Friday, July 30, 2010

The Tight-Clenched Fist


“Pressure kills everything it touches.” – John Eldredge

PUSH THROUGH!

That’s my instinct…Go til I drop. Do it all.

Don’t say “No!”

Or

“I quit!”

or heaven forbid

“I can’t!”

I surrender. Please, help me. These are not part of my standard vocabulary. They should be…but they aren’t.

I guess I thought if my cup running over was a good thing, my plate running over would be even better!

I am doing some of the most rewarding work in my life, but it is also some of the most exhausting. I have had to be super disciplined with my schedule, specifically creating time to write. The problem with that? “Pressure kills everything it touches.”- especially creativity.

I am back to stealing moments of quiet, quick breaths above water before being buried by the next wave. I am drowning in a sea of my own created chaos, trying to impose some sense of order with an iron fist, and I realized that “pressure kills.”

So here I am, Lord, opening the tight-clenched fist. Softening to you, again. Letting go of the control, I surrender, Lord. Guide me with your peace, Lord. Let your words flow through me again…and help me to create the time and space to share them. I invite you into this controlling place of my heart and ask you to heal me here. Show me the why and the how of it. Show me, guide me, help me restore order to our lives. Dear Father,everything I have is yours. I give it all to you.

What about you? What is it that you control with an iron fist? What is God asking you to surrender?

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Guest Post- When You Don't Know the Next Step

Holley Gerth is one of my new favorite authors...who am I kidding? She's one of my new favorite people. This post is from her blog, Heart to Heart with Holley, and it spoke to me volumes about where I am in my walk right now. I am honored to share it with you!



When you don't know the next step...

Shoe photo by Shlala (flickr creative commons)I see you peering down the path.
Wondering, can I do this?
Am I enough?
Yes to both.
And then asking, Do I take this step?
I've asked this question too...staring at the ceiling in the night, over coffee with friends, driving in my car.
Then I think of this verse, this bit of wisdom from Proverbs 19:21--
You can make many plans, but the Lord's purpose will prevail.
If we've prayed, asked wise counsel, then we can go with confidence. Even if our first step is imperfect, perhaps not even in quite the right direction, God will align us with His purpose by the end.
But here's the thing.
You can't redirect someone who is standing still.
Yes, there are seasons for staying.
This is about the seasons of going, setting out, those times when your heart is restless and your feet are ready.
If that's you then go without fear.
God is with you, for you, behind you, and ahead of you.
And even if you lose your way for a bit. Even if you grow weary. Even if you don't know which direction to go at times. His purposes will prevail.
Take that step, woman of courage.
And know that love goes with you all the way.