Living with Intention

With a new year comes another opportunity for growth and learning. About a month ago, I felt God laying a word on my heart to focus on in the year ahead.

Intention. Defined several ways- determination to act in a certain way: resolve. What one intends to do or bring about. The thing that you plan to do or achieve: an aim or purpose.

Photo Credit: my brother, Justin Brenneman

As I've reflected on this the past few days, I've focused on 3 areas in which I feel led to be intentional this year.

#1- Living with intention. This sounds so cliché, but I want to live in gratefulness for each new day that I am given. Being filled with joy for what God has done for me and allow that joy to spill out to those around me. Taking time to play with my daughter or converse with my neighbor because they matter.

#2- Loving with intention. I have sensed that I need to grow in the area of loving those I don't know well including strangers. It is far too easy to cast judgements based on outward appearances, but that's not what God requires of me. He requires me to "do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God." (Micah 6:8b, ESV) As I walk humbly with my God, I should have a desire to love those around me.

#3- Serving with intention. What does this look like for me this year? To be honest, I'm not entirely sure yet. Getting to know our neighbors better and those in our community. Meeting the needs of the hurting, whether it be through a listening ear, a word of encouragement or through a meal.There are many possibilities to serve and be a blessing.

Photo Credit: Justin Brenneman

Of course, I also desire to be intentional in several other areas such as doing more reading (stay tuned for an upcoming post with my book list for the year) and more frequent exercise (because it won't happen just by talking about it!) I am excited to see how I will grow from all of these intentions in the year ahead.

If you have a word or personal focus for the year ahead, I'd love to hear it. Blessings as you seek to learn and grow in a deeper way.

Life distractions

Something happened the other day that made me frustrated. While out for a walk with my daughter, my phone fell out of the stroller, screen side down. When I picked it up on the pavement, there were cracks all over the screen. I sighed in frustration. Then I realized that what I viewed as an inconvenience was possibly God's way of getting my attention. How little time I've been spending with Him lately and how much of my time I have been giving away to other things.

Distraction- "a thing that prevents someone from giving full attention to something else." 

Corrie Ten Boom once said, "If the devil cannot make us bad, he will make us busy." How true that is. There are so many things in life that cause busyness. Often times they can be good things, but when they consume us or take us away from Jesus, there's a problem. If I'm honest, one of my struggles is social media. It's a great way to connect with friends and family members. But when the temptation to check it frequently throughout the day takes me away from time with my family or Jesus, I need to admit that it has become a distraction and take steps to change my habits.

I posted here about my word of the year and desire to cherish moments and people each day. When life's distractions get in the way of that, I need to do a heart check and assess my motives. My daughter is growing so quickly and these days I'm savoring when her head rests on my shoulder when she's sleepy and when her little fingers explore my face. I also love how she gets silly when she's sleepy, just like me. :) I don't want to miss these moments simply because I'm checking the latest news on Facebook.

Mother's Day

This verse was in my devotional the other morning- "My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare." Psalm 25:15. I thought it was so fitting for this topic. Snares can take many forms and it's always good to be mindful of them in our lives. When we recognize them, we can take action. 

I found this article to be so good and so challenging to me personally. Hope it speaks to your heart as well today. 

A Season to Savor

Word of the year. To some, it may sound like a popular trend, but to me, it has proven to be a worthwhile challenge. As I was reflecting on the year ahead of me in 2017, the word savor came to my mind and I somehow knew it was my word.

Savor: a particular flavor, smell or taste of something; a distinctive quality.

Although savor seems to be mainly associated with food, I'd like to focus on the second half of the definition. This year, I desire to savor people- strengthen relationships and friendships. In 2016, I was especially reminded of the frailty of life when my dear friend's father passed away suddenly at a fairly young age. I want to live in the moment and enjoy those near to my heart. We are never guaranteed tomorrow. Each day is a gift from our Creator and I want to make the most of the days He gives to me.

I also desire to savor moments this year. Even when my dear baby wakes up crying in the middle of the night, I strive to choose joy amidst my grogginess. Joy that I have a healthy daughter who is able to wake me and that I am able to bring comfort to her when she needs it. I know she will grow quickly so I am doing my best to enjoy all of the little moments of snuggling with her when she's napping and also playing with her rather than tackling things on my to-do list. The moments of watching my husband play with his little girl or moments of taking time to talk with a friend so we can both be encouraged. This all takes an intentional effort.

Memories are another thing that I hope to savor in 2017. This week my daughter rolled for the first time. So much excitement as we relish all of these milestones! Watching her grandparents and aunts/uncles enjoy her so much is another joy. Taking pictures helps to keep memories fresh, but I also feel like Mary some days-"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." (Luke 2:19)

I love this picture of storing up memories and moments and hope to do a lot of it this year.

I'm going to close with the following challenge-

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In 2017, may you savor people (relationships and friendships), savor the little and big moments in life, and savor memories deep within your heart.

[If you have chosen a word of the year, I'd love to hear it!]

All about Trust

It's been awhile. I guess that's what happens when you have a baby. {Now 4 months ago!}

Our sweet little Moriah Joy arrived on August 27th, a few days earlier than we were expecting, but that was fine by me!

Moriah- "God is my teacher"

Psalm 32:8- 

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; 

I will counsel you and watch over you." 

Here is one of my favorite shots from her newborn pictures, taken by my talented brother.

I have learned a lot over the past few months, both about mothering and about myself. You realize how selfish you can be when you have a little person who requires so much of your time and energy. There isn't time for little luxuries and quiet moments of solitude, unless of course, you have a good napper. I don't. :)

Mostly God has taught me much about trust. It seems to be one of those things that you continuously learn, no matter what stage of life you are in. When I was induced, I had to trust things would turn out well, even though it wasn't my ideal scenario. When our little lady was slow in gaining weight, I had to trust that God was in control. When I ended up in the hospital again a week after her birth, I had to trust God's purposes in that experience. When the house was dirty and messy and dishes and laundry were piled up, I had to let go of my perfectionism and expectations. (I still do.) Babies don't stay little forever so I've been trying to be intentional about enjoying moments with her when she's awake. The work can wait.

As I reflect on this past year, it has included many life changes. As one who has always struggled with change, I find myself thankful for each one. There is something about change that causes us to look inwardly to identify why we feel what we feel. Perhaps that's why I always feel so reflective this time of the year as I look at areas where I have grown over the past year and areas where I'd like to be stretched in the upcoming year. I'm so grateful that our heavenly Father is with us every step of the way.

How have you grown this past year? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Trusting for today and tomorrow

I’m realizing these days that one of the most important things I can do right now is to trust. Trust that God in His infinite wisdom is sovereign. Trust that His plans are greater than my own. Trust that His timetable is always perfect. He knows what He is doing, even when doubt creeps into my heart. It’s not my desire to doubt my Father in all of His goodness, yet sometimes it just happens. In those moments, it is so important to take every thought captive to make it obedient to Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5.) Instead, I can proclaim aloud God’s promises in His word, both to encourage me and to cause the enemy to flee.

I have Psalms 37:3-7a highlighted in my Bible along with a heading I added- ‘What to do while I’m waiting’: “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him…” 

We all go through many, many waiting periods in our lives. They vary from person to person, although sometimes they share similar characteristics. It’s my hope that I can always learn something valuable through the lessons that Jesus teaches me, whether big or small.

 Photo credit to my talented brother, Justin

Also, Isaiah 30:15a- “This is what the sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength’…”

Rather than dwelling on the what-if’s, I desire to focus on the what-is and Who is. My Jesus holds me in the palm of His hand. He sees my today and He sees my tomorrow. And that, my dears, is enough.

Upside Down Umbrellas

There are seasons of life in which I feel spiritually dry. And then there are those seasons in which the rains // aka life lessons pour down in abundance upon me. Now is one of those rainy seasons. Instead of using an umbrella to shield myself, I almost feel that I should turn it upside down to collect the droplets in order to savor each one and learn from each lesson.

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When I did flip my umbrella upside down, I had to grab a pen and paper to jot down each heart and thought provoking question. Here are some of the things that the Lord revealed to me:

• -In whom do I place my trust, my security, my faith?
• In myself or in my Father?
• If I don't trust Him, feel secure in Him or have faith in Him, what is the root cause?
• Insert cause here: ________________.
• What are the idols in my life?
• How do I remove them and place Christ on His rightful throne once again?

One of the most powerful sermons on idols that I've ever heard is the following one by Timothy Keller titled, "Counterfeit Gods." I highly encourage you to take the time to listen to this video or purchase his book by the same title. It will transform your thinking of what vies for your time, love and attention.

Blessings to you, my friends, as you search your own hearts and extend your own umbrellas.

Am I me or am I you?

The Father has a way of revealing our weaknesses when we least expect it. He did the same for me recently.

It's no surprise that women are comparers and do it in all areas of life. One of the reasons being the approval of other women. Another in the sense that it brings self-fulfillment and a sense of identity. Whether it be via our sense of fashion and dress, how we decorate our homes, or the foods that we cook. I can be a comparer in all of these, but last weekend, I was reminded of the latter.
I had to make a dessert for an event and was stressing way too much over a simple decision. My thought was what if someone doesn't like it? My people-pleasing tendencies were coming out! As important as it is to satisfy the needs and/or desires of others, it should not come at the expense of our time, energy, or sense of identity. You may be wondering what dessert has to do with identity. However, if we are performing out of a sense of obligation or seeking to imitate the persona of someone that we idolize, we are not living out our God-given identity as a unique daughter of our Heavenly Father. Am I living true to who God made me to be? I'd encourage you to take a few moments to search your own heart and perhaps write down what the Father reveals to you in this area.

I couldn't help but look to the Word for some insight into this area and the verse that jumped out to me was John 12:43. It says, "for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God." The they in this verse is referring to the Pharisees. They were well known for living according the law, at any expense. I had to ask myself if I am no different than they. Is the praise of others more valuable to me than words of affirmation from my Father that I am enough in His eyes? That simple and delicious is just as fine as extravagant and delectable. That thrifty and cute clothing just as fine as expensive and brand new. That cozy and simplistic decor in my home is just as fine as perfect and magazine worthy. 

Somehow looking at things in this sense brings a sigh of relief and the realization that I am enough. My cooking style, my clothing, my home decor. It is all enough. I am loved as I am by my husband, friends and family, and most importantly, by my Abba Father. And it is His approval that truly matters.

Smoke Signals :: Part 1

Have you ever experienced a time in your life where you felt inadequate to do something God was calling you to? I certainly have and I'm still in that place today. It could very well be a lifelong journey, but I somehow find comfort in knowing that those who have gone before us have felt the same way. Please go grab your bible, turn to Exodus 3 and let's take a look at the life of Moses.

Ready to begin? In verse 2, the Lord appeared to Moses on Horeb (Mt. Sinai) through fire as He did later in Exodus 19. Imagine just how strange that sight would've been. It was when he got closer that the Lord called his name.

How many times in our own lives does God send signals our way and we seemingly ignore them? What does He have to do in order to get our full attention? In this case, it seemed pretty big. I had to wonder how Moses would've responded had God whispered instead. It's vital to remember that God speaks in different ways. I somehow think God knew Moses need the fire and a distinct call in order to get his attention. Moses needed a visual.

Yet look at his response, also in verse 4. He didn't hesitate or make excuses. He simply said, "Here I am." Do we do the same? Or do we put our fingers in our ears and pretend we didn't hear anything?

Verses 7-9 share some rich words about where the Lord's chosen people have been and where God is going to take them from here. The same Lord who saw them in their hurt sees us in ours. His ear is attentive to our cries. He desires to rescue us from the pit we are in, from Egypt, to a land full of abundance and good things, His blessings. Even when we don't think He's listening, He is.

God's message was quite clear in verse 10, "So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt." Moses's response to God's request issued the start of many questions. I can't say I blame him, really. Perhaps one of his biggest questions was "Who am I?" Do you ever ask yourself that question? I think we all have. However, it's often a lie from the enemy trying to make us believe that we aren't adequate enough for the task we are being asked to do. We need to recognize such questions for what they are. Moses felt inadequate for what God had called him to do. It was now that he had to learn the lesson of faith.

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Stay tuned for my follow-up post!

Birthday Reflections

Birthdays- a time for celebrating and reflecting. I had mine this past weekend and it caused me to think back on all that has happened over the past year and what God has taught me along the way. Just thought I'd share a few of the life lessons-

Lesson 1. Surrendering every care to my Jesus. This is the lesson I've been reminded of time and time again. I can't even tell you how frequently I've had to relearn this over the past year. I shared some of these thoughts in this post.

Lesson 2. The importance of returning to the Word when I'm feeling weary and worn. His promises are always just what I need. Some of my favorites from the past year are- Lamentations 3:19-27, Hebrews 12:7-11, Exodus 14:13-15, John 1:16, Isaiah 41:10, 13, and Isaiah 46:4. And I could list many more.

Lesson 3. Willingly embracing the waiting periods in my life instead of rejecting them. This will bring an overflow of joy and peace. (And yes, I know it's hard. I'm in the midst of one once again.)

Lesson 4. Music has a special way of speaking to my soul. Favorite songs from the past year have been- Lord, I Need You (Matt Maher), Bless the Lord (Laura Story), Nothing is Wasted (Jason Gray), Sovereign (Chris Tomlin), Give Me Faith (Elevation Worship), and Here's My Heart (Passion- David Crowder.)

Lesson 5. Realizing that sometimes God takes my dreams and performs a wonder by replacing them with His own for my life. It's never an easy process, but well-worth it in the end.

Lesson 6. He is my adequacy. Far too often, I feel inadequate for what He is calling me to do in the present and in the future. Yet I've come to realize that is only my flesh as well as the enemy speaking lies. Jesus is the Great I Am and is more than enough for me. When I am at my weakest, His strength sustains me. He has called me to "let go and let Him." And then He says, "Accept My calling."

Lesson 7. Relinquishing control of various aspects of my life. I never realized how tightly I held onto certain things until God asked me to give them up. One of those was my health this year. I still don't have any answers, but I've learned that He will always hold me up when I feel weary and worn. It hasn't been easy; I've always taken my health for granted. Yet He has reminded me that I need to find my rest in Him alone and He will see me through.

Lesson 8. Discipleship and how to apply it in my life. I shared here about the journey God is taking me on in this area. It has been such a joy to see how God is using me to speak life into those He wants me to disciple and how they are doing the same for me. It has been a huge blessing and I can't wait to see how He continues to work in this area of my life.

Lesson 9. God loves to lavish good gifts on His children. We just have to have open hands to receive them. I have been blessed beyond measure to have the privilege of being loved on by a wonderful lover of Jesus and the gift of becoming his wife in less than 6 months. Yay! :) I continue to be blown away by how God has worked in our relationship thus far and how He keeps drawing us to Himself through it all. Looking forward to all He has in store for us in the coming year.

Birthday gifts, which will make great wedding décor :)

Our true colors shining :)

 

Thank you, my friends, for your friendship and encouragement this year. May you be blessed as you take some moments to reflect on the life lessons God has taught you in 2013 and anticipate all that He has in store in 2014.

A Heart to Know Him

Today is a perfect winter day to grab a cup of coffee, my Bible and journal and pour out my heart, reflecting on what God has been doing lately.

"I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart." Isaiah 24:7

This verse hit me this morning. God desires to give me a heart to know Him. I am His daughter, but do I treat Him as my God? I desire to, but do I actually apply that each day when I get up, realizing that I've been given another day to serve Him?

Last night a friend challenged me by saying that God doesn't just want our lives. He wants our hearts. My heart. Do I freely offer Him my heart, knowing that He might use it differently than I'd like Him to? Or do I keep a portion of it closed off with a Do Not Enter sign posted?

I woke up with this song on my heart this morning- Beloved by Tenth Avenue North.

"You're My beloved
Lover I'm yours
Death shall not part us
It's you I died for
For better or worse
Forever we'll be
My Love it unites us
And it binds you to Me
It's a mystery"



My heart continues to be in awe of His love for me. It is indeed a mystery, one that is ever drawing us closer to His heart. Thank You, Abba Father.

Broken Vessels

Blogging, oh, how I've missed you! I have no excuses that it's been so long. The only legitimate one is that my labtop died and I had to replace it. Early Christmas gift to myself, I suppose!

Over the past few months in my break from writing, I've had many blog topics on my mind. What I'd like to share today has been the common theme for the past month or so. Here goes...

God has been breaking me lately. Opening my eyes to what is really in my heart. Areas that I've never completely surrendered to Him. My weaknesses and how He can fill them with truth.

The biggest lesson that I keep returning to is the simple fact that He is the potter and I am the clay. I can't even tell you how many times the following verses have popped out of my Bible at me:

"You turn things upside down,
as if the potter were thought to be like the clay!
Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it,
    'You did not make me'?
Can the pot say to the potter,
    'You know nothing'?" Isaiah 29:16

 

“Woe to those who quarrel with their Maker,
    those who are nothing but potsherds
    among the potsherds on the ground.
Does the clay say to the potter,
    ‘What are you making?’
Does your work say,
‘The potter has no hands’?" Isaiah 45:9

 

"Yet you, Lord, are our Father.
   We are the clay, you are the potter;
    we are all the work of your hand." Isaiah 64:8

 

"This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord:

'Go down to the potter’s house, and there I will give you my message.'

So I went down to the potter’s house, and I saw him working at the wheel.

But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands;

so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him.

Then the word of the Lord came to me. He said, 'Can I not do with you,
Israel, as this potter does?' declares the Lord. 'Like clay in the hand
of the potter, so are you in my hand, Israel.'" Jeremiah 18:1-6

And if I haven't read them in my Bible, they've been in sermons or books. Serious God-moments.

One day when I was experiencing a lot of heart-rending, I read the following quote in one of my books- "Weep till you are malleable- God shapes best those whose clay is made soft by tears." I can vouch for that. Somehow through the weeping, He is able to shape us into who He wants us to be.

In what ways is God shaping your heart and life at this very moment? Are you allowing Him to take over the wheel and work as He sees fit? Am I?

"The Potter chose to make a vessel, Just a clay earthen vessel.
He wrought it with care in His hands, And lo, it was marred for His plan.
The Potter took that vessel, and He made it over again.
He knowingly crushed and He broke it
So into His plan it would fit.
And I was that vessel, Just a clay earthen vessel
In love He came and He broke me, And He's making me all over again.
God is your Potter, And you are His vessel.
In love let Him come and break you
And make you all over again."

[An old song based on Jeremiah 18:2-6]

Father, oh, that You would break us so that we could truly be Your vessels.

Fully Depending [on Him]

Life. So good, but so busy. Has it really been almost 2 months since I wrote my last post? I've missed you, my dear friends, and the joys of writing! As we head into the fall and winter seasons, I'm determined to not slack off in sharing my thoughts and experiences with you.

God has been teaching me an abundance of lessons lately. One of the greatest lessons has been that of dependence on Him. Full dependence. When I was younger, I memorized the 'animal' acronyms-

Depend

On

God

 

&

 

Fully
Rely
On
God.

What does it mean to fully rely? 100% and nothing less. I was challenged by this in staff devotions at school the past two days. We talked about celebrating Dependence Day vs. Independence Day. Our need for Him. We depend on Him for all things- life, breath, our entire being. It's so easy for me to get caught up in the living that I forget Who is allowing me to do so. It's all Him.

A few weeks ago, I was feeling overwhelmed with thoughts of the future. As I was meditating and experiencing His presence, He brought the following thoughts to my heart:

-When I have doubts about my inadequacies, it is my flesh speaking. He is the Great I Am, who is fully adequate and more than enough to fill me.
-"I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.'" [Lamentations 3:24]
-"Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God." [2 Corinthians 3:5]
-Then He spoke these words straight to my heart, "Let go and let me. Accept my calling."

Wow. I'm still processing what all of this looks like, but I'm trusting in faith that He will lead me each step of the way. I'm learning that is the only way to walk for we walk by faith, not by sight.

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"Our faith is in what we cannot see.

We place it all into Thee."

A Vulnerable Heart

What does it mean to be vulnerable before God and fellow believers?

This has been on my mind since yesterday. I'm realizing that I have a hard time opening myself up to those that I love, sharing the depths of my heart with complete honesty. As I thought about this, I realized part of the problem is pride. I'm fearful of what they will say or think when I reveal the thoughts and intents of my heart. What God will think. Yet pride is sin. That's the simple truth. We all have it in some shape or form in our lives. The answer lies in bringing the sin of pride out into the light and open so that God can take its ugliness and transform it with His grace into something more beautiful than we could imagine. That's what He does and Who He is.

To be vulnerable means to be extremely susceptible, weak, defenseless, and helpless. I used to think being vulnerable was a bad thing. Now I'm realizing, however, it is actually a wise thing. To be susceptible and weak before God for He is our strength.

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped." [Psalm 27:7a]

To depend on Him alone, trusting that He will help me in any and all situations.

"I lift up my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." [Psalm 121:1-2]

God has called us as His church to be in communion with one another. I believe a part of that includes sharing our heart, allowing ourselves to be vulnerable even if it's scary and involves bringing darkness to light. The power of a shared testimony is great and blessings can result from being honest before brothers and sisters in Christ. Am I willing to take such steps of faith, trusting in Him to guide me in truth? Are you willing?

Give Me Faith

The song I've had on repeat for months::

Elevation Worship – Give Me Faith

I need You to soften my heart,
To break me apart.
I need You to open my eyes,
To see that You're shaping my life.

All I am, I surrender. 
 
Give me faith to trust what You say
That You're good, and Your love is great.
I'm broken inside, I give You my life.

I need You to soften my heart,
To break me apart.
I need You to pierce through the dark
And cleanse every part of me.

[Chorus]

I may be weak,
but Your Spirit's strong in me.
My flesh may fail,
but My God You never will.

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I've heard many times over the years about the importance of having a sincere heart when singing and actually meaning what you are singing.

 

When I sing-

"I need You to soften my heart,
To break me apart.
I need You to open my eyes,
To see that You're shaping my life.."
I'd better mean it!

This definitely feels like a reflection of what God is doing in me right now. Softening my heart by breaking me apart. Opening my eyes to what He is doing in me. While I can't see the end result, I trust what He says, that He's good and His love is great. He is a master potter, skilled at what He does. Whether He is softening or shaping, there is a purpose. I am indeed weak, but He is strong. I'm prone to failure, but He is faithful. And that truth is enough for me to cling to today.







Journey from the desert to the Promised Land

This morning at church I happened to come upon a passage of verses that were so timely they brought a smile to my face. Love when God shines down His love at just the right moments! This is what I read:

"Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors. ² Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. ³ He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. ⁴ Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. ⁵ Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.
⁶ Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him. ⁷ For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; ⁸ a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; ⁹ a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.
¹⁰ When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you."

[Deuteronomy 8:1-10]

You may be wondering why these verses spoke so much to my heart. Well, it's because I'm living them.

I shared previously about discipline. Today I'd like to share more from my journey in this area.

Those that know me well know that the Lord has been leading me on a journey of refining and testing this year. Verse 2 talks about how He led the Israelites 40 years through the desert to humble them, to test them, to know their hearts more fully. While I pray that my journey isn't quite so lengthy, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that my Father is humbling and testing me during this season, asking me if I am willing to give Him my all, my heart. He has certainly been humbling me [verse 3] and causing me to hunger, but also showing me that my hunger hasn't always been for Him like it should be. Yet when my hunger for Him is great, He has never failed in providing me with bread from His Word that continually encourages and fills me up. Those moments are so precious to me!

Verse 4 reminds me that He alone is the one who sustains me on this journey. He is faithful in meeting my needs and gives my feet strength to keep walking (or running!) This is all a part of the discipline process. As a Father, our Lord disciplines us [verse 5.] One of the many lessons I have been learning thus far is that He is worthy of my praise and I am to bless His name at all times, walking in His ways and revering Him [verse 6.]

And then we come to verses 7-9 where He brings us into a good and beautiful land, overflowing with blessings. Picture the desert: parched, continuing as far as the eye can see, fruitless. Imagine 40 years of this. And then after years of that suffering, moving into a land far more beautiful and bountiful than anyone could've imagined. A land of plenty, a land worthy of the long wait. A land where "you will lack nothing" [verse 9.] This is a tremendous encouragement to me, a reminder that the wait I am on will not last forever. My Father did not forget that I am still following Him through the desert and that I am longing to arrive in the Promised Land. He will bring me to it. I simply have to keep my eyes fixed on Him alone as I continue on step-by-step in anticipation of the abundant blessings He has waiting in store for me.

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Verse 10 reminds us that we are to praise our Lord and provider when we have eaten and are satisfied. Too often we fail to thank Him when He answers our prayers, but let's not forget to praise Him in the end. He is so worthy of our thanks.

The journey my Father has been taking me on has been far from easy, but I have been learning so much along the way and for that I am grateful. I look with anticipation for the day when He brings me into the land of beauty, abundance, and blessings far beyond what my heart has imagined. To God be the glory!

Enduring discipline

One word: Discipline.

What comes to mind? For me recently, it has involved both physical and spiritual aspects, exercising my body as well as my heart and soul.

This past weekend I ran in my first ever 5K to support a local crisis pregnancy center.

Brother and I ran it along with our cousin.

 

I never imagined myself actually completing a race, but as I crossed the finish line, it felt so good! As I've reflected on this experience, I can't help but think of how my heavenly Father has been disciplining me lately in spiritual aspects.

 

Some days it hurts so badly. Other days I welcome it.

 

Hebrews 12:7-11 says,

 

" Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." [emphasis added]

 

Regardless of whether you are the discipliner or the disciplinee, the process is a difficult one. With that in mind, our Lord disciplines us because He loves us. I'm sure you've heard that line before-

"This hurts me more than it hurts you!"

When my heart hurts (almost literally), I have to remember that my Father's does too. He wants what is best for me and takes me from where I am to where I need to be. Point A to Point B. I see the beginning; He sees the end. And am I ever grateful for that!

 

The race may be a long one, but He will be ever by my side, encouraging me in His always gentle way. Time to lace up my shoes for the run!







A Sacrifice of Praise

Trust means saying, "Lord, I want you more."

This thought has been flowing through my mind so much lately. What does it mean to give something up as a sacrifice? How can I have a heart full of praise through it all? Just a few of the ponderings of my heart in recent weeks.

A dear friend shared with me about what a sacrifice of praise means. I realized that I wanted to learn a bit more about it.

Here's what the Bible has to say::
"Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise- the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
~Hebrews 13:15-16

What I got from this::
There is never a time when we shouldn't be offering our Father a sacrifice of praise. That is to say, even when it physically hurts, including hurtings of the heart, we should be praising His name. For praising Him even in the downpours brings Him pleasure. Focusing on Jesus and those around us will bring sunshine to our hearts, even on the cloudiest of days.

And don't think I don't realize how hard this can be. Trust me, I've been there too. Sometimes the last thing I want to do [shame on me] is to praise Him in the storms. But yet, when I do, I know He is smiling down with approval.

God has been showing me that through it all, I am to bless His Name. One of my favorite worship songs right now is 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord.)

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I couldn't help but think of all of the faithful believers in the Bible who led lives of sacrificial praise. There are many, including::

-Job. Everything was taken from him, yet he still proclaimed "God, you are good." Can I do the same?

-Joseph. He went through many trials, yet he still believed in God's faithfulness to the end.

-David. His family was a mess, but still he praised God through the ups and downs in his life.

-Paul. He experienced countless persecutions and difficulties, yet he focused on the One who was worthy of his praise.

 

When we are in the face of suffering, we must remember that-

"Suffering is the training ground for Christian maturity. It develops our patience and makes our final victory sweet." [Life Application Bible commentary on Hebrews 12:3.]

 

Someday it will be worth it all. Learn to praise Him in the storms, dear friends!

It. Has. Meaning.

One resounding thought continues to resonate within my heart::

It has meaning. Every single situation that we go through has purpose.

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He sees the big picture in the puzzle of our lives even if we can only focus on the one missing piece.

The Creator knows where it is and when He wants to give it to us. We just have to be patient.

If you're anything like me, the patience words evokes sighs and eye-rolling.
[Ok, maybe that's a little dramatic, but you get the point.]

Patience is hard. Which is why I've been doing a bible study on it with a dear kindred spirit. :)

If you are so inclined to doing one yourself, I'd highly recommend the book we're using:

Patience: cultivating Spirit-given character// a six-week study by Calvin Miller.

I'll even give you a taste of it's treasures:

- "Patience isn't something we develop; it is something God develops in us as he takes over."

- "Patience is something that sustains us while we wait for God's will to be revealed. Patience reminds us that God's timing is not our timing. Patience is quiet confidence in God's promised provision."

-"What does patience look like? It looks like God standing on the eastern shore of the Red Sea waiting for Israel to take that step of faith. It looks like the loving father awaiting the return of the prodigal son. It looks like Jesus Christ standing at the door and knocking. Patience is yielding to God's perception of our circumstances in light of his view of the future."

And those are all taken from the introduction!

Needless to say, I am learning so much and being challenged greatly. But I wouldn't trade it for anything. I love when I sense God working in my heart and life! To Him be the glory.

My prayer is Exodus 9:16-

"But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth."

Blessings to you as you strive to be a patient Christ-follower!

Are you doing your homework?

Don't you just feel so loved by the Father when you come across a passage of Scripture that just speaks to your soul? That's how I've been feeling ever since I read this section of verses from Lamentations 3 the other week::

¹⁹ I remember my affliction and my wandering,
the bitterness and the gall.
²⁰ I well remember them,
and my soul is downcast within me.
²¹ Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:

²² Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
²³ They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
²⁴ I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

²⁵ The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
to the one who seeks him;
²⁶ it is good to wait quietly
for the salvation of the Lord.
²⁷ It is good for a man to bear the yoke
while he is young.

 

I've read this many times in the past, especially the ever popular verse 22, but for whatever reason, this time it spoke to me even more than usual.

 

Affliction, wanderings, and bitterness are common to humankind. When we go through difficult times, they stick with us for years to come, perhaps even our entire lifetime. But in verse 21 it says, "Yet" as a forerunner for the next few thoughts. We can have hope in Christ's love, compassions, and faithfulness. They wash over us anew each day, just when we need them. He is enough for us in our darkest of days. In the midst of it all, we have to remember He is still good. What He calls us to do is wait and seek Him. It doesn't mean that it will be easy, but that He'll be by our sides through it all.

 

The part that gripped my attention was verse 27. My immediate thought was, "What does it mean to 'bear the yoke?' I consider myself young and lately I've felt that I've been bearing a yoke. But I don't get what this verse is trying to say." So I reached for a Bible commentary (Life Application Bible) and this is what I found:

 

"To 'bear the yoke' means willingly coming under God's discipline and learning what he wants to teach. This involves several important factors: (1) silent reflection on what God wants, (2) repentant humility, (3) self-control in the face of adversity, and (4) confident patience, depending on the Teacher to bring about loving lessons in our lives. God has several long-term and short-term lessons for you right now. Are you doing your homework?"

 

Well, looks like I need to go. School is in session and this student has homework.

 

Blessings!

From the heart, To the heart

{Warning:: This post is straight from the heart and to the heart!}

Lately God has been revealing to me His incredible love for me. His love for each one of us.

And also how much of a sinner I am, a sinner in need of His daily grace.

"But He gives us more grace..." James 4:6a

For whatever reason, He has been opening my eyes to some ugly things in my heart. When that happens, it's never fun. It brings pain and tears. But in the end, it's what I need. And it brings peace.

This song popped into my head a few minutes ago and it just ties right into the thoughts of my heart right now.

The chorus speaks to me the most:

"Empty me
Of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition
And the poison of my pride
And any foolish thing my heart holds to
Lord empty me of me
So I can be
Filled with you"
{Chris Sligh}

My prayer is that I could indeed be emptied.

My favorite sermon from church in the last month was titled, "Rekindling Our Love for Jesus."

The points that spoke to me the most were the following:

• "Love the Lord your God (referring to Deuteronomy 6:5) does not leave anything out.
• Is He everything to me?
• What and who is drawing your heart?
• You can serve Christ without loving Him, but you can't love Him without serving Him.
• We sometimes have a lifestyle, but not a heartstyle."

That last line is one that has been resonating within me ever since I heard it. How's my heartstyle? Maybe not as great as I'd like it to be. I've certainly become more aware of some of my thoughts, actions, and attitudes towards certain people and am seeking to be made more in His image as a result. My challenge to you is that you would take a few moments to assess your heartstyle. Who is your heart drawn towards? Maybe the more important question is who do you want your heart to be completely drawn towards?

I firmly believe that God is moved by repentant hearts that are humbled and broken before Him. Whether it's on our knees or not, He hears our honest cries. My hope and prayer is that my heart and yours would be renewed and made fresh to serve Him anew beginning this very moment.