Life on E Street

Life on E Street has been a bit hectic lately. We added a baby girl to our family a few months ago and adjusting to life with a newborn at the (not so young) age of 39, plus keeping up with a kid in band and chorus, has kept me quite busy…not to mention the added stress of the holidays on top of it all. I feel things are starting to settle a bit so that I can stay on top of our Life on E Street.

I have written before about facing a mountain and the choice we made to climb that mountain. We felt God leading us down one path only to reach the end and be told “not yet”. I had so many thoughts going through my head that day, mainly one of deception. I felt God move us in this direction only to be told no, or not yet. As I was lamenting to a very sweet friend of mine she quickly changed my perspective. She said, “it’s like when Abraham took Isaac to the top of the mountain. He went with the purpose to sacrifice his son, only to be given a ram when she showed that he would do what he was told. You’ve taken the step in faith that God asked you to take, now you need to wait on your ram.”

I was speechless after that, because she was right. I did what I felt called to do, so now we just have to wait.

I used to pride myself in being patient, then I realized that I am only patient in a few things, and waiting on God is NOT one of those things. We live in such a fast-paced society where everything is literally at our finger tips and can be delivered in two days or less. (I am typing this post from my phone because I can’t wait long enough to get home to my computer!)

We have been conditioned to think that if we ask for it then it should happen right now. “Your way, right away” as the old slogan used to go. But God isn’t a short-order cook to serve up our requests in minutes or even hours. Sometimes it just takes time.

So here we are, sitting at the top of our mountain, living life on pause.

Here’s a little insight for you: I don’t currently live with my husband. His job has him living in one place and due to the custody agreement I have with my son’s father, I live in another. It’s not an easy, “just quit your job and move” type decision. So now we have this beautiful little girl and we are making the best of the situation we are in. This year we are praying for BIG answers from a BIG God in a BIG way. God is and always has been faithful; but we have to remain patient.

So we live on pause.

Another sweet friend of mine posted on Facebook about her word for the year and I shared with her that a few years ago my word was faith, followed the next year with hope. However, this year, its patience. I have learned that you can’t have hope without faith, and you can’t have patience without hope.

So how do you LIVE on PAUSE? Ha. I’m still trying to figure that one out, but truthfully you just keep living, praying, and believing that it will all come together and it will all work out (I’m clinging to Romans 8:28 on that). Until then, we rack up some serious miles traveling back and forth to be together as a family. It’s not ideal, in fact it’s quite exhausting; but for now this is the path we are called to take. So we practice the pause and simply enjoy every moment we have together.

Nothing is taken for granted. Everything is in His hands. It’s all in His time, His way, and for His glory.

When God is asking you to wait, there is always a reason. Trust in His promise and in His plan. His ways are better and He sees things we can’t. I pray we get to hit the “Play” button soon, but until then we will learn from the “Pause”.

I have started a reading plan to read the Bible all the way through in a year again. I have already done this once, and it really changed my life. Right now I am in Genesis, and I have been reading the story of Joseph this week. If you haven’t ever really read his story, I advise you to do so as it will open your eyes and hopefully encourage you the way it has me.

You see, Joseph was his father’s favorite child. Now I know we all claim that we are our parent’s favorite, but Joseph knew it and his father didn’t hide it either. His father even went as far as having a special coat of many colors made especially for Joseph to signify how special he was.

Joseph was also given the gift to interpret dreams by God. Now Joseph didn’t really handle this gift with the greatest of humility in his early years, at least not from what I gathered from scripture as his brothers were often offended with his interpretations of his dreams. There was such animosity between them that his brothers plotted to kill him one day when he was coming to visit them in the field.  Thankfully, one of the older brothers had the courage to stand up to them and said, “let’s just throw him in this pit”, and planned on coming back to rescue him later. So they did just that; they threw Joseph into the pit, and then sold him into slavery. They then took it a step further and tore his precious coat and covered it in animal blood and took it to their father and said, “look what we found? Doesn’t this belong to your son?”  Like they didn’t know. So now they have kidnapped their brother, thrown him into a pit, sold him into slavery, and to top it all off they faked his death and let their father grieve over this loss. (Sounds like a great group of guys!)

Joseph’s story doesn’t end there, but seriously, how much worse could it get? Right? Well, don’t you know you should NEVER ask that question? So here is the rest of the story.

Joseph was taken to Egypt and was sold to Potiphar, who was one of Pharaoh’s officials (a Pharaoh is a King). Potiphar saw that the Lord was with him and Joseph found favor in his eyes because of this. For this reason, Potiphar put Joseph in charge of his household.

Talk about a drastic change of events for Joseph. He thought he was dead, and now he is given a place of power!  Things are looking up….or were they?

The story goes on to say that Potiphar’s wife wanted Joseph to sleep with her, and Joseph refused because of who he was, so Potiphar’s wife accused him and had him thrown in jail. While in prison Joseph used his unique talent of interpreting dreams to help out a couple of guys he was cell mates with, a baker and a cupbearer. The baker’s dream did not have a great interpretation and he died, but the cupbearer was pulled out of prison and restored to his position. Joseph asked him to remember him when he was released…and he did, but it wasn’t as quickly has one had hoped.

Now after some time had passed Pharaoh was having a recurring dream and none of his hired wise men could help him. Joseph’s cell mate, who was the cupbearer, finally remembered Joseph and told Pharaoh about him. Pharaoh had him brought out of prison, Joseph interpreted the dream, and Pharaoh put in charge of the whole land of Egypt!

Okay, that is a real quick summary of Joseph. But it’s enough to get my point across. Joseph faced some serious life altering challenges. Some of us would even say, faith shattering. I’m not sure how I would feel or how much faith I would have if my brother threw me into a pit with the intent on killing me, only to sell me into slavery because of convenience, and then be thrown into prison because of someone else’s lie. But “the Lord was with him”.  That verse jumped off the page at me.

As I was talking to my husband this morning about our current situation, I told him that it must have been a great comfort to Joseph to know that God was with him…then I realized, I know that God is with us in our current situation. I see God’s fingerprints all over it and that is the only reason I have the peace that I have. Yes I have questions, but I am at peace.

Joseph’s story didn’t end there, many years later his brothers had to come to him to get help because there was a great famine in the land, only they didn’t know who he was.  When the truth finally came out, they were afraid, in fact the scriptures say, “they were terrified”.  Joseph said something that really opened my eyes and caused me to pause. ” Genesis 45:5 “And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.”

Did anyone just say, “wow”? Because I did! Can you imagine having that kind of faith? When you KNOW that you KNOW that you KNOW that the reason you went through what you went through was to save lives and that God sent him ahead of them to save them, that is a really strong faith.

As I look back over my trials and struggles and storms and I see where God was, even when I wasn’t looking, I’m still not sure why I went through all that I did. I do know He was there. I know that He is with me now in my current trial. But to have the faith and presence of mind to know that it was because God sent you there, that is some kind of faith.

God allowed Joseph to go through what he went through so that he could save lives. He pulled him from the pit that he was thrown and in placed in a position of power. I know that God has pulled me from my pit, and while I don’t crave nor do I want any position of power, I do pray that he places me in a position to save others. What a joy to know that God is with me and has been with me since the beginning, and will continue to be with me till the end. I pray that you will allow God to pull you out of your pit and place you into a position of power.

Psalms 119:11 says, “Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You.” I have worked hard this week to compile a list of 54 verses to memorize in 52 weeks (free with the code 54in52). Why 54? Well, to be honest, when I was designing the pdf I would have had 2 extra empty blocks and it just didn’t look aesthetically appealing….and a few of them are really short and I have faith that you can have them memorized in less than a week so why not just give you an extra one or two.  But why memorize scripture? What is the importance?

Because WHEN the day of the evil one comes, you want to be ready. And yes, with modern technology we can carry our phones and tablets with the handy Bible app at our fingertips to look up whatever we need at the moment, so why memorize scripture? Yes, I hear your argument, in fact, I have made that argument myself, but here is the truth of the matter, when I am stuck in a trial or struggle, it’s God’s word that comes flooding into my mind and brings me peace.  When I feel I am being tossed about in the waves of life I don’t always think to grab my phone to search up what verse will bring me comfort.  All too often I have been able to recall a verse I have learned and used it to comfort myself or others I have been talking with and praying with.

Let me tell you this, when you use God’s word in prayer it is powerful.  It’s almost like you are throwing God’s word back at Him, not in an “in your face” kind of way, but in an “I’m claiming the promise you made for me” kind of way. And that, my friends, is power.  But how can you claim those promises when you don’t even know what they are?  How can you draw comfort in times of need if you aren’t armed with His words to bring you peace?

I decided to designs these cards (free with the code 54in52) for you and for me. Some of these are ones that I quote countless times and have engraved on my heart and my mind, others are ones that I have highlighted in my Bible that jumped out at me in my reading.  ALL of them are straight from God’s word.  Print them out, follow the handy-dandy dotted cut lines, then post them on your bathroom mirror, stick it to your dashboard, tape it to your computer screen….put it somewhere that you will see it daily and start the habit of writing His word on your heart.  These verses aren’t in any kind of order so don’t panic if you get them out-of-order.

This is a free download with the code 54in52. Please download and share. Maybe get a group of friends together as an accountability group to quote your verses to each week. But please, don’t just learn them for the week, learn them for life. Treasure His word in your heart.

Do you remember many years ago, you were probably in kindergarten, and the teacher asked you to bring your favorite toy to school? I do! I don’t remember what toy I brought but I always looked forward to “Show and Tell” day.  I got to bring my favorite toy with me and keep it with me all day.  The hard part for me was the “getting in front of people and telling them about it” but I’m sure the process was to help us with descriptive words and public speaking at the grand ol’ age of five…I didn’t care for that part, I just got to have my toy with me.  I got to show everyone something that I held dear and tell them why it was special and describe my toy in great detail and tell what precious memories that toy held for me.

Fast forward several years to now.  Now we walk around in this world, a world that we are called to “not to be conformed to” (Romans 12:2), and carry around with us this very special gift. A gift that we are actually called to share with others around us, that is the gift of the good news. The news of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection and the forgiveness and hope that it offers and brings to all those who believe in Him.

Some recent events in my family’s life has got me to thinking about how many of us actually LIVE OUT LOUD this gift of Christ?  How many of us actually LIVE OUT what Christ is doing in our lives?  I think too many of us know who God is, quite possibly we have read the Bible from cover to cover and know a lot about who God is, we know the facts, the basics, the truth. But in knowing the truth, do we actually allow it to permeate into our hearts and into our lives?  Do we allow God to actually work IN us and THROUGH us?  Are we “showing and telling” others about Christ in our everyday lives?  Are our lives a visible example of Christ?

I once heard a quote that fits well with what I am trying to say here, “Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words”. -St. Francis of Assisi.

Are we so in touch with God that we allow Him to touch us, or are we just containers of the facts and still living in our own sinful ways but think that we are ok because we know ABOUT God?

Let me see if I can further explain what I am talking about. I don’t watch a lot of tv, but I have a few shows that I like to sit and watch from time to time.  I can tell you a lot about the characters on the show.  I have watched it from the first episode of season one to season six (Thank you Netflix).  I can go into great detail about how the characters act, what they wear, and even what they might do in a certain situtaion….but I don’t know them.  I haven’t sat down and spent hours talking with them.  I haven’t allowed them into my life or me into theirs. I know about them, but I don’t know them.

In order to know someone is to allow them to touch your life.  When you know someone, you hurt when they hurt, you laugh when they laugh, you know their ups and their downs, you know them because they are a part of you.  They have an effect on you and you on them, that’s because you have a relationship with them.

So how do we move from knowing about God to actually having a relationship WITH God?  I grew up in strong Christian household.  My dad was a preacher and a Bible teacher at the local Christian school that I attended. We had Bible study every night before bed. We prayed at every meal. We talked about God. We were at the church if the doors were open.  I knew so much that I chose to be baptized at age 10.  I knew a lot about God, but I didn’t have a relationship with God. I didn’t base my life decisions on what God’s will was. Yes, I tried to do what was right and I prayed my little prayers, but it wasn’t until about 5 years ago when my world turned upside down that I really started to get to know God on a personal level. At that time I had a lot of work to do in my life.  I actually had to allow this God that I grew up learning about into my life and let Him take a wrecking ball to my heart and life until I learned to trust in Him completely and have control.

During that time, I was lost but the God I grew up learning about was the God that reached down and pulled me up out of my dark pit.  Because of that dark period in my life I got to know God, who He is, what He is like, and I fell in love with Him and I have a relationship with Him. I pray that my life now is a constant example of all that He has done for me and continues to do for me. I hope that I LIVE OUT LOUD the relationship that I have with God. I hope that I ooze God from my pores and that when others see me, they see God.

Don’t get me wrong, I am far from perfect. I fail Him daily and I still have a lot of work to do.  But my hope for me and for you is that we are constantly having a “Show and Tell” day where we show and tell others about God and what He is doing in our lives, but not just that, I pray our actions reflect the God that we love and serve.

James 1:22 says, “Be sure you live out the message and do not merely listen to it and so deceive yourselves.” LIVE OUT LOUD the message of Christ. LIVE OUT LOUD the relationship you have with God. Let others see God through the gospel you preach…and when necessary, use words.

My family and I recently got back from our annual week long beach vacation.  I always look forward to a week away with my guys, especially at the beach.  We have camped in the past but this year I am pregnant so my sweet husband splurged on renting a condo for us.  I am a little spoiled! We had a great time, the weather was perfect, and we had some wonderful family time that we desperately needed.

One thing remains the same whether we are camping or renting a condo…I had to prepare and pack to be away from home for a week and to supply all of our needs.  We don’t eat out for every meal, I normally cook which greatly cuts down on costs, but I have to be thorough in my planning and packing to make sure I have whatever we may need.  As most people do, I try to prepare for the journey that will lie ahead.

As I was typing my last post the verse from 1 Kings 19:7 really jumped out at me, “Rise up and eat or the journey ahead will be too much for you.” Yes, the Angel of the Lord was telling Elijah to get up and eat, but what really struck me was “or the JOURNEY ahead will be too much for you”. I know and understand that the angel was speaking of actual food that was brought and prepared for Elijah, but how often do we face a trial or a spiritual journey and we haven’t “eaten” before we started?  I’ve heard it said before that you are either going into a storm or coming out of one, so be prepared; that is so true!  You will face many storms and go through many trials and journeys throughout your life. Ephesians 6:13 says to “put on the full armor of God so that you will be prepared when the evil one comes and when you have done all that you can do, stand firm”. In other words, the day of the evil one is coming, be prepared!

God never said that you won’t face any trials, in fact He said the exact opposite…you will and you need to be ready!

We are starting to face our mountain and I can’t tell you how much time I have spent in God’s word, in prayer, and talking with our family and spiritual advisors. I have been “eating” up God’s presence and preparing myself for the journey ahead. I feel prepared for what lies ahead. I feel at peace with our decision and the journey that we are about to take. I think I have it all “packed and ready to go”. I haven’t stopped “eating”, but continue to fill myself up on His word so that I can stay grounded and level headed through this process. I am thankful that I have been able to prepare for this journey for months. I knew it was coming as it is a journey we are electing to take; even though it is necessary, it will be hard and difficult. Our prayer as we climb this mountain is that God will be glorified in the end and that we will see the answers to our prayers and that HIS will is done.

All this got me to thinking though, how often are we faced with spiritual journeys that seem to have come out of nowhere? In those times when we feel blindsided by a life event that launched us down a path that we weren’t quite prepared to take, how do we prepare for those type circumstances and journeys? My answer is simple, we have to prepare now for the inevitable. Just like scripture says, “put on the full armor of God so that WHEN the day of the evil one comes, you will be prepared”. It is coming, ready or not.  It is imperative that we stay focused on God and stay in His word. It’s the only way to prepare for life’s struggles and hardships, but also to glorify God in the storms and in the joys of life.

My challenge for you is to prepare for the journey. Pack your bags! Rise up and eat! If you don’t then you won’t be prepared for the journey ahead.

In a recent conversation with my son we discussed finding God. He is starting his faith journey and asking some tough questions. One being, “how can I believe in God when I can’t even see Him?”. I have to admit, that was a tough one to answer.  He is a pre-teen so we are past the believing in Santa stage so I used that as an example, “you believed in Santa”, I said, “and you couldn’t see him. So how did you know that he existed?” His response was the obvious, “because on Christmas morning there were presents under the tree”. Because there was evidence of Santa, he could believe in the fictional character of Santa.  So why is it so hard to see the evidence of God in our every day lives?  All to often we are looking to the heavens waiting on the flashing sign, the “look here!” billboard, the grand gestures, and the letters signed by God in our inbox.  But we don’t have that.

Sometimes I wish for a moment I could be walking with the children of Israel and have God lead me with a cloud by day and a fire by night. Exodus 13:21 I don’t think I could handle all the grumbling and complaining that they did, but still, it would be neat to see God as evident in the sky as He was. Or maybe I could happen upon a burning bush and know that is God speaking to me. Exodus 3 But God does not come and talk to us in these ways any more.

As I was sharing with my son about seeing the evidence of God I was reminded of the story of Elijah at Mt. Horeb. 1Kings 19 Elijah had fled from Jezebel and was in hiding. He cried out to God saying, “Lord I have had enough, take my life”.  Then he laid down and slept. And angel woke him up and gave him food. He ate and went back to sleep again. Then again, the angel of the Lord woke up saying, “wake up and eat or the journey will be too much for you.” Then Elijah got up and ate and was strengthen and walked for 40 days and 40 nights until he reached Mt. Horeb, the mountain of God.

This is the part of the story that I really love. While he was in a cave of the mountain the Lord told Elijah to go out and stand because the Lord was about to pass by.  Then a great and mighty wind tore into the mountain and shattered rocks, but the Lord was not in the wind. Then after the wind there was an earthquake, but again, the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake, there was a fire! But still, the Lord was not in the fire. After the fire came a whisper, a still small voice; and that, that was the voice of the Lord. God came in the still small voice, not in the earth shattering shouts. The Lord was revealed in the small things, not in the massive show, and still today; God is in the small things.

So how do you see God in the everyday? That was the question I presented to my son. Where is God? He didn’t know because he hasn’t looked. Yes, God is there! He is everywhere but you have to look for Him to see Him! No, he isn’t hidden. We are too conditioned to think that God will only be in the big and huge displays that we forget to see Him in the eyes of a child. We overlook the gentle breeze that cools us off on a hot summer day. We dismiss the smile of a stranger on a day that we are feeling down. We don’t see God, because we aren’t looking for him. Jeremiah 29:13 says it best, “when you search for me you will find me, when you search for me with all of your heart”.

So my question for you is, have you seen God today?  Are you looking for him?  Are you searching for Him with all of your heart?

I see Him, I pray you do too.