What we can count on...

My youngest son and his wife and bee planning, preparing for months to move into their new home...the first home they own.  They've planned, scanned, waited, and prepared and two days ago they signed final papers and became homeowners in:    Colorado Springs

Yea, right in the middle of a raging fire - not in their neighborhood yet, but they never dreamed the fire would spread like it has.

We're reminded that on our journey we don't often know what lies ahead.  What we do know is that God has gone ahead of us, is in the moment with us, and is ever present with us after.

God is, what we can count on...

Stories

The stories of our lives contain healing, especially to others who are hurting and aren't sure they will ever be okay.  That's why as difficult as it is to be vulnerable and to share, it helps others to realize they aren't alone.

We stand with them.

We love them enough to openly share.

As we share a bond is formed and the love we share brings healing.  It's not the sharing that actually helps to facilitate healing, it's God's love.

In the middle of the stories of our lives, we find God's great love.

Have you told your story lately?  

The Driver

I have a painting circulating in my brain.  The word that keeps rolling around is Adonai.  Lord.

The Lord.

My Lord.

The driver in my journey.

Who is the driver for your trip?

The Right Direction

On our journey we often learn unexpected things about ourselves along the way.  What surprises me is that the things I learn are often things I don't expect to learn.

In other words, sometimes I keep trying to be really nice to someone and God is telling me (almost screaming) to stand my ground.  I'm not implying that God is telling me to be rude, but He is telling me that on my journey, it's time for me to realize who I am and BE that person.

Life is a journey...not always easy, but certainly interesting.

I'm glad God is here to point me in the right direction.

Journey of Hope

The journey began with a dinner among friends. They had a good time and after dinner they went outside to sit quietly.  Most of the friends fell asleep, only one remained awake.  Later, others came and broke up the party, taking one of the friends away.

Long story short, the next part of the journey was like a nightmare.  The man was arrested and separated from his friends.  After a long night, the man took a long walk with a crowd looking on, and he was eventually murdered with the crowd looking on.  All of this friends were devastated that the one they loved was dead.  All of their hope was gone.  They scattered, not knowing what to think.

For three days they languished and wondered how they would face life without their friend.  On the morning of the third day, their friend showed back up.  They were confused because he was dead and now he was alive.

They were alive.

They had hope because he was alive.

They didn't know it but because he died, they would live forever.  He gave them hope for all eternity.

The resurrection was the hope that changed the world.  

Making Space

We are so good at working and doing that we often forget to receive God's abundance. 

Look back over your day, your journey, and consider not what you did or performed or how hard you worked, but instead think about how often you made space for God so He could pour abundance into you. 

Practicing letting God pour into you will change (transform - read Romans 12:2) how you do everything...work, play, your time.

Keep a journal record of the times you made space for God and what you experienced. 

Experience God

I once had a dog that made me really happy.  His name should have been happy, because he was always chipper and running around (especially as a pup).  I remember one Sunday afternoon  when he was a pup and he spotted a rabbit in the backyard.  He decided he was going to "get" that rabbit.

Turns out he wasn't fast enough, but watching the chase was very entertaining.  I laughed and cheered him on (knowing at the same time he would probably not be able to catch the rabbit).

Find something in God's creation, something very simple that makes you smile today.  Spend time with that feeling and let yourself experience God.  Remember the process of experiencing God is the most important part of the journey.  

Surprise Journey

I've had an interesting journey for the past 7 years.

It's been filled with tragedy, loss, re-building, discovery, surrender, learning, hope, love,and peace.

Using one word descriptions, how would you describe your journey with God for the last 7 years?

Do you see a pattern that tells you how God is healing, caring, and transforming you?

Take time to explore how God is leading you.  

Brothers Journey

Two of my sons were like twins who aren't twins when they were growing up (and a little bit like that even now).  They had their own communication system, their own language, their own schedules. 

They were always coming up with some new thing to create,build, or tear down.  Other people in town used to tell me about their escapades. 

Yea.

At the time, I wasn't so sure I wanted to hear them.  "Oh, my, what HAVE they done?" 

The good news is that they turned out to be very bright, creative men, and now we can look back an laugh about some of their ideas.

Well most...

LOL

The Journey

Traveling with children can be ever so challenging.  The old saying, "are we there yet?" is more true than we can describe.

I used to tell my kids, "we'll be there when we get there".  Since they didn't know how far 100 miles was or how long an hour really was, it was pointless to try to explain it. 

Often that's what God tells us..."we'll be there when we get there", because even if He told us exactly when and how and where it was going to happen, we wouldn't have the context we need to understand.

Isaiah 55:9 reminds us that God's ways are higher than our ways.  So, let it be so.  Let God be God.  Give HIM control of the journey.

Too Much Too Often

Some days I feel like I get a lot done at work and other days I don't think I get much accomplished.  Interestingly enough, it's really just a matter of perspective.  When I get right down to it, I usually get a lot accomplished but if I am working on projects that require attention to detail that don't have measurable results, I don't feel like I am getting a lot done.

I've also noticed that if we are relaxed and laughing I don't feel like I am getting a lot done.  In reality if I measured it I think I'd find I get MORE done.

More is less.  Less is more.  Relaxing and letting God be in charge is the only response that can make a difference when I have too much too often.  I am constantly reminded that God is bigger than any of my problems. 

Changes

I've been looking at making some changes in my life and the process has involved a lot of praying and decision making. Part of what makes that difficult (and strenuous) is that I do not like making decisions. The other part that makes it difficult is that no-one else can make the decision for me, or even really advise me what to decide.

God is the one who knows, can direct me to the right path, and prepare me for the changes.

I need to ask.

Wait.

Hear.

And since there are no telegrams from heaven...

Believe.

Out of Your Zone...

I have a poster that begins with "This is your life.  Find a passion and pursue it."

It reminds me that it's our passions, our dreaming that sets us apart.

What are you passionate about?  Have you explored what your passion would look like?
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I encourage you to write about your passion, write about it.  Pick one thing that will help you to connect to your passion, set a time frame (a week) and start living the dream.


Blessings - blessings for stepping out in faith and exploring doing something outside of yourself.

You won't be disappointed!

Tired or TIRED!

I took last week off from blog writing, not because I wanted to, but because I was writing an exegesis paper and I had to get it finished!

Some of you may know what an exegesis is, but in case you don't, you look at scripture from many different ways (critical tools) and analyze what the original author is saying to the original reader.  I love doing it, but it is very exhausting.

Do you know what I'm talking about?

Being tired is one thing, but this is tired to the core - deep thinking tired.

I find that when I'm studying scripture in this way that I push myself really hard to listen, think, and see what God intended the passage to BE.

By the time I finally finished, I was so tired I could hardly think.

I am most grateful that God speaks throughout the whole process, but also that after it's complete God restores and strengthens me.

God helps me "get" there, and helps me come back.

It's a win-win.