Shake Off the Dust

And so the word of the Lord [regarding salvation] was being spread through the entire region. But the Jews incited the devout, prominent women and the leading men of the city, and instigated persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and drove them forcibly out of their district. But they shook its dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. And the disciples were continually filled [throughout their hearts and souls] with joy and with the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:49-52 AMP

The disciples had plenty of reason to complain and feel under the weight of negative mojo or uncomfortable circumstances. I love the visual of shaking the dust off! My take on this is we can’t carry the weight of other’s decisions or beliefs on our shoulders. We can deliver His message/His word but ultimately it is not our job to persuade or enforce it. We deliver the Good News. We offer the Bread but can’t force someone to eat. We can only live in such a way that others SEE the fruit of a life with Jesus. That others might see that He is good and that He is worth pursuing. That He’s real and near and relational and satisfying.

Maybe some of us need to prophetically shake off some dust from other’s unbelief, disapproval, negativity or criticism. Maybe. Maybe shake off the offenses that we can’t help but come in contact with. Shake it off! Don’t get bogged down in other people’s opinions too much. Honor others, but don’t take on their junk. 

When there are many words, transgression and offense are unavoidable, But he who controls his lips and keeps thoughtful silence is wise.  Proverbs 10:19 

Our job is to listen to the Lord and do what He says. Period. If we are abiding in Him, then we know we are where He wants us, and the overflow from that abiding is saying the things He would have us say and doing the things He would have us do. John 15 discusses our need of being attached to the Vine - and especially in the amplified version, it uses the phrase “remain vitally united” to Him. We live rooted in our love for Him and His love for us.

That’s where I want to live! Sign me up! May each of us be filled and refilled daily with more and more of the Spirit and with JOY in the midst of disarray in our world. I believe it’s possible. I believe because Jesus displayed this and so did His disciples once they received the gift of the Holy Spirit and began ministry.

They came down and prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit; for He had not yet fallen on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus [as His possession]. Then Peter and John laid their hands on them [one by one], and they received the Holy Spirit.  Acts 8:15-17

Father God, we ask for YOUR vision. You have revelation You want to bring to us. Revelation of Your truth. A deeper revelation of Your love for us. Today, we want to encounter You. We want to sit and soak in all that You are willing to reveal to us. We want to sit in a place of humility that You alone are God. To be still and know You. Help us to ask questions like, ‘What do You want me to know? What do You want me to do in my current place. How can I share Your heart with others today?’ And help us to sit and listen for awhile. You require some devoted time to just be together. Not in search of answers but in search of Your heart. God we love You and want to know You intimately and grow in understanding. We want to devote our whole selves to You. Holy Spirit come and rest on us and re-fill us.  May we be able to live in this place of union and open hands to all that You have for us... 

“And the disciples were CONTINUALLY filled with JOY and with the HOLY SPIRIT!”  

Say No to Offense and YES TO JESUS

If there is one thing I think most people can agree upon, it’s that change is hard and transitions can be scary. The “new” tends to carry a little bit of unknown territory, and with that, a little bit of apprehension. While lots of people love new things, they don’t always love new seasons or major changes. I love a new pair of shoes, but I don’t always embrace a life change. It’s the fear of the unknown. We can’t always see what’s to come...

No one knows what is to become of COVID. No one knows when it will end or if it will end or if another pandemic might lurk on the horizon. No one can say with absolute certainty what will happen if we all go back to congregating at restaurants and beaches and ball games. Leaders around the globe struggle to know and decide what the best thing is for regathering their companies/teams/congregations. What a weight they have on their shoulders. While some are eager to reopen and return to the new normal, many are not. Offense rears its ugly head as people’s differing belief systems and opinions crash into each other. But in all honesty, hasn’t that always been present? Offense is continuously on the menu, and for those who choose to eat of it, trouble comes immediately. It’s a giant foothold for the enemy of our souls. He loves when we take the bait and take a bite out of it. He knows it creates distance, isolation, grief, anger, resentment and bitterness. The opposite of what the Lord offers us.

So how can we navigate all this change and uncertainty without losing ourselves and without swallowing a bite of offense? For one thing, I think we have to know the core of who we are. We are LOVED. We are sons and daughters of a good Father. We are chosen, dearly loved, and set apart. We are the Church. We are His hands and feet. We are His ambassadors and Good News bearers. We carry His Presence in us. We have the same power that raised Jesus to life within us. We are His BODY! And let’s not forget that He is the head. He is our reason and our direction and our sustenance and the model of what (or WHO) we should resemble. 

If there’s one good thing I think can come from quarantine, it’s that there is an opportunity to devote more time to our Lord with less distraction. We can be praying and seeking His face and His counsel, reading His Word to discover our part in His story, discerning His nature and His heart for us, and reminding each other of our identity. Not our role, but our identity in Christ. Are we confident in our understanding that God forgives us of all our sins and leads us in the everlasting way? Are we established in our knowledge that God has plans to prosper us and to give us hope and a future? Are we taking advantage of the opportunity to engage with the ONLY One that can meet all our needs and give us true peace? If we truly know Him and His love and forgiveness - doesn’t that help us learn and practice showing others love and grace?

Earthly things are temporary - just like this quarantine (hopefully). He desires for our focus to be shifted to what He’s doing. What He’s saying. Jesus modeled this for us. He spent time in the wilderness, too! He spent time in isolation, too. He had to navigate all sorts of change and transition and uncertainty. But He did it all in union with Father God and Holy Spirit. He revealed to us the power that comes from that union. He was the Word made flesh...He lived the Word. He made it alive and active. Visible and tangible.

I don’t have it all figured out and have it all together over here. But I do think the Lord keeps reminding me of all these things to ENCOURAGE my brothers and sisters in Christ. You are not alone - not ever. He walks with you through the valley and wilderness. He abides with you. He empowers your spirit to rise up and lead you into His Kingdom. He offers a much better choice on the menu than offense or despair. He offers HOPE and JOY and PEACE...He offers HIMSELF. He is our portion...our inheritance...our everything. 

Blessings!

Kerri 

Light in the Darkness

You will not be afraid of the terror of night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day (Psalm 91:5)

Anyone ever feel like your thoughts tend to hold you captive at night? When there’s no one and nothing to distract you from the fears that pace through the recesses of your mind? As darkness falls and I retreat to my bed to rest...those pesky thoughts that tend to lean toward fear and worry begin their race around my mind. 

Fear is a horribly unwelcome companion...at night especially. There have been times when I’ve laid awake letting certain thoughts take root and spring up into much larger problems in my mind. In the moment it’s hard to focus on anything else. 

But one night, during a season of worry, I woke up feeling like the Lord had something to say. I had finally fallen asleep and then woke up all of a sudden and grabbed my phone to start journaling what I felt like was a song. 

When night comes and the darkness settles round

Fear starts tapping at the windows of my soul.  

The wheels in my head  - they start to turn. 

Thoughts of how I failed come creeping in. 

I search my mind and heart for where you are.  

I press into you 

I press into your heart for me

I press into your love and it covers me.  

The tapping fear fades away 

And all I hear is a waterfall of peace.

Your voice on a breeze 

Speaking soft assurance

Your voice reminding me 

Of all I am and have in You. 

Reaching up to where you sit enthroned in majesty

Reaching up for the loving arms I know are waiting for me

And there I find the sweetest peace and satisfying love. There I find exquisite joy that keeps my heart full and strong. 

It was as if God waited that night for sleep to reset my brain and then woke me -in the midst of rest- to speak life. I was able to hear His quiet message. A message that gave me direction. 

Press into Me. 

When fear attacks in the dark (both physical and spiritual) and you feel most vulnerable, press into Him. He is there...despite the voice of fear telling you He’s not. He is there. It is a promise He made us from the beginning of time. 

He gave the sun and moon and stars - bright lights that shine upon us - to assure us of His presence. To assure us that even in the darkness of night, He provides for us. 

Then God said, “Let there be light-bearers (sun, moon, stars) in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night, and let them be useful for signs (tokens) [of God’s provident care], and for marking seasons, days, and years; and let them be useful as lights in the expanse of the heavens to provide light on the earth”; and it was so, [just as He commanded]. God made the two great lights—the greater light (the sun) to rule the day, and the lesser light (the moon) to rule the night; He made the [galaxies of] stars also [that is, all the amazing wonders in the heavens]. God placed them in the expanse of the heavens to provide light upon the earth,

Genesis 1:14-17 AMP

The [presence of the] Lord was going before them by day in a pillar (column) of cloud to lead them along the way, and in a pillar of fire by night to give them light, so that they could travel by day and by night. He did not withdraw the pillar of cloud by day, nor the pillar of fire by night, from going before the people.

Exodus 13:21-22 AMP

Our surviving and thriving in a difficult season does not depend on our strength or wisdom. It depends on following our Guide, whether we have a map or not. As humans we long for a map and a plan. We feel scared of the unknown. We want to see. 

When our kids were small, we placed nightlights in their rooms to comfort them at night. If they woke up, they could see they were safe in their room and find their favorite stuffed animal or pacifier. The small amount of light gave them just enough of a glimpse that they were safe in their bed. We have lamps that burn all night on our street. It’s a feeling of safety and comfort to those that live here. We can see what’s happening outside.

Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; Give light (life) to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death, And my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken. But I have trusted and relied on and been confident in Your lovingkindness and faithfulness; My heart shall rejoice and delight in Your salvation. Psalm 13:3-5

When we experience difficult things, fearsome events, or general worry that we aren’t enough (as parents, as employees, etc.) we can make a conscious decision to turn away from fear. Easy? No. But the more I reject fear and turn to Jesus, it gets easier and easier. Holy Spirit will highlight His grace and provision. And He shows me He’s trustworthy and faithful. He is a shepherd that knows the way. Truth takes root instead of the worry (which are lies I was believing). 

Even the darkness is not dark to You and conceals nothing from You, But the night shines as bright as the day; Darkness and light are alike to You.

Psalm 139:12

Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

John 8:12

I find that so incredibly reassuring! Nothing is hidden from Him! He sees it all. He knows what was, is and is to come. “Seasons” don’t catch Him unaware. And He doesn’t have terrors of the night pestering Him. The Creator isn’t afraid, nor is He selfish. He let’s us in on it. He gave us Jesus as an exact representation of Himself, our Peace in the storm, and His Holy Spirit to continue helping and teaching us. 

And His appearance changed dramatically in their presence; and His face shone [with heavenly glory, clear and bright] like the sun, and His clothing became as white as light.

Matthew 17:2

This is the message [of God’s promised revelation] which we have heard from Him and now announce to you, that God is Light [He is holy, His message is truthful, He is perfect in righteousness], and in Him there is no darkness at all [no sin, no wickedness, no imperfection]. 

1 John 1:5

We have an incredible HOPE and LIGHT for our path that is only found in the Godhead. An incredible promise in what He’s done for us and gifted us with. He is our Light-refuge to run to and to follow day and night. When we receive this revelation of who He is, we are found...immersed in His salvation. And in turn we become an ambassador to the rest of the world. He even designated us as light-bearers. We are to reveal His nature and His goodness. We are to plant His Kingdom in confidence, knowing He will cause fruit to grow.

“You are the light of [Christ to] the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good deeds and moral excellence, and [recognize and honor and] glorify your Father who is in heaven.  Matthew 5:14-16

And one day, when we have overcome, and all is set right and made new, we will no longer even need the created light in this world, but only the Creator of light. He will be more than enough for all that choose to follow Him. 

And the city has no need of the sun nor of the moon to give light to it, for the glory (splendor, radiance) of God has illumined it, and the Lamb is its lamp and light.  Revelation 21:23