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