yoke

Matthew 11: 28-30 28Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

We all have seasons in our life when we are tired... physically & more importantly spiritually. 

Lately I see myself walking around with a wooden bar or frame on my shoulders much like an oxen... how easily I am defeated! Now, on this bar it reads: work, family, bills, responsibilities, worry, stress... all sitting heavily on the back of my neck. ...no wonder I am tired.

We all carry around some type of pressure, and it's easy to allow those pressures to take us down physically and spiritually. 

Christ offered something different; something less burdensome, less heavy, less straining to what the Pharisees were accustomed to in that time. 

Francis Chan, the author of "Crazy Love," describes "stress" and "worry" perfectly. He says, "STRESS says that things we are involved in are important enough to merit our impatience, our lack of grace towards others, or our tight grip of control." He says, "WORRY implies that we don't quite trust that God is big enough, powerful enough or loving enough to take care of what's happening in our lives." 

Still today, Christ offers such a sweet, gentle invite for each of us to take His yoke, for His yoke is easy and His burden is so much lighter than the pressures of the world. I'm so glad that Christ still offers this to me today. I know I can't carry all of this on my own. 

the usual

The other day Natalie and I decided on McDonald's for dinner. Since I have been requiring her to put in as many hours as I have at work, I thought she could use a little break and a deserving treat. I wouldn't say that McDonald's is her favorite fast food restaurant, but I would say that eating in the dinning area of McDonald's seems to be a huge treat to her.  We don't have a play area at our Micky-Dee's, nor is there anything "wonderful" about the inside of the greasy joint, but for some reason, it's a treat to her. Maybe it's because she picks the table, brings the ketchup, straws, napkins and items to the table... Or maybe it's just sitting across the table with my undivided attention... whatever the cause, it's just not the same when we bring the food home in a bag.

Anyway, we head to our local dive, pull into the parking space and I ask... "so have you thought about what you're going to order for dinner?" She responds with "I'll just have the usual." Her 'usual' consists of one cheeseburger, plain happy meal with fries and white milk, a four piece chicken nugget, sometimes a side of apple dippers and a vanilla cone to top it off.

For some reason when she said, "the usual," it struck me from a religious aspect. Webster defines usual as "a habit; ordinarily used or course of events." I know 'the usual' is a comfort zone... something I'm typically routinely doing ~ even in my relationship with God. 

How is it that the God I serve is completely unchanging from every aspect, never falls in the category of "the usual"? His mercies are new every morning... His blessings are unending from every aspect. Every day He shows me in a new way how He loves and cares for me by supplying my needs. Lamentations 3:22-25, after wondering how much more torment could go on, they still state that "The Lord's compassions never fail. They are new every morning. 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..."

When Natalie said "I'll have the usual," my thoughts focused toward God and I apologized for the times when I only give Him "the usual." My relationship with the indescribable merciful God should be anything but usual... He should be my every breath, thought and movement. He gives me more than I can imagine and ~ I in return should give Him my everything.

Sunday, we talked about the action of fasting and how fasting was a part of the cultural in biblical times and typically people would fast on the Sabbath and in the middle of the week. Fasting was just one way of worshipping God. I've heard people use fasting in a way to get something or waiting for God to answer a prayer ~ in fact, I've done that myself. Many places in the bible, fasting is clearly stated as an act to show your love towards God expecting nothing in return ~ another way of worship. It's a sacrificial act just as Jesus did for me ~ which is nothing in the realm of what I consider "usual" today.  

I love God and want to find new ways to express my love to God. I don't want to be stuck in "the usual." I want to give Him all I have... not just the usual.

Lord, thank you for this beautiful day! The sun is shining and I feel your warmth on my skin. Thank you for not being just the usual God... thank you for being the indescribable, exceptional, merciful, lovable God!  I worship You for You give me the strength, peace, comfort and love that could only come from You! I pray for you protective hand to be on my family this week. Touch them in a way only You can. I humbly give You the praise and glory for I know there are times I don't deserve to be in Your presence! In your precious son, Jesus' name.

glorious freedom!

I'm standing on Romans 8 today! I'm proclaiming Freedom in everything! Rebuking the bonds that tie and the chains that keep us down. For if God is on my side, His Spirit lives in me and there is absolutely nothing that can be against me nor can separate me from His love! 

Romans 8 ~ ¹ Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, ² because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. ³ For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, ⁴ in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

⁵ Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. ⁶ The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; ⁷ the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. ⁸ Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.

⁹ You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. ¹⁰ But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. ¹¹ And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit, who lives in you.

¹² Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it.¹³ For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, ¹⁴ because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. ¹⁵ For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." ¹⁶ The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. ¹⁷Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

22We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. 

28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. ³⁰ And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

 ³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? ³³ Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ As it is written:"For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered." ³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

WOW! Freedom! I need it!

Lord, Today I am proclaiming FREEDOM and I claim it! I'm asking You to lift the chains, unlock the barrier for me and my family. You are more than on my side ~ You are the Spirit that lives in me! Use me for Your glory! There is absolutely nothing that can separate me from Your incredible, undying love in Christ Jesus! If You are on my side ~ then who can be against me? You predestined, You called, You justified & You glorified me because I am Yours! You are an incredible merciful God and it is my daily honored reward just to be in your presence! In Your precious son, Jesus' name.

purge your conscience

Hebrews 9:14 ~ is what I read in my hand writing on the edge of a piece of paper. I think I remember writing that reference down in church, but I don't recall why.... so I looked up Hebrews 9:14.

"How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?" Hebrew 9:14

Wow! 

I'm reading a book called Releasing the Rivers Within by Dwight Edwards. It's pretty powerful. In fact, as I'm reading, I'm finding myself going back every few paragraphs and reading it again just to be sure that was what I just read. There is affirmation going on... Edwards talks briefly about fear, then a stirring, bearing different fruit, strong roots and I just read about giving up the easy road and go where Christ went. Jesus was in the streets, in the crowds, with the sick, healing, touching mingling with the lepers.  I see as a Christian how easy it is to be intertwined in a world of what might be called "safe and easy." In this safe bubble... I would think that I primarily have friends who call themselves "Christians".  It hits me... how do I reach the lost and share God's word if all my acquaintances and friends already know of the God I love? 

In this book, Edwards says, "An inevitable part of the life of Christ flowing out through us will be fishing for men and seeking the lost." ...fishing for men... hhmmm ~ I've been hearing this quite a bit.

This morning I read a friends blog who talked about trees extending up praise and how it is the roots that give strength. It made me smile! So I'm reading along in my book this afternoon about how God has rooted us and gives us strength... How our branches should not only be intertwined with only other Christians, but stretched out to the world. It is the life of Christ flowing through me... using me to touch the world... not just my world. These are not my doings... this is God working through us.

...Oh, I love it when He does this! It is clear what God wants me to do... purge my conscience of dead works and work for the One who offers eternal life. 

Okay, Lord... 

how?

lipstick

Several months ago, I began this blog site thinking that lipstick was the start and ending of each day... Just yesterday I pulled a tube of lip balm out of the damp washing machine... just glad I grabbed it before it reached the dryer! So many things in my life remind me of Natalie. Even when she's not sitting next to me on the sofa, I think about her. When she's at her dads for a weekend, I long for her return. She is somewhat of a lifeline to me ~ she keeps me grounded and in check ~ more than she will ever know.  The other night I forgot to give thanks for our meal. She reached out her hand across the table for mine, smiled, bowed her head and waited for me to give grace. :) 

The few times in my life when she's not near me, I still think about her. In the same realm, God is near me. It is a consistent conscience effort to acknowledge His presence, but it is becoming more natural. There was an incident today while mowing that I laughed out loud. I was listening to my ipod and found myself praising and worshiping Him. He makes me smile. :) 

Just as lipstick, God should be so much a part of my every day. In fact, God should be applied as lipstick... metaphorically speaking. He is the one who should always guard my lips. It's like applying lipstick... apply God ...to my lips. If my heart is longing to be in His presence and be relying on Him, my lips should only speak of the goodness of Him. Some times I'm terrible at this ~ especially at work. It's difficult to not get frustrated and easy to use the tongue of negativity.

Proverbs 21:23 says, He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity (KJV says: keepeth his soul from troubles). 

Colossians 3 where it talks about holy living, verse 8 says, but now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 

In Hebrews 13:15, Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name.

I have to remind myself constantly to watch what I say and keep God on the tip of my tongue. I John 4 keeps me and my soul in check :) I am told that I live in him and He lives in me. Why? Because he had given me His Spirit. I'm reassured that if I acknowledge Jesus is the son of God, God lives in me and I live in God. It's easy to keep my lips singing His praises when I remind myself to love my brother... to "live in love because God is love and whoever lives in love lives in God and God in him. In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him." I am so glad I am born in love because I know that love comes from God. Oh, that's so refreshing!

Lord, Thank you for the song in my heart. Thank you for the love you give me every day, and how each day you show me You are here. Just as lipstick, protect my lips and guard my tongue to only speak of you. Thank you for holding me, loving me, showing me. You are an incredible God! Thank you for never changing! In your sons' precious name.

fear itself

Franklin D. Roosevelt once said, "The only thing to fear is fear itself." Whom shall I fear? Over and over I am commanded to “fear not” ~ by Christ, by angels, by God.

Fear has been on my mind a lot lately and for quite some time now. I think that there is definitely fear in many areas of my life. But the things I fear about are really not mine to fear.

So, what do I fear? Fear of failing... failing in my job, failing God, failing as a mother. Fear of letting go. Fear of losing Natalie.  I have been working on “letting it go and giving my all.”  It seems all my life, I have broken promises to God. I know I have let Him down. I know I've failed Him. I’m reminded of a song by Third Day, “Take it all, ‘cause I can’t take it any longer. All I have I can’t make it on my own; take the first, take the last, take the good and take the rest...” 

There are times when I think I'm in the middle of a storm.  I would love to think that my valley's are not deep and in reality ~ they are very shallow valleys. God will not give me more than I can handle. What will it take to overcome these fears? In saying the words "God, you can have it all. I turn it all over to you." My gut feeling instantly pulls back and I  say to myself "except Natalie ~ she's all I have." I want to turn everything over... but I don't want to give up certain things because I fear loss.  Matthew 10:36-38, "Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me." Do I love Natalie more than I love God? In Mark 12, Jesus said that the widow has put more into the treasury than all of the others although she gave very little. Why did he say that? He says that everyone gave out of their own wealth, but the widow, out of her poverty put everything she had in. She gave him her all ~ everything she had. 

I'm also reminded of the story in Genesis 22 when Abraham took Isaac to the alter for sacrifice because God told him to. Abraham was obedient and without hesitation built the altar, laid Isaac on top of the wood and as he reached for the knife to slay his son, an angel of the Lord called out to him and told him to not lay a hand on the boy. "I know you fear God because you have not withheld from me your only son." God was gracious and merciful and because Abraham was obedient. I know God isn't asking me to give up Natalie... nor is that in the plans. But I understand the love I gain from her and I know God wants me to love Him the way I love her.  God knows the desires of my heart. With God, when I let go ~ I gain everything! 

The antidote for fear is love ~ bottom line. For perfect love casts out fear! I John 4:18 reads, “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has to do with punishment..”  The enemy, Satan, loves to torment and is the author of all fear. This verse goes on to say, “The one who fears is not made perfect in love."  I know love Him, Christ, because He first loved me.  

It's hard not to fear. I'm in “waiting” right now. There's something big in the works... I'm letting go, I'm waiting, listening and trying to understand without fearing.

One of Natalie’s favorite songs “I’m letting Go” by Francesca Battistelli speaks what my heart is saying right now. My heart beats, standing on the edge • But my feet have finally left the ledge • Like an acrobat • There’s no turning back • I’m letting go • Of the life I planned for me • And my dreams • I’m losing control • Of my destiny • It feels like I’m falling and that’s what it’s like to believe • So I’m letting go • This is a giant leap of faith • Trusting and trying to embrace • The fear of the unknown • Beyond my comfort zone • Giving in to your gravity • Knowing You are holding me • I’m not afraid • Feels like I’m falling and that’s what it’s like to believe • Feels like I’m falling and this is the life for me. It's scary to think that I am not in control of my life, but in the same breath refreshing to know that my life is in the hands of a wonderful, merciful God! From here on out it's not my destiny, Lord; the life I have planned for myself now belongs to You! I do feel like I'm falling and giving in to your gravity! For it is just fear itself that I fear... 

Lord, thank you for Natalie ~ she is truly a blessing in my life and is a desire of my heart. Thank you for Your grace and mercy and your patience with me as I journey with You! Thank you for the path you lay ahead and for the helping me overcome my fears. Thank you for your protection over me and my little family. Thank you for your consistency! Your love endures forever!  In Jesus' precious name!

middle of living

"Let it go. It's time... are you ready? I'm waiting. everything..." 

I can't stop thinking about Sunday's lesson. Pastor Jay talked about the story of Simon Peter lending his boat to Jesus. Then Jesus telling Peter to go back on the water and cast your nets again. Even though Peter had no success fishing the previous night. He was tired. He was finishing his routine; washing out his nets. As I read the dialog, I'm guessing that he probably had some hesitation, maybe even a little burdened that someone wanted to use his boat. The dialog proves he didn't argue the point to not go back out to sea, but definitely made a point to mentioned to Jesus they had worked all night and still caught nothing (Luke 5:5). Probably a bit under his breath... as though Jesus didn't already know this. But Peter followed Jesus request with no hesitation "because you say so, I will let down my nets." Those are powerful words.  Am I willing to surrender and let my nets down?

Can you imagine the feelings that Simon Peter had when he tugged on his nets and could not pull them in by himself because his nets were so full. I wonder if he thought for a split second that maybe his nets had hung up on a limb or rock or something. I know he believe in Jesus. He had already referred to him as Master once on this day before casting his nets. I can imagine there being glee in his heart... like pride while he was pulling his nets... I know I would.  I would imagine for a few minutes, he got caught up in the tugging and joy of pulling in the catch.  

In verse 8, it states that Peter realizes what has just happened ~ how Jesus has supplied his boats with over flowing fish.   Peter falls to his knees... praising Jesus ~ seeing all of the sin in his life. He humbly tells Jesus, "Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!" Peter sees what the Lord has done... another miracle. 

Now, I imagine Peter feeling embarrassed and ashamed of his actions ~ first hesitation and probably a little doubt, then it turning into pride. I would imagine Peter was probably thinking to himself... I'm such a fool. Jesus calmly said, "do not be afraid, from this point on, you will be fishers of men." 

Simon Peter did not hesitate... It says in verse 11 that they pulled up their boats, and left everything to follow Jesus. They had just hit the jackpot. They were at the peak of their fishing career. Their boats were overflowing. They had plenty ~ enough and then some! 

This is exactly what I've been hearing... I'm in a place in life where I have everything I need and most everything I could want. I'm very comfortable where I'm sitting ..good career, good car, a little cozy house, a wonderful family, an amazing daughter... I can say that life is good. ...but I'm hearing... "turn everything over to me. Are you willing to walk away for me?"  Now, I'm not saying I hear "walk away from my responsibilities..." I'm hearing "don't just lean on me... let me hold you. I want you to depend solely on me." 

Jay put it so clear Sunday (paraphrased) ~ "just because you are comfortable... you are in the middle of life... are you ready to give that up... to fulfill God's purpose?"

Peter wasn't out looking for a journey or career with Jesus. Jesus gave him the opportunity to trust him and Peter did just that. Peter was living life... He was in the middle of a work day... cleaning his nets as routinely I'm sure he had done many times. Just as I am... wrapped up in my every day life of work, chores, etc. 

Is God calling me to give it all? Yah, I believe He is... This is only the beginning... there's so much more in store. Right in the middle of living life I see how I am just now starting to live. 

Lord, you are an incredible God! Each day you continue to give me more than what I had yesterday. Every day is a new morning, feels like I'm living for the very first time in my life. Your love is more real than anything! I have a feeling in my soul and I pray that I'm not wrong ~ that it is all You! The life that I have now is only the beginning! Lord, use me; send me! Thank you for finding me and realizing that I am not broken beyond repair. You give me breath, you give me everything I have! I cry out to you ~ for you are hope for the hopeless and strength to the weak. Blessed is the name of Jesus! In Christ precious name I praise you!