In the past few days, God has brought the word “courage” into my presence several times. And because I have become increasingly sensitive to “patterns” and “repetition” in my life, I found myself led to ask: ”God, is that You?” and “What are You trying to show me?” Read More…
I started to slip. Again. Some races are long ones. Some are short. We are remodeling our home. It’s exciting and unnerving all at once. I can do just about anything for a few weeks. Our remodeling is a short race. I can see the end in sight. Some races are long ones. Sustaining and nourishing a marriage is a long one. Raising kids to be God-loving, independent, productive, kind adults is a long one. I need faith, deep and enduring faith, to run both, but especially the long races.
I started to focus on the people in my life instead of on God. I was obsessing on what he or she was or was not doing. I was becoming annoyed and frustrated that my needs were not being met. I was letting others drain the life right from me. I was allowing others to dictate my joy and happiness or lack of it. Read More…
When I start to “feel good” again, my faith actually starts to slip. It is so subtle that I almost don’t even realize it. As I start to “feel better”, I start to take my life back into my own hands again. I start to think “I can do this”.
The crisis has slightly lifted. I am not “feeling” quite so poorly. I have more hope. I am not so desperate. God has truly been faithful in bringing new support. I have new anchors. I start to think “Hey, I am doing pretty good. Maybe I don’t need God quite so much”.
When I go by my “feelings”, even “good feelings”, I actually start to trust God less and turn to myself more. My mind gets a little busier. I have more energy. I start to amp up my life again. I start to look for more activities. Through this “journey of faith”, one message has been more than loud and clear for me: faith is NOT the same thing as feelings. We cannot base life on our emotions. Emotions change from day to day. In fact, mine can change hour to hour. My faith in Christ cannot be based on how I am feeling, even when I start to “feel better”.
First principle: Keep an accurate measure of yourself. Read More…
This is Part 2 of 2 on the Danger of Feeling Good Again. Part 1 can be viewed here.
Previous principles discussed:
Fourth principle: Stay calm.
“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalms 46:10 [+/-]
God has repeatedly used this specific verse in my life. Maybe because I am one of the most “un-still” people. In fact, I am more familiar with going, doing, being involved, meeting, planning, organizing, creating, developing and devising. Maybe you get my gist. Maybe you are the same way.
When I start to “feel good” again, I start to become busy and noise of my life prevents me from hearing God’s quiet voice. I miss what He is trying to show me and teach me. Slowly but surely, my life becomes chaotic again.
Fifth and final principle: Respond in the Spirit, not react in the flesh. Read More…
On May 24, 2006, I was watching Beth Moore on TV and writing in my journal. Beth is a gifted writer, speaker and Bible teacher. She is nationally and internationally renown. Her and her husband live in Houston, Texas where she leads “Living Proof Ministries.”
On that May morning, Beth said something that left a profound mark on my life. “Sometimes, it’s just you and God”. There are seasons of great sorrow when it literally doesn’t matter who is around you and what they are doing (or not doing) because you will have to go through the deepest parts of your suffering, just you and God.
“He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.” Psalms 126:6 [+/-]
I have never been truly alone. I have never wanted to be. Being alone scares me. I have never lived alone. I travel the world within a committed family and a pack of trusted and beloved friends. I have an inward desire for deep relationships. I seek out ways to support others. I have encouraging people around me. I am by all definitions a groupie. Read More…
The Lord continues to bring me to faith. When I look back at the last year or two, He seemed to start with a theme of “abiding”, remaining, enduring, dwelling and waiting. Webster even includes “tolerate” in the definition for abide. It’s not enough to just “believe”, you have to “keep believing”. You have to keep your faith. You have to learn to live out your faith. You have to have faith for yourself.
“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given to you.” John 15:7 [+/-]
And in “The Message”, the verse reads, “But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home with you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon.” Read More…
In our home, on November 1st, we can “officially” bring out all the Christmas movies, books and music. One month is simply not enough time for us to enjoy all these holiday pleasures. To my delight, my husband always seems to give me some new holiday music. I love to have it with me all the time as I drive the kids to and from their activities. This year, he gave me Harry Connick, Jr.’s “When My Heart Finds Christmas” (1993). Although many of the songs are recognizable Christmas classics, there was one that spoke to me from the very first playing. It is called “I Pray on Christmas”.
Look at the lyrics……………. Read More…
“None of you should just look out for your own good. You should also look out for the good of others.” Philippians 2:4 [+/-]
I was sitting at the dining room table yesterday morning having my breakfast. I was looking through the Christmas cards that had come. I love Christmas cards. I love them all. The letters, the photos, the beautiful stationery. What a treat.
While I was sitting there, my 7 year old son handed me a card and said “I don’t know if you know this verse or not Mom, but I thought you might like it.” Alec loves God. He loves to read from his youth Bible. He loves to go to church. To the kids programs. I recognized the business-sized card as something from his VBS (Vacation Bible School) program this past summer. The verse above was on the tiny, unassuming card. This is not the first time that God has used Alec to reach me and my heart. Read More…
I was just replying to a friend’s email this morning and the Lord seemed to impress upon me how rich my life was by the company of my friends. This was a friend from church. Not even a woman that I know very well, but we have shared email prayer needs and praises for sometime. I have been honored to pray for her and her loved ones.
What God seemed to say to me this morning was……………. Read More…
My family and I were unpacking Christmas decorations this last weekend and I was so tickled to find a gift that I had received from a very dear friend. She’s one of my “true” women of faith friends. She is real, she is rattled, she has kids, pets and a crazy husband. She camps. She works in her kid’s classrooms. She’s the team mom. And I just love her to pieces.
Last year, she gave me a framed quote (author unknown). I remember having it out through the holidays. And I knew that I definitely needed to have it out where I could see it each and everyday this year.
“Remember me not for the condition of my home. But by the love contained in it’s walls……………”.
Christmas Eve is 12 days away. That is not meant to put you into an even greater panic. Read More…
I woke up this morning and had a wonderful quiet time with God. He led me to a couple of Christian TV shows that I tape and watch for encouragement and inspiration. It’s cold here so I was back in bed with the heating blanket on and hot coffee near by. Of course, my journal was open and my pen was at hand. As I watched, God seemed to say to me…………….
Your faith has started to fade again.
It’s true. It had. I had hardily even noticed. It’s a slow decline to despair. You don’t always recognize it. It’s a gradual slipping of sorts. You kind of loose your footing. Your eyes aren’t up on God, but back down on your circumstances, interactions and problems. And it’s not that really anything “bad” has happened, it’s just that we start to base our lives again on what we understand, what we see around us, and how we are feeling. All three are very slippery slopes for me.
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1 [+/-]
Do you have things or people in your life that don’t seem to be going anywhere? It’s the long journey. A marriage? A child? A relationship? A chronic medical or health issue? A financial burden? Read More…
I have a new friend through my women’s bible study group. We have been emailing back and forth some, offering encouragement and support during some of our “life trials” (It’s not if they will come, but when!). Well, anyway, at the end of one of her recent notes, she remarked…………….Every morning when I get up, I simply ask God what I can do for Him today. Now, I know that I have heard that before, but it struck me when I first read it and it has stayed with me almost every day since. How would my life change if I started my days out with……….What can I do for you today, God?
As I pondered that question, God has seemed to show me “my progression”. Kind of like that show “This is Your Life”. A walk down Memory Lane of sorts. I have been a believer for a long time. I often pray in the morning, before my eyes are even open and my feet have touched the ground. But it didn’t happen all at once for me. I didn’t wake up one day, with this complete reverence and awe for my Lord and Savior. I didn’t naturally set “my agenda” aside and ask Him what He had planned for my life for the next 16 to 18 hours before I went to bed again.
When I look back over the last few years, it’s been like this for me……………………………. Read More…
