Entrusted with Troubles

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Fear gripped me

I saw the shadow of death

But as hard as it tried

It did not overtake me

For Jesus stood at my side

Despair tried to crush me

But I followed His voice

Pressing in on every side

Confounded by the noise

Yet I made faith my choice

Difficulty will keep coming

For we are in a war

A war with the unseen powers

But I walk with the Victor

In these troubles I’ll give thanks

He allows them knowing I’ll endure

And will use them to draw nearer

and know Him even more.

“That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.” 2 Timothy 1:12

“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

“But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.” Luke 12:48

Deep Roots

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I entered a search in google to find a photo that would go with my writing this morning. I entered “a tree that is not destroyed by storms” and Google replied with the following:

“No single tree is completely immune to storms, but certain species are highly wind-resistant due to flexible wood, deep taproots, and strong branch attachments. Maintaining tree health and structural pruning are critical to preventing them from snapping or uprooting during severe weather” which reinforced the importance of this simple plea…

Plant Your message so deep in my heart that the storms of life do not blow it away.

Daily Prayer

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May my need always be great enough, that I stay aware of my need for You. The greater I recognize my need and look to You to sustain me, the more powerfully I see You act on my behalf.

Thank You for never leaving me, never giving up on me, and for being my sufficiency.

This is the day that the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.

Amen

Praise

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Jesus, Jesus

Lord Sabaoth is your name

As we lift our voices

And shout your praise

We see heaven open

The gates of hell shake

Earthly woes fade from view

As You reveal your face

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Guard Your Thoughts

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Countless lies the enemy hurled

I regarded as truth

With empty thoughts to fill, I fell down that hill

Instead of studying You.

The enemy came to steal, kill and destroy

And cunning as ever was he

But my sword and my shield is the truth of your Word

And now I am counting on Thee

“And he said, “Listen, all Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem and King Jehoshaphat: Thus says the Lord to you, ‘Do not be afraid and do not be dismayed at this great horde, for the battle is not yours but God’s.” 2 Chronicles 20:15

Never Alone

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I could hear your footsteps walking in the gravel beside me. I could have felt all alone, but I knew I wasn’t. Most people see me as weak, but it’s my weakness that makes room for your strength.

Most consider me gullible but my gullibility is the door your wisdom enters.

For I am never alone. It is in the darkest places where my need is the greatest, and all I’m left with is You. That’s when You act on my behalf and shine your light, bestow your grace and execute your power so that all who see what You do for me comes from You alone.

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9

Prayer of Praise

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To God be the glory for all the great things He has done. He has refined me with fire and walked me through deserted wastelands. He has whispered his will and direction when I could not see. Out of tribulation and calamity, He has opened up opportunity. Through raging waters, He has cleansed me and protected me from every foe. He is righteous and just and disciplines those He loves.

Amen

Thought Life

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Faint echos of discouragement

Claw at the surface

They want to break through

But I’m relying on You

“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8

Thank You

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Thank You for your tenderness

Your gentle wisdom in a whisper

Your direction at every crossroad

Your shelter when our feet are blistered.

Thank You for the rest You give

The hope You provide for tomorrow

The gift of joy in every day moments

The strength of Your embrace through life’s sorrows.

Calculating

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I tried to put a number to it

Tried to hold it in my hand

Placed it under a microscope

So I could possibly understand

The measure of Your grace

But it was unmeasureable

The formula to apply grace

But it is undeservable

I tried to imagine eternity

But my mind would only go so far

Tried to see You with my eyes

But felt You in my heart.

Expectations

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What am I waiting for?

Someone to prove to me I’m worthy?

Someone to heal all of my problems

And make the world disappear?

Even if I found love

It now seems so trivial

So unnecessary and inconsequential

To what I’m doing here.

Relationships can be a blessing

But also what a load they bear

That is no longer the answer

There’s something more

That needs to happen here.

A change in heart

In perspective and motivation

A change in my view of the world

And a decrease of selfish expectation

Into Thin Air

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I’m sorry for the things I spoke

When I should’ve been thinking

But instead I was drinking

 

I’m sorry for the arrows

I hurled in a hurry

Carelessly aiming

When my sight was too blurry

I’m sorry for apologies

That are needed everywhere

Thank you, oh faithful blog

For letting me clear the air

Tattered Cloak

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I’ve worn the heavy cloak of my past like a shield.

I’ve washed it, clung to it, apologized for it

But took so long to remove it to fully heal.

I finally laid it down, my bare skin now revealed.

But not ready to abandon it, I dragged it behind me up every hill.

Until one day I saw the load I carried.

It had lost all purpose and use.

So I set free this ever increasing noose.

The journey became so much lighter.

My strength quickly increased.

The burdens of my cloak now buried

The past with it lay deceased.

Realign

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Realign my fractured thinking

Strengthen the muscles of self control

Inject healing to my areas of tension

Widen the gaps that have become narrow

Let movement occur with ease

As I rise from my surrendered knees

To walk upright in confidence

Empowered with all my tools of defense

Prepared to walk with a purpose in mind

To give hope our lives can be redefined.

“13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 14Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.16In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 17and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 18praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.” Ephesians 6:13-20

Oh the Valley

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Oh the valley

Where all my weaknesses are attacked

My mind so quickly forgets your promises

To instead obsess over worries and lack

Oh the valley

Where surrender counts ten-fold

Where my mustard seed can move a mountain

When I press on in the truths You’ve told

Oh the valley

What a treacherous terrain

Visions of the mountaintop barely remain

But faith, I muster the strength to reclaim.

Don’t Forget the Soap

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I have a baking sheet that is used more often than I’d like to admit whether it be for frozen pizzas, mozzarella sticks, chicken bites, or French fries. Usually when I’m done with it, I just scrub away the grime with water and let it dry. Built-up grease (like in a cast iron skillet) is supposed to add more flavor to future meals, right? Ok, maybe not. But, occasionally I realize it’s time to use soap, too. No matter how hard I scrub, the soap cleans the pan in a way water alone cannot.

God works in our hearts and minds with a power we do not possess in the same way soap washes away germs in a way water cannot. No matter how hard we scrub to wash away the struggles within ourselves, we need God’s power and cleansing to do the job only He can do. So, before you scrub yourself into exhaustion, use a little soap. Trust God for the deep cleansing. Surrender that part of the job to Him. Don’t forget the soap.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

Focus

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Worrying about the news

Relationship problems

Financial stress

Personal ambitions

Past or potential pain

Only distracts our minds

From where we should place our aim

This world is temporary

And so are all these things

Instead share His heart

His love and presence

Our only truly valuable gain

“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

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?” Matthew 6:25

Patience

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I pleaded with You

Told You I was stuck and needed You

But each time, it took years for my rescue

Were You waiting on me?

Were You not listening?

Or were you preparing me, teaching me

My grace is sufficient for thee?

“For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee…”

2 Corinthians 12:8-9…

Heaven’s Timeline

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Empty this vessel

Until it’s ready to be filled

By only your Spirit

And heaven’s will

My needs, my wants

Mean not a thing

When all my desires

Are born from my King

You keep watch

You’ve numbered my days

Fulfilling Your purpose

Through each promise displayed

Thankful

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Thankful my seed of faith doesn’t die

No matter how hard the evil one tries

To discourage, defeat and cast doubt

The Lord empowers new fruit to sprout

Obstacles turn to opportunities

To further His heavenly plan

All outcomes remain surrendered

As we joyfully walk hand in hand

Reflection

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I often don’t stop talking long enough to hear your reply.

I don’t sit still long enough to receive your direction.

I pace and worry and try to make things happen on my own.

I doubt and question and fail to see You sitting on the throne.

I confess my sins to the world but do I proclaim your glory?

Do I trust in your forgiveness enough to proclaim your salvation story?

His Kingdom

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Set your life aside

Do not love only those who love you back

For sinners do the same

Do not complain about service

Do everything in my name.

Give your worries to me

There is much work to do

My kingdom is coming

I am making all things new

“If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.” Matthew 5:46

Beloved

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You don’t have to carry

The weight of who you’ve been

You don’t have to carry

The weight of who you are

When you place your identity in me

I will use every part of you

Every gift, every scar

You don’t have to weigh your worth

Your worth is mirrored in Me

You are priceless, purposed, redeemed

Live in my joy, rest in my safety

Walk in my Spirit

We have much further to go

I am yours, you are Mine

My beloved, blessed, betrothed.

“I will betroth you to Me forever; Yes, I will betroth you to Me In righteousness and justice, In lovingkindness and mercy;” Hosea 2:19

Edify

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Edify by Your Spirit

Until the rivers of conviction

Knock us down

But You don’t place us there

To drown, but to be found

You reveal what’s in the heart

But not to condemn

It’s an invitation to repent

If we choose to let You in

“And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart.” Ezekiel 36:26

Life in the Spirit

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Words are just words

Until Your Spirit breathes life into them

Actions run circles

Until You give them aim

Happiness and fear can both be

self-seeking (One in the same)

Value is found in surrender

Seeds start to grow when planted by faith

Circumstances fade as You become clearer

Sinners hear Your call

When spoken in love, not shame

To My Boys

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The Christmas songs can be annoying

The planning and prepping

Event attending

May feel unending

But my biggest gift is making these memories with you

Each Christmas marks a year in time

In which you’ve grown taller 

You’re tastes and gift requests differ

Your voices deepen

Your independence increases

And One day not far away 

You’ll be beside your own tree

And I’ll treasure the gift these moments

Have given to me

Proverbs

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If you look to be fully and completely understood by another, you will find dissappointment.

God and God alone is the only one to provide us with full understanding.

That is the beauty of having a relationship with Him. You are fully known, fully understood and fully loved.

If you place your dependence and security on a person, place or thing, you will find uncertainty and fear. For the world is flawed and broken. But He has overcome the world, so we are safe to depend on Him.

Do not match an eye for an eye but walk uprightly looking to His Holy Spirit for your direction, not to others motives.

Do not judge others’ hearts. For just as He is working in yours, we do not know the wonders He is doing in the hearts of others as well.

Holy Ground

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Death, where is your sting?

We serve a God

Who endured your suffering

Fear, you have no power

For our God walks ahead

And holds each tomorrow

Worry, cease

Anxious thoughts, turn to peace

Self-will, look around

For this land you walk is Holy ground

So we will not fear

Our God is here

We will not tremble, nor shake

His purposes are at stake

And He never fails.

Detours

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I sat in the back of the church praying my life would change.

My heart had so many needs, tears always stained my face

Twenty years later I visited the church again

My whole life was different, all thanks to Him

His timing was not what I expected with detours of hard lessons to learn

But I wouldn’t ask Him to do anything different since I saw his face at every turn.

Reliable

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There You are

My sturdy ground

When all the winds around me blow

You’re the anchor for my soul

Through smiles I feel Your joy

Through tears, I feel Your peace

 Roads ahead although unknown

Are unseen only to me

Your hand remains steady

Whether green grass or rocky stone 

Whatever griefs I may bear

I will not bear alone

Selfless

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Give me eyes to see your will

When I’m searching for my own

Discipline to quiet my emotions

When their source remains unknown

Give me love to share

When my mind is scared

Peace to embrace

When I feel out of place

Discernment to live by your Spirit

Instead of my own or others’ merit

Dichotomy of Life

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The tides wash over me

But I don’t drown

I walk through darkness

Yet I’m found

Your love pours down

I battle with demons

Yet You lend strength

My feet tread this world

But my spirit in grace

I see your face

Beautiful, wonderful

Glimpses of your heart

Too great to fathom

But this vision You impart

I’m not scared of the dark

Intelligent Design

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Creation speaks louder

When distractions lead to doubt

For the mountains proclaim His glory

And our hearts, for Him, cry out

The sea and sky

They testify

To the vastness of His hands

The moon and stars

They whisper

Of the unfathomable “I Am”