...I've been writing about courage and feeling pretty good. But then some days I get blind-sided, I get knocked to the ground, and it's usually something unexpected. I know my weak areas--or most of them--and I've learned to stop and assess if I'm feeling off or out-of-sorts. Did I sleep? Have I taken my meds? Are Erin, Alan, Mom and Dad okay? Am I processing something unexpected? Have I prayed? Have I journaled? What is my spiritual temperature today?
"Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour." 1 Peter 1:8 NLT
I get focussed on one area of my life and my defenses weaken in another area. Before I know it, I am down on my knees, sad, angry or hurting. Then I retreat. And that's okay as long as I retreat to safety, a place to regroup and heal. My physical place is my bedroom. My spiritual place is God's lap. In those places I can allow my emotions to settle, my spirit to calm, and the stress to ease from my tense my body. Surrounded by books and deep in prayer, I can take a deep breath, rest, and prepare to join the dailiness of life again. But right now it's okay to be still and know that He is God and I am His child. He will protect and provide for He is good.
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Thursday, May 26, 2011
COURAGE PART THREE
How do I find courage to face each day and bring it into my world to share with others? What I've learned so far in this study of mine is prayer is a never-ending necessity and the first priority. And those prayers need to be directed to someone I know stands with me and will never leave me.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the army of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said. " 2 Chronicles 32:7-8 NIV
Though I am weak, He is strong. Though I am fearful, He is not. Though I am flesh and blood, He is Lord God Almighty. I can go into the day and handle whatever it brings because prayer draws me closer to Him. I can have the same confidence as the people in Judah. Prayer establishes a communication link, an open line, a portal from my heart to His. Before I finish the prayer He is already answering, responding, and meeting my needs. And that confidence is what I can share with others. I have walked the valley, seen my share of darkness, yet here I still am "fighting the good fight" as St Paul would say. Praise God indeed!
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or discouraged because of the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater power with us than with him. With him is only the army of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.” And the people gained confidence from what Hezekiah the king of Judah said. " 2 Chronicles 32:7-8 NIV
Though I am weak, He is strong. Though I am fearful, He is not. Though I am flesh and blood, He is Lord God Almighty. I can go into the day and handle whatever it brings because prayer draws me closer to Him. I can have the same confidence as the people in Judah. Prayer establishes a communication link, an open line, a portal from my heart to His. Before I finish the prayer He is already answering, responding, and meeting my needs. And that confidence is what I can share with others. I have walked the valley, seen my share of darkness, yet here I still am "fighting the good fight" as St Paul would say. Praise God indeed!
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Courage Part Two
I keep in my car a devotional written by John Eldredge. I find his insights into living the Christian life thought provoking. On May 10 he quoted Deuternomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid..."
And of course I am very familiar with this verse. So I was interested in his devotion for the day. He qouted G.K. Chesterton: "Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die."
The best example would be a soldier surrounded by the enemy, who is alert and fighting to save his life because of his desire to live, to return to his family and friends, and yet he is willing to give up that life for what he believes is worth more than his life. That is courage. To walk into the battle even when you know there is a chance you will not come back. You go in prepared and willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish your goal AND return alive, yet knowing the possibility is real that you will die.
Deborah in Judges 4 knows there is a chance she will die if she joins the battle, but she also knows that she has to fight for her people. She also knows that God has said the enemy will be defeated. Now that is not a guarantee of life. All battles have casualties. Yet in reading the story I sense that Deborah would have given up her life if she had been asked. Her mother's heart required her to enter the battle.
There is another woman who was courageous like Deborah: "Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:15-16 NIV Esther knew there was a real possibility she would die if she went to the King without being summoned. It was the law. Yet the King was the only one who could also grant mercy if he so chose. And Esther needed to the King's help to save her people.
Now most of us do not have a nation of people who depend upon us. But most of us do have a family or church family or work family that does depend on our strength and courage in these troubling times. It's not just the economy, but also the pervasive lack of kindness, a growing attitude of what-about-me-me-me? I think it takes courage to smile, to listen to others, to come alongside our family as they struggle through our very daily lives. It takes courage to get out of bed everyday and do the best you can to love God and love others. Yet how do I find that courage every morning? How do we bring it to others?
And of course I am very familiar with this verse. So I was interested in his devotion for the day. He qouted G.K. Chesterton: "Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die."
The best example would be a soldier surrounded by the enemy, who is alert and fighting to save his life because of his desire to live, to return to his family and friends, and yet he is willing to give up that life for what he believes is worth more than his life. That is courage. To walk into the battle even when you know there is a chance you will not come back. You go in prepared and willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish your goal AND return alive, yet knowing the possibility is real that you will die.
Deborah in Judges 4 knows there is a chance she will die if she joins the battle, but she also knows that she has to fight for her people. She also knows that God has said the enemy will be defeated. Now that is not a guarantee of life. All battles have casualties. Yet in reading the story I sense that Deborah would have given up her life if she had been asked. Her mother's heart required her to enter the battle.
There is another woman who was courageous like Deborah: "Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” Esther 4:15-16 NIV Esther knew there was a real possibility she would die if she went to the King without being summoned. It was the law. Yet the King was the only one who could also grant mercy if he so chose. And Esther needed to the King's help to save her people.
Now most of us do not have a nation of people who depend upon us. But most of us do have a family or church family or work family that does depend on our strength and courage in these troubling times. It's not just the economy, but also the pervasive lack of kindness, a growing attitude of what-about-me-me-me? I think it takes courage to smile, to listen to others, to come alongside our family as they struggle through our very daily lives. It takes courage to get out of bed everyday and do the best you can to love God and love others. Yet how do I find that courage every morning? How do we bring it to others?
Friday, May 13, 2011
Courage Part One
I did a search on the word courage in the Bible, and from there I went to a list of Personal Bravery scriptures. The usual heroes were there, but one name stood out as I scanned the list. Deborah. My own name. Deborah's story is found in Judges 4 & 5. Deborah was a prophetess and a leader of Israel. God spoke to Deborah and she told a military leader that God said he would turn the enemies over to him. The military leader said he would only go if Deborah went with him. What? This man leading an army of 10,000 men wanted a woman to go with him.
"Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”
“Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the LORD will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh." Judges 4:8-10 NIV
Amazing! Deborah went. She lived approximately 60 miles from the fighting, had her own Palm tree shop set up to settle disputes, and yet she agreed to go with Barak. She was courageous. Why? How?
"Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel."
Judges 5:7 NIV
The commentaries I read focused on the last part of this verse. Her description of herself. She was a mother in Israel...as a mother she had to go when called. As a mother...not only did she nurture and encourage, but protect. For her children.....Israel.....she would brave the journey and the battle because she was a mother and she had listened to God.
Make no mistake, this was a woman who followed her God. She was close to Him. Close enough for God to send instructions through her to others. If Barak doubted her anoiting and was testing her faith in her message, then he was enlightened. God showed up and the enemy was delivered into the hands of a woman. Not Deborah. Another brave woman. Jael.
Where does courage spring from? How could she have been fearless in the face of a battle of tens of thousands? I have found scriptures that say JOY is the cure for fear. That remembering the faithfulness of God will give us courage. Here it is a mother's desire to protect her own, to fight for her children and her people, that gives Deborah the courage to travel many miles from her home and into the battle. Would I do the same? Would you?
"Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”
“Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the LORD will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh." Judges 4:8-10 NIV
Amazing! Deborah went. She lived approximately 60 miles from the fighting, had her own Palm tree shop set up to settle disputes, and yet she agreed to go with Barak. She was courageous. Why? How?
"Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel."
Judges 5:7 NIV
The commentaries I read focused on the last part of this verse. Her description of herself. She was a mother in Israel...as a mother she had to go when called. As a mother...not only did she nurture and encourage, but protect. For her children.....Israel.....she would brave the journey and the battle because she was a mother and she had listened to God.
Make no mistake, this was a woman who followed her God. She was close to Him. Close enough for God to send instructions through her to others. If Barak doubted her anoiting and was testing her faith in her message, then he was enlightened. God showed up and the enemy was delivered into the hands of a woman. Not Deborah. Another brave woman. Jael.
Where does courage spring from? How could she have been fearless in the face of a battle of tens of thousands? I have found scriptures that say JOY is the cure for fear. That remembering the faithfulness of God will give us courage. Here it is a mother's desire to protect her own, to fight for her children and her people, that gives Deborah the courage to travel many miles from her home and into the battle. Would I do the same? Would you?
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Our Shepherd
"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 NIV
Psalm 23 is one of the most famous of Bible scriptures. Even those with limited or no church background know these words. What struck me as I read through it this time was, of course, "I will fear no evil". So here I am walking--not running, not scurrying, not strolling--but walking which implies calmly, steadily, one foot after the next foot through the darkest valley. I am journeying "through" not stopping, not loitering, but traveling through a dark time. And yet I will fear no evil. Why not?
Can you imagine a dark time in your life, a time of great trial and challenge? I lived through a dark time of divorce. There were days I was convinced that I would never get through, but I did. There were days I lived in fear. Those fearful days were because I forgot the most important part..."for you are with me". God was with me. God is with me. God is with you. In the midst of that dark time, I couldn't see Him nor hear Him, but looking back now I recognize His daily love and protection. I survived because I was cradled in God's arms and surrounded by His earthly angels.
No matter what is going on in my life. God is with me. If I stand in the middle of a life filled with uncertainty, God is with me. If I am daily bombarded with annoyances, frustrations, and problems He is with me. If the sun shines, flowers bloom, the car starts, the child is safe, and I get eight hours of sleep, God is with me. It is so much easier to believe He is present when the days go smoothly, but I believe we press in so much closer when we are struggling. I still fault my short memory. I'm going to make a new note and I encourage you to make your own also: "God is with me always."
Psalm 23 is one of the most famous of Bible scriptures. Even those with limited or no church background know these words. What struck me as I read through it this time was, of course, "I will fear no evil". So here I am walking--not running, not scurrying, not strolling--but walking which implies calmly, steadily, one foot after the next foot through the darkest valley. I am journeying "through" not stopping, not loitering, but traveling through a dark time. And yet I will fear no evil. Why not?
Can you imagine a dark time in your life, a time of great trial and challenge? I lived through a dark time of divorce. There were days I was convinced that I would never get through, but I did. There were days I lived in fear. Those fearful days were because I forgot the most important part..."for you are with me". God was with me. God is with me. God is with you. In the midst of that dark time, I couldn't see Him nor hear Him, but looking back now I recognize His daily love and protection. I survived because I was cradled in God's arms and surrounded by His earthly angels.
No matter what is going on in my life. God is with me. If I stand in the middle of a life filled with uncertainty, God is with me. If I am daily bombarded with annoyances, frustrations, and problems He is with me. If the sun shines, flowers bloom, the car starts, the child is safe, and I get eight hours of sleep, God is with me. It is so much easier to believe He is present when the days go smoothly, but I believe we press in so much closer when we are struggling. I still fault my short memory. I'm going to make a new note and I encourage you to make your own also: "God is with me always."
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Living the Easter Life
What, some of you may ask, is the Easter life? Or some may say Easter was last week, Deborah, you are a week behind. I ask each of you to recall the story of the women at the tomb or go to Matthew 28:1-10.
"The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples." Matt 28:5-8 NIV
Easter living is living each day with the surety of Christ's conquering of death. Easter living is living with the confidence that the stone was rolled away and Jesus was not there. Easter living is living with the fear of not comprehending the incredible scope of the power and strength and love of our God and yet being filled with JOY. It's natural to have a fearful awe of what we cannot understand or grasp. And no matter if we spend our whole lives seeking God, studying His Word, and living as He wills, we cannot hope to gain that knowledge. Our human minds were not created to hold that much information. Yet the JOY is what should reign in our hearts.
"fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the JOY set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2 NKJV
Easter living is getting up Wednesday May 4th or Friday July 22 and living with the surety of Christ's sacrifice for us. He was afraid in the Garden, yet in Hebrews it says for the JOY set before Him he endured the cross. Is JOY then the cure for fear? I must consider that possibility and dig deeper into the Scriptures.
So, no matter what else happens each day, the trials or blessings, Jesus has saved us. HE IS RISEN. He conquered His fear to save us. Shouldn't I be brave enough to live each day with the truth of His life and death and resurrection? Yes, somehow I must. In an earlier post I talked about our short memories. I suggest we all post a sticky note or put a calendar reminder that says "He is Risen" and that we renew it once a week. We move the note to a new location like, the back door, or the car, or in our calendars or journals, so we see it with fresh eyes and are reminded that for the JOY set before Him Jesus endured the cross for me and you. Blessings everyone!
"The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples." Matt 28:5-8 NIV
Easter living is living each day with the surety of Christ's conquering of death. Easter living is living with the confidence that the stone was rolled away and Jesus was not there. Easter living is living with the fear of not comprehending the incredible scope of the power and strength and love of our God and yet being filled with JOY. It's natural to have a fearful awe of what we cannot understand or grasp. And no matter if we spend our whole lives seeking God, studying His Word, and living as He wills, we cannot hope to gain that knowledge. Our human minds were not created to hold that much information. Yet the JOY is what should reign in our hearts.
"fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the JOY set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2 NKJV
Easter living is getting up Wednesday May 4th or Friday July 22 and living with the surety of Christ's sacrifice for us. He was afraid in the Garden, yet in Hebrews it says for the JOY set before Him he endured the cross. Is JOY then the cure for fear? I must consider that possibility and dig deeper into the Scriptures.
So, no matter what else happens each day, the trials or blessings, Jesus has saved us. HE IS RISEN. He conquered His fear to save us. Shouldn't I be brave enough to live each day with the truth of His life and death and resurrection? Yes, somehow I must. In an earlier post I talked about our short memories. I suggest we all post a sticky note or put a calendar reminder that says "He is Risen" and that we renew it once a week. We move the note to a new location like, the back door, or the car, or in our calendars or journals, so we see it with fresh eyes and are reminded that for the JOY set before Him Jesus endured the cross for me and you. Blessings everyone!
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