Tag Archives: christ

Air Traffic

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Photo cred: Emily Hoelscher

Today we are surrounded by so many voices. People sharing their opinions and views about pretty much anything and everything, whether we ask for it or not. I call this “air traffic” – so many voices filling the air (and airwaves) with perspectives and thoughts that they become overwhelming, overpowering and intimidating causing a “traffic jam” in our hearts and minds. This doesn’t leave much room for our own thoughts, feelings, views and ideas to come through. Whether we are bombarded by these voices through social media, youtube, podcasts, our favorite influencer or face to face with friends or family, an overload can cause confusion and hinder us from actually knowing what we really think or feel, unless we stop the traffic and actually take the time to think about it. 

BUT WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?

It was not much different when Jesus walked the earth, although the “air traffic” traveled much slower in those days, people still had something to say. Some things were true and worth listening to and some were not. Seems there was a whole lot being said about Jesus and who He really was. In Mark 8:27-30 Jesus asked his disciples who others thought He was, and they answered that many thought He was a great man, “John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; and still others say you are one of the prophets.” Jesus then looked them in the eyes and asked them, “But who do YOU say I am?”

It was a very important question. A question He asked His disciples.

It is still a very important question. A question that He asks us.

A question we need to ask ourselves.

I love that Jesus asked questions. He got people thinking. Thinking for themselves. Jesus asked them what others thought about Him, butJesus He didn’t leave it at that. He didn’t just want to know who others thought He was. He wanted to know who His disciples, His friends, thought He was. And He wanted THEM to know what they thought. He wanted them to declare it. Amazing how saying something out loud makes it just so much more real. It can certainly make us stop and think about how we are really feeling or what we are thinking. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. It was important for the disciples to know where they were at in their own relationship with Jesus, their Friend, their Master and their, soon-to-be, Savior. 

Jesus didn’t want His disciples, the ones whom He loved, to be swayed by, tainted by, or hindered by what others thought. He didn’t want His relationship with them and their relationship with Him to be based on or leaning on what others said. He didn’t want them stuck there, only seeing Him through eyes with limited vision, or hearing through ears limited by other people’s filters. So Jesus asks them, “BUT, who do YOU say I am?”

We can listen to many podcasts, sermons, and teachings from great people, incredible influencers, on what they say and believe about Jesus, yet not know what we actually believe.  We can quote and repost beautiful little sayings from others sharing their views and perspectives of Jesus, yet our own views still be so limited and shallow. We can continue to live our relationship with Jesus based on insights gained by others and be deceived thinking that we have depth in our own relationship with Him. While it’s fine listening and learning from others, studying and reading views, thoughts, insights that others have recorded, written, published, and posted, we cannot stop there. We can most certainly glean from them and even get stirred up, impassioned and encouraged in our relationship with the Lord, but if that is all we base it on, it will always be much less than what we were created to have with Him. If we are only satisfied with an influencer, a pastor, a friend feeding us what is on the Bible menu, or only rely on them to share their personal experiences and opinions of Jesus instead of digging in for ourselves, then we fall short of ALL He wants to show us, teach us, and reveal to us. We cheat ourselves and settle for the little crumbs of who Jesus is and all He has to offer us as our personal Savior. 

Meanwhile, Jesus is stopping the air traffic and asking us, “BUT WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?” Jesus wants to reveal Himself to each of us personally. He loves to know us deeply and teach us deep things, mysteries about Himself and all that He is doing. He wants us to know Him and to grasp hold of the truth that we are known by Him. He wants us to find our own revelations, form our own thoughts, allow Him to speak to and touch our hearts, to bring depth to our relationship with Him. He wants us to have eyes that SEE and ears that HEAR who He is personally. For you. For me. He is an ever- present and personal Lord. He wants to capture OUR hearts, our vision, our thoughts and give us opportunity to own our faith, experience His goodness, and encounter His love. What better time than now to stop and allow Him to clear the traffic away and respond as He asks us this question. And hopefully we, just like Peter, can exclaim for ourselves …. “YOU ARE THE CHRIST!” Because as we declare it, foundations are built, our hearts are strengthened, our heads are lifted, and our eyes are opened, to allow Him to show each one of us, as unique individuals, even more of WHO HE REALLY IS! 

Practical application:

Press in today. Read the Scriptures for yourself. Talk to Him. Ask Him the questions. Wait on Him to answer. Listen. Write it down …. Who do you say He is?

Then spend time thanking Him and praising Him for what He reveals to your heart. 

His Crossed a Chasm For The Sake of The Cross

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Jesus crossed a chasm for you and me.

He crossed the expanse between heaven and earth. God became flesh.

He overcame in the wilderness, He walked the dusty roads, and He crossed the stormy seas. He walked on them. He spoke to them and He calmed them.

He taught in the fields and fed thousands. He ate at the tables of sinners.

He shared and laughed with people in their homes, on the streets, by the well, on the shores.

From home to home. Town to town. City to city.

Each place bringing Him closer to the hill of Golgotha.

The CROSS.

The path was always leading Him to that hill, the hill where He would be crucified.

He knew what was coming, yet He stayed the course.

What lay ahead for Him did not deter Him from seeing those He would encounter on His way.

His eyes met with the eyes of those for whom He’d give His life. Some would love Him and follow Him. Some would betray Him and curse Him. Some would have ears to hear His Father’s heart and eyes to see His Father’s love. Some would close their hearts, their ears, their eyes and turn away with bitterness, hatred, and denial.

He still went to the cross for each of them.

All along His journey He healed, He taught, He delivered, He spoke, He forgave, He saved.

And as He approached the garden outside of where He knew He would be crucified, He prayed and He wept.

And then carried His cross up that hill, wounded for our sins, beaten for our burdens, whipped for our wrongs, crushed for our iniquities, stripped for our shame.

He bled. He cried out. He died. For the joy that was set before Him, you and me, He endured!

He went into the grave so WE could be brought out of our own.

His love didn’t stop there though.He crossed that chasm once again as he did His greatest work in secret.

Beyond the tomb when all was dark, when others thought all was lost and hope was gone, Jesus was still at work. It was in that place, between the crucifixion and the resurrection that Jesus conquered sin and death.

HE ROSE AGAIN!

HE LIVES!

He did it all for us.

He came. And He is coming again.

For me. For you. ❤️

Happy Easter Week

He Makes Me Lie Down in Green Pastures

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“He makes me lie down in green pastures.”

In times of crisis, when everything around us feels absolutely out of our control, attitudes, beliefs, emotions, can all make their way up out of our hearts and to the surface. Times of shaking begin to shake loose the things we have been holding onto, areas we have falsely placed our identity and security in, and at times those beliefs that have become quite foundational to our lives without realizing it. We are faced with the reality of what we value, what we treasure, who we love, what we believe, and the condition that our faith is truly in.

Questions arise in our hearts. Some are deep, and some may seem quite shallow and ridiculous, but they are still questions that rise up and require a bit of thought and hopefully an answer. What is important to me? Have I loved well? Am I doing what I am am meant to be doing? Do I enjoy my life? Am I making the most of this life I am given? Is there anyone I need to forgive or apologize to? Am I eating well and taking care of myself like I should be? Should I have spent my money better or saved more or invested? Do I need to give more? Do more? Be more? Do I believe in God? Do I trust Him? Am I loved? Am I happy? On and on the questions pop up, and we are faced with having a bit of a “reality check” of our lives.

Certainly doesn’t feel like the time to be “lying down in quiet pastures”! But it certainly is a time, an opportunity to sit and evaluate and search our hearts for answers. We may be pleasantly surprised that we are content, that we have loved well, handled our finances with wisdom, working in a job that is fulfilling, and strong in our faith. And then we may be quite discouraged with some of the answers to these questions, finding ourselves disillusioned with life, not sure if we are really doing enough, out of shape, faltering in our faith, financially broke and emotionally broken. Regret, fear, disappointment, confusion can come crashing in on us like a tidal wave. Self evaluation isn’t always fun, nor does it always make us feel like we are shining stars or conquerors of mountain tops, but it is good …. It is good when we remember that no matter what we find, WE ARE NOT STUCK THERE.

I have to admit that during this pandemic I have been a little shocked at what all has surfaced in my heart. My biggest disappointment is that I have felt so much fear surface. Some of my foundations I have discovered, have not been built solidly on God’s strength and power and trusting in Him, but more on what I can do in my own strength and in my own power. That illusion of CONTROL has often reared its ugly head as something I am building my life on. And when it’s smoothed over with a layer of PRIDE that says, “I got this!”, it gives the illusion of being strong and ready for anything! All seems right as I think I can handle whatever comes in my own power, instead of really leaning into the strength of an Omniscient and Sovereign God. It’s all good …. Until the shaking comes and then all of the cracks in my thinking and my plans begin to show.

I’m sure that is why God seems to continually give me Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and HE SHALL direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the Lord and depart from evil. It will be health to your flesh and strength to your bones.” It is the daily reminder that I am meant to trust in a God who is powerful and mighty, not in my own strength or anyone else’s for that matter! He knows all, loves me well, and is 100% FOR ME!

I can trust him with what I don’t understand, but sometimes the real challenge is to trust him and not even lean on those things that I do understand. I have found in this time, that the key to overcoming my fears and facing the issues of my heart that have been surfacing, is in the ACKNOWLEDGING HIM part. It’s an action! A choosing! Intentionality! Acknowledging Him in every area of my life. Acknowledging Him as I answer each question that rises up. Every attitude, every doubt, every fear, every anxious thought. Every fact and every feeling, I am called to acknowledge Him. I do this by declaring who HE IS.

I acknowledge that He is God and I am NOT! I acknowledge that He is Wonderful Counselor, Almighty God, Faithful Father, Loving, Kind, slow to anger, compassionate, Healer, Deliverer, Sovereign, and Good. I declare His goodness over my life, over my past, my present and my future. I declare and acknowledge that He is still sitting on the throne. He has loved me from the beginning, forgiven me, and has filled me with the same power that resurrected Christ, His Holy Spirit. I give him the reins and declare that HE REIGNS! As I “acknowledge Him”, I feel Him directing my heart, my thoughts, my emotions, leading them down a path of FAITH, STRENGTH, LOVE, AND HOPE! He leads me beside still waters and causes me to lie down in green pastures – places of peace and places that refresh my heart.

SO NO MATTER WHAT YOUR QUESTIONS ARE TODAY IN THIS SEASON, NO MATTER WHAT IS RISING UP IN YOUR HEART AND MIND, GOOD AND BAD, THINGS WE UNDERSTAND AND THINGS WE DON’T, BEGIN TO ACKNOWLEDGE GOD. LET HIM SHAKE THE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE SHAKEN – FEAR, PRIDE, PAIN, HOPELESSNESS, DOUBT …. AND THEN LET HIM RESURFACE YOUR FOUNDATIONS WITH HIS LOVE, HIS STRENGTH, HIS POWER, HIS PEACE, HIS FAITHFULNESS, HIS PROMISES. HE IS GOOD! HE WILL DIRECT YOU AND BRING HEALTH TO YOUR BODY AND STRENGTH TO YOUR BONES. HE WILL DIRECT YOU TO THOSE PLACEA OF PEACE – STILL WATERS & GREEN PASTURES. ♥️

What a Train Touches

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As I do a bit of wedding coordinating, one of my favorite parts is when the flower girl goes down the aisle just before the bride. Usually she has a little basket filled with flower petals, and her one task is to sprinkle them on the runner or in the aisle before the bride makes her grand entrance. Often the flower girl is a toddler or just a little older, which means her little sashay down the aisle and how she performs her job is extremely unpredictable. I’ve seen just about everything. Some become frozen with fear as they are overwhelmed by all of the stares of the guests. Some dumping the entire contents of the basket and running away with tears. Some taking clumps of the petals and throwing them as they hurry down the aisle, leaving little piles of petals all along the path behind them. Fortunately most of the little girls take their time sprinkling the flower petals as they walk, sweetly smiling at each guest and scattering each one all the way down the aisle. 

Recently at a wedding, I watched two little flower girls begin their important journey down the wedding aisle, gingerly reaching into their satin ribboned baskets, pulling out the wilting rose petals. The oldest of the girls delicately pulled out one petal at a time, and with each step, bent over and almost strategically, placed each one all along her path. The other, much younger flower girl, grabbed as many petals as her little hands could hold, and just as I had suspected, dumped them into sporadic piles, moving as quickly as her feet could carry her down to the altar. Once they reached their destination and the music changed to signal it was time for the bride’s entrance, I glanced back up the aisle filled with rose petals. Some lay in clumps and many lay scattered all the way down as if someone had carelessly littered the path. The scene intrigued me, reminded me of the path of my own life. Times of road blocks and piles of mess. Times where I felt scattered, stepped on, fogotten, left behind. Times fo feeling wilted and lonely, unsure if I had destiny, purpose or importance. As the DJ gave me the nod, I quickly opened the barn doors on cue to allow the elegant bride and her doting father, to enter the room and steal everyone’s breath away with her beauty. She began her royal procession towards her smiling, awe-struck groom, her elegant train flowing behind her. As she moved slowly step by step down the aisle, her train swept over each rose petal in her path. Some were caught up under the silky fabric and no longer seen. Even the petals, that just moments before laid in clumps, were now spread out showing that they too had been affected by the weight and length of the garment. Each petal in line with the path of her footsteps was touched and covered by the train of her exquisite dress. Moved, carried, covered.

The scripture Isaiah 6:1 came to mind. Isaiah was speaking about a vision he had been given. “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.” I stood there, completely lost in the moment, realizing how significant this scene at the wedding was. I felt the revealing and reminder of what the Lord has done for us. Each petal representing our sin, our disobedience, our flaws, our weaknesses. Each petal symbolic for a time of our life, our emotions, our decisions, our experiences, good and bad, highs and lows. Some wilted, some feeling quite dead and withered up, some representing even the sweetness of our lives, the beautiful moments. Each one, though has been covered by the train of the Lord’s robe. Each one being touched, covered, caught up in the very fabric of who He is.

I can just imagine how tremendous and magnificent the train that Isaiah saw in this vision must have been. Enough to fill the enormous temple, flowing throughout, touching every corner, every room, every area. I thought of the story of the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. She knew that if she could touch just the hem of the garment that Jesus was wearing, she would be healed. And as she did, the Bible tells us, she was healed immediately. The power of His garment. And He gives us garments of praise. The power of the train of His robe. And He puts on us robes of righteousness.

The weight of His glory, His goodness, His faithfulness, His love, bearing a beautiful affect upon each part of our lives as we surrender to His path and allow Him to move through our hearts. We are even called His temple, the very dwelling place of the Spirit of God. So as we lay down our own lives, completely vulnerable and yielded, He comes and catches us up, sweeps over us with His love and majesty, with forgiveness and healing. He fills us, every part, every room in our heart, every corner of our mind, the train of His robe fills us as His temple. As we surrender, we cannot help but being touched, moved, and forever changed by Him.