Skeletons in the Closet

Nehemiah 9:17New Life Version (NLV)

17 They would not listen, and did not remember Your powerful works which You had done among them. So they became strong-willed and chose a leader to return to their hard work in Egypt. But You are a forgiving God. You are kind and loving, slow to anger, and full of loving-kindness. You did not leave them.

Psalm 51:3, 7 New Life Version (NLV)

3 For I know my wrong-doing, and my sin is always in front of me.

7 Take away my sin, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

Several years ago, I had a conversation with a friend.  We were discussing something that was upsetting and really needed to be lifted up in prayer.  I invited her to come with me to church that Sunday and her response was, “He won’t listen to me.  I haven’t prayed in so long and have done so much wrong in my life.  You pray for me.  He’ll listen to you.”  That conversation burned a whole in my heart because she didn’t know about God’s grace.  No one is perfect and everyone has skeletons in the closet.  

In fact, this past weekend Adam and I were able to hang out with some of our closest friends.  We got to talking about our college days.  As the stories unrolled, skeletons were drug out of the closet.  These are skeletons that make my stomach churn as I type.  I had strayed away from my faith during that time of my life.  Do I have regrets?  Yes.  Do I wish I could take back some of those moments?  Yes.  However, it was in those moments God held me closest to His heart.  He was molding me to be the woman I am today.  God was always there even though I felt alone.  Thank goodness for His grace and the fact that he buries those skeletons for us.  

So whatever you skeletons are, hand them over to Him, let him take that burden away, and be the light He intends you to be for Him.  Share God’s grace with others because I pray frequently that I will come upon that conversation with that friend again.  Because I want to make sure she hears about God’s grace.  

Enjoy Matthew West

https://youtu.be/PQqZltmA0eM

Unplugged

John 15:5New Life Version (NLV)

5 I am the Vine and you are the branches. Get your life from Me. Then I will live in you and you will give much fruit. You can do nothing without Me.

Psalm 16:8New Life Version (NLV)

8 I have placed the Lord always in front of me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be moved.

Electronics have taken a whole new role in our world.  Kids on devices, whether iPads, tablets, or phones.  Parents texting, calling, emailing, and checking social media.  Teens…do I even need to go into that one?  It amazes me to think back to 16 years ago at the turn of the century.  So much has changed in such a short amount of time.  

Having access at the tips of our fingers at all times can be a good thing, but also something that can wear and tear at us over time.  I am reading an article with some of my kids in class about texting.  I asked the kids today if their parents use their cell phones to text and/or email.  Almost every one of them said that they have a hard time getting their parents attention due to the cell phone.  I’m just as guilty as the next person, but am making a conscious effort to turn it off at certain times.  

This past weekend I was able to truly experience being “unplugged”.  My phone caught a virus as it upgraded.  I was traveling to TN at 5:50 am and a babysitter was taking our kids to school.  As I boarded the plan, it hit me.  I did not have our babysitter’s phone number, not being able to call Adam to let him know of the situation, and not having a connection to anyone I knew.  I had a very sick feeling for a while until I was able to connect with everyone on my mom’s phone when she picked me up in Nashville.  It was then that I realized I was truly dependent on that device.  My desperation drew me into a small panic attack.  Then it hit me, am I that dependent on the Lord?  Do I reach for him the moment I have a question, concern, or just need someone to listen?  If He was taken out of my life, would I be as gut wrenched as I was in that moment?  I took some time to really marinate in that idea.  So “unplug”, reach for the book and flip through those thin, lightweight, opaque pages.  

Be Blessed!

Large and In Charge

Psalm 37:4-5New Life Version (NLV)

4 Be happy in the Lord. And He will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Give your way over to the Lord. Trust in Him also. And He will do it.

Glaciers are very large in person.  Many of us have not been able to experience a glacier first hand.  I pray that one day, everyone reading this, gets to experience one up close and personal.  (Side note: Disney did NOT exaggerate the color of Elsa’s castle when it comes to ice in cold climates.)  

We can look at life situations, events, and/or problems as glaciers.  We CAN’T control the uncontrollables, but He does.  He gives us what we need to take that situation and do with it what He wants.  We can tell our heads, “God has got this,” but do we truly believe it in our hearts?

My sister, who is an amazing woman, has had a vision to help families that have special needs kids.  Why?  Because she is that family.  Colin is 12 years old, an angel from above, who requires a lot of extra love.  Looking back over the past 12 years, life has NOT been easy for her.  She continues to put a smile on her face and tells her head, “God has got this.”  It wasn’t until recently her heart started to truly believe that.  She has a vision to help these families, and this weekend it is coming to fruition.  

God puts people in our lives at the right time.  He puts opportunities in our lives when He sees we are ready. “Focus on HIS strength, not yours.  Occupy yourself with the nature of God, not your biceps.”  He provides…He provides the strength we need.  

So what does this have to do with glaciers?  Glaciers are large, but God’s plan and answers are larger.  

Be Blessed!

Your "Escape"

Psalm 107:29-30New Life Version (NLV)

29 He stopped the storm, and the waves of the sea became quiet. 30 Then they were glad because the sea became quiet. And He led them to the safe place they wanted.

Isaiah 26:3New Life Version (NLV)

3 You will keep the man in perfect peace whose mind is kept on You, because he trusts in You.

Psalm 4:8New Life Version (NLV)

8 I will lie down and sleep in peace. O Lord, You alone keep me safe.

Stop for a moment and close your eyes to think about what your “escape” vacation would be…your oasis.  Mine, and probably most of yours, involves water.  A lake house in the middle of the mountains, a beach house on one of the most luxurious beaches, on a boat riding the waves and enjoying a breeze, or in a ski lodge enjoying the looks of snow (may be frozen, but still water).  

The sound of water tends to relax us.  In fact, the other day during my planning, I cracked my door open a bit just to listen to the sound of the rain pouring outside of my classroom.  

The look of water soothes our soul, whether it be snow drifting across the mountains, the trickling of the creek as we walk, rain on the tin roof of a cabin, or just the sound of waves hitting the shore.  

The feeling of water can refresh us, cools us, warms us, and make us feel clean.  

Water is all around us, in the wind, clouds, fog, mist, rain, and in the air we breathe.  Do we notice the water that surrounds us daily?  Do we appreciate the water that we drink daily?  Could we live without it?  

God surrounds us daily.  We just have to stop to take notice.  We can’t live without Him.  One way God speaks to us is through nature.  Take a moment, it may be brief, but at least take it.  Breathe, and know that His sound, look, and feeling is an escape we have daily.  So “escape” with Him. ​

Be Blessed!  

Open Arms

Jeremiah 31:3New Life Version (NLV) The Lord came to us from far away, saying, “I have loved you with a love that lasts forever. So I have helped you come to Me with loving-kindness.

Ephesians 4:7 Loving-favor has been given to each one of us. We can see how great it is by the gift of Christ.

I have never been away from my kids more than 4 or 5 days at one time.  Taking the trip to Alaska and being away from them, wasn’t hard for me at first.  Then I realized I would be gone for 10 days.  I missed both my daughter, age 6, and my son, age 9, terribly.  I couldn’t wait to squeeze them tight and tell them all about our trip.  The moment my daughter saw me, her face lit up and she immediately jumped into my arms.  She took both of her tiny hands, placed them on my cheeks, and looked deep into my eyes.  She then said, “I missed you.”  These words had more depth than they ever have.  Pure joy came from my heart.  The joy only a child and a parent can exchange.  

So many times in our lives, we wander, take “vacations” from God and our faith.  The when we decide to return He places His hands on our faces, kisses us with kisses that will be felt eternally, and looks deep into our hearts and says, “I have missed you.” 

Regardless of what transpires as our hearts have wandered, what sins have taken place, He ALWAYS welcomes us with open arms, grace is given, and a love that parents have for their children - unconditional love.  

Good Good Father [Lyrics] - Chris Tomlin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_m5ZWchiZo

Be Blessed!

Struck Gold!

2 Corinthians 4: 13-18 (MSG)

13-15 We’re not keeping this quiet, not on your life. Just like the psalmist who wrote, “I believed it, so I said it,” we say what we believe. And what we believe is that the One who raised up the Master Jesus will just as certainly raise us up with you, alive. Every detail works to your advantage and to God’s glory: more and more grace, more and more people, more and more praise!

16-18 So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.

While on our trip through beautiful Alaska, I was able to pan for gold.  This process is one many of us have seen either in movies or documentaries.  However, experiencing it was amazingly exciting.  We were given a pan that had a mixture of sand, rock, and other sediment.  Within this mixture was pure gold that could not be seen.  Shaking the pan in a certain manner brought the gold to the bottom of the pan.  Then came the tricky part, we had to dunk our pan repeatedly in the water to get the sediment to filter out.  What kept the gold in the pan is that it is 18 times heavier than water.  Some people where caught picking through their pan, trying to find the tiny specs of gold.  THEY DIDN’T TRUST THE PROCESS.  After some time of dipping and dunking, it was time to swirl gently and in a particular way.  Slowly and suddenly the gold started to appear at the top of our pans.  

God weighs down our treasures.  Sometimes we can see it with our own eyes, but most times we have to go through a process to find the treasure.  This process is necessary in our growing and swirling relationship with Him.  But in the end the difference between panning for Earthly gold and His gold - there is only 1 that is a 100% guaranteed to strike gold.

Be Blessed!

To Do Lists

Exodus 14:14New Life Version (NLV)

14 The Lord will fight for you. All you have to do is keep still.”

1 Samuel 12:16New Life Version (NLV)

16 Now stand still and see this great thing which the Lord will do in front of your eyes.

Isaiah 26:3New Life Version (NLV)

3 You will keep the man in perfect peace whose mind is kept on You, because he trusts in You.

Welcome back!  Most of you who are on this email are apart of the beginning of school one way or another, whether a parent, part of a school staff, and/or a teacher.  The last few nights I have been tossing and turning.  I would take one look at the clock, then satisfied that I still had a few more hours of sleep.  I began to enjoy the silence in the house until the littlest things start being heard.  I could hear my son’s fan in his room across the house, the dripping of the diffuser next to our bed, the clicking of the fan above our bed…you get the idea.  Then my mind started racing about “To Do Lists” that would be tackled as soon as my alarm goes off.   I would look at the clock again satisfied that I still have a few hours before my alarm goes off.  Then I hear Him tugging at my heart.  He motions for me to “be still and rest”.  The thought of tuning into just His voice seems to be easy enough, but then the loudness of our thoughts overcome His voice.  

So as we all get back into the swing of things this school year, remember to be still and take notice of what He is doing in your life.  Trust in what He is doing,  soak up the little moments of silence, and listen to what He might be whispering in your ear. ​

Be Blessed!