Monday, January 26, 2015

911-Should I Make The Call?

The song ended. It was quiet as the Pastor prompted us to keep our eyes closed; to stay in the moment; to pray for the things on our hearts.

As I started to think of all that needed to be lifted up to the Lord, sirens sounded. First one and then others joined in, very loud, demanding my attention. There was an emergency. Something had happened. Someone needed immediate help.

911 - a call to action. A call to hope in desperation. We all know it and are grateful it's there, sure of the fact that trained professionals are always ready and waiting to spring into action at your call.

The sound faded off into the distance and I was able to once again focus. Pray. Calling on the Lord in time of need.

Then it hit me, each of our prayers is exactly like that 911 call. We are calling out to the Creator of the Universe...the Heavens...the Earth; asking Him to help you, to help others who may be on your heart. Think about that for a minute. The Lord is waiting. Sitting patiently, ready to answer you...His child's call.

Just like the sirens sounding, signaling help is on the way...your prayers let the Lord know that you're ready for Him to come to your rescue. You're ready to say, "YOU LORD, are the only one equipped to handle this mess, hurt, problem, sin, addiction, crisis, pain, loss...I need you Lord."

At that very moment...that second, He begins to move, to help, to save, to restore. Just like the emergency responders are trained to approach/treat a crisis situation; God knows exactly what you need. You need to let the Expert decide what's best for you. He may feel your prayer needs immediate attention and help/answers/healing arrives immediately, or He may think it's best to wait. He will fill you with His peace in the waiting, His comfort and His strength for a bigger plan He has down the road, (He knows what's best for you.) He may feel this prayer requires no treatment at all and wants you to learn to have faith and trust in Him, even if you're not getting your way. (He knows what's best for you.) He is the Expert. He sees the big picture and knows exactly what you need...when you need it.

What an incredible gift. To know that your prayers are heard, answered...from the Holy of Holies. Your every cry is to a faithful Lord, who wants nothing but the best for you.

So He waits. He waits on you. He waits on me. He wants us to learn to talk to Him in or out of crisis. His love surrounds. His love abounds. His love moves deep into your heart and soul when you're willing to talk to Him. So today, take a minute and pray. Put in a 911 call to the Lord. Put in a call of thanks. Put in a call of love. Whatever you're going through or whatever is happening...PRAY!

“When my soul fainted within me,
I remembered the Lord;
And my prayer went up to You,
Into Your holy temple." Jonah 2:7


"I cry out to the Lord with my voice;
With my voice to the Lord I make my supplication.I pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare before Him my trouble. 
When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,
Then You knew my path.
In the way in which I walk
They have secretly set a snare for me. Look on my right hand and see,
For there is no one who acknowledges me;
Refuge has failed me;
No one cares for my soul. 
I cried out to You, O Lord:
I said, “You are my refuge,
My portion in the land of the living. Attend to my cry,
For I am brought very low;
Deliver me from my persecutors,
For they are stronger than I. Bring my soul out of prison,
That I may praise Your name;
The righteous shall surround me,
For You shall deal bountifully with me.”~Psalm 142:1-7

JESUS TEACHING ON PRAYER
So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, On earth as it is in heaven. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one.”~Luke 11:2-4

Friday, January 23, 2015

PART II-BAD BEHAVIOR CONCLUSION



We entered in, moving quickly to arrive first. As we secured our spots...Mandy came in. I placed my mat farther back leaving room for her, but my son Elijah must not have remembered and put his mat down right where I'd promised Mandy (during my last week's "Bad Behavior-Part I Episode.") I asked him to move to the outside spot so I could keep my word. He gladly pulled his mat over. She was so happy to see that we were looking out for her. She joined in on our conversations and after class happily said, "See you all next week!"

We have a new friend!

It was a much different scenario than last week. I felt better. I kept my word and took the spot behind her. Less of me and more Christ-like love showing up in my everyday life.

I LOVE the best and I'm bold enough to push to the front to secure what "I want." But at what cost? I never used to ponder these things. How do my actions make others feel? When I decide to bulldoze into a position at any cost...it affects others. They see "me" in all my selfishness. If I'm truly letting the Lord change me, renew, restore and make "all" things new in my life, then my everyday actions should reflect this. When I feel that pang of guilt, the truth being revealed about my actions, am I willing to do something about it? Do I ask the Lord to help me make better choices...better decisions? I want more of Jesus in my life and less of myself. I've proven over and over again that I make poor choices when left to my own devices. I need my Savior to step into each and every area of my life. No holding back. No keeping certain areas for me to try to handle alone.

Being a Christian doesn't make me perfect. Being a Christian is my profession that I am broken and need a Savior, Jesus Christ, in my life. He is changing my heart and mind daily. He began with the big obvious areas and as He cleaned house, He moved toward the nooks and cranny's that aren't as obvious; always with love; always with gentleness. He wants more for me and my life...a true reflection of His heart in my everyday. 

Today if the Lord is revealing truth to areas of your life that need change...don't close the door. Fling it open. Say, "Here's my mess LORD, come inside and help me. I can't do it without YOU anymore." Let Jesus enter in and make ALL things new today. It's a simple prayer of letting go and asking your Savior Jesus Christ to enter in.

Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”~Revelations 21:5

"Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in the wilderness
And rivers in the desert."~Isaiah 43:19


"So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive."~Matthew 21:21-22

Thursday, January 22, 2015

Smacked In The Face-My Bad Behavior


I raced up the stairs. I was late. Nothing new for me. The colors were everywhere, purple, pink, orange, green; all tightly bound...ready to be released in a fury. A sigh escaped as I moved in tightly. More colors arrived, pushing into the crowded half circle; glares, stares and chatter filled the air. The door opened signaling the beginning of the battle. A stampede pushing in. I joined them. My aggressive personality always serving me well to get what I want, when I want it. I raced to the corner, unwinding the bind, laying down one mat and then another beside it. A loud "UHHH!" filled the air as I ignored it and rolled out.

Last week the same person who said, "UHHH!" had busted in on my spot and literally dropped her mat directly on top of mine. I was the one angry and making unpleasant noises. I was determined to "win" this week. My competitive nature and temperament kicking in. "Oh no you didn't!"


But as I laid on my mat, preparing for the always overcrowded class to begin, something began to tug at my heart, to whisper, "I have called you to be a servant, to show Christ-like love in any and ALL circumstances. There it was, the correcting of my bad behavior. Throughout the class I tried to justify it in my mind but couldn't shake the truth. As the class was winding down a CRAZY thought entered my mind, "Apologize to her." What? She did it to me last week! I won this week.

Again, "Apologize, you aren't showing Christ-like love." UGH...conviction.

Let's get one thing straight, I struggle not only with always wanting to win, but also apologizing. I'm a justifier (yes, more areas for Jesus to work on and repair.)

It was unshakeable and I knew what I had to do. The claps signaled the class was over. Time to show up and show how Jesus is working in my heart , mind and life. I got up and walked over to the lady who had set up directly behind me during the class. I leaned in...boom...boom...boom, my heart was pounding in my ears. Can she hear it too?


"I need to apologize to you for busting in on the spot you wanted. It wasn't very Christ-like of me. She smiled cordially and said, "That's okay." "No, really, I am sorry. I knew you wanted that spot and I pushed my way in. It was not Christ-like. Next week I'll make sure I'm behind you." She grinned, her aging eyes crinkling at the corners (yes, she was an older woman). Could it get any worse for me and my bad behavior? She graciously said, "This class is really crowded and I call myself a wall flower...I do like to be up against the side wall." Smiling I replied, "Well next week it's yours!" She giggled and thanked me. She stood up, rolled up her mat and stood there lingering a bit. I think she was a little surprised and caught off guard. I gathered my things and took the opportunity to introduce myself. She held out her hand and said, "I'm Mandy." "Nice to meet you Mandy...next week I won't be so aggressive," I replied. She laughed out loud as we said our goodbyes.


My son Elijah was there witnessing my behavior and my apology. I want to be a true example of who Jesus is; what He does when He enters the heart. I'm grateful for the reminders. The correction, for it's in those moments that the Teacher is teaching and the student is learning. 


Lord, today please help me to be a true reflection of You. Help me to overcome my weaknesses. I need You to continually remind me of where I'm falling short; renewing my brokenness with Your healing touch. I say these things in your Mighty and Holy Name, Jesus, Amen.

"You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them."~John 13:13-17

I will bring the one–third through the fire,
Will refine them as silver is refined,
And test them as gold is tested.
They will call on My name,
And I will answer them.
I will say, ‘This is My people’;
And each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.”~Zechariah 13:9