Tag: #faith

Keep fighting…but know you are not alone in the fight. Do you keep things that are bothering you to yourself? I find myself doing that sometimes. Even though I know, I have friends and family who will pray for me and with me.

We all go through low times or a season of feeling off; thankfully, they are few and far between. Sometimes we must go through the valley to get to the next, and sometimes higher, mountaintop. There are also times when the enemy will try to keep us down. He does not want us to share our concerns with others because it makes his job easier.

On the run recently, on a morning, the wind was particularly gusty; at one point, in a straight stretch, it felt as if someone had their hand on my forehead holding me back, almost like I was running in place, not making any progress. It can feel the same way when the enemy is interfering – I had another group leader tell me recently that she felt like someone had both hands on her shoulders, weighing her down. Have you ever felt like that?

In these times, we must share our burdens and pray, using the spiritual weapons God gives us. (Putting on the whole armor of God and always praying in the spirit (Eph. 6:11-18, ESV). The enemy must flee by the power of the Holy Spirit in Jesus’s name. Jesus is already a victor over death, the grave, and the devil. We can rely on His strength when we are weak.

When I finally blurted out what was troubling me to a trusted friend, the load was lighter because I was no longer carrying it alone. Saying it aloud makes it lose its power and no longer fester inside us. We are not supposed to go it alone. A threefold cord is not quickly broken (Eccl. 4:12, ESV).

This reminded me of the homeplace where I grew up –a bank in our front yard was covered in deep purple irises. When I got older and moved next door, I wanted to dig up a few for my yard, so I tried to divide the many years’ worth of entangled roots to separate them. Even though iris roots are not deeply rooted and are sometimes ‘exposed,’ they intertwine to create a dense mat. Let’s say I didn’t get as many as I had planned. On the other hand, sunflowers can go ten feet deep and branch out. Both grow best in full sun.

We, too, grow best in the full light of the Son. When we feel exposed, it is a time to join forces with others, encourage and help carry one another’s burdens (Heb. 10: 23-25; I Thes. 5:11; James 5:16, ESV). We can stand firm on the promises of God. Jesus promises to always be with us (Matt. 28:20, ESV). May we be deeply rooted and grounded in love (Eph. 3:17, ESV) as we fight the good fight together (I Tim. 6:12, ESV).

The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust Him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving (Ps. 28:7, emphasis mine).

I didn’t find my voice until I was 47. It was a decisive moment and the first time I stood up for myself as God whispered in my heart that I did not have to allow what was happening. This was preempted by an accident that I call my wake-up call.

I whispered a lot growing up, even to my mom when my siblings were around. This one little thing about me drove my brother Butch crazy. I can look back and see how shy I was most of my life. Sitting in the back of the room, just listening to everyone else, trying not to be noticed or called on, became my main goal in most group settings.

I got good at listening, but I was too preoccupied with my fear of being called on to pay close enough attention to what was being said most days. Then comes that moment, you know, when you realize if they called on you, would you even know what they were talking about? That is when I started listening closer, just in case.

In God’s divine sense of humor, He began preparing me for public speaking through my jobs. First, when I had to give presentations or stand up and tell something about myself in a networking group. Then, through my job as a newspaper reporter and photographer. I had to attend meetings, conduct interviews and ask questions, even when I was just the photographer. My mom used to say she wished she would be a fly on the wall to hear me speak.

Today, I use my voice to pray for others, praise God in all circumstances, and advocate for other women who need hope and healing. On occasion, I even speak to groups. Do I still get nervous? Yes. But I don’t allow that to stop me anymore. My relationship with God makes all the difference. I rely on the Holy Spirit to help me and give me the words and courage to step out in faith.

Now, I have been working on being a better listener. Listening is a form of love. I want to listen to understand, not just respond. Now that I have found my voice, I find it harder not to speak too quickly. I know my tongue is something that I not only use for good things but can also be harmful if I am not careful and take time to pause before allowing my words to spew.

Listening is a big part of our conversations with God. Sometimes I talk too much and must remind myself to stop and give God a chance to speak.

“Do you know why we only have one mouth and two ears? Because we are supposed to listen twice as much as we talk.” This is a quote attributed to Epictetus, a Greek philosopher.

James also has a few things to say about speaking less. Everyone should be quick to listen and slow to speak (James 1:19, NLT). I, for one, have said many things I wish I could take back. Whispering, “help me, Holy Spirit,” aids me in this endeavor.

James also says the tongue is like a rudder, a bit, and a spark. It may be one of the smallest organs in the body, but like the rudder makes a huge ship turn, a bit directs a horse, and a tiny spark can set a forest on fire, the tongue is more than capable of causing a lot of damage. It has similar control over everything a person is and does (ESV Study Bible). He compares someone who speaks both blessings and curses to a tree yielding two different kinds of fruit (v 9). Just as no tree produces two types of fruit, a true believer would not give blessings to God and curses toward others made in His image (ESV Study Bible).

The book of Proverbs also has much to say about how words are used. I recently found four categories for how the tongue is used in Proverbs in the Chronological Life Application Study Bible: The caring tongue, the controlled tongue, the conniving tongue, and the careless tongue. What we say and how we say it sometimes affects people more than other actions.

Both listening and speaking are balancing acts that God can help us master.

“in quietness and trust shall be your strength” (Isaiah 30:15, ESV, emphasis mine).

The sky opened up;

grace fell like rain.

In a moment of love,

God washed away my pain.

Grace fell like rain.

He whispered like a gentle breeze.

God washed away my pain

and filled my heart with promises – He would keep.

He whispered like a gentle breeze

and broke away the rusty chains.

My heart was filled with promises – He would keep

after walking through the flames.

He broke away the rusty chains

and gave me a new life

after walking through the flames

of heartache, misery, and strife.

He gave me a new life,

but my story isn’t complete.

Without heartache, misery, and strife,

He makes me feel unique.

My story isn’t complete,

but my past is forgiven.

He makes me feel unique

in the light of Christ, who is risen.

I know my past is forgiven.

Looking up to the sky, with arms outstretched,

in the light of Christ, who is risen,

my heart is refreshed.

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork” (Ps. 19:1, ESV, emphasis mine). ESV Study Bible notes: The skies bear witness to the Maker.

As the sun of our Glorious Creator rises with new mercies each day (Lamentations 3:22-24, ESV) and sets each evening, offering spectacular views like this one, we can reflect on His faithfulness throughout the day, no matter what we face. What better way to begin and end our day than singing praises to our Lord and Savior – Jesus Christ! “It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night” (Ps. 92:1-2, ESV, emphasis mine). Giving thanks every day will change our attitude.

There are 150 Psalms, about half of which were written by David, poems that express a wide variety of emotions. With many reasons to read the Psalms, we can turn to them for comfort in times of pain or grief or when we feel alone, to name a few. As the Chronological Life Application Study Bible suggests, “They put into words our deepest longings, thoughts, and prayers.” This is because they were written by people experiencing all of life’s highs and lows, just like us. If we compare these praises, prayers, and sometimes pleas for help or mercy to the events in David’s life, we can see how they fit and offer the same grace to us today that he received then.

The Greek name for the book means “song” and was already established by the time of the New Testament. The Hebrew name Tehillim means “praises,” – which points to the use of the Psalms as songs of praises offered to God in public worship (ESV Study Bible). The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary calls it the “hymnbook of Israel” and a source of instruction, comfort, and blessing for the people of God by teaching His people how to worship, serve, and glorify God forever. But the book’s focus, along with the entire Bible, is on the Messiah as our hope and the fulfillment of God’s promises.

Next time you feel alone, read 27 and 40. Comfort: 23; to learn a new prayer:136; to learn a new song: 92; forgiveness: 51; hope: 16; 17; 18; 23; 27; decisions or to understand why we should read the Bible: 119; and I could go on and on. When we learn to praise God in all circumstances, our attitudes will not be the only thing that changes.

“May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord” (2 Peter 1:2, ESV, emphasis mine).

Brand, C., ed., Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary, (Nashville: B & H Publishing, 2015).

Nothing like being gone for a few days to make me appreciate being home. Not that I don’t enjoy the scenery in a new place, the opportunity to capture our Creator’s artwork in a new area, or visiting my family. It’s just that I enjoy being home too.

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit my brother and sister-in-law in Alabama, an eleven-hour drive. Like many others, it had been three years since I traveled this distance.

Did I feel a little anxious about traveling again? Yes. Did every muscle in my body tense up as I gripped the steering wheel and leaned in as if that would help when I drove through Nashville? Yes. Did I do it anyway? Yes. Why? Because I knew I needed to get outside my bubble, and I probably will not have another chance all year due to my schedule. Granted, it may be a while before I do it again, but I am happy I did not give in to the anxious thoughts.

As I drove through several lanes of traffic with my white knuckles, I realized, in a more profound way, why my dad did not like to travel. He also did not like being away from home after dark. Like me, he enjoyed the comfort of his bubble a little too much.

As the Great Commission summons us to share the Good News of Jesus Christ, I sometimes find it easier to stay inside my bubble. Unless I am intentional about going, seeing, listening, and even finding others to share it with, I tend not to do it as often as I should. I get too comfortable, too busy, too anxious, and so forth. But when I go, take a step of faith which sometimes feels like a giant leap, I am the one who is blessed the most.

Our challenge is to avoid getting too comfortable inside our bubbles and be intentional about loving others in a more profound way that sometimes requires us to go and share in person. To see, pay attention, and listen.

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns” (Is. 52:7, ESV).

(Watch for one of God’s many amazing sunsets over the waters of Fairhope next week)

Do you know who you are? More importantly, do you know whose you are? Paul wrote in Romans 8:14 that all those led by the Spirit of God are sons (and daughters) of God. Only Jesus Christ defines who we are. Our identity was carved out at the foot of the cross by our loving Savior. He has scars on his hands to prove His love for us. We are a chosen people (I Peter 2:9, ESV).

Once we figure out whose we are, the Holy Spirit begins to form our character and shape us into the image of whom we were created to be like, Jesus Christ. We may need new friends when our character changes since bad company ruins good morals (I Cor. 15:33, ESV).

It matters whom we hang out with, whom we cultivate friendships with, and whom we forge partnerships with. Our close-knit friends influence who we are, whether we realize it or not. Jesus ate with and socialized with those with questionable character, but He also had an inner circle of close friends. Peter, James, and John were among them, as were Mary, Martha, and Lazarus.

It matters whom we follow. Anyone can pin on a tin star and pretend to lead us in the right direction. But a genuine leader will shine from within. We can recognize them by their Jesus qualities and character.

We are called to love everyone and cast a wide net to be “fishers for men” (Matt. 4:19, ESV). We are to share the Good News about Jesus Christ with those we meet, especially the lost and sometimes undesirable characters, but at the end of the day, we still need that one person or group of friends who we know has our back, holds us accountable, and whose character will not change with the culture; rooted and grounded in love (Eph. 3:17, ESV). Trustworthy enough to keep us sharp (Prov. 27:17, EV). Someone who won’t take offense when we speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15, ESV). Someone who will pray with us and for us.

We may not have too many friends like that, if at all. The challenge is intentionally building those kinds of relationships and sticking them out when it gets complicated. Because it will; relationships are messy, and people are complex. Remember- you always have a friend in Jesus (John 15:15, ESV). He is an actual model to adore and learn from. If we keep Him close and imitate His actions, soon we will be more like the friend(s) we look for. We must first be trustworthy people to attract faithful friends.

For further reading: Gal. 6:2, Prov. 18:24, Prov. 13:20, Eccl. 4:9-12, Heb. 10:24, James 5:19, I John 1:7, 2 Cor. 6:14.

Most nights, I don’t have any trouble sleeping. Although I do wake up earlier than most, I enjoy starting my day in quiet reflection. I haven’t used an alarm clock in years. My internal clock naturally wakes me when it is time to get up, which is much more pleasing than a loud noise.

Occasionally, it is harder to fall asleep, especially if thoughts from my day are still roaming around like a night owl. It is usually only when I have not had a chance to calm down and get sleepy before bed. If I don’t doze off in the living room first, I might as well not even try to go to bed.

Sometimes I wake up extremely early, even for me, and can’t go back to sleep. In the past, those times frustrated me because I knew I had to work the next day and that it would be difficult to get past three o’clock without being exhausted (I call these the three o’clock yawns). But recently, when those times have occurred, I am more prone to think that God is waking me up to bless me with His presence because I have learned to use the time to communicate with Him instead of worrying and watching the clock, which never helps.

Sometimes, I pray about what was on my mind when I fell asleep or what suddenly shows up once I am awake. Other times, I meditate on something in His Word that I read that day or take the opportunity to communicate with Him through praise and thankfulness as I lay there in the dark. It is also an excellent time to talk out any potential worries that come up so I can give them to Him instead of letting them linger too long.

During these wee morning hours, God shows up in all His sweetness and gently reminds me that He is in control and I have nothing to fear. I consider any time spent with God in the quietness of these moments a sacred space that the Holy Spirit fills with sweet peace and joy, a blessing, even if I think I should be asleep. This has given me a new perspective and allowed me not to see these times as frustrating but as a gift from a Father who lovingly holds me in His hands and sometimes even redeems any sleep loss with a glorious nap later in the day, which is another gift.

There is such a sweetness about the presence of God that brings joy to our hearts no matter the circumstances and melts away all fear and worry, knowing He will provide.

“Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing!” (Ps. 100:2, ESV Emphasis mine).

“For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence” (Ps. 21:6, ESV Emphasis mine).

Are you familiar with the clothing brand Patagonia? I had heard of it but didn’t know much about it or the owner until recently. Yvon Chouinard founded the company in 1973, but not intentionally. He doesn’t like to be called a businessman. He was an avid rock climber and environmental activist who began making climbing spikes for himself and his friends. Many stories are circulating about him right now, so if you are interested in learning more about him or his business, it is easy to find. Here is a link to one of them, where I retrieved some information for this blog.

He went from metal spikes into outdoor clothing with great success. He always gave back part of his millions of dollars in profits to charities throughout the company’s history to combat climate change. But he has been making the headlines the last few months because he recently gave the company away, with exceptional circumstances.

He created a charitable trust and a partnership with a non-profit that will receive all the future profits, over a million a year, to be exact, to help combat climate change and protect undeveloped land. It is almost unheard of that anyone would give away their fortune these days and take measures to ensure future profits are secure for a cause instead of leaving them to his family. They didn’t want it either.

I don’t know much about him or his beliefs, but this reminded me of the story about the rich young man who met Jesus and asked what he could do to inherit eternal life. Jesus recites many commandments and tells him he will inherit the kingdom if he does well. The rich man confirms that he has kept all of them. From the human perspective, his answer is believable. But the man went away sorrowfully when Jesus asked him to sell all his possessions and give them to the poor. Jesus pointed out that the rich man lacked that one thing. He had replaced trust in God and treasure in heaven with earthly riches (Mark 10:17-31, ESV).

This does not mean everyone must sell all they have to follow Jesus and inherit the kingdom. Instead, our hearts must be focused on God, and everything we own must be surrendered to Him and handled properly as a good steward of the gifts God has given us. Everything we have is God’s. He generously entrusted them to us. It is our responsibility to honor Him with everything.

The man was sad, but he didn’t repent or make changes. He just left Jesus’ side to keep his earthly possessions intact. Jesus describes how difficult it is for those with material possessions to enter the kingdom of God because it reinforces self-sufficiency instead of dependency on God. They are relying on themselves, which is a dangerous stance to take. He is opposed to submitting to God’s will. Anyone who trusts in riches as an idolatrous replacement for God cannot enter the kingdom of God.

The camel fitting through the eye of a needle stresses that it is humanly impossible, but with God, anything is possible (Mark 10:27, ESV Emphasis mine). I am so glad my salvation and entry into heaven don’t depend on my efforts and ability to achieve it. I’m putting my money on Christ, and hopefully, the owner of Patagonia is too.

“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain, where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf” (Hebrews 6:19-20, ESV).

“Your actions speak so loud; I can’t hear what you say.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Have you ever been in a relationship where this quote fits the situation perfectly? I hope you haven’t, but unfortunately, most of us have probably experienced this on some level with someone we thought loved us.

We often long for someone to love us better than they can. That doesn’t excuse abusive behavior, so for the sake of this message, let’s put that aside for the moment, even though this quote takes me back to that place.

“We love because He first loved us” (I John 4:19, ESV). To understand love in its true sense, we must turn to Jesus’ actions on the cross. This is the ultimate form of love shown to us when we least deserve it. This is quite the opposite of the quote above. Love is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22, ESV). Love is a gift from God proven supremely on the cross (Rom. 5:8, ESV). Love is a choice. How well we love depends mainly on our relationship with Christ, who models love for us.

We are broken and messed up in the love department. God redeems us and makes our hearts capable of loving and being loved. There is hope in the healing. “Perfect love casts out fear” (I John 4:18, ESV). Our trust and obedience to God come through love; we can love each other better when we get our priorities right.

Paul says that without love, we are just a noisy gong (I Cor. 13:1, ESV). The Emerson quote may be related to this verse. We can’t expect the kind of love the depths of our souls long for to come from anyone except God. God is the only one capable of filling that size crevice in our lives. But once Christ is our first love, we have hope of experiencing the mutual love of Christ within our relationships, the way God designed and commanded. Love is a gift to be received and a command to be given (Mark 12:28-31; Deut. 6:5; Lev. 19:18.34, ESV). Jesus takes it further and says we are to love our enemies (Matt. 5:44, ESV).

But this kind of love is only possible with Christ at the center of our hearts. That is the closest we come to experiencing that kind of love on this Earth, to experience the type of love Jesus showed us at the cross. It is like a rare gem and the exquisite perfume found in the alabaster box, a symbol of Jesus’ body that was broken and the blood poured out for us. The woman was ridiculed for anointing Jesus with it (Matt. 26:7, ESV). To assume a servant’s position is ultimate love, and Jesus was our best teacher.

The Bible supplies a filter for love in I Cor. 13:4-8. I recommend reading it often. Just as our gifts are meant to be used on Earth, love is meant to be shared while we await Jesus’ return. Vertically, towards God in complete abandonment. Horizontally, towards others to help each other grow in grace. May we shine brightly into the lives of others who need a glimmer of hope; it may be the only reflection of Jesus they see today. There is hope for everyone.

“Anyone who does not have love does not know God, because God is love” (I John 4:8, ESV).

The greatness of God is in the everyday little things we sometimes miss because we are waiting for Him to do something big in our lives. One thing that stood out in my study of Elijah’s life was that God is primarily found in a humble heart’s gentle whispering and quietness. Our small, faithful steps lead to great miracles through our obedience. The notes in the ESV Study Bible for I Kings 17:13-16, where God uses Elijah to perform a miracle for the widow, say that faith is the step between promise and assurance. We may only see the solution once we take the first step of faith.

We can sometimes allow our fear to keep us from stepping out in faith; I know I have been guilty of that. But I began to realize that every hero in the Bible is a regular person, just like you and me, fears and all. You might say that heroes are everyday people with courage. They fear, but they don’t let it stop them. God supplies the courage in their obedience.

Hebrews 11 lists the heroes of faith. If we re-read each of their stories, the common denominator is faith in God, even if it initially took some convincing. They did not start with confidence but were tested, and their faith grew. Under God’s instructions, Joshua led a group of people around Jericho until the walls fell. Do you think they understood the purpose of circling it in that precise manner or just trusted God with the outcome?

And what about Moses? He did not want to be God’s mouthpiece. He pleaded for God not to send him because he was not a man of eloquent speech. God allowed his brother Aaron to speak for him, but he still sent Moses (Ex. 4:10-11, ESV).

We can see through the Gospels that the twelve disciples did not have it all together from the beginning and did not always understand what Jesus was doing. We are given stories showing their unbelief in many situations, even after Jesus performed miracles. In the Gospel of Mark, he records at least two times that Jesus sighed because of the suspicions and hardheartedness of people due to the Fall. In one instance, Jesus looked to heaven and sighed as He healed a deaf man (Mark 7:34, ESV). And again, when the Pharisees demanded a sign, he sighed deeply in His spirit (Mark 8:12, ESV). I can only imagine how many times I make Jesus sigh. But as with the disciples in those days, Jesus continually teaches me to trust Him more, strengthening my faith through tests and trials. We must go through the valley to get to the mountaintop. But, oh, the view once we arrive! In my experience, I appreciate the mountaintops more after going through some valleys.

When the father of a boy possessed with an unclean spirit said to Jesus, “if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us” (Mark 9:22, ESV). Jesus replied, “If I can! All things are possible for one who believes” (9:23, Emphasis mine). The boy’s father then asks Jesus to give him a heart that believes more firmly, “help my unbelief” (9:24, ESV).

Jesus expressed emotions because He was fully human. As God, He sincerely wanted His people to believe and trust Him without requiring a sign every time. We often get caught up in figuring out what God is doing, and we forget that it is the being that matters. Being with God is what He wants most from us. As we crave time with God, wherever we are, whatever circumstance we are in, we can experience peace because the Great I AM is with us.                                                                                                                                                                                   

The speed bumps in life force us to slow down, pay attention, and appreciate what God is doing in our lives right now. We can also be so caught up in doing things for God that we can miss the importance of being with God. Each moment of every day is a gift, don’t waste it worrying about what will happen tomorrow. I am the one who needs this advice the most. Some days my longing to serve in other ways and figure out where God is leading me in the future may be keeping me from serving where I am today; in those times, I may miss the blessings right in front of me. I know you have probably heard the phrase ‘bloom where you are planted’ before,but I think it is worth repeating as a reminder and a prayer. Our faith is shown in our actions, but we won’t know what to do if we are not intentionally making time to be with God.

“Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:27, ESV Emphasis mine).