Author: Jodie

Senseless Horse

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Psalm 32:8-11

8 The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
 I will advise you and watch over you.

9 Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
 that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”

10 Many sorrows come to the wicked,
 but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.

11 So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him!
 Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!

Last weekend my husband and I took our horse-enthusiast daughter on a trail ride to celebrate her 14th birthday. It had been several years since I sat in a saddle, so I listened intently to the guides instructions and our daughters helpful hints in order to enjoy the ride. Unfortunately, however, the beautiful creature I was paired with was a stubborn, senseless horse.

Enjoyable ride?

Not so much.

It was evident from the moment we hit the trail that Cimeron knew where she was going and which path she preferred to walk. Despite numerous attempts to guide her, she refused by shaking her head and neighing at me whenever I pulled the reigns to the right or left. To make matters worse, Cimeron’s favored path through the forest was barely wide enough for her to pass through – let alone her rider! I did my best to maneuver around the trees by shifting in my saddle, moving the stirrups forward and backward and pushing myself away with one hand while holding the reigns with the other. But about 45 minutes into the trail ride, after narrowly avoiding an oak tree on my left I failed to shift my right leg quick enough before SMACK– my knee kissed a pine tree straight on.

IMG_5239Fifteen minutes later, we finally arrived back at the stables where I dismounted as quickly as possible. After the throbbing ceased and a magnificent shade of purple began to spread across my knee, I decided to snap a few pictures to remind myself of the day’s adventures. As I looked into Cimeron’s gorgeous blue eyes, I wondered…

How often has my life mirrored this senseless horse?

How often have I wanted to go my own way?

How often have I failed to ask God’s advice?

How often has He disciplined me with a bit and bridle?

How often has my heart been filled with sorrow for the bruises I’ve inflicted on others because of my wickedness?

Too often to count.

Yet, every day, the Lord gives me another opportunity to repent for any senselessness, saddle up and get back on the trail. Then, as I choose to trust and obey, God promises to surround me with His unfailing love as He watches over and guides me along the best path.

Run to Win!

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1 Corinthians 9:24-27

24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize. 26 So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadowboxing. 27 I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should. Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

IMG_0345This past week as I watched our daughter and sons soccer games I became increasingly frustrated with the athletes lack of performance on the field.

As a kid, I was extremely competitive in everything, wanting to win at any cost (my late grandmother had to curtail my emotional outburst on one occasion when I flipped over the board game after realizing I was getting ready to lose!). As a parent, however, I felt it was my duty to be more politically correct when it came to winning and losing. And so, I began buying into the lie that our children should “just have fun.” But this week, a shift in my soul happened. No longer was I willing to settle for a loss. NO. I wanted to win!

IMG_0334Like many of those soccer “players” (and I use the term loosely), I used to be a follower of Jesus who was content to jog along half-heartedly, waiting for someone to pass the ball so I could kick it at random to another player (on mine or the opposing team). But after years of training to be a disciple, The Holy Spirit has developed a passion in my soul to GO make more disciples. When I first stepped onto the field of my calling I did so very tentatively, with little purpose in my running. But now I am beginning to see the eternal prize….

Each day I have the choice to sit in the stands, warm the bench, lollygag around on the field OR play for the prize. So do you. Do you prefer to “just have fun” or do you want to win? I want to WIN!!! So I must remain disciplined in order to keep running, otherwise I might be disqualified from the team.

A Special Utensil

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2 Timothy 2:20-26

20 In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use. 21 If you keep yourself pure, you will be a special utensil for honorable use. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master to use you for every good work.

22 Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts.

23 Again I say, don’t get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. 24 A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. 25 Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth. 26 Then they will come to their senses and escape from the devil’s trap. For they have been held captive by him to do whatever he wants.

IMG_5221Paul’s wisdom to Timothy gives us an excellent framework on how to be put to honorable use by the Father. If I want to live righteously, I must pursue purity. Rather, I must pursue Jesus by surrendering daily to the leading of His Spirit, to develop the fruit of faithfulness, love and peace in my life. I must also run from anything that stimulates lust (those things that make my 5 senses feel good, but that are not surrendered to Christ).

Paul also mentions the importance of companionship with other believers who have pure hearts. Why does that matter? Do we really need others to be used by God?

Absolutely.

As a little girl, I preferred to play alone. Not that alone isn’t good- it is, Jesus modeled the importance of aloneness when He continually went off by Himself to pray. But my aloneness was because I wanted to be in control of how the Barbie’s were played with, and which album spun on my Fisher Price record player! In short, I was prideful and I didn’t trust other people.

As I grew into an adult and a devoted follower of Jesus, it took quite a bit of effort to bend my will to the Father in regards to my aloneness. Honestly, I thought I was doing pretty good at the discipleship thing, so, I concluded, I didn’t really need others to pursue God.

I was wrong.

What I’ve since discovered is: my willingness to engage with those in the body of Christ has a direct impact on my ability to be a true servant of the Lord. When I choose to share my life with other “parts” and allow them to instruct, encourage, and rebuke me I am then able to teach, be patient with difficult people, speak Gods truth in love and help others escape the devils trap!

1 Corinthians 12:15-19

15 If the foot says, “I am not a part of the body because I am not a hand,” that does not make it any less a part of the body. 16 And if the ear says, “I am not part of the body because I am not an eye,” would that make it any less a part of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, how would you hear? Or if your whole body were an ear, how would you smell anything?

18 But our bodies have many parts, and God has put each part just where he wants it. 19 How strange a body would be if it had only one part!

Have there been a few “parts” that have proven themselves untrustworthy? Yep. And sadly, I’m sure there will be more. Still, I know that GOD can be trusted and as long as I pursue Him, He will help me enjoy the companionship of others so that we all may become special utensils together.

Have there been a few “parts” that have proven themselves untrustworthy? Yep. And sadly, I’m sure there will be more. Still, I know that GOD can be trusted and as long as I pursue Him, He will help me enjoy the companionship of others so that we all may become special utensils together.

Ask for help!

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Isaiah 30:18-21

18 So the Lord must wait for you to come to him
    so he can show you his love and compassion.
For the Lord is a faithful God.
    Blessed are those who wait for his help.

19 O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem,
    you will weep no more.
He will be gracious if you ask for help.
    He will surely respond to the sound of your cries.

20 Though the Lord gave you adversity for food
    and suffering for drink,
he will still be with you to teach you.
    You will see your teacher with your own eyes.

21 Your own ears will hear him.
    Right behind you a voice will say,
“This is the way you should go,”
    whether to the right or to the left.

I cannot count the times I’ve needed help from the Lord….and failed to ask Him.

Help with depression.

Help with anxiety.

Help with sickness.

Help with forgiveness.

Help with conflicts.

Help with fear.

Help with my marriage.

Help with communication.

Help with finances.

Help with sexual intimacy.

Help with our children.

Sure, there have been plenty of times that I’ve prayed, telling Him my wants and to bless me in whatever I decided to do. Much less frequently, however, have I put forth the effort to surrender my prideful will and humbly ask Him for help.

IMG_4446The truth is, the Lord is waiting for me EVERY day to come to Him about EVERY detail of my life, my marriage & my parenting. He wants to show me His love and compassion. And He wants to show me whether to go the right or the left. His faithfulness to this promise has been proven to me over and over and over again….yet, sometimes, I still forget to ask for help.

A few years ago, as I was struggling through a difficult season of life, my patience in waiting was beginning to wane. I was tempted to go my own way when God used my husband to speak wisdom to my soul, “Jodie…if God is silent, keep asking and waiting….He’s trying to teach you something.” How grateful I am that I submitted to His truth because in a short time I heard God’s voice, chose to obey and subsequently reaped a huge blessing.

If you’re facing adversity, ask God for help! Ask Him the difficult questions your soul yearns for answers to. Then wait until you hear Him before you go. As you wait, make sure your ears are functioning at optimum performance by asking the Holy Spirit if there is any sin you need to confess. Then humbly repent and continue asking and waiting. He will respond to your cries.

Proverbs 3:6

6 Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take.

If you’re facing adversity, ask God for help! Ask Him the difficult questions your soul yearns for answers to. Then wait until you hear Him before you go. As you wait, make sure your ears are functioning at optimum performance by asking the Holy Spirit if there is any sin you need to confess. Then humbly repent and continue asking and waiting. He will respond to your cries.

Become Less

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John 3:27-30

27 John replied, “No one can receive anything unless God gives it from heaven. 28 You yourselves know how plainly I told you, ‘I am not the Messiah. I am only here to prepare the way for him.’ 29 It is the bridegroom who marries the bride, and the best man is simply glad to stand with him and hear his vows. Therefore, I am filled with joy at his success. 30 He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.

DSC_0746Every time I speak at a marriage conference, teach a small group or mentor a couple I have the opportunity to be filled with joy at God’s success, or be filled with pride in my abilities.

The gifts I have been given to fulfill the purposes of God on this earth are simply that- gifts. As John explained to “his” disciples, we cannot receive anything unless God gives it from heaven.

Anything?

Anything.

That makes me like Amazon. I don’t manufacture the gifts, I just ship them to others in 2 days- guaranteed (if they have a PRIME membership!).

Seriously, though….

It is inevitable that those I serve will want to thank or praise me for preparing the way for them to encounter the Messiah. But is absolutely critical that in that moment, I acknowledge their gratitude while simultaneously giving all the praise to the Bridegroom. Only then can I sincerely be glad that I had the opportunity to stand beside Him as His best woman.

“If you become a necessity to a soul, you are out of God’s order. As a worker, your great responsibility is to be a friend of the Bridegroom. When once you see a soul in sight of the claims of Jesus Christ, you know that your influence has been in the right direction, and instead of putting out a hand to prevent the throes, pray that they grow ten times stronger until there is no power on earth or in hell that can hold that soul away from Jesus Christ. Over and over again, we become amateur providences, we come in and prevent God; and say- “This and that must not be.” Instead of proving friends of the Bridegroom, we put our sympathy in the way, and the soul will one day say- “That one was a thief, he stole my affections from Jesus, and I lost my vision of Him.’”

–Oswald Chambers

Withdraw to the Wilderness

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Luke 5:12-16

12 In one of the villages, Jesus met a man with an advanced case of leprosy. When the man saw Jesus, he bowed with his face to the ground, begging to be healed. “Lord,” he said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”

13 Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared. 14 Then Jesus instructed him not to tell anyone what had happened. He said, “Go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy.[a] This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed.”

15 But despite Jesus’ instructions, the report of his power spread even faster, and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer.

My pen and paper haven’t touched in several weeks. The pages of my journal have remained empty, but my soul has not.

This month our family once again walked into a difficult season of life. Although my husband and I know that Gods hand is orchestrating every detail, it hasn’t eliminated the emotional and sometimes physical pain that we have endured in the transition.

As we began informing family members and friends about the upcoming changes, I secretly longed to be comforted by all of them. Their text messages, emails and phone calls did encourage me, but I quickly realized that the longing I felt was actually from the Holy Spirit, beckoning me to withdraw to the wilderness to pray.

I’ve often found it easier to run to my husband or friends or family to seek wisdom and comfort and love when I’m going through something that is hard. It takes much more effort to choose to withdraw and sit in the presence of God day after day after day. Because, honestly, I want quick responses to my questions and I want to formulate a plan so that I can be ready for whatever comes my way! Yet over and over again, God keeps teaching me that His ways are not my ways and His thoughts are not my thoughts. I MUST be still every single day to know Him, trust Him and obey Him.

As a believer, I am so grateful that God destined me to be a part of the body of Christ. The Lord graciously continues to surround me with others who have different gifts and callings that not only encourage and challenge me, but also help me to go make disciples in the way that He has gifted and called me to! The church is a beautifully detailed, powerfully functioning force that He uses to advance His Kingdom and I am so thankful to be a part of it. Yet, even though He designed me to be connected to others, God never intended for me to idolize them or depend on them as my savior. For HE is my source and strength. HE is my comforter and defender. HE is the lover of my soul. HE is my provider and protector. And the only ways I can know and believe those things is to read His Word and talk to Him…and listen, because HE is the one that knows HIS plans for my life. IMG_4382

And so, this morning, as I with withdrew once again from everyone I know to worship the King of kings and Lord of lords, God loved, rebuked and comforted me. Then He told me to grab the pen and paper and share another piece of my life story with you. I hope that as you read these words, you too will hear Him beckoning you to withdraw to the wilderness…. and seek His face.

Everything Visible

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Ephesians 5:1-14

Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us[a] and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

3 Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. 4 Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. 5 You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

6 Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. 7 Don’t participate in the things these people do. 8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

10 Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. 11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. 12 It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. 13 But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, 14 for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,

“Awake, O sleeper,
  rise up from the dead,
  and Christ will give you light.”

IMG_5183As I was walking through our newly remodeled kitchen last week I asked (out loud) “where in the world did all this dirt come from?!” in which my husband matter-of-factly replied, “its always been there- its just easier to see it now because everything reflects more light.”

True.

In our former dark and dinghy kitchen we IMG_4682were often unaware of the mounds of dog hair, granola, coffee stains, sand and clay the kids tracked in from the backyard. It all blended into the black cabinetry and faux stone floor until we occasionally cleaned up, exposing the filth we had been living in!

Before I became a dear child of God, I lived a dark and dinghy life. Occasionally, however, I’d dust, sweep and scrub all the surface dirt away so that others would see how “spotless” I was. Yet, underneath, all the worthless deeds of evil were still lurking in the darkness of my soul.

After making the great exchange with Jesus in 1999 I was given the gift of eternal life and the opportunity to be set free from every sin.

John 8:36

36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.

The process of allowing His light to expose the darkness in my heart continues to this day. Only when I surrender, allowing the truth of His Word to shine through my mind, will and emotions is He able to dust, sweep and scrub all the yuck out that threatens to steal, kill and destroy every area of my life.

After laughing at my husbands reply, I continued cleaning up the mess, knowing that the light from our kitchen windows will continue to shine on the areas that need to be dusted, swept and scrubbed each day – just like the Holy Spirit continues to do when I sit with Him in the secret place.

Psalm 91

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High 
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.