Be Aware

Ah, the holidays… For some, the holidays incite a feeling of dread due to family get-togethers that aren't full of peace but instead conflict. The elephant in the room sort of experience. For some, the holidays bring sheer bliss. Decorating, holiday tunes, cooking up special treats, shopping for friends and family, family traditions - all have the ability to transform the mundane into sparkling, magical moments of delight. Others may experience an onslaught of painful memories of lost loved ones, and our once treasured season is hijacked by grief. Maybe some are just profoundly aware of the deep loneliness in their souls. Perhaps there is no family or friends to share the joy of the season with.  

There are many swirling, whirling emotions in the atmosphere. One thing we can remember in this season is that everyone we encounter has a story. We cannot afford to judge others for the brief moment we are sharing space. We need to have grace for one another. Be aware that the stressed out mom behind you in line at the grocery store is trying to manage a load of relatives that are coming from out of town and she has a house to clean, cooking to do, and her small children aren't cooperating. Be aware that the man that is taking his anger out on the photo lab worker for messing up his order might have just lost a wife and those were pictures of her that he was waiting on.

Be aware of others around you. Look into people's eyes and see them. The Holy Spirit in you wants to show you things. He wants to show you the person nearby that needs a word of encouragement. The person that needs a hug. The person that needs help. The person that needs prayers for peace.

Everywhere we go, we have the ability to release the blessings of the Kingdom. Peace. Joy. Hope. Love. Likewise, everywhere we go, we have the ability to come under some of the swirling emotions that others are releasing. Hopelessness. Anxiety. Anger. Doubt.

Have you ever been in a place where an extremely frustrated individual was being very vocal about their frustration waiting in a long checkout line at a store and you start to agree with them? You start feeling that same aggravation and irritability? Ever tried staying calm when there are anxious, frightened, or quarreling people all around you? Ever been in a terrible mood and walk into a room of happy, positive people and you instantly feel better?  

We have to be aware of the atmosphere we are creating and that we are coming under. We have Holy Spirit inside of us to help us navigate this world. He wants to help us overcome the negative atmospheres we encounter in our daily lives. He reminds us that our fight isn't against people, but spiritual powers. I think of them as hijackers. They hijack our atmosphere and bring chaos. They hijack our peace and bring anxiety. Hijack our joy and bring depression.

I don't know about you, but I'm extremely sick and tired of these hijackers. I want to remember who God is and who I am so that I can overcome them and release the Kingdom. It's possible. That's the miracle of the gospel. Jesus made it possible for us to overcome these spiritual forces. To not only live in a place of peace, hope and joy, but to spread it around.

This season, be aware. Be aware of your surroundings. Are you seeing peace? Joy? Hope? Or are you seeing the opposite? If you see the opposite, know that you have a POWERFUL God inside you that equips you with powerful words to pray against the negativity. To speak to the storm and say, "peace, be still".

“To end my letter I tell you, be strong in the Lord and in his great power. Wear the full armor of God. Wear God’s armor so that you can fight against the devil’s clever tricks. Our fight is not against people on earth. We are fighting against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness. We are fighting against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly places. That is why you need to get God’s full armor. Then on the day of evil, you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing. So stand strong with the belt of truth tied around your waist, and on your chest wear the protection of right living. On your feet wear the Good News of peace to help you stand strong. And also use the shield of faith with which you can stop all the burning arrows that come from the Evil One. Accept God’s salvation as your helmet. And take the sword of the Spirit—that sword is the teaching of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times. Pray with all kinds of prayers, and ask for everything you need. To do this you must always be ready. Never give up. Always pray for all of God’s people.” ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6:10-18‬ ‭ERV‬‬

Holy Spirit, remind us who we are in You. Remind us our struggle is not against people. Remind us to speak life, hope, and love to those around us. Help us look into the eyes of the people around us and see what You see. Help us to respond like You would respond. Fill us with fresh wonder at the Gospel message. Fresh wonder at the reason for the season. Thank You Jesus!

Our Words

A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it!

James 3:3

There is power in the words we speak. They have weight. If I told my children they were not very smart, they would probably believe it and begin to base their life around that false truth. If I told them they were beautiful, kind, adventurous, etc., they would begin standing on those things. As a mom, I have a huge ability to shape the way my kids think and the foundation on which they stand. I have words that can bring a positive outcome or a negative one.

God created with words. "Let there be..." And since we are made in His image, perhaps we should be aware of how we use our words. When we speak, it should be words that build up and create peace, hope, love and faith. Toby Mac has a song called 'Speak Life'. Maybe you've heard it?  He sings, "Hope will fall like rain when you speak life with the words you say. Raise your thoughts a little higher. Use your words to inspire. Joy will fall like rain when you speak life with the things you say. Look into the eyes of the brokenhearted; watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope, you speak love, you speak life."

A church we know and love has what is called a Night of Healing Prayer, a service devoted to praying for the physical, emotional or spiritual needs of individuals. Those prayer ministers speak life! It's a place and time where the world is blocked out for a little while and you are immersed in the presence of God. Peace, joy, and love are swirling from every angle, wrapping around you like a luxurious, warm blanket. Words of life are spoken over you, encouraging you to believe and to rely on the truth and promises of God. Hope is released in the heart that is feeling overwhelmed. Joy is released in the downcast soul. Peace subdues the fear-filled mind.

All of us need to be reminded that God is with us and speaking to us. He is over all things. He is completely aware of who we are and all that we are experiencing. Fear is not ours to hold in our hearts, for He promises something better. Instead of a spirit of fear, He gives us a spirit of power, love and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). He loves us because He is love. He's faithful and true. Through such prayerful reminders we are carried into heavenly places, where we are meant to dwell. (Ephesians 2:5-7)

I believe every time we pray, worship or just speak a word of encouragement, we are allowing The Word to give life where it's needed. We are facilitating a meeting between the thirsty, hungry soul and the Bread of Life.

In the beginning (before all time) was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. (John 1:1AMP)

Just as the living Father sent Me and I live by (through, because of) the Father, even so whoever continues to feed on Me, whoever takes Me for his food and is nourished by Me shall in his turn live through and because of Me. This is the Bread that came down from heaven. It is not like the manna which our forefathers ate, and yet died; he who takes this Bread for his food shall live forever. (John 6:57-58 AMP)

Filling our souls and spirits with The Word is imperative to our lives here on earth. So many things come at us - things that are meant to steal, kill and destroy us. But when The Word is in us, and the Spirit of the living God is leading us, we are more than victorious.  When we speak His words and speak life, we are throwing life preservers to drowning souls.  Souls that hear so much negativity and hopelessness from the world that it's like having weights around the ankles pulling them under.

As believers we are meant to reveal His glory. By lifting our voices in faith, hope and love, we are revealing Him. We are meant to speak the Word of God boldly. Confidently. Lovingly. Connecting lost souls to The Word of life and truth.  I love that "He sends His word and heals us, and rescues us from destruction." (Psalm 107:20)  And now I feel He is sending us - filled with His word - to feed His sheep. "So speak life! Speak life! Watch them come alive as soon as you speak hope, you speak love, you speak life." (Toby Mac)

"For the Word that God speaks is alive and full of power making it active, operative, energizing, and effective; it is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating to the dividing line of the breath of life soul and the immortal spirit, and of joints and marrow of the deepest parts of our nature, exposing and sifting and analyzing and judging the very thoughts and purposes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12 AMP

Take Heart and Play Your Part

So be happy, people of Zion.

Be joyful in the Lord your God.

He is good and will give you rain.

He will send the early rains and the late rains as before.

Joel 2:23

     If there is one thing we can believe in and put our hope in, it's that the Lord is good. He created us and provides all we need. From the moment of creation, He has provided the created with all it needs. Sun for the plants to grow. Grass for the animals to grow. God hasn't changed. He still provides. But one thing I think we sometimes forget is that He put us in charge of caring for the earth.

     Lately, I feel like I'm being walloped by bad news. I look at the news and see traumatic things like kidnappings, murders, hunger, war, poverty, school violence. I see lack. Dishonesty. Addiction. Pain. At times it threatens to overwhelm me because it looms over me like a towering giant. If I'm not careful, I start to slide into a well of discouragement and fear instead of the well of abundant life in the Spirit.    

     There are at least 66 children in our school that need someone to help provide food for them on the weekends. They would go home and have nothing to eat if it weren't for some pretty special people that collect, fill and donate bags of food for the students to carry home. That's just one small school. Three grades. There are countless more out there.  

    Why am I being such a debbie downer? I'm actually not trying to be. I'm trying to flip it around and be the encouraging encourager. God sends the rains. He always has. He provides His creation with all that it needs to survive and even thrive. He sent Jesus to unite us to Himself and one another. We can make a difference every day if we are willing to carry His kingdom in us.  

     Recently I watched a video clip of Steve Harvey speaking into a young woman that apparently had fallen into sexual promiscuity. Mr. Harvey looked her straight in her beautiful eyes and told her she was worth so much more. She had value. A future. He took her in his arms like a father should and spoke identity into her. Tears streamed over her cheeks as she listened - as if she was shocked that this was so. This young woman is not the only one who needs to look at herself as worth more than a one-night stand. But Steve Harvey is just one person and can't tell every single girl out there. The fields are ripe for a harvest…we need more workers.

He was saying to them, “The harvest is abundant [for there are many who need to hear the good news about salvation], but the workers [those available to proclaim the message of salvation] are few.  Luke 10:2 AMP

     Mr. Harvey stepped up on the platform God has granted him and spoke life. He spoke life into a drowning soul, pulling her up to the surface for a breath of air. Everyone has a platform of some sort. Maybe it's just encouraging a check-out clerk at the grocery store. Maybe it's helping provide food for the needy. Maybe it's speaking to young men and women, informing them that human trafficking is real and what to look out for to avoid being sucked into that world. Maybe it's fostering or adopting an orphan. Helping a widow. There are countless ways to release the Kingdom of God on this earth. You carry the Spirit of God inside you! With power you can release His peace, His love, His joy!  

    Our body, be it one under Christ the head, needs to start working together. We need all parts doing their part and working together. If you feel like you are just a thumb and have less impact or less importance, think again. God created the body perfectly. He created it with purpose and intent. It really doesn't matter if you are the thumb or the knee. The shoulder or the spine. Every part is necessary and influential.  

     There are so many needs in our communities and there are so many reasons we want to close our eyes to them. But we need to start opening our eyes! We cannot afford to shrink in fear. We cannot afford to do nothing. We have to start living as a community and working together to bring God's Kingdom to earth. Light and love and beauty could spread like wildfire if we begin to believe in His goodness and share our hope and resources with those around us.  

     He sends the rains and the rains nourish the earth. His goodness is our hope. His salvation is coming. Will we be the one that invested our talents and doubled them? Or will we be the one that buried them?  

Oh Spirit come and fill us! Come and lead us in the way we should go. Give us power to take back what the enemy has been stealing. Give us power to make a change and take a stand. Give us strategy to see where you've planted us and how we can invest in the lives of those around us. Show us who we are and what we're meant to do. You said we should follow You, so show us where and how and when.  

To Follow

You see, I'd like to share my life with you

and show you things I've seen.

Places that I'm going to

and places where I've been.

To have you there beside me and never be alone.

And all the time that you're with me, we will be at home.

Follow me where I go

what I do and who I know.

Make it part of you to be a part of me.

Follow me up and down

all the way and all around.

Take my hand and say you'll follow me.

--John Denver

Oh, that John Denver! He had a way with words. I grew up on listening to John Denver songs, which probably reveals my age, as some of you are thinking who is John Denver? His lyrics so often make me think of Jesus! And lately, my sweet Lord has been speaking to my heart about following Him.  

We so often try to forge our own path in life. But the path we need to take has already been forged by Jesus. He has shown us the way to go. He has demonstrated how to get there. He says it's by doing what the Father does. (John 5:19) Following God is so simple, yet it can feel so elusive to us at times.  

If we struggle with following Jesus and doing what He did, maybe it's because we don't know Him enough. Maybe we need to read and re-read the gospels to see His way of doing life come alive. Maybe we need to sit quiet, heart open, and ask Him what He is doing. (1 Corinthians 2:10) Maybe we need to just get out there in the community and practice what we have seen Him do. Heal the sick, cast out demons, raise the dead.

And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.   (Matthew 10:7-8 AMP)

And if that sounds scary or strange, then maybe just start with being like Him, which is kind, honest, loving, forgiving and openly honest about His hope. There are so many out there waiting to hear and see.

I see lots of moms lately who are checking out. They are medicating, walking away, or just wishing for someone else to do it all. I can understand the urge to be apathetic and have been there a time or two. Honestly, I think we know how to hide really well. Hide from people. Hide from work. Hide from responsibilities. Maybe it's because we are afraid. Maybe we're being selfish. Maybe we're tired. Maybe we don’t know any other way.

Whatever it is, it’s time to come out of hiding and engage in this life we've been given. God promises to be with us and to give us strength. Our children need to witness us making an honest attempt at following God so that they have a visual on how that looks. Sometimes actions speak louder than words. We can tell them all day long to follow God and have them memorize scriptures, but they need to see it, too.

At times, I look at my kids and think, what kind of life will they have one day with all this chaos happening in the world? But that's not a good way to look at things. I should be praying and declaring the promises of God instead. I should be filled with hope and filled with His promise of abundant life - for me and my children. I should be demonstrating a relationship with Jesus, inside and outside the church walls.  An intimate, personal relationship with Him that is teaming with His way of life and love.

Everywhere Jesus went, He introduced the Kingdom. The disciples, too, announced the kingdom of heaven is at hand. I think there is something vital for us in that statement. I think we need to announce the kingdom of heaven, not just by preaching it, but by showing people what that looks like. It looks like joy, peace, love. It looks like healing, forgiveness, honor. It looks like salvation, and it's the kind that is available to all through One unending source. We cannot ignore His mandate to follow Him. And the more we know Him, the more we want to follow Him.

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 7:21 AMP)

Friends, let’s follow the One who will lead us down the right path. Let’s follow the One who knows the way, walks beside us, and has been down the road before without faltering. Let’s decide now to stay the course, eyes on Him, ears listening for that beautiful voice of truth. Let’s show our children what it looks like to follow our Savior wholeheartedly.  

Precious Lord, help us to follow You. We want to know You, and we want to do what You do. We want to look and sound just like our Father in Heaven. Teach us and strengthen us by Your Spirit. In Jesus’ name.

Carry His Word

"He sent His word and healed them, and rescued them from their destruction." 

Psalm 107:20

It's one of my favorites. A verse that speaks volumes to my heart. The Lord had me insert my name in this verse to remind me that His truth is for me - and for all of us who receive it. 'He sent His word and healed Kerri, and rescued her from her destruction.' You should try it, too. Personalize it, because scripture is personal. God is speaking through His word to each one of us. What is He saying to you?

Sometimes we need to see our story within The Story. Then things start to make sense. He starts to reveal the mysterious plans He has for us…plans for a hope and a future. We start to understand ourselves a little more, accept ourselves a little easier.

We begin to see that if He could forgive us, maybe we should forgive, too. If He loves us, maybe we should love each other. If Jesus served instead of being served, maybe we should be serving others. If He healed all the sick, maybe we should be laying hands on the sick - believing His heart to heal is the same today as it was then. Believing Holy Spirit is in us. Jesus said in John 14:12, “I can assure you that whoever believes in me will do the same things I have done. And they will do even greater things than I have done, because I am going to the Father."

When the Good Shepherd sought me out and brought me into His pasture, I began to feed on His word. And I had a big appetite! It was as if I had been literally starving without it! Out of that came a fierce devotion to the Word of God…to know His truth. I wanted to know what He was doing...what He was saying. I wanted to know His story. I wanted to understand what I was experiencing…this overwhelming love and peace and joy.

I knew I was different because of Him. But I didn't really know Him yet. So God asked me to carry His word inside of me, like He instructed the Israelites to write it on their hearts, door frames, and gates.

Always remember these commands that I give you today. Be sure to teach them to your children. Talk about these commands when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road. Talk about them when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them on your hands and wear them on your foreheads to help you remember my teachings. Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy 6:6-9

Let the spoken word of Christ have its home within you [dwelling in your heart and mind—permeating every aspect of your being] as you teach [spiritual things] and admonish and train one another with all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Colossians 3:16 AMP 

His Word creates, teaches, corrects, heals, transforms, equips, protects, comforts and saves. It gives us life. It holds all things together. It reminds us who we are and where we came from. It reminds us of our heritage. It reminds us of our finish line up ahead. The word is a companion as we journey through this life, teaching us who we were made to be, where we were meant to go.

In the same way, my words leave my mouth, and they don’t come back without results. My words make the things happen that I want to happen. They succeed in doing what I send them to do. 

Isaiah 55:11

God wants to speak to you and nourish your entire being. Feed upon His word like a sheep feeds upon the grass of its pasture. Begin by asking the Holy Spirit to guide you. Understand that God adores you and has plans for you to be a part of His story. He sent forth His Word to heal and rescue you. Jesus was the Word made flesh. (John 1:14) God sent Jesus to heal and rescue. Jesus did His job and ascended into heaven, leaving His Spirit with us and in us. What does He want you to do with that? Just start a dialogue…He loves to talk to you!

Jesus, You are amazing! You were sent to heal and rescue your sheep, and You did everything You were sent for. We need only receive and believe. So today, renew our commitment to You. Help us delve into Your word and drink from the living water that gushes out. Ignite a fire in us to consume Your truth as if our very life depends upon it. For it does! Father, fill our hearts with joy as we see Your plans unfold and begin to see the things we were created for. Thank You for bringing such meaning and purpose to our lives! Amen!

Memories

It was dirt roads and wide open spaces.  It was riding ponies with my sister, cousins and a girl up the street - no saddles.  Up and down the empty roads…across the fields…  A glorious sense of freedom.  Our horses' powerful legs pounding steadily over the ground…mane blowing in the breeze.  The sun was on our shoulders and the air clean in our lungs.  We felt larger than life upon the backs of our trusted equine friends.  

Our senses have a way of transporting us back in time, don't they?  For me it's the smell of freshly mown fields or a sunrise spilling over a tree line that causes the morning dew to sparkle.  It's John Denver songs that have me sitting at my dad's feet all over again as he strummed his guitar and sang, "Country roads, take me home, to the place I belong…"

This morning, it was the wind.  It reminded me of the way it felt when I was riding my horse and the wind would blow in my ears.  My chin quivered and the tears rolled as I sat in quiet reflection.  It made me think of the family farm I grew up on. Think about my family and the physical distance that now separates us.  Think about simpler times.  Think about the loss of my dad.  And think about how I got to where I am.

My tears did not flow from a place of unhappiness with my now, but simply out of a nostalgia from the sweet memories of my then.  Time has moved me onward to new places, but the past is carried along within, reminding me of where I came from.  

We learn from the past.  We see what worked and what didn't.  We see what formed our beliefs or even tainted our thought patterns, which then influenced our choices.  Not all the memories of my youth are pleasant ones, as I'm sure you can probably relate.  There were some hard things, too.  There were moments of wounding and personal failure that made scars across my heart.  I carry those, too, though they don't hurt like they once did.  I lived them and I learned from them.  I learned to forgive and I healed.  Mostly, I encountered a living, loving God that helped me find the freedom and healing I didn't even know I needed.  

Painful experiences have a way of drowning out the positive ones at times.   I'm convinced that we have to begin looking at the past through the lens of forgiveness in order to move forward.  Forgiveness of self and forgiveness of others.  Our past doesn't change, but our perspective does.

Without forgiveness, we are in danger of living in a seemingly unrelenting past, and I don't believe that's where God wants us to live.  The deceiver spins his web of lies that just kind of take over our thought life.  We start thinking things like, 'that person hurt me, so I won't trust again' or 'I won't try again because last time I failed'.  We end up being led around by fear, anger or hopelessness, because we believe the lie that our past dictates our future.  

What I once thought were irretrievable possessions, irrevocable mistakes, or immovable mountains, God began to show me were restorative, forgivable, moveable.  The giants that seemed so huge were no longer giants, but brought back down to scale.  Just as David sang in Psalm 124:2, "If it had not been the Lord who was on our side…"  I'm with David!  I can attest to the saving hand of God.  I can recall moments from my past where I might have been lost for good, had He not rescued me and protected me.

God demonstrates movement through His word.  The woman that was caught in the act of adultery and brought before Jesus comes to mind.  After that whole exchange before her accusers, she was left alone with Jesus, no one left to condemn her.  Jesus told her to go, and sin no more.  The accusers left because they saw that they had no right to judge her with the knowledge of their own sin fresh on their minds, thanks to Jesus.  And when Jesus released the woman, he simply said 'go and stop sinning'.  It was movement out of the past and into the present.   Permission to drop the condemnation and shame and move forward with her life.

Ultimately, I think we need to find a way to move out of our captivating past and begin living in our present.  It starts through forgiveness.  What does that look like?  The testimony of Jesus paints the purest picture of forgiveness one could ever dream up.  He knew no sin, yet took all sin upon Himself (2 Cor 5:21).  He carried our sin straight to Calvary.  He saw the joy set before Him.

...We should remove from our lives anything that would slow us down and the sin that so often makes us fall.  We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete. He suffered death on a cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing because of the joy he could see waiting for him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne.  Think about Jesus. He patiently endured the angry insults that sinful people were shouting at him. Think about him so that you won’t get discouraged and stop trying.  Hebrews 12:1-3 ERV

Lord Jesus, You knew what needed to be done and You did it.  You are our perfect example to set our sights on.  Encounter after encounter, You showed forgiveness.  The woman caught in the act of adultery…the disciple that disowned You…the mockers that scorned You…the criminal that hung next to You...  The list would go on and on, story after story.  Forgiveness is a legacy for us to take hold of and a heritage to pass down to future generations.  Thank You for being so kind and so good and so steady.  Amen.

Releasing the Reins

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

But we will remember and trust in the name of the Lord our God.

Psalm 20:7

It sure is easy to fall into trusting in ourselves and our resources instead of trusting God.  I don’t know why, after so MANY lessons God has taught me, that I fall into doing things in my own strength.  Ugh!  And every time, I could slap myself for doing so!   Don’t I know better?!

I’m amazed that God doesn’t give up on me.  Failures and mistakes - one after another - but He keeps bringing me back home to His heart.  Though I waywardly stray from His will, He brings me back to the center of it.  He’s such a good Father!  He has such an endless supply of love and mercy.

When we follow Him, we find rest from the worry that comes from trusting in ourselves and planning our own futures.  Because never in our own planning and striving do we find true rest or peace.  We are always working to get ahead of the potential obstacles and shortcomings.  Always needing a Plan B.  Always wondering what’s coming up around the bend.  When our horse might veer off the path or come to a screeching halt without warning.

I think it’s in connecting to the Vine that we find the peace we long for.  When we connect heart-to-heart with Him, we experience His goodness, His kindness, His faithfulness.  We realize that He has our best in mind.  He has good things for us.  We can trust Him - with ourselves and our children.  When we stay connected to His heart, we discern His voice and glimpse His plans.  We hear His encouraging words that say, “Keep going, baby girl.  We are together in this.  I won’t let you down.”

It’s in those moments of sweet intimacy with Him that we find the rest we need and become centered once again on Him.  We let go of our tight grip on the reins and relax into Him.  We allow Him to take the lead and carry us onward.  His eyes don’t fail in the darkness.  Darkness is light to Him.  He knows what’s coming up ahead and is prepared for it.  His legs don’t falter against the terrain.  He is steady.  He is calm.  He is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control - all rolled into One.  There is no fear of being thrown, because His strength is surefooted and controlled.  

Yes, He is the One to trust in.  He is our Faithful and True.  He is the One Who will deliver us safely to our destination.  He will be the One that loves us unconditionally the whole way there.  It is He.  Our Lord and our God.  Praise and honor and glory belong to Him!  

Thank you, God, for being so trustworthy.  Help us to remember and put our trust in You alone.  Keep us centered and continually speak to our hearts.  Give us courage to let go of the reins and just let You have your way.  Your strength carries us further than we could ever hope to carry ourselves. And Your goodness brings us peace.  

Now and Then

Here we go!  It’s back to school time.  A flurry of shopping for school supplies and sneakers, teacher meet-and-greets, school tours and more has braced us for the fact it’s time to start a new year.  Excitement mixed with a dab of anxiety swirls together on each of my kids’ faces.  

Summer was so welcomed by all.  But just as it always does, summer came and went so quickly.  As a mom, I want to hold onto summer with two hands and wrestle to keep it here a little longer.  Although on days when my kids are less than happy with one another at home, letting go doesn’t seem so bad!   

As a youth, I couldn’t wait for the next phase. I was always reaching for the next season. From middle school to high school.  High school to college.  Then I couldn’t wait to be done with school in general so I could enter the “real”  world.  (That one was sheer ignorance!)   Later, it grew into a longing to be married.  Then to have a baby.  Then for the next phase of growth in those babies that did come.  

I suppose it’s natural.  We are maturing, transforming, evolving.  Some might say it was a lack of contentment.  If that is so, then contentment for me was evasive.  I slipped in and out of it like the tides.  But I’m increasingly aware that the contentment, the satisfaction we crave, can only be found in the Lord.  Our lives need to be grounded in Him, for in Him we find our true selves and fall into a sweet place of worship.  

There’s a tension between living in the present but living for the future.  I love my kids being at home with me but long to see what they will grow up to become.  I love their innocent childhood, yet anticipate their launch into adulthood.  Don’t get me wrong, I will always wish I could hold them a little longer.  Snuggle them a little closer.  But part of what makes motherhood so amazing is seeing them fly.  

Still, this tension between now and then.  I have been saved, but I look forward to the full salvation that comes when Christ returns.  I love this dance with God as He teaches me more about Himself (and myself), yet I can hardly wait to see Him face to face in all His glory.  I love living life with my family in the beauty of His creation, but know there’s a coming kingdom “home” that is so much better.  There is contentment yet reaching.  

We just need to make sure that what we are reaching for is the Lord.  We are reaching for His goodness.  We are reaching for His likeness.  Not striving, because Jesus has gifted us with salvation and right standing with God.  But reaching for the ‘more’ that God has promised us.  The abundant life that He holds for us.  The connection, the abiding in Him, that is offered to us.   

David cried out to the Lord from the desert He found himself in:

O God, you are my God;

   I earnestly search for you.

My soul thirsts for you;

   my whole body longs for you

in this parched and weary land

   where there is no water.

I have seen you in your sanctuary

   and gazed upon your power and glory.

Your unfailing love is better than life itself;

   how I praise you!

I will praise you as long as I live,

   lifting up my hands to you in prayer.

You satisfy me more than the richest feast.

   I will praise you with songs of joy.

I lie awake thinking of you,

   meditating on you through the night.

Psalm 63:1-6

Though David was in the wilderness, He focused His gaze on the One Who is and is to come.  He found contentment in His God.  Though David’s circumstances may not have been ideal, He was grounded in the salvation and deliverance of God Most High.  He worshipped.  He worshipped who God was for Him in the desert, and He worshipped who God would be in the future.  He looked forward to the day when God would silence the liars, those plotting to destroy him.  

Because you are my helper,

   I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings.

I cling to you;

   your strong right hand holds me securely.

But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin.

   They will go down into the depths of the earth

They will die by the sword

   and become the food of jackals.

But the king will rejoice in God.

   All who swear to tell the truth will praise him,

   while liars will be silenced.

Psalm 63:7-11

I, too, look forward to the day when God silences the liar.  When He forever destroys the enemy and the grave.  In the meantime, I will praise my God who is and is to come.  I will worship Him in the beauty of His splendor, both now and then.  Now in part, then in full.  

God, I thank You for saving me.  I thank You for the glimpse at Your majesty that inspires my worship.  I thank You for being here with me in the present.  But I also look forward to the day when you come back for me and take me to my heavenly home with our whole family.  I pray that You give me eyes to see what You’re doing now and what You will do then.  I pray that my contentment and satisfaction will always and only be found in You.  It is You I praise and long for in this dry and weary land.  It is You I will praise and be with in paradise forever.  I love You. Amen.

Created with Purpose

    

     Sunday afternoon I had the chance to sit on the ground near some flowers in
our yard. The kids joined me a while as we watched a butterfly sipping on some nectar.  The kids were fascinated by it's little "straw" it drank through. It was such a
refreshing moment, just to take in His creation, His beauty, His peace. It
really refreshed me in a way that I have missed so often. Just to sit full
of wonder at something so simple yet so divinely complex and intricate. A
butterfly on a flower. It occurred to me that they have such purpose and
they know and fulfill their purpose with such quiet dignity and grace.
Something may come at them - a gust of wind for instance - but they reset
their course and keep on flying, seemingly unscathed by the blast of air
that tries to push them off course. They seek out a patch of flowers and get back to their purpose.

     So often we step from a peaceful garden into the rushhour of "life" - busy,
polluted, and loud. We allow our joy and peace to slowly be stripped away
from our grasp, our purpose to become clouded. All sorts of voices work to
deceive and lure us into believing lies - about ourselves, about God, about
life. The voices work to distract us from worship, from community, from
purpose. The moment we make a poor choice, the voices begin highlighting our
failure, suggesting the improbability that His grace could cover us,
reminding us of our history of screw ups. Then, in shame, we run from
freedom and into prison cells. Sometimes, it's someone else's mistake that
pushes into the prison - the vehicle delivering us there is called
unforgiveness.

     Either way, prison is not the place for children of God to
dwell. It is not the intended lifestyle we were created to have. No - we
were created for freedom, for abundant life, for love and for great purpose.
Nevertheless, we end up duped into the life of bondage and numb ourselves to
the pain and grief we feel at our separation from our Father. We imagine Him
angry and "over us", our mistakes too much for Him to handle - again. But
He hasn't changed - we have. Out of pride or disbelief or blindness or
apathy, we often sit imprisoned in a web of lies and hopelessness, rather
than planting our two feet firmly on His foundation and accepting His
forgiveness and grace and promises. Do we believe the Word of God or don't
we?

     He says that "as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our
transgressions from us." (Psalm 103:12) Let's take that to heart! He also
says, "neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be
able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(Romans 8:39) When we experience "separation" or distance from God, don't
look at Him as the culprit. Look no further than a mirror. We have to be
responsible with what He's given us. 2 Tim 1:14 says, "Guard the good
deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit
who lives in us." He has given us grace, mercy, love, purpose, and an
inheritance. He has commissioned us to go out and share the Good News, make
disciples, and heal those who haven't received from Him yet. We have what
it takes and are equipped with all we need. "For this reason I remind you
to fan into flame the gift of God…" (2 Tim 1:6)

     I'm speaking to my own spirit, body and soul as I write this. It's time to
wake up! To fully engage in what God has in front of me right now. It may
not be the final position or place He has me in, but it's where I am now.
It's where I have authority and influence right now. Not tomorrow when I
get it all together. Not tomorrow when this or that lines up. Not when I
have more time. No - now. Lives are at stake all around us, souls bent on
destruction rather than salvation that need to hear from the Lord. He so
desires to partner with us in His work. His Spirit beckons us…let's respond
with a resounding YES, Lord!

"Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called 'Today', so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. We have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original conviction firmly to the very end…'Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion.'" (Hebrews 3:13-15)

Kerri Barfield
8/14/12

Wrestling Match

Every now and again I find myself in a wrestling match. It’s a tension between knowing His promises but not seeing the reality of them. I came across this verse and it brought some peace to me. 

Philippians 3:20 "But we are different, because our citizenship is in heaven. And from there we eagerly await the coming of the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ"

We are citizens of heaven. We are being made into the likeness of our holy God more and more every day.  While the transformation is not complete, we do see glimpses of Kingdom life more and more. We read His promises and see His provision in greater and greater ways. 

Yet here we are on the earth. We see people get hurt, enslaved, killed. We see our homeland assaulted by terrorism. We see our leaders argue and assault each other's heart. This is not our home. It's growing more and more hostile here. I'm not sure it's worse than times long ago, but it seems worse to me. Perhaps because I've transferred my citizenship to heaven. Perhaps because my measuring stick is Christ. My grid is Kingdom. The focus is becoming the permanent instead of the temporal. 

And when it isn't...that's when I fall into the wrestling match. I do those things which I don't want to do. I agree with unfavorable thoughts and my focus gets shifted to something of lesser worth.  I overreact to my circumstances. I get frustrated with myself and the way I respond to it all. I fall out of rhythm in my dance with God. My faith weakens. "Why so downcast oh my soul? Trust in God" is the psalm that passes through my mind. 

And so I focus in on the scriptures and I turn on the worship music. I begin to remember that I know God is good and God is present. God is sovereign. He is faithful. He is just. He is peace and He is love. And He has promised salvation to those who trust in Him. His word doesn't return void but accomplishes what it was meant to. I remember that my life is in His.  And I am comforted and my focus realigned. 

Sometimes I need my brothers and sisters to redirect my thoughts. In a place of prayer and ministry, I am refreshed and renewed. I get back on track and regain my steadiness. Encouragement from fellow believers is essential to my walk. I need them. 

If you find yourself caught in this tension, take heart. While the world may be wasting away, we who are in Christ can wholeheartedly trust the One who is Faithful and True to save, heal and deliver us from the clutches of evil. One day we will walk in unhindered freedom. One day we will walk where the streets are gold and the lion lays down with the lamb. One day we will have every tear wiped away. One day there will be perfect peace and joy and love and we will live in harmony. That is our hope. That is what helps us endure the wait. 

Lord, help us trust in and wait for Your return to bring us to our true home with You. Help us to run our race here with courage. Give us a steadfast spirit. Give us eyes to see You in everything.  We need You and love You. Amen. 

Kerri Barfield
6/17/16

Love Overtake Me

"Let love overtake me and flow through my veins."

Here's a line in a worship song I have been listening to. I'm making it a daily prayer for myself.  For Love to flood me. God is love.  So may God's Holy Spirit overtake me and flow in and through me...so I can surrender to His masterful leading. 

Once while at a church conference, we heard several speakers talk about love and community. One woman shared many personal experiences that encouraged my heart greatly.  One of the phrases she kept repeating over and over was "insert love here".  She would share about people (herself included) messing up or making mistakes and how community around them would ‘insert love’ in those moments of failure - showing grace and honor, knowing it could just as easily happen to them. 

We all screw up. Make mistakes. Stumble.  I believe community is imperative so that when our mistakes bring us discouragement and condemnation and shame, we have someone to pull us up out of the mud. Let's face it - sometimes our shame and condemnation drowns out God's voice of grace and forgiveness. We begin believing the lie that we are no longer worthy or that restoration is impossible - that this mistake was just too big.  We need friends and family to show us grace and encourage us to get back up, dust off and keep running the race. Someone to remind us who we are and Whose we are. 

Love covers a multitude of sins. And Jesus modeled this for us - His unquenchable love flowed over us to cleanse us of all iniquity. And we are commissioned to follow in His footsteps. 1 Peter 4:8 says "Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."

When we run into Love, we are changed.  Being loved brings freedom, healing to our brokenness and a renewal of hope. Hope in God's plan for us, in our salvation and restoration, in the goodness of God and His creation, and hope in relationship with God and others. 

Like slipping on a coat, we need to wear love. Wrap up in it and wrap it around others, too. It's safe, warm and thick, protecting us from the storms and the cold. It keeps our hearts soft. 

What would it look like if everyone dressed themselves in love?  And took up residence in a loving, grace-filled community?  Maybe a little like heaven...

1 Corinthians 13

 If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.  If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.  If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part,  but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.  For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 

Kerri Barfield

November 11, 2011