trust.

“Trust God from the very bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure everything out on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life!”

Proverbs 3:5-7, The Message

God is in charge

“Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.” Matthew 6:13 RSV

“Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever.” What protection this . . . phrase affords. As you confess that God is in charge, you admit that you aren’t. As you proclaim that God has power, you admit that you don’t. And as you give God all the applause, there is none left to dizzy your brain.  ~Max Lucado

You just gotta love Max……he just knows how to put it, doesn’t he?!!  Establish Who’s in charge today – and enjoy it.

Romans

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life – your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking – around life – and place it before God as an offering.  Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for Him.  Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking.  Instead, fix your attention on God.  You’ll be changed from the inside out . . . . .”  Romans 12:1-2 the message

birthday joy!!!

Mark Mitchel!!! Happy Birthday!!!!  I cannot believe a quarter of a century has passed since you were born!  Honestly, still having trouble with the fact that you are grown and living in an entirely different state that your mom!!!  smile.  I love it, though, cause I know you are listening to God, and doing as He has called you.  There truly is not greater joy than that.  (“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” 3 John 1:4)  So, I can find joy in your life lived there cause I know you are living it for God. So, happy birthday!  I remember the day you were born, I was so very eager to meet you.  I knew someone wonderful would join our family.  I was right.

You have blessed me beyond measure.  Blessed all of us.  You have always cared about others, and loved well.  You make me laugh.  You also just flat out tell me when I’m doing something dumb.  You love sports.  And UT sports especially.  (That’s Texas, not Tennessee. duh.)   You are handsome, and godly, and altogether wonderful.  I love that your favorite Orange cake is in the oven.  That means you are on my couch right now, watching Texas basketball.  And that makes me full of joy.  No, not full.  Overflowing.  yep, that’s it – overflowing joy.  That’s what you are to me.  Happy Birthday, son.  I love you so.

one Scripture

“We pondered your love-in-action, God, waiting in your temple: Your name, God, evokes a train of Hallelujahs wherever it is spoken, near and far; Your arms are heaped with goodness-in-action.” (Psalm 48:9-10, The Message)

hard to grasp

It stunned me.  It came as a total shock.  And even though I’ve now seen it, still finding it hard to believe it has actually happened. . . .

~before I continue, let me assure you that I have NOT stopped thinking/praying for Haiti since the quake.  my heart is torn over the images, and the thoughts of what they are going through right this minute.  Even more personally, my dear friends the Iveys, and the Parkers, each have a son in Haiti waiting to come home.  I love them, and love their boys.  I ache for them to be able to bring them home……I am totally overwhelmed for each of you who have a tie to people there, or are waiting for news on a loved one.  That said, the following is just a glimpse of other news that has rocked me this week (obviously on a much smaller scale). . . .

My Randall’s.  By it’s name, it may just sound like any other grocery store to you.  I’ll grant you that.   But to me, it’s a place where I spent a good deal of my time in the last 31 years.  The very same store.  With some of the same people I’ve known for these three plus decades.  The names and faces of those I’ve shared life with while also supplying a busy household with food and other necessities.  I often called it my mission field, however, honestly, I do not know of any life that I witnessed actually getting saved while I was there.  I just know it was one of the places where I loved to practice my “loving God and loving others”.  I knew them. They knew me.

My Randall’s closed this week.  I had stopped by that store Monday after work(just 7 days ago), it’s so convenient as I drive by, it’s on the right side of the street, easy in, easy out.  Picked up a few things.  As normal as any other time, it seemed.  Then Wednesday morning, I hear the news of its closing, and felt so stunned.  So shocked.  That very morning, they were selling all goods for 50% off.  I actually couldn’t bring myself to make it in there.  not at least for a few days.  I heard tales of shopping nightmares – no carts, lines so long it took 3 hours to check out, etc.  I really wasn’t sure I could handle it.

But, yesterday after church, I decided to brave it, and go.  I had a check to cash (my bank is inside), and thought I’d see what was left that I could buy.  Took my favorite daughter with me.  :)  Hoping it would help diffuse the pain of seeing my store closing.  The sight of armed security outside was my first indication that this trip would be vastly different that any of the others I had experienced.  He greeted us, telling us that as of last night, the store was closed.  That’s right.  I missed it.  Done.  finished.  final.  My bank was still open, and I could go in and do my banking.  wow.  The sight was so sad to this heart who loved this store.  Very little on the shelves, and what was left I was told they were packing up for other stores in the city.   All my people are gone.  I’ve been told they all have jobs at other stores, but I didn’t get to see them one last time.  I didn’t get to say good-bye.

I did my banking, then left.  Wanting to cry, if I’m totally honest with you.  But I knew Sara would make such fun of that.  So, we drove across the street to the other store.  The one that for years and years I’ve tried to avoid.  the one that starts with K.  It wasn’t pleasant.  I’m not gonna lie to you, this will not be easy.  I have so many things in my life changing – a season of lots of changes – I surely did not want this one.  Or ask for it.  Nor  was I prepared for it.  But it came all the same.  In the matter of a handful of days, this one aspect of my life as I’ve known it my entire adult life changed.  I will surely get over it.  But I doubt that I will ever find a place like that again.  Did I appreciate it while it was here?  absolutely.  Will I miss knowing where every item is in that beloved store?  You know it – as I wandered through another store today, wishing I knew where an item was, I remembered how many people I loved helping through the years in my store that looked a little lost – I’d direct them to whatever they were looking for.  I don’t know, I guess I am just missing the simple really.  It was home.

So thankful my God does not change.

James 1:17
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”

Hebrews 13:8
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”  That’s really all I need.  ever.  blessings to you.

a short devo for you

Le Me prepare you for the day that stretches out before you.  I know exactly what this day will contain, whereas you have only vague ideas about it.  You would like to see a map, showing all the twists and turns of your journey.  You’d feel more prepared if you could somehow visualize what is on the road ahead.  However, there is a better way to be prepared for whatever you will encounter today: Spend quality time with Me.

I will not show you what is on the road ahead, but I will thoroughly equip you for the journey.  My living Presence is your Companion each step of the way.  Stay in continual communication with Me, whispering My Name whenever you need to redirect your thoughts.  Thus, you can walk through this day with your focus on Me.  My abiding Presence is the best road map available.

Exodus 33:14  ”God said, “My presence will go with you. I’ll see the journey to the end.”

John 15:4-7

“Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can’t bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can’t bear fruit unless you are joined with me. I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.”

~from Jesus Calling devotional

another word from Max

If we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4:12 NIV

God loves you. Personally. Powerfully. Passionately. Others have promised and failed. But God has promised and succeeded.

He loves with you with an unfailing love. And his love – if you will let it – can fill you and leave you with a love worth giving.

~Max Lucado

passion 2010

While so many people are thinking of New Year’s Eve plans, over 20,000 college students are preparing to head to Atlanta, GA for a gathering of worship,study, and celebration of all that God is.  It is one of the most phenomenal things I’ve ever seen.  Brings tears to my eyes.  God must be so eager to see it as well!  I mean, seriously, so many young people gathering together to edify the name of Jesus – it’s stunning to say the least.  God honoring.  Spirit strengthening.

I have the wonderful gift of being able to go serve this generation of Christ followers, and I can hardly wait.  I’ve volunteered a couple of times before, and look so forward to this whole experience.   Thank you to my understanding husband, who lavishes me with this gift of time away from him so that I can serve my Jesus in this way.

Excitingly, you can join along, not with live stream, but a few hours delayed streamed video.  Go to 268generation.com/passion2010 to see the video – I’ve been told that it will only be available for about 24 hours afterwards, so check it out periodically between Jan 2-5th.  Will you please pray?  For those traveling to Atlanta for this great gathering, for Louie Giglio and the entire Passion team, and all speakers and leaders – there are so many! – also for the volunteers, and even event staff, who work at the venue for any event – may they be touched, and brought to Christ.

I believe this is a powerful way to start the new year, and am thrilled to be able to share it with my Adam.  Happy New Year – remember to start it with God – to Him be all glory, honor, and praise!

“Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. ”  Isaiah 26:8

Trust the Lord

Perhaps I will have time for a Christmas update soon, but until then, here’s one of the ways the Lord spoke to me this morning.  From the devotional book, Jesus Calling.

“Trust Me with every fiber of your being!  What I can accomplish in and through you is proportional to how much you depend on Me.  One aspect of this is the degree to which you trust Me in a crisis or major decision.  Some people fail miserably here, while others are at their best in tough times.  Another aspect is even more telling: the constancy of your trust in Me.  People who rely on Me in the midst of adversity may forget about Me when life is flowing smoothly.  Difficult times can jolt you into awareness of your need for Me, whereas smooth sailing can lull you into the stupor of self-sufficiency.

I care as much about your tiny trust-steps through daily life as about your dramatic leaps of faith.  You may think that no one notices, but the One who is always beside you sees everything – and rejoices.  Consistently trusting in Me is vital to flourishing in My Presence.”

Psalm 40:4; Psalm 56:3-4; Psalm 62:8; Isaiah 26:3-4

Enjoy your day.  Trust the Lord.