WHEN MY SOUL CRIES OUT

I've been assaulted recently by emotions. Emotions evoking sadness and helplessness. Feeling this way is when my soul cries out. I need to feel the Lord close to me. I need to feel secure. I long for peace and quiet lullabies for my weary soul.

When my soul cries out, I ask for comfort and the Comforter comes.
When my soul cries out, I cry out Abba Father and He assures me He has been there all along.
When my soul cries out, I want to thrash, kick and scream and He whispers gently in my ear.
When my soul cries out, I need vengeance or justice, then He reminds me of His grace.
When my soul cries out, I have tears rolling down my face at the madness this world can bring and He tells me, He has a plan.
When my soul cries out, I rant about how much more do I have to endure, as He reminds me of His strength.
When my soul cries out, I tell Him all my woes and He listens.
When my soul cries out, I realize He is my God and I will trust Him.
When my soul cries out, I am but a woman and He shows me His loveliness.
When my soul cries out, I release my anger, my bitterness, my loneliness and He unveils His goodness.
When my soul cries out, the Lord brings me peace, a peace I cannot understand.
When my soul cries out, the Lord wraps me in love, a love beyond all measure.
When my soul cries out, my Lord unfolds joys before me.
When my soul cries out, my Lord showers me with mercy and grace.

I realize when my soul cries out, I am speechless and amazed at His beauty and favor He has for me. He is a devoted God. He is tireless Lord. He is a loving Savior. When my soul cries out, He is always here for me. He quenches my thirst with tranquility and harmony. The Lord dries my tears with His kindness. I can face anything, as He lifts me out of the mire and restores my spirit.

Matthew 11:28–30

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

The Bah Humbug of All Humbugs!

I am the Bah Humbugs of all Humbugs!
I mean I like Christmas. I just don’t enjoy the Christmas season. All hustle and bustle bothers me. I dread the “Countdown to Christmas”. I hate the “Save more at 5 AM” sales. I hate shopping anytime much less at 5 AM.

It seems that Christmas Season is the time for gluttons to shine. I hate how credit card companies try to get you deeper in debt. I hate how TV ads try to get you to buy want you don’t need. But most of all, I hate how the always “cheerful-ready-for Christmas people” have their wonderfully wrapped gifts under the tree and have Christmas cookies rolling out by the dozen. You know the folks who have their homes decorated by Thanksgiving. They have the Holiday Cheer and eggnog ready to pour. These happy folks always full of merriment. You know them, there the ones singing Christmas carols in the office or humming tunes in line at the grocery store. Bah Humbug!

It’s easy to forget why we celebrate Christmas. Being a humbug I have to really think about it. Being Santa’s helper is not the reason, having the biggest most decorated tree is not the motivation, getting the most lights and the best lawn décor is not the cause. What is the explanation of this holiday, we call Christmas? Are we so steeped in family traditions that we forget? Are we afraid our children’s memories will be the worst, requiring post Christmas counseling and therapy? Can we really remember why Christmas is Christmas? All the advertising dollars spent getting people to want what they don’t have and the stores promoting their sale-a-ramas. Where does it end? Bah Humbug!

Where is the Christmas spirit, when you are those long lines at the store? Where is the kindness when the 50% off sign is calling you to grab those “must have items”? Where is the joy when you have to park miles away to get to the overcrowded mall?Bah Humbug! Where does the madness end?

It ends at a manger.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Luke 2:8-12

Simply A Baby
A baby, not a warrior, not a political figure, not a celebrity
A baby, defenseless to the outside world, helpless and holy, God and human, Emmanuel, God is with us. Jesus, a newborn lying in a feeding trough
A baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, Jesus sacrificing a crown and the glory of heaven, so we could have a different life.
A baby, like no other, the Savior of the world, Christ the Lord
A baby, God’s greatest gift to mankind
A baby with the wonderment and restrictions of the earth
A baby living as humans do
A baby whose death would cause the earth to shake and a curtain to rip
A baby whose resurrection would defeat death

It was birth like no other; His life would end in a death of obedience and sacrifice to pay the debt of sin and separation. From a manger to the cross, a baby to a man, God’s joy and sorrow, Jesus has come to be our redeemer. Christmas is about His beginning, a reminder of how much God loves us. Yes, the madness ends at a simple manger, and it makes look at Christmas in a new light. The wonderment and amazing simplicity of the manger silences my bah humbugs.

Who you have in the boat

I have a very close friend and he going through a struggle. He found out he might lose his job. He is a great, happy go lucky guy and a strong Christian. He knows the Lord will take care of him. He's just concerned about his family. He's anxious of course, who wouldn't be. He's fearful of the future unknown.

As I was falling asleep last night I was suddenly transported to a dream state. I was assaulted by a strong image. In my dream, I was thinking about my dear friend and how he is feeling a little anxious about this life situation. I was praying for him and all who are in the same boat. Then an image appeared to me, it was of someone in a boat. Not a ship, or destroyer...just a regular wooden boat. The boat was big enough for a couple of people. The boat was a little worn, but still held together fairly well. The boat gently rode the crest of the ocean. It seemed to me it was haplessly lolling along. The boat was not new and I could see enough to notice it needed a new paint job for certain.

What I saw next was my friend in the boat. He was just sitting in the boat minding his own business. I then saw in the distance a storm was gathering. I could see the clouds darkening. I was frightened. I was not in the water, but somewhere high above. I couldn't warn my friend of the danger and the storm looked ominous. I could see rain begin to fall. The rain then picked up and began to pour down in sheets. The water from the sky was violently meeting the water from the sea. I saw the boat teeter. I saw it sway.

The waves were running up against the boat and the boat was moving at the storms whim. My friend stood up and faced the wind, his shirt bellowed up and behind him. The winds were relentless and the waves crashed upon the side of the boat. The boat was rocking like an empty cradle pushed too hard. I was amazed and frightened for my friend. I saw him try to steady himself by grabbing the side of the boat. I thought he can't hold on forever!

My friend knelt down and he shook something beside him. Another man rose from the bottom of the boat. He stood and spoke gentleness into my friends ear. I hadn't noticed the huddled lump at the bottom of the boat before. My friend stood beside the man and watched. The man then rose his hands into the air and the storm quieted. The boat was still and now just gently swaying in the water.

The sky became friendly again. The wind and rain just stopped, not subsided but stopped. I was astonished and in awe. My friend knelt once more and with his head bowed began to sob, I saw him wipe tears away from his eyes. The man now lay his hands on my friend's shoulder. After a few moments, my friend rose and embraced the man.

I could only watch, but I felt a knot in my stomach. My mouth went dry and I stood in amazement. I could watch from a safe distance, but I know what the storm feels like. It's scary. It's lonely. It can seem overwhelming. This was not my storm. I could only see the man from a distance and how the man saved my friend from the storm. As I watched, my heart was overjoyed and I fell to my knees in thankfulness.

When I awoke out of the slumber and remembered the dream, the message was clear...
The storms don't matter.
The waves can't engulf you.
The wind can't knock you down.
The water won't drown you.
If....if you have Jesus in your boat.

When life happens and trouble comes it matters who you have in the boat!

Mark 4: 39...He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.