Becoming a Lumberjack

Today during my quiet moments, I came across the scripture Luke 6:42 which states, “How can you say... ‘Brother, let me remove the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the plank that is in your own eye?” These words from Jesus capture me. I can just see myself walking around telling everyone else how to live, while this huge old log is sticking out of my eye. Not a pretty picture...not pretty at all.

There are so many truths that God gives us which we plain and simply gloss over. We forget how many times we fall prey to talking about or finding faults in others. Our greatest witness is words supported by love. When there is a gap between what we say and how we live, suspicion will arise. Suspicion in the church is ugly. It leaves a rather bad taste in our hearts as we wonder if the church can be trusted.

I long to be a trustworthy person serving in a trustworthy church. This isn’t about being perfect but instead about recognizing the logs in my eye. By taking responsibility for these 2x4’s, I become trustworthy.

Do this little exercise. Over the next 24 hours count how many times you engage in thinking or talking about other's faults and imperfections. After you count the number, don’t beat yourself up. Instead recognize this may be one of your logs and ask God through His Holy Spirit to take away this 2x4 before it hits you up side the head. Ask your spiritual friends to help you.

Take out the 2x4. You’ll be amazed at how beautiful people around you really are when you remove the log.

Courage

Courage is a virtue I have always longed for. When I watch a movie with a courageous hero, there is something in me that is riveted. I long to be courageous, to share in the battle, to find out there is more to my existence than just the mundane. I walk away with this need to take a stand, to go forward in a strong and courageous way.

Warriors don't look back. They don't complain because they know complaining divides the ranks. They trust their captains, their leaders. They stand for honor and know that collectively they are better than if left alone. They are brave souls with a mission that they believe in and would give their lives to protect and uphold. Their wills are subordinate only to those in authority over them. They never bow to the enemy. They are steadfast. The timid are removed from the ranks and those who seek comfort and security do not last. There is sacrifice. The rewards are generally few. Obedience is reward enough for the warrior. They are often quoted as saying, "I was only doing my job."

This is how I want to be remembered. I want my children to know me as a courageous woman, a heroine who fought the fight...who entered the ranks and was obedient to her Lord till the day she took her last breath. Obedient to love my enemies, to walk in faith not by sight, to prayer, to taking in the truth and living it out moment by moment. Obedient to Papa's transforming touch and embrace. Obedient to faithfully walk in the way my Lord did and specifically to what He calls me to do. Obedient to lay down my wants, wishes, hopes and dreams in order to gladly and joyfully take up His wants, wishes, hopes and dreams for me.

I am called. You are called. We are all called to join the ranks of the faithful, the courageous and the brave. When we feel completely inadequate to take up the cross, God in His infinite strength and mercy provides absolutely everything we need. We do not enter the battle alone or unprepared. We enter the battle fully equipped with all that we could ever need. All that God is, is ours when we say yes to Him. When you take time to dive into the infinite character of God, you find a well of living water that never runs dry. You can never come to the end of God's fullness and all He longs to give you.

Scripture to meditate on Joshua 1:6-9, I Corinthians 16;13-14, Ephesians 6:10-18.

Walk humbly before your Lord. Know that without Him you will not be a warrior at all. Live faithfully and courageously with your life firmly held in Papa's arms.

Oh The Joy

Last night at 11:00 we got the most amazing gift. Our daughter called from Honduras. If you have children who have moved away, you know the joy that comes when you get to hear their voice on the phone. You just can't get enough... you want to hear about everything. You wish for moments to linger over a cup of coffee, a long lunch, a brisk walk; anything that would give you time to hear their hearts and experience their lives in deep ways.

Wonder if Papa feels this way when we just hang out with Him. I can only imagine that He leaps from His throne, takes the call and loves the chat... just catching up on life. I know this makes God sound like He doesn't already know about me or my days. But work with me here. The question isn't whether He knows all that stuff. He does. The issue is that He is thrilled when we hang out with Him, giving Him our undivided attention. I imagine that He is blessed when come to be with Him.

Scripture shows us that Papa says "Come" often. "Come all who are weary.... come away with me.... let the little children come...." He is drawing us to Himself.

One of my favorite places in the world is by mountain streams. The sound of water rushing over rocks soothes my soul. We read that there is stream of living water that flows from the throne of God. It may sound corny but when I have the privilege of sitting by a stream, I imagine that it is coming from the Papa's throne.

Take a moment right now. Go to one of your favorite spots and sit with Papa. You will bless His proverbial Holy socks off. But equally important, you will find rest for your weary soul. I think I can hear Papa now.... "Come on, let's hang out!"

Day 183... Back to WorK

We have all heard that old saying, "The only thing that remains the same is change." Change is as much a part of life as breathing. For some people, they work desperately hard to keep change from occurring. My first response is to ask in the words of Dr. Phil, "So how's that workin' for ya?" No matter how hard we try to keep our circumstances stable, life will always throw us a curve ball. Then all of a sudden everything we thought we could count on, suddenly has no stability. Our foundation breaks and crumbles beneath our feet. Life from that point forward usually looks more like chaos than order.

As much as we may not want to accept change, it can be the very tool Papa uses to transform our lives, our souls, our hearts and bring about the incredible plan He has for us. Without change, I am sure that we would miss adventure, courage would go undeveloped and joy would be fleeting.

So if change is such a great tool how do we embrace it and allow it to have it's greatest impact. I believe that we first have to be deeply rooted in the One who never changes. We have to have a foundation. However, we have to recognize the foundation we have built on in the past. Generally it is either our relationships, our power, our position, or with whatever the world deceives us. You know how it goes. If you have the right spouse then all will be well. If you have the right job, then you will succeed. And of course we all have been fed the line that the world's success is the greatest foundation we can possibly have.

I love the scripture from Jeremiah 17:5-7. It says, "Cursed is the one who trust in man, who depends on the flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord. He will be like a bush in the wastelands, he will not see prosperity when it comes. He will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. But blessed is the man who trust in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water, that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes, its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

When we honestly look back on our lives to see what we have built our lives upon. We see either wastelands and parched places, or the fruit of confidence, peace and no worries. During these last few months, God has taken me to the wastelands of my past in order to help me see the need for change. He is redefining my life and heart. As a result, joy and peace are becoming mine. I can honestly say I have never experienced such a release like I have over the past few weeks. The outside world hasn't changed. It is still as chaotic as ever. But my inside world is at peace. Confidence is growing at the rate that I plunge to the depths of God and all He has for me.

I have come to love the song "All I Have". It tells my story and journey. Charlie Hines recorded it. Please consider going to your favorite song source to listen to this fantastic song. Sit with the Father. Soak in His heart for you. Get quiet. Listen. Love. Be forever transformed. Be forever held in Papa's tender, intimate embrace. Do not look to others to fill your life.

Jesus is truly all I have to count on. My Savior, my heavenly Papa, and His Spirit walk with me each day. This is my foundation that will never change. I trust that. Now it is time to get on with living in this trust. May the rest of my days reflect Him.

Friends, live life loved.

Resting in His warm embrace,
Cathy


All I Have
Authors Gabriel Brennan
Nate Brennan
Tim Dobbelmann

Verse 1
What have I in this life
But the love in Your eyes
This empty world will one day fade
Only Your truth will remain

Chorus 1
Jesus all I have is You
You're the hope I'm holding to
I might weep but still
My faith rests in You
As the heavens hold the skies
It's Your hand that holds my life
And Your love will lead me on
When all else is gone



Misc 1
(BRIDGE)
Jesus all I have is You
Jesus all I have is You
Jesus all I have is You
Jesus all I have is You
Is You
And all I have is You
Is You