From another great blog! Thank you God- for meeting me where I am!
'Fear is like pain.
Pain is given as an indicator that something is going on.
Pain says, "Hey, pay some attention here." Step away from the flame. Get that splinter out. Cease what you are doing, the child is coming now. Go to the doctor and see what's causing this.
Fear does the same.
Where fear pops up, makes itself known, there stands God, right behind me, right with me, saying,
"Pay attention here! I am doing something with you.
The timing of this fear is not by accident.
Let's have the conversation that needs to happen here.
This is the topic.
This is the time."
Go there."
Fear is a place a of growth, a place where God "wants to do something with you."
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
Flee or Faith
Excerpts that stired my soul from Ann Voskamp's blog
“Without faith, it is impossible to please God.”
"The things in my life that require faith are the things that terrify me.”
Fear offers two routes. Flee or faith.
High tail it… or trust.
Is it only faith – bona fide -- when we leap out into life with no trace of fear?
When we dive into the unknown depths with steely confidence?
Or is faith the thing we fearfully jump into?
What we believe will catch us, hold us?
“But what about “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear. . .”?
Are we to have fear if we love God?”I answer with what I usually have, another question.
“Is fear the emotion we push through, breaking out into faith?
And fear’s what we feel before our love is entirely perfected --- the first stir of love?”
“Fear is the first step through to faith.
Like hurdling through a ring of fire,
certain He waits on the other side.”
“Without stepping into the fear,
the place where faith’s necessary,
it is impossible to please God.”
Lord, where are the places in my life that I live in the wild leap of real faith?
Focus me on the fearful places... t
hat's where we break open into the vastness of You.
“Without faith, it is impossible to please God.”
"The things in my life that require faith are the things that terrify me.”
Fear offers two routes. Flee or faith.
High tail it… or trust.
Is it only faith – bona fide -- when we leap out into life with no trace of fear?
When we dive into the unknown depths with steely confidence?
Or is faith the thing we fearfully jump into?
What we believe will catch us, hold us?
“But what about “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear. . .”?
Are we to have fear if we love God?”I answer with what I usually have, another question.
“Is fear the emotion we push through, breaking out into faith?
And fear’s what we feel before our love is entirely perfected --- the first stir of love?”
“Fear is the first step through to faith.
Like hurdling through a ring of fire,
certain He waits on the other side.”
“Without stepping into the fear,
the place where faith’s necessary,
it is impossible to please God.”
Lord, where are the places in my life that I live in the wild leap of real faith?
Focus me on the fearful places... t
hat's where we break open into the vastness of You.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Wise Beyond His Years
Wise beyond his years.... my son..
I hate that he has to be.... but I praise God that he is. He so amazes me on a day to day basis with his depth of faith and his relationship with our Lord.
Just one of the things that he said today.... among many... we spent the day together in Knoxville- getting new stuff for Rugby.. anyway...
As we sat watching families walk into Marble Slab I told him that I was so sorry that he didn't have a family too...
His response... "I DO have a family"
"But," I say.. "I am so sorry that there is not a father in the family for you to model after... someone to look to so you will have an example of how to be a good husband and a good father."
His response... "But I DO have an example to look to."
me... "who?"
My son.... who is wise beyond his years reply.... "God".
I hate that he has to be.... but I praise God that he is. He so amazes me on a day to day basis with his depth of faith and his relationship with our Lord.
Just one of the things that he said today.... among many... we spent the day together in Knoxville- getting new stuff for Rugby.. anyway...
As we sat watching families walk into Marble Slab I told him that I was so sorry that he didn't have a family too...
His response... "I DO have a family"
"But," I say.. "I am so sorry that there is not a father in the family for you to model after... someone to look to so you will have an example of how to be a good husband and a good father."
His response... "But I DO have an example to look to."
me... "who?"
My son.... who is wise beyond his years reply.... "God".
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
The GOLD from the dross
Okay- not sure where that title came from.... but maybe one day I will look back an understand. Been looking thru pics- not the wisest thing to do.... but how to you erase the bad without throwing out the good.
I KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that the GOOD that was is with me today. The GOOD still lives on and is growing into a fine young Godly man. THE BLESSING (Chase) is what matters!!!
Looking at all the baby pictures and wondering what was going on even back then breaks my heart... not for the Stacie now... but for the Stacie then... and more importantly for that sweet baby boy that was thrown into this mess.
I promised myself I wouldn't ask why... almost a full year later and I KNOW there will never be an answer on this side of heaven.... but the not understanding is deep and dark.
I REFUSE to go back to that place!
MY REDEEMER LIVES... and HE knows where my steps go.
I pray that someday I can get through a day without thoughts invading...
that would be WONDERFUL...
PEACE.
But I hope also, that someday I can look at picture and remember the sweet times... without the awful distorting the memories.
Someday.....someday...
the chaff will blow away with the wind....
the dross will be burned and the GOLD will remain........
someday......
I KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that the GOOD that was is with me today. The GOOD still lives on and is growing into a fine young Godly man. THE BLESSING (Chase) is what matters!!!
Looking at all the baby pictures and wondering what was going on even back then breaks my heart... not for the Stacie now... but for the Stacie then... and more importantly for that sweet baby boy that was thrown into this mess.
I promised myself I wouldn't ask why... almost a full year later and I KNOW there will never be an answer on this side of heaven.... but the not understanding is deep and dark.
I REFUSE to go back to that place!
MY REDEEMER LIVES... and HE knows where my steps go.
I pray that someday I can get through a day without thoughts invading...
that would be WONDERFUL...
PEACE.
But I hope also, that someday I can look at picture and remember the sweet times... without the awful distorting the memories.
Someday.....someday...
the chaff will blow away with the wind....
the dross will be burned and the GOLD will remain........
someday......
Friday, January 8, 2010
From another great blog....
I thought of the new year launching
and how some plans will set out and fail and sink
and recovery plans will have to be made
but that's just part of the going, so we'll go on.
We'll just wade out into it as it comes,
Persevering,
breaking ice,
pushing onward,
goal in sight because if we set our minds to it,
and our backs to the wind....Help will come from the hills
and we'll remain determined,
faithful, regardless,
because the going onward is the mattering part.
Sure, things will get tipsy --
hope is risky and transformation, wild ---
True, we'll almost lose it,
but we'll use what we have,
shovel for oar,
weakness for God-strength,
and we'll fill the skies with laughter and faith
and we'll steady her out,
get back on course.
We'll get a line on that prize, and hang on tight
and haul her in for all we are worth
and this crazy idea that looked rather impossible,
a paddle in a hay pond,
a new you in a new year,
will be an escapade of walking on water
so launch! and recover! and launch again!
and walk onto the other side.
http://www.aholyexperience.com/
and how some plans will set out and fail and sink
and recovery plans will have to be made
but that's just part of the going, so we'll go on.
We'll just wade out into it as it comes,
Persevering,
breaking ice,
pushing onward,
goal in sight because if we set our minds to it,
and our backs to the wind....Help will come from the hills
and we'll remain determined,
faithful, regardless,
because the going onward is the mattering part.
Sure, things will get tipsy --
hope is risky and transformation, wild ---
True, we'll almost lose it,
but we'll use what we have,
shovel for oar,
weakness for God-strength,
and we'll fill the skies with laughter and faith
and we'll steady her out,
get back on course.
We'll get a line on that prize, and hang on tight
and haul her in for all we are worth
and this crazy idea that looked rather impossible,
a paddle in a hay pond,
a new you in a new year,
will be an escapade of walking on water
so launch! and recover! and launch again!
and walk onto the other side.
http://www.aholyexperience.com/
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