With All Your Heart

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart..." - Mark 12:30

"With all my heart" is a common expression used to describe the depth of love we have for someone.  Obviously we aren't talking about the muscle in our chest that pumps the lifeblood through our bodies that keeps us alive.  So what is our "heart"?  And how do we love someone with all of it?

Look under the third definition of "heart" on dictionary.com and you'll see that the heart is defined in this sense as: the center of of the total personality, especially in reference to intuition, feeling or emotion.  Chew on that for a minute.  Our heart is at the center of who we are, because God has created us as creatures driven by emotion.  Our emotions typically determine our actions.  The way we feel governs the way that we live.  Hence the mindset to "just do it."

Now when we crucify our flesh and allow the Spirit to guide our lives, we can choose to live by what we know to be true rather than by what we feel, which is a vital discipline for the Christian walk.  But we can never get away from this core element of our humanity- raw emotion.  And this is a good thing!  God created us like this.  He wanted us to have and experience emotions.  They are a beautiful and wonderful part of the vibrant life that Jesus came to give us.  We aren't supposed to be apathetic, uncaring, unfeeling Christians.  We are supposed to be passionate and spirited, especially when it comes to our relationship with our Heavenly Father and the things that He is passionate about.

David is one of my favorite personalities in the Bible.  Partially because I can relate to his emotional ups and downs.  He never held back in expressing his emotions- good or bad- through the Psalms.  I, too, am an emotional person.  Some days I feel overwhelmed with love for my Savior.  And some days I feel frustrated, far away, or even angry with God.  David mirrors these emotions in his writings.  Take a look:

Psalm 9:1-2
"I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.  I will be glad and rejoice in you; I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High."

and in the very next chapter...

Psalm 10:1
"Why, LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?" 

Although David was an emotional person, he was also said by God to be a man "after my own heart".  I honestly believe that God delights in hearing the pure emotion of His children poured out in prayer and song to Him.  He loved David and savored every moment of fellowship and interaction, regardless of David's mood swing that day.  He knew David was honest, open, and pure and that is what God longs for in a love relationship with us.

Truly loving God "with all your heart" means to surrender your every emotion to God.  Highs and lows, ups and downs- turn them all into a prayer of devotion to your Father.  He loves that raw emotion and passion.  He longs for us to express those emotions about and to Him.  It doesn't mean that we can't be passionate about other things.  But the cry of our heart, the core of our emotions, should be centered around and offered up to God.  As we live a passionate life to and for our Father, He can begin to shape those very emotions to point us toward the things that He is passionate about.  He takes our eyes off of ourselves and puts them on what is really important.  Our passions will begin to be channeled toward helping the needy, relieving human suffering, spreading the Gospel and winning the lost.  The more we know Christ, the more our emotions look like His. 

The embrace, expression and surrender of our emotions to God, and the transformation of our passions to become His passion for the world around us- that is the ultimate expression of love to our Father.

The One Thing

"One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”

“The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." -Mark 12:28-29

The most important thing. The greatest commandment. The one thing that sums up God's greatest desire for us. To love.

This is a familiar passage to me. I grew up hearing and memorizing it as a child in Sunday School and children's church. We sang songs about it. It has followed me into adulthood and remained one of the core concepts that drives my Christian faith- I must love God.

But when giving this most important commandment, Jesus doesn't just stop at love. He goes as far as to tell us what our love should look like. It should take shape in our passions, thoughts, emotions and actions. Our love for God should influence every part of our life and be evident in every area of our being. If it's not, we are not fully living out the most important commandment given to us as Christ-followers.

I feel that the church has failed to really explain and educate on the importance of this "one thing" that we are commanded to do. What does being a Christian really mean? Why do so many people struggle with their faith? Why do so many fall away? What makes being a Christian such a difficult task? Perhaps we have never really embraced the one thing that should fuel and energize this commitment to a life of surrender to God- love.

Over the next few weeks I am going to do a four-part blog on the four elements of our lives that should embody this love commitment: heart, soul, mind and strength. Each blog will be given entirely to one of these elements and dig deep to find out what Jesus meant when He commanded us to love God "with all". I hope you will join me as we get to the root of the Christian faith and Almighty God himself: love.

In Awe- The Fear of God

"Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom.
All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom." Psalm 111:10

The Christian church has done its best to try and explain God. We have wrapped Him up in clever little sayings and heartwarming songs. We've used phrases like "Jesus is my homeboy" and "best friend" to describe a relationship with Christ in a way that is appealing and approachable to the world. I am not criticizing these attempts to present God to the world in a way that they can receive Him. All of our human efforts (including my own), regardless of doctrinal correctness or theological caliber, fall embarrassingly short of capturing God in the fullness of who He is.

"For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom..." 1 Cor. 1:25

However, I do believe that in bringing God to a level that we can understand and accept, we have done new converts (and life-long believers as well) a huge disservice. In our attempts to win people over to Christ, we have reduced the privilege of a relationship with the God of the Universe down to a simple "friendship". A casual buddy. In doing this, we have neglected and ignored one of the most essential traits of a true relationship with God- fear.

"But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love..." Psalm 33:18

You don't often hear people talking about the fear of God when they are witnessing. And that is understandable- how do you attract someone to a being that should be feared? As a young teenager, I remember reading about the fear of the Lord and quickly skimming over those passages and moving on. I didn't want to think about fearing God. I just wanted to think about the God who loved me and wanted to be my friend. I didn't want to think about a God who invokes fear.

But if we are really going to turn our lives over to this God who existed before time began and knows the end from the beginning, we must understand and embrace a holy fear of God. Without it, we are in danger of giving our lives to an "idea" or "version" of God, rather than the I AM Himself. (Which could be argued, is a form of idolatry.)

To understand the meaning of "fear" when it comes to God, we must be willing to look at the complete picture (or as best as we can comprehend it) of who God is. Job chapters 36 and 37 are a stunning picture of God. The visual images cast by the words of the author are hard to comprehend. But in reading them, they evoke a sense of wonder, awe, and reverence for Almighty God.

"At this my heart pounds and leaps from its place. Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice, to the rumbling that comes from his mouth. He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth. After that comes the sound of his roar; he thunders with his majestic voice. When his voice resounds, he holds nothing back. God's voice thunders in marvelous ways; he does great things beyond our understanding. " Job 37:1-5

Yes, God loves us. He is a good God. He desires a relationship with us. He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. But we cannot accept God for all of His benefits without acknowledging that He is powerful, just, righteous, majestic, and holy. He can create and destroy with His very breath. He can plant and uproot. He requires holiness from His people. And He judges the very hearts of men.

I have a wonderful earthly father. He is a tall man with a loud voice. I know that he loves me, but as a child he was very intimidating. As much as it was his responsibility as a father to love me, it was also his responsibility to correct and discipline me in love. He had rules. Expectations. And I knew that. If I did something I wasn't supposed to, I was afraid. Afraid of the consequences, and afraid of disappointing him. I knew he would never do anything to harm me. I wasn't afraid of him like I was afraid of spiders or the boogey man. I was fearful of him because I respected him as the authority over my life.

Our fear of God should be similar. We should never doubt that God loves us. Love is the motivation for everything God does. But because God loves us, He desires the best for our lives. He created the world and everything in it for His purpose, and our part in that purpose is His best for us. He will guide, discipline, judge and correct in righteousness to bring about that purpose in our lives. He is our authority- and His authority demands respect and reverence. Fear.

True wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord. When we allow our view of God to include not only Jesus the friend, but I AM- the Creator, Sustainer, Judge, and King- we experience the fullness of knowing and serving a God who not only walks by our side each day, but gives us the very breath to live that day out in communion with Him. Our fear of God should motivate us to live according to His will. We should read His Word with an urgency to discern and know His expectations of us. And once we know them, we should apply them and honor Him with our lives. His grace covers our failures, and His righteousness covers our shortcomings. But grace and mercy should not be an excuse to undermine God's authority over our lives.

If we truly live in a relationship with God, we will fear Him. There should be a sense of awe when we come into His presence. He isn't just a buddy. He is the Great I AM. Be challenged to think about God in the fullness of who He is. And don't be surprised if a holy fear is the result as He reveals His glory to you. If it's not, we may have missed God entirely.

The Beautiful Life

"And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is my disciple, I tell you the truth, he will certainly not lose his reward."

Does this include sippy cups?

As a mother of young children, it is easy to feel so confined by the needs of my family that I don't believe I'm doing anything for the Kingdom. In this season of my life, my time is consumed by my 2 and 3 year old.



Playing. Diaper change. Cartoons. Dress up. Mealtime. Reading books. Wiping noses. Naptime. Repeat.

It's not a glamorous life. Since I started typing I've already changed one dirty diaper, kissed a boo-boo, broke up a fight, and said "no" about 50 times. Wait, make that 51.

As I've stated in previous posts, I have big dreams about my life making an eternal difference. I believe God has called me to be a part of something He is doing in the earth. Something that can and will change the course of history. I know I have a part to play. But some days my "part" seems very...well...insignificant.

I hear stories about people who are out there meeting needs. Feeding the hungry. Treating the sick. Housing the orphans. Preaching the Gospel. And I feel so unnecessary. What am I doing to make a difference in the world? Can God really be pleased with my life? My ordinary, toddler-raising, every day life?

Yes. Undeniably, absolutely, irrevocably, yes.



"And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." -Micah 6:8

This is what God wants from us. He doesn't need us to make the headlines with the good deeds we have done. He doesn't ask us to travel the world relieving human suffering. We are not worthless because we're not out on the streets preaching the Gospel.

Act justly.
Love mercy.
Walk humbly.

God requires justice-righteousness; morality. He wants us to show mercy- compassion; kindness; benevolence. And as we do, we should do it humbly- modestly; lowly; having a feeling of insignificance. He doesn't specify who, when, or where to do this. We are only commanded to do it.



For me, in this season of my life, it means doing these things as a mother. Acting justly in dealing with my children's disobedience. Teaching them right and wrong. Showing compassion in the way I treat them and speak to them. Kissing boo-boos. Speaking with kindness when I'd rather yell. And doing it all realizing that any success I experience as a mother (and an individual) is only because of Jesus Christ.

There is great purpose in any season of life. But regardless of what season that may be- childhood, student, career, empty-nest, retirement, or motherhood- we are all required to simply be, do, and live in a way that points others to Christ. The way it looks may be different for each person, but the way it looks to God is the same:

beautiful.

The Death of a Dream

What do you do when dreams die?

As a young person, I was a dreamer. I had big dreams for my life. Visions of doing what I loved and being successful at it. Hopes of making a difference in the world. Dreams of making my mark in history. I wanted to do something big. Something impressive. Something revolutionary.

As I got older, I realized that there was no way I could possibly fulfill all the dreams that I had. I couldn't be a writer/singer/songwriter/actress/public speaker/teacher/artist/chef/lawyer/decorator/musician. It would be absurd to try to do so many different things. Some dreams had to die. I had to sacrifice some dreams to be able to pursue others. It was a painful, but necessary process.

Eventually I got to the point where I began seeking God for His dreams, rather than my own. I realized that the pursuit of my dreams could bring temporary fulfillment, but unless I was pursuing God's dream for my life, I would always be lacking something. So I prayed. I fasted. I sought after God. And He gave me a dream. The dream of being in full-time ministry and using my passion for the arts to glorify Him and minister to others. I saw myself ministering to countless people, traveling the world, and making an eternal difference. It was a big dream. Something that was bigger than myself. But I believed if God gave it to me, then it could happen.

So Derick and I started on our journey of ministry together, and God began giving me small glimpses of that dream becoming reality. But God began stirring something else inside of me- the dream of a family. The desire to have children and be a mother. My dreams of full-time ministry began to give way to the dream of family. And once again, I had to sacrifice some dreams to be able to pursue motherhood. Again, it was a painful, but necessary process.

As we started our family, I continued to be as involved in ministry as I could while still giving attention to my children. Some dreams- many dreams- were put on hold. There would be days when I was completely content with my place in life at that moment, and some days when I mourned the death of my youthful dreams. But I held onto the promises and dreams God had given me, and believed that in His time, all things would be fulfilled.

Time has passed, and recently we found ourselves watching another dream die- the dream that God had given us for our ministry in Albany. There were many wonderful things that we were able to be a part of in our time there, but it was still painful to realize that our time there was over, and we had to move on. The dream that had driven our ministry had to die. Painful, but necessary.

Now we find ourselves in a new place, with new possibilities, and I am starting to have a new outlook on life, dreams, and timing. Sometimes I've wondered, why would God give me a dream, only to watch it die? How could he birth something in my spirit and then expect me to be ok with abandoning that dream for something else? Or would God even do that?

I believe He would, and He does. I am reminded of the story of Abraham. God had given Him a dream. He was promised to have a son, despite his old age. And not just a son, but to have descendants that would outnumber the stars. That is a pretty incredible dream. I'm sure Abraham dealt with many of the emotions we deal with when God gives us an impossible dream: excitement, confusion, doubt, anticipation, anxiety, etc. I bet he had days when he knew without a doubt that this dream would become reality. And then he probably had days when he wondered if he had even heard from God at all, or if he had just conjured up the whole thing. But it was God. And God kept his promise. Abraham and Sarah had a son, Isaac.

This is where the story gets confusing. Abraham is told by God to sacrifice his son- the fulfillment of his dream- and kill him as an worship offering. This totally contradicted the dream God had given him. How was he supposed to be the father of nations if he killed his only son? How could God give him this dream, and then kill it? I have wondered the same thing. How could God give me these desires and dreams, and then ask me to sacrifice them? Although Abraham had to have been devastated at the thought of killing not only his son, but his dreams along with him, he was obedient. He traveled up the mountain and lovingly placed his son on the altar. He was ready to do what God asked him- to kill his dream. But God provided an alternate just in time.

This is what I have come to realize- that we, like Abraham, must value the Dream-Giver more than the dream itself. And when we are willing to sacrifice our dreams, God provides another- an alternate- and an always better option. When circumstances change and dreams must die, God does not leave us to figure out things for ourselves. Rather, the death of those dreams bring the birth and life of new and better dreams. Just as a seed must die in the ground to produce new growth, sometimes a dream must die in order to bring about new life and new dreams.

I am convinced that God gives us dreams in seasons. My God-dream from 5 years ago is very different from my God-dream today. And I pray that 5 years from now, my God-dream will have changed and grown into something even greater. But our focus cannot be on the dreams. We must chase after the Giver of dreams. Pursue Him with your whole heart. Sometimes dreams will fall along the wayside, but if you are wholeheartedly pursuing the Dream-Giver, you can be confident that something greater is right around the corner.

Perhaps you are still seeking God for His dream for your life. Maybe you are walking in that dream right now. Or maybe, like me, you are going through the painful experience of the death of a dream. In any situation and in every circumstance, we must keep our eyes on God- the Giver of dreams- and trust that although dreams may die, He never changes.

The Problem With Planning

I have this problem: I am a planner.

I am the person that has the planner in my purse with a yearly, monthly, weekly, and daily calendar. I can be as detailed with my planning as I have time for. I even find that I write down things in my planner after I've done them, just because. At the beginning of the day I need to know what is going to happen throughout that day. I need to know what we are eating for dinner before I even make breakfast. I just function better with a plan.

To some people, that doesn't seem like it would be a problem. Some more unorganized people would love to be able to come up with a plan and follow through. Yet they wander through life, free from planning, living spontaneously. Oh, how I envy those people.

You see, as a Christian, my heart's desire is to be in God's will for my life. I want to be where He wants me to be, doing what He wants me to be doing. I've lived for myself long enough to know it's really not all it's cracked up to be, and the Creator of the universe has much better plans than what I can come up with. But when you let the Creator control your life, the problem is, you don't get a plan. He doesn't provide you with a little daytimer that shows what each moment is designated for. He doesn't give you a daily, weekly, monthly, or even yearly calendar! And that can pose quite a problem for a planner like me.

At this particular point in my life, I feel about as unorganized, unproductive, and unplanned as I ever have. We've made a huge transition in our lives with many unknowns still attached (when our house will sell, where we will live, whether or not I'll get a job, what type of job I will look for if I get one, who our new pastor will be, etc). I have absolutely no idea of what lies around the corner for us. My God-daytimer is blank.

So just a while ago, when God and I were having a little talk and I began to voice some of these frustrations, God scolded me (a bit harshly, if you ask me) and asked, "When have you ever really had a plan that you thought I had to stick to?" You see, I have failed to realize, that although there are times when I have felt more secure in my plans for the future than I do now, God has never been held to any of them. So although I may have felt more sure of what would happen, the reality is that my plans meant absolutely nothing and I was just as out-of-control of things as I am at this moment.

Sometimes we psych ourselves into thinking that as long as we have a plan, everything will go like it's supposed to. We think that if we have a plan, the future is more sure. We know what tomorrow holds. But plan or no, do we really? Can we really be sure of the future? Of course not! We aren't even promised to have a tomorrow. Only God knows what is ahead. Only He has plans that are not affected by circumstances and situations. Our security is not, and never has been in our own plans. It is only in knowing that God is always in control.

So do we wander aimlessly through life, never planning, never preparing, never dreaming for what is ahead? Of course not! But we can't forget that our plans come second to what God's ultimate plan is for us. I don't know anyone who has ever had God outright tell them His whole entire plan for their life. (It would be nice, though, wouldn't it!?) We walk by faith, not by sight. Following God requires trusting Him, even when we can't see what's ahead.

I don't know where you're at today. Perhaps things in your life are unfolding just as you thought they would. Maybe you are feeling overwhelmed and out of control. Or maybe you are walking each day by faith, trusting that God is leading you. Either way, we are all in the same boat. God is not held to our plans. Tomorrow is not promised. We are not in control. God is. And although frustrating at times, I think it's better that way. :)

After all, God is definitely a planner like me...but His actually get carried out. And that's a promise.

Overwhelmed....With Love

I love my kids....BUT....sometimes they drive me absolutely crazy!

Yesterday was one of those days. Zoey is 3 1/2 and Kylie will be 2 next week. I'm sure there are scientific explanations for why they act the way they do at this age. Most likely there are books I could read about it and insight I could obtain from studies done about the toddler brain and what causes them to be obstinate, disobedient, defiant and just downright naughty. But when in the world between changing diapers, spankings, timeouts and trying to single-handedly keep my children from killing themselves and each other am I ever supposed to read any of these enlightening books? Alas, I must be destined to raise two completely adorable, yet often rotten children.

Wait a minute...am I talking about my children, or myself??

Because although I see myself oftentimes as my children obviously think of themselves (adorable, sweet, innocent, lovable) I am most definitely just as innately obstinate, disobedient, defiant and just downright naughty as they are.



That is why my Heavenly Father amazes me so. With my girls, I can try my best to deal with them justly and in love, but I am human. I fail. I get frustrated. Overwhelmed. Angry. Fed up. And then, like most normal mothers I know, I lose it. I overreact and become motivated by my anger or frustration rather than by love. I yell a little too loud. I place blame without finding out the whole story. I give in and let them do what they want instead of holding firm to our rules.

Being a parent is hard. That is why I am so thankful for my Heavenly Father. You see, many times, I am that obstinate, disobedient child. But unlike me, my Father never overreacts. He never gets overwhelmed or fed up with me. He chooses see past my wrong actions and see the daughter He loves. And although he disciplines as all parents must, He does it in love. He is love. He doesn't lose His temper and yell at me. He doesn't pin blame on me. He loves. He disciplines. He forgives. And as a daughter, I love Him for it.



Oh, that I would be a mother that would follow in her Father's footsteps. I want to be a parent that will look past the disobedience of my children to see the daughters that I love. I understand, just as my Father does about me, that their wrong actions do not define who they are. More importantly, they do not define who they will be. If I, as their mother, can discipline them with love, justice, and forgiveness, I will help to shape them into children who will accept and learn from correction- whether it be from their earthly parents or their Heavenly Father.

So today, I am choosing to stop, pray, take a deep breath, and look at my sweet little girls as gifts that I have been given to protect, teach and mold. I will never have these moments again. I will never get a do-over. Every day counts. And I want them to remember me for my unconditional love for them. Because if they do, perhaps they have caught a glimpse of my Heavenly Father's love through me. And that would be the ultimate compliment for such an imperfect mommy.

Time to Upgrade

My husband, Derick, always gets the latest and greatest phones and gadgets. I'm sure many of you are already aware of that, since he's not ashamed to brag about his new iPhone and iPad. He talks about them, posts things on facebook about them, and demonstrates them at every opportunity. It's fun for him to show off his new toys and enlighten his friends and myself about all the wonderful and exciting things they can do.

I, on the other hand, have his hand-me-down phones. They, at one time, were the latest and greatest, but these days it only takes a few months...sometimes a few weeks...before they are surpassed by more exciting devices. Although the phone I have works just fine, it's nothing worth bragging about. In fact, it would be almost absurd for me to talk about my phone the way Derick talks about his since there are so many newer and more advanced versions of the outdated phone that I have. Usually when it comes time to upgrade, I settle for the hand-me-down, while Derick is jumping at the chance to get something new.

It's not that I don't enjoy new things. I love playing around with Derick's new gadgets. But usually I'm too cheap to want to pay the extra money to upgrade to a fancier phone when I can use his old one that works just fine. Secretly, I wish that I had an iPhone. I envy his iPad. I would love to have the internet at my fingertips and the app that lets you bump your phone and automatically transfer information from one phone to another. But I settle for less, because I don't want to pay the price.

As I was pondering the irony of this situation today, God reminded me that often this is how we treat our Christian faith. The wonderful thing about a relationship with Christ is that it is supposed to be always changing, always evolving, always growing. Much like the technology today, we can be constantly introduced to new and exciting knowledge about God. And many people have the joy of experiencing just that. They seek after God. They spend time getting to know Him through study of His Word, prayer, and worship. They get to a place where the experience they have been having with God just isn't enough, and they pay the price to upgrade to a deeper revelation of who God is. We know who these people are. Much like someone who gets a new gadget or phone, they can't help but let their excitement about the Lord overflow into their conversation with others. They feel that this new revelation must be shared!

Some of us see these people and their ever-growing, ever-deepening relationships with God, and desire the same thing. We hear their excitement about the new things they are learning and experiencing through Christ, and deep inside we hunger for the same thing. But instead of making the sacrifice to have a greater revelation of God ourselves, we settle for the same faith we have carried around since childhood. We cling to our 3rd grade Sunday School lessons and memorized prayers that we have been saying for years. We figure, they still work, so why change? Why put forth the extra effort to "upgrade" to a more meaningful, newer revelation of who God is when what we have gets us by just fine?

I have been guilty of this. Just as I sit and admire Derick's iPhone with envy, I have admired the vibrant spiritual lives of others, yet been unwilling to pay the price to experience the same thing myself. The crazy thing is, sometimes I have walked around with my out-dated, stale faith and boasted about my relationship with Christ, as if I had something worth boasting about! Can you imagine someone in 2010 bragging about their Zack Morris 80's phone as if it was just as up-to-date as an iPhone? It would be absurd! But I've done that. And I would venture to say, most all of us have. We are content with, even proud of ourselves for the faith we have when, in reality, there is so much more to be had if we will just pay the price. Time. Commitment. Study. Change.

So I challenge you, as I have been challenged today: how long have you been carrying around the same "version" of your faith? Is it time for an upgrade? And if so, are you willing to pay the price to experience a new revelation of Christ? If we are, endless possibilities, knowledge and understanding about God are waiting for us. Now that is something worth sharing!

Nourished By God

"I'm tired." "I'm hungry." "I don't have the energy." "I'm overwhelmed."

We often use these phrases to describe our lives. It is so easy to fall prey to the busy-ness of life and lose sight of the things that are truly important. We can get so absorbed in our culture that we let our energy- or lack thereof- dictate our steps rather than the leading of the Holy Spirit.

John chapter 4 tells the familiar story of Jesus' encounter with the Woman at the Well. It is a wonderful story that displays the mercy of the Father so vividly, but today I want to focus on what happens immediately before and after this encounter; something that has the potential to happen in our own lives, if we put the Father's priorities above our own.

When the story begins, we find Jesus journeying through Samaria and stopping in the town of Sychar. The Bible says that Jesus was tired from the journey, so he stopped at an obvious place of refreshment- a well. While Jesus rested, his disciples went into town to buy food. The scripture indicates that it was around noon- lunchtime. Back in that day, Jesus and his disciples traveled from town to town by foot. As much as Jesus was God, he was also man, and the constant traveling had to take its toll on his body. At this certain instant, the Bible makes a point to let us know that Jesus was tired and hungry.

I don't know about you, but the phrase "tired and hungry" describes me at just about any point in the day. With toddlers, there hardly comes a time that I am not at least one or the other, since mealtime is designated to cutting their food, wiping their faces, refilling their drinks, cleaning up spills and leaves no time for me to actually eat myself. We all seem to lead such fast-paced lives that our bodies often cry out for more attention than what we give them.

Jesus was tired and hungry. But he did not let that interfere with the opportunity to minister to a woman who was in need of the Truth that day. He expended energy he did not have to share with her that she could have living water and an intimate relationship with God. He was sensitive to the Spirit and obedient to the Father. He did not let his current feelings and needs distract him from what was truly important.

But the part of the story that strikes me is what comes next. After Jesus talks with the woman, she goes and tells people in the town about this man who she believes to be the Messiah. Meanwhile, the disciples return with the food they went out to get. But before Jesus can sit down to a nice meal after a long journey, the crowds are gathering. People are wanting to know if Jesus really could be the Messiah. The disciples have been with Jesus. They know he is tired from traveling and hasn't eaten in a while- possibly all day. They begin to try to talk him into eating something. Common sense, right? They are just trying to watch our for their friend and leader. But Jesus replies to them, saying:

“My nourishment comes from doing the will of God, who sent me, and from finishing his work. 35 You know the saying, ‘Four months between planting and harvest.’ But I say, wake up and look around. The fields are already ripe for harvest."

Jesus was so in tune with the will of God, that he didn't even let appeasing his hunger take priority over winning souls. He knew that his needs would be met as long as he was doing the will of his Father. There was no hunger too deep, no exhaustion too great to keep him from doing the work and will of God.

This scripture is so humbling to me. How many times do we neglect what God is trying to do through us because of our "needs"? Have you ever seen someone in need, yet not stopped to help them because you didn't have the time or energy to do so? I think sometimes we believe that God wouldn't ask us to go hungry in order to do His work. He just wouldn't do that. But would He? Would He ask us to go hungry in order to give someone else the bread of life? Would He ask us to use energy we don't have to share the living water with a dry and thirsty soul? What makes us think that our physical needs are so much more important than the spiritual needs of others?

Jesus had it right- when we put our needs aside to meet the needs of others, we receive "nourishment" from doing the will of God. And if we make the sacrifice to be used by Him, we will reap a harvest that is ripe, just as Jesus did. Not only did he witness to a woman at a well, but the Bible tells us that "many Samaritans in the village believed." Often we stop with one good deed and don't realize that, if we would put off our hunger for a few minutes more, there could be a whole field waiting to be harvested.

I am challenged today by the obedience and sacrifice of Jesus. It is my prayer that I would never use my schedule or my needs as an excuse not to do the will of God. How often are you not simply fed, but supernaturally nourished by doing the will of God? May God increase it many times over!

The Miracle In Obedience

"Jesus said to the servants, 'Fill the jars with water'; so they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, 'Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.' They did so." -John 2:6-8

Obedience can be hard, especially when we have no idea what the outcome of our obedience will be. That takes faith in the person whom you are choosing to obey. Whether it be a parent, employee, friend, or someone else, the outcome of our obedience is directly related to the motive of whom we are obeying.

When it comes to God, we can trust that our obedience to Him and His Word will always result in bringing Him glory, and drawing others to Him. When we read in Romans where Paul tells us that "God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose," we have to realize that the "good" he speaks of is not necessarily the "good" that we understand it to be. If we are called according to HIS purpose, things may not always end up how we think are best, but they will always end up in glorifying the Father and drawing others to Him, which should be our heart's true desire. Not my will, but Yours be done.

In the story of Jesus turning water into wine, we read the account the first recorded miracle that Jesus did. Jesus and his friends and family are attending a wedding banquet when they suddenly run out of wine. Jesus' mother immediately volunteers Jesus to help resolve the situation. I find it interesting that rather than entering the miracle scene with a big bang by performing a spectacular solo, Jesus chooses to rely on the help of some simple servants. Isn't that just like God? He can do anything and everything all by Himself, but He chooses to use us, His humble servants, to perform amazing miracles.

Jesus instructs the servants to fill some jars with water, and then take some to the master of the banquet to taste. Can you imagine what the servants must have been thinking? At this time, Jesus had not performed any miracles. It was doubtful that many people fully understood who He really was- the Son of God. So these servants are instructed by Jesus, who to them is just another ordinary guy, to take some water (which they got themselves) and let the master of the banquet taste it when he was expecting wine. Talk about faithful obedience! In those days, if a servant was to make a huge mistake like bringing the master water instead of wine, it could easily be punishable by death. So these servants were not only risking their jobs, but possibly their lives.

Obviously I was not there to witness firsthand this amazing miracle. But from what I gather from the Word of God, Jesus did not once touch the jars or the water himself. He simply gave the orders to the servants, who carried them out, and the miracle was performed. I believe with all my heart that if it were not for the obedience of those servants, the water would not have been changed to wine. And so it is with our lives. There are miracles to be performed every day all around us, but those miracles are a direct result of our obedience- blind and risky- to the Father. Many times we will not see the results of the miracle until we truly put our neck on the line, just like the servants in this story. The real miracle is in our obedience.

I want God to use me. It is my daily prayer that God would use me to do great things for Him. But how many times do we miss out on a miracle because our obedience seems too risky? When we get to the place where we are willing to obey God no matter how crazy it seems and regardless of what we think the outcome will be, I believe we will begin to see more and more miracles- not because of what we do, but because of WHO we choose to obey.

The Word and the Light

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it." -John 1:1-5



The Word of God, before it was written in the form as we know it, was spoken. Millions of years ago into the void of space, the first sound ever heard was made when it came out of the mouth of God- and that same sound still resonates within the heart of creation- the sound of "life". When God spoke, He did not just make noise. He created. His Word was alive, and when spoken, brought life to the universe. What an amazing concept to try and fathom!



All that is alive today has that same sound of life echoing within it. We all embody the creative sound and force of the Word of God. We are the result of His spoken Word. Though many do not realize it, and some have turned away from it, we must realize that the very essence of who we are is found in this pivotal moment of creation.



Interestingly, the very first thing God chose to create with this sound of life- His spoken Word- was "light", which this passage in John also identifies as "The Word". The Word of God, who we understand to be Jesus Christ, first created light, which is also represented as Jesus Christ. Now, I don't claim to be a theologian. I'm sure there are plenty of professors, students, and preachers who could better explain this passage of scripture in a more doctrinally-accurate way. But I do know that God can speak to even simple people like me through His Word, and this is what I believe He has spoken to me about this scripture.



Jesus Christ is the Word of God, spoken and in flesh. He is also the light of men. Have you ever been in a dark room and tried to listen to someone tell you which direction to go without being able to see? It is difficult to listen to a voice and follow it in the darkness. But when you combine sound and light, the direction you are supposed to go is much clearer. The Word of God is the creative force in our universe. It is the life that resonates within us all. It is what constantly draws us back to our Creator. The Word is telling us which way to go. But in the darkness, we stumble. It is hard to listen to that cry within us longing to be reunited with our source of life when we cannot see. God knew this. So the first thing He created was light.



When Jesus came and walked on this earth, He was both Word and Light in one. He was God- visible and audible. Never had there been such a powerful combination of the voice and light of God than when Jesus spent His 33 years teaching and serving. He made the path to God accessible to all mankind. You would think that all who heard and saw Him would have believed His message. But that was not the case.



"He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God- children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father full of grace and truth." -John 1:10-14



"Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people's heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them."

Matthew 13:13-15



So why, when for the first time the Word and the Light were combined to make the Truth clear, would people not recognize it? Why would they close their eyes to the light and not listen to the Word?



Have you ever been in a dark room and had the light suddenly turned on? What is your first reaction? To close your eyes! How about being in a large auditorium and experience high-frequency feedback. What do you do? Plug your ears! For so long creation had walked in darkness and not often heard the voice of the Lord. When Jesus came upon the scene, it had to have been as a burst of sound and light that blinded their vision and pierced their ears. And rather than allow their ears and eyes to adjust, they simply closed them to the life-giving truth that Jesus had to offer.



Now that Jesus no longer walks this earth, we have the Word of God in written form- the Bible. It is the complete and inherent Word of God. It documents the life of Jesus Christ and, although written, is still "God-breathed" with that same breath of life that created Adam. (2 Tim. 3:16) But after Jesus was taken up to heaven, the light was no longer visible on the earth. So once again, we have the voice of God calling out to His children, who are stumbling desperately in the darkness. So how does creation find its way back to the Creator without the light?



"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." -Matthew 5:14-16



Jesus said that while He was in the world, He was the light of the world. But He gave us as Christians a command- to let our light shine. If Christ truly dwells within us and if His Word is guiding our lives, then His light will shine through us. The souls of mankind recognize the Word of God. The very life inside of them testifies to its truth. But they need the light.



So how do we continue the work that started at the very moment time began, when God combined Word and Light? We shout His Truth and shine His Light with every single breath we breathe! Every day, every moment, every heartbeat should resonate with the sound of life within us- the life that is found through Jesus Christ. Our lives should shine so brilliantly with the light of Christ that the darkness is shattered and the world can no longer cover their eyes to the truth of who God is. The hope of creation now lies within us.



The Word of God and the Light of men offer hope to all mankind. They go hand in hand. And we hold the amazing plan of God's redemption within us. What are you doing with it?



"...become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life..."

Philippians 2:15-16

The Promise of Restoration

I have been reading for the past few months in the book of Jeremiah, which is not necessarily a favorite of mine. So much of the book of Jeremiah is about destruction, judgement, disobedience, captivity, etc. that it is not a very uplifting portion of the Bible to read. It can actually be quite discouraging. As I was reading, about halfway through I had to ask the Lord, "Why in the world do you have me reading this? What does this all mean for me?" And then I saw it.

"The days are coming' declares the Lord, 'when I will bring my people back from captivity and restore them to the land I gave their forefathers to possess,' says the Lord."
"I will restore the fortunes of Jacob's tents and have compassion on his dwellings; the city will be rebuilt on her ruins, and the palace will stand in its proper place. From them will come songs of thanksgiving and the sound of rejoicing."
Jer, 30:3 and 18-19

As you read the book of Jeremiah, much of the writings are devoted to telling of the wrath and justice of God. After all, He is a righteous judge, and must act justly towards His disobedient children. But to me, the beauty of this book is in the moments interwoven with the punishment and justice where you see the heart of a Father shining through- the ultimate desire for restoration.

We, like the Israelites, are disobedient children. We wander from the truth God has plainly set before us, and because of that, we face calamity and destruction. The human race endures much pain and suffering simply because we choose to live by our own rules rather than the Word of God. And we, like the Israelites, have to endure the consequences of our disobedience and the disobedience of our ancestors. At times, we might look around us at all the destruction and ask the Lord, "Why in the world do you have me living in this? What does all this mean for me?" When all along, the Father's heart is yearning for one thing- restoration.

God longs to restore us to a relationship with Him. He does not desire for us to suffer. It is not His pleasure for us to face calamity or pain. His heart breaks for His children who are in captivity to sin. He does not delight in punishing the disobedient. It is simply a necessary part of the process to lead us toward His ultimate desire- restoring us to Him as His children. Whatever it takes to bring us back to God, that is what He will do. However far we must stray and however long we must suffer, He endures the agony of it all with the hope and promise of restoration. The Father loves us, and His love is always, always drawing us towards Himself.

After I came to this revelation, I continued reading the book of Jeremiah, anxiously looking for glimpses of the promise of restoration. Rather than focusing on the pain and destruction, I rejoiced at the heart of the Father to be in a restored relationship with His children. And in the midst of it all, I saw myself- an often disobedient and headstrong child who is constantly stubbing my toes and experiencing pain because I refuse to follow the path I know God has chosen for me. Yet there my Heavenly Father stands with arms open wide, whispering to me just as he did to His chosen people in Jeremiah;
"Return to me, my child. I will wipe away your tears and heal your heart. When you call upon me, I will hear you. And you will be restored."

Amazed

I sit in silence,
In wonder,
In amazement
Of what You have done.
I look out my window and see a world
That is tangible evidence of Your existence.
People wonder how I believe in You-
How could I not?
In a world full of so many chances,
Mistakes,
Confusion,
Your creation and Your plan
Seem to be the only thing with purpose.
The wind whispers Your love to me.
The sun shines with Your grace.
Each day proves the mercy You have
Upon my life.
And the breath that You give me
Every moment
Reminds me how much I need You.
I need Your love,
Your grace,
Your mercy,
Your breath,
For without You, who am I?
My heart cries out with gratitude
For what You have done in me.
I am so unworthy,
But You choose to love me
And give me what I could never obtain myself.
I am completely unworthy,
Yet undeniably blessed.
Utterly poor,
Yet eternally rich.
I am nothing,
Yet in You, I am everything
You created me to be.
And that,
Precious Lord,
That,
Is amazing.

Day 28- Simple Acts of Kindness

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." Matthew 25:34-36

Kindness. It doesn't seem that hard. Love can be tough. Joy can be a struggle. Peace can be hard to find. Patience...well...doesn't come easy. But kindness just doesn't seem like it should be that difficult. Most of us would probably label ourselves as "kind". If we're nice enough to people and do good things for others on occasion, we're kind, right?

Kindness is defined: the quality of being warmhearted and considerate and humane and sympathetic.

We must remember, that we are not talking about these characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit in the way that the world sees them. The kindness talked about in Galatians 5 is not what the world labels as kindness. It is something different. Something supernatural. Something born of the Holy Spirit.

So how is the kindness characterized by a Spirit-led life different from that of the world? Look again at the passage from Matthew above. Jesus is talking about supernatural kindness. A compassion and sympathy for others. At one time or another we have probably provided food for someone who was hungry or offered a drink to someone who was thirsty. But what about inviting a stranger in? Clothing the naked? Tending to the sick? Visiting those in jail? Perhaps our kindness falls short of what it should if we are truly living by the Spirit.

Today I was driving down the road and saw an older man out riding a bicycle. He was wearing long pants and a long-sleeved shirt and it was about 85 degrees outside. I happened to be going to Sonic to get the girls and I something to drink. Typically, I drive past people like that, perhaps thinking sympathetic thoughts towards them, but never really doing anything. But today, God checked me. So I bought our drinks at Sonic and decided that if I drove back that way and saw him again I'd stop and offer him a drink. Fortunately, we were able to cross paths and I gave him my cherry-limeade. It wasn't much, but he was very appreciative.

As I drove away, God reminded me of the verse from Matthew and that what I did, though not necessarily a world-changing humanitarian deed, blessed Jesus as well. I have prayed and asked the Lord to make me more aware of opportunities to show kindness to others. Whether through material blessings or simply a kind word, I want to be available to be used by God. It may require sacrifice, but you never know what one drink offered in the name of Jesus could do for someone. Let's move past just being sorry for someone or sympathetic to the needs of others and let the kindness of our hearts motivate us to actually do something!

There may have been people that Jesus was addressing in that verse above that thought, "just because I didn't do anything doesn't mean I didn't care!" But doesn't it? If we really care, if we are really moved by someones need, won't we do something? True kindness gives way to acts of compassion. Not to mention, it opens the door to the Kingdom. So now...how are you doing with kindness?

More to come starting Monday...

Hey guys! If you have been following my blog, THANK YOU! I really appreciate all the positive feedback. It has been awesome to be able to share my heart and bless people at the same time. It means a lot to me to have you as a reader, and a friend!

I just wanted to let you know that I took a break from blogging this week. (Obviously, huh!?) We have had a lot going on and I didn't want to take away from minimal family time to blog. So I will be starting back up Monday with "Kindness". I actually have already been praying about kindness this week and letting the Holy Spirit work it in me and through me, but I will still do a full week starting Monday.

So in case you were wondering where my blogs were, I just wanted you to know they are coming! And thanks again for reading!

:) Heather

Day 25- Wait with the Word

Ok so I'm just going to be honest...I haven't been blogging this week because I haven't felt like I've done too great with the patience thing thus far. I have been praying for it. Believe me, I've been praying! And I've sensed the Holy Spirit with me. But it's been hard.

You see, this just happens to be the week where we've really started moving forward with adoption. I've been researching, praying, asking others, researching, praying, e-mailing, and praying some more and we finally felt like we had found the right agency, the right country, and the right timing. But since the process began it has been nothing but waiting. Waiting to hear back about this. Waiting to get an e-mail. Waiting to find something out. Waiting to get a phone call. Waiting, waiting, and more waiting.

It has been in these times of waiting that my impatience starts to rise. I don't want to wait. I want to know what's going to happen and how it's going to happen right now. I want to see the future, know the future and control the future. Okay, not really, but that is how we feel sometimes! It is hard waiting for the unknown. It tests our patience.

What I have discovered this week, though, is that my impatience is a reflection on how much I trust God. If I trust God's perfect timing and His perfect plan, then there is really no room for impatience because I understand that He is in control and working all things together for my good. When I get impatient and try to make things happen on my own, it is like I'm saying "Okay, God, your plan isn't quite working for me, so I'm gonna get things rolling myself since you can't seem to handle the job." Absurd, isn't it? But that's just what we do! Instead of trusting God and waiting for His timing, we take things into our own hands, and end up making a mess of things.

I know God has a plan for our adoption journey. I know He has seen the end from the beginning. And I most definitely want His will for this. Not mine. I want Him to choose the child that will be forever a part of our family, and our hearts. And if I try to make things happen myself rather than patiently wait on Him, I could miss out on what He truly wants for us.

Psalm 130 verse 5 says, "I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His Word I put my hope." I think the second half of that verse is the key to being patient and waiting on the Lord. Putting our hope in His Word. If we can get it in our minds that His Word is true, never changing, and steadfast, why should we worry? Why be impatient? He promises us that He is in control, that He loves us, and that He is working things together for our good. We have to find our hope, our rest, our patience in His Word.

So that's what I'm choosing to do. I am choosing to wait. And while I wait, I am focusing on what I know to be true. God's Word. His wonderful, hope-filled Word.

Day 22- Patience Doesn't Come Easy

I don't like being patient. I don't like having to wait for what I want or think I need now. I don't enjoy the process of waiting. And, when I'm not living led by the Spirit, I usually don't wait.

I believe this is true for most of us (at least I hope it's not just me). We are an impatient people. We want what we want when we want it, which is usually now. And because of that, we often cause ourselves pain and stress trying to make something happen that is not meant to happen at the moment, or fretting over what should be happening. Why is it so hard to just wait???

We are born into the sinful nature. The sinful nature says "Me, me, me!" When we become Christians, we realize that life is not all about us, and that we are a part of a master plan created by God. But still, our flesh cries out, "What about me? What about what I want?" And so, when it is in God's plan for us to wait, our sinful nature stomps its little feet and throws a tantrum. We know we should be patient. But it's hard!

As I think about it, older people are much more patient than the younger generation. They have had to wait for things their whole lives. And perhaps they've realized that the good things God brings into your life are worth waiting for, and the things you don't get aren't worth having anyway. The Word tells us that our Heavenly Father wants to give "good gifts" to His children. But how many of us would give our children all their birthday presents the week before their birthday? The child may not understand why they can't have it all then, but we know that there's a greater purpose and a wonderful celebration ahead if they'll just wait.

The same is true for us. In times when we don't understand why we must wait on something, our Heavenly Father has our "gifts" already wrapped and ready for us, but He knows that there is a time and purpose for everything, and if we'll wait on Him, He will celebrate those gifts with us! What a good God we have to keep our best interest at heart in all He does for us.

Derick and I are in the early processes of adopting a child. It is a long and tedious process. We've just started, and I'm already having trouble being patient. But I am praying, "Lord, help me to trust your timing." If I can realize that God's plan for my life will come together piece by piece in His own perfect time, perhaps one day I will be able to silence this little tantrum-throwing sinful nature in my head as I wait on Him. I am trusting and believing God for His perfect time and the patience to wait for it!

"Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all who wait for him!" Isaiah 30:18

Day 19- Peace in His Presence

As my week ends and a new one begins, I must say that this week of focusing on peace has been the most difficult, yet the most enlightening of my Spirit-Led Life Challenge so far. I feel that I have really been challenged this week, and through that, I have grown to know God deeper and have a greater understanding of who He desires me to be through the power of the Holy Spirit. I am so thankful that He wants me to be someone who dwells in peace.

Tonight at church I was reminded of one of my favorite chapters in the Bible that embodies the life of peace- the 23rd Psalm.

"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."

What an awesome picture of the peace that God desires for us to walk in through His Spirit! He is our shepherd. Our protector. Our provider. He leads us to quiet, peaceful, restful places in Him. Though death and destruction may surround us, we don' t have to fear because HE is with us. He is our comfort. He anoints us to overflowing. His goodness and His love are always, always, always with us, and when our life on this earth ends, we will live with Him forever.

I don't think I can sum it up any better. This is peace. Being in the presence of our Good Shepherd. Letting Him lead and guide us. Trusting Him to provide for our needs. There is no greater peace than what is found in the presence of Jesus. Thank God that through His Holy Spirit we can live and walk in that supernatural peace daily. I am have started that journey this week, and I pray His peace continues to reign in my life as I put my trust in the Lord.

Day 18- Keeping the Peace

The Holy Spirit's peace is a wonderful thing. It protects us from worry and allows us to walk in the fullness of knowing who we are and Whose we are. Being filled with peace also allows us to create and keep peace around us. Not only is our personal peace threatened by the enemy, but so is the peace between us and others. It is very difficult to live at peace with yourself if you are not at peace with others.

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one anther in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." Ephesians 4:2-3

I am convinced that one of the ways the enemy attacks our peace the most is through relationships. Think about it. How many times have you been stressed and worried, agitated and aggravated because of someone else? Perhaps it was something they did. Or didn't do. Maybe it was a rumor spread, lie told or promise broken. Maybe it was simply that they didn't do what you think they should have done. They may have purposely tried to harm you. They may not have even known that they hurt you. Whatever the case, relationships can wreak havoc on our peace.

The sad thing is, not only does this lack of peace hurt us personally, it hurts the Body of Christ and our Christian witness. When we are at odds with one another, we are choosing to throw the verse above right out the window and act out of selfish ambition. We want to feel hurt. We have a right to be angry. We are justified in our frustration. But are we really? Is there ever a time when our feelings give us the right to disregard the Word of God?

Working in the church, it truly saddens me to see how many people choose to act and speak out of those feelings rather than keep the peace. We are told in Matthew that the peacemakers are "blessed" and will be called "sons of God." I'm sure we would love for those words to describe us! But how hard are we working to keep the peace? Are we making every effort to be "humble", "gentle", and "bear with one another in love"? It is not an easy thing. Many times, we truly have been wronged. But that does not excuse us from walking in the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit and choosing to live in peace.

This is something God has convicted me of this week. I need to do a better job of keeping the peace in my relationships. It takes effort and selfless love, but if I am going to be a powerful, Holy Spirit-led Christian, there is no other way to live. I encourage you today- pray about the relationships in your life. Ask the Lord to show you where you can choose to be the peacemaker. Let His Holy Spirit give you the strength to act out of the truth of the Word of God rather than your feelings. When you do, I believe His wonderful peace will flood your life as you submit every area of your life to Him.

"Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and mutual edification." Romans 14:19

Day 17- Protective Peace

As I went throughout my day today seeking to walk in the Spirit and be filled with His peace, I felt very much that the Spirit was keeping troubling thoughts out of my mind. As soon as worry would start to arise, the peace of God would set in and remind me that He was in control. It was such a comforting feeling, to know that my mind was protected by the peace of God.

The verse that I shared in yesterday's blog from Philippians 4:7 says that the peace of God will "guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." God promises that His peace will protect us. Once we choose to have peace rather than worry, it's as if we put a protective helmet on our minds that shields us from the worry, strife, anxiety and stress that constantly bombard us. In the power to choose peace, we have the power to choose the very thoughts that enter our minds. Look at 2 Corinthians 10:4-5:

"For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds, [Inasmuch as we] refute arguments and theories and reasonings and every proud and lofty thing that sets itself up against the [true] knowledge of God; and we lead every thought and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One)."

When the peace of God is protecting our minds, we are doing just that- taking our thoughts captive and making them obedient to Jesus Christ. It's as if each thought is questioned at the "gate" as to its motives and purposes before it is allowed to enter our mind. Peace is the guard, the gatekeeper of the home where our thoughts, ideas, and intentions live.

I am so thankful for the protection of peace. If we had to maintain sanity on our own, we'd all be in the loony bin! :) But thank God, he gives us a guard and a gatekeeper to protect and take captive every thought before it comes into our minds. We truly can rest our minds at ease knowing that God is in control when His peace is reigning in our lives!

Day 16- The Key To Peace

So as I was praying today and asking the Spirit to fill me with His peace today, I got to thinking, I know what peace is, and I know it's a choice, but how do I get it? What is the key to having peace in your life? Obviously there are circumstances beyond our control that threaten to bring anxiety, worry and stress into our lives at any given moment. So what is the key to keeping our peace in the most difficult storms of our life?

As I was praying about this, the Lord reminded me of a verse I have known since I was a child.

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7

So you're probably thinking the same thing I was: "Okay Lord, but that still doesn't answer my question. I know your peace is beyond comprehension. But how do I get it?" It wasn't until later when I could look the verse up in my Bible that I got the answer. As you can see, this verse begins with a preposition, which means it is connected to the sentence before it. Guess what that sentence is? It's the key to peace.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6

I know! I had an "Ah ha!" moment when I read it too! The key to peace is prayer. The first part of that verse deals with what I blogged about last night- choosing peace. It says "do not be anxious". We are commanded not to choose anxiety and worry, so it has to be a choice we make, or else we couldn't be commanded not to do it. But then, praise God, we are told what to do, and that is to pray. The Message version of the Bible puts it so plainly and beautifully:

"Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life."

Now that is an awesome promise of peace! Instead of worrying, we must choose to pray. We must choose to lay our requests and needs before the throne of the King. We must choose to let go, and let God. And when we do, He promises that His amazing, unexplainable peace will come over us and assure us that "all things work together for the good of those who love God."

We all know we should pray. But sometimes I think we believe that God isn't concerned with the little things that worry us. We think it has to be something major or a legitimate issue to bother God with it. Oh how wrong we are! In bearing these burdens on our own and not bringing them before our Heavenly Father in prayer, we are rejecting the peace He so desperately longs to give us. He cares. He wants to bear our burdens. Big or small, He wants us to lay them all at His feet and receive His peace in return.

I have been so encouraged by this revelation today, and I pray you will be too! We were never meant to carry our burdens alone. When the veil was torn and the blood was shed, a way was made for us to have an intimate relationship with God. Through that relationship and our communication with our Heavenly Father, we can lay every worry down before His throne and live in His indescribable peace and presence.

God's given us the key to open the door and live there. What's stopping us?!

Day 15- The Promise of Peace

"I will listen to what God the LORD will say; he promises peace to his people, his saints— but let them not return to folly." Psalm 85:8

God gives peace to His people. It is a promise- and what a wonderful one! Peace is definitely something we all crave. When the telephone won't stop ringing, when the complaints won't stop coming, when the kids won't stop crying, when the stress won't stop building...our soul desperately screams out for PEACE!

Peace, as defined in the Merriam Webster Dictionary, is a state of tranquility or quiet; freedom from oppressive thoughts or emotions. Peace is being free from worry, agitation or turmoil. Peace is being free.

When Jesus Christ sets us free from the law of sin and death, He also sets us free from worry, oppression and turmoil- all the things that counteract peace. We no longer have to walk in the bondage to a state of emotional confusion or anxiety. We know in whom we have believed. We know our future is sealed in Him. Why let the troubles of this life steal away the promise of peace?

I am realizing in this Spirit-Led Life Challenge that, so far, the characteristics of the fruit of the Spirit are definitely birthed in the Spirit, but they are also brought about by choice. The choice to submit to the life of the Spirit. The choice to live according to the laws of the Spirit. The choice to say "no" to how our flesh wants to react, and to say "yes" to the Spirit taking control in us. As with love and joy, peace is also a choice.

Yes, outside factors can make it easier or harder to have peace. But that is why the peace that the Spirit gives is so supernatural. When things in our life seem completely out of control, if we are walking in the Spirit, we can still have peace. We can still choose peace. God has given us a promise. A gift. But we must choose to open it up and use it in our lives.

It's funny...I've been given gift cards as gifts before (which I greatly appreciate) but for some reason, I have gift cards in my wallet that I've had for months that I haven't even used. I have even gone in a store with a gift card and walked out without buying anything because I just didn't want to use it yet. How often do we know we have the promise of peace in our back pocket, yet we don't use it? How many times do we choose, instead, to worry and fret over something (which accomplishes absolutely nothing) and "save" our peace for another time? Are we afraid it will run out?

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." Isaiah 26:3

Peace and trust are completely intertwined. If we truly trust God with our life, finances, marriage, children, jobs, health and future, we can live and walk in the Holy Spirit's peace. There is no reason to be anxious when we know WHO is in control!

My friends, I am just as guilty as you to choose worry and stress over peace. But who are we kidding? We can't live victorious, world-changing lives if we are in turmoil! If we want to see the plans God has for us come to pass, we must trust Him and walk in His peace. I believe God will never lead me astray. If you believe that too, then set your guard down today and pull out your peace "gift card". It won't run out. It won't dry up. And that's a promise.

Day 12- Joy in Sorrow

"...to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. " Isaiah 61:2-3

Recently I have seen several people I know go through the sorrow of losing a loved one. Some deaths were expected, some were not. Either way, the death of a loved one is a tragic experience. Fortunatley, it is not something I have had to deal with much in my life. I know, however, the older I get, the more I will encounter the pain of having to deal with loss. It's not something that I look forward to.

But even this week, as I focused on the joy of the Lord and the choice to rejoice, I have been reminded of several people that, when dealing with the loss of a loved one, have exemplified the strength that is found in the joy of the Lord. I have sat in countless funerals, but there have been a few that really stick out in my mind. Not necessarily because of the person who was being celebrated, but because of the family, or spouse, who chose to rejoice in such a difficult moment.

As I have sat in funeral services and watched widows and children lift their hands in worship to the Lord at the time of the most devastating loss in their lives, I realize that this is what joy birthed of the Holy Spirit can do in someone's life. It does not mean that they don't still go through the greiving process. Some of them even had tears running down their faces as they worshipped- joy and grief wrapped in one beautiful package of worship to the Father. But when I think back on these experiences, this is what stands out to me most as supernatural joy that the world cannot duplicate. This is the joy of the Lord that strengthens us in our weakest moment so that when we can do nothing else, we can still rejoice.

I am so thankful that when the day comes when someone close to me leaves this earthly life, I have the hope of knowing that this is not the end. And I pray that in that moment, I will be able to offer up the gift of worship, wrapped in grief and joy, to my Heavenly Father, who I know will "bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair."

Day 11- Joy In HIM

As I find myself towards the end of my "joy" week, I am learning that the supernatural joy that the Holy Spirit gives is something that is obtained more by growing in knowledge of the Lord than just a one-time dose of happiness. Sometimes I think we mistake the wonderful things that God promises to give us in His Word for just a quick-fix when we find ourselves lacking. But that is not at all how God intended His promises to take shape in our lives. He wants us to seek the source of those promises, rather than just the promises themselves. And in Him- our Source- the fullness of those promises is found.

On this Spirit-Led Life Challenge, I am finding that rather than seeking after more of the fruit of the Holy Spirit, I am much better off seeking after the Holy Spirit himself. God is the ultimate embodiment of all the characteristics I am seeking to have more of in my life. And as I read His Word, spend time in prayer, and live and walk in His presence, these characteristics become a side-effect of my relationship with Him.

I believe God wants to give me joy. Greater joy than what I've ever experienced! But if I only seek after joy (or any other blessing He promises to me) I will miss out on the best part of seeking God- knowing Him! Knowing God and walking in His Spirit daily is the greatest joy this life offers. I encourage you today to not only seek after the benefits God offers, such as His indescribable joy, but seek after God Himself- the source and center of true JOY!

Day 10- Contagious Joy

Today I was thinking about how easy it is to adopt the attitudes of people around you without even realizing it. The Bible talks about choosing good company, and that "bad company corrupts good character," but I'm not necessarily talking about good or bad people. I'm talking about their attitudes.

Of course, it is completely possible for a good person to have a bad attitude sometimes. But have you ever been around someone who is just negative? Who always sees the bad in situations, and in people? Have you found yourself influenced and affected by their negativity? Have you ever let it stifle your joy?

It's a crazy thing to watch the negativity of one person affect a whole group of people. I have seen the mood of a group of people change because one negative person entered the room. Why are we so easily influenced by negativity? I believe that even well-meaning people can be negative, without realizing it. They take their eyes off their destiny in Christ and start worrying about the state of the economy, future of our nation, and other issues that drag them down from joy into despair. Negativity is the enemy of joy, but such an easy mindset to slip into.

Fortunately, joy can also be contagious. The kind of joy that comes from a deep understanding of our destiny in Christ can keep us from being dragged down by the negativity of others, and can even combat that negative mindset. Supernatural, Spirit-birthed joy will change the atmosphere. Just as worship brings victory to our lives, joy brings a change in perspective that lifts us out of the depths of worry, stress and strife and places our eyes on the eternal rather than the temporary. Paul speaks of this when writing to Timothy. He says :

"I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy." (2 Tim. 1:4)

Here is someone whose life has the ability to bring about joy in someone else! When people sense that kind of joy in someones life, it can have a truly transforming effect. As failed, flawed humans, we are drawn to the heavenly. The hope of something greater than what we can see intrigues us. So when someone with a negative mindset is around someone who chooses joy, they can't help but be affected. It may not take shape in their attitude immediately, but it plants a seed and gives them hope that there is something worth rejoicing about.

I want my joy to be contagious. I want people to see me worshipping in the best AND the worst of times, and to see that my choice to rejoice is unchanged by my circumstances. I want the joy of the Spirit in my life to change the atmosphere wherever I go. My prayer is that the joy in my heart will be so great because of my choice to walk in the Spirit daily, that there will be no room for negativity to creep in.

When we choose to let our joy permeate our lives, it will overflow into the hearts and lives of others. And I don't know about you, but I think that this world could definitely use a dose of the joy of the Lord!

Day 9- The Sound of Joy

Continuing this journey into the joy of the Lord, I am finding that it is all about taking the focus off of the now and putting it on the Author of our life's story. He wrote the beginning and knows the end. Why should we worry and fret about the twists and turns in the middle when we can rest in the fact that our God has everything written out and planned for our good?

I know that this is easier said than done. As I stated in my previous blog, joy has not been something that has come easily to me. I am a planner and somewhat of a "control freak". I have a hard time dealing with the unknown. Consequently, when life throws me a curve, it is more natural for me to stress and get depressed than for me to jump for joy at the possibility of something better.

As this week goes on and I am praying for more of the Holy Spirit's joy in my life, I am constantly reminded of the choice I must make to worship God- to rejoice in Him- regardless of my circumstances. The sound of joy is worship itself! Rejoicing and joy are very connected to worship. Speaking, singing, and living praise to our Heavenly Father is the best and quickest way to take our mind off of our temporary troubles and get them on the truth of who we are in Christ and where our destiny lies. I am making a greater effort to keep His praise in my mouth and His song on my lips. This is a conscious choice we must make to REJOICE, and through that praise, to be made glad by our Savior.

I have learned in life that though I may not always feel like worshipping, I have never once regretted a single moment I have spent in worship of my Jesus. Time spent rejoicing and worshipping is never time wasted. Not only does it draw us nearer to the heart of God and align our steps with the Holy Spirit, but it brings joy into the darkest of situations. Whatever you are facing today, choose to worship. However down and depressed you may become, choose to rejoice. When you do, your eyes will slowly lift from the troubles of this life to the hope found in Jesus Christ, and your heart will be filled with a song that can only come from Spirit-birthed joy!

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Cor. 4:16-18