"Be still and know that I am God."
In the stillness is Truth. Sometimes I run away from the stillness, afriad of what I might discover, afraid of what might need to change in me, afraid. What do I have to fear in the loving arms of my Father? I will run, run to the stillness.
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label faith. Show all posts
Monday, November 7, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
Good Gifts
I turned off the shower one morning and heard Jacob yelling at me:
“Mommy, I fixed your bed!”
My first thought was panic. Our new bedroom furniture had just been delivered the day before. There were new, light blue sheets on the bed and a new bright, white bedspread. I was so fearful of what he “fixed”.
I quickly put in my contacts and held my breath as I slowly peaked my head out of the bathroom. What I saw surprised me; it wasn’t at all what I had imagined…Jacob had made the bed! It was as beautifully made as a 3-year-old could do. He was so proud. He told me that it was “all messed up and I fixed it!” Here he was doing something so sweet and here I was assuming he had done something bad.
How many times do I have the same experience with God? I ask for something and don’t expect it. In fact, sometimes I expect the opposite. I know in my head that my Heavenly Father loves me and wants what is best for me and yet I still expect bad. Sometimes I live my life wondering what bad thing is just around the corner instead of enjoying and being grateful for the abundant blessings I have today.
How our father treated us tends to shape how we view God’s love towards us. Maybe your dad had conditions on everything and so you think you have to do everything just right (even pray just right) for God to do anything for you. Maybe your father gave you everything and so when God doesn’t answer your prayers with a “yes”, you think that He doesn’t love you.
As I get older, I see how my life experiences shape my view of my God instead of God’s Word shaping my view of Him. I love it when God uses seemly silly experiences to help set me straight. I’m reminded of Matthew 7:11, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
I’m going to go look at my “made” bed and enjoy the loving gesture of a 3-year-old and an important lesson from My God!
“Mommy, I fixed your bed!”
My first thought was panic. Our new bedroom furniture had just been delivered the day before. There were new, light blue sheets on the bed and a new bright, white bedspread. I was so fearful of what he “fixed”.
I quickly put in my contacts and held my breath as I slowly peaked my head out of the bathroom. What I saw surprised me; it wasn’t at all what I had imagined…Jacob had made the bed! It was as beautifully made as a 3-year-old could do. He was so proud. He told me that it was “all messed up and I fixed it!” Here he was doing something so sweet and here I was assuming he had done something bad.
How many times do I have the same experience with God? I ask for something and don’t expect it. In fact, sometimes I expect the opposite. I know in my head that my Heavenly Father loves me and wants what is best for me and yet I still expect bad. Sometimes I live my life wondering what bad thing is just around the corner instead of enjoying and being grateful for the abundant blessings I have today.
How our father treated us tends to shape how we view God’s love towards us. Maybe your dad had conditions on everything and so you think you have to do everything just right (even pray just right) for God to do anything for you. Maybe your father gave you everything and so when God doesn’t answer your prayers with a “yes”, you think that He doesn’t love you.
As I get older, I see how my life experiences shape my view of my God instead of God’s Word shaping my view of Him. I love it when God uses seemly silly experiences to help set me straight. I’m reminded of Matthew 7:11, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”
I’m going to go look at my “made” bed and enjoy the loving gesture of a 3-year-old and an important lesson from My God!
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Seasons
Seasons. I love them.
In Florida we have 3: hot, really hot, kind of cold.
But those aren’t the seasons I’m talking about. Life has seasons.
Good seasons: these are ones we can see coming 90% of the time (like a new baby) and we don’t really want them to end.
Bad seasons: these are ones that 90% of the time, we don’t realize are here until we are in the middle of. Sometimes we can see them coming to an end (like finding a job after being out of work) and we feel a great need to throw a party when they are over.
I love seasons. They have a beginning and an end. Life is full of seasons, overlapping seasons.
Right now I’m in the middle of a stay-at-home mom-raise my boys-lead worship with my husband-lead youth with my husband-assistant leader of a connection group (with my husband…good thing I really like him)-do a variety of things for church-play with my boys-enjoy many slow hours at home-choose what I get to do with most of my days kind of season. It is wonderful.
A year and a half ago my season looked like this: work 20 hours, be at school 20 hours, study at home with a 2-1/2 year old, pregnant and not feeling well, try and still lead worship, youth, and connection group, not have enough hours in the day or enough energy to make it through the day kind of season. When that season ended, I should have thrown a BIG party!
I was contemplating seasons yesterday (remember how I said I had lots of time of home so I contemplate things now, it is my hobby!)…and I was thinking about a season that I am ready to end. It isn’t a bad one. It has just been a long one and I’m ready for it to be done. Between you and me, I think this season is going to end later than I would like. I was praying about it…
Finish well.
Finish well? What does that have to do with when this season is going to be done?
Finish well.
Ah, I get it. No matter when the season ends and no matter how I’m “feeling”, I need to finish well. It is God who is the Author of my seasons and it is for Him that I am doing this. I must finish well.
Amazing how those two words, 10 letters, have given me that extra push to run harder and finish this season with all of the excellence that I started it with. Kind of like seeing your spouse with 2 miles left in a marathon (well, I can only imagine what that would be like because there is no way I’d ever run a marathon, not even in my dreams).
I love seasons.
I’m enjoying the good seasons, praying through the bad ones and remembering those 10 letters for the season that I’m ready to be over.
In Florida we have 3: hot, really hot, kind of cold.
But those aren’t the seasons I’m talking about. Life has seasons.
Good seasons: these are ones we can see coming 90% of the time (like a new baby) and we don’t really want them to end.
Bad seasons: these are ones that 90% of the time, we don’t realize are here until we are in the middle of. Sometimes we can see them coming to an end (like finding a job after being out of work) and we feel a great need to throw a party when they are over.
I love seasons. They have a beginning and an end. Life is full of seasons, overlapping seasons.
Right now I’m in the middle of a stay-at-home mom-raise my boys-lead worship with my husband-lead youth with my husband-assistant leader of a connection group (with my husband…good thing I really like him)-do a variety of things for church-play with my boys-enjoy many slow hours at home-choose what I get to do with most of my days kind of season. It is wonderful.
A year and a half ago my season looked like this: work 20 hours, be at school 20 hours, study at home with a 2-1/2 year old, pregnant and not feeling well, try and still lead worship, youth, and connection group, not have enough hours in the day or enough energy to make it through the day kind of season. When that season ended, I should have thrown a BIG party!
I was contemplating seasons yesterday (remember how I said I had lots of time of home so I contemplate things now, it is my hobby!)…and I was thinking about a season that I am ready to end. It isn’t a bad one. It has just been a long one and I’m ready for it to be done. Between you and me, I think this season is going to end later than I would like. I was praying about it…
Finish well.
Finish well? What does that have to do with when this season is going to be done?
Finish well.
Ah, I get it. No matter when the season ends and no matter how I’m “feeling”, I need to finish well. It is God who is the Author of my seasons and it is for Him that I am doing this. I must finish well.
Amazing how those two words, 10 letters, have given me that extra push to run harder and finish this season with all of the excellence that I started it with. Kind of like seeing your spouse with 2 miles left in a marathon (well, I can only imagine what that would be like because there is no way I’d ever run a marathon, not even in my dreams).
I love seasons.
I’m enjoying the good seasons, praying through the bad ones and remembering those 10 letters for the season that I’m ready to be over.
Friday, July 29, 2011
A lesson in faith: Is prayer practical?
This is what happens when you take a class on faith . . .
I was praying last night as I was trying to fall asleep. Well, I wasn't praying as much as I was fussing at God about what seems like an impossible situation.
He said "pray."
I fussed some more.
He said "pray."
It wasn't something He hadn't told me before. I fussed some more.
He said "pray."
I finally replied, "but that's not practical!"
Yikes! My response startled me.
I'm practical. I like the practical. I don't like things like "press in deeper into worship." How? I want step-by-step. How do you press in deeper into worship? You focus on the words; you choose to physically engage yourself (raise your hands); you close your eyes to remove distractions...I could go on and on. I'm a practical girl.
Last night I was frustrated at not knowing what steps to do and yet God has made it very clear that my step is prayer. I responded out of desperation and felt like that that wasn't enough. I didn't even know what to pray, what to say as it really seems like an impossible situation.
My feeling last night lead me down a startling road. God said pray...that is my practical step. I must pray.
Is prayer practical? When I look at my life and what prayer has done (all I have to do is think about my miracle Jacob who came 10-weeks early!), it makes me want to scream YES, but in the middle of something all I can muster is a somber, quiet yes.
My lack of faith, especially after a class on faith just a few hours before, was saddening. Who am I to question God, Who sees and knows EVERYTHING, on what He has asked me to do. I asked for steps and He gave them to me...pray!
I fell asleep still startled at my outburst. I woke up this morning humbled that in spite of my lack of faith, God still pours out His grace to me.
His answer this morning was still the same "pray." So I pray and wait and pray and wait. I look back on what He has done in my life and know in my deepest parts that it is He Who works all things according to His purpose and plan...it is He Who has a hope and a future for me...it is He Whom has proven Himself trustworthy.
I know I need more faith...I asked for more faith...I had an opportunity to look my lack of faith square in the eyes...I ask for more faith and I move forward. I have my marching orders...pray and so I pray.
Is prayer practical? What a silly question! Of course it is!!!
I was praying last night as I was trying to fall asleep. Well, I wasn't praying as much as I was fussing at God about what seems like an impossible situation.
He said "pray."
I fussed some more.
He said "pray."
It wasn't something He hadn't told me before. I fussed some more.
He said "pray."
I finally replied, "but that's not practical!"
Yikes! My response startled me.
I'm practical. I like the practical. I don't like things like "press in deeper into worship." How? I want step-by-step. How do you press in deeper into worship? You focus on the words; you choose to physically engage yourself (raise your hands); you close your eyes to remove distractions...I could go on and on. I'm a practical girl.
Last night I was frustrated at not knowing what steps to do and yet God has made it very clear that my step is prayer. I responded out of desperation and felt like that that wasn't enough. I didn't even know what to pray, what to say as it really seems like an impossible situation.
My feeling last night lead me down a startling road. God said pray...that is my practical step. I must pray.
Is prayer practical? When I look at my life and what prayer has done (all I have to do is think about my miracle Jacob who came 10-weeks early!), it makes me want to scream YES, but in the middle of something all I can muster is a somber, quiet yes.
My lack of faith, especially after a class on faith just a few hours before, was saddening. Who am I to question God, Who sees and knows EVERYTHING, on what He has asked me to do. I asked for steps and He gave them to me...pray!
I fell asleep still startled at my outburst. I woke up this morning humbled that in spite of my lack of faith, God still pours out His grace to me.
His answer this morning was still the same "pray." So I pray and wait and pray and wait. I look back on what He has done in my life and know in my deepest parts that it is He Who works all things according to His purpose and plan...it is He Who has a hope and a future for me...it is He Whom has proven Himself trustworthy.
I know I need more faith...I asked for more faith...I had an opportunity to look my lack of faith square in the eyes...I ask for more faith and I move forward. I have my marching orders...pray and so I pray.
Is prayer practical? What a silly question! Of course it is!!!
Friday, June 24, 2011
Uncommon Works Through Common Deeds
An excerpt from the book Cure for the Common Life by Max Lucado (can be found on pages 113-114).
God does uncommon works through common deeds.
A friend of mine saw proof of this truth as he cared for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Being a physician, he gave his time and talent to treat some of the 12,500 New Orleans evacuees who ended up in San Antonio.
One survivor told him a riveting story. As the waters rose around his house, this New Orleanian swam out a window. With two children clinging to his back, the man found safe refuge atop the tallest building in the neighborhood. Other people joined him on the roof. Soon a small circle of people huddled together on what would be their home for three days until they were rescued.
After an hour on the building, the man realized he was on a church. He patted the rooftop and
announced to the others "We are on holy ground." His news jogged the memory of another roof dweller. She looked around at the area, crawled over to the steeple, hugged it, and proclaimed, "My grandfather and grandmother helped build this church!"
Do you think those grandparents ever imagined God would use their work to save their granddaughter? They surely prayed for God to use that building to save souls...but they couldn't have imagined He would use it to save their grandchild from a hurricane. They had no idea how God would use the work of their hands.
Nor do you.
What difference do selfless deeds make? Do you wonder if your work makes a difference? I'm envisioning a reader at the crossroads. One recently impacted by God, perhaps through this book. The divine spark within is beginning to flame. Should you douse it or fan it? Dare you dream that you can make a difference?
God's answer would be, "Just do something and see what happens."
God does uncommon works through common deeds.
A friend of mine saw proof of this truth as he cared for victims of Hurricane Katrina. Being a physician, he gave his time and talent to treat some of the 12,500 New Orleans evacuees who ended up in San Antonio.
One survivor told him a riveting story. As the waters rose around his house, this New Orleanian swam out a window. With two children clinging to his back, the man found safe refuge atop the tallest building in the neighborhood. Other people joined him on the roof. Soon a small circle of people huddled together on what would be their home for three days until they were rescued.
After an hour on the building, the man realized he was on a church. He patted the rooftop and
announced to the others "We are on holy ground." His news jogged the memory of another roof dweller. She looked around at the area, crawled over to the steeple, hugged it, and proclaimed, "My grandfather and grandmother helped build this church!"Do you think those grandparents ever imagined God would use their work to save their granddaughter? They surely prayed for God to use that building to save souls...but they couldn't have imagined He would use it to save their grandchild from a hurricane. They had no idea how God would use the work of their hands.
Nor do you.
What difference do selfless deeds make? Do you wonder if your work makes a difference? I'm envisioning a reader at the crossroads. One recently impacted by God, perhaps through this book. The divine spark within is beginning to flame. Should you douse it or fan it? Dare you dream that you can make a difference?
God's answer would be, "Just do something and see what happens."
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