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Dancing With God
When I meditated on the word
Guidance,
I kept seeing "dance" at the end of
the word.
I remember reading that doing God's
will is a lot like dancing.
When two people try to lead, nothing
feels right.
The movement doesn't flow with the
music,
and everything is quite
uncomfortable and jerky.
When one person realizes that, and
lets the other lead,
both bodies begin to flow with the
music.
One gives gentle cues, perhaps with
a nudge to the back
or by pressing lightly in one
direction or another.
It's as if two become one body,
moving beautifully.
The dance takes surrender,
willingness,
and attentiveness from one person
and gentle guidance and skill from
the other.
My eyes drew back to the word
Guidance.
When I saw "G": I thought of God,
followed by "u" and "i".
"God, "u" and "i" dance." God, you,
and I dance.
As I lowered my head, I became
willing to trust
that I would get guidance about my
life.
Once again, I became willing to let
God lead.
My prayer for you today is that
God's blessings
and mercies are upon you on this day
and everyday.
May you abide in God, as God abides
in you.
Dance together with God, trusting
God to lead
and to guide you through each season
of your life.
−Source unknown
(via email)
Consider this… As we
accept our assignment in life realizing God is in control and
surrender to His instruction to forgive, we can joyfully trust
and surrender to His lead.
“You changed my mourning into dancing."
— Psalm 30:2
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Five Words That
Can Change Your Life
This year I've been meditating
on how to make the Presence of Jesus more of a reality in my
everyday life. I firmly believe that if we knew that God was
in us and with us, we would not be so afraid, or bored, so
lonely, or lost. We would not be seeking pleasure in sinful
ways, or stuffing ourselves full of food or spending our money
on more and more things, or looking for love in all the wrong
places. Our lives would be rich and meaningful and full of
purpose and direction. Jesus told us, "I have come that they
might have life and have it abundantly (John 10:10)."
But truth be told, most of us,
even as believers, don't live in that reality. Before Jesus left
this world and His disciples to ascend into heaven, He said five
words that changed their lives. He said, "I am with you
always." (Matthew 28:20)
Let's look at these five simple
words more closely and see how they can change us too.
He said, "I am with you always."
Who exactly is making this claim? Jesus says this after
His resurrection and the disciples now are starting to get the
big picture. He is not just their friend, their companion, their
teacher. Nor is He a religious leader or future king of Israel.
Jesus proved that He is the Son of God. He is the great I AM.
He is the one who is omniscient, and omnipresent. He is
sovereign, He is love, and He is good. It is HE who promises
that He is with us always. The disciples realized if God is
for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31).
How about you, dear ones? If
you knew He, the great I AM, is always present with you, what
would you fear? How would you change? What would be different in
the way you lived today?
Not only is Jesus declaring that
the great I AM is with us, but that He IS with us, right here,
right now. He doesn't say He will be with his disciples sometime
in the future, or later on in Heaven but He said "I am (present
tense) with you always. If you believed that Jesus is with you
right now, what difference would that make in the choices you
make today? How would you feel differently?
Jesus told his followers that
"I am with YOU always." Each individual is important to God
and He will never leave or forsakes us (Hebrews 13:5). He is at
our right hand (Psalm 16:8). His Presence is promised. Paul
speaks of that great mystery, Christ in us (Colossians 1, 2).
The reality of that promise is not our biggest problem in our
spiritual journey.
Our problem is that we are not
aware of His Presence. After Jacob's dream where he heard
the Lord promising that He was with him and would protect him,
he awoke from his sleep and said, "Surely the Lord is in this
place, and I wasn't even aware of it." (Genesis 28:16).
How about you? If we only
could only see (be aware) that the great "I AM is with US" it
would make all the difference in how we feel, what we choose,
and how we go about our day. Our step would be lighter, our
eyes brighter, because we would not only be looking at our day
from our own vantage point, but we'd also have the eyes of God
who gives us a wide angle lens on things. He infuses meaning and
purpose into traffic jams and spilt milk, job losses and
relationship pain.
Jesus said, "I am with you
ALWAYS." Not sometimes, not only when you're listening to Him,
not only when you're good and faithful, but ALWAYS. ALWAYS.
ALWAYS. He says He is with us when we're sleeping and when
we're awake. When we're in church and when we're watching
something we shouldn't. He is with us when we are loving on our
children, and when we're screaming at our spouse.
Friends, my prayer is that we
would learn to be more aware that HE is PRESENT ALWAYS.
Knowing God's Presence changes the way we respond to difficult
and stressful life situations. We would not get so angry or
aggravated. We would not feel so alone or rejected. We would
experience peace not chronic anxiety and worry. We would feel
joy instead of emptiness. We would be filled with hope instead
of despair.
Sarah Young, the author of a
wonderful devotional book, Jesus Calling wrote, "A renewed
mind is Presence-focused." I like that. Start today. You are
not alone or helpless. God is with you always. Let your mind
dwell on and heart be filled with this truth. If you do, I
promise, it will change you.
— With permission from Leslie Vernick newsletter,
February 2011,
www.leslievernick.com
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Common Clay or
Cherished Crystal?
After hearing from a
friend that God used an email I had forwarded to encourage her
during a discouraging time, I was again amazed at how God uses
every day experiences to encourage us—personally.
At one point in my
journey, I was feeling like a failure as a pastor’s wife. During
a Pastoral Leadership meeting my husband and I were attending, a
speaker was expressing gratitude to the pastor’s wives for their
service over the years. As I listened, a word picture formed in
my mind. I saw myself as a broken clay pot (not deserving of the
kind comments being made) surrounded by a room full of crystal
vases.
Some weeks later
during our annual church convention, I was given three crystal
vases! One was left on my chair—a gift from our traveling
speaker and his wife. The second was a crystal bowl from my
husband’s brother & sister-in-law. And the third one came from
four widows we had known from a previous church assignment. At
the end of the convention, they pooled their remaining funds to
buy me a gift—a crystal vase!
That experience
carried with it a vivid message enhancing my concept of God,
which desperately needed to change at that time. God tenderly
showed me He knows exactly how we feel and stands ready to
encourage us—personally.
……………………...
Consider this…
Our feelings, which are often not based on truth, can
distort the way we view our heavenly father. He is not an aloof
God. The truth is He is a loving father, who is for us at every
stage of our lives and brings comfort and encouragement to us
though other people. Maybe you also can see God’s encouragement
reaching you through the kindness of others. The Apostle Paul
certainly did.
“Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us
by the coming of Titus…””
— 2 Corinthians 7:6 (NKJV)
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The
Cracked Pot
An elderly Chinese woman had two
large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried
across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it while the
other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of
water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house,
the cracked pot arrived only half full. For two years this went
on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots
of water. Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its
accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own
imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what
it had been made to do.
After two years of what it
perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by
the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my
side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."
The old woman smiled, "Did you
notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not
on the other side? That's because I have always known about your
flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and
every day while we walk back, you water them. For two years I
have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate my
table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not
be this beauty to grace the house."
— Unknown
……………………...
Consider this… Each of us
has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each
have that make our lives together so very interesting and
rewarding. We just need to accept each person for what they are
and look for the good in them.
“Live out your God-created identity. Live generously
and graciously
toward others, the way God lives toward you.”
— Matthew 5:48 (MSG)
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Wake
Up Call
It
was an ordinary day in our pastoral home—our children had left
for school, my husband was working in his office and I was
peacefully cleaning up the kitchen. Everything changed when the
phone rang. A frantic woman from our congregation was on her way
to the hospital with her grown daughter, a mother of two little
ones.
By
the time we arrived at the hospital, the young husband was
signing the death certificate and of course this woman was very
distraught. The two of us slipped into a quiet room reserved for
families and I did what I could to comfort and calm her. My
husband joined the young man who had just lost his wife.
Gradually she did calm down. Though none of us feel truly
adequate at a time like this, I felt I was doing an okay job.
She had calmed down after all, and we were conversing.
Suddenly the door opened and in walked our Assistant Pastor and
his wife, who had lost a teen-aged son several years before.
The two ladies embraced and both burst into tears, sobbing for
some time at a deeply emotional level.
Naturally I started to feel like I had failed miserably. Quickly
reflecting on the short time we had spent together, I realized I
had done an okay job of comforting her. But since I had
never lost anyone close to me at that time, it was unreasonable
to think I could share her grief at that profound level.
God used this moment to enlighten me. I had spent years trying
to get my husband to understand what I was facing as a result of
my difficult background. In that instant I came to realize he
couldn’t understand, because he hadn’t experienced it. It
was unreasonable for me to expect that of him.
Though painful at the moment, this experience showed me that my
expectation of him was actually causing him to feel
inadequate—just as I was feeling in the hospital that day.
……………………...
Consider this… As I
was, are you possibly looking to other people for understanding
and comfort which they simply can’t provide? While they may be
able to sympathize, they may not be able to empathize.
Empathy expresses understanding birthed out of personal
experience. Sympathy just can’t bring comfort like empathy can.
Sometimes it takes years for this realization to sink in—Jesus
is the only one who truly understands and offers the kind of
comfort we need.
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of
compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in
all our troubles,
so
that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we
ourselves
have
received from God.”
— 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)
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Chosen Vessel
The Master was searching for a
vessel to use;
On the shelf there were many—which
one would he choose?
“Take me. I’m shiny and bright,
I’m of great value and I do things
just right.
My beauty and luster will outshine
the rest
The Master passed on with no word at
all;
He looked at a silver urn, narrow
and tall;
“I’ll serve You dear Master, I’ll
pour out Your wine
And I’ll be at Your table whenever
you dine,
My lines are so graceful, my
carvings so true,
And my silver will always compliment
You.”
Unheeding, the Master passed on to
the brass,
It was wide-mouthed, shallow, and
polished like glass.
“Here! Here, “I know I will do,
Place me on Your table for all men
to view.”
“Look at me, I’m made of crystal so
clear,
“My transparency shows my contents
so dear,
Though fragile am I, I will serve
You with pride,
And I’m sure I’ll be happy in Your
house to abide.”
The Master came next to a vessel of
wood,
Polished and carved, it solidly
stood.
“You may use me, dear Master, “But
I’d rather You
used me for fruit, not for bread.”
Then the Master looked down and saw
a vessel of clay.
Empty and broken it helplessly lay.
No hope had the vessel that the
Master might choose,
To cleanse and make whole, to fill
and to use.
“Ah! This is the vessel I’ve been
hoping to find,
I will mend and use it and make it
all Mine.”
“I need not the vessel with pride in
itself;
Nor the one who is narrow to sit on
the shelf;
Nor the one who is big mouthed,
shallow and loud;
Nor the one who thinks he can do all
things just right;
But this plain earthy vessel filled
with My power and might.”
Then gently he lifted the vessel of
clay.
Mended and cleansed it and filled it
that day.
Spoke to it kindly, “There’s work
you must do,
Just pour out to others as I pour
into you.”
— Author Unknown
………………………………
If you are feeling like a
“broken vessel” today, I hope you will be encouraged as you
consider this…
You are a Chosen Vessel. You
have been chosen as a child of God and there’s nothing He
desires more than to gently lift you, mend and cleanse you, and
fill you today. He has work for you to do. Let Him heal you
and speak kindly to you, pouring into you so you can pour out to
others.
“The Lord your God is with you… He
will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with
singing.”
—
Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)
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ABCs to Live By
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A |
Always ALLAY ANGER. This is Satan’s personality,
not God’s. |
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N |
Let NO man take your crown. Your time is NOW.
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B |
Be the BEST you can be. Develop yourself. |
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O |
OPENNESS is lost when there’s a
secret to be kept. You don’t have to keep it. |
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C |
Concentrate on COMPASSION for the ones who have
made your life difficult. |
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P |
PRAY. If you haven’t solved the problem in prayer, you haven’t
solved it. |
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D |
DWELL on the present, not the past. |
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Q |
QUIT degrading yourself and feeling guilty. You’re human, too. |
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E |
Be an ENCOURAGER. Build up others. Everyone needs
it.
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R |
REFUSE to be robbed of any more of your life. Take
responsibility for it. |
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F |
FORGIVE quickly. It’s good for you to be a
forgiving person. |
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S |
SEXUALITY is
God’s gift to you. |
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G |
Look for the GOOD in life. It could always be
worse. |
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T |
THANK God daily for being a loving authority and giving us
victory over sin. |
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H |
With HUMILITY offer a helping hand to those
who are in
need of healing. |
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U |
God made us all UNIQUE. Dare to be who you are in Christ. |
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I |
Use positive IMAGERY to help re-program your
mind. |
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V |
VALUE yourself and others. We are all very valuable to God. |
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J |
Radiate JOY because God is healing you and
helping you become a truly happy person! |
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W |
WEEP when you must. Jesus wept. He felt the suffering of all
mankind. It merits tears. |
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K |
KEEP getting up. We all fall down, but we first
must get up before we can get going. |
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X |
Let God X-RAY your heart. Be completely honest with Him. |
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L |
Learn to LOVE and be LOVEABLE. Trust people to
love you, and they will. |
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Y |
Discover YOURSELF. What are your likes and dislikes? No more
people-pleasing. |
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M |
Old METHODS don’t work now. Abandon them. |
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Z |
ZERO in on maturity. Others don’t deserve immaturity from you. |
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Consider this... list a
straight path on your journey out of the fog of depression and
dysfunction. And be encouraged as you see change in these areas.
“Therefore strengthen the hands
which hang down, and the feeble
knees, and make straight paths
for your feet, so that what is lame
may not be
dislocated, but
rather be healed.”
—
Hebrews 12:12-13 (NKJV)
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