One Way
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
When I was fifteen, a friend and I were selected to be the two students from our high school to study under an artist in Washington,DC. I love art, still do. But what blows my mind away to this day is that my teacher nominated me AND that my protective parents let me miss a day of school a week, join a group of twelve ragamuffin teens and go into the city. What?! This was no field trip. No bus took us downtown. It was my responsibility to navigate the metro bus and metro rail system on my own to get to my class and back home again. It is an experience I will always remember.
However, there is one detail over those weeks that still sits in my mind today and I think of it often. My friend's artwork was selected by our artist "rabbi" to be presented at the Corcoran Gallery of Art with other works of art created by students. She ended up winning and receiving a scholarship for her entry.
Her artwork? A One Way sign going in all different directions. Arrows pointed this way and that but the words stared back at you "ONE WAY". I thought it was brilliant irregardless of the chaos and confusion it communicated. The image is burned into my memory.
I am utterly thankful Jesus didn't say, "Follow me to the way" or "I know which way you should go". He said "I am the Way". God the Father loves us so much that He chose to make getting to Him simple. He doesn't want us confused in the chaos of the screaming voices and opinions in life. He chose to make it clear, plain. The only way to the Father is through Jesus.
God is Love. He would never make it so difficult to find Him. Follow Jesus. Period. Not one of us will get lost with that navigational direction.
Tuesday, July 01, 2014
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Traveling Long Roads
Traveling. We need directions. We need to plan and prepare. Sometimes we get lost. We need a map! Or to get with the times -- GPS! Have you ever taken a wrong turn in life? (Ummmmm...I sure have!) How did you get back on track with God's purpose for your life? What lessons if any did you learn? We gals at Daily Fast Fuel will be putting our best together to serve you this week. Join us!
Tuesday, July 01, 2014
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Think HAPPY Thoughts
Peter Pan might have been onto something. "Think of a wonderful thought...and you can fly."
There is power in what your set your mind to. Paul exhorts the Philippians to be MINDful of their thinking. I think it's key to walking in the fullness of what Christ purchased on the cross. Negative thoughts tend to position our eyes to see the negative around us, while positive thoughts tend to help us focus on the goodness of God taking place in our midst. The enemy is not called the Father of Lies for nothing. It is our inheritance to set our mind on TRUTH.
One wonderful discovery I had for a new take on Lent is the Negativity Fast. I highly recommend checking out this powerful journey of setting God's truth in your heart!
A Negativity Fast is not:
- It is not denying that problems exist.
- It is not stuffing things that are wrong.
- It is not critical of others who may be struggling.
- It is not irresponsible concerning things that need to be done.
- It is determining to focus more on God’s promises than on problems.
- It is learning to speak with hope about even the toughest of issues.
- It is becoming solution focused rather than problem focused.
- It is refraining from reacting and giving voice to pessimism, criticism of others, self-criticism and other forms of unbelief.
- It is speaking about problems to the right people in the right way.
- It is replacing negative words and thoughts with positive words and thoughts based on the promises of God.
Monday, April 07, 2014
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Truth Aligns
I left thinking, I need to read my whole Bible again, I'm not sure I read it right before.
God's Word has always been an adventure to me. I love how it continues to pour our life and truth - things you've read a hundred times suddenly come to life in a new way as the Spirit teaches and leads you into all truth.
The past year - but especially last few months I have felt a great discomfort. My mind's been filled with a multitude of questions - am I doing what you've called me to, Lord? Am I supposed to be a teacher? A writer? If I quit now, would I miss out? Are my dreams too big? Too small? What if I choose door A or B? Is there a C I don't know about? Should I move? Should I stay?
Everything feels like itchy wool - not altogether unpleasant, but a little uncomfortable.
But with these itchy moments, my spirit has been compelled to stop - and pursue the only One who brings comfort, anchoring, and peace. Jesus.
I'm finding that my life is a perfect fit in Christ. Sure, there are things I long for and prayers to pray, but my source for feeling right at home, even with the unknowns is in Jesus.
His Truth aligns my life.
"Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him." Psalm 62:5
Tuesday, March 18, 2014
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Depression Detonator
“My soul is weary with sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word.” Psalm 119: 28
It’s
not a matter of if we deal with depression. We all will and do at some point in
our lives. I remember the “Ok, I get it” moment God spoke to me. It was a
couple months after my daughter passed away. I finally got up the nerve to
enter her room, then to actually sit in the rocking chair—our rocking
chair—that encapsulated our short “mother/ daughter” time together. It didn’t
take long for the D word to begin to
pull me down. Tears soaked my blouse; groans bellowed up from beyond the pit of
my stomach. The “why, Lord, just tell me why”
began, again. That’s when the loving wisdom of my Father freed me.
“Lezlie,
depression is no more than an emotion, and I created all emotions. It’s not
about feeling depressed. It’s about
what you are going to DO when you get depressed. You have two choices here.
Continue to wallow and sink deeper into the abyss of self-pity, or GET UP and
say good-bye.”
That
tough love lesson rang true once again June 2013. Death didn’t knock, no, that
sting was gone. This time it was drugs, but not for the first time. Drugs had
already stolen years from one of my sons (but only for a decade!) Now drugs
came again, no, not just again, but back. Back to haunt yet another of my
sons—for the second time in his life.
“That’s
it God, I already did this, I can’t do it again.”
“I
know you can’t. Let me.”(And when my son cried out, God answered him, again!)
My
depression lasted longer this time, but it didn’t defeat me. God’s word is living,
true, and freeing. It is “new every morning.” It is the detonator needed to bust through, apart, and thoroughly destroy
anything that tries to rob us from the joy
of the knowledge of eternity.
“In my anguish I cried to the LORD and he answered by setting me free.” (Psalm 118:5)
Do you want freedom from depression? Open the pages of the one book that has lasted the longest throughout history. Allow His words to detonate the lies of the destroyer as He restores your soul with truth.
“In my anguish I cried to the LORD and he answered by setting me free.” (Psalm 118:5)
Do you want freedom from depression? Open the pages of the one book that has lasted the longest throughout history. Allow His words to detonate the lies of the destroyer as He restores your soul with truth.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
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