The Big Move

The last three days have been a whirlwind of activity.  We have been richly blessed with the help of many friends to get us from one house to the other. Friends with trucks and trailers. To me, it looked more like the entire neighborhood was moving, but it was just us!

We worked all day yesterday, and some friends stayed late into the day to help unpack. We ate chocolate, burgers, and laughed at the fact that I have lots of kitchen stuff, but am not much of a cook! We talked, teased, and everyone heartily approved of our new dwelling. We even got in a game of baseball with my children. It was good, and very full.

Today, my body aches and I'm still tired. I don't see myself going anywhere today, or doing too much. I hope to rest. We still have a lot of work ahead of us. I'm thankful for the blessing of friends.

I don't know what lies ahead for us, but whatever it is, I know that God will lead us. I will continue to move in His direction and continue to listen to His will. Right now, He is still telling me to just be still and know that He is a mighty God. So, still it is.

 God walks in the midst of my life, carries me, and I think sometimes drags me, He brings me to new places so I can trust Him more. He is Constant. In Psalms this morning, I enjoyed this verse:

I'll give you the best of care if you'll only get to know and trust me. Call me and I'll answer, be at your side in bad times; I'll rescue you then throw you a party. I'll give you a long life, give you a long drink of salvation! Psalms 91: 15-16 (Message)

This verse is so true for me. Through everything, especially my pity parties, God still has taken very good care of me, and He has always answered. He has rescued me over and over again, and He has brought celebration into my life many times. He is the God that creates big moves in my life and then hangs on to me as I step forward. What an awesome God!

Lord, Say That Again today, You are the Mover in my life and You have a plan that is best. 

The Big Furniture

We managed to get our furniture loaded in a truck and safely delivered to our new house.  Yesterday was a long day, but it went well. All the furniture was unloaded and placed in the correct rooms, except for the couch we intended to go in the bonus room upstairs.  We tried every angle and it simply would not make the corner at the top of the stairs to get into the bonus room. It is too big. I rearranged everything in my mind and suggested we try the other couch, but to no avail; it's too big as well. Such is life, I found a different location for big furniture and moved on to other things. I think it will be okay.
Today we finish moving, at least we finish moving out of one house!  Our ministry home still needs to be emptied. I have had plenty of time to talk to God during this move, while I work at packing things into boxes, and sort through various items. This has been a challenging process for me, but I do know it is the process God desires. He has relocated me and continues to remind me that my home here on earth is temporary, not my final destination. Wherever I am living, I can talk to Him and be in His presence.
 In Hebrew 13:14 it says this:
"This insider world is not our home. We have our eyes peeled for the City about to come."

I think about the City of God pretty often, and I'm looking forward to that move and the mansion He will have for me there. Everything will fit perfectly, even me.
Say That Again, Lord God, this earth, this home is temporary, You have so much more waiting for me.

The Almond Joys

Earlier this week I bought a big bag of chocolate candy, a mix of all kinds. While packing, I occasionally picked out an almond joy. It's my favorite :) how many almond joys does it take to move out of a house? For me , it's been too many.
We went to our new house yesterday. I unpacked a few boxes. Our son unpacked his room. I worked mostly in the kitchen and prayed. Actually, I prayed the entire trip out to the country house because I was feeling sad. I even had another almond joy, but it didn't suffice. My prayer was that I would feel joy and gratitude. The blessings bestowed upon me are immeasurable. Yet, I guess I still will grieve for the change of lifestyle.
One of the verses I memorized this week was in Matthew 2:10-11. This is what it says in The Message:

"They entered the house and saw the Child in the arms of Mary, His mother.  Overcome, they kneeled down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their luggage and presented Him with gifts: gold,  frakincense, and myrrh. "

First of all, I'm amazed at the change of location Jesus made for me! From perfect heaven to sinful earth all for the purpose of saving me. And then, the Wisemen, when they entered into His earthly home and saw Him, they were so overcome, that they had no other option but to kneel down and worship Him. They were completely taken in by His presence. Then, they gave Him their gifts.
I've thought about this verse a lot this week, and asked myself, am I overcome when I enter into His house? Is it so compelling that I can do nothing but fall to my knees and worship Him? Not only that, do I continually offer my gifts to Him?
He has given me the ability to be in His presence all the time, wow! Wherever I am, any place I live, I can still be with Him.
Jesus, Say That Again, overcome me with who You are. Continue to move me deep into Yourself. I will worship You!

The Drapes

I spent much of the morning taking down all our drapes and curtain rods. The windows are bare and it feels strange to me. This entire move feels weird to me, like a dream, and I wonder what it's going to be like to not be in this home anymore.  Originally, my husband had said that we would leave all the drapes, but I asked to change that. I think the new house will need these drapes! All the drapes say "dry clean only" so I punched in on google and asked how to wash dry clean items.   A list popped up with instructions on how to wash them and what was okay to wash. So, I popped the living room drapes in the washer and pushed the hand wash button. They just finished,  I pulled them out of the washer and hung them up to dry. They look perfect. So, the bedroom drapes are next. Those silly labels, insisting that I take all my drapes to the dry cleaner when  I can wash them at home!
Naturally, I started thinking about labels. How often do I place a label on someone, only to find out that I'm completely wrong? I know I have done this, and I know I've been labeled as well. But, this  often happens without really seeing into the window of someones soul. Life is full of judgments, and choices that have to be made, but what if those judgments and choices were always for the good, and not for evil? If I can always believe that God brings all things together for those that love Him and His protection to my heart and soul is always there, how does that change the judgments I make?  How does it expand the labels I put on myself, or even others?
Our house is brighter without the drapes. But, it allows more people to see in; it feels vulnerable. I suppose that is the same as the windows to my soul. If I do not cover up, but allow God's light to shine completely in, there will be brightness and others will see His light. I will be far more vulnerable, and risk being labeled. Yet, with the light, I will also know no darkness, because He is with me, even to the end of days!
I guess that's a lot to think about just from a label on the drapes. But, I want Jesus to continually Say that Again to me. He is light, He brings brightness, and He shows me how to open the drapes to my heart and soul.

The Fearless Love

This afternoon I had some conversation that helped me make some connections, but I didn't really get the connections until I left to get my kids from school and I began to listen to a song. I kept playing the song over and over because there was something that really hit my heart. The phrase that was the most outstanding to me was this: " Bring my heart to everyday, and run the risk of fearlessly loving without running away!"  The thought that came to me was how difficult it can be for me to fearlessly love without running away in some fashion.  To guard myself, to cope in old ways, to create my own shelter so that my heart is protected, this is what I've done for a long time, but now God is saying, "be done with that, completely!"
If I bring my heart to everyday that I live, I am running a great risk. To fearlessly love, even though I feel the risk, and stay put in that love, is big. It's Jesus love!
As I look back over my days, I can see that fearlessly loving has been a huge challenge, so I've loved in safer ways. Oh Lord, have mercy on my heart!
Say That Again, Lord Jesus, life with you can feel risky, love can be painful, but You call me into a life with You, and I'm willing to take the risk.

The Prophet

When I woke up this morning I started praying. I asked God to continue to reveal His path to me and enable me to walk upright and holy in Him. By the time I got to my bible, I was thinking about Jeremiah 1-3, so I opened my bible to the right place and began to read. I love how the first chapter starts out  with God talking to Jeremiah:

"Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you. I have appointed you a prophet to the nations."

Jeremiah responded with this:

"Alas, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, because I am youth."

This is what God told him:

"Do not say 'I am a youth' because everywhere I send you, you shall go. And, all that I command you, you shall  speak."

Then God stretched out His hand and touched the mouth of Jeremiah, saying this:

"Behold, I have put My words in your mouth."

So, Jeremiah did exactly as God told him to do, even though he did not think he could! He believed God and set on speaking the truth to the nations.  He announced that God had chosen Israel as His chosen people and had always been there for them. He told them that they had chose to trade God's glory for empty god-dreams and silly god-schemes.  He called them faithless and idol worshipers. Near the end of chapter three, God lovingly draws Israel to Him:

"Return , O faithless sons, I will heal your faithlessness. "

The patience and enduring love of God is really impressive! At least I'm impressed. I had to ask myself again if I have let idols get in my way of my relationship with God. As I have waded through the trials that seem to come in waves and flood my world, have I always turned to God, or do I look elsewhere for relief?  Have I been able to draw nearer to His Presence during times of financial stress, the selling of homes, the loss of relationship, and the revelations of His truth? There have been days that I have wanted to run to old habits, or simply hide. Days I have felt like it's not worth the work or effort. But, God has been very faithful to me, nudging me to talk to Him and repent. He has continued to be My Stronghold, even when I waver. And, I do waver. Like Jeremiah, I think I can't, and I become discouraged.

Jesus, I need You to Say That Again to me. You formed me and have always known me. You have put Your words in my mouth and commanded me to speak. You lovingly pursue me, and continue to heal me. Thank you Jesus!

The Self -Willed Babylon

I've been giving some thought to the culture I live in, and how it is so similar to the Babylon talked about in the Bible. This morning I read Daniel 1, and the thought came to me that being taken captive by the enemy, like Daniel was, and then having a choice as to whether I adapt to my captivity or choose to stay an alien. The enemy of my soul works very hard to make me his captive, and is constantly trying to return me to places that God has called me to leave.  I can choose to have the same attitude as the modern day Babylon that I live in, or choose to stand against it.
In verse eight, it says that Daniel made up his mind that he would not defile himself with the Kings choice food or with the wine which he drank. It sounds to me like Daniel drew a line and took a stand. The choice food of the King was food that had been offered to the Babylonian gods, and Daniel was ultimately standing against those gods. His choice was blessed by his God, the God of heaven.
If I make choices that defile me in this modern Babylonian culture, I will eventually forget my identity and loose integrity. I will not know who I am! I imagine this is exactly what happened to all the other captives that were taken to Babylon at the same time as Daniel, and his three friends. They adjusted to the Babylonian culture, and forgot who they were. They were unable to stand for truth.
So, I've been asking myself, how willing am I to stand for truth all the time? How willing am I to keep a life a of integrity, no matter what the cost? I am captive in this world, but God is asking me to live with my feet in heavenly places. He is asking me to be a witness for Him in this world, but not be like the world. He is continually bringing me to places of freedom in Him, while at the same time, showing me how much I am surrounded with a modern Babylonia.
In Isaiah 47 Babylon is described at a place of self-will. The entire culture is about self, total self-absorption. Verse 8 says it well:

"Now then, hear this, you sensual one, Who dwells securely, Who says in your heart, 'I am, and there is no one besides me, I will not sit as a widow, nor know loss of children. But, these two things will come on you suddenly in one day. Loss of children and widowhood. They will come on you in full measure in spite of your many sorceries, in spite of the great power  of your spells. You felt secure in your wickedness and said, No one see's me, your wisdom and your knowledge, they have deluded you. For you have said in your heart, I am, and there is no one besides me.'"

Just like Babylon of old, the culture I live in today is all about self. Everywhere I look, self is encouraged and either blatantly proclaimed or it gradually seeps in to every aspect of thinking. The idea that it is not about me, but about God is completely foreign.  Even in church it ends up being self-driven. What can I get from church? What can I get from this bible study? After all, I am here, and I need something!
But, what if my attitude is the same as Jesus? He walked this earth giving constant glory to God. His life glorified the Father in everything He said and did, all the time. He gave to others, thinking of them and their needs. He knew who He was, and His walk in an ungodly world was nothing but Godly! He did not adjust to the Babylon mentality, but only to the mentality of His Father.
Today, I had some interesting conversation about self and being still. I do hear God telling me to be still, yet in that stillness, I must listen carefully for the next step. I am not being asked to be still so I can reflect on myself, but am called to be still and know that He is God.
Jesus, Lord of Lords, Say That Again! You cover me and take self from me. You move me beyond my own ideas and challenge me to stand against this Babylon I live in!