Hearing God's Voice-Part 1

Beauty and Starbucks Collide.

So, here I am sitting in Starbucks and reading “The Way I See It #83” upon my white paper cup.  I scan the words of Tiana Tozer, which states, “they told you that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What they failed to tell you is that it is best seen with the eyes closed. What you look like isn’t important. What is important is who you are inside and the choices you are making in your life.”

Ironically, I can’t help but scan the table of those that sip their Starbucks lattes with me.  He sits slightly sunken in his chair. His mother is dying and only has a year to live.  Her eyes are blurry and distant. She is fighting the hangover from last night and the battle of alcoholism is consuming her.  He sits without any reaction. His addiction to porn is causing him to remove any form of emotion.  Her face is smiling ever so brightly with a ridged gap. Her teeth hide the hurt from the countless sexual and physical beatings by her own father.

I close my eyes…

Ironically, I can’t help but deeply inhale and consider the evidence of hurt that creates such beauty.  Truthfully, he may be watching his mother die, yet he is spending quality time with the one person he finds truly beautiful.  One day it will be his wife, but today it is mother.  She may be damaging her liver, yet she is aware of the choices and her willingness to change is a part of the beautiful victory.  One day she will inspire others to change, but today it is simply for herself. He may be ashamed and pride grips him, yet he voiced such beautiful words, “I want to be free.” One day he will be completely free, but today those five words speak of such beauty.  She may fear men, yet her courageous presence is captivating. One day she will smile ever so brightly without any fear, but today she is a reminder that beauty isn’t just what you see.

I open my eyes…

Ironically, I can’t help but smile.  For God created beauty in the very beginning. He expresses in Genesis 1: 31 that "he saw all that he had made, and it was VERY good." Beauty is a piece of God’s goodness, which sadly has been tainted by sin. As a result, I close my eyes again and see how Jesus beautifully restored the intended goodness of creation upon the cross.

In the completion of this Easter season, I am choosing to see the beauty that is often hidden. So, with my eyes closed I see TRUE beauty and it is breathtaking, captivating, and inspiring! 

In awe of God’s restoration of beauty,

Charlene

P.S. For “we delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty” (Mary Angelou).

Because He Loves Me Devo

Let Go {Raphah}

"Seriously, you just NEED to let go!"  My response, “easier said than done!”

You've heard that phrase and I have too. 

Other phrases such as, just move along, time to walk way and don't look back, run forward!  Even Disney's famous song from the movie Frozen is titled, "Let It Go!" 

But, than why is letting go so hard?

• Maybe a smudge of control?
• Maybe it is fear?
• Maybe lacking the ability to trust?
• Maybe deep hurt or resentment? 
• Or maybe simply the unknown? 

The verb raphah in Hebrew means to be still, to be weak, to let go, and to release. God boldly calls us to LET GO. Truthfully, He wants us to let go of everything that distracts us so that we can fully pursue him. A favorite Psalm clearly states, "be still and know that I am God." 

In May 2012, I found myself on my knees at 4am. I clearly recall the words, "just let go." In a place of stillness, I never imagined returning to a province that seemed so foreign and to let go of someone I deeply loved.

Yes, I let go...

Yet, I also gained...

Lately, I look around different environments that I am apart of and marvel at how much has been added post letting go and pursuing raphah.

• I can call Alberta home
• I can drive again
• I can see pieces of restoration
• I can write
• I can survive transition!
• I can be soft and sensitive
• I can smile and laugh again
• I can dream
• I can run and be active
• I can create
• I can cry (even be okay with tears)
• I can sing
• I can be still and wait
• I can even love again 

So, I challenge you to develop a place of stillness and focus on what God wants to add into your life, which is the basis of Psalm 46:10. Furthermore, may you seek a place of raphah and release any resentment or fear or hesitation or hurt in the process of letting go. 

So, what are you gaining today as you let go?

With a heart filled with raphah,

Charlene

Get Small Devotional

http://youtu.be/SB_Qby9d-j0

Dating & Stick Drawings.

Life Canvas.

Splat…

Blue.

Splat…

Red.

Splat…

A vibrant picture with each stroke of my brush, as the image came alive with each splatter of paint. As a child I’d love to paint and I’d be so critical of the outcome of my canvas.  With time, I’ve discovered that my strokes couldn’t only be mine. It didn’t help that my younger brothers would add lines and re-create the picture pinned on the fridge.

Instead, I  now marvel at the countless strokes upon my canvas that are from those whom have been a part of my life, some for a period of time and others for a lifetime.  Regardless of the duration of their strokes upon my canvas, each layer is built with a multitude of colours and it has shaped and created who I am today.

If I consider some of the people in my life, their own canvas, this is what I admire about their specific brush strokes.

v  His canvas is rough, even edgy, yet if you take time to look you’ll grasp that he is soft and gracious. He has been my constant inspiration and his words hold such power, “I am proud of you.”

v  Her canvas is bright, even exquisite, yet if you spend time to look you’ll understand her heart for the lost and the broken. She has challenged me to be intentional and value friendship as a gift.

v  His canvas is unknown, bare and blank, yet if you take time to look you’ll realize he is searching and growing in his identity.  He has frequently asked questions and recently acknowledge, “let’s be bold and believe with such hope even when it cannot be seen!”

v  Her canvas is torn, such deep hurt is woven into the very fibres of the painting, yet if you take time to look you’ll sense a persistent faith to keep moving forward.  She has taught me to release the past and fully let go, as she daily declares with me, “the best is yet to come!”

Recently, I can’t help but ponder that life isn’t necessarily the way I envisioned my canvas becoming. In my canvas are strokes of disappointment, hurt, and rejection, yet embedded are rich strokes of joy, hope, dreams, love, and even laughter! Truthfully, I believe God is orchestrating bold strokes of his very character through rustic reds, calm blues, and even brilliant oranges to display his bigger plan for my canvas.

Today, I sat and said, “God, I don’t feel like painting anymore. I need to let go. Can you just do the painting today?” In all honestly, it’s time that I let go, release being critical of my canvas, as I allow God to add his brush strokes.

Will you join me and let Him be the ultimate painter?

Charlene