But First,the Test..

A month ago I moved to the Hawaiian islands, and not only did I have a turbulent landing, but I've also been swimming in spiritually rough waters every day since my arrival. I could list my woes one by one (and some days I do), but I've made a decision to fight for gratitude instead.  Most people quickly assume that living on Maui, where I moved,  must be paradise, but the difficulty of the transition has made for some incredibly challenging days.  The breathtaking views are undeniable, but things are far from perfect on my new tropical home.  That said, I press on and muster the determination to see my life and surroundings through the lens of Psalm 34:8 that says "taste and see that the Lord is good." My life here has been about more than just soaking in the beauty of the island though. I can both taste and see His goodness without effort, but He's interested in far more than fixing my eyes on the lush scenery.  There are deeper, more educational undercurrents on the move and His goal is my surrender.  Our yielding to His Spirit is rarely a once in a lifetime event; it's a daily endeavor, and more often than not, the process is painful (Galatians 5:17).  On one of my more difficult days recently, I came across an email that I wrote to someone else a couple of months ago.  She was having a hard time and I prayed for the Lord to give me words that would soothe her hurting heart. It turns out the words He penned through my hand weren't only for her, but also for me.  If you're reading this and going through a difficult time, the words are for you as well.  Be blessed as you endure your test (James 1:2-4)!  

Listen to Understand

I recently had a conflict with someone who responded to the situation by verbally attacking who I  am, who I once was, and who I will presumably be in the future.  It was a less than poetic assault on my character, and while I'd like to say the words were quickly and easily shrugged off, the truth is I had to fight pretty hard to cast them back into hell where they originated.  In the message sent, he laid out a list of my life's wrongdoings that began when I was a teenager, long before he personally knew me.  I'm almost 40 now, so the accusations he fired my way sounded strange and foreign.  I had forgotten some of what he presented because of how far back in my history the incidences occurred and the forced memory of sins I committed long before I knew Jesus assured me that his words were not from the Lord.  The Bible says in Revelation 12:10 that satan is the "accuser of the brethren," and so often he works through those close to us to bring shame and guilt and separation from God.  If he can get us to focus on what we've done instead of on how far we've come, then he has already gained a small victory.  Don't give him that foothold (Ephesians 4:27).  His ultimate goal is to convince us that the cross of Christ is insufficient to cover our mistakes and sins, but here's what I know - 2 Corinthians 5:17 says "therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; the old has gone, the new is here," and shortly after this person's ugly tirade, I came across a social media post that said the following: train your mind to hear what God whispers instead of what the enemy may be shouting. I had to consciously choose to tune out the voice of hate that yelled through an email and instead, intentionally pursue the voice of God I know to be true, so my question is - whose voice are you listening to?