Could It Be?

I love my quiet times with God. I love when He invades my thoughts and fills them with His truth. Today, as I read Jeremiah 18:4-6, I couldn't help but sit quietly; God stirred within my soul and secured deep truths within me.

Jeremiah 18 says: "But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. Then the word of the LORD came to me: "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter does?" declares the LORD. "Like clay in the hand of the potter, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel." (NIV)

The phrase "As seemed best to him" caused me to reflect to different seasons of my life. I contemplated helpless and hopeless moments where God seemed strangely silent. I considered times and seasons of great fulfillment. I pondered both extremes in light of this verse.

Could it be that our perceived moments of emptiness are merely moments of refinement? Could it be that God uses those moments to cause us to cry out to Him? Could every season of our life (whether perceived as good or bad) actually be orchestrated by God to capture our heart?

Psalm 25:10 "All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant." (NIV)

Jeremiah 29:11-14 "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. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you," declares the LORD, "and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile." (NIV)

Could it be that every stormy trial has been allowed because God PASSIONATELY LOVES US and wants what is ULTIMATELY BEST for us?
Ok. Stop right there. Let's be honest. NO ONE likes trials. NO ONE wants adversity.
And, yet, Peter offers us godly wisdom, concerning trials, in 1 Peter 1:6-7. He writes: "though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith — of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire — may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed." (NIV)

Paul leaves words of encouragement for us to ponder in Romans 8:18: "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." (NIV)

Today, no matter our circumstance, God is near. Everything sifts through His love. He rules and reigns from a position of mercy. We are NOT alone. So...be encouraged and consider one more verse:

Romans 8:35-39 says: "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ... No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (NIV)

God is Our Defender...Our Father!

Adrenaline surged throughout my body. My throat constricted and felt as if I had swallowed a baseball.
 
At first I thought my daughter had just left the front door open but as I walked back to Joshua's room and discovered he wasn't in his bed I panicked. Thoughts rushed through my mind: Oh my gosh! Where is he? Had someone stolen him from his bed? What should I do...?

The tsunami of adrenaline subsided as quickly as it had appeared as I recalled that Joshua had decided to sleep in his sister's room.

Huhhhhhh! I could breathe again! The world was still at peace. My child remained safe.

Like any loving parent, I've felt rush-filled moments of panic in supermarkets and shopping malls, searching frantically for lost children who escaped my view. I've felt the grief of those stolen moments and the surge of peace upon their safe discovery.

I've experienced undescribable courage rise within me, compelling me to protect my children from aggressive animals. I've readily defended them from ill-mannered people. I've contemplated "what would I do if..." knowing that I'd readily lay down my life for each one of my children.

Today, as I read from 2 Corinthians 6:18, I reveled in the truth that GOD IS MY FATHER. It says, "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty." (NIV)

I meditated on 2 Chronicles 16:9: "The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him."

Friends, Psalm 91:14-16 encourages us with this TRUTH: "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation." (NIV)

WE ARE NOT ALONE! GOD is our defender. He is faithful. He is our FATHER. He fights off our enemies. He defends us from evil. He is all knowing...always present...and there is NO LIMIT to His power or authority!

So today, NO MATTER YOUR CIRCUMSTANCE, consider this..."IF GOD IS FOR US...WHO CAN STAND AGAINST US?"

Be It Unto Me...

I love Luke's account of Mary's encounter with Gabriel found in Luke 1:26-38. Gabriel appears to Mary and says, "Greetings, you who are highly favored ! The Lord is with you."

Wow. What a greeting! Can you imagine...God sends you a message expressing His HIGH favor on your life?

Mary's response is similar to how I respond when God surprises me with His blessing. Scripture says "Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be."

I guess it's easier to believe in the messages "You're not good enough." "You're a failure!" "You're a loser..." than it is to believe "You are highly favored!"

But the angel says to Mary, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God." And then proceeds to share Mary's call to birth the SAVIOR of the WORLD! WOW. Now talk about a calling.

I love Mary's response: "How will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"

Her question was filled with wonder, not doubt. She didn't question what impact her calling would have on her. She didn't complain. She simply wondered how...

The angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God...For nothing is impossible with God."

At that, Mary responds, "I am the Lord's servant." "May it be to me as you have said."

Oh that we would all have that kind of faith...Where we surrender our questions, fears, doubts and simply pray..."I am the Lord's servant. May it be to me as YOU have said."

Today we need to ponder and ask ourselves "What blessing and calling is God whispering to us? In our marriage? In our finances? In our job, ministry, family? What cross has He called us to bear?

For the rest of Mary's life, she would face ridicule, judgement, accusations...She would flee for her life and the life of her son...She would watch as Jesus was crucified...feel grief, doubt, and bewilderment...Hadn't the angel said her son would deliver and save Israel?

Friends, we all face moments where God's promise is tested with the cold realities of loss, doubt, and fear. We all experience moments when what we thought God said is tested against the realities of our experience. In those moments, the only thing we can do is remember WHO God is and HOLD FAST to what He promised. We must choose to surrender our thoughts to His, our ways for His, and let our HOPE reside in the truth that GOD is faithful and HIS VERY ESSENCE is LOVE!

Jeremiah 29:11-12 reveals God's nature and plans for our life: "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."
(NIV)

He whispers, "You are my children." "You are mine." "Come unto me." "Lean not on your own understanding."

He calls us to serve. He calls us to love. He calls us to take up our cross and follow Him.

May our response always be one of surrender and complete confidence..."Be it unto me as YOU have spoken."

Immediate Gratification vs Imminent Future

Good-morning my dear friends. I just wanted to take  a moment to let you know that I won't be posting for the next 12 days. I will be travelling to Missouri to visit family and friends and meet with women leaders across the state of Missouri for FYI's Leadership Luncheon! If you live in Missouri and would like to attend, email us at: info@fyinspiration.org. I'd love to meet you while in Missouri. As I prepare to leave, God brought me back to a post that I had written a few months ago.

In Genesis 25:29-34, we read: "Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. He said to Jacob, "Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I'm famished!"..."Jacob replied, "First sell me your birthright." "Look, I am about to die," Esau said. "What good is the birthright to me?" But Jacob said, "Swear to me first." So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob. Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left. So Esau despised his birthright." (NIV)

When I first read this passage, I wondered; How could someone be so shallow as to sell their birthright, their future blessing, their destiny and the imminent favor of God for a bowl of soup? Didn't Esau know he was destined for greatness? Didn't he understand the promise that awaited him? How could he possible give it up for such a simplistic thing?

But as I contemplated these simple thoughts, I realized moments in my own life where I had been just like Esau. I reflected on the times that I gave up on God's future blessing for immediate relief, pleasure, or gratification.

WHEW! OUCH!

I allowed the Holy Spirit the opportunity to reveal the times that had been allured away from God's best in an exchange of momentary gratifications concerning money, love, and self-centered needs of significance. How many times have I, like Esau, caved to the pressures of my immediate circumstances and sought an "easy-out".

Esau had an insatiable hunger for immediate gratification...He wanted his immediate needs to be met and in his impatience he gave up his future promise.

How about you? What presses in against you? What immediate gratifications cause you to want to give up God's future promise for immediate relief?

Friend, no matter what our immediate needs are, I pray we will never give up or lose sight of our future birthright. May we never forget Who God has called us to be. May we never possess such an insatiable hunger to experience relief that we give up on the dreams and future promise God gave us. May we never exchange our eternal hopes and promises for temporal relief.

I want to encourage you. If you are facing overwhelming circumstances, don't give up. Ephesians 6:13-18, "Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." (NIV)

Shhhhhh. Everything is Alright. I'm here!

My middle daughter, Sommer, never slept through the night until she was four years old. I remember waking on the morning after she slept through an entire night; I ran to her bed to make sure she was OK. I watched attentively and felt relief as she breathed consistent deep breaths.

Parenting teaches me so many things about God. Constant concern. Unconditional love. The desire to comfort and protect...

Today, as I waited to meet with God...to listen to His voice...to feel His presence...I remembered Isaiah 64:4—“Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him.” (NIV)

As I read the passage, a holy hush rushed over me and my soul found rest!

You see, like Sommer, I often become restless; I awake needing reassurance; I long to be comforted with..."Shhhhhh, Baby girl. Everything is alright. I'm here. You aren't alone."

How about you? Ever feel restless? Are you like me, do you long for God's presence and comfort?

Today, as I waited on God, I whispered a prayer from Psalm 73:23-26—“You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory. Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” (NIV)

And, as I waited, I sensed God whisper back His reassuring word from Jeremiah 29:11-14: "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. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you," declares the LORD." (NIV)

Friend, my prayer for you today is that you would truly embrace and hold fast to the truth of God's love for you...that no matter what comes your way today...you would sense His loving presence strengthening and empowering you...that you would feel His reassurance whispering "Shhhhh. Everything is alright. I'm here. You aren't alone."

You Are Mine...

I love how God uses my children to remind me of His incredible love. Today, before school, Sommer and I sat talking about life. She's experienced a lot of "bullying" from another little girl in school. Seems to be the time of life she is in. Twelve! Sixth Grade! Jr. High! AHHHHH! Flashbacks happen consistently as I hear Sommer's troubles and the ones I encountered at her age.

Thus, every morning seems to be filled with incredible opportunities to speak TRUTH into my daughter's life. Today, before sending her off to school, I reminded her with this simple thought "You are MY little girl, so Hold YOUR HEAD HIGH and remember I love you...YOU ARE MINE!"

I watched her smile and giggle. You see, Sommer may doubt her worth but she thinks the world of me! (What an awesome privilege to be so admired! ;) One I thoroughly enjoy!) Since I have such great worth to her, she gains incredible worth because of my love and admiration for her!

Ok, by now, you probably have already guessed what God reminded me of, right???

Listen to what God says in Isaiah 43:1-3: "But now, this is what the LORD says — he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior." (NIV)

WHEW! AND WOW! Are you sensing that today? Hear God's voice found in this passage! "YOU ARE MINE!" Not only are we His...but He is with us. He will protect us. He will be with us in the fire. When all seems lost...He is there. He is our God. He is our Savior!!!
God uses this passage along with verses four and five, frequently, to remind me of His love. Check out verse four and five from Isaiah forty-three: "Since you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you, I will give men in exchange for you, and people in exchange for your life. Do not be afraid, for I am with you." (NIV)

Then there's Romans 8:16-17 that says: "The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." (NIV)

Friends, "What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31, NIV)

Today, Hold YOUR HEAD HIGH and remember, God promises we are HIS!

Which of God's Attributes is Your Favorite?

My father rarely whispered words of affection, perhaps that's why God's tenderness overwhelms me like it does.

Titus 3:4 says, "But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy." (NIV)
Whew. God's kindness amazes me. His tenderness raptures my soul. His gentle whispers capture my heart. His loving wisdom fills me with indescribable peace.

God speaks so tenderly to me at times that it hushes all my doubts and fears.

Once, in a bar room setting, He filled my mind with Julie, there is no where you can go that my grace won't find you still. Once, when I questioned whether He could use my life for ministry, He comforted me with this thought Julie, the things you thought disqualified you will be the very platform from which you stand. This past week, when I once again questioned Who am I that you should choose to use me? I am not gifted like others. I am not eloquent like so many of my friends. I'm not smart enough, talented enough...And the list went on and on...God responded and covered my soul with incredible peace: I have not called you to be my hands or my head...Julie, you are my heart. WHEW! What peace! God simply designed me to LOVE HIM and has called me to be "His Love Extended."

Friends, God's love astounds me.

How about you? What attribute takes your breath away? What attribute of God fills you with peace? Which attribute clothes you with strength? Hope? Trust? Confidence?

I'd love to hear which of God's attributes is your favorite...Take a moment and share the quality you most love about God--let's all share and reflect, together, on WHO GOD IS.

My Daddy...

I could hardly wait to write today's blog. I was so eager to share what the Holy Spirit revealed to me last week.

As I sat in the doctor's office, waiting for test results on my daughter, I began contemplating various areas of life; by contemplating, I should actually write I was worrying about various situations of life.

I contemplated finances, the new level of faith God was calling me to surrender and walk in. I thought about upcoming events that are undeniably out of my control. And, as I sat, contemplating/worrying, I became strangely aware that my daughter wasn't worried about anything. She knew her daddy and I would take care of everything. We would provide. We would protect. We would defend and shower her with our affection.

And in an instant, The Holy Spirit invaded my thoughts with the incredible reality that God is my DADDY! I realized that if I had a billionaire for a daddy, I would never worry about my finances. If I had a physician who could treat any symptom for a daddy, I would never fear about my health or the health of my children. If I had a daddy that could beat up all of my enemies and protect me and keep me safe, I would never worry about my safety. AND YEP, YOU GUESSED IT...THAT'S EXACTLY WHO MY DADDY IS. My Daddy is the King of ALL kings and to Him I am His little princess. Te reality of His Fatherhood caused me to smile, even giggle a little.

The truth is, sometimes my reverence for God's holiness hinders me from embracing the reality that GOD is my daddy. But the fact that He is my daddy means I can and should trust Him with everything. I can know He will provide. I can know He will protect. I can know that He will shower me with His affection.

As my thoughts shifted from my problems to WHO GOD IS, my troubles diminished. I felt comforted as I remembered God's promise from Isaiah 41:13: "I am the LORD, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you." (NIV)

Friend, I am not suggesting life will always be easy. I am not suggesting God answers in the ways we hope for or think He should. What I am suggesting is that God loved us so much He sent His only Son to die in our place. He seeks us out to share our life with Him. He longs for our love to be reciprocated.

Romans 8:15-17 says, "For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba,  Father." The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children." (NIV)

Today, I pray the revelation (that God is our Daddy) brings you incredible peace! And encourage you to shift your thoughts from your problems to the reality of WHO GOD IS!

Like A Little Child

Another kiss good-night. One more evening of bed time stories. Another morning of I love yous exchanged at the door!

Can I just say, I love my kids! They are so alert...so in-tune...always watching...always waiting...always longing to interact! I love how they simply trust me and take me at my word.

Today, God encouraged my soul as I read Mark 10:15-16: "I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." (NIV) I felt the Holy Spirit invite me into an incredible rest as I thought about how my children respond to me.

Matthew Henry's Commentary explains it this way, "Little children depend upon their parents' wisdom and care, are carried in their arms, go where they send them, and take what they provide for them; and thus must we receive the kingdom of God, with a humble resignation of ourselves to Jesus Christ, and an easy dependence upon him, both for strength and righteousness, for tuition, provision, and a portion." (Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible: New Modern Edition, Electronic Database. Copyright © 1991 by Hendrickson Publishers, Inc.)

Friend, God is good. No matter our need, He is faithful. He continues to demonstrate we can trust Him. During moments of darkness He covers us with His love.

Even the trials that once vexed our soul will deepen our faith and reveal a greater revelation of our need for God and His never-ending love.

Today, I want to encourage you; you CAN trust God. He will NEVER leave you. He is near! Let's purpose to come to Him like a child, humble, dependant, trusting, and expectant!

What is Faith?

What is faith if not a complete dependence on God and surrender of self in an exchange for all WHO GOD IS; faith relinquishes finite understanding in an exchange for God's infinite wisdom.

In faith, Joshua relinquished conventional wisdom in exchange for God's. He led Israel to march around the walls of Jericho, not once, not twice, but seven times. He abandoned his reasoning to faithful obedience.

In faith, David ran forward to face the towering giant, Goliath, a massive monstrosity of a man. David didn't rely on his power; he charged forward relying on God.

In faith, we simply need to align our life with God's direction.

Please understand. I'm not adhering to recklessly attributing God's name to haphazard ideas...rather...I'm merely acknowledging that God is greater than our greatest imagination. He invites us to surrender our life in an exchange for His.

He's taught me that faith isn't conjuring up some NOBLE notion and saying, Here I go Lord, now bless! Instead, faith is hearing God's voice and simply aligning our life to follow Him with surrendered obedience; nothing is more liberating than a life of genuine faith.

So...What is God speaking? How do we discern His voice?

We discern God's voice by spending quality time in His presence and allowing Him to remove remnants of self in an exchange for the purity of His Spirit. And, when God speaks, we can know without any uncertainty He will fulfill ALL that He has promised.

Today's promises:

• Genesis 28:15, "I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." (NIV)
• Matthew 21:22 "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."  (NIV)

Friend, YOU HAVE INCREDIBLE PURPOSE. YOUR LIFE COUNTS. So, be encouraged. God is GOOD we can trust HIM completely.