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.