Everything...

I was just looking at Macy’s online.

Yes. I am a big Macy’s fan. Truly. Ask my family.

For a long season – shall we say many, many years – I mean decades, I looked for outside stuff to satisfy my soul. More likely, I was looking for stuff to fill the deep insecurities about myself. We shop to feel good. At least some of us do. You know who you are and if this isn’t your issue, may I ask, where do you look to find fulfillment?

"…But those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing."  Psalm 34:10b

Short and simple. To the point. Only Jesus can fill those places in our souls that stay so hungry. Only the Holy Spirit can thrill those ravenous places in our hearts and minds with His Presence.

Take it from one who knows. Take it from one whose Macy’s card was demoted by the company (glory to God!) as He became more real to her.

When you have Jesus, you have everything.

Prisoner of Hope...

Are you a prisoner…to something?

“Return to the stronghold, You prisoners of hope. Even today I declare That I will restore double to you.”  Zechariah 9:12

Let’s make the prophet’s words personal. We can do this because Paul tells us in the New Testament that we who have surrendered our lives to King Jesus can declare God’s promises over our own lives.*

So now, back to the original question. Are you a prisoner to something?

I think I am a prisoner of hope. I mean that without pretension.

At one time in our lives, my husband and I lost almost everything through some foolish, self-willed decisions, but God in His boundless love brought us to repentance. We turned back to Him with our hearts in our hands and He turned our lives around completely. No, no overnight, but in such a way that only He could have done it. When a person goes through something like that and their faith is built for a lifetime. So yes, I am a prisoner of hope. Fear has little to no place in my life. He has restored double to us. No make that about ten-fold over, at the least.

So, I ask again what are you a prisoner of? Completely surrender your expectations for His. Like us, you may need to learn a few not-so-good-things about yourself, but it will be worth it. Then exchange that bondage for His hope.

Galatians 3:14-16

Hidden...

Have you ever acted like a chicken with its head, you know, messed up?

“Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! 
For my soul trusts in You; 
And in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, 
Until these calamities have passed by.”
Psalm 57:1

Why is it we tend to run around like crazy people trying to figure out our situations when money gets tight, relationships are strained, our health is failing, or the walls of life are collapsing in on us. Seems like we either try to grasp at any strand of a solution, or possibly, some of us simply bow out and duck into a ditch of depression. Which of these futile scenarios do you tend to choose?

In this Psalm King David tells us to hide ourselves in Christ. Think Colossians 3:3. This is the only way to get through a storm. Really.

How do you hide in Christ? You get alone with Him. Surrender afresh every ounce of your being to Him. Ask the Holy Spirit to calm your heart and mind. Open His Word and obey it (yep, really, you gotta do this!). And, wait for His plan, His voice, and His comfort to overwhelm you. Be open, He may be after something in your life that needs fixing and healing.

Your calamities will pass when you are hidden Him. Anything less will only prolong the situation. So, run and hide in the shelter of the One who can cover you like no one else can.

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