Love Lives Here

Luke 2:7 – “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”
John 1:14 – “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

The Lord came down, do you realize He didn’t come in a clean place? When we were at church this Christmas season, there was a huge chance for us to really hear about what it was like when Jesus was born. Love lived there!

We have this idea of what should be. Much like the Pharisee mindset, we find ourselves expecting certain ways things will go. They refused to believe Jesus was Messiah because He didn’t fit what they thought He would be. So therefore, the very thing they had been hoping and waiting for, went missed by the people who refused to accept how God delivered.

We do that. We have missed out on blessings in disguise. Mostly because God doesn’t fit in our box, we believe He isn’t there in it all. God has shown me that I can’t be staring at the doorway sometimes when he is sending an answer to prayer through a window.
Jesus went down to the sinners and tax collectors. We all need Jesus, but if we are busy trying to stay clean, we really miss out on some of the work God calls us too.

I won’t go there because I am scared. Okay, I understand wanting to be safe and make good choices, but really ask if it is a legitimate reason to be scared, or are you just feeling ill equipped for the call?

I love the saying, “God doesn’t call the equipped, He equips the called”. So true. I have had moments where I felt inadequate to complete a task and the power to do it came in the moment of need. Not before, not after, but in the very moment. God can do that because He is God.

So today, if you are blessed, don’t forget what our work is here on earth. We say all these things we will do, all these ways we will serve, but we don’t make time to play in the mud where we are needed. Some of us came from the low places so we see those who are there now. Some of us are so busy in our own lives getting our missions accomplished, that we miss out on the mission right in front of us.

Because it is hard doesn’t mean we should avoid it.

Let us go into the world and live the life we talk about living for Jesus.

Love lives where the Spirit is.

Lord, Heavenly Father,
Give me the strength to do Your will and the ability to see the tasks you have for me and the people that you see that we may pass right by. Let us be hopeful that You will give us what we need when we need it. I love You Lord and want to please you in the way I live. I appreciate all You have done for me, especially that You would come to earth to live a perfect life and despite all the hurt and pain, You love us. I am so grateful for Your grace and mercy. 
In Jesus’ Sweet Name I pray, Amen.

Self-care

“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place.” – Mark 6:31-32 NIV

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.” – Mark 1:35 NIV

Self-care is not the same thing as selfishness. I am still trying to believe this one. I have said many times before, you can’t pour out of an empty cup. Our Jesus Himself had to take moments away. He lived among many in need yet was only able to physically be so many places. 

Have you ever felt even a fraction of the need in this world? The pain? The hurt? God allowed me to feel a very small portion of that ache in the brokenness here on earth, and I could barely handle it. My spirit wanted to be everywhere helping everyone. Even saving all the animals in need of homes…

But the Spirit spoke to my heart and said, “It’s not all your job”. Yet my willing soul wanted to persist that “I have this Jesus, I can do this! It is all mine to fix!” I realized it is not. 

We are the hands and feet, (1 Corinthians 12:27), yet one individual cannot be all the body parts, even if the desire to is there. That’s what makes it the body of Christ. We share each other’s pack… (Galatians 6:2). 

So, when it comes to self-care, only you and God can discern the line between selfishness and self-care. Often times I find if I am burning my fuse at both ends, it takes me longer to recover and I am less useful for the Lord when it gets to that point. Instead, let’s be intentional about doing the things we need to fill us back up. The Word, community, our passions, our family…

It is all something you can bring to the Lord in prayer, and often you will feel God showing and directing you to certain activities, but not overloading. I recommend reading Lisa Terkeurst’s, “The Best Yes”, if you are having some problems balancing your life. It is okay to admit you can’t do it all. We need to be actively seeking the Lord in this matter daily. I find that when I do what the Lord wants, I become filled by it and often get to also do what I want as well, but if not, I figure there is a reason or a later time I might.

Lord God,

Please help me to know what I need to do to stay balanced in this life. I surrender my schedule and my plans to You Lord, because truly my service and life are yours. I know you are looking to use me, help me know when! Help me prioritize without trying to be my own little god. I love You Lord, and I acknowledge that Jesus even took time away to be with You. I ask that You please help me to surrender my schedule to You every morning before I start planning what I want to do. I trust You Lord, help me to show it in my life.

In Jesus’ Name I Pray, Amen.

Schemes

John 10:10
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” (NIV)

Discord? Miscommunication? Broken relationships?

What do you think it will be like in heaven?

Spiritual warfare is very real. Even though Jesus has already won the victory, it doesn’t mean we can let our awareness falter. We need to stand strong as we fight our daily battles (Ephesians 6:10).

I had an image once of a couple arguing; satan in the corner leaning against the wall, smiling. Occasionally he would throw out an invisible force that cause miscommunication and offense. The couple’s arguing intensified, and satan cackled, throwing his head back, entertained by the discord.

What would satan love? To break the covenant of marriage. It is the greatest representation of our covenant with God. The devil will try to whisper things that convince you of things and drive a wedge in your relationships, especially the ones that might grow you the most.

So this is a red flag. Be aware. Pray. Study up. Don’t get caught off guard.

Lord God,
Please help me be aware of satan’s schemes but not absorbed by them to the point where they steal my joy. I want to trust that You are in control Lord, but guide me not to fall into temptation, as it can slowly draw us in, and we can be sucked in before realizing it. Protect our relationships and reach those who have isolated and can’t be reached by anyone but You Lord. Free their hearts and minds from the sin and lies. 
In Jesus’ Precious name I pray, Amen. 

What Love

2 Chronicles 20:17

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” (NIV)

Imagine walking into a store and getting things you need and getting to the check out, ready to hear the total…

The cashier says, “It has already been taken care of”.

You drive home in awe at the blessing that just happened and stop by the mail box before pulling in your driveway. Shoot. That credit card statement. You don’t even look at the numbers anymore, you just set up automatic payment… but something tells you to open it this time…

It’s a letter from the bank saying your debt has been cleared… All of it.

Wow. This must be a fantasy.

Even though on this physical earth, this may not happen to you, this is what Jesus does for us.

He paid our debt…

He won the victory…

So now we are just walking out this life in a way that pleases Him until we get to eternity.

Jesus tells us, “I went so you didn’t have to”.

Unconditional love. He did it knowing we could never repay, yet He still sacrificed for us.

Love is not doing something with the intention of the action being returned. God loved me before I was even born, and I didn’t give into His relentless pursuit of me until age 26. Any men out there willing to chase a woman for her heart for 26 years? 50? 80? He is up for it.

So, despite what we think we are owed, God loves us regardless because His grace is enough. That is not a free pass to do whatever I want. To me it means, when I mess up, He doesn’t stop working with me. Relationships take work. We all fall short, but just because my spouse might forgive me many times for cheating doesn’t mean I should do it.

Ask yourself some hard questions. Are you following out of love? Do you desire to do your best to make Father proud? He loves us regardless, but boy do I love it when I get stuff right occasionally. He helps me up when I fall. He doesn’t look at me and say “well, you’ve tripped too many times.”

I try to relate the love of God to what we desire out of relationships in general. Our God loves perfectly even when we don’t. Isn’t that amazing?

I pray you ask yourself if you truly believe that Jesus has won the victory and continue claiming that promise over and over when things seem hopeless in this broken world. He is the Healer and He has already won over all your situations. We may not understand His ways (Isaiah 55:9), but we can trust that they are best.

Lord God,

            Please help me to trust you and see things from the eternal perspective. Help me to not try and figure out things with my finite mind. I am so thankful that you are my Father and that you are taking care of me and you will never leave me. Help me to truly understand that I am not alone in this life, and that your love is true, relentless, and unconditional. Help me to desire you and show you that I love you too.

                                                                                                In Jesus’ Name I Pray, Amen

Mist

James 4:14

14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. (NIV)

We always expect tomorrow. Another chance to visit. Another time to call. We do so many things, lead such busy lives, we forget we are but a mist in this life. On the other side of eternity, we share hope that this life is temporary, but we are called to make the most of it why we are here. I feel that there are times when Jesus had to get away and self-care, but His purpose never changed. Jesus touched many, and He lives on in us and we continue His work. 

I want to leave a legacy that makes our Father proud. When I think of all the things I want to do, there is not enough daylight. It is a balance. We must keep ourselves full to be able to pour out into others. Nothing comes out of a bone-dry cup. 

Sometimes I would think, “I just have to pray and then do it”, but I literally need to pray about every step. I am trying to get into the habit of physically getting on my knees every morning when I wake up and surrendering my schedule and my day to the Lord. 

“Lord let me do what you want me to and talk to the people you want me to”. I would say that every time I do what the plan of the day is that Jesus has for me (given play by play throughout the day), I have a day that fills me up too. In my efforts to do what God has for me, my needs are met and generally I find joy in the day, or there is something I learn or get to do. I really find that the more I walk in the Spirit, despite how hard it can be sometimes, especially when my flesh wants to overrun me, I am overall more satisfied. 

I try to fill the needs on my own and the satisfaction is fleeting and usually drains me in some way. I am not sometimes aware that I am making plans or filling voids until God reminds me. So, I ask Him to fill me, and to help me be satisfied in Him. I still don’t know why I continue to think I can out do a limitless God who knows me through and through. I find myself planning on things without asking if that is really what I should be doing. 

Following God isn’t easy, the life of Jesus can show that. The best way isn’t always the easiest. But to me, it is worth it. No matter who may judge or assume, if I follow the One who goes before me (Deuteronomy 31:8), I can rest assured I will be fine. I can’t do everything for everyone, I can’t fix everything, but I can ask God my part in what He is doing and be obedient in that. Boundaries are healthy, and self-care is different from self-centeredness. 

They say you only live once, and it is true on this side of heaven, but with Jesus you can live beyond this broken world. Make it count. Connect with others. Ask God’s guidance in all relationships and life moves, all things. He knows best. He knows how He can use you for others. He helps us understand that we are here for Him and not ourselves, but He will make sure we are healthy in mind and spirit to do the work He has set before us (Ephesians 2:10). We just need to listen. We don’t have a moment to waste, but don’t rush through life and miss out on the lessons from the journey. Enjoy what God has given you.  

Lord,

Help me Father to truly surrender everything to you, down to the seconds of my life. Allow me to stand strong against those who seek to judge me and tell me different things that are not from You or your Word. Help me to pray for those who seek to hurt me or accuse me. Help others to see my heart and know that I am trying my best for you Lord. Help me to do things for others as if I am doing them for you, even when it is hard. I am here for YOU Lord to do what you direct, and I am so grateful for this brief time on earth in comparison to the eternal glory I will enjoy with you. I love you Lord and will believe You above all else, and I care more about what You think about me and the plan You have for my life. Help me to be a blessing to others and not believe the lies of the devil, which distract me from my purpose. 

In Jesus’ Sweet Name, Amen 

I'm Hungry

Isaiah 58:9-11

"Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; You will cry, and He will say, 'Here I am ' If you remove the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, And if you give yourself to the hungry And satisfy the desire of the afflicted, Then your light will rise in darkness And your gloom will become like midday. And the LORD will continually guide you, And satisfy your desire in scorched places, And give strength to your bones; And you will be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.”

We all have a deep urge to feel accepted. Maybe you don’t realize it yet, or maybe you are lying to yourself. The empty spot is there though. The God sized hole that only God can fill.

People let you down. You can’t blame them. They are human like you. Surely you have disappointed, not measured up, or let someone down at some point in your life. Or maybe you are lying to yourself about that too. That is probably because you are putting the expectations meant for God on people who are just as broken as you are.

I am not trying to tell you that you “are” disappointing, or you “don’t measure up”, these are merely feelings I myself have experienced by the misplacement of expectations on those around me. Family, friends, spouses… It is unfair to expect them to be your everything, your all in all. No matter how badly they want to be that for you, it is just human nature that they can’t be perfect. We all fall, we all fail. We all make mistakes and feel ashamed. Some of us are blessed to have friends and family that love us through the mess. Some of us are less fortunate. But the Good News is that there is One that will never let you down and will never stop loving you no matter how much you mess up.

Where can I find someone like that you ask? A perfect human? No such thing except for one Man who was God wrapped in flesh. His name is Jesus. He humbled Himself to come experience life and do it perfectly, so we wouldn’t have to.

If you don’t know this Jesus, I encourage you to get to know Him. He never fails. He is the perfect Everything. And He loves you for you.

You’ve been aching, I know. I too ached and still have moments where I want to feel precious, cherished, loved unconditionally. Been then I learned the Truth. I am precious, I am cherished, I am loved unconditionally by the All Knowing, Limitless, Mighty King of Kings. You don’t see Him? You don’t feel Him? I know it is hard to believe when our finite minds try to grasp the concept. We are used to just the people we see around us and we don’t need to have faith to believe they exist.

So, if you started dating someone, you would get to know them. Talk to them. Maybe read up on them (I am kind of like that, want to make sure they aren’t a serial killer or something!). I don’t always know how to explain the Father, Greatest Love, Brother concept that the Trinity envelops, but here is what I do know.

Those of you who don’t have a strong Father figure in your life, I encourage you to ask someone who does have one or look up what a good Dad looks like if you don’t know. God is a Perfect Father. He loves us unconditionally, even when we return to Him after going astray. He knows how and when to discipline us, and He has our best interests in mind even though it doesn’t feel like it all the time. He knows everything, including the bigger picture and He wants me to trust Him to help me do life. I have a great Earth Dad, but he can’t be perfect because no one can! We all make mistakes! My Earth Dad used to keep things from my knowledge or tell me I couldn’t do something I WANTED to do. Do you think it was because he hated my guts? Heck no! It was BECAUSE HE LOVED ME that he did and does these things (I still seek counsel from him!).

Have a spouse or want one? Some people like living the single life. I think to myself sometimes how nice it would be to have a best friend and husband to share my life with. I may get that, I may not. I will tell you one thing though. I can sit in perfect contentment at a coffee shop by myself or dinner. I am okay with not having someone to text me every morning or welcome me home. Of course, there is nothing wrong with having those things, but I realize that since I met Jesus and let Him into my heart, I am more content. He is always with me, and I can’t explain in words how I don’t feel lonely anymore and when I do, I know I can call on Him and can’t imagine how I would live life without Him.

What about a brother? I have always wanted a brother. I have a lot of adoptive brothers I gathered from being in the Marine Corps. It is nice to be able to pick some of your siblings 😊 I was blessed to experience the friendship of a brother through those men I served with. Jesus is my Brother too and He defends me and loves me just like good brothers do.

So maybe you are thinking I am saying, live alone, don’t ever expect anyone to make you happy. I am NOT saying that. What I AM saying is that God fills those gaps we feel, and we must make Him our source of joy. He provides us people in our lives that love us and He uses them to bless us and guide us with His Holy Spirit. Friends are a gift. I feel that God hand picks all the people in our lives as we walk through our journey.

I encourage you to research codependency and realize areas where you may be putting yourself at risk for heart break unnecessarily. Some who don’t believe in God, we will reference your “Higher Power” like they say in recovery. I was that way. Codependent. Upset that no one was making me happy. I call myself a recovering codependent people pleaser fixer upper. I realized how unfair it was to make someone else responsible for my happiness and source of joy only when someone had put the expectation on me, and of course I let them down because I am not perfect.

A perfect God loves imperfect me. He is my joy. When I am satisfied in Him, I am completely satisfied, and my soul doesn’t hunger for empty things in the world to fill the God sized hole in my heart. It is a daily surrender. I don’t do it perfectly and that is why I need Jesus.

Lord, my All in All,

Help me to seek you when my soul is unsatisfied. Help me to feel whole in you and I thank you that you love me even though I mess up. I praise you and thank you that you are a loving God that does not seek to harm me, but instead, wants the absolute best for me. Help me to surrender my expectations but hold healthy boundaries, as these are ways you have given us to lead lives that are pleasing to you. In Jesus’ name I pray,

Amen.

Do You Want Healing?

John 5: 1-15

John 5:1-15New International Version (NIV)

The Healing at the Pool

5 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda[a] and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. [4] [b] 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and had learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”

11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ”

12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”

13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.

14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.

This is a story of healing. You would think that a man that had been sick for thirty-eight years would have lost faith in being well again.
Maybe you think he would have been justified in thinking that he wasn't going anywhere and self-pity was a pleasant past-time.
Then Jesus... Isn' that how it usually is?
Just when things look most dreary... Just when you think you will be stuck for ages... Here comes Jesus to blow our minds and take our faith to the next level.

Especially when you are surrounded by a bunch of other sick people... Why not be okay with staying sick?

But Jesus...

Jesus picks out this one invalid out of ALL the sick people and asks him the million dollar question...

"Do you want to get well?"

I don't know what your story is, but I remember the night Jesus asked me the very same question...

"Don't you see you are sick my love? Aren't you sick of it? Don't you want to be well?", He spoke to my spirit.

I was sobbing and sweating, laying on the floor of my living room crying out to Him in response to my circumstances.

My circumstances showed I was unwell, and Jesus had the million dollar question...

I had the desperate reply... I cried out, "Heal me... Heal me!!!"

This invalid that Jesus had approached replied, but not giving an answer to His question.

The man responds, "Sir, I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred, While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me!"

Have you given God that reply to His offer of healing before?

"But God, there is just no way... I have tried and there is always someone or something in the way that keeps me here where I lie..."

Smells like an excuse, but Jesus knows what the man needs... despite the man's attempt at avoiding having to answer Jesus' question...

Jesus commands him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk!"

The man does as Jesus asks without questioning him...

Receiving healing is a choice. You can either stay stuck where you are at, blaming everyone else for your stagnant state of being...

Or you can obey God and in that, you will receive healing and pick up your mat and walk out of that sickness.

It is a process for sure, and a daily choice if you want the healing our Lord has to offer.

It isn't easy, but it is good and it is unmatched.

The Great Physician is willing to perform the surgery, but you have to choose to get on the table.

It may mean we have to open some old wounds that haven't healed right, or let Him remove some things in our heart that are not of Him... Like bitterness or deceit.

But praise God! We serve a merciful, patient, and good God that is willing to do His part.

But we have to do ours.

Free will sucks sometimes. But if you choose Jesus, you win every time because He has already won the victory over sin and death.

How will you answer Jesus when He asks you, "Do you want to get well?"

Lord God, My Healer, the Great Physician,

I choose you and the perfect healing you offer. I want to be made well and I know you will be with me through the whole process and even after into eternity. 
Please help me to be obedient and follow you as you diagnose and remedy my hurts and sickness. 
Help me to grow closer to you as you care for me and love on me. Help me to depend on you to provide all my needs and rest in the fact that I can trust you. 
Help me to be comforted in knowing you love me no matter what condition I am in. 

In Jesus' precious name I pray, Amen.