Down, But Not Out

It's been a rough couple of weeks.  I was really hit hard from a couple of sides.  A head cold
turned into asthmatic bronchitis, allergic rhinitis - and then I was
diagnosed with the flu!  Well 2 weeks and 7 lbs down later, I am
slowly moving and vertical again.  It has been a rough couple of weeks! 

I will try and have different activities coming up on future
emails so that you have no excuse - I don't want you all sitting in
your house staring at the TV or the computer.  You need to get out
there and get involved in something.  The enemy loves to isolate us -
then he makes us weaker, and makes us doubt ourselves.
I want to talk to you today about music - I am a worship leader, just
on temporary hiatus, but for me, music has been a HUGE part of my
life.  And truth be told, music is a huge part of the Word of God -
references to Worship are everywhere.  In fact, in 2 Chronicles
chapter 20 describes how the choir and worshippers were sent out in
advance of the battle - and the battle was won before a sword was
lifted!!
"Where the mind goes, the man follows"...Joyce Meyers.  I don't know
about you, but when something happens that triggers a memory, or if
the ex is being the ex, I get frustrated and my mind will start going
down a couple rabbit trails it doesn't need to go down.  Music gets me
back on track.
Right now I am in a BATTLE at work.  It is pure, unadulterated
spiritual warfare - and it has been going on for 98 days now.  I'm
tired.  My attitude isn't always pitch perfect, trust me.  But I put
my lil earbud in my ear and listen to some good Christian music, and
my attitude changes, and the very atmosphere changes.
I don't know how involved you are in Christian music, but I highly
recommend that you are mindful of what you watch and listen to.  I
myself listen to Christian music 99% of the time - out of choice,
because I want to keep my mind on Him.  This time of year of course I
am also listening to Christmas music (I know!  I know!!) There is a
lot of great music out there.  If you don't have any, or much, listen
to 95.7, KLOVE, or 91.7 - the church's station.  Listen to Christian
channels on iheart or Pandora online. Listen to the Christian music
channels on cable TV.
 I was in my new cubicle for about a week with no music and I was
sour.  Once I got the music in my ear, everything turned around.
We have a new Worship leader in Jon Tyner, and there is a fresh Spirit
moving in Olive.  If you attend elsewhere, take time to really sing
unto Him - make a joyful noise, even if you can't sing.  Move out of
your comfort zone!!  "1 Timothy 2:8 I will therefore that men pray
every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting." There
is freedom in giving it all up to God.  Raising your hands in prayer,
praise, and worship.  Keep doing the same things, get the same
results.  Do something new...and come with expectation!!
So my challenge to you this week is to explore some Christian music -
find something you like, and start listening to it.  Instead of
watching mindless stuff on TV, spend some time in the Word - read it.
You may not have a revelation, but read it anyway - read it outloud.
Start in the Psalms.  The way I started years ago was to read a Psalm
and a Proverb a day - there are coincidentally 31 Proverbs.  Perfect!
Fall is winding down, the days are getting shorter.  Get out there in
the fresh air and get a 30 minute walk a day.  Take care of yourself.
Don't let yourself get caught up in the drag of old memories, regrets,
and loneliness.  God is for you - you just need to talk to Him, and He
is there!
Have a good week!
Today's photo I took in my friend's back yard a few years back...God's
splendor.  Get out there and enjoy our beautiful scenery!I don't want you all sitting in
your house staring at the TV or the computer.  You need to get out
there and get involved in something.  The enemy loves to isolate us -
then he makes us weaker, and makes us doubt ourselves.
I want to talk to you today about music - I am a worship leader, just
on temporary hiatus, but for me, music has been a HUGE part of my
life.  And truth be told, music is a huge part of the Word of God -
references to Worship are everywhere.  In fact, in 2 Chronicles
chapter 20 describes how the choir and worshippers were sent out in
advance of the battle - and the battle was won before a sword was
lifted!!
"Where the mind goes, the man follows"...Joyce Meyers.  I don't know
about you, but when something happens that triggers a memory, or if
the ex is being the ex, I get frustrated and my mind will start going
down a couple rabbit trails it doesn't need to go down.  Music gets me
back on track.
Right now I am in a BATTLE at work.  It is pure, unadulterated
spiritual warfare - and it has been going on for 98 days now.  I'm
tired.  My attitude isn't always pitch perfect, trust me.  But I put
my lil earbud in my ear and listen to some good Christian music, and
my attitude changes, and the very atmosphere changes.
I don't know how involved you are in Christian music, but I highly
recommend that you are mindful of what you watch and listen to.  I
myself listen to Christian music 99% of the time - out of choice,
because I want to keep my mind on Him.  This time of year of course I
am also listening to Christmas music (I know!  I know!!) There is a
lot of great music out there.  If you don't have any, or much, listen
to 95.7, KLOVE, or 91.7 - the church's station.  Listen to Christian
channels on iheart or Pandora online. Listen to the Christian music
channels on cable TV.
 I was in my new cubicle for about a week with no music and I was
sour.  Once I got the music in my ear, everything turned around.

What goes in comes out! Garbage in garbage out! Be careful!

Leaning In

This morning I was inspired by a fierce little violet bud.

 

Huh?

 

I have been struggling with some insomnia, and I was up in the middle of the night.  As I got a glass of water, I noticed my violets.  One pot had a violet bud, standing straight up, pointing at the window.  The very dark window.  The hours away from any sign of light or day window.

 

It really caught me.

Am I leaning in?  Am I seeking the Son - no matter how dark it seems?  Am I behaving like I know that His mercy is new EVERY MORNING?? Or am I reacting to the situations around me, turning away from the Light, forgetting what happened yesterday, last week, last month...last year.

 

How many of you can testify to yourself?  I sure can.  I have kept prayer journals, and all I have to do is go back and read through them and see the faithfulness of God.

 

But even this morning, I was cranky because I was awake.  I was dreading the coming day and the possibilities.  

 

Imagine - being convicted by a flower bud!

 

That little bud was leaning into the window - straight, tall, expectantly.  And sure enough, when I came back to it later, it was in full bloom, shining its beautiful little flower face for all to see.

 

One is connected to the other.

 

The expectation- that sense of purpose, of knowing that the Son is coming, that there is a purpose for you, keeps you upright.  Standing on the Word, leaning into His presence, is what will help his love shine through us, and in us.

 

The darkness was real.  And enveloping.  And all encompassing - but the little flower leaned in to what it knew was it's source of light.  A dark window.

 

Lean in.  Expect the Son. Let your hope be in the fact that no matter how dark things may seem, the morning will come, His mercy is new, and His love will endure forever.

Starting today.

 

Make sure you are involved and present this Christmas season.  Go to a church service on Sunday.  Connection groups on Sunday and Wednesday.  Fellowship opportunities listed at your local church. The Christmas musical.  The Christmas Eve candlelight service.  Volunteer at a nursing home.  At the mission.  Get outside of yourself - you won't regret it.

 

We are praying for you!

Just Ducky

It's been an eventful week for My hubby and I - culmunating yesterday
with going to a concert.

I don't know how many of you are familiar with Steven Curtis Chapman -
he has been a Christian singer/songwriter since the late 80's.  If you
have not gotten into Christian music, pick any one of his CD's and you
won't be sorry.

Anyway, My husband's sisters went to high school with Steven - so he saw him
perform as a teen.  The last time I saw him perform was 20 years ago -
it was a great concert, a big venue, very encouraging.  He was a young
performer, I was a young Christian, etc.

Well, flash forward to last night.  I'm 20 years older, with a lot of
experience under my belt - a lot of life has gone by.  I couldn't even
begin to tell you all that has happened. I thought about it last
night, though.  I was running through the hard times that the Lord has
brought me through - the really tough times I thought I wasn't going
to make it.  And I was glorifying God for my husband - I feel doubly
blessed after all that has happened.

But looking at me - well, I used to sing on the praise team, and
people are ALWAYS shocked when they hear my testimony.  For some
reason, when you are up on stage, or ministering, people think you
have it all together.  Nothing could be further from the truth.

It's a big reason my husband and I do this ministry - because we have walked in some
version of what you are going through - we know the road.  We may not
have gotten on it the same way, we may have different outcomes, but we
are all on this journey.

That's what I was thinking about last night.  Steven Curtis Chapman is
the most awarded musician in the Christian music industry.  He was so
down to earth - I could see a different Steven than the one I saw 20
years ago.  Since then, he has watched his children grow, has watched
them marry, has adopted three girls...and tragically, 6 years ago,
lost one of those adopted girls in a terrible accident where his 17
year old son ran over her when she dashed behind the car.  Tragedy
beyond measure.

If I hadn't told you that story, if you didn't know it, you would be
shocked to hear it. He performs, he is full of joy, he continues on.

But here's the deal - all of us, each and every one of us, has our
journey.  We are all on this road called life, and we all have our
stories.  No one has arrived - no one WILL arrive until we either die
or Jesus returns.  Then and only then will we be finally free of
sickness, pain, separation, hurt, sorrow, depression.

EVERYONE has a story.  Everyone is either about to go through
something, is going through something, or is coming through something.

I remember when the Chapman's lost Maria - and I prayed for them.  I
still do.  We need to pray for each other.  We need to be real.  We
need to talk to each other - to remind each other that this is not our
home, that we are human, that we mess up, that we are hurting.

God loves you so much and He is here for you during this time.  Don't
kick yourself because you wish things were done differently.  Don't
dwell on it.  Square your shoulders, start the day fresh, and step
into the new day.  We all fall down.

Here's a song that I thought of last night - if you look it up on
YouTube, look up the Bob Carlisle version, which has these lyrics.
It's a great song.  Check it out. I have the YouTube link:
Bob Carlisle - We Fall Down  , and here are the lyrics:


We Fall Down
Written by Kyle Matthews

Cursing every step of the way,
he bore a heavy load
To the market ten miles away,
The journey took it's toll

And every day he passed a
monastery's high cathedral walls
And it made his live seem
meaningless and small

And he wondered how it would be
to live in such a place
To be warm, well fed and at peace
to shut the world away

So when he saw a priest who walked,
for once, beyond the iron gate
He said, "Tell me of your life inside
that place ..."
And the priest replied...

We fall down, we get up
We fall down, we get up
We fall down, we get up
And the saints are just the sinners
who fall down ... and get up

Disappointment followed him home
He'd hoped for so much more
But he saw himself in a light
He had never seen before

Cause' if the priest who fell
could find the Grace of God to be enough
Then there must be some hope for
the rest of us
There must be some hope left for us ...