Maker of the Rain

May 18, 2012 By 1 Comment

May hangs in the balance of the seasons – between the rain showers of April and the whispered promise of summer in June. Some years, the long-awaited flowers spring forward and move us closer to sleeping in, mowing the lawn, backyard barbeques with friends, and a much needed time of rest and relaxation….

But other years, the rain lingers.
It hangs on and pelts the already drenched ground with more water than it can hold. And we begin to wonder if the sun will ever come out to play again.

Our hearts go through “season changes” like this, too. There are those mountain-top moments after a rough patch where God’s promises come to light and we bask in the glow of being stronger and hold onto another piece of our story to share with others.

But sometimes, the rain lingers…and lingers…and pours flood-threatening amounts of pain, loss, stress, emotion, and fear on our already heavy souls…

My heart has traveled through several of those kinds of seasons in my short 24 years on Earth.  And in some ways, I feel like I’m in one now…there are plenty of good things in my life, blessings that I desperately do not want to ignore or miss…

…but there are also some very dark, stormy patches that my tired soul would rather do without.

For those days – the rainy ones that seem to offer no hope or peace – my first response is always to allow my emotions to dictate my actions.  Not always the best choice, although sometimes a good cry is in order.  Instead, I’m trying to develop the discipline to turn to Scripture and to not seclude myself from others.  I try to confide in a friend, or my husband, or my mama…I ask for godly counsel, I pray, and I try to break the monotony of darkness with things that give my soul comfort.

For me, that’s music.

Specifically, strumming the steel stretched across wood and weaving new melodies with words…one day, several years ago, God gave me a slow, quiet song to encapsulate those dark times and His promise to never forsake me…today, I’d like to share them with you…I wish I had the time to vlog for you, but sometimes the silence can work alongside the simple words in front of the heart and do wonders that a melody cannot touch…

"Rain" via CreationSwap

Raindrops on my windowpane
Echoing the falling rain
That’s pouring in my soul
And if you say that I’m too young
For all this heartache that’s begun
Tell me why, I’m feeling old…why do I feel so cold

But I know the Maker of the rain
The One who sustains me
He won’t let me be moved
And I don’t know what’s to come
But I won’t come undone
No, no, no, no, no
All because I know…
I know the Maker of the rain

Lying here once again
Head and heart still tumbling
Dread the dreams that waken me each night
Flash and thunder strike once more
Find myself hitting the floor
Begging You to stop this fight…when will I be alright

But I know the Maker of the rain
The One who sustains me
He won’t let me be moved
And I don’t know what’s

to come
But I won’t come undone
No, no, no, no, no
All because I know…
I know the Maker of the rain

“Maker of the Rain” Copyright 2008 | Allison McCloskey

 

Filed Under: Battles, Emotional, Spiritual Tagged With: , , , , , , , 1 Comment

Just Keep Moving, Moving, Moving…

May 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Must Love God
 

On Sunday, I took a note in church of something our pastor said that really rung true for me:

“God is not content with us being stagnant.”

This statement particularly applies to what we’re aiming for here with Count Me Accountable.  God is not content for us to just keep still and be okay with the progress we’ve made so far.  He doesn’t want us to grow stagnant, He wants us to keep going, to keep pushing, to keep learning and growing.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;  to be made new in the attitude of your minds;  and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. ~Ephesians 4:22-23

So let’s not be stagnant, thinking what we’ve achieved is good enough for now. Lets keep on being accountable to each other, supporting and praying for each other.  It doesn’t matter what you’re working on, what you need to be accountable for, just keep moving, keep reaching, keep going.  Let’s continue to put off our old selves, and put on the new self…   and let’s support each other  in prayer along the way.

How can we count you accountable this week?

How can we pray for you?

 



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Jesus Loves this Dirty Mess

May 16, 2012 By 5 Comments

spring
Creative Commons License photo credit: lisahumes

 

Every week at the top of the handout sheet at my church, there is a “Big Idea” that sums up what the sermon will cover. Last week’s Big Idea was this: “The Kingdom of God doesn’t belong to those who are isolated from corruption, but to those in the middle of it who desperately need God’s help and are shamelessly pleading for it.” I never felt so at home in church as I did that day as the pastor described how God’s church is messy, and that’s exactly how He likes it.

In Luke 14:15-23, Jesus tells a story of a great banquet. In the beginning of the story, many people turn down the invitation to the party with blatant lies, trying to make the host look bad.

21 “The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ 22 After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’ 23 So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full.  Luke 14:21-23 NLT

Do you see that? God wants to invite us all, the poor, crippled, blind and lame, to His great feast in Heaven. He wants all of us who are broken, dirty, addicted, promiscuous, unloved, cast-out from our families. He wants us to sit with Him at His table. He wants us to reach out to the outcasts, because we were once in their shoes in one way or another, and let them know that they are all invited as well. All we have to do to get in is accept His invitation.

I was having a talk on the way home from the grocery store with one of my favorite young ladies one day, when she tearfully said to me, “I always warn guys first because I’m…dirty. I don’t want them to feel like they are worth less for being with me.” My. Heart. Broke. I love this girl so much, and I knew exactly what she meant.

I haven’t lived through exactly what she has, but I’ve said those words in my head about myself more than once. I could only respond with what I hoped was the truth when I told her that she didn’t have to let her past define her present, and that if a guy was really worth being with, he would be able to see past all of her dirt to the beautiful, strong, wonderful young woman she is today.

In reality, I was telling her what I had always hoped someone would tell me. My husband is the only person who has ever known all about my past and stuck around, believing I was more than what I still see in the mirror. There is one song that is guaranteed to seep right into my brokenness every time I hear it, and make me pray for my sake, and for the sake of anyone who has ever felt dirty and broken, that the words are true. This is the part that always gets me:

When I don’t fit in and I don’t feel like I belong anywhere
When I don’t measure up to much in this life
Oh, I’m a treasure in the arms of Christ ‘cause

I’m forgiven
I’m forgiven
And I don’t have to carry
The weight of who I’ve been
Cause I’m forgiven   (Forgiven by Sanctus Real)

There’s another song, one by Seventh Day Slumber, that has a line that causes me to hope against what this world tries to tell me about myself and believe in God’s vast power to forgive. This one not only reinforces that, but says that God will meet me where I am. I don’t have to get better first, or be stronger first, or fix everything first…

Yesterday is gone and
Everything that made you cry has fallen to the ground
I’m here to bring you home
I will always take you back
You haven’t let me down
I know you want to run away
I know that you can’t see tomorrow
Caroline
Let me wipe away your tears, and give you life
Make you feel beautiful again
Caroline
Don’t throw it all away
I’m here tonight, to take away your pain
And when you’re feeling all alone and you can’t go on
Remember I am here
And when you think you’ve gone too far
I’ll meet you where you are
My arms are open wide

   (Caroline by Seventh Day Slumber)

 

Some days I feel like nothing I do is right. I feel like a failure as a woman, a wife, a mother. I wonder why I’m even here, and I’m desperate for even the smallest thing to go right. On days like that, I pray. I don’t pray for everything to miraculously turn around. I just pray that I will find out at the end of my life that it’s really true that God sees me as a treasure. I pray that he really can make me new and whole. I pray that the words I spoke to that girl I love like my own daughter weren’t just me being hopeful.

On those days, my belief in God’s forgiveness is all I have, because without it, I’m just another filthy pile of rubble in a world that’s crashing down around me. I choose to cling to my faith, because I refuse to believe I am worthless.

Filed Under: Battles, Emotional, Spiritual Tagged With: , , 5 Comments

OUR Glorious HOME

May 14, 2012 By Leave a Comment

 

With all my walking these days I have the opportunity to see and smell and touch all the wonderful things that happen this time of year.  The sky is blue, the birds sing, and the May flowers will be here soon!!  There is a pretty area of brand new homes going in my neighborhood currently.   As I walk by these newly framed homes, I can smell the sweetness of the new wood.  I breathe it in deeply because fresh wood is one of my favorite smells!  I can see the sturdy foundations being poured, and the wooden frames attached.  These homes have beautiful brickwork…. I watch the workers build up, one brick at a time.  Some of the homes are further along, with the outside done, and fresh paint being applied.  Others have workers inside pounding their nails in one by one.

I look at all these homes and wonder about the families that will move in, and so I pray for each one.  I pray for happiness and peace to fill their new home.  I wonder, will they appreciate all the work that was put into it?   Or will there be strife, anger, and problems inside?

And so I wonder again… why do we have such a desire to have a home and make it our own?  Could it be that the desire is truly there from GOD?  We try to do the best we can and make our nest a home!  PSALM 84:3 says: “even the sparrow finds a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young.”  GOD provides these homes to the smallest of birds.  How much more HE provides for us!

And could it be this desire for a home is heaven sent?  Do we have a deep longing for a home planted firmly within our hearts?   Are we all preparing for our HOME in heaven, realizing that our homes here are temporary?  I often wonder what GOD’S house will look like!  I love to dream about it, because I know my best imagination on all of this doesn’t even come close to what I will see.  I like to think that the beautiful here is nothing like the beautiful there.  I understand from scripture that there will be many rooms!  And I wonder about the size and beauty of these rooms.

GOD is our strong foundation to build on…. HE is our rock.   HE builds our lives one brick at a time….one house at a time….one family at a time….one memory at a time…one heart at a time.   All of the detail of our lives will come full circle when we are in GOD’S house.  We will then see what HE was building in us and around us…. HIS HOME is our final home…. waiting with an open door to bless us beyond measure with all of HIS GLORY when we enter.  Our homecoming will be a glorious one when we step into that great house of GOD.  I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait!  Our final home we will share with our SOVEREIGN FATHER…. and HIS home will be filled with HIS love, grace, and peace.  Let us glorify HIM for giving us a wonderful HOME for eternity!

PSALM 23:6 “…. and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

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Why Not You?

May 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Last month I wrote about my bestie and her son Nic.

This journey my friend is on is one I

can.not.wrap.my.mind.around

I was blessed last month to spend 2 whole days

with them at Children’s in Seattle

I got to see the struggles that Nic

is facing everyday

I got to talk with my friend

I told her

“Not gonna lie this is testing my faith and he isn’t even my son”

“Why Nic? Why you?”

Her response….

“Why not Nic?”

“Why not us?”

“Bad things happen to good people”

What I heard was what makes us so special that things won’t happen to us

What I have always thought was if we

are good people

law abiding citizens

rule followers

we are ABOVE bad

Silly me!

Filed Under: Emotional, Friendship Tagged With: , , Leave a Comment

Comparison Trap – CMA

May 10, 2012 By 6 Comments

sunrise by sisterlisa, on Pix-O-Sphere

Photo by sisterlisa on pixosphere

As I strive for healthy living and a well lived life I find myself doing lots of research (read as blog surfing, pinning, tweeting) and as a result, I find myself comparing myself and my situation to a lot of other people.

I wonder what kind of exercise she does?

I wonder if she has time to play with her kids?

Her clothes are so much more put together than mine….

What is it about being a woman of God that makes us compare ourselves to others?

It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for.  Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.  Ephesians 1:11-12 MSG (emphasis mine)

When I came across this verse the words “glorious living” jumped out at me.  I mean, glorious living….that sounds an awful lot like a well lived life, doesn’t it?

And then read on….the purpose He is working out in everything and everyone???  So it really doesn’t matter what Sally Neighbor is having for lunch, or if Molly Carpool-mom is spending retail on her clothes?  I am who I am in Christ.  He is working out the overall purpose in everything and everyone!!!

Have you figured out what you’re living for and who you are?  Are you living His design for you for glorious living?

It seems to me like there is a fine line between creating community and falling into a comparison trap.  We must be very careful, sister friends, that in our efforts to be accountable to one another, we keep our laser focus on Him who gives us purpose.

Must Love God

So how is your week going?  Have you been living purposefully?

We invite you to join with us in community, finding accountability for all types of things.  Are you struggling in specific areas or just in general need someone to cheer for you?

Let us know how you’re doing…by either linking up a post from your blog or simply leaving a comment!!!

 

And sisters,  I pray that this is received with open hearts.  This is truly in reference to no one except myself.  As I try to live out the life He has placed before me, I get distracted by what’s going on next to me instead of focusing on Him.

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When the Flowers Bloom

May 9, 2012 By 3 Comments

Source: Christina Fox

We recently spent the day at a botanical garden. Though the last of winter’s chill lingered in the air, the flowers were in full bloom. I breathed in their heavy scent and marveled at the variegated colors. I was mesmerized by all the different kinds of plants and flowers, snapping pictures at nearly every step I took. I could have stayed there for days, soaking in the aromas and enjoying the beauty around me.

Flowers are a reminder that warmer days have arrived. Like all living things, flowers follow a seasonal pattern. All of nature has an ebb and flow, seasons of life and death. The flowers blooming today notify us that winter has passed, spring is here and summer is on its way.

Source: Christina Fox

Our lives have a similar seasonal pattern. There are dark, cold nights of the soul as well as warm periods of utter joy. There are seasons of suffering and seasons of blessing. We go through trials and challenges, unexpected events, times of hunger and bouts of pain. No matter the season, our trust in God’s love and faithfulness brings us through one season and on to the next.

“I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” Philippians 4:12

The flowers of spring bring a sweet aroma, reminding us of the faithfulness of God. His covenant love for His children is stronger than the fiercest winter in our soul. The beauty of God’s creation tells of His generous loving care for all He has made.

Christ pointed to flowers as a reminder of God’s love and providential care, “Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith!” (Luke 12:27,28)

The Bible speaks repeatedly about remembering all the ways God has loved and cared for His people. Following the first Passover, the Jews in the OT were told to celebrate and remember for generations to come the way God rescued them from Egypt. These celebrations occurred year after year. They were to look back in their past and see the way God had redeemed them from slavery and blessed them as a nation.

Remembering his faithfulness and counting the ways he blesses, propels us forward during difficult times. When a cold season approaches, we can reach back into summer past and remember all that God has done. Looking back on past grace gives us faith in His future grace.

Source: Christina Fox

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus… I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:4-7,13

Seeing God’s handiwork in the brilliant display of flowers reminded me of God’s vast and amazing love. This season of growth and new life reminds me that resurrection follows death. Even though I experience challenging seasons in my life, light always shines at the end of the darkest night.

We need to seek and savor the sweet smells of blessing in our life today. Trials will come, and when they do, we need to remember all the ways He loves and blesses us. When the cold and the darkness of winter visits our heart, we need to recall the warmth of His light and cling to His faithfulness. Spring follows winter; joy comes with the morning light.

How can you remember His love today?

Filed Under: Battles, Spiritual Tagged With: , , , 3 Comments

I want one of those…

May 5, 2012 By 1 Comment

How many times a day do we think something like… “If only I could have ____________.”

Now, how many of those thoughts are beneficial or life-changing? Even more, how often do they to help change us into better, more balanced people?

If we’re honest with ourselves, more often than not, these sorts of thoughts don’t bloom anything other than greed, selfishness, and jealousy.

What relationships are the most vital to your day-to-day life? Perhaps it’s a friendship that keeps your walk on pace where it needs to be. If you are married, then maybe it’s taking the steps to continually strengthen the relationship with your spouse. Maybe it’s your kids–raising them to follow the path God has for them. The relationship with your parent, ensuring they are taken care of as they age, getting any and all help that they need. Even still, it could be a broken relationship that needs to be fixed.

No matter what relationship it was that came to mind, what if we took the “I want one of those…” mindset and redirected it to look something like this…

“…I want one of those relationships that leaves others in awe of God. I want to spur insert name here on into becoming a stronger, better, deeper person for Him. I want this to reflect out into the world as an example of His love. I want the type of relationship that others look at and say “I want what they have”. Not just to say that about the relationship between insert name and I, but about our relationship with Him as well. I want a relationship that changes society’s opinion of what this sort of bond should really look like. I want us to be an example that it can be done, even when everyone else around says that it’s impossible to maintain a healthy relationship based on God. So long as we remain based in God, and keep him as our focus, this relationship could change the world…or at least our part of the world.”

Can you imagine what our mindset would be if we looked for ways and relationships to desire an intimacy like this? Those relationships will blossom into something that’s more amazing, more spiritually powerful than we could even imagine.

Can I challenge us today? To take one or two of the people who came to mind, and look for intentional ways to build those relationships in Him? If it’s a broken relationship that came to mind, perhaps it’s making another attempt to restore balance (whatever that would look like) to that relationship.

 

Filed Under: Accountability, Balance, Friendship Tagged With: , , , , 1 Comment

Hole-y Jeans | Praying for Our Kids

May 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment

Sitting around the dinner table full of steaming plates, we grasp hands and thank Him for the food.

Snuggled in bed with covers pulled up tight, we fight off sleep and ask for His blessing on our family.

Rushing through the day with errands, deadlines, and stress pulling us in every direction, we throw up a plea for help.

Pacing the hall of the hospital under the fluorescent lights, we plead and bargain in exchange for healing and safety.

Whether it’s a memorized blessing, intense time of intercession, or a quick sentence of “Help me, Jesus!” – prayer has proven to be a “staple” in the diet of a Follower of Christ.  However, there are times when a situation calls for extended periods of intensive communication from our hearts to the Throne Room of God.  In my short time as a parent, I’ve seen the need for and tremendous impact of these dedicated prayer times for my son.  When I’m on my knees, calling on God to work out His will in the life of my Augustine, I am surrendering my own control and admitting that I alone cannot create “change” in his heart.  I truly believe that prayer is the single most effective and powerful tool I have in my “mama toolbox.”

Praying for your children can be a daunting task – there’s so much ground to cover!  And there are countless resources on praying for children – a simple Google search will generate over 31 million potential hits – just a bit overwhelming!  It’s obvious that great men and women of faith have recognized the need to approach God on behalf of the next generation and have taken the time to equip us to lay the foundation of faith before them and ask for God’s blessing on their lives.  To help narrow that search down, I’ve selected two affordable, eBook resources for you to consider:

“31 Days of Prayer for Our Daughters” by The MOD Squad

While I am not a “mama of girls,” I have friends who have attested to the power and need for this resource as they pray for their daughters.  In a world that degrades, pressures, and can demoralize our girls, we have to stand on the front lines to fight for their hearts.  This eBook is available for $1.99 on Kindle and Nook.

“Warrior Prayers: Praying the Word for Boys in the Areas They Need it Most” by: Brooke McGlothlin

I’m blessed to call Brooke a dear friend and have been incredibly impacted by her words to intercede on behalf of my son.  To raise up a generation of men who are firmly grounded in Christ and who uphold His laws has earth-shaking impact.  This eBook is available for $3.99 on Kindle, Nook, and for PDF download.

These resources are a great jumping off point if you’re looking for a way to organize your prayer time for your kids!  Additionally, during the month of May (1-21), TheMOBSociety is hosting a 21 Days of Prayer for Sons challenge, inspired by Brooke’s book, “Warrior Prayers.”  Each day a group of over 900 women gather to pray through Scripture for their sons and encourage each other.  I’m blessed to be leading the challenge over there, so if you’d like more information or want to join us, please send an email to alle.warriorprayers@gmail.com and I’ll connect you.

Let’s wear some holes in our jeans as we pray for our sons and daughters.

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How Love and Goodness Triumph Over Evil

May 3, 2012 By 5 Comments

Rain pours down

for a second year

at the OKC Memorial Marathon.

It’s damp.

It’s cold.

It’s dreary.

But   life   is   all   about

PERSPECTIVE.

You choose.

Do you see the blessing or the curse?

I choose the blessings.

I choose to see how love and goodness

will always triumph over evil.

I am here.

I celebrate my strength.

I walk in the darkness before dawn

on hallowed ground, replaying the horror of

the day it happened in my mind.

I remember how the world stopped that day in April,

and people dropped everything to help, to pray, to donate.

I honor in silence the 168 who lost their lives here on April 19, 1995.

I look at their empty chairs on the memorial grounds.

I hear the moment of silence end with these words:

“We Run to Remember

because love and goodness will always triumph over evil,”

and I say a loud, “AMEN!”

I count my blessings.

I refuse to feel sorry for myself because of a little rain.

I hold myself accountable….

for optimism

and keeping the right perspective.

I count my blessings today

and through out my life.

Which do you choose?

Do you pay attention to

the blessings

or the curse?

 

Photo credit: Stephanie Lyness

 

Today is Count Me Accountable here at Must Love God….



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