Paying Attention?

When I tucked my grandson Ezra in for the night, I had no idea I was going to get a new spiritual revelation. It should not have surprised me, though. I continually get new insights when I really zone in on what they say and how they behave. Children are fabulous teachers. 

We laughed as we replayed the things we did during the day, and then I asked if he’d like to lead in our prayer. (There’s something invigorating about hearing children pray – you know, talking to Jesus in the way you’d talk with your best friend.) 

Ezra prayed for our family, our friends, and for those who were sick and hurting. And then he made a request that really captured my heart . . . 

And God, would You please help me to pay attention to You? 

What a delightful appeal voiced to our Father who longs for His children to notice Him, praise and worship Him, and yes – pay attention to Him! 

I have not been able to get that phrase out of my mind. I’ve joined Ezra in asking my Father to help me pay attention – REALLY – pay attention to Him.  

Paying attention requires slowing down and focusing. It requires eyes that are seeing, ears that are hearing, and a heart that is “keeping present” in the moment. 

As the days have passed since the prayer that stirred my heart, I’ve been paying attention to God in a fresh way. Here are some of those experiences: 

• I noticed that I’d had a really good night’s sleep and thanked Him immediately.  

• A friend had a specific need and asked me to pray for her. This need was met. 

I noticed what God did and thanked Him. 

• My flesh really wanted to lash out one day, but I felt the nudge (and had the fortitude) to keep quiet. THAT WAS GOD. I noticed and thanked Him. 

I also slowed down, realizing He allowed me to . . . 

• Drink in a beautiful gaze from my baby granddaughter with her big blue eyes. 

• “Step into scripture” – taking time to talk with Him and ask that He help me apply what I had just read to a personal situation. 

• Notice the grace extended to me from my husband, and especially enjoy our crazy times together. 

• Enjoy the laughter and “at home feeling” with my friends. 

• Truly delight in every moment of teaching His Word and being with those who want to learn. 

• Notice my Self-Talk, realizing that He sees me in a far different way than I see myself. 

With each moment of slowing down and really paying attention, I was almost giddy with gratitude for the goodness of God!  

Paying attention to Him as I prepared meals, cleaned my house, sang, exercised – and worked through all the little ordinary things that filled my days – brought me to a deeper and more vibrant place of worship. 

Why, I even noticed that paying attention to Jesus in those  times when I groaned about having a tired body, achy joints, and unsettling circumstances – all served as reminders that nothing in this earthly living is forever.  

Yes, It’s a WIN-WIN with God when you truly learn to pay attention to Him. 

I’m really thankful my li’l guy taught me to be more observant of God’s involvement in my life. Not one moment escapes His loving gaze. His eyes are always on me, and I’m determined to offer Him a heart that pays attention to Him, because . . . He always pays attention to ME! 

Dear Father, it’s a sweet choice – the right choice and life-giving choice – to pay attention to You. By doing so, You keep me from wrong words, behaviors, and attitudes. You also fill my life with goodness that’s all around me that often goes unnoticed when I am too busy or too rushed, or simply not “being in the moment.” Thank You for giving me eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart that truly wants to notice You and please You. I love You dear Lord, with a full and overflowing heart. Amen.

From No-Way to....GOD-WAY!

Some of the deepest and most soul-satisfying psalms were written by David in his wilderness journeys. Take a look at this portion of Psalm 63, written while he camped out with God in the wilderness of Judah.

O God, you are my God; earnestly

I seek you;

my soul thirsts for you;

my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land

where there is not water.

(2) So I have looked upon you in the

sanctuary,

beholding your power and glory.

(3)Because your steadfast love is better

than life,

my lips will praise you.

(4) So I will bless you as long as I live;

In your name I will lift up my hands.

We may find ourselves in a variety of wilderness experiences throughout our life-time.

That’s the reality of living in a fallen and sin-infested world. In verses 1 &2 we find that David’s seclusion provided the safe place to pour out his confusion to God. His longing to “experience” God became deeper - than both the injustice he endured and the pain of broken relationships.

HE LONGED FOR GOD!

Now, notice the subtle shift.

David’s cries to God, based on his current situation – perhaps even from a complaining heart, turn into praises and thanksgiving in verses 3 & 4.

This model of praying we see here is compelling for the believer in Jesus.

Yes, yes, and yes! We must pour out our hearts of languish to the Lord. Our soul needs to be emptied to The One who can make a difference in our misery.

And then it becomes our choice to make the subtle shift towards praising Him and thanking Him for Who HE is. May our focus not be riveted to what we want from Him – but fastened to the holiness of Who He is.

By praising the Lord in heart-wrenching circumstances our “no-ways” become His “God-way.”

There’s no way I’m going to have a normal life again.

There’s no way I’ll ever get over this.

There’s no way I’ll pay off my debt.

There’s no way this relationship will be healed.

There’s no way I can go on living without my spouse.

There’s no way I can survive without my children loving me.

There’s no way I can have a fulfilled life.

There’s no way _______________________

(fill in the blank)

Do you see it?  Can you do it? Can you take those worst moments of life to Your Father who cares for you and understands your agony?

And then, can you pour out your praise and your worship, trusting Him to bring you into that place of soul rest? He WILL do it, and right when you thought it could never happen.

There’s always a GOD WAY for every NO WAY!

Dear Father, I’ve carried this burden way too long on my own. Right now, I choose to release it to You, knowing You are capable of bringing my agitated soul to the place of peace and resolve in YOU. Because Your steadfast love is better than life – just like David, I will lift up my hands and bless You as long as I live.  Amen.

Bucket List

I have never been a fan of talking about OR even creating a BUCKET LIST!

I'm not sure why, except for the fact that it seems to be something that everyone, everywhere chats about; and for some reason that makes me run in the other direction.

But now I know EXACTLY why the whole idea has never appealed to me. It came to light with a recent article in"Relevant Magazine" by JD Greear. See below.

"Only four experiences in my life have fully lived up to expectations. That's probably because I tend to overhype things. (“Easily excitable” is what I think the doctor wrote on the Ritalin prescription.)

Nonetheless, many of the things I anticipated most left me with the feeling that they could have been better.

The handful that lived up to expectations?

Becoming a Christian

Marrying Veronica and having children

(These were both more enjoyable and more challenging than I ever imagined.)

Beyond that, the list is pretty short:

Visiting Kauai, Hawaii

Skydiving

And… well, that’s it.

I’ll bet that a few more experiences would make the list if I ever get a chance to do them. Hiking the Inca trail. Climbing Mt. Everest. Hang-gliding. Flying to the moon.

Experiences like these often get put on a “bucket list.” The term “bucket list” became public parlance in 2007 because of a movie by the same name. Morgan Freeman and Jack Nicholson play two unlikely and hilarious friends bonding over their terminal diagnoses, and they make a list of all sorts of crazy adventures they want to go on before they “kick the bucket.” They call it their “bucket list.”

More recently, the bucket list has been supplanted by YOLO, a 4-letter acronym you use to justify some rash and crazy decision. You Only Live Once, so live every moment to the fullest! Take advantage of every opportunity. You’ll never get a chance to experience this life again, so make sure you get everything out of it that you can.

I will admit, saying YOLO to myself when considering whether to go sky-diving felt motivating, and making a bucket list of things I’d like to get to before I die was a fun exercise. But does a bucket list even make sense for a Christian?

How could it?

YOLO is not true.

YALF is. (You actually live forever).

Bucket lists are inappropriate for Christians not because good Christians stay at home and settle for a safe, boring life. It’s just that we know that life on earth is not our only chance (or even our best chance) to experience what the world has to offer.

Scripture gives every indication that the “new heavens and new earth” (Rev 21:1, 4) will contain better versions of anything in God’s good creation that we enjoyed down here.

Many people wrongly think of heaven as some ethereal life of leisure where saints sit around in diapers on colorless clouds with nerf bows-and-arrows, strumming their harps and sipping non-alcoholic piña coladas. We gather at least twice daily for choir practice, but that’s our only real activity.

The Bible describes heaven much differently. Though it leaves a lot unsaid, what it does say indicates that heaven is a reality that is more than, not less than, anything we experience on earth.

Scholars say “new heavens and new earth” is better read “renewed heavens and earth.” In other words, the new earth is not a replacement of the old, but a renewed and restored version of it, freed from the curse of sin, supercharged with the glory of God. As New Testament scholar N. T. Wright puts it, “God’s plan is not to abandon this world, the world which he said was ‘very good.’ Rather, he intends to remake it. And when he does he will raise all his people to new bodily life to live in it. That is the promise of the Christian gospel.”

That all the mountains, rivers, oceans, animals, culture, arts, music, architecture, solar systems and even extreme sports that I never got to experience here are waiting for me there, in glorified form.

Furthermore, the Apostle John goes on to say that God will “… bring into heaven the glory and honor of the nations” (Rev 21:26). That means the best of culture—the best of Italian food, the best of Arabian and Colonial architecture, the best art, Mardi Gras (without the debauchery), Disneyworld (without the lines), the Jersey Shore (without, you know, the Jersey).

(By the way—I can’t prove this, but I’m pretty sure that in heaven all the foods that are bad for you here are good for you there, and vice versa. There, ice cream and chocolate are good for the waistline, while cauliflower makes you gain weight. Like I said, I can’t prove that, but these things are spiritually discerned. Let the wise reader understand.)

We don’t know all that we’ll be capable of physically in the resurrection, but Jesus’ resurrection is supposed to give us some hints. And, in his resurrected body, Jesus could apparently fly and walk through walls.

I’ve always wanted to climb Mt. Everest. My wife tells me it’s off the table until my kids at least graduate college. And by that time, I may not be physically able, and so I may never get the chance. But that’s okay, because in heaven, I’m confident I’ll get to climb the renewed one, which will be a lot better anyway. And when I get to the top, I’ll fly over to the heavenly Tuscany for dinner.

In cryptic-yet-enticing terms, Paul tells us.

What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived—God has prepared these things for those who love him (1 Corinthians 2:9).

In plain speak, that means that if you can think it, it’s not awesome enough. That’s pretty fantastic, because I can think of some pretty cool things. Heaven likely will have all of them, plus a bunch of other stuff I can’t even conceive of yet.

And, of course, this is not even to mention the joy of doing all these things under the watchful and approving eye of an eternally good Heavenly Father.

C.S. Lewis depicts that breathtaking moment when believers are translated from this corrupted world to the renewed and restored one with Aslan saying to his children, “Come further up, come further in!”

And they respond: “I have come home at last! This is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it till now. The reason why we loved the old Narnia is that it sometimes looked a little like this.”

Lewis concludes:

All their life in this world and all their adventures had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.

So, remind me—why do I need a bucket list?

There’s not anything I’ll miss out on down here that I won’t be able to make up in spades up there.

Except.

There is one thing we can’t do there that we can do here.

Tell people about Jesus.

So, if you want to put something on a bucket list, make it that.

We only have this incredibly short span of our lives to tell our friends, family, and the generation of souls alive on earth right now about Jesus. As the late Keith Green (hippie-turned-Christian-songwriter) used to say, “This generation of Christians is responsible for this generation of souls, all over the world.” We are their only chance to hear."

Looking forward to all those things in Heaven that I can't do on earth,

Cindi

People!

Along with writing and teaching truths from the Bible, I’ve also enjoyed the journey of helping people understand PEOPLE!

No small challenge to figure out why people do the things they do, right?

Looking at it behaviorally, it does makes sense. God created us with different genetic tendencies that form us into the individuals we are. For instance, some of you reading this are very outgoing and absolutely LOVE interacting and being around others. You enjoy small talk and enjoy “using you words.”

Others, however, would prefer being alone in a cave – rather than being closed up in a crowded room - forced to interact and carry on conversations that to YOU, seem meaningless.

Being a behavioral style consultant for years has given me a grand appreciation for God’s creativity in the way He designed us as individuals. It has also filled me with an awareness of His Master Plan of calling into relationship, a variety of people to worship and adore Him in personal, yet different ways.

I’m excited this week to bring back some behavioral style teaching for a group of gals coming together for fellowship and fun (yep, I’m one of those styles who LOVE having fun.)

Here’s what I know: God loves people – ALL the people He created!

No matter your style of behavior – GOD LOVES YOU.

You may feel very different at times than those around you. You are!

Why not simply celebrate God’s Master Design in you and offer everything you are back to Him?

Let’s talk to our Designer about it . . .

Father, I celebrate YOU and Your creativity in all those You created. Help me to enjoy my individuality. And rather than getting annoyed by those who are different than I am, help me to understand that You created every single person by breathing Your Breath of Life into their very body and soul. I’m not responsible for how That Truth plays out in their lives - but I am responsible for acknowledging that You gave them life. You want me to unconditionally love them as You unconditionally love me. Thank You dear Jesus – for your Creativity and Your Love. Amen.

Your Heavenly Father Loves You!

Of all the treasured memories I have of my Dad, the one that just melts my heart is the recollection of him waiting for me to come and visit during the last days we shared together on earth.  Approaching his assisted living facility, I can still see him there perched on his wheelchair, with his arms held out for a big hug. With that sweet smile of his, he was always welcoming, always loving, always wanting to spend time with me.

Every child needs a DADDY like that!

Friend, maybe you're one who shares the blessing of an earthly father who adored you. But if this scenario seems totally foreign to you, I have some great news!

You have exactly that kind of Father. He is your Father-God, and He's right here welcoming you, loving you, and longing to spend time with you. Every dream you've ever had of a strong encouraging dad -loving you unconditionally  is within your reach. God adores you. The freeing truth is that His love for you is not based on your successes or accomplishments--or even your worthiness to be loved.

Not at all; it's all about Him, you see. He loves you because He created you. You are a product of His Heart, His Mind, and His Awesome Love. 

And, because He's God and because He's Love . . . He poured out His love for YOU through His Son Jesus.

For God so loved YOU, that He gave His only Son - so that YOU may not perish, but have eternal life (John 3:16.)

Being God's child doesn't make you perfect - but makes you perfectly loved!

If you are doubting that you are a recipient of this kind of holy love, please get in touch with us at the Frazzled Female Prayer Team link on the website.  We would be honored to pray with you and to guide you toward this joyful relationship which only He gives!

Happy Father's Day. And may it be a LIFE-CHANGING ONE!

Cindi

frazzledfemale.com

LAW and GRACE

God used a recent personal experience to teach me in a deeper way, the doctrine of Law and Grace. It lasted only moments, but the impact of it was seared into my heart.

After a great morning with the gals who’d gathered at our Myrtle Beach location to dig deeper into God’s Word, I was headed to find some lunch. Pulling off a side road I began merging my car onto busy HWY 50l traffic, entering the stream of other drivers barreling down the freeway.

It was then I was busted by the long arm of the law!

Noticing the flashing lights behind me I thought, Surely he doesn’t mean ME -  after all, I’m just driving like everybody else is. The siren was the clue that it was time to pull over.

As I nervously made my way to the shoulder of the road, I whispered my “caught off guard default prayer” . . .

Lord, teach me something in this.

Looking in my rear view mirror I watched the patrolman’s authoritative approach. He patted my FBC window sticker as he asked why I was in such a hurry.

I felt locked in the vice of the law. I WAS.

I felt convicted and guilty. I WAS.

I felt helpless to exonerate myself. I WAS.

It made not one sliver of difference to him that I’d been teaching the Bible all morning, that I’d never had a ticket, and that I was a church-going gal. I’D BROKEN THE LAW.

A few minutes later I drove a couple of blocks and pulled into a parking lot to settle my nerves and examine the ticket I’d been given. There it was; my offense spelled out, along with my fine and court date. I felt horrible about the ticket, but I felt worse about telling my husband who was back home praying over this women’s retreat!

With a deep breath, I laid it all out in one quick text . . . caught speeding, ticketed, and fined.

His response came back in seconds, and I realized my Father had answered my prayer to “teach me something in this”. Through my tears I read . . .

Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it. It’s ok.

That was it. No condemnation, no reprimand nor criticism.

In that moment, I caught a holy glimpse of the Authority of the Law and the Extravagance of Mercy.

Holy God, Forgiving Jesus, Loving Husband – That’s GRACE!

The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more.                                    Romans 5:20 CSB

Recipient of Grace,

                                Cindi

The Jesus Way

Jesus knew the resurrection was coming.

He allowed His disciples to suffer, grieve, and come to the end of themselves.

He would reveal His Glory in His perfect timing.

On these days before we celebrate Christ’s resurrection, my thoughts turn to those die-hard followers of Jesus and the gut-wrenching emotional suffering that overtook them after the torturous death of the Lord.

They’d given up everything to follow Him. Even though He’d spoken to them about His upcoming suffering, death, and resurrection – their hearts and minds didn’t quite grasp the reality of what He had said.

The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again. (Luke 24:7 NIV)

Allow yourself to step into this passage of scripture. For three -worse than terrible days, the eleven surviving apostles along with other faithful followers of Jesus grappled with what His death meant to them personally. It seemed impossible for them to reconcile the reality of His brutal death by crucifixion, with their expectations of the joy He had promised.

And all the while, Jesus knew the resurrection was before them. He held them in their suffering and the hopelessness that filled their spirits. He knew the Glory that awaited them.

Stepping into scripture . . . helps to bring it to life personally right here, right now.

This world is full of tribulation and suffering. Just as Jesus spoke those words to His friends 2000 years ago about what was ahead, He has told us. . .

Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world. (John 16:33 NLT)

He knows how difficult life is. He allows us to grieve and suffer, holding us in our suffering and the heaviness we feel in our spirits. And, by His Grace He helps us to hang on – if even by a scraggly thread – until He reveals His Glory at the precise moment He chooses.

Life now may be brutal, but an Explosion of Joy awaits!

Enjoy the good times. Celebrate friends, family, and fun times. And on the days when life is a challenge, stay strong and keep tethered to Jesus. Unlike those early disciples, We KNOW that one day – in God’s perfect timing His Glory will be revealed and everything will be ok.

In the meantime, take comfort in the reality of scripture.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  (2 Corinthians 4:16,17 NIV)

It Was Only a Small Lunch

It was only a small lunch. It couldn’t be much to offer to Jesus since there were so many hungry people who needed something to eat. The disciples felt hopeless to do anything about the need. Their only suggestion was to send the people away to buy bread somewhere else. “Send them away.” That was the only remedy they could come up with. They repeated that same suggestion on other occasions when there seemed to be an insurmountable need confronting them.

It is easy to either run away from problems or suggest to the Lord that He send them away from us. We need to learn from the boy and his lunch. Anything we give to Jesus to use will be blessed. Our own efforts will always either fail or do minimal good. But, in the hands of Jesus, even the tiniest gift or money or talent will do more than we can ever imagine!

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurable more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us. . . (that’s the truth Paul brings to our minds in Ephesians 3:20.)

The above segment is from The Lamp Post – lamplightersministries.com

Oh Jesus, may we be willing to bring to You, our tiniest gifts – even when we think they won’t amount to much. A kind word, text or phone call  -- any step to offer encouragement to those within our reach. All for Your Fame and Glory. Amen.

Do YOU Have a Life Verse?

In our Frazzled Female Bible Studies, we encourage women to share their LIFE VERSE, and if they have not chosen one - now's the time. It's my joy to give you a peek into the hearts of these women as they share their "personal scripture." May you be blessed in their offering.

Cindi

www.frazzledfemale.com/blog

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GODWIN

As I was driving to our Frazzled Female morning Bible Study, God placed a big ol’ ugly dump-truck full of red-flying-dirt, right in front of me. Immediately there seemed to appear a bright highlighted arrow pointing to the name on the back.

GODWIN

I was heading to bring encouragement and hope to some women who had some BIG STUFF going on their lives (don’t we all?) But for some, theirs is a season – right now - of ongoing stress, hurt, and deep challenges.

Immediately I got the message. . .

There’s a GOD-WIN buried somewhere in every heaping pile of “trash” that often leaves us spinning out of control.

God invites you to bring your emotional dump-truck that’s filled with . . .  betrayal, broken dreams, unfulfilled desires, shredded relationships, grief over death of loved ones – and all the shards of heartache that have cut you to the bone - leaving only knotty scars for you to nurse.

For some, the pain is recent. For others, piercing memories linger and stab. . . memories which should have long been forgotten and placed out of reach. And yet, there they are, buried deeply under thick scabs. Scabs that cover stinging wounds that for no apparent reason, surface from time to time and catch us off guard.

This playbill does not have to be the programming for the child of God!

Friend, I offer you the reality of HOPE found in Jesus . . .

There’s a GOD-WIN victory for every painful event of your life.

Ask Him. He will help you. He will . . .  

REVEAL TO YOU      TEACH YOU       SUSTAIN YOU

He will do all of that because He loves You!

The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know Your name trust in You, because You have not abandoned those who seek You, LORD. (Psalm 9:9-10)

What Does Jesus Look Like?

What is your response to . . . How do you think Jesus looks?

I’ve been on mission the past several days, prayerfully considering the most accurate response to this question sent to me earlier this week.

First consideration; “Are you wondering what Jesus looked like when He walked this earth, or are you referring to His appearance right now?”

There are clear Biblical answers to both of these questions.

It is critical to understand that Jesus, both 100 percent God and 100 percent man walked this earth as Deity residing in the flesh.

So, as a human - Jesus grew up in Nazareth, a large city in northern Israel. Spiritually conceived, His mother Mary and His earthly father were both Jewish.

By God’s design, Jesus was a Jew.

As He began His ministry in His thirties, He would have most likely looked like a Palestinian Jewish man in the first century. However, The Bible offers few clues about Christ’s physical appearance.

However, we do know THIS about Him, physically:

He was totally God, totally Man – born of a virgin and lived a sinless, blameless life on this earth. He died a sacrificial death - becoming a substitutionary sacrifice for all of those He created. He died, was buried, and rose again, for the sins of all who choose to accept Him as Lord and Savior. Loving Him and trusting in His Provision for you as being the atonement for your sin, ensures that you will escape the wrath and judgment of God as you step into eternity living.

That was the mission of Jesus, the God-Man in coming to this earth.

Regarding the appearance of Jesus NOW.

The Bible is clear about the image of the glorified and risen Christ seated at the right hand of The Father on His Throne. There was . . .

Someone like a son of man, dressed in a robe reaching down to His feet and with a golden sash around His chest. The hair on His head was white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of rushing waters.

(Revelation 1:13-15)

This is the very Jesus every single person from man’s beginning will see. Our Great High Priest - Set apart, wise, and the Holy Righteous Judge. 

As a believer, when you see Him, there will be no condemnation in His eyes – for YOU have already been judged on the cross through the Blood of Jesus. His feet like bronze glowing in a furnace is an image of the righteous judgment that has already taken place on your behalf. His voice like the sound of rushing waters will drown out every other sound and pull you into His Heart of grace and mercy.

John was so overcome with WHO HE SAW, that he. . . fell at His feet as though dead. (Revelation 1:17)

And, the apostle Paul states . . . that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:10-11.)

*     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *     *   

I love questions that send me on a biblical search. This one helped restore my focus on Jesus and WHO He is now - this very moment as He waits for His children to join Him in the Heavenly Throne Room.

That twinkling of an eye moment, could happen at any second.

Dear Jesus, thank YOU for coming out of the glorious realm of Heaven, and down to the earth You created. You must love us SO MUCH for becoming like us in order to save us from the wrath of God’s holy judgment. Thinking of You right now, poised and ready to call us up into Your presence – fills me with crazy delight and holy shivers. Help me, help us - to keep focused on the reality of Who You are right now. And please Lord, give us the spiritual stamina to keep walking these days with our hearts nestled in Heaven and our feet planted on the ground of soul winning.  Amen.

YOU Are Valuable to God

In fact you are more valuable to Him than to anyone else you know (or don’t know.)

As I begin to put these thoughts into words, I am asking our God, your Creator, to quicken your heart and mind to receive deep revelation about the depth of love He has for you.

The Message paraphrase records words written by the psalmist under inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Look at some of these expressions from God’s Heart.

You know when I leave and when I get back; I’m never out of Your sight. You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and You’re there, then up ahead and You’re there too – Your reassuring presence, coming and going.

This is too wonderful – I can’t take it all in!

Is there anyplace I can go to avoid Your Spirit – to be out of Your sight? If I climb to the sky, You’re there: If I go underground, You’re there! If I flew on morning’s wings to the far western horizon, You’d find me in a minute – You’re already there waiting!

At night I’m immersed in the light! It’s a fact: darkness isn’t dark to You; night and day, darkness and light, they’re all the same to You.

Oh yes, You shaped me first inside, then out; You formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank You, High God —You’re breathtaking!

Body and soul, I am marvelously made! You know me inside and out, You know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something.

Like an open book,You watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before You, the days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.

(snippets from Psalm 139, The Message)

As I lingered over this passage earlier today, relishing how much God truly loves me, a vivid memory captured my attention.

I have two sons and my “baby” turned 37 this past week. Even though many years have passed I remember – just like it was yesterday – those newborn days with my GIFTS from God. I’d place my babies on the bed, turning those little 6lb.bodies over and over, examining every inch looking for birthmarks and any other physical characteristics that would resemble their dad and me. Then I studied movements and watched for responses, musing how they would develop emotionally and mentally. It wasn’t long before my heart was so overtaken with thanksgiving that it seemed I was lifted into another realm. (Of course there were those new-baby-hard-stuff challenges, but these sweet moments were the ones that kept my heart singing.)

You get it, right?

This is the very special memory God placed before me regarding His

 “love-examination” of me AND YOU. You, like me, were created in His image. The depth of His love and attention to the details of your life goes far beyond anything an earthly parent has the ability to lavish upon his and her offspring. The way He loves is unequaled to any human experience. Every nuance of your life yesterday, today, and tomorrow is held in His Heart

I also believe that God gave me this tender reminder today because you and I both need it. We need to realize and go back and visit often, the reality of His love for us individually and for each one He created.

It’s not about winning His approval; we already have it.

It’s not about worrying over judgment for all those times we’ve messed up; Our judgment  - every last thing – was taken care of on the cross.

My friend, can you just invest your energy right now in thanking God for His wonderful and unmistakable creation in YOU?! In so doing, you’re not elevating self – but elevating your Awesome God!

Go Praise Him!

Truth

The Lord knows you fully and intimately.

That reality is awe-inspiring and humbling.

That God knows you and loves you so intimately, is proof

of your great value to Him.

Dear Jesus, help me to more fully grasp how much You love me. I confess Lord, that I often don’t feel worthy or significant to others – let alone You. But Your Word is TRUTH. I acknowledge it and move into heart-felt worship in this reality. And Lord, as I learn to love myself more fully, help me to more fully love every other person whom You equally love. In Your great loving Name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.

New Name

“I will give the one who overcomes a white stone, and on the stone a new name is written that no one knows except the one who receives it.”  (Revelation 2:17)

There are divine mysteries in The Bible, and this one in scripture has captured my imagination for many years.

We overcome through Jesus!

The Name of Jesus is over depression, fear, and anxiety.

His Name wipes out worry and annihilates every negative thought that threatens to take hold of mind and emotions.

The Name of Jesus is over marriages, children, and extended families.

His Name is above every circumstance you face. There is nothing more important than His Name, CHRIST HIMSELF, living inside of you!

The Jesus Who speaks power, authority, extravagant love – is going to give YOU a new name that speaks of how you have overcome through Him.

It’s True.

It’s Crazy.

It’s a Holy Mystery, waiting to be revealed.

And as we wait and anticipate, we worship – longing for the day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that . . .

Jesus Christ is Lord!

One Look At Jesus

The name placed upon this nameless woman in Scripture is Shame.  I’ve given her that name based on her “condition” when she met Jesus.

Jesus went across to Mount of Olives, but he was soon back in the Temple again. Swarms of people came to him. He sat down and taught them. The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.” Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt. Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her. “Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?”
“No one, Master.”     “Neither do I,” said Jesus. “Go on your way. From now on, don’t sin.” (John 8:1-8 The Message)
 
Was this a set-up? Quite possibly, yes!
The religious scholars were trying to trap Jesus.
 
But God . . .
 
If He answered STONE HER to their question about the Law, then He would discredit Himself, for He was known to be a friend of sinners.
 
If He replied, LET HER GO, then it would appear that He was a condoner of sin and against the Law of Moses.
 
Certainly an air-tight case of bringing judgment to Jesus – they triumphed in their reasoning.
 
And then – the verbal bombshell . . .
 
 “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.”
 
Such great truth and teaching in this scripture passage, but I am going to zero in on one insight that has brought comfort and resolution to various scenarios during my walk with The Lord.
 
Jesus in my Defender!
 
Do I deserve the holy wrath of God to strike me down and take me out?

YES I do, and so do you!
 
But you notice here, through the eyes of Jesus, the issue is not the particular sin of this woman, but the loving compassion of our Lord. As Jesus looks at her perhaps He is reminded of the fallen state of human-kind. Perhaps He is reminded of His reason for coming to earth . . .to be the pure holy sacrifice on our behalf to appease the wrath of God so that He wouldn’t take us out for our sin.
 
God wants us to live with Him forever – and Jesus with His Sacrifice of Blood is the only way that can be possible, for God is holy and cannot look upon sin.
 
I see something else here. SHAME, standing before Jesus, was a woman who had trashed the Law of Moses. I’m pretty sure she knew her sin before her.
 
But what about the religious scholars – who knew and taught the Law? Did THEY see their sin? If they’d revisited the prophet Isaiah’s declaration, they did not show it.
 
All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags.  (Isaiah 64:6 NIV)
 
Friend, “big sins and little sins” are ALL abominable to God!
 
It is Jesus your Defender who speaks to you saying . . . Where are your accusers? "Has no one condemned you?"  

It is Jesus your Defender Who cleanses you from every sin you've ever committed. And His Blood covers your sinful nature all the days of your life on earth yet to be lived.
 
I’m so thankful for the Blood of Jesus washing away ALL my sins – and so thankful that when God looks at me He sees the righteousness of God!

This woman steps out of scripture after her encounter with Jesus. I'd like to think she moved forward honoring her Lord and living a life of fresh insight and thankfulness. 

Although I don't know how her life played out, I do know how I want to live the rest of mine.
 
Lord Jesus, give me fresh insight into Your great Love and what it cost YOU to pour Your righteousness into my being. May I honor You by not judging another, and by walking in the reality that it is Your Love that defends me. 

Am I Ordinary?

If you are a Christ follower, then you have the EXTRAORDINARY JESUS living on the inside of you, and there is nothing ordinary about you!

Viewing ourselves through the world’s view may lead us to think otherwise, so that’s why it’s important that we study who we are through the lens of scripture.

You have searched me, LORD, and You know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways.

He knows YOU because He created YOU.

Before a word is on my tongue You, LORD, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and You lay Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.

He’s interested in every detail of your life.

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, Your right hand will hold me fast.

You can’t escape His Love for you.

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in Your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are Your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! If I were to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand.

You are such a big deal to Him, that He planned out your life before you were even born.

Friend, these words are not simply beautiful poetry from Psalm 139 - they are LIFE GIVING TRUTH!

Know that you were created for a reason and God has a plan for your life – an EXTRAORDINARY one!

My Spiritual Bank Account

I'm happy to share a message from my new friend and seeker of truth about Jesus things. We had such fun exploring how He loves us and how He longs for us to grow deeper in relationship with Him. So - enjoy the following thoughts.

As we journey through the seasons of life, we have times we can pour ourselves into studying God's Word and drinking from the riches of scripture memory, prayer groups, and fellowship.

These are times we are "investing" in our spiritual lives. I like to compare it to a bank account. 

I can remember times in my life that I was able to put large "deposits" into my spiritual bank account - and then I can think of seasons of pain or busy-ness or depression when the deposits were few or random or very little.

How grateful I was at those "lesser times" that I did not go bankrupt. I had made sizable deposits when I could, so I had a reserve I could draw from during those moments when my deposits were minimal.

The investments I made paid sustaining dividends when I needed them. The Lord would bring back scripture, songs, sermons, or other things that gave me exactly what I needed - and exactly when I needed it!

I encourage you to make deposits into your spiritual bank account every opportunity you get. The return on investment is great!! Then - no matter how hard any season of your life, you will never find yourself bankrupt.

Thank you, Tammy Bass, for this great reminder to store up our spiritual treasures!

Cindi

Catchin’ Some Rays (some radiation rays)

Today I had a new experience; new to me, but not new to the 15,000 sufferers of Trigeminal Neuralgia this past year, according to John Hopkins Medicine.

Actually my journey with TN began a couple of years ago with episodes of “electric shock-like” jabs along the side of my face. Each episode lasted from 10-15 minutes with twelve or so episodes daily. After four weeks these episodes disappeared as randomly as they had begun.

During those four weeks, I sought relief from dental experts hoping they would find something in my x-rays to explain the raw-nerve-like pain I was experiencing. Nothing showed up, nor did they have answers for me. When the pain disappeared, so did my search for pain relief.

In mid-January of 2022, the episodes revved up again – this time more frequent and more intense. Even though the pain resonated in my teeth, traveling upward through my jaw and ear, I knew the source was not dental. The neurologist who ordered an MRI identified the culprit as a dilated artery pressing on the trigeminal nerve – the large nerve on each side of the face. This impingement was the source of the erratic pain which was debilitating and driving me crazy.

Trigeminal Neuralgia is a strange disorder, with no apparent pattern nor triggers that set it off. For me, I found nothing a trigger, yet everything a trigger. Sometimes heat set if off, other times, not. Sometimes chewing did, other times not. There was nothing I could identify that was a regular trigger that sent those “electric surges” through my face. And with each onset, there was nothing that would stop it. The best I could do was to hunker down and steel myself, waiting for the pain to subside.

Because of the weird placement of this particular artery on the nerve it is partying with, I am not a candidate for surgery – which is the usual and most effective way to deal with this problem. With the reality that most likely the episodes will grow more intense and frequent if not dealt with, the next option recommended by my surgeon was radio-surgery.

The picture here was taken during the radio-surgery procedure - a “surgery” using targeted radiation on the impingement site.

Accustomed to treating TN, the surgeon and doctors at Levine Cancer Center in Charlotte are on it! I’m grateful beyond expression to know this CRAZY HOUR RADIATION BLAST will most likely take care of the reoccurrence of this pain.

I feel extremely blessed that my journey has not been as long nor as intense as plenty of others have experienced. And I believe the reason for that is early intervention – which brings me to the primary purpose of this posting (that along with sharing the creepy picture.)

According to the oncologist/radiologist at Levine Cancer Center, many who suffer from Trigeminal Neuralgia – and finally end up with him, have had teeth pulled and extensive dental work done, frantically searching for pain relief. With the ongoing pain after dental procedures, it eventually becomes apparent that something else is going on.

IT’S BETTER TO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM BEFORE THE PATIENT GETS IN A CRISIS SITUATION. . . Dr. Burri shares.

So; if you are experiencing SHARP ELECTRICAL NERVE PAIN (believe me, you’ll know it) along the side of your face – with no apparent dental issue identified as the source of it, do some research on the trigeminal nerve.

And should you discover your symptoms match those you find, congratulate yourself for having something weird – and then make an appointment with a neurologist who can set you on the road that leads to pain relief.

Sharing this post will help educate those who are not familiar with this strange disorder

Hang On

God gives us earthly situations to remind us of heavenly realities. We don’t always see the “heavenly realities” part, but I recently had a flashback that nailed it for me.

I remembered having an accident years ago. I was a young mother with a toddler in tow, and pretty much useless to deal with anything other than taking care of my little one. So, I Immediately I thought of – and called - the one I KNEW would make everything ok - my daddy!

One whisper of my shaky voice in his ear was all it took for him to say, “I’ll be right there.”

Unable to drive or responsibly deal with the situation at hand, the thought that kept me steady was . . . Hang on because he’ll be here soon! 

Today, that same thought keeps running through my mind.

With all the uncertainties within this country and abroad I keep thinking, How long Lord? How long before You call up Your church and deal with the senseless evil in this world You created?

How long are Your children going to suffer these trials and tribulations that You told us would be ours in this life? You told us not to worry, and that You’d overcome (John 16:33), but it’s getting more difficult to take hold of the victory that is ours. This world is a hot mess!

Sickness, brokenness, perplexities, financial burdens, harsh and unjustified accusations toward those living by Your Word. Calling wrong things right and bad things good. We are living in a culture that celebrates immorality and dismisses ...

whatever is true, whatever is honorable and worthy of respect, whatever is right and confirmed by God’s word, whatever is pure and wholesome, whatever is lovely and brings peace, whatever is admirable and of good repute, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think continually on these things – center your mind on them, and implant them in your heart.

(Philippians 4:8 AMP)

Without any more elaboration on the negatives, may I simply give a word of encouragement to all of us longing to live fulfilling and productive lives?

Let us shine The Light of Jesus and look for the JOY reminders He places before us each day. Let us keep praying, keep loving, and keep helping and hoping, for our DADDY hears the whisper of our shaky voice.

So . . . hang on because He’ll be here soon!

The SOMEHOW Prayer

“God is the Lord of the slim chance, the fat chance, the no chance and the second chance.”  Anne Graham Lotz

I read that quote this morning, and my thoughts went to the “Somehow Prayer.”

Growing up, I remember words and phrases from some of the great prayer warriors in our church. One phrase that has played through my mind and often been a part of my praying is the phrase . . . Somehow God, would you . . .

As a child I remember being intrigued by such a request of God. What did it mean to ask God “a somehow?” Shouldn’t we just tell Him how we thought He should handle a particular problem? Couldn’t we figure out the best solution and simply lay it out before Him?

And then as I matured and life became more complicated I realized that many times we have no idea of how to bring about the best result for many of the problems we face. You know – those situations in life that appear hopeless with only a slim chance of resolving. And then there are those events where there appears to be no chance at all of any peaceful and sensible resolution.

And then, if we’re tuned in to God’s Heart, we begin to breathe a bit deeper and lighter, realizing within His great love – there’s always a 2nd chance.

Where are you struggling today? Is your heart heavy with searching for relief, for resolution, for peace to replace your mind’s turmoil? Perhaps this is the time for you to learn Somehow Praying.

Let me share a smattering of somehow-jumpstarts that may help you lean on the One Who is longing to, and capable of, taking on your burden and replacing your angst with His Holy Resolve.

Lord, I have made a mess of things. Would You somehow bring Your order out of this chaos, showing me Your glory in this junk?

Lord, I’ve failed You. I am so sorry. Will You forgive me and somehow help me to  . . .

I’m waiting on a report from my doctor, and my mind is filled with what-ifs. I need Your peace. Lord would You somehow take hold of my mind and thoughts?

I don’t know why this cloud of depression is hanging over me. I need You Lord, to lift it and to somehow to . . .

To me, Somehow Praying goes right along with Romans 8:26-27.

Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

You see, when you genuinely offer your somehow-cry to your Father in submissiveness – the Spirit takes over and translates the “plea you have no words for” to the heart and mind of God. Your cries are heard. Your longings for God to take it, fix it, heal it, and restore it – are received and honored as a genuine request. 

Oh Father, somehow would You help each one reading and considering these words right now – to understand the huge-ness of Your love for Your children?

Would You somehow help each one grasp how close You are and how You long to take care of every SOMEHOW in the life of Your precious child. Amen.

Can JOY and SADNESS Live Together?

“We must focus on Jesus, the source and goal of our faith. He saw the joy ahead of him, so that he endured death on the
cross. . . " (Hebrews 12:2)

I've been thinking quite a bit lately about the presence of both joy and suffering living together in the Christian's heart.

Years ago, I remember it was difficult for me to accept this reality. Thinking particularly back to one morning early as I was "trying" to celebrate God's goodness and express a thankful heart, I voiced to Him that this was impossible to do with all the suffering I was aware of going on in the lives of others. It seemed to me at that time that you either experienced JOY or SADNESS. It never occurred to me then, that the heart of true worship is experiencing them together. Because of my limited view, my prayer life often left me feeling helpless and inadequate in my worship.

It was years later that I read Hannah Hurnard's Hinds Feet on High Places. In this beautifully written allegory of a shepherdess named Much Afraid, The Chief Shepherd invites her to journey to the high places, giving her two companions to help her along the way. Sorrow and Suffering were their names.

Through the years since that reading, and after repeatedly searching the scriptures about this matter, I understand that the human heart captured by God, is often filled with sadness brought on by suffering AND joy, simultaneously.

Jesus Himself, in His humanity experienced this co-habitation of JOY and SADNESS.

Reading about His life experiences in the gospels, we know that He experienced: joy in relationships, delighting people as He performed miracles, and while going about His earthly ministry duties. We also read about His suffering revolving around those same areas.

So just like Jesus experienced - joy and suffering are not exclusive of each other. Many of our earthly experiences include both.

A recent example of this played out during our family's Christmas celebration. While we experienced great joy celebrating with our Tennessee son's family in our home, there was great sadness that a positive COVID test prevented our Florida son's family from being with us during this once a year gathering.

Not totally joyful, not totally sad - but a combination of both.

My heart's resolution was to accept the reality that co-habitation was OK. I could worship God in no other way; for to be totally joyful was to disregard the pain of not being with half our family. To be totally sad, was to dismiss the joy of being with the other half.

Deferring to God and His Word will always put you back on track. Because of the JOY awaiting Him, Jesus endured the painful suffering of the cross. That shameful and painful suffering for Jesus and those earthlings who loved Him, ushered in the Ultimate Joy that is ours to celebrate, and YES - in the midst of pain and sadness.

TRUTH: Jesus will help you navigate through the co-mingling of joy and sadness.

I have told you these things so that in Me you may have perfect peace. In the world you have tribulation and distress and suffering, but be courageous - be confident, be undaunted, be filled with joy; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33 AMP)

APPLICATION: Consider your feelings of being joyful and sad simultaneously. Take some time to journal the dichotomy of wrestling with the reality of these emotions being so different and both very strong. Describe your heartache that makes you sad, and then describe your struggle and yearning to be joyful in Jesus. Ask The Holy Spirit to shed light on your struggle and help you process how best to worship God, giving Him both your joy and your sadness. He WILL help you; that's His pleasure!

LET'S PRAY: Dear Father, You walked this earth being filled with both sadness and joy. Please show me how to honor You with a heart of worship that accepts both the joy and the sadness of earthly living. For now - until I'm in Your presence, that's how it will play out. I thank You with a full heart, that the moment my spirit leaves this body I will enter into Your Presence being infused with total and glorious joy forevermore. Amen