Changing it Up!

It has been 6 months of so much change. I consider myself a fairly flexible person, but there has been a lot going on. I am thankful that I have a lot of processing at home in my own space. However, new surroundings also influence my perspective.

I have been trying to change up my surroundings even though I am home, a lot. I have Zoomed and Skyped and FaceTimed with some precious people. I might ordinarily see them face-to-face but we aren’t living in ordinary times!

I am biking again and listening to podcasts. And now I can even claim my role as a podcaster, which is a big change for me but also not really. It really is just an extension of what I do for work, just in a different format.

My year+ of being a grandma has been full of so much fun. I love people of all ages and when I am in a good space, I can handle most stages too. But these babies — oh, these babies crack me up: their innocence, their trust, their demands, their antics — they hold nothing back at this point. Their emotions are straight out there.

I could learn a thing or two from these babies. They aren’t pretenders. When they are disappointed or sad or in pain, we all know it and we work to help them understand their feelings. I need to pretend less and share my disappointment and pain a little more. It’s not so important to share it with the world, but bringing it before God can do a lot for me as I process. Acknowledging my feelings is a healthy step. Whether I am in a high or low, God knows and He cares about my heart space and he can handle my big feelings!

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
1 Peter 5:6-8 New International Version

Inheritance

What we receive through inheritance is more than just the physical. Our biological parents have contributed to our genetic makeup – for good and for bad, even our tendency towards certain illness as well as other physical or mental challenges. Our parents had no control over what we “received” – they just created a person.

And we inherited it all.

Some of what we “inherit” may not be the best but we learn to live with it and work through it.

When we inherit the “stuff” of someone when they die, it might be a favorite object, a sum of money, or a plot of land. It might be useful and usable. It might be something that takes a lot of work to “discover”. Sometimes the items of an inheritance are overwhelming. Unwanted. Misunderstood.

The concept of inheritance is mentioned quite a bit in Scripture. What God has provided for us can also can be overwhelming. Unwanted. Misunderstood.

Growing in my understanding of my spiritual inheritance helps keep me more centered in my daily life. I am here on this earth for such a short time and eternal considerations should have more of my focus!

³Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you,⁵who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. [1 Peter 1:3-5 NIV]

PrayerPrompt: FEAR

Blessings as you explore your inheritance!

Liz

Disclaimer: I am not a biblical scholar or a pastor. For more detailed understanding of the ways of God, please visit with your pastor or priest if you are a part of a church body. If you don’t have a church home, ask someone you know and trust if they have a Christian church they recommend and get connected.

Snapshots: just a moment in time

A snapshot never tells the whole story. It just records a moment in time:

That Pinterest post you admire doesn’t reflect the hours and hours of orchestration.
The financial picture that may not look good to likely doesn’t tell the story of how far someone has come.
The family that struggles so much but paints on a smile at just the right moments.
A miserable moment for someone who is more often a genuinely positive person.
A glimpse of a bank statement that looks like success doesn’t show the big picture of many failed relationships.
The meager bank account that doesn’t reflect the family love and unity.
The smile that might hide a diagnosis but also reflects a renewed sense of joy for deeper things.

A picture can only say so much, so don’t let it fool you. And more importantly, don’t make rush judgments. Pray continuously. We never know what someone is going through at first glance..

Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for each other, love one another deeply, from the heart. [1Peter 1:22 NIV]

On the way,

Liz

A Time to be Born

A Porch in Transylvania w — A porch baluster in Transylvania.

A Time for Everything
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8 NIV

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Have you ever jumped the gun and rushed something?

a meal that needed more time for the flavors to blend
a response in the heat of the moment
a relationship
an education
a project
an important decision
death
a process

We often think we have control of all of our circumstances because we can make so much happen these days. But everything is not in our control. There are things that simply take time. It is important to recognize that rushing and pushing for something to “be born” or “to happen” is not always the best way.

A time to be born.

When babies are in the womb, they need their time in that environment. The best amount of time is about nine months. Being born too early often leads to some challenges. Being born beyond that time frame can also cause complications. There is a time to be born. I remember being pregnant and thinking I just want to meet this precious little person and then we can tuck them back in so they can continue growing in their special spot. Of course, that was silly, but no matter how anxious we are for something or someone, there are times we need to wait for the appointed time.

As we are waiting for whatever it is we are waiting for it can be hard to be patient. Our heads may know that we need to wait for the certain, optimal time but our hearts have been on stand by for long enough. What are we supposed to do?

“Wait patiently.” [Romans 8:25]

“Be joyful in hope.

Be faithful in prayer.” [Romans 12:12 NIV]

Keep in mind “…. in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[i] have been called according to his purpose.” [Romans 8:28 NIV]

Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. [1 Peter 5:6-7 NIV]

The time is coming. Trust in God’s timing.

On the Way,

Liz

PrayerPoint ~ Self-control ~ March 11

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

Oh my. Self-control. Why is it is so difficult at times? But here is some amazing motivation:

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. 1 Peter 5:8-9 NIV

The word picture in the above verse is powerful and motivating yet I still find myself willingly consenting to certain areas of sin.

Be self-controlled and alert. I do think that being alert is as important as being self-controlled. If I am not paying attention or “on alert” then it is so much easier for me to just get sucked into whatever is happening around me. If I am aware of my surroundings and remembering the goal or immersed in the Word, it is much easier to exercise self-control.

And in the end, self-control is something I need to be doing. But as a fruit of the Spirit, it is also a result of what the Holy Spirit is doing in my life. I have enough trouble in the area of self-control that I think I should not be refusing God’s help via the Spirit!

May your week be “Fruit Full”,

Liz

PrayerPoint ~ Gentleness ~ March 10

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 NIV

There is something to be said for gentleness. Might doesn’t make right when it comes to sharing your faith. Beating someone over the head with the Gospel isn’t good form. Period. Sharing the Truth of Jesus as Savior can and should be done lovingly and sometimes you might even use words. If you plan on “battling” with someone on issues of faith, then I would suspect that you aren’t being gentle. And while you might think you have won a “battle of words” you very likely witnessed a casualty or severe wounding on the field of Faith.

Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 1 Peter 3:15a-16 NIV

Let me not be the “bull in the china shop”,

Liz