Saddle Up Anyway

In his youth, Floyd liked John Wayne movies.  Some of you probably don't even know who or what those are. :)  He was a "cowboy" actor - always the hero in the movie setting.  It was a long time ago!  In fact, one summer he even mowed John Wayne's lawn.  

John Wayne once said: "Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway."  I sometimes feel like that.  There are times when something happens and it's unbelievably hard to get in the saddle again!  I'm nervous or worried, but I choose to give my worries to the Lord and trust Him.  Thankfully He gives me grace to do that.  It's not always easy.  It's part of persevering too - which has been a major aspect of my journey in recent years.

When I was young, I was thrown off a horse one time.  I made myself get back on.....but I never enjoyed riding after that.  Whatever life throws at us, we have to keep going.  We have to keep holding onto the Lord's hand, and take the next steps in front of us....even if it is difficult.

"We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul - not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives.  It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy."  Colossians 1:11 MSG

"The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.  What can man do to me?"  Hebrews 13:6

"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

"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

"Saddling up again" sometimes just means taking one step at a time to get through the day, or get through a situation.  It's not conquering the hard thing or the situation you're facing - it's just hanging in there and persevering.  God has helped me do that over and over again.  I couldn't have made it without His grace and strength.

Remember When...

When I'm facing new challenges - which seems to happen fairly often - I find it helpful to remember, "remember when."  When I think of how God has met me, how He's answered prayers in the past - it gives me fresh courage to face these things now and in the future.

I remember when He healed me of rheumatic fever.

I remember when, as a 16 year old, He provided in so many ways for me to go on a Summer of Service YWAM outreach to Samoa.

I remember when God answered prayer and turned my dad's heart to Himself.  We were in Amsterdam at the time, and God used a letter I wrote to my dad in Texas to help turn his heart.  It was so special that I was a part of that happening.

I remember multiple times God protected our children when we lived in the red light district in Amsterdam.  And how he protected Floyd when his life was threatened several times because of our ministry there.

I remember how clearly He led us to move to South Africa, and provided for us - in a season when we never dreamed we'd be pioneering again so late in life.

I remember how I'm still alive with ovarian cancer contrary to what doctors expected.

Oh my - I remember soooo many things!  God has been so faithful to me and our family through the years.  I can see why God exhorted His people in the Bible to remember His great acts to them from times past.  It builds faith, and helps release fresh courage.

"The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him."  Nahum 1:7

"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken."  Psalm 62:1,2

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they will not overflow you."  Isaiah 43:2

"Why are you in despair, O my soul?  And why have you become disturbed within me?  Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence."  Psalm 42:5

And of course - I remember so very many times God met me and helped me during the 5+ years Floyd was in the hospital.  I couldn't have survived all that without God's daily help.  He has been so good and so faithful.  It's wonderful to remember.

New Book!

Carl Medearis is an international expert in the field of Arab-American and Muslim-Christian relations. He acts as a catalyst for a number of current movements in the Middle East to promote peace-making, as well as cultural, political and religious dialog leading toward reconciliation. Carl, his wife Chris, and three kids lived in Beirut, Lebanon for 12 years. Through their unique and strategic approach around the Arab world, they encourage university students, business professionals and political leaders to live their lives by the principles and teachings of Jesus in order to change their societies and nations. He is the author of the acclaimed book on these issues, 'Muslims, Christians and Jesus'.

Carl is a brilliant author and a good friend and I am excited about his new book titled 'Adventures In Saying Yes - A Journey From Fear To Faith'

To check it out, just click here

Courage and Security

Someone wrote to me after listening to my 3 minute podcast on Saul and his struggle with lack of courage and deep insecurity. I wrote back with some practical suggestions that have helped me on my journey. Here they are:

1. I cried out to God for revelation of his love for me as a father and for understanding of who I was to him...

2. Godly men laid hands on me and prayed for revelation and for healing from deep wounds and insecurities - and kept on praying for me over time

3. I started on a journey of exploring the Father's love through prayer and scripture meditation. I took hold of my place in Christ by faith as Paul describes in Ephesians 1 and Romans 5:17b

4. I started identifying lies i was believing about myself and started speaking God's truth over my life. A great help to me at that point was the book, The Search for Significance by McGee. I saw lies in that book that I had been believing.

5. I prayed every day for a new revelation of the spirit of adoption and rejoiced in it by faith.

6. I learned every day to confess negative emotions to God that I had toward people - hostility, fear, hurt, jealousy - and to receive by faith the Father's love. I learned to confess the sin of negative emotions without condemning myself but as simply the result of working through my heart issues.

7. I got involved in reaching out to others with the gospel - it is impossible to get over insecurity and lack of courage without going on mission with God to make him known to others all around us. Boldness and courage are the result of obedience, not the other way around.

I hope this is helpful. I describe these processes in much more detail in my books, The Father Heat of God and Finding Friendship With God.