A Little Encouragement ~

A Little Encouragement from Dr. Charles Stanley

Scriptures Referenced:

Philippians 4:6 -7

Psalm 16:7 - 8

Psalm 4:8

Psalm 27:1

Psalm 139:23

Psalm 138:7

Psalm 138:8

Psalm 138:3

Philippians 4:19

Isaiah 41:10

John 3:16

1 John 1:9

Psalm 121:1-8

Isaiah 54:17

Psalm 32:7

Psalm 94:19

Psalm 23:4

Psalm 139:3

Proverbs 3:5 - 6

Hugs and Payers,

D . . .

The Peace-Thief

Hello There!  I hope you're all doing well.  It's almost incomprehensible to think May 2018 is already here.  Hello?  I don't know, but time seems to be whipping by and I for one wish it would slow down a little.  It feels as if we're all on a reality TV show fast-forwarded, right?

Anyways, in my 2018 "to read" stash I collected in January, I picked up Uninvited by Lysa TyerKeurst.  In part of the book, she reflects on the story in 1 Samuel about the two wives of Elkanah, Hannah and Peninnah.  I hadn't visited this story in a while and was happy to read it again.  The next day, I heard a radio speaker speaking on the same passage.  Later that week, I opened my Bible to the very same passage.  Three times?

In summary, Elkanah was an Ephraimite with two wives, Hannah and Peninnah.   Peninnah was fertile and had borne him many children.  Hannah was barren and very ashamed and disappointed by it.  Yet, Elkanah, seemingly, loved Hannah more. He showed this by giving her double portions of meat while only giving Peninnah and her children one portion.  Here is the thing, both women were blessed, Peninnah had children, Hannah had her husband's devotion.

But, each woman wanted what the other had. 

Every day, all day long, everywhere we go,
we are hit with images, messages, and ideas that feed our appetites for what we don't have.

If we're not careful these messages can consume our thoughts and further convince us that we have been disenfranchised, dismissed and disregarded.   "Why can't we have what we believe is our right to have?"  Before long, disappointment and discouragement creep in.  Just like Peninnah and Hannah our "want" can become so magnified that we will be blinded to what we have already been blessed with. And, this, my friends, might be a thief of peace and contentment. 

Let me make a disclaimer here, I don't think our "desires" are necessarily bad as long as our desires line up with God's.  And, as long as our desires don't overcome our thoughts to the degree that they shadow what God has already done in order to attain what we see Him doing in someone else's story. 

I was on line to pay my groceries the other day and in front of me there was a young mom with her what looked like 5 or 6 year-old.  He was very upset because he wanted a candy from the candy stand next to the cashier.  (Thank you supermarkets for doing this to us moms.)   Mom had a cart filled with food which obviously was for him, but he could not appreciate it because he wanted the candy.  This mom was a rock star.  She didn't scream at him, she didn't get embarrassed, she didn't make a bigger scene than the one her son was making, she just stood on her decision.  She left calmly after paying, and as the little boy saw that his mom did not budge, he finally settled and they went on their way.  Sometimes, we can become embarrasingly like this little boy, God has a grocery cart filled with what we actually need, but we are crying for the chocolate bar that we cannot have.  

Peninnah went even further than making a scene, she used the blessing God gave her as an advantage to mock Hannah's apparent inabilities.  This is where Peninnah blew it.  Her children were a blessing from the Lord, she didn't need to hide that, but she flaunted her blessing before Hannah in order to cause her pain.  Hurt people, hurt people.  Perhaps this behavior appeased Peninnah's own feelings of rejection inflicted by her husband's lack of affection.  Hannah could have easily milked her husband's attention to the same in return.  Could you imagine their social media accounts?  But, she didn't.

Lysa mentions in her book, that we sometimes try to get our needs met outside of the will of God and this sometimes is what gets us into deeper trouble and/or delays the fulfillment of His plan in our lives.  Peninnah's actions most probably inadvertently provoked her husband to draw even farther away from her., further disappointing her.  How many times have we reacted the wrong way ushering in the very results we were trying to avoid?

Hannah responded to this craziness by pouring her heart out before the Lord.  Eli, the prophet, was at the doorpost of the Lord's house, he heard sobs and looked to see a woman crying out.  He watched as she wept bitterly, her lips were moving but no voice was heard. Eli was convinced she was drunk or perhaps even looney. He reprimands her and tells her to put her wine away.

Friends, family, social media, television, none of these sources can really do anything about our situation.  They can listen, they can form opinions, they can offer incomplete solutions, but the only One that has the true and effective remedy for our pain is Christ.  The Lord may lead us to speak to a specific person, nonetheless, we need to go to Him first and allow Him to lead our healing journey.  

Hannah corrects the prophet confirming that she, in fact, was not drunk, she was a woman who was deeply troubled.  She said, "I'm not a wicked woman, I'm here praying out of my great anguish and grief."  Eli, in turn, doesn't really ask what grieved her so, he may not have even been that concerned.  But, he calms her with this word:

"Go in peace.  And may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of him"

1 Samuel 1:17

He may not have thought much of what He said, but Hannah's spirit grabbed onto his words as a promise from God Himself. These words became the turning point that would change her life, her attitude and planted hope in her spirit.  Did Peninnah stop bullying her?  Probably not.  Did she have a baby the next day?  No.  But, she had a promise from the Lord and she believed it and she would wait and stand on it until it happened.  

I don't know what you are asking the Lord for as you visit with me today, but I can tell you this, I'm with you, I have some needs before the Lord.  And, I too, have a choice to make.  Will I look at the blessings of others and convince my self that God has not done enough for me?  Or will I go to God first, pour out my heart, and allow Him to heal me and breathe a promise of His plan to bring me joy even as I wait? 

LESSONS LEARNED

Desire what He has for me, not what someone else has.
Go to Him first to get what I need.
Know, He has remembered me, He has not forgotten.

And, He will answer my prayers "in the course of time." (v.20)

Believe, Trust, Wait & Stand

The Storm

Mark 4

Jesus and the disciples had been ministering all day,  and they were tired.

Jesus instructed the guys to get on the boat, 

they were going to the other side. (v. 35)

Getting to the other side is not as simple as just saying, "Ok, let's go."  

Getting to the other side may require certain skills, necessary maturing, perhaps even knowledge that can only be acquired by way of a storm.  

Only God knows what lies on the other side.  

"A furious squall came up, 

and the waves broke over the boat 

so that it was nearly swamped." (vs. 37)  

Here's the thing about storms, 

they brew invisibly,  

pop up unexpectedly, 

and threaten to overtake quickly.    

The perfect setting for an invasion of fear!

These fishermen probably had seen their share of storms, don't you think?

However, this one seems to have been quite the storm for they were afraid they were not going to make it this time.

Just like the fishermen, storms are bad no matter how many you've been through.  And, honestly, each feels worse than the one before.  Sometimes, you've just been through so many storms you wonder if you even have the strength to make it through another.

Where was Jesus all this time?  

Wasn't He in the boat with them?

 "Jesus, where are You?"

"Why would You ask us to get on the boat if You knew about the storm?"  

We can be doing exactly what we were called to do,

doing the will of the Father,

yet be smack in the middle of a storm, 

second guessing whether we heard God right.

"Did He really ask us to board this boat?"

He was in the stern.

SLEEPING.

Was He tired?  Oh, yes. 

He had been ministering all day long.  

But, didn't He hear the rumbles of the storm?  

Wow!  He can sleep through anything.  

Fear works like a load full of caffeine.  

The disciples were tired, too, but they couldn't sleep,

afraid of the storm raging around them,

afraid the water was coming into the boat,

afraid they were all going to die.

Jesus, however, knew the storms were subject to Him, 

He wasn't subject to the storm.  

Jesus knew the storms weren't taking anyone out that day; 

it wasn't the time.  

He also knew this storm was strengthening their faith 

and their knowledge of Him, skills they would need on the other side.

You see, Jesus knows things we don't.  

Well, you know how the story goes?  

Freaking out, the disciples find Jesus, 

wake Him up, and desperately 

"fill Him in" about the raging storm.  

Have you ever seen a boat full of frightened fishermen?

Must be a sight for sore eyes, and a sound for sore ears.

Jesus wakes up and rebukes the sea and the disciples!  

"DO YOU STILL HAVE NO FAITH?" 

Who is this man that even the winds and waves obey Him? (v. 41)

On another occasion, when Simon Peter's faith is tried and tested in another storm, this time no water involved, but the fear of death was similarly

all too real.  

Jesus encourages Him and says, 

". . . I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail"

You see, sometimes it's not that we don't have faith, it's just that we have allowed the storms to wash away the little faith we had.  We resolve in our hearts, this time the storm is just too strong, and we surrender, 

wave the white flag. "We're done!"

Just like Jesus prayed for Simon Peter's faith to remain strong in the midst of the struggle, He prays for us, "May her faith not fail."  Luke 22:32

 

Father,

When the storm subsides and the winds fade, 

when You assess the damages, even through the debris,

may You find us, and our families,

 faithful! 

Remind us there is a purpose for the storm.

We don't understand or necessarily care for it on this side, 

but may our faith be anchored in tightly,

believing that it will all be worth it on the other side of the storm.

When Anxiety Lingers . . .

Stomach's tingling,

Head's fogging,

Energies are dwindling,

Why?

Anxiety just knocked on the door, again.

Anxiety is an unwelcome visitor,

like the one who comes and doesn't want to leave . . .

The visitor that comes up with a variety of creative and logical 

reasons why they must stay a little while longer.

A little while longer can add up to weeks, months, even years ~

All we did was open the door, a little, and Anxiety was home.

Anxiety invades our space and situations,

It insists on controlling our decision making,

It reminds us of all the things that can go wrong,

It tries to define us, to tell us who we are.

And, persuades us to believe the worse.

"You can't do this!"

"You don't have the skills!"

"You already failed."

"The worse is going to happen!"

"It's all over."

Anxiety's boss is FEAR.

Fear's job is to keep us in our corner.

Paralyzed.

And, as long as we comply, 

FEAR leaves us alone.

The moment we decide to

move, or imagine, or consider a way out,

FEAR sends its minion, Anxiety,

to keep us in our place.

Philippians 4:6-8 

is one of my life verses. Recently, I was inspired to take a look at it again, 

consider the message and grab onto it for dear life.

Here's what it's saying to me, 

and hopefully to you:

Is anything impossible for God?

Is anxiety's arm longer than His?

Our Father is a good One!

And, He has not forgotten His promises!

Even while we're in Fear's corner,

Even while paralyzed,

Even when nothing is changing,

He whispers, 

"I AM going to get you out of this!"

 And, when I do, you will be able to say, 

'Look what the Lord has done!'"

Even then,

He begins to deposit a NEW PLAN!

His plan, in all probability,  

may look differently than what we imagined,

but it will be far better because He planned it, 

not us.

When do the words of a book change the author's purpose, 

or the lyrics of a song change the songwriter's vision?

God is the author and the finisher!

This is what the LORD says!

EARNESTLY,

for everything.

and the 

OF GOD

which 

cannot be explained or understood 

or even reasoned away,

will come to the

RESCUE!

It will also GUARD 

our hearts and our minds

from Anxiety's and Fear's influence and persuasion.

GOD IS OUR SUPER HERO!

in the name of 

JESUS CHRIST, OUR LORD!

Anxiety doesn't have the last word, God does.

God's an expert at building highways 

even in places where there is no way.

God's got this.

 Even when we don't see anything happening, 

or hear anything, He's still working.  

This is a FAITH walk, and the good news is, we don't need much.  All we need is faith the size of a mustard seed to move God's plan into action.  

Before we see changes in our circumstances, there must be a transformation in our hearts. We must return to those times when God was first before anything and everything ~

. . . return to the time when we sought Him with all of our hearts and asked Him to invade our lives, our circumstances, our wills, 

we kept knocking on the door of His heart,  relentlessly,

until God moved!  

And, if by His sovereignty, our circumstances don't change,

Anxiety will finally be evicted and Peace will be home.

P-R-A-Y in 2017

Prayer is a struggle.

Not the drive through prayer,

or the 911 "I Need This Right Now" kind.  

These happen almost instinctively.

Or the "Pity Party Prayer",

(no description necessary). . .

Or, my favorite, and almost intuitive kind,

"The Instructional Manual",

where we tell God what He needs to do!

(Hmm, Hmm)

No, I'm talking about the "Daily Deap" kind!!

I'm talking about "deap" conversations with God.

The kind where He speaks and I listen!

The kind where His presence and His Word

cleans the atmosphere and attitudes.

The kind where there's a sweet and easy transfer of power.

My will diminishes; His takes center stage,

mending , transforming and renewing.

The kind where His Word builds a dwelling place in the core of me, removing all the dross, clutter and debris left behind by disappointments, failures and regrets . . .  

. . . replacing those places with joy, peace and His presence.  

Hope is restored, and LOVE is sealed.  

And, when I rise, I am no longer the same person who knelt.   

"DEAP' prayer requires two things that are almost impossible to muster up these days:  time and intention.

In spite of the struggle, in this new year, it is my hope that the Spirit of the Lord enable me to find more time for the "deap" kind.

Getting My Journaling On

It's October and it's almost unfathomable to think the holidays are almost upon us. Before we know it, we'll be saying good-bye to 2016.  I know I'm getting a little ahead of myself, nonetheless, for me 2016 will be memorable.  It marks the year faith art journaling would be introduced to me and take my private time with the Lord to an entirely new level .  

The moment I stumbled upon it while surfing through Instagram some time in January, I was all in!  Instantly I knew I'd love it!  Am I an artist?  Not really, well no ~  Do I know what I'm doing?  Not always ~  Do I have all of the fancy pens and supplies?  I've collected some over the last 10 months.  Do I Bible Journal every day?  No.  But, I'm absolutely changed by it.  

I never know what my pages are going to look like.  I just take out my supplies and fill in the blank page.  I enjoy just starting and seeing what happens.  Some pages I love, others are a work in progress, nevertheless, 

I fully enjoy the process. 

This following picture is a page I did while reading through the Illustrated Faith

I Am Strong Devotional Kit.  The devotional teaches "Kawa" is the Hebrew word for "wait" in Isaiah 40:31.  It means "entangled".  When I think of "entangled" I think of leaves and roots all connected, living and working together.  As I entangle myself in all that God is doing, then, even when prayers don't get answered on my time table, or changes come in unexpected ways,  or I find myself losing strength, I can be assured that I will not faint.  My hope still beats.  

As an extension to Faith Journaling, I've also been bit by the creative planning bug.  I picked up the Happy Planner at Hobby Lobby, and a few planner accessories.  It's fun, refreshing, and I look forward to the times I can just get away and create, plan and worship, all at the same time.  I don't complicate it or expect my creations to be perfect, I just take out a few supplies and stamps and let it roll.

When I first learned of faith journaling I asked a few girlfriends to jump in with me.  I was a little hesitant because I wondered if people would think I was a little odd.  "What would a grown woman be thinking, inviting other grown women to color in their bibles? Doesn't she have anything else better to do?"  I took the plunge anyway, despite my fear.  To my surprise, I did get some biters.  We have a small group that meets every other month.  We choose a verse, reflect on it, then take out the art supplies to color in our bibles,
as some would say.

We're all different, and certainly Bible Journaling and Creative Planning is not for everyone.  I completely understand and respect that.  If you, however, are a little curious, below I've included a small list of some of the online Faith Journalers that have inspired me.

A special thank you goes out to all the online Faith Journalers and Creative Planners that have inspired and filled my life with something I never knew I needed.  Make sure to check out my Pinterest Board to see more of my inspirers.

Shanna Noel

Pitter and Glink

Meg Duerksen

Stephanie Ackerman

Rebekah R. Jones

Tai Bender

Bible Journaling Pinterest Board

Be Still

Hurricane Matthew gave us a visit this past week.  He was mean and strong.  Like a big bully, he threatened to destroy, and was coming straight towards us.  We'd better be scared!  How could we contend with such an enormous foe?  All we could do is scurry through the supermarkets and find what we could. Shutter up our houses, lock ourselves in and hope for the best.

It reminds me of the story in Mark when Jesus and the disciples climbed into a boat after tending to the multitudes.  A storm suddenly grew out of the blue, the wind and the waves were beating onto the boat.  Water was already overcoming and the disciples were in panic mode.  They better be, the storm bully demanded it.  Jesus, on the other hand, was in the stern, asleep, on a pillow!  No fear!  The disciples found him asleep, woke him, and said,
"Teacher, do You not care that we are dying here!"

All I could say is, wow, how many times have I prayed,
"Father, do you care?"  Just like Matthew, life storms promise to destroy, to damage, and sometimes take casualties.  We know our Father can do something and we wonder, why isn't He?  Where is He?

Jesus arose, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!"
The storm quieted at the sound of His voice!

He then asked his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Where is your faith?"

Lesson Learned:  When storms come, weather or life related, we should prepare, but not fear!  God is in our boat!

Praying for Haiti and Cuba as they recover from the Matthew.