Decide...

D

Decide...

Decide: verb; come to resolution in the mind as a result of consideration.  Make a choice from a number of alternatives.

The decision that is being made in the picture above is based on the second definition above...the two people had alternatives but, they chose or decided to marry each other.

However, if they want the marriage to last they will follow the first definition as well and decide, or resolve in the mind.  Resolve in their mind that they will make decisions based on what is best for each other, resolve in their mind that they will stay committed to the decision they made to choose one another.  This will involve major decisions and thousands of little ones daily. And it will involve much battle in the mind.

Today I woke up, although I am not married, with choices to make which would affect my relationship with my Savior.  "To all of us, male and female, Jesus has offered himself as our provider and protector, the One who has forever pledged himself in faithfulness and love."  (Spangler, 2006)

"For your Maker is your husband-

the Lord Almighty is His name-"

Isaiah 54:5-7

When I became I Christian, I took Christ's name.  I chose to stand at the altar and make a decision that would affect all other choices I would make for the rest of my life.  My mind is probably the biggest battlefront for those choices.  Guess what?  Nine times out of ten the body bone follows the head bone.  If I allow my mind to dwell too long in places where it shouldn't, it changes places I will go, things I will watch, words I will speak.  Little decisions make up the big ones.

DECIDE...

"But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you,

then chose for yourselves

this day

whom you will serve."

Joshua 24:15

Psalm 119:30-31

"I have CHOSEN the way of faithfulness

I have SET my heart (and mind) on

your laws.

I HOLD FAST  to your statutes."

Decide....

Choose, set your heart and mind on, and hold fast friends!  What is the alternative?

Consider...

C

Consider..

When your soul is downcast, and your mind has trouble focusing.  When you think God has left you high and dry.  When the pressures of the day would blow out the tire on your car.

Consider....

  The Creator of the Universe,

the One who put every star in its place, knows how many there are,

KNOWS you, He knows what you are facing.

Psalm 10:14

"But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; you consider their grief and take it to hand."

Consider Him, because He who made you knows and considers you!

                                                        Consider....

 

For you created my inmost being you knit me together in my mother's womb...

You have searched me, Lord

and you KNOW me.

You hem me in behind and before

and you lay Your hand upon me.

Where then can I go from Your Spirit?

Even on my darkest days,

even when I do not feel your presence,

even there you WILL guide me, your hand will guide me,

Your right hand WILL hold me fast.

Consider....

What God has created.

Consider....

What God has promised.

Consider....

Where you have been and where you are now.

Consider and KNOW...

I am confident of this,

He who began a good work in you will carry it on to

completion.

Psalm 143, Psalm 10:14, Psalm 139, Philippians 1:6

Buildings...

So today is going to be Flashback Friday...:)  Remember this building?  It represents loss in our lives.  Real loss and devastation in my life.  This building was the site of many Stayer family gatherings, many birthdays...
As we watched this building be torn down we remembered and revisited those precious memories. We watched as everything but the walls and the foundation was torn away.  We've been waiting to see what would come next...

Well today let me show you this!  We have gained 3 new businesses out of the last one!  Does that make up for the last one?  Does that replace the previous building?  Remember as you look at this new building... the foundation that held the previous building upright is the same that holds this building upright!  Some of the walls are even the same...so the memories are still within.
Now let me tell you something about loss....
New is not meant to replace previous!  These buildings are a perfect visual of what God does with loss in our lives.  He doesn't replace, He restores and rebuilds what has been devastated!  He even multiplies!  The process can be long and HARD but hold fast to HIS promises! 

"The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame...your people will rebuild...and will raise up the age-old foundations; You will be called Restorer of broken walls" (Pam paraphrased from Isaiah 58: 11-12 )

"They will REBUILD the old ruins and RESTORE the places long devastated; they will RENEW that which was ruined....Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance....and everlasting joy will be yours." Isaiah 61: 4, 7

Yes these are promises given to the people of Israel speaking of their beloved city...but I think the promises hold true to our beloved things, to our devastations, our losses...because our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever!!  Selah...sit in quiet and ponder these truths, allowing God to speak to the hurt and pain in your life...He wants to RESTORE, REBUILD, and RENEW...will you allow Him to do the work?

Be Still...

B

Be still...

Sooo contrary to everything that comes naturally!!  You tell me to "be still" when the storm rages, the armies mount, the to do list grows, and the pressures swell.

"Be still and know"...

Lord help me to know what I need to know.

"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."  Exodus 14:14

"He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.  They were glad when it grew calm, and He guided them to their desired haven." Psalm 107:29-30

"Now then, stand still and see this great thing the Lord is about to do before your eyes." 1 Samuel 12:16

KNOW...

Know God loves me!

Know God is faithful!

Know God's got this!

Know there will be a time, it is coming...

the storm will be calm.

Stand still loved one!  See the great thing God IS doing!  Quiet your restless mind and heart and watch...

Be still

 

Psalm 119

Have you ever read Psalm 119?  It is the longest chapter in the Bible!  So most of us Otter types skip it!  It is a great chapter though!  The chapter is divided into sections, each one corresponding to each letter in the Hebrew alphabet.  This morning as I read God impressed upon my heart a challenge to do the same thing with the English alphabet.  We'll see how this goes.  Here begins my Psalm 119...

A

Abiding Lord, keep me abiding,

remaining and continuing with You, whatever comes my way.

A- Accepting everything I have is from God and it represents everything I need.

B- Believe that God walks with me, therefore I am never alone.

I- In and through His Spirit, I can do all things set before me...so why go anywhere else?

D- Decide to stay under, in and surrounded by the love of God.

E- Enduring together with my Savior whatever comes...

Father, you have called me to abide in you, to remain in Your love and live in it

obeying your commandments.

You have asked me to do this so that

Your joy and delight

may be 

ABUNDANT

and

OVERFLOWING

in me.

Thank you Lord for your amazing love!

Help me to see You

Help me to remain.

(John 15:9-11) 

Desert rain

Okay here's what I love about God...I was already going to write a follow post about what God can do during our desert times...and this morning He is already giving everyone a visual!  I want out of the desert! Have you heard that before from me?? :)  But God has been showing me all of these verses...

"The desert and the parched land will be glad; the wilderness will rejoice and blossom....they will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God"  Isaiah 35:1-2

"I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys.  I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs......so that people may see and know, may consider and understand, that the hand of the Lord has done this, that the Holy One of Israel has created it."  Isaiah 41:18-20

Both of these verses tell me that God wants to be known by us!  Perhaps He allows desert time so that HE may be seen and known by others around us.  I have had times in the desert that I couldn't have avoided...I have brought some of the desert time on by my own choices.  Whichever desert you are in, look for God's hand.  It is there; either waiting for you to come back, to stop choosing rebellion and walk once again with Him. Or, if the desert time is caused by tragedy, hardship in your life...be strong and courageous!  God will walk you through so that others may see and know Him!  I am convinced that God shines the brightest in our lives during the darkest times. Whether we "feel" Him there or not.

Finally...

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. 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 desert."  Isaiah 43:18-19

Sometimes self forgiveness is the hardest thing!!  I have made bad choices but I have asked for forgiveness and God's word tells me He remembers them NO MORE!  Time to let go!  He is doing a new thing!  Watch for the streams and new blooms in the desert...He is doing the work!!  

"He who has compassion on them will guide them and lead them beside springs of water."  Isaiah 49: 10

Know and rely on the love, extravagant, all out, unconditional LOVE God has for you...yes even in the desert!  Be refreshed by the rain today.  :) 

Desert walking

I have been clear about my intention of getting out of the desert...I want out!!  The Desert has represented a lot of loss for me.  I lost my husband here and my Dad.  I have spent the last 10 years struggling, trying to find my way. I have wandered away from God during those years at times...thinking I could find my own way.  I didn't!  I found more heartache and pain!  My journey through the desert has been a lot like the journey of the Israelites through the wilderness.  I remember a time when I used to read their story and was a little judgmental...I would think, "you stupid people! Look at what God has done for you!  How can you chose to walk away?!!"  Now I have a much different understanding!  Now what draws my attention is God's response to His people.  Does He get frustrated with His people?  YES!  Are there consequences for bad choices? YES!  But above ALL else God is gracious and compassionate and waits with arms wide open for His people to return to Him.  Time and time again the Israelites chose to go their own way, and EVERY time God loving takes them back.  Guess what? He has done the same for me and does the same for you!  It is satan who wants us to think we need to stay away, that God will never forgive us this time, that we can't darken the door of a church.  Don't believe satan's lies!  Read for yourself God's response to His wandering people...

 "...I have made you, you are my servant; Israel, I will not forget you. I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist.  Return to me, for I have redeemed you."  Isaiah 44:21-22

"They will REBUILD the ancient ruins and RESTORE the places long devastated; they will RENEW the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations." Isaiah 61: 4

The people had suffered the consequences of THEIR choices and what was God response to them?  To remember His promises, be faithful to HIS character and offer to rebuild, restore, and renew them and remind them how extravagantly He loves them!

"I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.  I will build you up again, and you Israel, will be rebuilt."  Jeremiah 31: 3-4

Think this only applies to the people of Israel?  No way!  Jesus himself gives the example of the Father's response to the Prodigal son in Luke 15: 11-32.  Jesus welcomes back!  His arms are waiting, wide open!
Don't let pride or satan's lies keep you away from a LOVING waiting Savior!