christian living, faith walk, God first, perseverance, Prayer, restoration
Does September ever feel like January to you?
At the beginning of the year we get a fresh start and a reset. September, like January, is the “start” of many things, school being the most obvious. At my age, I’m past the stage of keeping a tight hold on school calendars and schedules, but not beyond the memory of preparing my kids and family for the switch from summer days (some lazy, some crazy) to the cadence of the school year beat.
So even though January is known as the month for fresh starts, new habits and do-overs, September feels a lot like January.
Maybe it’s just me, but in my growing-to-be-more-like-Jesus journey, I’ve needed a few resets and new habits. I’ve needed to return to my first, true love, King Jesus. Like the apostle Paul, I do things I don’t want to do. The things I want to do, I struggle to do. It’s possible, dear one, to love Jesus and need a spiritual refresh.
As a young mom, the end of summer represented a return to schedules and routines. I might not have loved it outwardly (who really wants summer to end?), but inside I needed the structure that came with the start of the new school year. With my kids back on track, I too, was able to reset my schedule and my heart. Awana, Youth activities, Ladies Bible Study and small groups all followed the school calendar. They’ve always been a big part of feeding our families faith with care and consistency.
What about you?
~ Are you ready to get back into a routine?
~ What is it you would like to start fresh today?
~ What in your faith journey needs a reset?
I’m praying as you settle into the post summer routine, you are able to reset, refresh and reflect on your routine, making changes that best serve your faith walk. Can’t commit to a weekly bible study? Meet with a couple friends every other week or once a month, but get in community with other women and get into the Word. Utilize your social networks to find out if someone is interested in your reset ideas. Your boldness to ask may encourage another.
I’m cheering you on! I know you can do it!
Ready. Set. Refresh!
christian living, control, faith walk, God first, grace, humility, impatience, perseverance, relationships, trust
The thought started small, and I assumed, innocent enough. After all, I’m just thinking what I’m thinking. But as it bubbled up, I didn’t put it in check, rather I watched it, or let it, too quickly come to a boil. The problem for me as a high verbal person, is thoughts that heat up inside me, soon tumble out of me.
How many times would it have been good to douse myself with the proverbial bucket of water? To put out the flame of my words before they could scorch another?
If you don’t or haven’t struggled with controlling your words, please keep reading and willingly understand better, those of us who do! Often, it’s those closest to us that are seared by the pain of uncontrolled words shooting out like fireworks.
I have analyzed the progression asking myself, what takes me from zero to blaster so quickly? My personal conclusion? I’m trying to control something: a situation, an outcome, or a perception. I’m controlling and not trusting.
As the temperatures outside have soared, I began to see the correlation to the “heat” that sometimes rises within me. If this is you too, can I first remind you that you are Seen, Known and Loved by your Creator. Say them together: Seen, Known and Loved. He sees us every moment, all the time. He sees us at our best and our worst. He knows AND He loves. Let that sink in for a moment or longer. When the heat rises I need to be refreshed!
Because of Christ we are forgiven for our yesterdays, todays and tomorrows. We are cleansed, made right, eternally loved and deeply known. I admit that I have not always tapped into this truth that Christ died to secure. I continue, like a 2 year old, saying I can do it myself. And as Dr. Phil asks, How’s that working for you?
Friends, it takes surrender of self to live like Christ. I admit I usually think I know stuff! BUT the God who created me and sent His only Son, knows infinitely more than I. So how do I set my need to lead, know and decide, down and invite Him and His infinite wisdom into the process? It’s a daily, moment by moment putting down my pride, my “I can do it myself” bravado and surrendering, resting, in His tender, loving care. I have to allow His love, His words and His truth to refresh my soul.
Lean in, friend. Not stiffly, but like the two year old who finally gives in and slumps over, completely surrendered, head on chest. You too, can let go. Lay it all at His feet and be refreshed by His love for you today.
Whenever and however you can, add His truth to your daily thoughts. Let them refresh you. Read His Word, listen to the audio Bible, listen to a life giving podcast or play worship music that speaks His character and truth. The world is loud and the enemy of our souls loves to keep us from hearing God’s truth.
Here are some verses about being “refreshed” to get you started.
Romans 15: 32- 33 The apostle Paul writing to the church in Rome, hoping to visit the church in Rome, expresses his desire to be with them: 32 so that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company. 33 May the God of peace be with you all. Amen. ( we are refreshed by other believers)
Acts 3:2 Times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that he may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus (relief, rest, refreshing)
Proverbs 3:5-8 5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your flesh, and refreshment to your bones. (trusting, acknowledging, turning and fearing bring deep healing and refreshment)
christian living, faith walk, friendship, God first, grace, Hospitality, relationships
Nothing stirs my emotions like a favorite aroma. My mom used to make cinnamon bread on Sunday mornings before church. One sniff and I am transported to the place where I experienced the fragrant memory. I used a particular lotion on my first mission trip and every time I smell it, I am right back in rugged, rural Brazil.
Fragrance is a powerful memory prompt.
One of the first things we planted, 8 years ago, was my star Jasmine. It is in full bloom and smells fabulous. I knew it would take awhile to get all my landscape ideas off the paper and into planters, so I started with a few pots on our patio. From the beginning, I was imagining sitting and sipping, while the fragrance of the jasmine wafted by. My starry eyed climbers have not disappointed me.
It made me think about the aroma of me. No, not my physical smell, rather, the memory of me that remains after being together with another. We all leave a “scent” memory in how we make people feel and what their thoughts turn to after spending time with us. Wow! I had to sit with that for a bit.
Paul talks about it in his letter to the Corinthian church. He says we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and /or perishing. We can be a fragrance of spiritual life or death for others. If you are a little convicted by that thought, I’m already in line ahead of you!
But look closely at the verse below. It starts with “Christ always leads”. What follows is our privilege as followers of Jesus, we get to participate by His grace. Then it says, “through us spreads the fragrance”. It’s awesome and more than a little humbling that we get to be “spreaders” of grace. But it always starts with Christ. Not me. Not you. Christ. He is before all, and in all things! We GET to spread the fragrance of him! It’s an incredible privilege as beloved children of the King of King’s!
“Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.” 2 Corinthians 2:14-16
This is my prayer: Jesus, we want to smell like you! May anyone who interacts with us recall the sweet fragrance of the fruit of the spirit, the fruit of Your vine, growing in us. May they be drawn closer to you because we faithfully serve up the Gospel on fragrant platters of love.
christian living, comparison, faith walk, God first, grace, trust
But God, she’s prettier, more talented, a better mom, wife, sister, friend …
I used to think only the full blooming flowers earned the label of “beautiful”. What about you? When I look at a fully blossomed flower, I can clearly see it’s at a different stage of growth than the two tightly curled and not-yet-opened flowers near it. And yet, I compared. I labeled one beautiful and the others, well, not.
Why do I think and believe such things? This is the six million dollar question!
As I’ve watched my yard grow through seasons and stages, I’ve gained a new appreciation for the formation of and the revealing of the “full bloom.” Like I did with flowers, I have compared myself to other women, determining my own worth by how I felt in contrast to another. It sounds crazy as I write it, but it’s so easy to fall into this comparison trap. Perhaps the crazier thing is, I wasn’t even comparing myself to their same season of life.
Like Eve in the first garden, how easy it was to listen to the serpents lies. He loves to get us distracted and focused on the wrong thing. Trying to measure up, losing sight of WHOSE we are. We are beautiful daughters of the Most High King, Our ABBA father is the CREATOR of all things – and He called all His creation good. We are good & we are beautiful.
I don’t know where you are on the mental rollercoaster of comparison, but I hope you’ll stop and consider if there are some mind habits that could use a perspective shift. Let’s get off the white knuckle ride of comparison. I want you to celebrate where the Lord’s brought you as He works in and through you. Comparison has only ever made me sick and it’s a bigtime confidence drain. Instead, embrace the beautiful stage of growth you are currently living, knowing God uses all of it for His honor and our good. Do you believe that, friend? I pray that you do.
Make this your prayer: Jesus, I want to embrace every aspect of growth you have for me. You, God, designed and created all things. You created me! Help me, when I fight hard against the season I am in. Forgive me for thinking I “know” better than you. Remind me that I can trust the growth you are bringing to my life, even if I don’t understand it. Lord, let me trust you and leave comparison behind.
christian living, faith walk, God first, impatience, life experience, perseverance, Prayer, resilience, trust, Uncategorized
I’m a fixer, a get it done girl, an advanced planner and someone who likes to think she has some control over situations and circumstances. As I prepare to share messages about Ruth, Tamar and Miriam, I’ve been juggling thoughts as I’ve been reading, highlighting and underlining. The question each story begs to know: What’s a girl to do when she bumps into circumstances beyond her control?
What I am learning from these women helps to answer that question:
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Ruth, widowed and without means, followed her bitter mother-in-law, Naomi, back to her homeland. Ruth gleaned for leftover grain, the only option she had. Yet she became the great grandmother of King David and is listed in the genealogy of Christ.
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Tamar was deceived and abandoned. She deceived in return. It’s a sordid tale. And yet it’s in scripture, perhaps as a cautionary tale. Poor choices and all, Tamar is also named in the lineage of Christ.
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Miriam bravely watches her brother Moses as he is saved by Pharaoh’s daughter, then challenges his God ordained authority, after all the miracles of the exodus. But she is the first woman to be called a prophetess in the Bible.
All of these women had something in common, besides being far from perfect, they didn’t know how their story would end. None of us do. Yet in the midst of it all, the ugly, the hard and harrowing, they encountered the God who created them, loved them and was still writing their stories.
How are you responding to circumstances that feel beyond your control? Are you trying to fix? Or are you trusting God has a plan?
Perhaps, like me, you need to be reminded that your story is still being written. That God is trustworthy even in our unknown and seemingly unfixable. The God who knew and loved Ruth, Tamar and Miriam, also knows and loves you. He’s the author of all of our stories. I’m daily learning to trust Him in all things.
PRAYER: “Lord, let me be a willing participant in all you are doing. Your ways are not my ways, they are often beyond my comprehension. Let me trust you and walk with you. Not away from you or ahead of you. Continue to teach me and draw me to yourself.”
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 ESV
christian living, faith walk, God first, grace, impatience, life experience, parenting, relationships, resilience
In my teens I thought thirty somethings were over-the-hill, ancient people. Then when I turned 30, it felt like a light clicked on and I understood life better. After all, I was the oldest I had ever been.
My husband and I carried this phrase into parenting. We used to say, often with a knowing chuckle, “they are the oldest they have ever been.” The reason for the phrase was to recall our own growth journey and in turn find grace for our children.
At two, our toddler son felt like the king of the world with all his new abilities. Often saying, “I do it myself!” The confidence with each stage of development continued – single digit to tween, we’d say, “He’s the oldest he’s ever been.” When he was 18, was a senior in high school AND living at home, unique challenges and lively discussions abounded about house rules, freedom of choice and personal responsibility.
That son is now respectably closer to forty than eighteen. He’s more mature and thankfully, so am I.
I saw my forties as a great awakening of sorts. I dug deep into who I was – a child of God and my parents, baby sister to 4 siblings, but also a wife for 20 years, mom to three who was seeing life through her own longer lived experience.
The grace part became beautifully and deeply real. I needed to give grace like I had already received it.
Aging is an ebb and flow of living and learning. Wherever the Lord has you on the “you are as old as you’ve ever been” continuum, look in the mirror and accept that there is grace enough for you at every age. Then, freely give others lots of grace for their aging experience.
We are all the oldest we have ever been!
“… he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God…” Ephesisans 2:7-8
“…to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight…” Ephesians 1:6-8
