Spiritual stretch marks

Photo cred:  Kerri Weems

Have you ever had those days where it feels like you woke up on the wrong side of the bed?  The very first person that looks at you the wrong way, only makes you want to crawl into a hole and sleep for a long winter's nap?

Everyone has those days.  Outside of coffee cheering you up quickly I have only had one remedy that works effectively.  Stepping outside your comfort zone from the fear of man and step into a deepened fear of the Lord.  When everything on the inside feels undone, and it's been hours since you laughed out loud, and there is something gnawing on the inside that keeps you worn thin, you have to take action.

Every edge of me was frazzled and frayed.
  

No one likes change.  It's hard, uncomfortable and awkward.  God has changed my perspective on change however.  For me it is more uncomfortable my bury head in the sand.  I would rather attack a problem and deal with it to move past the issue.  God has shown me that His changes are always for my own good and are great opportunities to trust Him more with the places in me that still need a touch of His grace.

I've been the lady who just needed to touch the hem of robe of Jesus.  Spiritually speaking I needed some healing from a low-self esteem that was fed by some false humility.  I'd been wearing myself out a little over the years. Oh I wish we could swap stories and trophies about the things we've learned in the past year.

Ok, I'll start...

Perhaps it's because the dark times, the parts of our hearts that God hasn't touched yet that makes me appreciate the breakthroughs. We all have negative emotions from the past. Once we let go of those emotions, they are supernaturally redeemed and pave the way for the new fresh positive emotions. Perhaps it's in our sadness that God gives us His joy that is only complete when there is such a deep need for it.

New life in your spirit is where you need a makeover. And stretching you out of your comfort zone can bring a fresh filling of God's Spirit. When we look at our own needs through the lens of someone else's God brings a healing that you never knew you needed.

I write what I wrestle with. So journaling helps to sort out my uncomfy thoughts and lay them before the God, who waits with anticipation for us to release our grip on them. Is your past occupying too landscape in your thoughts?  It can do that so easily.

Our hearts are like layers that peel away slowly. This might be uncomfortable to talk about but what I know about comfort zones are they make good festering places for bitterness and unforgiveness bury deep and cover up a lot of guilt and shame.  

Growth takes place in the areas we allow God's healing to enter in.

How long have you been standing on those hills, those hills that feels like a part of you died on? God doesn't leave anything left for dead. He regenerates and restores. He renews and refreshes. God has already taken your place on that hill, stood in for you against your past to get you past those pebbles, stones, or even boulders that keeps tripping you. Only Jesus can bring an avalanche of grace and mercy forth to let all those negative thought patterns slide away.

Let the Spirit breathe truth and new life into those parts that still need the light of His love. What I know about God's love is that it is the most comfortable place you can go and there is always growth where love is sown.

I don't know where you are in all of this. We all have our pasts, we all have been hurt, and some of us have no one to turn to as trusted support that will hear your story. You may be fighting it hard today in pressing back the dark. Maybe you have been afraid to confront your past because it hurts too much. Maybe you just need a good nap. But there is someone reading this right now that needs to know that when you look at your past through the lens of God's unfailing love He will show you not the hurts you have suffered but the places where he wants to heal you to the depths that only HE knows you need.

God is not our accuser.   He is our Healer.

A year ago I prayed a simple prayer that reversed a lot of negative to become a whole lot of positive. This past year has been one full of spiritual stretch marks. And the knowledge I've gained isn't really about how I've learned but how I have applied the disciplines.  Living free a deep spiritual knowledge has brought me long the way in my healing. It took a lot of courage to get outside of myself to take a long hard look.

God has all the courage we need to make His greater changes. Courage is basic to living free and is composed of three parts - fierce hope and fearless faith and God sized love that takes our breathe away.

How do you start this kind of ripple effect that can propel you out of your state of feeling stuck and momentum towards God in a positive way? You simple lay your soul before God and ask how you need to change. In praying that you are opening yourself up to what takes more of the Holy Spirit to accomplish.  The Holy Spirit has been waiting to have His way in you. You have to make the first move to step out to find out. If you have to, even use your hands to reach out, stretching them towards heaven.

There is a part in a movie "The Croods" that hits me every time. If you haven't seen this movie, watch it. It's all about breathing in courage and conquering one fear one step at a time. The story line is of a  caveman family where the dad leads a survivalist trek across unknown territory with a courage he needed but never knew he had until he had to use it to save his family.  He has to go way out of his comfort zone to find it by conquering fears and gaining strength and confidence along the way. His daughter, Eve, has an intense hunger for courage and is a bit of a risk taker.  The part that speaks to me is at the first of the movie where she simply reaches to touch a outside world that she always believed existed.

I like reaching for God's way of courage.

We all have fears, we all have a past, we all are fearful of moving out of our comfort zones. But friends let me tell you it is the best way to live free because what you find at the end of your fear is more courage than you could ever need.  Let your hand reach out to find freedom from the hurts, the words, the pain, and plaguing problems as you reach for God's answers. Don't be afraid and get sucked back into darkness because of doubt that it's not for you too. Breaking free of your past is worth it. Every part of freedom is waiting to reach through from the other side and give you a gentle tug to the heart.

It's one thing to know freedom, but it's a whole new level to live free. Healing is what's quietly waiting for you and comes in the most unsuspecting way. Trusting God with those hurt places lets the breath of God invade your life....breathe in His healing that awaits...take in the light of His love in His living Word.

"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners." Isaiah 61:1

Letting the Holy Spirit have His way in you is the surest way out of a dark place and receive the light of God's healing.  God will bring more rejuvenation and a joy you've longed for.  

It's running in the rhythm of His grace, His divine tempo for you.  What is stopping you?

My fear was frozen until I let it go

Me and my flying friend, Jenny.

I was so excited to spend the girl’s weekend with her.  I had missed her since she moved miles away to another state, and it had been months since we really talked.  We wanted to make a new memory to continue our faithful friendship.  I landed on her doorstep full of giggles and grins.  We stayed up late into the night swapping stories and sharing tears.

Saturday was packed with laughter and cupcakes plus shopping at quaint corners, lattes and an adventurous zip-lining trip.  I wasn't sure about the last event but she reassured me there was no need to worry.  I had to trust her word to let go of the anxiety that secretly gripped my heart.

I’m a little afraid of heights but more afraid of letting go.

Ever had one of those girlfriends that when you haven’t talked to her months you can pick up right where you left off?  On the next day, she set out to make my fear disappear.  “You will love this.”  I wanted to be brave… for her and for me.

God spoke the moment I started to let go of my anxious questions.

On our way to the top of the course, He said, “Stay the course, hold tight.”  
When we were harnessed and tethered by our guide, “I am your Guide.”  
When my tension mounted and I sensed apprehension from the other first time zippers, “Just let go.” 

“Be strong, hold on, I am here, let go.”

The first run of the course, my dear brave friend went before me, showing me her fearless smile.  Then it was my turn to be brave.  As my feet were over the edge, I looked down, and gulped hard.  I imagined jumping off a ledge to a great fall but in reality I only had to sit back into the harness.  

I just had to lean on the harness, trust in the hold, and let go of my fear.  I flew like a bird.  

“Be strong, hold on, I am here, let go.  Trust Me, see my freedom on the fly."  I landed safely to the next platform in the course and my heart filled with assurance and exuberance as I let out a just a little scream of victory!  My fear was gone!  I trusted the harness.

We indeed made a brave memory as I replaced my fear with my trust in the harness.

So it is in our spiritual journey, we must trust God, and let His grace and love hold us.  Our Guide desires our complete trust and dependence.  We have to let go of our fears and have faith in His promises.  As we let go, we will fly on His mercy that maps our course, soaring strong and confident, trusting in our harness of Hope.

Joshua 1:9  "This is my command - be strong and courageous!  Do not be afraid or discouraged.  For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."  

I am trusting in His hold on my heart, my hope, my future, and my today.  He holds my world in His hands.

That's small potatoes

Photo Credit:  Lizard

Fear sometimes pushes me to failure or disappointment.  In this 131 lb-weight-loss journey, I have a new challenge.  I have to keep my "what if" doubts and fears at arm's length, and rely on my God infused-strong, self-controlled commitment close by.    

When doubt pushes it's way into my heart, the weak and tender places, it can be crushed by fear from my oh so many questions:

What if I allow myself one bite too many?
What if I keep eating chocolate cake and can't stop?
What if I start loving food more than I love God again?
What if I can't trust myself around food ever?  
What if I can't stay at my goal weight?
What if I fail you in this weight loss expectation thing?
What if my personal failures cause you to fail too?
What if I stop obeying God in the area of making healthy choices?

Man...I didn't know that this losing weight gig could be so complicated!

At this point...I have to turn my Titantic-sized-load of worry into many points of resistance, using the negatives to become God's greatest opportunities.  These looming giant-sized questions have no place in my thinking if I am to continue in right oobedience of a healthy lifestyle.  I must consistently press on towards the goal of making healthy choices each and every day, no matter what.  The hard work of resistance grinds on.

The tension of "what if's" has to continue to push me through to obedience.

So here's a new question:

Does resistance asks all the wrong questions?  And the even bigger shiny question is...  

What’s blocking my courage to look at the temptation in the face and grabbing it by the throat and showing it's who's boss?  

Food holds no power over me anymore.  But the fear of going back to my heaviest does.

Is that what you need today?  A little more courage to look at your giant temptation?  To look at your fears, to kick your fears in the gut and say...

Look...if God is for me, what's to stop me from using resistance to take the next step of courage?

Resistance keeps knocking repeat on the fear button. Ahem.....

So...this is my call out to the enemy known as failure!  Scootch over you looming giants disguised as doubt and weakness that ebb and flow through my thinking, those that call loudly for dominion in my heart!  

Don't let fear's voice roar to a loud chorus within your soul to keep you from obeying what God is calling you to do.  Let your fear be the catalyst to move you to action to obey Him.

My disobedience matters to God.  And my knowing the difference between the pros and cons of consequences matters to me.  Staying healthy matters to God, and therefore it matters to me too.  It's time to put this fear to rest.

So the next time fear knocks hard with questions and asks:

Do I have what it takes?  ...Answer back with ..."no, but God does".

Does behaving myself around food matter?  "Yes".  It matters.  Because food won't behave for you.  Only God can give you the strength to walk away from the dinner table.  

Is God's strength enough to fight off the biggest piece of Wall-O-China chocolate cake?   

....Yes, that's small potatoes to Him.  

If we are living in total dependence on His How's, we won't have to succumb to our questions and food-fears.  

We can put fear to death, we can put fear to rest, we can bury our fears in His chest.  We can, because God can handle them all.  And God can handle your questions too.  He helps us figure the hows, the whats, the whens along the way of resistance.

So back to that word, how can resistance be a positive?  It helps us face the imperfect solutions by embracing God's perfection.  Once we submit our wills to obey His perfect Authority, there really is no resistance now is there?

Now do something today that makes you laugh at fear and makes you laugh hard.  Stepping into your dreams isn't always meant for the weekends.  

How do you handle temptations? 

Father Knows Best

Watch out sparrow I have my eye on you!

God sent a visual reminder of His presence and it wasn't in a piece of toast or a potato chip.  Here's what happened...the other day I saw God in a sparrow.


This past weekend my husband Terry and I were having one of those discussions about "what-would-happen-if-this-happened" conversations.  You know...those uncomfortable conversations you don't really like to have unless you have all the answers.  Guess what...there were no answers.  


As a realist and as a fixer, you can imagine that the "no-answer" to the question went down a little hard.  It seemed I had opened a can of worms.   But as we continued to discuss, we reassured each other that we would have to trust God for the "no-answer". The answers we were looking for are buried in a huge step of faith.   

We would just have to trust...God.  

Next I opened my Bible and read Matthew 6:25-34 which again reminds me that God is in control and is faithful.  God doesn't change.  Don't forget that. 

"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? 

"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.  Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?  So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.  But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Refreshed in His promise tucked in truth, we both looked out the window at the same time and there we saw a little sparrow looking in the window at us.  It was odd really, because birds don't sit for long, well maybe on high wires and in trees.  Very rarely do they come in close like that.  We looked at the sparrow, and he looked back at us.  We stared as he stared.  Time stood still.


He looked back at us to say... 
Do I look like I am lacking?
My song is strong.  
My fine feathers cover.
My wings have sufficient strength. 
My belly is full...quite plump actually.
I have enough, you will have enough.


He tweeted...."trust and obey" over and over and over like a melodious chorus.  It was a spirit-filled interval that refreshed our souls.  It was like a direct touch from God at just the right moment.  So calming and peaceful.


There in the middle of our unanswered questions and what seemed like a fear-filled future, God met us face to face with his visual tender care of the sparrow.  We had let eggs of fear and doubt nest into our faith.  Fear rages war against our trust in God.  But God offers peace in every situation.  We need to receive His peace and fight the fears that hatch.  God takes care of even the smallest of birds with such care.  He will take care of us more than those.  There is nothing that He can't handle for me today AND tomorrow because He already knows what we need.  He knows... 


So matter what you are struggling with today, whatever trust issue, whatever area of your life, know that God cares intimately and intently on each and every detail.  There really are no worries if we give them all to God who already knows what we need.  He knows what is best.  Always.


Our Father in Heaven knows the answers, the solutions, the fixes, the remedies, the "whatever can-of-worm situations". He knows...the desired outcomes, He knows whats best for you, and for me.  He knows...

I find peaceful refuge in the assurance that when I seek Him, I find Him.  

And when I find Him, I know He has His eye on this sparrow.  

It's not a step of faith if you know where you are going to land.

Where is God trying to grow your trust? 

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"

Music Monday [Always]

I love the truth that lives in these lyrics by Kristian Stanfill.  If anyone tells you life as a Christian is easy, it's not true.  And really...it shouldn't be.  If it was, then we wouldn't need God.  God knows just what we need, when we need it, and how we need.  I am thankful that God is always for us.  When trouble surrounds me, this song surrounds me with truth.


In my walk there are many foes.  When they rise up against me, I must remember that God is for me.  When things don't make sense I must trust.  When there are storms, I ask God to calm them, but many times instead, He calms me and leads me through them.  I have learned to lean on and lean in. 


Nothing else works as well as God does.  He is my help...always.


Oh sure there are times of fear, weak faith, and doubt but one thing I do know...God's promises are true and right.  He will come through on His time, on His schedule, and for my good.  There are times of wait that I don't need to understand.  But I do need to know that I am not alone.  I need to know that God will not desert me in my desert.  He is my help.  He is Faithful.

Oh, my God, He will not delay
My refuge and strength always
I will not fear, His promise is true
My God will come through always, always
These lyrics help me keep my eyes on Him, and the troubles of this world soon fade.  Whatever is clamoring for your attention isn't as important as who God is.  God is for us and God is good.  Always. 


Remember His Goodness.  Always.

Simply Put

Get on the horn and make your pledge!  Come 'on!

Many of you know that we are in the middle of our annual Pledge Drive for The House FM and My Praise FM.  There are a lot of words I could say to compel you to give.  But really... just a few are needed.


Today...we prayed for you.


That's it in a nutshell.  As a staff...we prayed for you.  We thanked God for those of you who have already pledged.  We prayed for those who hadn't pledged yet.  We prayed that you would to listen to what God was telling you give.  We prayed for you to be obedient to His voice.  We prayed for new pledgers that you wouldn't let fear get in the way of making a pledge.  Yes, we stopped and prayed for you.


We prayed "Surprise Us God".  


We are not worried, fretting or wringing our hands wondering if we will meet our goal.  There is no need.  God has provided in the past and God will again provide.  But how He provides is the exciting part.  He wants to involve you.  


When you support the ministry, you are supporting His work.  His work in your home, your family, your community, your church, your neighborhood, your school, in you.  You are doing what God has called us all to do and that is to go and make disciples of all nations.  

When you support, you are involved in His holy work, God's holy calling.  

Simply put you have the opportunity to get involved in something holy, in changed lives, in making a difference, for what matters most.    

Yesterday, a caller asked for prayer.  Pat accepted Christ by phone.  Today Heaven is still celebrating over Pat's decision.  You can be involved in God's plan for pledge drive today.  Simply put...God has holy plans.  Please call and pledge your support.  Will you?  800-324-8488.

We are praying for you.

The Sisterhood of The Pink Pants

My Pink Pant Sisterhood

Everybody needs a good friend...or two.   
God brings friends in our path to help us along our journeys.  We need each other!  

It was a cold day.  I stomped up the stairs disgusted with myself because I was late.

She greeted me with a smile and a bowl of homemade stew.  It was comfortable here.
We sat...we ate...she listened as my heart spewed.  She caught every word.

I can't get past that she cares so much.    She has been steadfast and unwavering in helping me discover my dreams.  Even though we haven't spoken of it...she is committed.

That's what pink-pants do..
listen and encourage.  


She cultivates growth.

In her pink pants, she tells me it's safe to let others inside.  The Enemy speaks of fear.  I fear judgment and scrutiny.  
I fear when I leave the door of my heart open.

I fear you will hate the ugly parts.

I fear your gaze.

"Be you" she says.  I don't have anything special to say, but God does.

Can we do life together?  Will you listen to my stories?  Do you care that much?

I have a fear of writing the end of this story.  She reminds me that all of the stories in the Bible are of people on the move.  There is God's movement in my heart and that makes me want to share with you.

She has tucked the fleece away for safe keeping.  No more questions.  
No more sowing seeds of mistrust.  

In the pink-pants circle of safeness I confess my fears.  She couches Truth to empower my thoughts.  She pages through my thoughts and 

doesn't wince.

Her pink pants boast hearts that are splattered and scattered.  Just like my many heart pieces.  She is like family.  We have a heart connection that goes deep.  Her heart-splattered-pink pants speak of softness and embrace my emotions.  She understands my deep feelings as they are tucked inside her confidentiality.

I bare my soul and she doesn't shudder.  She patiently listens in her pink pants and adds her well timed wisdom.  She interjects her thoughts and weaves them into mine.  She brings perspective to a view that is clouded.  She helps bring clarity.

The pink patterned pants were a comfort pick.  She loves my heart for what it is.  Her words of encouragement and constructive criticism are always welcome.

I am forever grateful as I bounce words off of the pink pants wonder...she lets my harsh words fall off.  There's no room for the negative.

 She won't destroy purpose.  She shields and protects me from myself.  She inspires.

We are moving on this together, women on the move….tucked into God's heart as 
we bare ours with each other.

I am grateful for my pink pants-God-loving sista'.

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.  Proverbs 17:17

Who's your go-to person you trust?