Discoveries of Old

Last night, as I was looking for a particular book, I discovered a letter I had written in 2003, outlining the beginning conception of Joy In The Morning.  It was an ordained discovery of extended proportions.

Still I persisted to find the book I sought, and once found, I opened it.  Psalm 31:15 was a part of the text that leapt off the page:  "My times are in Your hands."

The two items now divinely coupled together were more than my finite mind could absorb.

Glory!  So thankful for the lifeline of His Word and His Spirit!

I, like many of you, wrestle with the manner of how days, weeks, months, and perhaps even years unfold. None of the elements are under any one individual's control, but I find deep resounding solace that they are all under God's sovereignty.

Life's righteous challenge is persistently seeking God's pleasure through personal responsibility and obedience while entering into His rest through the gateway of His sovereignty and His character.

It's a high bar to be certain; and one that unfortunately many won't even attempt to hit once; much less dedicate an entire lifetime to mastering.

Fifteen years may seem like a long time, and without argument, a lot of life has indeed been lived.  But even now, I answer His call to look under the surface at the many seeds He has asked me to mindfully place into the ground He bestowed unto me.  I don't know when, but according to who HE is and what HE has spoken a beautiful harvest IS coming.

I encourage those who have faithfully planted.  God has not and will not forget the seeds you have sown, and though we, the sower, do not determine the yield, a yield will come!

"Sow your seed in the morning, and at evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well."  Ecc 11:6

I encourage those who have yet to begin sowing righteous seeds of personal responsibility and obedience. Get on with it! Man up; woman up! Time is short!

"Whatever you do, do it with all your might. For when you go to the grave, there will be no work or planning or knowledge or wisdom."  Ecc 9:10

Aim for the highest bar;

for He is and forever will be The Great I Am!

I will betroth you to Me forever;

I will betroth you in righteousness and justice,

in love and compassion.

I will betroth you in faithfulness,

and you will acknowledge the Lord.

Hosea 2:19-20

Your sister in Christ,
Deborah

Where's Your Construction Site?

There is a song with the following lyrics:

"There's a place where fear has to face the God you know
One more day, He will make a way."

How many dear souls I personally know in the here and now holding out for the "one more day"!

Some are desperately wondering, "Can I even hold on for one more day, Lord??"

People are going through some STUFF.
There's a shaking going on.
Surely you sense, feel, and see it!
From personal to national to global.

I am convinced that:
- the shaking is necessary
- the shaking is divinely appointed
- the shaking will reveal exactly what ground each of us is building upon.

"Everyone then who hears these words of Mine and DOES THEM will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did NOT fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of Mine and does NOT do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and GREAT was the fall of it." Matthew 7: 24-27

The storm is greatly upon us.

Question: where has YOUR house been built?

Upon obedience.... (the rock)?
Upon disobedience... (the sand)?

Upon submission.... (the rock)?
Upon rebellion.... (the sand)?

Upon self-control.... (the rock)?
Upon indulgence ..... (the sand)?

And the list goes on.

This morning in church the congregation acknowledged and thanked the senior pastor for twenty years of service. What an incredible legacy God has and continues to build on the life of a humble man sold out to God's Word, the Church, and keeping Christ at the center of his personal walk.  I admire him, and I don't say that about many.

But that said, I found myself pondering before the Lord, "What have I accomplished for You in twenty years, Lord?" Oof.

That's a bold question, but one every single one of us has to find the courage to ask.  Honest assessment.

One day, each of us WILL stand before God and face His assessment, so we might as well courage-up, and, in the presence of the Holy Spirit, listen to Him with both ears and heart wide open NOW.

If needs be, let Him change your construction site.  His blue-print is the only one that counts.

Getting on with it,

Deborah

Transition Season Underway

This summer...a mere three months away...will mark five years.  Five very demanding years in corporate America as the Director of Human Resources at a highly successful, nationally known business.  Who saw that coming six years ago?  Not I, I assure you!

I am very proud of what has been accomplished during my tenure, but greater still, I stand in awe at what God graciously poured out.  I'm not hardwired to give anything less than my best to whatever I put my hands to... and this season has been no exception.... it was no exception for God either; always His best... always.

He demonstrated, yet again, good things come when we co-labor in obedience with Him.  That said, God has made it clear, much to my CEO's chagrin, that a transition season is underway.

I have selected my successor, though I have not determined exactly when I will officially hand the baton over.  I will determine the "when" as God brings that aspect into focus. Until that appointed time, my successor will be a huge, huge asset as I begin reassessing and redirecting my time and attention.

For the immediate, He is leading me into a season of recovery and reflection, a different kind of "R&R".  It will be structured and cocooned; insulated and divinely protected from the clamor of the outside world. I do have a solid sense that on the other side of this recovery and reflection season awaits energy and purpose as I have yet to know. That knowledge alone gives needed oxygen to this mere flicker of The Flame. ☺

Who knows.... maybe you'll actually see more of me here, including trite and trivial entries from every day living.  I haven't taken the time to do that since 2013!  So here's to sharing ... to whatever degree.  Perhaps I'll even find YOU here on the pages.... leave a comment...even if it's a brief hello!

Here's to serving our grand God as He directs! So very, very thankful for Him... AND His family!

In Him, For Him, and By Him always....

Deborah

WWJD?

WWJD? was a movement that began in the 1990s, and it stood for "What would Jesus do?"

As trite as that might sound on the surface as perhaps something overheard like a "top hit" song, I do believe there is a greater way to live if one makes it through the surface to explore what those four words truly represent.

As Christmas Day quickly approaches and those of us in the Christian family reflect on the coming of our Savior, I pray many stop to measure and assess their daily choices up against the character of Christ.... after all that is the true meaning of being a Christian... being found in His image, doing as He would do.

In this hurry up, get there, me first society, how are we doing?  I know at my place of business I personally come into contact with at least 500 people on a daily basis. Let me tell you, the challenge is REAL to keep BOTH action and heart upright before Him!

I get it.... it is very difficult to deal with the avalanche of selfishness (ourselves counted therein!) on a daily, minute by minute basis, that wants the world to be exactly as it perceives it should be to suit itself.

But I do believe we were more on track during the WWJD movement than we currently are, and I do believe it would benefit if we would get back to asking ourselves as we roll out of bed, as we interact with family members, as we get behind the wheel of a car, as we interact with the public, and as we roll back into bed at night....

WHAT WOULD JESUS DO?   

Cause I am confident He would be doing life VERY differently than the way most of us are doing it currently.

Let us not just celebrate His coming this Christmas, but let us make it our daily task to truly become disciples in His image... after all, we are to be His image bearers.

Go in righteous, peace, and joy....

For the Kingdom of God
is not a matter of eating and drinking, 

but of righteousness, peace, and joy
in the Holy Spirit.

Romans 14:17

♡

Twenty Five Years and Counting

There I stood in the third card aisle of the third store.

"Who writes these??"   I was attempting to find an anniversary card for my husband of twenty five years.

Then it hit me.  If statistics are true, chances are those who write the plethora of cards that fill the card aisles, particularly in the realms of marriage and anniversaries, are woefully lacking LIFE experience in the areas for which they are writing the cards.

Far from capturing the very real, tangible essence of the refining, rubber-meets-the-road, unconditional love that my marriage has been constructed under for the past twenty five years, I had to settle ....because after the third store and seeing many of the same cards at each store... it became clear: the contenders filling the aisles really had no idea what twenty five years of marriage under the tutelage of Christ entails...nor yields!

Last night as my husband and I were out to supper and as we strolled back to our car, my hand in his, I couldn't help looking at this man and thinking, "Who were we 25 years ago?!"  - because I know neither of us, (With an abundantly thankful heart, thank You, Jesus!), is remotely the same person we were then.

There is so much nonsense bantered about when people speak of marriage...especially to those just starting out....often spoken by those not married or those married for a short time, such as "don't lose yourself".

Hum.... that's the ENTIRE point ....not just to marriage, but to life:  to lose yourself ... to die to yourself... for the sake of another. It's in the Bible!  Look it up....study it.... it's meant to be walked out!

Somewhere along the way, if you claim to be a Christ-follower, an EPIC battle WILL take place.... make no mistake about this. And in the battle, you will have a paramount choice to make: die to self or live for self.

A Christian marriage takes the two individual epic battles to a whole other level; a level that I do not believe can be adequately described, only experienced.

One of the many observations I have made over the years as I have observed numerous marriages is the rush to make paramount decisions in the heat of the moment(s).

In my own marriage, I dedicated long ago not to outpace the Lord.  What this meant is that there were times when my husband and I were at odds for lengthy periods of time...lengthy.

The death of self can indeed be a lengthy process.... a process that we, as Christ-followers, do NOT get to select the ways and means.... a process that we must be committed to with patience AND endurance.

At the end of the day, we each must decide how we represent Christ to not just the "blanket world" - but to the closest of close in our life.

Through us will they ultimately taste His forgiveness or our ravenous flesh-driven hunger for justice?
Through us will they ultimately hear His call to righteousness or our offended flesh's demands?

I'm not saying be a door-mat, quite the opposite in fact.  We are to be as iron sharpening iron.  This process only occurs, "If one of the pieces is heated up significantly, it (then) becomes ductile and hence can be sharpened by the other one."   We tend to RUN from heat, but what we fail to realize much of the time is heat comes from the holiness of God and IS transformational.

My message this morning to all those married:  be patient... don't run from the heat, whether it be upon you or your spouse... and most importantly, be disciplined to endure for the sake of your spouse, which is the heart of God.

Marriage: it's a reverent walk together towards holiness..... 

a journey well worth the taking.

Persistent Parenting Is Persistent Discipleship

I get it.... you're tired.  You've BEEN tired... and you're STILL tired...

..... but please do not give up...  do not stop short!

I've been at this parenting adventure for twenty two years and counting.... and I'm not done...even with my eldest.

Sorry to bust your bubble if you thought this particular race has a finish line.

It doesn't.

I have come to realize that though the provision part of raising them eventually concludes, the discipleship of them has no point of conclusion.... nor should it have (!) ....especially in this culture and climate that is particularly hostile towards God and those aspiring to live a God-centered life.   Make no mistake: though you may choose to silence your voice for even but a mere moment.... the world absolutely will not silence its voice.  This walk...this Christian walk... is a walk of vigilance!

Weekly....if not daily... I challenge my adult children concerning their aspirations and goals: Is God at the center, driving those aspirations and goals?

It is not enough to simply say yes.... but HOW?  There should be notable action steps behind the "yes" perception.

Such conversations are not always 100% hackle-free, but I make no apologies for getting in their space and holding them accountable to their daily choices.  While those choices are their future, and they are either life-giving choices or death-making choices, beyond their well-being.... OH, PLEASE HEAR THIS!.... they are a part of the bigger picture.... The Church picture... The Bride of Christ picture:

Am I doing my part to bring weight to THAT awareness?  Are they being made into "without spot or wrinkle" -- or are they knowingly contributing spots and wrinkles to the Bride of Christ??

As a parent, are you asking THIS weighty question first and foremost of yourself... and then secondly, to those in your charge?

This is paramount!

I am convinced less and less Christian parents are.  Let's face it, on a daily basis, it is far easier to let such issues slide than to contend for righteousness' sake.

But contend we must!  It is what we were called to do first and foremost when we accepted Christ's salvation and Lordship!

I get that some of you feel as though you are running out of gas or have run out of gas.

I, too, have felt that way.  Anyone who has toiled long AND faithfully in the field of discipleship has, BUT we must individually take heart so that collectively we can advance forward.  (Re-read that!)

When I have arrived at such a place, I have laid in the middle of the floor.... legs and arms stretched out to the max as if I am preparing to make a snow angel ... with an expectancy that God WILL refresh me.  I block out every thought.... I picture entering His throne room....His arms out wide.... falling into those everlasting arms as He infills ALL that I have need of, both the known and the unknown (to me) needs.  I will stay in the floor until I feel "topped off" IN His presence; then and only then do I peel myself off the floor and move forward BY His presence.

Many there are who attempt to do parenting apart from God.....even Christian parents!

I cannot imagine a greater tragedy.

To do so is truly to fulfill the expression "the blind leading the blind".

Dear ones, I hold you and those you hold dear in your heart in my prayers today.  May you be FIRST found to be a responsible part of Christ's Bride, dedicating your days to becoming more and more His image; then secondly, raising those in your charge to be ever mindful of their individual responsibility to be a growing disciple of Christ.   Neither is for the faint-of-heart, but with God, in God, through God, all is possible!

Press on, dear ones!

Persistent Parenting Is Persistent Discipleship!

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

We Made It!

I promise one day soon I will return to Joy In The Morning with great diligence, but for now, I am in a deep season of preparation that includes co-running a multi-million dollar operation I did not see coming four years ago.  As I told my husband recently, "God is building my shoulder muscles up, along with my stamina... or He's trying to kill me."   Take heart those who love and support JITM, I truly do have the faith and the knowledge it is the former and not the latter.

I consider it a blessing and an honor to come along side my boss (aka: Head-honcho) and help her do what we do on a daily basis.... which is MUCH!  I marvel at HER!

These past four years have been LABOR-intensive from both a personal and professional perspective.

Professionally, running such an incredible operation, experiencing double-digit growth during my tenure under her leadership, mine, and one more incredible team has been a blessing NO ONE but God saw coming!   To go from a stay-at-home-mom to co-shouldering such a huge operation as been an honor and an incredible season of growth for me!  Thank you, my beloved BJ, for such an insane opportunity, your trust, and your confidence!

Personally, no words... well, few words.   These days I so often look at my three kids (and my husband) and think, "WOW, what growth!"   THE truly one-and-only wondrous Lord above knows the shear amount of tilling / working the soil and sowing the seeds over the past two decades I have tackled every day.  It has taken EVERYTHING out of me, but the coming harvest as it just begins to pop out of the soil is utterly BREATH-TAKING.   Praise HIM, He has and remains utterly faithful: "He will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful."  Isa 30:23

I titled this entry as "We Made It!"  because we made it!

I packed ONLY "comfies".... oh, the thrill, ya'll!  And can I just say, "Hello 72 degrees!"  The temperature actually matches the month here!  #odetojoy

I remain incredibly tuned-in and grateful for this season and the paramount cornerstone it is to what HE is doing for the future.  #legacytoHim

Grow, dear ones!  Never, never, never give in to complacency, nor the world's watered down version of God or what it truly means to be a Christ-follower.  Be ALL  IN or be ALL OUT -- BUT BE!

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom."  Ecc. 9:10

Godspeed, dear ones!  ♡

Deborah