Saturday, January 26, 2013

On Your Remarks, Reset...Go!


We finally got to the car, and on our way. My harsh tone and hurrying words still hung in the air. 

How is you can be minutes from an awakening to life and breath, new mercies and new day, (Lamentations 3:22-23) filled with God's limitless compassion, yet still choose to be and do so much of the "old you" that includes none of that/His wonder and beauty? 

Her beautiful, clear blue eyes looked out the window taking in the world and the glories of God in it. (Isaiah 6:3) His glory standing out before her, but in me, through me, through my words and actions, can she behold any of His glory?

It’s a simple question and my eyes well up.  It seems the only question that continually keeps coming up for me.  And in this, I know God is stretching me again. Stretching, growing, directing, loving me forward, because, He loves me too much to leave me the same.  When will that revelation ever stick?

I pray often, “God help me to be a blessing to You and Your Kingdom.” And, maybe in one of these opportune moments, I will stop and re-think my go-to emotions, reactions, words, and tone, and remind myself that the very platform to change the world I’ve been asking for all along, is not the one in my grand vision, but the very place He’s given unto me that I abide in day in and day out, right now. In my home. With my family.

Every moment He has given, and gives, is an opportunity to do just this…glorify Him. I have a choice to live more like Him, in every moment. Because that is where He is. In the moment.  Ever my refuge and strength. My very present help in time of need.  (Psalm 46:1) 

Every moment I need Him.

My weaknesses may be abundant. But this is actually hopeful. Because He says “My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

And there it is, the greatest truth…in needing Him, I am strong. 

And there in the car, before we got to our destination, before another moment passed, His still small voice whispering, “Let your gentleness be evident to all. I am near”. (Philippians 4:5), I claimed a victory for my Savior, whom I long to glorify so! 

For above all the appointments, feelings, places, problems, and fears, there is one thing that must ring clear above all of the worldly distraction. This is The Lord proclaiming, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.” (Philippians 4:9)

And I stammered, but said, “Beloved.  God just showed me that I haven’t been nice. He’s asking me to be nicer. Please forgive me?”  Because what good is it to tell her to be nice and to be a blessing, if she doesn’t know that God with us, above me, doesn’t hold me accountable too? If He loves me to it, so I must also love her through it!

She looked at me in the rear view mirror. Between glances, I could feel the grace and love of God pierce through me, with those beautiful eyes. She looked into my spirit, and forgave. Fresh from Heaven and Grace Himself, she loves freely.  And I think sometimes those clear blue eyes can see eternity still.   

My God, He’s showing me how to live through her.  There is so much to learn from this beautiful child of God. To dance, to laugh, to sing, to shout, to run, to play, but mostly to love.  Her highest priorities are His. And so mine must be!

And to forgive myself and move forward in Him and With Him…Well, it must be done. Every moment is an opportunity to choose better, to exercise the fruit of the spirit to greater strength within me.  Love, Joy, Peace, Forbearance, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self Control (Galatians 5:22-23). 

He is these. He is in me. I have Christ in me. I can be more like Christ in me. 

And I leave you with God’s Word from 1 Thessalonians 5 to encourage you as you move forward and keep looking up, Ya’ll. Be blessed! You are His Beloved, In Whom He is well pleased!

Love in Him,
Amy O

For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awak or asleep, we may live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing....but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else...Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.

P.S. Later that same day....






Saturday, January 5, 2013

Dream, Dream, Now Go!


So…I’ve been fearful (yes - seems to be a pattern). And yes, it’s caused me to be in distraction and procrastination – for a long time.

But then God has sent me pretty big messages yesterday, and He brought me back to these words, a number of times.  As I lay in bed last night and shared these words with my husband, tears began to flow down, as I realized how very much they applied….

The biggest thieves to the fulfillment of your dreams are the distractions that come your way. Your vision has to be compelling enough to cause you to run with it. It requires organizing every routine around the vision as your central focus. Failure to do so will cause the vision to die in the dream stage because activities that do not contribute to the achievement of your vision will keep you from your destination. ~ Dr Mark Chironna

"It’s very important to know where the line is between faith and presumption. Go and stand as close to that line as possible. Some of us are so scared of being presumptuous that the place where we’re occupying is really a place of unbelief. There’s territory in, around and in front of you that belongs to you but you’re not occupying it because you’re scared of making a mistake. God is not worried about your presumption. He’s concerned about your unbelief." ~Graham Cooke

Listening to music and an enlightening thought occurs to me: God does not see me the way I do. I can be such a mess. I am chaotic. I am restless. I am random. And wandering. But He sees order. He sees purpose. He sees perfection and pure love. And just like that, I am once again in awe of my Creator. Forgiven. Beloved. Hidden in Christ. Made in the image of the Giver of Life. Righteous and holy. Reborn and remade. Accepted and worthy, this is my new name.  ~ Godstrong Women

Wow! These, such words of wisdom calling to me in my self-imposed rut. Providing a light in the darkness, which I’ve chosen to surround myself with.  It reminds me of the quote from Anais Nin “And the day came where the risk to remain tight in a bud became far greater than the risk it took to blossom.” That describes me on the precipice of this step forward in God. How about you?

As you can see, it’s been pretty quiet here on the blog and on the writing front lately. I lost confidence in my ability to write and bring God glory. It always seems someone has always “said it better”.  Despite those around me encouraging me to write, and affirming how much it blesses them, I still chose not to move forward in what God was calling me to. There will always be a reason or excuse not to.  Writing doesn’t come easily for me.  It seems almost painstaking to put together a post. But I realize if God is calling me to do it, than who am I to not.  Even the Olympic athlete spends years and life perfecting their skills and crafts.  Do we not realize that once God delivers us from our Egypts, there is a desert experience for a time, yes, but there IS a promised land.  We can all choose to remain, or just go move forward. Even if we circle the mountain a few times or a few years, the Promised Land is still there. Promised. Waiting for us. We just need to make the choice to step in (and yes up to the chest sometimes) But blessing will come! Because there is something for only you to be and do for Jesus in the life.  One of my favorite lines in the movie Lord of the Rings is when Galadriel says “This task has been appointed to you, if you do not find a way, no one will”.  And Gandalf echoes as well “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us”.  Our God says in 2 Corinthians 9:8, “And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].” He also says in Jeremiah 1:5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
So here I go….

I’ve named my 2013 year.  “FOCUS”.  I will be focusing on writing. I will be focusing on growing more in Christ, and pursuing a revelation of His love for me, and living and breathing out of that love. 

He’s tasked me to be encouraging people through a ministry page on FaceBook.

Keep Looking Up – Encouragement for Everyone. Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/KeepLookingUpEncouragementForEveryone

Additionally, I will be beginning a Praise & Coffee Night Bible Study for Women at my home in Danbury, CT this month. Please contact me if you are interested in attending. 

All so very exciting, even though my boots are a-shaking with nervousness on embarking on all of these new faith-propelled endeavors.  May God’s grace, peace and blessing be over all as we move forward confidently in the direction of our dreams, with Him and For Him! For we were all born for such a time as this!  

Father God,
Thank you for the blessed, Holy Spirit-led, anointed and hopeful dreams You’ve given unto each one of us. Father, Thank You for blessing us forward into these unknowns and unchartered territories, even desert looking places at times. We declare we move forward with our eyes on Jesus, committing ourselves unto Him, and glorifying Him and Him alone, and blessing Your Kingdom and Your people. Lord, more of You, less of us, always!  Father, go before us, making ways in the wildernesses and streams in the deserts. Sing over us songs of peace and love as we embark in these territories toward the Promised lands of our dreams that You’ve ordained before time and the world even began in You and Your Word! Thank You for great revelation, for every tool and blessing, for every trial that strengthens, for every wind that blows to strengthen our roots in the One True Vine, You, oh Lord! We declare that we will do mighty things for You and Your glory. We declare that we will make a difference, by being the difference and we are moving forward in faith and confidence in You, Sovereign, Able, Mighty, Gracious, Loving, Caring, Faithful God and Father.
In Jesus Mighty Name. Amen!



Be blessed, Beautiful Children of God,
In His Love ~
Amy O