Zephaniah 3:17 PAGE 92

Being a parent is hard. There is a need for structure as well as flexibility, and then a balance of both. I try to give lots of breathing space-to allow for the joy of life to ebb and flow… but at times, I’m caught off-guard by something and that spaciousness implodes upon itself like a painfully inhaled breath.  Misunderstandings can really damper freedom and when you’re raising teenagers there are times when pesky mix-ups arise like an un-welcomed guest.  Grace is the one mechanism that can fill our hearts again and allow freedom to expand, but the fall-out of the implosion still has to be cleaned up.  

THAT is where I was the other night, as I tried to fall asleep.  With tears, I sought a resolution.  I was frustrated that I missed the opportunity to be gracious and, instead, allowed misunderstanding into the home that I strive to make a haven for those with whom I live. Instead of a place of peace there was pain.  Unwittingly, grace was not extended to our child and because of that God stopped me in my tracks. I was genuinely upset but I didn’t know why; however, the Lord knew I needed a reminder of what grace is! I felt this need deeply, yet was at a loss.  I fell asleep needing my heart to be mended.  

The next morning, I was half-awake yet dreaming.  I envisioned what I thought was the wording Zephaniah 2:17 on a piece of luggage being carried through a crowd.  Sleepily, I consider blowing off this "out of left field" scripture... but chose to mutter it a few times and then opened my eyes enough to grab my phone to look up that verse; however, there isn’t a verse 17.  I wondered if I was mistaken and that perhaps it was actually Zechariah 2:17; but there is no such verse in that book either.  I was disappointed because I really needed to hear from the Lord but honestly felt that I needed to get my heart right before I could find peace.  In consolation, I quoted a familiar scripture to start my day and got up.  Over coffee, my husband and I agreed we needed to take the time to extend grace to our child and get our hearts back in the right place.  We left the topic there and went to get dressed for church. I was getting ready to meet with the Lord and He was ready to meet with me!

We arrived, chatted with a few folks and walked in just a bit late; the congregation was already singing. I looked up to the large screens in the front of the sanctuary, that provide words to the songs, and underneath, in typical fashion, there was scripture that related to the song.  It was Zephaniah 3:17!!!

It says:

“The Lord your God is with you,

the mighty warrior who saves.

He will take great delight in you;

in his love he will no longer rebuke you,
(make no mention of your past sins)

He will rejoice over you with singing!”

Zephaniah 3:17 NIV

NOW, THAT IS GRACE!!!  Mind-blowing Grace!

BTW:

The song, below, was playing in the car on the way to church

 and was also sung at the end of the service!

NOTHING is ironic! LOL 

Revelation Song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HC08NgsPqA

Keeping Life Panoramic Page 91

A while back, through circumstance and irony, I experienced a “Spiritual Name-change”.  Long-story short – I believe God called my attention to the name Ezra and put me on a purposed path to figure out why. The answers and details are on page 66 (July 2017) of this blog.  Perplexing, I know and un-relatable to some, I’m sure, but God does indeed rename people. My story is just one of many. 

For the purpose of this writing- let me share some details on the process of my name change: Because of some major struggles, I began seeking answers through scripture and prayer. In turn, I had several piercing moments where particular scripture became “alive and active” within my circumstances. Perhaps you have had moments where you’ve said “Wow, that was nothing short of a miracle; It was either irony …. or God!” I’m here to tell you…it was both!  

Because of my uncommon experiences with irony, I’ve tucked a reverence for it into my heart and have chosen to keep my life panoramic-paying close attention to unusual details with great interest. I’ve established this foundation of faith using personal experience and I know, without doubt, we can hear from our invisible God through circumstance and irony. Because of this, my faith has been enhanced and my ability to hear from God sharpened. This has changed my life. 

This writing is a reminder that every spiritual aspect we practice is about deepening our understanding of God and building a friendship with the Creator of the Universe.   That’s pretty vast isn’t it! 

"For the word of God is alive and active.

Sharper than any double-edged sword,

it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit,

joints and marrow; 

it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

Hebrews 4:12

Song Recommendation:

So Will I

By:  Hillsong UNITED

https://youtu.be/GfVd5x9W1Xc

A Subliminal Spiritual Activity Page 90

Prison Life

“Locked in place, I’ve watched life’s shadow move across that same ole wall.

I’ve seen many days pass across those bricks.

To avoid even a shimmer of truth,

 I blur my vision so that I do not see;

I tame my thoughts so that they do not roam wild

and bind my mind so that emotions lay in chains.

Once free, I bravely fought life’s battles and won.

Now I hold my passion as a prisoner within.

My mind is still; my soul tempestuous.

To find solace I’ve emptied my spirit that I may sit in silence-

…and, again hear the heart that is bound in my chest.” 

RvH~1995

When I look back into my mid-to-late twenties- I recall a great amount of time that seemed locked up in emptiness and my life seemed distinctly dormant. The writing above gives you a mental picture of that time!  Using scripture found in the book of Romans as a magnifying glass, as well as the gift of hindsight, I now realize I was being refined by God; however, in real-time, my experience felt like persistent, personal loss!  While I stoically watched friends  getting married-I was separated.  When others were having babies-I was divorced. When life seemed at its pinnacle for my peers-I was living alone in a one-bedroom apartment- wondering how I got there, and why? 

I put on a good face, but I was struggling.  It was then that I returned to my faith and began to seek God for answers.  I've always journaled, so I can look back and literally read about that time of growth but, as I lived it out, my life did not feel as if it were producing anything.  The scripture below contradicts my experience and states that "suffering produces".  This isn’t for the faint of heart:  

“But we also rejoice in our sufferings

because we know that suffering produces perseverance,

 perseverance, character and character, hope. 

And hope does not disappoint us, 

because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, 

whom he has given us.”

Romans 5: 3-5

Was I rejoicing during this time of confinement? No, but I opened my journal and the Bible and began seeking the Lord for a smidgen of hope to sustain me day-to-day! My personal change began there.  In private I prayed and God began to work.  I now believe He immediately began answering my prayers-but this wasn’t visible and I was required to stand on faith as I sat in hope. In desperation, many of us anxiously sit in hope; hoping, hoping, hoping.....hoping. Perhaps we haven't yet realized that our Hope is an Action Plan; a catalyst to persevere and a gracious derivative of suffering.

Honestly, my defiance had to be tamed and some maturity attained; God knew best how to do that! That time alone in my apartment felt like a prison sentence-but it was actually God’s gracious work of refinement.  I waited for my life to change and stepped into the Subliminal Spiritual Activity of waiting on the Lord! I’m beyond blessed to have found myself in the midst of that experience-for it was truly holy ground! 

God purposely placed me in a "time of waiting" and compassionately comforted me.  With the passage of time- slowly, and I mean slowly, over the years, my character was strengthened and a godly woman emerged-just as the Lord intended!  I prayed and a loyal relationship was built. I waited and my future was prepared. As I held on to hope in the Lord-my maturity was molded and my character set.  I waited on the Lord and when I was ready He graciously put my future into motion.  His timing was spot on and though it appeared I was lagging behind in life, all was as it should be and I eventually remarried my ex-husband and had three beautiful children.  That time alone with the Lord did not disappoint and I am who I am (a better Christian wife and mother) because of it.  

My friends, be encouraged: For those who are walking through times where there seems no hope -FAITH changes that. Trust in God puts things into motion! Don’t allow emotions to hinder you. PLEASE, sit in hope as you rise in your faith!  Find your hope in our creative God-that gives you a new day to arise and begin again… and an evening sky in which you may count your lucky stars!  To all of us God says,“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13

I did and you can as well! 

“Then the Lord said to him, 

‘Take off your sandals, 

for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 

Acts 7:33

"Arise, shine....."
Isaiah 60:1

Song Recommendation:

New Wine
By:  Hillsong Worship

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ozGKlOzEVc


So Will I (100 Billion X)

By:  Hillsong

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfVd5x9W1Xc

As You Find Me

By:  Hillsong

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0eXYR65Z2w

I Am an Image-Bearer Page 89

There are a generation of us that were disciplined using fear as a punishment to teach us not to misbehave or disobey.  In that fear-based discipline, the God-honoring teachable moment was missed and many of us grew up with insecurities that led to rebellion…and sin.  

I can write about this because I was one such Rebel-who grew up with deeply conflicting ideas about myself, my worth, how to deal with anxiety, and what to do with rising emotions inside that I was required to habitually stuff down lest I became disobedient, shut down lest I became disrespectful, and hide away lest I looked undisciplined.  In the shadows of time, I became frightened of the shape I was in… and lost myself! 

I was a little girl with a tender heart who grew into a discerning woman…. but the earthly road I took to find my worth led me to many dead-ends. "Navigation lost" is applicable here! The worth I needed could not be found inside this world-for believe me, I looked all over this planet for the one missing treasure that many of us are living without.  

What exactly is this treasure? 

Godly Understanding!

My human emotions deeply conflicted me and I was missing mature understanding:  of my parents, of myself, of others and of God!  Through years of searching for wisdom, I learned that personal, mental sabotage makes our lives more complicated than necessary; applying wisdom is a life-choice!  If we're honest, we fumble through our daily emotions not realizing  that we could and should have come to the end of those years ago; I now understand that emotions do not satisfy.  We flounder through relationships bantering back and forth with others- wondering why we chose to play on an emotional see-saw. Surely, we should ALL  tire of that form of play.  Gratefully, I now understand that my loved ones cannot and will not supply my worth!   

What I’m going on about is this:  We can loiter in the shadows of emotional pain and fear wondering what is wrong…. or we can simplify our lives by reasoning out and registering what the true battle is about.  All our life’s questions can be simplified and identified with Godly Understanding!

Here is my summary: We are NOT emotional beings! We are image bearers of a spiritual God!  Our erratic emotions are an earthly, behavioral habit that we tend to confuse with truth. If this weren’t so we would not constantly find ourselves knee-deep in relational problems or neck-deep in the pit of personal struggles! My mind, my body, my heart, my spirit, and all that is comprised within those, is a carbon-copy of the creator-with access to light and truth! My vision, my brain-power, my hopes and dreams are all formed to be attuned to our Invisible God and then navigated as true Image-Bearer. We find this truth in the origin of creation:

“So God created man in his own image,

In the image of God he created him;

Male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:27

When I silenced my emotions and began to read scripture and pray, I discovered my worth within the whispers of my prayers to the Lord, God! I found that my life could be redeemed and that my restoration was in the formidable grace of Christ-called forgiveness!  I found that life’s meaning was in the written Word of scripture-which is God’s voice and God, Himself. I found the genesis of what I was to become on earth by peering into God’s account of creation and finding His original intent for man and woman; and for me; I AM an image-bearer!

 God simply and miraculously created each of us to be His Image-bearers! It's a high-calling that opens doors of wisdom & opportunity, peace & happiness, prosperity & guidance! This knowledge and understanding empowers, inspires and changes everything!  

Song Recommendation:

Defender

By:  Gateway

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wE1uEkWHHcI

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

"Through wisdom a house is built
and by understanding it is established;
Through knowledge its rooms are filled
with rare and beautiful treasures."
Proverb 24: 3-4

"God is Spirit
so those who worship him
must worship in spirit and in truth."
John 4:24 NLT

"Do you not know that
you are God's temple
and that God's Spirit dwells in you?"
1st Corinthians 3:16 ESV

"In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God."
John 1:1 KJV

Perseverance is a High Calling Page 88

Perseverance is a high calling for all of us!  Why do I know this?  Well, as a typical human it seems to be a fundamental need in my daily life-so that is one way!  As a Christian I know that it is taught about in several places in the Bible-that is another. However, this morning I came across a scripture that I had not noticed before.  In Revelations, no less!  It says:

“Because you have kept the word of My endurance 
(My command to persevere),

I will keep you (safe)

from the hour of trial, 

that hour which is about to come on the whole (inhabited) world,

to test those who live on the earth.”

Revelations 3:10 AMP

Per this prophetic scripture, perseverance is a command that actually plays a pivotal role in what happens to us in our hour of trial.  And here I was thinking that it was just something I had to do to put up with the aggravations in my life - or was just some form of personal mental power I had to call upon to deal with difficult people or circumstances!  Seems that I’ve approached the act of perseverance without the reverence it deserves.    

God repeatedly places topics in my life to get my attention and to teach me something.  So, it’s not ironic that my preacher recently taught on perseverance.  He shared some in-depth notes regarding what perseverance actually is:  

Perseverance is:

• ·     Spiritual staying power that will die before giving in.  It is a virtue that endures with a vibrant hope.
• ·     An unflinching bearing up that does not allow for surrendering in circumstances.
•       The ability to rise up, conquer and win; An attitude of a soldier in the heat of battle that  fights on stoutly.
• ·      An active motion that always has a forward look to it. 
•       Derived from the Greek word Hupomone- meaning to be under and stay under.  In Scripture it speaks of a believer who remains under the difficult circumstances or trials of life in a God-honoring way. 
•       The ability to faithfully deal triumphantly with anything that life throws at you.

This virtuous calling bravely asks that we deal triumphantly with the challenges in our lives that demand perseverance!  I was repeatedly and begrudgingly using this tool as a last resort; frustrated that I kept needing to power through my circumstances; wishing that life would ease up! But, with these definitions I’ve been set free!  It’s as if I am no longer a cursed Prisoner-of-War but a Mighty Warrior called to rise up on The Battlefield of Life! 

Perseverance is not a long-suffering death sentence but a character-defining act of God!  Perseverance is a crucial weapon of a warrior; a required mental power that brings about victory; an enduring, unflinching inner power that comes from something beyond normal human courage; for truly it is a God-thing; a high calling that brings honor to the very one who gave us the command to persevere! 

“…. we know that suffering produces perseverance;

Perseverance, character; and character, hope.

And hope does not disappoint us 

because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts

 through the Holy Spirit.” 

Romans 5: 3-6

Please note all the definitive words that follow the word perseverance!

Perseverance must finish its work

so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

James 1:4

Please note that perseverance yields complete maturity! 

Perseverance is more than a High calling- it is the refining work of the Lord!

Song Recommendation:

Deliverance

BY:  Gateway

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwH3fA3D690

God Always Shows Up-Even in Drudgery PAGE 87

Yesterday I woke up feeling blah! It’s typical of me this time of year.  I’ve been seeking a new career and have hit a wall; feel off my game. I usually have a plan for the day and for my life.  My usual motto is “seize the day”  but-with my age and at this time of year I feel off-center, unmotivated…just blah! Also, my family-life is changing!  My children are growing up, my daily life has slowed down and so has my motivation to function at a high level of productivity.  The last thing I would ever wish for is this perplexing feeling of “not being needed by my little ones” who are now 20, 19, and 16.  Again, I’m over-taken by that deflated feeling of “blah.” 

So-yesterday- before I got up I prayed: 

“Lord, I know you are near even when I don’t feel it.

You’ve said you know the plans for me

and I know you answer my prayers.

Please show up and let me know you are near and here for me.”

With coffee, my husband and I sat to do our daily Bible Study out of the amazing devotional My Utmost For His Highest.  The pages are dated and Feb 19^th is entitled, drum-roll please:

 Taking the Initiative Against Drudgery. 

 WOW!! God still surprises me when He chooses to be SO direct and to the point. Immediately, I received God’s presence-it was there in black and white. I knew He was near and I was about to receive some clarification and direction; I was being nurtured and God-taught. The straight-forward message from that devotional can be quickly summarized by the scripture that accompanied the title:  

“Arise, shine…”

Isaiah 60:1

Here is the first paragraph from that page:

“When it comes to taking the initiative against drudgery, we have to take the first step as though there were no God.  There is no point in waiting for God to help us—he will not.  But once we arise, immediately we find He is there.  Whenever God gives us His inspiration, suddenly taking the initiative becomes a moral issue—a matter of obedience.  Then, we must act to be obedient and not continue to lie down doing nothing.  If we will arise and shine, drudgery will be divinely transformed.” 1 (Bold emphasis mine)

I hope that you can see that that is exactly what happened: Yesterday, I prayed-looking for some inspiration for the drudgery I felt. I arose and the Lord showed up in the basic activity of my day, spoke to my specific needs and gave me direction. Obedience is the next step.  This written blog page IS my step of obedience. Because of my personal experience I can surely say God will do the same for you.  

"You will seek me and find me

When you seek me with all your heart." 

Jeremiah 29:13

SONG RECOMMENDATIONS: 

Deliverance

BY:  Gateway

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwH3fA3D690

Greater Than

By:  Gateway

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnZkYupqFNo

1-My Utmost For His Highest; Oswald Chambers Publications Association, Ltd (Updated Edition)

A God-Confidence Page 86

“Have A God-confidence!” 

This is a bold statement from a Bible study I attended this week. Wow!  What would my life be like if I, indeed, had A God-Confidence? 

I am very familiar with self-confidence; it is one personality trait I’ve always battled.  I repeatedly have to work at maintaining a relationship with Confidence.  She just doesn’t like to hang out with me for too long!  So, I try; I strive to get by- and I get in my head, as they say, and squirm around -searching for that one specific thing, but I frequently feel as if I bump into a counterfeit!

 In typical human fashion, and in contrast to this God-Confidence, I've always striven to have a “Rebecca confidence.”  Taking it back to college and before, I put lots of swagger into having a “Becky confidence”; hence, I earned the nickname Hollywood!   With all this will-power churning to maintain some semblance of confidence there has always been this shadow-of-doubt that lurked in my life…. And I’ll be honest and say, as I grimace in frustration, “That irks me”.

We’re all created differently and I enjoy being a God-given Go-getter.  I can move & groove, multi-task with what I deem as perfection, and juggle it all- till bed time.  But, true confidence alludes me.  I lay down at times feeling as if something’s askew! It’s like a persistent mystery, that plagues!  The night always haunts those of us who have this shadowy friend named Doubt.  

However- this week, for the first time ever, I heard the statement “Have a God confidence”! Spiritually that seems to say "God's got this!" I want to jump for joy at the mental & spiritual door this has opened. Preparing in advance, God had already begun clearing space in my mind for the comprehension of this knowledge, and I’m so grateful.  Spiritually, I’d seen God’s light sneaking through the cracked door- as it slowly started to open and this one statement seems to be force that welcomed in a new understanding- bringing with it a gracious revelation from God, Himself!

As an example of how the Lord has been working in advance to prepare my heart, in December I was moved to write a Prayer I entitled A Prayer of Re-focus.   It says:

“Lord, you are MY God. You know me and hang out with me!

 I am not trapped- for you are my guardian and guide…

and you are an expert on the way that I am traveling.  

I am not afraid because you are with me.  

My enemies have seen you at work and fear you….

and side-step me. Yes and Amen!

I am waiting!”

That’s a girl looking for some confidence!  Dare I say, I was praying for A God Confidence! 

In typical fashion, I’ve spent the better part of my life working, within my own mental power, to attain something that must come from God's power (at work within me).  I am SO ready to see what having A God-Confidence looks and feels like…and what it produces in my life.  The Lord has a plan for each of us and with A God-confidence-I can only dare to imagine what my future will be.  Yippeeee! 

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably

More than all we ask or imagine, 

According to his power that is at work within us,

to him be glory in the church and in 

Christ Jesus throughout all generations,

for ever and ever! Amen.

Ephesians 3:21

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD,

“plans to prosper you and not to harm you,

Plans to give you a hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11

“Yet I am always with you;

you hold me by my right hand.

You guide me with your counsel,

and afterwards you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
My flesh and my heart may. fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever."
Psalm 73:23-26

Song Recommendation:

Greater Than

By: Gateway

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YnZkYupqFNo&start_radio=1&list=RDYnZkYupqFNo