REARRANGE

I love to rearrange...a room, priorities, perspective. There is something decidedly inspiring about rearranging and it's not uncommon for me to get the itch.

Even as a child, I would often debunk my bunk beds or reorganize my bedroom. I've always appreciated change. Change is fun. Change in uncomfortable too and both contain value.

Stopping to reevaluate is something I'm usually eager to do. We like to take inventory on our life periodically and be sure that we are where we're supposed to be in terms of perspective, priorities, heart's desires, habits, routine, etc. We strive to remain available for change as God deems best and find that when we're asking, He's answering. Sometimes His answer is "no" or "no for now" and that's alright with us...we're listening.

Rearrange...It doesn't take much sometimes, other times it equates to a complete lifestyle overhaul. The trick of it with a family is to provide the consistency that children thrive upon, while still remaining flexible. It's a dance and we're up for it...we wouldn't have it any other way. We never want to get so set in our ways, so established, so comfortable that we aren't willing to say, "yes" to God when He beckons, that we aren't willing to get uncomfortable for His plans. (After all, it's just life on earth, right?)

What might be around the corner? Changes big? Changes small? Only God knows, but I want to remain willing-spirited, ready, prepared. I can feel it in my bones...impending change...and I'm getting excited to rearrange.

"For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

"Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Matthew 16:24-25

SPRING CLEANING IN JANUARY

What is it about taking the Christmas tree down that makes me want to remove couch cushions, vacuum hidden crannies, and deep clean showers and tubs? With all this conscientiousness, how is it possible to continue finding stray pine needles well into March?!

After the final holiday hoorah of taking down the outdoor lights, the kids and I found ourselves scouring corners of our backyard yesterday, up to our ankles in mud, sweeping mountains of fallen leaves, rediscovering forgotten play zones, and ready for signs of...

 

Spring.

One of our children's favorite pastimes is dress up...specifically time period dress up. Playing Little House on the Prairie is their number one imaginary play game and I love it! I've always wanted to live in a fort myself, so I'm all for sheets and clothespins,

hollowed out coconut bowls, and laundry lines swung from tree to tree.

Yesterday, we had little pioneers decked out in suede fringe again for the first time since early Fall

(I wish I took a photo...they were so cute!) and I realized how much I've missed it this chilly winter.

 

The holiday season is over and we're itching to play outside.

I've got a bee in my bonnet (as my dear friend likes to say).

 

I'm Spring cleaning in January...and it feels really good!

"He changes times and seasons."
Daniel 2:21

RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW

I have a faithful prayer partner friend...I'm so grateful to the Lord for her and her sweet family. As I finished typing an email to her today, the last words I typed struck a chord in my heart:

RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW

As both of us pray through longings to participate in full time ministry opportunities, we also want to intentionally minister daily right where we find ourselves...right here, right now. After all, there's no sense in "waiting for our real lives to begin". Life is here and it is ripe with ministry opportunities every single hour of every single day... especially as parents!

I figure, if our life circumstances were intended to be different than they currently are, then they would be. If we were supposed to be somewhere else, doing something else, then we would be. If God had a different plan in store for us, then it would be so.

When we know with confidence that we are striving after God and His will for our lives, then we can be assured that where we are is right where we are supposed to be, for His purposes. If, on the other hand, we are chasing our own desires, disregarding prayerful submission to God's will, then perhaps we could be living in a season of preparation or discipline from a loving Father God who cares enough to rear us back on track. Even then, though, our Sitzs im Leben is under the umbrella of God's sovereign care and He has plans to use it all for good.

"Bloom where you're planted." A friend shared that with me a looong time ago and I never forgot it. Although our family has had a long time desire to serve the Lord and His people in another (simpler) country, it's remained clear that this is where He has us... for now. And so, we're going to bloom where we're planted. We're going to minister right where we are. We're going to be missionaries in our own home, neighborhood, and community... RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW.

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1

"Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season."
2 Timothy 4:2

"But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you." 1 Peter 3:15

IT IS WELL {REVISITED}

Ever since the turning of the new year, I've found myself in a season of reflection. Circumstances, relationships, and simply the dawn of what's to come have prompted revisitation of life chapters past and the lyrics to one of my favorite and most painfully sentimental hymns, It Is Well With My Soul, resonate yet again with heart wrenching crescendo.

Ponder these words with me today, if you would, accompanied by Josh Wilson's instrumental rendition of It Is Well With My Soul. Let's see if we, together, can make a choice this coming year afresh to see that when God is in control and we BELIEVE IT...truly,

 

IT IS WELL.

 

It Is Well With My Soul

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Refrain:

It is well, (it is well),

With my soul, (with my soul)

It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,

Let this blest assurance control,

That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,

And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!

My sin, not in part but the whole,

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:

If Jordan above me shall roll,

No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life,

Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.

But Lord, 'tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,

The sky, not the grave, is our goal;

Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!

Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul.

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,

Even so, it is well with my soul.

WHEN FEELINGS HURT

I'm sensitive.

 

It's a strength and a weakness...always has been.

 

This sensitivity that God has blessed and cursed me with must find it's foundation firmly fixed upon Him alone,
never dependent upon man, otherwise it has the potential to sink into idolatry which can lead to weeds of resentment.

This sensitivity that FEELS deeply, empathetically what other people feel must come to grips
with the fact that not everyone else is going to feel as deeply or as empathetically.

Expectations...they're a set up. But, when our every expectation is found in Christ Jesus, we will NEVER be disappointed. Human relationships will fail us repeatedly. Sadly, they just will. But Jesus, who is perfect in steadfast love, always kind, always faithful...

He will NEVER fail us.

He is ALWAYS all we need.

"For he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.'”
Hebrews 13:5

"And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19

When a sensitive heart hurts, it has options...wallow, crumble, rear up, flare up, or cast every detail upon the Lord.
The last is the best, of course, but readily we're tempted to react to hurt feelings
out of human frailty in ways that neglect what we've been commanded.

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you."

1 Peter 5:6-7

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
Ephesians 4:32

"But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
Matthew 5:44

"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me,
for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

Matthew 11:28-30

Is there a relationship or scenario that has recently hurt your feelings?

Is there a past pain, years, maybe decades old that chokes of bitterness in your heart?

Consider the freedom of releasing the weight of hurt feelings, casting every care upon the One who cares most, living in the liberty of forgiveness and companionship in Jesus. He's the best Friend, the most loyal Confidant, the only One worthy of our expectations and praise. He will NEVER leave you nor forsake you because He loves you with perfect love.

"A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."
Proverbs 18:24

I'm reminded today to keep my eyes, heart, and expectations firmly fixed upon Christ alone, knowing that He's jealous for my affections, knowing that He's commanded me to cast my burdens upon Him in dependency,
confident that my relationship with Him is trustworthy.

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock."
Isaiah 26:3-4

"Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him."
Proverbs 30:5

I'm aware today that no human relationship can fill the space in my heart intended for my Savior. In fact, the voids, the pains, the sorrows...they're the very catalysts He employs to draw me into His presence with childlike faith.

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea."
Psalm 46:1-2

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."
Romans 5:3-5

I'm grateful today to be communing with the One who never leaves me or forsakes me, the only One who will never ever let me down. I'm filled with thanksgiving that I have a compassionate Father God who loves me enough to let me cry sometimes, who forgives me and teaches me how to forgive, who cares enough to draw me into His presence. He is the great Potter and I am the clay. By His grace may I remain malleable and submissive to His handiwork through my heart's trials, confident that He uses every detail of my life for good and for His glory.

^"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,
for those who are called according to his purpose."
Romans 8:28

I love the Lord, my refuge, my strength in weakness more with each passing day, more through every struggle. He meets me where I am, loves me for me, and binds my heart with mercy and love... especially when feelings hurt.

"I love you, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock,
in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. 
From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.

He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.

This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

For this I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations, and sing to your name."
Psalm 18:1-2, 6, 19, 30, 40

I love this song, Good To Me, and this unknown musician sings it beautifully...sing it out with me today!! :)