Monday, February 28, 2011

FORWARD TODAY

We live in a world of constant motion. Life is in a fast-paced, fast food, fast-forward spin. We are all naturally prompted to move forward, yet there is a small, subconscious part of us that yearns for something in the past. Either we long to change details of our history or wish we could cement ourselves in the precious memories of distant, former days.

But, if we are constantly looking back, trying to relive or re-do the past, that is just how we will walk...backwards. We weren’t created to live this way - our heads, feet, and bodies are formed to walk into the future, not in reverse. If you doubt me, try walking backwards sometime and see how much ground you cover…I guarantee you’ll feel awkward, at best. It’s time-consuming, dangerous, and obviously counter-productive.

We are made to walk forward, to move on and conquer new territories. Even though most of our daily lives form a revolving circle from home to school, work, the store, and back home, we are always accomplishing something with each step taken.

Our minds need to do the same. We must not step backward in our minds; it’s not what they were made for either. Our brains were formed to be inconceivably complex so we’d have the capacity and ability to learn new things and hold new information, while also accessing former memories.

We can’t let our recollections of the past hold us back, be they fond or painful. They can each provide incredibly helpful reminders of past things we have experienced. These stored memories are meant to help us on our journey forward. Let painful lessons become flashing warning signs of future barricades, potholes, and dead-ends. See them, also, as blinking arrows directing to God’s grace and ever-flowing mercies that renew each day. Allow happy memories to be an encouragement; a source of loving road signs of God’s loyalty and delight in us.

May each memory vividly remind you of just how He rescued and lifted you higher than any place you could have ever attained on your own. Let them be tangible evidence that He was, is, and always will be faithful and true to you. Standing on His promises, survey future horizons and realize the adventure continues with a single step forward today

“...Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)

In Him,
Katie Marie

Monday, February 21, 2011

ARM IN ARM

Hey precious friends,

Have any of you felt distracted lately? Does it seem that you’ve been dealt a low blow somewhere in your life? Are you being ruthlessly attacked in your mind, your body, or even in your physical environment? Does it seem that recently you’ve been forced to switch your focus from loving on God to keeping diligent guard against the constant right and left hooks taking you by surprise?

Lately, as I’ve hung out with friends and connected with new people around me, it appears there’s a common theme sweeping through. We are being driven to spend our time and energy defending ourselves against attacks by the enemy of our souls so we will become distracted and pulled from our true focus.

Recently, as I was finding myself in the same spot, God laid it on my heart that I had gotten caught up in fighting off attacks while forgetting the most important detail in life. I had lost sight of who it is by my side. He reminded me that through this life, I am walking with the God of the Universe! It may seem like an elementary concept to those who love Jesus, and foreign to those who haven’t yet come to know Him, but this has been truly profound in my own life these last few weeks.

When you can deeply grasp the fact that the God who formed the heavens, earth, and all that exists within them is walking arm in arm with you, your world suddenly changes. You are free to move from the anxiety of “watching your back,” to the peace and quiet confidence that is yours to own in Christ.

What’s been distracting and filling your thoughts lately...friends, work, school, sickness, gossip, selfishness? Maybe even well intentioned striving has been pulling you away from your focus on God. No matter what you’re facing, beat distraction at its own game and choose to shift your gaze up to the Light.

Today, I encourage you to do what I am doing. Take your eyes off the constant attacks and kicks this life is throwing your way. Grab hold of your authority in Christ over every weapon aimed with you in its scope, and place each firmly under your feet where they belong. It’s simple; no weapon formed against you shall prosper. Period.(Isaiah 54:16 AMP)

Once that powerful truth has settled into your heart, take a moment to imagine the unseen reality that the Lord of all is right beside you, walking you through each moment of every day you breathe this earth’s air.

After all, when you’ve got God’s mighty arm entwined with yours, what is there to fear? Despite appearances, trust that your Maker is surely handling your battles, struggles and the attacks you’re facing today, no matter where they come from. He will wipe away each of your tears, calm every hidden fear, quiet your resounding questions, and comfort you with His perfect love. He is there to take you wherever you need to go this and every day, to celebrate those adventures, and rejoice in your victories.

Your job is simply to breathe and smile, knowing you are walking arm in arm with your God...

In His Surreal Love,
Katie Marie

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

GOD SENSE

Here you are. This is the very moment you have been waiting for...all of the scores have been added and every total has been tallied. You know you have won. The numbers are in your favor, but the game was apparently too close to call. The "powers that be" are deliberating, and the results are just a moment away. You know in your heart the way it will turn out.

Suddenly, to your utter shock and dismay, the verdict reveals the opposite of what you know was meant to happen. You lost it all. You didn't get the dream job. The promotion you deserved was given to a less qualified co-worker. The dice finally landed, the judge has ruled, and the headline of today's paper reads: "The nice guy finishes last...again."

The only sense you can make in these heartbreaking and dream-shaking situations is that it makes NO SENSE. The words bombarding your mind and rolling across your angry lips are, "This just doesn't add up. There's no way it can be right..."

In a world tainted with pain, destruction, ugliness, and heartache, the last thing we need is to be nailed by another of life's bitter stings. It seems no matter how hard we struggle, claw, climb, and crawl, we feel we can never quite get to the top of our hill. We are realizing it's made of quicksand. Without fail, the short end of the stick is ours yet again.

But, what if some of life's situations just aren't meant to "work in your favor?" What if you weren't meant to get that particular job, that promotion, that significant other? What if God's plan for you is different? Bigger? Is it possible He wants to keep you flexible and agile in your mindset, your trust, hope, and faith? Is that why He's allowing you these opportunities to EXERCISE these areas of life? Maybe He wants to free you up for something so much better and greater and higher than anything you've ever seen or known.

I think when it seems all of life's chips are down and we're at our very end, God is the closest to revealing His true, magnificent plans for us. The only thing that makes sense when life makes no sense, is that it must make GOD SENSE. You know He's really up to something divine when 2 + 2 doesn’t equal 4. He must be getting ready to bless us, to change our circumstances, to rearrange our lives, and to draw us into Him even closer...

How many times have we heard that God works in mysterious ways? Yet when it's time to put that on and apply it to our own intimate lives, it's as fun to hear as nails on a chalkboard and comfy to wear as our itchiest wool sweater. But if we can get past all of that to realize its deep meaning, we can see that He truly does work in mystifying ways and His ways, plans, and systems are much higher than ours. His ways are not our ways...they are so much better!

So as we find ourselves in a situation where the score has been added and we've won the game on paper, yet we're sitting there with the "2nd Place" trophy, let's look upon it with the understanding that when the only sense a situation makes is that it makes no sense, somehow it must make GOD SENSE...He must be up to something so much greater. The best part is that it's totally up to Him to work out all of the details; we've done all we can do and have come to the end of ourselves. He loves that! Our only job now is to stay on-board and hang on tight for the ride. This, my friend, is the ride of our lives...

“Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.” Isaiah 64:4 (NIV)

Love and grace to you,
Katie Marie :)