"The desert will rejoice, and flowers will bloom in the wastelands. The desert will sing and shout for joy; it will be as beautiful as the Lebanon Mountains and as fertile as the fields of Carmel and Sharon. Everyone will see the Lord's splendor, see his greatness and power. Give strength to hands that are tired and to knees that tremble with weakness. Tell everyone who is discouraged, "Be strong and don't be afraid! God is coming to your rescue,..."
I don't know about you but these verses in Isaiah make me feel strong and make my heart glad because I know that God has and will always come to my rescue. In the dry dormant seasons of life when winter begins to freeze the earth around us; we can begin to focus on the spiritual scenery in our lives as well. When the world becomes void of the vivid colors that the great artist has displayed for us throughout summer and fall we can begin to see things as bleak and without hope but Praise God that his very word tells us that the flowers will bloom in the wastelands.
Some of you reading this may say, Heather... I love winter what are you talking about? Praise God for my winter loving friends. I think you see a beauty in nature that not all of us can see and focus on, but I'm getting there. I know this is a great shock to many who know me personally as winter has often felt like a prison to me. It has frozen me in my tracks and many times I've felt that perhaps I should have, as they say, been born a bear and just wake up in the spring after a long winter's nap. But in all seasons, ALL SEASONS, we bloom. Did you know that there are some flowers that break through during the winter season such as the Star of Bethlehem? Imagine that... the star of Bethlehem emerges just as we begin to see all else fade away. The irony of that isn't lost on me, how about you?
Although we are entering winter here in the United States, we can rest in knowing that God tells us that he will continue to strengthen us and give life even during the seasons that seem nothing but a vast desert land. God is always with us, he never leaves us and he never forsakes us. When you feel like you've hit the desert sands... Praise Him. When you feel the valley has no waters left to draw from, Praise Him. Our God is bigger than our deserts and has living waters that will never run dry and he will see you through your season.
Do you feel like you have landed in the middle of the arctic and see no hope in site? Do you feel like life is just an empty wasteland swallowing you up and taking all away from you? Be like the Star of Bethlehem... break free and bloom right where you are inspite of the conditions and let the Son shine through you.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hjRLfvf0xg
Be Strong and Don't be Afraid,
Heather
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
If You're Happy and You Know it...; Job 8:21
"He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy".
Well first let me say it's good to be back on here and writing again, it's been a while. It's not because God hasn't been sharing with me... but sometimes it's just between He and I. :)
This week has been a difficult one for many along the east coast of our beautiful nation with the onset of Hurricane Sandy. Perhaps someone is reading this right now that has suffered a direct impact from this mighty storm. I hope that you know that we have all been praying for you as each day has passed. It's hard to talk about joy when there is such devastation but the word tells us in Philippians 4:4 to rejoice ALWAYS. I know... easy for me to say as I didn't just survive the storm of all storms; but there have been times that I was the survivor of a great storm in my life although it appeared in a different manner.
Life has a way of knocking us down, tossing us about like we are nothing but a small boat on the vast ocean. But off in the distance there is a grand lighthouse casting it's light and giving us a beacon of hope guiding us safely ashore. The waves continue to crash around us, the storm beats hard against the hull of our little boat where we are clinging on barely to one oar to keep moving. But we hold on because we know if we can just navigate into the path of the light that we will make it safely.
Can you just picture all of this for a moment. As all seems lost.... there He is.... our lighthouse, King Jesus, cheering us on and saying don't give up, I am with you my child, let me give you strength to keep pushing through. Nehemiah 8:10 says "The joy of the Lord is your strength". There is strength found in keeping joy in your heart even in the midst of the storm. I find sometimes the best medicine to help me break free from sinking deep into sadness or dispare is to find laughter. Proverbs 17:22 tells us that a cheerful heart is good medicine. There is great healing power in laughter. Have you ever tried to be sad and laugh at the same time? It's hard! The laughter starts to cast out the sadness if even for a little while.
Last Sunday our church did a lifesize Candyland game. I wasn't sure how many families would actually show up as the weather had already begun to get windy and cold but when have you ever met a kid who would give up an afternoon of joy and laughter over a little wind and dropping temperatures? One by one the kiddos came, one by one they touched the hearts of us watching as they lit up like little lighthouses, big beaming smiles casting away all the cares of the weather, the approaching storm as if it didn't exist at all. Oh to be be like a child again. We all should take time to be like children again... lighting up the world around us with big beaming smiles filled with joy and laughter because we have a lighthouse in our Savior that will always bring us through our storms.
Are you struggling to make it to shore, lost in the darkness of the storm around you unable to see the light trying to guide you safely through? Has your joy and laughter been replaced with sadness and discontentment? Look to Jesus, He is the light of the world breaking through the darkest storms to reach you and guide you safely home.
Blessings,
Heather
Well first let me say it's good to be back on here and writing again, it's been a while. It's not because God hasn't been sharing with me... but sometimes it's just between He and I. :)
This week has been a difficult one for many along the east coast of our beautiful nation with the onset of Hurricane Sandy. Perhaps someone is reading this right now that has suffered a direct impact from this mighty storm. I hope that you know that we have all been praying for you as each day has passed. It's hard to talk about joy when there is such devastation but the word tells us in Philippians 4:4 to rejoice ALWAYS. I know... easy for me to say as I didn't just survive the storm of all storms; but there have been times that I was the survivor of a great storm in my life although it appeared in a different manner.
Life has a way of knocking us down, tossing us about like we are nothing but a small boat on the vast ocean. But off in the distance there is a grand lighthouse casting it's light and giving us a beacon of hope guiding us safely ashore. The waves continue to crash around us, the storm beats hard against the hull of our little boat where we are clinging on barely to one oar to keep moving. But we hold on because we know if we can just navigate into the path of the light that we will make it safely.
Can you just picture all of this for a moment. As all seems lost.... there He is.... our lighthouse, King Jesus, cheering us on and saying don't give up, I am with you my child, let me give you strength to keep pushing through. Nehemiah 8:10 says "The joy of the Lord is your strength". There is strength found in keeping joy in your heart even in the midst of the storm. I find sometimes the best medicine to help me break free from sinking deep into sadness or dispare is to find laughter. Proverbs 17:22 tells us that a cheerful heart is good medicine. There is great healing power in laughter. Have you ever tried to be sad and laugh at the same time? It's hard! The laughter starts to cast out the sadness if even for a little while.
Last Sunday our church did a lifesize Candyland game. I wasn't sure how many families would actually show up as the weather had already begun to get windy and cold but when have you ever met a kid who would give up an afternoon of joy and laughter over a little wind and dropping temperatures? One by one the kiddos came, one by one they touched the hearts of us watching as they lit up like little lighthouses, big beaming smiles casting away all the cares of the weather, the approaching storm as if it didn't exist at all. Oh to be be like a child again. We all should take time to be like children again... lighting up the world around us with big beaming smiles filled with joy and laughter because we have a lighthouse in our Savior that will always bring us through our storms.
Are you struggling to make it to shore, lost in the darkness of the storm around you unable to see the light trying to guide you safely through? Has your joy and laughter been replaced with sadness and discontentment? Look to Jesus, He is the light of the world breaking through the darkest storms to reach you and guide you safely home.
Blessings,
Heather
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Greatest of these; I Corinthians 13:13
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."
The past few months I've had the honor of working with an amazing group of women with like hearts, hearts that truly love God and love one another as sisters in Christ. Some may read this and say, sure they do. I can understand that response. Some of you may have been hurt by people in the church and your view of who the "church" is may be a little jaded or even a painful memory. Unfortunately, even those in our church families can cause pain whether intentionally or unintentionally. The part that we all have to remember is that we are all human and we will let one another down from time to time... even those who are called to build us up. The church is full of people seeking to be better, to understand what it truly means to be a Christ follower and praying for a closer relationship with Christ and each other. We aren't perfect, we never will be here on this earth, but we keep trying and some days we have more success than others. There are also those people who "attend church" that simply go because that's what they've always done. There are all kinds of people in the church, but there is only one kind of people who ARE the church. Those are some of the same people you see during your church services, but these people are different.
You may be a little confused by now with what I just said. Let me explain. There is a significant difference in attending church versus being the church. I believe that anyone, whether you are a believer or not, can tell the difference between these two groups of people. Anyone can walk into a church service, but it takes someone with the heart of Christ to be the church. This heart that I'm talking about is the heart that loves, plain and simple. The word tells us that love is the greatest gift. Matthew 22:36-39 says, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Being the church means planting these two commandments, the greatest commandments, in your heart and carrying those out in action.
This weekend I got to see my church family and by that I mean the greater church and not just my church where i attend each week, put these commandments into action. We were able to share the love of Christ with a group of women at the Domestic Violence Center in Greene County. It was an incredible blessing to be part of this display of love. The women who joined together to share the love of Christ truly were representing the church as it was intended. There wasn't an expectation, it wasn't self-serving and it wasn't about feeling good about doing something good. It was about understanding the two great commandments on love. The love of God that this group of women has that consumes their whole heart, soul and mind joined together to love their neighbor, to love their sisters. We were able to share Christ even if we never mentioned his name. Being a Christian isn't about shoving Christ down the throat of another, it's about sharing the very heart that Christ has placed in our bodies. We were able to see a physical transformation immediately with the women that we ministered to... but more importantly we saw some heart changes to. We began seeing a trust again in the church body that was displayed as a group of women from different church families coming to together for a single purpose... to love.
I don't say all of this to say that attending church isn't important. Just the opposite actually. If I didn't attend my church I would have never met the women that worked alongside me this weekend. We would have never been ministered to ourselves to understand what it means to be the church. Sure, I can read the word myself. I can build a relationship with Christ and go out and serve. But we were never commissioned to go out alone and that is where our church family, the place where we congregate each week, becomes so vital and important. We need one another to become the church to the world. We will never be perfect, we will mistakes, but we will also grow through the love that is shared and learn from the same mistakes that cause others to judge us.
I know there is much unrest right now in our world over our beliefs, our faith or religious backgrounds. Believers and non-believers alike continue to judge one another and point fingers at each other simply because we believe differently. That judgement breaks my heart because I've prayed my whole life for God to break my heart for what breaks his. I know without doubt that God's heart is broken over the hate that has consumed so many hearts. But I believe he also rejoices that his church is beginning to wake up and has begun to understand what love is.
There is a song with lyrics that goes "I wanna know what love is, I want you to show me." Is that your heart today? Do you want to know what love is? Have you opened up your heart to receive love so that you can give love? Do you understand what being the church is versus attending? Today that all could change for you simply by praying that simple prayer as I have often done... "Dear Lord, break my heart for what breaks yours... teach me to love as the church. Amen"
Blessings,
Heather
The past few months I've had the honor of working with an amazing group of women with like hearts, hearts that truly love God and love one another as sisters in Christ. Some may read this and say, sure they do. I can understand that response. Some of you may have been hurt by people in the church and your view of who the "church" is may be a little jaded or even a painful memory. Unfortunately, even those in our church families can cause pain whether intentionally or unintentionally. The part that we all have to remember is that we are all human and we will let one another down from time to time... even those who are called to build us up. The church is full of people seeking to be better, to understand what it truly means to be a Christ follower and praying for a closer relationship with Christ and each other. We aren't perfect, we never will be here on this earth, but we keep trying and some days we have more success than others. There are also those people who "attend church" that simply go because that's what they've always done. There are all kinds of people in the church, but there is only one kind of people who ARE the church. Those are some of the same people you see during your church services, but these people are different.
You may be a little confused by now with what I just said. Let me explain. There is a significant difference in attending church versus being the church. I believe that anyone, whether you are a believer or not, can tell the difference between these two groups of people. Anyone can walk into a church service, but it takes someone with the heart of Christ to be the church. This heart that I'm talking about is the heart that loves, plain and simple. The word tells us that love is the greatest gift. Matthew 22:36-39 says, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Being the church means planting these two commandments, the greatest commandments, in your heart and carrying those out in action.
This weekend I got to see my church family and by that I mean the greater church and not just my church where i attend each week, put these commandments into action. We were able to share the love of Christ with a group of women at the Domestic Violence Center in Greene County. It was an incredible blessing to be part of this display of love. The women who joined together to share the love of Christ truly were representing the church as it was intended. There wasn't an expectation, it wasn't self-serving and it wasn't about feeling good about doing something good. It was about understanding the two great commandments on love. The love of God that this group of women has that consumes their whole heart, soul and mind joined together to love their neighbor, to love their sisters. We were able to share Christ even if we never mentioned his name. Being a Christian isn't about shoving Christ down the throat of another, it's about sharing the very heart that Christ has placed in our bodies. We were able to see a physical transformation immediately with the women that we ministered to... but more importantly we saw some heart changes to. We began seeing a trust again in the church body that was displayed as a group of women from different church families coming to together for a single purpose... to love.
I don't say all of this to say that attending church isn't important. Just the opposite actually. If I didn't attend my church I would have never met the women that worked alongside me this weekend. We would have never been ministered to ourselves to understand what it means to be the church. Sure, I can read the word myself. I can build a relationship with Christ and go out and serve. But we were never commissioned to go out alone and that is where our church family, the place where we congregate each week, becomes so vital and important. We need one another to become the church to the world. We will never be perfect, we will mistakes, but we will also grow through the love that is shared and learn from the same mistakes that cause others to judge us.
I know there is much unrest right now in our world over our beliefs, our faith or religious backgrounds. Believers and non-believers alike continue to judge one another and point fingers at each other simply because we believe differently. That judgement breaks my heart because I've prayed my whole life for God to break my heart for what breaks his. I know without doubt that God's heart is broken over the hate that has consumed so many hearts. But I believe he also rejoices that his church is beginning to wake up and has begun to understand what love is.
There is a song with lyrics that goes "I wanna know what love is, I want you to show me." Is that your heart today? Do you want to know what love is? Have you opened up your heart to receive love so that you can give love? Do you understand what being the church is versus attending? Today that all could change for you simply by praying that simple prayer as I have often done... "Dear Lord, break my heart for what breaks yours... teach me to love as the church. Amen"
Blessings,
Heather
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Who Am I? Psalm 139:1-18
"You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before,and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand — when I awake, I am still with you."
Usually I blog using a passage or two to capture the point that God is sharing with us. But I just couldn't stop at one or two when reminding you who you are. Re-read this passage in Psalm 139 every time you begin to doubt who you are, who you belong to or why you are here. The God of this universe knows when you rise and when you sit down. He pays that close attention to you because you matter that much to him. To some that may be a comforting thought, to know that God is always watching and has his hand upon us at all times. To some this may be hard to think that God is always watching. Sometimes our behavior, our words, our thoughts or interactions... they aren't always proud moments that we'd want God to see. I know for me this scripture is both a comfort and reminder that I don't have a life outside of Christ, all that I am, all that I was created to be is wrapped up in him. That gives me a supernatural feeling of strength. His word says that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. It doesn't say I'm a mess, it doesn't say I'm broken, it doesn't say I'm unworthy. The world will tell me that, the world loves to shout that out and it's what I know I am! But that's not what MY GOD says... He says that all my days were ordained and written in the book before one of them even came to be. He knows all of our moments, knows the words formed on our tongue before we even speak them. How can that not make you feel valued and loved? There is no place that you can hide from his presence, he is with you always.
God saw your unformed body being knitted together in your mother's womb. He's had his eye on you before this world knew of your existence. Do you know, can you begin to understand how precious you are to him? When fear and doubt begin to weigh you down, when life seems unfair and out of balance and you have no clue as to what to do or how to make your next step, call out to the one who David wrote this Psalm for, call out to your Heavenly Father and ask him to remind you who you are. Christ went to that cross to cover ALL of our sins, the ones from yesterday, today and tomorrow. He's already paid the price and he did this not for someone he considered broken, a mess or unworthy. He did this for you and me... his beloved, his child. We are who we are because of who we belong to.
I couldn't close this blog without thinking of the song Casting Crowns wrote, "Who Am I?" Listen and meditate on the words and know that the Lord of all the earth cares to know your name.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjhxOv9YDag
Blessings,
Heather
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand — when I awake, I am still with you."
Usually I blog using a passage or two to capture the point that God is sharing with us. But I just couldn't stop at one or two when reminding you who you are. Re-read this passage in Psalm 139 every time you begin to doubt who you are, who you belong to or why you are here. The God of this universe knows when you rise and when you sit down. He pays that close attention to you because you matter that much to him. To some that may be a comforting thought, to know that God is always watching and has his hand upon us at all times. To some this may be hard to think that God is always watching. Sometimes our behavior, our words, our thoughts or interactions... they aren't always proud moments that we'd want God to see. I know for me this scripture is both a comfort and reminder that I don't have a life outside of Christ, all that I am, all that I was created to be is wrapped up in him. That gives me a supernatural feeling of strength. His word says that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. It doesn't say I'm a mess, it doesn't say I'm broken, it doesn't say I'm unworthy. The world will tell me that, the world loves to shout that out and it's what I know I am! But that's not what MY GOD says... He says that all my days were ordained and written in the book before one of them even came to be. He knows all of our moments, knows the words formed on our tongue before we even speak them. How can that not make you feel valued and loved? There is no place that you can hide from his presence, he is with you always.
God saw your unformed body being knitted together in your mother's womb. He's had his eye on you before this world knew of your existence. Do you know, can you begin to understand how precious you are to him? When fear and doubt begin to weigh you down, when life seems unfair and out of balance and you have no clue as to what to do or how to make your next step, call out to the one who David wrote this Psalm for, call out to your Heavenly Father and ask him to remind you who you are. Christ went to that cross to cover ALL of our sins, the ones from yesterday, today and tomorrow. He's already paid the price and he did this not for someone he considered broken, a mess or unworthy. He did this for you and me... his beloved, his child. We are who we are because of who we belong to.
I couldn't close this blog without thinking of the song Casting Crowns wrote, "Who Am I?" Listen and meditate on the words and know that the Lord of all the earth cares to know your name.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjhxOv9YDag
Blessings,
Heather
Monday, July 30, 2012
Mums the Word; James 1:12
"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."
Perseverance... not an easy task sometimes, well really not easy any time is it? The very definition of perseverance is 1. steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. 2. (Theology) continuance in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation.
Earlier this year I was watering one of my flower beds. I had already spread mulch down a few days earlier and was pleased to see some of the plants that I had planted in years past springing up through the mulch ready to showcase their beauty again this year. But there was a little area that I knew that at the very end of the fall season last year in a last ditch effort to see if anything would come of it, I threw a mum that I really felt was already dead and gone in the ground and covered it up. I really didn't expect it to do much because I had let it die after it provided fall decoration for my front porch, but what did I have to lose? To my amazement there was a tiny patch of green coming up through the mulch where I had planted the mum. I wasn't sure at first if it was the mum or I had yet another weed thriving ready to drive me crazy throughout the growing season. But I kept watering and as I continued to watch, sure enough that little mum sprung back to life. I don't know how it did it... it was neglected, depleted of any moisture and pretty much discarded but it persevered. That little plant decided it still had life in it and I can't wait to see it bloom this fall as it was so big and beautiful last year before I thought I killed it.
That mum reflects to me how we sometimes give up on things in our life that matter because things become difficult, obstacles occur and little encouragement do we receive from one another to persevere. But somehow, the living water of the sweet Holy Spirit wells up within us and spills out providing the strength we need to press through and keep up the fight. We push through whatever is tossed on us and we grow inspite of it, maybe even because of it. Maybe it was one little word by a friend, a stranger or maybe even hearing the whisper from our savior telling us... be steady under trial, stand the test... the crown of life is just ahead, hold on!
Do you feel that the trial you are going through today is just too much, that you can't stand the test? Have you prayed and felt your prayers go unanswered and that you can't make it? Persevere... there is reward in your efforts and they don't go unnoticed. God will see you through whatever is burying you, trying to take the very life he's given you away. Remember the second definition, "continuance in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation." Walk in grace, walk with your head held high knowing that sometimes the journey is difficult and others may toss us aside giving us up as a loss but we have a Savior who never does. He holds the watering can to restore us, to allow us to bloom again and show the world what it looks like to withstand the trial and come out stronger.
Blessings,
Heather
Perseverance... not an easy task sometimes, well really not easy any time is it? The very definition of perseverance is 1. steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. 2. (Theology) continuance in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation.
Earlier this year I was watering one of my flower beds. I had already spread mulch down a few days earlier and was pleased to see some of the plants that I had planted in years past springing up through the mulch ready to showcase their beauty again this year. But there was a little area that I knew that at the very end of the fall season last year in a last ditch effort to see if anything would come of it, I threw a mum that I really felt was already dead and gone in the ground and covered it up. I really didn't expect it to do much because I had let it die after it provided fall decoration for my front porch, but what did I have to lose? To my amazement there was a tiny patch of green coming up through the mulch where I had planted the mum. I wasn't sure at first if it was the mum or I had yet another weed thriving ready to drive me crazy throughout the growing season. But I kept watering and as I continued to watch, sure enough that little mum sprung back to life. I don't know how it did it... it was neglected, depleted of any moisture and pretty much discarded but it persevered. That little plant decided it still had life in it and I can't wait to see it bloom this fall as it was so big and beautiful last year before I thought I killed it.
That mum reflects to me how we sometimes give up on things in our life that matter because things become difficult, obstacles occur and little encouragement do we receive from one another to persevere. But somehow, the living water of the sweet Holy Spirit wells up within us and spills out providing the strength we need to press through and keep up the fight. We push through whatever is tossed on us and we grow inspite of it, maybe even because of it. Maybe it was one little word by a friend, a stranger or maybe even hearing the whisper from our savior telling us... be steady under trial, stand the test... the crown of life is just ahead, hold on!
Do you feel that the trial you are going through today is just too much, that you can't stand the test? Have you prayed and felt your prayers go unanswered and that you can't make it? Persevere... there is reward in your efforts and they don't go unnoticed. God will see you through whatever is burying you, trying to take the very life he's given you away. Remember the second definition, "continuance in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation." Walk in grace, walk with your head held high knowing that sometimes the journey is difficult and others may toss us aside giving us up as a loss but we have a Savior who never does. He holds the watering can to restore us, to allow us to bloom again and show the world what it looks like to withstand the trial and come out stronger.
Blessings,
Heather
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Do I have your attention now?, James 4:7-10
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."
So did this passage get your attention? How did it make you feel, at peace or convicted? I think that's point, to open our eyes and remind us that our lives are not our own. All we have, all we do belongs to our God even the joy, the laughter, the mourning and the gloom. It is all his for we are all his.
The past couple of weeks have been an uphill climb for a precious family that I hold near to heart and in deepest prayer. However, three young people's lives were forever impacted by a single moment, a single accident that will forever change them in some way. God has been merciful and he has given them each a new day and reminded their families of the gift they have in each of them. When I went to see the mother of the one young lady, Katy, you could see the pain in her face. I felt the pain in her heart as she stood powerless in a hospital waiting room having to give all control over to the doctors to save her little girl. I remember one of the first things she said to me in that hospital... "this was God's way of getting my attention wasn't it Heather, He's got it." Cosmic two by fours are so difficult and we don't understand them but in all things the scripture tells us that he has a plan and a purpose. It's hard to see that and understand that when we are in the middle of our crisis but if we look close enough, if we listen hard enough we see him and we hear him comforting us and drawing us near to him.
My girlfriend has for the longest time, maybe always, been a believer. Her children were raised in the church, they've learned hard lessons in life but they have incredible faith. During this time of Katy's recovery, that faith has been tested but not once have they given up on the healing power of God or on knowing that he is always with them. Nicole and I were standing in prayer claiming healing over Katy's broken body, there was such a sweet peace in that room because we knew without a doubt that she'd come through and we'd see her open those beautiful eyes and once again smart off to us. Ooohh, how many times in the past has that been an annoyance but when you think it could have been the last time it's really all you want to hear... you want to hear the fight in that amazing girl lying there and fighting is what she is doing, she's coming back from her time of rest in the father's arms and he's giving her back to all those who love her so that we know who he is and what he can do when we draw close to him. He doesn't have to be in the miracle business, he chooses us, he sets us apart and when we are humbled... he lifts us up. While in that room as Nic and I were holding hands finished in prayer and talking with Katy about how she was a light, a superstar... the lights in the room came on. No one was there to turn those lights on but God was there, that light that we all see in our Katy is the very light God placed in her and at that moment he reminded us.
Katy has a great story to tell when she wakes, a wonderful testimony of how God sent angels to watch over her, to find her and to get her in the care of healers. God began healing Katy instantly through the touch of others around her and the prayers of the faithful lifting her up. I pray we never forget that God wants our attention on him, not all the drama that can bring us down. "Come near to God and he will come near to you."
Please continue to lift Katy and her family in prayer. She still has a lot of healing to do, the family needs strength and encouragement. I pray today as I wrap up this blog, that all say a thank you to a very loving God for the blessing of knowing this young lady and being part of her miraculous story. Don't give up, even when life seems to come crashing down and throws you for the count... YOU have a God that doesn't give up and he loves you with an everlasting love. All you have to do, call on him, believe in him and accept him as Lord and Savior of your life. Katy will one day tell you that it's the greatest thing she ever chose to do.
Blessings,
Heather
(Katy... when the day comes that you can read this for yourself, know that you dear one have touched many lives. ~~ Love you, Mama2)
So did this passage get your attention? How did it make you feel, at peace or convicted? I think that's point, to open our eyes and remind us that our lives are not our own. All we have, all we do belongs to our God even the joy, the laughter, the mourning and the gloom. It is all his for we are all his.
The past couple of weeks have been an uphill climb for a precious family that I hold near to heart and in deepest prayer. However, three young people's lives were forever impacted by a single moment, a single accident that will forever change them in some way. God has been merciful and he has given them each a new day and reminded their families of the gift they have in each of them. When I went to see the mother of the one young lady, Katy, you could see the pain in her face. I felt the pain in her heart as she stood powerless in a hospital waiting room having to give all control over to the doctors to save her little girl. I remember one of the first things she said to me in that hospital... "this was God's way of getting my attention wasn't it Heather, He's got it." Cosmic two by fours are so difficult and we don't understand them but in all things the scripture tells us that he has a plan and a purpose. It's hard to see that and understand that when we are in the middle of our crisis but if we look close enough, if we listen hard enough we see him and we hear him comforting us and drawing us near to him.
My girlfriend has for the longest time, maybe always, been a believer. Her children were raised in the church, they've learned hard lessons in life but they have incredible faith. During this time of Katy's recovery, that faith has been tested but not once have they given up on the healing power of God or on knowing that he is always with them. Nicole and I were standing in prayer claiming healing over Katy's broken body, there was such a sweet peace in that room because we knew without a doubt that she'd come through and we'd see her open those beautiful eyes and once again smart off to us. Ooohh, how many times in the past has that been an annoyance but when you think it could have been the last time it's really all you want to hear... you want to hear the fight in that amazing girl lying there and fighting is what she is doing, she's coming back from her time of rest in the father's arms and he's giving her back to all those who love her so that we know who he is and what he can do when we draw close to him. He doesn't have to be in the miracle business, he chooses us, he sets us apart and when we are humbled... he lifts us up. While in that room as Nic and I were holding hands finished in prayer and talking with Katy about how she was a light, a superstar... the lights in the room came on. No one was there to turn those lights on but God was there, that light that we all see in our Katy is the very light God placed in her and at that moment he reminded us.
Katy has a great story to tell when she wakes, a wonderful testimony of how God sent angels to watch over her, to find her and to get her in the care of healers. God began healing Katy instantly through the touch of others around her and the prayers of the faithful lifting her up. I pray we never forget that God wants our attention on him, not all the drama that can bring us down. "Come near to God and he will come near to you."
Please continue to lift Katy and her family in prayer. She still has a lot of healing to do, the family needs strength and encouragement. I pray today as I wrap up this blog, that all say a thank you to a very loving God for the blessing of knowing this young lady and being part of her miraculous story. Don't give up, even when life seems to come crashing down and throws you for the count... YOU have a God that doesn't give up and he loves you with an everlasting love. All you have to do, call on him, believe in him and accept him as Lord and Savior of your life. Katy will one day tell you that it's the greatest thing she ever chose to do.
Blessings,
Heather
(Katy... when the day comes that you can read this for yourself, know that you dear one have touched many lives. ~~ Love you, Mama2)
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Bigger; Revelation 3:20
" Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me."
hmmm, I bet you are wondering what exactly is this lady going to share with us today with that kind of title aren't you? I know it struck me a bit odd myself when I thought about it but I get it so let me share.
Sometimes I need to be reminded that God is bigger than all my happy times, all my sad times and all my in between times. Sometimes I need to be reminded that my God is bigger than my worry, my guilt, my shame, my pain. Sometimes I need to be reminded that my God is bigger than my celebrations, my hopes, my dreams and my plans. Sometimes I just need to be reminded that HE is GOD and I am simply blessed that He is who He is and I am who I am.
I've been part of a Bible study on Thursday nights that has begun peeling back some of the not so pretty parts of me, you know those parts that you hope no one will ever know and that you'll always be able to cover up and pretend that they don't exist? You know what happens when you pull off a scab (sorry, I know that is gross)... sometimes it hurts and the area feels tender and sometimes even bleeds a bit until it begins to heal. God has been peeling off the "scabs" of my wounds of long ago and has begun a healing in me like I can't explain. He's not only begun to heal those wounds but he's given me a lot of precious band-aids called sisters who are walking the journey with me in this class. They have "STUCK" through this class with me and we have seen wonderful things happening in each other. (that was a little play on words as the study is called Stuck by Jennie Allen). This class served as a reminder to the one who caused all those wounds to begin with, the enemy of God and man, who God is and just how big he is.
Each week we are given homework and an on-going question is "Who are you Lord?" The first week I had my canned answer, sounded good, sounded just about perfect with all it's polish and by this week I began to really ask that question honestly. Who are you, Lord? He shared with me just today actually that he is the door when I pray for a window. You see that's how big my God is. He doesn't just give me what I pray for, he gives me more. He goes one bigger and better than what I can envision for my own life. I know that I can trust him with my whole being and that people will poke at the wound, maybe re-injure me but my God will be there to supply me with the "band-aids" to mend me and make me whole.
Scripture tells us " Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." I've opened the door, the one God designed specifically for me. In me he didn't create a window to my soul... he went one bigger. My God is bigger.
Are you claiming a window when God gave you a door? Have you bolted the lock so tightly that you've stopped all blessings coming in and going out because of the wounds that surround your heart? Is today the day that you stop and answer the knock and hear his voice so that he can come in and be life within you?
Blessings,
Heather
hmmm, I bet you are wondering what exactly is this lady going to share with us today with that kind of title aren't you? I know it struck me a bit odd myself when I thought about it but I get it so let me share.
Sometimes I need to be reminded that God is bigger than all my happy times, all my sad times and all my in between times. Sometimes I need to be reminded that my God is bigger than my worry, my guilt, my shame, my pain. Sometimes I need to be reminded that my God is bigger than my celebrations, my hopes, my dreams and my plans. Sometimes I just need to be reminded that HE is GOD and I am simply blessed that He is who He is and I am who I am.
I've been part of a Bible study on Thursday nights that has begun peeling back some of the not so pretty parts of me, you know those parts that you hope no one will ever know and that you'll always be able to cover up and pretend that they don't exist? You know what happens when you pull off a scab (sorry, I know that is gross)... sometimes it hurts and the area feels tender and sometimes even bleeds a bit until it begins to heal. God has been peeling off the "scabs" of my wounds of long ago and has begun a healing in me like I can't explain. He's not only begun to heal those wounds but he's given me a lot of precious band-aids called sisters who are walking the journey with me in this class. They have "STUCK" through this class with me and we have seen wonderful things happening in each other. (that was a little play on words as the study is called Stuck by Jennie Allen). This class served as a reminder to the one who caused all those wounds to begin with, the enemy of God and man, who God is and just how big he is.
Each week we are given homework and an on-going question is "Who are you Lord?" The first week I had my canned answer, sounded good, sounded just about perfect with all it's polish and by this week I began to really ask that question honestly. Who are you, Lord? He shared with me just today actually that he is the door when I pray for a window. You see that's how big my God is. He doesn't just give me what I pray for, he gives me more. He goes one bigger and better than what I can envision for my own life. I know that I can trust him with my whole being and that people will poke at the wound, maybe re-injure me but my God will be there to supply me with the "band-aids" to mend me and make me whole.
Scripture tells us " Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me." I've opened the door, the one God designed specifically for me. In me he didn't create a window to my soul... he went one bigger. My God is bigger.
Are you claiming a window when God gave you a door? Have you bolted the lock so tightly that you've stopped all blessings coming in and going out because of the wounds that surround your heart? Is today the day that you stop and answer the knock and hear his voice so that he can come in and be life within you?
Blessings,
Heather
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