Between the Blogs

Personal Epiphany:  Life and weather have this in common: The sun always comes out after the rain.

Between the Blogs

Personal Challenge:  Today I’m challenging myself to let go and let God.

Between the Blogs

Quick Quote: To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. ~C.S. Lewis

Between the Blogs

Question to Ponder: Are you jeopardizing your future by stubbornly clinging to a pain of the past?

Between the Blogs

From the Word: “God’s way is perfect. All the LORD’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection” 2 Samuel 22:31 (NLT).

Replacing the Snarls (Finding the Joy)

Along the way I’ve observed that those in pain, including myself, often have trouble properly expressing those feelings. It’s often easier to lash out in anger than to express the emotions locked inside. In the absence of words, a snarl or a growl seems to be sufficient to express the turmoil inside.

In the past, I was paralyzed by the possibility of rejection, so I attempted to build an impenetrable shield around my heart—armor-plating it for safety. I locked myself in. But the loneliness was too much for my fragile spirit to bear, so I wielded my anger, my hurt, and my frustration like a double-edged sword. I lashed out at those around me, desperately trying to eliminate the pain and loneliness that haunted my every step.

I spent so much time protecting myself from perceived attacks that I had no more time or room in my heart for joy. I saw every word as a parry, every inflection as a thrust. I was constantly on the attack, erroneously assuming the world was doing the same, thus creating my own warped version of reality filled and overflowing with constant war and pain.

Thankfully, I discovered a better way—God’s way. He effortlessly eradicated the monstrous barriers I spent years carefully building. He melted my resolve and offered me His perfect peace. Once I finally opened my heart, He brought love, joy, and acceptance into my life; my snarls and growls were replaced by laughter and healing.

So join me as I continue to focus on God, allowing Him to keep my heart safe from the ravages of the world—the pain that continually knocks at the door and the anger that prowls in the night. Join me as I determine to let the light of God’s love be the only protection I need from the darkness of this sinful world.

Final Thought: God’s way is always better—always.

Between the Blogs

Personal Epiphany: God is enough to fully satisfy all of my heart’s deepest desires.  

Between the Blogs

Personal Challenge: Letting go of my temporal dreams can be difficult, but I know if I turn my life fully and completely over to God that my life will be more fulfilling—more abundant. So, with that in mind, I am challenging myself to turn every day, every week, every month, every year—my whole life—over to God, accepting His will and embracing His perfect plan.

Between the Blogs

Quick Quote: “If I discover within myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world”
~C.S. Lewis

Between the Blogs

Question to Ponder: When's the last time you spent time listening to God?

Between the Blogs

Bible Blessings: “My thoughts are unlike your thoughts,” declares the Lord. “And we have completely different approaches to getting things done. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts are higher than your thoughts.” ~Isaiah 55:8-9 (Randy Reed Paraphrased Version)

I Am Enough (Keeping My Eye on the Prize)

Along the way I’ve tried to force God to reveal His plans for me. In my eagerness, I’ve asked Him to show me His will; I’ve implored Him to reveal His plans; I’ve begged and pleaded with Him to guide me to my life’s mission; I’ve entreated Him to give me a peek at the final picture of my life.

In a renewed effort to find my God-appointed place in life, I recently challenged myself to begin carving out alone time with God—making God-time a priority in my life. And, as is always the case with God, He didn’t waste time or mince words; the very first hour I spent in quite communion with Him, His Holy Spirit whispered this simple truth to my weary, searching soul: “I am enough.”

He whispered, “I long to be your Bridegroom, your Lover, your All-In-All; so why are you seeking more? I am everything you are looking for. I am the fulfillment of your spoken and unspoken desires. I am that connection you desperately pursue. I am the community you long for. I am the fulfillment of your heart’s deepest yearnings. I am enough.”

This powerful truth soothed my restless soul, giving me relief from the constant searching, seeking, imploring, begging, pleading, and worrying. The truth was so simple—all that was required of me was to fully focus on my relationship with God, giving Him permission to complete the work He had already begun in me. This realization released me from my time-consuming, life-sucking worry, giving me the freedom to fully focus on God.

So join me as I fix my eyes on the prize—a deep, fulfilling relationship with God. Join me as I embrace the simple truth that growing this essential relationship is the only way to fully experience the joyful journey God has planned for me.

Final Thought: When I fully focus on God, everything else in my life falls into place.

Between the Blogs

Personal Epiphany: The secret to focusing less on me is focusing more on God.

Between the Blogs

Personal Challenge: All good things come from God; He is the One Who daily gives me strength. In 1 Corinthians 1:31 Paul tells us to boast only in Christ, so I’m challenging myself to live this verse by ever keeping my focus, my praise, and all my boasting exactly where they belong: Pointing directly to the Source of my Strength, my Rock, and my Savior—Jesus.

Between the Blogs

Question to Ponder: What has pride cost you in your life?

Giving It to God (Conquering My Pride)

Along the way I’ve discovered that I am often completely crippled by unchecked pride in my life. This pride envelops my life, conjuring up countless fears: Fear I’ll mess up, fear I’ll look stupid, fear I’ll fail, fear I’ll do it wrong—fear I’ll be wrong.

Pride is insidious, often hiding in a seemingly beguine cloak of fear, but the root of my fear (if I’m completely honest with myself) is that my delicate pride will be mortally wounded. This ugly, stubborn pride of mine often keeps me from saying that I’m sorry or admitting that I’m wrong and, at times, it completely cripples my attempts to succeed in life. Pride also stops me from doing simple acts of service or from allowing others to provide service to me; prideful thoughts like, “Why should I stoop down,” or “I can do it myself,” often run through my mind.

In my life, pride and fear walk hand-in-hand, building an insurmountable barrier I’m unable to overcome on my own. Pride is my jail keeper, wrapping me in heavy chains that hold me back. Yes, pride seems to be an insurmountable obstacle.

So how do I conquer my ugly, stubborn pride? How do I move past it and, like Jesus, become a servant to man? The answer is simple: Turn it over to God.

It is only by recognizing God’s sovereign power, by standing humbly before the throne of the almighty God, by admitting my weakness, by recognizing my tiny, insignificant place in the universe, and by acknowledging that it is only through the love, grace, and power of God that I can succeed. It is only in the light of this truth that I can recognize my place in the universe and acknowledge that it’s God’s power, not my own, that daily gives me strength.

So join me as I bow humbly before the throne of God and ask for His wisdom and strength in my constant battle with pride.

Final Thought: God is my constant source of strength, giving me the courage to face the truth and fight the seemingly-endless battles in my life.

Between the Blogs

Personal Epiphany: There’s a lot of talk in the news today about stress and how it’s detrimental to our heath; the good news is that as Christians we have an automatic stress reducer called prayer—it’s quick, it’s easy, and it’s available 24/7. Here’s how it works: Simply take a few minutes to turn your worries, cares, anxieties, stresses, and troubles over to God and let Him carry them for you. But here’s the catch (you knew there had to be one): You must have faith that God is willing and able to take care of your every need and you must trust that He knows infinitely better than you how to provide for these needs.

Between the Blogs

Personal Challenge: The only way I can release my burdens of worry and anxiety is to turn them over to God. So I’m challenging myself to begin each day by turning my doubts and fears over to God, asking Him to release me from the constant flurry of cares and concerns that derail me from His perfect path.

Between the Blogs

Question to Ponder: Why are you still carrying your heavy burdens of pain, doubt, worry, and anxiety?

Between the Blogs

Bible Blessings: “Don’t worry, the Lord will protect you. Relax. Be patient. Have faith. Nothing’s too big for God to handle!” ~Exodus 14:14 (Randy Reed Paraphrased Version)

Releasing and Reclaiming My Burdens (Finally Breaking the Cycle)

Along the way I’ve come to realize that releasing the concerns, worries, and anxieties about my future is a constant battle.

I’ve learned that when I finally hand my troubles over to God, I instantly I feel light and free. I rejoice in my new found freedom; I dance and laugh, savoring the sheer joy of living burden-free.

Then, in the next moment, my eager fingers desperately grasp for those same concerns, worries, and anxieties. In the midst of my rejoicing I unwittingly reach out to retrieve my troubles; only one or two at first, then a few more, then a few more then, before I know it, I’ve completely ceased my dancing and become fully engrossed with the burdensome task of tallying my troubles. Like a conscientious accountant I diligently add them all up to be sure I have reclaimed each and every one of them. I carefully gather them like treasures, hording them, packing them back into my heavy, overstuffed bag.

Then when my burdens once again become too much and I can no longer carry them, I cry out: God, why is this so hard? Why is my life so burdensome? In that dark moment of  desperation when all seems lost, when I realize I can no longer shoulder my troubles alone, I once again release my anxieties, giving them to God—instant FREEDOM! The celebration, the dancing, the joy….Then, in the next moment, my greedy little fingers reach out to reclaim that backpack of pain….

This cycle rages on with me continually asking myself: Why is this so difficult? Why is it so hard to let go? Why do I stubbornly determined to do this on my own?  Why?

So join me as I break this vicious cycle, fighting the fierce battle of dependence—dependence on my burdens. Join me as I take time each morning to turn my concerns, worries, and anxieties over to God, daily placing my life in His hands. Join me as I celebrate my freedom!

Final Thought: Releasing my heavy burden of pain, guilt, doubt, worry, and anxiety is a battle that I can win by daily placing my life in the strong, loving hands of God.