Inspired by . . . a curious harmony

A cold front came in last night. The clouds are low and plentiful today, casting long gray shadows through the cottage windows.

Time seems suspended. Still.

There is a curious harmony at work in these days. While there has been a physical shift in my world out of necessity, there has also been a spiritual one.

At first, I couldn't name it. This change. So foreign it was to my being.

The striving is gone.

I no longer feel the drive to be pro-active in my faith. Rather, my spirit is content to wait and simply respond to His promptings, His leading. 

It has been a subtle shift. My life hasn't stopped being crazy.

But I have stopped being crazy.

A simple pause, ever so slight, in the middle of whatever, to acknowledge His presense. Breath prayers. A nod to His majesty. I'm learning, slowly, to pray without ceasing.

I have so far to go. Yet I already feel like a new person inside an old skin. 

As we enter the second week of Lent I feel deeply embeded in the darkness. Not a scary evil darkness. No, evil cannot dwell with our Lord. There is nothing to fear from the darkness of the Lenten season. Christ has gone before us. We have nothing to fear by following.

I have not given up for Lent. Rather I have added. Added more of Him into my every day. In walking with Jesus in His last days, as He made His way to Jerusalem, teaching and healing along the way, we have the gift of hindsight. We know what He knew.

He was walking to the cross.

This juxtaposition - the light that surrounded Him as He taught and healed even as the darkness of death overshadowed Him - this, too, is our reality.

As the days get longer, the trees and flowers burst forth with new life, we walk with Jesus into darkness. 

We do this in a spiritual sense, but we also know the reality of physical death. At some point our earthly bodies stop growing and begin dying. For some, the pain of this reality comes sooner than others.

So even as we go about our lives, living loud and joyous, we are walking into darkness. 

I don't say this to be macabre. But rather to point you to HOPE. 

For if we never acknowledge the reality of death, we won't live our lives in the fullness of the hope we have in Christ. [click to tweet]

We were buried therefore with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. (Rom 6:4)

We can walk by faith, I believe, because we know how the story ends.

Just as the grave could not hold our Lord, neither will it hold us.

Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1Co 15:51-57)

This is the hope we have that when our earthly life is done, we shall live eternally with Him. This is why we should take these seven weeks of the year to remember His death.

To remember His life. To meld it closely with our own. Because our lives are not always loud and joyous. Sometimes they are dark and silent.

And we need to know how to stand in the dark and silent times.

We can stand, even walk victorious through them . . . because of Him.

Shalom,

Sharing inspiration here:
Testimony Tuesday, #TellHisStory,
Thought Provoking Thursday, Grace & Truth,
Inspire Me Monday, RaRa Link Up, Intentional Tuesday,
#WordswithWinter, Titus 2 Tuesday, Thoughtful Thursdays,
Encourage Me Monday, Wholehearted Wednesday,
Women with Intention Wednesdays, Word Filled Wednesday,
#GiveMeGrace, Sitting Among Friends, #Glimpsesofhisbeauty
Counting My Blessings, Grace Moments

Inspired by . . . grit, guts, glory

I can't get over these tenacious little birds that chase down the red-tailed hawk, a bird 10x their size. 

The hawk is attacking the birds family and home. The birds are doing what comes naturally: defending their babies and their nest. They not only chase the hawk away, I've watched them sit for 20 minutes or more "guarding" him on the cell tower. One bird will leave and return to the nest then, eventually, the other will leave.

The scene plays out several times a week now, and I can't help but wonder if there is a lesson here.

We, too, have an Enemy attacking our families and homes. And, just like the hawk, he often soars in silently, looking beautiful and good. By the time his sharp beak and talons appear we're making our bed under his wings.

The enemy attacks in various ways. Sometimes he is like Goliath; an obvious, but seemingly un-surmountable force. Sometimes he comes as an insidious evil, like Jezebel. And he can come quietly, yet consistently. An un-named irritation like a thorn in the side.

...a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. (2Co 12:7)

There are several ways we can fight the enemy of sin in our lives. We can knock it out. A smooth stone straight to center of sin. 

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. (Jas 4:7)

Then there are times when we need to flee sin. As Elijah fled from Jezebel. Flee and fight the battle on our knees, trusting God for the outcome. 

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. (1Pe 5:8-9)

And then there are times when we must simply, and completely fall upon His grace. 

Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you. (Jas 4:9-10)

It's important to remember that whenever we fight sin, in any form, we do so in the power of the Lord. There is no command in scripture to engage Satan in an offensive manner. Even David's fight against Goliath was in defense of Israel and done in the name of the Lord.

...but I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand,  (1Sa 17:45-46)

Beloved, I don't know what you're facing today. But I know you're facing something. Remember, the safest place on earth is close to our Father. Only His wings will offer you sure and eternal protection.

He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and buckler. (Psa 91:4)

Suit up (Eph 6:11), 

seek Him (Mat 6:33), 

and trust Him for the battle (1Cor 15:57).

Blessings,

Sharing inspiration here:
Small Wonders, Testimony Tuesday, #TellHisStory,
Thought Provoking Thursday, Grace & Truth, Let Us Walk Worthy,
Inspire Me Monday, RaRa Link Up, Intentional Tuesday,
#WordswithWinter, Titus 2 Tuesday, Thoughtful Thursdays,
Encourage Me Monday, Wholehearted Wednesday,
Women with Intention Wednesdays, Word Filled Wednesday,
#GiveMeGrace, Sitting Among Friends