Sole Power

  Recently, I bought some shoe inserts that are supposed to relieve foot pain and increase sole support. My feet have been killing me lately so I guess I’m just trying to get all the help I can, chasing my three little humans around the house.  

  
 But when I put the inserts onto the sole, it raised my feet out of the shoe! It was silly and uncomfortable. I walked around the house with a jump in my step, about to loose the shoes at my heels! My husband asked, “Why did you put those in your shoes?, you don’t need them.” And he was right my sweet New Balance kicks were sufficient on their own. My feet did not need anymore support than what the shoe had already provided. 

I find Jesus metaphors all over the place, and yes our soles are no exception! Hahaha hehehee

My friends, Jesus is completely sufficient. He does not need anything added or subtracted unto himself. And He will not share His supremacy, there is no room! He is enough, He is God! 

Sometimes, we think we need more because our flesh is uncomfortable. We are in pain or lonely. Our flesh aches for immediate relief. 

I will confess it’s tempting to give up this walk of faith when our feet are feeling weary. It’s tempting to fix our eyes on physical comforts…maybe Jesus plus this or that equals perfect peace…
 Let me encourage us once again …
He is sufficient. He is all we need. 
He is our Lord and savior, our shepherd king, our great joy and perfect peace, our soul’s delight, our helper, sustainer, and friend. 
Jesus, only Jesus. The real joy giver. The Creator, maker, sustainer. The shoes for my feet, the light to my path. The end all, be all, above all God of everything. Jesus, the sweetest name. The hope of every tribe, tongue, and nation. 
Put your feet in these shoes. Trust Him with your whole self. Surrender the old way for a new walk, and His peace will consume your every step. 
SOME TRUTH TO WALK IN:
Ephesians 6:15— …for shoes, put on the peace that comes from the good news, so that you will be fully prepared..
Isaiah 26:3 –You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.
Colossians 1:15-17— The Son is the image of the invisible God…all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 

Hebrews 8:6 –But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises.
Hebrews 12:24 –You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel.
2 Corinthians 12:9— But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Isaiah 9:6 –For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

It’s Time that you Rest like a Jr. High Camper

I captured a moment during Jr. High camp this summer that truly touched my heart.  It was the last evening of camp. The previous three hours were spent in a mud bowl, and now, the campers had washed up and were waiting for a casual dinner at the playground.  Strolling through the dusty campground, I quietly admired the sun’s warm hue through the trees. When suddenly, we came across a few young lads resting on a grassy knoll.  Silas, being his extroverted self, immediately sat down and showed them this giant lizard (which is neither real or his so it remains utterly intriguing).  They were really impressed, and asked if He had a name.  I, naturally, thought they were talking about the reptile, so I said, “Oh, he doesn’t have one” They laughed and said, “No, the boy” “Does HE have a name?” I laughed and said, “Yes”.  The small conversation continued and ended; I had to keep the stroller moving for the twinsies…

I thought regretfully to myself. “I wish I could have asked them what they learned this week, or if they had anything moving to say about IHC, or Jesus, or Josh, that I could report back to our supporters…” But the Holy Spirit inside me rebuked those thoughts.

I did NOT need to hear anything from those boys. I SAW IT. And you can too. These boys are resting, truly resting.

It felt like a heaven on earth moment. Everything was good, because it was the Lord’s. His kids, on His grass, under the warmth of His sun. Completely care-less, in the care of God.

By day 4, these kids had a new rhythm to their lives. Free from first world distractions, their time was completley free to claim God’s creation as good and fun. By day 4, they would play outside for more than 60 minutes!…in the mud and on the rocks, playing in trees like the generations of old!

By day 4, these Junior Highers grasped the Gospel as green pasture. The Lord’s kindness as a deep breath of fresh air.

Yes, the Gospel is our green pasture, and if you aren’t resting in it, then it’s not grace, and if it’s not grace, then it’s not the message that Jesus died to give you.

I pray after reading this, you feel God’s kindness drawing you back to Himself. That your ever-increasing desire for rest leads you to Christ.  And that His Spirit guides you through a holy moment of surrender.  Hear his firm yet loving voice calling you unto Himself.  Feel His strong yet gentle hand moving you far from condemnation into a pasture unlike any other.

Put your whole self in the care of this shepherd and you will want for nothing. His love is deeper, and his joy is greater than any momentary comfort we could create for ourselves. Nothing was meant to sustain us like Him. No religion, political party, or economic structure can take care of us  like Christ. He alone was meant to bear the weight of all the joy we hope to graze.

Some Truth to REST in:

Psalm 23:1-4  ” The Lord is my Shepherd. I will have everything I need.  He lets me rest in fields of green grass. He leads me beside the quiet waters. He makes me strong again. He leads me in the way of living right with Himself which brings honor to His name. Yes, even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not be afraid of anything, because You are with me. You have a walking stick with which to guide and one with which to help. These comfort me.” 

John 10:10-11 “The robber comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I came so they might have life, a great full life ^.I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep. “

Luke 12:32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”

Romans 8:1-2 “Now, because of this, those who belong to Christ will not suffer the punishment of sin. The power of the Holy Spirit has made me free from the power of sin and death. This power is mine because I belong to Christ Jesus.”

Psalm 16:5-11 “The Lord is all that I am to receive, and my cup. My future is in Your hands. The land given to me is good. Yes, my share is beautiful to me. I will give honor and thanks to the Lord, Who has told me what to do. Yes, even at night my mind teaches me. I have placed the Lord always in front of me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be moved. And so my heart is glad. My soul is full of joy. My body also will rest without fear.  For You will not give me over to the grave. And You will not allow Your Holy One to return to dust. You will show me the way of life. Being with You is to be full of joy. In Your right hand there is happiness forever.”

Luke 12:29-32(the msg) ” What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.”

Matthew 11:28 “Come to Me, all of you who work and have heavy loads. I will give you rest.”

Matthew 18:14 “I tell you, My Father in heaven does not want one of these little children to be lost.” (Parable of the Lost Sheep)

A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 By Phillip Keller

Sandwich Living

I thought I would take a moment to blog about sandwiches, not only because it aligns with Liz Lemon’s Sandwich Worldview, but because I had a good whoa moment over a sandwich recently.

In our house, I usually start making meals, but Josh finishes them. Why?  Well, mainly because He loves to cook and I prefer….     to just eat. Also, because I’m a cave woman in the kitchen. Me. hungry. make sandwich. with bread. add peanut butter. hurry. fast. eat. now.  That being grunted, I mean said, there will probably never be a recipe on this blog, I’m just not that person.

Good thing my husband will eat anything 😉

My husband on the other hand, cooks food that makes me cry.

Seriously, I know that sounds exaggerated and crazy, and maybe pathetic, but sometimes, I literally start tearing up as I eat. I cry because I can taste the time, love, and effort.  I cry because Josh is intentional: He picks out ingredients, cuts it, and layers it all with specific purpose in mind. The onions are sliced small to not overwhelm, and intermingled with red peppers to emphasis their sweetness. Given the same ingredients, I would have not thought twice about how to cut or where to place. I get too impatient to stop and think intentionally about the end result. My meal ends up tasting boring, ordinary, and loveless.

I think it’s safe to say, How we cook reflects how we live. I hurry through recipes and ignore directions. I avoid extraneous ingredients, while imagining myself in a restaurant. All these observations infer less than amiable qualities about who I am and how I live.

But I’m telling you right now I desire to be different. Not because I envy “Martha Stewart Living” homemakers, but because I know that hard work is honored and being intentional blesses everyone involved.

The extra two minutes adding fresh peppers, and rosemary, gives not only more flavor to our food, but more purpose to our living. These types of sandwiches make us feel more loved. It sounds silly, but it’s true. Anyone can swipe peanut butter on a piece of bread to feed the hungry… but when time is spent building a better sandwich, people can taste the love. 

So, when I’m feeling lazy and blah, I look to my husband and his sandwiches for inspiration. I think about how that sandwich made me feel.  I wasn’t just fed, I was understood, appreciated and loved.

I know everyday I’m going to have to remind myself come morning, evening, and night: the extra time IS there and it IS worth it. Slow down. Become a part of the process, Turn a mundane, drudgerous day into an opportunity to instil love and value. Ditch survival-mode and begin the persevering march through intentional living, remembering every little chirping mouth deserves something special. 

Depth Over Distance

By Josh Rasmussen

Mark 12:43-44

New International Version (NIV)

⁴³ Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. ⁴⁴ They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

We may build an empire, financial or spiritual, and out of its wealth rejoice at the distance covered, its reach.  We may temper our service to God and neighbor as to not burn out, sustain, to go the distance.  We may travel to the ends of the earth in His name, and after all these things still not know Him.  Still not understand the depths of His sacrifice.  To know the fellowship of His sufferings, to lose our lives, to be poured out like a drink offering, to cast our entire self onto His alter.  Out of our poverty of spirit, have we given all?  Out of our poverty of wealth, have we given all?  Out of our poverty of time, have we given all?  Out of our poverty of energy, have we given all?  Out of our poverty of relationships, have we given all?  When all resources have been exhausted, have we given all?

If we are honest, we tend to give to a point.  We calculate time, distance, effectiveness, and often give from our excesses.  Yes, occasionally we dig into our resources for something big, something really effective, a great cause, something that will go the distance.  Has the Lord ever challenged you to be like the poor widow? To empty the depths of whom you are, and what you have?  To make every commitment and decision for the Lord as if it was your last?  Can you wager your entire future well-being on Christ?  Can we answer that call?

Philippians 3:10

Living Bible (TLB)

¹⁰ Now I have given up everything else—I have found it to be the only way to really know Christ and to experience the mighty power that brought him back to life again, and to find out what it means to suffer and to die with him.

Depth over Distance.

I Left My Purse… ON MY CAR

So, two days ago I left my unzipped purse on the top of my car. I know… I’m pretty awesome like that.  Josh had already driven about a mile before I realized– the great extent of my awesomeness.  He pulls a u-ey, and we start eyeballing the road like crazed people who leave essentials on the outside of their cars.  While Turning onto the street where we live, I see a book, a notepad, some chapstick, and a few busted pens, but no purse.  I grab the miscellaneous items in a dash, and begin searching up and down the highway for a brown purse, a bright orange phone, and a gray wallet.

[just thankful it wasn’t the carseat]

Boy, did I feel like crap.

Fortunately, my husband remained graciously silent. The last thing I needed was commentary.  Stressed and defeated, I mired in the reality of my mindless decision.

Suppressing the self-pity, I began wrapping my brain around