Leaha's Pen

Fighting with my Flesh

2012-02-27T10:04:00.000-05:00

I've figured out how to fight with my flesh well enough to win most times. But there are moments when my flesh does not fight fair. So I embrace my humanity by confessing quietly, knowing that a little bit of anonymity goes a long way. Because sometimes I fail to live up to the standards the rest of us seem compelled to create, when the only standard I really need to live up to is that of a Holy God.

"So think clearly and exercise self-control. Look forward to the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world. So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then. But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:13-16

I Confess

2012-02-25T09:57:00.000-05:00

My surrender sings sweetly to the heart of my Savior. But how many times do I say, "Here I am Lord, send me!" when I only mean it with half my heart. So I confess to you that I have unclean lips when my mouth says one thing but my heart says another. And in your mercy, you soften my heart until it sings.

Inspired by Isaiah 6:1-8~
It was in the year King Uzziah died that I saw the Lord. He was sitting on a lofty throne, and the train of his robe filled the Temple. Attending him were mighty seraphim, each having six wings. With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they flew. They were calling out to each other,

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of Heaven’s Armies!
The whole earth is filled with his glory!”

Their voices shook the Temple to its foundations, and the entire building was filled with smoke.

Then I said, “It’s all over! I am doomed, for I am a sinful man. I have filthy lips, and I live among a people with filthy lips. Yet I have seen the King, the LORD of Heaven’s Armies.”

Then one of the seraphim flew to me with a burning coal he had taken from the altar with a pair of tongs. He touched my lips with it and said, “See, this coal has touched your lips. Now your guilt is removed, and your sins are forgiven.”

Then I heard the Lord asking, “Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?”

I said, “Here I am. Send me.”

Perseverance

2012-02-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

The years roll by, bringing times when faith feels fragile, especially when my flesh feels weak. So my sin leaves me looking less than becoming until your grace makes me look pretty in perseverance. And as the years roll by, there is one thing I continue to learn; I may not necessarily mature with age, but I most certainly mature with Christ.

"We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed."
-2 Corinthians 4:8-9

My Fickle Heart

2012-02-23T09:02:00.000-05:00

With one breath, I hold my resume in my hand and flash a prayer toward heaven. Then with the next breath, I flip-flop, holding a prayer in my hand while flashing my resume toward heaven. I'm not sure which is worse or which is better. But if there is truth in the statement, "it is more important to seek the giver than the gifts," then I don't know where my fickle heart falls. So I reach for my pen to scribble a few more notes about what I think I can do for God, until he gently reminds me that I can search my heart for anything I have to offer, or I can search his. And when I finally do, I find more than I could have ever dreamed.

What about you? Are you trying to build your resume to do great things for God? If so, pray about checking in with him first.

"For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."
-Ephesians 2:10

Created

2012-02-22T23:11:00.001-05:00

We live in layers. And those layers are a testimony to the complexity of our Creator. We did not just accidentally evolve. We have been hand crafted, knit together, designed with a purpose.

"For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be."
-Psalm 139:13-16

Free

2012-02-21T10:53:00.002-05:00

Brick by brick I built a wall around my heart. But instead of feeling more guarded, I only felt more alone. I was trapped until you came along. Brick by brick you tore that wall down only to build a bridge instead.

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." -John 8:36

Walking in the Spirit

2012-02-20T11:37:00.001-05:00

We were not made for a cookie cutter Christianity. We were made to walk in the Spirit. So when we start to play the comparison game, we are left with a recipe for disaster. Which walk of faith will you take today? The one God intends for you or the one he intends for your neighbor?

"Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."
-Galatians 5:25-26

Faith

2012-02-18T23:19:00.002-05:00

Sometimes we fail to possess the faith we need because our needs already possess our faith. We may have a physical need the doctors cannot heal. We may have a financial need the banks cannot solve. We may have a relational need the counselors cannot address. And our needs grow into problems that hover over our faith like looming giants.

But Jesus does not call us to have a faith the size of mountains. He calls us to have a faith that can move mountains.

"You don't have enough faith," Jesus told them. "I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it would move. Nothing would be impossible." -Matthew 17:20

Hope

2012-02-17T08:55:00.002-05:00

In a portrait called Provision, hope dawns on the horizon while despair fades in the distance. It's not Van Gogh, neither is it Monet, it's God.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." -Romans 15:13

Chasing Freedom

2012-02-11T10:41:00.002-05:00

She chases after something she can barely see. Some say it is just an illusion. Others call it a fairytale. But somewhere in her once upon a time, a dream stays nestled in her heart. It is not one of romance or one of adventure, but one of freedom. And freedom is neither an illusion nor a fairytale. Freedom, she claims, can be found with a little bit of faith.

"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." -Hebrews 11:1

God gives

2012-02-08T10:19:00.000-05:00

I keep patience in my pocket because I don't always have enough to go around. But instead of holding on to patience, I should be holding on to prayer. So I let go of the little bit I do have, trusting that God gives so much more.

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness and self-control." -Galatians 5:22,23

A Mirage

2012-02-06T22:45:00.000-05:00

We sleep in the shade to hide from the scorching sun. But shade can be nothing more than a shifting shadow. So we pick up and move in hopes of finding the comfort we crave. Until we realize that true comfort, apart from the Comforter, is simply a mirage.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."
- 2 Corinthians 1:3,4

Margins

2012-02-03T22:07:00.000-05:00

On paper we live our lives somewhere in the middle among the well-dressed and the well-fed. And on most days that is good enough. But on the days when it is not, we scribble our faith down in the margins of our lives, trying to hold onto something bigger. But God is not asking us to squeeze him in the margins. He is telling us to keep him in the center.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." -Jesus (John 15:5)

Weighty Words

2012-02-02T23:17:00.000-05:00

Words carry weight when they drop into deep places, falling from either the tip of the pen or the tip of the tongue. So with heightened awareness, I try to carefully construct a creative flow from somewhere in my head or from anywhere in my heart. But even with the best intentions, my flesh sometimes gets in the way, causing words-to-get-jumbled or lost in translation or simply left out or stated in excess. And in those moments, I ask God to give me the words from somewhere in his head or from anywhere in his heart.

"The words of the reckless pierce like swords,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing."
-Proverbs 12:18

Taking Thoughts

2012-02-01T22:37:00.000-05:00

Memories take shape when something from the present raises a toast to something from the past. Like scenes from familiar films are the moments that flicker through our thoughts, some pleasant enough to embrace, others destructive enough to refuse. Still they masquerade, either as welcomed guests or as unwanted ghosts. But just as guests can be escorted to the door, so also can thoughts or memories we no longer wish to entertain.

"We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ..."
-2 Corinthians 10:5

Born

2012-01-31T08:45:00.001-05:00

Life is a pilgrimage of sorts. It is a collection of experiences we keep tucked in our pockets. It is a collage of people we keep close to our hearts.

Life is a journey with a beginning and an ending. But I would say that life does not begin in the cradle. It begins at the cross. And it does not have to end at the grave. It can end with grace.

"I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised at my saying, 'You must be born again.'" -Jesus (John 3:5-7)

He Cares

2012-01-30T10:24:00.002-05:00

With his hands, he hung the stars on a black velvet wall and then he spoke the word "night". And the same two hands are holding my heart on this very night. Thank you, Lord, for being big enough to create, and intimate enough to care.

"Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you."
-1 Peter 5:7

Brave Enough

2012-01-24T10:56:00.002-05:00

Sometimes I feel brave enough to rub shoulders with the unfamiliar.
So I take a step of faith, and find myself wide-eyed, realizing that God so freely hands us passports to new territories if we will only open our hands to receive them.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." -Joshua 1:9

A Mother

2012-01-23T21:06:00.002-05:00

Her love is soft like velvet.
Her words are a sweet perfume.
Knowing she has today,
she embraces her child with visions of tomorrow,
as she showers her little one with grace and truth.

"Her children stand and bless her." -Proverbs 31:28

Pieces

2012-01-22T10:13:00.002-05:00

When we come to God, He finds us broken in a million different pieces.

Left alone, those pieces stay fragmented.

But if we let Him, God takes each piece in His hands and puts them back together so that little by little, we begin to look the way He originally intended for us to appear: like Him.

Are you putting the pieces of your life in God's hands? Or do they remain shattered and untouched?

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." -Genesis 1:27

Bound

2012-01-21T10:26:00.000-05:00

There comes a time when we must take up our anchors to set sail on the open seas and navigate through uncharted waters. But sometimes our anchors get rusty after staying buried in a watery grave for too long. Perhaps the time has come to cut the line?

What are the anchors in your life that keep you bound to familiar waters, preventing fresh winds from catching your sails?

"See, I am doing a new thing!
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness
and streams in the wasteland."
-Isaiah 43:19

No Power

2012-01-19T09:21:00.000-05:00

Even though our hearts may cringe when something parades across our memories, the past has now power over us. I was reminded of this truth some time ago when I met a woman covered in the scent of grief as she spoke in memory of her lost loved ones. I listened, inhaling the aroma of her sadness. It smelled familiar, yet unfamiliar, like a perfume I know I have smelled before, but could not identify. Still, sadness clung to her, all musky and bold. She did not cry, her eyes did not even tear up. Instead, she spoke matter-of-factly as if her loved ones were still with us. And all I could do was breathe in her sorrow while listening to her stories.

Are you wearing the aroma of sadness today? Let me remind you that the past has no power over you.

"This is the day that the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it."
-Psalm 118:24

Bridges

2012-01-16T10:11:00.002-05:00

Are you a Bridge Builder? Do you narrow the gap between two different people groups?

Bridge Builders teach the value of linking the well-fed with the hungry.

Bridge Builders embody what it means to extend grace to those who do not know how to receive it.

Bridge Builders love their neighbors as themselves regardless of their race, ethnicity, religion, culture or economic status.

Bridge Builders also check their foundation so that the structure is trustworthy and strong.

Jesus Christ is our ultimate example of what it means to be a Bridge Builder. He did not just narrow the gap between humanity and God when he died on the cross, he removed the gap completely. Jesus says "'I am the way and the truth and life. No one comes to the Father except through me." ( John 14:6)

Are there any gaps God is leading you to fill today?

Once Upon A Time

2012-01-14T00:57:00.002-05:00

Once upon a time, I sang a Capella to an audience called "Me". Now I sing Hallelujah to an audience of One.

Once upon a time, the world called me "Daughter". Now I am a Daughter of the King.

Once upon a time, true love was a fairy tale. Now true love is mine.

"I have loved you with an everlasting love . . . " -Jeremiah 31:3

Worship

2012-01-13T08:49:00.001-05:00

I admit I sometimes worship my "almighty schedule," perhaps not intentionally, but it happens. And my prayer life follows a paper trail that leaves me wondering what time I need to be somewhere.

Does your day timer ever dictate your devotion? I have to remind myself to check my heart instead of my watch. What about you?

"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." -Proverbs 4:23

Balance

2012-01-12T12:09:00.000-05:00

If variety is the spice of life, then balance must be the staple of life. I enjoy excitement and adventure, but I also need consistency. I may live by allowing the pendulum of my life to stop swinging, but after a while I need to regain momentum. Otherwise I end up too far to the right or too far to the left.

How well-balanced do you keep your life?

"My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God."
-Proverbs 2:1-5

God's Story

2012-01-11T11:43:00.000-05:00

Life can be hard. Some of us make it through to the end, unscathed. Others don't. But all of us have a story. And each story is woven into a greater story: God's story. Did you know that God desires for you to debut as one of his main characters? The Bible tells us to "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2).

Will you take a step of faith and live the story God has written for your life, or will you shrink back and settle for a lesser story and play the part of a lesser character?

New Vision

2012-01-10T10:08:00.002-05:00

I took off my rose colored glasses only to discover that my sight was skewed. Even my lenses were cracked. What I thought was shabby chic turned out to just be shabby. It took time for my eyes to adjust. The light seemed brighter and my vision remained fuzzy.

The world told me I could have anything, but anything is really nothing apart from Christ.

I see that clearly now.

"... Some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man's eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, 'Do you see anything?'
He looked up and said, 'I see people; they look like trees walking around.'
Once more Jesus put his hands on the man's eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly."
-Mark 8:22-25

The Door

2012-01-09T09:34:00.000-05:00

I set out to find my place in this world, knowing this world is not the place for me. For I call heaven my home. Still, I knew I must search for the place purposed for me this side of heaven.

But fear now blocks the door to the way I believe I should walk and doubt darkens my vision. So I pray for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. And I gather up my faith to take the steps I need to take that carry me past the fear. Now the door seems so much closer.

Is there a door you know you need to walk through, but fear keeps slowing you down?

"I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me."
-Revelation 3:8

Amazing Love

2012-01-08T10:00:00.000-05:00

I emptied everything I hold tightly from the hidden places in my heart. Then I dumped it all out and sifted through the things the world calls good. And I traded those things for the goodness of God. Now a brokenness burns from deep inside and I cannot help but feel overwhelmed by his amazing love.

"The faithful love of the Lord never ends!
His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.
I say to myself, 'The Lord is my inheritance;
therefore, I will hope in him!'
The Lord is good to those who depend on him,
to those who search for him.
So it is good to wait quietly
for salvation from the Lord."
-Lamentations 3:22-26

Free

2012-01-07T23:11:00.000-05:00

She chased after freedom before realizing that chasing freedom is like chasing the wind. So instead she stopped only to waste years of her life caged in a silent prison.

But then You held her heart in Your hands like a bird with a broken wing. You nursed her back to health. And when the winds changed, You set her free.

Now she soars, knowing it is one thing to be born, but it is an entirely different thing to be born again.

And when she sings, her voice sounds sweet as it sweeps through the city streets, beckoning hearts to beat wildly to the sound of freedom.

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." -John 8:36

Save me

2012-01-06T09:01:00.000-05:00

I was seduced into making my heart up in a bed of lies that devoured me until you woke me up. Then you offered me your one-of-a-kind love. So I buried my heart in your hands and asked you to save me.

"The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing."
-Zephaniah 3:17

Drawing Close

2012-01-05T09:46:00.000-05:00

I draw close to Jesus and he grips me in my time of need, shaking off the distractions of this life. Suddenly he has my full attention. But I don't want to continue coming before this Holy God still bound by the cares of this world. Instead, I want to kneel before him, stripped of the things that take pieces of me. Because the beauty of it all is that Jesus is not in it for the taking. He is in it for the giving. And he gave all of himself for me so that I could give all of myself to him.

Have you drawn close to him today?

"And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise."
-Hebrews 10:19-23

Seeking

2012-01-04T09:09:00.000-05:00

I want to walk barefoot, leaving my sandals in the sun. I want to go and find shelter in the shadow of His wings. And when I get there, I want to feel young in my faith again. I want to shed the weight of responsibility, peeling off the things that slow me down. And I want to put on the power of God, even if the culture all around me denies it. But I want to do all of this without even leaving the comfort of my kitchen table.

"You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." -Jeremiah 29:13

Resolutions

2012-01-02T10:13:00.000-05:00

On new year's eve I stood beneath a star speckled sky, sobered by time. After all, it has the ability to not only usher in a new day, but also a new year. Then I stepped back into the familiarity of the four walls I call home after kissing the year's end goodnight. I closed the door on yesterday then reached for my pen and paper to record the resolutions weighing heavy on my mind. And as my pen maneuvered across the page, I felt determined to document something significant. But when my thoughts moved from my head to the paper, they appeared to pile up as artificial comforts I have allowed to cradle my heart. The things that spilled out only paled in comparison to the One who created the night sky or the passing of time. So I crumbled up them up and threw them in the trash before praising the One who never comforts me artificially, but only offers what is true. And I found my new year's resolution; to stop craving the comforts of this life and to start praising Him more.

What are your resolutions for this new year?

Tracking Time

2011-12-23T16:06:00.000-05:00

I find it hard to guard my time when I end up giving it all away. The minutes just get swallowed up by grande ideas or grande demands, both competing for all I've got. So I stand empty handed before my open-handed God, and he blesses me. For just as I give my time away, I feel so thankful for the time I have been given.

"Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes...'"
-James 4:13-15

Called

2011-12-22T14:43:00.000-05:00

I wore a coat of many colors before stepping out to rub elbows with the world. For some crowds I wore the perfect color, for others I wore a color less conventional. But dressing like a chameleon did not leave me feeling colorful, it only left me feeling empty. So I started flirting with the darkness in hopes that no one would see me at all. Still, I don't know which is worse-to have an identity crisis or to feel invisible? Until one day, Christ answered my question when he called me by name.

Has he called you by name?

"Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.
I have called you by name; you are mine.
When you go through deep waters,
I will be with you.
When you go through rivers of difficulty,
you will not drown.
When you walk through the fire of oppression,
you will not be burned up;
the flames will not consume you.
For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior."
-Isaiah 43:1-3

Tradition

2011-12-14T09:11:00.000-05:00

Tradition speaks volumes to generations, like a language living on year after year. But just as tradition has taught us the right ways to live, it has also robbed some us from a relationship with Christ. So even though tradition has been our teacher, in some ways it has been our deceiver.

Don't allow yourself to be deceived. Are you pursuing a relationship with Christ, or are you allowing tradition to pursue a relationship with you?

"Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed-not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence-continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and act according to his good purpose." -Philippians 2:12,13

An Authentic Life

2011-12-12T09:43:00.000-05:00

I feel a desperate need to live a more authentic life-one far from perfection, but close to a perfect God. One humbled by the light of the Truth, but hidden in the shadow of his wings. I feel a desperate need to peel off any layers of someone I have pretended to be, only to reveal who God made me to be.

How do you feel about living a more authentic life?

"I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received." -Ephesians 4:1

Always

2011-12-07T08:45:00.002-05:00

Have you ever felt like there is a large, invisible glass ceiling separating you from God, leaving you trapped like a little fly futilely bouncing across the surface of a closed window? Did you know that God is the master of opening windows and He longs to listen to what you have to say? It's true! There have been times in my own life when I wanted to pray using a megaphone because I felt like God just couldn't hear me. But God's silence does not equate to God's absence. He is always listening.

"You will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." -Jeremiah 29:12,13

Knocking

2011-12-05T10:33:00.002-05:00

As God listens, he beckons us to come and sit with Him, to hoist ourselves up in his lap and just stay for a while. Like a dear friend, He invites us to talk about what we need and want to talk about. Sometimes we laugh. Other times we cry. Sometimes we feel vulnerable. Other times we feel bold. And still there are times when we simply come with a child like faith.

He speaks to us in return with poetic Psalms. He sometimes greets us with similes and metaphors and parables found in his Word. Then he speaks to us through a friend or even a stranger, through a mentor or spiritual leader. He speaks to us through circumstances as some doors slam shut, and still other doors swing wide open. He speaks gently to our hearts.

What is the condition of your heart today? Is it wide open to the things of God or have you slammed all the doors shut?

Jesus says in Revelation 3:20 "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."

Awakening

2011-12-01T08:58:00.000-05:00

Winter came without warning
on Wednesday morning
while time slipped through my hands.
Like a north wind I could not hold,
I welcomed December in the cold
before hearing the word on the street.
"Fall is gone,"
or so I was told by leaves that went skipping by
like children running through the grass past Christmas lights,
boasting,"Tis the season to be jolly!" and awakening
in my heart the celebration of a new born King.

The Welcome

2011-11-30T09:01:00.000-05:00

The cold night air confirms it is Christmas time as little twinkling lights compete with the stars. Inside a hearth burns brightly while frosted windows glow.

And I cannot imagine the first Christmas when my Savior breathed in the night air from an old dusty stable. Did he shiver when he stepped out among humanity as God clothed in an infant's frame? He left the comforts of heaven for the sake of me and all of humanity. Yet, on the night he came to earth, they pushed him to the outskirts of town. Would I have done the same?

Lord, I pray that we will welcome you today, not pushing you to the outskirts of our lives, even on our darkest and coldest nights.

"All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel'-which means, 'God with us.'" -Matthew 1:22,23

Anticipation

2011-11-29T08:42:00.001-05:00

My heart swells in anticipation of what this holiday season will bring.

And I look forward to spending quality time with family and friends in the midst of all the festivities that deck the halls of our lives with beauty and busyness.

But even when the demands of this holiday season come knocking at my door, I will remember that most of all, my heart swells in anticipation of celebrating the birth of our King.

"'Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.'" -Luke 2:11

The Nativity

2011-11-28T09:57:00.000-05:00

The nativity is more than painted ceramic figurines adorning a table, or plastic dolls dressed as lawn decor. And while this Christmas symbol serves as a good reminder of the very first Christmas, how many times do we merely unpack the pieces from boxes stored in the attic without giving it a second thought?

Do we dare decorate on a whim without reflecting on the depth of the nativity's meaning? I have to ask myself that question.

"So they (the shepherds) hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart." -Luke 2:16-19

Following

2011-11-16T00:05:00.001-05:00

He was born in a stable, not in a hospital. He grew up the son of a carpenter, not the son of a prominent leader. He sometimes gravitated toward quiet places-He didn't always hold public forums.

I think we ought to learn from his example.

When our society values overnight success, our Savior values humble beginnings. When our society tells us to pursue success at all costs, our Savior reminds us of the cost of discipleship. When our society points us toward praying to God knows what, our Savior points us toward praying only to God.

Whose example are you following?

Footsteps of Faith

2011-11-14T23:14:00.000-05:00

It’s difficult to discover a life more fulfilling than the life that follows in the footsteps of faith.

Do we dare to live like Abraham who had the faith to choose obedience and sacrifice? Or do we merely desire to reap the blessing of counting stars?

Do we fight our own battles with the faith David held onto as he faced Goliath? Or do we simply close our eyes and make a wish for victory?

Do we cling to a faith that commands mountains to move? Or do we live with the kind of faith that keeps mountains standing still?

“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” –Jesus Christ (Matthew 17:20,21)

Living

2011-11-13T20:44:00.000-05:00

Some of us live life on the edge, while others have a fear of falling off. But God does not call us to feel comfortable. He calls us to be courageous. And while there is excitement in adventure, there is not always a safety net.

How do you live? By holding on to what seems safe this side of heaven? Or by holding on to the hand that holds heaven?

"This is my command-be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go."
-Joshua 1:9

A Ride Home

2011-11-12T00:13:00.002-05:00

Jesus met me one day as I sat on a curbside with my hair disheveled, my clothes stained and my shoes worn. Meanwhile the world left me on the side of the road without a ride home: stranded. But Jesus came walking by and extended his hand. I accepted his invitation. I received his love.

Has the world left you stranded? Maybe it's time to take Jesus' hand . . . to let him pick you up and take you home . . . but not to the home you've always known.

"He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God."-Psalm 40:2,3

Love at First Sight

2011-11-11T23:55:00.000-05:00

When I met Jesus for the first time, face to face, I was surprised that my previous ideas of him were so far from the truth. I had always pictured him to be powerless, glazed over in a stained glass window. But it was not He who stood powerless and void of life. It was me.

I thought of God in his holiest of holies, as one who could not be approached by me because my place of worship did not land me in a Sunday morning pew, but in a Friday night bar stool. But God was not unapproachable. I was.

So it came as a complete shock when He approached me, penetrating my heart in such a powerful way.

It was love at first sight.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength."
-Deuteronomy 6:5

Patient

2011-11-07T23:37:00.002-05:00

Perhaps I was not actively seeking you, but still you found me. Perhaps I did not pursue you, and yet you never stopped calling. Surely I never acknowledged you, even though you never stopped saying my name . . .

But when I realized I was an orphan, you adopted me. And when I realized I was a stranger, you welcomed me.

When I realized I was wrong, you forgave me.

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." -2 Peter 3:9

Trading

2011-11-06T22:31:00.002-05:00

When I first met Jesus, I traded in my sarcasm for sincerity.
I traded in my disappointments for dreams.
I traded in my fears for faith.
I traded in my blues for blessings.

What do you need to trade today?

Or better yet, who do you still need to meet?

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." -Jesus (John 10:10)

Perspective

2011-11-04T09:47:00.000-04:00

The grass is not greener on the other side of the fence. But today do you find yourself standing on your tiptoes, trying to get a better view of the landscape? Do the shrubs appear neatly arranged among decorative pavers with a patio furniture set from Pottery Barn?

We tend to imagine our lives looking like they are staged and ready for a catalogue photo shoot. But as we go through life, we realize that suddenly we may not feel so photogenic.

How is your perspective today?

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."
-Philippians 4:12

Pressing On

2011-11-03T23:52:00.000-04:00

Time caught me by the hand and pulled me along, begging me to leave yesterday behind. But I couldn't keep yesterday hidden away in the closet, so I tucked it in my pocket to still keep it close. And I put on my shoes only to follow time out the door, chasing after tomorrow.

"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 3:13-14

Becoming

2011-10-30T23:50:00.000-04:00

There is an advantage to blooming later in life. Late bloomers don't run the risk of sprouting too soon. Somehow, they have an innate understanding of saving the best for last, or for later. They realize that life is not about the science of blooming, it is about the art of becoming.

Who are you in process of becoming?

Or who have you already become?

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." -Jeremiah 29:11

Growth

2011-10-29T01:51:00.000-04:00

If I had only known then the things I know now, I would have lived in a place of perfect peace when reality reared its ugly head. I would have counted the cost of sacrifice before catering to my own comforts. And I would have fiercely stared fear in the face before backing down.

If I had only known then the things I know now, I would have been able to leap without knowing where I would land. But back then I could not even get my feet off the ground, much less sprint through life with confidence.

Still, I take comfort today in resting with a relaxed understanding of who I have become.

"And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns."
-Philippians 1:6

Dreaming

2011-10-26T00:17:00.003-04:00

Sometimes dreams disappear while plans fade into the background. So I wave goodbye as darkness settles in. At one point the future seemed bright, now it only seems invisible. But then, just as twilight surrounds me, a fog rolls in, bringing with it a change called morning. And my hope reappears with the sun, reminding me not to give up on those dreams that disappeared in the night.

Have you stopped dreaming? If so, wait for a new day.

"Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning."
-Psalm 30:5

Focused

2011-10-24T23:12:00.002-04:00

Life is a tightrope. A fine line on which to balance. Lean a little too far to the right or to the left and you may fall off. So you concentrate. And you give. And you take. So let me ask you this: What is your focus? We all need a focal point, don't we?

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus . . . " -Hebrews 12:1,2

A Reflection on Womanhood

2011-10-22T21:43:00.001-04:00

When I wanted to hang up my hat and go home, I remembered I was still just a woman-to-be wrapped in the heart of a girl. So I packed up my gypsy ways, tightened my grip on commitment, and walked the road most traveled: the road to womanhood. Day after day I walked until eventually I disappeared. Maybe I was lost. Maybe I was found. Either way, the girl I once was is not the same as the woman I have become.

How would you describe your journey?

"When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things."
-1 Corinthians 13:11

A Statement

2011-10-20T11:16:00.002-04:00

Leaves fall in a cascading shower of red, yellow and brown. At this time of year a jacket is a necessity for some. But for this Floridian a jacket is a novelty. It almost becomes a fashion statement.

And I wonder if it's the same with Christianity? Do we sometimes wear religion as a necessity or a novelty, depending on what kind of statement we want to make?

What kind of statement are you making?

Moving

2011-10-19T00:18:00.000-04:00

I came to a place that seemed like a fork in the road. But a fork in the road indicates a split in direction or a place of decision. And I don't know if that is truly where I stood. So I weighed my options, but more than that, I let God weigh my heart. And I trusted him to see my motives before I even made a move.

Which direction are you trusting God to move you toward today?

"We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps." -Proverbs 16:9

Thirsty

2011-10-18T23:03:00.001-04:00

What does it mean to thirst? How many times a day do you think, I’m thirsty then seek to fulfill that basic physical need. What do you drink when you feel thirsty?

What does it look like to spiritually thirst? Jesus makes several references to a spiritual thirst during his ministry; “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6), “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink” (John 7:37). On most occasions, I think of spiritual thirst as a need I take to Christ because he satisfies, he gives, he quenches, he provides.

When I think of God, I try to comprehend His union of the physical with the spiritual so that we might better relate to Him. In doing so, He relates to us in such a basic way that God himself, so holy, so perfect, so divine, would thirst. In John 19:28 Jesus says, “I am thirsty” just before He dies on the cross.

I try to wrap my brain around the fact that the God of the universe sent His son Jesus to this earth as a man, that He would thirst, so that I may thirst no more.

Are you thirsty today?

Time

2011-10-17T00:15:00.000-04:00

We all hear the popular clichés, “Give it time” or “Time heals all wounds”. These phrases bear some truth when set against the truth of God’s Word that says there is “a time to heal” (Ecclesiastes 3:3). But what is time, really? Is it an elusive force that winds in and out of our lives? Is it a thief that steals from us? Is it Father Time who cares for us? Is it something we can manipulate to fall back or spring forward? We all have different perceptions of time, but time only has one perception of us; it moves and travels regardless of where we stand or what we do. We all have moments we wish to preserve, and we all have moments we wish to erase.

So what do we do with time? Shall we carpe diem? Shall we concern ourselves with time since the Bible says, “with the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:8,9).

My Heroes

2011-10-16T10:35:00.003-04:00

Prayer Warriors serve as silent soldiers in unseen battles. They combat the captains of dark armies. They devastate dark horses with their powerful weapons of war. Their prayers light up the night sky like bombs bursting in air.

Praying for love tucked cozy into bed across the hall or across the world. Praying the prayers of faith for babies grown or babies not yet born. Praying for leaders whose decisions affect where we are today, and where we are headed tomorrow. Praying for peace. Praying for God's will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Praying for the sick, the poor and the brokenhearted. Praying for shifting shadows to be brought into the light.

These are my heroes. They travel through this life, sometimes radiant with the Spirit, sometimes incognito, touching our lives in ways only heaven can see. Meanwhile the rest of us slumber across the hall or across the world . . .

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for the saints." -Ephesians 6:18

From Troubles to Triumphs

2011-10-12T12:02:00.000-04:00

Life seems to have a way of giving us a handful, then leaving us empty-handed...or so the world would say. But I have found a new life. One that gives without taking. It enables me to see the troubles of this life, not for what they are worth, but for what they have the potential to become: triumphs! But it is more than a matter of seeing the glass half empty or half full. It is a matter of placing my trust in Jesus Christ.

"I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."
-Jesus (John 10:10)

Praise-Worthy

2011-10-11T11:10:00.000-04:00

Faith gets fueled when God moves behind the scenes. Even though we may only be left with an empty stage, that same stage can still be filled with expectation. It is not until we are stripped of our costumes and our masks, when our self-confidence dwindles, that God shows up. But if our business is just for show, then our egos leave no room for the only One truly deserving of our applause. He alone is praise-worthy.

"Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor."
-James 4:10

Take Heart

2011-10-10T09:22:00.003-04:00

Hard times can produce hard hearts. And dreams can wilt like flowers scorned by the sun. The pressures of this life can drive us to extremes; the loss of a life, the loss of a career, the loss of a hope and a future.

But what if the Author of all life pens that there is still more to the story? Even though there is conflict, there can still be resolution.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." -Jesus Christ (John 16:33)

Too Casual

2011-10-07T08:53:00.000-04:00

Sometimes he seems familiar. Other times he seems foreign. Sometimes he seems as close as a lover. Other times he seems as distant as a loner. But a walk with God is to be taken much more seriously than just a walk in the park. So when God seems foreign and I feel alone, I have to ask,"Why have I been so casual in my pursuit of this holy God?"

"Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.'”
-1 Peter 1:13-16

Anxiety

2011-10-06T11:08:00.000-04:00

She walks a fine line between the broad and the narrow. But walking a tight rope or sitting on a fence's edge is not a comfortable place to stay. Still, her comfort zone is hard to find when comfort is a feeling she's barely known. Instead, she clings to familiar feelings far from comfort. And you think, "maybe it's time to talk her down", but how can you talk her down when she finds shelter in your very own mind?

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."
-1 Peter 5:6,7

A Reflection on Motherhood

2011-10-05T10:57:00.000-04:00

She tugs and she pulls, needing to take from the strength I don't have. So I tug and I pull, asking him for the strength I know he has. And he gives me what I need so that I can give her what she needs. Then as the end of the day falls into night, she calls me a good mom, and I call him an even better God.

"Each time he said, 'My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.' So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me."
-2 Corinthians 12:9

Security

2011-10-04T23:35:00.000-04:00

Financial security does not equate with eternal security. Still, sometimes I think we believe the more creature comforts we acquire, the more smoothly paved the path toward heaven will seem. But if we are honest with ourselves, we know can neither buy our happiness nor our salvation.

So does that leave us feeling empty handed? Or does it move us to place our trust in the Lord, the only one who can truly offer security?

"I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength."
-Philippians 4:12-13

No Regrets

2011-10-03T23:51:00.001-04:00

Jesus came to save the world, so when I realized I couldn't even save the day, I knew I needed him. Still, the world wanted me to sell out, but I knew I needed to buy in, regardless. Now the days when I sang songs of sorrow are gone. Instead, I cry tears of joy for the years I have not lost and for the regrets I have not made.

"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost."
-Matthew 19:10

A Consuming Fire

2011-10-02T00:07:00.000-04:00

The God of the Bible who appears as a burning bush now burns passionately and personally today. He kindles a fire in the souls of men and women that may start out reminiscent of the tune "This little light of mine...", but it grows and burns brightly. You see, we have the luxury of experiencing God, not as a burning bush from a distant desert in the middle east, but in the closest confines of our own hearts.

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire.'"
-Hebrews 12:28,29

The Love of God

2011-10-01T11:44:00.001-04:00

He is the picture of perfection and his picture hangs on every wall of my heart. But even while I am not picture perfect, my picture still hangs on every wall of his heart.

Do you know where your picture hangs?

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
-Romans 8:37-39

Overflowing

2011-09-30T10:20:00.000-04:00

I want to sing a song so that it fills the air, but the air cannot possibly hold what I treasure in my heart. So I slowly release the gratitude overflowing from a place deep inside. A place where he speaks tenderly, offering wholeness to everything broken. And he calls me his own.

Do you know this God I love? Do you know Jesus? My heart is overwhelmed by his goodness.

"I waited patiently for the LORD;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the LORD
and put their trust in him."
-Psalm 40:1-3

Truth

2011-09-29T09:16:00.000-04:00

He carries loads of metaphors in his hands, all heavy like suitcases. Still, he delivers each one with ease when they flow from his pen, all smooth and fluid. And he writes the truth the way no other can.

Have you read his story?

"I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ."
-Galatians 1:11,12

Overwhelmed

2011-09-28T23:32:00.000-04:00

I get caught in the thick of things where life grows tall like grass in summer. So when time sinks low in the sky, I wonder how I end up so far away from everything I know to be familiar. Still, the hand of heaven gently leads me back day after day.

"Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning."
-Lamentations 3:23

Enter In

2011-09-27T11:25:00.000-04:00

I tried to let go of control, but control would not let go of me. I then tried to check my need for perfection at the door, but perfection seemed to still need me. So when I entered into a relationship with Christ, I was surprised to discover both perfection and control laying on the floor behind me.

"... he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,
a joyous blessing instead of mourning,
festive praise instead of despair.
In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks
that the Lord has planted for his own glory."
-Isaiah 61:3

Digging Deeper

2011-09-26T23:33:00.000-04:00

We do not have to dread the details of the day when we know the details are determined by God...But we still ought to submit to his plan. So I seek his will in places where I know it can be found. And I feel so thankful to know that God does not play games of hide and seek, but leads me to a place of understanding as I dig deeper in his Word.

"And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect."
-Romans 12:1,2

A Steel Train

2011-09-25T22:26:00.001-04:00

My life is a steel train rushing full steam ahead. Sometimes I feel as though I am a passenger en route to a clear destination, and life is full of meaning and purpose. Other times I feel like a box car child, running alongside the train, trying to hitch a ride. And then there are times when I sit in the comfort of my seat from the confines of the train station, watching my life go by.

I love the days when I am traveling on to a place where mountain tops collide with the sky instead of running to catch up or sitting in a lonely, stale room.

Where are you today? Are you on board this train called life?

Jesus says in John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

God Speaks

2011-09-24T21:12:00.002-04:00

I travel on a dusty road. Some days the sun shines its warmth on my face. And other days I just know the sun shines even though I cannot see it beyond the clouds.

I travel on a broken road. Some days the voice of God whispers in my ear. And other days I just know God speaks even though I cannot hear him this side of heaven.

"My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me." -Jesus (John 10:27)

Goodness

2011-09-23T09:38:00.000-04:00

I thought the opportunity to receive the goodness of God arrived on my doorstep an hour too late. But then I realized the goodness of God never arrives late. I just happened to be looking in the wrong place. So instead of finding it in a package on my front porch, I discovered it perched in a tree, singing sweetly. Then I discovered it setting in the sky, all fiery and orange.
And as I looked even further, I found the goodness of God wrapped tightly around my heart.

Have you discovered the goodness of God?

"For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse."
-Romans 1:20

Holding Steady

2011-09-22T16:26:00.000-04:00

Finding a common ground when no common ground exists is like discovering a level place to stand in the midst of soggy ground. But the place that holds steady is not always the place we call familiar. Still, new territories can lend themselves to new horizons, depending on the point of view.

How are things from where you stand?

"He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm."
-Psalm 40:2

Overgrown

2011-09-21T08:54:00.000-04:00

It was late in the day before I realized how overgrown my life had become with plans strewn across the afternoon and people crowded around. Life suddenly flooded with activity. Then conversations rose as dense as fog, dulling my senses to my surroundings. So it should have come as no surprise when fatigue set in, hanging low in the sky, lingering until dusk discovered the night. Then darkness set in. And yet I still found my way home thanks to a well lit path.

"Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path."
-Psalm 119:105

Planting

2011-09-19T23:19:00.000-04:00

If patience grew as plentiful as grapes growing like clusters of jewels on a vine, then I would pick a plethora. But the heat of summer has left everything dry, so I find patience to be lacking. Still, I wait in hopes that a new vineyard will sprout, only not in the soil of a fertile field, but somewhere in the soil of my heart.

"Don't be misled--you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant."
-Galatians 6:7

The Climb

2011-09-16T08:54:00.000-04:00

At first I only planned to walk a mile, but ended up walking for what seemed like a lifetime. That's probably because I thought the road would be flat and smoothly paved, but I mostly climbed along a steep, narrow road. And as I climbed, I began to shed layer after layer of myself. The sun grew warmer, and more and more of me melted out of my pores, falling onto the very same dirt my feet then trampled. So that as I reached the top, I saw only a mere shadow of who I was at the bottom.

"That's why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ's mighty power that works within me."
-Colossians 1:29

Refusing

2011-09-15T08:59:00.000-04:00

Indulgence peeks around the corner, trying to catch my eye. She shimmers and sparkles, tempting me to draw her near to myself. Part of me wants to, but I mostly know that nothing she offers will last. So I turn away, refusing to entertain her.

"And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul?" -Mark 8:36

Getting Creative

2011-09-14T13:46:00.000-04:00

Once again I stare at a blank page, but this time the blank page seems to stare back at me. So I rummage through my mind, anxious to see what kind of creativity I will discover. Will I pull out some words to weave a novel, or poetry to create a symphony of sound? Either way, I cannot find anything like this to call my own, no matter how hard I try. So I turn to the One who holds creativity in the palm of his hand, only to realize that his hand is holding mine.

"The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands."
-Psalm 19:1

Whole

2011-09-13T13:04:00.000-04:00

I carried pieces of me in my pocket until God asked me to hold out my hands. But like a child refusing to let something precious go, I kept my fists tightly clenched...until he opened his hands to show me he has so much more.

"But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed."
-Isaiah 53:5

The Traveler

2011-09-08T00:37:00.001-04:00

I weathered travel the way a traveler weathers a storm. And as I dealt with delays, I found the delays also dealt with me. They slowed me down as I moved along this road called life. And my baggage grew heavy while my strength began to fail until I found another traveler walking my very same road. Then he offered to carry my burdens as his own.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
-Jesus (Matthew 11:28-30)

Sinking

2011-09-07T23:18:00.000-04:00

I thought I knew how to feel comfortable in my own skin, like an old pair of jeans all worn and familiar. But those kind of comforts leave me sitting at the surface and the surface won't let me stay. So I sink deeply into somewhere unknown only to discover more layers of me.

"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well."
-Psalm 139:14

My Bleeding Heart

2011-09-02T13:03:00.000-04:00

When I write I don't like to bleed on paper, but sometimes my heart spills out, then overflows. And it catches me by surprise because I always forget my heart can bleed. Still, the paper doesn't mind, even when the words start to smear. And I ask my heart why it can't just ache instead.

"Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can fully share its joy."
-Proverbs 14:10

Blue

2011-09-01T23:17:00.000-04:00

For years I shared my life, but hid my heart and held my breath. And instead of someone checking my pulse, I simply got a pat on the back before I discovered I wasn't even breathing. So by the time I realized I was in trouble, my heart had already turned blue.

How is your heart doing?

"Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life."
-Proverbs 4:23

Blended

2011-08-31T09:26:00.000-04:00

Some claim to carry an old soul in their youth, but not me. I have a blended soul-one that is slightly broken, yet slightly mended from the years when life invited me to live out loud...until God quieted me with his love.

"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
-Zephaniah 3:17

Aiming

2011-08-30T23:22:00.000-04:00

I don't want perfection, but I still aim for it. And my mind gets flighty. So I aim for wisdom instead of perfection in hopes of landing in a better place.

"For wisdom is far more valuable than rubies. Nothing you desire can compare with it."
-Proverbs 8:11

A Higher Ground

2011-08-29T08:31:00.000-04:00

I took a walk down a street flooded with demands; demands for my time, demands for my energy, demands for pieces of me. So I tip-toed around those demands until they rose so high that my feet got wet. And I doubted I would ever find dry ground again. But then the sun came out and dried up a path for me to walk.

Are you drowning in the demands of your day? Perhaps it is time to find a higher ground.

"Keep your eyes straight ahead;
ignore all sideshow distractions.
Watch your step,
and the road will stretch out smooth before you.
Look neither right nor left;
leave evil in the dust."
-Proverbs 4:26,27 (The Message)

The Pursuit

2011-08-27T23:32:00.000-04:00

Freedom found me in a place where legalism left me choking on my religion. So I let go of the ones holding my hand, and held onto the one holding my heart. Now I can darken the doorway of a place in life where I haven't been in a long, long time.

How about you? Are you pursuing a religion or a relationship?

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom."
-2 Corinthians 3:17

Unknown

2011-08-26T13:15:00.000-04:00

The fear of not being known drove me to find ways to become known. But sometimes the quest to be known can be exhausting. So I tell my need for community to come calling another day. And I find satisfaction in just being unknown.

"There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens...
a time to plant and a time to uproot"
-Ecclesiastes 3:1,2

Holes

2011-08-25T10:40:00.001-04:00

Loneliness leaves all the bare places in my heart exposed, the way potholes lay open in a worn road. On most days, my heart feels worn and widely traveled, but not today. Today there are cracks that lead to open spaces with no one here to fill them. But when the people have come and gone, the Lord reminds me that he is always here to fill in the holes left behind.

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified...for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
-Deuteronomy 31:6

The Pledge

2011-08-24T09:16:00.000-04:00

Sin carved its name deep in my tree. It seemed for a moment as innocent as two different initials pledged to each other in the center of a hand-carved heart. But nothing really is very simple when it involves any matter of the heart. So I took my love to another. I took my love to the One who carved his initials on another tree, pledging his life for mine.

"...For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
-Jesus (Matthew 20:28)