Reflect

With the summer break from school, I have had time to start back writing Reflections, so if you have not followed along, be sure to catch up.  God is good and faithful in all of His ways.  May we reflect each day on all that He has for us.  Even when things seem dark and dim, He is still in our midst and never leaves us or forsakes us.  Rejoice as you Reflect, for God is good!

Time Heals

People say, "Time heals all wounds."  Well, I beg to differ.  Jesus heals all wounds; time is the process for which He allows it to happen.  Let's give credit where credit is due.  What hurts me today may not hurt me tomorrow...next week...next year...ten years from now.  Notice I said, "may not hurt me."  For us to move past our hurts we have to be willing to let them go - turn them over to the Lord.  It is the hardest thing to do, is it not?  (Maybe it's just me.)  We must trust God and understand that letting go of those things that hurt so deeply can be liberating - Whom He sets free is free indeed! (John 8:36)

When we hold on to our hurts and failures, it can be like continually pulling scabs off of our cuts and flesh wounds.  The scab is there as a protection and will fall off in perfect time when the wound is healed.  We have to trust that God knows what He is doing; and He has promised that we will not go through more than we can handle - that promise it to His people.  There may be times you feel overwhelmed, frustrated, anxious, lonely, and abandoned.  Stop picking at the scabs and let it go...let it heal.  My friend, lift up your head to the one who heals you, Jehovah Rapha!  He sees; He heals.  Turn it all over to Him and ask that He give you a different perspective today.

Are you not hurting, but instead standing in the grace of His healing from past hurts?  Then, rejoice my friend!  REJOICE and share your story of His deliverance and healing with someone else who is hurting.  Share the love of God and build up, lift up, hold  up those around you.

Get the water can...

Shannon, Scott's brother, died  February 2nd, four months ago - Only 39 years old.  Our hearts still grieve. There was a plant someone gave the family that we brought home, and I put it in the living room.  A room we rarely enter.  I've watered it once.  Today, I took the droopy plant outside and pulled out all the dead leaves. As I plucked, the thought came to me, "Isn't this like your spirit, Renee?  If you never water it, you'll dry up.  It's time to pluck out the dried up leaves and get the watering can."  There's still hope. 

Disappointments with people can drain you dry.  Frustrations with life and witnessing prejudices people have against other people can take it's toll on your spirit.  The longer we stay in an isolated place, away from light, without any hydration, the dryer our spirit soil becomes...it's a natural process.

Move to the Light...get the watering can and drink up the Water.  It's time for a refreshing.

Mosaic Me

There is message I share with churches called, "Mosaic Me."  It speaks of the idea that there are many parts of me that make the whole, as in Mosaic art.  Mosiacs are created by assembling smaller pieces onto a surface that forms a whole work of art.  I am "mosiac" in the fact there are so many parts to me:  christian speaker/writer (term used loosely!), artist, interpreter, wife, daughter, sister, friend...the list goes on.  Aren't we all that way?  (So many interests...so many dreams...and so little time!)  Individually, we are mosaic; corporately, we are mosiac.  It takes each of us finding and fitting our place in life to create the beauty in this world.  I think my new theme in life will be:  "Mosiac Me" - it's more than a message, it's my identity.

While I search to see how my pieces fit together, I do hope you will share the journey with me..and share it with a friend if you are so inspired!

Butterflies

Ok, forty-four years old and I am having butterflies today at the thought of my first day of school at Barton college. How silly! Isn't it strange how we can react to the unknown. My insecurities come to the surface in a fierce rush! Crazy! You would think those "voices" that we heard when we were young school age that said the other kids would make fun of you...your clothes are not the coolest...people will laugh at your big nose...you'd think those voices would eventually shut up, wouldn't you! I suppose there is a part of us that just wants to be accepted and do well. Well, at least I am that way.

However, I find peace today knowing that my God loves my big nose...He thinks I am the coolest...and He never makes fun of me, even when I make fun of myself. He loves all my silly jokes that crack myself up and I really think He laughs with me. He loves me - flaws and all. Will I ever get that from my head to my heart? I sure hope so...'cause insecurity is tiresome!

Gotta Kink in Your Hose?

For several days now I keep hearing phrases about having a "kink in your hose"...what? I turn my head upward, point my index finger towards my chest, raise my eyebrows and say, "You talkin' to me?" The visual I have is of someone standing with a garden hose watering towards something then suddenly the flow of water gets slower and slower until finally only a drip drops from the end. The one watering turns to find a kink in the hose that is blocking the water flow. Have you been there, done that? I believe we all have at one time or another. The one watering lays down the nozzle, walks to the kink, and straightens it out. Ahhh, the water flows again...and gardens grow, cars are washed, and the grass is watered. Is there a kink in your hose?

When we allow those kinks to remain, nothing gets accomplished. We must first find it, walk to it, and straighten it out. Is there a kink blocking the flow of the Spirit in your life? Is there something you need to straighten out? Hummm, if you want to accomplish anything in life for God, you gotta get rid of that kink in your hose.

The House Fire

Scott & I were watching TV last night when Travis, Scott's son, went running from the house with an urgency unlike I've seen before. Now, he is quick to leave quite often since he is on the Walstonburg Volunteer Fire Department, but this was different. He did not speak a word but ran with determination on his face. Scott & I looked at each other and commented that something serious must be going on...moments later, Scott's father called and said his neighbor's house was on fire. We jumped into the truck and went to see if there was anything we could do. By the time we got there, the fire had pretty much been contained and mostly extinguished. We stood to the side watching...waiting. I was praying for safety for our son and the others who were sacrificing themselves - all for the sake of others.

One firefighter came out of the smoking house, threw his axe into the ground and fell to his knees. He was breathing heavily while removing all of his protective headgear. Someone gave him a couple of bottles of water. The mask came off...it was Travis. The pride of a step-mama swelled up in me, and then my Father spoke..."Watch, see how he is on his knees while the other one behind him is changing his oxygen tank? See how he is guzzling the water like it was his last drop?" The Father reminded me that He is the water and I must drink of Him like it's my last drop! He pointed out that while the christian is on her/his knees, she still needs the help of others to hand her some water and keep the oxygen tank loaded and ready. Travis could not fight this fire alone - he could not endure the heat without the aid of others. Nor can I...nor can you! We need others to keep the oxygen tank tight and loaded...We need the water to quench our tired and weary soul. As christians, we fight every day...the fire of the furnace is turned up sometimes and some fires are stronger and rage with more vengeance than others, but we still fight!

I don't often tell Travis how proud I am of him and the courage he has shown by accepting his calling to become a professional firefighter. Usually when I do say I'm proud or that I love him, he shrugs modestly and gives a little half grin; but Scott & I are very proud of the man he has become. For that moment, while he was fighting, God used him to speak to me as I witnessed how he fought the fire. I hope this reflection speaks to you: When the fire is raging, fight it with all your might. When you need a breath of air, fall to your knees in prayer and guzzle the water of the Holy Spirit like it's the last experience you'll ever have with Him, and trust God to provide the right person to secure your oxygen tank behind you. When you're revived, stand up and fight the fire again.