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!

Unanswered Questions

Questions…we all have them.  Are we real with our answers?  Are we real with our answers we give to others AND to ourselves?  We live in a world that tends to gloss over questions that really need to be scratched open and dug into a little deeper to find the answers.    Sometimes we need to let our questions sit and simmer for a bit.  However, we are an instant gratification society.  If we can’t have the answers immediately, we move on or make up an answer that fits the situation.  I keep asking, but am I truly seeking?  

James 3:17 New Life Version (NLV)

17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. Then it gives peace. It is gentle and willing to obey. It is full of loving-kindness and of doing good. It has no doubts and does not pretend to be something it is not.

I’m in a season where I’m asking A LOT of questions to God.  I keep asking Him to place a clear path in front of me.  I keep asking Him for clarity.  However, life happens and I tend to let that fog the process to finding those answers.  This week I have had a lot happen.  

A precious friend had some life altering news, a kidney was found for her.  No longer will she have to live through dialysis for survival.  He spoke this over me: 

Jeremiah 33:3 New Life Version (NLV)

‘Call to Me, and I will answer you. And I will show you great and wonderful things which you do not know.’

Another friend had an episode that landed her in the hospital. They found a mass on her brain, which led her to brain surgery on Friday.  The results turned up that she had an infection that could be taken care of with antibiotics.  She had perfect peace, over those 6 days, that only He could provide.  As I walked with her through that, He spoke this over me: 

Psalm 23:3-4 New Life Version (NLV)

3 He makes me strong again. He leads me in the way of living right with Himself which brings honor to His name. 4 Yes, even if I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will not be afraid of anything, because You are with me. You have a walking stick with which to guide and one with which to help. These comfort me.

We lost our 13 year old dog to old age.  She was the only dog my kids have known to be loyal, caring, and just a good ‘ol pal.  I found strength that only He could provide as I wiped away the tears from my sweet babies cheeks.  He spoke these words to me: 

John 14:27 New Life Version (NLV)

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give peace to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”

As I sat down to write this message tonight, I reflected on my week.  At first, I was disappointed because He didn’t reveal any answers to my questions this week.  But then I bowed my head to pray.  He revealed all that He had done this past week.  All for His glory.  

You may be lost and looking for answers.  Take a moment and look deeper.  Scratch the surface a little more.  Take time to just listen.  He is speaking and covering us with His answers.  

Enjoy the song that is on repeat this week in my car. 

Lauren Daigle ~ Your Wings (Lyrics)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrcmXU8bonQ

Be Blessed!

Self-Awareness vs God-Awareness

2 Corinthians 10:5 New Life Version (NLV)

5 We break down every thought and proud thing that puts itself up against the wisdom of God. We take hold of every thought and make it obey Christ.

1 Peter 3:15 New Life Version (NLV)

15 Your heart should be holy and set apart for the Lord God. Always be ready to tell everyone who asks you why you believe as you do. Be gentle as you speak and show respect.

Luke 2:46-47

6 Three days later they found Him in the house of God. He was sitting among the teachers. He was hearing what they said and asking questions. 47 All those who heard Him were surprised and wondered about His understanding and at what He said. 

Absent-minded is a good state to say that I have been in lately.  I have been so engrossed in everything that is going on around me, that I have forgotten small details or find myself walking aimlessly around on auto pilot.  

I am one who likes to pinpoint the “why” behind my feelings and state of mind.  I have been putting the blame on the 20 students that sit in my class daily.  To paint a picture of my class, go step on an ant pile and observe what the ants are doing.  They are going in every direction except the correct one.  Listening to directions or to instruction is almost an impossible task with this group of students.  I just wish that they would listen.  They are so engrossed in everything going on around them that they are missing small details and making mistakes.  That is when I realized that in God’s eyes, I’m just like my students.  I’m not listening to His direction or instructions.  If God had a foam finger and slapped me in the face, I still would miss what He is pointing out.  Why?  I am in a state of mind where I find myself in a Self-Awareness mode vs a God Awareness mode.  I’m turned inward.  My environment is feeding my emotions.  I am scattered in all directions looking for the correct direction.  I need to be more aware of God and looking vertical to Him rather than looking horizontal on what is going on around me. 

Is God trying to slap you with His foam finger?  Is God sending you little messages and you are just walking right through them?  Are you making mistakes and missing the small details?  If we would filter all of our thoughts through Him, how much easier would our lives be?  Grab onto a verse this week that really sits on your heart.  Memorize that verse.  Memorize it to the point of where you can’t help, but think of that verse in the toughest moments.  

Be Blessed!

He provides

Isaiah 26:3 New Life Version (NLV)

3 You will keep the man in perfect peace whose mind is kept on You, because he trusts in You.

Psalm 130:5 New Life Version (NLV)

5 I wait for the Lord. My soul waits and I hope in His Word.

Hebrews 4:16 New Life Version (NLV)

16 Let us go with complete trust to the throne of God. We will receive His loving-kindness and have His loving-favor to help us whenever we need it.

Have you ever been in a situation in which you were praying for answers, but didn’t receive them?  Wouldn’t it be nice to just wake up every morning and pull up an app that gave us direction for each day, month, year, decade?  Sign me up.  Where can I download that app?  I would love for HIM to scream those directions to me daily.  

Sometimes I feel like I could be looking so hard that I look right the finest details that HE is putting in your path. 

In those seasons, God is doing something inside of you.  He is wanting you to pay close attention to what HE sets in your path DAILY.  He is wanting us to not worry about tomorrow.  Pay attention and pray over each action and step.  

Matthew 6:26 New Life Version (NLV)

26 Look at the birds in the sky. They do not plant seeds. They do not gather grain. They do not put grain into a building to keep. Yet your Father in heaven feeds them! Are you not more important than the birds?  27 Which of you can make himself a little taller by worrying?

I read that verse this weekend while sitting on my lanai.  I stopped to listen to the birds chirping around me.  God has got this and will provide.  You just have to have FAITH and know that if you keep your eyes on HIM, you will be able to take today’s steps peacefully.  

Shaping and Molding Us

Jeremiah 18:1-6 New Life Version (NLV)

The Pot-Maker and the Clay

18 The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying, 2 “Go down to the pot-maker’s house, and there I will let you hear My words.” 3 So I went down to the pot-maker’s house, and saw him making one on the wheel. 4 But the pot he was making of clay did not come out like he wanted it. So the pot-maker used the clay to make another pot that pleased him.

5 Then the Word of the Lord came to me saying, 6 “O people of Israel, can I not do with you as this potmaker has done?” says the Lord. “Like the clay in the pot-maker’s hand, so are you in My hand, O people of Israel.

Mackenzie, my 8 year old daughter, loves crafts.  She will spend hours perfecting each movement she makes on the pieces she is creating.  Tonight she brought me a ceramic pumpkin that she had been painting.  With tears in her eyes, she showed me her precious  pumpkin.  The black she had used for the eyes had bled into the orange.  She had tried to fix it, but that had made it worse.  I took her precious piece of art, sat with her, and helped her paint over the black traces.  It will need another coat of orange tomorrow, but she saw hope in her creation.  She saw that the mistakes could be fixed and made new.  She went to bed pleased with what she had done.

God is consistently molding us and making us new.  We may spend so much time trying to cover up our mistakes or decisions by trying to make them right.  Sometimes that works, but other times our “fixing the problem” can make it worse.  If we hand our problems to our Father, He will take our mistakes and mold them into something beautiful.  With that, we will see hope.  We can know we can be made new again.  We can rest our heads pleased with what He has done.  

This sounds easy, but unless you truly hand over your problems to Him and lay them at His feet, He cannot make it new.  We have to be willing to give Him control of our next steps.  We may not understand the way the Lord is molding a situation, but if we trust and obey, it will turn out to be a beautiful, perfect piece of pottery.  

Be Blessed!

Fearful, vulnerable, lonely, weak, unsure...

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 New Life Version (NLV)

8 I asked the Lord three times to take it away from me. 9 He answered me, “I am all you need. I give you My loving-favor. My power works best in weak people.” I am happy to be weak and have troubles so I can have Christ’s power in me. 10 I receive joy when I am weak. I receive joy when people talk against me and make it hard for me and try to hurt me and make trouble for me. I receive joy when all these things come to me because of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Fearful, vulnerable, lonely, weak, unsure…

Those are words that can slap us hard in seasons where you are being molded by Him.  When you face the rushing world around you, it is hard to hear and see what He is putting in front of us.  This summer I had the vision below placed on my heart (this was taken from an earlier Thoughtful Thursday in August):

Imagine that you are standing on the banks of a river.  This river is not a calm flowing river, but a river that rushes in front of you.  A river that has waves and ripples that come crashing into anything that it meets.  The whirling of the rapids can be exhilarating and spectacular to watch.  However, you have to cross this river on foot.  There is no steady foothold in sight.  You take a deep breath and pray.  As you open your eyes, a stepping stone comes to surface.  This stone is one that is not covered in moss and is not going to waver.  It is a sturdy place to step.  You take your first step, trying not to let the rapids falter your balance.  The minute you look to one side you loose focus, and anxiousness begins to take ahold of your mind.  You close your eyes, pray, breathe, and then open your eyes to see another stone has been placed before you.  Just like the stone you’re standing on, this one is just as secure.  You continue to take one step at a time.  As you are crossing this river, you continue to have moments of anxiousness.  You may even fall into the river, but then pray that He pulls you out so that you can continue to move forward.  

I reread those words in awe of WHY that vision was placed on my heart this summer.  Because now…I’m in the middle of those rushing waters.  I have waves slapping me down, but God is reaching out to rescue me.  He is making huge moves in my life.  These pieces that He is putting into place are so beautiful and exciting.  However, there is a huge gray area that is clouding my vision of what He is asking of me.  So the words of the song “GOD HELP ME” by Plumb have been washing over me this week:  

“Help me to move

Help me to see

Help me to do whatever you ask of me

Help me to go

Help me to stay

I feel so alone here

I know that you are faithful

I can barely breathe

God help me!”

Let them wash over you: 

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

Be Blessed!