Today a squirrel chewed down three of my huge sunflowers. So I made a centerpiece with the flowers, and fed the squirrel something better in the backyard feeder in hopes he wouldn’t destroy any more. It reminded me of Song of Songs 2:15 and the little foxes that steal the vines and ruin the harvest. What little foxes are trying to steal your joy, your peace, your dreams? That ends today! Usher the critters out of your life and joyfully continue on toward your victory!
Unbelief is safe, because it takes no risk and almost always gets what it expects. Bill Johnson
If you are reading this, you need to know that I care about you! I care about who you are, what you think, and what you care about. Too many in this world think they are insignificant, alone, uncared for, and that it is up to them to make it through this life unconnected and unloved.
Stop it!
There is a Father in Heaven that loves you and cares for you. He is good and He is reaching out for you. How do you know He's there? Ask Him. Look for His love in others. Look at Creation around you. You have significance as His daughter or son. Period. Right now, spend some time experiencing that love. Let go of the lies you believe about God and yourself. Ask Him to reveal His truth. He will.
Ephesians 1:4-6 - And He chose us to be His very own, joining us to Himself even before He laid the foundation of the universe! Because of His great love, He ordained us as one with Christ from the beginning, so that we would be seen as holy in His eyes with an unstained innocence. For it was always in His perfect plan to adopt us as His delightful children, so that His tremendous grace that cascades over us would bring Him glory - for the same love He has for His Beloved One, Jesus, He has for us! (The Passion Translation - Brian Simmons)
What truth has God revealed to you today?
I was wondering this morning what it would be like going through life with someone you couldn't lean on; someone you didn't trust; someone you knew didn't love you but only pretended to be there for you; someone you felt stuck with, imprisoned by, and hopelessly destined to stay with.
I am so thankful for my husband who totally fits the bill of everything positive a husband and lover should be. But there is another person I am even more thankful for. Someone who tells me not only in the Bible, but in life experience and the creation around me, that I am loved; I can trust him; and I can lean on him in trouble and in joy.
He calls himself a kind father-daddy-papa; friend; healer; my creator; wisdom; helper; my strength; my hope; comforter; my peace; good king; lover of my soul; provider. He says it. I believe it. He has been these things and more to me. If you have not experienced who he is, don't live another day in hopelessness, but ask him to show his true self to you and be open to listen.
Who has God been for you?
Isaiah 41:10 - So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Our soul and spirit, like our physical body, are uniquely designed to heal from trauma, crisis, and disappointment.
Everything within me points to hope when I'm at my lowest. I cannot help it. I have to yield to it. That's why I write. I have to tell the stories of faith triumphing over situations that would want to leave me hopeless and defeated. Light invades darkness. Faith, truth, life, and hope overcome hopelessness, lies, doubt, and death. For me, writing makes sense of the senseless. It brings healing to my heart, and, I pray, to the hearts of my readers. Our stories of His goodness are what we can offer to a world seeking light in the darkness. We must tell our stories bravely. They will change lives.
Luke 19:40 - "I tell you," he replied, "if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out."
Romans 8:19 - The creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed.
Romans 8:37 - We are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
Do you know that God is ready to pour out his blessings and purposes if we might just listen to him? He wants to bless us. He's waiting to bless us. He will even bless us through the hard things in our life. He is good. He loves us completely. He is with us even if we never wanted him to be. He is our Creator. Our Father. Our kind Papa. Graham Cooke calls him "the kindest person I know." I'm starting to know him like that. It's taken a lifetime for me to be so bold as to tell you how I feel - really feel - about Jesus. I pray it won't take you that long to connect with that true, beautiful, friendship. He's waiting for you with open arms today. He's coming after you in the mire of your life and circumstances. He's ready to hose off the mud, cook you a nourishing meal, even embrace your corny stories. He's there for every moment. He's the best of friends and the most generous of fathers. His love is overwhelming yet not obnoxious or demanding. It's worth our lives - and yet he doesn't even ask for our life for himself, for when we give it to him, he gives it right back to us - only this time with purpose and resource and hope and more freedom than we can imagine.
"If my people would but listen to me...how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes!...you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you." Psalm 81:13-16
How have you experienced God in your life?
Have you ever found treasures at a rummage sale you would have paid a bunch more for had you seen them elsewhere? Sometimes I think that's how we are with ourselves. We put a small price on our lives and skills that others would look at and value at a much higher price. Today, you are entering a new way of thinking of your life and your identity. You are a valuable, royal child of the Most High God - of infinite value and extraordinarily treasured. Step up - reach higher - see yourself as your wonderful Papa sees you. Beloved, incredibly created, lovely, made for a mighty purpose, thought of before the foundations of this world. You are His dream!
Ephesians 1:4-5 - Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.
How do you tap into your calling?
For starters, let me ask you some questions.
What is beautiful to you?
What are you naturally good at?
What skills have you developed?
What are your dreams for your life?
What do others say about your gifts?
What is God saying to you through your dreams, thoughts, other people, His Word?
What is it you want to do? Are you doing that?
When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
What are your loves?
What was your favorite job?
What do you do that gives you life? What doesn't?
If your life was a picture of your past and present - how would that picture extend to the future?
Your calling is in these answers. Ask Holy Spirit to reveal to you His thoughts as you answer them. Spend time journaling, praying, but especially listening. God thought of you for eons before you were born. He had thoughts about your life and what He was creating you to do and be. Don't you want to know who you are and why you are? Oh....what a fun journey!
Jeremiah 29:11 - 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."
What do you feel you are called to?
Today a squirrel chewed down three of my huge sunflowers. So I made a centerpiece with the flowers, and fed the squirrel something better in the backyard feeder in hopes he wouldn’t destroy any more. It reminded me of Song of Songs 2:15 and the little foxes that steal the vines and ruin the harvest. What little foxes are trying to steal your joy, your peace, your dreams? That ends today! Usher the critters out of your life and joyfully continue on toward your victory!
