Category: turbulence

Posted on

Finally back. . . .and we’ve got serious turbulence

There have been no posts for quite some time because I’ve been in the midst of moving from St. Louis to Louisville.  While it’s my 14th move, it is the 1st one in 40 years done completely alone.  I don’t recommend it.  But even in this, God has been & continues to be so very faithful.  

Moving is tough enough on it’s own, but throw in Covid-19 and I can tell you, it’s just awful.  What an odd time to be moving and trying to settle into a new house. 

As I’ve been isolating and spending way too much time on social media, I’ve noticed that fear is common.  In addition, it seems like believers are having spiritual amnesia.  I’m definitely not throwing stones, because  it’s happened to me too.  But I think I’ve come out of it, or at least am doing much better.  

Let me share a few thoughts on this.  I hope it encourages you. 

First of all – let’s look at what I think are 3 things  causing the spiritual amnesia.

1) sudden & continuing fear – the pandemic came on so fast & it continues to go on.   2) truth hidden by the enemy – our enemy will use every opportunity to throw us – he’s used the shock, the fear, the uncertainty to upset us & distract us from the truth of God’s word .  3) running to man’s thoughts/opinions instead of God’s – it’s tempting to run to social media & tv to get our truth and guidance when we should be seeking God.

So how do we combat these things and come back from our spiritual amnesia?

1) We combat fear by remembering who God is & what He says in His word.

God loves you with an everlasting love – Jeremiah 31:3

The Lord goes before you & will be with you – Deuteronomy 31:8

Hebrews 13:5 – The Lord will never leave you or forsake you.

Nothing separates you from God’s love – He holds you forever – Romans 8: 35-39

God is faithful!!!!  I Thessalonians 5:24, I Corinthians 1:9, Isaiah 49:7,  Revelation 19:11

2) Combat the enemy by feeding on God’s word – Truth!!  

a – Know who you are in Christ – Look at Ephesians 1:3 – 7 —- a really GREAT passage that shows us who we are…………………………………………We are BLESSED, CHOSEN, LOVED, ADOPTED, REDEEMED, FORGIVEN ! 

    Blessed – with every spiritual blessing – blessed in so many ways.            Chosen – you are not an accident! You are here for a reason! God has a plan – there is a purpose and meaning.  Loved – no matter what we do or don’t do, we are loved.  It’s not performance driven.  Adopted – because of the cross, we get to be grafted into God’s family.  Though I’m not Jewish, God made a way for me to be His – He paid the price for my adoption.  Redeemed – There was no way out for us.  We were completely condemned & owed a debt we couldn’t pay.  Jesus did that for us.  He paid so we could be free.  Forgiven – Nothing but perfection could forgive.  The perfect Son of God was the only One who could do it.  And that forgiveness is because of the blood shed on the cross.  Scriptures says – without blood there is no forgiveness – Hebrews 9:22.

Blessed – Chosen – Loved – Adopted – Redeemed – Forgiven

3) Get away from man’s thoughts…………turn to God’s thoughts.

     Isaiah 55:8 – “my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways, my ways”

Jeremiah 29: 11-13 – – – God has a plan.  Our part is to call upon Him – pray to Him – seek Him…………and we will find Him.                                                                                     James 1: 5-8  Wisdom – are we asking for man’s wisdom or seeking God’s?This passage in James says if we ask God for wisdom, he will give, and give generously.  But we must not ask skeptically.  Our intent can’t be to weigh God’s wisdom against man’s. We should not be seeking God to look for options.  We ask God – the source of wisdom.  

The big question might be – what are we doing with our time?  Are we running to social media?  Netflix?  Are we being swallowed by fear or others opinions?  Has our screen time skyrocketed? 

Take time to sit in His presence.  Be still & know that He is God.  Be still & know Him.  Be still for awhile and feel the peace instead of the turbulence, fear & uncertainty. 

Be still……………………………in His presence. 

 

 

Posted on

Flying Above The Turbulence

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.  They will soar high on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint.  Isaiah 40:31

 

I don’t want to do this anymore.

How did I get here?  Why is this happening to me?

We all ask these questions when life gets bumpy.  I’m asking them right now.  Life is beyond bumpy. It’s downright turbulent.

I used to think that if you questioned, you were weak in your faith.  But I don’t anymore.  It may be an indication that you are exactly where God wants you to be.  He knows the turbulence causes us to walk closer to Him, press in, listen more, and strengthen our trust muscle.

Looking up in the sky, we see beautiful blue skies with puffy clouds.  It looks serene, but I promise if you fly through the clouds or directly under or over them, you will bounce around.  As a pilot’s wife for nearly 40 years, I’ve experienced everything from a little bumpiness to continuous prayer turbulence. What you can’t see are the powerful updrafts and downdrafts.  You can’t see it, but you can feel it if you get close enough. Life is like that.  Everywhere you turn, there’s turbulence. 

So how in the world do we soar like an eagle above it all? 

We see practical help in today’s verse – a familiar one to most of us. “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.  They will soar high on wings like eagles.  They will run and not grow weary.  They will walk and not faint.”

 What should we do?  Trust in the Lord.  I need to do it too. Trusting is deep, strong and stabilizing.  When we trust, we can stand firm. It’s not because of us, it’s because of Him.  It’s because He alone is faithful.  Want to hear something comforting?  Nothing we experience surprises Him.  He knows the end from the beginning.  I love that!

How can we soar high?  Did you know eagles can reach an altitude of over 10,000 feet?  They continually soar up and glide down.  Sounds like life – constant ups and downs.  With eagles, the stronger the updraft, the higher they soar. We can do that too.

 

Most birds of prey look back over their shoulder before striking their prey.  But not eagles.  They stay singularly focused and undistracted. I want to be like an eagle. I want to trust undistracted, looking forward, not behind.

Surrender the circumstances and turbulence to Him.  It’s not easy in the midst of life’s bumpy ride, but He will strengthen us.   Our verse connects trust and new strength.  “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.” 

Can you use some new strength?  Want to soar like an eagle?  Me too!

No matter what it is, cry out to Him – trust Him.  He will give strength to fly above the turbulence.

Posted on

The Awesome Imposssibleness of God

Isaiah 43: 1-3

It’s mid-January in St. Louis.  The dead of winter.  Snow on the ground, 10-12 inches worth.

As I sit in my chair reading Isaiah 43 in the stillness of the morning, I can sense the Spirit speaking to my heart.  

You & I read our bibles looking for something to feed our heart, mind and especially our soul.  Some days it’s stronger than others.  Today is strong, focused, encouraging, bringing hope.

Do not fear is found many times in scripture.  I love that because I need to hear that lots.  You too?

Sp much has happened over the nearly 6 years since my husband’s cancer diagnosis.  I’ve clung to the words – do not fear – in countless situations.  And I still do.  

The description of intense turbulence speaks volumes.  Have you ever felt like you were passing through waters?  Crossing mighty rivers?  Walking through fire?  Can you feel the fear of drowning?  Of fighting the current & depth of a river?  Of enduring intense heat so afraid of being burnt to a crisp?

We all walk through circumstances or situations that make us feel this way.  It’s frightening.  We cry.  We tremble.  We stumble.  We sometimes fall. 

But God never leaves us.  The most comforting part to me in this scripture is the phrase – I will be with you.  Friend, neither of us is alone.  God walks us through the most intense turbulence – waters, rivers and fire, that seem impossible.

But God. . .another common phrase in scripture.  I use it here to show you the awesome impossibleness (new word) of God.

Impossible is where God starts.  I heard that from Christine Caine, a well known Christian speaker and founder of A21 and Propel.  Can you hear God speaking against the intense turbulence in your life?  In this passage He says – don’t fear the waters because I will be with you; don’t fear the rivers because they won’t overflow you; don’t fear the fire because you won’t even be scorched.  And why is this?  “For I am the Lord our God.”

I hope this makes your heart feel better.  It does mine.  God is going to be with me.  None of my turbulent circumstances or situations will do me in because I have the God of the universe, of all time and space, walking with me & in charge of every single moment of my life. Life sometimes feels impossible.       But God. . . . . . .

He has redeemed me! He has called me by name! He knows who I am! And He’s got this thing called life. . .and I trust Him.

Here in the dead of winter, at the beginning of a new year, I have hope and confidence for the future.  I know I’ll come to Isaiah 43 several times this year as the turbulence rises.  I need to remember God hasn’t forgotten me.  I need to remember I am His.  I need to remember the turbulence is no surprise to Him.  I need to remember there’s no reason to fear because He is the Lord, my God.

Maybe you need to remember too.  When you do, when your situation or circumstances become overwhelming, run to Isaiah 43.  Remember the awesome impossibleness of God.