A Bend in the Road

My sister has noticed something about me. She saw a picture of a tree-lined road leading out of sight which I had recently hung over my sofa. “You like pathways,” she said. “New beginnings.” I had never really thought about it. But today as I paid for two new mini-prints, one of a flower-lined pathway, the other of a road flanked by gorgeous trees in all of their fall glory, I had to admit there’s a theme emerging here.

The Bible says that the end of a thing is better than its beginning. I have always thought that meant that it’s good to finish what you start. As a confirmed ADD hobbyist, project-doer and house cleaner, I like that scripture. I would love to learn to employ it. However, I also love the passage of scripture in Ecclesiastes which states that there is a season for everything. I guess each new season of life is something like a brand new roadway leading into the unknown. The mystery there, the freshness of a new opportunity, really appeals to me.

Wouldn’t life be boring if we always knew exactly what was up ahead? It certainly would be for me.  We bought a motorcycle last week. The plan is to explore the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. I can already see all of those beautiful roads cutting through the park, not a sign of development in sight, a canopy of green arching over me or, in the fall, the reds, yellows and oranges exploding above while a cool breeze makes me happy to be alive. The corny little bit about enjoying the journey that we see in every gift shop on every conceivable piece of artwork really is true. It really is.

At every single bend in the road we have yet another opportunity. Will we seize the occasions for growth, joy, living life and our individual callings to the fullest? Will we return God’s tight embrace, feel His power beneath our dreams? Or will we head back the way we came, or perhaps even sit down by the side of the road, watching in jealous angst as others speed by, laughing and making a party of their experience with the Lord who loves them passionately? We do have a choice. We really do.

It occurred to me recently that every single time I have heard the Lord speaking to me directly, I have had a choice. I could obey and dive into the most amazing, fulfilling adventure of a lifetime, or I could back myself into a closet of broken dreams and unfulfilled wishes, of unreached potential and wasted abilities and opportunities.  I love all of my hobbies, but they are stress-relievers, not the main event. I love to shop, but that’s a diversion. It’s time to be about the things and the people who make up the meat of the sandwich of life! It’s time to shine. Not in an ego-centric way, but in a God-glorifying way!

Waking Dreams

Have you ever wondered where dreams originate? I don't mean the dreams that you have while sleeping, those disjointed, sometimes terrifying, oft-times humorous sequences that let our complex minds work out what is going on with us. I mean the dreams that are always just under the surface of every life.

The waking dreams. We are all a tad jealous of people who dare to throw themselves into the fulfillment of their wildest dreams, and, through hard work and perseverance, watch them flower beautifully, fully. Every one of us wants to be that person who threw caution to the wind (and, in some cases, sleep) to capture the elusive butterfly of fulfillment.

Fulfillment. For the believer, it's in Christ alone. Truly. However, in our pursuit of the Lord, we will fulfill our God-given dreams. Yes, you heard me right. People who are seeking Jesus with all of their hearts will have their dreams realized. Fully. Beautifully. Right here on this broken sod.

How do I know this? Because I truly believe that Jesus, the lover of our souls, puts dreams in each of us, then provides the means by which they are accomplished. Look, he set those stars in the night sky, the ones that are the perfect backdrop for the black silhouette of the tall evergreens in my backyard on a gorgeous spring evening. He is all about beauty. He is all about mystery. He is in everything fulfilling, everything exciting. He is in our hearts' greatest desires when our hearts are aligned with HIS!!! This should not be news to us as believers, but it probably is to most of you. We think anything that is not dour and harsh is not godly. Sorry to burst your piety bubble. I just can't operate like that.

Whatever is gnawing at you is your destiny. What in this wide world do you have to lose by giving Jesus your all...time, talents and faith in His provision. Invest your entire life portfolio into His plan for your life.Let. Him. Surprise. YOU! Your cup will run over.  He will provide a return you could not have had had you charted your own, safe course. A friend of mine once said to me (and I think he was quoting yet another dear soul) "If you can do it without God, it's not God." Translation: If I can accomplish it under my own steam, I have not followed God's plan and will for my life. He wants us to dream big and then to do big...and then to praise big and give Him all of the glory.

Hot Pavement

When I was a kid, hot pavement meant something awesome to me. It meant that it was SUMMERTIME! The living was E.A.S.Y. I'm talking kindergarten through third grade here. Not much expected of me. I remember chucking shoes to the wind and going barefoot all summer long. I remember riding my bike, swimming, watching television or, glory of glories: READING! The best thing about summer was the lack of structure. I lived for that freedom. It was a mighty big deal to me. Okay, okay, I was a super-lazy, pleasure-oriented kid. I know that. But I still enjoy thinking about the joy I felt when the last couple of weeks of school rolled around. I knew that glorious freedom was right around the corner.

Hot pavement means something different to me this morning. I think it may have been Beth Moore, or some other super-talented, very famous Christian teacher or writer who first planted the word picture in my head of the reality of the hot pavement of life. What he or she meant was that actually walking out the principles of scripture on the hot pavement of real life isn't nearly as pleasant as chatting about them among friends with a plate of cookies in one's lap. Not nearly as easy, mind you.

Pavement is hottest for me when it's good and time for me to stretch out into my calling, dust my gifts and get busy with the body of Christ. That's when I love to head to the online mall, so to speak. Get shopping. Get to chatting on Facebook. Get my hobbies in overdrive. Anything but confront my responsibilities in Christ. It's called REBELLION, folks. Being the god (extra little "g") of my own life. Pretending to innocently pursue fun stuff when, in actuality, I am disobeying God. Flat. Out.

Don't' want to load any of you with condemnation this morning. Heaven knows (and the Bible says) that it was for freedom that Christ set us free. However, if you say you love the Lord and yet live your life in opposition to what you KNOW He is calling you to do, you are living in rebellion to the Holy Spirit (I should know).

You are cheating yourself of the abundant life Jesus so badly wants to shower upon you!!! Don't do it!!! Plan your day in accordance with prayer and the Word of God. Meet with Him early. Do that thing He is urging you to do. Do it. Just do it.

God is With Us

Neck-jerk day. Wow! Went to a power-packed Bible study filled with godly women who know what they are about in Christ and led by an anointed lady. Went to the bathroom...left the stall thinking about how I hate to see myself in the light of that particular room as it makes my hair look its worst only to have a lovely young lady I have never seen before enter the church restroom and say "I love your hair. It is beautiful. The way it lays on your shoulders, just looks so nice." My response in the spirit is "!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" That's all I have. God just keeps using the body of Christ to build me up, prop me up, hold me up! He loves me enough to CLAP his hand over the devil's mouth just as the last ember of life is leaking out of me.

God has some amazing plans for me. I don't just know this because Jeremiah 29:11 tells me this. I know this because the devil is fighting hard to immobilize and tranquilize and kill me. I know this because God is actively reaching out to me, communicating with me and loving me. I know this because my spirit leaps up within me whenever I think about my God-given destiny. The mystery of it is even beautiful to me. The fact that it will be revealed bit by precious bit.

I drove into my driveway straight into a pit of disappointment, broken dreams and same-old-same-old struggle. I was immediately confronted with the hardships I have been reeling from for going on two years. I did not respond in a faith-filled, God-honoring manner. I, in all of my mighty warrior-like praying confidence, TOOK A NAP!

Might warrior indeed. I am happy to report to all of you battle-weary Christians that we don't have to look, act or seem like we are mighty for God to see us that way. The angel of the Lord appeared to Gideon and referred to him as a "mighty warrior," telling him that God was with him. Gideon's faith-filled response was: "...if the Lord is with us, why has all of this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our ancestors told us about..." (Judges 6:13, NIV)

The Israelites had been plundered by the Midianites and were living in caves and hiding places in the mountains. God had victory in store, and he used Gideon to bring that about, even though, as Gideon pointed out to the angel, his clan was the least important in the tribe of Manasseh and he himself was the "least" in the family.

Wherever you are in the journey of your life, God will use you if you let him. He will give the task and then the strength to carry it out!!! Trust him! When you fail (as I did today), dust yourself off and JUST KEEP WALKING. Never stop walking.

Getting Free Means Facing Fear

As I walked into the brilliant sunshine of my backyard to check on my beautiful little rabbit who was enjoying the perfect spring temperature, I had an epiphany just now.

I had just decided to put some parameters on some of my leisure time activities so that I will be more productive. I realize that I have, once again, become a slave to some of my fun pursuits which, in moderation, are perfectly innocent. I have made similar resolves before, always to my benefit. It occurred to me as I enjoyed my backyard and the wonderful fresh air that freedom is, well, it can be SCARY.

This realization helped me to understand, in that moment, a lot of human foibles, addictions, shackles. Bondage to anything (depression, fear, hobbies, drugs, alcohol, relationships, work, religion, etc.) is relentless, cruel, painful and heavy. It can also feel VERY, VERY SAFE. Not much is expected because the burden is so heavy. We can't possibly move under the load. We are excused from the adventure of life to the fullest, which could mean that we cannot fail. If we are immobilized, who would expect us to go anywhere, be anything? We cannot lose what we have no ability to gain. Very safe.

I am excited about what I'll be able to do with my free time and energy now that I have decided, once again, to toss my shackles. I'm a little nervous, too! That's okay. Goes with the territory. Might mean fewer regrets!!!! WILL mean fewer regrets, richer memories, closer walk with the Lord.

NEVER ALONE! Always triumphant in Christ!

Sometimes we wake up to an experience that literally tips our little red wagon. Dumps us out onto the pavement of God's amazing plan. Instead of feeling hurt, like a little kid would if that actually happened to them, we are filled with the excitement of His amazing thoughts toward us. He SEES us!! Wow!

This happened to me yesterday. I'll share. A few weeks ago I was headed to an appointment I flat-out dreaded. As I mounted the interstate, I heard Kari Jobe singing "I Am Not Alone." The words leapt out of my radio. I felt God was speaking to me through them, and I smiled. Later I asked Him to have us sing it at my bible study if He was, in fact, speaking to me through the lyrics. The morning of the study I cranked my car, only to have Kari's voice permeate the atmosphere with that sweet, sweet song. Okay, Lord, message received!

But He was not finished. Fast forward a couple of weeks. Yesterday I read a text from a friend who has recently passed the nurse practitioner's licensing exam. She said she had been buoyed by several songs on the way to the exam, including one that reminded her that she was not alone! I excitedly tapped her number into my cell! When she answered, I said "Sherry? Sherry?" ... the woman on the other end said "Wait a minute, I'll get her!" Sherry picked up the line. I launched into my story about Kari Jobe's song! Sherry began to talk about why she posted that song to her Facebook when I realized that I had another Sherry. I told her I had dialed the wrong number but could not believe this was coincidence. She assured me that nothing like this is....it is all part of God's design. She asked me if I was from California. Apparently, I had not even dialed her cell number, but she was with whoever's number I had dialed. Are we alone? Are we who are in Christ EVER alone?

I think not!!

Safe in the Tower of God's Love

I've been listening to a challenging sermon series on spiritual warfare. The pastor knocked me out of my comfort zone when he stressed that we are not to be afraid. We are to be like David, who was a mere boy bearing only a slingshot when he faced the mighty warrior-giant Goliath! It bolstered me when the pastor reminded his listeners that David answered Goliath's challenge in this decisive manner: "'You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.'"( I Samuel 17:45, New International Version)

The name of the Lord Almighty. There is power in that name. When we are facing seemingly INSURMOUNTABLE odds, we can rest assured that this, my dear friends, is when God will show up. He delights in this type of rescue. We get none of the glory or credit but our faith is MIGHTILY strengthened. How do I know that God loves to come into a situation that looks hopeless? His word says this about him: "For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him." (II Chron. 16:9, NIV) He is actively looking for an opportunity such as that presented by David and Goliath.

It does not matter what the "giant" is in your life. It does not matter that your resources in the fight are pitifully inadequate. God does his best work when we have exhausted all options. He is a restorer, deliverer, lover of our souls. He will act in our behalf to protect, deliver, strengthen and refresh. He will make the broken path smooth. He will, in short, make a way where there is no way. He has a plan to use every single life for his glory. Our callings are fulfilling, exciting and tailor-made for each of us. Satan can try to intervene, but bless God through prayer and by standing on His word we will prevail against our enemy not in our own strength, but in the power of the Almighty God living in us and working through us. We will have fruitful, enjoyable, blessed lives if we will hang onto the faith that comes by hearing God's word! He has spoken victory over each of us.

Back to that all-important phrase David uttered: "I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty".  In saying this, David underscored that he was not attempting this challenge in his own pitiful strength with that basic slingshot. He also underscored the absolute authority and utterly matchless power of the name of the Lord. Proverbs 18:10 says "The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe."

The very next time Satan throws a lie in your face about the hopelessness of your situation and then backs it up with an event that he has orchestrated, run into the tower of safety that is the name of the Lord. Apply that name in prayer to the situation. Take the battle one step further: after you have run into the tower of the name of Jesus, press the button (hey, it's 2015) and raise the drawbridge. Let the devil slip into the moat that is the blood of Jesus, which forms a protective hedge around us. Then live in that tower of safety, praying your way straight through to victory. Along the way, encourage other believers. We are all in the cross-hairs. The good news is that Christ fights our battles for us as we live in him in complete trust and obedience.