I am reading a book right now by Max Lucado called, "Facing Your Giants". This book caught my eye immediately as I wandered through the Bible book store. Giants? I have hundreds of them! And they are all shouting at me - they are ALL "defying the armies of the Living God".
So many fears have tormented me through the years. Fear of failure and rejection. Fear of being misunderstood . . . and here is the biggie . . . fear of disappointing God. But 2 Timothy 1:7 tells me that I don't have to live in fear. For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Lucado's poetic prose is making me aware of giants that I didn't even know were snarling at me. Fear can creep in so subtly, it is hard for me to realize that I am slowly being strangled by a stronghold.
I encourage you to pick up a copy, and let God teach you through it. It is filled with all kinds of great nuggets. But for now, I would like to share one giant with you that nearly took my breath away.
It is in chapter 13, which is called "Distant Deity". The chapter opens up with the story of priest Abinadab's son Uzzah, and his mistake in touching the ark of the covenant. They are transporting the ark from one location to another, and Uzzah simply steadies the holy chest and is zapped. Dead on the spot. The community grieves, and wonders why Uzzah had to die. The real question should be, why does God allow everyone else to live?
The lesson in this chapter is about how the holy can so easily become humdrum. Aside from not loving God and others, I believe this is what grieves God's heart the most.
It got me thinking. How am I approaching a Holy God? He is the same yesterday, today and forever - so He is still the God of the Old Testament. He is HOLY, to be adored, revered, worshiped and always put first . . . even above my fears.
As Christians, we are always wanting the presence of God to come. We are hoping He will make an appearance during our worship time, at our Bible study or to empower our prayer meetings. Something I am discovering, is that the presence of God (in His purest and most powerful and intimate form) comes this way . . .
Max Lucado wrote: "God comes, mind you. But He comes on his own terms. He comes when commands are revered, hearts are clean, and confession is made."
This statement practically knocked me off the couch. I felt zapped, much like Uzzah.
But how does the chapter end? David is dancing. Why? Because like Lucado wrote: "A reverent heart and a dancing foot can belong to the same person. David understood that God doesn't respond to magic potions or clever slogans. He looks for more. He looks for reverence, obedience, and God-hungry hearts."
The Giant of Humdrum is tempting me with complacency and hardness of heart. Getting on my face before God seems like the perfect size and shape stone I will need to conquer this one.
Saturday, June 30
Friday, June 29
He Will Quiet You
A dear friend who is praying for me sent me this passage today. What a blessing the family of God can be. You know who you are, and I thank you. : )
It spoke volumes of God's watchful eye . . .
He will quiet me with His LOVE . . . not with solutions, answers, or by lifting the storm - but with His LOVE.
When I think of quiet I think of peace, stillness and rest. Am I trying to convince myself that there is rest while inner turmoil rips my heart to shreds? Can I truly be in the center of God's will and still have unrest?
I think back to yesterday's post about the "Y" stick and the birds. I can't remember ever seeing a bird have a nervous breakdown. Hmmmm, what could God be trying to teach us through our feathered friends?
How safely I can rest under the shade of His tree, if only I will cooperate. There is a stillness in rest. Quiet is the opposite of kicking and scratching, striving and fighting.
Whatever tears away at your heart, take it to Jesus. Sit alone at His feet today, and let Him quiet you.
It spoke volumes of God's watchful eye . . .
The Lord your God in your midst
The mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His Love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.
~ Zephaniah 3:17 ~
He will quiet me with His LOVE . . . not with solutions, answers, or by lifting the storm - but with His LOVE.
When I think of quiet I think of peace, stillness and rest. Am I trying to convince myself that there is rest while inner turmoil rips my heart to shreds? Can I truly be in the center of God's will and still have unrest?
I think back to yesterday's post about the "Y" stick and the birds. I can't remember ever seeing a bird have a nervous breakdown. Hmmmm, what could God be trying to teach us through our feathered friends?
How safely I can rest under the shade of His tree, if only I will cooperate. There is a stillness in rest. Quiet is the opposite of kicking and scratching, striving and fighting.
Whatever tears away at your heart, take it to Jesus. Sit alone at His feet today, and let Him quiet you.
Thursday, June 28
The "Y" Stick
Yesterday afternoon was the end of the year BBQ for Julien school. Makayla and I wandered around a crowd of kids, looking for two toe heads. Matthew and Michael were found in the throws of boyhood. One was in line waiting to play tennis, while the other was racing up and down the slide with a group of friends. "Hey Mom," was the dialogue exchange. Neither one of them noticed us much.
It was fun to sit back and watch them in their element. I was on their turf, and there was so much that God was teaching me through my own children yesterday. Matthew, being so analytical, thought about what he would do first - who he would talk to and what he would choose to play. Michael on the other hand flew by the seat of his pants, and went after whatever seemed most fun at the moment. They are so different, and yet so much the same. A mix of me in there, and some of Mark too. It is amazing really.
After hanging out for a while, I decided to take care of one more errand before it was time to pick the boys up. Hand in hand, Makayla and I meandered back to the van. Being curious and very talkative, she narrated the whole way.
"Look Mom, there is the swing you said you would take me on. What time do we have to pick up the boys? What are we going to do when we get home? How did God make the sky?"
Then, it happened.
"Look Mommy, a stick in the shape of a "Y".
I'll be darned, it was a stick in the shape of a Y. God got my attention immediately, and His whisper sounded something like this . . .
"I know that you have been hurting, and there are so many things that you don't understand right now. You may not have even spoken this prayer, but I've heard your heart, and your silent cry wanting to know, 'WHY?'"
"The reason for this season is not for you to know. The circumstances swinging out of your control, and the people who are causing you pain . . . this is all designed to build something in you. You feel alone, but you're not. I am with you, and I used a simple tree branch to remind you."
Suddenly, the whys floating around in my head disappeared behind the branch I held in my hand.
Ladies, we all have "Whys" in our lives. Tragedy, silence, broken relationships, illness and death - all of these can feel so heavy as we long for closure and healing. God reminded me that every bird who ever perched itself up on my "Y" branch was not concerned with the "Whys". The truth is, we don't have to be either.
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ~ Matthew 6:26
I decided to save that silly stick. It sits in my office, with hundred of other little trinkets God has brough as reminders of His careful watch.
Are you in a season of uncertainty or pain? I want to encourage you and tell you that there is a watchful eye of LOVE behind all of your "Whys".
It was fun to sit back and watch them in their element. I was on their turf, and there was so much that God was teaching me through my own children yesterday. Matthew, being so analytical, thought about what he would do first - who he would talk to and what he would choose to play. Michael on the other hand flew by the seat of his pants, and went after whatever seemed most fun at the moment. They are so different, and yet so much the same. A mix of me in there, and some of Mark too. It is amazing really.
After hanging out for a while, I decided to take care of one more errand before it was time to pick the boys up. Hand in hand, Makayla and I meandered back to the van. Being curious and very talkative, she narrated the whole way.
"Look Mom, there is the swing you said you would take me on. What time do we have to pick up the boys? What are we going to do when we get home? How did God make the sky?"
Then, it happened.
"Look Mommy, a stick in the shape of a "Y".
I'll be darned, it was a stick in the shape of a Y. God got my attention immediately, and His whisper sounded something like this . . .
"I know that you have been hurting, and there are so many things that you don't understand right now. You may not have even spoken this prayer, but I've heard your heart, and your silent cry wanting to know, 'WHY?'"
"The reason for this season is not for you to know. The circumstances swinging out of your control, and the people who are causing you pain . . . this is all designed to build something in you. You feel alone, but you're not. I am with you, and I used a simple tree branch to remind you."
Suddenly, the whys floating around in my head disappeared behind the branch I held in my hand.
Ladies, we all have "Whys" in our lives. Tragedy, silence, broken relationships, illness and death - all of these can feel so heavy as we long for closure and healing. God reminded me that every bird who ever perched itself up on my "Y" branch was not concerned with the "Whys". The truth is, we don't have to be either.
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ~ Matthew 6:26
I decided to save that silly stick. It sits in my office, with hundred of other little trinkets God has brough as reminders of His careful watch.
Are you in a season of uncertainty or pain? I want to encourage you and tell you that there is a watchful eye of LOVE behind all of your "Whys".
Wednesday, June 27
Writers Block
I sit to write today and I have to laugh. Writer's block on my second day blogging? Boy, I think it's pretty safe to say that I'm in trouble.
To write what's on my heart would be a mix of jumbled emotions that probably wouldn't make a lick of sense to anyone else. Ever been there? Starting any of my thoughts from the beginning would take far more time than I have right now, not to mention enough words to fill an encyclopedia. So what do I share?
I'll share the fact that God is as close as ever. He knows every fear that torments me, every dream I hold dear, every act of obedience and every mistake I have made today. And He loves me right here, right where I am - splitting headache and all.
Sometimes I just feel like being quiet. Maybe that is what writer's block is all about . . . the need to curl up in His lap - to be still and to listen.
To write what's on my heart would be a mix of jumbled emotions that probably wouldn't make a lick of sense to anyone else. Ever been there? Starting any of my thoughts from the beginning would take far more time than I have right now, not to mention enough words to fill an encyclopedia. So what do I share?
I'll share the fact that God is as close as ever. He knows every fear that torments me, every dream I hold dear, every act of obedience and every mistake I have made today. And He loves me right here, right where I am - splitting headache and all.
Sometimes I just feel like being quiet. Maybe that is what writer's block is all about . . . the need to curl up in His lap - to be still and to listen.
Tuesday, June 26
Testing the Waters
I dip my big toe into the realm of something called a Blog. The idea of getting my heart in writing and the opportunity to brush up on my literary skills seems to fit the season. This is a wonderful tool for articulating the beauty of God, as I sit at His feet.
The water catches my gaze, as I ponder the endless possibilities. So far the temperature is feeling just right.
The water catches my gaze, as I ponder the endless possibilities. So far the temperature is feeling just right.
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