beauty from ashes

I Believe (by Erin)

I Believe in God the Father, Almighty Maker of Heaven and Maker of Earth, and in Jesus Christ His only Begotten Son, Our Lord.

I just love this Rich Mullins song.  It's the Nicene Creed sung in a form that makes me think I believe I could fly.  (Another song -what can I say, they get stuck in my head).  I started thinking about "belief" this week and it is a powerful thing.  Romans, Galatians and James all say that, "Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness" and James includes thephrase, "and he was called God's friend".  I believe I'd like to be called God's friend.  He'd be the ultimate BFF, right???

We can decide each day how we choose to believe.  On the negative side we think, "I don't believe that person will ever change" or "I don't believe I will ever change or lose weight or be happy or have enough money".  The way we choose to think will definitely play out in our lives.  God says the power of life and death is in the tongue.  Whoa!  And the overflow of our hearts is what comes out of our mouths.

Or we can choose to believe what God says (and be called his friend).  I believe God will supply all my need.  I believe God hasa plan for my life to prosper me and not harm me.  I believe God works  all things together for good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose.  I believe my son will be safe at his first day back at work since the fingertip amputation.  I believe my granddaughter and future daughter-in-law will bless me all the days of my life.  I believe that God will give me just what I need to make it through this day. God, I believe you no matter what.

Okay, I believe I'll go have another cup of coffee and say a prayer for you!

In the NOW

Anxiety is a result of envisioning a future without God.---Sarah Young

Isn't this so true?

I have a mental habit of living in the past and the future, and the only way to combat this is to focus on living in the NOW.  But I will admit that it takes effort for me sometimes.

The past contains good memories I wish could relive and also mistakes I wish I could change. Dwelling there too much can lead to either longing or regret.

The future?  Well, there are definitely things to look forward to and plans to be made, but it also contains things, people and events that make me anxious, mostly because I tend not to take God there in my thoughts.  

Will He be there with me in the future?

Yes, for sure!  As sure is He is with me right now.

But my thoughts like to rush ahead and try to solve problems that don't even exist yet---and in reality, may never exist at all.

NOW is the only real time that I have.  It's OK to look to the past and smile at things past and to learn from mistakes.  Looking forward is good too.  There is much to look forward to and set goals for.

However, when my thoughts get anxious, it's time to stop and head back to the NOW.

Where God is with me.

And when I know that God is with me, there is no room for anxious thoughts.

What about you?  Does looking to the future tend to lead you into anxiety?

The God Who Sees Me

Then she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees; for she said, "Have I also here seen Him who sees me?"  --Genesis 16:13

I can find it difficult to forgive and forget.

Actually, it's not the forgiveness that I struggle with, as much as the forgetting--especially when the person I have forgiven doesn't seem to understand the depth of my hurt.  They don't comprehend how their actions affected me.

Sometimes I camp out and warm my hands at the fire of wishing the person would "get it".  That they would see and know how their actions affected my life.  My concern is that if they don't see, they just might do it again.

One of my favorite names of God in the Bible is "The God Who Sees Me".  It was a name given by Hagar when she was cast out into the desert by Sarai.  She was all alone, in the desert, pregnant, and in need of help.

God saw her.

And He sees me.

He sees my pain.  He understands my hurt.  He dries my tears.  He draws me to Himself.

Just like He did with Hagar.

He "gets it".

He totally and completely "gets it".

When I take the time to meditate on this,  it is enough for me. I can accept the loving concern that God gives me, and I can release the pain and fear of not being seen by someone.

I think this also helps lead me toward complete forgiveness.  It leads me to a place of release and, therefore, restoration.

All because of my God who sees me.

All (by Randi)

God is able to do exceedingly, abundandtly, above and beyond all that we could ever dare to hope, ask or think.   Ephesians 3:20

My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory.  Phillipians 4:19

Giving can be hard.

I am not talking about giving money only, but also, time, resources, strength and heart.  That last one can be the hardest.  Giving of the heart, especially when it might not be reciprocated, respected or even noticed, can be difficult when we don't remember that God is the supplier of our needs.

Often when I feel that God is asking me to give in a particular relationship, I get scared and fear that either my giving will go unoticed or that in my giving, my own needs won't be met.  God is teaching me lately that He is the supplier of ALL of my needs.  And that I don't need to concern myself with outcome or another person's behaviour.  He has all of that in His hands and He is aware and He is fully committed to taking care of me.

Not only is He taking care of me in a basic way, but also in a way that goes above all that I could dare hope, ask or think.

Taking these words to heart is often the missing ingredient for me when I feel that fear creeping up on me.

Standing on these words as promises reminds me of who God is in my life, and that He is the one responsible to care for me in all ways.  The knowledge that my giving is often just a seed planted and that the harvest may not come for some time, is freeing and a perfect reason to put my trust in the right place:  God's hands.

Clear Your Plate! (by Erin)

Did you grow up with that phrase?  Clear your plate, there are starving children in Africa (China, Russia).  You have to clear your plate before you can have dessert.  You're gonna sit there until you eat every one of those brussel sprouts.  (Thankfully, I like brussel sprouts!) 

Clear your plate!

Last Monday I wrote about what was on my plate for last week.  It was a lot of overwhelming stuff.  This week I am pleased (more than pleased - delighted) to report that God cleared my plate.  Sure, I had to show up and do the footwork, but God did the plate clearing.

Daddy to be:  Plastic surgery done on Friday am.  Mommy to be: Moved in to our house on Tuesday.  Youngest boy: well, still waiting for special time with mom, but calmer and more peace filled.  Tomatoes:  all finished and in the freezer with only 3 that went bad.  I even got some sewing time!  All that wondering about, 'Can I do this?' covered and done!

Yesterday our church brought several meals for us so I don't have to cook for a couple of days.  What a blessing!  Never underestimate the power of someone else cooking a meal for you.  I still have a busy week this week, more doctor appts, (including gender identifying ultrasound on the grandbaby this afternoon).  BUT!!  This week I know that I don't have to clear my plate alone!  God is in the business of taking care of all our needs. Whew!

This week I'm purposefully going to work on NOT clearing my plate. It's time for me to take care of myself and begin to lose some fat I've been carrying around.  I'm gonna eat more brussel sprouts (lol) and less sugar.  I'm going to walk with the kids and the dogs.  I'm going to let God keep clearing my plate of the things that weigh me down (pun intended)
and I'm going to have a great week!!

I hope and pray you do too!