The Bread of Life

Have you ever gone to a restaurant hungry? Starving hungry! And they bring bread to the table and you eat it all and even get a refill on the bread because it’s SO GOOD!

By the time the food arrives, if you’ve eaten too much bread, you don’t even really want what you ordered because you are so full.

So often, we look for things that we think will satisfy the needs, and desires inside of us. We are desperate to find something to satisfy the longings and cravings we feel.

We might turn to food, drugs, alcohol, sex, etc. We look to people or things to satisfy these cravings, not realizing that these vices don’t truly satisfy…they don’t fully meet the needs, or longings, or desires that exist inside of us. These things may satisfy for a moment. They may offer a brief escape. They may distract and offer a false sense of satisfaction but it’s temporary.

The only thing that will truly satisfy you is Jesus.

In John 6:35, Jesus was talking with the crowd of people who followed Him across the sea of Galilee. These were the same people who had just been fed by the 5 loaves and 2 fishes. Jesus said to them, “I am the Bread of Life. Come every day to me and you will never be hungry. Believe in me and you will never be thirsty.“

Just the day before, He had just fed them with physical food but here, He was talking to them on a much deeper level than just physical hunger.

He was saying to them (and to us), Come to me and recognize that nothing in life will satisfy you, completely. Nothing will adequately “fill you” until you don’t need anything more…….except me.

Do you recognize that there are places inside of yourself that long for something. There are places inside of you that feel empty, that feel broken. Places that feel a hunger for love, for safety, for peace, for joy, for wholeness; and nothing…NOTHING will satisfy you like Jesus can.

You can try. You can attempt to satisfy yourself with people and things; but when you are so full of Jesus; when you are so full of His love and His strength and His power and His glory, you won’t need anything else.

There are things in your life that currently tempt you. Even if you know they aren’t right or won’t satisfy. When you are hungry, temptation is hard to resist. But… when you are so full of Jesus, those things won’t tempt you in the same way.

When you’re full, you just don’t want anything else.

Be so full of Jesus – of the Bread of Life – that when faced with the things you used to consume in an attempt satisfy yourself, you won’t even want them anymore because you are full.

Even the Rain…

I’ve worked on a practise of gratitude and thankfulness for years but the weather is something that really affects me; and I’ve whined and moaned incessantly about it.

I live in the Pacific Northwest and we have a significant amount of rainy, grey weather throughout the year. I struggle physically, mentally and emotionally when the weather is cold, dark, grey and wet. This is unfortunate because that is a fairly accurate description of our weather for about 8 months out of the year.

Each year, as the summer winds down, I find myself dreading the fall, winter and spring months. Why do I live somewhere where the weather affects me so badly?

A couple of years ago, The Father challenged me to stop complaining about the weather. He really impressed on me that He was responsible for the weather. All of it! We often hear of big, violent weather like storms or tornadoes, tsunamis, etc referred to as Acts of God, but the reality is – ALL WEATHER IS AN ACT OF GOD.

For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. Matthew 5:45 NLT

This scripture attributes control of the weather to the Father. His hand is in both the sun and the rain.

He knows what the earth needs. He knows which areas of the earth need more or less of every kind of weather. He definitely knows so much more than I do. And if I’m being honest, I’m thankful to not have the responsibility of having to care for the whole earth and all the creatures that call this place home.

Recognizing His sovereignty, even over the weather has made a difference in how I view the dark, rainy seasons.

It doesn’t necessarily make it easier but I can recognize that there’s more at play than I can see or understand. And honestly, I have options. If it’s really important to me, I could move to a place that has less rain. It might be difficult or uncomfortable to make the move but it is an option.

The biggest change for me has been adjusting my attitude. The Bible says to be thankful in all things.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. ?1 Thessalonians 5:18?


All things or all circumstances doesn’t exclude the weather. Now it doesn’t say that I have to be thankful FOR all things – there is lots that happens in our broken world; and too many things that are hard to be thankful “for”. But… we do have the choice to look around us and to be thankful for what we do have, even during difficult or hard times.

Even during the dark, cold, rainy seasons (whether that’s literal or metaphorical), we can look around and find things to be thankful for. I am thankful for the rain because it waters the earth. Even when I wish it was sunny, I am thankful that my plants are getting water so they can grow. I am thankful that our reservoirs are filling up and the ice pack is growing because it helps during the hot months so we don’t end up with massive droughts and forest fires. I am thankful for opportunities to hunker down inside my house and get some stuff done that I might not want to, if it were a gorgeous sunny day and I wanted to be out and about.

When I look for and focus on the things I can be thankful for, my mood lifts and I am happier. Even if it’s still dark and grey and raining.

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.? Philippians 4:6-9


We can absolutely choose to focus on the difficulties we experience in life and be discouraged and frustrated, depressed and anxious. Or… we can choose to be thankful in all circumstances. We can choose to focus on God’s truth and on things that are honourable, pure and lovely. When we choose gratitude over dissatisfaction, we will experience peace and joy – even in the middle of difficulties.

Are there areas in your life where you are struggling to be thankful? Can you look around, take stock of your life and find something – even just one thing – to be thankful for?

Every day I wake up, I’m thankful for another day to live and love.
I’d love to hear what you have to be thankful for.

Creativity

Did you know that you were actually designed to be creative?

I hear way too many people saying things like,

“I’m not creative.”
“I can’t draw”
“I can’t dance.”
“I can’t paint.”
“I can’t write.”

Every time I hear words like that spoken out, I wince and my heart hurts because I used to say those things, too.

The saddest part was that, inside, I was desperate to express myself in creative ways. I figured that because my creativity didn’t look perfect or even really, what I deemed to be acceptable that I couldn’t consider myself creative. Not like other people were.

For my entire childhood, teen years and into adulthood, I grappled with this inner desire to express myself creatively; and this feeling that I wasn’t good enough to even try.

That feeling of inferiority kept me from living as my true, authentic self.

I WAS CREATED TO CREATE.

WE ALL ARE!

We are created in the image of God and HE IS THE CREATOR OF ALL.

His divine nature as a creative being bringing beauty into the world, creating something from nothing gives us all, the right and even the responsibility to create what we can to also bring beauty into our world.

If you feel a desire to paint, then paint.
If written or spoken word stirs you, then let the words flow.
If you desire to dance or flag, go for it.


Whatever creative outlet your heart desires, just do it.
Practise.
Don’t discount the desire.

Very few people have natural talent and ability but that doesn’t disqualify you from being creative.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 has an encouragement to move forward with all your might. It’s an encouragement to not hold back but to GO FOR IT. Psalm 33:3 has an exhortation that when you play an instrument that you would do it skilfully. Some people are blessed with an incredible natural talent but for so many of us – excellence and skill takes practise.

Don’t be discouraged if your first attempts wobble a little.

Think about a baby. When babies first start walking, they stumble, fall and wobble quite a bit but when they take those first shaky steps we excitedly say, “You’re walking.”

Can they do it well? Nope! Will they continue to stumble and fall. YUP!

But we speak into being what we know will happen with practise.

So if you want to write and you practise writing, You are a writer.
If you want to dance and you practice dancing, You are a dancer.
If you want to draw and you practise drawing, You are an artist.
If you want to take pictures and you practise photography, you are a photographer.

Speak it out.
Embrace your creative nature.
Practise creativity regularly and
Share the beauty that you are creating.

Now more than ever, we need beauty in the world and you, as a creative being, have a part to play in adding beauty to our lives and the world.

So the next time that lie comes to you telling you that you can’t create, that you’re not creative; STOP and declare the wonder of who you were created to be.

  • I am a creative being.
  • I am created in the image of my Father
  • I create beauty to share with the world.
  • I have permission to play and create in ways that are unique to who the Father made me to be.
  • I embrace creativity as part of my God given nature.
  • I am creative.

You are His Masterpiece

I love to knit.

I was thinking about that verse in Psalms where it mentions that the Father knits us together in our mothers womb.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous – how well I know it. Psalm 139:13-14 NLT

I know that as an imperfect person, my knitting projects are usually imperfect and I make mistakes. Even if I am extremely careful, I often have to redo sections to get it right. But, I choose my material and patterns carefully and work to get the exact look and feel that I want. My plan is to create something that I love and that works perfectly for what I want it for.

I can’t help but think about the Father. He is perfect in all of His ways. He doesn’t make mistakes. He knew exactly what He wanted to create when He made you and He loves you the way you are. There’s no mistakes in the way he made you. He put you together with love and care and so much attention to detail.

BUT….just like a sweater that’s been around for a number of years, there may be wear and tear. Maybe the sleeve gets snagged on something and ends up with a string of the wool pulled funny and hanging loose in a way it wasn’t supposed to be. Maybe a hole gets ripped in the front of it.

The sweater is still useful, even if its a little worn. Even with snags and holes, it will be able to keep us warm and provide a layer of comfort; even if it’s not perfect and in its original beauty and design.

We are sometimes like that sweater. What God knit together in the beginning may end up with a few scratches or worn bits, We may get pulled out of the original shape that we were created to be in. Often times we end up being used in ways that don’t line up with our original design.

If you take that worn out, beat up sweater and put it in the hands of a master craftsman or craftswoman, they have this incredible skill and ability to take that piece and transform it back into something beautiful. Often times, their goal is to restore it to it’s original look and feel, if possible.

Our Heavenly Father is the most amazing craftsman you could imagine. Not only that, He is the original creator of that piece. He made you. He is intimately familiar with how He created you; with how He designed you and with what you were like before time and people impacted you.

If you’re feeling worn out or stretched out of shape. If you’re feeling a little beat up or like you might have a few damaged bits, I would encourage you to come to the Master Craftsman. Come to the Father and let Him work in you. You are not worthless. You are not beyond hope. You are never beyond repair. He will restore you. Spend time with Him. Let Him restore the beauty of your life. Let Him be the ONE who defines you, who re-creates you. Let Him be the ONE who speaks of your worth and value.

You ARE wonderfully and marvellously made and if you’re not feeling that, spend time with the ONE who made you. Let Him speak over you. Let His love saturate you and fill you until every part of you is confident of it. Let Him work in your life and He will reveal to you, the beauty and wonder that He created.

You are His masterpiece.

Being Content

The Bible has a lot to say about being content.

It’s too easy to look at our lives and focus on our lack. To get stuck on everything that others have and to be hyper aware of what we don’t have. We spend too much time comparing ourselves to others. That comparison negatively affects us mentally and emotionally; it can even affect us physically.

In the Bible, Paul spoke of his ability to be content no matter what circumstance he was in.

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12-13

He knew what it was to live in abundance and He also experienced some of the lowest lows a human can go through. He recognized that he couldn’t do it in His own strength, but that the story was so different when he put his trust and confidence in God.

God was his source for everything.

With that awareness and confidence, He could handle anything that came his way.

Contentment is something that happens inside of us and has nothing to do with our situations, our circumstances, our needs; or our lack. It’s a peace and confidence that comes when you place your trust in God’s provision and His sovereignty in your life.

Contentment is a peace and confidence that comes when you place your trust in God’s provision and His sovereignty in your life.

It comes when you lay down your ideas of self-sufficiency and live in His sufficiency; knowing that there’s nothing you can do to earn it or make it happen, but that His grace and mercy are gifts that He gives out of His Great Love for you.

If contentment is something you are struggling with here are a few practical things that you can do to shift your focus.

  1. Purposefully pursue an awareness of the Father’s goodness and provision
  2. Prioritize your relationship with the Father
  3. Reflect on the Blessings in your life
  4. Rely on the Father to lead and guide every decision you make.

He is a good Father who provides for all you need. Spend time with Him and read your Bible; and in doing so, you will learn more and more about His character, His truths and His promises. Focus on what He has blessed you with and be thankful.

Gratitude has been scientifically proven to affect our outlook on life. Science has proven what the Bible has said for years – Be thankful in ALL things. Not just some…ALL THINGS! Gratitude rewires your brain to see the blessings that you do have.

As you move through your day, listen to what the Father is saying and do it. Ask Him questions. Communicate with Him. He’s always speaking and He wants whats best for you. Listen and follow what He says. He will lead and guide you.

If you are struggling with being discontent, and you want to trust in the Father in every area of your life but you’re unsure where to start, here’s a prayer for you.

Father, I am struggling to be content. Would you please help my unbelief? Would you forgive me for the times that I have placed my trust in myself or in others? I choose to put my trust in You and You alone. You are my provider. You are my strength. You are everything that I need. Help me to see your provision in every aspect of my life; and to shift my focus from what I don’t have, to what you have given me. I want to live in your peace; confident of your sovereignty in my life. Help me to hear your voice and to know your ways and to do what you ask me. I commit my life to you. Amen.

Seasons Change

I’ve been feeling “blah” lately.

Extra tired physically and mentally but not depressed, I don’t think. Feeling like I’m doing too much and not enough, at the same time. It’s so frustrating.

Sometimes I wonder if maybe I’ve been so used to living in the chaos of trauma (The last 20 years have been a party of the worst kind. It’s feels insane to even write that down. 20 years!) that I don’t even know what it’s like to exist with less stress and trauma.

I got up this morning feeling much the same and I looked out my bathroom window and muttered to myself, “Seasons Change. I won’t feel like this forever.”

It’s something my mom told me years ago when I was complaining to her about how hard life as a young mom felt. She said, “Even when it feels like the longest, darkest, never ending winter – know that spring’s coming. And if you get stuck in the rainiest, most miserable springtime, know that warm summer days are coming. And if you feel stuck in the driest, drought of summer know that cool autumn days are coming next.”

There have been times when I’ve felt trapped in the darkest winter season I could imagine; and it seemed unending but I trusted and held onto the hope that my Spring was coming and things in my life would come back to life.

No matter what season you feel you’re in; know without a shadow of a doubt that Seasons Change. Try and find some beauty in the season you’re in, even if it’s appreciating the dark quiet of hibernation and rest before you rise out of the darkness into something new.

Genesis 8:22 TPT –
22 “As long as earth exists
there will always be seasons
of planting and harvest,
cold and heat,
summer and winter,
day and night.”

September Art Challenge

I’m SO excited to get back into a routine.

Honestly, I needed the laidback chaos of the summer but I’m definitely craving routine and schedule.

I’m looking forward to drawing and painting regularly and have worked with Jon to come up with an art prompt list for September.

Here is a link to a 8.5×11 page that you can print, if you prefer a paper copy.

September Prompts.pdfDownload

You can join us every day or just some days.

You can draw or paint or sculpt or write or dance.

You can use the prompts for inspiration or do your own thing.

I believe we were created to create; so whether you are an artist or just like to make beautiful messes. Go for it. Create wildly and with abandon. And share your creativity with us.

Tag us on Facebook or Instagram or use the hashtag #xangelleartchallenge so we can see your creativity and celebrate you and the beauty you bring to the world.

Psalm 23:5-6 (part 3)

Isn’t it amazing to be able to trust someone so much that even when we go through dark, dismal places that we don’t need to fear because we are never alone and we have the most incredible loving provider and defender and care taker.

I love this Psalm. There is so much beauty and depth within the words written here.

These last 2 verses resound inside me with their promises and truths.

Imagine being brought to a dining hall and the doors are thrown open and you are escorted in and an incredibly important person shows you the most incredible feast laid out and it’s all for YOU! It has all your favorite foods and drinks and even some that are specifically nourishing to what you need at this exact moment. It’s been laid out perfectly to honor YOU!

Now imagine that your “enemies” – the people who have been opposed to you, or angry with you, or jealous or resentful, or who have been treating you badly – have all been brought in to witness you receiving this great honor. It would be a weird feeling, wouldn’t it? We aren’t used to being extravagantly honoured, especially in front of those who oppose or persecute us!

Can you truly fathom what it is to be honoured by the Creator of all? Think about that for a moment.

It was customary at the time for the host to lavish extravagance on their guests, to provide for their every need and to protect them.

So not only are you being provided for and honoured and exalted, but you know that you are completely safe and can be relaxed and refreshed at the same time.

Having your head anointed with oil was also to refresh and revitalize you; if your cup runs over it means you don’t lack, you have more than enough. There is an abundance of blessing and provision in your life. How amazing is that! There’s something incredible that happens inside of us when we acknowledge truths that we know but may not feel.

We can “feel” a lot of conflicting emotions but when we align ourselves and our “feelings” with His truth there is peace and joy, even in the middle of uncertainty and chaos. The acknowledgment here is that He does refresh and revitalize us and that He provides for us is in abundant ways. We can trust that He is our good Shepherd.

Without a doubt, with all certainty and confidence and assurance……..that’s what “surely” means.

Without a doubt, with all certainty, confidence and assurance, goodness and mercy (God’s tender love that doesn’t give us the punishment that we deserve) will follow me – they will persue me – all the days of my life. I will be chased after by His goodness and His mercy every day for the rest of my life.

And that’s not the end because even when I die, I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. That’s the hope that we have as believers. That when all is said and done, it’s not just the end. It’s a whole new beginning and we will spend eternity with the one who loves us most; with the one who created us, who gave His life for us.

How incredible is that?

I love this Psalm and the meaning and imagery within it. Take this Psalm and recognize the immediate presence of it. The personalized reality of it…..the relationship between Him and You. Hold these truths tightly and it will change your life.

THE LORD is MY Shepherd, I shall not want. HE makes ME to lie down in green pastures. HE leads ME beside still waters. He restores MY soul.

When we truly encounter the reality of His love and His truth and His presence, we are changed. We can’t help but be changed.

Shattered and Beautiful

I was thinking about times in my life when I’ve felt so shattered and devastated by situations or circumstances.

I’m talking about the times when you feel so beaten down or broken that you don’t even feel like you have it in you to worship or praise or rejoice your way out of the situation. What you want to do is fall on the ground in a heap and either have a tantrum; or sob until you can’t breathe, or both. Or maybe you just want to curl up in the fetal position and hide……have you been there or is it just me?

I love how real David expressed himself in the Psalms. The Psalms are gritty and glorious and real; and filled with emotion and heartache and suffering and joy and praise and worship and even frustration and a desire for revenge. They’ve got it all and when I have no words to speak what my heart is feeling; there’s always something in the Psalms that resonates with me, no matter the situation or circumstance.

In Psalm 51:15-17, David is feeling all the feels and he cries out to God because He knows that praise will help him move beyond his immediate feelings. You’ve got to know that he’s not feeling like praising. He feels locked up, maybe shut down; but He knows what He needs to do.

He acknowledges that God isn’t interested in the surface things like how good we present ourselves or what we offer or give up to make ourselves look or feel better about something.

I think verse 17 is one of my favourites.

Think about the picture it presents. God’s pleasure is released like a fountain bubbling up and overflowing when we scrape up the pieces of our heart and offer them to Him. When we come to Him with all our brokenness and wounding and shattered pieces and say, “Here. I don’t even know what to do anymore.”

Have you ever had someone despise you? It’s an awful feeling. Especially if they are despising your weakness? It’s like getting kicked when you’re already down. But God won’t despise you when you come to Him shattered. The opposite of despise is to cherish, adore, admire, love; that’s how He will receive you when you bring your broken pieces to Him.

Imagine. Imagine feeling like you’ve been broken into a million pieces and you can’t possibly see how you are worth anything to anyone in the shape you are in. You scrape together all the pieces and come before God with all the sadness and hurt and shattered-ness that you are feeling. And He looks at you with such love and compassion and holds all those pieces close to His heart until the warmth of His love softens them enough that He can mold and piece them back together into an even more beautiful masterpiece than what originally was.

May we offer those shattered pieces of ourselves to the One who loves us most. Trusting that He will create beauty from brokenness.

He knows

Have you ever felt like God couldn’t possibly understand what you are going through? I know that I have.

I’ve even said, “But God, you never went through “this”. “This” is huge and awful. How could you possibly know what this feels like?

I remember saying that to God years ago, when I felt so betrayed by some people. And He said to me, “I, too, have been betrayed. I know exactly what that feels like and it’s hard and devestating. Especially when it’s people you think you can trust and who claim to love you.”

I remember when Nathaniel died and I wanted to scream “..but you never had a son who died…” oh wait…

I remember crying out to Him, in pain and confusion, “God, I hurt so bad. It hurts to breathe, to move. I feel like I’m dying. When have you ever felt like this?”

Ya, I don’t know that I’m the most reverent when I talk to God but He loves me even when – and maybe especially when – I’m feeling raw and broken.

It was a few days later that I came across this verse and it hit me straight to my heart.

Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane. And He knew. He knew he was about to be betrayed. He knew that He was giving
His life for ones who both did and didn’t believe. He knew the agony that was coming. He knew. He wished he didn’t have to go through it all but was willing to because of love.

He said to His friends,

Matthew 26:38 TPT

“My heart is overwhelmed and crushed with grief. It feels as though I’m dying. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

He knows. He really does know. And because He KNOWS – You can trust that He is with you, staying and keeping watch with you. You are never alone.

He knows.