God Rocks!

Last week I had to go on a short trip that would cause to me to journey on my own for a distance of 116.3 miles.  For many of you this is no big deal.  Well, for me it is sort of a big deal!  This means approximately 1 hour 57 minutes up to 2 hours 4 minutes of absolutely no conversation with any...other...person!!

I have gone on short trips before and I am fine having a quiet time, peace of mind, enjoying music and taking in God's beautiful scenery, but this go round was really tugging at me that I would HAVE to travel alone.  I didn't make a big deal about it.  I didn't try to make arrangements for anyone to accompany me.  I talked to God about it and decided to let Him handle me and whatever I was feeling about this particular journey.

Well, I have to tell you, the time came for me to leave my home and I did my usual prayers for safety and sound mind and protection.  Peace was upon me.  I did make a pit stop 22 minutes later to see my husband at work to say Hello and Goodbye.  As I was leaving his work I noticed a rock. 

"Big deal." I thought, "It's an ordinary rock."  But I couldn't take another step.  This rock had me captivated.  I'm sure people in the parking lot were wondering why I was standing what seemed like several minutes just gazing upon a rock upon a sidewalk.  I then leaned over  and picked it up...I put it back down...I picked it back up looking it over...then placing it back down.  Still my gaze has not wavered from this rock!  Finally, I grip it tightly in my palm and then the realization comes upon me.  God IS my ROCK.  He is THE rock!

Oh...my...golly!

God Rocks!

In my car, I sit quietly with the rock upon my lap.

As I continued my gaze upon this rock reflecting what it was truly representing, Psalm 18:2 CEB came to mind, "The Lord is my solid rock, my fortress, my rescuer.  My God is my rock -- I take refuge in Him! He's my shield, my salvation's strength, my place of safety." 

Having this visual reminder I had a shot of unspeakable Joy burst within me and a grin that grew upon wondering face.   I gripped that rock into my hand and it fit perfectly even finding a spot for my finger to touch where it appears that it may have been pierced.  As I held it I found myself conversing with God and thanking Him for giving me peace that exceeds all of my understanding--keeping my heart and mind safe in Him (Phil 4:7 CEB)

As a believer I know (in my mind) that God is always with me and I know (in my heart) that He dwells within me. But it is easy for me to be uncomfortable when forced to do something that I'd prefer not to do... such as driving alone...in silence...all by myself...for long periods of time...did I say all...by...myself!?!  It is in these times that I allow my uncomfortableness, fear, stubbornness, and what have you squeeze out the knowing of God's Presence.  His Presence never wavers.  He's always there.  I, however, am the one who is the wavering one who tends to allows things of my nature to squeeze and push out the Truth of Who God is into a teeny, tiny corner forgetting all of His Wonderfulness, Amazingness, Love and Mercy!  It takes moments and reminders like this rock upon a sidewalk to catch my eye to be a reminder to pivot my focus back to where it needs to be, upon God Who is Able and to squeeze and push out my weak, unreliable thoughts.

I have to tell you that this journey has got to be the most brilliant, joyful, and blessed journey I have ever taken.  I was very much attentive to God and His presence each and every mile that was passed.  Once I decided that I was not alone on this journey that I truly did have a passenger with me and that I could carry on a conversation enjoying all the things that I would in any given conversation but with an abundance of grace added, my perspective changed.

Traffic was light and I had my cruise control set for the majority of the way.  There were many places where I was able to even pull off to snap a few pictures of some lovely scenery that really spoke to my heart. 

As you can see, the day was beautiful for any journey!  As I snapped this picture of trees, I felt God gently speak to my heart from His Word Jeremiah 17:7-8, "...I will bless those who trust Me.  They will be like trees growing beside a stream; Trees with roots that reach down to the water, and with leaves that are always green.  They will bear fruit every year and are never worried by a lack of rain."  What a wonderful reminder as I gazed upon those marvelous strong trees wondering their life story.  If only we could know the ups and downs it has endured...the many seasons it has been through and tested.  But look at it today.  Solid.  Strong.  Lush and green. The times it may have been a shelter to those seeking it.   Beautiful.  It has always been on that stretch of road that I've driven on so many times before yet this day I am stopped to reflect that I, too, will be blessed by placing my trust in a Promising God.

Continuing on my journey, traffic picks up a bit and it appears to be larger type vehicles and I'm not one of them.  My heart begins to pitter-patter...boy, oh, boy, nervousness sets in quickly...but then I glance over and there on my console I see the rock and I'm reminded of God's Presence.  So as I grab it and place it beneath my thigh I say a quick prayer and tell God that He's the One doing the driving because literally I'm too nervous to be the one doing it so I'm just along for the ride!

 

 

OK, let me explain a bit to give you an idea of what I was dealing with.  There is a stretch of road that is a bit winding and a bit hilly with two sometimes three lanes each way.  At some points there is a concrete divider in the middle and then on the outer lanes it may be a ledge leading far down or a large hill top.  On these roads are vehicles that mostly go above the posted speed limit without fear of the twists or turns that loom ahead! The other vehicles sharing the roadway is large semi-trucks usually with full loads and going at a tortoise speed.  So on one lane vehicles are passing with a blur and on the other it's as if I'm the blur to them!  Picture painted?  Now you know the need for me to be reminded of God's presence and Him having to do the driving?! 

 

Well,  it just so happened that all the blurs of vehicles passed by me and now I find myself on a stretch of road that is only two lanes with the concrete divider.  Surrounding me there is...count them...TWELVE...semi-trucks!  But these semi-trucks are not traveling at a tortoise speed...they believe they could travel faster so they did!  I'm in the fast lane passing one, two, three, four, five...oh...my...goodness, God!!  Just how many are there? Twelve, remember?!  Now I notice that two semi-trucks get behind me.  Alright.  But, wait.  There's a speedy guy who thinks he must be super-fly so he jets out in front of me in his semi-truck.  Now this gal in her little vehicle is completely surrounded by these overgrown semi-trucks who are too big for their wheels!!  Oh, my goodness!  I take deep breaths breathing Jesus in and all the stress out!!

 

But here's the really awesome part...I grasp the steering wheel super tight, but not so tight that my knuckles turn white and as I do I feel the peace of God come completely over me.  I have that rock pressing under my thigh as a gentle reminder.   Fear for a split second tries to adhere upon me but it does not stick.  God whispers His loving kindness to me reminding me that it may appear hopeless and very frightening to be surrounded by large and unknowing things on a path that is very much like that of a roller coaster.  But not to loose hope because of what Psalm 32:7 ESV says, "You are a hiding place for me, You, Lord, preserve me from trouble, You surround me with songs and shouts of deliverance."  I felt God singing over me as He guided me in and through these "giants" that surrounded me for miles and miles up and down...left and right.  Not once during this winding route did I get a chance to break out from their surrounding but never did I NOT feel the Presence of God.  Zephaniah 3:17 ESV was brought to the forefront of my mind and my heart during this time, "The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will exult over you with loud singing."  Let me just say I was refreshed, hopeful and confident that I would get through this unpleasantness!  Just in everyday living, I need to be reminded of this, that no matter how large, how scary, how upside down a situation or circumstance may be God is literally in the driver seat I just need to grab hold of the Truth fixing my eyes upon Him and placing my weight down on it.  He will see me through.

 

The bends in the road and the steepness of the hills were beginning to level out and the semi-trucks that were in front of me the entire way have now made their way over clearing a path for me to pass the remaining semi-trucks.  All that I see is straight open road with no other vehicles on it.  I pass the rest of the trucks and as I'm passing the last one I reach for the rock and I grasp it in hand and do a victory shout thrusting my arm upward through the opened sun-roof!!  Whoo Hoo!!  Whoo Hoo!! Thank You, Jesus!  We did it!! Whoo Hoo!! 

 

OK, I kind of surprised myself, but then I didn't care because I realized that it was much more than just a car ride.  It was a lesson.  It was time to spend with God.  It was time to go deeper with Him and really be intentional with Him.  I thought about it a little more after my victory shout, but something that I thought as a nuisance or a hardship, a problem or a terrifying moment really could have been a time of protection.  Being surrounded for a reason.  A reason I cannot see or know at the time but can reflect back later to see God's Hand.  The reason I say this is because after I did my little jig in my seat and song with God, I looked back in my rear view mirror to check out what those semi-trucks where up to and what their location was.  Here's where I realized that this was SO much more!  There was not ONE semi-truck behind me! NOT ONE! I was not speeding to get as far away as possible...there was no exit for them to take.  There is no explanation other than God, plain and simple!!  I don't have an explanation for this other than God can do anything and use anything He wishes to grab the attention of one of His beloved children.  He is a relational God and desires for each and every one of us to have a personal relationship with Him whether we have known Him 100 years or even just 1 day.  He loves us that much!

 

Through our times of challenges or struggles we can remain hopeful as we place our trust in God EVEN IF we do not understand or are unable to see an end.  James 1:12 CEB reminds us, "Those who stand firm during testing are blessed.  They are tried and true.  They will receive the life God has promised to those who love Him as their reward."    Be encouraged, my friends!  Stand firm in God!  Place everything that may have you feeling surrounded into His Hands.  He will surround you with His love, grace, strength and mercy giving you joy and reason to shout in victory!

 

 

 

 

This photo is a recreation of my Whoo Hoo!! moment as it would have been unsafe for me to have snapped a photo at the given moment...but if I could have only captured what I had experienced with God on that journey in a snapshot...this would be close.  Notice the frenzy hair after that long journey but still a smile, being joy-filled and a grip on my Solid Rock!  Whoo Hoo!!  Whoo Hoo!!

 

"But let all those who take refuge and put their trust in You rejoice; let them ever sing and shout for joy, because You make a covering over them and defend them; let those also who love Your name be joyful in You and be in high spirits."  Psalm 5:11 AMP

 

This rock is only a reminder of what God is.  Because the smallness of my mind it takes visual things like this for me to be reminded of the Vastness of AWESOMENESS of God.  But I love that He loves me enough and tenderly that He cares enough to share wonderful experiences like this rock with me!  He knows me and how I love picture stories so He paints them out for me as we go!  Thank You, God!  You are good all the time! 

 

Take Care & Be Blessed,

 

Christy Krezman

Rosette Ministry

FAITH, CONNECTION, RELATIONSHIP & COMMUNITY

FAITH, CONNECTION, RELATIONSHIP & COMMUNITY

 

These four words have been popping up in my life like flashing NEON signs for the past month.  My mind has been filled with all kinds of reasons why and me being the type of person that I am naturally resorts to crafty things, of course, and God naturally being the AWESOME God that He is resorts to teaching me what I'm needing to learn in the way that I need to learn the best way that I learn.

 

It was about this time that I was preparing to go to a speaking engagement.  As I was preparing for it so many ideas flooded my mind that I just knew exactly what I wanted to share with those precious ladies.  Spiritual things...and of course, it was filled with fun interactive activities, feel good things and then obviously we'd most likely end doing crafty things as we sipped on delicious coffee!  I had it all pictured perfectly in my mind!  Don't get me wrong...God loves for us to have those types of times to share together but the more I pursued MY agenda the MORE the flashing lights of those four powerful words kept getting brighter and brighter until I couldn't see anything else except for FAITH, CONNECTION, RELATIONSHIP & COMMUNITY.

 

You'd think I would have gotten it by then being nearly blinded by the bright lights of those powerful words as often as they were appearing, but I'm a pretty determined person when I set my mind into doing something!  I WANTED to do MY agenda because I had some really good things, some pretty awesome ideas that I knew would bless those ladies.  I just knew they would LOVE them.  They definitely were Godly things.  God had given me these words at a time in my life when I needed them.  I had shared them with others before and they had encouraged and blessed others before.  AND the activities I had planned were kind of cool, too!  Then God finally said after waiting ever so patiently for me to do my 'But this, God...But that, God...' explaining (aka...whining),  "Alrighty, Christy, if you're not going to Be Still and Listen...KNOWING that I AM God and I have THE words, FRESH words...MY WORDS that need to be shared at this moment in time then I'm going to need to grab your attention."  He did just that.  Not all at once but little by little.

 

I like to call them Life Interruptions!!  God has an entirely different definition because it's in these times that in our rush of life, our tunnel-vision, our stubbornness, our zoning out...that God graces us with His Divine Interventions.  These are what I like to also call "Life Hiccups."  Things that shake us...move us from where we plant our feet or stop us quickly...things that grip us to stop us from spinning out of control.  Most of the time they don't feel good at the moment and the journey through the moment.  They can get us all worked up in a twisted mess if we're not placing our focus in the right place where it needs to be.

 

SO...

 

I finally put aside MY agenda and here's what God wanted for me to learn and share...

 

I have a visual way for us to see FAITH, CONNECTIONS, RELATIONSHIPS & COMMUNITY in action.  I mostly did this for me because God knows that I learn best visually and He is such a gracious God...He threw in a craft for me to do to so I could show you all the beautiful message attached to it.

 

 

 I have here a ball of string.  It is made up of two or more threads twisted intentionally together.  Its purpose is to interlace or embrace, to attach things, to tie things together, becoming a chord.  What does it mean to become a chord you may ask.  Well, I asked and I liked the sound of becoming a chord so I looked up the definition of chord and it is musical tones sounded simultaneously.  This means that being a chord requires us to: answer, cohere, coincide, correspond, sort, differ from, and be in accord (harmony) with one another.  Interesting!

 

We are like this ball of string.  It represents our emotions, life experiences, personalities, traits, and so on.  As you see, this ball of string as it sits is not doing any of what I just mentioned.  Its purpose, however, remains the same, but without action applied to it then it remains all balled up...tight, crisscrossing paths keeping its round, bound form.  It's not able to do what it was intended for...created for...designed for...deliberately and brilliantly made for.   Its creator when creating it did not have in mind the intention of it not serving its purpose.  Why would he create it if its not to be of use? It is of use.  It is created on purpose and for a purpose just as you and I are. This ball of string absolutely was not intended to be an accessory item to be carried around.  It is just too much to hold!

 

 

 

 

When we hold on to it we're not open to the possibilities that it can be used for. 

 

 

I have here a circle of "Friends" if you will...now, stick with me here...this is where the visual part comes in...

 

 

 

 

 

Each nail represents an individual.  As you see in the bottom circle of individuals there is absolutely no connections.  No relationships are being developed.  No community is being built. No person is making any attempt into investing into any other person.  There is complete cut off from one another. The purpose of the string of each individual is no being activated at all by anyone. 

 

The top circle shows individuals that have some interaction going on.  Perhaps their paths cross at church they smile and greet one another and go to their regular seats.  They see each other at school events, again with cordial greetings, and then perhaps again at the grocery store, gym or Starbucks and yet again the routine greeting once more.  There's connection but it's all on the surface.  No depth whatsoever.

 

This next circle of individuals shows a circle of friends growing.  Interaction has gotten more involved and active.  As you notice the circle is heavy on one side and light on the other.  Why is that?  There's a whole host of possibilities but let's just try to touch on a few.  Perhaps in the circle of friends there's some that tend to invest in only certain individuals for different reasons. Some individuals are trying to open up and share while others are holding back. Or perhaps there are individuals who are super guarded out of fear of getting hurt or shear stubbornness of not being the one to make the first step. Could there be comparisons going on?  Not feeling adequate enough? An unaddressed issued that needs resolving? Or something that I struggled with for a number of years in my early adult life..."It isn't for anybody to know what's really going on with me because I have an image to uphold and maintain!" The possibilities of  reasons could go on and on but one thing is for sure...it is definitely out of balance.

 Now, the connection of this circle of friends is only as strong and continues to grow as the individuals invests into those relationships.  These examples show us the significance of connecting.    These examples represent people just like you and me in our circles of friends.  Now our circles may look different.  There may be only 2-3 in your circle of friends while others may have far more while others may only have 1 friend in their circle.  Let me just clarify that you can have a circle with 1 friend because there's you, your friend, and Jesus so really that's 3 so that makes a circle! So now that we've got that cleared up, let's get back on track.

This last circle is one that is healthy and one that is what we strive for.  Let me tell you how we can work to get this type of community in our relationships as we place our faith in Christ connecting with others in our life journey's.

In our circle of people (friends, mentors, small group, etc.) that God has blessed us to do life with, we simply begin by sharing just a few things about ourselves that others may not know about us.  It may be as simple as our favorite color, a food fetish or something quirky that we do.  As we invest time we can safely and confidently begin to share something deeper such as a fear, struggle or stronghold.  A few words at a time need to be spoken just to get started and allow this "string" to start fulfilling its purpose of connecting and embracing those around us.  Please understand that it is absolutely not about getting together and immediately airing out our "dirty laundry" to one another and having this automatic beautiful connection because of it...ummm...NO!  It takes time.  It takes prayer.  It takes God.

As we share, something beautifully unseen is beginning to happen that eventually will be felt.  The string is starting to fulfill its intended purpose.  And the more we share of our lives and invest in others allowing the string to continue to do its job, these things are also happening...

One, connections are happening as we share about ourselves.  There is a starting point when we decide to act on pursuing connections.  We start light and small until we begin to see the strength of that connection and safety with that person is true.  That's when we begin to share more and deeper things...we let them in as we share our heart.  This is what I call a "Heart-String Sister."

Secondly, a safety net is being created.  The more and more we connect, encourage, love, walk with and by one another...side by side, God is making something beautiful and SAFE.  A place to rest.  I like to see this as sort of a hammock.  Who doesn't like a good rest under a couple of giant trees cradled safely and snugly in a perfect hammock on a glorious day?!  This is what this connection is like, a safe place to rest and relax.  Psalm 9:9 in the Message says, "God's a safe house for the battered, a sanctuary during bad times.  The moment you arrive, you relax; you're never sorry you knocked."  Let me tell you, God is absolutely our safe house and we are to run to Him, but we don't always have to run alone!

God made you and me for relationships and not just any relationship...CLOSE relationships. 
Hebrews 10:24-25 in AMP says, "And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities.  Not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together [as believers], as is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaches."  God blesses us with others in our life to have those relationships.  God uses our willingness to open up and share with others to weave those tender moments together connecting us and strengthening the relationships through Him.

When we realize that we don't have to do this life all alone and carry our ball of string around, then our connections grow.  But remember, growing takes time.  We can't take our ball of twine and fast pitch it to the first person we see just because we're so accustomed to FAST and NOW.  If we went that route then we would either have a terrible mess or a horrible injury or BOTH!!  Growing requires for us to first have a willing heart and to action, then allowing God to direct our steps as we love one another...encourage one another...and just be there for one another in all times of our seasons.  As we continue to do this that safety net becomes stronger and stronger.

Well, for most of my adult Christian life I kept all my likes, my identities (being a wife, a mom, Bible Study leader, mentor, friend, volunteer, crafter, sister, neighbor...well, you get the idea), I kept them all separate from one another.  I didn't allow God to weave any of what made me who I am to be woven together.  Instead, they each got their own pretty little bedazzled box that I kept them in.  I neatly tucked them away on a shelf (repurposed, of course) until the time called for that particular box.

That worked for me...for a while.  Until I noticed that I always felt depleted and empty no matter how much I thought I was filling up those boxes.  It was in 2010 when my heart literally felt shriveled up.  My heart was lacking.  I didn't know what it was because I was a believer and I was doing everything that I thought I needed to do.  I even invited Christ along for MY ride!  I thought I was doing a great job keeping up.  I had all my 'bedazzled' boxes organized looking oh so good on the shelf.  They were sparkling and radiating and breathtaking.  Others even admired them.  Compliments often flowed my way.  All my effort went into keeping them looking awesome on the outside.

Whenever I needed something I would go to one of those boxes replacing the one before it.  I had done this for so long that I found that when I opened the box I was finding remnants of what used to be inside.  I was giving all that I had, looking good while I did it and then I'd slam that lid quickly not allowing myself to be filled by God or others.  I didn't want others to see what was really inside.  I looked good on the outside...I put on "face" when I needed to, but I didn't let anyone, including God, to get too close.  If I did then it would require for me to be transparent and trusting.  Others would see things in me that aren't so attractive.  What would they think of me?  I've got some really cruddy things happening inside that would be exposed.  Surely, I'm the only one going through this type of situation/circumstance!  No one else has experienced what I've experienced, they have no idea how to handle me.  If they only knew what I went through, would they still want to be around me?  I had a whole list of excuses lined up as to why I didn't let anyone in.  This included God, a lot.  I was shameful, fearful and it was easier at the time to shrink into myself and put on an image I wanted others to see.  These boxes of mine were like the round, bound ball of sting that is hiding what's beneath and denying its purpose.

I was doing everything that I thought I was supposed to be doing, including my daily devotions, serving at church, volunteering, you know...all the goody good stuff that looks good even to myself!  I continued in this accelerated, unremarkable routine growing very, very tired.  I felt like I was on a giant sized hamster wheel of life.  I was running, checking items off my to-do list routinely and I got absolutely nowhere.  I was trying to do it all on MY terms.  And yes, God was one of the boxes that I would check off but not always the first or rarely was He at the top!

Serving Christ isn't all about being free from difficulty or eliminating all of our problems.  It does, however, give us hope, unspeakable joy and peace in times when typically we shouldn't be experiencing them.  Reality often seems to have more obstacles, pain, chaos, hurt and tension but there is a God that sees everything that we are going through and wants us to hold on tightly to Him through all that life throws at us.  He will take all that life throws at us and offer us His Strength to be calm, be tender, be content in Him and build opportunities.  He wants us to be made complete, made entirely, upright, solid, sound, safe and healthy.  God restores our brokenness...our incompleteness...our faults.  He heals our hurts...our wounds...our bodies.  He restores our lives.  Jeremiah 30:17 tells us this, "For I will restore health to you, and I will heal your wounds, says the Lord..."

Through time, faith, connections, and relationships, I began to grow more and more in Him .  He brought me to a place where I have a lovely group of faithful and committed women who love God and are willing to be in the midst of my mess to see me through just as much as I am with theirs.

I want to encourage each of you from what I have journeyed through.  Believe me, I am nowhere close to having it altogether or figured out, but I no longer keep everything in bedazzled boxes.  I'm allowing God to take my life string and connect it with others in my life creating beautiful relationships, connections and community.

I've come to learn to give it all to God and then be OK with who I am and WHOSE I am.  If I don't impress others or become BFF's with everyone that I meet, then that's alright.  It doesn't change anything about me.  I am who I am and that's enough because Christ dying on that Cross for you and for me made it ENOUGH!  I am a daughter of the Creator of the Universe!  He calls me His own!  He sings over me!  He desires a relationship with me and I'm worried what others in this world may think of me?! I think not!  I've come to be OK with being with just Jesus.  Sometimes I need to be with just Him, but He is so good and faithful that He blesses me so abundantly by placing beautiful people in my life to share it with me.

Luke 1:45 says, "Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His promises to her." 

Friends, Jesus keeps His Word!  God is the ultimate Promise Maker and Promise Keeper.  He will give you victories.  He will give you a future.  Move forward.  Move out into what He has for you. 

Allow Him to grow you through your Faith, Connections, Relationships and Communities. 

He is doing a Beautiful thing!

Take care and be blessed,

Christy Krezman
Rosette Ministry