Be Brave......Find Joy

His Word: Joshua 1:9 “Have I not told you? Be strong and have strength of heart! Do not be afraid or lose faith. For the Lord your God is with you anywhere you go.”

Observation and Obedience: Why does this verse sound so familiar? Well, first of all, we are sticking to the theme of the month and second of all, we have camped out with Joshua and the Israelites hearing from God, himself.  It took the Israelites 40 years to go from slavery in Egypt to the Promised Land. A trip that could have been done in a month. But, because of their unbelief, God took them the scenic route. The route that would test their faith and strengthen their trust in Him. I, myself, have been known to travel the scenic route at times. ;p

Can you hear the “If I’ve told you once…..I’ve told you a hundred times” tone? “Have I not told you?” God, like most parents, repeats Himself often and with emphasis to make His point clear to His beloved! In some versions it is a command.  “This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” “This is my command” – not a recommendation, not a suggestion, NOT AN OPTION! (You remember some of those from your childhood, I’m sure.)

 Have we gotten the point? Truth be told, we may never get it, but that doesn’t mean we stop Trusting and Believing. And better yet, it doesn’t mean He’ll give up on us! God already knows how many times I’m going to mess up, try it on my own and fall down. His response is “794 down……..only 232 to go!” He’s excited for us to finally come into the fullness of life in Him.

The very next sentence He’s there cheering us on! “Be strong and have strength of heart! Do not be afraid or lose faith.” It’s OK, I’m still here, I still love you, get up and let’s try this again. He wipes our tears, kisses our boo-boos and takes our hand with love, tenderness and compassion.

So what is strength of heart? It’s COURAGE:  “the ability and willingness to confront fear, pain, danger, uncertainty, or intimidation;  the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc.”

The challenge of our journey is the quality of our mind and spirit. We all face this at least once or twice in our lifetime. Even if it’s just a reluctance to try something new, to head off into uncharted territory, step outside of our comfort zone. We’re afraid of feeling inadequate, stupid, embarrassed, clumsy, or afraid of letting people down. We doubt our ability to do something other than that which we know and we’re familiar and comfortable with. We limit the power of God in us and the blessings He has for us, when we allow the fears and feeling of inadequacy to cripple our resolve, muddle our minds and shake our confidence. God says “DON’T DO THAT!!” There’s so much He wants to give us and share with us if we would just have courage. 

I would have missed so much 5 years ago, had I not stepped out of my comfort zone and enrolled in an adult ed photography class…… all. by. myself. You see, that’s not something I do easily or with confidence. Walking into an unknown as an unknown is HARD for me. The last adult ed class I had taken, 20 years ago, I took with a friend who died of an aneurysm after our 1st class together. It was devastating. But, I had made the investment in a camera, and I had the desire to learn what it could do in my hands. I believe God placed that desire in me and His Spirit stirred me until I stepped out. So I went. And this is how much God loves me;  I walked out of that class 10 weeks later with a GIFT. The gift of a friend who has become a BFF. She is my sister by another Mother. I love her and I’ve waited all my life for a friendship like this. I WOULD HAVE MISSED SO MUCH! She gets me, I get her and she stuck by me through the most painful year of my life. Thank You Jesus for knowing me and loving me beyond what I can even comprehend. 

So you see, it’s not all about being brave when you’re up against some tough, scary times, it’s about being courageous enough to step out and try something new. Live out the desires of your heart. God has placed those desires, abilities and giftings in you for a reason. He wants to bless you. God desires for you to live the life He created you for! He’s got a wild imagination and the power to bring it forth in and through you. He longs to bless you this way.

God wants us, in the face of a new, momentous, risky, or humanly impossible situation to maintain a fixed focus on Him. Leave no room for fear, despair, feelings of inadequacy and doubt.

Adjust your focus – verb; (of a person or their eyes) adapt to the prevailing level of light and become able to see clearly. Make God your focus – noun; the center of interest or activity. 

Adapting to God’s all-embracing light so that we can see His hand, know His love and hear His heartbeat for our lives will require putting Him in the center of our interests and activity. Adjusting Focus. Now we’re talking my language. Photography language! 

I hope that you will be encouraged today to try something new! Break out of your comfortable place in the sandbox and see what the rest of the playground has to offer. Haven’t you always wished you were brave enough to hang from the monkey bars! Do it!! He’s right there and He’ll delight in you as you take His hand and live this time of your life free of fear and full of joy.

Encouragement: “The next person we meet could become one the dearest people in our lives.” Beth Moore 

Knock, Knock........He's Here!

His Word: Joshua 1:5 “No man will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. I will be with you just as I have been with Moses. I will be faithful to you and will not leave you alone.”

Observation and Obedience: God himself spoke these words to Joshua following the death of Moses. It was time for Joshua to get with the program, get moving and take the Israelites across the Jordan to the Promise Land. Up and until this point, Joshua had received most if not all of his instruction, encouragement and plan from God through Moses. Now it was he and God, no more middle man. God himself would equip Joshua. “I will be with you just as I have been with Moses.”

That’s the desire of our hearts isn’t it? We want to hear from God directly. We want to know, beyond a shadow of a doubt that He is with us, guiding us and speaking to us. It’s going to take FAITH in the power of God to be walking in that life. Have you ever asked Him for that for yourself?

It’s easy to fall into the comfortable place of thinking that God speaks to the ones He has chosen to be His voice. I will hear through them. After all, there’s minimal risk in that; there’s someone else to blame if things don’t turn out. It takes a deeper faith to ask God to speak directly to you and then stand on it. 

I grew up a PK (Pastor’s Kid). Two of my three brothers are Pastors. I have always known and believed these men speak what God has spoken to them. They are, all three, very passionate and strong in their beliefs, convictions and delivery. It’s easy to turn to them in a crisis and ask them to pray and give guidance. After all, don’t they have the direct line?

Guess what? I also have a direct line and so do you! 

It’s not just about being nice, going to church and keeping the Christian rules and principles.  God’s desire is for a faith relationship with Him that can be lived out in the power of His Spirit and in the light of His Word.

And, just so you know, we may have to do battle for it. “No man will be able to stand against you all the days of your life.” This part of the verse indicates a warning and a promise. So get ready…..life is going to be full of battles and conflicts and some pretty scary stuff. He’s warned us and He’s promised the VICTORY has already been won! Through the power of the Holy Spirit and the truth of His word we will get through those hard times. 

I’d like to share what I’ve learned on this journey.  God does still speak to those who will seek Him out and ask. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. – Matthew 7:7-8

One of the most profound experiences I’ve had, where I know God answered me directly was my Sand Dollar experience. (you can read it here.) It was the confirmation and assurance that what I had been feeling and hearing in my spirit was right on! But, I had to ask for it!  I had to believe the answer (“so, you too, when you see all these things, recognize that He is near, right at the door.”Matthew 24:33), and then I had to claim it and walk it out. Thankfully, I wasn’t going to be walking it out alone; (Deep Breath) YHWH. My experience there on the beach was my call to COURAGE! I believe that when God tells you something, there’s a reason. So watch for it and be ready. 

I had a stirring in me, 3 months before I was diagnosed with cancer, something was coming. I knew in my spirit God was preparing me for something and I wanted to be ready. But why? I believe God not only wanted to prepare me, but He also wanted to prepare the ones that were closest to me. I am so thankful to God for allowing me to prepare my Mom and my husband for what was coming. Those conversations took faith to verbalize. It took faith on their part to believe as well. But because of the sand dollar, I was able to assure both of them that it was going to be all right, it was part of God’s plan. I was OK with it because I knew, to my core, that God was right there and would stay right there with me. “I will be faithful to you and will not leave you alone.”

Telling your parents you have cancer is painful. Telling your children is gut wrenching. You want to protect your kids; that’s always been your role, your responsibility, your heart. But I’m here to testify, God is a good God. In the arms of my son I was comforted, as I held my daughter in my arms I was strong and secure. God knew what each of us would need in that time and He provided all of it and more. Thank You Jesus.

Prayer: Thank You God, for loving me right where you found me. Thank You for wanting and pursuing me. Thank You for making a way back to you through the Sacrifice of your Son. Forgive me for not seeking You first. Your love is more than we can ever hope to comprehend or deserve. May our faith in You be evidence of the Power of Your Holy Spirit and the Love of Christ to others who are struggling, hurting and feeling alone. In Jesus’ Precious and Holy Name we pray. Amen

Encouragement: Be encouraged, be blessed, be strengthened, be empowered. He IS HERE! by Gungor  (<—— link to this for today’s encouragement) It’s worth 3:15 minutes

You Can Count On Him, Can HE Count On YOU?

His Word: Genesis 28:15  “See, I am with you. I will care for you everywhere you go. And I will bring you again to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done all the things I promised you.”

Observation and Obedience: This verse in Genesis was a promise God made to Jacob in a dream. Jacob was on the run; he was alone, his life was in danger and his future was looking pretty dim. Jacob had schemed with his Mother, deceived his Father and stolen his brother Esau’s birthright. Thus, he had a rock for a pillow and no roof over his head. He also probably had a lot on his mind, a bit of anxiety and hopelessness. But God, OUR GOD, friend of sinners, revealed himself and declared his love anyway. In the dream, God first identified Himself and then laid out His plan for Jacob. “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham, and the God of Isaac. I will give to you and your children after you the land where you are lying. 14 They will be like the dust of the earth. You will spread out to the west and the east and the north and the south. Good will come to all the families of the earth because of you and your children.” God followed the reveal of His plan with His promise to see Jacob through. He promised to be wherever Jacob was, always caring and always providing. His presence was for the duration of all He had promised. However long it took!

What stands out to me in this verse, and what I would like to focus on  is God said “until I have done all the things“. God’s plan for Jacob was not dependent on Jacob doing. Jacob didn’t have a very good record to stand on. He had already messed things up! It was God’s doing! God’s plan for our lives is His doing! Let’s personalize that…….God’s plan for my life is His doing!

So what’s our responsibility?

God keeps it pretty simple for us, we’re the ones that complicate things. He wants us to partner with him. So let’s look at 10 ways we can compliment God’s plan instead of complicate it. We can all count to 10 from a very early age. Miss Mymy already counts to 10! Ten Fingers, Ten Toes, Ten Commandments, the Tenth of March…….you get the picture.

#1- Recognize God when He introduces Himself to YOU! “See, I am with you.” There is none like Him. He dreamed you up, created you and breathed life into you. He’s CrAzY in love with YOU! ……..“Hello!!” ………See HIM.

#2- Acknowledge God in every situation…….. because he’s already there. You might as well invite Him in. He won’t force himself on you, but he’s there ready to help. “I will care for you everywhere you go.”

#3- Humble yourself before Him. You had nothing to do with being here! It wasn’t your idea, it wasn’t your plan, it wasn’t your doing. Your days have already been determined by HIM! So accept that God’s plan for your life is His to direct. “I will bring you again to this land.”

#4- Quiet your mind and heart long enough to hear His still small voice. He could BLAST you, but he’s tender, patient and loving. He sends whispers of love each day, they’re ours to capture. Don’t miss them. “Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret” (Psalm 37:7).  

#5- Ask forgiveness and be forgiving. Say “I’m Sorry”. (If your pillow is a rock….. it may be time). Let the love of Christ wash you clean and give you a fresh, new start. People may hold grudges, but God doesn’t. (Nor should we.) For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. (Matthew 6:14)

 #6- Make time each day for the one who determines the number or your days. He’s always with you, wherever you are, so there’s no excuse not to. “For I will not leave you”

#7- Let His light shine through you. Be a reflection of Him. Let go of whatever it is that’s clouding your reflection and dimming your light! Give it up! Don’t you love it when someone says “that baby looks just like…..”. Who do people see when they see you? “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. 16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.” (Matthew 5:14 & 16)

#8- Don’t miss an opportunity to bless someone. Change your point of view from “woe is me”, to “how can I help?”. It doesn’t take much in this hurting world to bless someone. And when you do, you will actually receive the greater blessing. The one who blesses others is abundantly blessed; (Proverbs 11:25 msg)

#9- Be thankful in all things. I love Ann VosKamp’s revelation that “Thanksgiving ALWAYS precedes the Miracle.” When your focused on the blessings and gifts in each day and being thankful for them, you cannot be stressed out. It’s impossible for your mind and spirit to do both at the same time. And aren’t we all looking for a miracle? And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:17)

#10- Let God be God! He’s qualified, He’s able, He’s GOT THIS!!! He’s Got YOU!!! There’s really no place else I’d rather be than in the center of His will and plan for my life. It’s the safest place to be. But Jesus looked at them and said,  “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26)

Prayer: Thank You God that Your plan for my life is Your doing. It’s not dependent on anything more than my yes. You are so patient. You are so aware of every detail. You don’t miss anything, and that is so comforting to me. Thank you for providing the help we so desperately need in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. Thank you for your word, your love letter to us. It is full of promise, hope, encouragement and LIFE. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable unto to you, oh Lord. In Jesus Holy and Mighty Name, Amen.

Encouragement: “Sometimes we choose our own adventures, and sometimes they are thrust upon us, new experiences or seasons of life where much is unfamiliar or the way seems to threaten. It’s there I’m reminded of the robust truth that God is here wherever “here” is.  And because God is here, then I am safe.” Ann Voskamp 

Because He Said So

His Word: “Cast all your anxiety on Him because he cares for you.” 1Peter 5:7

Observation and Obedience:  In this verse Peter is thought to be quoting Psalm 55:22 “Give all your cares to the Lord and He will give you strength. He will never let those who are right with Him be shaken.” As he writes to the early Christians, Peter is advising, even warning them, that to stay focused on the duties and service of God is going to require that they not get caught up in worry.

So how do we do that? Breathe in…….Breathe out……YHWH. (just a little reminder) We need to humble ourselves, admit that we are powerless, lose the idea that we can fix anything and everything in our own might and time if we will just worry and stress enough about it. That’s not what God wants for us. It’s not healthy for us to do that. He’s saying “give it all to me“, all your personal worries, all your family cares, all your concerns for the future, all your anxiety for yourselves, for your treatment, for others. ALL OF IT! Any of it is more than He ever intended for us to fix or carry. It’s heavy, it’s burdensome, and our distrustthat He will work all things for His glory in His time is often sinful. (OUCH!) Father, forgive us.

How often do we struggle with frustration, anger, and uncertainty when the unexpected sufferings or trials disrupt our lives? Too many times in those most difficult moments of our lives, confusion and distraction overwhelm us, while contentment and the peace of Christ flee; questions and fear take the place of prayer and perseverance in our faith.

The worry and distraction of anxiety is a tool of Satan that robs us of the joy and blessing of sharing our faith. Anxiety tortures us and is a distraction of our minds. That can be scary, and then the fear ramps up and spirals us into a dizzying mess. There were times when I couldn’t remember my phone number because the anxiety, fear and information overload in the face of a cancer diagnosis turned my brain to mush. God is gracious and faithful in those times and Jesus is our example of what it looks like to live in holiness when this world has turned against you. Jesus modeled that by seeking out time with His Heavenly Father and giving it up. Not my will, not my way, but Yours God. That’s what Jesus modeled for us. Jesus also looked for the support of his disciples. I was blessed to have the support of my husband, family and dear friends. Another provision of God.

Peter’s encouragement to his Christian readers is to push through the tough times; recognize their temporary presence in our lives, and we are not to worry about the details or the outcome.  We are to leave every event to God’s wise and gracious disposal. Our firm belief that His ways are best and His timing is perfect, will go a long way in calming our spirits. It is God’s Holy Spirit who provides what we need to walk in holiness and hope as people of faith when we cast our burdens, worries and anxiety on Him. 

Prayer: Thank You, Father God, for loving me enough that you don’t want me to spend my time here weighed down and stressed out. Thank You for sending Jesus as our example of how to live in a relationship with you that allows complete trust and obedience in your plan for my life. Forgive me for the times I’ve lost the joy and missed the blessing of sharing your love with others because I was distracted and anxious. Keep me humble and give me the sensitivity and wisdom to know when I need to let go and allow your plan to unfold in your gracious and wise way. I trust you. I love you and I thank You for loving me first, best and forever. 

Encouragement: Has anyone ever invited you to something that you knew would be hard? They give you the reassurance though by saying, “don’t worry, I’ll be there with you. We’ll do this together.” Feel the invitation from Jesus today into the hard stuff. He’s saying, “Don’t worry. I’ll be there with you. We’ll do this together.” (FB Daily Audio Bible Women)

Marching On....Accepting The Charge

Welcome March!!! Please, come in and share with us your warmth and the hope of new life restored that will surely Spring from the earth! We are ready!!! We have endured, we have shoveled, we have plowed, we have seen enough of winter’s monochrome. Can I get an AMEN! 

Ok, now that I’ve gotten that out of my system, let us turn our focus to the theme for March. God has not forgotten you in the hard times, in the lonely times, in the desperate times, in the winter of your journey. He speaks these words in Isaiah 41:10 with tenderness, for he is a loving God. “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.” 

We need to take a deep cleansing breath, or 2 or 3 or how ever many it takes to recognize our next breath, never mind everything else, our next breath,  depends on HIM. Maybe that’s why the sound of our breathing is whispering His name – YHWH.  He is the one who supplies all our needs. He loves us unconditionally, no matter what. He’s crazy about YOU!  He promises over and over again, He will never leave us in our messes, He will not forget us in our pain, He will hold us up with victory when we can’t stand on our own. So Stop STRESSING!

Deep Breath, (breathe in……breathe out) Listen for it – YHWH. It’s time to Focus instead of stress, to stand Strong and Courageous in the face of fear and uncertainty. Let’s be encouraged this month by the testimony of God’s Word so that we can in turn, encourage one another.

(that was only the introduction, now for the devotional) 

His Word: “The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8

Observation and Obedience: In our verse today, Moses is speaking to Joshua as he is handing over the leadership of the Israelites to Joshua. He is passing the baton in the presence of the people of Israel as they are about to cross over into the promised land. An unfamiliar and unexpected turn of events, for they were going without Moses. Their leader of 40 years as well as the voice of God, would not be crossing the Jordan with them. Previously, in verse 6, Moses had charged the people themselves;  “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, (the enemies) for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” 

This charge still stands for us today. We have been given the power and presence of the Holy Spirit to be able to stand strong and courageous in the face of our enemies (cancer, divorce, job loss, broken relationships, addictions, to name a few). When we are faced with situations that put us in unfamiliar territory and we feel ourselves begin to panic, we as God’s people need to take some deep cleansing breaths, call on His name, Yahweh, and focus on Him. He’s allowed whatever it is to come into your life for a reason. He’s right there with you. He’ll get you through. It’s HIS PROMISE!

The Promise of God to never leave or forsake us, the assurance that He is going ahead of us to prepare the way as well as always being with us, is quite honestly what got me through many of the frightening procedures of diagnosing and treating cancer! Each time I found myself heading into a procedure I would take some deep breaths, ask God to prepare the way and stay by my side. I always told him I would be watching for Him and He always showed up. There was one particular test I needed to have prior to surgery where I really wasn’t sure I could get through it. I even asked them to stop, I thought I was going to be sick. The technicians were very kind and provided me with cold cloths and reassurance; but they were also very firm about having to get this test done. Once they started back up, there was no stopping. My eyes leaked and I cried out, (silently, so as not to be admitted) to the God who had promised to never leave me. It was He and I in that machine and the only word that I could speak over and over and over was “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus.” There’s power in that name. I’m crying now just recalling that time. He was there, he held me still and we got through it. Thank You Jesus. He is our closest friend. Does your relationship with Him mirror a friendship that is tried, true and treasured?

As long as we live in this world and we’re breathing, we will need the reassurance of an ever-present, almighty God.  His presence is real, His promises have not expired and His timing, peace and plan for our lives is the one we desire most! 

Prayer: Thank you God for knowing what I need, when I need it and how it should be delivered. Thank you for your love, patience and forgiveness when I lose my focus and try to get out ahead of you. Thank you for the power, peace and comfort we receive in taking a deep breath and speaking your name. Because you have promised to never leave us or forsake us, we can live out our days courageous and strong, free from fear and anxiety. Help us not to get discouraged but to encourage one another with the truth of your Word. Amen

Encouragement: “When your prayers look right into the face of Christ — every hopeless end turns into an endless hope.” Ann Voskamp