Creation Brings Glory

This picture was taken by a good friend that got to witness this display of glory. On top of mountain above the clouds she witnessed it. I asked what was her thought when she saw this she said, "Steadfastness of the Lord and how consistent His love is!" As I take a break for a bit know that each one of you have been that same consistent love to me. Thank you! 

   Creation Brings Glory

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands. Day after day they pour out speech; night after night they communicate knowledge.” Psalm 19:1-2

On our trip to Maui we were told a must see was the Haleakala sunrise. The sunrise was something that would require us to get up early, travel curvy roads in the dark but told it was so worth it we decided to put this on the list. But little did we know this sunrise was a required ticket purchase before we got there. We were allowed to book it ninety days ahead but didn’t realize this until we arrived. So for each morning we would get up to try and book it with the tickets they still had to release to encounter the same thing. No room meant no access to see the sunrise. 

People would talk about this sunrise all over the island. This kind of struck me at times as it reminded me of my Creator and the beauty He displayed all around me. We can't deny God's creation. That was my thought knowing that some people didn't believe what I did that God was the Creator but they believed this sunrise was worth it all to see and witness what only our Creator could paint into the sky. They witnessed the heavens declaring the glory of God and the expanse and the work of His hands. 

I didn’t witness it at that location but how much more do I witness God’s goodness and mercy each day? 

Day after day God displays His goodness and mercy to me and so often I forget that it is readily available for the asking. No need to make a reservation and no tickets necessary I can choose to wake up and praise my Creator. 

I was walking the other day and noticed the leaves changing on a tree. It was the tips of the leaves, not the whole thing. Yet. I thought, “Well maybe the reason you are showing me that God is because it is a reminder of your glory being revealed in me a little at a time. The change is occurring but the reminder of looking at my Creator to trust the process. One day I will be complete but until then it is allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal more of what His glory looks like within my heart. 

Father,

Day and night you pour forth your goodness and mercy. Even when it doesn’t feel good, remind us that you are faithful. Help us to look to creation to remind ourselves that you are the Creator. Thank you for others around us that witness your glory and that we too can remember your faithfulness. 

Amen

Glory Stealer

 This was a little beach to snorkel that was known to have the best spot. Residents lived on the land but chose to open it to the public. They could have not allowed others on but allowing them access gave people an opportunity to come and share this spot. Coming together as One I can allow others to take part in all the blessings of Christ. But remembering to share will be up to me. 

    Glory Stealer

“Blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens in Christ. For he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.” Ephesians 1:3

One of the spiritual blessings I am thankful for is being united in Christ with other people. I am learning even as I am made in a way that desires to control things, peace will only come when I remember I was never meant to live on my own. I am a glory stealer and God continues to be a glory revealer. 

How do I steal God’s glory? My intentions are good but my heart wants to forget. 

What you don’t know about me is every single time I write I am writing back to myself. The more I study the Bible and spend time asking what is getting in the way the more it is revealed that it is me. Blessing comes when I have recognized I am nothing without the grace and mercy of God. Blessing comes because I have those people in my life that keep pointing me back towards following Jesus. Not myself. 

I was made to reveal God’s glory, glorifying myself won’t work. That is a wonderful thing about how we were made to be in a relationship with God and other people who follow Jesus. I get to become more like Jesus every day. Some of the closest people I share with in my life know my shortcomings. Do I just tell them? Sometimes I do but the first thing I usually do is ask for prayer. If I know I am going into a situation and feel that restlessness within my mind I know that means I need to reach out and ask for prayer. Those are the people that take before Jesus all that I could never take on myself. Just as Jesus intercedes for us they go before and intercede for me asking on my behalf. 

Glorifying myself is forgetting I was never made for that kind of responsibility. My community that I am surrounded by and encouraged by are the ones who remind me to trust in all things. The Oneness of the Holy Spirit that works in and through His people that is the biggest blessing living in this world.

Father,

Thank you for choosing us, blessing us, and lavishing your grace on us. You have given us purpose knowing that we walk with one another in this world. Help us to remember that all the gifts are given by you and when we allow you that access anything is possible. Help us to come together as One and be united in your Holy Spirit in Word and in Truth. It is all so that they will know your glory Jesus. Amen

Flourish

  Flourish 

On a recent trip to Maui I left with a thought asking God, “Could you reveal creation on this trip?” We left with our list of what we wanted to do, all the places to visit, things to see, anticipating what was to come. On the plane ride I could hear a retired travel agent talking to the man she was seated next to. Asking if this was his first time with his answer being yes that she then began to fill him in on all the things he must do. As I listened to her I started thinking of my list and things not on there she was talking about. Would I be missing out? I felt the Lord gently remind me that wasn't what He had for me because He had been speaking to my heart lately about resting and her list did not sound restful it sounded the opposite. 

Arriving at our condo we encountered the hurricane damage that had changed many beaches. The snorkel beach wasn't clear water, instead it had been churned to the point of it no longer being clear but dirty that snorkeling didn’t seem as exciting. The things I wanted to do on my list was beginning to change my plan. God had something better.

The list pretty much went out the door by the second day because God was showing us different things. One of those was a view on top of a volcanic mountain 10,000 feet above. Our agenda was to go see the sunrise but little did we know that to do that we needed a reservation months before we arrived. We got something even better. Driving to this spot on top of the mountain was another road full of twists and turns but because it wasn't the sunrise it wasn’t too crowded and was again like nothing I have ever seen before. At the top of the volcanic mountain a plant caught my eye in an instant. It's beautiful silver shimmery protective leaves stood in a way that I have never seen before. This plant known as Haleakala Silverwood grew nowhere else in the world and thrived in high altitude and chilling temperatures. Before getting to the top of the mountain we were wearing shorts and tank tops and and reaching this place it was 20 degrees colder so understanding this magnitude of difference struck me in a way to take notice of this plant. Reading that it grew swords that opened towards the sky reminded me of a creation that couldn’t reject the Creator. Just like me it was unique in a way that it was protected from all the dangers and could thrive in conditions that didn't make sense. So why do I forget the Creator is my Maker of heaven and earth?

“In him you were also sealed with the promised Holy Spirit when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation and when you believed.” Ephesians 1:13

Silverswords are covered in dense silvery hairs that reflect the light that regulates the temperature and protects against frost and high winds. I am sealed with the promise of the Holy Spirit and I can flourish as I am made secure in Christ. Sealed knowing I can stay close abiding to true Vine. Reminding my heart to posture itself in a way of receiving eternal truths and flourishing in this world.

The plant that thrived was started from one seed. We get to partner with our Creator to reflect the heart of God.

Father,

We plant and you sow. Remind us of that when it looks like nothing is happening. Thriving and flourishing is how we were made to live and that sometimes doesn’t look like we see it. Give us eyes to see what you see Jesus. Grow our dependence upon you alone. Teach us what it means to allow your Spirit to redirect our hearts and minds to remember your truth. Amen

 

Gospel Myself

This is a special photo taken before that week that everything changed for me 5 years ago. Little did I know that would be the place that it would all begin. God can't deny His faithfulness to be with us. We are never alone.

 

  Gospel Myself

“I say then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other so that you don’t do what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.” Galatians 5:16-18

The law was fulfilled through the inner influence of the Holy Spirit no longer living on my own but being led by the Spirit. That will be a daily battle. The competition between my new self being created in Christ and my old self. Releasing my independent spirit with the unteachable attitude to embrace following Jesus. I have an opportunity to grow in my relationship with Jesus as I battle but the choice is mine. It is determined by who’s voice I follow. 

I am learning as I grow that what I speak about myself and to myself will determine how I see myself. Allowing God’s voice to become louder can determine who I live my life in obedience to myself or obedience to the Holy Spirit within me.

Early on into my diagnosis of MS I noticed the thoughts would come in waves to make me feel isolated. Some thoughts included, “Don’t say that out loud they will think you are crazy.” The biggest one I remember, the one that would keep me up at night or greet me first thing in the morning was, “You are all alone.” Thankfully I was around people that prayed for me and encouraged me to recognize that even as those thoughts came that what was occurring didn’t have to determine my future. I could trust in God. I also remember telling God that what was happening didn’t make sense one day in my car and then the thought came this time the voice was gentle, “We have only begun.” That voice was truth because now everything I had been learning along the way in my journey of my relationship with God was now going to be revealed in a way of either trusting in myself or believing the Spirit who lived in me. Who was I going to listen to guide me? The choice was mine to make. Looking back almost five years ago I can see that was the beginning of God starting something within my spirit to show me the battle would continue to be fought and I was getting to know that my Victor would be the one calling all the shots.

The thoughts would still come and they still do today but I would begin to speak over them. I would begin to gospel myself in truth when the thoughts would come. "It feels out of control but I know God you control all things.” My struggle became my normal to know I will struggle but speaking truth over my life would bring me freedom from my mind. Believing I have been set free from my mind creating a wholeness within me to know the mind of Christ is how God has designed me to live but that again is a daily choice for me to make.  It is an invisible battle being fought and that is probably the most difficult thing about it. The battle fought between our hearts and minds to invite the Holy Spirit in the battle to remind us we aren’t alone. 

So what thoughts are you battling with that you need to re gospel yourself you have been set free? What if you asked the Holy Spirit that question? 

Be My Vision

 

  Be My Vision

“I lift my eyes towards the mountains. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2

One of the my favorites parts of Maui was seeing the mountains from the different locations. From our condo they could be seen distant but a short drive around Maui the mountains out the car window they appeared lush that if I could touch them I could feel them the softness. At least that is what I was thinking as we drove around. We noticed depending on the direction we went that where we drove the mountains could be desert or the mountains of a rain forest. One extreme from the island to the next would reveal how the Creator created Maui in a way of seeing how God revealed the difference within creation. 

Where does my help come from?

It was at the highest the psalmist’s position reflects that his realization that his help had to come from somewhere else. This psalm is one that I recognize as far back as a child but the truth is embedded so deep within my heart as the reminder. “Angela, don’t look within yourself, remember to look to your Maker.” Because I forget all the time. My pride will fight against that all the time until I recognize humility is something I can embrace.

But we don’t like to ask for help do we? For me that can identify weakness and inability to do things on my own.

I took my walking cane on my trip to Maui. My collapsible device that I have nicknamed “Grace” is now something I will take along with me when I know a lot of walking is involved. Even before that thought of getting a device like that I had to be moved to a place of understanding it would require humility and admitting to myself sometimes I would have to use it. But learning more about how humility can give me a perspective to see things in a way can shift how I see things is the reminder to take “Grace” around places I go. Never knowing how hard the walk will be, how much greater is knowing that grace is available for the asking each time I struggle asking for help? 

So what is it for you? Where could you ask the Maker to reveal to allow Grace to meet you? 

 

Independent Spirit

 

 Independent Spirit

“For I passed on to you as most important what I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.” 1 Corinthians 15:3a

Paul said a lot he had a lot of words but these words were the very important. They are words that hold me knowing that I get to be made whole with a community of believers formed into Jesus more and more. My independent spirit apart from this truth can do nothing. I cannot produce righteousness on my own and the good news of the gospel is I am made completely perfect because of the sacrifice Jesus made for me. 

I was that independent kid. No one was going to tell me what to do. I had to get the last word in with my parents. I decided I was fine not following God. Why should I obey something that just tied me down? At least in my mind that was my understanding for many years. I had to discover God's love for me on my own but little did I know that would become the very relationship that brought me life. The Scriptures were always there in fact I was that kid that excelled at memorization of Bible verses but I didn’t believe in my heart that I could know Jesus. No fault but my own. I can look back and see all those times God continued to pursue me and let me know he had better for me but until I surrendered none of that was going to happen. The gospel had to work its way into the independent spirit that was in me. That still holds true today even more so.

God doesn’t need my mind, he needs my heart. Independence is ingrained in me. It has been a very slow process of unlearning my ways to embrace the life I was meant to live in Christ. I was with my small group the other day sharing something that seemed God has been teaching me over and over. Thinking I was good in an area to then encounter, I was back there getting that lesson again. This time realizing, “Oh yeah I am doing things my own way instead of inviting the Holy Spirit to guide me.” Father, forgive me and move me back forward the way you desire..

Do you think this surprised God? His word says that He knows our thoughts before they are spoken. So now I just tell God what is going on in my mind and ask that he remind me of his truth. Meditating on God’s truth reminds my heart and mind to be dependent on God alone. 

What if you did that knowing that the past presence and future of the gospel held you? 

It's Special

 

 It’s Special

We recently took a trip to Maui for vacation. On day one my husband decided to go explore the roads of the beautiful island. Knowing we would only be there for a week we wanted to be able to see all parts of the island and having a rental car gave us that opportunity. Taking drives is something we have always done as a couple and the back roads growing up in Kentucky was something we were accustomed to. Even ones without guard rails were something we used to handle with ease when we lived there but nothing could have prepared us for the road we took that first day in Maui. This was a road like I have never been on but the views couldn’t be beat but little did we know this road was the most dangerous road known to the locals. 

This one lane road without guard rails came with cliffs and curves you couldn’t see around at times. I remember thinking, this can’t be a normal road and silently praying to God. A fourteen mile road should never have an hour and half EST but that didn’t stop my husband from exploring it. It was at the middle of that long drive we came to a curve where we encountered another driver as we shared the one lane. Both cars couldn't fit around the curve so we had to back up to figure out the situation one of us had to yield. We were on the side of the cliff as the other driver said, “Go forward you have five more inches.” So my husband did as the stranger directed him and he was able to go by so we could get around the curve safely. I looked in his car and his wife had a look of what I was feeling intense anxiety and fear of what was coming next and the stranger said, “I know. It's special.”

Those words, “It’s special” didn’t escape my mind that day. Maui was one of the most beautiful places I had ever seen and knowing that God created all that I couldn’t help but remember that as special as that was, his greatest creation was us. The relational freedom to live in a way of knowing the good road to travel and blessings as we travel is knowing the life giving Spirit inside us that can lead us.

"For we eagerly await through the Spirit, by faith, the hope of righteousness. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith working through love." Galatians 5:5-6

Paul was reminding them that freedom didn’t come on their own and wasn't something they could earn but a abiding trust in Jesus and what he did for them. Like me they had to learn to trust walking in the spirit was a continuous lifestyle waiting and anticipating what was to come. Traveling with Jesus is remembering the roads I travel will have dangerous curves and blind spots but that the blessing will come when I remember the view is worth it all. Spiritual eyes to see things in a way that reveals the bigger picture is trusting in what cannot be seen. Trusting like my husband did with that stranger, moving forward and keeping in step with the Holy Spirit and yielding and moving forward a little at a time. I can trust guidance will come when I ask, “Father, show me where I am trusting is something other than what you have for me. Give me eyes to see joy and gladness amid the chaos and confusion.” Keep me focused on you King Jesus. 

So where could you yield to things you see in order for the view to become more focused?