It’s Just

As my son tried to comfort our dog, before she got her yearly shots at the vet, I couldn’t help but smile. My son is the one who had just asked me 6 times on the way to the doctor if I was sure we got the flu mist instead of the flu shot and who the nurses have to hold down as he screams when he does have to get shots.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.  James 3:9-12

It’s easy to tell others to trust God and lean on His understanding when they are going through trials, but do we do that ourselves when life gets tough? Are we all talk and no trust? I have a wonderful friend who always says, “How can we call ourselves Christians when we worry  instead of trusting God?”  She makes an excellent point. How does it look to those around us we are trying to disciple (i.e. children, neighbors, coworkers, etc.) when we say one thing and do another? The answer is one of the major reasons that deter others from coming to know Christ. They call us hypocrites. Being a Christian doesn’t make us perfect, but we are called to trust in God! Do any of these sound familiar?

It’s just that this problem is to big . . . God is bigger.
It’s just that this is a different situation . . . God has seen it all.
It’s just that this is so serious . . . God can handle it.
It’s just that this is my family . . . God considers us all His family.
It’s just that ……… (you fill in the blank with one of your excuses).

God is faithful and He is sovereign. He never changes. Lay it at His feet.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.  James 3:17

I am hard on myself about this. We are human after all and will be in constant need of forgiveness and direction from our Heavenly Father as long as we are in this skin. But with God, we can find the courage and strength to turn it over to Him, trust Him and wait for Him. We have to dwell and abide in His word to acquire His courage and strength. It is a supernatural power that only He can give us. When you experience it, you never forget and you begin to crave it in every aspect of your life. I pray you will experience this if you haven’t already. It becomes a wonderful obsession once you have.

This image of planting a dead seed and raising a live plant is a mere sketch at best, but perhaps it will help in approaching the mystery of the resurrection body—but only if you keep in mind that when we’re raised, we’re raised for good, alive forever! The corpse that’s planted is no beauty, but when it’s raised, it’s glorious. Put in the ground weak, it comes up powerful. The seed sown is natural; the seed grown is supernatural—same seed, same body, but what a difference from when it goes down in physical mortality to when it is raised up in spiritual immortality! 1 Corinthians 15:42 (The Message)

GodChick News

Many of you may have wondered where I have been the past two weeks . . . or maybe you have been as busy as I have and haven’t even noticed I had not sent a devotion.

I have been busy working on my next two books and I’m happy to say that the next devotional GodChick Devotions: Putting Down Roots will be out in November and Revision of a Heart: Lessons learned in an old house and a new lifestyle should be out by December.

Now that those are written and in the hands of the editor I’m excited about getting back into my weekly devotions. I promise to have a new blog/devotion out for next week. Thank you for your support and prayers.

Allison

The Old Days

Eat honey, dear child—it’s good for you— and delicacies that melt in your mouth. Likewise knowledge, and wisdom for your soul—Get that and your future’s secured, your hope is on solid rock. Proverbs 24:13 (The Message)

Our youngest started Kindergarten last week and it hasn’t been the easiest of transitions (for either of us). He has figured out that Kindergarten takes him away from me for 7 hours instead of preschool’s 3 hours. ” I just want things to go back to the way they used to be.” he said with a tear rolling down his cheek”.

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

I started thinking of all those around me going through change and transition and how many of them long for “the old days”. The days before commitments were broken, before the brain tumor was found on their child’s brain, before job loss created severe financial stress, before they gave into temptation of the flesh . . . before, before, before. I told my son that we have to “keep moving forward”.  We need to keep our eyes on the Lord because if we look away for one moment during these trying times of change the enemy will step in and try to overtake our hope, strength and perseverance with fear, sadness and despair. Keeping our eyes focused on Him will not keep us from bending under the pressure, but it will guarantee we won’t break. Even in the midst of unhappiness, our trials will bring growth and joy in the Lord and lead us into a deeper and closer relationship with Him.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  James 1: 2-3

My husband says that we are on track to receive our Ph.D in patience, overcoming trials and leaning on God’s understanding and not our own. I am thankful God loves and cares enough for us to teach and guide us through these trials of life. He is the one who gives us courage and strength to face the next day, to overcome the challenge, to keep our eyes on Him and to live for today – not yesterday. I pray when we are called to walk across that stage one day it is with an outstretched hand our Father in Heaven will look at us and say, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25).

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.  James 1:4