When You Can’t Find Your Voice

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all things for good, battles, Christian encouragement, christian journey, christian walk, Christianity, control, deep concerns, deep questions for the believer, devotions, encouragement, exhaustion, faith, faithfulness, finding your calling, finding your voice, finding yourself, God, God can so why won't He, health issues, hope, Jesus, mid-life crisis, struggle, struggle in the trusting, trust, why

Millfield Singing Praise My Soul  (BBC.co.uk)

When you’re trying to find yourself again, it’s hard to find your voice.

As many of you have probably realized, I’ve been less active on the blog lately. I’ve been feeling guilty about it, but at the same time I just simply haven’t had much to say. As I’ve been struggling in several areas of my life, I’ve just been needing to absorb some things and I’m learning that that’s okay. I’m learning not to panic over it. I will find my voice again. Actually, I will find His voice again and this I know…He is faithful to call. He is the same God yesterday, today and forever and sometimes life needs to slow down so that I can hear Him.

I have to remember that when I really want my kids’ attention, I usually have to whisper. Yelling just doesn’t seem to get their attention like a whisper. When I yell, they continue on with whatever they’re doing because they think they can still hear me, but when I whisper, they stop, they come closer, they lean in and their attention is focused on me. That’s what God’s been doing with me. He’s whispering and as I am pressing in closer, I can hear His sweet voice once again. He has never left me. He is still speaking to me. I just needed to attune myself to His volume. I still have no idea who I am right now, who I’m going to develop into, but I have confidence in the God who does know, my God, the one Who is Faithful and True.

For example…I have no idea who I am without sugar being key in my life (or flour for that matter), but my God knows.

I have no idea who I am without two boys at home, but my God knows.

I have no idea who I am without intense exercise in my life, but my God knows.

I have no idea who I am without the concentration to have long, intense devotional times with my Savior, but my God knows.

I have no idea who I am without being involved in EVERY single activity at church, but my God knows.

I have no idea who I am without being able to sing for as long and as loud as I want, but my God knows.

My God knows who I am and who He is developing me to be and I trust Him. I. Trust. Him.

As He is teaching me who He wants me to be in this season of my life, I’m starting to hear His whisper once again. I’m finally getting close enough again to hear. I’ve been a little mad and He knows that, but I’ve missed His arms. I’ve missed His voice. I LOVE His voice and now He is telling me that it’s okay if I give 30 minutes (or less) to Him each morning instead of longer. I find myself questioning this. After all, don’t you get closer to Him, don’t you become “better” the more time you devote to Him? I’m learning though that in times of fatigue, when you are simply trusting Him for the next step (literally), He actually likes that just as well. That knowing His presence is strengthening you, the minute-by- minute trusting, He’s really into that. I’m finally starting to rest in that knowledge, that whisper.

I’m also learning that it’s okay if boxes at church for a “good” pastor’s wife go unchecked. That’s a struggle…the wanting to be “the best pastor’s wife ever”. Good grief! Can you hear the pride? I finally can.

I’m learning that it’s okay if I have to lay in bed instead of walk some hills in order to reserve my energy to make supper later that day. I love exercise, but I’m learning that my priority is my family. I need to show it, not just say it.

I’m learning that it’s okay to feel His grace cover me when my concentration simply isn’t there to focus on Bible studies as before.

And, I’m learning that it’s okay to struggle with the want of sugar (and flour), but it’s also okay to know that He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly beyond whatever I could ask or think in the area of my food choices.

I’m also learning that God places people in my path who are there to strengthen and encourage and it’s okay to be vulnerable. They aren’t the usual sources and I am continually amazed, but His kindness through others has been astounding. Most don’t understand and don’t want to know what’s happening and I’m learning that that’s okay; it just makes the ones that do reach out shine like the treasures they are.

So, as I find my voice through Him once again, I pray that you do as well. I pray that if you know exactly who you are in Him today that you will shout it to the rooftops, but I pray that if you are struggling to find yourself, you will press in closer to Him. He has not forgotten you. He has you in the palm of His hand. He is Your Resource, Your Hope, Your Future. Hear His magnificent whisper to you today.

Seeking Hearts Ministries          My Story

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From Strength to Strength

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Christian encouragement, christian walk, Christianity, devotional, encouragement, exhaustion, faith, family devotions, puddle jumping, streams in the desert, strength in the valley, strength to strength

 Image by Mind42.com

As some of you know, I’ve been under the weather lately (actually under a thunderstorm) and so today I thought I’d change it up and simply share some quotes that I’ve come across lately. The Word tells us in Psalm 84:5-7, “Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; In whose heart are the highways to Zion. Passing through the valley of Weeping they make it a place of springs; Yea, the early rain covereth it with blessings. They go from strength to strength; Every one of them appeareth before God in Zion.” That’s where I’m at right now…going from strength to strength, trying to drink from springs in the valley, so I thought I would share some of those “puddles” of power with you.

“ ‘Where would we be if God had not spoken? Where would we be if God had kept silent?’ Often I think about this quote because the truth of God’s Word has literally changed, redefined, and redirected my life. What I believe about God and how I respond to His voice affects every dimension of how I live; how I handle money, the way I speak about others, how I behave sexually, where I choose to spend my free time, what I watch and listen to, who I deeply befriend, and so forth. God’s Word is not meant to create elitists or legalistic living but to be the breath of our lives.” – Kelly Minter

Isaiah 40:29 – “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.”

Nehemiah 8:10, “Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” – The Hebrew word for strength is moaz, and it means “refuge, stronghold, fortress, place of protection…helmet.” So, in essence, the joy of the LORD wasn’t so much their physical might but their safe haven. The joy of the LORD offered them covering from the harsh winds of reality, and especially in their case it gave them protection against the consequences of falling short of the Law. This was a day to remember God’s magnificent grace in their lives. – Kelly Minter

A thought after reading John 20:11-18 – We can never beat our Lord to morning, especially our Resurrection morning. He is there already, waiting for us to come broken before Him.

Deuteronomy 8:7-10, “For the LORD thy God bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey; A land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass. When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the LORD thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.” The NAS says, “is bringing you into a good land” present tense…it’s happening now. So, even if I can’t see the good land yet, I can trust that God is working on my behalf in this very moment to bring me into a good place.

Let Him lead thee blindfold onwards, Love needs not to know; Children whom the Father leadeth Ask not where they go. – Gerhard Tersteegen

Hope you didn’t mind being a puddle jumper with me today. Prayerfully, things will get back on track soon. Have a great week!

 Seeking Hearts Ministries         My Story

When God Doesn’t do what you Want

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burdens, can be trusted, Christian encouragement, christian journey, christian walk, Christianity, crisis of faith, devotions, encouragement, exhaustion, faithfulness, family devotions, focus, God can so why won't He, God's love, God's love for you, God's pursuit, hope, light, love, never failing God, no dark side, obsessed, obsesseion, our God, our good God, perspective, quiet time, quiet time thoughts, remembering who God is, struggle in the trusting, trust, trusting God, who God is

I’ve said for some time now that there is a certain crisis of faith that comes to every human when deciding whether they believe God can do what He says He can do. Can He really save me? Can He really heal? Can He really drop manna from the sky? And then, there is the crisis of faith that comes when you know without a doubt that God can move mountains, but He’s just not doing it for you. I mean, what is more frustrating than knowing that someone, anyone, can help, they’re just choosing not to? When that happens, a whole new crisis of faith occurs. Your mountain is looming large and you know your God can move it, but He’s choosing not to and you are left floundering with questions. Is my God really good? Can my God really be trusted? Does He really have a plan for my good? Do I really matter to Him?

I’m not going to pretend to know all the answers to why God is allowing certain things in your life. I’m not even going to pretend to know why He is allowing certain things in my life. I’m not going to pretend to have the answers as to why God would allow children to have cancer, rapists to go free, or even why food can’t be put on every table this week? But, I can tell you (and me) what to focus on when God doesn’t do what we want Him to do.

Let me start by assuring you that you do indeed have a good God. You have a God who does choose to move mountains for you. You have a God who wants you to look like Him and act like Him and love Him as He loves you. You have a never failing, never ceasing, never forsaking God who has a detailed plan for you since before the first molecule was on this earth. Know that because it’s true.

Lamentations 3:17-26 says, “My soul has been deprived of peace; I have forgotten what happiness is. Then I thought: My future is lost, as well as my hope from the LORD. Remember my affliction and my homelessness, the wormwood and the poison. I continually remember them and have become depressed. Yet I call this to mind, and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness! I say: The LORD is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him. The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him. It is good to wait quietly for deliverance from the LORD.” Verses 31-33 go on to say, “For the Lord will not reject us forever. Even if He causes suffering, He will show compassion according to His abundant, faithful love. For He does not enjoy bringing affliction or suffering on mankind.”

This passage is so great. We get to see the struggle that Jeremiah had with what was happening all around him and to him. He couldn’t understand it and he became depressed. He even admits in this passage that he lost his hope in the Lord. Then, he decided to remember who His God is. He decided to think about God’s faithfulness, His love and His mercies. He decided that The Lord was his portion for this life and his hope. He decided to rest in God knowing that His God would come through. God’s deliverance obviously wouldn’t look like Jeremiah thought it would. It obviously wouldn’t come at the time that Jeremiah thought that it should, but Jeremiah decided to look up, remember His God and trust. That’s the kind of faith I want, don’t you?

First John 1:5 tells us, “Now this is the message we have heard from Him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him.” You can trust that. Our God has no ulterior motives. He has no dark side. He is good. He is holy. He is true and He. Is. In. Love. With. You.

Song of Solomon 7:10 says, “I am my beloved’s, and his desire is toward me.” God’s desire is toward you. God wants to be with you. He wants to be so melded with you that all people see is Him being uniquely displayed through your personality, your giftings and your sweet face. He has fashioned you for such a time as this and will not stop pursuing you until every fiber of your being is His. He is obsessed with you. Hebrews 13:5 says He will never leave us and Zephaniah 3:17 says He sings over us.  That is not a God who fails. That is a God who loves. Believe that today. Know it with every fiber of your being. If you have to be like the father in Mark 9:24 who said, “I do believe!” and then, quickly added, “Help my unbelief,” so be it, but keep pressing in to your God. He can be trusted. He will come through. He will strengthen you for the task and He is worthy of every fragment of faith you place in Him. He has you, precious one. He has you. Rest in that today.

Seeking Hearts Ministries          My Story

 

 

 

 

What if I don’t get it Right?

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breathing, chillin, Christian encouragement, christian journey, christian walk, Christianity, devotional, devotions, diappointing God, disappointing others, encouragement, exhaustion, family devotions, getting your breath back, God's got this, no worries, stress, trying to get it right, worry

                                                      *image by odysseyonline.com

I was in Bible study a few weeks ago and was asked the question, “What do you most fear in your relationship with God?” The writer gave the examples of God not loving us, or that we’re not saved, etc., but what came to my mind was I am so scared that I will not be who He wants me to be. The last thing on this earth I want to be is a disappointment to the God of the universe, the very One who designed me for such a time as this. I’ve heard all the verses about Him loving me no matter what and that He is never disappointed because He is never surprised, but I’m just telling you what I thought in the moment.

So many times in my life I will have a doubt that will pop up and I cram it down thinking that “good Christians” don’t think things like that when in reality God’s Spirit just wants me to bring it to the light and let Him deal with it. So, that’s what I’m doing today.

The next part of the study I was doing asked us to get a Scripture that combats that particular fear. I thought to myself, “If I had a Scripture, I wouldn’t be having this issue.” I didn’t even really know how to find the Scripture. I mean, what kind of word study could you do on the fear of not being who God wants you to be?

Not even an hour later, I was reading through some Psalms trying to hear what God wanted me to say for the family blog I write on Mondays when I came across this gem – “The LORD will accomplish what concerns me; Thy lovingkindness, O LORD, is everlasting; Do not forsake the works of Thy hands.” – Psalm 138:8

As I read this verse I took a deep breath and remembered once again that as long as I am saying, “yes” to Him continually, everything else takes care of itself. I don’t have to worry with whether I get it right. He gets it right. Every.Single.Time.

Why do I forget that it’s all about resting in Him? Why do I forget that when I abide in Him He takes care of the rest? He will accomplish whatever needs to be accomplished. It’s all up to Him, not me! Praise you, Lord! As I walk daily with my God, as I abide in Him, all that He wants accomplished through me will happen. He will not be disappointed in me because He will accomplish what concerns me.

Rest in that today. Remember, just keep saying, “Yes”. Keep abiding. Keep falling back into His arms. He will never leave you, or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5). His love will never fail. His Word is true. No worries on getting it right every time, just peace that passes all understanding. Breathe today. He’s got you.

My Story     Seeking Hearts Ministries

Never Give Up! Never Surrender!

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burdens, Christian encouragement, christian journey, christian walk, Christianity, clinging to the altar, clinging to the horns of the altar, don't stop praying, encouragement, exhaustion, faithfulness, family devotions, horns of the altar, our faithfulness, perseverance, prayer

The other day I was scanning through Netflix trying to find something to watch while waiting for my man to finish up with a project. Of all the great things for me to choose from (ahem), I started to watch Galaxy Quest. It had been years since I had watched it and I was astonished at some of the actors in it…but I digress. If you will remember, Tim Allen played the part of an actor who acted in a T.V. series like Star Trek. He was the captain and whenever their “crew” hit a rough patch, he would say, “Never give up! Never surrender!” I literally watched ten minutes of it, my man finished his project and off we went about our evening.

The next day as I was praying and thinking about some “hard cases” that were on my list all of the sudden I heard that crazy motto from Galaxy Quest: “Never give up! Never surrender!” Isn’t that a great mantra for Christians? How many of us have people on our prayer lists that have been shuffled to the side of our minds because we have just become negligent, or we have given up? We would never say that out loud, but that’s the truth of it. After a few years, or months, or days, we have simply stopped praying. We expected things to happen quicker than they did, so we relegated that job situation, or relationship, or person who needs Jesus to the category of throwing a prayer at it every now and again just in case God still wants us to pray about it.

I’m here to tell you that God does want you to keep praying about it and I want to encourage us (and by us I mean me) to never give up and never surrender!

In First Kings 1 we see a man who would not let go of the horns of the altar. He was there to save his own life, but we can definitely use the illustration to remind us that there are situations and people who are worth clinging to the altar for. First Kings 1:50-53 says, “Adonijah was afraid of Solomon, so he got up and went to take hold of the horns of the altar. It was reported to Solomon: “Look, Adonijah fears King Solomon, and he has taken hold of the horns of the altar, saying, ‘Let King Solomon first swear to me that he will not kill his servant with the sword.’” Then Solomon said, “If he is a man of character, not a single hair of his will fall to the ground, but if evil is found in him, he dies.” So King Solomon sent for him, and they took him down from the altar. He came and paid homage to King Solomon, and Solomon said to him, “Go to your home.”

When we never give up and never surrender in prayer we are clinging to the horns of the altar like Adonijah. We are refusing to give up for the sake of our friends, family, neighbors and even those who don’t like us very much. We need to be like Adonijah and cling to the horns of the altar. We need to be willing to never let go and never surrender for the sake of those who need Jesus. Jude 23 says that we can actually “snatch them out of the fire”. I want to be a fire snatcher, don’t you?

We need to cling to the horns of the altar for our job situations that we have given up on. We need to cling to the altar for our marriages. We need to cling to the altar for our country, our church and our communities. We need to cling to the altar when things seem bad and when things seem good. When Jesus comes to take us home to Glory, may He find us clinging to the horns of the altar for someone, somewhere.  May He find us never giving up and never surrendering.

As King Solomon had to send people to take Adonijah down from the altar, I want Jesus Himself to have to remove us from our places of prayer when He returns. And then, as Adonijah did, we will come before our King, pay homage with great joy because He is so worth it and then He will say to us more than just, “Go to your home”. He will tell us things like, “Well done thou good and faithful servant,” “Look what I’ve prepared for you,” and “You are home.”

He is so faithful. Let’s be faithful to Him and cling to the horns of the altar for someone today. Oh, and remember … Never give up! Never surrender!

Go be with Jesus today!

Seeking Hearts Ministries         My Story

Is NOT Stumbling a Possiblity?

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Christian encouragement, christian journey, christian walk, Christianity, devotional, devotions, encouragement, exhaustion, family devotions, God's Word, keep from stumbling, love of God's Word, stumbling, stumbling blocks, ways to keep from stumbling

Wouldn’t it be great to never have to worry about stumbling blocks in our Christian life? To not have to think about what’s going to trip us up next? I’m not saying we wouldn’t be watchful, just not likely to make mistake after mistake after mistake. Sounds like a great life, doesn’t it? Is that even possible? Is it a “pie in the sky” type of dream, or can it be our reality?

Psalm 119:165 says, “Those who love Thy law have great peace, and nothing causes them to stumble.”

I discovered this verse yesterday and it reminded me that stumbling, or the lack thereof, is always tied up with the Word of God. When I am loving His Word, studying His Word, meditating on His Word, my thoughts are totally different than when I’m not. When I am in His Word, I am filled with peace, not wanting. I am filled with knowledge, not confusion. I am filled with thoughts of Him and not myself. When my thoughts are filled with Him, my actions follow and I am not stumbling along making poor decision after poor decision. I have great peace because I am in love with His Word.

So, the question for today is, “Are you in love with His Word?” Before you answer too quickly ask yourself how much time are you in His Word. Is it one of those relationships where you make your obligatory visit as you would an unknown aunt in the nursing home, or is it a relationship that you look forward to, talk about afterwards and are enthralled with? That’s loving the Word of God. That’s when peace comes. That’s when we don’t stumble.

Job 23:12 tells us that Job thought more of the words from God’s mouth than his necessary food. Job wanted what God had to say more than he wanted food! That’s why we read in Job 1:22, “Through all this Job did not sin nor did he blame God.” Job was kept from stumbling by loving God’s Word.

Jeremiah 15:16 says, “Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts.”

That’s the kind of relationship I want with God’s Word, don’t you? I want to gobble up everything the Lord has for me each and every day from His Word. I want to think about it, memorize it, meditate on it and love it. It’s God’s beautiful letter to us that took many years and many lives to reach us and I fall into the trap of taking it for granted at times. But, I really want peace and I really want to stop all this stumbling around. So, my prayer for us today is that we would love God’s Word. That’s it. That’s all I’m praying. When that prayer is answered in the affirmative, so much is taken care of, so much stumbling diverted. Oh, that we would be a people of The Word!

Jude 24 says, “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory with great joy.”

Our God can do His part. Let’s do ours.

My Story

Seeking Hearts Ministries

*Photo by tuffmommablog

Can Perfect Peace be Found?

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all things for good, Christian encouragement, christian journey, christian walk, Christianity, continual peace, devotional, devotions, encouragement, exhaustion, family devotions, focus, focusing on the Lord, God, how to have peace, hunting for peace, peace, peace on earth, perfect peace, trust

Isaiah 26:3-4 says, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee: for he trusteth in Thee. Trust ye in the LORD forever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength.”

I love these verses. In fact, if you have ever received a card, or an e-mail from me, most likely these verses were below my name. I don’t know if it’s what I would consider my life verse, but it’s a seasonal verse for sure. After all, how can you resist the only formula known to man for peace that actually works? It’s not only true because it’s the Word of God, but I also know from experience how true it really is.

Think about it. When you are upset about a situation, or something that is on the horizon, or even an emergency that hits, are you more peaceful when you keep replaying the event over and over in your mind, or when you speak the name of Jesus? Are you more peaceful in an emergency room thinking about what all the doctor may choose to do, or when you are focusing on the fact that God is your ultimate Healer?

I was just sitting in a doctor’s office yesterday and let me tell you I was letting my mind run away with me. What if she thinks I’m nuts? What if she takes a biopsy? What if she wants a biopsy and makes me come back? What if she draws my blood? How much will all this cost? Then, the Holy Spirit reminded me to focus on Him. My mind was in such a dither that all I could do was whisper the name of Jesus. Eventually, I was able to go through some ABC’s of who God is… “God, you are amazing. I trust You. God, you are bold. I trust You. God, you are compassionate. I trust You…” I was even able to remember a few Scriptures and say those as well. Which helped me more? You know it! Focusing on the Lord.

Let’s open these verses a little more and see how the Amplified Bible translates them. It says: “You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character],
Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].
Trust [confidently] in the Lord forever [He is your fortress, your shield, your banner], for the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].”

These verses tell us that not only is perfect peace possible, but constant peace as well! Constant peace! How do we get it? With a steadfast mind. What is a steadfast mind? It says that a steadfast mind is committed and focused on the Lord.

I can be committed to something without being focused on it at all times. I am committed to my husband, but I am not focused on him continually (Sorry, honey.). That’s why we have to commit to date nights, hikes in the woods together and conversations where we are looking each other in the eye without distractions. Our commitment stays strong when we focus on each other.

When we commit ourselves to God, no doubt we are all in, but our focus can shift at times. Life can crowd in on us. So, these verses remind us to not only commit, but focus like a laser beam on who He is. Then, the peace we all crave reigns in our life.

The next part of these verses say, “Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].”

We have peace because we are focused on Him and who He is. When we are focused on Him, we are pressed in to Him as close as we can get. We are trusting and taking refuge in Him and this gives us hope which leads to confidence in what He is going to do in our lives.

Think about a hunter who has been sitting in his deer stand for hours when all of a sudden his target pops over the horizon. Do you think he is looking anywhere but at his target? His confident hope has been focused on this objective all morning. He is laser focused on his commitment to feed his family with this deer. That’s how we need to be with God. We need to remember that He provides for us in every way, so our commitment to Him keeps us focused on who He is. God is our prey and our minds are the gun. And, the strength to stay on target? The Holy Spirit.

So, when I am sitting in the doctor’s office and remember (focus in on the fact) that my God is good and that there is no darkness in Him at all (I John 1:5) I have a confident hope that even if the doctor tells me bad news, God is not a mean God. He is good and has good in it for me. When I am sitting in the doctor’s office and I am remembering that God is my Provider, I start to rehearse what miracles of provision has already taken place and I then look with confident hope at how God will provide for these expenses as well. We are able to confidently hope when our minds are focused on Him. When we have hope, we are strong because He is our strength and His strength is everlasting. It never runs out.

Jesus says in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you.” He’s left His peace for us to take hold of, so let’s grab it and shine like the stars we are meant to be, (Philippians 2:16).

My Story to Peace

Seeking Hearts Ministries

What’s Your Name?

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adopted, calling, children of God, Christian encouragement, christian journey, christian walk, Christianity, encouragement, exhaustion, family devotions, names, new man, new names, our new name, redeemed, super heroes

Yesterday, as I was seated in the orthodontist office waiting for my youngest to be finished I saw a beautiful little girl. She was cute as a speckled pup and I couldn’t resist exchanging smiles with her over and over. Of course, I had to ask her mom her name and she replied, “Arabella”. Isn’t that beautiful? But, that’s not the point. The point is when we said her name she lit up. She knew that we were talking about her and she liked it!

It made me think of another incident this week on a television show called “Agents of Shield”. One of the people who were endowed with special powers was simply performing on the street until someone gave him a name. After he realized his “powers” were something worth being named, he became a totally different person. As the good guys were trying to subdue him, he said, “I am Scorch” and the main guy looked at another agent and said, “Oh no, someone gave him a name.”

I think that’s exactly what the devil says when we understand who we are in Christ. When we start knowing and calling ourselves “Redeemed”, “Beloved”, “Son”, “Daughter” I think he sits on his heels and thinks, “Well, it’s over now. They know their name.”

Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.” If everything about us has changed, you know our name has as well. This is God’s way. Remember Abram? Probably not as well as Abraham. Sarai? She is now named Sarah.  Jacob? He’s Israel. Simon? He’s Peter? Saul of the New Testament? Paul. God has changed everything about you, including your name.

So, what might your name be? Might it be “Forgiven?” Of course it is. When you ask, you are indeed forgiven (First John 1:9). “Dearly Loved?” Yes, that too (First John 4:10). “Wanted”? Song of Solomon 7:10 says, “I am my beloved’s and his desire is for me.” You are all of these things and more.

So, who are you in Christ? Ask Him to whisper it to your soul. Ask Him to seep it into the marrow of your bones. Ask Him to let you hear Him sing it over you tonight and then wear your name well, dear one. Wear it well because you have a new name and as soon as you know it, you will become the powerful warrior that God called into existence the minute you received Him. Hear Him call your name. You will never be the same.

Seeking Hearts Ministries

My Story

Hope for the Hyperventilating

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breath, breathe, breathing, Christian encouragement, christian journey, christian walk, Christianity, devotional, devotions, encouragement, exhaustion, faith, family devotions, focus, hyperventilating, joy stealer, overbreathing, oxygen, rest, resting in God, trust, under breathing

How many of us are barely breathing? Hyperventilating through life? At this time of year, when things are supposed to be so joyous, how many of us are simply taking short little breaths to just get us through the day? I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of barely breathing. I want to live a life full of clean air. I want the weight off my chest and my lungs to be filled with oxygen, not just any oxygen, but the Breath of Life filling every nook and cranny.

When we are in hyperventilating mode, we can survive, but just. When we are hyperventilating, we are so busy just trying to breathe nothing else can be accomplished. This is not the abundant life Jesus told us about in John 10:10. I’ve been learning a lot lately about big joyful and I am finding that a big joy stealer in hyper-ventilating through life.

So, what is hyper-ventilating exactly? According to Medline Plus, hyperventilating is “rapid or deep breathing that can occur with anxiety or panic. It is also called over breathing, and it may leave you feeling breathless.” Overbreathing? Hmmm…I thought it was under-breathing. Interesting. So, maybe hyperventilating through life is more about me trying to do someone else’s job instead of not getting enough of something?  

When Someone is breathing for you, when The Holy Spirit inside of you is filling you with His breath, His life, but you are still trying to breathe on your own, hyperventilating occurs. This is when I gasp through life, but when I rest in Him and allow His breath to flow through my body, all is well. When I try to breathe when He is already breathing for me? It’s hyperventilating time. My body is fighting itself because of all the “help” I’m giving it.  Hyperventilating through life boils down to a lack of trust.

When we freak out, we hyper-ventilate. Our bodies try to pull in too much oxygen too quickly. When we forget to breathe, we get short of breath and when we over breathe, over think, over analyze we hyperventilate. Trying to help God is just as dangerous as forgetting to breathe Him in.

You might be wondering if the breath of God can be trusted? The short answer is yes, but here’s some assurances:

Exodus 15:10 tells us that God breathed destruction over the enemies of His people. This verse assures us that when we are on God’s side, we can allow His breath to do the job for us. Our job is to listen, obey and rest in Him. No freaking out, just allow His breath in us to do its perfect work.

Ezekiel 37 is another great example of what the breath of God can do. We see in this passage that dead bones can be made alive again when the breath of God reaches them. Talk about hope! What’s more impossible than death? This passage assures us that nothing is impossible with the breath of God. Everything can be made alive again! Your marriage, your children, your health…nothing is impossible when God breathes over the situation.

Another beautiful picture of breath is in First Kings 10:5. Here we see the Queen of Sheba’s breath being taken away when she saw all of King Solomon’s splendor. Our King is even greater than king Solomon and we can rest assured that when we see the provision of our King, our breath will we taken away as well. Stop a moment to breathe Him in. Allow Him to speak to you about the provision He has in store for you. King David says in Psalm 27:13, “I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.” We lose hope if we don’t stop and allow Him to show us His provision. Allow His breath in you to blow you away today.

Job 33:4, says, “The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” When we truly know that we are in God’s hands, we are at peace. When we remember that God is the giver and taker of life, we can rest in Him, breathe deeply and stop hyperventilating. He has us in the palm of His hand and that is the safest place to be.

So, let’s stop trying to help God this Season. Let’s allow Him to breathe His life giving peace through us. Let’s feel His strength and wisdom fill up every nook and cranny and let’s forget how to hyperventilate and rest in Him instead.  Let’s choose His breath today.

My Story

Seeking Hearts Ministries

Marriage

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all things for good, anniversaries, anniversary, Christian encouragement, christian journey, christian walk, Christianity, encouragement, exhaustion, family, forgiveness, grace, marriage, past mistakes, prayer, sticking with it, stuffing, temptations, tenacity, worth it

On Saturday, my husband and I will be celebrating our 23^rd year of marriage. Crazy! I can’t help but think of Matthew 19:26, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

I love that our anniversary hits on Saturday this year because I can remember the weekend as it really was. Memories of the rehearsal on Friday and actual wedding day on Saturday seem easier to recall when the memories coincide with the actual day. I was eighteen and he had just turned twenty-one. We were so young and yes, very dumb. I’m sure many thought that I was making a mistake, but God knew who my man was behind the mullet and farm boy mentality. God also knew that I needed to see grace in action and He knew that my man was the only one who could be that for me. That’s my man through and through…grace.

Have we gone through rough patches? Oh, yes, horrible patches filled with briars and weeds (many of which we planted ourselves). The only explanation there is for this anniversary is God Himself. He is a true Miracle Worker. You think I’m exaggerating? I’m not and you are just going to have to take my word for it. We have both made incredible mistakes and have come very close to others. We get the statement “but for the grace of God go I” to the fiber of our being. I have no idea how our marriage has kept going except to say that God simply wouldn’t let us stop. I love Him for that.

I always tell people to watch out for year five. It’s a doozy. For me personally, the repercussions from our year five still rears its ugly head at times. I buried specifics from year five all the way to year ten. I had heard a therapist on television say that what your spouse doesn’t know, don’t worry about. He said to stop doing it and move on with your marriage, but why hurt them unnecessarily. So, I took it as a word from God and sought His forgiveness, asked a general forgiveness from my guy and buried it all. My man and I knew that we both had done some awful things, but it was a taboo subject. Neither one of us wanted to deal with it.

A few months before out tenth anniversary I went to a Ladies Bible Study at our church. We studied “When Godly People Do Ungodly Things” by Beth Moore. In all honesty, I took the class to see if I could discern who was and wasn’t saved among my family. Yes, I realize how pious that sounds, but it’s the truth. I didn’t take the class as intended, God drug me through that class. I realized very quickly that burying the past was not what God intended. I prayed and prayed and prayed and prayed that what I was hearing was wrong, but it wasn’t.  When I knew God truly was telling me to confess to my guy and ask his forgiveness I prayed and prayed and prayed and prayed that his heart would be prepared to hear it and forgive. We had two small children at the time and very little money, but wouldn’t you know that God arranged for us to have a private cabin on the water for our anniversary night? I knew this was the moment for confession and God’s grace poured out on us. I had prepared him that I needed to come clean so that he wasn’t blind-sided. I was a nervous wreck, but God’s Spirit was with us. It took several days for things to be fully confessed and worked through and several months of recovery with God healing us bone deep, but I remember that I kept praying that God would not let me close my own wound. I wanted Him to clean out the wounds and keep them open until all the infection was out. I was physically ill from the cleaning at times, but that prayer stayed in the forefront of my mind and He was so faithful. Proverbs 27:6 says, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend…” and our God is the most faithful Friend of all.

I’ve shared with you a small part of my testimony in our marriage to simply demonstrate that things with us have not been easy. I wanted to share so that when I say what I am about to say you won’t just brush it off as a lucky break with two people who always get along and have no problems, or temptations. What do I want to say? Sticking with your marriage is worth it. My man loves me and I love him more deeply than I ever thought possible. He demonstrates grace often (because I need it often) and that kind of depth only comes with time. It only comes with hard work and above all, it only comes with God Himself chiseling off the hard stuff and molding you into the person He has called you to be. We can fake it with a lot of people, but never our spouse and that’s the way it should be. Pray for love to cover your marriage, pray for your desire to only be for your spouse, touch each other often, tell each other what you appreciate about them, spend time together, pray for tenacity and above all pray for God’s Spirit to take over. Pray and stay, people. It’s worth it!

And, to my man, let me just say that I love you more than life itself and more than I ever dreamed possible. Thank you for being a man of grace, wisdom and stength. I admire who you are so much. Happy Anniversary!

Seeking Hearts Ministries