Solid Hope

Note: Picture was from a time we lived in Paducah Kentucky. It was also a time God was moving Eric and I away to get our attention. 

 Solid Hope

“Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. For by it our ancestors won God’s approval. By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.” Hebrews 11:1-3

How does faith start? 

We are going to have faith in something. The more we live our lives for ourselves the more trust we will continue to put our trust in ourselves. It is only when we step out and believe there is something else to believe in we can begin to recognize our need for something better than what we are used to. When did that start for me? I was thinking about this recently and it would probably be right after I got married. In a time of God continuing to chase me down it was also a time God was beginning to show me the start of something that I couldn’t explain. If was shortly after that He would start developing my faith in Him. Prayers that were prayed would become opportunities to see that what He started He was going to finish. Not anything that I could accomplish only the work of His Holy Spirit working too accomplish His plans. And most of those times it was praying, trusting, and waiting on repeat. 

That is what faith is. We can’t explain it. My husband just walked in as I am typing these words and gave some news. Someone we love with bladder cancer has been undergoing treatment was doing tests today to see about the next step of surgery. The results just came and the doctors found no cancer. Or how I brought a friend to a worship and prayer and healing service to get healing for her 17 years of insomnia. To pray over her and ask God that He increase her sleep for her to report back only a few weeks later she is sleeping 5 hours a night when this hasn’t happened in 17 years. Faith. We can’t explain it. It belongs to us.

Christ brings solid hope for humanity. Faith is the cornerstone and our Cornerstone of Jesus Christ is what it is built in. Leaning into Jesus and trusting him for the outcome can grow our dependency in the waiting. Sometimes the healing doesn’t come and the waiting gets long but in that we learn more about holding tight to something that can’t be seen. Our faith in Jesus Christ. In the “not there yet” we are living knowing no matter what Christ is our Hope and on him we stand. Because in the end our faith will make us well. We can be healed from the inside out. And one day we will be completely healed when we see Jesus face to face.

Our faith will be tested. Just look at the big list in Hebrews of the Great Hall of Faith. All the names I have grown to love because they too are examples of me when my faith is wavering on my belief and what God says. Again it was always those people that kept trusting and moving toward what God said. The same is true for us. Even as I forget this daily and which I did this morning. Not even saying it out loud what was occurring within my mind and realizing once again I was trying to go before God. That is why He gave us the continual grace and mercy every single day. Like He did in that chapter that outlines all those that went before us. In all those stories the unseen was being worked out because His promise never failed.

Father,

We have to know you before we can trust you. But even that tiny mustard seed of faith can grow us into something that is unshakable. Not anything we can do on our own but the Holy Spirit in us moving toward obedience even when it doesn’t make sense. Forgive me when I am going before you. Cleanse me of that heart that continues to hold onto all the insecurities when you ask me to trust you again. Surrender is what you are looking from us because that is when we can release our wills and begin to experience your Grace and Mercy redirection. You are our Solid Hope and in you we stand King Jesus.  Amen

 

Unwavering Hope

 

 Unwavering Hope 

“Let us hold to the confession of our hope without wavering, since he who promised is faithful. And let us watch out for one another to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as we see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:23

If I could pull up a chair and tell you how much God desires to know each of you I would. I would probably meet you at one of my favorite coffee shops drinking one of my favorite drinks. A coffee shop is a place where I love to go. I don’t know what I love more, the people all around me I can see meeting up or the coffee itself that brings such a comfort to me that I look to every time I go. We were made for connections and I can see this around the coffee shops I go to. It isn’t disappointing when I take that time to meet up with someone for coffee but that too takes intentionality. Relationships take time. Our relationship with God is the same. 

I have been thinking more and more about this and how my relationship with something I can’t see but can know and feel and experience can’t be explained. I have been studying a book filled with faith lately and those witnesses who went before us to run this race of life to show us how we can keep our eyes on Jesus. 

Faith is active. Even in Hebrews that long list of faithful ones they had to keep moving toward something that couldn’t be seen. Abraham. Issac. Joseph. Moses. I especially love Moses because I can identify with that, “How Lord?” that has been so many times throughout my life. And once again I find myself with that question. Even as he continued to ask the Lord provided. Not one time did God not provide. He always provides what we need. It is such a deep encouragement to my heart by so many others that continue to ask those same questions with that same vulnerability. Why just today someone had shared that and I could relate. This time it was, “Why me?” I think that is a much harder process. We want to bring up all the things that should prevent God from using us in whatever He has given us. I know the enemy of my mind wants to grab onto feelings and instead it was the gentle prompting reminding me, “Why not” I felt that settled within my heart and mind. The Bible tells us we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do. 

So what if God was moving your heart toward believing, “Why not?” What would you tell Him?

Father,

I am so guilty of believing the, “Why me?” I am so guilty of making the list of impossibilities even when you have shown me you are the God who does impossible things. It will always be that ongoing process of moving toward you each day. Seeking you Jesus means I am releasing me. Releasing me gives you that access to move in to rule and reign in my heart and mind. So Jesus keeps bringing me back each day to know you more and more. Keep changing my heart to become more like yours so others will know you King Jesus. Amen

The Good Fight

 

 The Good Fight

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not my ways.” This is the LORD’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so my ways are higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55: 8-9

What happens when His thoughts start colliding with ours? I guess my better question would be when His thoughts become ours what happens within the direction of our lives?

It doesn't make sense in a worldly sense to replace my thoughts with the Lord’s. Mine are the exact bent towards this world that continues to persuade my heart to forget my purpose. Choose what makes me happy. You do you.  I have lived that way to discover the collision occurred even when I tried to keep that mindset. There was a reason God gave us His first command to not put any other gods before Him. He also gave me a free will to choose what to worship. It is only after I understand His heart that I will begin to understand His ways are not like mine for a reason.

To make sense of this is an ongoing process and remembering that He is God and I am not. I am not in charge. This is a fight my mind will have to remember and posture my heart will have to remain in. Not allowing my mind and heart to take over will be remembering to take every thought captive and make that obedient to Christ. 

I have been reading a book, “Renovation of the Heart” and it was talking about thoughts being travelers in the mind. My thinking and His Word is something I will always have to remember to align. The ability to take the two and dwell, ponder, and explore what God says can lead me to choose what He says is good. 

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7

The war is fought between our hearts and minds. Can you feel that? Just let that one thought begin to travel within my mind. If it isn’t good, perfect, and pleasing and  instead is anxious, fearful, or prideful it can travel right into my feelings and lead me to the choice I make. Nothing is hidden from God. Knowing I can say out loud, “Father I am anxious about (tell Him) and then the promise of, “Father you tell me not to be anxious and I can trust in you alone.” I can take my thoughts and allow His word to be the changing factor. My inner thoughts can take on the character of Christ when I allow the Holy Spirit to guide me. I become an active participant in the renewing of my mind.

It is a fight. The fight is hard but the victory is so worth it! It is faith to trust and obey. But knowing the One who goes before us in the battle is knowing our Victor King Jesus.

“The ultimate freedom we have as human beings is the power to select what we will allow or require our minds not dwell upon.” Dallas Willard

Father,

Help us to be conscious in all our ways. Align our hearts to your truth. The choice is ours. Help us to trust and obey in you alone King Jesus. Amen

Just Jesus

 

 Just Jesus

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! Everything is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 7: 17

We are so much better when we live our lives together with other like minded people. It is only when we allow the love of Christ to extend into this world together that others can see the love of God. 

We live our lives better together. We teach this to kids. Team work is working together to accomplish things so we can be better together. We need someone to lead us and we will follow something.  You see this is a classroom of preschoolers. They will have a leader and depending on who they choose can determine the level of chaos in the classroom. Regardless of what we believe we will follow something. We were talking about this the other day with our preschoolers at circle time. They had just celebrated Presidents Day so they were talking about leaders. Who led us, who were those people? Some of those responses were policeman, fireman, mom, dad, and teachers. Then one little one shot his hand in the air. He was so excited to share. He said, “God leads us” to which a little guy next to him said, “Oh I go to church where do you go?” It was that sweet reminder of those kids once again reminding me He is in charge. That isn’t the message all around me and the real struggle for me is the remembrance of my heart and mind to keep that eternal focus. That is why I value and hold tight those people that continue to encourage me and keep pointing me to Jesus. Just Jesus follow him.

It never ceases to amaze me how teaching kids will always teach me a greater understanding of how I am meant to live in a way of having a continual teachable spirit. Learning to become more like Jesus is a day in and day out stripping off my old ways to learn his. Some of those days I just want to push that pause button or even hide away. The more we share our lives the more others can see Jesus working in our lives. That authenticity that we continue to bear has its challenges but it is the reminder of myself becoming more like Jesus each and every time I share a little bit more. 

When did we become so conscious of what we share? 

Those little ones share everything! They never hold back and share everything that is going on within their lives and what is happening in their homes. What if we did the same? The hard, good, ugly things of following Jesus is what others need to hear. That is the only way they can begin to SEE the grace and truth that is leading us. 

“Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, since God is making his appeal through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf; Be reconciled to God. He made the one who did not know sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20-21

We are those witnesses of His mercy and grace and they see that through our lives. The choice is ours everyday. Will we let people see that? 

Jesus,

You are alive and working for us. We could never repay what you did for us. We are a new creation in you Christ Jesus. Continue to reveal those areas within our hearts and minds that are not allowing you full reign and rule. You are the only one worthy of all our praise. If it all passed away it would still be just you Jesus. Living here is a reminder to keep focused on your heart to love others that they too will see how they belong to your Kingdom. It all belongs to you King Jesus.

Amen

Choose Your Path

 

 Choose Your Path

“So Lot chose the entire plain of the Jordan for himself. Then Lot journeyed eastward, and they separated from each other. Abram lived in the land of Canaan, but Lot lived in the cities on the plain and set up his tent near Sodom. (Now the men of Sodom were evil, sinning immensely against the Lord.” Genesis 13:12

I always love when you can see in Scripture how things play out and then we can remember why God says what He does. The Lord told Abram to leave his family behind and go to Canaan and Abram brought his nephew Lot with him. It was soon after that a conflict of land would occur between Abram and Lot. God had given Abram direction and knew already what would come. God always knows the outcome but gives us the opportunity to choose His ways. Abram and Lot had gone two different directions. Lot pitched his tent merely in the direction of Sodom but later became a leader of that sinful place. Drawing near to sin will always draw us away from God. 

Where I choose to set up my heart is my daily choice. It has always been our choice what to worship. Even as God intends to be our first love so we don’t have to be in charge it is when we choose the alternative that leads to going the other direction. Instead of going the way God desires we go the other way towards what we want and that creates distance between me and the Lord. That is what sin does in our life. It affects everyone around us. It infiltrates our very core being. It spreads and consumes all around us. Just one look at the news and we can see how far we have distanced ourselves from the blessing God had intended us to have from the beginning. And if it wasn’t for restoration we would have to stay separated from God but it is because of Jesus we can be made right every single day. Each day is that opportunity for our hearts and minds to made clean. His mercies are new each morning. Great is His faithfulness! It is because the Son of Righteousness that we too can be made right with God.

What am I not letting go of? Is it pride? Is it not being enough? Those were just a couple questions God was prompting me with this morning. 

Wherever I decide to pitch my tent my heart will follow. Sometimes I read the Bible through my lens and others times words like “set up” and “seperated” remind me that what I choose to allow into my mind can allow my heart to follow and all of a sudden I am in that place again of realization what I am allowing in isn’t Good and Holy and Just. That is what sin does and if it wasn’t for the daily asking God, “Remove in my heart what needs to go and wash me with the clarity of your Truth” I would stay in that place of setting up myself on my own. And that never works. 

I think I dismiss that word “sin” too many times thinking it is dealing with those other people. When the reality is God’s Divine intervention is so that I can recognize it and turn back towards His Mercy and Grace. God hates sin because it breaks His peace and interferes with the way things are supposed to be. It is in a repentant heart that we can begin to acknowledge how we can move forward in all that He has for us.

I can’t move forward if I don’t acknowledge this. I found myself one morning having this discussion with God. I knew what He was asking was for me to once again trust Him but everything within my heart and mind was telling me not to bring it forth. That war between what I thought and what He says was occurring in my living room one morning. And as I sat there I realized what I was holding onto was preventing me from moving forward. I went into my kitchen and got down on my knees and prayed, “Lord I give you _ and know I am putting that before you. Please forgive me.” I stood back up and knew that acknowledgment within my heart had shifted what was going on in my mind. I was forgiven and now I could move forward. Just me and the Lord once again in our relationship that keeps Him on the throne of my heart. Day in and day out. 

Let His Divine Interruption awaken something inside your heart, agree with Him and bring it into the Light. What is it?  He is listening. 

Father,

Renew our minds. We confess those areas that we are putting before you. We lay them at the feet of Jesus and ask forgiveness so our hearts can move back toward you. We put on our new selves the one created in the Righteousness of purity and truth. Walking out our lives fully trusting that transformative power of you Jesus.

Amen

Walking Miracles

 

Walking Miracles

Studying more in the gospels of how Jesus healed people has shown me a depth of how the miracle was done in a way to always reveal the heart of God. The miracles were not only physical ones but of the mind, or healing of the soul, or physical in a way that fed people where there wasn’t any food or turning water into wine. That is just the gospels! That word miracle is one definition in the worldly sense I found was, “in an extraordinary event caused by divine intervention or a supernatural force. And the biblical definition I found was, “a supernatural event where God directly intervenes in the natural order, displaying His power and glory to achieve His purposes.” The God of the Old Testament was doing miracles in the New Testament and still is doing them today.

I was reading today about how Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead. This particular miracle was done in a way that was jumping off the page as I read it today. I have heard this story many times but today as I was looking at it through a lens of seeing the Jesus who was the Word was doing it. Lazarus is dead. He has been dead for four days and Jesus says, “Let's go to him.” Lazarus is in the tomb and greets Mary and Martha and Martha says, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died. Yet even now I know that whatever you ask from God, God will give you.” John 11: 20

Martha knew that Jesus was the God of the impossible. It was this verse that was standing out after Jesus told her her brother would rise again. “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life the one who believes in me, even if he dies, will live. Everyone who believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 

Do you believe this? Or will you believe the lie that nothing can be raised up from the dead?

A walking miracle. I was thinking about this the other day. Death loses its sting. Lazarus was brought back from the dead. The Great I Am was demonstrating that He was watching, leading, and saving us and He did it in a way that they would see the miracle of Him continue to show us His faithful hand. How many things have I been brought through because of His faithful hand upon me? 

“For you were once darkness, but now you are the light in the Lord. Live as children of the light- for the fruit of the light.” consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth.” Ephesians 5:8-9

A walking miracle because He empowers me, propels me, lifts me, and opens doors so I can bless others. 

Testify to the Light. 

God's Love Revealed

 God’s Love Revealed

“For you were once darkness, but now you are the light in the Lord. Live as children of light for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth testing what is pleasing to the Lord. Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them.” Ephesians 5:8

Paul was writing to the church that is you and me. I always believed these verses were for those “other” people but that is never the case. Paul is reminding them of why they don’t have to live out their lives in a way that everyone around them is doing. I found it interesting that the word “children” was used. It doesn’t say men or women but like a child. One of my favorite things about continuing to be around kids is watching them learn. And I learn from them. We are to never stop learning from Jesus.

The intimacy of the Father has been something I have been thinking about a lot lately. Maybe it is because the more I see around me is hate and greed and people showing the opposite. It probably has a lot to do with God showing me what it means to let Him move in and love others. The Holy Spirit is only what can empower me to live and love like Jesus. So walking like children in the Light is the reminder to stay close, lean in, and keep growing closer and let Jesus light the way.

“Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105

Before the Word was made flesh as Jesus God continued to seek out His people and make a way to dwell with them He instructed them to build a tabernacle so they could meet with Him. “They are to make a sanctuary for me so that I may dwell among them. You must make it according to all that I show you- the pattern of the tabernacle as well as the pattern of all its furnishings.” Exodus 25:8

God gave very specific instructions on what was to go into the sanctuary and one of those pieces was the Lampstand. I learned in that placement that this was the light that would illuminate the area in front of it including the Bread of Presence. “Put the Bread of Presence on the table before me at all times.” Exodus 25:30 The Presence of God was always over all and Jesus made it possible to receive that Living Presence inside of us. God has always desired a relationship with us. His Glory lives in us.

“The cross is the greatest act of intercession in history. It is the defining act of a Savior who stood between our fates knowing that we were spiritually destitute and crippled by sin, Jesus paid our debt in its entirety to rescue us and pave a way for us to know the Father God.” Zach Neese 

What stood in the way for us to know God Jesus moved when he chose to die on the cross. We now have access to the voice of God all the time. We now have the guidance of the Holy Spirit to guide us and direct us every time we ask and invite Him in. We can be like children and keep seeking and asking at all times. We now receive the intimate love of the Father that can flow out and meet anyone. Our love can be revealed through Jesus living in us. No matter what happens in this world.

Father,

You have everything we need to provide what we need to live here on earth. Sometimes we look around and wonder how it will work out. Sometimes we get discouraged and think that things will never change. You are continually working even when we can’t see it. You ask us to come and seek and pray. Don’t let our love grow cold. It is useless. We were sent into this world so that others can know the love you have for them. Reveal your love for others in and through us Jesus.

Amen

 

God of the Breakthrough

Note: Once and awhile I will get little reminders of the "old Angela." This one came a couple weeks ago from  childhood friend in a Senior memory book. I appeared to be happy but I was searching for so much more. On the outside I looked put together but on the inside I was looking for everything to fill that God shaped whole within me. 

 God of the Breakthrough

“Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31 ESV

What are you believing? 

I have been doing a personal bible study called, “Live No Lies” and it has caused me to ask myself that question? Not just a one time belief but a continual reminder of what comes in and out of my thoughts. To abide means dying to the lies in my mind so I can live in the freedom of living with the mind of Christ. 

“We live at the mercy of our ideas; this is never more true than with our ideas about God.” Dallas Willard

What I believe will shape my actions. For many years before I began a relationship with God I had the idea that God wasn’t for me but that He was against me. My idea of freedom was just do what I wanted and live in a way that as long as I was not hurting anyone I could do as I please. It was a slippery slope of allowing into my heart things that would draw me away from all God had intended for me. I had one foot in the world and the other in following God. Living my own way left me feeling shame and guilt but I would still gravitate back towards what I knew to experience the same let down. It became a soundtrack in my mind to listen to my wants and reject God’s voice. And eventually that voice just got quieter as I created distance and praise God He was still pursuing me. God was always watching over me despite my disobedience. I strayed but He kept pursuing through those people that He surrounded me with. God always keeps His promise because He never changes. His promise always remains, it is my choice to remember. 

His Truth brings clarity. The lies of the enemy bring condemnation. 

It is where the lies play in our mind that we can begin to recognize the soundtrack we are listening to. We can believe them and become them. I did for many years. I had to learn to trust God and what He says about me. I still do today. 

God wanted me to know His ways. It was never about control, it was that God wanted to be my first in everything.  He wanted me to know Him so I could then understand His best for me. I had to drop all my preconceived notions about God to meet my loving Father ready to receive me in my mess.  It is only when I knew what I needed in my life was a relationship with God and it was in that discovery I found the love that began to shape all I would become. 

I receive intimacy with my Father through His Word of and prayer. Praying the Word over it all. Saying back to God what He has spoken over me. That is what breakthroughs all the lies. The ones I wake up with and the ones that attempt to steal my focus all throughout my day. It is a weapon I am learning to fight with more each day. Knowing I can take ground and that the Word remains in me and that can determine my path. Telling God my needs in prayer and praying the Bible back to Him. “Father, I have a lot of insecurities about what you could possibly be asking me to do. You are the God of all possibilities and you tell me to trust in you in all my ways and lean not on my understanding so help me to acknowledge you in all my ways because you Jesus will guide my path.” Just tell Him what is on your heart. He loves to hear your voice. 

He desires to Shepherd our hearts. The God who desires to breakthrough and BE our understanding. 

What lie could He be asking you to surrender? Tell Him.

Father,

Coming to you with the lies we hold onto and laying them at your feet we can find freedom. They don't belong to us. Shame. Guilt. Not being good enough are all lies from the enemy. We take off our former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by our minds to put on the new self, the one created according to your likeness in righteousness and purity and truth. Help us to remember that posture of surrender daily as we live for you Jesus Christ. Amen

 

Do the Next Thing

 

 Do the Next Thing

“Ask, and it will be given to you, Seek, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives , and the one who seeks finds, and the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” Matthew 7:7

The action to keep going is something I am still learning to do. The enemy of my mind wants me stuck in the thought that nothing will ever change. Or maybe the thought is God isn’t working in the situation . It is in the seeking and asking and waiting God is building into me the reminder to keep trusting Him.  Because in that  I am getting to know a greater communion and connection with the Lord. It is in the asking and seeking He continues to show me He is in control but knows my heart and understands my desires and gives me permission to share that with Him. He wants to hear my voice. He desires to hear my voice. 

We were created to desire. He desires to know us and we can know Him through His written word and being reminded, “Ask me and tell me what you desire.”  That has been another reminder lately. I felt the Lord ask me these last couple days, “What do you desire?” and “What do you want me to do?” I have a list but there was the question of my deepest desire. What do you seek the most? He already knows He just wants me to say it out loud. 

 More and more I desire complete healing, not to have a drug that I am dependent upon, and those that I love to fall in love with Jesus. But my greatest deepest desire is that others would know the love of Jesus. Why? Because I think of my life if I didn’t have the Hope and Peace of Jesus. I think of my life having MS and how I could allow that fear to determine how to rule my heart and mind.  The enemy loves when I choose fear over telling God why I’m feeling  and thinking and remember God’s promises made for me. I can trust in you God. You are in control. 

So I must continue to do the next right thing. That is listening to the Holy Spirit to keep leading my heart to seeking and asking, and believing that one day all will be made right. The door is opened to allow Jesus to continue to usher in His guidance and in that I can find My Shepherd will show me the way. In that  process of doing the next thing we get to partner and be invited into all that God wants to do in and through us. We GET to partner and pray for God’s desires.

So what is your heart's desire? Tell Him. 

Father,

You created us to desire you. In the waiting and praying is an opportunity to know you more and more. Help us to keep moving forward listening to your voice, “Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart’s desires.” That is your promise. Putting your desires above ours can result in a deep understanding that prompts our hearts to keep doing the next right thing. Because in the waiting you are showing us what it means to fully surrender it all to you. We wait upon you God. 

Amen