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?