Woven

"I want you WOVEN into a tapestry of love, in touch with everything there is to know of God. Then you will have minds confident and at rest, focused on Christ, God's great mystery. All the richest treasures of wisdom and knowledge are embedded in that mystery and nowhere else."  Colossians 2:2-3 

I read this, a few days back and I immediately thought of the new women's group that I get the privilege of being a part of once a month at my home church Hillside Foursquare. The reason I thought of them is because we have named our group Woven with the idea that our purpose should be to weave our hearts together with acts of love. We feel that all of God's women here in Reno, NV and across the world are stronger, better, more courageous when we stand together as a unified force.    I'm sure it makes a lot more sense now why this scripture that was on my desk calendar would shout out to me then. But, as I took a closer look I realized that God has been weaving a reoccurring theme throughout my days and that is unity. 
I have been studying the book of John with the SheReadsTruth ladies and a while back we read in John 5:19 that even Jesus was apart of the infinity circle. In this portion of scripture he talks about how he did nothing on his own but only moved always with the Father.  It got me thinking about how every soul that ever was or ever will be desires closeness, oneness, unity with someone.  When we seek out this unity our lives are richer, deeper, fuller and we are more in tune with our true selves. 
Every soul longs to know and be known by at least one.
God made us to long for this. He made us to long for Him. 
If even Jesus needed this connection with the Father how much more do we need it as well. When we fill our lives with other things it may temporarily fill that hole but it doesn't fulfill us for very long. I believe this to be the reason that social media's have become so prevalent in our day and age because they are a way of staying connected.   The human soul is constantly seeking connection. 
We look with eyes of wanting to see at least one face in the crowd who understands and fully gets us. That's what is so nice and comforting about old friends, they know you. The you that TP'd a house at age 13 or the you that got bit by a dog when you were only 14 or the you that married at 20 years of age, or lost your first baby to a miscarriage.  They know you. But only God knows the real you. He's known you since you were in your mother's womb. Doesn't that just trip some of you out right now? That's a lot of knowing. The truly awe-some thing about the fact that God knows us and sees us is that as we get to know Him he reminds us over and over and over again that He only ever wants to love us. Often times we think how could God loves this? Because we see through eyes of darkness we think that's all He sees. But oh beloved reader, HE sees through eyes of light.  He can only see the good in you. What an amazing God we have. Truly He adores you. As we begin to know, really know this love of Christ we walk a little taller.  Our head is not hung in shame for every mistake we have made.
This is the great mystery... the LOVE of Christ!

In seeking a greater level of peace this year I have realized more than ever how crucial my connection, my umbilical cord, if you will, to Jesus is a vital and necessary part of that peace. Anytime I try and cut that cord the life just drains right out of my soul and I'm left tired, weary, and discouraged.  Staying constantly at his feet in this busy, chaotic world is not easy. I have found over the years that if I surround myself with scripture everywhere I look there is an opportunity for God to speak to me in my decor.  And He does. And almost on a weekly basis I'm wooed back to his feet by a simple word or reminder that, that is where my soul will be fed and my heart will stay in full, surrendered peace. But even more than being surrounded by God's word I can honestly say that it is the LOVE of Christ that draws me, beckons me to come, because without the daily dose of Jesus I am not quite the same. I function, but at a level that isn't my best self.  My true inner soul needs Jesus the living water that causes me never to thirst again.  His voice is still and small but if you listen, really listen He will call you too. If you are the girl who's waiting by the phone and it never rings, or more likely these days waiting on your IG pic to be liked by a certain someone, please know that you have already been called, you are already liked, and you are beyond measure loved by the Lover of your Soul. Focus on Christ and let Him weave you into this tapestry of LOVE!

New Year, New Word

You know the moment when you are barely awake in the morning, snuggled in your bed with your favorite pillow and blankets tucked around you just right. The moment when you realize you are awake but your mind drifts back to slumber and the air is cold because it's the middle of winter and you know that the warmth that is blanketed around you will quickly leave the moment you step your first foot on the floor?  That is the best description I can think of to try and explain how God's presence blankets his children with PEACE. It is a peace that surpasses understanding because even though the world around you is cold and barren, chaotic and often even devoid of life, you are blanketed in this warm feeling that everything is going to be alright and you don't know how to truly explain that you know this except to say, that God has given you  PEACE.
"Peace I leave with you; My own peace I now give and bequeath to you.  Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do NOT let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled." John 14:27
This peace that Jesus has left those of us that follow in his footsteps can blanket us everyday.  Even in our darkest moments his peace doesn't leave our sides. He walks with us to those dark places and shines the light in every corner and every crevice. He reminds us that when we open our eyes and we do step out of bed into the cold, dark world HE will be there to help us. 
When I began praying about what word I wanted to choose to remind me of something all year, the word Peace just kept coming to mind. I kept thinking of people that I know and have known in my life that have exuded peace. I thought of a counselor who My Giant and I recently went to for a lil marriage tune up and how one thing that Moses said he noticed right away was how peaceful this man is.  It made me long for that to be a description someone might use about me. And then I had a conversation with my sister Jen and we were talking about how we both really want new habits in our lives. And I was reminded of something a friend of hers once said that never really left me, 
"When did Jesus stop being enough?"
It left me a little weepy as I realized all the idols I have allowed in this temple, and I longed for Jesus to be that peace once again. I longed for my peace to come from the source of peace and balance, and goodness.  I wanted desperately to take back all the years, all the moments, that I had given someone or something else that very special place that should have only been reserved for him and him alone. 
As I have gotten older and the world around me has too, I need the peace that Jesus gives now more than ever.  I have always been a bit of worry wart and the only medicine for my overly anxious heart has only ever been Jesus, but sometimes I look to people, or my circumstances or a glass of wine to be that blanket of peace and without fail I'm left wanting.
"Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything, but in every circumstance and in everything, by prayer and petition (definite requests), with thanksgiving, continue to make your wants known to God. And GOD's PEACE shall be yours, that tranquil state of a soul assured of it's salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and being content with it's earthly lot of whatever sort that is, that PEACE that transcends all understanding shall garrison and mount guard over your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 4:6-7
This year marks 20 years of marriage. 17 years of being a parent. 40 years of being alive. The year my brother Greg will get married. 10 years of marriage for my sister Gina.  70 years for one of my life's greatest examples of peace, my Mom.
And those are just the moments I know will happen.  For all the unknown moments are what can weigh my heart down with anxiety, and worry. I need that blanket of PEACE that God gives, and I want to look to him before anyone or anything else. I want to walk out knowing fully that Jesus is enough! The only way I know how I can do this is to spend time with the Lover of My Soul and he reminds me that he really does have the whole world in his hands.  I can leave it all at his feet and he will carry my burdens.  When I'm in that blanket of peace I think of a saying my beloved Gram(the most peaceful person I've ever met) used to say;
"All this and Heaven too!!"

What a truly beautiful life!
Here's to a  NEW PEACEFUL HAPPY  YEAR!!