Little meetings

What a blessing it is to have people you enjoy and love to be around. This past week I spent time meeting up with some people. Each one of them unique and bringing the joy of what the Lord put in them.

• With one, our gathering is a sharing of interesting facts and findings.
• With one, it like a diving into every connected topic until all intertwined thoughts are in view.
• With one, it is a telling and retelling of the beautiful stories of life.
• With one, it is like an unfolding revealing of hearts.

God has made people so awesome, and I am blessed to get to enjoy them.

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Surprising Shifts

During this sabbatical, the Lord has given me an epiphany of sorts. Illuminating new perspectives that have changes the way that I see things about certain things and people from both moments of history in my life and also from how I see now. These shifts have changed I’ve notice how I look at some of the most important people in my life. It has change how I handle situations and even the willingness to step into certain situations.

One particular person, it dawned on me, that I suddenly saw them in a whole different light. My heart has deepened for them, and I see what I could see before in them. Through this self-awareness, I have repented of the way that I had been thinking. My mind has changed.

And I also made the connection of how I saw them through the lens of myself. I was self-projecting on them. The reason I had thought how I did about something was because I personally struggled with how they handle situations. I judged them wrongly because of my own fear. This reframe has allowed me to have compassion and understanding both for them and for me.

What a gift!

Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but don’t notice the log in your own eye?… Hypocrite! First take the log out of your eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

Matthew 7:3–5

A little understanding

When God changes how you think, it comes not necessarily by these ‘big firework’ kind of moments. It’s just these small shifts in perception. He changes how we see.

I have often thought of change of thought and change in life as doors of opportunity. I’ve talked about how we have to notice how little hinges move big doors! The little things matter! The tiniest of thoughts. The smallest of deeds. These little things that make a big impact. They can be easy to miss and overlook.

But also, I think our perceptions are like the lynch pins in the door. Here is the thing about lynch pins: They often get stuck, and if you need to update hardware or change out the door altogether, you’ve got to get that pin out of the hinge. Sometimes you need a hammer.

A hammer can come in a couple of different forms:

• Hard knocks of life
• Learning from another’s experience
• God changes your heart

We can learn through the principle that God can and does work all things for good to those who love Him. That is even through the things that we’ve messed up or have to endure. We can learn by listening and taking counsel from others who wisely walk with the Lord or who have experienced the ‘hard knock’ process. My favorite way to learn is through the discovery of how God is doing a work in the heart, and He changes it. It is much like a treasure hunt.

Those who are not paying attention often miss the deeper understanding. They know they are just different now. But the intricate working of what God did is mostly missed. The creation of space where you become a person of wise counsel through the experience of God’s miracle-working power. You have to be awake and aware (pay attention) of what God is doing, what He is showing you, and what His Spirit is revealing to you through it.

⁹ But as it is written,What no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no human heart has conceived—
God has prepared these things for those who love him.¹⁰ Now God has revealed these things to us by the Spirit, since the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.

1 Corinthians 2:9–10

Over this month so far, I have sensed God saying a few things.

• Chaos is coming but do not fear, I hover over the waters and I bring order.
• Favor is stirring, God is going to do it! You will ask, “How did that happen?”
• PRAISE HIM – this is how you prepare!
• God is working on the little things, little things matter. Steward the little.
• There is supernatural joy coming because of the good news – to my house!
• Be prepared, the shift is coming, things will not be the same. Things are changing.
• Get your feet ready to move. Walk forward.
• Acceleration —> Your lens has changed. Your heart has changed.
• Worship, praise, and thanksgiving – this is what is required for right perspective and to see.

Thanks for Listening,

Starla