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?
.
Monday, November 29, 2010
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...
Sunday, November 21, 2010
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?
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?
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Lord, You are the sovereign God over all creation. In You we live and move and have our being. Every breath we take is a gift of grace from You. Apart from You we can do nothing, and all power is in the palm of Your hand.
I lift up the people in Haiti, and I ask that You would deliver them from envy and vengeance. Break the cycle of wickedness that perpetuates itself through anger. Give them the grace to let offenses go, and stamp a spirit of forgiveness on their hearts.
I speak to the people of influence in Haiti in Jesus name, “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him, do not become angry when wicked schemes succeed. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.”
“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret — it leads only to evil. For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.” -Psalms 37:7-9Monday, November 15, 2010
Got Daddy Issues?
We all do at some time or another. In a perfect world, our fathers would always be knights in shining armor, rescue us when we need it, and never let us down. We have a certain expectation for the way our relationship with our fathers should be. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Most of the women I know are or have been hurt, let down, or just plain angry with and at their fathers. My heart breaks as I reflect on their stories of betrayal and pain. Addictions, abuse, affairs, divorce, abandonment...the list is long and the hurts are deep.
So what's so hazardous about these expectations?
Expectation:
1. the act or the state of expecting: to wait in expectation
2. the act or state of looking forward or anticipating
To wait in expectation.
Is it normal to expect certain things of our fathers? Absolutely.
Is it always fair? Not even close.
What comes to mind when you think of what you expect out of a father?
To show us what it is like to be somebody's favorite.
To make the complex simple and the painful bearable.
To join you on your journey when you are too afraid to walk alone.
To tell you truthfully that you are the most beautiful of all.
To teach you that you can forgive more than once.
To show you how it feels to be loved unselfishly.
To learn what we should expect from a husband.
To hold us as we cry.
To teach us that a man's strength is not the force of his hand or his voice, but the kindness of his heart.
To set a moral standard for her.
To show her that true love is unconditional.
A daughter needs a father who will let her know that while she may not be the center of someone else's world, she is the center of His.
How do those sound to you? What you want and expected? What your father didn't or couldn't give to you? If that's your situation...it can be easy to project our feelings about our earthly father onto our heavenly Father. If we have had issues with our fathers here on earth, sometimes we can think that our heavenly Father will turn out the same.
But God is not like our dad. He won't let us down or disappoint. We need to constantly be reminded of the character of God through His word.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life...John 3:16
He loves us that much. And wants to share that love with you. He longs to show you that you are His favorite. That He will always walk with you and never leave you alone. He thinks you are beautiful and yearns for you to believe it. He wants to comfort your soul.
A daughter needs a Father who will let her know that while she may not be the center of someone else's world, she is the center of His.
You...exactly where you are right now...however your hair looks...with dishes in the sink...with the thoughts of temptations in your head...are the center of His heart.
So what's so hazardous about these expectations?
Expectation:
1. the act or the state of expecting: to wait in expectation
2. the act or state of looking forward or anticipating
To wait in expectation.
Is it normal to expect certain things of our fathers? Absolutely.
Is it always fair? Not even close.
What comes to mind when you think of what you expect out of a father?
To show us what it is like to be somebody's favorite.
To make the complex simple and the painful bearable.
To join you on your journey when you are too afraid to walk alone.
To tell you truthfully that you are the most beautiful of all.
To teach you that you can forgive more than once.
To show you how it feels to be loved unselfishly.
To learn what we should expect from a husband.
To hold us as we cry.
To teach us that a man's strength is not the force of his hand or his voice, but the kindness of his heart.
To set a moral standard for her.
To show her that true love is unconditional.
A daughter needs a father who will let her know that while she may not be the center of someone else's world, she is the center of His.
How do those sound to you? What you want and expected? What your father didn't or couldn't give to you? If that's your situation...it can be easy to project our feelings about our earthly father onto our heavenly Father. If we have had issues with our fathers here on earth, sometimes we can think that our heavenly Father will turn out the same.
But God is not like our dad. He won't let us down or disappoint. We need to constantly be reminded of the character of God through His word.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life...John 3:16
He loves us that much. And wants to share that love with you. He longs to show you that you are His favorite. That He will always walk with you and never leave you alone. He thinks you are beautiful and yearns for you to believe it. He wants to comfort your soul.
A daughter needs a Father who will let her know that while she may not be the center of someone else's world, she is the center of His.
You...exactly where you are right now...however your hair looks...with dishes in the sink...with the thoughts of temptations in your head...are the center of His heart.
You are the center of His heart.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
More Than Words
Beads of perspiration form on your brow, your heart flutters, your mind swims. An endless loop replays in your head: the screaming argument with your mother; the temptations that you've tried your best to overcome that day; a schedule so full you can't calm your thoughts enough to fall asleep at night.
You've probably been there at some point in your life. You rush before God like an eager child bursting into a room full of toys only to find that you have no idea how to begin to pray. You don't know if you should be asking for guidance, protection or forgiveness - or all of the above. And what about how to prioritize your list?
Maybe you've finally got a minute to yourself, so you grab your Bible, look up at the ceiling and think, Now what? That list you've been building in your mind goes blank. The phone rings. The kids cry. The tv blares from another room. The dog barks. Anything...everything interrupts the moment.
How do you pray when words fail?
Enter the Holy Spirit. He perceives our heart's agony and comforts us in our weakness. He knows our spiritual battle often burns hottest when we fight within ourselves. We wrestle with how to prioritize our prayers. We struggle with imposing our human agendas on a holy God. We cross our arms, grit our teeth and mentally (sometimes physically!) stomp our feet when things don't turn out as we desperately prayed they would. Life's frustrations can mute us spiritually.
We do not know what we ought to pray for...Romans 8:26
But God does not stop hearing us when we're dumbstruck before Him. Both in silence and when our words flow in a jumbled torrent, the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf to the Father.
He knows what to pray for.
So the next time your spirit groans with a weight heavier than you can bear, trust that even when you might not be able to find the words, God clearly hears your cries through the intervention of the Holy Spirit. He knows your heart. He knows your thoughts. He knows your greatest needs better than you do yourself. And though your words may fail, your intercessor will never fail you.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. Romans 8:26-27
You've probably been there at some point in your life. You rush before God like an eager child bursting into a room full of toys only to find that you have no idea how to begin to pray. You don't know if you should be asking for guidance, protection or forgiveness - or all of the above. And what about how to prioritize your list?
Maybe you've finally got a minute to yourself, so you grab your Bible, look up at the ceiling and think, Now what? That list you've been building in your mind goes blank. The phone rings. The kids cry. The tv blares from another room. The dog barks. Anything...everything interrupts the moment.
How do you pray when words fail?
Enter the Holy Spirit. He perceives our heart's agony and comforts us in our weakness. He knows our spiritual battle often burns hottest when we fight within ourselves. We wrestle with how to prioritize our prayers. We struggle with imposing our human agendas on a holy God. We cross our arms, grit our teeth and mentally (sometimes physically!) stomp our feet when things don't turn out as we desperately prayed they would. Life's frustrations can mute us spiritually.
We do not know what we ought to pray for...Romans 8:26
But God does not stop hearing us when we're dumbstruck before Him. Both in silence and when our words flow in a jumbled torrent, the Holy Spirit intercedes on our behalf to the Father.
He knows what to pray for.
So the next time your spirit groans with a weight heavier than you can bear, trust that even when you might not be able to find the words, God clearly hears your cries through the intervention of the Holy Spirit. He knows your heart. He knows your thoughts. He knows your greatest needs better than you do yourself. And though your words may fail, your intercessor will never fail you.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will. Romans 8:26-27
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