Finding the Eye of the Storm

I have always been one who has wanted to fix things, lead, and provide some since of calm to the chaos. I have been learning to sit in the eye of the storm - the place of peace. Chaos and turmoil whirl around us like a big tornado and we often feel the affects of that. Though we may have found the eye of the storm, when someone we care about has gotten caught up in the tornado part of it, our response it to jump in and try to rescue them out of the storm.

I think one of the most difficult things to do while on this journey is to allow God to take control, have control, and be in control. The Lord reminded me a while back that he is working in all things. Let me say that again -"In all things." He is perfecting and doing a work in our lives. We as human beings like to come in and grab hold of, take control, and fix things all for the sake of "helping."

The truth is, when God is trying to work in a person's life who appears to be in the whirlwind part of the storm, then he is working. He is doing a great work. He is teaching. He is training. He is wanting to speak. He is trying to get their attention. He is revealing. He is allowing them to discover. He is bringing change. He is perfecting.

With that said: He has never left them. He has always been by their side. His eyes have always been on the storm. His hand has always controlled the storm. He is ever powerful over the storm. At the sound of his voice the storm will cease.

Before we decide to leave the peaceful eye of the storm and plunge into the whirlwind part of it then we had better make sure that it is God directed. If it is not God directed then all we have accomplished is getting in the way. If we step into an area God is trying to do a work in someones life because we feel like helping and God hasn't directed then we have stepped into the path of what God is trying to do in that person's life. The same is said for when we are already in the path of the whirl wind and God is trying to move us out. If we know God is trying to move us and we do not move then we are thwarting a work God is trying to do. Why is it so difficult for many of us to move from the whirlwind into the eye of the storm where there is peace - tranquility? That is where God ultimately wants us - to rest in him in all things. I think part of it comes from wanting and needing that control. Another big area we struggle with is fear. Fear has a way of keeping us from moving forward and fear has a way of holding us back. Fear can keep us in the most fearful place - the whirlwind. We become frozen and will not move even when we hear God calling, "This way!" God wants to usher us into the eye of the storm.

So I sit in the shell of the eye of the storm, look out at the whirl wind around me and say to the Lord, "That looks like a big mess!" He smiles tenderly and says, "It's not a mess." "It's definitely not a mess."

Psalm 37:23

"The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord.

He delights

in every

detail of their lives."

- - - - -Psalm 37:23

This morning in my Bible reading I came across a verse that I love and that truly speaks to me while on this big journey. I titled this blog Journey Moments - Finding God in the Details because I wanted to share how we can find God in the details of our lives. We do have those journey moments when God speaks, is ever present, and His teachings are evident. As I read this verse this morning it was as if God were reminding me that though I try to find him in the details of my life, he too delights in every detail of mine. He reminded me that - yes! - he does direct my path, I can find him, I can delight in him throughout my day BUT he delights in every detail of mine as well.

Thank you God for such a beautiful reminder! May my steps today be pleasing to You.

Sack Full of Trouble

Change. Do we like the word or hate it? Why is it so difficult to bring about change in our lives? I admire those who have settled, dug their feet in, and have determined with their whole heart that they will make a change in a certain area of their life. Our journeys are filled with change. Sometimes for the better and sometimes for the "not so good."

I am not so strong in that area. I come up with many excuses as to why I am delaying, why I don't want to, why I can't. I know the change is better for me. I make the decision to change but something always gets in the way.

Recently I decided that I wanted to make a change in my life. . . for the better. I decided that I wanted to dig me heels in. I decided that I wanted to stand firm in my decision. I decided to lose weight! Yes! I want to stick with something for once that could enhance my life forever!

I shared with my husband and we decided to do a reality show at home and between the two of us - "The Biggest Loser"

I thought, "Okay I can do this!" I printed out the things I could eat and not eat. I planned the meals in my head. I had everything in place. I knew I would go through caffeine withdrawal and carb withdrawal. (Both of which I Love!!) I was ready!

This morning I awoke with a pretty severe headache. "Okay - my first sign of withdrawal," I thought. It wasn't too long after my husband took our son to school when he came into the room carrying a paper bag full of breakfast goodies.

"Look what I brought you hon!" He sounded so excited.

"Sweetie!" I called out with great conviction.

"Okay - if you don't want it!"

There I was - stuck with a huge dilemma. I pondered in my head, "Do I hurt his feelings by not taking it?" "Oh but I really don't need it." "But it smells so good!" I ended with, "Oh, just bring it here!"

Bite by bite all I could think about was the smirk on his face and I'm sure he was giggling inside at the thought of sabotaging my progress.

Shame on you honey! So once again it comes down to a few things I wrote in my last few blogs.

"I get to choose" . . . and . . . "finding my voice" (The right voice)

Thank you Lord for second chances, opportunities to grow, and new tomorrows.

Oh! - I didn't eat the hash browns.

Pests on the Journey

Attitude. We all have one. We all get them. We all experience them. Our journeys are filled with emotion. We have no idea when we rise in the morning what emotional path we may take. I have heard the words “I get to choose” quite often lately. Is it possible that we can actually become in charge of our own emotions? Can we grab hold of those negative vibes at the beginning of their oozing? As if grabbing hold of a nagging insect? Easier said than done. Sometimes trying to grab at our emotions is like trying to grab hold of a nagging insect we chase through the house before finally swatting. Sometimes we chase until complete exhaustion to end with throwing our hands up and allowing the pest to have its run of the house. Oh the days when we can, with superman hands, grab quickly those pests like emotions that surface.
But our emotional journeys run much deeper. There are triggers. We all have triggers. We all have buttons. Opened windows. Unclosed doors. Cracks in the floor. Holes in the wall. Unsealed spaces. We are literally a group of people who can become unraveled!
No More Pests!

Good News! With man it is impossible but with God all things are possible. We must come to a greater understanding that there is no way we could ever do anything on our own. . . including dealing with our emotions. The God who created us and our emotions is the only one who can help us make sense of them. God is the one who seals the cracks, closes the doors, patches the holes, and heals the wounds. He is our great carpenter! God is the one who shuts the windows, takes away the buttons, and holds the string. God has the superman hands that reaches out and grabs hold of the pesty critters in our life. God is the one who holds us together. “In Him all things hold together” . . . including us.

“For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
Colossians 1:16-17

I realize that there will come a day when I won’t have so many holes. There will come a day when I won’t feel so unraveled. There will come a day when I won’t have to chase so many pests through the house. There will come a day. In the meantime I pray that God will have his big glue gun ready. I’ll probably need it.

Where's My Megaphone!

Do you ever have one of those journeys you don't really want to travel? One of those roads you don't really want to take? You feel forced - coerced - made to?

Sometimes our journeys do take us down a road we don't really want to go down - even though it might be good for us - even though we might really learn from it - even though it might be the best route for us. Resistance fills our minds and we dig our heels into the hard soil rather than using our voice to express why we may not want to travel that path. Do we even know? Instead we may pick up our big megaphone and shout out whatever comes to mind.

On the other hand, many of us travel down senseless roads just because we can't say no, just because we don't want to hurt feelings, and just because we can't find our voice. Where's the big megaphone when we need it! The real question is, "Would we be able to use it if we had it?"

Life is filled with moments like that. Life is filled with paths like that. Life is filled with journeys like that. We've all been there. We've all done it.

Is it possible to take a step back, explore the situation, and come up with a solution as to why we are taking that particular path? Is God raising his righteous right hand, pointing his mighty finger, and declaring, "That way?" Can we feel it in our spirit and in every fiber of our being? Can we declare and determine that this path is the right way - even though we may not want to travel that path? Are we seeing the signs? Praying? Understanding? Knowing? Seeking confirmation from the Lord? I think we have gone far beyond the search for the journey down the right path.

I have a tendency to lose my voice in the midst of my journeys. I think I really lost it a long time ago. Growing up, many years ago, one was taught that there is a particular time for children to speak and for children to be silent. Out of respect for our parents, we learned not to "talk back" - "question" or "disagree". Many of us were never taught how to use our voices appropriately at such a young age. It is strange how those behaviors are carried over into our adult world. We are really children living in an adult body.

Let us not Lose Hope or Give up that One day we will speak!

There is hope for finding our voices. I am learning how to do more of that today. It is the "how" that really gets me. A few things I needed to understand when finding my voice:

• I understand that I am created in the image of God.


• I understand that God loves me.


• I understand that I matter.


• I understand that God created me to have a voice.


• I understand that God gave me that voice. I use my voice for other things - speaking, singing, and teaching - all of which I have no problem doing.


• I understand that what I have to say matters to God.


• I understand that it is important for me to use my voice.


• I understand that God wants me to use my voice and express those most important emotions.


• I understand . . . . . . I understand . . . . I understand. . . but how?
  

That is the question so many of us struggle with . . . how?

That - my friend - is something I am still learning.

Where's my megaphone!

Journey to a New Home

Many are journeying to new homes lately. Some by force - others by will. Some will take with them the joy and heart felt moments. Others will take clouded memories and darkness they want to leave behind. Some will leave the sweat and hard work they put into the house while others will leave what they could do just to survive. Some will venture to new and exciting places while others will venture anywhere they can lay their heads. For some it will be wanted for others it will be hated. Either way both will have tears. Either way both will be difficult.


The other day we put our dog to sleep. He lived a good long while and brought joy to us all. His journey ended and came at a moment when we would be journeying to a new home. He was one that moved with us from our last house to this house. In a since it was another step toward our new journey to a new home. God knows what he is doing.



And so every day we pack a box - or two - or three. I stop along the way, take a step back, and look at the pile of memories and stuff. So much stuff. I sort through items we need and items we don't need - Items we want and items we don't want. At the same time I realize that I am also sorting through those deep seeded emotions and feelings of what I need and what I don't need. What I want and what I don't want.



How ironic - though I am packing to move to another home and leave this one empty, God is helping me unpack and sort through the boxes I have kept packed for so long in my heart home. He does want to make my most inner being, heart, and soul a lovely home to dwell. I have no idea what our other home will be like and God is not as much concerned about that one as he is the home that I carry with me.



And so I will continue to unpack - sort - sift - throw away. I realize that it won't be easy. As God holds up an item I can see myself shouting out, "I need that!" His reply will be, "No you don't" and off it will go into the dumpster. I do have the perfect One to help make my heart home everything that it needs to be. His desire is to have this home that I carry with me become a glorious - glorious - glorious - place to dwell.