Author: nataliebone

“For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.” Galatians 5:13

When I see someone who loves well in the way they serve others, I know I am looking at a free brother or sister. And these precious ones have no need to be recognized, they just want you to receive. The more I investigate, I see people who have been refined by fire and now recognize others who are being refined. They know the fire leads to freedom, but the process is painful. They have this way of coming alongside to encourage by serving you in love. It does not diminish the flame, but it helps you to keep going. Then when your turn comes to move into whatever the next phase the Lord has for you, your eyes are trained to look for those on their way to freedom. It becomes a privilege to serve them with the love you now carry.

“The Lord will always lead you, satisfy you in a parched land, and strengthen your bones. You will be like a watered garden and like a spring whose water never runs dry.” Isaiah 58:11

Each of these promises has so much care, protection, provision, healing and love. What I notice is that it also requires action on our part, letting the Lord lead. How many times do we charge out ahead and then end up in a mess because, in our immaturity, we thought we knew the way? Time and time again I can look back and see pure grace in how the Lord saved me from myself. I see now how He was caring for me all along, waiting for me to recognize the dry place I had wondered. Maybe it is when we get really thirsty for what is pure, not man-made and weak that we appreciate what He provides all the more.

The older I get, the more evidence there is of God’s faithfulness. I need to look back at these events when it is time to move forward. There are so many things that seemed so big and I could not see how they would turn out. Time and time again I can say that it was better than I could have even dreamed. It is the first step that seems to be the scariest. I have found that not going alone makes that step more less scary. And who knows what God will surprise us with this time! We are ready!

I ran across two women who were given two windows of influence. The first was Rahab, who hid the spies who had come to scout out Jericho. She lived in the wall of the city that would soon come crumbling down. Rahab let the spies down through the window by a rope or cord and would later tie this same scarlet cord to mark her window to be protected. This rope represented faith and because of her faith, her entire family was saved.

Another woman, Michal, was the daughter of King Saul, who was married to King David. When David brought back the ark of the covenant, Michal watched him celebrating before the Lord from her window. Scripture tells us that “she despised him in her heart.” (2 Samuel 6:16). Two women, two windows who had a view and a choice to make. One responded in faith and the other responded in judgement.

It made me think of us and the choices we get to make each day from our viewpoints. Will we respond in faith, that will impact generations to come or will we respond in judgement? Only one of these women is mentioned in the lineage of Jesus.

“Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statues, and you will be careful to observe my ordinances.” Ezekiel 36:26-27

I recently read a fictional book where the main character was a heart surgeon whose speciality was transplants. At some point, the old heart must stop before the healthy heart is able to take it’s place. Spiritually speaking, we can all have this surgery. I remember exactly where I was when my heart stopped. I also remember my prayer and how it felt when it begin to beat again. It takes awhile to learn how to live with a healthy and whole heart. Plenty of mistakes are made, but for that there is grace. Looking back, it now makes since why responding to the Lord felt more like an obligation and His love something to be earned. A new heart filled with His Spirit changes everything.

“The righteous lead blameless lives, blessed are their children after them.” Proverbs 20:7

When you marry someone, there is no guarantee they will be a good father, but I saw the evidence of the making of one early on in my husband. He is the most patient and humble man I have ever met. There is not a hint of selfishness in his heart and kindness flows from him. He does not seek to be noticed and does not need recognition of man. He comes alongside and listens, encourages and leads you in a way that is gentle. He models Jesus day in and day out in our home, work that goes unseen to the outside world. Our children are incredibly blessed and so will many, many generations to come.

Happy Father’s Day, Damon!

*Clay Damon made by Vivian

We met a fascinating man last night that is passionate about one thing, watches. He comes from a line of watchmakers and is now a motivated salesman for the very brand his family crafts. In his opinion, there is only one superior brand and he was quite determined to work for this special company. In fact, while in college, he would drive six hours just to inquire about company events he may work. He did this several times and the day finally came. He had a different kind of love for this company because of how good they had been to his family. It made me wonder, do I have an even greater passion and love for the One who holds time? Do I show up to the events of the day, ready to share the love of the One and only true God? Do I desire to serve Him in thanksgiving for who He is and how good He has been to our family? So much to think about….

“You never separate from the group! You always stay together. If you separate, the enemy picks you off one by one.” -Eli, age 9

We were watching a show this morning and the characters were looking for the villain. They decided to separate and spread out. Eli leans over and reminded me of an important lesson, stay together. If the enemy can get you alone, his chances of stopping you are higher. A community is much harder to shut down when you are unified. To go alone is not only lonely, but dangerous. Stay together and build each other up along the way. When one is running low on hope or burdened, another can remind you of what is true. It is also much easier to venture out when you are not alone. A bit of courage is ignited inside knowing you go together. Also, invite others in and never close the circle. So many are looking to belong and what better place than with ones that know love.

“Do trust and mistrust hold hands?” 2 Corinthians 6 (The Message)

I read and reread this verse this morning and the image came to mind of when we were teaching our children to walk. We would hold both of their small hands and encourage them to take step after step. Never once did any of them not take our hands. I thought back to those days and saw myself as a child again learning to “walk by faith and not by sight”. If I am being honest, somedays I take the hand of mistrust, for you cannot hold both. “What if He doesn’t come through”, the enemy whispers? “This dream is much too big”, another whisper passes through my mind and my hand slips into agreement. However, I know He is trustworthy and He is the only One that knows the way. His hands are always available, steading each tentative step I take. So today I held His hand in faith and learned to walk a bit further. And I will do it again and again all the way Home.

People are fascinating, each different having been shaped in the environment God placed them. Some grow up confident, secure in their true identity and others appear to be fighting for their worth, almost like it is air. I watched two people this week and noticed incredible differences. One was restful, peaceful, breathed easy and the other had none. To ask questions would have been inappropriate, but I would loved to have unraveled the troubled heart. I wanted to say there is another way, that all you have to do is ask the One who created you a simple question. Ask Him, the One who sustains your air, what He calls you and see if it does not change everything. Generations that have not yet been born will be affected by your choice to know and live in your true identity. What are you waiting for? Your great-great-great grandkids need your true identity to lead the way for them to walk towards home. Give them something to follow and breath easy today.