DELETE! June 4, 2008
Filed under: Uncategorized — jacquehindman @ 2:47 pm Tags: Add new tag, God's love, pain, tears
It has always been easier for me to write what I am feeling than to actually communicate it with spoken word. It could be that the written word has a beautiful delete button that allows me to phrase and rephrase what I am thinking. When I speak….it is just out there. And for most of my life has gotten me into trouble!
I sometimes think a delete button would be a wonderful thing in life. Used properly, you could wipe away anything that causes pain. You could wipe out any memory of times you were wronged or times you wronged others. A world with no pain. Sounds good to me!!
However, I guess without the pain there are many lessons I would never have learned. I would not truly appreciate loyal friends without being hurt by those whose actions were selfish and petty. I have also learned that even in deepest pain and darkness, there is one who is always with me. Without that darkness, I may not have gone running toward the light of His love. Without the memory of how my words/actions may have hurt others….I would go on hurting those I love. The pain, thought unpleasant at the time, will allow us to be more thankful for the times of peace and times of blessing. We can look back at past pain and see the deliverance of the Father and know He is working His will in us again.
I guess I am learning that sometimes my pain is for His glory and brings glory to His name. It is not all about me…..it is not about what is comfortable to me. It is ALL about Him and His name. I am learning that sometimes my pain helps me and others. Through my different struggles, battles and pain I now can relate to so many others. If not for what I have been through, I would not understand what they are going through. His love and strength makes the “delete” button seem a little unnecessary in this world.
At the appropriate time, the promise of a “delete button” is actually written in the Word. It is a wonderful promise of the world to come. Revelation 21 tells me that God will dry every tear from from eyes and there will be no more pain or sorrow. Can you imagine that????? God loves me enough to dry each tear and then delete the pain. At that point…the pain is no longer necessary. I will be in the presence of Jesus.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Welcome!
Welcome!I am excited that you are joining me for the journey. Not all of these blogs are "new". I have posted some of my favs from another sight I was blogging on. The purpose is simple....to share, challenge and help keep me on course. While some will be sharing what I feel God is speaking for the day, I would like to share other aspects of my life and things I love. I love cooking and music....look for recipes and songs. I love my family....look for pictures and updates. I am like most mothers,daughters, sisters and wives. I long to rest in the shadow of my Almight, and like Mary I search for those opportunities. HOWEVER...I, like MANY others... find my self caught up in a Martha Existance that leaves me drained and frustrated at times. Service is important....knowing who and why you serve is the only way to keep it real. My desire is to walk with strength and dig ditches for the blessings and refreshings as I go. It is there that I find the source of my strength! As He fills the springs with rain.....I am forever changed.
Be The Center
I think most of us at some time or another wrestle with this. Who am I? Why am I here? Is there more to life than this? What do I really believe? It is so easy to get lost in the craziness of life. Everyone around us has a different expectation or view of who we are. I am not just a mom....I am a basketball mom, band mom, show choir mom, cheer mom......each group labels me and hands me their expectations. When you add wife, musician, teacher, daughter, sister, pastor's wife., friend....wow! Even my doctors get in on it.....labels and expectations. I feel overwhelmed at times. I look in the mirror on many days and I do not have a CLUE who that person staring back at me is! I feel that no matter where I turn, I am letting someone down. The aisles and stores are full of "self help".
But Jesus says:
"Self help is no help at all. Self Sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self" Matthew 16:25 The Message
When I am faced with those thoughts and feelings I can only do one thing. I have to check my "center". When I get focused on other "things" and do not guard my "center" I get off balance. It is as simple as that. As long as I keep Christ as center....everything else seems to fall miraculously in place! In Ephesians it states it like this: (emphasis is mine!)
"It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, He had his eye on us, (ME!!!), had designs on us (ME!!!) for glorious living, part of the overall purpose He is working out in everything and everyone (ME!!!!)
Ephesians 1:11 The Message
It is my heart cry--Jesus, be the center! Be the center of my emotions, my spirit, my home, my health, my world.
"For everything, absolutely everything, above and below,visible and invisible, rank after rank of angels-EVERYTHING got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him." Colossians 1:16 The Message
I think that says it all!
But Jesus says:
"Self help is no help at all. Self Sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self" Matthew 16:25 The Message
When I am faced with those thoughts and feelings I can only do one thing. I have to check my "center". When I get focused on other "things" and do not guard my "center" I get off balance. It is as simple as that. As long as I keep Christ as center....everything else seems to fall miraculously in place! In Ephesians it states it like this: (emphasis is mine!)
"It's in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, He had his eye on us, (ME!!!), had designs on us (ME!!!) for glorious living, part of the overall purpose He is working out in everything and everyone (ME!!!!)
Ephesians 1:11 The Message
It is my heart cry--Jesus, be the center! Be the center of my emotions, my spirit, my home, my health, my world.
"For everything, absolutely everything, above and below,visible and invisible, rank after rank of angels-EVERYTHING got started in Him and finds its purpose in Him." Colossians 1:16 The Message
I think that says it all!
Seasons...
Psalm 29:9 (Amplified Bible"The voice of the Lord makes the hinds bring forth their young, and His voice strips bare the forests, while in His temple everyone is saying, Glory!"
This is the verse that came to me this morning while looking out the window. All the vivid color is breathtaking to me. It is a reminder that God is in control of all things. His voice is what brings life…and we find that exciting! Spring! New colors, new life and an expectation of things to come.
However, His voice is also heard in the Fall. At this time, the beautiful colors come out in splendor. This is just the beginning. The beauty will not last. The voice of the Lord is preparing to strip the forest bare.
You see, in the Summer the leaves are feeding and storing up. They KNOW that the time will come when days are shortened and the periods of darkness will bring change. In some of the foliage, the colors we see in the Fall are always there. They are just covered up by the chlorophyll that makes the leaves seem green. During the change, the leaves depend on food that has been produced and stored during the time of growth. At some point, they eventually die. While this may seem harsh, it is through their death that they can bring a new source of food for the tree. The tree goes into a protection mode and stays that way until the buds appear. And the cycle begins again!
Life is so much like the cycle of the tree. We have wonderful times of growth and feeding. During these times, we must store up the Word of God, so that when the Fall comes….we have food for our leaves! It is during the winter seasons that all areas of our life are exposed and true colors and motives may be exposed. Never fear! What you have stored will get you through the drying up and death of those things that need to go. It may be painful and ugly at times, but those things you go through in turn "work into the soil" of your life and testimony! When the voice of the Lord strips them away, He is the protection in your life until the Spring comes forth again. Feast on the things of God that are hidden in your heart! Rest in His protection and know that your season will change. You will come forth with life and beauty!
This is the verse that came to me this morning while looking out the window. All the vivid color is breathtaking to me. It is a reminder that God is in control of all things. His voice is what brings life…and we find that exciting! Spring! New colors, new life and an expectation of things to come.
However, His voice is also heard in the Fall. At this time, the beautiful colors come out in splendor. This is just the beginning. The beauty will not last. The voice of the Lord is preparing to strip the forest bare.
You see, in the Summer the leaves are feeding and storing up. They KNOW that the time will come when days are shortened and the periods of darkness will bring change. In some of the foliage, the colors we see in the Fall are always there. They are just covered up by the chlorophyll that makes the leaves seem green. During the change, the leaves depend on food that has been produced and stored during the time of growth. At some point, they eventually die. While this may seem harsh, it is through their death that they can bring a new source of food for the tree. The tree goes into a protection mode and stays that way until the buds appear. And the cycle begins again!
Life is so much like the cycle of the tree. We have wonderful times of growth and feeding. During these times, we must store up the Word of God, so that when the Fall comes….we have food for our leaves! It is during the winter seasons that all areas of our life are exposed and true colors and motives may be exposed. Never fear! What you have stored will get you through the drying up and death of those things that need to go. It may be painful and ugly at times, but those things you go through in turn "work into the soil" of your life and testimony! When the voice of the Lord strips them away, He is the protection in your life until the Spring comes forth again. Feast on the things of God that are hidden in your heart! Rest in His protection and know that your season will change. You will come forth with life and beauty!
Friday, December 7, 2007
The Waiting Room
It seems that I have been spending toooo much time in waiting rooms lately. When you walk through the door, you look around and see everyone else. Waiting. It's funny because everytime "the door" opens, you hope it is your name being called. You notice who goes in...who comes out....and even those who you "KNOW" came in after you but is getting called before you! But you do it. You wait. You wait in that room...you wait for the "hope" or "promise" that the person you are waiting to see will bring the help you need.
Those waiting rooms are frustrating enough, but have you ever felt like you were in "God's Waiting Room"? I know I have been there. In many ways I feel like I am there right now. I feel like I have signed in and I am waiting and watching. On rough days, I know I am guilty of looking around and noticing who is being attended to first. I try not to.....but it is a struggle on some days. It is a struggle that i can only win by releasing the praise in my heart and focusing on the one I am waiting for. I rest in the peace He then gives.
There have been many Words and promises in my life. I get so impatient for the fulfillment. I am so hungry for the "door" to open! I know that on the other side of the door there are so many great things. In the "earth realm" there have been many false hopes. Drugs that promise to help, but end up causing more problems than the disease. I am soooo happy that in my God there are no false hopes or bad side effects. His promises are true.
In James, the Word tells me that I must learn to wait.
(James 1:2-4) I must learn to wait so that my faith may be proved. As my faith is proved, it helps me to not give up. I must learn well how to wait so that I can be strong and complete....in need of nothing.
So for now....I sit in the waiting room. However--I am not aimlessly looking through old magazines or watching the TV. I refuse to fuss about the situation to those around me. I am reading His Word and praying in preparation. When the door opens...I will RUN through it!
Those waiting rooms are frustrating enough, but have you ever felt like you were in "God's Waiting Room"? I know I have been there. In many ways I feel like I am there right now. I feel like I have signed in and I am waiting and watching. On rough days, I know I am guilty of looking around and noticing who is being attended to first. I try not to.....but it is a struggle on some days. It is a struggle that i can only win by releasing the praise in my heart and focusing on the one I am waiting for. I rest in the peace He then gives.
There have been many Words and promises in my life. I get so impatient for the fulfillment. I am so hungry for the "door" to open! I know that on the other side of the door there are so many great things. In the "earth realm" there have been many false hopes. Drugs that promise to help, but end up causing more problems than the disease. I am soooo happy that in my God there are no false hopes or bad side effects. His promises are true.
In James, the Word tells me that I must learn to wait.
(James 1:2-4) I must learn to wait so that my faith may be proved. As my faith is proved, it helps me to not give up. I must learn well how to wait so that I can be strong and complete....in need of nothing.
So for now....I sit in the waiting room. However--I am not aimlessly looking through old magazines or watching the TV. I refuse to fuss about the situation to those around me. I am reading His Word and praying in preparation. When the door opens...I will RUN through it!
Friday, November 30, 2007
Doesn't it just drive you CRAZY??? I don't know how I manage to do it, but if there is one cart in a 1,000 that has a "crazy wheel" I am destined to find it. It completely makes me insane. Of course, I don't realize it until I am half way across the store, or have it half loaded.
Some of you know that this past year has been a little funky for me. I described it last night like I was trying to function with a crazy wheel. Due to the weakness in the right side I have to work a little harder to make it function with the rest of my body.
Anyway....it occured to me this morning that much like a shopping cart (or a nerve damaged body!), when our life gets out of balance there are issues that arise. You may be headed in one direction, but it takes all the strength you have to keep it on path. Your goal is now just keeping the cart straight and not on the purpose for the trip or the task at hand. Sometimes the struggle with the cart makes you just want to drop what you are doing and completely call it quits. You get distracted. Ever see abandoned carts in the middle of the store? Marriages, ministries and families can often get caught up in an unbalanced situation. It seems the harder we try to make it work the worse things seem. There are abandoned marriages, dreams and ministries scattered all around us. It just became to difficult.
Many times the inbalance does not become apparent until there is a "full load". With the added pressure, the imbalance comes in to focus. I have also often noticed that occasionally I get the cart and may notice a little pull. Whith a quick jerk it seems to be ok so I think it is quite manageable. However, as the pressure loads the harder it gets to control the cart. What once took a small jerk to control, now takes all my strength. Seemingly small sins are like that. At first, we can control them. However, as life goes on and the pressure/burdens grow so does the problem. Proper balance is essential to finishing the task at hand and to enjoying the journey along the way.
How thankful I am that I serve a God who will help me find the balance! He loves me enough to help me find the "crazy wheel" in my life if I will only look to Him and obey what He has given me to do.
James 1:25 -"But the one who keeps looking into God's perfect Law and does not forget it will do what it says and be happy as he does it. God's word makes men free." NLV
His word gives the balance we need. It lovingly pulls our life into alignment when we allow His Holy Spirit to do His work in us. We are then free from the "crazy wheels" that make life more difficult to navigate and distract us from the goal.
Some of you know that this past year has been a little funky for me. I described it last night like I was trying to function with a crazy wheel. Due to the weakness in the right side I have to work a little harder to make it function with the rest of my body.
Anyway....it occured to me this morning that much like a shopping cart (or a nerve damaged body!), when our life gets out of balance there are issues that arise. You may be headed in one direction, but it takes all the strength you have to keep it on path. Your goal is now just keeping the cart straight and not on the purpose for the trip or the task at hand. Sometimes the struggle with the cart makes you just want to drop what you are doing and completely call it quits. You get distracted. Ever see abandoned carts in the middle of the store? Marriages, ministries and families can often get caught up in an unbalanced situation. It seems the harder we try to make it work the worse things seem. There are abandoned marriages, dreams and ministries scattered all around us. It just became to difficult.
Many times the inbalance does not become apparent until there is a "full load". With the added pressure, the imbalance comes in to focus. I have also often noticed that occasionally I get the cart and may notice a little pull. Whith a quick jerk it seems to be ok so I think it is quite manageable. However, as the pressure loads the harder it gets to control the cart. What once took a small jerk to control, now takes all my strength. Seemingly small sins are like that. At first, we can control them. However, as life goes on and the pressure/burdens grow so does the problem. Proper balance is essential to finishing the task at hand and to enjoying the journey along the way.
How thankful I am that I serve a God who will help me find the balance! He loves me enough to help me find the "crazy wheel" in my life if I will only look to Him and obey what He has given me to do.
James 1:25 -"But the one who keeps looking into God's perfect Law and does not forget it will do what it says and be happy as he does it. God's word makes men free." NLV
His word gives the balance we need. It lovingly pulls our life into alignment when we allow His Holy Spirit to do His work in us. We are then free from the "crazy wheels" that make life more difficult to navigate and distract us from the goal.
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