It’s the day
after Easter. The kids are beginning to
stir and wake. I can hear them coughing
and sneezing- allergies. A new season is
being born…beautiful blooms of flowers and trees busting open causes my peeps
to be miserable. The day after Easter - the
Resurrection - a new hope…a new life…a new being born…all because of God’s
Son. All because of Jesus.
Anxiety and
fear are my natural default. As a kid I
had so much anxiety in me before school days.
When I was in elementary school I was so afraid of a math tutor that I
would have to go see…that one day I just hid in the stairwell thinking that I
would stay there until it was time to go back to class. I even heard my name being called over the
speaker but never left the stairwell.
Jesus knows
my name.
I’ve grown up
but other things try to steal my peace. I was broken and starving for real
food. Starving for The Bread of Life. I
began to open up God’s Word and really start to read it. At first I didn’t get it. I was more confused than before I opened
it. But the more I opened it and read a
verse at a time…the more it started to change me. I began to crave Him.
Easter…His
death and Resurrection have made me so thankful for this life. I don’t want to waste time that He has
graciously given to me. My name is
written on the palm of His hand. His
hands that were nailed through - for me.
Years ago – I
found one of my favorite authors…Ann Voskamp.
Her book, One Thousand Gifts, changed me.
I began to count gifts…things that I am thankful for…things that He has
poured out to me. All the things…the
little things and the big things. By
doing this…my mind was changed. He’s
calling my name and I am listening.
When I start
spinning out of control and my temper flares…I know my equilibrium is off…my
center is off. I need to come back to
Him…come back to the writing out the gifts…listening for Him saying, “Michelle.” Because when I can hear Him call my name…then
my day changes. My center is back
aligned with Him. He is my center. I don’t
want to hear Him calling my name and hide in the stairwell. I don’t want to hear Him call my name…and sit
there hoping He doesn’t come for me.
Just like
Mary…she didn’t recognize Him standing in front of her until He called her
name. I too can get where I don’t
recognize Him.
Changed and
transformed by Jesus. Finding my center – writing out all that I am thankful
for-taking pictures of His beauty…by staying in communication with Him SO
THAT my heart beats in line with His.
When Jesus is
my center- then I am looking at my world differently.
2 Corinthians
13:5 “Do you realize that Christ Jesus is in you?”
He is in
me. And when I hear Him call my name- I’m
changed.
I know longer
want to be that little girl that’s filled with anxiety and fear. I know longer want to not acknowledge my name
when He calls. Changed and transformed
by Jesus calling my name!
“Emotionally,
our faith is often muddled by fear, hesitancy, and doubt. But our feelings become irrelevant when Jesus
is the object of our faith- when He alone is the One in whom we trust…not
ourselves, not our emotions, not our abilities…but Him alone.”
~Wendy Blight, Living so That.
~Wendy Blight, Living so That.
He’s calling…are
you willing to listen?
I love what you said, "When Jesus is my center- then I am looking at my world differently." So true! Your pics are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteThank you Cynthia. My day changes when I see the way He sees. But often I am blinded with my own stubbornness. :)
DeleteWow Michelle, I can sooo relate. I too have suffered with anxiety my whole life. I hated going to school, I would play sick sometimes just so I didn't have to go. Finally my mom realized how much it bothered me and she allowed me some "sick" days for my own sanity and hers. I remember when I was in 2nd grade, I had a Male teacher for the first time and he scared me. I had cheated on a spelling test and he caught me. I was so scared because he was going to talk to me after lunch. I think God knew how scared I was and I actually had chicken pox and didn't know it. The lunch lady sent me home and I didn't have to go back to class. I talked to my mom about it because I wanted her to know before the teacher called. We talked and prayed about it, by the time I got back to school, the teacher had forgotten and didn't talk to me about it. I don't know if my mom called or what but I was so thankful that I didn't have to be "talked to" by this big scary male teacher.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your story, it really touched me and I loved the verse, Don't you realize Christ is in you?
Anna Wylie, Group 56
Yes Anna...isn't crazy how we can let our emotions take us over. I prayed before having kids that my children would never feel the way I felt...that they would love school...and that they would have amazing teachers in their lives that realize Jesus is in them. Thank you for sharing your story!
DeleteHe does change and transform!! Thanking Him for the work He's doing and will continue to do in you and me! Blessings!
ReplyDeleteThank you Jill!!!
DeleteBeautiful photos. Beautiful words. Beautiful thoughts. Beautiful truths. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteAnxiety has been a huge hurdle in my life as well.
Thank you!! Lets jump these hurdles with Jesus!!
DeleteI've always loved the reminder that Mary didn't recognize Jesus after the resurrection until He called her name...and I wonder what it sounds like to hear Him say my own name with His very own voice. So excited about heaven!
ReplyDeleteYes!! What will our names sound like coming from Him... Sweetness!
DeleteI will be blatantly honest. I couldn't pull my eyes away from your photos! I loved them!!! I would be so honored to connect with you and learn more about how you chose your photos! Wow! I could be a person who couldn't read a word and I would get your message! I am soooooo impressed! Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYou are so sweet. I take so many photos daily that I really just sit and look through them after I write whats on my heart. When I see a photo that relates...I grab it and either add scripture or a quote to it. Whatever is speaking to me. Looking at the world through His lens and not mine is how I hold my camera and take my pictures. If that makes any sense. LOL :)
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