Reality and Experience

These two things are not synonymous. Reality is not determined by what is experienced. And what we experience isn't always a product of reality. Because I'm a word freak, I will give you the definition of reality, because that will make what I'm trying to say make sense (I hope).

Reality:
- something that truly exists
- something that exists independently of all other things and from which all other things derive
- something that constitutes a real or actual thing, as distinguished from something that is merely apparent

For those of us who believe in God and have put our hope and trust for salvation and life in Jesus Christ, we know that there is "something that exists independently of all other things and from which all other things derive", namely, God himself - who he is, what he says and what he does. God is reality. Therefore, the things that we believe because we know God, are the things that make up our reality. These are the "things that constitute the real or actual thing, as distinguished from something that is merely apparent". The things that are merely apparent are the things that can be seen.

The problem is, however, that if we look at around us, the things we see can be perceived as reality. In fact, the things we perceive through the normal 5 senses are how we have been taught to experience the world. If we can see, taste, smell, hear, and feel something, then we believe that it must be "real". And likewise, if we can't see, feel, taste, hear, smell it, if it isn't part of our experience, then it is not "real". The danger in this is that we begin to believe that what we experience determines what we think is reality, instead of the other way around.

For the Christian, it has to be the other way around. Reality (God himself and what he says is true) must determine what we experience. For example, if I know that God loves me no matter what, I can experience his love even if those around me are not treating me in a loving way. If we are basing what we think is real on what we experience, the bad behavior of those around us can lead us to believe that we are not lovable, or worse, that God is not loving.

May the truth and reality become more and more what you experience every day. Part of this process is becoming more and more aware of what the truth is. Get to know God. Get to know his word. You may be surprised by what reality, in reality, is real.

God speaks in many ways

Last night I dreamed again of the dream I had the night before. As I was sleeping, I was exploring the meaning of the dream I had the previous night. The best way I can explain this is that in my dream I was interacting with God about my dream and He was unfolding what it meant. Very interesting!

I have learned to recognize dreams as a way in which God talks to me. Most often the imagery that is projected on the underside of my eyelids is not to be interpreted literally. Rather, it is symbolic language...a puzzle to be solved...with word play... association. It causes me to ask questions of God and dialogue further with Him about what He wants me to get; what He wants me to understand.

Why wouldn't He just plainly come out and say whatever He wants to say? Well... we have a way of believing what we believe and forming a world view that runs so deep that we see everything through the lenses of our world view. Sometimes our way of seeing things - the way we evaluate life or situations - needs to be challenged because it simply isn't the way that God sees it, and it's not the way that He wants us to view things either. So God, intricately knowing us - our upbringing, culture, education, personalities, past experiences - captures our attention with sometimes very bizarre dreams that we just can't seem to shake and continue to ponder. Often these dreams occur repeatedly with slight variations but seemingly the same theme. These are the dreams that I take to God. We work through them together... and I often also ask for the godly wisdom of friends/family.

In Acts chapter 10 we read the story of how God speaks to Cornelius and how He speaks to Peter. With Cornelius, God speaks plainly with specific details. The message is clear...no symbolic language here. With Peter though, the vision God gave to Peter probably felt to him like a nightmare considering the Jewish law and culture that Peter lived in and loved. Let's look at this story and see how God got through to Peter. Peter needed a new world view so he could freely follow God in the calling God had for him.

Click on the link below. (This saves me typing out the whole chapter and also introduces you to the Bible Gateway web site I like to use when writing a post.)

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=51&chapter=10&version=31

Father, open our hearts and minds to hear You as You speak. We hear Your voice as we delight in the beautiful creation You have made for us, we hear You through Your Word, we hear Your voice through those who love You, through music and art... so many ways in which You speak. May we learn to trust You to even speak through dreams and visions, for You are completely faithful and trustworthy and give good gifts to your children.

"Do you want to get well?"

I was reading this morning in John, chapter 5...

"Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie... the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"

"Sir, the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."

"Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk. At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked."

"Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you. The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

As I read these portions of scripture this morning... it reminded me of the people I know who have had a sickness that has lasted for years. After a while, some resign themselves into thinking that, "life will never change." And then, there are those who I have known, that have had a terminal sickness and yet were excited to see a new morning everyday, no matter the extent of the pain they were feeling. I know at least two people whom I loved who faced death with a heart of gratitude for the new day they were given. One tried to think of ways she could bless her family after she died... she planned her funeral with excitement and celebration. She purchased gifts for them and had the store call the family on a certain day after she had died and told them to come and pick them up. So, about a week after her death, her husband and children sat around the living room and opened gifts that she had bought and read cards and letters that she had written to them.

What I think is worse than physical sickness, is the sickness that grows in the heart. This man had been like this for 38 years. He was accustomed to his sickness. Jesus knew that healing this man would completely change his life. That is why he asked him if he wanted to get well. After he healed him, he told the man, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse will happen to you." I am inclined to think that an accident of some sort changed the course of this man's life because Jesus told him he was "well again." It is possible that the man woke up every morning with bitterness and resentment or even anger in his heart... Maybe he was irritable to the people around him, and demanding. Jesus knew the sins of his heart.

Jesus knows how we wake up every morning... the things we carry in our hearts. What are those things doing to us. How easy it is to remember the physical healing in our lives and yet still carry the roots of bitterness, anger, envy, or resentment. When Jesus heals us, he desires to heal all of us, not just our physical sickness. As a matter of fact, He is more concerned about our inner being. I am thankful for the examples of love and forgiveness I have seen in the lives of people who have inspired me over the years and lead me to a closer relationship with Jesus.

What are you waiting for Jesus to do in your life? What hurts do you need to lay at His feet? Oh! What a wonderful Savior! He is willing and waiting...

The Bully

I just woke up from a dream...not a happy one, mind you...just, a kind of wierd one.

I was trying to help someone and these three bullies showed up and were trying to stop me.

In my dream, I knew they couldn't hurt me but they were chasing me, and saying things to try and scare me. My heart rate was up and I did feel a bit scared and intimidated. They never caught me but they were still after me when I suddenly woke up.

I can still feel my little heart beating....or it could be the coffee that tastes so good reviving my senses. I think it's a little of both.

The second I woke up from my dream, I was reminded of the verse in John where Jesus is talking about the evil one.

John 10:10

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy..."

Peter also describes the evil one.

Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

1 Peter 5:8

You know...when you belong to Jesus...the evil one can't touch you...but he can sure do his best to try and scare you, intimidate you, sew seeds of fear and worry and doubt....he also likes to lie to you and bring up things from the past...he'll try anything really, to try and stop you from following Jesus and from keeping your focus and trust in Jesus.

The first part of those verses I shared with you...tell us who is trying to hurt us or who the bully is...the second part of those verses give us hope and direction, and the Holy Spirit himself, gives us the power to stand our ground as we stand strong on the Truth.

In the rest of John 10:10, Jesus says,

"....I came that they (that's us) may have life and have it abundantly." (italics mine)

1 Peter 5:7-9 says

...casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

If you're struggling, sister....you're not alone. You may think you're alone, you may feel that you're alone...but you're not.

Jesus is right beside you...ready to walk with you through the journey that you're on. The evil one is going to try and tell you all kinds of things to distract you and to breed worry and fear and untruth...just like a bully trying to get in the way of where you're going or what you're doing.

But you listen to the truth. Get your mind soaking in God's truth so that when you hear lies and deception...you will be able to see it for what it is.

Ephesians 6:10-17

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God.

What do you want?

These vultures from Disney's Jungle Book remind me of me sometimes. If you've seen the movie, you'll remember that they are looking for something to do. It goes like this:

Buzzie: Hey Flaps, so what we going to do?
Flaps: I don't know, whatcha wanna do?
Buzzie: Look Flaps, first I say "what we going to do?" then you say "I don't know, what'cha wanna do?" then I say "what we going to do?" then you say "whatcha wanna do." Let's do something.
Flaps: Ok. Whatcha wanna do?

Ever been in a situation like that? I have many times, and that is why I can relate to these vultures. In these kinds of situations, either I really didn't care what was done, or I had no idea what I wanted, or I knew what I really wanted but was too concerned with the preferences of the others, or I felt that to say what I wanted was being selfish. In the end, my desires were not voiced and we never did anything I wanted to do.

Why is it so hard sometimes to just say what we want? There are probably many reasons why we find it difficult (for me I think it's because as a wife or mom and a Christian at that, I have been programmed to put the needs and desires of others before my own, which is not a bad thing in itself), but I think it's important to be able to do it. If we can't or don't say what we really want, we most likely won't get it. And the more specific we can be, the better.

How about in prayer? Are you able to tell God what you really want? Sometimes even that is difficult. It's easy to be vague, "Lord help me," but harder to be specific. Even though he knows what we want before we ask, he still wants us to ask. Consider this story from the book of Matthew:

And as they went out of Jericho, a great crowd followed him. And behold, there were two blind men sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was passing by, they cried out, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" The crowd rebuked them, telling them to be silent, but they cried out all the more, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!" And stopping, Jesus called them and said, "What do you want me to do for you?" They said to him, "Lord, let our eyes be opened." And Jesus in pity touched their eyes, and immediately they recovered their sight and followed him.

He asked them to be specific. Having mercy on someone could mean many things. "What do you want me to do for you?" Then he did what they asked.

Jesus asks the same question today. "What do you want me to do for you?" Have you told him what you want? If you don't know what you really want, ask him. That's what I need to do. Sometimes I just don't know what I really want. What you want matters to him. And think about it. If you are specific and he gives you what you ask for, won't you love him more? Won't he be amazing to you? Won't you feel his love for you? Won't you want to tell someone what he did?

So watcha wanna do?

Last week I spent some quiet time with God as I hadn’t been able to do that for quite some time as there is a lot happening in my house. I opened my bible and my devotional talked about beauty and the time we spend as women to make ourselves presentable. I stood there for the 45 minutes I take to get ready in the morning and had my eyes opened to reality. Each day I wake up, I find the energy and time to take a shower, blow dry my hair, put on makeup, choose my clothing and my shoes. During that 45 minutes I am so rushed and focused on my appearance, making sure things are right for the day. My eyeliner smears a little too far and it’s a minor detail that I take the extra time to go back and clear with a Q-tip.

Do I make time for God in the morning?

My morning is so jam packed that I find time for myself but do I find time for God?

When I opened this devotional, it was just what I needed…. a reminder that as I get ready I can spend time with God in conversation, asking him to clothe me with humility and grace. I need to start my day off focusing on God instead of myself. There is nothing wrong with wanting to take care of yourself and what you look like. What was a reality check for me is that I can put so much time into myself and the things in my life that are a priority that God gets put on the sideburner. That is where I am wrong and need some correction. God should be number one and I should be giving each day and step I take over to him.

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”

~ Proverbs 31:30

I want to be a woman who my family remembers as one who prays and lives for the Lord. I desire to be woman who cares for others and has a servant heart. I want each breath I take to be a reminder that life comes from the Father. I want my house to be filled with grace, a place of safety and that anyone who enters will know that we serve the Lord. Proverbs 31:30 shows us that what God says and what “the world” say are two different things. Hollywood wants us to put beauty first but God wants us to put Him first. A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised! I know I can become so self absorbed that my self esteem can be affected by how I perceive myself compared to others or those on TV. God looks at our heart and sees it and how we prioritize. Beauty starts in the heart. I pray that I can be that person who reflects Christ to others. I want Christ to be that beauty in my heart. The only way to have that is to spend time with him and ask him to direct me and fill me.

Do you make time for God in the morning? Talk to Jesus when you’re getting ready and put Him first! Let beauty start in the inside.

(This post written by Child of God)

I'm on a walk with my mom. All is quiet except for the sound of our feet crunching on the gravel and the dog panting beside us. My mom suddenly says,

"Blessed be the Lord,
who daily bears our burdens,
The God who is our salvation.
God is to us a God of deliverance;
And to GOD the Lord belong escapes from death."
(Psalm 68:19-20)

This has been her recitation on numerous walks since my dad passed away. Not surprisingly, these words have also become embedded in my mind. These are the words I woke up with this morning. I share them with you today and pray these truths speak to you and become embedded in your mind too.

As you meditate on the same verses below notice the differences between the various versions and be in tune with what phrases or words resonate with your spirit. Sit with these verses for a while reading them out loud. Ask God to highlight something in these verses and minister to your heart. We do have an amazing God!

Blessed be the Lord,
who daily bears us up;
God is our salvation.
Our God is a God of salvation;
and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death. (ESV)


Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior,
who daily bears our burdens. Selah
Our God is a God who saves;
from the Sovereign LORD comes escape from death. (NIV)

Blessed be the name of the Lord,
who daily loads us with benefits,
the God of our salvation!
Our God is the God of salvation;
and to God the Lord belong escapes from death. (NKJV)

We need to be ready...

I saw my neighbor across the street last night.  She had been working in her yard and was cleaning up the twigs and other yard debris  around her house.  As I remembered her pain and sorrow of losing her husband recently, I decided it would be a good time to just pop over and say hi.  We had visited her right after her husband had passed away.  That was the first time I had ever met her.  We took some flowers over and expressed our sorrow for her loss.  Of course at that time she was still in a state of shock.  We had moved into our house a little over a year ago. She was surprised to find out we had been living there that long and did not even know the other family had moved.  I felt bad that we had never walked over and introduced ourselves before this time.  

As I talked to her last night, we began to talk about the hereafter... She was saying to me, "There has to be more than this life.  You don't think we are just gone and that's it when we die... do you?  I want to see my husband again."  I assured her there is more...  

"At first I was angry at God," she said.  "But now I know that we all must go sometime."  I shared with her that God has given us a certain number of days on this earth and none of us know how long that is... but He does.  And I don't care where we are, or what we are doing, when our number of days are up... we will leave this earth.  Knowing her fragile condition, I did not go any further than that.   We talked for a while about gardening and children and the need to have friends in our lives.  "It is not that we are unfriendly," she said.  "It's just that as we get so wrapped up in our own lives that we fail to look across the street."  

"O Lord, you have searched me and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise; 

You perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down;

You are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue, 

You know it completely, O Lord."

"For You created  my inmost being;

You knit me together in my mother's womb.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

Your eyes saw my unformed body."

"All the days ordained for me were written 

in Your book, before one of them came to be."

Psalm 139: 1-4, 13, 15, 16

I believe our days are numbered in more ways than one.  There seems to be an urgency to make good use of our time.  What can we say or do that would influence someone else to want know the Jesus that we know.   We need to be ready...

"But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord.  Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.  But do this with gentleness and respect..."  1 Peter 3:15

I am praying for many opportunities to share Christ with my neighbor.  We are getting together soon for tea and coffee.  Jesus listened to people's hearts.  We need to be listeners as well.  We also need to pray and seek God's face.  So we can be ready....

True Love

Though you have not seen him, you love him.

Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice

with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory

1 Peter 1:8

How precious is that. Read it again.

Oh...I love you Jesus.

Place your heart in his hands today...His love for you is like no other.

As I write this, I have no idea what my day will look like. It depends on a decision that needs to be made (ultimately by my husband, who is asleep). I woke up remembering that I have to take my vehicle in to have the brakes looked at. Totally forgot. That also makes what happens today uncertain, because I won't have wheels. I'm not even sure I will have a ride from the mechanic's shop back home. This sucks. I like having a plan, especially when there are things I need to do, and right now, depending on the outcome of the decision, I am planless. Waiting. No good.

I read yesterday in Numbers 27 about the daughters of Zelophehad who came to Moses complaining that their father died in the wilderness and they had no brothers. So now they didn't have any inheritance to look forward to in the dividing up of the promised land. They didn't think it was fair that their father's name would be taken away from their clan because he had no son. It sucked. There was no plan for them because their dad only had girls.

What did Moses do for them? Verse 5 says that Moses brought their case before the Lord. And then God told Moses that the girls were right. They should have an inheritance. So God made a plan for them (and others like them for future reference).

Cool! If he did it for them, he will do it for me. Their future was out of their control, depending on the decision of another, too! I will take my case before the Lord. He knows what the day is going to look like, what things need to be accomplished, what can wait, where I need to be, where my energy should be focused. All that stuff. I will ask him to make a plan for me. Actually, I'm sure he already has! "For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord..."

I can hardly wait to see how this day goes!

To Life and Godliness

Do you have someone in the bible that you just feel like you can relate to?

I have a few...but Peter....well, let's just say that I think our temperaments are similar...I love Peter though, because he was so real and transparent and sometimes crazy impulsive...(I'm not all that crazy impulsive...but I do say things without thinking sometimes!). However, what I really love about Peter is that he learned from his mistakes, he didn't allow them to define who he became....he became the man that Jesus saw he could be.

I was reading in 2 Peter chapter 1 this morning.

I have a hard time picking my favorite verses in the bible because so many of them become special to me when God is teaching me something or I am holding on to God's word for truth or encouragement or comfort. However, beginning in verse 3...I just love what it says...

His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,

then he goes on...

by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

God has given us, sisters...everything we need to be the woman that He has called us to be....spiritually and physically. That is just mind boggling to me. Some days I just feel like I don't have what it takes....plain and simple...and on my own, I don't...but, the Holy Spirit is our helper...He doesn't just want to help you become more godly....He also wants to help you figure out your finances or plan what you're gonna make for dinner tonight if you can't make up your mind. He wants to walk with you in relationship and help you walk with others in healthy relationships.

He inspires you to grow and reach and become all that He sees in you...even when you don't see it yourself.

Grow Sisters...Let us pursue godliness, making every effort in faith and virtue, knowledge, self-control, steadfastness, sisterly affection and love...knowing that God's holy and divine power has been given to us for this purpose in all things...Blessed be his name.

Let's pretend...

Actually, let's not.

Let's be real...especially with God. We're allowed to be real with God, even if it's downright ugly. He knows anyway, you know. So who are we kidding? Not Him. Not even ourselves. God can handle it. He's big enough.

I had the incredible privilege of being with a very hurting and distraught woman yesterday. We were in a setting of all women...many of them strangers to each other... in a place where we desire to love and care for the needs of women. Well, this woman opened up and didn't hide anything. There was no pretending or tempering what she was saying. It was exposed raw emotion. She has suffered physical and sexual abuse as a child in her home by her family who went to church and claimed to know God. Now, with the fresh, tragic loss of her friend, all her feelings inside came out in a jumble of pain, anger, confusion, loss, and intense questions about God and life...trying to sort and make some kind of sense of all the conflicting emotions and thoughts and what's really true.

Can you empathize with her feelings? To some degree we've all been there or walked with someone who has been there, or is. In the past she's had people wag their fingers in her face outraged that she would question God. How dare she vent and be angry at God...the church...people who claim to be Christians!

We let her vent. We didn't "shush" her or move her to another room so no one else would hear her anger, pain, and haunting questions. One woman kept walking past where we were sitting and finally couldn't stand it anymore...she just had to wrap her arms around this woman and give her a hug. After the hug, the same woman returned to our table with a generous wad of toilet paper for the woman's tears and said, "This is what people did for me when I was crying all the time."

We let her be real...and we were real too. We didn't have to defend God. We could just listen. She said that she doesn't get it...why does she want God so desperately, when on the other hand she "feels" that He's hurt her so much? "What is that... to want Him even though I'm so mad at Him?" she passionately expressed as she aggressively pointed her finger heavenward.

We told her it's OK for her to question God even if it comes out in rants of pain and anger. The point is that she's turning to Him. She's being honest with Him. She's acknowledging Him... and she wants Him.

She left feeling affirmed and supported at least in some measure. And we'll be here for her with more practical help. You can pray for her... that she'll be able to truly know that God cares and loves her, and with knowing His love, will begin the gradual process of trusting Him as well.

You've heard of Job? He didn't hide his pain, frustration, or questions. He went to God with all those hard questions. Job's friends told him off for questioning God. Maybe they even wagged their fingers at him too. God didn't. In the last chapter, Job 42:7, God says to Job's friend Eliphaz, "I am angry with you and your two friends, because you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has." God actually honoured Job.

Shout Out!

I'm writing for Pilgrim's Heart today while she's out of town telling her story.

It's a powerful story of how God rescued her and changed her life.

You know, God has given all of us a story to tell...and when we tell others about what God has done for us...his name is glorified not just on earth but in the heavenly realm as well.

Some people think that if their story isn't dramatic they don't have one to tell...I say...

"That's crazy talk!"

Jesus has revealed the truth to me about different lies I have believed about God and myself.  He has provided for me and protected me and shown me grace and faithfulness.  He has been with me during hard times and happy times when I recognized his presence and even when I didn't.

When we proclaim the goodness of God in our lives we are kicking the enemy of our souls where the sun don't shine.

I say..."Let's do it!"

Let's shout it out what God has done for us...let's tell our stories and bring glory and honour and praise to our Greatest Love.

I cannot help but think of Paul...one of the greatest teachers of all time.  He started.....by telling his story.  He says in Ephesians 3:8-10

To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church (that's us) the manifold wisdom of God might be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. (italics mine)

Wow!  Chew on that verse for a while.

People can argue with all kinds of things....and they definately know how to argue about religion...but nobody can argue with your personal story of what God has done for you or how he has changed your life.

Thank you Jesus for rescuing my heart and loving me for who I am.

Making Time

Life is busy.  Our life seems like it anyway.

  We were out of town this past weekend for a wedding in a place that we used to live before.  Life runs at a little slower pace there.  It's a small town.  People are  more relaxed for the most part.  But I imagine, people living there, just like me, can still feel too busy sometimes too.

When I was a young mom...life was busy.  Sleep was a precious commodity I didn't have much of...and moments alone...what was that?  

I'm embarrassed to say that I couldn't even count the times that I have told Jesus that I'd love to spend time with him....I just didn't have time....or the times that I didn't really give it a second thought as I sped through the day and fell into bed at the end of it.

No guilt trip here...it's just that I finally realized how much I need him...and how much I want him.  I don't want to go through a day without noticing him anymore.

I want the focus of my life to be constantly intertwined with his all the time.

My mother has been a beautiful example of this lived out to me in her personal life.  I didn't see her spending hours reading her bible and praying...but I saw her connected with her Saviour.  I heard her singing to him, praying to him and meditating on scripture throughout the day in the activities of normal life.

As a young mom, a dear woman gave me the book "Practicing His Presence" by Brother Lawrence and encouraged me to read it...she told me how she would open the bible to where she was reading and leave it on the table and everytime she walked by she would read a verse and meditate on it until she walked by again.  I began making verse cards that I would carry with me in my diaper bag or purse and I would meditate on just one or two verses for days at a time....all of this for me has been a process of learning how to spend time with Jesus thoughout the daily multi-tasking chaos that often comes in the every day life of being a woman.

So speaking of busy....I started this post today at about 6:45 this morning...and now here it is, almost 8:30 tonight and I'm still trying to finish it!

Here's the verses I began meditating or thinking on and praying through this morning:

Colossians 3:12-17

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and , if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.  And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.  And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body.  And be thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.  And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.  

On Display

The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech,
and night to night reveals knowledge. Psalm 19:1-2

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor,
and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn;
to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified. Isaiah 61:1-3
(This was quoted by Jesus in Luke 4:17-19 referring to himself.)

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD;
my soul shall exult in my God,
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation;
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress,
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61.10

All of that to point out something: The heavens (creation) declares and proclaims God's handiwork. It pours out speech for the knowledge of God. And we "hear" it. So often the creation inspires us to worship the Creator when we see its beauty. Awe inspiring. Worship inspiring. That's what it's supposed to do.

But, those who have received salvation and been clothed with righteousness (which all Christians have) are called "oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord that he may display his beauty" or as another translation puts it, "a planting of the Lord for a display of his splendor." A display of his splendor!

Can you imagine that? The creation only gets to speak of the glory of God. We are a display of it! We are the visual image of the splendor of God! How can that be? Do you see yourself that way? Do you see other Christians that way? Awe inspiring? Worship inspiring? We may not be able to see it, but it's true, and the creation knows it and waits eagerly for it to be made known so that it will be liberated into the same freedom we have.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. Romans 8:18-21

Wow. One day who we really are will be revealed for all to see. It's way easier for us to "listen" to the creation proclaiming the glory of God and worship him than it is for us to "see" the glory and splendor and beauty of God in each other. Oh Lord, may we be filled with the same awe and wonder in the righteous beauty of one another and worship you because of it, and may we walk in the amazing knowledge that your glory is displayed in us!

Today I have stepped out into a new phase of life. I had to say goodbye to friends at a church we've been attending for 3 years now as the Lord has called us elsewhere. As I stood by a dear friend of mine, she told me that the Lord has shown her that for me it's a new beginning. God brought me to this church for healing of so many things and I needed to be there to be strengthened in my journey. Now that God and I have walked this journey together it's time to spread my wings and fly.... to a new beginning...

Change is hard. Change is scary. It's inevitable. Why do we have to change? I'm stepping into a place where I need to start a whole new life. My kids aren't going to know anyone but will meet people through school. My husband will get plugged into work and meet people. Then there's me.... I like staying comfortable knowing the people I need around me and now I'm going to be away from family and friends... away from all my comforts... where do I fit in?

The saying in this picture is true: "Until you spread your wings, you'll have no idea how far you can fly" (Anon). This is true of our walk with Jesus. We won't know what the Lord has in store for us if we don't take that step of faith and trust...

I'm scared.... I'm not going to deny that I am. I'm excited also.... I'm thrilled with the new adventure. Yet I'm apprehensive as I am taken out of my comfort zone into the unknown. This means that people have to get to know me again and I have to start friendships from the beginning knowing that I'll have some that will be lifetime connections and some only short-term.

What does God say in his word to me?

"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." ~Isaiah 41:10

Dear Jesus, thank you that you never change. Thank you for this journey we walk daily together and that you work things all things for my good. Thank you for being my strength, my deliverer. I praise you for your blessings in my life. Thank you that you saved me, a sinner. As I step into this new phase of life I trust you and your plans. I might be scared at times so I ask for strength and wisdom. Thank you Lord for who you are. I praise you Lord today! Amen.

Back to Eden

Now the LORD God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden, and there he put the man he had formed. And the LORD God made all kinds of trees grow out of the ground - trees that were pleasing to the eye and good for food. In the middle of the garden were the tree of life and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

A river watering the garden flowed from Eden; from there it was separated into four headwaters.

The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. And the LORD God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die."

The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone, I will make a helper suitable for him."

Now the LORD God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its name. So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the the field.

But for Adam no suitable helper was found. So the LORD God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

The man said,
"This is now bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called woman,
for she was taken out of man."

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and they will become one flesh.

The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. Genesis 2 ( not in its entirety)

Ahhh... that's a good story. A true story. I like it. Obviously God did too. Genesis 1:31 says, "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good."

I like the part of God planting a garden for man to live in. Can you imagine a garden that was designed and planted by God? Butchart Gardens... Minter Gardens... lovely, but I doubt they could compete with a garden planted by the Creator of the universe. Think of your favorite places where you delight in the sights and sounds and smells of nature. We love beauty around us. And there the man and woman lived.

These days I'm enjoying the tiny little seedlings that are sprouting in my vegetable garden where I planted seeds a week ago. The hot sunshine and my faithful watering each day have brought about the desired results. Adam didn't have to water the plants in the Garden of Eden. God had taken care of that. A river watering the garden flowed out of Eden. A river... pure water, life giving, refreshing, soothing. Beautiful plants and trees, birds, what we call domestic and wild animals all living in peace in a garden with a river flowing through it. What more does one need?

God sees another need. It is not good for man to be alone. Although the man had a pure relationship with God, God knew man needed more. He needed companionship, a suitable helper, a person at his side...his counterpart to do life with. So God in his infinite wisdom made woman, in God's own image, and brought her to the man. And Adam loved her and they became one flesh. Beautiful. This was God's design.

The man and wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. I like this part too. Naked and no shame. Since my husband and I are now empty-nesters, we're enjoying the benefits of having our privacy. It all began the morning after our son's wedding... our last child to leave home. I was at my computer, much like I am today, when I heard my husband coming down the stairs from our bedroom. He came around the corner and stood at the open door of our office where I was sitting. I looked up at him and there he was wearing his tie from the wedding celebration and a smile. Back to the Garden of Eden.

Do you see how God planned it? Do you see God's goodness in what he purposed? Even though Adam and Eve got it wrong and we've suffered the consequences of evil ever since, God designed it all beautiful, lovely, perfect... He made it good. Praise God for His plan of salvation. Satan the serpent didn't have the last word and that was that. God came to redeem man from the curse through His Son, Jesus Christ. He came to restore us fully to Himself which only became possible through Christ's death and resurrection. One day that restoration will be complete and we will all live in peace and harmony, and the world will be made new.

Come on in...but leave your shoes on, we're on the patio today

How are you?

I'm sitting outside on my patio....taking in the last bit of morning shade before the beautiful sun gets back here.  It's warm right now, but not hot, like it will be later....I have had a busy week and today is the first day I've been able to do this.  I've been talking to Jesus...pondering and meditating on all kinds of things I've been reading in the bible.  I imagine you joining me here.....sitting around the table....I'd pour us all a glass of sweet tea on ice....are you with me?

  We'd do what women do...talk and laugh...share in each other's life...and hopefully hear where our hearts are.  Some of us would be tired....life, the craziness of June, and the heat seeming to get the best of us.  Some of us would be refreshed, excited to just sit with girlfriends and spill life and all thats going on in it.  Some of us would be hurting inside....struggling through circumstances, old wounds that continue to haunt, difficult relationships, parenting worries or marriage hurts....those of us hurting, would most likely keep it to ourselves, afraid to lay that kind of stuff on the table.

But Why?  It's what sisters do...we love each other, we care for each other...we take our hurting sisters to Jesus.  He is the One that cares for our hearts like no other.    None of us are perfect.  We don't have all the answers.  But we can listen, help where we know we can and pray for each other.  Sisters have been doing it for thousands of years.  I can't help but think of Ruth and Naomi.  Related by marriage, sisters by choice and a beautiful blend of an inter-generational bond.

We are related through Christ Jesus, soul sisters because we bring our hearts to the table and seriously, a beautiful blend of inter-generational women growing together with one common purpose...Knowing Jesus and bringing glory to his precious heart.

We want you to know here at Soul Kitchen,that we want you at the table...if you need prayer...write to us at the bottom of the post.  If you are new to this sort of thing...just look for the word comment at the end of the post, click on it and it will take you to a page where you can write back to us.  Just follow the prompts. Save Soul Kitchen in your favorites and it won't be so much work to find us when you want to come on over.  We'd love to share life with you.

Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus said....

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Now...anyone ready for some more iced tea?

The Missing Piece..

Today is an absolutely gorgeous day.   Days like this remind me of the awesome, hot and sunny, summer  days of the south.  Then I'm reminded of the years I grew up as a child... and I start going way back... to bare feet, and sitting on a wrap around porch with my legs and feet dangling off the side; wishing for a cool breeze.  That porch most often was my thinking place.  Whether the sun was shining or it was pouring down rain... I could go sit in the swing and talk to God.  I often dreamed too, of what my life would be like someday.  I thought about a lot of things but I struggled mostly with the empty feeling that constantly nagged at me. 

Isn't it amazing that even as a child, we know there is something missing.  Whether you are smothered in love with affection or left to survive on your own; we all have that empty, lonely feeling that only God can fill.  

I am so thankful for God's promises that are true and we can rely on everyday for strength and assurance.  God knows where we are in life.  Psalm 147:5  says: "Great is our Lord, and mighty in power; His understanding is infinite."   The Bible also talks of how well God knows us.  Psalm 139:3  says: "You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways."

Finally, He tells us to: "Cast all your cares upon Him because He cares for you."  1 Peter 5:7

We begin as a child searching for God... we know something is missing.  There are many adults today who are still searching.  He is the only One who can fill that empty longing in your heart.  People have tried everything but nothing other than the One who formed and created us can fill that longing.  

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  I will say of the Lord,  "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."  Psalm 91:1-2

Some people are good at showing honor. Some are paid to not only serve but to do it as though they enjoy it. I have had the privilege of being on a sea cruise. The crew members from the bathroom and stateroom attendants to the waiters and maitre ds (sp?) go out of their way to show honor and respect to the "guests" on board. They smile as they step aside to allow us to pass, making it seem that they are the ones who are privileged to make the beds we sleep in, clean the toilets we pee in, cook the food we consume and pick up the towels we leave on the floor. Amazing.

Who knows what they are really thinking as they do these things. Doesn't really matter if they think we are all snobs or if they really like us. They do it because they have to. It's their job and they rely on gratuities for their livelihood. When they sign up for such a job, they are trained in the ways of showing honor and respect.

The motivation of the crew members doesn't matter as long as the outcome is beneficial.

The same is not true for those of us who carry the name of Jesus Christ. We are to "love one another with brotherly affection" and "outdo one another in showing honor." Romans12:10

Our motivation comes from a pure heart, because we have been born again. (1 Peter 1:22-23) We are to make showing honor a competition! Be the best at showing honor!

Unfortunately, we (our culture and sometimes our church culture, too) are so used to leveling the playing field, making everything even and fair, that we are much better at reducing each other to the least common denominator. Instead, we should be going beyond fair and raising one another up to higher and higher standing. What would happen in our homes if our children were competing with each other in showing respect, honor and preference for others?! What would happen in our marriages, our churches?

Oh sisters and brothers, let's make this our goal for the day (and forever) to outdo one another in showing honor to each other out of a pure heart that loves Jesus. It could be a lot of fun.

The last year has been an amazing journey of trusting in God's faithfulness and seeing his provisions in my life.... such blessings I have experienced! I was driving home today from dropping the kids off at school and looked up to beautiful Mt. Baker, basked in sunlight and covered in snow. What a beautiful sight. Aren't we fortunate to wake up each morning and enjoy such creation! While I looked at that beauty I reflected on my journey.... each time our prayers were answered.... would I have been as content on this journey if God had chosen to answer them differently or if his answers had taken us on a different path?

Looking up to the mountains reminded me of Psalm 121:

I lift up my eyes to the hills—

where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,

the Maker of heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot slip—

he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.
The LORD watches over you—

the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,

nor the moon by night.
The LORD will keep you from all harm—

he will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going

both now and forevermore.

This is a song of praise we can sing to God as we journey through life.... making our way toward our home in Heaven. We face many dangers in our life. God sometimes chooses other paths for us to take, sometimes surprising us because it's different than what we imagined. This song is a reminder that when trouble comes or things don't go our way, that we cannot look to the mountain for protection but there is only ONE who we can turn to and trust.... God.

Even if God had chosen a different path for me and family, he has shown us that he's faithful, never changing, our protector. He knows what's best. I praise God for his faithfulness today!