by Cathy Baker | Faith |
As I bring this month of gratitude to a close, I want to share one final act of thankfulness. It will also explain why I’ll be taking a break from blogging during the month of December.
In September, I had a CT scan. It was to be a straight-forward procedure to help the surgeon who performed my gall bladder surgery earlier this year view the scar tissue, as the site was giving me some pain.
The site turned out fine but the scan did reveal a mass, which turned out to be multiple fibroid tumors. The surgeon remarked on how, if it had not discovered, it would’ve more than likely become cancerous. While not excited about what was found, I couldn’t help but thank God all the way home, confident He orchestrated the unfolding of circumstances.
As I write this (early November) I’m scheduled for surgery on November 19th. If I’ve not replied to comments as quickly as normal, this is why. I’m recuperating on my comfy couch with my spoiled rotten pup and a hard-to-put-down book nearby, Lord willing.
Blogging in December is one of my favorite things to do. I will miss it — I will miss you — terribly. I thank God for the friendships He has allowed me to forge through this ministry, and for those He has deepened.
I pray you and your family will be richly blessed as you celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.
I look forward to returning in January! In the meantime, feel free to stay in touch as I would love to hear from you. I especially thank you for your prayers.
I thank my God every time I remember you. Philippians 1:3
Every single time, my friends.
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
Earthly wisdom is doing what comes naturally. Godly wisdom is doing what the Holy Spirit compels us to do. -Charles Stanley
I, like you, have tasted both the natural and the Spirit-led. After having tasted the latter, we can’t help but refuse to settle for anything less.
But sometimes it’s not easy telling them apart at first. This is what happened when, over the summer, I began nurturing grandiose ideas for my blog. Nothing was inherently wrong with them, but as I worked through the ideas, I felt unsettled, never at peace. Nevertheless, I pushed on for weeks, believing it was simply part of the hard work required in making things happen.
A particular writing friend of mine loved me enough to call me to task on my ambitions. Were these my ideas or God’s? As I prayed about it, God revealed in a number of creative ways that the ideas I’d been working so hard on were not part of His plan for our blog right now. When He confirmed this in my spirit, peace settled over my soul like soft snow rests on gnarly branches.
No matter how hard we work if we’re not in step with the Spirit, all is in vain.
I’m grateful that the One who indwells us is not an “It” but a “Him”. The Holy Spirit is personal and active in our lives. When in step with Him, life takes on an abundant edge that it misses otherwise.
How are you grateful for the Spirit’s work in your life today? Please share in the comment section!
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:25
{I decided not to share the specifics of my former grandiose ideas because the Lord is calling others to do exactly those things—PTL—but not me, at least for now, and for this I am thankful.}
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
by Cathy Baker
Not so long ago I sensed the Holy Spirit gently reaching for the key to my ignition as I earnestly spun my creative wheels in the mud of my own making. Every extra moment was spent working on blog posts and other writing projects, especially on Sunday afternoons. After all, what’s more relaxing than stressing over content?
I don’t know about you, but one way I detect that God’s power has been kidnapped, if you will, by that of the fleshly sort is that I become exhausted—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Working hard is a good thing. Overdoing it for all the wrong reasons is not.
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| Image by Pixabay // Hans |
For me, it always comes back to the question of WHY I write, or do anything else, quite frankly. When I remember that my whole purpose in writing, teaching, speaking, creating, etc. is to bring God glory, a rest envelopes me much like the shade from a sprawling oak on a hot summer day.
“God is more concerned about our integrity than our personal success.”
-Arleen Jennings, Created to Be Creative
If it’s been awhile since you’ve answered the question of WHY you are doing what you’re doing, perhaps today is that day. It has a way of cutting through all the excuses, the when-will-my-day-come questions and getting straight to the heart of the matter.
My refusing to rest, especially on a day God provides for exactly that, was a form of pride. Yes, it was a painful realization but I thank God for it. Now, I set aside Sunday afternoons for true rest (and yes, that includes a NASCAR race!) When I’m tempted to start the next blog post or project (which I do enjoy!) I recognize that God set the pattern for rest. He chose to rest one day of the week, who am I to do otherwise?
“You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by your will they exist and were created.” Revelation 4:11
Your turn. What’s one indicator that flesh has kidnapped the Spirit’s control in your life?
❉ One of our teaching pastors, Kyle Estepp, recently talked on Sabbath Rest. It was by far the best sermon either Brian or myself have ever heard on the subject. If you would like to listen, visit Summit’s site here.
by Cathy Baker | Faith |
by Cathy Baker
Care to join me for a stroll in my garden on this sizzling
summer day?
E-X-H-A-L-E
Granted, my garden has seen better days. Days when wisteria
didn’t strangle the life from my beloved hydrangeas and lilies. Days when I
wasn’t as timid about stepping on fire ants (I’m deathly allergic!), helping to keep weeds at bay. At some point, I grew tired of the battle and bowed to the power invasive plants demand.
Still, there are moments when I step outside, exhale and
stand in awe of God’s artistic flair:
(Sorry, I couldn’t resist. After all, Buttercup is now part of the landscape — and a beaut!)
Thank you for joining me for the stroll as well as the June series.
This Wednesday, I’ll announce our NEW
series for July but in the meantime, I have two gifts I’d love to share with
someone. One gift is a signed copy of Covert Justice by Lynn Blackburn
(remember this post?) The second gift complements our Summer Snippets theme, beach chairs and all.
Simply leave a comment on the blog and your name will be entered into a random
drawing to be held on Friday. The winner will be announced in next Monday’s
post!
I pray you and your family will be richly blessed as you celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. 
