Psalm 46:10

Happy Monday to you. Today I’m led to share with you what God keeps saying to me, and this word is coming from everywhere. He will not let up on this. It’s something He’s already said to us. There’s something very, very powerful about what is going on right now in the earth. God has allowed this virus to occur for deeper things. Christ specializes in making roses grow from ashes.

What I am hearing from The Spirit’s dictation is to not move so quickly in His directions that we take these things He gives us and use them as a “quarantine checklist” of sorts. You know, checking off everything that He says to do…doing this, and that, and the other thing, and wow! I am full of joy all of a sudden! That isn’t how He works. HE is the destination, not the joy and peace, but the Source of the joy and peace.

We are seeking sweet relationship with Him, not the things He gives. He is The Point. The healing you need will come from Christ for sure. Go and be with Him. Here is what He will not stop saying: “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10.) He has literally allowed most of the activity on earth to be stopped. Halted. Stilled. Something deeper is happening and His words to me for days have been from Psalm 46:10.

So for today our encouragement from His Spirit is to be still before Him. Abiding in Him is where you will find everything that you need and even more than you can imagine.

Did you write up a schedule for yourself? Does it include the first thing we learned? That thing about receiving God’s love and company the first thing every morning? Everything in your life hinges on your sitting with Him every day. I can’t stress enough how He is pointing to this again and again.

When the God Of The Universe says something once, it’s important, and we better listen up. When He repeats it over and over, pay even MORE attention! Something is up for sure. He desires your heart and your being with Him.

Sit with The Spirit after you read this, even if you already have sat with Him today, do it again. If you haven’t, go and do it now. Be still, be quiet – don’t talk, just think about Him (He will help you) and let’s see where He is going with all of this. To repeat, something deeper is going on than this virus and He wants you to be a part of a beautiful work. In the middle of the dark, His light shines. Allow His light to shine both in and on you today.

Talk to you on Wednesday. Now go and do Psalm 46:10.

Rise Up and Walk…

Happy Friday, dear friend!

You have now, I hope, pondered and practiced the importance of sitting with Christ every morning, allowing light into your soul, and are throwing the curtains open when you get up and allowing light to get into your body. You’re on the right track. Building on the proper foundation is key to living the Abundant Life in Christ.

When we build on the Foundation of Christ our Rock, and allow Him to light our soul, rains come down, floods come up – like this virus and staying home all the time – and our “house on the Rock” stands firm.

Now let’s build another layer onto what we have been given. To combat depression, it’s important to have a schedule of sorts during this time. For me, the days of the week are garbled and I don’t know Monday from Thursday. In fact, I have to remember that today is Friday. I was talking with a sister and we agreed that having those boards such as in hospital rooms that indicate the date, day of the week, and year would be good right now. 🙂 It’s just that with being at home every single day, with things not changing much, it’s hard to tell one day from the next.

So then, here is where we lay the bricks for layer two. In depression it’s textbook to stay in the bed, chair, or sofa for hours upon hours upon hours. Here is today’s word from your Lord.

Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6

When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.

Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. JOHN 5:1-9

There you go. With the help of the Spirit, make a schedule. Write down on a card a general idea of what to do daily and when to do it. I understand that it is monumental getting out of the bed, chair, or sofa. I am in the same boat…this one is coming from a fellow-sufferer. Christ is here to help you get up and walk. The power is inside of you. AS you get up the power will kick in. THE POWER WILL NOT BE REVEALED UNTIL YOU CO-OPERATE WITH THE SPIRIT. That is in all-caps for a purpose. The Spirit moves “as” we obey.

“Do you want to get well?” Did you notice that the invalid offered an excuse? Are you offering excuses; do you really want to get out of this dark place? If not, why are you reading this post? You’ve been called here, and God entreats you to grow and be healed.

But know that God is not your genie. He set the rules and they are such that you have to co-operate with Him to grow. You must do your part. He will give you the power to do your part. Ask Him for His help and then move your legs and stand. Walk.

Please know that I suffer from scheduling problems. As I write I am laughing….ha ha — God is telling all of us. Am I writing to myself? 😀 Yes. I am with you, friend. Let’s ask God to give each one of us a schedule that He says is best, then write it down, and then follow it as best as we can. I am also a student in this time of quarantine.

Want proof? I am writing this after 12 Noon. It really should be available for everyone to read by 9 AM. I suffer with you.

Sit with The Spirit, ask Him for help, and then write down a schedule for yourself at home during this time. Do it. We can do this, everyone. In Christ we can do all things!

Rise up and walk! Get up! Talk to you Monday…

Finding Joy in These Times…

Hello, dear friends! I am strongly led to “dust off” the website, write words of encouragement, and share some tips that I have learned to help those who struggle mentally as we stay at home through the pandemic.

In addition to this new post, enjoy the other posts and short story on this site that I have written in the past. I incorrectly stopped writing, but I am drawn back by The Spirit who dots every “i” and crosses every “t”; somebody will get help through these things. God’s word never returns void.

How are you doing with staying home in this pandemic?

These are crazy and trying times right now. Sharing thoughts and feelings help those of us already battling mental challenges in “regular” life. Being inside the house every day is harder on many of us. So we’ll sit at the Feet of Christ and I will do my best to type His dictation.

How are you doing mentally? Are you unmotivated, confused, angry, sad, or all of those? Being with others is a balm to life. We are created to be social people and we need each other.

Oh, I miss being at worship and Sunday School with my brothers and sisters! I miss choir, Bible study, my prayer group, laughing in the hall with everyone, and all the hugging. I miss my friends – our lunches, shopping, and coffee get-togethers.

Most of all, I miss my family!! Not being able to be with them physically, hug them and hold them is breaking my heart. This being inside stinks in more ways than I can count. I know that I’m not alone in those feelings.

In isolation, mental things sometimes seem to grow larger than they really are. God knows what you’re going through, what you’re feeling. He showers on you His love, His care, His provisions, His Very Life. He gave Himself through His Son Jesus, Who is “The Very Life Of God.”

This website is a little place online to help those who need to closely tend to emotions and mental states, such as depression, panic attacks, anxiety, bi-polar disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and addictions. Here we will praise God and learn about some ways to co-operate with God in order to live in His freedom while having to remain inside our homes. Remember that we’re doing the right thing to be inside. It’s hard some days, but staying inside is the right thing to do right now.

While we’re inside, let’s grow…in Christ, in wisdom, and together!

TWO THINGS TO DO DAILY – BEGINNING TODAY AND TOMORROW:

The suggestions and tips for today are important to combat mental difficulties. The first one is VITAL. Do not minimize them; pay attention.

First, every morning, receive God’s love and company. This is the most important rule in life. How? If you haven’t been sitting with Him quietly before, at this time you have no excuse. You’re in a position where you have time to sit with Him every day. It doesn’t matter how long…just do it. You don’t have to talk or say anything. Just sit in a chair in a quiet place and see yourself at His Feet.

Understand one important thing about this…you will not go from 60 mph to standing still in a few minutes. So don’t go saying, “Oh, I can’t do this because my mind wanders.” Well of course it does! It takes time to be stilled…wait on God. Ask Him to help your thoughts. Wait. Wait. Wait on God. In a little bit, He will help you. (Warning: this is a habit-forming, glorious activity.)

Second, get as much light as you can at the very beginning of each day. In the morning, when you get up, throw open every curtain in your house. Turn on the brightest lights inside as soon as possible. Then get outside to get the most important light of all – sunshine! Even in cloudy weather, you will get the light! Keep the light going all day. Stay in light! (I think there’s a sermon here…)

May the Holy Spirit of our salvation bring you joy today, both in your home, and more importantly, in your heart. I’ll post again on Friday…

Some Encouragement for You…while we walk…

This morning I’m led to encourage someone reading; somebody who’s going through a serious bipolar phase. Is this you?

Jesus is like a Holy River that runs sweetly through your heart. He will never leave you or forsake you – no matter what you go through, what you’re thinking, or how you’re feeling inside.

He is right with you, right NOW – at this very moment. Be still before Him, as quiet as you can be, and allow Him the opportunity to bring you the refreshing cleansing that He brings! He is your Hope, your Life, the One Who loves you more than anyone else could love you.

You CAN do this…you CAN allow Jesus access! If you need help to do the “CAN,” then ask Him for help right now. Hang with Him and wait. He is not a “Genie” – He is way outside the realm than something man can “make up”…He is Real. He is Living. And He is Present with you.

He stands before you now with Arms outstretched to bring you calm joy. Step into His Arms…

Read Psalm 139.    Believe. Those. Living. Words.    I’m praying for you!

DIP

There we are, walking with Jesus along the path on this Road Trip. He gave us the choice of route and we chose the narrow road, the one less walked by others. He’s talking all along the trip, and we’re enjoying the summer with Him. Some days are better than others in this walk. But we keep going, always putting one foot in front of the other. We’re trusting The Spirit to give guidance and warning when somebody decides to wander off. We’ve learned to stay with Jesus, ooh, we don’t want to wander off again for sure!

As the road bends, there’s another sign. DIP. Hmm…dip? Okay, that means the road will go down and then back up. Dip.

On your walk with Jesus this summer, have you had days where you found yourself in the pits? Is this summer road trip not showing itself to be the one that you envisioned? Are you tired of walking with Jesus?

Let’s stop here and talk to Jesus about the DIP.

A dip in the road – a sudden low place; a decline followed by an incline; a slant down followed by a slant up. DIP. What does a dip teach us about Jesus and our abundant life?

Dips are going to happen anyway. That’s the way life is, that’s the way the road goes. The question to ask yourself is: what is your response going to be when you face a dip? It’s a fact that when you go down in a dip, you will again go back up.  Where will you go up after you’ve been down? 

Shall you go back to the place you once were, before Jesus freed you from the cell where you sat? Remember when you left? You said, “Never again will I go back there.” Free at last…and intending to focus on Christ! He invited you on this road trip to enjoy Him, to learn and experience abundant life. Here and now. So after the down, which side of the down will you go up?

The world offers lots of different ways to go up out of the dip. Distractions abound, and there are band-aids to help you. Some of the dressings look like cures. There’s worldly gauze, bandages, ointments, steri-strips, and tape. In fact, some act like cures. For awhile, that is. The problem with these items is that each one tends to the top places of the hurt and even when an ointment sinks inside your wound, it only can go so far down in there. To be fully healed, God wants to do surgery on this low place, so that it will be totally healed, inside and out. Some surgeries are easy and quick, some are hard and long.

In any event, your Creator knows perfectly how to tend to you. He tends lovingly to all those who are His. And He does all of this while you walk with Him. Jesus walks with you into the DIP and will walk with you out of it if you trust Him and follow His instructions.

After you allow Him access to do surgery on your hurt, you will have a scar. This is left to remind you of God’s healing power, and also for you to show to others who need Him. For God will allow you to spread the word of His healing to those who walk into the same dip. He chooses to work this way, allowing you to work alongside, so that He can be the Surgeon in the lives of others who need Him.

What is your dip today? Are you going through sickness, depression, grief, fear, or worry? Be still before God and allow Him to speak to your hurt. Make sure that you go to Him AloneOnly the power of God can guide you up the proper side of the dip. Allow Him total surgical access. 

There, on the other side, you will find Godly wisdom, and smack dab in the middle of that, you will find joy wrapped up in all of God’s love that you can stand!

Praise the healing Name of Jesus!

Scripture to ponder:   Daniel 4

Today’s weapon:  “At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes toward heaven and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honored and glorified Him who lives forever.” Daniel 4:34

Intersection Ahead

Walking on a Road Trip with Jesus is always interesting. A person can never say that doing anything with Our Lord is boring! There’s always something up, but you have to pay attention to see it. We miss so many things that Jesus does, I do believe, because we are not paying attention to the movement of The Spirit of God.

How are you doing walking with Jesus so far? Are you doing your best to be with Him at the start of each day? Are you settling for second best and going back to your old way of doing things and your old way of thinking?

God’s mercies are new every morning, (Lamentations 3:22-23) so every day that you wake up is a fresh page in your notebook. Remember to allow God to write a new entry for you. Your new page is clean, white, and ready to receive a word from The Father. Are you allowing God the opportunity to write a fresh word in your heart each day? Please do not shortchange yourself here. The abundant life requires your co-operation. God abides by His own rules (which always amazes me) and He has created you with a will. You must do your part – He is not your “Genie.”

Are you open to receive this word from God today? Read at your own risk…He has something to say to all of us on the journey. Please God, open the eyes and ears of our hearts…♥

So then, today we’re walking in a beautiful land. Picture it if you will, it’s green, lush and full of life. This morning I saw that a bird has made a nest in one of my ferns on the front porch. Life! Singing, singing, singing…mom sang to dad and dad sang to mom and it was just beautiful to hear. Pay attention as we walk along, because God is showing us life – the abundant kind that we get to live here and now

And what is this that is now before us? An intersection. Hmm. Interesting.

One of my favorite poems is “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost. The first three stanzas are as follows:

 

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

 

We can go either way here. Looking at one path I notice that it’s wide and trampled flat. The other one is kind of grown over and is more narrow. The thing is, what we hear in scripture from Jesus Himself, the path that has “the better claim” is really not worn the same as the path with undergrowth, even though it looks that way. The path with undergrowth can’t be the same (which we learn in the last stanza) because it is less traveled upon.

What an interesting place! Which way shall you go? Jesus says that you get to decide the route. He is in charge of the itinerary, and today He says that the route we take to our destination is up to you. 

Which route is best? Choose your route well! The route you take really matters to the joy that you will get out of the journey. If you are unsure which road to take, ask God, Who is ready to give you the wisdom from on high. When you take the road He points out, your soul will be at peace. I can’t explain it in words, but you’ll know it when The Spirit bestows it upon you.

Please understand ahead of time that the proper road is not always easy, but the reward will far outweigh anything you may bear. Far. Outweigh. Anything. God is prepared and willing to amaze you, and to do so on a daily basis. Can you believe this? Do you dare to take the narrow road?

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.
Must Read…Scripture to ponder:  Matthew 7:13-14

Today’s Weapon:  “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.” Matthew 7:24

Abiding (Or How To Keep Walking With Jesus…)

There are many definitions for the word “abide.” Here are some:  (1) To remain, continue, stay, (2) to have one’s abode, dwell, reside, (3) to continue in a particular position, attitude, or relationship, (4) to last, (5) to tolerate, put up with, endure.

Another word in modern English is “remain.’ Stay.

As you set out on the summer road trip with Jesus, talk as you walk, and begin by going over the first lesson learned. Stay with Jesus. No more running off. So Lord, how can I stay with You?

Let’s begin by looking at the word of God and The Spirit will reveal it.

The first thing to consider: why run in the first place? Let’s give the Spirit of God the floor. Some of these lessons may be something we have already gone over, but something that we need to hear again.

(Lord, please keep this simple so that all of us can remember it, knowing that You will bring anything we need to our minds.)

(1) Something else has caught my attention.” As I go with Jesus, there will be sparklers, firecrackers, booms, and fights all around me. Do you remember being in elementary school and a fight broke out on the playground? Somebody yelled, “FIGHT!’ and everyone ran to where the fight was happening so that everyone could watch! It was always a sight to behold. There they were: two people going at it with all their heart and fists. Until a teacher pulled them apart and marched them inside the schoolhouse. People are drawn to excitement, and those who are manic right now (after all, it is summer) are drawn to excitement like a magnet.

The enemy knows exactly what will distract you and the very second you agree to a road trip with Jesus, he begins to pull out the stops. The thing that entices you to divert your attention will sometimes immediately happen when the enemy sees that you are serious about everything regarding Jesus. The Spirit is telling you these things up front, so watch out and pay attention.

“So, Lord, what can I do to ignore this?” Remain in prayer. Remember that prayer is in your backpack and is vital. We must continually be in communication with The Spirit. God’s word says, “Pray continually,” (1 Thessalonians 5:17.) Doesn’t this sound so puny? Such a short statement to such a problem. Well, when distractions occur, do you automatically yell out for Jesus’ help? Chances are, you don’t, but plow on ahead and run to the distraction. To stop this, cry out to Jesus…yes, be a “tattle-tale” to Jesus. He knew it was coming, He saw it, He never leaves your side. When distractions happen and you realize what’s going on, cry for help as soon as possible. Pay attention, for you will get help and get help quickly. Just watch.

(2) I am becoming bored because this isn’t as exciting as what’s happening in the world. Yes, one problem with staying with Jesus is that the distractions look so fun. Walking with Jesus just isn’t as fun as something else that I could be doing, running around the earth with gusto and glee and playing around the camps that seem to be having a party. This walking trip isn’t as crazy-loud and as fun as what’s going on next-door.

“So, Lord, tell me the truth about what I’m seeing that looks so fun.” God tells us that what we see is a lie. God can NOT lie to us. If He did, He would not be Holy…and He is Holy. Lies are born of the enemy, because Jesus Himself called the enemy “…a liar and the father of lies.” (John 8:44.) God (Father, Son, and Spirit) loves us too much to tell us anything but the truth. Do not believe what you see, little lamb, because once you get over that fence you will understand that not only is the grass not as green as it looked (it’s almost black,) but that it tastes really terrible. Too many who have gone before (both alive and now in heaven) have tried it and testify: do not go over that fence!

God’s word says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 What do we do then? Cry out to Jesus! He never tires of your crying out – again in this situation, ask Him for help.

(3) I am just too tired to walk.” Are these thoughts running around your mind: “I thought I’d like to do this with Jesus, but honestly, now that we’re walking, I realize that I am just too tired to go on this trip, because I need a break from church stuff.” Often in the summertime we are ready for a break with “church stuff;” we are tired of the demands and thinking about it all. So we associate going on a road trip with Jesus as more “church stuff.” More demands, more thinking about church work.

“Lord, You know I am tired mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I need a break, so what do You have to say about that?” Guess what? There is amazing and wonderful news for you! Abundant life is about being with Jesus, enjoying His Presence, not about “church stuff!”  You are hereby relieved of associating Jesus with “church work.” YAY, GOD! Doesn’t that feel awesome? Christ asks us “to be.” He is I AM and we are “to be” in the Spirit. And the work that we do (with Him – by the way,) is born out of our being with Him. First, we are “to be” … to be enjoying His Presence every day. Any work we do with Jesus is done out of love for Him. The road trip is about hanging out with Jesus this summer, not about work. 

God’s word says, “…but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31  One definition of hope is “a person (in this case Person – capital “P”) in which expectations are centered.” God is our Hope. So we center our expectations on the Person Of God – Father, Son, and Spirit. Hope is expecting Him to move all around us – to be with us, to speak to us, to listen to us, to live with us, to have fun with us, to cry with us, to do life with us.

What do we do then? Again, cry out to Jesus! He said to expect to see Him because He IS with us. Right now, as you read? He is beside you. He never leaves you. Hang with Him, sister! Hang with Him, brother! He created you so that you can enjoy His Presence! Do your life with Him, and you will be amazed! 

How to abide, then? How to keep walking with Jesus on this road trip? Stay in communication with every step.

Here is what the Spirit is telling everyone on the road trip: “Keep talking as you keep walking! (See the first sentence in paragraph 3. God answered at the very beginning of this post! Don’t you just love the way God does things?)

Scripture to ponder: John 15 (the entire chapter — read it!) 

Today’s weapon: “Ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” Matthew 7:7     

The Comfort of Jesus’ Staff

As soon as we set out on our summer road-trip, the freedom got the best of me and I ran down a side path by myself. Have you ever done this?

It’s summer. I’m on the edge of being manic and am trying to pay attention — haven’t totally fallen off the edge and won’t, if I stay close to The Spirit. He knows how to deal with mania and how to use it to His glory. So I danced down this path that looked really interesting and then I was hit with a bad cold that made me stop and slow down. Even with the cold it’s taken a while to get back to the group.

So I left our group for reasons that I don’t understand. The sun was shining so bright. The birds were singing in the trees and there before me was a path that looked green and lush. So down it I went, thinking that I’d be right back, and in time the green lushness turned to dry brown leaves and ugliness. There was a stench in the air that just wasn’t right and I realized that I was by myself down this path. What? How on earth did this happen?

Boom! I got sick. I felt really yucky and then slowly, slowly, came back to feeling better. I am not at 100% yet, but almost there. And now I understand. The Spirit has shown me the picture. The experience has left me reeling.

The cold was the hook of Jesus’ staff. While I complained some, and fussed about it, in hindsight I see what He did and praise Him for it. Yay, God! He slowed me down when I ramped up and in doing so, He showed me several things that I had picked up along this path and put in my backpack. 

The staff of Jesus. A beautiful tool in the Hands of our Master. 

Phillip Kellor, in his book “A Shepherd Looks At Psalm 23” said it clearly:

“The shepherd’s staff is normally a long, slender stick, often with a crook or hook on one end. It is selected with care by the owner; it is shaped, smoothed, and cut to best suit his own personal use.

Somehow the staff is of special comfort to the shepherd himself. In the tough tramps and during the long weary watches with his sheep, he leans on it for support and strength. It becomes to him a most precious comfort and help in his duties.

There are three areas of sheep management in which the staff plays a most significant role. The first of these lies in drawing sheep together into an intimate relationship. The shepherd will use his staff to gently lift a newborn lamb and bring it to its mother if they become parted. He does this because he does not wish to have the ewe reject her offspring if it bears the odor of his hands upon it.

…the staff is used by the shepherd to reach out and catch individual sheep, young or old, and draw them close to himself for intimate examination. The staff is very useful this way for the shy and timid sheep normally tend to keep at a distance from the shepherd.

The staff is also used for guiding sheep. Again and again I have seen a shepherd use his staff to guide his sheep gently into a new path or through some gate or along dangerous, difficult routes. He does not use it actually to beat the beast. Rather, the tip of the long slender stick is laid gently against the animal’s side and the pressure applied guides the sheep in the way the owner wants it to go. Thus the sheep is reassured of its proper path.

Being stubborn creatures sheep often get into the most ridiculous and preposterous dilemmas. I have seen my own sheep, greedy for one more mouthful of green grass, climb down steep cliffs where they slipped and fell into the sea. Only my long shepherd’s staff could lift them out of the water back onto solid ground.

Another common occurrence was to find sheep stuck fast in labyrinths of wild roses or brambles where they had pushed in to find a few stray mouthfuls of green grass. Soon the thorns were so hooked in their wool they could not possibly pull free, tug as they might. Only the use of the staff could free them from their entanglement.”

That last paragraph? Well, that was me. I am slowly coming back to life. My goodness, right out of the gate, running off like that. I don’t know what happened, did I figure on writing about that path? Eww…nothing there to write about. Anyway, just know that any path that you go down by yourself will prove awful. If Jesus doesn’t lead you there, don’t go!  As I pay attention to Christ I do hope to not do this again. I am taking all the nonsensical items that I collected for my backpack and removing them. They smell like the path I took them from, eww.

So today on our summer road trip, do you find yourself off on a strange path? When you look around do you see that you’ve also left the group and wandered off? I pray for you now, that God will stop you with His Shepherd’s staff. That bit of a nudge that you feel? That’s The Spirit touching you and guiding you to get back with the group. He will take that crook and actually pick you up – carrying you to where you are supposed to be. Allow Him to bring you back. Jesus catches us when we fall. Remember Peter? When he started to sink in the sea after walking out to Jesus, immediately beside him was The Lord, pulling him back up to safety!

Take this day and celebrate with The Spirit whether you have left the group or not. Celebrate the amazing truth that you can’t go anywhere at all without His Presence. When you get in the craziest places, there He is right beside you. Submit to the Shepherds staff. Let this day be a day of worship in your heart, praising the Only One who loves you enough to bring you back. He will never let you go; you never leave His sight. Wow…what amazing love!

Scripture to ponder: Psalm 23

Today’s weapon:  “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  

Please Stay Tuned…

So sorry that I haven’t written the next installment on this blog. I have been sick with a bad and lingering cold. There was more in store for me when I wrote about God being in total control, directing our steps, telling us when to go and when to stop.

I’m trying to get over this thing…it’s still hanging on a bit. I’m coming along, doing lots better, but still need to rest. I guess I was more worn out than I thought; my resistance is really low.  I will post the next installment as God directs…may He be greatly glorified in peaks and valleys alike.  Stay tuned.

Keep walking on your journey, following the lead of our LORD!

I love you all…    Ivy

Who Turned On The Rain?

And away we go…as we walk, the clouds gather up and it begins to rain. Well, isn’t that a fine”howdy-do” on the first day of our trip!

We figured that when this trip began the sun would be shining to beat the band, shining so brightly that we’d need to dig sunglasses out of the backpacks. Instead we have to reach for an umbrella! My, my – what a beginning to this trip.

Sometimes things happen that you don’t expect. In your mind you see certain things happening in a certain way. Then when the moment arrives for that thing to happen, circumstances take the opposite route.

Could it be that God is wanting to see if you would rather see Him than the circumstance? If things are not as you think they should be, do you get rattled and obstinate? Are you ready to pack it in for today and wait to go out with Jesus when the sun is shining brightly and the birds are singing? “Well,” you say, “It’s obvious that we can’t go today because it’s raining. Surely He would not send us out on the very first day in the rain!” 

Where are your eyes? Where is your focus? Are you looking at the rain and because it’s not in your script you decide to just stay home and not even go? Remember that you didn’t pack “feelings” in your backpack.

Let’s dig into this. Get your umbrella and let’s take off with the Spirit of God. Walk, one foot in front of the other. Come on, let’s go and listen to His Voice as we walk.

As I was beginning the next paragraph, I was stopped. Part of what I’m to personally do on this summer journey is to ramp up my walking – literally. I perceived the Spirit telling me to get on the treadmill and I would receive further instruction. So I did. 

I set the treadmill for a specific mph and began. As I began to walk, in just a few minutes, I realized that I was going too slow, and being on an even number, set the mph for the next even number. That number of mph was too fast, so I went back a step and set it at the odd number between the two even numbers.  Then I got it…

I cannot skip a step. I cannot go forward as I think – God reminded me that the itinerary is His Alone. I am to walk one step at a time and not depend on my ideas about the journey, such as the rain. He directs this adventure and I’m to follow His lead. Like dancing. This walk is just like a dance. Two people can’t lead…only one leads and the other follows. HE leads, and I follow! 

Then I kept walking. I thanked God for that word and then decided that I was going to walk for 30 minutes. Well, guess what? After TEN MINUTES my heart was told, “That’s it for today!”  WHAT? WHAT? WHAT? Ten minutes isn’t enough walking! This barely gets you started, right?

Jesus is the Way, He directs your steps. He tells you when to go and when to stop. The decision is His and you’re to follow, trusting Him all the way. Your job is to keep your focus on Him and follow His instruction. 

Whatever you do on this day, wherever this day finds you, remember to follow God, even if the way is not what you think. He takes you through paths that are strange and where the scenery is odd. Go on with Him because there are amazing lessons in all of this, and because He loves you enough to show you all of Himself. And that includes the part where He is very, very different.

This first day, at the outset, God shows that He is different than you. Different than the world. Different than what you think He “is”and how you think He “acts” and how the world “is” and how the world “acts.” On this first day, He’s revealing that He is full of amazing surprises. Hey, there’s no telling what’s going to happen along this journey. He’s already showing how He really calls the shots! Yay, God!

Keep walking…don’t stop. This adventure is different, it’s new, you’re going to a place you’ve never been before, and today is proof.

Scripture to ponder:  1 Corinthians 2

Today’s weapon:  “…so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.”  1 Corinthians 2:5