Tag: abiding trust

Be Gentle

“Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

It stands to reason, then, that ungracious words can produce an adverse effect on our well-being. Allowing ourselves to express frustrations enables “feelings” to rage unchecked in our system.

But when we make certain words and tones off limits, we begin retraining the neural pachways of our brains toward gratitude and positivity – a process that Scripture calls the “renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2) and one that secular science is finding more and more support for. And this is something our Pastoral team has mentioned in several Sunday sermons as of late.

I find it fascinating how the Lord has created us as holistic beings. The physical affects the emotional, which can bolster or wreak havoc on the spiritual.

I don’t know about you all, but for myself I am really having to bring my thoughts back to Christ constantly right now. Rallying together with others and comparing or complaining about the loads we are bearing, the election season!!, and the coming holiday stresses are not good things for us to be doing Christians! Even when we do not move forward with the intention of participating, it is all around us in the world right now. Praise the Lord that for the Christian this is not our home! We are set apart for HIS kingdom and HIS glory!

The only real load we have ever bared was taken from us at the Cross when our Savior chose to drink from the cup the Father gave HIM – so that in and through HIM we could be made FREE!!! Praise the Lord! In light of this not much matters except furthering HIS kingdom.

The more you shovel your feelings in the Lord’s direction – the less important your feelings will actually feel – in the BEST possible way!

Minute by minute,

Lord, help me to be calm.
Jesus, give me kind speech.
Father, show me how to be gentle.

👉Colossians 3:12 says, “As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
👉Ephesians 4:2 admonishes us to “be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.”
👉And of course, the famous “fruit of the Spirit” in Galatians 5:22-23 includes gentleness with love, joy, peace, self-control, and other stellar attributes.

The Bible has a lot to say on gentleness –

Don’t use grace as an excuse not to grow.
In Christ, we CAN choose gentle speech.
And when we get it wrong, cause we will, know that Christ’s love covers a multitude of sins.

Let’s follow the Lord’s example this season, being slow to anger and abounding in love. (Numbers 14:18).

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Understanding Disability as Part of God’s Plan

Lately Jackson has been covering his ears and avoiding loud noises – something that we haven’t had a challenge with before. Jackson doesn’t like to not feel included and so for awhile I would try the Autism noise canceling headphones and he would rip them right off. This go round I tried a pair of electronic headphones that he can adjust the volume based on his preference. This allows Jackson to still be included and to be able to control the noise in his environment.

This Sunday in our kids class was the first time Jackson was open to wearing them in public. Even though Jackson has Autism – he still very much knows and can sense when he is being perceived as “different” and sometimes kids are scared of him simply because no one has ever talked to them about other children with differences. With school returning to session and the holiday breaks coming up – a great opportunity is open to talk to your kids about those with differences and how to include them.

Four ways I find helpful to help your child 🧒🏿 understand uniqueness and disability as part of God’s plan are:

  1. Teach your children that regardless of our abilities, we were each created by God with special value and gifts to share within our churches. Romans 12:4-6, Each of us has one body with many parts. And the parts do not all have the same purpose so also, we are many persons, but in Christ, we are one body and each part of the body belongs to all the other parts we all have gifts.
  2. Teach children what the Bible says about God creating disability.
    In the Old Testament, we see that Moses had a disability. He was unable to speak clearly and may have stuttered because of his speech impairment. Moses did not feel confident that God could use him to help free the Israelites from pharaoh. BUT God makes it clear that he is our creator and he would use Moses for his divine purpose .
    Exodus 4:11, The Lord said to him, “Who makes human beings able to talk? Who makes them unable to hear or speak? Who makes them able to see? Who makes them blind? It is I, the Lord.
  3. Teach your child about how Jesus responded to those with disabilities.

In Luke 14:21-23, Jesus teaches that we are to intentionally include people affected by disability in our lives. He showed great compassion for their pain and struggles, and throughout Scripture we see him healing people with disabilities.

Matthew 9:35 says that as Jesus went through the towns and villages teaching and preaching, he also healed many people.

In John 9:1-7 Jesus healed a man who had been blind since birth. He tells his disciples that the man’s disability was part of God’s plan because his healing displayed God’s amazing power.

  1. Teach your child about how to be a friend to someone with a disability.
    In biblical times many people saw disability as a curse or a result of sin. Sadly, many people still have wrong beliefs about disability today. You can help your child see that Jesus wants us to love each other as God loves us. We can express love through friendship by not using words that are hurtful or not excluding people with disabilities.
    In Mark 2:1-12 Jesus healed a man who couldn’t walk.
    The man’s friends carried him on a stretcher to seek help from Jesus. They even tore a hole in the roof to lower their friend down through. Jesus praised their faith and efforts on behalf of their friend.

❤️ I can’t tell you the blessing it is when another child includes my child.

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In Christ my Cup Runneth Over

One of the things I can look forward to in times of difficulty is how the Lord is going to use that thing or season to teach me.

“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬ ‭NLT‬‬

These are also times that I recognize the depth of my sin and the magnitude of the cross. It’s easy to not grumble when things are going well. But when things are hard like long season hard – that’s where you get to exercise your faith. This last week at Bible study we reflected on muscle memory. For me I want my muscles to remember we find rest in Christ, I want my muscles to instinctively speak scripture and words of life in the crevices of our broken world and my difficult circumstances. I want to be strong in the Lord.

I want to recognize that time with Christ is ALWAYS better than “me time”. And here I am in the middle of circumstances that present just the opportunity to work out 🏋️‍♀️ my muscles.

Even when we are not perfect in our pursuit of God, which is always… God is gracious to provide us with times of refreshment to minister to both our physical and spiritual needs.

I skipped some of my time in the Word this week and I could feel and instant change/shift in my heart and in the focus of my mind and thoughts. Jackson got up at 2:30 this morning and there was no indication I would be successful in getting him back to sleep. I grumbled and was frustrated and began to go over the list in my head of reasons why this is just the worst thing to be added to my plate and you know all the things…

Then I stopped and I thought about the great pains Jesus took to prioritize time with the Father.

I repented. Got up and grabbed my Bible. With Jackson in tow.

Just like Jesus did with the loaves and fishes, He is faithful to multiply our efforts so that time spent with Him is never wasted AND often amplifies any efforts that follow.

So I take 20 mins during the work day when my desk and heart feel a mess – to spend time with the ONE who orders my steps and days. And when my sweet boy is struggling to rest I want to show him where true rest comes from.

Let us not replace His peace “that surpasses all understanding” with quick fixes and bandaids that fall off and never satisfy. (Phil. 4:7).

George Muller once said in response to the claim of being too busy to spend time with God, that four hours of work after one hour of prayer would accomplish more than five hours without prayer. George practiced what he preached and spent his entire adult life relying on prayer to communicate his needs to the Lord so clearly that he refused to raise money for his orphanage, trusting instead the promise of Phil. 4:19, “God will supply all of your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Today may my response be to and in all things the reality that says,

In Christ “my cup runneth over”.

““You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead? Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.””
‭‭Luke‬ ‭11‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

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The Faithful love of Jesus

How it started and how it is going! The faithful Love of Jesus! ❤️

5 years ago this week we plugged in at Coastline Christian Fellowship, wholeheartedly committed.

We had visited on and off through the year prior but we had lingering church hurt from prior churches and to be honest we were wrestling with feeling God’s pull – God’s wooing of our hearts AND wrestling with our flesh…

This little church in Olney became and is our family and for Jackson it is “the place of his people”. Jackson greeted and gave hugs to at least 30 people yesterday and shook 4 hands! 🥹😭😭

Jackson’s first visit to Coastline post being in a car seat
Jackson helping dad and friend vacuum our kids class room.

A very early (miraculously early) autism diagnosis for Jackson was the hurt, the longing, the fear, the “I cannot do this without you God” moment that changed it all for us. We surrendered and we kept showing up until we desired to show up and we hurt when we missed. 6 months later we began serving in the Minnows room and remain in there till this day. Seasons change but the everlasting Love of the Lord remains the same. He sought us and pursued us…

God pursued Adam and Eve after they sinned in the garden of Eden. (Genesis 3)
God pursued Hagar when she ran away from her problems. (Genesis 16)
God pursued Elijah when he ran from Ahab and Jezebel. (1 Kings 18-19)
God pursued Paul on the road to Damascus. (Acts 9)
And God pursues us.

Motivated by unexplainable love, God pursues humanity. No matter our state in life — married, single, dating, living for God or running from Him — God seeks to win the affection of our hearts by relentlessly and faithfully pursuing us.

We see a clear depiction of this pursuit in verses, John 3:16-17: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

The love John refers to in this scripture is agape love, which is sacrificial and considered the highest form of love that exists. This love was costly for God, but He pursued us through the radical act of sacrificing His Son. God’s love is unmatched and far greater than any box of chocolates or bouquet of flowers.

And even more astounding is that God demonstrated His lavish and sacrificial love while we were sinners. He pursued us while we weren’t thinking about Him… Once and for all, God valiantly saved humankind from the spiritual villain Satan when we were in distress.

But God’s pursuit of us did not end with Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection. For all our days, He will continue to pursue us with His unexplainable love.

If you long to be romanced and pursued, may this be an encouragement: You are the object of God’s affection. He has relentlessly pursued and will continue to pursue you.

God will not keep you from anything that will make you more like Jesus. For us, Jackson’s autism is a tangible tether between the heavenly things and the earthly things…. But it took us “surrendering” this onto the Lord.

What is the thing that may be hurting you that the ONE who made you and loves you is wooing and asking you to surrender to HIM?

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Surrender

These hidden years have been hard. The Lord has been giving me (us) more than I feel like I can handle of BOTH joy & pain. As expected the antibiotics caused a significant set back for Jackson in his gut health which leads to behavioral issues and his entire sensory system being high jacked.

At the end of each day to help Jackson prepare for sleep and his night time routine I brush him. What I am using here in this picture is a tactile brush made with a ton of little fine bristles, rubbing one direction is soothing and tells his body to relax and brushing in the other direction is alerting and sort of ticklish. Jackson has not been ticklish at all and instead has even been asking me to brush his palms and bottoms of feet which is typically too stimulating but in this season he needs the input to help him feel where his body is in space.

Brushing for sensory integration

👉This is why he runs up to people and crashes hard into them when what he really is wanting is a hug.
👉This is why he has the urge right now to stand up on tables and high places just to be seen because being down low he feels invisible.
👎And it’s these things and others like it that is the hardest to communicate to those around him. It’s these behaviors that people don’t understand or desire to. It’s these things that keep us “integrated” but never really “included”. Integration and Inclusion are two different things…

So it’s been in these moments the Lord has shown me that grief left unattended will be become anger.
Grief left unattended is exactly what the enemy will use to keep you out of church, isolated, alone and distanced from Jesus. Even Jesus wept – but I in my pride have not.

Grief left unattended will become anger

I guess my message for today is SURRENDER 🙌
Surrender it all to Jesus. Lord help me to approach today with intentional and obediant faith – give me a fresh appreciation for your grace. 🙏

May our affections for our YOU and our children increase each day as we “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called us Heavenward in Christ Jesus (Phil. 3:14).

I am clinging to:
❤️ scripture for truth
❤️ confidence of my identity in Christ
❤️ holding fast to biblical conviction

I don’t know why some of us seem to get an extra portion of hurt or grief… but I DO KNOW the one ☝️ who pours it out and He is GOOD and I CAN trust Him.

Opportunities for distraction, excuses, and envy abound – but the answer is always the same: Follow Jesus 👣

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An encouragement for you

This sweet memory popped up for me today out of my Facebook photos, and I can do nothing else but think of all the ways the Lord has been faithful to us these last five years. 🙏 I had no idea what the path ahead would be – but HE did.

Me changing my sweet son just before he turned a year old

“God’s grace to sustain us through painful circumstances is stronger and is mightier and is much better than any deliverance out of those circumstances.”
-Joni Eareckson Tada

🙌 Amen!

God’s grace these last 5 years as I have learned more deeply what it means to be a wife, a mother, and most importantly a disciple of Christ – has been life giving!

God’s grace is greater than any diagnosis, financial difficulty, broken expectation, or hurt. Insert your own hard into this fill in the blank:

God’s grace is greater then my ——————-!

God has great compassion for His children 👇

“but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not afflict from his heart or grieve the children of men.”
‭‭Lamentations‬ ‭3‬:‭32‬-‭33‬ ‭ESV‬‬

God allows for us to suffer for a little while so that we will be strengthened and so that our HOPE will rest in Him 👇

“My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭71‬ ‭NLT‬‬

God answers prayer 👇

“Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭50‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Share His hope and testify of His goodness 👇

“You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.”
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭50‬:‭20‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Experience the Joy that is ONLY found in God’s presence 👇

“You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭16‬:‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

While everything else will fail you and waste away –
Jesus can be trusted 🙌

REST in HIM!

👉 “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.❤️ My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”
‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭10‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Friends, be encouraged!

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Standing Firm

Such a comfort this morning! I am doing a chronological study through the Bible and this last week I read about Hannah who dedicated her child to the Lord and David who followed the Lord at a great cost. And – examples not to follow like Saul who willfully disobeyed God’s word. (1 Samuel 1-24; Psalm 59; Psalm 91).

One of the things I find really interesting contrasting David and Saul, is that although both of them used religious language to discuss their surrounding circumstances – David’s conscience was sensitive to the Lord and doing what was right in various circumstances. On the other hand Saul was spiritually insensitive, and even allowing him to order the execution of the Priests of the Lord.

A great example of how “saying” the right things is meaningless – if the Lord does not have your whole heart. “He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command.“
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭22‬:‭37‬-‭38‬ ‭CSB‬‬

Reading Psalm 91 in light of scripture as a whole – brings me to Thanksgiving! Thanking the Lord for His protection in many ways at different times in my life. I can trust Him to bring great things in times of suffering because HE is faithful. He continues to shape and develop His great plan for His people!

A note in my Bible points out that it was Psalm 91 that Satan used to tempt Jesus in the wilderness (Lk. 4:9-12), “God won’t let you get hurt will he?”…
Evaluate this idea in light of the cross…

So today when the world is looking to “signs and wonders” of the eclipse or the chaos of what seems like everything…

Look up ⬆️

The Lord God is a God of order. From the vastness of the universe to the simplicity of a flower there is evidence of a divine organization. Haphazardness and chaos are not part of His government. Symmetry and harmony are His ways. Randomness and disorder are never His modes of administration.

From creation to the end of time, God has had a plan and has worked that plan. He is timely, precise, and true to His Word.

These are His characteristics and they are to be ours. We are not to come and go whenever we want to, but whenever we are to.

Spontaneity may be exciting and have an appearance of freedom, but in reality, it more than often proves to be the cause of harm and misfortune. Our God is a God of order; therefore, we are to be a people of order.

“God doesn’t want me to play with religion. He doesn’t want me to dabble in church. He wants me—body and soul.”

R. C. Sproul (1939–2017)
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By His stripes we are healed

”Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”“
‭‭Genesis‬ ‭1‬:‭26‬-‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Our worth comes from the ONE in whose image we are made.

I can distinctly remember the moment that I realized God from the beginning created us to subdue our surroundings… and this command extends to our thoughts and experiences.

”The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.“
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭10‬:‭4‬-‭5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I am so thankful for the advocacy of the Holy Spirit, without whom I would have never been able to see that I had elevated the trauma of my life, over the fact and truth that I am an image bearer of God.

Secular therapy, psychology, and pharmacology has thrived off of the idol of trauma.

I choose the word “idol” here because therapeutic intervention says, “work through these experiences and address your trauma in order to be able to ———“. At the onset your trauma and experience is placed at the highest level of priority and thus elevates itself above God, and your relationship with God. It points you back to yourself. How can we be both be our own problem and our own solution?

The Imago Dei tells us from the beginning that we can subdue our environment, scripture further tells us:

  1. Jesus is greater than any experience we will encounter in this world. (”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 ‭NIV‬‬)
  2. God is close to the brokenhearted and dries up all of our tears. (”The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.“ Psalms‬ ‭34‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬) (”Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll— are they not in your record?“ Psalms‬ ‭56‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬)
  3. The Lord continually renews us with His spirit everyday. ”because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.“
    ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭14‬, ‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬)
  4. Jesus heals us and is our place of safety. (”“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.“
    ‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭24‬-‭25‬ ‭NIV‬)

Friends, if you’re hurting bow down to the only ONE who heals, redeems and restores LIFE! It is only through Jesus that all of the dust and ashes from our past can be made into something new and beautiful.
(”He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.“ Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭NIV‬)

We are seeing “mental health” crises at an all time high. And although I do believe there are certain situations that may need medical or professional intervention, majority of what we are seeing is people being given over to their brokenness, they are hurting and lost. They are grasping at interventions that keep them digging holes while being told they are wells.

Only one fountain can satisfy this type of thirst.

”On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”“
‭‭John‬ ‭7‬:‭37‬-‭38‬ ‭NIV‬‬

And finally when we are grieving, we have these promises:

”“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.“
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭3‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

These verses contain more wisdom than all of the doctors, therapists, and DSMs combined.

When we repent and seek Jesus:
The blood of Jesus will cover your past addictions.
The blood of Jesus will cover your past assaults and abuses.
The blood of Jesus will cover the abortion you had and deeply regret and hurt over.
The blood of Jesus will cover the horrible things your have said to loved ones.
The blood of Jesus will redeem your sexual sin.
The blood of Jesus will redeem your life.
The blood of Jesus will bring reconciliation.

Jesus gets us… but more importantly He changes us.
All of these tears and turmoils pale in comparison to the future glory of those who love the Lord.

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Wait for the Lord

Yesterday, well really for several weeks, work has been even more difficult, frustrating and heartbreaking. This morning I felt led to repent of the anger that I have felt and how that has impacted those closest to me. Righteous anger is a real snare for me. As the Lord is so faithful to do, He gave me a few reminders this morning from Psalm 27.

”The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?“
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭27‬:‭1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

(27:1) Fear can be a prison. We conquer fear by trusting in the Lord. To dispel fear I need to REMEMBER that God is my light and my salvation.

”When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.“
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭27‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭ESV‬‬

(27: 4) This verse reminded me of Psalm 23 & Psalm 1. David’s greatest desire was to live In the presence of the Lord EACH day of his life. In the presence of the Lord is comfort, joy, protection and praise. What is it that I DESIRE the most?

”For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me!“
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭27‬:‭5‬-‭7‬ ‭ESV‬‬

(27:7) Since David sought the Lord’s presence EVERYDAY, when times of trouble came, David was already in the presence of the Lord. It is shortsighted to only call out to the Lord in times of trouble or need.

”You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.“
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭27‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭ESV‬‬

( 27:10) This verse was like a balm to my spirit this morning. 😭👆🏻 His love is sufficient to meet ALL our needs. While many of us and many of the children I see daily will have lasting scars from the hurts caused to us by those who should have loved us, like our Mothers and Fathers BUT God! God can take and fill any place in our life of anyone who has abandoned us. He can fill the voids and heal the hurts. He can and does lead us to those who take on the role of Mother and Father to us. He has done it for me and He is faithful to continue to do it for others.

”Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!“
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭27‬:‭11‬-‭13‬ ‭ESV‬‬

(27:13) Place your confidence in the Lord. He is holy and His plans are good, this is the only thing we can have true confidence in. A HOLY confidence.

”Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!“
‭‭Psalm‬ ‭27‬:‭14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

(27:14) Waiting for God is not easy. Lamentations 3:24-26 calls us to HOPE and WAIT for the Lord.
Often we can “feel” like God is not answering our prayers or understanding our urgency. However, this kind of thinking implies that God is not in control or fair.
BUT God Is worth waiting for.

God often uses times of waiting to refresh, renew, and teach us. We make good use of waiting times by discovering what God may be trying to do is us while we are in them.

Father, thank you for shifting the focus off of myself this morning and onto YOU. 🙌

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Pay attention to your fruit…

In today’s world I have unfortunately found that in my desire to make things orderly, I often have my “self” at the center of that need. Not desiring to make things orderly for the glory of God but to minimize my ordinary workload. I will admit much of this is not original to me, but it has blessed me and continues to sanctify me…

Looking back in Genesis – Adam and his helper, Eve, brought order to God’s earth with goodness, thoughtfulness, and authority. They imaged God and brought Him glory. There was dignity in their everyday lives because their work found its origins in God’s command.

As mothers, we continue to reflect God’s character in each moment as we conform to to His likeness. Ordinary moments existed before the fall and they were not demeaned or dismissed by God. Instead they were good and valuable for the flourishing of life.

Unfortunately, Eve wasn’t satisfied with the fullness of God’s provision in Eden or the knowledge and responsibilities He had given her. Instead she listened to the serpent, who tempted her to seek the extraordinary… becoming like God himself. 🍎

She was the first human who wanted to step outside of the ordinary, human, limited bounds of God’s command into something greater, godlike and unlimited.

This spills over into our lives today when we want to skip over todays mundane – wiping counters, cleaning messes, sweeping, diaper changes, emails, bills, and so on…

When we do this we stop finding our identity in who we are (image bearers of God) and start trying to find it in what we do. But when we start to rank the value of our lives in external circumstances, we will NEVER be content with our day-to-day lives.

As long as we pride ourselves in being able to speed through normalcy so we can get on to the better parts of life, we’re walking in the faithless footsteps of Eve. 🦶 🚶‍♀️

God works in both ugly, and the mundane to bring new life, redemption, and his sovereign plan to fruition, and such is the same for those indwelled with the Holy Spirit. All the moments of our lives – ordinary and extraordinary- will give us reason to fall before the Lamb on the throne, worshipping HIS worthiness in ALL things.

Being thoughtful with our time is a good thing but my/our deepest longing for glory and purpose is found in Christ.

👉🏻It might be mundane to fold laundry, but its extraordinary to do it patiently with joy and a heart of love.
👉🏻It might be mundane to sit on the couch and read another book to a whiny four-year-old, but it’s extraordinary to show kindness and mercy to an undeserving sinner.
👉🏻It might be mundane to fill the fridge with groceries, but it’s extraordinary to praise God for his provision.
🙌Our everyday moments might be ordinary, but when we accomplish them while displaying the fruit of the Spirit, they reflect our extraordinary Savior.

(Gen. 2:15,19) (Gen. 3:5-6) (2 Cor. 5:21) (Col. 1:27) (Gal. 5:22-23) (Rom. 11:36)

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