What I've learned

Every year, as we get to the holiday season and begin to look to January, I always feel the need to pause and reflect on what I've learned or how I've grown from this past year.  This year, oh how 2020 has been so different from past years.  So I thought I'd compile a list, while I'm waiting for the cinnamon swirl bread I'm baking to rise. 

 2020 has felt a little bit like a roller coaster.  It gives new meaning to the old saying, "in like a lion, out like a lamb".  But if you think about it, while 2020 did come in like a lion, we are ending with the birth of the Lamb of God.  How marvelous to end such an anxiety filled year focused on our Savior.  Who else but God would give us the reminder of His love through showing us the Christmas Star this year of all years.  God is still with us friends.  God is still in this year and has not been surprised even though we may have been caught off guard.  So, here is where I am as 2020 begins to come to an end.  Here is where God has brought me.  Here is where God is with me as I prepare to enter 2021.

    God has shown me to slow down.  It's ok to slow down.  When we first got wind of this pandemic, we were all put into a quarantine.  We were forced to slow down.  In those first few weeks, I'll admit, it was so hard.  I had things I wanted to do.  Places I wanted to go.  Plans I wanted to make.  But only God could stop the entire world.  And as the weeks began to pass, I felt this peace wash over me that reminded me that it was ok to slow down.  It makes me wonder how many opportunities I have missed in my life because I just didn't slow down.

    God has shown me to trust Him.  I don't know about you but the unknown with this pandemic was anxiety producing to say the least.  Even today, nine months later, it still can produce anxiety.  We've had our first encounter with a potential positive case regarding my son.  It took nine months before anyone in my household had to be tested for covid.  Nine months God gave me to show me to trust Him with all the details and anxiety that I was holding up inside.  And the three days we had to wait for results, God once again slowed me down so that I could focus in on Him and the peace He gives.  God has shown me that He is trustworthy regardless of the situation. God has shown me once again that He is IN all the details.  Not a moment gets missed.  Regardless of the anxiety of covid and the unknowns or finances or health changes or moving to remote church/school/Bible study, HE is sovereign.  HE never left His throne.  HE can be trusted.

    God has shown me that I don't need to sweat the small stuff but instead give it all to Him.  Pre-covid times I would get a bug in my bonnet if we had to go to the doctor.  I would get uptight if the car needed work done.  If one of the fur babies had to go to the vet, I would see dollar signs instead of a wonderful vet who looks after my littles.  Now that I've had time to slow down and to refocus, the small stuff is just that, small.  Ok, so I have to make a second trip to the dentist, that's fine.  I'm blessed to have a dentist that makes time for her patients.  Ok, so the car needed four new tires.  Was I prepared for that expense?  Nope.  But has God provided for us to be able to get four new tires? Yup.  So the vacuum cleaner died on me and I have to make a trip to Walmart (yikes!)  to pick up another one.  Praise God I have four new tires to drive safely to Walmart and praise God we have what we need to be able to purchase a new one.  I've discovered I can't spend my time stressing the "small stuff ".  In the grand scheme of life, it's so trivial and a waste of energy.  

    God has shown me that people matter more than things.  I've always been the type of person who tries to show people love through gifts.  Not big gifts but just little tokens of love and joy to let someone know that they are thought about, cared for, prayed over and not forgotten.  Covid has certainly caused me to re-evaluate how I show kindness.  I love to bake and because God has shown me to slow down and not sweat the small stuff, I have been able to spend time in my kitchen creating little treats.  What a sweet gift of time God has allowed me to bake and share the abundance with people around me.  Nothing makes me smile bigger than being able to text a neighbor and tell her to check her front porch...surprise!  I've had the opportunity to slow down and deliver treats to people in my small group at church just to make them smile.  People are important and they need to know they matter.  And when the world can't go out and about like normal, people need to know they are not forgotten about.

    God has shown me that I am stronger and wiser when I lean on the power of the Holy Spirit.  Through this year, my BSF leadership has changed and we've had to move to virtual discussion groups.  When the idea was presented to me in March, man, the stress level!   And then we moved to summer break and I have to be honest, it wasn't much of a break for this gal.  But come September, with the guidance and help of the Holy Spirit, I was able to help our class move to an online format and I have been so humbled to be able to have helped so many women in our discussion groups get online and be able to participate.  Are there days I grumble that I wish I wasn't the "IT go to" person?  Certainly.  But, through these nine months of helping others go virtual, I have seen the guidance and perseverance I have been gifted by the Holy Spirit and I can see my spiritual gifts being grown.  I find immense joy in the success of an online discussion group and the ability to upload the weekly lecture for all to hear God's Word.  It is not through my capabilities but through the power of the Spirit within me.  

Throughout this entire year I have been reminded over and over again, God is constant and in control.  Even when my world has been shaken, God is still God.  We've had immense answer to prayer this year.  Matthew and I had our best A1C's ever!  I've been able to start to lower some doses of my medications.  I've lost weight thanks for being able to slow down and focus in on good eating habits, and a few dog walks have helped.  We watched Matthew conquer remote learning and have his best semester ever with a 3.47 GPA.  Friends, amidst the struggle is joy.  If I've learned nothing it's to slow down, trust, be patient, show your love and lean into the Spirit. That's my take away for 2020.  

STPLL!  

Slow.  Trust.  Patience.  Love.  Lean.  

Now, don't get me wrong, I'm as anxious as all of you to get this pandemic behind us and go back to a "normal routine" but, I pray and hope that God will keep my eyes on Him and I will continue to value what He has shown me this past year.  I pray I will continue to slow down and to trust.  I want to continue to not sweat the small stuff but to be patient and trust God with all the details.  I hope that I am able to continue to put people in my life first and not get so busy that I forget they are there and may need a little extra love.  And most of all, I hope that I never get so busy that I don't take the time to lean into the Spirit.  

I pray that whoever is reading this takes a moment to just sit and reflect on your year.  How has God grown you?  How has God opened your eyes to trusting Him?  I pray that each of us is reminded of just how faithful God is as we go into 2021.  

"Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal." 

 Isaiah 26:4

Merry Christmas friends and Happy New Year!

Z end

Today is the last day of this year's A to Z challenge.  Every year that I have done this, I get to the end and while I am excited to be through the entire alphabet, I'm also a little sad and to be perfectly honest, a bit tired.  This challenge certainly requires perseverance and diligence.  Without it, I think you would give up at about the letter G.

So here we sit at Z.  The end of the alphabet.  And as I sit and ponder the end, I can't help but think about how a lot of our quarantines are opening back up and ending slowly.  I've seen a lot of posts about people being anxious about the world opening up again amongst the covid-19 fears.  And so, I just feel led this last day of this challenge to remind all of us, God is still in this with us.  There is no end with God.

As I have said all throughout this challenge, God is in the details.  God is never surprised.  God is always constant.  God is always on His throne.  Nothing in this world gets past God.  And nothing can derail God's plans.  Furthermore, God uses all things for our good to grow us, mold us, and turn our eyes to Him.

God tells us in Isaiah 43:2-3 HCSB, "I will be with you when you pass through the waters...when you walk through the fire...the flame will not burn you.  For I the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, and your Savior."  God is always with us and we are always loved.  So because God is with us and we begin to end these stay at home orders, we do not need to fear.  Mind you, I'm most certainly NOT telling you to go running around town as if we are free to be you and me.  Not at all!  But through the worry and fear we all have of stepping back out into the world, we need to ultimately place our trust and faith in God to continue to walk with each of us as we navigate this new normal.

I read somewhere in one of my devotionals, "Faith in God is the antidote to worry.  Faith in God is the foundation of courage and the source of power".  Through our faith in God, we do not have to have fear and we can be confident in God's abilities.  We are all struggling with our next steps and what we should do.  How we can continue to protect our families and ourselves, But God.  God must be at the center of our focus so that we don't allow worry and anxiety to take over.  We can trust God to keep us safe, recharge our economy and be with our leaders as they make difficult decisions.

Each of us has sustained some sort of loss during this covid-19 world.  Each of us has been dealt

difficult cards in life.  But each of has the opportunity to allow the world to see what living in faith in God looks like.  This is a divine opportunity for every Christian to live out their faith for the world and their families to see.  This is an opportunity for each of us to continue to give thanks to God for His constant love, grace, mercy and the courage He infuses within us.

God is right there with each of you.  He's not over yonder but right there with you.  Never leaving your side.  Elisabeth Elliot once said, "We are meddling with God's business when we let all manner of imaginings loose, predicting disaster, contemplating possibilities instead of following, one day at a time, God's plain and simple pathway."

Friends, as we continue to walk this path of covid-19, I pray that you will let go and let God lead.  I pray that each of you would feel the peace that God provides as you decide what is best for your families and each of you.  I pray that if you don't know the peace that God can give you that you would pray right now to God for that peace.  I pray that as our economy begins to open back up that any of you that have lost jobs would once again find financial success.  And as I end this challenge with this final blog, I want to leave you with my most favorite verse in the Bible.  This is my life verse that I cling to whenever my world feels shaken or upside down.  This is my verse that I have written all over my home and my heart. 

"So do not fear, for I am with you; 

do not dismayed, for I am your God. 

 I will strengthen you and help you;

 I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  

Isaiah 41:10 NIV

I want to thank all of you who have followed me throughout these last few weeks reading what God has put on my heart.  I hope that the words I wrote have been able to uplift you, strengthen you and encourage you.  I pray most of all that my words were from God's lips and not of my own.  Thank you for another successful A to Z challenge.  Until we meet again...Z is the end.  Be blessed and stay well.

Your Rock

"The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; the God of my strength, in whom I will trust."  2 Samuel 22:2-3 NKJV

Do you see Jesus as your rock?  Do you trust Jesus with every ounce of your being?  If not, you should.  Jesus is always with us.  He is never not interested in what is happening in your life.  He is never surprised by what is going on.  He is always constant, always present, always loving and always our rock.  "We can take great comfort that God never sleeps- so we can." (Dianna Booher)

If you don't know Jesus, what are you waiting for?  Jesus came to earth for one purpose, saving grace and perfect atonement for our sins.  God's plan of sacrificing His only Son was for our sins.  It was God's plan all along to save His people through one final atoning sacrifice. John 3:16 tells us, " For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."

God provided His Son, Jesus, as our Rock, our Cornerstone, our Savior.  Jesus should be in every moment of our lives and not just allowed to be a part of our Sunday worship time.  God desires an intimate relationship with each of us.  Jesus is coming back and God wants ALL of His children to be with Him in eternity.  What are you waiting for?

God loves you more than you could ever imagine.  God is with us at all times.  God gives us comfort when our heart is breaking.  God gives us peace when we are fearful.  God gives us strength when we feel we just can't take the next step.  God is a God of details and not a single moment passes by Him. But God won't force you to follow Jesus.  God is faithful and will patiently wait for you to allow Him into your heart.  But friends, the time is drawing near when Jesus will return and gather up those who have believe in Him.  Don't let another sun go down on a closed heart for God.

I personally could not get through an entire day without the grace that God gives me.  I, like so many of us, was a lukewarm believer for years.  It took God removing everything for me to truly turn my eyes to Him.  We lost our home.  We lost jobs.  We had to move across the country several times.  And with each change, I can see growth and less independence and more dependence on God.  If you allow God into your heart, while each day will still have obstacles and struggles, God provides you with strength and courage you could never provide for yourself.  Don't be lukewarm friends, jump in with both feet and declare it with your mouth that Jesus is Lord.  Jesus is our rock.  Jesus is YOUR

ROCK through every day of your life.

"God-His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is pure.  

He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him."  Psalm 18:30 HCSB

God's way is perfect.  God's love for you can never be lost.  When you are weak, God is strong.  And a life build on the rock of Jesus can never be shaken.  "When you live a surrendered life, God is willing and able to provide for your every need." (Corrie ten Boom)  Trust in the Lord Almighty.  Lean into Him who is fully capable of holding you up and walking alongside you.  Jesus is the rock that is steadfast and never wavers.  Trusting in Jesus brings peace where there was once chaos.  Jesus can provide all you need.  All you need do is trust in Him, believe in Him, and ask Him into your heart.  Don't be shy, He's right there ready and waiting.


Father, You are our constant rock in all situations.  I pray that we would trust You and build our lives upon Your Rock that can never be shaken.  Lord, for those that do not know You, I ask that they would open their eyes to welcoming You into their hearts.  You provided Your Son as a sacrifice to save us from the ugliness of our sins.  Thank You Lord for loving us that much.  Amen.

eXraordinary within the ordinary

Ok, Ok, so I'm stretching my "X" a tad but give me a little grace here!  "X" is a tough letter to come up with a word for.  So in my attempt to keep our eyes on Jesus, I'm using "X" the best way the Lord is pointing me to.  And in these current days of quarantine, viruses, and being at home, I think God is trying to show us to look and see the eXtraordinary in just the ordinary things.

I once read a book by Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts, that explains how instead of just looking at the things around us, we should be looking at the beauty and marvel at God's creation around us. When I did the study, we were asked to keep a journal and see just how many gifts we could see throughout the day.  When you take the time to really focus in on your day, it's amazing how many gifts you can find.  Suddenly all the ordinary things seem to become extraordinary when you are intentionally looking for God in them.

I remember when I started my list, the smallest things that I had never noticed before all the sudden became extraordinary.  Dirty laundry became extraordinary because it meant that I had a family that had clothes to wear.  Dirty dishes meant I had food to prepare for my family and they were well feed.  A bird chirping, the window curtains bellowing in the wind, the warmth of the sun, laughter from my son, all became extraordinary because all the sudden those simple things became beautiful reminders that God created it all.

As we are living in these current times, what could you look around and see, hear, smell that would remind you that God is with you?  Are you taking time to look around and enjoy the extraordinary or are you just trying to get through the day?  Gloria Gaither once said, "I could go through this day oblivious to the miracles all around me or I could tun in and "enjoy"".

Every moment in our lives shapes us to who we are.  Every choice we've made has brought us to where we are.  Every moment has an opportunity for us to truly see the goodness of God.  Every moment of our day gives us glimpses into God's beauty and love for us.  And even when we hit roadblocks in our moments, we still can be certain that God is there and those moments will still be extraordinary because God is in those moments with us.

Imagine, if we all began looking for the extraordinary in our days instead of the mundane, how different would our world look?  How much more joy would we have in our day?  The Apostle Paul wrote in Philippians 4:8, "...Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right.  Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."  Paul is telling us to think on things that are pure and lovely, the extraordinary things in our

day that God has smudged with His fingerprints.  "Attitude is the mind's paintbrush; it can color any situation." (Barbara Johnson)

I encourage you, as you are spending all this extra time at home and with your family, take a few moments and write down the extraordinary moments in your day.  Take time to look for the extraordinary and I assure you, you will be amazed at what God points out to you.


Lord, helps us to see the extraordinary in our everyday.  Let us be people who look for You in all we do.  Help us to keep our minds fixed on those things that are pure and lovely and not get caught up in the mundane, routine of life.  Father, You provide so many opportunities for extraordinary moments in our lives.  Let us never forget that with every moment, You are there with us.  Amen.

Whispers

I find true peace in knowing that not a moment goes by that God doesn't know about.  Often times, we don't lift up our needs or prayers to God because we feel they aren't big enough or that maybe they are too big.  But I can assure you, no prayer request to God is ever too big or too small for God to hear and answer in His way.

I'm sure many of you, just as I have on so many occasions, have left unspoken prayers sitting in your heart.  But while we may think those prayers have gone unknown about or unheard by God, that is not true.  God can hear the secret whispers of our hearts.  Whispers that we often times don't even realize exist.  How privileged we are that before our prayers ever leave our lips, God knows our needs because of the whispers from our heart.

Matthew 7:7-8 (HCSB) says, "Keep asking, and it will be given to you.  Keep searching, and you will find.  Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

God tells us to Ask Him.  We should be people who ask confidently believing that God can and will do it.  We don't need to leave our prayers and requests sitting quietly in our hearts, Pray Big!  In every prayer spoken or unspoken, God hears you.  God desires to hear it all from you.  And God has promised that when we bring our requests to Him, He will show Himself faithful.

"And everything- whatever you ask in prayer, 

believing- you will receive."  Matthew 21:22 (HCSB) 

Now mind you, just because we've asked, doesn't always mean that God will answer in the way WE think He should.  Often times, God gives us a "No" because He has something so much better in store for us.  One of my favorite quotes on prayer comes from Mrs. Charles E. Cowman.  She said, "Two wings are necessary to lift our souls toward God: prayer and praise.  Prayer asks.  Praise accepts the answer."  When we let God into the secret whispers of our heart, we need to be ready to trust Him with the results.  We need to pray in such a way that shows our complete trust and faith in God's answers to our prayers.

There is no better time then the present to present your prayers to God.  Invite Him into the quiet

moments and allow those whispers that you are too timid to share be heard.  God already knows them.  God is waiting to be invited into that secret spot deep within your soul.  Marie T. Freeman once observed, "When you ask God to do something, don't ask timidly; put your whole heart into it".  Ask God with your whole heart, every nook and cranny.  Let those whispers become opportunities for you to share with God all aspects of your life.  In the wise words of Billy Graham, "God delights in the prayers of His children- prayers that express our love for Him, prayers that share our deepest burdens with Him."  Let God into those secret spots within your heart.  Pray Big Always.  God wants to hear more from us than just a whisper. 


Lord, I pray that we would be a people that opens our hearts to You.  I pray that we would boldly ask and present all our requests to You.  Nothing is too big or too small.  I ask that those who are timid in sharing their requests with You that You would hear the whispers of their hearts and that they would step out in full confidence and faith in You.  And I pray that when we release these prayers to You that we would trust the answer that You provide because Your answer is always what You see as best for us.  Amen.

Values

I recently was asked by my son to read one of his reports for school.  One of his minors is Criminology and so he has been taking Juvenile Delinquency this semester.  Part of his final report has been to research and write a paper on some subject in juvenile delinquency, the writer gets to pick.  I must say, I am blown away by Matthew's topic choice.

Sometimes as parents, we don't realize that the values we instill in our children as they are growing up will then become the values that they live by.  God tells us in Proverbs 22:6, "Start children off on the way they should go,and even when they are old they will not turn from it".  When Matthew was younger, I planted those seeds for God to grow them.  I tried hard to instill in Matthew's life value for work, value for how we live, value on how to treat people, values for all aspects of life.  This morning, I saw the big picture on how those values have impacted my son.

Matthew's topic for his final research paper is himself.  Over the years, Matthew and I have had many conversations about his biological father.  Most recently, he was asking me about that marriage as compared to my marriage now.  I told him it was completely different.  I explained to Matthew that in my first marriage I had "rules".  Not many people know, because I just didn't share. I had a curfew, I had an allowance, I had to follow the rules or I would be punished.  And while the punishment wouldn't always be physical, it was always emotional.  I remember praying to God one night, just give me someone to love me unconditionally.  And **poof** guess who all the sudden was pregnant?  I shared for the first time with Matthew recently that he truly is a miracle child.  I should have NEVER gotten pregnant.  I was still technically on birth control and other forms of birth control were used because my then husband did not want the burden of a kid.  And yet, God gave me the gift of a baby. 

I named Matthew his name because it means, "Gift of the Lord".  That's what he is.  Matthew was and still is MY gift.  Matthew was what God gave me to refocus my values and shift my eyes to God.  Matthew was my reason for finally saying NO MORE to that horrible marriage.  Matthew was my purpose in walking away and having someone love me and depend on me.  So at 4 months pregnant, I began divorce proceedings to get out of a marriage full of adultery, lies, and anger.  A lot of this story was just never shared with Matthew.  I was always embarrassed by my choice in marrying that first person.  I was never valued in that relationship and yet, I couldn't walk away.

I never really thought that my choices would or could have an impact on my son and his life.  And I praise God everyday that He lead me to Chris.  Chris is not a perfect husband but he values me and Matthew.  He places value on our home, our family, our needs and our walk with God.  We haven't always had a smooth path, often times our path is bumpy and full of rocks but Chris stands firm in his faith and doesn't run or hide.  Chris is the type of man I had hoped Matthew would see and become more like.  Chris is a man that was raised by parents who valued him, his life, and their family.

And so, as I read my son's report this morning, I realized that prayers had been answered.  I realized that what I wanted Matthew to value in life, he is seeing and opening his eyes to.  Matthew has in his paper how his relationship with his biological father was never one of a father/son but more of a "have to have".  It breaks my heart to see what Matthew wrote about his "visits" with his father.  How he was ignored, left home alone, constantly introduced to new girlfriends or wives.  And I have to question if I protected him.  But in his paper, he has listed that me, his Mom, is a big reason on why he is so strong today.  Me?  I just want to hug him and say, no son, YOU are a big reason why I am so strong.  YOU came into my life when I needed you so badly.  And I just have to thank God that He has walked with us through all of it.

Our children see what we value in life.  If we value things or money, they are going to see that and grow up with those same values.  In no way am I saying I was a perfect parent..ha, far from it!  Even with Matthew being 20 years old, I still make mistakes and over-parent.  But I'm here and I've put in the work and the effort.  Our children need to see that they have value and that we, as their parents, value them.

Matthew finished one section of his paper talking about how different his biological father is from Chris.  Just the words on paper was confirmation to see that God had brought this family together.  God has been in this family from the moment I met Chris shortly after Matthew was born.  And God brought it to complete fruition when Chris adopted Matthew last year.  In Matthew's words, "no longer am I tied to a person who didn't want me or love me or even care about me but instead, I am now truly Dad's".  Oh be still my heart.  Value.  My son has and does feel valued and has those same values for life tucked in his heart.  I may not have gotten it right the first time, but God knew the plan all along. 

I've said it so many times in my life, God takes the ugly and makes it truly something beautiful.  And as I read Matthew's final paper, I could see the ugly and then I could see the beautiful.  I could see where Chris and I instilling values into our son made the difference.  And to this day, Matthew values our parent/child relationship.  Most importantly he values himself and has a heart for others.  I can't take complete credit for that.  Most of that is God working in our lives and our family and a good portion is from how I was instilled values and importance from my parents.

Friends, your children are watching you.  What values are you instilling within them?  What are you placing priorities on?  "Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them."- Deuteronomy 4:9 (NIV)

Parenting is not easy or for the faint at heart.  The road is not paved with roses but rather often times with thorns.  But our children need to be raised with seeds for God in their hearts.  We, as parents, need to show our children they are the priority and that what they do, what they see, how they act and who they are around matters.  Pray for your children and pray for your parenting.  When God is at the center of our families, that is where the true value of life is.

"The godly walk with integrity; 

blessed are their children after them."  Proverbs 20:7 (NLT)

Heavenly Father, You love us and you love our families.  Even when we don't get it right, You give us second chances and opportunities to trust You and try again.  Lord, I thank You for the way You allow us to parent the little (and not so little) people in our lives.  May our children grow up to see You as a priority in their lives and may we as parents never miss an opportunity to instill in our children the values for success and strong faith in You.  Amen.

Undeserving Grace

I was reminded this morning as I looked through my Facebook memories for this date over the years of a post I had made in 2009.  April of 2009 was scary for our family and yet God showed us such undeserving grace in those days of fear.  For those of you new to my blog, let me just give a quick synopsis of what happened.

On March 31, 2009, my Dad went in for a routine bypass surgery.  And what should have been routine turned out to be anything but.  When the doctor got into Dad's chest, he had to do 4 bypasses, not 2.  And then after surgery, Dad ended up with fluid around his heart and coded out several times.  Ya know, it's been 11 years now and I can still feel the knot in my stomach whenever I think about those days.  I can still smell the smell of the hospital.  I can still hear the doctors and nurses shouting and giving orders.  I can still see my Mom's face full of fear and panic.  Just as if it had just happened.

But God, because He is who He says He is...But God.  God showed up that day with undeserving grace.  I remember sitting with my parents and looking down at the book I was reading and seeing no words but a picture of my Dad laying down with alarms and lights flashing.  Doctors and nurses rushing in.  And Mom and I standing in a corner watching it all unfold.  And then boom.  That picture became reality.  In the blink of an eye, it all happened and Mom and I were in a corner watching my Dad code out and medical staff using the paddles to get him back.  Through God's grace, He gifted me a momentary glimpse of what was to come so that I would trust Him and remain calm.

Dad would stay in a medical induced coma for about 11 days while they allowed his heart to heal and the fluid to drain.  Those 11 days were hard.  Daily trips to the hospital, watching my Dad need a ventilator to survive.  Hard.  But God gave all of us such undeserving grace.  That's who He is.  God didn't have to cover that situation, He could have taken Dad home to heaven.  But God.  God didn't  have to gift me that image of what was about to unfold, but He did.  God didn't have to give our family strength we didn't know we had, but He did because He is a God of grace however undeserving and yet freely given.  God could have let things turn out so differently but because of the love He has for us, He gives us grace each day.  Eleven years later and Dad is doing great.  Eleven years later and we can all still remember that day but we can all see God in every detail.

We are so undeserving of grace.  We are sinful people who are arrogant, self-centered and just down right ugly at times.  And yet, God extends grace to each of us everyday.   Ephesians 2:8-9 (HCSB) tells us, "For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift- not works, so that no one can boast."  Abundant grace in all situations we walk through, THAT is who God is.

Grace is given freely.  There is no magic list of what we have to do to receive it.  Grace is not earned, it is not bought, it can't be lost.  God even tells us in 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV), "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."

Regardless of what we face in this life, we can be certain that God stands with us ready to extend undeserving grace to each of us.  "God is always sufficient in perfect proportion to our need." (Beth Moore)  God is always sufficient.  God is always enough.  God is always good and we are always loved by Him.  Even in our toughest days when we have so many unknowns, God is constant.

Undeserving grace given to each of us because He loves us.  Are you feeling fearful, overwhelmed, uncertain, full of anxiety or just down right angry?  Give it to God.  Let Him have it and let Him cover you with the grace and peace only He can provide.  One of my favorite quotes that I read when my Dad was in his coma comes from Barbara Johnson, "We all go through pain and sorrow, but the presence of God, like a warm, comforting blanket, can shield us and protect us, and allow the deep inner joy to surface, even in the most devastating circumstances".  Open your heart to God.  Let Him surround you like a warm comforting blanket and be content knowing that His grace is sufficient.


Father, we praise You for the undeserving grace that you provide us even though we are sinners.  We could not walk this life without the grace you so freely give.  Be with each of us Father, as we walk through tough days and struggles.  Cover us with a warm comfortable blanket of Your grace and love so that we may be reminded that we are never alone but always loved by You.  Amen.

Trusting God in His Timing with our Trials & Temptations

I am always amazed at how God uses different platforms to reach us.  And they all seem to work together at the same time.  Have you ever noticed that what you are studying at church may also be what you are discussing and studying in your small group.  And then all the sudden, it's what you are studying in your Bible Study?  It just puts me in awe that God orchestrates all these things to be studying the same thing at the same time.  Coincidence?  Nope, I don't think so. 

So here I sit in the Book of James.  If you haven't read James, it's towards the back of your Bible.  Only 5 chapters long but full of truths and reminders for all of us.  James is believed to have been the half brother of Jesus and that little tidbit just blows my mind.  So here I am studying James for church small group AND for my Bible Study Fellowship.  That tells me that God really wants me to see and learn something in James.  And in today's world, as we deal with this pandemic, I think God wants all of us, including me, to see His timing is perfect even in all our trials and temptations.

James starts out by telling us we are to "consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance".(James 1:2-3)  I don't know about you but being locked up in my house waiting on God's time is not joy producing.  It's frustrating, it's lonely, it's often times fearful.  But that fear and frustration is not God.  God doesn't fill us with fear.  God can't and doesn't tempt us.  All that fear and temptation comes from the evil one that constantly tries to stir up chaos and shift our eyes off of Jesus.

Part of finding the joy in our trials and temptations is knowing that we can completely trust God in all of it.  His timing is perfect.  His plan can not be derailed.  Sometimes we can see with great clarity the plans God has laid out in front of us.  Other times, we have to walk through the wilderness to get to the clearing in order to see God's plan.  But regardless of how God's plan is revealed to us, we must be patient, be in prayer and be in God's Word so that we can sit in contentment and have joy in the trusting.

As we all sit here in this pandemic, we need to remember that God is still at the center of it all.  God has a purpose and a plan for all of us through this pandemic.  Elisabeth Elliot once said, "I'm convinced that there is nothing that can happen to me in this life that is not precisely designed by a sovereign Lord to give me opportunity to learn to know Him."  God never has a Plan B.  God always knows the plan and God never wavers from the plan.  Often we are so tempted in our trials to walk away from God's plan and work on our own.  But just as James has pointed out, "Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything". (James 1:4)  Part of walking with God in faith is trusting His timing.  We must trust Him through all our trials, including this pandemic.

Part of life includes difficult days.  But it's those difficult days that God is using to mold you into who He wants you to be.  It is in those difficult days that we can have joy because God has a purpose in each difficult moment we experience.  As a friend of mine said in a lecture on James, "there is always a purpose in the test- it is to help us develop true faith". (Carol Ruckart)  God never gives us more than we can handle even though at times we may feel like our cup is running over.  God uses all our hurts, all our trials, all our temptations to grow us and develop our faith.  Nothing is wasted, ever.

"Sometimes the very essence of faith is trusting God in the midst of things He knows good and well we cannot comprehend." (Beth Moore)  And until God's perfect plan is shown to us, we must continue to trust Him.  We must never doubt for He is never unfaithful.  God is always constant, always present, always aware and always doing what is best for His children.  Even in today's pandemic and in each of your homes.

I recently had a conversation with my 20 year old who is preparing to finish up his sophomore year of college.  The light bulb had gone off and he was realizing, in two years, he will be done with school, what will he do?  He was so overwhelmed with the unknowns that he was losing sight of the now.  He was missing the opportunities that God has given him to grow now and to trust.  I reminded him that sometimes we can't see past the weeds, but God can.  And when it is time, God will show you the path that He desires for you to walk.  "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV

Don't allow the trials and temptations of today bog you down so that you can't see the joy in the moments.  Jesus was tempted for 40 days in the desert by Satan.  Jesus trusted God and stood on the promises of God throughout the entire 40 days.  God does not allow Satan to tempt us beyond what we can handle.  God does not allow trials to go wasted.   Don't miss the opportunities for growth that God is giving you through each trial and circumstance.  God is with you through all of it.

"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." James 1:12

Lord, help us to remember that nothing goes unnoticed by You.  You are with us through all our trials and temptations and You have a purpose in each of them.  Keep our eyes on You, Lord, for You know the best plan for our lives.  We praise You Lord for the opportunities for growth of our faith in each trial.  May we trust You with each step knowing that every good and perfect gift comes from You who does not change.  Amen.

Strength

Whenever I see the word strength I always get a picture of an old carnival game.  You know, the one where you have to whack the bulls eye with a sledge hammer so that the bell goes up and determines just how strong you are.  And it's usually the guys with all the muscles that are putting money down on that game.  But what if I told you, you hold that same strength within you?  That same strength without even having to go and hit the target at the carnival to prove it.  Believe it or not, you do.

God gifts his children with armor to fight any battle.  Through the strength that God gives us, we are able to accomplish all things.  I remember one of my friends in Minnesota once told me that when she reads Ephesians 6, she pictures herself putting on each piece of the armor God provides us. 

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes...Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place,  and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Ephesians 6:11, 14-17

We have strength we don't even realize we have.  And that strength allows us to be courageous and step out in faith.  It helps us to persevere through any challenge or situation.  I can attest to this strength myself.  In moments where I have felt defeated and overwhelmed, I always find that once I lay Jennifer down and let God guide me, the situation doesn't seem so overwhelming and I'm able to focus on what the Spirit is trying to show me.  I wish I would just lay it down from the start instead of trying to do it in my own strength but God is so patient and full of grace, He allows us to come to Him regardless of how we got there.

For example, as many of you have seen me post, I am in leadership with BSF.  I love serving God and I especially love that I'm serving Him using my spiritual gifts.  It makes the serving so much sweeter.  Due to the current situations with this pandemic, all our BSF classes have moved to a virtual platform, Zoom.  Zoom is great once you figure out all it's features and it is a great resource to be able to SEE people when we can't meet together physically.  But trying to get 50 leaders AND help them with the 400 women in our class to get up and running...the task can seem daunting.  Add in the video lectures, sprinkle on top of that videos for our children to view, and then add a few troubleshooting calls from leaders and members, and the behind the scenes work to keep it all flowing for everyone, well, it's overwhelming to say the least.  But even on my busiest day, God gives me the strength to persevere.  God walks with me through each day and reminds me that all the work I'm doing isn't for my glory but for His.  All this behind the scenes work and training is all to further His Kingdom.  It's all to bring people to Jesus where they are, in their homes.  And when I look back at all the successes we have had over the last few weeks, I can see God's fingerprint in all of it.  People are seeing the glory of God during this pandemic.  Jesus is being shared.

When God says he gives us strength, it doesn't necessarily mean physical strength.  Our daily life requires strength to keep moving forward.  We can all agree, life is a marathon.  Life can make us utterly exhausted and discouraged.  But that isn't how God wants us to live.  God desires for us to live in peace, trusting Him and giving Him full access to our lives.  For when we are weak, He is strong.  "He is the God of wholeness and restoration." (Stormie Omartian)

There are so many verses in the Bible on strength.  So many reminders that God gives us what we need to overcome whatever is in front of us.  Isaiah 40:31 reminds us, "But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint".

Where are you finding your strength these days?  Just like you, I too often try to find my strength in me and my capabilities.  But that's not what God wants for me or for you.  We need to let God give us the strength and perseverance to finish the task at hand and we need to trust God to know what is best. 

"When we reach the end of our strength, wisdom, and personal resources, we enter into the beginning of his glorious provisions."- Patsy Clairmont.

I invite you to step out in faith and accept the strength that God has provided for you through Him.  Sit in peace knowing that our God is strong enough.  Put on the full armor of God and then live courageously through Him. "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9

Lord, I pray that each of us would turn to You for our strength.  When we wake up each morning, I pray that we would see ourselves putting on the full armor of God so that we can face the day with You.  Help us to not feel overwhelmed when we don't live up to our expectations.  Give us courage to trust You each day knowing that with you, we are stronger, more courageous and filled with Your peace.  Amen

Reliance

Earlier this week, I posted on a book that I read each year to gain my word for the year.  In January, I read it and got my word for 2020.  I am always just so amazed at how God shows us how to live out our word each year.  2020 hasn't gone the way any of us thought it would and when I was gifted this word in January, I thought, huh, well we will see where this takes us.

My 2020 word is Reliance.

Reliance is a noun meaning: dependence on or trust in someone or something.

Dependence or trust.  With our current situation in the world today, I can totally see my word being lived out not just by me but by everyone.  There is no way we can make it through this pandemic without reliance!  And we surely can't make it through it with reliance on ourselves but rather full reliance on God.  We can't make it through life in general without God.

Full reliance on God means that we trust Him with all aspects of our lives.  It means that we know we can't do things in our strength but rather through the strength he gives us through the Holy Spirit.  Proverbs 3:5 tells us to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart do not depend on your own understanding." (NLT)

Whatever the circumstances we are given in life, we need to have full reliance on God.  He is perfectly capable of holding onto us through any storm.  Often times, our circumstances can create fear and chaos right to our core.  But in those moments is when we need to trust God and have full reliance on Him to meet our need and hear our cries.  God is never not with us.  God is never jolted off the thrown.  God is completely trustworthy and so we are able to be completely reliant on Him.  Beth Moore once said, "As God's children, we are the recipients of lavish love- a love that motivates us to keep trusting even when we have no idea what God is doing."

We don't have to have all the answers.  We will never get all the answers.  We DO have to trust God, relying completely on Him who has the full picture, the full plan.  And when we are in those moments where we don't see God, we have to trust that He is working upstream for our good.  Romans 8:28 reminds us that  "we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose".  There is never a moment that we shouldn't be completely reliant on God.  "Sometimes the very essence of faith is trusting God in the midst of things He knows good and well we cannot comprehend." (Beth Moore)

We are each learning to be reliant on God each day.  There isn't one magic day that you snap your fingers and magically you just rely on God completely.  It's a process.  It's a process because we are constantly growing and learning.  It's a process because God wants us to see we can trust and rely on Him in all ways and at all times.  If there was a magic solution, would we need God?  But if we are obedient and listening to God's commands.  If we are living a life that represents God at the center of it.  If we are truly living out our faith in all God does for us then, then we can walk confidently into complete reliance on God.  And with that complete reliance comes peace and assurance.

God has made promises to us and God never fails.  God never leaves.  God never forgets.  God's promises endure forever.  We, as children of God, must trust those promises.  "God also bound himself with an oath, so that those who received the promise could be perfectly sure that he would never change his mind.  So God has given us both his promise and his oath.  These two things are unchangeable because it is impossible for God to lie.  Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can take new courage, for we can hold on to his promise with confidence." Hebrews 6:17-18 NLT

Reliance.  That's my word for this year.  I can see God showing me how to live out this word in my life daily.  Full reliance on God means that I don't try to fix it my way but instead, I give it to God and let Him work all things out for my good.  I'm still learning to be completely reliant.  Giving up full control is hard for this OCD gal, but God is fully capable.  God is trustworthy.  God is full of grace and patient.  So I can allow myself to be completely reliant on Him to walk with me through any and all circumstances of my life.  That is a reason to praise right there!

Lord, help us, and help me to be completely reliant on You.  You want the very best for us so when we feel our world doesn't make sense, remind us that we can trust You.  We do not have to know the big picture but You, Lord, You work out all things for good and so we just need to walk with You knowing that You are always at work for us.  Help us to relinquish our own ways and just "be" with You.  Amen

Quarantine

Every year when I do this challenge, I have the hardest time coming up with the letter Q.  Not this year.  This year it came to me before I even signed up!  We are all living out the letter Q these days.

But I recently saw a post on a friend's Facebook timeline.  Mind you, she didn't write it, it was shared by someone who shared by someone and they shared it too, but how appropriate to today's current situation.  It provides a biblical perspective to our quarantine.  I'll paraphrase it for you...

The Latin root of the word "quarantine" is "forty".  40 is a recurring number in the Bible. 

• The Flood (with Noah and the Ark) lasted 40 days and 40 nights.
• 40 years Moses fled Egypt.
• Moses stayed on Mt Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments for 40 days.
• The exodus to the Promised Land lasted 40 years (The Israelites wandered in the wilderness)
• Jesus fasted in the wilderness for 40 days while he was tempted by Satan.
• 40 days is the average time given for a woman to rest after giving birth.
• Human gestation, the optimum number is 40 weeks.

When all this quarantine started in March, May 1st will represent 40 days.  40 days in our quarantine.  There is a group is theologians that thinks the number 40 represents change.  40 days is a time to prepare a person or people to make a fundamental change.   In the Bible, whenever the number 40 appears, there is a "change".  And during this quarantine, this change, our environment is being cleaned.  Things are growing, air is cleaner due to less traffic, there is less crime and church is still happening in each of our homes.  As the author of the post wrote, "the Earth is at rest for the first time in many years and hearts are truly transforming".  People are still seeking out and turning their hearts to God.

Even more interesting are these little facts:

• We are living in 2020...20+20= 40
• Perfect vision is 2020
• 2020 is a census year and Jesus Christ was born during a census.

When you look at all the numbers, all the facts in the Bible, all of it, it all points to Christ. 

God is at the center of this quarantine.  He knew this was going to happen and has not been surprised.  Only God could quiet an entire world and point all eyes and hearts to Him.  Satan thought he would create chaos But God has brought Jesus into our homes.  

Yes, this quarantine time is frustrating, overwhelming and some days just down right boring.  I totally agree.  My husband still has to work and I find myself just as excited as our dog when he gets home cause it's a human I can talk to!  I get it.  Some days are easier than others.  But even though 2020 hasn't turned out the way we thought it should, has it really been so horrible to have some time out to just "be" in the moment.  Often we get so busy with life that we miss out on moments we need to be present for.  God has stopped the world so that we have an opportunity to be present with Him.  Be present with our families.  Be present to our lives.  

When we get out of this quarantine, what will your "new normal" look like?  Will you go back to the way you used to do things?  Will you pick up right where you left off 40 days ago?  Or will you start a new routine?  Will you be more intentional with your time?  Don't waste what God has given us.  He has gifted us 40 days to look to and trust Him. 40 days to draw closer to Him. 

"Praise the Lord, all nations!  Glorify Him, all peoples!  For great is His faithful love to us; the Lord's faithfulness endures forever.  Hallelujah!"  Psalm 117 (HCSB)

Father, open our eyes to see You in a new way during this 40 days You have gifted us.  Help us to come out of this quarantine stronger through the strength that You have within us.  Lord, I pray that anyone that does not know You would feel a pricking of their heart to spend time with You.  Let us trust You in these 40 days and not be consumed with fear and frustration but instead, rest in Your loving and fully capable arms.  Amen.

Our Perspective

Several years ago when we lived in Savannah, Ga, our pastor challenged us to read the book One Word that will change your life.  If you haven't read this book, here's a little bit of an overview.  Basically, each of us has a word that God wants us to be in tune with.  And as you read through this book, it helps you to focus in on what your word is. And then, once you have been inspired by God with your word, you are supposed to live that word out so that your life will be more purposeful. When Chris and I read it in 2014, it was so that we could get our word for the year.  And since that first time reading it in 2014, my word has evolved each year.  It's amazing how with each new year and new season of life, God gives me a new word to focus on, to live out and to grow me closer to him.

In January of 2014, my word was Perspective.  And I have carried this word along with me over the last several years.  At the time, Chris and I were volunteering at our church in the Lighthouse Ministry and I was in leadership in Bible Study Fellowship.  I knew perspective was my word because it altered the way I viewed things.  I remember fulling hearing God tell me that if my perspective was aligned with Kingdom work, then my perspective would be about loving and serving others and not myself.

Our perspective is important.  How we view things, situations, circumstances, and ourselves all matters.  And if we allow God into our lives, he can help us keep our perspective on growing the Kingdom instead of on our worries or anxieties. In the hustle and bustle of everyday it can be so easy to lose our perspective.  When our world gets caught up in the craziness of the day, we need to slow down and turn our thoughts to God.   And then let God shift our perspective.

One of my favorite stories Jesus shares in the Bible is the story of Peter walking on water.  In Matthew 14:22-31, we see Jesus praying alone on the mountainside.  Later, he sees the boat is already a long way from land and being tossed around by waves and wind.

"Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

 “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”" (vs. 25-31)

I can relate to Peter.  We too, step out in faith and then when we take our eyes off of Jesus, we lose perspective and begin to sink.  We  should never take our eyes off of Jesus no matter what the circumstances.  Jesus constantly has his hand out to catch us and bring us back to him, to safety.  But if we lose sight of Him, if we allow our perspective to be one of doom and gloom and fear, we often times feel as if we are drowning.

So in these uncertain days, I have to ask you, what is your perspective today?  Are you feeling overwhelmed by the demands of the day?  Are you allowing your perspective to be skewed by the evil one who loves nothing more than to tempt us and create chaos within our lives?  Or are you allowing God to shape your perspective by spending time with Him and  allowing His eternal perspective to control your thoughts? 

It is so easy to get caught up in the "now" and lose sight of Jesus but don't be like Peter and take your eyes off Jesus.  Step out in full faith and assurance that God is right there in your storm with you.  Allow God to control your thoughts and perspective.  God is constant.  God is always on His thrown.  God is always in control.  God is never surprised.  I challenge you to look upon all the circumstances of your day with gladness, joy, and peace because that is the perspective God wants you to have.  Our perspective matters.  It matters to our families.  It matters to God.  Most importantly, it should matter to you.

Father, I pray that You would give each of us the proper perspective.  Fill our thoughts with those of peace and joy rather than fear and anxiety.  Lord, I ask you to prick the hearts of those who don't have a word that they would read this book and find their word for this year.  It is never too late.  And Lord, we praise You for the way that you never leave us.  Just as you reached out and took Peter's hand, You take our hand daily so that we are able to continue to walk in step and in faith with You.  Amen

News

These days there is news everyday and it appears to be so discouraging most of the time.  We are constantly bombarded with news whether good or bad.  And we have a choice to listen to the news whether good or bad.

Our world is so overcome right now with news of this virus, news of economy woes, news of people losing their jobs and schools closing for the school year.  We hear everyday how we must continue to social distance and we have no idea when our normal world will be accessible again.  Bad news.  Not news any of us want or any of us like.

And then there is good news.  Oh how I can use some of that!!!  Do you realize that God gives us good news everyday if we just open our eyes to it.  God says, "Do Not Fear" 365 times in the Bible. Why?  Because friends, he wants us to not be afraid but to see the good news He can provide.  And God not only supplies us good news, He has a book all about it.  The Bible!  It is full of this good news that God wants us to see. 

And not only do we have God's Word full of good news, God has filled us with moments that He wants us to share with others so that they too will hear the good news.  Our personal faith walks, our testimonies are important for sharing and spreading the gospel.  And there is no better time than now to share that good news, your testimony with others.

Jesus has commanded us in Mark 16:15 HCSB, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation".  He has commissioned us to share the good news.  The good news that God is with us.  That God loves us.  That God wants us to be with Him through eternity.  And most importantly, that God forgives us. 

I saw a quote by Doris Greig, "Those who are not yet in the family of Christ  need us to be his hands, his feet, his eyes, his ears, and his voice to help them find God's love".  We need to share the good news that we have received with those around us.  Ok, so right now, we are kinda stuck in our homes but who can you reach out to?  Who needs a text or an email reminding them of God's love?  Who needs to hear some good news?

We can't afford to sit on the sidelines because Jesus is coming back soon.  The time to be bold and step out in faith is now.  I participate in Bible Study Fellowship and we just finished up our study on Paul and the Acts of the Apostles.  I love the story of Paul.  I love the redemption God gave him when he least expected it.  I love how through that one miraculous moment with God, Paul became on fire for the gospel.  We can all learn something from Paul.  Regardless of his circumstances, his suffering or his unfair judgments, he remained constant and faithful in his trust in God.

Don't waste these days and not share the good news.  Christ has died, Christ is risen and Christ IS coming back.  We all need to hear some good news.  Focus on the good that God provides each of us.  Turn off the news that stirs fear, creates chaos and anxiety and instead spend time with our God who brings you peace.  Share the good news.  Share your testimony.  Be bold and jump in with both feet.  God doesn't expect you to save the people you share with, that's His job.  But he does expect you to plant the seeds of the good news.  Plant the seed and God will do the harvesting.

Father, as we are living a new normal help us to see the news You want us to see.  News that You love us, forgive us and desire us to be with you in eternity.  Lord, I ask that You would stir each of us to be bold and step out in faith just as Paul did.  Help us to trust You and plant the seeds for You to grow.  You bring us good news Lord.  Thank You for the good news of the gospel that we do not need to fear but can sit in the peace You provide.  Amen.

Mountaintops

Our family moved to Tennessee just about four years ago.  When I first came to the state for a visit, I was overwhelmed with the mountains.  They are absolutely stunning.  And I love how you can drive on a highway with chiseled out mountain on either side.  The beauty of the earth, the way the spring water flows from within.  It's just gorgeous when you think about it.  I find beauty in the mountains that surround our little town.  They are so majestic.

Mountains are huge, they are intricate they are often times, overwhelming.  And I'm not necessarily just talking about physical mountains.  The mountains in our lives can often times seem overwhelming.  And have you noticed, with every mountain, there is always a valley.

Moments in life are full of mountaintop experiences and valley walks.  And it takes us, living out our faith everyday to be able to walk through those valleys to get to the mountaintop experiences.  There are so many moments in life that we have to just trust God with the next step so that when we get to that mountain, we are able to climb and embrace the top.  Sometimes we get so caught up in the struggles of the valley that we forget, there is a mountain coming. 

A few years ago, my husband had a medical emergency.  We thought it was a heart attack and it turned out to be a pulmonary embolism.  For several days, while he was in the ER, then admitted to the hospital, and then healing at home, my family walked through the valley.  Some days, it wasn't even a walk, some days we crawled and grabbed at whatever could help us get that next step.  And I remember thinking when all the events at the emergency room were unfolding, I remember thinking, I'm going to lose my husband.  I remember pleading with God.  I remember crying out in such pain and such anquish that my heart just ached and the tears just flowed.  That valley was so hard to walk through.  That moment when my family entered that valley, we could not see the mountain in the distance.  But God.  God, as He has always promised us, was with each of us in that valley so that He could be glorified and bring us out of it on the other side.  He carried each of us when we couldn't see the way right up to the top of that mountain where we could praise and thank God for His sovereignty.  Only God can take you through the darkest and hardest of valley's and bring you to your knees in praise for that mountaintop experience.

There have been so many moments in my life where I couldn't see the mountain to climb to get to the praise, But God knew where to guide me.  We've lost jobs, lost homes, moved across the country, left family, lost family, had medical scares, experienced new medical diagnosis, had fear and failure.  And right alongside each of those valleys, we had job success, new homes, new friends, new bonds with family, healthy medical reports, faith in juggling new medical outlooks and blessings. 

God doesn't give us just valleys, he gives us valleys to force us to turn our eyes upon Him.  Each valley is an opportunity for God to show up big.  There is never a valley without the mountaintop praise.  There is never a moment that is missed by God where He leaves you in the valley. 

Friends, as we are all walking new ways of life these days, losing jobs, worried about bills, trying to homeschool our children, adjusting to working from home, don't lose sight of God.  Yes, this is a valley.  Yes, this is hard.  Yes, this is scary and fills each of us with fear.  But God is with you through all of it!  God is walking with each of you in your homes, through your job loss, with each bill that is due.  God is there.  Don't become so overwhelmed with the valley that you miss the mountain.  That mountain is coming.  I promise you.  There is a day just over the horizon where you will drop to your knees in praise and shout to God.

"With God's power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine."  Ephesians 3:20 NCV

Grab onto that guiding hand.  Drop to your knees in prayer and petition to your loving Father.  Don't let fear win and keep you in that valley.  Get up, dust yourself off and continue the journey.  It is so worth it.  "For nothing will be impossible with God." Luke 1:37 HCSB


Lord, we long for those mountaintop experiences where we can look back and see you in every moment of our lives.  I pray that those who are fearful would turn their eyes upon You.  Carry those that can not walk through the valley right now.  Lord, we need you every moment of our day.  Let us never forget that You work all things for our good and that You deserve all honor, all praise and all the glory.  Amen.