Where's the fire?

© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved

This morning as I was getting ready for my day, I realized I was literally "scrubbing" my face cream into my skin, in vicious circles - as I was thinking about my to-do list. I caught myself. And thought, "Would one minute of gentle massage of my favorite scented cream really throw off my whole day?" So I slowed down. Smoothing my orange vanilla goat milk cream across my forehead, my temples, under my eyes, my cheeks. And gently down my throat. Oh, what a moment of complete serenity. Instead of heart-racing, rattling thoughts about what needs to get done, I enjoyed a moment of soulfully preparing for the day. Calm. Cool. Collected. Where's the fire, indeed!

Perhaps we can all learn from this. A reminder that a moment of prayer can do the same thing. Let His words, like oil, run down your face (and into your beard! - as it did for Aaron in Psalm 133:2). Will a moment or two of prayer really throw your whole day's schedule off? Or will it gather you up in a hug of calm, cool and collectedness? Where's the fire?

The fire should be in our approach to our days. The fire should be in our health, mentally and spiritually - our very heart. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21).

Like the to-do list, sometimes our thinking about prayer seems to include everything all at once. I don't have time to thank God for everything, and prayer for everyone I know in need. And my own set of worries on top of all that.

But for a moment, thank God for a few things.
In a different moment, prayer over someone who comes to mind.
Later, let God know your personal concerns.

Pray at all times, and in all circumstances... Make your life a prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
Talk to God in moments.
Take a moment... and see how refreshed you will be.

Where's your fire?

Let the sun shine in

© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved

Started off today with some anxious thoughts. How easily they can come sometimes, right? But I stick with my usual routine and walk up to the post office at 10:00. It seemed a little gray outside but I grabbed my sunglasses anyway - in case it decides to show its face while I'm out.

Walking along, still anxious thoughts bombarding me. I recently started following some yoga on YouTube. So I told myself to just concentrate on my breathing. Then I told myself over and over, "I'm fine. Everything right now is fine. Right now, all I need to be concerned about is that I'm walking. And breathing."

And I noticed through the big window at the restaurant people eating and having coffee and chatting away. The gentleman next door was watering the flower box in front of the barber shop. Someone else walking their dog. And yes, the sun came out. Peaceful. Just simply - peaceful.

It is well... with my soul... the sweet refrain washes over me again and again. Where did that come from?

It's very easy, too easy, to stay and feed those more unsettling thoughts. I've done it too many times. But today, today I sought out something else. Something more. And it came. It came.

The sun. The Son.

Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and will bring you back from captivity. (Jeremiah 29:12-14)

If we desire, seek, expect the Son, will He come? Give it a try.

Do you hear what I'm saying?

© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved

Haven't we all played the game "Telephone" where you whisper something into a person's ear and they pass it on. The last person to receive the message - receives something completely different from what the first person said. Right?

Texting. Young and old alike use it as a form of communication. But is it really? How often I wonder what a person really means half the time. I can't tell if they're kidding or not. Really upset or not. Even the addition of an emoji can be sarcastic and I wouldn't be really sure. We read it and decipher what we can from it.

How often do we read our bible the same way? Someone recently shared with me (through a book they wrote) about studying the passage where Peter walks on water. (Matthew 14:28-31) Many of us are familiar with it. Peter starts walking toward Jesus on the water. Gets scared. Sinking! Jesus grabs him and says, "O you of little faith!"

If you're like me, those last words are what I remember most. Yep. That's me. Failing again because I have little faith.

But what happened before that? Jesus grabs hold of him. Many translations say He IMMEDIATELY grabbed hold of him. The first thing Jesus does is rescue. Rescue!

I was in a bible study once discussing this very passage and the conversation turned to how to soften the "blow" of Jesus' words. Because, think for just a moment - your little one takes a spill off the tricycle. Don't you first run over and scoop them up, hug them, brush the dirt off their knees. And then say, " Silly goose! You need to be more careful next time. I will remind you again to not go so fast." 

Now, can you picture Jesus scooping Peter up, tousling his hair, kissing his forehead and saying, "O you goosey head! What happened? I'm here and I care. Let's be more attentive next time. I will help you."

Can Jesus be as gentle, as understanding, as a parent?

I love the commercial on TV where the dad puts a band-aid on his daughter's knee and then takes the magic wand she's been playing with and taps it to her knee. Can Jesus be as sweet as that - with us?

Let's remember the gracious and compassionate character of Jesus when we read His words. Instead of assuming He's tired of us and all our failings - let's remember He keeps no record of wrongs ( 1 Corinthians 13:5) and delights in us - every step of the way. You are precious in His sight. Yes, Jesus loves you!

Like little children

© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved

I'm reading a murder mystery novel. A mother wakes up screaming from a bad nightmare and scares her two-year-old daughter half to death. And there just seems to be no way of calming the child. She is in "head down, snuggled into your neck and thumb sucking" mode. Not even the distraction of a favorite breakfast brings her around. But then the mom promises a visit to the carnival that's in town. And the child's face lights up! All the trauma of the night forgotten. Leaning into the day now. The promise of joy has been released into her life. And she grabs onto it.

Oh, that I could so quickly let loose of the traumas that come my way. Troubles. Challenges. Deep concerns over others. If only there was Someone Who could bring joy into my day... despite the circumstances.  Hmmm... If only Someone would tell me some good news, good words, good promises. If only I would listen and believe (grab onto it) ...

But Jesus said, "Let the children come to Me. Don't stop them! For the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to those who are like these children." (Matthew 9:14 NLT)

"Learn this well: Unless you dramatically change your way of thinking and become teachable, and learn about heaven's kingdom realm with the wide-eyed wonder of a child, you will never be able to enter in. (Matthew 18:3 TPT)

Jesus said over and over again - the kingdom is near. Jesus Himeself. Near. As near as your next breath. As near as you want it to be. The joy of Jesus. Enter into it. His love. His hope. His security. His promises. All - near. Think about THESE things. Receive with wide-eyed wonder and belief. Be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Receive the joy of Jesus today. Do not dwell in the darkness. Dear child...

Dressed for work

My mom ironed every week. I can still clearly picture her behind the ironing board, wearing her ever-present apron, gliding the iron back and forth - back and forth - as she hummed and waltzed to Ray Price on the record player. Occasionally sprinkling with water from a modified Coke bottle.

I didn't appreciate the chores she so diligently performed at the time. But she often comes to mind when I throw on a less than perfect shirt and shorts. How much different it must have looked and felt to wear things smooth and pressed. Obviously fresh and clean. Stains gone. Wrinkles vanish. Looking brand new. Same ol' clothes, but somehow - wonderfully, good as new.

Most of us don't iron.

But I think God does. I can see God busy on a regular basis smoothing out wrinkles - at our jobs, in relationships, in our hearts. And I have to wonder if He hums and waltzes too. Taking pleasure in every little improvement He makes. Working steadily. Enjoying the process. Knowing the outcome. Sprinkling. Smoothing. Even pressing. For the desired outcome. Passing over a section more than once where needed.

Trust God in the process.
Trust He isn't angry at your "wrinkles".
Trust He is passionate about the work before Him (you).
Trust that He smiles as He sees wrinkles in your life smooth away.

And you become...
Fresh and clean.
Stains gone.
Wrinkles vanished.
Looking brand new.
Same ol' "you" but somehow - wonderfully, made brand new. In Christ.

Sprinkle me with the cleansing blood, and I shall be clean again. Wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7 TLB)

And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. (Galatians 3:27 NLT)

Now, if anyone is enfolded into Christ, he has become an entirely new creation. All that is related to the old order has vanished. Behold, everything is fresh and new. (2 Corinthians 5:17 TPT)

It is God Himself Who has made us what we are and given us new lives from Christ Jesus; and long ages ago He planned that we should spend these lives in helping others. (Ephesians 2:10 TLB)

You have been clothed in Christ.
And dressed for work.

Who do you say that I am?

© 2018 Julie Crane All rights reserved

Now many of you are familiar with the passage where Jesus asks His disciples:

"Who do the crowds say that I am?" So they answered and said, "John the Baptist, but some say Elijah, and others say that one of the old prophets has risen again." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Peter answered and said, "The Christ of God." - Luke 9:18-20

And it got me to wondering, "Who do people say that I am?" How do people describe me?

© 2018 Julie Crane All rights reserved

They may say, "She's love her VW Bug!"
And, "She loves her cats!" and "Walking in the woods!"
True. True. True. Every one.

But am I living a richer, deeper, more meaningful, impactful - witness?
What kind of testimony, or taste in someone's mouth, am I leaving when they spend time with me? And is it a same, consistent testimony based on my heart of Spirit-filled faith or a heart of human emotional reaction...

What about me - on a daily basis?
What about you?

A woman of God? A man after God's own heart?
Warm. Helpful. Giving.

Or are the first thoughts from people describe me as -
Busy. Critical. In pursuit of accolades. Or lazy. Or...

If anyone speaks, let it be as one who speaks God's words; if anyone serves, let it be from the strength God provides, so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To Him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen. - 1 Peter 4:11

Who do people say that I am?
And how about you?
Live out today, every word, every deed - with the glory of God in mind.
And impact your world in the Spirit.

I am free!

© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved

Sounds great, doesn't it? Free! Until you have to: "Gluten-free" and "Dairy-free". And then be on the road for two weeks. Then, free for me, became such an annoying obstacle. Gone are the days of simply running in and grabbing a burger and fries somewhere. Every restaurant in the area had to have its menu googled so I can figure out in advance what's available that I can get. More often than not, breakfast was a fruit cup, lunch was a salad - hold the cheese and croutons and creamy dressings. Dinner was anything I could get plain and unseasoned. These are the things I HAVE TO DO in order to avoid feeling physically, painfully miserable for 3-4 days.

I'll bet you were thinking I was going to write about stress-free or anxiety-free. Well, I am.

Overthinking. Obsessing. Negative imaginings - all make you sick as well. Physically. Emotionally, Mentally. Draining. 

I wish there was some Way, some One...

I am choosing not to make myself sick by eating ice cream -  over the temporary comfort of having a bowl. Can we apply that to our emotional, mental health as well? Can we actually fight the urge to worry and be anxious? And choose that which is better for us.

It has taken some determined intent and practice. I am getting better and better at choosing what my body can handle when it comes to eating. Being painfully sick for days will do that. I just have to keep reminding myself that what I think I want - will make me miserable.

But I don't have to stay sad about what I'm "missing". While it's more noticeable when on the road, most days I am very capable of finding something to eat. And I am thankful. How often do we look at what seems to be missing from our lives and forget all the wonderfulness still around?

It makes me wonder. Can thoughts about the peace of Christ and all His amazing attributes be better for my body than the slice of worry and a bowl of anxiety?

Let the peace of Christ (the inner calm of one who walks daily with Him) be the controlling factor in your hearts (deciding and settling questions that arise). To this peace indeed you were called as members in one body (of believers). And be thankful (to God always). - Colossians 3:15 AMP

Who's ready to practice? Who's ready to be free?