Interview

It’s one thing to be honest with my self about how I view God’s character, but it’s another to invite friends into the process and ask their opinions.   Alicia’s assignments  have been tools to help probe deeper into my God concept than I’d gone before.  Up until now it’s all been about what I think  my God concept is, but this past week our assignment was to invite others into the process. 

I loved my Dad’s response, “This has to be challenging for you to take this risk.”  Thank you Dad for acknowledging that! 

Yes, there is some risk in asking others questions like, “Have you ever felt there was a hole or weakness in my God-concept? If so where?”

Asking others to evaluate anything personal can be a huge risk.  I remember one time I asked a friend to help me with my son’s picky eating habits.  The next time she observed his 100th meal of pepperoni and a popsicle, she asked me, “Is that door still open?” to which I immediately responded, “NO!”  We had a good laugh and I did call her later to seek her wisdom.   Much of my spiritual growth is marked by times that trusted friends have spoken the truth in love to me.

So far in this interview process there have not been any surprises…my friends answers have supported what I knew about my God concept.  

 The idea of interviewing friends about any issue in my life is what I’m taking away from this weeks assignment.  I’m thinking of many other areas that I could seek to have evaluated more often from trusted friends.  I’m reminded how important we are to one another, and that true growth happens in the context of healthy, loving, relationships.

Thank you Jesus for trusted, wise, and loving friends.  Thank you that we are not alone!

 

The Worst Day Ever

Every bad day in the history of the world can be traced back to one dreadful moment.

Every disease, relational wound, and act of violence is rooted there.

Every self-hating lie.

And every false concept about who God is.

It all started in a garden.  You can read about the moment that changed everything in Genesis chapter three verse six.   Satan knew how to play this one out. “Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made.”  His method was to cause Eve to question God’s goodness.  “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?”

“Original Sin”  or “The Fall Of Man”  are a couple of titles for, “The Worst Day Ever.”  Seriously…this was a bad moment for our planet and all who live upon it. 

The rules of the game changed the very moment Adam and Eve choose to believe the serpents lie and do the exact thing their loving God warned them not to do.

I’m a parent and I get it.  I warn my kids constantly to stay away from danger.  Most of the time they listen, but sometimes they choose to ignore my warning which results in consequences.  Consequences are hard.  Both for them and for me.  I love my kids and I hate to see them suffering. 

If I were an evil parent this might not be the case.  As an evil parent I’d have no compassion and laugh when my kids were hurting.  An evil parent would act this way…but not a good one. 

When Satan convinced Eve to try the forbidden fruit He told her,  “….. God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”

Nothing could be further from the truth.  The reality is that a blinder came over her and the rest of humanities eyes from then on.  Before that moment Eve truly knew what “good” was.   Eve enjoyed relationship with God, eyes wide open.  She could see Him and know Him fully. 

After she took and ate the forbidden fruit she lost the ability to clearly distinguish evil from good.  And ever since that day Satan has continued to plant seeds of doubt about God’s goodness in the hearts and minds of all. 

I would be crushed if my kids doubted my love, or felt that I was punishing, mean, or mocking them.  Why is it that sometimes we view God this way?  I’m certain that it breaks His heart when we dwell on false beliefs about his character and goodness.

In week 11 of the 7Th year Alicia  encouraged us set a timer. When the timer goes off we are to ask ourselves what we think about God in that moment.  I’ve been thinking about this question at random times, and finding that I really do love Him for a wide range of reasons.  The more amazing thing to me is that He never needs to set a timer as a reminder to have a tought about me.  I’m always on His mind, right at the front…with thoughts of love for me that are too numerous to count.

What happened in the garden opened the door to every evil thought about God’s character.  He then, gave His only Son so that we could be forever free from every evil lie, snare, trap, and consequence of evil.   Satan seeks daily to put blinders on our eyes and accuse God of being the bad guy.  Let me assure you…nothing is farther from the truth. 

“What began in a garden will end in a garden one day.   What began on a tree, ended on a tree, because He came for you and me, to set all His Children free.” ( from: It’s a Garden by Jake Hamilton, Freedom Calling)

God is the good guy…and He shall reign forever and ever.  The giants we have faced will seem small on the Day when Jesus comes and brings His justice on earth.  In the end, God wins.  Hallelujah! 

He Is Beautiful

Alicia refers to the next phase of our 7th year journey as, “a weighty, critical space together.”   I agree.  Our ”God concept” can cripple us or awaken us to our destiny and identity. 

God has revealed Himself, “in part” to all of humanity. 

^“Since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.”  Romans 1:19-20 NIV

Every person who lives and breathes has seen qualities of Jesus in creation.  Believers and non-believers live each day surrounded by evidence of God’s divine nature.

At the same time the deceiver is persistently attempting to distort our view of God.  If he can convince us, even just a little, that God is mean, demanding, or condemning, he will succeed in interrupting our intimacy with the Father. 

Our exercise for week 10 is to create a portrait of God and fill in this blank: ”God, I think you are ______________.”

Thankfully, I’ve always had a pretty healthy God concept.  Growing up in a safe and loving home helped.  Living in a fallen world however, provides plenty of opportunities for my mind to become tainted with false truth about who my God is.   Alicia’s hope for us is that,“even slight negligence [of our God concept] would be banished by sober vigilance. ”

I filled in my blank with, “Beautiful.”

At times I’m overcome with the beauty of God.  I could list several more adjectives, but Beautiful was the first thing that came to mind. 

This is the definition of beautiful:

beau·ti·ful

 1. having beauty; having qualities that give great pleasure or satisfaction to see, hear, think about, etc.; delighting the senses or mind: a beautiful dress; a beautiful speech. 

2. excellent of its kind: a beautiful putt on the seventh hole; The chef served us a beautiful roast of beef.

 3. wonderful; very pleasing or satisfying.

He is beautiful….wouldn’t you agree?

I’ve been privileged to see some amazing things in my life.  Oceans, mountains, weddings, art, baptisms, sunsets, and even a few births.  I could put every beautiful thing I’ve ever seen together and it wouldn’t measure up to the beauty of Jesus.

I can gaze a long time at a sunset or a photograph but I’ll spend eternity gazing at the beauty of God.  The more I know Him, the more I want to know Him.  Jesus beckons to be adored, admired, studied, looked at, and prized. 

Knowing Him intimately is worth more to me than anything else in life.  I relate more and more to the parable of the pearl of great price (Matthew 13).  It’s difficult for a carnal mind to understand the sacrifice a person is willing to make when they willingly abandon all, in order to gain the most beautiful thing there is.  On the other hand, a person whose mind and spirit have been awakened to His glorious beauty is one who will sacrifice, even their own life, in order to gain what is most precious and valued.

“One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.” Psalm 29:4

All You Need Is…..

The 7TH year devotional this past week  gave me the shivers.  Alicia Chole’s diction of truth always strikes a chord.  She can say a lot in a few words.  This week was no different.

She discovered a truth in the Parable of the Sower and the Parable of the Weeds.  Did you ever notice there are actually two seeds that live?  Alicia writes:

“Both seeds lived: one constricted by thorns and the other freed to multiply.”

There are two ways to live:  inward or outward focused.  I’m not referring to the selfishness we struggle with daily, but the choice that is before each of us to live outward - abandoned to the cross or inward - for our own selfish gain.  One seed grew but was choked by the weeds - the other multiplied. 

As I’m praying and developing my personal inventory (areas of focus for my life) I’m reminded of  the priority to love.   At the end of my life it will not matter what profound things I’ve said, miracles that have happened through my hands, or accomplishments I’ve made if I have not loved.  It will not matter how many books I’ve read, prophetic words I’ve given, or degrees I’ve earned.  If I have not loved well I will have missed the main point of what Jesus commissioned me to do. 

Love.

Love awakens me to putting others first and disables me from selfishness.  Every eternal purpose I have in Christ will be fulfilled by love.  Knowing He loves me and sharing His love with others.  It really is just that simple.  He loves me, I love Him, and together we are a force of love to a lost, broken, and hurting world desperately in need of and seeking one thing:

Love. 

A friend of mine sent me a text this week.  All it said was, “Love You!!!”  Honestly it stopped me in my tracks.   The love of God poured through her text to me in that moment.  I sat still and soaked it in for several minuets.

The Love of God is real and tangible.  At any moment of any day if He could send me a text it would say, “Love You!!!….You’re doing great…..I’m so proud of you….”

I want His love to govern my life and bring multiplication beyond what I could  ever think, ask, or imagine.  He’s such a good Daddy. 

“[Love Fulfills the Law] Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.”

Romans 13:8 NIV

 

 

 

Finishing Well

There’s nothing worse than a bad ending to a good movie.  Honestly, it can take me hours to recover from the disappointment.  Watching a movie is an investment of time, resources, and emotions.  I HATE when they don’t end well.  A perfectly good movie can be ruined by a bad ending.  I’ll admit, I’ve even had to pray and forgive the people who made the movie leaving me with a rotten taste in my mouth.  The same can be said for a sermon or book that does not conclude well.  If the sense I come away with is not positive, it can ruin the whole experience.

I love a perfect ending.  It leaves me happy and satisfied.  I’ll joyfully review the story over and over in my memory. 

More important that movies, I want my life to end well.

This is what the Apostle Paul said about a good ending:

2 Timothy 4:7:

^“ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

 

Our current focus in the 7th year journey is to pray into and write down personal growth goals.  Alicia encouraged us to determine if we were going to write down short-term steps ( ie: for the next 3 months ), life long ones, or both.  Last week I shared some of my personal goals during this short season while my husband is away working.  The entire exercise has me thinking about why it’s important to stop, listen to the Holy Spirit, and determine these areas of focus.  Minuets turn into hours, hours into days, days into weeks, and weeks into years.  How we spend out time determines how we spend our life.  The little choices I make each day will build into how I run and ultimately finish my race.

 

 

These are two somewhat simple, but vitally important truths that can make or break how my story ends:

 

1) Cultivate intimacy with Jesus.    One of my life scriptures is, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” ( Matthew 5:6).   I want to stay hungry for Him and His presence all the days of my life.  Reading scripture, worshiping, praying, and soaking in His presence are ways that I cultivate intimacy with Jesus.

 

2) Forgive and heal.  I believe that holding an offence leads to brokenness in relationships with people and God.  Un-healed emotional wounds are an open door to demonic and health problems.  God is always there to offer me grace when I make the choice to forgive.  The blood of Jesus washes and cleanses the wounds in my soul.  The power of His resurrection restores every broken place as He fills me with His light and life. 

Seasons Change

I’m constantly blown away by the love of God.  He loves me beyond imagination just as I am.  He’s fully pleased and filled with joy over me right now.  At the same time He loves me enough to help me grow and change.  He is constantly helping me overcome bad habits, soften rough edges, so that I’m more like Him.   I love when I can look back and realize that I’ve changed.  I’m not the same person I was a year ago or ten years ago.  I’m more loving, kind, and maybe a tinny bit more patient.  More importantly, I understand my Father’s love for me in increasing ways the longer I’m on this journey with Him. 

Because He loves me and I love Him, my desire is to change and become more like Him.

The focus for this week of the 7th year is to list personal growth goals.   

Our family is heading abruptly into a new season this week.  My husband will be heading back to the camp we manage to un-winterize buildings and prepare for a group that is coming in a few weeks.  When he is away my life looks a lot different.  Being a single parent is not enjoyable, but it does provide A LOT of opportunity for personal growth.  Not necessarily the kind of opportunity I enjoy, but growth none the less.    We went through this in the fall when Greg was winterizing the camp.  It’s still a blur, but I do remember that I had to focus on one day at a time.  I worked at not getting overwhelmed or feeling sorry for my self.   If I head that down the path of self-pity I’ll sink into a miry pit; the kind that takes a lot of work to get out of. 

God has already been speaking to me that it’s going to be OK.  He has grace for us all during this time.  

These are my personal goals for this short season:

1) Breathe.  I know, it sounds obvious, but I do remember this fall literally reminding my self to stop and take deep breaths.  When I inhale I also focus on Jesus and taking in more of His life and strength.

2) Pace my self and ask for help.  We are working on another Unearthing Destinies conference that is right around the corner in May.  I can easily get sucked into busy work.  I’m praying that I will hear from the Holy Spirit what tasks are most important each day and trust Him with the rest. I also want to be better at delegating and asking for help when I need it.

3) Enjoy the Sun.  It’s easy for me to focus on working and forget to go outside on a walk or to the park with my kids.  I’m determined to NOT to work ALL the time.  My goal is to get out side for at least 15 minuets each day and enjoy the Sun. 

4) Make time to fellowship with Jesus.  This is a challenge in normal life, but even more when I’m on my own.  I’m learning that when I really need quiet time it’s OK to go in my room and lock the door.  Two of my children still follow me around like ducks and don’t like to be shut out, but I’ve realized if I’m not centered and filled up spiritually we will all suffer from the lack.  Fellowship with Him is my lifeline to joy and peace. 

I loved this part of a prayer that Alicia crafted for us to pray before we did this exercise:

” I acknowledge that it requires little self-discipline to rush passionately toward the future.  Strengthen me to slow down and walk in purposeful partnership with you into tomorrow and the days beyond…” 

Amen!  So be it Lord Jesus!

I also keep my spirit alive by listening to worship music as much as possible.  Enjoy this video of one of my current favorite worship songs.

 

 

 

“Silence, throwing up and other things I try to avoid.” Guest post by Pam Scheline.

Our beloved Pastor of almost 15 years resigned in May 2011 and we began the journey of searching for our new leader.  To be more specific, a search committee began the searching.  I’ll admit…it was a little nurve wracking for me.  I’d never been through that process and my mind raced with questions about who was going to be my next Pastor.  When Pastor John was presented to us as the chosen candidate I immediately began spying on him through facebook and his website.  Of course I wanted to know about his wife too.  What I discovered was an instant affinity for this entire family.  We are the same age and have a very similar family make up.  Our kids are all close in age and some share adoption in common.  I also discovered that Pam had a blog.  I read it and instantly feel in love with her candor, humor and heart.  I even said to a couple of close friends, “I don’t know a lot about Pastor John, but she has my vote!” ( Sorry Pastor John….after getting to know you, you won my heart too)

Pam  is one of my friends who has decided to join me on the 7TH year path.  Her writing is always genuine, challenging, and extremely funny.  Be sure to check out her blog here .  I always look forward to reading her posts because they challenge, encourage, and cause me to laugh my self to tears.  So….here she is!  Enjoy todays post from my good friend Pam Scheline!

The 7^th Year.  My favorite part so far?  The p.s. at the end of week 6 that said, “this concludes the first movement of our 7^th Year Path.”  Now, don’t get me wrong…I REALLY AM liking this journey.  But that doesn’t change the fact that it’s felt like I’ve been lovingly drop-kicked, body-slammed and face-slapped by God’s Word each week!  You know the saying…”hurt so good?” 

Listening.  I preach this all the time to my kids.  It’s ridiculous how many times a day I catch myself saying, “I need you to listen” or “Do you have your listening ears turned on?” or “Why won’t you listen the first time?”  Sometimes I swear it’s as if they have a setting called “ignore anything and everything Mom says!”  And the irony – I kinda suck at listening, too.  Here’s the deal…Listening usually involves action.  Action usually involves obedience.  Obedience usually involves doing something I don’t want to do.   I should be preaching to myself because just like my kids tune me out, it’s easy for me to stop listening.  And suddenly the tables have turned and God is speaking those same words to me…except probably with more grace and less shrieking.  ::insert drop-kick:: 

See for me, I stop listening when I don’t want to stop to listen.  Who has time to stop?  There’s too much to do!  And so, often without even realizing it, I choose not to stop.  I choose not to listen.  Ultimately, I choose not to be silent.

Silence.  Right now, as a mother of 4 busy children, silence is scary.  Silence means something is wrong, somebody’s doing something they shouldn’t, or someone’s making a disastrous mess.    I need to get back to embracing silence and how it works hand in hand with listening.  I can have silence without listening but I can’t truly listen without silence.  “Silence is a purging force.”  Silence brings perspective and helps us clear out our hearts to make room for what we’ll receive while we listen.  The idea of a drippy faucet comes to mind.   You know how you never notice a leaky faucet until what?…until it’s quiet.   Now, we both know that it didn’t just start dripping right when everything is silent.   It’s been dripping all day but you just didn’t hear it.  And not even because you weren’t necessarily listening…you didn’t hear it because there was too much other noise.  And so I find myself asking what extra and possibly unnecessary “noise” is in my life?  What’s keeping me from hearing?  Which reminds me of a sentence from this weeks lesson…”We tend to want God to demonstrate his supremacy through addition, not subtraction; through amplification, not silence”…and here comes the holy “face-slappage.”  Ouch! 

Lord, help me stop and shut up so I can listen.  Help me listen so that I can subtract.  Help me subtract to  make room for more of You.

God Of The Impossible

Nothing is impossible for God.    Knowing this is true does not change the fact that I’m constantly faced with situations that challenge my perception of His abilities.  If He’s capable of doing anything why doesn’t He immediately rescue and deliver me from all my suffering? 

In week five of The 7Th year my assignment was to document how I perceived God during different stages of my life. 

 As a child, God was near and good.

While attending middle school church camp I experienced His personal nature and power for the first time.   My eyes were open to the reality that He speaks and heals. For the first time God did not seem boring to me.  He was alive, close, and desired intimate relationship with me.

And yet, I still walked away from him.  God was good, but I choose to believe a lie that seeking my own pursuits would somehow bring more fulfillment.  Empty and broken I returned to Him and He received me with open arms.  I knew almost immediately that I wanted to serve Him with all my heart and life.

Experiencing His forgiveness was like having 10,ooo lbs of bricks taken off of  me.  However I still saw God as distant, untouchable, and impersonal.  I was bowed down at the feet of His throne, needing to perform for His acceptance. 

Thankfully He has taught me how to over come many of those false perceptions.   I’ve gained a greater understanding of How much He loves me, holds me on His lap, and is  fully pleased with me.  Yes, I said it.  God is pleased with me and I know it…deep inside….I know He loves me beyond my comprehension. 

A few months ago I had an encounter with Jesus  in a dream that deeply impacted me.    Encounters with Jesus will do that, because you’re never the same after being in His presence.  He came to me as a courter filled with excitement about the future plans the Father has for my life.  It’s been impossible for me to find words to describe the experience.   All I can say is that He is pleased with me and thrilled about my destiny.

I understand now I was graced with that experience because a time of testing was coming.  God has called me and my husband into a time of  pioneering,  plowing, and sowing.  In translation: working without pay.   This season has lasted longer than I thought it would and my patience has waned.  God has been faithful to provide, but I’ve been tempted to wine, complain, and feel sorry for myself.  This past week I’ve had to evaluate how I view God in light of the current financial strain. 

Our new pastor recently did a sermon series on finances.  He taught all the biblical principles that our family has followed.  Each week I felt irritated as Pastor John would preach.  Don’t get me wrong, he was teaching the truth about sowing and reaping.  The scripture teaches that God will pour out blessings into our lives as we are faithful to give.  Hearing that truth was what irritated me.  If giving leads to blessings from God perhaps He lost my address.  

I don’t know how long this season will last but I’m realizing that it’s a test.  I’m trusting that my Father has my best interest in mind.   He is developing more of HIM in ME and that has more eternal value than being comfortable.    A friend exhorted me this week to “get out of my circumstance” and see where God is.   It was a necessary encouragement.  If all I see is my current situation I’m in danger of losing focus and being deceived.   Keeping my eyes on Jesus and not my circumstance will produce His life in and through me. 

The Father is gently reminding me again that He is close and that nothing is impossible for Him.

I’m looking forward to sharing with you soon testimonies of how God has divinely and strategically brought victories in our life, ministry, and finances.

Rest Easy

Rest.  It’s a word that drew me to the 7th year because the 7th year is symbolic of  biblical time frames of rest. 

Leviticus 25: 2-5 says:

² “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you, the land itself must observe a sabbath to the LORD. ³ For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. ⁴ But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath rest, a sabbath to the LORD. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards. ⁵ Do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the grapes of your untended vines. The land is to have a year of rest.”

Sound easy enough?  How many of us would jump at the chance to take a whole year off every seven years?  Perhaps if we knew we’d still be paid, but what if we completely had to trust in God’s provision?   Rest and trust…. that’s more of a challenge. 

The Israelites did not obey the command to rest from work and to rest the land during the seventh year.  When I read about their disobedience I actually feel a sense of regret in my heart, wondering what blessings they missed out on.  

What’s so important about resting anyway?  We’re going to rest for all of eternity…why waste time resting now?

Knowing Jesus came to destroy the works of the enemy (1 John 3:8), I believe rest was and is vital for spiritual warfare.   When I’m exhausted I’m vulnerable to spiritual attack in my health and emotions.  Being tired makes it harder for me to hear God’s voice.   The command to rest was given before Jesus became our sabbath rest, however the principle still stands.  Some times we have to stop working so that we can be strong in the battles we encounter. 

Initially, God’s commands can seem crazy. Rest and let God provide.  Currently I’m in one of the busiest seasons of my life;  founding a conference ministry, raising four children, and helping my husband manage a summer church camp.  Yet, I often hear the Lord say to me, “lay it aside, seek me, and find rest for your soul.”  In the kingdom when we ”do” less we often can accomplish more.  It’s the inside, outside, upside down way.  Only a supernatural God can make up for what we lack. 

We are hosting a large women’s event in Portland in exactly eleven days.  I’m flying out in ten.  Last week I went into a complete panic.  We need 200 + women to register in order to break even and we only had 25.    Fear tried to seize my faith, but God is showing me how to overcome and not cave to fear.  In fact, the moment I decided to fully rest in Him I became filled with anticipation for what He’s going to do at this conference. 

Fear will lead to striving, striving will make me tired, being tired will cause me to miss His voice.  If I miss His voice I’ll be unable to lead others into His presence. 

When I realized the lack of registrations my initial response was to stay up late searching the internet for places to send information out.  It’s good and wise stewardship to promote our events well, but the bottom line is we have to trust God.  As we are faithful to do our part, He will do His.  What I heard Him say to me this week was  “rest, heal, soak, and trust, this is how you need to battle this warfare”.  Jesus is going to do something that only He can do and it will be a lot better if I stay out of the way.

As much as I wish the Israelites would have obeyed, I can relate to their disobedience.  How logical is it to stop working and still have provision?  Our finite human minds can not wrap around such an illogical concept.  God does command us to work, but when He says rest, we will profit more if we listen and obey.

My prayer today: 

Remind me to rest and trust in you.  Warn me when I’m striving in my own strength and teach me to remember your yoke is easy and your burden is light.  OH, and thank you that registrations are raining in…..I’m full of anticipation that you are going to do a great work in me and many other women’s lives! 

Joy And Sorrow

My husband and I are working to de-clutter our home.  I have piles of papers and junk to get rid of.  Every time we focus on this task and make a dent in it I feel lighter and more able to breathe.  We’ve lived in our 1,300 sf condo for 13 years.  I remember when we used to move every year how much stuff we would get rid of.  A downside of not moving is that stuff piles up.  I’m realizing how much discipline it takes to keep the clutter down.  Rarely am I in the mood to deal with my mess, but when I do I feel lighter and more happy. 

My 7Th year exercise this week was to remember joy-filled and painful memories and experiences.  I’ll be honest, my joy-filled list was longer and easier for me to write.  Not that I’ve never had hurtful experiences, but the happy joyful memories far outweigh the negative.  And by the grace of God I’ve experienced a lot of healing.   Thankfully I learned how to de-clutter my heart early in my walk with Jesus.  I was fortunate to have mentors who were skilled in leading people into emotional health.  They taught me how to forgive and allow Jesus to cleanse and heal my heart wounds.  Not that I’m never faced with a bad memory, but they are rare, and I do live in freedom in my walk with Jesus and others. 

There is a great reward when we de-clutter our hearts, deal with our most painful memories, and allow Jesus to heal as only He can. 

We all have one thing in common. We all experience moments of joy and sorrow.  Some of us have experienced more joy than sorrow, and for others the scale has tipped the other direction.  Both types of experiences have shaped who we are, but the painful ones have the most power to rob us from our full destiny.  Unhealed wounds will bind us to our past and cripple our ability to walk into the future. 

Inner work is never initially pleasant but it is necessary for spiritual and emotional wellness.  Inner work is the process we go through to deal with the emotional pain and wounds we’ve sustained in our lives.  One of my friends recently said it is like going to have a root canal.  You know you need to go through it, but it’s not something you enjoy or look forward to.  

During a recent Unearthing Destinies event we were singing the worship song, “God you reign, God you reign…forever and ever…..God you reign.”  While we were singing it I felt the Lord encourage me to share with the women that the Goliaths they face will not reign forever.   In fact, in God they can be overcome in a day.  They are not stronger and will not out live Him…He was before and He will be after…He is the only one who reigns forever…our pain will cease and He will redeem and restore every place the enemy has sought to devour.  We might have some ancient wounds, but He is the ancient of days. 

There has to be a reward for actually taking time to dredge up past pain, loss, disappointment, and wounding.  The process is usually painful, and sometimes it’s crushing.  I don’t know why God chooses a path of remembering, but I’ve never received healing from something that I didn’t first take time to review.  

Sometimes I’m embarrassed by my clutter.  I don’t want anyone to see it, and I want to pretend it does not exist.  The only problem with this is that not only does the mess not get cleaned up, it gets worse.  This weeks exercise is a fresh reminder that ignoring pain will never make it go away.  As difficult as it can be to reflect on our past, it is necessary if we are to live life to its fullest. 

Now back to that pile……….