Hey There,

How ya doing today? My kidlets are all outside. Silence is a beautiful thing, except for the patter of feet running across the front porch and the wind whistling in the tree tops, I am enjoying a few moments of silence. AHHHHHHHH.

Our girl decided this weekend that she was ready to learn to ride her bike without training wheels. Now our girls is a firecracker, always has been. When she decides she wants to do something, she puts her mind to it and nothing will deter her from accomplishing her goal. Her tenacity makes me smile and other times makes we want to pull my hair out. I know all you mommies of firecrackers can relate!

Before she announced her plans to “ride alone” she came into the house fully padded down with her brothers hockey gloves, knee pads, elbow pads and her helmet. She had thought through her adventure and knew that in order to accomplish the task at hand she needed to be prepared. Now Boo is not one to be frightened but I thought is interesting how she knew that falls where probably in her immediate future and so she planned for that contingency. My girl rocks!

I thought of her yesterday as I realized I was headed into a situation that was going to require armour. I’m referring to heavenly armour. I needed wisdom, patience and truth on my side and so just as Boo put on her helmet, I sent up one of those “Help me Jesus” prayers.  As I pictured my Boo I quickly asked for the armour I knew I was in need of.  Prayer was my weapon in that moment. 

Ephesians 6:16-18 (New International Version)

Good Morning,

Well it’s a little late but I hope your weekend found you some time to enjoy a sweet treat…..or two:)

I’m loving the study I am currently involved with and as I was doing some reading this weekend thisline was never far from my thoughts all weekend.

“Faith is the primary means by which we place our hand in the outstretched hand of God and join Him” ( Believing God, pg 19)

Now being the visual learner that I am, I loved the picture this gave me as I thought about faith. It reminded me of the countless times my children have reached for my hand. Back in the days where learning to walk was the goal, often times I would feel a little finger slip in between my fingers, asking for reassurance, encouragement or help. Does that not paint such a vivid picture of our daily relationship with God?

Unlike when my children learned to walk they no longer needed the extra support to stand on their own two feet. However when we are choosing to live by faith, the Lord’s outstretched hand is never far from our grasp.

When an initial decision to accept the truth that Jesus died for us is made we are asking for forgiveness, our faith is met by our Heavenly Father’s outstretched hand.

Along our journey with Jesus when doubts enter our mind, is it not our hand that is grasping to be held onto tightly by the King of Kings. Is His hand not always available to you?

On the days where tears fall like rain, are we not meet by the hand of the God who holds our tears and promises to wipe them away. 

Whew, I love that line…..what a an amazing privilege to be loved by a God who is willing to meet us. We initiate the action, but we are not loved by a passive God, He moves to meet us. To me this is a demonstration of how important we are to Him. The picture of His hand moving towards me is thrilling…..do you not agree?

And God will wipe the tears from every face. 
   He’ll remove every sign of disgrace
From his people, wherever they are. 
   Yes! God says so!

Isaiah 25:8 (The Message)

Journey On

Good Morning,

Oh how the days fly by between sitting down at the computer to put words to the things that swirl around this brain of mine. Whew I’m glad to have a few moments this morning. 

I’ve started a new study, Beth Moore’s “Believing God”. As always in the midst of her discussion she says something that hits me smack in the middle of my forehead. The line I’ve been pondering is this.” Faith is the gap between our theology and reality”.  Immediately a picture of a bridge came to my mind. The bridge is  troubled, it has a whole in the centre, far too wide to jump, hop or run across. Then as I began thinking about all thing faith, I realized that the bridge could represent my everyday life. I know some theology, but this girl would never be recognized as a Biblical theologian, and I’m okay with that.

As you meander down the bridge with me that represents my day you come to a gap, across from the gap you would see my daily planner, the schedules, the meetings, the deadlines, homework, laundry…can you relate?  Some days as I am traveling over the bridge  ”I know” God is God because the Bible tells me so, my “faith” is merely head knowledge. My attitude, perspective, emotions are anywhere close to acting in a faith like response to the irritations that arise, the crisis that hit, the interruptions of a well laid plan. The gap between my theology of knowing God is God always, He is in control, always, He loves me no matter what is evident in my responses and the gap that divides my head knowledge with my reality widen.  My faith is merely a exercise of my mind. However the days where I choose to allow my emotions, my heart, my spirit, my experiences with God intersect with my head knowledge suddenly the gap between my theology and reality becomes an “act” of faith. In the choice to act in faith my relationship is deep end with my Heavenly Father, another marker in my journey with Jesus staked. A lesson learned. 

So friends I encourage you today to face your gap head on today. Armed with the knowledge of your God, but also with your personal experiences….your “Act” of faith may not shrink your gap but your Heavenly Father promises to meet you wherever you are. And that meeting is the beginning of filling in your gap.

I was reminded of this promise. You are not alone on your bridge!

Deuteronomy 31:8 (New International Version)

Good Morning,

I hope your long weekend was enjoyable, relaxing and days filled with sweet memories of the last long weekend of summer 2009. 

We had a great weekend but on  Sunday I found myself in quite the funk. I really can’t attribute it to anything except I allowed myself to start thinking about the future and when fear began to make it’s way into my mind, my special blend of “crank” reared it’s ugly head.

My poor honey didn’t know what hit him.

As I struggled to work myself out of this funk I realized that I was putting my hopes, my plans in the hands of all things human. Jobs, the recession, family, desires….all things man made. 

My honey and I joke that whenever I start to plan pretty much the opposite happens. It’s true, it is my history. Other then our move to NC very rarely have I honestly wanted to know and follow the Lord’s plan for my life.  I would plan and then asked to be blessed in the process. Please don’t misunderstand me I am not saying planning is unnecessary however too many times I have approached planning as my responsibility first then ask for input after the fact.

Have you ever found yourself in that situation? Barrelling full steam ahead without consulting, talking to, being willing to hear another perspective. Well I know in the past this is how I have treated my relationship with the Lord. Asking, listening, waiting, very rarely entered into my “decision making process”, going to the God of the Universe generally was the last step, and in truth may have been a token gesture. 

Back to my funk, as I began to process all that was swimming around my mind, I was reminded that my Bible had words of relief, encouragement and direction for me. I needed to get out of my own head. And as promised God’s word never comes back without being effective. I’ve added my name to the beginning of the verse, it personalizes it and I can picture my Heavenly Father talking to me. ( Have I mentioned I’m a visual person:)

Psalm 91:14-16 (The Message)

So as my funk came to an end I realized when I have struggled most with fear are the times I have placed my trust in someone or something other than God.

Can I encourage you today, whatever Tuesday brings that inside the pages of your Bible are words that are powerful, personal and offer perspective.

 Journey On,