Because He Said So

It was a wonderful invitation. The owner of a major Christian Company opened her doors to our mentoring group so we could glean and grow.

I admired the simplistic beauty of Glory Haus. So yes! Most definitely yes! I was looking forward to soaking up every word Molly had to say.

When we arrived the team was gathered in worship. Hands were extended and the presence of the Lord was literally resting in our midst. Oh yeah you heard right. They scheduled time for worship during the work day. Automatically I knew these were my people.

During the tour, Molly shared how the Lord guided her in developing the Glory Haus team. He gave her the names of friends that would take the journey with her but, there was a catch. She couldn’t ask them to join. She had to wait until they suggested the idea to her. And even though it took a while, one by one the team was formed. Throughout our visit, there were several stories with a consistent theme. God spoke. Molly obeyed. Her business grew.

As I reflected on the day, I was reminded of Jesus' earthly father, Joseph. We don’t talk about him a lot but, I believe his life beautifully exemplifies obedience.

I’ll give you the short version of Matthew 1:18-25 but, when you have a moment grab your favorite drink, a quiet corner and sit down with this text.

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Here’s the skinny. Joesph was in the midst of what I would call a hot mess. He was engaged to Mary when he found out she was pregnant. And to make matters even worse, Joseph wasn't the father.

Now because of the circumstances, Joseph decided to break off the engagement with Mary. But, he didn't want to expose her to shame or harm. So Joseph planned to put Mary away "quietly" v. 19

When he went to sleep, an angel visited him in a dream. Joseph was given specific instructions. v 20-23. And, as soon as he woke up, Joseph did exactly what the angel of the Lord told him to do.

Now mind you, this wasn't just an isolated incident. Joseph had this obedience thing down to a science. Again in Matthew 2:13 -14 and v.19-21, the angel of the Lord gave him instructions. And like before, as soon as Joseph woke up, he responded with obedience.

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How many times has God spoken to us but, we question or procrastinate? We say things like, "It's too hard.", "What will people say?" or "I'm not qualified". But honestly, these are just dressed up excuses for disobedience. Did that just grab you?

Transparency alert! Right now I feel like I should be writing "I will obey" 25 times on somebody's chalk board. I'll share my chalk if you'd like.

Ok, so where are you on the obedience scale? Are you rocking and rolling with Joseph and Molly? Or are you like me and need some improvement in this area? Well, here are a few practical steps I believe we can take to help us walk out a life of obedience.

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Go to sleep. Yep! Get some rest. - Did you notice it? Every time the angel came to deliver the Word of the Lord, Joseph was asleep. Ask God to calm you down so you

can rest not just physically but, mentally and emotionally. My friend it's difficult to think clearly or be in a position to hear from God when we're exhausted. - Psalm 127: 2

Open wide. Ask the Lord to open your eyes so you can see what he wants you to see. Allow him to penetrate your heart and your mind and take complete control. And, be willing to receive whatever he has to say.

Move now. Not tomorrow. Not next week or next year. But, whenever God speaks, challenge yourself to move right then. Don't even give yourself the option of later.

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Joseph's obedience gave him the opportunity to shepherd the heart of our Saviour. Molly's obedience has created lovely home decor and jewelry that shares the good news of Jesus around the world.

So the next time God speaks, obey not because it makes sense or fits into your life plan but, just because He said so. And, watch the beauty of obedience unfold.

Your Sister Friend,

Lessons from the Climb

Normally a nice dinner or a getaway would be the perfect way to celebrate. But a few years ago when Frank asked what I wanted to do for my birthday, I was at a loss.

It had been a hard couple of months filled with health challenges and I wanted to do something out of the ordinary. After tossing a few ideas around, I decided we should climb Stone Mountain. Initially Frank wasn't on board but, he came around.

I was excited leading up to our adventure but, on the way I started thinking, "Lord have mercy! What in the world were you thinking....Do you really want to do this!!!??" Since it took some convincing to get there, I was not about to change my mind.

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The distance from the bottom to the summit is only about a mile. But, if you’re not an avid hiker... I'm not ... you need to eat your Wheaties and borrow some in order to get to the top.

Maneuvering the rocks was rather challenging and to make matters worse, it was cold. I paused more than a few times to catch my breath. And trust me ... those railings were a whole gift from God to keep us from slipping. Did I mention it was cold?

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I'm not sure how long it took us. We didn’t measure time, we just enjoyed the moments. When we arrived at the top, the struggles of the climb took a back seat. Feelings of relief settled in like a gentle breeze. I guess it's sort of how you feel when you accomplish any goal.

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We’re already in the second month of the new year and I'm still writing my goals. Have you already finished? If your answer is yes, just know ... I’m officially your fan.

I'll admit there's more than a little residue from last year. Even though I had some wins, there were goals I didn‘t complete. This year I'm making efforts to be more intentional about what I want and mapping out the steps I need to take to get there.

Some desires I’ve placed before the Lord seem massive ... like Stone Mountain. And to be honest, I have no idea how I’ll reach them. But, when I to try to figure out the particulars or start thinking things won't work out, I'm reminded of the lessons from the climb.

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Mindset is important. Proverbs 23:17 tells us, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” girls included No matter what the goal or task is, make a conscious decision to finish before you start. You don't have to know the what, the when or the how. Just refuse to give up. Don't accept anything less than accomplishing what you set out to do.

Small things prepare you for big things.

That year I challenged myself to make 7000 steps at least four days a week. Going around and around a track or park didn’t seem like much but, it gave me the strength to climb. If you're not where you want to be, keep moving. There's power in consistency.

It's not a sprint.

Some people ran up the mountain ... we walked. But, we all arrived at the same destination. Focusing on who’s ahead of you can be distracting and discouraging. Move at your own God pace and trust His timing.

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Every day is a new opportunity to begin again. So keep dreaming, keep setting goals and keep climbing. When you get to the top, thank God for the journey and enjoy the view.

Your Sister Friend,

God's Business

It was as if I’d skipped days of laundry. There were piles...some big and others not so much. They were filled with requests, problems that needed answers and thoughts that were confined to my mind waiting to be spoken. A heart to heart with Jesus was long overdue.

Finally I was able to settle down in God’s presence. Right away I felt the nudge to pray for a lady I met years ago. We had a brief conversation about a business project but, hadn't spoken in quite a while. I whispered a prayer and turned my attention to my list of cares. A few moments later there it is was again. This time it was stronger and I sensed that I should call.

Now, I don’t know about you but, I usually don’t call people other than family or friends before 8am. And honestly, I didn’t even know what I was supposed to pray. But, the urge didn’t leave. I knew it was God.

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I stumbled through a little small talk and then asked if she had time for prayer. Let me just say ...God showed up! Afterwards she shared that normally she wouldn’t have been home. In an effort to gain clarity concerning major decisions, she took the day off. One of her requests was that God would place her on someone’s heart that wasn’t in her circle. And, then I called.

I didn’t know her circumstances but, the Lord directed me to specifically pray about them.

By the time we finished, my day was calling. There was no time to unload the things I was carrying. Swinging by the Post Office was on my to do list. I managed to make a quick dash before closing. On the way out, a man greeted me and took a moment to talk. But, it wasn’t just a casual conversation.

Encouragement and wisdom flowed from him effortlessly. He spoke about things that only God and I knew. As he turned to walk away, I asked his name. His response was “Bro. Paris, like the city.” Now going to Paris has been at the top of my Adventure List for a while. I knew God was giving me a wink.

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I thought I ran out of time earlier and barely made it to the post office. But I didn’t.

My schedule was in sync with God’s plan. He graced me to obey that morning and met me that afternoon.

Naturally we’re concerned about things and people that are close to our hearts. But, it’s not supposed to be our priority. Jesus helps us with our perspective in Matthew 6:33, "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

In essence, our primary goal is to pursue what pleases the Father and put him in front of everything and everybody. While we're taking care of God's business, he'll take care of ours. Do you believe that? Just in case you’re struggling with this truth ... at times we all do ... here are a few reminders you can meditate on today.

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If you're overwhelmed by a load of cares and wondering if God sees .... He does.

And, if it seems like your issues are being ignored...they're not.

Take a moment to whisper a prayer of surrender. Offer your heart, your hands and your gifts to the one that loves you most.

I pray that God will use you for his glory. And as you submit to his agenda, I trust that he'll take care of everything that concerns you. wink

Your Sister Friend,