Thursday, November 29, 2012

Ministry in Real Life

Recently, God released my heart to resign from ministry as a profession in order to remain in ministry as a lifestyle. So I am taking off my ministry mask to reveal a more realistic me. Now the truth can be told with each expression that crosses my face since I actually have a smile that not only looks less plastic, but also feels less perfect. So when ministry in real life gets messy, I can better reach the bruised and brokenhearted. After all, I cannot get deep in the dirt if my heart is clothed in khaki, but I can clothe my heart with the comfort of an old cut off pair of jeans and dig deeper for all of you to see all of me.

"For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland (Isaiah 43:19)."

How do you do ministry in real life?

Saturday, November 17, 2012

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)

Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Overcome

Hard times can produce hard hearts. And dreams can wilt like flowers scorned by the sun. The pressures of this life can drive us to extremes; the loss of a life, the loss of a career, the loss of a hope and a future.

But what if the Author of all life pens that there is still more to the story? Even though there is conflict, there can still be resolution.

"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 Christ (John 16:33)

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Lost & Found

I carried an ace in my pocket and a dollar in my hand before ever holding Jesus in my heart. And I once looked for any way to label myself lucky, but now I call myself loved. The time just came when the things I wanted to carry could not carry me. Either time ran out or promises fell short. So when I lost the things this world had to offer, I found the One who could offer me more than just the world.

"Some trust in chariots and some in horses,
but we trust in the name of the LORD our God."
-Psalm 20:7

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Making Plans

One thing I've learned is that life is not always about seizing just any opportunity, but it's about seizing the right opportunity. And often times little opportunities lead to larger endeavors. So I make my plans, knowing the master plan has already been made for me. But on the days when there are too many pieces to pull together to form that bigger picture, I start obsessing over feeling productive and perfect, until the Lord reminds me to stop hanging on my every endeavor and start hanging on his every word. Then in that moment, I know that all I can do is really the best thing I can do: pray. "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." -Proverbs 16:3

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Unchanging

Sometimes I feel myself slipping through the cracks like part of me is not solid, but liquid, ever conforming to that which holds me. So if I am held by the hands of God, then I can remain still, for his hands are unchanging.

I however am changing.

Sometimes I let myself fall into the hands of a stranger, whether it be a difficult circumstance or a funky state of mind. Yet I always manage to slip through those fingers.

And still fall right back into the unchanging hands.

Thank you God for staying the same, even when I do not. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."
-Hebrews 13:8

Monday, October 29, 2012

Storms

No matter what part of the world we call home, we all experience storms at one time or another. But it's the way we respond to these storms that seems to say a lot about who we are. There are some who chase storms. They anticipate when a storm could threat, and when a monster of a storm builds, they grab their cameras to hunt this natural phenomenon. These storm chasers anxiously seek opportunities to capture the glory of untamed elements. Then there are some who shrink away from storms. If they do not evacuate, they go to great lengths to take the right precautions by installing hurricane-proof windows on their homes, and by stocking their pantries with enough food, water and batteries to carry them through to safety. But altogether different from these two types of people are those who do not chase and those who do not prepare. They believe that storms are too temperamental to predict who will experience harm and who will go untouched, so they do nothing.

Where do you stand? Do you chase storms or do you let them chase you?

In Matthew 8:23-27 we read about how Jesus can not only calm such storms, but he can also calm the storms that brew inside our hearts; "Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, 'Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!' Jesus responded, 'Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!' Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. The disciples were amazed. 'Who is this man?' they asked. 'Even the winds and waves obey him!'”

Saturday, October 27, 2012

Scripture

I was blessed by this Scripture in my devotional time this morning...


Be glad, people of Zion,
rejoice in the Lord your God,
for he has given you the autumn rains
because he is faithful.
He sends you abundant showers,
both autumn and spring rains, as before.
The threshing floors will be filled with grain;
the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.
“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten—
the great locust and the young locust,
the other locusts and the locust swarm—
my great army that I sent among you.
You will have plenty to eat, until you are full,
and you will praise the name of the Lord your God,
who has worked wonders for you;
never again will my people be shamed.
Then you will know that I am in Israel,
that I am the Lord your God,
and that there is no other;
never again will my people be shamed.
The Day of the Lord
“And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days."
-Joel 2:23-29

Thursday, October 25, 2012

The Palatte

I realized my somewhere over the rainbow was not so far away when I started dreaming dreams that carried color. But the colors did not come until I encountered Christ and my heart became his palatte. Now with each stroke, his brush highlights my heart more brilliantly than the mere stains I could create. And as he continues, it appears more and more like the heart of a word artist who paints pictures with words to illuminate the gospel.

What is it that God wants to paint on the palatte of your heart today?

"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
-2 Peter 1:3-8

Saturday, October 20, 2012

The Climb

At first I only planned to walk a mile, but ended up walking for what seemed like a lifetime. That's probably because I thought the road would be flat and smoothly paved, but I mostly climbed along a steep, narrow road. And as I climbed, I began to shed layer after layer of myself. The sun grew warmer, and more and more of me melted out of my pores, falling onto the very same dirt my feet then trampled. So that as I reached the top, I saw only a mere shadow of who I was at the bottom.

"That's why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ's mighty power that works within me."
-Colossians 1:29

Monday, October 15, 2012

The Heavens

A small caravan of clouds travels through a golden desert on a journey to a place called night. Each one weary from the heat of day, but hopeful for the gentle breeze to offer a little push to a place where the sky turns pink. Their shadows mirror across a breaking shoreline where children play and seagulls swoop. And I understand a little more fully Psalm 19:1, "The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship."

Monday, October 8, 2012

Making Statements

Leaves fall in a cascading shower of red, yellow and brown. At this time of year a jacket is a necessity for some. But for this Floridian a jacket is a novelty. It almost becomes a fashion statement. And I wonder if it's the same with Christianity? Do I sometimes wear Christianity as a necessity or a novelty, depending on what kind of statement I want to make? How about you?

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Womanhood

When I wanted to hang up my hat and go home, I remembered I was still just a woman-to-be wrapped in the heart of a girl. So I packed up my gypsy ways, tightened my grip on commitment, and walked the road most traveled: the road to womanhood. Day after day I walked until eventually I disappeared. Maybe I was lost. Maybe I was found. Either way, the girl I once was is not the same as the woman I have become.

How would you describe your journey?

"When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things."
-1 Corinthians 13:11

Monday, October 1, 2012

Focused

Life is a tightrope. A fine line on which to balance. Lean a little too far to the right or to the left and you may fall off. So you concentrate. And you give. And you take. So let me ask you this: What is your focus? We all need a focal point, don't we?

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus . . . " -Hebrews 12:1,2

Saturday, September 29, 2012

A Psalm

"...The Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me." -Psalm 18:18-19

Thursday, September 27, 2012

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

Grace

She carries courage as a staple she must have in order to scale the monumental challenges in this life. But sometimes her courage is not enough to help her muster through the journey. So she packs grace for the long road ahead.

"Each time Jesus said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me." -2 Corinthians 12:9

Monday, September 24, 2012

The List

Do you ever feel like your life is a list? I know there are times when I do:

Dinner dishes at midnight. Send out group text for ministry at noon. A spontaneous burst into song with children in late afternoon. Watch my daughter swim freestyle across the pool. Snuggle. Give. Bake. Love. Friday night dinner and a movie with my husband. Spend time with Jesus. Quality time with a friend. Level 8 on the Stairmaster for 30 minutes. Scroll through pictures for the scrapbook. Talk with Dad on the phone. Help with homework. Cook dinner. Disciple. Lead Bible study.

So whether we find ourselves in the midst of writing the list or simply checking things off, what is the attitude of our hearts in the process? Who are we doing it all for?

"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." -Colossians 3:23, 24

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Perfection

Perfection is a thief who steals joy from my hands before clinching her claws tightly around my heart. Each day she slips her calling card in my pocket with printed letters that read "selfish" and "indulgent".
But when I lift my hands in surrender to the Lord, she cannot reach them. And one at a time the Lord pries her boney fingers from my heart.

What is gripping you?

Friday, September 21, 2012

Life on the Edge

There is a careful balance between living life on the edge versus having a fear of falling off the edge. You see, God does not call us to be comfortable, he calls us to be courageous; there is always excitement and adventure when chasing uncertainty. But there is not always a safety net . . . or so it seems. In the Bible, the Lord charges Joshua to lead the Israelites across the Jordan River to inherit the land promised to them; "Have I not commanded you? 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).

Are you living a life led by God's invisible hand or is your hand holding onto what appears to be safe?

Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Overcome

Hard times can produce hard hearts. And dreams can wilt like flowers scorned by the sun. The pressures of this life can drive us to extremes; the loss of a life, the loss of a career, the loss of a hope and a future.

But what if the Author of all life pens that there is still more to the story? Even though there is conflict, there can still be resolution.

"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 Christ (John 16:33)

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Faithful God

Sometimes having a safety net just seems highly over-rated. So casting all safety nets aside, I step forward to find what God has for me. And while sifting through the things that cause clutter in my life, a sense of adventure grows. Then little by little, He helps me warm up to the new ideas He has placed in my heart.

How does He help you to do the same?

"For the Lord is a faithful God.
Blessed are those who wait for his help.
O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem,
you will weep no more.
He will be gracious if you ask for help.
He will surely respond to the sound of your cries.
Though the Lord gave you adversity for food
and suffering for drink,
he will still be with you to teach you.
You will see your teacher with your own eyes.
Your own ears will hear him.
Right behind you a voice will say,
'This is the way you should go,'
whether to the right or to the left."
-Isaiah 30:18-21

Friday, September 14, 2012

Brilliant

I could beg to one day be brilliant. I could dare to dream of one day doing so much more. But for now, I have lots of days when my thinking quickly becomes clouded. And I have lots of days when little seems to get done. So instead of asking you to make me greater, I'll ask you to be greater for me. Because even the best in me would not be nearly as beautiful as the best in you. In 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Jesus says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

Thursday, September 13, 2012

A Giver

I am a giver, but I don't give my time and energy and resources just for the sake of burying myself in busyness. Instead, I give because I want to be faithful to the people and things God has entrusted to my care. So I pour out my life in an effort to lay a Godly foundation for those who surround me, whether it be my children or those God has given to me to minister to. In 1 Timothy 6:20 Paul writes, "Guard what has been entrusted to your care." If those who have given to me and my life had not guarded what was entrusted to them, then I would not be where I am at today. For this reason, I feel even more compelled to do the same for others. Who or what is it that God has entrusted to you? Are you a giver?

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Get Your Life Together

I stood in a crowd full of familiar faces. I called some people friends, while others were simply members of a culture I called my own. Among these, I felt a sense of family as well as a sense of belonging. They were my community. But I stood among them with my life disheveled. So when I asked the nearest person for help, one woman sternly said, "Go and get your life together" when she saw my arms could not carry everything I tried to hold.

Three years have passed since that time, and in those three years I have taken steps to get my life together in more ways than one. Today, for instance, I took my kids to school, then spent time picking up around my house. It was immaculate on Sunday when we had friends over for brunch. But life gets lived and my house shows it. So I took a look at www.entertainingforeternity.blogspot.com and followed some simple advice about how to stay organized. It's all the small steps I need to take as a wife, a mother and a minister that keep my life together.

How do you work toward getting things together in your life?

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

My family

As a mother, I try to establish a Christian culture inside the four walls I call home so that as my daughters grow, they will shine and not shrink back when asked about their faith. So I seek to lay a foundation they can stand upon, like the person Jesus describes in Matthew 7:24-27; "Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” And I strive to build upon that solid foundation, like the woman in Proverbs 14:1; "A wise woman builds her home, but a foolish woman tears it down with her own hands." So that when anyone looks at us, I hope they will not expect to see a perfect family, but one that is pointed in the same direction as the cross.

Monday, September 3, 2012

Stay Collected

Just the other day, I took my trouble to the Lord when the dirty dishes demanded my attention, the dog barked in my ear, the kids pulled at my purse, and my to-do list cluttered my kitchen. All the little pieces of me seemed to fall to the floor when I grew more and more overwhelmed at the thought of not getting my day going. Then I started to quietly surrender myself to a station on Pandora that plays only praise music. And little by little the Lord pieced me back together with the power of his presence. How do you stay collected when life seems to pull you to pieces?

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

A Love that Rescues and Redeems

Anytime a person helps someone else in a great time of need a bond is formed, a bridge is built, a connection is made. Initially, that is how I established my personal relationship with Christ. I saw my great need and no longer felt self-sufficient. Instead, I found myself breathing an air of desperation rather than sophistication. Then I experienced his hands reaching down from heaven to pick me up from the place where I felt so fallen. Before that moment I might have seen this hand up as more of a handout, but instead I let him pull me close and whisper tenderly to my broken heart, "Remain in my love". Then a bond was formed, a bridge was built, and an eternal connection was made. In Matthew 22:37-39 Jesus says, "'...love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’" I recently put these commands into practice when my mother in law needed emergency medical care. God gave me the opportunity to love her as myself by serving her through a time of sickness and recovery. Our relationship over the past thirteen years has been one that has pushed me and challenged me over and over again to love the way Christ loves. And today I experienced redemption when she hugged me and whispered, "Thank you so much for all you have done for me." In that moment, I believe a bond was formed, a bridge was built, a connection was made-not just between my mother in law and me, but between my mother in law and Christ in me. Have you experienced the kind of love that rescues and redeems, either with Jesus himself or through Jesus's love surfacing in another way?

Monday, August 27, 2012

A Question for Moms

I feel so much freedom in writing, especially when I wear my heart on my sleeve. My life just feels more lived in and less for show. But the more lived in my life becomes, the more distractions demand my time. So I try putting on a shelf the things that pull me away from putting my pen to the page. The words just seem to flow more freely when they are not forced, but inspired. Still, inspiration grows slowly in the absence of time and time tends to disappear in the midst of a life lived to the fullest. As a mom in ministry, I try to make the most of the time I am given, but at the end of each day I simply trust God for the things that I cannot get to. As a busy mom, how do you find ways to make time for the things God puts on your heart?

Saturday, August 25, 2012

Too Ministry Minded

When my strategies become distractions, or my plans keep me from hearing the Holy Spirit, then I have become too ministry minded. When what I preach sounds more like the way I ought to live than the way I actually live, then I have lost my way. I don't ever want my strategies, plans, or way of life to take away from the gospel. And I don't want to become so ministry minded that I am no heavenly good. So I resign from the strategies and plans to simply let my story be my ministry. After all, my story has God's redemption woven all throughout each and every line. And I pray that each day both my story and my ministry will reflect Revelation 12:10,11; "Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens,'It has come at last-salvation and power and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ. For the accuser of our brothers and sisters has been thrown down to earth—the one who accuses them before our God day and night. And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony...'"

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Change

I recently found myself standing in a waiting sort of room where a window of opportunity opened, allowing the winds of change to blow. And as they began to blow, they filled that waiting room with fresh ideas. Then part of me felt scared when the ideas smelled a little too fresh, but another part of me just wanted to breathe deeply. So I stayed until the air settled a little and the idea of change soaked into my lungs. And now I'm glad I stayed and refused to let my fear move me to close that window, because this room now feels more like a living room and less like a waiting room. In Isaiah 43:19 I read,"For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?" Is there something new God wants to do in your life? Try opening a window of opportunity and see what happens next!

Monday, August 20, 2012

Hospitality

Hospitality hangs her hat in my home, while my husband holds the door open to welcome her inside, and my children cheer upon her arrival. After spending several summer months making my way across many, many miles on the map, I feel refreshed to not only call her a frequent guest, but to also call her a familiar friend. Has hospitality darkened your door lately to open her heart to you? Have you opened your home to her? Did you know that "... those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed." -Proverbs 11:25

Sunday, August 19, 2012

His Perfect Will

If we fail to get want we want in life, I don't think we have failed to find favor with God, but I believe it's possible we have found something we want that God views as less than favorable. Whether it be a matter of timing, or a matter of envisioning something separate from what God has planned, behind it all, He has a purpose. That purpose may be to stretch our faith so that we can grow in the grace and knowledge of Him (2 Peter 3:18). Or perhaps His purpose could be to cultivate within us over time a Godly character that bears with greater intensity the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22,23). So before we get caught up in what we may or may not have, let's get caught up in an adventurous, head over heels pursuit of the One whose love and affection we already do have. And in the process, I believe we'll find what we thought we were looking for all along: His perfect will.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Strength

Some days we feel so faded that we start to blend into the backgrounds of our own lives. If we are not careful, our skin gets thick and our hearts grow hard if they become too blistered by the things of this world. But each day we can ask God to renew us. His strength settles on our skin, sinks into our pores, and drips into our souls. In Isaiah 28-31 we read, "Have you never heard? Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God,the Creator of all the earth. He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion. But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."

Sunday, August 12, 2012

Storms

In the midst of returning to Florida in the thickest part of summer, I cannot help but feel inspired by tropical temperatures and tropical storms. No matter what part of the world we call home, we all experience storms at one time or another. But it's the way we respond to these storms that seems to say a lot about who we are. There are some who chase storms. They anticipate when a storm could threat, and when a monster of a storm builds, they grab their cameras to hunt this natural phenomenon. These storm chasers anxiously seek opportunities to capture the glory of untamed elements. Then there are some who shrink away from storms. If they do not evacuate, they go to great lengths to take the right precautions by installing hurricane-proof windows on their homes, and by stocking their pantries with enough food, water and batteries to carry them through to safety. But altogether different from these two types of people are those who do not chase and those who do not prepare. They believe that storms are too temperamental to predict who will experience harm and who will go untouched, so they do nothing. Where do you stand? Do you chase storms or do you let them chase you? In Matthew 8:23-27 we read about how Jesus can not only calm such storms, but he can also calm the storms that brew inside our hearts; "Then Jesus got into the boat and started across the lake with his disciples. Suddenly, a fierce storm struck the lake, with waves breaking into the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him up, shouting, 'Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!' Jesus responded, 'Why are you afraid? You have so little faith!' Then he got up and rebuked the wind and waves, and suddenly there was a great calm. The disciples were amazed. 'Who is this man?' they asked. 'Even the winds and waves obey him!'”

Friday, August 10, 2012

"Sent" London Blog #11

A Godly passion pulls me in directions I never dreamed possible. So when I sleep under the same stars in Lutz that I slept under in London, I cannot help but marvel at the journey I made across the pond. But more importantly, I cannot help but stand in awe of my God who sent me there. Is there a passion for a particular place that God has put on your heart? Perhaps it is time to pray about taking a journey of your own? Isaiah must have felt a similar sentiment when he penned, "Then I heard the Lord asking, 'Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?' I said, 'Here I am. Send me.'"

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

"Fear" London Blog #10

Many of us fear the unknown. There is just something about the unfamiliar that makes our hearts shy away. You may be a first time Olympian competing for the gold. You may be planning to enter into a covenant relationship when you say "I do". You may be about to enter parenthood for the first time. Or perhaps you are moving across the globe or starting a new job. From Olympic athletes with extraordinary talent to ordinary people with extraordinary faith, the fear of the unknown still grips each of our hearts. But God already knows the unknown we fear. He promises in his word that He "has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline" (2 Timothy 1:7). What are the fears you need to trust Him with today?

Monday, August 6, 2012

"Greatness" London Blog #9

Greatness gets displayed in a showcase history calls the Olympics. It is a place in time where men and women compete with seemingly superhuman strength. And while some claim their success springs from man-made ability, others claim their success springs from God-given opportunity. Meanwhile, we stand as spectators who may never compete on this world's stage, but who will experience our own degree of greatness from time to time. And as we move from one great moment to the next, we too are faced with crediting our success as either man-made or God-given. How will each of us credit our own moments of greatness? In John 15:5, Jesus says, "Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing."

Saturday, August 4, 2012

"Currency Exchange" London Blog #8

The British pound is stronger than the dollar, meaning our American money does not stretch as far in London as it does in Tampa. That idea alone gets me thinking about a different kind of exchange I make everyday. I have a terrible habit of picking up the currency of this world and carrying it around in my heart; things that weigh me down, like stress, fatigue, even worry. I have bought the lie that these things will make me rich or happy. But if the world tells us its currency can make us rich, my question is, rich in what? Instead, the prayer of my heart is found in Proverbs 30:8,9; "give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs. For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name."

Thursday, August 2, 2012

"Mind the Gap" London Blog #7

"Mind the Gap" calls through the crowded Underground instructing passengers to watch their step before boarding. It seems to be London's most official charge for passengers to take note of their own personal safety when traveling along the city's underground train, also known as "the tube". But even beyond the city's command for safety, the phrase has made its way into the hearts of nearly every tourist passing through. Still, I cannot help but wonder if this phrase, with all its purpose and popularity, would be different if it took on a more spiritual meaning? Would we be so bold as to encourage each other to mind the gap where temptations tend to hide? Or would we encourage each other to mind the gap where lies live so loudly that they drown out the truth? I am not exactly sure, but I think the British are onto something. In what ways do each of us need to mind the gap? 1 Corinthians 10:4,5 says,"We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ."

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

"Heroes" London Blog #6

From Olympic athletes to famous celebrities, we all admire someone whose hard work, character and achievements command our respect. And although they deserve our respect, it is important to remember that our heroes are still human. They have hang ups and heartaches. They experience failure as well as success. So let's keep flesh and bone on the people we admire, otherwise we run the risk of putting unrealistic expectations on who they are as people. A fine line falls between admiring them and idolizing them. To admire them is to hold them in high esteem, but to idolize them is to hold them in a position so powerful that we start worshipping them. So let's let our heroes be human. Instead of praising them, let's pray for them instead. In Ephesians 6:18 we read, "Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints."

Sunday, July 29, 2012

"The Journey" London Blog #5

I am on a journey walking through a myriad of faces passing by on a busy street or in a crowded subway. It is a journey to a place in time the world is watching: London. And while taking a journey certainly means to travel far away from the familiar, it can also mean to climb out of the comfort zone. Rarely is the pursuit of the Divine traveled along a place that is comfortable and familiar. So when we make a decision to move toward something we hardly know, or to become someone we have hardly been, we suddenly see our horizon expand. What is the journey you will make? And did you know that your journey has already begun? In Philippians 1:6 we read “that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.” I am on a journey to a place in time the world is watching, but the Lord is watching as well, and as I lean on him, he leads me on.

Thursday, July 26, 2012

"Timeless" London Blog #4

The 2012 Road to London is rich with patriotic pride and international fanfare. Today I could not help but feel like a little part of history in the making as I watched the Olympic torch lead its processional near the famous Portobello Road- a place in Notting Hill where brightly colored storefronts dapple the age old streets of London. Along that scenic route, the neighborhood streets mix with restaurants and shops like living legends breathing historic stories through their stonework. But as rich as their history may seem, they serve as good reminders that life is not about what we acquire or how much we accumulate when those who created these structures are no longer with us. Our significance should not be found in timeless treasures we cannot take to the grave. Instead, my prayer is that our significance would survive the grave. In Ecclesiastes 3:11 I read that God has set eternity in the hearts of men (and women). In light of making history in this historic city today, I would like to challenge each of us to search our hearts and know where we will spend eternity once all the fanfare has faded and the patriotism has passed.

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

"Vision Casting" London Blog #3

Life hands us challenges that appear in all different shapes and sizes. But a vision can also take on many different shapes and sizes, especially when God casts our vision. He has a way of not only casting light on our dreams, but also casting shadows over the challenges we face. So when I search for the Divine in everyday life, I don’t have to look very far to discover the vision God has given to me. How about you? What is it that fuels your passion? Who is it that casts your vision? Are you like the Olympian who runs to win the race? Are you like the missionary who takes a step of faith? As I walk the streets and take the trains throughout London, I rub shoulders with many different people, ranging from Olympians to missionaries and just about everyone else in between. Each of those people has a unique plan and purpose designed by God. I guess the question is: do they have the vision to see it? And what about each of us? In Jeremiah 29:11 the Lord declares, “For I know the plans I have for you…plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.”

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

"Isms" London Blog #2

When I listen to the language of London, I feel sort of nostalgic as I reminisce about a favorite rom-com or chick-flick filmed on these same streets. But then I have to peel back the layers of nostalgia to listen more closely, and in doing so I have documented some of my favorite “British-isms” I have heard so far. You are probably already familiar with most, but I would like to share the ones I have recorded; sneakers are trainers, a line is a queue, an elevator is a lift, to watch your step is to mind the gap, and the toilet is a loo. In addition, I have met an Aussie friend in the short time I have been here who has also taught me some great isms from down under; a heap is a ton, so you might have heaps of work to do instead of a ton of work. I would ask someone to shoot me an email, but she requests that I flick her an email. And I might hang a left at the next street while she would chuck a left. None of these isms create a language barrier, but they do require me to listen more closely. That’s where I discover the Divine. God hears all our isms as well, and he wants us to hear his. Only his are not so difficult to discern. They are printed plainly in the Bible, translated into thousands of languages. And as I travel the streets of London, I walk to the beat of Isaiah 52:7; “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.” When I share the good news of the gospel on the streets of London, I feel thankful to know that God speaks and hears all languages and that he knows all the isms.

Monday, July 23, 2012

"A True Home" London Blog #1

I have officially arrived in London! Both my husband and I took the journey together across the pond. Thank you for checking in with us. But more importantly, thank you for joining me on my quest for discovering the Divine in everyday life. I would like to start this post by first posing a question; If keeping current with the culture we live in helps each of us to maintain a sense of normalcy, then how do we at the same time keep from making this world our home? I personally cannot help but notice how this world offers such unique smells, sights and sounds that lend themselves nicely to this small town girl. But as nice as these things may seem, my own culture tends to make me into a creature of habit. Still, I could not help but feel nostalgic last night at the soprano sounds of a British flight attendant practically singing, "Would you like some tea?" And even though my view from 30E on British Airways flight 2166 hardly reminded me of home, I began to realize how quickly the idea of home could be challenged. It is when I think of home in a broader sense that I discover the Divine. In John 15:19 Jesus says, "If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world." I was never chosen by Lutz or London to become one of its citizens or a member of its community. But I have been chosen by Christ to become a citizen of heaven, and I believe you have too. So regardless of which culture you claim as your own, or wherever in the world your feet may walk, check your heart to see if that same culture keeps you from calling heaven your true home. And in doing so, I believe you too will discover the Divine.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

My Blog Re-Invented

Choosing to cut my summer sabbatical short feels less like a leap of faith and more like a launch into orbit. So here I am, re-entering the blogosphere while holding my manuscript in one hand and my blog in the other. Only now I want my re-invented posts to draw inspiration from my daily devotions, as well as from my discovery of the Divine in everyday life. I believe God actively reveals himself to each of us in a personal way. My goal is to embrace his divine presence along with the challenges each day brings, simply for the sake of story. So I invite you to read my story from the comfort of your computer as I travel to the 2012 London Olympics! The first portion of my Olympic journey will take place on the streets of London, while the second portion of my Olympic journey will take place from the comfort of my couch. Regardless of my location, my purpose is to highlight Romans 1:20; "For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God." Are you with me?

Sunday, June 17, 2012

Summer Sabbatical

Last week I took some time to quietly reflect on the Lord. After some thought and prayer, I have decided to take a summer sabbatical away from my blog so that I can concentrate on polishing up the manuscript I have been working on since 2004. I will resume blogging later this summer. Thank you to those of you who read my blog. If you enjoy reading my blog and would be able to connect me with a publisher, I would be grateful for that opportunity. I am also seeking more opportunities to write outside my blog. Thank you, have a blessed summer, and I look forward to reconnecting with you soon!

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Counted

I have the highest respect for those who live their faith out loud. And I esteem all those who make Christianity feel contagious as they live their lives with the type of compass that calls heaven home. I also admire those whose ultimate adventure leads to eternity. And I only hope that when this life is all said and done, I will be counted among them. "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us...(Hebrews 12:1)"

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Pushed

I love how the Amplified Bible enhances scripture, particularly in 2 Peter 3:18, "But grow in grace (undeserved favor, spiritual strength) and [a]recognition and knowledge and understanding of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah). To Him [be] glory (honor, majesty, and splendor) both now and to the day of eternity. Amen (so be it)!" When I read this, I feel thankful that I have not only tried to remain as a student of Jesus Christ, but also as a student of life. As a result, I have learned that refusing to change means trying to keep what should no longer be kept. Still, there are times when I don't feel like changing just as much as I don't feel like letting go. So I have learned to allow myself to be pushed in areas where there is potential for growth. And while some areas seem more obvious than others, I can confidently stand on the threshold of a new opportunity and take a step forward. Sometimes that step toward change and growth allows one door to close in order for me to walk through another door, but just being okay with that shows that I have been learning something significant. How do you remain open to what God wants to teach you in life?

Friday, June 1, 2012

Intersections

Many times we intend to take the gospel to those in need, but other times God takes those in need of the gospel and brings them directly to us. He just seems to have a way of taming that independent streak that keeps us going our own separate ways. So when his divine plans prevail, causing our paths to cross with certain people in ways we could never have constructed, we start to pay attention. The Bible makes sense of this in Proverbs 19:21, "You can make many plans,but the Lord’s purpose will prevail." Do you have a story of the seemingly invisible movement of God showing up in a very visible way? How has he allowed your life to intersect with the life of another at just the right place and right time?

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Backbone

We should not break the backbone of our faith for the sake of not cramping our style. Still, we tend to hang our hopes on weighty issues that even the most solid of backbones was never meant to carry. So we address popular opinions, but hopefully without tweaking ours to suit theirs. In The Message Bible, Matthew 5:14-16 reads, "You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." Do we shine brightly with this truth mixed with grace, or are we merely blending in with the crowd?

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Expectations

Expectation greets me at the start of a new day. It always leaves me feeling eager for great things and sometimes feeling anxious that I might settle for lesser things. So I pick up God's word with hopes that I might never fail to have any expectations at all because I serve a big God who is capable of big things. How about you? Do you greet each day with great expectations of an even greater God? If not I want to encourage you to read Ephesians 3:20, "Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think."

Monday, May 28, 2012

Ink

I dreamed at night in black and white, the color of ink printed on a page. I dreamed of stories to be told from the exact same pen I hold. But dreams fade away when night turns to day as I wake with scribbles written on my heart. And as ideas run through my head, I jump out of bed to put onto paper what God has put on my heart, for "we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16)."

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Together

If we start trying to carve out a niche for ourselves with the hopes of not stepping on toes or burning bridges, then we are meant to do magnificent things. But if anyone achieves their dreams at the cost of sacrificing relationships, then their mission is flawed and life will feel lonely at the top. So let's pursue our passions by taking people with us along the way. After all, "All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it."-1 Corinthians 12:27

Friday, May 25, 2012

Summer Inspiration

Sometimes the idea of summer seems to swallow me up. Just the thought of the calendar makes me wonder if I make my schedule or if my schedule makes me. So I step into a place that always feels familiar: my kitchen. In my family, the kitchen is the hub of our home. And somewhere in the midst of lemons and lentils, words flow easily from my heart to the pen to the page. For me, continuing to write through the busy summer months will come most naturally when I take time to dish up something substantial, whether onto our plates or onto the page. How about you? Does finding comfort in the familiar free you up to write during the busy summer months?

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Busy

I have hid behind a curtain of activity with hopes that a prompting "to be" rather than "to do" would eventually subside. But in my heart I knew that busyness did not equate with obedience. I can be busy doing things for God, but they may not be the key things he planned in advance for me to do. Does busyness have you distracted today? If so, "... let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds..." -Hebrews 10:22-24

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Calling it Quits

I do not want to live like a Christian who clocks in and clocks out, just as much as I do not want to live with the kind of Christianity I can do with my eyes closed. So I am calling it quits from the routine and the ordinary to pursue the ways God wants me to live, whether they fit on a calendar or not. When I read Isaiah 55:8-9, I understand that I cannot simply try to pencil God into my daily life, "'My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,' says the Lord. 'And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.'" I cannot read that passage without feeling compelled to want so much more. Could God also be challenging you to put the ordinary aside and embrace with open arms the amazing plans he has for your life?

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Beautiful

I felt like looking pretty to soothe my weary nerves after yesterday kept claiming to know me. But there is so much about me today that yesterday has not been told. So I pulled my heart out of hiding, only to discover how wrinkled it had become. Then I opened it up and smoothed in out before pinning it on my sleeve. And once I did, you called me beautiful. "Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end." -Ecclesiastes 3:11

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Pushing Perfection

Control caught me in a place where I did not want to be found, hiding halfway between the perfect and the immaculate, because the truth is that reality is hard to be friends with. So playing a game of hiding feels more familiar than getting found, especially when I struggle with trying to hide my heart in my own sense of perfection. Still, I have hope when I read what the author of Psalm 119 writes, "To all perfection I see a limit; but your commands are boundless (Psalm 119:96)." And I feel so thankful to know that God offers me freedom in Christ. How have you been hiding your heart from God?

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Destiny

I think the idea of destiny is highly overrated. When held in the light of an all-powerful God who has a perfect plan, destiny merely leads us down different avenues that should not define us. Those avenues may shape us or sharpen us along the way, but they can never make us into who God intends for us to be. Instead, those avenues ought to be nothing more than pathways that are apart of our greater journey we take with Christ. Do you walk down avenues that leave you weary after chasing an illusion called destiny? Perhaps it is time to walk a different road. "Energize the limp hands, strengthen the rubbery knees. Tell fearful souls, 'Courage! Take heart! God is here, right here, on his way to put things right and redress all wrongs. He's on his way! He'll save you!' Blind eyes will be opened, deaf ears unstopped, lame men and women will leap like deer, the voiceless break into song. Springs of water will burst out in the wilderness, streams flow in the desert. Hot sands will become a cool oasis, thirsty ground a splashing fountain. Even lowly jackals will have water to drink, and barren grasslands flourish richly. There will be a highway called the Holy Road. No one rude or rebellious is permitted on this road. It's for God's people exclusively— impossible to get lost on this road. Not even fools can get lost on it." -Isaiah 35:3-10 (The Message)

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Story

Story stands at every door of our hearts, waiting to be told and wanting to be heard. But sometimes we feel more compelled to embrace the story that simply goes riding off into the sunset rather than embracing the story that points people to Christ. Perhaps we do not feel like entertaining story in such a way that it could change us by softening our hearts or by opening our minds. But the truth is that a love story gets woven into every story that glorifies God. And that love story is one he has written for each one of us. So before we feel like turning those stories away, let's consider giving them a second chance. Is there a story you have been waiting to tell or wanting to hear? Perhaps you are like Paul who writes, "You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts (2 Corinthians 3:2-3)."

Monday, May 14, 2012

Opportunity

Discovering opportunities and deciding to either pick them up or to pass them by can be very difficult. I find it especially hard when opportunities are not only begging to be seized, but are also branded with a shelf life that will eventually expire. The idea of an opportunity having an expiration date means making a timely decision to either move toward that opportunity or to let that opportunity move toward someone else. Are you faced with decisions to make regarding opportunities in your life today? If so, let me encourage you with wisdom from God's Word, "So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do." -Ephesians 5:15-17

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Happy Mother's Day

A Mother's love is soft like velvet. Her words are a sweet perfume. Knowing she has today, she embraces her child with visions of tomorrow, as she showers her little one with grace and truth. "Her children stand and bless her." -Proverbs 31:28

Friday, May 11, 2012

Courageous

Some of us live life on the edge, while others have a fear of falling off. But God does not call us to feel comfortable. He calls us to be courageous. And while there is excitement in adventure, there is not always a safety net. How do you live? By holding on to what seems safe this side of heaven? Or by holding on to the hand that holds heaven? "This is my command-be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go." -Joshua 1:9

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Rescued

Transparency found me tangled up in a crowd, trying to find the truth. So I hid my face in my hands until I could find my way through. Even though the crowd felt thick and I felt thin, I just knew that disappearing in the depths of the majority is not what I have been called to do. So I rest now in the fact that I have been rescued, especially after not really knowing for so long that I was lost. And I embrace everything I know to be true about myself by matching it up with the truth of God's Word. "'For I will gather you up from all the nations and bring you home again to your land. Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean. Your filth will be washed away, and you will no longer worship idols. And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.'" -Ezekiel 36:24-26

Monday, May 7, 2012

Ministry in Real Life

Recently, God released my heart to resign from ministry as a profession in order to remain in ministry as a lifestyle. So I am taking off my ministry mask to reveal a more realistic me. Now the truth can be told with each expression that crosses my face since I actually have a smile that not only looks less plastic, but also feels less perfect. So when ministry in real life gets messy, I can better reach the bruised and brokenhearted. After all, I cannot get deep in the dirt if my heart is clothed in khaki, but I can clothe my heart with the comfort of an old cut off pair of jeans and dig deeper for all of you to see all of me. "For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland (Isaiah 43:19)." How do you do ministry in real life?

Sunday, May 6, 2012

This Train

My life is a steel train rushing full steam ahead. Sometimes I feel as though I am a passenger en route to a clear destination, and life is full of meaning and purpose. Other times I feel like a box car child, running alongside the train, trying to hitch a ride. And then there are times when I sit in the comfort of my seat from the confines of the train station, watching my life go by. I love the days when I am traveling on to a place where mountain tops collide with the sky instead of running to catch up or sitting in a lonely, stale room. Where are you today? Are you on board this train called life? Jesus says in John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

Friday, May 4, 2012

Success

Some say success is found by discovering their destiny while they wait for destiny to come dancing on their doorsteps. But I say success is having a hearty goodness handed down from heaven that heaps our lives full of blessings, giving us a heritage we can dish up into the lives of our children. To me, success means leaving a lasting legacy that glorifies Christ. What does success mean to you? "Every good gift and every perfect (free, large, full) gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of all [that gives] light, in [the shining of] Whom there can be no variation [rising or setting] or shadow cast by His turning [as in an eclipse]." -James 1:17

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Weight

Can I carry multiple loads on the tops of my shoulders? Or do I shift them around so that they balance on my back? The weight of indecision either grows heavier by the day, or I just don't feel as equipped to shoulder the load. So I let the weights fall off my back to give myself a little rest. And as I take some time to just be still, I remember there is a better way to manage all the weight I've been carrying around. Jesus says, "Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls. For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good--not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne (Matthew 11:28-30)." What do you need to do with the weight you have been carrying?

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

The Prize

Competency calls, telling me I can make it in life. So I climb higher, like a champion claiming her prize. Only, I don't want the obvious sort of prize made from silver or gold, instead I want the kind made by the One who makes all things beautiful and new. This world offers the types of prizes that I can touch or taste, but God offers the prize of new life. What type of prize are you striving for? "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."-1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Tropical Treeline

My view is a tropical treeline that in some ways reminds me of a Gustav Klimt piece of art with swags of Spanish moss loosely dangling over patchy green leaves, pushing their way to the front like children crowding together for a picture. In other ways, the treeline resembles the lacy hem of a dress as the triangular tops stand neatly sewn together. Who can create such a magnificent piece of art framed from within the outline of my window? Who can sew together a more beautiful garment of greenery? It is the Lord and He speaks loudly with the trees as his megaphone and the vast blue sky as his arena. "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." -Romans 1:20

Monday, April 30, 2012

Landing

If life is a launching pad, propelling us to do great things, then my feet have not yet hit the ground. I feel as though finding the right place to land can be difficult. I do not see myself landing as an athlete with an incredible reputation for winning, or as a successful celebrity with a faithful fan base, but more so as an author with a future collection of written works. What type of platform do you launch from? Where do you see yourself landing? "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

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Made New

My soul gets grimy the way the sand sticks to my skin, or the way the sun burns my face. So I come into your shade, seeking shelter from the world as you wash me in your grace. And my soul feels like it is once again made new. "Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow." -Psalm 51:7

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Shaking the Dust Off

Something calls, inviting me to shake the dust off my faith and forge a new trail. I am not sure if it is something to do or something to be or something to become? Maybe it is a sense of adventure or a sense of ambition, but either way I am not really sure. So I wrestle with my thoughts as they get tangled in my heart, leaving me to feel the struggle of trying to make sense of it all. But the only thing that really makes sense is a peaceful patch of faith hiding in the deepest corner of my heart, waiting to grow up a new dream on a new day. And I cannot help but think that the something that calls is actually Someone. "The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” -1 Samuel 16:7

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Making Plans

One thing I've learned is that life is not always about seizing just any opportunity, but it's about seizing the right opportunity. And often times little opportunities lead to larger endeavors. So I make my plans, knowing the master plan has already been made for me. But on the days when there are too many pieces to pull together to form that bigger picture, I start obsessing over feeling productive and perfect, until the Lord reminds me to stop hanging on my every endeavor and start hanging on his every word. Then in that moment, I know that all I can do is really the best thing I can do: pray. "Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." -Proverbs 16:3

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Tightly Knit

He lends a listening ear while I tell him all my secrets. Our bond is very strong, as we are tightly knit and even more tightly bound. He has placed his seal upon my heart even though I have not given him much more than a scarlet letter in return. Still, ours is an intimacy that cannot be shaken. Do you know that God desires to know you on this level too? "Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as enduring as the grave. Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame. Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned."-Song of Songs 8:6-7

Monday, April 23, 2012

Pressing into Heaven

What do you do when you don't want to face the fact that reality is rough? How do you push past the obstacles of a difficult day? Do you draw strength from yourself? I have learned that my strength ultimately fails. So I seek help from my heavenly father by pressing into heaven with passionate prayers, knowing he holds more than just my heart. He holds my life in his hands. And for that reason, I would rather be known for having a healthy obsession about my faith, than for trusting in my own strength. "My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever." -Psalm 73:26

Friday, April 20, 2012

A Note to the Brokenhearted

Something significant speaks to me when I hear about those who struggle and suffer, knowing those hard places are difficult to endure. The things this life has walked me through have been nothing compared to the roads so many others have walked. Still, struggle has not always been a stranger to me. So I lift up in prayer those whose crosses I cannot bear, believing with my whole heart that Christ is the one who can. In Psalm 34:18 I read, "The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." Are you among the brokenhearted today? Please know the Lord is close to you, and you have a sister in Christ who can lift you up in prayer!

Thursday, April 19, 2012

That Little Place

I sang a little song of worship that came from a little place in me. In fact it came from a place that had not already been spent or stolen or broken or bruised. And before I might lose it, I thought it best to offer it. So I gave that little place to the one who already gave all of himself for me. "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." -Romans 5:8

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Stealing

I feel like a thief trying to steal time with you in this moment of silence. Lately silence has been a luxury I cannot afford. But even though silence seems to come at a cost, your presence is always free. So I quickly take the quiet moments when I find them, while longing to lounge in the luxury of your presence from the quiet places in my heart. Then you gently remind me, "If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me" (Jeremiah 29:13).

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

Changing the Culture

The culture around us finds ways to creep into our lives, but God gives us opportunities to change that. So let’s ask him to speak tenderly to us as he has done before when the deepest things in us cry out for the deepest things of Him. As he responds, let’s watch him carve his name deeply into the surface of our souls to create canals for currents of change to flow, empowering us to change the culture instead of allowing the culture to change us. Is God giving you a reason to change the culture around you? Are you sensing an urgency to speak out? Or perhaps you are simply sensing the need to stay consistent by just not conforming to the culture that pulls you away from the things of God? "Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land." -2 Chronicles 7:14

Monday, April 16, 2012

Traveling Soul

If life is a journey, then I feel like a traveling soul venturing along a road some call conservative. But I carry a collage of experiences with me, some more conservative, others less. Still, the Lord leads me on little by little as he invites me to "acknowledge him, and he will make my paths straight" (Proverbs 3:6). So I treasure the jewels he hands me along the way, guarding them for safe keeping until he says it's time to share them with another traveler. What kind of road do you walk? What kind of treasures do you hold?

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Resting in Faith

Faith is a tall, tall tree with branches reaching up to scrape heaven and reaching out to offer shelter. It keeps this life from scorching my thin skin, from soaking me to the bone. Faith nourishes my soul with satisfying fruitfulness. My faith is a tall, tall tree. I not only want to be found resting in its shade, but I also want to be "...like great oaks that the Lord has planted for his own glory (Isaiah 61:3)". How do you view your faith in Christ?

Saturday, April 14, 2012

Rest

I want to wake up with the sabbath on my mind and Jesus on my heart. Like a weary traveler I have journeyed through this week, wandering from one day to the next. So for now, the only thing on my mind is worship and rest. How will you spend your sabbath when Jesus says, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” -Matthew 11:28-30

Friday, April 13, 2012

Dance

He taps me on the shoulder, inviting me to dance throughout the day. Of course I accept, casting my doubts, duties and deadlines aside. And as he proudly holds me close, like a groom serenading his bride, he whispers softly in my ear, assuring me of his goodness and love.

Take time to dance with him today and watch the shadows that darken your heart disappear.

"My beloved responded and said to me, 'Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come along.'"
-Song of Solomon 2:10

Thursday, April 12, 2012

Embracing Community

My need for community clings to my soul. Sometimes I embrace it, other times I try to shake it off, whether because the need clings too tightly to me or because I cling too tightly to the need. But I find the perfect balance when I cling to Christ instead, trusting him to provide just the right kind of community that keeps me close enough to him.

Have you gaged your need for community lately? What about your dependence on the Lord to fulfill that need?

"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 2:44-47

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

The Palate

I realized my somewhere over the rainbow was not so far away when I stopped dreaming dreams that carried no color. But the colors did not come until I encountered Christ and my heart became his palate. Now with each stroke, his brush highlights my heart more brilliantly than the mere coffee stains I could create. And as he continues, it appears more and more like the heart of a word artist who paints pictures with words to illuminate the gospel.

What is it that God wants to paint on the palate of your heart today?

"His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ."
-2 Peter 1:3-8

Monday, April 9, 2012

Overgrown

It will most likely be late in the day before I realize how overgrown my life has become, as plans get strewn across the afternoon while people crowd around. Life has a way of suddenly flooding with activity, doesn't it? So when conversations rise as dense as fog, dulling my senses to my surroundings, it should come as no surprise that fatigue will set in, hanging low in the sky, lingering until dusk discovers night. But at the end of the day, despite all the busyness, my heart feels warmed by the people and events that fill my calendar. I believe that the call to live simply comes from a heart that loves deeply. So when our schedules become overgrown, let's take time to 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.

When your schedule feels overgrown, are you able to find thankfulness for the people who fill it?

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God." -Philippians 1:3-11

Saturday, April 7, 2012

Thank You

Once upon a time, I sang a Capella to an audience called "Me". Now I sing Hallelujah to an audience of One.

Once upon a time, the world called me "Daughter". Now I am a Daughter of the King.

Once upon a time, true love was a fairy tale. Now true love is mine.

Thank you, Jesus, for loving me enough to die for me.

"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."
-John 3:16

Friday, April 6, 2012

Feeling Stranded?

I liked the look of life until it took me for a ride that left me reeling. I guess I thought character could be built from the comfort of a passenger seat. So with the help of a little bohemian blood in my veins, I tried hitch hiking instead. But after wandering aimlessly without purpose or direction, I started to feel lost. Until one day Jesus met me, sitting on a curbside with my hair disheveled, my clothes stained, and my soul worn.

Has this life left you feeling stranded? Perhaps it's time to turn to Jesus for help.

"The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
-Matthew 28:5-10

Thursday, April 5, 2012

The Dream

I pulled it from the closet to see if it still fit after finding it tucked between the shirts and jackets. I don't think I ever intended to hide it away, but sometime between yesterday and today, I must have. I know there is a season for everything, but my season seemed to have either been hidden or lost. Not anymore! I tried it on and realized my dream never felt or looked better.

Do you have a dream that has been hidden or lost? Perhaps it is time to get it back out and see if it still fits.

"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

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

Tattooed & Taylored

Sometimes I feel more comfortable in my faith when I stand beside a tattooed soul, and other times I feel more comfortable beside a taylored soul. On any given day, it is hard to tell where I stand because my faith feels both tattooed and taylored. I have been tattooed with marks from this life, but I have also been taylored by the love of Christ.

Where do you stand?

"This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."
-1 John 4:10

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

A Full Heart

Perfectionism knocks on my door as my heart beats wildly at the thought of entertaining her. But as tempting as it is to let her in, I know she will merely find all my failures. So I simply reply that a satisfied heat is a full heart, leaving no room to host her. Then I turn to the Lord, only to feel him quiet me with his presence.

"This is how we know that we belong to the truth and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence: If our hearts condemn us, we know that God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything."
-1 John 3:19-20

Monday, April 2, 2012

Untold Stories

At times I feel inspired to write a compelling story dedicated to those who cannot afford the luxury of telling their own. Perhaps they hold their stories close for fear of what they will lose, or even for fear of what they will gain. But my fear is that if I don't step away from my reality and move toward theirs, then their stories will never be told.

What about you? Are there untold stories you feel inspired to write?

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ."
-2 Corinthians 1:3-5

Sunday, April 1, 2012

Personal Growth

What if we look at life through the lens of growth? Not the kind of growth we can measure in inches, but the kind of growth we can measure in less tangible ways. Genuine personal growth seeks to measure the distance between where we started and how far we've come. When I look back on my life, I see a series of measurements strung together, marking a great distance. But those measurements are also marked by Christ, and I am convinced that without Christ, there would be nothing significant to measure.

How is your growth coming along?

"Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."
-Romans 12:2

Saturday, March 31, 2012

No Substitutes

We all know that substitutes are not nearly as good as the real thing. So why do we find substitutes for God? When he calls us to commitment, do we call him instead at our convenience? When he calls us to a relationship with him, do we answer back with reluctance? After all, when we needed him to die for us, he did not desert us. And when we needed him to rescue us, he did not reject us. When we needed him to comfort us, he did not consider us a burden.

I don't know about you, but I don't want to settle for substitutes.

"'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
-Luke 10:27

Friday, March 30, 2012

Beautiful

I felt like looking pretty to soothe my weary nerves after yesterday kept claiming to know me. But there is so much about me today that yesterday has not been told. So I pulled my heart out of hiding, only to discover how wrinkled it had become. Then I opened it up and smoothed in out before pinning it on my sleeve. And once I did, you called me beautiful.

"Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end."
-Ecclesiastes 3:11

Thursday, March 29, 2012

My Passion

Fear tells me to be careful not to fuel a fire I cannot contain, but fear itself cannot be trusted. So I cautiously light a match, holding it up against all the passion I can gather, until my passion suddenly erupts! So I pour my heart out by the light of the fire, while holding my pencil steady across the page. And I feel so thankful to know that fear is no longer a friend of mine.

My passion is to write. What's yours? Is fear holding you back from pursuing your passion?

"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 God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."
-2 Timothy 1:6,7

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

A Quiet Mind

Some days my mind gets soaked in desiring to feel pleasantly productive, with thoughts like go, go, go and do, do, do. But I would rather have it soak in the sound of silence, with thoughts like, "The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams." So I wonder, how do I get from point A to point B in a single day?

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Taste and See

You sprinkle our lives with your presence, then call us the salt of the earth. So we dish our day onto a silver platter and ask you to bless it before we start digging in. But I wonder how many times we don't actually sink our teeth into the good things you offer?

Could there be something good the Lord wants you to experience, but you are somehow missing out?

"Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!"
-Psalm 34:8

Monday, March 26, 2012

Guarded

I wrap my heart in truth then cover it with grace, knowing the world will glamorize anything that sparkles and shines. And in order to keep myself from getting lured away from the cross, I leave no open doors in the space my heart calls home.

How do you keep your heart guarded from the things in this world that might tempt you away from growing in your walk with Christ?

"Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life."
-Proverbs 4:23

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Bearing Burdens

She stands at the intersection of yesterday and tomorrow, waiting to hitch a ride with anyone who will take her far away from today. But for now, she nearly faints from the heaviness in the air and the heaviness in her heart.

Will you stop and take time to help her move on from here?

"Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ."
-Galatians 6:2

Friday, March 23, 2012

Take Heart

Hard times can produce hard hearts. And dreams can wilt like flowers scorned by the sun. The pressures of this life can drive us to extremes; the loss of a life, the loss of a career, the loss of a hope and a future.

But what if the Author of all life pens that there is still more to the story? Even though there is conflict, there can still be resolution.

"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 Christ (John 16:33)

Thursday, March 22, 2012

A Harvest

Small things sprout from what seems like nothing. But we cannot see on the surface what gets birthed in the hidden places. So if we nurture and we cultivate and we pray, then life begins to blossom and bloom.

What do you need to tend to in your life? Does it seem tedious at times?

"So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up."
-Galatians 6:9

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

What fills your time?

It seems as though time used to give itself generously to me. But lately time has been hard to find. So I am taking time to remember that a simple life is a life worth living, and a humble heart is a heart I should be keeping.

What fills your time?

"Don’t be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God."
-1 Peter 3:3,4

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

A Strong Fortress

Sometimes I come to you, Lord, feeling broken and banged-up, looking for answers. But instead of finding the answers I seek, I discover the comfort of your loving arms-strong and stable in the midst of uncertainty. And my quest feels fulfilled.

"The name of the LORD is a strong fortress;
the godly run to him and are safe."
-Proverbs 18:10

Monday, March 19, 2012

Worship

My heart beats wildly at the sound of your name, and it feels like thunder as the deepest part of you calls to the deepest part of me. So I give myself to you completely, as my act of worship, I completely surrender to you. Sweeping traditions aside and casting opinions away, I give my heart to you, as you sweep me into your sanctuary where the different broken pieces of me look whole in the light of your love.

"For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth."
-John 4:24

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Change

Change comes with a cost, and that cost often feels like we are losing something. But what if letting go is what we need to do in order to gain so much more?

Is there a change in your life that feels difficult right now? If so, ask the Holy Spirit to help you let go of it and hold on to him.

"You do not desire a sacrifice, or I would offer one.
You do not want a burnt offering.
The sacrifice you desire is a broken spirit.
You will not reject a broken and repentant heart, O God."
-Psalm 51:16,17

Friday, March 16, 2012

Lost & Found

I wanted to set out to find myself. But when the wanting wore off, I let go of the limbo I was living in and decided to stop looking. And that's when life became so little about me that I lost sight of who I was becoming. So when I thought about finding myself again, I realized I already had.

"If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it." -Matthew 10:39

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Doors

A door can swing open just as quickly as it can slam shut. And those closed doors can lead to great disappointment. But what if a closed door simply means a different direction?

What kind of doors are you facing today?

"I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me."
-Revelation 3:8

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Release

At times I think I can do it all, so I have to learn once again that I have limits. And that learning process can tend to feel like more of a burden than a blessing. But when I can release control, then my hands are free to capture my calling.

Is there a calling you may be missing? Then it's time to release what you have been holding onto and receive what God has for you.

“The Spirit of the LORD is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,
and that the time of the LORD’s favor has come.”
-Jesus (Luke 4:18,19)

Monday, March 12, 2012

Manicured

We can walk through life feeling well groomed, but at the end of the day, are we really just playing with our appearances? So why not live life in such a way that leaves it looking a little more disheveled and a little less manicured? Maybe then we will see that life is about more than just how we create it to be. Life is about how God created us to be.

"The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."
-1 Samuel 16:7

Sunday, March 11, 2012

Hold Tightly

The frailty of my flesh surfaces in the weight of my weaknesses when patience grows thin or frustration feels familiar or failure seems to follow me. But even in the midst of my weakest moments, I see room in my life for your greatest strengths to shine. So I rest in your redemption and hold tightly to your healing.

Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
-2 Corinthians 12:9

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Walk Confidently

Heaven cheers us on even when this life slows us down. So let's walk confidently, looking past the panoramic scenes that tend to distract us. And then we will see that the one who cheers us on most is the one who holds the bigger picture up in the light of eternity.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us."
-Hebrews 12:1

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Peace

To me, peace from the Lord feels kind of like that sultry sort of air that sticks to my skin in the heat of summer. You know, the kind of summer sauna that leaves you feeling like a constant humidity hovers over you? Only, God's peace doesn't just soak into our pores or hover over us, it settles into our hearts and stays...if we let it.

"I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid."
-Jesus (John 14:27)

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

More Than A Feeling

Sometimes my faith feels fragile when frustration finds its way into the places of my life that normally flood with the belief that I can do all things through Christ. And then there are times when my faith feels free of frustration, leading me along the straight and narrow as I trust the Lord to make my paths straight. But even though my faith seems to get fueled by my feelings at times, the truth is that my faith is so much more.

"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see."
-Hebrews 11:1

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

The Dreamer

I don't want to live in someone else's dream just as much as I don't want to be seeing someone else's vision. So I seek to dream my own dreams filled with compelling stories I can call my very own, all the while waking to authenticity.

What kind of dreamer are you?

The LORD’s Promise of His Spirit
“Then, after doing all those things,
I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your old men will dream dreams,
and your young men will see visions."
-Joel 2:28

Monday, March 5, 2012

The Inheritance

We cannot inherit a personal relationship with Christ from the traditions of our family. But we can inherit a religion. Like a patchwork quilt from Grandma's attic, we sometimes pick and choose the pieces of the gospel we want to have sewn into the fabric of our lives. But God offers so much more for us than that.

Are you settling for just an earthly inheritance? Or are you pursuing a relationship your Heavenly Father?

"It has given me great joy to find some of your children walking in the truth, just as the Father commanded us."
-2 John 4

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Living Simply

The call to live simply comes from a heart that loves deeply, so let's count our blessings- only 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?

"But you, dear friends, build yourself up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. Keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life."
-Jude 20-21

Saturday, March 3, 2012

A Little Luke Warm?

I cannot abide in a copy/paste sort of Christianity. And yet I still try to copy/paste scripture to my busy life until I claim the need to catch my breath when the day gets short and my list gets long. But God does not want me to remain there. While I am busy scrambling to catch my breath he is longing to captivate my heart. So that leaves me with one question; am I too busy for God today?

"I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are luke warm-neither hot nor cold-I am about to spit you out of my mouth.... Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline."
-Revelation 3:15,16,19

Friday, March 2, 2012

My First Love

He whispers sweet nothings in my ear, reminding me of his grace. And he sweetly serenades me, inviting me to soak in his presence. Then it dawns on me that perhaps I have not been loving him, but loving what I can do for him. And I feel crushed, until he lifts my face towards his and wipes my guilt away, singing sweetly of his love for me.

"I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first."
-Revelation 2:2-4

Thursday, March 1, 2012

A Christian in Crisis

Resentment runs through my veins when I look at the works of my hands, wondering if I have done enough for the cause of Christ. And I find myself looking through little windows of time that have opened to opportunities for me to share the gospel. But then I also look out of windows to the world only to see those who do not have a relationship with Christ doing a better job than me of reflecting Christ. So when I call myself a Christian, I kind of feel like my words fall flat. Because I can lift up my hands to praise God, but do I lend a hand to love like God, who gave his own son as a ransom for me? I might be a Christian in crisis because I carry the gospel close to my heart, but what have I done to carry it to the nations?

Shouldn't His love move me to do more? Or have I been too afraid of getting my hands dirty?

"Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying. When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all!

Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone.

Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say,

“I will take revenge;
I will pay them back,”
says the LORD.

Instead,

“If your enemies are hungry, feed them.
If they are thirsty, give them something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap
burning coals of shame on their heads."

Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good."
-Romans 12:9-21

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Running for the Prize

I did not know how far I could run until I ran as long as I could and ended up running into you. Only it was not a coincidence or an accident because you stood there waiting for me the whole time. Still, I believed the distance from where I stood was far too great. But I knew just how wrong I was when you embraced me with open arms.

"Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified."
1 Corinthians 9:24-27

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

I Love Him

Once I realized a religion could not save my soul, I started pursuing a relationship with Jesus. To me, his blood stained body is more beautiful than any stained glass window. It reminds me that God has not called me to decorate my faith, but to declare it. So I stopped raising my communion cup to toast him and I started taking communion because I love him.

"I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends."
-Jesus (John 15:9-13)

Monday, February 27, 2012

Fighting with my Flesh

I've figured out how to fight with my flesh well enough to win most times. But there are moments when my flesh does not fight fair. So I embrace my humanity by confessing quietly, knowing that a little bit of anonymity goes a long way. Because sometimes I fail to live up to the standards the rest of us seem compelled to create, when the only standard I really need to live up to is that of a Holy God.

"So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:13-16

Saturday, February 25, 2012

I Confess

My surrender sings sweetly to the heart of my Savior. But how many times do I say, "Here I am Lord, send me!" when I only mean it with half my heart. So I confess to you that I have unclean lips when my mouth says one thing but my heart says another. And in your mercy, you soften my heart until it sings.

Inspired by Isaiah 6:1-8~
It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They were calling out to each other,

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies!
The whole earth is filled with his glory!”

Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.

Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.”

Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”

Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”

I said, “Here I am. Send me.”

Friday, February 24, 2012

Perseverance

The years roll by, bringing times when faith feels fragile, especially when my flesh feels weak. So my sin leaves me looking less than becoming until your grace makes me look pretty in perseverance. And as the years roll by, there is one thing I continue to learn; I may not necessarily mature with age, but I most certainly mature with Christ.

"We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed."
-2 Corinthians 4:8-9

Thursday, February 23, 2012

My Fickle Heart

With one breath, I hold my resume in my hand and flash a prayer toward heaven. Then with the next breath, I flip-flop, holding a prayer in my hand while flashing my resume toward heaven. I'm not sure which is worse or which is better. But if there is truth in the statement, "it is more important to seek the giver than the gifts," then I don't know where my fickle heart falls. So I reach for my pen to scribble a few more notes about what I think I can do for God, until he gently reminds me that I can search my heart for anything I have to offer, or I can search his. And when I finally do, I find more than I could have ever dreamed.

What about you? Are you trying to build your resume to do great things for God? If so, pray about checking in with him first.

"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