“Why, my soul, are you downcast?

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭42:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Have you ever taken a ride on a playground merry-go round? You step off and easily stumble; it takes a while to get your balance. Unpredictability is a state of affairs for us right now. Uncertainty is present and former routines are frayed. That makes it easy to stumble emotionally. During this shared turbulent time in our lives, it is easy to give way to the blues, or even depression. If prone to depression or former trauma, it may be a genuine fight. The truth is that life has always been unpredictable. So we learn to adjust and build stable routines in the midst of that. But, we are used to being able to assess risk and decide if we want to take it. Not being able to do that with so much unknown now, leaves us feeling vulnerable. Vulnerability taps into former pain, shame, fears and anger, readily.
God sees our vulnerability way beyond our own illusions of control. When we praise Him we remember that it was our vulnerability that brought us to see our need for a Savior. Our hope is, and always will be, in God alone. Praise not only honors our God, but it tells our whole being that we are never alone, we are His.

Lord, help us praise you through all of our emotions, and be reminded of the Hope we have in you that never leaves.

We need to respond to the pain that is being expressed everywhere, even in the self indulgence of the evil taking advantage of the situations presently. Everyone has a tipping point, a threshold after which they can no longer accept the pain, whether physical or emotional. 

Whether that pain is personal or empathic, as Christians our work is to do what Jesus did and wants.That is healing, listening, bringing peace, and establishing righteousness. God cares deeply about justice, and we are never to turn a blind eye to injustice, especially of those more vulnerable or oppressed. He cares deeply about showing mercy, and we are to bring that as a gift wherever we go.
Jesus can rebuke the winds and waves, and can calm this sea of anger and erupted emotion which is stemming from a pressure cooker of suffering, mixed with frustration, anger and indignation. God's opportunity is amidst this storm. Quiet is not enough. The voice of pain must have it's day. And change is being birthed. Christ's healing grace, through forgiveness and love is the only answer that prevents us going back under the silent strength of sin. Let's be part of the healing.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10:29‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Yesterday while eating on the deck, we saw the tiniest bird land on the feeder. He all but disappeared beneath it's lip. Sometimes we all have the feeling of being very small and unseen. We might sense the world around us swirling and we are just not really a part of it. Now being mostly inside, that is accented for some, possibly even while physically or emotionally struggling.
Jesus has a keen eye for those who feel invisible. Thinking he would be hidden by the branches, Zaccheus climbed a tree to see Jesus. But, Jesus stopped, looked up and in to his eyes, and called Zaccheus to join Him. Jesus told the the disciples not to be afraid as they go out in to the world for Him, because not even a sparrow will fall without the Father caring for it.
Nothing about you or your life is insignificant to our Father. Whether holed up in your home, behind a mask, or alone in a bed with illness, our Father sees you and is with you. 

Lord help us remember that you see everything and we are never alone.

Remember When...

When we recycle doubt and fear clips the wings of our faith, there is one discipline that can bring back perspective that is laid in truth. And that is retelling the stories of God's faithfulness, mercy and grace to ourselves and others. The stories from our own lives are profound and can be shared along with the stories from the Word. They not only memorialize God's work, bringing Him glory, but they restore the lessons and the truths that God intended to teach us in the moment. While we need new manna everyday and cannot live in the past, we do need to build upon the life God has offered us. Our lives are to grow and develop. Peter went from denying Jesus three times, to dying for him upside down on a cross. Our lives are journeys on which we are to pick up more and more treasures until we see how they fit together in to a beautiful portrait of God's nature. Our portraits will still be marred and smudged a bit, and maybe even a bit like a Picasso with pieces seeming to be in the wrong place. But nothing is lost. When we recall the stories where God made Himself more apparent–or we just paid more attention–we renew the faith and truth of God in our souls–and physically in our brains. Our spirit's are alive, but we fade elsewhere without restoring the vision of God in and for our lives. That vision deteriorates with the daily impact of competing world views, and basic human nature of sin. We may walk through the same cycle of doubt, fear, or discouragement as we have in our past. Our faith may lay dormant, but as we remind ourselves and others of the time when…our faith is reawakened and we can continue to to grow. Maturity in the faith, and our own well being rely on telling our stories.

Following in Faith

“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11:8‬ ‭
Today, many of us feel stuck, on hold, even in retreat. We are not sure where we are going. In fact, we are certain we are not going anywhere, as we sit in our homes, hoping that this grave circumstance will change and we can go–somewhere! Even those who are out and serving in the health crisis are managing in a state of uncertainty. But God is always leading us somewhere. Faith is staying the course with God even when we don't have any idea where we are going. How we do that is unique to each. Some have heard from the Lord, others are leaning on the promises we read in The Word, while still others yield the day, the circumstances, or the questions to the Lord in prayer. There are endless combinations, as well. We are all called to follow and serve in a myriad of different ways. However you are following Him, there is a promise fulfilled at the end. He is faithful. As His family, we are promised an inheritance in Jesus. In the gray mist of this present life, we can remember that however confused or lost we might feel, Jesus is not lost. And our obedience to God's call will bring us to the place where we belong. 

Lord, as we tread through uncertainty, help us stay full of faith, and remember the place you are leading us is altogether good.

Taking Every thought Captive

Thankfully I realize I do not need to listen to everything that comes into my head. While always wanting to hear God, I have, at times, pressed in too hard. He will make His voice known. The question is not whether I hear, but whether I recognize it and listen to it. But plenty comes in: Thoughts I heard from others in the past, lines that came from news, memories from my life, inane thoughts that do not bear listening to, sinful responses that need to float out, and opinions that sometimes are worth repeating, but often are not filled with the wisdom and knowledge necessary to make them useful. But my feelings and thoughts still matter. And what I think is worth acknowledgment. Because God made me and you. I just do not need to pay much attention to everything. But–when I hear that “voice,” the impression of a word, a name, a song that is well timed, not something I would normally think or even know the meaning of, I take notice. Images that stand out from others, and align with scripture–those I need to see. And gratitude that emerges needs air time. These arrive from a space that this world is still working on understanding. It is not exclusively my brain. It is God's Spirit in me and spiritual beings around me. Those of us who have experienced enough to know God speaks today, and that there is a spiritual realm, a dimension we have yet discovered scientifically, know to listen. God uses our brains to reach in to us. But noise comes in too, which is why discernment is so important.

When my own thoughts conform to God's righteousness, I need to listen to my inner voice that is clear and synthesizes and sifts to offer ideas, thoughts, solutions, perceptions, and awarenesses needed to live. But we need each other to check ourselves, test our thoughts, and understand what brings value and what does not. Together we bring the various perspectives of God in His majestic diversity. We alone can never do that. He did not intend it that way. Together we make up the body of Christ. He is the head, and He speaks.

Am I on a reverie? Sift my words and ask God, because without you, I am not sure.

Fear of Giving in to Fear

When the men of that place asked him about his wife, he said, “She is my sister,” because he was afraid to say, “She is my wife.” He thought, “The men of this place might kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is beautiful.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭26:3, 7, 31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It is interesting that God had just spoken to Isaac that He was going to bless him due to his father Abraham's obedience; and that he would make Isaac's descendants “as numerous as the stars in the sky and will give them all these lands.” Yet, when he came in to Gerar, Isaac still lied to the leaders that Rebecca was is sister, because he was afraid they would kill him. So, despite the word God had just given him, he was fearful of death, and he even sinned to protect himself and his wife. Was he thinking that the promise would end because of this encounter with these people, and he had to take it in his hands to make sure that didn't happen? Was he trying to use his best wisdom to preserve his life and therefore the promise? Was he just acting out of anxiety and fear, impulsively and protecting himself? Regardless, God did not hold this against him or nullify his promise. He did not punish him or reduce his blessing. He turned the situation to good, and delivered on the promise he had made to both Abraham and Isaac, Isaac's behavior not withstanding. Is that because Isaac's intentions were good? Is it because God just showed him mercy? Is it because God knows our weaknesses and that we will not be perfect? is it because God understands the nature of fear, despite faith? Is it because no matter what, that God will never backtrack on His word? Probably all of these and more. Our ways are not his ways. But as we falter in our own weaknesses, and get afraid despite what we know from the word of God, we can remember that God is not put off by our frailty. He will not condemn what he has already saved. And he is not seeking to pin us when we stumble. He has plans for us, to give us a future and hope as we follow him. He never changes.

“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?””

Mark 4:39-40 NIV

Did Jesus say "why are you so afraid, do you still have no faith" because they could have stood up in His name and said Quiet be still? Or because they were afraid when they could have just awakened Jesus and asked Him to take care of this? Or because they should no longer be afraid of drowning; He who was with them was more powerful than death and can overcome it? The question here is faith in what? Faith in Jesus, that He is who He said He is, which means that they didn't realize who was with them. Fear has no place when the one who can conquer all and is over all is with you. He is bigger than creation. He rules it. Remember the fig tree? He cursed it and it withered. He has the power to overcome anything that is part of His creation. If we are with Him we need not fear. It's in this time where His Holy Spirit is with us, and He is not visible that we fear again. But since we have access to Him through asking Father in His name, He is always with us in our circumstances and we still need not fear. He didn't come to say only have faith now while I'm in the boat. He came to say have faith always, and bring His kingdom and will to earth. 

Jesus has rulership and authority over all the earth. Come and quiet the storm. Turn it all to good, and restore and redeem what has been lost. 

You first Lord. Your will.

Praying

During this fast asking God to take the 1/2 million people that they claim will die from corona virus and transfer it to 1/2 million people who will be saved in a new great awakening. When praying what came out of my mouth was 5 million! I am going to believe for that. Nothing we ask of God is ignored.

Praying that the Head will cleanse and wash the Body now and grant us a great revival in the church, as well.

What's center stage

As winter approaches with chill in the air and forecasts of icy precipitation, unexpectedly outside my front door is a flock of robins clustering in a small tree that still has berries popping forth. The sun is shining in through the window and the chirping of the happy birds sets the day on a hopeful note, despite the forecasts. How often do we forecast our own days to be gloomy and stressful, rather than tuning in to the hopeful sounds just outside the doors of our preoccupied minds? The birds have now flown off, and the sun is dimming, but the energy in me they sparked lifts me to overcome anticipated challenges of the day. What we give center stage to in our minds will influence all we say and do. 

How much more will refreshing our hearts, every morning, on the steadfast love God has for us, lift us to be more than we limit ourselves to be.