Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Going To The Other Side

Immediately Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while he sent the multitudes away.
Matthew 14:22

There are some challenges in our life right now. We've been in the middle of a storm now for a very long time, like the disciples were when they crossed the lake. We've been riding the waves, up and down. But, lately, it feels more like the waves are overtaking us. This last Sunday in church the sermon was about the waves overtaking us, and one of the points he made was that Jesus told his disciples to get in the boat and go to the other side! Just go to the other side! There will be storms in between, but Jesus comes and calms them down. We don't even know how long it's going to take to get to the other side, we just know that Jesus said to go to the other side.
For me, there are many things that Jesus has said to me that does not coincide with what is happening now, but I have to keep my focus on what he said. It's challenging. Life circumstances do not look good, the waves bring moments of doubt and questions, but I'm not at the other side yet. 
I'm in the middle of the lake!
My husband, children, and I are not going to drown because Jesus put us in the boat and told us to go to the other side. 
When fear creeps in, and it does, I have to run back to my source and he reminds me that we will not be forgotten. 
Jesus, Say That Again!

Wednesday, October 7, 2015

To Dance

Then he broke through and transformed all my wailing
into a whirling dance of ecstatic praise!
He has torn the veil and lifted from me
the sad heaviness of mourning.
He wrapped me in the glory-garments of gladness.
Psalms 30:11

I read a book by Brene' Brown that said to be really vulnerable with each other, we must learn to laugh, dance, and sing. Shortly, before that I had heard a man and women speak about the powerful effects of laughter, and how when we start to tell ourselves lies, it actually works to laugh at them. After all, isn't it God that inspired Solomon to say that laughter is like medicine?
Then, I remembered a retreat that I went to a couple years ago and they had a talent show. My favorite talent was a young woman that got up in front of everyone and sang a childhood song. There was a small thing-she could not carry a tune at all! But, her song was absolutely beautiful! 
This brings me back to dance.
There was a wedding a couple weeks ago. I had the honor of being in this wedding. This was an honor for me on so many levels that I won't go into, but I will say it nourished my heart. 
It nourished my heart as a friend
a woman
a mother
and a wife
At this wedding,  there was laughter and song and then there was the dance. 
We watched the Bride and Groom dance which was incredibly romantic, and, I know, the wedding is about them. But, this dance was about my husband.
I could see him standing on the other side of the dance floor and I knew the Spirit was telling me to dance.
Take note that neither of us have dance experience!
When I pulled my husband onto the dance floor, his smirk was priceless. We had so much fun! 
To dance with a crowd of people around us, but feel like it's just the two of us is heaven.  And, at that very moment, I felt like God had broke through years of grief and given me a glimpse of all the joy that is to come. 
We've had a lot of grief, loss, pain, etc yet there is joy to dance, sing, and laugh. God sees through the pain and breaks down the veil and brings gladness. 
Today, I am dancing in this.
Say That Again to me Jesus as I dance  before you.