I guess you could say ...

on this idea of the mat!

All day long I've been thinking about it ...                            

what are the mats that I've confined myself to ...

what are the mats that others have strapped me to ...

and I'm drawn to the truth that the man was lowered by his friends, through the roof, to the very feet of Jesus ... but in the end, it was just the man and the Redeemer!!

or was it?

Today I have a different picture in my mind ... one where the friends loaded up the man on the mat and the man wasn't sure ... after all, he'd seen a few who said they could help him before ... and he'd been let down before. He had come to terms with his ailment ... it would be a lifelong struggle ...

but his friends wanted more for him!!!!!!

In Mark 2:5 it says "...when Jesus saw their faith ..."

Did you catch that??

THEIR faith ...

not his faith ...

their faith!

Let the preciousness of friendship/loyalty/devotion wash over your soul ... their faith ...

like Aaron and Hur holding up Moses arms when the battle became too much to bear.

just as David and Jonathan became one in spirit in 1Samuel 18 ... there was a covenant ... Jonathan loved David as himself ...

there's no qualifier in my Greek/Hebrew Bible that says the original language was referring only to the man on the mat!! Their is plural!

The faith of his friends compelled Jesus' heart!

Go with me for just a minute ...

what if the scene had played out that the friends carried the man to the house, tore off the roof, lowered him down to the Savior, the Savior said "Your sins are forgiven" as he did in Mark 2 ...or as Peter said in Acts 9: 32-34 ... "Jesus Christ has healed you." ... then the command had been issued to get up and take care of your mat ...

and they just chose to lay there.

Would their healing have been revoked??

Romans 11:29 "... God's gifts and His call are irrevocable ..."

He healed both these people.

His gift was His gift ... pure and amazingly simple.

irrevocable ... the Greek is ametameletos ...

without regret, so not revocable ...

lean in with your heart and listen to that again ...

God's gifts and His call are without regret ...

you can lay on your mat if you choose

He doesn't regret His gifts.

you can lay on your mat if you choose

He doesn't regret His call.

He isn't going anywhere ... he isn't tapping His foot waiting for you to come on ... there isn't anger boiling inside of Him ready to burst on the scene ... He isn't up there saying, "if she doesn't come on, I'm done with her" ... He isn't looking on your heart and saying "if only she were _______"

His gifts and His call are without regret.

You may be the friend waiting on your friend who is stuck on the mat.

His gifts and His call are without regret for you ...
     
                please don't become impatient, don't run away, don't give up ... don't stop actively participating. He sees your faith ... He's placed you at the corner of the mat for your good and for His Glory.

You may be laying on a mat wondering, did He really heal me?

His gifts and His call are without regret for you ...

               listen to the Father, hear His voice, walk in the healing that He's given ... even if You aren't 100% sure. Pick up your mat.  He's placed it in your life for your good and for His Glory.

You may be wondering if you can keep your mat hidden forever. Is He really going to use this?

              the mat you carry with you is the evidence of what you have been delivered from ... don't carry it around in shame and fear. Unroll it when He calls. He's allowed it for your good and His Glory ... it is the very thing that bears witness to what He has done in your brokenness ...

His plan is securely in place for you.

And for your mat.

Repost ... contentment ... the tests keep coming until the mastery is complete ...

On the way to school this morning K-Love encouraged us to think on our "word" ... last year I was more deliberate about a word that I focused on ... I got distracted this year, never followed through on my commitment and didn't complete and trade prayer cards, did really seek the Lord for a word or concept for the year. Initially, I was convicted by it, but just like every other sin ... whether it is a deliberate sin or a sin of omission (one I fail to do that I know God has called me to do) ... I just put it away. And it remained unconfessed sin.

On Sunday, Scott called us to examine our lives ... I had to confess some unforgiveness over several issues ... it was the big thing in my heart that I felt like I had to lay down to be able to approach Communion with a clean heart. I realized on the way in ... regardless of whether I was to trade cards with anyone else ... I knew this was a practice the Lord had called me to ... and I ignored the fact that He wanted me to use the task to do some self-reflection. This morning I realized that I hadn't done it. I've wandered through the first four(seven in the current repost) months of the year, seeking to fulfill a ministry, doing a daily quiet time (relatively faithfully), attending church regularly, requesting prayers as needs lay me low ... but I have not sought the Father's heart for what it is He wants to do in me this year ... or this month ... or this week ... or this day.

Conviction. Because I texted these very words yesterday in a fit ... and it was quite literally a fit! A dear friend said to me "Amy, I believe the Lord has u!" and my response was that I believe He has me, but I'm not at all sure what He's trying to accomplish right now ... and it hurts.

At several points yesterday I in some exasperation, asked Him just that. "What are you trying to accomplish here?"

How could I possibly know what it is He is trying to accomplish if I don't ask ... and somehow, even in my less than active listening state, He spoke.

I also sent a text yesterday that I am ready for Deliverance.

In the midst of more crazy stuff yesterday, my attitude sunk. I wished for escape. I was confronted by the sinfulness of that! I was reminded of parents who hoped and prayed to watch their children grow ... and the Lord placed them in my path today ... and those 3 precious children exited a van that a mama,  whom the Lord called home, wanted to be driving ... occupied by a husband who lay in bed alone last night and does it on his own everyday. I was overwhelmed.

I had to confess my selfishness. I've spent far too many days lately wanting to do what I wanted to do. Wanting to not have to do the hard thing over and over.

I walked into a conversation with someone I work with saying ... "I feel so convicted ... I look around so often and say 'I wish ... I want .. Why can't I have ...'

and really I just had to walk away because I know in my heart I've been there for too many days in the past few months.

I had to confess my greed. Money is tight right now. And it isn't that I want extravagant things. But I want things I do not have the resources to have right now.

I opened a book and the chapter title is the emptier, fuller life ... and again ... I am humbled. How much emptiness will the Lord have to force upon me before I turn out my pockets, full of hidden sins and selfish desires, willing to be content with what He has so graciously provided?? Will I take them out as they are and offer them ... or will I demand to be forced.

My word for the year ... I thought it was going to be Deliverance.

I wanted it to be ... and then I was reminded ... ask.

Lord, what do you want my word to be?

Contentment ...

"Really Lord?"

"Yes ..."

"Lord, I can't even go to __________ without it causing upheaval ... I need to go to the __________ ... "

"I want you to learn, Contentment."

Phil 4:12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

oh and 13 ... I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me ...

through Christ ...

He will strengthen ...

me.

Whitestone Inn

Last summer a dear friend invited me to spend a day and night at Whitestone Inn and I was blown away by the blessing of this time away. She treated me for an amazing dinner in the evening ... the rest of our time was spent in the Word.  I was in the midst of a difficult season and needed to hear from the Lord. As we sat on the porch ... I was able to be still and listen as the Lord began to speak deeply into the hurt places of my heart. The chaos of life created so much noise that I could hardly hear the voice of the Good Shepherd. On that particular day, I needed to know that He is my King. This time away allowed me to catch my breath.

If you find yourself in need of retreat and you can't go far away, maybe Whitestone will be the right place for you too. Feel free to follow the link attached and there is a coupon attached for $50 off the price of a room.