Living Day-by-Day

In the days ahead, it's the 11th anniversary from my diagnosis of ovarian cancer.  I'm amazed, and very grateful, that I'm still alive!  My oncologist says that most of her patients are gone in 6 months to 2 years.  She says that my optimism, my faith, and my pro-active involvement in my care are the key things that have helped me.  I don't disagree, but I tell her it's definitely an answer to prayer that I'm still alive.  She does call me a "miracle."  :)

I was scrolling through the photos on my phone.  It hit me how many of our friends and family have gone to be with Jesus in recent years - a lot of them!  There were some who came to visit Floyd when he was sick and even spoke at the memorial services for him, and now they've joined him in heaven.

It reminds me afresh that our times are in God's hands.  There have been a few times when I've been worried about the cancer I have.....worried for the future, for our family, etc.  Every time that happens, the Lord reminds me to keep my eyes on Him - not on my cancer.  He exhorts me to live day-by-day and not project into the future.  He brings to my mind ways that He has helped me all my life, and especially during these 11 years......and tells me He is faithful to keep helping me.  I definitely trust in His faithfulness.

Without a miracle, I'll never be cured of my cancer.  I've had 8 surgeries and 4 courses of chemo.  The tumor is currently inoperable because of it's location and attachment to vital organs.  But the Lord has helped me in "living with cancer."  It's been challenging at times, but He has helped me along the way.

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.' " Lamentations 3:22-24

"Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; and...that He may have mercy on you.  For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him."  Isaiah 30:18

I "wait" for all the Lord has for me - hour by hour, day by day, month by month.  I know He is good, trustworthy, and faithful.  I'm in good hands.  And my heart is at peace.

A Merry Heart

These past days have been a little crazy!  My house, kinda like me, is aging.  :)  Things are breaking down and repairs are needed.  Recently it seems like daily something stops working.  It's been a revolving door of repairmen coming and going.

I was speaking with a family member who is going through a very challenging season.  The person said it was helpful to stop and think - "do I have everything I need in this moment, for this day?"  It helped to not be overwhelmed with the things needing to be resolved.  One day at a time, one moment at a time is manageable.  I like that!

Proverbs 17:22 says "a merry heart does good, like medicine."  I've tried to keep a merry heart in the middle of the breakdowns.  A sense of humor, a positive attitude, and faith in the Lord's help can get me through the most challenging situations.  It's a winning combo.

I saw a slogan  - "He who laughs, lasts."  I'm laughing and still standing!!

God Doesn't Change

Not too long ago, I went through something that I would least expect.  I was doing all the right things, but I experienced a spiritual dryness.  Things seemed dull and gray - like our overcast skies can be.  I wondered why.  I looked at a lot of possibilities, and asked the Lord about it.  To be honest, I couldn't find a specific reason.

I realized that others in the Bible had gone through times of dryness - David, Elijah, Jeremiah, Peter.  At least I was in good company!  I'm sure I've had times like this before in my life, but after the richness of the Lord's fellowship during Floyd's illness and my cancer journey - I was surprised at the difference.

I decided to stop trying to analyze it and just persevere through it.  I pressed in close to the Lord - to the "Vine" because "without Him I can do nothing."  I continued doing all the "right" things - praying, reading the Word, worshipping, reading/listening to rich messages, spending time in the Lord's presence, etc.  Then, one day - it was gone as quickly as it had appeared.  I always like to know "why" things happen.....but this was a mystery.  Like other things in life, I just walked through it to the other side.

The end result was that I was encouraged.....because whatever I'm going through God doesn't change.  He's always the same, and He'll get me through every single season I face.  He's so faithful!

"I am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."  John 15:5

"You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water."  Psalm 63:1

"The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail."  Isaiah 58:11

When we're humble and dependent, He will lead us through the desert times to times of flowing waters.  I'm so grateful for how He helped me.

Man of Sorrows

A friend lost her husband recently.  As soon as I heard, my heart went out to her.  Loss, and the grief that comes, is a difficult and heavy thing to deal with.  I grieved while Floyd was sick - and I grieved when he went to be with Jesus.  

It's 4 years ago this week that Floyd passed away, and it still seems like just yesterday.  I thought by now I'd be "used" to it, and it wouldn't be so poignant.  Yes, certainly, time helps to heal - but the sense of loss is still so vivid.  I have moments when I want to say something to Floyd, and then I realize afresh that he's gone.  I continually face situations that I wish he could help with, but I'm on my own.

When I was diagnosed with cancer, we thought I would be the one to go home to Jesus.  We never dreamed it would be Floyd.  He was fit, healthy, and in better shape than he'd been in years.  Then the unknown virus hit, and he was taken down.  From being well to being in ICU in about 24 hours.  It was such a shock.  

The Bible says that Jesus was a "man of sorrows, fully acquainted with grief."  I'm so glad He understands.  It encourages and comforts me on the hard days.  I have walked through several difficult things recently.  I've really missed Floyd - but I lean into Jesus who understands!

"Blesses are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted."  Matthew 5:4

"He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."  Psalm 147:3

"The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit."  Psalm 34:18

Without the Lord, I think grief might be unbearable.  But with Him - He helps me day by day.  I'm so thankful for His goodness and faithfulness.

Brighter Days Ahead!

These days my energy level ebbs and flows continually.  Sometimes I don't seem to have any at all.  It can be daunting when I have a lot that I need to do.  A formula that helps me:

- focus on what I can do

- choose not to get discouraged

- be careful not to be too hard on myself

It helps me to work my way through this formula.  I also read a quote:  "Keep going!  Rest when you need to, but never quit. Brighter days are ahead."  This is so helpful too.  And it's true - with the Lord, brighter days are always ahead.  We have to be careful not to be bogged down in what's happening day-to-day.

"Be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you:  to love the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways, to obey His commands, to hold fast to Him and to serve Him with all your heart and all your soul."  Joshua 22:5

"There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."  Romans 8:1

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness."  2 Corinthians 12:9

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him."  James 1:12

"But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me."  Micah 7:7

God is so faithful to help us on our day-by-day journey through life - whatever we face!  He is always by our side.

Instructions from the Word

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."  Romans 12:12

I think that verse tells us how to face the circumstances of life.  It exhorts us to maintain a positive attitude when facing life's difficulties.

"Rejoice in hope."  We can keep hope alive in our hearts even when experiencing hard times.  As we walk in the joy God gives us - His joy is our strength - we can make it through anything.

"Be patient in affliction."  Or suffering.  Or trials.  Or the different seasons of life.  As we walk through any circumstance we can remain calm, peaceful, and steadfast.  God will use each situation to help us grow.  He doesn't "waste our sorrows."  He uses them for good in our lives.

"Be faithful in prayer."  Prayer is our lifeline!  Talking to the Lord as we navigate through each situation will allow the Lord to guide and help us.  No difficult circumstance we face is too big for God!  He's got us!  He is continually with us to help us.

I love how whatever we face, God has given us instructions in His word.  He is so faithful!

Choosing Joy

"Rejoice in the Lord always."  Philippians 4:4

I read this verse recently, and it stood out to me.  My life currently is very simple due to my health situation.  In particular - my numb feet from neuropathy.  A good portion of my day revolves around various treatments.  Some days are very dull and boring.  I don't always "feel" overflowing with joy.

But as I pondered this verse, I realized that joy is a "choice," daily, hourly, moment by moment.  I can experience the Lord's joy even when I'm going through hard times.  His joy is available to me in any hardship, any suffering, any adversity, any discouragement.

"The joy of the Lord is your strength."  Nehemiah 8:10

Every morning when I get up, before I even get out of bed - I speak out some of the Lord's promises to me and ask for them for my day.  This verse is one of them.  I ask the Lord to fill me with His joy - which is my strength for the day. 

As I go about my day, I consciously look for things to express my joy in the Lord.  When I get busy, I try to stop and focus on thanking the Lord for things in my day - which releases joy.  I've come to understand that joy isn't something that just hits us - it's something we choose and work at.  And the benefits are awesome! 

I recently watched the movie "The Jesus Revolution" that was on TV here.  It was made in 2023.  It was a trip down memory lane.  While it was happening in Calif. and other parts of the US - we were experiencing it in Afghanistan, and later in Amsterdam.  Those were special days!  And one of the characteristics of it was, you guessed it - JOY.  There was such overwhelming joy in the hearts of all the young people coming to know Jesus!  It was contagious.  Many worship songs that we sing today came out of that time of spiritual revolution.  I found my self praying for it to come again!

"Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days."  Psalm 90:14

"Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence."  Psalm 21:6

When we walk in the "joy of the Lord," everything in life takes on a different perspective.  What a blessed gift His joy is!

Pause Before You Speak

I heard someone say something about another person recently.  It had absolutely nothing to do with me, but I found myself grieved.  As I pondered this, I realized it must be a small indication of how God feels when we say or do something unkind or slanderous.  I thought about this verse:

"Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires."  James 1:19,20

Perhaps one of the biggest challenges for us is being "slow to speak."  In an age of "instant" everything, sometimes our speech is instant too.  I had that happen recently.  I heard something that I was upset about, and shared it with a friend right away.  A few minutes later, I realized I shouldn't have done that and needed to apologize.  I think it's helpful to hit "pause" before we speak!!  

These days it seems that people feel free to speak anything and everything.....from the mildest thing to the most awful thing.  There are plenty of examples of people doing that, and I guess social media has given us platforms for that.  But it doesn't change God's standards for our speech.  He'll still hold us accountable.

"The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit."  Proverbs 15:4

"Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."  Colossians 4:6

"Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips."  Psalm 141:3

"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."  Proverbs 15:1

"Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble."  Proverbs 21:23

"Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."  Ephesians 4:29

That verse is a tall order!  Our speech needs to build up and impart grace.  We definitely need to hit pause before we speak!

"I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak."  Matthew 12:36

We may think we can say whatever we think - after all, "freedom of speech" and so forth.  But God is listening and we will be accountable for what we say.

There are dozens and dozens of verses in the Word about our speech.  We have a lot to live up to.

I want my speech to be pleasing to the Lord.  I am keeping the guideline of being "slow to speak" in the fore front of my mind!

Victory in Jesus

Easter weekend was lovely. The weather was beautiful. In thinking back on it, I'm not quite sure what happened - but Easter came alive for me in a special way this year. I had a precious time with the Lord on Good Friday.....and that carried with me the whole weekend.

I have a lot on my mind at the moment - a lot on my heart. I had a fresh revelation of how Jesus took all the burdens I'm carrying on the cross. He now carries the weight of them for me. And by His stripes we are healed. I prayed with fresh fervor in asking the Lord for healing - especially for my painful feet.

And on Resurrection Sunday, I felt a fresh wave of victory. God has helped me in so many ways in recent years, and I had fresh assurance that He will continue to do so. I thought of the words to an old song we sang when I was growing up:

"I heard an old, old story, how a Savior came from glory

How He gave His life on Calvary to save a wretch like me

I heard about His groaning, of His precious blood's atoning

Then I repented of my sins, and won the victory.

Oh, victory in Jesus, my Savior forever

He sought me and bought me with His redeeming blood

He loved me 'ere I knew Him and all my love is due Him

He plunged me to victory beneath the cleansing flood

I heard about His healing, of His cleansing power revealing

How He made the lame to walk again and 'caused the blind to see

And then I cried, "Dear Jesus, come and heal my broken spirit"

And somehow Jesus came and brought to me the victory."

It's amazing how the songs I sang as a young girl are still so fresh in my memory.....and the truth of them still stands! I'm so grateful for the "victory in Jesus."

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:8

"The Lord is my light and my salvation...The Lord is the strength of my life." Psalm 27:1

"Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in Him, for He shields him all day long." Deuteronomy 33:12

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations 3:22,23

"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever." Psalm 107:1

Our wonderful Savior has risen - He is alive and with us each day!

Grace to Forgive

In recent days, a distant  memory of a time when someone hurt me flitted through my mind.  Haven't thought of it in ages.....not sure why it popped up.  I spoke out my forgiveness afresh.  Doing that always helps to cleanse the pain.

I once heard someone say, "Forgiveness is not a case of holy amnesia that wipes out the past.  It is instead the experience of healing that drains the poison from the wound."  I like that description!  Draining the poison through forgiveness is wonderfully healing.

As I was thinking about all this, I couldn't help but think of the perfect example Jesus set for us in forgiveness - especially as we come to this Easter weekend.  He forgave incredible hurts and pains.....and He gives us grace to forgive.  It's powerful.

"If we do not forgive man their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."  Matthew 6:15

"Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."  Ephesians 4:32

"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you."  Colossians 3:13

"You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call on you."  Psalm 86:5

"Forgive us our debts, as we have also forgiven our debtors."  Matthew 6:12

I am so very grateful for the death of Jesus on the cross, for His glorious resurrection, and the power of it in our lives!  I can never thank Him enough!  A blessed Easter to you!

Our Unchangeable God

I hear from people far and wide who are nervous, anxious, fearful, worried about world events.  Certainly unsettling things are taking place in our world.....things that we would have never dreamed of happening.  The concerning feelings are understandable.  I, too, have had moments of feeling vulnerable.

If ever there were a time to keep our eyes on the Lord, it's certainly now!!  The world as we know it is changing.  But we serve an unchangeable God.  He is our Rock, our sure foundation.  He will carry us through the changes.  People and institutions may fail us, but God won't.  He is constant and unfailing.

When I think back to all the ways God has helped me in the recent difficult years with Floyd's illness, my cancer, some family crisis's, and ministry emergencies - all I can do is praise and thank the Lord for His mercy, grace, and help.  He has carried me through everything!  Nothing caused Him to waver.  Nothing shook Him up!  He helped me time and time again.

When we face uncertainty in these current days of change - it's good to look back and remember how God has helped us in the past.  It assures us of His help in the present situations!

" 'Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,' says the Lord, who has compassion on you."  Isaiah 54:10

"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me."  Psalm 23:4

"Lift up your eyes to the heavens, look at the earth beneath; the heavens will vanish like smoke, the earth will wear out like a garment and its inhabitants die like flies.  But my salvation will last forever, my righteousness will never fail."  Isaiah 51:6

"Come to me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls."  Matthew 11:28,29

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."  Lamentations 3:22

"It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man."  Psalm 118:8

Whatever we read in the news - it's important to balance it with what we read in the Bible!  God is with us.  He will help us in the changing world.  He'll never fail us!

Hidden Treasure

When trials come along - when we face hard situations - when we struggle with difficult health problems - when any kind of hardship is challenging us.....we have to endure and persevere.  The temptation may be to try and ignore the situation or run the other way.  We may want to shake our fist and complain about what is happening.  But, like it or not, we have to face these things head on.  Thankfully we don't have to go through them alone.

Enduring and Persevering doesn't just "happen."  We have to choose in our hearts to go through whatever we are facing with our focus on the Lord and what He will teach us.  It may be a day-by-day choosing as we face the hard things.  There have been times when it was an almost minute-by-minute choosing!!  It's really hard to persevere in the midst of the hard situations.  But it's worth it - 100%, totally worth it.

In the midst of the hard things, there is hidden treasure.  The more difficult the situation, the more treasure there is to be found.....especially in our walk with the Lord.  It reminds me of Easter egg hunts when I was a child.  Searching in the grass, in bushes, under logs, hidden in furniture - there would be beautiful Easter eggs to be found and put in my basket.  My "basket" is full of treasures in my relationship with God.  Drawing near to Him in the midst of difficulties has brought a richness of friendship that I don't know if I'd have found otherwise.  He has taught me so many lessons.  He has had higher purposes for me, and He has revealed His will to me of what He is doing through the suffering.  I am blessed beyond measure!!

"Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up."  Galatians 6:9

"Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life."  James 1:12

"We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame."  Romans 5:3-5

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness."  James 1:2,3

"For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised."  Hebrews 10:36

"If we endure, we will also reign with Him."  2 Timothy 2:12

Everyone on this earth goes through hard times.  In the storms of life, as we seek Him and persevere, He will pour out His mercy, grace, and strength.  He is good and faithful.

Wisdom from Above

Wisdom.  I need the Lord's wisdom.  Wisdom for big, huge, impactful decisions - and for small, daily, inconsequential decisions.  In recent years I have made hundreds, probably thousands, of decisions.  I couldn't have made them without the Lord whispering in my ear to go here/go there, do this/do that.  He has led me by my right hand step by step. I am so very grateful.

For me the wisdom I'm asking from the Lord comes as I keep my focus continually on Him as I go about my day.  I think on His goodness.  I stand on His promises.  I rejoice in how He's met me time and time again.  I speak out my gratitude, and remind Him of my need of Him.  I talk to Him all day long - as if He was right here with me in my home.  I worship Him in my mind and in my heart.

I also receive the wisdom that I need as I wait in His presence - listening for His whispers into my heart and mind.  I block out "the world" as best I can, and listen for that still small voice of the Lord.  I ask Him to confirm what I've heard from Him with peace - a peace that passes understanding.  His instructions and His peace show me the way forward.

Sometimes the wisdom that I need comes quickly.  At other times, I have to continue to seek Him until I receive the answers I need.  God's timetable is not always the same as mine!  But He's faithful to answer in the right time.  He's never late.

"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."  James 1:5

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge."  Proverbs 1:7

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make straight your paths."  Proverbs 3:5,6

"How much better to get wisdom than gold!  And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than silver."  Proverbs 16:16

"Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path."  Psalm 119:105

"All this also comes from the Lord Almighty, wonderful in counsel and magnificent in wisdom."  Isaiah 28:29

"The Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding."  Proverbs 2:6

"The plans I have for you - plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)  I trust God's wisdom for those plans.  He has faithfully led me so far, and I trust Him to keep leading me.

I couldn't make it without Him.

Choose Trust

heard from a friend who is finding it hard to see friends battling horrible illness.  He has questions about it all.  I imagine most of us can identify with him.  I have a multitude of questions.  I have a mental list of those questions that I hope to talk to the Lord about some day.

And yet, in the here and now, we have to choose trust.  We have to trust in God's goodness even when we see the suffering around us.  He WARNED us!!  "In this world you will have tribulation."  John 16:33  But He also says, "Take heart!  I have overcome the world."

It's not wrong to have questions.....and we can talk to the Lord about them.  But we can't allow those questions to cause us to take up an offense against God.  We have to hold tight to His mighty hand and keep our eyes on Him.  We don't understand things that happen.  But we have to remember that we live in a fallen world, and there will be pain and suffering.  Trust in our wonderful Father is the only thing that will carry us through.

I've had lots of conversations with the Lord about what happened to Floyd.  I don't understand any of it.  But in the midst of that painful season, I saw God at work.  I knew His goodness and faithfulness in so many ways.  I was carried by Him daily.  My heart was comforted in the sadness of it.  There was sufficient grace for each thing I faced - and abundant wisdom for the many decisions I faced......even as I battled cancer and went through repeated treatment myself.  God was there!  All the time!

"The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit."  Psalm 34:28

"Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Romans 8:39

"Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always."  1 Chronicles 16:11

"Therefore we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.  For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."  2 Corinthians 4:16-18

"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away."  Revelation 21:4

I look forward to that day!  And I have a feeling that my questions will no longer be important when I stand in His presence!

Slow

There's a word that seems to be a key element of my life these days - slow.  I've always been such a go-getter - especially being married to a visionary - and have always been very active.  Being slow wasn't part of my vocabulary.  But here I am.

A lot of my day, my life, is still involved with doing everything I can to battle cancer, and also trying to minimize the impact of the neuropathy in my feet.  In fact, with my numb feet, I truly have to go slow!  I had 2 bad falls last year, so I purposely walk slowly and carefully.

I also continue to be involved in various ministry things.  Some of them are slower too, but I love the things I'm still able to do.

I've had a few chats with the Lord about being slow.  I know He could improve things so that I didn't have to be so slow.  But, instead, He's been teaching me the beauty of this season of my life, and encouraging me to accept it and not fight it.  I am "slowly" getting there!

One thing He's been reminding me of is that He values faithfulness more than productivity.  He loves what we accomplish for Him - but being faithful day in and day out in all things big and small is of great value to Him.  In my slowness I can certainly choose to be faithful!

I've been reminded of my mother who spent her older, slower years in intercession.  I dare to say that she may have accomplished more through her prayers than many others who were active.  We certainly saw the fruit of her prayers in our lives!

So slow is okay.  I'm learning to accept it.

"You give me your shield of victory, and your right hand sustains me; you stoop down to make me great."  Psalm 18:35

"Therefore the Lord will wait, that He may be gracious to you; and...that He may have mercy on you.  For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for Him."  Isaiah 30:18

"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men."  Colossians 3:23

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.  My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song."  Psalm 28:7

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior."  Habakkuk 3:17,18

I would add my own verse.  "Though I move slowly and seem to accomplish very little.....I will keep my eyes on the Lord and keep my heart full of praise as I serve Him faithfully each day."  

He's Greater than Fear

In recent years with all the ups and downs I've experienced with my cancer journey, and with Floyd's illness - there have been a number of times when I've faced fear.  It often hit my heart unexpectedly - usually by something dramatic that happened or from bad news.  There were times when it hit me so hard that it took my breath away.  There were other times when I was shaking from the impact of fear hitting me.  There was one time when something happened with our family that I was shaking for days - I couldn't stop.  My whole body quivered.  David in the Psalms mentioned "trembling coming upon him."  (Psalm 55:5)  Even though he was a mighty warrior, he faced fear.

Whatever the impact - I quickly learned that I had to face the fear and deal with it.  I couldn't "live with it."  It was destructive and debilitating.  I would get alone with God - express my trust in Him and ask for His help.  I would remind myself that whatever I was facing - God was greater than the situation.  He was with me.  He was carrying me.  He was working on my behalf.  He was protecting me.  I spoke out these truths - and prayed them.  I asked others to pray for me.  And I didn't give up until I felt the Lord lift the fear from my heart.

God knows that we face fear at times.  It's a normal human reaction.  But I don't think He wants us to live with it.  He waits to help us as we acknowledge our fear and express our trust in Him to help us.  He meets us in the distress of fear, and reminds us of His help - and that He's greater than the fear.

I still face fear at times over certain things.  I probably always will.  But these last years have taught me how to deal with it.....and deal with it quickly before it takes root in my heart!

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."  Deuteronomy 31:8

"When I am afraid, I will trust in you."  Psalm 56:3

"I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears."  Psalm 34:4

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the seas, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging."  Psalm 46:1-3

"For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, 'Do not fear; I will help you.' "  Isaiah 41:13

"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."  Psalm 23:4

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."  John 16:33

The Lord understands when we face fearful things.  But He's right with us - closer then the air we breath!!  He is faithful to help us.

The Joy of the Lord is my Strength

The Bible tells us that "the joy of the Lord is our strength." (Nehemiah 8:10)  It's a gift - and a promise.  When we go through hard days, difficult times it's so important to look for the joy in that day.  It's easy to just look at the hard things and miss the joy that's right in front of us.

An example for me - I'm not fond of rain, but I know we need it!  Our days are getting shorter, so I know winter is coming soon.  On the dark, gray, rainy days if I stop and thank the Lord for the rain - it changes my perspective.  I remind myself that there are places that need rain, and we are being blessed with it.  With enough rain, our dams/reservoirs will be full and we won't face drought!  My heart changes to gratitude, and I can find joy in God blessing us with the rain.  It's a simple thing, but it can change so much in our heart.

I begin to look for other things that bring joy as I go through the day.  As I'm grateful, I begin to see many things that are blessings.  A dreary day becomes a joyful one as I focus my attention this way.  Honestly, it's how I get through the cold, rainy, winter months!!  I anticipate the joyful things God will bring into my day!

At the end of the day I can look back at the joy He brought my way - and thank Him for the strength that came through that joy!!  It was God's blessing to me.

"This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."  Psalm 118:24

"Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: Rejoice!  Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near."  Philippians 4:4,5

"You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence."  Acts 2:28

"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer."  Romans 12:12

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

The simplest way to find joy is to give thanks in whatever situation we're in.  Joy grows in our hearts as we do that.  If you're struggling, take time to sit in His presence and ask for His joy to fill your heart.  It's a prayer He loves to answer.  And He is faithful!

Silver Linings

Recently I was communicating with a friend who's entering a season of intense physical treatment.  I remembered something about the difficult seasons I've walked through.  I certainly don't like them - I wouldn't make a choice to go through them - and I find them very hard.  But there's a "silver lining."  Because I walk through them holding tight to the Lord's hand, there have been precious lessons learned that I wouldn't have learned in any other way.

Maybe it's as we participate in the "fellowship of His sufferings" (Philippians 3:10) that we can draw close to Him in a special way.  The intimacy with Him, the abundant grace He grants us, and the precious encouragement of His Spirit are unique in the time of trials.  I can look back at sweet gifts He's brought into my life in the difficult seasons.  I relish the closeness of His Spirit during those times.  I feel I grew to deeper levels in my walk with Him.  I couldn't make it on my own, so I had to press in and trust Him in fresh ways.

When I face fresh challenges, it's helpful for me to stop and remember all this!  It gives me strength and courage to face the new overwhelming situation.  He waits to help me, strengthen me, and walk with me on the new road.  He is so faithful!

"In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."  Psalm 5:3

"I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation."  Psalm 13:5

"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save."  Zephaniah 3:17

"I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being."  Ephesians 3:16

"Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."  Hebrews 4:16

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when He has stood the test, He will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him."  James 1:12

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way just as we are."  Hebrews 4:15

One trap I've learned to avoid is to think that because I'm serving the Lord and following His voice that I'm somehow immune to trials and suffering.  We live in a fallen world, and there is pain, difficulty, sickness, any number of "hard" things.  We can't avoid them, but we don't face them alone.  The enemy may try to bring condemnation into our hearts because of the trials.  We must stand against that and receive God's grace for each situation.  The trials aren't in any way punishment - they are opportunities for growth and intimacy.

Job is an example of clinging to God in the midst of immense trials.  "Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him."  Job 13:25  He persevered!  "Our afflictions are designed not to break us but to bend us toward God."  - anonymous

Inner Strength

One of the key things I've learned over the last years is how important it is to have a strong "inner walk" with the Lord when trials and hardships come our way.  If we don't have His strong power within, we won't be able to handle the pressures from without.  It's His grace, strength, wisdom, and power that enables us to navigate the hard times.

A saving grace for me was talking to the Lord all day long with whatever I was facing.  It wasn't just my daily quiet time - it was being in communion with Him continually.  I often had to make important decisions all through the day.  I would whisper a prayer and ask Him to lead and guide me.  It was that inner strength that enabled me to handle the pressures and decisions that came my way.  

"I pray that He would grant you...to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man."  Ephesians 3:16

"They strengthened the spirits of the disciples and exhorted them to persevere in the faith, saying, 'It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.' "  Acts 14:22

"This is what the Lord says: 'Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.' " Jeremiah 6:16

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good."  Genesis 50:20

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

"For nothing is impossible with God."  Luke 1:37

"You are my lamp, O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light.  With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall."  2 Samuel 22:29,30

"Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?  Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?"  Luke 12:25,26

"I have set the Lord always before me.  Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."  Psalm 16:8

I could go on and on.  So many verses about the Lord meeting us and being with us when we go through the difficulties of life.   "The power of Christ in you is greater than the pressure of troubles around you."  (anonymous)

He IS always, always faithful!!

Watching my Words

I am blessed to live in a beautiful area.  We have flowers, trees, a variety of birds, the ocean, some wildlife - every day I see something that reminds me of God's wonderful creation.  Further inland in South Africa, there's lots of different wildlife.  God created such an awesome variety for us!

I am on a "nature whatsapp group" where people share photos and short video clips of these things.  I so enjoy "seeing" through the eyes of others.  Lately, however, a number of things that have been shared turn out to be done by AI.  They aren't real!!  It's so disappointing, and frustrating.  When there's so much real beauty - it doesn't seem necessary to make something up.

It seems like every day there is something in the news about someone getting in trouble for their speech too. I guess we live in a world now where we have to question what we see and hear.  It's made me go to the Word and look again at God's standards for our speech and actions.  Here are just a few of the guidelines He gave us:

"It is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person."  Matthew 15:11

"Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble."  Proverbs 21:33

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue."  Proverbs 18:21

"Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."  Psalm 19:14

"Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin."  Proverbs 13:3

"I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."  Matthew 12:36,37

"When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent."  Proverbs 10:19

I have a new urgency in my heart to watch my words, and be careful of what I share.....making sure it is true and worthy of sharing.  God made His standards clear in the Word.