Spring Forward with God Archives

Springing Forward with God: Say Yes!

04.01.2019 by Lavonna Garner //

Hello and welcome to Facets of Faith! We’re glad you stopped by this week. We’ve been waiting to introduce you to our beautiful friend, Lavonna Garner. She is definitely someone you should know. Her soul is gentle. Her prayer is fierce. She is a wonderful teacher and friend. Take a peek at her thoughts on springing forward with God.

Share Lavonna with your friends! And let’s talk about springing forward in the comments below or at our Facebook Page!

God is always moving! From the beginning of creation, we see Him at work. In fact, God was moving before the earth was formed!

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. (Genesis 1:1-2, NLT)

As daughters of the Most High, we serve a mighty God who is active and present in the earth. He has a purpose and plan for each of us; it is as unique as the prints upon our fingers which bear their individual identity. In His love, God designed a plan for all of creation; and out of His love, He invites us to participate in it through the work of His Holy Spirit.

How will YOU spring forward with God?
In light of “spring” defined, how will you “move or jump suddenly or rapidly upward or forward” with God? What will you DO to experience, not just movement, but the fullness of “spring” defined with our Father?

Some of us will have to rid ourselves of things, thoughts, and/or perhaps people, to accomplish this. Sudden or rapid upward or forward movement can not be achieved if we are carrying excess weight. Possessions accumulated to fulfill a desire long passed now clamor for so much of our time and attention that we have no time for God; cares burden our hearts and clutter our minds; unhealthy thoughts, habits, and relationships that produced fruit undesirable to us and others all open the door to the enemy. Our failure to “clean house” not only gives Satan permission to wreak havoc in our lives, but can, dare I say, “constipate” our walk with God. Refusal to release the things that bind us will hinder our ability to not only move with God, but virtually make it impossible for us to experience sudden or rapid upward and forward mobility in our relationship with Him.

What or who do YOU need to release to spring forward with God?

During my young adult years, I had a vision and a plan for my future. That plan, however, did not always coincide with the will of my Heavenly Father. There were seasons where I not only chose to have my way and did, but also rejected The Way, The Truth, and The Life that had been beautifully established for all of creation before the foundation of the world began. God, in spite of my disobedience, patiently waited for His prodigal daughter to return home. It wasn’t until I was able to embrace the unconditional love my Father had for me and His forgiveness, that I was able to approach His launching pad.

What do YOU need to embrace in order to spring forward with God?

The power of saying “YES!”
From the time we were little, we exerted our power. Phrases like “No!”, “I don’t want that!”, “You can’t make me!”, and my eldest daughter’s favorite, “I can do it myself!” became the threads many of us unknowingly wove into the fiber of our relationship with God. I certainly understand why we, as believers, are called “children of God.” We hang onto our threads, refuse to listen to wisdom, and insist on doing life our way. We fail to see the power of saying “yes” to God and the beautiful tapestry He has woven, and we settle for a life unraveled and undefined.

This New Year, I made a commitment to say yes to God! Unless my Holy Spirit emergency discernment system sends me a warning, I am saying yes to the LORD’s will and to the way He chooses to unfold it. Yes to fasting…yes to being intentional in my effort to study scripture…yes to accepting opportunities that take me outside of my comfort zone…yes to not being attached to the outcome…yes to a life of obedience (which by the way, brings deliverance), and yes to no longer being “too difficult to work with.” (Those were words the LORD spoke to my heart years ago.) Living a yes-centered life has stretched and catapulted me forward with God! It is only the beginning of March, and I have seen God’s hand move in amazing ways—being invited to write this post is just one of them! My “yes” will move my Father’s heart and will allow me to spring forward in and with Him.

What is God inviting you to say “yes” to that will spring you forward with Him?

My word for 2019 is “expectancy.” This year, I am expecting great things! As I spring forward with God, I will grow in my understanding of His will, live a yes-centered life, and see His promises to me and my family fulfilled. In Him I am committed to living, moving (springing forward), and having my being (Acts 17:28)!

How will you spring forward with God?

Fall Back to Spring Forward

03.21.2019 by Kim Findlay //

Thanks for joining us this month at Facets of Faith! This space is the result of a friendship between three women who met and dug deep into life and faith, each with a unique perspective and story but united in heart for one another and Jesus. A few years ago we thought it’d be fun to write together; it seemed like a natural extension of the conversations we enjoyed while sitting in a sandwich and soup shop.

So what happens Facets of Faith here? Each month we present a question and then take turns answering. This month we’re chatting about how to spring forward with God. Tracy and Jen already shared. You can click on their names to read their responses. Come back next week and meet our guest —you won’t be disappointed!

For now, however, it’s my (Kim) turn. And I don’t know where you’re at in life, but I’ve been longing for the hope of Spring’s arrival since Fall slid into Winter.

My mom has cancer.

She was diagnosed in May of 2018 and bravely endured six rounds of chemo. She and my dad fought this beast together and last December, we cheered as she rang the “end of treatment” bell.

Many of you have faced this insidious beast. Whether it’s wreaked havoc in your own body or in one you dearly love, you understand the shock of the news, the intensity of treatment, the way you hold your breath between blood draw and body scan hoping for good news.

Unbeknownst to us, winter wrapped its icy grip around my family –the cancer remained.

What if’s plague our mind as we peer into the future and attempt to chart its course. Imagination takes over as scenarios play through our minds like a reel-to-reel movie. Thoughts take on a life of their own and strike the chord of anxiety.

The dark days of winter linger and hover, and while I long for new life to arrive in all its glorious splendor, there’s a fear of moving forward. What if the hope of spring feels too bright, like the moment a light clicks on after sitting in a darkened room? Eyes squinting, I try to limit the exposure all so I can try to limit the pain.

I don’t want to hurt. I don’t want my mom to hurt. I believe I can say with confidence . . .none of us want to hurt.

So what do we do when looking ahead brings worry and pain?

We fall back so we can spring forward. We take the risk of losing so we can gain.

It seems a little counterintuitive. Springing forward brings to mind action and determination, quickness and lightness of feet. Falling back feels like failing, like losing.

But what if that’s the point?

Think for a moment with me. Isn’t it just like the Kingdom of heaven to carry such a paradox? Consider Jesus’ Sermon the Mount where He described life in His Kingdom.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3-10, NIV

This wasn’t the only time Jesus talked about the paradox of Kingdom living.

But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must be the slave of everyone else. For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:43-45

So wouldn’t it only seem fitting for us to spring forward with God, we need to fall back? How exactly do we do this?

In order to live, we die

If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it. Matthew 10:39

The first thing we need to do is lose our lives. We take a long hard look at ourselves and realize we’re sinners in desperate need of a Savior. Then we surrender to the reality that there is nothing we can do to fix this sin problem. There is only One, and His name is Jesus.

. . . that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been saved!)” Ephesians 2:5

Losing our lives isn’t a one-time decision. It starts there, but to spring forward, to take spiritual ground and follow God with our whole hearts, we die daily to our sinful nature . . .

We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him.” Romans 6:6-8, NLT

. . . and allow the Holy Spirit to create a new heart in us.

And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.” Ezekiel 36:26, NLT

In order to press on, we give up

Control. We all vie for it in one way or another. We think we know what’s best for our lives and set our course in the direction we want to head. But then life in a broken and lost world happens, and a cancer diagnosis interrupts our plans. We rail and wonder and cry out to God —what are you doing? Why is this happening? This wasn’t in my plan.

Job experienced this. He’s the guy in Scripture who lost his kids, his home, his livestock, and eventually his health. The pain of loss and grief was intense, and he cursed the day he was born. His friends weren’t very helpful, either. He listened and spoke and wrestled with all that happened. And then God spoke to Job. He never directly answered Job’s questions. He asked a few of His own.

Brace yourself like a man, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them. Will you discredit my justice and condemn me to prove you are right? Are you as strong as God? can you thunder with a voice like his?.” Job 40:7-9, NLT

As Job came face to face with the Creator of the heavens and earth, he remembered who really is in control . . .and it wasn’t himself.

Nor is it us. Only God.

I know that you can do anything, and no one can stop you.” Job 42:2, NLT

And then His grace comes . . .

The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” Exodus 14:14

In order to spring forward, we fall back

God loves us. The Bible tells us that He loves us so much that He took the punishment for the sins we deserve by sending His Son, Jesus so that we might have a relationship with Him. We sin against Him, and He made the plan to bring us back!

For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17, NLT

He did the work to redeem His people, and there is nothing we can do, or have happen to us, that will ever separate us from His love.

Not cancer or disease. Not death or destruction. Not stuff we did in our past nor the things we’ll do in the future. Not loss of money or loss of love. Not shame or guilt nor confusion or doubt.

There is not a single thing that will ever stop God from loving us. Love is His nature; He is the source. Because of that, we can fall back into His loving arms and allow Him to care for us.

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty. This I declare about the Lord: He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God, and I trust him. For he will rescue you from every trap and protect you from deadly disease. He will cover you with his feathers. He will shelter you with his wings. His faithful promises are your armor and protection.” Psalm 91:1-4

Yes, my mom has cancer. And it’s scary and hard and exhausting for her, and for her family and friends who watch her suffer.

But for now, in this moment, I choose to spring forward with God fully trusting He is in control, that His love for her (and me and you) never ends, and we can rest in His Presence because He is good. And for that, we don’t lose a thing.

Thanks for reading along. I’d love for you to join our conversation by commenting below or join us over on our Facebook page. Happy Spring!

Springing Forward: Growing in God

03.12.2019 by Jennifer Howe //

Welcome to Facets, friend. Spring has sprung, right? I’m sorry. That’s a lie in some parts of my country. Forgive me? The truth is, spring will come, but I’d like to have a little sit-down with a rodent named Phil. (Is it just me?) If you’re just catching up, March is all about springing forward and growing in our faith with God. Tracy shared thoughts here. Look for the upcoming posts from Kim and our special guest, Lavonna Garner. Don’t miss out—great things are coming!

Growing in God

True to my Enneagram Five-ness tension, I thought long and hard: God, how can I grow in my faith and authentically walk through everyday life with You? True to my other tendencies, I asked, Could this be simple and easy, too? A landslide of thoughts tumbled and ended with If walking with God in faith were simple and easy, would it still be faith? Likely not. So this won’t be a “3 Easy Steps to Super-Christian Status” post. Not hardly.

The Word and a Calling

Once upon a time (25 years ago), I had one of those aha moments. I hadn’t landed in crystal clarity, but I definitely had to have a define the relationship talk with God. This really was the simple part: when I read enough Bible pages, one right after the other, I found a consistent call drawing my heart, mind, and spirit to Him. That happened, and then I took huge strides to study Him, His heart, and His will on those pages.

In 1994 I read. A lot. Friends told me that would ‘wear off,’ that I’d eventually ‘settle down’ at a certain point. Does the amazing intimacy with the One I worship fade out for everyone once the questions get answered? I found it can and does—when the quiet, undistracted moments evaporate; when the desire to know Him more intimately is traded for dusty memories of past study; when the heart slowly turns to acknowledge stuff, interests, devices, and virtual relationships before the God of the universe—the intensity most definitely fades. Slowly at first.

You must worship no other gods, for the LORD, whose very name is Jealous, is a God who is jealous about his relationship with you. Exodus 34:14 (NLT)

The Lord won’t tolerate rivals. So we choose today and every day how we will use our mental energy, strength, and breath. We were made to worship, and we will. But who or what will we worship? That is the foundation of our walk in faith with Him.

No one walks in faith with Him and splits time with the three-ring circus life lays out in front of her. That’s part of the insane difficulty of the opposition we face. The sacred and secular are not compartmentalized. If all of life is lived in the presence of God (acknowledged or not), which parts are set aside because He cannot see, permeate, or influence them? When I answer that question honestly, everything changes.

My mind is forced to reconcile reality.

Will I walk with God daily in everything—or will I pick and choose? Will I live like He is with me, so near that I take Him everywhere I go in this little 5’ 4” body (in my three-inch heels)? Will I live expecting His truth, love, and power to break through in this life? Will I live with Him?

Friend, walking with God is the only way we grow up. We grow in intimacy when we spend time with Him in quiet, undistracted moments. We grow in maturity when we desire to know Him—His brilliant mind, unchanging truth, loving heart, and magnificent power. And because He is eternal (boundless and limitless), there is no end to that study! We become more like Him when we know His heart and mind, love Him more than anything else, and love others the way He would. That’s walking the walk, rather than talking the talk.

The Father’s Plan

All God’s plans have the mark of the cross on them and all His plans have death to self in them.—E.M. Bounds (1835-1913)

Knowing how precious the Son was to the Father, how powerful His death was on the cross, could I be so concerned with the “stuff” of this world? Are my eyes so easily lured away from that moment to something else? Can I set aside distractions and devices long enough to speak to Him, listen to His voice, and read His expressed will on the page? Will I ask Him to help me love Him and others deeply and completely? Dare I ask Him to help me love the ways He has given for living with Him in faith and loving others in my life?

If there is a way to spring forward, it could only be in step with Him.

Thanks for reading along. I’d love to hear your thoughts on growing in faith. Do you have something that encourages you as you grow with God? Comment below or at the Facebook page. And if you like what you read—sharing is caring. *wink*