Being Lead from the Place of Triumph…

When my kids are in seasons of wonderings and change, as a Mom, it’s easy to go into the whole ‘I gotta figure it out’ mode.  In that place, there’s really no peace, little clarity, and rarely any resolve.  It’s the whole ‘Rescuer/Wonder-Woman/Mom’ role that doesn’t want my kids to be in angst any longer than they need to be.  In that frenetic ‘rescuing’ place, the door opens wide to shame, the voice of accusation, and a spirit of turmoil.

Thankfully, when the ones I love are in seasons of change and upheaval, it also means an invitation for me to go deeper into the knowledge of God and experience His presence in a new place in my life, too.  I woke up this morning desperate to hear from the Lord for one of my children.  Of course, when I truly come expectant to hear from my Papa, He is so good to speak to me.  He shows me the beauty of standing with Him, He speaks truth to me, and reminds me that His ways are BRILLIANT, far greater than I could ever imagine. 

This morning I’m reminded that God always leads us from the place of triumph.  No circumstance will rob me of His plan, His purposes.  In Christ, I never start with a deficit.  I can do all things through Christ who empowers me.  God LOVES problems!  Because we’re in CHRIST, He banishes low self-esteem, shame, discouragement, turmoil.  And because I am in Christ, problems can actually REFRESH me, drawing me into His presence, encountering me with His word.

My cry this year has been that I wouldn’t just become ‘book smart’, knowing Chapter and verse, but that my spirit would fully connect with the Holy Spirit’s move in my life.  That the Word would cause CHANGE, that I would walk in refreshment even when life is difficult.  I want to know who I am in Christ, I want to know what it means to be ‘seated with Him in the heavenly realms’.  I want to pray for those things around me not as a beggar, but as a beloved of God.  I trust in someone a MILLION times greater than me. 

…and in that place, as I rest in being ‘me-in-Him’ and ‘Him-in-me’, the voices of shame disappear, the accuser is silenced, the turmoil is traded in for peace.  THIS is the kingdom we belong to.  Ahhh, there is refreshment of the Lord in ALL circumstances.  We are truly ‘in Christ’, so that means every issue we face is in Christ, too. 

Here's a quick walk through the Bible, as seen by some elementary students in a Catholic school.

The first book of the bible is called guinessis. God created the world. When he got tired, he took the sabboth day off.

God created Adam and Eve from an apple tree.

Samson killed hundreds of Philistines with the axe of the Apostles.

Samson was a really strong man who let himself be lead astray by a Jezebel called Delilah.

Noah built an ark. The animals came to it in pears.

Noah's wife's name was Joan of Ark.

Lot's wife was a pillar of salt during the daytime and a ball of fire when it got dark.

Moses lead the people to the Red Sea. There they made unleavened bread. That's bread without any ingredients.

All the Egyptians got drowned in the desert. After that, Moses climbed Mount Cyanide and got the Ten Commandments.

The first commandment - Eve told Adam to eat the apple.

The seventh commandment - Thou shalt not admit adultery.

Moses died before reaching Canada.

Joshua lead the Hebrews into the battle of geritol.

The greatest miracle recorded in the bible - Joshua told his son to stand still and he obeyed him.

David had a son named Solomon. Solomon had 300 wives and 700 porcupines.

David was a Jewish king who was good at playing the liar. He fought the Finkelsteins.

When Mary heard that she would be the mother of Jesus, she sang the magna carta.

The three wise guys from the east found Jesus in a manger.

St. John the Blacksmith poured water on Jesus' head.

Man does not live by sweat along.

The Golden Rule says that you should do unto others before they do one to you.

The men who followed Jesus were called the 12 decibels.

The Epistles were the wives of the Apostles.

Matthew was one of the opossums. He was also a taxi man.

Holy acrimony is another name for marriage.

Christians can have only one spouse. It is called monotony.

Little Carol came into the kitchen where her mother was making dinner. Her birthday was coming up and she thought this was a good time to tell her mother what she wanted. "Mom, I want a bike for my birthday." 

Now, Little Carol was a bit of a troublemaker. She had gotten into trouble at school and at home. Carol's mother asked her if she thought she deserved to get a bike for her birthday. Little Carol, of course, thought she did. Carol's mother, being a Christian woman, wanted her to reflect on her behavior over the last year, and write a letter to God and tell him why she deserved a bike for her birthday. Little Carol stomped up the steps to her room and sat down to write God a letter.

LETTER 1:

Dear God: 

I have been a very good girl this year and I would like a bike for my birthday. I want a red one. 

Your friend,

Carol

Carol knew this wasn't true.  She had not been a very good girl this year, so she tore up the letter and started over.

LETTER 2:

Dear God: 

This is your friend Carol. I have been a pretty good girl this year, and I would like a red bike for my birthday

Thank you,

Carol

Carol knew this wasn't true either. She tore up the letter and started again. 

LETTER 3:

Dear God:

I know I haven't been a good girl this year. I am very sorry. I will be a good girl if you just send me a red bike for my birthday. 

Thank you,

Carol

Carol knew, even if it was true, this letter was not going to get her a bike. By now, she was very upset.  She went downstairs and told her mother she wanted to go to church. Carol's mother thought her plan had worked because Carol looked very sad.  "Just be home in time for dinner," her mother said.  Carol walked down the street to the church and up to the altar. She looked around to see if anyone was there. She picked up a statue of the Virgin Mary, slipped it under her jacket and ran out of the church, down the street, into her house, and up to her room. She shut the door and sat down and wrote her letter to God

LETTER 4: 

I GOT YOUR MAMA. IF YOU WANT TO SEE HER AGAIN, SEND THE BIKE.

Signed,

YOU KNOW WHO