A Root Out Of The Ground

Many times I wonder, why things just stop me as I walk? Why do they move me to take a picture? Why, when it seems there’s no reason, no purpose, no clue, yet the sight hollers at my heart?

I’ve learned to take the picture anyway. The reason, the purpose, the meaning will come. And when one of these or all three flow to me, I will then ask the Lord to guide me to the picture to express what is bubbling within me.

At other times it’s the picture which jumps from the collection of photos and it moves me to write a phrase or two.

There’s something beyond my understanding that tugs at my spirit and connects me with the picture then words begin to flow from somewhere in my soul.

Even though I know this, I still wondered why the root of this tree stood out to me. It seemed like a toenail of giant beast. What’s so appealing about it? Why was I moved to take a picture? Who, if anyone, would find it pleasing to look at?

I ask God why did He lead me to take this picture? What’s the message that I need to hear? What do I need to write regarding this idea of an exposed root? Is there a verse to point me to a truth?

God never fails. He never fails to lead me to an answer. Never!

Isaiah 53:2

“He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of the ground.”

What I read left me in awe. I knew whom the verse described. I knew who the words were about. It was my Lord. My Savior. I love how God answers.

So I read the rest of verse.

“He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him.”

I was blown away by what I read. Because that’s how I felt regarding the picture of the root when I took it. I honestly didn’t find it attractive at all. I told the Lord. I see no reason or beauty or uniqueness that makes this root stand out. But I will obey. I quickly took the picture and walk away.

Something tickled my interest after I took several steps away from the root. I turned around and took the picture of the mossy roots which led to the tree. I did find the roots intriguing. I knew something interesting will come from that photo.

Wanting to understand where the Lord was leading me with this post, I went and read more of Isaiah 53.

Verse 3

“He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.”

God in a manner of speaking, unearth his Son slowly to man’s heart. In time, he revealed his heart to those who needed compassion, answers, meaning and guidance. He sent his Son as a lowly person not as a high branch from a towering tree.

Jesus came to us with a humility of understanding rejection, sorrow, loneliness. People stumbled of who He really was, for they were expecting a king. Jesus began to build his roots in peoples hearts with the lowly and grew into other hearts

He became the tree of life pointing to the one and only true God, His Heavenly Father, our Heavenly Father.

Just like these exposed roots reveal their source, the giant evergreen tree, so did Jesus Christ reveal the source of whom sent Him.

Jesus came with a great message that brought physical, emotional and spiritual healing. And He still has that power today through His Holy Spirit.

Like an evergreen tree, Christ will forever be with us. Therefore, let’s not reject, despite or deny Him today. Together in heart, in worship, in sharing let’s esteem him every day of our life.

From an unattractive root on my walk, I am reminded that God never waist a thing. All things have a purpose. They’re there to point to a greater truth. Let’s be the source for others and point them to the truth of a forgiving Love.

I will continue to listen and obey to what moves me and stops me to take pictures. For I know a purpose from a Higher Power has a reason for its existence.

They’re there to point all of us to the source of our existence, the existence of God.

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On A Warm Rock

ON A WARM ROCK ~ Psalm 40:1-3
“I waited a long time for the Eternal; He finally knelt down to hear me. He listened to my weak and whispered cry.He reached down and drew me from the deep, dark hole where I was stranded, mired in the muck and clay. With a gentle hand, He pulled me outTo set me down safely on a warm rock; He held me until I was steady enough to continue the journey again.As if that were not enough, because of Him my mind is clearing up.Now I have a new song to sing— a song of praise to the One who saved me.Because of what He’s done, many people will see and come to trust in the Eternal.”

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There has been times my waiting for my Lord felt like a dark tunnel without a way out. Yet I kept going searching for his hand and hoping to hear his foot steps. Maybe even the wings of his eagle as it comes to my rescue.

Many times, in my low hours, I cried for him as I felt alone. He comes. Always comes.

I’ve felt his touch, his warmth, his whisper. The picture this psalm describes of the Lord finally kneeling down to hear, it is what I’ve experienced and still experience.

His hand is gentle, his pull is kind and places me oh so tenderly on his warm rock. That warm rock, I usually describes it as his embrace, his lap, his heart. I know without a doubt and with every fiber of what makes me, that my Lord has come to my rescue over and over again.

When he holds me, its just not for me to regain my step, no, it’s to hold my lifeless soul, my weak spirit and my dwindled heart. Once I’ve regain my spiritual balance, my heart strengthens as it holds to God’s promises and my soul is filled with the hope that carries one to tomorrow.

It is then when I walk with my Lord as we lock arms that my mind becomes clear. For I know he is with we as I continue in the darkness of today’s unknown. For it isn’t what I can see or understand, but the hope of what God is doing that gives me a positive outlook at a distrustful time.

Then a song comes, it always has and it sings my heart and feels my mood, but someone else wrote the word and played out the rhythm. Time after time, I’m still amazed how God works it out for the song comes on the radio, pandora, or someone sends it at that hour.

I worship a living God and serve a risen Lord and listen to a flowing Holy Sprit. No one can ever take my faith, my belief nor my hope from me.
Because of what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for me every season of my life, even today, I can say he rescues, teaches and guides. Everything the Scriptures say about my Lord, is who my Savior is and what he does for those who follow him and worship God.

I pray that if you do not know God, his Son and the Holy Spirit, that you come to trust in the Eternal and experience his majestic love, his forever forgiveness and his everlasting assurance.

Giving Up or Letting Go?

GIVING UP OR LETTING GO?

Woke up with the phrase, “thoughts can kill you or heal you,” and it wouldn’t leave me alone.

Seeking undestanding, I ask the Lord, “is this a theme for a story or something else?”

As I spent my quiet time, the phrase return and it brought another idea along. Not finding the proper words to put on this feeling, I looked for a photo to help me identify what the Holy Spirit was telling me.

When I saw the leaf, a question formed, “Is the leaf giving up or letting go?”

Knowing how God works and moves me or should I say pushes me to act upon what He sees in me, I knew a reminder was being handed for my mind.

Will I be giving up what has been done in me? Or letting go and accept the change which is in hand?

Many times, I fight thoughts which push me to give up and let the dream die.

It’s a real, true struggle within me!!!

One which produces melancholy even after workouts, walks and being out in nature for hours. Usually God wakes my spirit and soon I get myself moving by doing my duties of laundry and cleaning or paying bills.

My self talk goes something like this, “Lidia, you’re a grown woman, just keep taking steps. How else can you be a witness of what you’ve said you are in Christ?”

Why am telling you this? Because I’m not alone fighting a battle which we’ve been told it’s won. Yet, no relief has come. It diverted and missed us. Well, it feels like it has for what ever reason.

Instead of standing strong against the enemy. I do as he wants, be in the front battle zone fighting for my right to be who God said I am.

For many of us, the war exist in our head more than in our heart.

We struggle with thoughts which are killing us, inside out. Once our will is done with, we have no reason to exist. Meditate on God words, are daily pills, but our thoughts of redemption and healing remain dried up. (Rom. 12:2)

Then the dagger hits home, Hope is for others, not for me.

I shared my reoccurring waking thought with a friend over coffee this morning. I mention that I wasn’t sure if it was for a story. She suggested to write a story about twins, one with the name Ican’t and the other Ican.

After she left, I had my quiet time. It was them when I saw these twins, joined by one heart, in me.

Who will win?

The one who will remain standing strong and walk in the newness of who she has become.

Is it easy? Nope. I will confront that solid steep mountian God told me about.

It will seem unclimbable before me, but with the Lord’s help, I will get to the other side which is labeled, “accomplishement.”

Not sure what you’re struggling and doing battle with today, but be assured you are not alone even though it’s a lonesome road.

Today will you chose with me to dwell and meditate on the Victory which the Lord conquered for us through His resurrection?

Let’s encourage each other today as we stand with the banner of victory on our spear then walk in faith on what has already been done and accomplished in us. (Heb. 3:13)

You maybe on a different road, but we’re facing the same enemy. Let’s keep in mind the enemy is not only finished but CONQUERED! (John 19:30)

What’s New Under The Sun

WHAT’S NEW UNDER THE SUN? ~ Technology causes change which brings something new to our attention.

So why did Solomon said there’s no new thing under the sun? When obviously there is in our time?

What was Solomon talking about anyway to have come to this result?

Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep His commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind.

— Ecclesiastes 12:13 NIV

When it comes to things of the heart, there’s nothing new. When it comes to living life their is nothing new. When it comes to perceiving there is nothing new. When it comes to emotions there is nothing new. When it comes to death their is nothing new. When it comes to humanity, there is nothing new.

As the world changes what is valuable for mankind shouldn’t change, unless the heart becomes deceived. Once it does; life will no longer be valuable; knowledge becomes futile; feelings are not worth validation; death is seen as emptiness and mankind becomes insignificant.

Keep a check on your heart for more than blood pumps forth to your mind, eyes, ears and mouth.

In order to see the value of fearing God, one must understand the fear Solomon wrote about. This fear is not the kind which causes your knees to rattle. It’s the one which moves the heart to kneel down before a king.

This fear is out of reverance for the heart of our Lord. He treasures us, our hearts, our life. Let’s not forget His death, his love for us.

Ask yourself, to whom do I give this type of fear? To who or what am I bending my knee? Whose commandments have we given our heart and life to follow?

Whose footsteps are you following? Who are you leaving your footprints to be followed one day?

You matter to God, to your family, and your friends. You matter to me.

May you follow Jesus all the days you breath. Once you leave this world, rejoice with Him.

God bless each of you.

Fret Appeared As A Flick

Philippians 3:13-14 “I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.” MSG

I received a phone call saying that one of my son’s is not doing well and is thinking of quitting his job for a lesser one.

Let me back up four months past.

My oldest son was involved in an automobile accident. He was rear ended by a van going at 60 mph totaling his car. He, his wife and two young son were in the car at the time. Thankfully, no one else was hurt, only him. After three months of recovery, he returned to work, but he’s not the same.

The neck injury is effecting one of his hand. He’s unable to hold on to things. As his mother, my heart broke again as I heard the news. This son has faced one challenge after another without much of a break. Some of those are of his own doing, but others came as magnets not releasing him until the lasting damages had taken its course, much like this one.

When I’m riding on God’s Eagles, His promises, like the verse in Philippians and receive heart tugging news of one of my children struggling, I want to land the eagle and ask my child to climb aboard.

But, I can’t.

I can only call and point to the Lord’s almighty eagle for them to climb on.

Before fret ignited full-blown worry in my soul, I pointed my son where the Holy Spirit led me. I couldn’t believe my eyes as read, Isaiah 4: 10.

“. . . I’ve picked you. I haven’t dropped you.’
Don’t panic. I’m with you.
    There’s no need to fear for I’m your God.
I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you.
    I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.” msg

My hope is that my son climbed aboard.

Trusting my God gave no room for the flame of worry to crash me to the ground of uncertainty and disbelief. I continued to soar on my eagle. For, I must press on to the goal God has before me.

Without a doubt, I knew the Lord reached down to my son. All my son needed to do was to take His Lord’s hand and climb on His promise.

Holly Spirit minister to my son’s spirit as you have minister to mine. Help him to hear what God wants him to know. Direct his path along the side his Savior. Lord, strengthen his faith and belief in You.

God, please give my husband and I wisdom on how to advice our son, or not to speak, plus being the godly parents he needs at this time. Thank you, for all you are doing and will do for my son and his beautiful family.

May you find encouragement in God’s word and my story.

Soar on Eagles Wings. (Click on soar and wings to listen to songs.)

 

Pondering This Easter

Some services celebrate Easter at sunrise. Yet, I would like a sunset celebration.

Looking through my sunset photos made me think about aa end of the day praise service. I will like to praise Him for all He has done in my life, especially this past year. He has brought my family, my husband and me through many challenges.

 

Being a sunset lover, I wonder what were Jesus thoughts at the end of the day after he defeated and conquered death.

 

Now that I ponder on that thought, I don’t think he thought of it all, for he succeeded taking the cup. He is not like us, that after we succeed, we return to our prior feelings and thoughts keeping us from receiving the blessing of the accomplishment.

 

There is no proof that I know about, but I speculate he was busy popping in and out from places. He did visited many people, not only his disciples to encourage them. Especially those who knew him, walked with him and had a predestined call to carry his message of salvation to the ends of the earth.

 

I’ve heard of a stranger, who appear to the Indians in Central America. One that didn’t look like them, taught them things they’ve never heard before, about himself and God. He left them with instructions on how to live with one another. Again, I have no proof, but I heard it from someone when I was in my teens.

 

If the sky is clear where you are, I pray you take time to watch the sunset and spend time talking to the Lord. Hear what he has to tell you. Even if the sky isn’t clear, I pray He appears to you in the room, place or wherever you maybe and tell you something you need to hear and be encouraged.

 

God bless you this Easter as we continue to worship our Risen Lord through out our days!

From The Last Supper To Good Friday

On a Thursday, Jesus and his disciples were having dinner or what we call the Last Supper. Not necessarily a Mexican meal, but some traditional dishes of their culture.

Anyway, at some point Jesus begun to speak and the shatter slowly diminished. By the time everyone’s eyes were on Jesus or on their plate before them, their ears tuned-in to Jesus’s voice. The words they heard were probably much like a parable to them.

The verses below, the words Jesus spoke, have been, are and will be deciphered and studied for ages to come. Each time, many will get encouraged, receive clarity and be rescued from the deceiver’s hands into Jesus’ arms.

¹⁸ “I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned^[a] against me.’^[b]

¹⁹ “I am telling you now before it happens, so that when it does happen you will believe that I am who I am. ²⁰ Very truly I tell you, whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”

²¹ After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”

²² His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant.²³ One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him.²⁴ Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”

²⁵ Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”

²⁶ Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas,the son of Simon Iscariot. ²⁷ As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.

So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” ²⁸ But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. ²⁹ Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. ³⁰ As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.” John 13:18-30 NIV

Since I believe Jesus is the son of God, I try my hardest to follow his ways and to study his word. This passage tugs my heart to a stop, each time I read it. Intently, I listen to the Holy Spirit, to hear what he’s trying to help me understand, learn and see.

Today, God’s Holy Spirit helped my imagine. It was as if a portal opened and I stepped back in time for a story came alive in my mind. There I stood, in the room with the twelve disciples, Jesus and other servants ready to serve.

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Being the servant who poured the wine when Jesus comes, I step in the room and begin to fill the cups. This evening wasn’t out of the ordinary, but somehow we knew there was something special about tonight’s gathering.

As always, when Jesus begins to speak, we who serve hurry to finish our task and move out of sight.

All the servers were done and had taken their place. I still needed to pour the wine in Jesus cup. Since he had motion to fill the twelve cups first, I was left in an awkward place, I couldn’t walk away like I’ve done before. To not disturb his speaking, I walk behind him, which I’ve never done. until this evening.

About to pour the wine in Jesus cup, when I hear his words, “My Spirit is troubled.” Paralyzed, I remain knelt beside him and my hands trembled.

Jesus said, “. . . someone is going to betray me.”

My body weakened and Christ held me up, took my hands and helped me pour the wine in his cup.

In those eternal seconds, my soul was baptized in love and I began to cry. In spirit, I hear him tell me as he continued to speak. “Child of mine, it will all be fine. Be strong, console souls, hold them steady, like I’ve done to you.”

I scooted back and took my place. Tears trickled down my nose, as the word, “betray” rang loudly in my mind.

Then suddenly Judas ran out of the room. A silent heavy sorrow filled the atmosphere making it difficult for me to breathe. Not sure what else Jesus said for my spiritual lantern had been blown out. The only words, I kept from that night were, “Lift others. They’ll be shaken. Console their souls with His love.”

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In my present day, March 31st of 2018, I begin to think of the events between the betrayal Thursday and what we call Good Friday.

We, Christ followers, remember these events as if they all happened from Thursday, to Friday, to Sunday. But if we take time to refresh our minds and our hearts, we’ll recall from the betrayal night to the resurrection morning, difficult and trial-some days occurred.

Agony built for Christ and his followers. There wasn’t anything Good about Friday, not to them. For the servant girl who filled Jesus cup, will not be serving him wine any more. She lost the one who loved her soul. It would take time for her to understand his prophetic words. Even us today, still struggle to unfold all of what Jesus taught and meant.

Like his faithful followers who wrote the scriptures and the many others who kept Jesus’ love flowing, I too have been called to console souls with the love my soul has been baptized.

Jesus rose, was seen and spoke again. He speaks to us today through his word and his Holy Spirit. He wants for us to know not only about his love, but his forgiveness and his healing grace.

Today, he lifts me, steadies me, and walks with me. Without Christ, I would be hopelessly lost, unloved, and tattered. Not sure where, but somewhere, my face would be planted to the ground, too weak from a malnourished spirit, too crippled from a broken heart and too poor for my soul to live on. BUT!

Because of my Lord and savior’s love, I’m healed, forgiven and living to console souls. His love flows through my spirit, energizes my soul and gives me a purpose to live one day at a time. Thank you, Jesus, for your continual love for me and the world. I love you, my Savior.