trail ... until I find sanctuary in a place called acceptance.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
-Joshua 1:9

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Rise & Shine

She was never meant to blend in the background. She was made to shine. But instead of dancing in the sun, she merely dreams in the dark. And it could be that she sleeps under your watch. Isn't it time to wake her?

"But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said:
'Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.'
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."
-Ephesians 5:13-16

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Scripture

I am not a time-traveler. But Scripture is. It weaves through time speaking determination to the discouraged, offering hope to the hopeless, gleaning wisdom to the discerning of heart. And I am forever changed because of it.

"For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires." -Hebrews 4:12

Monday, March 7, 2011

The Sabbath

It comes as quietly as a morning prayer. It stays long enough to refresh my spirit. It invites me to engage in worship. It encourages me to find rest. It is called the Sabbath and I do not just observe it, I embrace it.

"The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul."
-Psalm 23:1-3

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Community

Community keeps us connected like a sturdy fabric, knitting hearts together. Sometimes that fabric binds up the broken hearted. Other times it creates the kind of family that grows as our relationships grow. But community will not just come into our lives on its own. In order to experience authentic community, we must be intentional.

What kind of community are you experiencing?

"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved." -Acts 2:42-47

Friday, March 4, 2011

My Dream

I thought I had to hang it up for a while. Like it did not fit anymore. Maybe it got too small or maybe I had changed. But still I refused to let it out of my sight as it lay draped across a little corner of my life. I just could not let it fade into the background.

So I got the courage to pick it back up again only to discover that it still is a perfect fit.

Is there a dream you have set aside?

"For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."
-2 Timothy 1:6,7

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

The Runaway

She felt driven to run far, far away, but not to any particular place and not from any one person. She just felt compelled to go. Until one day she looked in the mirror and realized she was only running from herself. All along her phantom foe was nothing more than a familiar face: her own.

"Then Jesus told them this parable: “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." -Luke 15:3-7

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

His Will

I come humbly before the Lord asking for his will. Nothing more, nothing less. And I find myself scrambling for anything that might look something like it...an open door, a nugget of truth. Like a scavenger I scurry around in search of an answer. But there are lots of times when God doesn't give us an answer just for the sake of satisfying our demands. So I wait.

"For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry." -Psalm 40:1