babbles online

Life Long Listening

Life long listening is an invaluable gift. I unfortunately like to do things my way and that doesn’t always include listening; I can be more of an “I did it my way” girl. Proverbs 12:15 says, “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.” Unlike me, Christ not only listened but also sought out daily the will of the Father. I’m pretty sure he had to listen for that, which makes me question myself, “Bab’s are you listening for God’s voice at every turn, in every way possible?” Listening via the scriptures, through the pastor, in prayer and in the words of the God-fearing people around me?

In Proverbs 1:33 scripture talks about listening yielding safety and being at ease. In John 10:27 Christ say, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” Finally Matthew 11:30 says, “For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." If I put all those verses into the Babbles Blender what I get for a protein shake is: listening to his voice entails picking up and choosing Christ’s yoke and this burden or yoke will bring me into a safe place. Let me blend it one more time: my burden or my job is to listen to Christ, as I listen or work with him, he leads me in a way that is just the right load upon my body, mind and spirit. This working out with Christ produces a healthy Babs that is both safe in Christ and safe to the world around her.

A few months ago I decided to run in a race, as I ran a few times a week already. Being the visionary that I am, I thought it wise to start with a short distance like 26.2 miles. I ran the idea past my mom and she countered with a 5K distance, which I met with a frown and the quick offer of a half marathon instead. When she didn’t budge I tried selling the idea of a 10K but it was not to be. With my vision shifted slightly, I listened to her reasoning’s and focused on the glorious 5K.

I was a bit embarrassed at first about my much-shorter-than-26.2-miles-5K, my pride really wanted to try that longer distance. In the end I froze to death, got a terrible side cramp and loved every minute of my 5K race. I didn’t check an experience off my list; I added a passion for the sport of running to my life, one I pray God will use. Listening adds value to life you didn’t see before, it causes us to engage with the people around us and through the words of God and his children we start to see life as he intended it to be.

Luv Ya!
Babbles

Don’t be Afraid to Start Over

Starting small or starting over can be a humbling thing. There are times we refuse to start over because we will not face the humility that the circumstance might bring. For Refresh Life starting over, small, has been God’s perfect plan. My plan was much grander, but in the past 6 years I have never once come close to accomplishing such feats. With all human dreams laid to rest, the Lord unveiled his plan, there is much more joy here, best of all there is reality.

God working amongst Refresh Life is not smoke and mirrors, he is working through a handful of women who have walked diligently with the Lord. They are my sisters, encouragers, and God-fearing guides. I have learned through them that I won’t be the one to do it “different” because that’s still all about “I”, but I have learned that I am part of something greater than myself, something that was started long before me and will last long after I am gone. I am like-hearted with each of them, we all desire to see young women grow and mature in Christ, in the knowledge of who he is through the power of his Word.

When my strength dwindled and the posts stopped coming I was tempted to let things die away with Refresh Life. Our God however breathes into us new life, Rom 4:17,“the God who gives life to the dead and calls things that are not as though they were.”

In his life giving breath, I start over and we as the Refresh Life team start small. I know that I am not alone and that some of you may need to start over, pick up or start small too. Do it with us, let your God breath new life into you. Ask him, he is faithful!

Never give up,
Babbles

Today is the Day

“No man ever served God by doing things to-morrow. If we honour Christ and are blessed, it is by the things which we do to-day. Whatever you do for Christ throw your whole soul into it. Do not give Christ a little slurred labour, done as a matter of course now and then; but when you do serve Him, do it with heart, and soul, and strength.” -Charles Spurgeon, Morning Devotions, Nov 26, 2007

If the Lord is calling you today, then give your whole heart to him. Regardless of yesterday and the the days previous, drop your ideas of a “perfect” start and just start. I can get lost in all my preparations and never actually get the deed that needs to be done, done. There is a place for preparation and organization and yet the two often satisfy our emotional need to have “felt” as if we have done something but the truth is that “something” was never done. Contemplation is nothing more than its definition, it is not accomplishment. It is not that we are to act without thinking but we must not let all our thinking become the very chains that bind us. Sometimes serving Christ is a simple as obeying, he said to care for the poor so we care for them, he said to feed the hungry so we feed them. The deed is not to be considered, but done.

The execution while planned does not need to be complex but pure and glorifying to the Lord, if the execution meets that criteria then roll on. What has He been calling you to do dear Sister in Christ? -Get the deed done, not tomorrow but today!

Luv Ya,
Babbles

*http://blueletterbible.org/morneve/11/1126am.html

Red Letters

The following blog was one I wrote for the Red Letter Blog from Cornerstone Fellowship. Currently Pastor Steve Madsen is teaching through a series called "The Red Letter Edition", so far it has been amazing teaching. I encourage you to check it out online at www.cornerstoneweb.org, you can also find study aids and daily devotionals to supplement Sundays' message. I will be writing for the Red Letter Blog from time to time.

Luv Ya,
Babbles

'Into the River'

'Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.'
-Matthew 3:13

As Jesus went down into the filthy waters of the Jordan River, I am reminded of the tree that Moses dipped into the bitter waters at Marah*, to turn it into something that was sweet and drinkable for the children of Israel. As the tree miraculously absorbed the bitterness of the water, Jesus would also absorb the bitterness and penalty of our sin and take it upon himself by his death on a Tree.

The act of Jesus taking the bitterness and the penalty of our sin is something that he alone can do. If we do not accept this gift, we will labor and strive in vain to accomplish what we cannot. We cannot save ourselves; we cannot make holy that which is unholy.

Christ is the only path to holiness. Through Adam, we received the heredity of sin which leads to death, but through Jesus, we can receive the gift of life. We trade our lives for his and Jesus becomes our righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21.)

Christ not only deals with sin once and for all at the cross, but he also sweetens the bitterness of life, and absorbs the sting of our sin. He has stepped into the river with sinners like us so that he could lead us out and into the the abundant life that God intended for us (John 10:10.)

How about you?
Are there parts of this week that have been lived out of human effort, instead of Christ's work?
Is there bitterness that needs to be brought to the Cross?

Gift of Delight

I must admit, I am pretty funny about birthdays. I think I like celebrating other’s birthdays more than my own. This year I was exhausted coming up to my day of commemorating my initial introduction into the world. I didn’t really want to make much ado over it. In my bid to keep things low-key, I must admit my birthday this year pretty much rocked! My mom threw me a get together/party and hands down she is the best birthday celebrator/ host ever! Not all people have someone like this in their life so I know I am very blessed.

One thing that changed my birthdays for me quite a few years ago was learning that birthdays are a chance to actually forget yourself and celebrate those people in your life that are a blessing to you. This year I had much to celebrate. On top of it all this birthday God laid some untraditional birthday activities on my heart and most assuredly as I obeyed the whole day was spent joyously in His presence.

Part of me so wants to share those things that the Lord asked of me and yet part of me wants to keep them as a secret gift between the Lord and I. More than anything I knew this year that there was nothing that man could give that I desired more than that which was from His heavenly hand. And while there are things that I have asked of from the Lord and still wait to see his provision for, He still lavished upon me the ability to be delighted in and truly enjoy those around me. This was a great birthday.

Happy Birthday to all who also celebrate this time of year!

Luv Ya,
Babbles

Training Day Snapshots

Perfect Care

Sometimes life gets moving so fast and it almost feels impossible to slow yourself down. Inside your mind it feels like the hyper-speed switch is stuck in the "on" position. Everyday I seem to awake exhausted from the previous day and my morning begins by making a firm resolution that, "tonight I will get to bed at a decent hour." It is indeed wishful thinking, for as the day wares on the tasks and responsibilities mount my bedtime ends up pushed off later and later. I am finding however that in the most unforseen moments the Lord ministers lovingly and with perfect care to my soul.

I was bound and determined to get in bed tonight by 10pm, that hour came and went just short of three hours ago. But somehow the blanket of darkness outside my window and the absolute silence in the house and the world around me is comforting. The Lord always knows what I need more than I, I just wish I would learn to listen to him when he speaks with that still small voice. "Babsy, give me 15 minutes of your time tonight." "No Lord" I respond, "In the morning, Im much to tired now, in the morning I will be fresh." What the Lord knows is that if I do not give him the time now, the truth is I will not give him the time in the morning either because what I am wanting is my perfect religious way and not Him alone. I believe the Lord can make up for my lack of sleep. For what he is really saying is, "Babsy, I want to give you sweet sleep so that you can wake up refreshed tomorrow, but if you go to bed like you are, you will toss and turn from the anxiety inside of you that you have not yet released to me." I am so glad my Heavenly Father knows every part of me, even the way I sleep best and the best ways for me to unwind.

"Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well." Luke 12: 27-30 (NIV)

Goodnight My Luvs,
Babbles

The Delighted Child

The other night at church a little boy raised his hand to accept Christ. He shook his hand in the air, excited to be making the decision. The Pastor had asked and he had the right answer, "yes!". Soon the little boy began tapping his Father's shoulder to show him that he knew the answer, he wanted his Father to be as excited as he that he knew the answer. The more invitations the Pastor gave the more excited his hand movement became. Did the Pastor not see, why did he continue to ask, he asked if anyone wanted to accept Christ as Lord of their life and this little boy had enthusiastically and with joy responded.

It struck me that though both the Pastor and the earthly Father may have missed the joy of a child to respond unashamedly, our Heavenly Father never misses when we respond with such passion and zeal. The world would quite us, put us into lines and keep our personal repsonse private, a bubble on a scantron to be counted. Not our Lord he delights in waving hands. Sometimes we need to wave our hands just a little bit more. If we have quieted to the slight nod of a head, not out of reverance but out of fear then we are one thin ice. The slight nod leads to the seeping out of our joy, and our faith. Wave your hands, next time the Lord asks, repsond to Him with energy the resembles your faith, I think you will find that childlike joy rush in. That excited faith that says, "Look world Im following Jesus, I made the right choice". That simple, pure passion that says, "I am so delighted to be following Jesus."

Like that little boy delighted to accept Jesus, let us delight to continue to follow him today.

luv ya,
Babs

Unchanging Love

When I was a little girl I once threw my “My Little Pony” sea-horse in the swimming pool at the hotel where we were lodging. My Father had told me not to throw my sea-horse in the pool because it would probably sink. I however being the ripe old age of six knew that sea-horses could swim and it was simply a matter of showing my Father. So into the deep end of the frigid pool in Idaho I tossed my pink Little Pony sea-horse. I will say she did not float for long. All too soon the chlorinated water filled her insides through the tiny breathing hole on her head, and before I could cry out “sinking sea-horse!” she had entered the nefarious abyss of the deep end, 12 feet under cold water.

Not stopping to note the fact that I had disobeyed my Father I cried out, “Daddy, my sea-horse, she has sunk to the bottom!” My Father had no intentions of getting in the water as it was the time of year that only youngster with too much energy brave hotel pools, yet into the water he dove, returning to the surface with my pink sea-horse with the teal/blue hair. I don’t really remember much of the details after that, I am sure there was some talking and repenting involved.

This story is retold often by my brothers, who were bystanders of the infamous event, which is often followed by laughter and good-humored razing. I am retelling the story to make the point that a Father’s love never changes. Yesterday morning I realized that a ring that in invaluable to me was not on my finger. A short panic ensued and I frantically searched the ledge where I place my ring if I take it off. With no such luck I realized my ring could be anywhere. After thinking through all the places I had been it came down to searching through a dumpster in the inner city where I had helped clean a community center the day before. When I told my Father where I thought it might be, he grabbed a pair of gloves, we jumped in the car and the next thing you know we were dumpster diving for a ring. The ring was found although not in the dumpster, but in a sweatshirt back at my house. My Dad and I laughed and thanked the Lord when we got the news it had been located. He didn’t say that “I owed him” or complain about the messiness of the task we had just done, we just drove back home.

My Father’s love in helping me has not changed from childhood to adulthood, he is every caring, and so our Heavenly Father’s love does not change for us. It is as strong and as vibrant and ever-flowing as it was the first day we accepted his son Jesus into our hearts. Many of us feel that we have done much to tread on the grace and mercy of Christ and we probably have but that does not diminish the power and effectiveness of his love. That love is the same, just as rich and compassionate, just as true as it was when you gave your life to him. Never let the enemy steal the life changing love you have been given, as much as you ran to God then, run to him now, he still will move for you!

Luv Ya!
Babbles

Love The Word

This past weekend I went to the Deeper Still Conference with Beth Moore, Priscilla Shrier and Kay Arthur. 9,000 women attended the conference; that sure is that a lot of women, and that definitely makes for some interesting experiences. One learns lessons in patience and learning to appreciate the diversity of temperaments and personalities God has created.

I truly enjoyed all the speakers, and learned so much from the sharing of their lives and the messages they taught. One thing however that etched deep in my heart was the knowledge and passion Kay Arthur had of and for the Word of God. That woman knows her bible inside out and she knows it because she believes it and has built her life upon it. In the closing panel session of the conference different questions were being asked of the three speakers and Mrs. Arthur could wield her bible like a highly skilled swordsman, any question that was asked of her she had a verse to accompany, and she answered not in a churchy, religious way, but with a deep and true conviction as a doctor administering the assured cure. If there is one thing I could emulate in my life it would be that passion for the Word of God.

O’ Father, make us women of your Word. May we eat and drink of it to satisfy our every need and desire. May we build our lives upon it as our sure foundation. Lord there is no firmer foundation, no surer a love, than your Word. Why do we continue to look elsewhere for answers? May we take all things into the light of your Word and may we walk with an assurance that makes the world turn and reconsider the answer that we have found in you. Amen!

Luv Ya!
Babbles