Hanging In, Hanging On

Colossians 1:25b-28:
to make the word of God fully known, ²⁶ the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. ²⁷ To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.²⁸Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.

The apostle Paul describes the process of growth - struggling with all of his might. But before we conclude that perfection is based upon will power we have to finish the verse; this energy is not Paul's, but it comes from God.

When we focus on the Lord, HE gives us the strength to wrestle with the obstacles in our soul. It is in this divine paradox that spiritual growth occurs.

Today's Commentary by:
David Whitehead, Pastor, Grace NYC

Truth Be Told

"After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you."
1 Peter 5:10

Truth Be Told

For so very long i have been on my knees,
crawling through rain of molasses;
which drop by drop,
strips me, unraveling me.

Though nothing i gave up was equal to You,
all had become a part of my identity,
painfully torn away as it resides under my skin.

This rubbish was hidden in my heart,
You brought it to the surface in a way i could not ignore.

As love for You grew in my soul,
Love began to sweep dross to the surface.

Love was cleaning this tortured cup from the inside out.

The blood, sweat and tears dropped in vein,
were huddled deep inside me;

You knew where they were when i did not;

You began cleaning when i would not.

Because i depended on my body to hide,
You took it away to free my soul.

Ignorant and senseless i
crawled on toward You,
hoping. . .
and praying my faith would grow.

You veiled my eyes to teach me,
to trust the lamp that is light to my feet,
to shower me in Your kindness, Your mercy, Your love,
and i grew like a pearl,
an irritant made beautiful,
once covered by many layers of Love and grace.

Though there is a long way to go,
the end of the tunnel is in sight,
and i am ashamed at my impatience and unbelief.

The things i fear most, You put in my path,
the things i want most, You keep me waiting.

The things i didn't think to ask for,

You give freely.

To make me pure, to make me strong,
to keep me pure, to keep me Yours.

© Jennifer Lynn - 2009

When our suffering seems great...

... it is always sobering to know that there are others whose suffering is more. This is not to make us feel guilty (your suffering is important to you and it is important to God) but to remind us that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by our brotherhood throughout the world (1 Peter 5:9).


Violence in Orissa

Ahmadinejad taken revenge


My beloved brother, Morgan. A child of God afflicted with schizophrenia, missing in Los Angeles since May 11, 2009.




Ultimately and thankfully, no one in all of history suffered like Christ. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:15-16).

The Coming of the LORD

^"13But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. ¹⁴For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁵For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. ¹⁶For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. ¹⁷Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. ¹⁸Therefore encourage one another with these words."
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Just thought i'd encourage you with this.

Keep Walking

In the midst of panic,
i am that small girl hiding in the closet,
mending wounds she can barely see through tears.
The young woman surrounded by men who intend harm,
fighting with eyes closed.
My being not made for this,
clouds my eyes,
and then my heart.
I see the notes,
those words etched in my skin,
and i remember that i am no longer that girl.
This is new,
this wasn't here before,
my feeble mind needs the reminder.
Oh, how quickly i forget.
I am new,
i am not that anymore.
God has changed me,
i am no longer there,
i am here.
I am safe, i am loved, i am forgiven.

Though i have wounds on my heart,
His are deeper,
a galaxy of offense against me,
His is wider,
the amount of tears i have cried,
His are more.
Because this is true,
i am reconciled to You.

© Jennifer Lynn - 2010

PEACE LIKE A RIVER

As the 4th anniversary of my new birthday approaches, reflections of my walk with Christ invade my thoughts like a joyful nightmare. Juxtaposition you say? Tell me about it. The craziness that has been my life has been one hard slam after crazy situation and repeat. Yet all the while God has provided, making the result of such pain a closeness to Him. First Peter chapter one (my fave!) speaks about believers being plagued by various trials so that the tested genuineness of faith may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. It is because of this that one is able to rejoice with a joy that is inexpressible.

Since we are talking favorites, here is my favorite hymn and the story behind it as plagiarized from Wikipedia.

This hymn was written after several traumatic events in Horatio Gates Spafford’s life. The first was the death of his only son in 1871, shortly followed by the great Chicago Fire which ruined him financially (he had been a successful lawyer). Then in 1873, he had planned to travel to Europe with his family on the S.S. Ville du Havre, but sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business concerning zoning problems following the Great Chicago Fire. While crossing the Atlantic, the ship sank rapidly after a collision with a sailing ship, the Loch Earn, and all four of Spafford's daughters died. His wife Anna survived and sent him the now famous telegram, "Saved alone." Shortly afterwards, as Spafford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed near where his daughters had died.

PEACE LIKE A RIVER

When peace like a river, attendeth my way;
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

It is well...with my soul... It is well, it is well, with my soul...

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul.

It is well...with my soul... It is well, it is well, with my soul...

He lives--oh, the bliss of this glorious thought;
My sin, not in part, but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more.
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, Oh my soul.

It is well...with my soul... It is well, it is well, with my soul...

And, Lord, haste the day when our faith shall be sight
The clouds be rolled back as a scroll,
The trumpet shall sound, and the Lord shall descend;
Even so, it is well with my soul...

It is well...with my soul... It is well, it is well, with my soul...

~~Horatio Gates Spafford
[1873]

In the past four years there have been many times of loss where i was able to say, it is well with my soul. But much more often have been times of panic. And now that i am allowing Christ to heal my heart, the events that produced post-traumatic stress disorder to take over my body and mind have proved to be the hardest trial yet. Nameless triggers cause consuming panic attacks, flashbacks and black-outs leaving me in one of the following: a teary hot mess, ready to throw the first punch or take cover ("fight or flight") and even in a blinding rage. In those moments, the only help is God's Truth. However, i am not always surrounded by believers or have a Bible handy. You might say, "Memorize scripture silly!" In the midst of an attack the rational mind somehow disconnects. It is as if the sinful fear or rage takes all things good, puts them in irons and locks them up in the attic of my mind. My flesh takes over to put me to my demise.

Like any *temptuous sin we struggle with, it is a process of practice. If i were to get an eviction notice or find the government had canceled SSI, i have enough practice in those situations to praise God. However, in dealing with the ever complex human psyche (especially woman's psyche) my practice is in repression not redemption.

We all have hidden His word in our hearts that we might not sin against Him - reminding us of His goodness. For my spiritual health i have designed a reminder etched on my left wrist. I am a visual person so my hope is that the constant reminder of what The LORD has done for me will pull me out of an attack or even prevent them! It is a personal reminder that no matter what, God is good and He will continue to carry me through any situation somehow, someway (and what a conversation starter, huh?!). Ironically enough, the physical pain that has been at work to liken me to Christ began in my left wrist four years ago. I couldn't have planned it better myself.


* Original word found in, "Jenni's Dictionary for the Dialectically Challenged"

For my non-musical friends, the lyrics are encased in repeat signs which calls for the lyrics to be repeated, followed by notes ending on a fermata rest which is to be held as long as the Composer/Conductor indicates = a calmed and quieted soul... at least that is the goal.

Blessed Peace

Isaiah 26:3:
³ You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.

It's easy to allow our minds to focus on worldly activities, places, and people that don't honor God. When we focus on anything that separates us from God and don't trust Him, we can become restless.

Yet when our minds are focused on the Lord and trusting Him with our lives completely, He keeps us in His peace, His blessed peace.

For more about a peaceful soul go here, then here.