Month: November 2015

I am a blessed woman! My husband and oldest son put on a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner today. My oldest son says that my youngest son and I will have a turn next year. Hmmm…I’m not sure that is such a great idea!

Today I am most thankful for my immediate family and that we could all be together, in the same house, at the same time. Between the four of us and our jobs and school, being together in one place rarely happens. But today, we were able to be together and linger there. What a blessing!

That is what it’s all about, right? Being with the ones you love. Being thankful for what you have been given in this life. Maybe we don’t have the house of our dreams or the job of our dreams. Maybe (definitely) our family is not perfect. Maybe our car is broken down more than it’s running. Or the washing machine frequently doesn’t spin out and we have to go back through the spin cycle again, giving the barrel a turn to get it started. Someone probably overcooked a turkey or didn’t get all the lumps out of the mashed potatoes today. So what? Those things are light and momentary compared to eternity. Be thankful for what you have, today and everyday. The key to being content is not having what you want, but being thankful for what you have.

Today I had my diagnostic mammogram. It lead to an ultrasound. When the radiologist came in, he had no clear answer for me, so we now go for a lumpectomy and a biopsy. I’m waiting on scheduling to call and schedule an appointment with me.

I dislike waiting. Seriously. Unless you know me, you cannot know the truth of this statement. I am a hard headed redhead with a type A personality. When I set my mind to do something, I want it done. Now. Ask my kids. They have stories.

So when I learned that I have to wait some more to put this lump issue to rest, I had a choice to make. I could worry and fret and stay in my pajamas and eat candy cane kisses all Thanksgiving break, or I could redeem it. I could wallow in self-pity. Or I could praise Jesus for His hand that holds me. I could abandon hope and forfeit. Or I could redeem the situation.

I choose to redeem the situation. What the enemy has meant for harm, God will turn into good. And I plan to tell everyone about it! No weapon formed against me shall prosper. That’s a promise I can stand on. The enemy is trying to silence me, but I refuse to let that happen.

Psalms 143:8 NLT “Let me hear of Your unfailing love in the morning, for I am trusting in You. Show me where to walk, for I give myself to You.”

I started out my morning very early. I had not intended to get up that early. In fact, I had told my husband the day before that I was going to sleep in because I did not have to take my son to school before I went to work. That was my plan. It was not God’s plan for my day.

Instead, I was awake by 3am and in the prayer room at church before 5am.  Why? Because I desired to hear from God. Because I needed to leave the distractions at home and get away to a place where I could hear solely from God.  I am not bragging. I would never wake up this early on my own. But when God wants to speak to me, I’ve learned to wake up and take note.

The writer of Psalms knew the importance of meeting with God in the morning. He understood that when we meet with God first thing in the morning, we invite Him to take control of our whole day. He has control of it anyway, but when we surrender to that knowledge instead of fighting against it, things happen. Things begin to click in our lives. We realize that things  are falling into place, into Him, instead of falling apart. Life becomes less like giving the cat a bath and more like soaking in a bubble bath of God’s presence and power and love.

God is for us and He has amazing things for us to do today. Wake up and walk in His way!

New. That’s the word I’m getting as I sit and focus on God this morning. Granted, it’s a little later than normal because it’s Saturday and I slept in this morning, but it’s still morning. For another 35 minutes….

There’s something about new things, isn’t there? New clothes that you put on and wear into public for the first time. Oh, the joys of hearing someone compliment you on your new outfit. Before you know it, it’s just another “old thing” hanging in the back of your closet (or laying on the floor of your closet).

A new car. I remember when I first got Oliver (my car). It was exciting to drive him. He was the car of my dreams. I relished in the compliments. I secretly smiled every time someone stared at him (secretly because I didn’t want to appear prideful). I kept him spotless. I told my teenage boys, “There shall be no eating or drinking in Oliver.” He’s still new, but not NEW and sometimes i forego a wash or leave a cup in the cup holder or don’t vacuum up the crumbs right away.

A new job. The thrill of adventure as you embark on a new chapter in your life. It’s exhilarating. It’s fun to get up and go to work every morning. You have big plans to take over the company. And then, it’s not new anymore. Something happens that bursts your bubble and it becomes a tired old 9-5 again. Sundays come around and you begin dreading Monday morning, draining the last bit of joy out of your weekend.

New is fun. New is exciting. When something is new, we are on top of the world. As I sit here and write, I see how that happens in our walk with God as well. I remember when my walk with God was new and fresh. I remember the big plans I had to meet with Him every morning to pray and read my Bible. I remember my thoughts about Him were without ceasing. I remember how I surrendered every single ounce of my being to Him and thought that I could take on the world for the sake of Christ. I was like the writer of Psalms who said, “For by You I can run against a troop. By my God I can leap over a wall.” That was me when my walk with God was new. And I venture to guess that was you, too.

But the newness wears off. Life gets busy and we begin to cut corners. We begin to put things off or on the back burner…just for a moment. Moments become days and suddenly, those new clothes, that new car, that new job, that new life in Christ loses its luster.

But there is hope. At least for your walk with God. I can’t do much about your clothes, your car, or your job, but I can tell you that the Bible says that “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation: old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” God is a Creator. He can take nothing and make it into something new and beautiful, again or for the very first time.

Choose to be made new today. Go searching for your first love again. Surrender everything to God all over again. Reclaim your newness of life in Christ! And let your newness shine forth like a light in the darkness!

“Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders,

Let me walk upon the waters,

Wherever You will call me.

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander,

And my faith will be made stronger,

In the Presence of my Savior”

– Oceans, Hillsong

 

Those are the words I sand tonight in the worship service. A great worship service. A worship service that started before it was even time to start church. “Oceans” was the last song we sang. I had prayed. I had worshiped. I had told God that I would do anything. And then “Oceans” played and I sang the words and God said, “Do you really mean it? You’re singing about going where you have to trust Me completely. You’re asking to walk upon waters that you would never walk without Me calling you there. You’re asking me to make your faith stronger. Do you mean it?”

“Of course, God. Of course I mean it.” I said.

He went on. “What if the place I call you to is a cancer ward? Would you go there? Would you tell them about Me? Would you take My Hope to them? For Me? Are you really ready to go where your trust is without borders and walk upon the waters where I call you? Are you really ready to go deeper than you would ever dare to go if I hadn’t called you? Are you ready for Me to make your faith stronger?”

“I’m ready.” I replied.

And in case there was any doubt about what He had just said to me, He confirms it with a scripture I had read on the way to church. Ok, God. I get it. You sealed the deal.

I really am ready. I want to go where God leads me. I want to say what He wants me to say. I want to do what He has planned for me to do. Why? Because His plans for me are very good. Because I know that ALL things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. I don’t know what His purpose is. I don’t know if tonight was literal, or a test as the one Abraham was faced with when God asked him to give Isaac. But I know that whatever His purpose, my trust in Him has no borders.

I leave you with this, my declaration of exuberant faith.

Psalm 27 (NLT)

The Lord is my light and my salvation—
so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble?
 When evil people come to devour me,
when my enemies and foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
 Though a mighty army surrounds me,
my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
I will remain confident.

 The one thing I ask of the Lord—
the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
delighting in the Lord’s perfections
and meditating in his Temple.
 For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
he will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
 Then I will hold my head high
above my enemies who surround me.
At his sanctuary I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy,
singing and praising the Lord with music.