Welcome to Traces Space. So just for the record I do listen to our pastor when he speaks. With that said, my mind occasionally wonders, and for the past couple of weeks I have honestly struggled, not that I wasn't interested, but I think I have been on a journey to this little tidbit of Sunday revelation.
I am not a great believer in information gathered on social media, and believe me, I believe social media has a tendency to play the mind control game, so places that I go to for reliable information are few and far between, but occasionally I will come across something that sparks my interest, and today was one of those days, it all had to do with an article on the Quran.
In this said article it talked about things that as a Christian we may not know about Islam. I'm not going to go there, because my recollection would not be accurate, but I found it interesting. What I want to talk about is the comments. People who I believe never read a word of it spewed their hatred, while others attacked those who were sympathetic to those of us who chose to just be informed.
Am I advocating reading the Quran? Not really, but in order to enter into grown up conversation regarding differences in our belief systems, I would say, learn! I believe Jesus was very much educated on the folks of His day.
So where does church fall into this, and my rabbit trail?
I couldn't let the comments from the article leave my mind, I kept thinking about it. So during the sermon, Abraham was mentioned, now was it in the context that I am about to share, no... but this is where after four weeks of struggling God had me go.
I was sitting there, the wheels spinning, and finally I say, God what am I suppose to get here? Yes, what are you speaking to me...What do I need to see?
So here is what I got.
When something is birthed from the results of disobedience there must be a consequence, and that thing that has been birthed and comes from your Egypt is nothing more than a spoiled child and full of self entitlement. (Ouch)
So then He speaks this, the Prodigal son. See the story is about forgiveness, but God wants me to look at the older brother. See that brother is put out because younger spoiled brother wastes his inheritance, this younger brother shames his family by being a party animal and losing it all and the older brother stays home and engages in a faithful relationship with his father.
He honestly believes because of his faithfulness he is entitled to all that is left. So younger brother mans up and heads home. The father sees him coming and runs to him arms wide open... he then throws a giant party, and older brother pouts. There is so much more in this story, but the focus here for me was this the older sibling.
We spend an awful lot of time thinking about what we have, what we don't, and sometimes resentful of what others have, not just the things we can see, but also the unseen, and I believe what God was speaking here was how we see or place value on our relationship with Him, and how we feel because we touch the porch steps to the church most Sundays, we are entitled to the relationship, just because.
We are jealous of others their giftings , but what's really sad, we are jealous of other peoples journey, whether they are just getting started or a seasoned saint.
That older son is us sometimes.
There is such beauty in this story that we miss, and I believe that there is a great parallel between the Prodigals older brother and Ishmael. They both resented the second born, and we folks are they!
We are owed nothing, but the ultimate price has been paid. God wants us to see ourselves as the lost child who has relinquished entitlement and replaced it with second birth because of the cross. An act of total obedience has granted each and everyone of us an eternal inheritance.
We come before God filthy and hungry with nothing, yet He runs to us, arms wide open.
Lord, I thank You for Your word. I thank You for showing and revealing who it is you desire we be. Thank You for being part of my journey and showing me the way, even if it is a rabbit trail! Amen!
See you next time.
Sunday, June 4, 2017
THE GREAT DEFENDER
Welcome to Traces Space. To what extreme are you willing to go to defend that which you believe in, or at the very least the ones or One that you love?
In life I have found that I have somehow managed to surround myself with folks who were kind of always willing to step up and defend that which needed to be fought for without much of my input, until lately.
Funny how life is.
I don't mean that in a sarcastic kind of way, but funny how we somehow end up in situations that test our ability to be clear and honest, yet firm and strong.
Believe it or not, conflict makes me extremely uncomfortable. The thought of being involved in a confrontation of any sort makes me physically ill, even if I am on the right side of the conflict, even if I know that trust is my issue, and believing victory is on the way.
I am a firm believer in the God don't like ugly mentality. He wants victory for us, but we have responsibility in the battle. When we are about to face our opponent, whether it be a mouse or a giant, we have to be prepared for poison darts, and we have to be prepared with the ability to maintain the ability to show Gods characteristics. How easy is it for us to lose our stuff and respond without thought?
In the past two years when seeking God on what the word for my life for the year should be, my spirit has been quickened to the word, response. I really struggle with this because it is very easy to read me, the eyes usually give it away. While this character flaw of mine has been the butt of many jokes, it has also been the thorn in almost every confrontation I have ever had. If I do not simply roll the eyes, then the ugly sarcastic side comes out, no filter! Not a good thing. The Bible warns us about the danger associated with the tongue and the inability to control it.
So when you are defending yourself or others, controlling the passionate need to defend can lose the battle for you before you ever start the actual fight. Slinging words, not choosing them wisely will eventually cause the inevitable crow eating to become a true reality. Not that your fight isn't valid, or worthy, it becomes tainted with attitude and selfishness.
In no way am I saying to give up and not fight, quite the contrary.
First of all take all your battles to God, He has given us what we need in His word, all the fighting words we will ever need and then some. Learn to walk away, think, pray, then respond. Realize that not all battles are yours to fight, even if you feel you are all alone.
Yes God don't like ugly! Most of the time the ugly is more so in us than our foe. The good news is this, God still loves us though, even we are ugly!
So, what extreme are you willing to go? How far or how hard are you willing to fight?
As for me, I'm sure to the end of the battle, and hopefully my responses will no longer be so abrupt. Because as I grow in this I am learning to TRUST and to know that the battle is not mine, but it is the Lords!
See you next time!
In life I have found that I have somehow managed to surround myself with folks who were kind of always willing to step up and defend that which needed to be fought for without much of my input, until lately.
Funny how life is.
I don't mean that in a sarcastic kind of way, but funny how we somehow end up in situations that test our ability to be clear and honest, yet firm and strong.
Believe it or not, conflict makes me extremely uncomfortable. The thought of being involved in a confrontation of any sort makes me physically ill, even if I am on the right side of the conflict, even if I know that trust is my issue, and believing victory is on the way.
I am a firm believer in the God don't like ugly mentality. He wants victory for us, but we have responsibility in the battle. When we are about to face our opponent, whether it be a mouse or a giant, we have to be prepared for poison darts, and we have to be prepared with the ability to maintain the ability to show Gods characteristics. How easy is it for us to lose our stuff and respond without thought?
In the past two years when seeking God on what the word for my life for the year should be, my spirit has been quickened to the word, response. I really struggle with this because it is very easy to read me, the eyes usually give it away. While this character flaw of mine has been the butt of many jokes, it has also been the thorn in almost every confrontation I have ever had. If I do not simply roll the eyes, then the ugly sarcastic side comes out, no filter! Not a good thing. The Bible warns us about the danger associated with the tongue and the inability to control it.
So when you are defending yourself or others, controlling the passionate need to defend can lose the battle for you before you ever start the actual fight. Slinging words, not choosing them wisely will eventually cause the inevitable crow eating to become a true reality. Not that your fight isn't valid, or worthy, it becomes tainted with attitude and selfishness.
In no way am I saying to give up and not fight, quite the contrary.
First of all take all your battles to God, He has given us what we need in His word, all the fighting words we will ever need and then some. Learn to walk away, think, pray, then respond. Realize that not all battles are yours to fight, even if you feel you are all alone.
Yes God don't like ugly! Most of the time the ugly is more so in us than our foe. The good news is this, God still loves us though, even we are ugly!
So, what extreme are you willing to go? How far or how hard are you willing to fight?
As for me, I'm sure to the end of the battle, and hopefully my responses will no longer be so abrupt. Because as I grow in this I am learning to TRUST and to know that the battle is not mine, but it is the Lords!
See you next time!
Saturday, September 24, 2016
I Fought Authority, Authority Always Wins, When its the Right One
Welcome to Traces Space. While having my quiet time this morning, I had just finished reading a post on Facebook about the state of our country. The person who wrote the post was right on with what he said. He wrote about God being removed from many things, but the one thought that got me was that we have allowed God to be removed from "us".
Who is the authority that you allow into your life? Who rules over your home, your job, your spouse, your children? Who do you consult with when making choices?
So usually in my prayer/quiet time, God usually has me revisit something. This morning it was a visit to a very painful time that our family went through, when we were under the authority of someone who we believed heard from God ( I believe that this time was not all wasted, before I continue, God used this time to introduce salvation, and the fullness of who He is; beauty for ashes). At first the charismatic personality of this person was enough. He made us feel wanted and needed, and for me that was enough. We bought into some very strange doctrines, and also tried to suck others into it as well. He was able to convince people that he was constantly under attack from the enemy and that well the enemy was out to destroy him. In some warped sense, he was kind of right. But he abused his authority, caused heartache, and perhaps turned a few folks away from God.
So this brings me to the point...and the point is this...God will speak to you until you hear Him...or get it...It has been 16 years and I think this morning I finally get what happened, or what God wants me to get from it. While under this authority we were constantly ministered using the "fear" technique ( which is not God) , I am not advocating no discussion of Hell, no actually I am saying we need to recognize that Hell is real and Satan is real, and he is trying to steal, kill and destroy...and he is doing a great job. Our country is self destructing, and the church is so busy judging the hearts of everyone else, they are missing what God is speaking to us, He is saying wake up, you need to look at yourselves!
Examine you hearts...humble yourselves, pray, and take real authority, and let God restore what the enemy has stolen from you.
So this morning I prayed, and I let the enemy know that he has no authority, over my husband, my children, my grandchild, my family, what ever...As for me and my house, We serve the Lord. Satan is not welcome here...plain and simple.
Guard carefully the things that people speak over you...Open the word and see if it measures up...see if it is "truth". Do not buy into everything that looks like its good, because sometimes its not. The Holy Spirit will let you know...Trust Him, discern.
I know it seems like I am all over the place here but the message is clear, and the message is two fold.
God has not left America yet. We need to allow Him to take it back. To stop the Authority that is infiltrating that which He has blessed us with, a land of Freedom, that has made a lot of mistakes, we can fix it by owning it and allowing Him to reveal to each of us our contribution to it and helping us make it right. And making it right starts in the House of the Lord, and in our own homes. Owning our sin and repenting...
Lord today I pray that any authority other than that from You God be removed from my heart and the heart of others. That we change our way of thinking and get into communion with you and do what is right, what is holy. That we reach out and admit to the things that we have done to hurt others. To see that we too have sinned and fall short of the Glory of Who You are. Heal our hearts, heal our land...Amen...
See you next time
Who is the authority that you allow into your life? Who rules over your home, your job, your spouse, your children? Who do you consult with when making choices?
So usually in my prayer/quiet time, God usually has me revisit something. This morning it was a visit to a very painful time that our family went through, when we were under the authority of someone who we believed heard from God ( I believe that this time was not all wasted, before I continue, God used this time to introduce salvation, and the fullness of who He is; beauty for ashes). At first the charismatic personality of this person was enough. He made us feel wanted and needed, and for me that was enough. We bought into some very strange doctrines, and also tried to suck others into it as well. He was able to convince people that he was constantly under attack from the enemy and that well the enemy was out to destroy him. In some warped sense, he was kind of right. But he abused his authority, caused heartache, and perhaps turned a few folks away from God.
So this brings me to the point...and the point is this...God will speak to you until you hear Him...or get it...It has been 16 years and I think this morning I finally get what happened, or what God wants me to get from it. While under this authority we were constantly ministered using the "fear" technique ( which is not God) , I am not advocating no discussion of Hell, no actually I am saying we need to recognize that Hell is real and Satan is real, and he is trying to steal, kill and destroy...and he is doing a great job. Our country is self destructing, and the church is so busy judging the hearts of everyone else, they are missing what God is speaking to us, He is saying wake up, you need to look at yourselves!
Examine you hearts...humble yourselves, pray, and take real authority, and let God restore what the enemy has stolen from you.
So this morning I prayed, and I let the enemy know that he has no authority, over my husband, my children, my grandchild, my family, what ever...As for me and my house, We serve the Lord. Satan is not welcome here...plain and simple.
Guard carefully the things that people speak over you...Open the word and see if it measures up...see if it is "truth". Do not buy into everything that looks like its good, because sometimes its not. The Holy Spirit will let you know...Trust Him, discern.
I know it seems like I am all over the place here but the message is clear, and the message is two fold.
God has not left America yet. We need to allow Him to take it back. To stop the Authority that is infiltrating that which He has blessed us with, a land of Freedom, that has made a lot of mistakes, we can fix it by owning it and allowing Him to reveal to each of us our contribution to it and helping us make it right. And making it right starts in the House of the Lord, and in our own homes. Owning our sin and repenting...
Lord today I pray that any authority other than that from You God be removed from my heart and the heart of others. That we change our way of thinking and get into communion with you and do what is right, what is holy. That we reach out and admit to the things that we have done to hurt others. To see that we too have sinned and fall short of the Glory of Who You are. Heal our hearts, heal our land...Amen...
See you next time
I Fought Authority, Authority Always Wins, When its the Right One
Welcome to Traces Space. While having my quiet time this morning, I had just finished reading a post on Facebook about the state of our country. The person who wrote the post was right on with what he said. He wrote about God being removed from many things, but the one thought that got me was that we have allowed God to be removed from "us".
Who is the authority that you allow into your life? Who rules over your home, your job, your spouse, your children? Who do you consult with when making choices?
So usually in my prayer/quiet time, God usually has me revisit something. This morning it was a visit to a very painful time that our family went through, when we were under the authority of someone who we believed heard from God ( I believe that this time was not all wasted, before I continue, God used this time to introduce salvation, and the fullness of who He is; beauty for ashes). At first the charismatic personality of this person was enough. He made us feel wanted and needed, and for me that was enough. We bought into some very strange doctrines, and also tried to suck others into it as well. He was able to convince people that he was constantly under attack from the enemy and that well the enemy was out to destroy him. In some warped sense, he was kind of right. But he abused his authority, caused heartache, and perhaps turned a few folks away from God.
So this brings me to the point...and the point is this...God will speak to you until you hear Him...or get it...It has been 16 years and I think this morning I finally get what happened, or what God wants me to get from it. While under this authority we were constantly ministered using the "fear" technique ( which is not God) , I am not advocating no discussion of Hell, no actually I am saying we need to recognize that Hell is real and Satan is real, and he is trying to steal, kill and destroy...and he is doing a great job. Our country is self destructing, and the church is so busy judging the hearts of everyone else, they are missing what God is speaking to us, He is saying wake up, you need to look at yourselves!
Examine you hearts...humble yourselves, pray, and take real authority, and let God restore what the enemy has stolen from you.
So this morning I prayed, and I let the enemy know that he has no authority, over my husband, my children, my grandchild, my family, what ever...As for me and my house, We serve the Lord. Satan is not welcome here...plain and simple.
Guard carefully the things that people speak over you...Open the word and see if it measures up...see if it is "truth". Do not buy into everything that looks like its good, because sometimes its not. The Holy Spirit will let you know...Trust Him, discern.
I know it seems like I am all over the place here but the message is clear, and the message is two fold.
God has not left America yet. We need to allow Him to take it back. To stop the Authority that is infiltrating that which He has blessed us with, a land of Freedom, that has made a lot of mistakes, we can fix it by owning it and allowing Him to reveal to each of us our contribution to it and helping us make it right. And making it right starts in the House of the Lord, and in our own homes. Owning our sin and repenting...
Lord today I pray that any authority other than that from You God be removed from my heart and the heart of others. That we change our way of thinking and get into communion with you and do what is right, what is holy. That we reach out and admit to the things that we have done to hurt others. To see that we too have sinned and fall short of the Glory of Who You are. Heal our hearts, heal our land...Amen...
See you next time
Who is the authority that you allow into your life? Who rules over your home, your job, your spouse, your children? Who do you consult with when making choices?
So usually in my prayer/quiet time, God usually has me revisit something. This morning it was a visit to a very painful time that our family went through, when we were under the authority of someone who we believed heard from God ( I believe that this time was not all wasted, before I continue, God used this time to introduce salvation, and the fullness of who He is; beauty for ashes). At first the charismatic personality of this person was enough. He made us feel wanted and needed, and for me that was enough. We bought into some very strange doctrines, and also tried to suck others into it as well. He was able to convince people that he was constantly under attack from the enemy and that well the enemy was out to destroy him. In some warped sense, he was kind of right. But he abused his authority, caused heartache, and perhaps turned a few folks away from God.
So this brings me to the point...and the point is this...God will speak to you until you hear Him...or get it...It has been 16 years and I think this morning I finally get what happened, or what God wants me to get from it. While under this authority we were constantly ministered using the "fear" technique ( which is not God) , I am not advocating no discussion of Hell, no actually I am saying we need to recognize that Hell is real and Satan is real, and he is trying to steal, kill and destroy...and he is doing a great job. Our country is self destructing, and the church is so busy judging the hearts of everyone else, they are missing what God is speaking to us, He is saying wake up, you need to look at yourselves!
Examine you hearts...humble yourselves, pray, and take real authority, and let God restore what the enemy has stolen from you.
So this morning I prayed, and I let the enemy know that he has no authority, over my husband, my children, my grandchild, my family, what ever...As for me and my house, We serve the Lord. Satan is not welcome here...plain and simple.
Guard carefully the things that people speak over you...Open the word and see if it measures up...see if it is "truth". Do not buy into everything that looks like its good, because sometimes its not. The Holy Spirit will let you know...Trust Him, discern.
I know it seems like I am all over the place here but the message is clear, and the message is two fold.
God has not left America yet. We need to allow Him to take it back. To stop the Authority that is infiltrating that which He has blessed us with, a land of Freedom, that has made a lot of mistakes, we can fix it by owning it and allowing Him to reveal to each of us our contribution to it and helping us make it right. And making it right starts in the House of the Lord, and in our own homes. Owning our sin and repenting...
Lord today I pray that any authority other than that from You God be removed from my heart and the heart of others. That we change our way of thinking and get into communion with you and do what is right, what is holy. That we reach out and admit to the things that we have done to hurt others. To see that we too have sinned and fall short of the Glory of Who You are. Heal our hearts, heal our land...Amen...
See you next time
Tuesday, September 6, 2016
How Proud Are You
Welcome to Traces Space...When faced with adversity, how proud are you?
I recently heard a sermon on the Good Samaritan, while most of us focus on the person who lent the hand, we seem to kind of forget the man who received help. The speaker focused on this guy for a few minutes and made a very valid point, he could have refused help.
Have you been there?
It really has been hitting home this particular message. It seems to be everywhere, folks filled with pride or lack there of.
What causes us to be so prideful? Is it the enemy, or is it simply the idea that we can handle it ourselves and don't want others to know that we are going through a tough time. Have we so long tried to do things on our own that the thought of reaching out to others or having others reach out to us, seems well, really, really uncomfortable?
So flash back, Veterans day. I was in Giant Eagle picking up a few items, and behind me in line was an elderly gentleman on one of those motorized grocery carts. He was proudly wearing a hat from some battleship, and seemed extremely pleasant. He however was really struggling with getting his items up onto counter in order to pay. So I say to him "Sir, let me help you"... He said no...I then said, "Sir you served this country and today I want to serve you, please let me help you." I thought he was going to cry. He was very grateful, but I am pretty sure the last thing he wanted was for some strange lady at the grocery store to help him out. I am certain that in his mind he was thinking of a time when he was able to really do most easy tasks on his own and never imagined a time when he might have to have someone help him with something as simple as paying for his groceries.
Pride is a funny thing...It can be quite endearing, or it can be quite disturbing.
Disturbing, yes I said that. While the world may be full of folks who are self indulgent, thinking that their problems are the only issues happening today, there is a flip side. The person who because they are "proud" will not allow anyone to offer a hand, let a lone let others know they are involved in a struggle. There are many factors that cause people to enter into this disturbing area of pride, maybe they have always been able to physically or monetarily care for themselves. Maybe a family rift, or even a family member in the home who would shame them for reaching out. Maybe just maybe its someone who has always given the impression that God is their strength, and when the struggle became real, they began to doubt, lose trust. Hey is this any of us? Maybe.
Jesus specifically said He would never leave us or forsake us, in other words He won't turn a blind eye to our issues. But also He has given us folks in our lives to help.
We recently went through a very tough season at our house. Without going into details, it really took a toll on all of us. There were people who were very much aware of what was happening, and a lot of praying was going on, but there were folks who had no idea because we had decided that this was deeply personal. But had we not had outside support, you know those people who offered an ear to our issue, I think that maybe we would not have weathered the storm as well. See we could have completely shut down, blamed God and well become even more disheartened. Pride could have entered in and well, controlled it, and destroyed us.
Trust issues control our pride levels. When you can not trust anyone, anything, or God, you set your self up for unnecessary heart ache.
God created Eve so Adam wouldn't be alone...He created us so we wouldn't be alone.
The battle is not ours at the end of the day, even though our prideful nature wants us to own it.
So, which part do you play? are you the sick man on the side of the road who willingly accepts help, or because the help that came wasn't the exact help you wanted, you tell it to buzz off?
See think about it the man on the side of the road could have denied the Samaritans offer simply because of who he was? They weren't allowed to even talk to each other...Hmmmm?
That's another message...
Anyway...Again, who are you? How much do you allow pride to enter in...Food for thought?
Yep...
See ya next time
I recently heard a sermon on the Good Samaritan, while most of us focus on the person who lent the hand, we seem to kind of forget the man who received help. The speaker focused on this guy for a few minutes and made a very valid point, he could have refused help.
Have you been there?
It really has been hitting home this particular message. It seems to be everywhere, folks filled with pride or lack there of.
What causes us to be so prideful? Is it the enemy, or is it simply the idea that we can handle it ourselves and don't want others to know that we are going through a tough time. Have we so long tried to do things on our own that the thought of reaching out to others or having others reach out to us, seems well, really, really uncomfortable?
So flash back, Veterans day. I was in Giant Eagle picking up a few items, and behind me in line was an elderly gentleman on one of those motorized grocery carts. He was proudly wearing a hat from some battleship, and seemed extremely pleasant. He however was really struggling with getting his items up onto counter in order to pay. So I say to him "Sir, let me help you"... He said no...I then said, "Sir you served this country and today I want to serve you, please let me help you." I thought he was going to cry. He was very grateful, but I am pretty sure the last thing he wanted was for some strange lady at the grocery store to help him out. I am certain that in his mind he was thinking of a time when he was able to really do most easy tasks on his own and never imagined a time when he might have to have someone help him with something as simple as paying for his groceries.
Pride is a funny thing...It can be quite endearing, or it can be quite disturbing.
Disturbing, yes I said that. While the world may be full of folks who are self indulgent, thinking that their problems are the only issues happening today, there is a flip side. The person who because they are "proud" will not allow anyone to offer a hand, let a lone let others know they are involved in a struggle. There are many factors that cause people to enter into this disturbing area of pride, maybe they have always been able to physically or monetarily care for themselves. Maybe a family rift, or even a family member in the home who would shame them for reaching out. Maybe just maybe its someone who has always given the impression that God is their strength, and when the struggle became real, they began to doubt, lose trust. Hey is this any of us? Maybe.
Jesus specifically said He would never leave us or forsake us, in other words He won't turn a blind eye to our issues. But also He has given us folks in our lives to help.
We recently went through a very tough season at our house. Without going into details, it really took a toll on all of us. There were people who were very much aware of what was happening, and a lot of praying was going on, but there were folks who had no idea because we had decided that this was deeply personal. But had we not had outside support, you know those people who offered an ear to our issue, I think that maybe we would not have weathered the storm as well. See we could have completely shut down, blamed God and well become even more disheartened. Pride could have entered in and well, controlled it, and destroyed us.
Trust issues control our pride levels. When you can not trust anyone, anything, or God, you set your self up for unnecessary heart ache.
God created Eve so Adam wouldn't be alone...He created us so we wouldn't be alone.
The battle is not ours at the end of the day, even though our prideful nature wants us to own it.
So, which part do you play? are you the sick man on the side of the road who willingly accepts help, or because the help that came wasn't the exact help you wanted, you tell it to buzz off?
See think about it the man on the side of the road could have denied the Samaritans offer simply because of who he was? They weren't allowed to even talk to each other...Hmmmm?
That's another message...
Anyway...Again, who are you? How much do you allow pride to enter in...Food for thought?
Yep...
See ya next time
Monday, August 8, 2016
Sea of Faces
Welcome to Traces Space. I totally stole my title from a song by the band Kutless. We are so often lost in a sea of faces. As we walk through life we encounter many faces, many familiar, many that we think are familiar, then the faces that we just don't know.
Faces represent people in general, and who they are or think they are, aspire to be or who they have actually become. See a face is much more than a part of the body. Its our first impression, its the readable feature, the one that can identify every thing from shear joy to total disgust.
I have a very readable face, you can pretty much tell what I am thinking by my expression, my eye rolling is apparently legendary, but seriously, I would never make a good liar because as soon as I try to tell a fib, I get really red in the face and kind of start to laugh...I am not good at it. This face is transparent.
So lately I have found myself in this sea of faces of folks I thought I knew. While they look like the same old folks I have always known, there is a change, life takes a toll on the face. The elements around us cause our physical appearance to become weathered and worn. Our daily trials and unexpected journeys do something to what was a young and healthy looking face.
Again its not just about appearance. Webster's dictionary defines the word "face" as a noun and a verb:
Actually I can't, and I don't want to!
I have found myself saying that a lot lately, I can't face it and don't want to but have had to.
I look in the mirror everyday and think, my God what has happened to me. My youth is quickly fading away, and my face is showing every ounce of disappointment, fear, anger, pain, and small amounts of joy I have left. And by golly as I go out into that endless sea of faces, I see people just like me.
I find no comfort in having to admit that there is something wrong, then having to face it,, it takes every courageous bone in my body to confront it. I am very non confrontational. I hate conflict, except for debates with our daughter Rachael...Its because while those conversations may become heated, they are not intended to be hurtful...We are very mindful of each others stand on the worlds issues...Funny thing is as passionate as we are, we have the same facial expressions when it comes to anger, frustration and even laughter. But the key word there is being mindful. Even in the heat of the moment we recognize the faces, we have not changed in appearance to each other...My face is one in the same as it has been her whole life. Unlike other faces we see that we thought would always be familiar.
See some folks disguise themselves well...they seem to have more than one face. Yes I said it, some people seem to have more than one face...One of truth, and one of well, anything but the truth. They are constantly trying to be what people desire they be, or try to be something other than what they truly are...And that folks is contrary to what God desires for us.
See if we are truly wearing our own face, being true to who we are, then we are representing and living in the image of God. We were not created to just be a face in a sea of faces. We were created to represent truth, love, justice, holiness. We were not created to become a god, to be an image of Who He IS!
We were created to "face" ourselves, to acknowledge and admit and confront things with courage. To be able to co-exist in this crazy world full of faces that are unfamiliar, even when we have known that face our whole life. Even when the face that has changed is our very own.
Psalm 27 tells us to seek His face, His face will not turn from us.
He wants us to recognize Him, to know who look for. I have never seen the face of God, but I am sure if I was in His presence I would recognize Him. He is the one face that never changes, the same yesterday today and tomorrow.
As the song says "He Traded His Life for Mine"...as He did for everyone else.
So don't get lost at sea.
See ya soon...
Faces represent people in general, and who they are or think they are, aspire to be or who they have actually become. See a face is much more than a part of the body. Its our first impression, its the readable feature, the one that can identify every thing from shear joy to total disgust.
I have a very readable face, you can pretty much tell what I am thinking by my expression, my eye rolling is apparently legendary, but seriously, I would never make a good liar because as soon as I try to tell a fib, I get really red in the face and kind of start to laugh...I am not good at it. This face is transparent.
So lately I have found myself in this sea of faces of folks I thought I knew. While they look like the same old folks I have always known, there is a change, life takes a toll on the face. The elements around us cause our physical appearance to become weathered and worn. Our daily trials and unexpected journeys do something to what was a young and healthy looking face.
Again its not just about appearance. Webster's dictionary defines the word "face" as a noun and a verb:
- the front part of the head that in humans extends from the forehead to the chin and includes the mouth, nose, cheeks, and eyes
- a front, upper, or outer surface, a surface specially prepared
- the way something appears when it is first seen or thought about
- to acknowledge; admit
- to meet courageously; confront
Actually I can't, and I don't want to!
I have found myself saying that a lot lately, I can't face it and don't want to but have had to.
I look in the mirror everyday and think, my God what has happened to me. My youth is quickly fading away, and my face is showing every ounce of disappointment, fear, anger, pain, and small amounts of joy I have left. And by golly as I go out into that endless sea of faces, I see people just like me.
I find no comfort in having to admit that there is something wrong, then having to face it,, it takes every courageous bone in my body to confront it. I am very non confrontational. I hate conflict, except for debates with our daughter Rachael...Its because while those conversations may become heated, they are not intended to be hurtful...We are very mindful of each others stand on the worlds issues...Funny thing is as passionate as we are, we have the same facial expressions when it comes to anger, frustration and even laughter. But the key word there is being mindful. Even in the heat of the moment we recognize the faces, we have not changed in appearance to each other...My face is one in the same as it has been her whole life. Unlike other faces we see that we thought would always be familiar.
See some folks disguise themselves well...they seem to have more than one face. Yes I said it, some people seem to have more than one face...One of truth, and one of well, anything but the truth. They are constantly trying to be what people desire they be, or try to be something other than what they truly are...And that folks is contrary to what God desires for us.
See if we are truly wearing our own face, being true to who we are, then we are representing and living in the image of God. We were not created to just be a face in a sea of faces. We were created to represent truth, love, justice, holiness. We were not created to become a god, to be an image of Who He IS!
We were created to "face" ourselves, to acknowledge and admit and confront things with courage. To be able to co-exist in this crazy world full of faces that are unfamiliar, even when we have known that face our whole life. Even when the face that has changed is our very own.
Psalm 27 tells us to seek His face, His face will not turn from us.
He wants us to recognize Him, to know who look for. I have never seen the face of God, but I am sure if I was in His presence I would recognize Him. He is the one face that never changes, the same yesterday today and tomorrow.
As the song says "He Traded His Life for Mine"...as He did for everyone else.
So don't get lost at sea.
See ya soon...
Thursday, July 16, 2015
The Struggles the Same, the Journey is Different
Welcome to Traces Space! The Struggles the same, the Journey is different. What on earth could that mean? A couple of months ago, I found myself on my knees at the alter praying, praying for my family, my job, just life, and these words kept coming to me not leaving me alone. Believe what you like but I know that I know that God was revealing something to me in that moment, however I just wasn't getting it.
It seems to me that most of my writings lately have been about journey's, where I am going, where I have been...Who I have been connected to, and who I may be disconnecting myself from.
I believe now that I get, well kind of get what was being revealed, that no matter the struggle, whether it be one from the past or one coming, that the journey for me no longer will be traveled alone. Even if I try to travel that way, God is not going to allow it.
That's a strong message. I thought I always did rely on God, but hmmmm....apparently not. Seems that my inability to find comfort or peace in things have been forced by the reality of just recognizing words for what they are, but I have to find the truth in those words. What I guess I am saying here is that we can give lip service, say that we truly or fully surrender to God, but in the back of our mind we find ourselves constantly seeking a truth that we have not accepted as truth. Does this make sense. We want instant comfort, we want instant peace, and there are times when it does come that way, but some times it doesn't. In most of life's circumstances , Gods plan for us is to learn something from it...As a good friend use to say to me often, "what is God saying to you"? Yes I have quoted that before, but there is a whole lot of wisdom in that.
So here is the meat of the message, because I have thought about it a lot the past couple of days, and also have lived it. My struggles are mine, I own them, and what I choose to do with them is totally up to me. I can dwell on them, or I can deal with them and travel (the key word being travel there) on. I can fling them in someone else's direction and have a human factor involved in my personal journey totally disregarding the fact that God has reveled He is the one traveling with me. I can allow the garbage that enters into my mind take up residency and have it control my every thought and every emotion, and allow that to hinder the true purpose that God has for my life.
Let me clarify, not for one moment I do not believe that God desires that I allow the things of my past to control me, I do not believe that His desire for me is for all of my trust issues, all of the anger, my brokenness to define who I am in Him. Why do I allow the things that He has long since thrown into the sea of forgetfulness to enter into my mind, or worse yet, my heart.
Oh, here we go, right there, I had to confess, that I have the above issues. Come clean.
He not only knows my name, He knows my heart, the root of every issue that I have. He knows the triggers, He knows the solution. He knows that my greatest fear is to end up alone.
But His word is very clear,
Psalm 73:23
It seems to me that most of my writings lately have been about journey's, where I am going, where I have been...Who I have been connected to, and who I may be disconnecting myself from.
I believe now that I get, well kind of get what was being revealed, that no matter the struggle, whether it be one from the past or one coming, that the journey for me no longer will be traveled alone. Even if I try to travel that way, God is not going to allow it.
That's a strong message. I thought I always did rely on God, but hmmmm....apparently not. Seems that my inability to find comfort or peace in things have been forced by the reality of just recognizing words for what they are, but I have to find the truth in those words. What I guess I am saying here is that we can give lip service, say that we truly or fully surrender to God, but in the back of our mind we find ourselves constantly seeking a truth that we have not accepted as truth. Does this make sense. We want instant comfort, we want instant peace, and there are times when it does come that way, but some times it doesn't. In most of life's circumstances , Gods plan for us is to learn something from it...As a good friend use to say to me often, "what is God saying to you"? Yes I have quoted that before, but there is a whole lot of wisdom in that.
So here is the meat of the message, because I have thought about it a lot the past couple of days, and also have lived it. My struggles are mine, I own them, and what I choose to do with them is totally up to me. I can dwell on them, or I can deal with them and travel (the key word being travel there) on. I can fling them in someone else's direction and have a human factor involved in my personal journey totally disregarding the fact that God has reveled He is the one traveling with me. I can allow the garbage that enters into my mind take up residency and have it control my every thought and every emotion, and allow that to hinder the true purpose that God has for my life.
Let me clarify, not for one moment I do not believe that God desires that I allow the things of my past to control me, I do not believe that His desire for me is for all of my trust issues, all of the anger, my brokenness to define who I am in Him. Why do I allow the things that He has long since thrown into the sea of forgetfulness to enter into my mind, or worse yet, my heart.
Oh, here we go, right there, I had to confess, that I have the above issues. Come clean.
He not only knows my name, He knows my heart, the root of every issue that I have. He knows the triggers, He knows the solution. He knows that my greatest fear is to end up alone.
But His word is very clear,
Psalm 73:23
23 Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
you hold me by my right hand.
and finally, Psalm 73:26
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
So even though my struggle does appear to be the same, the Journey is much different. As He takes us all from Glory to Glory, He reveals more and more of His true nature to us, and more of our own nature in order to give us healing so that we can shine for His glory not our own.
I truly want to be "whole"...And with His help and guidance it will happen....Because the Journey is different, He is with me, always...
See you soon.
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