A Bee in the Bucket

March 6, 2013 By 6 Comments

You wake up exhausted. Your “restful night’s sleep” barely resembled sleep. You get out of bed and you feel an ache.

Maybe it’s a headache. Maybe it’s a back ache. Maybe it’s an emotional heart ache. Whatever it may be, something this morning aches.

Tired achy steps shuffle into the kitchen, and as you lift a tired achy hand to cook a breakfast you’re really not in the mood to cook, it happens.

A husband needing lunch now because he forgot he’s leaving early today.
A child dropping the dog’s water bowl all over the kitchen floor.
A baby screaming with a full diaper saved up for you.
A phone ringing because a bill you paid never made it out of the house.

It happens.

And when it does, temptation tries to sink its teeth into your tired, achy, soul to act like a bee in a bucket.

The thing about a bee in a bucket, is that no matter how hard and fast it flies, no matter how angry it gets and tries to use its stinger to display its anger, the most it will accomplish is simply beating its head (or stinger) against the sides of the bucket.

Over and over.

It will make a lot of noise while it does so. It will sound ferocious, and maybe even the more timid of us will shy away from the bucket, hoping it doesn’t tip over. That ferocious sounding bee will not inspire us to lift the bucket and set it free. No. We want to keep it there. With that racket, how could such a creature be trusted outside of the bucket?

Here is the other thing about a bee.
That same bee pollinates the flowers and clover.

I remember as a child always looking for the illusive four-leaf clover, because it would bring me great luck.

Clover of course has other uses, such as being a nutritious option for farmers with livestock. Many farmers with grazing livestock need their clover fields to scatter and reproduce each year, paying to bring bees from bee farms to accomplish this important task.

When bees are trapped in the bucket, they are not out in the world,
and when they are not out in the world, we lose many beautiful things.
Flowers. Vegetables. Fruit.
Even Clover.

A four-leaf clover cannot bring us any great luck.
The bee who pollinates the clover fields cannot bring us any luck.

However, there is ONE who can bring us far more than just “luck.”

He brings us Freedom, for He is the one who can lift our buckets, heal our aches, transform our frustrations, and send us out into the world.

(We pray) that you may be invigorated and strengthened with all power according to the might of His glory, [to exercise] every kind of endurance and patience (perseverance and forbearance) with joy, ~Colossians 1:11 (AMP)

Sometimes, I’m the bee in the bucket.

A friend recently shared the above verse with me during one of my bee in the bucket moments, and it spoke some truths to me about His Glory, and what He is capable of.

photo MyAlbum3-005_zpsbc09a323.jpg
It doesn’t happen because of what I do. It doesn’t happen because of luck. It happens because of who He is.
It happens because of His power, His grace, His love, His strength,
His promise to transform us.

We take our tired aches to Him, so He can give us what we need.
Rest. Comfort. Hope. Strength.
And then we persevere to spread our wings,
and pollinate the world around us,
so that when it happens,
He can use us for His glory to spread His beauty.

As a woman who is sometimes tempted to become the bee in the bucket, I encourage my sisters in Christ to find that time of rest with Him.

Allow Jesus the opportunity, through His Word, through Prayer, through the Holy Spirit, for Him to heal your aches and by His strength give you Joy to persevere.

Because He wants us to pollinate our homes, our churches, and the world all around us, so that He can bring all of His beauty into every part of our lives.

In Love & Faith,
RaZella

 

Filed Under: Balance, Emotional, Spiritual Tagged With: , , , , , , , 6 Comments

My Soul Cries Out

February 8, 2013 By 5 Comments

It’s February, the excitement of the new year has passed.  How is your heart?

Are you discouraged by the lack of sticking with your goals?  Have you found you need to tweak those goals in order to achieve them daily?

I want to ask you to look deep into your heart.  How do you feel?

I personally have lost momentum.  I know what I should be doing, however, I continue to lean towards a sedentary lifestyle and make food choices that aren’t the best.

I feel like Paul.

It’s my heart.  What is going on in my heart? What can I do in my heart to help me achieve my physical goals?  When my heart is parched, my bones feel dry, I feel spent. That’s when I get discouraged and defeated and begin to do those “very things I hate.”

But thankfully, like Paul, I can learn to live in the spirit (Romans 8). And while my goals this year are specifically geared towards my physical wellness and being, my heart has to abide in the spirit and I have to look at my whole being working together.  I cannot achieve any physical goals, emotional goals, spiritual goals, or mental goals until my heart is in the right place.

 

 

This has become one of my favorite songs to listen to while trying to set my heart right.

Do you want to abide in Him?  Do you want to be something new?  How is your heart health?

Filed Under: Balance, Emotional, Thought for Today Tagged With: , , , , 5 Comments

Instinct

February 1, 2013 By 5 Comments

When someone says something harsh about us. When there’s an attack (real or perceived) on our beliefs, values or rights. When we feel betrayed by someone. When we are faced with trials. When justice isn’t served. When we’re unfairly fired. When plans fall through. When discouragement, anger, frustration, irritation, or countless other negative feelings settle in.

What does our instinct tell us to do?

Instinct can be defined as a behavior that is mediated by reactions below the conscious level.

So when something happens, what does our instinct lead us to do? Do we react out of the flesh side of ourselves, or from our spiritual side? Do we allow anger, bitterness, and hate to bombard us, or are we able to meet these situations with love, grace and a prayerful attitude?

The answers to these questions are crucial. For we are told that “the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.” (Matt 12:34b) This means that the way we react without thinking gives us a deeper truth–the truth into what our hearts are consumed with.

This doesn’t mean that we’ll respond correctly every time. Even if we’re growing in our relationship with Christ, continually sacrificing so that our priorities will remain in the proper order, and looking for ways to honor Him in all we do…we still won’t always respond the way we know we should. The way we so eagerly want to respond.

Even if we don’t choose the best way to react, each time that we choose the better option we take a step toward the best option becoming a habit. With every better step, we make progress.

So how can we begin to make progress toward our instinct resulting in the best reaction?

  • We memorize scripture (Psalm 119:11)
  • We meditate on positive influences (i.e. music, tv, internet interactions, etc)
  • We continuously pray for it (1 Thess 5:17)
  • We think before we speak (WWJD anyone?)
  • We respond in only ways we wish others would respond to us (Luke 6:31)

If we are faithful to do all these things, I believe that little by little our instincts will align with His instincts. When this happens, we can be confident that our heart is healthy. After all, our end goal is to be so completely and utterly captivated, engulfed, and captured by Him that those who look at us no longer see us, but Him.

That is the place I know each of us here is striving to be.

Won’t you join us?

Filed Under: Balance, Battles, Revolution, Spiritual Tagged With: , , , , 5 Comments

We Want to Walk Through Life With YOU! Join us!

January 17, 2013 By 2 Comments

 

Must Love God
Community and accountability are two principles that are very important to the heart of must love God. Basically, no one needs to walk through this life alone, and its so much easier to have someone walking right next to you!! This is very much the concept the picnic table that we visualize when we dream about the MLG community.

 

 

 

We started count me accountable Thursdays as a simple link up where we could all share the things we are working on. This year we hope more of you will join us, telling us about your exercise, healthy eating, Bible memorization, One Word, and anything else you want to be held accountable for. Those of us that have participated have found, the projects are much easier to follow through with when we know we are “giving a report” on Thursday!!

We also want to introduce HelloMornings as another way to find community and accountability. Many of our mlg writers and community members are or have been part of a HelloMornings group. Simply put, HelloMornings is a gathering of women in the wee hours of the morning committing to start their day with the Lord. We feel that the pillars of hellomornings (God, plan, move) closely align with mustloveGod.

You can find out more about HelloMornings here. Two of our writers, Meredith and Amanda, are accountability captains and would love to extend an invitation to you. If you prefer a Facebook group or a different time zone- feel free to find a group that suits you!!! Registration is now open!!

So would you gather around the picnic table with us? Link up a post from this week that shares something you’ve been working on! We want to encourage you!! Don’t have a blog post? Then tell us in the comments!!

 



Filed Under: Accountability, Balance Tagged With: , , , , 2 Comments

Word of God Speak

September 4, 2012 By 11 Comments

Welcome! We’ve created a Special Series for you this month! We’ll
take 4 weeks and focus on 4 elements to ‘Reset’ our lives for Him.
We’re calling it ’4×4 Reset’. If you missed the introduction, you
can find more details here. Each post will feature a READ IT
(scripture verse), a SEE IT (motivation), & a DO IT (challenge/
call to action). Our 4×4 Reset Toolbox is available and has links
to all the posts and to our resources, including our Build a Firm
Foundation Printable tracking page. Be sure to subscribe to not
miss a day, & join us on Twitter & Instagram using our hashtag
#4x4Reset!

 

Word of God Speak

So lately I’ve been forced to look at evaluating the amount of time that I spend in God’s word. As life seasons have changed and priorities have been realigned, I’ve discovered that it’s time to get serious about how much time I spend in His word, and how crucial it is that I connect with it. After all, it is the best way to guard my heart against Satan’s attack. And several times we are called to protect our heart for it is our well-spring of life.

I have found that it’s very hard to do life well when I’m disconnected from the Source of all life. I could give you a million reasons excuses as to why it’s not become a habit yet in my life. With all the ups and downs that life has thrown my way, most of them would seem to be understandable. But when I get down to the nitty-gritty of it all, it simply comes down to a lack of discipline, or in even simpler terms, laziness, in building the habit.

What’s the best way to change this? Prayer always works–asking Him to give me a hunger and thirst for His Word that can only be quenched by adequate time with Him, then soaking in His directions for living in this world. Finding a song to inspire me to dig in His word, to connect in new ways, just looking for that gem that I know is hidden in there. Knowing it was hidden there just for me.

So as we’re heading into fall, a time when many of us are just getting back into routines (especially the teachers in our midst and parents with school-aged kids), we’re looking to make this the best year yet. What better way to do that than to refresh our dedication to the very source of our life?

I happened to be driving in my car as I was contemplating what I might write for this first week of the 4×4 reset this month, when suddenly Mercy Me’s song Word of God Speak came on. Suddenly it was clear that I needed to write on this subject. It was like He was saying to me, “Daughter, only by shedding light on a struggle, will anything change.” It’s been a topic He’s been pounding into my head a lot lately.

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. (Proverbs 4:23)

For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

So friends I ask you today, what would happen if we took the time to really dig into what His words have to say to us? Would we find ourselves falling repeatedly into our same old habits? Or would we find ourselves soaring to new heights, undiscovered places in our walk with him? I challenge us to really examine our time in His Word; evaluate if it is truly beneficial. Seek Him to guide us on how to best use the sword He’s given us to defeat the Enemy that so badly wants to destroy us. Won’t we be bold enough to let Him mold our Bible study into what it needs to be to nourish our souls?

Read it:

See it:

Click this link to watch Mercy Me–Word of God Speak on YouTube.

 

Do it:

 

Don’t forget to check out our 4×4 Reset Toolbox tab up at the top of every page.  Links to previous posts and to our printable tracking journal can be found there.  Make sure to connect with us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram with the #4x4Reset hashtag too! 

Filed Under: 4x4Reset, Balance, Spiritual Tagged With: , , 11 Comments

Five Ways to Worship While on Vacay

August 27, 2012 By 3 Comments

Between throwing our swimsuit into the suitcase and printing off our itinerary and road maps, let’s take a minute to pause and make sure we’re packing one of the most important things into our vacation bags…our worship.

Scripture is clear about the role worship plays in the life of a Follower of Christ…in fact, it doesn’t play a role – it’s our actual identity.

And you never leave your identity behind…just because you’re going on vacation doesn’t mean you stop being a mother, or a friend, or a blogger.  How those identities play out may look a little different while you’re relaxing and recharging, but they don’t cease to be a part of you.  In the same way, our identity as worshippers should travel with us.

In Scripture, John points out that we are to worship God…truly worship Him in spirit and truth.  What does that look like as we take to the road for a week of “fun in the sun?”  Here are five practical ways you can continue to live out a life of true worship with your family or a group of friends while on vacation.

  1. Give Him Your Playlist – Dedicate your playlist or the portion for that early morning chunk of the ride to worshipping the Father.  If you don’t have a good library of worship music, check with a friend or your pastor for guidance on what to purchase.  Or, shoot me an email at alle(at)chasing-eden(dot)com - I love helping friends discover music that fits their personal style while helping them enter the Throne Room. And, after 10 years as a musician and worship leader, I’ve got a pretty good library built up to give some personal recommendations!
  2. Spend Time with Him – Don’t forget to pack your Bible and any other “tools” you use for your personal time with God.  As your body and mind relax and take a break, you’ll find more room in your heart for God to speak extra encouragement and refreshment.  If you’re traveling with your family or a group of friends – perhaps you could dedicate a portion of each morning or outing to some group devotional time!
  3. Create Something – Some of my most intimate times with God come from being an image-bearer of His creativity.  Whether that manifests itself in a new song, a piece of art, writing, or any other creative medium doesn’t matter.  Dedicate some time on your vacation to create…you could even make a mini-journal or memory jar of your trip!
  4. Explore Creation – Being in a new physical location (or even exploring a place you’ve never visited in your home town) can uncover some beautiful parks, ocean-views, and mountain-top experiences.  Thank Him for His creativity in making this planet our home and capture it in a photo or journal!
  5. Meet Your Extended Family – If your trip spans over a weekend, take the time to investigate a new church in the area you’re visiting.  Meeting with other Believers who you may never see until we’re all called home is an exciting experience as you worship corporately!

What are some other ways you can live out your life as a worshipper even while “on break” from your other responsibilities?

 

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

Becoming Consistent

August 23, 2012 By 1 Comment

Often I find myself shuffling through life without any sort of direction. Sure, I have a general idea of where I’m going, but don’t have any clue on how to get there.

I find myself wondering through this life. Trying to figure out how in the world I’ve ended up where I am at the end of the day. Reflecting on the impatient, irritated, short-tempered, lacking-love person that I’d been to those around me. For the life of me, I couldn’t figure out how to break that cycle.

At least not until recently. I always knew that quiet time was essential. Something I’ve always needed. I just wasn’t quite sure how to make it a consistent thing in my life. A priority.

I’d recognized that I needed to have my quiet time in the mornings. I know well enough that if I don’t get it done first thing, it’s likely to not happen. However, I didn’t quite know how to make it happen. At least not on my own.

I was so excited when I discovered that #HelloMornings was starting up again. I understood the concept. I just knew it was something that I wanted needed to do.

This morning marks day 4. My schedule doesn’t demand getting up as early as most in my group, but my body is still struggling to adjust to the earlier mornings. I’m seeing that between getting my Bible study time done in the morning and keeping Christian music on to continue to encourage me throughout the day:

  • I don’t find myself as irritable
  • I’m a lot more patient
  • I’m less me-focused
  • I am more eager to find ways to love
  • I am more understanding
  • I am refreshed each day

And this is only 3 days in! I can’t see what else is to come through the rest of this session.

We want to encourage you, if you haven’t yet figured out how to make consistent quiet time a part of your schedule, find a way to do so now. Many of us take part in the Hello Mornings challenge. While the session has already started, it is a great tool to use. You’ll be encouraged to study the Word in small chunks, getting as much as you can out of each passage of scriptures. You’ll find great accountability. Plus, you’ll figure out what works best for the current circumstance you’re in.

What steps (big or small) are you taking to bettering yourself? We’d love to hear from you!



Filed Under: Accountability, Balance, Friendship, Spiritual 1 Comment

A Call to Reflect

August 6, 2012 By 1 Comment

If you’ve noticed around here, we’re about learning how to better love God in all aspects of our lives. That’s one of the things I love the most about this place. We’re all encouraging, challenging, loving on each other to make ourselves more like the One who created us. I believe that this–this type of accountability–is something we all need in order to improve our spiritual impact on the world around us.

My question is this: Are we moving so fast that we fail to take delight in the good that is going on in our lives right now?

Even in the midst of the challenges, the chaos, and the trials, if we open our eyes and ask for the eyes to see, He will be faithful and show us in bits of how He is working and the good that is happening around us. It won’t be easy. Not in the least! But, if we stay the course, continue being faithful to ask for the eyes to see (and the hearts to comprehend) what He’s wanting us to see through this, it is possible.

If things are good, are we taking the chance to say thanks to the one who gave us this time? If not, I encourage you to take some time now, or later today, to pray/journal/blog about it. Maybe even start (or continue) your gratitude list.

Let every detail in your lives – words, actions, whatever – be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way. (Colossians 3:17 MSG)

If things are mediocre, could we take time to seek His heart, His will and His path for us to take? Maybe it’s taking a time for confession. Maybe it’s setting aside some time to seek Him in worship. Or perhaps it’s just taking some time to turn everything off (TV, music, phone, etc.) and sitting in silence awaiting Him to speak into your life.

For we go through all things on account of you, because the greater the number to whom the grace is given, the greater is the praise to the glory of God. For which cause we do not give way to weariness; but though our outer man is getting feebler, our inner man is made new day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:15-16 BBE-Bible in Basic English)

If things are really hard right now, is there anything we can sacrifice for a period of time that would help de-clutter this thing we call life and help us focus on the Creator of all? Even if only for an hour or a day?

Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it. We may receive it gladly, with thankful hearts. For we know it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. (1 Timothy 4:4-5 NLT)

So friends, whichever stage you’re in, I want to encourage you to seek His face. No matter where you are right now, may you take the time to step back, take a deep breath, and seek out the good going on around you.

Friends, sisters, what can we do to help you in the stage you’re in right now? Please let us know.

Filed Under: Accountability, Balance, Mental, Spiritual Tagged With: , , , , , , 1 Comment

Why Does It Even Matter?

August 1, 2012 By 2 Comments

Its been a little hard to focus lately.

My mind is bouncing all over the place as I prepare to start back to school for my final year of college.  I go from planning a month of meals to planning my blog to planning my children’s church lessons.  I’m crossing projects off my to-do list and adding more behind them.  I’m shopping, cleaning house, sorting coupons, and organizing my notebook for school.

This crazy balancing act gets pretty overwhelming at times.  Each item on my list is important.  Everyone on my list needs me, and I love everyone and everything on it.

But I’ll admit, there are days when I want to throw the whole list away and hide under the blankets, singing “Make The World Go Away.” 

Some days, I wonder if this all really matters.  What difference does it really make?  It gets so redundant – get up, go to school, go home, change clothes, go to work, go home, cook, clean, do laundry, go to bed exhausted, get up the next day and do it all over again – day after day, making sacrifices for this dream of finishing my degree.  Does it even matter?

As I pray for God’s strength and wisdom to see me through the months ahead, I’m realizing more every day that it all matters.

  • When my children’s church kids are bouncing off the walls and don’t seem to be listening to a thing I say, they’re actually soaking in lessons.
  • When I’m washing the 15,000th load of laundry this week, my family is blessed because they are being taken care of.
  • When I drag myself to the gym for the workout I don’t want to do, I’m honoring God by caring for my body.
  • When I focus on my class work for college, it brings me a step closer to being an RDH – one step closer to providing a better life for my family, one step closer to the short-term medical missions trips I dream of going on, and one step closer to fulfilling what God has called me to.

It seems like so much of life is a string of little things, but those little things quickly add up to big things.  As I finish assignments, scrub toilets, write out grocery lists, tuck my kids into bed, or file papers for my husband, I remind myself of what I’m building with all these little things.

I’m building a family and a life that strives to honor God every day…and that’s a pretty amazing thing.

Filed Under: Balance, Battles, Emotional, Mental Tagged With: , , , 2 Comments

When You Don’t Want the Vacation to End

July 30, 2012 By 6 Comments

photo courtesy Christina Fox

photo courtesy Christina Fox

photo courtesy Christina Fox

There is something about a vacation that makes the heavy burdens of life fall off our backs. Everything seems brighter and clearer. The senses are heightened as we take in the beauty of God’s creation. Getting away is often restorative not only physically, but spiritually as well.

God somehow seems closer the farther from home I get.

I was gone for three weeks this summer. To be honest, I didn’t want to return home (and I live in the land of vacations!). I didn’t want to lose the closeness to God I had experienced while away. I didn’t want the burdens of life to creep back on my shoulders. I didn’t want the peace in my heart to fade.

But does it really have to?

Do those burdens which weigh me down really have to return?

I don’t believe so.

The same sense of calm we feel on vacation can be with us every day. The same connection we feel with God while away exploring His creation can be with us at home as well. The same awareness of the world around us, the tastes, sounds, and smells, can be with us everyday–not just on vacation.

Because wherever God is, there also is our peace and joy. He is not only with us on vacation, He’s with us everywhere and all the time. He longs to carry our burdens and not just on our summer vacation, but each and every single day.

Ways to keep summer vacation in your heart all year round:

1. Live in the moment: Appreciate the time spent with family or friends, not focusing on the past or the future, but enjoying the present. Be attentive to all the gifts of God’s grace around you. Savor the tastes, enjoy the smells, and appreciate the sounds of life as they happen.

2. Release your burdens: Each day, intentionally give over your burdens to God. Release to Him all your worries. Trust Him to handle your trials and struggles. Be in continuous prayer and communion with Him.

3. Cut out what weighs you down and distracts your heart: One of the benefits of vacation is the break from all the little things that burden our lives. Cut back on those little things in your daily life that build up to create heavy burdens. Perhaps reduce computer or tv time. Make life simpler by cleaning out the clutter in your home. Organizing your living space so that it is more functional can allow you to live with more freedom and less stress. Make a goal to fill a bag every month with items for donation. Commit to using your time for what is most important. And then fill the extra time you have by being alone with God, playing with your children, or talking with your spouse.

The peace we feel during a vacation or break from our normal life doesn’t have to stay at the hotel when we leave. It can be with us all the time. Because God is the Source of all our peace and the Great Burden Bearer, we can rest in His presence each and every day of our life. Give Him all your cares and rest in His peace that passes all understanding.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29

 

Filed Under: Balance, Spiritual Tagged With: , , , , , 6 Comments
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