Your Wheel

Lord, help me not to get back on the wheel, running, running, running, just trying to keep up. How about you? Or is yours Lord, help me to get off?  Or could it be that you don't even recognize that you are on a wheel? Think about it. What does your running wheel look like? What keeps you - sometimes needlessly? You see, while we all must live, it is the running after, running to, running from those things that causes us the needless pain. Tell me, what is your wheel? Ask Holy Spirit to identify that for you, and then ask what does it take to get off that wheel.  Send me what you have found. Let's all keep one another in prayer. enough for now.

One more thing. My latest book, Notes from a Desert Place, is available from Amazon, or from me on my website. www.jaiasistersministries.org.  

Yes, You Are

Just a thought. Take it in. Let the words permeate your spirit:
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or sword? . . . No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present not the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom. 8:35,37-39 NIV).

I too am convinced. . . You are more than a conqueror. enough for now.

Feel the Freshness

Have you ever walked around outside after a real hard rain, thunderstorm? Have you notice how clean, how fresh things appear? Yes, there are usually broken limbs and /or things blown out of place also. But have you noticed how fresh the air? I think sometimes storms blow through our lives just to dislodge weak stuff that just hangs on. Yeah, we don't like going through it, but when the storm is over- we can breathe anew- afresh-clear of junk that weighs our mind, our heart.

Sometimes the storm can be so small, yet it causes so much havoc in our mind. But when you decide to stand firm on God's promises; when you decide to live above it, live it out, live it through- then you can feel the freshness. And then you can think clearer. You see, between self and the enemy, you can get confused on what is happening. The storm is real, but your outcome can be different. Walk around, see what was dislodged- and thank God for it. Don't try to restore but walk on, renewed.

How about you?  Stand to see the storm through. Then thank God for your renewal on the oter side of the storm. enough for now.

Stand Still

Distractions will mess you. They cause you to look away from your intended goal. Stop. Think, look. Stand still. Get directions from Holy Spirit. And then move. Don't let distractions throw you off. enough for now.

Continuous Praise

"I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth" (Ps. 34:1 NASB). Let's try that today. Don't think about how it should look, just praise Him. You are reading this- start here. Start with thanksgiving and it will move to praise.  You can think about where you are, where you have been. Praise Him. Watch for what happen today. enough for now.

What is Your 'Go To'?

I was talking with a prayer partner the other night and we agreed that, as sisters, we need one another. Even as I write, I am reminded of a plaque my biological sister gave me long ago, "We are better together." Back to the conversation. We do need one another, iron sharpens iron. As we conversed, I shared my 'go to'. What is your 'go to'? You know when the one thing that plagues you pops up and you have that few minutes of panic. You could call that pop up your thorn in the flesh. What is your 'go to'?

My 'go to' has been consistently getting shorter. That is a good thing. I am consistently relying on the 'Backup' more. The 'Backup' has always been there but the 'go to' makes me feel I am in control, I am doing something. Oh yeah. You have a 'go to'.  First, what is the one thing that causes you fear, worry, distraction? Ask Holy Spirit to show you what it is. Then examine how you handle it. The crazy part is that it really is a distraction to throw you off track.  And it does. And then you move into 'save the farm', 'save yourself' mode. Your thinking is skewed, and you make mistakes, promises that are not real.

You see, the 'go to' is the panic.  The 'go to' appears to save the day, if it would happen. Oh but the 'Backup' is the peace. The 'Backup' is the rest afforded by Holy Spirit, as you get still and listen. Yeah, there may be a little 'go to' left but it is fleeting. It should be, as the 'Backup' is the hookup. The 'Backup' allows you clear seeing and thinking. You can get there, first recognize what is your 'go to' and start relying on your 'Backup'. enough for now.

Walking

Today, I such a peace in the midst of things not happening the way I want. I am floating as I allow what God has for me. It is so cool. My son called, and he also is moving in that peace. We all should. Yes, it is real because we walk by faith, not by sight. Let that sink in. enough for now.

Now

Why is it so difficult to get quiet? Why are we so afraid of the quiet? I offer that in the quiet we find out about ourselves; we face 'us'; and that is frightening. I also offer that we can hear God, and that is frightening to some. 

Come on, I'll go with you. Get still, we 

can get still together, right now, and listen. Do that now or as soon as you can. It really is time to get to a new place of awareness. enough for now.

Day by Day

Day by day. Yes, we are moving away from being stuck, from being disobedient to God. We do it day by day. Today, I had a twinge of "what am I going to do?" And just as quick, I remembered God's word to me. And I got up, eager to walk in this day.

Day by day. That is all we have, so we must take it day by day. Here's the cool part: Day by day we are promised that Holy Spirit walk with us as our paraclete guiding us. Enjoy this day that we have been given. Enjoy all that God has in store for you. Look around experience something you have not experienced before. It may have been something you have done before, but you can experience it in a whole new way. Day by day. Let me now how you are doing. enough for now.

Call me Jonah

"Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it"
(Hab. 2:1 NIV). I'm stuck right there- how about you? What has the Lord given you? What has He made the way into, or out of, for you? Oh, how many times do we forget? How many times do we run?

Call me Jonah. I'm confessing. I'm tired of running away from what God has by trying to tweak it. You see, He has made ways so many times when I let go and allowed His will to permeate my life. Yes, it takes a letting go. Today I wrote down what God has shown me, and today I move toward that with passion. No, we never get the whole picture- the whole journey, but to get started is a major consideration of the journey. You see, to get started is to acknowledge that you are trusting His will for your life.

Don't get me wrong, life will throw stuff at you to get you off track- to distract- to abort your mission. And yes, it can get rough- but just . . . when . . . you . . . are . . . at . . . your . . . wits end . . . GOD! And then you recognize that He was there all along, that much of what you went through was needless energy.

I'm tired of running. I'm moving. I'm following. I'm walking in my name- not Jonah, but Emily- beloved -daughter. How about you? Write down the vision, make it plain. Keep it where you can see it. Work on it everyday. Yes, you do have time- even if you reread it. And go with it. enough for now.

Community is Key

So much has happened and probably even more than I know. I love how God works, and then how we can see His works-if we are watching. After being with other believers, I am clear, that one can recognize easier the Divine works of God. One can definitely share easier when with believers. It is that strong sense of community, that fellowship - anywhere. Community is key. Do you have community with other believers? enough for now.