Extreme or Necessary?

Some things came to mind while joining in on the If:Equip group study this morning. We are continuing through the book of Acts. Today Acts 5:1-11. Please come join us we'd love to hear your thoughts and watch the vimeo below for added insight to His powerful Word!

So here I am reading today's passage and it hits me-- Why, did they die?? why so extreme...couldn't they turn from their ways?? You know confess, repent---that warm, fuzzy Christian-accept-all-stuff.

Well, no... that's a common misconception about our God and I really think it's time we, as Loving Christians, help to bring to Light for those who are new to God's discipline blanketed in Christ's Love.

Upon further prayer and meditation on this passage, I think the dying was necessary because sometimes when there is a problem so deep in the heart it needs to be removed before it causes more damage to the whole.

Like with cancer sometimes parts can be removed to save the whole body...so, too, with sin and evil. God knew the true heart of these people and could see that their sin and evil in their hearts would damage the group. I believe He took such extreme measures to protect the hearts of His people.

He always knows best and we have to believe these actions, to Him, were not extreme but actually quite necessary. When He wants to make a correction He will do extreme things to get our attention - Flood? Famine? and more currently terrorism....


We are a sorry lot who cannot see with our heart-eyes as often as we should. Let this be a wake up call that will open our heart-eyes anew today:)

You are all such a blessing to me! Love sharing thoughts with you!



Day 14 - Acts 5:1-11 from IF : Equip on Vimeo.

Of Dream Catchers and Dream Snatchers

We live in a world of Dream Snatchers. Dreams failed to be lived  are often the result of another person or event that squashes or at least fails to acknowledge potential in our youth.

When our dreams are not lived, human nature is to turn to other desires
                       - those of the flesh rather than those of the Spirit.


But dreams can be resurrected! Thanks to the Bloom Book study I am searching my desires again. Starting in childhood and looking at what has given me joy. The desires that God put deep within me to reflect His glory.

The assignment in a million little ways was to look at our past, what we enjoyed doing as children.

I grew up "teaching" all my animals and babies. I wrote many stories, and how-to books as a teen and young adult. It's not that I liked telling people what to do, it was more of a 'let me show you an easier way' attitude.

So, the most obvious career choice was Accounting - yikes!

Why do we listen to the world? Teachers always told me I was not good at English so there goes the writing...
               and teaching - no money there.....

Resurrecting the Dream--

I have since successfully homeschooled my children - fulfilling that dream of teaching and I am working on writing now. As the video said I am:

 giving myself permission without expectation. 

That was so freeing!!

I am writing my blog and some other articles for submission with no expectations except for the Lord to use them in any way He sees fit.

I am also watching what I say and do regarding the dreams and desires of my children (husband and friends as well). I was on a path to destruction with that before this study -  encouraging them to study what is safe and easy rather than where their inner desires are leading them.

Dream catchers were need more of ....not the "art" people hang on their windows and walls, but the soul Art of God.

He is the ultimate Dream Catcher.

The Ultimate Desire of our hearts can only be fulfilled by

                                  the Ultimate Creator of Dreams!

 

Have a blessed day and please comment, I would love to hear from you:)

The Seed

So I'm readying myself for Lent and thinking where can I go this year?

What will make this new and different...a feast of His Presence not a repetitive ritual....

I'm reading Lenten devotionals and nothing's digging...digging into me the way I want it to. This time, this period of ---- mourning, it should be uncomfortable.

But where do I go. What can bring me to my knees, to feel the Promise, to feel the Pain.
I want to walk the path, the path to Golgotha with Him. I want to walk in His steps...touch the blood...kneel at the cross....while the Favored is  
                                         
                                                          ----------f.o.r.s.a.k.e.n

I start in Genesis a personal favorite:

 I will put enmity (hostility) between you and the woman,and between your seed and her Seed. (v.3:15)

This verse is the summary of the whole Bible. From this verse everyhing else flows. Christ is clearly labeled as the Seed and God's salvation plan is laid out in a glorious redemptive promise.

As we start our Lenten season preparing our hearts for Easter, shouldn't we focus on the ground we stand on. 
This ground where the seed lies still. The coldness, the barrenness, the darkness. The seed that lies under the layers of darkness, the sin, the dirtiness that takes years to work through  and never quite comes clean...

--unless, 

we remember that there was a day long ago after Adam and Eve's sin, the first promise of God's Perfect Grace was made. 
The Grace-solution that would fill every area readily prepared for it.  Filled completely with Sacrificial Freedom overly and abundantly 
                                               --filled...

Lent prepares us for the ultimate growth. Like the seed, it takes time to expand and bloom. The ultimate Grace-plan took time to grow and bloom. Truth grows brighter and brighter as the seed in you defeats sin and the Seed of the woman defeats the deceiver once and for all - that is a 

--Promise!

 

 

 Think.Ponder.Dwell

 Think:

 Are you feeling like the opposition is beating you down. Is today the day that patience and grace seem so far away?
Let's look at our Old Testament friend Nehemiah for some encouragement...

Nehemiah 6:3

So I sent messengers to them, saying,
“I am doing a great work,
so that I cannot come down.
Why should the work cease
while I leave it and go down to you?”

Nehemiah was a man of action.

He left a prestigious job in the Persian government to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem - to be obedient to God. He knew God would use his talents to get the massive feat done. As soon as he got on the job everyone knew who was in charge. He made things happen!

The project was not without opposition though. There was a group of gripers all too ready to do the devil's work with their insults, ridicule, threats, and sabotage. But Nehemiah held them off at every turn using -- prayer, obedience,  and encouragement. In chapter 6, the wall is almost complete when the opposition gives it one more try. This time they try a new approach by centering their attacks on his character. But they are unsuccessful against this godly man. The wall was completed fulfilling the prophesy in Daniel 9:25.

What a tremendous testament to God's love and faithfulness! Enemies and friends alike knew that it was God that had made this happen.

Ponder:

In this passage Nehemiah knew that the only objective of the opposition was to stop his work on the wall. What does that tell us? How can we apply 445 b.c. life to encourage us today?

As you go through life on this sin-infested earth there will be days of complete frustration. The evil one will use fear, opposition, and dissension to remove what he knows will bring glory to the Father. And we know that if it were not so he would not be trying so hard to make trouble every day for us.

Remember in verse 3 of Chapter 6, our friend Nehemiah would not stop his work. The gripe gang  tried 4 times to stop him from completing his mission. But he endeavored to persevere and glorified God.

 

Dwell:

Are you experiencing frustration while carrying out what you believe is God's will?
 
Do you have a gripe gang all too ready to sabotage your work with coaxing to  'come down' and seek "better" things?

Let's take some of the 445 b.c.-goodness and dwell right in the middle of it for a while.

Climb up your ladder and stay there a while. Look down at the opposition and tell them you are doing a good work and cannot come down. Don't be afraid to take action. Let others know that you are acting in God's will. Stand your ground and you will be rewarded for your faithfulness.

In the end even the gripe gang could not deny the fact that God had been there with Nehemiah. And your gripe gang will see it too. There is no denying it when God is near. When His will is accomplished the Glory-light is so bright there is no denying His Presence!

God will be glorified through your faithfulness!

Blessings sweet friends!

What's on your "To Do" List ?

I just love uplifting words from other believers - who needs affirmation when you have such awesome prayer sisters! God is using us in amazing ways to encourage each other.

I think the coolest thing about being in a prayer group of ladies is that no matter how messed up you think you are they welcome you right in and let you know they're messed up too. ---Not feeling quite so messy when you can share it. The evil one wants us all to think we are the only messed-up ones and there is no hope... we constantly have to assure ourselves of our worth in Christ and that is all that matters. He shed His blood that we will be FREE not constantly reminded how worthless we are....

We know the Truth and it has set us FREE! (John 8:32)

We are not worthless but are His Masterpieces! (Eph 2:10). 

Use His Word like a sword to defend yourself that's why it's there! (Eph 6)

Also, prayer sisters inspire eachother to get off your butt and get busy with evangelizing... sometimes I get lazy and that energy is just what is needed.

 My verse this year is: "Whatever He says to you, do it" John 2:5... 

--that's a HUGE command, one that deserves our daily recognition -  how much more encouragement do you need after hearing that?

So I've made a list titled: 

Whatever He says to you, do it

 and every time I feel the Lord leading me to minister to someone, send a card, call, evangelize, write, I add it to that list. It's really the only list I keep that actually matters. 

For years I have had a standard to-do list that keeps me task-oriented. It works well for me. But now I have the most awesome to-do list because it STARTS with the Kingdom! Every time I look at it I am given the opportunity to do something amazing.  It puts a lot more purpose and power behind my actions too. 

His Power, 
       His Purpose, 
               His Glory 

                        - that which He leads--- He will equip you!

Do something awesome today for the Kingdom!

Rest in Him.

Sit quietly in His Presence and let Him bless you.
Make up your mind that you will not wear yourself out trying to make things happen or take any negativity to heart. Let Him be sufficient for the challenges this day presents.

Keep looking to Him and keep in constant communication with Him, ready to receive whatever thoughts He may make available to you.
Walk together today with Him. Take time to rest in His sufficiency, knowing He is enough. Let the comments and attitudes of others roll off you while you bathe in His amazing Presence.

Don't spend even one minute worrying about whether or not you can handle the pressures before you. Keep looking to Him until the Peace enters your heart again.
One word - Jesus -  so simple, yet so powerful. Just the sound of His name will put things back in focus, and bring on His Perfect Peace. There is always time for one word. That One Word.

When you feel the rush of the world you forget who you are and whose you are! That simple word - Jesus - brings it all back into focus. 

Praying for His 20/20 vision for all of you.

Remember the evil one is only getting so busy with you because God is going to do amazing things with you!

Know that every hurdle you jump, every wall you climb is that much more powerful since you're holding His hand!

You will not be shaken!

John 16:33

"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. 

In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer,

I have overcome the world.”

 

Blessings:)

 Practicing Thanksgiving

It's been over a year now with heart being held wide open with thankfulness. 

Started last year with eucharisteo - 1000 Gifts by A.V. The counting of God's blessings brings amazing comfort - makes praise so automatic... now also seeing thanksgiving repeated in devotions, readings - it opens access to God.  Opens the big doors, light shining all around the corners - saying 'open me.' Think 10 lepers healed by Jesus but only one came back to thank Him.. He was the only one who received Him, received access, received Salvation... 

We can give thanks abundantly when our hearts are grateful. It grows because when recognized, written down, recorded...as the list grows: 3, 6, 9...300, 600, 900 - the meer sight of it overwhelms us and the overflowing goodness of God overthrows anything we could possibly remember on our own. 

Practicing the memory of it. Releasing the good in all His goodness, so we can see it, touch it, and make it tangible. We try to see it... make it earthly, something we can hold onto when good seems so far lost, when aches are hurting and the eucharisteo is more forced than favored... we can grab the book, the journal of thanks and hold it in our hands....tears can  be thanks, we can yell the thanks, but the writing...that's where it gets real....that's where it's in black and white and when all else is worn, and tired...the words are bold and brilliant with His glory. 

Thank you for.....

a snowflake, a baby's smile, a healing miracle....all are glimpses of His glory and to be readily praised! There is nothing too small to be praised and nothing too big for Him to handle.

A never-ending song, a poem of profession, of Jesus-love spilling over into every area of your temporary life, making a praise-ladened path to your eternal life. A sweet bridge of thanksgiving and praise from earth to heaven.

What if:

What if:  you set aside your preconceived notions and thought about nothing but Him for 5 minutes.
Could you do it?

Draw near to God and He will Draw near to you! - James 4:8

During His time on earth Jesus healed, He taught, He fed.... but there were the few, the quiet ones, in the background who were just there to be in His Presence. We are created in the image of a masterful Creator who longs for us to want nothing more from Him than to dwell in His Presence. The Creator of Love and Grace wants to draw near to His beloved and grace-begotten children.

Think John 1:14 "The Word became flesh [just to] dwell among us..."

Can you even get your mind around that one phrase. He came to dwell. among. us.

Sometimes I don't even want to dwell among myself --but the Creator of the Universe wants to dwell with me. Wow, that just blows my mind.

Dwell in His Presence today, just for a bit and it might just blow your mind!

AMLW Chapter 11: Wonder

As your basic multi-tasking mom it is very hard not to live by a list, but I am trying to live among the wonder. It has definitely been something I've had to work at.


Wonder:  

                 to be filled with admiration,
                                         amazement, or awe




I love the way Emily relates it to a child on page 176:

"A child sees the wonder, takes it in, picks it up, and walks among it."

alternately,

A mom looks for certainty, stares at the mess, picks everything up and puts it away, and walks in the emptiness of a clean abyss....

Children haven't yet formed an opinion as to what has "worth" and what doesn't.

I am still working on that - not judging the worth before I experience the wonder... it takes practice to open my eyes without seeing the mess.

It's not too late to get your copy of Emily P. Freemen's book a million little ways you can still visit the incourage book club site and comment and see the discussion videos too. It's a wonderful book filled with eye-opening changes any mom (or dad) can make to help their Art to blossom.

Thanks for spending time with me:)

5:16 Every day

Ephesians 5:16 says, "making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." The literal meaning is "redeem the time." We are seeking to redeem the time and make the most of every opportunity to seek the Lord with all our hearts. Why? Because the days are evil. We must prepare for battle each and every day - sometimes just to get through the day!

“I earnestly recommend that it be in the early morning, unless there are some extenuating circumstances. Entering the day without a serious meeting with God, over his Word and in prayer, is like entering the battle without tending to your weapons. The human heart does not replenish itself with sleep. The body does, but not the heart. We replenish our hearts not with sleep, but with the Word of God and prayer.”
John Piper

AMLW Desire Chapter 3

Back to our amazing book study on a million little ways...

During this chapter we were asked to look within. The sometimes scarey area that holds the buried, the forgotten, the lost....we are to look within, uncover all that slush, move it out of the way and search for that which God set in the fragile orb -- our soul.

These are the things C. S. Lewis called the "first things." (p.41) The first things we see and feel before the rational/logical self edits them out to make room for it's own 

                                         SAFE, EASY second things....

But, what does it actually look like to think of God's glory as a 'first thing.' Today I take a step back and, rather than try to figure out what my "thing" is I want to just bask in His Presence.   

To think about His glory and the fact that I, a mere sinful human is even a speck of dust amid the luminous blaze that is the I AM.

I resist the urge to put in an image of hands raised as this would include me in the blaze. I want to just sit back and bask in the light, the warmth, the connection...

Desire has been redeemed in Christ. My soul desire has purpose and a need to connect to its Creator...

In the video Emily uses the signing symbol for connected often. It is the thumb and finger touching on each hand and together. 

When you try to draw it out (like I did in my notes) it takes on a look of infinity.

That's when my heart leap and I felt the kiss of God.

I am connected with God, souls intertwined, infinite....

true desire is born out of death, of knowing I no longer live, but Christ lives in me..

The Trinity is 

                          the beginning of always

To die with Christ is the beginning of my always....eternal life. 

Living that desire is true life, connected, intertwined, infinite....

AMLW Chapter 2 Reflect

Now we are knee deep in a million little ways  and I am in awe of how God is working on my heart through this book.
Let's take art for example:  visual art is so obvious: singer, sculptor, painter...easy to identify.
But what we're looking for is the 'soul-art' (p.19) the art that is practically invisible because it is so NOT obvious.
We make art with our lives (p.21) says Emily Freeman. 

Every smile, every hug, every load of laundry - soul-art.

I REFLECT about what I know:

I was created by a Creative God

          in His image

               He spoke creation into existence

                       He breathed life, literally, into man

                                            His Spirit lives inside the believer, 

connecting

created to Creator.

So I DWELL on this:

what is the difference between this creative art and this soul art....

and I am given the conclusion of YHWH - yes, just that, His breath.

The difference between the two are His breath. 

Can creative art be Soul art? Absolutely.

But it is not turned into SOUL ART until it touches HIS BREATH and

 LIFE. is. BREATHED. into. it.

Paintings are painted, books are written, dances are danced, 

            dinner is made, laundry is folded, a smile is given,

      

                                   a child is born.

All is art when connected to the Breath of GOD.

Created by the Creator, 

reflected by His image (me & you) through the Holy Spirit,               making VISIBLE the invisible 

               by connecting Spirit to SPIRIT 

                      all to the Glory of 

 ONE. Awesome. God.

So now I LIVE it:

I dig deep to find the art, the God-breath I've been given, by the Creator. 

That is my plan: to find His plan, wait for Him to breathe on it, and 

Spirits-united make His ART.

Reflect.  Dwell.   Live.

Feel free to share your comments with me and while you're at it go out and make some art!

Thank you for stopping by. If you would like to join in the study pick up a copy of a million little ways and join us over at (in)courage the link is on the side bar. 

Have a blessed day and

AMLW Picture this...

Adding my picture to the a million little ways book club. It seems like I'm the only one using the kindle version. I love to sit down with my coffee and note book. I guess I've been making a little art as well with my notes....I tend to use different colored pens and clouds...makes it fun to look back at.

Looking forward to sitting down with Emily, Jessica, and Angie today for chapter 2. It's not too late to start - what an amazing book! and join (in)courage.

Though it's been a bit disturbing as I delve into the topic of "what is it that I really LOVE to do, what brings me the greatest Joy- the greatest connection with our Creator?" I'm almost embarrassed to say I really don't know. I am so guilty of takin' care of business all the time that I may need to dig a little deeper to find what matter to me. I am looking forward to learning more about me and my Creator.

I am also looking into my kids 19 and 14 to encourage them to find what makes them joyful. Homeschooling is a blessing but sometimes we get so focused on the task we forget to breath.

Breath deep - YHWH

Have a blessed day:)

Prepare Your Heart

Prepare your heart....sometimes this seems like just another overused Christian saying. 

But today it took more meaning for me. Today I saw words become reality.

While reading Emily P. Freemen's new book A Million Little Ways I was presented with the reality "Live as though you have something to offer" (p.17). I realized that I have my heart to offer. When I open my heart, consciously open it - to the who's and what's around me, I am aware of the needs and responses of others. But, it is a conscious effort. A training of the mind, heart and soul. I have to be...all...there.

I have to EXPECT to witness God. 

I have to PURPOSELY see through the eyes of my heart to witness something awesome in the most  mundane of circumstances.

What if you are speaking with a sister, a subject you have visited a number of timescomes up - your normal instinct would be to yes her, nod, agree, etc. but what if...

What if: GOD

God enters, you command your heart to open and for the first time you see what happens when your Spirit is allowed to interact with another Spirit. You feel their happiness, their sadness, their joys and their hopes. You see more than words, you feel more than emotions, you see the mundane unfold into...

His Art (capital A here).

I purposely opened my heart eyes expecting to see something beautiful. And God does not disappoint....I saw His Art in my dad who refinished my kitchen table just "because it makes me happy to see you happy," my daughter making me an elastic bracelet in my favorite colors, my husband asking me to make spaghetti instead of Sunday dinner because he knew I had a headache.

I saw more than a table, a bracelet, an easy meal - I saw love, a symphony of Words and Actions brought on by His Spirit in me interacting with His Spirit in them.

Breath - YHWH- pray His name.


I would like to 'encourage' you to join the book study over at: Bloom incourage We are on chap 1 and I am already amazed at the places she is taking us. Make no mistake, this book is not about art (small a), it's about Art (capital A)!

Bloom book club - a million little ways

Obstacles

I can't help but think of the gates in my life that I have closed. Only when I see them here they don't look so dirty...angry....permanent.

What would I say if God were on the other side?  Would I be so willing to turn and walk away?

Who is on the other side of your gates?

What would it take for you to open those gates....would it take a Savior?



What are you afraid of? There is nothing He hasn't been through for you already. Why wouldn't He help you through this?

It is done.....

It. Is. Done.

You won''t be the same after watching this.

Think. Ponder. Dwell. Live.

 Plenty

She caught my eye across the room. She was clean, her boy was clean, she didn't look needy.

She looked like me. Not too long ago, little boy in tow. Only I, WE... never stood in a soup line.

I stand in a grocery line and complain about the wait.

She stands in a soup line smiles at me and says "just half for him, we don't want waste it."

I dump half the bowl in the trash because my boy doesn't like onions and celery. 

Fussy eaters, spoiled in their plenty. 



The smell makes it hard for me to sleep. I remember the smell of that meat pie. Serving, upon serving. "Can we have seconds today?" "Yes, please do, we have plenty today."

Their plenty and my plenty - so different. 

Their plenty means seconds, enough to hold them until the next meal...the next day...the next seconds.

My plenty means dumping what's not eaten because we're --

Too full. Too much enough. Too many seconds. Too full of plenty. 

Too full of ...His Grace. 

The only thing that separates me from her. His Grace. I bake a cake, stir the beans, spoon out the meat pie...

Then I go home to my plenty and feel ...empty. 

 John 3:30

He must increase, but I must decrease.

I am decreasing day by day. Decreasing the plenty. The needs, wants, have to's which fill the me places ....daily decreasing and being filled... with Him. 

Thank you Spirit for those words. Filling my empty to plenty again with His words of assurance. His Love. His Presence. His Grace.

Time Passes

Time passes and my nerves thin. I hold his hand, bringing him to get changed and it happens...that annoying habit of the small and dearly loved.

 He goes limp.

The hand holding turns into pulling and coaxing - why can't he just walk in the direction I have chosen for him. Doesn't he know I know the best way?

I can't help but think of the times I've gone limp holding my Savior's hand. Here we are walking, hand-in-hand, a beautiful path together. His thoughts, my thoughts; His path, mine. We walk in peace and security. No distractions, just the quiet, still voice, the leading of Him who loves me most.

Until... I go limp. Hand still held high -- reaching up. Reaching, but not wanting. Not wanting the path that has been chosen for me. My thoughts cloud over. I forget, it's a path chosen JUST for me. I hang there lost in my own indecision. Hand still held high but the weight of my own stubbornness pulling me hard to the earth. Weighed down like rocks making a protective wall around my heavy heart. I've changed direction, the path is not so straight, and the heaviness is all-consuming. It's a power issue. A fight for control. My head is dazed, I thought I knew the way. But it's all so clear that I do not. Who is to lead, who is to follow. I have to decide here and now who is in control. Where the wall is built.

The limp, the heavy, the stubborn, controlling body of a child of God. 

Time passes, I stop, thank God for this small, strong body and receive the calming hand of my Lord. I receive it much like the small, dangling child writhing on the floor. In my own time, but it's just a short time.... the loving arms of mom (my Savior) are too warm and too inviting to stray away from for too long. He is my only way. The only path worth walking, my only security.

For I, the Lord your God, 
will hold your right hand,
Saying to you, 
Fear not, I will help you.
--Isaiah 41:13

The making of all things small

As I ponder the day, I look out the window at the new fallen snow- in awe of the artistry of our LORD. I wake up early, it's still dark, there is not a sound in the house, I begin to pray and I note how small I am in a world created by my God. 

We are merely moving shadows 

and all our busy rushing ends in 

nothing.--Psalm 39:6

I take time away from the busy rushing to dive head long into His world. 

Breathing Yah-Weh, Yah-Weh. 

My mind clears and the focus can be on the only thing that matters. How infinitely small I am and how infinitely HUGE my God is.

Every day presents a new challenge. As Proverbs 31 wife, mother, daughter.... I am continuously challenged with a changing of hats. 

My daily challenge---- 

'the making of all things small.'

It's a concept I developed to help my family deal with things they think are big. They come to me with their Goliath and I encourage them with the 'stones of Truth' (God's Word) until their giant is microscopic.

God does that...

                                He takes big things and makes them SMALL. 

We learn repeatedly that His thoughts are not our thoughts. It is ever so clear when we face our Goliaths. What we think are so BIG...He makes very small.

I took this thinking for myself and thought I could turn it around again. 

If God helps me by making my Big things small... what will happen if I make a conscious effort to make all HIS small things BIG?

What if I notice the snowflake rather the snow, the leaf rather than the tree, the ant rather than the hill, the mustard seed rather than the shrub (the smallest seed which grows to be the biggest in the garden, by the way)

What if I focus my attention on the small and make it big....

the griever rather than the grief, the child rather than the adult, the sinner rather than the sin (yes, that sinner is much smaller), the nail rather than the cross.....

To do this takes practice but it is worth every minute. 

Extraordinary things happen when we 'make BIG' what the world 'makes small' and 'make small' what the world 'makes big'...our thinking aligns with God's and Goliath shrinks. 

My encouragement today is: 

       slow down,  

                  take time to notice things differently, 

                                        give thanks, 

                                                    see what God sees and you will be blessed.

Plan 'B'

Psalm 5:11 "But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You, 

Let them ever shout for joy, 

because You defend them; 

Let those also who love Your name 

Be Joyful in You. 

For you, O LORD, will bless the righteous; 

With favor You will surround him as with a shield." 

What are you doing today that requires FAITH? 

Is there something gnawing at your soul. Are you at a point where you feel hopeless about a certain situation. Are you ready to give up on God's plan and opt for Plan 'B'? 

Why is it we feel like we need a back-up plan when it comes to reliance on God? 

In times of stress it may seem that to sit back and do nothing is just that...

...to do nothing--

But nothing could be further from the truth when it come to God. 

When it comes to reliance on God 'nothing' can mean endurance (James 5:11), 

patience (Psalm 37:7), 

rest(Psalm 127:2), 

or reliance (John 14:1).

This is a time when you need to dig deep, to push away the stored-up layers of self-reliance, impatience, and fear. Dig until you find the you only God knows. Find that you and sit there a minute. It may feel uncomfortable at first-- it's different, it's raw, but it's clean. 

This is the you that Christ died for. This is the you that God proclaimed - This one is my Chosen, I can do great things with him. 

Are you more comfortable yet?? 

It takes some getting used to. It's not a side you are ready to share-- it's too bare, it's too-- vulnerable

But it's the you that He can make the most of. It's the one that says,  

"O Lord my God, in You I put my trust" (Psalm 7:1).  

It takes fear and turns it to falsehood. It takes restlessness and turns it to peaceful slumber. It takes a dirty wretch and makes him righteous before Him.

Relying on your own understanding will weigh you down. Trust in ME absolutely, and I will make your path straight. Isn't that what we're all longing for in our confused, human state? A Straight path.

Lead me, O LORD, in Your righteousness because of my enemies; 

Make Your way straight before my face. Psalm 5:8

Don't give up. He will lead you. Hold on. Find the you only He can see and hold on to that trust in Him. He will never leave you. He's just waiting for you to draw near to Him. Be faithful and He will do wonderful things with you.

Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:27