I Am A Promise!

Promise (präm’is) n. [ME promis < L promissum < promittere, to send before or forward < pro-, forth + mittere, to send] M: Indication, as of a successful prospect or future basis of expectation

David had a promise from God. Samuel had actually come right into his house when he was quite young and told him he’d be King one day! But then what happened? No Crown! No Royal Robes! Other things were happening though! He did move into King Saul’s palace; was befriended by Saul’s son, Jonathan; even married Saul’s daughter! Sometimes, though, it just seemed that for every two steps forward David took, he took three steps back! He did live in Saul's palace, yet Saul soon became jealous and tried to kill David (over and over and over…)! His friend, Jonathan, did love him dearly, but being the person of honor he was, he had to remain faithful to his father, King Saul. Even David’s wife turned on him! David ended up running for his life! Just when it looked as if things could not get any darker for David, I Samuel 29-30 tells us that as he returned home to Ziglag from battle, he and his men found that that the enemy had attacked their hometown taking their families, stealing possessions, burning and destroying their homes. David and his men wept until they could no more. Then, David’s men even began talking of killing him! Now at this point, some would have considered giving up. Things looked bleak!

Can you identify? If I’m being totally frank with you, I identify so strongly at this moment, I feel my address could be changed to "S.W. God Help Me Street“ in downtown Ziglag! Death has struck my immediate family not once but twice in less than two weeks. The grief is overwhelming. The floundering economy continues to wreak havoc with our family finances; and old physical challenges have resurfaced and grow alarmingly worse by the day. I see evidence of an all-out enemy attack everywhere I turn. Things look bleak!

So, what did David do in the face of a devastating enemy attack? Instead of giving up, and giving in when things seemed their worst, he looked within. He believed in and held close to his heart the promise Samuel had given him so many years earlier. Through every trial he remembered that God had made him a person of promise! He was not about to give up before that promise was fully realized. 1 Samuel 30:6 says that in the face of overwhelming odds, “David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God.” Those 10 little words turned David’s life around there in Ziglag (read the rest of the story to see what I mean! The outcome is pretty cool!!!)

He had a choice, and so do I. So do you!! Truth is, everyone who loves the Lord is a “Person of Promise”! And just like in David's life, when God plants a promise in us, who are we to give up before that promise is fully realized? So, no matter my circumstances today, I am going to encourage and strengthen myself in the Lord! Let me urge you to do the same. Read Psalms, sing songs of praise to God; remind yourself of His faithfulness. And as we bring to mind His faithfulness; let’s remember that we are victors because of Him; then stir up the gift that He placed within us! I’m certain that this is the kind of activity God will use to ultimately turn our circumstances around, just as He did for David! PROMISE!!

Rushing Rivers & Big-Time Giants!

The book of Joshua begins at a time of tumultuous changes for Joshua, the assumed author of that book. His long-time friend and mentor, Moses has just died. His people, the Israelites, having traveled the wilderness for 40 years, are now on the "outskirts" of Canaan, just one rushing river and a few battles with some "big-time giants" away from laying claim to the promise God gave their forefathers many years before. And, in the opening verses of the book, God reminds Joshua that HE is the one who is going to lead the people across the Jordan to claim that promise. WHOA! All the hopes and dreams handed down for hundreds of years are now resting on the shoulders of this man! How's he supposed to handle that kind of pressure??? But wait, before we go there...

How are things in your life right now? Are you in the middle of things as usual or have you reached a time of "rushing rivers and big-time giants"? (I know I have!) Well, thankfully, there is great news for all of us who find ourselves in unsettled, tumultuous times! In Joshua 1:6a & 7-9 God speaks not only to Joshua, but to everyone who has ever been overwhelmed by life's circumstances. "Be strong (confident) and of good courage." "Only be strong and very courageous, that you may do according to all the law which Moses, My servant, commanded you. Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall deal wisely and have good success. Have not I commanded you? Be strong, vigorous, and very courageous. Be not afraid, neither be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

THERE IT IS! The answer for Joshua, and for all of us facing challenges today!!

(1) Stay strong and courageous (He refers to staying strong and courageous/not afraid four times in that short passage...hmmm...must must be really important, huh?)

(2) Stay in the Word of God. Meditate on it day and night that you may observe and do according to all that is written in it...

(3)Remember God is with you wherever you go!

The keys to victory! They worked for Joshua's "rushing river and big-time giants", and I am confident they will work for all the challenges before us today!

Come on out! Some battles are won step by step!

Honesty is the policy today! I awoke this morning far more ready to pull the covers back over my head and hide than to take time to thank God for the new day. If it could go wrong these past few months, it has gone wrong! So, as I lay there in bed today, I had one critical decision before me: was I going to keep my eyes on my circumstances or was I going to turn them onto my God? In keeping with my "honesty policy", I will not sugarcoat this story. No angels sang, and I did not float on a cloud of glory from the bed to my chair for Bible study time. But, with God's help, I did end up making the quality decision to tear my eyes off my circumstances and I did spend time in the Word of God. Listen to what I found there.

In the book of Exodus, I was reminded that just as God prepared Moses to deliver the Israelites, He sent Jesus to be our deliverer. Just as He led the Israelites with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, the Holy Spirit leads us today. The Israelites deliverance was a process, a journey. In most cases, so is ours. God almost always guides us through situations one step at a time, instead of moving us instantly from one situation to the next. That's how we mature--slowly! He used the Israelites' journey to develop the faith, trust and strength they would need in the Promised Land. We, too, grow as we follow God step by step!

Consider one more thing...just as for the Israelites, God drives out our enemies (all the "ites")-- the bad back-ites, the nosey neighbor-ites, the demanding boss-ites, the mounting bill-ites, the business down turn-ites, the children won't do right-ites--little by little until we are strong enough to take possession of what He has for us (adapted from Exodus 23:30)!! So, next time you are tempted to pull the covers over your head as I was this morning, next time you are tempted to let your burdens overwhelm you, DON'T DO IT! Because of God, each of us can throw the covers back each morning and stand firm on the promises that are ours as His children! So step out with me, won't you? Let's stand in confidence and in gratitude each morning! Let's tear our eyes off our circumstances and choose, instead, to look at our God! He's far bigger than any situation in our life ever could be! Let's choose to believe what the Word of God tells us--that He is fighting our battles for us and that something good is coming our way...no matter WHAT our circumstances may look like!!

My Steps & Stops Are Ordered!

The pastor said it yesterday. “My steps and my STOPS are ordered by the Lord!” How very timely! You see, I have just experienced a great big heartbreaking “STOP”!!! It happened last week. Something I wanted so much, something I’d planned for, practiced, worked, prayed, hoped for and dreamed of fell through…AGAIN! I did everything by “THE BOOK!” I sought God before I ever started, and then did everything I could and asked God to do the rest. I prayed God would shower me with His favor. And all of the sudden...STOP!! Things did not go my way. I was so disappointed. Oh let’s just get real, “disappointed” doesn’t begin to touch it…crestfallen, heartbroken, defeated…there, that’s more like it!

But then yesterday, my pastor said that not only are my steps ordered by the Lord, so are my STOPS! He was saying that sometimes there are God ordained delays in my life put there for my benefit! It was a reminder that salved my splintered heart.

Brought to mind one of my favorite Bible stories. Daniel desperately needed an answer to prayer. So he fasted & prayed, and prayed & fasted, and fasted & prayed. On and on and on! Daniel 10:3 says he continued for 21 days! Three whole weeks! And what did he get for all this devotion? ZERO! NADA! Complete Silence! I've got to tell you, that long with no food or drink seems impossible to me. . .but then, I sometimes have trouble focusing during my 15 – 30 minutes with God each morning, let's not even think about throwing fasting into the mix!!

But our man, Daniel persisted! A 21 day “stop” did not bother him one little bit! And here’s the amazing thing! On day 21 an angel appeared to him and said “O Daniel, you greatly beloved man…from the first day that you set your mind and heart to understand and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard and I have come as a consequence and in response to your words.” (Daniel 10:12) Daniel’s prayer was heard and answered the FIRST MOMENT he uttered it! Through persistence, he received God’s answer and strength to go forward! (If you want to know what held the angel up for three weeks, you can read about it in Daniel 10—it's really cool!!).

So, I guess it comes down to this: do I trust God enough to persist? Do I really believe that He orders my steps, and my stops or don’t I?

Twila Paris wrote a song some time ago I love to sing, the lyric of which is truly apt here.

Sometimes my little heart can’t understand, what’s in Your will? What’s in Your plan? So many times I’m tempted to ask You why. But I can never forget it for long, Lord what You do could not be wrong, So I believe You even when I must cry.

Do I trust You Lord? Does the robin sing? Do I trust You Lord? Does it rain in Spring? You can see my heart, You can read my mind, and You’ve got to know I would rather die than to lose my faith in the One I love, do I trust You Lord?

I know the answers; I’ve given them all, but suddenly now I feel so small--shaken down to the cavity in my soul. I know the doctrine and theology. But right now they don’t mean much to me. This time there’s only one thing I’ve got to know…

Do I trust You Lord? Does the river flow? Do I trust You Lord, does the North wind blow? You can see my heart, You can read my mind, and You’ve got to know I would rather die than to lose my faith in the one I love, do I trust You Lord?

I WILL trust You Lord, when I don’t know why, I WILL trust You Lord ‘til the day I die, I WILL trust You Lord when I’m blind with pain, You were God before and You’ll never change, I WILL trust You, I WILL trust you Lord, I WILL trust You!

It is my choice. Through every step, and every stop, I WILL trust Him!

Iron Chariots?

Enemies with iron chariots...got some? I'm talking about those overwhelming, "keep-coming-at-'ya" kinds of everyday trials that beat you down no matter how hard you pray, or how many times you try to stand against them! But if you've got 'em, don't despair, you're not alone! We all do. Even the Israelites faced them in the Promised Land. I read in Judges 1 today that they just "could not drive out those inhabiting the [difficult] valley basin because they had chariots of iron." Now, the Israelites were not just "any old folks," they were the chosen of the Lord. We read in the Bible again and again that "the Lord was with them" and man-oh-man when the Lord was with someone, there was NO ENEMY who could withstand them!! What was SO GREAT about this particular enemy that they could not drive them out? Maybe with their strong iron chariots they simply looked tougher than the rest.

Long before the Israelites ever faced this challenge, just before his death, the leader of God's chosen people, Joshua, had a vision. Immediately after that vision, he told his people to take heart, the "country shall be yours, you shall clear and possess it to its farthest borders; for you shall drive out the Canaanites, though they have iron chariots, and are strong." (Joshua 17:18) I guess when the time finally came for them to go into that battle and they stood face to face with the enemy and those huge, fortified chariots, Joshua's words must have drained from their hearts and memories about as quickly as the blood drained from their faces!

Long before we ever faced even our first "iron chariot" enemy, God had a vision of US--His chosen ones! It was of us being more than conquerors, not victims. He sent His son, Jesus, to die on the cross to ensure victory for us all! And He sent His Word, packed with promise after promise to guide us successfully through every battle and situation we will ever face. It's all there in black and white...

So, what iron chariots were waiting when you opened your door this morning? Honestly, some of us had to look no further than the end of our beds for our first iron chariot today! No matter the enemy, though, don't forget the Word of the Lord when you actually stare it down. It's then, when we are about to begin battle with what appears to be our biggest, fiercest enemies, that we need to hold tight to God's Word, claim His promises for our lives, and then step out in faith! Iron chariots or not, the armor of God we wear is STRONGER!

The Pale Pink Lace: God's In the Details!

Note: It's a Two-fer Friday! Here's my second entry for today! A little look back at the past! Hope you enjoy it!!


The moment my mom and dad put down their first moving box in that tiny little house in Flomaton over 50 years ago, the next door neighbors were there with a friendly hello and a piping hot meal to greet them. Thus began a friendship that would span the next 50 years! I was born just 5 short months after my parents moved in. Our two families celebrated together often. It didn’t matter what. Everyday accomplishments, good grades, birthdays, and as we children grew there came larger celebrations: graduations, weddings and then, the births of our children! We supported one another through the bad times too. It was a friendship God made to last! This is a story that begins during one of those early birthdays, carries through the sadness of death and comes out in joy on the other side!

My mother was not well for much of my life, “Aunt Nell”, as my neighbor loved to be called, often filled in, making birthday cakes, and helping out with birthday celebrations! On my 7th birthday, Aunt Nell made a cake and in the center placed a ballerina. She was a little girl’s dream! Her porcelain skin was radiant against her golden hair. Her arms perfectly poised as she twirled on her little stand. And her lace tutu . . . oh that pale pink lace tutu! It stood out from the porcelain figurine just like a tutu should! It was the most graceful, gorgeous thing I had ever seen in my young life! As I blew out the candles and she cut the cake, Aunt Nell told me the beautiful twirling ballerina was mine to keep! I treasured her! I played with her daily and when playing with her became “childish,” I placed the lovely ballerina in a place of honor in my room. But with time, the delicate lace of her tutu tore. It came loose from the porcelain. After a while, it became so tattered that it came off entirely. So, I finally put my treasure away, but with the hope that I would someday find the perfect lace that would make her as good as new. I loved that ballerina so! From time to time, I’d come across her, packed away so carefully, and I’d search for the lace so I could restore her to her former glory, but I never found it.

That is, until one Saturday almost 40 years later!

My husband, John and I had a big Yard Sale that day. We had cleaned out the last items from my parents home who had long since passed away, and were finishing up the second yard sale with those items. Amazingly, folks had passed over the big basket of my Mom’s sewing notions all day long. I was looking though it one last time before sending it on to a local charity. There, at the bottom of the basket was a beautiful and somehow vaguely familiar looking pink lace. I didn’t know why, but something made me put the lace in my pocket for later. The next day, once again, I came across my now long “tutu-less” porcelain ballerina! And slowly the miracle began to dawn on me.

Before her last stroke, mother must have found the perfect lace for my ballerina’s tutu. She just had not been able to get it to me before she died. As we packed up the items in mom and dad’s home after their deaths, the lace simply became mixed in with all the other sewing notions mom had there. I became overwhelmed with the magnitude of finalizing mothers affairs when we found out Daddy had terminal cancer. After his death, I still had not found the lace. But God, willing to spare nothing to show His love, in means as huge as His Son dying on the cross, or as tiny as finding a way to get a yard of pale pink lace to me, found a way for that basket to sit unsold through not one but two yard sales!

Now, the pale pink lace is where it was meant to be since the day my sweet Mom bought it--safely glued onto the beautiful porcelain ballerina. I’ve put her back into a place of honor and have looked at her no less than a thousand times! I suppose I am as much a little girl today as I was the day Mom and Aunt Nell walked in with that cake on my 7th birthday, because I think that ballerina is a lovely now as she was then! Maybe I just love the happy memory! Either way, I am more in love than ever with a God who would go to such elaborate lengths to make sure I got the perfect piece of pale pink lace, even if it did take 40 years to make it into my hands! Truly, God is in the details!!

The Lord [earnestly] waits [expecting, looking and longing] to be gracious to me. Blessed are all those who [earnestly] wait for Him, who expect and look and long for Him [for His victory, His favor, His love, His peace, His joy, and His matchless, unbroken companionship]! Isaiah 30:18

I am convinced there is NOTHING in our lives that does not concern Him!!

'Nuff Said!

Don't you just love it when God makes a point in His Word? I sure do! I was preparing a study this morning when I came across an old favorite verse. I was stuck once again by the tremendous love and protectiveness of our Heavenly Father for us, His children, which this passage conveys. Hebrews 13:5-6, (from the Amplified Bible) says "Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, 'I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless or forsake nor let you down or relax My hold on you! Assuredly not!' So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, 'The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm. I will not fear or dread or be terrified. What can man do to me?'" Anytime I see God repeating Himself for emphasis and then topping it off with "Assuredly not!", I've gotta' tell you, it makes me sit up and take notice!!

Are you on a mountaintop today? Everything going you way? No complaints? Well then, this reminder is cause for all the more joy, now isn't it? But, if you're down, or facing tough times, just remember that you have a Heavenly Father who promised He would not in ANY DEGREE leave you helpless nor forsake you. 'Nuff said!