"LAYING DOWN MY CROWN"

Hi everyone,

I have just returned from a great conference. Everything about it was really good, the company was just tops, the worship was magnificent, and the ministry was diverse and really hit the spot!

One of the songs we sang has the line, "Laying down my crown". I'm a great believer when it comes to worship of the singing kind, (because worship is so much more than a song) that these songs are prayers set to music, so it's really good to think about what we're singing and interact with the lyrics while we sing!

A moment I have always anticipated with great relish is that moment when I see HIM face to face, and lay down my crown at His feet. But I've always viewed it with the thought that it really isn't MY crown, but HIS. In a sense this is true, because we don't have anything that we haven't received.

But something came to me with such clarity while singing that line this weekend. It is MY crown. It is a unique crown, a "Lynda Crown". It's unique because it's a magnificent reflection of my journey on planet earth with Him. It is fashioned by who I am, those moments and decisions that only He and I know about, and then of course the journey of working those decisions into daily obedience.

It is embellished with jewels won by our personal victories. Think about it, the colours and cut of every piece is being produced by our 'wins'. What kind of wins?

• A broken habit that we know is destructive.
• Choosing to love and forgive
• The creation of a good habit
• Victory over fear, or bitterness, or grumbling... or whatever!
• Choosing to stay with our commitments, when all we want to do is quit.
• Bringing someone else to know Him.

On and on it goes. The precious moments of worship, the development of our character, and everytime we get a win for Him....it's going to make that crown even more beautiful.

WOW! I want to lay the most beautiful, 'tell-a-story' kind of crown at His feet. I reckon when I do, we are going to exchange a look that says, "We know exactly what this is about!" It will be a crown that represents a history that He and I have shared alone.

So let me encourage you.....today...whatever you are facing, face it with Him, face it for Him. Turn this day into a crown-fashioning day of worship, and maybe when we stand before Him you and I will take such huge delight in laying down our crowns at His feet, side by side!

Much love,
Lynda

Increase - Growth & Confidence

Just another quick observation....

I am currently working on a rather massive task at work. I wouldn't call it my area of strength. In fact if those who knew me back in my school days knew what I am up to they would be very surprised.

But it is something that is in front of me, and has to be done. And whatever we find to do, we should do with enthusiasm, and we should do well.

Because it is not my natural area of strength, I have found it quite a stretch, a real mental exercise; sometimes I would even say really unnerving!

I have noticed a couple of things about this matter:

1. As I have applied myself to it I have actually enjoyed it. Probably a bit like physical exercise, we may not necessarily get excited about it, but as we do it, we find it enjoyable and even 'stimulating'.
This has been some really solid 'mental exercise', and I have found it very stimulating. You know, "Train your brain" stuff.

2. As I have gone along in the work I have found my confidence growing. "Can Do" is getting louder than "Can't Do". I notice my 'inner space' is getting bigger. The fact that I have been doing this amidst some challenges in my personal life has added to the 'stretching' value of the work.

Isaiah 54:2-3 "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; do not spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left, and your descendents will inherit the nations, and make the desolate cities inhabited."

We love the expansion and inherit words. But the enlarge, stretch, do not spare, lengthen and strengthen words all sound like a lot of hard work! Another version says, "spare no expense". Investment of any kind is always a risk, but it is always a better alternative that living in a rut or stagnating.

Whats more, there are people on the other side of my challenge that are absolutely worth the effort! This task that is challenging me so much is going to bear some great fruit..... and so it is MOST DEFINTELY WORTH IT!!

Hebrews 11:34 by faith....."their weakness was turned to strength"

Go on... dare to believe that the very area of weakness in your life, by faith in Christ can become strong!

Until next time,
blessings,
Lynda