Full of Thanks Friday: God's Workmanship

"Let us come before His Presence with thanksgiving,

Let us shout joyfully with psalms. 

For the LORD is a great God,

and a great King above all gods,

In whose hand are the depths of the earth;

The peaks of the mountains are His also.

The sea is His, for it was He who made it;

And His hands formed the dry land.

Come let us worship and bow down;

Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker."

Psalm 95:2-6

On this Full of Thanks Friday, I am thankful for God's beautiful workmanship.  Last week, my husband and I had the privilege of spending some precious time with some friends of ours out of state.  On Saturday, we spent the day out on this beautiful land - exploring the perfect nooks and crannies that only God could have created.  The earth is truly His workmanship ...

And so are we.

What are you thankful for on this Full of Thanks Friday?

Full of Thanks Friday: The next generation

"One generation shall praise Thy works to another,

and shall declare Thy mighty acts.

On the glorious splendor of Thy majesty,

and on Thy wonderful works, I will meditate.

And men shall speak of the power of Thine awesome acts;

and I will tell of Thy greatness."

Psalm 145:4-6

On this Full of Thanks Friday, I am finding myself especially thankful for the precious opportunity to influence the next generation for Jesus.  I am humbled.  And I recognize every single day that my son is a blessing and one that I certainly did not deserve ... 

My husband and I experienced a few disappointing miscarriages prior to my son's birth.  I share this with such fragile care, as I know so many women experience hurt and heartache regarding becoming pregnant.  

Not one day goes by that I am not humbled by the fact that God has blessed us with this little one.  But as I have mentioned before on this blog and at a recent speaking engagement -- After my second miscarriage, I resolved in my heart that I would trust God regardless of the outcome.  That I would trust God that I would become a mother.  Whether from my own womb or not.

God allowed my sweet little Hamilton to come into our lives.  But He did not have to.  And I am well aware of that.  Absolutely and fully aware.

So today ... I am thankful for him.  And I am thankful for the opportunity to influence the next generation for Jesus.  I long to praise His works to my son.  And I pray that Hamilton grows up to know and believe that our God is mighty and powerful and awesome, as the Scripture above states. 

I long to tell of His greatness.  Do you?

And here is a fun picture from our family photo shoot this afternoon.  Our little guy was worn slap out after all the pictures.  I know you're probably thinking it's terrible that I am posting a picture of my child looking so upset, but it really was actually a pretty humorous moment ...

Even in the "cranky" moments ... his mama is thankful :) 

What about you?  What are you thankful for on this Full of Thanks Friday?? 

Full of Thanks Friday: Quiet

In the spirit of the season ...

And just because colorful fall leaves for some reason send my heart into praises of thankfulness ...

And because this Scripture has blessed me SO:

"Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of the lips that give thanks to His name.  And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased." (Hebrews 13:15-16)

From now until Thanksgiving, I thought it would be neat to do a post each Friday for what I am thankful for at the moment.

On this Full of Thanks Friday, I am especially thankful for the quiet.

Quiet not to lie down and take a nap, or even read a book, but quiet to get things like this done ...

I know, it may sound crazy, but life is busy and I am thankful today for quiet.  To get this mound of clothes ironed and drink my chai tea latte.  Yep, I've turned into an official housewife/mommy.  And I'm remarkably proud of it!

What are you thankful for on this Full of Thanks Friday?  
Offer up a sacrifice of praise to your God! 

Restoration: A Choice

"He restores my soul."

Psalm 23:3a

My Bible study leader made the following statement last week during her lecture.  I have had the concept of restoration on my heart for the past month or so, so her timing was impeccable.  

So often we miss out on how God wants to restore us

because we don't want to admit we've done anything wrong. - AV

Her comment was in reference to the story of Cain and Abel.  [Read Genesis 4 if you need a refresher.]  After presenting an offering less than his brother's, Cain rebelled in anger toward the Lord.  His own resentment led him to kill his own brother, Abel.  Before going through with the murder, the Lord approached Cain in effort to prompt his heart to confession, repentance and ultimately restoration with Himself.

"The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, 

but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favor. 

So Cain was very angry, and his face was downcast.

Then the Lord said to Cain, 'Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 

If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? 

But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; 

it desires to have you, but you must rule* over it.'"

(Genesis 4:4b-7)

*The New American Standard Bible uses the word master in verse 7, it's origin meaning to rule, to have power, to have dominion over, reign.  

The Lord's words in Genesis 4:6-7 acted as a warning to Cain of the sin that was fixin' (as my husband likes to say) to approach.  

Psalm 23:3a is one of those Scriptures that is just so precious to me.  I think it is because the whole idea of the Lord restoring my soul just overwhelms me.  Physical healing is one dynamic thing, but the idea of the Author & Creator of the Universe healing my soul -- the storehouse of all my emotions, thoughts, frailties, insecurities; my inmost being -- yes, this is absolutely astonishing to me.  

God was so gracious to Cain.  He saw his anger, his entitlement, his bitterness, and He still longed for a relationship with Cain.  He desperately longed for Cain to accept his offer of restoration.  

You see, the problem with Cain is that he didn't want to admit he had done anything wrong ...  

Something tells me there are many of us walking around like Cain.  On the verge of allowing sin to rule and reign over us, to master us, to have power and dominion over us.  Too prideful to admit our wrongs.

What is bothering you?  Deep in your soul?  Like Cain, perhaps you have been plagued with jealousy, resentment, or bitterness?  Are you overcome with temptation?  Do you struggle with insecurity, inadequacy, insufficiency?  Is there someone you hate or someone you have hurt?  What are you hanging onto that is unproductive and could lead to future sin? 

Maybe you don't even know what is bothering you, but you feel that something is just not right in your heart ... 

Take some time today to pray to God.  Ask Him to reveal to you the contents of your soul.  Then spend some time confessing those tender spots to Him.  Ask Him to bring to your mind how you need to repent.  Then repent.  Turn away and ask Him to help you change.  He promises to walk with you every step.

But it's a choice ... 

Glorious restoration awaits you.  Restoration with the Father.  

Don't be like Cain.  Accept God's gracious invitation for healing.  

Our souls were not meant to bear the weight of our burdens...

They were meant to live freely in the restoration of God.    

Memorial Stones

Justice and truth are your virtues 

With many too vast for our words 

No mind contains the splendor of all that You are

Our God, our God has done great things 

Our God, is greater than all

Miracles are your memorial 

The promise of wonders to come 

You are the author, God You complete it all

We sang the song, Greater than All, by Hillsong this past Sunday during our worship service.  Our worship leader shared briefly before the song about how in the Old Testament, God's people would set up physical stones as memorials of God's faithfulness.  They did this so that for years to come God's people would see the faithfulness of their God, and would be reminded that when He promises to act on their behalf -- He stays true to His word.  

In the first few chapters of the book of Joshua, God calls Joshua to lead the Israelites to their promised land.  This was no ordinary feat, however.  God provided Joshua with very specific instructions to convey to the priests who would be carrying the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord through the Jordan and into the promised land ...

"You shall, moreover, command the priests who are carrying 
the ark of the covenant, saying, 'When you come to the edge of 
the waters of the Jordan, you shall stand still in the Jordan."

(Joshua 3:8)

Once the priests dipped their feet into the edge of the water, the God of all heaven and earth promised to overtake the waters of the Jordan and cause the waters to cease flowing.  And that He did ...

"And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of 
the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan 
while all Israel crossed on dry ground, until all the nation had 
finished crossing the Jordan."

(Joshua 3:17)

After the entire nation of Israel had passed through the Jordan on dry ground [talk about miracles], God instructed Joshua to appoint 12 men - one from each tribe of Israel - to take the journey back to the middle of the Jordan where the priests were standing firm.  Upon arrival, the 12 men were to each pick up a stone and carry it back to the dry land that had been promised to them.  They were to set that stone up in remembrance of how God had acted on their behalf (Joshua 4:1-5).  

"Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children 
ask later saying,'What do these stones mean to you?' 
then you shall say to them, 'Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off 
before the ark of the covenant of the Lord ...

So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.'"

(Genesis 4:6, 7)

Joshua 4:9 tells us that Joshua even went a step further and set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan right at the place where the priests stood.

And when all was said and done - when every last person had crossed the Jordan, including the priests carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord - the stones remained as proof to future generations of the faithfulness of God.  

And those twelve stones which they had taken from the Jordan,

Joshua set up at Gilgal.  

And he said to the sons of Israel, "When your children ask their fathers

in time to come, saying, 'What are these stones?'

then you shall inform your children, saying,

'Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.'

that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD 

is mighty, so that you may fear the LORD your God forever."

(Joshua 4:22, 24)

What precious reminders the Israelites were given by way of these stones!  The Lord knew that doubt would surely creep in at times and hearts would go astray and other gods would be served and seasons of waiting would occur ... so He led Joshua to set up markers as reminders of the fulfilled promises of God.  The one true God.  The God of heaven and earth. 

Sometimes I think I need memorial stones.  Tangible objects which act as representatives of God's faithfulness.  Markers of answered prayers.  

I want so desperately to be intentional about remembering the faithfulness of God in my life - Don't you?  And I want to impress these things upon the next generation ...

What are some of your memorial stones?  

How has God demonstrated His faithfulness in your life?

What prayers has He answered that have been monumental to you?

Are you telling others about them?

Our God, our God has done great things 

Our God, is greater than all

Every.Living.Thing.

So ... not every day goes as planned.

Look who showed up for Bible study this morning!

"So God created the great creatures of the sea and every living thing 

with which the water teems and that moves about in it, 

according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. 

And God saw that it was good."

(Genesis 1:21) 

I told you I have Creation on the brain ...

Polar Opposites

"Then God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light.

And God saw that the light was good;

And God separated the light from the darkness."

Genesis 1:3-4

I am doing Bible Study Fellowship this year and we are studying the book of Genesis.

When you feel small, inadequate or insignificant - Can I suggest reading the first 2 chapters of Genesis?  It is a definite perspective changer!  The God of Creation - the God who ordained time, space, seasons, and every creature that exists - He saved his most prized possession for the very last of his creations: mankind.  The world was incomplete without us.  He longs for us more than we know.  More than we can comprehend ...

And certainly more than we believe.

In studying Genesis, I have been particularly drawn to learn more about the vast difference between light and darkness.  

My husband and I are very different.  For example, he is very good at reason.  I tend to think with emotion first, reason later.  He is very good at math [like he understands fractions and percentages and weird stuff, like formulas].  I left my x's and y's way back in my freshman year of college and am still confused about what in the world the point of all that was.  He loves sports.  I had to have the definition of 'punt' explained to me after the last football game.  He is good with detail.  I am a big-picture person.  He tends to have an idea and run with it.  I go back and forth [and back and forth] debating whether it's a good idea before I take the leap.  He thinks in his head.  I think out loud.    

Despite our many differences, there are also many things we have in common.  And there are also things that I can make an effort to have in common with him.  Like sports, for example.  I really could learn more, sit through more games, and maybe eventually even love sports on the level he does.

But light and darkness ... That is a different story.  

They are completely different.  Polar opposites.

"And God separated the light from the darkness.

And God called the light day, and the darkness He called night."

(Gen 1:4-5)

God produced a separation between light and darkness at the creation of the world.  He did this by creating the light.  On day 1, God distinguished the difference between day and night. 

"Then God said, 'Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens

to separate the day from the night, and let them be for signs,

and for seasons, and for days and years;

And let them be for lights in the expanse of the heavens 

to give light on the earth'; and it was so.

And God made the two great lights, the greater light to govern the day,

and the lesser light to govern the night; He made the stars also."

(Genesis 1:14-16)

God made certain that even in darkness, light would be present.  On day 4, He created the stars, moon and sun to illuminate the darkness.  

I have been able to glean great application from the above Scripture passages.  I am all the more convinced that you and I, as believers in Jesus, are meant to look vastly different than the world around us.  The parallel between the introduction of light into a dark world at the beginning of Creation and the calling we have as believers today to go and be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14), is no coincidence.

We have to stand out; however, standing out cannot be our goal.  Our motivation for all that we do must be to bring glory and attention to our Savior.  Out of the outpouring of our love for Him and the conviction of the Holy Spirit, there should be things about our lives that are in turn distinguishably different.  Agreed?     

                     We are a CHOSEN RACE ... 

a royal priesthood ...

A HOLY NATION ...

a people for God's own possession ...

THAT YOU MAY PROCLAIM THE EXCELLENCIES OF HIM

WHO HAS CALLED YOU ...

out of darkness into

HIS MARVELOUS LIGHT! 1 Peter 2:9

So what about you? Are you blending in??  Or are you shining brightly?  In what ways do you look different?  And in what areas do you not look different? For real: name them.  This is a good practice for us.  And this is not about being self-righteous.  It is about living within our calling.  It is about making sure we are following through in obedience and that pleasing Him - not the world - is our goal, our pleasure, the desire of our hearts.

Are we fully aware that our Creator God had vastly different in mind for us?

"So that you may become blameless and pure, 

'children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.'

Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you 

hold firmly to the word of life."

(Philippians 2:14-16a)

We were meant to resemble the stars, y'all!  What a beautiful and thrilling a picture that is!  

We have been ordained, called, chosen, 

to be completely opposite than an unbelieving world.

Polar opposites.

Getting back on track

"So teach us to number our days, 

that we may present to Thee a heart of wisdom."

Psalm 90:12

I chuckle as I type out this title ... Getting back on track ... simultaneously glancing at the date of my most recent blog post: June 23.  Yikes. 

It's all good.  Thank you for extending grace to me.  It has been a busy season and I am working desperately at getting back on track.  

Yesterday morning as I sat at the feet of Jesus for a few minutes before my little one awoke, I was led to the precious Scripture in Psalm 90 noted above.

Do I even comprehend the truth that I serve a God who is willing to teach me to number my days?  And that through that daily discipline, I will gain wisdom.  God-inspired wisdom ...

I don't know about you, but I am desperate for His teaching in this area.  I am not disciplined by nature.  To those of you who are, do you realize what a gift that is?!  

I had coffee with a friend about a month or so ago and we were discussing how if you are not in some sort of routine (especially with little ones), you can so quickly become overwhelmed and frustrated.  Feeling as though you are getting absolutely nothing accomplished.  

As I prayed and meditated on the above verse, I was challenged so deeply to commit my days - each and every day - to Jesus.  To ask Him what is on my agenda for that day.  To ask Him to help me to be disciplined and purposeful in my tasks.  

So, how do I keep my days both practical and spiritual?

Practical: One thing that has really helped is for me to keep an agenda that has a spot to write daily tasks.  I like to do this at the end of each day.  This way, when I wake up in the morning I am not asking myself, "What is on my agenda for the day?"  I already know.  

Spiritual: For me, it is so important for me to begin my day with Jesus.  To intentionally invite Him into my day.  I am trying desperately to set my alarm for a little earlier, get up, take my shower, brew my coffee, then head downstairs to spend some quiet time with the Lord.  Hopefully the baby sleeps until I'm done (today he did not!).  

What about you? Do you have "routine" tips that help you through the day, that have proved to keep you on track?  Please share!  

"O satisfy us in the morning with Thy lovingkindness,

that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days."

Psalm 90:14 

Timeline

In preparing for an upcoming event, I sat at Panera yesterday for an hour and half and tackled a daunting task: a timeline of my life.

This was not a "Born May 25, 1983 ... Started kindergarten 5 years later ... Graduated high school 2001 ... " kind of timeline.  This was a detailed, all-access kind of timeline (good, bad and ugly: all included).  A timeline filled with successes, failures, victories, heartbreaks, challenges, slumps, awakenings, changes, setbacks, questions, answers, blessings, and so on.

This was hard, y'all!  I was so drained afterwards I literally had a headache for the remainder of the evening.  I have to say that in so many ways, though difficult to sit down and force myself to do, it helped me to gain so much perspective.

These are a few things I learned in that hour and a half, while sipping my green tea ...

[For the record, not so much a fan of Panera's green tea.  Starbucks all the way.  But ... Panera has booths, so for this particular exercise, comfort outweighed taste.]

• I learned that certain pains and heartaches caused me to operate in a failure mindset.  This highly influenced the view I had of myself, which then influenced the view I had of God.  Self-absorbed?  Yes, I think so.  Insecurity makes one very vulnerable, and vulnerability makes you do stupid things.  This stems from the lies of the enemy.  Don't base your life on lies.  Yuck.
• I learned that I had allowed circumstance to dictate my view of God.  If I experienced a defeat in an area, I automatically felt that I had "missed the boat" and had been forgotten by God.  I had Him in a box.  If things did not go the way I imagined (and many things did not!), I thought I had forfeited "His best."  This distorted view of "His best," was really my best plan ... which was SO warped.  
• I learned that the things I loved to do when I was 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 & 10 years old, I still love to do.  Why don't I do these things more?  Like many, I was sucked up into the rat race of life and ended up spending the majority of my time doing things I wasn't made to do.  Not bad things, just not things that I was made to do.  Square peg in round hole.  Realization is a good thing.  Praise God for realization.  Psalm 139 says He knits us together in the womb. This means He fashions each of us with loves, passions, talents and gifts that are unique to us.  They are given to us to use to edify the church (Ephesians 2:10).  I will find such joy in doing the things I am made to do, especially when I am glorifying God while doing those very things.  Spend your time doing what you love.  
• I learned that I am stubborn.  I had to revisit some of the same life experiences over and over again until I got it right.  The Lord is so patient and persistent - Thank You, Jesus.  
• I learned that I am loved.  Tremendously, unconditionally and uniquely, by my Savior Jesus Christ.  He has a plan for my life.  I never missed the boat.  I just had to let go of any sin in my life and surrender.  Surrender is a big thing - We must surrender if we want His best.  Our view of God is very convoluted until surrender is accomplished.  We cannot hear Him clearly and we have an incredibly difficult time discerning His will (and His Word) minus surrender.  Too much of ourselves wrapped up in the equation to fully hear Him alone.   
• I learned that there is blessing in obedience.  I looked back at the times of intense obedience in my life and I saw intense blessing.  I do not want to live outside of obedience.  Not because of blessing (though it is a direct result), but because that is the absolute safest and best place to be.  I want to know I am pleasing my Father, and I want that to stem out of sacrificial and humble love for Him.  For who He is and what He has done in my life.  I want to give back.  I want to serve Him. Obey even when it hurts.  There is consequence for not.  
• I learned that some seasons are meant for purging.  We just went through one.  I learned that it's good to let go of the things I don't need sometimes.  It feels good.  It is freeing.  
• I learned that healing and forgiveness comes only from God.  There is no other substitute.  True and complete healing is found at the feet of Jesus.  
• I learned that my identity is found in Him.  Nothing or no one else will ever complete me the way He does.  
• I learned that looking back is no longer painful.  Thinking about past failures or challenges can be painful, but when you're truly healed, there is joy in knowing you've been set free.    

Wow.  That's all I can say.  

Go sit at Panera.  Write your own timeline.  And for everyone's sake - Please get coffee instead of green tea ... :) 

Stay Alert

My devotion from Jesus Calling this morning read the following:

Let me help you get through this day.  There are many possible paths to travel between your getting up in the morning and your lying down at night.  Stay alert to the many choice-points along the way, being continually aware of my Presence.

I have struggled lately to find time for everything.  I was convicted this morning as I prayed "Lord, please help me to find time to fit everything in," that what I really needed to pray was "Lord, please help me to focus on the things that are most important."  

Haven't you heard it said: What you spend your time doing, is what you will become ?    

What are you spending your time doing?  

"For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He watches all his paths."

(Proverbs 5:21)

Scripture is telling us that we will be held accountable for how we spend our time.  Our ways are before Him.  He is pleased when we are disciplined in our daily activities, duties, and callings!  

Just a quick word this morning - Possibly one that you didn't need, but I sure did!

Jesus, Thank You for Your Word.  We know, according to 1 Timothy 3:16 that all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.  Please help us today to stay alert ... To choose to focus our attention on the things that are most important - both the mundane things and the extraordinary things.  I pray that our daily discipline can become a beautiful offering to You, Father.  May the reality that Your eyes are always upon us, strengthen and encourage us to focus our attention on the things You have called us to this very day.   

Walking with Purpose

"Surely every man walks about like a shadow;

Surely they busy themselves in vain."

Psalm 39:6

My check list was three pages long today.  Yikes.  Most of this stuff has just piled up over the past few weeks and last night I couldn't take it any longer so I started a list.  A list that went on ... and on ... and on.  I opened my Bible this morning to the above verse and it struck me with such force.  I was captivated by Spurgeon's commentary on this specific verse.  He says: 

Life is but a passing pageant.  Worldly men walk like travelers in a mirage, deluded, soon to be filled with disappointment and despair.  Men fret, and fume, and worry, and all for mere nothing.  Read well this text, and then listen  to the clamor of the market, the hum of the exchange, the din of the city streets, and remember that all this noise (for so the word means) is made about unsubstantial, fleeting vanities. (The Crossway Commentaries, Psalms Vol 1, 160)

Let's not fail to notice that Spurgeon says that worldly men walk in this manner.

I took this Scripture to the next level, applying it to myself as a sort of challenge: As a believer and follower of Christ, am I walking in a manner that resembles worldly men?  Or in a manner that resembles Christ my King?  

"Surely every man walks about like a shadow ..."

The NIV translates this "like a mere phantom."  I believe the psalmist is referring to people who walk around with no purpose. 

Sometimes as believers we can get very caught up in "finding our purpose."  I am a huge advocate of believers operating in the area of their giftedness - In fact, I am absolutely ecstatic about this.  I believe Psalm 139 and Ephesians 2:10 and 1 Corinthians 12 testify to God's unique and creative hand print on each and every one of us.  However, at times we can get so caught up in "finding our purpose" that we forget who we were created by and for - We forget that He IS our purpose.

People who do not know God have great reason to walk around purposeless.  As believers, we do not! We should not just identify with Jesus, but find our identity in Him.

"For in Him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth,

visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities;

all things have been created through Him and for Him."

(Colossians 1:16) 

"... Surely they busy themselves in vain."

There are specific times in my life that I can recall when I wasted much precious time.  It is extremely sad for me to think back on those times.  I allowed vain distractions to stand in the way of God's best.  I wasted time busying myself with things that had no eternal value, when I could have been serving God with my time. 

When we busy ourselves in vain, it is for our benefit and not God's.  We have ourselves in mind.

Getting caught up in ourselves and in our own circumstances is a trap.  It keeps us inactive and unproductive for the work of God.  I truly believe this.  This is why time after time in Scripture we are called to humble ourselves before God for His Kingdom use.  This is why we are given godly examples of people in Scripture who asked for more of God and less of themselves.  Because in our flesh, we are destined for dissatisfaction and utter despair.  We have to begin to see ourselves as the tool God uses.  My sweet pastor often says that there are two types of people: those who believe God is here for them, and those who believe they are here for God.  Which one are you?  

Are you walking around aimless and in despair?  Are you wasting precious time worrying, fretting and venting about your current circumstances?

Or are you using every opportunity to bring God glory through your daily life?  Are you walking with purpose, even on those days when the "to do list" is 3 pages long?

To sum it up: Your life matters.  Resemble your Creator, and not this world.

Be encouraged, sweet friend, to walk with purpose.    

An Anchor for the Soul

"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 

where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf."

Hebrews 6:19-20

A friend and I were discussing just the other afternoon that we believe many Christians have a difficult time taking God at His Word.   We are missing the point when we make it our goal to take pieces and parts of the Bible and incorporate them into our daily lives, rather than basing our lives as a whole upon every word out of the mouth of God.  When you and I pick apart Scripture at our leisure, we dangerously enter into a roller-coaster mentality of circumstantial faith.

Scripture does not at any point suggest that we base our faith on circumstances.  Instead, it demands that we put our hope in God - the God of the Bible.  I am convinced that if more Christians got to know our God through the reading and study of the Bible, we would experience an increase of faith - the added measure we all may be secretly hoping and praying for.

Hebrews 6:13-20 is a beautiful depiction of God's desire for us as believers: that our hope would be deeply rooted in faith.  A faith that is firm and secure.  And this kind of faith - the kind that is intertwined into our being, into our soul.  I am going to type it out just in case you don't have your Bible near, as I believe it is important for us to see it in context.  Here it is in the New American Standard version:

For when God made the promise to Abraham, since He could swear by no one greater, He swore by Himself saying, "I will surely bless you, and I will surely multiply you." And thus, having waited, he obtained the promise.

For men swear by one greater than themselves, and with them an oath given as confirmation is an end of every dispute.  

In the same way God, desiring even more to show to the heirs of the promise the unchangeableness of His purpose, interposed with an oath, in order than by the two unchangeable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we may have strong encouragement, we who have fled for refuge in laying hold of the hope set before us.

This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 6:13-20, NASB)   

Do you think it is interesting that the writer of Hebrews reverts back to the issue of faith in order to support his reasoning for trusting God for security?  This is why, ladies: Because when you and I can be reminded of a promise of God that was both fulfilled and carried out - especially after a long period of waiting - it acts as evidence for us that our hope is not in vain.  It acts as evidence for us that our God is exceedingly abundantly able (Ephesians 3:20) and that we are absolutely foolish to place our hope in anything or anyone other than Him!    

We often get caught up in placing our security in the wrong things or people, don't we?  Even good things and good people.  Some of us place our security in our finances and jobs.  Others place their security in spouses, in circumstances, in other people.  Here is the point: None of this - not even the best things - are worthy of our security.  None of these things we place our security in, are strong enough to uphold our expectations.  

Scripture says that we have a hope that is an anchor for our soul - a hope that is sure and steadfast, that is firm and secure.  This anchor is stable.  It will not fail or waver.  It is immovable.  It is an anchor on which we can rely.  Did you get that?  

Our hope in Jesus in an anchor for our soul.  And this hope we speak of is founded and based on Jesus Christ, therefore He is all these things: He is sure, steadfast. He is firm and secure.  He is immovable.  He is stable.  He will not fail or waver.  He will not let us down.

Knowing this, how we can ever consider it a wise investment to place our hope in anything else but Jesus?  

God is calling us, as women of the Word, to rise up and place our security in Him.  He is asking us to trust and believe Him to fulfill His promises in our lives.  Even when it's hard. Even when it's crazy.  Even when we're alone in the waiting.  [Side note: Don't you think Abraham felt alone as he awaited the fulfillment of the promise of God?] 

But here is the thing:  We cannot have faith in someone we do not know.  Once we know the God of the Bible - know His character - we have no excuse not to trust the Lord Jesus.  Absolutely no excuse.  So this is where it begins: We have to begin to understand and know His character.  The more we understand the character of God, the greater our faith should  increase, abound and overflow, until our hope is fully based alone on His ability (more of Him, less of us) and we find ourselves secure believers!

Wait on him, dear sister: With hopeful expectation that He will act on your behalf.  Your security could not possibly rest in a more excellent place.  

Thank You, Jesus, for Your Word.  It is Life.  It inspires, convicts, redeems, and blesses.  Thank You for the encouragement we find in Your Word.  The more we know of Your character - how firm and secure You are - the greater our faith will increase.  

Let's go show a lost and broken world that there is a hope that is an anchor for the soul ...

Whose name is Jesus.

Established

"He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,

out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a Rock,

and established my steps."

Psalm 40:2

I have found myself captivated lately by the reality that God establishes our steps.   

To establish means to make firm or stable.   

The above Scripture was one I was led to a few nights ago while praying through some things.  

Just today, I was led to another verse that also touched on the concept of being established.  

"The steps of a man are established by the Lord;

And He delights in his way."

Psalm 37:23

Spurgeon says the following in reference to this particular Scripture: All his course of life is graciously ordained, and in lovingkindness all is fixed.  No fickle chance rules us; every step is the subject of divine decree (Psalms, Vol I, 149).

Is anyone else totally blown away by this reality?  We can trust that He has ordained, fashioned, and purposed our days.  

That's it for today.  Just a quick thought, but one I didn't feel should go unmentioned.  

Thank you, Jesus, that we can rest knowing that nothing in life happens by chance.

You have ordained, fashioned, and purposed our days.

In You ... We are established.

Sitting Alone

"The LORD is good to those who wait on Him,

to the person who seeks Him.

It is good that he waits silently for the salvation of the LORD.

Let him sit alone and be silent since He has laid it on him."

Lamentations 3:25-26, 28

To wait.  To expect.  To hope for.  Common expressions ... Heavy concepts.  

I have found myself in a waiting period lately.  Contrary to other seasons of waiting however, this one has invited a distinct peace to accompany it.  Odd.  Good [and appreciated], but definitely not normal.  I often experience an intense longing during periods of waiting, and the longing this time has in some instances been stronger than ever, but the waiting has been sweet.  And peaceful.  

One thing I have learned during this particular season of waiting is how acceptable it is to sit alone in the silence.  To be absolutely comfortable walking this "waiting" with Jesus and Him alone.  I haven't felt the need to convince others in my life of God's plan or been driven to ask for their advice, though I have been blessed by it when their wisdom has been rooted in Scripture.

[Side Note: Be careful to not take the advice of anyone and everyone in your life.  Be discerning and ask yourself if that particular person who just gave you advice is in the Word or not. If not, be weary of basing your decisions on their advice. Just felt led to say that today.] 

Rather, I have been able to confidently share when given the opportunity that I am at ease in the waiting.  I do not say this pridefully as I have mentioned - this is not typical.  Ha!  God knows, I have at previous times been a total basketcase during these seasons, always wanting to know what is next on His agenda for my life.  

But today I have resolved to be OK in the waiting.  Because today ... 

I am enjoying the silence ... the seeking ... 

and the sitting alone.        

Tomorrow

"And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together."

Colossians 1:17

It's sad how much time we spend worrying over tomorrow, isn't it?  Jesus knew that this would be a struggle, even for believers.  Open your Bible and you will see written in red letters, straight from the mouth of Jesus:

"Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself.  

Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:34)

On our own strength, this is impossible ... But take a look at the verse directly before:

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; 

and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:33)

When you and I seek Jesus - when seeking Him becomes our our priority, our focus, and our norm - we begin to trust Him in a way that is completely contrary to our human mind and strength.  

We are told in Scripture that our times are in His hands (Psalm 31:15), that He ordains the details of our lives (Psalm 139:16), and that we can trust Him to accomplish or perfect the things which concern us (Psalm 138:8).  

Jesus is already ahead of us, paving the way for whatever is around the corner.  You and I have the unbelievable privilege of being a part of this process - We just have to seek Him.  And we do that by reading His Word, praying to Him, and asking the Spirit of God to lead us.  I continue to be blessed and encouraged by knowing that regardless of what is happening in my today, He is already ahead of me ...

Standing in my tomorrow.  

Freedom from fear

"And the LORD is the One who goes ahead of you;

He will be with you.  He will not fail or forsake you.

Do not fear or be dismayed."

(Deuteronomy 31:8)

I have been faced with a hard realization over the past several days.  It has been frustrating, humiliating, saddening ... while at the same time, extremely monumental.  For whatever reason, now is the time God has chosen to cause me to look back.  To look back over the many things in my life that have not happened as I thought they would.  He caused me to look back over missed opportunities, lost desire, and all-out moments of giving up.  

And then He revealed to me why some of these things happened.

Because in some instances ... I chose to give fear the upper hand.

Fear of failure.  Fear of being let down.  Fear of defeat.  Fear that I hadn't really heard Him.  Fear that I would make a fool out of myself.  And so on ... 

I want to be very careful to explain something.  God is not causing me to look back on these realizations so that I will succumb to a life of defeat and regret.  Instead, He is causing me to look back so that I will choose today to victoriously move forward in faith, purging fear to the wayside.  This is how I believe we know it is Him doing the prodding in our spirit.  Because He does not bring our failures or moments of disbelief to our minds to cause us to sink into a pit of discouragement and destruction.  Rather, He does this with the motive of Ephesians 1:18-20 in mind ... To build us up!

"I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.  These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places."  

God uses His Word to build us up that we may have the courage to walk confidently in the direction He is calling us.  He desires us to cling to Him for our courage, believing that He will provide the strength we need when our hearts desire is to obey Him.  The kind of obedience that ultimately turns the attention away from ourselves and shines light on His life-changing Power.  When we realize that truly is what His calling on our lives is all about, we will experience an immense amount of freedom ...     

Freedom from fear.  

For His Name's Sake

"He restores my soul;

He guides me in the paths of righteousness, for His Name's sake."

(Psalm 23:3)

I have been slowly reading through the book of Joshua.  One thing I have learned in my study so far that has been monumental for me: When God chooses to use mankind to carry out His plan, the end result is always to bring others to look to Him as Lord.  

In Joshua chapter 3, God gives Joshua specific instruction to pass along to the priests who were appointed to carry the ark of the covenant across/through the Jordan River.  The LORD says to Joshua in Joshua 3:8:

"You shall, moreover, command the priests 

who are carrying the ark of the covenant, saying, 

'When you come to the edge of the waters of the Jordan, 

you shall stand still in the Jordan.' "

Scripture goes on to tell us in Joshua 3:15 that the Jordan overflows all its banks all the days of the harvest.  I think we need to understand that this task was no walk in the park.  God was calling His people to believe Him for great measures.  This was a dangerous task - Without God's power and provision this would have been an impossible feat.  But Israel had the power of God backing them and with Him, the task was possible:

"And the priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD 

stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan 

while all Israel crossed on dry ground, 

until all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan."

(Joshua 3:17)

But the story is not complete yet.  Scripture goes on to say that the Lord spoke to Joshua telling him to choose twelve men from the people, one man from each tribe of Israel.  Each man was to collect one stone from the middle of the Jordan where the priests were standing and carry it back to their lodging place.  

"Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying,

'What do these stones mean to you?' then you shall say to them,

'Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before 

the ark of the covenant of the LORD; 

when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.' 

So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever."

(Joshua 4:6-7)

Joshua left the men of Israel with a charge to tell the next generation of the faithfulness of their God ...

"that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty,

so that you may fear the LORD your God forever."

(Joshua 4:24)

I think sometimes we get caught up in what God can do for us.  And once He does it, we close the book.   But God does not intend the story to be over there.  He has a reason for accomplishing His purposes in and through our lives.  And it certainly does not end with us!  

I felt Psalm 23:3 went hand-in-hand with this challenge: "He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness, for His Name's sake."

You know this verse. You've likely recited it a thousand times.  But have you stopped to think about this one part ... For His Name's sake?  What does this truly mean to us?  

The interesting thing is that these four short words - For His Name's sake - really should be the goal, the ambition, the desired grand finale of our entire lives as believers. 

Every single task God calls us to believe Him for ... Every single failure that God has turned into a victory ... Every single moment of unbelief turned into belief ... Every single sin He has redeemed us from ... Every single rag He has turned to riches ... Every single filth He has made clean ... Every single stain He has washed ... Every single promise He has fulfilled ... And every single impossibility He has made possible ... Are all opportunities to make His Name Great.  

And so I guess today, I am just reflective and mindful of the fact that He has indeed restored my soul.  Keenly aware that just as He led the Israelites, He desires to lead my life.  And that He has a purpose in doing so - A purpose in His leading.  A purpose that absolutely does not end with me.  In fact, it's not about me at all.  It's about making His Name Great.  

Lord, thank You for Your Word.  It is so humbling.  Remind us that when You choose to use us to carry out Your plan, the end result is always to bring others to know You as Lord.  

Allow our lives to be a reflection of Yours, to a lost world ...

For Your Name's sake.  And not our own.

Radical Obedience

"And these words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart;

And you shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them 
when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you 
lie down and when you rise up.  And you shall bind them as a sign on your hand and 
they shall be as frontals on your forehead.  And you shall write them on the 
doorposts of your house and on your gates."

(Deuteronomy 6:6-9)

I am sitting on the couch in the living room and I have the baby monitor on the coffee table, volume turned up.  I am worshipping to the baby monitor.  

Huh???

Yep.  You heard right.  Hamilton has been falling asleep to a baby praise album that I downloaded to his little [pink -- I know, my husband is not a fan of the color] iPod.  It was however, a hand-me-down, so he is proud of me for using all my resources.  I've come a long way [grin].  

I am loving the hallelujahs, names of Jesus, and promises of God my sweet baby boy is falling asleep to.  As He sleeps, I find myself praying those things over his precious life.  And I find myself becoming intensely inspired to make the Word of God something that Hamilton grows up familiar with.  

A friend of mine shared with me the other day about the projects she has completed recently so that she can make Scripture more easily displayed throughout her home. She is taking God at His Word - Applying Scripture to her every day life and obeying the call in Deuteronomy chapter 6 to write God's words down and hang them on the walls of her home.

A few months ago I overheard someone say, "The only thing you want in life is to see your children happy." I have thought about this several times since I heard that comment. I mean, really thought about it. And this is my conclusion: This is an unrealistic expectation. Our children [my children] are not always going to be happy. In fact, there will be many difficulties ahead. Their lives will never go without struggle, and because of that, there will undoubtedly be times when they are not feeling or appearing happy. Hearing that comment has caused me to do some deep self-evaluation. What is it that I wish for Hamilton?

I long to see him walk in obedience. Radical obedience. The kind that forsakes comfort, logic and sometimes even momentary happiness if necessary.

So tonight, as he sleeps peacefully in our home and hears the hallelujahs, names of Jesus, and promises of God on his baby praise album, I will sit right here and pray. Pray for his future - that God will instill in his heart an insatiable appetite for obedience. And that I would not for one day, fail to speak the name of Jesus into his life. That I would actively practice and commit to Deuteronomy 6:6-8 in our home -- teaching and talking of His goodness every opportunity I am given. Being fully aware that without the power of Jesus, this too is a very unrealistic expectation.

Thank You Lord, for Your Word. May my desire for You increase so much that I cannot bear to go one single day without speaking Your goodness and Truth to the next generation. That I would desire - more than comfort, logic and sometimes even momentary happiness - radical obedience.

"With my mouth I will give thanks abundantly to the Lord; 

And in the midst of many I will praise Him." (Psalm 110:30)

Lavished

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 

who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world,

that we should be holy and blameless  before Him.  

In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to himself, 

according to the kind intention of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace,

which He freely bestowed on us in the Beloved.

In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses,

according to the riches of His grace, which He lavished upon us.

In all wisdom and insight, He made known to us the mystery of His will,

according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him."

(Ephesians 1:4-9)

Our pastor challenged us this morning to ask ourselves the following question:  

Who am I?

He spoke about how our identity is directly linked to our destiny. How we have been chosen ... adopted ... blessed. That long before creation, God chose us. He sent Jesus as a means of adopting us as sons and daughters into His family. And through Jesus, we have been blessed with everything for a life of godliness. But it doesn't end there.

1 Peter 2:9 says: "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into marvelous light." 

We have been chosen, adopted and blessed to make the glories of the King known. These words hit home with me: Our identity is to make known God's Identity!

I left being so overwhelmed by His grace. So thankful to Jesus for choosing me, adopting me, and for blessing me. I left praising Him that I am not who I used to be. Amen and glory to God. I left desiring more than anything ... to be known by my love for Him ... to be identified by Him. 

Too good to not share. 

Praising God this evening for the riches of His grace ... That have been totally and completely lavished upon me.

And because of that ... I can confidently answer the question posed by my pastor this morning.  This is who I am:

I am Chosen. I am Adopted. And I am Blessed.

The Delight of my Heart

"Thy words were found and I ate them,

And Thy words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart;

For I have been called by Thy Name, O Lord God of hosts."

(Jeremiah 15:16, NASB)

God called Jeremiah to deliver a hard message to His people.  Jeremiah - like many of us when God calls us to do something - felt completely insufficient and ill-equipped.  He was called to a task that was much bigger than himself.  A task that was far beyond his ability.

When I think of people being called by God to accomplish a specific task, I think of surrendered humility.  I think of someone like Jeremiah who said:

“Alas, Sovereign LORD,” I said, “I do not know how to speak; I am too young” (Jeremiah 1:6).  

I think of someone who, like Jeremiah, was able to hide his insufficiency behind the ALL-Sufficiency of the God Most High:

But the LORD said to me, “Do not say, ‘I am too young.’ You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the LORD.

Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "I have put my words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant" (Jeremiah 1:7-10).

What I love about certain biblical figures is their ability to utterly forsake their own agendas and pride and completely rely on the power given to them by Almighty God.

Our pride, arrogance, and boasting (in ourselves) grosses Him out.

I memorized the above Scripture verse yesterday (Jeremiah 15:16).  I recited it so many times that I believe my little 6-month-old thought I had lost my mind.  I paced his room over and over speaking this Word aloud.  And this is why:

Because I do not ever want to forget that there is power in the Word of God.  When I found the Word - when I truly made the effort to know God through His Word - He gave me an intense appetite for His Truth.  As my appetite for His Word increased, it became for me ... the delight of my heart.

God's Word did not magically become the delight of Jeremiah's heart.  He had to listen to It ... he had to reflect on It ... he had to allow It to transform His mission.  Too often we operate under the assumption that God's Word only transforms some people's lives.  That God only gifts some people with the ability to understand His precepts.  This is the lie that the enemy wants us to believe in order to keep us totally ineffective to a lost world.

Have you gone to His Word for guidance and instruction?  Do you believe there is power in the Word of God?  Are you seeing this power demonstrated in your life as a believer?

God desires His Word to become the delight of our heart.