In the still of the morning, I find Jesus.  I can hear His voice in the early morning air.                              When I rise, He is with me.  His strong arm is always there.

In the busy of the day, I find Jesus.  I can always feel Him drawing me to peace.                                     When all around me swirls the busyness of day, I can feel that gentle tug to steal away and walk in Thee.

In the evening He is near me, I feel His tender touch upon my face.                                                           When I unravel all emotions of the day, He pulls me close in a sweet embrace.

He is my best Friend.  He is my Brother.  There is no one like Him.                                                                  My pillar of Strength.  My gentle Savior, where would I be without Him?

In every pain and sorrow, I feel His promise I’ll get through.  In every success and joy I feel encouraged to celebrate without fear of tomorrow.                                                                                                                 Oh Jesus, my sweet Jesus, I need You every hour.  Keep pulling me into Your heart, and I will continue to follow.

Lord, today I ask that You would be found by every reader of this devotional.  Some of us are feeling distant and filled with fear and doubt, but I know a secret…..You are the only answer.  Some reading this may be facing their life’s biggest challenge so far, I know the answer is You.  Lord be found by every person who reads these words.  Fill their heart with the assurance of Your presence.  Let them feel You as You pour over them, in Jesus name.  Write songs of praise upon their hearts and give them the courage to open their mouths and sing it loud.  Anoint my friends to write and speak the words You’ve placed on their hearts today.  Let them set aside a chronicle of their walk with You so they can reflect on Your great faithfulness in times of need.  Yes, Lord come.  I trust You are already stirring the wind around them.

Friend, come dance with the Father this morning.  Instead of searching, be found.  Let Him come and reside with you.  He said He will be found by you.  Let your heart believe it.  Seek Him with all your heart and see what happens.  Turn off the sound of fear, and let the promises pour over you.  Take time today to acknowledge all of Who God is.  Acknowledge His great power and love.  Like waves crashing on the shore, let your praise pour into Heaven.  Let no rocks need to cry out around you.  Be a conduit of praise and worship.

“Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!  “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”  Some of the pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”  “I tell you,” He replied, “If they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”  Luke 19:38-40

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.  Praise the Lord.  Psalm 150:6

He is your constant source of stability; He abundantly provides safety and great wisdom; He gives all this to those who fear Him.  Isaiah 33:6

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.  Exodus 14:14

The above verse was part of a sermon I listened to recently, and ever since I can’t seem to get it out of my mind.  I am learning so much about this principle lately.

In a day and age where instant is “king”, our family is determined to choose the path less traveled and let the Lord guide and direct us.  We have made decisions to let Him set the pace, even when it’s terribly uncomfortable.  We have remained still when most would run.  We have moved ahead when many would’ve said it was crazy.  We are living in something I once heard referred to as “the upside- down Kingdom”.  That place where God moves in a way that seems opposite to logic.  I believe it’s really the realm of the supernatural.

The thought of supernatural always makes me laugh a little, because what’s supernatural to us is natural to the Father, so it makes sense that His ways would look much different than ours.

He moves in mysterious ways, but sometimes our logic and lack of faith hinder that movement.  I truly believe many of us could live much different lives if we learned how to better release our logical thought and just believe Him.  I believe what He says.  I don’t need to think it through or figure out how it can happen.  If He says something, then it’s totally up to Him how it happens.  I just need to look for places to partner with His word.

In this season of transition, I have really learned a new level of peace.  Several times lately, I would begin to feel panic knock at the door of my heart, but instead of entertaining it, I would immediately look to Daddy and ask, “How do you want me to walk out this day?”  Every single time, He would give me a completely different thing to do, and most often it involved going out and having fun.  He kept telling me to treat this in between season as a vacation.

I couldn’t believe it, but He was actually telling me to have some fun!  The fact that it’s summer vacation had eluded me because of everything that needed to be done, but there He was reminding me where my greatest areas of investment are, my family.

Will you join me on the road less traveled?  Will you dare to dream and then release those dreams completely so the Master Architect can construct things in a way that brings those dreams to life?  It’s so worth it.

Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.  Psalm 37:4

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.  Isaiah 40:31

I will praise the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.  Psalm 34:1

Respite: 1. A short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant.  2. A short delay permitted before an unpleasant obligation is met or a punishment is carried out.  3.  Delay

Today, I want to offer you a respite.

How has life felt as of late?  Are you tired, rushed, or worn out?  Do you feel bogged down by extraordinary circumstances, or just the trials of life?

Take another breath.  Take a respite.

Today I see you walking into a field and letting the sun cascade over your head and shoulders.  I can hear the wind stirring the trees bordering the field.  They sound like an invitation into the peacefulness of this moment.  You were made to find peaceful places to rest.

I see Him now, standing across the field.  He’s come in the cool of the day to walk with you.  How you spend your time with Him today is up to you.  Do you need a quiet companion?  Do you need Someone to process with?  Do you need to hear His heart for you?

I feel God offering whatever it is you need in this particular moment.  He has come to simply be with you.

Will you join Him?

Take time this morning to settle your spirit.  Let peace and joy pour over you from the Father’s heart.  Take deep and slow breaths and feel His Presence with you now.  He is there.  He is real.  He is love.

Let the peace of Christ rule your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace.  And be thankful.  Colossians 3:15

Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.  Hebrews 12:14

Cast your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.  1 Peter 5:7

And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:7

Over the last few days I have been reflecting a lot.  I seem to be thinking about how things have been and how they are now, how blessed we are and how being in Oklahoma feels so good.  I was remembering the way I felt when we first moved to Pennsylvania.  The first few weeks there, I literally felt dizzy.  Seriously.  I knew some of it was spiritual, but some of it was also a feeling of loneliness and not knowing my way around.  It was an overwhelming and uncomfortable time, as opposed to this move.  Our life was in a much more challenging phase, with me nursing a 9 month old and homeschooling a 2^nd grader, and having 2 toddlers at home too.  Life was so so hard. I was in a constant state of exhaustion and right when we got to PA I began working for Chris.  I hadn’t worked while having kids at home before and if I’m honest, it was terrible.  It’s not like any of the other responsibilities in my life left so I could work, no I had to squeeze every bit of my day to have enough to complete the tasks.

All of that makes me so much more grateful for this time. Life feels full, but in a really good way.  I have a different pace now, and I love it.  I’m so joyful waking up here, and my surroundings are beautiful, with ponds and trees and green grass out every window.  These are the things that help me thrive.

I used to try to deny that beauty was important to my state of mind, but it is.  God placed that inside of me, and I’m sure there is a reason for it.

I love beautiful things.  I often stand in awe of the sunrise and sunset.  Large fluffy clouds are my jam.  I love staring at lakes, or ponds.  Watching geese tromp through my yard makes me grin from the inside.  It makes me feel so abundant.

If you find yourself dizzy, then ask God what it is that feeds your spirit.  What makes you feel full and abundant?

God posed these questions to me as I first lived in PA, and it took a long time for me to answer honestly, but once I finally did, He began to release those things over me.

Once I stopped feeling guilty for having “silly” needs, He began to show me that He placed them inside of me in the first place and denying them, was to deny Him.  I don’t want to deny Him.

Thank You Father for being eternally patient with me.  I adore You.

Therefore, we do not lose heart.  Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  2 Corinthians 4:16

He has made everything beautiful in its time.  He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.  Ecclesiastes 3:11

Today is day one in our new home.  Yesterday, we unpacked the trucks and got the beds ready so at least we had a place to sleep.  We went out and had dinner at a restaurant and laughed so much.  It felt like family.  This feels like home.  I am so excited and feel so loved by the Father.  This is also the time when we will take our first steps as a new family in the area.

When you teach a baby to walk, you know it will be a process.  No parent has ever spanked their little one for falling when they are learning to walk, right?  That would be crazy!  Why then, do we expect each other to walk perfectly, without any missteps?

Today, as our family begins to acclimate to this new “culture”, we will undoubtedly make some missteps.  It’s not the if really, but when.  And when we do, what matters most is, how do we act next?

Do we pridefully scoff about it?  Do we humbly repent and try again?

I hope we can do the latter.

As you are learning to walk as Jesus did, a process that will take a lifetime, how will you act when you make a mistake?  How will you respond when you realize you had faulty thinking that needs correcting?  These are the moments.  The times when we decide whether or not we will allow the Father to come alongside us as our Teacher.

Likewise, how do you treat others as they are learning?  Do you hold other believers to an even higher or unequal standard than yourself?  Or do you offer others the grace to be where they are, knowing God is their Teacher as well?

How we answer these questions is something that will define our influence, or lack thereof, over others.

It matters because God is love.  It matters because His nature is patient and kind.  It matters because as co-heirs with Christ we represent the Kingdom everywhere we go.  It’s our responsibility and privilege to be ambassadors of Christ.

Take a moment this morning and evaluate how you represent Him.  Really look deep inside and allow the Father to shine light on any place that needs to be rearranged.

You do have the strength to change, because it’s in His strength that we are transformed.

The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness.  Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  2 Peter 3:9

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God- this is your true and proper worship.  Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.  Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- His good, pleasing and perfect will.  Romans 12:1-2

For months now, our family has been on a journey.  Not only are we moving to a new state, but we are changing homes, schools, churches, etc. and it’s a lot.  A Lot.  Before we moved, we spent quite a while preparing our PA home to sell.  New carpet, paint and landscaping.  Then when we moved, it was all about how to wait.  Now it’s moving day.  Later this morning, I will go lead worship at my parent’s church while Chris heads on to our new home to begin unloading the truck.  Later today I will join him, and we will be residents of McAlester, OK.

Wow, that’s a lot too.

You know, even though we know we were needing to relocate, it’s still surreal now that it’s finally happening.  I almost feel lost.  I hope later today when I step into our new home, I feel found.  I pray my children will feel instantly at home.  I pray we will make fast friends.  I pray I will lead worship there soon.  I pray school will be a huge blessing this year.  I pray for our business.  Lord, I need You this morning.

I’ve spent the last month or so, living in the comfort of my parent’s home.  Feeling safe and welcome.  Feeling lavished in love.  Now we head out to make our home again.  I’ve done it many times in our marriage, so I know it will happen, but each time is bitter sweet.

It’s ok to feel the tug of sorrow when you step into the new.  It’s ok to feel what you feel.  But it’s not ok to let that hold you back from connecting today.  It’s not ok, as a parent, to make walking through change so much about how you feel that you neglect tending to the hearts God gave you to parent.

Today I will feel what I feel, but I will not lash out at others.  If I cry, then I cry.  But I will end it all with laughter.

When I lead worship this morning, I will intently focus on my Daddy.  I think it is so Sovereign that He has me leading on this particular morning.  I actually can’t believe His grace in that.  Worship realigns me.  Leading worship for a crowd, is part of my calling.  Leading worship this particular morning feels like  a promise.

There were several times over this last week when I thought about backing out and not doing it, but I felt the Spirit saying I should.  Several people looked at me in shock when they heard I was leading on the same weekend I was moving 2 hours away from here, but my spirit bore witness to the calling of God.

For such a time as this, I will give God the sacrifice of praise.  There is no better way to end this season.

 

 

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess His name.  Hebrews 13:15

He has brought me to the banquet hall, and let His banner over me be love.  Song of Solomon 2:4

So, today was a hard day.  I generally hold onto a positive and joyful attitude, but today I kept getting calls from people about challenging situations that our family had to deal with.  There was no avoiding it, we had to stand up for ourselves and (truth be told) a contract we had entered into with someone.  That someone wasn’t holding to one of the very clear provisions, and our family would suffer if we didn’t address it.  So, long story short, we stood up for ourselves.

You may remember me mentioning this previously but standing up for myself and even my family is sometimes so hard for me because I’m a pleaser.  But today was a case of “right is right” and my justice bone took over.  I calmly stated our position to the mediator and they also agreed.  But the feelings of turmoil remained.  By the evening, we still had not resolved the issue.  I was worn out and I had told my kids I would take them to play miniature golf.  No part of me wanted to follow through on that promise, but I heard the Father say, “Don’t let this turmoil bog you down.  Keep walking out praise and joy.  That’s your greatest weapon against the enemy.”  So, I took them.

Now, here is the part of the story when you would expect to read about the great time we had and how it was so wonderful to go, but that would be a lie.  On the contrary, one of my kids lost their privilege to play mini golf before we even left the house.  Then another one of my littles spent the entire time spewing negative words on all of us.  The other two would try to maintain a fun attitude, but even adults would struggle with that kind of negativity.

The victory was there however because I remained calm the entire time.  That my friends, was a miracle.  When faced with exhaustion, both physical and mental, it’s so hard for me to remain calm and attentive, but this evening I was.  Praise the Lord.

Here’s where the greater victory occurred though.  When we returned home, I pulled said miserable child into a room alone with me and began to gently ask questions.  I questioned what was bothering them and how they were feeling, etc.  After literally an hour of patiently talking and feeling like we were getting nowhere, it finally happened.  The tears came and then the weight they had been carrying began to come out bit by bit and I saw that the reason that child had acted and spoken miserably was because of an overload of emotions bottled up for too long.

I don’t know about you, but I can totally relate to this.  Just because they are a child doesn’t mean the feelings aren’t just as real as mine.  I long to not cater to, but rather honor and respect these emotions and offer a gentle place for them to unfold.  I consider this one of my greatest callings in life.  To offer my children something I never experienced until well into my adult life.  A place to freely feel whatever it is they are feeling.  Not to dwell in them, but to walk with them through it.  To teach my babies how to process.  To teach them that some people just need a good cry sometimes and that’s totally ok.  Feelers feel, that’s how God made us.  It is my honor and privilege to allow my kids space to walk this out.

If you find yourself in a mood like my child was today, I encourage you to walk it out.  Find a place or way to process.  You will not regret it.

A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.  Proverbs 15:1

A merry heart does good, like a medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.  Proverbs 17:22

 

Yesterday we talked about the waiting, and today I want to talk about the receiving.

This morning, as I lay awake in bed, my mind began to race with many tasks that need to be completed and many financial obligations that have arrived now that we are moving into our new home in McAlester.  (Did I mention that yet?  God moved in our home situation and opened doors for us to take early possession of the home we are going to buy once our PA house sells.  We have negotiated price, etc, and now will live in it on a rental basis until closing on the PA home.)  So, now that we are moving in this direction, many things must happen and our financial obligation is increasing for a season.  But the fact still remains, God is providing.  The question is, how will I receive?

It would be easy to fret about the “what ifs” right now, instead of focusing on the fact that God is moving in miraculous ways to provide not just a home for us, but THE home.  Our family is so beyond excited to be moving into it this weekend.  We have loved our time with my parents, but every single one of us longs for normalcy.  The kids long for their boxed up items and their own rooms and space.  They long to start finding their place in OK, and with school start very soon, this is perfect and crucial timing.

How ungrateful would it be for me to worry now?

As I lay in bed, running through the list of financial things and the daunting task of switching all our lives to a new state, I felt God stop me.  He lifted my face in His hands and looked me square in the eyes, reminding me that if He was providing this home in this timing, then He will also provide for every single detail needed to make it happen.

He will sell our PA home, that is certain, and I don’t gain anything from worrying about it.  In fact, I only lose that way.  I lose peace of mind and confidence.  The only way to gain in that waiting process is to focus on His abundance in the past and praise Him for always taking care of us.

I don’t gain anything from fretting and worrying about all the moving details either.  In fact, I can rob our family of the joy of the blessing if all they see from me now if stress.  No, I must rein in my own emotions and purposefully set out to present an attitude of gratitude to my children.  They are watching and learning from how I do this. I know I won’t walk it out perfectly, but that’s not the point.  They mostly need to just see that I try.  They need to see that it’s all a choice.  We choose joy.  It’s not something that just happens to us.  It’s a choice, every day.

I challenge you to walk in abundance during seasons of transition, you will never regret it.

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus.  To our God and Father be glory forever and ever.  Amen.  Philippians 4:19-20

Now to Him Who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever!  Amen.  Ephesians 3:20-21

This morning I am stirred.  I am recounting many promises God has spoken to my heart.  I am thinking about things I have not yet seen come to pass but are definitely placed on my heart by God.  Then I kept hearing, “Not if, but when”.

When God gives you a promise or even a glimpse of a promise, it’s a non-negotiable event.  Once He’s released it to you, it’s a “when” situation.  He is faithful and is not a liar, all He has promised WILL come to pass.  It’s mostly an issue of timing.  Are you brave enough to wait on His?

So often we receive a promise and then in our hearts determine it must happen immediately, but that’s not always the case.  Some promises take time.  Sometimes we must grow in character before receiving them, but He gives us the promise when He does to encourage us to keep moving deeper in Him, and to keep moving forward.  Other times our promise has to do with others, and we must wait on their process.  Either way, He has done no hindering.  He is still telling you the truth and can still be trusted.

Our world has become so instant, that I believe we will lose the character building ability to wait patiently if we are not careful and deliberate.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s hard to wait, but I have experienced so much growth in the waiting seasons. I know it’s worthwhile.

As a family it’s harder and harder to teach kids how to wait, as well, because of this instant culture.  We as parents must be deliberate and intentional about offering opportunities for kids to develop such perseverance.  In our family we set certain milestones for life.  For instance, with our daughters, we told them when they turn 10 they can get their ears pierced, at 12 they receive a birthstone ring, and they don’t know it yet, but they will get a special ring from daddy at 13.  The waiting for these things is hard.  By the time Naomi was 10, most of her friends already had pierced ears and she really wanted them too.  There were many times that I was so tempted to skip the age achievement and just let her get them done, but each time I would feel God tug my heart and tell me He was teaching her a good lesson in the wait.  Wow.  Do you realize that He couldn’t teach the lesson in such an easy way if I, as her parent, didn’t participate in the waiting too?  This is a convicting thought.

I believe we often sabotage God’s work in our children because we desire their comfort and happiness above their character.

Even with a spouse we can do this.  And definitely with ourselves.  The easy and quick way is not always the best way.  I have searched out deeper places in the Father’s heart during waiting seasons.  I honestly don’t know if I would’ve done that otherwise.

Basically, what I’m saying is, sometimes it’s worth the wait.

Yet he did not wave through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what He promised.                  Romans 4:20-21

In the same worship service that I described yesterday, I had another very clear vision.  I saw a giant white cloud cover the ceiling of the room and golden raindrops began to come from it.  These raindrops had a unique purpose though, they absorbed fear, shame and doubt as they fell on those in the room.  It was a very cool moment.

Only God could make rain absorb, right?!

Today, as you prepare to go worship at church, I encourage you to ask God to call rain into the forecast.  His rain that absorbs the negative things in your heart.  All the fear.  All the doubt.  All the shame.  Let it be fully absorbed with the falling of each raindrop, in Jesus name.

Lord, let Your rain come.  Your holy rain that covers me and sucks up all the anxiety in my heart.

I kept hearing a song:

There is not trial I can’t walk through.  There is no valley that’s too deep.  There is no mountain that’s too high Lord, because I follow where You lead.

As you let the rain of His presence begin to fall on you, think about those words.  If we follow where He leads, then He will make a path for us. Even if we cannot see a way through, He can.  He is infallible.  He is certain.  We can walk confidently within His presence.

Abba, release Your spirit over my friend reading this today.  Let every person who reads this feel the rain of Your Presence right now, in Jesus name.  Let them feel all the negativity in their heart and mind being absorbed by Your Presence.  Cover them.  Cover me.  Move me in the deepest places of my heart right now, Abba.  I am fully given to You.  I am fully Yours.  Let Your waters meet within me, as You pour over me and rise up from within me all at once.  I long to be consumed by Your Presence.  I love You Lord, in Jesus name, Amen.

May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.  May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The One Who calls is faithful, and He will do it.  1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

Oh, that You would burst from the heavens and come down!  How the mountains would quake in Your presence!  Isaiah 64:1

I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit.  Leviticus 26:4

Go dance in the rain.  Feel His presence wash over your whole being as you rest in Him.