1 Peter 5:7::Cast your care.

1 Peter 5:7  (NIV)
7 Cast all your care on him because he cares for you.

I have been struggling for a while. Living in big and small change. Brilliant successes and some significant strife seem to be the sign posts on my path for now. And, I confess, I've felt a distance in the way I approach God. I allow so many little things to get in the way of the deeply needed deep connection.

I woke early this morning and mindlessly picked up my phone to check the old Instagram and saw a favorite sister in the faith's post. It's all about trusting God. Allowing the Author to be the Perfector.

Oh. Yes. That.

I think I distilled my early life training to the core idea that I might have to figure it out myself. I know this is wrong, but I've muscled through and made it right for years and years and years. I've also proven it quite wrong. So what do you do with that? Why is this the default when I have so much evidence in the opposite direction. Well? I forget.

This morning what I did is remember.

I remembered my table is never set for one. It is always (at least) me with God.
Today, I slipped out of my thinking, and let Him bring deep words of deep connection through a devotional reminding me to cast my care/anxiety/frustration/confusion in His direction -- on my Father's altar. Maybe even on His lap.

The way I see it, He woke me. He let me get to that place in the IG world. Then He whispered - grab the book and meet me at the table.

I remember.
I am my Father's and He is mine. He has never said to me: figure it our yourself. Rather, He whispers something lovely from His Word sounding like: come on Sweet Girl, I have this side of the yoke. Slip your head in here and let my strength lighten the load, the burden and maybe, let's talk about the thanksgiving and gratitude you have for who you are in me. Perhaps we could start there and watch the path smooth a bit. You can trust me. You can choose to cast those cares in my direction. I care about you.

The Gifts and the Giver

In the last two years, I've read and re-read, pondering this truth from Exodus 31:2-5

See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah. And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship to design artistic works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze, in cutting jewels for setting, in carving wood, and to work in all manner of workmanship.

I am thrilled to my very bone to consider how God fills us with the Spirit in wisdom, understanding, knowledge and art for His sake. It reminds me that He didn't create me to be a pastor or doctor, but a passionate leader with artistic leanings. As a connector and strategist and encourager, filled with ideas. He created me for His purposes, just as He created Bezalel to create - based on the Spirit's filling - for His great purposes.


Don't you love this?

A new year

This year, a few friends and I are spending our time in Dr. Stanley's Life Principles Daily Bible.

I'm excited. I love spending time everyday in the Word. And when I say love I mean love. (I'm very aware that we overuse the word love and I'm working to be aware of how I, specifically, use it.)

I was talking with Lori and Tami the other night and they were discussing how they felt a couple of experiences that seemed like the presence of the Holy Spirit. They'd been to a retreat in a city far away and had words of prophecy spoken over them and as they told about how each of them had felt, then and later, it seemed very familiar. I've had experiences where I've felt overwhelming joy and enthusiasm and a closeness to God's Holy Spirit. As they spoke, I was secretly, quietly, exploding with joy. This is what happens when I sit at my kitchen table and spend time intentionally with God in His word.

So here I am in the middle of January, playing a little catch-up, but falling right in to the daily practice of a cup of tea, (or java), this Bible, my book and pen and some pretty candles. It's a nice setting. And I have great anticipation.

Join in any time. Jump in in fact. And do share your thoughts and experiences in a comment or so.

We are so blessed to have the Word in our hands. What will our Father do with us as we go this year?
I, for one, can't wait to find out.