Silence...shhh

I find that lately I have been desiring moments of silence. I don't mean just turning everything off and being alone (although that was a part of it)...I mean stillness of thoughts in such a way that you get to experience peace...

Silence and peace really are synonyms. There is so much 'noise' in the world and in our lives. We are constantly bombarded with thoughts and worries, not to mention the obvious noise of traffic and loud voices of people in our lives whom we have to try hard to tolerate (I know it sounds bad, and no, i do not have those people in my life...oomph).

I remember a few years ago, my life coach made us write down one hundred tolerations that we have in our lives...I thought she was joking - that's a lot! Can you think of one hundred things that you TOLERATE? I dare you to go ahead and write them down. They would start with the obvious ones, like the annoying old lady next door who constantly shouts and cusses for no reason at you and the dogs simply because she is old and any noise bothers her and she is too old to hold her emotions, and you have to 'turn the other cheek' because it's just not worth it...so you tolerate it...every day, a few times a day..if you have demanding kids or siblings - that would do it! Then as you get to number forty five, your tolerations are not as obvious. It may be something like: overlooking the fact that you always ask your friends to close the bathroom door to prevent the dogs from going there so the bathroom can stay clean. The static of life, the 'noises' that become tolerations - the small stresses in life, small things that tick you off. What are your tolerations?

Silence...mental break from worry, that peace that surpasses all understanding. We all desire that. Wouldn't that be wonderful to experience? The funny thing is - we have that FREELY available to us on the regular. I used to think that I need to just jump on the plane and go somewhere, get away from everyone and everything to experience some peace. Sometimes I am so tempted to do that even now...and I am sure that in many cases that is definitely the only way to get away. Taking a vacation can be so refreshing and helpful, but that is not always the case...because many times we need a vacation from vacation! As one of my very wise mentors would say, "Wherever you go, there you are", so really, finding rest and making time and space for silence is an intentional choice.

Silence...can you hear it? How wonderful it is to be able to experience the sound of silence while experiencing the presence of everything that is real in that moment...It really does sound so sweet...it's a sound of letting go of tolerations and worries, a sound of peace and rest within one's soul - I believe that's what Heaven feels like. Imagine not even one worry in the world. Better yet, imagine having that even in the midst of storms, confusion and chaos of this life. Perhaps that was what Jesus meant when He taught us to pray "Your Kingdom come on Earth as it is in Heaven" - that we can experience His Kingdom while we are still here...and His peace that surpasses all understanding is just as available to us...so how do we get to experience it?

If we truly believe that the Word of God is true, that His promises are true and that the Holy Spirit - our Comforter, our Counselor, our Helper, our Advocate, our Intercessor and our Strengthener is always available to operate in our lives, shouldn't our lives be impacted drastically? The power of the Holy Spirit is on Standby...waiting for the available opportunity to come into our life, all we have to do is ask, and that power is unleashed. It is not out of our own will and strength, but the awesome Power of the Holy Spirit that allows us to keep calm and keep our peace.

We are not in control of many circumstances nor those around us who bring about tolerations and 'noise' into our lives, but we do have the power available to us, through the Holy Spirit, to react differently to those tolerations and still experience that silence and peace in our hearts...

...and for that I am thankful...

Salvation

Today is Easter Sunday! What a beautiful day filled with His Word, Baptisms, prayers and time spent with such beautiful people.

Words cannot describe nor encompass the overwhelming joy that I am feeling as I reflect on all that this day has brought forth, allowing me to be a part of so many incredible moments!

Above all, it is so humbling to know that God chooses to use me to share the message of salvation with the young people. No matter how I may feel in the days leading to the moment of delivering that message, even the night before as I was studying the Word and praying...all these feelings that try to overcome, making me feel like I am not ready, or that I am not even equipped for such a task...

In the last couple of days as I attempted to study and prepare for the last lesson in the series of Salvation, it has been a challenge. The attacks were many: either I am pressed for time or somethings would come up that would seem to take away the focus. Last night and this morning I was praying that He would give me the Wisdom and His Words to speak, asking Him to increase as I decrease...then I received a phone call form one of the girls who was getting baptised this morning. She tells me that she has a testimony to share. It was so incredible to hear those words knowing that it was her choice to stand for Christ and all that He did in her life... and share it with others!

I am humbled and amazed that His Spirit comes and takes the little that I have to offer and makes it incredibly powerful, making an impact on the hearts of those He calls to Himself...today He allowed me to see that and be a part of that as I watched hearts and lives being changed. And all of this was made possible because of what is now made available to us through the power of the Cross! I get to experience Salvation and the power of the Holy Spirt...

...and for that I am SO Very THANKFUL!!!!

Simple question...or is it?

Every experience in our lives is directly tied to this one thing, this one concept, this one principle of knowing who we truly are. Do you know who you are today? I don't mean your name, your job or your background...do you know who you are?

A part of knowing who you are is also recognising that who you are is always changing and evolving...so it's not a concept that is constant and the same, making it harder to get a grasp of it. It's like trying to pin a moving object, or like chasing a laser light - just when you thought you caught it, it slips way.

Are you able to embrace that you are not who you were two years ago and that you probably are not going to be who you are today in another two years? When you think of that are you feeling excited or fearful of the unknown? Are you disappointed that you are not who you were hoping to be by now? Do you have feelings of regret when you look back at who you used to be?

This one simple concept of who we are can bring about so much baggage and so many thoughts and memories. The mere questions "Who am I?" begs the philosophical conclusion which no one really fully grasps nor has attained a definite end to. It is a question, the answer to which can only be gathered through a lifelong discovery. That is because who we are holds an infinite universe. Each one of us represents an entire universe filled with perceptions, opinions, philosophies on life, rules, guidelines and a historical account of emotional, spiritual and physical experiences. Who we are is an understanding that unravels on three parallel grounds: Body (the anatomical body suit), Soul (the mind, thoughts and emotions) and the Spirit (the God connection)...Three-in-one!

God Created us so much in His image that as He is Three in One, so are we! What does this mean for us? Jesus said that He does not do anything on His own initiative, only what He sees the Father do (John 5:19). He also prays that we would all be one, as He and the Father are One, that we may be perfected in unity. (John 17: 21-23).

Who we are ties into us being whole, in that the body, soul and spirit must unite. You will not have a good sense of who you are if only one part is known and developed. You must line all three parts. Your soul, body and spirit must all be aligned, which is why the Bible says "as the man thinks so is he" (Proverbs 23:7). This is because the body/actions tend to line up with the thoughts/mind. The thoughts come from the soul-part/the heart...and the heart reveals the nature of the spirit that dwells within. If the spirit is evil, then the heart will be tainted, thus producing evil thoughts which result in in bad, evil and corrupt behaviour. An example of the emotion that is attached to that is anger and hatred, which is caused by past hurts. However, if the Holy Spirit dwells within the man, then it creates a pure heart, producing good thoughts and the actions follow, giving us peace. This is a healthy state of heart which can be restored through healing.

So, how can we align all three and what should we align them to? The essence of discovering who we are lies within the answer to this question. Where should we begin our search? Our biggest struggle is that we do not know who we are until we answer this question. Should we focus on the body, the physical, the outward? Or perhaps we should begin with feelings and mental knowledge? Where do the roots of understanding spring from? Certainly they take their origin in the Spirit. Examine your spirit...what dwells there?

Through our Lord Jesus Christ we are promised to be filled with the Holy Spirit, the very Spirit of the Living God, the Spirit of Truth "whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. [BUT] you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you" (John 14:17-18). Do you really want to know the truth about who you are? There is only one way - that is through Christ!

2 Corinthians contains this beautiful passage: "Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where there is Spirit of the Lord there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." Imagine what would happen if you were to line up your mind, body and feelings to this revelation knowledge. Imagine being transformed into the image of the One who made you to be uniquely you - a one of a kind masterpiece! This is why when you are in Christ and the Holy Spirit dwells in you, you would not have the thoughts that would defile your entire body, nor would you act in the way that would contradict Christ's Spirit that is in you. On the contrary, you would continue to become more and more like Him, striving to seek His righteousness, aligning all parts of who you are to that knowledge and understanding of who you are created to be - who you are in Christ. You would grow in love for Jesus and will gladly obey Him.

Just imagine what would happen if we not only saw ourselves this way but others also. How would that change the way we treat our brothers and sisters in Christ...and how it would break our hearts for those who are lost and are perishing without Him. I believe this would inspire us to care for them because we would see who they truly are through Christ's eyes, in hopes that they too would want to discover their true selves. Today I know who I am in Christ...

...and for that I am thankful...

"Knowing who I am and constantly anchoring myself in that truth 

trumps what others think of me." ~ Iliana.

Today

This day is what I am thankful for!

Days come and go so quickly and we seldom stop and be thankful for the simplicity that each day brings...Oh how much we take for granted! Today is a gift filled with opportunities to experience God's love, to bask in His relentless love and an opportunity to give love to others.

I am very thankful for today because in one day there were many ways in which I was able to see the beauty and love that God extends into my life through others! In many small ways He showed up and reminded me today that He is always there to encourage, provide, protect and empower me in my walk. His love is so constant and so evident!

This morning as I was planning the day trying to line up all the things that needed to get done, like the licensing on my car before the meeting and at the same time trying not to worry about other things that tend to be a distraction. That is when I get a call from a friend who offers to make breakfast "just to help me get my week started right"! I show up and here is what I find waiting just for me...I am humbled and blown away...

Home cooked egg omelette and Frappuccino...just because! What a great start to a day! The day was filled with amazing moments which all came together so beautifully. It was in the simple things that so often one would overlook or take for granted, like the fact that there was someone to help to get the car licensed (and you know the eternal line that takes hours on the last day of the month!), which allowed me to make it to my meeting in time! Or perhaps it's the way the Holy Spirit led me to arrange a meeting which ended up ministering to me in a way that was so refreshing and so much needed today...truly a blessing! Only God can be so precise in orchestrating exactly what you need in that day, providing this day just what you need practically, emotionally and spiritually...

We never know what tomorrow will bring, what we have is today. Today is when we get a chance to notice the way God works in our lives through the smallest moment, the way He speaks to us to remind us that we are His, that we matter...it's in the way He refreshes us at the right time, if we are only willing to listen and be led, with a thanksgiving heart. 

Today was a day when I let go of all the desire to control the outcome, but to once again - surrender to His will and follow His leading. Today I got a renewed desire to obey His guidance without fear of tomorrow...

...and for that I am thankful!

"Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

~ Matthew 6:31-34