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what are you waiting for?

January 30, 2012 in monday manna devotional, who are you becoming? with 4 Comments

People do a lot of talking. Lots of it. Just look at twitter. And blogs. People have lots to say. I totally understand that (speaking as one with both a twitter and a blog) but you probably also notice that some days I just don’t post. That’s because I have nothing to say! At least nothing to say that I think is worth bothering you with. I do at least try not to waste my time…and yours.

But I read this article today and it resonated – mostly because I’ve been hearing this from God in several different ways lately.

I think I’ve been waiting. And not the good kind.

The good kind is waiting on God. I grew up with a Dad who was a “go out there and do big things” kind of person but the trouble was that he did those things apart from God. We absolutely do need to “pursue” and “press in” – but towards God – not some goal or dream. He is the the One we should be pursuing. There is a place for our earnestness – and that’s in the hands of God. We don’t hold our tomorrows. He does. How are we supposed to know what our lives will look like in five year? Or ten years? We really can’t. Only He can. So by pressing into Him – knowing Him more deeply – only then can we be led by the Holy Spirit into what He has for us.

We will not get there by default.

Now I realize that statement delves into theology a bit and I don’t claim to be any kind of theologian. I am just a girl who loves and follows Jesus. But nevertheless, I believe it to be true.

Yes – God is absolutely sovereign and nothing can “mess up” His plans. But we can also “fail to attain” all that He has for us. We can miss God’s best for us. And that should scare us. It should scare us towards Him. You see, the default for humans is to follow the flesh and the Bible is pretty clear that the flesh doesn’t profit us anything (John 6:63). Paul talks about it as “rubbish” (Phil 3:8).

We don’t know anything. We must wait on Him so that we will know the truth (the words of life! His spirit!).

Waiting must be our posture, but there is a bad kind of waiting. The kind that I find myself slipping into on occasion.

It’s the kind of waiting that is waiting for some circumstance to change at the expense of today.

We should not be waiting around for something to change because while we wait on Him, we have something we are supposed to do today. What are you supposed to do today? Where are you supposed to spend your time and energy – today? You don’t have to worry about tomorrow or next week or next year or anything because if you can press into Him and find out what God’s desire is for you today – then you’ll be on the right path to get to tomorrow, next week, and next year.

Sometimes the “thing” we are supposed to do is a bit scary. That’s okay too. because you’re never alone in it.

Never.

So here’s to scary things, today and the One who holds it all.
~Sarah~

the other side of Passion 2012

January 9, 2012 in monday manna devotional with 2 Comments

Forty-five thousand college students gathered in Atlanta Georgia last week and celebrated the great God we serve. That’s a great thing. Even better? They streamed the event live for those of us who couldn’t travel down there and be there in person. I missed a couple sessions that I wanted to see (they were only online for about 24 hours) but I still got to sit in front of my computer and participate.

And boy did God speak! I’m so thankful for God’s voice and for gifted teachers and for the Word of God. I will probably talk in more specifics about how it affected me but this morning, I woke up thinking about those 45,000 students who scattered this weekend and went off to their homes all over the nation.

And about the letdown that many of them might be experiencing right now.

It’s been a long time since I’ve been able to attend a conference like that (it’s just harder for moms with young kids to get away!) but I know the feeling of a  ”conference high” that comes when you gather with thousands upon thousands of like minded people and get pumped full of courage and passion for Jesus. It’s awesome to see the saints gathered like that. To be in the midst of that many voices.

But eventually, you have to go home. And home isn’t usually that exciting.

1 – You come home and are often surrounded by people who didn’t experience the same thing you did.

2 – You come home to the same old-same old even though you feel so different.

3 – You come home and still have to deal with the difficulties of life.

It can all lead to a bit of  a letdown. It’s normal. And understandable. But it doesn’t have to take anything away from your experience or what you learned or your re-entry back into life. Basically – it doesn’t have to be a letdown when you realize that the bigness and amazing-ness of Jesus has not changed one iota. No, you won’t have 44,999 other people singing with you as you worship. But that’s okay. You won’t have people like Frances Chan or John Piper or Louie Giglio sitting down with you to explore the Word of God. But that’s okay. There is plenty in the Word of God for the Holy Spirit to show you as you sit by yourself in your room.

The thing is, if we can learn to experience and get to know Jesus in the quiet of our everyday lives, the more we will be able to experience the highs without hitting a low. Both the spectacular and the quiet are needed for us to grow.

So don’t be afraid to get quiet with Him and see where He is leading you – today.

 

cue the musical interlude

December 5, 2011 in monday manna devotional with 0 Comments

One of the many hats I wear is the director hat. I have been involved with and worked in theater for most of my life in some fashion or another. So my disappearing act on the blog has been because I haven’t had enough mental energy to say much of anything! We had our last show last night and my kids performed before a crowd of over 600 (at least that’s the number I heard – but that is completely unverified!)

I. Am. Exhausted.

I started this year with a very hard and very unexpected life transition.

And it appears that we are ending the year with another huge transition. Though this one isn’t quite so unexpected, any kind of transition can be scary.

Maybe it’s because my growing up years were filled with so much upheaval (12 different schools in 5 different states by the time I reached 8th grade!) that change can be difficult for me to face.

So I am back to blogging. Hopefully to writing. And a sense of…could that be “expectation” I’m feeling? Why yes, it just might be.

Following the Lord is always an adventure – and today, I am especially thankfull that He knows exactly where this train is going, even if I don’t.

take a “bath”

September 26, 2011 in monday manna devotional with 0 Comments

Mama said there’d be days like this…

Days when everything seems to go wrong.

Unexpected news that changes plans and forces sacrifice.

Rejection.

Heartbreak.

Life is unfortunately full of days that are less than bright & sunshiny. In this world we will have trouble. But while Jesus tells us this plainly, He also says, “But take heart. I have overcome the world.” (Jn 16:33).

We can’t always fix circumstances or change someone else’s bad attitude. *sigh* But we can deal with our own. I try to do three things when I find myself getting into a funk about something. (And seriously, I’ve had to put this into practice as recently as this morning:-)

1. Be honest

It’s not wrong to have emotion – which is a good thing because I’m *clears throat* a rather emotional person in general. The trick is finding out what to do with those emotions. And that’s “give them to God”. I hate using that phrase because it’s so “what does that mean???” but it’s also pretty accurate. Be honest with God. He is not afraid of your anger, your tears, your sorrow or your joy and delight. (If you don’t believe me go read Psalms…) Talk to Him, be honest with Him, pour out all those things in front of Him, then leave them there…

2. Take a bath

Not a literal bath (though those can be pretty nice, too) – but a metaphorical one. Pick up the Word and read. Read a book. Drink it in. Flip through and find passages you’ve marked and remember things that God showed you. Check out what God says about you. About life. Remember that what you find in the Word is the truth, not what the world says about you.

3. Be grateful

Once I’ve swum around in the Word for a while, it’s always easier to remember – and be genuinely grateful – for the blessings I have. When we get our focus off our circumstances and back on Him, then we can look at life through a better lens. We can remember that yes there is trouble, but there is also blessing, and there is Jesus, who is with us through it all.

Lord, help us to keep our focus on You today and to be simply grateful that we belong to You. Give us wisdom to navigate through whatever challenges we are facing and to trust You above anything else. Amen

 

our dreams vs. God’s dreams for us

September 12, 2011 in monday manna devotional, real life & faith with 0 Comments

As I work my way through the Bible again, I am currently reading Job.
This is not exactly the most warm-fuzzy-make-me-feel-good kind of book.
It is full of sorrow. And lots of questions.
Especially for a Monday morning.

But it highlights something that we all have to be willing to embrace. The sovereignty of God. He is God – and we are not.

I know there are many, many people in our nation who “believe” in God. But what does that mean? What does that mean to you? I have found that as we raise our children, we distinguish between those who “believe” in God, and those that “believe & follow” God. There is an important difference there.

If we say we love God, if we say we follow Him, then there will be points in our lives where what we want is not the same as what He wants for us, and we come to a decision.

Do we want what WE want, or what God wants?
Our will or His will?

I probably couldn’t even count up the number of times over the years of following Jesus that I have come to that crossroads. Where I’ve had to lay down a deep desire on the altar before the Lord and say, “Not my will, but Yours be done.”

This past year, as I’ve mentioned, has been a very difficult one. One where I have not so much wrestled with the willingness to lay down my own desires (I know His plan is always better than the one I’ve got anyway) but more so with where it is that He is leading me. Right now, I’m not sure. So I wait. And pace. And yes, I fret sometimes.

But when I begin to fret, I keep returning to this idea, reminding myself that even when I cannot see, He can. Even when I cannot understand, He is at work. And when it’s time, He’ll lead me where He wants me to go.

So if you’re in that place as well, well, you’re not alone my friend. Maybe we can have some coffee while we wait:-)

~Sarah~

I feel the earth move under my feet

August 29, 2011 in monday manna devotional with 2 Comments

I have lived on the East Coast my entire life. From down south in Georgia all the way up to Connecticut and multiple states in between. (I was a very reluctant nomad which may explain why once I hit 18 I’ve stayed in the same place ever since.)

We have lots of things that happen on the East Coast. For example, hurricanes are a fact of life. So when Hurricane Irene threatened, I, like everyone else, simply went about all the normal preparations and rode out the storm and stayed alert for tornado warnings.

Earthquakes?

Ummmm. Those are new. Now, growing up we went through earthquake and tornado drills in school but since they never, EVER happened, it always felt a bit like one more school fact long forgotten.

So last week when I was sitting right here at my computer and started feeling the earth shake, and then it kept shaking, well, I didn’t know what was happening. The quake lasted about 45 seconds but felt more like a slow motion five minutes. I think it took me about 40 of those seconds to comprehend the fact – I think we’re having an earthquake!! So by the time I dredged up “what to do in an earthquake” from my memory and ran to a doorway*, the quake was nearly over.

And I shook like a leaf for quite some time after that. Hands down, there is nothing like an earthquake to remind you just how small we are. Just how big God is. And how little control we really have over anything.

By west coast standards, I realize the quake was small and slightly laughable** but for us uninitiated east coasters, it was a scary first time event for many of us.

*I have since learned that I should have gone outside. However, since school drills were the only thing in my memory banks, all I could remember was going under my desk or in a doorway (which may have been the tornado part?) Anyhow – I went to a doorway…

**

being brave

August 15, 2011 in destiny & purpose, monday manna devotional, real life & faith with 0 Comments

I’ve mentioned in multiple posts about the unexpected life upheaval I had many months ago and as I look back it’s been kind of interesting and beautiful how God has worked during this time. I’ve had opportunities I never would have had if I had stayed in that place I was. I’ve written two books and a screenplay. I am at work on several other projects. It’s comforting to know that even when life looks fuzzy, God is still at work and we remain in His hands.

For that, I am grateful.

But over the last month I have felt the stirring of God to step out onto the water once again. If that’s you Lord, bid me come. And He says Come! I never want to go anywhere unless it’s the Lord’s leading. That’s a good place to be, but that sometimes makes me too…hesitant. The very fact that I know the stirring and passion I feel is one that I am incapable of doing without the strength and guidance of the Lord tells me that this is not where I want to be – it’s where God is calling me. To a place where I must keep my eyes completely fixed on Him. In faith. In the full knowledge that through Him – all things are possible – even the impossible.

‘Cause to be honest, it all looks impossible. Kinda like looking at the top of Mount Everest. But I suppose most things, when looked at with our human eyes, can look that way. But that is not the way of faith. The way of faith is following Jesus. Bravely.

Nichole Nordeman has an older song called Brave that speaks of this place.

Step out onto the water. The only place to be is right next to Him.

dump and run – monday manna

August 1, 2011 in monday manna devotional with 0 Comments

I haven’t been home very much over the last few weeks. My grandmother (who lives with us) has been in and out of the hospital and two of my three children have been in a theater production that just closed last night.

When I woke up this morning (if you can call it that – I’m vertical but most definitely would not describe myself as “awake”) I realized that my house has become the victim of the dump and run.

You know; you walk in the door, drop everything and go to bed because you have to get up early to do it all again. So the clutter has amassed, and I found myself just staring at it all this morning, not having the energy to tackle it.

If we’re not very careful, it’s the way we can treat God sometimes. You know, hurry in and hurry out because we have ten other things to do. But we can’t afford to dump and run with God because it is in the lingering, the pausing, the quiet, where we are restored and refreshed to do the work He has put before us. So today, even if you have a million other things to do – resist the urge to run in and run out in your time with Him.

“Don’t pray when you feel like it. Have an appointment with the Lord and keep it. A man is powerful on his knees.” Corrie ten Boom

~Sarah~

face towards the Sun

July 18, 2011 in monday manna devotional with 0 Comments

20110718-030048.jpg

My sweet husband planted some sunflowers in the backyard. They are one of my favorite flowers because they always face the sun.

Just like us.

If we keep our face towards the Son, then we can survive the shifting ground beneath us. We can because He is with us. But if we turn away, even for a bit, we will begin to wither. So stay focused on the Son. And Thrive.

~sarah~

you are being watched – monday manna

June 20, 2011 in monday manna devotional, real life & faith with 0 Comments

The little boy was no more than four; blond hair and big smiling eyes. He was watching an older boy, maybe about 9 years old, across the aisle of the bus and the older boy played with his hat and covered his face and made noises to make the younger boy smile and giggle. When the stop came for the older boy to get off the bus, he started to leave and then paused, turned and ran over and rubbed his hand on the little boy’s head. The little boy’s eyes positively sparkled as he watched the older boy bound down the steps of the bus.

Used under creative commons license photo by: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pasa/

We are always being watched by those around us, just as we are always watching those around us. I think we forget sometimes though how much our behavior impacts those around us. No matter how far along we are in our spiritual walks, there will be those that are ahead of us, those who are walking with us and those that are coming along behind. And it has nothing to do with age or “how long” someone says they’ve known the Lord. Spiritual maturity is a whole ‘nother issue than age. I’ve met some who are very young who exhibit incredible maturity. And I’ve met others who claim to know the Lord and yet act in ways that are antithetical to what the Scriptures teach us about following the Lord. Paul talks about this when he discusses those that drink milk but should be eating meat.

How would we behave if we really understood that others are watching us? That God wants our lives to reflect Him?

And it’s more than being watched. The very word “Christian” means “little Christ”. Our lives are meant to reflect Christ – the new person He has created in us – not the stinky old flesh that we are supposed to be putting to death.

I’ve been so sad lately seeing Christians behave so badly. And if I am so deeply grieved, I can only imagine how our Father feels. How different would the church be if we really took this seriously:

And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice–the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. (Romans 12:1)

I think it would be so different. If we belong to Christ then we shouldn’t behave like the world. We should look different. We should BE different. Our lives do not belong to us. We gave up our rights when we gave ourselves to following Jesus. So we don’t have the right to hold grudges, to treat each other badly, to brush people aside as if they don’t matter. If we could learn to see others as Christ sees them, then I’m pretty sure it would radically transform how we treat those around us.

So today I ask, is there a hurt? a grudge? an anger? that you are holding against someone? Ask God for help to Forgive. Then ask God to forgive you. Choosing to forgive is something we must do irregardless of whether the other person is even sorry. When we’ve been given so much by God, much will be required. Unforgiveness puts us in chains. Forgiveness sets us free.

Jesus came so we could be free. He has forgiven us, so we must forgive others.

And trust me when I tell you that I have had this truth sorely tested this past year in multiple, painful ways, and forgiveness – well, I can tell you that forgiveness is a choice that you will never regret.

Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Col 3:13)

~Sarah~

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