"I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me."
You've seen me post before of the times of blooming, harvest and pruning. Perhaps you've even heard me talk of the dry seasons, the dormant season of winter or as I'm understanding more clearly...the season of quietness. It's probably my toughest of the spiritual seasons. I love the bright blooming season with all it's beauty and new life. I love the harvesting season, reaping the fruits of service in Christ. I can even handle pruning from time to time knowing that my correction on my direction needs to occur and although painful there is somehow a sense of renewal still in the pruning. But the dormant season, the season of quietness within my soul...that one is hard for someone who just wants to keep moving forward in service.
I relate all of this to my physical love of gardens and I have to admit that the dormant season allows for the fresh blooms to be bigger, brighter and more colorful than the season before. I can't imagine what a plant would think, if a plant could think, blanketed in the soft white snow all around knowing that it was frozen in place and prevented from growing or even being seen for a season. Instead it was being "quieted" and fed instead of producing for a season.
The last couple of months I know I definitely have been in a dormant season of my life. Not due to my prayer life changing or in reading his word but a purposeful quietness that the father has chosen for me. It's been hard and I've been wrestling with him almost demanding that he share with me what my next steps are to be. Not too long ago I had an anointed woman of God share with me that she saw me wrestling with something and that she'd be praying that God would give me answer and direction. I thought to myself, ok, he's going to show me now for certain where he has me going and what he wants me to do but instead he continues to teach me that he is God and that my control issues are not. I left Bible study that night and began praying that God just reveal to me what I needed to know to have the restlessness within my soul quieted. He gave me a picture of a grand man without a face and a little girl standing before him with her feet on top of his dancing a beautiful dance. The little girl at first was so uncomfortable but as the music continued and she began to listen to the gentle music she looked up to see the man and looking back at her was her father, eyes brilliant, smile wide and with the softest voice he said, "daughter, let me lead this dance. You need to do nothing but hold my hand, look into my eyes and know that I have you." At that moment, I began smiling in my car. I knew that was my heavenly daddy telling me, Heather... let go and fully trust me.
Brokenness can sometimes be my companion and some scars run pretty deep. I find that sometimes I allow that brokenness to rule and take over in my life and my trust and faith grows weak. But as I begin to pray for God to release me from the pains of the past to allow me to heal, he reminds me that there are blessings in my brokenness as well. Recently I've begun working on a song for church that a special little girl in the congregation loves and I plan to sing it very soon. The song talks directly to my heart, especially lately as sometimes I find I get angry that I don't feel God near or speaking to my soul. He is quieting my soul, preparing the grounds for a fertile growing season again in his time.
Please quiet your mind and your soul for a few moments as you too listen to the song I am learning not just in the sense that most understand but I'm learning to truly listen to it in the quiet deep places of my heart and soul. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGniRk_GcLs
Where are you today? Are you blooming, harvesting? Perhaps you are being pruned or maybe you are like me and are being asked to be dormant and quiet for a season to begin the next leg of the journey? Wherever you are, God has a plan and we simply need to trust that even in the quiet... he is ever near.
Blessings,
Heather
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Strength; Psalm 46:1
"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble."
So hopefully none of you fell into the trap of selling all your worldly possessions and quitting your jobs last week in lieu of the rapture taking place this past Saturday. Did you know the scripture tells us that we will not know the day or the hour upon which Christ will return? It's actually stated several times, but Matthew 25:13 is pretty simple and straight forward to those who claim to know differently... “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." Can't be anymore clearer than that can it? I have troubles sometimes understanding what the word is telling me but this I know for certain, I simply am to be on watch and ready for his return.
The past few weeks have been pretty hard on many hit by the storms that have been raging in our country. Tornadoes seem to be everywhere and causing such devastation. Many believe this is because its the end of the world, who knows it could be but I really can't know and neither can you. That's why I find the scripture in today's post so relevant even more so than I do the scriptures of his coming. God reminds us that HE is our refuge and strength.... EVER-PRESENT help in trouble. I sit here and I think about that promise and realize that no storm that comes my way, that comes your way, is bigger than that promise. We serve a faithful God and he never breaks a promise.
Some of you may have been impacted by the storms that have destroyed homes, families, lives, towns and created history. Some of you may have faced storms in a different way the past few weeks, maybe your storms have been with someone or in some situation that you feel is just spinning out of control and wrecking your life. But no matter the type of storm, God is still EVER-PRESENT in our time of trouble and he gives us strength to face whatever giant is trying to tear us down.
I'm sure many of you have read the story of David and Goliath over and over again as children and as adults, but I read it again this weekend. David created so many storms in people's lives but yet God remained faithful to him and God remained his strength. Can you imagine standing before Goliath, a mighty assassin with just a smooth stone and slingshot and knowing, having no fear, no doubt nor reservation because you knew your God was bigger and mightier than the one that stood before you? The story became more real to me than it ever has, David had faith that brought down that giant...it wasn't just the stone or the slingshot... it was his faith and God reaching down to quiet the storm standing in front of him. Our strength comes from the Lord, our help comes from the Lord and our hope comes from the Lord.
Some days when we are in the midst of these life storms its hard to find the strength that we know is within us because of the one who placed it there...but hold fast dear friends, he is faithful to his word and to us. He is our rock and fortress, the strength of all that we are. Don't allow the storms to break you down, sure they may take away things you love or maybe they will blow hard and knock you down or off track but get back up standing firmly in His strength and not that of your own. Dig deep into his word and not that of false prophets who claim to know what scripture says is impossible to know. Remember your faith is strength, it comes from the father the EVER-PRESENT help in time of troubles.
What storms are you facing today? Are you standing before the giants with knees shaking or are you standing boldly knowing your strength is greater, far greater, than anything that could possibly come against you? Please stand in faith with me praying for those that have been hit by the storms recently, pray for strength of mind, body and soul as they attempt to pick up the pieces of their lives and rebuild.
Blessings,
Heather
So hopefully none of you fell into the trap of selling all your worldly possessions and quitting your jobs last week in lieu of the rapture taking place this past Saturday. Did you know the scripture tells us that we will not know the day or the hour upon which Christ will return? It's actually stated several times, but Matthew 25:13 is pretty simple and straight forward to those who claim to know differently... “Therefore keep watch, because you do not know the day or the hour." Can't be anymore clearer than that can it? I have troubles sometimes understanding what the word is telling me but this I know for certain, I simply am to be on watch and ready for his return.
The past few weeks have been pretty hard on many hit by the storms that have been raging in our country. Tornadoes seem to be everywhere and causing such devastation. Many believe this is because its the end of the world, who knows it could be but I really can't know and neither can you. That's why I find the scripture in today's post so relevant even more so than I do the scriptures of his coming. God reminds us that HE is our refuge and strength.... EVER-PRESENT help in trouble. I sit here and I think about that promise and realize that no storm that comes my way, that comes your way, is bigger than that promise. We serve a faithful God and he never breaks a promise.
Some of you may have been impacted by the storms that have destroyed homes, families, lives, towns and created history. Some of you may have faced storms in a different way the past few weeks, maybe your storms have been with someone or in some situation that you feel is just spinning out of control and wrecking your life. But no matter the type of storm, God is still EVER-PRESENT in our time of trouble and he gives us strength to face whatever giant is trying to tear us down.
I'm sure many of you have read the story of David and Goliath over and over again as children and as adults, but I read it again this weekend. David created so many storms in people's lives but yet God remained faithful to him and God remained his strength. Can you imagine standing before Goliath, a mighty assassin with just a smooth stone and slingshot and knowing, having no fear, no doubt nor reservation because you knew your God was bigger and mightier than the one that stood before you? The story became more real to me than it ever has, David had faith that brought down that giant...it wasn't just the stone or the slingshot... it was his faith and God reaching down to quiet the storm standing in front of him. Our strength comes from the Lord, our help comes from the Lord and our hope comes from the Lord.
Some days when we are in the midst of these life storms its hard to find the strength that we know is within us because of the one who placed it there...but hold fast dear friends, he is faithful to his word and to us. He is our rock and fortress, the strength of all that we are. Don't allow the storms to break you down, sure they may take away things you love or maybe they will blow hard and knock you down or off track but get back up standing firmly in His strength and not that of your own. Dig deep into his word and not that of false prophets who claim to know what scripture says is impossible to know. Remember your faith is strength, it comes from the father the EVER-PRESENT help in time of troubles.
What storms are you facing today? Are you standing before the giants with knees shaking or are you standing boldly knowing your strength is greater, far greater, than anything that could possibly come against you? Please stand in faith with me praying for those that have been hit by the storms recently, pray for strength of mind, body and soul as they attempt to pick up the pieces of their lives and rebuild.
Blessings,
Heather
Monday, May 9, 2011
Growth; 2 Peter 1:5-6
"Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness."
Today I played hooky from work so that I could be in my flower beds prepping them for another season of beauty. Last year the drought in the area took its toll on them and by the end of the growing season they looked like they had come through a drought. Have any of you ever felt like you've come through a drought spiritually? Your very soul feels parched and void of the holy living waters that dwell deep within your soul. It's a difficult time isn't it, to feel parched and thirsty for the holy spirit to rain down on you? You look in your spiritual mirrors and long to see the beautiful rose of sharon standing before you, but instead you see something that looks more like a thistle or a weed ready to be plucked out of the garden and discarded.
The good news is there is spring rain. We've all been complaining about the over abundance of rain that we've been receiving here at home but honestly without the rain we would not have the gorgeous green grass on our lawns with the dead spots caused by the drought from last year revitalized. Almost all those spots have somehow been restored. That's how it is with our spiritual dryness too. We take our little faith seed that we know is within us and we begin to fertilize it with goodness by reading the word and gaining the knowledge we need to grow, to learn self-control, perseverance and godliness...holiness.
In everything there are seasons of life. The plants and trees in our gardens, yards and parks that surround us experience a dormant time, a dying/pruning season and what we enjoy the most...the new life that burst forth. I don't know about you, but my favorite time of year is watching the buds form on the trees, seeing the flowers begin to bloom, watching the little bees go from flower to flower spreading the pollen helping life to continue. It's a beautiful thing to see nature at work, to know that we have a creator who orchestrated the whole thing. It's an even greater thing to see growth in one another, to watch a brother or a sister come through their drought and to begin to bloom again. Or maybe it's us, maybe we were the ones that God quieted for a moment, for a season to bring us to full bloom again in our spirit.
I can't say that I enjoy the pruning or the weeding in my gardens nor can I say that I enjoy the pruning or the weeding in the gardens of my soul but it is necessary. This weekend was a weekend of great growth for me personally. I was able to take that small seed of faith along with a lot of watering cans called prayer warriors to grow this past Sunday. I was able to see small buds appear on a branch of my tree that has long been dormant. I think I'll continue to water it and see what God wants to do from there.
What season are you in today? Are you growing in the fruit of the spirit or are you in a drought that is in desperate need of some healing rains? Call on your watering cans, they are waiting to pray with you...to be the stakes in life to support you until you are strong enough to stand mightily on your own basking in the sOnshine.
Blessings,
Heather
Today I played hooky from work so that I could be in my flower beds prepping them for another season of beauty. Last year the drought in the area took its toll on them and by the end of the growing season they looked like they had come through a drought. Have any of you ever felt like you've come through a drought spiritually? Your very soul feels parched and void of the holy living waters that dwell deep within your soul. It's a difficult time isn't it, to feel parched and thirsty for the holy spirit to rain down on you? You look in your spiritual mirrors and long to see the beautiful rose of sharon standing before you, but instead you see something that looks more like a thistle or a weed ready to be plucked out of the garden and discarded.
The good news is there is spring rain. We've all been complaining about the over abundance of rain that we've been receiving here at home but honestly without the rain we would not have the gorgeous green grass on our lawns with the dead spots caused by the drought from last year revitalized. Almost all those spots have somehow been restored. That's how it is with our spiritual dryness too. We take our little faith seed that we know is within us and we begin to fertilize it with goodness by reading the word and gaining the knowledge we need to grow, to learn self-control, perseverance and godliness...holiness.
In everything there are seasons of life. The plants and trees in our gardens, yards and parks that surround us experience a dormant time, a dying/pruning season and what we enjoy the most...the new life that burst forth. I don't know about you, but my favorite time of year is watching the buds form on the trees, seeing the flowers begin to bloom, watching the little bees go from flower to flower spreading the pollen helping life to continue. It's a beautiful thing to see nature at work, to know that we have a creator who orchestrated the whole thing. It's an even greater thing to see growth in one another, to watch a brother or a sister come through their drought and to begin to bloom again. Or maybe it's us, maybe we were the ones that God quieted for a moment, for a season to bring us to full bloom again in our spirit.
I can't say that I enjoy the pruning or the weeding in my gardens nor can I say that I enjoy the pruning or the weeding in the gardens of my soul but it is necessary. This weekend was a weekend of great growth for me personally. I was able to take that small seed of faith along with a lot of watering cans called prayer warriors to grow this past Sunday. I was able to see small buds appear on a branch of my tree that has long been dormant. I think I'll continue to water it and see what God wants to do from there.
What season are you in today? Are you growing in the fruit of the spirit or are you in a drought that is in desperate need of some healing rains? Call on your watering cans, they are waiting to pray with you...to be the stakes in life to support you until you are strong enough to stand mightily on your own basking in the sOnshine.
Blessings,
Heather
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Women; 1 Peter 3:3-4
"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit; which is of great worth in God's sight."
As I prepare to leave this weekend for a Women of Faith conference I am excited to be fed on the word by the speakers and encouraged in worship by those leading but I'm also looking forward to spending quality time with quality women of faith. Being a woman means so much more than what so many today make of their feminity. Being a woman can be a wonderful adventure. We have the ability to bring new life into this world. We have the ability to love deeply, connect more intimately, and offer a side of Jesus that men may not understand.
When I was a young girl, this scripture found in 1 Peter was used to ensure that a woman "knew her place". According to many in the church I belonged to, women were second class to their spouses. They were to be silent and opinions not wanted nor valued. Instead of taking the true meaning of this scripture for what was being shared with the women of that time and all women to come, it was taken as a scripture of what the woman was not to do. I'm thankful that as a woman maturing not only in age but in faith that I can see more into this scripture.
My role as a woman, as a daughter, a friend, a sister, a wife, a mother are all uniquely designed for me and my journey. This scripture wasn't to tell me about what not to wear or how I was to look on the outside but it was to tell me that my value, my worth was inside me. The beauty found in me is my spirit, the very being of who I am resting in Christ. My clothing doesn't define me as a woman, my hair doesn't define me as a daughter, my jewlry doesn't define me as a friend. What defines me as a woman is my relationship and submission to my father, my heavenly father. I am who I am because of who HE is. I am a Princess, my father the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Once I realized for myself that the scripture called out to the very heart and nature of a woman, I realized how valued and loved a woman is for the qualities that she and she alone possess. God designed a man and a woman different for this world with purpose and plan behind those designs. Women have the gentle and quiet spirit of the living word dwelling in their hearts by natural gifting. Somewhere along the way, many have gotten away from that thinking that this is a man's world and to survive we must behave and think like men. We were purposed to be helpmates, to compliment our physically stronger counterparts and its more than ok to be a woman. Never confuse being gentle and quiet in spirit with weak and incapable. Learn to listen to God's leading, to listen to the Holy Spirit guiding and directing your spirit. It's a gift you've been given to be a woman...to be a life giver. Never use that power you've been given to take life away from another.
I thank you Lord today for being a woman of faith and for surrounding me with women of unfading beauty.
Blessings,
Heather
As I prepare to leave this weekend for a Women of Faith conference I am excited to be fed on the word by the speakers and encouraged in worship by those leading but I'm also looking forward to spending quality time with quality women of faith. Being a woman means so much more than what so many today make of their feminity. Being a woman can be a wonderful adventure. We have the ability to bring new life into this world. We have the ability to love deeply, connect more intimately, and offer a side of Jesus that men may not understand.
When I was a young girl, this scripture found in 1 Peter was used to ensure that a woman "knew her place". According to many in the church I belonged to, women were second class to their spouses. They were to be silent and opinions not wanted nor valued. Instead of taking the true meaning of this scripture for what was being shared with the women of that time and all women to come, it was taken as a scripture of what the woman was not to do. I'm thankful that as a woman maturing not only in age but in faith that I can see more into this scripture.
My role as a woman, as a daughter, a friend, a sister, a wife, a mother are all uniquely designed for me and my journey. This scripture wasn't to tell me about what not to wear or how I was to look on the outside but it was to tell me that my value, my worth was inside me. The beauty found in me is my spirit, the very being of who I am resting in Christ. My clothing doesn't define me as a woman, my hair doesn't define me as a daughter, my jewlry doesn't define me as a friend. What defines me as a woman is my relationship and submission to my father, my heavenly father. I am who I am because of who HE is. I am a Princess, my father the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Once I realized for myself that the scripture called out to the very heart and nature of a woman, I realized how valued and loved a woman is for the qualities that she and she alone possess. God designed a man and a woman different for this world with purpose and plan behind those designs. Women have the gentle and quiet spirit of the living word dwelling in their hearts by natural gifting. Somewhere along the way, many have gotten away from that thinking that this is a man's world and to survive we must behave and think like men. We were purposed to be helpmates, to compliment our physically stronger counterparts and its more than ok to be a woman. Never confuse being gentle and quiet in spirit with weak and incapable. Learn to listen to God's leading, to listen to the Holy Spirit guiding and directing your spirit. It's a gift you've been given to be a woman...to be a life giver. Never use that power you've been given to take life away from another.
I thank you Lord today for being a woman of faith and for surrounding me with women of unfading beauty.
Blessings,
Heather
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Blessings, John 1:16
"From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another."
The past couple of weeks I've really had my ears "tuned up" from God. Have you ever had that happen? Those times when God tweaks your listening skills and asks you, my child do you not understand even now that in your faith comes great blessing and reward? I'm in that place it appears these days. Constant reminders of just how blessed I am even through the storms of life... I AM BLESSED.
I've been reminded by countless scriptures of how God favors his people through his grace and provisions. I'm also reminded contrary to some people's understanding (clearing my throat as I say this) that God does not show favortism. So although I am highly favored, I don't claim to be his favorite but loved greatly just the same.
This year hasn't been the best so far; several loved ones have gone home to be with the Lord. We've had a few health and financial scares but through it all God has remained faithful. Although my flesh wanted to grow weak and weary, my God reminded me that he has been with me from the time I was being woven together in my mother's womb. He knows the hairs on my head and my name is forever written on the palm of his hand. He reminds me just how many ways I am blessed and shown favor. It's really easy to get caught up in the pity parties of one and to focus on the negatives in our lives but it's through these trials that we become stronger and become lights to others who perhaps are not walking in a life of faith. How do we encouarge and help another through a situation if we have never experienced it ourselves? How do we reflect God's love and mercy if we've never seen the lack of love and mercy from this world?
Today I got to see the sunshine and spend time outdoors listening to the birds, seeing the clouds roll in and out of view, hear the wind whistling through the trees and smell the fresh air of life that is bursting forth in our trees and flowers. Today I got to see; there are many that didn't. Today I was able to ride my bike and strengthen my heart and body; there were many that will never experience that pleasure. Today I was able to hear the message given to my pastor from our heavenly father, there are many in this world that would give anything just to have five minutes to hear or read about his love and life eternal. Today I am blessed. Today I recognize that my blessings flow from one to another. Today I understand what it means to be blessed and to be a blessing.
How many blessings can you sit down and write out on a piece of paper that you receive daily? How many blessings can you think of in your mind that you simply take for granted? How many ways can you be a blessing to others so they can see the light of Christ today through you?
Blessings,
Heather
The past couple of weeks I've really had my ears "tuned up" from God. Have you ever had that happen? Those times when God tweaks your listening skills and asks you, my child do you not understand even now that in your faith comes great blessing and reward? I'm in that place it appears these days. Constant reminders of just how blessed I am even through the storms of life... I AM BLESSED.
I've been reminded by countless scriptures of how God favors his people through his grace and provisions. I'm also reminded contrary to some people's understanding (clearing my throat as I say this) that God does not show favortism. So although I am highly favored, I don't claim to be his favorite but loved greatly just the same.
This year hasn't been the best so far; several loved ones have gone home to be with the Lord. We've had a few health and financial scares but through it all God has remained faithful. Although my flesh wanted to grow weak and weary, my God reminded me that he has been with me from the time I was being woven together in my mother's womb. He knows the hairs on my head and my name is forever written on the palm of his hand. He reminds me just how many ways I am blessed and shown favor. It's really easy to get caught up in the pity parties of one and to focus on the negatives in our lives but it's through these trials that we become stronger and become lights to others who perhaps are not walking in a life of faith. How do we encouarge and help another through a situation if we have never experienced it ourselves? How do we reflect God's love and mercy if we've never seen the lack of love and mercy from this world?
Today I got to see the sunshine and spend time outdoors listening to the birds, seeing the clouds roll in and out of view, hear the wind whistling through the trees and smell the fresh air of life that is bursting forth in our trees and flowers. Today I got to see; there are many that didn't. Today I was able to ride my bike and strengthen my heart and body; there were many that will never experience that pleasure. Today I was able to hear the message given to my pastor from our heavenly father, there are many in this world that would give anything just to have five minutes to hear or read about his love and life eternal. Today I am blessed. Today I recognize that my blessings flow from one to another. Today I understand what it means to be blessed and to be a blessing.
How many blessings can you sit down and write out on a piece of paper that you receive daily? How many blessings can you think of in your mind that you simply take for granted? How many ways can you be a blessing to others so they can see the light of Christ today through you?
Blessings,
Heather
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Til we meet again; Job 2:10
He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”
This past week I had to let go of a very dear friend, one I've had for nearly 18 years. She and I had experienced many joyous moments and also some not so joyous ones. Some days we were really close and talked almost every day and then there were times when we didn't speak for long periods of time not because of ill feelings but because life took us down different paths. This last year had been a year of plenty for us in that we were able to spend more time together and talk often. We still shared the good and the hard times together, prayed together and for one another and sometimes had to give each other a "come to Jesus" talking. You know what those talks are like. That's what a true friend does, they don't always tell you the good things, sometimes they have to tell you the really rotten things about yourself.
When I received the call almost two weeks ago that my friend was gone, my first thought was God how could this happen. My heart was broken, sadness filled me and I simply sobbed in knowing I'd never hear her voice telling me good news or telling me the bad. How odd it was that when I heard of her passing she was one of the first I wanted to call to tell the bad news too...but of course I couldn't. I knew that she would cry with me and when I saw her next she would give me one of the biggest hugs and hold me til she felt I was ok to let go of. She was one of those people that just knew what to say and how to help a friend get through the bad. I guess she knew it was time to let go.
I've been very blessed in my life to have had her and many more friends that rejoice with me in the good and cry with me in the bad. But even beyond my wonderful group of friends, I have an even greater friend in Jesus. You see when I couldn't call my friend to share the horrible news, I still could call on Jesus. I trust Him with the good and the bad in my life. I've written before that life isn't about being fair but can be filled with tragedy and loss. The wonderful news is its also filled with happy times and new birth.
It's taken me some time to understand when people would say to rejoice at a death and mourn a birth, we as humans do pretty much the opposite don't we? We are so happy when someone gives life to a new precious baby and grieve tremendously when we lose the one that we love. But are we really losing them or just saying, "til we meet again"? I think it only natural to want to keep all those we love close in heart and in physical proximity, but how crowded would this world be and how empty would our eternal home be? I don't know about you, but I long for that eternal home where I will see my dear friend again along with my Jesus, my son, my mom and all my precious loved ones.
It's easy to accept the good and refuse the bad. It's easy to be thankful for the good and be angry about the trouble. It's easy to say Praise God in the quietness of life or in the joy-filled moments, but it's really hard sometimes to say Praise God when the storm is all around us...but Praise Him anyway. He is so worthy to be praised. He does give and take away and there is pain in the offering but no matter the size of the storm, we have much to rejoice in.
Til we meet again, Chelle... save a seat up close for me, k?
Blessings,
Heather
This past week I had to let go of a very dear friend, one I've had for nearly 18 years. She and I had experienced many joyous moments and also some not so joyous ones. Some days we were really close and talked almost every day and then there were times when we didn't speak for long periods of time not because of ill feelings but because life took us down different paths. This last year had been a year of plenty for us in that we were able to spend more time together and talk often. We still shared the good and the hard times together, prayed together and for one another and sometimes had to give each other a "come to Jesus" talking. You know what those talks are like. That's what a true friend does, they don't always tell you the good things, sometimes they have to tell you the really rotten things about yourself.
When I received the call almost two weeks ago that my friend was gone, my first thought was God how could this happen. My heart was broken, sadness filled me and I simply sobbed in knowing I'd never hear her voice telling me good news or telling me the bad. How odd it was that when I heard of her passing she was one of the first I wanted to call to tell the bad news too...but of course I couldn't. I knew that she would cry with me and when I saw her next she would give me one of the biggest hugs and hold me til she felt I was ok to let go of. She was one of those people that just knew what to say and how to help a friend get through the bad. I guess she knew it was time to let go.
I've been very blessed in my life to have had her and many more friends that rejoice with me in the good and cry with me in the bad. But even beyond my wonderful group of friends, I have an even greater friend in Jesus. You see when I couldn't call my friend to share the horrible news, I still could call on Jesus. I trust Him with the good and the bad in my life. I've written before that life isn't about being fair but can be filled with tragedy and loss. The wonderful news is its also filled with happy times and new birth.
It's taken me some time to understand when people would say to rejoice at a death and mourn a birth, we as humans do pretty much the opposite don't we? We are so happy when someone gives life to a new precious baby and grieve tremendously when we lose the one that we love. But are we really losing them or just saying, "til we meet again"? I think it only natural to want to keep all those we love close in heart and in physical proximity, but how crowded would this world be and how empty would our eternal home be? I don't know about you, but I long for that eternal home where I will see my dear friend again along with my Jesus, my son, my mom and all my precious loved ones.
It's easy to accept the good and refuse the bad. It's easy to be thankful for the good and be angry about the trouble. It's easy to say Praise God in the quietness of life or in the joy-filled moments, but it's really hard sometimes to say Praise God when the storm is all around us...but Praise Him anyway. He is so worthy to be praised. He does give and take away and there is pain in the offering but no matter the size of the storm, we have much to rejoice in.
Til we meet again, Chelle... save a seat up close for me, k?
Blessings,
Heather
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Running, Proverbs 4:25-26
"Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm."
Some of you may be wondering why would she be talking about running on this blog, am I right? I must say when God began speaking to my heart and used the word running, that's exactly what I wanted to do...run the other way. I often joke with my friends that the only way I will ever run is to have someone chase me because I simply don't run. I would think after time I would realize that I should never say I won't do any one particular thing because often it ends up being the thing I do. No I'm not physically running (just yet) but I've been running most of my life.
The scripture reference I've used starts by saying "Let your eyes look straight ahead...", I don't know how many times that's exactly what I haven't done. I allow my "sight" to go anywhere but straight ahead and I panic. I begin to question, God why are you leading me down this path? This isn't possible, I can't do this or you've got the wrong person this time, sorry God. And what do I do.... I go running down a wrong path and lead myself right into a mess or feeling completely out of breath because I just wasted my energy running from what God has called me to do. More often than not, I end up turning around and taking the word to heart and begin to look straight ahead on the path God laid out before me. when will I ever learn? I'm hoping soon because as I wrote earlier, I don't like to run.
The last part of this scripture states, "...and take only ways that are firm." We have a strong foundation in Christ, all other grounds are but sinking sands. Have you ever tried to physically run on the loose sands of a beach or perhaps you've gone one challenge further and have tried to run or maybe just walk through sand dunes? It makes the journey quite a bit harder, doesn't it? I remember a trip I took many years ago to some dunes in Colorado. It was windy, the dunes were pretty high and the sands were HOT. I thought it would be easier to get through them if I took my shoes off as my shoes kept sinking but as soon as I took my shoes off I realized that the sands were going to burn my feet. It was not a fun time, the dunes were beautiful against the clear brilliant blue sky but I felt stuck as I had journeyed just far enough that it was going to be a difficult path to take in any direction. How many of us have done just that, started down that path running, jogging, walking towards the destination God has called us to only to find that we get bogged down in the middle of it, sinking in our lack of faith and trust that He will see us through. The journey isn't always the easiest but if we stay on Christ's firm foundation we will finish the race to hear well done good and faithful servant. I know that's my goal at the end of this life, to hear my Savior tell me those words.
I can imagine my Jesus opening his arms, the sun shining brightly around him as he begins to run towards me and I towards him in that last few moments of the race and feeling His embrace and Him telling me you ran a good race child, welcome home.
What are you doing today? Are you running a good race or are you running away trying to avoid some of the tougher roads? Are you keeping your gaze fixed directly in front of you, keeping the path level and staying on firm ground or are you getting lost in all the sparkle and glitter of the world around you that wants to draw you into the sinking sands of the dunes?
"Turn your eyes toward Jesus, look full in his wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace."
Blessings,
Heather
Some of you may be wondering why would she be talking about running on this blog, am I right? I must say when God began speaking to my heart and used the word running, that's exactly what I wanted to do...run the other way. I often joke with my friends that the only way I will ever run is to have someone chase me because I simply don't run. I would think after time I would realize that I should never say I won't do any one particular thing because often it ends up being the thing I do. No I'm not physically running (just yet) but I've been running most of my life.
The scripture reference I've used starts by saying "Let your eyes look straight ahead...", I don't know how many times that's exactly what I haven't done. I allow my "sight" to go anywhere but straight ahead and I panic. I begin to question, God why are you leading me down this path? This isn't possible, I can't do this or you've got the wrong person this time, sorry God. And what do I do.... I go running down a wrong path and lead myself right into a mess or feeling completely out of breath because I just wasted my energy running from what God has called me to do. More often than not, I end up turning around and taking the word to heart and begin to look straight ahead on the path God laid out before me. when will I ever learn? I'm hoping soon because as I wrote earlier, I don't like to run.
The last part of this scripture states, "...and take only ways that are firm." We have a strong foundation in Christ, all other grounds are but sinking sands. Have you ever tried to physically run on the loose sands of a beach or perhaps you've gone one challenge further and have tried to run or maybe just walk through sand dunes? It makes the journey quite a bit harder, doesn't it? I remember a trip I took many years ago to some dunes in Colorado. It was windy, the dunes were pretty high and the sands were HOT. I thought it would be easier to get through them if I took my shoes off as my shoes kept sinking but as soon as I took my shoes off I realized that the sands were going to burn my feet. It was not a fun time, the dunes were beautiful against the clear brilliant blue sky but I felt stuck as I had journeyed just far enough that it was going to be a difficult path to take in any direction. How many of us have done just that, started down that path running, jogging, walking towards the destination God has called us to only to find that we get bogged down in the middle of it, sinking in our lack of faith and trust that He will see us through. The journey isn't always the easiest but if we stay on Christ's firm foundation we will finish the race to hear well done good and faithful servant. I know that's my goal at the end of this life, to hear my Savior tell me those words.
I can imagine my Jesus opening his arms, the sun shining brightly around him as he begins to run towards me and I towards him in that last few moments of the race and feeling His embrace and Him telling me you ran a good race child, welcome home.
What are you doing today? Are you running a good race or are you running away trying to avoid some of the tougher roads? Are you keeping your gaze fixed directly in front of you, keeping the path level and staying on firm ground or are you getting lost in all the sparkle and glitter of the world around you that wants to draw you into the sinking sands of the dunes?
"Turn your eyes toward Jesus, look full in his wonderful face and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace."
Blessings,
Heather
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