Footprints

Why is it that when we look at our lives and see two sets of footprints, we relax, tend to breathe easier and rest in the knowledge that no matter what the problem or situation, God is in the midst? Why is the waiting maybe not easier, but less frenzied, heart-racing and panicked?

If we truly believe that God is who He says He is, can and will do what He says He can and will do, is not man that can lie, will never default on His promises - including the one to never leave nor forsake us and is at the very core of His being LOVE, why do we flip out when all we can see is this:




Just something to think about.

Faith never denies reality but leaves room for God to grant a new reality. - Jim Cymbala

Show me Your ways, O LORD, teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long.

Talk to you soon, friend.

Dear gracious

Stuck is an awful place to be. News, right?

Last week Chris told me the story about the little girl stuck up in the tree and her dad's standing below with his arms out telling her to jump. He just stands there as long as it takes, waiting. I feel like God's said, "Call me when you're ready" and gone inside.

You would think the longer you put it off, the easier it would be to jump, the more you would want to come down. Exhausted, worn down, ready to get back to life ... Guess I've got to move first, right?

Song of the day: Fall down on me, draw me to my knees. Pour over me deeper than the sea. Rain on me with love until I drown. I need You to fall down.

Song of Hope

I've heard it said before by quite a few people, that there comes a point when you have to decide for yourself what you believe. Not just surfacey stuff, but deep down in your gut, would bet your life on believe. I thought I'd had that moment already. Maybe if I had, I'd be able to put my finger on it and say this is when I knew without a doubt.

It's so easy to believe God when everything's sunny, when things are easy and going just as planned. It's such a challenge when things start to go south. Even with all of the crap that I put Him through, He never ceases to amaze me, to stick by me and say, no matter what happens, I love you, and I'm not going to let you go. Just wait and see. We can plug it out day by day, I don't care. I just want you to know how much I love you and will always love you. I wish you wouldn't doubt it, doubt Me. Believe He loves me, and know in my heart what that means. And RECEIVE His love, not just know about it and understand it.

Maybe then I can say this: I am Yours regardless of the clouds that may loom above because You are much greater than the pain. You who made a way for me, suffering Your destiny. So tell me, what's a little rain? So I pray bring me joy, bring me peace, bring the chance to be free. Bring me anything that brings You glory. And I know there'll be days when this life brings me pain, but if that's what it takes to praise You, Jesus, bring the rain.

Doesn't MercyMe say it well?

I bought this shirt from Jesus Branded - The King and I (Psalm 108:6). The text description says No matter where you are, you cannot escape the reach of our God. Should you fall, His loving hand will be there to catch you, for you are his beloved and he is your King. At the top of the shirt near the collar is a falling body. At the tail are two large hands, cupped and ready to catch the falling girl. It reminds me of the faith fall. I don't know how many times I've climbed up on the little platform, put my heels over the edge, folded my arms across my chest and leaned back into a group's zippered arms. So many times I've done it without thinking, even volunteered to go last because I knew it wouldn't be difficult. This time though, every muscle in my body is tense. Even though everyday He reminds me that I am His beloved, I think He'll tire of me fighting Him, and pull His hands away. A friend of mine said the other day that He'll be there with His arms (or hands) open waiting until I decide to let go (or lean back), He's not going anywhere.

Just something to think about. Talk to you soon, friend.

Leaps and bounds

Hey Jerry,

You said want and desire are not the same thing, that we often want what we want instead of what He desires for us, and the difference is that there's no I in HE. And I pondered. Where do you think that getting to the place where what you want is what He desires comes from? What helps you to get there? Is it merely faith? Is it being truly satisfied in Him?

I read this today from Beth Moore: "Believe it or not, the ultimate goal God has for us is not power but personal intimacy with Him. Yes, God wants to bring us healing, but more than anything, He wants us to know our Healer. Yes, He wants to give us resurrection life, but more than that, He wants us to know the Resurrection and the Life...His chief objective is to keep us connected entirely to Him...My Father, You are the Lord my God. I desire to love You, listen to Your voice, and hold fast to You, for You, Lord, are my life. The giant step in the walk to faith is the one we take when we decide God no longer is a part of our lives. He is our life."

You've told me before, and maybe now I realize it. Somedays I think this is my "how much do you trust Me" moment. And I'm sure you're right, when I'm through, I will understand in a new way what depending on God, Him being enough, means. Maybe it's all a part of taking that giant step.

Talk to you soon, friend.