Rooted & Established: Knowing Jesus

Time, it seems, has gotten away from me since the last time I had the pleasure of sitting in my chair with a hot cup of coffee and letting the lessons the Lord is teaching me pour out into this boring and gloriously empty white box on my computer screen.

For me- this is therapy.
To put into words the lessons the Lord is in the midst of walking me through.

I- the forever pupil.
He- my great teacher.

The main subject matter as of late has been just this:
The importance of knowing Jesus

Roll with me on this...

Life has been rich and full over the past several months.
Thanksgiving came and went.
And now, too, Christmas has come and gone.
(I type this directly facing my Christmas tree which I am dreading taking down...maybe William won't notice if I leave it up until June-ish??)

What a wonderful Christmas it has been!
Each year my family attends our churches Christmas eve service.
Always a sweet time of worship on the eve of Jesus' birthday.

Each year we sing...

"Joy to the world! The Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King!...
He rules the world with truth and grace
and makes the nations prove the
glories of His righteousness
and wonders of His love!"


As I was singing these words my heart was overwhelmed-

This baby that we are celebrating
This little boy born in Bethlehem-
He is my Jesus.
I know Him well.
I know Him intimately.

He is the joy to the whole wide world-
and my dear savior King.

Of course- there were tears.

God used this infant to alter eternity.
Manhood added to diety.
Come to dwell with us.

Grace upon Grace.
Jesus.


As we look ahead to the new year- many of us (including myself) often come up with a comprehensive list of things we would like to do accomplish in the next 365 days.

{Running more. Weighing less.
Write a book. Call mom more.
etc. etc. etc.}

I get so caught up in getting things done on the list that I miss the lessons that are going on in the midst of it all.

It is best for me to simplify.
To focus.

This year on my list is just one thing:
Treasure Christ

I am trying to focus on Jesus and knowing Him well.

I do not know what the year 2013 will bring along with it when it arrives-
but I do know that when the year 2013 departs that my desire is to look more like Christ and know Him better.

Sure...a longer run, a book and a few less pound wouldn't be too shabby.

But, my friends, there is nothing more satisfying than knowing Christ.

Colossians 2:6-7 says...

"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him, established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in Thanksgiving"


No matter what the year ahead may bring- may we be found
walking in Christ
rooted and build up in Christ
established in our faith

Knowing Jesus.
My prayer is that we would all make this our main priority in the days ahead.


Happy Christmas and Blessings to you in the new year
-amy

That I Should Go

Imagine with me for a moment a young man-
Far from his place of birth.
Exiled from his family.
Tending his flock of sheep in the wilderness.

Suddenly- a great flame appeared and the angel of the Lord spoke to him.
Through a bush.

Ah, Moses.

I have always loved spending time in Exodus.
The call of Moses to go.
The way that the Lord used this man to free the children of Israel and plunder the Egyptians.

However this week- in my current heart state- I read this particular portion of scripture with sensitivity to the great call the Lord had placed on Moses.

(Have you ever felt that the Lord was calling you to do something unbelievable? inconceivable? )

Let us work our way through this together...

God is speaking to Moses and the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.
The Lord makes clear to Moses that he is near and is standing on Holy ground.

He has the attention of brother Moses-

Then comes the call...

Exodus 3:10-12

"Come, I will send you to Pharaoh that you may bring my people, the children of Israel, out of Egypt.
But Moses said to God, 'Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt?'
He said 'But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain."

Would you have asked the same question that Moses did?
...Who am I that I should go?

We see then that the Lord does not answer Moses' question in the way that he asks but says... "I will be with you"

The Lord has shown Moses that His presence is essential to the call.
It will be God himself and His nearness to enable Moses to carry out this calling.

The Lord then goes on to share with Moses what to say to the elders, the people of Israel and to the Pharaoh.

I cannot imagine what Moses must have been thinking.

...really, Lord? You want me to go and plunder the Pharaoh...

But the Lord tells Moses in verse 18 something unbelievable
"And they will listen to your voice...
and then in verse 22(b) the Lord tells Moses
"..so you shall plunder the Egyptians."

To Moses- this must have been impossible in His mind.
No, Lord- you have the wrong man.
I am exiled.
I am weak.
I am unworthy.

In Exodus chapter 4 verse 10 Moses says
"Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and tongue.

Then the Lord said these words to Moses.
(I imagine these words must be read with authority. The Lord is commanding Moses to go. Guiding with his rod- telling Moses to obey.)

"Who has made man's mouth?
Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing or blind?
Is it not I, the Lord?
Now therefore go, and
I will be your mouth and I will teach you what you shall speak."


I am in tears reading and reflecting on this portion of scripture.
How many times, Oh Lord, have I doubted your ability to work through me?

The Lord does not call the equipped.
He equips the called.

What area of your life right now are you ignoring the Lord's call?
Is He calling you to go?
Is He calling you to give?
Is He calling you to speak?


You see- Moses tried all that he could to get out of this call-
and I would have done the same thing.
I do the same thing.

But see the truth that the Lord speaks over him--
I will be with you.
I have sent you.
I will be your mouth.
I will teach you what you should speak.

I think of the many things that the Lord has placed on my heart to accomplish-
tasks or calls that I avoid or bury deep because they are too daunting, too overwhelming and I do not feel equipped.

But the Lord is not calling me to go alone.
He is calling me to GO with him.
And be a vessel for Him.
A vessel equipped by Him to fulfill His purposes.

WHO ARE WE THAT WE SHOULD GO?
We are sinners who have been offered redemption through the sacrifice of God's only son. We are sons and daughters of the Most High whose purpose is to bring glory to Christ- and this purpose comes with a cost.

There will be cost in the call.
For Moses this cost was great- but obedience to Christ was His call.

What is the Lord calling you to do?
He will equip you to go to the Pharaohs gates.
He will equip you to speak with authority and might.
He will send you with the promise that you do not go alone.

Let us hold fast to our faith in King Jesus-
who reveals Himself, His promises and His purposes to use in our lives through the tasks that He calls us to accomplish- all for His name's sake.

In All That I Have Found

Autumn in my favorite time of year.

Brilliant Weather.
Flannel.
Family gatherings.
Festive Foods.

Something about this season is cozy and perfectly familiar.

This week I celebrated Thanksgiving early.
There was no turkey.
No cornucopia of plastic fruits.

But many thanks.

What?
YES.

I had my own week of thanksgiving with the Lord.

To say that I felt wrapped in the warmth of my Jesus is a start.

I felt His goodness in the chilly mornings.
His beauty was a gift with changing leaves.
His joy in the laughter of people around me.
His nearness to my heart was intoxicating.
Christ in Me- Teaching and loving me.

Unbelievable.

I found myself incredibly excited about things that I often overlook and hardly recognize.

At one point I stopped and said to myself...
This is too good to be true.
It was uncomfortable.

God is, in a way, too close.
He is in my business.
He presence effecting me personally. consistently.
And I LOVE it.

I have been praying for a heart that savors Jesus.

A heart that is stilled at the foot of the cross and focused on Christ.

(How often do we sit down and say "Thank you")

All of my life-I grew up in church singing..

"Thank you for loving and setting me free. Thank you for giving your life just for me. Yes, I thank you. Jesus, I thank you"

But did I sing these words as a redeemed Child of God?

Do I live with this heart of Thanksgiving?

This week I could not help thanking Christ for loving me.
For setting me free.
For giving up His life so that I may live.

He died so that I may live.

....Let's get personal.....

How often do we cry watching movies or reading books and sobbing over a character who has given their life for the sake of another?

All the time.
Sobbing. Heart Broken. Genuinely sad.

YET- we go days- weeks- years
without giving praise and expressing thanksgiving to Christ-
who made Himself nothing so that we may have life.

That is a hard fact to admit.
My pride tries to convince me otherwise.

But the truth is that I do not say thank you enough.

I know this sounds simple-
and perhaps it is just that.

But there is no doubt that many of us, especially myself,
could benefit from adding an intentional time of thanksgiving in our daily routine.

The Lord is doing a number on my heart-
and last week I found myself sobbing in my bed from all of the horrors that are in this world- and the Lord has chosen to spare me from suffering them.

Why not me?
Why them?

I do not know.

But-thanks be to God.

He deserves my affection.

He deserves my adoration.

He deserves "Thank you"

In all that I have found- God is faithful, good and worthy to be praised.

Will you join me in celebrating Thanksgiving early?
And all the time?

Our hearts shall be overjoyed with thanks-
to the point where this thanks becomes a part of our lives-
our lifestyle of worship.

"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;
you have loosed my sackcloth
and clothed me with gladness,
that my glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!"
Psalm 30:11-12

He is worthy.

-Many Blessings



Some ideas to make it real....

Ways to express Thanksgiving personally:

*Journal of Thanks
There is nothing sweeter than flipping page after page of documented answers to prayer and testimonies of God's faithfulness. I cherish my journals. My heart is on the lines of the pages.

*Verbal Praise
My favorite time to talk with the Lord is in my car.
There are few moments that are sweeter than my verbally communicating to the Lord
"Thank you, Jesus for reconciliation. Thank you, Jesus for forgiveness"


Ways to express Thanksgiving together:


*Thanks Board
I know many families who have a board of "prayers" and "lessons" in their homes.
How about a public board of thanks?

*Writing Thanks
Personally- The Lord has used so many people to reveal Himself to me. What a joy it would be to let these people know that they were a part of God's work in my heart

Letting Go Of The List

I am stubborn.
I like to have a plan.
I try to do it all on my own.

Why?

Because on many days I believe in my heart of hearts that I can handle it.

I think that I can collaborate with myself- and sometimes the Lord- and get it all worked out without having to go outside of me.

I do not always do this out of pride-
often I try to handle things on my own so that I can lift a burden from family members or try and withhold heart ache from people that I love.

I can be the strong kid who does not cry in front of a crowd when tribulation comes.
I can hold it in until I am on my own or crying with my best friends on the phone.

I enjoy and find comfort in control.

In this same "control" mindset-

I am a list maker.

A note taker.

I find comfort in starting my day knowing what needs to be done before I lay my head down in the evenings.

Those who spend lots of time around me know this to be the case.

During some event seasons it seems that I am in possesion of a clip board with a sharpie pen more than I am likely to be found wearing shoes.

I rely heavily on being organized and having my schedule.

This is not always a bad thing-
but lately I have been convicted of my reliance on these lists and independence of spirit.

The Lord has revealed to me the danger in this independence and need for my plans to be seen to completion- and done all in my own power.


I am in the midst of a wonderful study-

PLUG: you should all read "Instruments in the Redeemers Hands" by Paul David Tripp and even further should do the "Instruments in the Redeemers Hands: How to help others change Study Guide" by P.D. Tripp.

Solid. Quality. Worth your time.

PLUG OVER.


This study intrigued me because more than I love to help myself-
I LOVE to help people.

It is my joy.


The first couple of weeks have focused on how to prepare our hearts to be "people of change".

I was quickly convicted.

I am not truly a person of change unless I am willing to be changed-
from the inside out.

Being changed from the inside out requires the giving up of command.
The passing of the baton.

SURRENDER of SELF.

If I am not constantly surrendering myself to the Lord and examining where I am struggling I will be a vision of

Hebrews 3:12-13

"Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today", that none of you may be hardened by deceitfulness of sin."

Taking control of my life into my own hands is progressively dangerous.

How may I be used in the lives of others when I am spiritually blind?


Stay with me- prayerfully this will come full circle.


Relying on self results in relying on my own strength and ability.

In my own strength-
I am exhausted.
I cannot do it.
I am not enough.

And y'all...I am not always trying to rely on myself to do selfish things.

I try to serve the Lord without the Lords strength-
every. day.

I often find myself in the situation where I am doing things for people- serving them- and wearing myself out.

I do not know how to say no or let myself ask for help.

I toss and turn at night trying to work out wisdom for a friend in my head without asking the Lord for guidance and wisdom- excruciating!

Are you with me?

This need for control has got to go.
My TOTAL reliance on my list must let up.

In the loudest way the Lord showed up in worship this past Sunday-
our pastor was teaching on Colossians 1:24-29.

One of the verses that we meditated and focused on was verse 29.

"For this I toil, struggle with all his energy that he powerfully works within me"


Notice that toiling and struggling was not removed-
but look once more at from whom the energy to survive this toiling and struggling is being received.

From me?

Nope.

It is HIS energy IN ME.

Earlier in the passage in verse 27 it says that Christ IN us is the hope of glory.

Not Christ with me.
Not me plus Christ.

BUT

CHRIST IN ME

The only HOPE OF GLORY.

Yes- I will toil- be exhausted-
worn out and emptied-
but with all of HIS energy he will powerfully work WITHIN ME.


My desire is to proclaim Christ with my life and to daily be an instrument of change in the lives of others- but this will not happen until I surrender my control and admit my need for Jesus.

THEN- and only then-

will I see my tasks as a joy from the Lord and know that I can tackle them with confidence for Christ is in me and will do a mighty work within me.

Equipping me to fulfill His purposes for His glory.

There is nothing wrong with a list-
and I will continue to make them...
but with a different heart.

I cannot do it on my own or in my own strength.
I can have a plan but always have a heart willing for my road ahead to be shifted and changed.
I can be exhausted but not because I am trying to conquer the world on my own.


I will never be a light until I turn myself to Jesus.

There is simply no other way to be a person of change and vessel of the Gospel.


My prayers this week are:

1. That I am intentional in daily VERBALLY submitting my ways to Christ
*I use time in my car to talk with the Lord. It is a built in time of quiet every day to be at His feet.

2. That I make time to spend time with the Lord for the sake of knowing Him more- not just to check my daily reading off the list or to prepare to teach a study
*I study best at night. I enjoy a hot cup of decaf coffee, empty journal pages and sweet time with the Lord in His word.

3. That I am intentional and prayerful about my life communicating Christ to those around me
*All of our lives are communicating something. What does your life communicate?


Brothers and Sisters- may we hold each other accountable in reminding those close to our hearts to rely on Christ- and not ourselves. We will fail us- our God is infallible.

Let's humble ourselves before the Almighty- that is where we will find true rest and true control.


"For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake" 2 Corinthians 4:5








-

Within the veil

I walked in from work on Tuesday and came straight onto the back porch with my journal.
Finally- all of my thoughts & prayers were on the tip of my tongue!
These words are bursting at the seams.
I promise you- if they are not put to paper my eyes may just pop out.

___________________________________________________

A haze.

If I were to describe my spirit over the season of the last few weeks that is all I can come up with.

The Byrd house has been busy.
Family. Friends. Work. Serve. Events. Parties. Football. And repeat.

There have been moments when I feel motivated and refreshed.
Yet- after the passing of a day I feel a sort shadow.
Not because I am tired (even though I am!) but more my spirit is in an unsettled place.


What is this?

I still have not figured it out.

I do not like...despise the dark.

When I was in elementary school I had a recurring dream.
I was walking down the road at our family farm- bright stars and full moon-
And then a point in the road came where there was a thick fog.
I could not see the steps in front of me.
What was ahead was a mystery and if I moved forward it would be in complete blindness.

I always woke up without taking the step.
(If the dream had gone further I am sure I would have turned around and run back to “safety”)


This is the same sort of uncertainty that I am feeling now.

The days ahead are a haze.
A thick cloud of uncertainty and unseen territory.

I was reminded earlier in the week as I was thinking through this scenario that
the haze is not necessarily a bad, dangerous or frightening thing.

It is the idea of the fog, or what may be within it, that pushes us to fear.

It is the uneasiness of seemingly unsteady ground that makes us stop in our path and want to run to comfort.

But..

“..we are always of good courage…for we walk by faith, not by sight” ( from 2 Corinthians 5:6-7)

I am so addicted to and dependent on MY sight.

However- the Lord is showing me, in an uncomfortable way, what being blind will let me see.


Are you with me?


This passed Monday during a time of worship a chorus of a familiar hymn struck me
with great might:


“When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil “

With tears in my eyes I was tenderly reminded by our sweet Abba Father of His unchanging grace in the midst of uncertainty.
Even within the veil, my anchor holds.
I can REST in Him
I will not be moved.

Here I sit on the porch with the most precious and perfect breeze crossing my face and I am overwhelmed with the presence of my anchor.

What lies ahead of me, no matter seen or unseen, will not consume me or take me under.

The darkness does not have to bring me to fear if I remember with whom I am walking with and towards.

Yes, Lord.

Our anchor holds within the veil.

My challenge to you this day is to pray for the boldness and obedience to Christ to follow him into the fog.

He will certainly lead us into unfamiliar territory- and we are called to follow.
The Lord will ask of us things that are without worldly assurance- but He will equip us with all that we need to fulfill His purposes.

As I mentioned earlier- I think that the little girl in my dream would have turned around and run for comfort if the dream had continued.

However- this little girl that sits here and types these words is praying for the Lord to give her the boldness to step into the fog and walk boldly- knowing that my anchor holds and His grace is sufficient for this sheep.

Trust the Lord in the haze.
Do not let it stop you from taking steps forward or following where the Lord is leading.
Allow it to be used to draw you closer to our Heavenly Father.

“I pray for you, that all your misgivings will be melted to thanksgivings. Remember that the shadow a thing casts often far exceeds the size of the thing itself (especially if the light be low on the horizon) and though some future fear may strut brave darkness as you approach, the thing itself will be but a speck when seen from beyond. Oh that He would restore us often with that 'aspect from beyond,' to see a thing as He sees it, to remember that He dealeth with us as with sons.”
― Jim Elliot

It's Personal

We live in a world of convenience.

People will do anything to speed up a process in order for it not to disrupt or off rail their schedules or comfort.

Unfortunately- this is often the mind set that many believers have in serving others.

I am so burdened for the church.

I do not speak of all- but I speak of many who are not willing to let ministry mingle with their schedules, banks accounts or bucket lists.

I have seen these tendencies in my own life.

The Lord is reminding me- over and over again- that serving Him fully will fully effect my life in all areas.

O- that I would let the Lord use me.
To disrupt my schedule to do His will.

To rip me out of my comfort zone and heave me into the mess.

I can only think of Jesus.

Son of God. King of Kings.
Came to earth to live and die so that we may have life.


Speaking of coming into a mess.

I have been spending a lot of time reading & studying Tim Keller's book called "Ministries of Mercy". It often refers to the parable of the good samaritan.

Have we not all read this parable a few dozen times?
Colored pictures of the man on the road in Sunday School for ages?
Told this story ourselves in vacation bible school to children?

Well- Let me refresh your memory like I have had mine refreshed.
It struck me and I have not gotten over it.


Luke 10:30-37 says

30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.

31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.

32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.

34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.

35 And the next day he took out two denarii[a] and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’

36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?”

37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”



Ring a bell? Yes, the story we have heard our whole lives.

But Tim Keller puts in in perspective when he says in "Ministries of Mercy" (page 11)


"Our paradigm is the Samaritan who:

Risked His safety

Destroyed His Schedule and

Became Bloody an Dirty through personal involvement with a needy person..."



Wow.

Are we ready?

Are we willing?

Are we obeying the command to love our neighbor as we love ourselves?

Are we ready to meet the needs of others as eagerly as we are to meet our own?



Jesus is clear in His command-

See the Samaritan and the mercy he showed?

GO- and do likewise.




My prayer today is that we strive for a heart like the man on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho. That we allow the Lord to disrupt our schedules and break our comfort so that we may act as Christ in the lives of others.

Ministry is not convenient. Ministry is not safe or clean or pretty.

Ministry is personal. costly. involved.


Brothers and Sisters- Let us let the Lord use us for His good.


Many Blessings-



“Trying to do the Lord's work in your own strength is the most confusing, exhausting, and tedious of all work. But when you are filled with the Holy Spirit, then the ministry of Jesus just flows out of you.”
― Corrie Ten Boom

In the Image

One of my favorite things to do is cook.
I simply love it.

This last week I found myself cooking in my favorite place-
My grandmama's kitchen.

My sweet Grandmama passed away two years ago this June.
Losing her was super difficult for me.

Before she got very ill we would cook together.
She would sit on a stool and I would stand next to her in the kitchen and learn to make all kinds of delicious concoctions and dishes.

When she got really sick she would sit in the chair in the living room and I would try to remember the recipes myself- and holler when I needed help. She was always very patient in recalling the recipes out loud to me- helping me along the way.

Even now- I still find myself with questions about recipes and, out of habit, look at her chair.

Some of my happiest memories were in that tiny kitchen with her.

It took me about a year to want to get back into her kitchen and cook.

So- this Tuesday I was there. Whipping up some strawberry fig preserves waiting for the rest of my family to arrive for supper.
Cutting and chopping- trying to do it just right.

My sweet Grandaddy walked by and without hesitation said
"Woo Girl- Just like your grandmama used to make it!"

With tears in my eyes "Thank you" came quietly out of this girls mouth.

What a compliment!

To think that, in her kitchen, I was replicating the skills that she had first taught me- nothing but a gift from the Lord.

Overwhelmed and filled with joy I continued to cook-
and a wave came over me.

This is exactly how I long for people to see Jesus in my life.

To see the way that I love.
The way that I give.
The way that I serve.
The way that I treat others...

And say "Woo girl- That is exactly how Jesus loved, gave, served and treated others"

Is this not my purpose?

To be made in God's very image and strive daily to look more like Christ.

I started to examine my own life.

Is Christ seen in and through me?

Do others look at my life and see Jesus?

My words here are few because I am still processing what this looks like in my heart.

I do know- though- for a fact that in the same way it takes practice, time and skill to cook like my Grandmama did- it takes the same amount of time, commitment and practice to live a life for Christ.


To look like Christ we must spend time with Him.

I must seek His face in His word.
I must spend time talking with Him in prayer.
I must spend time listening to Him and meditating on His word.
I must sit at His feet and be still.


I have spoiled a batch of creamed potatoes more times that I would like to admit.

In the same way- and bearing much more weight- I have lived too many days looking like this world and not like Christ.

I pray that I become more intentional in mirroring the life of Christ in my own.

Dying to myself and my ways and living a life that brings honor and glory to Christ- for His names sake alone.


What does your life say about your relationship with Christ?
Does your life mirror the life of Jesus?


I pray today that we examine ourselves and our hearts with raw eyes- and allow the Lord to work in us and shape us to look more like Jesus.


I am truly overwhelmed at the nearness of our Abba Father and the way that He loves and leads my life.


But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works.
Psalm 73:28


Many Blessings.

The Pruning Process

I have, over the past several weeks, been in a rut in my ability to express in words or on paper what the Lord is teaching me.

For a time I examined my prayer.
What my motivations were and how I accepted the outcomes of my cries to the Lord.

I found that often my prayers were selfish and I craved to be pleased by the Lord but not pruned by the Lord in His answers and timing.

The following week I examined how deeply and intimately I spent time in scripture.
Were the passages I chose to dwell in ones that would challenge me and point me to the cross or were they chosen to soothe me and make me feel at peace.

Hear me say-No passage of scripture can be deemed as unhealthy or of no worth- however spending time in passages that reminded us to GO and GIVE and SUFFER for the sake of the cross are ones that are tough to read. Hard to swallow. Tempting to AVOID.

You see- I feel that the Lord is trying to trim off my unfruitful and “dead weight” branches so that the new branches may bear fruit.

Pruning- however- is a painful, tedious and loss-filled process.
Pieces of us are cut off. Intentionally removed. Taken away.

But why?

Would I prune a beautiful fruit tree for its harm or demise?

In no way.

Pruning a fruit tree is purposed so that growth can occur, fruit may be brought forth and life may return in full.


Stay with me...


The passed few weeks have been filled with traveling and events with our students.
We have gone to New Orleans with our XA students and just last week went to CentriFuge Camp with our Middle School students.

On the Sunday we returned from XA tour our pastor taught on Contentment.

I hate to admit it- but this was a Sunday that I was exhausted and felt very distracted during our time of worship.

I was trying to keep an eye on our students, love on my daddy since it was Father's day and keep a nap OFF my mind.

The bottom line is that I was not prepared for the message that the Lord was about to speak to my heart.

It took me off guard.
One of those times of teaching when I feel my ears turn red because this message is for MY heart. Convicting MY spirit. From MY God.


Philippians 4:10-13 says:

God's Provision

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me."


Allow me to share with you our teaching points for this time:

1. Contentment is grounded in God's providence.

2. Contentment is learned over time.

3. Contentment is found in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

Several of my notes that I bolded and wrote quickly and ferociously on the sides of my bulletin were:

*Rest in the God who knows the future and ordained it

*Contentment: Knowing that I have all that I need right now

*"Secret" of contentment is to learn to completely rely on Jesus Christ


Like a pin prick to a full balloon my spirit burst.


The anxiety and discomfort that I have been feeling in my spirit came to the front of my heart.

Bluntly and boldly the gospel had pierced my very soul.


Rest in the God who KNOWS the future and ORDAINED it.

Shouldn't I trust this God to prune where needed?

Shouldn't I pray boldly and seek Him in His word relentlessly without fear?


You see- this message of contentment was not currently teaching me a lesson about being satisfied with my tiny apartment or my "last season" clothes---

This message of contentment was to TRUST THE LORD WITH MY FUTURE and HIS TIMING.

To day by day submit myself to the Lord and trust Him.

To trust the Lord in plenty.

To trust the Lord in hunger.

To trust the Lord on the mountaintop.

To trust the Lord in the valley.


To pray boldly without holding back to be smack dab in the will of a Mighty God who has ordered my every step and knows my heart front to back.


The pruning is scary because in the midst of the process we are losing little branches and limbs that are full of US.


But isn't it better to take great joy in the pruning because in the place of the lifeless buds will be put fruit?

I say yes.


I pray today that the Lord will fill me with the boldness to pray without fear and seek His word without hesitation. That I will not be anxious about what He may ask me to do but with great joy tell my Heavenly Father that "I have learned in every situation to be content" and that "I can do all things" through Him who equips me to fill the call that He has placed on my life.


I challenge you to take a look at the motivations of your prayer and the intentions of your time in God's word. We may find that we are limiting ourselves in knowing the Lord fully.

I challenge you to take heart and find joy in the pruning process.
Our Abba Father knows better and best- He takes away to GIVE.
He rips tears to heal.

He is good. All the time He is good.


Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalm 73: 25-26




Here is the link to Buddy's sermon on Contentment as a part of the "Joy" series.
I challenge you to watch it!
http://www.hunterstreet.org/media/sermons/joy/video-joy-06-17-12.php


Many Blessings.

Paul & The Rolling Stones

Would you believe me if I said that the Lord spoke a great word to my heart in the middle of a Rolling Stones song?

Believe it.

As odd as it may be- the Lord was clear and strong in teaching me a lesson in the midst of an ab workout song last Thursday in Zumba.

Picture this with me- I am in Zumba…Not really thinking.
Laughing a lot- doing some salsa- and at this current time I was on a mat singing along to a Rolling Stones classic and doing some ab ripper…

Sing it with me…

“You. Cant. Always. Get. What. You. Want.
You. Cant. Always. Get. What. You. Want.

You. Get. What. You. Need.”

I have heard this song many times before and atleast twice a week for the past few weeks and thought nothing of it---
But this particular day I stopped in my tracks and let those words that were so clear and loud (literally) sink in.

I have many wants.
My prayers are overflowing with them.

I want my wants to become haves.

The Lord has been working with me lately on contentment.

Teaching me that my wants will often not be held in my possession-
But that my needs will without fail be supplied.

I will not, by God’s perfect all-knowing design, always get what I want.
But I will, because of God’s grace and mercy towards this sinner, have all that I need.

God’s word says in the Psalms chapter 84, verse 11:

“For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor.
No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.”

I so often confuse my wants and my needs.
I have caught myself lately using the words interchangeably.

Examples:

I need a new couch. (aka: I do not like the pattern of my current fully working couch- so I WANT a new one)
I need to go to the doctor. ( I am sick. This is a NEED.)

Who knows our needs better than our Abba Father?

The Lord is teaching me to trust Him. His plans.

There is no better example of a life of contentment in Christ than Paul.

I can only imagine that many of the situations that Paul found himself in were not on his “want” or “wish” list-
But He trusted Christ. To guide Him, protect Him and to provide for Him.

Listen to Paul’s words:

“But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ” (Phil. 3:7)

“For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ” (Phil. 3: 8b)

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned that in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me”
(Phil 4:11-13)

My friends- I was so humbled and put on the floor when I considered the things that Paul counted as rubbish compared to my own life.

To be transparent- Some of my “wants” that I may have to give up are:

1.My Dream House
2.Annual Beach Trips
3.Every New Gap Sweater

Rubbish.
Absolute Rubbish.

Compared to knowing Christ and the gain that will come from following Him fully-
These wants are worth leaving behind. Giving up.

I cannot always get what I want (see list above) but I will always have exactly what I need.

Oh Father- Help my heart understand fully understand the difference between WANTS and NEEDS.

May my dreams be gospel-centered and my goals founded on your word!

May I- like Paul- be prepared to count ALL losses as rubbish for the sake of Christ.

For my last thought of this long rant-
I have also this week been convicted of not being aware of the NEEDS of people around me.

Whether it is my husband, family or a TJMAXX employee-
I am certain that focusing on MY WANTS stops me from being sensitive to the NEEDS OF OTHERS.

Examine your wants.
Acknowledge your needs.
Submit your way the Lord.


“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.”
Proverbs 19:21

Relentless Pursuit

The Lord has been subtle and still in the last few weeks.

My time in His word has been comfortable and tender.

Do you know what I mean when I say that?

As I sit in my living room and spend time with Jesus and read His words I find myself altogether feeling whole and safe-
The kind of moment you want to freeze and keep with you- for the days that safe and whole do not feel at all true.

You see- for as long as I can remember I dreamed of being pursued.
A young maiden high in a tower sought out, fought for and ultimately rescued by one who loved me.

Do not get me wrong- my sweet husband is certainly my knight in shining armor-
But this is a different kind of pursuit. A deeper kind of delight and love.

I am the worst of sinners.
I am a wretch.

Yet- the Lord chose to pursue this heart of mine.

King Jesus SOUGHT ME.
Incredibly humbling.

He fought for my attention in the midst of a loud and dark world.

He loved me perfectly on days when I esteemed Him not.

He patiently watched on many days when I toyed with the idea of the beauty that the world had to offer.

He NEVER gave up on my heart.

Tenderly my good shepherd walked with me, spoke to me and made the ultimate sacrifice so that I could have life eternal.

Do you know this kind of love?

Have you experienced this kind of pursuit?

As corny as it sounds- I have prayed that the Lord would allow me to daily acknowledge His love song to me.

This morning as I drove to work this melody came in the rain.
A day sure to quiet a restless spirit.

Do you recognize the Lords relentless pursuit for your heart?

I so often do not see the way that the Lord cradles me, teaches me difficult lessons and constantly pursues my heart- without fail.

I pray today that this truth pierces our hearts.

That there is a Father and Lover of our souls longing for our affection and pursuing us relentlessly.

Thank the Lord for this relentless pursuit.

Oh the many times that I have been difficult to chase and love…
Yet He loved me. He stayed. He found delight in this lamb.


You are loved.
You are delighted in.
You have been fought for.
You have one who will never fail you or stop pursuing you.

I have found great joy in this truth about Jesus this week.

I pray that you find the same.

The Simplest & The Sweetest

Today is a day full of sweetness-
sweet sounds, aromas, interactions, memories, and settings.

I got the joy of spending this morning with our One Voice high school ensemble singing at The Oaks. ( A nursing home community in our area)

What joy came from singing the hymns of the faith with many brothers and sisters who have lived much more life than I can even imagine.

"Great it Thy Faithfulness! Great is Thy Faithfulness..."

Now- I find myself with a few hours to spare at the Byrd House.
Let me set the scene for you.

My go-to CHILL movie is on my tv- You've Got Mail

My daddy's just-made birthday cake is in the oven- Chocolate Chip Pound Cake

My favorite candle is lit- Woodwicks "Tradewinds"

Are you relaxed?

As I was just in my tiny kitchen whipping up a cloud of cocoa powder- hearing my favorite movie and seeing the glisten of my favorite candle- I just took in a deep breath and whispered

"Thank you, Jesus"

He is so good to me.

To give me a moment of pure sweetness. Hurts and worries aside. Simple joys abundant.

I cry a lot- and I am tearing up even now just acknowledging this truth.

His sweet presence is all around.

Many a day go by that I do not stop- examine- and stand in awe of the way that Jesus loves me.

This post is short but so obvious I feel so many of you may miss it as I do-

Take some time today and just savor the sweetness that is around us.
Whether it is in the sound of laugher with friends, the gift of 15 minutes without a task to complete, the peace that comes in reading an encouraging text or email, the joy that comes in the form of a smile.

Savor Jesus and His blessings bestowed on us day by day.

Acknowledging and praising the Lord for our gifts and joys will help heal and mend the hurts and build us to endure with great hope the valleys.

Be still and say "Thank you"

I guarantee you this will bless and fill even the weakest spirit today.


"Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!"
Psalm 34:8

Thanksgiving.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance, the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God"
Hebrews 12:1-2


I made an effort, ashamedly for the first time, to spend much of last week at the mercy seat focusing on the cross. The last days that Jesus walked on earth and the misery and glory that was the cross.

I spent a lot of time in the gospels and Philippians- in tears over the agony and persecution that my Jesus, my dear King Jesus, faced on the road to calvary.

To imagine the way that the scriptures I was reading were alive in that day- and seem so very alive and are so real to me now.

He did that for me. So that I may have life.
This kind of undeserved love puts me on my face in thanksgiving.
Thank you, Jesus. Thank you. Thank you. Forever Thank you.

I came upon this specific passage in Hebrews on Saturday morning- and it stuck to my spirit.

The phrase "founder and perfecter of our faith" was highlighted in my mind.

Jesus- endured the cross for He KNEW was joy was set before him!

I started to create a flow chart in my mind of what this looked like in my life.

I broke this scripture down over the days and began to saturate the truth of the words.

Do this with me.


"Let us lay aside every weight and sins that clings so closely..."

I must daily acknowledge sin in my life.
This means that I need to check myself... for pride, jealousy, evil heart, bitter emotions, etc on a constant and consistent basis.

Unaddressed emotion, sin, guilt and the like can WEIGH US down...essentially make us ineffective in this race to glory.

I must remember that there is a war. An enemy that looks to kill and destroy.

"Let us run with endurance, the race that it set before us..."

Run. Endurance. Race.

Endurance means : The fact or power of enduring an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way.

This race that is set before us will not be level, easy or without difficulty- but we are to not give way!

We cannot do this own our own...we are to have our eyes set...

"Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith"

The ultimate example of endurance.


"who for the joy set before him endured the cross..."

The words endure the cross hold such an incredible and painful story within them.
Remember the cross. Meditate on the cross.
King Jesus endured the most unpleasant and difficult situation without giving way because He knew the joy that was set before him.


As funny as it is- I found myself saying-
What a joy it must have been to have Heaven on the other end of such suffering.

Well- Amy Byrd- YOU have the SAME JOY at the end of this race.


Why do I not daily live, breath and meditate on the everlasting JOY that is set before me?

This passage in Hebrews starts with THEREFORE-...FOR THIS REASON...CONSEQUENTLY-

We ARE surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses.

God has placed before us many examples of saints of the faith that have endured and pressed on towards the goal- pressed on to Glory!

I realize it may seem silly to break down a passage that many of us have read and heard more than enough- but goodness is struck me this weekend.

Jesus is my example.

Every day of this vapor of life on earth is to be devoted to looking more like Christ and bringing glory to His Kingdon.

To be able to do this I must:

1. Acknowledge and deal with Sin
2. Look to Jesus- Spend time sitting at His feet
3. Run with endurance the race
4. Remember the JOY that is set before me


I am a visual person. So the picture at the top is my new "visual" for this passage of scripture.

I love how we only see a portion of the road.
The photographer chooses to only reveal a certain portion of the road and the rest if left in the fog- unknown terrain beyond.

What an image of our race.

A life that we see only a glimpse into our future- but our eyes set on Jesus- our example of one whose eyes were set on Glory.

May it be said of us- that we endured the road and finished the race with our eyes set on Christ and joy in our hearts for our Savior is alive and seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Will you follow?

Typically I only blog once a week or every couple of weeks-
twice in one week must mean something is up.

This is the case- the Lord is up to something and I am asking for prayer- for YOU and for ME.

Over the passed week the Lord has been stirring my heart and the heart of one of my dearest friends.
In different ways- He has gotten our attention.

Made us uncomfortable. Made us listen.

Last night- in the quietest and sweetest whisper the Lord called me to read a specific portion of His word. Today again- in a moment of silence- the same message came upon my spirit.

I called Kels tonight- and as I have many times before- told her what the Lord had presented to me and asked her to join me in meditating on this scripture and praying.

What, Lord, is next?

Oh- the things that the Lord has called people to do- the challenges He may face us with- the huge callings and overwhelming tasks that surely lie ahead...

Tonight in my car I found myself listening to the same song over and over on my way home from work-
the people next to me most likely found my face and lifted hands a baffling sight-
worship happened in the honda tonight people.

"The cross before me- the world behind me.
I will follow. I will follow.

Though none go with me- I STILL will follow

"I will follow you- No turning back!"

The anthem of my heart tonight!

Father- you have the attention of this servant.

I ask that you pray for me- that the Lord will reveal Himself through my meditation on this specific portion of scripture and He would reveal himself through my time with him- in prayer and in my daily comings and goings.

(Disclaimer: For those of you who I serve with at HSBC...this does not mean I am going anywhere...this means that the Lord has my spirit in a place where He is asking me to simply submit my time, affections and efforts to Him!)

I am praying for YOU.

Is the Lord continuing to bring something to your mind that you push aside?

Do you feel that the Lord is calling you to follow Him in a specific way?

What is the lord placing ever before you- for a specific purpose- for HIS purposes?

Remember that God's word says that:

"Many are the plans in the mind of man- but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand!"
Proverbs 19:21

With a heart pointed towards heaven and a life committed to the cross-
I pray that you will submit and follow.

No turning back. No turning back.

Dry Bones

The Valley of Dry Bones:

Ezekiel 37

verses 1-2
The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the LORD and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones. And he led me around among them, and behold, there were very many on the surface of the valley, and behold, they were very dry.

verses 11- 14
Then he said to me, "Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel. Behold, they say 'Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are indeed cut off.' Therefore prophesy, and say to them, Thus says the LORD God: Behold, I will open up your graves and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will bring you into the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I open your graves, and raise you from your graves, O my people. And I will put my Spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I am the LORD; I have spoken, and I will do it, declares the LORD."


Many a day go by when my spirit feels dry as bones.
I feel lifeless.

Do you know this feeling?

I sometimes wake up in the morning and try to calculate how many hours it will be until I get to rest again- until I can sway away from the duties of the day and just sleep.

There are days that I do not live in the HOPE that I have in Christ.
That I do not live in the VICTORY that is already won by Jesus.

Last week I had the privilege of traveling to Nashville with 73 middle schoolers and 20 or so adults to serve and be a part of the Higher Ground mission tour.

We had the opportunity on Monday and Tuesday to serve at the Nashville Rescue mission.
Many know that my heart is tender to the homeless- but this day was different. (Aren't they all?)

As we pulled up into the mission I noticed something- a parking lot scattered with men lying all over the place. Truly- try and see this with me-
On every curb, side walk and underneath light posts- Men lying there.
Some with faces covered with newspaper to hide the morning light- others talking to themselves---
I immediately saw this scripture.

I was, in a sense, set into the middle of a valley- FULL OF BONES.
Dry. Lifeless. HOPE LOST.

O, Lord, Do they know you?
Do they know the life that they can find in giving their lives to you?

I was burdened by this valley of dry bones I found in Nashville-
praying for the Lord to breathe His breath of life into them.

We had planned weeks before to do a concert on Tuesday night at the Rescue Mission for their chapel service.

To be honest- I was nervous- would our students be discouraged if these men did not respond in worship?

Would I leave with this painful gut in my stomach for the men whose eyes are void of much hope?

We arrived and escorted our students down an aisle into a room FULL of the men who live at the mission.

"God- You are good and perfect in your timing. Be here now- Fill this place with your spirit and life abundant. You are awesome in this place- let us hear from you."

Our kiddos crammed their way onto the stage- smiles and hearts ready for worship- and the first song began...


"Oh, don't hang your head
It's gonna end
God's right there
Even if it's hard to see Him
I promise you that He still cares"

And then a few songs later...

"Who shall we say You are
You're the living God
Who shall we say You are
You're the Great I AM
The highest name of all
You're all You say You are

You are holy, holy, holy
God most high and God most worthy
You are holy, holy, holy
Jesus, You are
Jesus, You are"


I am crying now recalling this worship.

The spirit of the Lord was at work.
Men- broken and bruised- with hands raised to King Jesus.
Men- all pride and no joy- spirits lifted to a God who is not dead, but surely alive.

I have really never been in a time of worship where I have seen a valley of such dry bones come alive so genuinely.


How incredible to see the spirit of the Lord at work right before my eyes.

I cannot get over what the Lord says in Ezekiel Ch. 37 at the end of verse 14:
I am the Lord. I have spoken. I will do it.


My prayer tonight is that we recall and live in the glorious truth that we have LIFE in King Jesus- we are not to live as dry bones- without hope.

Sweet Jesus Christ, our clarity.
Sweet Jesus Christ, our sanity.
Christ has died.
Christ is Risen.
Christ WILL come again.


Until that day I pray that we will live fully- and do all things for the name sake and glory of Jesus.


I will leave you with this little song that brought smiles and tears to several of us this week.
At a nursing home where we sang- Mrs. Frankie- 88- shared this with David DeVane and I...

"I washed my hands this morning
So very clean and bright
And lent them both to Jesus
To work for Him till night

Little feet, be careful
Where you take me to
Anything for Jesus
Only let me do"


Yes, yes, yes.
ANYTHING for Jesus. Only let me do.

No Turning Back

Vulnerability, I am finding, is something that is necessary in knowing and loving people.

In this mind frame- I will now be raw with you.

I have a FEAR.
Something that has been in the back of my spirit and heart since January 2nd of 2011.

Here it is...
I am frightened that I am going to wake up at the age of 50 with a successful business-owning husband, 3 darling kids, our dream home and as comfortable in our lives as can be.

So comfortable that we don't see our need for Jesus.
That we coast.
That we do not follow the Lord into
the valleys of the shadow of death
with great hope. That we do not praise
the Lord for our victories.

Do you see it?

Does this scare you like it scares me?

Let me see if I can make this real for you.

We (William and I) are in a season of life currently where we feel as though our decisions TODAY will greatly effect our decisions in the future.

Our five months of marriage so far have been an incredible and trying season of learning to love and trust Christ more than ever- and learning to love and trust one another. More than ever.

We have oodles of decisions to make about our new family.

How important is the gospel in our marriage?
How will we spend our time and money?
Who will our new "newly married" community be?
Will we consistently talk about the Lord with each other?
Will prayer be a vital part of our marriage?
Is serving Christ TOGETHER a priority?

All questions that seem to have simple and many obvious answers- however- we have found that unless we are intentional and more importantly prayerful about these decisions WE WILL MAKE THE WRONG ONES.

If we are not mindful- we will goes days without talking about or talking together with the Lord.
It is easy.

If it is not a priority- we will not budget finances so that we can give to those who are in need.

If it is not discussed- we will not by happenstance find ourselves serving others together.

It would incredibly easy for us to sink into a comfortable life.
The wedding is over. We are both blessed with work. Work that keeps us busy 24/7.
Time to coast...take a rest...Right?

My heart cries out...NO NO NO

There is work to be done.
Ministry to happen.
People to love.
A gospel to be proclaimed with our lives.

My FEAR is that I am going to trade in my daily dying to self for the comforts of a routine life.
That I would choose "normal" rather than an unimaginable life that the Lord has planned for me.

Are you with me?

I volunteered this past weekend at a conference centered on Orphan Care.
I am not quite ready to share thoughts here because I have not properly prayed or processed-
but I am confident enough to tell you that the Lord was near and (as a new and dear friend says)...
"gloriously ruined" me for the name sake of King Jesus.

I am sure of a call on our lives to care for the fatherless.
I get emotional when I think of the things my eyes have been opened to.

BUT- How long will it take for this passion to go away?

If I do not DAILY submit my life, my plans, my possessions & my passions to CHRIST I will sway towards the ways of this world.

I will become more passionate about updating my countertops from plastic to granite that I am about ministering to my Muslim neighbor.
I will become consumed with saving money for an elaborate family cruise and less worried about giving to the church and to those who are in need.

In a blink- the faces of many in need that currently bring me to instant tears could become an afterthought. A people group I was once aware of and involved in serving.

Dear Lord- Let this not be so.

This life is not meant to be a game of SURVIVAL- but a life of SERVICE for the cause of a savior who came on earth, fully man and fully God, lived a perfect life and died the most horrendous death so that we may LIVE.

To survive- to just reach even my grandest "American dream" would be FILTHY RAGS in comparison to a life of mine (and my families) that is devoted to making much of our mighty God.

I am in need of a revival in my spirit.
Not just every once in a while- but EVERY DAY.

The kind where I wake up and with my first breath devote my day to the Lord.
That Jesus would be in the center of all that I do, say, think and pray.

As we have said before- and will say again- a life devoted to Christ will have deep valleys and moments of despair- but we have HOPE in a risen savior. Victory in Jesus. Who sought us- bought us and asks us to take up our crosses and follow Him- to the valley of the shadow of death and to the highest mountain peak.

He never lets go. He is at our sides- before us and following closely behind.

Why would I survive when I may LIVE?

As corny as it sounds- this hits home with me tonight-
Are you simply surviving OR are you living for Jesus?

I have tried to incorporate several incredibly vital passages into this entry- however I was just about to copy and paste ALL of Phillipians into the box.

Our brother Paul (formerly Saul) did not just SURVIVE.
He said to LIVE was CHRIST. Read it.
Be encouraged and challenged. Please.

If you are surviving- I will pray for you. Because to go from a comfortable survival to a walk-by-faith living will be difficult and will involve sacrifice. A worthy giving up self so that we may gain Christ.

If you are living- I will pray for you. That you will continue to daily die to self and live for Christ. Knowing that suffering will come- trusting that we will have joy even still- and living in a victory that is already won.


Many blessing to you this day.

-A

Til I Only Rest in Thee

Beautiful lake. Chilly weather.
Crackling Campfire. Laughter of Forever Friends.

A small glimpse into a weekend at the lake.

REST.

All 8 of us needed rest.
To turn off our phones, unplug our minds and to be still with each other and before the Lord.

This weekend had been planned several months ago. It was the only weekend out of this month and the next that we could all get together.

The Lord is sweet in His timing.

Our sweet Savior new what the weeks leading up to this time would hold- how tired our spirits would be and how much we would benefit from a weekend in the woods.

A month ago I sat in a worship room with high school and middle school students in Daphne, Alabama and listened to one of my best friends teach on a passage that is now so dear to my spirit.


Isaiah 30:15

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, 'In returning and rest you shall be saved; in quietness and in trust shall be your strength".

Return.
Rest.
Quiet.
Trust.
Strength.

I can count on one hand the number of times since August that I have truly been "still."

Whether on a back porch talking to a best friend, tucked away alone in a booth at a local coffee shop or lying in a hammock at the lake...the times have been rare.

Do I mean that I have not slept or had ANY rest at all lately- no.

This type of rest is one where you allow your spirit to simply settle.
To allow our minds to simmer and stop swirling with to-do's and worries.

A sensation for our spirits that is foreign to many and such a rarity to a MARTHA like me.

Without rest I become:
anxious. worrisome. weary. easily aggitated. less likely to trust in the Lord.

I see in my own life that without REST and RETURNING to the feet of Jesus that my spirit changes.

This scripture has come to life in me over these passed few days.

I found that when I spent a whole 48 hours being still and resting that my spirit was rejuvenated.

My excitement for daily tasks for revived and my ability to submit to the Lord and find joy in obedience a delight.


This is short and sweet- but I ask you-
in your own life do you need to REST?

To be still with the Lord. Turn off life for a moment and recharge.

Make Time. Do it.

The Lord has convicted me this week that I do not need to allow myself to get to the point of almost brokenness before I submit to him and rest- before He has to fold the legs of this mindless sheep.

I need to RETURN more often and REST in the promises of Jesus that are good and true.

In quieting our spirits and trusting in the Lord we will find STRENGTH.

Not a day goes by where I don't need the infallible strength of King Jesus.

I pray that you rest in the promises of Jesus this day.

"If my heart has one ambition
If my soul one goal to seek
This my solitary vision 'til I only dwell in Thee
That I only dwell in Thee
'Til I only dwell in Thee"
((The Hymn. Brooke Fraser))


Many Blessings-

Heart.

The Lord often puts words or short phrases at my attention.

Themes.

My God understands that so often my mind is simple and things presented to me repeatedly and often are hard to dismiss.

HEART.

Over the passed few weeks this word has come before me.


Valentines Day, The death of a dear friend’s father, Songs, Poems, Scripture


I tell you that from the shape of the candy I have eaten to the songs I have had stuck in my head- to the very core of my prayers- HEART has been present.

As I often do- I layed in bed at night tossing, turning and trying to figure out what the Lord had for me here.

Two weeks ago I decided to document how I felt my very heart could be described.
I wrote these words:

Full

Tired

Restless



My heart is full. Why?

Because Jesus is so near. He has been sweet to remind me of this so often in this current season.



My heart is tired. Why?

Change will make us weary. Life presents constant opportunity for anxiety and fear.


My heart is restless. Why?

I could not come up with an answer here…the sweetness of this unknown answer will come later.


I began to ask the Lord to teach me.

Show me, King Jesus, what you would like for me to saturate into my spirit.


I LOVE words. I love knowing what they mean. Where they came from.



Heart in medical terms has one definition (I think this can go without copying & pasting)

However- I was delighted to find these alternative definitions for heart-

-The center or innermost part

-Essential portion

-The most vital part of something



Our hearts are important. Central. Essential. Vital.



Sure- our human hearts are vital. They must work correctly so that we may continue to have breath and life.


But- oh- how much more important is our spiritual heart. Our very central and vital core of US.



To whom does your VITAL ESSENTIAL CORE belong?

I believe that many of us (guilty as charged) would say that our hands could raise here and proclaim with great confidence “JESUS CHRIST!”



I do love the Lord and desire His will for my life- no matter the cost.

I do trust that God is good and sovereign over all things- even when I just simply do not understand.

BUT (this is a huge but)

I still daily strive to please people- often forsaking striving to please Christ


I still allow my emotions to get caught up in the things of this world rather than finding satisfaction and delight in Jesus


I still am surprised when people let me down and leave me- even when my heart of hearts knows I can only rely of my God- who is near and the same yesterday today and forever.


Matthew 6:21 says clearly-
“For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”



If I am making the things of the world my treasure, forsaking Christ, then it would make sense for my heart to be weary and tired. Unsatisfied.

I adore music. I always have. I enjoy lyrics and have always had a fondness for songs that I connect with.

I have had a song- a phrase of a song, really- stuck in my head since January.


“Does anybody know how to hold my heart? How to hold my heart?

Because I don’t want to let go, let go, let go too soon.”

(S. Bareilles. Hold My Heart)



I identify with these words. Do you?

Who on this earth knows how to hold my heart?

People hurt us, have hurt us, will hurt us, etc.


On this earth- in our relationships- we must be so careful in who we allow ourselves to become close with and cling to-

Because truly, in an instant, they could be gone and our hearts could be battered and bruised.

Stay with me.


For a while I thought nothing of it- I have songs stuck in my head constantly.


Warning- This is ultra-corny.

I cannot help how sweet the Lord is in timing and in detail.


I was driving. I was singing. (Typical.)

“Does anybody know how to hold my heart because I do not want to let go to soon….”


Like a wave over me- in the loudest and strongest whisper-

My sweet Child- I will hold your heart with tender care. I will cradle you. I will protect you.

You may surrender fully because I fully love you. I am not going anywhere.

LET.GO.



Are you crying? I am crying. I was crying.



How could I be so blind?



This heart of mine is restless and tired because I am trying to take care of it on my own- in my own power.

Father- forgive me for not giving you my heart fully.



Y’all- I got to my apartment and had to lay myself down for the Lord was faithful to show up and I was overwhelmed.



You see- in this world our hearts are presented with much to bear but we cannot forget that we are not called to live this life on our own.

We are called to give up this life (our hearts) and ABANDON ourselves to the things of Jesus.



As many of our students and adults learned with us this weekend- to abandon our lives for a life that follows Christ is an “all or nothing” event.

We cannot abandon without empty hands and opened arms.



In the same way- we cannot have a heart devoted to the things of Christ unless it is a WHOLE heart.


Deuteronomy 10:12 says

“And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul…”


I adore the way this next word of God is phrased...

Deuteronomy 30:6b says

“…love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live”


A heart that is fully committed to the things of Christ produces LIFE.



So- I ask you this day- What is keeping you from your HEART being full of the things of Christ?


I must tell you that some of the things on my list are so very dear to me.

Hard to give up.

Will be painful to distance myself from.


Yet- my sweet sweet friends- I am learning that pain in giving up things to Jesus is a sweet pain. A worthy misery.



I believe that we (many of us) have also learned together that this life is not about our comfort or happiness-

It is about our faithfulness to the gospel and the things of our Savior.



With tears in my eyes- because I know what this abandon may cost you- I challenge you to give your heart fully to Jesus.

He is worthy of our lives. Fully and completely abandoned to His will for His name sake.



I will leave you with this sweet poem that was shared in a devotion I read called “Streams in the Desert”



Dear restless heart, be still; don’t fret and worry so;
God has a thousand ways His love and help to show;
Just trust, and trust and trust, until His will you know.

Dear restless heart, be still, for peace is God’s own smile,
His love can every wrong and sorrow reconcile;
Just love, and love, and love, and calmly wait awhile.

Dear restless heart, be brave; don’t moan and sorrow so,
He hath a meaning kind in chilly winds that blow;
Just hope, and hope, and hope, until you braver grow.

Dear restless heart, repose upon His breast this hour,
His grace is strength and life, His love is bloom and flower;
Just rest, and rest, and rest, within His tender power.

Dear restless heart, be still! Don’t struggle to be free;
God’s life is in your life, from Him you may not flee;
Just pray, and pray, and pray, till you have faith to see.

by Edith Willis Linn



Trust. Love. Hope. Rest. Pray.

Our God is faithful.



Many Blessings.

Trinkets v. Treasures

God is good and sweet in His timing.

I have tried to sit down and write this particular post for the passed 4 nights and each time something stopped me.
Honestly- I was frustrated that it is Thursday and I had not had time to put into words something that I am confident the Lord specifically put on my heart.

It is Disciple Now season at the student building- a joyful. stressful and all-around busy time around our office.
Free time has been lacking…but I have so been desiring to write!

It was not until this morning while I was in Linn Park that I knew exactly why I had not had time to write-
The Lord had something else to show me. Another piece to the puzzle.
A visual to give picture to my heart.

On many Thursday mornings I have the joy of going to a park in downtown Birmingham and work with a ministry called Grace’s Kitchen.
If you spend more than 5 minutes around me on any given day you have probably heard me talk about this ministry- these people.
These members of my family.

Grace’s Kitchen is a ministry that serves a hot meal to people who are without food and shelter in the center of our city.
We pray together, read scripture together and do a little bit of singing.

Many of them have no homes at all.
Some sleep in abandoned houses on the north side of town.
Some sleep under the overpasses beside the BJCC.
Some shelter hop. Some have been blessed to have a home in the government housing.
Some use their VA check to sleep in a hotel just for one week when they can.
Some sleep under card board boxes behind the Regions building.

They are all, in some form or fashion, in desperate need.
Lacking much.

Why does this make connect to what the Lord put on my heart?

Let me get there- Prayerfully this will all come full circle!

Two weeks ago as I was driving into work the Lord put a phrase in my head-

“Earthly Trinkets versus Eternal Treasures”

Okay, Lord?

I am not trying to buy a new car. I do not buy ALL that I want at GAP.
I do not get a brownie every time I go to Zoes.
And I give to people who are in need.

This is just a money issue.

I have this down pat. I do not need to learn a lesson about trinkets versus treasures.


As the Lord often does to my stubborn heart-
I was made totally uncomfortable until I started to pray about this.

It was continually brought before me.

My best friend tweeted about treasures and earthly pleasures.
Every song I heard was about “nothing comparing to the greatness of knowing Christ”
My sweet Nana died leaving items (trinkets) behind that she did not take along with her to Glory.

My attention was forced.
Here I am, Lord.
What do I need to learn here?

I wrote the phrase on a post it at home and the office and started to wait…

BOOM.

In the middle of the night. (Why, Lord, always a night?)
The list of Trinkets flooded my mind.
Consumed my very spirit.

No-
I do not own jewels or numerous homes-
But I thought to myself that these trinkets that the Lord placed before my heart to consider may not be ITEMS but IDEALS.

What in this world do I place in my life as more important than the things of Jesus?

What things of Christ do I forfeit so that I may achieve greatness on this earth?

What goals do I set for myself that edge me away from walking in the very will of Christ?


What TRINKETS are distracting me from the TREASURES of King Jesus?

I could not help but think of Babylon and how distracted the people of Daniel’s time were with the world in which they lived.
It was a city of great beauty- the people desired to be “without blemish, skillful, wise, worthy of standing in the King’s place” (Daniel 1:4-5)

You see- Satan wants me to trade in the treasures of Christ for the trinkets of this world.

Chasing trinkets (worldly knowledge and earthly pleasures) will only keep me from enjoying and growing in the treasures of Christ.
This is exactly the goal of the enemy.

God is faithful to provide for us encouragement and truth in His word so that we might arm ourselves up against the enemy.

I love when Paul speaks about putting on a “new self” in Colossians.

Chapter 3 verse 1 of Colossians says:

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory”


Incredible.
My “self” of sin has died and been made new in Christ Jesus.

Christ is my life. My life is hidden with Christ in God.

The former treasures of a sinful self become trinkets when compared to God’s glory and knowing Him as Savior.

So why then do I choose to chase after and lift high the trinkets of the earth over the treasures of Christ?

I know why- because seeking earthly trinkets bring about worldy glory.
Glory in this world is enticing.
To be recognized as great and worthy- to be delighted in.
It is a tempting and dangerous opportunity.

I am so guilty of finding the trinkets of this world so very tempting.
Success is something that is beautiful here. To be accomplished is exhilarating and affirming.

How does this relate to my morning in Linn Park?

I will tell you 

I stood today surrounded by the homeless and tired.

They carried all of their belongings on there backs.
EVERYTHING that they owned on their person.

Standing in the midst of the park I was blown away with the lack of physical trinkets that they had.

As I mentioned above- most of them have no place to call home or belonging to claim-
However so many of them treasure Christ as their all-in-all.

To see people with so little content because of the treasures that are stored up in Christ is astounding.


A sweet brother, that I will call Ray, has a backpack that he protects and always has at his side.
It is blue, torn and tattered.

I asked Ray if he would share with me what was inside the pack-
A flashlight. Bible. Scripture cards from Graces Kitchen. Pair of Gloves. 3 packs of PB crackers.

“All that I need” He said. All that he needs.

What few trinkets.

As I sit here typing surrounded by an office full of crap-
I must admit that I am a lover of trinkets and sick to be so.

Ray’s treasure is in Christ.
Few trinkets is not defeat.

Why in the world, brothers and sisters, would I choose the pleasures of this world over the true joy and gladness in knowing and living a life for Christ?

I am in tears thinking of what this must make us look like to a God who offers us all- and we settle for less.

King Jesus- forgive my selfish heart. I have far too much affection for the things of the world- the physical trinkets and the trinkets that are not seen but are dreamed up and longed for. I realize that all of these things are rubbish compared to You. Help me to sift through my life and recognize the invaluable. Give me the boldness to let go of the empty things realizing that they will be replaced with things that bring honor to your name and have value everlasting. You are good. Thank you for making me uncomfortable in my comfort. Amen.


What trinkets are you treasuring above Christ?


“And the things of earth will grow strangely dim- in the light of His glory and grace…”

Stormy Weather.

STORM.

One has just ended. One is coming.

Many are ahead. Many are behind us.

The word STORM has come up more times that I would like to recount in the passed week.

In nature. In family. In friendships. In my relationship with the Lord.

What are these storms? What will I learn from them? How will they change me?

This time pondering storms began with in this moment:

Last week I went to the First Light shelter in Birmingham and spent some time talking with and loving on the women of this ministry.
A sweet woman, lets call her Gladice, was sharing with me her testimony. Filled with abuse and despair- Gladice’s life is one that has had many a storm.
This sweet sister looked at me with tear-filled eyes and grabbed my hands. She then said a phrase that dug its way quickly to my core…
“Little girl- Storms ARE coming in life. Big and small- we can’t hide from them. I have tried- they force there way in. But God is with us in them. Saves us from them.
The storms aren’t as scary knowing we always have Jesus to cover our heads and keep us from harm”

Incredible. Re-read that. Truth in those words.

I love words and knowing the meaning of them.

Definition of Storm-
Noun: A violent disturbance of the atmosphere with strong winds and usually rain, thunder, lightning, or snow.
Verb: Move angrily or forcefully in a specified direction

Synonyms of Storm:
Tempest. Gale. Assault. Rage.

All negative.
Angry. Disturbing. Strong. Rage. Specific.

I cannot name one “storm” in my life that I have craved.
I have never cried out to the Lord…Send a violent season to me! Disturb my days! Specifically bring destruction and hurt to my life!

None the less- Storms have come. God has been good- never failed me.
And at the end of each storm a lesson was learned and a heart was molded to look more like Jesus and less like this world.

God allows the storms. Uses them in our lives to humble us, draw us to Himself, and remind us that He is a refuge for us.

I think of the storms that are going on in my life and spirit right now-
Some are heavier than others- All of them are keeping me up at night.

((( Venting time- Night time is when the storms are the hardest for me to bear. I worry. I do not sleep. The “thunder” is the loudest then.)))

Now… for the HOPE in the STORMS that I, more than ever, need to be reminded of.


Luke 8:22-25

Jesus Calms a Storm

" 22 One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side of the lake.” So they set out, 23 and as they sailed he fell asleep. And a windstorm came down on the lake, and they were filling with water and were in danger. 24 And they went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we are perishing!” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and the raging waves, and they ceased, and there was a calm. 25 He said to them, “Where is your faith?” And they were afraid, and they marveled, saying to one another, “Who then is this, that he commands even winds and water, and they obey him?”


I read this just this morning and got so frustrated with the men in the boat.
Why didn’t they just trust Jesus to calm the storm?
Why did they believe that they were perishing when Jesus was right beside them?

They knew He could do it. They knew He was in control.
They knew that in His time the storm would pass and they would be safe.
Why in the world didn’t they trust him?

I put my hazelnut coffee down on the coffee table.
Stood up.
Looked at myself in the mirror… (Literally…judge not)
And said…

“Amy. Marie. Houston. Byrd.
Why are you not trusting Jesus to calm the storms.
You know He can do it. You know He is in control.
You know that in His time the storm will pass and you will be safe.
Why in the WORLD aren’t you trusting him?”

Y’all. Why is it so hard to live out daily the hope we HAVE in Jesus?

People will Leave. Fail. Disappoint. Hurt.
Jesus will not.

Life will be complicated. Ever changing. Unpredictable.
Jesus is never-changing.

Storms will Pound us. Move us. Scare us.
Jesus will be refuge.

I guess in all of this I am trying to say to you-
What are your storms?

Don’t say you don’t have any. You do. You will.
To quote Gladice- “Storms ARE coming. Big and Small”

One of my dearest friends, Kelsie, and I were running errands this passed Saturday and found ourselves in the midst of a conversation that both encouraged me and drew me quickly to the feet of Jesus.

We just both admitted that we have know clue what life the Lord has ahead of us. We know that there will be difficult days where we feel like we have been defeated.
We know many days will be filled with joy and blessings. And the unknown was almost too much for either of us to verbalize....however...we both encouraged and reminded each other that our Savior has gone before us and made a way.

Our God will prepare us for the storms. He will be with us in all of our days and as we take each of our steps.

I pray that today as you weather the storms that may consume your heart that you may find hope in Christ who is our refuge and strength. That we could place our trust in a God whose timing is infallible and whose plan is intentional. Our God is ever present in our time of need. Lean on Him. Let Him hold you up and be your strength.

Free at last...

"Oh Lord- surely you would not ask me to give up these plans. This person. This dream."
"Father- you would certainly not ask of me to let go of such an incredible opportunity"
"Jesus- you would not ask of me to say goodbye to something I hold so dear"


Welcome, brothers and sisters, into the depths of my most recent prayers and cries of my heart.

God is teaching me what it is to surrender.
What it feels like to let go of things that I am holding in my hands so tightly...
to release my grip would is quite a task...

What are these things I am holding to so tightly you ask?
They are quite simple, really.

Have you ever prayed to our Lord and said...

"Father, Use me! Send me! However- please do not send me anywhere where I cannot easily communicate with my family or the ones I love..."

or...

"Dear Lord, Here I am. Take my life at any cost. But please do not ask me to give up my dreams of becoming...etc...etc..."

I am SO often conditional in my surrender.

But by definition- surrender has no conditions.
If I am to surrender-I am to SURRENDER ALL.
Give it up.
Pass it along.
Open my grip and keep my hand flat and fingers apart.

This task is one that can be done only by the help of a God who honors obedience and asks us to trust Him with our spirits and souls.


WHAT ARE YOU HOLDING SO TIGHTLY?
A relationship? A dream? A fear? An opportunity?

I had the opportunity to go to Passion in Atlanta two weeks ago and worship with 45,000 of my closest friends and neighbors.
Overwhelming to say the least.

On the first night of worship- as I sat in the very tip top of the Georgia dome- the Lord placed in front of me an anthem...
Specifically for me. (Out of all those people...neat huh?)

LET IT BE MY JOY TO SAY...YOUR WILL...YOUR WAY...ALWAYS.

My mouth dropped. I could not sing these words- not until I swallowed what my words meant.
This is exactly the kind of prayer I have been avoiding.
I was moved to see the words cross the screen-
and honestly ticked off that the Lord was picking on me.
Getting to me in a place where I can all but avoid exactly what He was trying to tell me.

"Amy- Give up. Surrender. Follow me. Trust me."

I would love to say that my desires and the Lord's always parallel-
that MY WAY and the LORDS WAY are always the same.

But that is most often not the case.

The Lord's way is tried and true a better way. The best way.
However-it is so hard to give up our plans and the ways that we saw our lives to play out...

I cannot help but think of Paul.

Did this brother in Christ imagine that one day God would place Him in a jail cell?
Was this a part of Paul's (or younger Saul's) dream?

I doubt it.

Somewhere along Paul's journey he grasped a concept that I so desperately want to cling to myself-
To live is Christ. To die is gain.

Here these words of SURRENDER that he wrote while in a jail cell-


But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
(Philippians 3:7-11 ESV)

O. My. Word.

Father may my heart me so in tune with your very spirit that I can truly count EVERYTHING as a loss.
Because you are worthy.

Letting go will be tough. My hands being opened and forced a part will be trying-
but at the end of that process there will be a life that is totally surrendered to the will of a God who is intentional and good.


Father God- Loosen my grip. Help me trust you and count all that I consider dear a loss compared to You. In you there is life abundant and all that I need. My very spirit is not mine- but is yours to mold, lead, guide and move. Have your way in me. Restore my soul for your name sake. Amen.


Free at last, I surrender all I am with opened hands.