Come, LORD

That short phrase keeps rolling off my tongue.
Keeps flowing from my heart.
Come, LORD.
Come closer!
We need You!!!

Oh, the need is everywhere. It screams at me wherever I look!
We are in desperate need of healing - spiritual, racial, relational, physical... It keeps going and growing, and my heart aches for God. For His move in our world.
Because all I'm seeing is brokenness.
And HE is the only One I know who can bring wholeness.
I am certain you're seeing it, too, right? The battle between political parties, the racial tension, the fight over how/what history is to be taught, arguments over what history is actually correct, opposition regarding people and policies, and anger towards individuals who will - or will not - wear a mask. In tweets, Facebook posts, television "news" reports, and any of a plethora of online formats it seems everyone is contributing to the clash and deepening the divide between brothers and sisters in these United States.
And it's got to stop. The hostility MUST stop.
We cannot survive - as a nation, or as individuals - like this.

But how? How can we make the changes which are necessary to make in order to heal from our past, and go forward to a healthy future?
It seems impossible.
Because each member in the quarrel believes he/she is 100% correct and their opponent is 100% wrong. And it seems nobody is willing to entertain an idea which has come from the "other side" because, heaven forbid anyone should do anything which resembles compromise or submission.

So we're left at an impasse. Everyone knowing something's gotta give.
But no one willing to give.

And I find myself on my knees, even on my face, begging God to come and heal our land.
No. Our hearts.
We need a transformation of hearts in our land. Because no amount of land-physical-COVID-or-otherwise healing is going to do any good until our hearts have been renewed.
Oh, I want to understand the issues. I'm trying interpret the stories and decipher the positions, feelings, and biases. And I have come across some helpful things. God has allowed my eyes to be opened to perceptions I have not seen before. And I am so thankful!
But while all these things are transpiring in my mind, as I take in the brokenness around me I remain convinced our only hope is a miraculouse work and move of God in our collective hearts.
And so I continue calling.

Come, LORD.

COME!!!

They Don't Know

This morning I had a few minutes of quiet.
I sat in the presence of God and just enjoyed being silent. Ahhhhhh.
And in the midst of the peaceful moment I heard, uh, something.
I am not going to call it noise, since that word usually has a negative association.
What I heard was delightful.
I heard birds singing. They were chirping and carrying on as if they had not a care in the world. The sound was sweet to my ears, and I quickly discovered it was also sweet to my heart. So I sat in the silence and I enjoyed the birds' song. As I listened, however, I thought, They must not know.
The birds were singing so joyfully, I realized they must not know the current status of the world.
Clearly, they don't know everyone is stuck at home - discouraged by the known, and fearful of the unknown. They must be unaware that most of the world is feeling a sense of despair because of sickness and uncertainty, and being told to shelter-in-place, and staring at the same walls and people day after day.
Indeed, the birds were singing so sweetly, there was no way they could have known.
Then I glanced out the window and I realized the flowers don't know, either.
They stood so lovely and full of color. They didn't look at all like the grey sky above, nor did they act as if they were disappointed with staying in the same place for.their.entire.life.
They just sat there, all beautiful and stuff, and brought joy to my heart.
And in that moment it was as if God said to me, You're right, darling. They don't know. They aren't bothered by any of it. Because I am taking care of them, providing everything they need. And do you know what, dear one? Just as I am tending to the birds and the flowers, I will always care for you. Fear not, My child, I am with you.
So I am choosing today to be a little more like the birds and flowers.
Although I do know, and even though my feelings of being overwhelmed and discouraged are very real at times, the faithfulness of God is more real. And because of HIM, I am not going to fear. I will live today trusting God and not worrying about tomorrow.
Ahhhh, I am so thankful they don't know - so I could learn.

Delivering Hope Through Cyber Space

Four months ago I recorded this poscast with a friend.
And for some reason, God caused her to hold on to it until now.
I listened to it last night and was so encouraged to remember God's faithfulness in the midst of strife. So for each of you who is struggling today - whether it's due to the children in your home, or some other source - I want to offer you now 43 minutes of hope.
Praying God will speak to your heart through this podcast.

I Will Trust HIM

Be Still and Hold Fast

Whew!
I cannot count the number of different emotions, outlooks, concerns, attitudes, and perspectives I have experienced this week. (It's kind of been like the weather of late. Just took a walk and went from cool breeze to snow er, no, it's sleet to light drizzle to sunshine in one trip around the block.)
Anyway, it has been a week full of struggles and small victories. Of contending with negative thoughts and listening to the Voice of Truth.
I have learned more fully that I need to become less, so HE may become greater.
I have been constantly reminded that in my weakness HIS strength is more than enough.
My battle weary heart has longed for renewal from the One who possesses the victory.

In the midst of all that - and by the grace of God - I found time to study hope in His Word.
And His Spirit used the lessons, study conversations, and tender moments of worship to convince my spirit of this: I simply need to be still and hold fast.
Be still. Cease talking, arguing, justifying, whining, or trying to convince HIM that I know how things should go. A.k.a. Trust that God knows what He is doing.
Hold fast. Cling to, depend on, embrace, safegaurd, and preserve the truth that God in His Son has brought salvation to the world. Including me. And nothing - no trial, frustration, disappointment, battle, or interference - can pluck me from His hand.
Therein is my hope: The sovereign God of the universe has me in the palm of His hand for eternity.

Do you know this hope, too???

Ummmm, WHY?

I saw something yesterday I've never seen before.
I mean, I have seen them, but not in the context in which they appeared yesterday.
That is, I saw tears. Running down Foster's cheeks.
And, until that moment, I had never seen him cry.
But yesterday some feelings came up for Foster and the only way he could express them was to cry. He tried to put words to the emotions inside of him, and with prompting he was able to get some of it out.
In the end, however, tears were the best way. So I gave him tissues and sat by his side, trying to assure him it was OK to cry.
As I sat there, I was also praying - begging God to give me grace and wisdom to lead this little boy through the feelings he was having. Asking Him to heal the circumstances. Wondering WHY He was allowing this sweet little boy to live in these circumstances.
Actually, I've found myself wondering, WHY?, with an increasing frequency in recent days.
There's the circumstance we expected to play out smoothly - because it has been done hundreds of times before. We can think of no (earthly) reason for all the delays and hurdles which have caused frustration along the way. And certainly, no one expected the HALT which just forced itself into the works.
I'm witnessing various individuals go through trials with work scenarios, family relationships, personal battles, and physical challenges. Not to mention the economic and health-related adversities so much of the world is facing right now in the face of COVID-19.

One of those individuals simply said, "I'm stuggling with my faith."

And my first reaction in each of these moments is to wonder, WHY?
Why, God? Why have You allowed all this...stuff? Why not just wave Your loving hand over the earth and make it all better? Why must we struggle, God? WHY???
Then His Spirit reminds me of the Truth.
He brings scripture to mind, like Proverbs 3:5-6.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

He causes me to remember Job and Joseph and David and Daniel and other biblical heroes who faced trials - whose faith was tested and proved - who emerged more resolute on the other side.
I remember episodes of God's faithfulness in my own life.
He speaks to my heart to remind me of the times His plan didn't make sense to me - when I questioned His actions, because I couldn't discern His ways. Until He had brought me to the other side of the struggle and I was able to benefit from hindsight.
Indeed, in the middle of my WHY? God brings me to a place of rememberance.
Of recognizing who HE is: faithful, and good, and unchanging.
Then before I know it, my heart is aching to trust the One who is trustworthy. Though my mind cannot explain the reasons WHY?, my soul experiences the peace which surpasses understanding because my spirit knows: just as HE was faithful in the past, so HE is today, and will also be tomorrow.
Thus, I choose to dismiss my questions. And I abandon myself to trusting God.

8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts."

~Isaiah 55:8-9

Peace in the Midst of It

Oh, how quickly things can change.

Monday I was at the grocery store getting, uh, groceries. I pulled my phone out of my purse while I was standing in the check-out lane and saw a message asking me to "call when you have a minute." Figuring I had at least a minute until it would be time for me to put my items on the belt, I made the call.
Which is when I learned that our governor had just issued a shelter-in-place order for Michigan.
Which meant we had a decision to make about our house guest.
That is, Brian and I are in the process of becoming foster parents and are presently hosting a boy who needs a new foster family. He's been transitioning on a few-days-at-a-time basis so he could get used to us, but the governor's order necessitated that this boy either go back - or stay - for the next 15 days.
Our hearts were blessed tremendously by his enthusiastic deisre to stay.
But that meant - within a matter of an hour - I went from "able-to-come-and-go-as-I-please" (albeit cautiously, finitely, and less often than I typically would) to "shelter-in-place."
With a young boy (who is adorable, but also very needy).
24/7.
For the next two weeks.
(Or more, as additional decisions and proclamations are made.)
And can I just say? The past 36 hours have been a perfect mix of moments-more-precious-than-I-could-have-hoped, and oh-boy-this-is-gonna-test-my-limits.

As I've thought about it, I imagine I am not the only one who is feeling this way. I trust that all of us who are facing by-the-minute changes are experiencing a wide array of thoughts and feelings. Some which delight, and others not so much. So in the midst of it, may I encourage you to cling to the promise found in Philippians 4:6-7?

6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Because I am convinced: The only way I am going to survive the endless wave of changes, the constant flow of questions, the perpetual need for reassurance, the plethora of the-world-is-coming-to-an-end news stories, and the continual requests for help (not to mention trying to counsel and comfort feelings a little boy shouldn't have to experience) is by laying it all at HIS feet and trusting HIM to help.
I know that God is faithful. And when I trust in Him, I know His peace will guard me.
What a blessed assurance I have in HIM.
I pray the same for you, my friend.

Being Thankful

Corona Thoughts

I was on the schedule to teach the lesson at chapel tonight at the women's mission.
But "In light of the growing concerns of the spread of COVID-19" chapel services have been cancelled until further notice, so that close contact within group settings may be limited.

On the fourth Sunday of the month I always go to a local assisted living facility to lead a church service.
But they "aren't having any visitors, Bible study, church or live music at this time."

I was scheduled to speak for a MOPS group on April 1.
But "Following guidance from the governor, the Macomb County Health Department, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Michigan Department of Health and Human Services...we are canceling all of our MOPS meetings due to the potential spread of Coronavirus."

I know I am not the only one affected by numerous cancellations and changes in plans.
We're all in this together.
I also know it is easy to become disappointed, disturbed, and even angered by the elimination of so many things which we feel we need, require, must have, and can't live without. While I have been dealing with my own feelings of letdown, however, I have also been gifted by God with hope. In the midst of the frustration, HE has been speaking faith.
That is, His Spirit is beckoning mine to wonder things like, What if this virus isn't actually going to be the end of us? What if God has plans, rather, to use the entire situation for our good???
To be honest, I do have sincere concerns beyond the virus, itself. I mean, what is going to happen to our economy? I look at everything closing down, people not working yet still needing to earn money because they're still living - and living costs money - and I wonder, How are we going to make it? I think of my boss at Chick-fil-A, and business owners like him, and I wonder how deep of an economic impact these closings are going to have on them.
Even things like the movies.
I just saw "I Still Believe" (Which is really good, by the way. Really, REALLY good! As in, you should go see it when we're finsihed with this whole social distancing thing and the movie theaters open back up.) and I think, Man, what a bummer. The timing of that release and this pandemic. And I wonder what the economic impact will be for the movie makers.
Yet, in the middle of my questioning there HE is lifting my head, causing me to ponder a different thought. It's like He's asking me, Karen, dear, do you believe I am still on My throne? Do you trust Me? Do you have faith that I am in control and that I can take this circumstance - which the world sees as a tragedy - and use it for the good of mankind and the glory of the Godhead? Do you, dear one? Do you? Because I am. And I can. I will.
So with HIS assurance, with confidence that my Father can be trusted, my heart has begun to beat with a different rhythm. I am still asking Him to bring an end to the spread of the Coronavirus. I will continue to pray for healing of the sick and peace for the frightened. My petition remains that He would halt the devastation. But I am surrendering to the reality that there may be something good which HE will work from this trouble. I am believing God may use the pain of loss, the fear of uncertainty, even the discomfort of scarcity to humble us and draw us closer to Himself. Indeed, that is my hope and prayer.
Father, even though I cannot see and I do not understand, please use this earthly struggle for Your kingdom purpose. Work in us that which is pleasing to You!

Even in the Darkest Valley

We Made It. (You will, too!)

For the JOY

I've just got to share this moment with you!
I sat down yesterday to spend time reading my Advent verses, and God did it again.
HE spoke to my heart.
The assigned reading was Hebrews 12:1-2, and it was the second verse which grabbed me.

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

I thought, If I fix my eyes on Jesus, what will I see?
And I was drawn to joy.
In my mind's eye I saw my Savior enduring the pain and shame of the cross because of joy.
The joy of redeeming mankind - you and me!
The joy of completing the work God sent Him here to do.
The joy of returning to heaven and sitting down by His Father, because the work was done.
The joy of fully portraying His unfailing love and unending grace for us.
Oh, the joy! The pain was overwhelming, to be sure. But for the joy - He endured it.
Because of what He knew was coming, He was able to go through what He went through.
And then He invited me to join in. To recognize there is joy for me, too, (For all of us!) on the other side of pain. On the other side of hardship, or distress, or fear. He beckoned me to trust Him in the process, and to endure for the joy set before me.
Then I wondered, OK. But just what do you mean by endure???
And this is where it gets really good!
I checked out the definintion of "endure" and saw that it means, "literally, remaining under (the load), bearing up (enduring)" and I thought, Yeah. I figured as much. To endure means to, well, endure! To remain under a certain load or burdern. And at that point I was not particularly impressed.
But then I read, "for the believer, this uniquely happens by God's power" and suddenly my heart started doing flips!
I mean, do you see what I saw???
As God calls us to focus on the joy which will come as a result of our faithfulness to go through what we have to go through, He doesn't ask us to endure alone.
HE will give us the power - HIS power - to remain under the load we're carrying.
HE will help us.
We are not alone!
I don't know about you, but the JOY in that thought is enough to carry me.
God is good. He has a good purpose for our circumstance.
AND He will give is the strength - HIS strength - to endure.
Friend, whatever you may be facing today, I pray God will give you the grace and faith to trust the process, as you believe in HIS power and presence to carry you through to the JOY.

When Suffering is Good

BUT

You let men ride over our heads;
we went through fire and water,
but you brought us to a place of abundance.

~Psalm 66:13

But.
BUT.
It's such a beautiful word, isn't it?
I'm hurting, BUT the pain won't last forever.
This circumstance stinks, BUT better days are coming.
You let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, BUT you brought us to a place of abundance.
What would your sentence say???

I think it is interesting to look at the rest of the story we began last week with the Israelites in Egypt.
They were in a prison of sorts, certainly knowing what it was like to have burdens on their backs - when God revealed the BUT.
Take a look at this:

7 The Lord said, “I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. 8 So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey—the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. 9 And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. 10 So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”

~Exodus 3:7-10

What has the LORD seen and heard?
What does He say He is going to do?
How does He describe the land into which He is going to take the Israelites?
Perhaps you know the rest of the story. There is a lot of wandering ahead of God's people. They're going to participate in an abundant amount of complaining, their trust will falter frequently, and sometimes they'll even become so forgetful that they'll long for Egypt again.
At one point, they'll actually go through water. (Just like we were reminded in Psalm 66:6.)
BUT - eventually - after they've gone through trials and suffering, after they've doubted God and had their faith tested, after they have been refined and learned to fear the LORD and trust in His power, then they enter the promised land. A good and spacious land, flowing with milk and honey.
Can you see how the story of the Israelites is echoed in Psalm 66:13?

And what about your story, my friend?
How does your circumstance parallel the Truth we see in this verse? In this psalm?
Although refining is never a fun process, though burdens hurt, and fire and water can be frightening, and - if we're honest - we'd really rather just skip it all, I pray you will find hope and comfort in the knowledge that there is a place of abundance ahead.
May God's BUT give you the courage to hold on in faith.

Refine Me, LORD

For you, O God, tested us,
You refined us like silver.

~Psalm 66:10

As I mentioned in my video Monday, I am well aware that virtually NOBODY likes to be tested.
Myself, included!
However, sometime back in 2004/2005 God used Psalm 66:10 to convince me that being tested by Him is, in fact, a very good thing. HE used this verse - and the image of a silversmith refining silver over a fire - to set me on a course of trusting Him, even when times are hard. God spoke to my spirit through Psalm 66:10, and brought hope to a woman who - most of the time - felt utterly hopeless.
And today I would like to spend time with you studying two other passages from scripture which speak to the hope we can have in the midst of hard times.

First, let's look at Romans 5.

3Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope.

~Romans 5:3-4

These two verses are short, but there is so much good stuff packed into them! And I love this passage because it has me going from, What??? to, Ohhh! to, Ahhhh.
I mean, that first statement. What does Paul suggest we should do?
Does it strike you as strange that we would rejoice in our sufferings?
It is that concept which first had me asking, What???
But a bit of digging led me to better understanding. I think we all know what "hope" means - expectation of what is certain. But do you know what Paul was talking about when he mentioned "character"? Strong's Concordance defines the Greek word for "character" in this verse this way: the process or result of trial, proving, approval. A commentary I read years ago explained "character" as referring to "the quality of a person who has been tested - and has passed the test!"
And I - in the midst of intense mothering struggles - thought, Ohhhh! How I would like to have that quality! But, according to the text, from where does character come?
And what produces that perseverance?
Sooooo, if we're going to have the quality of being one who has passed the test, what is going to be necessary in our lives?
Thus we can say, Ahhhh. Yes. I will rejoice in suffering. Because in the end I will have proven character. I will have passed the test!

So, that's Paul.
James says a similar thing.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

~James 1:2-4

This passage, like the Romans verses, begins with a bit of a difficult statement. Because, do we really consider our trials with joy? Especially pure joy???
But, also like the Romans passage, we learn about perseverance.
What do these verses tell us about perseverance? What is its result?
You might be interested to know that "mature" as it is used in this verse refers to the completeness of Christian character. It is the end-goal of a spiritual journey.
And, "complete"? Get this!
It is "divinely-allotted wholeness".
It's like God saying, Yes! This is just the way I wanted it (her!) to be.

Do you see the hope in these verses?
Can you understand why the psalmist was rejoicing in the testing through which God took him?
Think about the allure of silver. The truth is, Christ-like character - God's desire for each of us - is infinitely more beautiful than silver. And that beauty is what God's testing aims to produce in us.
So I say, Yes! Refine me, LORD.
How about you?

Overwhelming Faith

One day last week I listened to a Christian brother speak passionately about our need to not throw out platitudes when we are suffering. His plea was for us to acknowledge: 1)We're all aware of Bible verses which answer life's troubles. 2)We've heard sermons which address our hardships. 3)We've read books which are supposed to have built an unshakeable faith in us. But that doesn't mean we ought to ignore real pain as we regurgitate biblical truths, acting as if we aren't crying inside.
Less than 48 hours later I listened to a friend weep openly and express anguish over a flood of difficult circumstances which had just overtaken her. And when she was able to catch a breath she went on to confess how disappointed she was in herself for crying - because she believes God is in control, she knows she needs only pray and trust in Him, and she has confidence in His faithfulness. She didn't think she ought to be responding to the flood with such rampant tears.
And for a moment I felt like my head was spinning.
Because on the one hand I had a friend saying, Let us not demand that faith in God preclude vulnerability and the real expression of emotion in response to difficult life situations.
While on the other hand, I had a friend disappointed in herself for following that very suggestion.

And it made me begin to wonder: Is it possible to have it both ways?

What I mean is, could it be that a person who has steadfast faith in God - who believes He is good all the time, He is perfectly in control of every circumstance, and His love and mercy guide His hand - could that person, in faith, be distressed by trouble and hardship? Is it OK for a person of deep, committed faith in a God who is holy and perfect and loving and gracious to express raw feelings of pain and sadness when life gets really hard?
In a similar way, if a person goes through a major trial and`faces painful circumstances yet remains calm while testifying of God's faithfulness, can we trust they're being authentic? Is it possible for a person's faith to be stronger than their feelings, without suppressing said feelings?

With all my heart I believe the answer to each one of those questions is a resounding YES.
I am convinced a person can have steadfast faith, yet grieve in a moment of overwhelming stress.
I am equally confident that someone can be fully aware of and honest with their feelings, while sincerely testifying to their hope in God.
In fact, I think we can see both of those scenarios when we read many of David's psalms.
All that to say, have you ever found yourself wondering about the appropriateness of your level of emotional expression?
Have you doubted your faith because your feelings were so intense?
OR, have you considered yourself a little too much like Pollyanna because you always believed God was going to come through?
If so, I would love to invite you to spend some time in the psalms today - seeing real feelings and real faith expressed congruently by a real man. This one and this one may be good places to start.
May God bless you as you journey into overwhelming faith.

When HE Speaks Through the Struggle

In January I hit a major goal in my workouts.
Five-minute planks.
If you read my posts about it, you may recall that I took lots of baby steps (and prayer!) to get there.
And knowing what went into that effort, maybe you can understand my surprise (and disappointment) when I discovered I was doing them wrong.
That is to say, for some odd reason when my family was at the airport waiting to begin our vacation Brian suggested doing planks. Always one to accept an invitation to fun *insert eyeroll* I agreed to it. (There was hardly anyone else in the gate area. Small airport. Sunday morning. You know!) And we both assumed the postion.
As I was in my plank Matthew said my backside was too high. At first I scoffed because everything felt right to me, but he had a better viewpoint so I took his word for it.
I lowered my butt until he said my back was flat.
And can I say? I had a harder time holding that plank. Only went for 4 minutes. (But I hadn't worked out at all the previous week... So I attributed the difficulty to losing progress.)
However, Brian and I visited the ship's gym a couple of times and I discovered the struggle didn't come from a too-busy-to-exercise-week. The gym had a huge mirror and I got right up beside it to do my planks - where I could see for myself what my posture looked like. And, sure enough, Matthew was right. My butt was too high. To have a straight back only meant I needed to go down an inch or two, but the difference felt very significant. And holding it was a lot harder!
Nonetheless, I wanted to do my planks correctly so I kept monitoring myself in the mirror and prayed for strength to keep going. And dropped to my knees by 4:15.

Now that I'm home and returning to my routine I am finding it super challenging to hold planks for 4 minutes 30 seconds. Getting back to 5 seems so far away. (And the mirror I found to keep an eye on my posture prevents me from "cheating". Not sure if I'm happy about having the accountability, or not. Ignorance was so much easier!)
But as I have been in the middle of the struggle, praying for friends and for God's strength to carry them through their challenges - as well as for me to push through to 4:30 - HE has shown me Truths which I might not have seen if I hadn't faced the realization that I was doing planks wrong.
1) Doing what "feels right" doesn't make something right. I seriously feel like I am arching my back when it's straight. It feels much better to lift my backside an inch or two. But the mirror shows me what is true about my posture. Just like God's Word shows me what is True about life.
2) The fact that something is difficult doesn't mean I shouldn't do it. Confession: More than once, I have considered scrapping this exercise thing. Because it's too hard! But then the Voice of my Savior penetrates my heart, So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10) And I am reminded that HE will help me with so much more than just the physical endurance I need to keep going for a few more seconds. So I hold on. To Him!
3) Joy can be found on the other side of the battle. Monday I had (barely) made it through my first two planks and by the time I got to the third one I thought I would be satisfied if I just made it to two minutes. But I was praying for a friend who is trying to quit smoking, and as I asked God to strenghten her resolve to keep quitting I decided to push myself to three minutes. And I considered more this friend's need to not quit quitting, which motivated me to also keep going. I prayed, and I strained, and I was shaking like a mad woman - but with God's help I held that plank (with a flat back!) for the entire 4 minutes and 30 seconds. And when I was finally able to fall onto my belly I thanked and praised God for giving me the strength to hold on. I praised Him with a joyful heart for His faithfulness through every difficult circumstance in which I and all my friends ever find ourselves. HE is good and HE is faithful, and going through struggles helps me remember that Truth.
So I will press on to get back to 5-minute-planks, trusting in the One who is faithful in every moment.

With what struggles do you need to trust HIM today?

And There is Hope

The study I have been doing of Ezekiel has provided many, many opportunities for self-examination. Oftentimes my heart has been broken for the condition of my own nation - as I have read about the rebellion and stubbornness of the nation of Israel. And the consequences of such disobedience.
More than once I have found myself begging God for mercy.
Oh, I know we don't deserve it, but I continue to cast myself before Him.
Because there seems to be no other option.
What other way than by the grace of His mercy will we finally know HE is the LORD?

So, these thoughts of our desperation have been heavy on my heart - and then I came to Ezekiel 34.
The chapter begins with the word of the LORD coming to Ezekiel, speaking woe to the shepherds of Israel. The shepherds who did not care for the flock. Who stood by and did nothing to strenghten the weak or bind up the injured.
In response, God determines to care for the flock, Himself. To place over them a shepherd who will tend to them. And then HE promises to make a covenant of peace.
It is an absolutely beautiful picture of God's mercy and grace.
Although the ultimate fulfillment of these words is yet to come, I see in them a depiction of Jesus, coming as the One who knows what we need and who is able to meet that need. His love, His protection, His never-ending patience. It overwhelms me.
In a very good way!
And I find my heart lifted, no longer heavy. Because I am reminded there is Hope.
Friends, there is HOPE!
In the midst of a world which is lost and rebellious, there is hope.
In the depths of a marriage between hurting people - which is broken and falling apart, there is hope.
Even though a circumstance is dark and all the options seem to lead nowhere, there is hope.
Despite the prognosis which claims the end is near, there is hope.
Because God always has the last say.
Because He is Redeemer of the lost, Repairer of the broken, Restorer of the weak.
Because His mercy is great.
Because JESUS.

Shaken? Or STRENGTHENED?

So, we're supposed to dock at 7:00 this morning, then make our way to the airport to fly home.
Though I am writing this entry before I have even left for this trip, I have a feeling this morning I am a mix of inspired, encouraged, filled-with-faith, and just a bit exhausted from 10 days on the sea. I am confident that in the midst of all the fun we've been having we have also been soaking in the presence and faithfulness of God - remembering together that HE is good. All the time.
And because I am certain that God uses all things for good - for the purpose of making us more like Jesus - here is one more post from yester-year which I want to share to inspire your faith.
This one is from December 7, 2017.

Faith is definitely being shaken right now.

That's the message a dear friend of mine sent earlier this week, in response to some very hard things which are happening in her life.
And I get it. Oh, I do.
Because I have also had very hard things in my life.
Sometimes those things feel like they have knocked the wind right out of you, and all you want to do is quit. Throw in the towel. Give up on it all and hide away in some safe place where you don't think you'll experience any more struggle or disappointment.

Have you been there?

So I was praying for my friend who felt like her faith was being shaken, asking God to strengthen her faith. And it's like He said to my heart, That's exactly what I'm doing, dear one.
I paused, and I thought about it. And I smiled because I recognized - that's what HE does.
I've read about it in the Bible.
I've seen it in the lives of people I know.
And I have experienced it in my own.
God allows hard times to come into our lives for various reasons - all in His perfect wisdom. And one of the ways HE uses them is to grow our faith. We go through a trial, a struggle, a storm of great proportions in which we feel lost and hopelessly out of control. We wonder, God, where are You? Why are you allowing this pain? I was sure You are good, but now I'm feeling like my faith is being shaken. God? Are You there???

Have you been there, too???

Then God shows His faithfulness.
He delivers us from the struggle.
He demonstrates His power and we find ourselves face-to-the-ground in awe of the One who can do all things. The One who is in control, who sees everything, and who knows what He's doing. We worship Him for who He is, and for what He has done. And when we catch our breath we discover that the faith we thought was being shaken has actually grown more than we could have imagined.
Thus, as I tried to encourage my friend this week, so I now exhort you: When you feel like the world is caving in, and you don't know what to do - Look to the One who can do all things, and trust Him to make your faith strong in the midst of the storm.

Turning Mountains into Molehills

The plan for today is to spend the afternoon into late night in Oranjestad, Aruba. Brian and I will take a Monutain Bike Adventure, tourning Aruba's historic and natural treasures. How appropriate, then, that I share this post from September 30, 2015 about mountains.
I totally did not plan the mountain-to-mountain thing when I scheduled this post for today. It just "happened" to come up this way. God is so clever! *wink*

"What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground."

~Zechariah 4:7

I spent a good amount of time yesterday talking about this verse with the women in my Precepts Bible study. The context is that God is encouraging Zerubbabel that he will, indeed, finish the work of re-building the Temple. Even though the Israelites have been facing opposition in the reconstruction. Even though progress has been stalled for 14 years. And even though Zerubbabel is just a man.
None of that matters because God has promised the completion of the Temple - "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit," says the LORD Almighty. (Zechariah 4:6)
Zerubbable faced a mountainous task of leading the recently-back-from-being-exiled-scared-of-their-oppressors-down-hearted-would-like-to-find-a-rock-under-which-to-hide-people of God in the re-building of the LORD's House. It was overwhelming. Certainly too much for a guy like Zerubbabel to handle. Which is probably why the LORD gave Zechariah such a vision of encouragement for his pal.

So, the question for today: As you seek to follow God, are there any great mountains you face?