September 28, 2009 @ 6:47 am | Filed under: The Solid Rock
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” –Matthew 6:25-27
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It’s hard not to worry.
There are many things that cause us to worry. Children, money, careers; true enough, but there are other things, sacred things, things we give up everything for, things that must be true lest we cease to exist.
And those things, they make us worry. They make me worry.
Until I hear the whispered promises. Spoken softly into my ear as I huddle in close, not needing anything more in those pure, quiet moments except His arms, His voice, His love. The liquid music infuses, filling me with a warmth that outdoes the coziest quilt on the coldest day of the longest afternoon of winter. It is steady, sure and does not hesitate.
And along with words, I begin to remember.
I remember the birds, above my head, soaring with no judge or jury, no education or instruction, save the whisper of the God of the universe, saying simply,”FLY.”
I remember the splendor of the flowers, soon to rise up and start their reign on so many ill-managed lawns and forsaken plots of ground. Though they have not received their due care or concern, they cannot – will not – disregard the simple command of the One who breathed life into all the earth, “GROW.”
And so I say to myself today,
Fly.
Grow.
Believe.
September 24, 2009 @ 6:20 am | Filed under: The Solid Rock,The Writing Life
Sometimes I think we look at Bible stories and imagine the characters in those stories to have been perfect in their own imperfect-ness, if that makes any kind of sense.
Though we read about their shortcomings, their weaknesses, their failures, it is almost always the moral of the story – or the end result – that we walk away with. These are the parts of the stories that we tuck like nuggets into that secret place in our souls where we capture the essence of what it is we think we are supposed to be. Or supposed to do. Or supposed to accomplish.
The reality is much more human, and it is that element that I think about this morning.
I love how Moses’ story ties into this. God heard the cries of the Israelites and He desired their freedom, so God invited Moses to join Him. It really didn’t matter what Moses thought the plan for his life was. What mattered most was God’s plan for Moses’ life.
So many of us today have a preoccupation with knowing God’s will for our lives. I know I’ve struggled with this before – some days, I still struggle with it. There are some areas where it is very evident that God is at work (like with my family), but there are other areas where it appears God is silent (like with my writing.)
What I am trying to remember is that God’s focus has always been on getting His people to come into line with His will and with what is on His heart, so that we (I) can adjust our lives (my life) to Him, rather than having God design His plans around us (me).
And what is God’s plan? God is, and always has been, actively drawing people to Himself.
This should liberate me; should free any reckless, nervous thoughts about the future. Because this alone means that I do not have to come up with plans for God, or design ways to achieve kingdom goals.
He is at work, and when I join Him – right where He is, I am in perfect alignment.
devotionals, life lessons, walk with God, writing
February 11, 2009 @ 9:43 am | Filed under: Faith Lifts,The Writing Life
January 29, 2009 @ 6:49 pm | Filed under: Faith Lifts,The Writing Life
I posted over at Faith Lifts today. If you have time, pop in and read some of the inspirational thoughts written by my fellow contributors. They are awesome women of God!
