A promise Kept!

Do you remember the first time someone promised you to be there and they weren't?  Maybe a friend broke your trust or a parent who missed that soccer game?  The fishing trip or the birthday party you spent months talking about, or that wedding that was planned, but didn't happen, because the person who promised to be by your side for the rest of your life, somehow could not even be there for an hour to declare their love for you.    Worse maybe you carry the weight of a promise you made and broke. 
I have been both the person who was hurt by promises not kept and the person who has broken a promise.  In fact, more than once I have tasted the bitter reality of a promise unfulfilled.  Sometimes I have been the person who has inflicted pain on others and myself because I  made a promise. I didn't keep or I believed a promise that wasn't kept.  Do you need something sure in a world of uncertainty?  I bet you do, and so do I, but is anything true anymore?  Will we see our sunsets again figuratively speaking?  Well,, that will depend on where we look for hope.  Whose promises will you and I  choose to believe?  The politicians, The government? Our churches?  Our educators? Our families?  Our finances, our country?  After nine weeks in the house, only seeing a handful of people, I have a lot of time to reflect, and even for a person like me, who recharges best having a lot of alone time, nine weeks is a bit extreme.     All things I listed, are not bad, but if these are where we find security, we will always be disillusioned, cynical, and yes like I was as a nine-year girl, through blurred tears, as I learned sometimes people make promises they can't keep, even though their intentions were good...   I found the ultimate trustworthy Promise Keeper!  He is trustworthy and True!  He keeps his promises, and not a one has failed me.  If I haven't seen it coming to fulfillment yet, based upon his track record, I can trust Him!  So when you and I are tempted to find security in our position, our bank account, our government aid, our knowledge. our status, our health,  our mentors, ourselves, then we are looking for hope in false promises. So many times I still trade the unfailing promises of God in for temporary false promises.  Don't miss your Sunsets in this time of personal and global chaos, instead, I hope we will look to Jesus who is always the Keeper of His promises!
Hebrews 6:18-19

 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm, and secure. 

Is Christmas Really Over?

   Is Christmas really over?  Sure the presents were opened  Our bank accounts deems it is so.  The tree will come down soon.  The baking stopped.  The stores stopped playing carols.   The excess gluttony hopefully is slowing down.  In a traditional commercial sense, yWe are done with Christmas and entered into2017.     While we won't see Christmas themes until October of next year, which by the way, is too early in my opinion.  Like me, I wonder if you need to be reminded the life-changing truth of Christmas does not end after December Twenty-Fith.     “Look! The virgin will conceive a child!

    She will give birth to a son,
and they will call him Immanuel,
    which means ‘God is with us.’Matthew 1:23  

What if we opened our presents, but never took these out of the boxes these came in?  What good would that do any of us?  What an insult to the gift giver.  Many of us do this very thing, with God.  We are more than willing to celebrate a baby in a stable, but beyond this, we are all done with Christmas aren't, we?  We only unwrap the gift just enough to get the warm fuzzy feeling inside.  It never seems to get us through the rest of the coming year does it?  Sometimes we are eager to open the gift of Christ's, birth, but we refuse to open the rest of the gift completely. Either, we are too prideful to accept that this baby was not just a baby, He came to fulfill the greatest need of humanity.  He came in flesh, to recuse people from isolation and Separation from the Living God.  His name is Jesus and He is willing to be Immanuel God with us.  He desired to be with us, so much that He gave his life through death upon a cross for us.  The real gift is, though He died, He didn't stay dead. I don't only mean that Jesus died universally for all. He also died personally for each.    It is the personal part we need the most.  We are too busy to live in the reality that God is with us in the ordinary.  He is willing and desires to be with us, in the highs, lows, and in-betweens.  In October, I faced an unexpected trial that knocked me to the ground emotionally and spiritually.  For a short time, I doubted I could recover from it.  It seemed to come out of the blue, but in hindsight, I can now see the storm had not been swirling out of nowhere. Before it actually hit harder, than I ever dreamed.  Conditions set the stage for such a storm.  In that storm, I heard something, and at the risk of sounding dramatic, I know I will never forget that moment.  That moment I know God, whispered to me, "Teej I'm with you in this, and I WILL get you through this. "  "I WILL NOT AND I HAVE NOT LEFT YOU. JUST LET ME LOVE YOU I knew in that moment, I would be ok.

Sometimes we don't unwrap the gift because of unworthiness.  In reality, though what if we redirected our focus on the fact God went to such an extreme to declare our value, wouldn't that bring greater joy and glory to God?  Let me allow this to ruminate a little.    Unworthy has its place, but if we dwell in unworthiness too long, in my case, years, then I miss the beautiful truth of the Gospel.    As I finish writing, it is the three days into 2017, and the theme seems to be living Hope filled in the awareness of the presence of God!  How would you and I live more fully if we lived with the awareness and expectation of God's Hope Filling presence in our lives?  Don"t miss your Sunset in 2017.  Action Step: Ask God to make us aware of his presence, in the hardest moments of our day.  Then, let' us Celebrate and thank God for being "with you and me  

Text here 

Finding your Sunset After Loss

   God never intended for anything we learn about life to be just for us.  It is intended to help others in their journey.  I have avoided writing and blogging regularly, because my attention has been needed elsewhere.  Now that Franklin ha been placed in his new home, I know he is safe and well cared for far better than I ever could.  It has freed me from worrying about him.  I am rediscovering creativity, and able to do more things   I also have avoided writing, because the lessons I am learning are still not bunny rabbits and rainbows.  Even a year and 4 months after mom's cancer battle ended though it is easier now, it is still hard, not so much, because I want her back, but because she brought such joy to everything, and she was so good at keeping everything smooth.  I still miss her  laugh and smile.    I love to talk about her and do things she loved  to do.  I laugh at the things she uses to do that drove me crazy.  As most of you have figured out I love sunsets!  To me, life contains beautiful sunset moments so beautiful if you are not paying attention you will miss these.  It could be something as simple as a card in the mail that lifted your spirits.  It might be the sound of your grandchildren playing in the yard or lunch with a friend  Many of my friends' faced losses in recent days.  Some the loss of a friend, others loss of a parent, pet, or job.  No two losses or relationships are the same  I am no expert on loss, but I am learning a few helpful tips for embracing Sunsets after a loss.  This post is for those of you in difficult situations.  You might be struggling with the question why am I in this situation...

 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change James 1:17."Click for reference  You may not be able to see or embrace the gift that comes as a result of loss quickly, but if you search long enough, you will  begin to see that in the loss there are sunsets moments and your losses will mature and change you.    I have and will continue to make mistakes, as well as just blatant bad  choices.  Most of these tips I have learned as a result of my own shortcomings.

• Be forgiving of yourself and others.  You will make mistakes and your actions will sometimes be disappointing to you and to those that care about you.  Give grace.  I am still learning  to do this, and will for the rest of my life.

• Allow yourself to feel confusing feelings, and resist the urge to scold yourself.

•   Self Care.  If you are like me, you may be tempted to think self-care is unbiblical.  Yeah me too I understand.  I think about Daniel in the Bible, though, and he took the time to make sure his body, mind, and spirit were taken care of.  Yes, he trusted God to care for his needs, but he also was wise and mature enough to take responsibility to invest in his own well-being.

• Lower your expectations of yourself and  others.  Don't look for others to be able to understand or validate your feelings.  This is totally unfair to expect.  Look to God , who knows You and your situation fully.   

• Ask for prayer from people you trust.  

• It is ok to escape for short periods, but be wise and escape only in the short term Be careful how and when you escape.

• Be specific about needs and expectations.  I do  not  do well at this.  mostly because I never want to be demanding or entitled    If I  drop something in public, then I need to ask someone to pick up, instead of attempting to miss rolling over it.  Mom laughed once, because I broke a pair of shoes, by running these over, because I didn't want to stop whatever she was doing to ask her to move my shoes out of the floor.  Sometimes God places us in situations because we need a reminder we are not in control, and we need to run both to God and others. 

• Be thankful for blessings big and small

• Find your passion...  This is an ongoing process...  Find joy in small things.  I recently discovered I enjoy coloring.

• Look for ways to support and comfort others facing a loss of any kind.  "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 2 Cor. 1:3-4  Text found here  What have you found helpful in finding joy after loss?  How can you use your own losses to help others in theirs?  Are you finding your own sunsets after a loss?  I am discovering it is not just a monthly process or even a yearly one.  It is a journey that lasts a lifetime.    Moment by moment you will find your sunse6 again after your losses.  My dad use to say all of life is about loss, and in a sense he is right, but in loss there is a deeper gratitude for joy and finding your Sunsets again.

Is Surrender Possible?

Can I surrender all?  After all the last time I asked God to help me love Him more than anything or anyone in my life. It wasn’t long after that that when the word cancer invaded our lives.  I continued to pray the same even as time passed and year after year mom's cancer remained and sometimes grew larger. I watched as she placed a smile on her face as life forced her to take early retirement.  I watched as she prayed for others, and rejoiced when they were healed.  I watched her laugh when others would have cried.  The day I knew my life would never be the same was the day I got the call  cancer was found in her brain.  I felt as if the air almost left my lungs barely able to nod.  I watched as her once strong body that took care of me, was feeble and lifeless unable to raise her head.   Helpless I prayed asking God to spare her from such agony. I begged God to let me  take her place knowing I could never fight as hard as she did.  I often thought the world needed her more than it would ever need me. As she felt pain that without pain medicine would not stop.  I watched as my family’s hearts were broken into pieces, and I powerless to do anything.   Yet there was and will always be the glorious hope to come, and that quiet peace only God could give..  He gives it still.  Oh the joy and fun of the legacy she gives us now in all her humanness. 

Of course our church is talking a lot about surrender as we study the Holy Spirit.  What words come to mind when asked if I have been in a place surrender where God proved faithful?  Yes, God is faithful when we surrender our lives.  Yes it scares me what continual surrender may mean in my life.  Does it mean more discomfort?  The truth is a lady in my church and countless others who has endured more pain than I ever will.  God has never required me to go to AFRICA to feed the poor or say goodbye to child I gave birth to.  The list is endless.  Admittedly, I could not find the strength to sing the words I surrender all the first two times, last week at church because I was scared.  God has provided everything I need!  He has given grace beyond what I could deserve and yet there is that fear that God will command me to do something radical, and what if I “surrender” in advance whatever that might mean, and then I can’t find the courage to follow through?  It has been hard for me to sing that song, but harder now.  I never want to commit to sing words I can’t live out, but then it hit me I can’t surrender in my own power.  Surrender is only possible through the supernatural enabling of God.  I cannot know what God may or may not ask of me either now or in future, but I must trust that God knows my heart, and I desire to be faithful.  He will enable me to choose to a surrendered life.  The God of the universe can handle my failures.  He has already redeemed these anyway.  So what do I have to lose?

The process of sanctification isn’t my job.  It is God’s process not mine.  It is by Faith like in Hebrews, that we chose surrender not just once but continually.

Surrender does not mean we will be exempt from persecutions or trials.  Jeremiah proclaimed truth and was faithful despite not having a happily ever after, or seeing results. Jer. 35… America is a results driven society.  I am learning faithfulness driven by anything other than for faithfulness sake, is not surrender. Will I be faithful if it guarantees me little upon this earth, but coasts much more?  It has been and will continued to be my prayer for God to enable me to surrender. 

                Here are some reasons to surrender.  One, Jesus is worthy of surrender.

  Two, He himself has surrendered to God and for the sake of his children, and it cost him everything. Romans 8:32. A life surrendered always brings peace.  , God is good, and his ways are perfect. it is by faith, I take the first to surrender which is an expression of willingness.  I continue in a place of not knowing what the journey of what surrender will look like.  Where do you my friend find yourself on this journey surrender?  Each journey will look different.  I’m sure not the poster person for surrendered living. The more I look to the Savior the more I know it is the life I am called to live.  Would love to hear from you.  It might be that grudge you’ve been holding for twenty years.  It could be that substance you find comfort in, or that to do list you always check off.  

Does God Give the Silent Treatment?

Few things rattle my more than someone giving me silent treatment or worse trying to silence me.  While I don't like yelling, I would rather someone yell at me than stop speaking to me.  That might be why the last 2 months or so of God being seemingly silent have been rough for me...  Do you know that feeling?  You read the Bible, but nothing seems to speak to your situation, so you tell yourself eventually God will speak to you and just have to keep pressing on.  When God is silent, it is sometimes because we are refusing to be quiet and listen to His voice.  We are so ,busy trying to fix things or control things that it rarely occurs to us to listen instead of speak.  Other times I believe He is silent because God is waiting for us to respond to something He has already revealed.  I've been there.  Have you experienced this?  Other times, we may not be aware of the reason God chooses to be silent, but we still can choose our response to that perceived or actual silence.

6 Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6  In human relationships we don't end a friendship, because one goes months without talking, we often pick up where we leave off.  I've experienced God's silence in  an area for ten plus years, but his timing has been perfect in when and how he has worked in the situations.
There are times when if we are not careful we might be tempted to believe Gods silence is a lack of care or concern for us, this is untrue and a misunderstanding regarding God's nature.  While Scripture is a primary way God speaks, I've discovered he speaks through music, the  beauty of nature, other people, and many others forms.  While God will not contract his word ever in any way, we should never limit ourselves to thinking God can or  will only speak to us during a 30 minute quiet time.  I am encouraged by this.  God often speaks to me through sunsets, or a kind word from someone who crosses my path.  When God seems to be silent toward us, we need to ask God to help us look around, and be open to hearing and seeing him, in ways that might be unexpected.  There are times when God may be actually silent, because  of unrepentant sins in our lives.  Ps. 51, and we must look within through confession.  If you have experienced a time or season where God seems silent, you never know how sharing your story may encourage someone.  You and I might be  one instrument He desires to use to speak into someone else's life.  Let's not give up on hearing and seeing God speak but keep a watchful eye, and open ears- knowing He promises to be found by those who seek Him!  Jer. 29:13.  He is worthy of our praise, even when He chooses to exercise his rightful silence in our lives.   

Pintrest Christianity...

If you aren't familiar with the website Pinterest I'll try to explain.  Pinterest is a website which allows a person to organize different aspects of their lives on an electronic bulletin boards.  For example, if you want to pin articles for work, then you might pin work related ideas,.  If you want a board that reflects your style or parenting, you would name the electronic board accordingly.  Sometimes I will get busy looking for different concepts and pin the information article book or outfit on the board. If I catch a mistake like this even months later, I am compelled to move the item to its proper board.  I like for a lot of life to fit into compartments or proper places.  As I causally pinned items to my own Pintrest it was if I heard a whisper saying Pinterest Christianity.  Pinterest Christianity I wondered where did that come from?  Days later the phrase entered my mind, prompting me again.  What are you attempting to show me Lord?  It hit me right between the eyes, all of us treat our lives and our faith like it is a pintrest board in some ways.  For example, I may be quick to invite God to have central place in my volunteer work or church activities, and music, but my movie and food choices not so much.  I might choose friends who love God and are devoted to God, but can I say that I am quick to listen and forgive when I'm hurt?  What about those times I promised to fulfill a commitment, and no one knew except God that I actually forgot or did not follow through?  

    I'm an advocate for authentic living.  I'm not the example of what this looks like a lot times, so let me not try to point you to myself as the standard here.   Pinterest gives users the option of having up to three secret boards, which means only the user has ability to see content of such boards. I suppose I understand the need when it comes to planning a party or inside jokes, but I don't have secret board on Pintrest. It's more common though, or should I say tempting to have secret areas in our lives.  Bitterness overeating people pleasing love of another person as much as or more than God.  I have those secrets too.  God knows mine, but you may not see those in me, or even in yourself.Like it or not it is impossible to have secrets from God.  Oh we can have secrets with God, meaning He alone knows us better that we know ourselves or others but there isn't a secret good or bad, we have that He isn't fully aware we have.  What's my point, I doubt as Christians we will reach a place on this earth where we are aware of God in every aspect of our lives.  If you think are one who has, I'd love to see it.  It is certainly something we should ask God for, and be willing to allow him to permeate our lives with more of him!  "In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths. Prov. 3:5.  AMP  The next time you and I see a Pinterest board or a box or wallet, let’s stop and ask God to help us give him central  place in the areas most challenging.  So that the next time we sing the I give you my life, It will reflect a little more of our reality than It did the time before.

  Do you practice Pinterest Board Christianity too?  What is an aspect of your life, which you desire to invite God to transform?  If you are like me, there may be many.  I am committing these to prayer one at a time.  How about you?  Let's move together from Head knowledge, to heart transformation! 

Image belongs to

Are we Listening?

 Watch this video before you read my post. This humorous YouTube video will serve as an illustration for the topic of this post   Both, parent and child are claiming the other is not listening.   My work, teaches me to actively listen to my clients: using rephrasing and restating.  It helps both me and the client to process responses.  Sometimes we ask or wonder if God is listening to us, when the better question is: Are we listening to God?   People speak in terms we are often familiar with, however we may not be as in tune with the voice of the Holy Spirit.  I am learning a few concepts about listening for God's promptings.     

1. God desires and allows us to know and discover his voice...    “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me:" John 10:27.  The sheep represent God’s children.  This verse also states that the sheep know and hear God’s voice,   they are known by God and Christ.  I believe wholeheartedly God is able to speak audibly if He chooses to.  Let’s just be honest I’ve never heard God speak audibly to me.  While I can’t speak for others, I think it would be hard to say others have either, unless of course they lived during the of Jesus’ ministry.  Though not hearing God’s voice does not mean God isn’t speaking, and t we should not listen.  

2. It is impossible to listen to God without spending some form of time in His presence. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jer. 29:12-13. One reason I changed the name of my blog to: From Head to Heart, is because I know it is possible to know God’s word in my mind, but not n allow those words to affect my life and heart.  Unless I allow God’s words to make the way from head to heart, I’m living purely from a legalistic knowledge, and not intimacy with God. The Bible says God rewards those who seek, listen to, and place their trust in him. Hebrews 11:6

3.  One of the primary ways God speaks is through his promises.  “I shall delight^[in Your statutes;
I shall not forget Your word. Psalm 119:15:16.  Sometimes, in my own life, because of doubt, or just simply because I’d like another answer, I fail to listen to the truth God has given clearly in a given situation.  If God has already provided the answer in the Bible, the phrase do what has already been stated applies.

4.  God also speaks through our own past and present experiences.  This might be through an answer to our prayer, or a challenge we face.  We may choose to waste our trials, but God never intended that.  I watch on a weekly basis as God redeems the agony of cancer into ministry.  It is often difficult for me to listen and look for ways to use my life experiences, but when I do listen and respond, God speaks and reveals himself. 

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in ]any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 2 Cor.1:3-4.   I wonder sometimes if we are not like the child in the video saying Lord you are not listening to us.  I envision the Lord responding graciously yet firmly. No, child You are not listening to me!  God often repeats his message to affirm it to us.  Are we listening? 

The Day I Got Caught!

The day I got caught… A little over a year ago, I attended She Speaks writer’s conference in North Carolina. My friend and I rode the elevator many times that weekend. The last day, I was feeling tired from all the excitement and my brain was on overload. I had met many people on the elevator that weekend, but this time was different. A woman with a large rolling backpack entered the elevator. You would think with my having a physical disability, I would have been prepared for what happened next. I tried not to stare but I couldn't take my eyes off of the physical scars that were apparent on her face. It didn't occur to me to ask her questions. I was torn. I didn't know how this woman, who I didn't know at all might respond to a question regarding something so personal. It seems as though we were on the elevator forever. The silence was killing me, and I'm sure the silence must have been making her uncomfortable as well. She broke the ice by striking up a conversation with me. One would think my being in a wheelchair all my life would make me more sensitive to situations like these.  Shouldn't I have been the one to be more tolerable and open? It was evident she wasn't seeing my chair upon talking to her. She wasn't being mean to me for staring at her. She offered to give me information about her personal testimony, and her desire to minister to others. I could not help feeling deeply convicted as we parted ways that day. I of all people should know the pain of being judged by physical appearance alone. I learned a lesson from that sweet woman that day.  I became aware of just how tempting it is to judge by appearance, even if I have been judged by the same standard. I have more understanding and compassion, not only for those who are being judged, I also have compassion for those who are doing the judging as a result of this experience.  In that moment, I had judged a woman solely on what had happened to her, even though I didn't know what that something was. This woman, to be honest I don't even remember her name now,showed me how our Savior teaches us to view those made in His image. Instead of being angry with me, because in my ignorance and curiosity I stared at her, she chose to use that as a door of opportunity to minister to me. This woman's humility is beyond anything I have seen upon the earth. As Christians, we must ask God to help us see with spiritual eyes like Jesus does. . When I came home from the conference I opened the packet of information she gave me, and I was in awe of her depth and wisdom. I was humbled by her desire to educate and inform others about her ministry. This beautiful woman inside and out could have chosen to be bitter and resentful for her lot in life. She could have chosen to be angry because no doubt throughout her life I'm probably not the first person, who  stared at her, and sadly I'm sure I won't be the last. I wonder if most of us would be so bold to allow those uncomfortable and painful moments in our lives to be a window to educate others in their own struggles and pain. I don't know where this woman is ended up. I do know her courage and strength were an inspiration to me that day. I will make a conscious effort to extend the same grace and mercy that this wonderful person did, whether I am on the side of tempting to judge another person by physical appearance, or if I am the recipient of someone else's judgment. Immediately after that encounter: the Lord brought a verse to my mind. "But the LORD said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. 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.

We live in an appearance driven culture. It is comforting to know that we worship a Savior who sees beyond the outer appearance, and concerns Himself far more with the depth of our character and beauty of our souls! As Christians, we must ask the Lord to help us see those we come in contact with using spiritual eyes, even when it comes to that which is physical. This woman who taught me one of the greatest lessons I have ever learned, has a beautiful soul. She has even more than that, she has a beauty that is displayed through brokenness and physical scars Likewise this is the same with Jesus Christ! He bore our pain and took our scars: yet there is none more beautiful than the Savior Christ the Lord!  Have you ever had a similar exprience?

R-E-S-P-E-C-T for What?

For as long as I can remember I have enjoyed reading.  In recent years I have neglected the habit, and exchanged my passion for reading, for that of social media and pintrest,   and honestly it s disapoints  me.  Reading has been a friend to me long before I had friends.  Despite the pin above I understand that reading just isn't isn't enjoyable for some.  For me numbers makes things hard, but my ability to understand and process concepts through reading is a joy.   Today, I want to tell you a story about a book that changed a man's life, not simply because he took time to read it, but because he allowed the book to change his way of life.  Books are every where, both electronically and in print, but there will never be another book or story that potential to change a life like this one is.  There was this man named Josiah who became king of Jerusalem at eight years oldEven then, Josiah was wise enough to follow the example of his ancestor David, who though he was imperfect man loved and followed God. 8" Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the court secretary, “I have found the Book of the Law in the Lord’s Temple!” Then Hilkiah gave the scroll to Shaphan, and he read it.

9 Shaphan went to the king and reported, “Your officials have turned over the money collected at the Temple of theLord to the workers and supervisors at the Temple.” 10 Shaphan also told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a scroll.” So Shaphan read it to the king.

11 When the king heard what was written in the Book of the Law, he tore his clothes in despair. 12 Then he gave these orders to Hilkiah the priest, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Acbor son of Micaiah, Shaphan the court secretary, and Asaiah the king’s personal adviser: 13 “Go to the Temple and speak to the Lord for me and for the people and for all Judah. Inquire about the words written in this scroll that has been found. For the Lord’s great anger is burning against us because our ancestors have not obeyed the words in this scroll. We have not been doing everything it says we must do." 2 kings 22:8-13 One day the high priest informed Josiah the book of the law had been found, and that the people and nation was in violation of the law.  Josiah's heart was grieved at the reality of the disobedience, even before the predicted consequences that would be brought upon the city. seen in later verses(.....  As a result of Josiah's respect for God's commands, the just disaster  upon the city was postponed.
        Until this time people of that time had forgotten and likely simply ignored God's commands and worshiped idols, even to the point of sacrificing the children God had entrusted to his people.  The first evidence of Josiah's repentant heart and respect for God's word was the tearing of his clothes as an outward expression of a personal encounter with the word of God .  Josiah no longer had reason to only follow David's legacy, but he had discovered God's message and commands firsthand, and it made a profound difference not only for him, but in his actions; and the people he governed.  I have a confession to make, I don't have that kind of deep respect and awe for the word of God like I should.  Oh how it is my prayer that I would respond as quickly in obedience to God as Josiah did!  How amazing would it be if God's people just by taking hold of God's word, would have such respect that it would transform how we live!  After discovering the word of God, Josiah destroyed the idols of the land, unlike any king recorded in history.  We can never dismiss the influence a person who chooses to obey God.  Will our legacy of daily living be rerecorded as ones that respect or ignore the word of God? will we treasure the authority of God's word or will we discard it?  It occurs to me that the proof of treasuring or loving God's word, is not simply in whether we read it, but even more in if we choose to respond to what we read in our lives!    
         I have hidden your word in my heart,
    that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:11  

How can we show greater respect for God's ways in our lives?

Have you Found Your Voice Yet?

Image source

           The image above may seem slightly humanistic to some for me, that isn't it's meaning.  I remember a little boy who wrote a book called heart-songs before passing away of an incurable illness.  I''m learning that God has entrusted me with my own voice. By the way, you know I don't mean the singing kind of voice right?  Lately, It has been  a struggle to really find the voice I have been entrusted with, instead of submitting myself to the molding of the voice God designed for another person.  If you have ever seen the TV show "the Voice," then you know often the judges will say find your own style make the song your own.  As Christians, we may find ourselves coveting or trying to copy someone  else in their God ordained path, trying to mimic other people's talent's or gifts.  I was reminded today God is not stingy in the area of his gift giving!  We need to look no further than Christ's death on the cross to see that.  We can fall into at least two traps.

One- We may see our voice and gifts and talents as inferior to others.  There are times when I feel my voice and gifts are lacking, and  inferior by comparing, and what an insult and disrespect it must bring to my Creator.  Comparison is the key word here...  Two, there are times when I/we pridefully think our gifts and talents are superior to others.  Here is sure sign we might be doing this- if we dismiss or put down the gifts, skills, and talents or become irritated with others: when their voice does not match ours.  It might be in subtle ways.   Another example, might be this is the way I am, and I don't need to examine my flaws.  I am reminded of this, when I am not willing to adjust to my new mattress, and refuse to stop sleeping on the other one, because its uncomfortable to my body.  it has been months since I got the new one.  Likewise, spiritually, I can be resistant to change, and sometimes miss the chance to grow.  Both these choices, inferiority and superiority are displeasing to God.I am guilty of both sinful perspectives.   God wants us to accept the gifts, entrusted not only to us, but to accept both the voice and gifts gives others too. For example, my God given way of viewing life, is through a heart of mercy.  It flows out in ways, I don't notice.  My mom's heart and voice exude faith and giving practical hands on service, as well as making the world a more beautiful place with her creative crafts.   All these gifts come from the Father's hand, and reflect the Father's Heart.     Where are you in the process of using your God given given voice and gifts? 
 "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms." 1 Peter 4:10  It cannot become any clearer than this verse.  
Now for those of you still with me, I'n a day late, but I'm excited to link up with the coming alive party @ Jenn's blog
What made me come alive this week:

1. Loving on people who hurt
2. Seeing God work in and through me.
3. Church last Sunday
4. Dinner with friends and ice cream with my mom.
5. Sunshine and summer weather.
6. Seeing God work on my behalf 
7. Mom's laughter.

Everything Matters with Prayer!

  this post was written last week....  Due to hand pain I am only posting it now....

                                                                       Locate Image here

         I want to tell those of you who read this blog how much I value your feedback.  Your support from my previous post was such a blessing to me... Let me open with a question, Do you pray about your stuff?  What I'm asking do you talk to God about you daily stuff?  As a little girl, I remember thinking that God didn't really care much about the little things in my life.  I thought God only cared about sick and dying people.  As I got older, I /discovered I loved praying for others with all kinds of needs, and even become known as the prayer warrior in some circles.  Secretly, I had full faith in God's willingness to answer my prayers on behalf of others, but believed God saw my needs and wants as trivial.  The last couple of years, God has shown me that  prayer is a gift that enables me to come to Him in total dependence upon Him!  I am learning that with God there is no topic too deep or shallow for prayer.  I long to teach children this, so that they know prayer isn't just a thing to be done before dinner.  I knew these scriptures that said pray about everything, but I didn't really think it meant EVERYTHING.  As I read the Bible, I am starting to see that those who pray about everything are the people who are the most content lives  in Joshua 9 the Israelites were deceived by the Gibeon people, who requested a treaty to save there lives.  In many cases Joshua and Israel sought God before taking action.  In this case, scripture does not say or imply this here.  They did not consult God about what to do when approached by these neighbors regarding a treaty.  I cannot help, but wonder if maybe they might have assumed this decision was a no brainier, and they could use their own common sense, instead of seeking God's will in the situation.  As a result, they were deceived  I doubt they intended to violate God's plan in this mater, but they may have fallen into 2 traps.  One pride, they must have assumed they were independent enough that they already knew God's will in the matter, so they failed to seek Him on the issue.  When we assume we already know what God has to say about a matter, rather than taking  time to listen to Him,we are in danger of casually missing his direction and blessing.  A few weeks ago, I had a rather embarrassing situation which to me seemed almost too practical to pray about, but out of my own desperation, and a promoting of God's leading I prayed.    God gave me exactly what I prayed for.  Imagine if I had not accepted the invitation to bring this concern  to God. what a blessing I would have missed out on!  It is also possible to miss God's blessing when we assume He only cares about some things in our lives and not others.  I believe part of the reason I've battled anxiety in my life, is because I assumed God did not care about what troubled me, so rather rely on Him in trust, I thought I had to either worry or fix it myself.

        Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.". Phil. 4:6-7.  I admit I resented this verse in my childhood and teen years, because it was often used as a "pat answer.  We can get so focused on the do not portion of this passage, that we forget that isn't just a command, about not  worrying, but a command to pray!  We are not just told to talk with God about serious matters, we are told here to pray about EVERYTHING.  The daily things- the boring things, the silly things in life.  Does prayer matter in your life?

Image taken from

Get Out Of Eygpt!

Friends

Most of the time I have a post in my head, before it ever appears on this blog,  Today  the same is true, except I don't know the ending, nor do I know how this will be received,.  I'm nervous to put it out there.  Several months ago-shortly after returning from She Speaks Writer/Speaker conference, a question surfaced in my head as I began to ask God to lead me.  I don't think that question came from me.  .  The truth is most of the pain I've carried with me through the years has been related to the academic scene.  I have little confidence in my intellect in some areas.  If you put my in a room with well educated people, I feel inferior.  It does not matter that most of my grades through my life have been above average  mostly that came from effort, not from a stellar IQ  The question was would you be willing to go back to school if I asked you to?  Please God anything you want, just not this I thought.  I told no one for months. First for fear that they would think that I'd lost my mind, worse  they might try to pressure me into a commitment. I was not entirely sure I was being asked to make.  Those of you who know me are aware that college for the time I attended, at least the latter, part was a complete nightmare in which I dropped out  I''ll spare you the details...I promise there's a lesson in all this.  Until last week, I had been a nervous wreck over trying to understand what all this means, and angry, that if the question was from God, that He would ask me to revisit an area of my life that I still  wear as a badge of shame.  As I met with a mentor recently, she reminded that I had been asked if I was willing, but had not been given further steps than that.  I looked at her puzzled...  Through tears, "Why would God ask me to be willing to do something, unless He wanted me to actually follow through?" I asked.  "Maybe it is a test of your willingness to obey regardless of the next steps."  she said.  A sense of relief swept over me in that moment.  It wasn't the first time God had asked to lay my own will for my life down, in exchange for His.  He asked me to lay my will down in the area of my mom's health, long ago; just like He asked Abraham to lay Issac on God's altar.  I did, and am  doing this daily .  I don't know when, or if God will command me to pursue a degree in the field that crossed my mind that day.  I have sincerely expressed my desire and willingness to be in God's will  even if that means going back to college.  In Joshua 5:9 God tells Joshua that He rolled away the shame of being in slavery in Egypt  .then the LORD said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the shame of your slavery in Egypt." So that place has been called Gilgal to this day.  I admit I have never actually been to the place of Egypt, however my past with college  even 8 years later,is my Egypt. So imagine how freeing it was when I read this verse!  God has taken the badge of shame away from me, just like He did for Joshua and Israel as a nation, but imagine if  Joshua had continued to stay in his Egypt- in his mindset, even, after the Lord brought him out of bondage.  Sometimes I think the reason Israel could not get it together, is because they kept focusing on their dark past in Egypt, instead of accepting that God had rolled that shame away,  When we stay in our Egypt, symbolically, we forfeit the joy God desires  to give us by moving us to a new places in our lives.  Our own Gillgal is prepared for us, but our mindset, remains in the land of  Egypt  We all have Egypt in our lives, things that bring us shame.  For some, it is divorce, an abusive past, a one night stand, words we can't take back, how much more has the blood of Christ, removed shame from us!  How much more has Christ removed and redeemed the dark places of our lives, with the light!  Do you want to let go of Egypt with me?  It's your destiny too!  I wrote this down, so we can remember it together!  Our shame has been rolled away, the way the stone was on the day of Resurrection, but I/ we have to be willing to refuse to wear a false badge of shame in our lives!  I want to get out of Egypt: please come with me, as we embrace the fact that Christ has removed the shame from us!     .

When God Says "No" Do We Say Thanks or Why Not?

Hello,

     Here I am playing blog catch up again.  I wonder how I will recap everything since my last post.  Thank you for those of you who have prayed for the Hand Humbert family.  Baby Hope is recovering well.  Todd still needs prayer and the rest of the family.  Mike Hand needs lots of prayer as takes harsh chemo.  If you want to follow the journey go to my friend Jenn's Blog she would be encouraged by your comments...  Last Saturday I had an early 30th birthday party, and I had a great time!  If you are reading this and you were there thank you....
      My life has been super busy lately, and admittedly I am at my best when I have time to be still.  At times I feel that I'm torn because I want to have a Mary spirit, but at times I wish I could be Martha, because Martha is the one people seem to value more  Martha has a check list, and before the day is over every one cheers  our world and even Christians see the fruit of her work.  They see what she spent hours using her energy on.  Do you know what I envy most about Mary?  Her world didn't fall apart because Martha was offended by her actions.  Being the approval addict in progress that I am, it is easy to want tangible affirmation.  The question is will I look to Jesus for approval already granted, or approval not certain from others    She let Jesus deal with Martha's disapproval.She didn't wilt at the first hint of rejection, but her greatest delight was to please Jesus himself.  Oh how I want this to be true of me, as it was of the Apostle Paul and others  Lk. 37-40 Let me switch gears for a minute to make the point  Num.  22 contains such precious truth in it.  Will you allow me to quickly hit some of the highlights?        Bible text here Numbers 22  Balak sends for Balaam to curse God's people in battle.  Each time Balaam seeks God, in accordance with the covenant.  God sent word each time that he would not curse his chosen people, in fact He would bless them despite years of rebellion.  As a side note, isn't that just like God to relent from giving us what we deserve and give us something far greater?      Balaam wasn't a perfect servant any more that we are, He  was at one point totally unaware of what God was doing to the degree  that God made a donkey talk to get his attention.  In the end, Balaam continued to obey God no matter what it could cost him.  In that time period, one might lose their life if they refused a person in power.  To those who know me know I've struggled for years with waiting to please people, and at times it can be a hindrance life and in faith, but the more I embrace God's no strings attached acceptance, the more it seems to point me toward a sincere desire to obey God.  I don't know about you, but sometimes in my sinful nature, I wrestle with wanting to force things to happen, instead of seeing closed doors as God's blessing and protection.  Last month, I prayed about a possible job situation, and when it because clear it would not work, I was disappointed and dejected.  You see, I forgot that I had asked God to close the door if it wasn't his will.  That's exactly what He did.  I asked Him to forgive me for not thanking Him for answering my prayer, and instead focusing on wishing his answer was yes.  It had gotten to the point that I wanted a "yes" for all the wrong reasons.  I wanted the "yes" answer, because then I'd look like Martha.  I could see myself, and others would see my work as productive, but as a sister in Christ reminded me, it not about being productive, its about being meaningful, and honoring Christ, not myself.  The world we live in has an entirely different value system than the one Christ called his followers to.  Yes, work is a biblical principle, but whether it for money or not, that should never be the entire motive for why we work, or where we get our identity from.  Yes, a job is a means to fulfill financial irresponsibility, but I have to believe God wants more than that for his children,
Have you ever thanked God for the "no's" or "Not Yet's" in your life?  Care to share?.          

What if Easter were tomorrow

Image


If you celebrated Easter today, I hope it was a blessed one... If you don't celebrate  it then I'm sorry to say you might be a bit bored with my post.  Of all the holidays, I celebrate, I can say Easter means more to me than all the others!  I hope you watch the video above.  Christians everywhere worshiped their living and Risen Savior today!  You know what would be even better?  If you and I woke up with the same awe and wonder tomorrow about Christ coming to earth, living a perfect life, dying in our place and becoming alive again.  I have a confession to make, most days I don't live with this amazing sense of purpose and victory my Savior has afforded me.....  Oh I long to live in such a way that declares hope to others.  How I want to give as He gives and love as He loves!

    On Thursday a dear friend of mine, her husband and 2 children were in a terrible wreck, when a deer came through their windshield and landed in the backseat.  Praise God they are alive, but their 6 month old baby has bleeding on the brain, and my friend's husband has many surgical procedures ahead, and a long road to full recovery.  Please remember them in prayer with me.  Also My friend's dad was diagnosed with Leukemia recently.  Through it all, the Hand/Humbert family clinging ever so tightly to the hope that comes from a living Savior! Only A Savior, who is worthy-Jesus Christ has made the impossible, possible friends!  What if Easter were tomorrow and every day after that?  You know what, as Christians, I think that  is as it should be!  What do you enjoy celebrating and why do you celebrate it?

Keep an Open Heart about Miracles

Do you ever find yourself searching, waiting looking expecting a miracle?   Do you ever wonder why some people seem to get theirs right a way, while others wait months even years or even until eternity at times for answers or relief?  Lately, I've had conversations with multiple people as we wrestle prayerfully and reverently with this question... Every time my mom went into remission, I thought here is it is.  The miracle we have looked for, and it was for a season in time, and I'm still thankful for it.  A road once marked with little hope, in the form of a clinical trial, was it my ideal hope dream for my mom?  Nope, in all honesty, there was a  time about 2 years ago when I wanted desperately total healing and anything else seemed unfathomable.  Do I still want and wish for total healing for my mom and others I love yes.  Right now, her miracle is slight decreasing in the cancer, and that is a miracle!    Do I believe in miracles oh yes.  I am learning to view miracles differently now, but it continues to be a work in progress.  I don't talk about it much, but on rare occasions, a very few people have said God's will is always to Physically heal people.  There are some churches who teach this very thing, I beg to differ.  God is not limited to one type of healing. Healing comes in different forms.  Healing comes sometimes, a little more every day, in the form of grace carrying a person moment by moment hour by hour.  Some miracles come in the words your condition is stable or improving when just weeks before it seems you had run out of options.  The Gospel itself is a miracle.  The fact that your reading this, and I am writing it, is a remarkable gift.  I'm waiting on miracles too, but the act of trusting and expressing thanks and praise even in waiting is in itself is a miracle.  It might not be in the time frame or form you thought it might come in, but God often changes our thinking to match his, and the fact that you and I can relate as frail human beings to the living God IS and always will be the greatest miracle in all of history.  The fact that God listened to me as I lifted up names in prayer today is miraculous.  When Christians around the globe stand for Christ, even though their lives are in danger, is the power of God's miraculous work!  Often our hearts become numb to the wonderful work God is doing, because we have closed our eyes, and chosen not to see God's fingerprints in our lives.     I'm asking God to open my eyes, to remember and praise Him for "big" and "little" miracles alike.  Will you do the same, and then lets share God's works with many around us, who need to be reminded that God Is working, because celebrating God's works, will always bring us back to his heart! 

    yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.¹² I will consider all your works    and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”¹³ Your ways, God, are holy.    What god is as great as our God?¹⁴ You are the God who performs miracles;    you display your power among the peoples.  PS. 77:12-14.  www.biblegateway.com 

Image

Since God has performed miracles in the past, we can rejoice, and trust He is still working.  We must not be narrow minded in the way we view miracles.  Embrace the wonder of what God did in the past, and trust his ways for us when we are looking for and waiting upon his miracles in our present.  For more on a day by day miracle visit  http://www.comingaliveministries-jenn.com/2013/03/joy.html My friend Jenn Hand's blog.  Please continue to pray for Mike Hand and others who need God's touch.  We all need miracles in so many areas.  Let's praise God for what He has done, and is still doing in our lives!  

Leaning the Right Way When Cancer Strikes...

This post is in honor of the Hand family, and other walking miracle people in my life, like my mom. You can lean on me, and more important, you can and are leaning on our Faithful God!  

          In high school my friends and I used this as this as a theme song of sorts.  I have always liked the song though it was popular at a time before I was born.  This song always makes me smile when I hear it.  It makes me think of  classmates and FCA gathering in our basement.  I've needed, something to make me smile this past week.  One reason is because last week I came down with Chicken Pox, and it has been painful which I didn't expect.  I went to the ER last Thursday.  That same day I got the news that my 2 dear friends who are twins- there dad had just been told he has acute Leukemia.  It was like a knife cutting through my heart as my dear shared the news.  I was not so much hurting for myself, though I love her dad so much and he and Mama Hand as we call them, have always treated me like royalty.  I would have done anything in that  moment to ease my friend's pain.  "God please not this, not cancer, don't ask this of them, don't ask them to walk this path."  I flashed back to how sick my mom was during her aggressive chemo.  I tried to sound strong for my friend, but the hurt overwhelmed me in the moment.  All I knew to do was say how sorry I was, to promise my love and prayers.  Our  friendship is one I don't worry i'll ever lose. This is rare for me in relationships.  We have made it through foreign countries, secret crushes, and more.  I also flashed back to words God gave me during one of the darkest times finding out my own Mom's  cancer was back yet again.  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. Prov. 3:5  I heard the verse in a sermon about a month ago, and all but fell apart for many reasons.  1. I often don't trust God and his ways, but I'm learning to more daily 2. I sometimes lean on other things or people when there are things I don't understand about life, like cancer or other disappointments in life, instead of leaning on the Everlasting Arms of God.    I have a side piece on my chair that keeps me from leaning too far on my right side.  It works so well at times that all my weight shifts to the left side at times making my body unbalanced.  In those times when I have chosen to lean on God with everything, He has never once failed me.  He has never turned me away or mocked my need for him.  He does not find my burden too heavy or my hurt too deep.  I struggle sometimes with the false idea that God sees me as insignificant, but his word says otherwise.  God invites you and me  to come to him in our brokenness.  When we choose not to lean on God we are acting in rebellion..       Like me, I bet there are things you don't understand in your life.  Guess what our lack of understanding does not justify our lack  of trust.God.  However God does understand that we are frail  The hardest thing in the world is to trust God's heart, when we don't understand his ways .  It can be done- when we lean on God.  I've seen it,  I've seen in my mom and in my best friends lives. More than that God is teaching me and has taught me, he is enabling me to lean on him.  It is not wrong to lean upon others, or let others lean on us, but if we fail to lean on Jesus most, we are not leaning the right way, and no one else can uphold us like Jesus can and does!.  Ps. 18:30 Ps.33:4. He is trustworthy!  He can be trusted with the our unknowns.  He can be trusted to fulfill his promises!  He can be trusted to forgive us, to give us hope moment by moment hour by hour.  He can be trusted when others leave us behind or leave us out.  He can be trusted when the world around us feels as if it is caving in. He can be leaned upon rain or shine, dark or light.  I want to lean the right way, which is in trusting the heart and nature of God.  Do you hear him inviting us to lean upon his Everlasting Arms?  

Grace Rediscovered!

This year a couple of friends and family members have given me monetary gifts for no particular reason than to show an act of love. Of course my first response was to gladly accept, and then say thank you. I enjoyed having the extra money. I did not question why it was given to me, I simply enjoyed and appreciated it. The unexpected and undeserved gifts made me want to bless others in a similar way   .  As I though upon this, it became clear to me what I needed to write about to each of you. If I had to describe the year 2012 in spiritual terms for me personally, then I would entitle it grace rediscovered. Here's what I mean… Intellectually I know that the word grace means unmerited or undeserved favor. In spiritual terms, I know that it means the unmerited or undeserved favor of God toward man. To be honest though, f when I heard the term grace, all I could think of was the word undeserved.  In the course of my life thus far in 29 years I must've heard at least  a 1000+ sermons on the subject of grace.  I shamefully admit that I would find myself cringing at the topic from time to time, because in my mind that was code for hearing a sermon on how unworthy or undeserving I was, and I honestly needed no help in the self loathing department . This wasn't actually how grace was  presented to me , but most often it was the way I interpreted it.  It wasn't actually until this year, that I began looking at grace differently. You see I was so focused on my unworthiness and no goodness. I struggled about how  how undeserving I am of God's gift, not only at salvation, but also of a relationship with him, that somewhere I missed or forgot the joy and victory that comes with having God's favor through Christ. We hear often times that  so much of life is about balance the same is true of our faith. When I exalt total depravity above that of God's favor and kindness, then I am left with little joy or peace. Likewise, when I focus only on God's kindness without regard for his holiness, then I missed the awe and wonder of who God is.  Grace has always been a difficult concept for me to grasp at least on the heart level, but even shots of it glimpses have made  a different for me over the last few months. I don't so much fear God punishing me when I do something wrong. I find it easier to not assume that when something goes wrong it's my fault. I guess that's what happens when grace starts to become real, as opposed to a theological  concept passed down from one generation to the next. If I've learned anything and continue to learn anything, it is that knowing grace and experiencing it, are not one in the same.  Was I a Christian before my rediscovery of grace yes.  However, it is in those times when I am not experiencing or living in light of grace, that I am the most miserable unhappy Christian on the planet.  I don't believe that I'm the only Christian out there, who found herself intellectually believing a message, that she was not tangibly and personally experiencing on a daily basis. This all began for me when I was challenged to answer the question what is God's heart toward me. After much searching and inner turmoil this year, I find myself going back to the simplicity of childlike faith found in John 3: 16 ""for God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whosoever believes in him shall have everlasting life""  God  is love, and his love motivated his plan to reconcile you and me to himself Romans 5:8. One of the misconceptions I have had about grace is that it mostly applied only to the gift of salvation with regards to eternal life. Yes, this in itself is more than we could ever deserve to or hope for, but it isn't wrong to want to experience a portion of fullness in the Christian life now.  John 10:10 Jesus said, "" I have come that you may have life and have it abundantly. Paraphrase emphasis mine. What is going to make a lost person want what a Christian has, when a Christian doesn't even know what they have, beyond eternal life, or at least is not living in the reality of grace?  It will no doubt be a lifelong and perhaps an eternity long process, for me to embrace experiencing grace, but I want it desperately personally and intimately.  I need it like I need air I don't want it just for me, I want for the 80-year-old lady who has been in church her whole life.  I want it for the girl who finds herself pregnant, and feels that no one will give her a second thought. I want it for the Christians who like me, have felt as though they are missing something essential to their faith. I want it for the minister, who has forced himself to be satisfied with a conversion record and has little expectation beyond that.   I want it for the person who has never come to Christ, and who wonders if grace is a fantasy..  I issue myself a challenge, and I extended to you as well. Let us ask God to make his grace a tangible reality in our lives! Join me in prayer for God's grace to sustain us and flow through us in 2013.  Are you you ready to open and reopen our gift?