Let the Word Speak....

While it isn't my norm, I felt that I should just leave you with the Word today. No real commentary.....this chapter in Isaiah feels particularly important to me today, although I don't have any real reason or explanation for that right now. I trust that God will direct your heart and my heart in what He wants us each to glean from this passage today. He promises in Isaiah 55:10-11:

“The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to,and it will prosper everywhere I send it."

Isaiah 54

¹ “Sing, O childless woman,
you who have never given birth!
Break into loud and joyful song, O Jerusalem,
you who have never been in labor.
For the desolate woman now has more children
than the woman who lives with her husband,”
says the Lord.
² “Enlarge your house; build an addition.
Spread out your home, and spare no expense!
³ For you will soon be bursting at the seams.
Your descendants will occupy other nations
and resettle the ruined cities.

⁴ “Fear not; you will no longer live in shame.
Don’t be afraid; there is no more disgrace for you.
You will no longer remember the shame of your youth
and the sorrows of widowhood.
⁵ For your Creator will be your husband;
the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is his name!
He is your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel,
the God of all the earth.
⁶ For the Lord has called you back from your grief—
as though you were a young wife abandoned by her husband,”
says your God.
⁷ “For a brief moment I abandoned you,
but with great compassion I will take you back.
⁸ In a burst of anger I turned my face away for a little while.
But with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,”
says the Lord, your Redeemer.

⁹ “Just as I swore in the time of Noah
that I would never again let a flood cover the earth,
so now I swear
that I will never again be angry and punish you.
¹⁰ For the mountains may move
and the hills disappear,
but even then my faithful love for you will remain.
My covenant of blessing will never be broken,”
says the Lord, who has mercy on you.

¹¹ “O storm-battered city,
troubled and desolate!
I will rebuild you with precious jewels
and make your foundations from lapis lazuli.
¹² I will make your towers of sparkling rubies,
your gates of shining gems,
and your walls of precious stones.
¹³ I will teach all your children,
and they will enjoy great peace.
¹⁴ You will be secure under a government that is just and fair.
Your enemies will stay far away.
You will live in peace,
and terror will not come near.
¹⁵ If any nation comes to fight you,
it is not because I sent them.
Whoever attacks you will go down in defeat.

¹⁶ “I have created the blacksmith
who fans the coals beneath the forge
and makes the weapons of destruction.
And I have created the armies that destroy.
¹⁷ But in that coming day
no weapon turned against you will succeed.
You will silence every voice
raised up to accuse you.
These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord;
their vindication will come from me.
I, the Lord, have spoken!

All texts today were from the New Living Translation.

Moving Forward

“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.” ~Isaiah 43:18-19

“I’m not going back, I’m moving ahead

I’m here to declare to You my past is over

In You, all things are made new

Surrendered my life to Christ

I’m moving, moving forward”

Lyrics from Moving Forward by Israel Houghton

So early this morning, this already seems to be the theme for the day. At this time in my life, things seem to be changing and moving forward at an almost break-neck pace. This is certainly not a bad thing….and considering the season I have recently exited in my life, it’s certainly a welcome change. However it is just that….change.

As humans, we tend to be creatures of habit. Sometimes that makes change—even good change, a little fearful. However, at this point in my journey I find that my fear is overshadowed…..this time around it feels like it is being pushed aside, and instead I find myself in hopeful expectation, anticipation, and quite honestly a sense of amazement. I’m seeing things come to pass that I felt God place on my heart in years past. I am reminded of the following scripture:

“Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.” ~I John 4:18 (NLT)

When we focus on God and what He says, we can be confident and fear is driven away. So many of these things I felt impressed upon my heart, but I had no idea how they would come to pass, because the circumstances I saw didn’t seem to make any sense or give any hint of ability to ever change. I just had to trust God and remain faithful in the steps He asked me to take. Our obedience + His supernatural ability = miraculous changes in events. He promises to complete the work He started in each of us.

“The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.” ~I Thessalonians 5:24 (emphasis mine)

My journey is far from over. There are still promises I have on my heart that have yet to be fulfilled. Continued obedience and following where He leads is key. I may not see now how those circumstances can change, but thankfully God is not dependent upon my ability to know what He knows. This is where faith enters the picture. I know that He is doing a new thing. I know He can make a way where there doesn’t seem to be one, and provision where none seems to exist. It says so in His Word. I can trust Him and follow Him so I can move forward. I trust He will guide me in respect to the details.

Is God bringing you to a new place? Ask for discernment to be able to “perceive it.” Seek His guidance and direction, and watch Him show you things that will truly amaze you.

Keeping your Past from Invading Your Future

“…”How did I get here?
I'm not who I once was
And I'm crippled by the fear
That I've fallen too far to love”

But don't you know who you are?
What's been done for you?
Yeah don't you know who you are?

You are more than the choices that you've made
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes
You are more than the problems you create
You've been remade”

I often think in song. It’s an odd characteristic (I think), but nevertheless, it’s the way my mind works. While I don’t have the talent of song-writing, I admire and respect those that do. When a songwriter captures thoughts and feelings and sets them to music, it allows for others to share similar sentiments with all barriers removed.

One of the things that I do when I am actively trying to work and pray through issues is listen to music… Praise and worship to God are a huge part of who I am. I have been spending a lot of time in prayer over specific things and specific people, and so I have been walking and jogging and listening to music….a lot. Perhaps it has to do with who and what I am praying for, and perhaps it is an actual trend, but I have noticed something wonderful about such a large percentage of contemporary Christen music right now—the message of newness.

So often, people are concerned with “getting life on the right track” so they can find or return to God. We become so focused on the mistakes and poor choices that we have made, we feel we must either be forced to live in separation from a loving Heavenly Father or punish ourselves for all the wrong we have done. But there is no need for that. You see, it is our Savior that paid the price for us and makes us new.

Christ chose to take your punishment for every sin, every poor choice, every mistake. When you ask Him to be your Savior, you are accepting His payment for your sins. When we choose not to forgive ourselves and to move into newness, we are saying that what He did wasn’t enough. We are instead choosing to carry our past into our future. This causes us to be weighed down so heavily with burdens that we no longer have reason to bear.

Not one of us is too good to not need a Savior……and not one of us is too bad to not have Him serve as payment in full for what we have done and will do in this life. Take Him at His Word. When you have sincerely asked for forgiveness, He washes the memory of that sin into the sea of forgetfulness. Allow yourself to act like the One that paid the price for what you have done….move past the regrets, the hurts, the sins, the mistakes, and the poor choices and into newness of self, newness of life. Look forward to your future with hopeful expectation of a life with greater power and bolder influence to point others in the direction of the Life-Saver.

Take a moment and thank the Christ that has given you newness of life—heart, soul, and mind. Is there a song of worship or praise that echoes the sentiments of your heart? Share it with your Savior.

“Cause this is not about what you've done
But what's been done for you
This is not about where you've been
But where your brokenness brings you to

This is not about what you feel
But what He felt to forgive you
And what He felt to make you loved

You are more than the choices that you've made
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes
You are more than the problems you create
You've been remade”

Lyrics courtesy of “You are More,” Tenth Avenue North

Living a Life of Transparency

Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. ~Gal 6:2

Jesus wept. ~John 11:35

For many years of my life I spent (what I didn’t realize) was a lot of energy making sure that everything looked picture perfect on the outside. I made sure my hair was perfect, my makeup was perfect, clothing perfect, and if you ever asked me how things were going….well, they were perfect as well. Some of you might think that it would be incredibly apparent to the rest of the world that there was no way that my life could always be perfect—but you would be wrong.

In fact, people bought my story. Sometimes, I even bought my story. When bad things did happen…I just put on a brave face, let the world know that everything was perfect, and would then do one of two things. Either I would cry and fall apart in my own private time alone, or I would bottle up every emotion I was feeling and would pretend that there was actually nothing to deal with…everything was fine.

Some of you may be able to relate. The problem is that these methods did little else but cause me to feel more isolated, more alone, and like there was no one else in this world that was facing a battle. Why did I feel this way??? Why do so many of you feel this way??? Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that’s the way the majority of us behave. We put on the good face; we put on the good show. There is an intense battle, but no one ever knows. You can be standing across from Susie who has just gone through what you are dealing with, but she can’t help you because you are both too proud and too concerned with the external appearance to share what is happening in your hearts.

We are afraid to be vulnerable. We are taught to burn bridges and build walls. But where does that lead us? It leads us to a place where we are not protected, but isolated from the outside world, and there is no way for anyone to be able to come save us. We feel lonely and out of touch. It’s a miserable place to be.

About four years ago I decided to make a change. It wasn’t a change that was brought on by some major revelation. It was a change that was brought on through necessity and some gentle guiding by a mentor in my life. The walls had to come down. They had been built up so deep and so high that I had become isolated and sank into a pit of depression and despair. Many people that know me are shocked to think that I would deal with depression. It was very real, very dark, and very ugly.

The road back was tough…..but OH so worth it! I actually had to learn how to be able to interact with people again on a level that went beyond the superficial. What I learned through the experience is to never discount the battles and struggles of others.

Most people won’t have to face that, and I am so thankful for those of you that never will. But some of you will have to learn how to let people in to your life. Some of you will need to learn that it’s okay to say that it’s a tough day, and you are struggling. Now here is a major balance point: Learning to be open doesn’t mean that everyone knows everything that is going on in your life all the time. Wisdom and discernment are still key. Being transparent also isn’t a free ticket to gossip about your friend, family member or significant other.

Being transparent is about other people......AND it’s about you. What are you dealing with, and how can that situation be used by God to be able to minister into someone else’s life…..how can it help provide hope? Ask God to help you to move further into the realm of a "real life" that impacts others, rather than settling for an empty facade.

What’s Love Got to do With It?

Yes, I know that’s the title of a Tina Turner song….and a catchy one at that. But the kind of love I suspect Tina was talking about isn’t exactly the type of love I’m talking about here. As I thought & prayed about what topic to write about, I immediately knew—love. Not the gushy, feel-good, make-you-giddy kind of love, although that’s fun. I’m talking about the hard stuff—the UNconditional kind (agape); the kind that will test you to your very limits and say, “are you really sure that’s what you meant?” Agape can only be tested when faced with the most difficult character traits, flaws, short-comings, and circumstances of the ones we have decided to love. Agape isn’t based on what the other person is, can be, or even in how they treat you. It is a decision to love regardless of any condition.

Perhaps one of my very favorite passages in scripture is one that is incredibly prominent concerning love. We hear it at weddings, it sounds sweet and touching…but what about the challenge to live it? What about living it not only with the people that we “like” but also our enemies?

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. I Corinthians 13:4-8a

I am currently in the middle of a journey that is testing my love-walk. This isn’t the first instance that my choice to love someone has been tested, and I’m sure it will not be the last. My personal details are not necessarily key. The fact that you are either on a journey with similar implications or will one day face one is the focus. I have learned (and am learning) that agape is:

Patient: willing to wait on God’s timing with a joyful and expectant heart

Kind: believing and speaking the best of others

Not envious: not jealous, resentful, or grudging

Not boastful: not speaking of self with excessive pride, exaggeration, or vanity

Not proud: not seeking satisfaction over something regarded as credited to oneself

Not rude: not being rough, harsh, ungentle, discourteous, or impolite—especially in a deliberate way

Not self-seeking: looking out for the best interest of the other party; putting personal interest and gain aside to seek what is best for the other

Not easily-angered: not irritable or easily provoked

Not a record-keeper of wrongs: not resentful, not a “score-keeper” (True forgiveness and mercy are staples of agape.)

Not delightful in evil/injustice/wrongdoing: not receiving enjoyment out of immoral or wicked deeds that would hurt or mislead the other

Pleased/Rejoicing in the truth: taking delight in honesty; interacting without deceit or manipulation

Always protecting: seeking to look after, guard, or shield appropriately

Always trusting: constantly and unquestionably confident

Always hoping: continually looking forward in faith with expectancy

Never failing: never giving up no matter the situation or circumstance; never passing away, dwindling, losing strength, or vigor

In our own limited humanness we are incapable of such a display of love. It is only through the power, mercy, and grace of our Lord through the Holy Spirit that we are able to have a love-walk that mirrors scripture. While agape can bring great pain at times because of its insistence upon endurance no matter what, it is also the one that can bring the deepest fulfillment. It is the only type of love that can truly point others to the person of Jesus Christ.

Who in your life do you need help to love without condition? An enemy that has wounded you deeply? Someone that is currently incapable of reciprocating love? Ask for God to give you His heart toward those individuals, and prepare to see your heart change and agape to grow.