His loving eye is on us

 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.~Psalm 32:8

Yesterday, I came upon this post by Tamara Mowry  sharing the scripture above.  She broke it down in such a way that stood out to me and I want to share it with others. 

 Psalm 32:8 emphasizes God’s loving relationship with us.  First He tells us that He will instruct us.  He is giving us the directions for how to live.  He shares with us the boundaries that will keep us safe and warns us off the consequences of not aligning to His will.  But He doesn’t stop there because He says teaches us.

This hit home for me because as a teacher I show my students the way.  I scaffold lessons to help them learn and meet the mark and that what God does.  He doesn’t leave us alone to figure it out.  He teaches us the way to go.  As Tamara said, “He shows us”. 

In addition to showing us, He comes beside us and counsels us with His loving eye.  I think of the Spirit, the Helper, that is available to all believers.  The indwelling of the Spirit that leads us on the path.  God talking and walking with us.  He is intentional.

What a precious gift we have in Jesus.  What a loving Father.  We are not alone.  We are loved and precious in His sight.

Father, I thank You for having Your Word go forth.  Thank You for the seeds you plant in our hearts and the growth that comes.  Thank You for teaching us and counseling us.  Thank you for showing us the way.  Forgive us when we falter.  Help us to get back up and keep moving on.  In Jesus  name.  Amen

Worship Him

 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.~Romans 12:1

Today is a gift.  Another opportunity to praise and worship God.  Because of His great mercy and faithfulness we should make the most of each day by praising and worshipping God through our thoughts and actions.

Each of has a purpose and when we seek to fulfill that purpose we are worshipping the Lord.  Using the gifts that God has granted each of us to up build His z kingdom is worship.  Aligning ourselves to His will and choosing His way is worship.

Yesterday, I was prompted to choose my attitude and approach for the day.  It was a play on the word Tuesday, but every day we are given a choice to position ourselves for victory as we worship the Lord.  Even on the the rough days we can still choose to trust Him.  Choose to praise, honor, and worship Him in spirit and in truth.

Whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord. ( Colossians 3:23-24).  Whether that be teaching, singing, working in an office, serving as a greeter, being a caregiver or a mom. Walk humbly with God and worship Him. Let your light shine so that others may see God.  

Lord,  today is a gift; an opportunity to worship You.  I do not have to wait until Sunday.  I can praise You right now through my actions and deeds.  I thank You for this opportunity and join with fellow brothers and sisters by lifting your name on High.  Forgive us when we fall short and help us to continue to put You first. Hides us behind You Jesus.  We will give You all the glory, honor, and praise.  In Jesus name. Amen

Steady

 Jesus Will

That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. ~ Psalm 1:3

The word steady was used by a friend to describe me.  I immediately thought of this word.  It's not me that is steady, but Christ in me the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).  The hardship of battling with depression and anxiety is present, but my God is greater and because I tap into Him I can still yield fruit.

I am abiding in the Vine.  He is doing the work.  I am just yielding and letting Him have His way.  I am trusting that God is taking my good and my bad and working it for my good.(Romans 8:28)  Its shaping me and making me into the woman of God that He desires me to be.

So as my friend spoke life into me, I speak life into others.  You may feel fragile.  Like fine glass that might shatter, but remember Who is holding you.  Remember who holds your hands.  He will keep you steady.  You will bloom where you are planted.  The hardships will not overtake you because God has given you the way of escape-"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13

For those who might be thinking my blogs are sounding familiar that is because battling with anxiety and depression is an ongoing battle.  But God delivers me from the oppression of the enemy by allowing me to share the truth of a mighty deliverer whose mercies are brand new everyday and every minute.  The battle comes, but He gives me the victory.  I just have to stay in position and disposition to receive it.

Lord, I thank You for another day.  I thank You for light in the shadows.  I thank You for victory.  I thank You for the steadiness of You.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen

I'm a Witness

 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever. ~ Psalm 136:1

Lord, You are mighty and You are great.  There are not enough words to express the wonders of You.  You continue to bring me out of the traps that enemy tries to ensnare me with.  Every time depression would dare lift its' head, You put Your foot on its neck.  You save me.  You spare me.  You remind me that You deliver me from my afflictions( Psalm 34:19) You see me and You hold me.  You wipe every tear.  You comfort me as only You can.  Thank You for having your hands on me.

Lord. It is You who calms the storms that arise in my life.  You give me a spirit of joy.  Hallelujah!  You give me peace because of Your grace.  It is You who allows me to overcome.  You are a blessed Father and I blessed because of You.  Thank You.  Thank You.  Thank You.

I know that I am not the only one who deals with hard days and battle depression and I know that I am one of of many witnesses of how God is a deliverer.  I am a witness of enduring love.  If you are in a dark tunnel or dealing with a some form of hardship, hold on.  Know and trust that the Lord is their.  Even if it is a sliver of light, head towards it.  He is Your hope and He wont let you down.  He loves you just as much if not more than He loves me.

Jesus, I thank You.  Father, I love You.  Holy Spirit, I continually need You.  Bless Your people Lord and thank You for love.  You are great and mercy goes deep.  Thank You for the opportunity to praise You.  Forgive me and cleanse me of any and all sin.  Cover me with Your blood.  In Jesus name I pray.  Amen 

By His Spirit

  Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”  And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. ~John 20:21-22

The Lord is gracious to us.  He promised that He will never leave us nor forsake us.(Hebrews 13:5.  Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father, but God the Father and Jesus gave us access to the triune God by giving us the Holy Spirit.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—John 14:6.  

We who believe and receive have the person of the Holy Spirit living in us and on us.  This week has been a battle.  I have had to tell myself the truth over and over again.  The truth is that that Spirit guides us, comforts us, and protects us.   

I have been walking through shadows, but as God promised He is the good Shepherd and His Spirit has protected me.  His Spirit has comforted me and shown me the way.  His Spirit has protected me and made a way.  The  things that I could not do on my own God did through His Spirit.

We all have a purpose and mission from the Lord and we can rest assured that the Lord does not send us to do it alone or in our power, but rather His.  Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.(Zechariah 4:6)  I am absolutely humbled by God.  The devil was working overtime to steal my joy, but God restored me.  He would not let Him have me.  Thank You Jesus. Thank You Holy Spirit.  Thank You Father.

Father, You are a mighty God that has infinite wisdom.  Thank You for seeing to needs of Your people.  Thank You for breathing on me.  Thank You for your comfort, peace, guidance, and protection.  Thank You for Your Spirit.  In Jesus name.  Amen

Dealing with Anxiety

 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?~ Mathew 6:25-27

I struggle with anxiety.  Some days it takes my breath away.  All the pressures and demands seem to snowball and I am left feeling like I'm grasping for air.  The one thing I have learned over the many years of dealing with this "illness" is to take it to the Lord.  

I reach out to Him honestly and tell Him what I am feeling and then I go to His word.  His word tells me not to worry.  Everything I have need of will be met by Him.  He will show me how to complete paperwork or send someone to help me walk through it.  He will help me to support my children in the way the He knows is best.  

He will give me time to pause in my day to take a breath and remember that He is Lord; He is Sovereign and that He is present with me.  I can meditate on His word and feel His calming presence.  He will walk with me through the shadows and bring me to the clear light.  

Lord I thank You for allowing me to be transparent and open with You because You know all.  Thank You for prayer that gives me access to Your throne because of Jesus.  Thank You for giving me what I need to deal with anxiety when it gets to be too much.  Thank You for the blessing and provision of You.  In Jesus name. Amen

Pause-His Shed Blood

 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. ~ Matthew 26:28

Tomorrow is Good Friday.  The only reason why it is good is because of what Christ did for me and you.  He shed His blood so that we might be forgiven.  It's Holy Week and on Sunday I was in church watching the waving of palms, praising God and then Monday came.  I got lost in the hustle and bustle of traveling for a work conference.  Trusting God for traveling mercies and provision, but I took my eye off the main thing Jesus.  

I want to honor Jesus.  I want to praise and magnify Jesus because if not for Him I would be damned; condemned. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.(Romans 6:23).  I do not want to miss the gravity of what Christ went through for me.  He shed His blood or me.  He died for me.  I know He arose and lives seated at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 12:2)  Yet, I want to remember His sacrifice.  I want to remember the cost.  It keeps me humble and hungry for Jesus.

The inheritance I have from God is because of Christ Jesus and in Christ Jesus.  This blessed life I live is because of Jesus.  I want to be holy because He is Holy.  I just wanted to pause and say thank You.

Jesus You have blessed me richly.  Thank You.  Thank You for Your sacrifice.  Thank You for Your shed blood that covers me.  Thank You for being God.  In Jesus name.  Amen