spreading seed

I'm in my happy place today, spending time in God's Word on my sunny deck.

Watching birds eat from our feeders, dogs play and just exhaling.  It's a very good place.

The devotional I was reading today reminded me that each of us is gifted exactly as God intended so that we can be used by Him for the purpose of spreading His message.

I Corinthians 3:8-10 says, "He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. 9 For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. 10 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled[a] master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it.

It reminded me that although the Lord is the divine Sower, He places seeds in MY hands!  I don't have to have it all figured out, just be ready to take advantage of opportunities he lays right in front of me every day to sow into someone's life!

I loved this line from the study, " When I'm exhaling and not hyperventilating He uses me to spread seeds."  We are not usable when we're running non-stop and not listening to that quiet voice that allows us to recognize opportunities to spread the seed so the Holy Spirit can do God's work in someone's life.

I had a conversation with someone at Crossroads this weekend who said "as I get older I just look at my life and wonder, what have I done with my life?"  This is the tug at our heart to find our life's work and worth in Jesus alone.  Simply living an 'available' life with a heart surrendered to Him - with time to listen is all He requires.

It's no accident where God has placed you, there are seed to be sown that only your can spread!!

4th of July

As my hubby and I sit on our deck watching the birds and deer and taking in the beauty of this morning, I was thinking about what the 4th of July really means to me.

Momma and babies

The freedom we enjoy every single day is unbelievable, perhaps unequaled in the entire world?
That means I got to get up this morning and totally decide what I wanted to do first, how I want to spend my day, who I want to talk to or not to talk to, totally free of anyone telling me what to do next.

Our media is full of 'dooms day' forecasts and bad endings for America but that's up to the Lord. On the day he created me, He knew how and when he'd take me home.  To give up any portion of my life worrying is disrespect for His sovereignty.

So today I choose to breath deeply, taking in every detail I can notice that comes as a result of the great sacrifice of those that came before me.

I can only imagine the horror they witnessed as they watched their best friends fall in battle so that future generations, people totally unknown to them, could sit on their decks like I am - loving my hubby of 39 years and drinking coffee while we freely plan our day.

Thank you to all who had any involvement in giving me this day covered in the celebration of freedom!  Those in the military and those serving honestly in our government - thank you!

Happy 4th of July!

am I free

I had aspirations of sleeping until at least 9:00 this morning - my cold had other ideas.  When I lay down I cough.  With laundry in and coffee by my side, I sit down to write.  To write about anything my heart desires, to write about what the Lord may lay on my heart, to write about what pleases me and what displeases me, this is freedom.

The definition of freedom is super interesting!

Freedom

the power or right to act, speak, or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint.

That is a powerful statement!  But then I kept reading and the definition seemed to be much more focused.

the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved.

This made me realize that freedom can be huge or small.  Circumstantial or inclusive.  Defined based perhaps on each individual circumstance.

It challenged me to decide what freedom means to me - am I free?  

In light of recent government decisions I have been feeling 'less free'.  It's easy to believe we are on a landslide toward less and less individual freedom if you consider that important issues are being decided without taking a vote by the citizens or at least elected officials.

But I've also been feeling more drawn toward my Savior.  

So guess what?  Adversity always makes us look to the only one who offers true freedom - it doesn't take a genius to realize why He allows us to experience problems!

It's interesting how much we long to look to a fellow human being to change bad things, to save the world, to save America. Nothing, not even a single word, is happening outside of God's permission here in America today.  

As I think of brothers and sisters across the world suffering just because they love Jesus, I realize their physical definition of freedom would definitely be the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved. Still, no power on earth can take away their complete belief in and reliance on Christ.

So the question I ask myself is, should I have the power to act, speak, or think as I want to without hindrance or restraint AND the state of not being imprisoned or enslaved?  Am I free?

I will never understand why I've been one of God's chosen to live in this amazing country, but I'm also learning to take it less and less for granted and that's a good thing.  They (whomever they are), always say "you don't know what you have until it's gone"...I pray for all of us - that we wake up and take advantage of our freedoms right away.  Share the beautiful Gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone He gives you opportunity to do life with.  That's the freedom they're searching for and they don't realize all of these other 'feel good now things' are a complete waste of time and in the end destructive.

This is the time perhaps like never before in my life-time, to embrace the freedom we have and love those around us despite our differences and maybe we'll taste of a freedom beyond the dictionaries definitions.

I am free and I pray for safety across our amazing country today to express our thankfulness and to be together in our freedom!

deep breath time

Sitting on my deck, my favorite place, just taking a deep breath accomplishes more than 'doing' anything does right now.

One of my friends called me 'Martha' this week.  In case any of you don't know, that's not a compliment!  I LOVE to do.




Sitting here watching God's beautiful birds eat their fill and fly away again, hearing the rustling of the leaves and listening to the crickets begin their evening song- evokes praise for my Father that will never come from accomplishments - even a job well done.  It's just me and Him out here under breathtaking skies that He created just for us.

The bidding me goodbye as it prepares to set

What ever jobs I have yet to do can wait - while my soul drinks deeply from His precious gift of creation.

My God is an awesome God…

What fills your soul?

emotional week

I've been in a bit of a writing funk this week, dealing with lots of emotions…

Mourning…sitting with Gary and Carol Harris at Hospice…and surprised yesterday by another old Crossroads friend's death….and yet it definately brings perspective
Missing….missing my daughter and son-in-law like crazy all of a sudden
Loss….of Pastor Tim and family
Loving….amazed at how deep my love runs for my family and girlfriends
Praising… praising God for provision in ministry as well as finally enjoying being home a little more
Thankful..that God is in control and I don't have to take on trying to make sense of details
Anticipating…we have college interns arriving next week for the first time at Crossroads
Determined…  I've never felt as driven and responsible as I do now
Excited….when there is an ending there is always a new beginning

I feel surrounded by God's army and I can't imagine moving forward alone!   My heart has been deeply, deeply burdened for those outside the Lord lately.   I can't imagine the helplessness they must feel.   I'm burdened also for people who know the Lord but have chosen to step into sin, knowing their own decisions separate them from Him…how lonely they must be.

So I ask the Lord - how do I help them, how do I even know who they are?

My heart feels close to God this morning - yet feeling very far from where I long to be spiritually.

 I would assume that puts me right where He wants me.

what I learned today

Sometimes your adoration is a spontaneous overflow of Joy, in response to radiant beauty or rich blessings. At other times your praise is more disciplined and measured—an act of your will. He dwells equally in both types of praise.

I read this in a book I used for devotions today and it really encouraged me!

It encouraged me because sometimes I don't feel like praising, I've wondered if I praise anyway if He can still receive it?  I was so glad to read this today - it makes me determined to praise Him at all times.

I know at times I've withheld my praise worrying that it wasn't a whole hearted- fully engaged praise I was offering.  What that does, is suggest it's up to me to determine when it's good enough or when God can accept it.  It actually paints Him as unable to accept it suggesting it's my decision.

He accepts our praise even at times it comes out of the discipline of constantly praising Him instead of a huge experiential event!

How it must grieve Him when I don't trust Him to truly be the God of the universe, capable of all things!  The thought of Him waiting and waiting for my praise is humbling and convicting and makes me determined to never withhold whatever is on my lips and in my heart!

God desiring MY praise…unbelievable.

what I learned today

Habakkuk 1:1-3

1 The oracle that Habakkuk the prophet saw.

Habakkuk's Complaint

² O Lord, how long shall I cry for help,
    and you will not hear?
Or cry to you “Violence!”
    and you will not save?
³ Why do you make me see iniquity,
    and why do you idly look at wrong?
Destruction and violence are before me;
    strife and contention arise.

Pastor Tim begins a new teaching series this weekend called - "God, what are you doing?"

I was reading tonight to try to prepare for the weekend and I was struck by how similar the questions being asked way back then are to our prays and questions today!

One commentary I was reading began with the following paragraph.

The prophet was perplexed. Wickedness and violence seemed to go unchecked. Would there be no end to the rising tide of sin? Habakkuk took his complaint to God. “Why don’t You do something?”

Doesn't it sound just like conversations you hear around you?  Anytime I see the news it makes me wonder how much longer God will allow our county's horrible sin.

There's comfort that comes in knowing others before us asked the very same thing and our God delivered them.  His timing is perfect!

I'm looking forward to the series!

hard to recognize

Our country is becoming hard to recognize.

We are used to seeing everything easy, ridiculous wealth even among those considered needy in comparison to other countries and in relative safety.  Now people are raising up demanding to be cared for by our government, instead of caring for one another.  Even some of the sweet elderly friends I love feel 'entitled' to receive an unsustainable amount of government care.  This is frightening.

As I watch Greece rise up and strike out at anyone they think has more than they do, I wonder how far behind we can be here in the US from becoming just like them.  Not far.

Don't get me wrong, I am  not scared to die in any manner God has planned for me, but, what is troubling is that even the believers are becoming deceived, dwelling in constant fearful conversations.

I have a Greek friend whose family is still in Greece who said a month ago he sees America moving exactly in the same direction his beloved country did right before all of the violence broke out.  Tears come to his eyes as he realizes we too could be experiencing this type of violence very soon.

Friends, we should be on our knees for America, we should be the comfort those who have no hope in the Lord come running to for assurance.  This could be the greatest time in our Christian lives to be an American.

BUT, if we join in the complaining and fear then there is no difference between our faith and the hopeless around us.  There is NOTHING to fear!  God could stop this downward spiral at any time if He chose to, so we have to understand that He may allow this for America.  We should not give up praying on her behalf, but we need to seek His will - what kind of amazing opportunities will we each get as a result of potential trouble?

Now the real Christians will appear, it may not be the 'easy' to which we have become so accustomed, but it just may be a time where revival rocks the land as never before in our life time.  Remember, you were placed exactly where you are, born exactly when God planned and prepared for your life in Him - now it's time to live authentically in our troubled country!!  Charge!

Memorial

I cannot imagine a losing someone on the battle field.  Especially as young as many of our service men and women are.  Such a loss!

The bravery it takes to go into battle and offer your life, believing you can make a difference in this lost world is so amazing to me.  And I cannot ever say thanks enough to the families that have suffered through such a loss.

Just know that I think of all of you often and I thank your loved ones personally for the freedom I enjoy so much.  May God richly bless your family and may you feel His presence as we remember our fallen heroes this weekend.


Thank you!

the cross

While I was in Cambodia - a staff member who could NOT afford to do so, walked up behind me and placed a cross necklace around my neck.

This morning I removed it for the first time to wear another necklace.

As I looked at it in my hand, it dawned on me that God chose this form of death for His son.  Can you imagine choosing how your child would die?

He could have chosen an easier death for Him, a more private death for Him but didn't.

Did it take this horrifying a death just to get the human race's attention?  I know in that culture that form of death represented many things that were very much a part of God's decision.  But, it really hit me today as I looked at that cross in my hand -

how much I cost Him...

they worshiped

Oh my what a night...I will remember this night for a long, long time.

Gracious friends invited us to use their beautiful farm to take the Crossroads artists outside tonight. We shared a picnic then I encouraged everyone to worship God with their artistic talents, whatever that meant to them, just worship Him. And they did.

They spread across the farm and began to worship. With pens, pencils, cameras and words they praised Him. And I know He was pleased. The talents God gave them came back to Him - he created artists to draw for Him, to sing for Him, to act for him, to design for him and to write for Him. And tonight they did.

10 years ago

It was ten years ago this weekend that we did our first Easter Concert - The Life of Christ Through Music. We have tried many things, kept what works, gotten rid of what didn't. What we discovered along the way was - people come to church on Easter. It just takes a live invite - most people will attend on Easter. Our people invited and they came!

Logic would say it takes something extraordinary to get people to come, but, we have done both regular services and concerts and everything in between, and the attendance is identical.

We had two packed services tonight, God moved through our midst pulling people to himself. We had over 25 people stop to pick up new believer packets declaring their decision to follow Christ. Each of our volunteers gets to share in the reward of their work being instrumental in winning souls for eternity! How amazing is our God! I am sad that we only have two more services tomorrow...wish it could last longer!

10 years have gone by quickly...what will God chose to do in the next 10?

supported

When do you feel supported? When someone agrees with everything you say? When someone compliments your work? When people put you first, when friends remember to call, when they send you cards, remember your birthday?

When I feel supported I feel as if I am capable of great things. When I am not, I become my own worst enemy, second guessing myself.

So, whose support do I need, or do I want? My boss? My husband, kids, parents, friends? God's?

It is great to feel supported, I accomplish my best work when I feel this way. But, what if you don't get the support you want, do you give up, quit? I think we honor God when we support one another. It simply means being available, paying attention, watching for opportunities to help and support. Everyone needs to feel supported, God never intended for us to do life alone.