Fear

What are you so afraid of? There are a lot of things that a person could fear..and for me, it's mostly a fear of the unknown. You know the type, things like "whats going happen to me if I get sick...what's going to happen to my kids if...(and you can fill in the blank. What if someone breaks into my house, what if my husband dies, what if my life falls apart? OH MY GOODNESS FRIENDS???!!! Can you feel the temperature rising as I state these fears that swirl around my mind??? I can and I have one thing to say.."Jesus! Stop the noise!" and drown out the madness of my fear. Perfect love drives out fear right? So what does this mean in relation to my trust in Jesus in light of all these fears that swirl around me? I need to look at my circumstances through the light of His love for me...and how friends, how He loves us! Getting to know Jesus is the best thing we can do for ourselves (and others) if we are feeling fearful, alone, in pain, happy, peaceful, thankful, deserted, (you get the idea) getting to Jesus in all and any life-circumstances is going to help us view our circumstances in a more God inspired way. The person of Jesus reveals to us how to respond in any and all circumstances, the understanding we gain of God helps us to view our situation in light of a God who made all things perfectly, sacrifice His son, and gave us the ultimate gift. So when I am fearful, I can say, God is going to give me His best. He already did this for me once and for all with the death of HIS SON on the cross. And so, even now, as I can imagine all the things this world offers to me to be afraid of, I can point my finger at the fear and say NO! In all of this I am more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ My LORD who greatly empowers me to boldly face the things that cause me to tremble. You know the song, "When I am afraid give me Jesus..." well it's true friends. You can have all the rest, just give me Jesus. Essentially what that song is saying is this: What's the problem? Here's the answer..JESUS. Whats the thing that is troubling you? Here's the answer...JESUS. What do you fear? Here's the answer...JESUS. Yes my friends, Jesus is the answer. He is my answer to all of my life's problems...troubles and fears. I need to look at my fears and circumstances in light of how much He loves me. I know He loves me because He demonstrated His love for me on that old rugged cross. He took My shame. My sins. My guilt and died for it...for me...Amazing Grace. And yet I still find it in me to be afraid? Fear is normal, LIVING in fear is not. Have a fearful though is normal, we just have to know where to put that thought and how to move on. We place that fearful thought in His hands, and we ask Him to empower us to live in the freedom from whatever drives us down. We do not have to be a slave to that which we fear. So I say this: Fear, you shall not be my master. By His blood, I am free, victorious, and I have a way out of myself. THANK YOU LORD!!! I pray that this encourages any of you who read this, for I know that in this world there are many many things we can fear, but Christ who has chosen us to be His people before the foundations of the earth was laid, gives us all we need to live a life that is full, filled, and free. And I pray you can (and I) can tap into that with all the joys and blessings that it holds for us.
There is an enemy who would love for us to live in the thing that longs to enslave us, but we have a Master who is stronger than any enemy we may face. Let Him be the ammunition to fight your fears, and watch as the thing that longs to entangle you, is exposed for what it really is...FEAR,SATAN: you will not be our master. In Jesus name, we claim victory. Can I get an AMEN? AMEN. NOW LIVE IN FREEDOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

All My Little Holes

Have you ever looked at a honey-comb? The outline is always in place, but in-between there are many tiny holes. In the actual beehive, the holes are endless and the bees work tirelessly to fill them. That my friends is kinda what we do to. We are busy little busy body bees, and we are always working hard to fill up our lives, make them full, and at least "look" nice. Right? Who cares whats going on on the inside...*ahem* There is someone who cares about whats happening with on in the inside. And HE does care about how well we fill those holes, and just what it is that we fill them with.

Let me explain.

When you start out your life it probably looks a little something like this: I want this because I want this. It sounds good to me. It seems to fit who I am. It makes me happy. I am excited about this thing and therefore, we drop it in one of our "empty" holes. There. That's filled.

And we move on. OK, how should I fill up the area of "relationships" in my life? "Ooohhh!" That persons cute, and my heart flutters when I see them and they seem to respond to me too, and I think they would fit me, and I think they would make me happy, possibly more complete, and lets see..."Yep. I think they fit in that gap." Good. *dusts hands off* that hole is filled now too. We are making fast progress here friends! Good work right??? wrong.

Let me ask you this: When was the last time you asked God of all, Maker of you, oh, and of heaven and earth, what HE thought of how we fill our lives? All of our gaps?

We start out with just a thin small frame of existence, and due to our sinful, selfish natures, we instantly begin to fill our emptiness with things that WE think will make us be more whole. More filled. This is not how it is supposed to work.

Sit down with a pencil and paper. Yes, right now.

With pencil in hand, write in one column the list you think you decided for yourself, in your life. (ie) Kids. Husband. Job. Friends. Hobbies. Fun. Play. Sports. (you get the idea)

Things that YOU know you decided upon, not the things you counseled the Lord on.

In the second column write down the God-filled holes. (or what it is that fills the holes) and see what you come up with...(husband, kids, lifestyle, home, how you spend your time, money, you get the drill)

See you back when your list is done.

Done? SO? what'd you come up with?

How much did you find in your life that is God place, God designed, God breathed, God thought up? And how much of it was you? Are you encouraged? Or convicted? Inspired?

Inspired is what I hope you say. Because friends, the holes will only cease to be empty for eternity when you let God be the one to fill them. So lets say you filled your time hole with all kinds of junk. Things you now see are not things that God chose for you, lay out your list before the Lord, and ask Him..."Lord, what of these things are you pleased with? How can I start over in filling these things with things that YOU would choose for me?" Let me tell you how you will know that the way your holes are filled, are filled with things HE is please with. In enters peace. Yes peace like a river my friends. You sit there, and you can breath easy as you stare into that filled hole. It feels good. Righteous. Holy. Time well spent. A hole, well-filled. yeah?

Perhaps the problem with the way we fill our holes is that we don't understand His design well enough for us. What are His desires for us? How will we ever know these desires? By taking our un-renewed minds and giving Him timae. When God is in the center of all we start...things begin to fall into the holes in a way that makes total sense, and leave us at peace.

Here is one tangible example from my own life that I will end on.

Last week, I had one hour in which to accomplish some things. It was a hole. I had a way that I thought would be the best way to fill that hole. (some holes are bigger than others) SO as literally sat at the intersection, and prayed, "Lord, what way do you want me to fill this hole..." And as I prayed, the peace washed over me, and I turned right. Instead of left. It's that simple friends. He longs for us to ask Him about everything we do. Not in a legalistic way. Not in a way that paralyzes us...but in a way that allows Him to quite literally, direct our steps. To be Holy Spirit led...God approved, love by the Father as we willing walk out our day in faithfulness to His plans for us. That is how we fill all those little holes. As I said earlier, some holes are bigger than others..like "God, should I take this job?" "God, should I live this way.." or " God, I want kids, but can't have them...what does that mean???" Yes. Some holes are big, some are small, but quit being such a busy little busy, and stop. Take your busy mind, and quiet it before the Father who loves you and know whats best for you as ask for the ears to hear, the eyes to see, and mind to comprehend what the Holy Spirits next move for you might be. Friends, you are in for a real treat if you haven't done this yet. It is so amazing to feel as though you are really truly, absolutely walking in such a way that has His touch all over it. It's such a delight to the Father when we walk in His will. And as we ask in His will..that is where the power lies. That perhaps is for another post though. Lets start here and friends, enjoy your new found freedom. IN HIM!!! :) Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, and goodwill to men. (and gals)

Can't I Just Relax????

Have you ever thought that regarding your ministry? And yes, the answer is yes. But not in the way you think. To die is gain. We know this right? But do we live this way? To Christ we give it all...we say this right? But do I believe this ALL THE TIME? It's one thing when your in ministry day full throttle...but what happens when you arrive home, feet smoking from all the running you have just done for Him, and you sit down, and say, "is this my life?"

Oh friends. Let me encourage you on something I am trying to learn myself here. God IS a God of rest. He wants His servants to rest in HIM! He longs for us to grab all the strength we need from His unlimited source pools, and when we are tired, He longs to show us HOW to lay down beside still waters, and have our souls restored. So you ask..."How do I do this?"

And we pray this: "Holy Spirit...show us. Show ME how to rest in the midst of a crazy, seemingly endless, chaotic life that always begs for MORE." More of what? More of us? Surely not. The only person we give US to, IS GOD. The rest, He gives us to give.

*sigh of relief?* Me too.

It's not our strength my friends. It's His. The Lord Almighty. God of ALL. God of the universe (that HE created) and Lord of all we say and do...THAT is whom we glean our strength from. His resources are endless. His power, indescribable. His abilities? Whom can fathom. SO what are we so afraid of? Why are we so exhausted? Perhaps my friends, we are trying to do this thing, (our ministries) a bit TOO much on our own. We have no power in and of ourselves to encourage others, minister to others. It's only what He says with our mouths, and does with our hands that we can really do anything at all. How do we offer an acceptable gift of service to Him? By asking for the power, the will and the know how. How do accomplish anything that has any sort of kingdom value? Through HIS unending, matchless abilities. He will show us. His wisdom is beyond. His might is unspeakable. And guess what my friends? It's available to you. Let us unveil the means of grace. Our how, our why, our what, and when is God. Your confused? Pray this: "Show me Holy Spirit! Help me! Reveal to me, so I am no longer confused..." You are tired...pray this.." Holy Spirit, show me the best way you want me to rest..." And if you know I am not to rest...give me the energy." Oh and friends! He will. He is soooooooo good. And I am so thankful to have this GIFT of knowledge that I know that I can turn to HIM at any given moment, (and really, it should be without ceasing) for anything, anytime, anywhere...and boom. YES BOOM!!! I can be encouraged. just like that. And all I have to do, is say, "Lord, I am without anything that I need. I am lacking in all I need. WILL YOU O FATHER supply me????" And He will. And He does. And I am no longer saying..."can't I just relax???" Because His ways are higher than mine. He sees what I cannot...and He ministers to me more than any nap, or any vacation (or late') ever could. Know what I mean?

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him. ROOTED and BUILT UP in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were aught and OVERFLOWING WITH THANKFULNESS." -Colossians 2:6-7

Oh yeah, so here is the part I forget. When I'm swamped. When I'm done, when I would consider myself to be "suffering.." I am supposed to rejoice and be thankful. That's weird. Right? Wrong. Thankfulness is the response we ought to have when we know we are doing the only thing in life that really matters. So you are tired? He understands...and will give you rest...but what we need to recall when we are so tired is this: If we are tired for the sake of Christ, we are to be thankful. If we are tired because we are doing the things that WE KNOW He has without a shadow of a doubt called us to do, then we are blessed. We are blessed to share in His ministry. We are blessed to be living a life filled with Holy Spirit given direction, with God-fueled strength, and a calling that has the name of Jesus Christ written all over it. Yes my friends, in the Christian world...tired from ministry = thank you Lord. Because, (and I'm learning this still) His path of resistance, is better than the lonely, dark, cold, path that ends in death. (the path of least resistance) When you are facing resistance, it's because you are conquering things for the Kingdom, and believers in Christ on a mission: Let me tell you this!!!! Your ministry for Christ is the only thing that lasts. Nothing else matters except that which He has called us up to do. So the next time you (or I) feel worn out, tired, or just plain DONE. Ask the Holy Spirit to revive you, and as you look out at your ministry with a fresh pair of Holy Spirit awakened eyes, think on this: "For God so love the world that He gave His only Son FOR ME." You are saved. You are whole because He was broken. Waves of resistance? In His boldness we can face them. Tired? In His rest we can live. Overwhelmed? IN HIS POWER WE WILL SEE LIFE ABUNDANT!

This is the good stuff friends. So don't relax. Rest. "Come to me all who are weary, AND I WILL GIVE YOU REST."

"Oh Lord, your beautiful...you face is all I see. And as the things of earth grow strangely dim...in the light of your glory and grace... Turn you eyes upon Jesus...look full in His wonderful face..."

Eyes on Him dear friends. Eyes on Him. And rest.