"See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and his arm rules for him. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him. He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." Isaiah 40:10-11 NIV
These verses from Isaiah show a God who is both Mighty and also Tender. He comes to rescue us in His power, and then He tenderly holds us in His arms. So when I have days when I am weak from the daily battle, I know I can call upon the Lord God Almighty, the Warrior God, who will go ahead of me and fight my battles for me. Then, when the day is over I can climb up into His lap, next to His heart, and be comforted, cared for, protected and nurtured.
"I have chosen you and have not cast you away:
Fear not, for I am with you;
Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you,
Yes, I will help you,
I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."
Is 41:9b-10 NIV
...and I say thank you for choosing me. Thank you Lord for offering me your strength and your right hand. Amen.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Whom Do I Trust?
"I wanna live with a fearless heart
Courage that's coming from trust in God
It's constantly guiding me though the road may seem dark
I wanna live wanna live with a fearless heart"
I thought it was time to remind myself and you about this verse from Point of Grace. I've researched men and women in the Bible who exhibited courage. I have read the verses that say "Be not afraid" and expressed my understanding of those verses. The song verse above suggests that courage comes from Trust In God. And I thought, whom do I trust?
Trust implies an intimate relationship, a belief that the other person would answer the phone in the middle of the night, would even come get you if needed, someone who knows the best and worst about you and accepts you as you are. I am blessed to have a few of those people in my life. People I believe would give their all for me. Yet I have also trusted a few people who broke that trust. They broke my heart and my trust.
My trust in God was broken when despite my prayers for restoration in my marriage, my attempts at counseling and change, we divorced. I hate to even type it, but it was true. I was praying for the right thing and I believe God does not like divorce. Still, God honored my ex-spouse's right to choose for himself--free will. And though God has taken care of me, and I now love and am loved by a wonderful Christian man, those wounds heal slowly. Will God allow something like that to happen again?
A good friend pointed me to this verse:" Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save."
People are fallible. We are not perfect--not by a long shot. As a people we try to love as God loves, and we long for that love in return, that surety, that guarantee, but there truly is only one source of unconditional love. God. I am not saying you should not trust people. I am saying that people have limits and even the best of us will fail. So where do I find that unconditional acceptance and love and trust? God. So then how do I heal a broken trust? And is the broken trust the source of my fear? I do believe God is good. So let's look at the character of God.
I thought it was time to remind myself and you about this verse from Point of Grace. I've researched men and women in the Bible who exhibited courage. I have read the verses that say "Be not afraid" and expressed my understanding of those verses. The song verse above suggests that courage comes from Trust In God. And I thought, whom do I trust?
Trust implies an intimate relationship, a belief that the other person would answer the phone in the middle of the night, would even come get you if needed, someone who knows the best and worst about you and accepts you as you are. I am blessed to have a few of those people in my life. People I believe would give their all for me. Yet I have also trusted a few people who broke that trust. They broke my heart and my trust.
My trust in God was broken when despite my prayers for restoration in my marriage, my attempts at counseling and change, we divorced. I hate to even type it, but it was true. I was praying for the right thing and I believe God does not like divorce. Still, God honored my ex-spouse's right to choose for himself--free will. And though God has taken care of me, and I now love and am loved by a wonderful Christian man, those wounds heal slowly. Will God allow something like that to happen again?
A good friend pointed me to this verse:" Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save."
People are fallible. We are not perfect--not by a long shot. As a people we try to love as God loves, and we long for that love in return, that surety, that guarantee, but there truly is only one source of unconditional love. God. I am not saying you should not trust people. I am saying that people have limits and even the best of us will fail. So where do I find that unconditional acceptance and love and trust? God. So then how do I heal a broken trust? And is the broken trust the source of my fear? I do believe God is good. So let's look at the character of God.
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Living Fearless- In Small Doses
I went to see Alan, my fiance, in Charlotte this past weekend. We had a blast. He rented us a Harley Davidson motorcycle for Saturday and we spent the whole day out and about. If you've never ridden one, it's a total sensory experience. The sights, the smells, the sounds, the feel of the breeze, the smell of fresh cut grass, trees, flowers, the clarity of color without peering through tinted windows, his shoulders beneath my hands. We saw people out on horses and bicycles, at yard sales, and fruit stands. We saw grand and small country churches. We rode through two State Parks and walked around a small lake. Amazing!
"Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture." Psalm 37:3 NIV
And I almost didn't go. I almost called and requested he cancel the reservation. For fear of being hurt-getting injured--because with my dad's extended illness it crossed my mind that I needed to be more careful in case they needed me. Isn't that crazy? They are still taking care of me. I had to have minor surgery in March and it was them who drove me at 6:00 am to the hospital, waited for me, took me home and sat with me. Mom made me a grilled cheese sandwich and Dad took care of my pets. So wonderful, so faithful.
When my time on this earth is done, God will call me home. He knows the day and the time already. I don't need to be foolish, but enjoying a motorcycle ride with proper helmets, proper clothing, boots, and a skilled driver is not foolish. God created this world to be enjoyed. So I will trust and enjoy!
"Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture." Psalm 37:3 NIV
And I almost didn't go. I almost called and requested he cancel the reservation. For fear of being hurt-getting injured--because with my dad's extended illness it crossed my mind that I needed to be more careful in case they needed me. Isn't that crazy? They are still taking care of me. I had to have minor surgery in March and it was them who drove me at 6:00 am to the hospital, waited for me, took me home and sat with me. Mom made me a grilled cheese sandwich and Dad took care of my pets. So wonderful, so faithful.
When my time on this earth is done, God will call me home. He knows the day and the time already. I don't need to be foolish, but enjoying a motorcycle ride with proper helmets, proper clothing, boots, and a skilled driver is not foolish. God created this world to be enjoyed. So I will trust and enjoy!
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