How Time Flies

It's true....Time flies when you're having fun, and time flies the older you get! I always thought that meant the person saying it was too busy or making excuses why they didn't get something done, but I have found it to be true!! Here we are wrapping up March, and I still have a few random Christmas things that still haven't made it into the attic!!!! Wasn't I just in Florida??? Noooo, that was last summer! My, how time flies!!!!!

If you are a Believer, you understand the terms: sanctification, refining and pruning. They are all processes God works in us to shape us and grow us into the one He has designed us to be. It takes being moldable and not hardened to shape something. I think of my kids' Playdoh. It's such great fun to make anything you can imagine, any shape or size and even color (if you are allowed to blend the colors-heehee!!) But if you forget to put the lid back on correctly, the playdoh hardens and no longer is moldable. So sad, such a waste knowing it could have been avoided.

We must be pliable in the Creator's hands. Only in Heaven will be be the perfect creation He designed us to be. Meanwhile, we are in the process or season of change. It takes a journey of faith and trust to keep moving forward. It isn't always easy. We cannot learn how to endure if we don't have something to endure. We cannot learn patience if everything goes "according to the plan." We cannot understand compassion until we have nothing and someone offers help in our time of need. We cannot understand joy until we have felt deep gratitude or hope. We cannot understand being full, until we have been empty.

Just as in life, I believe as we mature in Christ, our seasons change quicker, at least I feel they do, and should. It took the Israelite people 40 years to make an 11 day journey!! The first time you do something, it seems to always take the longest amount of time, but the more you do it, the easier it gets, or at least the more familiar you are, therefore, the quicker the process should go. Right? I think it depends on our willingness to cooperate!! When we refuse to accept the instruction, when we try to do it our way, when we think about it and procrastinate...denial or refusal will always prevent us from moving forward quickly.

I have noticed in my walk with the Lord over the past year to be one of many seasons. It used to be loooong seasons with the Lord. I would work one one thing "wrong" with me for what seemed like forever and then I'd get it finally, then I would "practice" in it for a while, until God brought about the next pruning session. This past year however, it seems that there have been many prunings, one after another. One thing different is that what used to be seasons of love, hope and joy have become foundational parts of my soil. Circumstances don't change my joy in the Lord, for it is my strength. I can not and ought not to ever loose hope that He is there with a perfect plan, working all things out for His glory and my good. So it is no longer good and bad...it's working it out with joy and then resting in His goodness and peace...as He continues to prune a little more. It's a process with an eternal deadline. It doesn't mean I am a complete looser or that I am spiritually inadequate as Satan would have me believe...it means I am a work in progress towards His glory! It means He is near. It means He is actively working in my life. It means power of creation is creating something new in me! The old is moving out and the new is coming!!!

So, how do the seasons change quicker? Why do they change quicker? My only conclusion is that I am more in love than I was before, so I am ready and eager to please Him with all my heart, all my soul and all my might!! I have spent most of my life wishing I was someone I am not. I have become what may be a lifelong process now of finding my identity in Christ and not the world or my own. It is His approval alone that I desire. I don't care what I want to be or wish I could be. I only want to be what He created me to be so that I would be found pleasing in His eyes forevermore. Some things are harder to accept, of course, none of like all of us, we see the sin others don't, but God in His sweet timing, will prune it back, waiting for us to bloom even more brilliantly than the season before.

God, help me to be more pliable so there is less resistance to Your hand molding me. May there not be great lengths of time between the pruning and the blooming! Give me the grace and humble heart to see the areas of change needed and lite a fire within me to get it done. Lord God, I praise You for loving me enough to prune me, shape me and mold me into something greater than I am on my own. Cleanse me, You know my thoughts. Remove the hardened pieces which are dead and fill the area with newness and life. I know You live inside me and I pray for a pure dwelling place. You alone are worthy of all praise and honor. Anything good about me is only a reflection of You!
God, I pray I never resist You. My a day's journey not be years! I'm asking in Jesus Name, that Satan be bound from discouraging me, making me think I am less than I am, causing me to doubt Your promises, becoming lazy or insecure in Your Word. It is my desire to be fully Yours and serve You. I remember what You have spoken to me and I am thankful for Your recent reminders of Your goodness and faithfulness. Prune me and receive the glory each time I bloom for You!! Layer by layer, season to season, Your glory be seen. How the time flies. amen.

Lessons on the Slopes

 " For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:" Ecc 3:1

Our family has been graciously blessed to take a week of vacation in the mountains over the Spring Break week. And boy did we need a break!!! I feel like I am finally in a state of calmness that had escaped me the past several months. No one is telling me to "jump, I need you NOW!!" I am loving it. I can hear myself think in longer spans throughout the day and think through things without time constraint and distractions of daily demands flooding my thoughts.

Yesterday was an amazing day! There were several moments God "spoke to me." Each one could be a blog of their own, but I will do my best to highlight and allow God to fill in the blanks for you. Here are a few things He reminded me of:

1. There is more than one way.
We are all created so differently. Having 4 kids, I see it more clearly than I ever have before. Same parents, different people completely!! In our small unit of 6, 2 of us are "hit it head on" kind of people and you always know what they think because they have no problem letting you know. The other 4 are more reserved and cautious about their actions and words.
What was interesting is that though we taught them together, they not only learned differently but they did it differently, Each to their own. One took her "pizza wedge" all the way down straight down the slope while the other chose to zig-zag down. In the end, they both made it down, safely, with their own style...Head on and Gently done.
God did not create robots. You are unique! Let's cheer one another on to go as they are created to go. We all crash and burn sometimes, that's okay. Let's commit to remain faithful and diligent, spurring one another on to the end, in the name of Love.

2. If you want to learn, it will take time, energy, sacrifice and work.

This was my two little ones' (age 7 and 5) to ski. When we arrived, they could barely stand, looking much like Bambi standing for the first time!! It was great!!! Also, a great amount of work. My husband and I gave up our ski time to work with them, painfully at times, cheering, instructing, showing, catching them for hours. Within hours, we were cruising thru the Bunny Hill with ease and found ourselves ready for a longer run. We took them up their first ski lifts which they exited perfectly to my happy surprise, and took down the greens!! WOW!!! Shows you what happens when we come alongside eachother and work together for the common good. I am grateful that God has given me what I consider Hero's in the faith who have come alongside me. It took work and energy and sacrifice for me, but it was true for them also. It's not easy or without sacrifice when we walk thru a valley with someone. It is only God's grace that we can walk it without falling down or out. They are Hero's to me, not that they are super Bible Hero's, but because they allow God to use their hands and feet, in word and deed in the world (lost and saved alike). My growth as a Believer is just as much the "working out" I have done with the Lord as it is the sharpening I have received through others' love poured out on me through Him, cheering, instructing, showing, catching me.

3. When we take our mind off of our self, and focus on something or someone else, we are less likely to fall into temptation cuz we are not looking to satisfy our own thoughts, but another's.
Yes, I was a bit nervous getting back on the skis after MANY years being off of them. The first few runs I could have seen a snowflake make its full decent to the ground, I was going that slow!! LOL!!!! Thoughts of falling flooded my mind. I focused on every cautious turn I made. I was not enjoying this anxiety filled activity, except for when I stopped and enjoyed the views. Could I just please sit all day and only watch?!? Pleeeeease!!!! All I could hear was What if this or that...oh my! UNTIL I took my kids out on the slope.
All of a sudden my focus was on their turns, their enjoyment, their safety. My fear had been replaced with intercession. It was no longer about me and what I wanted. Before I knew it, I was having fun, soaking up their enjoyment. Reminds me of the scripture that says to share in each others joys and sorrows. Mama was having fun!! I wanted them to love it, succeed at it, have fun doing it! It was a pure joy to see the fruit of our labor and be blessed with sharing the victory!!! It was good to get out of my own head! Praying for God to make this so always.

3. Have FUN!!! Think outside the box.
 This was hilarious!! Corey and I were resting in the snow waiting on the big kids to return to our meeting spot and he asked if he could do a somersault...in the snow. I said No at first thinking, What a crazy idea, no way. You don't do that in the snow. But then I wondered, Really....why not!?! I know a "crazy" friend of mine who would be doing it if she was there. God has used her in many ways in my life and one of the ways is to push me outside of my "careful, conservative normal."

4.) The difference a day makes!!

One morning we woke up and snow was a thick blanket across the landscape. By afternoon, the sun had melted the driveway clear! The next morning was just as lovely eventhough no new snow had fallen. Although the snow made more work for us to get out the door and remain outside, all bundled up in layers, times 6 people, we were walking closets!! LOL It was worth it despite all the extra efforts. However, how easy it was later in the week as the snow melted away, to simply get dressed and throw on some shoes and head out the door for the day. It was a good reminder to me of something my counselor used to always have to remind me, This too shall pass. Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us there is a season and time for everything. Thankful for seasons physical and spiritual as they arrive and as they change.

Thank You Lord for teaching us through the seasons!!!! Each one has something of value, even if it is harder. May the exhausting days be met with Your grace. When the days are sunny, God help us to soak it all in. And may the cloudy days cause us to run under Your refuge. Rain or shine, You are faithful Lord God to bring the change of the season. Help us to remember it's about Your calendar, not ours. Keep us from putting You in a finite box which we can logically understand for You are immeasurable!!! And too Father God, never let Satan box us into one our self. May our eyes see Your beauty and grace in every single moment, regardless of the day. Amen!!!

" And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." Galatians 6:9-10

Marking the Way for me to Follow

This week is Spring Break for the kids and we have dear friends who have graciously allowed us to spend time in their vacation home in the mountains. For us “City Folk”, it is just breathtaking every time we go. We LOVE the great outdoors. Unfortunately, we don’t know how to navigate it very well.

The day we arrived, snow sprinkled the landscape. We breathed a sign of relief that the roads were clear for the most part. Our greatest fear was driving a 2 wheel drive, not a 4 wheel drive into winter weathered roads. If we got caught somewhere in the 14 hour drive in snow, how would we make it through? Well, we made it! That first evening, we got all settled in gathering up 6 sets of ski gear for the morning’s trip out on the slopes. It was a glorious clear night. I always forget how absolutely gorgeous it is under the midnight skies. Like diamond-sand tossed high!

Vacation or not, my quiet times with the Lord have become very precious to me and I was actually especially excited to meet with Him over a cup of hot coffee on the porch as I watched Him call the sun to rise over the mountain range!!! I watched as the shadows casted by the moon, became shadows casted by the sun! Glorious and Mysterious!! My alarm went off and I jumped out of bed! It was time. But to my surprise, it was snowing! It obviously had been snowing ALL NIGHT!!! The snow laid a fresh blanket of glowing white powder as far as the eye could see. A different kind of sigh…how will we get out of here now? The home sits on a hillside that is nerve-wracking to navigate in the summer, much less iced and snowed over! The road was invisible to us.

Are we going to have to cancel our nearly $500 worth of non-refundable rentals and lift tickets due to the fact we can’t get there? Oh no. Not sure what to do, we called a friend and neighbor whom we have met on previous trips to give us instruction on whether or not we could make it out , and if so, how! He said, “Absolutely!! You MUST go. People wait for this kind of perfect skiing weather. It’s fresh powder!! You MUST go!! You can make it. I will show you how.”

Our friend and neighbor had no doubt we could do it, and was even willing to show us how. He had driven these roads for over 20 years and was willing to lead the way for us so that we could get to the other side. We were between panic and nervous as we loaded up the kids. The few patches of snow we drove over the day before made us nervous as our car lost traction and skated over the few patches. How in the world were we going to handle driving over freshly laid out snow that blanketed the landscape, our car?!? Trust the one with more knowledge and wisdom. Yep, we were completely trusting the opinion of someone who was wiser to the conditions. We trusted the fact that he had our best interest in mind and would not lead us astray. Should our tires lock up, or breaks fail, it was a loooooong slide down. We were fully aware of all the “what if’s.”

With a deep breath, we loaded the car and pulled out of the driveway. It was one of those times when you don’t want to look but you can’t help not to. Deep breath. Our fearless (and calm, I might add), leader gave us to two words of advice: 1.) Stay in my tracks and 2.) Don’t stop or you will lose traction and surely lose ground. I’m not sure if either of us were actually breathing as we followed him as the tires crunched through the ice. Once you make the decision to go, there was no turning around…literally!! Foot by foot, we successfully tracked in his tracks making it out to the level ground at the base of the hill. Whew!!! We DID do it! We made it!! Just like he said we would!!! He was right!!! Tears of pure JOY overcame tears of fear and I felt myself breathe once again, ahhhh.

We stayed in his tracks AND we didn’t stop! We made it to the slopes in one piece, grateful to be there, having gained an awesome day rather than a day of despair and loss. We gained everything by going! What memories! We trusted and were blessed. We became stronger that day. Our hope was met with gain. Our next trip down that hill was easier, because we had already conquered it! Confidence, hope, trust and faith overcame our fear, doubt and anxiety.

Isn’t this a perfect example of mentoring, and more importantly what Christ has done for us. He has been where we are going…He created the journey for us and will navigate it with us, patiently and joyfully leading us to the other side. He is wiser, all knowing. Cheering us on, He believes we can make it to the other side and He has showed us how. And because He is alive, we have Him to plow the road infront of us still today, leading us safely across the sometimes invisible terrain. Aren’t you glad you have a Friend in Jesus?!? I sure am.

Just as the physical seasons change, so do our spiritual seasons and the road ahead can sometimes become invisible before us. The comfort we have in order to keep moving forward, is to call upon the One Who is wiser, Who loves us and has our best interest in mind, and is familiar with the roads that take us to the other side of our hill. Our God is faithful. Our God is trustworthy. Our God is a God who creates and sustains the seasons. Will we choose to trust Him? Will we head His advice: 1.) Follow Me and 2.) Don’t stop!!

I can’t help but also think of the precious few that have said to me, “Michele, you can do this. You will make it to the other side just fine.” They have showed me how. Their wisdom fueled my hope. They kept me moving when I wanted to stop. Although it is without question that all of our hope and trust is in Christ alone, He does give us each other to encourage and counsel one another in Love’s Name. It is HIS love working through us that gives us the capacity to love others closer to Him. Because we love Him fully, we can love others fully. His love enables us to do great things!

His love comforts and conquerors our fears. Confidence in Him causes us to plow the road unseen, for ourselves and with another. When we finally conqueror the hill, it is with greater assurance that we will cross the next one with greater ease and confidence. When we love, we trust. When we trust, we conquer.

Father God, Great and Mighty are You. All the world is in Your hands. Even though the seasons change, You never do. Thank You Lord for Your faithfulness. Thank You for paving The Way for me to come directly to You. I trust You that You have and will continue to plow the way before me, blocking the fiery darts of Satan as he attempts to derail me of the path of righteousness. Thank You for provisions and power in Your name.

God, give me greater courage to not fear when the path You lead me to is invisible before me. May my faith be strengthened and my confidence increased to keep me moving, inch by inch, foot by foot, following Your lead. Lord, I surrender to You to use whatever amount of ability or gifts You have given to me to encourage and lead others closer to You. I know that if You lead, I will be okay. It is my heart’s desire to follow You, go where You lead and be an encourager to show other’s how to stay in Your tracks. Give me courage to lead with confidence in my ability to hear You clearly and trust You completely. Thank You Lord for sending such awesome leaders into my life. Help me to conqueror the next hill and return the favor and blessing for another. Amen!

What am I going to say?

Okay, if someone said you had between 2-5 minutes to share about you and your testimony with the Lord...what would you say? At first I thought it would be soooooo simple cuz that's just about my favorite topic and I have MUCH to say about my absolute greatest Love and Very Best Friend. However, I don't know where to begin. Then, I thought about just a 1 minute about my upbringing and then about the seasons of my walk with God and where I am today, struggles and blessings. Or, I could just share some of God Moments where I had real growth. I could talk about God's current call on my life and encourage them to find theirs. I could share the lessons I learned about friendship and the gift of Sisterhood-the blessings and the hurts. What about how God speaks to me? And the way God being my Daily Bread has changed how I function as a Wife, Mother, Friend, Church member, Neighbor. What about all the times I have felt overwhelmed and hopeless. Or, times I have wanted to take vacations, alone just so I could dive into a private time with the Lord. I could share a recent experience that God brought me through and share the lesson learned....oh, my Lord!!!!!!!! He is my LIFE!!!!!!!!! Where do I begin and how do I end in 5 minutes or less?!?!?!
One thing I know for sure, I cannot help but share that a personal and intimate and daily relationship with Him is crucial!!! It is also crucial to discover your gifts so you can USE them for HIS Kingdom and glory!!!!

Salvation!!!! Receiving His Love. We have a purpose, a part in The Body. Know His Word and get it into your head, heart and bones!!!!!! Memorize it!! Meditate on it DAILY!!!! Understand that it is more than an eternal thing...it's your very breathe!!!!!

Acceptance!! Your humanness and imperfections, strengths and passions, mistakes and failures will be (according to God's will) used as the fuel for your service in the Kingdom. Have faith and be like clay to the Potter. You ain't perfect!!!!! Neither am I!! We NEED our Creator to shape us according to His purpose, recognizing and willing to be used by Him. Know your gifts and use them!!!

Love!!! Love God more than any one else in your life, including self!! Then, love others with the love of Jesus. Let go of past pain and receive His healing and comfort, learn to love yourself if you don't, seek out the future HE has planned for you and walk it out together!!!

Share!!! No shame, condemnation, pride, embarrassment or doubt. Trust God to use you in the life of another to bring them closer to Him and trust Him to place people around you that He knows you need in your life. People need Jesus!!!!! Will we be His tool? Will we be courageous enough to be sent?

I am soooooo anxious yet biting at the bit to share!!!! I am gonna have to write down an outline so I stay ontrack cuz I think I could probably talk for days!!!!!!!!!!! LOL

Side note: How beautiful is this....when the sign up sheet was passed around the class, I happen to be at the other end of the room and I got the last time slot. What day would be more amazing than THEN?!? You won't believe how precious that day will be for me. I am almost in tears just thinking about it already!!!!!! For those of you who have been following my journey the past several years now, (wow-has it been that long?!?!), what is so significant about April?!? A day of Declaration!!!!! A day of multiple CELEBRATIONS!!!!!! I am soooo excited!!!!!!!!! Just explaining why THAT moment of April is significant to me could take 30 minutes alone!!!!!! One word....awe-some!

To GOD be ALL Glory!!!!!!!

Decide in your Heart to Be a CHEERFUL Giver

"The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
 
And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. As it is written, "He has distributed freely, He has given to the poor; His righteousness endures forever."  

He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
  
For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others, while they long for you and pray for you, because of the surpassing grace of God upon you.
 
Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift" 

II Corinthinas 9: 6-15

Feel free to initiate!!

Why does it seem so "one-sided" sometimes? Do you find that most often you are the one initiating in the relationship? Or, an even harder question to answer honestly...are YOU the one always needing to be pursued?

Yes, this may surprise you to read a blog from me about "initiating." And to my Husband who is reading this, don't get all excited...I am not talking about "THAT." I know, busted the Happy Bubble!! hahaha (You should grab a cup of hot tea and a snack cuz I couldn't figure out how to shorten this so get ready for a long conversation!! Keeping it real:)

So then what in the world am I referring to if I am not talking about Marital Initiating? I am actually referring to every relationship we have. This includes all personal and professional relationships. I specifically am burdened to discuss the relationship we have with our friends and with our children.

Generally speaking, It Takes Two to make any relationship work. In the workplace, the employer should care for and instruct the employee just as the employee should care for and invest into the company they work for. As a Teacher instructs the classroom of kids, the kids should also seek out the Teacher for help (and a little Thank You I am sure would be appreciated!!). Within our marriages, of course the Man is the head of the home, but it should not be solely up to him to plan dates and "encounters." Both partners should give all they have to eachother. Neither the Romantic nor the Money Maker bears the sole responsibility of initiating anything (conflict resolutions, activities, intimacy, financial planning, etc).

Now, to the friendships and our children...
Like a marriage, our friendships are the bonding of two persons of different interests, backgrounds, giftedness, resources, habits, desires and maybe even motives or expectations. We have heard it a million times and see the sweet poems that describe how God gives us certain people for a certain season of time to accomplish something within us. I agree. Have we really thought about it though...what that means to both persons? Assuming God has crossed your paths, then what are your expectations? Do you expect them to meet all your needs? Hope they will be a good friend to you? Are you waiting on them to initiate a play date or coffee with you?  What about your part? If you want a healthy friendship, it will take both of you to serve one another. To get a friend, you ought to be a friend!

About our children...this is really my issue today. I began "chewing" on the issue of "initiating" after watching the AWESOME movie Courageous. If you have not seen it, go out and rent it, or better yet, buy it ASAP!!! Watch it with your family, especially the Man of the house. One scene bothered me and made me think. I will try not to be too specific so I don't give anything away, but there is a main character who is a Teenager. He feels "unloved and "unheard." He probably sees himself as invisible to the world. Then, a crisis comes and he finds himself in isolation. I looked at him and thought, How selfish when others are in the same boat, suffering equally. Instead of pouting, Can't he get up and offer a little bit compassion to another? Maybe do something that needs to get done? Take out the trash?!? Give Mom a cup of water or a kleenex? It's as if he's waiting to be served or needed.

Now, I know, I have already had this conversation in my head as I worked this through. ...there's the natural progression of maturity, however, Teens (or children in general) are not some helpless people group that need to be cuddled and extended extra grace as they try to find themselves. To a point yes, completely babied? No! Even my 5 year old has seen me struggle with my groceries and ran up to open the door for me a time of two!! We all need to be encouragers, not enablers...seekers, not squatters!!

We can pout can't we when we don't get our way? We just pound our feet to the ground and stomp off to our "I'll be waiting in my room for you to come make me feel better." Sure, there are times we are truly victims of an abuse or offense and it does hurt and we do withdraw for a time to work out the wrong which has been done to us. I am not referring to legitimate times of need. I can tell you for sure that there have been seasons in my life that I was no good to anyone for I was drowning in my circumstances, and my loving and faithful family and friends were certainly carrying the my side of the relationship with them. I had nothing to give...I was hurting, not pouting.

I was making dinner the other night and my own teen walked in from playing with his friends and sat straight down on the couch to watch TV. There I was buzzing around the kitchen trying to pull it all together and his Dad was out on the grill. It hit me when I heard, "How much longer till we eat? I am soooooo hungry!!!!! I'm soooo bored....."" I looked over at him and replied, "Why don't YOU take the initiative and offer some help so we can get this out faster? Why do I always have to be the one asking for help? Or how about YOU go ask DAD if he wants any help on the grill. Or see if he wants to throw the football or talk about the big game about to start!?!" He looked at me like, "Oh, I guess I could. I was just waiting."Gee, what a brilliant idea?!? Offer help or friendship instead of waiting to be served. When did we get to the place that parents must ask in order for something to be done and kids must wait to be asked? None of our other relationships work that way. It ought to be a Give-Give. 

I do know that my self-sufficient self, and my self-sufficient husband have contributed to this partially. When the kids are little and they are constantly under our feet, trying to get anything done takes twice as long working around them, so we distract them off to go play until we call for them. Cleaning up the house is faster when they are out of the way and we can fly through it and get the job done. Of course, as they have gotten older, we are able to ASK, delegate, chores/helps. I feel like we are constantly asking the kids to "Please go...(fill in the blank)." 

Also, our high expectations may have also shyed them away from trying anything for the fear of being corrected once again. I don't think this is a problem that we alone face in our home. Are we the only Parents who feel like they have to pull teeth to get things done at all, much less done correctly?!? I believe we have taught them to serve and help but I don't know that we have given them opportunities to actually walk out those teachings consistently. They are great about helping when asked, no doubt. But are they great about initiating and self-less serving??? I'm not so sure.

I am grateful that God has shown me see this while the relationship with my kids is in a good place where we all enjoy eachother's company. It would be much more difficult to encourage a rebellious teen to "initiate." So before we end up there, we will begin practicing "initiating" around the Dickerson Homstead for all those between the ages of 5-45yrs old!! The bible does clearly teach the order of authroity in the home and in ministry and even in the workplace. But within the boundaries of authority, He instructs us to serve one another, encourage one another and love another. To be patient and generous. To consider others more significant than ourselves. To stop being a baby and eat meat!! May we "grow up" and begin initiating. 

And a word of encouragement to those of you who feel like they are the sole initiator in a relationship and feel frustrated wondering when the other will ever "return the love/favor." First, is it you? Take a minute and check your expectations. Are you expecting more than they can give? Are you expecting something back to validate something in you? Be sure to check your heart that you don't fall under the category of a Co-Dependent People Pleaser, needing constant affirmations to feel appreciated. Take a step back and look at the core of the realtionship. What is it based on? What do you think the purpose is with that person (even parent or spouse.)

Or, is it God? God may have placed you in a particular relationship (friend, co-worker, spouse) because they needed a sharpening  from God through you. You may be initiating initially (say that 5 times fast-heehee!!). You may begin in a way that has the stronger of the two persons putting forth the most effort in the beginning. It should not remain that way. Even the student (receiver) should put for the needed effort to learn. God gives life and when you share Love in Jesus name, there will be life and growth will happen on both sides, even if in different ways. God is not a time-waster. Just when you think you are the one giving, you realize what you have been given to as well. Your original milk fest will become a meaty buffet in due time. 

If you are that Giver, be patient, wait on God's timing and don't expect anything more than God's expectations on you. This is only accomplished through His grace and your discernment, patience and wisdom. Don't rush. Don't push. Don't despair. Do your part to lead and let God work out the rest. 

I pray that in our It's All About Me culture, we will pay more attention to serving others. May we not sit around waiting for something to happen but pray about God giving us opportunities to make something happen!! 

I cannot wait to initiate!!!!!

"As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. 

 

 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 

 

 Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. 

 

 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms." 

I Peter 4:2,8-10

 

 

Do you see the Blue Lines?

HaPpY NEW YeAr 2012!!!!

It's hard to believe we are already at the end of Month 1 in a new year!?! Where is that time flying off to?!?! I would love to blog about the new year and planning our hopes and dreams, but that's not why God put me on the keyboard today. 

As always, these blogs are just as much for me as you. You could be the 4 people I know are faithful readers and I pray there are moments of encouragement in your readings here, but I also pray this opens up on a computer screen of a discouraged person. For those of you who know me, you know I am not a counselor, teacher, minister therefore I don't feel equipped to offer "help." HOWEVER, what I DO have is a relationship with The Great Physician, A Healer, A Compassionate Counselor and Mighty King...and The Sweetest Friend I have ever known. We have been on a long journey together and I believe He is who He says He is and He has been faithful to minister in my life. 

This is why I blog...to remind me in these journalings the many lessons the Lord has showed me. It is my prayer that I am courageous enough to be transparent in the writing so that God may be seen through any of my words. I pray you are encouraged to draw closer to Him as I am through what He says or shows to me.

The past 24 hours have been soooo sweet to my soul. Last night, the Ladies Bible study was rich and "meaty." Our teacher/facilitator has such a contagious spirit towards the Lord, in her joy, passion for learning The Word, wisdom and mentorship quality. It's been such a blessing and sharpening in my personal walk with the Lord that I am eternally blessed sitting under her instruction. We studied the Great I Am of the New Testament, only to get in my car and turn on the radio and hear "I Am" by Mark Schultz. My hands could not go up towards the Heavens fast enough!!!! The already happy smile on my face grew even larger in awe of His humor and timings. Praise the God who's timing even in the smallest and sometimes silliest things is perfect!! I sat in my driveway for a few minutes just worshiping His spirit. I noticed once I got settled into my pj's that my face hurt from smiling for such a long period of time. A face cramp? Who knew-heehee!!!

So then this morning, after a rich study time in His Word, my 5 year old comes down the stairs and the first words out of His mouth were, "Mom, why is there blue lines on my legs and all over my body?" I replied, " Well, blood gives your body life. Your heart pumps it and it flows to every part. If blood doesn't get to a place, it will be dead and you can't use it." Then this Holy Hush fell over me. The blood gives life...THE Blood, My Blood, gives you life...without it, you are dead. Of course, this was God's moment/speaking to me and it may not mean anything to you, but we can all use this reminder...It is the blood of Christ that gives us life. His blood was poured out as a ransom for me and for you. Without His blood, we have nothing. This seems to be the area where God is working on correcting and encouraging me personally.

We have to be careful not to get so caught up learning, testing, planning, solving, doing...that we forget the main point...that HE LOVES US sacrificially, to the point of death. His blood was given so that we could have life eternal. Apart from Him, there is no true Peace or Strength, or Love. Fleshy love bears conditions and preferences but the Love of our Heavenly Father is unconditional, endless, forgiving and available to all..."there is no distinction." 

Here is something called The Roman Road I'd like to share with you at the end. I wish I could hand you the solution in 3 easy steps on How to Fix All your problems, I wish I had 3 Easy Steps to Fix all my problems, (haha) but what I do have is Peace and Hope in my circumstances that a faithful God is working through on my behalf for my good and His glory.

May we take time to step back from everything and reflect on the core meaning of it...

In your marriage and friendships - have you stepped out of the busy and demanding schedules, set aside conflicts and looked at your spouse/friend through the gracious and loving eyes of the Lord at him/her? You were purposed to be together for such a time as this and you have made the commitment to be partners in this lifetime. Are you being faithful in your commitment? Your marriage/friendship is a ministry, to each other and your family and friends and to the watching world...all for the Glory of God. Remember?!?

With your children- do you remember they were given to you as a Gift? When was the last time you put down the calendar and spent one on one time with your Gift? Wait, did you forget they were a gift, not an issue?!? (Same is true of our spouse, they are our friend, not competition.) I know how hard it can be as our hearts can receive only so many darts that love begins to drain out. Only God can fill those holes with His love and replenish your strength and bring comfort to painful areas. Do you remember that God chose you to be their parent above all others? He will use you to grow them in Christ as much as they will be used by God to bring you closer to Him. I forget the exact quote from Toy Story 3, but I love the sentiments from Ms Potato Head...taking off these Angry Eyes! Won't you trade your disappointing eyes to appreciating eyes. See them in True Love's name.

Most importantly, your relationship with God- have you gotten so busy studying and trying to figure things out that you have forgotten the simple and yet profound fact the He loves you. You are loved with a pure, unconditional love and will never be forsaken. Never forget His love. Never doubt His love. He is faithful when the rest of the world is not. He will be there to catch you if you fall. There is none like Him. 

I will exercise great restraint right now from going on and on about the Love of our Father, the love we share with others and the meaning of it all...I'd be here all week!!!!! I am praying that you too will just take some time to settle your spirit, mind, soul and body to reflect and notice your blue lines. Notice the Blood in your life. Is there anywhere in you that there are clots? Ask God to open you up and allow the Blood to flow freely. Remember His love for you. See His love for you. Then, be a donor and "give blood" to a dying world. Share this Good News. 


With Valentines just around the corner, I cannot think of a better time to reflect on LOVE!!!

For there is no distinction (a discrimination made between things as different; special regard or favoritism): for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified (to declare innocent or guiltless) by His grace as a gift, through the redemption (deliverance from sin; salvation; rescue) that is in Christ Jesus, 
Romans 3: 22b-24

For the wages (a pledge or security) of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal (without beginning or end; lasting forever; always existing) life in Christ Jesus our Lord. 
Romans 6:23

but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners,
Christ died for us. 
Romans 5:8

because, if you confess (to own or admit as true; to declare or acknowledge) 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 (to declare innocent or guiltless), and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. Romans 10:9-10

For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord 

will be saved (to keep from being lost)." 

Romans 10:13

 

The "Root" Issue

Do you ever wonder "How in the world did I get here?" "How did this happen?" "Where did it begin?" (Referring to good or bad.) Sometimes you can remember the exact time, place, location and who was with you when an epiphany reveals itself. While other moments seem to have simply appeared or evolved into being.

This morning I was writing in my Blessing Journal, thanking God for all the goodness, kindness, generosity, provisions, healing, friendships He has graciously given me, specifically over 2011 as I reflect over the year. It surprised me that as I thanked God for certain things and people, I could not pinpoint the exact moment I received the blessing or enlightenment or wisdom. When was it that I "got it?" 

My God: This year's bible studies have been very unique for me and oh, so rich and "meaty." I look back today and see how deeply rooted my faith is in Christ...how much more I love my Heavenly Father, the King of kings, my Savior. When was the moment it happened? Which prayer, study night or homework week was it that I understood Him more? When did my heart fill up? When did my spirit settle into peacefulness and strengthen? I don't know.

My Kids: These past several weeks I have felt a great peace with my kids. Why now? Why do I have a deeper level of confidence in them? Why do I see them with more joy than stressors?  I do believe that my friend's courageous battle with cancer has given me a renewed appreciation and slap in the face over getting things back into perspective. This, along with the "Deuteronomical Truth" gives me the courage to let go of this mega-control that I want and allow God to do what He needs to do in each of them, and me. When did I make that choice? What day? I don't know.

My Friendships: This year God has been especially sweet to bless me with some awesome Sisters in Christ. What's interesting is that some of (you) these girls I have known for many years and yet God saw fit to knit us together tightly in 2011 in a special way. Others of (you) these beautiful women I have only recently been blessed to know and yet the knitting together feels as if we have been intertwined for many a year. What was the thing that "clicked?" When did the comfort level reach a place of "sisterhood?" Why now?  I don't know.

It's hard to believe that it was just this year, in 2011, which many of these roots dug deep within my heart and spirit. Some roots are so deep it seems as if it has always been. We cannot comprehend God's works. How He gives. When He gives. Why He gives. Why He takes away. Processes don't have "dates and times." Now, there are definite defining moments in our lives we must make a choice and turn our life around. Salvation for example is NOT a process, it's a one time choice, in one moment in time. The process of growing, knowing Him, renewing and refining through the Refiners Fire does take time...it is a process day after day. He gives.

Otherthan life-altering choices that have to be made or clear-cut decisions "to do or not to do"...Truthfully, I really don't care when the moment happened or how it happened necessarily. I am just thankful it did!!  One of the reinforcements I gleaned from my recent study in Deuteronomy was that Blessings result from Obedience in the willing heart and it's in those blessings where life-change is realized. My heart's deep desire is to obey, but I am afraid that it doesn't always. I can only hope and pray that the deeper my roots go, the less I will waver.

The choice to change changes things, obviously. But saying it and doing it are two very different realities! The intention to change begins to happen the moment we choose to obey or disobey. The revelation or realization of change is slowly revealed as one layer at a time is peeled back. As one foot steps by faith infront of the other. Maybe that's why it is difficult to see the "ah-ha" moments because they evolve while we are in motion. It's the epiphany or end-result, whether it's blessing or discipline, that we realize change has or is happening. How can a gift (or discipline) from God not change you? Of course it will, it should!! That's why we can stop, look where we are and wonder, What? But how? When?

Another lesson learned is the clear reminder the Creator of the Universe has got things under control. I do not need to worry about all the details and "what if's." He has got it under control. HIS timing, HIS way will be perfect. I certainly don't have the wisdom or resources to change my life or anyone elses...but God can, and He will call to order strangers, friends, family, circumstances, "issues", studies, sermons, songs, and His amazing creation all to draw us closer to Him.

Where are you digging your roots into? A job? A person? May I recommend that you dig deep into God's Word...His living Word. " For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."  Hebrews 4:12  It is GOD ALONE that can get to those secret and hidden places and work in them. 

(Funny, as I am editing this -I had written it earlier this morning- the thought came to my hair about "roots." I DO need to pay attention to my (hair) roots! Boy, don't we ALL need to pay attention to our "roots" and get them where they need to be!!!

Thank You Lord God for Your Love, Your Grace, Your Faithfulness, Your Way, Your PERFECT timing. I ask for the protection of our heart, mind, soul, and roots in You Father God. Forgive the times we choose not to obey You, for being stubborn and stiff-necked people. Thank You God for creating us to long for something, for having that deep need to belong, for giving us the drive "to do and be." May our desires be found in You alone. May we establish ourselves deeply rooted into Your Word so that we may hear Your voice and none other. Help us to be better students of Your Word and less focused on the world's views and expectations. Thank You for the seasons of pruning, making the burden lighter, ridding ourselves from carrying around so much dead weight. Thank You Lord Jesus for the gifts and blessings that are the cherries ontop of an already sweet gifting from You. I Praise Your HOLY, HOLY Name, amen.

These are scriptures I am meditating on in this season of pruning. I pray they bring you nourishment as well.To GOD be the glory ALWAYS, in EVERY way. 

BLESSINGS!!!! Michele

" ..that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:16-19

 " For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace...

18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.... 

26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27 And He who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.  

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose."  Romans 8: 3-6, 18, 26-28