Author: nataliebone

Sometimes conversations spark thoughts that lead to questions. To answer them takes time and courage. What I discovered was quite healing and I needed to extend forgiveness again to individuals within two groups. When one person hurts you within a group, your feelings towards the whole group can be clouded. Maybe this happens most with Christians and the Church. Someone meets a person that says they are follower of Christ, but are anything but loving. The belief could now be that all Christians are unloving, therefore the God they belong to is not loving. Goodness, we humans can really mess things up. For me, it came down to being dismissed on different occasions in a way that made me feel unwanted and unneeded. Who in the world wants that to be true? Who wants to not be invited to the table because you are not wanted or needed? The truth is we have all been invited by God, who sent His Son to die in order to extend the invitation to His table. There is not a human alive who has the authority to make anyone not welcome. The price was too costly and none of us had to pay it. So, we can get into the habit of continually reminding ourselves and others that we are greatly wanted and needed by our Heavenly Father. Maybe we all need to let the truth of His great love for us sink deep and go invite accordingly. Every person you meet is worthy of a seat, they just don’t know they are needed and wanted at His table. Lets be the one to tell them.

A friend and I gathered with a group of middle school girls this morning to do a study on identity. It is such an incredible opportunity to give these girls what most of us only wish we had at their age. Something that stood out was the reminder that only our Creator, God Himself, has the authority to give us, His creation, our identity. No one else should be allowed such power. As parents, we are entrusted as guides that affirm who God says our kids are as they grow up. When they forget or begin to take on what is false, due to any number of things, we get to remind them of what is true. The hard part is that sometimes as parents, we have not gotten this identity piece down. What I have found the most freeing is to pray and ask the Lord to bring to mind all the names or lies I have been told or even told myself about who I am. Listing them out is extremely painful, but exposing them to the light is good. Then pray and ask what is true. Ask the Lord to tell you who He says you are. Open your Bible and have it all confirmed. Since God is love, what you hear is loving. It will make all the difference. Perhaps your middle school self will be healed once and for all. And the love you now have for yourself will then be shared with those around you. Brings to mind what Jesus said, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:39).

Recently, I found myself in a dressing room trying on clothes. The lighting was bad, but the thoughts in my mind were much worse. Processing this whole experience uncovered a root of shame. Somewhere a lie took hold that I should look perfect and anything less would be considered failure. Unable to achieve this goal resulted in shame. I would have honestly told you this was not in my heart anymore, but clearly here we were again. I had to ask myself how much has shame stolen? The list would be long and maybe yours would be too. If this had ended with me, it might have taken longer to be set free. However, when one of my children experienced the same thing, a war on shame was declared. I will not sit by and allow our enemy to plant seeds of shame, nor will I help with my thoughts and words. We were made for freedom and not prison cells of shame. I will declare these words again and again, “Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.” (Isaiah 50:7). And another good one, “…and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:5). Shame takes room in our hearts that is meant to be occupied by love and we live accordingly. It is only with His power that this prisoner has been set free and on the alert for this happening again. So to the enemy I say loudly, “No more!”

“For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:30). Reading this verse recently got me thinking about actual light and not just a weight measurement. Jesus had just spoken words that encouraged His humble, childlike followers, who had opened their hearts to what He was revealing to them. Jesus then gives this beautiful invitation to come to Him with all that weighs down. He said to them and us, that we can join with Him, learn His way of gentle, lowly living and experience deep rest. Have you ever met someone who actually took Jesus up on this offer? There is a peacefulness to them that seems to radiate light from within. Makeup and skin treatments will not bring this kind of glow. When one lives with this light burden, the darkness gets pushed back just a bit everywhere they go. The good news is He is still sending out this invitation and all we have to do is accept. Our world could sure use more light and rest wouldn’t you agree?

The word honor has been running through my mind. A quick definition search brings up, “high respect; great esteem”. Scripture says, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” (Romans 12:10). How do you think we are doing? I can only answer for myself, but I know I can do better. To honor someone for what they have done is expected, like we celebrate today. What about committing ourselves to loving and respecting others we encounter throughout our days? This is what we are being asked to do by the One who made each one of us. He knows that we will function best if we follow His instruction. The best part is that He does not ask us to do something He has not already done or without help. What kind of loving Father would He be? Can you even imagine the difference this would make in our homes, neighborhoods, cities, states and the world? Want to give it a try?

When the news of death reaches us, even though we might not know them personally, we still hurt. We imagine receiving the news as a parent ourselves and a horrible unsettled feeling sinks in. The question of how we have arrived here as humans forms in my mind? I am well aware of the first murder recorded in scriptures, when one brother killed another. And now, thousands of years later, we continue to kill each other. Some blame gun laws, others point to mental health as the cause, but what is the root of such evil? What makes us think we have the authority to take another’s life? Whether it is one of a child sitting in a classroom or one not yet born, we decide we are in control. Goodness, we need His help so badly, for we have lost our way. Jesus, please help us like only you can. For you are our Savior and we cannot save ourselves.

Twice this morning the story Jesus told about the Good Samaritan was in my readings. In the Message translation, the text that stood out to me said, “When he saw the man’s condition, his heart went out to him.” (Luke 10:33-35). A man had been beaten, robbed and left on the side of the road. Three men passed him by, but only one stopped to help. Why did this man’s heart go out to him and not the others? Why do some today have compassion and some do not? While the origin behind the characters Jesus used is unknown to me, only who they represented, I can relate to the one receiving care. All of us can relate to the one in need, for we all have hurts this side of heaven. The beautiful part is when we allow the Lord to do what only He can do, we are healed and begin to look for others in need of roadside assistance. Who better to come alongside hurting ones than those who know pain and the tender care needed during the healing process? We belong to the “God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). Amazing how He works!

The older I get, the more convinced I am about what is true. Experience is an excellent teacher, for it puts what we have learned to the test. Will what we have read from God’s word, confessed to believe, actually stand true? Jesus said He would be with us, but would that be enough? What would that look like? Comfort and remaining in what we have done for quite sometime is tempting. Actually going into the unknown guarantees change, but is that necessary? Are we enough? Having had experience in stepping into some new things this year, this is what I know to be true. He is better than I thought and He means what He has said in His written word. A new opportunity does not add or take away from who He says we are, but it can sure give Him a chance to show that supernatural change has certainly taken place. Amazing!! 

*art by Vivian 

Sitting here watching the younger kids play in the pool and thinking about these lives that have been entrusted to me. The preciousness of each one brings tears to my eyes. Each one is unique and comes with their own set of struggles. They can make you cry from laughing so hard or frustration in the same day. Being mindful of what pressures they are facing requires time spent listening. Finding ways to serve them seems to lighten the pressure just a bit. What communicates love to one is not the same to another. Mindful of opportunities and details keeps you sharp. Time passes much to quickly and makes these all the more important. Rules and high expectations without grace crushes a young one. Second chances are needed more on my side than theirs. Saying yes is one of my favorite things to do, but wisdom answers with a no at times. Fear will tangle your responses. At the end of each day, I pray that they know that I love them unconditionally and trust them. And they also know that this mom depends on the Holy Spirit living in me. Without the Helper, I am not who He made me to be and they would suffer the most. Each of them are worth my true self. His word sustains me and gives me something to offer them. It is not called the “bread of life” for nothing. Prayer is what keeps me calm and when I forget and let my thoughts spin, it shows.

Today is a wonderful reminder of what keeps me dependent and for that I am thankful!

Happy Mother’s Day!

After we let the authority of Jesus sink deep, we may wonder now what? The Message translation says it beautifully. “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day, right up to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20). We have a purpose and each one of us has been given different gifts to carry it out. It might take some time to brush off the insecurities that can bury these gifts as we get older, but let’s be courageous enough to be authentic. Also, I know it can be frustrating when the process of learning, growing and using our gifts is slow. I can say for me, the Lord knew I had some healing to do. A girl that loves to write, but has unhealed wounds, can serve some ugly words without even knowing it. Please forgive me if you have read any words of mine that hurt.

So, now that we know what we are to do and by whose authority we have been commissioned, what will we do to share Jesus with others? I have found it best to ask Him. And then may we never forget an important piece, He is with us at all times. Amazing!