Everything Is Going My Way

And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose,...No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! Romans 8:28, 37 NET

 As I watched Brian drive away this morning I looked around. The words to a song came "Oh what a beautiful morning. Oh what a beautiful day. I've got a beautiful feeling every thing's going my way."

While it is a beautiful morning, overcast, but the sun shining through, green, growing, peaceful- beautiful, I do not have that wonderful feeling of everything going my way. Quite the contrary if I look at things. However, I have something better.

I have the promises of God. Romans 8:28 was the first to come to mind.  "And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose," (NET) We really should read on. All things working for our good is a wonderful promise, but there is more. Verse 29 tells us we are predestined, planned out ahead of time, to be conformed to the image of Jesus.

Meditate on that for a wonderful feeling! To be assured of being conformed to the image of Jesus! Verse 30 says we are called, justified and glorified. That is quite a package. God is doing it all.

  What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Romans 8:31 NET

Who indeed? Not that we won't have opposition, we will. The more favor God shows us the more opposition will rise against us. It won't do any good though. God Himself is for us! I don't know about you but I need this verse burned on my heart.

 Who will bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Romans 8:33 NET

Do you avoid God because He must be so tired of you messing up? I do. I get lost in focusing on my mistakes and don't love or accept myself so how could a perfect God? I don't have to know how. I must take it by faith. I can explain it to you, but I need it real- where I live from- to be changed.

Who is the one who will condemn? Christ is the one who died (and more than that, he was raised), who is at the right hand of God, and who also is interceding for us. Romans 8:34 NET

I often feel I disappoint Jesus. I don't walk in the freedom and authority He died to provide. Verse 34 clearly tells me He is not condemning me. He is praying for me. Jesus Christ the perfect Son of God is praying for me. Praying for you, too. Once I get through the weight of that- what a beautiful feeling!

As I said, with all this favor here comes the opposition.

35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will trouble, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written, “For your sake we encounter death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” The opposition will come and it will come to nought. 37 No, in all these things we have complete victory through him who loved us! Romans 8:35-37 NET

Complete victory! Complete victory over any opposition because Jesus who loves us took care of everything.

 Jesus is praying for me. God is conforming me to the image of Jesus. I have complete victory through Jesus who loves me.

Have a beautiful day! 

Blessed Holy Week

I am taking a break again this week. Easter is About Jesus: Family Devotions for the Easter Season is in it's first season and I was not as prepared as I thought I was.

At church on Sunday we had an inspiring teaching about Holy Week. I'm sharing the link with you.

The Centrality of Our Holy Week - Sondra Markwardt

She has been studying Jewish history and culture, it brings such a richness to the Easter story. There is a bit of "family" business at the beginning, wonderful things God's has done in our house, then the teaching. I hope it will bless you in your meditations of Jesus this Holy Week.

It's all about Jesus! I hope to get notes up, too. If I do I'll add a link here.

Check out Focus on Jesus for devotions and activity ideas I've posted this season.

Trading Disappointment for Identity

The goal of the process of dealing with disappointment, discouragement and disillusionment is to replace them -one of the great mysteries of the Kingdom. We trade disappointment for out identity in Christ Jesus. We trade discouragement for God’s courage. We trade disillusionment for God’s hope and purpose.

When our dream dies we are disappointed, in our emotions. It can also seem we’ve been dis-appointed, removed, from our actual appointment in life. The dream dies. Now what?

I struggle with remembering my identity and knowing my appointment when I revert to trying to figure everything out. I lose my identity when it was tied to my dream instead in Christ alone. I don’t always walk by faith very well. I like things very planned. I like to know what to expect. I have learned to walk by faith in many areas and in many seasons. When a dream dies it seems to shake me and cause me to question everything, or almost. Maybe that is good. A refocusing, realigning process.

The trouble comes when we confuse the disappointment in our emotions for actually being disappointed or removed. In the very real and powerful emotions of grieving we can think our identity has been lost, but it’s only the dream, and possibly only for a time. We have a God of resurrection.

I think we see this with King David in the Psalms. He expresses his deep disappointment and hurt even to despair. In the end he always comes back to the goodness of God in His promises. He goes through the grief and the pain of a dream dying. He expresses his disappointment but comes back to his divine appointment. He remembers who God is and what God has appointed him for and the promises made to him. We must grieve and go through that process when a dream dies. Even though my dream has died and I'm hurt I have not been disappointed. I still have purpose. I still have calling. I still have good works to accomplish.

God knows who he designed us to be and what he designed us to do. You have an unchanging identity in him. You may have specific verses that remind you of this, hopefully you have words of hope and encouragement others have spoken over you to remind you who you are. If you don’t know what you are appointed for ask God to reveal who he made you to be, find people who see more in you than you see in yourself. And here are some verses to get you started or to add to your list.

We have an identity in Christ and are appointed to do certain things. God appointed you and empowers you to bring Him pleasure.

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. Philippians 2:13

He appointed you to everlasting life and salvation.

That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. John 3:15-17

He has appointed you a minister of His new covenant, signed in Jesus blood.

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life. 2 Corinthians 3:5-6

If you’re like me you want a written plan of specific steps, details of your appointment. Go to this class, follow this career, or get involved in this ministry. The verses I listed don’t give that kind of detail. They do give a greater perspective though. God has an appointment for each one in the work of His Kingdom. Knowing that in the general sense gives hope for seeking the specifics. Faith is required to please Him, knowing every step and detail would make faith impossible. 

To learn your specific appointment there are many helpful tools like personality and strength tests. God has placed passion in each heart for different things, those help, too. Other people can give you direction. Most importantly seek the Father. He speaks to you. He knows you. He knows your strengths, weakness, and passions. He alone must be the final authority on your appointment.

We are appointed to praise. We are appointed to encourage one another, build each other up.

I have a great God to glorify. I have a great commission to fulfill. I have a family to love.

I'm realizing as I reread this I did not include verses for my identity in Christ. I'll try to come back and add some. What are your favorite?

What's in My Heart?

I want my children to know and experience the God of heaven. God who cares about them enough to speak to them. One way He speaks is in our imagination, through words or pictures. Listening for His voice takes practice and discernment. This is an exercise we do from time to time. I've used it in classes of children as well as with my own. It can be a great opportunity to connect and minster to their needs.
We made a very simple book of folded paper (8.5 x 14) stapled at the edge, no cover, no binding. I love the creative options of making books, but today the focus was on our hearts. 

We looked at what was in our heart and entered it in our newly made journal.

I saw doubts, failure, and confusion raining down.

Then we asked God how he saw our hearts and entered that in our journal.

God saw he sent blessings as water for me to grow and all is for His glory.

 

I drew and wrote. One son writes, one draws. My daughter draws.

Heart of negative emotions, but God sees a strong man of God.

How they saw their heart.

How God saw their heart.

Rest - Not in Feelings

Rest - v. 13. To continue fixed.

16. To abide; to remain with.

17. To be calm or composed in mind. (from Webster’s Dictionary 1828)

I’ve been feeling far from these meanings of rest lately. Especially the calm, composed mind!

When I look more clearly though I can see I am fixed. I know my only hope of answers and lasting reset is God himself. One day last week when I felt miles from rest I found myself singing that song:

Lord I look to You.

I won’t be overwhelmed.

Give me vision, to see things like You do.

Lord, I look to You.

You’re where my help comes from

Give me wisdom, You know just what to do.

So I was resting, just didn’t feel rested, until I listened to my own prayer and refocused on God instead of my trouble. I abide and remain in Him because He alone is faithful, of calm and composed mind for sure!

I have the mind of Christ so I too have a calm and composed mind. I rest in this promise instead of my roller coaster of emotions.

 For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ. 1 Cor 2:16 
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Phil. 2:5

 Question: Do your emotions determine your outlook instead of the other way around?

Challenge: Take time to fix yourself to God’s promises, abide with them and enjoy peace of mind.

Intimacy in Rest

I have an image I often see, but can never draw, of me sitting on God’s arm, leaning against His chest.I am very much stretching my longing to have everything “just so” posting this sketch! I only let myself erase once. It’s about the message – not my artistic talent – or lack there of.

This image used to make me think I was close to the Father. Most certainly it is my favorite place of rest.  Awhile ago though he showed me that while I was close we were not all that intimate. In my position of rest on His arm I do not look at His face. I do not gaze into His eyes. Why?

Intimacy requires trust. Closeness does, too but it’s different. I avoid the eyes because eyes reveal so much, expressions speak so strong. What if those eyes are hurt? Disappointed? Judging? What if He doesn’t like what He sees in my eyes? What if He doesn’t like me anymore than I do? Those are questions I tend to stay away from, but because I have I have also stayed away from His gaze.

Looking in the eyes of my husband over our anniversary weekend made me realize in a new way what I was missing out on by avoiding God’s eyes. I am blessed to start every day in my husband’s arms. We sit together and drink our first cup of coffee. The way we sit I lean against him as my back rest and don’t see his face. On our weekend we had more face to face time than normal. It was amazing to me how powerful the love in his eyes was. Instead of just resting in his arms knowing how much he loves me I could see the love he has for me. Yes sometimes those eyes are showing how I have hurt or disappointed him, but that weekend it was love, acceptance, pride, respect, and honor. It was overwhelming.

I now know I am missing that in my Father’s gaze. Yes, I risk seeing hurt or disappointment, but I am missing the empowering love that flows from His eyes, the expressions of love on His face.

I’m pondering too many thoughts to get sorted out for this post so I went looking for verses on His face. I’m simply listing the ones that spoke to me. I pray they will speak to you as well.

Numbers 6:24-26 The LORD bless you and keep you;

the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;

the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Psalms 11:7 For the LORD is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.

Psalms 27:8 You have said, "Seek my face." My heart says to you, "Your face, LORD, do I seek."

Isaiah 54:8 In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you," says the LORD, your Redeemer.

1Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.

Question: Do you seek His face? Do you look into the Father’s face? Do you allow His gaze to search your eyes?

Challenge: Make Psalms 27:8 your prayer today. 

~ You have said, "Seek my face." My heart says to you, "Your face, LORD, do I seek."~

Why Do You Love Me?

First posted on March 7, 2010

I used to ask my precious husband this question frequently, especially when I was not feeling at all loveable. Sometimes he would give me reasons and sometimes he would say something like, “Because I want to.” That would make me so mad! How could someone love me just because they want to when I am such a mess and so unworthy! I wanted him to affirm me, tell me I was loveable for something I did or was. It took me years to realize how foolish this was. Somewhere along the line I realized that being loved because someone chose to love me was the best possible kind of love. If they chose to love me, then it didn’t matter how I looked or acted they would still love me. However if someone loved me for my talent, what would happen if I lost my talent? If they loved me for my looks and I lost my looks? How insecure that love would be based on things or circumstances. The only way my husband can love me this way is because God has given him that love.

This is how God loves each person. God loves us, loves me. Because I was worthy? No. Because I was good? No. Because I loved Him? Again, no. God loves me because He chose to. The Creator God of the universe chooses to love me! He also chooses to love you. Because God is changeless He will never “unchoose” to love me or you. One day when the children were watching “Clifford, The Big Red Dog” on PBS this truth came to me again. I know PBS is not where you’d expect to get a revelation of God’s love, but He will use whatever is available I guess. The theme song says “Clifford needed Emily so she chose him for her own.” Why did Emily choose Clifford? Because he needed her. God chose us because we needed Him to choose us. He chose to love us while we were against Him. If He had not chosen us there would be no way for us to ever come to Him. Being chosen to be loved just because is the best way to be loved.

You can be a blessing to your spouse by choosing to love them with God’s kind of love, love that doesn’t change with moods or circumstances. If you are blessed enough to be married to someone who chooses to truly love you bless them by receiving their love, just because.

Path to Rest

Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

(Philippians 4:6-7)

Same verses with some additional definitions:

Be careful for [be anxious about] nothing [not even one]; but in everything [all, any, every, the whole] by prayer [worship] and supplication [a petition] with thanksgiving [gratitude; grateful language] let your requests [a thing asked] be made known unto God. And the peace [prosperity: - one, peace, quietness, rest] of God, which passeth [excel; superior, superiority: - better, excellency, higher, pass, supreme] all understanding, shall keep [be a watcher in advance, that is, to mount guard as a sentinel (post spies at gates); figuratively to hem in, protect: - keep (with a garrison)] your hearts [thoughts or feelings] and minds [intellect, disposition] through Christ [anointed] Jesus.

(Philippians 4:6-7) 

This Sunday a woman shared this verse in a new way. God’s peace, His rest, is set about us like a guard to protect us when we do not worry when we let Him know what we need with a grateful heart and voice.

I never thought I was a worrier. If you’ve been following me on my journey to rest you’ll know that I somewhere along the way became one without knowing it. I worry and think and plan instead of following the clear instructions in these verses. Do not worry. Worship and pray with gratitude. This is the path to the rest I long for. It is the path to the heart of the Father and the Prince of Peace.

Question: Have you experienced the peace of God surrounding you as a guard?

Challenge: Voice, aloud, gratitude every time a worry crosses your mind.

Sought Out by Jeannie Pallett

As I was thinking of things I needed to do before traveling to help my mother-in-law for a few weeks I thought about my blog. I really want to keep going with my weekly posts on rest. I also want to be realistic and not set myself up to fail. God blessed me with the idea to ask fellow authors and bloggers who have blessed me with their writing to share their thoughts on rest. The next few weeks I will be doing just that. I hope you are blessed as I was. Welcome Jeannie as she shares a beautiful message on resting. Sought Out by Jeannie Pallett  God is so amazing in the clarity of His answers to our generic questions. The other morning I asked Him what He wanted me to do that day ~ my usual plan has been to attend Aqua fit classes three mornings a week ~ admittedly I was feeling very much as if I hadn't been spending quality time with Him or my duties in my sphere of influence.  However, I still wanted to go to the pool... Anyways, I was on the loveseat with coffee, notebook and my Bible, rearranging things, asking Him the Question, when my Bible slid off the arm of loveseat and plopped, open into my lap.  Now I am not a point and read kind of girl but here is the underlined verse my eyes landed on: "And you shall be called Sought Out."  Isaiah 62:12 My heart! My heart just melted within me as I realized He, the Mighty God, Lord of All Creation is seeking after me, and He wants time spent with me. "To perfume and prepare me for service." He is saying to me, as He is seeking me, "Be still,  hush, quiet, slow down.  Know Me as your God, as your Salvation and Redeemer.  Be still My child. Be still. I know your desires and I know My plans and purposes for you.  Be still ~ allow the alignment of your will, desires and dreams to click in place with the plans of the Spirit I have for you. Be still.  Can you see how close you are?  Be still, you will hear the click of the alignment. Be still for I seek after you, I desire you to be in My Presence.  I have sought you out and marked you as My Beloved, I have sought you out as one who loves Me and longs to be of service to Me. Do you have any idea Child, how much it pleases Me, pleases My heart when My childrens' deepest longings and desires are to be of service to Me? That is why I have called you Sought Out.  Will you yield and will you surrender?  Will you say, "Here I am? Send me!" You can only go if I have prepared you. That is why I say, "Be still." I search your heart.  I love getting to know you, watch as you walk in the ways I have taught you.  I take such great delight as you present yourself to Me.  Truly, your presence is such a precious gift to Me. Come, for I have called you Sought Out.  I have already found you, and now I am calling you out.  Now I am putting my finger upon your life and saying, "Jeannie, Gracious Gift, I have called you Sought Out.  I know where you are, but I long to hear your heart and thus I seek you out." "I don't want to worship from a distance, Lord; I want to come into that holy place, that place where holiness dwells.  Cleanse my heart by the Blood of Jesus.  I ask You to forgive my sin that I might enter, whiter than snow and yet dripping red ~ You have harboured me Lord, kept me in a safe place in the midst of the storms of life. You seek me out.  I have no gift to bring my King save for a heart that longs for You.  I seek You out, Lord; I seek to know the essence of You.  What constitutes that beautiful fragrance, what constitutes your heart?  I want to know. I am undone, for how shall I ever touch Your holiness ~ how shall I ever gaze upon Your fiery brilliance... Father, thank You.  You understand that I keep wondering, "What about me?  What about me, what is my purpose?  It seems to be the question of my life.  What about me, Lord, what is Your plan and purpose for me? And in part, Your answer is, "I have called you Sought Out." Romans 9:18 tells me that You have had mercy for me.  I receive Your mercy O God that You have laid up for me.  I receive Your mercy. You reveal my heart in verse 20 ~ "Will you say to Him who formed you "Why have you made me like this?" The Potter has power over me ~ He has chosen to make me a vessel for honour. Romans 9:23 is telling me that He wants to make known to me, ~ a vessel of mercy ~ the riches of His glory ~ He long ago prepared me to be a vessel who carries His glory for His honour and glory. And so again He says, " And I have called you Sought Out, Sought One, My Beloved, I have made you for Myself" 2 Timothy 2:21 " Therefore, Jeannie, because you have repented and are dripping red with the Blood of Jesus, you will be a vessel for honour, sanctified, set apart (because I have called you Sought Out) and you are useful to Me, your Master, prepared for every good work." You are prepared because you have allowed yourself to be the Sought One. You have allowed stillness to be active in your life so that you would see My hand and My power at work on your behalf.  Powerful. As My servant, you will pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on Me with a pure heart.  You will not be alone; you will be with those I have called you to serve with.  As My servant, you will be gentle to all; you will be able to teach.  You will be patient walking with humility and with gentleness and humility correcting those in opposition. When I call you "Sought One" it means I want to be in your presence Child. Our relationship is ongoing and it is built upon the bricks of truth and revelation is the mortar." Jeannie Pallett is a woman who is being molded and shaped by the hand of God and is learning the joy of surrendered obedience to her King. He is bringing her through tragedy into triumph and she writes and speaks from a perspective of victory knowing that Jesus is truly the Overcoming One in her life. Jeannie has discovered that it is the lessons of the heart that impact and change lives and is passionate about the family of God learning to live in the fullness of faith. Jeannie and her husband are currently facing the biggest battle of their lives and yet choose to declare victory and inspire and encourage many.  Her website: http://Psalm119Greaterthangold.net. Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Beckoned-by-the-King/216249051754250.