Christ In A Box

I think my favorite thing about the Lord is that he ALWAYS shows up in unexpected places. At the perfect moment.  Yesterday morning I was feeling blah. I was getting dressed to go to bible study and our back doorbell rings. Open the door to see my beautiful friend standing in the doorway with a dozen pink and white roses. I love flowers as much as I love furry animals. I love my friends like I do Jesus. My heart was about to burst. She explained that she had been in the grocery store. They were giving the flowers away. The Lord put it on her heart that  "I needed to bring these to someone I love". I needed to feel loved in that moment. It was God's perfect timing. My friends loving heart.

I was reminded that He truly does know every single hair on the top of my head. He places angels in our path all day long. A hedge of protection around us. A mighty fortress. I truly do not believe that we have the human capacity to understand the greatness of  God. The Fullness. The Splendor. His Glory. His Majesty. Church's today are teaching love and grace. Which are extraordinary attributes of God. But that puts Christ in a box. It limits who He really is. Our God is: Mighty To Save. Savior. The Great I Am. Our Promise. Our Refuge. Our Hope. Yahshua. Father. Spirit. Son.  Splendor. The Lion. The Lamb. God Almighty. King of Majesty. Holy. Wondrous. Magnificent.

God continued to show off yesterday afternoon. My beautiful friends came to my house for intercessory prayer. These women are not only physically beautiful they are so filled with the Holy Spirit it almost knocks you down. For two hours we prayed for my family, our pets, our home. The Lord moved so powerfully we were  in awe. Y'all, we have absolutely NO IDEA how big He is. None. We forget that mountains will bow down at the mention of His name (Psalm 144). Every tongue will confess His name (Romans 14). Seas will roar (1 Chronicals 16). Demons flee at the mention of His name (Ephesians 6:12).  And guess what? He loves us! Not just sometimes. Every single solitary second of every single day. It's almost too much isn't it?!

We prayed for people who, quite honestly, I didn't want to pray for. And I felt Him. Encompassing my heart. Holding me up in agreeance. Holding me accountable for my actions. Opening my eyes to the bigger picture. Allowing me to glimpse the plans He has for all of us. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever experienced.

There were just 4 of us praying. For two hours. The heavens received those promises and God's Glory was revealed. We are just four women who feel led to stand in the gap. Now can you imagine what would happen if we broke up into groups of 4 throughout the  nation? Time is so short. Pray for salvation. Pray for those in your life who are lost to find Him. Pray for your spouse, your kids, your future grandchildren, your children's future spouses. Pray for people you don't particularly like. Let Him reshape your heart. Step into His presence with thanksgiving.

"For He will give His angels charge concerning you. To guard you in all your ways"-Psalm 91:11

Crash and Burn

Since the beginning of time, when Eve took that first bite, satan has been trying to control the world. Control us. He's a genius  because control is a kind of worship. When you can control someone you are saying "worship me I know what is best for you". And so the fight of good and evil began on earth.

Think about how many things in your life you try to control throughout the day. I bet there are a ton. We control the scheduling of our calendars. We control our children's social activities. We control carpool. We control who we spend our time with. We control where we invest our money. We control what decisions we make in life. We control what we eat. We control when and if we exercise our body. Some of us even try to control people.

The antithesis of control is, I believe, faith. Or trust if you will. When we say "Yes, Lord" we need to be keenly aware of the fact we are saying "You are now in control, Lord. Not me". And that's where life gets hard.

I had a beautiful friend point something out to me this past weekend. "Sometimes God just wants us out of the way. Sometimes he's protecting us from someone else's  crash and burn. Ultimately crashing isn't a bad thing. It's how we rebuild a life in Him".  This friend has walked the walk. Talked the talk. And is a living miracle. Her advice hit home. Hard.

I have been trying to control every single aspect of my families life. Probably because I have no control over what is happening to my physical body. If I control my family I can protect them. I can stand in the gap before the bottom drops out. Guess what? I am dead wrong. I can't control a dag gum thing. In fact, when I try to do so I'm literally sending the message "Jesus, I've got this. I know how to organize my life better than you".

It's funny I've given control of the uncontrollable (Lupus) to Him. I can't tell you how many people have said to me "You are so calm". And it's true. But the glory goes to God because it's all Him. I've relinquished the fear and doubts of the disease to Him. But my family? For some reason I seem to think if I can put out the flame before it starts the world will be at peace. That's hilarious, right?

A friend reminded me at breakfast yesterday about Peter. The disciples were fishing overnight in the Sea of Galilee.  A horrific storm arose. It had to have been horrible as these men were seasoned professionals. The waves were crashing and tossing the boat. Peter looked up and saw Jesus walking on the water towards them. "Is that you, Jesus?" The Lord beckons Peter out of the water. As long as Peter was keeping his eyes focused directly on Jesus he too was walking on water. Peter became frightened. He looked down, taking his eyes off of Jesus, and he began to fall. He was scared to death that he may drown. Jesus reached out his arm and pulled him out of the water.

When we feel like we are drowning in our everyday lives it is most probable that we have taken our focus off of Jesus. We aren't looking straight ahead towards Him. The beautiful thing about Christ is that He will catch us. He will save us. But imagine how fulfilling every single aspect of our lives would be if we were fixated on Him. If we chose to focus upward rather than inward. If we chose to focus on Him and not on ourselves. There would be no need to control. We would know He was right in front of us. Eyes locked in. Every decision and every step looking up.

"Get down on your knees before the Master; it's the only way you'll get on your feet"- James 4:10

Exposed To The Light

I opened my bible to this scripture last night:

"For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; or hidden,
that shall not be known"-Matthew 10:26

I had not turned to Matthew intentionally. In fact, I was heading towards Revelation. I just stared at the passage in amazement. Of course! God knew exactly what I needed to hear at the appropriate time. The goodness of the Lord always brings to light what is being kept a secret. Matthew is absolutely correct about that! God's omniscience. His light. The darkness can not escape Him.

This is true as a nation, corporately as a church body, and individually. The areas of our nation, church, and lives that need examination. If we do not address sin He will ultimately bring it to the forefront. To the surface. Always. It  may not be immediately. But He will. In His time, bring our sin to light.

In a recovery program you go through steps to heal. Whether it is over spending, hoarding,  food addiction, alcohol, drugs, sex addiction, pornography. Whatever it is you acknowledge you have a problem. You acknowledge you are powerless to it. You acknowledge you need God's help. You allow the sin, your darkest moments, to be exposed to the light. Why? Because there is no way to heal in the darkness. There must be light. You have to be able see where you've been in order to go forward.

What's interesting to me about this premise is that Matthew was so on point. Think about something you did as a kid. Or something you  are currently doing that you wish you hadn't. It eats at you. You do everything you can to keep it hidden don't you? After all it's something you are not proud of.

For many the process is a battle. A war really. We really  want  the relationship with Christ. But we still want to live in this world. In this culture. Doing things that are unpleasing to God. And we know  this. But we keep on doing so anyway. Charles Spurgeon describes sin brilliantly "When we think too lightly of sin, we think too lightly of the Savior."

God's grace is freely given. However it does not discount sin. I think we have that wrong. Yes, we are covered in His grace. But we still are called to present our sin, our darkness, to Him. To ask for forgiveness. On the flip side of the coin we don't need to leave Jesus  hanging on the cross.  We show our children grace probably dozens of times a week. However if they disobey us we expect them to come and tell us. To fess up. We forgive them and then guide them gracefully back on track. God expects the same from us. We can not continue to sin. Make excuses for it because we are covered in His grace.

The ultimate goal for all of us, as Christians, is to live our lives according to His will. To walk in this dark world shining as beacon of light for the lost. To understand from the depths of our souls that this life is temporal. Our forever home will be in Heaven with our Savior.

Time is short. What darkness do you have that needs some light shed upon it? We have a father in heaven who is always available to listen. Make amends. Ask for forgiveness. Shine brightly for others to see.

"And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you
heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God,
which is at work in you who believe.”—1 Thessalonians 2:13

 

Under His Wing

"But the power I possess to live a life pleasing to God is directly related to how much
control of my life I give to the Holy Spirit"-Anne Graham Lotz

Have you ever noticed that when life becomes difficult or stressful it is because we are not communing with God? When we do not start our day with prayer and end our evening with thanksgiving our lives become about us and not Him.

Our minds become so full of noise that we forget the One we are to be serving. When we forget who we are in Christ we quickly become entrenched in the world. Busy days, work, kids activities, homework, social obligations, family obligations. Before we know it we "fear" we can not get it all done. We are stressed to the limit. Stretched to the max.

There are actually 365 scriptures in the bible telling us not to fear. Not stress out. Rest in Him. That is a scripture for every single day of the year. A word, if you will, reminding us to start each and every day fear and stress free (365fearnots.com).

I said yesterday that this time of year my soul literally craves the ocean. Its an ache. A longing. The winter quiet. The stillness. Similar to the world after the first dusting of untouched snow. The serenity. The green of the mountains in the summer. The glorious dew at dawn on all of the flowers. The morning mist coming across the valley.

Jesus walked our walk. He knows our daily stresses and fears. He walked in our shoes, without sin, with the peace of his Abba father everywhere he went. He came to earth to dwell as we do. He understands every emotion. Every fear. Every doubt. Every heartache. Every Joy. Every Triumph. Every Success. He gets us. Yet so many of us don't get Him. Not because we don't want too. Simply because we don't take the time to know Him. When we don't know Him intimately our lives reflect as such.

I feel the closest with the Lord when I'm standing on the beach. Looking out at the vast ocean. But the reality is God is everywhere. So I should feel Him everywhere. But sometimes I don't. And when I don't it's almost always because (1) I'm not spending time with Him or (2) He is silent because He is trying to protect me or help me see something that He sees.

When the Holy Spirit is directing our path we can hear Him. We know that He is in the thick of our daily routine. The stresses of our lives. The fears. The joys. The failures.  And when we are in step with Him? We are able to recognize that all of these feelings are signal flags for our walk with Christ.  For years I thought my stress was man created, and sometimes it is. Many  times, however,  circumstances are ordained by Him. Allowed by Him. To give me pause. To help me grow spiritually in Him and with Him.

When the Holy Spirit is directing our path it will be a fruitful one for that moment and time in our lives. If He is not directing our walk we most likely will find ourselves, at some point, in crisis or chaos. In that chaos we find ourselves powerless. It is then that the enemy swoops in. Don't give him access to your life. To your family. Open your bible today. Ask the Lord to speak to you. Let Him safely take you under His wing as you both navigate throughout your day.

"He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge"-Psalm 91:4

Loud, Proud & Arrogant

Loving someone as Jesus loved us. Incredibly difficult. I think about how Jesus loved me right where I was. In a very untimely space. He didn't care. What He cared about was that I loved Him. I said "Yes, Lord" because, frankly, I was tired of living the way I had been.

Jesus calls us to love the unloved and the unlovable. It's definitely easier to love the unloved than the unlovable don't you think? The unlovable? Those who are proud. Loud. Arrogant. Prideful. Opinionated. Loving them? Now that is hard!

When someone is arrogant? Knows it all? Well, you can not tell them anything they don't think they already know. The pride barometer is through the roof. There is not a two way street. Usually a one way highway with their words barreling straight towards you.

We can find passages all throughout scripture warning us of the detriment of a haute spirit. Solomon tells us in Proverbs 16:18 "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall".  Most of know this. We've experienced it. Arguing with one of our teenagers. A heated discussion about politics. Many times when we are arguing it is more about a battle of the will than the actual issue. Pride becomes the factor as the arguer usually will not back down, even in the wrong, just to be able to say they are right.

In this day and age of social media, politics, and 24 hour news we can't seem to escape the mudslinging. Whether it's on facebook, twitter, XM radio, or the television. Christians are persecuting other Christians with their words. Politicians are crucifying each other for the spotlight. Nations are waging wars on nations. Everyone has something to say about something. All of the time. The noise never stops.  We quite simply have become an arrogant people.

Our bible study is doing an amazing David Jeremiah study this semester. One of the things we are looking at is darkness and light. Although elementary it is profound. Wherever there is darkness if there is light it will penetrate every time. Our world is dark. But I believe the light will eventually be the only thing you will see.

I love how the Lord is silent now. In the darkness. He is letting us battle it out here on earth. He's allowing the hurtful words, the misguided opinions, the greed, the arrogance, the gluttony. And yet we are called to do one thing. Let Him fight our battles for us. Love the unlovable. Period.

I love the beach this time of year. Actually I crave it. The crashing of the waves. The seagulls overhead. The sunshine twinkling like diamonds on the ocean. The dead calm winter quiet.  I can hear myself think.

I think many of us crave this serenity because He calls all of us to it.

He wants us to reflect not react. Be still. Rest in Him. When we choose not to respond our light brings forth the darkness for all the world to see. We don't have to do anything. Just be still.

“The LORD will fight for you while you keep silent.”-Exodus 14:14

The Greatest Product Ever

"I've never met anyone as transparent as you are" is what I'm hearing a lot lately. Ironically I spent much of my life disclosing nothing while creating the illusion  of everything.

When you've met Him face to face? Given it all to Him? What is there left to hide? No, really. If He has pulled you from the depths? Well, then, the veil has been lifted. Everything revealed. You are exposed. Fresh. Made new and whole in His presence. No secrets. No make believe. No more orchestrating what you think your life should be. No insecurities. You are who you are in Him. 

I've never understood why people are hesitant to share their story. Their testimony. I could talk you cross eyed about what Christ has done for me. It's a topic I never tire of. Kind of like discovering the greatest product ever. You want everyone you meet to have it because you know first hand it works. It's a game changer. A life changer.

I used to keep my relationship with God in my back pocket. He was always with me everywhere I went. But I only pulled Him out when I needed Him. If you asked to see Him I would happily oblige. Possibly be able to give you some scripture. But I wasn't 100% reliant on Him yet. 

In the past decade the Lord has become the basis for everything in my life. The more I studied the scriptures the more everything in life made sense. My life story started to make sense even in the middle of the senseless.The more I relied on Him the more I heard Him whispering to me. Eventually I began waiting for the whispers to guide my reliance.

This past summer, one morning while at the beach, I looked at the ocean and literally said out loud "okay, Lord what now? The girls are grown what now?" As clear as day I heard in my spirit "write about Me. Tell our story". I thought about it for several weeks. Prayed about it every morning. At one point I felt like I would suffocate. He wouldn't let up. "Write". I mentioned it to my husband and he said "I think that's a great idea". I still didn't do it. A few weeks later I mentioned it to a dear friend. As plain as day she said "He's calling you to obedience". And I believe she was correct.

If I write from my own accord  it means absolutely nothing. A mere fleshly opinion. One in a million that you will read on any given day. And quite frankly why should my opinion matter? I am no one of earthly importance.  But if I am still? If I am obedient? Then I write what He  has put on my heart through prayer. It conveys a lesson He wishes to be taught.  A blessing.

God is in the business of repairing. Not tearing. There are certain aspects of our life that will always remain sacred. Never to be shared. But with my families permission I have been able to convey in writing what He is saying to me. If I approach it from my flesh there is no transparency. The message is orchestrated. Contrived. It benefits no one. It has no merit. No purpose, really.

But if I am still. Watch the sunrise. Read my scripture for the day. Offer up to Him my inequities & thanksgivings? He shows up every time through the written word.

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly"-Colossians 3:16

The Fear Of Missing Out

We received our first letter from our girl yesterday. It's funny just seeing her handwriting made me want to weep. The lime green monogram stationary. A perfect reflection of her personality. Bright, fun, and loud. I anxiously opened the letter. Not one for sharing emotions or giving lots of detail I clearly expected  only several lines and a "love, C".  The fold-over note was written to capacity on all three sides.

She let us know that she was sick with tonsillitis. The pillow and bedding were "eh" but the food was good. She had met one of the counselors who is a family friends nephew. She excitedly wrote about how handsome he is and someone she could relate too. She told us that her roommate was there for heroine charges as were many others. The people are very nice "but not like me at all ."

It was one of the last lines of the note that caught my attention. "I really appreciate y'all being so over bearing. Yes, most of the time I have hated it, but I know now y'all do things out of love and protection for me. Most people here have been given up on by their families. This makes me realize how blessed I am that y'all love and care about me so much". A small light.

After receiving countless in- boxes and many phone calls I realized that Robin and I are not alone. Many of you are walking in our shoes. In silence. You know there is a problem. But nipping it in the bud seems like such an extreme measure. You are concerned for your child, as are we, and don't know how to fix it.

I do not know what the answer is. Do I think the reins need to be pulled in? ABSOLUTELY. Do we think she needs to understand the consequences for all of her actions? Without a doubt. If we released her into the world today to be on her own, which was one of the choices we gave her, she would either be dead or destitute.

We are products of the 1980's when drinking was legal at the age of 18. We graduated from high school, registered to vote, went to our first bar legally, and started college all in the same season. Our parents released us into the world. There was a finality to it. I always knew I was responsible for me after the age of 18. Did I push the boundaries? Yes! But I knew I was on my own. There was a limit to how far I'd push because I knew my parents wouldn't bail me out. And, as a dear friend pointed out today, there truly was a reverence for God. For morality. You would never risk embarrassing your family. There was a fear of the Lord.

Flash forward 30 years later to the age of "me". "If I want too I will.  And you can't do anything about it." This applies to teens and adults alike. It's become the norm. Instant gratification. A feel good age where we have no idea what consequences are. Since our daughter has been away we have had time to really go through social media etc. What we've found is that there is an entire culture that parents have no clue about. None.  We saw a glimpse of it the summer our oldest daughter made her debut. Admittedly  it was  fun watching all of these young people have a great time. But when you began to see that there were no brakes you start to scratch your head "seriously?"

All of the parents that have contacted us are wonderful Christians who did not understand how this can happen to my child let alone theirs. I think there are many reasons why. This is what I've come up with from a fleshly standpoint. First and foremost social media. Every image is "look at me I'm having FUN" i.e. bottle of Jack and all blonde beauties. Second is the fear of missing out due to the images they see on social media. Third it's illegal therefore they have to binge drink while they can get their hands on it. 

Finally, and most importantly,  all kids are targets of the enemy. Particularly those kids raised in Christian households.  If you believe, as scripture tells us, that we are living amongst the last generation then you understand that there is an enormous spiritual war happening all around us. There is a last ditch effort by satan and his minions to claim our children as his own. "Elizabeth, you are off your rocker?" Well, am I?

The Lord prompted me to do a word search.  I did some research on the word "alcohol" and what I found was amazing. The word alcohol  itself is derived from the Arabic word Al-Khul.  Al-khul's literal definition is "a body eating spirit". Al-gwahl, the original English derivative, means "ghoul". Thus you have a ghostly body eating spirit. That should send chills down your spine.

Robin and I are still wrestling with "did we do the right thing?" I think we have. We both have slept through the night every night that our daughter has been gone. We know she is safe. The walk is hers. At this point, all we can do is continue to pray for her. Love her. One day at a time.

"We cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard"-Acts 4:20