CHANGE

Recently I have moved...and it has rocked my world! Everything I did, all my routines, are now different. Everything takes more effort when it's new. I don't know if it's getting older that made this move harder than ones in the past, but I'm going to blame it on that! Guess I'm getting set in my ways.

A couple months after I moved, people would ask me how I was liking my new place. I would tell them, "Ask me in six months." I knew I should love my new place but I just didn't. My new house is 3x times as big, in a charming neighborhood, closer to work, all new appliances, beautiful and cute and everything I could have asked for...all things that you would think would make me grateful and make me love my new place. But even though it wasn't logical at all, I wanted to go back to my small apartment. It was familiar. It's what I already knew. I wanted to escape all the change.

I couldn't help but relate to how the Israelites must have felt when they were complaining to God about being in the wilderness after he had moved in mighty ways to free them from slavery. They missed the meals they had in Egypt. They missed the predictability of life that they used to have, even though they were slaves. I wasn't in slavery, but I had prayed about moving and God had provided an amazing and perfect place for me. I wanted to move back because change is hard. I made me wonder where else in my life am I resisting change. Where else does God want to move me to another place, a better place, but I am too 'comfortable' in my current place to trust him to take me to a new place.

So, now I love my new place. I am settled...it doesn't feel unfamiliar anymore. I know where my new groceries stores are. I know some new shortcuts if I want to go somewhere nearby. I have met my new neighbors and so it doesn't feel as lonely. So I was right...it just took six months! As I look back I see how the first two months were horrible. I had to deal with fleas, my car breaking down, little things went wrong that I used to call maintenance for and now I had to figure out how to get it fixed on my own, my neighbor's dog bit me...for a while it seemed like everyday I had something knew thrown at me. But I see now how I grew through all of these challenges as well. (I now know how to fix a running toilet for example.)

God can use our challenges and uncomfortable situations to grow and change us. We look to him when more when we are scared, stressed, or stretched. So I am grateful that he moves me when I need to be moved.

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 43:18-19

CIRCLE YOUR PRAYERS

I just finished a bible study on the book The Circle Maker. Here is what I learned about prayer:

Pray BOLD prayers.
Pray consistently everyday for 21 days and circle your prayers.
Be specific with your prayers.
Step out in faith.
The goal is not answered prayers but a deeper relationship with our LORD.

GUARD YOUR HEART

Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.

Some versions read 'for from it flow the springs of life.' I've been thinking of this verse lately...and am wondering exactly HOW do I do this? How can I guard my heart?

Proverbs 4
Take hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands, and you will live. (4)
Get wisdom, get understanding...she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. (5-6)
Hold on to instruction...for it is your life. (13)
Turn your ear to my words...keep them within your heart...for they are life. (20-22)

Wisdom will guard our hearts...and give us life.

Philippians 4
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (6-7)
Whatever is true...noble...right...pure...lovely...admirable -if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things. (8)

Peace will guard our hearts...and minds.

Guarding our hearts starts with our thoughts and what we allow in our minds!
Guarding our hearts is impossible without God; we need His word and instruction to protect us.
Guarding our hearts gives us LIFE!

You will keep in perfect peace those minds who are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3

Blessed are those who find wisdom...she is more precious than rubies; nothing you desire can compare with her...and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her. Proverbs 3:13-18

WATCH

Recently, I have started memorizing scripture verses. I was inspired by this guy who memorized the ENTIRE book of Romans by studying a verse a day for 15 min...it works! I always struggled with scripture memory before so it was exciting to find something that helped the words stick!

First I memorized Ps 46 and now I am working on Ps 121. I noticed as I was reading and memorizing the verses that it has the word watch in it 5 times (at least in the NIV it does...I noticed the ESV uses the word keep instead, and it is mentioned 5 times).

Ps. 121
I lift up my eyes to the mountains- where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip- He who watches over you will not slumber.
indeed he who watches over you will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you- the Lord is your shade by your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm- he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

The first 2 verses show where we should be looking...UP...to God, who made everything.

And the next 6 verses show how God is looking after us. He is watching us and protecting us. From ALL harm. He never sleeps or leaves us. Now and forevermore. The God of the universe who made the heaven and earth is always watching us.

Notice how there is only one verse focused on where we should look, and 6 verses telling us where God is looking. God is watching us...that is so comforting to me.

LIFE

As I was standing on the sidewalk, I stared at the gate separating me from the Planned Parenthood Building. This budding vine that covers the gate was covered by blossoms and berries. Some were just buds waiting to open and some berries had already shriveled up and died. This is the picture of life...and I was thinking about how cool it is that God shows us who he is in nature.

A time to be born and a time to die. (Ecclesiastes 3:2)

Who decides when we are to live and when we are to die? God. Who gives life to this vine? God.  He is the maker of heaven and earth. Just as he decides which flowers will bloom and how long the berries will live, he decides our time here on earth.

I met an older lady the other day who had just been dropped off at the office. She was in a wheelchair and couldn't hear. She didn't come in with any family members and I think someone dropped her off from the nursing home where she lived. She told us she needed help to go to the bathroom. And we all just looked at each other, waiting almost to see who was going to help her...and finally we all jumped in to help her. She had diabetes and was having trouble seeing. Reflecting on her difficult situation, I wondered if she wanted to live. I was comforted that God knew her thoughts and cared about her life.

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? (Matthew 6:26)

Even though her life didn't look full to me, that doesn't mean her life doesn't have value. And it is up to God when it is time for her to leave. Some people think an older person if they are too weak and sick, or a baby with a birth defect isn't worth living. But the problem with abortion or ending anyone's life is that we are making a decision about life. That isn't our decision. It's God's.

With the 40 days for life going on right now, I wasn't alone on the sidewalk. I love how so many people have a heart for the unborn and am encouraged when I see other people showing up to pray. God hears our prayers and hope for justice for the unborn.

SECURITY

We strive to feel secure. We want to remove uncertainty.

My pastor at church said this one week and it stuck with me. Yes, I would have to agree...I want security. I want to know what is going to happen in my life. But much of life is dealing with the unknown. And trusting God to be our security.

I have been waiting for these new windows to be installed in my house and they aren't in yet and it's been causing me stress...I don't like waiting or being patient it seems. And at first my prayers have been 'God please have the windows come in soon for everything to turn out perfectly.'

And the other night I stopped myself and changed my prayer 'Lord help me rest in you and not be worried about these windows. No matter what happens with them, if they are late or never come, give me peace. I trust you.'

Instead of asking God to take away what was bothering me, I asked Him to go with me through it. After all, rest and peace is better than perfect windows, right?! God is the only thing in our lives that is certain...

Jeremiah 33:6

Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.

SUCCESS

Success.. I think success would be winning a tennis match, being able to do 10 real push ups, being the best at my job, being able to buy what I want...

When I think of successful people in the world today, I think of  Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, and Michael Jordan.

Merriam-Webster says success is 'favorable or desired outcome; attainment or wealth, favor.'

But God's definition may be different...

Genesis 39:20-23
But while Joseph was there in the prison, the LORD was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden...The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the LORD was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

The LORD gave Joseph success...really? But Joseph was in prison! How is that kind?

Maybe success isn't as the world sees it, but instead it's having God's favor and his presence.

So here's a better list of successful people: Billy Graham, Beth Moore, and Tommy Nelson.

NEW

A new year! There is something about a new year that is exciting. A clean slate. A year full of unknown possibilities and adventures. God promises many NEW things to us this year...

New Life
Ezra 9:9
Though we are slaves, our God has not forsaken us in our bondage. He has shown us kindness in the sight of the kings of Persia: He has granted us new life to rebuild the house of our God and repair its ruins, and he has given us a wall of protection in Judah and Jerusalem.

New Song
Psalm 40:3
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.

New Compassions
Lamentations 3:22-23

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning..

 

New Spirit

Ezekiel 11:19

I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. great is your faithfulness.

 

New Command

John:13:34

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.

 

New Creation

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

 

New Self

Ephesians 4:24

and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

 

New Birth

1 Peter 1:3

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead..

New Name
Revelation 2:17

To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.

 

New Everything!

Revelation 21:5

He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”