Red Sea Situations

My father took this picture. It reminds me of  how good God is, because photography is a talent I have obtained from my parent. Every little thing matters. My father’s testimony has changed my life. He hasn’t always been a photographer, yet he has always loved nature. I know if it were not for God’s grace and mercy, he wouldn’t be able to notice, much less ‘create’ such  a beautiful photo. My father has entered into God’s rest. He was tested a few months back when he went to the doctor, and his response to what the doctor’s report was: “I’ve placed it in the Lord’s hands.” A few months later, he received the positive report that all was well. But of course,  I thought. He had entered into God’s rest.

Here is the poem:

When you enter into His gates with thanksgiving-

And you bless His holy name,

When you let everyone  know -

The Lord’s moderation is at Hand -

When you rejoice in the Lord always

And again… you decide to rejoice….

It is then, that you enter into His Rest.

When you trust in Him with All your heart -

When you acknowledge Him in all your ways,

When you ‘Only Believe’… It is then, that you enter into His Rest.

When you think on good things,

When you are fruitful in every good work,

When you refused to be moved by circumstances,

When you are possessed by  His power, His love and have a sound mind…

It is then, that you enter into His Rest.

When you stir up the gifts,

When you work out your own soul salvation,

When you are planted – like a tree, by the rivers of water…

It is then, that you enter into His Rest.

Selah.

Psalm 139:23,24

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

Have you ever been so confused with life you forget to take care of yourself?

I have.

I have found that ridding emotional clutter is about really focusing on what “really” matters and getting back in tune with God. Priorities are sometimes hard to stay attuned to. I know I have a hard time sometimes keeping up with what’s important and keeping a committed routine to it.

Here’s a recent challenge I experienced, and I’d like to share what I found perhaps beneficial enough for anyone who values their relationship with The Lord Our Creator.

Essentially, what I found was that I was simply in an emotionally ‘bad place’ because I’d had a series of things occur that made me very angry. The simple, day- to-day issues of life and change that I had no control over. I ended up getting stuck and praying to God to release me from this emotional agony.

This of course, led me to address one pent up emotion to another and before you knew it, I was dealing with some stuff in my heart I didn’t really even know was there. It appears that having it all cluttered there in my heart, and my unwillingness to take the time to observe it – produced the anxiety, fear an other emotions I carried with great weight.  Eventually, it began to effect me physically as well – my back kicked in and began to hurt. (This is often where I carry all my stress.)

Sometimes we even begin to “numb out” because numbing out means we catch detach form the situation. The only problem is, the problem never goes away.

So here are a few things I did to get through this stage:

1. I WORSHIPPED.

I felt so good when this occurred. It felt like I was being cleansed inside and out. Maybe this is something you could do at home…but maybe not. I am talking about true, authentic worship – at church by a worship leader who could easily walk me into the Throne Room of God; or I can create this atmosphere with worship at home or with a worship partner. I notice when I am in true, authentic, pure worship I tend to really feel God speak to me. I found music to nurture my soul. It tends to do something for me, I cannot do myself.

2. I found GETTING OUT OF my normal boring, and confining environment helped me to think clearer. Taking a walk along the lake, or creating a new thinking space  in  new environment sometimes encourages new energy.

There is something about being in the same place every day and every hour, and sitting there, and numbing out in complacency, that really causes us to STAY in a place of mental confinement.

3. I had to really STOP AND THINK through why I was out of sorts.
And if I couldn’t’ reach that place alone, I had to have my husband or another close friend I really trusted with my emotions walk me through it.

4. I GOT ON MY FACE AND LISTENED TO GOD.
There’s something amazing about hearing God say: “I am here.”It  soothes my heart and peace comes into my soul when I meet Him in this place. He seems to really cherish this time, as well. Has God ever done that to you? Just filled you with His peace and His presence? All we have to do is ask Him. If you haven’t had a chance to experience that, you must take the time, because it’s an awesome place to be.

5. Lastly, I just remove myself from everyone and everything – that isn’t crucial to my elevation to the next level. I am not sure I do this always consciously, but sometimes when you are going through a ‘Job situation’ ( Job is the character in the Bible who lost it all…) — you need a “Job Focus”.  I needed to separate from others in order to come closer to God.  ( In Job’s case I am not sure his friends were the best to turn to, in order to get the correct information.) The only people I DID let into my life, were those how I knew would encourage and listen to my needs and pray with me. These kind of people in our lives are keepers as friends.If you don’t have one in your life you can depend upon as lifesavers, then you need to ask God for such a friend.

 Fortunately, my work environment allows me the spiritual refuge of being able to ‘take a break’ and mellow out and find myself again, at my own pace. I thank God for the ability to recognize pacing, because it allows for my spiritual rejuvenation. I f you know you are stressed to the max, take a mental health day, spend time with God and get away from everyone and take time to care for your soul.

*Remember to take a break and spend time with God in order to get rid of the clutter and back to yourself. If you find this article helped you realize the need to relax, I can help you. Contact JenRene at: expressivevoices@gmail.com.

“Now and then there would be something wrong with the pot he was molding from the clay with his hands. So he would rework the clay into another kind of pot as he saw fit. …But if that nation I threatened stops doing wrong, I will cancel the destruction I intended to do to it.. But if that nation does what displeases me and does not obey me, then I will cancel the good I promised to do to it.” Jeremiah 18:4-8

Lately, I have been struggling with myself. I ask myself: “Will God do this? Will he do that?” I question, and cajole with God- thinking if I gave Him really big words and magnificent promises – He would be pleased… and I worry excessively and can even be quite silly in the process of it all, without realizing it.

The issue is: I have weaknesses. And one of them is that I really have a problem with discipline. I have had it all my life. Yet I don’t – and I won’t allow a lack of discipline to be greater than me. I won’t allow it to rule my life. I believe we all know when something in our life is ruling us. It has tremendous power. Sometimes to the point we ask ourselves: “How in the world did I get here?” What made me do that? What was I thinking?…and Why didn’t I use my brain?” Well… often it’s because - of  idols- (something that has more power -over us - in our lives than God ). And … they  need to go. Idols  can have tremendous power over our lives to the point it causes us to make senseless mistakes.  Over and over and over – again.

This is why God reworks us. We are broken down sometimes in our lives, in order to grow more, glean more, and BE more. Did you know the Bible has scripture indicating there’s a “re-working” process going on in our lives?           (See Jeremiah 18:4-10)

I must allow God to be ‘what I cannot be, in the place of my being. Does that make sense? This is where God has room to “re-work us“.

Hmm.. .you see, I already know where I am weak… BUT… I also know where He is strong. That’s what this book I am writing : “Red Seas ” is all about.

Finding out where God is STRONG in you.

It’s about the journey towards trying to “let go of me”, so God can take a hold of me, and make me even better. But   “HOW” God does this, is just amazing. If you haven’t read the scripture about how Abraham covenants with God, and how God puts him to sleep – just like He did with Adam when He made Eve - it’s just an awesome story! The reason I love it, is because God does most of His work, in obscurity. He does it while you aren’t looking, or often without your knowledge. I believe this is when we endure the most difficult times of our lives. It’s during these sacred times we gain the most from our relationships with God.

Why do you think God takes advantage of such obscure moments to define us?

I would venture to say that it’s because it places us where we can dream the impossible. Some folk see God as a God that wants to ’supremely rule’ and control our lives. But that’s never God’s intent. God just wants us to begin to think larger and grander, and more expansive than we ever have. Abraham was able to do that, when He looked into a starry sky. I have been in Africa -(many say this is where Abraham was when he saw the starry sky & when God set the promises before him and promised him his Seed would be as large as the seashore.) I have looked up into that starry sky and been absolutely amazed. Because of my experience there, my  thoughts were at that time: “Wow… Look at what God has in store for my life!” Impossibilities seem possible and  limited  and finite dreams became endless and infinite when God is involved. When you are able to release and take a hold of God’s vision and release your own vision…the sky is the limit!

So this is my thinking: “What if Abraham gave up when God required of him his son?” What if He just said, “No, I don’t want any more than you have already given me, God… I have enough.” Do you think His son, and generations after him would have walked into the rich inheritance God had for their lives? Why not  in your walk with God have an all out ‘sense of abandonment’ – and say…  if it means that in order to have GOD”S BEST – I must sacrifice some things – friends, people , lifestyles, cars, houses or land in order to know and experience fully God’ s love– then so be it. These are just “things”… they are not things that can lead to eternal life.

So as  ”walk this walk” of sheer determination and attempt to get to know my God on another level, I surrender myself  as Abraham did -I surrender all the things God has given me authority over to rule and have dominion over on this earth, and  I decide I will allow “Adonai to meet me on the mountain.”

Genesis 22:12b. 14 ”…For now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son…Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.”

This really is – the God I can trust. Not with my finite mind, but the God I can depend on to be my “ram in the bush” - the One who comes through for me -when I don’t have answers for situations I cannot even begin to fathom why things happen to me.  He is there.  Jehovah Shamma. He is My Provider. Jehovah Jireh. The One Who Supports Me. Especially if my heart is in the right place and my intentions are well. I decide on the “Mount of the Lord” – He provides – He gives me all I need. I have everything I need and I choose to be determined  to allow Adonai to move my trust to another level in Him. declaration: ( I say this- with  tears in my eyes…) I AM NOT STOPPING!!!

( Read Gen 22:5-18  and ask yourself:

In this sacred place – I ask:  What could possibly be more important than knowing a God who reigns supremely on this earth, and over my very being  allowing me to walk in greater purpose and fulfillment in my life?

Get to know Him as Adonai today – He is Lord…Master – the One that helps me to understand and accept. - He ’strengthens’ me in the place where even my hurts and pains my sorrows my fears, my misunderstandings even become clear, in His presence, He is my Faithful Lord.

Selah.

Isaiah 42:19 “Who is blind except my servant or deaf like the messenger I send? Who is blind like the one who has my trust or blind like the servant of the LORD?”

The next time you are in a spiritual bind, and you need a way out – ask yourself:

Am I being as vulnerable as I really need to be?

Am I being honest with myself?

The journey to being honest with yourself will reap you more blessings than will denial – because you will eventually begin to see patterns that will unwind and lead to greater vulnerability and spiritual growth.

Who doesn’t want more growth?

Well… I suppose those who don’t like change very much. Yet we all know change is inevitable. It’s just something we must deal with in life.

Psalm 37:7 says : “Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for Him to act.” When  must you wait? (In His presence.) When you are expecting something from the Lord,  tune all noise and added distraction in your life. This verse proves that although we cannot always see God “acting”… yet He is always working behind the scenes. Being open to change, may actually allow us to learn something about ourselves through honest self-exploration and self-examination before a holy God.

Seeking God’s will can take time. It’s not like we get answers right away, yet sometimes those answers are needed fairly quickly. The truth remains however – we cannot rush God. One thing you can surely count on during the time you are waiting, is He will give you the strength to wait. Another really good way to seek God’s will is to pray with another believer. Sometimes when I am really stuck, and trying to make major life decisions, I will offer my prayer requests over  to a few close friends; asking for their input. I also sometimes will send in a prayer request to my favorite ministry – Joyce Meyers ministry- ( her prayer team). There are many  other well known ministry teams often have hot lines and email lines to get quick prayers through. Usually these ministries have set aside and wonderful places to find prayer warriors who are willing to do such a job. Sometimes I will be silent  and contemplate with God about how I feel in a journal, and tell him my whole heart. I will offer up to Him my fears, my pain and misunderstandings. I ask for clear answers to my prayers. I ask Him to show me, and to help me not to be blind. I even ask God to either “open or shut doors”, according to His perfect will for my life.

The truth is, God cares and He definitely wants us to walk through open doors, instead of trying to get through one that is closed. Somehow, we manage  to still get a crow bar and attempt to pry open one that has been shut for years. Another preparation to know that God will answer you, involves your desire to have a pure heart before Him. Consider your walk with Him.

If you know your hands are dirty, and you have been involved in sin,  simply admit it, and come clean. Confession can have a cleansing affect on the soul- (the mind, will and emotions). If you find yourself getting stuck, it’s likely your soul has become colluded and needs cleansing.

Psalm 24:3,4 says : “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.”

Asking for help is another “not so easy” task . We tend to ask for help, only if we believe we have a reliable source. Well God just happens to be just that. God can answer many questions  in our lives – He will often give us indication of what’s involved prior to receiving the answer.  It can often save us from lots of pain, hardship and reluctance. The answer lies often in our heart. The Bible says in Proverbs 4:23 “Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.” (NLT) Your heart can tell you what to do, how to proceed in a matter. That’s why He asks us to keep our hands clean, and our hearts pure. We cannot hear and be attentive to a heart that is not pure before Him.Yet if we are connected with the Vine, (Jesus) -  He will often lead us to the answers that dwell within. This is all so finely orchestrated by a God who made us in His image. Sometimes all the ‘answer’ we need is right inside of us. It doesn’t take God very much in order to show us His plan, we often just have to be willing to receive it, when it comes.

Selah.

(This one was tucked away… in a nice lil corner. If this blessed you today, leave a comment. He ministered to me, today.)

 “He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength…But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isa. 40-29, 31
Some of us are afraid to tell God what we want.

Why is telling God what we want such a hard thing to do?

Well… because many of don’t believe we will receive it.

We feel safer, because we think: “…if I don’t ask for it, then I won’t be disappointed when it comes. But that’s not the truth at all.

If you want to know the truth, you have to:

1. Admit your vulnerability to it.

2. Seek God’s face for His will to be revealed – in the Word and through prayer and intimate communication.  

3. Ask God for help in seeking for what you need to come to pass.

God has such a really big heart. He always wants us to be blessed.  Even when times are hard for us, He has another purpose in our emotional and spiritual pain. It’s quite likely, in fact -even if we don’t ‘think’ we are being blessed, it’s likely to be His will. Being blessed might not always feel good, even though it may sound good. Sometimes the timing of what we want and when “we think we need it” conflicts with our schedules. We tend to sometimes think that: if we don’t ask for anything big, then God won’t have to disappoint us.

To this day, I have not really found out why God takes so long sometimes to answer some prayers. What I can be sure if though, is that God does answer prayer. And if you are faithful in your walk, God does eventually meet your needs.

Being vulnerable with God is a very interesting place to be. In my walk with God, I have found that sometimes allowing myself to be vulnerable and transparent not only lifts the burden of us having to let God’ handle alone’ certain burdens – but it also causes us to truly see the root of some of our problems. No one likes being vulnerable. We are already vulnerable to those we can see, so imagine what it must be like, when we must come to terms with Someone we cannot see. Yet I have found refuge in knowing that God is a God who offers us security and foundation, in  pouring our hearts unto Him.

Stay tuned for Part II : “The Strength Found in Being Vulnerable…”

Ever wanted to do something so bad it was a desire that was so strong, you just know one day you JUST HAVE to have the opportunity, yet the means –  for it doesn’t seem to materialize? This picture seems a bit odd I know, but it reminds me of a birthing room. When women get together in groups, with energized purpose, something happens. Something new is born. 

I believe everyone has an inheritance in the Lord. Writing is an untapped inheritance  in the Lord, for me. I was inspired this evening as my Pastor, Randy Free of Covenant Church in Crossroads Texas – exhorted us  in the fact that our inheritance in the Lord comes with our “looking” for the supernatural. When my desire is so strong that I look for opportunities, they usually wind up just ‘miraculously’ appearing. He went on the say when you get a revelation of how much God really loves you, ( John 3:16) then you are able to accept the reality of what’s available unto you.

Well…. I have a dream…and my dream is to attend the Proverbs 31 – She Speaks Conference in  Concord, North Carolina.  The synergistic energyI feel at these kind of conferences produces a feeling in me unlike anything  I have ever felt in my life. My life feels like it’s a virtual world where only dreams can come true. I will get there. I just want you to pray with me. If you are an aspiring writer, and you have never been to a writer’s conference, then you need to find a way to get to one. It will change your life, truly, if it’s a desire you want to come true. It’s a “spiritual launching pad” for many.

 Here’s the link to the conference! 

 http://www.shespeaksconference.com/

And don’t forget to pray for my desire! ;0)

 ~ JenRene

So why does God desire to watch over our grief?

Some ask why doesn’t He simply relieve it, and make the sorrow go away? Well, I don’t know. I don’t have an answer for such complex understanding.  What I do know is: I had a very intimate encounter with grief that transformed my life, because I chose to embrace my sorrow.

I once experienced grief to the degree if halted my very being.  It left me motionless, speechless, dis-empowered, and speechless. I was in utter despair. In fact, I sunk into a really deep depression. It was a life altering type of sorrow, but the majority of it occurred over the course of only four days. I believe it lasted only a short time – the immensely difficult pain of it – because I embraced the pain. I spent time with God during this period where I shut everything else out – I questioned Him, I recounted the past, I repented, I cried out to God… I even told him how mad I was with Him, and how it had affected my life. Yet I faced it, because I wanted it to be out of my life.

Have you ever experienced a pain so deep that you just wanted to get through it, so that you can get to the other side of it, and be done with it? I was there. I wanted more. So I purposed my self  to grieve. To allow grief to be all that it needed to be in my life, so that I could fully embrace my life.

So on purpose… I wrangled with God over my grief for approximately 72 hours. I didn’t say “wrestled” - I said wrangled. To wrestle is to fight with God, and to wrangle is to have a dispute or argument with God. (Now… many think it’s – not ok – to argue with your Maker. Yes, I knew my arms were too short to box with God, but I still needed answers. I’d never gone through this type of Red Sea Experience, and I needed to know where was my God (?) The one I’d worshiped and proclaimed to be my all in all, my Lily in the Valley – and I was in a deep dark valley, and needed to know the purpose of this valley, because I could not see my way out. Yet something miraculous happened after the third day. (Sounds familiar?) Three days is all it took for Jesus to redeem all mankind and forever obtain our salvation.

Despite my being completely exhausted and emotionally spent, I came out feeling at peace with myself and those that caused the pain, and I felt like I had been resurrected. From really deep emotional scars and pain I thought I’d never heal from. I had a new found hope. It seemed like I could even breathe better. My breathing was more regulated. I was aware I was breathing, and though it may sound odd, it was a relief. God’s divine providence began to rule in my life after that weekend like it never had before. My future became brighter, and I was released into a new life. My life forever changed that day when I decided to embrace my grief.

I’m sorry if you have grief today that may be hard to bear. I am not sure why its burden can be so heavy. One thing I am sure of – is the fact that when God gave up His Son, He grieved immensely. Many may even say: ‘Yes, but his grief was only temporal, it only lasted but three days.’ And I would say: ‘The magnitude of the blessing He gave – and the favor and grace it left on this earth far surpasses the grief of it all. For a day with the Lord is as its one thousand years.’ Hmm…that would be interpreted as: God’s grief lasted perhaps 3,000 years, or more. And maybe… perhaps even though Jesus is with Him, He’s still grieving….those three thousands years are not up, yet.

Maybe, just maybe if grief can bring redemption to mankind for eternity, then your grief may also leave a revelation of powerful, prospered, redemption as well. I challenge you today, to see grief as a calling, and not a curse. Allow God to release you from its painful grip and provide a greater purpose for your life.

Selah.