Cleaning My Windows for the Perfect View

 It's my million dollar view this year!!! I have always been a "keep the windows open" kind of girl. I love the sunshine and the fresh air that open windows provide. It refreshes me and awakens me. I could sit and stare outside for hours while reading a book or enjoying a meal by the windows in my home. If you think about it...the most desirable seats at a restaurant or a home are by the water. They are always the most costly, because they provide an amazing view just on the other side.
Living here in the Keys has deepened my love for the outdoors. The water's edge, the lush landscapes, the colorful homes, the endless views, the varying shades of blues in the waters...the cool breezes and oh, the sun rises and sun sets...wow!! God blessed us beyond measure and more than what we deserve to allow us to rent a place with a beautiful view outdoors on the water. I have not closed the window blinds but maybe 3 times for us to watch a movie. Every night and day, they remain open!! Our family spends the majority of our time either out back on the water or inside looking out back at the view. So, you can imagine that in the daily maintenance of housekeeping, cleaning these 4 sets of sliding glass doors is top priority for me. It's our main view. It greatly affects how we see the view outside, and even if we get to!
Between 2 dogs and 12 hands, you can also probably imagine all the fingerprints and smears and smudges that find their impressions on this wall of windows! It's like washing your car and the moment you drive it out of the wash, you hit a mud puddle. Or upon unloading the last of the laundry to it's drawer, someone brings you the bag of clothes they forgot to give you...it never ends. It takes my constant attention to make sure they stay clean and clear because when the sun shines through the glass, every smudge is seen and it distorts and sometimes blocks the view. We must have 10 other windows throughout the house and I can count on one hand the amount of times I have wiped them down, but these doors have been scrubbed, buffed and detailed almost daily to guarantee (best it can be) a crystal clear and unobstructive view of our beautiful, main, million dollar view outside.
I admit there are days I am too busy or too lazy to wipe them down and the view is one of embarrassment, shame, frustration and I feel so guilty for hindering the amazing view that is just on the other side, all because of a choice I have made not to make it a priority to clean them. And when the sun shines in revealing all the white smudges, I want to close the blinds and try to hide the dirt and smears, until later, when I decide to make the time to wipe them down. In hindsight, I find it's much easier and less hurtful to my heart when I suck it up, remember the priority they have in our family's view of the outisde, our million dollar view that connects us to the outside, and I stay ontop of them, keeping them clean.
Well, it had been a few days and I was beginning to feel the guilt and shame for all the dirt and you know it, I got the kids out the door for school and hurried backhand scrubbed and wiped with vengeance to get theses windows back in order and crystal clean once again so that when the sun shined through in what would only be about an hour later, it would reflect the glorious view and my guilt would be no more.
I was scrubbing down the last window, completely out of breath, and the Holy Spirit asked me, "Do you care for me the same?" It was a million dollar question about the million dollar view, of my spirit. I take such care and commitment to make sure my physical view was without blemish, making it a top priority, worthy of my extra time, energy and resources, but how well do I care for my spiritual view? Are the windows to my soul as much of a priority to me? Is my view of God my main view, one worthy of my daily cleaning and care or is He just another one of the windows in my "temple" that occasionally gets wiped down? Am I at times too busy or lazy to clean my heart and mind and allow the dirt and smudges to build up causing my view to become distorted and even blocked? Do I sometimes choose to close the blinds, (only causing me to feel guilt, shame and embarrassment within my heart), so I can avoid having to deal with my sin-smudges for "today", only to know they are still there and must be cleaned up?
Am I zealous to prepare my windows for The "Son" to shine through and reveal to me His glorious view? Is He worth the diligence it takes, the time and commitment and effort, and sometimes even sacrifice it takes to keep my windows clean? Is God my main view or just one of many? Is seeing Him clearly, as my main view important enough to me that I constantly find myself paying attention to the smudges and dirt that accumulate and do my best at keeping myself clean and pure before Him, so that I can see Him without hindrance and here find my greatest enjoyment and pleasure seeing Him?
This was a good reminder for me and I pray it is for you too. We can spend much time, energy and resources keeping our physical world in order and but hardly any for our spiritual world. May we run with endurance to open the blinds we have closed in our hearts, our minds, and our souls, and with a renewed determination, re-prioritize and clean up our internal windows and rid ourselves of all that hinders our glorious view to the beautiful "Son" just outside the window.

Thank You Lord God for forgiving us of our sin. Open our hearts and cleanse us. Rid us from all that hinders us from seeing You clearly and purely. Renew within us a right and pure spirit. Give us a new determination to diligently keep ourselves clean before You so we can see You more clearly. May our heart's eyes continually be drawn to Your glorious view and not any other. Do not let us settle for a distorted view but build in us the fire of Your consuming Fire that refines and purifies our soul for You. Grant us endurance to never settle for less than a clear view of You. You Oh God, are worthy of all our honor and praise. It is our desire to know You intimately and love You purely and serve You diligently. May You be delighted when we bask in the view of Your Son shining down on us. All praise and glory is Yours, amen!!

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." 

Hebrews 12:1-2

"Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 

 6Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being, and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart. 7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. 8 Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice. 9 Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities. 10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. 11 Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. 13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways, and sinners will return to you. 14 Deliver me from blood guiltiness, O God, O God of my salvation, and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise. 16 For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased with a burnt offering. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. 18 Do good to Zion in your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem; 19 then will you delight in right sacrifices, in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings; then bulls will be offered on your altar."

Psalm 51:1-2, 6-19 

Get Out of the Ant Bed!!!!!!!!

When there is good news to share, who do you call first? When a crisis comes into your family, where do you run? When the stress of life heightens to volcanic levels, how do you simmer down? When your insides are all twisted up, how do you unwind?
As a Believer, our answer ought to be first, "God!!" But if we are all honest, our first response is usually a person or a thing, then the Lord.
When panic and anxiety first came upon me, I went to Google. I read stories, testimonies, books, articles, self-help websites and bought books. I learned how to cut out certain triggers in my diet like sugars and caffeine. (Yes, I had to completely stop drinking sodas and coffee and cut out all desserts; and yes, I lost about 5lbs almost immediately!!!) Then, I studied breathing techniques. I also learned a lot about how stress hurts our bodies and the benefits of Conscious Language. There was lots of "wisdom" to be learned about handling anxiety and panic attacks. But what about healing my anxiety?!?
And while these "things" were helpful, they weren't healing. Truly, God is our Healer. It wasn't until my mentor had me in The Word of God that I began to understand my circumstances, my body, my mind...my war. Healing began "In the Beginning." The medication and help I needed was God's Manna of Daily Bread and drinking up The Living Water on a daily basis, and being satisfied fully! The Word of God is alive and it heals the soul. The sword of the Spirit is how wars are won!  (Ephesians 6)
Let me ask this: If you found yourself standing in an ant bed, would you simply just keep standing there putting ointment on as your body was under attack? Of course not! You would jump out and run, being sure to never step in that spot again and to be sure that never happened again, you'd return only to drop some death on that sinful spot! And yet, we allow ourselves to stand in emotional or spiritual "ant beds." We try to stop the pain from the bites without success because we don't remove the "ants." We will not find relief until we get out of the sinful spot!!
I am surprised at how long we will keep standing there apply ointment when what we need to do is flee!!!
I could talk (and blog-lol) forever about this but I think it's simply said, "Friend, stop standing there!!! Jump out of that ant bed and drop some death on that sinful spot!!" Get into The Word of God and let the healing blood of Jesus rescue You and grant you peace that surpasses your understanding and comfort beyond compare!

Father God, forgive us when we turn to other people or things before turning to You, the True Healer and Comforter, our Great Physician of our body, heart, mind, spirit and soul. Thank You for those You have given to us as Your hands and feet of healing and health, bless their ministries to us in this dark and sick world. May You be the source of glory through them. But Father, remind us to run to You first. May we put to death the "ants" in Your Name, in Your Power alone. Hear our cries for mercy as we stand bitten fiercely and please rescue us quickly! Heal our hurts God. Lead us into Your Refuge and place Your ointment of grace on the wounds left on us. Heal our anger, bitterness, fear, doubt, tongues, illness, addictions, impurities. "Create in me (us) a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me (us)." There is none like You and Your blood surely is our Covering Ointment and Victory!! In Your Holy and Gracious Name, we come. Amen!

"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you:sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 On account of these the wrath of God is coming. 7 In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. 8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. 11 Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. 12 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. " Colossians 3:1-17  

Don't be a dumb bird.

Mr Cardinal came for a visit this morning! He saw the open door and let himself on in. As beautiful as he was, bright red in color, he was not a welcomed guest in our home. What a chore it was to get him out of here. It was very easy for him to come in but it was really hard getting him out. The poor guy was flying circles around my dining room looking for one of the windows to open all the while the same front door he entered upon remained open and in the same place as when he entered! 
He finally caught eye of my upper windows and with all he had, kept trying to get out those closed windows. Could he not see that 3ft below him was the way out. It was right there! Dumb bird!! We knew it and did everything we could...we gave him time to wear out banging his head against the window, we held out poles for him to get on which he did only to jump off repeatedly. 
Finally, we had to corner him and throw a towel on him and literally grab him and carry him out. On his own, he may have just died up there trying it his way, thinking he could get out what appeared an open window. We saved his life. Either he would die of starvation or head injury or my stalking kitty would have enjoyed a feast!

As always, you know there are lessons here. This is what I learned this morning:

1.) It's easy getting in (sin) but it's not as easy getting out.
2.) God is patient giving us the opportunity to explore the choice we've made to go through seemingly open windows.
3.) God is faithful to rescue us. There is a way to freedom. He knows the Way. He IS The Way to life!
4.) There are many windows. Don't panic and continue to be stubborn, banging your head upon each one in hopes it's gonna be right. You are hurting yourself. Stop and look for the open door.
5.) God is grieved watching you hurt yourself. Won't you stop flying circles and trying things your own way and trust Him. He wants you to have life, not death.
6.) God will grab you, not allowing more than you can bear. Sometimes it will be at the end of all you have. That's where He grabs you.
7.) God is good. He sees you and is waiting for you to settle down and trust Him.
8.) Accept help. Sometimes we need help.  

Did you go through a door you shouldn't have? Can't seem to find your way out? Rest assured, there is a way out. God sends rescue in many forms. The fingerprints of God are all around. If you are feverishly flying around banging your head, trying all you can to go the way that seems right, won't you stop and breath. Take a look around you. There is a way out. Trust the help that is being sent to you. Satan, the Deceiver, will put lots of "seems good enough" around you, but I challenge you to not settle but know with clarity The Way to rescue which leads to life! You are only hurting yourself and you will wear out. Be careful if you choose to be stiff-necked for the prowling lion is waiting for you to be weak. Be alert. Be smart. 

Don't be a dumb bird.

Thank you Mr Cardinal for reminding me to be smart!

" Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. 16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." James 1:13-17

Drenched

Has this ever happened to you? That unexpected WOOSH of a wave that penetrates through every layer of clothing?!? It's less funny the older I get, although since the most recent one happened on my way home, it was actually a bit funny!!

This morning when I was out for a walk, I had this flash back from a few weeks back when water saturated through and through. I have been soaked worse. This was mild comparingly. Standing nearby the curb after a rain, cars would pass by, slowing down, moving over, obviously seeing me and being respectful knowing the power of their car could drench me and only a small SWISH of water would bump up on the curb. Other cars on the other hand were either: 1.) not paying attention and could not respond quick enough at their rate of speed, cutting it close the edge where the largest amount of water puddled; or 2.) they just didn't care knowing they would be gone and there would be no consequences as I stand there dripping wet, completely shocked at the sudden impact of cold water thrusted at me.
I wonder about the drivers of those cars, today and previously. As water, or leaves, rocks, dirt, or trash blow up in my face as they blaze past me, I wonder if they even realize what havoc they are leaving behind as they go on their way. There is no way to avoid making "waves" as you go by, but you can control how big they are. 
We all make some sort of impact. You have a choice though....You can either slow down, move away from the edge and take care to have control over your impact or you can blaze through, leaving behind you a path of destruction as you go along with your day, ignorant or should I say arrogant of what kind of impact you have made.
Now, get yourself out of the Driver's Seat of the car, and think of yourself as a Driver of Self. You alone are in control of you! No one can control you. Your choice is yours. When you go through your day today, what impact are you going to leave as you go along? Are you taking time to slow down, be respectful, consider your surroundings and have self control? Or will you hurry along, ignorantly or arrogantly, mindless of what impact you are making on those around you?
It's more than Live for Today, Leave a Legacy of Good....it's not all about us. We are impacting those around us, those we know and strangers alike. What kind of impact are YOU making as you go through your day?
And if you happen to be the one who is devastated by another one's passing through, well, that could be a whole other blog, but may I remind you that God is a just God and He will give you Grace Sufficient to "clean up." God sees when you are devastated. Nothing escapes Him. We all have consequences to our sin. Praise God, He has paid the penalty for them on the Cross so that we may be forgiven and redeemed, but there will still be consequences. We just won't get what we ultimately deserve which is eternal death. He gives us Hope, Strength, Endurance and Joy in all circumstances. He may even give you someone to laugh with you when others laugh at you. God is good.
To God be the Glory as we honor Him through loving Him and loving others, forgiving ourselves and forgiving others.

"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony." 

Colossians 3:12-14

What Spills Out Matters

OOOPPPS!!! TOO MANY THINGS IN MY HANDS!! I was carrying my Carry All bag, my purse, my sunglasses, my coffee mug and my Bible and as I leaned over to grab my keys, CRASH!! My Bible slipped out falling to ground and EVERYTHING fell out. UGH! Really, when is it ever a good time to drop something and have to spend time cleaning it up?!? I think...never!

Past church bulletins, children's color sheets, meeting notes, bookmarks, sermon notes jotted on a piece of paper when I had forgotten my journal. It all fell out. I've always held my Bible close as it was much like a Diary to me and the thought of someone seeing some of my personal notes would have been devastating. It wasn't until I noticed a friend of mine continually opening and sharing her Bible with others that God began to show me how my Bible was something I should be opening wide and not covering up before others. One day she asked me to look something up in hers and the thought crossed my mind how she must really trust me with something so personal. 

God used this "sharing your Bible" thing to teach me on a deeper level that although we should be clinging to and guarding the Word, we should freely give it and share it. Therefore, what's on the inside matters. Taking this to a deeper level...if I open my Bible, or my heart to someone, what will they see inside? What does GOD see inside? I pray goodness and truths and hope are found. Whatever spills out, I pray it's good. This means I must be careful with my choices, and choose wisely what I hold on to.

"For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." Luke 6:43-45 

When you are knocked down, what spills out? Good or evil? Good fruit or bad fruit? What you hold onto in your heart matters. Although no one wants to admit that "evil" comes out of us, we must be honest and own our sin. Sin is evil.

"And He said, "What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.  All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person." Mark 7:20-23 

It is never a good time to get knocked down. But it's only we are put to the test and shaken that what's on the inside can be honestly revealed. When something doesn't go your way, or someone says something ugly or incorrect about you, or even when the warfare against you is strong, what thoughts burst from within your heart and mind...and mouth? Remember that we also have to clean up our spill. The messier it is, the harder and longer it will take to clean up. 

Obviously when we are hurt, we are going to feel hurt, say we are hurt and even shed tears from being hurt, but what is attached to that hurt as it comes out? Gossip, revenge, deceit, bitterness, hatred? Or does your heart immediately cry out to the Lord for Him to take a hold of it as it breaks? Falling at the feet of Jesus and letting Him act on our behalf, strengthening in us at the same time with peace, forgiveness, self-control.

Like the commercial goes, "What's in your wallet?" Today, we must ask "What's in your heart?"

Forgiving and Just God,

How I pray for a heart that pleases You. When life shakes me up, give me eyes to see what You see in me that I may get rid of all the evil inside as it oozes out and fill my heart and soul with all that is good. Guide me Holy Spirit in self-control to make daily choices that led me on a path of goodness and mercy, purity and peace. Help me guard the influences around me, turning from all evil and taking in what is Good. Open my heart Father God and pour into me Your goodness and mercy, Your compassion and love and may I be bolder in sharing it with others. Your Word is a light unto my path, healing to my heart. Help me to hide Your Holy Word, engraving it into the depths of my mind, heart and soul so I may claim it's promises and power and rebuke the evil that tries to penetrate within it. I pray that when it is broken that it bleeds Your Blood which covers all my sin. Thank You Lord for Your perfect love. Be the core of me. Amen.