God is in the Darkness

"Trauma's storm can mask the Christ and feelings can lie.

I draw all the hurting voices close and I touch their scars with a whisper:

sometimes we don't fully see that in Christ, because of Christ,

through Christ, He does give us all things good - until we have

the perspective of years.  In time, years, dust settles.

In memory, ages, God emerges.  Then when we look back,

we see God's back.  Wasn't that too His way with Moses?

 "When my glory passes by, I will put you in a cleft in the rock and 

cover you with my hand until I have passes by. Then I will 

remove my hand and you will see my back" (Exodus 33:22-23).

Is that it?  When it gets dark, it's only because God has 

tucked me in a cleft of the rock and covered me, protected, with

HIs hand?  In the pitch, I feel like I'm falling, sense the bridge giving

way, God long absent.  In the dark, the bridge and my world shakes, 

cracking dreams.  But maybe this is true reality: It is in the dark that

God is passing by.  The bridge and our lives shake not because 

God has abandoned, but the exact opposite:  

God is passing by.

God is in the tremors.

In the blackest, God is closest, at work, forging HIs perfect and right 

will.  Though it is black and we can't see and and our world seems 

to be free-falling and we feel utterly alone, Christ is most present to us, 

I-beam supporting in earthquake.  Then He will remove His hand.

Then we will look.  Then we look back and see His back."

Ann Voskamp

One Thousand Gifts

The Lord Has No Equal

I got the rare chance last Saturday morning to have a girls morning. Just me and my best friend talking for an hour at Starbucks then doing some shopping. Before she met me, I sat and read a random Bible passage from Isaiah on my YouVersion Bible App. It was the "Verse of the Day" and I decided to read the whole chapter. Wow - it blew me away! I had to share it with you. We may think the words we speak or write can be powerful or have meaning, but nothing compares to the Word of God!

Isaiah 40:12-31 NLT (portions)

The Lord Has No Equal

"Who else had held the oceans in his hand? Who else has measured off the heavens with his fingers?

Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale?

Who is able to advise the Spirit of the Lord? Who know enough to give him advice or teach him?

Has the Lord ever needed anyone's advice? Does he need instruction about what is good?

Did someone teach him what is right or show him the path of justice?

No, for all the nations of the word are but a drop in a bucket. They are nothing more in dust on the scales.

He picks up the whole earth as though it were a grain of sand.

The nations of the world are worth nothing to him. In his eyes, they count for less than nothing - mere emptiness and froth.

To whom can you compare God? What image can you find to resemble him?

Haven't you heard? Don't you understand?

Are you deaf to the words of God - the words he gave before the world began? Are you so ignorant?

God sits above the circle of the earth. The people below seem like grasshoppers to him!

He spread out the heavens like a curtain and make his tent from them.

He judges the great people of the world and brings them all to nothing. They hardly get started, barely taking root, when he blows on them and they wither. The wind carries them off like chaff.

"To whom will you compare me? Who is my equal?" asks the HOLY ONE.

Look up into the heavens. Who created the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing.

Have you never understood? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth.

He never grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding. He gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless.

Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.

But those who trust in the Lord will find their strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. 

They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint."

Spend more time with God

 

(source)

 

SPEND TIME WITH ME for the pure pleasure of being in My company.

 

I can brighten up the dullest of gray days; I can add sparkle to the routines of daily life.

 

You have to repeat so many tasks day after day.

 

This monotony can dull your thinking until your mind slips into neutral.

 

A mind that is unfocused is vulnerable to "the world, the flesh and the devil," all which exert a downward pull on your thoughts.

 

As your thinking processes deteriorate, you become increasingly confused and directionless.

 

The best remedy is to refocus your mind and heart on Me, your constant Companion.

 

Even the most confusing day opens up before you as you step by step with Me.

 

My Presence goes with you wherever you go, providing Light for your path.

 

Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. --Psalm 63:7-8

 

Your word is a lamp to  my feet and a light for my path. -- Psalm 119:105

 

-Jesus Calling

 

 



A God who Heals

 

 

I AM A GOD WHO HEALS.

 

I heal broken bodies, broken minds, broken heart, broken lives, and broken relationships.

 

My very Presence has immense healing powers.

 

You cannot live close to Me without experiencing some degree of healing.

 

However, it is also true that you have not because you ask not.

 

You receive the healing that flows naturally from My Presence, whether you seek it or not.

 

But, there is more - much more - available to those who ask.

 

 

The first step in receiving healing is to live ever so close to me,

 

The benefits of this practice are too numerous to list.

 

As you grow more and more intimate with Me, I reveal my will to you more directly.

 

When the time is right, I prompt you to ask for healing of some brokenness in you or in another person.

 

The healing may be instantaneous, or it may be a process.

 

That is up to Me.

 

Your part is to trust Me fully and to thank Me for the restoration that has begun.

 

 

"Ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find." -- Matthew 7:7

-Jesus Calling

 



Keep Calm and Relax

(weheartit.com)

 

LEARN TO ENJOY LIFE.

 

Relax, remembering that I am God with you.

 

I crafted you with enormous capacity to know Me and enjoy My Presence.

 

When My people wear sour faces and walk through their lives with resigned rigidity, I am displeased.

 

When you walk through a day with childlike delight, savoring every blessing, you proclaim your trust in Me, your ever present Shepherd.

 

The more you focus on My Presence with you, the more you fully enjoy life.

 

Glorify Me through your pleasure in Me.

 

This you proclaim My Presence to the watching world.

 

"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel" -- which means, "God with us." Matthew 1:23

 

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come so that they may have life, and to have it to the full. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep."

John 10:10-11

 

-Jesus calling by Sarah Young

 

 

 

 

Hold Onto His Promises

Ever have one of those moments when you're husband calls and asks if you're sitting down? What runs through your mind? Did he get in a car accident? Get a promotion? Cheat on me? Yes, all those things ran through my mind in about 3 seconds when my husband called me last week on Monday morning and said, "are you sitting down?" Well no I wasn't, I had just gotten out of the shower, still in a towel, and definitely needed to sit down after what he told me.

For those of you who don't know my family or how we got to where we are, let me briefly share. My husband and I grew up in northern Indiana - and got married there in 2008. We moved from our hometowns, families, and friends in Indiana to the Phoenix area in Arizona in May 2010. We had just experienced a long, painful miscarriage and knew that God was calling us to a fresh start. Arizona had been on our heart for a while and when we decided to move, God put the pieces into place quickly. Within a week, my husband was granted a transfer with his job, our house was on the market, we knew where we were going to live, and I had put in my 2 week notice at work. We felt God's promise to move us to AZ was being fulfilled by the open doors He had placed before us. And we took a huge leap of faith, leaving behind everything we'd ever known.

Fast forward to June 2013... we've lived in Arizona for 3 years, had another miscarriage, made great friends, been a part of an amazing church, and finally had a beautiful son, Miles. We love the mountains, the constant sunshine, and active lifestyle. I had traveled home to Indiana in June with Miles to watch my little brother graduate high school. When I left to come back to AZ, something in my heart tugged at me - it was a little harder to leave home that time. I had said something to my husband briefly, but no nagging involved. See... I have always been open to moving back home to Indiana. But I was also okay living in Arizona too. My husband, however, was completely adamant that we were never leaving. He never wanted to go back to snow, rain, gloomy skies, old towns, or boring places. And no family members could ever change his mind about it.

Well last week as I stood listening my husband on the other end of the phone, I heard I never thought I would hear. He said for weeks he had felt God speaking to him about moving our family home to Indiana. Although he wanted to be very selfish and stay in the bright sun of Phoenix where there are a lot of opportunities, he knew that God was telling him it wasn't right for the future of our family. And he had to act on the command that was given to him. I listened to a man whose heart was open to God. And as I stood there shocked and full of questions, my husband said, "I know if God's putting this promise on my heart to bring us back home, he will make a way."

As I'm reading through Romans, I went back to chapter 4 and decided to read it in the Message Bible. I read this chapter before my husband shared what was on his heart. It's amazing how God prepares you for things you don't know will happen! The Message Bible says about God's promises (in context, his promise to Abraham),

"That famous promise that God gave Abraham - that he and his children would possess the earth - was not given because of something Abraham did or would do. It was based on God's decision to put everything together for him, which Abraham then entered when we believed. If those who get what God gives them only get it by doing everything they are told to do and filling out all the right forms, properly signed, that eliminates personal trust completely and turns the promise into an ironclad contract. That's not a holy promise; that's a business deal. A contract drawn up by a hard-nosed lawyer and with plenty of fine print only makes sure that you will never be able to collect. But if there is no contract in the first place, simply a promise - and God's promise at that - you can't break it. This is why the fulfillment of God's promise depends entirely on trusting God and his way, then simply embracing him and what he does. God's promise arrives as a pure gift."

God does not say, "Here is my promise..how should be neigotiate this?" He says, "Here is my promise." Period. No ifs, ands, or buts... no asking "God: if I do this, will you do this?" God's promises are not business deals. They are gifts! When God put it on our heart to move us as a family home to Indiana, we could have said, "God here's exactly where we want to be, and what job he wants to have.. oh and here's when we'd like to actually move." Nope... we chose to say, "If God's made us a promise to bring us home to our family, then he will open and close doors according to his plan." Let me tell you, it's not an easy prayer to pray. If we're gonna move, my selfish desires want to move at this time, to this place, with my husband at this job. But it's my privilege as God's child, not to negotiate, but to stand firm in my trust in Him and then just watch God work! God will make a way, he will show us his plan, and all he asks is that I trust him and follow him.

I'm holding onto his promises.

I Will Follow You

This song has been on my mind constantly as God moves in my life and I'm growing in Him. I just encourage you to be challenged by this, as going where God calls may not always make sense, or work the way you think it should. But God calls us to follow him, no matter what. All His ways are good and all his ways are sure. Trust in Him alone!

Where you go, I'll go

Where you stay, I'll stay

When you move, I'll move

I will follow...

All your ways are good

All your ways are sure (AMEN!)

I will trust in you alone

Higher than my sight

High above my life

I will trust in you alone (trust in you alone)

Where you go, I'll go

Where you stay, I'll stay

When you move, I'll move

I will follow you

Who you love, I'll love

How you serve I'll serve

If this life I lose, I will follow you, yeah

I will follow you, yeah

Light unto the world

Light unto my life

I will live for you alone

You're the one I seek

Knowing I will find

All I need in you alone, in you alone

Where you go, I'll go

Where you stay, I'll stay

When you move, I'll move

I will follow you

Who you love, I'll love

How you serve I'll serve

If this life I lose, I will follow you, yeah

I will follow you, yeah

In you there's life everlasting

In you there's freedom for my soul

In you there's joy, unending joy

And I will follow

Writer(s): Ruben Morgan, Chris Tomlin, Jason Ingram
Copyright: Windsor Hill Music, Sony/ATV Timber Publishing, West Main Music

Standing Still

Do you ever have those days where you feel insignificant? Like what you are doing with your life isn't enough? It can be overwhelming. I know my main priority in this world right now is my children, but when they are all grown will I look back and have regrets for not doing enough? Am I really doing what I'm called to do? How to we even know what our calling is?

I feel like something is missing. There are no big goals being accomplished. Motherhood is putting all those things on the back burner. I feel like I'm at a stand still. God are you there? I need you right now. I need direction.

John Bevere said it best. When you think God isn't speaking, HE is. He's telling us to stay where we are and keep doing what we're doing.

Sometimes when God is quiet, He's speaking the loudest. We don't always have to be changing and rearranging. It's ok to stay where we're at for a while. There is purpose in the stand still. It can be a time that we're going neither forward nor backwards. In these stand still times, God can change our hearts and mature us for what is to come.

In these periods of time, we can simply just focus on God's love and find peace in it. Seek His face and know He is still there in the midst of the silence.

Sometimes in the silence is where you find direction.

Just stay where you are. It's ok. Just stay and seek His face.

It's like I'm standing in the middle of a tornado. My balance is solid. The world is slowly flying by me as I stare at objects whirling across my face. I don't move. I trust that in the midst of the rushing wind, He will protect me. Stay still He says. I have plans for you but don't take a step yet. It's not the right time and you will get hurt. There is beauty where you are. You just have to see it like I see it.


Instead of worrying what your next move in life will be, just sit back and watch God move.

God will tell you to when to move, so as for me. I'm trusting Him in the stand still and I'm ok with it.

What are you waiting for?

Once in a while this thought really hits me... "What are you waiting for?"

Sometimes in our busy lives we are looking forward to the next thing planned... the next trip or vacation, the next birthday, the next big event in our lives. A few years ago, a guy I grew up with died instantly in his home; his heart stopped beating. He had only been married for 15 months. A few weeks ago, my college roommate's husband died suddenly from a blood clot. He was married with a one year old at home. They didn't have "the next thing."

Today as I picked up my 7 month old son from his crib after a nap, I was overcome with joy and love for him. I waited for that miracle for a while, and now that I have him, I love him so incredibly much. I understand a "Mother's love" now and I hugged him close and told him I loved him and thought about how long I will get to love this little boy. My husband came home from work a little early and we all just played in our bed, tickled Miles, made him laugh. Then we took a little nap. These little things in life... these everyday moments... are the essence of God's love and life for us. And I had to stop and think about... why do I keep thinking about what the next big moments in my life are (the next trip home to Indiana, the next little vacation, the next time I'll hang out with friends...), when the little moments can sometimes be the most important.

I never really lived by phrase "live everyday to the fullest" or "live like it's the last day of your life." Until my friend died a few years ago. It quickly hit me that you're next moments are never guaranteed. And we may never understand why God chooses for things to happen, but he does tell us not to worry and that He has a plan for our lives. So enjoy those little moments... those everyday things, please don't take them for granted. Hug your children and tell them you love them... kiss your spouse so deeply and tell them what they mean to you... get in contact with friends and spend quality time with them. Take advantage of the time you have with people and the testimony you can be to others.

What are you waiting for?

Always Trust God

Over the past year I struggled with fully trusting God. It's not that I didn't trust Him, it's just that I was questioning His plans for my life. I was in a hard place. I didn't know what to think about what was happening and what He was asking me to do. I couldn't see the end result, the future. I only saw the now.

Let me be completely honest here. About a year ago I had a dream from God. He was telling me to take a leap of faith and have another baby. I was left with the question "why?" I didn't understand. In my fleshly mind I was completely done having kids.  Not that I won't love that baby with all my heart, it's just that I wasn't trusting.

So after much prayer and not knowing how to feel I asked God to make it so obvious  to me. God was asking and I had to say YES. Weeks went by and I still struggled with this leap of faith. Then one night I had another dream. I felt like I was going crazy. It's all I could think about. I started to get frustrated. Saying YES was so life changing that I just wasn't ready for it. I was in a whirlwind. Was I going to obey God's requests or say no? How can you say NO to Him?

A few more weeks went by and God gave me a third dream. God told me Party of Five, and a few days later I found out I was pregnant, making our family a party of five! I knew I had to trust, but why was it so hard for me? I never struggled with this before. After much prayer I finally realized why I was struggling. It was because of the unknown!

Fast forward 9 months.

 

As soon as I looked at her for the first time I praised God and asked for forgiveness for not trusting. I had let the enemy get into my head with "what ifs."She was happy and healthy. God created her perfectly in His image.

Why did I even question his plan in the first place? He always know what we need and want more than we know it.

Now that she is here, I couldn't imagine my life without her. I love her with all my heart.

With spilling my heart to you, I hope that you know that you should ALWAYS trust Jesus and God's plan even when it is hard. Learn from me that everything is going to be OK! Nothing catches God by surprise. He already knows what tomorrow is going to bring because tomorrow is already the past for Him.

Trust in Him even if you don't understand why.

Just trust. ALWAYS trust and never question and you won't be dissapointed.



God is still Good

As some of the parents of Sandy Hook student's lay their babies to rest, I will hold mine tight. I can't even imagine how they feel.

So today, let's pray peace and comfort from the One Above and know that no matter what happens here on this earth.... GOD IS STILL GOD and HE IS STILL GOOD. He is still loving and He is still faithful.

We don't always understand why these horrible things happen but God already saw it coming. Nothing takes Him by surprise. God will heal hearts that let Him in and there are many more babies playing with Jesus right now. They are having unimaginable fun seeing things that we can't even dream of. Dancing with the angels.

Many people are always asking, "Why did God allow this to happen?" When I personally think about why God doesn't intervene, I am just as stunned. BUT, God has taught me something over the years...

IF IT WEREN'T FOR STORMS IN OUR LIVES, WE WOULD NEVER SEE HOW BIG GOD REALLY EASY!


Today, let's be reminded that this life is too short, show as much love to people as we can and know that God forgives and heals all wounds if we let Him.

My heart will be heavy today and probably for some time but let's still Praise God in this storm. Still keep trusting God. Have faith that everything will be ok and remember, God is not responsible for tragedies... it's Satan himself!

HE IS STILL GOD. HE IS STILL GOOD.  HE NEVER CHANGES.

When It Doesn't Go My Way

I hope you enjoyed the Being Intentional series the past few weeks. Those posts were not only for you, but for me. God spoke to me about walking what I talk (or write) and how to live intentionally every day. But today... I gotta speak some personal truth. I gotta be real. God has been speaking to me this week. And I've been crying out Him - pouring my heart out. It's been a stressful couple of weeks... but this week, I needed God to help me through every minute. I needed to hear from Him and I needed guidance for the next step I should take. 

Have you ever felt like that? When you knew with every part of your soul, that you couldn't do it on your own? Who or what did you cling to?

I can't give many details, but I can tell you that I've come to a point where I know I need a change in my life. I need to get my priorities straight. I need to take care of myself physically (actually sitting down to eat a healthy meal and getting some sleep) emotionally (I'm way too anxious and stressed right now), and spiritually (intentionally make time to be in the Word, not rush to get it done so I can go to bed). I need to make quality time with my husband and my 4 month old son. They are the most important people to me. So a change needs to be made to help me follow what I feel God has for me as a wife and mother. And what I thought would work out best for me, the thing that would make these changes happen and give me more time... well I wasn't given that option. What I wanted...I'm not getting. And it stings.

The last two weeks I've been feeling God saying..."Trust me, be patient, I have something better." So I waiting, passed up other opportunities, then I was given an answer that I did not like. What I thought would be best for me... God already knew that my plan was not His plan. I was so disappointed, hurt, and angry. When God said be patient, I thought I knew why. But it's not MY plan that matters - life does not always go my way, because MY way is not always what is best for me at this time in life. 

Isn't that how it always goes? We think we know what is best for us. We believe that the timing of events in our lives should happen at a certain time and in a specific way. And when it doesn't happen when or how we want it to, we are angry and disappointed. When in reality... we probably should be thankful. God's timing is PERFECT. Whether we understand it or agree with it, Jesus has a purpose for everything we experience.

GOD HAS A PLAN. GOD HAS A REASON. GOD LOVES ME AND HAS SOMETHING FOR ME TO LEARN.

So for now, I pray and wait patiently. I trust Him. I lean on Him. I search in His Word for what he might have for me. And I leave my plans at His feet, awaiting His counsel and direction.

Praise God that He's in control and not me!

Being Intentional: Trusting in God

Trust.

It's a word and an action that I've had to deal with in my life. I don't trust easily, but I'm much better at it now than I used to be. Trust comes in different forms for different reasons in life. Not only trusting in God but in people. When you've been hurt, let down, disappointed...you may have issues with trust. If you have been cheated on, bullied, or not received something you were promised... you may have issues with trust. Maybe you deal with worry and anxiety. If you worry about your future, your family and friends, or decisions... you may have issues with trust.

Trust. 

 Humans... can't be someone we put our ultimate trust in. They are not perfect and no matter how much we put our hope and trust into a human, they will let us down at some point. My story is that I was emotional crushed by a boy I loved in high school and trusted very much. He was a part of my life for a long time, and someone who I saw my future with. I put all my heart, soul, and trust into him until I discovered something he had been hiding from me for two years. It broke my heart to know that I could no longer trust that person. It was a major event in my life that changed the way I trusted people, especially men. I eventually forgave that person, and sometimes am reminded that I need to forgive again. (Thank you Tiffany for your post on forgiveness - I needed that reminder!) 

But trusting in God? God is someone we can trust. He will never leave us or forsake us. And NOTHING can separate us from His love. His Word specifically says in Psalms to not put our trust in men or princes. The Bible guides us about trusting and relying in Him:

"Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken." Psalm 55:22

"Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken." Psalm 62:6

"Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure everything out on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life!" 

Proverbs 3:5-6 The Message

Trust.

Wanna know something I really struggle with? Worry and anxiety. I used to have panic attacks when I felt something wrong physically in my body. I worry about my 4 month old and his health and safety.. I worry about my health and decisions in my life.. I worry about finances, about natural disasters, about losing a loved one, etc, etc. You know what the Bible says about those things? They are sins! God did not worry... God did not have anxiety. Worry is not an attribute of Christ... worry is a form of doubt which is from Satan. Satan does not want us to trust in God, because that means God is winning. Know what Satan - too bad for you. God wins anyways! But God does not call us to live with the burdens of anxiety; Christ commands us to release worry and anxiety and to lay our cares at His feet... TRUSTING that He will take care of our needs.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" Matthew 6:25-27

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

My challenge to you is to write out 3-5 verses on seperate notecards about trusting God and put them in places you'll be able to read them often. Check out this website listing 50 verses on worrying. Use these notecards to remind you that God is your rock and your strength. That He is in control and wants you to cast all your cares on Him.

Trusting in God means that we lay our fears, hopes, dreams, and decisions at the foot of the cross. Picture yourself, palms down - literally laying those prayers and petitions at Jesus's feet. He wants you to do that. Christ wants us to let Him take those burdens for us. 

Why? 

Because He loves us. He cares for us. He has a reason. He has a plan.