Slow down...Jesus is up ahead

So, maybe I’ll write more. I’ve come to really enjoy writing. I enjoy sharing things God is teaching me or has taught me. And I hope He ministers to you as you read my blogs. Feel free to write to me or share thoughts back. I enjoy hearing from you. Yesterday afternoon, it was kind of rainy. I put on some acoustic music and a candle and was just relaxing. It felt so good.

I’m not always the most disciplined person, although I am getting better. But I want to make a note today, how starting your day with the Lord makes all the difference. I know everyone has jobs, or school, or homework, or sports, or other activities. And I’ve had those days where I don’t see a possible way to sit down and make time with the Lord. But I’m learning that it’s impossible not to. On the craziest days (and every day), I’ve found that if I make that time to slow down and meet with Jesus, everything else seems to fall in to place. Magically, all the work that seems overwhelming doesn’t seem so bad, and Jesus is a great guy to do your work with ;-)

So many people, myself included, just rush through our days much of the time. We don’t take time to “stop and smell the flowers.” And it’s like we’re flying down this road, not paying attention to anything and we miss the whole “Slow down...Jesus is up ahead.” So we go flying by, only to realize a few days down the road, that we completely missed Him and never connected with Jesus. My challenge to myself, and to any of you who have sat down to read this is to make that time every morning to start your day with the Lord. It’ll change your life.

Stagnant Christianity

Mental Picture-- Imagine you are standing on the edge of a stagnant body of water. The air is dank and musty. A nasty film has formed over the top of the water. There is this wretched smell coming from beneath the stale water. Is this a pleasant area? Is this a top-hit vacation spot? Unless you are Oscar the Grouch, probably not.

I think many times our lives can become like that stagnant body of water. Nothing appears to be moving in our lives and there is no sign of real life. And when our lives hit this point, when all forms of growth have stopped, I see a need to be totally refreshed. There needs to be that “filter” to get all the junk out, and to cleanse. And there needs to be a source of life. Like a spring bringing in new life.

I’ve had a deep desire to dig deeper in to the Lord, to dig in to his Word, to spend quality time with Him, and to spend time learning, and putting myself near those who are wiser and have walked with the Lord longer than I have. My heart does not want to find myself being a stagnant body of water somewhere down the road.

I find that when there are those times where we feel stuck, just being God’s presence can change everything. I wanted that to be a reminder as we head in to school, and jobs, and continue on in life. Don’t hesitate to call friends and ask for prayer or call adults you trust, to just pray with you. Prayer changes things. Please know that you can have a deep joy, and you can be filled with that spring of life-Jesus.

And please don't hesitate to call or text me or email me if you need prayer for anything or someone to talk to about what's going on in your life.

Much love~Lisa

Stressed Out?

I've really come to believe that stress is one of the biggest footholds the enemy can have in a person's life. When narrowed down, it looks like stress is basically a lack of peace. (Because being stressed is a strain on our emotions, etc.) Well, how many times has God said in His word that He will give us peace? How many times does it say that HE IS the GOD of PEACE? And yet, how many people do we see and how many times may we even be guilty ourselves of just claiming, "I'm so stressed out." I feel like, in essence, it's basically saying, "Well, right now I have so much going on that it doesn't matter that God says He'll give me peace. I'm just stressed." It's like we feel we have a right to be stressed out with multiple situations. And I really believe that stress is not from God...therefore it is from the devil and one of his big tools. And so if we're walking around claiming we're stressed out, we're not taking the time to seek God's peace in our lives and we're not walking in Him.

Please don't misunderstand my heart. Some situations are flat out HARD. I think it's normal for us to cry and that God sees our tears. I don't think peace suddenly makes the situation ok. But I DO BELIEVE that God can give peace in the midst of ANY SITUATION. And I've seen Him give me peace in very difficult times in my own life. And do believe His peace can be there no matter what's going on.


You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you! ~Isaiah 26:3