Wouldn’t Take Nothin’ For My Journey Now!

Posted on May 7, 2013 by thelookingglassbykathy

I’ve always been fascinated by other people’s journeys.  I love reading autobiographies that chronicle the author’s journey in his or her very own words.  One of my favorite shows on TV was ‘Who Do You Think You Are?’  This well-done show documented the history of a well-known person’s family ancestry.  The host and the one taking the journey to the past began at a certain starting point: an early remembrance.  From there, the journey began.  Every trail connected to somewhere, something or someone.  Along the way they stumbled across interesting facts that were sometimes welcomed with glee or frowned upon in disdain.  Oftentimes it confirmed interests the descendant now have.

Someday, my descendants may trace their ancestry.  My journey will be a part of that trail.  The long and winding roads, the rocky roads, the hills, valleys and mountaintops. They will get a glimpse of the light and the darkness, the sunshine and rain and the heartache and pain of my journey. They will get familiar with my faith in Christ and how God used me.  They will meet those who were significant in my life and will get acquainted with those who were impacted by my life.  They will get to walk upon and touch the soil of my harvest.  My prayer is that they would build on the legacy that Christ hand-fashioned for me before the world began.

As think about it, I wouldn’t take nothin’ for my journey now.  I would not change one thing as it has served the purpose of moving my heart and feet, my dreams and desires to where I find myself now.  Today.  In the center of God’s will.  He has shaped my life and paid attention to every detail of it.  I smile knowing that this journey I’m on is the path He laid for me.  Along that path are beautiful flowers with the most amazing scent, rain, sunshine, clouds, darkness, uncertainty, pain and suffering, great joy and delight, purpose, and calling.  No, I wouldn’t take nothin’ for the journey I’ve been on and the one to come.  It’s His way.

First Look:

+What biblical characters had a journey that you most identify with?

Through The Looking Glass:

+Do you believe God is walking with you along your journey?

+How do feel His presence and assurance along your journey?

Posted in Issues of the Heart | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Reminder: My Debt Is Paid In Full

Posted on April 2, 2013 by thelookingglassbykathy

I love it when my intimate Savior reminds me of His great love for me.  I must admit that He is very creative with His reminders.  I am grateful that I have a heart that’s tuned in to how the everyday, mundane things in life point me back to Him.  Recently, I picked my clothes up from the drycleaners and was reminded that my debt has been paid in full.  You see, when my bill was paid, the cashier pushed my bill down over a nail hammered in to a wooden or metal base. It was a great reminder to me that my Savior was pierced with nails to pay the penalty for my sins.  My debt is paid in full. 

check spindle

I love participating in the sacrament of Holy Communion, both serving it and partaking of it.  I am humbled to sit in the presence of God with His people and remember what His love for me cost Him.  I am humbled yet again ‘as oft as I remember’ this extravagant love.  No one else loves me like this. No one. One time, as I celebrated this remembrance, I accepted the cup that represented His blood shed for me.  It spilled on me.  I looked down and it had ‘sprinkled’ on my white shirt!  In that moment, it reminded me of 1 Peter 1:2.  In this passage of Scripture, Peter addressed God’s Elect (who had been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by His blood.) I am once again reminded that the sanctifying work of the Spirit is directed toward salvation. This Easter, let’s draw near to the cross whereby we are sprinkled with His cleansing, saving, power-filled blood.

I am wondering if you are attuned to the reminders God gives us about His great love for us?  They are everywhere. Can you see them?  This Easter season presents yet another opportunity to look for Christ in the ordinary.  In the mundane. His Presence is always with us.  Can you sense it?  Dear one, listen for His voice.  He’s speaking.  Do you hear it? 

First Look:

+What does it mean to know that Christ’s body was pierced for your sins? 

+How does the everyday, mundane things of this life look different in light of this truth? 

Through The Looking Glass:

+Where have you seen Christ in the ordinary today?

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How to Embrace the Gift of Rest

Posted on February 12, 2013 by thelookingglassbykathy
Santa Barbara Beach

Santa Barbara, California

I am one who feels awkward when someone gives me a gift. While deeply humbled by it, I wonder what I did to deserve it. To be honest, I’m always surprised that someone took the time to think about me. I’ve received wonderful, beautiful, priceless gifts over the years. Some of those gifts are tangible while some are priceless ones like a smile, hug, phone call, note or message. Often, the best gifts aren’t wrapped in gift wrap but in human flesh. I treasure that. To me, Jesus Christ is the ultimate gift.

The Ultimate Gift gives gifts especially to the undeserving.  [Matthew 7:11; Ephesians 2:8-9]  I count myself the most undeserving of all. I’ve been known to take His gift(s) for granted many times. “Rest” would be one of those gifts. “Rest” reflects an aspect of who God is.  He was/is the epitome of “Rest”. [Genesis 2:3] My life has been infused with seasons of rest. Sometimes I’ve ignored His bidding to “come away for a while”.  I don’t anymore. I’ve learned to recognize that bidding and I embrace it with open arms. When I’m feeling anxious, overwhelmed, puzzled, confused, irate and irritated, it’s a sign that I need to rest for a while. Each time and place of rest is a gift. I embrace that gift.

Over the last 2-3 years I’ve travelled with my husband for his job. These times have offered extended periods of rest for me.  Rest from the center of activity. His trips take place 2-3 times per year and last anywhere from 10-14 days for each stint. I must admit I’ve had a difficult time embracing these trips as a “gift of rest”. I’ve taken work with me and kept up with happenings back home via phone/email/text.  I’ve even made myself accessible to “put out fires” from the opposite coast.  I truly felt like I needed to be productive even while I wasn’t physically on the scene.

Mom rest

Enjoying a cup of coffee during my recent trip to California

Rest has various expressions. It looks different for all of us.  You may not be able to pull away or get away and rest miles from your center of activity. Many times you will have to be purposeful about. It is a “rhythm of life”. It’s following God’s pattern of rest and Jesus’ example to “come away”.  Here are some small ways you can embrace the gift of rest in your world whether it’s self-imposed or demanded by circumstances.

  1. Deliberately schedule an hour or so each week to unplug from your phone, social media, demands of the day, TV, etc.  If you don’t schedule it, most likely it will never happen.
  2. Say yes to invitations by friends to see a movie or have a meal together, even if you think it’s inconvenient.  These times can be restful, refreshing and restorative.
  3. Learn to practice boundaries. Having no boundaries is like being a city without walls.   There is no protection. You are wide open and vulnerable to every sort of distraction. This is no way to live.  Say “no” to good and “yes” to the best.
  4. Take a walk, exercise or maybe even soak in a relaxing bath.

No matter where you are in life right now, you can embrace the gift of rest. Go ahead, open it up.

Through The Looking Glass:

+How do you rest?

+What other ways can you think of to embrace rest?

Posted in Issues of the Heart, Lessons from Scripture, Spiritual truths | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Let Yourself Off The Hook: 7 Ways I’m Doing That Right Now!

Posted on January 20, 2013 by thelookingglassbykathy

From my earliest remembrances, I have always been a procrastinator. I was the one who always studied for the test or worked on my book report the night before it was due. It stressed my parents out, but not me. It was who I was. 🤷🏽‍♀️ In many ways I’ve always been a day late and a dollar short. It has brought me a good amount of shame, especially when I witness the life of those who are really on the ball with getting things done. For years I’ve tried to pray it away, asked others to pray for me and derive strategies to combat it, all to no avail. But the truth is I am learning to accept me for me. This year, I have determined to let myself off the hook. If you can even remotely relate to this, I challenge you to do the same.

Recently, while sitting with a friend and ministry partner over lunch, I was asked what I am most passionate about since stepping down from a leadership position I held for 5 years. This was a great question. I was almost embarrassed to admit that I didn’t particularly feel passionate about any one thing right now. What???? As a 32-year Christ-Follower, mentor and leader, shouldn’t every moment of my life speak of something I am passionate about? Well maybe, but this was the truth. I didn’t have any one thing making me want to jump out of bed right now and get to it!! I am not concerned because this has been the ebb and flow of my walk with Him. I’ve learned to cherish both seasons of life.

I love Jesus, my family, friends, my church, and my ministry roles. I have for years. I suspect that will not change. I have told myself that it’s okay to wait on the new thing that will make the pilot light in my heart burst forth in a full flame. I am letting myself off the hook from trying to pretend that I’m always a burning bush. Actually, I could never sustain that intensity. I don’t believe God wants me to. I do believe that He wants me to have moments of rest before intense passion meets me face to face again. So I am resting.

Here are seven ways I’m letting myself off the hook from my own and others’ expectations:
1. I don’t feel pressure to read the top 10 Christian books every month and let everyone know I did. If I can read the jacket cover, I am grateful. But I’m not pressed. I let myself off the hook.
2. I don’t have a set quiet time every day. It may be morning, noon, or at bedtime. Maybe not even that day. I let myself off the hook from trying to be just like so-and-so who wakes at 3am to have alone time with God. God bless everyone who does this, but that’s not me. I am okay with God. If He wants me to say something to Him at 3am, He’ll wake me up. I can rest in that. I’m letting myself off the hook.
3. While I have a continual conversation with God (and He with me), I rarely have times when I spend hours or days lying prostrate before Him in total surrender – literally or physically. I am okay with that. I promise I am. I’m letting myself off the hook from that expectation.
4. I don’t always like hearing or repeating the newest trends in Christian jargon. Each year there is a different ‘catch phrase’. I’ll just speak normally–thank you very much. I’m letting myself off the hook.
5. I’ve spent many years journaling and nowadays I find little time to pen my thoughts and prayers. Maybe I will again. But for now, I’m letting myself off the hook!
6. I don’t have a need to be with the ‘in crowd’. I never really fit in anyway. I like being with all kinds of people. I’m okay with that and let myself off the hook.
7. I don’t’ beat myself up when I forget to pray for something or someone. I’m getting older and I don’t stay on top of those things like I used to. It’s okay. I refuse to beat myself up about it. I trust God to bring to remembrance everything I forget. He is Able and because of that, I let myself off the hook.

Bottom line, I am determined to let God be God in my life. I do not desire to exchange my walk with God for anyone else’s even though it looks picture perfect. Please don’t misunderstand me, I desire to be the best Christ-Follower I can be. I want to seek Him more and love Him more passionately every day. Like you, I want to serve Him more and be passionate about my worship and during my worship. I just can’t live up to the mile high expectations of what others believe a Follower of Jesus should look like. I want to live up to His expectations of me–not of someone else’s. The sweet Holy Spirit that lives inside of me is the one that charts my course. While my friend asked a great, piercing question, I’m letting myself off the hook from having to have the ‘million dollar answer’–the super spiritual answer. I just want to just be me and not need to impress anyone. How about you?

P.S. For everyone who has ever felt judged by me, I deeply apologize. Peace.

First Look:
+What scripture best conveys that being yourself is okay?

Through The Looking Glass:
+How might you let yourself off the hook from fulfilling others expectations of you?
+What does God expect of you and how can you please Him?

Posted in Hope, Issues of the Heart | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

6 Ways to Make a Godly Impact in 2013

Posted on January 3, 2013 by thelookingglassbykathy

new-years-resolutionsA New Year is always a good time to look back with thankfulness to God for His faithfulness. It’s also a time to look ahead with great anticipation as to how you can make an impact in the world around you for Christ. More than ever, 2013 can be your most impactful year yet!! The 6 ways listed below will be a challenge for me so pray for me and I will pray for you.

1. Act on impulse—When God brings something or someone to mind that He wants you follow-through on, don’t delay! Go ahead and make that call. Send that email or text. Stop by and visit. Stop procrastinating. Take care of it once and for all. Be obedient at the first whisper… You’d be surprised what an impact you could make!
2. Clear out the clutter—How can you spread your wings when your elbows hit the clutter every time you try? Clutter never allows you to fully have the impact for Christ you could have. It bogs you down. It keeps your feet muddied. Get rid of it and see what impact you could have!
3. Make that appointment with your doctor—You know, the ones you’ve been putting off last year? How can you make your best impact with looming unchecked health issues? Go ahead and make that appointment and watch your impact for Christ go from 1 to 10!!
4. Get your finances in order—Messed up financial health can strangle our creativity. We can’t even think straight because our money woes are always front and center. Christ and His purposes for our life need to take precedence but it can’t if we’re always tied up by our money troubles. Figure out how to get what you have in working order and watch God use you to impact your world for Him!
5. Get reacquainted with your family and friends—Life happens very quickly, doesn’t it? So much so that those closest to us often find themselves at the tail end of the receiving line. Make and take time to reconnect this year. Get in touch with a long-lost relative or friend. Make that long overdue apology if need be! Don’t let another year go by without making an impactful presence in the lives of those you love.
6. Change your plan—If you can never seem to follow through with the plans/goals/resolutions you’ve made, then change the way you’ve approached it. Seek wisdom from others who are successful at hearing the voice of God and mapping out goals. Renewing your mind is transformative (Romans 12:1-2) and allows you make the impact you desire.

Dear one, as you move through the New Year, I pray that you will allow God to help you lay aside the hindrances that so easily beset you (Hebrews 12:1) and run this race in such a way that you make an impact for Christ this year. Go ahead and get started!!

First Look:
+What additional scripture(s) can you claim this year that will solidify your impact in this world for Christ in 2013?

Through The Looking Glass:
+Talk to God today about the impact He wants you to have for Him and His Kingdom.
+Write down what He’s telling you or ask a Christ Follower to help you discern what God may be saying to you.
+Get started on making an impact!

Posted in Beginnings, Issues of the Heart, Lessons from Scripture, Spiritual truths | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment