Study His Word!!!

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2:15‬ ‭NIV‬

We were so moved this morning by Gods's Word that challenges us to make His word part of who we are.  Oswald Chambers says to "struggle until you can express yourself with His truth."  Don't give up understanding so that when you do God can then use that expression in your life to encourage someone else. 

Tim and I had quite a journey over being "pressed " this summer. We will never be the same.  Going through the winepress of God, although crushing , brings gorgeous, sweet wine. Press on in His Word.  

Provoking your own mind to think about the truth of God and positioning your belief after great study brings such beautiful truth to our lives and the lives around us. 

We challenged each other to a reading of the Word through the end of this year... maybe you might join us?  Before you lay your head down each night  read His Word and pray for God to reveal it's truth as you lay quietly......let it bring light and life to your soul and fall asleep in His arms. 

 

  

Leave the world, glad that you lived!

I read a quote from Tozer this morning that said of a man living a selfish life.... "when he dies, he leaves nothing to make the world glad he lived."

We talked about 2017 and how we want to bring in the new year LIVING  LIKE WE ARE DYING. The truth is about our lives, none of us have a guarantee of tomorrow, not the young or the old. When I look into the eyes of people around me  I want to them to remember my love and heart for them.  That my living was for Christ and that my greatest desire  for them was to know Him and love Him. I want them to be glad I lived.

We have been set free from the law of sin and death , set free to choose.  Choose to a live a life FOR others and FOR a greater good or to squander it all FOR ourselves.   When you know you are free to do what you will, and you will to be a servant you are walking the way of Christ.

Blessed is the man who follows Him.

Eph. 5:17 "Therefore do not be foolish, but understanding what the will of the Lord is." 

 

Desire of our Hearts

“Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭26:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"To know Him and make Him Known!"  I've heard this line since I was a youngster in youth group .  It becomes a cliche part of our prayers and the mission of our lives that we share with others however - do we really desire to know Him?

If so, the evidence of growth and maturity  in our faith will be present. We will become people who do not waiver in what we believe, people who stand strong during trial knowing God works all things for good and we will always love ... no matter what.  No matter who hurts us, betrays us, comes against us - we WILL love.  

If you want Him to be known by the people around you then just simply LOVE.  Don't overthink this!!!  

Knowing Him takes desire and passion. It takes intentional time set aside to study Him and breathe Him in to become one with Him.  You can't possible make Him known if you don't know Him yourself!

God - plant a real desire for us all to know you, pursuit you and love you.  

 

Our High Priest Shepherds Us!

The beautiful picture of a priest in the Old Testament was the way he postured himself toward attending to the fears and sorrows of God's people.  They saw the people as they really were, needy but loved, frail but protected, prone to wander but kept. The priest served God's people by reminding them what they were made for, to worship God.

The priest offered knowledge about God and deeply longed for the people to see salvation.  Our God as our High Priest has tended directly to our spiritual needs.

Hebrews 4:14-16 "Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens - Jesus the Son of God - let us hold fast to the confession.  For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tested in every way as we are, yet without sin.  Therefore let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us at the proper time."

I am so grateful for a High Priest who knows every little thing about me and loves me and who knows I'm frail and broken and protects me.  I know that He remains the same, even in my wandering.....

I love that He shepherds me.

 

Soles in Motion

I had the pleasure of speaking to the ladies of The Woods Church last night at their annual Ladies Christmas Dinner.  What an amazing group of women!!!   I was taken back by the number of ladies from young to old, the laughter and the genuine friendships in the room.  So beautiful.

The theme for the night was Soles in Motion.  When you pray, Move your feet.

The reason I was invited was because a few of the ladies came across my blog back in the summer about my obsession with my feet and where they would be and the condition of my heart during a pretty substantial transition in our lives.  

I shared through my experience that it is very possible God won't give you all the details to your next assignment until you move your feet, until you put your feet where He tells you to put them.

Mary had an unexpected and terrifying visit from an angel.  Once she got her head together enough to understand the announcement ( in the book of Luke - "...Mary... you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.") .... she asked one simple question... "How can this be?". Once the angel answered that question, Mary calmly trusted that if this was God's plan for her it must be the best plan.  This tells us something about her relationship with God, her faith was obviously deep enough for her to offer herself as a willing servant and MOVE HER FEET despite knowing all the details. Details like Jesus would be arrested, put to trial, beaten and crucified and ...oh yah,  that she would be present and experience the anguish of a Mother as her son dies a brutal death with the weight, the sin of the world on Him.

The true test of our FAITH and TRUST comes in our obedience... even when we don't quite understand and it's hard and maybe not even what we want.  Let us respond like Mary... "I am the Lord's servant, May your word to me be fulfilled."

We don't have to be who we have always been, or what people expect us to be.  We can embrace something different and new.  We can walk a new road and take insane risks.... turning the page into the next and the new.  God has a purpose and a plan for each one of us...

Scary as it might be, to step out into the great unknown..... wouldn't you rather live in a place where you are being empowered by an almighty God to do amazing things like a virgin birth, or walk on water like Peter, or step into the river and see the water pile up in a heap so you can pass right through like Joshua and the Isrealites?  Absolutely impossible without God.

Yes... I'm in.

Oh Lord - Instill in us a desire to hear your voice
Courage to listen
Bravery to obey
& all the Grit and Guts we need to move our feet!

 

Peace, Be Still!!!

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:10-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“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 ‭NIV‬

On Sunday night the 5 of us gathered around our table and shared in a moment of scripture, prayer and lighting of the advent PEACE candle.  Coming off a pretty crazy and chaotic week into another one you could tell by the silence around the table (not normal at our house) that the truth was settling in deep. We embraced the quiet and the weight of God's peace.  

mmmmmmm

We talked about how to experience that peace, real peace and how it takes our own effort and decision to be still and see God. To slow down even for a few minutes to recognize that everything we are doing is not that important in the scheme of life and that taking a drink of His peace and being still is definitely in order to set things right, especially this time of year.  Embrace the miracle of every moment.  

May the God of peace fill you today and may His peace reign in your heart and mind through out the week as we recall the ancient awaiting of the Messiah  and wait even still today for His coming again.

 

Kadin is 14!

As tradition has it in our home for birthdays, today we CELEBRATE Kadin's life!  Starting with yes... breakfast in bed.  Scrambled Eggs, toast and chocolate milk!  LOL

Psalm 139 " For you created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother's womb... 
...We praise you Lord because Kadin was fearfully and wonderfully made!"

We took time this morning to tell Kadin all the things we love about him...

Things like...

Full of passion, you know it for sure when he gets "that voice"!
Loving and Kind
Family guy, proud of us
Loves hanging at home
Loves inviting people over
Rolls with Respect & Honor as a Wessel Man
Jams his tunes loud and proud (116)
Spits bars like no ones business!   ("You got the Keys to the Kingdom!")
Stands tall in his faith
Crazy sense of humor that has saved us from some dark moments
Cares about people who are hurting or embarrassed, sympathetic
Takes time to tell people how he is feeling
Sick basketball skills and a mad passion to be better and better... love watching you play!

Nicknames include but not limited to - K, KK, KDiddy, Diddy, Did, KMoney, Dr.K, KillerK,...

Kadin Wessel - we love you forever and always.  We are proud of you and we celebrate you and your day of birth!  We cannot imagine doing this life without you.  Thanks for being YOU.

 

Declare Truth!

"For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

The prophets were God's mouthpiece, bringing God's Word to the ears of a people who would be lost without it.  Same holds true today, we would be lost without His Word.

Deuteronomy 10 tells us to.."fear the Lord your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, and to worship the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul."

We talked about what it means to RESPOND to God's Word as it is being DECLARED.  We all agreed that when you hear the Word of God being spoken it can truly penetrate into your soul and the secret places of the heart that only God could reach.  It really is like a sword....

One of our favorite verses is written above our dining room table and we do our best to live by it as God has told us it is good and what is required of us....  Micah 6:8....

To Act Justly

Love Mercy

Walk Humbly with our God

Our prayer today is that we will DECLARE God's word confidently, and that we will RESPOND accordingly.

 

Repent!

2 Choronicles 24:19 "Nevertheless, He sent them prophets to bring them back to the Lord, they admonished them, but the people would not listen."

God's prophets.... PROCLAIMED  what was to come, CALLED  for repentance and DECLARED the word of God. We are gutting these actions a bit  this week.

In talking this morning about repentance it just does something to my heart.  Makes it mush.  I guess that is a good thing although sometimes it is hard to process why.  I know that the Word of God says that it is "His kindness that leads us to repentance" so for that I embrace it and am reminded of His nearness.

We read the story of the prophet Nathan that came to David and told him of a story of a rich man taking from a poor man his only sheep.... and how David was so angry he said "this man should die!" and it was then Nathan told David "IT IS YOU"... because David had slept with Uriah's wife and then had Uriah killed to cover it up.  Oh man..... that had to sting..... talk about being called to repentance?!

Not sure where you are at this morning, but I pray we NEVER get too far from hearing that voice weather it is a modern day prophet/Nathan (friend) or the still small voice that calls us to repentance! Let us never ignore that tug, that warning that draw.....

Joel 2:12-13 "Even now, this is the Lord's declaration... turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping and mourning TEAR YOUR HEARTS not just your clothes, and return to the Lord your God."  For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in faithful love, and He relents from sending disaster."

 

Proclaim, Call and Declare!

John 1:14 :The Word became flesh and took up residence among us."

The Old Testament prophets were set apart to deliver God's Word to His people.  They all delivered various parts of the same message... the people need redemption and God's plan of salvation.  AMEN!

Jesus was both the messenger of the redemption and the means through which it was accomplished. Until Christ, prophets were only the bearers of God's Word, pointing to another that would fulfill it. Christ came to us a prophet bringing the word of God, but He is also the ONE who would accomplish the salvation He and all the other prophets proclaimed.

A prophet PROCLAIMS what is to come, CALLS for repentance and DECLARES God's living Word.  Jesus calls us to share in the work of proclaiming the message of mercy and grace He secured through His life, death and resurrection.

Isaiah 40:3 "Prepare the way of the Lord in the wilderness, make a straight highway for our God in the desert.  Every valley will be lifted up, and every mountain and hill will be leveled, the uneven ground will become smooth and the rough places, a plain.  And the Glory of the Lord will appear, and all humanity together will see it, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken."

I can't help but consider my own life, and the ones I love around me... when I read "every mountain and hill will be leveled, uneven ground made smooth.." that is my God, that is His power not mine and in the midst of my life... He does that for me when I surrender my life to Him.

Thank you Jesus....

One Thing

1 Corinthians 6:11 "You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord JESUS CHRIST and by the Spirit of our God."

Lately I've come across many readings and conversations that have challenged me to consider my "one thing".  Even though I enjoy many different "things" in life... if I can only pick "one thing" it must and always be JESUS.

Something about the resolve in answering that question so confidently over and over again gave me great peace.  A refreshing dose of trust and reliance on Him and His leading.  My one thing is JESUS and when He is center, when He is in control, when He calls the shots - what do I have to worry? What do I have to fear?  He's my one thing.

My passion is clear .... My focus is spot on.....To know Jesus.  To love Jesus.  To seek Jesus.

Beth Moore wrote a poem that says...

He is Jesus
The One and Only.
Transcendent over all else.
To know Him is to love Him.
To long for Him is to to finally reach soul hands into the ONE TRUE THING 
we need never get enough of.
JESUS.
Take all you want.
Take all you need.
Till soul is fed.
And Spirit freed.
Till dust is dust.
And Face you see.
Jesus Christ.
He's all you need.

On a path of transition that includes being still, listening and waiting nothing rests my soul like knowing He is all I need.  I sense an excitement and anticipation in my soul this morning as I rest in Him.

Grateful this day for my JESUS, in Him everything else is set right.

 

A Heart as Beautiful as Yours...

1 Chor. 29:10-20 ".....Keep this desire forever in the thoughts of the hearts of your people, and confirm their hearts toward you."

People are beautiful.  All of us are. Look into their eyes and begin to know another human being and you find pure beauty.  Simply beautiful. I love to watch someone I don't know at the mall or across the room and see them interact with life and consider the Lord's love for them.  How deep and wide the Father's love is for them.  How He would do anything to ensure they understood how much He loves.  It moves me.

Our hearts get broken sometimes, and we sure don't feel beautiful.  We get hurt.  We are betrayed.  The sting of life and even death grabs a hold of us and we wonder if we will have the fight to get back up one more time.  Holding on to the truth that "Greater is He living inside of me than he that is living in the world." helps us to moan and groan and turn from on our backs to up on our knees.  Truth like "I've been made more than a conqueror" makes the strength in our legs and arms strong enough to push up off the floor and lift our heads to see a glimmer of hope.   Praising Jesus in the hard times is when true beauty happens .... When I am overwhelmed and wonder if God can see me through, He often calls on me to worship.  To worship out loud... before His ears AND especially mine... so I can be reminded of who HE is as I rise to my feet once again.  

Lysa TerKeurst wrote " Bitterness, resentment, and anger have no place in a heart as beautiful as yours." and  "There is an abundant need in this world for your exact brand of beautiful."

May I encourage you this morning..... the world needs to experience a heart as beautiful as yours! Don't tuck it away, bring it forward and trust love, even if it hurts sometimes.  God will confirm your heart towards Him and will protect you and keep you.

You are so beautiful.

 

Raising Warriors

““And you, my son Solomon, acknowledge the God of your father, and serve him with wholehearted devotion and with a willing mind, for the Lord searches every heart and understands every desire and every thought......”

‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭28:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

As a Mom I've woke in the night countless times with one or all of my kids on my mind.  I wonder if I've shared enough of who God is to me for them to truly know Him on their own.  This verse was written by David to his son Solomon and it has carried me through my season of raising warriors. 

I've said often "I'm not raising just nice kids, I'm raising warriors!"  That's my drive , my grit, my dead center focus during this season of my life. This world and all its schemes and deceptions will be plenty and I want to do all I can to armour Devin, Livia and Kadin with a firm foundation in Jesus Christ. One that lasts and stands through crisis and big storms and makes them better for it, let's them see the bigger story!!!   Shoulders back, head high kind of faith trusting a God that is always, always, always in control !!!!

We charged the kids this morning from this scripture :

1. Know God

2. Serve Him with your whole heart 

3. Serve Him with a willing spirit

For He knows you full well.  He knows the motives of your heart and He desires all of you.  If you don't feel it, it's ok...ask God to change your heart and get you there.  Pray through and be a warrior!!!  

 

Step into it!!!

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭3:20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What is your capacity?

Could it be that you don't or won't step into it because you don't think you can?

You say, "I would if I could" but faith says " I could if I would" !!

This morning don't let limits define you.  Don't let what your own eye sees about yourself take away your hope of something new and amazing in your life.  

God has so much more for you ... your capacity is limitless.  You put limits on it.  You sell yourself short.  Could it be that you are not stuck at all but that you just stopped???

Jesus told the disciples to feed thousands of people with just a few fish and loaves of bread.  They looked at him like he was crazy, but they obeyed.  What happened?  He multiplied the food and there was leftover!! That's our God!!!

Be challenged this day that God can do immeasurably more than you can ask or imagine.  Step into it and see what God does!!  

Oh how exciting!!!!

 

Love does This....

1 Corinthians 16:14 "Do EVERYTHING in love."

The past week our family has had lots of challenges.  It's everyday life stuff, but when you add the dynamic of 2 crazy adults and 3 very active teenagers....let's say it makes for interesting days!  LOL
I love it, don't get me wrong.  I lay my head down at night and think I can't imagine life without these amazing people I do life with everyday.

As a parent it's my job, my charge to "grow them up" to encourage them to make wise choices and to guide them towards our loving heavenly Father as they get further and further from my embrace and my covering.

Last week Livia had basketball try-outs (she made the team, although I'm not allowed to make a big deal out of it) and she had a lot going with homework and life demands and she was feeling stressed. I'm kind of a meany mom when it comes to everyone doing their own chores and refusing to do it for them...and as I pressed her .... this particular day I saw pain in her eyes, struggle in her step and I sensed a nudge to pay attention and be led. Thanks Holy Spirit.

Now, I made her favorite food that day and that made her smile. Love what food can do for a soul!  I dropped her off the last day of try-outs with a "go get it girl, you got this" message and then I went home and took some laundry to her room.... when I opened the door my normal response would have been "Livia Grace!" but instead... God let me see her room as the condition of her heart.  I stared and cried and then began to clean it and as I cleaned God impressed upon me a prayer like no other prayer over my little girl turning into a young woman.  I loved her so deeply in that moment while picking up the trash, and washing her dresser and desk with lysol, picking up her cute clothing from the floor and all her graded pages of homework all with the letter "A" at the top...scattered all over the floor.  I made her bed where she lays her precious head every night and sprayed her pillow with lavender for the nights rest to come.... and then I wrote a note and left it on her pillow that said "Love does this"....

I don't tell you this to pat myself on the back because I miss it so many times, but I tell you this to give my God glory for getting my attention through the Holy Spirit and letting me SEE my girl and LOVE my girl...... in everything.

If only I could get this right everyday.... I love being led by my Jesus.

Double Portion

“Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭61:7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

"There are pieces of our lives and pieces of our hearts that have decayed. There are parts of us that have been so hurt, so wounded and so disappointed that it feels like hope will never come again. Life can knock us to the ground sometimes.

But God promises us that we don’t have to stay there. If you will wait upon the Lord and put your hope in Him instead of your circumstances, He will renew your strength and refresh your spirit. He will restore that which was lost, because He is a God of restoration!"  - Christine Caine

I love the thoughts behind this scripture from Christine.  God restores.  God heals. God gives back. God settles the score. God renews strength.  God gives new dreams.  God gives hope. God brings life to dead places.  God does that which we cannot nor should we try!!  It's only HIS hand that brings double portion!!

Rejoicing in our inheritance today!!! 

Run back to your Father!!!

“Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭15:11-16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Sometimes we can feel stuck in life.

Things didn't turn out like we expected, made a wrong turn or something happened to you beyond our control.  And now you are  stuck.  It's hard to move on and get back in the game.  

The prodigal son felt stuck...he was far away from home, spent all his inheritance, ashamed to go back , but too desperate to stay with the pigs and die .

What choices did he have?

1. Stay in his sin and regret and just die 

2. Surrender and go back to his father 

     and live. 

Where are you at this morning? 

I know it's hard to let go of the past and move forward but God is enough for each day and His grace covers it all . Let the work of the cross be real in your life today and be free!!!  Let's not be overcome by our past of shame and guilt!! 

Let's run back to the Father who loves us and let Him restore us!!!  And then.... may we learn from the past and stay in the presence of the Father every day.

 

  

Big or Small... it's about Him!!!

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

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭31:6‬ ‭NIV

We spent more time in prayer this morning - just felt we needed to !!  It's  exam day and basketball tryouts for the kids....  Lots going on for them and we could feel the concern on each of them to do well.  So we sit in His presence this morning for a bit longer.....ahhh

This world puts lots of pressure on us to make it and to be at the top and if we are not careful this can become our drive over knowing Jesus and loving Him.  

While doing well at school and making a team is good, our focus should not be on those accomplishments but rather how God can receive the glory in it. 

Like Steph Curry who says "I play for Him" !!!!  Everything we do should be done unto Him so that others will know His love.   

Let's be strong today!  Courageous no matter what we are called to do today - big or small - He is with us wherever we go!!!

 

Strong Faith - by Tim

“By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭42:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.” (1 Peter 4:12)

We watched a little of the Pistons game last night and KCP ran right into a screen by the other team and it knocked him down, hard.  

I was thinking about our faith and when we are devoted to knowing Christ through reading His word and prayer it becomes strong like that guard.  

So  ....when crappy things come (and they will) it hits something that doesn't move.  Our faith.  

Some will try to sell you on "sowing a seed " for your special blessing and covering , but we cannot get away from the fact that every disciple went through junk , no one walked out unscathed - but with faith they walked through it.

Same goes for us. When our lives are established in truth we can stand firm no matter what comes our way.  

 

 

For His name sake

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭23:1-3‬ ‭NIV‬

Such a classic, inspirational scripture this morning.  So yummy for the soul.  

We talked about the part that says HIS NAME SAKE ..... what does that mean? Well, for sure it can mean we may not like it, at least not at first!!!   Sometimes we can't see how something we are going through could possibly bring glory to His name.   Yet after we are through it and maybe even sometimes when we are in it - God is faithful to reveal His purpose through others looking on who see God's hand in it.  For His name sake.     

When we are walking in  "right paths"  we are offered safety and security and that alone can be a testimony to who God is to us.  God - Make us strong in it, trusting you to endure to the end.    

Our prayer shouldn't be for what is best for our family / for us , but rather what will bring Glory to His name!!!   For His name sake.  

Restore us.  Revive us. Refresh us.

For Your name sake!!!

 

 

Whoever FOLLOWS me ...

“When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””

‭‭John‬ ‭8:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

You have a choice today. Will you FOLLOW Him?  He is the light and when we follow Him there is light around us. We can see the path clearly and sense He is with us. Living in the light of life.    

When we don't follow Him , things get dark fast. Think about when you turn the lights off in your house or when it gets dark outside and how hard it is to see right in front of you.  We get out of sorts and we feel lost and we can't find our way!!!     Sometimes we run into things and even get hurt!  Hum???

Flipping on a light changes everything including your perspective.  Follow Him and  live in the light today !!!

 

 

Love Part 4 - Let love lead !!!

“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:6-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Delighting in evil sounds like a horror film or some halloween madness !!!  I think though that it really is pointing to the deception of our hearts and flesh. The heart is deceptive beyond all other.  Motives are what reveals truth.  Rejoicing in truth even when it hurts and is painful will bring life and love. 

Protects - I hope that people that really love me will protect me. Protect my heart, my physical body and my reputation. Love others by protecting them.  

Hope - if we have no hope, we have nothing.  We must not give up even in the darkest moments.  Love hopes.  God is love so he brings hope to our lives. Don't give up. 

Perseveres - This word!  Let's get ahold of being strong in the Lord and never giving up hope so that others will see us win and know our God does that kind of work!!! Testify of his love by persevering.  

Never fails -This truth has to be real because if not I'm in trouble.  I fail a lot.  I worry about failing a lot.  Love covers a multitude of sin and it rights wrongs.  It does not fail. 

Let love lead and your soul breathe!

 

Love Part 3 Paused

".....it keeps no record of wrongs.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We decided to pause on this "record of wrongs today".   Talked about the king who forgave the debt of a man who went out and then held debt someone owed him against him.  So the king had him beheaded.  We are forgiven the same way we forgive others. Oh be careful how you treat others!!!!  No one has ever offended us the way we have offended Jesus , so how can we hold them responsible for their petty offenses as we have been freely and unconditionally forgiven of our great offenses.

Get some real perspective today!!!!

 

 

LOVE Part 3

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is NOT RUDE , it is NOT SELF SEEKING, it is NOT EASILY ANGERED , it keeps NO RECORD OF WRONG.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails." 

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭13:4-8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Not rude - Lord , would you expose our tendencies to be rude and inconsiderate without regard for others. 

Not self seeking - Lord, please show us quickly when our motives are selfish. May we see the weakness in making everything about us.  

Not easily angered - Lord how quickly we can fly off the handle without any thought for how it might hurt others.  We pray for self control and awareness to be calm and yield to your Spiirt. 

No record of wrong - Lord, this one is hard when we've been hurt deeply by others and/or when we experience a repeat offender.  Who are we though to hold on to a list when you've forgiven our sins and cast them as far as the East is to the West.

Oh Lord let your love change us and grow us.  ❤️

  

LOVE Part 2

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails.- 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

We are gutting 1 Corinthians 13 (The LOVE chapter) this week.  Today we talked about ENVY and BOASTING. 

Envy forms from a jealous spirit, one that can't be happy for others that are succeeding or in a place of "feeling good" about life.  Envy will eat you up from the inside out.  It is sooo much better to embrace a real spirit of contentment with who God made YOU to be so that you can rejoice with others in their times of celebration and joy.  Don't hold back such a beautiful part of life by being bitter and envious that you don't have what they have.

Boasting is evidence of pride in one's life.  When you find the need to "one up" someone every time a story is told or when you have a great need to make sure people know all the great things you have done or can do... you are living a life of selfishness and you are missing out on the joy of just simply being and enjoying the beautiful lives of those around you. 

LOVE IS NOT PROUD!

Wake up ! Love does NOT envy, does NOT boast.

 

LOVE

 Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous, it does not brag, and it is not proud. Love is not rude, is not selfish, and does not get upset with others. Love does not count up wrongs that have been done.  Love takes no pleasure in evil but rejoices over the truth.  Love patiently accepts all things. It always trusts, always hopes, and always endures. Love never ends. - 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

This past weekend we sat down with each of the kids and did some goal setting. For some time we've been hearing each of them say things like..."I really want to get better at ..." or " I'd like to spend more time doing...." and we all know that life moves fast and that there is never quite enough time to get it all done... so we just made time for each one on Saturday and now, they are on their way with goals written and accountability set.  Good stuff. Here's the link to the goal setting workbook we used:

https://ruthsoukup.leadpages.co/goal-setting-workbook-2016/

Within the goals was a line about RELATIONSHIPS.  Yep... each other.  Love. It was sooo good to talk to each one about how much relationships mean OVER the other things of this world and over BEING RIGHT.  When you chose to be RIGHT over ending right, you've just proven how wrong you were all along. LOVE like this is described in 1 Corinthians 13 and is what we see when Stephen was stoned for his faith as he was being killed he prayed "Father don't hold this sin against them."   It does take effort and yielding but the fruit is amazing! That decision is inspiring us still today to rise above and LOVE.

Looking forward to memorizing this verse with the kids this week.

Love is patient, Love is kind......

Let's go!

 

An Effective Prayer

James 5: 16 "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

This scripture is one I memorized when I was 16 years old during my summer in India between my junior and senior year of High School.   I found it to be one that really carried me through a time of growing my faith since I was not among close friends or family at all.  Everyone I traveled with was "brand new " to me, therefore the comfort of my Heavenly Father and my time alone with Him was more precious than ever because it felt like......home.

Praying, was a big deal to me then because it was the only time I felt "not alone" even in a crowd of people.  Of course, get back to the family and friends and the busy-ness of life and prayer drops down on the importance/need list.  Bummer.

Truth though, as we grow in Christ we start to understand what FAITH can do, and prayer that has faith attached to it AVAILS MUCH.   A fervent prayer from a child of God who believes wholeheartedly that God hears and WILL answer is powerful and effective.

Let us not fail to pray, but rather choose each day to set apart time to talk to the one who CAN and the who WILL and the one who LOVES us all.

Don't look back!!!

“This is what the Lord says: “In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances,”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭49:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Some of us look back because that was the "glory days" and life was good and right and God was moving then and so our focus and energy points to those days.  Some of us look back and can't seem to get over "what happened" and we live in a state of unforgiveness and bitterness and talk about the event as if it happened yesterday!!

Either approach is not healthy for a life that still has breath.  We should never live today in the past because then we don't get to really embrace what God has for us today!!

We liken it to our bonfire pit, the next day the ash may still be smoking but the fire is not blazing - if we were to go out there and sit by it like we did the night before and talk about what the fire used to be .... attempting to warm our hands by cold ash we are missing out on what is happening right now somewhere else and are wasting precious time!  The fire is gone!  Let's go!  There's more to experience and live for BEFORE us not behind us.    

Sure, take a quick , happy look backwards to remind yourself of His grace and goodness , but then strain forward to what is ahead!!!

Soak or Snap?

“Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world......"

‭‭John‬ ‭18:36‬ ‭NIV

We are called to be like Jesus. Although Jesus walked this earth in a different time and age we must copy his discipline to not be pressed and rushed.  

The central thing about the Kingdom of God is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ NOT public usefulness to men.  

Having no idea what strain is ahead in our lives or how our cicumstance may change we must SOAK in God. If instead we invest our time in overactive energy we will find ourselves not fit for what comes,  but instead we will SNAP when the strain comes.

Soaking in God prepares us and gets us rooted and grounded in God so that we will remain true to Him to matter what comes our way!! 

SOAK!!

Unashamed - part 2 by Kadin

Kadin shared a bit more from the book he is reading by Lacrea.  He shared with us about Lacrea's story of first coming to faith and having a season of just telling everyone else how wrong they were.  He had a reason (he thought) to tell them of their wrong ways, but in doing so he was hurting people.  He was young in his faith and his intentions were good, but the action was actually hurting the name of Jesus and the people.

He said it was some feedback on his first album that caused him to realize that he was not approaching the opportunity to share Jesus in a way that caused people to respond but rather repel.  Judgment doesn't attract !!! 

He's since then turned from a critical eye and judgmental spirit to a heart of love and compassion for others.  He recognizes now that it's in our love and actions that people see Jesus,and it's  not from our words of condemnation. 

It's HIS kindness that leads people to repentance so let's let that kindness flow through us today and everyday !!!

What if I Gave Everything ?

https://g.co/kgs/7Bs2rU

“David said to Saul, “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine; your servant will go and fight him.””

‭‭1 Samuel‬ ‭17:32‬ ‭NIV

The link above is a song by Casting Crowns called What if I gave Everything?     

This question should be in the forefront of our minds everyday as Christ Followers.  What if I held nothing back?   What if I moved from the shallow water to the deep?  What if?  What if???

Young David did it... no holding back . Gave it all as the giant Goliath threatened his family, their country , their very lives.  He said "with the power and strength of My God " NO!  Not today!  I'm stepping out and giving everything and he DEFEATED that giant !  

Same goes for our world today!  Don't be afraid !  Step out ! Have faith that God has your back and you can't fail.  Seriously as long as you have God on your side you can't fail. It may not always turn out as you want it to or expect it to but it's never "a fail" ... it's a step towards what is next and toward making you who God intended you to be.  

Don't hold anything back!  

God is enough

“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭73:26‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This scripture was Livia's several years ago.  We wrote it out and put it beside her bed.  She had some fear and anxiety and she was going through some pain in her body.  It's amazing what prayer and focus and the Word of God can do.  

It was such a reminder that God understands our pain and our emotion.  That He wants to be our strength and to be all that we need.  We really do have to allow our hearts and minds to get there and trust him.

I was reminded of this video when we read the scripture this morning: 

 https://youtu.be/-i8vsMPFm78    

God is enough. 

Examine yourself not others!!!

“For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”

‭‭James‬ ‭3:16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Have you ever been envious of someone to the point of not liking them because of it?  Have you ever been in a season where everything is "about you"?  ....probably hard to know that you are doing that , but I'm sure the people around you could tell you when you are!   Lol 

Man it's ugly. It's so not Christ like.  God doesn't just want us to love he requires we love , no matter what people have done to us or what the situation is.  

 Disorder is chaos. Have you been there? Yuck.  Ever thought maybe you are stirring up your own disorder and that it's not really others, but rather your response to them that is causing the chaos?   Take inventory today on YOU and how YOU respond and how YOU act and what YOU say instead of everyone else. Just try it for a day!!!!

And hey - give yourself a break from such heavy thinking and overload (lighten up!).....and  for Heaven's sake give someone else a break.  Unveiling others flaws is easy....but examining your own depths takes risk and vulnerability, but that is where true growth happens. 

Movement of God by Gina

ACTS 1:8

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

I did a study a while back about the evidence of a true movement of God. Of course the fruits of the Spirit  (Gal.5)  Love, Joy, Peace, Patience,  Kindness, Goodness , Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control are indicators of a life lived in Christ but a "movement" is something that is happening among people.   I love this list of things that are evidence of when God is moving and alive :

*Strong commitment to prayer

*Genuine reliance on Holy Spirit

*Sincere repentance and personal confession 

*Serious accountability 

*Deep desire to walk close with Christ 

*Generous givers

*Great emphasis on the Word of God

*Aware of all issues that impact the moral and spiritual life of community 

*Dramatic demonstration of reconciliation and restored relationships

*Strong families

*Crazy on fire heart for evangelism 

Each one of us shared this morning which one of these jumped out to us. Each of us chose a different one ...which was kind of cool!!! . Thank you Lord for the reminder of what it looks like in our lives when you are moving. 

 

Unashamed by Kadin

Kadin read some of Lacrea's book (a Christ follower who is a rap artist) last night and woke up this morning wanting to share.

He read about Lacrea's life, his testimony  of his young adult years and how he ended up in rehab after some pretty poor decisions and devastation.  It was there he started to read the Bible and found a new way of life...

After getting out he found those same things, those same temptations there to pull him back down and it was only the grace of God and His word that kept Lecrea on track. 

He shared how saying you are a "Christ follower" is easy to do in words but living it out day to day because you love Him NOT because there are rules to Christianity is quite another.   

Let us KNOW our God and LOVE our God and LIVE for our God.  

Choose who you will serve THIS DAY!! 

He Never Changes!!

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13:8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I was reading through my journal from 2015 and recognized a common thread ..... while what I wrote about then till now has changed - the truths written about who God is and my resolve to trust Him and lean into Him HAVE NOT.  He remains the same.  Steadfast.  Dependable.  Solid. I love that. 

Although He never changes , He changes everything. 

Indeed He does!  So ... This day I set out to embrace the change while leaning into  the amazing truth that He is the same and deserves my all. 

Perseverance

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

‭‭James‬ ‭1:2-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It is so good to be back home with the kids. It's been a whirlwind 8 days of coming and going for Tim and I and now we get to settle into some homecoming activities this weekend. Ahhh.....

This scripture reminds us this morning that this life is short (we told Devin ..."high school is a blip on the radar!" ) and there are many lessons we can learn or we can skip over without even realizing it.   How much better to let our faith bring us to more and more maturity and understanding of the purpose of our life.  When we embrace the process of trials they refine us and change us and we settle into a contentment and peace that comes from only Him.  Lacking nothing. Amen! 

What is inside comes out!!!

“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭6:19-20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Would you rather be fed dry bread crumbs or living water?  This was the question for us this morning after we read this scripture. 

We have the ability to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in you or to lean into our own understanding.  In these moments we have a choice.  Yield or not ?

We offer dry bread crumbs in our own efforts and living water with our words and actions when we are IN Him. 

Let it be Lord - that He takes the lead!!

Tim and I are headed out to meet some friends in ministry in CA today!  We will keep you updated on our adventure!!

Grateful for the opportunity to come home this weekend and connect with these beautiful human beings !!!! 

Crushed and Loved

Oh man.  My heart is full.  I hardly know how to put in words all that God is doing FOR us. Yep for us. I just responded to a dear friend back home in Michigan while here in Seattle on text that  "I really think He is just loving us!"  When asked if God is talking to us.  I do , I think He's LOVING us.  I sense a season coming and upon us that is giving us freedom to be okay with just being loved.  Restored. Poured into. Rejuvenated for the next and the new. 

Talking about being loved , yet another dear friend sent affirming words today of POSSIBILITY & PURSUAL ... again just felt like a hug from Jesus himself.

THEN.....we went to a chapel service today where they sang No Longer Slaves and yep you guessed it How He Loves!  Tears flowed as I felt warmth within and new breath in my lungs. These 2 songs just happened to be on my last set at Naz on Sunday with amazing , unforgettable friends...my heart soared in worship.  

And the kicker was really this morning as Tim and I compared notes of our quiet time together.  We both read about being CRUSHED.  Tim read Oswald Chambers today .... here is a little bit:

If we are ever going to be made into wine, we will have to be crushed—you cannot drink grapes. Grapes become wine only when they have been squeezed. To be a holy person means that the elements of our natural life experience the very presence of God as they are providentially broken in His service. We have to be placed into God and brought into agreement with Him before we can be broken bread in His hands. Stay right with God and let Him do as He likes, and you will find that He is producing the kind of bread and wine that will benefit His other children.

While I read that an olive must go through a lengthy process which includes washing, breaking, soaking and waiting to be prepared for usefulness. Recognizing that it's in the crushing that the most value comes, the oil. 

Embracing being loved and crushed today. Wow.  I'm exhausted and it's only 2pm here.  Lol.  ❤️ 

 

Hope in waiting

Our last Sunday with our church family at The Naz has come and gone.  Packed up the office and turned in the keys on  Tuesday. Wow. Loved that place.  Lived and breathed that place.  Never thought we'd leave that place. We will always love the people deeply...  

But now, here today - after the stir / the interruption early spring 2016 we feel differently. We feel called.  We feel excited. We feel scared.   We are grieving for sure and will for sometime,  but we have affirmation after affirmation that there are people "in waiting" for the hope we have in Christ and there's more.  

True - we are still in the unknown of where and how and who or what.....however...today  we are in Seattle , WA - talking with amazing and beautiful people who love Jesus with all their heart and just want to make a difference in this world. They have already been so life giving and empowering. There's a whole world out here guys!!!  

On the plane I read the prayer of St. Patrick ( who has nothing to do with green beer and leprechauns, but everything to do with a revolution to share Jesus) ..that ends with this ...

Let it be our prayer everyday of our lives. 

Love you all....
 

Wherever you go!!!

9Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lordyour God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

 "I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go ." Gen 28:15

"My presence will go with you, and I will watch over you wherever you go." Ex. 33:14

We love this "WHEREVER YOU GO " statement right now.  So many people are saying it to us, so many songs we are singing say it and the word of God nails it!!!

God does not require us to go alone.  He goes before us and is with us.  With such a big decision ahead of us for what is next we rest in the truth that no matter what we choose HE IS WITH US.  He does not abandon us , he is not moved by the unknown , he sees us, he knows us and he is intimate with us.  

Rest in his certainty in the midst of your own uncertainty.  He's bigger!!!!

 

Christ in me

“I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way—with all kinds of speech and with all knowledge— God thus confirming our testimony about Christ among you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will also keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1:4-9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We received many words of encouragement from the church yesterday and then many more as we read the cards from those who wanted to share a few words through a card.  One note in the card referenced this verse and it was a good gauge of what we want everyone to always see in us wherever we go.  

 

To sum it up it says ....

 

“I thank God for you because of the grace given you in Christ Jesus” 

“In Him you have been enriched in every way with all kinds of speech and with all kinds of knowledge”

“God is confirming our testimony in Christ among you”

“You do not lack any spiritual gift”

“He will keep you firm to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ”

“God is faithful”

 

It was so encouraging to hear  that they saw Jesus in us ... in our gifts, in our faith, in our passion for Jesus.  The things they said they saw and that  they would miss were all about our relationship with Christ. Wow. Eye opening. We want our legacy everywhere we go to be exactly that.  We want people to see Jesus in us and not us, we want them to thank God for us because of Jesus in us, we want to be a light to this world.  What a beautiful day of hearing from our brothers and sisters - affirming God's work in us.  Thank you.  

 

Take it captive - by Kadin

For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he- Proberbs 23:7

“We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”2 Corinthians‬ ‭10:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We have a tendnacy to be victims of our thoughts and emotions. 

We will say we are in a "bad mood"  as if it's like a cold or the flu.  Don't we have a choice over our thoughts and emotions? 

2 Corinthians 10:5 says TAKE EVERY THOUGHT CAPTIVE and make it obey Christ.  We need to know our power in Jesus name to fight those thoughts that bring division and pain and to rise up and say NO this heart belongs to God and that thought is not allowed here!!!

How we speak , how we act comes from the abundance of what is going on in our heart and minds. Let Jesus rule there.  

 

Hope and Inheritance - by Livia

“and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭1:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Whatever God does becomes a means toward something else that He is planning to do.   God doesn't save us to sit down and enjoy life with our feet up!!   No!!!

His provision and what is before us is always greater than that which is behind us.  We are saved to be a light and to build His kingdom.  This is NOT a figure of speech.  This is truth from the word of God. 

He gives us hope and an inheritance to be shared by loving people with our lives.