Trust – Ruth's Hope

The Storm Within

Originally posted March 7, 2013

It came out of nowhere. I felt it coming. Even shared with a friend in hopes it would diminish. In hopes I could conquer the emotion washing over me as I readied myself to walk into a group of women I did not know. I’m a grown woman who God has re-purposed. What is my problem? Why can’t I get it together? If I know it’s coming, creeping up into the quiet places of my heart and mind to stir up a storm within – surely I should be able to stop it…right?

In the cold of the gray day I somehow remembered what it took to fight the battle within.

If this is your battle too I want to ask you to take this cold gray walk with me.

Leaving the weight of my shoulder bag in the hand of my friend, I made a decision to put one foot in front of the other as I sought to do business with God. One foot in front of the other as I remembered that I had the ability to conquer. Not in my own strength, but in the strength of God my Father. Though it was a brisk day I knew I had to have time alone to talk out loud to God. Not so much so that He would hear me, but more so because I needed to cry out to Him with my whole heart.

Oswald Chambers says “The surf that distresses the ordinary swimmer produces in the surf-rider the super-joy of going clean through it. Apply that to our own circumstances, these very things–tribulation, distress, persecution, produce in us the super-joy; they are not things to fight. We are more than conquerors through Him in all these things, not in spite of them, but in the midst of them.”

Through Him – Therein lies my hope. And your hope too. Not in the success of never having to return to the same dreaded battle again. My mind tells me I should be able to master this. So that I will not find myself back in this position again. The last thought I have in the midst of the battle is this is going to produce super-joy in me.

Oh Lord, help me to trust that the storm – the surf – will lead me to you – the One who has conquered death. The One who reminds me that I too am a conqueror, in ALL things.

Do you need to step out into the brisk cold and put one foot in front of the other as you cry out to God? I’ll join you. Or if you like, I’ll hold your shoulder bag.

We can both learn to trust the surf.

HIS,

karen

Uncategorized

dependent

August

A is the first letter of the alphabet. It seems a good time for a getting things in order again, beginning with A!

I hope you have had a relaxing, amazing & fun summer. That you are making special memories to look back on.

I am grateful you take the time to read my posts. I love when you are able to let your voice be heard on the topic, it makes the post all the more richer for your having stopped in.

Spring offers numerous gifts of new life. My yard is full of surprises – floral – greenery – animals. We often say it’s like a sanctuary. Too often I miss the gifts in my distracted attempt to stay on task. Why is this an ongoing battle for me? My journal pages are filled with requests of God to help me to focus, to be disciplined. I guess He wants to keep me in the classroom, in need of Him.

Early in the light of day I often curl up on the end of my sofa to be still. Though the distractions come in my heart and my mind, I make this a place to sit quietly. To wait on the Lord. Sometimes the waiting is a bit fidgety. Other times it’s like having an ocean wave meet me on the shore and roll back out to sea. I return. Hoping for the ability to abide in the vine…my sweet Lord.

I am drawn to birds nests. You will be hearing more about that in future posts. There is something so beautiful about watching a birds nest be formed. The mama bird works tirelessly to bring each tender piece of the homestead to its new perch. The intricacy and detail that holds together against the wind and rain amazes me.

As if it’s not enough to watch this building project from my own perch at the end of my sofa, I have to get closer. Like a child I am drawn to the edge of the nest. To peek over its edge. How in the world do the sticks and hay and mud hold together for me to look upon this masterpiece? A safe place. Created by a mother to care for her young. She knows what’s needed even before they find their way out of the crackling egg. She anticipates every need before one is expressed. I now anticipate with her.

New life is evidenced by the high pitch of the hungry little ones. Mother is not far off. If I am too close in my childlike curiosity, she makes a stir on the nearby branch. As if to say – back off – those are my little ones.

I wonder, as I watch the baby birds stretch their necks for food as they sense their mother coming, is this how my Heavenly Father wants me to be with Him? Waiting. Trusting. Knowing He is watching over me. Protecting me.

Desiring a dependence upon Him in all things. Does He want me to sit quietly waiting for Him?

As I watch their little beaks reach toward the sky, trusting mama to bring nourishment they could not get for themselves, I am reminded that is all God wants of us. A posture of dependence upon Him in all things.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make straight your path. Proverbs 3:5-7 ESV

WIll you curl up & trust with me?

HIS,

karen

The Storm Within

Nay, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

Romans 8:37 – From My Utmost For His Highest

It came out of nowhere. I felt it coming. Even shared with a friend in hopes it would diminish. In hopes I could conquer the emotion washing over me as I readied myself to walk into a group of women I did not know. I’m a grown woman who God has re-purposed. What is my problem? Why can’t I get it together? If I know it’s coming, creeping up into the quiet places of my heart and mind to stir up a storm within – surely I should be able to stop it…right?

In the cold of the gray day I somehow remembered what it took to fight the battle within.

If this is your battle too I want to ask you to take this cold gray walk with me.

Leaving the weight of my shoulder bag in the hand of my friend, I made a decision to put one foot in front of the other as I sought to do business with God. One foot in front of the other as I remembered that I had the ability to conquer. Not in my own strength, but in the strength of God my Father. Though it was a brisk day I knew I had to have time alone to talk out loud to God. Not so much so that He would hear me, but more so because I needed to cry out to Him with my whole heart.

Oswald Chambers says “The surf that distresses the ordinary swimmer produces in the surf-rider the super-joy of going clean through it. Apply that to our own circumstances, these very things–tribulation, distress, persecution, produce in us the super-joy; they are not things to fight. We are more than conquerors through Him in all these things, not in spite of them, but in the midst of them.”

Through Him – Therein lies my hope. Not in the success of never having to return to the same dreaded battle again. My mind tells me I should be able to master this. So that I will not find myself back in this position again. The last thought I have in the midst of the battle is this is going to produce super-joy in me.

Oh Lord, help me to trust that the storm – the surf – will lead me to you – the One who has conquered death. The One who reminds me that I too am a conqueror, in ALL things.

Do you need to strep out into the brisk cold and put one foot in front of the other as you cry out to God? I’ll join you. Or if you like, I’ll hold your shoulder bag.

We can both learn to trust the surf.

HIS,

karen

Day Clicks JOY Uncategorized

Trust JOY

Day 26

It’s all around us right now. Wasn’t it here a week or two ago?
I am convinced it is about trusting and paying attention to the details.

Trust because God is at work even when we don’t see it.

David cried out to God in his time of great need. Perhaps he couldn’t see what the Lord was up to. He couldn’t see what was yet to come. He called out to the Lord to hear his pleas. Psalm 28:2 tells us he lifted up his hands toward the Lord’s most holy sanctuary. In Hebrew his means innermost sanctuary. This speaks to me of personal intimacy. God invites us into His innermost sanctuary.
And as I see these rich buds bringing forth new life it is an invitation to remember just how personal an invitation it is.

Psalm 28:7
The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

Today I see this beauty and my heart trusts. Just as these buds sing praise to their Creator, with my heart I give thanks to God.

Paying attention to the details because when we do not…we miss the simple pleasures God has for His children.

What simple pleasures were you able to recognize from God today?