A Garden February 2, 2011

With all the snow that fell today it is funny that the image which is on my mind is that of a garden.  As I piled heap upon heap of snow onto my yard and garden beds today I thought about how that cold and icy snow will soon melt with the spring sun.  It will nourish and lift up the plants that will grow once again.    Maybe this thought shouldn’t surprise me after last night.  I met with some cherished lady friends over delicious snacks and we discussed the details of times when we saw God inexplicably bring positive results out of negative beginnings.  It reminded me of my garden where in early spring I put dead decaying vegetation from the year before, cow manure, and other dark and gritty substances into the earth; harsh, unpleasant, smelly beginnings.  Into this muck  is placed a humble bulb, a seemingly insignificant seed, or a seedling that can barely withstand its own microscopic weight.  Out of these strange beginning the garden begins. Water is added – beauty, pleasure, and worth appear – out of the mire.  Suddenly, I realize I am hearing the lyric’s to Matt Maher’s “Garden” in the back of my mind . . .

and You walk with me
You never leave
You’re making my heart a garden

And then, as to tie it all up with a bow, today while I am reading Frances J. Roberts’ book Come Away My Beloved, I come across this passage, “A Garden of Fountains” and it ministers to my soul. 

Behold, My hand is upon thee to bless thee and to accomplish all My good purpose.  For this hour I have prepared thy heart; and in My kindness I will not let thee fail. 

Only relinquish all things into My hands; for I can work freely only as ye release Me by complete committal – both of thyself and others.  Even as was written of old: ‘Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass’. (Psa 37:5)  I will be thy sustaining strength; and My peace shall garrison they mind.  Only TRUST ME – that all I do is done in love.

For adversities must of necessity come.  They are part of the pattern of life’s pilgrimage for every individual; and who can escape them?  But I say unto thee, that for those who walk in Me, and for those who are encircled by the intercessory prayers of My children, I shall make of the suffering, yea, I shall make of the trials a steppingstone to future blessing. (II Cor. 4:17, 18, Living Letters)

My arms are around thee, and never have I loved thee more!  I will make thee like a GARDEN OF FOUNTAINS whose streams are fed by the mountain springs.

And so I thank Thee, Lord, for this image – and please – please – make me like Your Garden.  Bear in me fruit, strength, and beauty that reflect Your radiance.

He Will Not January 28, 2011

He can do anything.  He is all powerful and all knowing and yet there are a few things that He will not do.  Out of choice, He will not. 

This year my verse to live and be encouraged by is Hebrews 13:5-6.  The amplified version has captivated my heart.

Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]  So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?

As I continue to walk closer to God I wonder why I sometimes forget that He will not let me down.  No one else can claim this – not my family – not my nearest and dearest friends.  After a year in which I experienced betrayal and distance between friends and family it is hard to climb back into a seat of trust.  In result of these experiences I find myself retracting from relationships that I normally would jump into.  It’s difficult especially knowing that it could mostly certainly will happen again.  Oh the pain of mistrust.  I then undeservingly transfer these thoughts onto God but He quickly comes back and reminds me that He is no mere human – He is able to be trusted – He is capable of being trusted – He is worthy of being trusted and He will not – He will not – He will not ever leave me.

Oh Lord – Teach me to thrust my whole self into Your Trust – You are able & capable of a trust that is beyond my imagination.  Let me not live in fear but in faith that you have and you will keep this promise. – Amen

Take Me All The Way May 19, 2009

This is my deep desire – to go all the way, like Matthew West asks in his chorus.

How do we take the step? How do we jump without letting worry getting in our way?

I don’t wanna go through the motions
I don’t wanna go one more day
Without your all consuming passion inside of me
I don’t wanna spend my whole life asking
What if i had given everything
Instead of going through the motions

God – Develop in me a faith and trust so deep that I take the leap.  I can’t do it on my own – I need you.

Romans 5 October 12, 2008

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

knowing thy God July 19, 2008

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to a known God.”

This is one of my favorite quotes from Corrie ten Boom.  She was so fiercely brave; confident.  She was willing to take the next step even when she didn’t know what it was.  I believe it is because she wasn’t afraid since she know she would always be accompanied by God.  She knew God.  She knew his character, that he was faithful, sovereign, a refuge, and always right. 

God was and still is in control. 

Why is it so hard then to let go to the God who knows everything?

will You lift me up? July 17, 2008

Lord, I want to be like Abraham - willing to let it all go.  I want to trust so deeply that I am willing to take the risk.  I want to move from fear to FAITH – but it is so hard to get my feet out of this boat where it is dry and safe.  And so I ask, Lord, will You lift me up over the side of the boat?  Will You hold my hand?  Will you show me where to put my foot next?  If you lead – I will follow Lord.  It is my desire to walk in Your ways and do Your Will.  Amen

Speak to Me June 3, 2008

It never ceases to amaze me that God’s Word speaks directly to my heart.  This is what I heard from Him (Jesus) today.

1st John 2:27

As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.

FAITH: the Antidote For Fear May 18, 2008

Victory over the world (and by the world I mean those who do not not know the truth – those who are false prophets and who are at the whim of any spirit and ultimately are separated from God) comes from believing that Jesus has the power to redeem our souls.  And when we have faith in this, the testimony of God - His truth and love – will live in us.

By His love there is no fear.
So Faith is the antidote for fear.

1st John 4:1-3  Beloved do not believe every spirit but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.  By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. . .

1st John 4:16-18  We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us.  God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.  By this, love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgement; because as He is, so also are we in this world.  There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.

1st John 5: 4-5  For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.  Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?

but still i hear You call me May 14, 2008

a written plan You do not have for me
nor a step-by-step treasure map

clarity I do not know
but still I hear You call me through the fog of doubt

I lean in toward You
listening for Your voice
but have I let the darkness of a busy life drown You out

keep calling me I ask
I want to follow only You
I want to take the step
that of faith into Your plan

help me close my eyes and take the leap
rip away the fear that stops me
take away the voices of reason and replace them with truth
and lead me faithfully to the place where I know that You know that I know You want me to be

yes Lord – take me there

the cost of it all May 7, 2008

So what is the cost of it all?  The cost of following Jesus?

Matthew 16:24-25  Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. . . .”

It is not easy.  It is the cost of comfort.  It is the cost of releasing fear.  It is the cost of letting go of security.  It is the cost of our own desires. 

and yet . . .

It pays for a life with Jesus.  It is blessing and joy.  It is freedom.  It is the honor of doing God’s work.  It is the pleasure of being in his presence.  It is the practice of Faith.  It is seeing the impossible be possible.  It is assurance of the God who made all things.

It is worth it . . . now Lord, please help me to see past the cost and embrace into the vision you have for my life.  Amen