Frame of Reference

Psalm 94:19, When doubts filled my mind, Your comfort gave me renewed hope and cheer.

As my body continues to battle this stomach bug I notice each day is increasingly more sad because I want to get out of this house and bed and start living again. An incident this time has brought me to a higher level though, a place where acceptance of suffering is more manageable. The other day when I was caring for my grand-daughter as she suffered from this same virus, I comforted her with a simplistic truth. Although you are throwing up let's list all the things that you aren't having to suffer with right now... No fever, no sore throat, no aches, no sinus pressure... you can see, taste, hear, feel my touch as I comfort you, you're not going through this alone, someone who loves you is with you, you have a support system of family and friends that will be there for you no matter what. You are in a safe place, snuggled in a cozy bed, there's heat in the house, clean water, amenities...  Then, we prayed for specific things regarding her healing.

Needless to say, we didn't wake up till late the next day. Her stomach bug had passed and she was smiling again. A bit upset that she missed Valentine's Day at school but definitely overjoyed about feeling better. Before she left for home with her dad I reminded her how God had met all of her needs the night before. Every single need we offered up to Him in prayer, He answered. I reminded her to build a monument in her heart and mind so as to never forget God's great love and faithfulness.

When tragedy strikes, illness oppresses, things break down, health fails or just the complications of life become stressful and overwhelming, we have choices as to how we're going to handle it. I still loose it and cry or complain but I put a time limit on it now. I regroup my thoughts and feelings as I speak new truths to myself. I call someone who I know will empathize with me, comfort me, make me laugh or say a prayer with me. I recapture a grateful heart and remind myself of God's love and presence. I smile in my pain as I thank God that He has put people in my life that will bring me soup or whatever I need. I know now that as bad as something is it can always be worse and it is for many others, so I think of those people and pray for them.

Some days we are on the top of the cliff having a picnic in the sun, other days we are hanging on for dear life as we dangle from a root cliff-side. Then, there are those days when we feel like we are plummeting to our demise, flailing and panicking with uncertainty. Where ever you find yourself, remind yourself, you are never separated from the love of God. Life can be ugly, scary, unfair.... but there is one truth that I cling to, God is with me not against me. Find your peace with Him and let Him comfort you. Let your gratitude for His presence outweigh your pain.

Romans 8:39, No power in the sky above or in the earth below - indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Auto Immune

I've been down with a virus for a few weeks now. It always amazes me how a tiny, microscopic bug can cause such wreckage. You would think that our size would intimidate the bugger but even though it's small it's mighty! As it is taking a road trip throughout my body I realize that nothing I do to fight it has any effect. It's unstoppable until it finalizes its mission. I am held captive to it until it is finished with me.

During this down time I've spent a lot of time talking with Jesus and letting Him talk to me. One of my favorite things to do while spending time with Him is to call to mind and take account of all the changes He has made in my character, behavior and life. I am NOT the same person I used to be and I love praising God for all His beautiful work in my life! I'm no longer a weak-minded, cowering and broken person that's taken down at every hardship.

Years ago I purchased a small bible study book entitled, "Distorted Images of God" and through reading it I discovered many things in my belief system that were infected with a virus of sorts. Because of my past experiences I had a hard time believing God loved me or cared about me. I believed He was sinister and manipulative in regards to my life. My self-worth and my worth in His eyes was rock bottom from my perspective. As I worked through that bible study God used His Word to correct all those lies I believed. I began auto-correcting every lie into a truthful biblical pronouncement. I proclaimed God's love for me in my heart and aloud while at the same time getting God's Word planted deep within me. God changed me through my trials which made me see that each hardship was really a gift.

In many ways, God's unrelenting love for us is like a virus. It takes us over and has it's way with us. It's out of our control as to how long the event will take. His love holds us captive until He completes the work of sanctification in our lives. His microscopic Holy Spirit which is able to permeate the tiniest of recesses in our minds, hearts, spirits and souls reaches deep within us to reveal and heal our weak areas. Just as a virus builds our immune system so it can fight future attacks, so God's work in us prepares us for future spiritual attacks!

Prior to believing in God's love for me, I let every instance or event that was not pleasing to me take me down. I had NO SPIRITUAL IMMUNE SYSTEM. I was weak, ineffective and terrified whenever any attacks came. The virus that I was infected with was not one of truth but one of lies. Satan always sends the same virus, the same lies and misconceptions. The virus of lies never builds our spiritual immune systems it only deteriorates us more and more each time. But, I am telling you my brothers and sisters in Christ to let the God of Love infect you with the virus of truth and love. Let Him build you up into a warrior that will not shrink back or shrivel up when hardships come. In your times of weakness He will be your strength and you will have praise on your lips even though you may be suffering. Our hope is in the Lord. His plans are to prosper us, not to harm us.... Jeremiah 29:11. Once infected with God's love we are then called to go spread it! Let your hope and joy contaminate others.

Be confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it...Philippians 1:6

Consider it pure joy, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2...

Rejoice, for these trials make you partners with Christ in His sufferings, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing His glory when it is revealed to all the world. 1 Peter 4:13

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12

Rock Me

God can rock you like a hurricane to the depths of your being and He can rock you in His arms of love like a tender father. His greatness is displayed in might as well as in gentleness. Where better to place our lives than in the awesome hands of power and love. His presence can straighten us up when we get to big for our britches yet when we fall it is that same presence that rises us up and heals us. Psalm 42:7 says, "Deep calls unto deep at the noise of your waterspouts; all Your waves and billows are gone over me." I encourage you to go to youtube.com and watch videos of waterSPOUTS. Then, just imagine the God of the universe reaching down from heaven and stirring you to your very core... deep calling unto deep! Step out and ask God when you are weak and tired to rock you gently. Or, when you have become stagnant in your faith call on Him to rock you like a hurricane. He is THE ROCK, The Great I AM. You are safe with Him.

Ephesians 3:20, "Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think."

This Rock Will Never Tremble Under You (Old Hymn)

Away out in the harbor is a Rock that's standing sure 
Though the storms may dash against It, It always shall endure 
This Fortress is my Jesus, a Rock that is so true 
and this Rock will never tremble under you 

Chorus 
This rock will never tremble under you 
It will stand through every storm that you go through 
You may tremble on the Rock; some people do 
but this Rock will never tremble under you 

How firm this great Foundation that undergirds my soul 
No storm can overthrow it. No wave can o're it can roll 
Just build your life upon It for It will see you through 
and this Rock will never tremble under you

Out is In

I have a friend right now that is in what looks to be a hopeless circumstance. As I was praying for her this morning I recalled a time of trauma in my life when I could literally find NO WAY OUT! I paced the floors, begged, pleaded, cried, stomped, writhed and acted out many more unflattering displays of immaturity. Yet, no way out, was the only conclusion before me. The grieving process took its path and I finally surrendered, accepting my situation in defeat. This morning though, God revealed to my heart that there is a difference between surrendering in defeat or surrendering in victory. Being aware of which choice you are making will determine your spiritual walk.

Some say, "It doesn't matter if you pray or not. It all works out anyway." Others state, "God let me down." While some live luke warm relationships with God, never really trusting Him. Does God really deliver us? Is He trustworthy and compassionate of our sufferings? Or, does He abandon us in our times of need? Let me share with you the conversation He had with me this morning.

Freedom is found NOT in the deliverance from your trial but in the deliverance of your mind. When you feel trapped and over-wrought, I promised you a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). Look at my servant Jonah , I had to trap him in a circumstance until he found his freedom by surrendering his heart and renewing his thoughts. A victorious surrender! It was only then, that he was delivered from the belly of the fish. I don't allow situations in your life without knowing the outcome first and the goodness that you will glean from it.

Your way out is by going in. Enter in to My presence and be honest about your beliefs, thoughts, doubts, fears, misconceptions...it's when you surrender yourself to me, loving me, trusting me with all your heart, that your circumstance will fade away. I don't want you to look for a way out, although that is so human to do, I want you to look for a way in, into my presence. It's there where you will be set free. When a trial comes into your life it reveals the broken parts in you. Places where you have been wounded and are still weak stand out. The trial inflames these areas, so I USE the trial to make you healthier and more mature. Like a fever pushes out a virus, I strengthen you in those ruff waters, building your stamina and empowering your mind. You NEVER come out of a trial the same person. If you trust Me through it then you arise a victor and a warrior. However, if you fight me through the trial, I cannot accomplish those good things in you. Thus, another trial lays ahead of you for Me to try again. I love you and I will not leave you weak, ineffective and frightened. Neither will I allow you to continue to proclaim Me as your God as you live luke warm lives, showing people your disdain for Me, complaining rather than praising, expressing sarcasm because of your lack of faith...

Escape into your prayer room alone with me and then watch ME work! Your prayers matter! One prayer can renew your mind, change your heart, stop the enemy from advancing, align things in your favor, bring you peace, block an attack... You will calm down in our time together and be able to see my blessings that otherwise go unnoticed. A kind thought from a friend through text, phone call, card or visit. A victory over something that would usually cripple you. Peace in your heart when normally fear was there, complaining replaced by a smile on your face, joy and gratitude overriding sadness and blaming...

Your WAY OUT IS IN! Into my presence. Let Me change you. Aren't you weary from not trusting Me. All that energy could go toward My purposes for you rather than being wasted on emotional and spiritual immaturity. Enter in and let Me show you that I AM your way out, your deliverance from anything that holds you in bondage. It's your fear of Me that keeps you crippled. I AM love. In Me you will not find condemnation or fear but pure love. In Me you will finally realize that your fears were lies. The safest place you can ever be, is where ever you are with Me.

Note:
My friend and I have come to know with full certainty that the moment we enter into prayer all our inflammation, worries, fears... dissolve into nothingness before the God of the Universe and of our hearts! He changes the paradigm instantly bringing light into our darkness, joy into our pain, peace into our turmoil, soundness into our confusion, hope into our despair and love into our brokenness. Communion with Him is our escape and we no longer feel hopeless. Change us first Lord. Praise be to God.