Soul Restoration

 “He refreshes my soul…” ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭3a‬ ‭

The word restoration is an attractive word but comes with a process. If you’ve ever had any kind of home renovation, you know the first step is the removal of the old pieces and parts and any necessary repairs before the new materials can be installed. Similarly, there are inferior things in our souls that need to be removed because they aren’t aligned with God’s Kingdom. 

Living on earth unfortunately means an assault on the soul. We experience loss, wounds, betrayal and effects of sin. When I first started walking with God, I had old mindsets that needed correcting, brokenness needing healing, and sin and shame that had to be eradicated. Thankfully, God tells each of us, “Those whom I [dearly and tenderly] love, I rebuke and discipline [showing them their faults and instructing them]; so be enthusiastic and repent [change your inner self—your old way of thinking, your sinful behavior—seek God’s will]” (Rev.‬ ‭3‬:‭19‬ ‭AMP‬).‬  God shows us what needs to be stripped away - what isn’t meant to be there. Though we can feel raw in the process, God gives us courage and grace to keep following Him on this path to restoration.  We can hold onto the promise that, “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace [who imparts His blessing and favor], who called you to His own eternal glory in Christ, will Himself complete, confirm, strengthen, and establish you [making you what you ought to be]” (1 Pet.‬ ‭5‬:‭10‬ ‭AMP).‬‬ 

God reveals His perfect plans and His perfect love for His children over and over in His Word. The woman caught in adultery was brought before Jesus with condemnation and a death sentence, yet Jesus freed her from condemnation and offered an invitation to leave her life of sin (John 8:10-11).  Encountering His love - a love that is so compelling, so real, and so safe - has a way of bringing humility to our wayward hearts so that God can begin the repairs of our soul. God sent Jesus and launched His plan to restore our identity as sons and daughters, connected to His heart and ways. 

It’s almost as if our soul sometimes has to catch up with the Good News. The Gospel is the invitation into the restoration process that acknowledges that “you were once far away from God. You were his enemies, separated from him by your evil thoughts and actions. Yet now he has reconciled you to himself through the death of Christ in his physical body. As a result, he has brought you into his own presence, and you are holy and blameless as you stand before him without a single fault. But you must continue to believe this truth and stand firmly in it. Don’t drift away from the assurance you received when you heard the Good News…” (‭‭Col. ‭1‬:‭21‬-‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬).  Jesus did all the work and made a way for us to walk in fellowship with the Trinity, but we have to accept the gift and apply it to our lives. He wants to hand us treasure but we have to let go of the junk we hold onto. 

God never designed us to live apart from Him, riddled with guilt and shame. The Good Shepherd shepherds us through the entire process of restoration. Our part is to allow God to love us and teach us His ways, believing and remembering the Good News of the Gospel and the victory Christ secured for us. It is finished and He is seated in heaven, awaiting the appointed time for full restoration of all things (Acts 3:21). That day is coming friends so let’s take God at His word. Follow Him through the restoration process and take heart - He’s with us all the way.

Thirsty for Living Water

 ”That person will be like a bush in the wastelands; they will not see prosperity when it comes.“ (‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭17‬:‭6‬a)

I grew up watching my mother plant a garden every year for our family. Tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers and beans, bordered by colorful snapdragons and zinnias produced a bountiful harvest. Gardens don’t flourish without tending. For starters, new plantings need to be watered until they have a well-established root system.  

I’m not the best at growing a big garden, but I do love having pots brimming with flowers, herbs and greenery on my porches. My pots have little holes to drain excess water to prevent root rot, so the soil dries out quite quickly in the warmer months. This means the plants quickly wither without consistent watering. 

Spiritually speaking, we need the living water Christ offers in order to flourish. When we try to live in our little self-made pots apart from Him, we dry out pretty quickly. We can become like the bush in the wasteland in Jeremiah 17:6. Have you ever been in a spiritual drought where you felt dry and barren? I think most of us probably have at one time or another. Sometimes we stay too long in the wasteland because we are afraid to admit we are dry and ask for help. 

We hear Christ say in John 7:37b-39a, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them. By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive.” This is profound. Not only can we receive this living water through our faith in Jesus, but we can become channels He flows through to reach others. This means that when we see others withering in the wasteland, we can move toward them and offer them the Living Water from Christ. 

Even believers need to be refreshed with Living Water and hope after periods of grief, suffering or loss…to be carried into God’s healing, refreshing presence. We all need hope. The world needs hope. Christ is the source of hope, and He gave believers the Holy Spirit, who’s described as a Counselor, Comforter, Helper, Teacher and Guide. He reminds us of the truth that will keep us rooted in both the truth of Christ and in the power of the Gospel. With the combination of truth and power, we can then bear witness to others that are waiting to hear this marvelously Good News.

We will never have what we need apart from Christ. There’s one thing we all have in common (that also keeps us humble) - we all need The Lord. And the most beautiful thing I think I’ve ever learned is that this life-giving, almighty, gracious, loving God invites all of us because He wants to do life with us - forever. 

Let’s be people filled to the brim with Living Water. John 4:14 says, “those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” Drink deep…then turn and offer a drink to those standing near you who are parched from living too long in desert places. Then we shall all surely thrive!

It’s Personal

 I remember it like it was yesterday. I was sitting in a stadium full of people attending a women’s conference. I was in a season where I had lost my father way too soon, was home each day raising my babies, and felt a gnawing sense of insignificance growing in my soul. 

I sat expecting a lineup of dynamic speakers. What I didn’t expect was that the first worship set to kick off the conference would cause me to sink into my seat sobbing. The first song was the most unexpected song I’ve ever heard at a Christian conference.  It was a John Denver song - one of my favorite songs that my dad used to play on his guitar with me sitting at his feet as a child. 

In my little corner of the stadium I cried my eyes out while women around me passed me tissues from the bottom of their purses and asked wide-eyed if I was “ok.” How do you communicate to those around you in a moment like that how personally (and quickly I might add) God began ministering to my heart. In a moment, He addressed the grief I carried from the loss of my earthly dad, and addressed the lie of insignificance harbored in my soul by showing me He saw me and had in fact seen all my days. The healing that took place in my heart was nothing short of miraculous that day, and it gave me an abiding sense of purpose, value and communion with God. I'll never forget it.

In reading Paul’s letters to Timothy, I get the sense Timothy was needing this kind of ministry to stay at his post in Ephesus. Equally apparent is the evidence Paul really saw Timothy - his strengths and weaknesses, his gifts, his fears and troubles. Paul addressed Timothy as a son (1 Timothy 1:2) and expressed deep care, a desire to protect, train up, prepare and set him up for success. 

Paul spoke plainly of the hardships to come and the need to stand firmly on the Truth, regardless of the environment. He reminded Timothy of the sound teaching and spiritual inheritance he received from his mother and grandmother, and then reminded him of prophetic words spoken over him by others. All of this had helped develop Timothy into the man of God he was. Remembering gave him strength to stand strong.

We all go through difficult seasons that make us long for God’s personal affirmation and attention. Psalm 139:1 says, “You have searched me, Lord, and you know me.” We all desire to know He sees us. It is sheer grace from the Father that assigns us our value and significance (Ephesians 2:8-10), and unfathomable mercy that He will comfort us (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). When He does, it is like adding legs to our faith, releasing us to run as ambassadors of the King. 

I hope you have had similar experiences that have propelled you forward in your walk with God. If you can’t recall a specific time He spoke to the deepest parts of your heart, ask Him to. He is a God who gets personal. He is a God who loves you and longs for you to know it. Think of people in your life that have spoken life into you in moments of weariness, like Paul did for Timothy. Thank God for them. Once you do, go forth and be that life-giving presence for someone else. May God receive all the glory!

Kerri

May 10, 2023

Equipped to Bear Fruit

“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭20‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I left the hospital asking, “Are you really letting us take this baby home from here?!” It sounds ridiculous and the nurse at my side just laughed, but it was a window into my soul at the time. The moment we strapped our baby boy in his new car seat, a fresh wave of fear swept over me. All of a sudden, I felt completely unprepared and unequipped to take my fragile infant out of that hospital, having no ‘real world’ experience on how to care for him. 

It doesn’t sound pretty, but that’s often the way it goes when I’m given a new assignment. Sure, it might be exciting, but it’s often accompanied by an element of trepidation. What if I mess up? What if I’m not equipped for the job?

In Exodus, God gave Moses detailed instructions on how to build the tabernacle, including what materials to use, dimensions, and who to enlist to perform the work. I wonder how Moses felt receiving all of those specific instructions, knowing that mishandling any part of it could result in disaster. But God knew it was a tall order and was completely prepared to meet the needs of Moses and the Israelites in order for them to be successful. God knew the process required divine inspiration. 

The equipping that takes place in this story is what stands out. God equipped Moses to lead the people; Bezalel and Oholiab to build and create; and others to give possessions as offerings. The whole community was able to contribute and play a role in this beautiful creation of the tabernacle. No one person was overwhelmed because the whole congregation was contributing. 

Just as God put His Spirit in the artisans to craft the tabernacle, so the Son gave us the Holy Spirit so we can bear fruit. By His Spirit, we have everything we need to carry out our assignments. He knew the Holy Spirit was the comfort, power, wisdom, courage and truth we needed to stand firm in our identity and calling as His daughters.

Whether it’s raising a family, missions, or leading a Bible study, we can trust that He is going to equip us. Each assignment can feel overwhelming because it’s usually bigger than we can accomplish on our own. I’m pretty sure He designed it that way so we’d remain humbly dependent on Him and collaborate with the community He’s placed us in. We were never meant to do it on our own. My assignment to nurture my children was achievable because God was with me, equipping me each step, and because He set me in community with other moms to find encouragement and help when needed. 

In my experience, even if I’m a little intimidated by the assignment, there are a few things I can always look to for a boost in my faith and confidence: the scriptures, testimonies of other believers, and my personal history with God. When you feel the weight of an assignment, seek out a trusted believer that can help redirect your focus to scriptural truth and remind you of all the ways God has moved before. Remember He always provides, His Spirit never fails, and He’s always with you. That, my friends, is good news! 

The Favor of a King

“For He says, “In the time of My favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬ 

Anytime I’ve been asked to speak to a group of people, it felt like a blessing and a curse to this introvert. It usually comes with a feeling of not being qualified and thinking another should be chosen. Part of our journey with God is learning that He often asks us to do things that are bigger than we can handle on our own. When His favor rests on us - to lead or even write a devotional - it feels weighty. It costs us something, but at the same time it feels like an honor. 

Life came at Queen Esther fast and furious. Orphaned at an early age, she experienced loss and the need for rescue. Thankfully, God moved the heart of her older cousin, Mordecai, to adopt and care for her. When the King of Persia went on the hunt for a new queen, Esther found herself swept into the process and chosen to wear the queen’s crown. Favor, like her crown, rested on her head. 

Once queen, the king’s evil servant devised a plan to destroy all Jews, and Esther found herself in a position to help save her people from execution. It came with risk…her life was on the line, too. Not only was she under the same death sentence as her people, she could also be killed for going to the king without being summoned. Esther found the courage to act, and it turns out the king granted her favor. 

There are some pretty cool similarities in Esther’s story that we find in our own stories. First, Esther herself was saved and shown favor - first through adoption and then by being chosen by the king. As believers, we are chosen (John 15:16) and adopted (Romans 8:15). Secondly, Esther was invited to partner with God in saving her people. We, too, are invited into a partnership with God to usher the lost into His salvation. 

Here’s some mind-blowing good news: we have the favor of a King just like Esther did. There is a beautiful partnership between the God who saves and the people He saves. We aren’t saved and shown favor so we can live a life of self-indulgence or idleness. We are saved and ushered into great purpose and into the work of our Master. He requires something of us - our trust and obedience. The work He has for us to do is the work of reconciliation (2 Cor 5:18). We are ambassadors of Christ, working with Him to bring heaven to earth and the lost to the same salvation we ourselves have received by grace. 

His salvation is at hand. It’s now. His favor is also now. In Luke 4:18-21, Jesus reveals He was sent “to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor”. I believe that favor is upon us as we work in the Family business with Him. By accepting the mantle, we are entrusted with the favor, resources and authority of the King. It’s a partnership - one in which we need to be in close proximity and relationship with our Partner. There is no greater quest, no greater Leader, or no greater favor than that of King Jesus. Just like Esther, we can step into our role as highly favored daughters of the King. 

Search Me

 I recently heard a song that made me think of Psalm 139 -“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” To be in that sacred place of humility seeking the sanctification only He can bring…it’s a vital part of our faith. Without it we are in danger of a hardening of our heart and a self-created distance from our Father.

The truth is, we fall down and get dirty sometimes. Maybe we even get drug through the mud by others. In some cases it’s willful and in others we’re completely unaware.

“Who can understand his errors or omissions? Acquit me of hidden (unconscious, unintended) faults. Also keep back Your servant from presumptuous (deliberate, willful) sins; Let them not rule and have control over me. Then I will be blameless (complete), And I shall be acquitted of great transgression. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable and pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my [firm, immovable] rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalm 19:12-14). 

David’s inclination here and in psalm 139 was to fall before God and say ‘search me’ which landed David in a place of intimacy, worship and surrender. And I dare say soul rest.

Why is it so hard to invite God into our hearts? To admit our faults, weaknesses, distrust and layers of unholy and unhealthy things. Fear, doubt, loss…all of it threatens our sense of safety. Offense creeps in from one side. Lies sneak in from the other. Maybe it’s hard because of the many earthly examples we’ve had of poor love and leadership that has led us to build the walls around our hearts. Or maybe it’s just our humanity - us wanting to be in charge of our own destiny and unwilling to yield to the way of another. 

I think the Lord is reminding me that it’s so important to enter this space of humble dependency and muster a “search me” attitude. The good news? Every time it's going to lead us to peace and rest. To communion. His heart is totally for us. He waits for us to show up. When we do - it’s a divine moment of remembering the reason Jesus came and the amazing grace He brought with Him. It renews our faith and draws us into worship. It makes us run from our bent towards hard-heartedness and self-protection straight into His receptive arms of love. 

The Testimony of Broken Chains

Recently I did a prayer walk in my city. I felt the whole walk like He was opening my eyes to notice things. One of the things I noticed was a chain laying beside a trash bin. It led me to pray that the Lord would break the chains of bondage (the bondage of addiction/sin/captivity/depression/mental illness/poverty/etc.) in our city. I prayed for total freedom leading to awakening and gratitude. I heard these song lyrics as I prayed, “You’re waking up my soul and it’s my joy to thank You!” (Upper Room & Cody Lee). When God breaks us free and heals us, we feel such overwhelming gratitude that it leads to praising Him for that freedom. 

Anyway, I snapped a pic of the chain next to the trash can. It stirred me to think about how we need to make sure we allow the Lord access to all of us - our mind, heart and spirit - for full soul-healing and not just physical. While we can have a chain of addiction (or whatever bondage) severed we are still in need of deeper soul healing that drove us to addiction in the first place. So I began praying for that deeper ministry in lives that are breaking free from bondage. 

But I didn’t like seeing the chain lying there - I wanted no trace left behind. I wanted to pick up the chain and throw it in the trash! It seemed ugly to me.  But the chain  was purposely bolted to the concrete beside the trash bin. That image remained with me throughout the day. Then I heard a random song by Steven Curtis Chapman on the radio later that afternoon… Remember Your Chains. Some of the lyrics follow: 

There's no one more thankful to sit at the table

Than the one who best remembers hunger's pain

And no heart loves greater than the one that is able

To recall the time when all it knew was the shame

The wings of forgiveness can take us to heights never seen

But the wisest ones, they will never lose sight of where they were set free

Love set them free

So remember your chains

Remember the prison that once held you

Before the love of God broke through

Remember the place you were without grace

When you see where you are now

Remember your chains

And remember your chains are gone

So maybe that chain that I wanted to throw into the trash bin has some purpose after all. It’s like my eyes shifted from seeing a picture of bondage to seeing a picture of freedom. The chain’s broken but visible. It may look ugly, but maybe it’s a good reminder of how He leads us out of  bondage and into freedom.  Maybe it’s a good reminder to remain humbly committed and submitted to our Savior and Lord. There’s that tendency to forget or drift…though let it not be so with us.

He shed His blood - all of it - to break the chains and set His people free. The only trace left behind is evidence of freedom we now walk in. What’s left is a testimony of salvation, healing, redemption and restoration. There is no one more worthy of our worship, so start dancing upon those broken chains and let a freedom song burst forth. Worthy is the Lamb that was slain. To Him be glory and honor and praise! 

He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”          Luke 4:16-21 NIV

 

To College He Goes

 I have shed tears a little at a time as I prepared to send Benjamin off to college.  I guess you could say I grieved in stages. I was hyper-aware of how fleeting time was transpiring all throughout his senior year. 

I was overjoyed to watch him spend time with friends, laughing and just being “a kid”. I shed tears with him as he walked through his first broken heart. I witnessed his resilience through the Covid era and all that was lost.  I treasured so many moments up in my heart as I witnessed my baby boy becoming a man. 

Logically I knew this day would come. I recognized the fact that it’s what we are supposed to do as parents…prepare them and send them forth. I know it’s a special season he’s entering and that he will learn and experience so many new things that will continue to develop and shape him. I know he will meet wonderful people that will become his tribe. 

What I can’t deny is the sadness of knowing he won’t come down the steps each morning and plop down next to me in the kitchen. His jeep won’t be parked out front ready for the next adventure. I won’t hear him say “I’m going to meet the boys for lunch”. I won’t hear the play-by-plays of his day. He won’t sit on my bed and unpack his thoughts or ask me to scratch his back. 

I think for me it’s the inability to see his face as he reads a funny meme or laughs at a GIF…not watching his face as he processes something hard. It’s this space of not being able to see up close what he is seeing and experiencing like I have up to this point. 

I have a new season of waiting. Waiting to hear his voice. Waiting to hear stories of new adventures. Waiting to meet his new friends and hear how old friends integrate with the new. Waiting to hear about professors and classes. Waiting for him to decide what and when he wants to share. 

While I wait, I trust God will keep him. I know He sees his every move. I just sort of have more of a distant view through a window now and that’s hard to accept. I will accept it…but it’s the tears rolling down my cheeks that are my usher into the acceptance of the new season. 

The Helper

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26

In a couple months, I’ll be sending my firstborn off to college. Some of you may know how that feels, while others just imagine it as you change the diapers of your littles. It’s not like I’m sending him to another planet nor is it like I’m sending him to something dreadful. It’s college! Yet I know a change is in the wind for our family unit and I honestly just grieve that a little. Seeing our kids leave the nest is natural and necessary, but I know I’m going to need God’s help as I navigate this new normal.

We all need help sometimes. Even Jesus sought His Father’s help and often went to a quiet place alone to pray and seek His will. As Jesus, in anguish, sank to his knees in the Garden of Gethsemane, He prayed for Father God to take the cup from Him and for God’s will to be done. It was at that moment, the Father sent an angel to strengthen Jesus (Luke 22:43). What a good Father! What a beautiful picture of the Father’s heart providing for His child. He knew Jesus needed help in that place of anguish, so He released a helper. As we catch a glimpse into this tender moment between Father and Son, can you sense that God wants to be there for us as much as He was for Jesus?

I think one amazing quality Jesus possessed was His ability to receive from His Father, and because Jesus knew how to receive, He also learned how to give to His followers. In John 14, Jesus shares about the coming gift of the Holy Spirit. Jesus saw the sorrow and confusion in the disciples' eyes as He forewarned of His death and departure. He knew there were future generations to consider and was aware of all the enemy would dish out to them, because Jesus also experienced it. He knew we would need a Helper!

God never asks us to do anything without Him. How comforting that He sees, He knows and He provides. How wonderful to know we have full access to a loving Father. We can ask daily for a fresh filling and He loves to give it. His Spirit empowers, comforts, teaches, and reminds us what Jesus said and did for us. Remembering truth is vital as we continue on life’s journey. We need His truth in our marriages, our parenting, our workplaces, our homes - our everything. And just as we don’t withhold good gifts from our kids, He doesn’t withhold from us either (Luke 11:13).

Where do you find yourself needing some help? Maybe you are having a hard time in your marriage feeling like you can’t get on the same page. Maybe you are having a hard time being patient with your two year old. Maybe you are living in a place of isolation because you’ve been hurt, but you are longing to establish some deep friendships. All of these things can make us feel defeated before we even start to address them. Let’s get into the right posture as we move forward...on our knees and hands open expecting the Holy Spirit to come alongside us. Expecting He will help us, teach us, guide us and equip us. And knowing He’s enough for everything we will ever face. 

The Helper. The Comforter. He is more than enough for all of us. 

My Good Shepherd

 “The Lord is my Shepherd, I lack nothing.”

I lived half of my life without knowing or following the leadership of the Good Shepherd. But when I was 24, I encountered Him in a tangible way and began what is now a 24-year relationship with Him. I have encountered the valleys and the mountaintops. I have needed His robe of righteousness, healing, peace, love and the fulfillment that only comes from living attached to Him. I have seen His hand protecting me, providing for me, and His heart loving me and blessing me. He is a GOOD Shepherd. 

The more I ponder what David penned in this special psalm, the more I see a picture of salvation in it by a God who is fully engaged with us. Each verse leads you further into God’s plans and purposes. Each verse exposes His heart to save His people and to dwell with us.

We read the elements of Psalm 23 throughout the Old Testament. The Lord pursued Adam and Eve after they sinned. It was The Lord that led His people out of captivity and into the promised land. He was the cloud by day and fire by night. It was The Lord that repeatedly saved them from their numerous enemies, and taught them how to live obediently to remain in that blessed state of salvation.

In the New Testament, we see the ultimate way He revealed Himself as a Shepherd ushering His sheep to salvation. Jesus (God wrapped in flesh) is The Good Shepherd in John 10, laying down His life for His sheep. He held fast to His Father’s words, ways and plans. He conquered the enemy and rose victoriously from the grave so that we could dwell in the safety of His care. Great is His faithfulness, for He is still shepherding us! 

“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21

God is still supplying everything we need to be saved, healed and delivered. He has always been the provider and always will be. Salvation is His gift to His people because He values us. He created us for a relationship with Him. He wants us to live life in His presence, fully becoming what He designed us to be. We were made to reflect Him in this world and He takes perfect care to make sure we are successful in that endeavor. Every word in Psalm 23 reveals who He wants to be for us through all of life. David saw it from the time he was a shepherd and all through his kingship, leaning into the fullness of relationship with Him.

I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to guide you through these beautiful verses of Psalm 23. No matter what life has thrown at you, He is enough to save, heal and deliver you. To Him, you are completely worth it, so much so that He gave up His life for you. That, my friends, is love. And isn’t it what we all truly long for? To be known fully and loved fully? The Good Shepherd is the only One who can fulfill us and usher us into a place where we lack nothing. He is enough.

Oh Jesus! I need You as much today as I did 24 years ago. You saved me then but You’re still saving and transforming me. I depend on You for my joy…my peace…love… I know from experience that You are the ONLY ONE for me! Love You!

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