Jesus Bring the Rain...

One of my favorite songs to listen to when I am going through a trial is Jesus Bring the Rain by Mercy Me. This song soothes my soul every time I listen to it. After talking to a friend going through many trials, this song cried out to me. "I am Yours regardless of the clouds that may move above, because You are much greater than the pain..."

We've all been there. Stuck in the middle of that storm and not able to see the way out. Not sure there is a way out. And just when you think it can't get any worse, the winds pick up and the rain starts to pelt even harder. Nothing seems greater than the pain when we are in the thick of it. Nothing. I remember hearing it explained like this once: Imagine someone is holding an object right against your face. You have no clue what the object really is being that close to it. It could be anything. But the further you move it away from you, the more detailed it becomes. You realize it's a pencil. You can see the colors and lines...you can see it for what it really is. Your perspective changes. It's so easy to lose focus when life is crashing down around you. It's these times during our trials that we lose our perspective and forget that the battle has already been won and victory is at hand.

James warned us that hard times would come our way. And when they come, He tells us to “consider it pure joy…because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” James 1:2-3

Perseverance? Do I have that? Do I really have a steady persistence in a purpose especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement? Not even close.

None of us likes to suffer, but suffering is an important ingredient if our lives are ever going to have any chance to mirror the life of Christ. If we want to be more like Him, then we, too, must suffer and persevere.

I don’t like the valleys that life brings my way. I haven’t yet learned to confront them with a joyful spirit. But I do know this: My walk with Christ can never be strengthened until I learn to walk through those valleys with Him, hand in hand. Life is filled with mountains and valleys. We often think of those valleys as the dark, suffering times. And most of the time they are. But what happens at the top of the mountain? Nothing grows. The growth happens way down deep into the valleys. That is where we grow. The real beauty that God has to offer is always found in the valleys.

My friend tonight asked when the pain would stop. When she would stop feeling what she was feeling. I said I didn't know. I can't presume to give that time line. But the one thing I do know is that through it, God will be glorified. Because it is through our suffering that we get a glimpse of what Jesus did for us on the cross. We serve a Savior who knows what rejection felt like...who knows what pain felt like. It's during these times that we must humble ourselves before God and admit we can't do it on our own. The answer to our trials is not to change addresses...it is to change our hearts.

Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge...
Psalms 62:8

Comfort Zones

I do have an excuse for taking so long to write into the New Year. I've been deciding on a word.

A word you say? Yes. A word. Just one. To sum up this new year. One word that I want to do and become and glorify God with. So that's what I've been doing. Choosing my word. Waiting to hear from God with the green light.

This process started out a little chaotic. The thoughts in my head were consuming my heart. What word would I choose? What did I want to be in this next year? What did I want to accomplish? What was hindering me from being that person and doing those things?

My first word was forgive. Then God refined it into mercy, and finally compassionate.

com•pas•sion•ate
1. Share the suffering of
2. Showing or having compassion; humane, merciful, sympathetic

The word for me. Compassionate. It has been on my heart to be and show God's compassion to others. Yesterday morning on my way to church, I passed a homeless man sleeping under an overpass. Seeing him heaped under those blankets hit me so hard I almost wrecked the car. I don't know why this man hit me more than the others I have passed and seen. But as I drove past him, my heart cried "That could just as easily be me laying there...why do I get to have a warm place to lay my head at night? What makes me so much better?? Our hearts are the same! Dirty and ugly and sinful. But I'm the one showered and well rested...and he's the one shivering and hungry sleeping on the ground."

Though the fact that we live in a broken world is obvious, sometimes we look past it. Ok, alot of times we look past it. We too often have thoughts of intimidation towards our world that needs God's love. "That problem is too big for me. What could I give? What would it help?"

And this is where our faith in God takes a backseat to the insecurities that plague our minds. We need to remember that we are fully resourced to do everything God has called us to do.

I can do all this through Him who gives me strength...Philippians 4:13

It's time that we stop selling Christ for silver. It's time we as the church start changing the world, instead of allowing the world to change the church.

The solution?

Do what we can to minister with compassion and relevance.

Be in the Word everyday. Not when it's convenient. Not when we are exhausted at the end of a long day. Not fitting it in for thirty minutes before we spend an hour on facebook.
Be in the Word.

When we drown ourselves in the Word of God we can better understand the clear biblical vision of God and what He wants done. We need to return to the Biblical vision of righteousness, justice, love and compassion.

We need to show compassion to the victims of tragedy. To be compassionate to the victims of a selfish and materialistic society. The unlovely. The failures. The poor. The homeless. The handicapped. The unwanted children and the forgotten elderly. We need to continually be in prayer. Our hearts need to break for that which breaks His. And we can only do this with the word compassion in mind and on our hearts.

To be compassionate must come with a strong desire to alleviate the suffering. And there is something we all can do. Today.

Each one of us comes across someone each and everyday. Someone that is hurting. Someone who is alone and feeling unloved. Someone who has the weight of the world on their shoulders.

Give.
Give of your resources in some way. Time, money, whatever. It doesn't have to be alot. I think we get intimidated because we think that the something little we give is just that. Little. When in all reality, something little of yours is usually something huge to someone else.

Pray for them.
And I don't mean pray for them when you get home at night or when it is convenient. Let me challenge you...

Dig a little deeper. Approach them. Ask them how they are. How they really are. Ask if you can pray with them. The woman in front of you in line at Starbucks who just dropped her drink on the ground. The co-worker you have noticed coming into work looking exhausted and beaten down. The clerk at the gas station that looks lost. Scary? It can be. But remember, you aren't asking them to get too far out of their comfort zone. You aren't asking them to come to church. You aren't asking them for an offering. You aren't asking them to join a small group and bring a dessert.

Listen to where God is leading you today. Who does He want to reach through you? You never know what struggles that person is going through and what cross they are carrying. They may have just asked God for help...and He is trying to use you. Let Him. Surrender yourself to Him each and everyday. See where He can use you and your compassion.

So let's open our hearts, open our ears, and open our mouths to speak the Word of God to ourselves and to others.

Let's get out of our comfort zone.

Christmas Music...

I love it...listen to it all year without apology.

One of my favorite songs is "O Come All Ye Faithful," and the memories I have from it. I remember standing in my church growing up at midnight mass singing this song...and of course, A Very Brady Christmas where Mike got stuck in the building...circa 1988.

What's your favorite Christmas song?

Still amazed by God

There are moments where I am absolutely amazed by God. Amazed by His timing, His plan that is unfolding, and His love. Last night was one of those nights. To recreate it would be impossible. The small group that I lead is made up of some of the most genuine Godly women I know. I have always known that this particular group was different. Though one has moved and we miss her terribly, we have managed to remain closer than I thought possible. After inviting a few new girls, the joy in my heart was palpable. I can't explain it. I knew that God had placed these new women in my life for a reason, and I was ridiculously excited to get to know them.

It didn't take Him long to reveal it.

They all had issues they were working through in their lives. Health concerns, work, babies, and last night we found out cancer.

2 weeks ago, we didn't know her. 2 weeks ago, she wasn't sure if she wanted to meet us. 2 weeks ago, she was rocking her 8 month old son to sleep praying she would beat this horrid disease.

2 weeks ago, she came to group and knew God was calling to her. 2 weeks ago, she realized this was where she was meant to be. 2 weeks ago, she found sisters in Christ to pray with and help support her through this season.

Lord, You are the great I Am, and Your name is written as the author of all there is. You are the only true God and You are faithful to all You have made and all You have promised.

I lift up these women Lord, before Your great throne of grace and present their needs before You. I speak to them now as a servant of the Most High God and say "God is faithful, God is faithful, God is faithful." Lord I ask that You would ring their ears with that phrase today.

God is faithful.

Let it be a wall of truth that towers above the lies that stalk their peace.

Lord, let Your strength and protection be tangible to them today, and cause their hearts to rest.

In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

I Believe...

In God. That He created all things, is good, and deserves our praise.
In a good pair of jeans paired with a good pair of heels.
In walking through the rustling leaves on a crisp autumn day.
In love.
In Jesus...that He is my Lord and Savior.
In the medicine a good friend can give you by the simpleness of a conversation.
In family.
In the Bible.
In Jesus, and that He died so I might live.
In popcorn and Raisinettes at a movie.
In forgiveness.
In God's promise.
In the joy of catching fireflies.
In endless possibilities when you have a good hair day.
In the sweetness of a puppy's kiss.
In serving others.
In bubble baths filled with the scent of lavender.
In the tenderness of a baby sleeping in your arms.
In relationships, not religion.

be•lieve

Verb:
be•lieved, be•liev•ing, be•lieves

1. To accept as true or real
2. To credit with veracity
3. To have firm faith
4. To have confidence in the truth or value of something.


What do you believe in?

Thanks Mom...

I just had an hour long conversation about Hydrangea's and soil...and I can guarantee that all of the knowledge that came from my mouth was not my doing. She taught me well! Now, I just have to figure out how to not kill the plants that she taught me so much about...

Caught in the Act

Have you ever pretended to think one thing while really believing something else? At one time or another most of us have tacitly agreed with a persuasive person simply by failing to disagree. Or we've looked the other way or nodded knowingly while a red flag went up in our minds. It's a difficult and even dangerous balancing act attempting to please people on both sides of a controversial fence. The only way to avoid such a position is to decide which side of the fence really matters...and then get down from the fence and take a stand.

While reading 1 Kings 18...we hear of the prophet Elijah...who really was an amazing man. He found himself among men who were setting the standards for Israel...that honestly weren't always great standards. And because of this low standard, the people had nothing to rise up to.

The prophet Elijah confronted the people of his day and demanded they choose whom they would serve - the true God of Israel or the false gods of the pagan nations surrounding them. He dared them...might as well have been a triple dog dare, "Get off the fence! You can't have it both ways. Either live your lives in a way that is pleasing to the one God...or not."

Elijah went before the people and said, "How long will you waiver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him, but if Baal is God, follow him..." 1 Kings 18:21

Most of us have never been put in a position in which we had to choose between worshiping the true God or bowing down to statues made of wood. Yet we often find ourselves tempted to try that balancing act while living in a spiritually and morally bankrupt culture. We compromise our lifestyles, going to places or doing things we really know we shouldn't. We justify our behavior by saying we don't want to offend anyone. Or we neglect to say the things we know we should and then excuse ourselves by saying we will let our faith be seen in our actions rather than heard in our words. At times these may be legitimate claims, but at other times they may be nothing more than convenient excuses so we don't have to risk rejection. Because that's what we're really afraid of. Rejection.

Elijah wasn't concerned with rejection when he challenged the false prophets and called the people to serve the true God. He put it all on the line - even his life. The prophet refused to compromise or put himself in the precarious position of riding the fence, as a result, God vindicated him in the sight of his enemies. He was caught in the act of standing up for God.

Caught in the act. Elijah was caught in the act of standing up for God. What have you made a priority in your life? What are you worshiping? How is He trying to turn your heart?

What is He catching you in the act doing?