Building an Ark vs Building a Canoe

Romans 8:28 New Living Translation (NLT)

28 And we know that God causes everything to work together[a] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Philippians 4:6 New Living Translation (NLT)

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Deuteronomy 31:6, 8 New Living Translation (NLT)

6 So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

8 Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Have you ever been called to do something that you feel like you weren’t created to do?  I recently finished a book by a dear new friend of mine, Billie Jauss, “Making Room - Doing Less So God Can Do More”.  She mentions how Noah was asked to build an ark.  He did as he was told.  Followed it the directions to the very last cubit.  When asked to build the ark, Noah didn’t turn around and say, “God that sounds overwhelming.  I think I will just build a canoe.  That should be good enough for my family.”  Out of faith he built the ark.

Faith is taking a step even when you don’t know how to take it or how the next step will even happen.  When running the other morning, I came to a dark spot and couldn’t see the ground in front of me for a few yards.  I knew that the ground was there for my feet to land, but the visual of not being able to see while running was a little scary.  That is faith!  You have to have faith that as God puts the “life cards” in your hands, you will be able to play them as He sees fit.  He will provide what needs to be provided.  

If you find yourself in a situation in which you can’t figure out what the next move needs to be, take a moment and write down all of your thoughts and questions.  Lay those at His feet.  Let Him do the heavy lifting as you build the ark He has called you to build.  

Be Blessed!

Opposition...It happens

Opposition.  The definition is “the resistance or dissent, expressed in action or argument”.  I’m currently doing a study titled “The Faithful: Heroes of the Old Testament”.  This week I was focused on the hero Nehemiah.  Nehemiah was on a mission to rebuild the wall that was leaving God’s people exposed to their enemies.  At first the task was seen as impossible.  However, they rebuilt it in 52 days, but it was not without opposition from their enemies.  In this process, we see that Nehemiah rides the rollercoaster of emotions: anger, frustration, fear, and belief.  

One of the questions asked in the study led me to reflect on oppositions that I have faced in my life.  The question was this, “How has knowing you were in the will of God helped you endure difficult opposition?”  Then the next question really stirred in my heart. “If you are currently experiencing opposition, list the reasons why you still know you’re on the right path.  Use scripture and confirmations the Lord has given you.”  

Very quickly I was thrown for a loop.  I have a something in my life that I continually keep myself in check as to whether or not it is in HIS will or in mine.  I sat and reflected on the reasons I felt I was on the right path, HIS path.  That part was easy.  But to back that up with scripture…I couldn’t right away.  I had to grab my journals and skim through to find scriptures that have been speaking to me over the past 6 months.  The following verses are what I found written:

Galatians 6:9 New Life Version (NLV)

9 Do not let yourselves get tired of doing good. If we do not give up, we will get what is coming to us at the right time.

Ecclesiastes 9:10 New Life Version (NLV)

10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your strength. For there is no work or planning or learning or wisdom in the place of the dead where you are going.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 New Life Version (NLV)

3 There is a special time for everything. There is a time for everything that happens under heaven.

Hebrews 10:35-36 New Life Version (NLV)

35 Do not throw away your trust, for your reward will be great. 36 You must be willing to wait without giving up. After you have done what God wants you to do, God will give you what He promised you.

Hebrews 11:1 New Life Version (NLV)

11 Now faith is being sure we will get what we hope for. It is being sure of what we cannot see.

Hebrews 11:6b New Life Version (NLV)

6 …That one must also know that God gives what is promised to the one who keeps on looking for Him.

Jeremiah 29:11 New Life Version (NLV)

11 For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord, ‘plans for well-being and not for trouble, to give you a future and a hope.

Ok, clearly I need to have faith.  Most of these verses correlate with my word for the year, “PERSEVERE”.  I’m on HIS path and I’m doing what is in His will.  The results I’m looking for are not coming as quickly as I had wanted (putting the emphasis on the “I”), but what HE is doing in the midst of the actions steps I’m taking is preparing my heart for the season which will provide great fruit.  

My question to you, what are the oppositions/obstacles you are facing in this season?  What scripture is guiding your next step?  Take time to really reflect on those questions.  

Be Blessed!

God Help Me - Plumb

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wRpTySE_8A

Goal Getter

Galatians 5:16-18 The Message (MSG)

16-18 My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God’s Spirit. Then you won’t feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don’t you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?

Each year we set new goals as a family.  We sit down one night and just rattle off different things we want to do together as a family.  We write each one down individually on a post-it note and put it on our Family Goal board.  They can be things as simple as “Family Game Night” to “Carrie Underwood Legs” (Yeap, you can judge or chuckle, but that has been on the board for a couple of years now.)  However, this year I was led to look at this board a little differently.  The goals that I had been setting were self-driven goals.  They were nothing more than goals to achieve just to claim “I did it.”  Yes, many were accomplished, except the “Carrie Underwood Legs” (which is no longer one of my goals…LOL).   This year I decided to pray through 6 areas of my life and create God-driven goals.

My biggest question was this “How does God want to use me in 2019?”  In each area of my life, how can I honor Him.  The areas I focused on were as follows: faith, marriage, family, friends, health, and job.  I found a list of verses to go along with each area.  After a few days of spending my quiet time in the word with those verses, I began to form my 2019 goals.  I had no hesitation as I placed those goals on our family goal board.  Instead of “Carrie Underwood Legs”, I found myself placing goals such as “Complete a bible study with Mackenzie,” “A date with my mate” (that’s up there multiple times), “Complete 4 Bible Studies”…the list could go on.  2019 is going to be a year of growing in God’s grace and in His righteousness  I will be cultivating my relationship with Him so He can do His works in and through me. 

My question to you is this, are your goals sown in pursuit of righteousness.  Are they going to help reflect His everlasting light on the world around you?  Take a moment and reflect on your 2019 goals.  

1 Peter 1:15-16 The Message (MSG)

13-16 So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”

Be Blessed!

White as Snow

Isaiah 1:18 New Life Version (NLV)

18 “Come now, let us think about this together,” says the Lord. “Even though your sins are bright red, they will be as white as snow. Even though they are dark red, they will be like wool.

This past weekend the weather was perfect.  I grabbed ahold of the opportunity to go out and power wash our driveway.  I know that does not sound like the best way to spend a beautiful SW Florida day in January, but it needed to be done.  It took me over 5 hours.  At first, I used the attachment that had the brush.  It took several times running over a patch before it would be clean.  Even then there were still some spots.  After about the first 2 hours, I switched to another attachment that had a little more power, but took more time.  The gunk that was coming off of our seemingly somewhat dirty driveway was horrific.  It would take multiple times over certain spots to it clean.  As I was cleaning, I starting thinking of how I would have to do this again in another year.  Then it hit me.  I AM VERY MUCH LIKE MY DRIVEWAY!  I continually am covered in the “gunk” of life and have to be hosed down by God’s love daily, not yearly, but daily.  

1 John 1:9 New Life Version (NLV)

9 If we tell Him our sins, He is faithful and we can depend on Him to forgive us of our sins. He will make our lives clean from all sin.

I sat there and wondered how many times does He have to spray me down before I remain “white as snow”.  He has so much patience and grace with me.  He doesn’t care how long it takes or how often He has to go over my sins with a not just a pressure washer you purchase at Lowes, but a professional pressure washer.  

Isaiah 43:25 New Life Version (NLV)

25 “I, even I, am the One Who takes away your sins because of Who I am. And I will not remember your sins.

So regardless of what sins you have or how long you have carried those burdens, He will take them away and forget they ever happened.  

BELIEVE

I absolutely love this time of year.  The magic that happens as you decorate, craft, bake, and wrap.  My son no longer is a “believer”, but helps us carry out the magic for our 8 year old daughter.  The magic in her step in the morning as she searches for the shinanigans that the elves have done once again.  The magic in her eyes as we read Christmas books.  She BELIEVES!  I know that this BELIEF will fade as she gets older, but I want to hang onto as long as possible.  I want her to BELIEVE as long as possible.  I want that innocence to stay pure and strong.  BELIEVING in the magic is what I desire for her to have forever.   Once that belief grows faint, my heart will be saddened.  

The children of Isreal had a strong belief as they busted through the gates of Egypt.  As they wandered the lands for 40 years, their excitement and belief faded.  They grumbled.  They feared.  They wanted to give up. God promised them that this would be worth fighting for once they entered the Promised Land.   He stayed with them each and every step of the way.  Whether it was a pillar of cloud or fire, He was present.  He gave guidance.  

Fear began to win. They began to look at what was around them - taking in the horizontal view rather than the vertical view.   

Numbers 14:11 New Life Version (NLV)

11 The Lord said to Moses, “How long will this people turn away from Me? How long will they not BELIEVE in Me, even after all the great works I have done among them?

God cherishes His relationship with us.  He wants nothing more than for us to BELIEVE.  That belief wavers every day, and sometimes every hour.  Just as I want my daughter to hold on tight to her BELIEF, He wants us to embrace His promises to us.  He wants us to live by His word and surrender all to Him.  

Isaiah 43:10 New Life Version (NLV)

10 “You can speak for Me,” says the Lord. “You are My servant whom I have chosen so that you may know and BELIEVE Me, and understand that I am He. No God was made before Me, and there will be none after Me.

Be reminded of Him as you see the magic of the season around you.  If you are in this season and feeling overwhelmed, stressed, anxious, etc., that is you having a belief that is wavering.  Take time to open His word and be with Him.  Sometimes you have to slow down to speed up.  

Be Blessed!    

Falling and Failing vs. Waiting and Winning

Navigating new territory can be a bit scary when you don’t have Google Maps, Wayz, or any other form of GPS by your side.  The moment you feel lost, you begin to scramble and become anxious.  You grasp at anything that can give you direction.  

Scrambling and anxiousness is what has made me weak the last few months.  That is where Satan started scheming against me.  If you haven’t read the blog post titled “Rapid Rivers and Stepping Stones” from August 15th, you might want to go back and read that to see the foundation God placed in front of me to warn me of this season.  God had prepared me, but I wasn’t strong enough to fight what Satan was putting down.  I started grasping for every possible direction to get me out of my situation.  I was looking beyond what God had put in front of me.  The more I fought and grasped, the more tangled I became.  I became so tangled that it exhausted me and everyone around me.  I finally gave up and gave it to God.   I dove into His word and started journaling to Him again.  I put the armor of God back on and fought with God by my side.

Ephesians 6:10-11 New Living Translation (NLT)

10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on ALL of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.

I started to feel the web around me loosen and my fighting ceased.  I could feel God telling me to be patient that His plan was greater than anything I had tried to map out myself.

Hebrews 10:36 New Living Translation (NLT)

36 Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

You see, I have been struggling with trying to find my purpose.  God has given me several gifts and one of them is working with students, particularly students with special needs.  He also has placed a vision of what He wants me to do in the future, but it is not in the immediate future.  I won’t uncover that journey here at this time, but it all wraps around special needs families.  God is so good in working with both our gifts and our purpose.  We just have to release control and let Him lead the way.  

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 New Living Translation (NLT)

16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are[a] being renewed every day. 17 For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 18 So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

This past Monday, I was given a new position at my school.  I will be working with the Special Education students.  God is wanting to equip me for what is to come.  He wants me to sit on the other side of the table and see another perspective.  GENIUS!  

I have to laugh at the fact that I drove myself, my husband, and a few others batty the last few months with my crazy fight.  God had it sitting right in front of me the whole time.  I just had to put on my armor and fight with Him when I was weak.  I had to have patience and persistence with what God had in store.  Because what we see, is not what He sees.  He sees something much more.  

Here is something that my mom recently shared with me from from Charles Swindle:

“When I am scared, I run.  

When I run, I fall.  

When I fall, God waits.  

When In wait, God fights.  

When God fights, He wins.  

When God wins, I learn.”

Be Blessed!

Treasure

My daughter loves to find trinkets and treasures in store bought toys.  Whether it be LOL dolls, Hatchimals, or whatever the new trend is, she can’t wait to get home from the store and carefully unwrap the package.  It doesn’t take long for her to push that new treasure aside and forget the excitement she had in those first moments of opening that new treasure.  

God gives us treasures in our lives.  Whether it be in the form of a relationship, a new possession, accomplishments, or whatever arises, we find the thrill of that experience to be short lived.  It is not long until that treasure starts to loose its magnificence.  

When we are God-centered, we realize that He is the only thing that will never disappoint or loose His splender.  In times of feeling lost, abandoned, confused, depressed, anxious, worried, etc., we need to reach for His Word.  

Psalm 119:162 New Life Version (NLV)

162 I am made happy by Your Word, like one who finds great riches.

We will begin to fine tune what He is sketching out for us in that season.  What we learn during that time becomes our treasure and our strength.

Proverbs 24:3-6 New Life Version (NLV)

3 A house is built by wisdom. It is made strong by understanding, 4 and by much learning the rooms are filled with all riches that are pleasing and of great worth.

5 A wise man is strong. A man of much learning adds to his strength. 6 For by wise leading you will make war, and the fight is won when there are many wise men to help you make the plans.

Even in our darkest times, secrets are hidden.  They may not be revealed all at once, but they will eventually be pieced together.  

Isaiah 45:3 New Life Version (NLV)

3 I will give you riches hidden in the darkness and things of great worth that are hidden in secret places. Then you may know that it is I, the Lord, the God of Israel, who calls you by name.

Once you find a peace that only He can give you, you will find the glorious treasure He has place right in front of you.  One that you should have seen before, but didn’t.  

Matthew 13:44 New Life Version (NLV)

44 “The holy nation of heaven is like a box of riches buried in a field. A man found it and then hid it again. In his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Take that treasure and plant it deep in your soul.  It is more precious than rubies.  

Proverbs 3:15 New Living Translation (NLT)

15 

Wisdom is more precious than rubies;  nothing you desire can compare with her.

So wherever you are in and whatever season you find yourself in, make sure that you are looking for the treasure He has placed before you.  If you are in a season of abundance and happiness, hold that treasure close and be grateful.  The only thing that truly lasts forever until we truly find Him and rely on Him.  

Enjoy Phil Wickham ~ Till I Found You (Lyrics)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvWimPwi8qE

Be Blessed!