The Hills

I live in a valley, that is surrounded on all sides by mountains. So I have a visual reminder every day that those mountains are big, but My God is bigger, because He made the mountains.

San Fernando Valley as seen from Topanga Lookout

I needed this today:

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord watches over you—
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.



Where does your help come from?

Iron Sharpens Iron

You've heard it said that iron sharpens iron, but do you know what it means?

First of all, iron does sharpen iron. I remember being in the kitchen (alot of my inspiration occurs in the kitchen at the sink!) and needing a sharp knife to cut a piece of meat. Over time the blade had gotten dull. I remembered this verse and took another knife and rubbed the two blades together.  Voila - the knife went through the meat very smoothly, saving me time and aggravation.

This phrase is often used when it comes to people and relationships - implying that sharp minds will sharpen other minds around them. In order for the sharpening to take place there has to be relationship. In our relationships we may become dull, or just take things or each other for granted. This is where the sharpening becomes necessary.

The rubbing, the friction or the sharpening can be pleasant or unpleasant. The friction appears pleasant when you are brainstorming ideas, and having great discussion. It appears unpleasant when it seems like a personal affront. This range of friction can occur in the same relationships (i.e. with siblings or spouses).  A friend may be the means of exciting another to reflect, dive deeply into, and illustrate a subject. A friend may also be the vehicle by which you are confronted about a personal flaw. What determines the sharpening is how you receive the information. If you use it to become sharper, you are better for it. You will have to exhibit grace, discipline and wisdom as you go through the sharpening.

In relationships the rubbing together, the friction, can be unpleasant, but it doesn't have to be. If there's mutual respect, even though a person may be saying the hard things, your response is up to you. Hopefully you are able to look past what is being said and recognize the why of what is being said.

Our characters aren't molded or changed by themselves. Iron sharpens iron.

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17
Are you being sharpened?  Are you receptive? Do you sharpen others?

Little Forgivenesses

I woke up to a messy kitchen - again.  I didn't mind the mess as much as the fact that food was left uncovered. In this moment I had a choice - forgive and move on, or become angry and critical about it.

source

This time I chose the former - to forgive and move on and as I did this I recognized that within relationships on a regular basis we do things that require forgiveness - often. We say something that seems trivial, we ignore, we forget what was said earlier - somehow we irritate each other. We're not always kind to each other as we should be.

And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32

Kindness and forgiveness go hand in hand. People will offend, choose to forgive. Don't hold it in until you reach the point of warped thoughts such as, I can forgive, but I won't forget - what's the point? And have you really forgiven?

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. Colossians 3:13

Start small; forgive incrementally.

Do you forgive often?

The Year of MORE - Recap

Last year I chose MORE as my one word for the year.

When I chose this word, I had spiritual intentions. I sincerely wanted MORE of God and I thought it would manifest itself in tangible blessings in my life that I could quantify - i.e. more things, nicer job, more blog followers, etc

Instead what happened was God chose to use many circumstances not of my choosing to draw me closer to Him, and so I reaped intangible blessings, the biggest being I learned to trust and rely on God MORE. MORE became synonymous for TRUST.

I thank God for all of it, for I've learned that in trusting it is easier to experience peace in spite of what we are going through. I've learned that God uses relationships - particularly marriage and parenting to mold you in to his character. I've learned that when things seem hopeless, with God we can always hope.

This year, I want to remain OPEN to whatever God will do in my life. I know that He doesn't think like me, so when things come along, I will attempt to view from a heavenly perspective and walk with him through it hand in hand.

I have no words for the new year, just an attitude - OPEN.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20 - 21
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,”declares the Lord.“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. Isaiah 55:8-9

What are your thoughts as you head in to the new year?