Life is a Journey!

It's not about me - ever! No more looking to the future and trying to figure it out - no more trying to make things work out the way I see them. Our life is a journey - a journey so filled with the power of Christ I cannot begin to describe it. This journey that we are on is one that I daily learn. What I mean is that I have never been on such a journey before. One that requires me to completely die to myself. Control has to go - the joy of the Lord is on this journey. Someone recently wrote that change is usually scary. How true is that. Each of us faces changes in different forms. Job loss, death, marriage, home, city...etc. the list goes on. Yet when we allow God to shape us through those changes that is when we really see that these changes, that seem scary, have the Almighty God wrapped all around them. When we realize that change is always happening it is then when we can embrace it. Our heavenly Father never changes! Isn't that a wonderful assurance to know that even in our circumstances that are full of changes, that our heavenly Father never changes? What peace and confidence that brings to me.

Dying to self - huge - "Therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come." and "do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds." I have died to myself - but I need to daily die to myself because every day we wake up a sinful person. Every day we need to come before Jesus and repent. I love being a new creation in Christ.

So we walk our journey, as do you, as children of the Almighty Father. Not living for ourself but for others and bringing glory to Jesus. If you are facing uncertainties in your life remember that today is a gift for you. Don't worry about your future and try to orchestrate things your way, but lay it at the feet of Jesus and rest in the assurance that he has your life. Then don't pick up worrying about whether his will will be what you want. He knows you and your situation better than you do. This is the truth that is backed up by the Word of God. "For I know the plans I have for you..." TRUST HIM - THE GOD WHO CREATED THE UNIVERSE KNOWS HOW TO TAKE CARE OF YOU! Just keep coming to him. I've said this verse many times on my blog but it's my favorite. "Draw near to me and I will draw near to you." Do you want to get close to God? This verse is his promise.

EYES

This morning "eyes" was the word of the day. In my scripture reading today Psalm 123 "I lift my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven...so our eyes look to the Lord our God..." Quite a powerful reminder as to where our eyes should look every day. Then I read Acts chapter 2 when Peter and John were going to the temple and met a man crippled from birth. I love what Peter said to the man in verse 4 "'Look at us!' So the man gave them his attention..." Doesn't this picture sound personal and caring? Before they spoke healing into this man they made eye contact with him.

Eyes say a lot about a person. We can see in someones eyes if there is joy and if there is pain in their life. So why does our society avoid eye contact. Some people are wonderful at making eye contact with someone else. When we look directly into a persons eyes we see deeper. Maybe we don't want to see deep into each others lives. Maybe we wouldn't know what to do if we saw pain or sadness. Peter knew - "In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." He spoke healing into this man's life - healing that can only come from Jesus. That eye contact gave the man their full attention. It said, we care, Jesus loves you!

Denise told me about a new way that she learned to pray on her mission trip. To look directly into someone's eyes while you pray with them. To speak truth into their life - ie: you are loved so much by Jesus - he does not leave you - you are beautiful - in Jesus name he will take away your (whatever they are dealing with). She said this was a stretch for her but she practiced it on a 70 year old man and tears poured down his face. I can picture this can't you? I can't remember the last time someone just cared enough to look directly into my eyes and pray with me (besides Tim) - to see and love me for who I am - to speak the love and truth of Jesus into my life. My natural instinct is to look down, away from the person's eyes while we pray. Not that this is wrong, I am not saying that. I think God was just showing me in scripture this morning that this is an area in my life that he wants to soften. An area that I have been too stiff in and it's time to break that down.

We are told to keep our eyes on Jesus - why? Because with our eyes fixed on him we can see clearly where to go and what to do. When we speak into each others lives and look at each other, we can see clearly love and compassion that Jesus wants displayed in our life.

Soften this area in my life Lord. Make me an instrument for you. As I write this there is someone that is on my mind that I believe the Lord wants me to contact. Someone that needs the love of Jesus spoken into her pain. Guide me Lord. Walk with me Lord. Take away anything that is in the way so that I can see clearly the way to go. Make me humble and meek to serve you and speak your life into this person's life. Keep my eyes focused on you Jesus. Look in me deep in my heart and pour your unending love in me and though me so that your love can pour out of me.

That Peace!

I miss our old neighbors. They were great! Tonight Tim and one of our other neighbors who is a young adult pastor, both shared some words at the funeral home for our neighbor that just passed away. It has been so awesome to see how God has used both Tim and Eric in the lives of this family. Us wives too have had the joy of being a part of their lives as well. Frank went to the Lord in peace! His wife Barb told me tonight that Tim was an angel sent to her. She knew the morning that he was taken to the hospital that Tim was the one who needed to be with him. When the hospital called her to come up she said that she knew he had died, but that she drove to the hospital with a peace because she knew that Tim was with him. Tonight she again spoke of that peace. It is so precious to hear from her as the day before he died we were praying with them for that "peace which surpasses all our understanding." That is what they received and it was a beautiful testimony of the love of Christ.

I love how God has used us during these months. It may not be with monetary gain, but this gain is much greater. To see people come close to Jesus is such a joy. Those who have fallen away come back to Jesus. Wow........

I know the passion that God has put in the heart of my husband. I love watching it. It is such a delight when God opens doors for him to serve. It makes me smile.

So we continue to take things one day at a time. Serving wherever the Lord has us to serve.
Being in the presence of the Almighty God is an awesome thing. (Did you know the meaning for awesome is terrifying?) I just read that!

It's late and I must get to bed, but wanted to blog this before sleep.
Sleep in the peace that surpasses all your understanding. Ask for it - let it all rest on Jesus - and he will give you that peace!

Our Highway

This morning I went back and read some of my blogs from when I first started. So crazy amazing what the Lord has done.

I wish that I could remember all the wonderful life lessons in the Proverbs. There is such wisdom for life and I don't want to miss out on anything. This morning I read "The highway of the upright avoids evil, he who guards his way guards his life." Prov. 16:17 I was thinking of all the safety things that we automatically do in our days. Putting on our seat belt, looking both ways when we cross the street, locking our doors...etc. I love the picture of our life being on a highway. We travel along, sometimes in cruise control, sometimes on flat highways, winding highways, hilly highways and even those with road construction. However we are driving we need to be on our guard for what is around us so that we avoid an accident. If this is so automatic when we are behind the wheel of a car, why is it that we don't guard our ways like that? To live an upright life and guarding our decisions (ways) is in the Proverbs for a reason. So that we can avoid evil - period.

We can take a detour, which is out of the way and takes extra time and will keep us safe or we can drive past the warning signs hitting potholes along the way, weaving around workers and eventually finding the end of the road with nowhere to go. Life is like that too, sometimes God's way seems out of the way so we just plow ahead without guarding our life and decisions, only to find out that it caused us more heartache.

I'd much rather go God's way instead of my way. Lord help me to recognize when I am going in the wrong direction.

RUN

"What a privileage to be with a man as he steps into glory."

Those were the words of Tim a little while ago. He was called up to the hospital this morning by our old neighbor. Frank was in the hospital. Yesterday Tim and I spent a good while at their home praying with Frank and Barb. Sharing the love of Jesus with them in his last days. Assuring them of Jesus incredible love for them - sharing the glory and splendor of heaven. It was laid on Barb's heart to call Tim this morning - Frank loved Tim. So off he went to the hospital - he was struggling breathing, yet not at complete peace yet. Tim shared the amazing love of Jesus for him, the assurance of heaven. But Frank was concerned about his family - his wife. Tim shared with him the comfort of Jesus - that Jesus will take care of his bride and his family that he can rest at peace knowing that Jesus will take care of them - it was after this that he came to peace. With Tim by his side he breathed his last breaths.

He stayed at the hospital for a while longer, waiting for the family to arrive. (he was the only one there) In addition to the beauty of heaven for Frank was the wonderful opportunity Tim had to share Jesus with his grown son. He talked with Tim and said "I don't really know Jesus." Conversation went from there.

Let God use you wherever he places you. I don't know if our life will ever "settle". Less and less do I want to settle. I don't mean that I don't want to settle somewhere in a home or a place, but I don't ever want to settle in my faith walk. I don't ever want to think that I have arrived. I want to always grow - I want to be challenged in my faith walk - I never want to just be ok with "it's good enough" in my faith. That is when we become complacant. Life is so short, we are here on this earth for but a blink of the eye - I don't want to get to the end of my life and....well...watch this clip.


I want to be God's olympian. I want to keep running this life here for Him. I want to blog - for him - I want to be convicted in my life - for him - I want to...well...everything - FOR JESUS! It brings tears to my eyes as I think about the passionate love that he has for me and how so often I fail him. He just keeps loving me. Every step I take I take in you, you make me move Jesus!

LET'S RUN EVERYONE - FOR JESUS! DON'T QUIT! DON'T QUIT WHEN IT GETS HARD! JUST KEEP RUNNING!

Break my heart!

"You are near O Lord, and all your commands are true." Psalm 119

Is that not the coolest? We have all had times when we felt like God wasn't near to us, that he was far off. Maybe now you are even feeling that. That is not God far off, that is us. He is truth and everything about God is truth. David here felt attacked from so many sides, yet he knew the truth of the Lord, he knew that he was NEAR. No matter what was going on in his life. We can face the worst of times and even the best of times - and in those times do we seek the Lord? It is easy to forget him when things are going well, but we are quick to call on him for help when things are falling apart. Let us remember that the Lord is with us in all times. If things are going well, Praise Him - if you are facing a difficult time, praise Him. He wants to take whatever we are facing and draw us so close to him.

I want to feel his presence next to me. I want to feel him pouring his love all over me. I want to love others as he loves me. I want his love so overflowing in my life that it can't help but spill over into people that I meet. I want to think more of others and way less of myself. I want him to break my heart for what breaks his.
Part of the lyrics to a song by Hillsong say:

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like you have loved me
Break my heart for what breaks yours
Everything I am for your kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity

Someone tagged Denise in this picture. Their World Race team was serving the elderly in Ireland. When I saw this picture it brought tears to my eyes. This is her heart. She has a gift with the elderly and I know that her intent look was a look of someone paying close attention to her needs. She was loving her. Continue to keep their team in your prayers. They are now in Romania.

Dear Jesus, fill us all with your love so full. More of you and less of me. Give me that heart that knows, without doubts, that your promises are true - all of them! You do love me more than all creation. May we own that in our life. We are sons and daughters of the King! Amen and Amen!!!

Meditate

David knew where to go to receive knowledge. Psalm 119 "Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long...I have more insight...for I mediate on your statutes." I cannot have insight without meditating on the word of God. This is more than just having my bible reading time. Notice that David said "all day long." As we go about our day we are to think about God, his laws, his ways in our life. I love the honesty of David when he is writing the Psalms. A good reminder for us to be honest with ourselves and others too. David went on to confess "Though I constantly take my life in my hands." Wow, don't we do that all the time. I am so guilty of that. If I don't see an answer I quickly jump to taking things into my own hands. Tim is good at slowing me down in this. There have been times when he knew that it was more important to "wait" and not run ahead as quickly as I was. That made me frustrated, but he was right.

Then David said "Your statues are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart. My heart is set on keeping your decrees to the very end." I love how he shared where his joy comes from. Not from life that he was trying to take into his own hands, but from the LORD'S ways. Don't we find so much more joy when we are doing God's way instead of our own way? I have so much more peace when I know that I am in the will of God and stay there, then when I try to pick things up and work them out on my own. Not that we are not responsible with things, that is different. Seeking the LORD for guidance and direction rather than running off on our own without seeking him. I've experienced both and have seen the result of both.

Where is my/your heart set? Are our hearts set on keeping God's decrees? Pray this one through, ask God to guide you in His way. Don't look to man, but to God.

A couple of days ago I was blessed to have breakfast with an old and dear friend. (I don't mean she is old, your not Sherry. haha) We have been friends for 26 years. No matter where we have lived somehow we have kept in contact. We shared life, faith, joys and sorrows. Isn't that what we are to be in the body of Christ. We were not there to judge each other, but to love each other forward. To encourage and build up the body is such an important aspect of the Christian life. A song by Casting Crowns;

But if we are the Body
Why aren't His arms reaching
Why aren't His hands healing
Why aren't His words teaching
And if we are the Body
Why aren't His feet going
Why is His love not showing them there is a way

In the chorus "His" means us. We are to be his hands and feet. This is how we are to care for each other. So let us remember to meditate daily on Jesus ways. Ask him every day to show you his direction for your next steps in life. If you are at a crossroads and do not know which way to go - don't take the path without much prayer. He will show you the way.

I love my friends who follow my life through my blog. I love that this is not about me but all about giving God the glory. All glory goes to him.