Share Your Story!

Her name is Sierra.

And the moment she walked into my hospital room I knew I was going to love her.

Maybe it was her spunky personality.
Maybe it was the joy she brought with her.
Maybe it was the passion she possesses for her job.

Whatever it was I am not sure I will forget her any time soon.

And she would ask me why I’m in the hospital. 

I feel as though a million of them have asked since my arrival on Saturday morning at 3 a.m.

And I wonder how many times I have repeated my story to them.  Recounted all the pain.  Pointed out all the troubled spots.

And now she’s asking.

And as I shared her eyes grew wide. 

Because she understands.

Her hubby has experienced the same thing.  Almost the same exact way.  And after I shared my story and my journey, she reciprocated by sharing with me hers…. theirs.

Because it matters.

And I listened.  Intently.  Because she has walked this same road before.  And she has feared the same fears before.  And she gets it.

She understands the pain and the frustration and the longing for answers that may never come.

And for that moment, nothing else mattered.  Because there’s really something special about a shared journey with another person.

And a listening ear.  A compassionate spirit.

And if I were 18 years younger, she would be a best friend, I know it.

And God is so good to give us those instant connections!

Because the truth really is that we were given our personal stories to bring strength to other people.  To bring hope to those hurting. 

As a life-breathing friend would tell me earlier today… Trials are our Teachers.

Ahh… yes!  That!

And so speak your story!  Share your struggle.  Tell of your triumphs.  Herald the hope!

It really, really, really matters! 

God Will Not Repair... But Recreate!

I hadn’t read the words in quite a while… the words I’d penned into my journal in early 2017.

“God will not repair, but He will recreate!”

It was the reading about dry bones and the prophet’s command to breathe new life into them.  Ezekiel 37:9b-10, “… breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again…. they all came to life and stood up on their feet - a great army!”

Wow.

And I remember when I first read those words.  Such rich, encouraging words of scripture.

Because one look around and we can all admit that we are, here and now, standing in the valley of dry bones.  We are living witnesses to the dry and withered souls amidst a dry and barren land.

Oh how in need we are of breath…. newness of life!

And the bible talks about that a lot… the word new…..

“This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a NEW person. The old life is gone; a NEW life has begun!”  (1 Cor 5:17)

“Sing a NEW song to the Lord, for he has done wonderful deeds.”  (Ps 98:1)

“‘The day is coming,’ says the Lord, ‘when I will make a NEW covenant with the people of Israel and Judah.’”  (Jer 31:31)

“…and just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live NEW lives.”  (Rom 6:4)

“…what counts is whether we have been transformed into a NEW creation.”  (Gal 6:15)

Ahh….  I suspect there’s something in that word… NEW.

And quite possibly our expectations have been considerably too low.  We’re asking God to mend fences, when in reality He longs to build a new city! 

We’re asking only that we be repaired.

And a glance at the definition for repair is this… “to remedy, remodel, patch, fix.”

But a look at a different word might bring more surprisingly clarity.

Recreate.

Recreate…. “to create anew; remake”…. ahh… BREATHE NEW LIFE INTO.

Yes!

And I want that!

I need the breathing in of NEW life into these dry bones.

You too??

God will not repair… but He will recreate!

Be Unwilling To Pray It Safe

I cry almost every time I read it.

The exchange between Jesus and a blind beggar named Bartimaeus.

Mark, chapter 10, tells us that the beggar, when he heard that Jesus was nearby, began shouting, “Have mercy on me!”  And as the people yelled at him for his vocal disruptions, his shouts became louder, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

He knew that Jesus possessed something within Him that he needed.

Healing.  Forgiveness.  Sight.

But perhaps my favorite words Jesus spoke rest here in verse 51, “What do you want me to do for you?”  Jesus asked him.

“What do you want me to do for you?”

To which the blind beggar responded, “I want to see!”

Ahh… Jesus’ willingness to fulfill a desire within the heart of man!

And He doesn’t ask to know… He asks in order for us to vocalize our dependency on Him.

Jesus delights in knowing what we long for.  I think He gets great pleasure from the pouring out of our wishes and cravings.  My commentary suggests that He encourages us to speak because  it pleases Him to hear.  Isn’t that beautiful?

Bartimaeus was passionate in his pursuit to better his condition.  And he would stop at nothing to find blessing.  His prayer was courageous… it was specific… and it was urgent in nature.

And isn’t it amazing that we serve a God who allows such deep union?  That He would grant us Divine access to share with Him the longings of our heart, is a stunning revelation of His incredible character.  He delights in us and stands ready to hear our cries to Him.  Ahh… I think He relishes in hearing our voices!

And so He stands ready to hear you today.  Our prayers demonstrate our full dependency on Him.  By speaking to Jesus and expressing our hearts to Him, it’s professing our full measure of love to Him.

And so today… don’t pray it safe.  Be bold.  Be brave.  Be willing to lay it all open for Him to hear.  Oh friend… He delights in knowing, and He yearns to show mercy.  He is a God who desires this kind of intimacy… this kind of relationship with you.

He stands before you and I this morning asking, “What do you want me to do for you?”

Release The Right

1 Peter 2:23 says, "He did not retaliate when He was insulted nor threaten revenge when He suffered. He left His case in the hands of God, who judges fairly." 

This excerpt taken from Isaiah 53, speaks of Jesus and His example for us in the face of adversity, suffering, and unfair treatment.

And if there's anyone who knows this at a profound level it's Him.

The Message version of this text says it this way, "They called Him every name in the book and He said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right." 

Are you suffering in silence? 

Me too!
 
And He knows, friend. He sees and He knows and He understands.

He used no harsh language.
He showed no anger.
He called for no revenge.
He calmly stood and bore it all.

When Jesus suffered, He never threatened. He was guiltless in His representation of the Father and knew at a very deep level that God's reputation demanded the release of retaliation in order to fulfill the fullness of the gospel message.

And our calling as a Christ follower demands the same kind of commitment. We are to be guiltless in the midst of our unworthiness and be brave enough to leave revenge in the hands of our mighty God.

Our remedy for unjust treatment is releasing our right to retaliate into the hands of a righteous God.

Release the right to retaliate.
 

Believing For Rain

I knew better.

But sometimes knowing a thing doesn’t necessarily make the action of it any easier.

And sometimes on a Monday morning God takes you to a verse that just might change everything. 

1 Peter 4:7.  A verse about prayer.  Simple, really, “…. be earnest and disciplined in your prayers.” 

And that might have been all… but God wanted to take me deeper today.  Wanted to remind me of something today.

Because the weekend had been a difficult one… and sometimes He has to take us back in order to move us forward.

Because hadn’t I stood before the group of women on a beautiful day in late October speaking about Elijah… and that mighty rainstorm?  Ahhh… yes… and I needed reminded today, because sometimes we forget.

James 1:6 teaches us to ask in faith, nothing wavering, for he that wavers is as the waves of the sea driven by the wind and tossed.

And I think about the faith that Elijah had when he declared rain in the midst of a three-year drought.  It wasn't that he possessed supernatural hearing power, but it was that he understood what it meant to declare the resolution before the revelation.

Elijah was bold enough to stand atop Mount Carmel and declare the sound of rain before a cloud was ever present.

That’s faith.

The ears of faith are quick and eager.  Ears of faith hear the coming of blessing in the midst of difficulty.  Ears of faith know that the secret of true faith is revealed in reverse…. believe in advance of beholding.  Not seeing to believe… but believing to see!

And sometimes we forget.

I had whispered it to a friend over a year ago… a repeated phrase that reminds us of His goodness… “Sometimes you have to see resurrection while you’re still on the cross.”

You may be going through a hard season right now friend… and I GET IT.  Oh and I feel your broken heart this morning.  But faith is seeing the impossible.  Believing that He’s working it out.  Depending on Him for the outcome.  Declaring His goodness and then proclaiming His promises in advance.

He’s got this. He’s got you!  Go to Him with earnest prayer this week.  Speak life over your life and watch those declarations change everything about the way you see your situation!

We can look for the cloud only if we’re believing for rain!

Perscription For Peace

1 Peter 3:10-11 says this, "If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace and work to maintain it."

Seems simple enough right? But it's the hard work - those words. That tongue! Yet it's our prescription for living a comfortable life within this quarrelsome sin-filled world.

According to the entirety of this text (verses 8-12), the requirements of the fulfilled life include: A humble, loving attitude toward everyone… A non-vindictive response towards evil-doers... Pure and honest speech... A pursuit of peace… right motive.

Words matter. What gets spewed from the mouth matters. My tongue determines my treasure. If we wish to live the full life, we must follow the ways of Jesus and work to maintain life-giving, God-honoring speech.

The prescription for peace is the taming of tongue.

Positive Declarations

One of the hardest things for me to hear is negative self-talk.

And I, too, have been a victim.  I get it.

But I’m learning.

Because it’s not healthy.  It’s not productive.  And it’s not from God.

Because every day you have the power to speak LIFE or DEATH to your very soul.

And if I’m being honest, I wonder, sometimes, if we’re using the words of defeat and failure as an excuse for not trying harder.  Being better. 

Because maybe it’s a safer place to be… there trapped in our doubt and self pity.

And I hear the declaration choices we speak over ourselves all the time…

“I am just not good at anything.”
“I am never on time.”
“I’m just not a morning person.”
“I can’t seem to do anything right.”
“This is just the way I am and I can’t change it.”
“It’s too late for me.”
“Nobody likes me or includes me in things.”

I see it all. the. time.

And we’ve got to stop.

Because did you know that YOU believe more of what you tell YOURSELF about yourself than you believe what OTHERS say about you?

It truly is a battlefield of the mind.

And these negative declarations are killing us.  They are destroying our self-confidence and delaying our usefulness. 

And I heard this one a couple weeks ago when I asked somebody how they were doing, “I’m getting by… just going through the motions.”

Listen, I know about hard times.  I know about discouragement and frustration and disappointment… but Jesus didn’t die for you so that you could live your life in “survival mode.”  The bible tells us that He came so that we would have life in abundance.

Abundance = overflowing fullness.

You were bought with the high price of bloodshed because He thought you worthy enough to live a life of overflowing fullness.

And all we can say sometimes in response to this elaborate gift is, “I’m getting by….”

What you say matters.

It’s why I have determined to make a positive declaration list for my life.  Positive affirmations from scripture to speak over my life daily.

Just because a thing “is” doesn’t mean it “has to be.”

“I am just not good at anything.”
Yes you are - God has graciously given gifts to each person.  GO DISCOVER what it is!
“I am never on time.”
You could be.  Make the changes necessary to alter your schedule in such a way that determines success in advance, and honors other people with your most precious commodity (and theirs): time.
“Nobody likes me or includes me in things.”
Have you made the investment of being a good friend first?  Are you becoming someone that people are naturally drawn to?  Do you go out of your way to be inconvenienced by others?  Are you willing to step out of your comfort zone?

These statements… even if they are true… do not have to define you.  I believe you truly limit your effectiveness by accepting ownership of these proclamations that are not worthy of acknowledgement.

Highlight what is good.  And intentionally invest in the amount of work it takes to remove the bad.  We must be determined to advance ourselves forward.

The choice is ours.

Positive declarations translate to a posture of determination.

I Will Not Be Rattled By External Conflict

“I will not be rattled by external conflict.”

And some days you have to say it on repeat all day long.

“I will not be rattled by external conflict.”

Can you say it with me?  Try it…

“I will not be rattled by external conflict.”

Because some days we just are.  One flip of the morning news and you're already stressed out.  One scroll through social media and your anxiety level has already reached max capacity.

And then the Lord, in His kindness leads me straight to Mark, chapter 4.  And there neatly tucked away in the scriptures is verse 38.  “Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with His head on a cushion. The disciples woke Him up shouting, ‘Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?’”

Oh boy.  Here He goes again messy up my plan of self-pity.

But do you see something there embedded within the text?

“Jesus was sleeping.”  He was sleeping?  He was sleeping!

The winds were howling, the rain was falling, and a mighty storm was raging… and Jesus was… sleeping.

This all is great proof of His humanity. But I think it’s more than that.

Maybe we find Him sleeping because He doesn’t recognize the storms the same way we do. Could it be He’s simply not troubled by bad weather?

Here we see Jesus modeling a behavior that we can emulate.... fearlessness in the face of stormy seas.

Ahh... and it got me thinking... could we be on the lookout for storms in which we can exercise even small amounts of faith in?

Because storms of all kind are inevitable. And isn’t it our conduct under trials that is our greatest examination of all?

Christ had peace amidst the storm. And with Christ aboard their boat, the disciples had every reason to believe their spiritual existence was safe. So it is with us!

The Bible says He will never leave us or forsake us. Then why do we behave in a way that disaffirms this?

Jesus remains sleeping because He’s not rattled by external conflict.  Then so shouldn’t we remain un-rattled by external conflict?

Find Your Tribe!

The last week has been a harder one here. 

Been experiencing a lot of pain from an ongoing illness.

In addition to painful days, I have had sleepless nights that have left me feeling exhausted and at times defeated.

But then on a Sunday night you get a message from a friend who sends you a link to some much-needed soaking music and encourages you to listen.  She also reminds you that as you listen, so will she, and as she listens, she will pray.

Then she reminds you of Exodus 15:26… “… I am the Lord who heals you.”

Yes.  This.

And I had needed reminded.

And her words came at just the right time.

And the truth really is that we must intentionally surround ourselves with people who lift us up.  People who remind us that we are enough.  People who long-suffer beside us.  People who are willing to be inconvenienced for the sake of relationship.  People who carry us to the feet of Jesus.  People who bathe us in prayer because our pain is their pain too.

Find your tribe.  The ones who get what it means to love God and love others.  The ones who are willing to be with you in the triumph AND the trial.

Who you’re going with makes all the difference in the world!

God is so good not to leave us in our mess.

So so good!

Because if left up to us, we would wallow in for a bit.

As habit, I keep a journal beside me during prayer time, along with a pen.  Often I am moved by a thought or a word spoken, that I must write it down.

The other day as I was praying through some things I heard these words very loud in my spirit and took pen to paper immediately, “Often we’re frustrated because we’re not holding up our end of the bargain.”

Ouch.

And I guess I hadn’t even realized the frustration in my prayer until those words dropped in.

And it could be true.

Maybe sometimes we pray for the wrong things.
Not incorrectly… just inappropriately.

We pray for God to intervene in our marriage… but we continue to place unrealistic expectations on “their” need to change, while we remain unwilling to do the hard self-evaluating work ourselves.
We pray for God to heal our sick bodies… but we maintain unhealthy habits that keep us in a cycle of defeating doctor visits.
We pray for that rude co-worker to be found out and written up… but we choose to respond with retaliation to her gross behavior, and gossip about her to the first person who will listen.
We pray for more godly relationships in our lives, and deeper connections with people… but we aren’t willing to do the hard work of being a good friend and living a life inconvenienced for others.

And perhaps we’re praying for things He can’t answer… because the work isn’t with them… it’s with us.  And until we’re willing to see the change needed within, we’ll remain frustrated by what we’re not seeing happen without.

He always gives us options for obedience.

Always.

May I evaluate my frustration.

Pack Light

It wasn’t until I got out to my car the other day that I realized I still had my reading glasses on my face.  And the eye doctor had warned me about that… making sure I took them off before getting up from reading… as it would only work against me, weakening my eyesight.

But sometimes I forget they’re even still on.

And I remember thinking to myself, “I will not be needing these for where I am going.”

And it got me thinking.

How many things are we carrying around with us that we no longer need?  And I’m not talking about glasses.

How many times do we unnecessarily pack things we should simply let go of?  What do we need to put away because we don’t need it for where we are going?

Like fear of failure.  You tried it, it didn’t work, and so you’re so afraid of failing that you’re unwilling to try it again.
Like unforgiveness.  They hurt you and holding a grudge seems more logical than consciously deciding to end the cycle of revenge and move past the hurt.
Like regret.  You made so many mistakes that giving up sounds better than getting up and starting over.
Like anger and bitterness.  You’ve been carrying this one for a long time… since childhood.  Because your dad was that way, so you’ve surrendered to the idea that his poor choices define your personal character and so now you are just “who you are” and refuse change of any kind.

What do you ned to let go… simply because it’s too heavy to carry?

You don’t need these things for where you’re going.  And I promise that the journey will be more enjoyable and more rewarding if you decide, instead, to pack light for your trip.

God has SO much more for you.  But in order to go where He’s leading, some of these things you’ve been clinging so tightly too must get left behind.

Pack light, dear one.  Make way for the work He wants to do in and through you this year!  If it’s not from Him…. you will not need it for your voyage.

Be Careful With Your Company

I heard a pastor say at a leadership conference not long ago, “Be careful who you let sit on the front row of your congregations.  Their negative spirit can actually hinder the anointing on the message.”

And it got me thinking about the people we let “sit close” in our lives.

Because not everyone has your best interest in mind.  Some publicly celebrate your success, while they privately condemn your progress.
Because not everyone considers trust as a high standard of relationship.  Some share secrets of intimate detail the moment they're outside of your presence.
Because not everyone values honesty and integrity the way you do.  Some tell you only what you want to hear, not what will actually help.

And one within your group might just be Judas, and actually aimed at your demise.

And so who we let in our small circle matters.

It matters because if we’re going to do anything big for Jesus… we owe it to Him to bring Him our best.  And that includes the band of believers we bring with us as we boldly charge forward in our faith.

It matters because if the statistics are correct, “You're the average of the five people you spend the most time with”, than we may want to evaluate our core.

Be careful with your company.  Be deliberate in your choice of who “sits close”.  They may distract you, disable you, or deter you from the work of God in your life.

The Experience and The Experiment

God’s lessons don’t always come at convenient times.  And It would seem to me as though they are almost always realized in reverse.

So often I can see His protection and provision only after the painful process.

And in the middle of a difficult week I see it there in the comment of a friend… “You’re reminding me to be patient in the least patient moment.”

Ahh yes.

Because sometimes we forget.

And patience might be the most challenging of them all.

Because we long for answers… now.
We want the healing… now.
We desire to know direction… now.

And yet I would remind her that patience is a fruit of the Spirit.  And that the possession of it doesn’t always translate to the activation of it.

But what we see so often is that God will place us directly in the path of a situation of impatience, in order to stimulate us to operate in the practical use of patience… requiring from us the uncomfortably and inconvenience so as to strengthen our spiritual muscles.

Because we cannot learn about patience if we are never required to wait for anything we desperately want.
Just like we cannot learn about self-control if we’re never tempted by things that take everything within us to refuse.

And so maybe we can look at the difficult things today differently.

He is not punishing me for all I lack.
He is prompting me toward all I can be!
He’s providing the means for me to increase my faith!
He’s purposing growth within me, and teaching me how to look more like Jesus.

Whatever you're facing today… know that God is FOR you.  Know that He has designed this situation with the intention to make you better and stronger and more prepared for all that lies ahead.

It’s in the experience of it that we learn best the experiment of it!

Just As He... So Must We!

Some mornings it’s simply difficult to leave the sanctuary, because my morning quiet time is so rich. 

And the world is so loud. 
And demanding.

But I read it today…. “Again He said, ‘Peace by with you.  As the Father has sent Me, so I am sending you….’”  John 20:21

Profound words from a departing Savior.

Utterly profound.

Because we know He is, “… God’s messenger and High Priest.” (Heb 3:1)

And yet knowing this and reading the words John records of His commissioning of us for His service… seems a bit overwhelming.

But I see it differently this morning.

If the resurrected Christ lives in me, and if that resurrected Christ commissions me, then there must be a something in my mission that is calling me to resurrect something.

And if there is authority put upon me… qualifications imparted to me… success must attend me.

And I am indebted to the resurrected Christ.

To resurrect something.

Resurrect, by definition is: to raise from the dead; bring to life again; to bring back into use; to renew.

And so if the resurrected Christ lives in me, I no longer am allowed to live in defeat and despair.  It is no longer an option to live in failure and frustration. 

Because I am indebted to the resurrected Christ.

To resurrect something.

It is my obligation to bring Him my best.
To do all that I can possibly do with what I have so generously been given.

And the strength already lives inside of me!

And some days I feel as though my offering is sufficient.  And other days so weak.

But I bring it every day.  Regardless.

Because I am indebted to the the resurrected One who resurrected me.

Maybe today it’s sitting with the child to listen to their troubles and offer wise advice.
Maybe today it’s sending a card to the hurting family who has recently suffered a loss.
Maybe today it’s carving out time to visit a loved one you’ve been distant from for a while.
Maybe today it’s making your spouse their favorite meal.
Maybe today it’s forgiving yourself for not having it all together and resting in the knowledge that His love covers all mistakes ever made.
Maybe today it’s praying with the stranger at Starbucks because it is a great privilege to carry burdens of others to the cross of Christ.

Because all of these things… every small gesture of grace… is a ripple of His love and is helping to canvas the world with His glory.

Do big things with great love today.

He is calling us.  And He who has called us has equipped us with His resurrecting power.

Just as He... So must we!

The High Calling of Honor

It’s amazing the things I see differently now than I did when Chloe was little. 

Things like… paying close attention to her decision-making process, watching the way she interacts with other people, and managing the way she stays true to her word.

It’s making sure I’m sending her out as best prepared I can for the real world, and then praying that who I have raised is a healthy contributor to society.

And then there’s the sharp reality that reminds me she’s only 17.  And lessons, though repeated, sometimes don’t resonate as well as you’d like them to.

Take Tuesday evening for example.

In franticly looking for a shirt to wear… in my closet… many casualties of the hunt were left behind on my bed.  I will admit that my OCD kicked in and a part of me just wanted to “fix” the situation, but I knew it would not serve helpful if I did.  Instead, I calmly reminded her that the shirts had to be put away, and without much delay past the request, she complied.

And I was pleased.

Until I saw the way one of the shirts was hung back up in the closet.

Disheveled and inside out, this favorite shirt of mine was forcefully injected back into the myriad of clothes in an already over-crowded closet.

Sigh.

And it got me thinking.

Our Inspire Ministries’ team has been and will continue this year to discuss the word Honor and the idea of Respect.

Honor, by definition is “to hold in high respect; revere; to show courteous regard for; to esteem; to value.”

And yet I wonder how often we consider how we are honoring one another.

It’s the high-calling on our lives… to honor and respect other people.

We honor others by listening intensely with the intention to learn, not necessary respond.
We honor others by showing up on time, valuing the most precious commodity they own.
We honor others by investing in a relationship that doesn’t just consume, but contributes.
We honor others by returning borrowed items in better condition than when we received them.
We honor others by sharing in what makes them excited; celebrating their wins with them.
We honor others by committing to prayer the hardships they’re facing and helping to carry the load as we understand, deeply, that we’re all just walking each other home.

Honor.

It’s something I’m praying more for in 2018.

It’s to understand, deeply, that honor is the high-calling for those who want to change the landscape of our future.

Trials Into Triumphs

You can wake up to a messy Wednesday morning discouraged, overwhelmed, and defeated, OR you can make a decision that no matter what my circumstances are... I will rejoice.

So... on a cold bitter day in January I say it out loud... "Thank you for the difficulties! They are genuine opportunities for personal and spiritual growth. Hardship is only a distraction, not a destination!"

Thank you, God, for eyes to see clearer!