Faith and Hope. Unseen Yet Real.

(This is a long post. My heart is bursting and I deeply desire that The Body of Christ be encouraged in these truths!) 

I've been deeply reflecting on faith and hope these last few weeks. 

Faith and hope are focused on what we cannot see, but what is real nonetheless. 

We are constantly encouraged throughout God's Word - dare I say - urged to take hold of faith. To believe. To hope. 

Abraham "hoped against hope". Shadrach & friends told Nebuchadnezzar that God was able to save them, but even if He didn't that they would not bow. Paul & Silas singing praises to God in jail, confident that God was more powerful than their circumstances. Also, the many written of in Hebrews 11. 

Faith and Hope. Unseen Yet Real.

Truly we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses and are not alone!!! Throughout history, how many people lived fully in awe of God whom we never hear about? Quiet lives who do His work and don't have books written of them. Yet they obeyed and impacted lives around them through their faith... 

Truly, God is at work in His Kingdom here on earth and He is helping us all to do the good works He has given us to do - whether our good work appears clearly to others or not is not the issue. God is revealed through us to those whom God is drawing to Him as we go about His business. 

In all these things, can we not rejoice today? Can we not celebrate His goodness to work in and through us? 

Dear friends, there is something even greater for us to rejoice in! 

When the 70 came back excited from their missionary excursions, Jesus instructed them to have Godly perspective in their victories.

“Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing will injure you. Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice that your names are recorded in heaven."” Luke 10:19-20 NASB

Crazy! They had power from The Son of the Real God (not a made up god like cultures around them worshipped). BUT!!!! There was a GREATER gift to celebrate. Their names were written in the Book of Life. They were secure in Christ! 

We also are secure in Christ! We do not shrink back! We are the chosen and equipped warriors of God who seek His face. We work in His strength. We find refuge and encouragement in Him. We are made right with our Maker through Jesus and given authority and power to do the work God gives us to advance His kingdom against the gates of hell. 

“And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” Matthew 16:18 NIV

The church will not be overcome. She is the Body of Christ. Jesus is in us and overflowing though us. Jesus has all God-given authority and He has given this to His followers so we can do the work God gives us to do. Our names are written in the Book of Life. Nothing can separate us from God's love.

“But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.” Hebrews 10:39 NIV

Father God, You are glorious! Mighty! Holy! You have not only saved us from sin and death, but also given each of us work to do today. We all have different jobs to do, and all are important. Speak through us to the lives around us. Let our lives be so full of Your Holy Spirit that even strangers would notice and be drawn to You. Open our eyes to opportunities to share Jesus, using words when necessary. Love boldly through us. Reach the individuals who feel lost and unloved. Let them know You are aware of them and that Your love for them is pure. Heal those with diseases, and if not healing in this lifetime, we ask for a mighty outpouring of Jesus through them. Give increased faith to those struggling with anxiety and depression, that they can build their 'believing muscles' today. Thank You for working in our lives and giving us work to do... That we get the awesome opportunity to share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus with others! In Jesus' name.

Jesus knows & will bring you through.

Hello my Sweet Friend.

I love you SOOOoooo much. I wish I could give you an in-person hug right now. I wish I could take away all your hurts, but I know that would change who you are and I wouldn’t change a thing about you!

What I’m about to say will require a lot of trust on your part, but I ask that you read on and seek the truth, based on the only absolute truth we have in this world (God’s Word, which is Christ Jesus Himself).

I see such a beautiful child of God, who’s being changed before my eyes in an amazing way, by the Holy Spirit of Jehovah Himself. You are being made, as a caterpillar turns into a beautiful butterfly, into the very image of Jesus Himself.

He knew pain. He knew suffering. He knew emotional anguish.

He knew betrayal. He knew, really knew, loneliness. 

He knew the daily distractions, burdens, and drudgery.

Jesus also knew the answer…

In order to become the man He was meant to be,

he would have to rely solely on His Abba.

In prayer. In trust.

Through the tears. Through the frustration.
Through the loneliness. Through sadness and loss.
Through losing friends as he made tough choices.

For direction… even when it seemed there was none.

For hope… even when it seemed there was none.

For friendship… even when it seemed there was none.

“For consider Him who has endured

such hostility by sinners against Himself,

so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

Hebrews 12:3, NASB

Jesus is the only one who can fully knows your frustrations and struggles. I'm committed to walking with you as you wait for answers, believing that together He will bring you through this hard season. Together, my friend. Together.

Father God, my friend needs comfort and encouragement. Meet her where she is and, in your faithfulness, let her know how precious she is in your sight. Replenish hope. Help her network of support be the kind of friends she needs right now. Show us clearly how to pray for and love her. Help us be respectful and kind. Protect her from hurtful words. I ask, too, that you clearly show her if there is anything she can do - or should stop - during this time as she waits on You. In Jesus' name...

I love you so incredibly much, and while I cannot take away your struggles or emotional turmoil, I am with you. I will be with you all our lives long. You are so dear to me, and I’m so glad that we can share our journeys together.

You are a valuable gift, and I am so glad to have you in my life!  

With all my love…

Until We Meet Again, Dear Sister

A sweet friend from church died last night. Cancer. She had grace and one of the sweetest smiles. I treasure the hug she went out of her way to give me a month ago. I wonder if she knew that her health was failing. 

That was the last I saw her. 

Hanging Hope on Grace

"fix your HOPE completely

on the GRACE to be brought to you

at the revelation of Jesus Christ."

- 1 Peter 1:13b, NASB

 

"set your HOPE on the GRACE to be brought to you

when JESUS CHRIST is revealed at his coming."

- 1 Peter 1:13b, NIV

I'm hanging "Hope" on a Mental Memorial

cut in the form of

The Cross of Grace.

Prophets kneel at the Cross of Grace

in praise and thanks.

God promised Grace would come.

They believed. Grace came.

Costly Grace. Beautiful Grace. Strong Grace.  

Strong enough for Hope to hang on.

One day, My Jesus will come for me and we will be united fully.

He will come for me.

Until then, His Spirit is with me.

I know this, even if I can't always "feel" Him near.

I can only see "in part", you know.

But when He comes, I'll see Him face-to-face

And know Him fully. That's a beautiful Grace to Hang my Hope on.  

Abba God, thank You for grace that's coming - You promise and You can't lie. We ask for wisdom to know how to transform our minds, instead of being conformed to this world. And for eyes that focus more on the eternal than on the physical, mental, and emotional  "stuff." Whatever we face today, please remind us all to breathe, give us courage to command our souls to trust You (Are You not faithful?), and to fix our hope completely on the GRACE that is coming - as well as the grace that You extend to us even now. In Jesus' name...

Joy is forever. A Shepherd's Joy series (4)

We all have days when joy seems miles away and unobtainable, especially when we find ourselves in the shadow of insurmountable giants. 

David knew all about giants. In fact, he was still a shepherd boy when he took on Goliath. Seems fitting to include him in "A Shepherd's Joy" series. 

Since he found himself in many more terrifying situations than most of us will ever face, I'm thinking we should pay attention when he writes about joy. 

Here's what he declared his source of joy to be in the midst of great turmoil:

O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me;
Let them bring me to Your holy hill
And to Your dwelling places.
Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God my exceeding joy;

And upon the lyre I shall praise You, O God, my God.

Why are you in despair, O my soul?
And why are you disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.

- Psalm 43:3-5, click here to open NASB & MSG Paraphrase

Joy isn't man-made. 

It's found in our God. Since HE is able to do more than we can imagine or ask, there is always hope for JOY even in the most discouraging of days, because GOD IS WITH US!

Abba God, thank You for giving hope for JOY in every day, and  for David's story. Remind me when I feel anything other than joy that YOU are my exceeding joy; that drawing near to YOU is the answer in all circumstances. Give me courage to cry out something like David did:

Show me the way to You, Abba,

for You are my exceeding joy and

I will praise You!

Come on, girl! Why are you so down?

Hope in God, for He will make me smile again. He is my God!

In Jesus' name...

 

No matter the circumstances of today...

There is a blessed assurance, a loving hope, a joyful abundance. In Christ Jesus. In Him alone I place my trust. He will never leave, forsake, forget, fail. His is a perfect love, true and constant.

No matter the circumstances of today, I have Jesus. I'm learning that He is enough.
 
Dear Abba God, Thank You for Jesus: for all You’ve done for me through Him. Thank You for always being with me, for me, and lovingly caring for me. It’s crazy that I would entertain doubt for a second, and I find myself struggling to choose truth, joy, abundant life. Thank You for being patient with me as I learn to walk in faith, not by sight. Remind me that I do have a choice when faced with doubt. I ask that You raise up workers for the harvest, bring many to You through tragedies, and strengthen the Body of Christ so that she may point others to Jesus. In His name…

Sigh...

I hunch forward in desperation when I think of my lack, but then I remember that Jesus is my adequacy. 

I tire of the fight, but I remember I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 

I fear that hope might disappoint, but I remember Jesus' powerful act on the cross which showed his resolve to trust God with everything. 

I struggle to lay down fears and worries, as if I can control anything by them, but I remember God's commands. Do not fear... Do not worry... 

All day long, I have these logical talks with myself... then a mountain of frustration grows as I realize I don't know where I am, what I'm doing, or why I'm here. 

I don't know what I'm supposed to be learning - or do I? 

Abba God, my head agrees with You, but my heart is so filled with turmoil. I want to believe You, to fully trust You, and to be content with You. Oh, Lord, increase my faith and cause me to love you above all else! I want so much for You to be my everything. Cause me to stand firm in You alone & to not “mind” the other stuff of life. I want nothing to matter besides You. In Jesus' name... 

Deliberate Choices... Deliberate Ruts (part 2)

Whatever choices we make today will affect our tomorrow. I once read about a road sign in Alaska that read something like this:

Choose your ruts carefully. You'll be in them the next 150 miles.

Maybe you've heard this one:

Sow an act, reap a habit
Sow a habit, reap a character
Sow a character, reap a destiny.

Whatever our struggles, we can choose *just for this moment* to lean on Abba God's grace and strength. We don't have to have "it all together" or know what the ten steps ahead look like. In this moment, we can choose which rut to be in for the next minute, and as we repeat the act of trusting Him and Truth, we develop habits which help us stay in the right ruts.

Abba God, your grace is sufficient, your shoulders broad enough to handle my cares, and your strength is readily available to me when I ask. Give me courage and tenacity to choose You and truth, instead of defaulting to a rut which leads nowhere good. Show me the right ruts to walk in, so I can know You more deeply. In Jesus' name... 

Deliberate Choices... Deliberate Ruts...

I wish I could say that I wake up each morning, brimming over with affection for my Prince Jesus, and anticipation for what glimpses of Abba I might catch during the day. I don't. 

Daily I talk myself through a barrage of logic, based on Scripture, so that I am able to make the deliberate choice to die to the old fleshly girl who wants it her way, right away. I must choose - repeatedly throughout many days - to lay down old hurts which still haunt my mind and pierce my soul. I must choose to rip off those worries and concerns which crept back into my heart and mind when I wasn't looking. 

Two truths are in my arsenal to fight the Daily Battle of Choice to seek God (when I'd rather stay  in bed all day - or worse - treat others as badly as I feel inside). 

1. God did so much for me - none of which I deserve. 

I'm so embarrassed to say (I guess because of that "I have it all together" poker face we think we all have to carry.) that I often have to logically walk through Scriptures to convince myself of this truth. It's not a quick process and it is painful to lay aside the lies and doubts. Some days I'm not so successful, but after 20+ years of fighting this battle, the Stubborn Doubt Mode days are starting to lose out to the Truth Really is Reality days. 

2. Abba God has so much more to show me, which I cannot comprehend. 

I have to convince myself to leave the Valley of No Hope and step into the Realm of What I Cannot Yet See (aka I'm Going Home & It's Not HERE!). God didn't ONLY raise me from death into life so that I could live in a boring "heaven" - whatever your view is of heaven, it's not good enough. =). God's ways and thoughts are vastly beyond what we can imagine and His ability beyond what we can hope for. Therefore, I cannot help but think that we just don't grasp how amazing our heaven-citizenship is/will be. 

6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:6-7

He's raised me up so that He can show what??? Incomparable. Riches of His grace.

Just when will He be showing us? In the coming ages. 

Most of us find it refreshing when someone holds open the door for us when our arms are overloaded. Yet, how much greater are God's acts of kindness to us! He will continue to show His grace to us for all of eternity. He deeply desires me (even when I wake up not really feeling "in love" with Him). He wants me. He wants to love on me for... ever and ever after. 

He's an active God. He actively creates, and recreates. He brings grace and beauty to ashes. He gives life to bones. He saves from death. He went through great lengths to seek ME - AND YOU - out in the crowd. (Squeal with delight, girl. He loves and chose YOU!!!) He spent much patience and blood to draw me tenderly toward Him. His eyes are continually loving toward me. His mighty arm is ready to catch me, to support me, and to uphold me at all times. (He's so big and strong that He doesn't need to use two. ha!)

Abba God, Thank You so much for loving me in spite of the ugliness that daily rears its beastly head inside of me. Thank You for giving me choices, even I choose poorly. I can't imagine life without your words which speak truth into my innermost being. Give me courage to fight each morning against discouragement and doubt. Give me the determination to persevere so that I can stand firm even when I feel weak. I do believe, help me in my unbelief. May YOU be glorified in my weakness and be seen by others in my life. In Jesus' name. 

You were dead, you know.

Need a reason to celebrate? To smile?

If you know Jesus, take a minute - just 60 seconds - to consider this. 

You were DEAD...

Dead to God.

Dead to anything good.

Dead. 

In chains to death. 

In chains to sin. 

In chains that you never could have escaped from. Full of dis-ease and evil. There was nothing good in you, or any hope of anything good in your future. 

BUT. 

God, 

rich in mercy, 

because of His great love for YOU and ME, 

made YOU and ME 

ALIVE in JESUS!!!! 

(Ephesians 2)

Dear Abba God, THANK YOU for bringing me life, hope, and a future. Help me remember this today. Help me to dwell on, and fully ponder what this means. In Jesus' name... 

Fabulous Friday!

Reminder heading into the weekend.

“… we can study the Bible, read books, attend church and listen to worship music as much as we want, but to really experience God, you have to go and live out what you believe. There’s only so much that God can teach us unless we actually step out of our comfort zones and walk in faith, trusting in Him even when the road ahead of us is dark -- Michelle Knisley

"[Truth]'s true, whether you believe it or not." - Betsy Shatto

Refreshment from Abba's own Word:

"Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.
Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God."

"Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God."

-Psalm 43:3-6, TNIV

Abba God, Thank You for being with me this week. You are good. You are faithful. You love me. I celebrate these truths (even if I struggle to always believe them). Help me remember the life lessons You're teaching me, and to walk in faith more each day. In Jesus' name... 

Reflections on light, leading to joy

It all started with light. LIGHT!
"Let there be light."

Without light, I cannot see COLOR! 
Everything would be dark.

Without color, there is no BEAUTY!
Color defines beauty, giving it vibrancy and meaning.

Without beauty, there can be no HOPE!
Beauty gives birth to hope.

Without hope, there is no reason to search for LOVE! 
We search only when we believe there's something to find.

Without love, we cannot grasp JOY! 
Math explains science; love communicates joy.

Joy is real - a gift from the Lover of our Souls. It's a truth that extends beyond ourselves... beyond whatever season of life or circumstances we face. I haven't found this everlasting joy yet, but I know it's coming. God is faithful, and Jesus repeatedly spoke of a joy He gives followers. I hope you'll keep seeking God with me, believing for brighter days ahead - no matter the circumstances. Love is worth searching for... there is a hope... beauty is all around us... the very basics of color and light are so vital to our existence! Simple gifts leading to an unquenchable joy.

Abba God, thank You for light, color, beauty, hope, love and joy. Thank You for the capacity to behold such amazing aspects of your creation - not only of the physical world, but of your character. As I learn to focus more on YOU (instead of earthly cares) and the simple blessings You've placed all around me, I ask that You open my eyes to see this love and joy You so freely offer me. Give me courage to believe You really do want me to enjoy life - an intimate joy-filled life of abandonment in You. Life abundant, as Jesus promised. In His name...

The One Step (part 2)

To finish thoughts on yesterday's post...

There are days when I just don't know how to abide in Jesus. I'm swimming in my circumstances, my feelings, my (fill in the blank). I'm a sinking Peter in that storm with waves so high I can't see my Savior's hand. Hard wind spray salty water in my face, my eyes sting and I can barely cry "Save me!" for all the water I'm drinking.  

Fixing my hope on Jesus is not always such an easy thing to do. 

Want to know the last time I felt lost, unable to find my way back to abiding? Sunday. Yep. Just this week. 

I knew that peace was so close, that drawing near to my Abba would bring him close, and that I only had to fix my eyes on Jesus... but how to do that??? 

Even in the struggle of finding my way back to my Prince, I knew that 

  practicing 

    the act of 

      turning my gaze, 

        fixing my hope on Jesus

          is the only way to improve. 

Whining, complaining, fearing, (etc) won't get me to the place of abiding. 

All I have to do is turn my eyes to draw near to Abba will. If I can't seem to move my eyes, I can ask Him to help me. He is faithful! I don't even have to do a triple twist ending in a somersault! Abba calls us to take the first step of giving our attention to Him. 

Abba, thank you for teaching me this simple step. Sometimes I get so wrapped up in my feelings or a problem I'm trying to solve. I'm so glad that you're quick to tap me when I step off the path you have for me, and that all it takes for me to get back on track is to just look at you. I ask that you administer your amazing mercy and grace to those who are afraid to hope anymore. Encourage and strengthen them in Christ, that they would be able to hope and fully trust in you alone. Help us all to turn our eyes on Jesus. I am looking forward to seeing Jesus face to face. Until then, help us all to practice each day. There really is no condemnation! I love you so much. In Jesus' name.. 

The One Step

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called children of God; and such we are. For this reason the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.  

And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

If you've ever used a Brita pitcher, you know the filter needs replaced every 3 months. When you replace the filter, there are certain steps to follow:

1. Clean pitcher. 

2. Soak new filter 15 minutes.

3. Insert new filter in pitcher and fill. 

4. Enjoy. 

Wanna know what struck me when I read this verse?

As a child of God, being purified is simpler than using a Brita filter. Really. 

STEP ONE: FOCUS ON JESUS.  

See? 

Oh, sweet Abba God! Is it really this simple? Your love for me is crazy and I'm SO glad. In Jesus’ name…

Scripture from 1 John 3:1-3, NASB

1 John prayers (3:1-3)

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, 

that we would be called children of God; 

and such we are.

Abba, I’d really like to be so excited about your love that I’d wake up as eagerly as a child on Christmas morning.

For this reason the world does not know us, 

because it did not know Him. 

Thank you for reminding me that it’s ok that I feel unwelcome in this world. It’s good I feel that way, because I am a citizen of another place. The world’s residents are incapable of understanding. Give me compassion to the lost around me and opportunities to testify to your love for them.

Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. 

We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, 

because we will see Him just as He is. 

How blessed I am! Abba, how amazing is your love for me! To have your promises – to see Jesus face to face AND to see Him fully AND to be like Him. Your kindness is beyond what I can imagine.

And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him 

purifies himself, just as He is pure.

Oh, Abba God, thank you that all I have to do to be purified (as your child) is to simply fix my hope on Jesus - that HE MAKES ME PURE. Thank you for continually teaching me that my righteousness, all that is good within me, eternal life – it’s all by faith and hope in Jesus. I’m so thankful that I can’t earn your love – and I don’t have to try, because you delight in me. That knowledge makes me want to please you more! Truly, perfect love does cast our fear. THANK YOU. HALLELUJAH! I’m forever yours, in Jesus’ name…

Scripture from 1 John 3:1-3, NASB

Remember...

“[Abram] went on his journeys from the Negev as far as Bethel, to the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Ai, to the place of the altar which he had made there formerly; and there Abram called on the name of the LORD.”-- Genesis13:3-4

I don’t think it’s extremely clear in Scripture why Abram went back to this place. However, I was reminded of an important action which we all can take, modeled by Hebrews throughout Scripture.

REMEMBER.

We all have moments that we must remember altar moments, when Abba God did something beyond comprehension in our lives:

§  a promise

§  peace spoken in the midst of a storm

§  a call to sacrifice

§  a release from a sin you struggled with

§  a miracle that saved you from disaster

We must remember – not to base our faith on experiences – but because we humans are quick to forget:

§  His love

§  His character

§  His ability and strength

§  His plan

§  Truth

Abba God, thank you for reminding me this morning of “altar moments” in my life, when you’ve shown me a little more of you, and a glimpse of your delight in me. Help me to let go of despair I've been feeling, choosing instead to frolic with joy in your pasture of love, believing you do delight in me. I’ve done nothing to deserve your love; Jesus has done it all for me. Help me to walk in joy and truth, simply because Jesus loved me so much that He stopped only when “It [was] finished.” Forever, in Jesus’ name… 

Abide, Deny, Trust - part 1 - Abiding in the struggle, Before storms

Even if the struggle never is resolved, I must continue to learn what it means to:

1.    Abide in Jesus

2.    Carry my cross, denying myself, following Jesus (DENY SELF)

3.    Trust that Abba knows best, cares the most, and is continually working toward the end goal of bringing me into the full image of my Savior, Christ Jesus. (CLING, STAND FIRM)

 

Abide: What does this even mean? “To stay, to wait, to continue to exist…” (from Greek word used in John 15) How is this possible in turmoil? Here are some keys I’ve been reminded of recently. If nothing else, I’ll have them for myself next time I’m hit with a big crisis.

PREPARE before the storm, be ready at all times:

1.   Daily dress your best – in your spiritual armor, prepared for battle.

2.   Practice accepting His love. He cares more than your closest friend. “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…” This looks different for each of us. Find the best place for you to be still and know that He is God – day after day. Practice soaking up His love, accepting that you’re so beautiful in His eyes.

3.   Practice finishing the sentence. State issue + truth (what Jesus did/will do). We Take thoughts captive and align ourselves with Truth. Practice speaking truth in easier times, so that the habit continues IN the storm. Bonus: I have a friend who calls and finishes her sentence = POWERFUL encouragement to my soul!!!

4.  Diligently study to learn more about Gods love for you, His character, what He says regarding you-in-Christ. **If you’re not at a point in life where you can study hard-core, just do what you can. Focus on one verse if you have to, committing it to memory. Relationship first! Grace always!

5.   List verses to cling to. Pair up with the most common struggles you face. Store where you can easily find it (inside Bible) & cling to truth when trouble comes.

6.   Be alert, praying always, be ready, be prepared, watch and pray, etc.

7.   Don’t go alone. Find a spiritual partner, someone who’ll walk with you, pray with you, love you through thick & thin!

8.   Remember the point. We’re nothing apart from Jesus, can do nothing apart from Him. He is our everything (John 15)

“Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints …” – Ephesians 6:14-19, NASB [bolded: my emphasis. We can only stand at a warrior’s post when we’re dressed in our uniforms.]

Abba, thank you for working in our lives, for teaching us how to abide. Give us courage to trust you always. In Jesus' name...

Hope

Hope. On the mountaintop, she is amazingly easy to gaze upon. She is much more elusive in the valley, where I find myself questioning whether she ever existed. I suppose I can lay aside my shame to admit that I’m travelling that valley. The details about my circumstances don’t matter. While I don’t know what this whole string of struggles is about, I do know trust is a large factor.

Intellectually, I know that God is good. Abba is righteous. He is powerful. He is the one who creates the sunrise. Job 38:12, NASB He has every right to do what He wants with my life, because I’ve been bought with a great price. Yet, nothing in my life is excluded from His assurance that “God causes all things to work together for good” (from the Greek word meaning useful, beneficial)... for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. I know this applies to me, that He’s saved me & called me according to His purpose. I do love Abba, and I do want to live as He calls me to.  Romans 8:27-30, NASB

So, back and forth I battle. How discouraging! For He has saved me; I owe Him everything, yet my stubborn flesh wrestles my own precious Abba who gave His own Son for me! Yet hope is found in this: His Spirit prays for me in my weakness, and Abba knows what is best.

So, may He do in my life as He wants. For He alone knows what tools best mold me into the image of Jesus. He is greater and I must become less. His wisdom is beyond comprehension. I am nothing apart from Jesus, and can do nothing apart from Him.

So, even if the struggle never is resolved, I must continue to learn what it means to

•          Abide in Jesus
•          Carry my cross, denying myself, following Jesus
•          Trust that Abba knows best, cares the most, and is continually working toward the end goal of bringing me into the full image of my Savior, Christ Jesus.

Abba, thank you for saving me, for your endless kind benefits, for assurances that you are at work in my life. I really don’t like that I still wrestle with you. I want to persevere (like the great cloud of witnesses who also struggled), even though I feel weary and scared, of what you might be preparing me for. In the end, I know that I must look forward, to Jesus alone. All the answers are in Him. May you have your way in me, as I learn what it means to be made in the image of Christ Jesus. In His name…  

Are you weary?

Hello sweet sister.

I love you SOOOoooo much.

I wish I could give you an in-person hug right now.

I wish I could take away all your hurts.

But that would change who you are.

What I’m about to say will require a lot of trust on your part, but I ask that you read on and seek the truth, based on the only absolute truth we have in this world (God’s Word, which is Christ Jesus Himself).

I see such a beautiful woman of God, who’s being changed before my eyes in an amazing way.

You are being made, as a caterpillar turns into a beautiful butterfly, into the very image of Jesus Himself.

He knew pain.

He knew suffering.

He knew agony.

He knew betrayal.

He knew, really knew, loneliness.

He knew emotional anguish.

He knew the daily burdens.

He knew the daily drudgery.

He knew distractions.

Jesus also knew the answer…

In order to become the man He was meant to be, he would have to rely solely on His Abba.

In prayer.

In trust.

Through the tears

Through the frustration.

Through the loneliness.

Through sadness and loss.

Through losing friends as he made tough choices

For direction… even when it seemed there was none.

For hope… even when it seemed there was none.

For friendship… even when it seemed there was none.

“For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:3, NASB

Abba, we trust you with ALL our hurts, our fears, and our pain. We entrust ourselves to YOU ALONE. Jesus can sympathize best with us, even more than our friends can. Give us courage to trust you today. Give us YOUR strength in our weakness. We love you, even though we don’t understand your ways. Replenish our waning hope. Give us eyes that fixate on Jesus. May our circumstances be peripheral as we lo Jesus to be our everything. In His name…