In The Waiting...

I

I sat waiting for just the right shot. I knew exactly what I wanted to capture. The mounting waves crashed one by one on the shore, but it wasn't until a powerful surge forced its way through the cave opening that I knew it was the *one* I'd been hoping for. 

How many times do we sit waiting for something to happen, anticipating, unsure but hopeful? 

Life often has us in a state of limbo. We hope and pray for certain outcomes, as tides of emotions; hopes, dreams, fears, tears, flood in. 

Today I'm thankful that right in the middle of these crashing waves of emotions which often seem to surge right to the very core, JESUS meets us. HE is the  Calm in our storm. HE is the Safety in ever changing tides. HE is the Hope in times of struggle. HE is the Love that floods through. 

"Peace I leave with you, MY Peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid."~John 14:27

SHOULD I JUMP? OVERCOMING FEAR

I've always been afraid of heights. For years I had dreams of falling. As a young girl I tried to overcome it by climbing the ladder to the high dive at the Elk's Lodge on summer vacation. Slowly inching my way up behind the line of brave kids, hands gripping tightly to the sides of the ladder. I took one shaky step at a time, glancing back every so often to see how high I was. 

One by one they reached the top, walking boldly to the ledge, fearlessly jumping or diving. As my turn approached, I looked down for an escape route, I was met by black, brown, blonde, and red hair...a road block. Kids were lined up below me on every step, extending from the ladder to the ground and around the pool. I could only move forward. My heart was pounding. I carefully walked out onto the shaky board, leaning slowly over to look at the water far below.

"GO! JUMP! HURRY UP!" The kids behind me were growing impatient.

I backed up, hoping to run and just do it. But I froze, fear kept me firmly planted, unable to move forward or jump. Peer pressure behind me, the unknown in front of me. So what did I do?

I walked straight at the kids and yelled..."Everyone's going to have to climb down because I'm not going to jump!"

I was met with anger and yelling. I sat down on the diving board, letting them know I was serious. One by one they began to scream at the kids behind them to climb down. 

Fear had won that day.

It was a lesson I've never forgotten. Fear can lead you backwards. It can keep you from all that God has for your life. There's all kinds of fear: fear of change, fear of the unknown, fear of decisions, fear of loss, fear of failure, fear of success, fear of judgement...it's never ending. 

As WE CHOOSE to seek THE LORD daily, allowing HIS truth to permeate into every fiber of our being, fear gives way to trust. We're able to take steps forward down the path HE'S leading, calling, guiding, clearing, opening...for us. Each day as WE CHOOSE to spend time not only praying and reading the Scriptures, but actually sitting QUIETLY, LISTENING, THE LORD meets and fills the emptiness in the quiet. HE reveals HIS LOVE. HE restores all that this world has tried to weigh us down with. TRUTH. JESUS CHRIST has come to set captives free. Once feeble steps in HIS direction give way to bolder, stronger, fearless steps of Faith. HE has come to give us more!

Today, stop talking, slow down, listen. In the quiet HE will meet you. Dispelling all worry and fear. Today, choose more of HIM and less of the noise and lies of this world. JESUS has a good and perfect plan for you. Seek HIM in the quiet, HE'S waiting. 

"Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!"~ Psalm 27:17

"Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, butthe Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice."~1 Kings 19:11-12

JESUS SETS AN EXAMPLE
"Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.”~Mark 1:35-36

Feeling Trapped?

Two butterflies gracefully floated by as I sat overlooking the ocean on my lunch hour. I stopped and watched them fluttering about and then glide as the wind carried them off over the steep ocean cliffs. I marveled that only a short while ago they were crawling on the ground, confined to their limited surroundings.

You may feel trapped in the daily struggles of your life. But God has more for you. He wants to help you soar into all that He has called you to be. Don’t lose hope...don’t lose patience; for just like those butterflies, there is a work being done in the waiting and in the struggles. Think of it as being inside  a cocoon. You’re being stretched beyond what you thought you were capable of bearing. You’re being transformed into something so incredibly wonderful that when God says, “Fly my precious child,” you’ll be filled with His transforming wisdom and grace to accomplish all things He's placed before you. You will move out of the confining darkness and into His marvelous light.

Do not fight the process. Pray for His strength to see you through; then you can grow to your full potential, prepared to fly to new heights, a new creation in Jesus Christ!

“The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.” Psalm 29:11

"The path of the righteous is level; you, the Upright One, make the way of the righteous smooth. Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. Isaiah 26:7-8

"Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up." James 4:10

Do You Have a BLESSING'S BOOK?

I turned on my air conditioning bothered that it was taking so long to get cold. I adjusted the radio station and thought, “Hey…what am I complaining about, I’m actually going to have air this summer and a radio.” God blessed me with a brand new car but I already forgot what I faced just a few months ago. My old car had some electrical issues that caused the radio to stop working and the air had a leak so it didn’t work either. I drove around like that for about four years. I never seemed to have the extra money to get it fixed. So I learned to just deal with it. But let me tell you, on those summer days when I had to drive inland, away from the coast, I suffered! 100+ heat in a black car with hot air swirling around inside is miserable! I’d arrive at my destination dripping with sweat, exhausted from the heat and grumpy because of it.

God blessed me with my new car. I can blast the cold air, crank up the radio and arrive at my destination feeling refreshed and happy. I need to remember that!

That got me thinking how quickly we forget the blessings in our lives. We go through difficulties and pray, crying out to God for His help. Once we receive it…we forget about it and move on.

It’s important write down when you receive answers to prayers. God blesses you and helps you overcome tough times and it’s important to remember that. I‘d like to challenge each of you to keep a “My Blessing’s Book,” it doesn’t have to be anything long just a place you write down when God blesses and helps you. Be sure to write the everyday things (ie: when He’s given you peace during a tough time, comfort in mourning, strength in trials, trust through prayer, increased faith etc.) When difficulties come, as they always do, you can open your own personal Blessing’s Book and reflect on God’s faithfulness to you in your everyday life. It’s easy to forget if you don’t write it down. It will make a huge difference in your growth, trust & faith. It will serve as an instant reminder of how much God loves you and is faithful to show it!

A sign of God's faithfulness, promise & love

"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." Philippians 1:6 

^"Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Ephesians 5:20