Safe in the Shepherd’s Arms

Back in college a friend of mine gave me this little encouragement devotional on Psalm 23 by Max Lucado (love his works!) and I’m going through it again, reading a little section each night.

Well tonight’s section was on “For His Name Sake” talking about all the different names of God you can use. For instance, when you’re anxious about provision you can call him Jehovah jireh, which means “the Lord who provides.” If your body is sick, if you are emotionally weak you can call Him Jehovah-rophe, which means “the Lord who heals”

I love how God brings things to my attention right at the very moment I need to hear them. These two names of God are very present in my life right now.

I have been unemployed for over two years due to multiple health issues. Its been a huge struggle financially, of course, and there are days where I just don’t think I can make it. But with the Lord, yes, with Jehovah Jireh, he WILL provide! I just have to be patient, which let’s face it, I’m horrible at. But He is working on me. 🙂

Life is hard. But with Jesus….with Jesus all things are possible!

 

“I Refuse” by Josh Wilson

I have been struggling with what to write about. Then this song came through my mind and it said it all. I LOVE this song!

We need to stop living like we don’t care! People NEED Jesus!

“I Refuse”

Sometimes I
I just want to close my eyes
And act like everyone’s all right
When I know they’re not
This world needs God
But it’s easier to stand and watch
I could say a prayer and just move on
Like nothing’s wrong
But I refuse

Cause I don’t want to live like I don’t care
I don’t want to say another empty prayer
Oh I refuse to
Sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh I could choose
Not to move
But I refuse

I can hear the least of these
Crying out so desperately
And I know we are the hands and feet
Of You, Oh God
So if you say move
It’s time for me to follow through
And do what I was made to do
And show them who you are

Cause I don’t want to live like I don’t care
I don’t want to say another empty prayer
Oh I refuse to
Sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh I could choose
Not to move
But I refuse

To stand and watch
The weary and lost
Cry out for help
I refuse
To turn my back
And try and act like all is well
I refuse
To stay unchanged
To wait another day
To doubt myself
I refuse
To make one more excuse

Cause I don’t want to live like I don’t care
I don’t want to say another empty prayer
Oh I refuse to
Sit around and wait for someone else
To do what God has called me to do myself
Oh I could choose
Not to move
But I refuse

I refuse
I refuse
Yeah

Clear Cut Sign….

So today has been rough. My mind has been racing. My body has been aching. Being bipolar AND having fibromyalgia is rough.

So I’ve been wrestling with something lately which is probably something we all wrestle with from time to time: what is my purpose? what is my God given talent?

I’ve always been a writer. I’ve written poems and short stories off and on for years. I’ve toyed with the idea of writing a book but always put it off.

This morning, when I first woke up, I grabbed my phone to check the time and something told me to open my email. I saw an email from KLOVE with their daily verse. The verse was from 1 Chronicles 16:24 “Publish(!!) or “tell” the nations about His glory. Tell all peoples the miracles He does.”

Ya’ll, I don’t know about you but I find that to be a clear cut sign…..

So I’m going to start this journey of using my writing to glorify God!

Please pray for me!

Come As You Are

This song by Pocketful of Rocks really speaks to me. It’s not about what your wear or where you are….you can come to Jesus AS YOU ARE!

He’s not mad at you,
And He’s not disappointed.
His grace is greater still
Than all of your wrong choices.

He is full of mercy
And He’s ever kind.
Hear His invitation,
His arms are open wide.

You can come as you are with all your broken pieces,
And all your shameful scars.
The pain you hold in your heart, bring it all to Jesus.
You can come as you are.

Louder than the voice
That whispers “you’re unworthy”,
Hear the sound of love
That tells a different story.

Shattering your darkness
And pushing through the lies,
How tenderly He calls you,
His arms are open wide.

You can come as you are with all your broken pieces,
All your shameful scars.
The pain you hold in your heart, bring it all to Jesus.
You can come as you are.

You can come as you are.

You can come as you with all your broken pieces,
All your shameful scars.
The pain you hold in your heart, bring it all to Jesus.
You can come as you are.

---

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You see? Jesus loves you. Every single part about you, He loves.  Come to Him.

Matthew 11:28 says “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” Jesus doesn’t want you to wait to come to Him until you think you have it together. No, quite the opposite! Come to Him NOW. He’s waiting for you with arms wide open!

If I can pray for you about anything, please just let me know. Leave a comment and I will pray for you!

Radical

I'm reading Radical by David Platt for the second time. I'm getting more out of it the second time around because my mindset is more Christ centered. I just finished chapter 1 and have read some very thought provoking things.

Y'all, Jesus is WORTHY of ALL our devotion! Not just when we feel like it. He DIED for us so we should be devoted to him! He loves us that much!

A relationship with Jesus requires total, superior, and exclusive devotion! Christ gave the ultimate sacrifice for us. How can we be anything other than grateful? How can we be anything other than devoted?

We must wake up and realize there are infinitely more important things in life than football and a 401(K)

There are real battles to be fought, so different from the superficial, meaningless "battles" we focus on.

There are countless multitudes who are currently destined for a Christless eternity! how can we ignore this???

I have come to realize that I need to stop playing church! To stop playing God! He sent his son to DIE for me so I didn't have to spend eternity in HELL! Yet I have just been moseying through life as if none of that mattered. No, I was living life the way I wanted to with only half hearted attempts to live a life for Christ.

Well, that stops now.

Our God Reigns Here

I recently discovered John Waller’s music. It’s amazing! Here is one of my favorites!

Our God Reigns Here

Spirit of doubt you have no place here
I command you to leave in Jesus’ name
Spirit of fear you have no place here
I command you to leave in Jesus’ name
You’re not welcome here so go, just go

Spirit of doubt you have no place here
I command you to leave in Jesus’ name
Envy and jealousy you have no place here
I command you to leave in Jesus’ name
Go back from whence you came

‘Cause our God reigns here, our God reigns here
We claim this ground in Jesus’ name
‘Cause our God reigns

Our God reigns here, our God reigns here
The battle’s won, have no fear
‘Cause God reigns here, He reigns here our God

Anger and rage, guilt and shame
I command you to leave in Jesus’ name
Depression, anxiety, addiction, infirmity
I command you to leave in Jesus’ name
Oh, go back from whence you came

‘Cause our God reigns here, our God reigns here
We claim this ground in Jesus’ name
‘Cause our God reigns

Our God reigns here, our God reigns here
The battle’s won, have no fear
‘Cause God reigns here

There’s no doubt He has overcome the world
And God reigns here
There’s no doubt He has overcome the world

‘Cause our God reigns here, our God reigns here
We claim this ground in Jesus’ name
‘Cause our God reigns

Our God reigns here, our God reigns here
The battle’s won, have no fear
The battle’s won, have no fear
The battle’s won, have no fear
‘Cause God reigns here

There’s no doubt He has overcome the world
And God reigns here
There’s no doubt He has overcome the world
And our God reigns

No Eloquent Words Here….

I’ve never been one with the words, lol. As much as I love reading and writing, words seem to fail me at the worst possible moment.

It’s also a curse of “fibro fog”. I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in December of 2016 but I’ve had it for years. I just couldn’t get a doctor who believed the condition existed. But finally, my PCP determined it was indeed fibro and started me on meds to help with the pain. (which actually had to be switched to a different med but that’s another story, lol) He also tested me for lupus which the blood work DID indicate that my levels were elevated but it was just barely over. So he’s treating me for the fibro and will run more blood work in Dec. If it’s still positive then he will send me to a specialist.

But back to what I was saying…..words escape me sometime and I’ll be typing a sentence and literally forget what I was supposed to be typing. I’ll be in mid sentence talking to someone and forget. It’s a curse, lol

Like now for instance….I literally had a topic in mind for the rest of this blog but I’m drawing a blank…..

So I’ll leave you with this…….

 

I’ll be honest with you….

….today wasn't the greatest of days. Everything kept plucking my nerves. I have issues with anger so that didn't help matters much.

But you know what? God is SO much bigger than all this and He's so much bigger than all YOUR troubles. God loves you unconditionally. He's waiting for you to come to Him.

I know that if I take my problems to Him, He can and WILL see me through them. It may not necessarily be the way I want it to turn out but that's okay because He sees the greater picture. He's got my life planned out!

I was reminded this morning to "Be Still and know that He is God"

I may not know what life holds for me in the future but He does and that is enough for me!