#5 ~ REST
Sometimes…
Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is…
sleep
PROMISE #5 ~ He will give you rest.
Matthew 11:28
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
The truth (it will set you free) (#4)
#4 ~ FREEDOM
How hard is it to speak the truth?
The truth as we know it and believe it?
The most difficult place to tell the truth… the place of our own birth. The most uncomfortable home for truth, the Truth given by Him, is the home of our own flesh and blood.
I used to be one of those who believed, on the periphery… the outskirts. I believed quietly in the capsule of my mind. I did not feel the need, understand the need, actually… believe the need to share this belief with anyone else.
it’s a private, personal thing
belief
Personal, that it is. Private, there are times for that. Passing the belief on… well, it’s not only important… it’s the most important. When I finally, completely, believed… that’s when my sleep walking eyes opened to this most important need of all.
Speak the Truth.
In love.
Sharing what I learn about our Savior is probably the most uncomfortable experience in my life. It does not come naturally to me… I was not raised in this vocal faith.
A dear sister, under attack…
I just spoke the Truth
We can expect such attacks… His beauty is not always welcomed with open arms in this place. As He does, He whispered to me a word for her…
If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you (1 Peter 4:14)
The conversation made me think… about truth. About speaking the Truth. No matter the places it brings us in our earthly skin.
Why are we afraid to share the Truth? Why do I hesitate to share what my newly born eyes have seen? It does, after all, sound just a little bit, well, nuts. To someone whose eyes remain covered. This, not a judgement, but a recollection of my own blind eyes.
Truth.
Why don’t we share it?
- Someone will not like me… the Truth… or both
- I will be cast out (of a crowd that has been so comfortable)
- I will look like a fool
- They will not believe it anyway, so what’s the point?
- I will be vulnerable to self-doubts, and worse… God-doubts
The thoughts that sweep through my mind… when I just want to sweep them away (and not just under a rug for re-surfacing tomorrow)
My questions, my reasons, beg for answers.
Reasons to tell the Truth:
- There will always be someone who doesn’t like me… the Truth… or both. There will others who do… and there will always be One who loves.
- When I am cast out of one place… I am cast into another. Just the place He wants me to be.
- I may look like a fool here. To be a fool for Him… is the only kind of fool to be.
- They may not believe… yet. It’s God’s job to change the heart. It’s our job to speak His truth.
- …Stop doubting and believe (John 20:27). Enough said.
What is God’s promise?
PROMISE #4 ~ He will set you free.
John 8:31-32
To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
When there are no words (#3)
#3 ~ TRUST
Sometimes there are no words.
Sometimes the words just will not paint the portrait I see in my mind’s eye.
I am at a loss. Nothing can frame the thoughts… answer the question… calm the soul.
The current pulls hungrily at my ankles… prying me from the Rock.
I close my eyes…
the whisper…
shhh
trust
No words.
Then, His words…
when you are on your beds, search your hearts and be silent. Offer right sacrifices and trust in the Lord.
(Psalm 4:4-5)
Trust.
T ell Him all of it. All. Of. It. (even if the words won’t form out loud)
R each for His hands (know he will take yours)
U sher the doubt to the door (then, slam it… and lock it)
S eek His will ~ not yours (note to self: fit your will into His, not vice versa)
T ake the straight path ~ He has promised it
PROMISE #3 ~ Trust God.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Billboards and Bumper Stickers (#2)
#2 ~ PROVISION
12 hours.
1 truck.
6 kids.
2 parents.
2nd time.
1 week.
Road trip.
0 patience
1 definition of insanity.
I need some of God’s promises…
The truth… the kids did great, after much anticipation and recollection of past (painful) road trips. The kids did great. God is good.
My warrior and I had plenty of time to catch up on thoughts, laughs, concerns, memories… all of this between passing bottles, crackers, sippy cups, sandwiches, cookies, movies, reprimands, praises, scowls, smiles… to the back of the red bullet flying down the highway. (I really want to develop a pulley system… back and forth, back and forth).
During the peaceful times (thanks to Pixar), warrior husband and I were able to catch up… on all things related to worry. You know, the things of finance, war, peace, future, and on and on…
Not long into our journey back home, we were both plagued by dormant frustrations that had reared their ugly heads.
I think He uses this to test our response.
To see if we are learning… moving forward… toward Him.
My warrior nodded in agreement.
Silently we pondered, while the rain began to drizzle from the southern skies, wheels spinning, headphone adorned children mesmerized. Quiet. Peace in our hearts… missing.
My thoughts called to Him.
I want to trust You.
I want to know You are here. That You will provide for us.
I know You have time and again. I am sorry I keep asking. I want to trust You more.
My husband has this thing with God. His many commutes back and forth to and from work… he sees God speak to Him…
on billboards and bumper stickers
You know, He speaks to us any way we will hear Him. He knows where we are… heart, mind, body… every moment.
For my warrior… it’s
on billboards and bumper stickers
I don’t know why it amazes me every time… every. single. time. I am blown away. His presence. His faithfulness. His wooing. His reassurance. With Him… trust is rightfully placed.
Don’t you know… 5 minutes into this journey northbound with our six pack… He made it perfectly clear. Not once. Not twice.
At least six times. I lost count.
Just minutes after my thoughts stirred, my heart stirred… wanting so badly to battle the worries of this world…
I looked up.
Need Directions? … God
Not a small sign. On a tractor-trailer!
Then,
<><
Proverbs 3:5
(Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding)
On the same big rig.
My warrior and I grinned at each other.
5 minutes later… just a few miles down the road…
A red car sped past us… a bumper sticker…
Need directions? Ask God.
Are You kidding me? We both laughed. Ok, ok, we get it…
If there was any doubt, He was going to squelch it.
A few more miles down the road… a billboard… no, two billboards stacked upon each other…
Jesus. I trust You!
Really? We are that dense?
He knows we need Him that much. He loves so much that He relentlessly pursues us, reassures us.
But, He was not finished yet. Yet a few more miles and one more state line behind us… a sign, barely visible on a tree… on the side of the interstate…
No matter what,
Trust God.
We could barely make eye contact with each other. We, waited… for the next one…
And another. A billboard…
God loves you
Still, not enough… a family truck passed us by… a license plate
8 4Jesus
Just like us. Our road trip with 8… our journey with our six pack. All of us… for Jesus.
Just as I am pondering God’s promises. Just as my trust flickers, sparks, trembles in the wind. Just then… He, full of grace and love… He reminds me to trust. He will provide. Every time. All the time. Without fail. A promise. Never broken.
PROMISE #2 ~ God will provide.
Matthew 6:31-34
So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
31 days of God’s promises (#1)
#1 ~ PEACE
Have you ever made a promise?
Have you ever broken a promise?
Have you ever wished you had kept your promise?
Have you ever wondered why you made that promise?
Have you ever met anyone who keeps all promises?
Same here.
I have heard the words…
God’s promises
… too many times to count.
I know a few of them. My kids ask me what they are. I don’t have the answer. I want to know the answer.
I know God has made many promises to us.
I know God never breaks a promise.
I know God will always keep His promises.
I don’t know what they are.
I want to know. My little ones want to know.
I am going to spend the next 31 days looking for them…
PROMISE #1 ~ God promises peace to his people. (a comfort to this warrior’s wife)
Psalm 85:7-9
Show us your unfailing love, Lord, and grant us your salvation. I will listen to what God the Lord says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants—but let them not turn to folly. Surely his salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land.
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