Fly Little Bird

This morning as I was driving a bird flew next to my car. It wasn't a bird with bright colors. It was actually quite drab. Nothing about the appearance of this bird stood out in the way perhaps a Cardinal would.  However, despite it's seemingly unattractive appearance, this bird was still flying. I know you are probably thinking I'm stating the obvious because most birds do, indeed, fly. This bird wasn't doing anything other than what came naturally because God created this type of bird to fly. And yet, how many of us never get off the ground because we are more focused on not looking like the "beautiful" people than on what God has created us to do. (*I'm speaking from personal experience here).

Is there something deep in your spirit you know you were created to do and yet you feel your appearance disqualifies you from your calling? For many it's an issue of weight. Or perhaps you feel you are too short or too tall. For some it is they are not the least bit interested in dressing in the latest fashions. Some feel their race limits them. Maybe you have a disfigurement or physical handicap. The list of possible "limitations" is endless. Sadly, many of these limitations have been perpetuated not only by the world, but also within the church. In an effort to keep all things in line with a particular appearance, many have been "disqualified" from their calling simply because they do not fit a desired mold or look.

My precious friend, that was never God's intention for you when you were created! The beauty of humanity is each and every one of us is different. We are different shapes, sizes, colors and we all have different preferences in clothing, music, etc. We should never allow these differences to prevent us from "flying" in our call from God. If you are somewhere that is stifling your gifting because you are different than the norm in that place, then I challenge you to leave. Somewhere there are people who are waiting for YOU. Not the you that you are pretending to be, but the YOU that was created before the formation of the world. The YOU that God painted in the masterpiece of His mind and fashioned carefully with His hand. Don't fall for the lie that it is just your "issue" if you are feeling less than others while in a certain environment. Oftentimes the very ones who are saying it's our "issue" are the very ones encouraging everyone to fit the mold.

Read God's word and ask Him to reveal to you who He made you to be. What has He called you to do in your walk here on earth? As we mature there will be things He will show us that need to be changed. However, in your transformation process be sure it is God doing the changing and not the will or opinion of man. Don't resign yourself to staying camouflaged in the tree of life when you were created to fly.


Update: Several hours after writing this post I saw the following video. I pray it blesses you as much as it blessed me. It illustrates my point so well.

Merlin's Shadow by Robert Treskillard

Merlin’s Shadow is the second book in the Merlin Spiral Series by Robert Treskillard. The story picks up where the first title ended as we see how Merlin and the other characters are recovering after the destruction of the Druid stone. There are those who are seeking revenge and those who are assisting Merlin in his vow to protect young Arthur. 

I found the descriptions given in the story very illustrative and could picture the people and the lands in my mind. This is a title I would love to see turned into a movie! The faith of Merlin and his comrades is inspiring as they trust in God to guide them through unbelievably difficult circumstances. The author does an excellent job in taking liberty with the traditional story of Merlin and Author as he weaves in elements such as the Holy Grail as part of the story. 

Even though this selection is labeled as Teen Fiction, I think this is a story many adults will enjoy just as much as teens. I can't wait for the next title in the series!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Out of Hiding

Happy New Year! I pray you all had a wonderful and joyous Christmas and New Years! This is the time of year when most of us reflect on the past year and think about what the new year will bring. In my quiet time with God last week I asked Him for my "word" for this new year. Last year the word was discipline and that I needed to focus on areas of my life that were not as disciplined as they needed to be. I don't think I quite mastered it in all areas, but there was definitely forward progress made in 2013. 

What I heard God telling me for this year is this:

It's time to come out of hiding.

Uh oh. As the days have passed this phrase has been revealed into deeper meaning. I trust God will continue to give me more information, but just today He showed me how much of my life has been spent making comparisons. How many times have I read someone's writing and thought, "I wish I could write like her/him." Or heard someone sing and thought, "If only I could sing like THAT, then I would join the choir!" And of course what is probably the most common among women, "If I looked like that.....then I would......" 

What happens when we live our lives with this thought process is we bury our true selves. We neglect the talents God has given to us because they don't look like what we see in someone else. Our voice sounds different because God wants to use us to make a different sound. He is a creative God! He loves diversity and took time on each and every one of us to make us look, write, and sound exactly as He determined we should look, write, and sound. 

God is waiting for you to come out of hiding. No matter what you have done, God still wants a relationship with you. I have made many mistakes in the past and I'm sure to make more in the future. When we fail, satan whispers to us how shameful we should feel. Depending on the severity of the fall, we can believe his lies. Instead of running to Abba asking for forgiveness, we run from Him. We are no different than Adam and Eve.

"Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid themselves from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. So the Lord God called out to the man and said to him, "Where are you?" And he said, "I heard You in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid." Then He asked, " Who told you that you were naked? Did you eat from the tree that I had commanded you not to eat from?" Genesis 3:8-11

How often has this been our story? We do something God instructed was not in our best interest and so we hide when we hear Him approaching. When Adam said he was naked, God immediately knew what had been done. When we go into hiding because we think we aren't "enough," God asks, "Who told you that?" If the only opinion that matters in our lives is the opinion of God, then we have no reason to hide. If we are listening to His voice and instruction, then why do we fear? 

I can't speak for you, but I know for me I've lived the majority of my life in hiding based on the fear of what someone will think. What if I write something that makes people mad. What if I offend someone? What if I sing and people laugh at me? What if I speak and I stumble over the words? But what if I live my whole life running from the very thing I was created to do all because I'm living in fear of the opinion of others? What if every time I think I can't do something because of _______(insert perceived inadequacy here), God is in Heaven asking, "Who told you that?"

Where are you hiding? Is God walking in the garden looking for you, but because of satan's lies or your failures, you are hiding in the trees? I will be praying for you to come out of hiding and step into the purpose for which you were created. Let today be the end of believing the lies.

Merlin's Blade by Robert Treskillard

This is definitely not my typical choice in reading material so I was a little skeptical at first, but I wanted to try something different. I can positively say I was not disappointed in venturing out of my reading comfort zone. Merlin’s Blade takes the reader into a time a few centuries after the death of Christ. We become part of the story of a small village and what happens when the threat of evil comes to them through the hands of Druids who want to see the old ways of life restored.

It took a while to keep up with all the characters as their names are common for the setting, but not so common in today’s culture. The author did a great job of describing the village setting, mindsets, and practices of the time. As I continued reading I found it was hard to stop since I wanted to find out what was going to happen next in the story. The boldness and faith of the title character is inspiring and caused me to question my own boldness in living for Christ in the face of an evil threat. Would I be willing to stand up in the same way as Merlin? My teenage daughter anxiously awaited me to finish because she wanted to read it next. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Prodigal by Brennan Manning and Greg Garrett

The Prodigal is a very well written, modern day version of one of the best stories told in scripture illustrating the love of God towards His children. The authors take the story of a son who is loved, who travels away from home, loses his way, and has a father who is waiting for his return. The authors tell the story in a way to make it recognizable as the parable in the Bible, but with enough liberties to bring the story to a situation that could happen easily in today’s society.

Having attended a church similar to the one pastored by the main character, there were many similarities to his personality in the beginning that I have experienced personally. Many of us have witnessed the “fall” of pastors who have been elevated to super-human status. The Prodigal tells a story of what can happen when one of these pastors is forced to face his own humanity and is forced to live out what he has been preaching. At the same time he learns things about Christ and the love of a father he has never personally experienced before.

I found The Prodigal a very enjoyable read and recommend it for anyone who may be struggling in their faith after making choices that have hurt themselves or others.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

No Fear

Love is a word thrown around easily in our society. We have love for our favorite coffee, sports team, and restaurant. Many of us end phone conversations with friends and family with a quick, "Love you!" We use one word to express various types of emotions relating to love. Sadly, as I look around our world I am not sure how many people have ever grasped the true meaning of love. This is evidenced by the abundance of fear in the lives of so many. Parents are overbearing of their children out of a fear of harm or failure in their own parenting. There are people who will not travel by some means of transportation because of fear. Millions of people conform to the patterns of this world out of fear. I understand the fear and I know it is very real. We go through our day to day lives in a mundane walk, yet all the while deep inside we know there is something more. There is something inside of us screaming to come to life. It is the purpose assigned to us before the beginning of time. It is having the secret dream lying dormant for years and it so desperately wants to be awakened. What stops us from stepping into our true God assignment? I believe it all comes down to fear. 

I've had more than my share of experience with fear. For 13 years I followed the expected norm of working in the corporate world. I grew up learning you are responsible for yourself. There was no sense of entitlement for me growing up and for that I'm thankful. I am the single mom of two children and I take full accountability for them and for their care. However, something happened in me that caused me to step out of the mold. The dream in me was awakened. Was it scary to leave a "secure" job with good benefits and having no idea what my next step would be in life? You bet it was! I was terrified! I would laugh as people would tell me how brave I was when I felt everything but brave. What happened to me was the same thing that happens to those who pack up their lives and move to a country they have never known with languages unfamiliar. What happened to me is what I see happen in the lives of the women I work with who are coming out of being degraded through stripping, prostitution, and trafficking. What happened to us? There is only one answer that can accurately explain the difference. 

Love. 

It may seem crazy to think the answer to fear is love. Yet this is exactly what we are told in scripture. 

"Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us." 1 John 4:17-19

When we come face to face with true love, fear disappears. The things which cause us to worry are no longer of importance. The world asks, "How can you _______ and how will you be able to ______?" Yet all these concerns are based in fear. It is fear of not having enough. It is fear of failing. Yet we are told to not fear. When the love of Christ becomes a reality to us, worldly "logic" becomes confusing to us. I believe the reason so many marriages are ending is because there is a lack of genuine love. How can we truly love another (or even ourselves) if we have never experienced the very definition of love in the form of Christ? We can call many things love, but until we accept His love for us, love will remain an abstract notion. The above scripture tells us fear involves torment. The only way to remove fear is to accept and embrace Christ's perfect love for us. His love is the only true and perfect love in existence. When we dwell in His presence, we begin to take on His characteristics. Only then can we begin to reflect His love to others. 

Why is it people can drive into the middle of gang infested neighborhoods in the middle of the night to be witnesses for Christ? 

Love.

Why is it people are willing to move to the other side of the world to tell others about Christ? 

Love. 

Why is it people are willing to risk their own lives to rescue someone trapped in slavery?

Love. 

Why is it people leave "security" for living on faith? 

Love. 

Have you truly ever experienced His love? His word never lies. If you are living in torment, then examine possible reasons. The word says "he who fears has not been made perfect in love." We are in a world longing for love. We spend countless dollars in search of temporary pleasures we believe will ease our torment. Peace will never be fulfilled in our lives until we accept the One who can teach us how to love. God is the very definition of love. Until we accept fully His love for us, we will never reflect love. There can be good deeds and pleasant feelings towards other, but true love cannot manifest until we are drowning in the depths of His love for us. I pray today you experience a revelation of His love for you. I pray today is the day you cease to operate in fear. I pray for the dormant dreams in your soul to have the courage needed to awaken. I pray the fear overtaking you would be drowned in love. 

Love & Respect in the Family by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

I had heard of the book Love and Respect so when I found out there was a book written concerning love and respect in parenting I was quite eager to begin reading. There are many parenting books available, but this is one designed to address from a biblical perspective how to give our children the love they need in order to see the respect we desire. Whether you are a new parent or have teenagers, this book applies to you.

I found this book to be solidly bible based and very challenging. While reading through the “G-U-I-D-E-S” given, I saw many examples I’ve experienced both in my childhood and also as a parent myself. Some advice given assured me of the things I’m doing right, while other advice has revealed some areas in which I need to concentrate on doing better. The author has three adult children who also add comments to the book further explaining how the methods of their parents worked in their lives. This is a book I would recommend every parent read. Even if you are not yet a parent, this is a great place to start your education. If you are married, this would be best read with your spouse in order to ensure you are both on the same “page” in what you are doing well and what needs to change in your parenting style.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze.com® <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”