June 14, 2009

Yes is Easier to Say Than No

I’ve been in a real growth curve lately; one that has been extremely humbling I must say.  God is up to His transforming thing, trying His best to make me in His image (I can’t believe He hasn’t given up yet.)  And I’ve been dragging my feet.  But, life started pounding on me again and as such, I’ve had less energy to fight.  In this apathetic weariness, I’m a learning a big lesson.  It’s easier to work with God than against Him, I’m finding out. Silly me for thinking likewise huh.

Whenever I’ve chatted with a few people about this recent revelation of mine, everyone always points to last Christmas’ Jim Carrey movie, YES MAN.  Yeah, I saw the movie and it had some poignant moments.  But, I love how the movie starts out telling us that the first word we learn is No.  How true is that! And why is that?

Here’s the trailer for the movie.

Saying yes is so much more freeing than saying No.  With the No’s eventually comes guilt.  When you are invited somewhere and you say no, you have to provide a valid reason.  Therefore, you make up something rather than just say you want to stay home.  Or by saying No, you wonder if they will ever ask you again.  I find it so ironic that I think that I can control my life by the decisions I make by saying yes or no.  Like I really have a say.

My life is God’s. Always has been and always will be.  And thank goodness for that.  If he didn’t know everything about me and wasn’t there guiding me,  I have no idea what predicament I might be in.  I can think of a few doozies where I would be if He didn’t keep me on a short leash.

I mean like right now – I can’t control friends or boyfriends.  There are few people I think would be perfect for me, but apparently not for things would be much easier.  So I have to accept that He knows best.  Or my perfect job.  There are many things I think I could be doing right now to change the world, but He wants me someplace else.  Or that there are some ways I could be assisting more in church, but the windows haven’t opened yet.

It’s not that I’m not seeing Him or knowing that He’s not guiding me.  I definitely know He is at this time.  He’s just doing another major cleaning – spring cleaning – and I’m getting a much needed scrubbing.  And I welcome it.  For with each day, my soul is growing more warmer, peaceful and more understanding and loving.

He knows that I am a do’er. I like building and organizing and helping.  But, right now, He hasn’t called me to do that.  He wants me to stop my activities and start to listen to Him.  He wants me to observe how He is present in my life every day and look for the treasures and people He is putting right in front me.  He wants me to interact with those crossing my path and stop having me beat my head against the wall with others whom I’ve been pursuing.  His way is best and I’m starting to say yes instead of no.

In my mid-week Bible Study, my pastor handed me out a sheet of paper that listed all the things that I can’t do.  The top two were the facts that I can’t control things or nor people. Only myself.  I so get it.

Can I turn the economy around? No.  Can I get all my friends jobs? No.  Can I guarantee that everyone will have perfect medical check-ups? No.  Etc. Etc.

I can change my attitude.  I can pray for the country and the world.  I can observe who and what he is putting in my path and be thankful instead of regretful.  I can turn it all over to Him.  I can say “yes” instead of “no.”

How about you?

Replace Your Name with Jim's....And is this What You Look Like When You Say Yes

Replace Your Name with Jim's....And is this What You Look Like When You Say Yes

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May 15, 2009

I’ll Be There

Sometimes you just have to go through rough patches

Sometimes you just have to go through rough patches

Lately I have been struggling through everything it appears.  The smooth ride isn’t something that I’ve been experiencing lately, my roads are full of potholes, detours and speed bumps.  Although, my life isn’t just like candy and roses, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. For it’s through these times that I experience my most growth and His Word is ever so true.

(From James 1:2-7) Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7  

Tossed by the wind. You betcha.  Down but not downtrodden. That too.  Dark and gloomy.  I wailed and He heard my cry.

Although, the journey I’m on is in rough waters, I’m not seasick.  I have waves that come over me, but if I remember his Word and lean on Him, focusing my eyes on Jesus – He balances me out and restores my soul.

Just last night as I was unable to sleep, I picked up my bible and God presented me with this from Psalm 107:

Some sat in darkness and the deepest gloom,  prisoners suffering in iron chains, 11 for they had rebelled against the words of God  and despised the counsel of the Most High.

 12 So he subjected them to bitter labor;
       they stumbled, and there was no one to help.

 13 Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble,
       and he saved them from their distress.

 14 He brought them out of darkness and the deepest gloom  and broke away their chains.

 15 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love
       and his wonderful deeds for men, 16 for he breaks down gates of bronze  and cuts through bars of iron.

 

Freedom

Freedom

Do I hear a chorus of Amens!  So let this post be a little reminder for you. When you appear at your darkest moments, don’t remember one small simple thing – cry out to God and He will hear your cry and will cut through what’s not humanly possible.

God is so Good.  And then you fall sound asleep and get up ready to start the new day navigating rough waters and bumps in the road.

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February 16, 2009

Son’where Over the Rainbow

God Knows Just What We Need

God Knows Just What We Need

For a holiday weekend, it was a bit dreary in Southern California.  However, for those celebrating a day with their loved ones on Saturday, it as bright and sunny.  But for me…it was a interesting weekend, good times with friends mixed with time mulling things over with God. God and I are on an interesting growth journey at the moment. I guess it’s more like a pruning time. He’s clipping off or attempting to clip off old thinking that isn’t needed anymore. Amen.

Today was a day full of rain…it came down hard and in some places it hailed. But by early evening, the skies were blue and the cloud’s were the puffiest I have ever seen. And then I had a wonderful surprise. There was a rainbow.

Isn’t it just like God knowing that his child needed a pick me up. I haven’t seen a rainbow in years and there it was as big as the sky.  It was centered over our town’s Christian College. A perfect setting.

I believe that the rainbow was put there just for me. I needed to be reminded that God is in control and can take care of whatever is in our way. He keeps his promises.

I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.  Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. Gen 9:13-15

I’ve got some pretty heavy stuff I’m wrestling with as I’m sure you do too. But God has promised that it won’t destroy us again. And that we can endure our trials – they are never too much.

So then why do they feel like they are too much?

He’s already won the battle, but it doesn’t stop Satan from prowling around us and making us feel like it’s going to destroy us.  So flee Satan. We resist you. We’ve got a Father who paints the sky for us and who moves heaven and earth.

Rainbows are beautiful things. It was a wonderful gift today and I hope that you get to see one soon.

(Photo credit: Amelia PS from Flickr)

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January 25, 2009

Just Call Me An Israelite

I love how God finds numerous ways to make the same point with me.  He knows that He has to, because, he knows that’s how we humans operate. We find ourselves living our lives in a circular fashion.  We keep making the same mistakes and keep to similar behaviors and thank goodness he understands that and has for centuries!

He has been hitting me over the head with this reality of late – that He can be trusted no matter how whiny we are – or ungrateful we are – or how anxious we are. He is used to it. He is one man whose patience should be admired.

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This has all come about because I’m reading Exodus at the moment and as reader I’m blown away at how the Israelites had the nerve to ask anything more of God, let alone complain again after he freed them from slavery and parted the Red Sea. But, seven days later, they complained about their living conditions. And aren’t we just the same.  I know I am.

God has delivered and protected me every day of my life. He knows everything about me and yet, I get anxious that he’s not taking care of something in my life. Doubt. Fear. Sin. They all come back even though He has parted “Red Seas” in my life.  I hope that one day I get to a point when I don’t have to complain or beg for something from Him.

And if that wasn’t enough He gave me a great mental image as I drove to church. A dad was teaching his young son how to ride a bicycle without training wheels.  I wish you all could have seen the young boy’s face. It was full of emotion. He was determined to learn and was eager to succeed and he had the biggest smile. It was the picture of poor joy. It also brought into my mind the lines from Psalm 23, specifically verse 4

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,

I will not be afraid,

for you are close beside me.

God, Our Father, Always Has a Hold On Us.

God, Our Father, Always Has a Hold On Us.

Yes, that’s our Father there. Holding on to the back of our bikes always. He knows we are wobbly and are of need of Him every moment of our lives.  We may think we’re cruising along fine, but he’s there to make sure we stay on the right path.  And if when we fall, he immediately picks us up. He’s there…do you feel him right now.  Are you letting Him guide you?

“Dear Father, we lift up our wobbly lives to you. Lord, thank you for steering us down paths of righteousness and protecting us from Satan’s ways. Thank you for holding on to us and help us to remember to look back and see that it’s you and not us that deserves all the glory.” Amen.

flickr Photo Credits: Parting of the Red Tulips (LaserGuided); Teach Your Children Well (Auntsmack4u)

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January 19, 2009

Why Did I Say That?

Not Sure If I Say The Right Things.

Not Sure If I Say The Right Things.

As I’m reading through the Bible in the year again, I am amazed how even though I’ve read these chapters dozens of times before God still has a unique and poignant message for me every day. Today’s read blew me away again and touched upon one of my hidden insecurities and in case this is one of your’s too I wanted to share it with you.

I always think that I could say things better. I could be nicer with my words. I could have more tact. I could have been more eloquent. I could have been more concise, informative, clearer.  If you can see where this is going…you can tell that I just can’t win with myself and this issue. I feel I could always have done better and my choice of words were wrong.

But hallelujah, as I read from Exodus 4 this morning, God gave me scripture to help me gain freedom in this area. This particular passage is about Moses. God appeared to him through a burning bush and told him all sorts of things.  He also presented him with miracles that he wanted him to perform in front of Israel’s elders.  But, Moses, kept coming up with excuses on why or how he couldn’t do any of the things God asked. (I’ve been there too Moses.)

Well, after God was done instructing Moses, Moses had one more retort. He pleaded with the Lord that he was not very good with words. (Me too Moses.) And here’s the freedom.

Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.” Ex 4:11-12

“I will be with you as you speak.” Ahhhh. Those were soothing words to my soul. He’s got everything covered my friends. Even before we’re ready to ask for them.

God is SO good. He is with us Always.

(Photo credit: Mikko Reinikainen, Flickr)

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January 17, 2009

The Next Great Worldly Hope

Obama in Wynnewood, 2008

Pray for our New President Daily!

I’m so glad I was not called to be President-Elect Barack Obama right now. He has the weight of the world, literally, on his shoulders as he gets sworn into office on Tuesday. I mean, everyone, whether they say it or not is putting hope in him to turn the economic tide around.  My neighbors, my family, my state, other countries and even me to some extent.

In my head, I know there’s only so much one man or a government can do in month, a year…even four years.  The impossible is only possible through God who can do all things. And yes, for President-Elect Obama he needs a miracle.

So if you’re reading this blog, I hope that you are a prayerful person and if so, please start including our new President in your daily prayers.  No one has stepped into such a situation as this before except FDR in the 30’s. That was an awfully long time ago.

President-Elect Obama is merely a man. He’s not Superman, but he’s accepted his calling to be our leader and he should be applauded. It’s rare for a person to want to take on an enormous challenge knowing that there’s tremendous strain and downside.

I’ve been reading about Joseph of late and what struck me was the jealousy and disdain his brothers had for him at an early age.  Have you noticed that this life of ours never presents non-conflict even in what should be our safest environments — our families.

But, if you are an American our new president is now part of our family.  We may not agree with him, but we need to support him.  He’s got a tough road ahead and could use daily prayer as he accepts where God is leading him each day.

So pray without ceasing.

God Bless and happy birthday Sister Face!

Random Fact: My sister’s birthday is the same as Michelle Obama’s and my birthday is the same as Barack’s. Too funny huh.

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January 11, 2009

Economic Times

I have been hearing a similar message lately – and I wonder if you are too.  This message, although it comes to me via so many different ways, is the same. God is in the midst and He’s holding us through. This may just be a message that God wants me to understand for yes, it is one that I need to, but I bet pulpits worldwide are singing the same tune due to the economic times . For these times that we’re in are like no other. Even our President-Elect is warning us of them. So much for thinking 2009 will be better than 2008.

The Lord is Our Shepherd

The Lord is Our Shepherd

But, for us Christians, is that even a care? Does the date or the circumstance matter? Yes, our prayers change, but God doesn’t. He treats us the same as He did from the day we were born to tomorrow. As church pointed out today, there’s no problem God can’t handle nor provide a solution. And yet, I sit here and worry and fret and wish I knew my future.

But I do know my future. One day I will face Jesus Christ one-on-one and bare my soul to Him and I hope/pray that he has one of the kindest moments of his life at that time and he says come on through. I want to hear him say that He forgives this dear child for all the times I didn’t listen or turned my back on Him or just plain forgot him.

Even though my head knows that God has a grasp on me it’s statements like these from the Wall St. Journal that do bring me woe.

Mr. Obama suggested that he was flexible about the economic-recovery plan, and that he was willing to consider ideas proposed by lawmakers from both parties. But he also cited projections that four million U.S. jobs could be lost this year, on top of the 2.5 million positions lost in 2008. “The sooner a recovery and reinvestment package is in place, the sooner we can start turning the economy around,” Mr. Obama said.

I am hopeful to be gainfully employed this year, but I do think it will be a bit messy (meaning I will have to come up with some creative measures for employment.) These times are like we have never seen and the only thing we can cling to is our dear Shepherd who never loses one of his sheep.

God I pray you hold us all tight as our world turns topsy-turvey. May more turn to you for sustenance and realize that our safety is in your hands.

Hold tight. He’s got a firm grasp on you. Be sure to squeeze his hand back. I need to remember this too.

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December 30, 2008

What’s The Big Deal?

Just Deal With It

Just Deal With It

Lately, I’m realizing people do not like to deal with things, especially when they involve others.  I mean one can run or ignore the issues with the hopes they will just go away, but they seldom do.  People would rather sit in their same stew until they just can’t take it anymore and as a result, there’s some blow up. What a crazy cycle.

I guess I’m writing about this because I’m reflecting on the start of a new year. And in my life, some realities that I have to deal with are going to spill over into this bright shiny 2009.  For instance, I’m leaving 2008 unemployed and entering it the same way. I have to deal with that.

I also have a few aches and pains that I’ve been hoping will magically disappear, but they’re not. So I have to deal with those consequences.

I am much better at dealing with issues and conflicts now than I ever was. It was a long road to get here, but I do believe in direct communication and discussing the tough stuff. It’s so much easier living in reality than tip toeing around.

I am always baffled when I hear of family members not speaking honestly toward their loved ones. I mean they tell their friends about something they disagree with about a family member, but are afraid to confront that person themselves. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather take criticism from a loved one than anyone else.

I am a patient person and understand that some things are tough to get over. But, how does whining about something ever make it better. I sometime want to tell others if they just talked it through with the other person it could get resolved. But, I guess everything has its time and place. I am really trying hard to not “whine” too much about the economy. People know my situation and are praying for me. And it’s all in God’s hands.

My prayers for those of you who have issues that need to be dealt with that you don’t want to deal with is that you trust God. I’m starting to do that and although these “deal points” are painful, they become much lighter once addressed with God. I don’t know why I forget to add him to the picture.

Is there any other way?

Is there any other way?

If you are like me, there’s a ton of uncertainly ahead. But, if I focus on that point I can find myself with a despairing attitude.  But, with God alongside me, the sadness lifts and hope shines through.

My prayer this year for myself is for courage to “deal” with my issues. I need to put God in the midst of them and lay them at his feet.  I boldly pray that I face them instead of run from them with the knowledge and trust that God is taking care of me every day.

So if God’s there – is there any deal in your life that is ever too big?

Let’s start dealing with the issues before us…do more leaning than whining…more loving than gossiping…more honesty than hiding.

It’s a new year…so what’s the big deal?

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December 27, 2008

Everybudy’s Waitin for Somethin

76188544_ee6489eef7_mThis scripture was the heart of my Pastor’s Christmas message and it spoke to me deeply.

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

It also got me to thinking. Lately I’ve been noticing that people are excited about the new year coming. There’s a greater sense of expectation for it than I’ve ever seen and that got me to ponder some of the reasons why.

I mean, for those of you on Facebook, I’m sure you are seeing status updates reflecting things like…eagerly looking forward to next year or they are thankful for a new president, etc.

A new year does bring hope…but we all know there are no guarantees. I mean if I had a moment to control the universe, I’d like to be able to stop the war, add millions of jobs and make sure that everyone had a roof over their head and something to eat. But who knows what 2009 will bring?

There’s only one who does.  God. And isn’t it funny as we’re all down here on earth waiting for something like a husband, good health, a new job…he’s only waiting for one thing – you. Despite the hurricane of a storm we’ve amassed with our global economy he’s cool as a cucumber – not fretting – but waiting….waiting to hear from you; waiting to take your worries from you; waiting to love you. He could care less about what time of year it is…every moment just flows into the next for Him.

Last night, Mom and I saw the film “The Curious Life of Benjamin Button.” It was a creative, extremely original film that looked at life in reverse.  I love that they kept curious in the title for it was how Benjamin chose to look at life with a curiosity as did those whom he touched.  At the start of the film one of the characters is dying and she is asked if she was afraid . And l loved her answer, she said,”I’m just curious what happens next.”

Here’s the trailer for you to watch if interested.

So I think we’re all a bit curious about 2009? What’s going to happen next? Will our prayers get answered?

So as we wait and watch and live out each day…take the gift He freely is giving you. I have to remember that as well for He wants to give me “peace of mind” every day nor matter the year.

Happy New Year All.

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December 24, 2008

My Christmas Wish To You

From My House To Yours

From My House To Yours

From my house to your’s A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

I hope this blog post finds you filled with warmth. Warmth from having friends spending time with you. Warmth from family contacting you. Warmth from the stillness at this time of  year.  And more importantly, warmth from the one that truly loves us through and through. Our Lord Jesus Christ.

He knows this Christmas is much different than any other that our generation has experienced. He knows that the mortgage industry has hit rock bottom and that our employment rate is the highest in 26 years.  He knows that three GM plants closed on Christmas Eve.  He knows and He cares.  And this year, we all need Him more than ever. Every household has felt the impact of the economic crisis.

The Warmth of Christmas Time

The Warmth of Christmas Time

In one of my daily devotions from Selwyn Hughes, he reminded me that one of the names of Jesus is Jehovah Shalom, which means “The Lord is Peace.”  Yes peace — is there any better present right now than that.

Now, I’m not talking about peace – like let’s all get along – I’m referring to the peace that transcends all fear and worry and nervousness about our future.

For yes, it is easy to get caught up in worry over how your bills will be paid if you are unemployed. Or how can you pay for healthcare or your next month’s mortgage. Peace if available to you and me.  But as Hughes so aptly points out – “You cannot experience the peace of God until you have experienced peace with God.”

So if you find yourself with a few extra moments where you are alone – experience the warmth of the Lord.  Get right with Him and tell Him your worries and then leave them with Him.  In return, you’ll experience contentment like never before.

Therefore, my wish for all is this type of peace. Merry Christmas.

I Wish You Contentment

I Wish You Contentment

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