Hope is rising ...

Day is breaking,

Birds are chirping,

And as I listen to the word of this song, I count my blessings:

“You’re the One;

There You go again,

Lifting my heart, lifting my head

Hope is rising, as I see You smiling”

My Redeemer … You Are …

for the broken...

Hello Friends ...

I pray your day went well yesterday
I am feeling so thankful!
My mom was moved from ICU yesterday and will likely be discharged today
I am overjoyed about that! God is good

AND YET...
My heart is breaking - and has been for weeks - for all the hurting people
There are so many still waiting for their miracle
And it has become an area of concern which has taken center-stage for me
Now, I am not picking up and carrying burdens that are not mine;
I am continually praying to the LORD

HOWEVER...
There is a growth process which is taking place, a spiritual development within me;
A deep, deep compassion for the pain people are feeling
When I struggled with depression last year,
I finally reached a point where I sought out counseling
Study Psychology with a focus on Christian Counseling,
I figured it would be hypocritical if I did not at least give it a try
But then something rather remarkable happened
I went to a session and was encountered with a situation
My counselor was reclining on her couch in tears...
And I was sitting in the chair ...
Encouraging her and telling of the goodness and faithfulness of God

I realized then that LORD was taking me to entirely different level -
A new level of understanding what  it means to be like Christ
To love like Christ, to forgive like, to have compassion like Christ

It has not been an easy road
Yet it is such a beneficial journey
His Holy Spirit lives in me and is empowering me

Therefore, I am saying a prayer for all the broken-hearted this morning
Trust in the LORD...
He cares for every single matter which concerns you

God Bless You and Have a Great Day!

LOVE: IT ALL COMES DOWN TO THIS

Hi There Friends!

I pray you have had a fantastic week!

It is hard to believe we have reached the end of February already

And with that end comes the close of our focus on LOVE

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series!

With all we have discussed about LOVE,

I know no better place to end than with this powerful reminder:

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” I Cor. 13:4-7

I also love the way the Message Version defines LOVE:

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.

Love doesn’t strut,

Doesn’t have a swelled head,

Doesn’t force itself on others,

Isn’t always “Me first,”

Doesn’t fly off the handle,

Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn’t revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end.

Love never dies

When you meditate on the definition of love and apply it to every relationship;

You will be absolutely amazed at the result!

Love for God, Love for Self, Love for Others –

There is nothing like the power of TRUE LOVE

Praying You Have a Blessed Evening

Wishing You Much Love …

He STILL Speaks 'Cry' ...

I have been thinking about this post for several days. Yet, for some reason, it would not come together … until today. Today it became personal & compelling … again

I heard about a young lady who lost her job. Yes, twelve days before Christmas. The reasons behind it are not the pressing matters for me. It is the true concern for the person, the hurting and disappointed person - at a time of year that should be filled with joy and happy memories. My heart was broken for her.

It made me think – again – about the countless number of individuals who are not experiencing ‘the most wonderful time of the year’. Whether it be the loss of a job, the loss of a loved one, the sting of loneliness or the stress of insufficient funds – this can be a very difficult time of the year. It can be a time filled with teary and sobbing nights.

It made me think back to a post that I wrote years ago:  'He Speaks 'Cry'...'

In that post, I wrote [in part] about a situation, a conversation that I was having with a close friend and:

“We were discussing how it appeared that everything you prayed for as a new Christian got responded to quickly and affirmatively but how that does not appear to be the case once you have some years of walking in faith.

My best attempt to reconcile this was to liken it to when my children were babies. I knew that they were completely dependent upon me and unable to fend for themselves. They would cry, and I would respond, quickly and affirmatively. I learned what the different cries meant.

There was a cry that meant ‘Change me’ and there was the cry that meant ‘Feed me’ and the cry that meant ‘Burp me, please … I am about to explode!’  There was the cry that said ‘I’m sleepy’ and, of course, there was the cry that simply meant, ‘Please hold me ... I just need to know you are near.’ 

They would cry and I would respond. That was my job as a loving parent. However, there was also a point where they had to use the language that I taught them and they would have to verbalize what they needed/desired before they would receive. They had to grow up.

It was a great discussion on spiritual maturity. However, God always has something else in store. He always keeps me balanced. Therefore, even as I talked about the need for maturity as a Christian, He let me know that He is still that same loving parent – despite the fact that He calls us to mature.”

In that post I went on to describe a challenging situation which occurred:

“I received a terrible report – one which sent me reeling and almost caused me to faint. However, the LORD caught me and pulled me back to center, reminding me who He is and what He has said. And He let me know that He cares for me so deeply. And as I listened this week to a speaker online, that intense love that He has for me captivated me.”

A ministry, which was a tremendous blessing to me during a very faith-filled but challenging stretch of my journey, was having a conference. This is what I wrote seven years ago in response to that message …

“… the guest speaker for Wednesday was Sheryl Brady. It was powerful! She shared her heart about the overwhelming love and presence of God. And something happened at the 50:58 mark of the video clip when she said these words … 'He even understands what the tear meant that rolled down your face in the middle of the night across the bridge of your nose onto your pillow … He hears and He knows. He knows what you’re saying and He knows what you’re not saying…’

Those words arrested me and reminded me that, even though He does require that I grow up and use the language that He gave me, He understands when I cannot utter a word. He knows my heart when I cannot form a word and all I can do is cry. He speaks and understands 'cry', a fact that is powerful yet not entirely surprising. We are made in His image after all. As a mom I could understand the cries of my children because I am crafted in the image of God who speaks and understands 'cry'.

Indeed, He knows the meaning of every tear, every sob and every sigh. And when I weep, shedding more tears that can be counted (by me), crying what becomes a flowing stream or river, He sees each individual tear and can tell what each one represents. Then He responds.”

I went on to reference the love of a parent … but how that pales in comparison to the love of GOD.

“I have a wonderful mom and God has privileged me with the awesome responsibility of being a mom. However, more than that, I am thankful that I have a Father, my Heavenly Father, who loves me and knows me and understands me even when I revert to being a child.

-          He hears my cries and He knows what each one means without me speaking a word

-          He knows the cry that begs ‘Change me … I cannot change myself’

-          He translates the cry which says ‘I am hungry for YOU … please feed me'

-          He understands the cry that screams ‘I am about to explode!’

-          He knows that one tear that says ‘I am so tired I don't know what to do’

-          He comprehends the river of tears which whisper ‘I need You to hold me, to know that you are not only near, but here.'

I love that about Him! And today I want to encourage you. If all you can do is cry, if you wonder if He sees that one solitary tear, when you ponder whether He knows what it means ... take confidence that He knows and He cares and He is attending to every need.”

Fast forward to this week –

This past Sunday, I went to church like I always do. And after church, I decided to go spend some time with my mom. Now, anyone who has a parent with Alzheimer’s knows that some days can be much better than others. Well, Sunday was not a ‘much better’ day. In fact, it was a ‘much worse’ day than any we have had in a while. Her confusion was at an all-time high. Couple that with the fact that she is currently in a facility that I have been trying to figure out a way to get her out of since she arrived back in August … and it made for a very challenging day for me.

After I kissed her goodbye, I took that long walk to the front entrance/exit, pulled my jacket closed and hurried through the rain, across the parking lot to my car. Once inside – before I could even get the key in the ignition – I burst into tears. It was as if a levee had broken. I could scarcely find words to speak but somehow mustered up just enough strength to say, ‘God I know You’re still in control … help me please.’

It took me back to that post I had written all those years ago

And as I drove home that rainy day, I kept telling myself, ‘He still speaks cry.’

Well this past Tuesday – He turned my tears to joy

I received an early Christmas present … a way out for my Mom!

He is such an amazing and faithful GOD!

AND –

While He loves us all uniquely, the important fact is that HE LOVES US ALL

So, I will close by saying this:

If you cannot find the words, it is alright to cry. HE UNDERSTANDS ‘CRY’

If your eyes are misting just thinking about your issues, go right ahead and cry. HE SPEAKS ‘CRY’

YOU CAN TRUST HIM WITH YOUR TEARS

He cares for that which concerns you (I Peter 5:7) and He loved us all so much that He sent Jesus to die for us (John 3:16). He speaks every language under heaven and ...

He STILL speaks and understands ‘CRY’.

Be encouraged My Friend and know I am praying with you and for you …

Have a Blessed Evening!

Use Your Words ...

So … it feels like it has been an eternity since I have written. But, I am huge proponent of meaningful communication. I have never enjoyed talking simply for the pleasure of hearing myself speak. Life has been busy and there are times when you just have to ‘be still … and be quiet … and know that He is God’.

The book of Ecclesiastes tells us:

To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven …

A time to keep silence, and a time to speak …

Ecclesiastes 3:1 & 7

Now is not the time to be silent! There are a great many injustices taking place in our nation and throughout the world. However, those are not the issues I am addressing today. Today, my focus is not at global or local level. Today, the focus is at an individual and personal level. Sadly, there are too many believers trapped in an existence of mediocrity – silenced and suffocated by the cares of this world.

Why is this so when Scripture tells us not to be anxious for anything (Phil 4:6-7) and reminds us that the power of life and death is in the tongue? (Prov. 18:21) 

Could it be that we have forgotten to use our words?

I recall when my children were little – particularly my youngest son – and he would sometimes get cranky and want to whine or point at things rather than speak. Despite him being all of two years old, I would firmly remind him: ‘Use your words …’ At times it would frustrate him – especially a couple of years later when he struggled with stuttering for a while. Yet, I knew that it would never be sufficient for him to settle for anything less than what God had created him to be. He is a world changer, full of purpose and powerful in prayer. Each of my sons has such a significant call of God on their life. They give me great joy – most days. Yet, if I am honest, there have been times when I have regretted ever telling them to use their words … because sometimes the words are either not as nice as they could be or they challenge me. However, many times, especially in the past several years, it is not their voice that has been the cause of struggle – it has been my own. The realization became strikingly tangible with a dream I had about a week ago.

In this dream, a tremendous ‘force of darkness’ – for lack of a better word – pounced on me and began to wrestle me to the ground. In the dream, as I felt darkness surround me, I immediately began to call out for my sons. I called out for my oldest and then shouted out to the others … I cried and cried. Yet with each shout for help, that dark force dragged me closer to the ground and squeezed tighter … zeroing in on my throat and choking the air right out of me. I began to call out ‘Jesus!’ ‘Jesus!’ ‘Jesus …’

With each outcry, the grip became tighter, the voice became weaker until it was a strained whisper … ‘Jesus, Jesus, Jesus’. As the darkness suffocated me, I continued to strain to call for Jesus … until my voice was gone. Yet, still determined to resist the stronghold around me and to break free, I continued to call out to Jesus, mouthing the words, without sound … shouting on the inside. Then I woke up …

My heart was racing … my chest still pounding.

I was quickly aware that this was no ordinary dream. The struggle was and is real. And, like I used to tell my son when he was just a small little guy, the LORD was reminding me: ‘USE YOUR WORDS!’

He firmly reminded me that salvation does not come to those who place their trust in man. Yet, this is what I was doing … in the dream … when I called out for my sons. And isn’t that what we do sometimes? We’ll run to friends and family, pastors and psychotherapists, looking for assistance. Yet all we need to do is cry out to Jesus … to keep proclaiming the truth of His Word … to our circumstances and over our lives. [See Psalm 20]

Further, if it was not enough for Him to remind me in the dream, He sent two sisters in the LORD to pray with me at church this past Sunday. I truly do not know either of them well. We have had casual conversation in between services at church. Yet their prayers were so specific, it was as if we were the best of friends. Perhaps because my best companion, the Holy Spirit of God, lives in them too. Then one of these spiritual sisters, Maria, proclaimed, ‘Something is trying to silence your voice. You cannot let that happen … worship the LORD … in your home, in your car and on the job. Your victory is in your worship of the LORD’. It was powerful because she knew neither of the dream or the tremendous circumstances I have been enduring.

In my book, When Storms Rage, I explore Twenty-one Principles to Keep you Anchored Through Life’s Toughest Moments. One of those principles reminds us to ‘Speak to Your Storm’.  In discussing the importance of remaining vocal, I note:

‘It is often in the midst of the storm where we have a tendency to lose our voice. Our once bold declarations quiet to a whisper in response to all that is screaming around us. It is during the battles of life that we tend to become muted by fear and confusion … in the moments when it is essential for you to have clarity of mind – it often happens that the noise and distractions of the storm rage fiercest. There are those times when an unrelenting surge of activity abounds in your direction, to instill fear, to detract and deter, to distract and destroy.’

Yet this does not have to be our reality…

My friend, I implore you, just as God did me … Use your words!!!

It is not what we know that changes our lives, it is what we put into practice. And the LORD God Almighty has commanded us to speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19) … and to our storms with authority (Mark 11:23).

I like the Message version of Ecclesiastes 3:1 & 7:

‘There’s an opportune time to do things,

A right time for everything on the earth …

A right time to shut up and another to speak up.

Now is the time to speak up.

Boldly declare God’s truth over your life and to anything that would seek to choke the life out of you, to anything that would strive to silence you.

Afraid?

Speak the Word of God, focusing on Scriptures which command you to be courageous (Deut. 31:6, Joshua 1:9) and which remind you that He will never leave you nor forsake you. (Is. 41:10)

Discouraged?

Sing His praises – breaking out your favorite song or creating a new one of your own. (Ps. 96:1)

Weary?

Cry out to Jesus, inviting His overwhelming presence and awe-inspiring power into every circumstance that troubles you. Surrender to His authority and watch Him silence your enemies (Psalm 143).

Victory is closer than you think … right at the tip of your tongue!

Be Blessed!