simple.profound.

"In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength."
 ~ Isaiah 30:15

My face hurts from the sinus pressure. 

My shoulder is sore for an unknown reason. 

My body is tired from little sleep and lots of play. 

My spirit is spilling over with joy for reasons that are hard to articulate.

God is doing a profound and simple work in my heart and mind and life. 

My soul longs for intimacy with Jesus. 
In that longing I am filled. 

I crave the covering of His presence

and the rest I find there. 

My mouth falls silent as my heart and strength are renewed

in spite of all physical circumstances. 

And sometimes, the only response I have is to savor the silence and
allow my heart to beat my gratitude.  

Sweet Jesus, thank you. 

filled.

tiffany 

faithful in this moment

I am a dreamer. I am a goal setter. I am a planner. 

When you combine these three things, it can be a recipe for a contentment disaster. 

Because I am always looking ahead and aspiring for something, my heart is easily consumed with what I don't yet have or with the goal that I have yet to achieve. 

In Jeremiah 29, we read the prophet's letter to the exiles. 

These people had been taken from their homeland (Jerusalem) and led into exile in Babylon. 

Undoubtedly, their hearts were in anguish for home as their future hung in the balance. 

God starts Jeremiah's letter like this: 

"Build houses and live in them;

plant gardens and eat their produce.

Take wives and have sons and daughters;

take wives for your sons,

and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters;

multiply there, 

and do not decrease."

Jeremiah 29: 5,6

Surely and rightfully these people longed for home. 

Their dreams looked very different from the reality they were living. 

As they cried out to God, this was His puzzling and profound response. 

Make a home there. 

Work the ground and reap it's bounty. 

Grow in stature. Grow in relationships. Grow your family. 

Wait--what?!

They are in--what appears to be from the outside--an unfair and undeserved place. 

They are crying out for deliverance and this is the response?!

As I look at life and the journey that I have already  taken to arrive where I am, I see God working in much the same way in my own life. 

Although my heart has hurt and I have struggled to understand His ways and His methods in my life, He has always spoken this quiet truth to my heart: be faithful in this moment. 

Psalm 37 is a beautiful song of contentment and hope. 

'Trust in the Lord, and do good;

dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.

Delight yourself in the Lord,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord;

trust in Him, and He will act.' (vv3-5)

Dwell in the land. Befriend faithfulness. 

Delight yourself in the Lord. 

So often, our hearts quietly say: "If you give me the desires of my heart,  THEN I will delight in you" 

But God is calling us to something better. 

He says, 

"Sweet child--won't you love me for Who I am rather than for what I do? 

Won't you draw near to me in this land of exile and get to know my heart for you?"

Friend...

wherever God has you today, 

whatever land you are living in, 

I pray that you will befriend faithfulness. 

I pray that you will commit your way to the Lord, walk forward in obedience and leave the responses of others, the results and the circumstances before the King who knows all things and sees all things and holds all things. 

Don't stop dreaming...

Just remember that when we are faithful with little--in the everyday comings and goings of the life we live right now--we will be entrusted with much. Our desires will come to be because our desires will be summed up in the person of God. As we live in this exile land, we learn that the Person of God is our nearest companion. 

And that my friend, is the greatest gift of all. 

hope. 

tiffany

BEcause of Him alone

I have been invited to be the speaker for an entire of week of summer camp for glorious 7th and 8th grade kids next week. I am up to my elbows in study and preparation and I absolutely love the little nuggets of truth that rock my world and refocus my wandering heart. These little truths that I have read over a hundred times but reclaim my heart in a fresh, new way...something worth sharing. :) 

'For from Him

and through Him

and to Him

are all things. 

To Him be the glory forever. 

Amen.'

~Apostle Paul

Romans 11:36

Everything I have. Everything I am. Everything I hope to be. 

Everything is from Him. 

This simple yet profound truth frees me from the bondage of feverish toil and all the anxiety that comes with it. I am free to simply live well, love well and manage my gifts well. 

Everything I do. Everything I hope to do. 

Everything I can do and try to do I do through Christ. 

I have no strength...no will power...no desire...no breath...

apart from Him. 

This releases me from the joy-stealing weight of feeling as though everything is up to me. 

I am free to do my best, bless others and live well through the power of Christ at work within me and the resources that He has given me. Nothing more. Nothing less. 

Everything I have. Everything I am. Everything I hope to be. 

Everything I do. Everything I hope to do. 

Everything I can do and try to do...

Is all for His glory. 

Not because He is an arrogant God, but because He is good and faithful and is worthy of highest praise and adoration. 

He has given me life today. He has given me hope today. He has freed me from the bondage of sin and shame and anxious toil, and has given me in their place the freedom to live well, love well and serve well. 

My heart is bowed low before Him not because He demands it but because that is the only response to the vast love that He bestows upon this undeserving little girl of His. 

To Him be all glory and all praise and all honor and all adoration. 

Forever and ever. 

Amen. 

BEcause of Him alone. 

tiffany 

'I remember the days of old;

I meditate on all that you have done;

I ponder the work of your hands,

I stretch out my hands to you;

my soul thrists for you like a parched land.'

Psalm 143:5,6

Remember. 

Remeber who God has been to you. 

Remember the breath in your lungs...the light in your eyes...the life in your days. 

Meditate.

Slow down. Dare to approach the throne that beckons you. Find rest there. 

Allow the Truth of Who God is and Who God has been to wash over you and set you free. 

Ponder. 

Look around. Savor the song in the birds, the sway in the trees, the white in the clouds, the burning ball of gas that lingers just the right distance from the Blue Planet we call home. Any closer and we would burn. Any further and we would freeze. Perfect balance. Perfect distance. Perfect Creator. 

Thirst. 

Allow the goodness of God and break through the independant pride that deprives us of great blessing in the presence of our King. Stretch your hands before Him. Dare to reach for Him. Admit your thirst. Cry out for refreshment in the midst of the dry and parched land. Allow the River of Life to saturate your soul and change you from the inside out. 

'Bless the Lord, O my soul, all that is within me,

bless His holy name!

Bless the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits,

who forgives all your iniquity,

who heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit,

who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

who satisfies you with good 

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. '

Psalm 103:1-5

nothing but a jar

'But we have this treasure in jars of clay,

to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.'

2 Corinthians 4:7

Outreach.

Reach out. 

It is easy to preach and even easier to justify neglecting. 

Busyness. Motherhood. Marriage. Ministry. 

I am the first to explain why I am not 'reaching out' to my neighbors--why, I am busy running a household, a school and a ministry! 

Still...the still, small voice of the Spirit beckons me. 

You see, I am not an outgoing person. 

Those of you that know me are shaking your heads now I know, but I hate awkward conversations, personal introductions and all that comes with 'branching out'. It is much easier to make a few friends and stay close. Much easier. 

Over and over again the last few months this word has kept me awake at night. 

I have challenged our youth kids to reach out. 

Sunday I spoke to our congregation and challenged them to take church beyond our walls. 

Christ says, "Go therefore into all the world, making disciples, and teaching and baptizing in My name..." (Matthew 28) 

You see, I am willing to go as long as I agree to the terms.

I had a conversation with some women of our church back in February. I was young enough to be their granddaughter and I have a tremendous amount of respect for these women. We were talking about reaching out and welcoming others into the community and into our church when I mentioned baking pies and greeting newcomers. 

One woman responded, "I am willing to bake the pie, but I make my husband bring it over." 

"Why?" I asked in surprise. 

"Because it is awkward meeting someone and he is better at it than me." 

The conversation continued and it was decided that it was a 'cultural' thing--staunch, self-contained Norwegians and all. Best kept to themselves. 

Yeah, it's cultural not to reach out. 

But is it Biblical? 

Last night, while walking with my family a single mom passed by with her youngest daughter trailing close behind on a bike. There was no wave, no smile, no gesture of greeting exchanged. I have seen her dozens of times before and we know of each other from another social circle from years ago. I have never seen her smile. Never. 

Then it hit me--I need to reach out to her. 

I looked up at my husband and said it out loud, "DUH! There is my ministry!" 

As I walked with God this morning, the thought of this woman weighed heavy on my heart. She does not strike me as friendly or easy to approach. What in the world would I say? Just as I have judged her, I am sure she has pegged me as this stay-at-home-wife with a perfect life and a husband who has a good job.... Why in the world would she want to associate with me? How do I approach her? She has been losing weight and really working hard at it, so bringing her cookies doesn't seem to work. Do I just knock on her door and invite her to go for a walk? Now if that isn't awkward.....

Then my mind trailed to the other single woman living in a trailer house just two doors down and across from the first woman. I had just as many questions for God about where to begin with her as well. I mean, do you just knock on the door and invite them to church? Perhaps dinner at our house? Something in me says that would be a touch odd. 

Needless to say, I came up with no 'good ideas' and instead ended my prayer with, 

"OK God. I am willing to be obedient. That's all I've got. If you want this to happen, you have to do the rest." 

Tonight (twelve hours later) as I was walking my dog and taking the kids to the park, we passed by their houses and they were both sitting together in one front yard. I waved and shouted, "Hello neighbors!" and was thankful to hear a happy reply. I kept on my way. 

On my way home, they were still there, this time with no children. I thought about walking over and introducing myself, but thought that may seem a little intrusive (there are those excuses again...) so instead I just waved another hello. 

Much to my surprise they started chatting with me from across the yard and eventually invited me over. After nearly twenty minutes of pleasant conversation the non-smiling one smiled huge and said, "thanks so much for stopping by. It has been really great talking with you." The other happily agreed. 

To which I replied, "Me too. Oh and hey, I love to walk and run and it is so much better when you're not alone. Perhaps we could go for a walk together some time." 

"I would love that. Let's do that," she replied. Again, the other happily agreed. 

I walked away astounded by my doubtfulness and God's greatness. 

"Baby girl...all I ask is obedience and willingness. I will do the rest. 

I will create opportunities and give you the eyes to see them and the heart to seize them. You, my dear child, just need to obey and enjoy the blessing of obedience. It is I that opens doors. It is I that authors divine appointments. It is I at work in you and in those around you. Just be obedient."

I am nothing but a jar of clay. 

But because the Spirit lives within me, His all surpassing power dwells within me as well. 

What a treasure!

willing. 

tiffany

Lessons from the Letter: complete control

‘These are the words of the letter that Jeremiah the prophet sent from Jerusalem to the surviving elders of the exiles, and to the priests, the prophets, and all the people, whom Nebuchadnezzar had taken into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon...

“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel,

to all the exiles from whom I sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon:’

Jeremiah 29:1, 4

I love finding treasures such as this; little gold nuggets of truth, encouragement and insight tucked away beneath seemingly meaningless or un-inspirational dialog that without the Lord’s revelation, remain hidden and unseen and their blessing left behind. 

Re-read these simple words again and I pray that you will see what appears to be a contradiction. The Israelites have been taken into exile...or were they sent? Perhaps it means nothing, but I think it means everything. 

Verse one it would appear that Nebuchadnezzar receives the ‘credit’ for the exile of God’s chosen people. Verse four however says that God sent them into exile. So...which is it? were they taken or sent? 

One implies the plans of man are paramount, dictating and successful. 

The other states boldly that although it was not a desirable situation, there was a God in charge--a God who sent them.

But this still leaves a question unanswered: why would the Bible state both? How can they dwell together in the same situation and chapter?

Because God is in complete control.

It is clear that Nebuchadnezzar had a plan--a scheme--to capture the Hebrew nation and take them into exile for his own purposes. It is important that this be known because such is life on this sin plagued planet. Wicked, sinful, thoughtless, selfish, devious, hurtful plans of others, imposed on the deserving and undeserving. The curse of sin leaves no man unaffected. 

Perhaps it is unwanted disease or unmerited affliction. Perhaps it is sudden tragedy or undeserved agony. 

Bad things happening to good people. 

BUT...

this is not where the story ends. 

Verse four states that God sent them. God allowed it. God planned it. 

While it may appear that the wicked plans of man are successful, God is careful to point out that it is He alone that allows or prevents that schemes of man. 

He is in complete control. 

This often brings about another question, asked in only three letters and often heavy with hurt and anger, sadness and fear: 

WHY?!

This is a legitimate question, and although a response may be deserved, there are times that a response is not given, at least not immediately. 

But, deep in the muck and mire of the hurt and pain, lay a few abstract verses, easily passed over and the blessing of them easily left behind:

A scheme of man,

allowed by God...

because He is in complete control. 

As we read on, we will catch a glimpse of God’s heart and unwavering love for His people. 

For now dear friend, allow the simplicity and beauty of this truth to settle into the quietest and darkest part of your soul:

You don’t get it, you don’t see it, you don’t like it...

but, 

when all is said and done, 

it is God who wills and God who allows and God who is,

because He is and will always be, 

in complete control. 

It is in His complete control that we will uncover our greatest blessing, our greatest protection and a hope and a future. 

Read on Friend and you will see. Read on and find hope. 

<><tce

Lessons from the Letter: intro

I discovered written words on a page at a very young age. I have always loved to read and it didn't take long for that to develop into a love for writing as well.
I remember looking forward to my Keys for Kids devotion every morning (I still do them with my kids every morning!) and quizzically reading the Bible.
It intrigued me. It inspired me. It challenged me. I liked it.

For as many years as I have been reading God's Word, there are still a great many sections (and even books) that I have not read, or have hardly read. Most of them are the Old Testament prophets.

People are quick to spout out verses like John 3:16, Psalm 23 or Jeremiah 29:11. I am guilty, just like the rest of them but it has always made me wonder, "do they even know the context by which the author was writing?"

The other morning, during our Keys for Kids devo time, the passage was Jeremiah 29:11-13.
As I listened to my husband read the well worn words, I wondered what Jeremiah was thinking about as he penned this letter to the exiles. I wondered what God was trying to say in the passage as a whole.
That night, after the kids were in bed and the day's work put away for the evening, I started reading Jeremiah 29.

What a letter!
I am so eager to share with you what God shared with me.
I am probably late to the party (as my husband likes to say when I 'discover' a love for a movie two years after everyone else...) as everyone has probably read this incredible and puzzling passage of Scripture already.
But, I don't care.
I am sharing it anyway.

If you learn nothing from the next several posts, may you be encouraged to know that even after 25 years of reading God's Word, it can still breathe new life into the dust and bring forth wholeness and inspiration.
So won't you come with me to the well? Come, drink and come away refreshed.

Between now and the next post, I encourage you to read Jeremiah 29: 1-14.

happy reading!
tiffany