Distractions or Destruction???

Just Breathe....       Johnny Diaz

"Alarm clock screaming bare feet hit the floor
It’s off to the races everybody out the door
I’m feeling like I’m falling behind, it’s a crazy life
Ninety miles an hour going fast as I can
Trying to push a little harder trying to get the upper hand
So much to do in so little time, it’s a crazy life
It’s ready, set, go it’s another wild day..."

Sad to say, this is typical of my day, your day, the day that most of us live.  Day in, day out, Monday through Sunday this has become our lives.

Not only has this become our lives but this lifestyle has been exalted.  To be "busy" has become equal to a status of success, power, prominence, and more. In other words, it is lauded as something to be achieved.

But is it really?  Is it really all that?  I say no!!  I am too busy for a chat with a friend.  Too busy to acknowledge a child.  Too busy to share a laugh.  Too busy to comfort another.  Business is not a sign of achievement but rather a fore-shadowing of destruction to come.

You see, there is nothing the enemy loves more than to have us so busy (even on good and worthwhile things) that we have nothing left to give anyone most especially our God, our church, our families.

Perhaps it is time to put on the brakes, remember that God designed all of humanity for relationship.  Relationship with Him and relationship with others.

So I will ask you the same question that was asked of me this week.....

   To whom or what are you giving the best of your energy and strength?  

The simple truth is that if I have no energy left to serve God, then I am not walking in the covenant relationship that I have been called to.  My first love.  My greatest love.

So as you enter the work place, start the day with your young children, minister to your family, or prepare to lead your church..... Take time to JUST BREATHE.  Remember that God loves you and chose you and that our best energy and strength belong to Him first.

Johnny Diaz...

When the stress is on the rise in my heart I feel You say just

(chorus)
Breathe, just breathe
Come and rest at My feet
And be, just be
Chaos calls but all you really need
Is to just breathe

So if you haven't listened to this wonderful song, grab YouTube and take a moment to be reminded of how God longs to breathe into our souls the words of life which prepare us for each step of every day.

Keep walking my friends and never forget that Faith wears Boots and walks the road that God has laid out.

much love...

Katrina

Poor Choices and Grace

I must enjoy the consequences that come from being hard headed and impatient.  :D  Said no one ever and least of all me!  But I have decided there must be truth in this as I am prone to stumbling more often than I care to in these two particular areas most of all.

In the not so distant past, I made a choice.  It turned out to be a poor choice.  (Don't you just hate those!)  The ensuing results were long and many and quite painful.

But you know what?  God is so very faithful that he doesn't leave me in such a place without doing two things.  Teaching me another lesson of what is missing in my growth in Him and as a person as well as giving me a great measure of grace to persevere to the end of that road.

The most recent lesson.  Well that lesson would be about how often I extend grace and mercy to those who have hurt or offended me.  I am just as guilty as the next person and I just love to put on those rose colored glasses when examining myself or my life but I have found that in the quiet moments of the morning, God does His best work when I lay the ugly out, acknowledge it, experience true heartbreak over the wrongness of it, and then turn and walk away never to return.

Those are the moments when God comes in with His grace, covers me with His blood, and as He holds me, shows me how I have not extended His mercy and grace to others.  The lesson isn't always pleasant but it ALWAYS is for my benefit and shows me once more how very much He cares for me. God doesn't always take away the consequences of our actions, but He does give us strength to endure, grace to share with others, and a way of escape with the time is come.

We are all going to do wrong yet still we are called to love others as God has loved us.  This must be forefront of my heart and mind when walking the road of life with those around me.  None of us are perfect, all of us are longing to be loved, and we all are in need of mercy and grace.

Happy travels my friend and try to take a lesson from me and steer clear of hard headed impatience!

:D

Your sister sojourner......

When You Can't See Jesus.....

Ever have someone make a statement in your presence and it haunts you for days after?  That would be a great synopsis of my week thus far.

I was in a study group listening to the leader and a statement was shared that a well known leader had said.  The words were so profound, I just sat in stunned silence. Yes, I realize the magnitude of that alone!

When you are speaking with others and a remark similar to this is made, "how do you believe in someone you can't see?" we should be able to respond "when you have seen me, you have seen Jesus."

Well I don't know about you, but those are the last words that would come out of my mouth!  You might wonder why.  It isn't because of a lack of belief, or love of my Savior, or lack of a desire to share His glories with others.  It is simply because I am fully aware that all to often it is not Jesus that comes flowing out of my mouth.

As I sat there and contemplated what it would take to be able to stand in front of another and make such a bold statement my mind immediately raced to good works, kind words, etc etc.  But do you know what God revealed to me?  It isn't those things.  It is daily humbling myself before the throne, being obedient to lay aside my will, and then to put on His robe of righteousness that is the gift He gives to all believers.

In other words, it is stopping up my ears so that I don't listen to the lies of all that I am not and instead, opening my heart and allowing all that God says I am to live and bloom in me.  The statement "if you have seen me you have seen Christ" is not a boast of any good that is in me but is instead the sharing of the profound abundance of mercy and grace that is ours through our relationship with Christ Jesus.

So as we start this day, let us all be reminded of just who we are in Christ, how He sees us, and then lets extend that grace and mercy to all those around us!

Have a great morning and be blessed my friends!

Is it Really Real?

Perception is not reality unless we choose to live as if it is......

So often we move along living in what we believe to be reality only to later discover that just perhaps it wasn't so much reality as it was our perception at the time.

You know, those pesky emotions can be so very deceiving if we are not careful.  We become tangled in a web of emotion surrounding a circumstance which is oh so large in our mind and we begin living out actions based on what we feel the reality of the situation is.

Is it really reality?  Or is it a skewed version based upon a small portion of the truth that we see?  Is it possible that we are responding more from our past experiences, hurts, perceptions?  Is it just possible that perhaps we are too close to see clearly?

I am finding, more often than not, that perception is a tricky little thing that can easily skew what is truth and have us quickly step off the path of righteousness and obedience.

So to see clearly, we must do one thing.  Open God's word and do a simple check.  Does this align with the Word of God.  If not, guess what??  You got it!

I know, I know..... I am not any more enamored with learning this lesson than you.  However, we are reminded often that true love displays true obedience.  Not just partial obedience.  Not just doing those things that are enjoyable.  But full, raw living, obedience.  You know that "love thy neighbor" stuff the Bible is so big about.  (heee heee)

So what does living in true reality look like?  It means taking a moment to put a gate on our mouths and live out the following: Lev 19:17-18 Love for God and neighbor are inseparable.  In other words, we are to love God and love people similarly to how we love God.

This means that rather than point out wrong, we love them in a manner that they can hear the truth.  We slow down the light speed at which we jump to judgement instead we choose to open ways for restoration and reconciliation.

Whew....  That might be enough for one day, one week, one month!!

So this is me, continuing my dedication to living raw and honest in front of all.  Working to show less of me and more of God in every minute of every day.  Thankful for His hand which is quick to lift me when I fall, correct me when I am wrong, and to always search out the best of me.

Have a blessed day folks...

The Secret You

Proverbs 23:7
As he thinks in his heart, so is he.

Ever wonder why we should take that time to pray in secret?  That "alone" time?

If we look back at the life of Christ, we can see that time and again He retreated to a place alone to pray.  Naturally, we should do the same.

Why?

Let's face it, we all enjoy being loved and respected.  To know that those we surround ourselves with, think well of us.  But being valued by others should always be second to humility and sincerity in our service to God.  We should always remember that God is our audience of One.

While we are striving to be dead to self and pleasing God, sometimes we can get caught in wanting that acknowledgement that we are doing well, making right choices, living what we say.  But we should take a step back and realize that prayer is never meant to spotlight the person praying but to place the focus on God alone.

When we retreat to our secret place and we bow before the King, it helps us stay humble, be real, and to seek no other reward for our time with Him other than knowing, loving, and glorifying Him more.
Powerful statement I read in today's study stated, "Your true heart is best revealed in secret.  In other words, the secret you is the real you."  HARSH!  There are so many times that I would like to believe myself to be better than I am.  A better Christ follower.  A better wife.  A better mother.  A better employee.  A better leader.  But the secret me, the me that only God knows fully, knows that all too often I seek my will above His.

As I sit here, determined to not let this day stray away from a focus on service to God above all and others above self, I know that I will fall short.  That saddens me!!  But I also know, with full assurance and no doubt, that Father God will meet me as I fall, lift me up, and He will strengthen me to continue on.  After all, "faith of a mustard seed."

So as I leave to begin my day - I leave you with this:

The secret to your success will come from your secret place.  And the secret to your failure will come from your failure in the secret place.

Pull up those boots and keep walking friends... together we have accountability, together we have strength, and in our secret places, we will find victory!!

me

Chains that bind are broken!!

Monday comes around with it's calling card of out of state travel for the holiday so that we can be with family and the stress begins.

Along comes Tuesday and there is work requirements, new structures in place, and new levels of pressure have been added to Monday's baggage.

Wednesday arrives filled with appointments, phone calls, meetings, and out of state travel that afternoon to handle a contract issue.  Now there are 3 bags of stress and pressure.  My general attitude is rather short, there isn't much of a smile to be found, and all I am doing is making it to the end of the day to collapse and repeat again the next day.

Here comes Thursday....only let's add travel back in state because I was too tired to drive back the night before, wear the previous days clothes, rush in for a meeting that I am supposed to head up at 8:30 a.m. and a day covered up in inspections and appointments.  The previous baggage has been traded out for chains, and I begin to really drag.  The attitude is stinky and I am not a joy to be around at all.

In comes Friday, a few contracts, listing appointments, and oh yeah.... let's drive back out of state again to interview and settle another contract.   By now my dogs are barking, I am down right irritable, and just longing for some down time with nothing pulling on me.

Saturday arrives in all it's glory!  Ha... jokes on me.  Have to finish out a listing for a client so in I head.  Several showings and more later, and I finally get home in time to go to sleep.

Sunday comes and I lay in the bed even after I wake up.  I should be up getting ready for church but you know what? I don't want to.  Not one tiny bit do I want to.  I literally lay there for nearly two hours knowing I need to be up and moving but justifying as to why I don't have to.

Well, 10 rolls around and I finally decide I am dragging my sorry carcass to church.  Well, I have a lovely person in an ancient land schooner that chooses to crawl up my rear because I have the audacity to only be traveling the speed limit (another car in front of me as well) and they don't have the horse power nor enough rust on the car to pass two cars at once.

So amongst all her gesturing, bumper riding, speed up to me, etc... by time I get to church I feel as if I am carrying 1000#s of weight, am in as foul a mood as I have been in lately, and doggone it... I deserve better!!!

We walk in, find a place to sit, and I last about 2 minutes....three at tops.  Up I get and off I walk.  I go over to the chapel... I can't really describe this place as our church is a warehouse but this room is special and you can already feel the prayers of the people in the brick and mortar of this room.  I sit, I cry, I pace, I shout, I am mad mad mad and enjoying quite the pity party.  Not saying there isn't good justification for much of it...but that is quite beside the point.  I am in quite the tizzy as you might imagine.

I fuss at myself, I fuss at God, then I sit down once more and wonder "why?"  Why do I always take back the problems I hand over to Him only to find myself bound by chains I can't lift once more?

I decide enough is enough and I head back in.  One more song and down we all sit.  Lo and behold... what is being taught today?  The Way to Be a Servant.  Great, because that is just what I want to listen to; NOT.  I am listening albeit not enthusiastically.  Then out comes this statement.....

***Our actions flow out of our identity.  What we are is revealed by what we do.***

Well I'll be.  Just kick a girl when she is down why don't ya!?!  What follows below is a conversation God and I had as I promptly missed 90% of the rest of the sermon.  But ya know what?  It just doesn't matter because by time He was done speaking and I had finished LISTENING... there were no chains, I found my smile, and I was able to move on.  Please note that NOTHING in my circumstances were one iota different than when I walked in.  I, I was different.  Because I was willing to allow God to show me the ugliness in me that I didn't want to acknowledge.  Because I was willing to own it, repent of it, and LET GO OF IT.

***Our actions flow out of our identity.  What we are is revealed by what we do.  To include my actions of hopelessness!  My guilt is no less than any others but is greater!!  I have a living beautiful relationship with the living God.  How dare I allow hopelessness and sorrow to paint my face and color my behavior?  Father God forgive my rebellious heart that is so faithless to the Mighty Lion of Judah.  I am on my knees begging for Your perfect mercy and grace to lift me once more by Your endless forgiveness.  Hold me with Your mighty arms so that I can live another day for You.  So that minute by minute I decrease and You increase.  Take that which would take my life and cast it below my feet so that I once more step up into the beauty that is Your glorious presence.  May I never forget that You chose me to reveal Your glory and character to and through.  Thank you that You are quick to correct me instead of coddling me.  I praise You for the purity of Your justice and the depth of Your love.*****

Grab hands friends and let's continue to walk out our Faith with Boots On!

Praise that flows to the heart of God....

Have you ever wondered why we are to praise God?  Have you considered why God would want us to praise Him?

I have been listening to much that is being said regarding praising God and have been surprised at how little we know.  I remember believing that we sing songs because God wanted us to praise Him.  Okay, but why?  Why does God want me to praise Him?  As my mind tried to understand, (it is what we as humans do after all) I only arrived at the silliest of conclusions.

Praising God made Him feel more like God.  Wait, what?  He is completely God!  All the praises of all the earth could never make Him a bigger, greater God.

God needed our praises.  Huh?  As you can see, I amaze even myself with my audacity.  But as you know, we as a created people are rather audacious.  God does not need our praise to fulfill any part of His divine nature.

Recently I have delved into the heart of King David.  Taking each part of his life and looking for the lessons God has for me there.  After all, God himself stated "I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart."  As I studied I became amazed at how this man, chosen by God, failed so often...... Just.  Like.  Me.

Through the journey of the life of David, the Lord has taught me much.  It taught me the value of being truly humble in the depths of my heart.  I have learned that the "why" isn't nearly as important as I thought but that unwavering obedience is.

Most of all, I have learned so very much about praise.  I know that God desires praise for many reasons but have come to believe that these two are the most important.

PRAISE REMINDS US OF WHO HE IS

When I am overwhelmed and cannot see, God calls me to remember and rehearse some of His many virtues.

• All the wonders worked in the lives recorded in His word
• All the wonders in my own life
• The beautiful wonders in the lives of those around me and those I know

As I proclaim out loud His greatness, power, and glory, then I can see my own need in comparison.  Can you hear the words of Jeremaiah?  "Jeremaiah 32:17 you have made the heaven and earth by your great power and outstretched arms.  Nothing is too hard for you." And in that moment I find rest from my troubles. 

PRIASE REMINDS US OF WHO WE ARE

The most powerful thing I learned is that praise is an exercise in perspective.  1 Chronicles 29:14, David says, "But who am I?"  Authentic praise works every time. You cannot enter into such praise and remain the same. When we worship with authenticity, we end with a heart freshly humbled. 

Perspective invariably accompanies praise.  Hearts that praise often, will keep focused on the timeless power and might of God. Without an active praise life, our perspective becomes focused on self.  

So take time before you start your day to enter into authentic praise.  Raise your voice in song, lift your hands to glorify Him, and find your heart refreshed!!

Blessings my friends.