Looking out my window....

Psalm 2

Why are the [a]nations in an uproar
And the peoples devising a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the Lord and against His [b]Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”

4 He who [c]sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
6 “But as for Me, I have [d]installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

7 “I will surely tell of the [e]decree of the Lord:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the [f]nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
9 ‘You shall [g]break them with a [h]rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like [i]earthenware.’”

10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O [j]judges of the earth.
11 [k]Worship the Lord with [l]reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
12 [m]Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may [n]soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!

There are school shootings, school stabbings, workplace violence, rapes, gangs, racial divisions, family divisions, political upheavals...there is unrest around the world. To quote the Psalmist, the nations are in uproar and the peoples are devising a vain thing.

But God....

Two of the most beautiful words ever written.

But. God.

As in, "but then God showed up" or "but then God did His thing." Have you ever seen a little kid really mad at their parent and they're bound and determined to take them down but their efforts are so hilarious the parent can't help laughing? This is the picture I get of God when I read this Psalm. He's looking at all that is going on ~ and seeing those whose hearts would prefer a God-of-the-Bible free world and He's got no other reaction but to laugh because their efforts are futile.

Christians! GOD WINS!!! GOD....WINS! He's still in control. And we're still here because there is a Kingdom that people need. People need to know The One who truly loves them....truly will give them peace...will truly BLESS those who take refuge in Him!

I'm sitting at my desk looking out over my neighborhood and wondering....what can I do today to take refuge in my King and what can I do today to share Him with those who don't know His peace?

How 'bout you?

A Living Sacrifice

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God ~ this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is ~ His good, pleasing and perfect will."
Romans 12:1-2

Over the past few years a lot of my friends have jumped on the marathon, 1/2 marathon and "k" races bandwagon. I've run a couple 5k myself, but nothing like many of my friends who train daily and have traveled the country for different marathons. I haven't done more because, well, because it hurts. Over the years I've put on some weight...gotten lazy...realized the benefits of "downtime" and basically gotten lazy. (Did I say that already?)

So, then I opened up my Bible one morning and got hit right between the eyes. "...offer your bodies as a living sacrifice...act of worship..." ACK! How many times do we long to please God? Long to do His Will? Fervently pray, "Lord, whatever it takes for me to worship You today, I'm in."? Then it seems like all these people around us are getting healthy ~ making sacrifices in their daily diets to be more able to do what they're called to do, and every which way we turn there's someone else talking about running or Zumba or Spin class or walking or Paleo or Vegetables and fruits and how it clears the mind and energizes the body....and all we want to do is live in such a way to worship God all day long.

Not everyone is in this place, but I have a feeling if you're reading this you're in the same boat as me and God is trying to get your attention about what needs to happen in your life IN ORDER TO worship Him all day long.

We need to make some sacrifices...in our bodies.

We need to not make that purchase at the store that will bring more junk into an overloaded house.

We need to not sit mindlessly eating those "healthy" processed snacks while we read blogs about loving God.

We need to actually DO SOMETHING with ourselves that is living out the words of this passage ~ making our bodies a living sacrifice as an act of true worship.

I mean, really, when do you sense the presence of God the most? When you're living free and easy and everything is going right ? Or is it when you're going through something that is difficult and you know that it is in that weakness He is made strong?

I'm not sure He was talking about training for marathons here (pretty sure he wasn't because they were pretty healthy having to walk everywhere), but what is it He is asking you to make a living sacrifice in your life? Maybe it's leaving that desk at the office and actually interacting with your family face to face. Maybe it's putting on those running shoes and pushing through that thigh burn to finish a race you never thought you'd run. Maybe it's being honest with your friends and/or family about an addiction and getting the help you need.

In doing so you and I will be transformed. We will renew our minds and be able to test and approve what God's perfect will is. He asks us to not only know, but to obey...to make a living sacrifice to LIVE for Him. What will you do today?

Why do you live in fear?

Psalm 27
Verses 1 - 5:

The Lord is my light and my salvation;

Whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the defense of my life;

Whom shall I dread?

2 When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh,

My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell.

3 Though a host encamp against me,

My heart will not fear;

Though war arise against me,

In spite of this I shall be confident.

4 One thing I have asked from the Lord, that I shall seek:

That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,

To behold the beauty of the Lord

And to meditate in His temple.

5 For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle;

In the secret place of His tent He will hide me;

He will lift me up on a rock.

Chris Tomlin happens to be one of my soul's messengers when it comes to worship music. There are many because I love music, but there are some who reach within in such a way that it is obvious they aren't just a songwriter, but a messenger sent by God for this very time. Mr. Tomlin is one of those. He has a new devotional available through the YouVersion online Bible called "Burning Lights" (the link goes to all the plans, but if you look for it you'll find it along with many other great reading plans). I am so thankful that someone thought to reach out to him and ask if he'd be willing to share his Biblical insights with us through a 5-day reading plan. 

Today is a day where my soul feels the need to put everything else aside and just pray. Someone very close to me is caught up in the "what if's" of the world and facing some very difficult circumstances. This friend is rooted in Christ, but has always been able to rely on their self to get things done...to save a situation...to do the right thing. Over the past few weeks someone else's actions are causing a great deal of stress on their personal role and it is showing in the stress my friend carries. As I prayed this morning a sense of peace came over me once again ~ the knowledge that God is before all things and IN HIM all things hold together. He knows the outcome of this situation...He knows the insight necessary to save the business...He knows the heart of the actions on both sides of the coin. 

He has it. 

It's time to let go of it and let Him do His thang. 

But....

Like every human being in the world we let it go and then a few minutes or hours go by and that stress begins to show itself again. A bloody nose..a roiling and upset tummy...a short temper...eating something to soothe ourselves. It shows in the little things like biting our nails...tapping our feet...feeling the need to DO something like run or eat or shop or clean!

And again we need to let it go. 

What those feelings are that make us think we need to do those things (all of which are not bad in themselves) are feelings that need to lead us to the foot of the Throne of Grace with Confidence. It is in those restless moments that God is trying to get our attention ~ trying to get us to realize HE has it. HE has US. No matter the outcome. No matter the consequence. No matter the pain or the diagnosis. HE has US. 

HE  H A S  US!

Do not be afraid ~ and if you start to feel that coming up again? Well, He knows already. It's kind of like a parent who knows the child who said they wouldn't take a fresh baked cookie but is now standing before us with chocolate on his lip saying he didn't take it...He knows we are still holding on to it. He knows that fear is still there. He knows we're human and we need Him. He also knows He loves us and longs for us to "get it." 

He longs for us to "get" that no matter how many times we take it back and think we need to deal with it on our terms He will always be there when we realize we can't and give it back to Him. 

He longs for us to "get" that when we realize we're holding on to it and we're in the process of giving it back to Him He's not going to go, "Again? Seriously? How many times do I have to tell you? I've got this. Now go on and knock it off already!"

He longs for us to "get" that when we realize we're holding on to it and we're in the process of giving it back to Him He's going to say instead, "My Love...I'll take that burden from you. Here is My peace. Take this instead. I love you..." 

What fear are you holding on to today? What do you keep pulling back from Him? 

Is it your parenting duties? Do you just keep thinking YOU need to say something, do something or take the task of changing your child's mind back into your own words? Do you feel the need to "remind" (we don't nag) because they just won't get it if you don't?

Is it your calling? Do you KNOW He is calling you to step out in faith and do something that utterly scares the bejeebies out of you so you just keep pretending He's not really calling you? Do you keep saying "yes" to other things so you can avoid doing what you're really supposed to be doing? (I, by the way, have NO idea what that's like! Honestly. I mean...really. ;-) ) 

Is it your lifestyle? Do you know in your heart that the way you're living isn't in line with who you say you are ~ a Christ-follower ~ but you have surrounded yourself with people who tell you it's okay and that God understands so you don't have to change? Do you keep listening to them out of fear that if you do change you'll lose your "fun" in life and lose all your friends and be a loner forever? There's truth in every lie. God does understand...He longs for you to know that...but you still have to change...and you might lose some friends, but you'll get new ones who will be truth tellers and will challenge you to be the YOU you were meant to be.  

Whatever your fear is know this: He tells us to NOT be afraid! We all know the story of the little boy standing at the edge of the pool looking at his Daddy who is telling him to jump out to him. Daddy says, "it's okay! I'll catch you!" and little boy takes a step toward the edge of the pool...bends his knees like he's going to jump and suddenly steps back from the pool. Daddy says again, "it's okay, buddy. I've gotcha." Little boy steps forward again, bends his knees and puts his hands up like he's going to dive in. Daddy speaks encouragement. Little boy looks at the water and freaks out again. This goes on for a while and suddenly Daddy takes a step closer. He says to the little boy with stars and fear in his eyes, "hey, Bud....do you think I'd really let you fall? I love you so much! I'm closer now...close your eyes and jump and I'll catch you." The little boy bends his knees, puts his hands up in diving position, squeezes his eyes closed and jumps off the edge. For a moment there is real fear written all over his face and his eyes POP open trying to see his Daddy. By the time he focuses on him he's already in his arms and safe. 

He's waiting...Close your eyes...JUMP!