I want MORE, Lord!

I've been listening to a song by Cory Asbury and Jaye Thomas called "Shekinah."  At the end of this post I will add a link where you can listen to it.  The song is quite simple, with repetitive lyrics...which I've grown quite fond of for several reasons.... but, that's another topic for another day...

Here's a sampling of the lyrics, "You move and we want more.  You speak and we want more.  We want the fullness."

More.  In my circles it's a common request in prayer to ask the Lord for more.  More of Him.  More of His presence.  More of His power.  More of His goodness.  More of His love.  Just simply, more of anything and everything pertaining to Him.

I can see how someone not knowing the context of this request, or that is unfamiliar with the quest for more of the Lord, could come to the conclusion this is a selfish request.  I wanted to take the opportunity to journal, I mean blog, about what this heart cry means to me.

When a person believes and accepts Christ as their Savior, He makes His home inside of them.   You get all of Him.  So, when I ask for more, I'm never insinuating that one has been cheated a part of God.

I fully believe God is so vast and mysterious I will spend my lifetime getting to know Him.  Proverbs 25:2 says, "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter." It's part of our adventure with God, the romance... the intimacy of getting to KNOW Him!  We are told in both Proverbs and Jeremiah that if we seek Him, we will find Him.

Usually spiritual laws mimic natural laws, but there is one in my opinion that does not.  Eating.  In the natural the more you eat the fuller you get.  In the spiritual the more you eat, the hungrier you become.  The more time I spend in the presence of Jesus, the more I want!  The more I worship Him, the more I want to worship!  The more time I spend in His Word, the more time I want to read and learn about Him!

During intimate times of worship (usually in the privacy of my home with no one else watching) I feel His presence so tangibly I feel I will explode inside from the fullness!

I've also heard it compared to a marriage relationship.  In a healthy marriage it's probable you love your spouse more today than the day you said, "I do."  Why?  Because you've grown together and you're love has also grown.  I love my husband more today than I did twenty years ago.  There are probably many reasons, but one is maturity.  Through maturity my ability to love and receive love has increased in capacity.

As you receive the "more" of God something else happens...He increases and you decrease.  It's all part of becoming more like Him.  As you decrease and He increases you can be trusted with more without pride or selfish motives getting in the way.

So, why doesn't God just reveal Himself fully and completely upon salvation?  My personal opinion is I don't think we could live!  I believe that's what is meant in Exodus 33:20 which states no man can see Him and live.  I don't interpret this to mean if you see the face of God you die a physical death, because we are told numerous times in scripture to seek His face and turn our eyes to Him.  I interpret it to mean no human can encompass all His glory and remain the same...you would cease to be human!

I hope just reading this post has been an appetizer for you to seek more of God!  Just writing it has made me hungry for more of Him!  I can't seem to get enough of His kindness and goodness...it's just overwhelming!

As promised here is the link to "Shekinah."  Turn your eyes and heart toward Jesus and take a listen. Invite Him to reveal Himself in a deeper way to you.  Ask for MORE, LORD!  My Soul Sings because I have a living relationship with the Lover of my soul, a limitless supply of His perfect love and He has made me FREE!!!!!

Living to Die or Dying to Live?

Today I want to share some thoughts running through my mind that have come from responses to my decision to eat for life, instead of living to eat.

People are curious as to why I have chosen to make radical changes to my diet.  When I tell them weight loss was just a benefit of the changes and not the reason for them, they are perplexed.  I want to live healed and whole.  If what I eat empowers my body to fight disease, prevent disease, etc., I'm all for it.  Why?  Because I want to live many days on this earth as an offering to the One who lives inside of me.

I have been surprised at people's responses; especially believers, who don't want to live past 75-80 years of age.  Let me add here, I do not judge anyone.  This post is sharing my personal convictions, which I do not impose on ANYONE else.

Now, honestly, I don't want to live to see 100 if it means I'm holed up in a nursing home, with someone wiping drool from my face 24/7.  But if I can live to see 100 and live it abundantly, count me in!

Why?  Because I believe as believers we shouldn't be so singularly focused on going to heaven that we miss what He put us here on earth to do.  If this was every believer's mentality who would be spreading the Good News?  No, friends, your salvation is so much MORE than a get out of hell free card.  It's a call on your life to go be light in a dark world!

As a believer if my goal is just to make it through another day so I am one day closer to heaven that's NOT abundant life.  That's living in survival mode.  God's plan for you is abundant life (see John 10:10, 3 John 2.)

When you accept Jesus as Savior the old you dies.  This is what the act of baptism symbolizes.  Buried with Christ, raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4.)  We die in order to LIVE!

Which brings me to the question the title of this post poses.  Living to die or dying to live?  My Soul Sings because it is no longer the old me who lives, but Christ in me!  This world is not my eternal home, but it is my mission field, my assignment.  I will embrace each day I live on this earth as a gift from heaven!

Papa God, I am sorry for the times I have wished my days away.  For the times when things got hard and instead of turning to You for strength I prayed for You to take the adversity away from me.  I was focused on my comfort and not the greater good You had in store for me.  I am sorry for times I haven't honored my body as the temple of Holy Spirit (I Corinthians 6:19-20.)  Continue to help me steward this body You have given me so that we can co-labor to bring heaven to earth for all my days here (I Corinthians 3:9, Matthew 6:10.)  Help me to see people as You see them.  Break my heart for what breaks Yours and then give me the courage and boldness to take action.  Thank You, Papa, for preparing a place for me.  I look forward to the day when heaven becomes my permanent home, but for now, teach me how to remain aware that I am seated in heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6.)  You are such a good Papa.  I want to tell the world about Your goodness and represent Jesus well.  I love You and I thank You!  In the name of Jesus I pray, AMEN!

True Freedom

I've had some thoughts mulling around in my head the last couple of weeks.  I think they are worthy of a quick blog post :)  

I love freedom.  I love freedom in Christ.  I love teaching others about freedom in Christ.  It's a subject very dear to me.  When a subject is dear to me I want to protect it.  Likewise it also grieves me when I  see a subject dear to my heart misunderstood or abused.

What does the term freedom in Christ mean to you?  

To some radical, "you can't chain me to anything," believers it is a license to do whatever they please all in the name of grace.  This saddens me because I think it cheapens grace.  Go read Romans 6 and you will quickly see how Paul addressed the subject.  

As someone who was once chained to religious bondage, I have had many paradigm shifts on the topic of freedom and grace...including a very brief season in the radical group I just mentioned.  As I grew in relationship with my loving Abba Father, He gently reminded me; that although I am completely free because of His Son, holiness is not optional.  

I recently heard freedom defined this way, "Freedom, it's not permission to do what I want, but permission to do what is right."  

When we are in love our desires change.  Because I am in love with Jesus, I want to please Him.  It's not out of fear of punishment or the wrath of God (I believe Jesus satisfied those on the cross) that I desire to do what is holy and good.  It's because I value my relationship with my heavenly Father and will do anything to protect His heart.  Do I always get it right?  Absolutely not....and that is where grace enters...which makes My Soul Sing!

Warfare, Rest and Relationship

Today I want to share my thoughts on a very familiar passage of scripture, Psalm 23.  I would venture to say Psalm 23 is one of the most well known passages among pre-believers (sounds better than unbelievers, don't you agree?)

Most of us probably associate Psalm 23 with physical death as this passage is read at many funerals.  In today's blog I would like to propose to you it's not really about physical death at all, but who God is.

Let's start by reading it:

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.  He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake.  Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.  Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." (NIV)

Let's start with verse two, "He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters..."  What do you think of when you think of the color green?  I think of life, abundance, fertility and growth to name a few.  David, being a shepherd himself, can relate to the significance of green pastures.  Green pastures to me represent those seasons of our lives where everything is healthy and thriving.

What visual does quiet waters give you?  Again I think of life and I am reminded of Ezekiel 47:9, "where the river flows everything will live."

When I read verse two I hear permission to be at rest.  Lie down.  Enjoy.  Contemplate the goodness of God.  Be refreshed and revived.  Live!  Take a cool drink of Him and allow Him to restore your soul.  Oh, I could just camp out here and go on and on...but let's keep moving:)

Jumping to verse four, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."

When you read verse four what do you think of?  What is the shadow of death to you?  For me I think of darkness, bondage, entrapment...basically any area the enemy has his hand on.  What I really what to point out here is His instruction.  What do you do when you are in the valley?  You walk.  Keep moving, there is nothing to fear.

Do you get that?  In the good times (v2) you rest and in the bad times, you walk...in other words, you don't have to camp out there!!!!  While you are walking you choose to believe the Truth...you are not alone; He is with you!!!  Holy Spirit is in you and He is the source of all comfort!

Next time you are facing the darkness remember to keep moving.  Anybody else hearing the tune from the Disney movie Finding Nemo?  "Just keep swimming.  Just keep swimming.  Just keep swimming."  Change it to "just keep walking, just keep walking, just keep walking."  If you have no clue what I'm talking about listen to the clip on youtube here...after you've finished reading this blog post, of course;)

Are you getting this?  It's so good and my favorite part is next.  Verse five, "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows."  Let's focus on the first part of verse five.  What does a prepared table remind you of?  Food, of course!

In most cultures what does a table of food represent?  It represents fellowship!  Let's do lunch...potluck...dinner...meet over coffee?  We eat.  We laugh.  We talk.  We share.  We grow.  We live life together...at the table.  Are you following me?

Take note of who is not invited to sit at the table...your enemies.  Satan lost his place at the table.  He can only watch from a distance!

When I first realized spiritual warfare was real I went all out.  I drew the line at painting my face with war paint, but I was real close;)  My prayers were more like shouts and they were focused on the enemy.  All in the name of Jesus, of course; but, wow, was I exhausted!  Not saying that's wrong, but I think there's a more excellent way to battle and that's through fellowship with my Papa...at rest, in Him and in who He makes me.  This is warfare through relationship and intimacy!

At the table with Him you can learn who He makes you.  Face to face.  You can even recline if you wish!  When you know who He is, you know that He is bigger than any circumstance, any situation, any crisis, any problem, any opposition, any devil and any enemy!!!!!

And, as a bonus, you are promised goodness and love will follow you around all the days of your life here on this earth and dwelling place with the Lord for eternity (v6.) You are a target of His goodness!  That deserves a SHOUT of praise right there!!!!

In summary, bask in the good times with a heart ever thankful before God.  Keep walking with Him when things look scary and/or dark.  Don't neglect feasting at His table daily...spend time with Him, not out of obligation or duty, but because you are madly, deeply, crazy in love with Him and lovers spend time together!

I hope you see this passage of scripture in a brand new way.  It's not just for funerals, people!

Father God, thank You!  Thank you for providing an abiding place where I am not only safe, but equipped and restored.  Thank You for walking with me through the storms of life.  Please remind my heart of this truth when it feels like the darkness will consume me.  Thank You for being a good Daddy who enjoys my company.  Thank You for laughter.  Thank You for rest.  Thank You for making me a target of Your goodness and love!  My Soul Sings because I no longer need to battle alone or as an orphan!  Papa, I love You!  Amen!

If you enjoy reading My Soul Sings please become a follower and share it with your friends:)  God bless YOU!

Sounds fruity to me!

As I sit on my sofa this morning I can hear the contractor in our master bathroom.  We are a little over a week into a remodel and I'm already anxious to see it complete.  

Last month I went to hear one of my all time favorite speakers in Knoxville, Graham Cooke.  I've referenced him before in several blogs, but mainly this one.  

It's important for us to realize God isn't dealing in negatives, because He dealt with sin once, and for all, on the cross (I Peter 3:18.)  He doesn't see what is wrong in your life, He just sees what is missing in your encounter/experience with Him.  

How I long to see myself and others how heaven sees them!  I don't know about you, but the negative about a person is more obvious to me sometimes than the positive.  This is truly an area where we need to line up our thoughts to His and remember, His ways and thoughts are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8.)  

Graham had us ask Holy Spirit this question, "which fruit(s) of the Spirit do You want to develop in my life right now?"

Let's take a look at the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22, "The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Against such things there is no law."

What I have come to realize is we often try to manifest the fruits of the Spirit in our own strength, by good behavior or following the rules.  We've missed the most critical aspect...they are FRUIT.  

Fruit can be defined as "anything produced or accruing; product, result or effect; return or profit."  Fruit is produced by abiding in the Spirit.  You don't go to the store and decide today you're going to purchase some love, peace and joy...no, you go to Him and ask, "Father, I want to manifest the fruit of love, peace and joy.  What am I missing in my knowledge (encounter/experience) of You that I need in order to walk in the fruit of love, peace and joy?"  Perhaps you need to experience His deep life changing love for you before you can love the unlovable?

What if your situations and circumstances were designed to develop the fruits in you?  This would certainly require you to seek God, spend time with Him and gain His perspective...requiring fellowship with Him...He wants fellowship with us, it's why He created you and me!

So, back to the question, "which fruit(s) of the Spirit do You want to develop in my life right now?"

When I asked Him this question his response was, "patience."  Not what I wanted to hear...at all.  C'mon, Father, can't we work on developing some more joy, what about love?  Patience?  Seriously?

Well, friends, He obviously knows what He is doing, because patience is definitely an area in which I need an upgrade.  Several situations in my life right now are teaching me patience, but the most obvious (and the least personal) is walking through having our master bathroom remodeled.  Admittedly, I've become accustomed to my roomy bathroom and the convenience of awakening in the night to go to the potty and not having to venture very far to do so.  Currently my toilet is sitting in the middle of the bathroom floor.  Patience.

Remodels hardly ever go off without a hitch...you encounter issues you weren't expecting (perhaps a dead rat under your shower, mold under your floor or uneven walls:/)  Patience.  

If knowing yourself is important, one thing I know about me is this, it probably wouldn't be a great plan for us to build a house or do remodeling very often:)  It's just not my cup of tea.  But, one thing I do know, I'm claiming my upgrade in the patience department...not wasting my opportunity to become more like my Daddy...He is the most patient of ALL!

So, what are you waiting for?  Ask Him the question, "Holy Spirit, which fruit of the Spirit do You want to develop in my life right now?"  He will answer...Holy Spirit is the most excellent Teacher!  Start looking at your current circumstances in light of His answer and watch how much clarity you will receive.  Instead of seeing through a lens of negativity, see through heaven's eyes and watch how He transforms you from glory to glory!

Living a life seeking more of heaven, growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ makes MY SOUL SING!

If you enjoy reading My Soul Sings, please consider following this blog and sharing it with your friends!  Many blessings!

I won't try to fix you

When I stop, seek and listen, He almost always speaks. It's the stopping and seeking part I've struggled with the last few weeks. Feeling disconnected from fellowship with my Maker is not a feeling I like, but alas, I find myself in that place from time to time. I certainly know how to get out, but it sometimes 'feels' like I'm too far gone or the problem I'm facing is too big...there it is, that word 'feels.' Just a reminder we can't navigate this Christian walk based on our feelings...they often misrepresent the truth:)

Yesterday was not a good day for me and it was Easter, so I hated all the more the yuckiness I felt in my heart. I like peace and peace was far from me. Knowing I wasn't going to magically be delivered from my pit of despair without divine intervention (and me purposing to ask Him for help) I sent a close friend a message briefly outlining my woes and asking for prayer.

My short take on Galatians 6:2 is we sometimes need a brother or sister in Christ to bear our burdens when we can't seem to carry them to Jesus on our own. We aren't meant to carry them, but give them to Him in exchange for His easy yoke...but there have been times in my life I haven't had the strength to even bring them to His feet...I have experienced someone taking (bearing) it on my behalf; truly a beautiful experience.

Back to my request for prayer...this was a friend who knows me and knows me well. She has earned the right to speak into my life and I hers. We have trust. We have relationship. She responded, as I would expect from her, with a short message of "got it."

This morning she sent me some advice about the situation. Good advice. I agreed with it, actually the same advice I had given to others in the past. I tried to ignore the fact it was bothering me, but it wasn't going away. After a blissful morning seeking the Lord, I heard Him.

"It bothers you because it feels like she is trying to fix you. You don't need fixing, you need intercession, love and support." There it was...He was right on...Holy Spirit is BRILLIANT, you know;) I made a mental note to be more clear when requesting prayer in the future to state what I need, even prefacing my request with a 'I'm not looking for advice here, I just need your prayers and love.'

Of course the revelation didn't end here! There's always the look in the mirror He seems to ask me to make. In His sweet Daddy God voice, "Amy, you've been the fixer when others needed you to just listen and pray too." Of course I have! OUCH!!!!

Many readers don't know me personally, but many of you do...so, consider this a public apology if I have ever made you feel like I was trying to fix you. It's in my DNA to want to help people. After all it's why I life coach. I have even received a prophetic word that I am a problem solver. Because of this call and strong desire to help others, I have to be diligent not to step over the line from friend/confidant to fixer:) Sometimes people come to me for advice, but many times they just want someone to listen and love them where they are; a safe place, free from judgment and criticism.

As I was pondering this revelation and application to my life personally, I kept hearing the Cold Play song Fix You over and over in my head. I finally pulled it up on YouTube and listened to it several times. I've always liked the song. I know a little of the background of why it was written. Basically, it's about a person who wants to save someone they love from pain. The lyric 'I will try to fix you' reverberated in my spirit all morning.

How many people have I tried to fix? Out of love? Sometimes. Out of a need to control? Possibly. Because I once believed it was my job? Maybe.

He wanted me to share this in a blog. Why? I'm not sure. Perhaps someone is reading this and you feel stuck trying to fix someone in your life and you are frustrated because it's not working...friend, it's not suppose to work. It's not my job, or your job, to fix anyone. Our responsibility is us. Work on you and give others the best you, you've got. Work on loving, not fixing, and remember, love listens...are you listening?

My soul is singing as I type this because now I am more free to love and listen. While I'm listening I'm going to purpose to ask others what they need and in turn communicate my needs more plainly. When people come to me with issues, I will ask them, "what do you need?" I've even asked my teen, "are you wanting advice, or for me to just listen?" Sometimes she wants advice, but many times she just wants me to listen. I can do that:)

When others come to me in times of distress I want them to encounter Jesus... because He is the only ONE capable of fixing anybody!

I am smiling as I realize my mountain that seemed larger than life yesterday doesn't seem so big now, I just needed heavenly perspective on it...which came in my quiet time this morning...and, in the process, He gave me an upgrade and revelation on a topic I wasn't even aware I needed an upgrade in...ha! Papa God, you have an amazing sense of humor...oh, how I love YOU!

Food for Life Part Two

So, if you've been waiting for this second post, you've been waiting since the end of January! My life has been FULL, FULL, FULL! I think it's been a good thing, because in the last couple of months I've gotten more information and made some adjustments to my eating habits:) I want to share some of those with you today.

If you haven't read Part One, start there, which is here.

When I first embarked on this new healthier lifestyle I was 99% vegan. Vegans don't eat anything that once had a face or came from a mom and a dad...or anything derived from something that had a face or mom or dad:) For several weeks my exception was honey. Honey isn't vegan and I consumed it several times a week.

In every aspect of my life I believe in balance. I want to steward my body the way God intended for it to be stewarded and there were some disconnects with eating a vegan lifestyle and walking in freedom. I had an inner conflict which asked the question, "if I'm not suppose to eat meat or animal products, why did God make them?" He also made our bodies with enzymes and acids that specifically are there to break down animal protein. This left me in a quandary. The science in documentaries such as Food Inc. and Forks over Knives were contradicting what I felt Holy Spirit was trying to teach me. Science should compliment faith, not talk us out of it. Which led me to some very valuable information I want to share with you today.

The problem with the Standard American Diet (SAD) isn't with our consumption of animal products...it's with how those animals are raised and fed that is the problem. For example, cows were made to consume grass. They have four stomachs to complete this process! Grass fed cows are leaner and meat from them is easily digested by humans. Hmmm....only about 3% of our beef in America is grass fed. This throws a serious wrench in the studies done in Forks Over Knives...one reliable nutritionist I follow states the statistics and study samples in FOK were all done using corn fed beef! Although I am a fan of FOK and have learned much from their program; I don't call that a balanced study.

Now, friends and readers, I'm not trying to stir the pot with this post or start an argument...I just want to present you with information with the goal of being balanced in perspective.

In talking with people I have found the whole prefers corn fed beef for taste. Yes, grass fed beef is blander...but I have never liked fatty meat, so I actually prefer it:) It is just a matter of recalibrating your taste buds...if you detox from processed food and fat, chances are, your taste buds will adjust.

With all this being said, I now have in my weekly diet grass fed beef, hormone free/antibiotic free chicken or wild caught fish. There are days I don't consume any animal protein and others where I have it with both lunch and dinner. Why? Because I believe God made them for us to eat. He never intended for our cows to be fed corn, our chickens to be injected with growth hormones and be housed in cages or our oceans to be toxic waste dumps! God also made our bodies to produce an enzyme with the sole purpose of excreting B-12 from animal protein. In a vegan lifestyle B-12 has to be obtained from a supplement. I'm pretty sure they didn't have supplements back in Bible times:)

I have opted to stay away from dairy products. Through this journey I have discovered dairy is incredibly bloating and hard to digest. It is also mucous producing. Occasionally I will have some cheese on pizza, but I always seem to regret it:) Nutritional yeast has become an excellent replacement for parmesan cheese. You can even create a vegan cheese sauce using tahini and nutritional yeast (along with a few other ingredients.)

The bulk of my food intake still consists of fresh fruits and veggies. If given choice of meat or a vegetable plate, I will go with the veggies every time.

I've lost over 20 pounds since embarking on this journey to health. People want to know what diet I'm doing. I always tell them it's not a diet, it's a lifestyle. It's my desire to bust the lie the enemy has told us through the media, the latest diet trend, etc that losing weight is about counting calories, carbs or fat. If you want a temporary solution to weight loss, you can buy into that lie...but if you want a lifetime solution to health, eat nutritionally balanced!

I haven't looked into the science of what I'm about to say, but I firmly believe hunger is the body's way of telling us we need something nutritionally speaking. When we answer our body's cry of hunger with empty calories (such as a 100 calorie snack pack or rice cake) we are only temporarily appeasing it. In a couple of hours you will be hungry again because the nutritional need your body was crying out for wasn't met. Change your focus to eating nutritionally packed foods...I challenge you to try out my theory for two weeks and let me know what you think!

I hope this post has answered some questions or given you some "food" for thought...pun intended!

Good choices in all aspects of life is a goal I have. Stewarding my body is an act of obedience. Walking in complete freedom in Christ in this life He has given me is an absolute PASSION of mine...and this makes MY SOUL SING!