Mariposa Kisses (aka Dianne's Blog)

Last Sunday, Pastor Matt encouraged us with the story of the feeding of the 5000. He told us that God can use us for His highest and greatest purpose when we are at our lowest and weakest moments. One of the verses he referenced was 2 Corinthians 12:9, "...my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness..."

But do we really believe this to be true? And if it's not true, do we really have any hope at all? The fact of the matter is that we all get weighed down by a plethora of weaknesses. My struggles happen to be depression and doubt, along with anxiety and anger. Maybe your entanglements have more to do with self esteem issues, jealousy, lust, or greed.

Where do we go if we don't believe this verse to be true? The answer is simple: we must fall on our knees. God is good at wrestling. Remember his match with Jacob thousands of years ago? He can take you on as well. So, if you are doubting that HIS POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS, then challenge the Lord! Ask him, "Are you sure Lord?" Let Him defend Himself because I'm certain He will show up!

For starters, think about where you're weak and how the Lord has already shown up. For me with my depression, I sometimes wonder why the Lord won't just remove this thorn from my flesh. And then I start to think through all of the ways that He has blessed me: my legs and arms, my breath, my faithful husband, my healthy and energetic children, etc. The list starts to get so long that I can't help but lose sight of the darkness.

Of course our weaknesses seem overwhelming; often times they simply are too much for us to handle. And that's why we need to drop to our knees, place our face down upon the ground if necessary, and submit it all to the Lord. When we SURRENDER, He hears our cries and He begins to transform us into His perfect image, where truth and love reign supreme. During the process of transformation, HIS GRACE BECOMES SUFFICIENT FOR US AS HIS POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS.

It doesn't happen over night. We must wait patiently for the Holy Spirit to give us the faith to see and to believe. So, while we wait, let's remember that, "...our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 6:12).

Since we live in an imperfect and evil world where Satan still has some power over evil and sin, let's remember to "...put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition...take up the shield of faith. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God" (from verses 13-17).

If you still don't believe that HIS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU, FOR HIS POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS, don't worry! I'm not here to judge you. It's frequently hard for me to grasp its veracity too. But we can hold each other up and cling to God's word as we go through this journey together, one day at a time. Keep the faith fellow believers. Life on earth is hard, but remember that heaven will be amazing!

Labels: Bible, encouragement, grace

The sweetest aroma is your heart lifted up to God, even when it is broken. When your words are too mixed up in your own head to pray, you offer up a mish-mash of blabbing. But, He loves your honesty. Sometimes you can't even pray, so you sing to the Lord instead. And He loves it because your heart is genuine. In these moments of weakness and hardship, God is truly honored because your focus is fully on your need for Him. When you don't feel His presence, but you remain steady anyways, you show Him that you really believe.

If you're struggling to trust God, that's okay. When you keep on persevering in light of the difficulty, it reveals true devotion to your faith in God. Even when it seems easier to keep your eyes on your fears and doubts, it's best to keep your eyes on the history of God's faithfulness throughout your life. Remember the time He protected you during that scary car accident? Remember when He carried your child through that horrific sickness? Remember how he provided for you when you thought you weren't going to be able to pay that bill? What about the time you prayed to find that sand-dollar, and you did?

The Bible says, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13). In the next chapter, Paul says, "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you." When we do find ourselves in a season of struggle or silence, we must cling to God's word because our feelings can deceive us. I remember a cold winter morning during my college-years. I looked out my dormitory window with hope and optimism because the sun felt so warm as it touched my face. Based on what I felt, I thought it must have been warm outside. But, oh how deceiving that picture was because this moment occurred in Wheaton, IL. I stepped outside of Fisher Dormitory and soon realized that my turtleneck and thick wool sweater were insufficient for the whipping wind that bit like a venomous snake. I immediately bobbed back to my room for my down-feathered navy blue coat.

We can't base our realities on mere feelings. Instead, we have to use our other senses to validate our interpretation of reality. If you are experiencing a season of despair, test your feelings. Is your life really as bad as it seems? It might be pretty bleak, but on the other had, after reflecting on your blessings, you remember some of the good things as well. Use your eyes to focus on God's beauty through nature. Then, you will remember God's power because of the works of His awesome creation. Maybe you love music, so you decide to pump your MP3 player up with some uplifting praise tunes. The result is that your heart redirects itself towards God's goodness and provision even though you don't feel it in your own life at that exact moment.

Feelings matter because they reflect the state of your heart. They shouldn't be ignored or repressed because they validate who you are and what you're going through. But they are not supreme to your well-being. Instead of clinging to your feelings, you must anchor your heart in truth so that even when the storm hits, you will not be blown away by the violent winds. Sing! Pray! Listen! Look! These things offer perspective, especially when you're feeling run-down and weak. Keep going for today... you're not alone and you have God's word as a powerful weapon against the enemy! Be practical too, remembering that God gave you other resources other than your feelings so that you could distinguish between truth and lies.

Share some of the ways that God is carrying you through your tired or depressed feelings. How has He shown Himself when you've felt like giving up? I'd love to hear from you and to lift you up in prayer as well!

Labels: Bible, encouragement, God's word

Sometimes it feels like there's no hope. Thankfully, feelings can be misleading. There is always hope because God is good and He loves you. He has your best interest in mind, even when unfair things happen. When people mistreat you and take advantage of you, the Lord sees it all and intends to carry out His justice in the end. When you have said and done all you can, you need to let go and rest in HIM.

Here are some verses of encouragement and hope:

Psalm 84:11 says, "For the Lord God is a sun and a shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless."

Psalm 85:1 says, "You showed favor to your land, O Lord; you restored the fortunes of Jacob."

Psalm 86:5-7 says, "You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you. Hear my prayer, O Lord; listen to my cry for mercy. In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me."

Psalm 89:5-6 says, "The heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones. For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord? Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?"

Labels: encouragement, hope, the Lord

Sometimes, you just need a little touch from nature to get through the long week. It seems like an unexpected bill shows up every afternoon, or a new sickness, or a random household item that needs fixing. It's a rogue pair of eyeglasses gone missing, a busted kid's shoe, or a garage door that breaks unexpectedly. It also seems like there's enough drama at any given moment to power a small city. The kids seem to enjoy testing my (already questionable) sanity on a daily basis. No-one's quite adjusted to the new back-to-school schedule yet, so crankiness pops up earlier as well. But, yesterday, the perfect thing happened.

It rained. I couldn't believe it. I'd seen the foreboding thunder-heads out to the east. I'd even prayed, "Oh, please help it rain!" But, being in Southern California in the middle of summer, it seemed like overly-optimistic thinking. My oldest son told me that he also shot up an enthusiastic petition for rain, which was sweet because he doesn't even like the rain. A little bit later, I looked outside and saw that my patio was wet. I assumed the hose had been left on. But, when I stepped outside to water my fruit trees, to my wondering eyes, what should appear, but some awesome and steady raindrops. Not only rain, but thunder as well. It felt like I was standing in the middle of a fun Midwestern storm, which took me back to the freshly cut grass smell of Illinois, where I studied as an undergrad.

What a treat. It's funny how such a small and short-lived rain storm could lighten the load that had burdened me earlier in the day. Sometimes, we just need a little break from the stresses that entangle our hearts and minds. For me, this rain storm was a much needed respite from my internal stresses within. I picked up my two school-aged kids and we twirled and sang in the rain. Since it was so warm out, they hopped into their swimsuits and we played outside until the rain stopped. It was refreshing to the thirsty landscape in our area and also satisfying to my soul.

While we can't make it rain, although I've done my fair share of rain dances over the years, we can certainly implement small measures to minimize our daily pressures and responsibilities. A vanilla ice cream cone helps me to feel like a kid again and for only 69 cents at McDonald's right now, it's hard to pass up. A quick phone call with a long distance friend lifts some of the weight as well. It reminds you of your past and your youth and keeps you focused on where you're headed too. Sometimes sharing quality time with my kids at the kitchen table with a fun craft makes me feel more relaxed as well. While I could be doing hundreds of other tasks, it instantly takes me to what's really important...my family. All the other stuff gets done eventually.

I don't know what you're going through today and if you love or hate the rain. But, I hope you got some joy out of our recent rainfall. If you missed it, you could always shut your eyes and run through the sprinklers. For a thunder reenactment, you could download some thunder tunes from iTunes. If that doesn't lower your stress, try the ice cream regimen or that overdue phone call with a buddy. If all else fails, break out the old magazines, scissors, and some glue to create a memorable collage with your little ones. Today's masterpiece contains pictures that represent me: an avocado, a topiary vine, trail mix, azaleas, a dog, wine, violets, red roses, orange juice, a tomato bush, berry pie, and hydrangeas.

What do you do for a break from it all? What pictures fill your own personal collage? Share your thoughts here.

Labels: encouragement, motherhood, rest

Sometimes, life just doesn't seem to be working out. You give it your all, and it still doesn't seem like you're making a difference. But, when you walk with the Lord, it makes a huge impact. God's word is an anchor for our souls, even when we feel like we're drowning...even when we can't see the path through the fog.

Here are a few reminders from God's word about hanging on, even when you feel like letting go. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for calamity, to give you a future and a hope." Also, King David shares his hope from Psalm 38:15 which says, "For I hope in You, O LORD; You will answer, O Lord my God."

Sometimes, God works in ways that we can not see. During those times, we need to shut our eyes and allow Him to lead us. We look to the right and to the left and up and down, thinking that we will be able to find the answer. But, God wants to lead us and direct our steps in His timing, not in ours. That means we might not be able to find the solution right away. But, as we seek His will and not our own, we will be able to see through His eyes. He will push away the fog and make things clear.

Labels: encouragement, faith

We all possess a variety of idiosyncrasies. We think of them as quirks, inconveniences, or oddities that we’d rather do without. And yet, there is something about our differences that makes us uniquely who we are. Sometimes, we wear these traits of divergence on the outside where they are most obvious to the world; however, at times, they go unseen, as they are worn on the inside. Whichever eccentricity you wear, it is yours, as is that orange patterned shirt hanging in your closet, the one you just can’t get rid of no matter how hard you try.

Internal and external differences can cause discomfort, as we would prefer to match the symmetry of normalcy. And yet, would we be who we are if these foibles disappeared? For your friend, it might be an issue of weight, either too gangly or too stout. For a relative, it could be a disfigurement or a birthmark, something that makes him or her stand out. Perhaps for a co-worker, it is her hair that never quite does the right thing, or her complexion that is non-compliant. Sometimes, it's a less obvious weakness of sorts, such as a speech or hearing impediment.

Maybe your foible is on the inside. Perhaps you long to let go of some addiction that goes unnoticed by anyone besides yourself, or a thought that deeply entangles your mind. Do you obsess over things that others readily dismiss? It's possible that your idiosyncrasy is an addiction to control, to fear, or to busyness.

It might feel that your difference is so remarkable that no-one could possibly relate to your feelings of defeat. However, in reality, we are all flawed; we all contain some sort of imperfection. It might seem that Mrs. Brady down the street has it all together, with no flaws or shortcomings, but hers are actually just hidden up her sleeve.

Though we frequently turn to magazine gurus and television icons, they are the wrong places to turn to for accurate sources of self-worth. Sometimes, it is tempting to compare yourself to someone without the same peculiarity, who perhaps looks or acts “better” than you do, but it is likewise the wrong object of reflection.

The true source for proper personal identity is the Bible. Though I frequently forget to turn there first, when I do, I am adequately and lovingly reminded of who the Lord says I am. David prays out to God in Psalm 139: 13-16, “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body…”.

Even when you are feeling frightfully disheartened, you can contemplate the majesty that you are not a mistake because you were seen and formed by God himself in your mother’s womb. Think over how you were wonderfully and fearfully made and your idiosyncrasy seems less cumbersome.

Satan will keep throwing lies at you to discourage your spirit, but remember that “…the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world” (1John 4:4). Likewise, it is wise to remember that you can “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

For some of us, our idiosyncrasy might wane or retreat altogether. Today, there are many corrective options for our physical flaws or disparities; and yet, is surgery really the best choice? Maybe we shouldn't change our physical images to align ourselves more closely to that of the world.

Physical health should be a prime objective. For example, being physically fit honors the Lord because it is an act of caring for the body that He has given you, which is a gift. Paul says in Romans 12:1, “…offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.” So clearly, keeping our bodies in good shape is something that pleases God.

However, if we make our outward appearance our primary goal for the purpose of looking good rather than being healthy, it seems that we are missing the point. For instance, the next verse in Romans 12 says, “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” This matter is between each of us and the Lord to decide which flaws are to remain and which ones are to be refurbished. Ultimately, we must come to terms with who we are in Christ and trust Him for our self-worth and value.

For those blemishes that are internal, we can seek terrific professional counsel, but even then, it is important to remember that God is our ultimate Counselor. Isaiah 9:6 foreshadows Christ’s coming and says, “…And he will be called Wonderful Counselor…”. We should turn to Him for encouragement and counsel.

Likewise, it is comforting to know that God will bring us to total completion once we are in heaven with HIM. Praise the Lord that he is not done with us yet, but that “…he who began a good work in (us) will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

Labels: encouragement, idiosyncrasies