Spirituality – B Is for Blessed!

Time…

Fall back, spring forward.

More than a reminder for my clock each year, these words describe the cycles of life.

Falling back hurts.

Failed relationships, financial ruin, illnesses, and disappointments are painful. Setbacks can leave us so scarred and scared that we fail to notice God’s restoration.

It is difficult to see the beauty in front of us if we constantly dwell on our pain. Moreover, a preoccupation with our wounds makes them impossible to heal. When you pick a wound, you irritate it and can cause an infection. Worst case scenario, that infection becomes systemic and deadly.

Some of the deadliest wounds don’t affect the physical body at all, but rather they kill the spirit. They kill hope and faith; they destroy all prospects for a fruitful future.

God can heal those painful situations in our lives, but we must allow Him to heal them.

Ecclesiastes teaches us that there is a time for everything:

A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
And a time to dance;

We must be willing to move in God’s timing.

Merriam-Webster defines spring as to dart or shoot, to issue with speed or force, to grow, arise, to leap or jump suddenly. As suddenly as we fall, God can deliver blessings that numb our pain and propel us beyond our wildest expectations. In an instant, God can restore our faith and give us new hope!

The apostle Paul, once notorious for persecuting Christians, sprang forward to spread the Gospel. Arguably the least worthy and least likely of the apostles, Paul made the greatest impact for Christ by writing much of the New Testament.

When we have faith enough to walk the path God prepares for us, it doesn’t matter how many times we fall.

What matters is that we get up and get moving.

Trust God to propel you forward…

Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead
Philippians 3:13 NKJV

Love…

The greatest of the commandments instruct us to love God and each other. The Bible defines love in many ways; however, love is never defined as is easy.

Love never fails. God never fails.

Love suffers long and is kind. God suffers long and is kind.

It is difficult to suffer long and be kind simultaneously. It can be trying to bear all things and always give those things required of love—generosity and sacrifice.

Love rejoices in truth. God rejoices in truth.

Love does not rejoice in iniquity. God does not rejoice in iniquity.

The truth about ourselves and the people we love is sometimes painful. Even ugly. We fall and we fail. Yet, God continues to love us, pick us up, and grant new mercies each day.

Love bears all things, such as a cross.

Love endures all things—even the crucifixion.

We can never replicate God’s love for us. Still, what if we allowed His Spirit to continually manifest even a fraction of that love in us?

Collectively, we could change the world.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV

God is love…

Dark Places…

For You formed my inward parts;
You covered me in my mother’s womb. Psalm 139:13 NKJV

Dormancy is defined as “a state of suspended animation.” In botany, it means “not actively growing but protected from the environment.” I’d been in a state of relative dormancy the past two years, tucked away and in the dark. However, I was recently surprised by new areas of growth.

My frequent pangs of grief have thankfully passed. I am no longer just going through the motions or drifting along with the flow. Seeds of purpose planted years ago may finally be taking root. I’ve been working part-time and loving it. I’m pursuing a writing career in earnest with encouraging results. I’ve taken a few classes. I’ve even picked up my camera again.

Physical or mental illness, grief, and disappointment can leave us feeling isolated and in a very dark place. Still, these same dark places and periods of dormancy can facilitate the growth necessary to eventually produce fruitful results.

The seeds I plant in my garden require isolation, a few downpours, and a fair amount of heat if they are ever to grown into the plants I desire. These same conditions in our own lives often cause discomfort, distress, and leave us searching for God. The promise of a blooming season can seem long lost as we linger in the dark.

Yet, transformation occurs in the dark. Beneath the surface roots form. What was once a seed evolves into something entirely different.

God does the same with us.

In our painfully quiet times, we can gain wisdom and clarity that would not otherwise be found. The darkest times in my life forced me to rethink and regroup—reconsider visions and dreams that faded long ago.

Dark places aren’t necessarily bad spaces. Everyone talks of Good Friday and Resurrection Sunday, but little is mentioned about that Silent Saturday where Jesus was alone and entombed in the dark. When He emerged, some of the people closest to Jesus did not recognized him.

Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” John 20:14-15 NKJV

If our Father felt it necessary to transform His Son in the dark and away from everyone else, surely each us can be transformed during our darkest days as well.

Allow your dark places to prepare you for your purpose and the harvest yet to come…

Into the Deep!

When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” Luke 5:4-5 NKJV

The very things we long for, pray for, and make resolutions toward will never happen unless we move out of shallow religious routine and into deeper fellowship with God.

Miraculous things happen in the deep. You will not find an Orca where you can easily pick up sea shells. We often wait on God for a breakthrough even as He waits patiently on us to venture into the unknown. Deep means different things for different people. Your “deep” may be a new career, hobby, or even in a break in stale religious habits that no longer yield spiritual fruit.

Scripture depicts how Peter fished for hours and came up empty. As a skilled fisherman, he should have caught something. Defeated, Peter gave up. Yet, at the prompting of Jesus, he moved away from the shore and caught a haul too large for his boat to contain. That’s the kind of miracle most of us are praying for!

Still, when the realities of life interfere with our plans, we can become scarred and bitter. Consequently, we may play it safe and refuse to trust once more. Yet, the safety of the shore is only an illusion. Shark attacks readily occur in shallow waters. Our personal sharks often lurk about: doubt, fear, and naysayers who can never envision what God would do for us!

To receive God’s best we must brave the deep with Him.

Make God a priority; ~~talk~~ complain less and listen more.
Dig deeply into the Word. Don’t merely read the Bible, study it.
Seek God not for what He can do but for His presence and direction.
Dare to attempt the impossible when God says “yes” while everyone else says “no.”

We must allow God to stir us up and out of complacency!

I want to experience the kind of wonder Peter did out in the deep with Jesus. I would rather a dynamic relationship with God into the unknown than to sit idly along the shore without Him.

What about you?

So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. Matthew 14:29 NKJV

Christmas Presence

For Ashley, a post from Christmas past…

“Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me,” Psalm 51:11 NKJV

Many people who celebrate Christmas and even some who don’t find themselves rushing around with too much to do and too little time to do it this time of year. A few are stressing over hosting duties. Others have parties they must attend. Still, more are in a frenzied search to find the perfect gift. If retailers had their way, we would all be enticed to buy more presents!

However, I challenge you to breathe a little and focus instead on God’s presence.

God is ever waiting for us to come before Him, worship, talk with Him, and listen to what He would say.

If some of us would only slow down, we could enjoy the goodness of God instead of falling into the trap of running ragged to meet the expectations of others. If only we put that much effort into pleasing God.

If you want to truly embrace the reason for the season, come into God’s presence. Slow down. Sit down. Bow down. Allow God to enter in your spirit and your space.

Christ’s birth and death provides us not only salvation but also the privilege to connect with God without the need for a mediator, high priest or intercessor. Jesus Christ left and ascended so that the Holy Spirit could be available to us. Such a perfect gift our Savior gave us, yet we often fail to “enter in” and appreciate the comfort and peace only He can provide.

The pursuit of things and our attempts to please others can often leave us with little time for God if we aren’t careful.

So, if you are in a continual state of chaos this holiday season, I implore you to run toward His presence. God can calm, refresh and restore. Allow Him to dictate your Christmas season and prompt you to be a blessing instead of constantly stressing.

Choose to end this year seeking God with a renewed passion. Allow each gleaming light to remind you of His Light. The best gifts can’t be placed under a tree. Only God can provide peace, joy, and unconditional love.

May you be overcome by God’s presence this Christmas season.

“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore,”
Psalm 16:11 NKJV

“Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord,”
Acts 3:19 NKJV

Omnipotent…

The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness,
The world and those who dwell therein.
For He has founded it upon the seas,
And established it upon the waters.
Psalm 24:1-2 NKJV

Who has ascended into heaven, or descended?
Who has gathered the wind in His fists?
Who has bound the waters in a garment?
Who has established all the ends of the earth?
What is His name, and what is His Son’s name,
If you know?
Every word of God is pure;
He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him.
Proverbs 30:4-5 NKJV

Cast your cares.
The Creator of the multiverse is more than capable of handling your problems.
Let Him.

Still Searching for a Real Love, Baby?

As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
John 15:9-12 NKJV

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come,nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:37-39 NKJV

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

May God’s love surround you and manifest through you this day.

B Blessed!

Sow Good Seed…We Are What We Speak!

We reap what we sow.

This principle is demonstrated many times throughout the Bible. Yet, one of the simplest ways for us to sow good seed for our lives is something many of us struggle with.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. James 3:8 NIV

We “God folks” tend to worry far more about the things we do and not contemplate as much the things we say. I wonder if we gave more thought to what we say, would we then “do better?”

This doesn’t require fancy words or eloquent speeches. A few kind words at the proper time can mean the world to someone on the brink of a meltdown.

“You can do it,” may be the encouragement someone needs to apply for that job or enroll in classes.

“I’m thinking of you,” can ease the pain of grief or loneliness.

Our words are impactful, powerful.

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore, choose life, that both you and your descendants may live; Deuteronomy 30:19 NKJV

Very few of us would intentionally choose death, yet sometimes that is exactly what we do. To curse others is to curse ourselves. The vile with which we speak will eventually find its way back to us.

I’ve heard it said “our words should be sweet so should we be forced to eat them, they will go down smoothly.”

Choose to sow kind words.

Our voice may be the most powerful weapon we have.

The Bible prompts us to “declare” the works of the Lord. We are urged to “sing” God’s praises.” Jesus instructed His disciples to “proclaim” the message. These three words are mentioned nearly 800 times in the Bible.

The use of our voices isn’t for God’s benefit, but our own.

Words are seeds that activate our faith. Our professions and confessions can bind and liberate.

God spoke the world into existence!

Be bold.

Be deliberate!

Give thought to your words.

Exercise restraint.

Don’t allow words said in jest, haste or anger to curse your future.

Our words set the stage for our lives, our prayers facilitate the changes we seek.

What say you, today?

Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Proverbs 16:24 NIV

…and the Ivy

In the Christmas carol The Holly and The Ivy the characteristics of the holly reference our Savior Jesus Christ. The ivy is barely mentioned at all!

I’ve given this a bit of thought and wonder if there is a lesson here. For the most part, the carol refers to the holly. Only the smallest snippet is given to the ivy.

I’ve read all about the pagan rituals and the symbolism of holly and ivy and the contest between men and women. But I’ve got another take on this carol and its inclusion of the ivy. Maybe, this song lends itself to offer a deeper message.

What if we are the ivy?

Ivy requires support if it is to climb higher. It is often found clinging to walls or trees. It can’t reach any height on its own. Ivy has three “points” to its leaf. Father, Son and Holy Spirit?

Ivy is hardy. It’s tough to kill and its roots dig deep. We must be “hardy” to survive the perils of this life and still thrive. We have to have roots that can “dig in” to sustain us.

Ivy prefers growing in the shadow of larger trees that can protect it from the heat. I know I desire our Savior’s protection. God has saved me from many “hot” situations in the past. I certainly trust Him to save me through eternity.

The references to the holly in the song’s lyrics overshadow the ivy. Shouldn’t we allow our Lord and Savior to overshadow us? Rule over us? Should we not depend on Him (and not ourselves) if we are to ever reach the heights God intends for each and every one of us?

I may be reading far more into this carol than the author intended.

Or, God may be using my love of Christmas and all things green to once again reveal His truth to me. Jesus must be the most prevalent influence in my life. I must allow my will to be diminished and submitted to Him if I am ever to meet the heights He desires for me. I must cling to Him for support.

And live in His shadow.

One of my favorite carols is not about the ivy. It’s all about the holly!

Life is not about me. It’s all about Him.

Take this Christmas Season to enjoy your friends and family, eat great food, meet, greet and be merry.

Yet… it is all about Him!

Merry Christmas!

The Holly…

As a kid, one of my favorite Christmas carols was The Holly and the Ivy. I’m sure I had no idea how both related to Christmas back then. When I finally recognized and understood the words I was curious why this carol called the holly and the ivy. There is very little mention of the ivy!

Holly has roots deeply embedded into the pagan solstice celebration. Its evergreen qualities nod to a promise of better times to come and were absorbed by Christians. Holly and other evergreen plants later became part of traditional Christmas celebrations.

The consensus from various sources is that the white lily flower alludes to the purity of Jesus Christ. The red holly berry is symbolic of His blood. The prickle of the holly represents the crown of thorns our Savior wore. And finally the bitter bark may reference the drink offered to Christ upon crucifixion.

I’m grateful I can find God not only in His Word but in His world…

The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown
Of all the trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown.

The holly bears a blossom
As white as lily flower
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To be our sweet Saviour.

The holly bears a berry
As red as any blood,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
To do poor sinners good.

The holly bears a prickle
As sharp as any thorn,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
On Christmas Day in the morn.

The holly bears a bark
As bitter as any gall,
And Mary bore sweet Jesus Christ
For to redeem us all.

The holly and the ivy,
When they are both full grown
Of all the trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown.

I pray we all seek more of Christ this Christmas Season as we give of ourselves and receive more of Him.

Be Blessed and Merry Christmas!