{Study | Day 17 of 31}

Ready? Go.

I love to study Scripture. The complexities and depth blows my mind, really. The writer of Hebrews (chapter 4, verse 12) says it’s alive and active, exposing our inmost thoughts and desires.  Paul reminds us in 2 Timothy that it is God-breathed. That truth alone makes it invaluable. Paul also tells us in Ephesians that it’s the primary weapon we’ve been given to defeat the enemy of our souls. It’s THE standard of truth. Scripture does something else for us, too. It teaches us about the character of God and reveals Jesus. Something beautiful happened when I started praying this prayer before my bible study: “Lord, reveal something of Yourself to me in these pages. Holy Spirit, reveal truth and teach me what this is saying about who Jesus is?” Here’s the thing: what I believe about Him, based on my understanding of His Word, will determine how I live for Him. Did you catch that? It's true. Scripture is not just a book of “how-tos” and “rules to live by.”  It’s so much more. 

I am grateful for Scripture. And, I’m thankful I live in a country during a century when it’s readily available and easily accessible. In the early 13th century, it was illegal for anyone other than priests to own a Bible. I can’t imagine that. And, how often do we leave it lying on the bedside table collecting dust? What if we recommit to searching and studying the Scriptures, and knowing what they say? What if we recommit to applying them to our every day, affirming the truth of God’s Word above all else? Yeah, what if we did that!?  If we ask Him, God will give us a supernatural desire to study His Word, more than ever before. He can do that, you know. I’d say it’s something He’d very much delight in doing for us. 

Stop.

{Little | Day 16 of 31}

Ready? Go.

Julia is four-years-old. She provides plenty of opportunity for silliness and laughter. She’s kind and compassionate and a little bit strong-willed. Though sometimes I’m guilty of thinking she’s the smartest kid on the planet, she’s still very much a little girl. She’s a little girl who prays what may seem like simple, little prayers and God hears her. She speaks out profound, important truths that sometimes leave me amazed at her four-year-old-faith. Here are a couple of my favorites. 

Several months ago, she went upstairs, alone, to fetch something from her bedroom. We heard her feet running as fast as they could down the hallway. While she ran, she was singing at the top of her lungs, “Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.” She sang it all the way down the hallway, into the bedroom, and back. We asked her why she was singing. “Because, when I’m scared I sing to God. He helps me not be scared.” Sigh. 

Here’s another. I occasionally suffer from migraines, sometimes for several days. After a few days, I get aggravated that my headache won’t go away. I get to the point where I’m willing to try anything to get relief. I made a hot bath with salts and essential oils and was complaining to Brian through tears that I couldn’t take another second of this dreadful headache.  Julia walks over to me. And the conversation went something like this:

Julia: “Mommy, I’m sorry you have a hedge - ache.” Me: “Thank you, sweet Julia."  Julia: “But, Mom, did you know God can take your hedge-ache away, and then you don’t have to be sad? You can pray and ask Him.” (She turned right around and scurries away.) Me: (Blank stare)

It actually hadn’t occurred to me. Silly, isn’t it? 

Then just last night during bedtime prayers, she prayed that I would sleep well. I’ve been having some sleepless nights the past few weeks. “God, you can help Momma have good sleep. So, help her sleep good tonight. Jesus name. Thank you. Amen.” And, I did. 

There’s something about her matter-of-fact tone that exudes faith. That’s what this little girl of mine is teaching me. Her prayers aren't fussy and complicated. They aren’t embellished with big words and religious lace.  And, they aren’t a last resort. I know, she’s four. But, she’s living Philippians 4:6 out right before my eyes. "Don't worry about anything; instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for what He's done."  Yes.

I am so thankful for her four-year-old faith. Even the tiniest bit of faith in the hands of a mighty God can move mountains. 

STOP.

{Move | Day 15 of 31}

Ready? Go.

I am a few days behind, so I’m playing catch up. Life has been moving at a nearly an unsustainable pace. It seems like there is constant motion — always. It can be hard for a girl to catch her breath, and that’s on a good day. Life moves as if it has a mind of its own. Have you ever had a season where life wanted to move on without you? Maybe something wrecked your “normal,” and you felt stuck while life plowed forward without any consideration of you. That happened to me once, just after I lost my first child. Every day for eight months, he was the focus. He was a charming little fellow, so I didn't mind. Then, he was gone. The days immediately following his death were a whirlwind of activity. The funny thing is, you just keep up, somehow.  It's the days after the funeral and burial that run you over like a freight train. Life gets to pick back up where it left off while you are left to try and find your normal again. I couldn't find mine. I insisted that it needed to look and feel something like before. But, that doesn't work, does it?  Life was moving all around me, and I couldn't get unstuck.  God graciously taught me that I had to make a choice to move in the direction of healing. It took a lot of work and quite a bit of surrender and submission to God, but I was moving in a direction, gaining momentum, finding my new normal. And, God never left me to go it alone.

May I encourage you today? Just keep getting back up and do the next thing. Move one step closer in the direction of the One who's already pursuing you. His love for you is relentless. Yes, keep moving toward Him. Eventually, You'll find He is all you need.

Stop.

{Five Minute Friday | Mail}

It's Five Minute Friday. That means unplanned, unedited, straight-from-the-heart-to-the-paper writing. Yep, you just write whatever comes out based on a word you're given. If you have five minutes, you should give it a try!  Find out how here.

This week the prompt is {MAIL}. This is also Day 14 of the 31 Day Writing Challenge! WOO!

Ready? GO.

I almost decided to skip writing when I saw the prompt, mail. So, because I'm not feeling particularly creative this evening, I will make a list. I made a list on Day 9 when the prompt was post-it. I do love a good list, and it was big fun. When I was a kid church camp was one of my most favorite things about summertime. Back in the day, we used to exchange mailing addresses and write letters over the summer and fall. There's something sweet about seeing your name, handwritten, on the outside of an envelope. I do love to get mail. In honor of the pages and pages of handwritten letters, here's a list of fourteen people (because it's day 14 of 31) from whom I would enjoy receiving mail, in no particular order.

1. C.S. Lewis
2. A.W. Tozer
3. Moses
4. J.R.R. Tolkien
5. Jane Austen
6. Rosa Parks
7. Beethoven
8. Leonardo Da Vinci
9. G.K. Chesterton
10. Harry Potter
11. Phoebe, from FRIENDS
12. Walt Disney
13. Ray Charles
14. Paul McCartney

How about you?

STOP.

{Alert | Day 13 of 31}

Ready? GO.

“The enemy celebrates lethargic Christian living . . . don’t be lulled to sleep.” When I read that during my study time, I had a moment. Don’t be lulled to sleep. Lethargic christian living. Ouch. It feels like that sometimes, doesn’t it? Like the church is a sleeping giant in America lulled into lethargy by the ideas and customs that have become acceptable in our culture. Oh, we’re busy, but with what? The truth is that the enemy does a fabulous job of distracting us. Sometimes, he doesn’t have to do much because we make it easy. We do. But, Scripture tells us to be alert. Take a look at these reminders in 1 Peter.

So prepare your minds for action, be completely sober [in spirit--steadfast, self-disciplined, spiritually and morally alert], fix your hope completely on the grace [of God] that is coming to you when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:13, AMP)

Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour.   (1 Peter 5:8, AMP)

The good news is that God never meant for us to figure it all out on our own. We have access to everything we need to live a vibrant, victorious, and effective life through Christ. I love that. On my own, I fall way short, get distracted way too easily, and walk through life with my spiritual eyes half closed.  But Christ in me — now that’s another story. It’s another one of those prayers that He’ll always answer with a yes. I’ve learned over the years, I’m most spiritually awake when I’m intentionally engaged, when I’m actively seeking Him, and when I’m actively listening to Him in all things. I don’t want to do life without Him. I want to be in step with Him every moment. Every day. How about you? 

STOP.