"I thank God who has given me strength,

"Christ Jesus our Lord,

because He judged me faithful,

appointing me to His service." I Timothy 1:12

This particular verse really spoke to me yesterday as I read it and listened to a great speaker talk about God's patience. God doesn't need my help to accomplish His work but by His grace and mercy He did chose me but not only did He choose me but He also strengthens me to accomplish His service. For me in this stage of life, my full time service is working along side my husband and raising the six children God CHOSE to put into our family. 

I still sit in awe of what He has called me to do....His service. Wow! God's patience with me is beyond understanding. He patiently waited for me to submit to Him and ask Him to be my Savior. Then He is patiently changing me little by little even though I often go through "spiritual mood swings." He doesn't quit waiting for me even though it may take a LONG time to finally obey or finally trust He knows what is best for me. No one in this entire universe has been so consistently patient and kind to me. "For you, O Lord, are merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness." (Psalm 86:15)

God never breaks His promises and if He has promised strength for what He has faithfully called us too....yet too often I find myself doubting what He has promised. I don't know where you may be today in your walk with the Lord but I want to encourage you to do as I have done today and write out this verse and place it before you and meditate on it. "I thank Him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because He judged me faithful, appointing me to his service." And when those creeping doubts of "I can't do this" or "This is beyond me" - remember that you of yourself can't do it and it is way beyond your human ability but when you choose to team up with the One who chose you....HE can through you!

Walk With the King today...and be a blessing wherever the Lord has you!

"My (daughter), IF you receive My Words,

and treasure My commandments with you,

making your ear attentive to wisdom,

and inclining your heart to understanding.

Yes, IF you call out for insight

and raise your voice for understanding,

IF you seek it like silver

and search for it as for hidden treasure,

THEN you will understand the fear of the Lord

and find the knowledge of God."

Proverbs 2:1-5 (ESV)

 

   I was challenged to read and meditate on these verses this morning and they really spoke to me! Last week, my family attended family camp together and in many ways, I was really challenged to dig deeper and crave the Lord like never before. When I read this verse,

Yes, IF you call out for insight

and raise your voice for understanding,

it was like the Lord spoke directly to me....You need to CALL on me for application and CRY out for understanding...not just a once a day prayer  but throughout the entire day as needs, and struggles, and concerns, etc come into your path. 

I would like to challenge all who might read this to CALL and CRY out to God for special insights into His word....His promise? You will learn to understand more deeply God's love and His desire for you to know Him more personally! 

"I am leaving you with a gift- peace of mind and heart.

And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give.

So don't be troubled or afraid!" John 14:27

 

 

This week, as I study some verses I had been meditating and thinking on, this one really caught my attention. I have "known" God's peace is something He gives to those whose minds are stayed on Him. But when I read this one, it really penetrated my heart and mind that His peace is a gift! A gift is something you take from someone without giving payment back. He has given me HIS PEACE therefore I am not to be troubled or afraid! Its like this week, it hit me down deep...it got beyond the "I know that" to I KNOW THAT!!!

I have struggled with how to deal with stress and Biblically deal with it especially over the past year. This past year, a lot of different things have come into my life that have challenged me and I admit, I have "stressed" over them. God saw fit to take home to Himself a very dear friend of mine. This was a very sudden thing and it really shook "my world". Then we moved from IN to ND and although I know it was God's will we moved, the whole thing was stressful. My mom has been struggling with health issues that have caused me concern and its been hard being so far away from her. We homeschool our children and have sought to educating them well but I still "stress over" am I doing it right, am I giving them what they need, etc, etc. Through all of this, I knew God is in control and never allows more into our lives than we can handle with His strength and grace but I let panic take over at times with a lot of "what ifs" and then I developed "heart" problems and the doctor basically told me my heart was great and probably the stress from the last year or so was taking its toll on me physically.

I joined an on line Bible study recently and we have been working thru Scripture and principles in dealing with stress Biblically. Its exactly what I have needed and I feel like I am growing so much now! Its like light has dawned on this marble head of mine and I am learning to see life more thru the eyes of the One who loves me unconditionally! I read a definition of peace...."Peace is the ability to rise above our circumstances, overcome our innate tendency to stress out over problems and learning to remain calm and confident despite what is going on around us. This real peace- a peace based on Christ, not people or circumstances. A peace based on faith, not a personal desires being met. A peace based on a quieted heart not on a quiet house. " That is the peace God promises to those whose mind is stayed on Him...not the problem!

I have placed about eight different verses around my house to help me to focus on God and what He promises rather than on the "stress" of the moment.