Faith Archives - Page 19 of 28

October 8, 2012 by Karin 2 Comments

The river flows (#8)

PROMISE #8 ~ HIS PRESENCE

I am cruising along, feeling really good about the journey that I am on…

Floating down the stream… fingertips savoring this water of life.

I’m on fire, moving forward, scooping handfuls of wisdom…

It feels great.

Then…

This ripple in the water… a corner of the heart hardening… discontent, unforgiveness… just plain stubbornness.

A screeching halt. He won’t let the current move one bit farther… not one more ounce of wisdom, of peace… not one more inch of forward motion…

until I get it right

Getting it right… it really means giving it up. Giving it up to God.

This, a continuous lesson for me. Again and again learning to release. I can’t stay right with Him, until I stay right with His.

The further I get in this river of life, the more clear it becomes to me… this place of getting it right and giving it to Him ~ is for my sake.

He knows the depths of these hearts he has created for us more that we know them ourselves. He knows what heals them, soothes them, makes them whole again.

In the moment I feel most confused, as though the stream is flowing backwards… In the moment I feel most lost, this is the moment He reminds me…

He will never leave me

He will never forsake me

(Photo credit: the beautiful Cindy McGuire)

He will smooth the waters, turn the tides, and bring the river to a soothing flow ~ right back into His will…

into His arms.

PROMISE #8 ~ God will never leave nor forsake us.

Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

October 7, 2012 by Karin Leave a Comment

I call you friend (#7)

PROMISE #7 ~ FRIENDSHIP

I love Saturdays.

The house gets messy (er) ~ (I do not know why this is the case on the weekend?)…

The kids play outside, watch too much TV, leave food all over the place…

My warrior is home (usually… unless works beckons)…

Sounds of weed-eaters, lawnmowers, laughter (intermingled with whines and shrieks) fill the air…

Chores are left undone, beds unmade, dishes unwashed, make-up unapplied, hair un-fixed, to-do’s ~ just plain ignored.

I love Saturdays.

The gift of a Saturday…

friendship

A day of gathering ~ between kid’s sports, hair appointments, and shopping (which is way better online, anyway).

gathering of friends

knowing there is one more day until Monday. One more day to… be still.

So, what is God’s promise on this Saturday? Friendship.

Share this journey… walk the walk… embrace the gifts from Him ~ together.

The greatest gift in this promise?

His Friendship

PROMISE #7 ~ God gives us His friendship.

John 15:15

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

October 6, 2012 by Karin 2 Comments

Making room for the Light

PROMISE #6 ~ LIGHT

Do you ever feel overcome? Just plain overwhelmed with all the duties, details, and demands of your life?

I do.

I feel like that today, and yesterday… and maybe tomorrow.

My mind is so cluttered with the pinball thoughts that run amuck… that I can not seem to focus on one piece… one person… at. a. time.

Frustrating.

I try to catch up in one area, only to find myself lagging behind in another lane.

Aggravating.

I start to chastise myself for not being able to do it better, quicker, more efficiently, more gracefully.

Defeating.

I feel like I am losing control. Ah, the control thing again. Again.

when will I learn?

This time… today… I decide to approach my death-grip on control in a new light. His light.

please take this from me. I am at it again. I know.

Self denial. I want to remove the distractions today that cloud the words He has for me. The light from Him can only shine in the places I have cleared for Him to enter. His light and direction like a piercing flashlight through the dark, jumbled maze of my mind. The beams of light pointing a new direction.

This self-denial a permission from me to Him… deny self ~ allow God.

I think I must drive You crazy…

These times when my mind gets cluttered with the burdens of this world, the busyness of motherhood, the beastly selfishness of my natural wants… these times

I long for His light

I long for the light… all the time, but… I snuff out the light and plod along in darkness and wonder where the exit sign is. Then, the Light. His radiant glow… His brilliant beauty… shows up. In a friend. In a phone call. In a knock at the door.

Over and over He reaches and pulls me back… into the light. He answers the pleading call from a worn out sinner. Every. Time.

Our sinful nature He does not hold against us. His open hands, His redemption… His light… He gives again and again. It is ours to accept the invitation out of the darkness…

into His light.

PROMISE #6 ~ God will give us light.

2 Corinthians 4:6

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

October 5, 2012 by Karin Leave a Comment

Just rest…

#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.

October 4, 2012 by Karin Leave a Comment

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.”

The river flows (#8)

I call you friend (#7)

Making room for the Light

Just rest…

The truth (it will set you free) (#4)

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