Guidance

What Are We “Singing?”

I had punched out for my lunch break, and was walking across the parking lot when something caught my attention on the sidewalk. A lady had in her earbuds and singing loudly and proudly to the song she alone could hear.  Yet, the guy walking with her, who did not have any earbuds, was singing her song.

Each one of us influences those around us. Whatever we are listening to, we will “sing,” and those around us will be influenced by our song. There are many people in this world, in your families, and even in our churches who are not hearing directly from God Himself; but they ARE hearing His voice indirectly from others who are plugged in and tuned in to God’s channel.

What are we “singing?” What will others hear?

Think about that. I want to be a conduit for others to connect with what God is downloading into me, until they can learn to hear from God themselves.

Just like this man began singing a song that he was hearing second hand, he still sang it loud and proud right along side her even though SHE was the source of music for him. Sometimes, WE are the only God source that people will ever hear.

This is a great reminder to stay tuned into The Source of Life so that we are “singing” Godly influences over those around us.

In other words,  “Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ” I Corinthians 11:1.

Now What?

Sometimes, we think we’ve arrived! We’ve reached the summit, and think that’s it! I’ve made it. Maybe we have a spiritual “rags to riches” story, and that makes us feel that we’ve gone as far as we can go with God. Having come so far can often make one feel they can go no further. So the question begs, now what?

Just as there are depths of the Ocean that man has not explored, there are spiritual depths in which man has yet to go. God CAN and WILL take us deeper. Trust Him to take you into the deep waters, and soak in new depths of things that only god can reveal. The more you seek Him, the more you find Him.

Click this link Into The Deep and learn more about going deeper

It’s Okay To Make a Sandwich

Eat God's Word Bible highlighted

Who ever said the only acceptable way to consume God’s Word is actually opening the hard copy of the printed Bible? No one did, that’s who. But God does want us to get a daily dose of His Word. Reading scripture is food to our soul! Our physical bodies need to consume food daily or we grow weak, and we could even starve to death. As important as food is to our physical existence, it’s equally important to our spiritual existence. I don’t always have time to sit at a gourmet restaurant; sometimes I make a sandwich. What’s important is that I get food regularly!!

Don’t misunderstand me. I love to sit down with the printed Bible and really take my time to read and study it. It’s my personal preference: always has been.  I feel so alive afterwards and uplifted. But guess what, I don’t always have time for that.  I am hesitant to admit that I went through a period of time when I actually felt guilty if I didn’t have the time….I actually felt like I was failing in my duty to read God’s Word…like I was a big  ‘let down’, a failure, a hypocrite.  But guess what? God never did feel that way about me.

No sir, God relieved me of that burden one day with this simple statement, “it doesn’t matter where you read The Word, as long as you read The Word.” In other words, it doesn’t have to be the published and printed hard copy. I can soak in God’s Word by listening to scripture readings on CD or the radio. I can read my daily scripture sent to my iPhone. I can read a few scriptures in an email devotion. I can even read my own handwritten scriptures on a chalk board in my home.

Printed, digital, audio or handwritten…..it doesn’t matter as long as we are consuming God’s Word!!!

In this age of advanced technology, we are without excuse. God’s Word is so easily and readily available to us at the touch of our fingertips or at the command of our voice.  So when you don’t have time to sit in a restaurant, it’s okay to make a sandwich.

P.S. Reading God’s Word is a great way to Worship Him

Hearts Like Flowers

I love plants! I’ve learned that each plant must have specific needs met in order to flourish. One of those needs is the proper sunlight. This means I can’t just place it any old place inside my home. I’ve also noted that no matter what, the plants will always bend toward the sun…leaning in toward its vibrant light.

Isn’t this a good picture of how WE should be with The Son? Leaning in toward His vibrant light…soaking in those life giving rays!! Lately, I feel God’s prompting to simply BE in His Presence…..to sit at His feet and SOAK Him in. Isn’t this what the flowers do? And what happens as a result of flowers staying in the presence of the sun is the unveiling of great beauty….the sprouting of new growth…..and later the prompting of a new seed for a new season.

Recently we sang a remake of an old song written in 1907 by Henry Van Dyke, “Joyful Joyful We Adore Thee.” I’ve heard this song and played it on my piano many times, but on this particular Sunday my Spirit translated the lyrics like this:

Hearts unfold like flowers before You Oh God….Opening to The Son

During that worship service I could imagine how beautiful it must be to God…. to see every member of the congregation as a flower, opening before the Glory of the Son of God in complete worship…..completely reliant upon Him in every way. Sitting at the feet of Jesus!  In doing so….we have life! We live, blossom and flourish!

During the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, let’s don’t get so busy that we forget to be like the flowers before Him. Be Still in His Presence, and soak in The Son!!!

 

When The Time Is Right

Isaiah 60

The Holy Spirit knows just WHAT we need; WHEN we need it; and HOW to supply it. On top of that, He knows just how to comfort us. Lately, I’ve been comforted by this scripture.

I trust that God’s ways and thoughts are higher than mine…..therefore, I know that some things in my life will be beyond my understanding, yet I will trust Him.  I know that He has good plans for me and my family…..therefore I can expect God’s favor to make that happen.  I know that the Creator of all I see, can create solutions in my life where I see none. I know that I can’t always trust in my limited reasonings and rationale, so I put my trust in an All  Knowing and All Powerful God.

But sometimes, waiting for my circumstance to change is hard.  I want it now!! Waiting for that break-through can be hard. I want it now!! Waiting for God’s timing can be hard. I want it now!!

I recently was reading thumbing through a notebook where I’d shoved various scraps of paper. At date was written on an old bank envelope: 2012.  The date took me back in time, to a place where I’d seen God grant me “desires” I had longed for….for over 10 years. Yet in 2012 I found myself struggling  because I had “needs” that were not being met.  But God didn’t get mad at me, He spoke a gentle yet firm reminder of His power and love to me. So I grabbed what was handy and wrote down what the Holy Spirit was telling me:

“If I can grant the desires of your heart, I will certainly meet your needs.”

Oh is it so wonderful to know that our God will not only meet your needs, but will grant the desires of your heart. BUT, we must wait on the timing of the Lord.

So encourage yourself in the Lord. Fill in the blank with the thing you have been waiting for…..the need…..the change…..the dream……the breakthrough…… the miracle…. and quote Isaiah 60:22.

When the time is right for _________________________, I, The Lord,  will make it happen.

DON’T GIVE UP!!! God has not forgotten you!!
DON’T GIVE UP!!! God is working on your behalf!!
DON’T GIVE UP!!! The Creator is still creating for you!!
DON’T GIVE UP ON GOD’S TIMING!!! Wait on the Lord and be of good courage!

It’s Time To Grow Up

“When I was a child, I spoke like a child, thought like a child, and reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up my childish ways.” I Corinthians 13:11

If you work with children in any occupation, more than likely you’ve been taught about child development. It’s important that everyone recognizes the various stages of growth, and what each child should accomplish by a certain age. These achievements are called milestones. It’s how we measure growth.

For example, we all expect our baby to roll over on his or her own by four months of age; to sit up by six months of age; and to walk by twelve months. If a twelve month old can’t even roll over by four months, it’s a red flag that development could be delayed. Why is it important to note growth and development?

In other words, what’s the big deal if an infant doesn’t learn a particular milestone? The big deal is that this lack of growth could affect this child’s entire life: from how they think, speak and move. Not growing and maturing is a big deal!!

It’s important to note growth so that you can address any delays; to intervene in an effort to help this child become a successful independent adult.

Paul was doing this very thing in chapters 5 and 6 of Hebrews. To sum it all up in a nut shell he says, it’s time for you to grow up! It time to move to another level! It’s time to proceed to advanced teaching. (Hebrews 6: 1-3)

Raising your newborn baby is a wonderful experience: the joy and excitement is priceless. But you don’t want your baby to stay a baby forever! How do I know this? Because we teach them to eat with a spoon, to say please and thank you, to read and write, to ride without training wheels and to make good decisions. We teach them to grow, mature and advance. WHY? Because we are equipping them for life! We don’t want our children to become helpless adults.

Not growing and maturing spiritually can affect us the rest of our lives. Our Heavenly Father doesn’t want us to stay baby Christians forever; He doesn’t want us to be helpless; He wants us to advance!  God wants to equip us for success, so we can live a good and abundant life! He wants the very best for each one of us.

HEAR THIS: God wants to take you to another level!! The Holy Spirit will teach you all that you need to know (John 14:26). All you have to do is ask, read His Word and talk to God. Like any good parent, He will guide you gently at your own pace. In other words, it’s time to grow up.

He loves you and wants to see you prosper beyond your wildest dreams.

Into The Deep

At eight months old, my daughter didn’t know how to swim, much less hold her breath. Yet my husband would confidently carry her in his arms into the deep water of the ocean. This girl- who was still eating sea shells and sand, was fearlessly and joyously caught in the rapture of the moment. Why wasn’t she afraid? She was with her father.

WE can go into the deep with God. No more hesitation. No more excuses: you don’t have to be a Bible scholar…..you don’t have to be saved for a certain amount of time….you don’t have to know church etiquette…..and you don’t have to have your ducks in a row before venturing into the deep!  Let’ get caught up in the joyous and fearless wonder of Jesus Christ!! Don’t be afraid. You are with your Heavenly Father!

Take a moment in the Presence of God right now.  Click this link and let the words of this worshipful song become a prayer! Boldly go into the deep!!!

“Into The Deep” by Citipointe Live

Deep

VERSE
When my hands stretch out towards the sky
You never let me run dry
When I dive in-to the depths of You
My heart is made anew… Jesus in You

CHORUS
Your love is a flood and I’m
Caught in the current of Your living waters
It’s Your love… it’s Your love

Your Presence is a flood
And I’m caught in the wonder
You have taken me over
You have won… my heart

BRIDGE
Into the deep I will go with You
Sub-merge my feet… to my head in all of You
As your Presence falls
I am drowned in Your love
Immerse me….. immerse me

A Changed Mind….An Unchanged Circumstance

Peace iv

While many may not admit it, Christians often struggle with doubt, anxiety, tormenting thoughts, fear, and the like. All of which will promptly steel your peace and be long gone before you even realize it. The thief in the night, you might say. I’ve been there recently. And this is the comforting word the Holy Spirit gave me:

My circumstances do not have to change in order for me to experience God’s freedom from tormenting thoughts. I can have God’s peace in the midst of a stressed filled situation!
His grace is enough!

Your circumstance may not change, but your mind can!!!! Keep your thoughts fixed on God, and He is sure to keep His promise of peace!

 

 

Here & Now

I am farsighted, which means I can see things off in the distance more clearly than things that are near. The closer something is to my face, the more blurry it becomes. I need glasses to clear things up. This is how many of us live life: we can see our distant future so clearly, but we need spiritual glasses to help clear some things up.

It’s good to think ahead; to set future goals; to have forward thinking. But sometimes that means we gloss over the ‘here and now.’ We could even find ourselves dissatisfied with the ‘now’ life, in great anticipation of the better ‘future’ life.

God wants us to enjoy every step of our journey even if it isn’t fully what we’ve dreamed for ourselves, our family or our ministry. Let’s face, every moment isn’t going to be peaches and cream, Yes, it’s good to be organized and plan, but we shouldn’t be so preoccupied with future planning that we miss out on the beautiful ‘now’ moments.

Let me be clear, I believe in setting goals, and planning for our futures. But there’s something called balance. We aren’t supposed to chase down our future, we are supposed to chase God.  Mathew 6:33-34 “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.” 

In and of ourselves we are powerless to plan and fulfill the ultimate future for ourselves. We need God’s guidance and direction. He has the plans, and He holds the future. Psalms 31:15 tells us that our “times” are in His hands. God is in control of how and when our future manifests itself. Until then, He wants us to enjoy living in the now.

God will speak to us at every step of our journey: not just in our future. He’s speaking to you now about now things AND future things! He doesn’t just give us joy and contentment for our future: He gives it now! Paul says he learned to live a contented life regardless of his circumstances. This means Paul had a ‘now’ contentment. He did not live in the world of ‘what if….’ or ‘one day…..’ Paul’s contentment was not rooted in his circumstances or life accomplishments: it was rooted in God.

Let’s not miss vital ‘now’ moments and opportunities by racing through life at break neck speeds. God wants you to enjoy your life now AND in the future.

 

When You Are Unsettled, Pay Attention

Don’t settle for something that doesn’t settle in your Spirit. Let God’s peace be the deciding factor.

“And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].” Colossians 3:15

Pay attention to that nagging unsettled feeling you may get from time to time. We’ve all been there, and it doesn’t feel good at all. Pray and ask God to reveal to you just what is stealing your peace. The Holy Spirit will show you.

Jesus said, “ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

The boiled down version is this, God never intended for us to be unsettled, worried, anxious and undecided. The solution, He GAVE us peace. So pay attention when you get that unsettled feeling, and go to the Lord in prayer. He is faithful to us, and will reveal the source of what threatens to steal our peace. God has good plans for us, and does not want us to settle for less than His best. So let peace be your guide! Guard it! Trust this spiritual instinct, because God has given it to you for a purpose.