In reading Psalms 139:1-24 this morning, I saw verse 2 once again, a familiar verse.
2. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar.
I know this verse, I've heard this verse before, the question is do I believe this verse?
IF God truly knows when I sit and stand and what I'm thinking about - I IF I really believe this - then WHY don't my life and especially my thoughts look differently then they do?
SO FRUSTRATING!
I do what I don't want to do, I think what I don't want to think...
THAT'S why even every movie and TV show matters and all kinds of trivial things matter so much. Every conversations matters AND every thought matters.
Does it support what I 'say' I believe? sometimes...
All I can do when I'm reminded of this is to grab onto it today - turn my day over to the Lord and fight against the enemies interruptions of sights and sounds!
Do you want to join me as we start this day IN HIM - to grab onto these verses and SHOW the Lord we do believe He sees all be the way we act and talk today?
I claim His promise that He'll never leave me - and in Him I'm about to walk out of this house determined to remain IN HIM!
Here we go!
Friday, November 21, 2014
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
does SOUL require suffering
A profound question:
Does soul require suffering to make itself known? Ortberg asks.
My whole life I've heard hell-fire and brimstone threatening sermons about the devil taking my soul (except at Crossroads!), a faith driven by guilt (my parents had complete control of me playing on my sympathies and guilt).
I grew up honestly believing that until you suffer, really suffer - you may never be close to the Lord.
So I ask you - is that true?
The other things I heard as a child into young adulthood, were glowing testimonies of these amazing people that withstood torture and rose above unbelievable odds to lead many to the Lord. Deep in my soul even then I wondered if I could ever live up to this and be that kind of Christian.
Even the flannel graph was creepy!
Still I knew there was more to each of us than just our outer shell and mind - a soul - that's what sets us apart in God's creation!
Ortberg says, "We speak of the soul as a source of strength, and yet we speak of it as fragile."
So confusing! Are we supposed to understand it, or doesn't it matter? We just somehow know there's more to us then just flesh and bone because the Bible talks about it a whole lot! So it must be important.
I seem to re-discover my soul when I'm on vacation, especially if water is involved. The obligations melt away, the to do's are postponed and I remember again, what I accomplish is NOT who I am.
In times alone or away from distractions my mind, heart, body and soul function perhaps closer to what God intended.
Vacation was great and I intend to hold it close and yet move forward into this new season that requires our very best, both externally and for us to closely guard and nurture our souls so we are ready for God's next things.
Are you?
Does soul require suffering to make itself known? Ortberg asks.
My whole life I've heard hell-fire and brimstone threatening sermons about the devil taking my soul (except at Crossroads!), a faith driven by guilt (my parents had complete control of me playing on my sympathies and guilt).
I grew up honestly believing that until you suffer, really suffer - you may never be close to the Lord.
So I ask you - is that true?
The other things I heard as a child into young adulthood, were glowing testimonies of these amazing people that withstood torture and rose above unbelievable odds to lead many to the Lord. Deep in my soul even then I wondered if I could ever live up to this and be that kind of Christian.
Even the flannel graph was creepy!
Still I knew there was more to each of us than just our outer shell and mind - a soul - that's what sets us apart in God's creation!
Ortberg says, "We speak of the soul as a source of strength, and yet we speak of it as fragile."
So confusing! Are we supposed to understand it, or doesn't it matter? We just somehow know there's more to us then just flesh and bone because the Bible talks about it a whole lot! So it must be important.
I seem to re-discover my soul when I'm on vacation, especially if water is involved. The obligations melt away, the to do's are postponed and I remember again, what I accomplish is NOT who I am.
In times alone or away from distractions my mind, heart, body and soul function perhaps closer to what God intended. Vacation was great and I intend to hold it close and yet move forward into this new season that requires our very best, both externally and for us to closely guard and nurture our souls so we are ready for God's next things.
Are you?
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
refilled
If you didn't read my blog yesterday - you may want to start there. I'm going to write a series of articles about my discovery of how worn-out I've been, both spiritually and physically.
And you can't lead when you aren't where you need to be 'in Him'.
Some people may wonder what horrible mess I'm referring to, I hear all the time that I have the perfect family and life. They have nothing to do with my own self-care and abiding in Him. It's not that it has to be a terrible catastrophe to feel separated from the Lord, rather, it's not being as fully emerged in Him as I've been designed by Him to be, when I'm not surrounded by Him that's what leaves an unexplainable longing and other things fill my day.
When you get super busy it's easy to just 'stay' there because it's habit and somewhat rewarding, but you soon realize any satisfaction is temporary if you can't evan appreciate the journey - be fully in each moment.
I started each morning of vacation listening to this song (click on the HERE link). There's only one thing that draws my soul toward Him when I'm studying His Word more than nature, and that's music. I'm convinced that Kari wrote it just for me! Please listen to the words when you have time to really Hear them!
HERE
Before I studied each day on vacation, I would listen to this just to focus and get myself ready. You should try it each morning for a week! POWERFUL!
When my heart was focused and I stopped crying - I opened the book I will always love called "Soul Keeping". It is the most powerful - personal book I've read in years. I received it for attending the "STORY" conference a couple months ago. It was worth the cost of the conference to me.
Let me leave you with this today from John's book, he had the privilege to spend time with Dallas Willard a USC professor and a person believers that knew him referred to as a "soul curate". His deep understanding of the things of the Lord caused John to cry when he spoke of his relationship with God. When John asked Willard what he needed to do to stay spiritually healthy Willard said,
"You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life. There's nothing else - hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day."
Sounds so simple. So that's my pursuit - to listen to the Lord. To be fully present when I have an opportunity to listen to and minister to others He places in my path. And to not feel one bit guilty for resting more then I have been for a very long time.
Will you join me in this seemingly simple move toward Him?
And you can't lead when you aren't where you need to be 'in Him'.
Some people may wonder what horrible mess I'm referring to, I hear all the time that I have the perfect family and life. They have nothing to do with my own self-care and abiding in Him. It's not that it has to be a terrible catastrophe to feel separated from the Lord, rather, it's not being as fully emerged in Him as I've been designed by Him to be, when I'm not surrounded by Him that's what leaves an unexplainable longing and other things fill my day.
When you get super busy it's easy to just 'stay' there because it's habit and somewhat rewarding, but you soon realize any satisfaction is temporary if you can't evan appreciate the journey - be fully in each moment.
I started each morning of vacation listening to this song (click on the HERE link). There's only one thing that draws my soul toward Him when I'm studying His Word more than nature, and that's music. I'm convinced that Kari wrote it just for me! Please listen to the words when you have time to really Hear them!
HERE
Before I studied each day on vacation, I would listen to this just to focus and get myself ready. You should try it each morning for a week! POWERFUL!
When my heart was focused and I stopped crying - I opened the book I will always love called "Soul Keeping". It is the most powerful - personal book I've read in years. I received it for attending the "STORY" conference a couple months ago. It was worth the cost of the conference to me.Let me leave you with this today from John's book, he had the privilege to spend time with Dallas Willard a USC professor and a person believers that knew him referred to as a "soul curate". His deep understanding of the things of the Lord caused John to cry when he spoke of his relationship with God. When John asked Willard what he needed to do to stay spiritually healthy Willard said,
"You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life. There's nothing else - hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day."
Sounds so simple. So that's my pursuit - to listen to the Lord. To be fully present when I have an opportunity to listen to and minister to others He places in my path. And to not feel one bit guilty for resting more then I have been for a very long time.
Will you join me in this seemingly simple move toward Him?
Monday, November 17, 2014
it's been a while
As some of you may know, we just got home from vacation.
It was the first traveling vacation my husband and I have taken for quite a while. It was glorious!
Although we had a group of us on the trip - each day everyone did exactly as they pleased and if anyone got bored - there was always a rousing game of euchre or 'oh heck' going on. I won in euchre but was a disaster in the other.
All that to say, the Lord knew exactly what I needed and He graciously gave it to me.
It's easy to be so busy that you miss your life, your God opportunities, being fully engaged and getting proper rest. That was the cycle I've been caught in for a while now. I'm not a victim, I allow it and quite frankly love it. I love to work and communicate and to see what I can help to create. But this cycle breeds stress and tiredness.
So as I packed for vacation I knew I had a powerful book or two to take - reading is how I unwind, and I was able to read as much as I wanted to on this trip - couldn't put them down and God used them in a mighty way! Ortberg is officially one of my favorite authors now!
I want to spend this week writing a little about what I learned each day - I'm still trying to process it all. As I read I realized I was nearly empty - my soul was weary and begging for focused renewal.
Let me explain this important fact I learned, the difference between busy and hurry from John Ortberg's book.
Being busy is an outward condition - it occurs when we have many things to do.
Being hurried is an inner condition - a condition of the soul. It means to be so preoccupied with my life that I'm unable to be fully present - unable to occupy this present moment. I cannot abide in God with a hurried soul.
And I realize I've been hurried for a very long time. The beginning of the end to hurry started this week - I engaged with my Savior like I haven't for a very long time. The longing in my heart can only be filled by Him and NOTHING else. I know all of these things in my head - but my heart, my soul was not satisfied with all the hurry so I really want to continue taking steps in abiding...
For a number of years I've claimed I Corinthians 9:26 & 27 as my life verses and one of the books I read on vacation talked about how important having a life verse is - so here are mine.
Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way as not to beat the air;
but, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
Who would have thought that one of the greatest lack of disciplines we could have is to hurry?
It was the first traveling vacation my husband and I have taken for quite a while. It was glorious!
Although we had a group of us on the trip - each day everyone did exactly as they pleased and if anyone got bored - there was always a rousing game of euchre or 'oh heck' going on. I won in euchre but was a disaster in the other.
All that to say, the Lord knew exactly what I needed and He graciously gave it to me.
It's easy to be so busy that you miss your life, your God opportunities, being fully engaged and getting proper rest. That was the cycle I've been caught in for a while now. I'm not a victim, I allow it and quite frankly love it. I love to work and communicate and to see what I can help to create. But this cycle breeds stress and tiredness.
So as I packed for vacation I knew I had a powerful book or two to take - reading is how I unwind, and I was able to read as much as I wanted to on this trip - couldn't put them down and God used them in a mighty way! Ortberg is officially one of my favorite authors now!
I want to spend this week writing a little about what I learned each day - I'm still trying to process it all. As I read I realized I was nearly empty - my soul was weary and begging for focused renewal.
Let me explain this important fact I learned, the difference between busy and hurry from John Ortberg's book.
Being busy is an outward condition - it occurs when we have many things to do.
Being hurried is an inner condition - a condition of the soul. It means to be so preoccupied with my life that I'm unable to be fully present - unable to occupy this present moment. I cannot abide in God with a hurried soul.
And I realize I've been hurried for a very long time. The beginning of the end to hurry started this week - I engaged with my Savior like I haven't for a very long time. The longing in my heart can only be filled by Him and NOTHING else. I know all of these things in my head - but my heart, my soul was not satisfied with all the hurry so I really want to continue taking steps in abiding...
For a number of years I've claimed I Corinthians 9:26 & 27 as my life verses and one of the books I read on vacation talked about how important having a life verse is - so here are mine.
Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way as not to beat the air;
but, I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.
Who would have thought that one of the greatest lack of disciplines we could have is to hurry?
Thursday, November 6, 2014
serving and sewing
Tonight I had the privilege of not only serving some of the ladies of Crossroads, but serving WITH some of my good friends!
We taught the ladies and girls that came how to hand sew hems, repairs and replace buttons! It was good to watch ladies with great talents share their knowledge with other women.
As we worked with them, we heard the weekend worship being prepared in the background, laughter coming from the office area as the GoMissions team worked on preparing all the children's gift lists and also the grunts and strains of the Aikido class down the hall. A church, on a week night serving, preparing and pushing God's kingdom forward! No where I'd rather be than in the local church!
We taught the ladies and girls that came how to hand sew hems, repairs and replace buttons! It was good to watch ladies with great talents share their knowledge with other women.
As we worked with them, we heard the weekend worship being prepared in the background, laughter coming from the office area as the GoMissions team worked on preparing all the children's gift lists and also the grunts and strains of the Aikido class down the hall. A church, on a week night serving, preparing and pushing God's kingdom forward! No where I'd rather be than in the local church!
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| Jean assisting a young lady with her stitching |
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| teaching hand-sewing |
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| Jeanette and Patty preparing the treats! |
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| Jackie demonstrating hemming |
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| Milo and the team getting ready for another amazing weekend |
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| Melissa cracking the whip with the vocalists |
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| GoMissions team preparing the Adopt-A-Charge cards |
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
freedom wasn't free
People that gave their lives for MY freedom
People that bravely fight behind the scenes to try and keep God values alive in the US
I am free to walk into a voting place without harassment, without fear of any kind and vote for who I think would please the Lord with their decisions. Will any candidate really change things for the better? We may never really know! What we have to walk away believing is that God is in charge - and we just exercised a practice that very few places around the world get to participate in!
This may not always be the case - so I plan to take FULL advantage of my rights today.
If you're not planning to vote today then you've fallen into the enemies trap of believing your vote doesn't count. That's crazy! There ARE honest people involved in the process - I personally know a couple of the people behind the desk at our voting location and they LOVE the Lord with all their hearts!
Is every candidate honest ? No.
But, how cool would it be if God chose to turn the evil to good in the US and give his people a new voice - don't you want to be part of that?
I'm not pushing either party - it has NOTHING to do with that - the fact is our freedom was purchased with a huge cost and we honor those who gave their lives, and limbs, and quality of life for us!
And, by not voting you have NO voice - you have no right to complain - and some day you may not even have an option to vote. Please don't give that right away.
Freedom wasn't free.
Sunday, November 2, 2014
weekend report
This weekend, well, it took my breath away...
Precious friends serving on our praise teams, tech teams, children's ministries, student ministries, missions team, parkers, greeters, coffee house volunteers, offering counters, communion team, iCenter, resource center, hostess to our praise team - I could just go on and on and on but I'll show you just a glimpse of our ministry instead!
Our Setlist:
Announcements: Kick off of our 10th year of Adopt A Child!
Build Your Kingdom Here
All My Fountains
We Believe
Message: Choices Pt. 3 - Choose Unity - Pastor Brian Boone
Communion: Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace)
To watch our services go to crossroadswired.com
To see what other ministries used in their services go to theworshipcommunity.com
Precious friends serving on our praise teams, tech teams, children's ministries, student ministries, missions team, parkers, greeters, coffee house volunteers, offering counters, communion team, iCenter, resource center, hostess to our praise team - I could just go on and on and on but I'll show you just a glimpse of our ministry instead!
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| Pastor Brian - a gift straight from God! |
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| Some of our students (and leader-Jocelyn) selling candles for summer mission's trip |
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| Two of my praise-team girlfriends in the greenroom before the service. |
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| Faithful Dan - in his 18th year of leading |
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| We 'borrowed' Mia from the Student Ministry band |
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| Mia stepped in last-minute when we had no drummer - she did an AMAZING job! |
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| A fall communion! Love our communion volunteers!! |
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| Praising Him! |
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| Eric - High School Pastor - preparing to lead worship with his sister |
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| Jocelyn rehearsing "It is Well" - beautiful - preparing to lead the students |
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| Jesse - Middle School Pastor with his father - Mike and faithful side-kick preparing technically for the students! |
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| Leah - popping corn for the Pre-Teens - it filled the ministry with a buttery amazing smell! |
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| The greeters getting the low-down on when the doors open & close and all the details! |
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| Kristin - our children's coordinator making even the nursery EXCELLENT! |
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| some of the earliest to arrive each weekend - I call them 'the coffee club' |
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| Our amazing worship team |
Our Setlist:
Announcements: Kick off of our 10th year of Adopt A Child!
Build Your Kingdom Here
All My Fountains
We Believe
Message: Choices Pt. 3 - Choose Unity - Pastor Brian Boone
Communion: Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace)
To watch our services go to crossroadswired.com
To see what other ministries used in their services go to theworshipcommunity.com
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