The Brutality

I was asked yesterday what the last few months have felt like for me. My answer was "brutal".  It's been brutal on so many levels. Is the Body of Christ suppose to be brutal? Even when there are problems, issues, complications, and conflicts, why is brutality inserted? Why are assumptions made, doors closed, words said that shouldn't be? How could it be done differently? How can my role in The Church change the brutality and further the Kingdom? How can I be used to promote safety, demote brutality?
I'm not the only one that has felt this way. And, because of this, I am sad.
Who tells me what to do, who commissions me into a calling for the Kingdom? Who brings me to a place where I reflect safety, therefore His body is safe?
Is God safe? Or, is He like the book Narnia says: "Aslan is not safe, but He is good"?  I know God is good, He is my Protector, so if He is my Protector, does that mean He is my Safety too? And, what exactly is safety?
My conclusion is that He is safety for my soul and my heart. Even through the brutality, my soul has remained safe, my heart has grown. And, others have grown as well, and changed. I have learned, so have others. Grace has been given, grace has been taken. And, hopefully, if there is ever another round, love will be shown, safety will be extended, hope will prevail.
I am going to continue on the path God has set me on.  I will seek restoration, and bind brutality. I will know what to look for, next time, that hidden pain that circles around striking out at those that least expect it. And, I will face it with the boldness of His Spirit.
So, Jesus, You have made me stronger, and You are gently nudging me along the path of light. You continue to Say That Again to me when I am discouraged and want to run the other way.  You say to me "STAY!"

The Truth

This is a day that I am praying for truth. I have some sorting to do. There's been a lot of "stuff" floating around and I need God to reveal to me what is truth in all the stuff and what is not. There's been a lot of people involved, and that makes for a lot of opinions.
I had a discussion with someone yesterday and some of her experiences reminded me of that feeling of being excluded. That sickening reality of not being invited into the life of another.  It happens, I've been there and it doesn't feel good. The door is shut in my face with no explanation, and I cannot get it open!
I'm asking myself why I even try to open the door. What's the point, if I'm not invited? I can stand at the door and knock, but there is no answer.  The truth is, the door is locked and only God has the key.
Jesus. continue to walk with me. Take me to the doors that You want me to go in.  Give me the patience to keep knocking. Light the way, open the door with Your key. Show me Your truth, Your reality, Your life.  Help me to do the sorting, I know I cannot do it all on my own.
Bring everyone involved to the same conclusions.  Bring the heart of openness, invitation, willingness, to Your Body. Sort it out, lead the way.
Jesus, You are truth. Your Spirit soars within me and I am free IN You. Your revelations are truth and hope. You, Jesus, know the way, because the way is YOU.
Say that again, to me and open doors for me. I'm knocking!

The Ear Piece

My husband gave me an ear piece for my phone. I love it, because I make most of my phone calls in the car. This allows me to be hand free!
I couldn't find it yesterday. Bummer.
I found it this morning, in the washer. Double bummer.
My husband tested it out; it doesn't work anymore. It is clean though!
I'm so glad I don't need an ear piece for God to hear me. What a relief. Anywhere, anytime He hears!
Say That Again, Jesus. You always hear me!

The Garden

We've decided to start a Community Garden. My husband and a friend have been building raised beds in the back yard of our ministry house. One more to go, then the dirt, then the plants. Friends are donating plants, everything from tomatoes, melons, peppers. I can't wait to watch it grow and to share the harvest with those we love.
This is our summer project, and hopefully, everyone will enjoy the fellowship of planting, growing, and harvesting together. It just reminds me of when I was a child and I'd go to my grandparents house in the summer. My grandpa had a very large garden in his back yard and he loved to work in it. The tomatoes were the best, and I could go out and pick one anytime I wanted to and eat it right off the vine. My grandma canned the tomatoes, beans, beets, and the fruit from their trees. I want to do that too.
God has blessed us with the means to build a garden, He will make it grow through our hands. I'm praying for an abundance of fruit in my life as well. I want to harvest blessings along with our garden.
I read in Isaiah this morning, chapters 40 and 41. In 40, verse 11 it reads "He will feed His flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young."
Yes, He will continue to feed me and He will lead me. I will not fall under the enemies attacks, because my Shepherd is holding me in His arms!
Say That Again, Dear Shepherd, You are feeding me, holding me, and leading me!

Until next time....

The Collection

My husband has a couple of collections. One is Mountain Dew. He has all kinds of cans and bottles of Mountain Dew, from all over the world. He loves to drink Mountain Dew as well, so does his sons.
His next collection is phones. He has a nice display of all his cell phones on his shelf at work. He loves cell phones and he has always had the last updated version. It's his area!
He's a great guy! He strives to make his home as it is in God's kingdom, and to me, that makes him a collectible! He's worth keeping, and he brings me and his children great joy.
So, for Wordless Wednesday, tomorrow I have a picture of his cell phone collection.
Jesus, thank you for the gift of my husband. Say That Again, to me, he is a collectible!

Until next time....

The Poop

So, my stinky dog really did it this time. She had a major accident, in my car, on the back seat. It's not really any fault of hers, she was having a "runny" day, and I shouldn't have left her in the car. She had too many leftovers the day before.
I met my daughter in-law for coffee, we were only in the coffee shop for about an hour, but when we came back out to the car, it was not a pretty sight, or smell.
My dog had pooped a very runny, stinky poop all over the back seat!
I had my two younger children with me, and they were holding their noses and protesting loudly!
I didn't have any way to clean it up, right there on the street, so my son piled in the very back (so as to not sit in poop) and my daughter sat way over on the other side.
Stinky dog got to sit in the front, so she wouldn't jump into the poop. She seemed embarrassed about the entire ordeal, and seemed to be wondering if we were going to be upset with her.
We made it to the house, and I drove in the alley right up beside the garbage cans. There was an old shirt in my car, the positives of not cleaning out the car. So I proceeded to wipe up the mess.
It was a lot of work, cleaning, scrubbing, more cleaning. I left all the doors open so it could air out.
I used dish soap, leather cleaner, leather oil. Now, my seats are all very clean, and the car smells great. But, it was a stinky process and the next day, my dog stayed home. Just to be sure she was over her runny ordeal.
Even though I didn't enjoy this gross, stinky episode in my life, it did not change the way I feel about my dog! My love never waned. She, in my opinion is the best dog ever, and I love her. I was willing to clean up her mess, because I do love her. I was willing to go the extra mile!
If I can do this for my dog, then I can do this for my family and my friends. Through the Spirit of Jesus, who is all love, I can be there for them and listen to their mess. I can support them, love them, be the friend God commissions me to be.
He has done that exact thing for me. He cleans up the stink in my life and renews me everyday. He washes me with His blood, and sees my heart, not my stink. Wow, what a magnificent gift, don't you think?
Say That Again, Jesus, You wash me and make me whole IN You. You clean up the stink in my life, and in the lives of others. You, oh God, are good!

Until next time....

The Car

My son and daughter have purchased a car. He took the train to Portland to make this purchase, then drove his new car home. It's very nice.
When he got back into town last night, they drove to our house so we could see The Car. We all sat in it, then we went for a drive to the top of the hill. We went fast, and glided around the corners. It was fun.
Even though it's not our car, we shared in the excitement with our son and daughter. We want them to be happy. We want them to have good things.
Just the way Jesus feels about me. He is excited for me to receive good gifts. He wants me to be happy.
Say That Again, Jesus. You want to bless me in Your way, with Your gifts!