I've Moved!

In case you stumble upon this blog, or didn't see the post on FB, I want to invite you over to my new website: www.AmyLayneLitzelman.com.  I've incorporated my blog with a lot of other great info, so I won't be blogging at this address in the future. Stop by and see what's new! And don't forget to say hi :)

Thanks!
Amy

The Ones Who Cause the Earth to Groan

photo by Cody Redmon

We are on the precipice of a great unveiling.  Since before time began, there has been a great dispute - a great battle.  It has not been a true struggle in the sense of having two equal opponents.  The One has always been superior in every way.  It is only the ability to deceive that has given the inferior any foothold.  Although the overwhelming sovereignty of the One has been displayed time and again, the weak minds and souls of men have continued to be swayed by the schemes of the lesser one.

The earth groans.  It has watched the rise and fall of many men and nations as some have believed, as many are deceived.  It waits for a specific man - a specific nation.  It waits and anticipates their unveiling - their release onto the earth - for where they walk, no darkness can stay.  When they speak, no deception can persuade otherwise.  They carry Life which has overcome death on every front.  They are those who have walked through the waters, but knew their God was with them, and were not overcome.  They have stood in the fire, but the flames did not kindle upon them.  They have been mocked and scorned, but thought it worthy to suffer for the One to Whom they have entrusted their every breath.  They are not afraid, although confronted on every side, for they have seen the faithfulness and fortitude of their Salvation.  The earth anticipates these, for they carry within them the One, Jesus,  to whom the earth owes its very existence.

There has always been the faithful in the midst of the trial.  There has always been light in the darkness.  What will make this day unlike any other?  It is like asking, when filling a glass with water, "What makes one drop any different from the others?"  At some moment the glass will be full; at some moment it will overflow.  And at a moment unlike any other in history, darkness will reach a point of overflow.  But on that day, according to God's great plan, Light will also pour forth in unprecedented display.

Jesus spoke continually of the Kingdom of God being like that which is hidden for a season only to be revealed in fullness - as seeds planted in the ground, as leaven in flour.  That which our God has been planting and perfecting from the first day will mature to fullness at the perfect time.  In hiddenness, the Lord has been pouring Himself without measure into those whose hearts are truly pure before Him; those who wait in silence and trust.  At some moment, these hearts will overflow upon the earth - not because they are the great or strong, but the humble full of Truth and Peace.  This release will not be a trickle, but a deluge.  It will be a flood as in Noah's day, but of Life and Liberty.  Hold on to this truth.  Hold on to the whispers of the Spirit in the night.  His Light will break forth in your darkness as you are revealed for the son that He has been making you to be and you will join with all of His sons to reveal the One who has always been the superior.

Journal Entry

I'm sitting in Pearl Street Bagel having a soy matcha and ginger cookie and pulled out my journal. Randomly reading an entry made a few months ago, I was taken again to that sweet place in God's presence and truth. Hope it does the same for you.

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" Humble Places of Love."

I am reading over the initial layout of This Beloved Road and that line at the end of the chapter (by the same name) just hangs heavy in the air. The two things that make us and our actions pure and undefiled and useful:  humility and love. Father, may I be a humble place of love. As I have been singing for days, "Love me, Lord, like You want to do so I can do what You ask me to."

A Humble Place of Love. Our Father still glories in pouring Himself out in such a place.
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For God Alone My Soul Waits

"For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation. He only is my Rock and my Salvation, my Defense and my Fortress, I shall not be greatly moved." Psalm 62:1-2

How many are the days when we stand looking to the horizon for change. Maybe it's a change in atmosphere or attitude. A change in circumstances or surroundings. Instead of feeling the weight of longing, a joyful anticipation should be our stance. In our place of need, God is preparing for us an amazing opportunity: the chance to see our Creator pour Himself out in our lives. When we lay our needs before Him, God sees, hears, and cares. And in His perfect timing and wisdom He leads us, teaches us, changes us, and provides flawlessly.

There is a subtle trap, however, that we must wage war against along this road. It is the battle against misguided expectancy. Misplaced hope.

This subtle shift from hoping in God to hoping in another source is not necessarily pushing God completely out of the picture. We may still believe strongly that He loves us and is taking care of the details. But it can be the expectation that change in itself is our answer, or the idea that the gift God gave is the reason for our joy. It might be that the instrument God used to answer our need has now become our focus of hope. Each of these thoughts are equally dangerous and, in the end, will disappoint and leave one feeling very empty and longing yet more.

If you find yourself being stripped of what you hold close, do not grasp it yet tighter. Bow and release it to the Father, the only One Who can hold what we hold dear and truly keep it safe. For in our hands, it will become an idol. But when placed in His hands, it is transformed into a beautiful treasure in His plans.

Maybe you feel weary, waiting at a well  of provision that seems to have dried up. Somewhere you shifted your hope away from the Living Water, Himself, and to the well He chose to use for a specific time and purpose. Repentance will bring you back into alignment and fill you with joyful anticipation again. Not anticipation for a "thing" or answer, but the joy of friendship with God that is growing in the midst.

It may seem subtle, but our Father knows how serious this battle is and He will do what He must to bring us back to Truth and fullness in Him. He knows that true security and joy are found in Him alone.

No matter what our circumstances - whether in need or in abundance - may our hearts remain thankful in all things, but hopeful in just One.
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Desires of My Heart

For all of us who have encountered unexpected obstacles, fears, or pain as we long to be a part of God's plans, Psalm 37:4 is one of those amazing promises: Delight yourself also in the Lord and He will give you the desires and secret petitions of your heart. When the Holy Spirit breathes upon these words, hope can rise from ashes and strength from sorrow. It's like seeing again a glimpse of the finish line and the prize at the end. It is also a reminder that we are not alone on this journey; our Creator is both interested and involved in each detail.

Recently, I began to ponder this verse again. Like most of us, I have dreams that I have carried around for a long time, even decades. Dreams of places to go, activities to do, goals to accomplish. Desires to be a part of a Kingdom bigger than myself. And as I have put my delight in the Lord, these desires have been fulfilled in many unexpected ways. I have even done things I never would have dreamed of - things that only God knew that I would desire. You see, only our Creator really knows our depths and what we would desire if we saw all things clearly.

This time, as I asked myself what my secret petitions really are - what I truly long for - I realized that the answer had very little to do with places and activities. In fact, it had nothing at all to do with who I am or what I like to do. Rather, it had everything to do with my Creator and what He wants for me. Seasons of shaking and pruning and growth have pushed me further into His arms and I am beginning to realize how much deeper my desires lie.

More than the physical, tangible details, I desire an ever-deepening faith to trust my Father's perfection in any situation, regardless of what I see or need. I desire to experience more and more of His peace as I confidently wait for His plans to unfold. I desire to obey quickly and quietly, even when it hurts or makes no sense. I desire to truly display His character: to love endlessly and selflessly.

I am realizing anew that my greatest desire to be one with God and, amazingly, He desires to be one with me (John 17). This being the case, the promise of Psalm 37:4 is even more astounding: The more I delight in my Father, the more I will be one with Him. And the more I am one with Him, the more delighted I will be. What a wise God.

P.S. (...if I can do that on a blog....)
On my drive home from the library, after posting this column, I realized that this stripping away of my physical desires to once again reveal my deepest desire is actually an answer to a verse I recently started praying again:

I pray my love may abound yet more and more, and extend to its fullest development in knowledge, understanding, and discernment. I pray that I will display this love in greater depth in my relationships with both God and man so that I may surely learn to sense what is vital, and to approve and prize what is excellent and of real value. I long to recognize the highest and the best.... (Phil. 1:9-11)

Thank you, Father. You are the highest and the best.
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