Technical Difficulties.............

What can I say? I am having 'technical difficulties' at the moment. Unfortunately, my blog was deleted the other day, much to my dismay.  Now I am forced to redo much of the work I have done on it over the years. Also, my last post keeps 'disappearing' on me. Rather frustrating I must say. 

So please bear with me as I face these complications..................................................

Progress.....

The christian who spends their life focused on their 'progress' (can you say most christians version of sanctification) are like children who are in a rush to grow up and always want to be bigger and older, but then one day they get older and realized they missed out on enjoying the journey, and all the moments that come day in day out, and they regret it and wish to do it all over. Our christian walk is not about progress, it's about living the life we have been given. Enjoying all the moments the highs, the lows.......in no hurry to become better with age. Seeing life through the lens of progress can rob you of the very life you are meant to indeed enjoy, and to benefit from the actual process. 

We don't need to focus on growth or progress, it will happen. My kids often come down in the morning and I noticed that they look bigger to me. They actually grew overnight, but had no thought of growing, nor did they try to grow or worry about the fact that they would grow. It just happens as a natural outcome of being a child that will grow to maturity into an adult. So too, will the christian who Christ inhabits grow up into who they are in time naturally. No amount of worrying about growth will help their growth. 

So people, in the words of one of my favorite preachers, just chill out, relax and enjoy your Daddy God!!! 

Peace to all who may stop by!

Dead men moral??

This was Matthew's status on facebook the other day, "What good is it to make a dead man moral?"  A very appropriate question to ask I'd say...

I think we all learned at an early age (that is if we grew up in a good christian home), the very basic truth about how we were dead in our trespasses and sins. I mean that was the precursor verse to present the Gospel to people, was it not? However, I think we focus on the sins part and don't look at the part about how we were DEAD. (Dead man walking should be the title of our life's journey, until we encounter Christ, 'eh.) Oh, anyway, I certainly never understood that I was dead. All my life, I was dead in my trespasses and sins, had I known I was dead, I think I'd want to know how to get the life I needed to be ALIVE. Well, wouldn't you? 

Instead, all my life, I tried to figure out how to make my life work, all my life, people tried to tell me how to be a better christian, mother, wife, daughter, person, friend and so on. I tried and miserably failed. I couldn't make my life any better, cause I didn't understand my core need. LIFE!! Not my own life, one whose life was capable of pleasing God perfectly - Christ's life. 

Just today I read the following portion of a quote in someone's facebook status; "To grow as a Christian is to have this new life increase in strength & energy, making daily conquests over the old nature, extending itself and expelling the evil, ultimately bringing these affections, feelings, desires, and thoughts of the heart into subjection to Christ." 

Here's the problem, if we know we were dead in our trespasses and sins, our very nature was spiritually dead, and when we come to Christ and receive new life in Him and become a new creation - is there room for the old nature? No the bible tells us, that the old is gone and the new has come. He removed our heart of stone (dead, not alive) and gave us a heart of flesh (alive). We no longer have the old we have the new. We are certainly not walking around with 2 natures, trying to let the new nature stomp out the old one. The old one is gone, there is no battle of the natures going on inside us. DUH!!! 

^{Colossians 2 ~ 9}For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, ¹⁰and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. ¹¹In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, ¹²having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.

 ¹³When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, ¹⁴having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

²⁰Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: ²¹"Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? ²²These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. ²³Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. Col. 3 - ¹Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. ²Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. ³For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. ⁴When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Folks we do not live to be good, moral or better. We live to express the life of Christ that has been deposited within us, who is now our very life, our very identity. 

True Reality..........

Thinking, thinking, thoughts, thoughts. It seems as though I am forever in contemplation of some such thing or another. Today, my mind is swirling about some things after having a conversation with a lovely old friend. I think perhaps the spirit within me is trying to bust out again in words.  Words that bring life. 

My friend's sister is suffering from severe pain due to a rare form of lymes disease. Her body is starting to turn on her. It's scary for all involved. She has three small children to boot. She can't sleep well due to the pain she endures, she cannot do simple daily tasks. My heart goes out to her, I simply can't imagine, nor would I want to. I encouraged my friend as best I knew how, by pointing her to Christ and what he accomplished for us all, namely her sister in this time. She felt refreshed, thankfully, and I pray they all rest in Him during this difficult season. 

After this conversation I began to think and ponder yet again what our TRUE reality is. It's like this, do we believe God's truth is ultimate truth? Or do we let what we see and feel in the here and now to dictate truth to us? What if we could live so focused, so in tune, so fixed on the finality of what the cross accomplished that we were never phased by our flesh and by earthly problems? I mean really - what if? Can you imagine how that would dampen the enemies plans? Can you imagine how we would rise above every occasion and live as though we really are seated in heavenly places? 

Then I thought of the verse that goes something like this, "God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble, we shall not fear for the earth may give way and the mountains crumble into the sea."  So I thought about that verse and thought about how it would be to live as though we are so fixed in Him, so trusting in Him that even when the mountains fall around us, we will not falter in our belief, we will "Be still and know that He is God." 

So I thought of this dear woman as she must feel like her world is crashing around her and that at times must be ALL she can see ( much like my own situations this past week) and I realized how much we all need one another to walk alongside us and remind each other that we are in His safe and capable hands and to speak the truth that sets us free. We are indeed already provided for, already healed, already safe, already righteous, already alive in Him. We are so firmly fixed in the love of God, the vast wide all encompassing love and divine care and protection of our God. We truly can say, I shall not be moved. 

We, so need our brothers and sisters, to hold up our arms, much like Aaron and Hur did for Moses. I am so thankful for you all and for those who would point me to my true reality in Him. I want to be so fixed in that reality, so focused on the REAL TRUTH, that these earthly distractions fade into the distance and vanish from my mind. 

Now I must go and speak life and truth to my son, who is hating the pain he is still enduring. The remnants of the flu are attacking the muscles in his legs. I just heard him moan, "I hate this!"  

We just all need to be comforted time and time again - and HE is our comforter and will never leave us or give up on us, and constantly looks out for us. I just have to let that be my reality constantly!!! I am WHOLE in Him - I have no want or need. He is my all in all. 

Peace to all who may stop by today........................

He restores my soul..............

(Do you ever just want to write a post, but are not sure quite what it will be about? Or that what you write may not have any relevance to anything, but yet you just want to write anyway? That's how I am feeling today, I just want to express myself in some form or fashion, so here goes.) 

After my terrible horrible no good very bad day on Tuesday after an accumulation of trials and difficulties from the previous week, and then on Wednesday finding out my son probably had the swine flu (eh hem, that would be the N1H1 flu/virus - oh whatever), things started to shift in the heavenlies. I won't go into all the details, BUT God's kind hand of provision has faithfully been shown to me yet again. Not once, but twice, as if the first means he brought along wasn't wonderful enough (think financially rescued for a whole month), he met yet a second need. You see I am in a pickle these days, and just yesterday, I had $30 for food to last me and four boys for 10 days. That certainly wasn't going to work. WELL, I am happy to say, God sent a lovely gift to me last night. A knock on the door and a lovely gift card to my favorite local market, Trader Joe's. How perfectly cool was that? Double provision. I was quite tickled I must say. So I found myself saying, bring it on!! Ha ha, when days prior I was laughing at all the calamity in my life, saying bring it on! Hee hee, God is too good like that. He loves to show me that He's got me covered.  More than just covered actually, he has me so that I have not any want. Think about that! I am not in want - if only I could live in that and if only my emotions would let me believe this! 

Much like the psalmist writes in Psalm 23 - I feel as though I have lived in that Psalm this very week. And I now really can see that I have no want in Him. I love that! I was weary this week and He came and showed me the reality of the truth of this very Psalm. 

 ¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

 ² He makes me lie down in green pastures, 

       he leads me beside quiet waters,

 ³ he restores my soul. 

       He guides me in paths of righteousness 

       for his name's sake.

 ⁴ Even though I walk 

       through the valley of the shadow of death, 

       I will fear no evil, 

       for you are with me; 

       your rod and your staff, 

       they comfort me.

 ⁵ You prepare a table before me 

       in the presence of my enemies. 

       You anoint my head with oil; 

       my cup overflows.

 ⁶ Surely goodness and love will follow me 

       all the days of my life, 

       and I will dwell in the house of the LORD 

       forever.

It's so cool how the word is like a diamond, and when you look at it again and again you see it in a different light.  Well just this morning I was again thinking about how I have been walking through the valley of the shadow of death, more like a valley with dark clouds all around me and no light coming through. I know I said this before, but I really do take great comfort that I am walking through, and that He is ever with me. It's like I really can face everything that comes my way, I really don't have to fear. I can rest in the midst of the difficulties. I really can. I may grow tired and weary and 'feel' overwhelmed, but know in my spirit I am in wonderful hands no matter what.  

I always used to think of the 'rod' as a implement to inflict pain. However the shepherd's rod is used to protect the sheep, not inflict pain. How does having pain inflicted comfort one?? Anyway, I realized today, as I contemplated this Psalm, and light bulbs came on and a much richer fuller depth of meaning and impact came over me - the rod was used to protect and guide the sheep. The Hebrew word for rod that is used is "shabat." A shabat is specifically the rod used by a shepherd in caring for sheep. The shabat has five common practical uses: 1) it is the symbol of the shepherd's guardianship of the sheep; 2) it can be thrown with great accuracy just beyond the wandering sheep to send the animal scurrying back to the flock; 3) the shabat can be used to ward off an intruder and protect the sheep from any animals which may attack; 4) the sheep are counted as they "pass under the rod;" 5) it is used to part the wool in order to examine the sheep for disease, wounds or defects which may be treated. There is no evidence that the rod is ever used to physically strike the sheep. That lines up with the God I now know. The God of comfort. Yes, that comforts me to know. Okay, so not only is He with me, He is armed and ready to protect me. I love knowing that. Sometimes, I feel so separate from Him in a way I don't know His ways and what He will do. But I am never separated from Him, never! He always goes after His sheep to keep them safe and cared for. 

I also thought about how cool it is, that He prepares a table for me in the presence of my enemies. I may have opposition in my life in various forms, but He is saying to me, here come and sit and rest and let me serve you a feast. He is not phased one bit by my enemies. 

I know what it is like when he makes me lie down in green pastures and leads me beside still waters, because truly he has restored my soul time and time again. But listen to the next line,I just can't get over this -  "He leads me in paths of righteousness, for His name's sake."  He leads me!! Just like we know that the Holy Spirit leads us into all truth! Even the psalmist knew this truth and he lived in the O.C.  I just love the theme of this whole psalm!! He initiates, He blesses, He protects, He comforts - He does it all! We have everything!! 

I am grateful for the reminder the Spirit brought to my heart, that I really have goodness and love on my side all the days of my life! I really can trust that my Good Shepherd and Daddy will care for me in every area of my life and abundantly so. I am grateful that he restored my soul today!!!

Reflections in the midst...........

Here I sit in the midst of a lot of muck. I most certainly am not stuck in the muck, for I know I have a Father who will take care of me. Yet I am amidst a plethora of ridiculous circumstances that are trying to consume me. It's as if all of hell is trying to take me down. Not loving that! It's hard not to feel the overwhelmingness of it all, I must admit. Add in PMS, a stolen car, plumbing problems, a loved one deceased and massive financial issues, and much more -  well you get the picture. The worst part of it all is the words and actions of one who relentlessly torments me, all in the name of love. Nice!

Dark massive clouds are looming over me. Yesterday, all I could see were the dark clouds and I felt low and weary. Condemnation was trying to reel me into a place I did not want to be. How dare it try and touch my heart and mind - there is no condemnation for me. NONE! 

But despite the fact that all I see and feel in the natural is trial and challenge, I can still remain in peace. I may not always act on that peace. I have to talk to myself and remind me of who I am and whose I am, and just who it is that is keeping me. Renew my mind and remember how faithful my daddy is and how he has always always delivered me. I may want to despair, or lean on my own understanding, but His spirit within me speaks the soft reminders, "I am carrying you, I am with you, I will prevail, I have good plans for you to prosper you and not to harm you, you are precious to me, you matter immensely and no weapon formed against you will prosper, anyone who takes up a sword against you will have to deal with ME!!" 

He never judges me, or condemns me with His words or His actions. He never points out my faults or makes me feel like I can't come boldly to Him. Nothing will separate me from Him. Our relationship is ROCK SOLID. Thanks to who He is, I can confidently live in a peace that passes all understanding. He guards my life, my heart, my mind, my soul, for I am in Christ and He is in me. My feelings, though they can seem all consuming, do not lead or drive me - it is Christ as my source, my life, my all that guides me safely through this life of difficulty. Yeah though I walk THROUGH  the valley, I shall fear no evil. I take comfort that I am walking through. He is leading me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. He continues to remain faithful even if and when I may want to become despondent and despair and give up. He leads me into ALL TRUTH. I just love that! How refreshingly wonderful it is to have at least one perfect relationship in this life - well at least His side of the relationship will never fail, and I can always depend on Him. ALWAYS!!! Wow! What a relief! And all of this is of Him. Not me or what I do. How good is that? I can seemingly fail, but yet not fail, because I have the perfect righteousness of Christ. That IS love. 

Imagine a  human relationship, where even when you do something to your spouse that is not so great, he says, "I find no fault in you. You are never wrong. You are perfect."  Even if you get good and mad at him, and scream obscenities at him, he will say, "I love you dearly, here come close and let me love on you for awhile." 

My how that softens ones heart. Once I again I am amazed at His great love for me, simply by how He responds to me. Even though my circumstances are still swirling about, I can rest in His arms knowing such peace, such comfort. Truly there is no greater love than this!!! 

My Heart's Song............

Before the sun sets to end another day

That fades into the memory of another yesterday

I want to take this time I have right now

To say that I love you so

The truth that I have finally come to realize

Is that life on this earth is so fragile

Just a vapor in the mist of time's eternalness

And every day with you a gift from God

So with this simple song

Hear the words of love from my heart as I say

I wanna walk this road of life with you

Hand in hand side by side 

I wanna grow old with you

I wanna climb the heights with you

Cross the raging floods with you

I wanna dance this dance of love with you my friend

And though this path that we've travelled on

Has at times been bitter-sweet

I wouldn't change it for anything

I'm still thanking God for giving you to me

And with many more miles to go

Hear the words of my heart's song as I say

I wanna walk this road of life with you

Hand in hand side by side

I wanna grow old with you

I wanna climb the heights with you

Cross the raging floods with you 

I wanna dance this dance of love with you my friend

~ Michelle Bass