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How Will You Remember Today?

6/7/2019

The Israelites set up piles of stones as memorials of what God had done/what they had seen. Join me in intentionally looking for the stone (of what God has done or shown you) to be added to your cairn today.
As I looked for the photo I was reminded of the Jewish tradition of leaving a pebble or stone on top of a tombstone signifying that someone has honored the deceased person's memory with a visit to the grave.
As God reminds us of His faithfulness and we build our cairn (our permanent memorial of His goodness) may we honor God with the memory of our deceased Old Man/Old Nature/Adam Nature and praise and glorify Him for the new creation and new live He has given us at great cost.
My first little stone is based on seeing two racoons at the backyard bird feeders before dawn this morning. God's nature is amazing. It reminds me of His creativity, His love for life and the fact that He daily provides for the needs of each 'critter'. How much more does He cares for us today. May we be encouraged today to play on the high places with His hind's feet.....(pebble added to the cairn....looking at it's loveliness....remembering Him who made this possible....wow!)

Hear Your Song

6/5/2019

You are not being a hypocrite when you believe every good thing that God says about you even when you behavior does not match it. You have God's DNA within you - goodness, kindness, gentleness, patience joy, peace, self-control and LOVE. They ARE within you. They ARE the substance of your being.

The best way to grow into the fullness of your identity is not to beat yourself (or someone else) up over behavior which defies identity. Remember, behavior is a fruit, not a root. Your root is good. You have Daddy DNA in you as you are In Christ and He is in you.

Sometimes behavior change happens instantaneously, but for most of us it takes time to manifest (think baby and walking or baby bird and flying). Beating yourself up, faking it till you make it, or other "doings" does not speed the process. Rather whether from God Himself, or your tribe of people, listen to hear your song sung. Listen to your God and those people who will always believe the best about you; people that remind you Who's you are and that will walk the rocky part of your path with you. You will walk, you will fly (metaphorically speaking) and you will become all that He has created you to become. Abide. Rest. Dive into intimacy with Him and find those safe people who will remind you of your song. Those people are a gift to be cherished and the opportunity to express gratitude towards the Gift Giver.

Perhaps said much more eloquently and more concisely than me...

"When a woman of the Ubuntu African tribe knows she is pregnant, she goes to the jungle with other women, and together they pray and meditate until you get to "The song of the child. "When a child is born, the community gets together and they sing the child's song. When the child begins his education, people get together and he sings his song. When they become an adult, they get together again and sing it. When it comes to your wedding, the person hears his song. Finally, when their soul is going from this world, family and friends are approaching and, like his birth, sing their song to accompany it in the "journey".

"In the Ubuntu tribe, there is another occasion when men sing the song. If at some point the person commits a crime or aberrant social act, they take him to the center of town and the people of the community form a circle around her. Then they sing "your song." The tribe recognizes that the correction for antisocial behavior is not punishment, but is the love and memory of his true identity. When we recognize our own song, we have no desire or need to hurt anyone.

"Your friends know "your song". And sing when you forget it. Those who love you can not be fooled by mistakes you have committed, or dark images you show to others. They remember your beauty as you feel ugly, your total when you're broke, your innocence when you feel guilty and your purpose when you're confused."
Tolba Phanem
African poet

Trust Me...

5/11/2019

He says, “Trust Me. You need to hear this now, before… If you do, the “…” will never even be noted, never named. For you won’t trip or falter or pause. You will walk forward right past that spot.”

Wow! In trust, the pothole is never noted. Our step is ordered by Him and we walk right over it, not breaking stride and giving it no regard. Without trust, we scrutinize everything looking for problems and find them.

No good, no bad, just God.

Selah.

Desire the Plant, Not the Fruit

4/12/2019

The very hardest thing in the Christian life is to be OK with not being “OK”; to trust that you are exactly in the perfect place. To more and more, GET YOUR EYES OFF OF YOURSELF (your behavior, actions, attitudes) and just remind yourself who He is, what He has done and who you are IN HIM.

Practice...it makes perfect: NOT in behavior, but in continual connection with Him. When that happens, when you sit with Him, there is no good or bad, there is just you and Him, abiding and enjoying each other. There, when you aren't even aware and haven't been focusing on it - poof! change happens, growth occurs, and fruit is seen.

Ps 1:3, And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

Both the fruit and leaf are mentioned.

It isn't ALL about bearing Christian 'fruit', but additionally about abiding by the river of His living water which keeps us in a state of readiness to bear fruit - in season and out.

Note that the fruit is seasonal, but the leaves are always present. We are always ready to bear fruit, for there is no season of lifelessness in the Christian who abides.

In your abiding you are perfect, whether or not you are "in fruit". Relax. Rest. Trust His seasons.

It's Not "Which Way," is it?

4/7/2019

Perhaps you are in a place, where you are questioning God concerning a decision you need to make.

The truth is you do have a sense of His leading. That is the problem. It differs from what you think the decision should be. After all, your response seems safer, responsible, wise, prudent and logical.

Walking your road may appear smart, but it carries risk for catastrophe. Now consider His leading. If you step in it, you demonstrate trust and faith in Him, although catastrophe remains possible. Remember, His way are not our ways.

There is a very real truth that until catastrophe happens, you are less willing to trust, and demonstrate faith in Him. When you have nowhere else to turn, you turn to Him. We all do. The challenge is trusting Him when you do have a choice and that choice carries the potential for negative outcomes. We can never know the future - health, finances, relationship, employment - nothing is assured.

Know this...He is there, whichever choice you choose.

God often uses negative circumstances in our lives for good. You can't judge whether or not the decision is correct by the outcome. The outcome can look 'good' and be of God, yet it can equally look 'bad' and be of God.

So, the question becomes - in what choice do you want to experience possible negative circumstances? Additionally, in what state will positive outcomes be most rewarding? When you follow His leading or yours?

I think your decision has just become obvious.

Messages From God

4/1/2019

Us: Lord, hear my prayer. I have “things” going on in my life, “stuff” weighing on my shoulders, “concerns” that preoccupy my mind.

God: I can’t help you in the future, I live in your “now”.

Us: I thought I was supposed to bring my prayers and requests, my troubles and challenges to you.

God: You bring them to me, not to abdicate responsibility and control but to come to the place of trusting me with your “things”, “stuff” and “concerns” and to be unburdened in the now, with Me.

Us: That is what I want to do, but I can’t. The ball is rolling towards me, I have to keep track of it so I can get out of the way if it turns bad. Help, Lord!

God: As long as you are thinking about other things for tomorrow, the next hour, minute or moment you are not present with me. Remember, I live in you and you live in Me.

Us: How do I get there?

God: I’m so glad you asked. You’ll probably remember many of these reminders:
- In returning and rest you shall be saved
- Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord
- The battle is the Lord’s
- God is our refuge and strength
- Be strong and courageous, don’t be afraid, for I am the one who goes with you
- I will not fail or forsake you
- Tribulation will come but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world
- I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand
- Before you call I will hear and while you are still asking I will answer
- Come to me when you are weary and tired and I will give you rest
- You will find perfect peace when your mind is on Me, when we are connected
- Be still and know that I am God
- Come and shelter beneath my wings
- I am your strong tower, your fortress and refuge

Us: Yes, Lord. Thanks for reminding me. My eyes are turning. I’m seeing Your eyes. I see your heart for me…such love! Once again you show me how much You love me and have my best in mind. Yes! Yes! I get it. At this moment, my concerns about tomorrow seem small. Oh, I love my time with you.

God: Yes, I love you. So much! We’ve got this. Why don’t we just rest and talk for a time. Tomorrow will take care of itself, with a little help from Me, and from Our embrace you will remember that with Me you can do anything.

Inside Out

3/16/2019

“God keeps creation both good and new—which means always going somewhere even better or, in a word, evolving. God keeps creating things from the inside out.”
Richard Rohr

There is a birthing, a release of the Christ-life from within us to external manifestation and experience.

It’s the baby learning to crawl or the bird learning to fly. The potential and ability were ALWAYS there but they had to be harnessed and trusted and experienced.

This process of His life, more and more becoming the experience of our life, is like the woman in childbirth. There is expectation (Lord, you say, “be holy as I am holy” – that means it’s possible, probable and will happen, or You say, “I have given you everything you need for life and godliness” and I can’t wait to experience that), there is anticipation (“Lord, I’m hungry to know and share unconditional love, when will it happen?”) and there is manifestation (“Lord, where did that reaction, response, thought or feeling come from – it wasn’t from me?”, or, “Lord, I hate this thing I keep doing” [the fact that you hate what is ‘ungodly’ speaks of the fact that you know it isn’t the real you and that you are in fact, godly]).

We must acknowledge that the outer manifestation of ourselves is not the full truth about us. There is a seed within us, that WILL grow, that WILL produce, 30, 60 or 100-fold.

Living this new life, this Christ-life, evolving into the fullness of who we are requires us to remove duality. We must acknowledge that the carnal person we see is not the truth and fullness of who we are. We must realize that our outer wrapper can be shed, in fact must be shed, in order for the fullness of who we are to be released and experienced.

Too many embrace the outer as the truth of themselves. Too many are thwarted in manifesting and experiencing their perfection (in Him) because they don’t know this truth. They are looking outside of themselves for a solution to their issues.

The eternal answer, however, if found in “Christ-in me”, that lives the hope (1680 elpís (from elpō, "to anticipate, welcome") – properly, EXPECTATION OF WHAT IS SURE (CERTAIN); hope) of glory.
Crustaceans, amphibians and even some mammal find their skin/shell abandoned as they grow, naturally. May we all, children of God, trust Him in the timing of our shedding the old (over and over) and the every expanding revelation and living the new until all that remains is Christ – our life hidden in Him; our sense of who we are apart from Him totally abandoned. It’s an evolution of the inside out, where flesh, ego and self are swallowed up as we trust His timing, and rest as He births from within us the wonder of the Godhead bodily.

Col 2:6-7 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Suffering

3/15/2019

Reviewing a students answer on the Christians and Suffering final. The question, 'Is suffering beneficial or detrimental to the life of a Christian? Explain your answer and give examples.'
A thought came to me, I find myself assessing what my answer to this question is today in my walk and God brings a tidbit to ponder.
We are told by Paul, James and Peter that suffering has value (Rom 5:3-5, Ja 1:2-5 and 1Pe 1:6-8) in a Christians life - God's love poured out in our heart by the Holy Spirit, the fruit of righteousness and our faith being able to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
What IF trials/struggles/difficulties serve to separate the Christian (living His life) from the people that are with the program but not yet of His life - perhaps through no fault of their own. There are Christians that have never really heard about the Spirit filled life. Many heard that it is for those 'charismaniacs' and is not Biblical. Many do not know that they actually ARE a new creation with HIS life living in them, that their life died 2000 years ago on a cross when Christ drew ALL MEN into Himself. Maybe they have been introduced to the Holy Spirit but do not know how to live His life, this life that costs them EVERYTHING.
What if suffering, in part, serves to help these people come to the end of themselves? What if it reveals their place and struggle? NOT for condemnation but for the correction that the Holy Spirit brings that they CAN live this new creation life that is now theirs not in their power, ability or strength but in their simple trusting Him who brought them here to walk them through.
I think those that struggle apart from His life within, when faced with trials may turn from Him. They may see Him as demanding. May find a way to medicate the pain of the reality of their inability. I think some may not hang on in the trial and may turn away. I know that in these times there is opportunity to actually meet the God of the Bible and His ability.
So what if the struggles, the refining fire, the crucible brings some to LIFE as they embrace their self-death in His Life in them and brings others to consider their spirit as dead as they embrace their self-life? What if the purpose of suffering is truly to cost US (me, my flesh, my desires, my expectations and standards) EVERYTHING. It costs every remnant of the flesh, the life that WAS lived so that His new life within is the ONLY life manifest through us?
Am I there yet? No! That is an emphatic 'no'. Yet I am further along at identifying those self-life lies that cause me to protect self and prevent His life from being released. The I cant's I wont's, I don't wanna's, the it's not fair, the why me God voices that derive from my flesh. Yet, am I on the way and do I see the value of suffering in causing this growth to take and flourish? Yes, I do and I believe that is why Jesus said that 'in this world you will have tribulation yet I have overcome the world.' KNOW trials come. KNOW they have value. I think 2 Cor 2:14-16 pictures it well... Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place, for we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death and to the other the aroma of life leading to life."
Lord, as You bring me to the end of myself may I learn to trust Your life within. May I submit to it. May I put off the desires of the flesh and walk only in the newness of life, by Your ability. Teach me Lord, for Your child is listening.

Two Sides of the Faith

3/5/2019

Perhaps you have been here. You attend church. You study the Bible. You listen to teaching, preaching and take copious notes. You read constantly. You purchase and study the latest, most brilliant Christian authors and books and attend every advanced discipleship, marriage, and deeper life conference you can find. Yet your Christian life isn’t working for you. You are stressed, anxious, feel guilt and lack joy.
What if we have had it wrong. If we do-to-be…accepted, holy, righteous and approved we spend our days on a treadmill with a never changing view.
It is when we function from be-to-do, when we know our identify, when we know we are His kids, accepted, loved and cherished by God that we develop a rich life of intimacy with God. When we know Him and know that He loves us and do not have to cower in fear, guilt or shame, we GET TO choose where we place our attention and what we put our focus on.
The outer appearance looks the same, but that is the only similarity. It’s been said before, “Know God, know peace…no God (no true, intimate relational knowledge of God), no peace.”
Masterpiece Biblical Counseling and many others are eager to turn things inside out with you.
(The first paragraph was adapted from a Dan Camp post)

You Always Have A place Here

2/17/2019

Sometimes we need someone to help us on our journey.

Some process externally and need a listening ear.

Some have lost their voice and need a friend encouraging them that the thoughts they hide can be spoken aloud, safely.

Some in grief need someone to check in on them, ask and listen to how they are doing, and confirm that they are taking care of themselves.

Some need to know that they are acceptable, worthy and loved. (Don't we all).

A good counselor will "hold space" with you. To hold space means that "we are willing to walk alongside another person in whatever journey they're on without judging them, making them feel inadequate, trying to fix them, or trying to impact the outcome. When we hold space for other people, we open our hearts, offer unconditional support, and let go of judgement and control." (from The Art of Owning Your Story)

When we hold space for another, we send a message that they matter. We offer them the gift of presence. We invite them - in their time - to allow themselves to be fully known. At some point on their journey, they may invite our input into their circumstance, however, that is truly optional.

Don't be afraid to reach out. There are people holding a "you"-shaped space, desiring to join you on your journey.

There are many resources.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255
National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Child Protective Services (varies by state), Utah 1-855-323-3237
Churches, Synagogues, Mosques
Human Resources at your place of employment

And of course, Masterpiece Biblical Counseling is here to serve your needs.

Author

My heart's desire is to walk with people until they believe every good thing that God says about them. This happens as they are introduced to intimate relationship with the lover of their soul.

I love living in Utah with my husband and know a Broadway song appropriate for every occasion in life. I typically get jokes two minutes after they are told.

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