The Lord loves me! He does... He really does! Wow! I feel a little like Sally Fields at the Oscars. It's overwhelming. Sigh~ He dreams for His children and not small dreams either. I believe that He dreams greatness for all of us. When I say greatness that could definitely stir us to poke out our little spiritual chest but that would be wrong. Hahaha no I mean God has designed and dreamed and given us everything we need to be great in Him. I believe too many times we only tap into safe-but-ordinary though. We hold onto the things and people that make us feel safe so we don't have to experience discomfort on any level if we can help it. The problem is that the greatness of God is often displayed through our brokenness and discomfort. I guess I'm getting older and I'm finding myself in uncomfortable and broken spots. I get scared but I'm learning to roll with it. I'm learning that I can hold tightly to my life or release it all to Him. Truth is my strength to hold it is unable to keep from God anyway. I'm finding the theme of my heart is shouting to anyone who will listen.... Go for it! Do it! You have this one life and God is worth every risk. If the thing you do is for God and lines up with His word then let His perfected love drive out all your fear and if your still scared then do it anyway... I've had many great things happen in the face of unreasonable fear.
God is good. He just is and there is nothing that can change that. He's 100% trustworthy. He always hopes. He never fails...... Let's just let all of that rub off on us!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Ready to Run?
I read a quote that I’ve read many times before “success is not an accident” and for whatever reason it has resonated with me all week. True success is hard work! It’s not for the faint of heart. I’m talking about success that has been coupled with endurance and the desire to see fulfillment of one’s goal or dream.
I remember sitting in a strategy meeting in my zealous 20’s when I heard our leader say “Begin with the end in mind”. I remember grabbing hold of that and every time I set out to do something for God I would step back and say to myself “how do I want to see this end?” or "How's God showing me this is suppose to end?"and I for life of me never remember my response sounding anything like failure but believe me my past has involved some failure! More recently than I’m comfortable with in fact! I could definitely begin with the end in mind but staying focused on that goal and being disciplined to run hard after it was sometimes lacking. If I may humbly add to that wonderful quote “Begin with the end in mind and then don’t forget it at any point”.
I’m a visionary and a dreamer. I have so much longing that I can feel as if I could literally explode! That’s why it’s 2 am and I’m up with a heart that is pounding right out of my chest typing as if I’m pressing a pressure valve to get some relief! Lol! Some of you know exactly what I mean and then there are those like my husband that at 2am if I proclaimed “Reagan an angel of God came from a burning bush in the corner of the bedroom, come see!” he’d rollover and say that’s nice, remembering nothing in the morning! Whatever way you were wired internally we are all created to succeed and thrive. God gives us His word to instruct us and inspire us. When Reagan and I are discussing something he often reminds me that the answers are simple but walking (or running) it out can be the issue and he’s right.
Thrive: to grow vigorously
A girlfriend of mine is a sports psychologist and she is now working with soldiers going through boot camp and she said that she reminds them constantly that in spite of the agony involved with basic training they can use the time to thrive and not just survive. I love that! I say that as someone who is told often to suck it up (but in a more loving and tender way:-) by my husband. Life is hard and often unfair. Justice is not always reigning in all the situations of life as far as we can see but we must be fixed with the end in mind.
In the end comes the reward! All week I’ve gotten to watch as my children and many others received their end of the year awards from school. I have to admit that I have cried myself some tears as I watch not only mine but the children of others go to receive their rewards. There were times I caught myself smiling so big I figured I needed to dial it back a bit so I didn’t frighten anyone ;-) I love rewards! I love prizes! I love recognition of those who have worked hard! However there’s something deflating when we know that for whatever reason we ran out of steam and/or got distracted and that dream or goal was unrealized. I have had so many failures if there were boxes to hold them and I needed shelves to store them I’d hire my husband to build me another home to house them! However I’m not stuck on them and wallowing does nothing good for anyone but I refuse to sit by while there are greater things to pray and do for God concerning this world.
I was attending a field day and one of the races required a child to tag their teammate in so that teammate would then engage that part of the event. For some of us it’s time to be tagged in! It’s time to run hard! It’s time to engage! I want to say to you don’t look behind but ahead. You can do it! I love the scripture that says “God isn’t man that He should lie”. He’s incapable of it. What God is drawing you to do…. What He’s calling you to do…. It may require some trust on your part but He’s trustworthy! He will be running right alongside you. He’s going to provide for your journey and He’s going to understand when it’s getting rough. A life running with Him is the best adventure in my life to this date. Note: I didn’t say it’s easy but I’ve never truly known any life, Christian or not, to be easy but I’ve seen the hope of God carry some of us over the finish line! Come on and let’s thrive together!
Tag your it!
I remember sitting in a strategy meeting in my zealous 20’s when I heard our leader say “Begin with the end in mind”. I remember grabbing hold of that and every time I set out to do something for God I would step back and say to myself “how do I want to see this end?” or "How's God showing me this is suppose to end?"and I for life of me never remember my response sounding anything like failure but believe me my past has involved some failure! More recently than I’m comfortable with in fact! I could definitely begin with the end in mind but staying focused on that goal and being disciplined to run hard after it was sometimes lacking. If I may humbly add to that wonderful quote “Begin with the end in mind and then don’t forget it at any point”.
I’m a visionary and a dreamer. I have so much longing that I can feel as if I could literally explode! That’s why it’s 2 am and I’m up with a heart that is pounding right out of my chest typing as if I’m pressing a pressure valve to get some relief! Lol! Some of you know exactly what I mean and then there are those like my husband that at 2am if I proclaimed “Reagan an angel of God came from a burning bush in the corner of the bedroom, come see!” he’d rollover and say that’s nice, remembering nothing in the morning! Whatever way you were wired internally we are all created to succeed and thrive. God gives us His word to instruct us and inspire us. When Reagan and I are discussing something he often reminds me that the answers are simple but walking (or running) it out can be the issue and he’s right.
Thrive: to grow vigorously
A girlfriend of mine is a sports psychologist and she is now working with soldiers going through boot camp and she said that she reminds them constantly that in spite of the agony involved with basic training they can use the time to thrive and not just survive. I love that! I say that as someone who is told often to suck it up (but in a more loving and tender way:-) by my husband. Life is hard and often unfair. Justice is not always reigning in all the situations of life as far as we can see but we must be fixed with the end in mind.
In the end comes the reward! All week I’ve gotten to watch as my children and many others received their end of the year awards from school. I have to admit that I have cried myself some tears as I watch not only mine but the children of others go to receive their rewards. There were times I caught myself smiling so big I figured I needed to dial it back a bit so I didn’t frighten anyone ;-) I love rewards! I love prizes! I love recognition of those who have worked hard! However there’s something deflating when we know that for whatever reason we ran out of steam and/or got distracted and that dream or goal was unrealized. I have had so many failures if there were boxes to hold them and I needed shelves to store them I’d hire my husband to build me another home to house them! However I’m not stuck on them and wallowing does nothing good for anyone but I refuse to sit by while there are greater things to pray and do for God concerning this world.
I was attending a field day and one of the races required a child to tag their teammate in so that teammate would then engage that part of the event. For some of us it’s time to be tagged in! It’s time to run hard! It’s time to engage! I want to say to you don’t look behind but ahead. You can do it! I love the scripture that says “God isn’t man that He should lie”. He’s incapable of it. What God is drawing you to do…. What He’s calling you to do…. It may require some trust on your part but He’s trustworthy! He will be running right alongside you. He’s going to provide for your journey and He’s going to understand when it’s getting rough. A life running with Him is the best adventure in my life to this date. Note: I didn’t say it’s easy but I’ve never truly known any life, Christian or not, to be easy but I’ve seen the hope of God carry some of us over the finish line! Come on and let’s thrive together!
Tag your it!
Thursday, February 18, 2010
My Introduction.....
I'm really sleepy today.... I had quite the night last night. I laid in bed talking to myself, very quietly of course...haha.... What started the dialogue was the thought... if I were to introduce God to someone in hopes they would know Him based on who I know Him to be, what would I say. What words do you put to a being that encompasses every thread of your whole thought process past, present and future. Success, failure, joy, pain, and hope are all touch by His presence in my life.
Hello I'm Joy nice to meet you and this is...... my everything. Sounds vast but very true...
Or hello I'm Joy and this is my best friend.... sounds good but He's so much more.
So this was my night... I tossed and turned, it was sorta fun to playfully talk to God recounting all we've been through together and all our dreams for the future. I sensed Him in such a sweet way. I just remind Him that He created me so I hope He enjoys me!
Back to introductions okay here's another.... Hello I'm Joy and this is the Great Architect... He designed us, as well as the heavens and the earth, the steps of my life and plans for my future!
The truth is that I could stay up every night for the rest of my nights and still there would be no end to His presence in my life. There would be no space of time that He got annoyed and took a breather from me. In all my immaturity, unfaithfulness, impatience, mistrust,He never went to another room to cool off. He never said your a hopeless case. Even when all the evidence seemed stacked against me. He is not a God to be put in a box. We cannot make Him into what we desire Him to be for our lifestyle convenience. He is holy, this will not change because we want to behave unholy, just look at the old testament (yikes)however He is patient and compassionate and will work alongside of us. In the book of John if you note 3:17 it says that Jesus didn't come to condemn the world but he came so that through Him we might be saved.
So I could say Hello I'm Joy and this is Saviour.... for truly I'm so bound to Him I think I would loose the ability to breathe without Him.... it started the day I laid myself before Him and said I'm yours forever but I love that salvation happens everyday. I'm not weak... because I live inside of His strength!
There is no one like the Lord. That is the truth. We can love our husbands, wives, children, mothers, fathers, friends, churches, and jobs but I want to say there's no relationship that can satisfy like that with your God! He knows you like no human ever has or ever will. We are complex people with a God who is complex enough to go to our deep places with us. Infact when you get so excited you feel that you could burst... He's the only one to experience it to that same degree. He loves you... Jesus proves it! So if by some chance you've made it through this maze of words I seemed to throw onto this page and yet you haven't known Him for yourself.... my I introduce you ~
Hello I'm Joy nice to meet you and this is...... my everything. Sounds vast but very true...
Or hello I'm Joy and this is my best friend.... sounds good but He's so much more.
So this was my night... I tossed and turned, it was sorta fun to playfully talk to God recounting all we've been through together and all our dreams for the future. I sensed Him in such a sweet way. I just remind Him that He created me so I hope He enjoys me!
Back to introductions okay here's another.... Hello I'm Joy and this is the Great Architect... He designed us, as well as the heavens and the earth, the steps of my life and plans for my future!
The truth is that I could stay up every night for the rest of my nights and still there would be no end to His presence in my life. There would be no space of time that He got annoyed and took a breather from me. In all my immaturity, unfaithfulness, impatience, mistrust,He never went to another room to cool off. He never said your a hopeless case. Even when all the evidence seemed stacked against me. He is not a God to be put in a box. We cannot make Him into what we desire Him to be for our lifestyle convenience. He is holy, this will not change because we want to behave unholy, just look at the old testament (yikes)however He is patient and compassionate and will work alongside of us. In the book of John if you note 3:17 it says that Jesus didn't come to condemn the world but he came so that through Him we might be saved.
So I could say Hello I'm Joy and this is Saviour.... for truly I'm so bound to Him I think I would loose the ability to breathe without Him.... it started the day I laid myself before Him and said I'm yours forever but I love that salvation happens everyday. I'm not weak... because I live inside of His strength!
There is no one like the Lord. That is the truth. We can love our husbands, wives, children, mothers, fathers, friends, churches, and jobs but I want to say there's no relationship that can satisfy like that with your God! He knows you like no human ever has or ever will. We are complex people with a God who is complex enough to go to our deep places with us. Infact when you get so excited you feel that you could burst... He's the only one to experience it to that same degree. He loves you... Jesus proves it! So if by some chance you've made it through this maze of words I seemed to throw onto this page and yet you haven't known Him for yourself.... my I introduce you ~
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Declaring Daughter
Today is just one of those days.... I've been feeling that for weeks leading up to now I've felt a pressure of ALL sorts. It's one thing or another... kids, opposition in relationships, finances, and physical ailments... they all attribute to my feeling of complete and utter break down. It's not that I feel far from God at all, in fact quite the opposite. I feel FULL in Him.. hopeful and yet in the same breath very tired and weary. So what's that about???!!!
Life is feeling more like a vice grip. I know that we don't sail through our life or our walk without hard moments but all in all I had hoped I would somehow be an exception. You know what I mean, that I like Enoch would be blissfully translated out of a life of imperfection into His presence? Now that I write that I know full well that Enoch didn't quite go unchallenged himself, well let me get back to my point which was I've not escaped hardship and the temptation to succumb to my emotions is escalating daily. However I am stirred... I'm not a spiritual superwoman and I have no great powers that I have found in myself but I AM A DAUGHTER of DECLARATION! The theme of my life is to declare HIS goodness in a broken world and right now in a sense my small world is feeling quite broken. Notice I say "feeling" because I know that God's perspective is much different. He's not tense or nervous concerning me. Infact He's patient concerning me and my lack of patience! I have to laugh because as I write this even in my personal weariness I sense His pleasure over me. It's nice to be the daughter of one so lovingly good.
I would like to back up to the declaration part! I said before that I'm no superwoman and I have no powers in and of myself but now I'm stirred to tap into something that is super natural. I'm going to come in the opposite spirit of what comes natural and speak the Truth of God concerning my life and also concerning your life because the TRUTH of God is bigger than my world but it is applicable you yours as well.
THE FACT IS that you are an over comer when you put your hope in Him and take your hands off!
THE FACT IS that those who look to Him are radiant, their faces are never covered in shame.
THE FACT IS that He has never and He will never leave us or forsake us.THE FACT IS that He delights in us... we must be worth a great deal to such a great God.
THE FACT IS God knows that we get scared... He constantly reminds us to "take courage"... "don't be afraid"... "put your trust in Me"... We are created to be courageous! No need to allow yourself to be overwhelmed. BUT if you do He will be the lifter of your head! Wow He's good.
THE FACT IS that we will see the goodness of God in the land of the living!
THE FACT IS surely goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our life and that we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!
So let's get our facts straight! What is your declaration?
Life is feeling more like a vice grip. I know that we don't sail through our life or our walk without hard moments but all in all I had hoped I would somehow be an exception. You know what I mean, that I like Enoch would be blissfully translated out of a life of imperfection into His presence? Now that I write that I know full well that Enoch didn't quite go unchallenged himself, well let me get back to my point which was I've not escaped hardship and the temptation to succumb to my emotions is escalating daily. However I am stirred... I'm not a spiritual superwoman and I have no great powers that I have found in myself but I AM A DAUGHTER of DECLARATION! The theme of my life is to declare HIS goodness in a broken world and right now in a sense my small world is feeling quite broken. Notice I say "feeling" because I know that God's perspective is much different. He's not tense or nervous concerning me. Infact He's patient concerning me and my lack of patience! I have to laugh because as I write this even in my personal weariness I sense His pleasure over me. It's nice to be the daughter of one so lovingly good.
I would like to back up to the declaration part! I said before that I'm no superwoman and I have no powers in and of myself but now I'm stirred to tap into something that is super natural. I'm going to come in the opposite spirit of what comes natural and speak the Truth of God concerning my life and also concerning your life because the TRUTH of God is bigger than my world but it is applicable you yours as well.
THE FACT IS that you are an over comer when you put your hope in Him and take your hands off!
THE FACT IS that those who look to Him are radiant, their faces are never covered in shame.
THE FACT IS that He has never and He will never leave us or forsake us.THE FACT IS that He delights in us... we must be worth a great deal to such a great God.
THE FACT IS God knows that we get scared... He constantly reminds us to "take courage"... "don't be afraid"... "put your trust in Me"... We are created to be courageous! No need to allow yourself to be overwhelmed. BUT if you do He will be the lifter of your head! Wow He's good.
THE FACT IS that we will see the goodness of God in the land of the living!
THE FACT IS surely goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our life and that we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever!
So let's get our facts straight! What is your declaration?
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