Through the Valley

By Janet Morris Grimes –

It is difficult to see clearly from the valley. The path ahead is frightening; the path behind, too painful to look back. There seems to be no escape; the only way to get through it is to get through it. But with the end nowhere in sight, even that seems futile, at times.

It is in the valleys that we realize there are no shortcuts. You can’t bypass it. You can’t go around it. Perhaps that is why we find them so scary.

But God says not to worry. As a matter of fact, He knew there would be valleys. High points, countered by low points, blended together to form the timelines of our lives. He never promised it would be easy.

But what He did promise is even more gratifying. He promised to be there. Always. From start to finish. From our mountaintop experiences to the moments that literally drop us to our knees.

God appreciates the valleys, not because He enjoys seeing us in pain, but more so because He knows that is when we will be calling His name. In the valleys, He gets the chance to speak to us, one-on-one. And He knows we will listen.

It’s not that He chooses only to reveal Himself to us in the valleys; that is just when we seem to take notice. Finally.

So, whatever valley you may be traveling through, know that you are never alone. Treasure this time, claim it for growth, and keep moving toward the end. One foot in front of the other.

And if possible, be thankful for your valleys.

Because wherever God meets us is holy ground, even through the pain.

And maybe even because of it.

PRAYER: Dear God, Thank You for our valleys, for revealing Yourself to us during our darkest hours. Thank You for loving us enough to go before us, to prepare the pathway through it. Thank You for reminding us that we are not strong enough to handle the valleys alone, but that You are with us always. Your strength is more than enough. It is there, in Your capable hands, that we release our burdens unto You.

BIBLE VERSE: “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me” (Psalm 23:4 NIV).

Letting Go to Take Hold

By Rosemary Flaaten –

Letting go is hard for me, especially with something precious or significant to my life.  It seems like only a few sleeps ago that I chose to let go of my first born so the neonatal nurse could take him to the nursery.  Then there was his first day of preschool.  As I walked to the parking lot, my arms felt heavy in their emptiness.  My “baby” had left my embrace for the big world.

Tears dripped down my cheeks as I commiserated with a mother’s emotions as she described her sense of loss as she pinned her son’s corsage on his wedding tuxedo.  She realized that no man can be held by both his mother and his wife.  It was her job to let go so he could grasp onto what lay ahead of him.

This truth permeates our lives.  We must move our belongings out of an old, familiar house in order to move in and live in our new home and neighbourhood.  We must let go of the emotional ties to our old job and move with conviction and perseverance into new opportunities.  We must leave our old life, ruled by sin, in order to take hold of the grace and love that God offers through Jesus.

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

Has God put before you a new goal for the fall of 2011?  There may be something that has brought you pleasure or significance last year, last month or even yesterday, but today God is saying He has a new thing.  “Forget about what’s happened; don’t keep going over old history.  Be alert, be present.  I’m about to do something brand new.  It’s bursting out!  Don’t you see it?” (Isaiah 43:18, 19 MSG)

May we have open hearts that can hear and discern the movement of God’s Spirit that is propelling change in our lives and in our church.  Be alert.  Be Present. Let go of the old.  Take hold of the new.

PRAYER: Lord, shift my focus onto the goal that You have set before me.

BIBLE VERSE:  “I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward – to Jesus.  I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back” (Philippians 3:19 – 20 TM).

Are You Ready to Fly?

By Jennifer Slattery –

When my daughter was young she and I spent hours at the park, running through the grass in search of “blow flowers.” At first, she was drawn to the dandelions, but after picking a few, she tired of their stately petals. Seeded dandelions, on the other hand, offered hours of entertainment.  Smiling at me, she’d bring the soft tufts to her lips, laughing as they tickled her nose, before letting loose with a chest-caving blow. Then, she’d hurl the stem behind her and chase after the seeds with squeals and giggles.

Often as I sit in God’s presence, I’m reminded of those days and those carefree seeds drifting on the wind. How I long to be like those weightless tufts, so in-tune to my Heavenly Father that I drift effortlessly on His will. Many times I’ve repeated the words Jesus spoke in the Garden of Gethsemane, “Not my will, but Thine be done.”

But all too often I resemble the bright, cheery dandelion that stands tall on its stalk, roots clinging to the soil. “Look at me!” it calls, as it sways in the breeze. It’s proud of its beauty and strength, but the dandelion must die in order for its seeds to take flight. The petals, which once clung securely to the stalk need to let go, allowing the steady flow of the wind to carry them where so ever it will.

The same is true of us. In order to fly, we must first die. To our dreams, our ambitions, our will. But like that carefree seedling drifting on the wind; that is where we find abundant life.

We know this intellectually, so why do we cling so tightly to the stalk, begging God to do things our way and in our timing?

Perhaps because we don’t truly understand the love of God. He who emptied Himself for us, He who allowed men to stretch His arms upon the cross, He who created our inmost being and numbers the hairs on our head says, “Let go. Let me carry you like that weightless seed drifting on the wind.”

But He won’t rip us from the soil. To be carried, we must first let go.

“The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit” (John 3:8 NIV).

Drought Duress (Part 2 of Spiritual Drought)

By Nina Medrano – 

“O GOD, You are my God, earnestly will I seek You; my inner self thirsts for You, my flesh longs and is faint for You, in a dry and weary land where no water is” (Psalm 63 AMP).

In Part One of the July article, “Spiritual Drought,” I shared my experience of my search for the Lord and not finding him.

Like the Shulamite woman, from the book of Song of Solomon, I searched for the Lord.  I searched in the Scriptures, in prayer, in church gatherings and in prophetic camps, but did not find him (Song of Solomon 3).

In “Spiritual Drought” article: “Everywhere I searched I caught only whiffs of His fragrance where I knew he had been but I had just missed him.”  And, my heart ached for Him even more!  Unable to sleep, I dusted off my guitar and painstakingly pressed my tender fingers to the chords and when my fingers faltered I cried out to the Lord, “I’M LONGING!”  Suddenly, His Presence overcame me, like rushing waters.  Finally, I had “found the one my heart loves.  I held him and would not let him go,” (Song of Solomon 3:4 NIV).

In the days that followed this experience, I asked the Lord why He waited so long to let me find Him. I believe I received my answer from a guest speaker speaking about cotton farming.  That’s right, cotton farming!

I live in Lubbock, Texas, which is the largest cotton producer in the world.

I learned that when all conditions are right:  sufficient water, sunlight and good soil, the cotton plant will appear to look healthy and green but the roots are shallow.  When the roots are shallow, the cotton plant will not yield much cotton.

The farmer is not as interested in how healthy or green the plant appears on the surface.  His greater concern is the depth of the root because he knows that the deeper the root, the more fruit it will produce.

One of the key strategies in aiding the plant to produce more cotton is a method called “Duress.”

During the hottest time of the season, the farmer will withhold water from the plant causing the plant to stress and struggle.  Eventually, the root system begins to dig deeper into the soil in search for water.  The process of drought duress develops strong, deep roots, which in turn produces much cotton.

I heard the voice of the Holy Spirit say that this spiritual drought and duress that I am experiencing is part of God’s plan to grow and develop my faith.  Praise God for his Spirit who instructs us in all things!

I don’t know how much longer I will be in this drought and duress season.  But, knowing that this is part of His plan to make me more fruitful encourages me to dig deeper into His Word and not give up hope.

I find it interesting that in the natural state of things, much of Texas is in drought and duress.  Is there a connection between the natural and the spiritual?  I don’t have that answer.

But, often, the Lord uses natural events to speak prophetically to His Body regarding the things of the Spirit.

“Just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” (Colossians 2:6-7 NIV).

 

Three Overflows

By Robin J. Steinweg –

1. A fizzy hissing in the background crescendos within seconds to a fizzy, hissy crackling. A nasty odor assaults the nostrils before my frantic rush can prevent its cause. It’s not the first time I forgot to set the timer on the stove! Now breakfast is over—over the pot, the burner, the counter, the floor…

2. I see it coming and I leap to prevent it—the action switches to slow motion. My toddler has developed the strength and dexterity to remove the lid from a jar of pickled beets (a feat I have yet to master without benefit of a crowbar). A distant voice (my own) cries, “N-n-n-n-n-n-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!” I dive (still in slow-mo) like a 275-pound receiver to catch the 12 ounces of Red-Stain-in-a-Bottle before the contents hit the floor. In seconds it, too, is over—over the table, the high chair, the beige carpet and me.

3. Like the jar of pickled beets, I am emptied. I wait. I set no timer. My Bible lies on my lap, still open to the passage I have read. I sense a crescendo of joy bubbling up into awe, gratitude and praise. I don’t rush to prevent it spilling over—over me, under me, around me—I dive deeper. I am a different kind of receiver today. This overflow will result in a sweet fragrance. It can cleanse the deepest stain. No chaos or mess this time.

The Spirit of God fills me to overflowing. In this way, He slakes the thirst, satisfies the hunger and meets the needs of those around me.

PRAYER: Holy Spirit, empty me of myself and fill me to overflowing with Yourself: Your Word, Your way, Your life. Spill out to bless those around me. I ask in Jesus’ name to be a fragrant offering to You.

BIBLE VERSE: “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint me with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever” (Psalm 23:5-6 NIV).

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