Firmly Planted

Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. (Matthew 7:24-25)

The past several days have been stormy....yes, literally, but also figuratively.  The storm that has raged within me has been greater than many I've faced.  And certainly stronger than any I've been through in a long time.  

The walls around me began to rumble, the windows of my faith were rattled, debris of doubt, fear and failure flew wildly throughout.  I cried....I prayed....I asked for prayer....I got prayer....I was encouraged, I was loved.  I sang praises...I read His word....I spent time alone with Him waiting to His voice.

And then tonight....He calmed the storm within me...and my foundation is still strong.  Firmly planted.  He is faithful.

An old hymn came to mind as I was leaving church tonight....it says everything I'm feeling right now:

I Shall Not Be Moved

Jesus is my Savior, I shall not be moved;
In His love and favor, I shall not be moved,
Just like a tree that's planted by the waters,
Lord, I shall not be moved.

In my Christ abiding, I shall not be moved;
In His love I'm hiding, I shall not be moved,
Just like a tree that's planted by the waters,
Lord, I shall not be moved.

If I trust Him ever, I shall not be moved;
He will fail me never, I shall not be moved,
Just like a tree that's planted by the waters,
Lord, I shall not be moved.

On His word I'm feeding, I shall not be moved;
He's the One that's leading, I shall not be moved,
Just like a tree that's planted by the waters,
Lord, I shall not be moved.

Chorus
I shall not be, I shall not be moved;
I shall not be, I shall not be moved;
Just like a tree that's planted by the waters,
Lord, I shall not be moved.

I am claiming His promises tonight.  I'm living like I believe them and I've put doubt and fear and failure out of my house.  I've replaced them with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  

He has brought me to this place and He will keep me.  He is my provision, He is my provider, He is my security...He is all I need.  I'm going to live it like I believe it.

He is so very, very faithful....

Triple-Braided Cord

A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken. (Ecclesiastes 4:12)

For the last couple of days, I've been sad...just sad.  Knowing that for about a year and a half, I haven't had a place that I can call home.  Don't misunderstand me...I've had a place to eat, sleep and play - but it wasn't mine...and it just didn't fit. I have felt so out of place, homeless.

This morning, just when I thought I really had no one to talk with about feeling "homeless", two beautiful women emerged and wanted to have lunch and a "conversation".  

See, they knew of my plans to move out of the "current place I call home" no later than October 15th, whether I had the funds I need for a new place or not...they knew that if the money wasn't there to pay deposits, get furniture, etc. then I would move to an extended stay hotel for a season...Now here's the beautiful part of this story.  These ladies have watched me struggle financially, they've watched me take control of my finances and live within my budget over the last several weeks...but they didn't know whether I had really thought through this whole "moving" thing.  They didn't know whether I was making a quick decision without thinking it through...and instead of just waiting to see what happened, they loved me enough to intervene and just ask.

Those two ladies cannot imagine how much their love and genuine concern for me warmed my heart and encouraged me in ways I couldn't imagine.  They just wanted to make sure that I wasn't headed towards a collision.  They have walked through this journey with me.  They have seen with their own eyes the change that God has made in my life, the chains of bondage that have been broken, the amazing place that I've come to and where I came from.  And they were not willing to let me walk off a ledge without a warning.  Oh, that we would all have such friends.

You see,  best friends are not just there to have that Girls Night Out.  Not just there to be your cheerleader.  Not just there to listen when you need to talk.....no...my best friends, take a stand, call you out, tell you their concerns, risk offending in the name of friendship, in the name of love, in the name of Jesus.  

My Best Friends, Anisa & Gwen, mean more to me than I could ever imagine.  I cannot imagine life without either of them.  They are the most amazing, bold, godly women I've ever known.  I thank God for them everyday.

I'm believing that God is going to meet every need just as He promised and as He already has.  And I'm believing that when I leave this place I "currently call home", He's going to provide! 

Love you Anisa & Gwen...you really are the best in all the land!!

Fear

For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. (1 Timothy 2:17)


All my life I've lived in fear.  Fear that I was not good enough, cute enough, smart enough, thin enough, loved enough, that I just wasn't "enough" of anything.


Fear led me down a path of wrong choices.
Fear destroyed my marriages. (Yes, that's supposed to be plural...there were 2)
Fear destroyed my finances.
Fear destroyed jobs.
Fear almost destroyed me.....BUT GOD...


When fear had almost engulfed me....I cried out and Jesus ran to me.  And slowly He began to peel away the layers of fear that covered me.  He peeled away my fear of being alone...He reminded me that He is always with me.  He will never leave nor abandon me.  


He peeled away the fear of failure.  He showed me that though I may fail at a task, it doesn't make ME a failure.  I was fearfully and wonderfully made, He knows the number of hairs on my head.  He counted all of my days before one had even come...and He calls me by name.  He knows me...and He loves me.


He peeled away my fear of not being smart enough.  He showed me that His wisdom is greater than all.  That He will guide my path and He will direct my ways.  He will open doors that no man can close and close doors that no man can open.  


He peeled away my fear of being unlovable.  He loves me with a passion.  He sings over me.  He collects all of my tears in a bottle and records all of my sorrows.  He loves me when I'm selfish and He loves me when I'm selfless.  Nothing, I mean nothing, can separate me from His love.   


And I could go on and on and on with all the layers of fear He has peeled away.  


Tonight, He showed me why He peeled those layers away.  To reach out and walk through the fire with another hurting heart.  Not just throw out some scripture and a prayer....nope...that's not why He peeled those layers away...it was to be able to feel her pain, to empathize with her, to know that the emotional pain is sometimes so great it's physical.  To KNOW what it feels like to not want to go on anymore...to not believe anything will ever change...to pray for the rapture...yep...I did that.


Yes, I had the amazing privilege to speak to a hurting heart...to share His great love and His great faithfulness...to share that I KNOW that God WILL change her heart and her life and show her His purpose...that He wants to prosper her and not harm her....because He is no respecter of persons....what He did for me...He will do for you.  Yes, He did all that for me....


He didn't give me a spirit of fear....He gave me the greatest love I have ever known...a love worth dying for.

Be still and know...

This morning as I was wrapping up week 7 of my study Radically Obedient, this devotion touched me so deeply that I had to share it with you...

Be Still…

Today's Scripture   

"Be still, and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10 NIV

Thoughts for Today

These eight words found in the Psalms speak volumes about putting God at the center of our lives.

 Be still...

Stop worrying. Calm down. Don't be afraid. Stop trying to figure it out by yourself. Stop trying to make things happen. Slow down. Take a deep breath. Forget the money crunch. Take time out from the pressures at work. Stop striving. Stop talking... and listen.

Know that I am God...

I know you. I know your needs. Nothing surprises me. I am the Creator of all things. I care about everything that concerns you. I am love. I am peace. I am joy. I am sovereign. I am all-knowing. I am all-powerful. I am eternal. I am faithful. I am merciful. I am gracious. I am the King of kings and Lord of lords. I am your Father, your Daddy. I am the same yesterday, today and forever. I love you with an everlasting love. I will never leave you nor forsake you.

Consider this …

When we are willing to be still and to know that he is God, he will become the center of our lives. And everything else we do will revolve around him and all that he is.  

Here is the link to the devotion:

http://www.crosswalk.com/devotionals/livingfree/living-free-july-14-2011.html

I continue to be amazed at God's great love for me and His never ending pursuit.  How he meets me exactly where I am and speaks intimately to me, touching me in a way like no other.  So, this morning...I will be still and know He is God and know that I am loved.

Name Your Blessings One by One...

Sunday morning.
Quiet.
Pondering.
Jesus.
Children - Allison, Tara & Logan ♥
Grandchildren - Andrew, Karoline, Joshua, Zeke, Matthew & Noah ♥
Brother & Sister-in-love - Bill & Tonia ♥
Sister - Sandy♥
Nieces & Nephews - Sarah, Katie, Caleb & Faith ♥
Best friends ever - Anisa & Gwen ♥
Church - C3
Beautiful women God has given me to do life with - you know who you are ♥
Sunshine.
Birds.
Flowers, particularly daises.
Scars.
Healing.
Forgiven.
Blessed.
Loved.
Thank you Jesus...Amen.

Chains Broken - Life Healed

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd;
I have all that I need.
He lets me rest in green meadows;
He leads me beside peaceful streams.
He renews my strength.
He guides me along right paths,
bringing honor to His name.
Even when I walk
through the darkest valley,
I will not be afraid,
for You are close beside me.
Your rod and your staff
protect and comfort me.
You prepare a feast for me
in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
My cup overflows with blessings.
Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me
all the days of my life,
and I will live in the house of the Lord
forever.

I feel like I literraly lived Psalm 23 over the last 13 years.  In October, 1998, my life lay before me shattered...nothing remained as I had known it before, I was at the very end of my rope and wanting to die, and I had one last hope, so I fell on my knees and cried out to God....wondering if He was really there. 

That day began a journey that took me to highs I could not imagine and lows that I had never experienced. 

For almost 13 years I have been following Christ...sometimes more closely than others, but I never left the path...sometimes, the only thing that kept me there was His firm hold...He never, ever let me go.

I have experienced the miracle of having the desire to smoke immediately removed from me after smoking for over 25 years.  I have walked through the valley of darkness and I would love to tell you that I did not fear, yet, I did...I lived so afraid...BUT GOD....

Yes, in every story of mine there is a BUT GOD....this one is no different. 

A couple of days ago, I found myself facing a situation that I had feared every single day of my 13 years.  My hand was clenched firmly...afraid that if I opened my hand, my life would shatter once again, yet, I knew that I had to walk down the path that God had set before me.  He had prepared my heart, He had prepared the way and though I wasn't sure I was ready, He knew I was and I knew it was time to trust Him and open my hand to release my own dreams and let His dreams fill me.

So how did I handle my greatest fear??  I pondered my very own love letter from God that I keep hidden in my heart:

My precious daughter, Debbie,


You may not know Me, but, Debbie, I know everything about you. (Psalm 139:1). I know when you sit down and when you rise up. (Psalm 139:2). Even the hairs on your head are numbered. (Matthew 10:29-31). Debbie, you were made in My image. (Genesis 1:27).

You were not a mistake, for all of your days are written in my book. (Psalm 139:15). I chose you when I planned creation. (Ephesians 1:11-12) I knew you even before you were conceived. (Jeremiah 1:4-5) You are fearfully and wonderfully made. (Psalm 139:14) I determined the exact time of your birth and determined where you would live (Acts 17:26) and brought you forth on the day you were born, November 12th. (Psalm 71:6).

Debbie, it is My desire to lavish my love on you simply because you are my daughter and I am your Father. (1 John 3:1).

I am your provider and I meet all your needs (Matthew 6:31-33) and I will never stop doing good to you (Jeremiah 32:40), for you are my treasured possession I desire to establish you with all My heart and all My soul (Jeremiah 32:41) and I want to show you great and marvelous things. (Jeremiah 33:3)

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope (Jeremiah 29:11) because I love you, Debbie, with an everlasting love. (Jeremiah 31:3). My thoughts towards you are countless as the sand on the seashore (Psalm 139:17-18) and I rejoice over you with singing. (Zephaniah 3:17)

Debbie, If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. (Deuteronomy 4:29) Delight in Me and I will give you the desires of your heart, (Psalm 37:4) for it is I who gave you those desires. (Philippians 2:13) I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. (Ephesians 3:20).

I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. (Psalm 34:18). As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. (Isaiah 40:11) One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. (Revelation 21:3-4).

I am your Father, and I love you even as I love My son, Jesus. (John 17:23). For in Jesus, My love is revealed. (John 17:26). Jesus came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. (Romans 8:31). His death was the ultimate expression of My love for you. (1 John 4:10). If you receive the gift of My son Jesus, you receive Me (1 John 2:23) and nothing will ever separate you from My love again. (Romans 8:23-39).

I have always been Father and will always be Father. (Ephesians 3:14-15) I am waiting for you. (Luke 15:11-32)

Love, Your Dad,
Almighty God


Then I prayed and asked my two very best friends to pray...and they prayed.  Anisa and Gwen have been on this journey with me for a number of years and knew that I was willing to let this dream die...that I had come to the place that I only wanted what God has prepared for me...I wanted to find the cause He has placed with me...and let His dream for me, be my dream...to let His will be accomplished in my life..to let go of the one person I loved the most on this earth and allow the One that loved me the most to cover me with His great love.  I was ready to release my firm grip and the promise...and open my hand to the Promise Giver.

And when I walked straight into my greatest fear, into a the dark valley, He was with me...His rod and His staff comforted me...He gave me a confidence and a hope that can only come from Him...I was not afraid.....what I had feared for 13 years...what I had held tightly to all this time with a clenched fist....I obediently and calmly and with great love for my great Savior, opened my hand and let it go.

My heart is healed and He is making me whole.  Yes, it has taken me 13 years to reach this point and I make no apologies for it.  It has been 13 years of bringing past hurts, rejections, abandonment, abuse and fear to the surface and allowing His grace and mercy to heal wounds that were over 40 years old.  It has not been an easy journey - but it has been a journey that has been well worth it.  The scars are there, but are simply proof of His love for me, no matter what.

Yes, He is good. 

Now as I walk into a season in my life that is brand new...with amazing possibilities I put my trust in Him and can hardly wait to see what's next!

Love...

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)

I've read this passage so many times...and so many times I really thought I understood it.  I KNEW what love was...I knew it was patient and kind and not jealous...I just didn't know if I really ever loved anyone that way.  Certainly I hoped I did...hoped I would...but didn't know for sure. 

Recently some events in my personal life have caused me to look deep into my own being...to see who is really beneath this smiling face...to see what condition my spirit is...and I have to share that I have been pleasantly surprised at the person I've found...please let me share...

I've found a woman, who after years of seeking after Jesus, has realized that she has allowed Him to truly change her heart, to mold her into the woman He has called her to be. 

I've found a woman, who leans more towards faith than fear. 

I've found a woman, that has forgiven those who've hurt her and let go of her own want for vengeance. 

I've found a woman who cherishes the life Jesus has given her...that although it's not the place she would have chosen, or even a place that she ever thought she'd be...she is so content with where she is. 

And most of all, I've found a woman that truly loves....not the kind of love that seeks its own...but the kind of love that rejoices when someone else finds a happiness that had been elusive for years...the kind of love that smiles, when she sees someone she loves smiling.  The kind of love that rejoices when someone else finds joy in the moment or when someone else gets a victory....yep, that's the woman I've found in me.  He is so very faithful....He has changed this heart of stone to a heart of flesh.

My circumstances haven't changed, but my heart has...and it's all because of Jesus.

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.  (1 Corinthians 13:13).

On this Easter...I am experiencing His love, the one true love...and it couldn't be better.