The Next Step - One Step At a Time

One foot in front of another and repeat. That is what I did. My legs were wobbly, yet I continued to take steps. Sometimes I had to hold onto someone.  Sometimes I would fall.  Yet I continued to try and walk.  I was timid, but as time progressed I became more confident of my legs. That is how I learned to walk when I was a child, one step at a time.

That is similar to our walk with God. When we were babies in God, our footsteps were wobbly.  Yet as our relationship with God has become more, our steps become more confident in God.  Yes, we still stumble and fall, but God pulls us up, and we continue.

So when God asks me to take the next step, I have to be willing to take one step at a time.  Through my own insecurities, I will fall.  If I continue to keep my eyes on God then He will guide my steps.  He promised that His word will be a lamp on my feet.

“Be not afraid of growing slowly, be afraid only of standing still.” Chinese Proverb

My taking the next step isn’t going to be done alone.  God will be there to hold my hand.  The next step requires from me will be one action at a time, one prayer at a time, and one God for it all.  Also, I have a core group of friends and family that are praying with me-for me as I take my journey. I also am praying for my friends and family as they take their next step in what God is asking of them.

Taking that next step that God has for me, for all of us, is something that is exciting, and scary at the same time. Sometimes I still feel like that toddler who is learning to walk.  I am continuing to learn to trust God, to have faith that He will guide me. 

God will not guide us for evil. That is something that I have to remember.  If God is for us who can be against us?  Fear is not from God. I am saying that to myself more than anyone.

“Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”Isaiah 41:10

Photo by Kartini Maxson

With each step I take that God has asked me to take, I will trust in Him.  I will focus my eyes on God.  He will guide me in the direction He wants.  He will guide each of us in the direction He wants.

Step by step we take that next step in whatever God has called you.  One foot in front of the other, and a LOT of prayer.   God wants us to take that next step with Him on His journey for us.  He only requires one step at a time.

Dear Lord,

You have given each of us the journey called life.  We are taking that next step, one step at a time.  Please, take us by the hand and lead us on the path that You have for each of us.

Laura Maxson

Taking That Next Step!

“That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”  We all know Neil Armstrong’s famous quote as he took his first step onto the face of the moon.  He was a man who knew something about taking the next step.

What next step do you need to be making?  Has God shown you the next step?  If He has, are you taking that step or are you hesitating because you are too scare? Are you hesitating because you don’t see the whole picture?

God has shown me the next steps that He wants me to take in several areas of my life.  However, I am hesitating.  Why? Because I am scared, scared of the unknown. I am scared because I don’t see the whole picture.  I am scared because I don’t even see all the steps that I will need to take.

“Faith is taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase – Martin Luther King Jr.

It is scary to take the next step. I don’t know what is out there.  All I see is the step in front of me.  I get a glimpse of the whole picture, but I want the step by step instructions.  On Google Maps, the directions are take a right on this street followed by a left on this street.  All the step by step directions are there.

In life, God gives us direction one step at a time.  I know that so far my journey has been a little bumpy, thanks to me.  I have strayed off the path a time or two, but God redirects me.

This new path that God has for me will take me to something that God has planned.  It is something that God wants me to do.  However, in this continuation of my journey in life, I have to take the first step, a step in faith. 

“A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single Step” – Lao Tzu

Faith is sometimes a very scary thing.  Let’s be honest, taking the step towards something you have no idea of all the twists and turns is scary.  Life can be scary.  Like driving a road in the dark that you have never driven.

In fact that is what our steps are.  They are driving in the dark on a road we haven’t driven before.  However, our co-driver knows the road.  He  is aware of the pitfalls.  If I focus on Him, He will light my way.

I realize that I am focusing on myself or others.  “What will people think?”  “How will I get this done?” That is the problem.  When my focus is not on God, I will start to sink as Peter did as he was walking on water. Peter sank when he focus was on whether the others in the boat were looking at him instead of looking to Jesus.

If I focus my gaze on Jesus I will take the steps necessary towards Him.  I will walk on water.  Maybe not truly, but my journey will be just as cool.  My focus for the journey needs to be on God.  Each step I take needs to be taken looking to God for direction.

My God will never let me fall. “They word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105.  So step by step, I am going to venture to where God is leading. I will not be afraid of what may come, no matter what it is.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your request to God” Philippians 4:6.

It will require a change of focus on my part.  Which is funny, since that is my word for the year.  The next steps will require me to not focus so much inward, but look to God more.  My God has it under control.

The next step, writing my story in book form.  God has impressed me to write that story. For those of you who have read the blog earlier in the year, you will know what I mean.  It will not be an easy feat.

I will need all your prayers for that step.  It will require me to go into the darkness of what I lived for so long.  Yet, I know that with God with me, and you praying for me, I will not be alone.  I am just so scared to delve back into that part of what I used to live in.

So, that is the next step that I get to take.  One of many steps. I am confident that when I start this project, God will guide. I know that I am a complete and whole person in God, a new creation. So, no matter the darkness, the Light of God will shine.

I am doing this for the Glory to God alone.  Soli Deo Gloria.

Dear Lord,

You have given each of us the journey called life.  We only need to look to You for our next steps.  You will guide us.  If we look to You, then we will not sink into the seas of life.  Maybe You have shown us the next steps, but we are too afraid or scared.  Wrap us tightly in Your arms and make us feel Your Love.  You are enough.  You have us in the palm of Your Hand.  I am stepping out in faith Lord.  Amen

Laura Maxson

May Prayer Topic: Take the Next Step

At the end of last month we had out very first Circle of Prayer Retreat. Leading up to this time I was so apprehensive about all the details. How would it go? Who would come? Do they even want to come? Will they get along? What will they expect? Will it meet their expectation?

It takes a long time for this "old man" to die to self (Romans 6:6), but again I'm so thankful for a patient loving Savior who has a plan for me.

Just take the next step.

So planning began. Setting a date. Sending out an email to everyone. Buying books ahead of time. Setting up the speakers. Step by step-one at a time-things began to come together.

As the weekend neared I wasn't sure who exactly would come. Our group is small to start with. 15 to be exact. I felt as if the Lord was wanting me to plan for 10, so that's what we bought supplies for. We started with eight potentially coming, then down to seven, and finally five.

Five Lord? Ok I guess that's better then no one and just me. But, through the words of a friend He reminded me. "Even if it's just you coming out. You'll come to my house, we'll still have the reatreat and the Lord will bless."

I have a hard time putting into words the experience our group of five had. What I felt we lacked in number. God made up in Holy Spirit.

The Spirit moved in His incredible way for all of us. Before that weekend I prayed that if it might be possible that the Lord would give me a glimpse of what our early church leaders experienced during Pentecost.

He took us on a journey. We march around our Jericho's. Those prayers that seemed too impossible to defeat on our own. With each circle around our prayer, our confidence in Christ grew stronger. We prayed through Scripture. The very Word inspired by God Himself, connected us to Him with His Word. We spent time writing purposeful dreams. We spent time alone with Him as we watched our confessions burn away. We put intersession to action. We watched the seed of supplication grow. We took hold of His rock solid promises. We ended the weekend in prayer for each other. Not just any pray, but Old Testament, claim the promise, laying of hands kind of prayer.

And then It came.

Photo by Kartini Maxson

The Holy Spirit wind. Not just in our hearts, but in mighty and physical way! As we were laying hands-praying for each other a real, tangible wind began to blow. It blew so strongly it shook the house. I felt a beam of light pouring over us, wind whipping around the house, as we poured over each other in prayer.
When were finished,  as quickly, loudly, and fiercely as the wind came, we were left in the still. In His still.

Just a glimpse of what it was like. During that Day so long ago. He answered my request and allowed me a Pentecost glimpse of that day.

We excitedly talked about the fire God set in our hearts. About our own dreams-His dreams and His plans for Circle of Prayer.

He exceeded my expectations, once again. He full-filled five lives with wind of change-Holy Spirit change.

It was such a mountain top experience. A time where our sole-soul purpose was connecting with our Creator, Savior,  & Friend.

Then it was over. We had to go home-back to life. Down from the mountain.

But as I come down, I have in my heart the words He spoke to us that weekend. The words He spoke to me. And the assurance that He wants to keep speaking words of truth to me. I just need to listen.

Since I've come home, the words He's been saying.....

Take the Next Step.

A call to action.

What ever it may be. The dream He has made clear in our hearts. That impossible prayer-too hard to defeat on our own.

Then God heard the boy crying, and the Angel of God called to Hagar from the sky, “Hagar, what’s wrong? Don’t be afraid! For God has heard the lad’s cries as he is lying there." Genesis 21:17Living Bible (TLB)

The other day I heard a sermon on this verse. The *pastor explained that when this form of the word "heard" is said in the Bible, God uses it "before He acts on our behalf."

So whatever it is.

Take that next step. Don't be afraid! He has heard your cry and He will act on your behalf!

~kartini r. maxson

*Pastor Bryan DelValle, Modesto Central SDA Church

Bold Prayers? Dreams?

I sit.
Staring at the wall.

Bold Prayers? Dreams? God's Dream for my life?

This month the question has been circling in my head. Every morning I sit at my desk and there written on the chalk board, "God Dreams"

What dreams does He have for my life?

I sit.
I ask myself what can they be?

My mind automatically rattles down the list of the things I think they should be.
My relationship with my family.
My son, my husband, mom, dad, sis.
My ministry as nurse.
My husband's ministry.
My health.
My friends.
My hobbies.

A list.
A list of good things.
Things I believe He has blessed my life with.

But are these really my dreams? My bold prayers?

I sit.
How do I know?

I try to think of ways to figure it out.
What books have I read? What books should I read?
Who should I call to pray about these things for me?
Maybe I should write them down.
Pin them on my prayer board.

This list of good things. God things that He has blessed my life with.

What makes them my dreams? How are they my bold prayer? Are they too vague? Should I be more specific? Can I attain them on my own? Are they too impossible to even dream? Not impossible enough?

All month the words of a song have been running through my head.

"Hide me now
Under Your wings
Cover me
Within Your mighty hand"

My mind feels as if I've been running a million miles an hour in every direction.
Somedays feeling as if I can barely keep my head above water.
I've been asking God how can I know His will in my life? His dreams for me? His bold prayers for me?

I've been searching, asking, looking, asking, asking, asking.

Sitting in my chair, though my body may have been still. My mind, running, never stopping.

"When the oceans rise
And thunders roar
I will soar with You
Above the storm
Father You are King
Over the flood
I will be still and know
You are God"

This time I sit.
Miles from the chair that sits at the desk.
Miles from that chalk board that says, "God Dreams"

I sit literally on top of a mountain. Looking out over what He has created.
My body had been moving. Working hard to get there.
But when I reach the top, He calls to me.

Sit & Be Still

"Find rest my soul
In Christ alone
Know His power
In quietness and trust"

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10

Photo by Laura Maxson

~kartini r. maxson

Still
(Reuben Morgan)

Verse 1
 Hide me now
 Under Your wings
 Cover me
 Within Your mighty hand

 Chorus
 When the oceans rise
 And thunders roar
 I will soar with You
 Above the storm
 Father You are King
 Over the flood
 I will be still and know
 You are God

 Verse 2
 Find rest my soul
 In Christ alone
 Know His power
 In quietness and trust

April Prayer Topic: The Bold Prayers

In the book “The Circle Maker,” by Mark Batterson, there is a quote that has me thinking.  “Bold prayers honor God, and God honors bold prayers.  God isn’t offended by your biggest dreams or boldest prayers.  He is offended by anything less.  If your prayers aren’t impossible to you, they are insulting to God.”

Are my prayers bold and impossible for me, or are my prayers those that I know that I can do on my own, sort of bold prayers? If I am honest with myself, for the most part, they are the latter. Am I afraid to pray the bold prayer?  I think sometimes I am.

 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7

I think we all have that prayer that we are too scared to pray to God about.  It really doesn’t make any sense.  If God is God, then there is nothing impossible for Him, including our biggest most “bold” prayers.

This month we are going pray our BOLD prayers. Maybe they are prayers that we are too scared to pray, but what have we to be scared about?  If God asks us for the impossible, it is only impossible for us.  He has it covered.  He has got it.

When the prayer turns into reality, we can only give God the glory.  The impossible for us is possible for Him.  He just needs us to have faith in Him.

“Have faith in God...” Mark 11:22

That is what it all comes down to, faith.  How much faith do I have?  If I have faith in God for the small things, then I should have faith in Him for the big things as well.  If God is faithful in the small things, He will be faithful in the big things too.

This month, I am going to go out in faith and pray my bold prayer that I have been too scared to do so.  Will you join me in praying for what we think is the impossible, as well?  It will be awe inspiring to see what God has in store.

Maybe God is waiting for us to say that bold prayer before He answers our prayer.  I want to see what God does with my BOLD prayer.  For, I know that I can’t answer my own prayer on this one.

God is just waiting for us to pray it. I am not just talking about one time, or a mention as a sidebar in my prayers.  God doesn’t want anything to be a sidebar. “Oh by the way Lord, if you have time.”

No, He wants us to pray in earnest.  It goes back to my theory that God wants to show off to us.  He wants to impress us.  God loves us so much and He wants to show us that.  He literally has the keys to the kingdom, and all we need to do is ask.

Do you have the faith to pray the BOLD prayer? Do I? What is holding us back? It is our own fear, and we need to stop that fear.  Fear is the devil, and God is so much bigger than our biggest fear.

Be bold, prayer bold, and see God do the impossible.

Photo by Rebecca H

Dear Lord,

You know the impossible prayer that each of us have.  We want to pray that impossible dream. May we not be afraid to pray that prayer to You.  I want to see Your possibilities. I want to see You.

Amen

Laura Maxson

The Cross: Real and Relevant in My Life

This month was my year anniversary. March 12, 2015 to be exact. My anniversary of realizing I am a sinner.  Now, I've always had head knowledge-I'm a sinner. But that was the day I felt deep down heart realization what a sinner I was.

The root of my sin? Self.  Like all sin. Selfishness. Putting myself before Christ.

Photo by Rosie Del Valle

My selfish sin took on two names.
Anxiety & Control

I've always struggles with Anxiety. I really can't remember a time I wasn't anxious about something. I struggled with it so badly, that as a 3rd grader I was diagnosed with a heart condition called Supraventricular Tachycardia, SVT. Stress induced SVT. What 3rd grader has that kind of stress?

I was raised in a loving Christian home, went to Christian schools, married a loving Christian husband, have a beautiful child who seeks after the Lord. But still, there was Anxiety in my life.

The weeks previous to March 12, 2015 was when I realized Anxiety, the one that caused the SVT, the panic attacks, the obsessing over everything-was actually my need for Control.

Now this Control was not the need to be in charge, to be the boss of everyone. No, this was a need to be in Control of me and everything I had to do with. Control that prompted me to be Perfect, the need to do everything Perfectly, and anything less was unacceptable.

If Perfection was not attainable then Anxiety would paralyze me from moving forward. If the outcome was not what I had expected, then I would rack my brain and go over and over every other possible action that could have been done better to obtain that Perfect outcome. If the current situation made me feel out of control, Panic would overtake me.

Anxiety. Control.  I was a slave to them. I was a slave to my selfish sin.

I remember many nights being on my knees, begging God to take away my Anxiety. Many nights with my husband by my side, praying for God's intervention. But He hadn't.

It was this same situation of Out-of-Control, Anxiety, Panic over imPerfection that again brought me to my knees. During the previous months, I had multiple life issues I was trying to Control. I had felt Anxiety taking a hold again. The more I prayed the stronger I felt those shackles dragging me down. This time not only was there the usually panic attack, but this time I actually had chest pain.

Looking back, I believe that pain in my chest was the answer to my prayers. Christ was placing on my heart the burden of all I was trying to Control allowing me to realize I could not bear this on my own.

Those shackles of Anxiety had literally dragged me down to my knees. In my Anxiety, tears, and pain, falling at the feet of Jesus, I begged Him."Please take this away! I cannot Control this! I cannot do this on my own!"

His words, "Nor do I expect you. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."(Matthew 11:30)

This time is was different. His words the same. But this time my words came from a place of a broken, burdened, and repentant heart. A slaved-heart who experienced the need for a Savior.

Now I was broken to the point where I was willing to follow where He wanted to lead me. That is where He was in control. He lead me to find help from others outside myself. He lead me down a road of complete-out-of-my-control and in His control. He lead me to a person I would not have chosen to help me. He lead me to people who helped me find in Christ FREEDOM from control and anxiety.

Through a painful process of realizing truly what a sinner I was-I am;
I found Freedom and Healing in the GREAT I AM.

On March 12, 2015, in Him and to Him, I stated:

"My Declaration of Imperfection"

I'm not perfect. I will never be. But Jesus is.
He makes me whole. Complete. Controls me. Not to be perfect and so I won't make mistakes.
But to Love. He loves me and my imperfections, and who I am even though I make mistakes. I choose not to blame my parents, or the way I was raised, or the path of anxiety and stress I choose in the past. Today and from now on I choose to Love Jesus. He will help me process my imperfections, not to make me perfect. But to Love me. Always love me....

The rest that followed help me realize on my own what a hope-less sinner I was. But in Christ, what a hope-full sinner I am.

But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

The Holy Spirit also testifies to us about this. First he says:

“This is the covenant I will make with them
    after that time, says the Lord.
I will put my laws in their hearts,
    and I will write them on their minds.”

 Then he adds:

“Their sins and lawless acts
    I will remember no more.”

 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.

Hebrews 10:12-18 (NIV)

He, the Perfect Lamb of God, came down to this earth, in the beginning created perfect as He intended. But now after sin, a place where men prefer darkness, instead of Light. He came to this earth, lived, died, and arose back to life. It's because of this sacrifice that He can offer me Freedom.

When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he placed his right hand on me and said: “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead, and now look, I am alive for ever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

Revelation 1:17-18

Since my year anniversary I have stumbled and even fallen. I still struggle with the sin and shackles of control. But, now that I have experienced Freedom. I don't want to stay there.

For I know who holds the keys. I remember I'm not the one who needs to be in control. 

No. Christ is.

Because of His dying love for me He chose to take my place. He chose death on a cross. 

Because of this. 

He's the one who gets to be in control. 

So, for me, instead of being a slave to anxiety & control...

I choose to be a slave to Christ.

For the love of Christ controls [me], because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (ESV)

Photo by Rosie Del Valle

~ kartini r. maxson