In Matthew 14 we read the story of when Peter gets out of the boat and walks on the water to Jesus. Often we can give him a hard time. After all Peter starts to look at the storm all around and starts to sink, taking his eyes off Jesus. But really, can we give him some credit? How many disciples were in the boat? It doesn't say for sure, but let's say all of the core group are in there. If that's the case, eleven didn't get out. They didn't even ask Jesus if it would be possible to come meet Him on the water. I wonder did the thought even occur to them? They played it safe, they stayed nice and dry. So why is Peter the only one who gets the bum rap???
Peter takes a chance, a leap of faith. He has faith the size of a mustard seed and he acts. He's doing something new and exhilarating. But then all of a sudden he remembers where he is, on water with strong wind and waves, where one sinks. Peter's eyes are drawn to the impossibilities of what is all around him and he begins to sink.
I wonder if you'd be willing to enter into this story and see what does Jesus want to show you? There's this great website, pray-as-you-go.org, that has Imaginative Contemplation Exercises and this story just happens to be one! It's also an app you can download on your favorite device if that's easier for you. This helps you to enter the story rather than just read it. If you have the chance, I'd invite you to take some time to do this exercise right now.
Next take a look at life as it is in this moment and answer the following questions.
Where are you in this story in life right now?
Decide which path feels right to follow below.
Path #1
Have you stepped out of the boat?
If so, what are the things in
your life right now, the impossibilities that are drawing your eyes off
of Jesus?
What does Jesus say about those impossibilities?
Path #2
If you are still in the boat, what's keeping you there?
What's your position, are you crouched in fear, or maybe you are ready to jump out and join Peter? How are you feeling?
What does Jesus want to tell you as you are in the boat?
I'd love to hear how this experience was for you. Have you ever done anything like this before or was this your first time? Feel free to comment below sharing as much as you feel comfortable or for more privacy email me at loriyoder @ maplecitychapel . org all one, no spaces.
Tuesday, February 27, 2018
Saturday, February 17, 2018
Real vs True
On Sunday February 25 at 6:30, I am going to be speaking at an event called Real vs True at Community Church of Waterford. They are partnering with my home church of Maple City Chapel to help make this event for women a great success. Do note this address is on CR 21, NOT State Road 15, I've had several people confused!
I'll be talking about times in our lives when life feels as if it's falling apart. I wonder if there may be a different way to look at this rather than how it can feel, which for me was failure. We'll look at this concept of Real vs True and how it applies to our lives. How we need new experiences to be able to live life differently and at how transformation takes place.
I'd love to see all of you ladies there. Invite friends and family, it's for anyone in our community, not just ladies from these churches.
Feel free to share this post and the event on Facebook with your followers. The more the merrier!
Tuesday, January 23, 2018
Seasons of Life
Ecclesiastes 3:1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
As I lay here and look out my bedroom window at the leaves clinging to the trees, I am reminded of the seasons we all experience in our lives, just as the natural world we see goes through seasons.
As I battled depression back in 2006-2010 I thought the darkness had swallowed me whole and I wasn't sure I would ever come out. I felt as if all hope was gone, nothing I did seemed to help me get out of this pit. It felt like the icy cold of winter when nothing seems to be alive.
Then with graciousness there came a time of thawing. New life began to emerge as Jesus began mending wounds inside of me that haunted all that I was. It was hard work, as birthing new life often is, but yet it was gorgeous to look around and see the budding that happens in springtime as well.
Summertime came where it felt like there was so much love and splendor and all seemed right. It was wonderful. Days of basking in the Light, growth all around. But as with all the seasons, even the ones that seem wonderful must end. Things begin to cool off and start going to sleep as they ready for the winter ahead.
There are the days of harvest. And when growth seems to be dying back. Leaves fall, plants go into hibernation. Then come the days of winter once more where there seems to be no life.
Somehow I believed that when I became a Christian at 11 that now life would all be good. Jesus was my personal Savior, but I grew up in a legalistic culture and soon following rules became the most important thing. Along with making sure others thought well of me. But then came the winter of depression. In this time I tried myself to pull myself up out of the pit. But I failed miserably. To this I am grateful. I would never have met Jesus once more in such a real and powerful way.
Another thing I've learned along the way is even when we follow Jesus closely we will still have seasons of winter. I'm not sure why I didn't think this would happen. Jesus tells His disciples, "In this world you will have trouble." How did I miss this for so long? How did I think now that Jesus was my Savior, I'd have it easy and I'd live happily ever after? Did you ever feel that way, that life should be easy because you are a Believer?
What I've been learning as I've traveled through these distinctly different seasons is to lean into the discomfort or the joy of the current season. To be fully present to what's happening is helpful to me. I used to try to shut my feelings down, become a robot. It didn't work so well! But I've learned how valuable they are and how much they help me if I pay attention and allow them to teach me.
What about you? Which season are you in right now?
As I lay here and look out my bedroom window at the leaves clinging to the trees, I am reminded of the seasons we all experience in our lives, just as the natural world we see goes through seasons.
As I battled depression back in 2006-2010 I thought the darkness had swallowed me whole and I wasn't sure I would ever come out. I felt as if all hope was gone, nothing I did seemed to help me get out of this pit. It felt like the icy cold of winter when nothing seems to be alive.
Then with graciousness there came a time of thawing. New life began to emerge as Jesus began mending wounds inside of me that haunted all that I was. It was hard work, as birthing new life often is, but yet it was gorgeous to look around and see the budding that happens in springtime as well.
Summertime came where it felt like there was so much love and splendor and all seemed right. It was wonderful. Days of basking in the Light, growth all around. But as with all the seasons, even the ones that seem wonderful must end. Things begin to cool off and start going to sleep as they ready for the winter ahead.
There are the days of harvest. And when growth seems to be dying back. Leaves fall, plants go into hibernation. Then come the days of winter once more where there seems to be no life.
Somehow I believed that when I became a Christian at 11 that now life would all be good. Jesus was my personal Savior, but I grew up in a legalistic culture and soon following rules became the most important thing. Along with making sure others thought well of me. But then came the winter of depression. In this time I tried myself to pull myself up out of the pit. But I failed miserably. To this I am grateful. I would never have met Jesus once more in such a real and powerful way.
Another thing I've learned along the way is even when we follow Jesus closely we will still have seasons of winter. I'm not sure why I didn't think this would happen. Jesus tells His disciples, "In this world you will have trouble." How did I miss this for so long? How did I think now that Jesus was my Savior, I'd have it easy and I'd live happily ever after? Did you ever feel that way, that life should be easy because you are a Believer?
What I've been learning as I've traveled through these distinctly different seasons is to lean into the discomfort or the joy of the current season. To be fully present to what's happening is helpful to me. I used to try to shut my feelings down, become a robot. It didn't work so well! But I've learned how valuable they are and how much they help me if I pay attention and allow them to teach me.
What about you? Which season are you in right now?
Tuesday, January 16, 2018
Holding it All Together
Lately the Lord has been working on me regarding the fact that I don't like to mess up. This past year brought some struggles to our family. I'd been working through the feelings and trying to stay present and truthful, but also not wound anyone in the process. The not wounding anyone started to take more and more precedence and so I was holding in more and more. It had become my idol. It became what was holding me back from what the Lord wants for us, freedom.
Last month the Lord began to show me a few things and to work on my heart in this area. He did this through an experiential I was leading, He used a paperclip to rock my world. I had asked the Lord what one thing did I need to let go of in working through this situation at home? He told me I needed to let go of control. BAM, it hit me right between the eyes, ouch. I've been working on letting go of control for YEARS and it was frustrating to hear that once more it was an issue. But I have experienced enough with the Lord to know there must be something here. He did show me through a visual that I have made progress, but it was still hard to hear once more. We were to pick up an item that we felt the Lord pointing us to and while there were several items to choose from, He led me to a paperclip. The Lord pointed out that paperclips hold things together and He gently told me I'd been holding things together for far too long. This resonated in my soul.
I asked the Lord what I was to do with this paperclip and I felt I was to open it up, straighten it. It occurred to me that the Lord usually doesn't take useful things and make them useless so I asked Him what this meant. I was reminded immediately of times when I open a paperclip to unlock the interior rooms in our home and also sometimes to get into the SIM card of my iPhone. And so the Lord did a shift in my heart where I realized I was no longer to hold it all together, I am now to be an unlocker.
As to messing up, no we don't want to purposefully or selfishly hurt others and damage them, however I love this quote from the book Boundaries by Dr Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. "But I want to be around people who honestly fail me, not dishonestly deny that they have hurt me and have no intent to do better. That is destructive for me and for them. If people are owning their sin, they are learning through failure. We can ride that out. They want to be better, and forgiveness will help."
This is the person I want to be, someone who honestly fails others. Someone who owns it when I fail and talk it through with those I have failed. I am human and I will make mistakes. Mistakes aren't the worst thing to happen, in fact, they tend to be the best tools of learning, but that's another topic for another day!
If you are struggling in a situation right now, what is the one thing the Lord would ask you to let go of? You could ask Him to direct you to an object and ask Him in what way this object relates to what He's telling you. Then ask Him what to do with the object from here.
Last month the Lord began to show me a few things and to work on my heart in this area. He did this through an experiential I was leading, He used a paperclip to rock my world. I had asked the Lord what one thing did I need to let go of in working through this situation at home? He told me I needed to let go of control. BAM, it hit me right between the eyes, ouch. I've been working on letting go of control for YEARS and it was frustrating to hear that once more it was an issue. But I have experienced enough with the Lord to know there must be something here. He did show me through a visual that I have made progress, but it was still hard to hear once more. We were to pick up an item that we felt the Lord pointing us to and while there were several items to choose from, He led me to a paperclip. The Lord pointed out that paperclips hold things together and He gently told me I'd been holding things together for far too long. This resonated in my soul.
I asked the Lord what I was to do with this paperclip and I felt I was to open it up, straighten it. It occurred to me that the Lord usually doesn't take useful things and make them useless so I asked Him what this meant. I was reminded immediately of times when I open a paperclip to unlock the interior rooms in our home and also sometimes to get into the SIM card of my iPhone. And so the Lord did a shift in my heart where I realized I was no longer to hold it all together, I am now to be an unlocker.
As to messing up, no we don't want to purposefully or selfishly hurt others and damage them, however I love this quote from the book Boundaries by Dr Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. "But I want to be around people who honestly fail me, not dishonestly deny that they have hurt me and have no intent to do better. That is destructive for me and for them. If people are owning their sin, they are learning through failure. We can ride that out. They want to be better, and forgiveness will help."
This is the person I want to be, someone who honestly fails others. Someone who owns it when I fail and talk it through with those I have failed. I am human and I will make mistakes. Mistakes aren't the worst thing to happen, in fact, they tend to be the best tools of learning, but that's another topic for another day!
If you are struggling in a situation right now, what is the one thing the Lord would ask you to let go of? You could ask Him to direct you to an object and ask Him in what way this object relates to what He's telling you. Then ask Him what to do with the object from here.
Friday, January 12, 2018
Faith vs Works
Were entirely ready to have God remove all of these defects of character. - Step 6 of the Twelve Steps
I’m slowly reading through Breathing Under Water by Richard Rohr. When I began reading this chapter it reminded me of the debate I’ve often heard in the church which is Faith vs Works. Which is most important? According to Richard Rohr, it’s not one, it’s both. And I would agree form the experiences I’ve had. It takes work and courage to be able to face those parts of yourself you would rather hide away. At the same time when you find it and face it, it takes Faith and courage to step back, letting go of control and allowing the Lord to touch that place in ways that only He can. Sometimes He heals those places as we visit wounds and other times He meets me there in my lacking. The question is can I trust Him enough to let Him choose whether I am healed miraculously or met in my deepest need each time I need it?
This is a subject I’ve also heard Terry Wardle speak of a few different times. A Scripture he has quoted us Hebrews 4:11 “Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.” Note that choice in words. Make every effort. Sounds like doing something, but then you enter rest, which is not doing but being.
To me this means there are things I can do to enter into the Lord's presence, but once I'm in the Lord's Presence it is up to Him to do the rest. It's up to Him if in that time of resting He heals me.or He meets me in my weakness and vulnerability.
For me I read my Bible, I meditate on the Lord, I pray, and do many different Spiritual Practices because when I've been there the Lord has shown up in powerful ways. While these are great practices to have, they aren't the goal. These practices are only the doorway to entering God's Presence. I'd think you'd agree with me when you walk through the doorway to your house, it has little to do with what you find in there it's not the substance of why you came in, it is only the entry way. The same way with not holding the practices up on a pedestal. These practices are the entryway to meet God and not the ending point.
If we circle back to the beginning of this post where I quote the 6th step from AA and Falling Upwards, where we are ready for God to remove the defects we notice that while these doorways may be great ways to meet the Lord, the healing, removing these defects, comes only from God doing what only He can do. That's when true transformation happens, not just a temporary change. Transformation changes the trajectory of your life. It's nothing that you have done and you don't take the credit for it and neither can any of the doorposts, it's all God! He touched you and it's miraculous.
Have you had any experiences where you entered into a doorway to be touched by Jesus? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below!
I’m slowly reading through Breathing Under Water by Richard Rohr. When I began reading this chapter it reminded me of the debate I’ve often heard in the church which is Faith vs Works. Which is most important? According to Richard Rohr, it’s not one, it’s both. And I would agree form the experiences I’ve had. It takes work and courage to be able to face those parts of yourself you would rather hide away. At the same time when you find it and face it, it takes Faith and courage to step back, letting go of control and allowing the Lord to touch that place in ways that only He can. Sometimes He heals those places as we visit wounds and other times He meets me there in my lacking. The question is can I trust Him enough to let Him choose whether I am healed miraculously or met in my deepest need each time I need it?
This is a subject I’ve also heard Terry Wardle speak of a few different times. A Scripture he has quoted us Hebrews 4:11 “Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.” Note that choice in words. Make every effort. Sounds like doing something, but then you enter rest, which is not doing but being.
To me this means there are things I can do to enter into the Lord's presence, but once I'm in the Lord's Presence it is up to Him to do the rest. It's up to Him if in that time of resting He heals me.or He meets me in my weakness and vulnerability.
For me I read my Bible, I meditate on the Lord, I pray, and do many different Spiritual Practices because when I've been there the Lord has shown up in powerful ways. While these are great practices to have, they aren't the goal. These practices are only the doorway to entering God's Presence. I'd think you'd agree with me when you walk through the doorway to your house, it has little to do with what you find in there it's not the substance of why you came in, it is only the entry way. The same way with not holding the practices up on a pedestal. These practices are the entryway to meet God and not the ending point.
If we circle back to the beginning of this post where I quote the 6th step from AA and Falling Upwards, where we are ready for God to remove the defects we notice that while these doorways may be great ways to meet the Lord, the healing, removing these defects, comes only from God doing what only He can do. That's when true transformation happens, not just a temporary change. Transformation changes the trajectory of your life. It's nothing that you have done and you don't take the credit for it and neither can any of the doorposts, it's all God! He touched you and it's miraculous.
Have you had any experiences where you entered into a doorway to be touched by Jesus? I'd love to hear about it in the comments below!
Sunday, December 31, 2017
Ready for a New Year!
As another year draws to a close I like to take some time to ask the Lord for a word for the coming year. It's not a resolution or change I claim to make, but asking what the Lord wishes to show me for the coming year. I don't necessarily ponder on this greatly throughout the year, though I often get a few books to help me with the topic. But, I'm always amazed at how the Lord brings this back to my awareness throughout the year.
I put the word or phrase on a notecard and often have some phrases to go with it and a picture that feels as if it fits. For me I have an arrangement of my past words and current word in my closet. It makes my heart happy to see this!
This is another way to be silent and allow the Lord to lead you. If you are interested in how to go about this I'll leave a few steps.
The first step is to become silent. Take time to quiet your soul. Focus on your breath if you need help calming your spirit. When you feel calm and quiet ask the Lord, what is the word you want to give me for the coming year?
I will journal about what I feel the Lord speaking to me. And I love that He will often expand my understanding of the word or phrase throughout the coming year, but especially solidify it for the next few weeks.
Next I will often google the word or phrase until I find an image that matches the spirit of the word. Such as this one for my phrase this year.
I love to read so I will often check amazon.com for books that call to me on that word or phrase. I've never been disappointed yet when I follow my heart!
Follow your heart with what calls to you. I've heard of some people doing a poster board full of quotes and pictures of their word. Others find a song that goes with their word for the year. Still others will do artwork. None of it is wrong and if you follow the Lord, you can't get it wrong!
I'd love to hear in the comments about if you've tried this in the past and what works for you. I'd also love if you feel led to share, what's your word for 2018? How did this process go for you? Blessings!
I put the word or phrase on a notecard and often have some phrases to go with it and a picture that feels as if it fits. For me I have an arrangement of my past words and current word in my closet. It makes my heart happy to see this!
This is another way to be silent and allow the Lord to lead you. If you are interested in how to go about this I'll leave a few steps.
The first step is to become silent. Take time to quiet your soul. Focus on your breath if you need help calming your spirit. When you feel calm and quiet ask the Lord, what is the word you want to give me for the coming year?
I will journal about what I feel the Lord speaking to me. And I love that He will often expand my understanding of the word or phrase throughout the coming year, but especially solidify it for the next few weeks.
Next I will often google the word or phrase until I find an image that matches the spirit of the word. Such as this one for my phrase this year.
I love to read so I will often check amazon.com for books that call to me on that word or phrase. I've never been disappointed yet when I follow my heart!
Follow your heart with what calls to you. I've heard of some people doing a poster board full of quotes and pictures of their word. Others find a song that goes with their word for the year. Still others will do artwork. None of it is wrong and if you follow the Lord, you can't get it wrong!
I'd love to hear in the comments about if you've tried this in the past and what works for you. I'd also love if you feel led to share, what's your word for 2018? How did this process go for you? Blessings!
Saturday, December 30, 2017
Trust the Process
Recently I was reading in Revelation was about how Satan will be bound for 1,000 years so he cannot tempt anyone. Something I've been pondering lately is why didn't the Lord do this from the start? Why allow Satan the freedom to deceive His children? It hit me that the Lord has an awful lot of trust in this thing called the human race. Somehow He knows this process is for our betterment and refinement.
This passage was from the end of the Bible, so if we go way back to the beginning in Genesis, is it different?
In Genesis 3 notice that God has trusted Adam and Eve enough to not to micromanage them at every moment. He doesn't smother them every moment of every day. They are alone in the Garden and in that moment Satan decides to slide in and work his deception. It works. He makes them doubt God's goodness. Satan helps them start to want power for themselves. He may start it but the man and woman continue this lust for being greater than they are. But at what cost? As soon as they eat the fruit, they realize they are naked! They are vulnerable! How ghastly. They quickly cover themselves up so as not to feel shame at their nakedness, their vulnerability. And so all this hiding begins.
Notice as God comes walking through the Garden, does He shame them? No He asks questions, he called them out of hiding. They are the ones who continue to hide, even as they are invited out. They can't even handle being naked and vulnerable in God's presence. And He loves them enough to make clothes to cover them. To help them be comfortable in His presence, even if it puts a hindrance in their relationship.
They've screwed up big time and God isn't worried! He stays inquisitive and open, but they shut down and blame others instead of taking ownership for their part and admitting their stuff. It doesn't worry God. He isn't all of a sudden nervous because His creation didn't follow His instructions. He doesn't decide to micromanage and now make sure they follow the rules. Somehow, He knows it will all work out.
God held to the boundaries and sent the humans out of the Garden so they couldn't live forever in this state, which is really quite loving. But He didn't shut them out of relationship with Him. He kept trying to find ways to show them how He loved them and was waiting for them. He was and is willing to fill our deepest needs in ways only He can if we are willing to let Him and not be deceived by all the lures of the world.
I want to be like this. To trust the process. To stay open and inquisitive even when those around me shut me out. To set up boundaries, but yet to be there ready and waiting with open arms for when they are ready to open up, even when there is pain in the process. While I know I cannot do this perfectly as God does, and I won't fill the deepest needs of those that turn to me, I can learn my path by being open and inquisitive with myself. To trust the process of my path, even when it feels like I 'failed'. I feel a peaceful calm inside my soul as I contemplate this Simple Trust. That is what I desire. To stay calm when my world is shaking, knowing that God is charge of it all.
If as you try to journey along this journey of life you find yourself stuck, in pain, or unable to move forward, feel free to contact me. I meet with individuals who desire to find deeper connection with God in the circumstances in life, but things seem to get in the way of this connection. Feel free to contact me if you are interested in an appointment or just to see if Inner Healing is a fit for what you are needing right now. loriyoder (@) maplcitychapel (.) org
This passage was from the end of the Bible, so if we go way back to the beginning in Genesis, is it different?
In Genesis 3 notice that God has trusted Adam and Eve enough to not to micromanage them at every moment. He doesn't smother them every moment of every day. They are alone in the Garden and in that moment Satan decides to slide in and work his deception. It works. He makes them doubt God's goodness. Satan helps them start to want power for themselves. He may start it but the man and woman continue this lust for being greater than they are. But at what cost? As soon as they eat the fruit, they realize they are naked! They are vulnerable! How ghastly. They quickly cover themselves up so as not to feel shame at their nakedness, their vulnerability. And so all this hiding begins.
Notice as God comes walking through the Garden, does He shame them? No He asks questions, he called them out of hiding. They are the ones who continue to hide, even as they are invited out. They can't even handle being naked and vulnerable in God's presence. And He loves them enough to make clothes to cover them. To help them be comfortable in His presence, even if it puts a hindrance in their relationship.
They've screwed up big time and God isn't worried! He stays inquisitive and open, but they shut down and blame others instead of taking ownership for their part and admitting their stuff. It doesn't worry God. He isn't all of a sudden nervous because His creation didn't follow His instructions. He doesn't decide to micromanage and now make sure they follow the rules. Somehow, He knows it will all work out.
God held to the boundaries and sent the humans out of the Garden so they couldn't live forever in this state, which is really quite loving. But He didn't shut them out of relationship with Him. He kept trying to find ways to show them how He loved them and was waiting for them. He was and is willing to fill our deepest needs in ways only He can if we are willing to let Him and not be deceived by all the lures of the world.
I want to be like this. To trust the process. To stay open and inquisitive even when those around me shut me out. To set up boundaries, but yet to be there ready and waiting with open arms for when they are ready to open up, even when there is pain in the process. While I know I cannot do this perfectly as God does, and I won't fill the deepest needs of those that turn to me, I can learn my path by being open and inquisitive with myself. To trust the process of my path, even when it feels like I 'failed'. I feel a peaceful calm inside my soul as I contemplate this Simple Trust. That is what I desire. To stay calm when my world is shaking, knowing that God is charge of it all.
If as you try to journey along this journey of life you find yourself stuck, in pain, or unable to move forward, feel free to contact me. I meet with individuals who desire to find deeper connection with God in the circumstances in life, but things seem to get in the way of this connection. Feel free to contact me if you are interested in an appointment or just to see if Inner Healing is a fit for what you are needing right now. loriyoder (@) maplcitychapel (.) org
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