skimming the surface

I was sitting by the pool this week, watching the leaves begin to fall and thinking that I needed to get up and skim the top of the pool. Leaves were floating along the surface and a few were being caught in the skimmer basket. But for the most part, if we don’t skim it, they will eventually collect and rot at the bottom of the pool. And then the chore is even harder. What could be avoided in 10 minutes of skimming, now has become a big job because we have to vacuum, which takes at least an hour.
And yet, even though I was thinking this through…that we should skim so we don’t have stuff collect down deep….I just sat there. I couldn’t make myself get up. I just enjoyed the cool breeze, watching the leaves fall and the heat of the sun tanning my skin. Basically, I was LAZY. I knew the right thing to do, but was too lazy to do it, and so now we have a pile of stuff at the bottom of the pool that has to be taken care of.
I laugh at my laziness and how it creates more work. In the pool, I guess it isn’t quite so big a issue, but the real deal is that we do the same thing in our lives. We sit in our lazy boys and see all that needs to be done and instead of engaging and doing it, we kick back until the job gets so big that it is overwhelming. This is also true of our spiritual journeys. We know the right things to do. If we would simply get up and do the everyday small tasks, then we would avoid the mess that gets down deep.
For instance, if we would discipline ourselves to be in the Word, pray without ceasing, take time away and evaluate, we could skim the surface daily. By doing the daily work of skimming the surface, we can then keep the issues from getting deep into our lives and making it more difficult to clean up. By skimming the surface daily, we avoid a mess down deep.
Now, don’t mistake this for merely skimming. Skimming doesn’t mean we gloss over or don’t do the deep seeded work that is needed. It doesn’t mean we won’t have to work on what lies beneath in the deep. It just means that perhaps it won’t be quite such a mess, won’t take so long and won’t be rotten because daily work has taken place. Skimming is hard work too. You have to choose to get up and do the daily work. You can’t wait to do the work. It requires discipline. It also means that you have to pay attention to what is on the surface and evaluate everyday. It means not letting anything just float along. It means being intentional to pay attention to what is going on and to deal immediately so it doesn’t get down deep and be a bigger issue.
So, how are we doing? Done any skimming lately? Or are you just sitting in your chair watching the stuff on the surface that needs to be dealt with but choosing to do nothing? Do you see that big pile down deep that needs to be dealt with, it is only going to get bigger if you don’t skim? Perhaps you need to run the vacuum and then choose to skim daily so that the work isn’t so overwhelming along the way.
Or perhaps you can keep doing things the way you have been…how’s that working for you? But sooner or later, you do have to get out of the chair. What you have to deal with is determined by the choices you make.
ALL FOR YOU

stand guard

Saturday, I was sitting at my desk working on some stuff at the computer when my husband called from the backyard, saying that he needed some help for a few minutes. I quickly left my office and made my way to the backyard, where he was waiting on me. I had assumed he needed some help with the blower, holding the cord so that he wouldn’t drop it in the pool. (that is a whole other devotional thought!) I stepped out the sliding glass door and he said, “I need you to help me for a minute. Will you watch THAT while I go get something to take care of it.”
Immediately, I squeeled like a girl and jumped onto the lounge chair and began to inform him that what he was pointing to was a snake. To which he agreed and said that he knew that already, but asked me to make sure it didn’t move. Yeah right! I was standing in a chair and I would watch it, but I was not going to keep it from moving. In fact, if it did, I would be climbing on the gazebo to get away.
The snake was basking in the sun and enjoying the heat. Partially hidden behind the pool chemicals, I really had no idea how big the snake was. Jim went to get some tools to take care of the snake, while I stood there screaming for him to hurry up. He returned with a hoe and some other thing I don’t know the name of. I was wondering where the shovel was. Waiting on Jim to chop the snakes head off and be done with it, you can’t imagine my surprise when he reached to pick up with the thing I don’t know the name of and then you can’t imagine my irritation when it slithered off that thing and under my pool deck. Not really the plan.
Now, Jim wants me to help him lift the deck so he can look for it. I am thinking, no way! Not getting out of the chair. He lifted one end of the deck and yelled for me to move something under it to hold it up. Frustrated, I leapt from the chair, moved the toy box and quickly jumped back on my perch. Then, Jim looked at me and said, “do you see it.” I am thinking…not looking for it.
We still don’t know where that snake is, which creeps me out a good bit. But it has also made me very aware of how we treat the enemy of our souls like this snake. We stand on a chair and watch, afraid and not wanting to admit that he is lurking. Or perhaps we get bold enough to try to deal, but instead of just killing the enemy dead in it’s tracks, we try moving him around, when we should have just crushed his head. And then we lose track of where he is and don’t have any idea where he will pop up next. All which could be avoided with a big shovel across the back of the head.
The great news is that Jesus did that on the cross. He crushed the head of that nasty serpent. Jesus overcame all that we fear and all that lurks in hidden places to attack. We need not fear what has already been taken care of. Yet, I find myself, still standing on the chair at times.
Maybe it is time to remember that the enemy has lost and we are overcomers in Christ Jesus. Maybe we need to remember that we are victorious and we don’t need to stand in chairs afraid, but rejoice in a Messiah that took care of the serpent. Maybe we need to remember that Jesus didn’t just move satan out of the way, but destroyed all power of sin, death and the grave.
So, while the snake at my house has yet to be found, the enemy of my soul is breathing his last, because HE HAS OVERCOME.
ALL FOR YOU

Socks

Don't you just hate washing socks? What is it about the washing machine, the dryer or perhaps the dirty clothes basket that seems to eat socks? In my laundry room, I have a bucket full of socks that have no match. Somewhere along the way, the other half was lost. What was meant to be two is now one. What was intended to be a matched set now is alone. What was supposed to work together doesn't work at all and is on a shelf because half is missing.

Much like socks, God designed us to work in pairs. Our first thought when I say that is probably marriage. Isn't marriage awesome? Okay....well, some of you didn't get so thrilled about that thought...lol. However, marriage is awesome. It is ordained by God for a purpose. What is that purpose? To be fruitful and multiply. For the man to be the picture of Christ laying down all that He is so that His bride is all she is meant to be in Christ. Much like my washer eating my socks, the world wants to separate our marriages. Divorce is rampant and when two that have become one are separated it causes all sorts of problems-like socks that don't match and only being one instead of two.

God also ordained that there be a matched set in discipleship. In fact, His Word is very clear to say that when He sent followers out, He sent ALL of them in pairs. He intends for everyone to have an "AND". Someone that goes with them. Like, Paul and Barnabas. David and Jonathon. Ruth and Naomi. Men with men and women with women. Not something weird.....but they are matched sets-ordained by God. Go ahead...check it out for yourself. It is God's plan in the Word. What is their purpose? To hold one another accountable and to go out and spread the Word. To grow one another in Christ because the journey was not made to be alone. To encounter Christ daily together and then to share those encounters so others would want them. Why didn't He send them alone? Because God knows that one sock is much good...you have to have a pair for it to be of use. But much like our marriages, the world and even the church tries to promote journeys apart instead of together. Independence instead of dependence is what is advocated. And by staying apart from your match, you are just like a sock without it's other half....not as much good. God's plan is for you to have a matching sock in marriage, but also in discipleship.

I was standing at my washer, thinking I sure wish I knew where all the matches to these socks were when the Lord reminded me....Two are better than one. I never created you to be alone. In fact, it is not good for man to be alone. You need your match. In marriage and in discipleship. I created both and I ordained both with a purpose and a match. To walk any other way...is like trying to wear only one sock. So where is your other sock?
ALL FOR YOU

compromise?

This past weekend, while away in Charleston, I went to see a movie. A movie, that quite honestly was raunchy and I would not recommend. However, even in my error of going, the Lord seemed to use it to question my heart and it’s intention.
The movie was about an election where the final deciding vote came down to one man and what he would choose. When the candidates discovered that this man would decide their fate in the election, they began to court him in order to swing his vote their direction and a competition to win his heart began to ensue. In wanting the vote and approval of one man, both candidates began to compromise on their beliefs, their character and their integrity. The entire movie was about how these two men forsook everything that they had stood for, believed in and testified to in order to get the approval of one.
Sitting in that theater, the Lord quietly asked me the question, that I will ask you today. A question that for most of us, we will deny and say no to, but we will be dishonest if we do. A question that if we answer yes to, will cause us to have to reevaluate everything and redirect our choices, our love and our hearts. A question that will challenge our faithfulness, our integrity and our heart.
What is the question? ……Would you sell your soul for the approval of one man?
While these candidates compromised everything for this one man, I had to question my own heart and see if that was true of me. Do we sell our souls, our values, our beliefs, our convictions, the truth…ever, for the approval of another man? We know what is right, what we believe, what is true, what we value, but we compromise in order to please another.
This could happen at work, compromising in order to please our boss. Or at home, compromising in order to please our husband or wife. At school, to be accepted and liked. All of us at some point choose to compromise who we are for the approval of another. We sell our soul to please another man.
As I watched on the screen and became disgusted with what I saw, the Lord began to show me that my heart was just like those men. Willing to compromise to please another. And therefore, had become an idolater in the process. For when you put anything or anyone before pleasing God, you have given it the place God alone deserves to occupy and have raised up an idol in your life.
Scripture is plain to say in Gal 1:10 “For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.” That if we are seeking to please men, we are not His bondservant. Wow, now that hurts.
So to answer the question….will you sell your soul for the approval of one man? I had to answer both yes and no. Deciding that from this time forth, I would not compromise to please any man. Not family, not friends, not anyone. No, I would no longer sell my soul for the approval of another man.
And Yes…I would sell my soul for the approval of ONE MAN, Jesus. That my heart’s cry was that I would desire to love and please Him alone. This is no easy task. So as of today, I have begun to ask Him to accomplish that work in me. To make me love Him and want the approval of Him alone, selling my soul for Him alone and to Him alone, not compromising for anyone else. Selling out to Him. I have not arrived, nor have I got a bead on how to accomplish this, but I am quite sure the Lord will do the work in me, if I will comply. Will you join me in selling your soul to the ONE MAN and selling out for Him? Instead of being compromisers to be a man pleaser here?



ALL FOR YOU

readying the way

As we prepare for worship on Sunday, the Lord has reminded me that there was a voice of one crying out in the wilderness, used to prepare the way of the Lord. Do not misunderstand….I am NOT saying I am that voice. But I do believe that as we move towards what the Lord has for us on Sunday that He has a message for us to dwell on this week. A message to prepare our hearts to meet Him corporately on Sunday. And that we should not come to HIS house unprepared for what HE wants to do, but that we ought to heed what the prophet said and prepare the way for the Lord to come and do a mighty work.

Isa 57:14-15 says;
14 And it shall be said, "Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove {every} obstacle out of the way of My people."
15 For thus says the high and exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy, "I dwell {on} a high and holy place, and {also} with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.

If we are going to encounter the Lord and be prepared for a mighty work from Him, then we have to prepare the way over the coming days and remove the obstacles out of the way for one another. For many of us, there are things standing in the way that will keep us from hearing, seeing and experiencing God this week. Yet, if it is the desire of our heart to experience Him, then we must be compelled to deal with the obstacles so that we GET all He has for us.
Part of that dealing is that we prepare our hearts to be revived by Him because we understand our need for Him. Understanding our need for Him comes from a humility that wants to do nothing but make much of Him. He dwells with those whose hearts are fully given and whose desire is to make much of Him at all times.

So, this week, would it be possible for us to humble ourselves, not talk of our needs or problems, but perhaps focus on just making much of Him all week. Talking of His goodness, His faithfulness. Using our down time to bless Him and to worship Him. As we make much of Him, we are preparing the way for Him to come, removing the obstacles and reading our heart for what He wants to build within it. Be intentional…just talk of His greatness and what He is teaching you.
And then get ready…for as a body of Christ, if we will join together, He will descend in a cloud of glory on us corporately and show us great and marvelous things that we have not conceived or dreamed of.
I am looking forward to it.
Join the Journey….
ALL FOR YOU

wrecked

The events of recent days have brought me to a place this morning of leaning into the Father, perhaps more than ever. There are two things that happen when you get to that place. You GET to SEE Him very clearly-if you wipe the wax from your eyes and allow Him to give you eyes to see AND you SEE yourself very clearly. Both have become evident to me in the last few days.

First, The Lord reminded me on Wed night while praying of 1 Kings 18. Random scriptures brought to mind are typically a stirring of the Spirit for me, so I immediately went there and was confronted with the story of Elijah. These verses are precious to me…They have been verses that I have clung to over the last months… truths that He is PREVIOUS, PROTECTOR and PROVIDER. Over recent months, God has proven that these are attributes that are not just on pages of Scripture, but truth we can lean on…I had no idea why He took me back there on Wed, but today, I know.

God is Previous. Today…in the midst of yucky circumstances with the wreck…He had gone before. From changing cars, although I WISH it had been mine that was wrecked, we might have all been injured had that been the case, to David fixing the lights on the trailer. The Lord spoke this morning and said He is our rear guard. And I am quite confident that the lights in the rear were a guard against further injury or damage. Even to the messages we heard about storms and Jesus being in the boat. He was previous in writing truth on our heart and the hearts of kids.

God is Protector. While my heart wishes that he had protected the car from damage, we can not deny that He protected ALL of us….keeping the other vans from wrecking in circumstances that we still aren’t sure how that kept from happening. And that we all walked away without injury from the wreck…and not just us…but others too. Not to mention that He held off the rain and protected us from the storm while we awaited the tow truck.

God is also our Provider. And though circumstances seem rough in the repair and management of the car, I was reminded by the Father that He has already shown up big in being Previous and Protector, that we can trust Him in the Provision as well. He provided the car the first time and He is already at work to grant provision again. And so I will pray that He provides…

From beginning to end…in His Previousness to the Provision…we can see God if we will look up instead of looking at the circumstance.

This is where I failed yesterday. Instead of immediately being thankful and grateful for His previousness and Protection…and trusting His provision, I merely was aggravated with what happened. But for some reason there was a lesson we/I needed to learn. Part of that lesson began with seeing God and not the circumstance. And that lesson led to seeing my own sin. My heart was not quick to be thank God for His protection or that He had been previous…but instead was frustrated. I was not quick to see where He was at work. And while I was sat in a car, the kids that were with us leaned into the Father. The kids led….

I was frustrated with the circumstance, but the kids circled up and prayed….something I did not do. They went from van to van and blessed the Father. They then began to talk of the sermon from the night before about Jesus being in the storm… and in the boat with His disciples and how Jesus had been with us. They immediately ran for truth and practiced what they had heard. I was so proud of them. Glory was given immediately and the Father was pleased. They had a life lesson….and passed.

Me, it wasn’t until this morning when I heard the Father say….you have yet to thank me…that I humbled my heart and got past my own pride and got facedown in the shower to thank Him. There was a list…a long list of things to be thankful for. The Lord-even in my sin-was still busy providing and proving His love. And I was humbled once again at His great heart to move us towards Him.

ALL FOR YOU

Come away with me

Time away is good. Time away is Biblical. However, time away is not meant for our entertainment, our relaxation or our laziness. Sometimes, we plan vacations and time away, but we come back more tired than when we left, because we fill our days with activity. Or perhaps we go away and do nothing, but because it was not rest for our soul, merely rest for our bodies, we come back to the rat race and it only takes 30 min for you to be right back in the same state of stress you left.
Over recent months, the Lord has been calling me aside and quite honestly, I am not good at that. But I have found in the coming aside, that I find His Presence and my heart is refreshed.
I wanted a place of no distractions, no people calling or beckoning me, nothing to draw my attention or entertain. So I found a place at the end of world and answered his call to come away with Him. Many times we go away and the time away is all about the food we will eat, the places we will go, what we will do or how we will spend our time.
With some encouragement, I laid aside my watch and my phone and walked away from them both. Setting my heart on heaven alone and choosing to let no one and nothing distract...Jesus and I had a date...
I spent long hours in the Word and in prayer. With praises ringing constantly from my ipod and nothing but the view of His creation out the balcony window, I found my heart being soothed by the stillness. And for the first time ever, I think I found some balance...the ability to be still and rest-not lay around and do nothing, but to seek Him hard and fast and still find rest for my soul.
We all have busy lives and busy schedules, people calling and voices that demand things left and right. Families are great and blessed and given by God, but they often drain us as we serve them. Church is precious and we are called to be a part of it, but we can often lose sight of Christ even in His house. Jobs are necessary and we must work as unto the Lord, but they often consume us and keep us from Him. And so, the Lord calls us aside. Not just every once in a while, but He calls us aside regulary for times of refreshing. (Acts 3:19) Times where we can repent and return to the Lord, find His presence and we can recover our breath and find cool shade in His shadow.
Sometimes that looks like an hour stolen or an evening of solitude. Other times, it might require a day away or a weekend removed from the world. And yes, this requires discipline, because the world, our jobs, our families, our lives will beckon us to stay, not go, keep going or try to coax us to engage in entertainment instead. But God knows...in the moment you trade time with Him for the pleasure of this world, that you will have joined the throngs of people who were like Eve...missing Him and end up hiding from His presence instead of lingering in it.
So, at the end of the world, I answered His call to come away with Him...and I was not disappointed. He was there and expereincing His Presence doesn't compare to anything this world can offer.
Jesus knew we would need these times. And thought people probably won't understand, it is both Scriptural and profitable.


Mark 6:30-32
30 And the apostles gathered together with Jesus; and they reported to Him all that they had done and taught.
31 And He said to them, "Come away by yourselves to a lonely place and rest a while." (For there were many {people} coming and going, and they did not even have time to eat.)
32 And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves.

Jesus' call to us is...I have heard your cry. Life is busy and you have done and taught much. So...come away with me to a lonely place a rest for a while. And so they did. They went away with Him...
And we should too....go away with Him. It is His call and His answer to the crazy life. It is not vacation...it is not finding a place to go and spend time and relax...it is a place to meet with Him. Take a friend and go...Jesus told the disciples to come with Him...but it was with the intent that they would go and be with Him. (often we spend time with family or friends and it is all about being together with them and Jesus is just tacked on.)
Wouldn't it be awesome to come aside weekly and come away regularly with Him? It is what our lives are missing. It is the answer to the stress of life. Be still and KNOW that He is....

ALL FOR YOU

stand on the shore or BE the pier

Recently, a friend sent me this picture of a pier. I have one similar to it that I took myself, but for some reason, when I got the picture, it evoked in me a thought that I couldn't escape.
Perhaps, it was the pilings driven into the sand, deep so that the pier would remain stable when the storm tossed waves crashed against the pier, trying to rock it's foundation to no avial. Perhaps, it was the idea of being able to stand out IN the water on the pier and feel as though you were walking on it, above it and through it.
And while those are certainly things that I could make "preach", I think the thought that continues to strike a chord in my soul has more to do with standing on the shore. We stand on the shore and look at the firm foundation of the pier, seeing it's strength and it's stability. We look at the pier and sometimes even enjoy it's view, walk out on it, but only to return to shore. We stand on the shore and look at the pier...
Nothing wrong with that...I guess. But what if instead of standing on the shore looking at the pier, we became the pier. That person that was driven deep and had a rock solid foundation that couldn't be shaken. That person that stretched out past the safety of the shore into the deep water, seeming as if they could walk on it, in it and through it. That person that made a way for others to walk out further from shore into the deep to experience greatness. That person that went further so that others could too.
I love to walk the beach, stand on the shore and enjoy the view. But I think I want to BE the pier. Building a pier is no easy task. It doesn't just happen and it is not without undergrowth that has to be stripped away even after it is established. But we need some piers....people who will go further and make a way for others to see that the shore is not the coolest place...it is nice, but reaching for the deep is awesome.
Let's drive some pilings down, make a firm foundation and build a pier....
ALL FOR YOU

sometimes it takes shears

Recently, we had to move two of my favorite plants-butterfly bushes. They had grown huge, but were in the way of some changes we were making. So we decided to uproot them and move them. At first, it seemed like that was going to work great. But gradually, we realized they seemed to be dying. What was once vividly alive and growing, was slowly dying because of change. Desptie the watering, the leaves were turning black and falling off. And after a few days, they were just two dead plants in new places. The uprooting had brought what seemed like death.
In a last ditch effort to save them, I had Drew take the shears to them and cut them back to just a few feet off the ground. We continued to water them and waited. Within 24 hours, it happened. New growth began to spring forth from what seemed like a dead plant. It was only a small sign of life, but life was there. The shears were needed for the plant to grow. I was so excited...
And then I heard Him speak. It was so plain. This plant is just like life...and just like church. Sometimes things we love get in the way of changes that need to be made. And so we have to uproot those things and place them elsewhere or allow them to be moved so that they are not destroyed in the changed. Sometimes we have to seemingly let things die in order to allow for change. But much like my trees, when we take the shears to things, prune it back, new life is cultivated from something that needed to be moved and seemed like it was dead.
I was thinking about my life and how sometimes things, good things, have to be uprooted in order for change to happen. How things have to die so that new life can happen. How things have to be stripped and pruned, using the shears to bring new life from what seemed like was dying. We have a tendency to cling to what was...instead of embracing new life.
Maybe it is time for us to uproot somethings...to move it around. And it might die. Or maybe in the pruning and in using the shears, new life might be brought forth. For life is found in dying.
I think I will let go of what was and look for what is to come. Move what needs to be moved. Shear what needs to be sheared...for I don't want to just enjoy the growth of the same old bush forever. I want something new...
For when I moved the bush...I divided it and got 2 out of 1. And BOTH have new growth. It just works that way.

ALL FOR YOU

What might He write in the sand to You

John 8:3-12
3 And the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman caught in adultery, and having set her in the midst,
4 they said to Him, "Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act.
5 "Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?"
6 And they were saying this, testing Him, in order that they might have grounds for accusing Him. But Jesus stooped down, and with His finger wrote on the ground.
7 But when they persisted in asking Him, He straightened up, and said to them, "He who is without sin among you, let him {be the} first to throw a stone at her."
8 And again He stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
9 And when they heard it, they {began} to go out one by one, beginning with the older ones, and He was left alone, and the woman, where she was, in the midst.
10 And straightening up, Jesus said to her, "Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?"
11 And she said, "No one, Lord." And Jesus said, "Neither do I condemn you; go your way. From now on sin no more."]
12 Again therefore Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk in the darkness, but shall have the light of life."

Would it be words of ownership and forgiveness or words of condemnation that sent you running? Would it be words of love and compassion or words of judgement? Would it be the list of your sins or perhaps the list of what has been given grace? As I thought about what might be written in the sand to me...one morning on the beach, the Lord took me on a journey that was precious...His Words to me...
And yes, I am an adulterous woman...not physically-against my husband, but spiritually against my Father. And He sees and knows...and offers words...to a woman who should be condemned, but is given grace.


ALL FOR YOU

Words

Words are a gift for me. I love them and the Lord seems to give them, both in written and spoken form. I am not sure why, but they are something I have come to love. They are my love language and they represent more than just words, but the heart and soul. I have learned to choose my words, for I am beginning to understand the value and power of them. And I have been careful to use my words because I understand the significance and meaning of them.
In recent days, I have come to understand why I love words. Because Jesus is in them. In the Beginning was the WORD and the WORD was made flesh. His Word is not far from us, it is in our mouths. Indeed it is our life. The Word of God, just ONE Word from God, can radically change all that we are.
Because He is in the Word and the Word is in us...using our words is very important. Sometimes we choose to withhold them and sometimes we spew them. Other times we we choose to manipulate people with them, while occasionally, we use them to express our emotion and feelings.
God intended for us use our Word. God breathed life into HIS Word so that He could use it to reprove, rebuke, teach and correct. The Word became flesh so that it could be among us, indeed in us. And how we choose to use our words is indicative of what we are doing with Him.
I have been guilty of late of withholding words. And that is wrong. He did not give words so that we could just sit on them. It is why I have not blogged in a while. So, tonight, I use words....HIS.
The pursuit of God is not an easy journey, nor is it one that many embark upon. Few traverse the trail to reach more of Him and even fewer step outside the boat onto the water to experience the greatness of a God they only have read about. But God is not a God to merely be read of on pages. He is a God that is to be sought after, found and experienced. But only for those who are willing to move from the place of complacency into the place of pursuit...and this will cost us. Following hard after Him is not for the faint of heart, but for the brave of heart who will dive deep and not just play in the shallow end of the pool.
So I will use words....It is worth getting wet to dive deep and experience the greatness of a Savior, the beauty of holiness, the grandeur of abundant life, the majesty of presence, the mystery of grace, the treasure in a field, the joy of a journey, the favor of the King and the blessedness of knowing you have and will see more.
I realized today...that part of stumbling on the journey is when we don't use words. When we withhold them. Time to use them...He is.
Don't miss it....
ALL FOR YOU

my soul waits

O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and made
me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need of further
grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune God, I want
to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst to be made more
thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, that so I may know Thee
indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within me. Say to my soul,
`Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away.' Then give me grace to
rise and follow Thee up from this misty lowland where I have wandered so
long. In Jesus' name, Amen.
TOZER
ALL FOR YOU

needy people

We are a people who pretty much can provide for ourselves....aren't we. Because that is the world we live in...where we go to work, provide for our own food, shelter and 401k, we have become a people who are very self reliant, self dependent and independent from God. We don't FEEL NEEDY...because we aren't. We are capable and doing just fine on our own. But as William Wilberforce said..."Prosperity hardens the heart."
Hosea 13:6 says "when I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisifed, they became proud;then they forgot me."

But God addresses this kind of people. Malachi 1 tells us that God is not good with leftover sacrifice, independent living or people who don't really need Him. God is not sitting in heaven, hoping for something from us because that is better than nothing. He is wanting ALL of us. He said, "Oh that there were one among you that would shut the gates, that you might not uselelessly kindle fire on My Altar. I am NOT PLEASED with you, nor will I accept your offerings." God wanted to the temple gates shut because the people were offering halfhearted, lame sacrifices to Him. He was saying He would rather have NO worship than apathetic, lukewarm, halfhearted worship.

Tim Kizziar says..."our greatest fear as individuals and as a church should not be of failure, but of succeeding at things in life that don't really matter."

We would NEVER say out loud....we don't need God. That would be blasphemy. But the reality is that we live like. And it is not until we see our great need for God that we will truly respond to His greatness....and that is when worthy offerings, sacrifices and worship begin. God does not need us. We need Him...and to think otherwise is deception. And while we won't admit it...if we were honest...our lives demonstrate that we live depending ourselves, not realizing our need for Him.

Perhaps it is time to throw ourselves to a God that we desperately need and to respond to His greatness. And to quit working to be what only God can be in our lives....the provision for all we need. Perhaps we should stop working so hard to succeed and work on the things in life that really matter....acceptable sacrifices to Him. This will only come...when we see our need....
We are needy....ALL FOR YOU

You would ruin MANURE

In the same way, any of you who dos not give up EVERYTHING he has cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:33

Salt is good,but if it loses it saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is fit neither for soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out. Luke 14: 34-35

Jesus is addressing those who aren't willing to give everthing, who won't follow Him all the way. He is saying lukewarm, halfhearted following is useless, that it sickens our souls. He is saying that kind of salt is not even fit for the manure pile. Wow...how would you like to hear the Son of God say..."you would ruin manure."
When salt is salty, it helps manure become fertilizer...but lukewarm and uncommitted faith is completely useless...it can't even benefit manure.

CRAZY LOVE
ALL FOR YOU

NOT HALFWAY

When I was in school...I was in the Marching Band. It was a really BIG deal...We were really good and it was a privilege to be a part of it. Literally...the football team played so the band could march every week. It was that big a deal.
But when I started in the band...there were a few rules laid down...one of which was-you do what the director says, when he says it and you don't question it. Our band director owned us...and not just on the field. We knew that we REPRESENTED wherever we were. Once we put on the uniform, we were to remain in full uniform. There was no option to only partially represent. Even if it was blazing hot...we looked the part...all the time. Our actions off the field, dictated our participation on the field. If we did not maintain grades, exceptional behavior on and off the field...we were no longer welcome to represent. When he spoke, we listened. And if we chose not to listen, there were swift consquences...for EVERYONE, not just ourselves. He owned our time. We rehearsed 5 days a week for a less than five minute performance once a week. We spent hours in rehearsals....approximately 15 hours a week...after school, in addition to performances. And you didn't opt out for something better.
But I think the thing I remember the most...is He never demanded any of these things. We knew the rules. We knew the consequences. He never raised his voice or demanded that we listen. If we chose not too...he would stand quietly and say....I have all day...when you are ready...we will proceed. Immediately, we would realize that we would be here all night if we didn't link up and pay attention. But he never had to demand, he only required. And if the requirements were not met...you were not a part. It was that simple.
You either represented fully or not at all.

I was thinking about all this in relationship to our walks with Christ. Why is it we think we can represent Him...be a Christian (which means a little Christ...or Christ's representative) and not fully represent. Why is it we don't realize that He OWNS US and our time-on and off the field. Why is it that we don't understand that there are certain requirements that must be met to be a part of His "band"...He will not raise His voice and demand, but He does require...and if we choose to not live up to the requirements....then we will not be a part.
We would not have been a very good band if our director had settled for half hearted and only a little devoted followers. He required the best. And he got it. And those who chose to settle...and not live the life of standard...were not a part-and they missed out on being the best.
Likewise, God will not settle for half hearted, half devoted followers. He requires...not demands...the best. And he will get it...and those who do not...will not be a part.

Chan says it like this...Jesus didn't say that if you want to be a follower you COULD do it in a lukewarm manner. He said...Take up your cross and carry it.

Jesus requires....that followers NOT BE LUKEWARM...there is not an in between option for the less devoted. You are either a fully devoted follower of Christ or not a follower at all. ALL FOR YOU

Recently, the church offices-or what was the church parsonage-was moved. Because of the new Children's Theater, we need to move the house. A moving company came in and began to prepare for the move. I was amazed at the ordeal it was. They first removed all the brick, penned it up from underneathe so they could place the big steal bars underneathe for travel. They detached the house from the foundation and spent days totally undoing it, so they could move it. I kept thinking...why? What a pain? All this undoing just so it can move.
And then it struck me. It is a word picture for life. A house undone can move. A house that is all put together, is stationary.
Isn't it funny how we long to be all put together and have everything totally "done" in our lives? Isn't it odd that we spend our days making sure our life is not out of control or undone, and hiding what might be the fraying of any edges where that might happen. And in so doing, we are doing nothing more than making totally sure that we don't MOVE at all.
God has called us to be a people on the move. We are not to be sitting still, but to instead be walking forward with Him. And yet, instead of realizing that prepartion for that moves, means an undoing so that we are not attached to the location we are in, we choose to fight that movement everystep of the way by refusing to be undone. And in so doing...we miss Jesus...and all He has for us. For our undoing, means we are able to move. It means we have no other foundation than that which is moving us...the King of Kings.
I watched as they put that house up on wheels and rolled it down to it's new location. I thought....hmmm...a house undone, on the move, not clinging to past, but headed for something new. Perhaps, that is what God has for us, if we would simply embrace a little undoing....
to that I say....Let's Roll...put me on wheels and MOVE ME.
ALL FOR YOU

american idol

Last week on American Idol, the contestants closed out the show by singing "Shout to the Lord". The words to the song are strong and have been used to stir the heart of the church for years. However, I was somewhat disappointed, when they changed the words at the beginning of the song from MY JESUS, to My Shepherd, omitting Jesus' name from the song. Aggravated that they did that to Jesus name, I was a little disheartened. However, on the following night, they again performed the song, only this time to say Jesus' name. Idol redeemed itself.
I was thinking about how funny it is to know that even the IDOLS Shout to the Lord. The AMERICAN IDOL sang His praise and made His name known. It so affirms what the Word says in Rom 14:11, "For it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall give praise to God." God is very specific in Isa 42:8 to say "I am the LORD, that is My name; I will not give My glory to another, nor My praise to graven images."
There is coming a day "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those who are in heaven, and on earth, and under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." It is GOING to happen. We can either choose to bend our knees or have them broken, but we WILL worship Him-HIS WAY. It makes me laugh to know that American Idol got to shout to the Lord...but so few of those who wear His name really do that. Maybe, we ought not let Idol out do those who are truly following Him. ALL FOR YOU

When you come in the back door of my house, entering into my kitchen...there are words that you can't help but see. I LOVE words...used to edify, they have the power of life in them. Jesus is the ultimate picture of WORDS...becoming life and dwelling among us.
Years ago, I read a book that talked about Sanctuary being a place where you are cleansed, where you come higher, further and closer to the Father. Those words are etched into my soul. And so, above my back door are words that read "Welcome to Sanctuary".
I want my home to be a Sanctuary...the place His glory dwells, where people may come and be cleansed, drawing higher, further and closer to the Father. I want it to be a Refuge, a shelter....a Tabernacle, a Tent, a Temple, a House that is His.
But today....those words are more precious than ever....I want those words to be true not only of a church or my house, but my life. To be a place, a life, where covenant has caused multiplication and where He dwells...where nations will know that He is the Lord because my life has been set apart and where He abides in my midst. I don't want Sanctuary to be a place...so much as it is about who I am...a Sanctuary because of His mark on me. ALL FOR YOU

time away

Since the first of this year, the Lord has been challenging my heart to not only run hard and fast after Him, but to be faithful to find times to rest. The Father has been so gracious to remind me that I run harder, faster and further when I rest.
The Word is plain that we are to take a SABBATH. Time to regroup and refocus on Jesus. Not to play or entertain ourselves. Not to take naps or veg out. But days where we just get in His face and worship. While the 10 commandments set aside a day that we are to celebrate the SABBATH, Jesus was even more precious to set an example of more than that. Scripture tells us that JESUS, GOD HIMSELF, was faithful to take time AWAY and to spend it with His Father. He went to the garden, to the Mt and into the wilderness...to see HIS FATHER...to seek HIMSELF. And when He went away, He often took that inner circle of those He loved. Jesus knew and valued time AWAY. Jesus knew that He needed to set the example of sabbatical, Sabbath and time away pursuing the Father. This was more than just a daily quiet time or a trip to church. This was TIME...to linger...with Him and be AWAY.
This is a discipline that we as believers have chosen to disregard. Due to the fast pace of life, the responsibilities of our world and the lack of motivation, we rarely decide to choose to go away and just seek Him. It seems crazy. I mean when we have time off...or take time off...should it not be to go on vacation, to entertain ourselves, to spend time with our families? While all of those are great things, I am wondering why we will sacrifice to have time away for the things we want and yet we do not intentionally set aside time away-as Jesus did- to pursue Him. We will go to conferences, come to church and participate in camps or events, but what about following Jesus' example-of just going AWAY.
I have asked myself that question a lot over the past few months. Why is it that we think we can do without that which the very Son of God had to have? He set an example that we think we can do without. Or perhaps, it is not that we think we can do without it so much as we just neglect that due to schedules and business. We lean on our own abilities instead of trusting what He says we need....I have been the worst at this. While, trying desperately to pour life into people, filling my schedule so full that by the end of several weeks, I feel drained and empty..I just keep pressing on. I love that my cup is empty and that I have worn myself out for the Kingdom, but I am finding that it is in those moments that greatest temptation, sin, failure and flesh surface.
Jesus knew this. It is why He set up a commandment and set an example to spend time AWAY. He knew that we would/could get drained from all the pouring out and never take enough time to fully recharge. You can sustain that for a little while, but when people are constantly expecting you to keep on doing what you have always done on an empty tank, sooner or later, there will be a problem.
I wondering if we might consider such times as these, as times to fast from the WORLD. To realign, refocus and be sure that our hearts are set on Him.
The Lord told me last October that He wanted me to build into my schedule times to get away and do just that...realign and refocus, spend time just chasing Him. And so, I decided that for the first time in my life that I was going to go AWAY. No kids, no husband, no TV, no entertainment...I was going to spend time pursuing Him. And since then, He has been plain that I am to build that into my schedule regularly....dates with the "KING"....
And while it has been difficult to schedule, complicated to take care of my kids and people have not understood why, it has been the most amazing thing I have ever done with the Lord. And now, it is time that I crave...I hunger and thirst for Him and time with Him.
In fact, I have just returned from some time away. The Lord was precious and I had the privilege of meeting with Him. I am sitting at my desk right now...looking for my next date. Anxious about what He will share and give. Awaiting time with Him and excited, anticipating it as if it were just as important as any other appointment that I place on my calendar.
And to think...I have spent 37 years, merely satisfied with moments, when I could have had more. If only I had set that time apart. I am certainly not trying to applaud my own efforts in this area...for I have fallen miserably short...but what I do want to share is that I have discovered a vital discipline in my life that has been missing. It is Scriptural. And it is changing me. And perhaps...you have been missing it too.
Maybe, we should all make a date with the King and go AWAY. Take someone precious with you-as Jesus did...but run away and be committed to pursue while there. And see what it does. I promise you won't be disappointed. Wouldn't it be nice to stop the grind of life just for a moment and see Jesus, face to face?
Make it happen.
Doxa
ALL FOR YOU

blinded

There is an old song that says…blinded by the light. That was me today….Blinded by the Light.
The thought started in TREEHOUSE this morning. While leading the kids in worship, the spotlights shining down on us, I looked up to see the WORD’s and found myself blinded by the Light. I couldn’t see anything. I had looked dead into the Light and was absolutely blind as a result.
Of course, it passed and I was able to see again. I walked backstage and was thinking about how I was blinded by the Light, when it hit me. Funny, standing in TREEHOUSE, isn’t that what we want. To be blinded by the Light. To have His Light so shine down and overwhelm us that we can see nothing but His Light. To be looking for HIS WORD to us and have Him shine into us the Light of the knowledge of God in the face of Christ. To be blinded by Him, so that we can see nothing and be determined to know nothing but Christ and HIM crucified.

I think I want to be blinded by the Light….how about You?
ALL FOR YOU

Treehouse grand opening

ALL FOR YOU

in the light

Saturday was an EXTREMELY LONG day. We had been at the church ALL day long, setting up for the GRAND OPENING of TREEHOUSE in the new building. We had been working on lighting set up, sound and placement on the stage. We had been through a series of rehearsals already and I was sitting on the front row, watching the drama play out one final time, when Lindsey came and sat down beside me. We were both tired, but excited. There had been a moment in rehearsal where I watched the words that she was saying from the stage in a "role" she was playing become very real of her heart. She wanted to go to the party. We talked about that for a few minutes and then we began to chat about all the lights.
During the course of the day, we had to adjust the lighting because it was so new that it was almost distracting for us. It was hard to stay focussed because we couldn't get the Light to shine exactly where we needed it to. We had great help, who figured it out and by 7:30pm we had it all exactly where it needed to be. But in order to be sure that I stood in the light, exactly where I needed to be, they put a small piece of tape on the stage. A marker, where I was to stand, so that I would be sure to stand in the light.
As Lindsey and I were chatting about the lights, I looked at her and said, "I just have to be sure not to miss my mark. If I am off the mark, I won't be in the Light. Where I stand, determines if I am in the light or not." And then it struck me....the words spewed out of my mouth as I spoke of lighting issues, but they immediately pierced my heart...and hers. She just looked at me and went....wow...that was good.
While we were talking about lighting on a stage, my heart screamed with the truth that had just popped out of my mouth. Unintentionally, truth had pierced the darkness and my heart.
Where we stand makes a huge difference as to whether we are in the light or not. If we are off the mark, we will not be standing in the Light, but in the darkness. How easy it is for us to miss the mark. To sin and fall short of the glory of God. The Light shines in the darkness, but we can certainly choose to stand in the darkness instead of the Light. If I am going to stand in the Light, I must stand on my mark. And not move...or else I won't be in the Light. The choice of where I stand, determines if I am in the Light or not. So missing my mark...is not an option. ALL FOR YOU

filters?

Have you ever heard of cleaning your mirrors with a coffee filter? Well, I had never heard of such thing. Of course, the only thing I want to do with a coffee filter is MAKE COFFEE. But, I have this friend who says filters do a really great job of cleaning mirrors because they don’t leave any lint on the mirror itself. When she told me that, I just stood there thinking….no way. What a cool word picture.

So, I have been thinking about filters and mirrors for the last few days. Filters are used for coffee makers, to keep the grounds from being in your coffee. Mirrors are used to see your reflection. But what if we used a filter on our mirror? Mirrors are not intended to have filters. They are there to show a true and honest reflection of what is real. If we filter the mirror, we don’t see what is truly there.

However, the other side of that thought is that if we use a filter in our lives, then the reflection we see will be pure, without blemish or defect or lint. It removes those obstacles and things that cloud our vision from seeing what truly is.

But, perhaps the real lesson here is that we should use a specific filter to help with the reflections that we see in the mirror. The Word of God is like a mirror and a filter. It can be used to filter out what doesn’t need to be so that we can be a clear reflection of the Father. It is also a mirror that we can look into and see what needs to be filtered so that we can look more like the Father everyday.

God was us to be able to look in the mirror and behold the glory of God…without having to use a filter to see. He longs for the day when our reflection is merely Him looking back at us. When we are transformed into HIS image, displaying His glory, unfiltered, unveiled…no obstacles in us seeing or being this.



2 Cor 3:18 But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
Doxa
Christy Upton
Take my yoke and learn from me for I am gentle and humble of heart and you will find rest. My yoke is easy and my burden is light.
for more....check out http://doxaglory.blogspot.com

ALL FOR YOU

What if it is God speaking

So many struggle with wanting to hear God speak. Many wonder why He seems to be so silent. And yet, the truth is He has spoken and is speaking. The problem lies not with God, but with us. And the problem isn’t with our eyes or ears; it’s with our souls. We need to learn how to see and hear God in our everyday lives. God is not silent; we just have to learn how to listen. He is not absent; we just have to know where to look.

He is constantly speaking. God is present and revealing himself powerfully through his holy Word. We must come to a place where we’re feeding our hunger to know God with the meat of the Word and stop continuously stuffing our spiritual bellies full of events and emotional encounters. We often become overwhelmed with so many options to help us study the Word of God that we end up nibbling here and there, never really digging in for a full meal. It’s like an all you can eat buffet-so many choices you become too full to really savor the truth. We must learn how to listen and then savor what He is speaking to us about. We must linger in those truths and enjoy the hearing and then quickly obey. We must not just microwave the Word…it needs to slow cook and simmer in your spirit. Which means we can't rush...we must develop a habit of pushing back and lingering, letting it seep into all of us, nourishing us and giving us what we need to be able to make it through the day.

He wants us smitten, flat out taken with Him. And longing to hear Him. He wants us to long for the sound of His voice and to lean in to hear. But when He speaks, His voice is unmistakable...God wants to speak to us. He is not trying to make us guess as to whether or not it is Him. His sheep hear His voice and know it.

Life is about relationship, about conversation. God desires conversation with us. It is an intimate conversation that makes any relationship worthwhile. Who wants to just have small talk for the rest of our lives? It’s a symphony of hearing and being heard in return, of loving and being loved. We learn and grow from each other. We support and serve each other. And if we model our relationships after God’s, we find so much joy in each other that we rejoice and sing. I want a symphony of hearing and to savor the conversations of life. I want worthwhile, intimate conversation that knits and weaves life together.

We need to stop and listen to God’s part of the conversation. We’ve got to stop being so loud and just listen to our Father. We need to stop and take time to let Him dwell in our midst. Even in our conversations with others, pause and listen for His voice. He is speaking. And then speak what He says. It will change the conversation and He will join it. Don't be in a hurry to move on...chit chat...but instead to relish in the conversation of life...Jesus.

Many of us do before we hear. Others hear and then don't do. What if we stopped and only did what we heard the Father say? What if it really were that easy? And instead of rushing ahead or guessing at what He wants...we just chose to linger in His presence until we hear Him speak...then we quickly obey.

When this happen there will be a Serenade of affection, for the Father and for those who join the conversation. His voice is unmistakeable....do you hear it?

ALL FOR YOU

I LOVE COFFEE

I LOVE COFFEE. Most people know that about me. I LOVE how it makes me feel. I LOVE what it makes me think about it. The smell of it makes me just breathe better. I walk into Starbucks and think...heaven has to have one of these. I just LOVE COFFEE. I love the sound of the coffee pot perking, the feel of a warm cup in my hands, and what happens when I drink it.
And while all these reasons are great. They are not the REAL reason I LOVE COFFEE. I am sure the caffeine headache I would have if I didn't drink it would be a problem. And I know that my body just craves it. But the real reason I love COFFEE has little to do with the drink and more to do with what it makes me think about and feel. I love Coffee because for me it is a word picture of life. It doesn't just represent a drink or something I enjoy. Instead, it represents what I do while I drink it. It makes me think of sitting around a table with friends and relishing conversation about the Lord. It reminds me of the countless hours I have spent pouring over the Word with a cup in my hand and the Father meeting with me there. It makes me think of....intimacy. It represents relationships and what happens when we get together, meet together and just spend time together. There is something about sharing a good cup of coffee that makes you just want to pour out your soul and enjoy the fellowship of Jesus-at least for me.
We live in a society where things are so fast paced and rushed. We never have time to just sit and chat. We never take the time to just linger of a cup of coffee and not rush the moment. And consequently, we miss the moments...where God is speaking. This month at Wow...we will take a fresh look at the art of lingering with Him. So come have a good cup of coffee and let's linger a few and see what happens when we take time and space to just enjoy Jesus and those that are with us in the room. Because as much as I LOVE COFFEE. I LOVE JESUS more. When was the last time you just lingered in His presence and enjoyed Him like you do a good cup of coffee?ALL FOR YOU

Gutter Guards

Last week, I took my kids and some friends bowling. It was the last FREE day before school started back and we wanted to maximize the playtime. So, we loaded up and made a trip to get chicken, french fries, sprite and toy for lunch (their favorite-not mine!) and then headed to the bowling alley.
They got their cool bowling shoes on while I asked the lady to be sure and put the gutter guards up. It was tons of fun watching the kids literally throw their bowling balls down the lanes, bounce off the sides and knock down pins. No form, no rhyme or reason to what they were doing, just fun. It looked more like pinball than bowling and made me laugh.
While sitting and talking to the kids, I decided it was time for a life lesson. I began to ask them if there was a spiritual lesson they could learn from bowling. I got that glazed stare that I normally get when I try to turn something into a lesson, but I am trying to develop thinkers for the Kingdom, so that doesn't deter me one bit.
I asked them to try to figure out what the lesson might be.....a few minutes passed and I had mine. When I asked them if they wanted to hear, there was little enthusiasm, until Noah said that he did. So I whispered it in his ear. Next thing I knew, they all wanted to hear my lesson. But I wasn't going to tell them. They didn't really want to know. They began to beg and so I relented.
Bowling is like life...it is easeir with the gutter guards up.
Then I asked....so what is the gutter guard.
It only took a millisecond for them to respond....JESUS.
Life is easier with Jesus as our gutter guard. He keeps us out of the gutter. ALL FOR YOU

look up

Last night, we celebrated New Year's Eve with some friends and family. We ate, we played, we laughed, we watched football. It was a great day. There was no place I could have imagined as being better and no place I would have rather spent time bringing in the New Year.
Why? Because it helped me to look up.
During the half time of the football game, we all went out to a big bonfire and roasted marshmellows. The kids laughed and enjoyed the heat of a burning Christmas tree. The adults ate the marshmellows the kids burned. And then the fireworks began. And we all looked up. They were beautiful and tons of fun. We oohed and ahhed over the explosions of fire in the sky, while enjoying the heat of the fire below. It felt like family. I looked around and thought, "what a way to begin the year....all of us, looking up."
As great as that was, it was the moments that followed that caused my heart to look up. Just about everyone left to go inside and I stayed to help guard the flame. It started out as a task to keep the fire from moving where it shouldn't and to keep the little ones out of it, in case they decide to play and get burned.
It was quiet, the fire crackled. The air was crisp and cool and the heat felt good. I sat down on the picnic table and just looked up. The sky was filled with stars and though the fireworks were over, something exploded in my heart. The heavens were declaring the glory of God; and their expanse, the work of His hands. There was but a moment, when I could glimpse the greatness of God by looking up. I breathed deep and smiled, thinking to myself-what an indescribable gift.
He is so much more....more than I can even comprehend, imagine or dream. He is in a simple breath, yet shines like a star declaring His greatness from millions of miles away in a way that we can see and know and taste who He is.
It was then that I knew what this year would be about for me....
Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these {stars,} the One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; because of the greatness of His might and the strength of {His} power not one {of them} is missing.
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable.
I will be looking up and seeing His glory. I will not look at circumstances, people, places, things, programs or performance. I will be looking up to see the glory of the Lord, but I will only see it-IF I look up.
I sat on that bench, looking from the sky to the fire and realized that in looking up and seeing His glory, He sets His love on our heart and we burn with a holy flame and zeal for the world to see. When we SEE HIM, we KNOW HIM and we BURN for Him. His glory is seen in looking up...
In the following moments, there was some intentional conversation around that fire, not casual or convincing, but instead time to reflect on what our dream for the new year holds. Those moments were full of conversation about being more in love and on fire for Him. They are moments forever etched into my memory, filled with wonder and blessing as we talked about living a journey together for Him.
It was there on that bench that I decided what I was chasing this year. It was there in those moments that I realized I was going to have to step it up and that I wanted more, that I decided that my dream was to see His glory. And for the first time, I realized how that would happen.
So look up, breathe deep and see the glory of God rain down. You will see it...it just depends on where you are looking.


ALL FOR YOU

O come all ye faithful

O Come, all ye faithful....We sang these words all season. Or at least tried to. I am quite certain that I could have let the song spill forth from my mouth out of rote and tradition, but I don't believe in singing words that are not true of me, so I really had to soul search before I could sing these words. I really struggled with them. I am not sure I can be labeled faithful...so do I get to come? But now, I have come to the conclusion that they are words that should be our New Year's resolution.
I started with the word "come". It is an action word. It doesn't mean sit or watch. It is participatory. So the faithful have to participate by coming. Once I got that coming meant I had to DO something, I decided I needed to know what I needed to do. So, I got out my study tools and dug into the Word to discover what God wanted me to COME and DO. As I dug around in the word "come", I uncovered an amazing truth. The word for "come" and the word for "follow" are the same. In fact, when Jesus called His disciples to "follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." (Matt 4), it was the same word that He used when He said "come to me all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest." (Matt 11) The Word to "come" means to follow. Both are imperative commands that mean without hesitation, with urgency, without delay. To come to Jesus....means to follow Jesus....and not in a casual sense of following or coming, but with an urgent imperative that means come now or not at all. He told His disciples Follow me and they IMMEDIATELY dropped everything. They understood that the call to come was the call to follow and there was to be no delay. It is why Jesus told them to let the dead bury the dead and that they could not even say goodbye to their families. Because the call to come to Jesus is a call to follow Jesus immediately with no excuses, delays, if's, and's or but's.
Cool information, but why should this be our New Year's resolution?
First of all, it is time what we realize that coming to Jesus is an ACTION word. We must recognize that the action we must take is to FOLLOW JESUS. Simple church is nothing more than that. Making disciples that follow Him. Not half hearted, casual, delayed, hesitant, don't make me run, I am comfortable where I am kind of followers. That was not the call at all. But coming to Jesus, following Him and saying whatever HE says, we will do, no matter what kind of followers. It is focusing on our PURPOSE-to be a church that makes disciples by focusing on families. To equip the saints and make disciples not by programming, but because life is being poured onto life, by intentional relationships, creating relevant environments, meeting the needs of people; by showing the Word, sharing the Word, teaching the Word and serving the Word/World.
I'm not interested in coming to church. I want to follow at church. I don't want to come together. I want to follow together. I long not for a come to Jesus meeting, but a following of Jesus gathering. What if this year, we didn't just come to church, but we began to follow as the church? What if this year, we could sing the song....not out of rote or tradition, but with words that are true of my feet, that sounded like; "O follow, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant...O follow and adore Him....Follow and adore Him."
Now, there is a song, I long to sing-together. And a resolution for the New Year. Let's not just come to church...but let's follow as the church.
ALL FOR YOU

grown up christmas list

I sat down for a few minutes of down time this afternoon...flipped on the TV and Oprah was on. It was her FAVORITE THINGS show. I know very little about Oprah, however, it seems she must do a show every year where she shares her favorite things and then gives everyone in the audience the things she likes. For an hour, she displays unique item after unique item, from mixing bowls and board games to LG refrigerators, mixers and and UGs (some sort of shoe). I watched as the audience screamed and yelled, hollered and wept, stood speechless and jumped with excitement over the favorite things of Oprah, as she lavished on them her favorites, giving without measure and sharing what she loves.
But, somehow, I found myself a little sad. Not because I wasn't getting her favorite things, but because I wondered how many would rejoice if I gave them my favorite thing. This Christmas it has been my heart to lavish Jesus on people. Not just to talk about Him, show Him, share Him, teach others about Him, but to honestly be able to give them Jesus.... I know this sounds trite, but HE IS my favorite...and there is nothing I would rather do than give Him to the people in my world.
Although, I am still working on what that looks like, the thought that crossed my mind was how many would get as excited about my favorite thing as they did about Oprah's? How many would jump up and down, rejoice, scream, holler, yell, cry or stand speechless because Jesus was lavished on them? I kind of think it would look more like people saying...I have enough of that, I would rather have a refrigerator.
What if all we got this Christmas....was more of Jesus? Would our hearts rejoice on Christmas morning? Would we scream and tell the world about the gift we received? Jesus is received through life on life relationships. He lives IN US and through us...we give Jesus through building relationships with others and reflecting His goodness on them. And so, while I am thrilled that the Oprah show audience was blessed with things....I am a little sad because I think we would quickly rejoice over things and casually accept the gift of Jesus.
A few of my favorite things:
Time spent with family and friends.
A cup of coffee, so that we can linger over the moment.
Pouring over the Word of God.
Late night conversations.
Intimate pictures of His grace in our lives.
Sanctuary with Jesus.
Praying with others who have like minds.
Church in my living room.
Singing around the piano, song of praise.

Ok....so maybe I sound a little sappy....but these are the things I would lavish on you if I could...for they are a few of my favorite things. Merry Christmas...
ALL FOR YOU

tomorrow is not promised

I awoke this morning to a phone call saying that one of the most precious people in my life was in a car accident. Not a good way to start your day. My only peace in those first few moments was knowing that the last words we had spoken had been about the Kingdom and a love shared for one another.
Because of God's grace and a HEDGE of protection, she is fine. But today has been full of thought for me. Beginning with Tomorrow not being promised and ending with let's not WASTE a minute. Sure, life is not promised tomorrow. And that has been pressed in on us today. But I have also been reminded of the grace and provision of people in our lives. We take so much for granted, leave so much unsaid, assume much is given and known. We waste our words and so much time. I am so grateful for second chances, intentional relationships and the promise of journey. I am overwhelmed by the gift of LIFE in people.
The journey that lies ahead is full of ups and downs, but mostly is about the together. And today, I am thankful for another day together and don't want to waste it....but instead to lavish life on PEOPLE. Life IS about Intentional relationships. It is about being intentional with our walk with Christ and with those we walk with. It is about the WHO...not the what or the where. So, my life for theirs...live together or die alone and never forget to take time for PEOPLE. Those people that God has blessed you with... lavish life on them TODAY...for tomorrow is not promised.
ALL FOR YOU

a cold shower is no fun

I was in the shower this morning....as is my morning ritual, both to bathe and to pray, when another truth hit me. (shocking-i know!)
The water was hot...cause I LOVE a hot shower. It was just hot enough that it didn't burn me or make me run, but hot enough to warm and to make me want to just be drenched by the heat. Standing under the water, soaked with the heat and the water, I felt clean.
But then-as usual...I laid down in the shower to pray. I got my face to the ground and realized that the water that was hot when I was standing was not so warm when I was face down. And then it hit me. I was further away from the source and the water was quickly cooling. It was not as hot on the ground because I was further away from the source of the water.
Now this really has nothing to do with my prayer time and if you try to make an example out of it...you will be totally unbiblical...because face down does not cool you off. So let me make the application quickly before we spin off into a tirade of illustrations that won't line up with the Word.
The principle is this....the closer you are to the source, the more intense heat you feel. This is a basic life principle. Whether standing by a bonfire-the closer you are to the source, the more intense heat you feel. Or standing over the stove-the closer you are to the source, the more instense heat you feel. Or even about the sun-the closer you are to the sun, the more intense heat you feel. Or even my shower-the closer you are to the source, the more intense heat you feel.
How does this apply? The closer you are to the source, the more intense heat you feel. The closer you are to the SON, the more intense heat you will feel. If you want the Light of the glory of God to shine on you...don't move away from the source. Our tendency is to move away from things that are pushing us towards Jesus. Our tendency is to back away from the heat, so we don't get burned. Our tendency is to move away so that it is more comfortable.
Our God is a consuming fire. But He does not burn us up with His heat, instead He consumes all we are and envelopes us with His intensity so that we will have a deluge of His presence. Don't back away from that. Don't stand in the coolness of distance. Instead, snuggle up close...feel His warmth and His heat. Allow Him to drench you with the rain of His presence and allow the Heat of His intensity to overtake you. Don't back off from the heat...instead...allow it to invoke in you a need to stay there-where everything apart from His presence feels cold and distant.
Draw near to God and He will draw near to You. Our God is a consuming fire. Don't back off...press in. A cold shower is NO fun at all. So allow Him to rain down His intense heat on you. ALL FOR YOU

ash and shards

Have you ever just had a series of unfortunate events in your life that caused you to have to laugh or else you might just cry? Of course you have....It seems the Lord loves to make living epistles out of life, letters telling others of His greatness and His plan. His story is written on everything, everywhere, if we just look for it.
Last week, a friend of mine was cleaning out her fireplace. It was filled with soot and needed to be cleaned, so she decided to get the shop vac and suck the soot out of the fireplace. About 3 minutes into the task, she realized that the shop vac was sucking the soot out of the fireplace and blowing it out the top of the vaccuum, all over the living room. Now the soot was not just in her fireplace, but everywhere. All over her walls, her furniture. Overwhelmed by the enormity of soot that was now EVERYWHERE, she had to decide how to clean it all up. It was on the walls, the floor, behind the cushions. She found it three rooms away, resting on doorways, picture frames, air vents and tables. In her quest to clean the fireplace, there are now remnants of ash everywhere. You sit on the furniture and turn black. You walk on the floor, you turn black. And as hard as she tries to clean it up...remnants of ash still remain, unseen until she sits, touches or walks and then it is too late, it is already on her. She has washed everything down, but it is impossible to see or remove it all.
Later that week, one of my kids closed the sliding glass door and knocked a candle on the floor. The glass shattered and went everywhere. The shards were scattered all over my kitchen. I immediately got the vaccuum and began to clean it up. Being careful to remove all the pieces, cleaning a further radius out than I thought was needed, I was certain I had removed all the shards of glass. That is, until two days later, when I looked down on the carpet, down the hallway and realized there was a shard of glass. I realized that no matter how thorough I was, I couldn't get it all up or clean. I couldn't see all the shards to get them all up, much like my friend can not see where all the soot is.
Then it hit me. Shards, remnants of ash-God was teaching me. Sin is just like the ash. You think you are cleaning it up and before you know it, it is everywhere. It spreads to places we can not see. It touches areas that we had no idea it would reach. It gets all over people-the remnants of our sin effect others, even in the clean up.
But life is like the glass shards too. Although the ash just clings to us and turns us black, the glass shards can cut and hurt. Our sin is also like the shards, if we don't get it all clean, someone is going to get cut up by our sin. And just like the ash, the shards end up in places that we never thought they could, places we didn't even think to clean because didn't know that it would land there.
I was thinking about sin and how it clings to us, cuts us and takes us further than we ever thought we could go, does more damage then we ever could have imagined and effects more than just ourselves and I realized, again, my inability to clean up sin is just like the inability to clean up the ash or the shards. Oh, we can try to clean up. We can try to make things look better to the naked eye. We can pretend that we have done a good job and deceive ourselves into thinking things look okay because we can not see the dirt. But then someone walks by and our sin clings to them or they step on a shard and they get cut. Then, our world comes down because what we thought was dead and buried rises from the ash only to further effect us and those we love, leaving stains and cuts that we had no idea were even possible because we thought we had done a good job.
We can try to do a good job cleaning up our mess, but honestly, we are unable to do what only God can. God is the only one that can say "Though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool." (Isaiah 1:18) He is the only one who can clean us up. So maybe it is time we stop trying to cover our sin or clean up our sin and simply run to the one who can take all of our sins and wash us, cleanse us from all iniquity and purify our souls. Because honestly, if we don't...our sin is just going to keep rubbing off on everyone else and cutting others up.
ALL FOR YOU