Battle of the brush

We've had this battle with our daughter about brushing her hair daily. So in efforts to help her, I bought a fancy brush that eases the process and nearly pain free. 

This morning I noticed she pulled her hair back in a ponytail. A little ratted yet contained. So I asked her, "Did you use your fancy brush?" She relied "Yeap, sure did." I said, "Hummm... If you used it, shouldn't there be evidence that it's been applied?" *BLANK STARE* was her response! LOL! 

No more did I say this to her and my own words HIT me too! For those of us who FOLLOW Christ, should we too not bare evidence that His Word is being applied?! YES! 

Just as my daughter's hair showed need of more consistent use of the brush, how many of us need to intentionally pursue and apply the Living Word to our hearts, minds and lives? Are we willing to endure a bit of pain that we may produce proof? 

May we be mindful... "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Romans 12:2

Is there evidence of our transforming in Christ? 

Hearts stir and vortex effects

Photo curtesy of: Geology4today.com

While taking a bath one morning, I began stirring the water towards the bottom of the tub with my razor. After a short time affects could be seen on the surface. The  vortex underneath began to take shape and drew the puffs towards the center, each becoming closer to each other as well as drawn to the center. 

Seems like a basic but fun science experiment, right? I asked the Lord to speak to my heart through this simplicity. He asked, "Dare ask that your heart be stirred?" He continued, "See how deep you must go? So must I. Shall we see what begins deep within your heart first?"

Like a child, I gazed at the surrounding top waters. Seemingly unnoticed at first, the ever so slight top bubble movements. As I went near the bottom of the tub, continuing to spin the razor, the more the changes were seen on the surface. Some waters scattered away from the underneath current, while others seemed to be sucked in and repeatedly participated. 

So shall our present stirring affect those around us. Just as the apostle Paul spoke to Timothy, so the Lord speaks to us, "Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands." 2 Timothy 1:6

Life presents many kinds of waters, from the soft subtle gentle stream to the stormy waters that make waves rise fierce and high. Truth is, no matter where we are at this present moment, the storms, afflictions, trials and/or victories we experience are our own, until the Lord STIRS our hearts, THEN our effect on others around us will be greater than minimal at best. 

So, as the Lord asked me, I also ask you; "Dare ask that your heart be stirred?" If we truly desire to be used as only He has made us to be, we must let His hand stir our hearts floor, kick up the dust and allow His Love to draw us and others to Himself. 

"Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me.

Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life." Psalm 42:7-8 Will you allow your heart to be stirred?

Discernment goggles

"And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;" Leviticus 10:10

Even in our humanness we understand the stark difference between good and bad. Shall we not also make the same distinction as to what is from The Lord God and what is of this world?

"Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it." Psalm 34:14

However, apart from Christ and His Holy Spirit, the lines are often blurred and the desires of the flesh are esteemed over His desires. 

Holy or unholy, clean or unclean, good or bad, right or wrong, life or death, Christ or self... Pertains to all things. Do you have your discernment goggles on? 

Puzzle pieces & faith

While putting a puzzle together with my kiddos, I was reminded of an excellent point. It was the perfect teachable moment! Just because I wanted pieces to fit, didn't mean it worked out. Kinda like our faith. We trust God to see the bigger picture, right? Not just the pieces we have before us. 

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Hebrews 11:1

So I took this moment to talk with my kids. 

I shared, many people view faith almost the same as a genie in a bottle. Faith is trusting Jehovah to meet our needs; which doesn't necessarily line up with our wants. 

If our hope is in Him, we will desire His Will above our own, His plan above ours and trust our needs will be met according to His purpose. 

Then, we each tried to piece together pieces that didn't belong together. It simply didn't work! Even when colors were similar, it just wasn't meant to be! Then we all found pieces that fit, not only did the picture jive right, but there was NO force to make something happen that shouldn't happen to begin with. It was a fun, hands on lesson for them and a definite needed reminder for me! 

I trust The Lord in His leading & guiding that He will have His perfect way in this imperfect life. Are you living on genuine faith or that which is often falsely promoted in a genie type sense? 

"(For we walk by faith, not by sight:)" 2 Corinthians 5:7 Are we living this out loud in our most needful and trying times?

New Year, new journey

A few things I hope & pray for you in  this New Year... Happiness, strength, joy, gladness, prosperity, grace, mercy, victory, courage, strength, hope, forgiveness, blessings, peace, salvation, Agape Love and abundant LIFE! 

Happiness:

"Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD." Psalm 144:15

Strength:

"The LORD will give strength unto his people; the LORD will bless his people with peace." Psalm 29:11

Joy, gladness & prosperity:

"Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let them say continually, Let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant." Psalm 35:27

Grace & mercy:

"The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy." Psalms 145:8

Victories:

"Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us." Romans 8:37

Courage, strength & hope:

"Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD." Psalms 31:24 

Forgiveness: 

"As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:12

Blessings & peace:

"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee." Isaiah 26:3

Salvation 

"For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:" Ephesians 2:8

Agape Love

"For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God." John 16:27

All we need is found in Christ! Jesus said, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10

With this new beginning, will you journey with Him?