Tag: Patience

Breathe

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Breathe

“Give me a couple days to come up for air.” “I’m just now able to catch my breath.” “When things slow down and I can breathe again…”

Any of these sound familiar? We run around, stretching ourselves so thin, we forget to do the very thing that gives us life: breathe. Denying ourselves the space and opportunity to breathe reeks havoc on our bodies, raises our stress levels, and renders us virtually incapable of handling “the small stuff.”

The funniest part? We don’t even realize we’re not breathing! “Breathe…” I repeatedly used to hear during PT. I would focus so diligently on whatever task was immediately at hand, that apparently, I quite literally forget to breathe. And as I unknowingly held my breath, things increasingly became more and more difficult. You feel me? Am I alone on this one?

When God created Adam, He breathed life into him. When Jesus returned and revealed Himself to His disciples, He breathed on them in order to receive the Holy Spirit. Breath and breathing, you see, are vitally important in life—enough that the Bible specifically references it more than once.

When you breathe, you allow room to receive. You create a space that’s conducive to work within. You enable oxygen to flow through your body, which improves healing, performance, and a plethora of other beneficial items. So why on Earth do we cripple ourselves trying to do more, when it causes us to forget the basics?

Hilariously (or not so), I wrote this four years ago. I am profoundly aware of the divine timing in which my own words resurfaced in FB memories. Isn’t it incredible how God works both through and ahead of us? I appreciate His timing even when I can’t fathom the “why” of the moment. Here’s where I take a deep breath, sigh, and audibly exhale.

Friends, let’s learn to breathe again.
Let’s stop drowning ourselves in the “more” this world idolizes, preoccupying ourselves with the devil’s “what if’s,” and withholding the very thing that gives us life. Let’s become better in the basics…it may just be the breath of life that revives us, giving us the opportunity to breathe life into others alongside our own journey.
Breathe, my friends. Just breathe.

Too Thin

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Too Thin

I am in a state of “too.” Too much stress from too many things going awry too frequently to handle this two seconds leaving me entirely too tired to keep my emotions in check. I feel like a two year old on the brink of a total meltdown: screaming, crying, both. I cannot find a light at the end of this weighty two ton tunnel. The load is oppressively crushing.

“Relax,” he says. “It’ll be ok—everything is fixable.” Fixable? Yes, deep within the recesses I can fundamentally accept this; however, there’s not enough surface tension to hold this truth. I am done…too “too.”

Have you been there? I have a frequent flier card for this place that I wish I could shred. Each visit more unpleasant than the last. Some might say, “It’s just ‘x’ you should ‘y.’” Here’s the thing: the value of my variables might very well be significantly different from the ones in your equation. I know full well that we all have “stuff,” and that it’s perfectly normal. What’s conflicting is my “stuff” never seems to fit into a “normal” box, and it keeps happening all too often, leaving me worn thin. It is in these threadbare moments, when I pray with open hands upon my knees, where I do not possess the words to proclaim or confess any conviction, that He meets me most intimately.

There is no masking my vulnerability. No explanation required. A seemlessly simple shift of my “I can’t…too much” situation to the One who is infinitely able takes delicate unraveling as I’m horrifically knotted, which has absolutely nothing to do with His capability and everything my reticence. Again I ask, have you been there?

“We know that everything God made has been waiting until now in pain, like a woman ready to give birth. Not only the world, but we also have been waiting with pain inside us. We have the Spirit as the first part of God’s promise. So we are waiting for God to finish making us His own children. I mean we are waiting for our bodies to be made free. We were saved, and we have this hope. If we see what we are waiting for, then that is not really hope. People do not hope for something they already have. But we are hoping for something that we do not have yet. We are waiting for it patiently.”

Romans 8:22-25 ICB

Waiting in pain (v 22). Waiting with pain…waiting…waiting (v 23). Saved…hope…waiting (v 24). Waiting again (v 25) then “PATIENTLY.” That’s the excruciating part! You see, the conversion is straightforward. We release and He removes, exchanging the pain for something far greater. It’s the patience in the waiting that’s difficult. Coming to grips with the fact that everyone else is also in some form of pain. We are not the only ones onboard the “waiting” boat. While our specific circumstance likely varies from another’s, we—the collective WE—are more than equipped to wait (through the power of His Holy Spirit). The tricky part is HOW we decide to do it. We know the correct answer: patiently; however, the process can be painfully elusive.

This brings me full circle to the “too thin” concept. We have sufficient means to “wait,” what we lack is a reasonable plan of how we should navigate the journey. Patience grants us access to a smoother cruise controlled lane—all that is required is removal of the desire to manage the speed.

So as I sit constrained in this uncomfortable place, wrecklessly driving myself down the wrong path, I must relinquish authority over the wheel and the gas peddle. Once freed from this burden, I still might not feel His skillful hand covering mine, but it does not mean He isn’t there. He is simply waiting patiently for me to let go of my binding “too thin” belt so I can finally relax…and receive enough.

Extraordinary

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Extraordinary

Can we all agree there are some touchy, hot topics that make us cringey? You know the saying, “never talk politics or religion in polite company,” because all too often, what ensues is anything but polite. We are deeply passionate about our convictions, which means, these types of conversations can result in a messy blood bath of hurt feelings. Ok, I think I’ve correctly set it up.

Here we go…

While around the dinner table the other night, one of “those” topics came up. As soon as the conversation started, I suddenly had the overwhelming urge to get up and do the dishes, which I despise. I wanted to hear how the exchange unfolded but definitely didn’t want to participate, because it was one of those “no win” subjects. Been there, done that—not fun.

This time, what I witnessed was a tremendous victory, for both participants. No one raised their voice, there were several “in my opinions,” and even a few “I can see your point.” The result? A completely civil dialogue of polar positions. What a rare gem and teachable moment, prompting me to say “I’m really proud of you!”

I should have added “thank you.” Thank you for showing me it’s absolutely possible: positively navigating a conversation that could have spiraled wildly wrong. Thank you for displaying unbelievable empathy: collaborating, so neither felt compromised.

I am proud of the good human we raised and the patience my husband provided. When you work together, genuinely listening instead of mentally listing potential rebuttals, you allow space to consider and come away less crushed. Speaking with conviction, in lieu of condemnation, grants the continuation of a civil conversation and takes courage. Loving each other well means conventional “compliance” looks different as you cultivate a gracefully evolved relationship. This is TRUE connection that extends well beyond the years spent under one roof.

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

James 1:19-20 ESV

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”

Colossians 4:6 ESV

So in my REA/L moment with you today, no matter the situation or topic, take heed of His words. Saving face is infinitely more valuable than a temporary victory; because in any relationship, when this wisdom in applied, the reward is mutually persued longevity. An extraordinary and precious gift.

The Way

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The Way

Have you heard the expression “as a crow flies?” “Charlie lives about a mile north of here, as a crow flies.” It’s used to gauge the shortest distance between two points; however, this idiom is usually followed up with: “but it takes me 20 minutes to get there.”

Let’s face it, we aren’t birds and we certainly cannot fly! In this picture, you can see the narrow part where there the two sections of road are closest together, though separated by the hill and trees. One might think, why didn’t the crew laying the road simply cut through there instead of going the “long way around?” Could be a multitude of reasons: cost, conditions, long term stability, or even something as simple as protecting nature. While it would be faster “as a crow flies,” to cross at this narrowed section, that is not the way it’s designed, intentionally.

This is sometimes how God works as well. We will never know “why” life takes the turns it does nor do we really know what’s around the corner. But for those who trust Him, and do not get caught up in the “why,” the way He provides is far more enjoyable and scenic.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord (Isaiah 55:8 NIV).

God may need you to slow down and enjoy His beautiful surroundings, as He takes you up a steep climb, which you hardly notice because you are in awe of His majesty. God may simply want more time with you, preparing you, before you face the sheered cliff, hidden by the trees, coming up ahead. God may be keeping an unforeseen danger away from you, carefully masked by His beauty. My friend, God absolutely has His reasons for the road you are on.

So in my REA/L moment with you this morning, consider this: on your journey, relinquish control of the way you THINK things should go or look. If He has placed something in your heart, by all means work at it, but do not get stubbornly caught up in the way your God’venture “should look” or “should happen.” The way is not your concern, the destination or goal He’s given you is. If you allow the way to be His way, He will never lead you astray.

Growth

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Growth

October 30, 2019

Infants are amazing to watch. Their growth with the first year of life is exponential. It seems like overnight, development happens. You can easily see changes as they are honed in and refined. Each day is a beautiful display of enthusiastic growth.

As we mature, growth becomes more difficult to detect. Maybe it’s because we are distracted. Maybe it’s because we are so set in our ways, we no longer hold the desire for growth. Maybe it’s because we the process has become so painfully slow that we honestly don’t recognize it.

Growth is gradual.

Growth takes effort.

Growth requires patience.

Have you thought about what area of your life you’d like to see growth?Where are you focusing your efforts? The screen I am currently staring at certainly won’t “grow” me; however, utilized correctly, it can be a vehicle towards growth. The time I spend, like bills in my wallet, have a direct impact on my growth investment. While the returns may be small and incremental initially, the longer they are deposited, the larger the return. The more I look, inspect what needs to be pruned and trim away where necessary, the more growth potential I see and ultimately experience.

You never know who is attempting to grow…or where…unless you speak up and ask. Your friends and family may not recognize your growth process, unless you are bold in sharing. You will not grow without focused effort, which can easily be derailed. You need to add in outside assistance as you seek to grown. If you don’t have support, or fertilizer, to fuel you forward towards your goal, you may never reach it. Transformational growth doesn’t just “happen.”

So today, I proclaim where I’m stretching and growing. I’m venturing out to learn about the video world, so that I can grow this ministry. This is uncharted territory for me, frankly intimidating, but is absolutely necessary if I am to continue obediently sharing and see real growth. Any divine inspiration started will make an impact. If this is where you are, my friend, I applaud you! I’d love to hear how I may support you. But consider this: how exponential will a divine inspiration realized, brought forth through consistent patient gradual growth, impact His kingdom? I don’t know…but I am child-like in my excitement to this process towards fruition.

Be bold with me! Share what are you working towards for the growth of others. It’s an incredible experience!