Stalled

Posted on May 15, 2018 by

The word leaped from the reading that I was listening to this morning, Christine Caine’s new book Unexpected   “Stalled.”  I don’t remember if the word following was faith or hope, listening while I get ready for work often means I listen to some books over and over to get the full impact; but the epiphany that “stalled” is where I am at and have been for some time was clear.  I am at a standstill.  People on the outside can look and see that I am “productive” but on the inside, I feel stalled.  I know there is more, and I want to press on the gas of my emotional, spiritual, physical and even career life but I feel like I am inadvertently stopped.

My truck recently, and in the same spot three times, has stalled.  I need to take it to the dealer and have them check the computer codes, but in the moment I turned my truck off and then turned it back on.  Each time it restarted.  When I called the dealer the maintenance staff told me that generally a stalled vehicle needs some type of attention.   They didn’t seem to believe that it just turned right back on for me (Maybe that is just God’s grace for me.)  When my computer stalls, I generally start with turning it off or restarting it.  Most computer technicians recommend starting there if there is a problem.

www.restoringvoice.comMaybe this book holds the answers to help me figure out when it happened that I stopped moving forward in the trajectory God placed before me.  Maybe it can help me identify what I allowed to stall me out and why I have allowed it to continue for so long.  Maybe it will offer the sufficient challenge I need to fix the issue and move forward.  However, I suspect that it will not be that easy and that God used the book to bring focus so that He could answer the when, what, why and how to my problem.

I don’t know how to turn things off in my life and restart where I am; yet, I know God does.  I don’t doubt that I am where I am supposed to be at this moment.  I believe that even if I am where I am suppose to be that there is more that I should be doing for the Kingdom in my life, in my career, and in my journey with God.  Not necessary works, as I am productive, but refined focus of what I am doing and stepping out in the gifts and talents that God has been developing and refining in my life.

You never know when or where God will speak.  Or how He can use one word to spark a fire within.  I love that in the rush of getting ready in the morning, that He would  speak a word through a passionate Australian Christian activist writer to make me pause to consider where I am.  His grace is sufficient wherever we find ourselves to reach out and draw us into deeper pursuit of Him.

 

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The Plank

Posted on May 13, 2018 by

I am getting used to God speaking to me about my behavior when I think that I have been wronged personally. Maybe I am the only one who gets a righteous indignation about certain behaviors from others. That is where I have found myself today.

Moving is taxing on any relationship, I’m told. My husband and I have been fussing at each other, some days more than others, even in the weeks leading up to our closing. I am not sure how people deal with the uncertainty of real estate for a long period of time. We went from starting to look in March to closing two week late at the end of April.  The fussing has been building over the past two weeks as we moved into our new home, with packing, moving, cleaning and unpacking.

https://restoringvoice.com/2018/05/13/the-plankWhile I know that it is not true, I have been telling myself that I’ve been doing most of the work. I found myself getting extremely agitated about it, especially when I would engage in a project only to have my husband need my “help.” Sometimes it was a legitimate two person thing, but much of the time it would be a “Hand me that.” or “Where is ___?” that could have been resolved without taking me from what I was doing.

Then I found myself focusing on his complaining. He didn’t like where I put certain things. He didn’t like that I was working on hanging stuff up while he was working on something that would take two of us at times; the rest of the time I was just standing there feeling useless. I only focused my attention on his negative comments.

Tied to the complaining was a specific type of complaining that tends to bother me the most. Complaining about, and while, doing something nice for someone else. If I needed his help, he would complain about how I was doing it or how much he hated it. In my opinion, the complaining completely nixes any positive feelings I have about the act of service; mind you, one of my top Love Languages is acts of service. I don’t believe that you can play a martyr before, after, or during an act of service – paid or volunteered.

So imagine my surprise, when I was talking to God about my complaints, and He pointed back to me. As I was covering the long list of things I had been doing while my husband worked on two projects and that my husband didn’t seem to appreciate my effort, He started speaking to me about my words. Maybe as you read my complaints, you saw my heart. I admit I didn’t in the midst of it. The very things that were driving me crazy with my husband, are the very same things I do. My righteous indignation was because I was complaining to God instead of to my husband until I finally let it out on him too.

I realized that while I was focusing on the speck in my husband, it was just a small reflection of the plank that was in my own eye.  God was using him (As He often does) to bring about change in my life that is needed.  I am grateful that God doesn’t respond to me as I did to my husband, but instead He allows me to get hyper focused on the behaviors of others that bother then me, and then shows me the speck I am focused on in them is a plank in my own eye.

In discernment I see, that it is so much easier to focus on what someone else is doing instead of what I am doing wrong. I expect my husband to cater to what I want to do at the moment, yet it can’t always be about me. Sure God wants to hear my thoughts, but I am sure He gets tired of my complaints about things. When I give in to what my husband wants to do, I can’t grip to God or my friends about it as if I am a martyr for one time out of ten doing what my husband would prefer to do.  It’s a big plank to remove, but I see it now.  Allowing God to reveal it to me and seeing His grace cover my short-comings while He works it out in me is where I am now.

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Doing Culture

Posted on April 21, 2018 by

I hear a lot about culture in my life. I live in what is called a melting pot area as we have people from all different nationalities pour into our community on a regular basis. Many people want those moving in to the community to conform to our culture.  At work we talk about the culture of our ministry as part of a Catholic Health System.  At church we talk about the Kingdom Culture that our congregation desires to operate in fully.

Merriam Webster’s Definition of culture is 
a: the customary beliefs, social forms, and material traits of a racial, religious, or social group; also : the characteristic features of everyday existence (such as diversions or a way of life) shared by people in a place or time

b : the set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an institution or organization

It’s a pretty big standard for such a little word.  As I was at church for our prayer meeting, my pastor started talking about culture and I was taken back to a meeting that I had been part of just the week before at work where one of the Sisters (Catholic, not relative) talked about culture.  She shared a quote from a coworker that had always stuck with her:  “It is only a culture if everyone is doing it.” – Dave Wixson

CultureThe quote really caught my attention because, I had recently finished reading a book by John Bevere “Killing Kryptonite.”  He talks about the community of believers and gives examples of multiple scriptures that show how practiced sin by some believers can negatively impact many.   Mr. Bevere wasn’t talking about holding nonfollowers of Christ accountable to live by Scriptual standards, but of holding those within the body of Christ accountable to not practice sin.

I like to think that I don’t walk in “practiced sin.”  However, I can have some strong opinions that can lead to division, at times my grey thinking could lead to heresy (this has recently been pointed out to me), at times I put other things in front of God, and I overeat too often.  All of these are mentioned in the Bible as sin or works of the flesh.  I’m just one person in a much larger community.  That community is a small part of a much larger, Kingdom culture.  I never stopped to think about how my behaviors impact those around me that are living in community with me, or the culture at large that I adhere too.  Yes, at times I might see my negative attitude be picked up by someone else around me.  However, I never thought about someone else truly paying the price (other than Jesus) for my practiced sin.

With that thought in mind, it is a tall order to think about conforming to a Kingdom Culture, or even my work culture.  There are areas I fail completely as I mentioned above and days where I just don’t feel like putting forth the effort to pretend all is good.  I tend to recluse as much as possible when I’m in that mood.  I can put forth the smile of things are okay to those I am serving, but those I serve alongside know when things aren’t okay with me.  I can shine brighter when my smile is genuine and my help is sincere.

I realize that true culture comes from unity.  Unity of mind and action.  Not that everyone does the exact same thing, but that all actions lead to a common goal.  Unity in sharing the gifts and talents that have been entrusted without fear, without comparison and without competition.  Walking boldly in our strengths and allowing others to pick up where they are strong.  Genuine unity comes from a shared belief that the cause, the purpose, the joint venture is worth the impact on my own personal behavior or life to conform to something bigger than myself.  It is hard to build unity in a world that is so focused on “my rights”, “my way”, “individuality”, “Self-fulfillment” and “self-growth.”  Those are counter-culture, and yet indicative of the society that we live.

True culture means that I am vulnerable enough to let others know where I am struggling.  It means that I have to be transparent.  I means that I have to walk in close relationship with others.  Those things are very difficult for me to do.  It goes against the grain of my personality. I am not good at showing weakness.  I like privacy.  I need alone time.

True culture means  accountability.  I have to be willing allow others to hold me accountable for living up to the set standard.  I can not be offended when someone points out an area where I am falling short.  I also have to be willing to hold others accountable in love.  I admit I want to be held accountable, but very few people are willing to stand up to my strong personality.   As much as I want it, accountability can be hard to hear when it is more than just a confirmation of what God has already brought to heart.  And at times, I find it hard to hold others accountable in love because I get the attitude “Why don’t you get it already?” or worse “If you would just do what I said, this would move a lot faster.”  Accountability isn’t holding someone to my standard, but to the standards that God has set (Or my workplace in that sense) and giving grace in those areas that are not so black and white.  I have seen lately that there are a few areas where I have been walking in the gray area that it’s time for me to change.  Not sin, but not at the level that God has called me to for where He is taking me.

Culture is an interesting thing.  There are people who embrace culture fully.  There are people that speak it, but don’t necessarily practice it completely.  There are people that practice some things regularly and rarely acknowledge other parts.  There are people that are recognized as leaders in a culture, and some that are still learning.  There are generally people who are trying to create new beliefs and characteristics to keep a culture alive through generations.  There are also those that buck up against the standard and want others to change.

What makes the basic beliefs and characteristics of the culture, are the parts that everyone is doing.   At work, our culture was defined by the Sisters before us that started the ministry.  As a Christian, the culture was defined in God’s Word and through the life of Christ.  Each person involved has to decide to live the culture to make it effective and lasting.  I want to be a person who truely embrases doing culture.

 

 

 

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The Dash

Posted on April 6, 2018 by

I found myself the other day thinking that possibly my friends that had not made it to adulthood had the better life.  I am not suicidal or wish for death.  Those of us left behind, we miss them; those who are now gone from my life are in the presence of God.   All the heartache I have had in my life, they were able to miss by leaving this world so early in their lives.   As I paused looking at the headstone of my parents, this thought came into my life.

The dash in my life is where God gets to be manifest.

Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary defines manifest as:

1 : readily perceived by the senses and especially by the sense of sight

2 : easily understood or recognized by the mind : obvious

dashWith the dash of my life, I have the opportunity to allow others to readily perceive God by their senses and especially by sense of sight.  It should be just as obvious to those around me that I am God’s child as it is that my children belong to me.  Other’s minds should recognize and easily understand that there is something that make me different, and should be drawn to the One who makes that difference in me.

I don’t get to sit at His feet just yet as those who have passed away do.  However, I am able to live with His Presence in me and be His hands and feet to the world around me.  I have the opportunity daily to let Him manifest though me.  I admit I get it wrong, a lot.  There are a lot of times that God is not manifest in me.  Yet, His grace covers the dash of my life.  And the times that I have paid attention to that manifestation have been some of the greatest blessings in my life.  I believe there are more times though, that I don’t see what others can see.  I say that just based on comments to me of other’s perceptions of me.

The dash doesn’t just represent His manifestation through me, but also to me.  The dash  represents the seeds that have been planted in my life.  For over forty years I have had people who came along side me with teaching, training, encouragement, support and love.  Sometimes for just a brief moment.  Other times for decades.  Yet each time, their dash joined mine.  Together, in relationship God was manifest.  Now every time those lessons or words of encouragement come to mind and strengthen me when I am weak,  He is manifested.

When I pause to really think about that, I am overwhelmed with His presence and gratitude.  Some of those people may never know how their lives touched mine, the impact their obedience to God made to me.  I have been blessed several times in the recent past to share with some of those other life dashes just how they impacted my life.  I am always amazed at the timing of God as our paths cross again, even if just briefly and that He allows me to speak back into their lives.

The dash also represents the seeds I have planted in the lives of others. The ones that have not yet manifested.  The people I have been granted an opportunity to minister to through the years.  The children, the parents, the coworkers, and friends that have pulled from the resources that are in my life.  Or those who have unknowingly had seeds dropped into their life through me that one day will spring forth from their life.

The dash, it may never seem long enough.  There are times where I wish I could just have one more day with friends, my parents, my grandparents and other family and friends that have died.  Yet I am sure, in all their love for me they would not trade where they are for one more day with me on this earth.  They are all now free from heartache and tears.  Their dash has ended, but the seeds they planted remain.  One thing that I have, that my friends did not have, is a longer dash.  It  may not be longer on the gravestone, but I have a longer time to live it out.  It is up to me how much I allow Him to manifest.

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Timing

Posted on March 26, 2018 by

Kairos that was the word that kept running through my mind. Divine, opportune time. That is what I take that word to mean. Versus Chronos which is more of  a linear time.

I think about a conversation with a counselor friend of mine. She was frustrated because the population we were working with didn’t seem to be taking in the information she was presenting. However, I had some guest speakers come in and share the same information and the epiphany was happening among the population.  I highly doubt that it was the presentation given by the guest, but more of the timing of the material.

Or like children who hear a parent’s words, and they go in one ear and out another.  Then someone else presents the same concept or idea, and the child latches on to it like it is the best advise anyone has ever provided.  The child also generally presents it as a new idea to the same parent who has been offering the exact same advise for years.  It is the timing of the message.

timingI do this to God also.  I started realizing about a decade ago that generally God had to tell me something three times to grab my attention.  I found myself hearing different people speaking the same message.   This often meant I was missing the Kairos of His timing.  As He brought this time my attention, I began seeing the threes come more quickly, instead of hearing the same thing over weeks, I found various speakers speaking a timely word as I flipped through the channels.

Kairos’ moments happen when I release the control I think I have and place my trust in Him.  So often I spend time trying to make things happen that are out of His timing.   Sometimes He allows me to have my way, and I end up resenting the results.  He doesn’t allow me to have His results in my timing.  I can’t have my way and His will at the same time.  I can not have control and think that His hand is guiding me. 

God’s timing is perfect.  When He speaks, each ear listening can have a rhema word in that kairos’ moment. God can do more in one moment than all the most persuasive and motivational speeches from a person can do in a lifetime. He knows the things we don’t.  He can give us the knowledge needed to speak words that cut through all the walls, all the resistance, and go straight to the heart of the issue.  I have to be listening though, in tuned to His voice to hear His promptings, to catch His timing.

I wish I could say that I get it right 100% of the time.  I don’t.  I wish I could say that I don’t miss His kairos’ moments.  I do.  I wish I could say that I always listen when He speaks.  I don’t.  I am a work in progress. I know He will keep working on me in His timing.

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Little Surprises

Posted on March 18, 2018 by

A few weeks ago, I had an unexpected surprise in the midst of mourning.  I had been at my grandmother’s visitation, and while catching up with family is nice, my heart was sad.  It had been a long day as my grandfather had a heart attack that morning so I had spent the day at the hospital to just run home and grab my husband for the visitation.

My extended family had agreed to meet for dinner after leaving the funeral home as my brother was in from out-of-town.  My husband was in the truck waiting for me when I climbed into the truck.  I admit my focus was not on my surroundings as I sat there.  He had driven just a short distances when he kind of chuckled.  I asked him what was so funny.  And he replied “You’ll figure it out.”

I paused, a little annoyed with the coyness, trying to figure it out.  It was dark outside.  The car in front of us was traveling slower than I thought it should but it wouldn’t be funny to husband.  As I started to let my frustration rise, he said “You have a surprise coming.”  Again I was annoyed as I really am not big on surprises.  He said something again about a surprise.  He finally got his surprise to speak from the back seat.  My three-year-old grandson had decided that he wanted to ride with us over to the restaurant.  They had decided that he would surprise me since I didn’t know he was with us as I had not walked out to the truck with my husband.

surprisesMy husband had been trying to “cue” our grandson to surprise me.  As I thought about it, there had been a little rustling in the back seat, but I didn’t think much about it.  I certainly would not have thought that he was in the car seat behind me as he generally talks unless he is asleep while we are riding.  When my husband mentioned a surprise one of the children being with us was not what entered my mind.  We laughed and my grandson just loved that he had scared his Mimi.

I think that God often chuckles as He seeks to surprise us with His blessings.  He knows when we are going through rough times, and even in the midst of trials and tribulations, He knows the small little things that will speak to our hearts and remind us He is there even then.

Often times, like the rustling in the back seat, we can miss what God is trying to do around us as we keep our focus internally or on the circumstances we are facing.  Eventually the blessing comes forth, but because we aren’t looking for one it takes longer for us to take hold of what it right there waiting.

Sometimes God’s blessings don’t look like we expect.  I get trapped into thinking that God has to do things the way I am expecting for them to happen.  What happens is that I miss the joy of walking through the full experience of God’s blessing because I am so focused on how I think it should be.  I still get the blessing, but I miss part of the joy God meant for me to have with it.

Sometimes God’s blessings aren’t even in our view.  I think I love these surprises from God the best because I feel like He is saying “This is just for you because I love you.”  When He provides without me having an expectation of anything from Him, I know it is just Him showing off in His love for me.  There is nothing greater than feeling His love so personally.

At the end of God’s blessings, is a time of fellowship with thanksgiving.  There is a joy unspeakable when you stop to see the little surprises of God’s blessings.

Blessings are little surprises from God that are meant to help give us hope during difficult seasons.  They are His way of sharing His love with us.  Blessings are mean to draw us into deeper fellowship with Him.  They may not always come when we want them or as we expect them, but God’s blessings will always overtake us.

 

 

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POD #11: The breakthrough story

Posted on March 11, 2018 by

Tell the story of any breakthrough, comeback or turnaround you’ve ever had, witnessed or dreamed of.

Keep in mind that every story has these things:

  • a beginning, middle and an end
  • a setup, a struggle and a wrap-up
  • a hero, a villain (which can be abstract, like fear or trauma) and people or things that aid, guide or mentor the hero
  • an end result in which the hero is changed, for the better, by virtue of having gone through the struggle.

Make sure you describe how your hero was changed for the better on the other side of the struggle.

Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver bowls, but also those of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.

So if anyone purifies himself from anything dishonorable, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work. 2 Timothy 2:20‭-‬21 HCSB

dishonorThis scripture jumped off the page at me. There is a spot in my life that I have only recently been able to define. Insecurity. People tell me that I am good at hiding my insecurities because I have an exterior appearance of confidence and assertiveness. Yet, I know the thoughts that go through my mind and I can’t hide from them. I find myself in the large house of filled with many types of “bowls” – God’s people. It is there I feel most insecure.

In my insecurities, I often find myself feeling dishonorable. Dishonorable. I can easily use that word to describe my past. For so long, I have been the clay on the potter’s wheel being transformed into something more useable for His purpose. Yet, my past still often leaves me feeling dishonorable. From where I came from, to what has been done to me, to the things that I have done, it really is, dishonorable.

I am not even one who can tell a pretty story “Then I found Christ, and my life changed forever….” Nope, I found Christ. Then I walked away. Dishonorable. It is why I feel so insecure with other believers, I feel like a hypocrite. I was a childhood billboard for Christ who turned into a walking billboard for the enemy. Even when I came back to Christ, my walk was less than honorable for many years.

After knowing the Lord for over 32 years, I should be farther down His path for my life. Yes, I know the Bible. I can quote scriptures, win the Bible drills, and minister to need easily with the Word. I pray, I read, I attend, I am faithful and fruitful. Yet, I let the enemy trip me up with the past. I hear him scream DISHONORABLE!!!!

That is why this scripture jumped at me as I read it. A truth to combat the lies that I listen too.

I am no longer dishonorable. Christ purified me with the cleaning of His blood at Calvary.

Titus 2:13-14 Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

I am a special instrument to be used by God. I am part of His own special people. I am not dishonorable.

Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Christ set me apart for His special work. He knew before I was ever born where I would come from. He knew what would be done to me. He knew what I would do. He knew I would walk away. Yet He created me anyway. I am not dishonorable.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

God has taken my past, the dishonorable; He has purified it. He has set me apart for His good works. And I, I am blessed to be able to walk that out. I am honored that He would use the places I came from, the things that have been done to me, and the things that I have done to point others to Him. I am overwhelmed when I have the opportunity to see a life transformed because my life points to Him. And then I get to laugh in the face of the enemy that what he meant to dishonor me, God can use for His glory and honor.

This post is prompted by Tara-Nicholle Nelson’s
30 Day Writing Challenge for Conscious Leaders.

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POD #10: Handling Unfinished Business

Posted on March 10, 2018 by

Kasl writes: “to become aware of unfinished business in your life, ask yourself the following five questions.”
Who comes to mind when I think of unresolved grief, hurt, or pain?
To whom do I need to apologize?
With whom do I need to talk over conflict and seek some form of resolution?
To whom do I need to send thanks?
What are the conclusions I’ve made about myself that relate to these situations?

When I wrote about this in September 2017, I could think of only one piece of unfinished business in my life. I didn’t know that I would only have five months to reconnect and resolve before that door closed forever, but it did. I will be forever grateful that I was able to find healing to the grief and hurt, to walk out my apology and to find resolution. I know that God’s hand was on my journey to complete that unfinished business.

unfinishedI am not a person who likes to live with regrets or have unfinished business.  I don’t like to leave things unsaid or undone.  Through the years I have said my fair share of apologies; often apologies from decades before as I come across something that reminds me of words and actions that shouldn’t have happened.

I have made peace with past hurts caused by others.  I have no control over other’s actions or remorse.  I can only allow God to reveal hurts to me and help me to extend grace and mercy to the one who has hurt me.  At times, God has restored that relationship.  Other times, extending forgiveness releases me and reconciliation does not occur.

I give thanks to those who have walked with me on my journey to where I am now.  To those who have hurt me, thank you for the things that I learned from you, both good and bad. You have helped me to become the person I am today. To those who I have hurt, thank you for extending forgiveness and grace to me.  Thank you for holding me accountable and helping me grow. To those who have just stood beside me as I processed past hurt and pain, thank you for the shoulders to cry on, words of advice and encouragement and the arms that supported me when I felt like I couldn’t handle any more.  Thank you for helping me handle my unfinished business.

This post is prompted by Tara-Nicholle Nelson’s 30 Day Writing Challenge for Conscious Leaders

 

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POD #9: Conditions for happiness

Posted on March 9, 2018 by

Scan your world. Is there any relationship or project or area of your life in which you have been imposing impossible conditions on your happiness?

Is there any place in your life where you are telling yourself the story that you would be totally happy if only everyone else did exactly what you wanted them to do and everything turned out exactly the way you would do it?

Are these conditions even possible? Is it an impossible demand to expect the whole entire world and everyone in it to comply with your desires? Do you even comply with your own demand list for yourself 100% of the time?

Are you conditioning your happiness on the impossible?

Now: what would it take for you to decide to be happy in that situation regardless of the conditions? Does thinking about this spark any level of fear? Who would you be if you dropped the conditions and decided to be happy, regardless? How would your conversations change? Your relationships?

Can you envision happiness without conditions? What would that be like, to live? Can you feel it, even for a minute?

Alternatively, have you already figured out how to be happy without conditions, even occasionally or intermittently? If so, describe a situation in which you are happy and satisfied even though someone is not doing what you want them to do, or the circumstances aren’t exactly what you’d pick. How’d you get there?

The last time I blogged about my conditions for happiness, I was in a place where I was generally happy and satisfied with my situation.  For the most part, I am still there.  There is little in my life that causes me to lose my joy for very long.  When something starts to make me lose my peace, I have learned to quickly redirect my thoughts or remove myself from the situation long enough to regain my composure.weather

However, I have found myself lately being discontent, with of all things, the temperature.  I am constantly complaining about how cold it is.  I am certain that if I was somewhere on a warm beach I would be content.    A comfortably 70 degrees plus would be fine year round.

I can not even limit it to the weather.   At home I find that I can not get warm without layers of blankets or without the heater so high I get a nosebleed.  I literally enjoy the hot flashes because for a moment I am warm.  At work, I am also generally freezing, although when I am busy I have less of an opportunity to focus on it, so I just press through.  At church, I am constantly apologizing for my cold hands.

I have always been one that has cold hands and feet.  However, it has never bothered me as much as it has this year.  I have no known health conditions that would cause me to be more sensitive to the cold.  This winter hasn’t even been that cold for our area.  I have lived in this area most of my life; the decade I didn’t I lived farther north with colder temperatures.

Expecting it to be above seventy year round in a location that truly experiences every season is unrealistic.  There are even things about the cold weather that I enjoy.  I love to see the evidence of cold temperatures, snow-covered trees and grass.  I love the spring flowers with dew covered grass.  I appreciate that the cold kills bugs and viruses.

Really I just need to suck it up and keep my mouth shut.  I am in a location that I love, my hometown community.  I am surrounded by the majority of my family.   I have a job I love.  I attend a church that I not only love, but one that challenges me to grow.  I have connections in this community that enable to me help others.  The coldness does not last forever and the temperature should not be a condition for my happiness.  I need to keep my focus on the positive things around me and learn to enjoy snuggling up in my blankets or coat until I find the inner warmth of happiness again.

 

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Come down

Posted on March 8, 2018 by

20180308_0732141626947103.jpgA few weeks ago, my grandchildren learned about Zacchaeus in children’s class at church. As they told me the story, childhood memories flooded back. I started to sing to them the song about Zacchaeus.

Zacchaeus was a wee little man,
And a wee little man was he.
He climbed up in a sycamore tree
For the Lord he wanted to see.

And as the Savior passed that way
He looked up in the tree and he said,
Zacchaeus you come down, For I’m going to your house today!
For I’m going to your house today!

Zacchaeus was a wee little man,
But a happy man was he,
For he had seen the Lord that day
And a happy man was he;
And a very happy man was he.

They were excited that I knew the song from thier class. In addition to tye story and song, they colored pictures that had Jesus, the tree and Zacchaeus. Zacchaeus was attached to a string so that he could come down to Jesus as they told the story.

For some reason, my granddaughter’ s picture ended up in the front seat of my truck. As I drove to work this morning, I felt the still small voice saying “Come down.”

Zacchaeus had initially been content to just get a view of Jesus. He climbed up in the tree because He wanted to see Jesus. He never expected to encounter Him, to interact with Jesus. He was just going to be a casual observer.

Lately that has been what’s on my heart. That so many Christians, at times myself included, that are content to just observe the move of God around them. For whatever reason we are content to sit on the sidelines, instead of pressing in, seeking Him for ourselves, and encountering Him.

Jesus all the while beckons us to come down. He desires to have fellowship and intimacy with us. He is not content with a sideline observer. He wants obedience born out of true relationship with Him.

20180308_073245346932738.jpgCome down, and stop making excuses.

Come down, and stop resisting My desire to use you.

Come down, and allow Me to reveal things to you.

Come down, and let me deal with the hidden issues in your life.

Come down and connect with Me so I can teach you to connect with others.

Come down so I can fellowship with you.

Come down so I can purify your life.

Just come down.

 

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