Christmas Change... Time Well Spent!

I was reading (in)courage this morning… it was called, “When Your Christmas Season Includes Change.” Wow! Just what I am going through! During the times of change I can tend to look at it as bad (grievous) when I should actually looking at it as a time for grace. I have to admit that I grow the most during times of change… I allow myself to be drawn closer to God & live in His presence more! When I look at change like that it seems so much sweeter! It is not something being done to me, but something being done for me.

I have been upset that our Christmas was not going to be the way we traditionally do it. So my choice was either to be miserable over it or just give it my everything day by day… one day at a time! Christmas is going to come whether I have things the way I want it or not! Right?

The last year & a half we have spent a lot of time waiting, even more so in the last six months… moving along with baby-steps at times! I was reminded today about the anticipation of the first Christmas. Hundreds & hundreds of years before Christ was born, a prophecy was spoken about His coming (Isaiah 9). People lived their lives in anticipation of that day, but they never saw it happen in their lifetime! When He did come… what a change that day brought! He gave up His place in Heaven to come to this sinful world to rescue us! One precious little baby carried in the womb of one young virgin woman that brought the greatest change ever! Did Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, look at this change as something to grieve or did He only see this as an act of grace? When I think of change in this way it puts a whole new spin on things for me. 

I know everyone has something they are going through that is bringing change… unanswered questions, illness, financial stress, for me it is waiting to find the right house to call home again. One thing is for sure… in these uncomfortable times of change, God never changes. His promises ring true! Your God before this change is your same God after this change! And His presence is so much sweeter in unknown territory.

My hubby & I have spent a lot of time waiting over the last few months… waiting for an inevitable change. Two failed house purchases left me feeling deflated & ready to just stop looking for awhile… after all we were running out of houses that fit our criteria for the B&B.  I knew God would come through, because we knew His promises to us, but maybe this was not the right time. Luke was not feeling the same about stopping, so I asked him, “Is a house gonna drop from the sky?” A few minutes later he noticed he had voicemail… the voicemail was from a builder who had a house for sale by owner. Luke had inquired about this house the day before through a property for sale type website. We decided to do a “drive-by” to see what it looked like & where it was at. Of course we had to get out & peek in the windows & immediately I told Luke, “You have to call this man back!” The builder came & met us at the house within minutes.  As we walked through this unfinished house, I had a “jaw-dropping God is so amazing” moment or should I say moments!? It was absolutely crazy… God-crazy! Luke & I both knew we were home!

It was in that first walk-through of this house God made His vision for the B&B/retreat center so much clearer to both of us! I still am having a hard time grasping all the little details God “put” into this house to display His love to me! Please, don’t get me wrong… I know God’s greatest Gift of Love was His Son & that is more than enough, but I believe just like I love to do little things for the ones I love… He also shows His love in little ways too! Only His little ways are jaw-dropping!

BTW - When we put the offer on the first house, this new house was not even started to be built! We were to close on the second house on Monday & the new house was not even listed until Tuesday! This new house is built as a “spec” house, which means it is built just to sell… it has 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, & 10 acres of land! Like it was being built just for us & we believe it was! (wink)

A faith-builder during change... we see the impossible, but God sees all things possible!

Rejoicing in Truth!

God's Symphony

On our ride home my eyes were drawn to the gorgeous hues in the tree line.  The trek home leads us through winding, hilly, picturesque views.  The passing landscape led me to think about the seasons… do you realize that autumn is the only season that is prepared for by three previous seasons?  As you can, take these colorful moments of fall in & really soak them up… look hard at the beauty & really appreciate the Master painter that painted each stroke! 

I was thinking how God’s symphony of seasons culminates into a crescendo for the eyes with an explosion of unbelievable vivid color! Although these intensive shades can be quickly fleeting, so I have to learn not to take any of it for granted.

“Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest

sing for joy.” Psalms 96:12

It can be the same with the seasons of life… the “winter” season means death, especially in Michigan… but it is so necessary. “Spring” brings new life… it bursts forth out of the ground after we have made it through the cold, gray winter. Then the “summer” comes along, a season for growth... rain, sun, warmth, & long days prod the advancement along. And finally, “fall”, the final step in life… the time to shine forth in all the glory of how the Creator designed.

Whether you are living through an illness, moving on to a new stage in life, or just trying to figure out this thing called, “life,” you will be in one of these seasons or maybe even multiple seasons at the same time in different areas of your life. For example, we have been waiting for our house to sell… we put it up for sale 15 months ago… that was a long winter, but at the same time, it was a time of growth (spring) for me too. The choice was mine to focus on the economy & the home sale’s estimations or to focus on what God was doing in my heart. These moments of growth (summer) would always lead to the son-shine & the warmth of intimacy with Father. And now, the sale of our house! The end of “winter” in this area & the culmination (fall) of God’s glorious faithfulness!

Of course, now starts another season… I pray this time of finding a new home to fulfill the vision of the dream God has given will not last long. No matter how long this winter lasts, I know my choices of how I deal with it will be where life & growth will happen in my life. Father wants us to always cling to Him… not just in moments of uncertainty! But always!  When it comes right down to it… all of life is uncertain… God is the only thing that is certain!

Once again it brings me back to Isaiah 43:19 ~ “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”

 So as we wait on the answer to the offer we put on a house… it is my time to keep preparing for the glorious new season! So that means packing, & sorting!  If I keep my thoughts on God & draw nearer to Him, I have such peace. I feel like He is propelling me into unknown waters but I praise His name that He knows all! He created everything so how can I not trust that He has it all under control???

He is doing a new thing! That is why I feel like these are unknown waters… they are! It can’t be new to me & still be known to me! It is His living water that He is propelling me into! How can I not praise Him??? No matter what is to come!

We are all in those different seasons of life… no matter your situation or circumstance… trust Him! Do you want to keep living the same old life or are you ready to let Him do something new? This can be so excruciatingly hard… I get that, believe me, I get that! But the “reward” for trusting Him more can be so peaceful.  I don’t have all the answers, all I can do is share my experience & the truth God is showing me.

Things I have to keep reminding myself of:

~ God is faithful! (Psalms 33:4)

~ His timing is always best & never close to my timing! (Isaiah 49:8)

~ He will answer my prayers in a way that is best for me to bring Him glory! (Jeremiah29:11-14)

~ He is always near, even when I don’t feel like He is! (Psalms 34:18)

~ The battle is not mine, but God’s! (2 Chronicles 20:15)

I praise You, Lord, for Your glorious creation… the creation in nature & for what You are creating in each of us who choose to follow You!

Rejoicing in Truth!

Feelings Over Truth?

I have had a couple “bumpy” days… I have noticed that some days I have a greater need of mercy… not only from God but from others too!  The thing with God’s mercy is that He has given me all the mercy I will ever need forever… given in daily doses! “Through the Lord’s mercy, we are not completely wiped out. His compassion is never limited. It is new every morning. His faithfulness is great.” Lamentations 3:22-23

The problem is so many times I don’t “feel” it because I am choosing to do things my own way.  Doing things my own way only helps me to put my trust in me & not Him! What a colossal mistake is that??? Yet I continue to do it over & over again!

Trusting in the Lord means I am surrounded by mercy (Psalms 32:10)  Being in a holding pattern of sorts right now in my life, some days it is not so easy to just trust that everything will work out!  There are many moments that I feel God will not come through for me, but because I trust Him with my whole life… I know He always will!  It is a funny thing about feelings… they can rarely be trusted!  God put feelings & emotions in us… that is true, but He put them there, I believe, as warning signals not as a way to live our lives!  I know for myself if I trust on how I feel to get things accomplished or to live my life… I would never do anything or go anywhere most days!  I heard a statement that courage is not the lack of fear but the faith to do it in spite of fear!  Some days I have more courage than other days!

For instance, if a person is afraid to fly they can get on the plane without too much anxiety, but as soon as the wheels come off the ground that is when trust has to kick in!  You feel like life is out of control… you may not have a clue about how the whole flying thing works, but it is then that you must trust that it will be okay!  God said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” And that is why I know & can boldly say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear! What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6)

Trust, faith, mercy… those are all great words! They seem so “holy”… we can use them when talking to someone about their problems.  “Trust in the Lord, He has got this!”  “Have faith that it will all work out for His good!”  “God has poured out His mercy on you in this situation!”  I am sure I have said a variation of these statements at one time or another. And I truly meant them!  But when it is me going through it… like I said those are great words, but do I really “feel” that to be true? 

I was reminded once again recently that trust is an all or nothing choice… either I trust God with everything or I really don’t trust Him with anything!  That may seem like a harsh statement, but trust is trust!  When we can’t see what the next 5 minutes might hold for us… can we trust God that it will be okay?  “I trust You with this 5 minutes, Lord!” If what it takes is to trust Him for 5 minutes at a time… then trust Him with your whole being for that 5 minutes & then repeat it over & over & over! I know that sound ridiculous, but if that is what it takes, then that is what it takes!  And FYI… I am writing this for me as much as for anyone else!

I was thinking about all the “changes of tomorrow” people are going through… the kids going back to school, the economy not doing so great, loss of a job, illness, and on and on. Those things are hard circumstances! In the middle of that you may not “feel” like God will come through… how do you trust & know that He will?

God sent His Son to the world as a sacrifice for our sins (1 John 4:9).  You can read in Matthew 26 how that even Christ asked for His Father to let the cup of death pass from Him, but He also said, “not as I will but as You will.” (v. 39)  If Christ was able to trust His Father even through death & knew it would be alright… how can I not trust Him through these circumstances of life? God gave His Son’s life for my sins… why would He not do what is best for my life now?

His answers may not always look the way we think they should look, but that is okay! Trusting Him has no limits!  It is through trust we can find contentment & through contentment we will bring Him glory!  Oh, how I want my life to bring Him glory!

Father, I thank You that no matter my feelings I know You are always with me & in control of every situation.  I praise You for Your goodness & faithfulness. When the world around me seems to be crumbling Your mighty arm is my shelter… I trust You for my salvation & I trust You with each one of my days. One step at a time is all You require of me & I can do that knowing You hold the plan.  Thank You for loving me! I pray blessings over each person that reads these words; shine Your light in those dark places. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Rejoicing in Truth!

Hmmm, Change...

C-H-A-N-G-E!  I don’t know about you but all my life I have fought against change.  I like the familiar.  I like being in my comfort zone.  I am a “planner”… I am sure some of you can relate.  However, over the last few years God has really worked on me in this area.  He has shown me that my reluctance to change is actually my lack of trust in Him… I have let my fears and insecurities come before my faith in my Almighty Father.

From the moment we are born we are constantly changing, much of what we never even think about because it is just natural.  Some change is enjoyable for me though… changing my hair color… changing my clothes… changing around my furniture.  Those are fun and non earth-shattering changes, but what happens when things are changing around me that I have no control over or even health changes?  What about when God has called me to change something I am doing or maybe starting to serve Him in a different way… what then?

When we are unwilling to change, then we are putting limits on God and the abundant life He has called us to.  I heard someone say recently that we can choose to live our life in pity or in power.  As Believers we have the power of God living inside us, so we are already equipped for change and a life without limits for God.  There is no mountain He cannot move in our lives.  There is no problem that is too big.  There is no heart broken enough that He cannot heal it.  There is no change that He cannot help us through.

Do you want to experience all you can from God in your life?  He wants to bless you in indescribable ways… the only thing that can stop that in your life is your lack of faith or disobedience.  Are you ready to take that first step to accept the change God has asked of you?  Are you ready to have Him open the windows of Heaven for you to pour out a blessing (Malachi 3:10)?  Are you ready to trust Him enough to give you a life greater than you could dare to imagine?

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to Him… forever and ever. Ephesians 3:20-21

Now is the time to lift your hands in surrender to the changes God has for you in your life.  You are His chosen child!  He will give you dreams beyond your comprehension.  Will you choose today to live a life for God without limits?  Are you willing to embrace change?  Just remember God created you the way you are, but also that He loves you so much He wants you to keep growing and changing. 

It makes my heart race just thinking of the incredible adventure He wants to share with us… if we are willing to let Him have it all!

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

What has God shown you in your life about change?  Is God doing a work in you… through you?  Is that your desire to be used by Him... wherever He leads through whatever change may come along?

And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you. Philippians 1:6

There is One thing that never changes and that is God… His Word… His love… His plan for your life. Read Isaiah 40 to see more of how God will stand forever.

Just remember, “If nothing ever changed there would be no butterflies!”

Rejoicing in Truth!