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

He is able

 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—  to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.~Jude 1:24-25

I haven't written in my blog this week because I really do not know what to say.  What does God want me to reveal?  I have had a lazy week.  The first of summer for me.  I haven't had any obligations so I have become the very definition of a couch potatoe.  Bing watching TV.  And today I feel like I have wasted an opportunity.  An opportunity to do more.

Sometimes I feel like I am not doing enough.  Like I'm not loving the Lord enough. I study His word, but I can't seem to hold on to it.  I pray that it finds good soil because I want to be  a strong woman of faith.  It saddens me, but then I am reminded that my salvation is not based on what I do.  It's not based on my striving, but its based on the work of the Savior.  Jesus who died for me and rose again.  

I believe in Him as I believe in the Father.  His word tells me that He is able to keep me from stumbling.  So I do not have to rely on my own strength, but on He who works in me.  Because of the shed blood of Jesus I am covered  by His righteousness.   I am so grateful.  Words are not enough to thank Him.

As for the guilt that enemy wants me to feel, I'm casting that behind my back because I know I work hard throughout the school year and I have worked this summer.  I  had a mental break and the work will begin soon.  My real work is not the content I teach, but the souls that I can reach.  God is in charge.  He knows my heart and I will not be yoked to bondage.

I guess I did have something to say after all.

Jesus, I thank You for the pause in my schedule to rest, but let me never forget that my real rest is found in You.  I thank You for the free gift of salvation and the mercy You give.  Thank You for keeping me upright and may i walk step in step with You.  In Jesus name.  Amen

Jesus

 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.~John 3:16

God loves me.  He loves my neighbor.  How do I know this?  I know this because He sent His only Son to die for me.  Christ died an agonizing death.  A death where He took on the wrath of God for our sins; past, present, and future.  

We might say well Jesus was God so it didn’t cost Him much.  But Jesus was fully human and fully God.  His fully human nature without sin was mocked and beaten and nailed to a cross.  He was hung high and had to be separated from His Father because of the sin that was cast upon Him for our sakes.  On that Cross He died, but as a song says that not how the story ends because 3 days later He arose.  Victory over death.

Jesus is King. I need to always remember His sacrifice and humbly submit.  Jesus has already done enough, but my blessings don’t stop there because of His wondrous grace and mercy. Thank You Jesus.

Father I thank You for Your sacrifice and indescribable love for me and humanity.  May we all pause and worship Jesus the King who drank of the cup for us.  Granting us a path to salvation.  Let us never forget.  Let us live a life that brings honor to You.  In Jesuyname.  Amen

The mirror

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.~Psalm 139:14

I hate shopping.  I hate looking in the mirror and seeing the lumps and bumps.  It depresses me. I know that the majority of it is out of my control, but it is what it is.

Then I think about how God sees me.  I am reminded of His love for me.  I am more than my body and I do not need to compare myself to anyone or anything.  The Creator created me and He makes no mistakes.

I’m also reminded that it is good for me to look in the mirror, a spiritual mirror, and let the light of God shine on me so that I can see where I need Him to shape and mold me more like Him.  The enemy would have me down, but I will look up to Jesus and feel His love.

Lord, help me to see me as You see me.  Help me to choices physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually that reflect You and bring honor to You.  In Jesus name.  Amen