Out Of Your Box

We tend to see only what is in front of our eyes as reality. It's often difficult for humans to understand other people well because each person's unique experiences create their own boxes of reality. Because this, the tint through which we view the world, is the same shading with which we tend to see God.

The Lord God (YHWH), however, is the God of all things whether we can comprehend it or not. 1 John 1:5 says "...God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him." What I love about this image is that light is made up of every shade and color: Even the ones we can't see. Our God, who is the essence of all shading and operates in and through every one, is infinitely more than we see. We view Him in the shades of our own personal boxes, but He can be so much more if we let Him.

Ask God to show you His presence in a new shade this weekend, and be prepared to be amazed!

What Would It Take?

Take some time to really think about this question before you go on:

What would it take for you to no longer trust God?
A job loss? Major illness? Loss of a child? Loss of a parent? Loss of a pet? Your dreams, or those for your children shattered? A natural disaster? Pain and suffering for someone you love? Not getting what you feel you deserve? Betrayal from a Christian mentor/pastor/leader?

I'm not talking about a momentary confusion in what God has allowed to happen. I'm talking about, in essence, denying Him.

Now, take it a step further. Do you trust God in everything? That means giving it ALL over to Him. You can't hold back any one thing in your life to be in control of, because you don't think you would like the way God might handle it. Have you given Him control of your job? Have you given Him control over the lives and deaths of your children, spouse, and other family members? Do you allow Him to guide you into friendship with others, or do you pick your own confidants, and then basically tell God live with it.

One of the freedoms we have in Christ Jesus is the assurance of our salvation when we trust fully in Him. We know, without a shadow of a doubt, that nothing He allows to happen can separate us from Him.

Who can separate us from the love of Christ? 
Can affliction or anguish or persecution 
or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?
As it is written: Because of You we are being put to death all day long; we are counted as sheep to be slaughtered.
No, in all these things we are more than victorious through Him who loved us.
For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, 
nor angles nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, 
nor powers, nor height nor depth, 
nor any other created thing will have the power to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord! 
Romans 8:35-39

This passage is not listing things that try to tear God away from us, but to tear us away from God. Go back and read the Scripture again. This time insert "Me" or "I" in place of the pronouns "we, us, our". Make this passage a personal declaration to the Lord of your love and trust for Him and your acceptance of His love and blessings for you.

Apple Picking

While in Maryland we went apple picking at an organic farm. The produce they had was amazing! My brother-in-law took this picture of my husband and I as we played around while gathering 140 lbs of apples.

Every time I see this photo I think of Adam and Eve, and I'm glad it isn't an accurate portrayal of that scene. (Genesis 3:7)

Something I found interesting was that each person there had a different favorite apple. There were only 4 varieties available that day, so unfortunately, a few people were out of luck. My favorite were the Empire apples. They were slightly tart and smaller than some of the others: The perfect munching size for me. The one we were eating in the photo was an Ida Red. They were big, juicy, and tart: Perfect for cooking and baking with.

As I looked around, I was blown away by the variety God created for us. Yes, some apples were genetically altered to give different flavors, but God created fruit to be able to do that. He knew we were created to have different tastes and desires, so He made the world around us to offer more than one kind.

I started thinking about the fact that just because someone preferred a different apple didn't mean they were wrong. It meant they were created by God, from the womb, to desire different things. This is the same thing as how we worship. Some people like upbeat praise and worship, others like somber hymns. A loud, solid beat and wild strings my stir one soul while a calm harp and soft woodwinds stirs another.

We were created different: And telling God that others tempos are wrong, is like telling Him He was wrong to create more than one kind of apple.

Would You Rather...

While in Maryland with family, we played a fun game called, "Would You Rather...". It gave you a list of question where you had to choose between two difficult scenarios. Depending on where you were in the game, the goal was to either have others agree or disagree on their answers.

I looked online hoping they had a Bible version to play, but they didn't. Probably too many heated arguments would happen...

However, as I was studying and reading over a section in the life of Moses, a question came to mind:

Would you rather...
See God's full glory pass before you once in your life like Moses (Ex. 33:18-23), or...
Be certain of God's direction, specifically for you, throughout your whole life?


There is no right or wrong answer, but is something fun to ponder. Post a comment and let me know which you would choose and why.

What Kind Of Love?

What kind of love sacrifices glory due for others free will?

What kind of love disciplines for the benefit of one, over and over and over, though they never seem to learn?

What kind of love created so much beauty, variety, and complexity, for those who know so little, to rule over?

What kind of love can completely forgive unadulterated hate?

What kind of love can be just, in every aspect and from every angle at the same time?

What kind of love endures intense suffering and death when it never had to be experienced at all?

What kind of love loves fully when it is not warranted?

What kind of love can be trusted completely?

What kind of love can possibly describe its Creator?

What kind of love do you have?


Love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Dear friends, if God loved us in this way, we must also love one another.
1 John 4:10-11

Celebrate!

Have you taken the time lately to celebrate our differences in the Lord? I'm not talking about theology. There are the basics we must all agree upon in order to truly be a Christian. (I might discuss those at a later, and braver, date!) I'm talking about the different talents, spiritual gifts, and personalities that God has hardwired into our lives.

Unfortunately, we usually tend to try and emulate, discount, or judge others unique, God-given quirks instead of just being joyful that they have them. Yesterday, the Lord allowed me a time of reflective perspective. (I like the way that sounds...) He let me see the many personalities and teaching styles of some fellow sisters in Christ from an out of the box vantage point. I loved their honesty, integrity, passion, simplicity, wisdom, humor, and joy. I was truly humbled to worship with them.

What are some of the things you can celebrate in others around you?

Getting Back

The Lord has shown me so much reality lately. One being how much I love my home. Seldom do we realize just how habitual we are until things are completely off kilter and away from home. No matter what you usually do - be it chaos or strictly scheduled - if it is usual for you, home is a base. When that is not available, we tend to get thrown for a loop. I really do love visiting family and other places. However, I have a harder time being committed to reading my Bible and other "time with God" things. I've come to realize how fickle I can be and easily go astray.

The other thing He has been teaching me is a love for all people who are His. I was blessed to be able to worship at a different church last Sunday and meet others throughout the week who are in quite different roles in life, yet love Him. Much of it was just being in a place so different from my home. The greater Washington D.C. area is not quite the same as Bell Buckle, TN. It's a different beast from Nashville even. I love seeing the diversity God has placed here on this earth: And I know I've only scratched the surface! We even met a young woman on the way home in Knoxville who needed ministering to. She was the ribbon on this whole lesson God has been teaching me.

What do you discover about yourself or God when you go on vacation?