take My hand through Lent

Coffee. Bible. Study workbook I'm currently working through. Regular devotional magazine. Two Lenten devotionals. Emails promising free Lenten insights. Numerous postings on social media of what to do and not do during the Lenten season. New and improved podcasts on the same.

My readings. My prayings. My thinkings. My plannings.

I'm exhausted on the first day of Lent.

But I truly, TRULY WANT TO DO THIS RIGHT!

Read!
Pray!
Meditate!
Lament!
Sacrifice!
CHANGE!

And what does Jesus say about all this?
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest of your souls. (Matthew 11:28-29)

In other words, "Breathe. I will lead you. I will be Your next step. And I will be Your next step after that. Be WITH Me. Not your version of being LIKE Me right now. Be WITH Me. I've been through the desert. I know the way through. I AM the Way through. I am the Way.

From the Message translation: Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.

Simply join your life with Mine. Learn My ways and you'll discover that I'm gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in Me. (TPT)

"Tis the season... to just be with Him and your thoughts. The Holy Spirit Himself will guide you through these days. And this guidance will be perfectly fitted to you. Personally. 

Here is a prayer of calming I have stuck in my bible by Psalm 23. I'm sorry, but I didn't write down the author:

The Lord is my peace. I shall not live in anxiety. He puts me under His wing of comfort and calms my spirit within me. He takes all my anxieties on Himself and helps me to focus on Him. Yes, though I walk through a time of grave uncertainties and fierce anxieties, I will not fret - for You are my peace. Your Word and Your presence calm me now. You hold my uncertainties in the palm of Your hand. You soothe my anxious mind - You smooth my wrinkled brow. Surely serenity and trust in You shall fill me all the days of my life. And I shall keep my mind stayed on You forever.

Trust in the Lord.
He will personally lead you through these 40 days.
Amen.

I will rise up

© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved

Are there days when you feel like you just can't get it right? Whether it's dieting or parenting or just trying to be a good person... my heart starts off in the right place but I can't always seem to get it to play out in my actions on a regular basis. Sometimes it feels like real work. And sometimes, I feel like just quitting. Giving up. Saying, "This is who I am." Flawed. And failing every day at something I think is important.

But I rise up.

Every morning. I confess to God that I have not loved with my whole heart. That, in fact, I have not surrendered my whole self. For an example,  I have struggled with the battle of eating for comfort or boredom. I win some days and lose others. But it's a daily battle. Surrendering to God to be "Lord of all" feels near impossible. It, too, is a daily battle. I'm afraid of my weaknesses. I forget about His power and strength offered and available to me. I'm afraid of trying to surrender and failing yet again. But something in my heart and head says, "Just keep trying." A hundred attempts says more about me and my belief in God than giving up ever would. I really need to put more focus on the God-presence in everything instead of the "me" in everything. Watch, wait, be aware of the living God all around; calling us every time to a deeper, richer understanding of His character. What He has purposed no one can stop or hinder (Isaiah 46:9-11) And what He has purposed is great - beyond our understanding.

Start believing God can do things. Amazing things. Impossible things. Ask for impossible God-sized things, knowing surely the Lord will do it if it means advancement of His kingdom. (Having people know Him and love Him - isn't that what He wants?)

I will rise up.
Because it's important. Because my heart won't let it go. I can't shake it. Despite my shortcomings of moodiness, sharp-tongue, and laziness, I still want to try to be more like Jesus. I still want to stick my neck out there and try to experience Him, try to proclaim Him, and have others sense Him. 

So even though I fall short, I will rise up. Again.
To be that ambassador for Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:20)
To live a testimony of His love, forgiveness and grace.
Yes. I will rise up. Yet again.

For best results

© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved

Whether it's baking or dry skin, we all know things turn out best if we read the directions, and follow them step by step.

It's winter and my skin is so dry! My usual routine of lotion is just not working. I need to do something more. So I chose a different lotion. And the directions read: apply twice daily to clean skin. See improvement in three days. Awesome! I'm in!

After my morning shower, I rubbed the lotion in (in to my clean skin, as directed). But by the time evening comes, I am tired. And apparently too tired, to wash and dry and smooth on lotion again. So guess what? I haven't experienced the promised improvement in three days like it said.

Is your spiritual self feeling dry?
Are you stuck in your usual routine?
Do you need to try something different?
Do you need to read and follow the directions?
Do you really desire improvement?

There are many ways to improve your spiritual health:
try a new daily devotional
join a bible study group
share a cup of coffee and a chat with a Christian friend
follow a read-the-bible-in-a-year guide (yes. It's okay to start on February 9, 2020 and read until  February 2021)
weekly church services
Christian radio stations

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates... (Deuteronomy 11:18-20)

Are you looking for ways for things to be better? God has spelled it out for us. God has provided many opportunities for us. It's as true now as it was 2,000 years. 

For best results, read and follow the directions.

Please don't feed the...

© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved

I just got back from my six-month checkup with the oncologist. It seems like such a long time ago that I had cancer (four years). I had the surgery, the chemo, and the radiation. And for me - that was the end of it. I was done with having cancer. But still, I had to start taking this pill every day for five years. And meet with an oncologist every six months - for five years. Seriously. I'm done with cancer. I'm feeling just fine. I've moved on.

So I had a talk with her today. Because I've forgotten the WHY. Why all this extended treatment - when I'm fine. I had to be reminded that research studies show that cancer returns, quite often, within those first five years. I needed to be reminded that the cancer feeds on estrogen, and that the pill I have to take does not supply estrogen to any cancer that may be lingering or develop. Don't stick around here, cancer cells. Nothing to feed on here! Five years. Research studies show.

It made me wonder - what else am I feeding that I shouldn't be? 

Could it be negative thoughts about myself? Beating myself up when I am truly a beloved child of the living God. And I am doing some good in the world around me. I am.

Am I feeding worries and frets? Do I set out a whole plate full of "what-ifs" for my worries to feast upon? When the good Lord constantly has His eye and His hand on me...

What books am I feeding my brain, my spirit? What kind of music? TV programs. People. 

Who am I living for?
What am I feeding?

"Then the righteous will answer Him, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? (Matthew 25:37)

I don't want the risk of cancer. So I'm taking the pill. Restaurant closed, cancer!
And I don't want the risk of living without the blessings of Jesus.

Just as the living Father sent Me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on Me will live because of Me. (John 6:57)

I want to be more mindful of what I am building up. And what needs to starve to death - for my spiritual well-being.

Food for thought!

And put a BOW on it!

© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved

The greatest lover of your soul is God. We know that, right? And because He first loved us (1 John 4:19), we have a clue as to how to love.

So when I read the verse from 1 Peter 5:7:
Cast all your cares (worries, anxieties, burdens) on Him, because He cares for you. -

well, that just doesn't sound like a very loving thing to do. Don't we think love should be pretty and comfortable and make the other happy? Isn't love supposed to look like - a gift? Dumping all my problems onto someone's listening ear can be a relief... but is it love? Shouldn't my prayers be filled with thanks and praise?

What I've come to discover is that when we cast our burdens upon the Lord, we are giving Him the biggest gift of all. 

I TRUST YOU LORD.
The gift of Trust.

Don't give any weight to your worries. Don't listen to their lies. Turn your eyes upon Jesus.

Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, "Don't be afraid; just believe." (Mark 5:36)

I BELIEVE YOU CARE ABOUT ME LORD.

Remind yourself over and over that nothing is impossible for God (Matthew 19:26). Remember the cares, worries, burdens, anxieties He has helped you through before.

Then Jesus said to the centurion, "Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would. (Matthew 8:13)

I BELIEVE YOU ARE ALL THAT YOU SAY YOU ARE LORD.

Remember the rescues Jesus has done for you personally. 

They said to the woman, "We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world." (John 4:42)

GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS, LORD UNTO ME.

Got burdens? Troubles? Worries? Do you know what it means to God to have you run to Him? To trust Him?

... the Lord delights in those who fear Him, who put their hope in His unfailing love. (Psalm 147:11)

So please do not fear oppressing the Lord with all your burdens and concerns. Casting them onto His shoulders is exactly what He desires of us. God's not counting up your doubts and failings. Love keeps no record of wrongs (1 Corinthians 13:5). But He is counting on you to turn to Him, trust Him, and count on Him. You may feel like you're not getting many other things right in life, but this, THIS... trusting in Jesus - brings great glory and honor to His name. 

Zephaniah 3:17:

The Lord your God is in your midst - a warrior bringing victory. He will create calm with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing. (CEB)

The Lord your God is with you. The mighty One will save you. The Lord will be happy with you. You will rest in His love. He will sing and be joyful about you. (ICB)

And why?
Because... you... trusted... Him.

Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge. (Psalm 62:8)

See there? Permission granted. Talk to the Lord. Your trust is a sign of love to Him.

Loved

Decades old. And it shows. I don't remember what it looked like new. Probably soft, cuddly and clean. It's been carried. And fought over. Tucked into bed. Looks chewed on even. Sewn up a time or two. Probably washed and washed.

And now look at it. Hair missing. Wrinkles showing. Gray that won't go away. Still in need of some patching up. Eyes not as clear and as sharp. Been through thick and thin it seems. But loved. Loved to death. That much is apparent. One precious companion for sure. Carried everywhere. Every place. Rescued from dangers. Lost - and found numerous times. Someone went to great lengths to keep it. And not tossed away for something newer. There was something about journeying together for so long. Love runs deep.

Are you feeling decades old? Do you feel like you've been through the wringer? Outside not as smooth? Scars from a few sewings? Gray that won't go away? A little stiff? 

Know this, my friends:

"I have always loved you," says the Lord. (Malachi 1:2)

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love..." (Jeremiah 3:3)

Since you are precious and honored in My sight, and because I love you... (Isaiah 43:4)

Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He Who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. (Isaiah 46:4)

... as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride, so will your God rejoice over you. (Isaiah 62:5)

I know God is holding you
in the palm of His hand,
and no matter how old you are today,
He'll always know you as His child. (author unknown)

You belong forever to God.
Wrapped in His forever love.
Forever carried. 
Forever washed. 
Forever found. 
Forever.