Philippians 3:15-16 So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.

Once you get on the right path, the one that God has designed just for you, and you WANT to accept everything that God has for you, He will help keep you focused.

Am I wavering in my commitment to the path God has me on?  To the life I feel He has called me to?  Are there things in my life that are distracting, or damaging that may be blurring my vision?

Lord, keep doing a work in me.  Remove whatever those things may be that distract me and confuse me, even subtle internal things.  Take it all Lord so that I can be complete in my commitment to You. 

2 Kings 4:32-35 Elisha entered the house and found the boy stretched out on the bed dead. He went into the room and locked the door—just the two of them in the room—and prayed to GOD. He then got into bed with the boy and covered him with his body, mouth on mouth, eyes on eyes, hands on hands. As he was stretched out over him like that, the boy's body became warm. Elisha got up and paced back and forth in the room. Then he went back and stretched himself upon the boy again. The boy started sneezing—seven times he sneezed!—and opened his eyes.

The boy in this story is the result of a promise.  His mother was a faithful woman, who showed insight and compassion to Elisha and because of that, God blessed her with a son.  She didn’t ask for it, but the Lord revealed to Elisha that having a baby was a dream of hers, one that she did not even voice.  She asked Elisha not to tease her with such a promise because to do so would hurt worse than not having a baby in the first place.  So, of course God was not teasing her, and blessed her with a son.  One day, the boy died.  The mother marched right over to Elisha and reminded him with anguish that he had promised not to tease her.  Elisha went straight away to the boy, she didn’t even have to ask him or tell him what had happened.  The way that this verse describes how Elisha prays for the boy, makes me believe that they were friends, that they had a relationship.  The symbolism of Elisha covering the boy with his own body, shows such love, such intimacy, a picture of sacrifice…willing the life from his own body to enter that of the boy’s.  The boy did start to warm up and come alive, but Elisha didn’t stop there and wait for the boy to revive himself.  Elisha kept praying and stretched out on the boy again, until life soared through boy’s body and there could be no doubt that he was alive.

I too have some dreams that have died.  Dreams that God fulfilled in my life that I never even spoke, that I didn’t really articulate.  I feel as though my dream of having a beautiful "perfect" family is gone.  It’s never going to be what I thought it was or what I thought I wanted it to be.  God knows though.  He knows my dream so intimately… it was His idea in the first place.  He isn’t going to just start to heal it, He is going to completely resurrect it.  He wasn’t teasing me.  He knows who we are as a family, what we are supposed to look like, how we are supposed to live.  He is now breathing life into us, putting His hands on our hands, keeping us warm…

God thank you.  Thank you for my family.  I know that where there was once life, there will be again.  I know that you care about the me and my dreams, and that You are working.  You are amazing.

Romans 14:22-23 Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don't impose it on others. You're fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent. But if you're not sure, if you notice that you are acting in ways inconsistent with what you believe—some days trying to impose your opinions on others, other days just trying to please them—then you know that you're out of line. If the way you live isn't consistent with what you believe, then it's wrong.

Your relationship with God comes first.  If you are not working on it, seeking it, taking care of it… then your life may not match up with what you believe.  Belief is important, it’s what saves us.  But if you’re not also taking action in your faith, then you are a hypocrite. 

Unfortunately, it can be pretty easy to fall into an apathetic cycle about my faith.  I have thoughts like, “God knows I love Him, I’ll talk to Him later.” Or, “I’ll do two devotions tomorrow because I won’t have time today.”  Yes, there are times when my best intentions just don’t happen, and I can give myself grace on those days.  But if I find myself trying to be too pushy with others about God-stuff, or are just trying to please others… then I’m out of balance.  I’m tiptoeing that line of hypocrisy. 

Lord I SO want my actions to match up with my beliefs.  Thank you for your grace that extends into my busy–single-mom–trying-to-be–all-to-everyone life.  Thank you for helping me on those hectic days to remind me that you are with me.  Keep me gentle towards others and to only desire to please you. 

 

Ephesians 5:15 So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. 16 Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. 17 Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.

We are to be cautious in how we live our lives, make wise decisions, but also to take life by the horns and take advantage of every opportunity that comes our way.  Cautious does not mean boring!  Understand who we are called to be… and live it fully!

Do I know and understand the life that God has called me to?  Am I pursuing that life with wisdom?  Is my cautiousness resembling fear?  Is my boldness resembling thoughtlessness?

Lord give me wisdom, understanding, caution and boldness to live the life that you have called me to.  Let me think things through, then act with purpose on purpose.  Thank you for not calling us to live boring lives, but lives that matter and are filled with adventure.  Thank you that an adventurous God life does not equal rash decisions, but well-planned thought-out steps of certainty.  You are so wise and brave and thoughtful.

Ephesians 4:16-19 And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.

Not only does God’s love anchor us, but it calls to us.  While our footing is solid on the foundation of love, we see it high above us, we shield our eyes and squint at it on the horizon, we turn and reach for it behind us, we stretch our arms to the sides to grab it, we jump to the heavens as high as we can to feel it.  All the while we are stretching and reaching for God’s love, we are already on it, we are surrounded b it, it goes before us, it follows after us, it walks along side of us.  Our steps are sure, because they are cushioned by the love of Jesus.  What can possibly make a fuller life than a life filled on every side with the faithful, unconditional love of our savior?

Am I reaching for God’s love?  Am I testing its length?  Am I plumbing its depths?  Or am I just standing here on love with my arms to my sides?  Is your love reflected in my life? 

Lord show me new ways to experience your love.  Help my friends and neighbors to know your love.  Let my children be anchored in your love.  Give us courage to take confident steps.  Give our hearts the assurance that your love is paving a way for us.  May all those who come in contact with my family be assaulted by your love.  Keep the kids and I in the fullness of your love, of your life. 

Ephesians 4:20 God can do anything, you know—far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it not by pushing us around but by working within us, his Spirit deeply and gently within us.

God is all powerful and creative.  He can make our dreams come true in a way that’s better than we even can think of.  He doesn’t force his plan on us, but He speaks gently to us.  Working in us and changing us until we are ready and able to accept His plan.

I have a pretty keenly developed imagination.  I also am REALLY good at planning things, down to the tiniest detail.  I am so inspired by creative people, by artists and visionaries.  Well, God fits that description better than anyone.  I would never have had the imagination or creativity or thoroughness or attention to detail to plan or create… let’s say… the strange animals in Australia, or red blood cells, or the SOLAR SYSTEM.  That even goes beyond the creative genius of Walt Disney, Gene Rodenberry, Michael Jackson.  This verse is specifically talking about things in our imagination, the dreams that we create in our own minds and hearts.  It’s not talking about the practical planning of our lives.  Yes God will provide for our practical, physical and emotional needs… but He also wants to provide for our crazy creative and imaginative needs!  What do I dream about?  If I took off everything that hinders my imagination, what would I create?  How would I live?  God can outdo me!  And He wants to!  All I have to do is let Him. 

Lord, you are the creator of all.  As you live and work in me, let your creativity work in me too.  May I be inspired by You and live my life as a reflection of the artist that You are.  Thank you for wanting my dreams to come true.  Thank you for reminding me that I still have some, and for acknowledging that they are still valuable.  Thank you for unfolding your plan for my life gently as I am ready to accept it, and able to move into it.

1 Thessalonians 5:22-24 May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he'll do it!

God makes EVERYTHING holy and whole.  We started out as pure babies, he made us perfect from the start, and can make us holy and whole again.  As we learned from Paul’s example from Abraham (Romans 4:19-25) what keeps us “fit” is our belief in God’s promises that are even yet to come.  God will come through on this!  He can’t help it because He does what He says He’ll do, He is who he says he is.

God’s promise here to me is to make me holy and whole.  Even after heart break, even when life doesn’t make sense, even when my relationships are strained at best, or totally destroyed.  Can I believe this promise without trying to figure it out?  Can I just jump into it?  Can I own this promise and see it even if it isn’t reality yet?  Do I have the faith of Abraham enough to be declared fit? 

Jesus, thank for the promise to make me holy and whole.  Thank you for caring about the parts of me that aren’t and for wanting to restore them.  Give me wisdom, strength and faith as I let you work in me, as I become more like you. 

Ecc. 7:3-4 Crying is better than laughing. It blotches the face but it scours the heart. 4 Sages invest themselves in hurt and grieving. Fools waste their lives in fun and games.

When your heart is heavy, full of shame, grief, sadness, or conviction and needs to be cleansed, you need to have a good cry.  Wise people devote time and energy into grieving in order to accomplish something… which is to be clean.  Grieving is something to be done on purpose.  When the heavy heart feeling comes up, take the time to deal with it right then.  “Scour” is a rough word.  It means to clean something with forceful scrubbing.  I remember my great-grandma would scrub her pots and pans until they were as shiny as when they were new.  It would take her a long time standing there at the sink scrubbing and scrubbing… but man did her efforts pay off!  Sometimes crying or grieving can feel like that.  It can feel like an SOS pad is going to town on our hearts… but the end result will be so shiny and clean!  There is a time for laughter and fun and games, but not when your life needs to be cleansed.  The bible actually says that laughter is like a medicine, good for the soul.  When we get a wound, don’t we first clean it, then apply medicine?  If we slathered Neosporin all over a dirty cut, yes the medicine would help some, but the dirt is still in the wound.  The wound would eventually heal, but it would heal around the dirt.  Isn’t it better to heal cleanly?  Don’t you want to get all that dirt out?!  Have you ever laughed until you cried?  Try crying until you laugh!

I LOVE to laugh, and do it often.  I HATE to cry, and do it often.  I somehow know though that the tears are essential.  I usually feel so much better after I get it all out in a sob-fest.  It’s amazing to me that we have such built-in tools to navigate through what life brings us.  This is an example of such a simple, practical piece of wisdom built into our humanity.  When I feel the tears coming, I just let them come… they are obviously there for a reason.  I have taken the time on purpose to grieve and feel sad.  Owning those moments, acknowledges them, tells them hello, lets them feel welcome, they stay for a while, sometimes put their feet up, but then they know they’ve outstayed their welcome, and they move on.  I have found it’s better to open the door to those feelings, otherwise they will stay there knocking until they drive me crazy.  And when they do move on, it’s only for a while.  They come visiting again, and again I let them in, and again they move on.  In between their visits though, I am living a full and blessed life with lots of love and laughter. 

Lord thank you for having a purpose for the tears.  Thank you for showing me all the tears are actually doing something, other than making my face blotchy.  Thank you that there is a time for grieving. 

Psalm 19:22 But the LORD is my fortress; my God is the mighty rock where I hide.

I realize after reading the stories of David, that many of these Psalms he most likely wrote while being chased by King Saul.  David was literally building or seeking fortresses that could protect him and his men from Saul’s army.  He was literally hiding in caves and rocks to escape Saul’s pursuit.  So David has a tangible example of the feeling of safety that the Lord gives his soul.  While seeking safety for his mortal body, David is hiding his soul in the safety and protection of God.  As much as his physical self is in chaos, his heart is deeply troubled because his mentor, his king, his earthly hero wants to KILL him.  David knows that just being safe is not enough, but that his soul also needs respite.  And God is so big and protective that David feels his shattered, scared heart is safe and hidden. 

God protects me and hides me.  Even when my heart is broken, God can handle it.  He fortresses me, protects me, and hides me.  There are times when I have to just not be out and about.  Times when my world is about as big as what fits inside my four walls.  Those are times that my home is fortressing me, and God's angels are walking laps around my house.  I feel it.  I know it.  Those days when I just can't give, I just can't do anything but what is required by my heart and the hearts of my babies.  Those are not wasted days.  Those are the days that I am fortressed, God is restocking the strength and faith supply in my heart, his angels are guarding me, and I am hidden.  I can rest and be taken care of, ready to emerge again when I am ready, and not before.  I am guarded, safe and hidden until then.

Thank you Lord for being so big.  Thank you for being so caring.  Thank you for shielding me from the enemy who pursues me with the intent to steal kill and destroy.  Thank you for protecting me.  Thank you for being such a big fortress, such a big hiding place, that me and my four treasures can all fit.  You are awesome.

Ecclesiastes 5:2 Don't shoot off your mouth, or speak before you think. Don't be too quick to tell God what you think he wants to hear. God's in charge, not you—the less you speak, the better.

I heard a quote by Mother Theresa on time that has stuck with me.  It goes something like this:  She was asked by Larry King, “What do you say when you pray?”  She answered, “I don’t say anything, I just listen.”  Then he asked her back, “What does God say when you listen?”  She responded, “He just listens too.”  When we talk to God, it’s really more about listening.  There’s nothing we can say that He doesn’t already know.  Yes, there is a time for confession, but how are we going to be convicted of anything if we don’t listen to the prompting of the Holy Spirit to convict us?  Yes, there is a time to audibly praise God, but doesn’t the quiet obedience of our lives worship Him even louder?  Yes, there are times to ask God for something, but doesn’t He already know the desires of our hearts?  Better yet, doesn’t He know what’s best for us?

My mouth is my worst enemy.  I don’t know why I think people or God like to hear me talk so much.  The nuns and monks are on to something when they take a vow of silence.  I have actually lost my voice a few times in my life for no apparent reason, other than maybe God just wanted to shut me up so He could get a word in.  I continually work to be silent, especially in my “quiet” time with the Lord.  When I do, it is amazing the things that I learn, the thoughts that He shares with me, the plans that He lays out for me. 

Speak Lord, I’m listening.

Romans 14:11-12 "As I live and breathe," God says, "every knee will bow before me; Every tongue will tell the honest truth that I and only I am God." So tend to your knitting. You've got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God.

The day will come when everyone on earth will stand before God and admit that He is the Lord of all.  That reality is out of our control.  We need to just keep on with our work and our walk with God.  It is not our responsibility to force people to know God, or to force a sense of justice on people… their day will come in God’s timing.

This verse in the message is sort of funny to me.  “So tend to your knitting…”  I’m going to take this verse personally, although I am a crocheter as opposed to a knitter.  Actually, I’m going to take this verse on behalf of women, because I don’t know any men who are knitters or crocheters.  The Lord is right, my hands are full!  Taking care of the day to day matters of raising my four kids, of building my friendships, of honing in on the future God has for me, and in the matters of my heart as a Christian.  I can’t afford to waste a single thought or breath in trying to dole out justice to people that I think deserve it.  My heart can’t take it either.  I am wise to let those people go, to let God have His way with them, to know that someday they will stand before God and answer for their lives. 

Lord I am so grateful that You are bigger than me.  That you can handle the things that I need to let go of.  That I don’t have to fix things or people or lives.  I’m so thankful that You don’t expect me to. 

Romans 4:19-25 Abraham didn't focus on his own impotence and say, "It's hopeless. This hundred-year-old body could never father a child." Nor did he survey Sarah's decades of infertility and give up. He didn't tiptoe around God's promise asking cautiously skeptical questions. He plunged into the promise and came up strong, ready for God, sure that God would make good on what he had said. That's why it is said, "Abraham was declared fit before God by trusting God to set him right." But it's not just Abraham; it's also us! The same thing gets said about us when we embrace and believe the One who brought Jesus to life when the conditions were equally hopeless. The sacrificed Jesus made us fit for God, set us right with God.

God promised Abraham something that was literally impossible, yet not only did Abraham believe God, he OWNED the promise.  He took that promise and ran with it.  Not only did he not argue with God, or analyze the situation, or say “Are you sure God?  Cuz what about this, and that, and they uh….”  He stood READY to receive the promise.  He trusted God’s promise first, then watched to see how it would all play out.  That is what marked him as right and obedient, his belief.  God declared Abraham ready because of his faith, not his ability.  In the same way, it’s our belief in God’s promises that allows God to work in our lives.  Our BELIEF makes us stronger.  It’s our BELIEF in Jesus that saves us.

What areas am I tiptoeing around and asking skeptical questions about?  Do I have the faith to plunge into the promises of God?  Can I believe the impossible?  Can I be declared fit by God because of my faith?  Do I realize that not having faith hinders my progress? 

Lord give me the faith of Abraham.  Help me to control my skeptical mind, my cynical outlook, focusing on my own limitations, obsessing on trying to understand your mysteries.  Help me to just plunge into your awesome love, power and strength. 

Psalm 71:5-8 5 O Lord, you alone are my hope. I’ve trusted you, O LORD, from childhood. 6 Yes, you have been with me from birth; from my mother’s womb you have cared for me. No wonder I am always praising you! 7 My life is an example to many, because you have been my strength and protection. 8 That is why I can never stop praising you; I declare your glory all day long.

David is reflecting on the fact that he has loved God his whole life.  In fact, that he’s always had a knowledge or familiarity with the Lord.  He finds so much joy in that, that he continually praises God.  He realizes that his life has a powerful testimony because it reflects God’s presence since before he was even born.

I can relate to this.  I have always known and loved God.  I’ve never felt separated from Him.  Even through the pain and heart ache of when I have been wronged.  Even through the guilt and shame of when I have made mistakes.  God is still with me. 

Lord thank you for always being with me.  Thank you for being my eternal hope.  Thank you for being a constant fixture in my heart.  May my own children have this knowledge of you, this familiarity with your presence, this love for you. 

Proverbs 24:3-4 It takes wisdom to build a house, and understanding to set it on a firm foundation; It takes knowledge to furnish its rooms with fine furniture and beautiful draperies.

The basics for building your home/family, is wisdom.  Without it, your life cannot even be built.  Your attempts at construction will flounder if you are working without wisdom.  And any builder will tell you that you have to start with a firm foundation.  Understanding is that foundation.  Understanding can be either a noun, a verb, or an adjective.  As a noun, it can refer to an agreement between two or more people.  Such as in the “britishy” movies that my kids and I enjoy… the romantic couple in the movie will enter into an “understanding” with one each other, which is another way to say that they are engaged.  As a verb understanding means to comprehend the nature of something.  In the case of this verse… your family/home.  As an adjective, it means to have a kind disposition.  So, in order to building a firm foundation takes kindness, a comprehension of who are family is called to be, and to be in agreement or partnership with God.  Knowledge is the gravy… getting to know our family, educating ourselves… this will provide the things that we need to function and be blessed on the day to day business as a family.

My kids and I are my home and God truly is my partner in building our lives.  He and I have and “understanding” to raise them together.  I try to remember to seek wisdom as though I am on a treasure hunt.  To pray with the tenacity of Hannah, until I am done.  To flood my babies with kindness.  To educate myself on the personalities, needs and desires of my kids.  To have insight into them, who God has called them to be.  To have the courage to live our highest and best GOD lives, not just a good life.

Help me Jesus to be a wise woman and to BUILD my house.  Let the faith of my children be built on a foundation of your love.  May we have an understanding of You and your ways.  May we be blessed in the knowledge of You. 

Romans 13:11 But make sure that you don't get so absorbed and exhausted in taking care of all your day-by-day obligations that you lose track of the time and doze off, oblivious to God. The night is about over, dawn is about to break. Be up and awake to what God is doing!

When we get too busy, doing our daily grind… we become oblivious to the things of God.  Our morning times with Him need to be intentional.  This verse not only has a literal meaning, but also a metaphoric one.  We can get so absorbed and exhausted in ourselves.  Our problems, our happiness, our pain, our grief, our purpose, our kids, our friends, our planning…  This self absorption is exhausting!  When we are so lost and focused on ourselves, we are asleep to what God wants to do in our lives.  If we can wake up out of this nighttime, dark state of self, we will see that God lives in the bright light of morning and that He is working!  We need to not only be awake and aware, but we need to be up and about, actively noticing and being about God.  When our focus switches from self to God, the exhaustion is replaced by energy.

Being active about God… what does this mean for me?  I work hard to arrange my day and priorities so that my actual quiet time with Him happens in the morning, while my house is still quiet.  This also means daily getting His thoughts and direction and words for me in my spirit, and thinking about them throughout the day.  While I’m doing dishes -remembering God’s promises, in the midst of the children’s math lessons- knowing what God has called us to, climbing the mountains of laundry-thanking Him for his provision, disciplining one of the kids-receiving his unconditional love.  He is in and of everything.

Lord, thank you for being about me and my life.  I want to be awake and up and about YOU.  Keep my focus off of my pain and pressures, and on Your healing and promises.