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."

Need Peace?

This is for those non-stop-merry-go-round type days that make you nauseous because the world is spinning around you or your head is spinning with chaos.

Or it's for your Thursday.

Or it's for that midnight call as you chase the ambulance to the emergency room.

Or maybe just today.

Saying God's words back to Him in prayer is powerful.  When trouble comes say this verse back to God

It helps today.

It helps on a Thursday.

It helps on those midnight ambulance chases.

It helps.  Notice it's a choice.

First you have to know where to find it, that peace drives out fear, and who holds the keys of peace.

The Prince of Peace holds the keys.

If you are looking for peace.

Next it requires you to participate.  Don't forget to bring your brain.

Next your heart is required to trust.  This is a game-changer.  NON-negotiable.

It helps if you do this.

On a Thursday.

It helps today.

It helps when you are chasing ambulances full of chaos.

It helps.

And when you find the Prince of Peace, guess what...keep yourself there.  

Stay.  When you find Peace stay here, stay there.  Train your eyes on the hands that hold the keys to peace.  Stay poised and relax.  Focus on peace.

Chaos and trouble lives out there and wants to chase you down the streets of life, you need to keep yourself tethered to the only and non-negotiable source of Calm that you can.  

Maybe you crave chaos, or want to spin out of control?  Put what little trust you have left into the hands of the Prince of Peace.  

Peace is needed to smooth out the rough corners of your heart.  Those shouting matches you like to have with the internal opponents.  Steadfastness, Power, Faithful Peace found in His trust vault.

Peace Power Verse:
Isaiah 26:3, "You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you." 

Someone Has a Case of the Mondays

Ever felt like you went through a Monday twice?  Not sure what Monday did to rear it's ugly head, but that day sure gets a bad rap for being the worst day of the week.  Truth is usually Mondays are full of trouble and distress, mostly as a result of the weekend activities that have left us tired, drained, spent.

Trouble and distress are woven into the very fabric of our lives on Mondays and other days too.  The Bible tells me have joy in those Mondays.  I know I should but there are circumstances that block my view of the promised attainable joy.  I like to blame it on Mondays.

Someone once said that God won't give you more than you can handle on a Monday or any other day.  I don't swallow that lie.  I believe He does.  I believe that God allows it on Mondays. God gives us more than we can handle on a Monday or any other day because He wants us to need Him and turn to Him for everything.  If we could handle our problem-filled Mondays then why would we need a Savior?  He also loves to surround us with His presence to fill our trouble-filled days.  

The secret to joy-filled Mondays and more is to live above our circumstances.  That doesn't have to happen just one day a week.  Don't we need that everyday?  The Holy Spirit empowers us to live above the trouble and distress that Mondays bring so that we can experience God's peace in the middle of our Mondays.  Now this secret doesn't remove Monday's complex conundrums, but it sure helps.  And it will help your problem filled Tuesdays too.  

Our world is chocked Monday full of un-awesome days.  That's because we live in a world full sin.  We make mistakes, I know....I make plenty of them.  And when we concentrate on our lack of awesome filled Monday's we fail to see God tapping us on the shoulder asking..."Do you need Me yet?"  But His hands gently move from our shoulders to our chin.  He gracefully lifts our face to  lock eyes with His...and once you get that view....those trouble filled Mondays don't matter.  The troubles still for a moment and help us refocus on what truly does matter.  

It's not what you have lost.

It's not what you have gained.

It's not your loaded up email, twitter and facebook accounts.

It's not your friends.

It's your Savior.

It's his Spirit.  It's Him.

Yes, God I need you on this trouble-filled Wednesday, Friday, Sunday and certainly on Mondays and all days.  Hold on to me.  You know that I have trouble.  Trouble that I can't handle.  Give me Your good cheer, give me your joy as we face this trouble-filled day together.  

John 16:33  These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.

What To Wear

I wonder if it shows?  I hope it's obvious.  

Brittnay was my friendly Wal-Mart associate. She was pleasant enough, but i sensed that morning she dressed in worry.  I overheard her talking about her brother who had been fighting fires recently.  I saw worry on her face, I saw the need for Jesus on her heart.  So I handed her an invitation that I had received in church that morning and said "if you are looking for a church home, might I recommend mine."  

I was wearing Christ that day.

"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.  Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful."  Colossians 3:12-15

We should don Christ-like garments everyday. There will be someone you meet that is searching for answers, there will be someone who has a need for Jesus.  And I don't want to just dress the part, I want to live it.  I want everything I say and do to point to Him.  

Ever wonder if we wore Christ-like kindness, gentleness, patience, and self-control how different our world would be?  How would you act differently?  

If we wore peace, we might desire God's quiet and not be distracted with this world.  

If we wore grace, we would forgive others quicker for their faults.  

If we put on goodness we would desire others to be more successful than ourselves. 

If we wore love, we would crave Jesus more than ever before.  
If we wore faithfulness, we would trust God completely in everything.

Wearing love, grace and peace are far more difficult than zipping up jeans or buttoning a shirt.  It's spending time with and allowing the Spirit to bring His fruit to your closet.   It's putting on your big-heart pants and clothing ourselves in these grown-up, mature Christ like characteristics that mirror His heart, share His mind and reflect God's change in our lives.  

It's dressing for success.  It's what I want to wear daily.  How about you?

Five Minute Friday [Refuge]

Refuge is used 90+ times in the NIV Bible

Want to guess as to which book in the Bible used the word "refuge" the most?


A refuge is a hiding place.  David hid a lot.  He hid mostly in the crevices and caves from those who wanted to do him harm.  The most interesting part of his hideout plan was that he found the real Refuge.  


There's something about spending some quiet time in one place and being still before the Lord that brings protection and peace.


In David's effort to find physical shelter from those who wanted to kill him, he found a safe spiritual hideout that centered his faith on His steadfast God who offered him some sacred immunity.


David had some low times when he lamented to God and he wanted to give up.  He sought God as his refuge, and his life was preserved.  God provided safe haven.  

If you are going through some tough times today, know that God will cover your trouble with His providential care to protect and preserve, to offer asylum from your current ambush, and will hide your heart into his hiding place.  God's shelter is a secure shield and a stronghold to cling to.  His peace is a safe sanctuary that stopgaps, a strong tower that brings refuge. 

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

though its waters roar and foam

and the mountains quake with their surging."  Ps. 46: 1-3

Music Monday {me Without You}

tobyMac's latest song "Me Without You" 

asks a good question...

Where would I be?
You rescued me
You are mine, I am Yours
You rescued me
And I am Yours forever
You saved me, remade me,
Where would i be?


Of course he is asking or talking to God...which brings me to the same question in my own life.  

Where would I be without God?

My answer would be this...I would be in a world of hurt.  Oh wait, I am in a world that is hurting.  


How do I make it through?  Knowing that I can run to God each and every time.  There is only One way to make in this world and that is to stay connected to God in the good times and bad times.   


I can't solve my problems.  God can.  I am choosing to wait on His ways and on His timing.  I've packed my bags and am camping out, waiting for His best.  That is wise.  


No more worrying...only more trusting, more of me holding His hand, more surrender to His will.  Less of me making my own way or trying to fix my own problems.  More of Jesus infused into my life. 

Psalm 55:16 "But I call to God, and the Lords saves me.  Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and he hears my voice."

That's peace, that's calm, that's assurance...no matter what desert storm is passing through.    


So to answer the question...Me without God?  Now that's a very dry place.


How would you answer the question?

When Shadows Come

Coping with life's shadows

Maybe you are having a rough week.  Perhaps your life circumstances are rough all the time.  How do we get out of these seasons of one crisis to another or continuous desert moments?  

 How do you cope?

When we are overshadowed with life we look to the shadow of the cross.  We look to the One who conquered all.

The disciples knew of desperate times.  They had traveled with Jesus for three years.  They had watched him heal and heard him teach.  They fished, prayed and rested with him.  They had some intense times of fellowship.  They were a band of brothers.  They worshiped together; they grew in the faith together, and they experienced God's word in living color.  As they went through adversity they had community.  

When life brought the shadow of the cross, they faltered.  One denied, one took his life, and they mourned the death of a dear friend.  In spite of their desperate outlook, they had fellowship through community.  

When you are in the throes of life's shadows, 

you need the community that you find in Christian friendships.

God has ways of reminding us that we are not alone.  God loves to shine through His people to pray, to give comfort, to lean on, to let you know that He's got this crisis just like He had the last one.  God's grace appears through the kindness of a dear friend who brings you a meal or a chocolate cupcake.  In the hands who give you a Kleenex in the surgery waiting room, and through the nurse who touches your arm in the hallway and whispers "It's going to be ok".  He shines in His people who have built community in your fellowship.  He shines in the confident prayers of the saints and reveals His faithfulness. 

There are many pieces to this tapestry that He is weaving with your life threads.  As He weaves the shadows with His shine, we have community as we receive His peace as our source of strength.  No matter what comes...you know that God is holding you.   The faith of community weaves into your shadowed life.  As we mix and mingle, share and care, and see and feel, we can know that God is in each and every stitch.  

We see with the eyes of our heart.

When the disciples reached a desperate desert moment, they had each other.  Their hearts must have exploded with grief as they mourned their loss.  It was a bleak Friday.  Joy was overshadowed by dashed hopes and hearts.  But yet, they stuck together as they kept reaching, kept seeking, kept praying.  They didn't forsake the assembly of believers.  They encouraged, comforted, cried and communed together.

They were the church.

I love it when Jesus shows up.  The first thing he does when he sees their sad faces? He took away their fear.  "My peace is with you", Jesus said.  Peace drives out fear every time.  Hearts that were overshadowed with fear now illuminated His peace. There was no place for doubt and grief.  The believers conquered their desperation together. They looked to the One who conquered and rested in the fact that their risen Savior was alive and true.  

When life’s shadows slip in and leave you with fear and doubt, look to the One who gives peace and comfort.  Lean on your fellowship of community.  Rest and trust that God will show up and help you see Him shine with the eyes of your heart.  The shadows will soon disappear as He is revealed.      

Music Monday [He Said]

With Music Mondays, I try to pick a song that means a lot to me each week.  This week I chose Group 1 Crew's song "He Said". It will be a song that I will take with me especially this week, with some difficult circumstances ahead. Yeah, it's going to be rough one, with many things out of my control.

A lot of what happens in my life doesn't make sense. I would guess it's the same for you. This past week we have had a lot of break downs. Our central air unit quit. It was old. And to get it repaired it would cost $1000's.  So we had to opt for plan B.  Only Dave Ramsey has the kind of emergency fund that can replace big stuff at a moments notice. And because it happened on the warmest day of the spring at 91 degrees, we of course had to go get some quick replacements. In the process of getting the air conditioner units home, I lost my keys. Basically it was one of those days, when you ask..."why do these things keep happening?"

I have a missionary friend name Mitch Hildebrant that entered the hospital six weeks ago for a burst appendix. Since that incident, he has had one medical challenge after another. It has not been a normal recovery. Many prayers have been said and are continuing for his healing.  He too, along with his wife, are asking "why do these things keep happening?"

I have another friend who texted me to say, "I can't do it anymore." I have to wonder if she is asking "why do these things keep happening?"

Our TV broke this week too.  Big week for break downs. 

Many days life doesn't make sense. People hurt. People hurt others; people silently hurt and the bad things don't stop. Life marches on. We pray, we cry out to God, we pray some more. And life still brings another punch of broken things. And in our shattered lives God still wants us to trust.  We get to trust. We deal with trusting God. Trust.  We trust in the One who knows the big picture of our lives.  

I will never know why Mitch had to go through six plus weeks of medical procedures. Sometimes I don't understand the constant struggles with mechanical stuff that keeps breaking around my house. There are a lot of times that I don't get what God is trying to show me through His purposes when I am going through life's tough times. It doesn't make sense.

But....through all of these life struggles, I do know that I have a Savior who loves me. Ps. 139 tells me that.

I have a Father who knows what I am going through. Ps. 46 gives me reassurance.  

I am comforted that when times get tough, the God of Joshua is also the same God who won't leave me, forsake me and gives me courage. The God of Moses, who led him and the Israelites, through the Red Sea on dry ground is my God today and the One who knows what the other side of the river bank holds.

So how do we move past all of these bad days? We have to deal with them somehow. We, I, you, we all need to remember who God is.  God is faithful.  He always has been, and He never changes.    

God loves. 

 Not for anything that we have done. God loves because it's His character. 

God is for us. 

Even when things don't appear to be working out like we think they should. 

God always accomplishes His purpose for our lives. 

God has His agenda and He wants to work His plan in your life. 

God is trustworthy.

God will calm your storms, but also as life's storms are raging 

He will calm you. 

God's peace replaces fear every time. 

 When we give Him our fears, He gives us His peace. 

God is faithful.  

God help us to stand tall, remember who you are.  

"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world."  1 John 4:4

The Bible tells me all these promises are true. He said....in His word and that's enough for me.

"Don't fear when you go through the fire 

Hang on when it's down to the wire 

Stand tall and remember what He said"

Five Minute Friday [Wisdom]

Einstein was a genius!

Solomon asked for one thing...wisdom.  
God gave him wisdom more than riches.  

Solomon was sought out by the wise for his wisdom.  
He wrote inspired wisdom in Proverbs.

Wisdom is at the heart of God.

David was wise to seek God's heart.  Wisdom lives there.  
It starts with the fear of the Lord.  See Proverbs 111:10

Wisdom is hidden inside His.

Paul prayed for wisdom and understanding.  Not only for himself but for others. Because he knew where it was kept and experienced it's worth.  
By doing so, he lived a life worthy of the gospel.  
Paul lived a life that pleased God.  
In praying for wisdom, he produced, grew in knowledge and gained strength,faith, trust, endurance, patience, peace, and joy.

Wisdom is knowledge and understanding.  
Seeking wisdom is the wise thing to do.  
Wisdom is relevant, keeps God close and it keeps us close to God.  
It is something to discover, uncover, and recover.  
It calms and restores fractured faith.  

Where is wisdom?  Start in Proverbs...it's wise reading.