strength

Lent Day 12: I give up Playing Small

March 1, 2021 — 1 Comment

The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.

Isaiah 58:11

I give up playing small. I give up standing in the back afraid to take up too much space. I give up dimming my own light in some wicked “false humility” stance. I trust that if I am given strength, it is to make those around me strong as well. If I have been given any wisdom, it is to be an example and a guide for those around me. If I have been filled and satisfied, it is because I have the ability and opportunity to do the same for those around me. We are made to be well-watered gardens, both beautiful and full in itself, and a gift for others to experience. My God is too big for me to play small.

Brokenhearted Life

October 1, 2020 — Leave a comment

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. A righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all; he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.

Psalm 34:18-20

Who needs a break from life? Who feels boxed in? Bruised? Out of breath? Who feels like the tenderness in their heart feels too much? That you’re ready to make it hard.

It may feel broken, but aren’t you standing? Maybe actually you’re stronger than you know. You may feel crushed and tested, but didn’t you make it through yesterday? Maybe you’re actually more rooted than you believe. You may feel surrounded by troubles, but haven’t you always lived a life of troubles yet here you are. Maybe you were created to handle the storms and winds.

A brokenness feeling is equal to a closeness to God. God knows hurt and sorrow and unmet want. What do you need from this closeness of God? What do you need to be reminded of? Where do you need God to lay their hand? For a moment of slowing down, awareness and holding you up.

Be gentle with yourself. You are strong. You are alive and that is your gift to this world.

CBG: Armor

April 23, 2020 — Leave a comment

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplications. To that end keep alert with all perseverance making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare boldly, as I ought to speak.

Ephesians: 6:10-20

Our responsibility is simply to STAND FIRM. We are grounded and centered on our truth — that Jesus is with us, won for us and we have everything we need for this lifetime. We are marked by our righteousness — choosing the difficult, the uncomfortable, honoring integrity and conscience. We are guided by peace — not a need to be right, to be best. We are protected by faith that nothing of this world can defeat us. While it may be painful and hard, and it will be, hope and restoration are our future. Our mind is renewed and sanctified constantly by God. Our weapon is the unchanging yet ever-revelatory word of God. It is both true and flexible as our God is as well.

Prayer: God help us drop our quickness to be offended and quickness to get defensive. Let us stand firm in your love. Help us strip our own human armor. Let us be wrapped in your love. Help us to exist in a world where humans are not the enemy. There is a great enemy that wants to divide us and make us hate each other. And we pray against him, in the name of Jesus, for him to reveal himself and be conquered. God help us. God be near. Help us stand firm.

Creative: Feel your feet today. Really feel how grounded you can be. Come back to it often.

Brave: What has been hard to surrender? A resentment? A hurt? A relationship? What does it look like to let that go?

Generous: Who needs you to see them from their best intentions?

CBG: #24

April 13, 2020 — 1 Comment

Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, saying, “What shall we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it. But in order that it may spread no further among the people, let us warn them to speak no more to anyone in this name. So they called them and charged them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you rather than to God, you must judge, for we cannot but speak of what we have seen and heard.”

Acts 4:13-20

A well-received response is not evidence of an effective act. Peter and John have done something clearly undeniably marvelous. In response, they are told to stop and do it no more. They are threatened and intimidated by those uploading the system. In light of Peter and John’s miracle, the priests and the elders focus on Peter and John’s ordinariness and meager resume. Peter and John offended those in charge without those in charge able to find a wrongdoing.

How do we offend without wronging? How do we act in a way that is undeniably good while making the system uncomfortable? Where can God do the most work? Where do you find yourself saying: I’m not trained enough. I don’t have enough experience. Everyone already knows how to do that — those areas are exactly where God wants to show miracles. Because it’s your confidence and faith within your inexperience that makes the world pause and think it might be a work of God, not a human striving. It will be your lack that forces you to say like Carrie Underwood sings, Jesus take the wheel.

Prayer: Lord where have my fears of comparison and commonality made me shrink back.

Creative: Write 8 things you wish you were better at. And at the end of each, write, I’m good enough.

Brave: Of the 8 things, showcase one of them.

Generous: Call a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while.