Tag: Faithful

Pruning

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Pruning

My husband loves his knockout roses. We have several of them in our backyard. It is especially hard for him when I tell him it’s pruning time. During early Spring, when they just start blooming, is the best time to give them a hard pruning—cutting the roses back by 1/3 to 1/2 their size. To see the sudden wild and abundant blooms significantly reduced to a fraction of their size, is physically painful for my husband to endure. It’s like this for all of us…just on a different scale.

No one likes pruning. It hurts. It removes portions we think are beautiful and leaves a barren form in its place. It takes time to regroup, drawing strength from deep within its roots, before exploding again in an even more breathtaking explosion of splendor.

We are much like these roses.

Thorny, in the form of words or actions, “protecting” us.

Outstretched branches, or arms, “defending” our central core.

Blooms, which may seem perfectly lovely, only to be eclipsed by an infinitely more lavish display of magnificent blossoms than previously witnessed…

All of which require pruning.

“He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.”

John 15:2 NLT

Right now, my friends, we are being pruned.

It seems harsh.

We did not ask for it.

And yet, here we are today…

Waiting, in our reduced state, to bloom again, even more lavishly and magnificently than previously witnessed.

It will take time. But Scripture tells us, in order to produce more, we must be pruned. And yes, it absolutely hurts to have parts of our lives suddenly removed. But as we draw strength from our roots, renewing our covenant with our Creator, we unequivocally will bloom again…in a magnificent splendor, that not only pleases Him, but prayerfully, points others TO Him.

Today is Maunday Thursday. The day in which Jesus washed the feet of His disciples. The day of the Last Supper. The day where we are reminded to love and serve others. The day before Jesus was crucified for the sins we had not yet committed and assented into Heaven.

Today especially, let’s be mindful of this scripture:

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

We serve a God of hope.

A loving God, who keeps His promises.

A compassionate God, who sent His son—saw Him endure temptation, brutal humiliation, ultimately crucification—all to save us from sinful ourselves so we could live an eternal life with Him in His heavenly realms.

Please don’t miss hear me. I do NOT COVID 19 is FROM God, rather, I DO believe this:

“Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.”

Romans 8:26-28 MSG

God makes beautiful things, out of seemingly nothing. He WILL cultivate good from this strife. It’s ok if we feel frustrated, hurt, or tired during our pruning—He will carry us through, onto something good.

Faith

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Faith

December 8, 2019

I know a man who is battling cancer, though on a good day, his smile and infectious laughter will illuminate the room brighter than a Christmas tree.

I know a woman, who is battling real-flesh demons, in the form of family, though she will stop and fiercely pray for you as if she hadn’t a care in the world.

I know a child, who is battling through mental health issues, though you’d never know as she grabs your hand and invites you to join her game.

I bet you also know someone battling something…it may even be you. But let me share this truth with you: courage can be found in the midst of every battle. Suffering cannot snuff out hope, belief in a better life. Assurance in something more, bigger than the battle. It’s called faith.

Faith is so much more than religion. Faith is confidence. “Faith makes us sure of what we hope for and gives us proof of what we cannot see” (Hebrews 11:1 CEV). Faith is the bridge that allows us passage through our battles. Faith, though not tangible, is what we must cling to as it carries us onto a place of courage.

Courage for the next breath.

Courage for the next step.

Courage for the smile we wear, even and especially when we feel there’s nothing joyous about what we are battling.

Through faith, we can still call ourselves courageous instead of victims. We still have something we can offer. We still have worth. We still can contribute. We simply need to hold faith as our evidence.

What are you holding onto, my friend?

If it’s not faith, release it so you will receive this gift. It will not only change your life, but in the receiving, you will be given the opportunity to share. You will experience unspeakable joy, within the heart of your battle, as you share your faith. You will give another the gift of hope. And that, my friend, is worth holding on to…

REAL time

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REAL time

November 7, 2019

White hot tears suddenly welled up, threatening to erupt. I was instantly back there, remembering with vivid clarity. My breath caught in my chest, and I thought, was that whole thing really only two months ago? I blinked. Despite my efforts, a single tear escaped, cascading down the side of my face. A visceral reaction to an inanimate object, something I no longer needed and donated, yet the mere presence of it felt crippling. The crimson cane, leaned up against the wall in a back room, stood there taunting me.

I’m thankful I no longer require its assistance. I’m grateful to have my mobility back. I’m humblessed (that’s humbled and blessed at the same time) God healed me, answering my prayer. While that debilitating period seemed to last a lifetime, it disappeared as quickly as its unwelcomed appearance, eleven months later.

“Don’t let it escape your notice, dear friends, that with the Lord a single day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a single day. The Lord isn’t slow to keep his promise, as some think of slowness, but he is patient toward you, not wanting anyone to perish but all to change their hearts and lives” (2 Peter 3:8-9 CEB).

In sharing my experiences with you, being transparent with the hard stuff, allowing vulnerability to show, I pray you feel comfort knowing you are not alone. I pray you realize God isn’t punishing you. I pray your heart will soften and release the urge to wrestle. I pray, wherever you are within your struggle, you will reach out instead of retreat. I pray, my friend, every anxiety about the “what, when, or why” you are experiencing will wash away as you patiently wait for Him.

“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14 NIV).

This is Lets’s Get REAL Together at its core. A community that fosters authentic Christ-centered relationships in the restless moments. A mindset, grounded in Christ’s grace. A place where you come whenever you need to hear His truths. A space where our secular lives and spiritual lives join together, solidified into singular existence.

In a society that tries to divide us with labels, we need REAL time. Release Each Anxiety/Lie. I have been there, my friend. It may not look exactly like your struggle, but when I was faced with mine, I actively chose a winning team. I sought The One whose victory had already been declared. I praised Him as He carried me through the storm. I want that for you too! Let’s Get REAL Together!

The Subtle Sin

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The Subtle Sin

November 5, 2019

When contemplating the gravity of God’s Ten Commandments, we tend to give more “weight” to numbers 6, 7, and 8 (thou shalt not murder, commit adultery, steal). If we abstain from these “big three,” then we foolishly believe we are obedient in following His commands. While this is partially true, we are obeying three of His commandments, the recognition that there are SEVEN additional and equally important commands gets bypassed, lost in translation, much less applied.

Today, I submit to you that I regularly and unconsciously break the tenth commandment. “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor” (Exodus 20:17 NIV, emphasis added). No, I do not covet in a lustful way, which is how I believe most perceive this commandment to indicate…as if an extension to committing adultery. Breaking this commandment is something I call the subtle sin. Sin we frequently commit without realizing it. Sin that doesn’t hurt others (or does it?). Sin that appears harmless until it’s cleverly hidden thorns wound you, deteriorate your ability to live in wholeness, and rob you of contentment. Please allow me to explain…

You shall not covet…Covet (defined by vocabulary.com) is a verb: “wish, long, or crave for (something, especially the property of another person).”

To not covet, is to not compare. To not be jealous of another. To be content with yourself, your situation, your surroundings. The tenth commandment looks a little different now, doesn’t it?

We compare ALL the time, at least that’s what I catch myself doing! Ourselves to another. Our current self to one of five, ten, fifteen years ago. Our stuff to our neighbor’s stuff. Our talents to someone else’s talents. We covet when we compare. Period. This is a difficult concept to swallow, especially because it’s something we all do.

We live in a fallen world, where we wrestle and are restless.

We are ravaged by a hunger for more.

We constantly crave others’ things.

We complain. We compare. We covet. We live a live life of discontentment.

Imagine this with me. A well educated man of means, living fat off of lies, wielding justice as he saw fit. A man both feared and respected. A man who was suddenly struck blind, dramatically altering life as he knew it. Now, this same man, suddenly redeemed, had his blinders literally removed, and began experiencing a significantly different and difficult life . While living out his new-found God-given purpose, he spent years imprisoned, yet continued joyfully praising His redeemer. Doesn’t seem plausible, much less desirable, does it? However, this is exactly how the apostle Paul learned how to live in obedience of God’s Tenth Commandment.

Paul writes, “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Philippians 4:11-12 NIV). These words written from a jail cell.

“How is this possible?” you may ask. Why is Paul so content? What enables him to move past wanting, longing, and craving his former “comfortable” life? The answer is found in the next scripture verse.

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13 NRSV).

Paul experienced lives in extreme polar opposite circumstances, yet he actively chose contentment, gratitude and praise in the arduous–not through his own strength, but through Christ.

Can you fathom this type of peace? A life without coveting, craving, or comparing? An abundant life, glorifying Him, whatever the circumstances?

“Of course, there is great gain in godliness combined with contentment; for we brought nothing into the world, so that we can take nothing out of it; but if we have food and clothing, we will be content with these” (1 Timothy 6:6-8 NRSV).

My desire, in a world where coveting and comparing are commonplace, is contentment. Urban Dictionary states, “Contentment is true peace of mind and has absolutely nothing to do with any external pleasure or condition, but rather your attitude.” I want to live in this kind of joyful obedience. I yearn for this all encompassing peace. Will you join me, leaning into contentment and turning away from the subtle sin?

Details

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Details

October 28, 2019

I was recently asked to give an impromptu speech addressing this question: “What are you not seeing?” I took the obvious route. If I’m not seeing it, how do I know what I’m missing? Thinking about this today, my response would be different. I would say I am missing the details…

When I had sensory issues, it seemed I was constantly surrounded by the details. I heard noises and conversations with bat-like precision. I took in my environment’s colors with vivid intensity. My skin seemed to have more nerve endings, which had a dramatic effect on my body. Flooded with so many details all at once was both exhausting and exhilarating, at the same time. It caused me to pause. I had to in order to drink them all in. As I did, they afforded me great joy, often resulting in giggles. It was the multitude of details that made me increasingly aware of how much I was missing in my fast-paced “normal” life.

God is in the details. He brings importance to the smallest facets. His countless creations speak to the level of attention in His designs. They show the vast intimacy with which He cares for us. He not only wants us to share all our details, He delights in them (Psalm 37:23)!

It seems, nowadays, we don’t have a desire for details. They take too much time. They get in the way. They don’t leave enough wiggle room. We only want the highlight reel–enough information to get the “gist” so we can move on. Much like the Cliff Notes version for the books we were supposed to read in High School, or maybe that was just me in my immaturity.

I’m not sure about you, but I want to exchange my fast-action, wide angle lens for one that captures precious portrait details. I crave them again. I want to slow down, breathe in, and savor each bite, relishing in all that it has to offer. I want to stop and truly appreciate the craftsmanship within a butterfly’s wing, painted by my child. I want to go back to being methodical in my movements, preserving my energy for noticing those tiny treasures placed along my path. I miss the details, and the abundant joy that accompanied them.

“Open my eyes to see the miracles in your teachings” (Psalm 119:18 NCV).

For I know your details, Lord, are not by chance, rather are by your divine design.

Humble me to recognize them.

Help me to delight in them.

Enable me to share them.

This I pray…

Praise

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Praise

A year ago, I could not have done this: stand unassisted, loudly singing praises unto Him. For reasons I will never understand this side of Heaven, in less than twenty-four hours, I went from “doing all the things,” including running several miles a day, to suddenly not being able to hold up my own body weight, walk, or audibly talk. When I say this, most people’s reaction is, “Oh my word, what did you have?” It’s not the diagnosis I wish to share, rather the journey. His grace and mercy. His miracles. His goodness.

My days were filled with uncertainty, yet He was my constant. Eleven months of essentially relearning how to do all that comes so naturally to us, was unfathomable. Yet, this is what I did. And it is with absolute certainty, only through His “by design” intervention, that I am here writing this today.

I spent a week in the hospital, waiting for a diagnosis.

It took a month of waiting and three different neurologist before receiving a “one in a million” diagnosis.

Months of speech therapy and many more of physical therapy before I was able to function on a somewhat “normal” basis.

I waited. Daily, I sought Him. I prayed, “Lord, heal me whole.”

If you are in a season where nothing is going right, or according to what you’d planned, you are in a waiting period, my friend. I’ve been there, and it sucks. We want to hurry up, move on, get back on track. We want to grab the reins of our lives and forcefully maneuver it to our desired course. We certainly don’t want to wait. But what if you are in this “waiting period” because there’s something more? What if someone is waiting to show you a better path? One that you couldn’t have even imagined?

“So the Lord must wait for you to come to Him so He can show you His love and compassion. For the Lord is a faithful God. Blessed are those who wait for His help” (Isaiah 30:18 NLT).

In my wait, I started praising Him. I chose to believe He had something better for me. I knew He would heal me whole. I didn’t know how or when, but I leaned into His promises of making all things good.

And now, one year later, here I am. Writing, which is something I never fathomed. Sharing, which is outside of my comfort zone. Praising, which is all I can do. Because, my friends, He patiently waited for me. For which, I am immeasurably blessed.