January 2018 – Anchored to JESUS

Embrace It 2

January 30, 2018January 13, 2018 by Dorothea Shields1 Comment

In the previous blog (Here) I shared the words of the Lord to my heart about embracing the mess, struggle, and pain. This article will explore the fruit and importance of saying yes to His path, regardless of the difficulty. Refresh yourself with the story in Mark 6:45-56 and let’s take a look at the fruit and the lessons to be learned from the struggle on the lake. Jesus came walking on the water, the disciples called out to Him, He came on board and spoke to the wind and calmed it. Verse 52 says, “for they had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.” Such a curious phrase! What was it about the loaves that they should have applied to this situation? Remember when Jesus said, “you give them something to eat?” (Mark 6:37) He showed them that God does miracles through the hands of His servants. They should have translated that lesson to the situation with the...

Embrace It

January 23, 2018January 13, 2018 by Dorothea Shields2 Comments

It’s funny how sometimes things work together to reinforce a message. I’ve been hearing the Lord say, “Embrace the mess. Embrace the pain. Embrace the struggle.” I like to avoid all these things. I do not like the messes of life, or of dealing with stressful situations. I do not like the pain of discipline, nor the effort and energy it takes to struggle through difficulties to reach the desired outcome. I’d prefer to take the path of least resistance, although I have learned that the path of least resistance does not produce the fruit of real transformation. The irony of the path of least resistance is whatever you don’t want to deal with is the very thing that continues to rear up and cause continual difficulty like a dead mouse smell permeating through your wall. My pastor says, (and it is so true) “If you don’t treat the little things like big things, they will eventually become big things that you...

Ready To Receive

January 16, 2018January 13, 2018 by Dorothea ShieldsNo Comments

I recently had lunch with a friend who is passionate about pursuing her God dream. (Click here to visit her website – she writes and podcasts extensively on this topic!) We discussed several challenges we all face in following our dreams, even the ones where we question whether or not we are supposed to pursue them or let them die. Following this conversation a key thought formed in my heart. Contentment is void of striving. The absence of striving results in rest and, rest positions our hearts to receive. When your heart is not striving, but resting in the place of God’s sovereignty over your life, then your heart is open to receive. God can breathe and bring to life His plans and purposes. It is in the place, where striving has ceased, that what seemed to be dead and gone is breathed to life through His power, resurrection, and in His perfect timing. Many of us have a God dream, but...

Roadblocks To Grace

January 11, 2018 by Dorothea ShieldsNo Comments

What keeps us from the fullness of God's grace? I’ve encountered several hindrances to walking in grace. I’m sure there are more, but here are the ones that plague me: Unbelief. Not truly believing in my heart that He loves me, that He is for me, and that what He says is for me or that I can do what He has said. I find it easier to believe Him for other people than for myself sometimes. Unfortunately, unbelief is a sin and it will 100% of the time keep us from walking in the fullness of His plan and from embracing grace. Procrastination. Putting things off rather than being disciplined to get it done now is a terrible habit. I relate to Scarlett O’Hara too many days, and it always brings regret. A busy schedule. Allowing busy-ness to keep us from pressing into the Lord, allowing activity to substitute for relationship is a thief of joy and intimacy. Taking care of family,...

Say Yes To Grace

January 2, 2018 by Dorothea Shields2 Comments

Sometimes it is God’s grace to wake up at 4 a.m. It's an invitation from God to embrace His grace! The wakefulness is an answer to the prayer for more of Him, but the call to step into grace is not always answered with an enthusiastic yes, but with a groan and a disdain for being awake at an “ungodly” hour. These are the times when we have a choice to accept grace or not, where we must deliberately step into it and make a conscious decision to pursue a closer, more intimate journey with the Lord. The Lord is faithful and loving, and He will always respond to us from His nature and character. He is for us, not against us, and is working and interceding to see that we are a success. He is committed to helping us accomplish the works prepared in advance for us (Ephesians 2:10) and to receive our purpose, hope, and future (Jeremiah 29:11); yet...