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Silence is Golden Sometimes

December 17, 2018 1:58 am / 4 Comments on Silence is Golden Sometimes

About a week ago, God highlighted this verse to me: “But now, since you didn’t believe what I said, you will be silent and unable to speak until the child is born. For my words will certainly be fulfilled at the proper time.” Luke 1:20 (NLT)

Abba has been using this verse to make it clear that I’ve not been careful with my words. I’ve not been considering the power and weight in them. I’ve not been acknowledging what Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.” (AMP)

Ever since God reminded me, “Your words are powerful.” I’ve been singing “Oh be careful little tongue what you say. Oh be careful little tongue what you say. For the Father up above is looking down with love, so be careful little tongue what you say.” (Note: Author of this lyric is unknown so I cannot give credit as I normally would).

More thoughts on the power of that little tongue of yours…

“Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.” Proverbs 17:28 (NIV)

“Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.” Proverbs 21:23 (NIV)

“If someone believes they have a relationship with God but fails to guard his words then his heart is drifting away and his religion is shallow and empty.” James 1:26 (TPT)

“A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it! It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.” James 3:3-6 (MSG)

“Whoever wants to embrace true life and find beauty in each daymust stop speaking evil, hurtful words and never deceive in what they say.” I Peter 3:10-11 (TPT)

The angel Gabriel delivered a heart’s desire promise to Zechariah. He told him flat straight out, you’re going to have a son, and he’s going to be a big deal. (Take a minute to read Luke 1 to hear the full promise). Zechariah was an older man. He wasn’t a 20 year old kid who just got married to his fertile 20 year old wife. He’d probably gotten to the point where he’d given up hope of having a son. So his response was the “um…okay well prove it” response. It’s the response that the majority of us probably would have had, if we were in his shoes.

“Zechariah asked the angel, “How do you expect me to believe this? I’m an old man and my wife is too old to give me a child. What sign can you give me to prove this will happen?”

Then the angel said, “I am Gabriel. I stand beside God himself. He has sent me to announce to you this good news. But now, since you did not believe my words, you will be stricken silent and unable to speak until the day my words have been fulfilled at their appointed time and a child is born to you. That will be your sign!”” Luke 1: 18-20 (TPT)

If this passage doesn’t illustrate the power our words have, I don’t know what will.

Gabriel muted Zechariah so he wouldn’t speak against the promise God gave him.

Literally.

Muted him.

As in Zechariah did not utter a single solitary word until after his and Elizabeth’s son John was 8 days old. Think about this. He’d gone to do his annual service.
“See ya in a week, Elizabeth.” Then he shows up at home a mute.

Then Elizabeth gets pregnant, just as Gabriel said she would. Nine months go by. His son is born. 8 days later, Zechariah is finally able to speak when He speaks to confirm his son’s name. The name Gabriel told him the boy’s name would be.

He was only able to speak when he was confirming the promise!

What?! Come on people! That’s amazical!

This passage just blows me away. This promise to Zechariah and Elizabeth was a dream they thought was not even possible. And this dream meant everything to them. And when God made the promise to them, through Gabriel, it mattered so much, that God allowed Gabriel to mute Zechariah, so he couldn’t speak against the promise God had given him.

Silence is golden sometimes.

I think sometimes it might be better for me if Gabriel would show up and say, “Hey Jill. I’m gonna have to mute you for a while so you don’t speak against your dreams and God’s promises for you.”

A few short months after Zechariah’s experience with Gabriel, he visited Mary. Mary’s reaction was decidedly different. ““I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.”” Luke 1:38 (TPT)

Now Mary’s situation was just as out there as Zechariah’s. Both of them were told not to fear and received a mind blowing prophecy. Both asked questions that were answered. But their responses to those answers were opposite. It might be that Zechariah had much more experience with disappointment, while Mary had no negative experiences.

Whether you’re seasoned like Zechariah or young like Mary, your words are powerful.

How are your words right now? Are they something that Gabriel would mute you for? Or are they more “bring it on” like Mary’s?

In my life I’ve experienced some “What in the bluebells is going on here?” seasons. The “Where are you, Lord?” seasons. And even the “I can’t do this anymore. It hurts too much.” seasons. I’m sure you have too. The times when things are not logical. The times when you’re looking at the situation and your rational mind is blown. Times when you don’t understand why bad things are happening and keep happening. Times when promises aren’t coming to pass the way you expected them, and disappointment starts to shift your perspective into the negative.

These are not the times to go off at the mouth. This is when you need to remember silence is golden sometimes. Like Mary after the birth of Jesus…

“But Mary treasured all these things in her heart and often pondered what they meant.” Luke 2:19

If you cannot muster your faith to speak in agreement with God’s promises, remember silence is golden sometimes. Ask a trusted friend to pray for you, and shut your mouth.

In recent months, I’ve been in a season of this hurts to much. I’m not sure I am capable of believing anymore. But I know in my heart God is faithful.

So difficult to be between the full understanding that God is faithful, and looking at your situation and thinking…how is this even possible anymore?

If you’re in a rough season with me, I’m going to tell you how I am handling this really difficult place. I texted (I didn’t trust myself to speak) 2 trusted prayer warrior friends and simply said, “I cannot speak positively on this topic. I don’t have the faith to believe in this specific area right now. I need you to pray and speak for me.” And they are reminding God of His promises to me, for me. They are speaking the faith words missing from my vocabulary right now. And I’m praying and believing with them in their promises, because my faith to believe for them hasn’t been affected by this season.

Maybe that’s not how everyone would handle it, but I sure appreciate my friends who are willing to stand in the gap for me. They are even more golden than the silence.

Point to ponder while you wander… Gabriel muting Zechariah is the same lesson as what Thumper’s Mom was teaching him about silence. (Bambi, 1942).

thumper

Continual Nourishment

September 17, 2018 12:54 pm / Leave a comment

“I love each of you with the same love that the Father loves me. You must continually let my love nourish your hearts.” John 15:9 TPT

Jesus wants to nourish our hearts, continually. Not just once. Not occasionally. Not just when He feels like it. But continually!

But the kicker here is we have a choice whether or not to receive His love and let us nourish us or not.

How do we receive nourishment from His love?

1. To get the love nourishment we need to grow, we need to read and study about His love in the Word.

So what does Jesus’s love looks like? Check out the gospel of John.

What does love mean? I Corinthians 13 for the Biblical definition of love & I John is good too.

2. Then we need to believe He loves us. Not just know it as trivia or a random fact. But to believe it so much, meditate on it and marinate in it so regularly, that it changes how we see ourselves.

Let it give you confidence in who the Father created you to be, and help you grow into the very best version of you.

Point to ponder while you wander… Today ponder what nourish means in the context of John 15:9 TPT

nour·ish (verb) to provide with the food or other substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition

A Bit of Mystery

September 4, 2018 8:20 am / Leave a comment

“He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. He counts the stars & assigns each a name. Our Lord is great, with limitless strength; we’ll never comprehend what He knows & does.” Psalm 147:3-5 MSG

I may never know all there is to know about God, but He doesn’t hide from us. He is a revealer of mysteries. He invites us closer to know more about Him and have a real relationship with Him.

The entire Bible is about God introducing Himself and His Son to us. That is ah-may-zing!

Point to ponder while you wander… I know that Abba is infinitely creative. His motive is love. That is beautiful and all I really need to know.

Whom Have I But You?

August 27, 2018 8:43 am / Leave a comment

When you FEEL like you have nothing or no one, remind yourself that you DO have the One who created you. The One who loves you more than you can fathom.

“Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh & heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart & my portion forever.” Psalm 73:25-26 NIV

You Think Too Small

June 4, 2018 1:15 am / 2 Comments on You Think Too Small

I’ve honestly lost count of the number of times that God has told me that I think too small.

I’d love to tell you that every time He said that it grew my faith and inspired me to speak some words that would amaze all around…

“Show me how to think bigger!” “Teach me to see like You, to think like You!” “I want all You have for me! Bring it on!” “I’m ready to cliff dive, Jesssuuuuuus! Let’s dooo it!”

But I’m honest.

So a handful of times the above have happened (except the cliff diving….heights and jumping from said heights are not my jam). Sometimes I feel brave and let words like that escape my mouth.

But usually it was more along the lines of “You made me this way, and I like small.” “Let’s just go with my plan this time, Abba. We’ll try your way next time.” “Uh…have you met me?” “Jesus, let’s just stay here all cuddly. You’re my guy. All I need. Can I just stay right here with YOUUUUU, FOREVERRRRRRR?”

There are times when I’ve rolled my eyes in response to the “too small” comment.

Other times I’ll remind Him of His Word, “Um…point of order God…doesn’t Zechariah 4:10 say “not to despise small beginnings.”

“What is the context, Jillian?”

FYI…the context God showed me is that in verse 6 the Lord told Zerubbabel that it wasn’t by force nor by strength, but by Holy Spirit that Zerubbabel would accomplish what the Lord declared he would do. So when you get to verse 10…which actually says, “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.” (NLT)

Essentially this is God’s way of saying, “Hey Jill. I’ve sent Holy Spirit ahead of you to prepare the way. I’m even more excited about this project than you! So what are you waiting on? Let’s get project started!!”

God loves it when I quote scripture to Him. It gives Him the opportunity to reveal things to me that blow my mind wide open, and pop my little eyes so wide that I resemble a cartoon character. Makes His day.

There are also the times that I put my hand up before He has a chance to say anything, and say “Yes, I know. I think too small.” Surrender fast. Like ripping the band-aid off.

Rarer of my responses, is the Jill’s got her sassy pants on, and she’s ready to go toe to toe. Then I’ll talk a big game about my screenwriting Oscars (That’s Oscars, plural. And I have a speech if you want to hear it.) People binge watching television series that came from my own imagination. Funny shows that both inspire and move people. My own photo studio. Multiple galleries with my work. Shelves of books with my name on the spine (Me and Jesus are productive partners, you know.) A stack of tear-stained letters from people I’ve never met telling me the words Jesus and I wrote helped them heal, grow, and step out into their own wild unknown. Book awards. Dreamy husband who sings to me. Stacks of money that I get to give away, funding other people’s dreams and visions from God. A passport so full of stamps they had to give me more pages.

When I pull this kind of Jill-ness, I can see Him smiling at me. The you’re so cute smile you give a small toddler when they think they have mastered the universe by putting on their own clothes. Their clothes that don’t match.

Then…

just as I’m about to finish…

I feel it….

rising up in the core of my inner most being…

Ephesians 3:20

Here’s the TPT: “Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for His miraculous power constantly energizes you.”

Why am I sharing this? Well, because it’s true, first and foremost.

But also because I do think too small. I find myself looking for scraps and thinking I can make this work. And there are seasons in our lives when all we have are scraps and we do need to just be grateful for the scraps. I’ve had those seasons. I’ve lost a house to foreclosure. I’ve had cars repossessed. Been under employed and unemployed for far too long. Had 2 operations in one calendar year. I lost 3 of the most important people in my life in 5 months, and too many other family members within that same year. I’ve been betrayed. I’ve been gutted by loss, and swam in self-pity. I had a string of sprains and a broken foot. Then the same week I FINALLY got off crutches, I fell off a ladder in front of 100+ coworkers, including a 2-Star General thank you very much, and cracked my wrist. Not every day is gonna be a bowl full of cherries, kids. It’s life.

The difference between believers and everyone else is that we’ve got Jesus. We’re not in it alone. We have hope.

Don’t think a pruning season is the end of your growth. Don’t think a season of loss is now your new permanent life. God is a great, big, mah-vel-ous God! And the Dude is straight up funny. He is joy personified.

For those who don’t believe me, who say show me in the Word…read Psalm 16:11 NKJV “You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

You can also reference Nehemiah 8:10 NLT “And Nehemiah continued, “Go and celebrate with a feast of rich foods and sweet drinks, and share gifts of food with people who have nothing prepared. This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”

And we can add to that Proverbs 17:22 TPT, “A joyful, cheerful heart brings healing to both body and soul. But the one whose heart is crushed struggles with sickness and depression.”

God is all about the joy.

He does mourn with us. He is close to the brokenhearted, and does rescue those whose spirits are broken. He does heal the brokenhearted and bind their wounds, so that they can move forward. And embrace life again! Not just life though..Abundant life!

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows].” John 10:10 AMP

Lest you think I’ve begun to rabbit trail, Why am I sharing this? 1. Because it’s true. 2. Because I do think too small. 3. Ah…yeah, no judging. You do too!

We need to be reminded, you and I, that God is the Great Creator. His imagination is endless. His love unending. He always wants to spend time with us. He’s never too busy. And in His generosity, the more time you spend with Him, the more revelation He shares you. He never runs out of anything. Ever. He’s the God who multiplies.

But here’s the part where the rubber meets the road…Are you willing to trust Him? Do you believe that He is? AND that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him? Do you believe He is pumped to partner with YOU in YOUR dream?

Do I believe that He enjoys partnering with me from the first line of random, through the not so awesome editing phase, all the way to the published book? Yes I do. But I haven’t always.

I’ve quit and told Him I was done, more than once. I have given the Christian auto responses more often than not, when people asked me questions I didn’t want to answer, or I couldn’t answer because I hadn’t the foggiest idea what I was doing! But in my own private time, I wrestled and fought to understand. I’ve cried. I’ve told God off. I’ve lamented in the way of Jeremiah and David. And you know what, I came out on the other side, knowing more about myself and about the God I serve. I love Him in a way I never could before. So that’s how I know He’s hilarious. And sometimes infuriating. But always in it with me.

Point to ponder while you wander….I ain’t the sweet, pliable, easy type kid, who just says, “Yes, Lord.” I’m the one with the hard head, that goes around the mountain more than once. I’m the one whose mouth just gets her into trouble repeatedly. I’m the one who thinks too small.

And yet, He enjoys my company. He appreciates when I tell Him first, before anyone else. He sees me. He knows me. And He loves me.

And that is why He continually tells me I think too small.

Musical Monday: Get Off My Cloud

May 14, 2018 2:00 am / Leave a comment

Today I’m sharing my fave Rolling Stones song… Get Off Of My Cloud

When I hear the chorus I envision myself as child laying in soft green grass in our yard watching the parade of clouds roll by. I’d call out the shapes…elephant, duck, tree, turtle, ship… or I’d imagine myself floating in the blue sky on my very own cloud. It was quiet & peaceful on my joyfilled cloud. Nothing bad happened there, nothing sad either.

It was dreamy…the thought of alone time. I now know it’s because I’m introverted and I need alone time to recharge. Actually the thought of my own cloud was perfection. Soft fluffy perfection on my cloud.

I didn’t want messy drama brought into my cloud. I didn’t want someone to “wreck” my day.

But the truth is that no one can wreck your day without you conceding the right to them. No one can “make” you angry. They may hurt you, frustrate you, scare you, but you choose how you react. Anger is a secondary emotion, it’s choice.

Only you can determine what your attitude and frame of mind will be. Only you can choose to maintain peace in a storm. Only you can decide to choose joy in the face of a day that is full of problems.

Peace and joy are choices you make every day. Strength comes from joy. Rest comes from peace.

Point to ponder while you wander…Many things will happen in your life that you have zero control over. That is just life. But you have control over how you choose to react. You determine your attitude.

PS Continuing with the theme….here’s Barbra singing Don’t Rain on My Parade in Funny Girl for your auditory and visual pleasure.

Motivational Monday: Awe & Wonder

February 12, 2018 8:26 am / Leave a comment

So I’m about half way through “Your God Is Too Safe” by Mark Buchanan. It’s hitting me right where I live. Reminding me that God is more than just my Father and the Creator, which is the two most common ways I connect to Him. Bigger than my imagination. Wilder. His thoughts are higher. His ways are higher.

I meditate on Ephesians 3:20 all the time to remind myself to think outside the box. To dream bigger. To stop trying to figure out the ending of something before it has even begun. And especially to remind me that He is infinite in time, love, resources, and creativity.

“Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you.” Ephesians 3:20 TPT

Wow.

This book is reminding me of what I learned when I studied the Names of God…He is both the God who sees me and the mighty Creator. He is both the Consuming Fire and the Father. He is the Judge, God Almighty, He is Eternal He is The Holy One, and the God Most High.

The book also quotes CS Lewis, “Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

Which brings me to the verse I sent out this morning to my people…

God is always Himself. God is always good. God does not have bad days. God does not lose His shit. He does get angry. He does dispense justice but…”He is good to everyone, and His compassion is intertwined with everything He does.” Psalm 145:9 TLB

I looked up compassion in Strong’s… , racham, rakh’-am, from H7355. It means compassion. Obviously.

But what I loved was this… “compassion; by extension, the womb (as cherishing the fetus).”

Wow!

Point to ponder while you wander… God is infinite, omnipotent, omnipresent AND His compassion towards all is as a womb cherishes a fetus.

Again…wow…

Monday Motivation: I Will Be With You

February 5, 2018 7:05 am / Leave a comment

I know it is Monday, but you’re not in it alone!

“But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I, that I should go to Pharoah and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’ And God said, “I will be with you.'” Exodus 3:11-12

Point to ponder while you wander…No matter what the outlook is for Monday or the week in general. He will be with you.

So you got this!

I Am Brave?

October 3, 2016 9:14 am / Leave a comment

So I’ve been on a faith journey that has required me to be vulnerable and take some interesting steps. I had the realization that if I want the life God has for me…the good one from Jeremiah 29:11, I have to run down the dock and jump into the deep end. Go all in!

If you’ve been around a while…that’s not how I roll. I have played around the edges of the lake…maybe tiptoed in to my knees…but never gotten my hair wet.

I went to the city I hear calling my name and I found my tribe, aka my church. Praise Jesus!

When that happened yesterday, I knew that this city is now MY city. I am compelled to pray for her and love her and love her people. I am compelled! I feel it in the core of who I am.

Even though I haven’t moved here yet. Don’t have a job yet. Don’t have a place to live yet. Don’t know when I’m moving here. But I know I am home.

Strangest feeling ever, BTW!

Anyway…yesterday at my church…I was talking to a woman and telling her what was going on. Her eyes got very big and she said, “You are sooo brave. I could never do what you’re doing.”

I am brave? Really?

I did not feel brave. I felt crazy. I am in one of the biggest and most expensive cities in the US by myself to do a fact finding mission to move here. All completely on faith that God is telling me I should move here.

But I left there confessing and declaring “I AM BRAVE.”

So thank you, Maple, for telling me who I am, when I couldn’t see myself clearly.

“Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them.” Joshua 1:6 NLT

Point to ponder while you wander…God is constantly speaking to us, revealing who He is and what’s on His heart, but sometimes we’re so in the weeds of our day to day that we miss Him. He’s also inviting us to partner with Him. But He’ll never force us. We are given a choice to partner with Him or go our own way.

As scary and hard as it is to leave my warm comfortable place. I trust Him. And He is worth the risk.

And honestly, right now, in this hard and scary place, I feel like Sleeping Beauty who has just been awakened with a kiss by King Jesus. 💋

Just Do It

September 12, 2016 10:38 am / Leave a comment

”Jesus replied to him, ‘You do not realize now what I am doing, but you will (fully) understand it later.‘” John 13:7 AMP

Often we are asked to obey, trust, or act in faith without having a clue as to why we are being asked to do or not to do something. But we need to remember that Jesus was there in the beginning and He’ll be there at the end, and all that knowledge and wisdom is being used to encourage us to live abundant and full lives.

I know it’s difficult to step out. It was for the disciples too. They spent a lot of their time asking what? and why? questions of Jesus.

It’s not easy for me either. But I don’t want to get to the end of my life and wish I’d been brave enough to step out.

Point to ponder while you wander…Joshua walked around Jericho every day for 7 days…and it probably didn’t make a whole lot of sense to him. He was a military commander not a band leader. But he obeyed….and the walls came down. He fully understood as he watched the walls crumble. God did something amazing for him and his people. But he would have missed it if He hadn’t obeyed.

So let’s do it! Let’s be bold and courageous!

#justdoit

jillbeingstill