Picking up Trash

For most of my life, my time with the Lord was satisfied on Sundays, Wednesdays and Bible studies. It wasn't until 2008 that my quiet times were times I desired and carved out to spend with the Lord. In the beginning, it was something I knew I was suppose to do and I did my best to complete whatever days of homework I could, never sacrificing my sleep or play time to get it done. If I had 30 minutes to get it done, I would, otherwise, nada! Time with God was never something I craved, until I was desperate and then I coveted it.

As I walked through the season of healing beginning in 2008, meditating, confessing, claiming, memorizing The Word of God was absolutely necessary. I had tried everything Google had to offer but they didn't work. God didn't allow it to. I believe the whole reason He allowed the season of physical crisis through panic attacks was to get my spiritual attention and cause me to cling to Him. Of course any thing other than Him would fail. He caused them to fail. Some techniques helped but nothing would heal me. Like a prescription pill that my life depended on, I took a dose of Jesus every morning before my feet hit the ground, throughout the day, through the evening and even during waking nights. I clung fearfully to the Cross.

It was nothing but desperation and obedience that drove my devotion and time with the Lord. It was something I had to do even when I did not feel like it, I knew it was necessary to my life-walk. Until that point, I hadn't been able to stay on task and be disciplined to study or spend time with Him or in His Word. And, I had no accountability. No one in my life asked me about my walk. Bible study questions don't reflect personal relationship. They simple reflect you could find the right answer.

 My love for God really didn't match my time spent with Him. But, as days went on, I found that my obedience began to shift to desire. I began to feel His power again. I sensed His peace deep in my soul. I heard Him again for the first time in a loooong time. I soon realized I made lots of excuses. I dismissed the warnings that I was headed to a cliff. I began to see His heart for me. He gave me strength when I was weak. He made me feel life again. He was my only hope. He became my greatest love, not because of all He was actively doing for me, and not even for what He had done in Calvary for me, but for who He is. I cannot help but anticipate time with Him alone, to worship at His feet with complete awe and joy and reverent fear. 

I fell in consuming love with my Lord God, Abba Daddy, Friend of Sinners and Prince of Peace. He redeemed me and set me free from captivity! What a great God! What great love! What great patience! How stubborn and righteous had I become trying to be good enough. What amazing grace that saved a wrench like me. I once was blind but now I see. I was lost and now I am found!!! AMEN!!!

Just as our relationships between each other grow, so did mine with the Lord. The more time you spend with someone, the more experiences you have and history develops. You get to know their heart and spirit. My relationship with the Lord deepened greatly through this process of depending on Him for my everything, including my next breath. I got a glimpse of His goodness and power, realizing the depth of His love. I pray to now forever, faithfully walk in it.

A few months after I celebrated complete freedom from the bondage fear had once had on me, PRAISE THE LORD, God took me through lots of exercises and applications and I am impacted by one of them I thought I'd share with you, it was kinda fun, although inconvenient. He told me to pick up trash. Yes, trash, on the floor, anywhere, but not just everything I saw. I felt the nudge in my spirit which trash to get and which to walk past. It was a surreal experience. I was honestly a little annoyed at times. I'm not a huge germ-a-phobe, however, I do like germ-free environments, hands, high charis, tables, car seats, shopping carts, door handles, etc. Part Mom, part Michele!!

Anyway, I would be walking into the store and God would say, Pick up that one. And knew which one. I'd even go to grab an extra piece next to it and I would would sense the No! Don't touch. I didn't understand it then but I do now. Listen and obey. It doesn't always make sense to us and it simply doesn't have to. God is God. He is the Potter and we are the clay! And yes, my kids thought I was silly. I didn't make a big deal about it at the time cuz how crazy?!? They would play the "game" with me thinking they were being good samara tins and sometimes I couldn't take it. They had to deal with what they had. You are probably thinking the same thing right now!! I know, I was right there too!

After I realized what He was trying to show me, it would be hard to pen it all out, but I think you get the just of it, my soul developed a readiness to listen and heed to His voice. I learned a lot from this exercise of listening, obeying, God's way vs mine.

Let go of Pride: I didn't want someone to see me carrying the trash, thinking I or one of my children had done it.

It was gross to me to touch someone elses' trash. I wasn't always convenient...to my car, into church, in a hurry to get in and out, other stuff in my hands, etc. 

Listening better: I began to hear His voice over mine. He mattered more.
Ownership: I was responsible for my (hypothetical) trash, no one else's and no one to blame for what I was responsible for.  

Anticipation: There were times I attempted to be distracted, hoping God would not call on me, but He did. It was almost like a game, and it was mildly amusing. Like I could fool God, good grief. I learned humble obedience and keen awareness of His presence.

A few months later, God began to stir in me and I felt His familiar nudgings...whether it was bringing people into my path to encourage or deal with, choices I had to make that weren't pleasant, sensing warfare around me quicker, doing something I needed to do even when I didn't want to....I trusted and depended on His leading. It is true...we are sheep that have gone astray and we need to know the Shepherd's voice. We are lost without Him and will take 40 years to make an 11 day journey if we walk pouting, kicking and screaming, avoiding or making excuses, complaining all the way across the desert.

Serving God is not always easy or convenient. Just like handling the dishes, dusting, dealing with difficult people or situations, I do them out of obedience wishing I didn't have to but because I love my family and it's my love for them that I do, because I'm supposed to. Eventhough I greatly love the Lord and am sensitive to His nudges, there are still days and weeks I don't wanna pick up "trash." Sometimes, loving is just faithfulness to keep on towards the goal...which is living for Him..His way, not mine. 

Loving God IS easy. Out of that overflow, we can more readily serve others as He chooses, in the way He chooses. We are never wasting our time if we are doing what God tells us to do!! 

Nothing is just as it seems. Be intentional on listening for His voice. Be careful not to have a one way relationship with God. Speak to Him AND listen to Him. Wait on Him. Do whatever He asks and it's okay to ask why but know He may not be able to explain it to you. It's better to just ask "how Lord?" Sometimes it is about you, but often it is about someone else. You never know what God is working out around us. Maybe we will help, plant seeds, intercede, rebuke as we go. How can we love someone else if we don't have that love first? How do we share hope if we ourselves don't have any? How do we know what to do if we can't hear Him? How do we know where to go and what to do when we get there? Which way do we turn at the crossroads? Trust your Shepherd.

May you too begin in simple, intentional obedience if you must and allow God to mold your heart, open your mind and stretch your spiritual muscles so that you can run the race set before you, endure the trials, receive the grace He has for you....you may have to deal with some trash! You will soon be led by desire and not discipline. Forget Google and Go to God!!!! It will be through this discipline to listen, follow and obeying that blessings will come, with the biggest blessing being The Lord Himself, knowing Him more. Deeper love. Genuine love. Get it and go!

 Listen. He is calling you.

God, please translate!!!

This past Tuesday night in the Ladies Bible Study I attend, we were asked to share a brief testimony about ourselves. It is bizarre to me that you can be both equally afraid and excited at the chance to share what Christ has done for you!! I realized in my preparation that eventhough the heavy chains and bondage of fear has been removed- (AMEN!!!!!)- there still remains random anxiety strings. Will I say the right thing God wants me to? Will I speak clearly? Will I be boring to listen to? Will I make sense? What if, What if!! I am still praying for the day where fear is completely absent from my heart and mind and I no longer have to push through it, I will simply jump up and proclaim "YES Lord!!!" In my heart I do. I can be bold here as I write and even as I share one on one, but in front of others, looking at you...woah.

You wonder how it went? Well, it went....okay. Something practical I did learn is that if you are crunched for time, it would be better to take a minute to gather your thoughts, summarize them down and speak less with a "regular speed." This is better than doing what I did, which was to speak faster in an attempt to get all 5 minutes out in 3! My mouth went faster than my mind causing me to feel random and lost as I hoped to get out at least one good encouragement through the fluttering words. I prayed that God would intercept my babble and translate into the spirits in the room as He had done in Acts 2:6, " And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language."  

Since that night, I have received messages and assurances that all went well and hearts were touched. Looking forward to some additional share time with a few!! (Yes, I am eager, especially with a cup of coffee or sweet lemon tea in my hand!!) It seems God's grace met my mouth and carried the words into the ears of some of the women. Maybe God changed the frequency of their ears to tune into His Words. Oh, how I prayed He would!!!!God is good!!!

As I walked back to my seat that night, heart jumping all over the place and my mind wondering What just happened?, I was sad that I didn't make any final points. It is my prayer and I think it ought to be the prayer of each of us that as we share our life story it should be about our journey with the Lord despite who we are. Not, who were are despite our journey with the Lord. We should be reflecting Christ's handiwork, not human perceptions. Of course, we are "fearfully and wonderfully made" and it is important to know who we are in Christ and everything we have been through is a part of our journey, but if I only talk about all my mistakes and accomplishments in my flesh, and not focus on God's hand in all of it, am I making the most of Him, or me? I pray, I pray I would make the most of Him!!! 

This was a great opportunity to reflect back on and recount where God has brought me from crisis to the Cross as I prepared to share. He really is my greatest Love!!!! 
He has been sooooo good. 
Soooooo faithful. 
Sooooooo generous. 
Sooooooo patient!!!!! 

Although each of these could be a blog all on their own, detailing how I got there and ways He taught me this, I would love to share with you some of the points I had hoped to make. They are really even the same things I tell my kids, it's simple and we need to be walking in this same consuming faith and trust, regardless of age. You may have been asked to speak this week, although we should always be ready, but I encourage you to reflect back and see where you have walked. Can be humbling and convicting, especially if you have walked a few circles around the same dirt path a few times.e

As always, I know there are those of you that read these blogs, thank you for taking the time to read-I pray God intercepts these words and translates them for your spirit, and it is my prayer that God will reveal something in each one that sharpens you and encourages you. May I remind you as long as we are here, "it's easier said than done." Just because God places these lessons or applications in my heart to encourage you, does NOT mean I too have mastered them. I do share a lot of victories in Christ, however, rest assured I am still a work in progress!

We can lead outwardly perfect lives and yet live a defeated inward life.

You can never fully know what someone else is going through. Smiles can be masks. It was even for me for a long season.

For the person struggling: keep your eyes on the Cross. The Cross is your victory!!! We are not meant to battle alone, share your struggle with "whatever" with someone...a BELIEVING, LOVES THE LORD someone. Not only does it take away the secret Satan would love for you to be ashamed of, you will receive intercession before the Lord on your behalf (which is why it is important who you share with) and you will be stronger with accountability than on your own. I have blogged plenty on accountability in the body of Christ. "Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working." James 5:16 Drop the pride, humble yourself, don't fear rejection...God has placed the people in your life for such a time as this!!

For the "other" person: funny, there really isn't a "other" person. We are ALL struggling with something and if you are not, you believe you are perfect, ask God and He will show you that His Son is the only perfect person who has walked on the Earth! In my perfection moments, my friend would ask me, "Are you Jesus?!?" The message for each of is this: keep your eyes on Him.

When we keep our eyes on Him, the Body works.

For obvious reasons, we know we should keep our eyes on Him so that we will be of right mind, gather all of our identity and peace and strength from Him but I would like to also point out that within our focus on Christ, we should be fully aware of two things: spiritual warfare and spiritual gifts. I could TOTALLY write pages on these...but I will refrain in this moment in an effort to get the point out (I am trying!!).

It is much easier to see the warfare the closer you are to Christ as He gives you His eyes to see. You also gather more strength and endurance when you fight with the power of God and are replenished with the Living Water as you walk through the wilderness. Satan roams the Earth, mountain tops and wildernesses. You are never out of attack range. Yes, God is with you always and will give you all you need for when the time of trouble comes. He will fight with you. Keep close. Stay fixed on Him. 

Secondly, spiritual gifts. You may think being a Mom or whatever title you hold is your gifting but it is not. I also thought it was my call and gifting to be the perfect Mom and Wife and church member, volunteer and friend...but these are simply the avenues in which God calls you to use your gifts, they are not your gifts. " Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord;  and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good." I Corinthians 12- read the chapter!! It was a Mom who God used to encourage me in dark season, her Momness did not encourage me, but her gift of encouragement from the Lord lifted me. It was a church member who can do no wrong in the kitchen who insisted on bringing me a meal on just the day I had no strength, it was her gift of hospitality and discernment that she unknowingly ministered to a need I had. It was retired neighbor that spontaneously checked on me often through a season of crisis, it was her gift of intercession, faithfulness and encouragement that caused her to war on my behalf when I had nothing left in me. It was a professional counselor and later mentor that walked me through application steps to walk out my daily life through this season but it was through her gift of encouragement, knowledge and wisdom that my spirit, not just my mind, were ministered to and forever changed. These gifts should be called tools, to be used by God, to be cared for by us!!!

God needs us to see what instrument He has created us to be in the world so we can be a conduit of His work. Each of us needs each other to know their gift.

It is the gift of Christ, the sacrifice of our Heavenly Father, that gives us victory over all things. It is Christ blood infused in ours that the Holy Spirit fights and conquerors the enemy before us. With His eyes of Authority, we can see the warfare. With His eyes of Graciousness, we can see our precious and powerful gifts (tools).

" If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth... 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. 

And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. 

And be thankful. 

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. 

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 3:1-2, 12-17

Think about it? Doesn't it excite you each time God reveals Himself to you?!? Small ways. Big ways. Obvious and in hindsight. God is every where. So, what if the entire Body of Christ "put on then" that inexpressible JOY and awe-ness in the Lord and lived it to be real and true, how would our family, our city, our nation, the world...the physical world and the spiritual world be different? If we all functioned with seeing eyes and ready with tools to go to work in Jesus Name???? Talk about a revival.  

God, may it begin with....me....us. Revive our spirits and refresh The Body and make it contagious!!! Bind the evil one and his army from capturing our thoughts and stealing our strength. Guard our faith and our trust in You. Give us courage and faithfulness to love You like you deserve. Humble our hearts that You can fine tune us, shape us, mold us by whatever means necessary so that we can be effective tools for Your Kingdom, Your World. To You Lord, receive all Glory. We worship You...I worship you. amen.
 

Snow to Sand

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;  a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, 

and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace." Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

We have heard it a million times, "there is a season for everything," "this too shall pass." Within two weeks of each other, I packed up my family of 6 for skiing in the snow only to turn around, got it all washed (still not all put up I am afraid) only to turn around and pack us up for a weekend at the beach! From bulky layers to one piece swimsuits, boots to flip flops, funny that both required sunscreen and sunglasses! Although we had planned the family trip to the snow 3 months prior, giving me ample time to find all the gear we would need and make reservations on the slopes, the beach trip was a surprise for my 40th birthday from my Husband. I did request a beach day, but he went the extra mile and made it 3 days! So nice.

Even though it was much easier to pack for the beach, less gear, less amount of clothing, less degree of change to anticipate for, I was still thrown into the whirlwind of unpacking to packing for two completely different seasons. Both of these destinations required me to prepare and adapt what was normal for Houston. Both of these seasons brought hardships along with great joys. 

For example, the snow sure makes everything slushy and muddy. Our car needed a HUGE wash...a few times:) Evidence of the mountain clay remains on my driveway to this day. And yet, the majesty of the mountains and the memories we made were priceless. The beach left us with sand, everywhere and yet the sounds of the beach-side melted my soul! Oh, the joys and the pains in every thing.

This is how our seasons with the Lord are. Seasons can come by our invitation or the Lord in His sovereignty sometimes grants us awareness of their upcoming arrival. We sometimes have ample time to plan and prepare for them. However, there are also seasons that surprise us and throw us into what feels like a whirlwind. God tells us there is a season for everything, some of it will be fun (a time to be born, plant, heal, build up, laugh, dance, gather, embrace, seek, keep, sew, speak, love, peace), while other times are not so fun (a time to die, kill, break, weep, mourn lose, tear, hate war). To each season there are joys and pains.

Since we cannot always anticipate the change of season, we must "be ready in and out of season." What does that mean? How do we prepare for the seasons? Well, one thing we know for sure, no matter where you go, you will need gear, clothing and sunscreen and sunglasses. And something that that has become crucial with our large families and especially a family with more independent people (older kids with more freedom and younger ones learning how to do more things) is a meeting point, a bearing and accountability. When we have freedom to go our own ways for a time, it is important there is a specific point where we will unite. Even at the beach, it was super crucial to pay attention to your bearing as the current slowly but surely carried you downshore. You could not hear the warnings of those yelling out across the winds so it was up to you to continuously check your whereabouts before you went too far. 

There are basics common to all seasons. They just function differently. No matter where you go, what season you are in, you should be equipped with the basics: God's Word (Bible and Prayer), Armor of God (Ephesians 6:11-18), Faith Fruit (Galatians 5:22-23) and others (II Corinthians 13:11, I Thessalonians 5:11). In good times or bad, we need God and others. No matter where we are, we need to keep our bearing which comes from time spent in His Word. We need the meeting point which comes thru accountability.

Every season requires love. Every season demands our faith, hope and commitment to truth. We need to not only love God and others fully, but allow God and others to love us fully. Our greatest defenses are the Word of God applied in our heart, mind and soul and the intercession of others. There is a reason God instructs us to love one another and pray for one another. There is power in the Name of Jesus and that power covers us in every season. (I am resisting the urge to blog on the importance and preciousness of intercession!!!)

Whether we are slipping on ice or surfing the waves, may we always be prepared for the joys and trials of the season. One thing we have not mentioned is for how long? How long will we be there? Well, we don't always know. Our Heavenly Father, Creator of the Seasons holds them in His hands and at His command, they will change. As each season produces the fruit needed, He will move us to new ground. When the season changes, will you be ready?
 
 

"And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by Him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through Him and for Him.  

And He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." Colossians 19-17

 

 

God Bless You and May God Bless Me!! 

To GOD be ALL glory, ALL the time, in EVERY season!!!!!

AMEN!!!!!!! 

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