What is required during these Advent days?

There's been a question that has gnawed at me all week long.  It had to have been the same question that Joseph, Mary's husband had to answer also.

Joseph's response has made me take a closer look at my own behavior and response.

Does anyone think it unusual that Matthew, one of the four gospel writers, was the only one who included Joseph's story in the "Jesus is born" announcement?  I find that interesting to say the least.

If it wasn't for Joseph's actions, well, the face of history could have changed dramatically.  His behavior is pivotal in this whole crazy, believable-by-faith family lineage.

Believeable by faith, yet unbelievable without Joseph's obedience.

Imagine being a fly on the temple walls when Mary spoke of her upcoming news.  Imagine....

Did the news hit him like a ton of bricks?  Did it explode doubt in his heart about her fidelity?

I would think so, he was human after all.

So being the planner he was, a carpenter makes plans immediately...think about it.  His nature was to create and fix things.  So naturally he starts to work on a fix for his problem of what to do with Mary, whom he loves, but wants to protect himself and her from public disgrace?

I love Joseph's fix and it should be a lesson for all of us.

With all the questions of doubt and worry, uncertainty, shame, and those unspoken concerns about being the earthly father of God's Son....Joseph went face down before God.

Lord, what would you have me do to follow you?  And because God knew Joseph's heart was righteous, God gave him an answer that couldn't be denied.

Anytime you get a direct word from God, well, in my experience you shouldn't deny it....ever.

After receiving validation from the Angel, the news that would confirm, affirm and direct him, Joseph's behavior demanded obedience.

I like that he immediately knew the right thing to do.  And I love that God gave Joseph a "burning bush" moment, so that everyone would understand his behavior.

When you think about it Joseph's response was quiet remarkable.

Simply put ....he obeyed the simply spoken words of the Lord.

Shouldn't that be what we all respond to God with?  Our obedience?

Yes.

You could say that Joseph was a "yes" man.  And it's refreshing to know that first he sought God about what it takes to follow God and then listened to what God had to say.  And then acted on what he knew was right...

He obeyed.

And that my friends is the lesson in these days of celebration and rejoicing.

Maybe God is asking you the same question today...what will it take to follow what I have told you to do?

Is there a gnawing question or are you praying about something heavy on your heart right now?

....job change?
...relationship restoration?
...dreams?
....new year's resolutions?
...saying yes to God?

If you are, may your response be one like Joseph's...obedience.  Plain and simple obedience.  He did what God asked him to do and obeyed.  He sought God, listened and then lived out his obedience out of his love for God.

Whatever day it is...may our response always be obedience.  Our fixes are simple in light of God's plans for His greater things ahead.

Romans 8:28-30  "And we know that in all things God words for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.  For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.  And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.  What then shall we say in response to this?  If God is for us, who can be against us?"

When you don't know what to do

When life is puzzling and we don't know what to do
Photo credit:  Cindee Snider Re

I may have made this look way easier than it seems.  Perhaps I have mislead you.

Stepping out on faith should be easy, but rarely ever is.  Our minds get in the way of our hearts.  I wonder if the Bible greats like Noah, Moses, David, Paul, the many major and minor prophets, went through the same logical thought processes.

I would like to think so.  They made it look easy.

I have to wonder in my heart, with all of my girl logic, if they too struggled a bit.

Don't we want to know what to do next?  Don't we all have an innate need for information?  Do you pray for divine understanding and wisdom?

We are curious by nature.  And it's our very human nature of seeking, wondering, dreaming...that possibly gets us into conflicts between our hearts and minds.

It's the simple human conundrum I like to call it.  The depravity of humanity.  Okay, that might be a bit drastic to put my own understanding about life on a global scale of the world's deepest pondering of all time.

When making big decisions, we pray, we ask others to pray, we seek God's wisdom, we read, we research, we make those comprehensive pros vs. cons list, we discuss and discuss again, we gather as much information as possible to bring all the facts and figures together to make the most sound decision our brains can possibly make.

And then ...I pray some more.

I have a tendency to overcompensate in the prayer department.  Most times I don't think I have the brain power to actually sort through any big decision that might be facing me at any given time.  So I quickly pass it off to God and the Holy Spirit take control of my perfect prayer needs, to be said by the only Perfect voice, to receive His perfect answer.  I also let Jesus comfort me in my waiting.

At least this is how I do it until God shows me a better way.

When we have those big hurdles, struggles, battles, decisions, whatever comes across our daily screens of life, prayer should be the foundation in which you start your holy conversations with God.

It should be.  For me I don't leave it there.  I have to write down what I hear.  I have to record my thoughts and then pray through those.  I have to let my thoughts pass through God's filter of perfect understanding.

How do you do it?

Whatever your process, it's just that.... yours.  Use it.  Pray it.  Obey it.

It's a process to lay out what's on our heart and mind before God to seek His best answers, solutions, and direction.  Have you ever thought how God allows His heart and mind to be approachable?  This gives us an incredible and an awesome opportunity to have moment by moment conversations with the Controller of the Universe, about your world, in your daily life, to the One who is working FOR you not against you.

I will always run to the Source of all Knowledge.

But there are times when we make it way harder than it needs to be.

"I know what the answer is, it's really very simple."  Have you ever caught yourself saying that?

I have.  The reality is that you understand.  What you know about God so far is really quite mind blowing when it comes to discerning what decisions need to be made.

It comes down to one simple thing to do when you don't know what to do.

Obey God.

Simply put, isn't that what most decisions should be based on?

Obedience.

When I find myself in the constant decision making process, in all actuality, I shouldn't allow my logic to wonder.  I should be applying the truth I find in God's Holy Word, the wisdom expressed by our Holy Creator, to my current situation.

Once I do that, my load becomes lighter, less cumbersome, less weighty.  When I take my logic out of the equation it leaves more room for His truth and love to come into my examination list, those endless pros and con lists.

It becomes simple at that point.  Most days.

Oh our humanity, when we let our own understanding hinder our obedience.

Seeking God and turning the decision over to the Holy Spirit to pray for perfect peace will not only be my course of action for those life threatening diagnosis delivered, major career moves, or about other "big-gun" requests. Finding God's wisdom padded with His perfect peace should be the first and only thing we do when setting out to understand when we don't know what to do.

God will tell  you what you should do when you ask Him what you should do.  Will you listen to when He tells you what to do?

That's another part of this knowing part...isn't it?  We should listen to what God's answers are.  Is it more that we don't want to hear God's voice in the middle of our logic?

Ask.Seek.Listen.

Things become perfectly clear when you ask the Perfect to speak to your heart.  When you get the answers then let Perfect speak to your understanding.  Then....act on what you know and believe.

Do what you know is simple and pleasing to God.

Obey.  Let this authentic melody float in your heart.  Perfect Peace comes...

"Trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey."

Can't someone else do that God?

One of my pet peeves is those rogue shopping carts just end up hanging out in the wild open parking lots. 

It's not like they just take off with a mind of their own you know on some escape route that leads them to freedom. No....someone left them there, with no thought of walking them to their proper return stalls.

Does this bother anyone else?

It seems I have a rather long list of bothersome pet peeves.

The other day I saw two random shopping carts in the lot, as I was unloading my groceries in the car trunk. It was a Sunday afternoon and I just wanted to get home, you know what I'm talking about don't you? In my weekend book, a Sunday afternoon that's not wrapped around a nap doesn't turn out well.

Anyway, I started my car and turned on the air conditioner to get the car a-cooling. I put my last bag in the car and then the little voice said,

"Go put those two carts away while you are putting yours away."

But...I was in a hurry to get to that nap.

"Come on, they are just right there...I want you to put those carts away too."

"Can't someone else do that God?"

"I'm asking you".  I wanted to walk away. I looked around and the parking lot was like a ghost town.

Sigh...ok. So I grabbed my cart and rode it over to the second cart and then to the third.   (I might as well have a little fun with it, right?) and then pushed them all to the nearest cart stall which is always just a lane away.

"Thank you" ...why... your welcome God.

Now...this isn't a post just to show you how polite God is when He is asking you to do something. It's not about me telling you my good deed for the day. It's certainly not about a pending citizen of the year award with my name on it.

And just so you know, I didn't get that assumed nap either.

As I was driving home, God reminded me of this...

"It makes me happy when you obey, even in the small things, in the things that don't seem so significant."

All of a sudden I knew God was giving me an attitude check. I passed but might have schooched by with a C+. Remember I hesitated a bit before launching into a cart-moving machine.

I did put all carts away that someone else left for dead.

Obedience no matter how big or small is still obedience. And the more we obey in what God asks of us the more he asks of us to obey Him. I like the exchange that happens.  The more I obey, I notice that hesitation disappears and my excuses fade.

It makes me feel good and that my life is right.  As God has taught me many parts of obedience, it always comes back to a simple word.

Yes.

Saying yes to God, no matter what is asked of me.

Back to the cart obedience...I did what God asked of me that day. I said yes to His request.   I am learning that each step of obedience it becomes more natural, less awkward and more so,  worth each step.

Obedience to God is worth it all.

"There's no riches or earthly treasures that will satisfy every longing for Jesus, set my heart on fire, no matter the cost, to let go all I have, to just to follow You....Jesus." ~ Meredith Andrews

Big or small, significant or silly.  Whether a nap is on the line or not.

God show me what it means to follow you and say yes each and every time.

How I lost 130 lbs.

I knew this would make you look!

I would love to share with you the secret of losing weight.  I really would.  I wish it were that easy....  

The secret to this losing weight battle is that there is no secret, just a willingness and a legit motive to become a better version of myself for God.  I really don't even enter the equation here except for having an obedient heart when it comes to what I should love the most in this life. 

It's all about my obedience to what I know to be right.  It's about my full surrender to seeking God's best.

I know I make it sound so easy.  Well it's not.  It's a constant battle.  If you have ever had a battle with weight then you know what I mean.  

It seems it's not easier over time. There's battle that rages daily for my obedience. Each and every day I must ask myself who will I submit my will to? Is it God or my deceitful desires?

Silently, the battle rages on, but the voice of Hope speaks.

I think there’s something very important about going at it with a very all-in attitude, cutting things off “cold-turkey” as they say, and just going for it.  There's a lot to be said about making some drastic caloric cuts to your daily intake.

I can’t forget that the support of my family and my friends has been very important as well as, plus a deep well of strength from my personal Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  I’ve never had my own health coach – go figure.

The real change has been in my attitude.  A significant shift in priorities towards food and a hope that it will last a lifetime.  As I develop some muscle memory around this new perspective, as well as a psychological change, this shift has has me thinking much more positively about myself when I look in the mirror.

I no longer despise my physical self, which is a great start if you ask me. I just see a serious work in progress and I’m gaining more and more confidence every day. One step (or carrot stick dipped in hummus) at a time.  My confidence in God's perfecting progress is growing on me.

People ask me how did I lost 130 lbs.  I will tell you one obedient bite at a time.  I am still walking in the path of obedience.  God is richly blessing my obedience.   May I stay right here in the center of His will in my obedience.  I am determined if nothing else to honor Him with my food choices.  

How do you look at food?  It's a serious battle for me.  

Faith means trusting forward

Faith means trusting forward what will only make sense in reverse.

"Perfect faith is the faith that moves us to trust God even when it seems as though God isn't moving". - Andy Stanley

My mind fills with an awkward silent sighs and I wonder. In those quiet moments, I have some worrisome thoughts. My heart just wants to see and understand. Does my wonder really do any good? “You can’t see it in person," hisses the enemy. It's true somewhat...I don't see the results. The work that God is doing is hidden for now.

There are days when I feel I don't accomplish much. I think about how I should be doing something more tangible–serving at a community food kitchen, distributing groceries, hugging the African littles, something, anything where I can feel progress or see a forward motion. There are days I get hung up on needing to see and feel the results. I know that need isn't right. In my wishful thinking I want to see overwhelming approval. I know that is wrong too.

I just need more faith.

What I really desire is evidence of something more tangible. I whispered to Jesus as darkness filled my early morning. “Are you sure God, I am so afraid!” He has laid something on my heart, a challenge to write something that I have never done before. It's a task of great undertaking. I have never ventured this far out of my comfort zone before.  This project brings fear into my heart, it makes my palms sweaty. And I don't know how it's going to turn out. And besides that, who am I to write it? I am nothing special.

Then... this verse rises into my heart…

Faith is being sure of what we hope for 
and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

I’ve always thought of those words in the context of believing in Jesus but not in seeing results or the unseen faith things. On that morning it seemed liked there was something more He wanted to teach me. What God is calling me to do is just to be faithful.  To simply obey what He is asking of me.  What He wants of me is to act justly...and offer obedience in return. The results of the task are His business. He is the one making the difference. He is the One building my faith. He is the One who makes results come about. The One Who Loves whispers into the fear in my heart and the parts of my faith and speaks directly to my obedience.

It’s not about the results, it’s about my obedience.

Faith is believing. Faith is sure. Sure of hopes, dreams for the God-matters in this world.
Faith leaps, bounds and builds. Faith fans the flames of inspiration.
Faith is certain.

Faith is the evidence of what we do not see…even in our adversities, difficulties, uncertainties, and trials. 

Faith anchors us to the unseen. Only God knows the pricks, the folds and the imprints that are made. 

Faith in God writes His wonders on our hearts.
Faith measures what matters. It calls to the faithful. Faith submits, follows and obeys.
Faith makes a difference and changes.

Faith hears God whispering back saying…"submit…trust…obey". 

Faith is working the unseen things together for your good.
The I AM is taking care of the rest, the results. Keep the faith. Hold on. Pray for deeper faith. Pray for perfect faith. 

With the results unseen, it's beautiful obedience.

"Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time.” 

~ Oswald Chambers

What's a hard thing God has asked you to do? Did you do it?

Small in a Big World

Orion standing bright in God's big sky.

"To make us feel small in the right way is a function of art; men can only make us feel small in the wrong way." E. M. Forster

Ever have that feeling of realizing you are a small fish in a big pond?   Yup, me too.  Every time I see a beautiful sunset or Orion's striking starry frame on a clear night's sky.

And then your mind drifts to the time that God involves you in something big that only HE could orchestrate.

I stand amazed at God in those moments.  I stand so small in his Bigness.  I stand so humbled in His Presence.

There are days when God and only God can ask you roll away the stones of unbelief, and guess what happens?  He shows up and rolls the stone away from your hearts door and reveals His glory to you, in a real and personal way.

This really happens.  It really happened to me.

Oh God, You are the Lord of Lords, the wonder of all creation, now and for always...You Are the wonder of your mighty works.  God you are my God and I will always praise you.

Jesus changes everything, and there is no greater mystery.  And when I recognize God and all of His wonderful works, I can't help but feel small.  Like a small guppy in a huge world of sharks.  Such a small one. 

Tiny fins moving against the current.

One enemy that I face on my daily lap is myself.  My ego.  That is being redefined as I submit to God's wonderful and sovereign authority.  I realize I am nothing without Him.

"On the other hand, the critic who seeks to beef himself up at our expense diminishes no one but himself." ~ Seth Godin

My feelings of self-worth are being redefined too, and there is holy value to be found in God's worth.  

This feeling of smallness gives me motivation to find God's hugeness.

Humbling yourself before a Mighty and Holy God will benefit in His self-worth.

Suddenly I have purpose, I have drive, I have motivation, I have the where-with-all to be a part of something bigger than I could ever imagine.  More than I could ever dream of, the God connections that matter, godly relationships and being a part of God's plans.  

God gives godly guts.

All from feeling small, all from submitting to His Authority, all from recognizing His Sovereignty.

All from obeying and modeling myself after the one and only Obedient.

There's an art form that comes from dancing with the Holy One.  The Big God that spins this universe,  grows our inspiration and desires us to be on His Huge Page of life.

Obedience brings direction to follow in His steps.  Obedience breaks resistance to my own self-will.  

Diminishes me.  Amplifies God.  

Proverbs 16:9 "In their hearts, humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps."

What Does Logic Have To Do With It?

I ran into an old friend and we caught up on each other's family news.  I was really behind on hers.  They are adopting twins from the Phillipines.  I heard her exciting and amazing "only-God-opens-doors-like-this" story.  What I noted from our conversation was the hardest part of the process for their family.  It was allowing their minds catch up with their hearts of obedience.  

We talked about God's obvious opportunities, as she was giving God all the glory about how the plan worked out perfectly.  But in the middle of it all...

Their adoption circumstances looked too hard.  She had support, she had prayers, she cried out to God to make it clear and she had thrown out many fleeces.  She wanted to be that sure that this was the right path that God wanted them to go.

I got to thinking about how we seek God's best, we want to do His will.  Sure, we want that!  That is....what we want...right?  Don't we all want to throw out our fleeces and ask God to answer our fleece prayer exactly?  Yes, yes we do....

I believe God does just that.  But our minds get bogged down with logic or reasoning that we simply can't accept.  We tell ourselves that obedience has to be hard and then our resolve to obey becomes stubborn.  Our own logic becomes the limitation that sets our heart's obedience.  

We just need to say "yes" and He takes care of the rest.

God is a creative God and He will lead us through our problems or tell us how to fix our problems.  His simple answers to our daily conundrums and big life decisions require simple obedience and most times, we stumble over that.    

Who said obedience had to be so hard?  Following God shouldn't be complicated.  If we follow what God truly has led or asked us to do, then he won't leave us in the middle of His calling to let us figure it all out for ourselves.  

God knows the end before he brings us our beginnings.  

It's wise to let God engage our logic with His plans. 

God's grace is compelling and engaging.  Grace captivates the matters of the heart. Grace facilitates simple obedience.  Obedience is our expression of love to God.  Our love responses are fueled as we allow God's love logic to lead. 

"And this is love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you have heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love." ~ 2 John 1:6

Bless Your Heart!

Ever notice how often we, as Christians, use the word "blessed" in normal everyday conversations?  One lady just told me an amazing story of an answer to prayer.  Wow...is my response...because sometimes God moves Heaven and earth to work out circumstances to make things happen in His grand scheme of our lives.

I just read a post about a miracle that happened in the life of a believer. Ending words were "I am blessed."  I am blessed to have a circle of friends that agree with me in beliefs and in my pursuits.  Yes …. “I am blessed.” 

We are a blessed people.  If you don’t believe me, take a trip to a developing country and see what one day looks like in the life a child who doesn't know where their next meal is going to come from.  That glimpse alone will change you. 

I find that when having faith conversations with others, we tend to connect being “blessed” with only good things that happen in our lives, or the things that go our way.  What about the not-so-good things that happen in our lives?  What about the trials that are sent our way to build our faith?

Those are blessings too.  In your journey and as you faithfully dig your heels in, if you are one who continues to seek God in obedience, in my opinion you are “blessed”.  

We are blessed because we are loved, forgiven, and saved from certain death.

We are blessed because we are God's.
We are blessed because he loved us first.

I am even blessed when I compare my journeys with those who seem to have it all together.  Let me tell you....there is no one who has it all together. 

In my constant need to self-evaluate,

I have found that I breed dissatisfaction.

I tend to focus on those too-good-to-be-true moments in life as the only blessings from God.  I ponder a lot of deep spiritual stuff….and sometimes I ask myself some hard questions.  Questions I don't know the answers to.  When I come up with my blank answer sheet I feel inadequate.

As I uncover the full impact of God’s endless love, I have discovered that being blessed means being close to God.  No matter what current life circumstance is hovering right now, whether it is a one disappointment after another, or one continuous happy occasion.  I am blessed because I am His.  I am blessed in my weaknesses, failures and insecurities.  I have the freedom to run to God without having to clean up before.  I find strength for the desert moments, mercy translates my clumsy words, and I am blessed with joy as my cup of life is filled with change. 

In my journey to God’s wisdom, I realize that all of life is one heaping serving of blessings after another.  Each life portion is a blessed generous helping.   Each problem pile is blessed-filled for my good.  Each lovely and measured circumstance are for His blessed purpose.  I am blessed indeed. 

Psalms 1:1-3 Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.  But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.  Whatever he does prospers.

That's a blessed life…that’s beautiful...

Heart to Heart

God and I ....we've had some dangerous conversations lately, honestly...they have been a little challenging.  God is changing my perspective about things.  I see that as a good thing.  God is illuminating my next steps, only inches at a time and I will tenderly tip-toe through with courage.  I am such a messy piece, He knows I can't handle the big view.  The task He has called me to is daunting and overwhelming.  I can only think about it a few words at a time.

God is doing a work in me that is not possible
when I'm living in my comfort zone.

I'm ready to accept God's challenge.  I can remember a time when I wasn't.

I am ready to put some muscle to it.  To give it some sweat, a lot of tears, let my little heart bleed.     

I know it will be hard work, I will wrestle with it.  Trying not to be afraid of it. 

There will be some easy parts and some hard turns.  Some thick and thin places.  Inevitable twists.

I will have to sacrifice, set aside, and dedicate.  I will need discipline.  This is not the time for lack of faith. 


I'm sure there will be failures, mistakes, errors.  But those refine and define.

But...mostly there will be a long obedience in the right direction with His goal in mind.  Obedience is what God requires of me.

As my humble heart meets His ...I am ready. 

I will follow.  Finally.  Surprise me God.


Has God asked you to do something hard?  

The Better Way

Life is full of choices...every day, every hour.  Good, bad, right, wrong, mediocre and most excellent.  Decisions are made on a whim and with wisdom.  Consequences and blessings are felt with each.  So when it comes to applying this week's message, the truth helps us become laser-focused on the better.  We must learn to let go of the good to grab hold of the better.  God's better.

How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.  Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere: I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than well in the tents of the wicked. Psalm 84:1-2, 10

Better is this day with God.  How do you do that?

Living with God means to live with an ongoing, unending awareness of God's presence.  Living day by day and step by step under the submission of the Holy Spirit.  With each life circumstance...Jesus, I trust you.

And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus. Colossians 3:17

It's one thing to say it and quite another to do it.  It's takes practice and it takes faith.  One must believe in who God is to get started in this journey.   It takes a good habit of running to God first with everything instead of last or when we are out of options.

Better is getting to know God through prayer.  Prayer is really just talking to God about everything.  He knows your thoughts anyway.  He knows your heart.  Talk to Him.  He loves to hear your voice.

Be joyful always; pray continually. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17

Better is being obedient.  Jesus is the perfect example of obedience in that He went to the cross a sinless man to bear our sins.  There really is no comparison to that kind of pain, agony and torment.  So when God asks us to obey Him and we don't then we are not choosing God's best for our lives.  Our obedience is essential in God's better plan.  Delayed obedience is disobedience. 


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

Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25 

Better is being desperate for God.  When you feed on the things of God you will want Him, and want to spend more time with him.  But when you love the things of this world you will be hungry for the things of this world.  Pray for desperation...for a hunger that only God can satisfy.

Taste and see that the Lord is good. Psalm 34:8


O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen you in the sanctuary and beheld your power and your glory. Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. Psalm 63:1-3


In our difficult times, one lesson we can learn is a keen awareness of God's Spirit, His presence in every moment of our daily lives..  May His Spirit be the familiar that we cling to.  That will be a "better" way.


So how are you going to make your life better?  What does your time with God look like?