A love letter

Psalms 18:1-2 NIV

I love you, LORD, my strength. 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.

The first verse of Psalm 18 stood out to me.  I love you, Lord, my strength. It was like I was writing a love letter to God.  It’s simple and powerful.  I love you, Lord, my strength.  It speaks of relationship.  It’s speaks of devotion to the One who empowers me to love each and every day. Days go by fast and it’s easy to get caught up in routines and miss simple truths, like the love of the Lord. I don’t want to do that. 

All the reading of devotions and His word should never eclipse my love for Him and His for me.  It should be pointing me towards Him and our love daily.  That’s what it’s all about.  Loving Him with all of my heart, soul and mind(Matthew 22:37).

The Psalmist, David, goes on to say that 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. (verse 2) All true statements for God is a firm foundation. He is our refuge and defense.  He shields us from the enemy and He is a place of safety where we can safely hide in the comfort  of His arms. 

He is the strength of our salvation.  He is our everlasting hope.  He is my everything and I love Him.  Sometimes it’s easy to get lost in words,  but the heart of the matter is love.  God in His graciousness allows us to keep it simple and just say I love You. He allows us to acknowledge Him.  In doing so we acknowledge our place with Him.  We acknowledge the Cross and His sacrifice for us.  We acknowledge that it was He that first loved us.  

Lord, I don’t have fancy words or flattering speech, but I do have the truth.  I love you, Lord, my strength.  I thank You for the gift of love. Lord, let me not get lost in the stuff of doing.  Help me to remember that my being is in You.   I thank You for the gift of your strength that empowers me to walk by faith and not by sight.  I thank You for being my stronghold and defense.  Thank You for all that You are and all that You do.I love You Lord.   In Jesus name.  Amen

Will He?

Luke 1:37 KJV

For with God nothing shall be impossible.

There it is in black and white- For with God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37).  God said it, I believe it, so everything should be cool right?  Let me be transparent about my hang up.  I absolutely believe that God can do anything.  I believe that there is nothing too big for my God because He is always bigger. But my problem is believing that He will do it for me.  There is my lack of faith.  It’s not a can He question, but a will He?

This question is what the enemy would have me stuck on because if I am stuck here I won’t move forward in faith. Yet, again my God is greater because the answer to the question is yes.  Wait, stop.  It’s more complex than that for me.  I believe that God will move on my behalf how He chooses to do so because whatever move He makes is for my good.  So the impossible becomes possible.  

It’s not my job to tell Him how to move, but I can humbly ask Him to move on my behalf.  I believe even a no is a yes from God because it’s for my good.  He is able and He is willing to do what is best for me because He loves me.  So I don’t need to get hung up on if He is willing to move for me.  I just need to trust and as a good friend and mentor sang in church last Sunday -Believe on it.

I don’t know if I made sense today, but I am hoping that someone else who may struggle with worrying g about outcomes will trust that God already knows the outcome and it’s for our good.  I am praying that someone else remembers the battles that He has already won for you and believes that He can do it again.  I’m praying that you know He loves us with an immeasurable love and that we shut the door on doubts.  I pray that we walk by faith believing in the impossible because we have God.

Lord, I thank You for letting me wrestle with stuff.  Things you already know.  I thank You that You take the time to reason with me and Your people.  I thank You for nothing being impossible with You.  I trust You with the outcomes.  Lord forgive me for those times that doubt creeps in.  Let me shut the door on it and the lies of the enemy.  In Jesus name.  Amen

"Interrupted" Plans

 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.-Jeremiah 29:11

Today is my last day in my position as an Instructional Coach.  My position was dissolved and I am going back into the classroom.  As I reflect on my journey the Lord led me to a quote from one of my daily devotionals. " Friend, God's plans need to be our plans....even if His plans seem to "interrupt" our plans."  Those words leapt off of the page for me because I need to look at my new journey the way God sees it and not with my limited vision.

It may not have been my plan to go back to the classroom, but it's His plan and His plans for me are good. He even worked it out where I get to go back to my beloved Columbia High School. My alma matter and place where I taught for 13 years. There is a purpose for me in the classroom and I will be obedient with joy because it's His plan and He knows what is best.  My mind is racing with all the possibilities and opportunities I will have to share Christ with my students and colleagues.  I'm being sent to an old field that's ready for a new crop.  I am the servant sent to sow or either reap what He is or has planted.

 God 's word says in Romans 8:28  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. All things work for the good, but its according to His purpose.  Not my plan, but His and again His plans are good for me.

How do I know this?  I know this because He says it in His word.  "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.-Jeremiah 29:11  I know this because I have witnessed His faithfulness. So what may appear as an "interruption" may actually be a course correction to get me where I need to be and I want to be in the center of His will.

I think about all the blessings that come with being a classroom teacher and I move to a heart posture of gratitude.  I am move to gratitude because He cares about me enough to guide me on my journey.  He has blessed me with an opportunity to take what I have learned and grow into a stronger individual; into a woman who walks by faith.  A woman who trust in God.  One who is willing to take the test in order to have a testimony so that He may get the glory.

Father, thank You for Your Spirit that speaks to me.  Thank You for being all knowing for You know just what I need to hear at the right time.  Thank You for my journey and Your guidance.  Order my steps.  Keep me obedient to Your will for my life. Keep me humbled and bowed before You. May I be a blessing to others.  In Jesus name.  Amen

Burden Bearer

 

Psalms 68:19 NIV

Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.

The dictionary describes a burden as a load that is generally heavy,  Life is changing for me and questions swirl in my head.  Burdens of will I be "good enough" and  how will I adjust financially plague me.  Yet, even as I type these words I hear God saying "I got you. You are good enough because You are mine.  I will and have equipped you for the task that lies ahead. So tears come to my eyes as I read  and reflect on this Word from the Lord.  Just to know that I am not alone. That I am not without help brings me comfort and joy.

Perhaps you are carrying a burden and you have been trying to carry them by yourself in your own strength.  Well there is good news, we don't have to because the Lord God our Savior daily bears our burdens.  He daily heeds our call.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 11:28-30 to "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” When we are yoked to Jesus we can draw upon His strength.  We can find rest for our souls, for our inner man.  We just have to trust Him and rest in Him.

Lord, thank You for daily bearing our burdens.  Thank You for showering us with such compassionate love.  Let us look to You and trust in You. Forgive us when we doubt and try to carry burdens on our own. Let us rely on your strength and not our own. We love You Lord.  In Jesus name.  Amen

Shout for joy

 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth. Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.~ Psalm 100:1-3

Today I feel good! I have a profound joy and I owe it all to Jesus.  My circumstances are the same, but so is He.  He is a mighty God.  An all knowing and powerful God.  He is Lord!

 I actually packed up my office today. Cleared away the clutter and prepared for what's next.  Income levels will change, but it is okay because my cup runneth over (Psalm 23:5). God is the good Shepherd and He is good to me. His blessings overflow and my heart is filled with gratitude.

He woke me up this morning and put an extra pep in my step. He let the sun shine on my skin and feel me with warmth. He started my day with purpose fulfilled and excitement about the days ahead.  He is doing a new thing in my life. The old will become new and I am full of expectation as I watch Him move in my life. I thrilled about what He is going to do in me.

It's a popular thing to say "Thank God it's Friday."  Keeping it real I am thankful that it's Friday, but even more thankful that there is a God. This is the day that He has made and I rejoice in it (Psalm 118:24).

If you are feeling down remember God loves you.  Take a moment to think about all the many blessing, however small they may be that God has endowed you with and look up. Give Him thanks.  Give Him praise. Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever( Psalm 118:1).

Lord thank You for this day. Thank You for Your love. Thank You for your joy.  Thank You for being God.  Bless your people and in turn may we give You the praise due to You and shout joyfully unto to You, Father.  For we are Yours and that is a very good thing. Forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  Help us to seek You first. In Jesus name.  Amen

Be intentional

 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. ~Romans 12:11-12

The dictionary defines zeal as  having a great energy or enthusiasm in pursuit of a cause or an objective.  Fervor is defied as intense and passionate feeling.  I have to examine myself and ask myself if i have lost this zeal or fervor,  Am I serving the Lord with enthusiasm and intense passion or am I just going through the motions?  The answer is sometimes yes and sometimes no.  Don't like the answer, but the truth will set me free.  Free to be intentional in my demonstration of love for Christ and His people.  Intentional about letting even the routines things and doing of my day be about serving Him in some way.

Life is changing for me and I must be joyful in the hope of what God is going do next in my life.  Joyful in the preparations He has already made for me and in me.  Joyful  in the hope of growth in the Lord that is going to take place.

I also have to be patient in affliction.  Patient in the grind of the day when I don't see any change I have to know and believe that He is working behind the scenes on my behalf. Patient when things don't go my way because I know its going His way.

And I must be faithful in prayer.  Faithful in my communication with God.  Faithful in being still so that I can listen to His voice and not just do all the talking.  Faithful in prayer so I can know the next step that He wants me take.  The next hand He wants me to hold or person He wants me to encourage  Faithful in prayer so that I can have continual zeal and fervor in serving Him, Christ my Lord.

Lord, I confess that sometimes I am just going through the motions, running on my strength which is fumes. That I lack luster in serving You the most wise God.  Forgive me and fall fresh on me so that I can be about my Father's business.  Let me do Kingdom work.  I want to hear You say well done thy good and faith servant.  Help to e to be joyful  in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer.  Help me to do these things so that You will get the glory.  I thank You for the doors that You open and opportunities You present to serve You, to tell other of your goodness.  I thank You for the test so that I can have a testimony. In Jesus name.  Amen

Walking by faith

 For we walk by faith, not by sight. ~2 Corinthians 5:7

Stepping out in faith.  Easier said than done, but is it?  I think about how much trust I put into my car and driving ability to get me from A to B. I get into the car and crank it up, expecting it to crank.  I don't open the hood of the car and check the engine.  I don't walk around the car "kicking" the tires.  I get in and I drive.  I drive most days on autopilot because I am going to a destination that is known. One that is built into my muscle memory.  I have faith that I will get there.  If I can trust a car, created by man and myself taught to drive by a man.  Surely, I can trust God.

The NIV translation says that we live by faith, not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7).  We move and have our being trusting in the One who knows it all and sees it all.  We step out each day in faith moving towards the destination that He is taking us. Like GPS we get one set of directions at a time.  The Holy Spirit is our vehicle or operation.  He will guide our steps if we trust and obey.

This is where peace is ushered in. Even in the midst of a storm.  We have God to safely guide us through, by faith.  We trust His promises and His word.  And like a friend shared with me today.  He calms the storm or calms us in the midst of it.  For He is a good and faithful Father.

Walking by faith is a choice.  One we must make moment by moment.  We tell ourselves that when we are afraid of the unknown we are known to God.  He knows what we have need of and He will step in.

Lord, thank You for being a God that we can trust.  Thank You for Your Spirit that leads and guides us.  Help us not to lean to our own understanding or base or decisions on what we see with the human eye.  Help us to remember that there is so much more to You and You are working it for our good.  Help us to walk by faith.  Give us courage and strength to do so.  We will be careful to give You all the glory and the honor.  We love You Lord.  In Jesus name.  Amen