Quiet

Because I went to church last night, I am sitting at my kitchen table this morning, drinking a cup of coffee, eating a doughnut, (terrible..I know) and watching the snow softly fall outside my kitchen window.  Quiet moments like this are more frequent now that my children are grown, but I find it a little uncomfortable for the house to be quiet and I'm not sure why. So I got my phone out and started listening to Audrey Assad's song, Winter Snow.  It's a beautiful song that our worship pastor's wife has sung at Christmas a couple of times.  It talks about how Jesus could have come with much fanfare but He came in a quiet peaceful unassuming way, like a soft winter snow.

Sitting quietly before God is not always a comfortable thing to do.  We've been trained in some circles that great moves of God are boisterous and flamboyant.  We like our music loud and we love to clap our hands and hear others around us singing and lifting up the name of Jesus, and believe me I LOVE that type of worship myself!  But there's something to be said for sitting quietly and waiting on God's voice to speak to our hearts.  This week I had a decision to make involving work. I spoke with Bo and about it, I shared with friends and I contemplated asking the facebook world to join me in praying about what I should do. Huh?  I'm considering a career decision and I want to involve the facebook world?  Thank the Lord I reconsidered that option! Instead I began to pray for God to speak to my heart in whatever way He chose, to lead me to the right decision....and He did.

I love the Bible's account in 1 Kings 19 of how Elijah is ready to throw in the towel but decides to obey an angel sent to him, and stand on the mountain before God and listen for Him.  The Bible says that a great wind came and then a great earthquake came and then a great fire came, but the Lord's voice was not in any of those things.  The word of the Lord came to Elijah in a still small voice.

A quiet season of life is not to be ignored, for when we are humble and quiet, we sometimes experience the most powerful move of God.  The kind of experience that comforts us in stressful times and guides us in uncertain times.  Thank you, Lord for quiet moments when you speak to my heart and I hear that still small voice letting me know that you are near.  Thank you for tears that fall in quiet times, when only you can understand the aching in my heart.  Thank you for quiet moments when only you see my grateful heart that overflows with joy unspeakable.

Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 1 Kings 19 11-12

                                                                  

Chasing After You

One of my new favorite songs is called "Chasing After You (The Morning Song) by Tye Tribbett. I have listened to this song so many times that I don't care to try to guess just how many times.  The thought of chasing something or someone for your entire life sounds a bit exhausting, but in this case it only makes sense.  Tye is referring to chasing after God each and every day, and not being satisfied with yesterday's portion.

Jesus told us the those who hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be filled and I kind of like to add "will keep being filled as they keep hungering for more". I think of being a God-chaser as being a person who hungers and thirst for righteousness. The wonderful thing about hungering for God or chasing after God is that HE captures YOU when YOU chase HIM. In Phillippians 3:12-14 Paul talks about laying hold of the things that Christ Jesus has laid hold of for me and pressing toward the prize.  It's hard to put in to words what this means, but I think Tye Tribbett translated it best in his song with these words " I will apprehend, until I'm captured by what I'm after". Wow!  I love that!

And this is what the Lord has whispered to me about chasing Him and being captured:

When I chase God, He captures me. And when He captures me, I AM FREE!

There's nothing like being free!!!

Thank you Lord, for this wonderful cat and mouse game we play.  I chase you, you chase me and the end result is that I can live in freedom as I live in You! 


Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. John 8:36


Link to Tye Tribbett's song:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jrDqi7HQzUc

Gving Thanks

There are so many things to be thankful for, that as cliche as it sounds, every day should be a day of thanks.  I have been blessed with a wonderful, but not perfect family, and thankfully they have been blessed with the patience to put up with a not perfect me.  I have been blessed with many mentors in my life.  People who I look up to; people who inspire me to use my gifts and my resources to help others.  I have been blessed with good health, and a sound mind.  I have been blessed with provision and a safe place to call home.  I have been blessed with friends who laugh when I laugh and cry when I cry and make me realize that friendship is worth the effort you put in to it.  I have been blessed with memories of days that where spent with loved ones that are no longer here, and hope that I will be with them again some day. 

No greater love have I been blessed with, than knowing Jesus Christ as my savior.  He is the cornerstone on which my life is built.  I fail Him, but He always welcomes me back with arms of love and mercy.  The Bible tells us to give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for us in Christ Jesus. When I was a child my grandmother taught me a simple prayer and today seems a fitting day to recite it:

                                                Thank you for the world so sweet,
                                                Thank you for the food we eat,
                                                Thank you for the birds that sing,
                                                Thank you God for everything.

                                                             

True Thankfullness (keepin' it real y'all)

Well, another Thanksgiving is upon us and I'm not only contemplating the meal, but the season.  First Thanksgiving, then Black Friday shopping, then Christmas, then of course the New Year.  This year seems like a blur, to be honest; I can't believe that it has gone so fast. Of course, I'm thankful for life and health and family and the confidence I have in knowing that God is for me, but to be honest this year and even this Christmas season has brought challenges that have distracted me from just how much God loves me.


No Christmas bonus at work this year means that our Christmas money is no where near what we usually have to spend.  I haven't accomplished most of the goals I challenged myself with this year and many of the prayers I have longingly prayed have still been answered with silence or wait.  Waiting...not my favorite thing to do.  Yesterday I found myself feeling a little sorry for my predicament, then one simple picture brought me back to me senses.

                                                                        

This picture was in my Facebook news feed.  A couple from my church has given up houses and cars and incomes to go to Kenya to serve people who truly face some of life's most difficult circumstances.  Those who are broken and hurting, those who are poor and sick, those who are hungry physically and spiritually.  As I starred at this picture I wept with conviction.  Smiling faces, hands raised high, giving praise to the Lord God Almighty.  I am so thankful for this picture and for Greg and Sherri Howard and their love for God and His precious people.  How can I focus on myself, when I see this beautiful picture of worship that is undoubtedly offered in spirit and in truth, just what our Father is seeking.

The truth is that serving God is not about things or even answered prayers, it is about knowing who I am and trusting God to supply what I need and to work things for my good. The truth is that I AM BLESSED! Lord, help me to walk in thankfulness every day, and to keep my eyes on you!

For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, And I have walked in Your truth. Psalm 26:3

                                                                           

Why did we lose the election?

Well, the election is over and I have to say that the outcome has been a bummer.  It's not so much that Romney lost, I didn't even think that he was great candidate.  It's not so much that Obama won, though I think he is not good for our country.  It's because of the way I have heard people talk before, during and after this election. 

Before, there were endless posts that were at times, well...ridiculous.  People posting crazy things on facebook in an attempt to sway people not to vote for Obama.  Then election day came and I was caught a little off guard by some of my friends and family.  My son, who is a very analytical thinker, could not in good conscience vote for either of the candidates, even though he knew that a third party vote would basically help Obama.  Friends who flat refused to vote because the couldn't support either candidate, and family members who acted as though you would be excommunicated from the family if you didn't agree with them.  Then after the election, the depressing and angry posts on facebook were enough to ruin my day.  To be honest, I still don't feel back to normal.

Sooo many scriptures went through my head today, like the Lord is a shield around me, my glory and the lifter of my head.  Be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might.  The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.  The blessings of the Lord makes me rich and adds no sorrow.  These words along with a song that I listened to several times, have kept me from feeling too depressed. Then to add to my very blue feeling today, I started thinking about my mom. 

My mom went in to the hospital for the last time a few weeks after the 08 election.  The stock market was crashing, the banks were failing and the stimulus package was being hotly debated on TV.  She loved a good political debate and due to her very limited physical ability at that point, she had been glued to the TV through it all watching all of the breaking news.  As she lay in her dying bed, she rarely spoke as she simply had no air in her lungs to spare, but one evening she looked up at me and said "why did we lose the election?"  It broke my heart to think that in her weak state, she was still worrying about our country.  I very quickly told her that the election didn't matter and that God would take care of us no matter who was president.  I believed it then, and I believe it now.  God always comforts and provides for His people. His name is a strong tower that the righteous run in to and they are saved.

I pray that our nation heals from the bitter divide we have created with our political rhetoric.  I pray that our president is visited in his dreams and is overtaken in his waking hours by the spirit of the living God calling him to lead with honesty and to follow Jesus.  I pray that as we try to pick up the pieces, we become a nation of God chasers.  Lord, have your way in this country and lead your people in the way everlasting. 

Hurricanes, elections and the common cold

Well, I seem to start with good intentions, but I rarely keep up with this blogging thing.  Oh, I have a lot to say... but I don't have the time or inclination to share it most days.  :)

As I sit here typing, the east coast is being battered by Hurricane Sandy.  So many lives being affected by this enormous storm.  I pray that God keeps them safe and gives them the wisdom to protect themselves and the lives of those who may be called on to rescue others. The news footage is sensationalized, the weathermen are completely insane for putting themselves in such danger and I can't stop watching!!!  It's like a train wreck. 

Speaking of train wrecks...we're just a few days away from election day, and the political rhetoric is at an all time high, or low depending on how you look at it.  I've always been interested in politics, but with the advent of social media and 24/7 news coverage, I am totally burnt out on this election and I can't wait for it to be over.  As a conservative minded person, I feel like my choice between these two men is a no brainer.  But on the other hand, I'm not completely comfortable with the vote I am about to cast.  Oh that God would bring people in to politics that are not hungry for power or the adoration of men and women.  Oh that God would open the eyes and hearts of the American people to do what is right in His sight.  My heart is broken at the erosion of morals our country is experiencing.  Now, I am by no means perfect, but I can see clearly that our country has become weak when it comes to right and wrong.  How can we continue to sanction the killing of unborn babies?  I know it's a complicated issue when you throw in words like "rape" and "the life of the mother", but those are the exception to the norm when it comes to the thousands of abortions performed in our country each day.  Yet, because I personally know someone who had an abortion and regrets it to this day, I have compassion for those who have made this terrible choice.  Still, I must cast my vote for the platform that seems to stand more for the rights of the unborn, along with other social issues.  So...I hold my nose and do what I believe is right and I pray that God has His way.

And now to the common cold....I have one.  I have coughed, sneezed, blown, taken pills, slept and prayed for nearly a week to be rid of this evil cold, but it still lingers. I'm sore from coughing, I have circles under my eyes and my nose is raw.  Poor poor me!  My grandma went over 10 years without a cold once.  She was a strong feisty woman who would say "you might want to take a cold, but I ain't takin' it!!   I miss her. 

Time for bed....and one more thought.  I serve a great God.  He is kind and merciful and there to comfort us in all of our trials and afflictions. Jesus said "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 Hurricanes and difficult elections and common colds are just some of the trials we endure as travelers here on Earth, but thanks be to God who causes us to overcome!!!

                                                              

WWJD

                                                                          
                                                              What Would Jesus Do?

No, I didn't by myself a new bracelet with these letters or words on it, but it has been on my mind lately. (the words, not the bracelet)  In recent years this phrase has become quite cliche, but in reality it's a question we really should ask ourselves when it comes to most every topic in life. The event that got my mind puzzling these words is watching my facebook news feed blow up in recent days with folks choosing sides on several different debates, one being the Chik fil A issue.  I think the most cleaver post was this one:

Oh, the battled raged for days about this subject and I added my two cents once or twice, but avoided participating in any heated arguments.  As the above picture states so plainly, why is the world so surprised by the answer Mr. Cathy gave regarding this subject? And what would Jesus answer have been to the question that got the restaurant owner mired in controversy?  Also, why is it being debated in the first place? I think it's because we've come right down to the nitty gritty of how can a Christian love people and lead them to Christ, when we know that they are not going to agree with what the Bible clearly says about these and other matters.  I am not a Bible scholar but I have studied enough to know that when I have a dilemma going on around me I can usually find a useful answer right there between the pages of Genesis and Revelation.  But "the world" isn't interested in what the Bible says about sin.

Also, in the past week I kept an eye on another facebook war between an old friend (who is now a pastor) and his Bible college classmate.  It seems the classmate feels that my pastor-friend has become "soft" to sin and has publicly called the saints to pray that he will see the error of his ways.  In doing so he has riled the anger of many Christians due to his public rebuke of the pastor and his extremely "religious" opinions.  I say religious because he reminds me of the the Sadducee's and Pharisee's of Jesus' day with his "I am holy because I keep every commandment" attitude.  420 comments later, they are all still arguing. (none of those were my comments, by the way)  But all of this caused me to wonder what would Jesus do or say if he were peeking at facebook during these heated debates? (which He may very well be)

As a result of my wondering, I have decided to spend the next few weeks studying the red letters in my Bible.  I've read the four gospels in the past, but never to intentionally focus solely on the words of Jesus. In light of recent events I think this is the perfect time to do so.  I may share a bit of that on this blog or facebook, not in the hopes of sparking debate, but to simply chronicle the revelation I hope to receive from it.  In the mean time, I am still asking myself, WWJD?