Julie Gillies - Words to Soothe, Refresh and Strengthen Your Soul

When the Waves Keep Crashing

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Gillies) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 19:00:00 +0000

If you've ever been bombarded by the relentless waves of a difficult marriage, a stubborn physical illness, a serious financial crisis, or a your teen's scary choices, then you understand how difficult it is to keep standing when the waves refuse to abate.

Getting knocked down over and over is painful. And exhausting.

And pain and exhaustion makes me want to curl up in my bed. Forever. I mean, face it--it's not easy to move forward when your hope is sopping wet, and your soggy faith squeaks and gushes with every step.

When the waves keep crashing, we need to cling to the only stable anchor we have. {Jesus}

One of the ways we do that is to pray specifically, which isn't easy when we're overwhelmed. But if we will cry out to the Lord, He will hear us and He will be with us. Below you'll find a short but powerful scripture-based prayer that will enable you to stand, even when a tsunami threatens.

Father,

When I am in distress, Your word says that You hear my voice and that You rush to my aid, and You draw me out of many waters. Oh God, You deliver me and are my stay and support. (Psalm 18: 6 & 16, 17) You are my rock, my fortress, and my defense. (Psalm 18:2)

I'm so grateful that You not only know what I'm going through, but You understand my thoughts. (Psalm 139:2) I'm so relieved that you never misunderstand me or condemn me! You sympathize with me, console and comfort me in every trouble, calamity, and affliction. (2 Corinthians 1:2-3)

Lord, thank you for healing the wounds in my heart and curing my pains and sorrows. (Psalm 147:3) God, thank you for shielding my heart, (Genesis 15:1). You have heard my desire and longing and You strengthen my heart. (Psalm 10:17)

You are near to me as I call upon You. (Psalm 145:14) You cause me to hear Your loving-kindness in the morning, and You cause me to know the way I should walk, for I lift my inner self up to You. (Psalm 143:8)

When I am afraid I will have confidence and put my trust and reliance on You. (Psalm 56:3)I will take refuge in the shadow of Your wings until calamities and destructive storms have passed. (Psalm 57: 1b)

Lord, You are my strength and my impenetrable shield; my heart trusts, relies on, and confidently leans on You and I am helped! Therefore, my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song I will praise You! (Psalm 28:7)

Lord, I lift the situation that concerns me to You, and I release it into Your hands. God, intervene as only You can. Change hearts, change minds, bring truth and wisdom, give grace, and move in the circumstance. Establish Your will, bring freedom, bring deliverance, and glorify Yourself in this situation.

Thank you that I have peace, righteousness, security, and triumph over opposition as my heritage as a servant of the Lord. (Isaiah 54:17b) Now capture my gaze and help me to keep my focus on You, and not on the waves. Let Your peaceful presence prevail in my life. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.

And He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, Hush now! Be still (muzzled)! And the wind ceased (that is, sank to rest as if exhausted by its beating) and there was immediately a great calm -- a perfect peacefulness. (Mark 4:39)

Jesus When We're Crushed

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Gillies) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 15:40:00 +0000

If you've ever walked through a foggy limbo of pain, arms outstretched as you tearfully feel your way, wondering when you'll finally step into the fresh light of relief, I understand.

Sometimes all we have is Jesus. But He is more than enough. He embraces the struggling, the aching, and the crushed. And He whispers:

I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn you and continued My faithfulness to you.

(Jeremiah 31:3)

When your heart's heaviness anchors you to the carpet

Jesus

When your emotions teeter on the brink of implosion

Jesus

When the blackest fear holds you hostage

Jesus

When your hope is submerged beneath waves of uncontrollable circumstances

Jesus

I don't know what you're going through this week, but Jesus does. And He is with you. Leave me a comment sharing your heart, and I'll be honored to pray for you this week!

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ where I lie, Christ where I sit, Christ where I arise,
Christ in the heart of everyone who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every one who speaks to me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
Salvation is of the Lord.
Salvation is of the Christ.
May your salvation, Lord, be ever with us.

Praying When Your Faith Feels Small

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Gillies) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 05:12:00 +0000

My heart felt as if it had been wrapped in a lead vest--the kind you wear when getting an X-ray on your left ankle so the radiation won't spread to your mid-section. The kind that smashes your shoulders with its heaviness and makes you feel clumsy and slow.

The kind you can't wait for the technician to lift off.

Only this was no emergency X-ray. This was just a rough week. Harsh words, disappointing circumstances, careless attitudes cascaded into my heart like heavy gray snowflakes, leaving ugly drifts of hurt.

If you've ever felt buried beneath an avalanche of painful circumstances, I understand. I know how overwhelming--even ridiculous--it can feel to pray when your faith feels entirely too small.

But the good news is God is greater than our sometimes shrinky-dink faith. And though I can't promise that tomorrow everything will be better, I can tell you that God will be through your situation, and He will hear you as you make the effort to prayer what feels like feeble prayers.

Here are four things that have helped me make it through some dark times. My hope is they will equip you to pray, even when your faith feels small:

Ask God for His perspective. We see through a glass darkly (1 Corinthians 13:12). In other words, our vantage point isn't always accurate. God not only sees the entire picture, He can enable us to perceive His viewpoint. I'm always amazed when the airplane I'm on soars above thick storm clouds into spectacularly clear, blue skies. That's sort of like what God can do. Yes, it's still raining down below, but the sun is still shining--and we can see the storm won't last long.

Put on a garment of praise. In my darkest, most unlikely moments, I've experienced a breakthrough of joy because I chose to worship. (See the post A Battle for Peace ) If the joy of the Lord is our strength, then we need to make the decision to worship, even when it's hard.

Believe that when we are weak He is strong. I'm so glad God doesn't only love me or move in my life when I feel capable or think I'm doing well. Because the truth is, I often don't feel either. And He doesn't expect that from me. Or from you. In fact, He tells us, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9) That means that even when our prayers feel weak and ineffective, they are still powerful!

Know that this, too, shall pass. The truth is, we all walk through seasons of difficulty. No, they're not fun. But we learn and we can grow closer to the Lord (if we choose). And eventually, the hard season ends. Remember, to everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven. (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

Most importantly, remember that whatever season we're in, we never walk alone. Jesus said, "I am with you always (perpetually, uniformly, and on every occasion). (Matthew 28:20)

How about you? Does your faith sometimes feel too small? Have you felt overwhelmed by an avalanche of circumstances lately?

The Trouble with Hidden Messes

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Gillies) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

I love a challenge.

So when my sweet friend Glynnis began her Clutter-Free Challenge, I could hardly wait to glean some wisdom and hopefully tackle an area in my home that felt overwhelming: my bedroom drawers.

Over the years I have saved special cards, mementos, drawings, notes and letters by dumping them into two catch-all drawers in my bedroom. It wasn't a good system, but I couldn't bear to part with the meaningful things, and didn't know what else to do. So, my drawers bulged and I tried not to hyperventilate when I had to open one.

Step One: Acknowledging the evidence:

A drawer so stuffed it couldn't open all the way.

Then Glynnis wrote this blog post and I heard the Hallelujah chorus, which I took as a call to action.

The trouble with hidden messes is they may be out of sight, but they're never truly out of our minds. Or our hearts. Hidden messes take up space and slow us down.

Step Two: The evaluation. This involved dumping all the contents of the drawer onto my bed, and sorting through it. I filled an entire plastic grocery bag with junk I no longer wanted. While most of the stuff in my drawer was good, some wasn't, and many items were a mystery--why on earth was I holding on to it?

Emptying the drawer, sorting my stuff, and tossing the trash.

Are there things in our hearts that no longer belong there? Offenses we could get rid of by forgiving, disappointments we could release, or hurts we could lift to God, instead of cramming our hearts so full that they no longer open all the way?

Step Three: Assign a place for my special things. I made a quick trip to Walmart to purchase (1) a memory box (I chose a Rubbermaid container with a snap-on lid, but you could go for pretty if you prefer) and (2) plastic sheet protectors. I already owned several 3-ring binders. (See Glynnis' post, above, for her instructions and more suggestions.)

When our hearts are hit hard by the issues of life, we can gently lift them to Jesus, who is our our safe refuge--the One with whom we can safely process all of life's stuff. He is our assigned place.

Exhaling: What a relief to enjoy my things instead

of freaking out about overly-stuffed drawers.

Step 4: Stick to the plan--follow it even when it's not convenient. Now that I have a 3-ring binder for special notes, mementos, etc., and a memory box for larger items, I intend to use them. I want to enjoy my freshly cleaned drawers. What a pleasure to open them without feeling my blood-pressure spike.

My newly tidied drawer.

The process of cleaning out one of my drawers took about 30 minutes from start to finish. I have no idea why I waited so long, but here's the thing--it's never too late to clean out a drawer. We can just decide to do it, and then enjoy the results.

It's the same with our hearts. Hidden messes create a lot of pressure, anxiety, and frustration. But Jesus is waiting for us to dump the contents of our hearts onto Him and begin sorting. The cool thing is He loves us regardless of what's stuffed in there. And He is able to make them fresh and clean once again. And best of all, there will be plenty of room. Because ultimately, we want more room in our hearts and lives for Him.

Walking Out a Slow Miracle

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Gillies) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 19:00:00 +0000

When we're hoping and believing for a situation in our lives to change--maybe even hoping for a miracle--it helps to understand the sometimes achingly slow process.

The truth is, miracles are often crock-pot slow, and if you're anything like me, you'd prefer it can-opener quick. I'm the absolute queen of wanting it yesterday, but I have learned that God's way, even though it feels like slow motion, is far better than anything I can manipulate or force, and the only way that brings peace and lasting change.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, declares the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8)

While waiting is not my favorite thing, I've discovered a few things that have helped. Here are 3 tips to help you wait better:

Don't Keep Lifting the Lid - "Touch the crock-pot lid and die!" may or may not be something you'll hear in the vicinity of my kitchen. Why? Because every time the lid goes up, it adds 15 minutes to the cooking time. It interferes with the entire crock-pot process. How many times do we interfere with God's plans by trying to peek under the lid and figure out what's going on? When we can't keep our hands off of God's work-in-progress, we're essentially telling Him we don't care for His timing, and that perhaps we can do it better. And we become a hindrance to His plan that may unintentionally yet ultimately prolong our wait.

Let it Go - Crock-pots are designed to work without fussing. We just dump in our ingredients, turn it on, and go. I can be gone all day and come home to a fragrant house! The anticipation of an already-waiting meal makes me smile all day long. But once we've dumped our cares and concerns to the Lord, do we trust Him to keep things simmering? Are we free to go out and focus on other things, knowing that He is at work? And are we smiling all day, knowing good things are in store? (Ouch!)

"For I know the plans I have for you," declare the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)

Don't Unplug - Imagine arriving home from work to a cold, raw meal in your crock-pot, simply because you forgot to plug it in. (Not that this has ever happened to me...) We can't disconnect from God and expect to have the strength to endure the wait. He is our source. Apart from Him, we can do nothing. Including waiting (with a good attitude) for our miracle to unfold.

Slow cookers unite! There are countless crock-pot miracles simmering in the waiting hearts of women across America. By His grace, we will continue to believe. And we will wait well.

Sometimes Miracles Unfold Slowly

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Gillies) — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 19:00:00 +0000

When I think of miracles, I tend to imagine then in a Bam! Poof! sort of way. And there are multiple biblical examples of just that.

But sometimes a miracle is achingly slow.

And sometimes we have to cling to what feels like a wispy vapor of hope while God works and we cooperate to bring the miracle to pass. And by cooperating I mean we wait without giving up. We trust. We believe in spite of how things look. And we do our part even when it costs us.

My marriage is a good example. For a dozen pain-filled years I fervently hoped that God would radically touch my husband's heart. At that time, my husband was not a believer, and I endured a cold, tense, anger-filled home. I sensed God asking me to stay when everything in me wanted to run hard and long. I sensed Him whispering that He was at work. And I sensed Him asking me to persevere when things were ugly.

And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint. (Galatians 6:9)

I think that in today's world, our ability to wait has been stunted (in part) by our culture and technology. Most people (myself included) have underdeveloped patience. And while cell phones, the internet, and microwave aren't entirely to blame, they probably play a part. We've become accustomed to instant.

But God doesn't always work that way.

God is more interested in the development of our faith and character than in performing genie-like spectacular events that result in a life of Utopian ease.

A dozen years of praying finally resulted in the beginning of a miracle. My husband gave his life to Christ, and while I rejoiced, the waiting and cooperating part had really just begun. Now the two had to learn to become one. Forgiveness had to be worked through. Old habits needed radical, godly transformation. And the process was gritty, hard, and often painfully unpleasant.

But we held on. We kept on. And we moved on--with the Lord. And six months ago we celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. A true miracle.

Maybe you're at the place where you need a miracle in your life. And I will link arms with you and believe God right along with you for just that. But I'd like to ask you to consider the possibility that perhaps your miracle has already begun.

Yes, sometimes miracles unfold slowly. But they're always, always worth waiting for.

For the vision is yet for an appointed time, and it hastens to the end fulfillment; it will not deceive or disappoint. Though it tarry, wait earnestly for it; because it will surely come, it will not be behindhand on its appointed day. (Habakkuk 2:3)

The WINNER of a signed copy of Glynnis Whitwer's book, "I Used to Be So Organized" is Susan Stillwell. Congratulations, Susan! Send me your snail-mail address so you can receive your new book.

Once Upon a Time, All My Ducks Were in a Row

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Gillies) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 19:00:00 +0000

I'm a natural organizer. I love to clean out closets, tidy the pantry, and be able to easily find things in the cupboard under my bathroom sink.

But over the years, imperceptibly, things changed. Life got busier. My kids grew into not-so-tidy teenagers; I started a writing career and began juggling multiple projects at once; four grandchildren came into my life; and then came Facebook. Before I knew it, my once glowing closets, pantry, and cupboards began to look scary.

On top of that, my 50-year old mind doesn't help. I smash countless carpet fibers zooming from room to room trying to locate my glasses; I forget where I specifically set my phone/Kindle/list; a freshly made salad will languish and die in the back of my fridge; and the mail and paper pile near my telephone could create a bonfire that would light the nights of the entire Gulf Coast of Florida for a month and a half.

Fortunately for me, my inner organizational freak occasionally springs to life and I tackle the most dangerous areas before anyone gets hurt.

And fortunately for us all, my sweet friend, Glynnis Whitwer has written a fantastic book called I Used to Be So Organized: Help for Reclaiming Order and Peace, and I crave order and peace!

On top of that, Glynnis is hosting a January Clutter-Free Challenge on her BLOG that will help even those of us who misplace our glasses every cotton-pickin' day. {Ahem.}

Has life gotten crazier for you, too? Do you long to get some of your ducks back in a row? I'm giving away a signed copy of "I Used to Be So Organized" to the person who convinces me they need it most. So go ahead, tell me why you need Glynnis' book. **To qualify, you must either: (1) Have a blog with your email information on it, OR (2) Leave your email address along with your comment, so I can notify you if you win.**

Starting Your Year Right

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Gillies) — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 19:00:00 +0000

Like a sparkling landscape freshened with pristine snow, a new year beckons.

Inherently, I yearn to link arms with the Lord and come into agreement with His plans and purposes for me and my family for this year. I feel challenged to re-calibrate my heart and life. One of the ways I do this is to focus on some specific areas that will fine-tune my heart.

The first thing I do is choose my Bible reading plan for the year. I usually start thinking about this at the beginning of December, and typically this changes from year to year. In 2011 I did something completely different and read through the entire New Testament three times. The year before that I read through the Bible chronologically. This year, I've decided to return to my favorite, the One-Year Bible. If you make the commitment now, you are declaring to the Lord (and yourself!) that His word is vital, and you are more likely to stay on target and filled with the truth and power of God's word all year long.

Next I choose a fast. Before you skip this section, let me assure you I am not sister super-Christian and do not delight in denying myself. But I'm convinced that the breakthroughs and successes God has brought in my life always begin in January, when I choose to make Him more important than food. I've come to think of it as a special date I wouldn't dream of missing. If you are unable to fast due to medical reasons, consider a different type of fast: a media fast (so-long, Facebook!), or a TV fast. You can also fast from sweets, coffee, or your absolute favorite foods only.

Then I pray specifically. As the new year dawns, I ask the Lord to:

Open the doors that He wants opened in my life, and close the doors He wants closed.
Orchestrate divine appointments, divine relationships, and divine opportunities.
Place the materials in my hands He wants me to have this year, be it books, CD's, magazine articles, whatever.
Establish all of my goals, causing my thoughts to become agreeable to His will.
Give me ears to hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying.

This year, I've asked the Lord to show me one thing I can change to grow closer to Him. To my surprise, He's already done it. For 22 years I've read my Bible at night before bed. I always prayed in the morning, but I loved that my Bible was the last thing I saw before I went to sleep, and felt like His word marinated in my heart all night. That all began to change mid-year; my evenings have become less quiet and it became harder and harder to focus (never mind all the interruptions!). Last month I started reading my Bible in the morning, right after my prayer time, and I absolutely love it! To every thing there is a season.

Ask God to show you one thing to help you grow closer to Him this year. Like me, you may be surprised at His simple answer.

My New Year's Prayer for You!

I wish you a peaceful New Year. May you prosper and be in good health as your soul prospers. May the Lord be gracious to you and make His face to shine upon you. And may you hear His voice and sense His presence like never before in 2012.

Behold, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs forth; do you not perceive and know it and will you not give heed to it? I will even make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:19)

The Wonders of His Love

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Gillies) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 19:00:00 +0000

It's a simple yet stunning truth. The love of God, which compelled Him to step down from heaven to become the Bridge to eternity, is a miraculous wonder I still have difficulty wrapping my head around--particularly when I'm having one of those days.

Maybe, like me, you wonder why on earth God continues enduring you. I think of my sometimes not-so-good attitude, my failures, my shortcomings, and I wonder...how, Lord? How do you keep loving me?

Yet He does.

My heart is confounded and radiant at the same time. And this messy love which makes no sense in my mind but causes my heart to soar will will never diminish--it will never cease. Because love never fails. {See 1 Corinthians 13:8}

And so though I stumble and fall and mess up spectacularly, His love for me continues. All I can do is inhale it, accepting His love in spite of not deserving it. And as I breathe in love, I breathe in God, because God is love. {See 1 John 4:8}

This Christmas, I invite you to contemplate the wonders of His love.

And this Christmas:

May the reality of Christ's love overwhelm you.

May His fiery gaze capture yours.

May His fierce love utterly captivate your heart.

Even when you're having one of those days.

{WINNER of the $10 Starbucks gift card is Terri Tiffany! Congratulations, Terri! Please email me your snail-mail address so you can enjoy a cup of Christmas cheer!}

Unwrapping Peace and Joy

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Gillies) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 19:45:00 +0000

Sometimes the holidays can feel like a scary ride on a rickety old bike down a treacherously steep dirt road— there's violent shuddering while you try to hold on, it’s hard to steer, and there’s usually a large plume of dust involved.

I can’t control how fast this season zooms by nor the fact that my to-do list seems to expand while I sleep. But instead of allowing the inevitable stresses of the season to create more kinks in my already knotted neck, I’ve decided to unwrap a couple of Christmas gifts early.

That’s right. I peeked under the tree, shook the boxes, and heard the Holy Spirit whisper Go ahead, open them now!

So I did.

And now, when a crazy man in a snazzy Mercedes convertible cusses out my husband and I in the Target parking lot,

I can hold my peace.

When our dishwasher decides to stop working, I can smile—and mean it.

When I’m folding my 20^th load of laundry from all the company at our house over Thanksgiving weekend, I can feel joyful.

When my hubby sprains his ankle, our Australian Shepherd runs off three times in one day, and our teen daughter has an attitude, I can still have amazing peace and joy. And instead of worrying, groaning and fuming, I can smile. Heck, I can even laugh!

And that, sweet friends, is an amazing, priceless gift at this most wonderful time of the year.

So what are you waiting for? Go ahead and indulge—unwrap God’s precious gifts of peace and joy early.

I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. (John 14:27, NLT)

I love Christmas! To celebrate, I'm giving away a $10 Starbucks gift card, randomly selected from those who leave a comment. You must either (1) have a blog with your contact information or (2) leave me your email address to qualify. That way I can contact you if you win.

Merry Christmas!

Happy, Happy Thanksgiving!

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Gillies) — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 19:00:00 +0000

I'm delighted. Contented. Blessed.

Though it has not been an entirely easy year, it's been a good year, nonetheless.

It's been year of growth, a year of God's faithfulness, and a year for which I have so, so much to be thankful.

This year I'm celebrating Thanksgiving with a full heart and a full house. My sister-in-law is visiting from Germany, my sister and her husband and kids are visiting from Michigan, my son and his wife and our 4 grandkids are visiting from Tennessee, and my other son's girlfriend is visiting from California.

My brimming cup runs over!

I wish you, sweet blogging friends, a heart filled with God's loving kindness, and a home brimming with joy, peace, and an exquisitely satisfied heart.

So tell me, what are your Thanksgiving day plans?

Whatever your plans may be, I wish you a happy, happy Thanksgiving!

A Most Powerful Prayer

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Gillies) — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 19:00:00 +0000

Would you like to pray a really powerful prayer--one that will help your life and plans flow more smoothly?

Believe it or not, there is a scripture in the Bible that has turned out to be a life-changer for me. Years ago, as I read through the book of Proverbs, this particular verse lit up like the Christmas tree at Rockefeller Plaza. I highlighted, underlined, and memorized it. More importantly, I took it to heart. I began to pray this verse over myself and my family, and watched in awe as God moved.

Now please don't get me wrong; I'm not a formula person, and God is not a magic genie for whom we recite particular words and *poof* our dreams materialize. But God does watch over His word to perform it (see Jeremiah 1:12), and His word is living and active, more powerful than a two-edged sword (see Hebrews 4:12).

In other words, the words in the Bible are powerful. And when we pray God's word in faith, our prayers will be, too.

Interested? Here is the scripture that I regularly pray, and that has brought huge change in my life:

Roll your works upon the Lord--He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and so shall your plans be established and succeed. (Proverbs 16:3)

So how, exactly, do we pray scripture? We personalize it. Like this:

Lord, I lift (state your particular issue here) to You and ask you to cause my thoughts to become agreeable to Your will, and then my (example: career, school, vacation, marriage, friendship) plans will be established and succeed.

Don't be afraid to be specific. I've learned that specific prayers receive specific answers.

When we pray this particular scripture, we're doing several things. We are:

Inviting God into the idea/plan/situation
Asking Him to actually shape our thoughts
Requesting that He align our will with His
Asking God to establish our plans
Requesting favor and success

All from one prayer based on one scripture!

Whether you're a planner or a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants type of person, the next time you're making decisions, planning, hoping or dreaming, I hope you'll remember this particular scripture and invite God into the process by praying this most powerful prayer.

Burning Bush Moments

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Gillies) — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 19:00:00 +0000

Remember Martha? She lived a distracted life, and she didn’t even have Facebook or Twitter. In fact, Martha had Jesus Himself right there in her house—and still she busied herself without ceasing. Two thousand years later, one of women’s primary conflicts is still distractions, and they have multiplied far beyond what Martha ever imagined.

On most days, the average woman will Google, Twitter, blog, Face Book, text message and/or leave a voice mail (or two). We juggle laundry, housework, our church commitments, friendships, and errands. We taxi our kids to various sports events, lessons and birthday parties. And if we work outside the home, we manage to do all these things after putting in eight hours on the job.

I don't know about you, but I long to be a woman of purpose. I believe that we must not allow distractions to prevent us from hearing God's voice.

Today as I read in the book of Exodus, I realized that the Lord calls each one of us to turn aside and focus on Him in the midst of distractions. Moses did this very thing when he turned to observe a burning bush in the desert. As he led a noisy herd of sheep through the wilderness, he chose to turn toward the Lord.

It can't be easy to herd sheep. The shepherd must watch this one, keep an eye on that one, and keep the entire herd moving in the right direction. But Moses made a decision and turned aside from it all. And that is when God spoke to him. That is when Moses discovered his God-given destiny.

"And Moses said, 'I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.' And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the midst of the bush and said..." Exodus 3: 3-4 (Amplified Bible)

When we choose to turn aside from the clamour and craziness of life to the One who burns for us with unrivaled love, God takes notice. This is when He speaks to us, revealing His plans and purpose for that particular time. This is a burning bush moment.

They key to experiencing burning bush moments is to possess an interruptible heart; one that longs to hear God - even in the midst of our busiest times. At the end of a visit with my sister in Michigan, I took her and her husband and little boy out to a "thank you" dinner. We sat in a packed sports restaurant with noisy fans watching the Detroit Lions on flat-screens all around us. When our dinner arrived God simply showed up--much to my surprise. I put down my fork and listened as He spoke to me about a situation that was of great concern. Yes, I was hungry. Yes, the restaurant was loud and distracting. Yes, my sister wondered why on earth I sat, eyes closed, with a steaming dinner plate before me. But I had a burning bush moment right there in the midst of it all.

How about you? Do you have an interruptible heart? This week determine to listen for God to speak amidst the distractions. You just might experience a burning bush moment.

An Open Door

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Gillies) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 18:00:00 +0000

Imagine leaving your back door open for 24 hours. Even if it's only opened an inch or two, there's no telling what would waltz into your house...spiders, snakes, mosquitoes, a stray dog, a deer or two, a stranger, a thief... Because once the door is slightly opened, it doesn't take much for it to be nudged open even wider.

I doubt any of us would choose to live with an opened back door--we're far too aware of the risks and dangers. Instead, we lock our doors securely to keep all the creepy and bad things out.

Yet how many of us unwittingly open a spiritual door to the enemy without realizing it?

Types of Doors

The Bible has a lot to say about doors. There is the door of hope and expectation (See Hosea 2:15), a door of mercy (See Amos 7:8), a door of persistence (See Luke 11:10), the door of our own lips (See Psalm 141:3), the narrow door we are encouraged to enter (See Luke 13:24), a door of faith (See Acts 14:27), and a door of opportunity (See 1 Corinthians 16:9).

An Accidentally Opened Door

Believe it or not, the enemy waits outside, hoping we'll leave our door open. He roams around looking for an opportunity to devour us (See 1 Peter 5:8) Seemingly harmless things can open the door to Satan, leaving us vulnerable simply because we're not aware the knob is turning. The number one way we open a door to the enemy is through sin, which crouches at our door, (See Genesis 4:7).

Some other potential (and more specific) areas that can open an unwanted door in our lives can include:

Music
Books
Movies
TV Shows
Immoral Activity
Drug Use
Anger
Unforgiveness

Closing the Door

Thankfully, if we're involved in anything that has opened a door to the enemy in our lives, all we have to do is genuinely repent to the Lord, ask His forgiveness, and ask Him to close the door. The good news is God is faithful to forgive us and to cleanse us of all unrighteousness (See 1 John 1:9), and the blood of Jesus is more powerful than anything.

The truth is, Jesus is The Door (See John 10:9). If we are wise, we will walk through Him and expel sin from our lives. Then we'll know that the door to the enemy will remain firmly closed and locked.

A Holy Perspective

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Gillies) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 18:00:00 +0000

A battle against fear erupted at my house six weeks ago, and my 16 year old daughter was hit hard. Actually, she was the target. It shook her, disrupted her sleep, and wouldn't let go.

My husband and I prayed with and for our precious girl, encouraged her, and stood with her. But six weeks is a long time for a teenager to suffer under oppressive fear, and I watched in dismay as my girl wrestled with disappointment--it appeared that none of our prayers were being answered.

Frankly, I couldn't understand what was happening, and though I never stopped praying, quoting scripture, and believing for a breakthrough, my mama's heart ached for my baby girl.

And then, a divine shift happened. It's like the Lord grabbed my hand and walked me around to the other side of the situation, and instead of wondering why my daughter was battling fear, I began to see God at work behind the scenes. As this fresh, holy perspective emerged, my faith stirred, in spite of the fact that we're not out of the woods yet.

I've begun to understand that my daughter has a powerful calling and she requires powerful training. So God has allowed this difficult season, just as He allowed one in Joseph's life starting in the book of Genesis, chapter 37. I clearly heard God say, "What the enemy has meant for your daughter's harm, I intend for your daughter's good." (See Genesis 20:50)

The good news is, we've turned a corner. And I can't wait to see what God accomplishes in my daughter and our family through all of this.

The other good news is this: if we cry out to God, He has the ability to grant us divine perspective, which is like adding pure oxygen to the fire of our faith. Whatever dark, difficult, scary, or unpleasant situation you might be walking through, know this: God is at work!

And though what we're enduring may be hard, perplexing, or downright painful, we can take great comfort in understanding that all things work for the our good (See Romans 8:28). As we perceive God at work in our situations, we can go forward in a holy excitement, confident and encouraged, in spite of how things may appear.

The awesome truth is, He is a holy God, accomplishing His holy purposes in and through us. As He grants us His holy perspective, we can trust that what the enemy intends for our harm, God intends for our good.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts from your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Sweet bloggy friends, thank you so much for your kind words and prayers about my book. I'm thrilled to tell you that my manuscript is complete (Yay!) and after some formatting adjustments, I'll be turning it in to my publisher this weekend. You are so appreciated!

Trying to Breathe...

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Gillies) — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 15:34:00 +0000

Sweet bloggy friends,

I'm currently on the home-stretch for my book on prayer for women! I finished the book about 8 weeks ago and have been working on self-edits since that time and hope to turn it in to my publisher (Harvest House) this week.

Because of this writing deadline, and lots of swirling activity at the Gillies house which includes but is not limited to a freak fire-ant invasion inside my house, a sweet-16 party for my (youngest) daughter, 2 upcoming speaking engagements, a creepy spider conference on my back porch, and preparing for a house full of guests who will be arriving Thanksgiving week, I just haven't had time to write a blog post. So I'm taking this week off.

If you can spare a prayer for my book, I will happily send you a year's supply of chocolate. Just kidding on the chocolate, but you can see my gratitude knows no bounds, even if my wallet does.

So tell me, how is life in your neck of the woods? Are you working on anything interesting? And do you loathe fire-ants and spiders as much as I do?

Deep Calling Unto Deep

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Gillies) — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 18:00:00 +0000

This post is part 3 in a series. For parts 1 and 2, scroll down.

Armed with little more than desperation and a sense that God was calling me to not only take a step of faith, but embark on a journey of faith--I recently went on a 10-day Daniel fast. And I can honestly say it was the easiest, most compelling fast of my life.

On a practical level, I was fasting because I couldn't take the pain any longer, or the severe limitations caused by my ever-worsening foot condition. On a spiritual level, I longed for God to eradicate some painful emotional residue I sensed still clinging in my heart.

And God was quick to respond. Miraculously, by day two of the fast, my foot pain diminished by 80%. I even had a dream that I walked around my hardwood-floored kitchen in my stocking feet without pain. (For the record, I haven't been able to go barefoot for well over three years.) The next day, I was able to walk through my house in stocking feet without pain. Can I hear a Hallelujah?

But that wasn't all. For 10 days the Lord pinpointed His holy laser into the deep areas of my heart, bringing light and healing.

Yet I sensed God wasn't finished. As I came to the end of the 10 days, my heart was primed for God's gentle leading, and I sensed Him asking me to give up the one thing I never thought I could. Like Abraham, who followed God not knowing his final destination (see Hebrews 11:8), I agreed to go on this journey, not knowing where it will lead--uncertain of anything, really, except that I'm following. What have I given up for an undetermined length of time?

Sugar. My sweet friend, my affectionate partner in life, my motivation on many a day.

So, for now I've bid adieu to Oreos, brownies, sweetened cereal, milkshakes, donuts, caramel apples, candy corn, and my closest sweet friend, chocolate.

Why on earth would I do such a thing?

Because I sense that God wants access to the deep places I've tranquilized with home made chocolate chip cookies. He desires to fill the places I've soothed with rich, dark chocolate.

It's the release of the sweet security blanket of yumminess that to this point has always comforted me. And frankly, it's a level of dependence and vulnerability with the Lord unlike any I've experienced.

Don't get me wrong--I am not a junk food junkie; I'm a fairly healthy eater. But I've always looked forward to dessert. To my afternoon chocolate. To Starbucks hot cocoa. To any sort of sweet treat. And I began to sense that those treats were taking up a space and creating a pleasure that God Himself longs to fill. I sense the Lord saying I will go as deep as you will allow me.

At the same time, I feel a strong desire to embrace a season of self-discipline and holy restraint to see where, exactly, He will take me in all this. I'm going without and not filling myself with the things I love, so that the One I love can fill me instead.

It's sort of like an adventure. And though this past month has not been easy, I sense it will be worth it. It's a holy surrender, a journey of faith. It's deep calling unto deep.

Unknown Territory - Part 2

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Gillies) — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 18:00:00 +0000

It started out of desperation.

After being diagnosed with Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome three years ago, (I know, I'd never heard of it, either) I radically adjusted my life. Pretty high-heel shoes and my dearly loved long walks were no longer in the realm of my reality. I learned to live within the limits of a painful condition for which there is no cure.

Coincidentally, (or not) these foot/ankle symptoms exploded in my life precisely when God began strongly encouraging me to walk, even run, in my calling of writing. But as I've learned, the enemy is not going to roll out the red carpet. Still, as I cried out to God to intervene and bring healing, I sensed Him gently saying, "I will give you back your health and heal your wounds." (See Jeremiah 30:17) So even though I don't understand, I've held on, continued believing, and regularly reminded God of His promise.

Things were going okay; for the most part, my symptoms were manageable...until I attended the She Speaks conference back in July. Then, all hell broke loose against my feet and ankles, and I arrived home unable to walk without severe pain. The pain was so intense I had to cook dinner for my family while sitting on a stool, wear orthotic sandals in the shower (because going barefoot was excruciating), and regularly ice my feet/ankles while virtually living in a recliner.

Like the woman with the issues of blood (see Mark 5:25-34) I became desperate for healing. But what began as desperation transformed into a desire to take a step of faith and embrace a new level of surrender.

And so, as I sat in my ugly yet comfortable prayer chair several weeks ago, I strongly sensed God inviting me to begin a 10-day Daniel fast. (If you're curious, you can read more here: What I Learned on a 21-Day Daniel Fast.) My desire to fast was completely a God thing. Trust me, deprivation is not my idea of a good time. Yet I became convinced of three things:

I needed answers
I needed more of God's presence and power at work in my life
I needed a higher level holy restraint (more on that later)

According to the book of Daniel, we can expect God to give us wisdom when we fast. In the book of Isaiah, chapter 58, we see that fasting can bring healing. I knew I needed both. I longed for answers. I longed for change. I longed for God to move.

Little did I know this 10-day fast would entice me to embark upon yet more unknown territory, leading me to give up (for an undetermined amount of time) the one thing I thought I could never live without...

(Continued next week.)

Tell me where you are right now. Are you longing for answers, change, or for God to move? Could you use some more holy restraint in your life?

Unknown Territory

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Gillies) — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 18:00:00 +0000

I'm sensing God gently calling me to a higher level of self-discipline and a deeper surrender that I've previously known. It's an invitation to walk a road I've never been on before, one I feel compelled to take in spite of the uncertainty of where it leads.

Practically, this means I've given up something that I've adored, enjoyed, and look forward to daily. Something I honestly thought I could never live without.

Intrinsically, I understand this road will somehow lead me nearer to Jesus, closer to His heart. And though I don't understand it all at this point, nor do I know how long this surrender will last, I'm willing to trust and obey.

I hope to write more about this journey into unknown territory next week. But for now, tell me--is God asking you to surrender anything? Are you willing to walk a road that may not be easy, but will surely take you nearer to Him?

Look carefully then how you walk! Live purposefully and worthily and accurately, not as the unwise and witless, but as wise, sensible, intelligent people; Making the very most of the time--buying up each opportunity--because the days are evil. Therefore do not be vague and thoughtless and foolish, but understanding and firmly grasping what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:15-17)

Photo taken in my neighborhood, by me.

Dare to Believe

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Gillies) — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 18:00:00 +0000

You must do the thing you think you cannot do - Eleanor Roosevelt

I wonder how many great things have never been accomplished because fear, insecurity, or a lack of confidence prevented someone from even trying?

I believe that every one of us has a God-sized dream tucked deep within our hearts. But when that strong yearning cries out to be fulfilled, are we willing to consider it? Do we dare to think and dream we could actually do the very thing that is seemingly impossible? Or do we sigh, shrink back, and say "I could never..."

As I continue working on my book on prayer for women, I frequently feel astonished at all God has accomplished. I'm doing the very thing I thought I couldn't do. But it all started with a dream--a dream that a broken woman with no formal education dared to believe.

Yes, I've had moments of doubt. And yes, I've been scared. But ultimately, when I considered God's ability, my feeble fears and insecurities didn't stand a chance. Job 42:2 says it well, and I agree completely: I know that You can do all things, and that no thought or purpose of Yours can be restrained or thwarted.

If you've got a dream bursting at the seams of your heart, I dare you to believe that with God, nothing is impossible.

Consider that God used a mere boy (the future King David) to slay a giant twice his size. (See 1 Samuel 17:4)

Consider that God's power burst down from heaven and supernaturally changed Saul's murderous heart in a moment. (See Acts 9)

Consider that God enabled a donkey to speak (See Numbers 22:28), used Gideon, the least in his father's house, to destroy an army (See Judges 6), and enabled Peter to walk on water (See Matthew 14:22-23).

Sweet friends, God is waiting for you to believe Him and believe in your dream! I encourage you to link arms with the One through whom all things are possible, and do the thing you think you cannot do. Then share it with me here. What "impossible" thing are you working on or do you long to attempt?

A Holy Pause

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Gillies) — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 18:00:00 +0000

Deadlines. Commitments. Obligations. Appointments. Issues. Sometimes life comes at us so fast we barely have time to catch our breath.

But this week, I'm making time. I'm indulging in a holy pause. I'm creating space and time to calibrate my heart, breathe deep, bask in God's word, and listen. Would you like to join me?

The beautiful thing is, when we choose to make time for Jesus, He becomes a divine oasis in the middle of the steamy, harried, over-crowded freeway of our lives.

This passage from the book of Psalms invites us to dwell within the oasis of His presence daily...

THE LORD is my Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack.

He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters.

He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness [uprightness and right standing with Him--not for my earning it, but] for His name's sake.

Yes, though I walk through the [deep, sunless] valley of the shadow of death, I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me; Your rod [to protect] and Your staff [to guide], they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over.

Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place. (Psalm 23)

Father,

This moment, we choose to take a holy pause. We turn our hearts and minds toward You, and we allow time for the swirling busyness in our hearts to settle. We breathe deep and ask You to touch, refresh, and renew our hearts. We bask in Your word and in Your presence, and we ask You to create a holy oasis of Your presence in our hearts. Amen.

Breathe

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Gillies) — Sun, 04 Sep 2011 18:00:00 +0000

Are you going through it? Hurts come, disappointments happen, and life isn't always rosy.

So inhale deeply, eyes closed, and whisper Jesus.

Breathe in His unspeakable joy.

And exhale your disappointments and hurts.

Inhale comfort and understanding from the One who knows your thoughts afar off.

And exhale tears, releasing your expectations.

Breathe in Truth--sharp, clear, and penetrating.

And exhale every false thought bombarding your mind.

Inhale the love of God, which never fails.

And exhale loneliness and stress.

Breathe in God's hope, allowing its sparkliness to expand in your lungs.

And exhale hopelessness.

Inhale His Spirit and allow His soothing comfort to wrap around your soul.

And know it is enough.

In this moment, Jesus is enough.

Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and over burdened, and I will cause you to rest--I will ease and relieve and refresh your souls. (Matthew 11:28)

The Beauty of Confident Trust

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Gillies) — Sun, 28 Aug 2011 18:00:00 +0000

As I walk through situations and circumstances that threaten my peace and tempt me to feel overwhelmed, I feel unspeakably grateful for the peace of God that radiates through me, instead. It's not that I'm never shaken, disappointed, or hurt. I am. But when those feelings inevitably bombard me, I rush to the Rock who has become my stability, my refuge and the One who accompanies me in the fire.

My trust is not in my own ability to get a grip, keep my chin up, or pretend I'm not aching. Because the truth is, I stink at all those things. Instead, my trust is rooted in the truth that my faithful, loving God will never leave me, always hears me, and thinks the world of me.

When we're basking in the beauty of confident trust in God, it:

à Releases us from the pressures of life. When we believe God is ultimately in control, we can relax on the inside, knowing that "all things work for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose." (See Romans 8:28)

à Prevents us from thinking too far ahead. Yes, we need vision and it's okay to look forward. But trying to control things through excessive planning and thinking through every potential possibility trips us up. When we trust that God is orchestrating every detail of our lives, we are walking by faith, not by sight (See 2 Corinthians 5:7), and that pleases the Lord.

à Stops us from worrying. Rotating our mind around anxious, troubled thoughts does nothing but agitate us and rob our peace. There comes a point when we must choose to trust God for the answers. Then our minds will be peaceful and at ease. (See Luke 12:25-26)

During a time when cancer seems to be everywhere, marriages are under attack, the economy continues to tank, earthquakes are increasing, and powerful hurricanes are beginning to churn, we can choose to walk in the beauty of confident trust. It's God's priceless gift to us, and if we are wise, we'll unwrap that package and put it to good use.

"...for He (God) Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless, nor forsake nor let you down, relax my hold on you--Assuredly not!" (Hebrews 13 5b)

How about you? Is it easy for you to trust God, or is it a struggle?

Beach photo taken by me.

How to Climb out of a Rut

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Gillies) — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 18:00:00 +0000

We've all experienced rut time. Whether it's brought on by stress, confusion, an intense work schedule, or simply a lack of motivation, a rut is no place to camp. Here are seven things you can do to escape from a rut:

1. Recognize You're in One - Ask yourself if you're feeling bored, unmotivated, listless or stuck. Because of my task-oriented, nose-to-the-grindstone personality, it sometimes takes me a while to become aware that I'm in an overloaded work rut. Once we're aware of our rut status, change can begin.

2. Pray - Ask God to help you get back on track. Whether we need a break, divine motivation, or direction, we need the Holy Spirit's power to grant discernment and show us the next step.

3. Rethink Your Priorities - In today's multi-tasking world it's easy to allow less important things rise to the top of our do-lists, causing everything else to shift. A wise woman uses wisdom, seeks balance, and asks God to establish her priorities--every day.

4. Create a Plan - Relax! It doesn't have to be an elaborate, 10-page, alphabetized document. But sometimes, just honestly writing down a couple of prayerfully considered simple steps and goals can help us get on track--and keep us there.

5. Reach Out - Nothing puts a fresh light on things and encourages us like meeting with a friend to share our hearts. Laughing, relaxing, and discussing the issues we find most challenging with someone we trust and respect will stimulate and relieve us. Just hearing another person's perspective is often all that's needed to get us moving.

6. Give Yourself Permission - Whether you need a day off, a lighter work load, the opportunity to pursue a fresh idea, or a self kick in the pants, allow yourself to do what you feel is necessary to help you move in the right direction. It's okay. Really.

7. Spend Time Worshiping - Never underestimate the power of God's presence at a time like this. I've been amazed at the difference time with the Lord makes when I'm stuck in a rut. When we put on the garment of praise for a spirit of heaviness (see Isaiah 61:3), our entire countenance and perspective are transformed.

How about you? Have you felt like you're in a rut lately? Do you think you need more of a break or a kick in the pants?

Overlooked No More

noreply@blogger.com (Julie Gillies) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 18:00:00 +0000

A crowd stood about 30 feet away from an enormous heap of colorful shoes. Some folks were still finishing their hot dogs, others swatted at mosquitoes. Several parents had stirred the crazy mess of tennis shoes, sandals, and slip-ons so that every pair of shoes was separated. Then they shouted out directions for the Shoe-Pile game.

Barefoot kids and teens in stocking feet stood at the ready, waiting for the whistle to blow before tearing into the 3-foot high pile, locate both of their shoes, and make the dash to the judges at the finish line. One of the candy bar prizes was as good as mine, I figured. My friend's church picnic was turning out to be a lot of fun, even if no one else in my family had come with me.

When the whistle blew, dozens of kids raced across the field, fell onto their knees, and dove into the pile of shoes. Squeals and shoes flew through the air as everyone searched and shoved.

I immediately found my right shoe and only seconds later drew in a sharp breath. There it was! My blue shoe dotted with pink and white flowers--the left one--stuck out of the top of the pile. I pushed my way through the wall of frantic people and grabbed hold of the shoe lace, pulling it toward me. My heart raced as I looked around and realized no one else had found both of their shoes yet.

Flopping onto the soft grass, I used my index finger to wedge my sweaty feet back into their canvas homes. Standing up, I saw the four men serving as judges on the other side of the field, watching and waiting. I sprinted toward them, my heart soaring. I'm gonna win! I'm really gonna win!

Suddenly I heard feet racing behind me. Three other kids had found their shoes and were closing it, but it didn't matter, because we were all going to win the candy bars!

I approached the judge on the far left and reached out my hand to tag him, but he didn't see me. His eyes were focused on a kid behind me. Out of breath, I watched in slow motion as the judge bent down to congratulate the kid who arrived after I did. With a strange feeling in my stomach, I saw all the other judges greet the swarm of kids approaching them. But not one of them noticed me.

"Go to the prize table to claim your candy bar!" I heard the judge tell the kid who arrived after I did. Confused, I made my way to the table and attempted to explain to the nice woman that I really had had won one of the candy bars. She half-listened, but her eyes didn't believe me. "I'm so sorry," she said. "The prizes have already been given out."

At that moment I felt invisible, and utterly overlooked.

Perhaps if I'd had a good family environment, I could have shared the hurt and confusion with them later that day, received encouragement, and this little story would be long forgotten. After all, a picnic prize loss may not seem like much, but to a little girl who never was able to capture her parents' love or attention, the event widened the crevasse that already existed in my heart.

Maybe you can relate. Maybe you know what it's like to feel unnoticed, invisible, and overlooked. If you do, I'm so sorry. But the good news is, that's not how you have to remain.

Because that's not the end of my story. I grew up and gave my heart and life to Jesus, and He flooded my soul with the revelation that He always notices me. He began to pour truckloads of His love into the vast crevasse in my heart. I've since learned that one of the Lord's names is Jehovah El-Roi--the God who sees. He is the One who always notices us and recognizes our efforts and achievements. He's like the perfect Dad who always has time for us and is delighted to watch and enjoy us. He sees not only what we're doing, but He also sees deep into our hearts.

And though it's taken time for that crevasse in my heart to fill (how many truckloads would it take to fill the Grand Canyon?), He has steadily poured and poured. And what used to be a crevasse is now more like some cracks in a driveway. And even now, He is working on those.

I encourage you to spend some time this week with Jehovah El-Roi, the God who sees. He sees you, and He has truckloads of love to pour into the not-so-scenic overlooks in your heart. Allow Him to fill those places, look into your soul, and love and notice you like nobody else ever can or will.

Because the truth is, He is the God who always sees. And we never have to worry about feeling overlooked again.

She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: "You are the God who sees me," for she said, "I have now seen the One who sees me." (Genesis 16:13)

The WINNERS of Renee Swope's new book, "A Confident Heart", are Ginny at Faith Hope and Tea Therapy and Kelly at Believing in 1. Congratulations! Please email me your snail-mail addresses so I can send your books to you.