out of the cave

Morning quiet time with My Lord 
as I ponder stepping into something new and bold...

Ask of Me and I will show you 

things which you have not yet seen.

It is again and always about My plans

not the schemes of man

If I send you will I not equip you?

If the battle is not yours, 

the work is not yours either, but Mine

and I intend My work to prosper

Your part, as always, little one, is surrender

Surrender to My hand, My shaping, My pruning

even to My choice to promote you

Elijah could not remain in the cave

when that season was over

I called him out

So too with you, My child

so too with you

Call to Me and I will answer you 

and show you great and mighty things, 

fenced in and hidden, which you do not know

(do not distinguish and recognize, 

have knowledge of and understand)

Jeremiah 33:3 Amplified

 

Abundance

We stayed up late last night, talking and laughing with friends in the warmth of our own living room.  We talked about today, about yesterdays and about what we think the future has waiting for us.

This morning I stayed snuggled under the quilt longer than usual, attempting to recover lost sleep.    The extra time was ripe with dreams.

Dreams of abundance.

Not an abundance of things, or money or any other sort of material wealth.  What was being stretched out before me was an abundance of opportunities.  Each time I would being work on a project someone would come along and offer something else that sounded interesting, fun or challenging.

I was asked, again and again, what I really wanted to do with my time.  My answer was consistent.

I want to write and prepare for whatever long term mission work God sets before us.

Dreams exposing my heart.  Dreams revealing the heart of God.

Watch out sings my spirit.  Doors are going to start opening like crazy!

This is what the Lord, ·who saves you [your Redeemer], the Holy One of Israel, says: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you ·to do what is good [what is best; or how to succeed], who leads you in the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17 Expanded Bible

  
 

The in-betweens

Snow has left the world outside my window clean, fresh and silent.

The flakes fall so fast and fierce it is hard to see.

As I opened my journal, 

the Lord reminded me to trust His lead

not my own vision.

When you feel you are going in circles, trust that I Am leading you.

Even those places you return to again and again are seen in a different way each time 

for I have changed you in the "in-betweens".

I have a plan and a purpose for all things.

Why should you think this would not include all parts of your life?

Circles, lines, uphill or down --

Listen, follow My lead.

Seeking the secret place with Cheryl

 

and the silence of stillness with Sandy

 

Birthday word

This is the gift my Father spoke into my heart this morning:

I know things you will never know

things you will never understand

I, yes I alone have brought you to this day

Happy birthday, child.

Choose life.  Choose joy.

Choose to trust that My plans are indeed good plans.

Your grateful heart is a gift to Me.

I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. When you come looking for me, you'll find me. Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed. Jeremiah 29:11-13 The Message

This is the day the Lord has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.  Psalm 118:24 NKJV

I delight Him?

I almost feel like it's God-Bumps and God-Incidences Wednesday all over again! I had no idea what Bonnie's word was for today when I sat down this morning with the Lord, but obviously He did!  This is what He shared:

How quickly you learn My lessons, little one.
Turn to Me. Run to Me. Cling to Me.
This doesn't annoy Me - it delights Me

In surrender is your peace.  Often you can't hear My plans while you are busy making your own.  When you stop your ears open, only then do you hear Me.

He knows all things; the end before the beginning, every little detail of our lives, and when I learned that the word Bonnie chose was delight I was delighted indeed!

Do you ever worry that you rely on Him too much?  Does the world shout that you use Him like a crutch?  This is exactly where He wants you.  He delights in our need.  Don't take a step away, move ever closer.

The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. 
Psalm 37:23 NKJV


Jamming with Bonnie today about delight

 

In His hands

Rollercoaster ride
dizzying heights
mind numbing lows
fireworks or deep black
another year finds an end tonight.

I could not have predicted the trials
or planned the blessings
learning again and yet again
these things are best surrendered
to His hand.

As you look back
and forward
rest in His promises --

No one's ever seen or heard anything like this,

Never so much as imagined anything quite like it—

What God has arranged for those who love him

1 Corinthians 2:9 The Message

 
 

Keeping my goal in sight

Goals is the word for this week’s One Word at a Time Carnival.

I can think of many things I plan, hope, and pray for in the near and distant future.

• I will finish the novel I began in November.
• I will see words of mine published on paper before printed books become obsolete.
• I will serve the Lord in whatever way He chooses on the red dirt of Africa.

But none of these can take priority over the greater thing that God has placed within my spirit.

You may be shocked, surprised, or worried about the status of my mental health to learn that my primary goal is death.

Yes, you read that correctly, and no, I am not suicidal. I don’t wish to take my life; I want to give my life, wholly and without hesitation to my Lord.

I’m talking here about death to my self (with its fleshly actions and desires) and the fullness of life in Christ. That is the key to transformation, to becoming the new creation He gave His life for. This dying is a day by day, no, moment by moment, challenge.

This is a goal that will stay written on my heart, my calendars, my planning lists and yet never been fully attained until I meet Him face to face.

Oh, what glory then.

So if you're serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that's where the action is. See things from his perspective.

Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life—even though invisible to spectators—is with Christ in God. He is your life. When Christ (your real life, remember) shows up again on this earth, you'll show up, too—the real you, the glorious you. Meanwhile, be content with obscurity, like Christ. Colossians 3:1-4 The Message

Stop by Peter's place to read more views on goals.

  

One Word - Future

The words the Lord repeats to my spirit today are:

On assignment.  My work.  Stay close and I will lead you.

This is how I choose to live each moment.

This is how I will walk into whatever He future He has planned.

His will.  His way.  Any plan I could imagine or create cannot compare.

Though my words here today are few stop by Peter Pollock's to see what others have to say about future.

Mountains to climb

Another year is ending and I am looking forward to taking some time to sit at the feet of my Master, seeking His heart and His will for the year to come.

I have asked Him for a word for 2011 and so far I have received both persevere and expectation.  As He puts meat on these bare bones for me to chew I shall share more.

I also sense Him telling me there will be mountains on the road ahead.  I can take the long way and go around them.  I can steel and harden myself and with all my natural might attempt to blast through them.  But He seems to be urging me on and upward, whispering that His best plan involves climbing and that He, as always, will provide all that I require for the journey.

2011 will be a year of drawing closer to His heart.  Will you come along with me?

Sheep or Goat?

Cover via Amazon

This week Sarah, Jason and more of us are reading Chapter 4 of The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns.

Stearns discusses one of my favourite and also most sobering scenes of Jesus:

When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."
Matthew 25:31-46 NIV

My prayer has always been that I would draw close enough to my Lord to feel the beating of His heart and in so doing, my heart would be moved and broken by anything that stirs Him. I have wondered what would the least of these look like? Would I walk right past a hungry Jesus because I did not recognize Him?

Born, raised and still living in North America, I know that even those of us in the worst situations are rich beyond measure compared to third world nations, yet we still have those who are the least of these. Help us Lord to seek what You would have us do.

Then Richard Stearns proceeds to paint a picture of one of his own encounters with the least of these, young men that had been kidnapped and turned into rebel soldiers by the LRA in Northern Uganda. I could hardly read through my tears, for my heart had been likewise torn when I was right there in Gulu in 2007, visiting a similar rehabilitation centre.

Here are words I journaled while in Uganda:

The other evening the shapes in the clouds looked to be God’s hands reaching down from the heavens, and surely God’s hand IS on this nation. There is a stirring, a shaking, a hope in the midst of desolation. When God is all there is then God is enough. If anything else is placed above Him, then nothing is enough. He is, as He says in His Word, a jealous God, and He will have no other gods before Him. I believe and I will declare that His favour will rest upon this place.

The heart of Uganda appears in the faces of the children; smiles in the midst of deprivation, laughter rising up from a belly never filled with food enough. Tears of need and tears of sorrow, but joy returning upon the simplest act of kindness.Can we learn to need so little? Our hope could be their hope – to find our strength and joy in Him alone. It is as if they already do so, even those that cannot tell you why.

Oh Uganda, release yourself into His hands. “Pearl of Africa” is what a local billboard called you. Shine with the luster of a pearl polished by the Master’s hand. Shine as a witness to the darkness. Shine in the light of His love that more would be drawn to the light. Blossom and prosper as a sign even to the “first world” nations – “Look what our God can do”

Here I find a stillness. Here I find a peace. Here perhaps I will find a pathway that leads me to the heart of God.

I pray that the scent, sound and sights of Uganda do not leave me until I return again to do whatever God calls me to.

Stop by Sarah's Living Between the Lines to read the thoughts other people share about Chapter 4.

Letting go

Cover via Amazon

This week Sarah, Jason and more of us are reading Chapter 3 of The Hole in Our Gospel by Richard Stearns. We get to meet the rich young ruler that questioned Jesus about His requirements.

Another day, a man stopped Jesus and asked, "Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?"

Jesus said, "Why do you question me about what's good? God is the One who is good. If you want to enter the life of God, just do what he tells you."

The man asked, "What in particular?"

Jesus said, "Don't murder, don't commit adultery, don't steal, don't lie, honor your father and mother, and love your neighbor as you do yourself."

The young man said, "I've done all that. What's left?"

"If you want to give it all you've got," Jesus replied, "go sell your possessions; give everything to the poor. All your wealth will then be in heaven. Then come follow me."

That was the last thing the young man expected to hear. And so, crest-fallen, he walked away. He was holding on tight to a lot of things, and he couldn't bear to let go. Matthew 19:16-22 The Message

I have to question how tight is my grip on the things of this world? Even as my spirit longs to fly free, unburdened by the weight of possessions, my flesh yet shouts to "hold on".

My husband and I have sought the Lord for His plans for our life and both feel committed to long term missions work. As we pray and plan and dream the conviction grows firmer.

And yet...

There is that nagging voice, whining voice, selfish and proud, that asks and asks again "Why would you want to walk away from all that you have? You love your house and surrounding land. You have a good and happy life, why mess with it?" The louder the words, the more I know this is the sound of my flesh, or the sound of the crowd or indeed the voice of the enemy himself, but it is not the Lord speaking.

And I answer "Because God asked, and I will obey."

And I can almost feel my fingers release their hold just a little bit more, knowing that the enemy has once again overplayed his hand, and I reach higher for the things of the Kingdom of God.

Come on over to Jason's place Connecting to Impact to read more and maybe even add to our discussion.

Tuesdays Unwrapped - Birthday Word from my Father

A gateway to a new year.

When Rick brought me my morning coffee I told him I was going to give myself a treat and stay in bed instead of following my usual discipline of moving to my special chair in the living room, opening my journal and spending time with my Lord. After all, it's my birthday and I thought I deserved to be lazy and sleep a bit more.

I'm glad that I listened to the prompting of the Holy Spirit instead of my flesh, and rising I took my place by the window with pen in hand.

Happy birthday, little one, for this is the anniversary of the day your earthly life began - a day and a life I had planned at a time before time - and you were brought forth for such a time as this.

Today is a day to know you are cherished - and though you will never again feel the arms of your father of flesh - you can always and ever run into My arms - and they are arms of love.

Take heart and be encouraged, child, for many things will take place that will surprise and amaze you - even so, why should My power surprise you? Do you not yet believe I Am the God of all possibilities?

What is your desire for the year ahead, little one? What would you wish to see in the days before you?

I want to learn more fully Lord, how to surrender who I believe myself to be, so that I might be a better reflection of Who You Are. I want a shower of cleansing to wash away the dirt of this world, the mud that the enemy flings at me; to step into a new level of holiness; to accept whatever call You choose for me, without complaint; to see with new spiritual eyes and hear your heart. I want to want more and more and more of You.

Child, you are choosing what is both the simplest and the most difficult way, indeed the way of the cross - where flesh dies and the spirit thrives.

Remember what you have asked for this day - for the One you have asked Is faithful.

Come on over to Emily's Chatting at the Sky where we unwrap moments that bless our hearts.

Prayer of promise

I wrote the following words this morning to a farming family who are very dear to us. May all of you who are trusting the Lord and the soil receive this prayer for yourselves as well.

So another season's promise is in the ground, out of your hands and into His.

He will water, pour down light, offer shade from scorching heat and protect what will bring Him glory.

I pray for supernatural multiplication and favour upon all your hands have sown, that the world might know that God alone has done this.

I pray for an increase in patience and faith and trust as the season unfolds according to His plans, the One Who's ways are higher than ours.

May you all grow, as the crops grow, until the time of rejoicing in the harvest.

Then will He give you rain for the seed with which you sow the soil, and bread grain from the produce of the ground, and it will be rich and plentiful. In that day your cattle will feed in large pastures. Isaiah 30:23 Amplified

Transition

As is common to March, the air is growing warmer and the sun is quickly melting the snow that had covered our land. The view that remained constant through the months of winter is now changing with each passing day. More snow is sure to fall in this area, but the signs of Spring's eventual return are everywhere.

A season of change. Transition.

Dictionary.com defines transition as:

movement, passage, or change from one position, state, stage, subject, concept, etc., to another; change: the transition from adolescence to adulthood.

Our church fellowship is in a state of transition. Our future plans and dreams as a couple are shifting as we look forward to global service with Operation Mobilization. The very earth around us is being transformed as the seasons change.

My spirit indeed is excited, even as it is also unsettled. When all around us is uncertain, we turn again to our Lord Who Is solid and everlasting.

He promises that things will shake, but for His purposes, to suit His plans. Who am I then to argue or complain about the tremors beneath my feet?

At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, "Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens."The words "once more" indicate the removing of what can be shaken—that is, created things—so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Hebrews 12:26-27 NIV

Unexpected gifts

The plan was to fly from Chicago to Winnipeg on Tuesday evening, stay overnight, do some shopping Wednesday in the city, and then drive home.

My brother and nephew drove us to the airport, avoiding the need for a taxi. We had checked in online and the luggage drop off line was short. The security check was surprisingly fast and smooth. Breathing sighs of relief and happy to be headed home, we walked to our departure gate.

While Rick was off finding us something cold to drink, I noticed on the info screen that they were looking for people who would voluntarily give up their seats and that interested parties should check with an agent for info about compensation. I mentioned this to Rick when he returned, Pepsi bottles in hand.

When a United employee appeared at the desk I went up and asked if they still needed volunteers. When he said they did, I asked what time the next flight would be. "9:54 tomorrow morning" he replied. He assured me we would have a seat on that flight. I asked what amount they were offering as compensation. $600.00 in travel vouchers. $600.00 ! I thought that was for the both of us, but he said it would be $600.00 for each of us.

"I'll go talk with my husband" I told the agent.

As I started to walk away from the desk he added "And we'll put you up in a hotel for the night too."

Rick agreed that it would be silly to pass on the offer, so back to the desk we went and spoke to another agent who took our names and said she would call us if they needed our seats. About fifteen minutes later, she printed out new boarding passes for the morning flight, handed us a voucher for the hotel, told us where to catch the shuttle and then placed a stack of eight $150.00 travel vouchers in my hand. $1200.00 good anywhere on United Airlines. We called the hotel in Winnipeg to cancel our reservation, saving that money as well, and set off to find the shuttle bus area.

At the hotel, I felt like Ree, the Pioneer Woman when she was on her book tour, taking pictures of her hotel rooms. I was glad Rick had his camera because it was a more luxurious hotel than we could have afforded to pay for.

Those of you who have been following my posts know it had been a difficult trip and I was so thankful that God would give us this indulgent gift.

Security and check in went smoothly in the morning, the plane departed only a bit later than scheduled. It seemed that God was teaching us to always be prepared for a course change, our plans are not in our own hands, but in His.

Now... if they would only find and return our luggage. I know that's in His hands as well, and I must trust that He will make sure they are here in time for me to wash and repack clothes for our next trip - leaving Tuesday.

His plans - not ours

We had a full weekend ahead of us once Rick was finished working at 5:30.

Tonight's plan was to enjoy dinner out with one of our favorite couples followed by many games of Settlers of Catan at their place.

Tomorrow's schedule was morning worship, break for a meal, back to church for our annual general meeting followed by an evening of fellowship with friends.

Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails. Proverbs 19:21 NIV

Environment Canada has issued storm warnings for now through Monday that include heavy snow, winds creating possible blizzard conditions and accumulations of anywhere from 15 - 30 cm. They warn:

This winter storm is quite large and is producing poor travelling conditions
across the southern prairies and neighbouring states. These poor conditions will
continue through Monday. Persons in or near the warning areas should be on the
lookout for adverse weather conditions and travel only when necessary.

There are many people who choose to ignore or challenge the weather. At times, I admit I was counted among them. But I am learning to listen. I am learning to surrender.

I will give up my agenda when my plans conflict with the Lord's, trusting that He knows what is best even when we can't understand the reasons.

Instead of dinner out, once Rick gets back from work we'll throw a frozen pizza in the oven. We will snuggle into the safety of the sanctuary that is our home. We will watch the snow and the beauty it creates as it falls. We will take time to worship the One who changes our plans.

As for tomorrow? We will wait and trust that He will lead us once again.