Get in the car!

 It was raining. Hard! It drummed against the roof of my car. I couldn’t hear anything outside but the downpour of rain. I couldn’t see anything through the windows. It had totally blurred the view. Wind a-blowing like nobody’s business. No way was I going to step out into all that drama. I’m staying here where it is safe. Until the storm passes.

And that is what it should be like for us as believers. 

Are you sitting in a storm? Torrential pounding rain? High pressing winds? Can’t see?

Then stay surrounded by the presence of Jesus. Let Him enfold you in protection until the storm passes. His protection will be your peace. His rod (that beats back the enemy) and His staff (that pulls you back from danger) will comfort you.

Did your test results come back not as expected? Does your doctor want you to see a specialist? Is that appointment seven weeks out? The storm of fear is pounding. You can see the blinding rain and hear the powerful winds that’s out there. And you can step out into it. Be drenched by it. Overcome by it. Or you can stay in the safety… in the ever present, not leaving you arms of Jesus. You will still see the storm but I encourage you to close your eyes and sense His promised presence and remember His God-given authority over the wind and the rain. And your circumstances. Everything in heaven and earth is under His reign. He will order your storm to pass…

 Be merciful to me, O God; be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, until the destroying storms pass by. - Psalm 57:1 NRSVUE

Nailed it!

Creator God, so often we are stymied by our own doubts that we hinder Your gift of creativity in ourselves. And yet the ways of creativity are endless.

If there is anything I have learned about creating art, it is that there are literally millions of ways to do it. And that has really opened me up to trying to pursue it. It doesn’t have to be one certain way - it doesn’t all have to look like a photograph or real life. There is a beauty and fun and joy found in various expressions. You can use pencil or paint or chalk on the sidewalk.

Creativity can be found in all kinds of places. Think of all the genres of music and forms of dance. Arranging flowers in a garden or a vase. Writing a note - or a whole book. Even from the way you place food on a plate, or decorate a cake, all the needle arts, and sandcastles… vacation photo collage. 

Why do you think God added creative juices to our souls? And don’t say you aren’t creative. Just look at the list above!

As we read in the first chapter of Genesis, God created and it was good. Over and over again… it was good. It felt good. Could it be that creating something is rewarded by a feeling of Joy and Satisfaction?

I know, I know… you’re going to tell me you have attempted creativity and it mostly comes out imperfect and not shareable. Believe me, I know. You have to desire and pursue that special joy that comes from going through the process of good, better, best. I can’t stop drawing because the first attempts look pre-schoolish. But in the tweaking I find, it does get better. And oh, you should see the smile on my face when it all comes together! 

So I encourage you to get up and try. To open your eyes to things that call for creativity and imagination. Maybe, like my cookie pictured above, it will bring a smile and laughter in spite of its imperfection. God’s amazing grace! But maybe, just maybe, it will turn out to be a blessing and a joy after all.

 God has given each of us the ability to do certain things well. - Romans 12:6

 The women skilled in sewing and spinning prepared blue, purple, and scarlet thread and cloth, and fine-twined linen, and brought them in. Some other women gladly used their special skill to spin the goats’ hair into cloth. The leaders brought onyx stones to be used for the ephod and the chestpiece; and spices, and oil—for the light, and for compounding the anointing oil and the sweet incense. So the people of Israel—every man and woman who wanted to assist in the work given to them by the Lord’s command to Moses—brought their freewill offerings to him. - Exodus 35:25-29 TLB

 Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” - Luke 6:38

Looking for some joy and light in your life? God Himself and shown us and has paved the way…

Are you purr-aying?

 I love when one of my cats comes to lay alongside me on the couch - and looks up at me to be petted. And the minute I start stroking their fur - they purr.

This purr is a sign of relaxed happiness and contentment. But did you know a cat’s purr can mean and be used for different things?

Purring can be a way for cats to connect with their owners and with each other, fostering a sense of security and belonging.

Are you purr-aying to foster a sense of security and belonging with Jesus?

Purring can also be used as a self-soothing mechanism, helping cats to cope with stressful or painful situations.

Do you purr-ay to help cope with stressful or painful situations?

Some scientists believe the low-frequency vibrations of a purr can have a therapeutic effect, potentially aiding in healing and reducing pain.

Do your purr-yers have a therapeutic effect?

Our prayers can be used for a multitude of things. Certainly for thanks and for requests. But does the actual act of praying bring about a peace; a soothing - “it’s going to be okay” space? 

Prayer can indeed bring about a state of contentment; prayer can be soothing; prayer can reduce pain. I encourage you to spend some time there, in prayer, with God - yes, take the time, make the time, and see what the Lord will do for you.

  Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. - Ephesians 6:18

I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. - Romans 15:13 NLT

A different gift

  This is my life work: helping people understand and respond to this Message. It came as a sheer gift to me, a real surprise, God handling all the details. When it came to presenting the Message to people who had no background in God’s way, I was the least qualified of any of the available Christians. God saw to it that I was equipped, but you can be sure that it had nothing to do with my natural abilities. And so here I am, preaching and writing about things that are way over my head, the inexhaustible riches and generosity of Christ. My task is to bring out in the open and make plain what God, who created all this in the first place, has been doing in secret and behind the scenes all along. Through followers of Jesus like yourselves gathered in churches, this extraordinary plan of God is becoming known and talked about even among the angels!

- Ephesians 3:7-10 MSG

Some gifts are meant to last a long time, while others last only a short season. Some gifts are like springtime flowers that pop up again after a time of rest. 

As long as you are alive, you are in some way gifted to serve and to bless the rest of the body of Christ.

We often talk of people having different gifts. But do you think you can be gifted differently depending on the season of life? We all certainly know that what we were able to do in our 20s and we are no longer able to do in our 50s and 60s.

Many churches offer a study to discover your spiritual gift(s). And it is certainly a good thing to realize what God has given you to support the Body. We all have been given something to offer to another.

Do you think your God-giftedness can change over time?

Do you think you can ever go God-giftedless?

Do you think your age or physical limitations - keep you from being useful to God?

Yet we have heard numerous times that God equips. Could it be that there are:

Gifts in season.

Gifts in due time.

New gifts.

Chapter in life gifts.

Replacement gifts.

Perhaps we shouldn’t define our usefulness by only one gift and then quit. Perhaps there are new gifts of love and service knocking on your door. Things you never felt equipped (of gifted) to do before this chapter of life.

God is not done with you yet. So I encourage you to open your eyes and ears to what God may be calling you to next. And don’t dismiss it because you’ve never been able to do it before. It is a new day with God.

Our greatest calling is to love - even in small ways. Surely you can extend some love in small ways. 

 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.

- Ephesians 3:7 NIV

Responding to troubling times

 

FIGHT. When you are part angry, part fearful; when your dander is really up and you raise your fist in frustration. That’s when God wants to step in and be your Defender.

FLIGHT. When you want to just run away from all the drama and trauma you see; feeling so incapable of any kind of correct response. That’s when God wants to be your Protector.

FROZEN. When you are so overwhelmed by all that’s coming at you right now and you don’t know how to move forward or go back; unable to make any decision at all. That’s when God wants to be your Comforter.

FAWN. And when you just do anything to keep the peace at any expense; doing whatever others want or expect just to keep things calm. That’s when God wants you to know He is still in charge of it all. He can handle all the loose ends. 

Wherever you find yourself, unable to help or fix - God is there. The God Who helps, saves, comforts and defends us as gracious Lord. Abounding in mercy and steadfast love. It is He. Right here. Right now. In your midst. Orchestrating a good outcome. He is. He will. There is no god like our God.

 Who among the gods is like you, Lord? Who is like you—majestic in holiness, awesome in glory, working wonders? - Exodus 15:11

 In your unfailing love you will lead the people you have redeemed. In your strength you will guide them to your holy dwelling. - Exodus 15:13

Hallelujah! He is here!

 

‘This is he who made the heavens and the earth, and formed humanity in the beginning, who is announced by the law and prophets, who was enfleshed in a virgin, who was hanged on the tree, who was buried in the earth, who was raised from the dead, and went up to the heights of heaven, who is sitting on the right hand of the Father, who has authority to judge and save all things, through whom the Father made the things which exist, from the beginning to all the ages. 

This one is ‘the Alpha and Omega,’ this one is ‘the beginning and the end,’ – the beginning which cannot be explained and the end which cannot be grasped. This one is the Christ. This one is the King. This one is Jesus. This one is the Leader. This one is the Lord. This one is he who has risen from the dead. This one is he who sits at the right hand of the Father. He bears the Father and is borne by the Father. ‘To him be the glory and the power to the ends of the ages. Amen.’ *

* Bishop Melito of Sardis,   Homilia in Passionem Christi,  160–170 CE,   The Cambridge History of Christianity, Volume 1 Origins to Constantine , edited by Margaret M Mitchell and Frances M Young, (Cambridge University Press 2006)

… plus God equals…

Change is possible. Growth is possible. Developing into something greater… all possible. With Christ, all things are possible (Philippians 4:13) and can have great value. Even common, ignoble things (2 Timothy 2:20).

The first drawing is one of my earliest ones. I used pencil and paper back then. I loved the bright colors and of course the message. Jesus is my everything. 

But see how I have grown when you look at the more recent piece. How more developed the artwork is… 

Both bring joy and celebration and thankfulness in the Savior Jesus.

But God used the earliest underdeveloped attempt. He loved it. He used it. He touched people’s hearts with it. He didn’t wait for perfection. He rejoiced in the message. He was glad I did it. It turned people’s eyes to Jesus. He did that through my feeble attempt at artwork. 

So I tell you, don’t wait for perfection, in word or a skill, before you dare to share the love of God. God uses the most unremarkable to advance His kingdom. God will bless - because God always adds to it… people will see more into it than you do - because of God’s involvement; enhancement. Remember that God uses the weak to display His power. (1 Corinthians 1:27)

… for it is God Who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose. - Philippians 2:13

And don’t be intimidated by those who are older than you; simply be the example they need to see by being faithful and true in all that you do. - 1 Timothy 4:12

So I ask you, where are you afraid to step out in faith - withholding a blessing from God; keeping a display of God’s power held back? Choose this day to leap! And tell me if God showed up.