december

Thank You God for memories
and thank You for hopeful plans.

Thank You for this present moment at hand;
in front of me is my family, gathered in the kitchen.
Behind me is my dog, laying down for a nap.
To my right and left are neighbors, snug in their homes
And all around the world people breathe in and out,
First breaths, last breaths, and one breath of many more to come.

Dear self:  let's you and me not waste the present,
But let's me and you rejoice in action.
I can rejoice by caring for my dog,
Appreciating the uniqueness of my family in dialogue
And visiting with a neighbor.
Celebration opens the gift, does it not?
I sense in me this lean of passivity,
And though pondering and waiting has its place
Let me not waste a life
By wasting too many days.

I can move while I ponder, can't I?

Thankful for faith predecessors

I'm thankful for George Matheson's hymns.  There are many!  One that stood out: 

Make Me a Captive, LORD:

Make me a captive, Lord, and then I shall be free.
Force me to render up my sword, and I shall conqueror be.
I sink in life’s alarms when by myself I stand;
Imprison me within Thine arms, and strong shall be my hand.

My heart is weak and poor until it master find;
It has no spring of action sure, it varies with the wind.
It cannot freely move till Thou has wrought its chain;
Enslave it with Thy matchless love, and deathless it shall reign.

My power is faint and low till I have learned to serve;
It lacks the needed fire to glow, it lacks the breeze to nerve.
It cannot drive the world until itself be driven;
Its flag can only be unfurled when Thou shalt breathe from heaven.

My will is not my own till Thou hast made it Thine;
If it would reach a monarch’s throne, it must its crown resign.
It only stands unbent amid the clashing strife,
When on Thy bosom it has leant, and found in Thee its life.

Kingdom come today

Holy God,

I long for Your presence
I long for Your face
I long to run in step with You

My Father, My God, My Holy Lord
My heart pants after thee

In so many ways I've settled for what's cheap
In so many instances I've ran from what's good
My Lord, My Savior, the Mighty One
Sometimes I reject Thee

Lord so Holy
Lord so Lovely

I choose Thee today and
every day.  Thy Grace sustaining,
Thy Love everlasting,
I believe in life with You

David sleighed a giant
Ruth had a child
Mary spoke with an angel
Daniel listened to Your voice
Isaiah spoke Thine word
Deborah led an army

I believe that a life of consecration to Thee is "for the taking"
For any who should just choose and follow, faithfully, diligently,
Holding onto God's promises and redemption

Being made new every day

Washed clean

Life in the River of Life

to Thine praise and by Your grace alone

You are more than Amazing, God!
Amen!

a prayer for grace

Hey God-

It is evening.  Morning really, but everyone is asleep... so it would seem it fits in the evening category better.  In just a couple hours, Bobby, Mat and I will be on our way to the airport.

a prayer
---

"God, open my heart to You please.  Close my heart to selfishness and evil.  Conform my heart to Yours, Lord.

"God, open my mind to You please.  Close my mind to control and trying to prove myself enough.  Please give me a hunger for Your truth.

"God, open my way to Your way please-- help me to walk on Your path everywhere I am and to walk in the Godly confidence of humility You call Your children to.  We are Your representatives and even Your friends!

"God, fill my mouth with Your words of life please-- help me speak to honor You.  Please fill my mouth with praise, trust, love, truth and gratitude that just has to come out.  Please help people hear You, and know it is You, not Ginny's words.  Please keep pride far from me.  Please give me teaching words according to Your will.  God, please put pressure on me when You want me to say something- I want to obey, sometimes I need a push!

"God, help me listen to honor You please.  Help me listen to others- what they really are saying-- and to Your voice, o God.

 "God, please give me fear of God and respect for Your Word.  You are the Great I AM.  Help me know which way is the way of obedience when I have choices.  God, PLEASE convict me of sin when I sin and grant me the courage and grace if You will to lovingly correct others when they sin.

"God, open my eyes to You please-- help me  to see You, Your beauty, Your character, Your majesty, Your faithfulness, Your direction, where You are moving and where You want to move.

"God, I long to be like Mary, mother of Jesus, who humbly accepted the task of raising the Son of God; and like Mary, the servant who sat at Your feet.  I long to be like Deborah who lead with wisdom, and like Abigail, who courageously took action to save lives and who loved her God.  I long to be like Ruth, who loved so much.  I long to be like You.  Lord, please take me as Yours this coming week and for all my days.  You reign."

Praise You.  In Jesus' name. Love You.  Thank You for so much

Amen

Ridiculous

Wanna know something ridiculous?

It feels like I'm pulling teeth when I call to meet or talk to someone! I look forward to seeing them or chatting, but something about making a phone call just makes me want to avoid the potential awkwardness at all costs.  I often find other things to do to keep pushing the task down the list.

Well, we are bigger than our feelings, right? 

Live how ya aim to, even if feelings aren't being agreeable. Carpe diem! I made my phone call and the conversation was super great. Scheduled to meet with old friends tomorrow afternoon!

That isn't a fear necessarily, but don't let fear or uneasiness keep you from living how you want. If you don't know me well, I'm chalk-full of anxiety... but it won't keep me from living how I am called to. 

Lecturing myself.  Joshua 1:9

Have a great day

Whispers

Today I want to run away.

I long to pave a way

To prosperity and peace

Joy and laughter

I'm uncomfortable right now with life's demands and troubles.

-----

Daughter, I have a good plan for you.

This time is uncomfortable; in it, I am building you, refining you.

I'm also showing you your real character; your strengths; and need to surrender.

I love you so much, and want you to be well;

I help you be the daughter I made you to be when you let me.

This time is a blessed time, though it hurts.

Daughter, trust me and follow me.

Watch and see My faithfulness unfold in the lives of your dear ones,

And in your life.

Daughter, I'll help you see.


I AM Who I AM

one source

I feel in me the 'need' to run
To crush daily tasks til the day is done
To stand over every checked-off goal
And then lay down peacefully.  What a goal--

It doesn't happen that way, to tell you the truth
It is great to get things done, quite important to!
But my source of peace won't come from my control,
A life lived in satisfaction doesn't come from strength of my own.

It comes from my God and running to HIM.
Sitting at His feet, and...WAITING on Him.
Time with my Savior gives me fuel
To handle anything the day should bring,
And even help me know which thing I ought to do
Or not do.

So I acknowledge to God I need to bow
And ask for grace to humble myself.
I pick up my Bible and step outside
To sit by the river and read of the Giver of life.

People person?

When you are given authority or trusted with people

Are you a confidante, a pastor, a counselor, a coach, a friend, a parent?  Maybe this will be of use.

I’m not going to write an essay by any means, I will simply state a few short and significant matters to consider since you have been trusted with people and their problems.  Why would I bother writing about this?  1)  I’m still learning 2) Maybe you have more to share 3) I have small experience as a Residence Hall Chaplain and as a living breathing human with relationships in which I ask advice and give advice, listen and am listened to, and 4) , I am always trying to learn from people, from books, and other sources about this topic of doing life with people. 

1:  Know ‘The Why’

            Why is it that you are listening to people, their emotions, their problems?

Specifically, ask yourself if YOU are trying to save or fix them, or if your goal is to point them to the God who IS A REDEEMER AND HEALER.

2:  Know ‘The How’

            This has multiple parts, but basically I’m asking HOW  you point people to God and TRUST those people into God’s hands instead of all in your hands.  Suggestions.

A)   Prayer.  Praying for these people and their problems is a means for you, the confidante, to take the problem out of YOUR hands and to put them into GOD’s hands.  It is an invitation for God to be God in the person’s situation.  It is inviting God to be the Redeemer that He is, whether the problem gets cleaned up all nicely or it is a messy matter.  IN both ends, nothing is wasted and God is love, is just, is merciful, is redeeming.  Sometimes a person grows more when things aren’t well than when a problem gets taken care of as easily as wiping up spilt milk.  Prayer builds trust in God and is choosing to trust God (over yourself).

B)   How You Speak.  Are you trying to solve the questions, or are you trying to help the person you are talking to to solve it?  When you try to fix everything yourself, you are building potential for the individual to feel dependent on others or even specifically on you.  God did not make people that way.  Yes we need relationships but we are to be dependent on God alone.  Otherwise it is an idol and short-selling what God created in every individual- a mind and will that is equipped to overcome with Christ.  Don’t create people dependent on people, develop people confident in God and thereby confident in themselves.

(recommended read:  Care of Souls)

C)   Be a Resourcer.  God is the God of all wisdom.  HE knows everything about…. EVERTYHING!  One person can’t know all that God does, but people can specialize in certain areas of knowledge.  Point people to books, to Scripture, to organizations that deal specifically with a problem (and at that, Biblically so.  Don’t send someone anywhere where the root isn’t addressed eventually.  Dealing with symptoms is not enough in the long run) .  Again, in this way, they aren’t depending on you (and you aren’t qualified enough in many areas anyway!).

D)   Praise God throughout the process.  Thank God and help the other person to do the same, or if they can’t, model it.  Thank God for the organization that deals SPECIFICALLY with their problem that has been helpful.   Praise God for His character and that He knows all about this person’s life, now and their past.  Praise God for being the One Healer and One true God, that this God wants to do life with us.   

E)   Don’t merely look at their main problem.  Look at the health of their soul and whole being.  Disciple them.  Point them to the LORD and equip them to walk with the LORD. 
(Learn about discipleship so you can do this!)

F)    Have a healthy, vibrant, ALIVE relationship with God yourself.  Talk to a trusted Pastor if you aren’t sure what that looks like, or how you can have a better relationship with Christ.  Life is about living with God now, not “someday” though I’m certainly looking forward to Heaven too.  You’ll never have this perfect because we won’t see God face to face until we step into eternity with Him.  But we always can be growing! That’s exciting!!!

Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

3:  Know WHAT to do to take care of yourself

            I broke the cool  subtitle pattern! Oh no!

But that is okay, the information is still here, just less cleverly.  If you want to be investing in others, you MUST invest in yourself. 

Rest, eating right, exercise, time with God, quiet time, social time, growth, venting, thinking---  do these things! 
And teach the people you do life with how to take care of themselves too if they are lacking in any area.  Every bit helps when it comes to being well.  Remember to praise God too!  He designed the body and even had OT laws to protect the body (like HE said ‘no’ to eating pork and crustaceans—smart because those two animals soak up toxins and crap… who wants to put toxins and crap into their body? Our God is a smart and sovereign God!)

Hope this is helpful to you, and I’d love to hear what other advice you have about how to be healthy as a confidante to other people.  Let’s point others to the LORD who reigns!   

Live well in Him! 

Ginny Herron

the Giver

There are many blessings in this life
Things that bring joy, laughter, health and tranquility

But LORD, only things that are life giving are in you
Those other blessings?  They may satisfy a little,
But in the end I'll starve even if my day is full of those good things.

I need You.

I praise You, the One who is the giver of life!  Thank You that we can live with You! 

bow to One

i bow to no one but You O LORD
You are my Authority,
my Victory
my Savior
My All
I won't bow to man,
to expectations
to even logic sometimes.

I bow to You.

Please help me LORD
to not bow to myself--
Forgive me please for when I have.

You are Life
You are "Everything"
I surrender
Help me surrender, LORD

learning still (...there will always be more to learn.)

it isn't about me. 
life.
it isn't about me figuring out what to do with it
or who I really am.
they are just perks.
it isn't about other people either necessarily.
relationships and serving if you do that are other mere benefits of
the real reason for living.

that reason is God and life with Him every day.
Living with the LORD, inviting Him, and giving Him the driver's
seat to your life.
Spending time with God, in the Word, prayer, serving, fellowship, fasting, and more
are ways that you give God that driver's seat in your life.

Life is about God, the LORD of all, our King, Creator and  Mighty Savior.

God, I so often forget that and get focused on me!  Please work in my heart and etch permanently on my heart reverence for You.  I delight in that You would want such a life with me... a life with You!

Today

Today is the day

The LORD has made

I will rejoice and be glad.

I will bring all my laughter and my tears

My hopes and all my fears

Capabilities, questions, rather-nots and

 ideal possibilities

And lay them down at His feet,

for the LORD my God to keep,

that I may run forward into the day

The LORD has made

rejoicing and glad in it.


[To lay them down

is choosing to trust

that my eternal God is enough

for any and every circumstance.]


What is enough?  Knowing that He

cares for me and partners with me;

that He won't fail

and He helps me not to fail, too;

That He doesn't give up on me

when I do fail;

That His Word is true and

He lives with me when I invite

Him to.  Faith is so similar to trust.

may 10

I woke up anxious today.

My dreams were riddled with good things and then nightmarish things.  This doesn't happen very often.  Last night the nightmarish things just were downright unpleasant and scary.  Struggles and destruction!

I woke up in a weird and kind of negative mood.  I didn't finally stand up until a while after I'd woken up, maybe half an hour.


Anxieties about people and friendships then slipped easily into my mind.  Anxiety is my bane, and it is easy for me to not put a cap on it and get frazzled mentally and emotionally by the "what if"s or "why didn't i"s.

And the best way to get rid of it I've found is to lay it down and instead take up the Gospel which offers peace.

It is kind of like wearing an uncomfortable helmet that hurts your head, when just in the closet is a helmet that will make my head feel CLEAR and COMFORTABLE!  It's safe, too!  I just have to make the choice to lay down the helmet that hurts and put on the helmet that does me good.  oh, the effort... walking to the closet, removing one helmet to replace it with another.  Got a sofa nearby?
(Sarcasm)

It really comes down to bothering with making the choice.  I don't always, and I ought to; I am so glad when  I do.

There are different ways of laying down anxiety.

Dancing in joy, worship, confidence is one way.  You are laying down (or "shaking off"!) that which weighed you down and instead praising God in the confidence that His Word holds true and you need not fear.  "I KNOW I have no reason to worry in Christ, because He is my shepherd and Father, my refuge and even calls himself my Friend."  The stuff you do influences who you are.  Smiling when you aren't so happy releases chemicals that go along with smiling, making you more... happy....

Another way is journaling about the trouble and leaving it there.

You could write out a prayer  of leaving that worry with God, and praying about the worry, and then LEAVE it there.

What helps me often is images.  I picture in my mind, or even draw out, me leaving a concern or burden at the foot of the cross.  I leave it there because I know it is far safer in God's care than mine.  Good or bad things, God can easily handle them.  And I choose faith that, tomorrow or a year or even later than now, the thing will be resolved.

Another image is laying something into Christ's hands, or at His feet.  You can even lay YOURSELF down at Christ's feet in total surrender as a habit of praise, and trust, or as a means of saying, "God, I can't handle my life.  I trust YOU with it! I'm a mess"  Often it can be all of the above.  God loves it when we trust things in His care.  God did a lot one day with a loaf and a couple fish, feeding hundreds of people.  He can do a lot with you and me.  And our concerns that we trust with Him.  He is such a redeemer.

Art, running, reading or speaking Scripture on the worry topics are other means; venting to someone trusted and then praying with them are ways; and I bet there are a lot  more ways of handling a concern too!, giving it over to God and instead taking up peace.

Ask God for peace.

Today I'm laying down anxiety about moving for three months; I'm afraid and nervous.
I'm laying down anxiety about my body; I don't feel beautiful today, but GOD says I am gorgeous, and you know, I know I am as a fact and as something God made.  I really do know it, but the heart can be deceptive and say something different sometimes.

I'm laying down anxiety about plans this weekend.

I'm laying down the feeling on not being enough.  I'll never be enough, but GOD is more than enough, and all He asks me to do is walk moment by moment with Him. Driving, sitting, serving, whatever.

I lay down these emotions I feel of sadness and worry from the nightmares.

ANd I take up a peace that surpasses all understanding, shoulders with much less of a weight; and I choose to keep those things laying at the cross.  IF I begin to fret again, I will not let myself dwell on the concern and will lay it at the cross again, and again, and again.

Ask God to trade out lies for truth in your life;  ask Him to teach you to trade out lies for truth.  What a mercy of God that He is faithful to do, and what a good skill to have as you minister to yourself and to people you love and encounter.



I feel better now having laid those concerns down.  I even kind of am teary-eyed (...I'm an emotional person.)  So now I will listen to some music and probably start some dishes.  Or maybe make a gold-fish craft I've been thinking about.  Have a great day.  Do know that sometimes you don't feel better right away after laying down a burden.  But the feeling does not so much matter as the CHOICE.  Believe me, I prefer it when I all of a sudden feel better and can smile!  But that is not always how it is! it is a matter of saying, "God, I want to do this your way; I just have to trust you to help this project get done."  Or "Lord, my home is such a ruin.  No one is happy.  God, I'm hopeless, and I commit my home and family to You; I believe You are a redeemer.  Redeem my family please, to Your glory.  I wait for You, Lord, and make me willing to do something if there is something I need to.  If not, please help me have the hope and patience and whatever to wait and trust in You, God! Amen"

Please comment if you want any articles or want to talk about this topic.  I'd be happy to send them.  I'm still learning but it helps a lot to learn together.

Praise the Lord

Carpe diem

Potential solution, or reply, to fear:  Carpe diem.

Seize the day in Godly confidence/humility (they go together).  Choose to live.  Get busy living a full life.

Trust

The more I learn, the more I want to do.

The more I learn about ministry, the more eager I am to jump in and run!

Same with learning about the causes of the oppressed—the poor, the abused, the used.

I begin making all these plans and brainstorming!  Maybe God will have me do this!  OR this!  Here's an idea!  Or , or , or…

But then I feel a gentle tug and hear a chuckle in my hear.  God looks at me with shining eyes and a smile, telling me without words to “hold your horses.” 

All God has asked me to do is trust Him and be available and obedient to Him.

One day at a time, dwell with Me. 

And would I could, I’d run up and hug Him.  I’m glad God cares enough to remind me of how He wants me to be living, through the Word or Body of Christ or time in the quiet with Him.  He doesn’t just let me go make a mess or begin building towers before I'm ready; He gives me the option to do what I want, but reminds me of His best.... life with Him daily, submitted and trusting, depending on Him.  "Walk with Me."

“Lord, I say now that I want Your best and Your will for my life.  I want YOU!  May it be so by Your grace; I want to live beneath the shadow of Your wings, and I believe Your Word is true... I do live there as I put my trust in You.  Love You Lord. Thank You for Your love for Your children. Amen."  

Run to Him!
Run to Him!

Nothing will fill
Like Running to Him!
The King of Kings
The Lord of Lords

He loves you!

Run to Him!

---------
pray/talk to God,
read the Word,
Pray the Word,
sing praises to God
sing your troubles to God
Sing thanksgiving
Write or speak thanksgiving
Whistle in worship
Cry unto the LORD knowing He is present
Ask for help
draw it out

or simply invite Him to whatever moment you are in knowing He is faithful whether You feel something or not.

 so much more. there are many ways to run to the Lord when you are craving, when you are grieving, when you are hurt, when you are lonely, when you are bored.  He answers all who call upon Him.

Psalm 34:8  Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Word

For Your Word I hunger,
For Your Word I thirst.

This Word of life
These Words of praise
of Hope
a weapon!
a promise!

I don't know them well, Lord--
There is a lot to learn.

Help me to learn Your Word please--
Remind me and push me so that I may
Put forth the effort
To treasure, and ever get to know better,
and become equipped (as You intended) with
the beautiful and mighty Word You've shared.

In Him only

I lift my eyes over the mountains

Past the trees—

Beyond the frames of men,

Beyond beautiful flying things

Butterflies, bees and floating petals
That were created by One;

My hope rests in one thing,
Even though I’ve tried to find refuge in other places.

No, not man;

No, not riches;

Not esteem nor friends nor success and comfort

Is my hope found in.

I’ve looked;

My hope is in the LORD.

His Word brings life;

His promises are true.

His faithfulness reaches to the skies,

His love never fails.

He counts the number of hairs on my head

And my name is written on His palm.

He causes the earth to tremble

And mighty waters to part.

He sings over me with unfailing love;

He rejoices over me,

For He is a kind and merciful God,

The Great I AM

Lion and Lamb

Victor over death,

Conqueror of my sin.

The LORD over angel armies

Sees me.

How come I forget sometimes
That God is so big and holy?
That my grief is minuscule
Compared to other sufferings or
Compared to His Mighty Love.

He has loved me when I was weakest;
He beckoned me when I did not know Him.
He redeemed my father, my brother, my friend
And I still see Him moving in the lives of others.

Put your hope in the LORD;
Be strong, take heart and wait for the LORD
It esteems in Psalm 27.
I want to do that, Lord.
I make the choice--


I thank You for Your grace to work that hope in me.
You are good, Lord;
Your mercy reaches to the skies!
Your love really does endure forever.
Forgive me when I forget please
And please make Yours the tablet of my heart.  

humbling.

It is humbling to think that a person would think to say "hello" to me or would want to stop and talk to me.

Trust costs something, really!

many!

Short post.

Thanks for wonderful people.  Thanks for diverse people.  Thanks for artsy people, thoughtful people, friendly people, sarcastic humorous people, determined people, logical people, happy people, calm people.  And more people.

saturday

The more full life is, perhaps the longer the to-do list... but by full I don't mean busy; I mean, meaningful! And that makes it all worth it. I'd rather be living life to the full than be living life busy. Or lazy. Thankful for life, in all its different shades and seasons.  Sometimes saying "thanks" for it is easier than in other times, not negating that.  But I just love this quote someone told me.... "If it isn't good, it isn't the end."  God bless ya today, may it be a day that glorifies Him a lot.

awe

I’m in awe of your promises

Humbled by Your delight

That you give a thought of me

When there are thousands of stars shining in the night.
The breeze crosses thousands of miles

And the sun hits thousands of grains of sand,

Yet you think of me.

Thank You, great I AM.

The raindrops remind me of redemption

And compassionate tears that well up in caring eyes

God, your mercy sweeps away the pain and sin

Bathed in grace, I stand and am clothed in robes of righteousness

And crowned with mighty grace.

I can stand before a thousand

I can proclaim truth without fear

My God is for me

His love never fails.