CoffeeTalk

May not a single moment of my life be spent outside the light, love, and joy of God's presence. -Andrew Murray

THE SAME

We are not so different you and I
I bet you dream too
We are not so different you and I
Both wanting something beautiful and true

We are not so different you and I
When the day is done
We are not so different you and I
When dawn breaks forth and morning comes

We are the same
Both made of flesh and blood and bone and the tears we cry
We are the same
Barring scars pain has caused bringing out the beauty of this life

We are not so different you and I
Crying out for freedom and love
We are not so different you and I
Both just sinners in need of Jesus

We are the same
Both made of flesh and blood and bone and the tears we cry
We are the same
Barring scars pain has caused bringing out the beauty of this life

We are the same
Both made of flesh and blood and bone and the tears we cry
We are the same
Barring scars pain has caused bringing out the beauty of this life

We are not so different you and I
I bet you dream too

-Mandy Holbert

I read about the lives of others who have completely poured themselves out for You and I feel utterly useless and painfully aware of my abundance, my cares for this world, and the comforts I have come to trust in.  I want to lay on the floor and weep because I feel as is if I am wasting away my life and missing out on what God would do thru me if I would just let go and trust Him.  It is not a competition.  I do not need to measure up to others or compare my failures and strengths to those around me.  You love me but I have so much trouble understanding what that really means.  Your Word speaks of love but also of judgment, of righteousness, and of sin.  This morning I thought about the word tolerance.  Our culture is all about being “tolerant”.  But that is so stupid.  What kind of love is merely tolerant?  Can you imagine what it would look like if I only tolerated my children or my husband?  I thank You God that You do not tolerate us!  You love us.  Oh, Father, I don’t want to waste away my life missing out on the blessings You long to pour over me and my family.  What can I say yes to today?  What can I give away and let go of today?  What can I completely pour myself out on knowing that You will fill me back up with You? I desperately need You till fill me up with the fullness of Christ.  What things am I holding onto that I need to let go of so that I can receive a better gift? I want to fall into bed at the end of the day completely exhausted, spent, and overwhelmed by You.  I don’t want to keep living for myself in such fear of losing my stuff that I hold it so tightly creating my own personal prison.  I beg You to help me, to show me how to say yes to You.  I read something the other day that said this so beautifully:

“While the bible doesn’t tell every person on earth specifically what his or her life’s calling will be, it does include a lot of general direction. 

“You are to find Me in the least of these.”  Yes.

You are to leave your earthly possessions and come follow Me.”  Yes.

“You are to love and serve the Lord God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself.”  Yes.

“You are to go and make disciples of all nations.”  Yes.

“You are to show mercy.”  Yes.

“You are to live a life of mediocrity and abundance, holding on tight to your comfortable life style, lest you lose it,”  No.

-Katie Davis - Kisses From Katie

She had said in her book that one of her children had asked her “if Jesus came into your heart does it explode?”.  She said her first answer was no but after thinking about this she realized that indeed, yes, if Jesus comes into your heart it will explode.  It should explode.  When we receive Christ we should explode and that explosion should cause the love of Christ to pour out of us and onto others.  

Jesus, explode in my heart.  Cause it to burst open and spill Your love onto whoever You put before me.  Help me to live for today.  Not yesterday.  Not tomorrow.  But today.  Right now.  To be present.  To be active.  To be willing and ready at all times to say yes to You.  

Shhhh………

My heart is noisy. Be quiet. Be still. Father, why a whisper? Because You are not in the business of competing with my restlessness. This is why You tell me to be still. You are not going to yell over me. I beg You for a word, for You to open my ears to Your voice. Oh how You must be frustrated with me. I beg You to speak to me as though You are silent. You are not silent. I am to loud. You are speaking - steady words of love and peace. You offer me rest and a yoke that is easy but I keep running and working and talking myself into complete exhaustion. Be still! Listen! Heart be quiet, Your Maker has something to say. God , my God, quiet my soul, steady my heart. Lead me beside still, calm, quiet waters. Breathe. You are speaking. You are not silent. There are times You are silent but this is not that time. You are calling me into a season of silence and listening and quiet because You have something to say - something to give. I have much to learn. My heart is noisy. Sing over me, Father, until I am still and content like a small child in Your arms.

FAITH

Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. Hebrews 11:1

I hope for many things.  But just because I hope for it does not mean that I am exercising faith.  I know that God has called me to make a decision. I am all ready to say yes and plow forward… except that right in the middle of the path of obedience is a great big stinkin fat mountain.  It’s so big that I cannot get around it, under it, or over it.  It’s right in the way and I’m just standing here staring at it because I have no idea what else to do.  And yet God is still telling me to move ahead and I just point at the mountain and say “incase You haven’t noticed, there’s a road block”. But you know what… faith is not just hoping, it’s believing that what God has said will be.  Even if I can’t see it, even if I can’t make it make sense or fit within my ideas of comfort.  I asked God to make a way where there was no way.  He can do it.  I have no doubts about that.  The kicker was the response to my little faith prayer…  ”Mandy, even if when the time comes and the mountain is not resolved, will you still go?  WIll you still obey?”  Hmmm.  

“Lord You know what it could mean if You don’t move the mountain?”  

“Yes. Do You understand with it could mean if you don’t obey Me?”  

Point taken.  So this is faith.  Moving even when I don’t see a way, even when at 11:59PM nothing has seemed to change, even when everyone else thinks you have completely lost your mind.  Faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.  I am not just hoping for hopes sake or just wishing really hard.  God has set a reality of what could be inside my heart..  I cannot see it, I cannot give a nicely packaged outcome with a pretty bow on it.  All I can do is say yes. So Father, I still ask that You make a way where there is no way but I also ask that You increase my faith and strengthen the areas I have trouble believing and obeying. When it comes down to the wire and that pesky mountain is still casting its enormous shadow over me will I still with confidence quote Hebrews 11:1?  I want to.  Help me to do so.

Wrestling With God

a dream, a feeling, imaginary friend, a voice inside my head. second guessing, never sure, guilt ridden and weary. hide and seek… why not freeze tag. asking but unanswered in the small things. the big things I can shrug off. perhaps I was wrong. Your will is better. but the small… I have no reasons and I am frustrated and terrified. what does it mean when the small is not answered. what does it mean that I either ache or am indifferent? how do I go from a voice in my head to a truth in my heart? what does it mean that my struggle is here? I am weary and You said You give rest. how do I give You what wearies me? how do I lie down in green pastures beside still waters? I don’t do I. You let me lie down in green pastures. You lead me beside quiet waters. okay. how do I stop acting like a stubborn  ass and act more like a sheep? I am weary from not being able to keep You. but I don’t keep You do I? You keep me. seeking… asking… knocking… these things were never meant to be burdens. but I want to control the situation, predict the outcome, remain safe. You patiently struggle with me. lovingly You engage me in a wrestling match. You allow me to shout at You, to beat Your chest with my fists and scream out in my frustration. my weak human state. You tell me You love me and I remind You how ridiculous that is. You say Your my Father and I am unsure what this may really mean. why do I keep fighting You? is there purpose in the struggle? 

the Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I lack. He lets me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; He leads me along the right paths for His name’s sake. even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff - they comfort me. You prepare a table for me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil, my cup overflows. only goodness and faithful love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life.   psalm 23

Have courage…. your faith has made you well.

“Have courage, daughter, your faith has made you well.”  Mathew 9:22

Father,  Even when I don’t feel “well” help me to believe that the blood of Your Son is enough to make me well. His blood is enough to make me redeemed and forgiven.  His blood is enough to cover every stain on my life. His blood is enough to make me new.  Give me courage to look to the cross and hold onto what the resurrection of Your Son means.  That one day my corruptible body will be raised incorruptible.  That my reward is in heaven.  That wedding apparel  - a robe of righteousness - awaits me.  A feast is being prepared and I will be one of the guest sitting at the table. Help me to believe who I am in You.  Help me to believe who I am to You.  I am chosen. I am holy. I am blameless.  I am adopted.  I am favored.  I am loved.  I am redeemed.  I am forgiven.  I am Yours.

Kill Me

I have thought You told me things that You didn’t tell me at all.  I have said “Thus says the Lord” when really it was “Thus says me”.  I have claimed things in Your name that You were never a part of.  I have blamed my feelings on the Holy Spirit when all along it was just my own selfishness.  How do I stop making it about me?  To be crucified with Christ is to die to self.  It is a painful process but the end result is total freedom.  To die is to live.  Death to self is abundant life in Christ.  I want this life.  So I ask that You kill me and then bring me back to life in Christ.  Please be merciful to me in the process remembering that I am only dust.  But I am Your dust and I love You.

 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.   Galatians 5:24-25

No matter if You are silent or shouting 

No matter if I am in ecstasy or mourning

No matter if You are crushing me or lifting me up 

No matter if I am afraid or bold

No matter if You seem absent or present

No matter if I am in love or angry

No matter if You grant or deny

No matter if I believe or struggle

No matter if You wound or heal

No matter if I am hurting or whole

No matter if You are breaking or binding

No matter if I am feeling or numb

No matter if You come or delay

I will pray

I will love You

I will walk in Your ways

Because of Your grace and mercy

Because You love me no matter what

Because You are God no matter circumstance or feelings

You are the One True God

I have nowhere else to go but to You