There's Something about the Water

There's something about the water that allows me to box up all my cares and give them to God. When life gets heavy and I need to let go, I go to the water. Salt water or fresh water, it really doesn't matter. But looking out over the water brings peace to my soul.

Kayaking has been a special pastime for me for a few years now. However, because of a frozen shoulder, I wasn't able to paddle for the past couple years. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to spend some time at the lake kayaking and it felt good. Getting out on the water, feeling the breeze in my face and the hot sun beating down was restorative.

As I paddled away from the shore, my heart turned to the Lord in prayer for many cares and pains that were on my heart. It felt like freedom to pass those things to Him. We had such a sweet time of fellowship!

Sometimes, life just sucks. There are so many negative things. There are unfathomable hurts and pains that seem to crush us beneath their heavy load. I was talking to the Lord about them, when He gracefully interrupted me and asked me to be still.

I surrendered to His call and allowed His beauty and peace to soak in my soul. I paddled up the lake and it was smooth and I seemed to speed right along. After a short time, I stopped and just soaked it in. I relaxed my paddle and listened to the water lapping on the kayak. The birds chirping on the shore. The noises of people in their yards at the lake. The wind blowing through the trees.

All this helped me focus on the God of the universe who created all of it. Who knows all that is going on in our world, and all that is going on in mine. The thing that continues to amaze me is that He cares about all of it. I simply rested in His goodness and mercy. After some time of rest, I began to paddle back.

I was in a place in the lake where you have to work hard to get moving. The wind was blowing against me and the current in the lake was pushing against me. In that moment the Lord nudged my soul. "When you are in sync with Me, listening to Me and following My way, willing to surrender everything to me - you will cruise along. But when you forget Me or ignore me and try to do it all alone, You will struggle and fight."

"Be still and know that I am God," Psalm 46:10 continues to roll through my mind and soul. Do you have a place where God speaks to your heart? Are you tuned in to God when the world around you is crazy and everything seems to be falling apart? Are you willing to surrender everything and follow Him?

Who Is Lord in Your Life?

Is God Lord of your life? How do you know?

 

"And Elijah came to all the people, and said, 'How long will you falter between two opinions?

 If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.'

 But the people answered him not a word." 1 Kings 18:21 NKJV

 

As I read this passage of Scripture, I began to ponder what God being Lord of my life truly means. Is He the One I go to when I have exciting news to share? worries that seem too big? financial burdens that seem insurmountable? a spouse or child who frustrate me? a job that is too difficult? Do I take these burdens quietly to the Lord or do I find someone to share them with and complain?

 

Is He my first choice when I am struggling or do I:

eat?

cry?

call a friend?

go shopping?

escape in a book?

run?

...

 

When God is truly Lord of our lives, we go to Him first, seeking His counsel and direction. Trust me, I am not pointing the finger at anyone. As I meditated on these thoughts, I was brought to a place of deep repentance and forgiveness. Choosing God first is what I aspire to. Though I am imperfect, He's working on me and guides me into deeper truth each time I seek Him. Trusting Him with those things that are tough draws us nearer to His heart. Admitting to our failures and seeking healing and restoration is a humbling and growing experience: one I wouldn't trade for anything.

 

My challenge to you is to pray and seek the Lord's direction. Ask Him how you're doing and open your heart and mind to hear the truth. Only then can we truly be humble enough to be repentant and seek restoration and healing. Growth is never easy, but it is worth it.

 

Blessings to you on your journey into intimate relationship with Christ, Natalie.



Bye Bye Negativity

"Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me, and know my anxieties;

And see if there is any wicked way in me,

And lead me in the way everlasting,"

 (Psalm 139:23-24 NKJV).

 

 

We are beginning a new year. A chance to begin again. For some of us that is a great thing, some of us may be a bit apprehensive at the thought of another year. Wherever we find ourselves, excited or anxious, here we are.

 

 

Life can be tough. Thoughts swirl around in our heads like the makings of a smoothie. Round and round the pieces fly, breaking into bits, yet some stubborn ones refuse to break up and blend in. What can we do with those stubborn bits? We don't have to live bound by thoughts that tear us up, regrets that seem to always find their way to the top don't have priority unless we allow them to. However, in the midst of those looming regrets, failures, and (may I just say it) stupidity on our part or someone else's we aren't forsaken.

 

We have a Savior who has already paid the price for our failings. Jesus loves us and longs for us to come to Him with those woes that keep us hesitant about the future. Do you know who holds the future? God does. Not your boss, not your spouse, not your failures, not the voice screaming inside you that tells you that you're not good enough, strong enough, smart enough, skinny enough, or anything else it may say.

 

If you are struggling with any negative views of yourself: STOP right now. Surrender to the Lord. Jesus is waiting. Pray the Scripture at the top of this post and wait for His answer. He will search you and guide you. 2016 has the potential to be an amazing year - will you give it to Him and allow Him to "lead you in the way everlasting"? 

 

Praying for you, Natalie

Love With Abandon

 "Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind'." Matthew 22:37 NKJV

This commandment is not new. This commandment didn't start with Jesus. This commandment was instituted from the beginning of time. "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth," Genesis 1:1. When God created the heavens and the earth He also created everything in them. There is nothing here that was not created by God Himself.

When He created Adam and Eve, He told them they could eat from every tree except one. They broke the commandment and disobeyed God. Eve listened to the serpent who asked a simple question and distorted the truth (for further study see Genesis 2-3). Rather than trust her loving Father, she believed the lie and caused all humanity to be born sinful.

Loving God does not mean just being a soldier and following orders to the letter, nor does it mean being a puppet and allowing someone else to pull the strings. Loving God is a choice we all must make for ourselves. Will we choose to love God, or not? Will we choose to obey God, or not? See, God being God, loved us enough to give us a precious gift (though some may call it a curse) called free will. He will not force us to choose Him or to love Him, we must make that a conscious choice for ourselves. Loving God means following His will and His way for us because we know He loves us and so we, in turn, love Him.

Can you choose to follow Him wherever that may mean? Would you choose Him over anyone or anything else? That is the reality of what He is asking. Jesus gave us this commandment first because it is the most important. When we put God first, the rest will come together. It may not seem so at first, but do you trust Him? Do you believe that He knows everything and sees everyone and every situation? Do you believe that He works all things for good, no matter how bad it looks?

Take time today to seek God and love Him with all your heart, soul, and mind. Pray and seek Him. When we do, He comes close to us. If you don't see it or feel it, keep striving because He is right there. He loves you precious one. He created you and has a plan for you. Put Him first and as Charles Stanley always says, "Obey God and leave the consequences up to Him."

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Today begins a brand-new year. A time to look back and see from where you've come and a time to look ahead and see where you want to be. This is the perfect time of year to determine how you want to live your life. Have you been satisfied with your life: joyful, content, peaceful, patient, filled with kindness for others and that type of thing? Or are you lacking joy, contentment, peacefulness, and filled with resentment and anger toward others?

 

 

I encourage you to take time today and reflect on these things. This assessment begs the question: what are you going to do about it if you are sliding toward the negative side of things? Taking time on a daily basis to study God's Word is the prescription I would recommend for whatever is ailing you. Take time to sit down for 15 minutes a day and read from His Word. Pray and allow the Words to soak in and change you. Ask for His Holy Spirit to assist you in this endeavour. Do not try to do this alone. He is right there with you. Allow Him to be your sufficiency and to cover you with His grace and mercy.

 

 

Dear Heavenly Father,

I pray for each precious one who reads this post and takes it to task. Lord, strengthen them as they take on the challenge of reading and soaking in Your Word each and every day. Father, give them the discipline needed to get the job done. I pray Your Spirit would fill them - each one - and reveal the truths of the Scriptures You have chosen for them to read each day. May You work in their lives daily to shape them into the likeness of Jesus Christ Your One and Only Son. In His precious and Holy name I pray, Amen

Leaning on Him

"He gives strength to the weary and increses the power of the weak" (Isaiah 40:29 NIV). Do you ever have times that you are just plain tired? I go through that scenario every so often and looking to the Word of God helps me fill up again. Today, I would like to share some Scripture verses with you praying that you will be refreshed and renewed in His presence. "Though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand" (Psalm 37:24 NIV). "The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble" (Psalm 9:9 NIV). "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord" (Psalm 27:14 NIV). "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing" (Zephaniah 3:17 NIV). "This is love:not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins" (1 John 4:10 NIV). May God bless you and be near you. I pray that He will speak to you and that you may hear His call. Lean on the Lord and He will uphold you. In Him, Natalie