Tag: plan

Steep in His Love

Karla Lees

Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Matthew 6:33 MSG

Afraid of missing out?

I know I am at times…maybe more than I am comfortable admitting!

There are days where I don’t get in those things I love to do, such as a freshly steeped cuppa tea to start off or end my day.  I miss my tea when I don’t make the time for it.

lightstock_101455_xsmall_karla_leesThe same can be said for our daily quiet time:  our faith needs daily steeping as well.

The Bible reminds us all that God is there for us in a real, life-altering way.

He extends His hand in a love driven offer for you:
To be with You.
To care for You.
To love You.

Honestly, I  need to reread the above verse from Matthew every day.

For it reminds me He is just waiting to help us.

He promises in His Word to provide for us, in every way we need, each day.

Just like tea, the more we steep in Him for our daily needs, the stronger the faith we will develop!

It’s time to come and soak, and let Him steep the truth of who He is deep within us, as we daily depend on Him to strengthen us, for….

He is real! – we are in relationship with a tangible touchable living God!

He started it!– All things start in Him, and as our Maker He knws how to best help us become the “us” He designed, made & hopes for.

He will provide! – He promises as we seek Him & give Him first place, our needs will be met.

Let Him take our daily rawness, and make something more wonderful as we steep in His Presence.

May we end up a sweet offering, pleasing to our King!

Note: this post was based upon my daily devotion which posted today at Remade Ministries, an organization designed to help women be remade in His hands:

http://remade-ministries.org/devotion/strengthen-your-faith/

how the weight of His glory can fall like snow

Karla Lees

How much does a snowflake weigh?

Someone who measures such things determined that an individual snowflake weighs 0.02* grams. At that weight it would take 50 flakes to make a gram. For comparison, a Hershey’s kiss weighs 4.7 grams – equal to about 235 snowflakes. There are about 95 kisses in a pound. Using the kiss-to-snow crystal calculator that comes to 22,325 snowflakes/pound.
*this would be the heaviest end of the spectrum. Most are much lighter, weighing from 0.001 to 0.003 grams.

In reality, it’s hard to measure the weight of a snowflake. For one thing, each snowfall is different. Some snow is light and fluffy, and some is heavy and wet. That’s due to the water content in the snow, which is related to the temperature high in the clouds where the flakes began forming, and the temperature of the air they fall through.

Quote from: http://archimedesnotebook.blogspot.ca/2011/01/how-much-does-snowflake-weigh.html?m=1

An individual snowflake doesn’t weigh much in the big scheme of things.  Yet God designed each one uniquely, placing great care in its creation.

And despite its miniscule weight, it still manages to fall to earth, again as part of God’s plan.

Why am I bringing up snowflakes during winter?

Because of last night.

Last night, while worshipping, I “saw” how snow & the weight of His glory relate in how they both fall.

Each snowflake is designed for a purpose, and only fulfills that purpose when it falls with the rest of the snowflakes in the same snowfall or storm.

On its own, it isn’t particularly heavy, but when you add up the weight it forms when it piles up, it can be quite significant.

Each snowflake’s composition is perfect for the design of its fall, the exact amount of water contained within to be the perfect part of the team alongside the other snowflakes….all unique yet made to fall together.

There are two ways snow is a great example of the weight of His glory.

We are all like those snowflakes. And He will perfectly fill us with the right amount of water (living water, His Presence) so we are filled for the purpose we are to live out that day….so we can share it with those around us.

His glory? Its weight falls like the snowflake. Perfectly attuned and made for its recipient.  And when a group gathers seeking His Presence, the weight of His glory gets heavier, as He falls on everyone in the room.  Some can sense it landing heavily, others sense a light touch.  He uniquely meets each of us with the exact right weight, more than enough for us in that exact moment, but never exactly like someone else’s.

Just like each snowflake, God’s Presence falls on each of us how He knows it will best soak in & water us.

When the weight of His glory falls heavily, as a heavy snowstorm can cause traffic to come to a standstill, so does time seem to come to a standstill.  The air gets thick, charged with power and spiritual electricity as He enters the room in His majesty.

The weight of His glory
falls snowflake by snowflake
until the full weight
of His tangible Presence
descends:
soaking in,
cleansing,
refreshing
as Heaven
meets earth
in a fantastic
exchange.

Unlike how we have no control over the snowfall, we can ask God to come to us.

His word promises He will come when we seek Him:

Timing is the Father’s business. What you’ll get is the Holy Spirit.

 -Jesus, Acts 1:8

He will come when we seek Him. Exactly how & the when is up to Him.  Who He falls on with the weight of His glory? That depends on us:

Read the Word.  The God you find described there is real, and wants a real relationship with you.

Take some time to seek Him every day.  Even a five minute break can be used by Him to refresh you.  An extended period of time where you just seek and wait for Him? Even better. Even in the midst of being about His business on a short timetable, Jesus still made the time to spend with His Father:

As often as possible Jesus withdrew to out-of-the-way places for prayer.

Luke 5:16 MSG

Worship Him for who He is.  He loves to be praised, and promises to live where He is honored & lifted high:

Yet you are holy,enthroned on the praises of Israel, Your people.

Psalm 22:3 ESV

Thank Him for what He has done. For making you His. For caring for you. For the blessings He has already poured out on you and the ones He promises are to come:

I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

Jeremiah 29:11 MSG

Believe He will come:

Because you’re not yet taking God seriously,” said Jesus. “The simple truth is that if you had a mere kernel of faith, a mustard or  poppy seed, say, you would tell this mountain, ‘Move!’ and it would move. There is nothing you wouldn’t be able to tackle.

Matthew 17:20 MSG

Just like the snow, which continues to fall, so will the weight of His glory when we keep seeking Him.

It may feel like a snowflake landing on your nose. It may be  like a tingle or charge of static electricity. It may feel like a heaviness on your shoulders. It may feel like a heat wave, a fresh burst of wind, bubbling up joy or a peace unlike any you have ever known.

He will come. Just as sure as winter will always come again!

(PS. Here is a great song to hear to help set the atmosphere to seek Him: Weight of Glory)

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Image from: http://www.kidzworld.com

when no is the final answer

Karla Lees

All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

Matthew 5:37 NIV

When the phone rings, the letter or the email arrives, a person inquires and a request is involved, God gives us two options of response.

Notice pray about it isn’t one of them in the verse above.  In the context of the paragraph this verse comes from in Matthew 5, oaths are being discussed.

We are not to make oaths or swear on the life of a family member.  We are to let our yes’ be yes, and no’s be no.  We are to keep the words that come out of our mouth as  promises.

Other than making a few key ones into covenants, God deals with us in promises.

He will be with us.
He is with us.
He loves us.
He is for us.
We are His.

These are just a tip of the promises God reveals His character and heart through to us.

God’s Yes and No are set once they are spoken. He doesn’t say what He doesn’t mean.

Our responses are to be the same.

Over the past few weeks, I covered a few extra shifts at one job, and gave 2 months notice to my other one of my shift changes (I set my own hours at this one) as a result.  Once I committed to working those set shifts, my promise was given.

Unless there is a medical or major emergency beyond my control, I try to keep my yesses.

I also have been learning that if I have to ask God about it, it is likely a no. 

If I don’t know whether it fits with my gifts, talents, time or family life- its a no. 

If it is a major request such as sponsoring, if the budget can’t stretch, its a no. 

If it isn’t something I am passionate about, or directly helping someone in need, its a no. 
If its a one off, then I will know immediately if it sits right with me, especially if its relationship building. If not, you guessed it- no.

If it is going to become all about me if I step into it, its a no.

I am not called to be anyone else but me.

Just because someone thinks it might be something I should do, doesn’t mean it is.

By now, I have a pretty good grasp of who I am, flaws & all, and saying no has been an issue in the past when I was more insecure.

I realize now that stepping out when I wasn’t to be was a huge contributing factor for insecurity sneaking its way in.

Stepping out where we are meant to trod, we know the yes that lead us there was meant to be.

There are many things we are all capable of doing.

Then there are the gifts that inspire the happy place within to burst forth and passionately spread as we use it, let it grow and deepen.

There will always be requests to answer.

Yes or No.

Maybe, let me think about it, and I will get back to you are not part of Matthew 5:37.

Simple, yet complex at the same time if you don’t know yourself very well.

If the asker won’t like you for saying no, that is their problem.

God blesses us when we walk where He is guiding us. Don’t add undue stress by veering off the path trying to impress, or by mollycoddling someone’s feelings.

Let your yes be yes, and your no be no.

The enemy already has enough options to try and attack us on.  Don’t give up any unnecessary ground because you are more concerned about another’s feelings than God’s plan for you.

And my last comment?
Don’t apologize, simply say no.

You don’t need to explain.
They shouldn’t push you for one.

Your boundaries should be in place to have the confidence enough to answer yes or no, and end of discussion.

Do you ever have a problem saying no?  Can you relate?

There is a freedom found in saying yes to the best and no to the rest.

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As you press close to His Presence, may God help you know who you are, and how He is calling you to fulfill your purpose. 

Reason #2 to Give Thanks: When it Clicks

Karla Lees

When something somehow goes right despite your fears or concerns, somehow clicking into place unexpectedly- I give God thanks.

Coz when I invite Him in to the situation or day, He was there, and is the main reason for success when things click!  

Knowing He is always with me reminds me the praise i owe the Giver of my gifts, especially when I come to the end of my strength and ask Him to take over.

For all the times when things work out, despite all that might try to distract or remind me how impossible success will be, I give thanks! Each and every time!

Early this morning, I headed as usual on the first of two buses to an admin job I work part time. The bus schedules just changed this week with the return to school, and my usual bus was in fact an express which bypasses the connection depot I needed to catch my next bus at.
I got off on the first stop passed, crossed the road and prayed asking God to let the right bus cone as soon as possible to get me to the depot. 30 seconds later, the bus arrived, and within 10 minutes I was at the depot.

My next bus (now bus 3 instead of 2) was still waiting at the depot, and I walked right on.

To my delight & surprise, a former coworker was the scheduled bus driver!

If I had caught the first correct bus, I would have missed being on her route at that time!

God made everything click so we could reconnect, even having me take the wrong bus!

Once again, I offer Him thanks for lining up all the pieces to fit together according to His design for me today!

I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart; I will recount all of your wonderful deeds. Psalm 9:1

To you, O God of my fathers, I give thanks and praise, for You have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of You. Daniel 2:23

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when the world & heaven collide…Herod

Karla Lees

There was once a king.
Not born a king, but appointed.
A very paranoid king, he wiped out all opposition to his throne, real or perceived: at least one wife, one son, a few other relations. He was known as the butcher in some circles. His name?

Herod.
image
image from the Nativity Story

Not to be confused with his son & namesake, Herod Antipas, this Herod was called ‘the Great’ historically. But I am going to call him Herod for the post today. For he too was just a man.

When our Advent story took place, Herod was in power, established on the throne of Israel by Rome.
Rome had a way of collecting taxes and constantly being on the look out for rebellion, two things Herod too took part in regularly. The Jews were heavily taxed, not only for their usual temple tax, but Herod’s expensive building fund (Masada, and several more landmarks) and Rome’s demands on top. Many in Israel were struggling to make ends meet, especially in the smaller towns with less industry.

Now Herod ruled by keeping a very close eye on the pulse of Israel. He knew the Jews (of which he had become one in order to rule, but was not born to it) were waiting for the Messiah, and like the rest of Israel, they all expected a man to announce himself, one who will free Israel by force from Rome’s grip.

It is most likely Herod was keeping an eye on any perceived Messiah contenders, and would have had a plan in place to swiftly deal with any who would appear. Remember, Herod killed his own flesh & blood, so there is not a lot of compassion going on within this ruler.

Enter the wise men into this already powder keg situation.
They arrive in Jerusalem, and announce themselves to the palace to meet King Herod.

Not to offer platitudes or humble themselves before him, but to ask assistance to locate the baby King of the Jews who is about to be or has been recently born!

I believe this set off a fury in Herod that has only been matched a few times in history, and cemented his rule as blood thirsty for all time, but not immediately set into action.

First, he asked the wise men to return and let him know where they found the child so He too could worship him, the new King of the Jews. Sneaky strategy to ask genuine seekers to help betray the one they seek.

When they were warned not to return to Herod, I believe the full impact of what they had accidentally done must have weighed heavy on the wise men’s hearts.

When they failed to return to Herod within the expected timeline, his rage exploded, and he decided to kill every male infant from birth to 2 years in a set targeted area. And swiftly set his troops out to do his bidding.

How this must have echoed the murder of the Jewish baby boys in Egypt to the Israelites. A second targeted annihilation attempting to foil God’s plans for deliverance, at great cost to His people.

We know how this story ends, but in that moment, Herod’s plan would have looked like it was a success, and the mourning wail that arose? The sound of hair raising grief at such loss.

When heavengriefearth collide, God is not surprised.
He never is when evil raises its head to strike.
He made a way….

More on that tomorrow!

#TheWhenSeries
#AdventuresinAdvent
#LoveCameDown

on the road to Bethlehem

Karla Lees

We left off with Joseph & Mary on the long trek to Bethlehem.

Still on the road…

I wonder if Mary asked,  “Are we there yet?!” as her womb started sending signals it was full and had had enough.

I wonder how sick of leading the donkey and being on his feet all day Joseph was?

How the outdoors only reminded them both of how much they wanted to be back home already, resting indoors. Census over and done.

Instead, the road continued to stretch out in front of them, still needing to be traveled.

Can you relate?

I often grow tired of my daily walk.  I fail to see the purpose in endlessly folding laundry, constantly washing dishes, ceaselessly cleaning the house, just to do it all over again.
The familiar, the routine, the repetition. Dreary with doing the same jobs, traveling the same roads over and over…

Not all that different than finding ourselves on the road to Bethlehem again.

Except this year, I am determined to not take the Advent story for granted.

Having been raised with it, it can seem like a pointless journey to take again each December, save for this fact:

The arrival of Jesus changed everything.  God reached down, touched an average woman and folded Jesus into her womb, to slowly grow until He was to emerge and meet His creation face to face, God with us.

In the familiar, the routine, the repetition, we find we are no longer alone.  We have been met in our humanity, in the dreary drudgery of our daily to do list. By the God who wants us to be known, embrace us in our hurts, bind our brokenness, restore our energy, guide our steps, helping us move beyond the words and enter the story.

You see, God knew the road we were traveling was a dead end without His intervention.

The road to Bethlehem was always part of God’s plan. 

For Jesus was meant to be born in David’s city, fulfilling the promise God gave David so many generations before- the Deliverer was coming.

But first, He needs to be delivered into the world.

Picture weary Mary, struggling to get comfortable in her last weeks of her pregnancy…whether on the donkey, or lying down.

See Joseph limping from the rough terrain, shoulders sore from guiding the occasionally stubborn donkey, stomach rumbling from the excursion.

The road to Bethlehem was a labour of love. 

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Not only through Joseph and Mary’s obedience, nor Jesus’ impending delivery…

God labored to bring Advent about: the dream, the decision, the preparation, the effort & the teamwork within the Trinity- all designed to collide with humanity at the end of the road to Bethlehem.

God had every right to be weary of us. Selfish sinful flesh. Wanting our own way. Discontent until we could connect with our Creator, helpless to make the changes we needed in ourselves to make it happen.

So God decided to make it happen for us. To make the way for us.

The #AdventuresinAdvent are only part of the way to the big finale. 

I can only hope that like me, God is stirring up the desire to see His story, His gift to us all, in a fresh light. To be struck with the wonder awaiting us at the end of the road ahead.

slow cooked

Karla Lees

I love coming home after a long day’s work to dinner being ready to serve, with only one pot to wash.  I plan my meals around our crazier nights to make it easier on us all by having dinner cook slowly throughout the day, instead of a mad dash to get it ready once I get through the door.

One of the women in a bible study I am attending this summer brought up how she thought that God was a slow cooker.

I immediately caught what she meant.

In this age of instant expectation & the rush of the drive thru, we can miss the blessing that can come through preparing ahead, which is something you have to do with a slow cooker.

A tough piece of meat can soften over the long cooking process when the slow cooker is placed on low, and come out tender and as soft as butter. Many people put less expensive cuts of meat in, knowing this slow cooking process will tenderize it to taste like a premium cut.

God does the same with us.

He has prepared a place for us, and the path for us to make it there.  If we place our lives in His hands, as imperfect and hardened flesh needing to be softened and remodeled, He tenderizes and makes us into the best us we can be with His loving care. Our hearts, our minds, our souls.

We tend to think God should do everything in an instant, but we only think as far as we can see. God has had a plan in place from the instant He began creation, to unveil His full plan for each and everyone He has ever and will ever create on earth. 

His plan has spanned the entirety of human history.

The ultimate slow cooker, indeed.

I don’t get stressed out anymore about what is coming up ahead tomorrow, or the day after that…

As I continue to offer my whole self to Him, He continues to slowly shape me into the whole me He planned, moment by moment, day by day…

The slow cooking process can feel too long, but in His hands I will be the best result possible!

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transposing

Karla Lees

God is patient transfiguring all the notes of my life into the song of His Son. – Ann Voskamp

As His child, my life has a purpose beyond the ordinary.

I don’t state that to claim I am special, as each and every one of the people who ever have, do or will walk the earth has the same possibilty- a purpose prepared just for them by God.

The same God who is waiting to take their/our ordinaryness and make it/us extraordinary.

Because of what He will do through and in us.
Not just because He made us, but because He wants to keep making us into our best us.

When we surrender our all to God, to Jesus, He begins to whispers His plan for our bring made new to us.

Ultimately, we are the clay, waiting on the shelf or wheel to be spun at exactly the Potter has planned:

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

-Eph 2:10 ESV

The next time you are having s particularly bad day, remember to keep your eyes on Jesus and the fact that God isn’t finished with us yet!

He is patiently waiting. 😉
To make something even more beautiful than we can imagine!!

life is choice

Karla Lees

If love is an open door,
life must be an open road.

Both involve choices.

The path you end up taking depends on your choice, and no one else’s.

When you make a bad choice, you veer off the path you were meant to take, and enter a door you were meant to leave shut.

Both have consequences.

Being in the wrong place at the right time can leave you scarred, hurt, in pain, alone, pregnant, hungover or find you waking up somewhere you never expected.

Aligning yourself with the negative can drain the positive until before you know it, you are running on empty.

But you have never gone too far down the path for God to bring you back.

You can leave that room and close that door once and for all.

I am living proof.

When I have hit my lowest, God has been there to remind me just how loving & powerful He is, and how much bigger He is than the situation I am facing.

Not being in the drivers seat is a blessing in disguise when the Driver has perfect up close & long term vision.

Spending time with Him at the wheel helps us to safely navigate what might otherwise cause us to swerve and crash.

Taking the time to wait and pause before making major decisions is also one of the best ways of opening the right door. So is heeding when you are told not to go through a door.

If God has plans for us to prosper, bless and flavour us, why do we tend to rush on in without waiting?

I think most of us are afraid life will pass us by, and we will miss out.
We will miss that one thing we are meant to do, and as a result, miss our purpose for being here.

If you are spending time in His presence, listening for and to His voice, and living life in His Kingdom, you will not miss out.

He promises we will inherit. Those who press in for Him will find Him. He gives wisdom to all who ask.

Life can be a highway to those of us going too fast, moving at our own speed.

I think life is more like a back road passing through a community, connecting us with purpose, help and family.

But most importantly, love is an open door.

The single most important decision you can make in your life is opening the door of your heart to allow God in.

The choice is up to you.

How your life will unfurl depends on it.
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strong in the broken

Karla Lees

Perhaps strength doesn’t reside in never having been broken, but in the courage to grow strong in the broken places.

@BlessedTeens tweet, July 6th, 2014

If you have been broken, you can become strong again.

Broken does not mean ready for the discard pile, as the world views broken things, people, dreams.

Broken in the Kingdom means God is able to rebuild you better than you were before.

Broken means pliable, use-able, willing.

Pliable in God’s hands.
Useful for His plans.
Willing to be His, despite your brokenness.

I never dreamed God could use me….product of a broken home, too young when my innocence was stolen. Sensitive, artsy, lonely and bottled up inside to keep the hurt & brokenness from coming near the surface.

Because the world sees brokenness as not worth the time repairing.

God sees brokenness for what it is, the main reason He came to earth.

To restore the broken.

Who are the broken?

Every person who has been hurt, ever.

Every person who has been rejected, ever.

Every person who has been battered, physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually.

Ever.

Jesus came yo let us know that the lowliest in the status order meant as much to Him as the upper class.

For we are all broken, although we may not always show it to those around us.

God not only sees our brokenness, and the pain, hurt, anguish and turmoil it causes us…He experienced it.

Jesus died broken.
Physically brutalized.
Emotionally drained.
Mentally mocked and ridiculed.
Spiritually feeling disconnected.
As He died on the cross
Publically.

His sacrifice switched how we view brokenness forever.

God loves us so much, He has made a way for all who are broken.

To be made whole again.

To have a purpose.

To live out the plan He has for us.

To be loved, to receive love.

To know without a shadow of a doubt:

Brokenness is not a sign of shame.

Brokenness in our Creator’s hands becomes our strength as His strength and healing flows into the places where we are, to become were, broken.

He takes the broken shards, and like a mosaic, fashions something even more amazing than the original. The new us He knew we would be when we place our shatteredness in His hands.

Take courage if you are in a season of brokenness.

God will come.

God is here.

God restores.

Nothing is impossible for Him.

No brokenness, no matter what it is, places you out of His reach.

Anything is possible. 😉