Your Best You

 

(youchoose.or.au)

Disappointment and sadness come into our worlds on a regular basis. Yet some of the faces around us seem to smile all the time. Why?

Amid other speculations, perhaps we’re seeing a mask, to disguise the sorrow they’re going through. Maybe, we’re looking at someone who doesn’t understand the ramifications of the news they’ve just received. Or perhaps, they choose joy.

Is it possible to receive devasting news and allow a smile to rise up in your heart? While we may often need to release our feelings through tears or angry outbursts, I believe it’s a choice whether or not to surrender to joy. It’s one of the choices we regularly make.

You cannot force joy, it comes new every morning, along with the mercies of God. By the way, joy and happiness are not the same thing. Joy gives your strength even when you’re not happy.

Ponder this: the God of the universe created you and knows you better than you know yourself. He knows your thoughts before you think them, and yes, He knows what lies ahead of you and how you’ll respond to Him each day. He knows your weaknesses and your limitations. He also knows what you’re capable of, and He trusts you to reach for the best version of you. Not just the best version of you that YOU can imagine, but the one He created when He knit you together in your mother’s womb; the best that you can be, each day.

That would require incredible strength.

Along with those incredible expectations, God provides that great strength.

Instead of responding to negative circumstances with tears of sorrow or wrestling with frustrations or outbursts of anger, what if we responded to God? Let me say that backwards. What if we respond to God - instead of to our circumstances?

God is within our circumstances; He also surrounds us in the midst of them.

God is the one constant in our lives. Circumstances change. The people who surround us change, and the ones who travel with us through life sometimes change how they interact with us.

God’s love for us never changes. He’s always within reach. He always provides what we need, when we need it. Even when to our human heart it may feel like He hasn’t shown up yet, He’s here, working with us, in us and through us. He has not left us, and He promises He never will. (Hebrews 13:5)

What we need and when we need it may look quite different from God’s heavenly perspective. We can’t see the big picture like He does; we’re still on this side of eternity. We sometimes feel like God doesn’t hear or answer our prayers when we’re only looking at the situation from our puny human perspective.

Don’t limit God. Don’t tie His hands by turning from Him, pouting and going your own way. He IS the Way, the Truth and the Light. He’s seen your future since before the foundations of the earth were laid. Trust Him. Choose joy in the midst of what you don’t understand.

To scripturally recap:

“The joy of the Lord is your strength.” - Nehemiah 8:10

“Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean not of your own understanding.”  – Proverbs 3:5 

Peace Down a Cobblestone Road

(picture from ebay)

As I wind myself down the narrow cobblestone pathway, I feel goosebumps on my arms and a shiver in my bones, though the scorching sun and windless day envelops me. I’m containing my joyful giggles because my upbringing taught me to be quiet at church. I want to run the length of the path, winding around gangly shrubs and old, faded statues, chipped and neglected; yet I tiptoe, slowly, enjoying every step with ecstatic anticipation. Tears trace my nose. I lick them as they meet my smiling lips.

I’ve seen the grandeur of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London, and Westminster Abbey; I’ve admired the spiral staircase at the Loretto Chapel and knelt in so many churches and cathedrals across the globe, large and small alike. I’ve been in awe of the structures themselves and the thought of so many prayers offered up over the centuries, knowing God has heard each one of them.

But, here, there’s a sweetness in the air, though no flowers in sight. The uncut grasses and unkept bushes are as welcoming as the arms of Jesus Himself. I might have missed the tiny sign out front if I’d blinked, yet I know that God’s Spirit has drawn me to this humble grotto behind the old stone wall.

Normally, I’d take pictures to share, but it feels this like this is a place for Jesus to speak to my heart. As modest as a manger in cold barn, yet, He’s here.

I’m standing before dirty stones, once stacked high; the cove for a large statue of Mary has been battered by many storms, making me wonder how it’s stood the test of time? Tears of tenderness swell from within me, I want to hold this whole place in my arms, I want to embrace everything that God has for me here.

I fall to my knees on hard dirt, baked by the sun, but with a pull I can’t resist. I can’t even close my eyes, fearing I’ll miss something, yet everything fades away.

I’m shaking as I rejoice in the middle of nowhere. I can see an old picture my father painted many years ago. Jesus sits in the midst of children. From the folds of His robe, I see my little sister, peeking out at me. She looks timid as her eyes meet mine; she clings to His robe. Sobs overtake me. My little sister! My precious little sister, in this life so filled with hurt and sorrow, fear and abuse – hiding in the robes of the King!

Without a word of prayer, I know she’s safe with Him there, secure in the folds of His garment. I’m at total peace.

(picture from pinterest)

Vulnerable?

(picture from picsart.com)

Vul-ner-able

ONE OF THE SYNONYMS of vulnerable is ‘unguarded’. I would say that when we feel vulnerable, our hearts are not unguarded, but rather, being guarded by the wrong keeper.

“Jesus wept.” – John 11:35

I’ve often wondered why we don’t read that Jesus laughed. Surely, He has a sense of humor; He created us.

Childhood can pack away memories we carry with us throughout life. Catastrophe looks unreconcilably different depending on whose eyes we see it through. As a child, small things can make it feel like your world is falling apart, but to a parent who’s seen it all, it’s too easy to scold and cause the child to question their own feelings.

“Suck it up.”

“If you’re going to cry, go to your room.”

“Get over yourself.”

“Stop crying.”

“The world doesn’t revolve around you, princess.”

“Do you want me to give you something real to cry about?”

But, what better example can we see than this; that the very God Who spoke everything into existence lets us look into His heart and see Him weep? Should we stifle ourselves?

NO MATTER WHAT THE WORLD DICTATES, no matter how many times we’ve been told that big girls (and big boys) don’t cry, or if we’ve received the message that crying is something to be ashamed of, there are times when tears are the only remedy in the moment. To hold them back cripples us. It can leave us in a spot where we deny what we’re feeling.

Now, here we sit in adulthood, unpacking our past and choosing what to keep and what to throw away. It can be a lot harder than cleaning out a closet. The memories we delve into have morphed over time. Perhaps we remember the words that were spoken, but have twisted the tone with which they were said, or even who imposed them on us.

(picture from ebay)

IT CAN BE very difficult for me to cry. Logically, I know it’s not only okay, it can even be healing to purge those tears. But, emotionally, sometimes the door to my tears is locked.

Even reading John 11:35 in context with the story it’s tucked into, we can still only guess why Jesus was crying. Was He crying at the unbelief that filled the hearts of His friends? Was He crying because His friends were upset over the loss of Lazarus? Was He crying in anticipation of the miracle His friends were about to behold?

No matter the reason for our tears, or whether we shed them in private, before our friends or in front of the whole world, God gave us tears for good reasons. Our tears are a gift from God. The writer of the Psalms even indicates that God keeps our tears. (Psalm 56:8)

Romans 8:26 implies that there are prayers in our tears, as the Spirit of God helps us pray through groanings which cannot be uttered.

Yes, tears are a gift to be treasured, not a curse to fear. They communicate things we cannot put into words. They’re not a punishment, or something to feel shame over.

Tears must begin in our heart, because that’s where mine get stuck before they even make it to my eyes. Seldom do I ever sob, and if I do, it’s for a minute or less at a time. My heart must be trying to protect me from something unseen, but overshadowing my brain.

(picture from etsy)

Galatians 5:1 tells us, to “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ has made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”

Whatever bondage grips my tears so tightly, may not be something you wrestle with. Your wrestling matches are your business.

BUT I AM DETERMINED to rest in the care of my Savior, and trust Him to work this out with me. He sent His Holy Spirit to be our Comforter, but we know there are stubborn children who refuse to be comforted. It’s time for God’s children to surrender and be healed. It’s time for THIS Child of God to let go, not only of this wadded up mess in the middle of the bag, but to give the whole, heavy suitcase over to Jesus.

“…and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:7 (NKJV)

(picture from pinterest)

Come Back

 

(photo from amazon.com)

Pastor Ken Willard repeatedly drew me back into his sermon; actually, quite appropriate, since he brought a “Come Back” message.

Using Micah 7:7-8, he began to call us back. Not just to God, but to the land of the living. Let’s face it, anyone who has a working television in their home, or who plays with social media has been affected by the current state of our nation.

“Therefore I will look unto the LORD, I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me. Rejoice not against me, O mine enemy: when I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in the darkness, the LORD shall be a light unto me.” (KJV)

I’ll admit, I never understood the latter part of this verse: “A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17 (KJV)

According to Pastor Ken, this means that your friends were born to be there for you when you find yourself in a place of trouble. If we think we’re going to prosper in life, it’s likely we’ll need friends. They may not be lifelong friends that we’ll intimately share our days with forever. But the friends that God provides for your times of adversity could as easily be friends from childhood who’ve stuck around a long time, or friends you’ve just met.

Insisting on doing things without accepting help, may prove to take us a lot longer, if we accomplish them at all.

Ecclesiastes 4:10 says, “For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.” (KJV)

“At the place of challenge, sometimes there’s a fall.” – Pastor Ken

When we’re challenged and we fall, sometimes bouncing back isn’t about proving anything to the challenger, but more for proving to ourselves what we’re made of.

But, whether we’ve “fallen away from God” or we just find ourselves in a tough spot, God designed us to be like rubber balls, not hacky-sacks. We’re supposed to bounce back. And we aren’t underinflated, so we won’t just sit there when we fall, we’re still filled with the breath of Life.

Realize this, we’re just as anointed while we’re sitting in that dark place as we were when we felt like we were pleasing God. His gifts and calling are without repentance, meaning He doesn’t take them from us. (Romans 11:29)

“The best place to be when you’re in the worst place is here, in the presence of God; here, in the body of Christ, with your brothers and sisters; the ones born for your adversity.” – Pastor Ken

Those weren’t his EXACT words, but as I tried to keep up with him, that’s what it sounded like to me.

So, think “comeback thoughts”. Let God light your way and look for the friends He’s already laid in your path.

There’s no depth that any of us have dropped to that Jesus can’t reach us.

(photo from ebay.com)

Ears to Hear

 

(photo from banter.com)

In this season of life, I find myself floundering a bit. What doors might God be opening for me now? What purpose has He created for me to fulfill in 2021 and beyond?

Once your children are grown, and their children are grown to the point where they don’t really need you anymore, the whole landscape of your life changes. Retirement might someday become boring if we just continue to have fun and doing nothing of importance.

Life without purpose is empty. Although, I don’t feel empty, I’m in a holding pattern, waiting on God.

Or is He waiting on me?

So, while pondering this conundrum, I began to ask myself, just what do I know about hearing God’s voice? Here’s what I came up with. What points can YOU add?

In no particular order:

*I need to be in God’s Word regularly; daily.

*I need to be actively listening for Him, aware of His presence with me.

*I need to check my heart, making sure I’m not in rebellion or harboring bitterness and unforgiveness that could hinder my ability to hear God speak to me.

*I need to minimize distractions.

*I need to recognize that God may be saying something, right now!

*I need to realize that what God is trying to say to me, might be something I don’t really think I want to hear.

*I should probably journal and look for patterns or repetition of thoughts, and what’s drawing my attention lately, while most definitely reflecting on His goodness, and offering up thanksgiving.

*I need to be praising Him! The Bible tells us that He inhabits the praises of His people.

*I need to be coming together for fellowship with other Christians. Often, God speaks through our friends and strangers we haven’t made friends with yet.

*I need to be more purposeful about communication, it’s generally between two or more. Prayer involves as much listening as it does speaking, maybe more – He did give us one mouth and two ears.

So, that’s what I’ve got so far. Feel free to include me in your prayers, that my listening will pay off and I’ll get myself pointed in the right direction and begin to feel purpose again. And if you have any more points to add, PLEASE let me know!

I love you.

 

What Authority Do I Have?

(picture from phillyvoice.com)

“You will ask Me nothing, most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My Name He will give you.” – John 16:23 

This verse, and others like it intrigue me. What am I missing? What am I “doing wrong”? I pray, like many others, in Jesus’s Name – and yet, sometimes fail to see my prayers answered. Or, at least, that’s the way it appears to me. And let’s face it, the way it appears to me effects my faith, and can stir up doubt and unbelief. 

Knowing Jesus doesn’t want me filled with doubt and unbelief, but with the faith of God He’s given me, I need understanding. 

As I pondered this today, it occurred to me that I’m not just using or borrowing Jesus’s Name. He’s given it to me; I am Christian, Christ-like. He is in me and I am in Him, in the same way that He is in the Father and the Father is in Him. That’s why when I ask the Father for something in Jesus’s Name, I have the authority to use the Name of Jesus. Because He said so. 

I’m not supposed to just slap on the phrase, “In Jesus’s Name. Amen.” I am supposed to be in Christ; in Jesus, in the shadow of the Almighty, in His presence, in His Word, in HIM! Am I abiding (staying) in Him? 

Yes, I am. 

Satan will try to weaken my resolve with whispers of lies, and tell me I’m not in Christ. Sometimes my heart listens. 

“You didn’t spend enough time in the Word today, your prayers won’t be effective.” 

“You must be harboring some unforgiveness in your heart, you’ve been praying for this same thing for years now and yet, you see nothing.” 

“You missed church last Sunday, don’t even expect God to be listening while you pray for your friends.” 

“You were critical of that person yesterday, and you think your prayers for them today will be effective? Ha!” 

“I heard you say a bad word this morning. You can’t pray with that mouth.” 

“You fell asleep while praying last night. If your prayers are THAT uninspired, do you really think God was listening?” 

Satan has all sorts of lies and they’re all meant to tear us down and steal our faith. Fortunately, we always know when he’s lying to us – when his lips are moving. I know, old joke. And we can’t even see his lips moving. 

The fact of the matter is, God is not negative or confusing. He is not the author of confusion; He does not condemn us at all. When He looks at us, He sees the blood of Jesus, nothing here to condemn! Hallelujah! So, when our mind tries to tell us otherwise, those thoughts come from the evil source, not from ourselves, and certainly not from God. Dismiss them. 

Once we’ve submitted ourselves to God, He hears every prayer we pray – and He answers them. 

When we are in Christ, when we STAY in Christ and keep His Word in our hearts, His Words will always fill our minds. We may be pulled away from them for a minute or two. Okay, in the midst of a pity party, we may be pulled away for even longer. But His Words are always there to return to. 

With His Word in our minds and in our hearts, we can pray effectively because we can pray with authority. 

A woman once told me that she would pray for me. Then she quickly tacked on, “Not that I believe or anything like that….” What? Why would you even pray if you don’t believe that your prayers are being heard or answered, or for that matter, if you don’t believe in the very God you claim to be praying to? 

God wants us to believe IN Him and to rely ON Him and to snatch up the authority He’s holding out for us to grab ahold of and use. 

We can do things our way. 

Or, we can do things His Way. 

What is His Way? Jesus said, “I am the WAY, the Truth and the Life, no man comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6NKJV) 

When we submit our hearts to Him, His Way becomes our way. 

This is abiding in Christ. This causes the authority of Jesus Christ to operate in our lives. Jesus didn’t tell us that once we reach a point where we never mess up, THEN we can use His Name. 

We are perfect in Him; not as in we will never again make a mistake, but as in perfected, completed in Him. Once the blood of Jesus is applied to our lives, nothing can make us holier, and nothing will separate us from His love. Nothing else is necessary to gain access to God’s throne room. 

What holds us back? 

Believing those stupid lies. 

We DO have the authority Jesus gave us, whether we missed church last week or not, whether we used inappropriate language or not, whether we read God’s Word today, or not. 

But we have to believe that in order to operate with the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. It’s that Spirit that fills us with the authority of Jesus Christ, Himself. 

But, Helen, you don’t know some of the things I’ve done! God would never extend that kind of authority to ME! 

Lies. Lies. Lies. 

The Bible tells us this beautiful truth: “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8 (NKJV) 

He’s seen our sin and knows the blood He spilled at Calvary is enough to pay the cost. 

Who better to believe than the One Who gave His life so that we could be free from sin? 

Dare to believe.

(picture from blogspot.com)

A Thought on Tithing

(picture from dictionary.com)

Peter and Coleen had been happily married for little more than a year when they announced that they were going to be parents. Everyone was overjoyed and looked forward to the blessed event. When the special day came and Pamela was born, Peter and Coleen were among the happiest parents in the world. But, Papa was enveloped with a special kind of love and pride that only a grandpa could enjoy and he showed it in every precious way he could. Pamela was his first grandchild. He opened an account at the bank for her; in her name, with her mother’s name as a co-account holder. This was an account for her to use to go to college and obviously, he expected her to go to the best college money could afford! It was quite a substantial amount of money.

(picture from qz.com)

Pamela grew graciously and beautifully. She was surrounded by love and developed a warm and caring personality. She was kind and giving, as well as she was an excellent student when she reached her school years. Although it was hard for her mother and father to send her off to school, she soon showed them that their fears were unnecessary. She adapted and thrived in her new social environment.

While Pamela was still quite young, Peter ran into a run of hard luck at work. His job was threatened and he was eventually laid off. His job had been a good one, though. His dear wife, being the astute handler of the finances that she was, had managed to set aside plenty of money they could fall back on until he found work.

This time of unemployment lasted longer than either one of them had anticipated it could. Coleen knew how thin the money was being spread and could also see how anxious Peter had become. So instead of worrying him further, she borrowed from Pamela’s account, reasoning that they needed it to get by. More anxiety might just make it even harder for Peter to find another job.

Eventually, he landed a great job, better than his previous position. After receiving several paychecks, they could relax somewhat and were comforted knowing that they had indeed, ‘made it through the hard times’.

(picture from moneyunder30.com)

But, Coleen had begun to see how easy it was to borrow from Pamela’s account, reasoning that they’d be able to replace it when the time came, perhaps little by little, if necessary. After a while, she had to tell herself, “So, okay – Pamela will have to do with a little less than Papa had intended. She’ll still have plenty. Maybe she’ll choose to go to a less expensive college on her own…”

Pamela grew up to become an energetic and fun, yet refined young woman. The three of them were a close-knit family. But, in the middle of her senior year of high school, Peter and Coleen learned that they were to have another child, after all those years. Coleen’s doctor had concerns with this pregnancy, though. Coleen was older, yes, but she had also developed a few medical conditions which could be harmful to her unborn child. Throughout the pregnancy and even through the delivery, the medical bills that accumulated became enormous. Their medical coverage only covered so much of it and the rest would fall to them to pay. They had always maintained a nice standard of living, but the medical bills began to take their toll on their finances. Pamela’s new little sister, Christine, would require special medical attention, but she would be okay. Again, what looked like an unmerciful crisis had Coleen dipping into Pamela’s account.

We’ve all heard the cliché, ‘when it rains, it pours’ and crisis begets crisis. Very soon after Christine was born, Papa fell sick. Collen’s mother feared that this Christmas might be Papa’s last and decided that they should all celebrate Christmas together and make it a very festive party. She asked all of her children to contribute to the feast. One thing she counted on from Coleen was her special cookies. No one else could make them just right. Papa loved them. Almost three weeks before Christmas, she set aside several days for holiday baking and made the biggest batch of cookies she’d ever made. Everyone would be looking forward to them, so she wanted to have more than enough. She boxed them up and set them aside. But, because of the emotional turmoil she was feeling, she began to sneak a cookie from the box now and then.

The day before Christmas, Coleen got the box of cookies down from the cupboard to take to Mama’s house and discovered that she had eaten most of them. She was shocked and pushed aside everything else she had to do to make time to bake some more. She panicked as she discovered that she didn’t have the ingredients she needed. Peter was out with his car, and Pamela had taken hers. She couldn’t get to the store, so she sat down and cried.

(picture from dallasfoodnerd.com)

On Christmas Day, she took a small plateful of cookies to the party. Everyone was a little disappointed. They’d expected her to bring a lot of them. Papa smiled at her and patted her on the shoulder.

Later that afternoon, Papa made a little speech, an appeal to his children to get right anything in their lives that was wrong, as well as an expression of the joy they’d brought him. He also told them of the happiness he felt at being able to provide so well for his family over the years. He called Pamela to his side; his pride and joy, his firstborn grandchild. He proudly proclaimed that he'd given each of his grandchildren funds with which to attend the college of their choice, beginning with her. He went on to tearfully say that he intended to hang on long enough to see her use it.

(photo from ChurchofJesusChrist.org)

Coleen began to tremble inside. She held her newborn close, knowing that the money wasn’t there. Just as with the cookies, there might only be a plateful left. Papa smiled and said that yes, an account would be opened for Christine, too, as soon as he was able. Coleen’s mind began to compute. Perhaps, I can use money from that account to replace Pamela’s and no one would ever know. Or, at least Papa would never find out.

But, Papa never woke up the next morning. Coleen was crushed.

The afternoon of the funeral, Pamela addressed the family and reassured them that at college, she’d make Papa proud. Coleen cried all the harder. How could she tell Pamela? The whole family would know about her failures. Oh, what a disappointment this would have been to Papa. And he hadn’t yet opened an account for Christine for Coleen to borrow from to hide what she’d done. To think, the last time she saw her dad, he smiled proudly at her. He had always thought the best of her.

That night, Coleen cried a confession to Peter. When he asked her how much was left, she collapsed on his chest and told him she didn’t know. She begged, “How can I face my family?” He held her and just let her cry until she fell asleep. The next day, they went to the bank together to check it out.

Maybe some people tithe this way. For some of us, it’s a long time from payday until Sunday morning when the offering plate is passed around. With well intentions, we set aside from the money God our Father has provided for us, the portion He requires back. But, sometimes, by Sunday only a small part of it is left. We might feel embarrassed about it. Some might even feel shame to give only a remnant of what is rightfully God’s. Some of us might decide that it’s no use; we just can’t do it right – so why do it at all? We settle for giving a small offering in each week. Some of us live in fear that God will punish us for taking what is His – as if all of it isn’t His to begin with? What will God say to us when we see Him face to face? Maybe some of us don’t know the forgiveness and the trust of our Father. Today might just be the day to begin to tithe again.

Coleen and Peter went into the bank together and nervously approached the teller to inquire about the account balance. Greatly surprised, they discovered that no money was missing at all! There was just as much in the account as there was the day Papa opened it eighteen years ago. Not many days before Papa’s death, he had restored it.

And the last time he looked at her face, he smiled at her!

(picture from pinterest.com)

(- Helen Williams! 4/2/1995)