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snow day.

Published on by elizabethgwinLeave a comment

I woke up to picture-perfect snow falling outside my window this morning! Huge fluffy snowflakes captured my fascination as they slowly drifted down to join the thick blanket already covering everything in sight. Like a child, I dressed in layers and ran outside to play, with both my cocker spaniels leading the way! Worn out, I have since enjoyed the gorgeous view by the fire inside, with dry clothes, warm coffee, and two sleeping dogs.

You see, snow falling is a rarity in central Mississippi, and snow that sticks long enough to accumulate is even more rare.. a Christmas Miracle, if you will! Truly, these several inches of white fluff are a special blessing to a [deep] Southern girl like me!

There is just something about seeing the world covered in white! It is so quiet and peaceful and still. The normal hurried sounds of the day are absent as though the world has slowed its pace. The contrast of browns, greens, and yellows against the pure and simple white create a beautiful tapestry unlike any other in nature.

I love the feeling of freedom that envelops me when snow falls. It is a freedom to just be, to stop and rest in the amazement and joy, and to slow down and savor the beauty surrounding me. As nature tends to do, as I stop to appreciate my surroundings, my thoughts turn to God. I see His hand in each snowflake that falls and stare in wonder as they gather and rest on tree branches without overwhelming or breaking them. The harmony of it all is simply breathtaking. I cannot stop staring at the world around me!

 

Perhaps this state of harmony is how God intended the world to be? Perhaps He longs for us to see the beauty He creates in nature more often and to rest in His peaceful calm?

This snow-covered day gives a deeper and fresh meaning to a favorite verse of mine:

“BE STILL, and know that I AM God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” – Psalm 46:10, ESV

Psalm 46 celebrates Zion (the coming city of the LORD) and God’s plans to bless all the earth with His majestic presence. All wars will cease, and peace will rule the nations.

Be still, people of the earth, and welcome the coming LORD! Let God’s peace fall down upon you like snow. Let the blanket of white cover you and the quiet calm envelop you until you can truly rest in the real presence of the LORD.

Take time this Advent season to JUST BE STILL! Take in the beauty of the snow (if you have any), and allow it to calm and soothe you. Remember that God created time. He will not let you “get behind” because you have chosen to pause and be still in His presence; rather, He will bless you with snow flurries of joy and peace as you go about your day!

[NOTE: More to come on the season of Advent in upcoming posts! Stay tuned!]

ESV = English Standard Version Bible

happy fall y’all!

Published on by elizabethgwin2 Comments

I love fall! It is my favorite season. The crisp weather, pumpkins, football and scarves just get me excited! I long to plant mums and cabbage, hang a “Happy Fall Y’all” sign on my door, and start a pot of chili on the stove to celebrate the new season!

Now the autumn season officially began on September 22nd, but as my fellow Southerners can relate, the temperature and humidity have stubbornly rebelled against the change. As a Southern lady, I have spent the last month “glistening” [Southern lingo for perspiring] due to the rebellious nature of our weather.

I look around me and see the leaves changing and the fall plants growing, yet the weather refuses to joyfully embrace the new season. The plants, the animals, even the people have welcomed fall, and I wonder why the weather insists on holding on to the past. Do we not do the same thing sometimes? Do we not go through the motions of moving into another season of life while gripping tightly and focusing our eyes on the previous season?

God created seasons to allow time for rest and growth and renewal. He made all of nature to thrive in ONE SEASON at a time. He made humans no different. We were created to live and thrive within seasons as well! We cannot go through seasons without change.

Notice the opening line from the poem in Ecclesiastes below.

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
 a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.” – Ecclesiastes 3:1-8, ESV

What about you? What season of life does God have you in right now?

Perhaps you are in a season of growth and wonder how much further you can be stretched because your body aches from the growing pains.

Or maybe you are in a season of rest and renewal and are plagued with FOMO (fear of missing out) or boredom due to your less active lifestyle.

Perhaps your season is far more challenging than your neighbor’s, and you struggle with envy because your disappointments are racking up in comparison to her successes.

Or maybe you are in a season of loss and struggle to hold onto your faith because all you can feel is numbness from the pain.

Perhaps you are in a season of newness and positive growth, and you long for someone to genuinely share in your excitement.

Or maybe you are on your way out of one season and into another one and not sure how you will weather the storm of change or how you will start over if you lose everything you own.

Each season is different, but one thing remains the same: GOD. He is constant. He is steady. His love for us never changes. His eyes never leave us. His hand is never out of reach.

Storms in life will come, and change is inevitable.

How can we remain joyful, even in the toughest of seasons? How can we hold tight to our faith when everything else is slipping away? By looking up to God instead of all around us. Know and trust that He is faithful and good.

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” -Lamentations 3:22-23, ESV

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” -Proverbs 3:5-6, ESV

ESV = English Standard Version Bible

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

autopilot.

Published on by elizabethgwinLeave a comment

Do you ever feel like you are on autopilot in life? Perhaps you are going through the motions without much thought to your actions? Maybe this lasts for a day or a week or even an entire season? Regardless of the length of time spent in this auto mode, the awakening results are the same. You realize that you have gotten from point A to point B with little recollection of your journey. What a strange feeling it is.

I have buzzed through many seasons on autopilot and hated the remorse for days past that ensue. This year during Lent, I have aimed to slow life down and focus my attention on Christ. I long to see more than ‘Fish Fridays’ and ’40 days without’ this year, to turn off autopilot and engage fully in the Lenten season. Who knows what all I have missed in years past?

I want to see the events of Holy Week come alive before my eyes and feel the nearness of Jesus along this journey. This season I have chosen to follow an adapted Lenten discipline suggested by my pastor, titled: Once a Day, Once a Week, and Once a Month.

  • Once a Day: take a few moments for prayer and devotion, quiet time spent with God
  • Once a Week: fast from a meal or a pastime and spend the time in the Word of God
  • Once a Month: fast from whatever forms of information or technology distract you from others for a whole day

Two weeks in, and I am loving this discipline so much that I may keep it going after Easter!

“Let us hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful.” – Hebrews 10:24, ESV

My “Once a Day” quiet time in the morning has been my favorite part of the day. I have come to crave that quiet and still moment before the day begins to just ‘be’ in God’s presence. Some days I have read an entire passage, some days just a verse. Some days I have journaled, and some days I have not. Most importantly, each day includes some form of prayer with praise and gratitude.

“My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God… Blessed are those who dwell in our house, ever singing your praise!… They go from strength to strength… No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly.” – Psalm 84:2,4,11b, ESV

“Once a Week” I have chosen to forego television. Instead of watching a beloved (nonsense) show, I have used the time to open my Bible and read. Honestly, it was strange at first, but not anymore! I have enjoyed the peaceful respite from the busyness of the social world and have found myself wanting to replace evening television with reading more often than once a week. The gospel of Mark has completely captivated my attention this Lenten season. I have seen God’s faithfulness and love light up off the pages, as the apostle’s recount of Jesus’ ministry comes to life right in front of me.

Jesus speaks to his disciples about his purpose and ministry on earth: “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” – Mark 4:22-23, ESV

I have learned this Lenten season that God is faithful. God is just. He keeps His Word. He never forgets us. He never loses sight of us. He who loves us can be trusted wholly. 

“The works of His hands are faithful and just; all his precepts are trustworthy.” – Psalm 111:7, ESV

“He who calls you is faithful…” – 1 Thessalonians 5:24, ESV

ESV = English Standard Version Bible

 

let them see love.

Published on by elizabethgwinLeave a comment
This post is inspired by another one of my new tanks from the light blonde shop. I am borderline obsessed with all these super cute tees and tanks hand-made by a fellow Jesus-loving lady. Y’all must check it out!

How are we, as believers, showing love to others in our day-to-day lives? Do we, as Christians, display behaviors that align with the Word of God? Do we treat both believers and non-believers with the same mercy and love that Jesus showed us?

L E T    T H E M    S E E    L O V E.

How we treat each other can be a truer display of God’s love than any testimony we can write. Our actions often give an unfiltered truth louder than any words we can speak.

Let them see love … by speaking truth and kindness.

“Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.” – Psalm 34:13

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” – Proverbs 15:1

“These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another .. do not devise evil in your hearts against one another..” – Zechariah 8:16a-17a

Let them see love … by keeping your mouth shut!

We have always heard: “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” Turns out that is biblical, and we cannot ignore what our mamas told us!

“Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!” – Psalm 141:3

“Whoever belittles his neighbor lacks sense, but a man of understanding remains silent.” – Proverbs 11:12

Let them see love …  by reflecting the light of God that is within us.

Jesus is the “true light” that shines into every heart that believes in Him. God overcomes all darkness in our lives with His light, bearing love and mercy and grace (John 1:9).

“You [who are in Christ] are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In she same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:14-16

“So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”- Romans 13:12b

“.. come, let us walk in the light of the LORD.” – Isaiah 2:5

Let them see love … by being a humble servant to those around us.

“Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”- 1 Peter 4:9-10

“.. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for  ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'” – 1 Peter 5:5b

“Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord… Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all.” – Romans 12:8-11,16-17

Let them see love … by welcoming others without judgement.

JUDGING AIN’T LOVING! God has accepted us just as we are, and he also accepts others just as they are. He does not ask for our help in matters of judgment. He only commands us to “love our neighbors as [ourselves]” (Matthew 22:39).

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” – Romans 8:1

“Judge not, that you not be judge. For with the judgement you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” – Matthew 7:1-2

CHECK YOURSELF! Take a step back and make sure your words and your actions are speaking love to those around you. Make sure you are aligned with God and walking in His will for your life. If not, humble yourself and ask for forgiveness and direction. He will provide. He is faithful and just and the sole author of genuine and unfaltering love. 

All passages in this post are from the ESV (English Standard Version) Bible.

 

my plans.

Published on by elizabethgwin4 Comments

Ever feel like God did just not get the memo you sent him about all the plans you have made for your life? I sure do. I work so hard to construct this perfect schedule and timeline, but God does not even follow it! Not even close sometimes! So frustrating! I thought planning was one of my spiritual gifts!?

“For I know the plans I have for you, declare the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11, ESV

Chances are you know this verse from Jeremiah by heart. Outstanding, so do I, but how often do we truly apply it to our own lives? It is so very easy to read the first half of the verse and move on, half-heartedly believing God and going right back to our planners. We read it.. a verse a day to keep the devil away.. now back to our busy days!

Let’s look at the passage with fresh eyes and open hearts this time, with consideration to the background of the passage. These words of the LORD were spoken to the prophet Jeremiah during a tumultuous time in Judah’s history. The 600s BC were marked as a time of rampant idolatry and spiritual bankruptcy, until the nation is defeated by King Nebuchadnezzar. Jeremiah sends these words of hope to the Jewish exiles in Babylon.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declare the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declare the LORD, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the LORD, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.” – Jeremiah 29:11-14, ESV

A HOT MESS! So the people of Israel had turned from God and been worshipping idols and following whatever superstitious cultic practices had been deemed by the throne. They never stopped being God’s people, just stopped behaving like God’s people. Then King Neb saw an easy target and captured Jerusalem. An even hotter mess! Slight change in plans, Israel, you are now moving to Babylon! Can you imagine?

Isn’t that always when we suddenly remember God and call out to Him desperately? We forget to talk to God until disaster strikes. Don’t you know they were calling out to God from Babylon? God hears, and God responds through Jeremiah. Hear His instructions:

“Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters … multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the LORD on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” – Jeremiah 29:5-7, ESV

What?! Why not a quick rescue or a swarm of locusts to let the people go? Jeremiah tells them that they will be there for 70 years! Not 70 days, 70 years! Help! My planner is only 18 months! God, can we discuss this please? I can only imagine their anguish and anger.

God tells them to be content in the here and now, with instructions to settle down and plant a garden. Start a family and meet your neighbors. None of those are overnight tasks. Their instructions require obedience and patience and trust in God. In addition to seeking God and being content with their semi-permanent detour, God also instructs them to seek the welfare of their new cities and to pray for them. Talk about praying for your enemies!

Can you relate to the Jewish exiles in Babylon? Perhaps you are frustrated in your current situation that is nothing like what you had planned? A layover turned into a never-ending rerouting, with no desired destination in sight. 

We can plan all we like, but we must remember that God is in charge. Try as we may, things will not always go according to plan and our destinations will not always be of our choosing. Just like the Jewish exiles, God calls us to find contentment in our here and now, no matter how messy or undesirable it may be.

We are to make the most of our circumstances and pray for our cities, our detours in life, with grateful hearts, even when we do not want to. God changes hearts and surroundings, and He is faithful! GOD DOES NOT MAKE MISTAKES! He can and will use any situation, any mess we get ourselves into, for His ultimate good. He will deliver us out safely on the other side with blessings greater than we can imagine!

ESV = English Standard Version Bible
Shop glasses and planner in photo: Where do I shop?

radiance.

Published on by elizabethgwin6 Comments

I have been burdened with feelings of shame before. These uninvited senses of remorse over poor choices I had made would haunt my whole being. My energy and emotion would be rendered in attempt to suppress these wretched feelings and regrets. Voices in my head would tell me that I had gone too far, that I had messed up too much, and that I was not worthy of another chance, nor would I ever have one.

I was convinced that I was unredeemable and undesirable, unforgivable and unworthy.

I was overwhelmed with disparaging thoughts that told me that I was just not enough. I questioned how God could even love someone like me, a sinner.

LIES. All lies, and my mind believed every single one. Forget the red flags of evil, I stubbornly and selfishly chose to listen until the lies became a false-truth and dictated my self-perception and perspective, and I was ashamed of who I had become.

Then one day, I read a Psalm that changed my life. My entire outlook brightened, and the more I read it, the more I believed it. I realized that I had been harboring these feelings of shame from past mistakes that I had never once taken to God. I assumed that since I was disappointed in myself, that God would be too. Since I saw myself as unworthy, God must too. I was too wrapped up in this blanket of lies to recognize the sources of evil orchestrating the  shame I felt. I failed to realize that my theory did not align with the character of God displayed throughout His World.

“The LORD redeems the life of his servants; none of those who take refuge in him will be condemned.” – Psalm 34:22, ESV

“Your steadfast love, O LORD, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.” – Psalm 36:5, ESV

I began to understand that God does not make mistakes. He only offers total forgiveness and unwavering love. There is nothing that I can do that would be too much to disqualify me from His love and forgiveness. I am very worthy to him, very precious and very important in His eyes. He loves me. He forgives me. He does so because he wants to.

“I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.” – Psalm 34:4-5, ESV

Take heart! God loves you and is ready to forgive you too. You are worthy and precious and important to Him as well. The moment you seek Him and ask His forgiveness, you will be showered with this amazing love. God does this not because He has to, but because He wants to. He wants to love you and have a relationship with you.

My redemption through Christ reversed all signs of damage, both visible and invisible. He removed all my shame and replaced it with His unfailing love.

In spa terms: God reversed the signs of aging, exfoliated and removed all the dead cells, and left my skin glowing with radiance. It’s like a heavenly facial!

This heavenly spa is open 24/7/365. Walk-ins are always welcome. No appointment needed. All you must do is seek God. Call to Him, and He will hear you. (Psalm 34:15)

These beautiful words are a prayer of confession from my church service yesterday. Make this prayer your own. Remember we are never too far gone for God’s redemption.

“Gracious God, our sins are too heavy to carry, too real to hide, and too deep to undo.

Forgive what our lips tremble to name, what our hearts can no longer bear, and what has become for us a weight too heavy to carry.

Set us free from a past we cannot change; open to us a future in which we can be changed; and grant us to grow more and more into your likeness and your image.”

ESV = English Standard Version Bible

pity party planner.

Published on by elizabethgwin1 Comment

We must remember that on this journey of life, we are never alone, though it often seems that way. We do not perceive life clearly when we are focused on the world around us. Instead of hearing God’s truth for our lives, we hear the world’s lies. We stumble and fall and conclude that God has abandoned us. Why else would we feel alone?

“Why, O LORD, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” – Psalm 10:1, ESV

Then the pity party begins! Don’t we all love to host a selfish soiree?! If pity party planning was a real career, I would be retired to an island at the ripe age of 34!!

Take heart, ladies! We know that every grand event always has a PARTY CRASHER! Something or someone reminds us that we are not alone, that we do have a God that loves us. That little glimmer of hope gives us the strength we need to refocus and to remember that God is there. He always has been and always will be.

“And now, O LORD, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.” – Psalm 39:7, ESV

“It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” – Deuteronomy 31:8, ESV 

We only see what we gaze our eyes upon. Of course we surmise that God has abandoned us when we take our eyes off Him and focus on the world. I assure you that God is present. We must look up and not down, toward Him and not all around. If you cannot see through your tears, do not worry! Speak His name, and He will hear.

“When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:17-18, ESV

“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law,” – Psalm 119:18, KJV

We are human. The world distracts us, and we take our eyes off God. Know that pity parties will happen, and be a smart party planner! Sometimes we just need to cry. Let your tears be therapeutic and releasing, but do not allow the self-pity soiree to last all day!

It is in my feeling of destitution that I find God is closest to me. In my life, I have felt His presence most tangible and near in times of weakness, sadness, and despair.  

I keep verses posted all over my house and several easily found in my phone for the sometimes unavoidable surprise pity party that arrives. I also try not to party alone! When I am feeling down, I call a friend to help me crash my own party! A dear friendship is a blessing soaked in God’s love that always reminds me that I am never journeying alone.

ESV = English Standard Version Bible,  KJV = King James Version Bible

 

 

bad hair day.

Published on by elizabethgwinLeave a comment

I have a lot of hair. It’s thick and long and a process to blow dry after its been washed. However, if I want my hair to behave, then I must not skip any steps! A hair dryer is not a necessity to live, but mine greatly improves my life!

Not all hair dryers are the same. Some of you may can relate. (If not, then please just stick with me anyway; I’m going somewhere deeper than hair with this!) I have tried so many different dryers from every make and model and every newest function and ionic-whatevers. I found that the newest, flashiest model did not necessarily do the best job. I would find a great one, only to have it quit on me later. I needed something dependable, solid, that I knew would not let me down. My Dry Bar Buttercup hair dryer is just that.

When I travel, I carry my travel-size hair dryer with me, because I know that without out, I am guaranteed to have some serious bad hair days while I’m away from home.

We try any and every new shiny thing that promises to bring us joy, instead of just sticking with what we KNOW works. Sometimes hair is no different from life. We put our trust in the world to give us smooth locks and joy and end up with tangles and frizz.

We must put our trust in God to provide and take care of our every detail, from our hair to our future.

The world is constantly producing the newest, greatest thing with empty promises of unending joy and satisfaction and lifetime guarantees, but those things never deliver.

We need something we can depend on for our entire lives. Not just today, not just for one season, not just for one year, but for an entire lifetime. God is that answer!

Just like a hair dryer, we must take God with us everywhere we go. Please note, I am not suggesting that you find a travel-sized God; there is no such thing! He’s one-size-fits-all and mighty and not to be squeezed into your carry-on. However, I am suggesting that you purchase a travel-sized Bible to carry with you, or perhaps download a Bible app on your phone!  Just like traveling without my hairdryer invites bad hair days, leaving home without God invites a bad day period!

Remember the Israelites? The ones that Moses led out of slavery in Egypt? The ones who wandered in the desert for 40 years in route to the Promised Land?

God provided for the Israelites from the moment their journey began.

“And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar… did not depart from before the people.” – Exodus 13:21-22, ESV

God had already planned the trip from Egypt to the Promised Land. Everything was mapped out, meals planned; they could not have asked for a better tour director! The journey under God’s direction is going so well, until the people decided to leave God behind. They no longer need His guidance or protection once the flashy world caught their eyes.

In the South, we say ‘the grass always looks greener on the other side.’ For the Israelites, the sand must have looked lusher on the other side that was not under God’s guidance. Their choice to journey without God resulted in quite a delay! God set them to wander in that desert for 40 years because of their stubborn disobedience.

“And the LORD said to Moses, ‘Go down, for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them… I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff-necked people.'” – Exodus 32:7-9, ESV

God tells Moses the people have ‘corrupted themselves! They have turned aside quickly from His ways!’ Halfway through the journey, they decided they could plan the trip better than God had. They attempted to desert God and change His travel plan, but instead, they traded a direct journey to the Promised Land for a 40-year delay in the desert. The supposed upgrade the world offered them was a scam, nothing more than a downgrade!

There are no direct flights for the disobedient, no upgrades for the ungodly.

Each day we live is a journey. We have the choice to be stubborn travelers or smart travelers. Be smart! Choose obedience and travel with God! He guarantees a good journey!

The encouraging words of the LORD to Joshua before they entered the Promised Land: “…Do not turn from [my Law]… This [Book] shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success… Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” – Joshua 1:7-9, ESV

ESV = English Standard Version Bible

 

Standing on an hourglass

Published on by elizabethgwin4 Comments

From ‘My Hope is Built on Nothing Less’ by Edward Mote:

“on Christ the solid rock I stand/ all other ground is sinking sand / all other ground is sinking sand”

How often do you feel that you are stuck in sinking sand and that time is working against you? No matter how hard you try, you just cannot go fast enough to beat it. Despite all efforts, you cannot achieve enough to make it out. Some days feel like you are drowning in the sands of time, barely able to catch a breath, seeming as though you are standing atop an hourglass with the sands steadily slipping away from underneath you as you sink further and further down.

Like flood waters creeping up, this fast-paced world can very quickly sweep us away. It tells us daily that we are running behind and have unmet deadlines. Everyone’s deluge may look different, but the residual feelings are the same: empty and discouraged souls, exhausted from efforts to reach an ever-rising level of achievement.

Modern conformity comes only at the price of your sanity and your soul. 

Think of an hourglass. The sands of time are slowly trickling down to the bottom chamber. Once the hour has passed, our time is up. This very time device is what the wicked witch used to scare Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. Some 80 years later, the world uses the same trick as Hollywood did in 1937 to scare us today!

We feel this insatiable pressure from many directions, yet we cannot identify the source.

None of these worldly timeclocks were set by us or with our consent, but they are the gauge on which we are measured. This is the standard by which our success is measured, our value is measured, and if we are not careful, our self-worth is measured.

Who set these socially accepted standards for measure? God? Oh no, the world did. The world, comprised of flesh and human minds, moral and unmoral, ethical and unethical, godly and ungodly, set these standards.

How many times as women do we hear:?

  • You better hurry up and get married before you get too old!
  • You better hurry up and have babies. Your time clock is ticking!
  • You haven’t even made partner yet. What are you waiting for?

So why do we even acknowledge these worldly standards? They are nearly impossible to ignore. They are everywhere: social media, TV, magazines, billboards, radio, etc. The worldly standards have even crept into our churches and into our homes.

“And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.” – 2 Corinthians 11:14-15, ESV

What if these standards are means to distract us from God’s direction in our lives? Just little lies, small voices telling us we are not enough, have not done enough, do not have enough. When does it end? We get close to the next level of enough-ness, and to our dismay, the standard of achievement has been raised. We may not can stop these worldly lies from spreading into public places, but we can control what enters our homes and our minds.

“Depart from me, all you workers of evil, for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping…  He [God] only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken… Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.” – Psalm 6:8, 62:2,8, ESV

 

ESV = English Standard Version Holy Bible

Grudges make smudges.

Published on by elizabethgwin3 Comments

What happens when we hold a grudge against someone for something they did or didn’t do, or did or didn’t say? Perhaps we hold a grudge against someone for never meeting an unspoken expectation that we had set for them in our minds.

“Guard you heart above all else, for it is the source of life.” – Proverbs 4:23, HCSB

So what’s the big deal about a grudge? It takes up valuable real estate in our hearts, space that could be given to God and used to love someone.. maybe even ourselves. Grudges we hold are not limited to OTHER people. Sometimes we detest some quality or lack thereof about ourselves so very much that we build up feelings of anguish and discontentment that overflows in negative thoughts.

  • “I hate my ___________ [thighs, nose, etc]. I’d be happy if only mine were ______________ [smaller, bigger, thinner, etc].” 
  • “If I was a little less / more _________________ [organized, in shape, etc], I’d be so happy!”
  • “If only I had _____________ [a husband, a better job, a cleaner house, more time], then I’d be so happy!”

Do any of these sound familiar to you? The if only scenarios seem to be blocking our happiness. But maybe there is something more, something deeper?

Let’s take a step back and really look at these if only thoughts.

  1. Did you get this information from a credible source? That you won’t be happy until you achieve / obtain _____ .
  2. Are any of these goals CONCRETE things that will sustain your happiness, or are they fleeting and temporary feelings?

God knows us and sees us for who we really are. He forgives us of our many shortcomings and imperfections and still loves us anyway. Why do we struggle to forgive and love “as is”?

Perhaps you have some area of brokenness in your life right now. Maybe a relationship in need of mending, a habit you can’t seem to kick, a neglected duty, or just a pile of grudges against someone. God is calling us to look deeper and find those areas where we are withholding forgiveness. Look closely. These grudges may be towards another person, towards God, or even towards yourself. When you find these grudges, give them to God. Allow Him to shine His light on the areas of smudgy darkness. A clean heart is a healed heart. Only God can miraculously erase smudges long engrained on human hearts.

“That light shines in the darkness, yet the darkness did not overcome it.” – John 1:5, HCSB

Let God heal your broken and smudged heart. His light can outshine, overwhelm, and overcome any pain that you have. His laser of love will mend your broken heart and make you whole again.

“Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my concerns. See if there is any offensive way in me; lead me in the everlasting way.” – Psalm 139:23-24, HCSB

ab-grudge
Annabelle holding a grudge

[HCSB: Holman Christian Standard Bible]