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!!!