Walk

"And He walks with me and He talks with me; and He tells me I am His own." C. Austin Miles

In less than two months, I will take a trip that will have me walking all over creation (or at least the hometown of the Creator). I really need to get in shape for this. Running in the airport alone may do me in. So I’ll be power-walking over the next couple of months. Of course, it had to be in the winter. Brace up and lace up; here I go!


Stand. New shoes were an absolute must. Walking hurts more than it helps, of course, if I don’t have the right shoes. It’s more than useless, it’s damaging. In prayer, I need the right attitude of the heart. If I don’t walk (or run) to God, Holy and Awesome and Powerful Creator, with the humility of heart and respect of reverence when I stand before Him, them my prayers are not only not heard, they are as damaging as a Pharisee who believes that he is doing the right thing by His choice, not by God’s conviction. (Long sentence; longer conviction). Prideful prayer is a deceptive death.

Start. The hardest thing to do is to actually start, especially in the most undesirable conditions. For me in walking, it’s cold outside. For others in prayer, it’s a hurricane inside. Procrastinating in walking will be a future pain to my feet! Procrastinating in prayer is a present pain to my life. If I can be persuaded to keep silent in my praise and petitions – hour by hour and day by day, I will never know the benefits of God in me. It takes effort and it takes sacrifice, but it’s everything. Then He said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23

Many times we have no idea how to get started in prayer. We have every desire, but no idea. Beth Moore notes, “What to do when you don’t know what to do: Praise God.” First, we are to begin the approach to the King with praise. Then Queen Esther answered, "If I have found favor with you, O king, and if it pleases your majesty, grant me my life—this is my petition." Esther 7:3

Second, we are to begin our battles with praises to God. After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying: "Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever. As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir who were invading Judah, and they were defeated.” 2 Chronicles 20:21-22

Third, praises to God silences the accuser. Psalm 8:2 “From the lips of children and infants, you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.” If you don’t know how to begin, come as a child. If you don’t know how to come as child, ask God…and in that question, you just began to pray.

God sent reminders along the way. I saw a police car and thanked Him for His constant protection. I saw homes and thanked Him for His constant provision. I felt the wind and asked for His Presence in a friend’s difficult and dark night. “Lord Jesus, be with my friend. Her face is now against the wind. Tears stream down, set her face toward Yours. Wipe away her tears, hold her in your arms.”

Stop not. Part of my goal was to be consistent. I didn’t want to push so much in beginning that I lost momentum on the return. My father simply stated, “Discipline is when you don’t stop.” Prayer is a continual conversation. Prayer is not a grand statement at the beginning of the day, but many conversations throughout the day, both talking to and listening to God.

Oswald Chambers notes:
The measure of the worth of our public activity for God is the private profound communion we have with Him. Rush is wrong every time, there is always plenty of time to worship God. Quiet days with God may be a snare. We have to pitch our tents (live our lives) where we shall always have quiet times with God, however noisy our times with the world may be.

He is more interested in our relationship than our rhetoric. For the One who knows our hearts, He wants us to know His heart. Constantly. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12

Focus. "...but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead," Philippians 3:13. Breath by breath, step by step, I am always looking and walking in one direction or another. May it always be toward Home; always toward Him.

Enjoy Him, Michelle
mlpack1@yahoo.com

Wisdom with Wrinkles

...and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. Proverbs 2:3-5

Party: The best Christmas present this year was having my own personal shoppers for a day. I loved it! My sister is looking for bargains. My step-mom is looking for style. I’m only looking pants that fit! Four pairs of pants, three shirts, and one jacket later – I have style again! It was quite the adventure and I adored every minute of it! This Christmas joy was in Tampa, where my sister lives. So, the clothes stayed in their bags for a couple of days before emerging again in my home in West Palm Beach. Which means that ironing was sure to come!

Reality: They looked and felt so perfect in the store. Now, when I try to make them perfectly presentable, the imperfections start to show. A pulled thread here. A loose button there. A mark on the cuff. Why didn’t I see these before? Would I have said “no, thanks” had I known then what I know now? Is it fixable? Should I return it? If hadn’t noticed in the store, maybe no one else would notice on the street?

Then I began to see relationships. They looked and felt so perfect when we first met. There were wrinkles here and there, but the more I tried to make them perfect, the more the imperfections emerged. A ripped heart. A loose past. A stained mind. Why didn’t I see these before? (pride) Would I have turned from the relationship had I known (prejudice)? Should I consider fixing (more pride)? Should I refuse and return (more prejudice)? What will others think of my choice? (pride, pride, pride)?

Then I saw me on the other side of pride: fear that I would be the one rejected for my imperfections, hoping that no one notices. What of those who are allowed close enough to see my imperfections? Common wrinkles are one thing, stains are quite another.

There is wisdom in exercising discernment, but there is devastation in exercising pride and prejudice. Especially against ourselves. How then shall we live? Pray for said discernment: first in ourselves and also in others. Everyone has loose threads, and some have fabrics that are completely unraveling. All need to be brought to God – however closely we are knit together. Some are to be kept (in the light of God’s Truth), some are to be tossed (in cases of abuse). God will lead us from there…always as the only One who is worthy of smoothing out the wrinkles (which will always return for perfection's pressing).

By the way, the clothes (and the relationships) are off the ironing board and worn well! And…I think I’ll ask for “personal shopper day” as a new tradition!

Enjoy Him, Michelle
mlpack1@yahoo.com

Box Broken

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, and he will make your paths straight." Prov. 3:5-6

My move is to trust with all of my heart. Then He makes my path straight. Three components: Trust God alone. All of my heart. He straightens. I don't straighten my path, ever. He does. I trust, He straightens. Oh, how I live days upon days trying instead of trusting.

Last week I received this text from a frustrated friend: "I wish that he would just share life and not try to be someone in a non-reality existence that he's created in his head." Exchanging his greatest desire for relationship for the fantasy of perfection that never exists. He lives isolated, but safe.

I can relate. I struggle with trying to construct how I am supposed to live my life, especially in relationships, and I miss the more simple bliss of just sharing life.

In an answered prayer to the Spirit's cry, God moved the conversation from my head to my heart. My Love leaned over and said to me, "Baby, why are you constantly trying to create perfection in your mind and control in your life, knowing that it'll all fail? Just share life with Me; that's all I really want." From there, I can truly share life with others.

One of my continual struggles is with the Pharisee within. As Beth Moore notes, "My head already knows all that...tell it to my heart." My deepest desire is to BE Mary of Bethany - sometimes quietly at His feet soaking in His Word. Sometimes to smash my alabaster box of life so my sweet dreams can touch Him. Just to really share the constant, beautiful and dirty details of life. The tears, the laughter, the raw honesty of words and worship.

I do not study His Word to try and better my life or even to live a life that pleases Him. I study His Word to know Him intimately; to know how to share all that I am with all that He is. Even after all this time, it remains a daily struggle of control...and He will keep me in that struggle until I let go of everything that holds me from holding Him. Constantly. Someone wrote, "When the illusion of control disappears we become men and women of prayer." Illusion vanish into intimacy. John Maxwell said, "The best thing is to be totally lost, only then can you be totally found." Who will lose one's life, will find it in Him (Matthew 16:25). Lost and found am I.

"Without faith, it is impossible (never going to happen) to please God." Hebrews 11:6. Day in and day out, I try to please God by leaning on my own my own understanding. There is no faith. There is no truth. There is no trust. There is no love. There is no heart. There is no peace, no joy, no passion, no relationship. I create in my mind that there is all of these things and I look to live up to them. Please understand that all of these already exist to the fullest measure in my heart, but not in my life because I allow my "head" to cloud my heart and all that is within.

Pharisee. Perfection. Delusion. Waste. I am filled with the union of the Creator and Christ of all that is, yet missing true Holiness that infiltrates every detail of my human life. Pea-brain intellect against Infinite Wisdom. All over my own stubborn control craving. The loss is mine alone. The choice is mine.

Love. Passion. Joy. Grace. Purity. Satisfaction. Completion. All that I am given breath and heartbeat to know moment by moment. Everything I've always wanted is here now.

I have so much to learn face down on the floor. As I find love, I share life. Natural a breathing. "One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple." Psalm 27:4

Enjoy Him, Michelle
mlpack1@yahoo.com

Call Waiting

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know” Jeremiah 33:3

I received a new phone yesterday. It’s a HUGE improvement over the duct taped “dinosaur” I've been destroying lately. I had just about succeeded in the dinosaur's demise when the new one came in. Perfect timing.

The same day I received my new mode of communication, I received a moment of revelation. What dinosaur of discipline has carried my communication with God lately? Oh, how I’ve tried to destroy it with distractions and tried to hold it together with righteous rags. What am I holding on to, especially when a better deal is free? Perfect.

Part of my prayer is my confession of time wasted in selfishness, static, and silence when it comes to my conversations with Christ. Those are all legalistic symptoms of lacking passion. I look at the prayer phone and see some great stuff: applications that I read about in the manual and I have loaded into my life; but I they aren't fully integrated into my heart drive. I excuse them before I use them. Apps like Prayer over Desperate Needs, Studying His Word, Reading Writings of Saints, Giving of Treasures, Serving of Time, etc. Though freely available, they come with a personal cost of time and attention. They are wonderful apps that enhance my life, so what’s so hard about pressing them into my heart and letting them transform my life as I really desire?

Ah, text. Writing - how much time do I spend writing others and waiting on their responses? How much do I write to Jesus and wait on His response? It's not a comparison, but a conviction of passion and priority.

Above all, there’s the “call” feature. “Call” is the most accessible and least accessed. Something from within me, not the background noise, is creating static and silence in my call.

Over and over I review my need to use the amazing power within my little prayer phone. I spend more time talking about my missed calls, rather than just making the calls. The line is open. Call now. Praise, petition, post a status of heart and mind. Just call.

Today I consistently minimize all that is blocking my call. Today I call to Him before I apply to me. Today I hear His Voice in perfect clarity. Wisdom. Love. Joy. Hope. All.

Enjoy Him, Michelle
mlpack1@yahoo.com

Worship and Wait

Then they sat on the ground with him for seven days and seven nights. No one said a word to him, because they saw how great his suffering was. Job 2:13

His family all tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. Genesis 37:35

One of our severest lessons comes from the stubborn refusal to see that we must not interfere in other people's lives. – Oswald Chambers

"Watching a friend's emotional crises behind a wall of silence is like watching a hurricane through a floor to ceiling window." – mlp

My friend said, “When my heart and mind return to me, then we’ll talk again.” Months gone by; months to come. There's is always a crisis, a weariness, a storm, a circumstance, and a hope - but not an arrival. I'm not holding my breath, just holding a heart.

Some storms can only be experienced alone, whoever is standing at our side. It doesn’t mean that we ARE alone, it only means that we feel that way, and there is no one who can comfort us. Nothing is more frustrating than feeling helpless.

Nowhere is there greater faith than one who believes the unseen God in the blinding storm: He has our complete hearts, our minds, our beliefs, our words, our service, and our prayers. We wait, wondering if time and eternity have finally come to be one in the same. We wait in one of two states: walking in helplessness of what we see or hopefulness of Who we know.

Job 1:20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship. Humanity mourned; then moved to Holiness. If the one man most known for suffering immediately begins to worship, then how much more can I learn to face a crisis facing the Face of Comfort?

For the family or friends standing by, we are desperate to speak silence over the suffering, but it is us who needs to listen in silence to the only One Who Is. He can only speak through me when I hear Him speak to me. Waiting in the pouring pain, we are not there to change the circumstance so suffering is stopped; often we are to be there just to be there. We are there to listen and hold. We are there to watch and pray. We are there to worship and to praise. Circumstances do not change God; but praise and worship changes our perspective of God.

I find myself praying for a change in circumstances, without praying for a change in me. I find myself asking for the words to say, instead of listening to the Word speak. I find myself looking to be the one who comforts, instead of simply looking to the One of Comfort. I find myself listing the immediate proposals instead of trusting His intimate promises. He doesn’t look to bandage us with answers, He looks to bind us in His arms.

Hope is not answered questions; Hope is Christ Himself revealed in the intimate moments of our lives. Those may be healings, those maybe restorations, those maybe relationships, those maybe anything that the Father and His Child are to endure and experience together, but those are always to His glory alone.

In the cases of Jacob and Job (both who worshipped in their waiting), El Shaddai restored their lost dreams into living realities. With sights shifting from earthly children to Eternal Father, God glorified Himself, then restored their lives beyond their deepest hopes and dreams.

In human silence there is only Holy Sovereignty. Ask your deepest desires while delighting in Him. Not holding my breath, just holding His heart.

Enjoy Him, Michelle
mlpack1@yahoo.com

His

Set your affections on things above, not on things of this earth. Colossians 3:2

I have a friend who has three cats...and a husband who is severely allergic to cats. The fact that he cannot breathe has finally brought her to consider giving away one of the cats (yes, only one). There is deep affection for the felines, to say the least. A family observer noted:

“I’m afraid that she holds onto the cats, literally, as her affection; affection that she should be giving her husband. In the meantime, she robs both her and her husband of true affection.”

Then Jesus asked me: “Who are you holding to, literally, as your source of affection; affection that should be Mine. In the meantime, you are robbing both Me and you of true affection.”

The King now has my complete attention.

He is not abstract. He is not a fantasy. He is not a dream. He is mine and I am His. He is my affection and I am His. He is my desire and I am His. He is my love and I am His. He is my Covenant and I am His.

He is a jealous God; am I jealous girl? (Joshua 24:19) Do I guard my heart from anything that robs me of His incredible love song and tender hold? Do I remember His intimate love that is closer than every breath I breathe?

He places people, creation, delights and desires as reminders and reflections of His affections in my life; never as replacements, never as robbers, never as idols – even for a moment. He is a God who blesses and lives to delight my life with gifts from His hand, but He is a jealous God who will crush idols that keep me from Him. He was crushed, so that they are crushed. He’s that serious about it.

These are not light words, these are words of death and life, love and ecstasy, passion and desire. All of this, done by Him, so that an entirely new life of Reality could me mine: love and affection that never stops, never sleeps, always holds, always sings, always delights and desires…me. The choice is always mine, at every moment. How much I rob MYSELF from when I seek any other; how much I rob my Love, when I turn my eyes to gaze from His face. All because I do not believe a moment I cannot see? Do you know such loss? Do you know such love?

“He will tell you what He needs from you. Beyond what He needs, all He wants is for you to embrace Him and talk to Him.” – Beth Moore, Jesus the One and Only, a fictional account of Elizabeth’s advice to her cousin and mother of her Lord, Mary.

Unveiled. Unraveled. Known. Loved.

Enjoy Him, Michelle
mlpack1@yahoo.com

Saviour

Titus 3:3-7 At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures...But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

In June of 2009, the North Korean regime sentenced the journalists, Laura Ling and Euna Lee, to 12 years of hard labor for illegally entering the country. Laura Ling, told her sister by phone that she and another journalist violated North Korean law.

The journalists raised suspicions about their guide and wondered if they had been "lured into a trap." "We didn't spend more than a minute on North Korean soil before turning back, but it is a minute we deeply regret," they said."We broke the law, we are sorry, and we need help." They were held in isolation from each other, gripped by fear that they would be shipped to one of the infamous hard-labor gulags in Kim Jong Il's Communist state. Laura Ling told her family she was treated humanely.

Both were pardoned following talks between (Bill) Clinton and North Korean leader Kim Jong Il. "When we walked in through the doors, we saw, standing before us, President Bill Clinton," she said, pausing with emotion as she placed her hand on her chest. "We were shocked, but we knew instantly in our hearts that the nightmare of our lives was finally coming to an end and now we stand here, home and free."

(Upon their return to US soil they) rushed to embrace loved ones. Ling, her voice sometimes shaking with sobs, only talked about the pair's gratitude to all those who worked for their release. "We could feel your love all the way in North Korea," she said. "It is what kept us going in the darkest of hours, and it is what sustained our faith that we would come home."

It's a very powerful story, and she (Laura) does want to share it," Lisa Ling told CNN (Excerpts of CNN articles, 6/09-8/09)

A powerful and personal story, but not exclusive. Beyond imprisonment, slavery, or martyrdom, in one stage or another, this is a story of every human life. This is the story of my life. Illustrate the immortal.

We may walk willingly over enemy lines. We may be lured by the enemy posing as our friend. Without exception, we all decide and walk right into regret. The choice to sin is human nature; the to choice to stay is horrific nurture. Circumstances are not to be blamed; we all choose the chains and face the cross.

The women faced 12 years of hard labor for one moment of decision. Not to minimize any amount of time of human horror, but this is nothing in comparison to Eternity. Sin knows no mercy and is never a light sentence. Though we may not always see or feel the effects, there is punishment inflicted day after day, sometimes year after year, on a heart that is remains chained up to human isolation from God. The greatest horror is to constantly be caught in my own choice with no control to change.

There is absolutely no way to save yourself: no matter who you are, who you know, what you know, what you have done, what you have said, what you have not done, what you have not said. You cannot reverse sin and you cannot free yourself from sin. Hopeless and helpless, you cry out. The key is who you chose to cry to. Clearly, your judge has no mercy on your plea. In fact, he hates "from whence you came." He may even use you as a trophy in his cages to demonstrate his control over you life; if nothing else, to taunt your beloved "homeland." He may treat you humanely or horrifically, but your enemy has complete control over your captivity as long as you never cry out for a Savior.

"We broke the law, we are sorry, and we need help." In one sentence, these women stated the cry that has brought freedom to millions, including my own wretched life, since the beginning of breath. Isaiah said the same words when he faced the Most High God:

"Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!" Then flew one of the seraphim to me, having in his hand a burning coal which he had taken with tongs from the altar. And he touched my mouth, and said: "Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin forgiven" Isa.6:5-7.

What if these women had said, "no, we're fine here, thanks"? Yet millions remain, right up to their punishment, imprisoned by their own choice. Millions look to "call death's bluff," as if they had any say so from their dark cells. The sit in the lie, that "you will not die." Until they actually see the gallows, they don't believe that they exist, therefore they believe that they have nothing to turn "from" or no one to turn "to." Until there is Holy Light, the mind believes that this dark cell of sin is either a "phase" or a "pleasure." Eyes remain blinded until they are forced open to face eternal death. This is not a spook story to "get you to behave." This is glimpse of our destiny based on our decision.

Luke 16:23-26 In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side. So he called to him, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.' "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony. And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.'

Upon confession, salvation comes. Though these women had to wait for their hero, the ultimate Hero is a only a breath away. He is humanity's gentlemen, extending the offer of freedom to all who will receive. There is no talk, no negotiation, no waiting. Salvation comes; and from the most surprising "savior." In this case, these women were shocked to see a man of such prestige stoop down to their rescue. But without a word, just to see him, they "knew instantly in their hearts that the nightmare of their lives was finally coming to an end." Their gratitude left them trembling, yet talking, of his heroic rescue. Oh, how familiar to know that moment of freedom, gratitude, and trembling words!

Then the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came and fell at his feet and, trembling with fear, told him the whole truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace and be freed from your suffering." Mark 5:33-34

How amazed I am that the King of Creation and glory chose to risk everything to rescue me! More than rescued, I am healed and free from the suffering of sin. Trials will remain and temptations call to imprison me, but I will never enter the enemy's captivity of judgement again. Just as one decision eternally damns us, one decision eternally frees us. Our cry is not what saves us (all sacrifice and glory belongs to Jesus) but it does bring us into the Reality of redemption. "I've broken the law, I am sorry, I need help." Help came, I am FOREVER FREE, and I have a powerful story to tell.

These women noted that it was the savior who saved them, but it was the "love...in their darkest hours...that sustained their faith that they would come home." Pray for the captives. Just we all once were, each are helpless and hopeless until their Savior comes. Yet, He remains the God of all comfort until that day. Whether they are thankful to you in their day of deliverance is no matter; they will join you in Eternity as forever free.

They rushed from captivity into freedom; into the arms of their deepest loves. Max Lucado writes that when we see Him face to Face, God rolls back the sleeves of His robe and personally applauds our arrival Home. Thousands all over the earth applauded the return of these who strayed and were ushered home. How much more will the heart burst at the sound of the King's applause and warmth of His eternal embrace. Oh, how much more! Saviour come!

Enjoy Him, Michelle
mlpack1@yahoo.com

Choose

From a US Senator in an email today: "....my views on abortion. I abhor abortion, and I favor adoption. I am committed to reducing the number of abortions. I believe that we need to work toward reducing the number of unwanted pregnancies by promoting adoption and education about abstinence and family planning. Furthermore, the Federal government should not interfere with a woman's right to choose."

Very democratic, diplomatic, and disappointing/contradicting. Carefully stated, Senator, but it only creates a vacuum of indecision which creates a volcano of disaster.

Even in mentioning the action of abortion (without mentioning the unborn), the Senator only addressed the actions of those outside the womb (serving the selfish), so I will keep the response to those as well. Forgive repetition and rambling, but these are the concerns.

I strongly agree with education; particularly regarding the horrible consequences of personal guilt associated with abortion (not mentioned above) along with the alternatives that are mentioned above. I also favor the education of those who decide justice in cases of life termination.

Translation: I hate murder, but I don't think that government should interfere with anyone's CHOICE to kill or not kill (they can't interfere, but they can influence). Contradiction: If there never was a life terminated, then why abhor abortion? If there was a life terminated, then why is one life's termination treated differently than another? It's supporting the act of a mother murdering her own child ("I abhor the fact that Susan Smith's children died, but it was her children to do with as she pleased. It was her choice of her own flesh and blood and so we cannot act as a governing body"??). Where is the line drawn according to the above beliefs?

It rains on the just and unjust alike - our choices don't always determine our destinies, but they do lead us down a road of certain results. People choose to save and experience overflow. People choose debt and experience bankruptcy. People choose to pray and experience satisfaction. People choose drugs and experience addiction. People choose life and experience joy. People choose abortion and experience guilt. People choose truth and experience freedom. People choose crime and experience prison. These results are not true 100% of the time, but by choosing these behaviors, the chances historically steer in the directions of these consequences.

People have the right to choose their own action (regardless of who it affects), but it remains the government's responsibility to bring consequences to a morally wrong action. By not bringing a consequence to an action, then two disturbing effects tend to take place: society believes that their choice is acceptable and consequences still emerge from immoral behavior (It's kind of like a child never being told that the stove is hot, therefore believing that it must be ok. The child then finds out, too late, that it's beyond "wrong" and it's painful). Such pain can be avoided.

The question is not of choice, it is of consequence.

The government can and should encourage both the benefit of abstinence and adoption as well as the disaster of abortion. Omitting a complete education leads to irreversible effects of personal guilt (as well as "abhorrent" child deaths) that grows out of control in a society. Seen or not seen, realized or denied, the devastation does exist and the remedy requires a full knowledge of the choice's consequences. This education may not stop the murders, but it will make a statement of morality. This, the government agrees, is essential.

I am disturbed that this man makes laws, but thankful he's not a lawyer because he would be awful at it.


Enjoy Him, Michelle
mlpack1@yahoo.com

Sea and Shore

Matthew 14:22 Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. 23After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray.

Matthew 14:29 "Come," He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, "Lord, save me!"

We must never put our dreams of success as God's purpose for us; His purpose may be exactly the opposite. We have an idea that God is leading us to a particular end, a desired goal; He is not. The question of getting to a particular end is a mere incident. What we call the process, God calls the end.

What is my dream of God's purpose? His purpose is that I depend on Him and on His power now. If I can stay in the middle of the turmoil calm and unperplexed, that is the end of the purpose of God. God is not working towards a particular finish; His end is the process - that I see Him walking on the waves, no shore in sight, no success, no goal, just the absolute certainty that it is all right because I see Him walking on the sea. It is the process, not the end, which is glorifying to God.

God's training is for now, not presently. His purpose is for this minute, not for something in the future. We have nothing to do with the afterwards of obedience; we get wrong when we think of the afterwards. What men call training and preparation, God calls the end.

God's end is to enable me to see that He can walk on the chaos of my life just now. If we have a further end in view, we do not pay sufficient attention to the immediate present: if we realize that obedience is the end, then each moment as it comes is precious. -Oswald Chambers

Am I looking for the shore's destination or the Son's salvation?

Jeremiah 29:11 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. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. The only way to know hope, is to know Him. God is not holding out on me; He's waiting on me. He is giving me a future and a hope right now. Standing between His plans and my "future" is my choice of immediate intimacy. He gives everything to me and I give everything to Him; He receives me as His love and I receive Him as my life. THEN, I will know Him. THEN, I will live out His relationship with me in the details of my days. As the saying goes, "the future is now."

Whether the seas are raging or resting, where are my sights set at this moment? Personally, my sights are constantly searching the shoreline...searching for that "ship to come in"...searching for satisfaction like a hurricane wind. That ship may be financial, it may emotional, it may be physical, it may tiny, it may be huge. It could be anything that the moment desires.

In reality, I am already satisfied and the ship is a mirage. A ship desired is not a ship required when walking on water! Every moment, whether I walk or sink, depends solely on where my sights are set. Peter's choice then is my reality now. My sights (body, heart and mind) are constantly set somewhere (water, shore or Savior) at any moment. Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

The waves (trials, circumstances, distractions, etc.) can be very real, overwhelming and even deadly. The question is not whether or not I see them; the question is whether or not I see ONLY them. They are temporary, but they are tempting me from the Eternal One. If I am determined to either rise above the waves or dismiss them altogether, I am still focused on the waves! It's not about the waves, it's about walking...simply because He says "Come!"

More real than the spray that drenches my face, is my Savior's love that holds me in Grace. Whether dark nights or clear days, He remains to soak in my praise. No matter the sight change my view, to behold and be held in this moment's Truth. -mlp

This is the plan; this is the hope and future: to call on Him, pray to Him, seek Him and we will be heard and found. What Brennan Manning calls the "now here." This moment may be a savage storm or a calm cruise. Either way, if I am straining to see the shoreline, I miss savoring the Savior. The moment is my gain or loss, depending on where I lift my eyes. Where does love lead me look? Right now, Who or what do I seek?

What are you looking at?

Enjoy Him, Michelle
mlpack1@yahoo.com

Puzzle

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship (masterpiece), created in Christ Jesus (new creation) for good works, which God prepared beforehand (long ago) so that we would walk in them. (NAS)

Ephesians 2:7-10 Now God has us where He wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all His idea and all His work. All we do is trust Him enough to let Him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and the saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join Him in the work He does, the good work He has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing. (MSG)

A friend asked, "What if I get to heaven and find that I missed the life that I was supposed to live?" I believe that this is a question that many ask, but ask amiss. In reality, I don't think we are asking "when I get to heaven" as much as we are asking "when I leave earth." The difference is this: Heaven has no time - past, present or future - therefore, these will not be a concern. The question stated is actually a worry over our future becoming our "failed past." In other works, we are presently concerned about our future living producing our past's legacy. Talk about pressure! We haven't even got there yet and we're questioning whether or not we lived life "right." Matthew 6:34 "Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of it's own." (NIV) We are to live to live a life that glorifies Him alone. With this as our vision, He is our victor.

"God cannot be disappointed," that same friend told me years ago. By that nature of God, whatever our choices are, when we stand in His arms - known as He is known - we will hear Him say, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness." (Matthew 25:21 NIV) We will hear these words not because we are good or faithful in our choices or accomplishments (because that would be prideful) but because He is good and faithful and lives His life through us (that would be humility). When we trust Him and obey Him, others experience Him through our lives.

Side note: Please keep the eternal perspective in mind. The preceding verses state that, "After a long time, the master of those servants returned and settled account with them." (Matthew 25:19 NIV) God is intimately involved in our lives and I believe that He will have a personal conversation with us about our "eternal lives in our human experience." As we see and understand it on this side of time, this will be future event with discussions of our past. However, in the reality of experiencing this eternal moment, it will be a part of an eternal discussion in an eternal relationship. Think of it as our greatest desire - eternal conversation with out Deepest Love. The only way to be cast into darkness is not to obey His request of investing our lives in His Son - it is a choice of eternal relationship, not temporary works. Other than that, we will not face condemnation for a nonproductive life, but an intimate conversation of our eternal relationship with Jesus and how that is lived out. It's a discussion our spirits have now and in all eternity. (This is my own thought on an "Eternal view" of "earthy works." I keep in mind that I was "created anew in Christ Jesus to do good works" Eph. 2:10 says and I'd better be doing them. I don't do good works to gain my Master's favor, but to fulfill His purpose, as He already favors me through His grace. For me, living out my relationship with Him is my only motivation to be about my Father's business and His business is to draw all men to Himself through His Spirit).

Start with our beliefs, not our behaviors. We are called to view our choices from God's perspective Who is residing within us, not from our limited perspective hoping that "it's enough." One is relationship, the second is religion.

"I'm only human, how is that possible?" Not only is this possible, it is commanded by God. Deuteronomy 30:11-14"Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up on heaven, so that you may ask 'Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so that we may obey it?" Nor is it beyond the sea, so you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea and get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" No, the Word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so that you may obey it." (NIV)

"How are we to find that within us which seems to constantly elude us?" We have the power for proper perspective within, we must humble ourselves to ask and receive. "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him." James 1:5 (NIV)

"So, if I ask for wisdom as to His will, and He gives generously, then why do I still not have a clue as to what I am supposed to do?" Most all of us are looking for the top of the puzzle box, not so much today's puzzle piece. Box tops arrive when breathing departs. 1 Corinthians 13:12 "Now we see but a poor reflection, as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part, then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." (NIV)

He never asked us to try and figure out the full picture (what we call "His Will") and arrange our lives, piece by piece, to complete the masterpiece in our minds. When we call Him Saviour, He said that we are already His masterpiece because He IS the full picture revealing the portrait of Himself, piece by piece and work by work, for His glory alone. Our hope is not in placing the pieces correctly, our hope is in HIM who guides us with enough wisdom and love...just for today - not the next 5 or 50 years, but just for today. The next piece may not come tomorrow, but we are satisfied in our Painter, not in our own picture.

Knowing Him is the piece we search to find; obeying Him is placing the piece into our empty spaces. Just for today, ask for just one piece and the wisdom to place it according to His Will. Trust Eternity to create the tapestry of your time.

Enjoy Him, Michelle
mlpack1@yahoo.com

Two Paths, One Love

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, " You are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken from her." Luke 10:41-42

"Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us."1 John 4:11-12 "He has given us this command, whoever loves God must also love his/her brother/sister." 1 John 4:21

"Here I am, distractions aside, wanting You to change my life" - Anthony Evans

How we love God is expressed in how we love others. My expression of love to others is also my expression of love to God. These are not two different paths, but one. Intertwined, and often, unnoticed by ourselves - but intimately noticed our loved ones: 1. Jesus and 2. anyone we communicate with at any time, even strangers.

I am terribly distracted. You would not believe how many sites I have flipped through before finally completing this blog, an email, a devotional...it's crazy. And that's just this hour. That's aside from personal conversations with people, and above all, a personal conversation with God. It's not ADD, it's just being distracted by everything (there is a medical difference and caffeine is not the culprit...yes, I'm sure). It's like I'm surfing channels on my eyes - from one interesting station to another and back again. There is no focus where there is no...be right back.....

I was anticipating meeting a friend for the first time this past weekend. We had emailed for weeks and finally our "paths crossed" for a few minutes in a busy cafe. We talked for a few minutes. She is such a joy and an wonderful work of God! A couple of other friends approached and then it hit me - distraction. I introduced the two sets of friends, but then got lost in a side conversation. I never intended to ignore anyone, I just got distracted. Not for long, but for long enough. I felt horrible for being distracted and knew that I would feel uncomfortable, maybe even unwanted or undesired, if a friend's attention seemed so insincere as to lose focus. It wasn't in the intention of the moment, it was in the intimacy of the moment - at whatever degree that may be. This may seem more dramatic than it really was, but it was certainly a wake up call as to how my mind's eye wanders away from the present moment and loses so much, even with the best of intentions.

It was a wake up call. How distracted am I with Jesus? Too much. How does He really feel when I am meeting with Him and loving our conversation, but another "more important moment" catches my eye. I may introduce them to Him, but the catch comes when I get lost in a my "side conversations" - whether it is with others, myself, my computer, my phone, etc. - that I lose focus on Him. I am not asked to ever neglect any of these; I am asked to never neglect Him in any these. Pray continuously, not legalistically, Paul says. It's not about time, it's about relationship. It's not about condemnation, it's about passion. It's not a mental concept, but a spiritually controlled life.

My priority is my passion and it is reflected in my relationships. I notice the paths are one: I am distracted with my personal relationship with God AND I am distracted in how I spend time alone and with others. When I am focused on His love, I am focused on being His love to others.

There is a clear order (both in priority and charge): 1. He loves me and I receive His love (often the hardest step is to fully receive Him if we are distracted and not seeing Him as He is). 2. His love lives in me (the unfathomable and unfailing love of God Who IS love, lives inside my finite and fallen self). 3. I love others by HIS love, not mine (this is impossible if we are trying to love others with an infinite love through our finite hearts alone). 4. His love is made complete in me (the measureless love of God is made COMPLETE in ME...WHEN I love others with HIS love. It is a crucial and pivotal moment for me and everyne around me as the love of God moves from "when" to "who." Constantly.). 5. I love God, I love others - regardless of who "others" is - there is no difference or division, but my life is all one path of divine love. The results are immediate - one way or another.

Wherever I am, I am constantly in relationships with God, myself and others and I have a constant choice: to wait on Him and to walk in His love. Start at His Feet, then walk with my own. As I walk step by step, I impress the path with our scars of love.

Enjoy Him, Michelle
mlpack1@yahoo.com

Capture

You have persevered and have endured hardships for my Name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Revelation 2:3-4

Before the daily storms roll in, I’ve been enjoying the morning sun on the shorelines. God sometimes speaks through the seas, He sometimes speaks through the skies, but this morning, He spoke through a dog (a talking donkey definitely would have been a bit much before my morning coffee kicked in, Numbers 22:28).

The dog’s master threw the Frisbee around the beach for a few minutes. The dog faithfully retrieved it and returned it to his feet. Then the master threw out an even greater challenge that required greater sight and stronger endurance: he threw the Frisbee into the ocean.

With a bit of hesitation, the dog did what he was designed to do: he went after the prize, with waves crashing in his face and no sand to stand on. He started out wandering away from the goal. This was obviously something he had not done before. His master called his name and pointed in the direction of the goal. He followed his master’s lead and headed towards the floating Frisbee. He got right up to it, sniffed it, then turned and swam back to shore without retrieving it.

WHAT? This was it – this was what he was after, what he struggled to capture, the fulfillment of his design, and he strives to retreat! The master pointed to the goal again and again and called for the dog to live up to his name – retriever! Once again, the dog obeyed and returned to the Frisbee. He refused it for a few more minutes, while treading only inches away. Finally, he gripped it and returned to shore with the satisfaction of fulfilling his purpose. From then on, the dog faithfully retrieved the prize. After the first taste, he knew to return for more.

I thought of how we were made to worship. It is our calling and our choice. We will always venture out to satisfy something, it's our design to desire. We are called by our Master to find the ultimate satisfaction – often without seeing our goal and exerting our strength. At first we wander away, but He continues to call our name; guiding us to our purposed destination – the worship of our Creator. Finally we get right up to His Face, but then strive to retreat. It truly does not make any sense, but there we are – empty hearted, treading water, and running away.

Once we finally capture our heart's desire and worship God, we know to return to Him every time, no matter the lack of sight or strength, according to His call. We just have to take hold, taste Him, and turn hearts to Him every time He calls our name.

Enjoy Him, Michelle
mlpack1@yahoo.com