Peace, Be Still!

Without the active presence of the Lord in my life, I have no idea where I would be or what my life would look like. Many individuals have been led to believe that becoming a Christian solves all of your problems and that life becomes "easy, breezy, beautiful Cover Girl!" However, that is not Biblically accurate and I can tell you from my own experiences this has not proved true in my life. You see, once I gave control of my life over to the Lord, the enemy of my soul was none too pleased and the war for my heart raged on. I am not one to blame everything difficult, hard or bad on Satan because sometimes while it may feel like "the devil made me do it" oftentimes, it is my own sin nature rearing it's ugly head or unhealed wounds that are draining into my life. And sometimes, many times, the Lord sets me up for hard things so He can prove to me, once again, my need for Him. 

I can say this now that the holidays are over but I am not too fond of them.(I didn't want to be a Debbie Downer for those of you who love them!) From about November-January, I battle depression as many tend to do around this time of year. The reason being is that it becomes a very lonely time for this single girl. My family doesn't do an exceptional amount of holiday related activities except on the actual holiday. So, much of my time is spent alone and feelings of loneliness envelop me. While I try not to dwell on those emotions, too often they have consumed me. 

As I drove home to my parents' house this Christmas, I turned my radio off and just listened for the Lord. This is one of my favorite things to do on road trips as it is uninterrupted time for the Lord to speak. I believe I had been crying and placing my frustrations with the season before the Lord when He began to speak and I began to sing. Here are the words:

Peace, be still, I am with you

Peace, be still, I’m by your side

Emmanuel, I’m God with you

Prince of Peace, I bring to you

I know your heart

I see your face

And I’m right beside you

Running the race

So keep believin’, keep on trustin', keep on hopin’

‘Cause I will come through

I will come through always for you

I will come through always for you

For my delight is in you

I rejoice over you with singing

I rejoice over you

I delight in you

Though you’re lonely

Though you’re hurting

Though you’re sick

And wounded too

I am with you healing your heart

I am with you no matter what

Keep on trustin’, keep believin’

Keep on hopin’ cause I will come through

Little did I know how much I would need this song in the days and weeks to come. The lyrics have been in my head and my spirit almost without ceasing.You see, the depression, thanks to some medication, has decreased almost completely. But I have since started to experience something I have never walked through before at this level: ANXIETY. You may not know this but I am in graduate school, working towards my Master's of Social Work. I am set to graduate in May, given I pass the comprehensive exam on January 21. Yes, I said COMPREHENSIVE, meaning the last 3 years of my schooling are fair game on this 50 question test. Normally, I have some worry over school work but never before have I had actual physical symptoms of anxiety that caused me to seek medical assistance. I recognize this is a spiritual attack as well as my flesh trying to rise up and succeed in and of it's own self. I am keenly aware!

This morning, though, I came across this Scripture in Psalms 94:18-19:

When I said, "My foot is slipping," Your love, O Lord, supported me. When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. 

Some individuals say that Christianity is a crutch and if you are going on the mere definition that a crutch provides support then I guess you are correct. But crutches can't bring joy, hope and peace in the midst of circumstances that would cause the best of us anxiety or sadness or insert emotion here. So, while I continue to let the Lord support me and bring me peace and joy, I wanted to share with you the words/the song that He gave to me. PEACE, BE STILL, HE IS WITH YOU!

My Mind Wandered in Sunday School

This morning in the young adult Sunday School class we had a discussion about faith. We talked about those times in Scripture where Jesus rebuked his disciples, "O ye of little faith!" and then those times when Jesus commended individuals for their faith. We explored the definition of faith which included the words: trust and assurance.

But I must admit that throughout the whole lesson my mind was not necessarily on faith but on the character of God. As I pondered the correlation between God's character and faith, I began to realize how imperative it is for the Christ follower to know the character of God. It is of utmost importance that we allow God to reveal His character to us through both His word and our interactions with Him in prayer.

When I look at the many times in my life when I begin to be faith-less or become anxious, it is usually when I have lost sight of who God is. And what do I mean by that, I mean that I have lost sight of His character, the attributes that make God God! (More on this in a minute.)

There is no doubt that faith and trust are intricately linked and many times we use the terms interchangeably in the church realm. Let's look at all of this from a natural rather than just a spiritual perspective for a moment. 

Those individuals in my life that I trust, that I have faith in, are those people who I have had the experience of learning their character. I have found that those people, while they are human and will no doubt let me down or hurt me, have a depth of character that allows me to feel safe enough to share my life and heart with them, to trust them, to have faith in them. 

Part of me can't help but wonder if this whole idea isn't why God calls us to a personal relationship with Him rather than a religion. With religion, we just learn rules and why we need behavior modification. With relationship, we learn His character and His heart! And then, He is gracious enough to reveal to us who we are in Him! 

When I know His character, it is a lot easier for me to have faith in Him! I know He is faithful, I know He is loving and I know that He is not a man that He should lie! I know that He is good and I know that He is merciful! I know that He is gracious and that He is peace! 

Sooo, maybe I did pay a little more attention in Sunday School than it seemed!  

Faith and the character of God, I don't think you can have the former without knowing the latter!

Are We As Christians Scared of this Non-Believing World?

I don't really know why I feel led to write this post but because I feel led, I will obey. I was in a Bible study tonight and the conversation surrounding a specific question prompted this question in me: "Are we as Christians scared of this non-believing world?" 

The question in the study asked, "What opportunities do you have for contact with unbelievers? What could you to do increase these opportunities?" In thinking about this question, I have been at both ends of the spectrum, seasons in my life where it seemed like all that was around were "unbelievers" and then other times only "believers". And I began to think about which I prefer. 

When I worked at a Bible college, I often referred to the experience as being in a Christian bubble. My co-workers were Christians, our students were Christians and the only other thing I did besides work was go to church...with other Christians. I remember getting restless being solely around Christians. Don't get me wrong, it was pretty easy being in the Christian bubble. Many things were kept at bay due to the rules and regulations of the Bible college, at least I should say in my realm. We as staff went to chapel at least once a week and our days started with group prayer. It was a pretty great deal. But then I started to get stagnant and really restless. There was no one to share the Good News with. Yes, I encouraged the students and prayed with co-workers but as far as being around "unbelievers" I had to go search them out. I remember going to a specific restaurant, almost weekly, to try and develop a relationship with this one particular waitress, so I could tell her some Good News. (Trying to evangelize the world without relationship is pretty useless but I digress.) This soon to be friend was all up in the world, very non-believing and very much in need of Jesus (aren't we all?!) But minus this new friend, I pretty much remained in the Christian bubble.

This season of life finds me at an internship made up of 90% unbelievers and I attend a public university for  graduate school that probably consists of about 85% unbelievers. And when I think about my next internship, I will be in the darkest of the dark places, a mental health hospital with probably even higher levels of unbelievers. If I allow myself, I can become scared of the internship that lies ahead, scared of the unbelieving world that I live in and the world of mental illness that I am about to enter. But in those moments when I start to feel fear or find myself starting to pull away from the world so that it's doesn't influence me poorly, I have to remind myself that GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN ME THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD!! I have no reason to fear the world or the unbeliever. I think that too often, Christians quote Scriptures that call for separation from the world to lead a holy life without balancing that out with the other half of Scriptures that call us to go into all the world and share the gospel or to go meet the needs of the needy or just plain go show them love. I know that I have been guilty of this so I am not trying to point fingers at anyone. I just feel a burning in my spirit that we as THE CHURCH need to rise up, to not fear the things of this world and to know that HE has overcome the world and since HE lives in us, so do we! When we look at Jesus' ministry, He was all up in the world! No, he didn't participate in all of the things of the world and I am not saying we should either but He was right in the mix, right next to the unbeliever showin' em love. 

I read a Beth Moore quote today that said something to the effect of "we don't share our faith because we don't have enough of it." This challenges me. And I would like to add that "we don't go into this unbelieving world because we are scared of it."

I don't want to be scared of this world or the unbeliever. I don't want to be ashamed of the Good News that transformed my life. I want to be such a bright light in a dark place that people are nearly blinded by the Jesus in me. And I want to have enough faith that I have plenty to share, an overabundance. 

Feel free to share your thoughts or comments. 

So, there's this...branch...

So, there's this...branch...yes, a tree branch, that has had my attention for the last several months and today I finally have the courage to talk about it! I noticed this branch in my front yard one day. Why? Because it's just not right. You see, instead of being parallel to the ground, like the other branches near it, this one is perpendicular and it looks as if it's heading South! It's leaves (or should I say needles) are mostly brown, with a few green ones here and there while the rest of the tree has remained green through and through. You can tell that this branch is barely hanging on. 

Sometimes, I feel like this branch.

I believe it came to it's current condition after the last Hurricane we had here. The storm took down many other branches and limbs but this one appears to be fighting to hang on, to stay connected. Since that storm, many more have come, the winds have blown and the rains have come but it remains. 

My mind meanders to John 15 (vs 1-8) where Jesus shares about the vine and the branches: 

I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit. You are cleansed and pruned already, because of the word which I have given you [the teachings I have discussed with you]. Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me. I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing. If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken-off] branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned. If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you. When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine. I have loved you, [just] as the Father has loved Me; abide in My love [continue in His love with Me].

There are times where, like this branch, I feel barely connected , like the storms of life have left me barely able to hang on. And then there are times when I know I am vitally connected, vitally united to the vine. 

I think my lesson to learn from the branch is to keep hanging on! Yes, the branch doesn't have much of a natural chance to be fully reconnected to the vine but thankfully, spiritually is a different matter! I want to remain vitally united with Him and I am thankful that He is my source of strength, hope and love!

Forget About It!

FORGET ABOUT IT!

I don't know about you but I have difficulty forgetting. I'm kind of like an elephant in that regard as the old adage goes, "An elephant never forgets." Many people have difficulty remembering things and as I have learned in my DSM class, there are many categories even for that (Amnestic Disorders, Alzheimer's Disorders, etc.)!

But yesterday I was reminded to forget. And the reminder went something like this:

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past! See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs

up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland." 

~Isaiah 43:18-19 NIV

I like the way the Amplified Bible says it too:

"Do not (earnestly) remember the former things; neither consider the things of old. Behold, I am 

doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."

Throughout Scripture we are often told to REMEMBER the things the Lord has done for us as a reminder of  His faithfulness to us. But here we are told to FORGET THE FORMER THINGS!! 

So, here's what I am forgetting, with the Lord's help:

*MY PAST SINS
*MY PAST HURTS

*MY PAST FAILURES

Let's FORGET ABOUT IT! (said with a thick Italian mobster-like accent!) ;) 

Power Source

I love when the Lord gives a natural experience to give a spiritual illustration! So, I will share with you!

My laptop is getting old in laptop years (yes, that's like dog years but worse!). Well, it's sad to say but I managed to kill my battery and so my laptop MUST REMAIN PLUGGED IN! A few months ago, I could unplug it for a few minutes and transfer it to another room and it would remain on but it's gotten to the point now, that if it comes UNPLUGGED, even if just for a second, it dies, which is what happened just before I started writing this post. Due to that fact, I am constantly checking my CONNECTION to make sure the cord is PLUGGED IN so my computer will work. In this, I have been reminded of John 15 in which Jesus shares the parable of the vine and branches. Here it is from the Amplified:

4 Dwell in Me, and I will dwell in you. [Live in Me, and I will live in you.] Just as no branch can bear fruit of itself without abiding in (being vitally united to) the vine, neither can you bear fruit unless you abide in Me.

⁵ I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you can do nothing.

⁶ If a person does not dwell in Me, he is thrown out like a [broken-off] branch, and withers; such branches are gathered up and thrown into the fire, and they are burned.

⁷ If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.

I don't know about you but sometimes fruit and tree illustrations are a little beyond my comprehension level since about all I do is see them from a far and I surely don't do any pruning. But because I am semi-technological, I get the idea of a power source being required and in my poor laptop's case, needing to remain vitally united the power cord. The Lord IS my power source but sometimes I come UNPLUGGED or disconnected and have to be PLUGGED back in and sometimes REBOOTED. Abiding is that place of staying PLUGGED IN. Apart from my power source, my laptop can do nothing. Apart from the Lord, I can't do anything either. 

So, let's stay PLUGGED in to THE Power Source. And if for some reason we get DISCONNECTED OR UNPLUGGED, let's plug back in quickly!

Carrying Grace

As I was coming home to rest in between doctor visits, I turned the radio up to listen. K-love, though, was full of static. I hit the button for my CD player only to find a CD I didn't want to listen to at that moment. So I reached for a small stash of CD's and hidden behind an African safari CD (don't ask) was a Hosanna First CD and it simply said "Prophetic Word 11/28/10". I knew this wasn't by chance and so I put it in the player. And here were the words that came through my speaker:

Don’t lose heart at this time says the Lord. Even though the struggles may seem to be difficult they won’t last forever. For this season that you’re going through, I want you to keep walking through. That season won’t last forever says the Lord. Be encouraged and know that I am God and that there is nothing impossible with me. There are times when you must walk down certain roads in order to get on certain highways. I am leading you and guiding you says the Lord. I have not forsaken you neither have I abandoned you and You’re not alone, I am with you. Draw close to me and know that this season of challenges will not last forever for I am bringing you out by the power of My Spirit. Those things that seem so difficult now, as you look up the mountain, you will rejoice as you stand on top of the mountain. For my refreshing is coming says the Lord, and I will minister to you. Draw near to me in this time and don’t get weary in well doing says the Lord. 

I remember this word being ever so needed in 2010 when I heard it the first time but it is just as relevant today! This past Sunday, Pastor spoke another prophetic word and the element that stuck out was that the Lord has not forsaken or abandoned me.

I hear ya Lord, loud and clear! :)

I stand in awe at the Lord's timing and his "carrying grace" (the term He gave me this morning).