Look Up

            I lift up my eyes to the mountains- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord the maker of heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2

Look up. Lift up your eyes to you creator. When you look up it takes your eyes and mind off of the world and puts it on Jesus. I’m reminded of Peter when he walked on water. When his eyes were on the Lord his faith in Christ allowed him to walk on water. He knew Jesus could perform miracles. When he put his eyes on the storm his faith waned. It caused him to sink. We can have the faith it takes to put our eyes on the Lord and no matter what surrounds us we can keep the faith that God will perform a miracle in our lives. He will help us walk on water.

Jesus walks on water and so does Peter. When Peter sinks Jesus asks why did you doubt me? Is that where you find yourself today dear reader? I don’t doubt God, I doubt myself. Am I capable? Can I do this? But then I guess it is like doubting God because he created me and he called me to spread the gospel just as he’s called each one of us. I fear rejection but the word says when they reject you they are rejecting the one who sent you. So how do we keep our eyes on Christ? By praying to him and asking him to help us when we sink. By worshipping him for when we worship him our eyes are fixed on him. Truly thank him when you worship him. Remember what he has done. Call it back to him and thank him for the ways he’s been there for you. Serve. By serving him it puts your mind on loving others and on showing your appreciation for his love by loving others. We keep our eyes on him through the word. I encourage you to spend time in his word daily. It will bless you. For the word is actively correcting us and showing us how Christ wants us to live our lives. It is the word that gives us strength to stand on the water and it is when we keep our eyes fixed on him that we walk on water.

What can you do to look up to him and walk on water today?

What can you do to have a faith that walks on water?

Where does my help come from? The Lord the maker of the world. The almighty God. The one who created me knows my heart, my struggles, my successes, my fear and my worries. He is more than able to minister to me and provide help. Look up to him. He will help you.

Will you share the ways you look up to the Lord?

I’m here.

I’m listening.

Genuinely Yours,

Amy Z.

 

 

Tug of War: Growth or Fear

             My life coach asked me a profound question today. Is my desire to grow greater than my fear of the unknown. I’d love for my answer to be yes. However, my answer is no. Right now my fear is winning out. I hate to admit it dear reader because I want to be strong and say when you follow Christ your struggles are over. That’s simply not true and frankly a detriment to our walk with Christ. We will always be a work in progress but we can take heart for he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion just as his word says:

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: Philippians 1:6 KJV

So I so want to be the strong version of myself the one who believes God will do great things with my life. Instead I am weak and I’m reaching out to God less and less succumbing to my old habit of staying in bed until the last possible second. I’m awake. I’m just lying there. I’m not even saying to myself Amy you should get out of bed I’m just lying there waiting for the alarm to go off. I can relate to the apostle Paul for he said:

 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. Romans 7:15 NLT

 I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. ²² I love God’s law with all my heart. ²³ But there is another power^[b] within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. ²⁴ Oh, what a miserable person I am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? ²⁵ Thank God! The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. So you see how it is: In my mind I really want to obey God’s law, but because of my sinful nature I am a slave to sin. Romans 7:21-25 NLT

Through the struggle this scripture shows us who will rescue us, Jesus. In chapter 8 of Romans following the above scripture it says there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1) So don’t despair dear reader if you find yourself in this tug of war between sin and the spirit for Jesus wins out. You don’t have to be a slave to sin any more. You can walk by the spirit. So again I say don’t despair dear reader if we would be still before the Lord he will speak and show us what to do next. So where do you find yourself today? Are you struggling? Lean into Christ. Give him your burdens for his word says:

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NLT

Are you feeling joyful? Praise God so no matter what state you’re in praise God. Praise him in the storm and praise him in the sunshine.

I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High. Psalm 9:2

So I just encourage you today to find a friend who will encourage and strengthen you and shoulder your struggle. It is when we are at our weakest that we need Christ most and what better way to feel Christ in our lives than to be surrounded by the love of our friends? Believe me I have to stop trying to do this getting out of bed thing on my own and lean into Christ but also put plans into place that help me succeed my goal. I also encourage you to pray for God to help you. I haven’t even asked God to help me get out of bed. How foolish! The Holy Spirit lives in me and will help me even in something as simple as getting out of bed.

So where do you find yourself today dear reader?

Will you share it with me?

I’m here.

I’m listening.

Genuinely Yours,

Amy Z

A New Beginning Dawns

                My cousin sent me an image that had this saying, “faith is not an epidural that takes away the pain. It’s a midwife who stands next to us through the whole process and says push it’s supposed to hurt.” What a good word and so true when we are stretched past our comfort zones it is going to hurt but there’s a blessed new life at the end of it. A new beginning is headed my way. It is not a beginning that is going to come easy for my old life has to die and come to an end so that I can be like Lazarus who walks out of the tomb. I have the grave clothes on, the stench of death is at my nose, but Jesus is right there holding his arms open wide ready to embrace me with the new life that he offers. God’s word says we are a new creation in Christ.

                 Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17 KJV

                  Therefore, I need to embrace the new life and let go of the things in my life that need to die. The things that need to die are pride, ego, doubt, worry, fear, anxiety, procrastination, laziness, fear of starting new things and running from my emotions and from God. I’m tired of holding onto my old comfort zone. God is trying to bring something new into my life. I want to embrace the pain of the new beginning like a mother embraces the pain of giving birth for at the other side of that pain is a blessed new life and a new beginning.  

                     Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. Isaiah 43:19 KJV

                     I have to admit dear readers that I’ve been floundering lately. I haven’t been reading my bible in the morning or praying before work. I’ve been staying in bed until the last possible moment and then getting up and going for a walk. I can’t seem to find the zeal or the resolve I once had to get out of bed and read God’s word. I find that several Christians I talked to are having the same problem. I know the enemy is always out to get us, so isn’t it just like him to get us to stay out of the word of God and become stagnant? A couple people have told me to pray before I get out of bed. I do need to try that. So wish me God’s best on getting out of bed early in the morning dear reader.

                     What would you like to see come to fruition in your life?

                      Are you waiting for a new beginning?

                      Will you share it with me?

                        I’m here.

                        I’m listening.

                        Genuinely Yours,

                         Amy Z

Live An Abundant Life

            Dear readers I want to talk to you about an abundant life. So there’s a block in my mind about living an abundant life. I’m trying to live an abundant life with a scarcity mindset. I question who am I to thrive while so many are just surviving. Who am I that God would bless me? I was so broken for so long and God has redeemed my brokenness. He’s restored me and leads me on the paths of his righteousness. So why do I live as if I am alone without a Savior who carries me each day? Why can’t I recognize the great blessing in the life that God has given me? I don’t know how to live an abundant life. I mean I’m living my life but I’m not enjoying my life the way I want to. Let’s look at what Wikipedia says about an abundant life:

“Abundant life" refers to life in its abounding fullness of joy and strength for spirit, soul and body. www.en.Wikipedia.org

I want that. I want to live my life in the fullness of joy and with strength for my spirit, soul and body.

Let’s see what the bible says about an abundant life:

                        The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10

Jesus has come to give us life. He saves us from death and brings us to life. We shall one day be with him in heaven. When I was my most broken he came to me and offered me salvation. I have been living my life in fear of living it. If I would just look at my life I can see what’s scarce in my life these days and that’s Fear, doubt, worry, anxiety, depression and sadness. God has replaced them with joy, love, mercy, grace and forgiveness. What does God’s word say he will do for the lost?

I will seek that which was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick…Ezekiel 34:16a

God is speaking to me through his word. He has sought me out. I was lost. Broken. In despair. Depressed. Suicidal. Driven away by the past. God has strengthened me. I am thriving right where I am. I’m like a sapling on my way to becoming a tree. A sapling lives for the moment and has within it the ability to become a mighty oak. I am like that sapling. I have great potential and I need not look to the past. In the past I was once a seed. I didn’t know the word of God for myself but God watered me with his word and I’ve grown into a sapling and I have the potential to be that oak. I can embrace the moment as a sapling and have the courage to weather all the storms and continue to grow into that mighty oak. I can choose where my mind will land. I can stay stuck in the past, avoid the moment and fear the future or I can feel the sun on my face and embrace my life right now. So often I’ve let my life pass me by. Just striving for the next thing and the next instead of living in the moment. Living in the moment is rare for me. I so often let my mind wander and I don’t want to do that anymore. I’m sick and tired of letting anxiety, fear, worry and doubt overtake my mind. I want to embrace the Lord. I’m just not quite sure how to do that.

So where do you find yourself today dear reader?

Are you embracing the life God has given you?

Are you cherishing every moment he gives you?

Are you living in the soil as a seed when God has called you to be a mighty oak?

I’m that sapling and I want to just enjoy my season as a sapling and wait on the Lord to grow my branches and allow me to bear fruit in due season.

                I want to live an abundant life.

How about you?

 I’m here.

I’m listening.

Genuinely Yours,
Amy Z.

Pour Out Your Oil

           There’s a parable in Matthew 25 about 5 wise virgins and 5 foolish virgins that were going out to meet the bridegroom. Now the wise virgins brought extra oil for their lamps so that they would have enough oil/light to travel to the bridegroom. The foolish virgins had no extra oil. When the cry came that the bridegroom was coming the foolish virgins asked the wise virgins for them to spare some of their oil but they said no go buy some for yourselves lest we not have enough. So the foolish virgins went to buy some and the wise were able to go into the bridegroom. When the foolish virgins tried to get in they were denied entry. Now ultimately this parable is about the Lord coming when we do not know the hour and for us to be ready when he does. I’d like to look at it a little differently. See Matthew 25:1-13 for this biblical account.

So the oil represents God’s word. We hold it until we’re called to speak in essence to pour out the oil. Pour out your word to God and to others. Your light will shine. Shine your light into the lives of others.

Pour out your oil into the chosen vessel. The lantern represents the person you are sent to give a word of God to. The foolish virgins are those who have been given the word of God but don’t take it in. Kind of like the parable of the sower where the word falls on the rocky ground or is choked with thorns. The foolish virgins are those who know God on a surface level but don’t study themselves worthy of their calling. Therefore they can’t pour out the word to others because they themselves are empty. This is much like the call to the bridegroom, the foolish virgins were happy to hear that the bridegroom had come but had no oil to get to their destination. It’s much like someone who hears the word and lets it fall by the wayside. They don’t have enough of the word to last for the journey of life.

            Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God. Ephesians 4:1 NKJV

The disciples asked Jesus why he spoke in parables. Jesus replied,

“Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. Matthew 13:11-12 NIV

This is much like the wise and foolish virgins. The wise virgins will be given more of God’s word and will take it in and pour it back out. While the foolish virgins even what little they do have will be taken from them.

The wise virgins have the word and use wisdom on who to pour it out on. Where do you find yourself today? Are you the foolish virgin or the wise virgin? I feel as though I’m in between. I’m so close to being that wise virgin but if I take a step back I’m foolish. It is foolish. I keep looking back at my old life and trying to do new things with an old mindset. Lord please transform and renew my mind and the minds of those reading this. It’s time to look forward to the eyes of the bridegroom, my Savior and go into the marriage feast and embrace my new life completely and let go of the old.

I have a new name, beloved, I am cherished by my Lord and I will no longer bear the shame of my old life for the new has come.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 NLT

 

I can just embrace it, I can step into it and I am free. You can’t put new wine in old wineskin it would burst, it’s time to let go of the old wineskin and take on the new and let God pour into my life. I used to live a life of scarcity. Abundance has come. There is fruit on the vine. I can feast and be fed, no longer starving for the world’s affection. I am cherished, beloved, precious. It’s not about what I do it’s about who I am. It’s about whose I am. It’s about what Jesus has done. It’s about who he is and who he says I am.

What new beginning can you embrace today?

I’m here.

I’m listening.

Genuinely Yours,

Amy Z

Throw Off That Shell

           So I’ve been feeling like a hermit crab lately. They shed their old shells and their exoskeleton when they become too big for their current shell. I’ve become too big for my old life. The old Amy was riddled with anxiety. The new Amy has less and less of it. Yet I’m still trying to use coping mechanisms that no longer serve me. Not even coping mechanisms these things are old defense mechanisms and they are just detrimental to me. So my exoskeleton is the bad habits, the old ways of thinking that I’ve been holding on to. One thing I am wanting to get away from is procrastination. I want to start tackling things as they come. God needs to prune me in this area. I know the Lord will work it out of me for his word says,

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6 NLT

So I know God will not leave me this way and I also want to keep in mind,

I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me and the life I know live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. Galatians 2:20 ESV

The old shell is where I’ve been hiding. I’ve outgrown my old life. I feel as though I’m coming out of the old shell. Now I’m exposed to the elements and I wonder will God leave me here alone and vulnerable? It is when we are most vulnerable that God can do the most work in our hearts. I feel like I’ve been hiding from God in my shell of complacency. What a joke. You can’t hide from God. No one can. I’m running in the opposite direction of where God wants me to be. Why? I’m scared that I can’t fit the role the Lord has been putting on my heart. I fully believe I’m going to be in full-time ministry one day. I believe that I’ll be on stage ministering to thousands. I believe I’ll be like the hero ladies of faith in our time, Joyce Meyer, Beth Moore, Lysa Terkeurst and Christine Caine who reach out to many with their ministries. This calling that God’s placed on my life is far bigger, far more reaching than I can even imagine. Think of the biggest thing God could do for your life and then dream bigger. The word says that he will do abundantly exceedingly more than we can imagine. I believe it. Yet still I question. Can God really use me in such a big way? Why would he even want to? Why doesn’t he just leave me where he found me? Broken hearted. Having low self-worth. Not believing I served a purpose in this world. Of course God wouldn’t leave me where he found me for his word says he will bind up the broken-hearted. He loves me and he can use me for his kingdom and his glory. I just pray that I believe it. I feel too small for such a huge task. And I am too small if I go in my own strength. But I’m not going in my own strength. I’m going in God’s strength with him before me, behind me and beside me. How about you dear reader? Do you struggle with this? What has God put on your heart? In what way is he trying to use you? Are you running and hiding like me? If you are I just encourage you to give it all to God. He’ll take it all in and minister to your heart. He will be the lamp upon your feet.

So what are some of these new habits that can usher me into a new shell with the Lord as my protector and shield? Well for one I have to spend time with God and be immersed in his word. I have only been reading my bible sleepily in the morning before I start my day. I want to meditate on his word and think on it. Another thing I have to do is fellowship with fellow believers. This is so key to ushering in God’s encouragement in our lives. Having women of faith who can encourage us and face the storms with us. I also need to sit still and allow God to speak to me. Lastly, I need to let go of the last of these anxious thoughts and lean into him. My sphere of influence is growing. God needs me to shed my old ways and lean on him.

There’s not just a physical battle going on with my new beginning. It’s a spiritual battle as well. I am no longer a baby Christian. Paul called it spiritual milk versus spiritual meat. I can no longer just drink the word in, I need to chew on it and meditate on the word. I can no longer just read the bible as if it’s something to be read leisurely. I need to be an active participant. Don’t get me wrong I have read the bible as an active participant, but I’m just not getting enough time with God. I also need a new prayer life, selfless prayers as opposed to selfish prayers. For example, Lord what do you want me to learn out of this situation? How do you want me to grow? I need accountability partners that set me straight when I go awry. I’ll leave you with this,

Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God-truly righteous and holy. Ephesians 4:21-24

What old ways do you need to shed today?

I’m here.

I’m listening.

Genuinely Yours,

Amy Z

The Masks We Leave Behind

           So I got to thinking when the Covid Pandemic is over we will finally be able to leave the face masks behind. It got me thinking what other masks can we leave behind? Maybe just maybe we could leave behind our pretenses, our hidden agenda, our ulterior motives. Maybe we could leave behind our false smiles, our hidden pain. Maybe we could leave behind our neediness to be perfect. Maybe we can be a new creation in Christ and leave our old baggage behind. Maybe we can leave the past behind and face the dawning of the day. Maybe, just maybe, we can shed our masks like old skins and just be who we are flawed and perfectly wonderful just as we are.  

So this week I had a challenge that I had to face. God shined a light on some old hurt that I didn’t even know I was holding on to and I was able to let it go. It got me thinking about how God reveals the darkness in our hearts not to hurt us but to heal us. Much like the masks we have to leave behind so too do we have to leave the darkness behind. I had a situation where something I perceived as initially negative I can look at it as positive because it revealed some darkness in my heart. I’m able to see it through the lens of correction. Through the lens of pruning. Through the lens of growth.

Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” John 8:12

Jesus lives within in us. Therefore we should have no fellowship with darkness. But sometimes we do. I have prayed for God to send me to the deepest darkest places and he showed me that the deepest darkest places are in the heart. So when I go to minister God’s word I need to allow Jesus to shine his light into that person’s darkest places in their heart. Don’t get me wrong. I know my heart has some places that I haven’t allowed the Lord to show up in. I’m a work in progress. We all are. Will you allow God to shed his light into the darkest places of your heart and be healed? Do you have the faith to believe that God will do it?

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. Ephesians 5:8

Can you allow that light to move in your heart? Can you allow old baggage to be removed? Can you walk in light and let the light of Christ shine out of your heart? Why does he move upon our hearts and remove the darkness? So we can be fully activated for God’s kingdom.

                I will deliver you from the Jewish people, as well as from the Gentiles, to whom I now send you, to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’ Acts 26:17-18

It is to turn us from Satan and toward God. Wow. Let that sink in. When we are in darkness we are under the power of Satan. God has brought us out of the darkness of death into the light of eternal life.

To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1:79

What does being in the light bring us? Peace.

For You will light my lamp; The Lord my God will enlighten my darkness. Psalm 18:28

Where does the light come from? The Lord.

The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. Romans 13:12

Who puts on the armor of light? We do.

The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned. Matthew 4:16

God has shined his light into our lives. Can we let that light shine out of our hearts and bring an encouraging word to someone?

How can you be the light of Christ in someone’s life this week?

Share it with me.

I’m here.

I’m listening.

Genuinely Yours,

Amy Z