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“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”     Hebrews 12:1,2

I will never forget the feeling of not hearing my name called out when the kids chose their teams for sports games in elementary and middle school.  I was usually one of the last choices for whatever reason but it was always embarrassing.  In a world where we place so much value on being seen as worthy, based on how we look, what we wear, and what others think of us, we forget whether or not we care if our team even wins the race set before us.  I am so glad that the captain that called my name for His team, already ran and won the most important race there is.  Christ, after running the race, enduring the cross, and rising from the dead to bridge the gap between us and God, sat at His Fathers right hand and pointed to me.  He called my name, me, that little hopeless girl, abused and tossed aside, scarred and damaged…all the years of my life He has pursued me, held me up, healed me, whispered tender mercies into my spirit…He lifted me up out of the ashes of my life and place me on the path of the race I must run, but He runs it with me…That is the Best Team Captain Ever!!! And the awesome news is that He still has plenty of room on His team…

“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”     Galatians 6:9

With Black Friday around the corner, it seems that Thanksgiving is turned into just another pre-event fuel stop.  When so many people seem to be stuffing turkey down their throats, inhaling a bunch of caffeine, and rushing out to trample each other over a pair of socks, it is very easy to be discouraged or even embarrassed by human nature.  I take heart in remembering how many people there still are out there who give freely and consistently of their time, energy, money, and even their lives for the freedoms we enjoy.  Military, Fire and Rescue, Police Officers, Christians, and Medical Caregivers give tirelessly of themselves for the sake of others.  I am so grateful for them and it makes me pause to ponder what it would be like if they all decided to just give up serving.  Even deeper, where would we be if Christ just became so exasperated with us and our selfish nature that He decided to just throw in the towel and go back to heaven instead of giving His life on the cross for us.  There are no words to completely express my gratefulness to Him.  For Him I will not lose heart….Happy Thanksgiving!!!

“Now this is the confidence we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He will hear us.  And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petition that we have asked of Him.”     1 John 5:14,15

Having faith in God means trusting Him even though I cannot see or understand His ways or His plan for me.  I have to believe He knows what He is doing and He wants only for my good.  I do not have an understanding of why our situation does not seem to have an end in sight, but I have to trust Him even if I cannot see what lies ahead.  What I do know is that I am responsible for my attitude and actions within my circumstances.  How I handle the situation is what He sees and what others see.  When I say that I want to reflect Him, it means that even in the face of impossible situations I should not be filled with fear, anger, or frustration.  It means that I need to walk in peace, in faith, and in power that comes not from myself but from Him.  I need to continue to walk forward in confidence, knowing that if I  am being obedient in my walk, He has heard me and will provide what I need, in His timing not mine.  I need to really practice having patience and trust in Him.  I believe that the word faith is a verb, a word of action and effort.  Faith is not automatic, but rather, it is an active effort to go, to be, and to do everything in a manner that displays my trust in Him and my belief that He will do what His word promises He will do.

 

“Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with loving kindness and tender mercies.”     Psalms 103:2-4

It is so easy to feel sorry for myself and look at how crappy and miserable my situation is.  Thinking on all the things I do not have fills my heart and mind with a desire to just quit trying, quit praying, and wait for the next punch in the face that life seems to keep offering.  Afer sitting a good while in my puddle of self-pity and loathing, I hear a soft whisper, just a whisper, and  it causes me to look up and see whats interrupting my childish fit.  I look back down at myself to get back to my wallowing, and I hear it again…a gentle breeze floats across my face, cool and fragrant.  How can I feel sorry for myself with these constant interruptions…its not my fault that my life is so miserable, I deserve so much better,  how come everyone else has so much more than I do…”My Child”…there it is again, that whisper…”Am I not enough for you”?  There it is, that one thing that makes sense to me.  When my time on earth is over, am I gonna pack up all my things to drag them up to heaven with me?  I realize that all the things I thought were so important will simply fall to dust when I am called home.  What will remain are the choices I made with what was given to me.  I was given six beautiful children, and to date 3 grandbabies with a fourth almost here, and a loving husband and family.  I realize that  when I am so busy looking at myself and what I don’t have, I am missing all of the good things right in front of me.  God is right there before me, holding out His hand to lift me up and carry me through troubled waters.  He loves me, comforts me, laughs with me, and cries with me.  When I look to the Father, who pursues me always, I remember His truths, and His promises to me, His child, and I can see clearly all of the times He has worked mightily in my life, and now I can answer back to Him…yes Lord, You are enough for me…

“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me- the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.”     Acts 20:24

If I woke one morning to find myself standing at the finish line of a race, with a trophy in my hand and a bunch of people cheering, I would be quite confused.  I would be wondering why it was such a big deal and would feel kind of funny standing there with some silly little trinket in my hand.  The blood, sweat, and tears that it takes to run that race are what makes the finish line so valuable, and what gives that trophy such importance.

There are so many times where I think I have it figured out and then things go in a completely different direction. It reminds me that He is God and I am not.  I always look back from the other side of things and see so clearly how things went the way they did and why.  I think, how did I not see that, because it is so obvious. I am realizing that I do not have nearly the patience and faith that I think I do.  There is so much less fear and frustration when I do not seek beyond one day at a time.  Tomorrow is never certain so why waste my time worrying over what is not here yet.  If I focus on what I choose to do, say, and feel in today, I am much more content and I see more of what He wants of me.

The journey is where we find value, making us who we are.  I think I want to look to my finish line and see my Heavenly Father waiting for me with love, hope, and open arms; then I can strive everyday to find joy in my journey and finish well!

“The seas have lifted up, O Lord, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea- the Lord on high is Mighty.     Psalms 93:3, 4.

I choose to live by faith and trust in Gods word, His truth! I am so very small but He is Mighty!  Everything that is good, pure, and beautiful comes from Him…how can we not stand in awe and wonder at who He is…there is too much proof for me to doubt Him.  Too many times I have been on my face before him, overwhelmed by things I thought impossible, and I look up to see obstacles crumble before Gods awesome power.  When things seem too big to overcome, just remember to look up, look to His word, look to His truth, and remember how Mighty His love for us is…there is no battle He will not wage for us his creation, His children…and He will win, for HE IS MIGHTY!!!!!

“Who is he that overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the son of God.”     1 John 5:5

When I became born again, God placed His seal of approval upon me, placing me within His hand, and nothing can ever snatch me away. He placed His Holy Spirit within me to dwell as His guarantee that when I am called home, I will have a place in His kingdom. Christ, sinless and blameless in His father’s sight, was crucified, died, and was raised from the dead, in order to make it possible for my name to never be erased from the book of Life. By His seal upon me, I have been given Gods authority to do good works that bring glory to His name. Everything I do, think, or perform is laid bare before the Father. I am by no means perfect and I fall short and fall on my face a lot, but I am so grateful that Gods Grace does not wash off and I need only get up, dust myself off, look to Him and walk forward with a desire to try again. God knows we are unworthy…that’s what Christ is for…to bridge that gap…we need only Believe!

“…A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”     Galatians 6:7-9

I read this scripture and it struck me that I feel so much more fulfillment in doing something kind for someone else than I do when I think about what I want for myself. The more I pray for others needs, the less I seem to care about my own. I try each day to simply trust that God knows my needs and will provide.  Trust me, there are times that I struggle with fear over my needs, but I try to remember to lay it at the Fathers feet, and somehow He always works for my good.  When I look over my life, I see where God has used a lot of very wonderful people who had a servant’s heart, I believe, to meet my needs.  In a time and age where there is so much anger and selfish behavior, it can easily cause us to become very cynical about the good that is left in humanity.  That is the enemy!  I may have no control over the choices and behavior of others but by george, I am gonna be a servant!  When I stand before my father on the day He calls me home, I want to hear, “…Well done, good and faithful servant!..”   Matt.25:21

“For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us..”     Psalms 103:11,12

I thank God that he fills me with His presence. He fills me with such sweet peace, love and forgiveness every day. I am so grateful that I am His child and that each day He opens the word to me, breathing His peace and understanding over me like a gentle wave. God gives me purpose every day, walking beside me, as well as carrying me through deep waters. Following God is so much sweeter than walking alone. He laughs with me in my joy, cries with me in my sorrow, and lifts me up in his arms when I have not the strength to stand in struggle…That is Perfect Love!

“Then you will call upon me and go and pray to me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek me and find me, when you search for me with all your heart”.     Jeremiah 29:12-13

I have read this verse over and over  and I just keep coming back to how God promises that he will hear me and that he is right there for me to find if I am actively looking for him. So I pray every day that I will continually search my heart for any areas that I am not seeking him in.  I want Him, I love Him, and I need Him every single day! It doesn’t matter who you are, there is no way to navigate this world without Gods help! I certainly don’t want to try doing that anymore, because I am terrible at doing it on my own strength. All of my life God has followed me, never giving up on me, and immediate in washing over me with His Forgiveness and Grace.  I am so very comforted in that!