Atrophy- definition- The wasting away of bodily tissues or organs, to wither.

As you can see I have not written anything for our blog for nearly a month.  Yeah, I’ve been slow at times, missed a couple of weeks here and there, but never this long.  Truthfully I’ve missed writing.  I feel like it is one way that I can connect with all of you, hopefully touching and challenging all of you in some small way.  Even my daughter recently sent me a note saying, “Hey Mom you have not blogged in a while, and do you not have anything to say?”  Quite funny if you know how much both she and I can talk and how opinionated we both are, especially when we are together!  Thanks for the reminder Brenna!

The odd thing is, not blogging can be directly related to my time with God, my alignment as we like to say here at the Sanctuary has been "off".  December and January I found myself just a little out of alignment with my daily reading, journaling, even praying on more of a consistent basis (more than an “arrow” prayer, if you know what I mean)  Atrophy is what had set in.  The wasting away of my heart organ, not enough blood getting to it.  That would be the blood of life that comes from Abba!  In many ways I was withering away.  Much like my muscles in my arm due to my recent elbow surgery and it not being able to be exercised. 

Atlas, here I am, on track, having much to share, because much is being spoken to me.  When do you think we will “get it” that it’s all connected?  Our attitude, our vision, our ability to see clearly, all related to ALIGNMENT! 

Be encouraged, if you find you’re self in a place of atrophy, spiritually, it’s never too late to begin exercising again, the blood flow will make you feel better, healthier and give you a new lease on life!

Here is a great analogy to illustrate our need to be transparent before God first and then others.  Not just when we are becoming atrophied, but daily!

  "The hermit crab, in order to live, must continue to change its shell.  However, as it makes the move to change its shell, he becomes exposed.  He risks being eaten.  As he gets older, he begins to enjoy the safety and comfort of this last shell so he does not make the change to a new shell.  And the shell that keeps him comfortable is the very thing that kills him because his body has been squeezed to death."

Be challenged to Never Become Satisfied!  Never become satisfied with your understanding of the scripture.  Never become satisfied with the level of relationship you have with your Heavenly Father.  Never become satisfied with the level of spiritual growth you see in the lives of those to whom you are ministering.  It's okay to want more!  You read that correctly.  In this case, God wants you to want more!  And, God wants to give you more!

Isaiah 54:2-3 says, "Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes for you will spread out to the right and to the left."

I'm sure you have heard the adage "Us Four and No More."  Sometimes we become so satisfied with where we are, what we are doing, and how we are doing it that we never realize we have developed the hermit-crab mentality of safety which eventually will lead us to our own demise.

Seek God this week for ways that you can enlarge your tent.  Do not hold back.  With ALL of your heart, soul, mind, and strength, do ALL for the glory of God.  Place all you do into His hands and He will cause your plans to succeed!  (Mark 12:30, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Proverbs 16:3)