A girl should really do some serious praying before praying a verse over her life. God’s Word is powerful and there are no take-backs, at least for me there aren’t. I thought God would slap my wrist about what I was listening to and watching. He had done this before, it caused some discomfort and had its challenges but I got through it. So basically, I thought this was gonna be a refresher’s course. I was wrong, real wrong. He got personal, real personal.

He went straight to the heart, no coddling or easing into the process. Within the first two weeks of the year He showed me how unclean my heart was. I really just wanted Him to clean it, not show me the filth. What I saw and continue to see is harsh! With God, the harsh comes with grace. Grace to see me through, to see what I need to see, and change what I need to change. He supplied grace through the words of my friend who taught our Sunday School class today.

His grace taught me that I had been asking God the wrong question. Rather than asking, ”What do you want me to learn in this situation?” I should be asking, “What do you want me to unlearn in this situation?”

It took years of wrong doing and wrong thinking to get my heart this unclean. Instead of learning only a lesson, I need to unlearn the habits and thinking patterns that ushered me to this place. All the Biblical knowledge in the world is worthless to your life unless you allow it transform your heart, mind, and actions.

“God, what do you want me to unlearn today. Help me to use what I know about You and Your Word to transform my heart, mind, and actions. What I don’t know, teach me.”

I remember the first time was scheduled for a massage.  Many friends had gone before me. They told me how relaxing the experience had been. Their posture even loosened has they spoke about the peace and tranquility of the spa. You can imagine how I much anticipated my visit.

It was just like my friends had described. The smell of scented candles, the aroma of relaxation filled the air. The music was soft and set the perfect tone. I could feel the stresses of life loosen as I waited to be called back.

The moment came, I heard my name. It was finally my turn, the one I had waited for and anticipated. As the masseuse poured the oil on my back I could feel myself unwinding. I had just closed my eyes and exhaled to soak-in the experience when I felt the twinge… pain. How could there be pain in this beautiful moment? No one had mentioned anything about pain. But yes, the relaxing, tranquil, unwinding, and peaceful experience hurt.

The masseuse explained that she would need to apply pressure to the knots in my back and neck so they could be begin to dissipate. She went to tell me what hurt today would feel great tomorrow. Honestly in that moment I found her words hard to believe. It turned out she was right. My back and neck did feel great the next day. My stress level was down and I felt more relaxed. The massage was good for me but it hurt.

These past few months as I have been giving permission to God to create in me a pure heart I have experienced moments like that of my first massage. The idea of God working my life was lovely. I imagined His love and grace loosening life’s stresses. The future was full of hope and peace as I anticipated what my life would be like at the end of 2013 after praying this verse over my life for 12 months. What I did not anticipate was the pain associated with saying to God, “Go ahead mess with my mess. Clean me up.”

Five months into this beautiful adventure I have learned two very important lessons. The first, holiness can’t be half-way. Allowing God to work to work in my life is all or nothing. And because I am stubborn and stiff-necked (no pun intended) this holiness adventure is going to take a lot longer than 12 months.

The second lesson? What hurts today, feels better tomorrow and even better the day after and the day after that. What is good for us sometimes hurts. However, if we ask for and accept God’s generous grace to get through it, the other side is beautiful. There is purification in pain. I can’t explain it, I just know it.

What is your favorite line or verse? Here’s mine

Filled with wonder,
Awestruck wonder
At the mention of Your Name
Jesus, Your Name is Power
Breath, and Living Water
Such a marvelous mystery

More lyrics: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/g/gateway_worship/

When the Good Lord was creating mothers, He was into His sixth day of “overtime” when the angel appeared and said. “You’re doing a lot of fiddling around on this one.”

And God said, “Have you read the specs on this order?” She has to be completely washable, but not plastic. Have 180 moveable parts…all replaceable. Run on black coffee and leftovers. Have a lap that disappears when she stands up. A kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair. And six pairs of hands.”

The angel shook her head slowly and said. “Six pairs of hands…. no way.”

It’s not the hands that are causing me problems,” God remarked, “it’s the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have.”

That’s on the standard model?” asked the angel. God nodded.

One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, ‘What are you kids doing in there?’ when she already knows. Another here in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn’t but what she has to know, and of course the ones here in front that can look at a child when he goofs up and say. ‘I understand and I love you’ without so much as uttering a word.”

God,” said the angel touching his sleeve gently, “Get some rest tomorrow….”

I can’t,” said God, “I’m so close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick…can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger…and can get a nine year old to stand under a shower.”

The angel circled the model of a mother very slowly. “It’s too soft,” she sighed.

But tough!” said God excitedly. “You can imagine what this mother can do or endure.”

Can it think?”

Not only can it think, but it can reason and compromise,” said the Creator.

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek.

There’s a leak,” she pronounced. “I told You that You were trying to put too much into this model.”

It’s not a leak,” said the Lord, “It’s a tear.”

What’s it for?”

It’s for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness, and pride.”

You are a genius, ” said the angel.

Somberly, God said, “I didn’t put it there.”
― Erma Bombeck, When God Created Mothers

This is exactly how I feel when I read familiar passages in the Bible, passages I take for granted, the ones I know by heart. These are passages  I know so well, I wonder how I could possible learn anything new. Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” This means it is impossible for God’s Word not to be new, alive, relateable, and fresh.

Recently, as I was reading my daily reading in the One Year Chronological Bible I came to Psalm 23. It was as if God hit the refresh button in my spirit to show me the current time and application of these ancient words.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley,I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord.”

Refreshed, these ancient words reminded me:

• He gives me all I need. (V1)
• He lets me rest. (V2)
• He leads me. (V2)
• He renews me. (V3)
• He guides me. (V3)
• He keeps me company. (V4)
• He protects me. (V4)
• He raises me up. (V5)
• He honors me. (V5)
• He pursues me. (V6)
• He will spend eternity with me. (V6)

I love refresh! I love how the old comes to life over and over again! I love God’s Word!!

Life gets interesting when we yes to God.

• “Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.” Galatians 5:25 (NLT)
• “If you love me, obey my commandments. John 14:15 (NLT)
• Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Colossians 3:23 (NLT)

How is God trying to reshape your life? How are you responding?

In 1775 the Continental Congress allocated a time for prayer in forming a new nation. Over the years, there have been calls for a day of prayer, including from President Abraham Lincoln in 1863. On April 17, 1952, President Harry Truman signed a bill proclaiming the National Day of Prayer into law in the United States. President Reagan amended the law in 1988, designating the first Thursday of May each year as the National Day of Prayer.

The National Prayer Committee was formed in the United States in 1972. It went on to create the National Day of Prayer Task Force, with the intended purpose of coordinating events for the National Day of Prayer.  According to the Legal Information Institute, the President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May as a National Day of Prayer on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals. (http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/national-day-prayer)

Oh, that our Sovereign Lord would be petitioned today by every Believer. That every Believer would fall to his or her knees to give thanks for privilege of living and breathing in American and beg God to forgive our sinfulness. That every Believer would intercede for our leaders, for those who know Christ to be bold and to stand firm on the truths of the Word for which our country was founded, for those leaders who don’t know Christ to confess Him as Savior and lead by His truths. For our military who stand guard ready to defend our freedom and for those who families who have paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we can remain free.

Our Daddy told us there would be days like this, His book tells us all about them.

Would you commit to pray for our country today? What about everyday?

Hear us from Heaven…Open the Blind Eyes…Unlock the Deaf ears..

My man-cub is the blond in the front. It is hard to imagine how terrible these boys smell by just looking at this picture. (Good thing there is not a scratch and sniff option.) After paint balling and outside play, the aroma that filled the air was far from the sweet smell of a lilac bouquet. And when this wild bunch left the room, they did not take their smell with them, no, they left it behind for the next person who walked in the room to experience.

This got me thinking about spiritual things and if I am honestly, none spiritual things. The none spiritual is quite obvious, these boys need a bath before they go to bed,  where’s my Febreeze, and last but not least,  I sure hope they all brought deodorant .”

The lingering smell, that by the way permeated every room they spent time it, brought to mind a familiar verse from Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth:

2 Corinthians 2:15
“For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.”

I begin to wonder, “What aroma do I leave behind in the rooms of my house, in the marketplace where I do life, and where I work. Do I cause others to run for the “Febreeze” or wonder, “What is up with her?” Or do I cause others to smile, feel uplifted, and wonder, “what has she got that makes her like that?”

After careful consideration I have come to the conclusion there are times I stink up a room and other times I leave behind the pleasant aroma of Christ.

I don’t like my conclusion, just keepin it real. I pray that each day I will smell better than the day before.