Enjoying His presence in the present journey

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I can’t even begin to express how much I needed this devotional that I’m doing for Lent. Day 3 hit home with me.

Here is a quote I’d like to share. 

“You see huge mountains looming, and you start wondering how you’re going to scale those heights. Meanwhile, because you’re not looking where you’re going, you stumble on the easy path where I am leading you now. As I help you get back on your feet, you tell Me how worried you are about the cliffs up ahead. But you don’t know what will happen today, much less tomorrow. Our path may take an abrupt turn, leading you away from those mountains. There may be an easier way up the mountains than is visible from this distance. If I do lead you up the cliffs, I will equip you thoroughly for that strenuous climb. I will even give My angels charge over you, to preserve you in all your ways.”

40 Days with Jesus – Celebrating His Presence by Sarah Young

For we walk by faith, not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7

I know that. I have known that as long as I can remember, but it much easier to quote the verse than to live it. If I truly walk with my faith in God, then I don’t really need to worry. And the Bible tells me many times that I shouldn’t worry.

After reading that excerpt from the book, I realize that my worries about things in the far and distant future and keeping me from leading a full and joyful life.

Now most of my blog readers know that our oldest son was recently diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome. That brings a whole myriad of new worries for me. It literally consumes my thoughts. I’m reading about it constantly. We are starting different types of therapy, and then we deal with it every day in our life.  I know that it is still pretty new, but I really don’t know that I’ve completely given it to God. There is so much unknown and I have a really hard time of letting go of the unknown. And the thing is, God will do a much better job than I will – so I’m not even really sure why I worry. My worry doesn’t change anything. It doesn’t help God. It doesn’t help me. It doesn’t help my family. Why don’t I just let it go? And I certainly will not be able to figure out the unknown. So, I just need to walk by faith. God has got this. He really does.

We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. Proverbs 16:9

The above verse changes my perspective on absolutely everything.  So short, yet so profound.

Gracious Father,

Keep my heart open to your guidance. Take my stubbornness out of the way. Remove me and my desires from the equation and lead me where You want me.  Fill my heart with peace so that I don’t worry and so that I can completely trust You. I know you want to prosper me.  My inheritance is not of this world. Help me to remember that every day of my life.  

In your Son’s precious name. Amen.

Gonna be all right

I am doing a 40 day devotional for Lent. I probably won’t blog every single day, but writing is a major way I express myself, so I imagine I will definitely be blogging often about my Lent journey. It often is how I hear what God is trying to tell me. And many times when I start writing with one idea in mind, I end up somewhere completely different. I don’t really think that is a coincidence.

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.

Psalm 34:8

He is good. The only way we can taste His goodness is to draw near. We are to take refuge in Him. He is our place of safety. Our shelter.

I can remember as a young girl, I would hide in my daddy’s arms.  If I felt scared, I could hide in his giant & strong arms. I felt so safe. Nothing could harm me if I was in the refuge of my dad’s arms. I felt so protected from the world around me. Even as a grown woman, there was nothing comparable to a big bear hug from my dad.  I still felt safe as a grown woman. What a feeling of peace.

Drawing so near to God, that you feel enveloped in His arms. That truly is a feeling of peace. I want that. I want that every day. And I can have it. So can you.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

It is really awesome to think about how God actually desires for us to have peace within our hearts. I’m not going to lie. I deal with anxiety. I have a very hard time falling to sleep at night because my mind takes off and I start worrying about everything. I know that I shouldn’t worry. I know what the Bible says about worrying.  Yet, I still worry. But something about reading that passage about peace tonight really hit home with me. It is like all of the years I’ve read what the Bible has to say about not worrying and having peace has finally sunk into my incredibly stubborn skull.  I think one of my sinful behaviors I need to give up for Lent, is worrying.

And I will end with some of my favorite song lyrics from Bob Marley’s “Three Little Birds” because my strange brain often thinks in song lyrics 90% of the time.

"Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right.
Singin': "Don't worry about a thing,
'Cause every little thing gonna be all right!"

Because ultimately with the refuge of God’s arms and the peace of Christ in our hearts, every little thing is gonna be all right. And that is pretty freakin’ awesome.

People & giving thanks

I probably don’t thank God enough. In fact, I know I don’t. I have a lot to be thankful for. I have salvation. I have a husband. I have 3 amazing children. I have a warm house and a car to drive. I have more than enough food to eat and clean water to drink. I feel so incredibly blessed. I have an incredible family -both by DNA and marriage. I have amazing friends (and some of them I’ve not even met in real life). I have a fabulous church.

Tonight, I am really thankful for special people that God has placed in my life. I look back at all the years I’ve been alive and I can definitely see how God carefully places people in my life at just the right time. I’ve lost touch with many, but they will always have a special place in my heart. I think God placed certain people in my life for certain seasons of my life. Then, there are the people that I know will always be there. My husband, obviously :) Some family. Some friends. But I know they will be a part of my life until I leave this world.  These are the people that know me. The real me – and still love me anyway.

I’m even thankful for the bad people. The people that make me want to be a better person, so that I’m not like them; and the people who bring out the worst in me. Because of these people, I can see the habits and characteristics that I don’t want to possess and change them.  And because of  darkness of these people, I can truly recognize goodness and light.

Man, as I ponder the intricateness of relationships with people and how they affect our lives, it is simply amazing.  Growing up, there were certain friend’s parents that deeply impacted me. I had some great church leaders and volunteers, teachers, and bosses.  Some of them were like a second mother. Others were always encouraging. Some were there to keep me laughing. And I’m so grateful for the people that God placed in my life as an adult, who led me back to my spiritual roots after many years astray. I’m also thankful for the people who have taught me about the things of which I am now passionate – mostly natural parenting things – like breastfeeding, vaccine education, etc.

My earnest prayer is that I will be open and receptive to these special people – always. I pray that I can be used in this way too. I don’t want to miss any opportunity that God has for me. I pray that my children will learn from these people – good and bad - and become better because of them.  I treasure the friendships and bonds and I know that they are truly a gift from the Creator of all things.