Awake

"I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me" ~Ps 3:5~

Sleep is a funny thing. When we are hard pressed, we avoid it to keep pushing ourself harder and longer. When your mind is so burdened you cannot rest, it is desperately longed for. When you are depressed, feeling without hope, it is a hiding place. When we are sick, it helps heal. When the sickness or the pain is too great, it is severely missed!

I have seen the Lord lay me down in sweet sleep, when He knew I needed rest worse than anything else at that moment. I've had Him wake me in the middle of the night, to draw me into His word, to speak to my heart, or burden me to pray for someone or something.

I have also seen the devil bring nightmares to try and rob me of my peace. I'v also seen the enemy fight me with fatigue when the Lord is trying to push me diligently to accomplish something of kingdom value.

The Bible says to test the spirits, to know where they come from. Listen to your body, but listen to God. There is a time for rest, there is a time for labor. But above all, be alert to the tactics of the enemy to divert you from God's path...be awake in your spirit!

"Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world" ~I John 4:1~

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" ~I Peter 5:8~

My Season

"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven" ~Ecc 3:1~

As the kids prepared to leave this morning, each one of us had to go to the front door and just feel the outside weather. One kid would tell another, "Go feel outside!" With sun shining, it brought a smile to each one of our faces to feel how quickly the cool fall air had settled in...just overnight. Each one was excited to pull the light weight jackets from the closet and slip them on, familiar warmth to snuggle in that had been tucked away since last fall.

Some found that last year's jacket just didn't fit any more, time to try on something new. It's so exciting to see how much we have grown, and to look forward to something new.

As I prayed the kids out the door, I couldn't help but think about this verse. It's one of my favorites, I go back to it often.

Change can be scary at first, but we don't have to remain afraid. Trust that God is beginning something miraculous in your life! Feel the cool sudden change in the wind and know that it is blowing in your direction for a change. Smile with anticipation as you pull out a new wardrobe, get dressed up for the occasion of a fresh start! Snuggle up, warm and covered with familiar comforts that you packed away and feared you would never feel the security of them again. Let go of things that no longer fit the new you, and the new life God is creating for you. Expect something grand and better to take it's place! Step out the open door He has opened...from your old life right into the fresh new one He is giving you. Close your eyes, take a deep breath in...it's finally here. This is your season!

Riches of Grace

"And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn" ~Zeph 12:10~

Does it grieve our spirit the price that Jesus paid for our sins? Does it grieve us when we do things that grieve His spirit? We pierced Him. I pierced Him. The price of my forgiveness was on Him. The cost for me was His blood. He paid it willingly. Do we even understand or comprehend the Spirit of His grace and supplication? I fail Him so many times. I could find no way to redeem myself. I'm so incapable of keeping a constant list of laws to perfection that would earn my own righteousness...I'm way too weak and flawed for that. It's only His grace that could redeem me. Thank you, Lord, for loving me endlessly, and forgiving me tirelessly. Strengthen me to bring You glory and not grief all the days of my life.

"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" ~Eph 1:7~

Shall Be Filled

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. For they shall be filled" ~Matt 5:6~

Shall be filled...not maybe so, or hope so. God, You have promised when I seek You in all Your righteousness, You will fill me. When I call out to You, seeking only Your will for my life, You fill me up. When I pray like Jabez did, to bless me and bless me indeed as only You can, You answer. When all I seek is Your perfect will, You honor that and fill the deepest hunger and thirst of my soul. And when I'm weary or weak, and don't know what to pray as I should, but lift up my soul to You for direction, You intercede and fill me up anyway. Hallelujah!

"Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered." ~Rom 8:26~

"Cause me to hear Your lovingkindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; Cause me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You" ~Ps 143:8~

Rest in Him Today

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" ~Matt 11:28~

Where ever you are, what ever you are facing...run to Jesus with it! Take a time out from all your laboring, from all your worrying. Fall into His arms, cry with your face buried in His chest, fall asleep there with His arms wrapped around you. Let Him lift that burden off you for just a while and cover you like a blanket with the peace of His presence. He will guide you from there, direction will come later. But just for now...rest in Him today.

His Authority

"And He said to them,'It is not for you to know the times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority" ~Acts 1:7~

I kept trying to navigate away from this verse today. It has been a command that God has used many times over the last 2 years in my life..."It's not for you to know when, Kristie..."

But today I finally noticed that this verse is just before the great commission to the mission field Acts 1:8! (God's probably thinking like you are, that this should have occurred to me long before now, HELLO-7 comes before 8!..) But sometimes I can have tunnel vision. Sometimes I'm so busy looking for the detail I seek, I miss the bigger picture God is trying to show me.

My friend Nicole sent me a quote today: "We often do not recognize gifts from God because they come wrapped in packages we hadn't expected" (Patsy Clairmont)

Am I like that? Am I so narrow minded that I cannot accept gifts from God unless they come in packages I pre-approve? Am I missing the greatest blessings in some unexpected packages?

It is only when I surrender control to the Holy Spirit that He can come over my life. It is only through Him that I can receive the power to move from this season where I am, into the next time of my life. He ends seasons and times as He wills, as He knows best...His authority...His authority...His authority.

Through this situation, this season, He will use you to be witnesses to everyone around you. Your surrendered life will lead others to Him.

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth" ~Acts 1:8~

My Keeper

"I will lift up my eyes to the hills--from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber...The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand." ~Ps 121~

From the valley where you are now, you don't have to fight your own way out. You don't have to be crafted in gorilla warfare. You don't have to be a skilled swordsman. You don't have to be a master in strategic battle planning or have a black belt in karate. All you have to do is look to the hills.

Can you just picture it? The enemy has you surrounded on all sides. You're wounded, discouraged, outnumbered and scared. The sky is dark in your life at this moment, and it looks as if the end is near. You are sure there is no way out of this, not this time. It feels like the enemy has finally won. But then, a light begins to rise, just over the hill...brighter, and brighter. Fast, swift, you hear the sounds of an army rushing in. Angels wings, horse hoofs and a battle horn valiantly blown. They are here for you. And then you see Him...there He is, your Savior, your King riding in as Knight in shining armor. He is here to save you.

You don't have to lift a riffle, you don't have to lift a finger. All you have to do is lift your eyes to see the salvation of Your Lord...your Keeper has arrived.

Endurance

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" ~Heb 12:1~

Everything You have done in my life is a resounding witness to Your power, Your love for me, and Your promises held true. Help me lay aside every thing that weighs me down, burdens my mind, causes my countenance to fall, saddens my spirit....strengthen me to avoid the sin that so easily ensnares me. I want to run this race with endurance, this race, this path that You have chosen & set before me. Keep my eyes focused Lord to endure.

Trust

"Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us" ~Ps 62:8~

Everything about my morning devotions brought me here. Even the book I've been reading. It examines areas of your life that lack confidence, including your spiritual life. As I read the list, I was shocked to reveal my trust level is lacking...do I give God full trust, full control of every area of my life? What fears do I cling to? What areas do I need to surrender? Do I trust Him at ALL times?

Lord, remind me that You are always a refuge for me. I'm pouring my heart out before you. I will keep practicing trust until I learn to surrender everything to You and to trust You at ALL times. Strengthen my ability to let go.

Beth Moore quote: I have put the devil on alert. He may make my life difficult but he cannot make me quit, for I am one of God's dear children.

Still Know

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! The Lord of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah" ~Ps 46:10-11~

Be still...the hardest commandment He ever gives me to obey. There is a song on American Family Radio that has this verse in the chorus. It says: Peace be still, Peace be still, PLEASE be still...and know that I am God.

I figure that's how God feels with me often. Kristie, peace! Be still. Kristie, peace! Be still. Kristie, PLEASE BE STILL...don't get ahead of me. Wait, I'm working something out.

But look at the next commandment in this verse: Know. To "know" is believing without doubt. It claims a promise to be absolute & concrete. No moments of uncertainty. To fill your mind with so much assurance there is no room for a second thought. No question marks, only exclammation marks!

Know is a present tense verb. It is built on what we have known in the past, His faithfulness proven over and over, but we have to exercise that proven knowledge today. He is. His word is. That is what we know to be sure, here, today. No time for a quick glance back over our shoulder at what is behind us...like Lot's wife, we could become frozen in the past: "But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt" ~Gen 19:26~

This is the same God of Jacob, your God, my God. Jacob wrestled with God until the breaking of day because he "knew" God would indeed bless him, and Jacob refused to let go or move until God blessed him right there (Gen 32:22-32). Jacob knew how to be still.

We know God will be exalted among the nations. We know He will be exalted on the earth...and that exaltation will come through your life, and mine. Know that He is here with us, as we stand still, in silence. Know that He is our refuge, here, even as He works out the things that lay ahead of us, just like He did for Ruth. "...Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man will not rest until he has concluded the matter this day" ~Ruth 3:18~

Selah...stand in awe and amazement. Ponder on the still small voice and the power of His presence in this still moment. Let the depth of your soul praise Him in the stillness.

Pleasant Places

"O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup; You maintain my lot. The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; Yes, I have a good inheritance. I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; My heart also instructs me in the night seasons. I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall not be moved. Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope" ~Ps 16:5-9~

Lord, You promise me a good inheritance. It's You maintaining my lot in life. You promise the lines fall to me in pleasant places. You give counsel to my heart in the night seasons, even when I cannot see the path I'm on...You still stay before me, leading me, holding my right hand. No matter how unclear this area of the journey is, You won't let me be moved from the course that leads to my future. Even the dark areas where I cannot see can be pleasant places full of rejoicing. My heart chooses to be glad...I can rest in my assured hope!

Temperate

"Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown." ~I Corinth 9:24-25~

Temperate...this word was on my heart this morning.

This word is also found in I Tim 3:2 listing the qualifications of church leaders: "A bishop must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach."

What does it mean to be temperate? How does that word relate to runners / athletes, church leaders & us in our Christian walk?

Webster defines temperate as:
1 : marked by moderation: keeping or held within limits : not extreme or excessive : mild : moderate in indulgence of appetite or desire : moderate in the use of alcoholic beverages : marked by an absence or avoidance of extravagance, violence, or extreme partisanship

So, as we run this race of life, we are to be focused on the eternal prize of living for Jesus, and leading others to Him. That is the eternal prize. We are to be trained, disciplined, held within limits...not by laws for the sake of perfection but by grace for the sake of love. We are to train ourselves in prayer, discipline ourselves in The Living Word, and limit how we act...keeping our hands wide open for His love and blessings to flow through our hands and be poured out on everyone around us.

Can you see the prize of being His beloved? Can you feel that crown as He places a jewel for every life you touch for His name? That crown we will lay at His feet one day, knowing every jewel we have obtained was His to begin with. He just let us share His treasures of life, love, family, friends, ministry. Keep your eye on the prize. Don't waste today's treasure.

Examine Myself

"But let each one examine his own work and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. For each one shall bear his own load" ~Gal 6:4-5~

Do I examine myself enough? How close do I look? Do I see myself as God does? I love the great feeling when my "works" please Him. It is our calling to minister to others, each of us...

"Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world" ~Jam 1:27~

I know it makes God smile when He sees us loving on others, regardless of whether we think they are in the wrong place in their life, only the love of God poured out on them can change their life.

But what about that last phrase? "To keep oneself unspotted from the world"...I'm ashamed at how many times I've failed to do this part. I'm afraid I've let the world leave it's mark on me often. How do we get past that? How do we forgive ourselves for falling short yesterday and move ahead today?

"This I recall to my mind, therefore I hope in Him! Through the Lord's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every mourning; Great is Your faithfulness" ~Lam 3:21-23~

That's how...when we failed yesterday, we get up today and start over in Him. And that's how we share the hope with others.

A Great Gulf Fixed

"And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us" ~Luke 16:26~

This is the story of the rich man and the beggar Lazarus. The rich man spent his life clothed well, and ate well. The beggar laid at his gate, full of sores, begging for the crumbs from the rich man's table. Both men died, and the rich man looks up from Hades and sees Lazarus in heaven, in Abraham's bosom. The rich man cries out to Abraham, being tormented by flames, begging for a drop of water. He also begged Abraham to send Lazarus back to earth to warn his five brothers of this place of torment that they might not go. But Abraham cannot. He replies to the rich man with the verse above...that there is a great gulf fixed between us, the living and the dead, and between heaven and hell. Once our decision is made, there is no going back.

A rich man now turned beggar. A beggar now living in the riches of glory.

One day, we will each face that gulf. Which side are you standing on? Where do your brothers and sisters stand? Your friends? Do you even know?

Fix your eyes on the things that matter in this life...the eternal things. The only things in this life that are eternal are people. Don't miss your chance.

Endless Dancing

"But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers" ~I Pet 4:7~

None of us know when the end of time will come, for our individual lives, or for the entire world. Many Christians look at the difficult state of our world today and wonder how much longer it could go on this way.

But we all experience endings to seasons in our life...the end of our childhood, the end of teenage years, the end of high school days, the end of college years, the end of a job, the end of a relationship, the end of a life. The end can be full of sadness, but it can also be full of promise for something new to begin. Or a new purposed ministry from the lose you just experienced. A new dance in the music of your life.

When we are faced with an unwelcome end, and watch helplessly as it takes place, be serious and watchful in your prayers. Ask God to reveal Himself to you in this end. Ask Him to help you see that He is still in control, regardless how out of control things feel. Ask Him to help you grieve, but then let go when the time comes, looking ahead to new beginnings. Ask Him to make this a time of great closeness with the Holy Spirit and something to build a great testimony you will use to both glorify Him, and help others as they pass through unwelcome endings.

I promise, there are other happy beginnings. And sometimes the most unexpected things turn out to be blessings in disguise. God promises too. Stay serious about receiving that blessing, watchful in prayer to see His hand.

"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven...a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance" ~Ecc 3~

Persevere in Love

"And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." ~Rom 5:3-5~

I am drawn to these verses often in times of my own struggles, my own tribulations. But this morning, I am drawn to them to persevere with others during their times of tribulation.

Yesterday afternoon, one of our church members, a minister, was hit by a drunk driver...The driver is also from our community. A lady God has crossed my path with often, close to my own age, with children close to my children's age. Interestingly, we have had many of the same trials in our past, from childhood through adulthood. We have talked and shared the hope of Jesus several times. I know now that as my heart aches for the dear minister and friend as he looses one of his legs and faces a life-time of changes, so will this young mother face a life-time of changes. Both will still need to be ministered to, and loved, and to hear the hope of Jesus.

These verses also remind me to persevere when friends abandon you. Forgive them anyway, love them anyway. Life is too short to waste it angry all the time. They need you, and you need them. Life takes people from you without choice that you can never get back...Just be ready to love the ones who return, forgetting the past.

And these verses remind me of my kids. If there is anything I know about raising 5 kids, it's the fact that they go through rough patches. Different tribulations for each of them. And at times it will scare you, take you by surprise to see what area of attack the enemy has devised. But their struggles are not who they are. They are not defined by their weaknesses, but rather by who God created them to be. That's our job as parents, to remind them of that, and to persevere with them in love, to help them get through this rough patch back to smooth sailing. It's our job to help God mold character in them through this tribulation.

Persevering with others in difficult times, through the love Jesus has placed in your heart and in my heart....that's the hope that never disappoints.

The Wise Prepare

~Matt 25:1-13~
~~~"Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight a cry was heard: 'Behold, the bridegroom is coming, go out to meet him!' Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, 'Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.' But the wise answered,'No, lest there should not be enough for us and you; but go rather to those who sell, and buy for yourselves.'

And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding; and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying,'Lord, Lord, open to us!' But he answered and said, 'Assuredly, I say to you, I do not know you.' Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming." ~~~

Whatever God is leading you to do, please do not delay. Whatever thing in life you are called to prepare for, do it today. Whatever family or friend doesn't know Jesus as Lord & Savior, make today the day you tell them about Him. If you don't know where you stand with Him, clear it up today.

"The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance" ~II Peter 3:9~

Labor of Love

"We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God" ~I Thes 1:2-4~

It's important to know where you are in life, and more importantly where you're headed. Knowing your election by God, your calling, should make you move constantly toward that direction. God places people in your life to help move you along this path of faith. Remember to cover them in prayer, thanking God for them, praying a special blessing on them for standing by you, for helping you up when you feel hopeless to keep going.

It is a never ceasing work of faith to step out into God's future. It's a labor of love...keep working! Your patience of hope, your patience to see that hope, will never go unrewarded. You are in the sight of Jesus. He knows.

Sure & Steadfast

"This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil" ~Heb 6:19~

Well, times come and go. Moments of great Holy Spirit leadership call you into deep prayer. Times that God warns you of a great delusion of satan ahead, threatening to lead you astray. When God is working on something great in your life that will further His call on your life to serve Him, you can bet the enemy will devise something so similar, it will almost fool you. But dig deep into prayer. Whatever the devil wraps up into a neat package can only be surface beauty, because there is no way that he can touch the deep beauty of what God has for you...full of character, and holiness, strength, and security. Only things sent from God can be this pure, this sure, this safe.

Sometimes we have to be silent. That was God's greatest advice to me this last week as the enemy tried to deceive me. Silence is supposed to keep the enemy from knowing too much detail about our areas of weakness, longing, neediness...that is ammunition for him to prepare a greater strategy of attack. He will create something you long for and need so much to confuse you. Carry those needs to God instead of man. Never let the enemy have too much information to use against you! Be silent to let God reveal Himself as The Light in the darkness of smoke & mirrors the enemy is presenting. There will be moments it's hard to tell exactly which way to go, but He will reveal it to you. His Spirit is interceding with the Presence behind the veil on your behalf...Be silent and still until He does.

My best friend sent me this quote Wednesday night at a moment I really needed a word from God: "Wherever you are now is God's provision not His punishment. Celebrate this moment, and try very hard to do it with conscious gratitude." ~Luci Swindol~

So, my friend, remember God is sure and steadfast, the hope that anchors our soul...we need to be sure and steadfast to wait for that which God is preparing as perfect for us. The wait will SO be worth it!

"And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise" ~Heb 6:15~

Changing & Revealing

"And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him." ~Dan 2:21-22~

Father, in cloudy moments, we know it is You who change the times and seasons. You raise up men & women for Your glory, for Your will to be done. You give us wisdom and knowledge for us to understand. By Your light, deep and secret things are revealed. Speak a word of truth to me today. Speak to me some words to light my way.

Out of Weakness, Made Strong

"...out of weakness, were made strong..." ~Heb 11:34~

This passage in my Bible is titled: By Faith They Overcame

Heb 11:32-34 "And what more shall I say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gideon and Barak and Samson and Jephthah, also of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens....God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us"

Lord, out of my weakness, make me strong. Deliver the promise that will close up the gap, provide protection, provision, good reward for our labor. That which lifts us up in fallen moments, lays us down in peace at night & keeps us warm. A two-strand able to withstand the devil's attacks against Our Lord's work, and a three-strand, or more...not easily to ever be broken again! (Ecc 4:9-12) Provide something so much better for us, prepared just for us, me and my children...that apart from us, they should not be made perfect. A place cut out just for us. ...by faith YOU did all these things for the men of the Bible. By faith, I know You will do this for us, too. I believe.