Sylvan Cascade

The following definitions are the foundation of a recent understanding about my attitude toward others:

Character ~ Moral or ethical quality of a person.

Personality ~ The sum total of physical, mental, emotional, and social characteristics that create an individual’s organized pattern of behavior.

When I consider a person’s character I observe things like honor, honesty and loyalty, or the lack of those characteristics.  When I look at a person’s personality I am more aware of the social expression of being shy verses gregarious, or social skills like friendliness and cooperation.

We all hope to have friends and associates who embrace wholesome qualities.  It is in these relationships we find ourselves able to depend on someone and to even be a bit more vulnerable.  I am learning that sometimes an acquaintance might be of “good” character but not hold personality traits I can tolerate in a close long-term relationship.  In other words, I may know someone who is trustworthy, yet it is difficult to be in the same room with them for any length of time.

What do I do in times like this?  It is my basic nature to place less importance on character while reaching out for those comfortable personalities.  If I need help with a project or want someone to lean on during a difficult time, it is not my first choice to call on someone who challenges me just by their very presence.  I want someone with whom I find kinship and enjoy their company.  It is human nature to seek out those who are pleasant and make us feel good about ourselves.  However, there or those times it is necessary to join forces with a person who, although they have honest motives, literally drive me crazy just in their way of doing things.

When I was young I wasted too many years trying to be what I thought others wanted me to be.  I am not talking about quality of character — I have always tried to embrace honesty, loyalty, dependability . . . however, in personality traits and style I tried very hard to be like my chosen heroes – people I admired and wanted to emulate.  There is nothing wrong with finding people of quality to look up to and celebrate, but the danger is in losing yourself in their shadow.  Too many times we don’t explore the unique personality God has created in us and wants to use for His glory.

Another danger comes when we judge others who are not like us.  I have found myself so bothered by other personalities that I fall into critical thinking.  It might very well be that “my way” of approaching a project is more efficient, but I realize each person must work from their own perspective to find confidence and self-acceptance.  Truthfully . . . God may very well use the “less efficient” to accomplish His purpose.

All of this has led to a new understanding of grace – the kind of grace Jesus offered when He took our place on the cross over two thousand years ago.  The grace we are encouraged to embrace is the same grace we are encouraged to give away.

In I Peter 4:10 we are instructed to extend grace to all others:

“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”

In this passage the words gift and grace are closely associated.  These words speak of favor that has not been earned; and various joys, pleasures, delights – things that are lovely in many ways.  Holding close to these gifts and grace motivates us to extend mercy.

I love the following commentary concerning this passage:

“But in the order of the manifestation of God’s purposes of salvation the grace must go before the mercy, the χάρις must go before and make way for the ἔλεος. It is true that the same persons are the subjects of both, being at once the guilty and the miserable; yet the righteousness of God . . . demands that the guilt should be done away, before the misery can be assuaged; only the forgiven may be blessed. He must pardon, before He can heal; men must be justified before they can be sanctified.” ~~   Synonyms of the New Testament by Richard C. Trench.

I am taken aback when I realize God’s grace was extended to me even before I was created in my mother’s womb.  I am forgiven prior to sin.  In this revelation I realize God is calling me to extend grace to others before I am offended by them.  Yes, even during the process of being offended either by personality, or by word or deed, I am to continually practice more than tolerance.  It is an ongoing choice to accept someone just as they are.  In so doing I give them the opportunity to be blessed, to heal and to be sanctified by the Word.  If I hold back grace and only offer tolerance and a cool demeanor, neither of us can reach our full potential in Christ.

God is so very good to us . . . He is so patient.  It is true Christ’s yoke is easy and His burden is light.  His teachings set me free; His attitudes expressed through me give peace.  I am so thankful the Holy Spirit is constantly working in me to create a life more like that of Jesus.  Praise God . . . He’s still working on me!!

Last year my pastor gave this message (Perception) concerning the perception of offenses — it really spoke to me and brought me to my knees.

You see, my greatest offenses over the years have been with God.  I have never doubted God was real and that He was working in my life — I just didn’t like the WAY He was working in my life.  There have been so many struggles and heartaches for which I blamed Him at the time.

I do not know if it is scriptural to “forgive” God, but that is what I needed to do.  You see, I was still angry my husband died ten years ago and, in my heart, I saw it as God’s fault.  It was good to release that wrong attitude.  Today I am trying to become more vulnerable to God’s direction and discipline in my life.  The journey does not have to be so difficult if I will humbly submit to His choices for me.  You may not know this, but I’m pretty hard-headed and it was way pass time for me to lay aside my pride.

I share all this to say this — sometimes the outcomes of life are not what we want, and not at all what we think is fair. There was a time when life was so difficult that I turned my back on God in rebellion . . . I literally shook my fist at Him in the midst of a real-life lightning storm many years ago, daring Him to strike me dead. Needless to say He did not, and His grace is sufficient and everlasting.

I understand completely the pressure of family members looking to you for answers. For many years I had no help and three little boys looking to me for their safety and well-being. It is a heavy load to carry, especially when you realize that God’s provision may not measure up to their expectations; and your own mistakes will stunt their dreams.

Today I know to stay on my knees, walk humbly and do all that I can . . . the rest is God’s choice in my life. When life disappoints me I just hang on and count the good things.  There is no “magic formula” when it comes to God — there is just me and Him communicating . . . me leaning on Him . . . and trusting that His choices are what is best for me and my loved ones.

Tie a knot in the rope and hang on, Dear Friends . . . . life is quite a ride!!

In 1991, a wonderful Christian man came into my life and his love helped to heal my broken spirit.  Over time God healed my heart and I came to love my husband dearly.  We built a safe home for our children while we were together.  We were only married 8 ½ years when he passed away . . . but the loving affect of that relationship made an eternal impact on me and my children.

After the Healing . . . Be on Guard

I have heard it said we should always be on guard — either you have just come out of a storm, your going through a storm right now, OR you are headed for a storm.  God’s word backs this up . . . Jesus said, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” ~~ John 16:33

We should be wise and alert – “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!  No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.  Therefore, my dear friends, flee from idolatry.” ~~ I Corinthians 10:12 – 14.

Sometimes your way of escape should be to RUN THE OTHER WAY!!! How close should I, as a child of God try to get to the line that crosses into sin or foolishness?

Over the past year I have made diligent effort to apply myself to my quiet time with God . . .  prayer, study and meditation on His word.  I asked God to heal my brokenness tied to the storms of my childhood.  I knew God was calling me to lay it on the altar before Him and let Him bring healing.  What we imagine for ourselves can never measure up to what His plan is for us.  In order to let God’s plan for me become a reality I had to release the meager fantasies I had for my life.

From Under the Threshold Come Waters of Healing

From under the threshold of the Eastern Gate come healing waters.  These waters will spread into the Dead Sea where nothing grows.  Ezekiel, Chapter 47 tells us the waters will be ankle deep . . . knee deep . . . thigh deep . . . eventually it will be a flowing river too wide to cross.  Every place the water touches will host new life.

Have the storms of your life left a Dead Sea? . . .  a place where you cannot grow emotionally or spiritually because of unhealed damage.  God wants to heal your brokenness.  He is calling you to cross the threshold into a deeper walk with Him — a place of beauty. This healing will spread through every area of your life . . . every relationship.

I love the description in Ezekiel 46:2 that talks of the Prince coming to the threshold of the eastern gate to worship.  I believe every time God brings us to a spiritual threshold it is a call to step into a deeper walk with Him.  In that deeper walk we will find healing for our soul, our spirit, our emotions . . . for every aspect of our lives.

He is worthy of my worship regardless of my circumstances.  Take time to praise Him  – He will bring healing waters into your life.

I have often been amazed over the years as I saw many of my Grandmother’s prayers answered even some long after she passed away. A victory would happen in the life of a family member and I would recall kneeling next to her when I was a child as she prayed for that person. She stood on God’s promises for her family.

In 1988 my personal situation began changing for the better (I’m sure very much in part because my Grandmother had prayed for me). I began to see changes I needed to make and my prayers and actions began to reflect those changes. I had been living in a very chaotic lifestyle that created an atmosphere of violence for myself and my children.

At that time I felt helpless in how to get out of the situation, but I began to read God’s word. His word began to come alive for me. I remember the night I read Isaiah 54 — what a wondrous scripture packed full of promises. Every verse was pertinent to my situation . . . I had been abandoned, I had no place to live, I had miscarried a baby, I had children who needed security in their lives . . . the list goes on.

“Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.”

These words were like salve for my broken soul.

“Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame: for thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth, and shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more. For thy Maker is thine husband; The LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called.”

God was wrapping his arms around me; embracing me until the hurt subsided.

Indeed God’s promises began to become real in my life. I craved the peace of God in my life and He began to lay the foundation. I had no idea at that time how many wrong actions and attitudes had to be cleared away. God was bound to deal with my ego in order to bring about those promises.

Now many years later I read, “O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted, behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.”

I studied recently to find the sapphire stone is only surpassed in hardness by the diamond. The sapphire stone is hard and firm — a perfect material to use for a foundation. Then I discover the sapphire mentioned throughout the Bible refers to the “lapis lazuli” — a blue stone called so because of its beauty and splendor. Also, “blue” in the scripture always refers to a level of calm and peace.

In my study I realize God has truly kept his promise and given to me my hearts’ desires.

– A life of peace
– A comfortable home
– And “all thy children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of thy children.”

I have read this scripture over and over through the years to bring comfort to my heart through rough times. I have stood on these promises, often to be reminded of God’s correction. Now 23 years later I see them all come to fruition.

So let me encourage you to read His word and discover His promises for your life. Don’t grow faint if the promises are not apparent immediately. Sometimes it takes years, but I testify God does not grow weary in hearing and answering our prayers. Be sure your request lines up with His word and He will bring it to pass!!

Blessings on your journey!

There is a place in each of us that can only be touched by God.  This cavern can only be filled by the breathless presence of His Spirit. We are born into a world where we are bombarded by counterfeits that elude us into fleeting satisfaction; we soon realize these illusions are like trying to put a square peg in a round hole.

As a woman, I find myself trying to find my identity in relationship to those around me . . . children, grandchildren, friends, church family.  However, I am often left alone — empty and disappointed by family and friends.  My vocation and social status leaves me starving for more.  The busyness of life only compounds the issue . . . . I find myself running to and fro trying to fill my time with tasks that in the end have no eternal significance.

God has created us to yearn for Him and we cannot fill this void without Him.  Jesus said, ”I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.”  If we can grasp this truth and lean on the promise then our lives are transformed.  Yes, there are times when we don’t “feel” God’s presence, but we cannot base the truth on our feelings.  By standing on His promises through the storms and empty places we will not be let down.

There are times my spirit feels as if it has been cut in two, but I take captive my thoughts and know that the truth, AND my thinking will guide my emotions onto the right path in time.  There are no easy or quick resolutions.  Sometimes our discouragement is only a matter of an hour, an afternoon or a sleepless night; however, there are other times that require standing for days, weeks . . . maybe months or years.

My friends, don’t be disheartened . . . stand on the truth of Jesus, rely on the Holy Spirit to help you pray when you cannot — but NEVER, NEVER give up!! God is true and loving and faithful.  Let Him fill the empty void of your heart with His Love!!