Author: Lyndsay Taylor

Before I get going on what I want to write about today, I just want to say something that’s been rolling around in my mind awhile.

Ever since the kids started going to school and I’m no longer homeschooling, I have this time to just be…think connected and uninterrupted thoughts…pray and listen…and write. So more blogs are coming, more songs will be written, more thoughts will find a way to be expressed. But why? Why share?

Why do I write? Why do I sing? Why do I share? One, it’s because if a truth spurred me on in my faith, I want to pass that along for others to experience as well. That’s one of the ways I personally grow–when the intimacy of one’s life with Jesus seeps out a little and I catch a glimpse of it, my fire is reignited, and believe me, I need my fire reignited! But you know, none of what I have to say or sing or share is original. It didn’t originate from me. I don’t tweet or blog or song-write thinking I have invented something…I’m watching the river of life rush by, and I grab onto whatever I can find from the Spirit of God, and as I grab it up and hold onto it for that day, I think, “Maybe someone else needs this, too.” And the second reason why I write and sing and share, regardless of the amount of people who read or listen or see, is because I need the discipline and accountability to keep learning and to get what I’m learning down “on paper”. Writing can be a scary thing because once you’ve put those words together, you’ve admitted to what you’ve grasped, you’ve become responsible in a way for that information. And the work, the wrestling, that it takes to grapple with God over something and come to a conclusion -at least for now- is no small thing.

I need to do this work. I need to be reminded of truth all day long. The power of creativity, words, art, nature, beauty, music, expression, stories, and passing those things on,  is that truth can meet us again and again in brand new ways. It’s a gift and we shouldn’t be shy to share it. And we shouldn’t ignore the amazing resource of believers around us whose creative offerings can help us grow in our faith!

There are lots of speakers, writers, singers, artists, teachers with lots of listeners and followers…But no one big name out there holds the keys to the truth of God. We all hold those keys. I love reading certain blogs, I love listening to certain teachers, I love worshipping with certain singers, but I genuinely believe that there are millions of people just as connected to God, just as gifted, just as able to express truth in life-giving ways all over the world. Some are hidden by the Lord for a time as He matures them, some are martyrs (oh to read their journals! to hear them worship!), some are moms expressing His love in the privacy of their own homes as they teach math to yawning kids and joyfully make their 10,000th peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Some are prayer warriors, some are bloggers, some are worship leaders in churches that average 40 people a Sunday. It just doesn’t matter.

There will never be enough lovers of Jesus letting their walk with Him seep out just a little into this dark world.

I used to think, “Is it narcissistic to blog? To put pictures on Instagram? To share my videos of new songs on YouTube?”  I wondered if it was wrong for me to want people to know about my music. But finally I understood. It’s not about me. That inner compulsion to share my songs and my writing, what I’m learning, what God is speaking, wasn’t from me or about me. It was from God and it was about believers using whatever means they have been given to teach and encourage believers as they face their daily trials, and to introduce the world to a little of what it means to know Jesus, from this one perspective.

So, this isn’t where I thought this blog would be headed today…I’ll write another day this week about that…but I feel like it’s God’s reminder to me (and you) that every one of us has been given a voice, a gift, and truth as we live in communion with His Spirit– and that truth needs to be shared in your own way for the benefit of those around you. We are all strug-a-ling, friends! We all need a fresh infusion of the Word and the Spirit, the Bread and the Wine, so much more than we admit or realize. When we are lacking, there are others around us who have life to share with us. We shouldn’t be too ashamed or too stubborn to recognize our lack, and be led to the Well to be filled! When we are full and brimming over, there are those around us who are thirsty, so we shouldn’t think we’re too small or too unknowledgeable or too imperfect to pass on truth.

What has He spoken or given to you that has refreshed your spirit and walk with Him? Breathe it in.

Maybe there’s someone around you who needs that fresh wind. Breathe it out.

Selah did a beautiful job making this static video for me of my and Joanna’s duet, When Faith Runs Deep! Enjoy and feel free to share!

There’s a question that comes to my mind in stressful times now. If I’m angry, worried, annoyed, the Holy Spirit has this question He asks. It began about six years ago when we were trying to buy a house “in town”. We lived (and still live) kind of in the woods, and we were at a busy and growing church in town so much of our time that we wanted to move in closer. It seemed easier, it seemed to make sense. But wave after wave kept it from happening.

As the difficulties arose, as we were losing money trying to make this happen, I was finding myself escalating to basket-case status!! And that’s when the Lord spoke gently to me with the question.

“Lyndsay, why do you care so much?”

The question made me even more frustrated, but I settled down to think about it. I was angry God didn’t seem to be letting us accomplish what I thought He told us to accomplish. Why did I care so much about moving? Why did I mind so deeply that it was falling apart? Why did I care so much?

Well, one reason was that I felt stupid for not knowing how to do this process better, pick the right people to help make it happen, be more mature in the business world. I didn’t like feeling “less than”. That showed me a root of pride in my heart. It was time to take a step back, admit I couldn’t do it, I couldn’t make it happen, and release it into the Lord’s hands (for real this time), meaning if He didn’t make it happen, we would walk away with peace whether we understood or not.  I also cared so much because I wanted to please the people at my church; I wanted them to see we were taking our beliefs seriously, and I probably wanted some applause for it, too. Again, pride. An all-about-me attitude religiously disguised as a good deed.

Also, in answer to that question, I told the Lord I cared so much because I thought I was doing what He said to do. This seemed reasonable! To move into town, to be closer to the people we were ministering to… I had grand hopes of opening my home so much more often, having weekly meals for teenagers, being able to babysit for people at the last minute. So I told Him this, and He answered me. His voice was like a hammer, and I’m not exaggerating. It was suddenly in my spirit, I knew it was Him. He said: “I never told you to do that.”

He never told me to do that.

We quickly got out of the deal, money lost, time lost, and happily have been at our house ever since.

What is the point of all this?

It’s not about the house, or moving, or difficulties, or helping the least of these in our community (although it’s important to say He does want us to do this, it just might not be in the way we think!)

It’s about the fact that now God can say, “Why do you care so much?” and I can begin dealing with the heart of the matter right away. He’s not saying I can’t care at all. Obviously, we have to care about potentially distressing things to a certain extent. But if our attention to these things brings us to a place of fear, worry, anger, ugly judgment of others, or the inability/unwillingness to treat others in a loving way something has gone wrong.

To know in your spirit that you’re not meant to stay in that place is huge. And the next step is to let Him ask the question, and let Him begin to navigate your understanding toward the truth. Everyone’s answer to the question, “Why do you care so much?”, is going to be different. But once we know the root, it’s amazing how quickly we can work through it with Him, especially if we have a willing spirit. We may be fully justified in feeling upset, this isn’t saying emotion is not okay. There are real problems, real needs in our lives! But God has given us a way to live in peace and joy instead of turmoil, and here is that way:

“Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment.” Matt. 22:37-38 

Your heart is your desires, what you really wish for!! Your soul is your identity, what makes you who you are. Your mind is your thoughts, what you dwell on.

When people or circumstances lead us to fear, anger, worry, etc., aren’t we exercising our heart, soul, and mind to an extreme? We’re putting our strong desires, our deep needs, and our constant thoughts toward whatever conclusion we are aiming toward. In the house scenario, my desires and needs and thoughts were very much wrapped up in wanting to both be, and appear to be, useful to the Lord. That was truly the heart of it.

Jesus says this is idolatry. He tells us to put those desires, needs, and thoughts toward Him and Him alone! Not His work, not what we think He wants from us, but Him alone. That doesn’t mean obedience won’t flow from our lives. In fact, the opposite is true. When we are no longer worshipping what we can do for God, but instead are single-mindedly worshipping Him, that’s when obedience and fruit can finally be seen.

Anything less than worshipping Him simply hurts us. He knows the angst we feel when we start putting our heart, soul, and mind toward anything else, so He says don’t do it! He says come away from all of that, come toward Him. As you do, the things of this lifetime will pale and fade, you just won’t care as much about that fender-bender or that argument or even your very life, as you seek Him and find Him and know Him. I’m not saying it’s easy, or that I am always there because I’m not, but I am saying it’s true.

Keeping an eye on the plumb line of loving Him with our heart, soul, and mind doesn’t mean perfection, it just means we notice there is always another realm, always another layer to the story He’s writing, and we always know where we can come back to when we realize our desires, thoughts, and needs have strayed from the One who deserves that kind of focus.

 

 

There are certain things that have to happen in life if we want to become more like Jesus.

And this time I’m not talking about disciplines.

I’m talking about heartache. Personal weaknesses that you can’t seem to get a grip on long enough to overcome. Suffering that you don’t understand and can’t find a way out of. A season of Job-like one-thing-after-the-other seemingly-random trials. A time where everything you believed about God suddenly feels unbelievable. Maybe it’s bankruptcy or debt. Maybe it’s an embarrassment or a hit to your reputation. Maybe it’s sickness after years of incredible health.

Whatever it is, whether it is one thing or a whole host of things, one season or an entire lifetime, God is at work in that pain, confusion, inability to understand, and weakness. Our spiritual DNA is shifting, and it needs to. Honestly, it doesn’t matter where the suffering comes from, what matters is that we look unto Jesus, stop fighting and fixing, and allow ourselves to go with His flow. Sometimes there is spiritual warfare to engage in, but so many times we think we are supposed to fight and fix when that is the very thing that keeps us hard and tough to work with. When we relax under the strain He is allowing us to be under, and breathe, and ask Him what He is doing, we find He is always doing something in our character and it is for our good, and eventually the good of others. If we will be spiritually awake and aware enough to ask and listen, we will get to see what He was after and truly rejoice in the work He did. That’s how some believers can astonishingly say, “I wouldn’t trade that heartache for the world; I am who I am today because of it.”

One thing in particular that I see Him doing as we become pliable, willing clay in His hands in the middle of our confusing difficulties is He humbles us. No longer are we so quick to think these things of people around us: “Well, they’re broke because they spend their money recklessly” or “If they’re sick that often, they must not be taking care of themselves” or “If they would do this or that, (insert like I do), they wouldn’t be in this mess”. When we’ve been humbled, we would no longer look at someone in their sin and say, “How could someone do that?” because we know it could have just as easily been us.

Where once there was harshness…a sense of black and white, definite, this plus this always equals that…now there is a gentle spirit. Where once there was pride and arrogance because we considered our lack of problems a direct result of our lack of mistakes…now there is meekness, knowing we never deserved that ease, knowing we were the recipients of great grace. Where once there was a know-it-all heart attitude, now exists a person who doesn’t even have an opinion about many things and many people, aware of how much they truly don’t know, aware of how different and unique every person’s story and circumstances really are.

This is beautiful.

I don’t think many of us have a clue about the depth of suffering people around the world are daily enduring. Physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, socially…there is pain all around us. The need for softened hearts, the need for people who have went through the fire and were changed by God’s hand in it, is beyond our comprehension. It’s who we are that dictates what we do…so our efforts to love will only be as powerful as our efforts to embrace humility and transformation personally. The expectation to have an uninterrupted easy life will not only leave us confused and angry…it will leave us unchanged, ineffective, unusable.

This is important.

Lord, please give us the presence and mindfulness to look at You and see what You’re doing in us when we go through suffering of all kinds. We welcome weakness and waves if it means we will grow in Christlikeness–kindness, generosity, compassion, availability, and love!

 

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Throughout the year, I want to remind every one of the wonderful ministries that Sister Bridge partners with. You can host a party anytime just by contacting Rahab’s Rope directly! Your Sunday School class or women’s retreat would be a perfect way to both spread the word about what God is doing in India and help Rahab’s Rope rescue women in need.

Currently, Rahab’s Rope is starting a partnership with a new after care home that hopes to house 20 women who have been rescued from the sex trade. These girls are mainly high school and college age, and need holistic healing! Our hearts ache, knowing what they have gone through…but are we doing anything to help them and to stop these atrocities?

Through ministries like Rahab’s Rope we have an open invitation to directly make a difference. Life is busy and expensive for all of us, it just is! But God is calling us to re-examine our priorities I think! As long as there are young girls (or anyone!) sold into slavery in this world, I want to make sure I’m living in a just way: having my needs met and then seeking how to meet others. We pray for wisdom and direction and ways to help, and we can know for sure that God will give it.

I tell the Lord I don’t know how to go deeper, and I’m willing to go but I don’t even know what it looks like, and He’ll have to take me there.

I tell Him I want to do some songwriting right now if that’s okay, and He is doing it with me, He’s teaching me while I write and sing.

I take a walk and I see the tips of the empty branches gravitating, stretching with all their might, to the sky above, and I see Him saying, “All the world reaches to Me, lift your eyes, lift your arms, I’ll let you touch heaven!”

I do believe in a set aside time for Bible reading, journaling, stillness, intercession…for myself, that’s what grounds me and aligns my heart to His. I do sit down and like I was taught as a youth, I often go through A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanks, Supplication) because it keeps me from rambling and getting lost in my own thoughts. I need these disciplines, and it’s a main way He speaks to me. It’s been wonderful to have more time for this, it actually sets my eyes on Him in a greater way so that in the daily stuff of life I can see Him clearer.

Because it’s the moment-by-moment fellowship that I’m enjoying the most. Just being.

The reason my family has made changes in our lives is to eliminate stress…Trying to be “more for God” is just a stress. I am learning to just be (again).

Here’s some truth: When we’re cleaning the house or finishing a to-do list, we don’t have to be interceding or memorizing scripture or even listening to worship music to go deeper with God. Maybe we will, or maybe we will bless Him by being thankful for each person we’re serving. Maybe we do those tasks with pride and joy because we’re grateful to have them and the strength to do them!

Doing homework with the kids, working, night time routines…they are life, not just things we have to do in life. If we don’t appreciate the every day, we don’t appreciate our life.

We can serve, live, work, listen, respond, give, and take in this lifetime and wait for free time, wait for excitement, wait for a chance to do something great…or we can realize every chance to do those things IS something great.

We are learning perseverance, gratitude, forgiveness, self-control. We are sacrificing for the good of others, we are enjoying company and being enjoyed, we are seeing how we can make another’s life easier and better. We are using spiritual gifts, we are becoming better versions of ourselves, or maybe we’re just learning to laugh and play again. What else might we be looking for in life? Recognition or fame or wealth or getting ahead? Forget it. If we are looking for God, we won’t find Him there. He is here. Right where we are.

The ordinary daily life is miraculous. If you have a friend, a home, a talent, a body, you have a miracle to work with! Our normalcy is a miracle. God gave it and is in every detail of it. We can honor and worship Him, and in the meanwhile bring lots of joy and peace to ourselves and others, by recognizing it and doing things, even seemingly meaningless things, with creativity and care and asking Him to reveal His glory and purpose in the beauty all around.

There’s no one way to commune with God. There’s no one way to bless His name and His heart, or learn, or go deeper. Every day is a chance for Him to show us more ways. We don’t know them, but He does, and He will reveal it to anyone who will ask! I’m asking. I’m learning. I’m living!

“Are you content to be ordinary? Are you treasuring every day because it is spent with Him? Or are you treasuring only the days that you are conscious He is using you? There is great healing in ordinary duties. The ability to do them. The privilege of doing them! If you do your labor in the Lord, it has profit. If you do your labor as some interruption of grandiose lie, then your labor is without profit.”

-Martha Kilpatrick