Are we there yet?

Wait for the Lord;

be strong and

let your heart take courage;

wait for the Lord!

Psalm 27:14

My children are in a constant state of waiting.  They do it to themselves.   "How long until I...?  When is...?  When will I...?  How many more days until...?

After I answer, their response is pretty much the same... "But Mommy, I caaaaan't waaaaait!! That's gonna take forever."  But once the event takes place and the anticipation has ended, a new question is asked.  And the waiting process begins all over again...

How many times have I been in that position with my heavenly Father?  Asking him, "When?" "How much longer?"  "Are we there yet?" And after he gently answers, "My child, not yet.",  I become impatient.   No different than my own children.

But He has already gone before me.  He understands my situation perfectly. He knows what I need even before I ask and the timing in which I receive or arrive is always perfect. So why do I throw a hissy fit when I feel like things aren't going according to plan?  The answer is simple.  My focus may be misaligned.

Something happens the moment that I respond, "Ok, I am trusting you, Lord." My attention shifts.  No longer focused on what I am waiting on or for; but instead, His presence catches my attention.  I begin to feel my anxious heart slow down to the rhythm of his peace.  I can hear him whisper, "I know the plans I have for you..."

I am able to be strong and allow my heart to take courage because I am committed to Christ and I know he is committed to me.  He has never once failed me or anyone on the face of the planet for that matter.  He has a proven track record.  Things may not always go the way I wish or pray, but I do know that he is able to do immeasurably more than I could ever imagine or dare ask... beyond my highest prayers, hopes and dreams. (Ephesians 3:20)

And He knows when, so I will keep my eyes focused on Jesus and trust his lead as I wait... on him.

This song really ties it altogether. Listen: Psalm 13 by Shane and Shane

Take it.

Take my yoke upon you,

and learn from me,

for I am gentle and lowly in heart,

and you will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke is easy

and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:29-30

Yoke:  A frame for carrying loads.

Designed to encircle the shoulders of two animals to move in the same direction and work as a team.

Burden: A load being carried. Something that is difficult to bear.

An invitation from Jesus. " Come." Yet he does not demand that we do so.  He simply and sweetly offers for us to take his yoke upon our shoulders.  Why would anyone willingly take a yoke upon themselves?  Because compared to what we are currently carrying, this yoke is easy and the burden is light. Simply because He is there to help. 

He has a way of gently showing me where I am wrong.  A way of encouraging me when times get tough.  And a way of loving me like no other person in this world has the ability to do. 

So as I take his yoke upon myself, we work together as a team. We move in the same direction.  But this requires obedience on my end. I must be willing to lay down my anger, my impatience, my worries, my concerns, and my pride so that I can learn from him... from his character... the rhythm of grace. 

This is my hope. That no matter how weary I may be from carrying the burden of past regrets, fears, failures and sorrows, I will find rest in him and him alone.  Not rest in a physical sense, but rest from within my soul.   Despite the stresses and storms of life that may continue to rage on around me, I will be at peace and will be satisfied IN HIM.

He will lift my load... only if I allow him to do so. Why wouldn't I?  As I remember who he is, I will never regret that I came to him!

I love this song.  Take A Moment, by Will Reagan & United Pursuit Band

No pain, no gain.

Consider it pure joy,

my brothers and sisters,

whenever you face trials of

many kinds because you know

the testing of your faith

produces perseverance.

James 1:2-3

Trials.     Troubles.     Distress.     Pain.    Worry.     Anxiety.

Pure joy is probably the furthest thing from my mind in the midst of difficulties. I have considered it pure frustration or pure agony... but joy? If you're anything like me (human), you want to avoid personal turmoil if at all possible. Like my sister used to say, "No pain, no pain!"

Trials are like a strenuous exercise. Each exercise strengthens the spiritual muscle. Think about it, no one really enjoys the process of a hard work out.  It's painful.  It's unpleasant.  It pushes us beyond what we are comfortable with. 

There are moments, in the midst of my troubles, when I feel like I am facing the struggle alone... left to lift the heavy weights on my own without a spotter. I begin to panic. There's no end in sight. It's then that I cry out for help.

God has proven to me time and time again that he has never left my side. He has always been faithful to me. His grace is sufficient for me. He can be trusted. My trials may change from season to season, but He never does. His promises to me remain the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. I know that he is with me, equipping me, strengthening me, with each breath that I take.  

When will I learn to embrace the trials instead of striving to get out as quickly as I can?  It's time to stop rushing "the workout". Yes, it's hard. Yes, it's frustrating.  Yes, it's draining.  But the end results are worth it.

Strength.     Peace.     Hope.     Rest.     Comfort.     Joy.

The end result:  a faith that produces perseverance- a faith that refuses to quit. I count it all joy!

Illuminate

I'm a big fan of sunny days. I love the way the sun creeps through my blinds in the morning. I like to see it as God's way of greeting me with a kiss. Maybe you're not a morning person, so I apologize if you don't relate. The sun also has a way of revealing to me all the dust. Once a ray of light hits the air, it's amazing how much is exposed. Despite the inevitable task of dusting that will eventually take place in my future... the sun always has a way of lifting my spirits and illuminating my day.

Il.lu.min.ate.  to brighten or decorate with light, to expose.

Prayer illuminates faith.

In the beginning of Luke 18, Jesus tells a parable of a persistent widow.  Jesus' heart and hope behind the story... always pray, never lose heart.

It's not a matter of how big my faith is, but who my faith is in. Even the smallest light on the highest mountain can be seen in the dark.  Faith is God's faithfulness to me.  It's a gift and it's up to me to use it. To live it out... through prayer. 

My prayers illuminate what has already been given to me.  My prayers decorate my faith. My prayers also have a way of exposing what my faith is really made of.

Even in the darkest of days, I will acknowledge God's light and love inside of me. And I pray that it would illuminate the world around me. 

Listen: This Little Light of Mine, by Addison Road

In the same way,

let your light shine before others,

so that others may see 

your good works 

and give glory to your Father

who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

I can

"Imagine the person

you want your child to become,

and be that person".

I read this quote in an article I found in the magazine, Hello Darling.  Whether it's becoming the person we want to live out for our children, our spouse, our friends or the community, we can all relate to this on some level.

One thing's for sure, none of us are perfect, but we can try our best to be the person that God has created us to be.  Certainly not by our own strength, but by relying on the Lord to empower our actions and our thoughts.

I can do all things through Christ

who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13

Photo by Savannah Blevins

Be That Mother 

written by Megan O'Leary.

I want to be a mother {a person} who...

PAUSES.    who puts down the dishes, and listens and watches.

GIVES.    whether it be attention, time or words of encouragement.

TAKES RESPONSIBILITY FOR MISTAKES.    quick to apologize and make amends.

PLAYS.    "yes! we should totally go outside and dig for worms."

LAUGHS.    a portion of every day should be filled with laughter. find the humor or create it.

ENJOYS LIFE.    what gives me joy? how can I create more room for that in my life?

RESPECTS.     treats everyone with value, whether they're a stranger, a friend or a partner.

IS FILLED WITH WONDER.    start to question the world--let's find answers together.

CREATES.    art and music are soul healing, so is making something together.

SETS A GOOD EXAMPLE.   learn to stand up for yourself and others...


Imagine the person God wants you to become and be that person.  Others will in turn notice and benefit from the example lived out.

Overwhelmed

For we do not wrestle

against flesh and blood,

but against the rulers,

against the authorities,

against the cosmic powers

over this present darkness,

against the spiritual forces

of evil in heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12

There is an unseen battle going on behind the scenes of this world.  A battle for control of the hearts and minds of those the Lord created. Yours and mine.  The world paints a pretty picture as it tries to capture our attention. But as I look closer, I can see the ugliness, the hurt, the brokenness, the suffering. And as I allow my mind to wrestle with all of the "what ifs",  my heart quickly becomes anxious.  I am overwhelmed. 

Why do we allow ourselves to become overwhelmed with things we simply have zero control over?  Maybe we think we have control.  But isn't this a waste of precious energy?  It's time to fight back.  It's time to adjust the lens of our mind's eyes and use that energy to stop the enemy from distracting our focus.  It's time that we become overwhelmed with Christ.  The Creator and Lover of our souls.

When my heart is overwhelmed, 

lead me to the Rock

that is higher than I.

Psalm 61:2

On my knees. That is how I fight back.  Not necessarily in a physical sense, but in my heart.  That may seem like a weak stance, but there is actually nothing stronger than being constantly aware of the Lord's presence in my life.  Knowing that he is always there... knowing that is is always faithful.  He is my Rock and will forever be the Sovereign King of my life.  As I worship the Lord God Almighty with everything that I am, my heart quickly becomes aware of his presence and his great love for me.  I am overwhelmed... with a peace I cannot explain. 

Great is the Lord!

He is most worthy of praise!

Psalm 145:3

For the Lord is good

and his love endures forever.

His faithfulness continues

through all generations.
Psalm 100:5 

Take a moment to reflect and worship him:  Yahweh, led by Kari Jobe

Hurl it.

Cast your burden to the Lord

and he will sustain you.

He will never let

the righteous be shaken.

Psalm 55:22

I am to "cast" my burden to the Lord. To cast means to toss in a sudden motion. This is not just a casual toss... I must throw it to him, chuck it, hurl it.   

The force in which I throw determines how desperately I want him to have it.  Think about it, if you toss with little effort, the burden will most likely land within arms reach... easily accessible to be picked back up again.   How many times have we done this? 

When we truly cast our cares to him we are trusting and resting in his promise. The choice is ours.  As for me, I'm going to throw it like I mean it. No matter how heavy the burden may be. I may throw like a girl, but my arm will be empowered! I believe the results will not disappoint.  He promises to sustain me.  He promises to take care of me.  I will not be shaken.  But what happens when life gets hard?  When the burdens and anxieties prove to be more than I can handle?

I will simply remember that they were never intended for me to hold.  So I hurl it to the One who promises to catch it. My burden is in his hands. 

Jesus, calm my anxious heart. Hold my heart today and always.  I trust you.

Listen:  Steady My Heart, Kari Jobe