Psalms 73

Time, Perspective & Expectations

January 4th, 2024
God does not meet my timeline, perspective or expectations.
God exists outside of them. He prepares me for His plans, He does not bend to mine. He is not a God of strings, games or manipulation. He is literal. He says what He means, and He keeps His promises.

I know this.

God is not the problem, I am.

Even when I know better, I don’t.
My humanness gets the better of me. Some things are so hard ingrained into me, that they are hard to unlearn, but what I have learned is, that absolute trust & obedience, is paramount.

Patience is too.

I am constantly having to redirect myself back to what I know and not what I see, think or feel in the moment.
I am constantly reminding myself that God knows me better than I know myself. He knows where my weaknesses lay, the places the enemy can exploit to keep a hold of me, to twist God’s truth so that I can make excuses as to why I must hold onto my idols.
God knows, not just what I need to be broken off from, and where the pride hides, but also how to break me off it, in the most beneficial and permanent way.
It is a slow, complicated and painful process, it has to be. He untangles the weeds of lies and bad habits that have grown for decades among the wheat of His truth and purpose, with a patient and a gentle hand.

God is the ultimate gardener. He is the ultimate Father, and the ultimate Friend. God is faithful. He keeps His promises. He has plans for my family, and He will prepare us to serve Him the way He knows we need, in the way He knows will serve His greater purpose and in the way He knows is best for us, not the way I want Him to.
I am both humbled, and grateful, though I don’t always act like it, and I hate to imagine the mess I could make out of things, if left to my own devices.

This has been such a hard road, not because of anything God has allowed or done, thought there has been plenty of difficulties there too, but because I simply cannot let go of my timing and my expectations.
It’s hard because even as I fully comprehend that, complete surrender to His will is what is best, I still want things to be the way I want them. I resent the process because it has not met my expectations or approval, but He does not need it to, and the fact that I can both know this and still feel entitled to have it on my terms, prove that God is right to make me wait.

My heart is not yet ready for how He intends to use me.

I am not ready yet.

Even now, God has answered 2 prayers with 1 blessing & I chafed under the circumstances not meeting my expectations of how God would answer, and I can’t think of any reason for why I expected things to be a certain way, or why I would be upset that my answers came in a different manner. I don’t even know what is it that I seem to be opposed to. There is not a thing I can point out to and say “this is the problem here.”
None.

I now understand why for so many years, Michael would say “there is no making you happy.”
He was not being rude, offensive or even critical. The man was stating a fact. Someway, somehow, I find something to be upset about. There is so much death to self that still needs to happen here.

As Jeremiah told the Israelites in his letter, this is home now, and I need to make myself at home. I need not sit and wait until something changes. I need to work for the good. I need to find my new normal, and continue to grow in My relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I need to grow in my trust and strength, in love and service to others, until the day that God’s sees fit to move us to the next part of the adventure.
God is not here to give me the worldly experience I think I want. Nothing outside of serving Him, matters, because not my house, not my job, not my car, none of it will serve a purpose in eternity.
I am here for Him.
He is not a genie in a bottle nor a vending machine.
I don’t get to stick a prayer in and demand my outcome.
Obedience is painful, but then life is painful. I just get to chose the purpose for my pain and trust that I rest is in His hands.

When I change my perspective, however, it changes everything. When I chose to look at what I have, instead of what I lost [which admittedly I don’t mourn very often] I find much to be grateful for. When I remember that I have a roof over my head, a warm bed, food, a car, and that we all have our health, I find purpose.
My family is where they need to be for His reasons, His work, His purpose and His glory, not where I want them to be, but then there is no purpose in my wants.
I want us all to be together because I love my kids & I miss them, but I know that this particular season in life, is one we will all look back to one day and remember it as the most transformative of our lives. We will see all that God has done, all He has changed, the way He has brought us all closer together and we will Praise God for it.

But until then, I cannot, and will not, let my limited view, knowledge and wisdom, limit who God is in my life. I cannot let my feelings dictate what things should look like, nor my impatience dictate His timing.
I was promised a grand adventure, the privilege of walking closely in this life, with a faithful and ever present God. Earthly comforts were never part of the promise, nor was any type of timeline given, it is not biblical.

Jesus is the only true comfort, the only true security to be had is the one I find by having my life centered on Jesus Christ My Lord & Savior, and by always seeking the leading of His Holy Spirit. Now is the time to seek, to worship, to learn, to grow. Now is the time to remain as malleable as I can be, so that I can become the masterpiece He intended me to be, for His purpose and His glory.

Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning, for I am trusting you.
Show me where to walk, for I give myself to you.
Rescue me from my enemies, Lord; I run to you to hide me.
Teach me to do your will, for you are my God.
May your gracious Spirit lead me forward on a firm footing.
For the glory of your name, O Lord, preserve my life.
Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress.
In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies and destroy all my foes, for
I am your servant.
(‭‭‭Psalms‬ ‭143‬‬:‭8‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬)

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything.
Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.
Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand.
His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing.
Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.
Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.
Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing.
Then the God of peace will be with you.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says to all the captives he has exiled to Babylon from Jerusalem:
“Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens, and eat the food they produce.
Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren.
Multiply! Do not dwindle away!
And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile.
Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare.”
This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, the God of Israel, says:
“Do not let your prophets and fortune-tellers who are with you in the land of Babylon trick you.
Do not listen to their dreams, because they are telling you lies in my name.
I have not sent them,” says the Lord.
This is what the Lord says:
“You will be in Babylon for seventy years. But then I will come and do for you all the good things I have promised, and I will bring you home again.
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord.
“They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
In those days when you pray, I will listen.
If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me. I will be found by you,” says the Lord. “I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land.”
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭4‬-‭14‬ ‭NLT‬‬
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The End of 2023

January 1st, 2024
2023 has come to an end, and I look back with gratitude for all that we learned about God through all that we lost.

It was not an easy year, by any stretch of the imagination. There were many hard lessons and many tears. Even now I sit here wondering what comes next, as I personally do not know, only God does.

What I can say is, that it was a year that exposed the areas of my heart, my marriage and my family that needed a complete overhaul, the type that only Jesus can bring forth in all of us.

I wish so many things were different as I sit in this motel room, wondering where out next meal will come from, or where we will sleep tonight, yet I have learned that what looks completely impossible to me, is possible for God.

We checked into this motel for 2 nights, a week ago, and if this is the end of us in this place, I am glad that I was here for as long as I was for it taught me that I truly do have more than some, thought not quite as much as others, and we were in a unique position to be able to help those who did not have as much as we do.

I have experienced the kindness of strangers, and have been able to bless others as well. I should not ask for more than that, and I truly can’t complain. For better or worse, there has been a roof over my head and some food on my table, and for that I am grateful.

I look forward to a day when I can better help those in the homeless community, there are so many people struggling, and now that I have a much better understanding of where the deficiencies in the assistance programs are. There is so much room for improvement, we can all do a better job taking care of each other.

I may be struggling today, but I also know that I have been blessed beyond belief, and this is not the end for me.

No matter where this day leads, and how 2024 has started, God is with me. God has been with me. He has opened some doors and closed others and has met many of my needs every step of the way. I need not let my feelings get in the way, I need never forget who God is and all that He has done for us.

I look forward to the shift that I know is coming, no matter how long it may take, because the God who created the heavens and the earth, is taking care of me, much like He did the Israelites in the wilderness. One day at a time, one step at a time. That level of intimacy that can not and should not be dismissed. It’s personal in a way we do not deserve, and it’s the choice God made.

Obedience to God is what lead us here and I am thankful for the opportunity to face my fears and realize that my God is bigger, and I need not fear. If I could go back, and do it all over again, knowing all that I now know, I would chose Him all over again, because this has been an incredibly eye opening and humbling experience. I can truly say that I am blessed.

Thank You, Jesus. Thank You!

“We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed.
We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.
We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God.
We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.
Through suffering, our bodies continue to share
in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus
may also be seen in our bodies.
Yes, we live under constant danger of death
because we serve Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus will be evident in
our dying bodies. So we live in the face of death,
but this has resulted in eternal life for you.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭8‬-‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

If God puts in in your heart, a small donation can go along way, not just in helping my family, but in helping those around me that need it more than we do.
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Christmas Eve

December 24th, 2023
I can’t wait until the day when I can look back and see the growth that came from this time of difficulties.

I can’t wait until I see all that God will accomplish through these trials and tribulations. It’s not that I can’t see His hand at work here, I do. I see His change in me, in my husband, in my oldest son. It’s just that there are days, like today, when I struggle to find the purpose in the pain, when I fail to see His hand at work.

I wish to be anywhere but here.

I do not believe one day is more special than any other, to me, every day has meaning because I am alive and that alone is a gift from God.

Time is a gift we take for granted way too often. Birthdays, Christmas, they don’t mean any more or any less than any other day to me. I can’t think of a single day in which I would have been perfectly okay with my current set of circumstances. I really can’t.

There is a brokenness in me, right now, a frustration that I am desperately trying to drown. Jesus said we had to die to ourselves, and right now, the old angry me really wants to rear her ugly head and scream, but that will change nothing. Everything is still lost. Most of my possessions are gone.

I have Jesus, my husband and my family and that is more than enough, I’m just impatient for the promises He made.

I know that God keeps His word. I know that He will provide everything He said He would when He asked us to step out in faith and serve Him, I am just really struggling right now, as I sit in my car, with my 3 yr old asleep in his car seat and my husband furiously trying to solve something for us to have a place to sleep tonight with our 4 small dogs in his car.

Nothing will get solved tonight, I know. It’s Christmas Eve, all those who owe us are celebrating with their families and if we are being quite honest, their money all sits under their Christmas tree.

I can’t complain. I have a roof. My car is more than other homeless people have and it’s keeping me safe and warm. I have food, we got to eat, which is also more than others have. It is the child that has me feeling sorry for myself. I want so much more for him than this, not because it’s Christmas Eve but because he is my child and it is my job to make sure that he is safe in his bed as he sleeps.

I write this, not with the hopes that someone will feel sorry for me and help but with the intention to one day look back and remember that in 2023 I lost my daughter for 9 days, and then she chose to move away from us, and then I lost my home, among other lesser things all in the span of a month.

I have come face to face with some of my fears and Jesus has held me together through it all. I know He will hold me together through this also.

I lived a very simple life and now it’s all mostly gone.

My 3 yrs old, who has had a very difficult time adjusting to his sister moving away, has taken to homelessness like it’s one big adventure, which in a way, I guess it is, and I am jealous that despite my faith in Christ, I struggle to see it the way my child does. His trust in us is such, that no matter where we sleep at night, he is happy and feels safe because he is with us.

Should we not all be just like that with God?

Yes, we should and I really really want to and through most of this year, I have but today as I sit in my car, in the dark in a park, I wonder why God has made this process so long and so painful yet I am thankful that I have faced so many of my fears and come out stronger for them in the end.

One day, I will be stronger and more compassionate for this time on the street, I know I will, I just can’t quite see it today.

Life is hard and painful. Life with Jesus Christ at my side is worth living, no matter how much it hurts or how it shatters my heart.

Jesus is Lord even when I am on the streets and through my tears and my momentary anger and pain, I will praise Him just the same as I would any other day.

Jesus has not abandoned me. I know it so deep in my soul that no amount of writing can ever explain it. None. He is very much here, very much working in me and fighting for me. I just have to hold on to my faith and His promise.

I am human. I am weak. I am allowed to feel every bit of anger and frustration, I am allowed to mourn the place that was my home for 9 yrs. What I am not about to do is let those emotions make me forget who God is and what He has already done for me, nor will I let the fear and uncertainty of my circumstances shake my faith.

I will just take everything I feel back to Him who comforts me, He will see me through, as He always does.

God is faithful. He is worthy of it all. He has not forsaken me and He never will. My circumstances are as temporary as this life we live, I must cling to Him tighter than I cling to anything else for He is truly all I need. He is the only one who can truly rescue me from this place of darkness & sadness.

There will be a day when all of this will make sense, until then, I will praise Him from the highest mountain and the lowest valley, no matter how I feel about it or how much it hurts.

Jesus is worthy of my all.

”My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees. Your instructions are more valuable to me than millions in gold and silver. You made me; you created me. Now give me the sense to follow your commands. May all who fear you find in me a cause for joy, for I have put my hope in your word. I know, O Lord, that your regulations are fair; you disciplined me because I needed it. Now let your unfailing love comfort me, just as you promised me, your servant. Surround me with your tender mercies so I may live, for your instructions are my delight.“
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119‬:‭71‬-‭77‬ ‭NLT‬‬
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To New Beginnings

December 18th, 2023
It’s not hard to look back at the last 10 years and see all that God has done, and know that He brought us here.

A year ago, this still all seemed so impossible. Even now I look back and can’t understand exactly how we arrived at this, but I am so thankful we did.

I am free.

As I look around at our most uncertain times, I can’t help but see all of the ways in which You have been present and faithful, Lord.

Thank You for breaking off each and every shackle. Thank You for healing our hearts. Thank You for mending the fences & building some bridges. Thank You for always giving me what I need. Thank You for teaching me that what I want is not always what is best for me. Thank You for teaching me that You keep your promises. You are literal. You say what You mean, no hidden messages, no strings attached.

I can take You at your word.

Thank You for being all that I need, and for teaching me what that truly means. Thank You for encouraging me when I feel as though I must be doing everything wrong. Thank You for loving me enough to say no, to break me off those “safety blankets” that are a mere illusion. There is no safety outside of You.

Thank You.

Thank You for every person You put along my path. For every beautiful soul You spoke to me through, showed me love through, encouraged & guided me through, thank You. I can never repay all they have done, the parts they have played, the way they will always hold a piece of my heart, I pray for each of them.

Bless them.

I look back and I know, that You are not done here. Your faithfulness and provision will surpass my wildest imaginations, we are still Your work in progress. My heart breaks for those who have yet to experience and encounter You, as You have allowed me to. Thank You.

I pray they one day understand, Lord. I pray they each have their own never-ending grand adventure with You. I pray they see the value in suffering, the love that You offer, the paths that only You can make straight.

You are the God of the impossible. You always do the unexpected. You take Your sweet time, preparing us for what is to come. You are gentle, and patient, as You weed & uproot. I pray we all learn to let You out of the box of our own expectations and understanding because, You can’t be contained or controlled, and Your ways truly are better. For that and so much more, I will praise Your name. Thank You.

I had it all, Jesus, but I couldn’t see you through it, I did not find You there.

I found You here.

Here I rejoice in anticipation at what may come.

I am thankful that I am able to look around and see Your hand in all things. I feel overwhelming gratitude for every “no” You have given me, through them came every big blessing, every big lesson, every big hope.

For me, it’s up the mountain and off the cliff with You, Lord.
I chose You. I choose You.

I never thought there would be a day where I would joyfully proclaim that I have navigated through some of my worst fears, in freedom and victory, because You were at my side.

I lost some battles, but You won the war. I trust that.

Off I go, on this new part of the adventure, in confidence, knowing without a shadow of a doubt that, while I do not know what tomorrow brings, and it may not be my chosen outcome, God can do the impossible in just 3 days.

”Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do. Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them.“
‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭9‬ ‭NLT‬‬
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Fear of the Unknown

August 31st, 2023
The anxiety that the unknown produces is always worse than the event itself. Once things have happened, they never seem quite as bad as I thought they would be.
The things I feared have begun to take place, and while I will admit that I’m fragile, in ways I had not even realized, I know that God is working here.
In what I can’t see.
In what I don’t understand.
In the midst of the waiting, that makes me sick to my stomach.
In the resentment that tries to rise from this uncomfortable season.

I know God is working.

Little by little, I realize that I am more afraid of myself, afraid of my reactions, that come from places of worldly needs & satisfactions, than I am of the road ahead.
I’m not trustworthy.
I buckle under the weight of it all.
I have placed my safety in the tangible things of the world.
God has provided, consistently, for all my needs, except for the one thing I want most.
My security blanket, does not come above God.

I thank my God Almighty, who allows me the beautiful privilege to come to Him in this time of pain and confusion.
I thank Him for not turning away from me, when I am so undeserving.
I thank Him for His love, for His patience, for His Faithfulness.
I thank Him for His encouragement.
This has not been an easy transition for me.
There are so many moments of entitlement, selfishness and fear.
I do not handle the hardships with grace.

I most definitely do not handle His people with grace.

There are days, where I have to force myself to pray, worship or read my Bible. Days I drag myself to church, and then hate myself for having to force myself into doing something that I should want to do.

Always. In every situation.
I should want to come to Him.

I have even less grace for myself than I have for others because I know that I should know better than this, be better than this, do better than this.
Some time ago, I made a choice. I chose Jesus.
His will in my life, above all else.
My life for His glory.
These are not words I say lightly. I know too well the possibilities for pain and suffering are endless, horrors that my mind has not even considered yet, but I feel it in my heart, in my mind, in my soul.
Everything within me wants to reject this path, but here is where I have found everything I never knew I needed.
I decided this would be the hill I would die on, and so here we are, once again facing the same giants, and my instinct to run wants to take over, but I have nowhere to go. Nothing to fight with.

This hurts.
I see an “easier” road that I could take, but easy in the eyes of the world does not honor God’s will and purpose for my life.
Who am I to tell Him there’s a “better” route? Better by whom’s standards?

This is a difficult road but every bump along the way has made us all that much closer to God, and to each other.
For that alone, I know that all of this is worth it.

There is no joy without pain.

There is no joy without faith.

There is no joy without Him.

“The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭NLT‬‬
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Shaken

August 28th, 2023
I feel like I am free falling.

Everything is spinning, out of control.

I can do nothing to stop it. Or me.

I get easily angry over things long past, things I thought I had overcome.
I feel bitterness over the perceived losses.
Nothing makes sense and I look around, trying to get my bearings but nothing looks familiar, and there is no one else. It’s as though I am no longer in my current stretch of wilderness, as though I have traveled back in time, to another person, another life.

Holy Spirit tried to warn me, for weeks, but I got complacent. Once all the pieces started to fall, nothing seemed to be able to stop it. It took so little to set me down this downward spiral.
I don’t know where I am, or who I am at the moment.

I know my identity is tied to Christ, alone. His opinion of me is all that should matter, my obedience to His word, above all the thoughts and opinions of the world. I know what it looks like, but I also know what He said, so I should not be shaken by what it looks like, and most days I am not.

God is faithful. He is active, loving, present and at this time, teaching me a variety of hard lessons, such as, He is more than enough in every situation, to fully die to myself and how to navigate the boundaries of service and unconditional love for my fellow man, for whom I have no love nor patience.
None of this is in my nature, but it is what God is asking of me.

Jesus Christ, the sinless son of God, died on the cross for my sins, which are many. He has invited me to walk down a dark and barren road with nothing but Him as my guide, my teacher, my shelter and my provider.
It truly should be the easiest decision of my life, and in many ways it is, but there are days when I really struggle to remain steadfast. I feel it in my heart. I was made to live for Him, and for Him I shall die. One day.

But today, the question before me is much simpler:

What do I hold above God?

And the answer to that should be nothing, but it’s not.

Abraham very nearly killed his own son, whom God had promised Him and for whom he had waited 25 yrs, in obedience to God, because he trusted God would bring Isaac back. God is not asking anything as extreme as death of me, yet. On the contrary, by comparison, God is asking very little of me, and yet I act like a petulant child, holding on when I need to let go.

I have seen God do the impossible in my life.
I will see God do the impossible again, of that I have no doubt. And yet, in the waiting I get discouraged, in the breaking I feel defeated, and I allow fear a hold on me. The stumbles makes me angry with myself, because I have seen enough of God’s tender mercies and His faithfulness to know better and yet I don’t.

There are days, where I resemble a feral kitten.
The problems seem insurmountable and I lash out, for a myriad of reasons, accomplishing nothing but looking ridiculous. Out of fear. Of what, exactly, I could not tell you.
I know God is in control and I always knew that our road would lead here, to this place of complete dependence on He who created me to love and serve His people, and still, I resist it. I shouldn’t but I do. I think I have been running for so long, that I am just not sure how to stop.

Yes, this last week was difficult, and I did not handle it with grace but I have become more aware of my shortcoming and my weaknesses. I have become aware of new areas that I need to surrender to Him, once and for all. Doors that need to be closed, things within me that need to die, so that I can better resemble Christ.

I have so much to be thankful for, He has done incredible things over this last year alone, yet at times, I fail to do so.
I let the mountain shake me.

In Matthew 17:20 Jesus tells the disciples that if they have faith the size of a mustard seed, they can command a mountain to move and it will obey, but even if my mountain fails to move, for whatever reason, I still need to keep my eyes on Jesus and trust His process, and praise Him through it all. Remaining in Him removes the mountain from view, it does not remove it from existence, I will still have to climb it in order to get to the next destination in our voyage, but the conditions of the climb will not be as extreme because I have The Holy Trinity by my side.

What more could I possibly want?

Nothing. That is what.
I want nothing. I need nothing.
I fail to remember that at times, and I never want to forget all that God has done for me. I never want to forget how far we have come in our walk. I no longer want to get stuck in the past, reacting to my circumstances from a place of hurt, anger and entitlement.

I desperately need to get off this hamster wheel. I wish I could say that this will be a turning point for me, and that I will never find myself feeling defeated or discouraged again, but these ups and downs are also part of the process, for which I am grateful, because He teaches me so much as a result.
I must never allow myself to forget God’s faithfulness, or that He never promised me this would be easy, just that He would never forsake me.

When all else fails, God will never fail me.

‘No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life.
As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Be strong and courageous,
because you will lead these people to inherit the land
I swore to their ancestors to give them.
“Be strong and very courageous.
Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you;
do not turn from it to the right or to the left,
that you may be successful wherever you go. ‘ Joshua 1:5-7 NLT

‘My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. ‘
Proverbs 3:1-6 NLT
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Shifts

August 5th, 2023
I am always surprised by just how much You can change, and how far I can come, in the space of a short time. I did not think it would take me 2 months to find my way, the way You cleared for me, out of that emotional maze I threw myself into, and I thank You, beyond what words can express, for what You have made possible in that time.

I am thankful to you, Jesus, for this life changing summer.

I have learned that often, it is those who are or have faced the same demons, who are the most unkind and unloving. I don’t say that as judgment, I get it. It’s hard to have your weaknesses reflected back at you.

I have learned how to find compassion for others in the midst of my pain.

I have learned that 2 things can be true at once, when it comes to us humans. We are complicated beings. We are wounded, and we are sinners.
You help me see the cause, the root of the sin, and teach me how to love the sinner, while withholding a seat at my table.

You have taught me so much about me, yes.
I have learned a lot about my pain, my strengths, my weaknesses, but I have learned so much more about You, Jesus.
The closer we become, the more I feel whole, but also the more easily my heart breaks for those still lost to the truth and the beauty of who You are and what You offer.

The pages are turning. The chapters are coming to a close.
In all of it, I see Your hand. Thank You.
I now find that I am more settled on You, my foundation, than I was before.
The most significant lesson here, for me, has been You.

I see You better.
I feel You closer.
I hear You clearer.

I am thankful for what You are doing here. I don’t understand it all, but then I don’t need to, and I hope in time, I will learn to obey more and doubt less.

Thank You, for all you have done. Thank You for all that you will continue to do.
Thank you for the humbling reality that You have been here all along.
Thank You for a new found love for Your people. I pray I never look at them the same way again. I will pray for them Lord. I will pray for them all, until 1 by 1, Jesus, they all find their way home to You.

This week is one of incredible significance for us, Jesus.
This year is one of great significance.

I marvel at the beauty you’re creating out of the messes I surrendered.

Thank you, Jesus.
My soul rejoices.

“I am suffering and in pain.
Rescue me, O God, by your saving power.
Then I will praise God’s name with singing,
and I will honor him with thanksgiving.
For this will please the Lord more than sacrificing cattle,
more than presenting a bull with its horns and hooves.
The humble will see their God at work and be glad.
Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged.
For the Lord hears the cries of the needy;
he does not despise his imprisoned people.
Praise him, O heaven and earth,
the seas and all that move in them.
For God will save Jerusalem and rebuild the towns of Judah.
His people will live there and settle in their own land.
The descendants of those who obey him will inherit the land,
and those who love him will live there in safety.”
Psalms 69: 29-36 NLT

‘Though the Lord gave you adversity for food and suffering for drink,
he will still be with you to teach you.
You will see your teacher with your own eyes.
Your own ears will hear him.
Right behind you a voice will say,
“This is the way you should go,”
whether to the right or to the left.
Then you will destroy all your silver idols and your precious gold images.
You will throw them out like filthy rags, saying to them, “Good riddance!”
So the Lord must wait for you to come to him
so he can show you his love and compassion.
For the Lord is a faithful God.
Blessed are those who wait for his help.
O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem,
you will weep no more.
He will be gracious if you ask for help.
He will surely respond to the sound of your cries. ‘
Isaiah 30:18-22 NLT
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Speak

July 19th, 2023
The hardest thing for me has been separating who God truly is from my own views, ideas and expectations. Recognizing and accepting that God does not operate within my comfort zone.

I keep telling myself “surely God wouldn’t….”

Yes! He really would.

And He did.
And He has.
And I haven’t.
And the ‘justifications’ for my disobediences, are just that, excuses.

My comfort zone truly is nothing more than my jail cell, I know this.
I just can’t seem to find the will or the strength, I’m not sure which, to get up and step out. I succumb to the paralyzing fear. I know the gate is open, and the shackles are broken, and they have been for some time now, but I’m lulled, in a false sense of security, because despite it all, I am comfortable here. “Here” I know. I understand what is expected, and I navigate the waters somewhat well. Nobody is perfect.

However, I feel it in my soul, this is not the time for “good enough” or “close enough.”
I long to know God better than I know my face in the mirror, and in order to achieve that level of intimacy, I must be willing to step out into the unknown with just His word.

This walk is not a walk of comfort but one where we find His comfort within the uncomfortable. Safety and security in the chaos of the world, not the absence of the chaos. The unshakable confidence that I am safe in His arms, always, as I step out into the dark and unknown road.

I am my own biggest hurdle.

I know that God never does the expected, that is part of the reason it’s so important to truly get to know Him, to know His voice without a shadow of a doubt, but even that will only gets me so far.

I couldn’t tell you why I thought every door God would open would look safe and inviting, and would make perfect sense to me, I know better than that by now but I still seem to want to control and micromanage.

I keep expecting The Almighty God fit into my box.
I keep expecting His ways to make sense to me, though I know better.
I keep assuming that He will fall within the confines of my understanding and expectations, but He never does and He never will.
God is not a God that can be limited.

God has called us to a life of service, and as Jesus demonstrated, we are His servant to all in need, all who are searching for Him, not just the ones we think we should reach out to.
I am to love, encourage and even forgive those He places along our way.
I am to tell the world about Him every chance I get.
There is no reward without risk.

Jesus is the reward. Jesus is worth the risk.

Our relationship only strengthens in the fire. God is faithful. I fall more and more in love with Jesus. He is an incredible experience, that I hope to see everyone seek for themselves, so I should never miss an opportunity to show His love to those He has entrusted to me.

Those moments of anxiety come with rather gruesome images. In the last 8 months, I’ve seen myself shot in the head, 2x. Stabbed in the kidney. Ran over by a car. Raped & strangled. The list goes on and on. I know the images are not real and have no power over me except that which I give them, and right now they keep me trapped in an illusion of security that does not exist because my only security is found in God. The Creator of Heaven and Earth.

I know His voice. It’s been an integral part of my life for as long as I can remember, but I just don’t trust me.
My fear of making a mistake, of saying or doing the wrong thing, keeps me frozen in place. In some areas of my life, I trust Him implicitly. In others, I can’t seem to stay out of His way, when He keeps telling me to Be Still. To Wait Upon The Lord. To Testify. To Trust With All My Heart.
What is it going to take? What more do I need?

God has a plan and a purpose for us all. Every one of us is important to Him. He leaves the 99 to look for His one lost sheep. Isn’t it our responsibility to speak up and help the lost sheep home?
When you find yourself in a position where you recognize the pain, the emptiness in someone you claim to love, how do you not speak up? How do you say “I know they need to find God but it doesn’t have to be me who helps them.” Or “I’ll pray for them.”?

‘Samuel did not yet know the Lord because he had
never had a message from the Lord before.
So the Lord called a third time, and once more
Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?”
Then Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy.
So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again,
say, ‘Speak, Lord , your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed.
And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.”
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Conflicted

July 12th, 2023
How is it completely possible to see Your hand at work, God, to experience You in a way that I never thought possible, to feel Joy in Your presence and be thankful for Your provisions and still feel compelled by the road I know will lead to misery, heartbreak and pain?
There are moments where I wonder where my self control is, and then I realize that I never had any, which is why I never put myself in situations.

I sit here singing about being led back home by my Father, while simultaneously mourning the loss of what will never be, and it feels hypocritical. I make no sense.
I know that Your plans are bigger and better, God, than anything I could ever conjure up in my head, and for that I am incredibly grateful, abundantly so, but that does not mean I don’t feel, at times, like a part of my heart is dying over the loss of something that never belonged to me.

There is so much love, deep in my heart, for the things, places and people, who hinder my growth. I can’t for the life of me, explain why it hurts to let go of the idea of something, even when I know that it is not beneficial to hold on to any of it.
I want the life that You created me to live, God, the life Jesus died for me to have, with You and for You, but my heart mourns over the loss of other things, that should not matter. I am not referring to the material things in life, I am not afraid to lose those. I know Who is in control of the day to day details of my life, the material things are all replaceable. It just hurts to give up on something I wanted for so long, especially when it feels like it is finally within reach. But it’s not.
It was just not in Your plans for my life, God, and I can’t keep attempting to force it in.

Thank You Jesus, for you make the pain bearable. In love and in grace, You hold me up, The Strength in my weakness.
I would not change a single second of my life. Through the dark days You have been faithful, always present and encouraging me with gentleness and love. Over and over You have shown yourself true to your word. Thank You!

How is it so hard to let go of what hinders the growth I so desperately seek?

I don’t know how I got here. It’s as though I was sleepwalking, and now I don’t know how to find my way out. I don’t know how to surrender this to You, but I know that I need to. I need to hold myself accountable, exercise self-control, let go and never look back.

Will my heart ever feel whole again, Lord?

I know it doesn’t feel like it now, but I do know that in due time You will heal and restore my heart. I know that the pain I feel now will serve to glorify Your name in my life and strengthen my trust in You.
I do not know what tomorrow holds, but I do know that as long as I draw breath, Jesus, You will be at my side, holding my hand in the darkness and pain. I know that You will go before me, clearing the path ahead.
I know that You will be behind me, keeping me safe.
I have never felt so conflicted in my life, but I know that I am not to trust my feelings, You taught me that.

Everything I have, Lord, You gave me. All a blessing You chose to bestow upon me, all part of Your provisions, Your way of giving me all that I needed when I needed it, Father, but never mine to keep.
You are all I need, Lord and You are more than enough.
Thank You, Jesus!
I never want to take our relationship for granted, Lord.

I repent for ever putting more value in the provisions than The Provider.

‘He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave.
The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord !” -Job 1:21 NLT
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Lessons from Jonah

July 8th, 2023
Sunset over Arlington 07.01.2023

I am rendered speechless, on an almost daily basis, by God’s incredible faithfulness.
My heart is overwhelmed with gratitude for the many daily blessings that He bestows upon me.

I’m glad there is no way to fully capture His love into words, it’s something that has to be experienced.
God wants us to encounter Him, and no two experiences are ever the exact same. There are similarities in our stories, yes, but every single one of us gets a tailor-made, once in a lifetime relationship with our Creator.

My gratitude overflows. My heart feels as though it will burst from joy most days. There is chaos all around me but all I feel is His peace.

I look back over the last 19 years of my life and I see how God has answered every frantic prayer that I ever made, long before I even really knew Him.
God has always been faithful.
I see His hand at work in every detail, and how through it all, He has always gone before me to carefully arrange things for me. The years have not been easy, but getting here, to Him, having this relationship with my Creator, has been worth all of it and more.
The remembrance of His past faithfulness propels me into this new season with a confidence I did not think me capable of. Some days, I still don’t.

The last 4 weeks have been a roller coaster of emotions. To say that it has been a painful adjustment period, is an understatement.
In a way, none of the changes seem real, and yet I know deep inside my heart that nothing will ever be the same again… and my gratitude overflows.

In early June, after some intense days of mourning the loss of my life as I knew it, [I am not so great with change yet and there have been a lot of changes] I promised God that while I learned to navigate the road He had chosen for us, I would simply say ‘yes’ more often to His opportunities.
It has not been easy to say ‘Yes, Lord’ more, even on little things, I will not deny that. I struggle with my obedience, particularly when I don’t understand or can’t see what He is doing. It comes from a place of self-doubt, usually but it’s disobedience nonetheless, and it breaks me because I hate to disappoint Him. But God in all his gracious mercy always finds new and creative ways to get my attention, to confirm His word, and encourage me forward by reminding me of who He is and how faithful He always has been to us.

My God is a God of miracles.
He is a God of restoration.
A God of provision.
A God of revelation.
He does the impossible every single day.
For all of that and so much more, I am forever THANKFUL.

I am blessed to see His hand at work, and I’ve become so reliant on what I see, the things that He shows me, that I question the steps that require blind faith.
My whole life, I was searching for this, for Him. I did not always understand that, but on some deeper level, I always knew that nothing the world offered satisfied, and the explanations for the emptiness that drives us, just did not make sense to me.
I ran from God. I was searching for Him without realizing I was missing the very thing that I was running from, and now that I found Him and He has welcomed me Home with open arms, I strive for perfection and get frustrated with myself when I inevitably fall short, of course.

I am very much His work in progress, and I comprehend that perfection is not attainable. God is not looking for perfect, He is looking for heart.

We have all heard how God saved Jonah from the whale, but no one wants to get into how he landed himself in the whale in the first place.
Jonah was a prophet on the run, he was selfish and therefore disobedient. He was more concerned with how he looked to those around him than he was with pleasing the Lord. Jonah’s decision to run put others at risk, and even after being rescued, after begrudgingly doing as he was commanded and seeing God’s mighty hand at work, Jonah finishes his story by exemplifying the very thing we are at our very core, selfish.
See, God showed mercy to the people of Nineveh, who repented because of His message via Jonah, making Jonah look a fool when His prediction of doom did not come to pass, which made Jonah angry.
Jonah was so concerned with himself that he refused to see the beauty of God’s mercy and grace. None of us are any more deserving of God’s forgiveness and grace than the people of Nineveh were. Jonah definitely wasn’t, what with his running away and anger issues. And neither am I.

I do not wish to have a heart that is hard and self-centered.
I do not want to let my own expectations and lack of understanding become a hindrance to my walk with God.
I do not want to hold on to anger and resentment.
I do not want to be untrusting, and unforgiving, and without wanting to be,
there are too many times when I am just that, yet in the midst of my worst,
God shows me just that, mercy, forgiveness and grace.

God sees my heart, he sees my struggles. There is so much I do not know about tomorrow, but over the course of the last month, God has been preparing me for things that require my complete trust in Him and my obedience. My road is dark and unknown to me, walking it will require me to think less and trust and obey more.

God has taught me that my main concern in all situations should always be, whether or not I am pleasing Him. He has shown me that honesty is costly and you can’t expect it from cheap people, but I should love them regardless, and that marriage is forged in the hardships.
The best quality in a partner is not how much money he or she makes, but that they are seeking to please God in every aspect of their life.
It is important to know who your spouse is and what he is truly capable of when times are hard, the kids are sick, the money is nonexistent and the problems abound.
I also learned that when I find myself in the middle of my very own Exodus, the people going through the wilderness with me are just as important to His process as the posture of my heart. He placed the right people along my path and showed me He can use anything and anyone for His good purpose, and glory, whether they believe in Him or not.
God taught me that He wants people who trust Him enough to go through 40 years in the wilderness with song and praise, and that lesson has been the hardest of all for me, but also the most liberating.

Obedience can be painful, but then so is disobedience.
Obedience requires a willingness on my part to do what does not come naturally, because He works in ways that are not always understood going in, just looking back. Obedience requires me to do what is out of my comfort zone. It hurts to put the needs of others above your own but then, Jesus Christ did just that and He is the Son of God, how can we do any less?

Disobedience is worse, in my experience. It takes everything from me and leaves me empty and restless. It drives me to busyness that never satisfies. It brings the pain of consequence with it, which is a different kind of pain.
I have always encountered my Lord and Savior in the midsts of my pain, so in the end, for me, it came down to this:

What am I willing to suffer for?

I praise God when He allows me to be tested, satan would not work this hard to keep us down unless God had big plans for us, for His glory, and so I thank Him when I am broken.
I am grateful to Him for taking the time to shine a light in the dark places. I thank him for choosing to tear me down and build me back up, better and stronger in Him than ever before.
I rejoice for all He has taught me through the struggles. I feel gratitude that He allows me to see His hand at work every day. I’m grateful that He takes the time to correct me after I make a mistake and encourage me when doubt starts to creep in
I thank Him for the years of wandering through the barren wilderness, and for those going through it with me. I thank Him for His supernatural provisions. I am thankful for the doors He opens, but most importantly, I am thankful for the doors He closes.

“This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry.
So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people.
Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”
The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”
Jonah 4:1-4
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