direction – KARLA LEES

move on or love up on – the crossroads we all face

January 13, 2016January 13, 2016 Karla Lees

We each face a crossroads when confronted with a situation, person or comment which is unexpected, uncalled for or unwanted.

We can choose to ask God what to do, or take matters into our own hands.

There are times when God does call us to turn the other cheek, forgive and move on.

There are others where He calls you to move in and love up on the offender.

Both responses bring a shift of atmosphere into the situation, if we follow as He leads.

Matthew 7:7 reminds us:

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

When faced with a crossroads, are you asking for His wisdom and discernment?

God reminds us He gives wisdom to those who ask for it. He will guide us if we choose to follow.

How we choose to respond is based upon how whom we choose to listen to.

If you are seeking <peace in a tumultuous situation, your Abba will give it to you if you keep seeking him first.

If you are asking for clarification Holy Spirit will prompt you if you ask.

If you are knocking on the door of heaven to know how He would like you to bring heaven down, Jesus will answer.

Our part is to choose to follow, which begins with the choice to
ask,
actively wait,
accutely listen, and
attentively obey.

when the going gets rough

September 22, 2015September 22, 2015 Karla Lees

I get a bit queasy on buses & boats.

As long as I can keep my eyes fixed on a permanent spot, I am able to calm myself.

In our daily lives, the waters can become rough with towering waves in the blink of an eye.

Insecurity & doubt can rise to try and crash over us.

That task you thought was impossible you now know is almost unachievable the closer you get to it.

And then He lovingly whispers to you, “Do not be afraid, I am here.”

The words “I am” at first don’t seem too deep, just letting the reader know the person speaking is there.

But God’s very name IS “I AM”.

So its not just a person present, but the God of all ages, past present & future, who is right there in that moment.

Once a day, you can read a verse where God speaks to His children, “Do not be afraid,” or “Fear not.”

Coz He knows many of us need that daily reminder to soak in deep. To help center us in the storm. To keep our eyes on the StormKeeper instead of the storm itself.

God is not a distant being far removed from His creation, His children.

He dug in deep for the long haul wit humanity since He first brought Adam & Eve to life.

He stepped in and made a way back Home for all who believe in Him though Jesus.

But He didn’t stop there.

The Word is filled with stories of broken, stumbling people like you and I. Ones who break the rules, veer off the path, leap before looking or react without thinking it through.

God has woven Himself through each and every story recorded in the Word. Literally & figuratively.

He literally is the same God now as He was in those recorded stories.

For I AM never ages.

He is not bound by the laws of time & space as humanity is, God He was, is and always will be.

For I AM is beyond our limits.

He has not hidden His heart from His children, but lavishly displays it every single day.

Through each sunrise & sunset.
Through each new birth.
Through each rain drop, gust of wind, new growth in the gardens & fields.
Through each act of love where the receiver’s needs are placed ahead of the giver’s.
Through each smile, hug, belong hand.
Through His Words, recorded across time, language & culture, encompassing a small glimpse into the mighty I AM we can spend eternity getting to know in His entirety.
Through His Son, the anchor of God’s love in any storm which may come our way. He is the Lighthouse showing us the way back Home, in His embrace.
Through Holy Spirit, the GPS reminding us the way to take, and how much we are loved as we make our way towards Him.
Through the love of the Father. Who will never stop calling to us above the waves to hold on, He’s got us.

Feeling a little seasick from the storm?

Stop filling your eyes with the view of the storm.

Start fixing your hope, your heart on the Anchor above it all.

God is the only one who will never fail you in any storm. His commitment to you lead Him to the cross, His love for you kept Him there. His desire for you caused Him to overturn death & make His way back to you.

The God I write about is alive.
Active. The Great “I AM.”

His promise holds fast.
Do not be afraid, I AM with you.
Every day, through every storm, in everything.

stop. watch. listen.

September 12, 2015September 12, 2015 Karla Lees

There is a way worth searching after
There is a life worth dying for
There is a hope found in the seeking
There is a truth you’ve never seen before….
Stop, watch and listen
To the Word, to the Truth

-Kim Hill

It’s really hard to not stay in motion for me at times.

I can easily get into the get it done zone, and forget to listen for His prompting & Words along the way.

I am learning my answers are not found in my reactions, but in my delay.

Say what, girl?

When I stop to watch what is really going on, and listen for His direction as I do? It’s amazing how I am able to see that what is going on almost always doesn’t have anything to directly do with me.

Co-worker cranky?
Kids don’t want to talk?
Spouse sulky?

When we don’t take the time we all need to:

STOP & lay our burdens down before Him

WATCH with the viewpoint of Wisdom, not our own

& LISTEN for His direction & prompts

all of us can carry things we were never designed to carry long term.

I am trying to catch myself before heading straight into tense or drama filled situations, and ask Him to show me what I need to see, wait for His leading, and listen for His words – either for me alone, or to share with the other(s) is the situation.

One day, I had a coworker speak to me in a way I don’t usually take without getting defensive. However because there were others about us, and it was quite busy, I didn’t rise to the occasion & lose my cool setting them straight. God whispered to me, “I got this, let it go.” I obeyed. The situation immediately diffused because I didn’t plug into the drama, and listened to what God wanted for me to do.

You see, God was able to act through me when I delayed my reaction.

Reacting adds fuel to the fire of offense, a stopwatchlisten delay quenches the urge for the immediate response, and makes room for Him to act.

When we get out of our own way, He can more easily lead us along His ways.

I am by no means an expert at this, but I am less reactive in the press for an immediate answer. As I stop, watch what He is doing. and listen for the part I am to take moving forward, I become more peaceful & purposeful.

Holy Spirit is the key to this process.

Without Him, we could find ourselves doing irreparable damage to one another, over and over and over again.

I have realized that when I stop & invite Him into each and every situation, many times there have been spiritual reasons behind the incidents.

When we allow Him to stop us on our tracks, we can see what is really going on, and align ourselves with Him.

His timing is always perfect, and well worth our wait.

A couple of times recently, a person with a reactive tongue has tried to push my buttons big time.
And been disappointed when I refused to join in.

Beloved, you are never too old or have gone too far for Him not to teach you how to follow His lead in a deeper way.

It takes practice & faith, and three words of passive action to help you do so:
Stop.
Watch.
Listen.