31 Days Seeking God

I have been a Christian for a very long time.  I asked Jesus to come live in my heart when I was 5.  I loved Jesus more than anything, going to bed listening to teaching tapes and writing love songs to Jesus by age 7.  I went to Christian school for a few of my elementary school years.  I was in church Sunday morning, Sunday night, and Wednesday night and for any special meetings in between.  I was a teenager in a youth group that went out and ministered several times a month at local churches and street events.  

Somewhere along the way, I learned the art of wearing the mask.  Hiding behind Christian clichés became my life.  After years of hiding, my heart became hard and tired.  I stopped seeking, stopped longing and the wonder of Jesus left.  

Recently, the Holy Spirit spoke to me in the middle of our Pastor's message and said "this is for you."  He was teaching on "seeking the Lord."  Immediately, I knew it was time to take Him at His word.  Jeremiah 29:13-14 (MSG) "When you come looking for me, you’ll find me. “Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.” God’s Decree."

Oh God, I don't want to be disappointed.  I want to seek you with my whole heart.  I want to find you more than anything else.  This has been my prayer for the past month, and I’ve been learning to seek God with fresh eyes.  You know, when you’ve been in a relationship a long time, it is easy to lose that excitement of the new love.  I want that excitement back when I talk about Jesus, when I think of Him.

This 31 day series was born out of a desire to seek God with my whole heart.  To see Him, to hear Him, to know Him.  Join with me, and seek Him with me.  You will not be disappointed to see Him in your everyday life.  One of the rewards of seeking God is getting to know His promises.  The bible says His promises are Yes, and by that we say Amen.  I am going to spend 31 days seeking Him through various promises.  

There are many ways to seek God.  We can seek Him in prayer, worship, His Word, spending time with other believers to be sharpened, and the list goes on.  I hope you will join me and let’s fall back in love with Jesus.  Let’s let Him restore to us the joy of His salvation!

POSTS:

Day 1 - Be Anxious for Nothing
Day 2 - He Will Give Rest
Day 3 - He Will Quiet You by His Love
Day 4 - He is Near to the Broken
Day 5 - He Will Fulfill His Purpose for Me
Day 6 - He is Our Provider
Day 7 - His Grace is Sufficient
Day 8 - He Restores Us
Day 9 - He is Our Peace
Day 10 -  He Cares for You
Day 11 -  He is Faithful
Day 12 -  He is for You
Day 13 -  He is Our Joy
Day 14 -  He Keeps Watch Over Us
Day 15 -  He is Our Helper 
Day 16 -  He is Our Refuge and Strength 
Day 17 -  He Leads Us to Still Waters
Day 18 -  He Gives Us Favor
Day 19 -  His Mercies are New Every Morning
Day 20 -  He Fills Our Hearts Desire
Day 21 -  He is Our Redeemer
Day 22 -  He Makes All Things New
Day 23 -  He is with Us Always
Day 24 -  He Will Strengthen Us
Day 25 -  He is Working in Us
Day 26 -  He Makes All Things Possible
Day 27 -  He Moves Mountains
Day 28 -  He Works All Things for Our Good
Day 29 -  He Will Go Before You
Day 30 -  He is Our Freedom
Day 31 -  He Finished It All

Fill Me, Lord

Linking up for Five Minute Friday, for the first time over at Kate Motaung's place.  This is a fabulous community of bloggers that link arms on Friday to write for five minutes flat, no editing.  Come join in the fun with us!  This is Kate's first week since taking over for Lisa Jo Baker!

Fill me, Lord.  It's a simple prayer, and it's one I've prayed a thousand times, or more, in my lifetime.  The thing I often forget is that God is just waiting for me to take the first step in getting that prayer answered.  I can pray that prayer until I no longer have breath, but if I don't do my part, I will still be as empty as I ever was.

Have you ever heard the saying "You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink"?  That's how I feel about my part in Jesus filling me.  I'm standing on the edge of the water, and He's calling out to me to step in.  He's calling me to get filled up, but if I just stand there at the edge, I can not get filled.

Too often I am more apt to fill up on the junk instead of the one thing that can keep me satisfied.

Instead of filling up on peace, I drown myself in the cares and chaos of this world.

Instead of filling up on joy, I get so focused on problems and the hopelessness that accompany them.

Instead of filling up on love, I allow anger to seep in and boil over to those who are most important to me.

Instead of filling up on the goodness of God, I meditate on how people have failed me.

Instead of filling up on Jesus, I fill up on TV, movies, books, the internet, and anything else that turns my heart from Him.

This is a surrender of sorts.  I want to be filled with Him.  Empty me of me, so I can be filled with You, Lord.  Let my sights be set on You.  Let my hope and trust rest in You.  I don't want to be spiritually dehydrated and spiritually anorexic.  Let me fill up at your table, and let your great love satisfy me.  

Broken and Mended

Linking up with Lisa-Jo Baker for Five Minute Friday.  Join us, if you can.  You will be so encouraged by this brave community of writers who link arms every Friday to write for five minutes flat.  Today's word prompt is Glue.

Go.

I knew, when I saw the box, that my special wedding glasses were shattered.  We were getting married in 5 months, and I moved across the country from Texas to Massachusetts.  I moved all of my precious belongings, including these special Mickey and Minnie toasting glasses that the family I babysat for gave to me when I was still single, longing for a husband.  It wasn't that the glasses shattered that broke my heart, but all that they represented.  There was no way to repair them.

Those glasses were a metaphor for brokenness that was happening in my life.  A year earlier, I lost my best friend, unexpectedly.  I began to doubt and question God, and wondered why I was feeling the way I felt.  I couldn't really wrap my head around the things going on around me.  My aunt, who was more like a grandmother, had only passed away 4 months before she did, so the wound was still raw from missing her more than I ever thought I could miss anyone.

For years, I longed to see the goodness of God, but I couldn't see past my own brokenness, blinded by the shards of glass.  Broken people are like broken glass.  Sharp edges cut deep.  The saying is true that hurting people, hurt people.  I was broken, and was the center of my world.  I didn't want people too close, so I pushed old friends away and thought they were the selfish ones.  It took years for me to find new friends, and to allow the vulnerable places to show.  I could not have done that without Jesus at the center of it all.

Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.  Jesus, the Alpha and Omega, beginning and the end.  Jesus, the One and Only.  He is the Glue that mended those broken places for me.  I am still learning to be open and vulnerable in certain places, and He's still there with the glue of His love and word to mend those broken places.

end.

Change on the Inside

Are you like me?  Do you like change, but hate the process of change?  Do you desire things to change, but don't want to put the work into making it happen?  I wish I had a genie in a bottle most days.  A little too much "I dream of Jeannie" reruns in my childhood, maybe?

I am so guilty of desiring all kinds of changes and never stepping foot in the direction, which would make the change reality.  I tend to like doing things the same way over and over, but expect a different result.  I know, that's the definition of insanity.  I never said I wasn't just a little bit crazy.  

But really, change isn't going to happen over night, just like a butterfly has to spend time in it's cocoon before it spreads it's wings.  Change is not going to happen because I do something different one time.  It's going to be a day by day, sometimes minute by minute attention to detail.  It's going to be when I purpose in my heart that today will be different and nothing can shift me off that focus.  Real change is a God thing.  

I have lots of lists of things I want to change.  Journals lie around my bed with half-hearted "goals", but really they were wishes and hopes.  

I want to lose xx pounds by the end of the year

I want to save xx amount of dollars

I want to do a family bible study every day

I want to learn a new hobby
I want to...

The point that I miss, every time I make my lists, is that I'm dismissing what God might want to be doing in me at that time.  He is ALWAYS working in us.  Sometimes the picture is bigger than our 3 bullet points and neat little lists.  Perhaps he puts the desire in my heart to lose some weight.  But, when I don't invite Him to help me in the process, I start doing it in my own strength.  You know what?  My strength fails me.  Again, and again.  I can't do life on my own, try as I may.  I must get into a habit of inviting the Lord into my day to day, into the little things and into the big things.

I do want to lose xx pounds, and save xx dollars, and all those other things.  But, I can't do any of it without Jesus by my side, directing my path.  Psalm 119:105 "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."  When I get into His word, spend time communicating and listening to Him in prayer and meditation, and worship Him, I can hear Him more clearly, see the pathway more clearly.  

He is ready and able to help me change whatever we are needing to change.  He plants those desires in my heart for change and is wanting to walk through those changes with me.  

What is God wanting to change in you?  Where is He wanting to grow you in Him?  Will you take a leap of faith with me, and let Him light our path to show us how to make those changes?

Jesus is in the small stuff

I'm a day late, but here is my Five Minute Friday post!  Today's word prompt is Small.

One November, when I was about 20, we had a very well known minister visit our church and talk about his recent work in Russia.  He was a stateside preacher, but did do a lot of missions work as well, and missions was my heartbeat.  While he was talking about his work in Russia, where he was distributing coats to people who badly needed them, I felt the Holy Spirit nudge me, in a still small voice, to give my brand new coat to him at the end of the night for his next trip.  He wasn't asking for coats, and I didn't think I could even get close enough to him to give it to him.  

Let me backtrack a little here.  I was 20, in my first apartment, and barely making it.  I saved my money to buy this beautiful emerald green coat at a fancy store in town.  It cost me about $150 in 1993.  I was making about $5 an hour, so this coat was nearly a weeks wage for me.  To give this coat up would mean I'd freeze in our frigid Gulf Coast Texas air.  HA!  The bigger issue was that I thought it would be so insignificant and that really, who was I to approach this well known preacher to give my coat.  I thought surely he'll laugh and I'll be embarrassed.

Here's the kicker.  I didn't obey God.  It is the fist time I clearly remember saying "I can't do what you've asked me to do."  First, I felt too small, too insignificant to make a difference.  Second, I made God too small to make a difference through me.  

Jesus is in the small stuff, y'all.  He's in the big stuff, too.  Often times we get stuck in the small stuff thinking it doesn't compare to the big stuff.  But you know what?  It all matters.  We all matter.  YOU matter, and so do I.  Jesus wants to be in the middle of our small stuff just as much as He wants to be in the middle of our big stuff.  

He uses the small stuff to teach us big things about Him, about our Heavenly Father, and about the Grace that abounds.  Jesus often used parables and teachings about using examples of small things and how they make a big impact.  One example of the small thing becoming big was the Parable of the Mustard Seed.  

Matthew 13:32 "It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”

I think of the gospel as a mustard seed.  It starts out small when we hear it, and as we grow in our knowledge of Christ, and in our faith, so that seed grows until it becomes a tree.  Then, when we have grown into spiritual trees, we offer shade and refuge to unbelievers with the hope that is in us.  

Don't despise small beginnings.  God wants to use us right where we are.  He'll use our small gift of $25 for the community center in Maubane, South Africa, and He'll use your smile toward a rude person, and He'll use our $5 McDonalds gift card to the homeless guy on the street corner, and He'll use our teaching moments as mothers, and He'll use us in the grocery store, at the bank or at the park.  He is waiting for us to just say YES.  Here I am, Lord.  Send me.  Use me.  Even when I feel insignificant and small, I trust you, and know you can use me.

I've gone over the five minutes this week.  I'm just really passionate about this.  Don't despise small beginnings, middles or ends.  There is so much more I wanted to write about this, but I want to end with a prayer today.

Father, Thank you.  Thank you for using us for your glory.  Thank you for showing us that we are not too small for you.  I pray that each person who reads this post will be encouraged to go all out for you whether you have opened the door for the big things or for the seemingly insignificant things.  I ask that you would put boldness in each one of us to trust that you are in the midst of our small stuff just as much as you are in the big stuff.  In Jesus Name, Amen.

*I still have that emerald green coat sitting in the back of my closet and have not worn it in over 15 years.  It's hard for me to admit that because I do very easily give things away.  I use that coat as a reminder to hold loosely, and listen closely.  God speaks softly most of the time.

The Good Shepherd

Last night, just as I was drifting off into sleep, the Lord showed me that I was just "getting by".  You know, it's something when God shines a light on your heart and reveals the broken places.    For too long, I've been just getting by when it comes to my relationship with Him and with others.  Just living a life of little faith.  That's not living.  At least, it's not the abundant life Jesus said He would give us.  

Most people think of abundant living as something that involves having lots of things, experiencing lots of exciting things, the big house, and the nice car.  What if abundant living was less about our possessions and status and more about pouring out into others.  What would abundant life really look like if Jesus was standing right here telling us now that He wants to give it to us?  Because, I think that's what He's doing.  

Do we dare take a step of faith and trust Him for Who He says He is?  Do we dare follow Him like He says in John 10:4?  "...the sheep follow Him, for they know His voice."  I'm being challenged in this.  The word I got for the year is to Live.  Not to be, but just to live.  How can I live fully and confidently in Him, if I question the path He's leading me on?  

John 10:3b-11a "The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 A stranger they will not follow, but they will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 This figure of speech Jesus used with them, but theydid not understand what he was saying to them.

7 So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. 11 I am the good shepherd." 

I believe abundant life is something we can all walk in if we choose to live fully and intentionally in Him, to take steps of faith and trust He's right in front of us.  To live generously and trust Him more.  To expect answers and to prophesy over the dead and dry things God has placed in us that have been replaced by cobwebs and unbelief.  

The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy, but Jesus came to give us abundant life.  What has the thief stolen from you?  Dreams?  Opportunities?  Hope?  Jesus is the good shepherd, He came to bring us to life in Him.  This is the abundant life.  Abundant life has less to do with having it all and more to do with living fully and with purpose right where you are.  

There is nothing more empty than having it all, and living without purpose.  Life feels meaningless and not very abundant.  God is calling us to more abundant living and less aimless living.  What if we determined to take the small steps of faith to follow Him, wholly committed to His plan and purpose for us?  How would that change your life?  My life?  

He calls to me.  He is calling to you.  He calls me by my name because He knows me fully.  I know His voice.  It's distinct, and rich with wisdom and understanding, and deep love for me and you.  Jesus is the Good Shepherd calling each of us by name and leading us out.  He goes before us and we follow Him because we know His voice, and the stranger we'll not follow.

Father, I thank you for calling to me, and drawing me to you.  I thank you that I know your voice and the voice of the stranger, I will not follow.  Help me to hear you clearly as I study your Word and spend time with you in prayer.  I ask that you would touch each person that reads this, that you would reach out and revive old dreams and give new hope.  I ask that you would shine light on their dark places and show them how to live fully in you, right where they are.  Just as you are working in me, I thank you that you are working in each person.  Thank you for giving us abundant life through Jesus, and for bringing us to full life through his death, burial and resurrection.  In Jesus Name, Amen!

A Thankful Heart: Not Counting The Days Anymore

I decided to change my daily posts for this thankful heart blog and, instead, post as God leads me.  I believe that is the direction He is leading me.  I have been focusing on blessing others in my thankfulness journey as well as blogging about thankfulness.  I just came to realize that I am not able to get on the computer as much as I thought I did, and there are bigger things God needs me to deal with in real life right now.  I am not quitting, just changing the frequency of these posts.

So, I am not counting the days anymore.  Not on this blog, and not in real life.  I am not counting down to the next school break, the next vacation, the next whatever, because it is in the counting down that we miss out on the simple pleasures of life.  I am thankful every day, and the lesson I learned from doing it daily was that there is always something for which to give thanks.  I am capable of pressing through a writer's block and accomplish a goal.  Pressing in to God's word gave me fresh understanding of the future and hope I have in Him.

"For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.  For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."  

John 1:16-17 

Today, I am thankful for God's sweet grace that is poured out on me time and time again.  I drop the ball so many times, and I fail Him so often.  When I look up, He is waiting there with arms wide open to love me and bring me to a place of healing.  For that, I am truly thankful.  I just don't know where I would be without His ever-present grace.  

Do you believe that you have been redeemed from the curse of the law and given life  and grace through Christ Jesus?  If you have never trusted Him or taken Him at His word, let me encourage you to do so today.  Set your heart on Him, and believe that He wants to redeem you, and cover you with His grace today.  To learn more about how to follow Jesus, visit this post here.  Believe me when I say, your life will never be the same when you say yes to Him.

O For Grace To Trust Him More

I used to love a version of this song that Amy Grant sang back in the 80's.  I think that was probably my introduction to this powerful song.  I didn't go to a church that sang a lot of traditional hymns, mostly just stuff written in current times.  Occasionally we'd bring out the Old Rugged Cross or Amazing Grace.  Fast forward to now...  The church I go to sings blends of old and new hymns, so I am being reintroduced to some songs that are solid and mostly new to me.  I've heard of many of them, but because I  never really sang them, they are fresh to me. 

Recently, we've been singing 'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus during our worship service.  This song has struck a chord with me.  Line by line, it all points back to Jesus, and isn't that what it's really all about?  I have several lines that are "favorites", but I especially love in the first verse "Just to rest upon His promise, and to know, "Thus saith the Lord!"  

It's truly trusting in His word when you believe what He says.  There are plenty of examples in the bible when "Thus saith the Lord" was written and then whatever the Lord said was done.  Imagine having that kind of faith. Just knowing that because God promised it, you believe it and know it will come to pass.  It's not blind or misleading, it's truth that God can not lie.  He will not withhold his promises from those who trust in Him.

One of the passages in the bible that reminds me of this kind of trust is Mark 11:22-25.  

²² And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. ²³ Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. ²⁴ Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. ²⁵ And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.”

I love it.  Jesus simply answers them - "Have faith in God."  That's it.  No other agenda.  No other check lists.  No other giving requirements.  Nothing.  Just have faith in God.  The disciples were being taught this just as much as we are now.  Jesus had cursed a fig tree the day before and when they got to that tree the next day, it was withered down to it's roots.  They were amazed.  Jesus wasn't surprised because he already said no one would eat the fruit of that tree again.  He said it.  I pray that I can reach that level of trust to know that what Jesus says is just truth.  To trust that having faith in God is all we need, and that God holds all we need in Him.

Lord, I believe, help my unbelief!  Help me to have this kind of trust in you, in your word!  Remind me of your faithfulness time and again.  Help me to remember all of your acts of unfailing love toward me.  Father God, help me to be unwaivering in my faith.  Give me a soft heart, but one that is strong enough to trust fully in your word at all times, good and bad.  Help me to have compassion on others, to be wise about your business, God, and to remember your word in each season.  I hide your word in my heart, O God, that I might not sin against you.  Create in me a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit in me.  Thank you God, for being so faithful, for being a God we can trust and rely on in all times and through all things.  I praise you, Jesus!  I love you Lord!  Amen!

1. ’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
   Just to take Him at His Word;
   Just to rest upon His promise,
   And to know, “Thus saith the Lord!”
   • Refrain:
     Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
     How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
     Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
     Oh, for grace to trust Him more!
2. Oh, how sweet to trust in Jesus,
   Just to trust His cleansing blood;
   And in simple faith to plunge me
   ’Neath the healing, cleansing flood!
3. Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
   Just from sin and self to cease;
   Just from Jesus simply taking
   Life and rest, and joy and peace.
4. I’m so glad I learned to trust Thee,
   Precious Jesus, Savior, Friend;
   And I know that Thou art with me,
   Wilt be with me to the end.

Tell it like it is

I have never been a "tell it like it is" kind of person.  In fact, I've been pretty passive all of my life.  I grew up in a church that frequently had well known evangelists and ministers from all over.  If you've ever met an evangelist, you know they tell it like it is.  You need Jesus, period.  This often intimidated me.  They seemed to be so bold and powerful, like they could lead anyone to the Lord, even the fly on the wall.  When our church would go out to hand out tracts, I would try to team up with some of the boldest people I knew.  These people were not shy with words,and knew how to lead people to the Lord.  I didn't know what to say or how to act around people who look at you and seem to see exactly what you are thinking.

Well, last night I had a dream.  It woke me up at 2:30 and I couldn't get back to sleep.  There was a scared, lost little girl, and a lost dog who was shaking.  People were passing all around and not even noticing the fear and anxiety in their faces.  As I passed, I heard the Lord say "stop, NOTICE her."  So, I looked more closely and she had a collar on her neck, similar to the dog collar, but it was pretty.  Her tags read "if lost, call..."  

Instantly, I woke up.  I felt God leading me to write about this immediately, so I turned on my phone and jotted down the details so I would be able to write more when my eyes cleared up from the middle of the night blur.  I believe God was showing me that we are all called to be ambassadors for Him.  I know this is a common point preached over and over, but it was a dream that made it stand out to me.  

How many times do we pass people in life, never noticing their anxious faces.  Never noticing that they are lost and need to be found.  They need Jesus.  This pierced my heart last night.  What simple things could I do to share God's great love for people?  I know many lost and hurting people, but I have been too timid to share Christ's redeeming love.  There are so many simple, yet profound things I can do to share God's love, and perhaps lead them to Christ.  

The Great Commission came from Jesus in Matthew 28.  In verse 19 he clearly commands his disciples (which would be us today) "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit."  This is our purpose, no matter what our gifts or talents are, no matter what our personality traits are.  It may not always come out like an evangelist, pastor, teacher, apostle, or other minister.  For most of us, it will just come out in the way of inviting someone for coffee and to share a bit of your testimony.  It may look like you bringing dinner to someone going through a hard time.  I personally have a few people in my life that need a savior, and no one has reached out to them in any way, practically or spiritually.  I believe those are open doors for us to bring them a meal and just say "God cares about what you are going through".  

I believe this is why God gave me my One Word, Passionate, for 2013.  I can say without a doubt that this one area of my life is one that I am least passionate about, but it is the one area that God has called all of us to be most passionate about.  Pray with me, that we will be a more passionate people about showing others the way to Him.  

If you happened upon this blog, and don't know Jesus, let me invite you to find out more about him.  Jesus is the son of God.  He was God in flesh, come to earth as a man to seek and save the lost.  He was the ultimate sacrifice, taking our sin upon him so we might find grace and salvation.  God's grace has been given to us.  Jesus has covered our sins and failures with his blood.  All we have to do is believe on Him, and ask Him to be our Lord and Savior.  

The bible says everyone needs salvation because we have all sinned.  Romans 3:10 "there is no one righteous, not even one."  Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God."  God has provided a way for us:  Romans 5:8 "but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."  And how we receive salvation:  Romans 10:9-10 "if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.  For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved."

Invite him to come into your life today.  He's ready and waiting for you.