Control is an insidious intruder. I have to be very intentional to guard myself against it, and even when I am aware, it is tricky. It sneaks into every relationship and situation often undetected. One reason control is so deceptive is that sometimes it is called “helping,” and isn’t that a noble thing to do? In some situations, yes; but often when I find myself saying, “I am just trying to “help” you, that can frequently be transposed to mean, I am trying to control you or the situation. When I dissect my misdirected helpfulness, fear is often at the root; and I have come to learn that although sometimes fear is an understandable reaction, it can also be an UNBELIEVING reflection that says God will not get it right. Lord Jesus, you are in control, not me. Sometimes hidden fears lurk in the deepest recesses of my heart, and I seek a false sense of safety by “suggesting,” fixing or doing which only translates to control. Help my unbelief, Father. Give me the grace to lay my fear and desire to “fix” within your power, not my performance.
Tag: God
Sitting at the Feet of Jesus
When I am trying to patiently wait upon The Lord to give me my next assignment, I have to be intentional to guard myself against the thought that I am not doing anything worthy. As demonstrated in the story of Mary and Martha, sitting at the feet of Jesus and listening is as much an active and necessary aspect of Kingdom work as anything else. Waiting and listening feel incongruent to my flesh, but they are invaluable to my Father.
The Commission is at Hand
Dearest friend,
We are children loved by a good Father without comparison. He has anointed us with a unique mission, in unprecedented times. The Father chose us for this moment in time that can be difficult to reconcile because it is a marriage of both beautiful and brutal. Because of this, it is necessary for us to love fearlessly, believe scandalously and hope without compromise. What mission has He entrusted to you today? May we all be good attendants of His holy assignments. Scandalous belief says that we have all we need to succeed today so do not look ahead for the commission is at hand.
Shine More
When the sadness of the world is shutting the doors of your heart, open them up more.
When persecution is preying on your joy, look for reasons to praise more.
When grief says the world will never be like before, gratify Jesus more.
When you want to give up, instead give more.
When there seems to be no love left, love more.
Evil only wins if we lose our light to the lust, lies, and lawlessness of the world. When you want to surrender shine more.
A Delicate Yet Decisive Wind
As I was sitting outside in silence for a few minutes, the most subtle scene grabbed my attention. The wind blew my back patio gate back and forth before resituating it in a different direction. I was immediately awestruck by the thought that the wind, although invisible and in this situation barely audible, is so powerful. The gate is steel, and the wind was not blowing hard; and because of the weight of the gate, it would appear only movable by human hands. The wind, however, delicately yet decisively, rearranged its coordinates in the most humble manner. God is like that, friend. He may be invisible but never idle, always capable of shifting that which seems stagnant. By nature, we want to take charge because the inconspicuous illusion of control deceives us into believing in our sufficiency. Although you cannot see God, and maybe you are standing under circumstances that bear the weight of the world, do not concede to what you see, cling to what He says. Your Father is able, and when the time is right; He will change that which appears concrete. Ephesians 3:20, Isaiah 60:22.
It Is Well
Sometimes we have to rewrite the songs we composed to make our hearts sing so we can hum the melody of lyrics that life brings. It is when we find joy there, in the midst of all that is rewritten, that our souls earnestly sync to the tune of, It is Well. It is well with me. 1 Timothy 6:6~godliness with contentment is great gain.
You Are Not Behind Schedule
You are not behind schedule, friend. I was having an honest conversation with a wise friend this morning who reminded me at least twice that I am not behind schedule in my areas of growth. We can be pretty hard on ourselves, and sometimes taking honest looks at where we are is necessary. I want you to hear today, however, that you can trust in God’s sovereign and perfect timing for all things, including right where you are. You are loved!
Seasons of Change
Father you know we mamas are creatures who crave constancy not change. When it comes to our children, our hearts are troubled by the trials of transition. Tis the season of approaching change, God. Soon our babies will be starting kindergarten, entering high school, arriving for their senior year and launching off to college. As our lives are fluctuating, and our familiar becomes foreign, our normal becomes new and our usual becoming unknown, it feels like permanent pieces of our lives will be changed forever. They will never be as they were again. It is the dying of a chapter that is so deeply rooted and known that it is painful to imagine how life will look moving forward. We are challenged to hold gently and fondly to what was so that we may courageously embrace what now is. Give us the grace to be more than conquerors in all these circumstances of change, Father. May the faith that lives in our hearts be bigger than the fear that lurks in our minds. Bless our children. Insulate each and every one of them from head to toe under your wing of protection. Remind us mamas that we have raised or children to run with determination not retreat in doubt. There will be trails, and there will be triumphs. May we all remember that disguised in all our disappointments are Your Appointments. Give us the grace to not look for life somewhere under the sun, but in someone above it-You, Lord Jesus. Amen
The Inherent Word of God
While the grievous news of the world may be watered down, weeded out and written to suit fleshly desires, the good news of the Gospel cannot. God’s Word comforts me and gives me true hope, but honestly friends; it also disturbs me because I cannot manipulate it to accommodate the sin that so easily entangles me. When I begin to change, rearrange or “modernize” the Gospel, His Word becomes corrupted by my will; and I make God in my image rather than Him making me in His. If I am not disrupted by The Word of God, then He is not God in my life.
Backdrops For Blessings
Manna for your moment from my yard. Notice that every individual dew drop is distinct in its resting place upon the rose. This picture reminds me that like the rose catches the rain, God catches every tear. He compassionately holds each one with singular significance and gives them shelter until the Son tenderly wipes them away. God never wastes your tears. Sometimes they are tokens of joy and sometimes pain, but not one goes unnoticed or falls in vain. Every part of who you are matters to Him. When you feel the least loved or lovable, remember that like the dew finds respite upon the flower, we find refuge in The Father; and hope accessorized with faith whispers, moments when we feel bruised are backdrops for blessings.🌹