Archive for Reflections
Fire of Love
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As the holiday season is upon us, this morning I was praising God and thanking Him for the life He has given me. I am so grateful and thankful for my wonderful husband, friends and our church family. Having several family members currently ill and in difficult places, it causes me to contemplate how life is so precious!
I am not telling you something that you don’t know already. But what amazes me is how many times I don’t live my life as if it was my last breath, my last hour, my last day. It’s not that I’m thinking grave thoughts of death but I am pondering how I can live with passion, purpose, and vision today and for the future. What legacy will I leave? What inheritance will be passed on? What would my eulogy say about my life?
Today, I want to keep every moment before me while at the same time living from an eternity perspective. I am not going to take things for granted because in one moment, life can change. I am going to let the “little battles” go and keep my eyes on the promise and destiny that God has for me. I am going to love those that feel unlovable. I am going to speak hope to those that are hopeless. I am going to help feed others that don’t even know if they will eat today or not. I am going to be aware of those around me and ask God how to help others. Will you join me?
“Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow, we shall go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away.” NAS (James 4:13-14)
What does FREEDOM mean?
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What does FREEDOM mean to you personally? The thesaurus can give us synonyms for this word such as liberty, self determination, independence, freewill, lack of restrictions or sovereignty.
For me “liberty” as written in the word of God is the truth I choose to live by:
2 Corinthians 3:17-18
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” NIV
The word “self determination” can be additionally explained as self-rule, self-government, independence, and free will. Our destiny has so much to do with making the right choices. God has made us free and we need to appropriate that freedom into every decision made in our lives..
On July 4th, we celebrated our “independence” in this nation. But, as you know, independence can have a negative aspect to it as well. I believe we can be so independent in our mentality or actions that we need no one. “I can do it myself”, “I don’t need anyone to help me”, “I don’t want to take the time to reach out for help” can become our belief systems and bring loneliness and dissatisfaction in life.
We are free and have “free will” but how do we really live among others? What is the motivation of our heart? Could it mean: My way – not yours, right vs. wrong, law vs. grace for the sake of “free will”? It’s important for us to check our hearts when it comes to freedom.
“Lack of restrictions” means we have no boundaries, no limits because our God is a limitless God. But at the same time, we have certain boundaries and authority we need to honor in our workplaces, marriages, and relationships.
I love the word “sovereignty”. I had to understand that without the sovereign love of the Father, I would have no “real” freedom and no hope. I tried living in the world with “worldly” freedom but I would always feel as if I was living in a dark hole. No lasting freedom was mine.
I am eternally grateful for God’s love for me and I desire to know Him more and walk in the freedom Jesus died for. What about you? What do you struggle with regarding your knowledge of freedom?
We Were Created For Love
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Now that the sun has decided to show up in the Northwest, I have been walking all week. No earbuds, no music, no phone – just the sound and smells of God’s creation. I kept hearing the words “We were created for love” in my spirit. I glanced at the sky, felt the slight breeze on my face and breathed in sweet aromas of spring flowers. I heard the glorious sounds of an owl, robins, squirrels, and eaglets. That’s right. We have a large eagle nest in our neighborhood. Two days ago I got a glimpse of two eagles soaring high in the clouds. Yesterday I saw one soar over the lake. Today, one flew right over me into a tree! It was so majestic and beautiful. I am so amazed by God’s handiwork. His love is the passion behind everything He created. Then, now, and in the future. It was always His intention to have divine relationships. We need Him and we need each other. Animals need food, plants need water, flowers need sun – it’s all based on relationship.
Just as the picture depicts, I need you and you need me – we need each other. I’m grateful for friendships in my life. I am so glad that the Lord never neglects us and loves us unconditionally! There is always help available to us.
“Love, like music, is a melody that lingers in the heart long after the words have been sung. Love is what helps us to feel for each other, to put ourselves into our neighbor’s places. It helps us to see with their eyes, hear with their ears, and feel with their hearts. Better yet, it teaches us to view others the way God sees them. No matter what difficulties we may face, love is the universal answer.” author unknown
Remember, we were created for love!
Choices
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What comes to mind when you look at this picture? My first response was “wilderness versus living water”. But the more I pondered this photo, I kept seeing so much more.
I thought – well what the enemy planned for evil, God will turn to good! That’s a worthy response. Then I thought – wow, sure glad I am not in the wilderness anymore, I like the water and the leaves on the tree. But look again. The water looks rough and the sky looks as if a storm is headed my way. Hmmmmm.
Now, when I scanned the wilderness, it did look kind of peaceful – a familiar place. But no, I want the adventure of the stormy seas I thought to myself. But do I?
Then I saw the bridge. Is it that I can walk between both scenarios throughout my whole life and that is just the way life is? Or could it be that it just might be my choices that would determine where I am in any certain moment?
Conclusion for me. I realized that both places would cause me to look to God for my strength, my help, my hope, my protection and my shelter. Whether it be on a stormy sea or in the wilderness, I can also count on God to be there for me! How about you?
Isaiah 43:19 “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.” NIV
Encouraging Others
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Isaiah 55:12-13
“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the LORD’s renown, for an everlasting sign, which will not be destroyed.” NIV
NOW WHAT’S THAT GOT TO DO WITH BAMBI?
I’ve always been drawn to the joyful bunny and character Thumper who first appeared in the film Bambi. .I watched that movie a LONG time ago but now with the remake coming out soon, I found myself flooded with joy.
If you recall, Thumper was really authentic and young when he remarked that Bambi was “kinda wobbly” but is reproved by his mother who made him remember what his father had impressed upon him earlier that morning, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say nothing at all”. Do you have any memories of that growing up – maybe spoken by your parents or those in authority at school?
Thumper befriended this little fawn and took it upon himself to teach Bambi various tricks, notably that of speech. He succeeded in teaching Bambi a few words, notably “bird” and “flower” which Bambi accidentally used to name a young skunk. Thumper tried to correct Bambi but the skunk said, “That’s alright. He can call me Flower if he wants to. I don’t mind”.
The three animals traveled on their journey and became wonderful friends. I love that! A fawn, a skunk, and a rabbit; unlikely in forest land but truly a connection made because of life experiences. My heart was touched by various life lessons that I learned such as friendship in good or bad circumstances, patience, believing in others, and just having fun!
My favorite part is when Thumper tries to teach Bambi how to skate on the ice but Bambi is “wobbly” once again. He declares as he confidently jumps and slides onto the ice “look what I can do”. Wow, what a friend. What encouragement!!
Is there someone in your life that you can help? I am sure there is. We all want to be encouraged, believed in and live a life of joy. We need each other. Friends are a gift – they help us know what love is. Along the way, we too can have fun and enjoy the journey!!
“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” NIV (Ephesians 4:32)
Promises of Hope
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As I have watched the news around the revolution in Egypt, my heart was touched by a woman named Mary Thornberry. This beautiful, 76 year old mother had lived by herself in Egypt for approximately 15 years studying the Egyptian culture. She had spent more than a week keeping intruders out of her Cairo apartment as violent protests happened outside.
Unfortunately, because of the riots in the square, no one could even get close to her to rescue her. However, the word of her predicament became known to the media and the US Embassy. Mary reported to the world that her only personal weapons were a rolling pin, hot water, and a knife.
On February 5, 2011 the news reported that Mary had been rescued by four people and taken to an unknown location. She had managed to flee Egypt after a stranger helped her get to the airport. She then caught a flight to Athens and by Sunday she was on another jet that landed in New York, according to the The Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
What touched me about the story was that Mary cried out for help while at the same time she seemed to be at peace. It appeared to me that she was confident that the weapons would be enough even though the world might of thought they were insignificant and worthless. BUT God heard her cries and He rescued her.
I was reminded that He will give me and you what we need in the time of warfare. Ultimately HE is our rescuer, our safe place, our refuge, our protector and the One to give us hope! “The Battle is the Lord’s”. Way to go Mary – you are my hero!
With regard to Israel, this is the promise of hope I believe the Lord spoke to my heart:
Hosea 2:14-15 “I will allure her (Israel) and bring her into the wilderness and I will speak tenderly and to her heart. There I will give her viineyards and make the Valley of Achor (troubling) to be for her a door of hope and expectation. And she shall sing there and respond as in the days of her youth and as at the time when she came up out of the land of Egypt.” NLT
Enough Already
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“The more pressure matter is able to withstand, the more valuable it becomes. It’s the same with people.” Dr. Edwin Louis Cole, “Real Man”
Enough already! That’s all I can handle……I understand that feeling – been there, done that. The truth is that for the majority of my life, I have been under tremendous pressure. Pressure to perform, pressure to be successful, pressure to financially keep the wolves away, pressure to be everything to everyone, pressure to stay alive. There were some pressures I definitely put on myself and other pressures came from the outside world. Have I believed lies? Absolutely. Am I where I used to be? No way!
I could go on and on about all the pressures in my life but honestly, I am grateful for them. When I sit and reflect over my life, I know today that everything I have been through – good, bad, ugly – has been a process to turn a piece of coal into a diamond. A jewel that shines, glitters and reflects God’s glory. In the most darkest times of my life, it was difficult to see if any good could come out of it. But today, I know that God has, is, and will continue to mold and shape me into His image.
So if you are willing, take a moment to reflect about the worst and the best times in your life. I am sure you will see all the different facets that have created you to be the person you are. Remember. not all jewels are cut the same and not all jewels reflect the light in the same way. You are uniquely designed! One of great value. Pressure? No doubt.
2 Corinthians 4:8-11
“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.” NIV
Mountaintops
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Initially, climbing to the top of a mountain can be overwhelming. At times, you can think “it’s not worth it, it’s too hard, there is no way I can make it and survive”. I totally understand. I’ve been there many times in my life. Some of the lies I believed in the past have included, “I am not equipped or trained for that, what if I start to climb and fall, will my team really be there when I need them?”
As I pondered this picture, immediately I saw the skiis. If you have ever skiied, you know that it can be so much fun and exhilerating. The views from the top of the mountains, the anticipation of what the journey will look like, and the terrain of the trails can cause your heart to pump with joy. Notwithstanding, the speed and feeling the cool fresh air blowing in your face.
As I reflect and focus on the joy and not the pain of climbing mountains in my life, I know in my heart that everything will be “worth it”. I want to grow in faith and enjoy the journey rather than focus on the destiination or the struggle.
Let the lyrics of the song, Climb Every Mountain, from the movie “Sound of Music” encourage you.
“Climb every mountain, search high and low, follow every highway, every path you know.
Climb every mountain, ford every stream, follow every rainbow, ‘Till you find your dream.
A dream that will need all the love you can give, every day of your life for as long as you live.
Climb every mountain, search high and low, follow every highway, every path you know.”
Passion for Truth
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IT IS FINISHED!
I recently attended a conference where the speaker, Todd White, was talking about the Cross and all that it means in one’s life. To know the depth and width of God’s love and what He accomplished through the Cross. Yes, we’ve all heard, “I was bought with a price”. But this weekend, I really got it in my spirit. There were so many wonderful gems that Todd imparted. One of them was: “the second we said I do, He said I AM”. Wow!
My heart was comforted to really know that He is the great I AM. All that I will ever need. My identity is in Him and I must see myself through His glory, His eyes. I don’t need to entertain the enemy with doubt or unbelief when I look in the mirror or look at my circumstances. It is finished. It doesn’t have any power over me. All that comes against me is to kill, steal and destroy but He came so that I can have life! In every area of my life!!
As the night came to an end, we all stood up and declared, “It is finished”! Over and over I declared that as truth. The more I said it, the louder I got, the more my spirit agreed. I knew that old mindsets were being demolished. Old beliefs about my circumstances and relationships were falling down to the truth of the Cross.
If you are struggling today about your identity, purpose or destiny, ask God to show you who He is and let Him pour out His love for you in a fresh new way. He really wants you to know that IT IS FINISHED!!!
Thunder of God
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Let the voice of God thunder in me.
Lord, your Spirit flows and disperses your glory wherever you want it to. All creation is standing in awe and waiting for your next powerful wind. All I want God, is you. All I want is more of your thunder and raw power. It doesn’t have to be in the ways I expect but in the ways that you touch your people. Let me see and hear your voice.
Your peace, your mercy…Jesus I adore you. There is no one like you. You are everything to me. You heal me and set me free. Your love is better than life. Let the praises of the Lord be in my mouth so that I can rise like an eagle.
Lord you are good, kind and faithful all the time. Your lovingkindness never fails me. Lord you are beautiful! You captivate my heart. I can’t imagine my life without you.
Psalm 77:18-20
“Your thunder was heard in the whirlwind, your lightning lit up the world; the earth trembled and quaked.
Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were not seen.
You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron.” NIV
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