Out of My Element and Trusting God

The grandeur of the room caught me a little off guard. The invitation said “dressy attire,” but I have to say, between the butler, the pre-printed name cards all in a row, the roaring fire in the massive stone fireplace and ornate columns, the many, many tables draped in pristine white, the servers parading through like little robots in single file, the sparkle of pure silver and crystal gleaming from each table and the abundance of apparently well-to-do dinner attendees…I felt a bit out of place.

I spent the next 3 hours very held in, feeling restrained, stiff and uncomfortable. I leaned in to hear perfect strangers trying to make small talk, but their voices mixed with a hundred other conversations taking place about the room.

I smiled an uneasy smile, sipped my iced tea glass dry and wondered why I ever decided to show up to something that clearly wasn’t “me”. What was God thinking to direct me to such a place where being myself would probably raise a few eyebrows and maybe even get me a follow up postcard stating that after careful consideration, perhaps I wasn’t a good fit for their group.

Have you ever felt like that? You find yourself in a situation or an environment where you feel like you’ve been transported to a completely different planet and your only flight home has just left? It’s the stuff bad dreams are made of.

But God…

God has a plan and I know it.

I believe in it as I live it each and every day.

I may not have the answers today; may not have a clue as to why I would find myself at such an event, but the answers will come – they always do.

I’ll have that aha! moment where all the pieces will fit together and make perfect sense. That moment when I realize how He truly is in each and every detail of my life including the decisions I make.

Lord Jesus,

I want to thank you for every situation in which I find myself. Thank you for every experience and every lesson learned. I pray for your continued presence in my life and for walking with me through this journey. You are so good to me!

Amen.

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds,3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

(James 1:2-8) NIV

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Where You Belong

 

I’ve noticed my calendar is unusually full these days, sprinkled with new social gatherings I’ve surprised myself by saying “yes” to; dates and events I would normally pass up because of insecurity.

They’re wonderful opportunities to “network” and share my ministry but I still hold on to the fear of throwing myself out there, to come out from behind my computer and be visible and vulnerable to embarrassment and disappointment. It’s easier to retreat, to step back to the safe and the familiar. To pour myself another cup of coffee and surf around on Facebook for awhile, LOL.

But then just this morning, these simple words…

“Don’t discount what the Lord has done in your life.”

When I think of where I began and when I began and who I was back then and why on Earth He would love me enough to die for all my ugly sins and how He’s brought me through so, so much….how selfish of me to hide away wrapped up in fear and silence after all He’s done and continues to do!

How can I expect real growth or real change in my life if I

constantly do everything the same way?

I DO belong! However awkward the situation, however uncomfortable and unfamiliar.

I belong right there in the middle of that crowded room full of strangers and all the awkward hellos and the nice-to-see-yous and shifting nervously but refusing to take the empty seat next to the wall.

And YOU belong, too!

When opportunity shows up, stand tall for the Lord. Boldly represent His work in you. Think about where you’ve been, where you are and where you’re going. Shine the light of Him. Share the truth of Him. Be the living testimony of His faithfulness to always place you right where you belong.

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you,

and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and

to the end of the earth. (Acts 1:8)

Be blessed today and always,

Debbie

Run Your Own Race

My husband ran his 10^th marathon last weekend. A sweaty, grueling, painful 26.2 miles, but he finished well at just over 4 hours.

There were something like 25,000 runners out there, so many sprinted in ahead of him and many others hobbled across the finish line after him.

But they all finished…their own race…their own time.

It seems we’re all somewhere in our own race, doesn’t it? We have this routine, this life with its schedules and its demands and peopled with those who count on us to keep all the plates spinning while we run.

But it seems there’s always someone running their race a little better.

A little faster.

A little cleaner.

Going about it a little wiser.

With a little less frustration and a little more confidence.

Shining a little brighter and raising the bar, so to speak.

And there always will be.

Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,
    who walk according to the law of the Lord.
 Blessed are those who keep his statutes
    and seek him with all their heart—
 they do no wrong
    but follow his ways.

(Psalm 119:1-3)

But the Lord hasn’t set you on the path to run any race but your own.

He has given you your set of circumstances.

Blessed you with your gifts, your talents…your challenges.

He did so knowing you’d cross that finish line and that He’d cross it with you.

He didn’t set you on this course to watch you fail or to compare you to the others. The course you run is yours and yours alone.

So, own it.

Run it.

Finish it…in your own time.

It’s yours to win!

Be blessed, my friend,

Debbie

Make it an Awesome Day!

Choose to be happy today, friends. 

The God of ALL creation is on YOUR side!

Make today awesome!

Keep Moving Forward!

Life seems like one big roller-coaster ride sometimes.

Each day can be full of ups and downs – we never really know what to expect.

I heard on the news just last night that there was a malfunction on a ride in a local theme park and the poor people were stuck at the top for 2 hours.

Don’t you feel that way sometimes?

Like you’ve been sort of left to dangle from the top of the ride, helpless and suspended wondering how long it will last?

You’ve begun the journey but all. motion. has. stopped.

It’s been that way for me lately.

I only wish there were teams of rescue workers showing up with lights and sirens ready to hoist ladders up to save me and set me back on sold ground again.

God is that rescue worker, but even when He brings us back down and brushes the dust off our jeans, He expects us to continue on. To resume with life in a positive way.

He’s our strength and our guide, but we have to be proactive in reaching our goal. He has equipped us with brains, hands and feet to press on.

Prayer and faith and belief are only pieces to the puzzle. They aren’t much good if we don’t put one foot in front of the other and use the abilities God has given us.

I just want to encourage you to put action to your faith today. There will be ups and downs in the journey, but sooner or later you’ll find your way back to solid ground.

Keep moving forward!

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. (Phil. 3:12-15)

Many Blessings,

Debbie

Waiting Out Every. Necessary. Step.

The swift change in temperature took me by surprise today and I welcomed the swirling leaves at my feet and the whisper of autumn across my face.

The quiet afternoon called for home-made bread.

Maybe enjoy a cup of coffee while the dough rises, I thought.

Maybe spend a few minutes in prayer for those heavy on my heart today and give praise to God when He directs me to the absolute perfect scripture….like He always does.

There’s a lot to be learned from making bread.

The perfect combination of ingredients sending up little drifts of flour. Steady hands working, kneading, preparing.

Each step is necessary.

Each step takes time.

Precious time.

And the waiting is difficult…but well worth it.

Lord Jesus,

Help me to be patient and to remember that as I wait upon You, You’re gathering all the necessary “ingredients” together and working them, molding and shaping them to perfection. You know me like no other, and even though I want to speed up the process or somehow “help” You to bring about the blessing sooner, it’s ALL in Your hands…..not mine.

I’m learning to be thankful for the waiting. For each necessary step. Each one takes time. Precious time. And yes, the waiting is difficult. And regardless of the outcome… in the end, I will praise You.

Amen.

Commit your way to the Lord;
    trust in him and he will do this:
He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,
    your vindication like the noonday sun.

Be still before the Lord
    and wait patiently for him;
do not fret when people succeed in their ways,
    when they carry out their wicked schemes. (Psalm 37) NIV

Be Blessed,

Debbie