LizChatter

The need for connection and relationship cannot be ignored or your 'forever' will suffer. Even this temporal life cannot be  done well on one's own.  We need one another.  We need community. Please remember, you are needed.  You are so very loved.

I don't want to live one day without Him. I tried once and it almost killed me.

Calling vs. Comfort When I think about comfort, I can't help but think about things/people/places that are familiar to me. In my comfort zone, I know what/who/where is in my future.  I guess knowing is something that represents "comfort" for me.   In my comfort zone, I don't have to worry about being without, left out, judged, or etc. In my comfort zone, I have a sense of control, a sense of knowing. Knowing is the ultimate place of comfort for me.   As I unpack the idea of comfort zones, I realize that there too are comfort zones within my spiritual life. In living life with God as my One Thing.  In my life, being comfortable looks like: Safety - knowing that there are plentiful resources to keep commitments Belonging - knowing that there is space for me in ministry Respect - knowing that the people will hear me and receive from me  So this list above isn't necessarily bad, right? Right. Are these things a hindrance? ...

Enough said. Have you ever been in the Word when suddenly it felt as if a chill from another dimension crept into your bones? I've experienced this a few times as the realization that I have fallen short of the mark settles in. It's not pleasant, yet not altogether unpleasant for behind this experience is the direction of Yahweh to correct my course and work in my spirit.  Just this morning it happened again as the Lord showed me that I have a pattern of loving at varying degrees based on my perception of whether or not it was safe to "love deeply" in this temporal state of being.  As I sat quietly this morning before the Lord, willing for Him to continue His work in my heart, He revealed in my current mindset I was leaning on my own strength (in handling not being loved well) and my own understanding (of how depleting it is to love with no love returned).  A new wave of conviction hit my soul, for these are both areas that I long to be fully surrendered...

This week there have been multiple conversations with dear ones who have found patterns in their life of giving in to temptation and giving in to the demands of the uncrucified flesh. After a while, we began to discuss how it seems like some folks just don't struggle with transgression to the degree that other people do and these thoughts came out of those conversations.  You are not a victim, you are a victor! Quit the blame game. Jesus quite literally provided us with the victory. You do not need to be enslaved to patterns that wound your spirit.  Freedom is available to you! Your choices are reflective of the things you feed your spirit/soul/mind.   Just like physical food manifests itself in your physical body - spiritual food manifests itself in your conversations and your decisions.  You're obsessing over whether or not God loves you, that's a waste of energy.  He's already proven to all of humanity that He does. Thi...

Today I sat with three gentleman with varied experiences and motled past(s). We laughed, made jokes and each celebrated our growth journey in the new life that Christ has provided to each of us. There were abundant smiles and levity of chatter filling our meeting time.  What grace! What peace! What HOPE!!  There is nothing quite like the realization that Holy Spirit is simultaneously working seamlessly in & through multiple individuals in a single moment of time. He's always doing that, but I'm not always in tune enough to catch it... today I was though and the realization hit me so intensly that I forgot to breathe there for a moment.  In this case I feel it is a most appropriate use of the word "Awesome" .

Happy Monday ya'll! As I'm looking over my list of to-do's it dawns on me that there are no "earth shaking - world changing" events listed. In fact very little of what I accomplish today will be noticeable. Today is routine, average, normal.  Is that okay with me? Well sure, mostly okay ;) I admit to mostly okay, because there's a part of me that wants to greatly impact the world. Maybe it's the fact that I read all the Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys, the Sugar Creek Gang series' over and over as a youngster that I have this desire for adventure and life impacting involvement; or maybe it's deeply rooted in my DNA. The need to make a difference in the world around me IS listed as one of my top 5 in the Clifton Strength Finders personality & gifting results. Whatever the reason, that child-like hope of being involved in big things lingers; like a puppy with longing eyes, just there in the recesses of my cerebrum.  Despite all that, I a...

I have been stuck on this simple love song for days.  Please don't underestimate the power of your love connection with Christ.  Encourage those around you to develop their relationship with God,  it's what they're created for. This deep soul connection to Him has brought me through some very dark and disparaging times.  Love, Joy and Peace in the Holy Ghost

Thought of the Day: Friday, April 8, 2016 Worship is more about giving God what He wants, than about giving God  what you want Him to have.  I'm going to be stuck on this one awhile...  Cherrio & Thanks for visiting www.lizchatter.com

"Rather than seeing it as half full or empty, see how beautiful the glass is."                                                             - #Humans Be encouraged today. You can change your perspective. Through practice and intentionality, it's possible.

This thought has been permeating my quiet time lately. Its really laid bare my desire to honor God's Word and the principles given there. Thankfully, the power of the Holy Spirit empowers me to live according to God's Word in freedom and the liberty with which Christ has made me free. 

This is to all my people who are looking at making changes in 2016; those who've decided to be truly happy not just comfortable, those who've decided that they will BE good - not just look good, those who have decided to proclaim Christ in a lost and self-centered generation. God in you has this on lock! Keep on keeping on peeps. Love you, Liz 

Ephesians 5:11 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. Proverbs 1:10 My son, if sinful men entice you, do not give in to them. John 3:20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.  Romans 13:12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

I will identify, for anyone who is interested, that one of my spiritual gifts is LOVE - Agape love.  Over the weekend though I was challenged by the Holy Spirit to evaluate where I have fallen short in loving people.  This post is not to point out shortcomings in anyone; it's a reminder for me.  Perhaps you are able to identify with me on the need to evaluate/re-evaluate the function of love in your life; feel free to connect with me about it. I'd love to hear from you - we can encourage one another to love better; to love like Jesus. It would have probably been very easy for Jesus to hang out with people that lived righteously, followed the Torah and attended Temple every Sabbath, lived innocent lives never having made a poor choice, or transgressed the law in a deliberate attempt to self-medicate hurts, loneliness, anger or loss.  I'm sure from the instant He reached the age of accountability, He could have walked out of his home and found life easier not ...

1 Peter 1:3-5 KJV 3  Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,  4  To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,  5  Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

Philippians 4:8 (KJV) "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

The lighting is terrible on this video. And it's painfully clear why most videos are not taken from a downward angle. Seriously! Those shadows got me looking like I'm 60 years old. LOL!! Team #nofilter in th' house.  And why am I always sniffling in my videos? Good grief. Allergies are a real issue people. That's okay though, it's not about me just about the message. If you've taken time to watch this, I hope it helps you in some way.  With tons of love!  Your friend,  Liz 

I'm stoked! Completely overpowered by the goodness of God.  Seriously, I'm giddy over all He's doing.  It's incredible that He lets me be a smidgeny part of it.  Is smidgeny a word? I think yes, smidgeny is a word.  Ha!   Anyhoo - here's a lil' update on tonight's events and a word of encouragement.  Don't forget, Jesus loves you and so do I!

For my brothers and sisters in Eritrea, Egypt, and other countries where Christians are being persecuted and even martyred; You are in our hearts and our prayers! Do not be afraid and remain faithful.