Sleepless in Seattle?

...I don't think so!  Day Five in Seattle, but sleepless...I ain't!  While this town has brought so much walking, excitement and joy to me, I am everything BUT sleepless.  Thankful to be here-loving everything about this fresh air, city of bustle and deep friendships, I am beyond blessed and excited about my soon-return to the Emerald City (informally known as Rain City).  As I walk about the streets of Pike, Pine, 4th and Lenora, I think of a handful movies over my quartery-century of watching attributing to my love and desire for Seattle--Say Anything, Singles, Love Happens (I love Jen & Aaron) and of course, Sleepless in Seattle.  (And no, I didn't include Grey's Anatomy for two reasons--1) Not a fan of the show; and 2) it's not a movie).  Though I am forever in-love with both, the Tom Hanks-Meg Ryan-duo and the movie, I come to the reality of one thing I know about myself--regardless of where I am, I out of 365 days in a year, I don't know that I have ever had ONE night of being sleepless.

So as I sip my cup-o-Joe, God speaks to Ms. Galley loud and clear as I did this morning's reading from Paul to Timothy (yes, I do realize I am speaking in different tenses). :-)  While there are many things He spoke to my heart, I gravitate towards this--Stir up the gift...Hold fast the pattern of sounds words...and Keep by the Holy Spirit (that good things which was committed to you by Him).  And of course, the known and memorized, "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a  sound mind." (v. 7)  As I ponder on this, I wonder if this is one of the reasons why maybe I don't fight sleep--the decision to not meditate on fearful things, or maybe it's just that I work myself to sleep.  While I would love to say it's the first, I am leaning on the latter.

I do, however, understand that we have a responsibility to be of a sound mind, knowing that we have been given authority over all of the power of the enemy.  And we should be!  His Word clearly tells us that it is love that has been perfected that casts out all fear.  He has given us everything we need, right?  And it was already paid for and covered on the cross!  Yet many struggle with fear and torment, allowing it to lead the way, stealing and robbing them of time, blessings and victories.

Team Jesus, we can do this!  The key?  Abide in His Word (John 8:31 - 36) and abide in The TRUE Vine (John 15:1 - 8).  This is the only way to victory in any and EVERY area of our lives!  Many of us spend too much not abiding in the True Vine, but abiding somewhere else--in a vine with no life, that only results in death and bearing no fruit.  Did He not say, "Abide in Me and I in you.  As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me..."?  He did say it, and if He said it, then who do we think we are and how in the world and WHY in the world would we think we could do "our lives" without Him?  We cannot.  If we try, we are cast out as a branch and wither--I know...I've been there, done that.  You know what?  It is true.

The good news is this--no matter where we are at, if we are withering, or beginning to branch away, or just remaining but not fully abiding, it's not too late!  We can get right back in, because of His grace, mercy and love and begin to ABIDE IN THE TRUE VINE.  Verse 7 says, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you.  By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples."

The time is now.  Let's get this party started!  Time is short and He is coming soon.  Are we not His ambassadors?  Stop walking around in that defeat and dealing with the same old monkey on your back.  It's time to throw him off, know it, get it, stir up that gift, get out there and do it!  Here is the thing--every one of us have been created with a special purpose--something we have already been called to do according to His appointing.  When we begin to walk in that, we need to continue to stir that gift up in us through His Word, through like-minded Believers, and through others who are of similar gifting or those who exhort us in what we have been called to do!

The good news is--we don't have to do it in and of our own strength.  We are to rely on His grace.  Paul admonishes Timothy in 2 Timothy 1 to "...be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."  There is a reason he encourages him to do so!  And for this reason, we, too, must get it that we cannot and will not be able to "do it all of ourselves", but ONLY through putting our dependence on Him--ABIDING in the TRUE VINE--His Word.  What a relief!

But what this means for us is we must be DOERS of the Word--and not just "hearers only".  This will require us to spend time in His Word, hear and listen to what He is saying so that we know what to do.  Once we do what He is asking us to do, WHERE He is asking us to do it, He will do, provide and fill in the rest! :-)

Whether in New York, Washington, Texas, Oklahoma, Madison or Cali--the U.S., Israel or Europe...you can sleep on this--if you are abiding in the TRUE Vine, your trust is in Him, He will see to it that you bear much fruit...and in that you can rest...so that at night when you lay your head to rest, you can sleep away!

With much love for you,

~Cyndi
Sleeping in Seattle

Higher Education Learning

“This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is good for you and leads you along the paths you should follow.” Isaiah 48:17 NLT  

I came across this scripture today while visiting a favorite website of mine.  Although it is only one verse, it comes with a lot of punch to it!  While I am a personal lover of higher ed, of which my school loans can verify...it is amazing to think that the God who created heaven, earth and all that is in it, wants to teach us and take us down the very path He knows is best for us.  The KJV says He "...teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go."  Ever feel like you go through life not knowing what to do, or how to go about doing it?  Ever feel like it's too late to learn things that can really help you succeed in life? Or have you ever felt like you keep making decisions that haven't quite panned out the way you'd hoped?  There is good news for you--we can have a confidence in a God who says He will instruct, train, goad or cause us to learn.  The Hebrew word used for 'teaches' is lamad, which can be traced to the goading of cattle.  What better way to be trained and taught by God, who not only has wisdom, but Who Is. 

At 43 years of age, I have both, bumbled through life, as well as have walked exactly where I was to be at the exact point in life where I should have been.  While all of us have a different journey, what we do have in common is that there is a path created specifically for each one of us.  If you have ever thought, "I wish I just knew what to do in this situation or what comes next...", you can.  Paul encourages us to "...imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises." (Heb. 6:12)  When I don't know what to do, I don't first go to my google, I don't first go to Dr. Phil, I don't even first go to my most trusted companions.  When I don't know what to do, as David, a man's after God's heart, I inquire of the Lord.  Have I perfected this area?  Certainly not.  But when I get my instruction from Him first, then I can move forward with a confidence that isn't easily shaken--even by those who may seem to know best.  This concept of Him being our teacher came up again in my Bible-journal-reading earlier this week in Isaiah, which read "This also comes from the Lord of hosts, who is wonderful in counsel and excellent in guidance (sound wisdom)."  (v. 29)

Feel like you could use some real help?  I know of One whose counsel excels in guidance, is pure and just what you need.  People have said to me "I just need to go to an astrologer, fortune-teller, or need to get my palm read!"  STOP.  Go to God...and get your Psalms read!  Hear it firsthand from the first and only TRUE Guide that says, "Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know." (Jeremiah 33:3)  It is time to stop looking to everyone and everything else and call out to Him.  But you feel awkward or weird, you say?  Or you don't feel worthy?  You are worthy.  Jesus did a work on the Cross for all of mankind.  His Word says, "For He made Him who knew no sin, to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Cor. 5:21) Not only does His work on the Cross make you righteous and worthy, but it gives us direct access to the Father.  The One who knows you better than you know yourself.  The One who loves you more than even the best love you can experience on earth.  This God--the One TRUE living God will not only answer you, but He wants to show you things to come, so that you can fulfill your destiny which He established for you before the foundations of the earth.  

Going to a counterfeit has never superseded the authentic.  Counterfeit wisdom will never lead you to a better place than the foreknowledge and teachings of my God.  Psalm 119 says, "Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction.  I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life."  (vv. 92, 93)  His teachings, His ways and understanding give us life and life abundantly!  I am here to tell you that we can know not only what to do, but our God is faithful in giving us the 411 on the where, when and how.  So stop your fretting!  And before spending another dollar on your "How To..." book...Go to the One who knows the very number of hair on your head...not only does He know, but it is His delight and joy to teach you the next best thing you need to know for your life.  Go on...I dare you.  

All my love,

Cyndi

In the Midnight Hour

Initially excited about wading back into ministry, I am now serving Him, living in a new town and wow--alone, fixed and feeling kinda stuck.  Since my last post I have changed jobs, careers and moved to a wilderness about an hour east of what I began to know as my life.  Funny that even though you know transition and change are just 'around the corner,' one is never quite as prepared for that change as you think.  It honestly didn't hit me until I was somewhat settled in my new life--maybe six months into it.  With time that never ceases, my new life quickly kicked in with new commitments, schedules and responsibilities, while old life's pages lingered with dust as old friends continued to mingle and live.   How is that my new life is distant from what was once home and has now become somehow foreign, even to me?

This is probably the best place I can be as I don't ever think I can remember being or feeling this way--even when relocating to entirely new state smack dab in the middle of our country.  Lonely as I may be, this is not only what life has served me as I sit, eat, all while hoping for a new shift to take place, this is also where He has called me.  Clinging to Him more than ever, I am praying and hoping that this feeling of despair and sadness will soon leave--it must.

So I stay.  The only way I forge forward is through prayer and praise.  In the Spirit.  Even in trust, walls are there.  Am thankful He sent mom out this way--His timing is all too perfect.  How does one go through life this way while not knowing Him?  A scary thought, indeed.  Though alone, I know that all the while, He is right here.