Guess what I prove WRONG......

My dear friends told me the other day they had something to tell me. I was a little nervous wondering what in the world they were gonna "tell me". He looks at his wife, my friend, and he says, "You gonna tell her?" and I'm thinking oh boy, here we go... She says, "I was reading the Snapple lid the other day and I was thinking the same thing, but before I could say it he said out lout, 'Abi proves that wrong'." She continued, "It said,
                 Snapple Fact #831: Six-year-olds laugh an average of 300 times a day. Adults only laugh 15 to 100 times a day.
We guessed you probably laugh about 1000 to 1500 times a day"

It was funny, sooo funny, so of course, I LAUGHED ;)

I do, I laugh a lot. I always have. I don't think it's one of those "nervous" things. I almost always laugh out of genuine humor. I find humor in almost everything and basically anything. Sometimes I just kinda giggle, other times I full out crack up and most of the time I end up laughing so tirelessly I end up feeling like I may just cry.

There was a point in my life where I felt I may never find joy again though. There had been so much that had gone wrong. So much pain. Too much heartache. I couldn't deal with it. I didn't want to face it. Many many times I would have secret screaming and crying fests with God. After the kids were asleep, on the way home from a lone grocery run, after worship practice on my quiet drive home, in my mind and heart while I ran...I was crying out to God for healing, freedom and for His hand to work miracles. My heart was so heavy.

Job 8:21
He will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.
Psalm 126:2
Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.”
Proverbs 14:13
Even in laughter the heart may ache, and rejoicing may end in grief.

He promised me.

He promised me He would wipe my tears away. He promised me He would fill my lips with joy, laughter and praise. Sometimes, over the years, I could even find laughter in my deep sorrow. Miraculously that's just who I am wired to be. After this past couple years though and battling depression I realize now that I absolutely cannot remain "content in all circumstances" unless I continually pursue and work to continue in the truth. The truth being, His Word and saturating myself continually in it. And, the truth being, the promises are meant for future restoration not always the here and now for all who walk in His ways and do right in His sight.

See, God promises us something outside of laughter...

James 4:8-10

New International Version (NIV)

⁸ Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹ Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

There are things i have battled, myself, and also watched those dearest to me battle over the past few years that honestly, with hopes of not offending anyone who has suffered loss and death, have struck me more deeply and devastatingly than physical death. Don't get me wrong, when Joeli died (And even when many other loved ones I lost did) many things changed for me. Many beliefs and understandings were now different. But I can say, for myself, nothing affected me as deeply and painfully as other "things" that died. I guess you could say part of this is that from a young age I knew death was a part of life. But I never understood the deep pain it causes to see my family and close friends die in other ways and for myself to die in ways other than physically.

I ached for God to reach down and change circumstances and to breathe life again where there was now decay emotionally, mentally and spiritually.

I was broken.

There was a time, there have been times where no laughter could be found upon my lips and joy was a distant memory in my heart. I will admit to a time of depression. It's unlike me and it's hard to go back to that point in my life and truly admit it. But, I personally believe its very healthy to recognize and acknowlege where we are, where we were and where we come from. It helps us grow. It makes us into new more aware and strong people. AND it can help KEEP US from falling back into old patterns, old habits and old tattered and stained ways. After all, if you don't know a shirt has a huge hole in the back of it of course you'd keep wearing it. But once you recognize, admit and know that shirt just isn't the prettiest thing under the sun, you typically start looking for a replacement shirt or wearing the one you know is clean and whole and well kept. That's how our lives have to be lived. In examining the condition of our inner lives and how that affects the appearance of and condition of our outter lives too.

Ecclesiastes 7:2-4

New International Version (NIV)

² It is better to go to a house of mourning
    than to go to a house of feasting,
for death is the destiny of everyone;
    the living should take this to heart.
³ Frustration is better than laughter,
    because a sad face is good for the heart.
⁴ The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
    but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.

I think what the writer here is trying to get at is basically don't focus on the joys and plentious times...but put yourself in the house of the dying, the parched, the starving, the lonely, the bitter, the hateful, the despised, the neglected, the weak and weary because that is where wisdom is gained. That is where a true heart of love is found. that is where growth occurs. And in doing that, in emptying oneself is where we often can find His promises true. We can rest our weary head down in the lap of a trustworthy Father, that one day all our toiling and sorrow and death both physically and otherwise will finally be over. It will be as it says in 1 Corinthians 15:54
When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.”

I want God to do something new in us today.

I want Him to teach us to recognize His desire for our hearts and lives. Psalm 16:11
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.Revelation 22:12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.

He has good in store for us! He plans to fill us with joy!

But He wants us to recognize and remember that looking to the here and now, to the death sweeped land, to the parched desert, to the worm eaten crops will never satisfy our empty weary souls. HE wants us to fix our eyes upon HIS FACE!!!

So, while laughter is on your lips, rejoice! But, if tears come across your face, lay on your drenched pillow and trust that the day is coming and will come when all that is wrong will finally be made right.


If you haven't laughed in awhile here's one from my husband and sister to make you laugh for today...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzVi-hCac8c

Let me know what you think ;) ;) ;)

Seriously though, if you haven't laughed in awhile--let me know how I can pray for you today.

Love,
Ab

 

I have a confession... many and often

I have a confession... many and often.

It is that I often hide away from confession. Many times it is REASON ONE: for my own lack of recognition of my sins or weaknesses or even out of a lack of willingness to truly examine, and I mean EXAMINE, myself and my ways. Lamentations 3:40
Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the LORD.

If you are reading this and waiting for me to confess something to you here, in blogosphere-land, you are going to be disappointed.

This would be REASON TWO: for fear of appearances. Appearing imperfect or flawed or like someone who's fallen short. Who wants to fall short and announce it? Really!!?? Yet, Romans 3:23 says, "For all have sinned and FALLEN SHORT..." Let's get real here folks, stop hiding behind the save face lie and start being real one with another.

I long for God to cleanse my guilt and shame and the evil of my ways. I long to be counted "Righteous" in His sight. I long for Him to exchange my stained garments for robes of white. But it's not following laws that will cleanse me. Romans 3:20 says, "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin." See, His Word helps us to recognize our sins. It's like a spotlight and when we shine it into our minds and hearts and upon our lips we can realize where we are falling short of the beauty He longs to create in us. God does want us to confess our sins. But, I think alongside of that He asks us to recognize something else and confess it. 

It is our desperate need, our hopeless state, our complete incompleteness without the Savior-Jesus-cleansing and healing and freeing us from the bondage of sin. Romans 10:9
If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Yet along with that we are told in 1 John 1:9 that, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." Confessing our sins and renouncing them is about walking in ways that honor and bring glory to God. It's about seeing the standard He longs for us to walk in and the beauty He longs to create in our lives and hearts and the peace He wants to fill us with. 

 So ask Him,

Psalm 26:2
Test me, LORD, and try me, examine my heart and my mind;

Recognize these truths,

Proverbs 5:21
For your ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all your paths. Jeremiah 17:10
“I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.” Psalm 11:4
The LORD is in his holy temple; the LORD is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth; his eyes examine them.

And acknowlege this truth,

Job 7:17-19¹⁷ “What is mankind that you make so much of them,
    that you give them so much attention,
¹⁸ that you examine them every morning
    and test them every moment?


Clearly, He is mindful of us. He gives us much attention. Let's give ourselves the same attention, our hearts the same examination and let's strive for the right type of beautifying today--the inner beauty--the heart.

1. 2 Timothy 2:19
   Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.”
2. James 5:16
   Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
3. Psalm 32:5
   Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.” And you forgave the guilt of my sin.
4. Psalm 38:18
   I confess my iniquity; I am troubled by my sin. 
5. Proverbs 28:13
   Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
6. Isaiah 59:1
   Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear.

So let's ask God to examine us, and let's examine ourselves today. Then, let's truly confess both to God and one to another. Let's not shrink back from living by faith. And, let's persevere!

Hebrews 10:36-38 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.For,“In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.” And,“But my righteous^[g] one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.”

I would challenge you today with these questions: When did you last confess, truly confess, a sin or struggle to another brother/sister in Christ? And when did you last spend time examining and then confessing to your Maker?

If you're looking for inspiration today to motivate you to spending your time quietly with God--SO THAT as Anita says, His Word may be the floss to pick out the junk in your heart and life....you have to check out her inspiring story, the story of Anita Keagy: http://www.ambassadorspeakers.com/ACP/speakers.aspx?name=ANITA%20KEAGY&speaker=1441 

Confessions are never easy, but they are always worth the work and challenge. And often times we see the beauty God can make out of the battle scars when we seek the Healer and His power to work mightily amidst our weakened state.

We all have confessions we could make.....many and often. Yet often, we do not make many, in fact, we rarely make ANY. So today, purpose to confess many and often rather than few and rarely.

Don't...

Don't be a "Don't"

Leaving the city today we saw many people along the streets. They were hot. They wore tattered clothing, whether it was the new cool "in look" or due to lacking, it was apparent...They were in need. Some of them looked so sad and overwhelmed. Maybe we read their faces wrong. But maybe we didn't.

So,

I prayed.

I asked God simply to, "Pour Your Spirit over this city..."

Sometimes it seems God doesn't answer prayers like this one. People still need Him. Desperately, people still want. People still hurt. People still search. People still ache. Where is the Spirit of God?

Then in hit me like a fierce wave.

WE are carriers of His Spirit. We bring the Spirit through the city because HE resides within us. His Spirit is strong in us and we sit and wait for HIM to move. We don't move. We don't speak. We don't help. WE don't pray. We don't support. We don't walk beside them. We don't do anything but expect everything.

He is within us, but we feel weak and powerless and helpless.

Why is that?

Could it simply be because we don't.

We don't believe.

We don't try.

We don't open our mouths and bring life.

We don't open our hands and bring sustaining grace.

We don't listen with an open heart.

We don't walk beside others while they struggle or we give up on them in their wandering.

We don't. So, He seems to "don't" too. He's waiting for us to DO so that He can reveal Himself true and His Spirit strong!

Be a Do-er.

Let's be more intentional about being willing to walk out the Spirit of God to others. Being His hands and His feet in humility.

1 John 3:23
And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us.

Don't be another "Don't" today.

My life smells like a... Dirty Diaper?

It's difficult to concentrate with the smell of rotten diaper poop beside me. Smell easily distracts and overpowers. Likewise, our life, as an offering, needs to be as a sweet smelling aroma. Take out the "trash" in your life and see the clean fresh aroma bring an air of freedom and clarity in your thinking.

You cannot "take out the trash" without exposing it to the light for a certain time. It has to "come out" to "be put out". So, share your struggles, your burdens, your weaknesses, your sins and be vulnerable. And, when you are shared with, stand in prayer and support and love of your sister/brother...not condemnation and pride.

Philippians 2:1-3

Imitating Christ’s Humility

2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, ² then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. ³ Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,

James 5:16
Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

And I will share our family Bible memory verse this month: Above all else love each other deeply. Because love covers a multitude of sins. 1st Peter 4:8

Don't give God the offering of a dirty diaper life. Expose your "trash" to the light and be rid of it... and in doing so, experience the beautiful fragrant aroma of a life of sweet smelling offering to God.

Sometimes my life smells like a... Dirty Diaper? Yep, it does. So, now what? Let's work together to carry our trash to the dump station and leave it there....the foot of the bloody cross is messy--but He already knows that--He's ready for it, dirty diaper stench and all.

Love,
Abs

Whisper, LOUD...

My thoughts may wander through this post... So, I will begin with some questions.

Who speaks grace to you?
Who speaks love to you?
Who speaks peace to you?
Who speaks confidence into you?
Who speaks praise of you?
Who speaks gentleness over you?
Who speaks care and compassion over you?
Who speaks life into you?
Who listens to your heartbeating and the breath sustaining your lungs?
Who listens to your cries?
Who listens to your deepest longings, unspoken?
Who WHISPERS good  loudly into your ear?

As a family, a few years ago we read through some of the Dobson parenting information and were struck by the encouragement to communicate about our family's creed. To kind of choose what it is we stand for and what it is we want to live for and be known for. I will share with you the list that Sean and I came up with several years ago. They encouraged their readers to narrow it to about 5 of the most important qualities we want to exemplify and teach in our household.

1. Love God with all your heart-be virtuous
2. Love the people God has put around us-be patient
3. Forgive others-be merciful, do not judge
4. Respect yourself-be self controlled
5. Defend those who cannot defend themselves-give unrestrained to those in desperate need

God whispers these virtues, these qualities into our hearts when we immerse ourselves into His Word, His Truths.

And as a mom, I have the direct privilege (and also responsibility) to whisper them into my childrens hearts, lives and ears. As my children fall asleep I whisper to them. I whisper words like, "I love you because you are mine...You are God's child...You are beautiful and what is the most important part of you to make beautiful, that's right your heart and how do you make that beautiful, that's right, by loving God and learning more about Him and hiding His Word in your heart" I have said these things so many times that now my girls are starting to know the response before I even finish what I am saying..."You are made by God and HE is so pleased with who you are...You are strong in Him...He will always be with you, sometimes we can't "feel" Him, but we can't base our life around "feelings" we must believe He is true and Truth and we must walk on even if through the darkness till we finally see the light...and He is Light and we WILL see Him on that great day". These are truths I whisper to my children. These are truths we live by. These are truths I work to exemplify.

Today, I wanted to encourage you. If you don't know God, or maybe you do "know" Him but He has seemed more like a distant image than an ever present help...lean into Him. His presence is felt strongest when we trust His Words and when we step closer to Him even when we "feel" farther from Him then ever. Let His Word whisper to your heart. If you are a skeptic, when you want to put your skepticism to the test I encourage you to watch this video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMKOUzYeZ6A&oref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3D%26esrc%3Ds%26frm%3D1%26source%3Dvideo%26cd%3D1%26ved%3D0CEAQtwIwAA%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.youtube.com%252Fwatch%253Fv%253DZMKOUzYeZ6A%26ei%3DHKrxT6OKMM_l6gGb5omfBg%26usg%3DAFQjCNEYTDnwTYCpDdjX0_0b4qEnRbFKxw%26sig2%3DemH_VkVbi3DIH4yAWrc9ow  I would love to hear your thoughts on this video if you have never seen it before :)

And, homework for this post is: If you haven't already done so as a family/couple, take tonight before bed (after the kids are asleep, if you have kiddos) and make a "family creed". Speak with your spouse about the 5 most important truths and virtues that you want to function, live and be known by. After you have done that, begin to whisper them to each other each day, each night and to your children, to your parents, to your friends, to your relatives, and to your acquaintances. Be amazed at the life that God brings to your heart through the life-words you choose to lavish upon others whether it's with no words at all, or in gentle whispers! Whisper, LOUD...

Love,
Ab