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"When we long for life without difficulties, remind us that oaks grow strong in contrary winds and diamonds are made under pressure."
~Peter Marshall

Wonder Right

Have you ever wondered?

Wondered what it would be like ‘if only’?

What would it be like if I had that job?

Wonder what it would be like if I had their looks?

What would it be like to have that kind of money?

What would it be like to live there?

Dreams are inviting to our minds. It’s good to have dreams and to think big. We serve a big God and with God all things are possible. Is there a dream that your mind dwells on? God knows the dreams you have. God understands your desire for wanting it all, and God wants us to have an abundant life.

It is my strong belief that if you want it all, then you have to run your own race in life. In my life, I’ve noticed that God works to brings together when HE knows it’s the right time for me to have it. When I follow God’s plan, then things turn out better, more graceful than if I had tried to put things together myself.

Wondering about the if only in life is normal, but don’t let it steal your happiness. Don’t let the wondering cause you to question what God is doing in your own life. Flip the wonder. Instead of wondering why you’re not (insert wonder), flip into thinking that maybe this is where God wants you to be. Flip the wonder into a purpose. Instead of wondering why things aren’t different, dare to wonder that things are the way they are, because he is purposefully using you in a way you don’t realize. Wonder in the right direction.

God wants to promote us and see us happy, but that also means that HE can promote you just where you are. You can grow just where your feet are planted, because God has you in the palm of His hands.

If God wants to move you into the wonder state that has been playing in your mind, HE will do it in his timing; in the mean time, be blessed where you are.

Instead of using the word wonder that follows with a question mark, use the word wonder to marvel at your life and the perfectly orchestrated steps God has designed just for you; you can do it, you just have to wonder right!

Lent

We’re in Lent! How are you holding up on your give-up or start-up lent habit? I’m doing pretty good on my give up…but then again, we are still in the early stages of lent.  Lent is such a special, valuable, and meaningful time for Christians. I want to take a moment and talk to you about lent, and what it means to me. My hope is to give you some extra insight into our lent season. Yes, I said extra insight, because I will not be talking about the traditional…he died for our sins message.

When Jesus was on earth, in his earth body, he knew the cross he had to carry. As time approached for him to carry the cross, that led to his death, he told the disciples and people that he was going to get quiet; He explains this in John 14: 27&30.

Jesus knew that he was coming into this difficult period, this enormous amount of pressure, and the first thing that we can all learn is the fact that, Jesus became quiet. When I reflect over my own life, I have had too many experiences where I get upset, I get confused, I feel frustrated, and all I seemed to do was run to someone for comfort, insight, answers, and peace. I feel that there are some problems in life that you must turn to someone for help and guidance. However, for most of our problems and concerns, we need to follow Jesus and his example; we need to find the silence. Sometimes we face a problem and all we start to do is complain, grown, and say hurtful things what we later wish to take back. Again, we need to follow Jesus and his example; we need to find the silence.

Jesus went to the top of the mountain to spend time with his father. Jesus who is so pure and good…needed to spend time with God. This tells me that if Jesus had to spent time with God, so do I!!!

Did you know that Jesus got so nervous about the cross that he sweated blood! Now, I know I have had nerves and anxious feelings, but never so bad that I sweated blood. This makes me feel so bad for Jesus, but it also makes me feel like he completely understands me when I go to him with scared feelings. He understands because he’s been there too.

We live in a broken world. Nobody is perfect. We all have problems. We all have a cross to carry. But we have to look up. Look up. Find your strength in Jesus. What did Jesus do…he picked up his cross, and he walked. That is what we need to do too. When there is a cross in our life, we pick that cross up and walk.

Jesus died for us. The least we can do is hold our head up high, know everything is alright, and most importantly, know you are loved.  You are so loved, that God gave the world his only son.  

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"Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious ambiguity."
~ Gilda Radner

Always have hope my loves. You never know what good thing is around the corner!

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"Character is simply habit long enough continued."
~Plutarch

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"Be not afraid of life. Believe that life is worth living, and your belief will help create the fact."

~ William James

Rhythmic Chat Part Tres

Do I hear God speak? Is it God, or is it me? I’m I hearing what I want to hear? Why can others hear Him so clearly, and I feel lost? I get confused. I’m unsure. I don’t know. I doubt. I over analyze. I over think.

These may not be your thoughts on hearing the Lord speak, but they sure have been mine from time to time.

I do want to hear for the Lord. I do want to feel close to Him and learn how He is getting through to me in my daily walk. For me, hearing the voice of the Lord is not an easy subject. I strongly believe that there is a rhythmic flow of how the Lord speaks to us, and that flow can be individualized. I don’t think there is a cookie cutter lesson plan to hearing the Lord speak. If there is a cookie cutter answer, I’d love for someone to send me the pattern. However, I think there are a few staples that bring confidence in knowing that we heard from the Lord.   

I encourage you to read John 10:1-18. It explains: His sheep hear my voice. This says that when the Lord speaks (so He does speak) we will recognize His voice.

Often I feel as if we think the Lord is going to speak like a big booming voice behind a curtain, as in the movie, The Wizard of Oz. For me, I wish it was that clear and easy. But, for most of us, I think the voice comes from developing a relationship with the Lord, praying, meditating, listening, having eyes of faith, and spiritually tuned ears.

I’ve been filled with doubt, wondering if I really heard God, or wondering if He was really directing me. My answer to that is trust. I don’t think it is healthy to be filled with doubt. God wants us to trust him. We are meant to put our hope, trust, and confidence in the Lord. Yes, being human I make mistakes, and I may not get the message correct. Making mistakes should not shake my confidence. For me, hearing the Lord is a process. Hopefully the more I try to hear from the Lord, the better I’ll be at it.

One thing that I really do know: The Lord is not confusion.  Let go of the figuring it all out, over analyzing, and the trying to make it happen approach.

I asked the Lord to talk to me about something, and I felt so strongly about the answer. Then I started getting something that contradicted the answer I felt the Lord gave me. Many times I went to the Lord and said, this does not match up. One answer is positive, and one is telling me to give up….it can’t be both!!!  God is not confusion. I kept on the subject, and I asked the Lord to talk to me clearly. Yes, ask the Lord to talk to you clearly. God is not going to confuse you. Which leads me to my next point…

Confirmation. If you feel the Lord has spoken to you. Ask for a confirmation. Pray for a confirmation. If you trust someone who you feel comfortable enough to ask them to pray with you on the subject, see if they receive anything that can confirm your message.

Peace, wisdom, and the bible are great tools for hearing the Lord. The Lord loves to talk to me through other people, songs, and sometimes nature. It’s all good. It’s all individualized. The bible mentions how the Lord used a donkey to speak to one of his people (numbers 22:21-35). He used a donkey! Now that is what I call…thinking outside the box!

Chat with God. Talk to Him about everything. Don’t approach the Lord like he’s Santa Clause and you have a wish list of things you want answered. Be sincere with your talks with the Lord. I found that when something is really heavy on my heart, that is when I somehow get an answer instantly that calms me; others times I have to wait for an answer. There are times when I feel like I’m not hearing anything…in those times I feel like He must really be working behind the scenes.

As it says in Ephesians 3:17

May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love…

Don’t feel as though God is far away. He is not. He is right here. Right here, abided in your heart. Church chat is not just for Sunday mornings. You can chat with the Lord anytime, any day, and anywhere.

Hope this was helpful, insightful, and hopefully not to chatty (but somehow that would be appropriate for this post).