Clothed in Strength - Blog

Filled to the measure...

1/12/2018

I've never been one to make resolutions at the dawn of a new year. Maybe it's because for so long the ones I did commit to were only given breath for a moment or two while the rest of the year the lie of shame and condemnation for not following through strangled and sent it to the grave. That cycle of defeat was my prison for so long.

This year was no different...in making resolutions...that is. Instead, I prayed that God would give me a word for this year...one that would put a special mark on 2018 as a breakout year. One that was ordained by Him. One that would require more of Him and less of me. One I couldn't take credit for, but would testify of His goodness.

It's only fitting that the word He gave me was freedom. I mentioned not long ago that I was in a season of healing, and He impressed upon me not long after to not linger in that process. It's time to take up my mat and walk.

In light of this revelation, I wanted to stay alert for a way to help me remember what transpires in 2018.

This beautiful measuring cup was a Christmas present to me from my sister. When I took it to my kitchen, I put it in the cabinet with the rest of my measuring cups and quickly realized it didn't belong there. It did not look right, and it did not fit in with the rest of the cups. Obviously this measuring cup had a different purpose. I set it on my kitchen counter as a decorative piece and thought back on 2017. Whispering a prayer of thanksgiving for getting us through it, I struggled to recall when relief came or prayers had been answered regarding some dreadfully difficult obstacles.

Let's measure your life in love.

I love when He speaks to me. It's always crystal clear and always a good idea.

So I gathered some Christmasy scrapbook paper and cut them down to note-size pieces. I placed them in my beautiful measuring cup and as this year unfolds, I will record its significance. My plan is that at some point on New Year's Eve 2018, we will pull those notes out and reflect.

I hope I remember to do this. I hope I can view the circumstances and situations that arise with a fresh perspective. I hope I grow in Grace. In Love. And in Hope. And I hope...beyond all hopes...to know this love that surpasses knowledge and to be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:19)

Happy New Year!

Be...

11/3/2017

I'm in a season of healing. Wounds that I didn't even know I had have been brought into the Light, and I'm abundantly grateful. Seasons are made up many different kinds of days, and I've found that this one has consisted of sunny days of revelation, stormy days of pain, cloudy days of confusion, and windy days of change.

I'm learning to stop wishing the undesirable days away. They are there for a purpose. They carry me into the next day. The next season. Embracing them helps me practice the beautiful discipline of Being...

...in the moment
...still...and knowing that He.Is.God.
...at peace
...alert
...made whole

It opens up my ears to hear the still, small voice of The Holy Spirit...

Peace. That's what I leave you. When your stomach is in knots and your mind is racing, that is not from Me.

Pay attention to your body. To your mind. To your soul. To your strength.

Remember the picture of the iceberg. Whatever is visible to your eye is the product of what's buried underneath.

So when you realize what's visible...turn your vessel back to the calm waters.

Inheritance...

10/26/2017

Today I'm 49, and to say I've been blessed beyond measure is an understatement. My inheritance is more than I can wrap my mind around.

I am a child of God (John 1:12).
I have peace with God (Rom. 5:1).
The Holy Spirit lives in me (1 Cor. 3:16).
I have access to God’s wisdom (Jas. 1:5).
I am helped by God (Heb. 4:16).
I am reconciled to God (Rom.5:11).
I am not condemned by God (Rom. 8:1).
I am justified (Rom.5:1).
I have Christ’s righteousness (Rom. 5:19; 2 Cor. 5:21).
I am Christ’s ambassador (2 Cor. 5:20”
I am completely forgiven (Col. 1:14).
I am tenderly loved by God (Jer. 31:3).
I am the sweet fragrance of Christ to God (2 Cor. 2:15).
I am a temple in which God dwells (1 Cor. 3:16).
I am blameless and beyond reproach (Col. 1:22).
I am the salt of the earth (Matt. 5:13).
I am the light of the world (Matt. 5:14).
I am a branch on Christ’s vine (John 15:1,5).
I am Christ’s friend (John 15:5).
I am chosen by Christ to bear fruit (John 15:6).
I am a joint heir with Christ, sharing his inheritance with him (Rom. 8:17).
I am united to the Lord, one spirit with him (1 Cor. 6:17).
I am a member of Christ’s body (1 Cor. 12:27).
I am a saint (Eph. 1:1).
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).
I am chosen by God, holy and dearly loved (Col. 3:12).
I am a child of the light (1 Thess. 5:5).
I am holy, and I share in God’s heavenly calling (Heb. 3:1).
I am sanctified (Heb. 2:11).
“I am one of God’s living stones, being built up in Christ as a spiritual house (1 Pet. 2:5).
I am a member of a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession and created to sing his praises (1 Pet. 2:9-10)”

I am firmly rooted and built up in Christ (Col. 2:7).
I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me (1 John 5:18).
I have the mind of Christ (1 Cor. 2:16).
I may approach God with boldness, freedom, and confidence (Eph. 3:12).
I have been rescued from Satan’s domain and transferred into the kingdom of Christ (Col. 1:13).
I have been made complete in Christ (Col. 2:10).
I have been given a spirit of power, love, and self-discipline (2 Tim. 1:7).
I have been given great and precious promises by God (2 Pet. 1:4).
My needs are met by God (Phil. 4:19).
I am a prince (princess) in God’s kingdom (John 1:12; 1 Tim. 6:15).
I have been bought with a price, and I belong to God (1 Cor. 6:19,20).
I have been adopted as God’s child (Eph. 1:5).
I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18).
I am assured that all things are working together for good (Rom. 8:28).
I am free from any condemning charges against me (Rom. 8:31).
I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom. 8:35).
I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God (2 Cor. 1:21,22”
I am confident that the good work that God has begun in me will be perfected (Phil. 1:6).
I am a citizen of heaven (Phil. 3:20).
I am a personal witness of Christ’s (Acts 1:8).
I am God’s coworker (2 Cor. 6:1; 1 Cor. 3:9).
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realm (Eph. 2:6).
I am God’s workmanship (Eph. 2:10).
I can do all things through Christ, who gives me the strength I need (Phil. 4:13).”

Truth...

10/25/2017

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Anything that opposes that is a lie. Don't believe it.

This...

10/14/2017

Seems pretty clear...

Colossians 3
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. So put to death the sinful, earthly things lurking within you. Have nothing to do with sexual immorality, impurity, lust, and evil desires. Don’t be greedy, for a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world. Because of these sins, the anger of God is coming. You used to do these things when your life was still part of this world. But now is the time to get rid of anger, rage, malicious behavior, slander, and dirty language. Don’t lie to each other, for you have stripped off your old sinful nature and all its wicked deeds. In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father. Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting for those who belong to the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly. Children, always obey your parents, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged. Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage?search=Colossians%203:1-9,11-25&version=NLT

Love letter...

9/18/2017

Sometimes I don't feel God near. I wonder where to find Him or if I'll find Him. I end up working really hard to connect with Him and wear myself out in the process because I'm led to believe His work and His touch can only be demonstrated when I am behaving well.

I was reminded this morning that He is always there and He can speak and will speak when I just sit still and allow my heart to spill out before Him. He reminds me of His way. And He reminds me of His will. And He gently offers for me to choose it.

Dear beloved daughter...

I see you. And I hear you.

Even though you sometimes feel that I'm nowhere near or that I've given up on you. I haven't. I never will.

I saw this morning when you chose grace over your natural response and I want you to know I am pleased. Your choosing grace over anger was big for you. This is My way and choosing it will not be wasted.

I've also been watching you struggle lately. What you are experiencing is nothing that I can't handle. You are in a season of life where many choose the path that is wide...the one that seeks to elevate self. That is not My Way. And many who choose it get lost in their journey. Some make it back to the narrow path and are blessed but some drift into a cycle of defeat and have no idea how they got there. It all comes down to a simple choice that seems more difficult than it really is.

In this time I encourage you to keep seeking Me and My Way. When you don't know what to do, be still and know that I am God. When you don't know what to pray, sing a song of praise. When you don't know where to go, thank Me. It's in those places where I can demonstrate to you just how very much I love and care about you.

Above all else know that I will never leave you or forsake you.

You are my daughter. The one I created and made...fearfully and wonderfully.

So today...rejoice. I made this day for you and it is a bigger gift than you could possibly understand.

John 14:6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.

Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.”

Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

Psalm 118:24 This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Chain Breaker...

2/20/2017

I downloaded this song by Zach Williams over the weekend. Jesus is this and more. So much more.

Chain Breaker
Zach Williams

If you’ve been walking the same old road for miles and miles
If you’ve been hearing the same old voice tell the same old lies
If you’re trying to feel the same old holes inside
There’s a better life
There’s a better life

If you’ve got pain
He’s a pain taker
If you feel lost
He’s a way maker
If you need freedom or saving
He’s a prison-shaking Savior
If you’ve got chains
He’s a chain breaker

We’ve all searched for the light of day in the dead of night
We’ve all found ourselves worn out from the same old fight
We’ve all run to things we know just ain’t right
And there’s a better life
There’s a better life

If you’ve got pain
He’s a pain taker
If you feel lost
He’s a way maker
If you need freedom or saving
He’s a prison-shaking Savior
If you’ve got chains
He’s a chain breaker

If you believe it
If you receive it
If you can feel it
Somebody testify

If you believe it
If you receive it
If you can feel it
Somebody testify, testify

If you believe it
If you receive it
If you can feel it
Somebody testify

If you’ve got pain
He’s a pain taker
If you feel lost
He’s a way maker
If you need freedom or saving
He’s a prison-shaking Savior
If you’ve got chains
He’s a chain breaker
If you need freedom or saving
He’s a prison-shaking Savior
If you’ve got chains
He’s a chain breaker

Songwriters: Jonathan Lindley Smith / Mia Fieldes / Zach Williams

Chain Breaker lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Essential Music Publishing

All we have to offer...

11/7/2016

John 6:9 (The MSG)
One of the disciples—it was Andrew, brother to Simon Peter—said, “There’s a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that’s a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this.”

This morning in my quiet time, my Bible study lesson had me working in John 6 where Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand. It seemed appropriate and not at all coincidental to land here on the eve of our nation's presidential election.

In the context of this passage are Jesus, two of His disciples, Philip and Andrew, and a little boy who had a basket with five small barley loaves and two small fish. Oh...and a crowd of 5,000 who were hungry. One disciple when asked about the way to feed this mass of hungry people answered with a grim outlook, "Eight months' wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!" Andrew, with a tad more optimism, spoke up and said, "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"

And then there was the boy who just had a basket with a little bit of food in it. It wasn't much, but it was something. It was all he had, and he offered it.

Jesus took it from there.

John 6:11 - Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted."

It occurred to me that we as Christians can take the stance of any one of these three. All three were taken with Jesus. All three followed him. One saw no way possible. Another one saw the resource and then limited it with the word but. The little one with the basket of bread and fish gave what he had and did not question anything further. He just offered it.

My friends who are believers...all we have to offer up is our prayer and our vote. In our own eyes it may seem small and insignificant and that it won't make much of a difference, but it's an offering nonetheless, and what He does with it could be nothing short of a miracle.

I don't profess to know what is going to happen tomorrow with our election, or the next day, or the day after that. All I know is what I can offer up. I don't want to see with my own eyes because my vision is so limited; and I absolutely don't want to be a follower of Christ who puts limits on God Almighty. I just want to offer what I have. And in this day and in this election all that encompasses is my prayers and my vote.

I'm thankful to still have that.

Ohhhhh...

7/14/2016

So I stuck my finger in my toddler's mouth yesterday, and I found three new molars at the back...

Now I know why he's been a maniac for the last two months.

Duh!

Playdoh & sandcastles...

7/6/2016

The lump in my throat grew bigger with each tear that fell from my toddler's eyes that morning. I could feel the depth of his desire as if it were my own. And as his mommy, my desire to fulfill his was just as great. All I was able to do was hold him close and tell him I understood.

As he peered over the half-door into his classroom all he could see on the table was the playdoh. Again. It was the same tired activity he did yesterday. And the day before. Oh...and the day before that. He just couldn't bear to mold that dough into one more sea creature. Summer camp should be so much more!

With his head buried in my shoulder he lamented once more, "I want to build sandcastles."

I've been there. I understand the frustration of wanting something so badly that crying and throwing a fit seems the only logical response to the alternative. I get how tantalizing a glimpse of something other than what I've got can look. Sandcastles always trump playdoh.

As I left my crying toddler in the arms of his teacher, my eyes filled with tears. I wanted so badly to go back and get him and take him to the sandbox to let him build to his heart's content. I'm convinced that God gave me this child to teach me more about discipline in my own life more than his.

After whispering a prayer for him (and me), I heard a tender whisper back to me from the Lord...Sometimes working the playdoh is a skill necessary for building sandcastles.

Whoa! And gulp!!

This took me back to so many times over my life when I have begged and pleaded with God to get me out of a situation, circumstance or season. So many times I have bawled my eyes out as I told myself and Him I just couldn't take one more minute of this. I'm so thankful He just held me close and told me He understood; that he left me there to work that playdoh. Because now I see that those very situations or circumstances were necessary for the beautiful and carefully crafted sandcastles He has built for me.