Salty Sister Speaking : Roots

Salty Sister Speaking : Roots: We bought a house in late December of last year and we are just now getting around to working on the landscaping. Last weekend it was my go...

Roots

We bought a house in late December of last year and we are just now getting around to working on the landscaping. Last weekend it was my goal to remove two overgrown, unsightly, out of place shrubs. My son used a chain saw to cut them down and I took on the adventure of removing the roots and I had not idea what I had taken on.

I began with three tools, a shovel, an ax and a mattock.  I first began with the shovel, digging around the root to loosen the dirt and as I moved around the shrub I thought, “This must be how Satan begins to work on us, a little at a time digging all around our rooted faith.” The more I dug the more I thought how rooted this old out of place shrub had grounded itself. I worked and worked and worked and with each dig and swing I became more determined to get this root out of the ground to make room for my new landscape design. I was offered help multiple times but I wanted, for some reason, to conquer this stubborn root.

After about an hour I finally thoughs I had broken loose every root I reached down to pull it out with no luck. I got on my knees and used my hand to push back the loosened dirt only to find a hidden root. This root was unlike the others and quite larger than I expected. Its growth pattern was unlike the rest as it went directly under the shrub and curved under in such a way the every tool I had couldn't touch it. Of course, I wase more determined than ever to remove this root.

As I was pulling, chopping, digging I could feel the hint of a little burning on the palm of my hand and I knew a blister was forming but I wasn't giving up. As I continued God spoke to my spirit and provided me with a sweet message that spoke deep into my heart. You see when I first began trying to remove this root I was thinking, “God, I hope my faith is this strong and this immovable.” But strong faith wasn't the lesson He was teaching me.  Here is what he revealed to me.

This root, that come from and overgrown, unsightly and out of place shrub represents the many strong holds that we have in our lives and hearts. Strong holds that we think may be meaningless, so we haven’t taken the time to rid them from the depths of our hearts. That last root, the one that was the strongest and the hardest one to reach showed me that sometimes these strong holds are much more deeply rooted than we realize and ridding them from our heart will take a lot more effort than just saying, “Ok, I am giving this up or I am not going to do that anymore.” No, it takes time and energy and determination and most importantly a desire.

Finally, I removed the root and wow, was it ever gratifying.  With the unsightly stubborn root in my hand I looked down to see a large empty hole that replaced the unsightly out of place shrub. So, here is the second part of God’s little lesson. When we remove such unsightly, out of place strong holds that are so deeply rooted in our heart it will open up more space for God to move into.

While removing the root was very gratifying what was not so gratifying was the blister in the very center of the palm of my right hand.  We sure do take things for granted until we can’t use them. This blister, a week later still requires a bandage and my hand still feels the effects of my hard work in removing that unwanted root.  All weeklong I have had just about everyone I have encountered ask me, “What did you do to your hand?” and when I begin to tell them the story of the unsightly, unwanted root, I was amazed at how many people said, “Why didn't you just cover it up with something else?” I would simply, reply, “Because it was right in the specific place that I wanted to plant something else.” While I must admit covering it up with mulch or rock would have been much easier, just like covering up sin or strongholds in our hearts, I wouldn't be able to plant what I wanted where I wanted.

The last lesson I learned and am reminded of every time I try to use my right hand is that, just like I earned that blister from my hard work I will encounter some spiritual bumps and bruises and even some blisters that may remain tender for a while but oh how sweet it will be when God can now occupy more space inside my heart.

Psalm 139:23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:

Have you asked God, lately to search your heart and show you what is taking up space that He wants to claim?

What Is It?

What is It?

Once again on an early morning walk I stopped for a moment to take in not just the scenery but also the sounds of the new day beginning. Among all that I heard it was the falling of the dew that got my attention. I closed my eyes and could hear each droplet falling from the tree leaves that arched over me. I then started to look around me and realized that dew was present on just about everything I could see. I have seen dew in the mornings my whole life but for some reason today had more meaning to me. I started to ask myself the question, “What is dew and what is its purpose?” After some scientific research and some Biblical research it appears that I wasn't the only one wondering what dew is.

Exodus 16:12-15

12 That evening vast numbers of quail flew in and covered the camp. And the next morning the area around the camp was wet with dew. 14 When the dew evaporated, a flaky substance as fine as frost blanketed the ground. 15 The Israelites were puzzled when they saw it. “What is it?” they asked each other. They had no idea what it was.

And Moses told them, “It is the food the Lord has given you to eat.

God and His provisions never cease to amaze me, while we are in our slumber of restless nights fighting off the demons of tomorrow that we hope will disappear when we wake up, He is preparing the new day for us, His new day. The word manna is really translated from the Hebrew text as, What is it? What is it, I’ll tell you what it is it is His provision for your day.

The struggle is real but so is the dew. Maybe you are at a dew point in your life. Maybe you need a touch of His cool misty dew to fall upon you.  When you are at that point where your belly is growling for peace and answers, don't ignore the dew, it’s falling for a reason. Step outside and stop looking at what the world is presenting to you but look at the sweet fresh dew that surrounds the very ground that you are standing on. That’s Him! Slow down, for one moment look around you at what He has been doing while you are sleeping He has been preparing a new day for you.  I told my husband early on in our marriage that it is the little things that matter, like the sweet notes left by the coffee pot, a daisy picked from the ground or brining me home just one can of my, at the time favorite drink “Brisk Tea.” One day he stopped for a moment and did a small thing. He drove this really large work truck that was difficult to maneuver in and out of small places, let me tell you I would take out the town of Paintsville if I had to drive something like that. Anyway, he walks in the house one evening with a smile on his face holding on can of cold Brisk tea. Cold because he stopped at the little store with little parking just to pick it up for me. I almost didn't want to drink it because it was so special, not the tea, but what he did, the extra step he took just to do a little thing.

We are way to busy and way to consumed with the world and its plight to take us down and out sometimes to stop and enjoy or behold the “little things” that God so purposely does for us even while we are sleeping and even though we don't bother to notice.

When you leave you house in the morning look for the dew but this time don't pass it by take your hand and touch it. Let the cool wet misty feeling of His daily manna touch your life. He has this! He always has, He is God. He is a God fierce enough to control raging seas and a God sweet enough to lay a blanket of dew out for us each morning. Enjoy his manna for your life today.

Lamentations 3:22-23New King James Version (NKJV)

22 

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,

Because His compassions fail not.

23 

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

Changing Seasons

After I study I like to talk an early morning walk to digest what God has given me, however on this particular morning I had a different agenda and that was to give God advise on how to change my current season in life. I had it all figured out in my head. With each step that I took the plan that I had contemplated seemed more and more logical, but wait my experience tells me that God is not the God of logic or of conventional ways.

I decided to sit down on the ground for a minute and when I did I couldn't help but look up and when I did there it was. The road I was sitting on (it's a private road by the way) was beautifully shaded by the most tall strong trees. Their branches almost touched each other as the stretched across the road. That's when I saw it, one little branch had about 8 to 10 beautiful golden leaves on it, while the rest of the leaves were hearty summer green. Hmm, I said to myself that's pretty neat. The whole tree is living in summer but one little branch as begun to live in the fall season.

Well that did it, God showed up and used that very little branch to redirect my journey of thoughts and the previous advice that I had just given Him about the season of my life. We are all in a season and just maybe it's not our favorite season. I read lots of posts where people say, I can't wait for Fall, sweatshirts, fire pit nights, fuzzy socks and apple cider an while I too enjoy fall I have been hanging on to everyday of summer that I can because I know after beautiful fall comes a cold, possibly white winter.

So here I sit on this road looking at that one little branch and admiring it's foretaste of what's to come. That little branch gave me hope and a simple little message form HIM.

1. In my life I am encountering things that I don't like, things I devised a plan for God to take care of. In one instance I just recently waited for the last day of the last minute before moving forward just thinking, Ahh God is gonna show up and I won't have to do this, but HE didn't, which is why this little walk did me a world of good.

2. God, show up right now and do this because I can't take it anymore. Yeah, that statement isn't God's speed and that little branch showed me that I am trying to move from one season of my life to the other too quickly. You see, when we think we have it all figured out we are ready to jump to the next season but God has greater plans. He wants us to embrace every season He allows us to enter into because great lessons await us. It's just like saying to God, "God, I am tired of summer so change it to fall right now."

3. God has already stood where ever our season is leading us. Although, I have said, "But, I am so tired of this season." He reminded my with one little branch that He has a great magnificent  plan involved and it requires a specific time for all the leaves to turn and for fall to show or my new season of life.

4. As always He melts my heart with His loving responses and reminds me that I may not like the season in which I am in but it is necessary and also if I did not enter into these seasons how would I ever become to understand the great and mighty God He is. I'll admit I don't like going through unfavorable seasons but always when I look back at the undesirable seasons of my life it is when He was the most evident in my life and I love taking notes on just what He did and how He did it. It's these seasons, studying His word daily and His personal encounters that have allowed me at many times to help others going through a season I have already passed through.

5. The tough lesson is this as I am reminded of Joseph and his life and his many Pit filled seasons. It is with his amazing attitude during those times in his life that brought him out of the pit into the palace.

What ever season that you are in, embrace it, cling to His word, allow Him to use this season for His glory and most importantly change your attitude to one that exposes the God of your heart so that others may grow from your strength while you are traveling through your tough season. When you get a little weary look for a small but beautiful sign that the season your in is getting ready to change.

Habakkuk 2:1-3King James Version (KJV)

2 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.

2 And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.

3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

Everybody Is OK

“Everybody is OK,” is usually one of those statements when something bad has happened but people think it breaks the ice to share that bit of information with you before they tell you what really happened.

It was a joyous cold, (by the way I used to love cold weather when I was younger.) Sunday morning and my youngest son Cole was being baptized. My family and friends came to share in this wonderful occasion. There is nothing more precious than when your child, even at a young age, comes to you and says, “Mommy, Jesus came into my heart.”

I 'll never forget that morning when he shared the news with me.  We were running late, as usual, and I was a hateful mess. Cole was sitting in the back seat and he began to ask me several questions, I replied with short snappy remarks, shame on me. Then he asked one question. It was that one thing he said that one thing that caused tears to run down my face and caused me to hit the breaks. He said, Mommy, Jesus came into my heart last night!”  Suddenly being late didn’t matter actually nothing mattered. It was that very moment that I realized nothing was as more valuable to me than to know that my son accepted God as his personal Savior. Tears streamed down my face first of joy and then of disgust, disgust to know that I was letting LIFE steal my everyday joy over things that really didn’t matter.

Having  3 boys and dragging them to church 3 times a week was never an easy feat but we did it and obviously, it had paid off. Meanwhile back to the beautiful, cold, sunny, Sunday morning. The baptism was over and people were making their way around to hug Cole and congratulate him and us. I was caught up in the moment when I felt a tap on the shoulder from my husband’s Aunt Mary. She said these words to me and I can almost see her mouth moving in slow motion as she said, “Everybody is ok, but Trent just drove your car into the church.” I felt this heaving in my stomach and I know that I lost all color in my face as I turned to my husband and said, “I can’t go out there, please go check it out. “ My knees were so wobbly and couldn't support my "way too high high-heels." I needed to brace myself on a pew for a moment while I gained the courage to walk outside.  Trent was only 11ish and what in the world was he doing driving my car?

Finally getting my nerve up to go outside there stood Trent, in his white button-down, with the look of fear on his face.  His lips were a faint pink and his skin, well let's say it made his white shirt look dingy he was so white. Everyone had gathered around and I heard things such as, “Wow, did you see that the car just darted like a jet.” “Oh my goodness what happened?” all the while Trent getting paler. I quickly made my way to Trent to see if he was ok and to ask what happened. He said, “I was just trying to warm the car up for Cole,” bless his heart he was being so thoughtful and kind, which made me hurt even more for him.  At that time we drove a WV Beetle, stick shift, which I left in gear, so when he took his foot off of the clutch the car shot like a rocket into the brick church post. One bystander said all he could see was Trent’s eyes big as saucers with both hands gripping the steering wheel, mouth wide open hanging on for dear life. (I can now chuckle about this). Of course, I was devastated, sick to my stomach, thankful that no one was hurt, and embarrassed for Trent. I will never forget that ride home. As we drove down the road, headlight hanging out, tears streaming down my face because as usual I was warring off other battles at that time in my life and this was just the icing on the cake. I remember looking back to Trent and telling him that I loved him and his reply,  with arms crossed, was, “I just want the police to come and get me.” He was devastated.

It is when we feel the greatest despair the very agony of defeat or humiliation that we want to retreat so that we cannot be seen, but where do you hide in such a small town or the backseat of a WV Beetle?

When we arrived home, Trent barricaded himself in his room refusing to come out. Then there was a knock at the door.  When I opened the door I was greeted with two of the sweetest smiling faces, Br. Harry and Sister Linda Frisby, my pastor and his wife. With open hearts and arms exploding with the love they sat on our couch and wanted to let Trent know that “EVERYTHING WAS OK”  Trent felt like being carted off by the police and they stopped everything and took time out immediately, not days later, but right after the very incident to extend love and acceptance.

Often times when people are faced with shame, humiliation, embarrassment or brokenness when is it that we offer or extend warm hearts and arms exploding with love to those in what they feel is their darkest moment? Is it at that very moment or days later or maybe never? 

Ephesians 4:2New International Version (NIV)

2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.

Ephesians 4:32New International Version (NIV)

32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Proverbs 10:12New International Version (NIV)
 Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.

1 Peter 4:8

Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

Br. Harry and Linda did exactly what the scripture said. They, at a moment and time where they could have been worried about error or damage was only worried about reaching out to extend the LOVE that God commands us to give. They took advantage of an “accident” and turned it into an opportunity one I know Trent will never forget. The bricks were replaced the damage was fixed but more importantly they left a lasting impression on a young mans heart. Trent definitely left his mark on the church and was lovingly given the nickname CRASH.

The next time someone around you crashes, please don’t delay take advantage of the very opportunity to make a life long impression of love in someone’s life.  

    

Crossing My Red Sea

Have you ever had to cross a RED SEA in your life? If you have and your experience was anything like mine you may have felt some of the following symptoms: the sweats, nausea, fear, anxiousness, need I go on…  I crossed My Red Sea about three years ago when a job opportunity presented itself to me without me looking for it.  Uncharted territory and out of our comfort zone is a place that we are often hesitant to run to, or at least I was that way.

Let’s take a look back in time for a moment.  Exodus 14: 15,16  NIV

15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground.

21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the Lord drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left.

My heart truly pounds when I close my eyes and think about Moses, the Egyptians were closing in on them closer and closer second by second. I can’t imagine looking back to a group of already complaining people and with the Red Sea standing behind me and an army closing in to capture us. Talk about the sweats I think I would have had to find the nearest prota potty. But isn’t God’s choice of words interesting, paraphrased “Quit praying and get a move on.”  and I can imagine myself saying uh ok God but do you see this great big Red Sea in front of me? Sometimes in our lives just like Moses, God requires moving faith. All He instructed Moses to do was raise his staff and He would take care of the rest. How simple God makes it for us sometimes as easy as raising a stick in the air. God loves opportunities like this, opportunities to show us that He can use the smallest of things, like a staff or stick, to show us how GREAT and FAITHFUL HE is. Just do it already, raise the staff. So Moses did and an amazing thing happened, the waters parted and the ground was dry. I love that part, He thinks of everything, parting the waters and drying up the ground. I can’t imagine the jaw dropping look on the face of Moses and the Israelites but let’s pause a moment. If you were standing there looking at this great divided sea and a dry path to walk on would you just shout and run for it or would you have to look in amazement for a while. I m sorry to say I’d be standing there with a gaping mouth.

So the first test of faith was holding up the staff the second was actually crossing it. Let’s park here for a moment and be honest with each other. How many of you would be like me and hold you hand over your forehead to gaze upon this amazement and ponder with a pounding heart hmmm I don’t see anything holding up the water on each side what if we get half way through and it decides to collapse and destroys us. What if, what if, what if? Do you ever see a great opening and miss the chance to walk on dry ground and cross over to a new opportunity that He has for you? Well standing with my toes at the edge of the sea is where I found myself a little over 3 years ago.  I had a good job with a great boss who allowed for flexibility when needed. It’s not often that you have a great supervisor who is understanding and supportive. And although, I loved my job, financially it just wasn’t taking care of my family’s needs. Of course, I had consulted God about all of this and was just looking with anticipation when on my way to work one morning on of my boys became sick. I new that it was a long shot to get him on such short notice as a new patient but I called anyway and wouldn’t you know they said be here by 10. I called my boss and explained and while almost half way to work (which was an hour each way) I turned my car around and headed back home. I called my husband and these were my exact words, “I am giving up on looking for a new job what more could I ask for I have such an understanding supervisor, we’ll make it I am just gonna stay where I am.” I some how think it was that very moment when I gave up that God moved in. That’s exactly what He does He waits till we expire so He can show us His amazing glory.

I arrived at the doctors office and as I sat there waiting with my son, a long time friend of my husband walked in, (which we hand not seen in 20 years) and we began to talk and catch up we exchanged phone numbers so that he and my husband could reconnect.  Then a week later he calls and asks me if I would be interested in a pharmaceutical job.  “Well, uh yeah,” I said, “ but I have no experience,” and he said.

“ I already explained that to this manager. He asked me to email him my resume,” so I did. A few weeks later I begin this long and I mean long and exhausting interview process. It was by far the most difficult and interview process that I have been through. This went on for at least 2 months maybe longer and as time drew near I had no idea what was going on behind the scenes and actually glad I didn’t. Every step that I took closer to getting this job DOUBT appeared. “You don’t know anything about pharmacokinetics, biology, anatomy heck you cant even pronounce the biological name of these drugs that you will be talking about” it whispered. Doubt, if watered will quickly grow and eventually down your faith. I kept asking God, as things progressed, Is is this from You?” He loves moving us out of our comfort zone into an area where we lack confidence and knowledge so that we may depend on Him and He may then grow our faith. (This is never a pleasant process.)

One Sunday morning in Sunday school I found this in my lesson book and my heart pounded when I read it and still does when I read it today.  “Coincidences” are carefully ordered by the hand of God. All point toward God’s final, forceful answer to the prayers of HIS people.” I tore this out of my Sunday school book and have kept it close at hand. Sometimes when we doubt He is always gracious to provide us with a little assurance along the way. 

So, I got the phone call and I was offered the job. Once again doubt began to rain on me but this time the sunshine dried it up and encouraged me. As I stood in my driveway talking to Heather and expressing my doubt and fear about moving forward to something I knew nothing about, she said these words to me. “I bet Moses felt the same way before the crossed the Red Sea.” A smile spread across my face and courage filled my heart and yep you guessed it I accepted the job. Here is what I later found out that I was up against 15 other candidates with each of them having 9 plus years experience and the hiring manager said this. “Everytime there was a hiccup everything always fell in your favor.” So I just had to “Move on already” and with every step doubt faded until it disappeared.  God has used this job to provide and meet the needs of my family and has given me the opportunity to be a LIGHT for HIM, to pray for so many and to encourage those who are down hearted and sometimes just simply give someone a smile.

I don’t know where you are standing today, maybe your are gazing out at the parted waters of your Red Sea, and what can I tell you. Just Go Already. Let Him amaze you.