Amy Layne Litzelman's Blog, page 12

Is It Worthy?

“The temptations in your life

are no different from what others experience.

And God is faithful.
He will not allow the temptation

to be more than you can stand.

When you are tempted,

he will show you a way out…”

I Corinthians 10:13 NLT
Perspective is often all truth needs to be understood.

It’s interesting how tightly we hold to what hurts us. How we feel justified in our fear or anger or frustration, and so cling to it even as it drains life from us.

Last night, in the last minutes of a good day, a fe...

A God Who Gives

“For God so greatly loved

and dearly prized the world

that He gave…”

John 3:16 AMP
I often find myself torn this time of year.

I’m shocked that “the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature” – the One who upholds and maintains and guides and propels the universe by His mighty word of power – would lie in a bed of hay as a crying babe. (Hebrews. 1:3, AMP)

I can’t help but wonder as I recall John the Baptist leaping in Elizabeth’s womb at the mere sound of Mary’s greeting.

And my chest is grip...

Willing to be Filled

“May you experience the love of Christ,

though it is too great to understand fully.
Then you will be made complete

with all the fullness of life and power

that comes from God.”

Ephesians 3:19
Something about a brimming pot grabs my spirit.
It is eternally right that a vessel fulfill its purpose.

It’s now fall and I’ve been cleaning out flower pots and gardens (I learned my lesson about letting them go until spring: see Embracing the Season). But thinking back over the last several months, I gained so...

The Power of Light

“This is the message

we have heard from Him and proclaim to you,
that God is light,

and in Him is no darkness at all.”

I John 1:5
Imagine a place with no darkness.

None. Not even a shadow.

Only constant, pure, powerful light.
Revealing truth.

Giving security.

Bringing warmth.

Producing growth.
This is the nature of our God, our Creator: “… in Him is no darkness at all .”

Now imagine a place with no light. Black, murky, cold. Lifeless and without distinction. The words heaviness and hopelessness come to mind...

Changing Your Perspective on Obedience (part 3)

”He said to them,

Why are you so timid and fearful?

How is it that you have no faith

(no firmly relying trust)?”

Mark 4:40 Amp
What are you afraid of?
What do you stop short of, or even run from, because of hidden anxiety?
Nearly everyone, it seems, has resigned themselves in one degree or another to living with fear.

Fear of death
heights
loneliness
crowds
change
failure
success
flying
growing old
being poor
getting sick
having an accident
meeting new people
losing a loved one – the list is endless.

But fear isn’...

Changing Your Perspective on Obedience (part 2)

“…You have given me

the capacity to hear and obey…
I delight to do Your will, O my God.”

Psalm 40:6, 8 (Amp)

The more I walk in obedience,

the more I realize the richness of joy it brings.

Not fickle, temporary happiness, but deep down, rock-solid, pure, permeating joy.

Most of us know that obeying God is the right thing to do, but to equate it with joy can be quite a leap. We don’t want to be controlled. We don’t like being limited or restrained or told what to do. We fear looking like a fool or a...

Changing Your Perspective on Obedience (part 1)

“Anyone who listens to My teaching and follows it is wise,

like a person who builds a house on solid rock.”

Matthew 7:24 NLT
One of the surest signs of maturity

is the ease with which you obey the Holy Spirit’s leading.

As a parent or leader, you know that when you give specific instructions it’s for a very specific reason. You see ahead to a goal, knowing this step is part of a bigger picture and your directions are for the good of both the individual and the whole.

In the same way, the Holy Spiri...

Changing Your Perspective on Obedience (Intro)

“If you love Me,

obey My commandments.”

John 14:15
Perspective can so easily get imbalanced.

Perhaps you learn something new and suddenly you believe this one thing is the answer to everything. Or maybe you refuse to alter a particular viewpoint even when new information comes to light because… well, change can be pretty uncomfortable.

Whether it’s the latest craze in food and health, the newest of what technology has to offer, or the most recent scientific, political, or financial discovery, our...

Why You Are Valuable

“Are not five sparrows sold for two cents?

Yet not one of them is forgotten before God.
Indeed, the very hairs of your head

are all numbered.
Do not fear;

you are more valuable than many sparrows.”

Luke 12:6
What gives you your sense of worth?

This isn’t a question we often ask ourselves outright, yet this crucial thread runs through every aspect of our thoughts and actions.

Maybe you believe you need to work hard and earn money to be of value. Maybe you’re striving to perfect a talent, studying to ga...

Against All Odds

“Sing, O barren one, you who did not bear;

break forth into singing and cry aloud,

you who did not travail with child!

For the [spiritual] children of the desolate one

will be more than the children of the married wife,

says the Lord.
Enlarge the place of your tent,

and let the curtains of your habitations

be stretched out; spare not;
lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes,

for you will spread abroad to the right hand and to the left;

and your offspring will possess the nations

and make the desol...