Love Handles

 

The Assist Grip or Grab Handle – that’s the proper name for the handle above the window you might grab onto while riding on the passenger side of the car when things get a little shaky.

Maybe you’re riding with a new driver, or traffic just got crazy or maybe it’s just become a habit, a convenient place to put your hand.

The internet had some more colorful nicknames for it, too. But you get the general idea that when you panic, that might be what you grab for.

While riding on a rollercoaster, you might grab at the lock bar that secures you in your seat.

When not feeling well, we might reach for a grab bar on the side of our shower.

While in the midst of various adventures in your lifetime, you’ve probably reached for something in hopes it would bring you a sense of security. You may have been safe all along, but grabbing onto something stable can generally make us feel more secure.

Stick with me here as I diverge briefly. If you’re as old as I am, you’ll recall that back in the 70s we had a term for the skin at your waist that didn’t bring you joy. Whether you could “pinch an inch” or “grab a slab” it was generously called your love handles. I’ve coined a new meaning for that phrase.

Getting back to the subject at hand, what do you reach out for when things go awry?

While no, I don’t envision God as a chubby guy, when I reach out to Him in prayer, (especially when my heart wants to panic about something) I grab for my “love handle” – that being the hand of God that connects me to His heart.

In a world that can appear to have no certainty it’s important to have something that can stabilize your heart.

Some reach for colorful metaphors (as Spock so cleverly put it), even shouting them out for the world to hear.

But some of us call on the God Who created us and placed us in this world – the God that already has the plan for our lives written out in a book, the God Who knows how it all ends. (Jeremiah 29:11 and Psalm 139)

Lifting my voice to the God of heaven connects me to the God Who now lives in my heart, I lay hold of that love handle that brings me peace and security, my ‘assist grip’ – my ‘grab handle’, or whatever YOU call it.

There’s an old phrase/song that comes to mind now, “He’s as close as the mention of His Name – Jesus.”

Prayer is conversation with God, it’s communion with His Holy Spirit, it’s a melding of our hearts. Of course, it brings us peace and stabilization, it centers our focus on the Problem Solver, instead of the problem itself.

When the road is rocky and the ride is bumpy, reach out for His hand.

When life feels good and right, snuggle into the palm of His hand and rest easy, my friend.

It’s become a convenient place to put my trust.

You remember the old song, sing it with me.

“Put your hand in the hand of the Man that stills the waters. Put your hand in the hand of the Man that calms the seas…..”

Love Handles - with care.

(Painting by Michele King, the Hands of God reaching my family.)

New Wine, Anyone?

 

“No one puts a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; for the patch pulls away from the garment, and the tear is made worse. Nor do they put new wine into old wineskins, or else the wineskins break, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But they put new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” - Matthew 9: 16-17 KJV

This is Jesus talking, so it must be important. Right?

I recall thinking, “Okay, what is this supposed to mean? Why is this even in the Bible?”

Enter my friend, Kaye Lamkin. She was expounding on the Spirit of Might the other day. She understands the Bible on a level few will see, though it’s available to all of us. In the midst of her thoughts, she mentioned something that grabbed my attention like a hook snags in the unsuspecting mouth of a hungry fish. The powerful Fisher of men, Himself, was reeling me in.

I have friends who don’t yet know Jesus. Some may have professed to be a Christian at one point in their lives, but they simple consider Christianity another religion. They may even have read the Bible, but they don’t understand what they’ve read. If you don’t understand the Bible, it’s not your fault.

When we’re born into this world, we’re born into a body of flesh, with a carnal mind. We’ll keep living in that flesh until we leave this world, but that carnal mind cannot comprehend the things of God.

Is a carnal mind a bad thing? No. It simply means that our minds perceive what’s around us using only our five senses. If we can touch something, we know if it’s soft. If we can hear a song, we know whether we find it pleasant or not, etc.

Try as we may to understand God’s Word, we cannot comprehend His love letter to us until we have His Spirit living inside of us. The presence of His Spirit unfolds His Word.

“The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.” – 1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV

That’s the reason we need to be born again. When we turn our back on a sinful way of living and ask Jesus to come into our heart and clean us up, we can have eternal life with Him. Once we receive His Spirit (our choice), then we can BEGIN to understand His love for us. We do not instantly become perfect, but we are perfected in Him.

That’s what the Bible is all about, despite what may feel like a roundabout way of getting to that message.

In Romans 12:1-2, we read that God doesn’t want us to live our lives with the mere capabilities of our natural, carnal mind and the strength of our flesh. He wants to empower us with His power and might. He wants us to submit our bodies to Him, and to renew our minds by spending time with Him, and in His Word.

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” – Romans 12:1-2 ESV

The more we learn of His love for us, the more we’ll want that love, and the more we’ll pursue knowing Him intimately; for ourselves.

But what does this have to do with new wine and old wineskins?

God can’t pour His Spirit (new wine) into our old way of thinking (our old wineskin) so, at our invitation, He creates a NEW wineskin. We become an entirely new creation! One capable of containing His Spirit and receiving His love!

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” – 2 Corinthians 5:17 NKJV  

Simply put, without Jesus, we cannot become the temple of the Holy Spirit, He’s just too big – too much.

 

Rambling? Or Trusting the Process....

 

(Me, looking focused!)

I’ve been slacking, I apologize. Sometimes circumstances get in my way and I let them.

I’ve been incredibly tired lately and I’ve used it as an excuse not to do all the things I would normally do in a day. Some days I feel like I could sleep all day long and still want to crawl back into bed by 8:00pm.

But all my time hasn’t been downtime. I have been writing, just not blog posts.

It can be easy to let them slide, because, let’s face it, how many people actually read them anyway?

I’m 13 chapters into a new story, if I stick with it this time, it could really become a novel. Not like the ones I have tucked away in my laptop, but one I could actually finish and submit somewhere.

The challenge? It’s not my genre. Not at all. It’s a western – of all things. I don’t think I’ve ever read a western in my whole life. What makes me think I can write one?

Well, I’m doing what I always do when I write. I listen. And that’s just what I’m hearing right now.

I know, it’s very strange. Right? But then again – I can be a very strange sort of person in very many ways. So, why not?

I actively practice listening for the voice of God. But when I sit down to write, things just come together. Occasionally, they stick and I make something of it. Most of what I’ve written will never see the light of day.

Like right now. I’m rambling on paper (a computer screen, really,) hoping something will stick; that something will stand out to me and I can delete what feels useless.

But tonight, I’m feeling like my rambling isn’t coming out to be pointless.

What if?

What if God can use my ramblings?

What if everything I write looks like ramblings to God?

Yes, like most of you (I hope), I argue with myself. Please tell me you at least TALK with yourself.

If I argue the point that no one reads what I write, I could conclude – then why write at all?

If I argue that I’m writing for an audience of one, then I could concede that the one is worth it – even if I’m that one.

Usually when I write, I feel closer to God – not that my relationship with Him is about feelings. But they help. Sometimes. Can I trust them? Probably not. That’s why I don’t rely on them.

But when it feels like God is sitting here with me as I type out my next words, keeping company with the God of the universe can be a cozy thing and I enjoy it! That alone could be reason enough to keep writing. Peace.

No one else in the world has to read a thing I’m writing, but there are reasons for it.

Even if it’s simply introspection or self-assessing.

Even if I’m secretly feeling for the edges (of my existence).

Even if I haven’t completely figured it out. Grace.

So, I’ll write. Till my fingers don’t work anymore and my mouth can’t talk to text; I’ll write.

Read what you will. Ponder some of it. Toss out the rest. Share what you find meaningful.

I might not even see what makes sense to you, tucked in here like a treasure or a secret. Maybe there’s nothing here at all.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” – Proverbs 3:5

A traditional Christian stand-by. What are you doing with it?

Delay or Preparation

 

Often, I open my email box to find newsletters from various ministries and organizations. Today was no different. But it’s not that often that a newsletter hits me where it counts. Today’s uplifting messages came from Patricia Raybon, author of much, including the fabulous Annalee Spain mysteries. If you haven’t read them, I highly recommend them (here), and her upcoming book, The Sedalia Code (here).

 

She proposed a question I’m still chewing on, even after discussing it with my husband, Dave.

“What ‘delays’ in our lives might God be using as preparation?”

And, I might add, preparation for what, exactly?

We’ve been entertaining the idea of moving since Dave retired (the second time, six years ago). With two out of three children living in Tennessee, we presume that would be our destination. But we could be wrong.

The problem is, even though we both hear from God regularly, we’re not hearing a thing about this move.

I’ve heard it said that God answers our prayers with one of three answers: yes, no and not now.

We’ve been living under the assumption that the time isn’t right for a move, yet.

At our age, it will be an endeavor to move across the country. We don’t want to step out in faith and find out it was a wrong move. Moving will be expensive; we’re used to having the US Military move our belongings for us. We’re not rich, but we’re not poor – but we certainly don’t have money to waste on an expensive move if it’s not the RIGHT move.

What if?

What if we’re causing our own delays?

What if this is a season of preparation for what comes after the move, and we haven’t been preparing as we should?

What if we’re the ones dragging out the delay?

It’s felt like a season of rest. And we’re certainly in the Word of God more than ever before – but what if that’s not enough to be prepared for what’s to come?

Rather than furthering any delays, we’ve concluded that we’ll not only spend more time in the Word, but we’ll make sure it’s quality time. No more checking off a commitment for the day. It’s time to start chewing on the Word of God and making it a staple in our daily diets. There may be days when it doesn’t sit well in our bellies – but that’s just caused by lack of understanding and not seeing the whole picture.

In Matthew 18:19 Jesus tells us, “Again, I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.”

Dave and I make that minimum.

In Luke 11:10 He tells us, “For everyone that asks receives, and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.”

We can ask, see and knock together – in harmony and with unity.

And in James 1:5 we read, “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that gives to all men liberally, and upbraids not [meaning he won’t show disapproval or criticize or be disappointed that we asked]; and it shall be given him.”

Maybe we’ve been asking the wrong question(s).

Starting today, I’m asking for God’s wisdom for right now and not concerning myself with what’s to come unless He puts it on my heart.

We’ll continue to pray, read God’s Word and meditate upon it, and study out what the Scriptures mean – and what He’s saying to us through them in the here and now….. doing the prep work!

Are You Being Compelled?

 

Sometimes a thought occurs to me, seemingly out of the blue. I don’t think that’s how it happens. Long before the thoughts come to me, God planted the seeds that grew into revelation thoughts.

Decades ago, we lived in England when a royal wedding took place. Fergie and Andrew, the event of the year unfolded on our television set. Later that week we went to London to see the flowers at Westminster Abbey.

But what if by some chance, someone sent by the royals showed up at my door and handed me a royal invitation? I wouldn’t have had a thing to wear! But who would see me in the crowds anyways? I’d be there to participate in the celebrations in person! What if upon acceptance, the bearer of the invitation also presented me with a gown to wear, so I’d fit right in!?

Yes, I’d have gone. No hesitation. (I couldn’t have known how the marriage would turn out.)

Let me share a few verses of scripture with you here.

“But he said to him, “A man once gave a great banquet and invited many. And at the time for the banquet, he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’ But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said to him, ‘I have bought a field, and I must go out and see it. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have bought five yoke of oxen, and I go to examine them. Please have me excused.’ And another said, ‘I have married a wife, and therefore I cannot come.’ So, the servant came and reported these things to his master. Then the master of the house became angry and said to his servant, ‘Go out quickly to the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.’ And the servant said, ‘Sir, what you commanded has been done, and still there is room.’ And the master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.” – Luke 14:16-23 ESV

If you’re in God’s Word at all, I hope you’ve seen the invitation. God’s servants have come out into the highways and the hedges, seeking even the poor, the crippled and blind and lame and most unworthy among us, compelling us to come to God’s banquet.

Still, there is room.

If you haven’t accepted this royal invitation, know that you WILL fit in. Jesus has provided for you; every flaw and sin or trace of unworthiness is covered by His blood. He’s provided royal attire for you, as well – His very own Robe of Righteousness. He drapes it over you when you turn to accept His invitation and wraps His arms around you and weeps with joy that you’ve joined Him and welcomes you home.

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” – Romans 8:1 KJV

“For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39 KJV

Welcome home.

Come and See.....

 

“You don’t yet know where the next note falls……” I heard. “And you won’t know until you’re actually singing with me. I’ll let you harmonize!”

My mind envisioned a couple ballroom dancing. As he led her around the dance floor, she followed his lead perfectly, appearing to float on air. They’d been dancing together for years; she knew the nuances of his movements; they danced as one.

To every prayer, God responds – “Come closer to Me.” In the coming closer, we’ll hear His voice and the answers to our prayers. One of Jesus’ favorite things to say was, “Follow me,” and “Come and see…”

His every blessing is to bring you in sync with Him, to hold you close, to lift you up and to edify the body of Christ.

“Lord, where will You meet me?” The question doesn’t fall on deaf ears. God’s response is swift; immediate. “Right here, right now.”

Are we ready to hear that? Are we ready to engage with the Creator of everything over our concerns and desires?

Will we stop what we’re doing right here, right now – to hear what He wants to tell us?

Will we make the time to listen?

Or put it off till we have time to sit down and “REALLY” pay attention. After all, we’re actually kind of busy right here, right now.

We are created to be vessels. We can house the Spirit of God or the spirit of the world, the anti-Christ; the enemy.

Unlike the demonic entities or even our very own thoughts, our God and Creator gives us the choice to allow Him to live within us. He doesn’t want to control us; He wants to lead us.

If we already knew the way we wouldn’t need Him to guide us. We’ve been doing things our own way for so long, we think it’s the only way.

We’re wrong.

That can be a hard thing to hear.

He knows the way, every time – because He IS the way.

Is today the day? Are you ready to sit quietly and hear what God wants to say to you? He’s ALL about intimacy – with YOU.

He loves you beyond human comprehension.

“Jesus said to them, ‘Come away with me. Let us go alone to a quiet place….” - Mark 6:31 Worldwide English New Testament

And . . . ?

 

If you’re ever wondering how you can pray for me, pray that complaining words stop making their way through my lips. I know God doesn’t like it when we complain, yet here I sit – complaining far too often.

It’s silly, but sometimes I even feel like I need to complain just because others in the conversation are complaining. Perhaps my brain pacifies me with the old adage that misery loves company. Maybe complaining is just contagious.

But it’s not just when I’m with others sharing conversation. I can be happily doing the work in front of me when I fuss and complain to the Lord!

“I can’t believe the woman across the room from me is talking to her child that way, she’s making them feel so small and unseen.”

God: “And?”

“Lord, I can tell that man is cheating the system…”

God: “And?”

“That woman just stole from the store, Lord!”

God: “And?”

And just what do I think my complaining about it will do? I could just as easily pray instead of resorting to complaint.

“Father, please heal the hurt in that mother’s heart so she doesn’t take her frustrations out on her child….”

“Lord, show that man a better way to live. Open his eyes to the deception in his ways. Show him YOUR ways…”

“God, I know You’ve already made provision for the woman who just stole from the store, open her eyes to see YOUR provision.

Years ago, while complaining to God about a friend, He let me vent and then said, “You know, if you were praying for her, you wouldn’t be complaining about her.”

That was an embarrassing moment of chastisement! But I needed to hear it. It’s true for all of us.

Quickly I remembered Hebrews 12:5 & 6:

“Have you forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons? “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor be weary when reproved by him. For the Lord disciplines the one he loves and chastises every son whom he receives.” (ESV)

So, I’m in good company – God chastises and corrects those He loves!

Reminds me of the words to an old song, Little by Little.

“Little by little, one step at a time, He’s changing our hearts and renewing our minds. He’s teaching us how to be patient and kind. Little by little, one step at a time.”

Tis true!

How can I pray for YOU today?