Earlier this month, there were some thoughts in two different devotions that stood out to me. I've been chewing on them for a while.
Add to that a conversation with a friend about a week ago in which she shared that her daughter (Summer Grace) sang a song, "Holding On" by Jamie Grace at their church (Hopewell Baptist). The background story to the daughter singing was pretty neat because it was her mom who was supposed to sing, but couldn't come up with anything. The demands of work and life had taken their toll over the weeks and there was nothing really coming through to sing. Then, the daughter tells the Mom: "I have something I could sing." She shares the song with Mom and Mom is touched. Wow! It ministered to her as she heard her daughter share.... and then on Sunday, it ministered to many in the congregation as the daughter shared.
Here is a link to listen to the daughter sing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX6dR9LKlbQ
On one of the youtube links of a music video with this song, there is this Scripture reference: "As for you, be strong and do not give up, for your hard work will be rewarded." -2 Chronicles 15:7
Here are the lyrics to "Holding On" by Jamie Grace:
All the signs of life
They're all around me with every heartbeat
I feel so alive,
I am joy and sadness,
Peace and madness
If only I can fight just a little longer
I know It's gonna make me stronger
[Chorus:]
I just keep holding on to what I believe
Oh, I believe in you
Give me the strength to fight
And the heart to believe
When it's hard to believe in you
Oh and these are the times when doubt's tryin' to creep in
And I need a reason that's larger than life when hope seems hard to find
If only I can fight just a little longer
I know it's gonna make me stronger
[Chorus:]
So I just keep holding on to what I believe
Oh, I believe in you
Give me the strength to fight
And a heart to believe
When it's hard to believe
I'll just keep holding on, holding on, holding on
Give me the strength to fight
And the heart to believe
When it's hard to believe in you
Oh oh oh oh oh
When it's hard to believe in you
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh, I wanna believe
If only I can fight just a little longer
I know I'll be stronger
[Chorus:]
So I'll just keep holding on, holding on, holding on
I'll just keep holding on, holding on
I'll just keep holding on to what I believe
Oh, I believe in you
Give me the strength for the fight
And the heart to believe
Cause I've got to believe
I'll just keep holding on, holding on, holding on
Give me strength for the fight
And the heart to believe
'Cause I've got to believe in you
Oh oh oh oh oh
Yeah I've got to believe in you
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh, yeah I feel so alive.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So, sometimes we hold on. In fact, I like the statement: When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot in it and swing! Making the most of the situation! Yet, sometimes we need to let go. And by letting go, we can still be holding on.
From the January 11 devotion in Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, the first line is: "TRUST ME by relinquishing control into My hands." (12) That is a perfect example of holding on by letting go. When we relinquish control to God, we are not holding the control, yet we are holding on still to God.
In the January 12 devotion, "control" shows up in a different way: "You would like to see a map, showing all the twists and turns of your journey. You'd feel more prepared if you could somehow visualize what is on the road ahead. However, there is a better way to be prepared for whatever you will encounter today: Spend quality time with Me." (13) As I think about that, it strikes deep. There are many days that I would like to see the map. Yet, I think I'd be scared off the path by some of those twists and turns. Odd that we continue to think that seeing will make us feel more prepared, when in reality, preparedness is in our relationship. That was an "ouch!"
The devotion goes on: "I will not show you what is on the road ahead, but I will thoroughly equip you for the journey." Whew! At least I won't be scared off by things for which I'm not ready yet. And, it is comforting to know that I will be equipped.
The January 12 entry ends with: "My abiding Presence is the best road map available."
So, if I'm going to hold on to something, I hope I will hold on to the road map of Christ's abiding Presence.
Press onward in your journey,
May you have the strength to keep on going, to hold on, and to let go!
~Debra
Showing posts with label January 11. Show all posts
Showing posts with label January 11. Show all posts
Friday, January 20, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Re-adjusting my daily rhythm... pace and trust
The rhythm of an Academy is such that there is time for silence, solitude, reflection, worship, and community daily. When I come back from a week of this, it takes me a little time to re-adjust to my normal routine. I'd better write, "normal". The only normalcy about it is the hours around the school bus. The rest can be unpredictable, though I do keep a calendar and schedule as much as possible. Why? Because of all the spinning plates. ☺ At the same time, I attempt to maintain ample time for silence and solitude. Without it, I have learned, I become detached from my source, antsy, and can be a "grumpy bear".
An older gentleman whom I admire greatly, referred to me as a grumpy bear (he was kind about it) yesterday in reference to a note I had sent out. I had not intended the words to come across grumpy at all, but rather I was asking for more head-up time in advance in the future for things. When I checked my box at work, there was a little bear with honey in it.... I wonder if someone else thought I was being a grumpy bear too????
My tendency is to set a fairly quick pace for myself and run it. Look back at that sentence at my possessive adjective "my" and then "myself". That's not necessarily a bad thing, yet if I am allowing God to control my days, that means my pace and my scheduling too. I do try. I just tend to run ahead of God at times.
The reason this is on my mind so much is that THE DAY AFTER I get back from the Academy, my devotion was about this. It has taken me some days to reflect on it, to soak it in. On January 9 in Jesus Calling, Sarah Young's devotion reads (in parts): "I AM WITH YOU AND FOR YOU. When you decide on a course of action that is in line with My will, nothing in heaven or on earth can stop you. You may encounter many obstacles as you move toward your goal, but don't be discouraged--never give up! [...] Do not expect an easy path as you journey hand in hand with Me, but do remember that I, your very-present Helper, am omnipotent. Much, much stress results from your wanting to make things happen before their times have come. [...] Instead of dashing headlong toward your goal, let Me set the pace. Slow down, and enjoy the journey in My Presence." (10)
OUCH! And, AMEN! Thankfully, I've been learning over the past, uh, MANY years to slow down and allow God to set the pace and allow myself to ENJOY the journey. However, there are still days and times when I get anxious and struggle with allowing God to keep setting the pace. This is a tremendous reminder for me.
The bottom line is about trust. Trusting that God has really heard me and that God cares and has a plan for me. The first line for January 11 Jesus Calling reads: "TRUST ME by relinquishing control into My hands." (12) You see? Trust. It's not as fun and as simple as dropping a coin into a jar and thinking 'yep, I trust God.' I actually have to follow through and relinquish control into God's hands. Whew! That's a tad more difficult. ☺
In the second paragraph, there is something that will help me though. It will help me both allow God to set the pace and allow God to keep control. After I have brought my prayer requests before God, my response is to be this: "...thank Me for the answers that I set into motion long before you can discern results. When your requests come to mind again, continue to thank Me for the answers that are on the way." (12)
So, on this journey, I'm attempting to allow God to set the pace, to remember to thank God for the answers to prayers that are already set in motion, and hopefully I won't be a grumpy bear. ☺
How is your trust and your pace setting? Who is in control of those things on your journey?
May we continue to learn and grow as we travel, and may we slow down sufficiently to enjoy the journey!
~Debra
An older gentleman whom I admire greatly, referred to me as a grumpy bear (he was kind about it) yesterday in reference to a note I had sent out. I had not intended the words to come across grumpy at all, but rather I was asking for more head-up time in advance in the future for things. When I checked my box at work, there was a little bear with honey in it.... I wonder if someone else thought I was being a grumpy bear too????
My tendency is to set a fairly quick pace for myself and run it. Look back at that sentence at my possessive adjective "my" and then "myself". That's not necessarily a bad thing, yet if I am allowing God to control my days, that means my pace and my scheduling too. I do try. I just tend to run ahead of God at times.
The reason this is on my mind so much is that THE DAY AFTER I get back from the Academy, my devotion was about this. It has taken me some days to reflect on it, to soak it in. On January 9 in Jesus Calling, Sarah Young's devotion reads (in parts): "I AM WITH YOU AND FOR YOU. When you decide on a course of action that is in line with My will, nothing in heaven or on earth can stop you. You may encounter many obstacles as you move toward your goal, but don't be discouraged--never give up! [...] Do not expect an easy path as you journey hand in hand with Me, but do remember that I, your very-present Helper, am omnipotent. Much, much stress results from your wanting to make things happen before their times have come. [...] Instead of dashing headlong toward your goal, let Me set the pace. Slow down, and enjoy the journey in My Presence." (10)
OUCH! And, AMEN! Thankfully, I've been learning over the past, uh, MANY years to slow down and allow God to set the pace and allow myself to ENJOY the journey. However, there are still days and times when I get anxious and struggle with allowing God to keep setting the pace. This is a tremendous reminder for me.
The bottom line is about trust. Trusting that God has really heard me and that God cares and has a plan for me. The first line for January 11 Jesus Calling reads: "TRUST ME by relinquishing control into My hands." (12) You see? Trust. It's not as fun and as simple as dropping a coin into a jar and thinking 'yep, I trust God.' I actually have to follow through and relinquish control into God's hands. Whew! That's a tad more difficult. ☺
In the second paragraph, there is something that will help me though. It will help me both allow God to set the pace and allow God to keep control. After I have brought my prayer requests before God, my response is to be this: "...thank Me for the answers that I set into motion long before you can discern results. When your requests come to mind again, continue to thank Me for the answers that are on the way." (12)
So, on this journey, I'm attempting to allow God to set the pace, to remember to thank God for the answers to prayers that are already set in motion, and hopefully I won't be a grumpy bear. ☺
How is your trust and your pace setting? Who is in control of those things on your journey?
May we continue to learn and grow as we travel, and may we slow down sufficiently to enjoy the journey!
~Debra
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