Walking and talking – one of my favorite things to do with a friend. We covered 3-4 miles on a sunny, cool morning and many topics ranging from parenting teenagers, memories, misc. stuff, our parents, church, and faith. My friend shared something with me that I want to share with you. She had looked up “discouragement” in a commentary. The author offered four reasons why we get discouraged as believers: the hardness of the way, the difficulty of the task, the affluence of the wicked, and desires that remain unfulfilled. These all totally make sense to me and I could easily relate to each one. The fact that life is often not as we expected it to be, especially when following Jesus, can be discouraging. To see others who aren’t living for Christ and seem to have so much, or have it easy is discouraging if we let it be. Going through tragedy, sickness, unemployment, persecution, or any other “trial” can definitely wear on us and discourage us. For each of these discouragement “triggers” my friend said a Bible verse was listed to show the remedy for each one according to God. Oddly enough, each verse contained the words, “fear not.” Fear is the culprit! If you think about a tough circumstance or trial you’ve been through, fear is bound to be involved somehow: fear of the unknown, fear of things turning out different than we hope, fear that we won’t make it through, fear that we’re inadequate for the task, fear of others’ opinions, fear of not having what we need or want, fear of failing…
When I don’t fully trust God it shows fear, and that leads to discouragement. Conversely, when I decide to lean out over the edge of the unknown and fully trust in God, even though I can’t see what’s coming, I have such peace and freedom.
Our enemy, satan, loves to use fear. Continue reading
One night as I was steaming and scouring my girls’ room for the little boogers, God spoke to my heart and said I should be as diligent about making sure I’ve gotten rid of all the sin lurking in the edges and cracks of my heart. I have to let God daily survey my heart, crush any sinful “pest” He finds there, and cleanse me again. I have to search my heart all the time to make sure some bitter attitude isn’t growing in the corner or some small temptation I’ve let remain isn’t crouching in a shadow waiting for an unsuspecting moment to trip me up.
“Sometimes I feel I’m living a meaningless life, and I get frightened. … I don’t handle fame well. Most actors on most days don’t think they’re worthy. I have no idea where this insecurity comes from, but it’s a God-sized hole. If I knew, I’d fill it, and I’d be on my way. … Actors live dependent on being validated by other people’s opinions. … The good actors are all screwed up. They’re all in pain. It’s a profession of bottom-feeders and heartbroken people.” —23-year-old Shia LaBeouf
The alarm clock sounds, I drowsily hit the button and sit up in bed. I can almost hear it: the clacking sound of God’s clap board as he gives me a new day. Today He said, “Take 15,330!” Lamentations 3:22-23 tells me, “The faithful love of the L
Many have seen the You Tube video of Susan Boyle, a middle-aged single woman who appeared on the TV show “Britain’s Got Talent”. When she walked out onto the stage the judges practically rolled their eyes with contempt. One could almost hear their thoughts, “What on earth is this frizzy-haired, plain-faced woman in an old-fashioned dress and heels doing here? She’s way out of her league. Delusions of grandeur, here we come.”
I read this morning in I Samuel about the anointing of King David. King Saul had proven to be a disappointment to God so God told Samuel He was going to choose a new king. Samuel went to the house of Jesse, a man with seven sons. Six of the sons walked in front of Samuel – tall and strong, strapping young men. As each one passed Samuel thought, “Surely this is the one” and each time God said “Nope.” 
The truth is God is a mystery. I cannot fully understand Him. When I read about the massive size of our universe, the millions, billions and quadrillions of light year miles between galaxies and stars, and then think about our tiny planet and little lives in comparison, I’m blown away and bewildered. What kind of God do I really serve? How big is He, really?? How does He know each of us, hear my voice among all the others in prayer, or orchestrate good outcomes for my life? How is that possible??
Along the Narrow Path 