The Not-so-Super-Mom

The Not-so-Super-Mom

Last night I was laying in bed trying to sleep, but I was so wide a wake.  My mind was running 100 miles per hour...thinking of all the stuff I did, or didn't do, and what I should have gotten done, during the day.  In the the midst of my mind's running through the day, I started to think about what type of parent I am, and what my girls will turn out like.  I know how I want them to turn out, but I also know that I in and of myself am in no way able to get them to the place where I want to see them.  I make mistakes, huge ones, over and over again.  How am I, in the craziness of this world, supposed to somehow keep my girls on the right path, and protect them from all the evil that surrounds us?  As I lay there pondering all these things, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and I'd like to share it with you today.

Daughter, you aren't good enough, you can't protect them from the evil in this world.  You are not all knowing, ever-present, or all powerful.  You, daughter, are not perfect, you are human, you make mistakes.

But, I know your limits, I know your heart and your love for your children; and I love them more than you are even capable of, and I love you.  Don't fret that you can't be with them everyday to protect them and guide them, because I Am!   I Am able!  I Am all knowing! I Am ever-present! I Am all powerful!  I will uphold you and help you to be the best parent you can be, and when you can't go any further, where you stop, I will make up the distance.  In your weakness I Am strong...trust your little children to Me.  I will be with them, I will guide them and protect them.   Trust them to Me!

As I laid there and these words washed over me, I felt a sweet sense of peace and hope.  

The pressure is off. 

I don't have to be super-mom! 

I can just trust in the Lord...He has got this.  

Let these words sink in... 

Think about it for a few minutes... 

God. has. got. this.

You don't have to do it on your own, in fact it is pretty much impossible to do it on your own...

Trust Him. 

God is so good! 

5 Promises To Look Forward To In 2014

5 Promises To Look Forward To In 2014

The Lord your God in your midst,

The Mighty One, will save; 

He will rejoice over you with gladness, 

He will quiet you with His love, 

He will rejoice over you with singing. 

Zephaniah 3:17

1. God will be in with you, in your midst!

  

2. God (the Mighty One) will save you!

  

3. God will rejoice over you with gladness!

  

4. God will bring you peace, He will quiet you with His amazing, never changing, all encompassing, love!

  

5. God will rejoice over you with singing! Some versions say "with loud singing" just imagine that - God singing loudly, His heart full of gladness and love all over YOU! 

I hope no matter the circumstances you are faced with in the coming year, you will lift your cries, your songs, your heart, your everything, up to God.  Welcome Him into your life; to be your Savior, Redeemer, friend, comforter, help, guide, and joy...He is waiting for you to simply ask Him to come! 

God is good!!! I am so thankful for all He's done in 2013, and can't wait to see all He has planned for us in 2014!!  

Be abundantly blessed my friends!!

Happy New Years!  

Just Wait!!

Just Wait!!

We pray, asking God to step into our circumstances, to lead us in the way we should go, and to do the miraculous when it seems impossible.

But after we've prayed, what do we do?

If you're like me, you tend to try to figure things out while you wait for God to step in.  But I have realized lately that when the answer we expect doesn't come about right away, or it is not what we were hoping for...trying to figure it out while we wait for God's plan and timing only hinders things.   If God is asking you to wait...then just wait!  There is no requirement that you know exactly how things are going to go...or that you figure out the answer and then present it to God.  God already has the answer, and when we try to help we are like a three year old who spilled milk and tried to clean it up with the whole basket of clean towels, making more work than is necessary, instead of going to mommy to let mommy take care of it with just a couple paper towels.  

I read a scripture this week in Joshua that just hit me. 

Joshua 3:5

"Joshua told the people, 'Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.'"

When we've prayed and asked God for His guidance, protection, miraculous hand, a healing or whatever we may need...we need to follow Joshua's instructions.  Instead of trying to do it on our own, we need to make sure we are right with God, confessing our sins, our disbelief, our temptations to try to figure it out on our own, and we need to prepare ourselves to receive what God has in store...because God will do amazing things among us!! 

Sweet Dreams!

Sweet Dreams!

There are times when my dear hubby has to travel for work.  I do not, DO NOT do well when he is gone.  Last time he was gone for just one night, I ended up sleeping in the recliner, with a couple lights on throughout the house.  I've always struggled with fear, and it seems to quadruple when JC is gone.  I have many stories of times when JC was gone (I'll save them for another post!), and how God settled my fears and showed me that my protection and shelter is in Him and Him alone.  Every time, God has been faithful, but in my human weakness, I tend to fear over and over again.  Here in the next couple months my hubby will be traveling once again for just a few nights, and once again God has shown Himself to be so faithful!!  As I've been spending time in my daily devotions, over last few days, reading the Word and praying...God has lead me to read many different scriptures that all speak of our safety and shelter being in God and God alone, but more than that, He has lead me to scriptures that specifically speak of sleeping in peace and protection, without fear.  

I wrote down a list of these scriptures for me to reference when those fears try to come in...and I thought I'd share it with you. I am so thankful for these scriptures, that give us promises of peace, protection, and safety.

Psalm 3:5

I lay down and slept,

yet I woke up in safety,

for the Lord was watching over me.

Psalm 4:8

In peace I will lie down and sleep,

for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.

Psalm 34:7

For the angel of the Lord is a guard;

he surrounds and defends all who fear him.

Proverbs 3:24

When you lie down, you will not be afraid; 

when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.

God is sooooo good!! 

When My Heart is Overwhelmed

When My Heart is Overwhelmed

Psalm 61:2-4

"From the end of the earth I will cry to you,

When my heart is overwhelmed; 

Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

For you have been a shelter for me, 

A strong tower from my enemy.

I will abide in Your tabernacle forever;

I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.

Selah"

This scripture is just so good! God is a rock, a shelter, a strong tower, and we can trust in Him to continually protect us under the shelter of His wings.  What a great promise of protection!! It is also a great prayer to pray in those times when we feel overwhelmed.   Our hearts get overwhelmed by so many things in this life, but no matter what it is that is overwhelming us, we can cry out to God to lead us to the rock, shelter, and protection that can only found in Him.  

God is so good!!

Hidden By His Hand

Hidden By His Hand

Over the last few weeks I've been walking through a great Bible Study with a small group of ladies from my church.  While there has been many things I've thought of sharing, from this study, on here with you...I've struggled with what to write.  Then this morning, Beth Moore said something that just blew me away, it was so powerful!  And I knew I had to share it, today!   

The study title is "A Woman's Heart, God's Dwelling Place" By Beth Moore, this study requires a lot of studying/homework and then has an hour video to watch each week...but it is so worth the time and investment!  

Anyway, today's study was out of Exodus 33 and the whole lesson was great! But the part I want to share was almost the last line Beth said in the video.  In chapter 33, Moses is meeting with God.  God tells Moses that He (God) would fulfill His promise to the Israelites and let them go into the promised land, with an angel that would go before them, they could enjoy all the milk and honey they desired, BUT God would not go in with them, His presence would not be a part of their lives any longer because of the sins (mistakes) the Israelites had made.  Moses realizes that to go on without God would be a huge mistake and loss...so he pleads with God to go with them or not send them into the land at all.  God agrees, to go into the promise land with them, because Moses found grace in God's sight.  Now we are to vs 18, read with me please! 

18 And he (Moses) said, “Please, show me Your glory.”
19 Then He (God) said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”
20 But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.”
21 And the Lord said, “Here is a place by Me, and you shall stand on the rock.
22 So it shall be, while My glory passes by, that I will put you in the cleft of the rock, and will cover you with My hand while I pass by.
23 Then I will take away My hand, and you shall see My back; but My face shall not be seen.”

God showed Moses His glory, but to protect Moses from being killed by the full glory of seeing God's face, God hid Moses in the cleft of the rock and covered him with His hand.  Here is the point Beth made that was so powerful!!

Darkness may not always be evil - it could be the Lord's hand covering us in the cleft of the rock and soon He will remove His hand and we will see His glory!! 

I don't know about you, but I had never thought of darkness in this way...Psalms 91:1 says, "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."  Shadows can be dark...shadows can be scary...what a reassuring thought that sometimes the shadow or darkness is God's protection!!  

God is so good!!!

Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace

Today as I was listening to worship music, the old song Amazing Grace came on...as I sang along suddenly verse three stuck out, as if suddenly someone directed a spot light at it.  These words are so incredibly powerful!! 

"Through many dangers, toils and snares 

I have already come; 

'Tis grace that brought me safe thus far 

And grace will lead me home."

As I sang these words, suddenly I could see how God through His "amazing grace" had brought me through everything up till now.  Some of the "dangers, toils and snares" I know about...I can recall them like they just happened yesterday, some of them were yesterday!  But there are even more "dangers, toils and snares" I don't have a clue about.  Those things that Satan tried to use to bring about harm, only to have God shield me and protect me, without me even knowing about it.  Or those time when Satan set traps to make me fall, and God saw them and redirected my steps.  Times when maybe I didn't understand why I had to go the long way about an issue, but God knew the long way was the best way.  And just as God has been faithful to lead, guide and protect me for the last 30 years, I know without a doubt that He will be faithful to lead, guide and protect me until I finally walk those streets of gold and see my Jesus face to face!! 

God is so good!!

He's Pleading For You!

Romans 8:34
34 Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. 

 

 Here are the definitions I found for t

he word intersession:

1. an act or instance of interceding. 

2. an interposing or pleading on behalf of another person. 

3. a prayer to God on behalf of another.

Jesus Christ 

the only begotten Son of God, who died and then rose again on the third day, and ascended into heaven, He is seated at the right hand of God...this same Jesus intercedes for us!   What an amazing thought!  No matter what is going on in this world we live in, no matter the situations we face...there is hope because we have the very Son of God pleading on our behalf!   WOW!   

God is so good!! 

Psalm 121

Psalm 121

God the Help of Those Who Seek Him

A song of Ascents

"I will lift up my eyes to the hills-

From whence comes my help?

My help come from the Lord,

Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to be moved;

He who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, He who keeps Israel 

Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;

The Lord is your shade at your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day,

Nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;

He shall preserve your soul.

The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in

From this time forth and even forever more."

Here is a great promise, a promise of shelter, 24 hour protection...God will not fall asleep on the job, God will protect, preserve, and help us.  I love the last part of this chapter...

"The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in 

From this time forth and even forever more."

This promise of 24 hour protection will not end...it is not just for a short time, it is from this time forward until eternity!!  I am so thankful today, for this reminder, that we can always trust that God is watching over us, and protecting us.

God is so good!! 

Keep The Faith!!

Habakkuk 3:17-19

A Hymn of Faith

17 Though the fig tree may not blossom,

Nor fruit be on the vines;

Though the labor of the olive may fail,

And the fields yield no food;

Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,

And there be no herd in the stalls-

18 Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

19 The LORD God is my strength;

He will make my feet like deer's feet,

And He will make me walk on my high hills.

As we go through life we all go through rough places or times...Habakkuk was going through one of those rough times, when he wrote these verses.  Israel was under attack...and when he cried out to the Lord for help, God informed him that the Chaldeans, "A bitter and hasty nation" would come and overtake Israel.  As you might imagine, this was not what Habakkuk was wanting to hear...but the Lord told him to write out the vision and wait for it's fulfillment, for "the just shall live by his faith".  In other words, God is saying, though it may be a long time before you see these things come about, keep watching, keep believing, keep your faith, because "the just shall live by his faith" - If you lose your faith, you surely won't make it!!    

Habakkuk's was afraid when he heard all that God was telling him.  Chapter 3:2 "O LORD, I have heard Your speech and was afraid;"  But in the following verses Habakkuk reminds himself of the glory and power of God.  After 15 verses of remembering the greatness and fullness of God...Habakkuk suddenly is filled with "A Hymn of Faith" And wrote out verses 17-19.   

What can we learn from this? 

God always has a plan, and though we may not always like it, God will get us through the rough places if we keep our faith!!

When the circumstances around us cause fear to rise in our hearts, we need to remind ourselves, of the God we serve, and turn fear into faith.

When we turn fear into faith...we will find the Joy of the Lord, and God will be our strength to get us through the rough spots in life.  

I am so glad we serve a living, powerful, merciful and loving God!!

God is good!! 

Life Lessons

Life Lessons

Here I am about to turn the big 3 0 in a few months, and though I realize I still have much to learn, and many things left in my to do list...I also realize that there are so many lessons I have already learned.  

So here is a list:

• Banging your head on the counter from a hard sneeze, hurts really bad.
• Breaking your toe while doing the chicken dance, also hurts really bad.
• Being made fun of, hurts worse than either of the previous two things.
• The pain of loss, never quite goes away.
• Life is hard!
• When we hurt, God brings us comfort.
• When we are broken, God is our healer.
• When we are down and out, God lifts us up and draws us close.
• When we deal with loss, God becomes our strength, carrying us when we can't walk.
• When life is hard, God is our shield, our protection in every storm.
• God is good! 
• God's love is so amazing, unfathomable, bigger and better than anything we know. 
• God is the creator of the universe, He holds everything together; Yet He also knows the very number of hairs on our heads. 
• God wants to have an everyday, every situation, walking together, personal relationship - with us.
• We were created to love and praise God.
• When we put God first in our lives, everything else will fall into place.
• No matter where we are, what we've done, how good or bad life seems...We all need Jesus!  

I am sure I could put many more things down on this list, however, you don't really want to read that long of a post, and I think I've covered most of the important things already!  :) 

God Is So Good!!

Fire Drill!

Fire Drill!

This morning a few minutes after arriving home from taking my daughter to school...I heard the familiar sound of  the schools fire alarm...I watched out the back window of our home, as all the teachers and students filed out of the school to their predetermined locations in the field behind our house.  I could recognize the teachers from my daughter's kindergarten class, and knew that among all the kids dressed in bright colors, my daughter was there...learning what to do in the event of a true emergency.  

As I stood there and watched, until they all gradually went back inside...I thought about a couple things.  

1. I was thankful that today's alarm was just a drill, a practice, there was no fire, no true emergency...my kiddo is safe! 

2. I felt gratitude to all the teachers and staff who work so hard to prepare our young children for a true emergency if/when they have one. 

3. I thought about life.  Every thing we do, everywhere we go, the good times and the bad, and how we even as adults could learn much from these kids who are practicing how they will react when the emergency comes.  

We never know what today holds, or how tomorrow will go.  We can however work today, to be prepared and ready for whatever life may bring.  

How? How do we prepare and get ready for something that is unknown?  

By getting to know the One who holds all of our tomorrows. By learning to trust, and lean on God, even in the good times. We must make sure our source of strength, and our source of hope is God and God alone. 

We cannot place our trust and hope in this world, in money, in our job, in the roof above our heads, in the food we've packed into our pantry, or friends and family we love and depend on daily. All of these things are great, and wonderful...but we must realize that all of these things can fail...they can run out, wear out, disappear, or leave us wanting...Only God, the creator of Heaven and Earth...the one who formed the stars, and knows the number of hairs on our head...He and He alone can be our everything. 

 When we come to the place of trusting Him completely, of making Him the source for all we need...the things of this life, the good and the bad, the known and the unknown, past, present and future, will not shake us, will not wear us down, or knock us out. We will be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, bringing forth fruit in it's season, our leaves will not wither, and whatever we do will prosper. (Psalm 1:3) We will mount up with wings like eagles, we will run and not grow weary, we will walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31) 

Today, right now, this is the time to get ready, to be prepared...to start working on a growing, and vibrant relationship with Jesus Christ.   Let's dig our roots down deep into God's Word, so that when the storms of life come, we will be planted  so deeply in Him, nothing can move or shake us! 

Psalms 91

Psalms 91

Safety of Abiding in the Presence of God
1 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”

3 Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the perilous pestilence.
4 He shall cover you with His feathers,
And under His wings you shall take refuge;
His truth shall be your shield and buckler.
5 You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,
Nor of the arrow that flies by day,
6 Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness,
Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday.

7 A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.
8 Only with your eyes shall you look,
And see the reward of the wicked.

9 Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge,
Even the Most High, your dwelling place,
10 No evil shall befall you,
Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling;
11 For He shall give His angels charge over you,
To keep you in all your ways.
12 In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.
13 You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra,
The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot.

14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;
I will set him on high, because he has known My name.
15 He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him,
And show him My salvation.”

I love this chapter! God is mighty to save us, protect us, and provide for us.  Not only is He more than able, He wants to do all of this for us.  

Today, I am so thankful that when we place our trust, and hope in God, choosing to take refuge in Him and Him alone, dwelling daily in His presence...all of the promises in this chapter become ours!  

God is so good!! 

If God Is For Us, Who Can Stand Against???

If God Is For Us, Who Can Stand Against???

Exodus 14

The Red Sea Crossing

1 Now the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 2 “Speak to the children of Israel, that they turn and camp before Pi Hahiroth, between Migdol and the sea, opposite Baal Zephon; you shall camp before it by the sea.3 For Pharaoh will say of the children of Israel, ‘They are bewildered by the land; the wilderness has closed them in.’ 4 Then I will harden Pharaoh’s heart, so that he will pursue them; and I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, that the Egyptians may know that I am the Lord.” And they did so.

5 Now it was told the king of Egypt that the people had fled, and the heart of Pharaoh and his servants was turned against the people; and they said, “Why have we done this, that we have let Israel go from serving us?” 6 So he made ready his chariot and took his people with him. 7 Also, he took six hundred choice chariots, and all the chariots of Egypt with captains over every one of them. 8 And the Lord hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued the children of Israel; and the children of Israel went out with boldness. 9 

So the Egyptians pursued them, all the horses and chariots of Pharaoh, his horsemen and his army, 

and overtook them camping by the sea beside Pi Hahiroth, before Baal Zephon.

10 And when Pharaoh drew near, the children of Israel lifted their eyes, and behold, the Egyptians marched after them. 

So they were very afraid, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord. 

11 Then they said to Moses, “Because there were no graves in Egypt, have you taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you so dealt with us, to bring us up out of Egypt? 12 Is this not the word that we told you in Egypt, saying, ‘Let us alone that we may serve the Egyptians’? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than that we should die in the wilderness.”

13 And 

Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today.

For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall see again no more forever. 14 

The Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace.”

15 And the Lord said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to go forward. 16 But lift up your rod, and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it. And the children of Israel shall go on dry ground through the midst of the sea. 17 And I indeed will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they shall follow them. So I will gain honor over Pharaoh and over all his army, his chariots, and his horsemen. 18 Then the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I have gained honor for Myself over Pharaoh, his chariots, and his horsemen.”

19 And the Angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, moved and went behind them; and the pillar of cloud went from before them and stood behind them. 20 So it came between the camp of the Egyptians and the camp of Israel. Thus it was a cloud and darkness to the one, and it gave light by night to the other, so that the one did not come near the other all that night.

21 Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and the 

Lord caused the sea to go back by a strong east wind all that night, and made the sea into dry land, and the waters were divided.

22 So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. 23 And the Egyptians pursued and went after them into the midst of the sea, all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots, and his horsemen.

24 Now it came to pass,

in the morning watch, that the Lord looked down upon the army of the Egyptians through the pillar of fire and cloud, and He troubled the army of the Egyptians. 25 And He took off their chariot wheels, so that they drove them with difficulty;

and the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the face of Israel, for the Lord fights for them against the Egyptians.”

26 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Stretch out your hand over the sea, that the waters may come back upon the Egyptians, on their chariots, and on their horsemen.” 27 And Moses stretched out his hand over the sea; and when the morning appeared, the sea returned to its full depth, while the Egyptians were fleeing into it. So the Lord overthrew the Egyptians in the midst of the sea. 28 

Then the waters returned and covered the chariots, the horsemen, and all the army of Pharaoh 

that came into the sea after them. 

Not so much as one of them remained. 29 But the children of Israel had walked on dry land in the midst of the sea, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left.

30 So the Lord saved Israel that day out of the hand of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the seashore. 31 Thus Israel saw the great work which the Lord had done in Egypt; so the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord and His servant Moses.

I absolutely love this chapter!! I have read this story of the great exodus out of Egypt many times, but as I've read through it this last week or so, I could not help but focus on this chapter!  

I can't get past how God lead them to a place where they couldn't continue without His help. And then God used the situation to not only show the Israelites His might, power, and authority...but He also brought down the Egyptian armies and all their chariots and horses in one fell swoop.  

Most of the time when you hear this story the focus in on the parting waters and walking across on dry ground...but there is a lot more that God did, than just part the waters...He shielded the Israelites from the Egyptians with the pillar of fire and the cloud...so that the Israelites had light, and the Egyptians had only darkness.  God cause confusion in the armies of the Egyptians, and He took the wheels off of their chariots.

God in His great goodness, worked such an amazing miracle here, I just can't even comprehend what it must have been like for the Israelites.  It is clear in this passage that they were fearful, and not sure that God would come through.  But that didn't stop God from working on their behalf.  I believe the same is true for us today...God will guide us in the path that is best for us, even when we question why, and don't see how it could work out for good.  God has a plan, and when we can't continue on our own, when we are stuck with no way to go back and  no way forward...The Lord says that same thing to us today as He did to the Israelites, through Moses,  "Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord, which He will accomplish for you today....Lord will fight for you, and you shall hold your peace."  

God will make a way, and I believe with my whole heart, when He does, His power and glory, His mighty hand in our lives will be so clearly evident, no one will be able to deny it!! 

So thankful to be a child of God!

What a joy and a privilege to be counted among the sons and daughters of the Most High God!

The Hedge Around Job

The Hedge Around Job

Job 1:6-12

6 "Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them.  
7 And the Lord said to Satan, “From where do you come?”

So Satan answered the Lord and said, “From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.”

8 Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?”

9 So Satan answered the Lord and said, “Does Job fear God for nothing? 10 Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. 11 But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!”

12 And the Lord said to Satan, “Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.”

So Satan went out from the presence of the Lord."

When I read this portion of scripture I notice a couple things...

1. God pointed out Job to Satan.

2. Satan then had to request God's permission to do anything to Job, because of God's protection.

3. God allowed Satan to bring hardship and trials into Job's life.

4. God drew a line..."12 And the Lord said to Satan, 'Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.'”

I can't say that I completely understand the exact reason behind God pointing out Job to Satan...but this is what I do know.   God knew Satan's nature, and God also knew Job; as well as the fact that Satan could do nothing to Job without God's approval.  From the beginning of the story to the end of the story...God watched all that took place, and God allowed only so much to happen to Job.  Not once did God say, "Hey Satan, Did you notice my man Job? Oh, you think he won't trust and serve me if I remove my protection?!?! Oh, okay then, have at him. he's all yours!"  No way, God always set boundaries, and when all was said and done, not only did Job and all of his friends learn a valuable lesson that was then passed on to all of us through the written Word, but God also restored all Job had lost, plus some. Because God won't ever just replace what was lost...God always goes above and beyond to bless us beyond what we could ever ask for or think of. 

"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us," 
Ephesians 3:20

Job may have had to deal with a lot of trials and hardships, but when everything was said and done...God's plans to give Job a future and a hope all came to pass.

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."
Jeremiah 29:11

God has this same plan for all of us...we all will face different trials and we will all have hard times...But we can always know that God is in control...God will work everything out for good

Romans 8:28 "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

I am so thankful for God's hedge of protection around my life.  I would not be where I am today without it.  God has been faithful to lead and guide, protect and provide.  

God is good! God is faithful! God is more than enough!! 

God Has a Plan!

God Has a Plan!

So these last few weeks have been kind of crazy at our house, and now my oldest is settled into the big girl routine that come with starting Kindergarten, we are almost done with the canning/preserving season, and the new ministry for mom's, we are starting at church, has finally started. It seems like the past few months couldn't have been any crazier or busier!  But out of it all, there is one thing that I just can't get out of my heart and mind, and to be honest, I don't want to!  

No matter what plans we make, or how we think things should go, and no matter how far reality strays from our so neatly laid plans...we can always count on God!  

God has a plan!  He is never surprised by the events, circumstances, trials, frustrating issues or any other thing we may be surprised by.  He knows all about it, and knew way in advance it was coming.  I can guarantee you that though you may think, that you had no warning or preparation to deal with these surprises, God in His great love and mercy, prepares the way. He straightens the path. He makes the mountains shrink, and the valley's rise up.  When you can't see your way out, you can know that the ground under you is firm, solid and level.  God will even carry you when you can't seem to go any further.  

God's love for you, is greater than you can imagine or grasp! Our minds can't even start to comprehend how great God's love is.  

So when God says in Jeremiah 29:11, "I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for."

We can trust that He means it! God will go whatever distance is required, just to show you that you are special, beautiful, and loved.  

When we know how much God loves us, it is a whole lot easier to trust and lean on Him.  So, if you get just one thing out of this blog post, I hope it is this - That you are loved, and your life is precious! Whatever you have going on today, give it to God, and trust Him...He knows what He is doing, He has it all planned out.  He will not abandon you.  He wants to give you the future you hope for!

God is so good!!

It's a Good Thing to Hope for Help from God

It's a Good Thing to Hope for Help from God

Life can be rough. We don't always know how we will make it. Things don't always make sense.  But I am so thankful that God is our source, our help, our shelter, our provider, and our healer.  Whatever we need, we can trust God to come through.  I love this portion of scripture, Israel is at it's lowest low...there didn't seem to be any hope, and in the midst of listing out all of the bad things going on, the prophet just had to share the hope that comes from trusting in God.  Whatever is going on in your life, remember "It's a Good Thing to Hope for Help from God".

Lamentations 3:19-36

It’s a Good Thing to Hope for Help from God

19-21 I’ll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness,

the taste of ashes, the poison I’ve swallowed.

I remember it all—oh, how well I remember—

the feeling of hitting the bottom.

But there’s one other thing I remember,

and remembering, I keep a grip on hope:

22-24 God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out,

his merciful love couldn’t have dried up.

They’re created new every morning.

How great your faithfulness!

I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over).

He’s all I’ve got left.

25-27 God proves to be good to the man who passionately waits,

to the woman who diligently seeks.

It’s a good thing to quietly hope,

quietly hope for help from God.

It’s a good thing when you’re young

to stick it out through the hard times.

28-30 When life is heavy and hard to take,

go off by yourself. Enter the silence.

Bow in prayer. Don’t ask questions:

Wait for hope to appear.

Don’t run from trouble. Take it full-face.

The “worst” is never the worst.

31-33 Why? Because the Master won’t ever

walk out and fail to return.

If he works severely, he also works tenderly.

His stockpiles of loyal love are immense.

He takes no pleasure in making life hard,

in throwing roadblocks in the way:

34-36 Stomping down hard

on luckless prisoners,

Refusing justice to victims

in the court of High God,

Tampering with evidence—

the Master does not approve of such things.

"Feet Like Fine Brass"

"Feet Like Fine Brass"

Revelations 1:12-17 (vs 15)

12 Then I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands,

13 and in the midst of the seven lampstands One like the Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and girded about the chest with a golden band.

14 His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and His eyes like a flame of fire;

15 His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters;

16 He had in His right hand seven stars, out of His mouth went a sharp two-edged sword, and His countenance was like the sun shining in its strength.

17 And when I saw Him, I fell at His feet as dead. But He laid His right hand on me, saying to me, “Do not be afraid; I am the First and the Last."

Deuteronomy 33:25-27 (KJV)

25 Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.

26There is none like unto the God of Jeshurun, who rideth upon the heaven in thy help, and in his excellency on the sky. 

27The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms: and he shall thrust out the enemy from before thee; and shall say, Destroy them.

Here are two different scriptures that talk of shoes/feet of brass.  The first one (from today's bible reading) is in Revelations 1 verse 15.  In this verse it is the description of Jesus' feet, as seen by John in his vision while on the island of Patmos. The second one, is from Deuteronomy 33:25. This one is a description of God's protection and provision to help us make it through the rough times coming in our lives. It is a promise!  

I have read both of these scriptures many times over the years, but today the Holy Spirit showed me that the "shoes of brass", in Deuteronomy, are a picture of Jesus working in us, making us more like Him.  This promise in Deuteronomy  is a foreshadow of Jesus' triumph in Revelations.  In Revelations, Jesus has conquered death, He doesn't need "shoes of brass" He has "feet of fine brass". God gave us the promise of "shoes of brass", or victory through Jesus, the one with "feet like fine brass", thousands of years before John had the vision on the Island of Patmos.  What an incredible promise, a promise not only of protection and strength, but the promise of Salvation through Christ, and the ability to become more like Jesus as well!

We don't need to try to go through life on our own strength, Jesus is our strength and He is giving us feet just like His!  Hallelujah!!

The True Vine - John 15

John 15 (NKJV)

The True Vine

1“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser.

2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 

3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 

4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 

6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 

7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 

8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.

Love and Joy Perfected

9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 

10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.

11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 

13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. 

14 You are My friends if you do whatever I command you. 

15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. 

16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you. 

17 These things I command you, that you love one another.

The World’s Hatred

18 “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 

19 If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. 

20 Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also. 

21 But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know Him who sent Me. 

22 If I had not come and spoken to them, they would have no sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin. 

23 He who hates Me hates My Father also. 

24 If I had not done among them the works which no one else did, they would have no sin; but now they have seen and also hated both Me and My Father. 

25 But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’

The Coming Rejection

26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me. 

27 And you also will bear witness, because you have been with Me from the beginning.

I love this chapter, did you know that it is the inspiration for this blog?!?!  God is The Vine, we are the branches. We live and breath and move in Him, apart from Him we can do nothing!   I am so thankful for God's provision!!  He didn't have to enable us to connect to Him and grow in Him...but He loves us so much, that He gave His Son's life to make it all possible.  As a mother of two, I cannot imagine ever giving up one of my children to save anyone, much less a world full of people who have shown a history of rejecting, denying, and abhorring the love so freely given.  I am amazed at the love of God, it never changes, it never fails, God's love is unconditional, steady, and so great we can not comprehend the expanse of it all.  

I do not claim to know or understand everything.  But I do know my Heavenly Father, and I know that when things in life don't make much sense, when we can't figure out the heads and tails of it all...God is in control, and if we will lean on Him and trust Him...He will work it all out for our good! My God has never failed me yet, even thought I've failed Him many times...yet His love and provision, mercy and grace are always more than enough!! 

God is so good!!

Dead Idols and the Living God

Isaiah 46
Dead Idols and the Living God

1 Bel bows down, Nebo stoops; Their idols were on the beasts and on the cattle. Your carriages were heavily loaded, A burden to the weary beast. 2 They stoop, they bow down together; They could not deliver the burden, But have themselves gone into captivity. 3 “Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel, Who have been upheld by Me from birth, Who have been carried from the womb: 4 Even to your old age, I am He, And even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you. 5 “To whom will you liken Me, and make Me equal And compare Me, that we should be alike? 6 They lavish gold out of the bag, And weigh silver on the scales; They hire a goldsmith, and he makes it a god; They prostrate themselves, yes, they worship. 7 They bear it on the shoulder, they carry it And set it in its place, and it stands; From its place it shall not move. Though one cries out to it, yet it cannot answer Nor save him out of his trouble. 8 “Remember this, and show yourselves men; Recall to mind, O you transgressors. 9 Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there isnone like Me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times thingsthat are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’ 11 Calling a bird of prey from the east, The man who executes My counsel, from a far country. Indeed I have spoken it; I will also bring it to pass. I have purposed it; I will also do it. 12 “Listen to Me, you stubborn-hearted, Who are far from righteousness: 13 I bring My righteousness near, it shall not be far off; My salvation shall not linger. And I will place salvation in Zion, For Israel My glory.

What a great message! God is so good.  Here Israel has made many golden and wooden images and called them gods, they bowed down in worship to things they had made with their own hands.  And they forgot to serve and worship the one true God.  But God in His goodness and mercy sends them and us this message...

3 “Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel, Who have been upheld by Me from birth, Who have been carried from the womb: 4 Even to your old age, I am He, And even to gray hairs I will carry you! I have made, and I will bear; Even I will carry, and will deliver you. 5 “To whom will you liken Me, and make Me equal And compare Me, that we should be alike?

then he continues in verse 9

9 Remember the former things of old, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me, 10 Declaring the end from the beginning, And from ancient times things that are not yet done, Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,’

What an amazing promise! I know there are times in life when we get distracted, and though we may not bow down to a golden or wooden image, we bow our hearts to material things allowing them to take priority, forgetting to make serving the only Living God our priority.  But this promise from God directed at a rebellious Israel, also is for us today!  God formed us, He has and will carry us, even into our old age...His counsel shall stand and He will do all of His good pleasure, in our lives.

Jeremiah 29:11 says, "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."

God has great plans for us...He is working in every situation and working out his good pleasures in our lives...even when we have made bad choices, and feel unworthy.  God's love and His plans for us, do not change based on our actions.  He has and always will love us more than we can imagine.  And even when we slip up and fail Him, He still is working to bring us back to a place of right relationship with Him, and He will use even those bad times to bring about good for us.  

I am so thankful! What an good and faithful God we serve!!!

GOD IS GOOD!!