tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58632070678699326982024-03-08T14:47:10.539-08:00Uncommon Beauty"Anyone can win the heart of man, but few can win the heart of God."Hope Buhlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289336183380724889noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863207067869932698.post-38468703968986223462010-04-11T14:47:00.000-07:002010-04-11T16:58:56.906-07:00Creativity Calls<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CHOPEBU%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="country-region"></o:smarttagtype><o:smarttagtype namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Georgia; panose-1:2 4 5 2 5 4 5 2 3 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Creativity calls forth something deep inside of us. It longs for us to go deeper, to connect, and then to express.</span></b></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal">
<br /><b style=""><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">I often struggle with the desire to be creative in the natural.<span style=""> </span>I see someone paint and I want to paint, I watch cooking shows and I want to cook like they do with such appreciation and enjoyment.<span style=""> </span>I look at pottery and I want to sit at a potter’s wheel. <span style=""> </span>Photography, music, cards, books all can produce the same appreciation and desire in me.<span style=""> </span>Yet, I find it difficult to move into the place of producing any of these things, finding my voice, and vision and way of communicating something creative.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">What I realize is that<span style="font-weight: bold;"> painting</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">is attractive to me because of the gentleness of the strokes, and the variety of colors that can be used to create one of a kind pictures</span>.<span style=""> </span>I tend to like black and white and have been on a journey for quite some time exploring the world of color.<span style=""> </span>Black and white are very safe, very strict, with distinct lines.<span style=""> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Color brings about feeling. </span>
<br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">After winter and all the gray, lifelessness, and lack of color… doesn’t spring and the first signs of color bring forth a sense of joy, life and hope? Red is intense in its language.<span style=""> </span>Pink is gentle and alluring.<span style=""> </span>Yellow brings a sense of sunshine and joyfulness. Rich and royal is purple in its expression.<span style=""> </span>Gentle blue skies bring a sense of rest, relaxation and beckon us to come out and have fun.<span style=""> </span><b style="">God is the greatest painter of all, as seen in vivid sun rises and sunsets against the backdrop of rocky or snow capped mountains, above roaring oceans and sandy beaches or serene, glassy lakes.<span style=""> </span>Any painter is but an imitator of the original and what a compliment that is to Him.</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">There is a growing movement of creativity in the body of Christ.</span> One of the areas, being released more and more in certain streams is prophetic painting.<span style=""> </span>People come to places of worship, equipped with tools of creative expression and as they worship they begin to express through color, and multi-media, things they sense or see in their hearts.<span style=""> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Many that cannot express in a verbal way their love for God, or what they see or inspires them, they do by way of painting. They also capture unique ways God wants to communicate to us.</span> <span style=""> </span>Much in the way a musician strums a guitar, picks out a new melody on the piano as it runs through their mind, or a drummer beats new rhythms as he feels it out as it makes sense to him. I love this and believe it holds a special place in God’s heart.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">When I am drawn to <span style="font-weight: bold;">pottery</span>, it is because of the vessels that have been formed for a particular use or just for the enjoyment or the creativity of the individual who would use the vessel.<span style=""> </span>A cup could be for drinking or to hold pens, a pitcher either for juice or to hold an arrangement of flowers.<span style=""> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">The process of clay being molded and shaped into something useful or creative is very inspiring to me, which for me, comes from the place of knowing what the Word says about this concept being connected to us as individuals.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <ul><li><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span>“And yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are the potter. <span style="font-weight: bold;">We all are formed by your hand</span>.” Is 64:8<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <ul><li><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span style=""> </span>‘Then I went down to the potter’s house, and there he was, making something at the wheel.<span style=""> </span>And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; <span style="font-weight: bold;">so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make</span>.</span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><b style=""> O House of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?”</b> says the Lord. “Look, as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand, O house of <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">Israel</st1:place></st1:country-region>. Jer 18:3-6</span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">
<br /><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">When I am drawn to the <span style="font-weight: bold;">cooking</span>, it is the concept (as I do not really like to cook) of taking often similar ingredients, used in a multitude of different ways, adding spices, a variety of cooking methods and temperatures, then making them into savory dishes that will be enjoyed by others.<span style=""> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Food often adds to fun and fellowship, is sometimes given to comfort others during times of difficulty or suffering, mostly used to just plain meet the need of being hungry, and unfortunately abused in allowing it to be too much of a priority and using it to “fill” empty places in our hearts.</span><span style=""> </span>Yet again, there is a new level in this generation of creativity in going beyond just the practical need of eating, but bringing in color, spice, variety and fun.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">When I am drawn to <span style="font-weight: bold;">books</span>, it is the stories and lessons learned or taught by others.<span style=""> </span>The lives they have lived and the emotions they evoke in me, cause me to think and live beyond myself.<span style=""> </span><b style="">Books have truly changed my life.<span style=""> </span>They give me time to stop, sit back, think through and examine things from different perspectives.<span style=""> </span>Books allow me to be an interested, intense observer rather than a casual passer by</b>…like when I view a movie. And hopefully if there are worthwhile, godly, spiritual principles communicated, I have the opportunity to grow up in them and make them my own.<span style=""> </span>Books reveal the beauty of the inner life of others…if they are “choice” material, and not the cheap, quick, money earning options of the modern day…which reveal an inner life too, but one not quite so beautiful.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">When I am drawn to <b style="">journals,</b> paper and pens, it’s the thought and passion of the deep, inner places that can be explored and expressed across blank pages.<span style=""> </span>Those empty pages becoming something new, never expressed, bringing clarity and giving sight as the words work their way across the page.<span style=""> </span><b style="">Capturing moments of the heart, what would have been fleeting thoughts, but now because they are written down, demand to be given more attention, a closer look, a deeper pondering</b>.<span style=""> </span>Now what would have been for one person, something skipped past becomes for them something so much more, something expanded, expressed, pursued, embraced, enjoyed, explored and can now be given to others for some of the same experience. And it also gives opportunities for others to add their perspective and when that piece is added, it becomes even more.<span style=""> </span>It can now take on different and broader hues as it is seen from other viewpoints.<span style=""> </span>What was nothing but a brief thought, because of the act of writing it down, allows it to become more…more fulfilling, more influential, just plain more.<span style=""> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Even if others never see the things written down, it lends itself to getting things out of our hearts, and gives us a path to look back on. It becomes a journey of our hearts to learn from and to remember.
<br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">
<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">A painting begins with a thought, a desire, a stroke of the brush<o:p></o:p></span>
<br /></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">A vessel begins with a thought, a desire, a lump of clay<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;">
<br />A meal begins with a thought, a desire, a variety of ingredients<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;">
<br />A book begins with a thought, a desire, a story or truth to tell<o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;">
<br /></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">A journal begins with a thought, a desire, a memory to keep or a thought to process out.</span></div></div><div> </div><p style="text-align: right;" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div style="text-align: right;"> </div><div> </div><div style="text-align: right;"> </div><div style="text-align: right;"> </div><div style="text-align: right;"> </div><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Georgia;">There is always a beginning, a desire, a process that leads to expression.</span></b><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span style=""> </span>Expression is ultimately the result of creativity, so what is expressed and how it is expressed is extremely important.<span style=""> </span>Expression comes for the interior place, “out of the heart, the mouth speaks”… the painter paints, the potter forms, the musician composes, the writer writes, the preacher preaches.<span style=""> </span><b style="">Therefore, the interior place is what matters most.<span style=""> </span>It should be the most beautiful and honest place, so all that comes forth from there, will be beauty and truth that others may enjoy, grow from and be inspired by.</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<br /><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><b style=""><o:p></o:p></b></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">I believe <span style="font-weight: bold;">“the arts of creativity” </span>are some of the many tangible ways God uses to help us get to the core, the things that matter most, really feeling and living life, and helping us to truly know ourselves. Making something out of nothing and/or using what is available to produce something new, can give us great joy and such a wonderful sense of accomplishment in the fact that “I made that” and “it is good”.<span style=""> </span>At times creating is for the pure pleasure of it and at other times creating comes from the need to express or give something to others as a way of blessing or connecting. <span style="font-weight: bold;">This is especially effective because of the gentle nurturing of the soul that it brings, which encourages life and healing, and the enjoyment of being like our Creator God. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> Hope Buhlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289336183380724889noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863207067869932698.post-65151973673662798832010-02-27T06:21:00.000-08:002010-02-27T06:40:19.370-08:00Why Are You So Wonderful?<meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CHOPEBU%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Georgia; panose-1:2 4 5 2 5 4 5 2 3 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Georgia">You create the hunger, I hunger<o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Georgia">You give me food, I eat<o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Georgia">You give me breath, I breathe,<o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Georgia">You give me Life, I live<o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Georgia">You speak Truth, I receive<o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Georgia">You shine the Light, I see<o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Georgia">You open a path, I walk in it</font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><font face="Georgia"><o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Georgia">I cry, You comfort me,<o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Georgia">I get hurt,<font style=""> </font>You bind my wounds<o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Georgia"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I get lost, You never lose sight of me</span><o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Georgia">I stumble, You help me up<o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Georgia">I get discouraged, You encourage<o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Georgia">I condemn, You accept<o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Georgia">I sin, You forgive<o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Georgia">I blame, You defend<o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Georgia">I get distracted, You remain focused<o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Georgia">I struggle, You cheer me on<o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Georgia">I have nothing, You have and are everything—You give it all</font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><font face="Georgia"><o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Georgia">Why are you so wonderful?</font></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /><font face="Georgia"><o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Georgia"><span style="font-style: italic;">Acts 17:28</span><font style="font-style: italic;"> </font><span style="font-style: italic;">for in Him we live and move and have our being</span><o:p></o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></font></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Georgia"><o:p> </o:p></font></p> Hope Buhlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289336183380724889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863207067869932698.post-85016071923355115782008-07-04T10:11:00.000-07:002008-07-04T10:19:46.244-07:00Independence Day<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"> Today is the fourth of July and I sit in my basement all alone waiting for my family to return from <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Tallahassee</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style=""> </span>So many changes have happened in our lives over this last season, some of our own choosing and some that were not our choice.<span style=""> </span>There are places in my heart that I have just continued to sit and wait, ponder, obsess, fret and be concerned over.<span style=""> </span>I have wanted to move forward but have not been able to for many reasons.<span style=""> </span>I have desired more clarity and wanting to know what I was reaching for or moving towards.<span style=""> </span>I have wanted to make sure my heart was clear.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span style=""> </span>But today I sit before the Lord and I find myself saying to Him…I pledge my allegiance to Jesus!<span style=""> </span>You are my Truth, You are my Way, You are my Life.<span style=""> </span>I commit my heart and all my loyalty to You.<span style=""> </span>You are my First Love, my First Love, my First Love.<span style=""> </span>I declare today independence from the ways of men, worldly wisdom and systems.<span style=""> </span>I separate myself from my way, my desires, and my soul’s preferences.<span style=""> </span>I commit my heart, my hands, and my life to you only Lord.<span style=""> </span>I will go where you want me to go; I will be all that you want me to be. I choose to see the truth for what it is and look it fully in the face.<span style=""> </span>I will not run in fear, or compromise because it’s easier.<span style=""> </span>I will believe what you speak, agree with what you say, and align my heart, actions, focus and words to live according to those things.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><span style=""> </span>I will not be so foolish as to have begun in the Spirit, and now be made perfect in the flesh.<span style=""> </span>Have I suffered so many things in vain-----if indeed it was in vain?<span style=""> </span>He who supplies the Spirit to me and works miracles, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?<span style=""> </span>Just as Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him for righteousness, I believe God so that it will be accounted to me for righteousness. (Gal 3:3-6)</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">If I do not come out of this season with stronger convictions, knowing what I value and why, then I will have suffered in vain.<span style=""> </span>In the suffering do I now lay down the things I hold dear…do I lay them down because by holding to them I have lost a great many things that were also precious to me. Or will I hold on to the gold and silver that have been refined in the fire and not grieve over the wood, hay and stubble that has been burned up.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><b style=""> </b></span><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><b style="">What do I hold dear?</b><span style=""> </span>Loyalty, Honesty, Servant Leadership, Humility, Laying Your Life Down For a Friend, Compassion, True Spiritual Authority, and Intimacy with God and with Covenant Friends, Fighting for the Good of the Whole, not just self…God’s Way.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><b style=""><span style="font-family:Georgia;">What do I despise?<span style=""> </span></span></b><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Betrayal, Dishonesty, Pride, Control, Self-Preservation, Mammon, Vying for Position, Illegitimate Authority, Insecurity, Selfishness, Compromise, People Pleasing…Man’s Way.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Our founding fathers gave of their lives, families, and fortunes to fight for a dream and a freedom that they believed in.<span style=""> </span>Because of their personal sacrifice we have lived a life they never experienced in the natural, yet they knew it in their hearts and because of that, they were able to sacrifice for it to become a reality.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">I have a dream that is in my heart.<span style=""> </span>A dream that I thought died, yet if a dream is real and from the heart of God it never truly dies.<span style=""> </span>It might have to be planted in the ground and “appear dead”.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">John 12:24-25<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, <b style="">dead to the world</b>, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over.<span style=""> </span>In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. <b style="">But if you let it go</b>, <b style="">reckless in your love</b>, you'll have it forever, real and eternal. (from THE MESSAGE).<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">Reckless in our love, the dream was tested; our conviction and principles were tested. Although things did not turn out the way I thought they would, and the temptation to give up, throw in the towel and to yield to the voices that have risen against my dream and have fought to silence it, have been a constant companion. Yet, here I sit today all alone, with something still beating in my heart. Faintly it beats, distant is its voice, and quiet is its whisper.<span style=""> </span>“Do not lose hope”, it says.<span style=""> </span>“Don’t faint and be weary in well doing. Keep, the faith.<span style=""> </span>I am not dead, I have been silenced but for a time.<span style=""> </span>Soon I will rise and shine forth like the sun.<span style=""> </span>Soon life will be breathed into me and strength will come forth.<span style=""> </span>Soon, the heartbeat will be louder and stronger.<span style=""> </span>Soon it will not be so distant and faint.<span style=""> </span>Soon you will hear the roar, the thunder, the cry.<span style=""> </span>Soon the dream will come forth and be birthed in the earth.<span style=""> </span>Soon, Soon , Soon.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;">So today <b style="">I declare I still believe in the “unseen dream”.<span style=""> </span>I do not give up hope, for that is my name.<span style=""> </span>How can I give up who I am?<span style=""> </span>I am Hope and I have hope because of Him in who I have believed, and that He is able to keep that which I have committed to Him.<span style=""> </span>I declare my independence from man, my flesh and this world, and declare my DEPENDENCE ON HIM.<span style=""> </span>I have a dream, it’s a beautiful dream, a dream God gave me.<span style=""> </span>I believe in that dream. <span style=""> </span>No one else has to. He and I have dreamed together, He has partnered with me and I with Him.<span style=""> </span>And from that place I will move forward and step into all that is in my heart to do.<o:p></o:p></b></span></p>Hope Buhlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289336183380724889noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863207067869932698.post-52946439057627849262008-05-17T11:32:00.000-07:002008-05-17T11:42:49.623-07:00The Eye of the Master Craftsman<p class="MsoNormal">I wrote this prayer the other day knowing that as parents Chip and I can tend to see all the things that our children are not, all the manners they don’t have, and all the character that still needs to be formed. Yet I believe the heart cry and the desire of most Christian parents is similar to the prayer I prayed for us.<span style=""> </span>This is our battle.<span style=""> </span>This is the area of our greatest need and desire for our children. May the Lord answer this prayer for all of us.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;" align="center">The Eye of the Master Craftsman</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><o:p> </o:p><br /> We want spiritual children not religious children!<span style=""> </span>Lord, teach us Your ways.<span style=""> </span>You have made us spiritual, not religious.<span style=""> </span>Help us to recognize, remember, and think on all the ways that You have taught us, led us, disciplined, encouraged, and corrected us.<span style=""> </span>Help us to see from Your perspective... how You have produced in us, what You have produced.<span style=""> </span>As we see, may we then be like You and walk in Your ways, that our children will grow up to be trees of righteousness with deep spiritual roots.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">You are the master craftsman, seeing the vessel before its fully formed and pulling it out from the midst of all that surrounds it, breaking the outer portions yet keeping intact the precious gem, shaving off the rough edges to create a beautiful, usable piece, removing the excess clay then molding and pressing it to bring forth the desirable shape.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">You also know and are so wise in placing the vessel where it is tested so it may be proven or refired depending on the results. You also know the design and its perfect placement so it will be shown off the best and feel the sense of fulfillment that it is exactly where it should be, being utilized and appreciated for its part.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">May we have that eye for our children, that we can break off what is keeping the gem from shining forth, that we will be confident to be the sandpaper to go against the grain of what they think , want or what the world tells them they are designed for.<span style=""> </span>May we press strongly always with an eye for who they really are, molding them in that way. May we not grow weary or fainthearted.<span style=""> </span>May we never fail to start the design or be fearful to touch because they push against it or don’t desire it, or because we didn’t look to see!</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Oh Lord, let us see with Your eyes the bigger picture for our children. Help us see the gems that they are and not be focused in a wrongful, discouraging way on the rough edges.<span style=""> </span>Remove the cataract and hardness from our eyes.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Help us to know their strengths and bents that we may pour Your word, Your Spirit, Your ways into those areas that they would not be vessels of pride but vessels fit for the Master’s use.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Help us Lord to train these beautiful, young stallions. May they run with grace and dignity, beauty and strength, submitted to The Master so that those who see them all the days of their life will be glad and rejoice in who they are and never be sad, hurt or broken by them.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Help us to help them be gifts to this world and all who know them.<span style=""> </span>May they bring delight to Your heart.<span style=""> </span>Give us the grace for generational/spiritual transfer I pray.<span style=""> </span>That we would follow You and our children would follow you.<span style=""> </span>Let us never be like Eli who served You but his son’s were wicked and perverted and turned the hearts of people away from You.<span style=""> </span>Likewise, David sought after You but many of his sons turned away or never knew You.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">We could have the same with our children.<span style=""> </span>We are weak in many ways.<span style=""> </span>Lord, have mercy on us and our children.<span style=""> </span>Strengthen us to teach them, show them and require from them to walk in Your ways, yield to Your heart and will, and not follow the dictates of their own heart.<span style=""> </span>As stewards of them while on this earth, may we one day stand before You with them by our side knowing that we were faithful to do our part in helping them to grow in wisdom, stature and favor with God and men.----Amen</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Hope Buhlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289336183380724889noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863207067869932698.post-2857942219679897912008-03-07T18:03:00.000-08:002008-04-14T18:05:43.360-07:00My Father's Heart<o:p></o:p> On February 29, 2008 my father turned 80 years old.<span style=""> </span>As my family gathered together to celebrate this momentous occasion we had no idea what was in store.<span style=""> </span>Just as every family on earth has its triumphs and tragedies, connections and separations, love and hate of relational dynamics and certain family characteristics, ours is no different.<span style=""> </span>You never know what might happen when you come together; so sometimes before you get there you kind of prepare yourself for “certain family dynamics”.<span style=""> </span>Well, we had the typical time of eating, blowing out of candles and conversations going on in all corners of the room. <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Time was taken to read historical moments about political things, highlight clothing styles, and famous actors from over the last 80 years.<span style=""> </span>We then asked my dad of memories he had from way back and had the opportunity to listen to many of the things that my father had seen, experienced or lived through in his 80 years.<span style=""> </span>He talked about many of the natural things like having no refrigerator, (only a hole in the ground when he was a little boy), working in the fields when he was four and five years old, and many other things like that.<span style=""> </span>When asked about what he feels has changed the most he said, “the morality of the world.”<span style=""> </span>When he was growing up those that were unsaved were more moral than most Christians are now.<span style=""> </span>His heart is very sad and grieved about that.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">That is just one of the reasons I love my father; because for him out of all things, that stood out the most.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">We then all moved to another room, children, grandchildren, friends and extended family members. He had been asked to pray and bless us. Now my father is a tall, yet gentle and quiet man.<span style=""> </span>He does not like to be the center of attention and really did not want this gathering for him, as he did not want to put anyone out just for the sake of celebrating him, as he is not really a big group party man.<span style=""> </span>But we did anyway because it was important to us for him to know he is thought of and loved.<span style=""> </span>He would prefer to listen and not speak, but we asked him to share, because we believe what he has to say should be heard, received and honored. We all gathered and sat waiting for the few words we expected to come forth from his mouth.<span style=""> </span>As he began to share there was literally a supernatural hush and an immediate stillness.<span style=""> </span>The littlest child was quiet and the most active and squirmy sat completely still, as though mesmerized.<span style=""> </span>We figured later it was because they were in shock as they had never heard Poppy say that much. <span style="font-family:Wingdings;"><span style="">J</span></span><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">He began with a testimony of what God had been doing in his life through a particular prophetic ministry word given by Graham Cooke.<span style=""> </span>He then began to share through tears that it all comes down to how much the Lord loves us; that we must know and experience His love. <span style=""> </span>From there, he went on to give us this word of the Lord that has changed him so much as a generational inheritance.<span style=""> </span>He asked that we each would read through it with our families once a month or a year, whatever way that we would be led so as to reap the full benefits of what God has for each of our families.<span style=""> </span>Then hands were laid upon each of the grandchildren that were there with blessings for them and for those that were not able to come. He then prayed an overall blessing for all of us.<span style=""> </span>Mixed in with many of those moments were times that he repented or asked our forgiveness for areas that he may have failed us as a father. </p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">I sat back amazed at all that was taking place.<span style=""> </span>I am the 7<sup>th</sup> of 8 children and after their 4<sup>th</sup> child, my father and mother got saved and became church planters.<span style=""> </span>They were in the ministry for many years, but then some family difficulty struck and that season came to an end.<span style=""> </span>It seemed from that point on as though the wind was knocked out of my parents.<span style=""> </span>I have vague memories of my father as a pastor as I was 8 when they stepped out of the ministry.<span style=""> </span>Now as I sat listening to my father stand before us all, all I could see was the old mantle being restored, the strength of the teacher and heart of a minister flowing out of him, along with the new realization of God’s love for him as a son that he has never had.<span style=""> </span>My siblings and I agreed later that we have not seen dad like that in over 30 years. It was supernatural.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">I share all of these things mainly to honor my two fathers.<span style=""> </span>First of all, I thank my Heavenly Father for loving and pushing into my earthly father’s life so intensely at this time to reveal His love to him. Because of THE FATHER’S LOVE, my dad is truly coming to LIFE.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Secondly, I would like to honor my earthly father in the fact that although there is not much in the way of natural inheritance to be passed on to our generation, he has passed on treasures that neither moth nor rust can destroy and thieves cannot steal.<span style=""> </span>Although so little has been given to him in his life in any area, he has remained faithful to God. He has given us an incredible spiritual inheritance. <span style=""> </span>I would take that over any amount of money, houses, or any earthly items.<span style=""> </span>I am blessed and a very wealthy woman, for the Lord has given me riches upon riches within my natural family, a father who loves and fear God.</p>Hope Buhlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289336183380724889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863207067869932698.post-58940639490090491302007-11-05T16:09:00.000-08:002007-11-09T09:34:42.390-08:00The Places Where I Have Died and Yet I Still Live<o:p></o:p>I climbed a dangerous mountain called covenant and found when I got to the top the battles I had fought to get there and the convictions formed as I pushed my way upward were quite different than those of others I met along the way.<span style=""> </span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> I died on that mountain.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It sent me down to the valley of great loss.<span style=""> </span>I lived in that valley for a very long time, bearing heavy burdens, weeping great rivers of tears, carrying great shame and reproach.<span style=""> </span>Much anger arose in my soul, great opportunity to accuse, question, blame others and myself. The greatest despair was to be found in knowing that God led me this way and in order to truly live out my convictions they had to be tested and proven. The pain with which it pleased Him to grieve me was that of authenticating my convictions and my love for Him above all else.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> I died in that valley.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I climbed another mountain called hope it was a twin of the first peak I climbed. In fact I would fly from one to the other at times.<span style=""> </span>This mountain had great promise of provision, breakthrough, dreams coming to pass, prophecies coming to fruition. None turned out the way I envisioned, expected or believed for.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> I died on that mountain</span><o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;">.</span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">It collapsed beneath my feet and plunged me into a wilderness of depression. In that wilderness I could do nothing but cry, I could not provide anything for myself as every little task became a mountain to me.<span style=""> </span>That is where I met ravens who came and fed me, nurtured me, wept with me and prayed….they were from the very heart of God and sustained my weary soul.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> I died in that wilderness.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">I finally got up from there and traveled to the beautiful <st1:place st="on"><st1:placetype st="on">Garden</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename st="on">Gethsemane</st1:placename></st1:place>, the place that caused me to know the aloneness of the soul from all other humans and the absolute sacrifice of my will to His.<span style=""> </span>No one could go there with me, it was my place to go alone, to wrestle my flesh, the Lord and the devil.<span style=""> </span>It was not pretty, definitely not easy, and not something I took lightly.<span style=""> </span>The more I suffered the closer He came for He understood, He’d been there before.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> I died in that Garden.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Unbeknownst to me, the next step was the cross.<span style=""> </span>The place where my crown was that of thorns—all hell against my mind, the nails in my hands and feet, held me in a place where I could do nothing, and go nowhere.<span style=""> </span>There I was for the entire world to see helpless, hopeless, dieing, and bleeding.<span style=""> </span>Thieves, religious mindsets, friends, devils all seemingly opposing, accusing, misunderstanding all exacting the blows that would finish my cross.<span style=""> </span>I found that in my nothingness, inability, nakedness and helplessness He became my all, my ability, my covering and my help. He found me beautiful in that place in only a way He can.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> I died on that cross.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><o:p><br /></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">That death sent me to the pit of hell.<span style=""> </span>In that hell I found the devil holding keys that were mine.<span style=""> </span>I did not know they were mine.<span style=""> </span>Weary from the battles, the death, the aloneness, and hopelessness, I could not see that he had no power to keep them.<span style=""> </span>He taunted me for days, hours, and moments reminding of my failures, my lack, my past, convincing me I had no hope for the future, why because I was there and I was not capable of anything.<span style=""> </span>I found the Lord saving my soul as He showed me that from the womb, the enemy had 3 lies he had whispered that now had become shouts within me and my interpretation of all <span style=""> </span>that was around me.<span style=""> </span>They were truth to me, I believed and allowed them to determine my thoughts, decisions and interpretations of things. I did not know for they were intricately woven within my soul, but TRUTH came and He crushed those things and told me the real truth, the truth that brings life.</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p>I have not died here…I am fighting for those keys.<span style=""> </span>The keys that are mine, that were given to me by the king to rule the portion He has allotted to me. I have seen a glimpse of them but have not yet held them.<span style=""> </span>The danger for the enemy is that now I know he has them and they are mine. I have not died these many deaths in vain.<span style=""> </span>I know I am nothing and that is a great weapon because all that I am not…He is.<span style=""> </span>I know I have no ability, anointing, or favor unless He has mercy and grace towards me and extends it to me.<span style=""> </span>I know the keys the enemy is keeping from me are powerful and able to unlock the chains of many and open huge doors for others or else he would not be holding on so tightly and fighting so ferociously.<span style=""> </span>I hate him and he hates me.<span style=""> </span>We have that in common.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I have died many deaths this year, some I have died well and with great grace and ease, others I have died screaming, cussing and crying all the way down without any poise, grace or spirituality. <span style=""> </span>But this one thing I know---I’m in love with God and God’s in love with me, this is who I am and this is who I’ll be and that settles it completely. </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span></p>Hope Buhlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289336183380724889noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863207067869932698.post-26393933833137186942007-11-05T16:07:00.000-08:002007-11-05T16:19:27.358-08:00Ministry of the Shelf Life<span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p></o:p></span><span style=";font-family:";" > We find many products on our shelves that have a shelf life.<span style=""> </span>They are best if used by the date stamped somewhere on the package.<span style=""> </span>We often keep certain things for rainy days, for someday down the road, or we would just like to try it sometime.<span style=""> </span>Often, we find the day we desire to use it, and the date is expired… we wonder can it still be used.<span style=""> </span>Maybe it’s best before this date, but certainly it would be fine after the date…wouldn’t it?<o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:";" >During certain times of our lives, we might find ourselves where God has prophecied, developed, and prepared us and we are ready to be exactly who He has called us to be.<span style=""> </span>He then allows us to step out, maybe even pushes us out to begin to function in those giftings.<span style=""> </span>Just as we begin to gain confidence and see why we’ve been through the refining process, what all the heat and stretching on the conveyor belt of His divine factory was all about, we are removed, boxed and shelved…to be used at a later date.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Yet, the shelf life is not what it seems.<span style=""> </span>It is not that you are not useful, you messed up, your best days are behind you or that your creator likes to play mean games.<span style=""> </span>He is not just getting your hopes up to then crush them.<span style=""> </span>No, the shelf life is when you know who you are, the product God has made you to be.<span style=""> </span>But the shelf, the still, unuseful, not being utilized, or added to anything around you place of seeming stagnation, is the final test of where your heart is.<span style=""> </span>The test of where your security truly lies.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Is it in who you are, your gifts, and abilities?<span style=""> </span>Is it in who others think you are?<span style=""> </span>Is it in you thinking that you know how you will be used?<span style=""> </span>Can you be just as satisfied, secure and confident in the hidden place on the shelf as you are in the obvious, public, useful place?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:";" >This is the place where it’s wrestled out from within…whether your identity is in Him who made you or in what He called you to do. This is the place of patience and trust knowing that HE has stamped seasons on our life and He knows when those times expire.<span style=""> </span>He knows that we will be best if used by… but His timing isn’t necessarily about a specific day, it often involves the response of our heart…our heart readiness.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:";" >He is not just after the product being useful and having purpose.<span style=""> </span>He cares about us and how we will be affected by the pressures, requirements, and temptations we will face once we are fully released.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:";" >He knows the end from the beginning and knows what faces us down the road.<span style=""> </span>The greatest gift of love is to test our security so that we will know regardless of being loved or hated, our identity and safety lies in Him.<span style=""> </span>Our hope is in Him, our purpose is in Him and for Him.<span style=""> </span>But, we have to taste usefulness, success and then have it be pulled away to test us to see if our identity, passions and heart are about the call or about Him who called us.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:";" >He gives and He takes away.<span style=""> </span>Does He do it to frustrate, embitter, or cause us to doubt.<span style=""> </span>No, He does it to do us good in the end.<span style=""> </span>He tests us so we can travel through the paths of frustration, visit the streams of bitterness and taste the fruit of self doubt and doubting Him.<span style=""> </span>We then have to choose if we will walk from frustration to the path of peace, visit but not drink in bitterness, wrestle with the taste of doubting, and decide that we like the taste of His goodness and trusting Him much more.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:";" >We then realize that regardless of where we find ourselves, being added to other ingredients in His kingdom or placed specifically on the shelf to be called upon for another time, we are secure.<span style=""> </span>Secure in knowing our life is not our own, we are His for whatever He needs, whenever He sees fit.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:";" >Down the road, we may be the donkey He needs to carry destiny on our back whether to <st1:city st="on">Bethlehem</st1:city> or through the streets of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:city>.<span style=""> </span>We may be the tree that helps others climb to see Jesus.<span style=""> </span>We may be the clothing used to cover another’s shame, or a stone to slay a giant.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:";" >We might find ourselves called to be a deliverer of millions, shelved in the desert for 40 years, or shelved in prison until the time to save a nation.<span style=""> </span>Maybe we will be a voice in the wilderness, or an alabaster bottle filled with the fragrance of Christ’s character broken just to minister to someone our great love in a time of their greatest need.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:";" >The shelf life is a special time that digs into deeply hidden places in order to bring them to the light so that the fullness of all He is will be what brings us life.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:";" ><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=";font-family:";" ><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Hope Buhlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289336183380724889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863207067869932698.post-77532652906754262912007-11-05T15:58:00.000-08:002007-11-05T16:19:06.611-08:00Great is His Faithfulness<span style="font-size:14;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-size:14;">In His faithfulness<o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;"><span style=""> </span>40 years ago He spoke to a young woman of 32 who already had 6 children, was very poor and had no insurance and said “Have another child”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;">--that child was me<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;">In His faithfulness<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;"><span style=""> </span>as an 8 year old He got a hold of my heart and caused me to visit the altar many times in conviction.<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;">In His faithfulness<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;"><span style=""> </span>because He had more for us then dead religion, He allowed my parents to get fired from the Christian school where they taught because we visited another church where they believed in the baptism of the Holy Spirit.<span style=""> </span>He led us into a place through difficulty so that we might have more of Him.<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;">In His faithfulness<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;"><span style=""> </span>He saw a young 19 year old girl who fell in love and had plans to get married to a particular young man—He supernaturally broke us up…because He had something better.<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;">In His faithfulness<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;"><span style=""> </span>He found me 2 years later, still reeling from the “divorce” of my heart, having given up hope, gone my own way – looking everywhere for something or someone to stop the pain…He called me away to Himself, He wanted to be that something.<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;">In His faithfulness<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;"><span style=""> </span>He set me aside for six months, called me to quit my job, move back home and then gave me an older woman and a prayer partner who encouraged, prayed with me and helped me to stay on the course of righteousness <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p></o:p>In His faithfulness<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;"><span style=""> </span>He caused me to meet the man He had chosen for me—allowed it to be completely different than anything I had ever known in order to deal with my flesh, my carnal emotions and to grow in trust in Him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p></o:p>In His faithfulness<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;"><span style=""> </span>He gave me the best in my marriage and required me to have children before I wanted; causing me to put ministry and other things He had spoken on the back burner.</span></p><span style="font-size:14;">In His faithfulness<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;"><span style=""> </span>He knew the hardships of having children would deal with my selfishness, laziness, apathy, bad attitude and harshness and He knew the joy of having children—would cause me to give and receive love, and laugh like I never had.<span style=""> </span>He knew family would do more to prepare me to minister then just stepping out and “doing ministry”.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p></o:p>In His faithfulness<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;"><span style=""> </span>He called us to start a church around the same time we started our family---with no money, no real training, no other families with small children…just a word from Him and our obedience. Through our difficulties in the early years of our relationship He gave us a heart to call people to a higher purity in singleness, and to build strong foundations in marriages—through this He added to us many spiritual sons and daughters.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p></o:p>In His faithfulness<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;"><span style=""> </span>As we began to prosper in <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Tallahassee</st1:place></st1:city> and see things we had been hoping and praying for come to pass, He saw a people in another place calling for a church, He chose to send as an answer to that call and we started over again.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p></o:p>In His faithfulness<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;"><span style=""> </span>He called me to home school, although I never liked school the first time, and called Chip to stay home when He had been sending him overseas.<span style=""> </span>He did this to bring us rest and bring our family together in a different way…great patience it has produced.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p></o:p>In His faithfulness<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;"><span style=""> </span>He has kept us through great financial difficulty, relational disappointments, and delayed promises.<span style=""> </span>He has softened our hearts yet strengthened them, focused our vision yet enlarged us, allowed us to die to many of our dreams in order to give us the dreams He has for us; which are much better and larger than ours.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p>In His faithfulness<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;"><span style=""> </span>He brought us here to this great people of <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Atlanta</st1:place></st1:city> in order to labor, cry, believe and battle together.<span style=""> </span>That we would see lives changed one at a time, marriages built, babies born, children trained, the youth released in gifting and destiny, and campuses reached. That we would be a diverse people connected together through one heart and one vision—to love God and love people.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p></o:p>In His faithfulness<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;"><span style=""> </span>He has helped us and kept us as we wandered in a dry desert place. He has loved us so much that He has allowed the bondages and mentalities of Egypt to be purged out of us so that we might truly SEE HIM and step into the fullness of His promises.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p></o:p>In His faithfulness<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;"><span style=""> </span>He has prepared, refined and brought us to this point, right here, right now to be alive for such a time as this.<o:p><br /></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p></o:p><br />In His faithfulness<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:14;">He is calling us <b style="">upward,</b> to fly higher, reach farther, and to take hold of our inheritance. He is calling us to have courage and risk again. Because of the great record of His faithfulness, He is beckoning us <b style="">forward</b> to trust Him for more as we remember how He has led us and kept us this far.<span style=""> </span>He is faithful and true.<o:p></o:p></span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Hope Buhlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289336183380724889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863207067869932698.post-83860427538739835722007-11-05T15:43:00.000-08:002008-05-10T17:25:56.619-07:00Transitioning Well --Part 2<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Now to <b style="">transition</b>, the part I really wanted to get to.<span style=""> </span><i style="">“Transition is generally the shortest part of labor; however, this is also the most intense part.<span style=""> </span>Transition is similar to scaling the last large cliff of the mountain.<span style=""> </span>It takes tremendous energy and support to make it through this short, yet difficult part. The major emotional marker for this stage is <b style="">GIVING UP</b>. It is not uncommon for a mother to say, “I can’t do this,” or “I need something.” <o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Have you ever felt the intensity or battle for your dream so strongly, the weariness, the exhaustion from the fight, voices in your head, pushes you towards giving up? Pastor Jim Laffoon, <span style=""> </span>preached a message at City Life called <i style=""><u>Becoming a Giant</u>.</i><span style=""> </span>He said, <i style="">“In moments of crisis, transition, going to the next level, the devil will magnify the voices of those who have said negative things about you or have ever hurt you.<span style=""> </span>You will hear with a megaphone everything that has been whispered for years.<span style=""> </span>The more impossible it seems to you, it seems impossible to the devil too.<span style=""> </span>He doesn’t believe it could be different.<span style=""> </span>When torment and fear come …you cower down.<span style=""> </span>Instead, get the word and run toward it. The devil isn’t used to someone running after him.” </i><span style=""> </span>These are great words of truth from a man who has fought many battles naturally, spiritually and physically.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span> I can’t help but identify with the “I need something”.<span style=""> </span>Definitely when in natural labor, it is very hard to know what you need as all of your senses are extra intense and you just want the pain to stop!<span style=""> </span>What helps is when others who know you and are discerning, help encourage and coach you during this time.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style="">“Remain Calm, Remain Positive, Keep It Simple, and Remind Her of Her Progress,” Jennifer shares as the main tips for those coaching a laboring mothering during transition. “The laboring mother is very suggestible.<span style=""> </span>If you look or act concerned or stressed she will pick up on it and become concerned that something is wrong.<span style=""> </span>You must keep yourself calm and relaxed.<span style=""> </span>If necessary, take a step back, take a deep breath and remind yourself that transition is normal.<span style=""> </span>She is highly suggestible to negative comments, she needs you to be positive, and encourage her that she is doing well.<span style=""> </span>Tell her how good she is doing, how proud you are of her.<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><i style="">A woman in transition doesn’t have energy to waste, and if you try to give her detailed or complicated directions she many not remember them when you are finished speaking.<span style=""> </span>Give her simple commands.<span style=""> </span>Remind her of her progress, some women find it easier to handle the intensity of transition when they realize it is transition.<span style=""> </span><b style="">Knowing that they are almost done can give some</b> women <b style="">a burst of energy or confidence.</b>”<o:p></o:p></i></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;">We all might find ourselves in different seasons, as a coach for those in transition.<span style=""> </span>Keeping ourselves calm for their sakes and not responding negatively to them will cause a much easier and blessed process for all those concerned.<span style=""> </span>But we should all go beyond <u>not</u> being negative, by BEING POSITIVE.<span style=""> </span>As a support for them we can build up and encourage.<span style=""> </span>Although their dream might not be yours, speak life to the dream they have.<span style=""> </span>Tell them how good they will be at it, print out articles that might interest them, pray for them and give them scriptures to hold on to during tough times.<span style=""> </span><span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Maybe they don’t know they are in the transition phase from laboring to birthing and you could encourage them in that.<span style=""> </span>They will then feel strengthened and get a new burst of energy and confidence.<span style=""> </span>We can all use that.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span>Anyway, if you know someone close to you who is in transition, don’t get frustrated because they are not who they have always been to you or they are extra focused or sensitive right now.<span style=""> </span>Pick up on the fact that something has changed, ask them questions if you are unsure what is going on and then it might be good to leave them alone for a season. This is definitely not the time to be selfish.<span style=""> </span>It would be similar to me being at the point of birthing a natural baby and my husband asking me to focus on him, because he feels left out or as if I’m not paying attention to him (hmmmm!) Maybe he asks me to run and get him something to eat…this labor stuff has made <u>him </u>hungry (this is not a real life example-smile). I have often laughed at the exhaustion, or tiredness men proclaim after their wife has a baby.<span style=""> </span>Now truly it is emotionally exhausting for men to see their wives go through labor but all things considered who is the one who has paid the price and needs the sympathy and support?<span style=""> </span>The same with those in transition or moving forward in other things.<span style=""> </span>Don’t take it personal or try to get them to focus on you.<span style=""> </span>That could keep them from being faithful to what they are to be doing because they feel responsible for you.<span style=""> </span>Love them enough to let them focus on other things.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Now with that, if you are the one in transition, communication is the key.<span style=""> </span>You cannot expect others to always know that things have changed with you.<span style=""> </span>With practical things it can be very obvious as in a job change or moving to a new location.<span style=""> </span>But, if it is more spiritual or calling oriented once you have a pretty clear picture of what is going on it is good to share those things with others that are close to you.<span style=""> </span>Whenever things are changing for you it <b style="">will always</b> affect others in one way or another.<span style=""> </span>Since we know that, it is truly a great kindness to share it with others at a proactive time.<span style=""> </span>Often, we shift, or know something is changing and we wait until conflict happens and then react to others reactions. <span style=""> </span>On the other hand, maybe conflict doesn’t happen but those that you left out of the process feel hurt or unsure.<span style=""> </span>It often can create great insecurity.<span style=""> </span>Neither of those ways of handling changes is good.<span style=""> </span>We can save us and others so much unnecessary pain if we would think about how our changes might affect them.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jesus was great at communicating about transition.<span style=""> </span>The 3 ½ years he walked with his disciples he communicated that he was with them for a while but that he would be leaving them.<span style=""> </span>He shared the fact that he would die on the cross, be buried, but that he would be raised up after three days.<span style=""> </span>They didn’t understand it all until it happened, but when they looked back they realized he had been preparing them.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;">We need to be like Jesus and prepare others when we can about changes in our lives. They might not understand at first, we often don’t understand fully ourselves, but that’s not our responsibility.<span style=""> </span>Ours is the responsibility to care for those around us by communicating with compassion.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;">It’s hard when people change.<span style=""> </span>It causes us to have to adjust our hearts and expectations.<span style=""> </span>Even if communication is given we don’t always understand until after the change has happened.<span style=""> </span>But if we can be open hearted and open minded we will be free from trying to keep others in the box/role we have always known them and we will break out of our own box!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""> </span> In closing, many of us have lived through cycles of birthing.<span style=""> </span>We have birthed personal freedom, our family and friend’s freedom, other ministries and many have been involved in the birthing of the <st1:place st="on"><st1:city st="on">Atlanta</st1:city></st1:place> church, City Life.<span style=""> </span>We have now entered into a transition of birthing we have never experienced before.<span style=""> </span>God is birthing our individual calls and identities in Christ as it relates to His purpose in our city and our generation.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;">May God bless you greatly in whatever stage you find yourself.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </p><p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference" style="font-size:100%;"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="">[1]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Jennifer VanderLaan and Birthing Naturally, <a href="http://www.birthingnaturally.net/">www.birthingnaturally.net</a></span></p> <p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Hope Buhlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289336183380724889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863207067869932698.post-19614192616390823042007-11-05T15:39:00.000-08:002007-11-05T16:18:04.546-08:00Transitioning Well--Part 1<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:14;">All of life is about change and transition.<span style=""> </span>We change, the people around us change, the world, even landscape along the road you ride down every day.<span style=""> </span>New shops, subdivisions, and Starbucks seem to appear daily.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:14;">We go from being part of a certain family, leaving for college, a job or just moving out, then usually onto marriage and a new family.<span style=""> </span>Then, just when you adjust to that new spouse in your life, the baby arrives.<span style=""> </span>Babies, cause nothing but change.<span style=""> </span>You change diapers, clothes, bottles, perspectives, attitudes, everything.<span style=""> </span>Soon babies grow into children who require different things from you.<span style=""> </span>The children grow into teens, and the teens grow into wonderful new challenges that produce one of the greatest transition tests, the test of letting go.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:14;">Now, we all know life has many transitions, yet I find that in times of transition few people process it well. We all need to have greater grace to understand and walk with wisdom in the timings, seasons and proper progressions of what God is doing not only in us but in those around us.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14;"><span style=""> </span>The first area I want to talk about is <b style="">Birthing</b>.<span style=""> </span>Now men don’t run away from this topic, I believe this analogy fits well with what I want to teach.<span style=""> </span>Besides, women have heard a million analogies about football, basketball and Braveheart, etc (yawn-just kidding) and we can grasp the truths with open hearts, because some of us women are Bravehearts! Anyway, here I go with birthing.<span style=""> </span>Men hold on tight.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14;"><span style=""> </span>God is a creator and life giver.<span style=""> </span>He requires us to birth things in the earth.<span style=""> </span>Often that is a term used when referring to intense prayer or intercession. It can be called birthing prayer.<span style=""> </span>Well, we all have dreams in our hearts, some realized and some unrealized.<span style=""> </span>In the unrealized state you could be considered pregnant with an idea, concept or dream.<span style=""> </span>During this time, it is important to be careful “what you eat”, and to take care of that “baby” dream inside of you.<span style=""> </span>You need to nurture it with the right care and proper thoughts, read inspiring books on the area that connects to it, pray a lot for God to bless it and to bring it forth.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"> </p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14;">Once you have carried something for a long time something switches and it seems as if great frustration seems to be your companion.<span style=""> </span>Moodiness, lack of sleep, people bugging you, an overall sense of “I’m sick of being pregnant” could I get this baby out of me!!!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14;"><span style=""> </span>Now the new fun begins, active labor.<span style=""> </span>According to Jennifer VanderLaan, <i style="">“As active labor progresses, you will become more serious or “focused”. You will naturally spend less energy on “non-labor” activities such as moving or talking. The increased focus it takes to labor prevents concerns with societal norms leading to decrease in modesty and the pleasantries of conversation.”</i> <a style="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=5863207067869932698&postID=1961419261639082304#_edn1" name="_ednref1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:14;" >[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> (All the women who’ve had babies say, “AMEN!”)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:14;">As a mother, I completely understand the truth of those things having experienced them in the natural.<span style=""> </span>Yet, I cannot but help to see how they can be applied to destiny and dreams.<span style=""> </span>So when it becomes time to produce something in the natural it requires more focus.<span style=""> </span>You will stop doing extra things that don’t help your labor (watching t.v., spending time with friends, reading books that don’t help the dream).<span style=""> </span>Often, you will find a “decrease in modesty”—talking more positively about yourself, declaring what you are doing and accomplishing, some might interpret it as pride rather than strength of focus or conviction. <span style=""> </span>Also, you probably won’t have time for pleasant conversations (“chit, chat”), any extra time needs to be spent talking to God getting His heart and mind, talking with those called alongside you to build, talking out the plan.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:14;"><span style=""> </span><i style="">“Many women, find themselves tuning out the world around them, sometimes called “going inside yourself,” helps them to stay relaxed and handle the labor/contractions more effectively.</i><span style=""> </span>For those it is the focusing phase, this is when you might feel as though no one understands; you tune out the world and don’t want anyone to touch you.<span style=""> </span>It causes your focus to be lost if people “touch it” at this point because they don’t always understand where you are and what is going on.<span style=""> </span>If they “touch it” through putting their two cents worth in it can often hinder you, send you in a wrong direction or cause you to lose precious emotional or mental time.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <div style=""><!--[if !supportEndnotes]--> <hr align="left" size="1" width="33%"> <!--[endif]--> <div style="" id="edn1"> <p class="MsoEndnoteText"><a style="" href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=5863207067869932698&postID=1961419261639082304#_ednref1" name="_edn1" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style=""><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style=";font-family:";font-size:10;" >[i]</span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a> Jennifer VanderLaan and Birthing Naturally, <a href="http://www.birthingnaturally.net/">www.birthingnaturally.net</a></p> <p class="MsoEndnoteText"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoEndnoteText"><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> </div> </div> <p class="MsoNormal"><br /><span style="font-size:14;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Hope Buhlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289336183380724889noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863207067869932698.post-18162412354148008382007-04-07T07:12:00.000-07:002007-04-07T07:18:19.792-07:00The Ultimate Gift<o:p></o:p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">I recently saw the movie “The Ultimate Gift” and could not help but realize the wisdom of the rich grandfather in not just handing over the billion dollar inheritance to his grandson.<span style=""> </span>He caused his grandson to go through great difficulties in order to gain understanding, proper perspective and appreciation for things he had never experienced before.<span style=""> </span>Those things ended up becoming greater gifts than the incredible riches he was to inherit.<span style=""> </span>Although at first he hated his grandfather and thought he was just being mean and evil at his expense, in the end he came to understand his great wisdom and love.</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">I could not help but see the heart of God the Father in this movie.<span style=""> </span>He knows what increase and blessing will do to us if we do not have the proper character first.<span style=""> </span>He desires us to have the best, to be blessed and for those blessings to be used to bless others.<span style=""> </span>He must take us through many testing’s and difficulties in order for us to have the proper perspective, be proven faithful, capable and trustworthy to receive the fullness of our inheritance.<span style=""> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Through these trials we receive many precious gifts along the way. Sensitivity and compassion to others, a realization of our weaknesses, patience, and a stronger faith and hope in His heart towards us, but that revelation often comes once we are on the other side.<span style=""> </span>After we have gone through a few testing’s and seen the fruits of righteousness they have produced and the greater understanding of His ways, the more we are able to lean and press into the trials of our next circumstance because we know we will begin to see Him as He really is (1 Jn 3:2). We also realize that no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly, but that sometimes the thing we desire is not a “good thing” until He has produced in us what needs to be produced.<span style=""> </span>(Jms 1:2-4, Phil 1:6, 8-11, Ps 84:11)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""> </span>In this season, if some good things are being withheld from you, know that it must be because it would not be good for you at this time.<span style=""> </span>In His mercy and loving-kindness He will add it to you when it will be the best for you and those around you. (Ps 34:8-22)</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Hope Buhlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289336183380724889noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5863207067869932698.post-17189841455499629022007-03-17T08:28:00.000-07:002007-11-05T16:24:12.488-08:00Come Away With Me<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Tangible things in times of intangible dreams and hardships can bring such encouragement, pleasure and even healing.<span style=""> </span>A friend recently shared that she planted a garden and when the flowers “bloomed in their season” what great joy it brought her.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The smallest flower, a sunny day, a little hug, a special dessert, a heartfelt card, a beautiful song, stillness, quietness, laughter, a look, a smile, “the stop and smell the roses” kind of moments that slip away so quickly and quietly.<span style=""> </span>Yet, often in those very moments is when you sense the touch of eternity.<span style=""> </span>But do we sense them?<span style=""> </span>Are we aware of them?<span style=""> </span>Do we stop, take notice and appreciate?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The key to touching these eternal things is in the sensitivity.<span style=""> </span>All tries to desensitize us.<span style=""> </span>The fast pace, demands, influx of information, noise, disappointments, rejections, fears, sin and struggles.<span style=""> </span>It takes more and more to make us feel, to catch our eyes, to cause us to hear.<span style=""> </span>Yet in silence, in the stillness and slowing down is when we actually might hear the voice that is still and small that desires to sensitize us to the things that really matter.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The God of quietness and rest, the God of peace is wooing us.<span style=""> </span>He has prepared a Garden of Eden for each of us, a place He desires to come and meet with us in the “cool of the day”. “Where are you?” He questions.<span style=""> </span>Usually the answer is we are hiding because of shame over some sin or some lie the enemy is telling us.<span style=""> </span>Or maybe we are too busy taking dominion and “doing” all the things we are supposed to be doing. However,<span style=""> </span>it doesn’t really matter where we are. What matters is that He is coming looking for us and even notices that we are not there.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Isn’t that what we want?<span style=""> </span>Don’t we want someone to come looking for us and to want to be with us?<span style=""> </span>Even if you answer “No” to that, the truth is the “No” only comes because for so long you have desired it, but life has taught you that you are undesirable.<span style=""> </span>Still He desires us. Always, always, always He pursues.<span style=""> </span>Every book in the Bible shows us this truth, if we will see His real heart and not the mean, disconnected, judgmental God that we have created because of our issues or that others have created for us.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Why do we keep so busy and allow so much noise?<span style=""> </span>Why can’t we be still?<span style=""> </span>Are we afraid of what we might feel or hear?<span style=""> </span>Of course!<span style=""> </span>Why are we afraid?<span style=""> </span>Because we do not understand or comprehend His desire for us and the fact that He truly enjoys us---the good, the bad and the ugly.<span style=""> </span>“Who told you, you were naked?”<span style=""> </span>He asks.<span style=""> </span>It doesn’t bother Him, He is very well aware. After all He is the one that fashioned you.<span style=""> </span>He didn’t want you to eat of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil because than you would compare, measure, feel inadequate, prideful, and have a wrong kind of wisdom or knowing.<span style=""> </span>Life, the Tree of Life and all of the other trees, are delightful and desirable to eat from.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The character of God that is often overlooked yet verse after verse and chapter after chapter of the “Good News”, tells us of His lovingkindness and mercy.<span style=""> </span>Jeremiah 9: 24 says, “But let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am the Lord, exercising lovingkindness, judgment and righteousness in the earth, For in these I delight.”<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Jonah ran from preaching to the Ninevites for this reason… he confesses, I know that You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm. (Jonah 4:2)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;">We cannot receive or comprehend this because we are so different.<span style=""> </span>We love when it’s convenient or when we “feel” like it but withdraw our affections when others don’t measure up or meet our needs.<span style=""> </span>What an injustice to God that we limit Him and our perception of Him to be like us.<span style=""> </span>He does not withhold anything from us for any reason, especially His affection and love. He has done everything He can on His part, our only part is to repent and /or respond to Him with open arms.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;">What if in the garden, rather than hiding Eve would have run to God and said “I messed up.<span style=""> </span>I knew I wasn’t supposed to eat from the tree but I did and then I made Adam eat too.<span style=""> </span>Forgive me.”<span style=""> </span>Would things have worked out differently?<span style=""> </span>I don’t know, but I do know she would have had shown she truly knew God’s heart, because she ran to Him when she messed up and took responsibility rather than away from Him blaming everyone else.<span style=""> </span>She would have shown that she knew although He is righteous and holy and has standards, that He also is compassionate and forgiving and waiting with open arms. (Lk 15:20)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Allow the Lord to sensitize you in this season.<span style=""> </span>Allow Him to draw you away and delight in you.<span style=""> </span>Let Him in.<span style=""> </span>As you do, you will come to life in all the dead areas.<span style=""> </span>He will love you into life.<span style=""> </span>As He does it will awaken you to the good realities of life that are all around.<span style=""> </span>You will begin to touch, taste, see, notice and appreciate anew.<span style=""> </span>This awakening in the awareness of the smallest things will begin to bring you hope, joy, laughter and just plain peace and pleasure.<span style=""> </span>Come away with Him, beloved.<span style=""> </span>He is drawing you.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><span style="font-size:100%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Hope Buhlerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01289336183380724889noreply@blogger.com1