Safe Walls?

My heart is heavy with the word “safe”.  I have been hearing it more often, seems we all just want to be safe.  We seem to have our reasons for that. Are we tearing down one wall, just to build another?

God is not safe, He’s good.  So do we trust Him that He has everything under control, or do we continue to take the safer road?  Americans are most guilty of this.  Outreach in the community is God’s work.  Are we really to tell Him, we choose to use a social services so that we can help people who are safe by our standards?  Do we really tell worship leaders how to plan according to what we think is most productive to a heart? Or do we believe that God is still the only one saving a heart?

Worship leaders are praying about what God wants in their services, God still knows best.

My life was filled with abuse, so yes I do know what I am talking about.  I just don’t choose to label myself as such. Why? Because God has freed me, my past no longer defines me.  Was there some magic, or certain worship, maybe a special book that brought me to this place? NO! It was God, and spending time with Him, asking Him all the tough questions, letting Him walk me through each day, teaching me to make different choices, Loving me through my pain.

I had to learn to forgive, I had no idea how easy it was, that choosing God’s way would be all I needed.  The burden lifted the second I choose to truly give it to God, and allow Him to handle things.  Submission to Him was nothing like the world had taught me.  It was more like laying back in the arms of the one who truly loved me. It was not a bitter hard thing to swallow.

The world labels everything.  But they have not been introduced correctly to us.  We are God’s children, beloved, free, Kingdom living and not at all elite.

Is following God safe by the worlds standards? No…but we are not of the world.  Where is our sense of adventure? desire? it may be caught up in a trust issue…Believe God that He is capable of anything this world may throw at us…HE got this! safe no..good yes

Lets’s not tear down one wall to build another…we just need to believe God and not just believe there is an God.

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Hiding in Jesus (Abiding)

“Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”  Do you know what it is like to have a week that mentally there is not an ounce of reason left, and you really feel like something that cat drug in from the yard?  I have been on that rollercoaster this week.  With all my knowledge of God, sometimes the best I could come up with was a song I learned as a young child-“Jesus loves me”.  But what truth is in that song!

Somehow I need to express something very important to my readers, especially believers.  There are times in this walk that are not pretty, and are very exhausting.  The enemy waits for this to happen so that he can pounce on us and kick, and dig into our empty places and create turmoil within us.  Sometimes the Lord allows it for a time, but only if HE plans to bring something good out of it.  We need to remember above all else, that HE loves us, and does not ever leave us.  We need to stop praying to be delivered from ever little thing that causes us discomfort, and start praying to learn what ever we have been brought here to learn.  It is truly the purifying fire.  We go through hard times to become more like HIM.  I have been stuck this week on some different scriptures, that all seem to point to “who do we think we are? Do we really think we will have an easier life than Jesus had on earth?  Do we think we are greater than our master? Do we think we can pick and choose scripture to be obedient too?”  If you never have stepped out of the bubble of the physical church and touched a heart with kindness, or opened the door for someone struggling…you may not understand why the enemy would want to rip and tear at any one person.  If you are not ever experiencing struggles and enemy attack, then I am going to beg you to pray and ask HIM if there is anything standing between you and HIM.  I have found that HE will answer quickly.

If you do know what I am talking about…then come to the ONE who can satisfy, and restore.  I love that when I feel like the enemy lays me at HIS feet and laughs…my Jesus picks me up and cleans me up and bandages all the wounds, dresses me in the finest clothing, adorns me jewels, and we dance.  Surrounded in the most awesome love.  I love that HE wraps HIM self around me and HIS strength is apparent to my heart.  HE calls me to sleep there, and covers me with HIS robe. HE sings over me. HE reminds me that  although it looks like the enemy wins some battles, he has already lost the war!!  Does that do good  for anyone else’s heart?? It encourages mine greatly.

Jesus,

the enemy is a liar, and he means no one any good thing.  Thank you for carrying us when we are to weak to walk anymore.  Thank you for filling us with your peace and your joy, that you gladly give to us, when asking.  Thank you for being just a cry away, and for intervening on our behalf.  Thank you for always bringing something good out of the bad.  You truly have our best interest at heart.  I am amazed at how high and deep and wide is your love for us.  Give us a hunger for more of you, even and foremost in the worst of circumstances.  Might we only want you, stretch out our arms and reach for the only One who will ever love us unconditionally, and delights in just hearing our voice directed at HIM.  We are desperate for you.  Things will only get worse in this world, teach us to hide ourselves in you.  You are the only God and there is no other…make it so in our hearts. 

your daughter, and princess, who knows there is no life away from you.

(this is a repost from 2007, funny how we seem to go full circle, and here I am again.  Thought of rewriting it, but I just couldn’t…Stay close to the ONE who is the safest place to land)

ahhhhh the safe place

God,

you are our refuge,

our strong tower,

our mighty fortress.

We wander off

chasing all that glitters.

Then we speak as if profoundly

“looking for a safe place to land”.

The world has no true safe places.

Everyone has an agenda of sorts.

You are our safe place to land.

Remind us constantly to remain in you.

your princess, who lives in your stronghold (and so glad to be home)

Prodigal Princess

The Princess spent her days walking in the glorious sunshine. Such joy! such a blessed life! She fell asleep without warning…she didn’t know how long she slept, but when awakening…such darkness!  Ahhhhh Where was her King? Her Daddy that she loves..who loves her as well. She sets out to look for Him. She can’t find Him.  How could this happen? Her sadness grew, her desperation more intense.  Life is not good without her King..He showers her with the love and hope that makes her world turn….

Princess:  (remembering that He can always hear her, and see her even when she cannot)  My Lord! why have you left me here? I can not do this with out you…Please come and rescue me…Please do not leave me in the darkness…There is no darkness in you.

King: (speaking ever so quietly, ever so gently) I promised to never leave you, and I have kept my promise.  But I will not force you to stay by my side where the light shines on your face and warms your heart. The world entices, and you must stay in my Word as it feeds your soul and keeps you from hungering for things that are not me.

Princess:  I remember how we danced, i remember how much love filled my heart…oh how i adored you! still not sure how the world can pull me away from the only One who really matters. Please. Please fill my heart again with the hunger I need to pursue you. I am lost, I thought I could handle some things on my own. Now the darkness is suffocating. I can not save my self. Forgive, according to your loving kindness, because I belong to you. Restore. There is no life away from you.

King: (extending His hand into the darkness) Princess, take hold and never let go.  The darkness will always be close while you walk this earth, but I am your safe place, no one else or nothing else can fill that void. Come to me. I will restore, Read my Words to you daily, keep me first in your thoughts, Know with all your heart that my love for you moves heaven and earth, Nothing can seperate you from me. The darkness lies to you, and you must put up your shield of faith, believe…

Princess: How could i just walk away from you? What kind of child leaves the most perfect Father without thinking about it? How or Why would you want to help me now?…nothing makes sense..

King: (cleaning her up, wiping her tears, dressing her in His love) I will brush you off, and you will take my hand, and we will continue on this journey..I have so much I want to show you, so many things that will delight your heart. Oh the plans I have! and when we rest…I will sing over you, watch over you as you sleep.

(looking over His shoulder speaking firmly to the darkness now far behind) This is my Princess..you can not have her…and I will protect her, and keep her close…I delight in her…

Safe? Safe Place?

Proverbs 18:10 The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

One of my most favorite worship songs is Strong Tower-Kutless, often times visualizing God as the place of refuge when the world is overbearing. Remembering that Hebrews 11 tells us that faith credits us righteousness. But safe? We are safe in HIM, just not the usage of the word that we have grown accustomed to… People still die, and love HIM very much. We still encounter pain, both physically and emotionally. But we are still safe in HIM. How can I say that?

(you can read the rest over at Philter48, and leave comments there or here.  I would love to hear what you think as well that would make Philter 48 more user friendly for you.  peace and love)