Rediscovering Acceptance

Dear Friends,

Today's blog comes by style of a letter as I wanted to write each of you on a more personal level.  

Recently, I've found myself in an old familiar territory; a place I have traversed upon at times in this life, with each time enjoying a heightened invigoration of a new breath of fresh air.  I have rediscovered acceptance.

Many of my posts have been rooted out of eye witness experiences during life's tumultuous storms.    But now I write from a different perspective; from life after the storm, where the air is fresh, the sun is bright and the birds chirp louder than ever.   It feels good.

I pen these words for two reasons, the latter being the more important.  First, I write to say that acceptance can be found as I've found it myself, praise be to God.  Second, my hope and prayer is that you are able to find it too.

What exactly is acceptance in one's life?  The best I can describe it is in the act of simply saying "ok" to God.  For me, its when I finally stopped fighting for my will and said "ok" to His.  While I've often tried to take every step to follow His will, there is a part of me (and likely all of us) that have a pre-determined mindset of how things should play out.  I like my plans.  But when they go South.... grrrr!  

Acceptance took root the moment I surrendered those plans.  Course, I've done this a million times before... so what was the difference now?  I think I finally decided to let go of the plans and NOT TAKE THEM BACK.  I'm not going to try to burst onto God's scene and be in charge of God's plan for me.  I created a new boundary that pretty much said: "No more fighting.  It is what it is and I'm ok with it.  I accept it."  

At this moment, wouldn't you know a calm came over the storm?  The command "peace be still" was felt.

From this process of trusting, obeying, surrendering, then finding acceptance, also came hope: a new friend that I'd like to keep around for a while.  Now, a new spark exists in my step.  My mind is more freed up.  The ability to give and receive is there in greater force.  The outlook on the future is a whole light brighter too.  

See, its when we finally let go of something that has wanted to be free but instead clung onto, that we realize we were really hindering ourselves all along.  I liken it to an insect that when caught continually stings you until you let it fly to where it wants to go. 

I had to also take that stance with some of my previous outlooks.  I had to say to these mainplayers:  its time for you to go.  I'm tired of this.  Course, they didn't want to leave the party.  They were having too much fun.  A hay day if you willl.  But, I kicked them out and locked the door.  They tried the 'ol hoist the door down with a log (like in old times).  But, with the power of God, the door stood firm and they soon tired out, limping along their way back to wence they came. 

I also had to address the sideline numbskulls of Settling and Compromise.  These morons wanted to ridicule and chide me.  But, God showed me that when we accept His will as it is, we have chosen the best option.  There is no settling for less in choosing God's will.   There is also no "you compromised yourself" or "you sold out" when you accept His plan over your own.  If God has deemed something in your life, it is imperative that you move forward in that direction.   Thus, Settling and Compromise also got the 'ol heave ho, joining the others out the door.

Another thing that I had to adjust to... I had to get used to my thorn, my lot in life and I had to accept my own weaknesses in where I fall short.  I had to stop and listen to what these were.  For any Type-A personality, stopping is no easy task.  We are doers!  And its when I finally did this that I found the grace and acceptance to move forward, preservere on and rest in God's strength.  

Above all, I really hope that you find the same as well.  As believers, one of our blessings is the realization that when there is purpose in our sufferings, it is as though all is not lost.  Thus, I count it a joy to share these findings with you.  My sincere hope is that you too may discover the wonders of a life in a acceptance to God's plan.  

You might have experienced loss in the forms of:  Difficulty.  Drama.  Divorce.  Death.  Depression.  Disappointment.  Defeat.  Devastation... is there a reason all these woes start with a D?  Dang.

Whatever your situation is, please know that you are in a season... which at some point, will pass.   I don't know how long it is, but I do know that there is a moment where the clouds do part, the sun does shine and as disbelieving as I've been to even think that the sunshine would ever exist for me again... it did.    

Below is a link to a song that really helped me years ago when I found myself in a deep, dark passageway.  

"Jesus, Draw Me Nearer" 

© Keith and Kristyn Getty

I bid you well and Godspeed.  May your day, either rainy or full of sun, be one where you too find a new breath of fresh air.

As I hear the birds chirp outside, 

I stand in awe of the One who constantly stands by my side.  

With Him will I continue on, as He leads, 

for His grace is continually sufficient for me.  

Air on the wings of the wind shall I fly.  

Low in the fields, at times, shall I abide.  

But whether I am high above, or down below, 

I know the hope when acceptance coincides.

"I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want...."  (Phil 4:12)  Click here to find the secret.

"I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe," (Eph. 1:18-19).

"My grace is sufficient for you.  My power is made perfect in weakness," (2 Cor. 12:9). 

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God," (2 Cor. 1:3-5).

Blessings,

Candice

© Candice Irion.

Want to know the step-by-step way I found acceptance? 

1.  Trust:  I recognized that God was in control.  Not me.  Not I.  I had to trust His ways in how things turned out because I really was frustrated about it.  

Is. 55:8  "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways declares the Lord."

2.  Obey:  I had to apply this trust and follow through by saying "Ok, God.  It's not MY way.  It's NOT how I would have done it.  But what is my way, anyway?  For it is YOU who knows, reasons, understands better."  

3.  Surrender:  Then, taking this step of obedience a step further, I had to not just say "Ok," but also lay down my way, placing it on God's altar and taking not just a step back, but removing myself far, far out of the way, to where I couldn't return to snatch back my will.  I had to leave it on the altar for God to do with it as He wills.  

4.  Acceptance:  After laying out my will and letting go of what I wanted, I found the freedom to re-look at God's will and again say: "Ok.  It is as it is."  I didn't have to fight so hard.  I could take things as they come instead of demanding life be my way.  

5.  Hope:  Maybe the best step of the list as it is both a marker of progression as well as a catalyst to instill more trust for journeying through steps 2, 3 and 4 on a continual basis.  Hope is the sweet spot of renewal.  It is the point where you can both look back and look forward; being at peace with all sides.  

Most especially, hope is when you can look to God with a heart of gratitude for His comfort, guidance and never letting us go, that you can fully know the dark passage has lifted.  Sunny days are ahead.  

Whatever the step we find ourselves, may God forever be praised.

Copy content, Poem and Photo © Candice Irion.  All Rights Reserved.

Valentine's Day: Lover or Hater?

Today is a day that gets mixed reviews.   I know there are times where I’ve loved it.  There are times when I’ve been a hater.  There have times when it has started out great and ended up flat or just completely awful.  All around, there is too much pressure!

I will say this.  Though some find this day as hurtful and 24 hours that rather not be spent alive, it is within all of our capacities to utilize our own hearts and tell someone how you appreciate them. 

Just as much as we need to be loved, we also need to love.  

So whether it is your cube buddy, your family member, your co-worker, the lunch lady, the janitor, reach out and thank them.  Draw them a smiley face and/or give some chocolate.   Be creative.

If you have an extra measure of bravery, share the love with someone who hasn’t been so nice to you.  Maybe when they aren’t looking, drop something on their desk or if it won’t backfire on you, say something nice to them in person.  Keep it simple. 

Above all, just know that the feeling of love goes both ways.  We can generate feelings of love within ourselves just by sharing love with another.  And, when our focus isn’t on our own day, but on making someone else’s better, some of the sting is taken off and the day is survivable, maybe even fun. 

Heck, even the cashier at the store or pharmacies could use a pick-me-up.  I wonder how much stuff they watch others purchase but never have someone purchase something for them?  Today is a day you could impact a complete stranger in a profound way.  You could even offer to pray for them if the Spirit so leads.

On that note, maybe spend some time loving on God.  Sit down and have that Bible study you’ve been meaning to do but haven’t.  Spend time in prayer and tell God how thankful you are for who He is and all that He has done.  Thank Him for His great love in sending His Son to die on a cross for you and I.   What a gift of love!  

Perhaps if you've suffered a loss and today represents a hurtful reminder of them, maybe do something in their honor.  Or if you've lost for other reasons, maybe find some time to love on yourself and the wonderful person you are.  

Other ideas for Valentine's: 

Gather up some girlies for girls night or guys for a macho man night.

Call someone you haven’t talked to in a while. 

Talk to a family member.  Tell them they are the best in the world. 

Volunteer.  Homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and animal rescues could use some love.

Give blood. 

Take flowers to a cancer center, a retirement home, a prison.

Go visit an elderly neighbor, a widow, a person who’s spouse is away, separated, divorced or someone who you suspect might be having a tough day. 
Give an extra nice tip to the waiter/waitress.  You know they've been dealing with all kinds of people today! 

Take your kids to their favorite activity or favorite restaurant.

Give your pet their favorite treat.  Play games. 

Watch a movie or do a movie marathon. 

Above all, we are made to love and to be loved.  We have the ability to take love in and give love out.   Even Scrooge learned to love. 

So, if you find yourself alone today, know all is not lost on Valentine’s.   It can still be a great day and I hope that it is for you.

Blessings,

Candice

“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love,” (1 Corinthians 13:3 NKJV).

When Backwards is Really Forwards

Many of you know that my love of pottery has been recently rekindled.  I just about relish in every moment of it. 

My first of the collection

One of my favs

The other night, I was sitting at the potter’s wheel.   I wasn’t in my normal spot, mind you, but in a new one.  I was sitting in a class with a teacher over my shoulder.

When I started opening the clay into a pot, my teacher leaned over and noticed maybe the most pivotal observation. 

“Are you left handed?” she asked.

“I am, in fact, both handed... maybe that explains some things,” I said tongue and cheek. 

She chuckled for a moment and then looked again.  She noticed how much force I was using to open the pot up and mentioned that my wheel might be going in the wrong direction. 

“Huh?” I was stumped. 

“See, some potters find it easier to have the clay moving out of their hands instead of moving inward,” she said.  “They find that their fingers don’t knick the clay (ah ha!) and it is less of a fight.”

Hmm... my white knuckles were evidence enough.   I have been fighting. 

“Ok, let’s try it.”

So, with one flip of the power plug, the wheel turned in the opposite direction.  For a moment I didn’t know what to do with myself.  Where do I put my hands?  How does this work?  It was like my eyes were playing tricks on me.

But, I put my hands in place and gave it a whirl.  Wouldn’t you know… it worked!

It was easier too.  The pot was more balanced.  I didn’t have to fight. 

As she further explained the benefits, I looked up at her and said: “There is a life lesson in this.” 

I went on to think: “Yup! Here’s the next blog post.”

Since that time, I’ve thought and prayed over where I’ve been applying so much force in my life and getting nowhere, that if I just turned my wheel around, per se, I’d actually move forward. 

Granted, I had no clue “my wheel” was spinning in a direction that was causing a hindering issue in the first place.  I had to be shown that.  I had to then listen, heed and follow. 

I also had to be ready.  So many times in life, don’t we all wish we had known then what we knew now?  It’s quite a study to look back and say: “I can see how that answer came now, because I wasn’t ready, or didn’t have the ears to hear it then.”

Scrutinizing where we are fighting so hard in our lives also reveals some other interesting revelations.  

Many times, when we fight for a goal, project, person and find zero results we count those as flat out failures.  I know I’ve hung my hat for so long at what didn’t work out, what I did wrong, etc., etc., etc.  However, I feel that God’s Spirit showed me something different. 

He revealed that for me to move forward, I needed to change my wheels of thought in an opposite direction.  I needed to go “backwards” if you will.

So, ok.  Let's both change the plug around and re-assess.

Here are two principles that God brought to mind.

1.     Results aren’t the score-card of success in life, but how God chooses to redeem and orchestrate the situation is the winning ticket to grab onto.

2.     God measures us not by our results but by our response to His calling and His will.  Are we obedient to follow Him?

Romans 8:28, NIV: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

Philippians 2:13, NIV:  “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose."

He instructed me to take these versus, rework my assessment and this time, measure in the light of eternity instead of how the world measures. 

So let’s take what plagues our hearts and hold it up to the light. 

For me, my question was:  “God, I felt I obeyed you and then landed flat on my face.  You lead me to failure.  Faith in you didn’t work.” 

In the light, it changed to: “God, I felt I obeyed you and your will was different than what I wanted.”  

From this point, I could finally recognize that just because it didn’t work the way I wanted it to go, it didn’t mean that I should count it as a complete wrong on my part or that I utterly failed.  I could no longer look at the obvious result of the situation and firmly claim was all my fault, deserved it or whatever and should hang my hat on it.  Nor should you. 

In addition, we have to recognize that the reason the results turned out how they did may have very little to do with us.  God’s purposes and reasons are so far beyond what we can comprehend, that we have to trust Him with the outcome, because He is the one in control.  Not you.  Not me.   And when it comes down to it, the results ought to really be about Him anyway.  Not you.  Not me. 

For He alone is Sovereign, over everything; seeing from before the creation of time to beyond the end of time.   He has an entirely different perspective all together:  He has an eternal perspective.

So, if we take on that same perspective, we will also be able to more fully see that God will use all things for His purposes.   Applying this concept to how we measure previous results will also enable us to look at the results (what didn’t work out) in the opposite regard:  as actually working out in the end.

But also in the light of eternity, the question shifts from a focus on the results to focusing on our response.

And that leads us to…. Surrender. 

The bottom line here is what did we do with the opportunity or event that was presented before us?  Did we surrender by saying:  God, whatever you want; not my will, but yours? 

Or did we plunge forward pursuing what we thought would satisfy, bring self-approval and fill ourselves with what never truly fulfills? 

Where do you fall with these two questions?

No matter where you land on this spectrum, all of us find ourselves taking baby steps to regain trust, obey and surrender.  So, no matter what your answer is, you are in good company.  

Just try to take the progressive step to trust God with the outcome.  Trust His promises, faithfulness and then step out in faith and obey.  Then take the step to surrender to do His will, not your own… (all of which are serious toughies!). 

After surrender, then comes another toughie…. Acceptance.   When the parts of us want to shout: God’s will is this????  We can counter with “Yes.  In the light of eternity, it will all make sense when we see Him again.”  

It’s in this acceptance of God’s will that we will find peace.  Through the progressive acts of trust, obedience, surrender and acceptance there comes a soothing comfort, especially when we fall upon the knowledge of how God truly measures us and that He is faithful the whole way through.  He can be trusted with the results. 

Learning these foundational principles has been an extremely hard road to travel upon.   But, when I learned to spin my wheel backwards, I have, indeed, found the hope to move forward.  My knuckles weren’t nearly as white and I didn’t have to fight so hard.

May it be for you as well. 

Blessings,

Candice

***P.S.

Undoubtedly I must say, this poses further questions to those who have lost loved ones in any manner, as well as for those who’ve experienced tragedy in accidents, harm from another, miscarriages, catastrophic events, an unwanted divorce, and so many more.   I’m sensitive to the recipients of the words above because I’ve been in dramatically hurtful circumstances and wanted to punch every well-intended person who said: “God has a plan.”  THUNK!!! (There it is in virtual form.)

In fact, I’ve been on both sides of this table.  I’ve been the person who has suffered and the person who has said something in efforts to help when I brought a lot of harm.  Please, Christians especially, watch your words and your TIMING!!!!

So, please take the words above from one who does not know or even imagine your personal situation.  I only speak from my heart out of my own circumstances.  I don’t know how you get out of your pit, I can only relay what I learned to get out of mine.

Thus, when I say I have to surrender what I count as losses on my behalf and look at it from a different perspective, I’m really saying that God is showing me something new that brings healing to me.  I share it with you in hopes that it can be a source of comfort and encouragement in your journey as well.***

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God," (2 Cor. 1:3-4, NIV).

Blog content and photos © 2014 Candice Irion.  All Rights Reserved.

The Great Exchange: How Letting Go Will Lead to Open Spaces and More!

Stephen Cutis Chapman has a wonderful song called 

"Great Expectations".  

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLKrxg1QDng

It gets me thinking...

What if, for all the dreams we dreamt since we were young, what if those thoughts were the very ones actually blocking us from what God is waiting to give to us?  What if, in turn, we looked at our dream and then placed it on God's altar?  What if we said:

"Take it.   I'm done with it.  Your will be done."

What if we realized that when we finally let go of our dreams, and give them over to God, that He'd give us something better?

Our world today says: "Chase your dreams.  Don't let go."  But, what if letting go is the very thing that God is asking you to do, despite how much you don’t want to do it?

What?  Let go of your dreams?  Scripture is filled with verses that say He'll give you the desires of your heart.  Why would we ever have to let go?

Well, let's flip the coin.  What if the dream you are dreaming is actually leading you in the wrong direction?  Or....

What if your dream is your god?  We usually sacrifice for our work, or give away everything we value just to get to our end goal.  Do we do that for God? 

What if God in Heaven is just waiting for us to stop and give it all to Him? 

What if He is waiting for us to get our identity off the completion of our dreams and into who He says we are?

Whatever the case, surrender could be what He is asking of you.  No doubt, the very thought of potentially surrendering a dream is difficult.  There is no easy in letting go.  I'll be the first to admit, surrender hurts.   

Let's be honest.  When looking head on at both the choice to let go and then the actual act of letting go, it’s no wonder our knees buckle.  Looking straight ahead at both of these massive hurdles forecasts potential devastation. 

However, when looking at the same situation in a hindsight view (verses a straight ahead one), we can surmise that an opposite outcome might occur.   Through the lenses of this different perspective, we can see how letting go gives way to a time of healing, where God can remove what was holding you captive and restore those wounds with Himself.  It is a time of restoration, a time of renewal. 

This act of placing your dream into God’s hands also opens yourself up to new things; things that would not have otherwise been experienced had you not let go.  It’s in this final showdown of will you or won’t you, and you do it, then are healed, that you meet a new friend: open spaces.  Spaces where new terrain begs to be explored.  New parts of you will suddenly bloom like springtime.  

You might even wonder: 

“Where has this been all this time?”  

No doubt, the surprise on your doorstep was just waiting for you… patiently. 

I must admit that I’m a late bloomer in this department (except for Abraham, aren’t many of us??).   I've discovered that I am very thankful for things I've had to let go of AFTER I've gone down the road and seen what God was doing.   Nonetheless, even though my realizations were after the fact, they have still spurred my faith where I can now trust without seeing and let go at an earlier point. 

Belief and obedience are in this mix too.  Through the Holy Spirit, I am empowered to believe in God.  This belief empowers me to trust in Him.  Trusting in Him empowers me to obey what He’s asked me to do.  This obedience empowers me to surrender.  Surrender empowers me to let go. 

So, if the Lord is asking you to place something you treasure on His altar, take heart.  You know the One whom you are giving it to.  He will take care of it the best way possible.

And somehow...

He will provide a ram in the thicket.  He bring good from a terrible situation.  He will make your path straight when direction is hard to come by.  He will provide something better.  These are His promises to us and we know His promises do not fail, though we might, in our intermittent season, feel as such.  Instead of relying and responding to these feelings, hang onto the God who you know will come through for you; even if you are starring a loss in the face.  Believe me, I've been there. Better yet....

Believe Him.  He's been there long before I ever was.  

Furthermore, we know that He will provide something better because He already has: He provided Himself, through His Son Jesus, slayed on Heaven's altar so that we could all have something better... new life, which ultimately is the desire of our heart and His. 

“I Surrender All”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uaTXNxUXcn4

Steven Curtis Chapman You Tube Channel

http://www.youtube.com/user/SCCchannel/featured

Ephesians 1: 11-14 NIV

“In Him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of His glory.  And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.  Having believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of His glory.”

© Candice Irion.  All Rights Reserved.  

Letting the Heck Go: It will be ok.

Isn’t the act of letting go one of the hardest aspects of life and the lessons we learn? Ugh!  Just getting to the shoreline of saying “OK” and surrendering what our tight fists hang onto is sometimes insurmountable.

But insurmountable isn’t impossible.  

God is walking me through a season of letting go.  It started with going through a series of life transitions and having to go through tons of stuff from my past.  Here, I came upon the realization that I am, indeed, a hoarder.   I hate to admit this as I’ve happily ignored people’s comments for years.   But, alas, they are right.   I don’t like to let things go.

For one, I’m a resourceful person.  I find purpose for items beyond their primary intended use.  So when it is time to throw something away because it no longer serves its initial purpose, I generally keep it because I can use it for something else.

Secondly, I’m as sentimental as they come.  This means every ticket stub, gum wrapper or note is kept in a special box for years.  I guarantee that the majority of the time I’ll remember exactly where the piece came from and enjoy the memories.   It drives others crazy.  It makes me blissfully content. 

But when it comes to people, especially if they are headed in the wrong direction, my hoarding goes by the way side and over-protecting goes into full swing.   I tend to hang on too long in hopes that things will shift the other way.  This gets me in more trouble than it proves to work out. 

How about you?  Do you have a loved one that is making choices that are beyond the protective boundaries of our Christian faith, ethics or morality? Or is there a matter that has come in between you and another that you can’t seem to drop?  I know the feeling!

Holding back the reigns of over-stepping and allowing God do what He needs to do is insanely hard.  Why is this?  We are not their Holy Spirit.  There is only One.   We are not their Savior.  There is only One.  It is God who is orchestrating their testimony, their story.  How can we even try to mess with it?  We all have had our bottom of barrel moments where God rescued us from the depths, which may have been one of our closest times with our Savoir.  Why would we try to interfere with another’s? 

Coming around this mountain yet again (we humans normally have to take several trips around the same dang mountain, don’t we?)  I have found that letting go is a GODLY principle.   Yes.   Both Ps. 81:12 and Romans 1:21 discuss that when people refuse His way that He lets their stubborn hearts go to their own devices.   Christ did the same thing in John 6:60-70.  Where in a moment, He, who has the ability to say exactly the right thing that would have lead the people leaving the faith to return, KEPT QUIET.  He let them go.   In Ezekiel 33: 7-9 God points out that the responsibility of heeding instruction falls upon the receiver, not the giver. 

I’m at the point of struggling so much with letting people go to their own devices (because the mother hen in me wants to save them from future despair) that I have to surmise that it is only in God’s power that I’ll find the ability to let go.   Just like finding strength in Him to forgive another, I need to depend on that same power to allow a person to go. 

Granted, the people I’m talking about are capable of making their own choices.  They aren’t disabled or in state, condition or at an age where they are unable to decide on their own.   No.   They are in fact grown and have a full mind to reason and live their life.  It is there God given choice.  Who am I to take that away? 

Child rearing crosses some of these lines as well.   There are far too many points of instruction where a child must learn that there are consequences to their actions and it is the parent’s responsibility to let the child experience what they need to (within reason) so they can implement the same in life. 

So, after these evaluations, I took a deep dive and asked myself questions on why I couldn’t let this person/matter go.  I feel that God’s Spirit prompted me with a couple of stepping stones that you might find helpful as well.

1.  What do I fear?

2.  Who do I trust?

What do I fear?  I fear a person getting so far down the wrong path that they won’t be able to turn back.  I fear that they may hurt so deeply from self inflicted stupidity that they will be at the bottom of the barrel and encounter tons of pain.  

I’ve encountered pain of my own doing and pain of another’s.  Either way, I don’t wish that on anyone.  It’s hell!

Then, a sub-question arose.  What is my belief on pain?  Pain is awful!!!  Sheer horribleness of every degree- especially when it could be avoided.

But isn’t pain also a teaching tool?  Isn’t it where God meets us every single time?  How sweet are the Scriptures that says a person cried out and God heard them?  How cherished are those moments where we remember crying out and having the Creator of the Universe love us so much to step in?  Thus, pain has its benefit too, for it is here that we find grace.  We find mercy.  We find love.

Look at the story of the Prodigal; one of the most exalted passages focused on God bringing a stubborn child home.  Doesn’t that passage describe both you and I and is it possibly one of the most meaningful and relatable passages we have?

Let’s face it.  We are humans who fall short constantly.  We need these passages.  We need to know that in light of our failures, there is a saving hand there for us.  We need to know the God who stands with us in our pain.   This is how we come to fully experience and know grace, mercy, forgiveness, and hope for ourselves because with God, pain will be used for good.  We can trust this because we can trust God.

After all, things turned out ok for Paul, didn’t they?  Wasn’t he the dude on the rampage murdering Christians?  Wasn’t he the ferocious guy who was wicked and cruel? God work things out for Paul, in spite of Paul’s actions, didn’t He?  Yes, He did.  Course, we in our super-ego human minds might say Paul was on the wrong path.  But, from a spiritual mindset, seeing how God works all things together for the good of who He’s called for His purposes (Rom. 8:28), we could also say that Paul was where he was supposed to be all along.   This was, after all, God’s story of how Paul came to salvation.  It is how God choose to demonstrate that He can take the most vile and make them an apostle.  My goodness, how that story has ministered to countless other sinister souls and brought them to faith!  Thus, we must trust God’s story above what we dictate is bad and let go so grace can do the dirty work.  

Next question.

Who do I trust?  Honestly speaking, isn’t our default that we trust ourselves more than anyone, even more than God?  Many times don’t our actions prove that we trust our timing and what we think is best more so than our Savior?  Yuuup! 

Last time I checked, it was God’s timing that was and still is perfect.  It is His hand that is capable to save, not ours.  It is His voice that can say the right thing at the right time in the right tone.  Again, not ours.

So, friend, while we aim to save our loved one from themselves, only our Savior can do that.   We should just chill out and realize we have to let folks go.  We have to get out of the way and trust that God will find them on their path.   He knows right where they are much more than we ever could, because He understands their heart.  He created them.  He knows what to do. 

Let us also remember that this is HIS story of HIS salvation for HIS chosen ones.  Let us trust Him far above ourselves and get the heck out of the way.   Incidentally, we ought to refocus our saving tactics on our own selves.

Pause. 

I wonder…

What are others having to tell me fifty million times that I’ve developed a stubborn or callous heart too? 

What are others having struggle to let go of because I simply won’t listen, heed and act? 

What have I ignored?

Hm.

Like a download on a computer, my laundry list of items adds up surprisingly fast.   The old take the log out of your own eye principle, I suppose.

And as I refocus my efforts on my own stubbornness and let go of others, I find that I have the mind-space to tackle these issues.   Kinda like spring cleaning in a way. 

I guess that is why the hoarding of things or thoughts can be so debilitating for it builds “stuff” up in our minds, hearts and homes.  We get so cluttered with other’s situations, that we can’t see the real issues in our own lives which could reap destruction if not taken care of now. 

So, take heart.  God is at work in your life.  Let go.  Let Him.  Refocus on your log.  And remember… what seems insurmountable is not impossible with God.

© Candice Irion.  All Rights Reserved.

Be Still and Know

This time of year is filled with business in enormous proportions.  Many of the retailers are sick if not on their way to crashing.  Parents are frazzled. Children are anxious.

Ironic that this is the time of year that is supposed to be filled with peace. Joy. Love. Laughter.  But the way our society has it, it is very much the opposite.

We scurry to get gifts.  We struggle trying to figure out what to give.  Then we wrap it, ship it, hope they like it, maybe have to make returns.  Why gift giving can bring much joy, it can bring a lot of stress.

I was stressed and worried when it took almost over hour and twenty minutes to package a bowl I made.  While, I'm entirely thankful for the care the shipper took to secure my package, I was stressed as I surrendered my piece to be mailed, had other things to do, had someone waiting on me, etc.  I really just wanted to go home and rest.  Don't we all?

Winter is a natural time to hibernate, per se.  It's a time to get out of the cold and sit by the fire snugged up with a cup of hot goodness to warm the soul.  It's a time of reflection.  A time to pause.

One of my favorite verses is "Be still and know that I am God,"  Ps. 46:10.

It is a verse that speaks peace over any situation I face.  It transfers the control of the situation to the Omnipotent.  It puts layers of peace over my perspective.  

Further, it clarifies my role, what I should do and the stance I should take.  Simply put, I should be still.

Course when there are celebrations about to commence, physically being still is hard to come by.  However, if we incorporate this verse into our lives, the focus of our celebration will be shifted.

Let's break down these words and look more deeply at what the verse is saying.

Be- a present and active tense.  It means to exist.  To be can also be referred to as to abide, act, prevail, remain, rest, stand, stay.  To be is a command by God, commanding His audience to exist. 

Still- present tense.  Can be active or passive.  Still is defined as calm, motionless, quiet.

And- a conjunctive word meant to tie two ideas together.  And is used in ways to describe "there's more to say."   (Notice that the words still and know are tied together, not apart.  Much like peace and joy.)

Know- present tense. To know is to have knowledge or be congizant or aware.   It is to understand.  It is also used, especially in the Hebrew context, as to have such a familiarity, that it presupposes intimacy.  To know is also to experience.

That- used as a qualifying word which modifies the word "know".  It's predicating the object of knowledge.

I- singular first person pronoun that describes God speaking.   Here God is pointing out that He is the One and Only, actively making known His name throughout the earth.  He is telling us to sit back and watch the demonstration.  

Am-  This is the second usage of "to be" in this verse.  Here, the usage of Am is used almost as a reflective parallelism of the un-mentioned word "you" before "Be still." 

It is like God is saying: "You be still while I am..."   This usage of Am is similar to that of Hebrew poetry where they'd weave together two thoughts that would reflect each other, like a mirror and its image.  

God is juxtaposing together His command of being still with His declaration of His ability to make Himself known through His actions.  

It is also suggesting that God is speaking firmly without wavering.  He isn't saying: "I am sort of God".  No, He is proclaming I AM God.  

God- The One who is in control, Sovereign, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, capable of the impossible, the One who is to be worshiped for His greatness.  


Overall, the present tense of all these words show that these actions are to be done continally, not just one time. 

In addition, God's not just saying be still, He's actually commanding it. The way the verse is structured in the Hebrew, "be still" is an imperative command.  Imperative is defined as something that is necessary.   So, to God, being still is necessary. 

And bonus, to know in this verse is also an imperative command.  Thus, to know is also necessary.  

Since be still and know are tied together as one, they are both necessary. 

So, let's take one more step and apply this verse to life at Christmastime.

Be still and know that I am God says.... 

When I'm stuck in lines, trying to mail stuff out, find gifts, etc., I can worry my brains out, but worry won't do me any good.

That God will take care of everything because everything can't take care of itself.

That we are called to stop and be still.  We are called to watch God be glorified during this time of Christmas, for He will be glorified.  

It isn't about the gifts, the hustle, the bustle, the long lines, although that affects us all.  It is about in whatever situation we face, we should exist in a state of being still and knowing while God exists in a state of showing His glory, making known and revealing.  

And ultimately, that we should stand back and watch God as He takes care of us.  He will work it out.  He will make what is supposed to happen, happen.  He will not let something happen if it isn't meant to be.  

So be still and know that He is God.  Be at rest. Be assured. There is no other, there is only One and if it is His will, He will bring it to pass.  

Now go grab that hot cup of goodness and be still by the fire.  Reflect and be restored as God makes Himself known. 

Merry Christmas to all and to all a goodnight!!!

*dictonary. com

Special thanks to my husband for his help on this article!!!

© Candice Irion.  All Rights Reserved.