Hard Lessons- worth it

 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.~ Proverbs 3:5-6

Today in my First 5 studies of Chronicles we looked at the consequences of following your own understanding.  The consequences of good intentions rather than God’s will and word. In 1 Chronicles 13:5 we read “ And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzzah, and he struck him down because he put out his hand to the ark, and he died there before God.”  This has always been a hard verse for me to swallow.  In my finite understanding I just think Uzzah was trying to keep the Ark from following off the cart.  But it wasn’t supposed to be on a cart in the first place.  It was to be carried on poles by the Levites (Exodus 25:12-15). Uzzah, unfortunately was doing what was right in his mind, even though they were good intentions it was a fatal decision.

No matter  what we may think, good intentions or not, we have to trust in God alone.  We have to let His will be done and word be followed.  As I say this, I think of God’s grace because we are all doing the best that we can.  Which is why we need Jesus because our good(best) is not enough.  We have to be covered by blood and rest in the goodness of our Savior.  We have to continuously inquire of the Lord for every decision; big and small.  We have to trust God to make our paths straight.  We also have to remember that God loves us fiercely.  He doesn’t love us because we are so good, but because He is.  He loves us because  we are His.

Lord, reading passages like today make even more grateful for your grace and mercy.  Help me to understand Your will.  Help me not lean to what I think, but trust in what You say, what You do and Who You are.  Help me trust You with all my heart and always seek You first.  Help me to wait on You.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen

Humpty Dumpty

He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. ~Isaiah 40:2

There is a nursery rhyme called Humpty Dumpty. “ Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall.  Humpty Dumpty had a great fall.  All the king’s horses and all the king’s men, couldn’t put Humpty Dumpty back together again.”   I used to be that egg, broken and disillusioned with life.  I knew God, but I doubted.  I let the shame of my mistakes and the lies of the enemy keep from realizing the truth.

Today, I consider myself a Fabergé egg.  I am put together and whole.  I glisten with blessings.  I am valued and loved because the King put me back together.  King Jesus pulled me out the mire and muck of sin.  The King took the shattered pieces of my heart and gave me a new one.  He gave me a new way to love and a new way to view love.

His grace and mercy gave me a firm place to stand.  I am not sliding and slipping, but firmly placed on the Rock of Christ.  He has seen  to every detail of my life.  There is not a piece of me missing. What man can not do, God did and I am grateful.  He restored me and gave me a new life.  There is nothing that God cannot do and no one that He cannot save.  Give Him a try, you wont regret it.

Lord, I thank You for love and Your redemption.  Thank You for transforming me and my life.  You are a good, good Father and I love you.  In Jesus name.  Amen

A Praise to God

 “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” 

(Psalm 73:26, NIV).

It’s been a few weeks since I’ve posted. My heart was heavy and zi was weary, but God is my strength.  God is my everything.  Today I would like to offer a praise to My God.  I want to praise Him for His faithfulness and honor Him for His holiness.

I want to thank Him for His daily presence.  

I want to thank God for Jesus that ushers in salvation and the Spirit that grants sanctification.  I want to thank Him for His wisdom and grace.  I thank Him for His covering.  I thank Him for being God.

Lord, You know what I have been through and You are seeing me to the other side.  Thank You Lord.  I love You.  In Jesus name. Amen

Victory in the storm

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.Isaiah ~43:2

My pastor is currently teaching us about victory in the storm.  Storms are trials and tribulations.  They look like grief over the loss of loved ones, sickness and disease, financial strain and hardships, depression, and lack of clarity.  Storms are not fun when you are going through, but one thing remains true- God is with us.

We will not be swallowed up.  We will not drown. We will make it to the other side.  We just have to continue to put our hope and trust in God.  He is our anchor and  sure foundation.

The enemy wants us to withdraw from God, but now is the time that we draw even closer to Him.  Now is the time to feel His breath upon our spiritual skin.  God is good in every season and in Joshua 1:9  He reminds us to be of good courage because He is with us.

Lord,  help us to cling to You in the midst of the storm,  strengthen our faith and let us feel your love.  Even when we don’t understand they why we know You are working it out for our good.  Help us to cling to the truth of You.  In Jesus name. Amen

Jehova El- My God

 The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield[ and the horn[ of my salvation, my stronghold. ~Psalm 18:2

Jehova Eli means my God.  In Psalm 18 we find David praising and worshipping God for his deliverance.  David has a personal relationship with God.  It is intimate.

Just as God was a rock for David, He has been and is my rock.  God is my firm foundation.  I stand on the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Jesus is my King, Savior, and friend. My God is a deliver and refuge .  He is my safe space. My peace amongst chaos.  He is my anchor.

I have been walking with Christ for most of my life, but I still desire a more intimate relationship with Him.  I know that this obtain by spending more time with Him.  More time with His word.  It requires me to be still and hand the reigns over to Him.

As my pasture shared one Sunday, when I am still I can become more aware.  I can hear clearly His voice .  He reveals Himself to me.  He makes me aware of His availability.  I can go to Him about any and everything because God cares about the details of my life.  

And when I go to Him I can trust that He will respond.  The Lord hears us when we cry out to Him.  He will respond and assure us of His promises.  He will fulfill them all because He is God.  He does not lie.

My God is the only wise God.  Ruler of everything and I  grateful to know Him.  Grateful that veil has been torn and I have direct access to Him.  Thank You Lord.

Father, may I consistently make time for You.  May I be a doer of Your word.  You have granted me salvation and now May I continue to be sanctified; set a part for Your purpose in the Kingdom. Give me a clean heart and a renewed spirit.  Bless Your people.  In z Jesus name I pray. Amen

Chosen

 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.”  John 15:16 (NIV)

I am preparing to go back into the classroom for another year.  I could retire, but God has not released me.  As I read the verse above I have a reinforced perspective about my calling as a teacher.  I did not choose this career, but God chose me for it so that I may do His work.  And the bonus is that He has helped and will help me to do it. 

I have an opportunity to touch many lives for Jesus.  I have the responsibility to bear fruit.  The fruit of grace that comes from knowing my Savior.  The fruit of gentleness and kindness because although I am in charge of my classroom I might be the only discipline with love that  my students see.

I want to be the hands and feet of Jesus as I walk through my school.  That  means less of me and so much more of Him.  I must decrease that He May increase. 

I pray that as I teach content and interact with my peers that others know Jesus. That I fulfill the purpose that He has for me.

Lord, I ask that You bless all the students that are returning to school and bless the teachers and staff.  May You get the glory in the schools.  May Your love abound.  Equip us to do your work.  In Jesus name. Amen

In His hands

 “The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.” Lamentations 3:25-26 (NIV)

I received a call yesterday from someone dear to me.  The doctors want to take a closer look at her mammogram results.  She was calm and expecting me to be calm.  As I heard the news, I thought about my sick father-in law, my “sister-in law” who is going through treatment now, my friend who needs a liver transplant, and my co worker who is battling cancer.  Now this.  I was calm and I was encouraged by this fear person because she said what holds the key to peace.  “ I’m leaving it in the Lord’s hands.”

I have written before about this season of life.  It’s hard.  I pray and seek to pray for each person as God will.  I call on my God, the Almighty One and I leave it in His hands.  The outcomes of all these situations and circumstances I do not know, but I do know there is refuge in hope in the Lord.  He is mine their safe haven.  I know He answers prayer.  

I know that He provides a comfort that I never could and He is with His children.  He is good.  Yes, in the midst of what is overwhelming He is a good, good Father.  So I put it into His safe hands and rest.

Lord, You know what each and every person stands in need of.  You are our provider and shield.  You are our strength.  I ask that bless the ones going through trials and tribulations and their families too.  Strengthen us all and let us leave it in Your capable hands.  In Jesus name.  Amen