There was a moment, years ago, as I was driving that I became acutely aware of the beautiful sky and I heard, “The Heavens declare the glory of God.”  Every single day since then, I find myself captivated by the sky.  I admire its many colors and differing cloud formations.  I love the sunrise and the sunset.  There is not a day that goes by that I don’t consider the work of His hands in the sky.

Our God makes such beautiful things.

Today, I wanted to share the beauty of some scripture with you.  As you read and then re-read these words, take time to let them soak into your heart. Remind your heart Who our God is and what He can do.  He is the great I Am.

 

Praise awaits You, O God, in Zion; to You our vows will be fulfilled.  O You Who hear prayer, to You all men will come.  When we were overwhelmed by sins, You forgave our transgressions.  Blessed are those You choose and bring near to live in Your courts!  We are filled with the good things of Your house, of Your holy temple.  You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas, Who formed the mountains by Your power, having armed Yourself with strength, Who stilled the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, and the turmoil of the nations.  Those living far away fear Your wonders; where morning dawns and evening fades You call forth songs of joy.  You care for the land and water it; You enrich it abundantly.  The streams of God are filled with water to provide the people with grain, for so You have ordained it.  You drench its furrows and level its ridges; You soften it with showers and bless its crops.  You crown the year with Your bounty, and Your carts overflow with abundance.  The grasslands of the desert overflow; the hills are clothed with gladness.  The meadows are covered with flocks and the valleys are mantled with grain; they shout for joy and sing.  Psalm 65

 

Prayer Moment:  O God, You are truly great.  I am in awe of the work of Your hands.  How I long to know Your heart better and better.  You are so magnificent.  Remind my heart every day to take note of Your glorious works.  You are the God of all creation, yet You still know my heart.  I can hardly conceive of that.  I humbly bow before You now and thank You for loving me.  In Jesus name, Amen.

As I began to travel home from Montana, I prayed that God would give me divine appointments and a keen awareness with whom I was to engage in conversation.  I decided that I wouldn’t consider anything a coincidence and would deliberately make myself aware of people around me.   When I sat in the airport waiting for the flight to board from Kalispell, I noticed a man in long dreadlocks come and sit on the other side of the room.  I didn’t think much about it, but when I sat in my seat on the plane, I wasn’t surprised to see he would be the one seated next to me.  Over the flight we had many conversations and it was a very positive experience.

On my final flight home, I was next to a 19 year old girl.  She was quiet at first, but it didn’t take long for her to begin talking very openly with me.  In fact, she began to share quite a bit about her life, but what was most interesting was when she, seemingly out of the blue, asked me how I knew Jesus.  Such a beautiful question.  She said she asked me because I had referenced God on multiple occasions during our conversation.  So, I began to share parts of my testimony with her and then described the ways that I hear God speak to me.  She absorbed it all, then told me of some very hurtful moments from her past that seemed to (in her opinion) hinder her from being close to God.  All in all, it was a great conversation.  I ended our time together by giving her my phone number and telling her she’s welcome to call me at any time.

Our ministry field is everywhere, we should never forget it.  There are so many people walking around lost, we can help them be found.  If we remain aware of our surroundings and in constant communication with the Father, we can be used as intended, to go and make disciples of every nation.

I could’ve spent my time flying, just sitting, reading, and/or sleeping, but isn’t it a far greater use of my time to look for those who need to be found?  Through my being honest about my struggles with that girl, she became honest with me that she shared some of those same struggles very recently.  I believe God placed me next to her, to remind her that He is with her whether she feels it or not.

Prayer Moment:  God, please keep me acutely aware of all those around me.  Help me to lead the lost ones to You.  I want to help others be found.  Help me to not be so selfish, that I have tunnel vision and only see and care about what affects me.  Open my eyes and heart to the fact that I only have a finite time to reach the lost.  Help me make the most of my time on earth.  I don’t want to waste any opportunity.  Please forgive me for any time that I have ignored Your prompting because it was inconvenient or embarrassing.  Thank You for giving me grace to grow in this area.  In Jesus name, Amen.

My sheep listen to My voice; I know them, and they follow Me.  I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of My Father’s hand.  I and the Father are one.  John 10:27-30

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me.  John 14:6

Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.  Matthew 28:19-20

Never in my life have I witnessed God providing in the way He is for us right now.  We never dreamed we would be laid off this long.  We had limited savings because we moved from PA a year and a half ago, work had been slow previous to our move, and then it slowed down again for several months before the layoff.  When God spoke to me that His provision would transcend the earth’s, I began to wonder just how long this season would last.  There have been multiple times when I have thought we couldn’t make it any further, but then something would breakthrough for us and we’ve been sustained.  It’s intense to follow the Lord this way, but it’s also so intimate.

I wouldn’t trade easier for less intimate, even though this way has far more risk.

God is our Provider.  No matter our season or circumstance, God is Provider.  He is our Provider of finances, yes, but also our Provider of hope, joy, peace, freedom, and many other things.

He provides.

The more we take hold of the fact that God is the Provider of all things, the less we can be manipulated by the spirit of this world.  Like right now, with all the fear mongering that’s happening because of corona virus.  This is nonsense.  The media is constantly playing it all up for ratings.  In fact, their pandering has made it nearly impossible to discern the facts from fiction, and this is one reason why we need to be in communion with God.  He is the only way to discern the truth.  It’s through my relationship with Him that I know fact from fiction.  Also, don’t forget that scripture warns us that a day will come when people will call good evil, and evil good.

Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.  Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes and clever in their own sight.  Isaiah 5:20-21

Let’s remember that the Only One Who knows how all this will end is our Father in Heaven.  He alone knows the day and the hour.  So, He alone knows all that we need.

Prayer Moment: Have you placed your faith in what you can see and in how you are able to provide for all your own needs, or have you discovered this provision that transcends the earth?  Take a minute and investigate your life and lifestyle.  Ask God to reveal to you any places where you have misplaced faith.  Are there areas that you are comfortable in only because you’ve never felt a challenge there?  Allow God to speak truth to your heart.  Ask Him to remain ever-present in your thoughts so you can discern truth from lies more easily.  Repent if you find an area of misplaced trust, and then receive the forgiveness He so easily gives.  He is faithful.  He is Provider.  You can trust Him.

Surely God is my help; the Lord is the One Who sustains me.  Let evil recoil on those who slander me; in Your faithfulness destroy them.  I will sacrifice a freewill offering to You; I will praise Your name, O Lord, for it is good.  For He has delivered me from all my troubles, and my eyes have looked in triumph on my foes.  Psalm 54:4-7

In You, O Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in Your righteousness.  Psalm 31:1

 

When I first arrived in Montana, I quickly realized an unhealthy default that I have.  When I enter a new environment, I often find myself apologizing for everything I do, basically, apologizing for my existence.  This is a very unhealthy and honestly sad way to behave.  I thought I had been healed of this behavior, but I quickly realized that dealing with certain personality types and discomfort levels will draw this response out of me.

When I went to the wedding, I didn’t know anyone but the bride, and it took me far from my comfort zone.  As I realized I had entered the room as if I was a cowering dog afraid of being struck, I heard God speak to me, “Stop apologizing for being kind.”  This statement shocked me, and immediately caused my eyes to open.  It was true, I had done nothing to apologize for and I was in fact, constantly apologizing for simply being kind.

Once I realized what I was doing, I made quick adjustments to my thought processes and was much more comfortable and confident.  Instead of assuming my mere presence annoyed others, I began to just let myself live, like everyone else, and I ultimately made a few new friends.

When we walk in insecurity, we place a barrier between us and others.  People do not enjoy being shackled to an insecure person.  Insecurity is the enemy of relationship.

The insecure person thinks, “Nobody likes me.”, and their actions keep others at a distance because of distrust, so they attract exactly that…distance.

Prayer Moment:  Do you struggle with insecurity?  Some people don’t realize they struggle with it because it manifests in a variety of ways, so take a moment and ask God to comb over your heart.  If you feel there is a tangle, ask God to smooth it out.  Ask Him to realign your thoughts with His.  Maybe you, like me, have already prayed through insecurity, but find it rearing its ugly head under an uncommon circumstance.  Don’t shame yourself over it, just deal with it.  It’s far easier to immediately deal with a lie, than to stumble over shame and end up falling into a long-term pattern.  It takes strength to admit your weaknesses, but even greater strength to change.  I promise you, it’s worth it.

But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever. I will praise You forever for what You have done; in Your name I will hope, for Your name is good.  I will praise You in the presence of Your saints.  Psalm 52:8-9

You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to You and not be silent.  O Lord my God, I will give You thanks forever.                   Psalm 30:11-12

The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.  Psalm 29:11

 

 

As I sat in the first airplane on my journey to Montana, I had a memory of a flight I was on many years ago.  When I sat down in my seat for that flight, I had panic and fear wash over me.  In that instance, I felt as though I needed to immediately get out of the plane, because I felt like I was being smothered.  I cried out to God and felt His presence begin to wash over me.  Then I asked Him a question, “God, what’s on the other side of this fear?”  Like the parting of clouds, I saw everything clear up and I felt relief as I heard Him say, “Me.”

I will never forget that moment, it’s stuck with me all these years.

I don’t know what you may be facing, but I do know that if you are feeling fear in a certain area, then it isn’t the time to pull away.  No, it’s the time to push through the fear and find God.

We have been walking through so much and the opportunity to be fearful is ever-present, but each time I feel it creeping up, I remind myself of Who stands past all that fear.  I also now know that if I feel fear in a certain place, then that is exactly the place where my next breakthrough is imminent.

Once fear would control me and shut me down, now I use fear to my advantage.  I use it as an opportunity to press into God and an indicator of where God is about to move.  It shows me where the enemy is afraid of me being.

During my flight the other day I asked God, “What is on the other side of my fear?”  He said, “The Promise.”

He IS my promise, and there He is, still standing on the other side of the impossible, waiting for me to use the courage He’s given me in order to push through the fog of fear.

Prayer Moment:  Have you succumbed to the fog of your fears?  If so, it’s not too late.  You can always begin again.  It’s never too late to ask God for courage to face fear.  I challenge you with this, next time you feel fear beginning to grip your heart and captivate your mind, take a minute and ask God, “What’s on the other side of this fear?”  Wait for His answer.  He will speak to you.  Then trust Him.  Will you trust God enough to move past fear?  Will you trust Him with your future?  He only has plans to prosper you.  He has plans to use these troubles for your good.  You only need to trust.

Say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, He will come with vengeance; with divine retribution He will come to save you.”  Isaiah 35:4

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.  John 14:27

When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought me joy.  Psalm 94:19

In the day when I am afraid, I will trust in You.  Psalm 56:3

Today is Sunday.  Today we rest.  As I sat down to write this devotional, I had a stirring in my heart.  I felt the wonder of Who God is blow over me.  Today, I am making the devotional very simple.  Here is a large portion of a Psalm for you to read and meditate upon.

Don’t just read it once, my hope is that as you re-read it you will feel God’s presence wash over you and give you the awe and wonder of God all over again.

Blessings to you this day.

 

The heavens praise Your wonders, O Lord, Your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones.  For who in the skies above can compare with the Lord?  Who is like the Lord among the heavenly beings?  In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; He is more awesome than all who surround Him.  O Lord God Almighty, who is like You?  You are mighty, O Lord, and Your faithfulness surrounds You.  You rule over the surging sea; when its waves mount up, You still them.  You crush Rahab like one of the slain; with Your strong arm You scattered Your enemies.  The heavens are Yours, and Yours also the earth; You founded the world and all that is in it.  You created the north and the south; Tabor and Hermon sing for joy at your name.  Your arm is endued with power; Your hand is strong, Your right hand exalted.  Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; love and faithfulness go before You.  Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim You, who walk in the light of Your presence, O Lord.  They rejoice in Your name all day long; they exult in Your righteousness.  For You are their glory and strength, and by Your favor You exalt our horn.  Indeed, our shield belongs to the Lord, our king to the Holy One of Israel.  Psalm 89:5-18

 

Prayer Moment: Take some time today to close your eyes and just speak to God about how awesome and magnificent He is and thank Him for keeping watch over you.  Just revel in His goodness and mercy.  Look at Him again, as if it was the first time and find reverence all over again.  He is worthy.

 

As I pondered parenting the other day, I thought, “Parenting is walking out grace, grace, grace and patience.”  I began to recount all the seasons of parenting I’ve been through, thus far and the prevailing theme has been this, I don’t regret the grace I’ve given my kids, what I do regret is a few times when I should’ve given grace and didn’t.  I know I will continue to grow in parenting, and for that I am eternally grateful.  Seeing things from where we stand now, clears up so much of my perspective.

Then I thought of other people in my life and God pricked my heart and said, “You need to be offering others the same grace and patience that you give your family.”  Wow, what a convicting thought.  It makes me think of this verse.

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.  Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.  Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:  Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.  And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross.  Philippians 2:3-8

It doesn’t get more convicting than that.  Honestly, as I navigate living in a new town, meeting new people and building relationships, I must keep this scripture before me at all times.  Those verses aren’t simply a suggestion, they are clear direction.  It’s a good thing that while walking that out, I get to receive grace, grace, grace and patience too.

Prayer Moment: I encourage you today to look for opportunities to extend grace to others, both in your family and in your life.  We aren’t only called to minister to our families, we are called to the world.  Ask God to open your eyes to times when you get frustrated with others, and ask Him to help you walk in grace instead.  Taking responsibility and being honest about how we’ve behaved in the past, can release us to move in a different direction from now on.  Will you take the time to reflect today?  I promise it will be fruitful.

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do:  Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.  All of us who are mature should take such a view of things.  And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you.  Only let us live up to what we have already attained.  Philippians 2:13-16 

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Do not cast me from Your Presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me. 

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

Psalm 51:10-12 and 16-18

I’ve thought a lot about humility lately.  I regularly consider the humility it takes to walk confidently with God.

Humility: a modest or low view of one’s own importance; humbleness.

Realizing that without God I am nothing, somehow translates into solid confidence and walking out life with certainty rather than pretense.  Since I am not self-promoting, I can relax into the fact that what God brings my way, He will also sustain if I continue to abide in Him.

The broken spirit and broken and contrite heart it mentioned in the verse above are things I have become very accustomed to during this season.  I have been led into the center of the forest of my life and the only way to make it through without getting lost, is to focus on His Presence and what He’s doing at any given moment.  See, what I’m taking away from life, right at this moment, is a deep gratitude for my season.  Is that hard for you to believe?  Friend, here in the wooded area, where a person can’t see a way out on their own, is the nearest I’ve felt to God in a while.  He alone is cutting a path for us.  He alone is deciding when and how that path will be cut.  We are smack dab in the center of His will, and I’ve never felt more grateful.  I’ve also learned a lot about not keeping God in a box when it comes to how He can and will provide.  My mind has been opened, and also blown, at how creative He is in this area, bringing just the right scenario at just the right time.  He is amazing.

Every time I’ve begun to descend into despair, He’s given me a glimpse of the promise fulfilled.  Every time I’ve wondered how on earth we would make it any farther, He’s been standing right beside me and immediately bringing comfort or breakthrough.

One day, maybe I will recount every single thing He’s done to love us in and through this season, but I assure you, it would be a long list.

Prayer Moment:  God, You are the God of the mountaintop and God of the valley.  Thank You for giving me the privilege of knowing You in both places.  Thank You for loving me so much that You are willing to allow me to be uncomfortable because You know in the end, we will be closer.  Love is not strong enough a word to adequately describe my feelings and affections for You, but it will have to suffice for now.  I adore you.  You alone are worthy.  You alone are Holy.  I will follow You forever, wherever.  In Jesus name.  Amen.

I do not trust my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but You give us victory over our enemies, You put our adversaries to shame.  In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise Your name forever.  Selah.  Psalm 44:6-8

I often hear people say how much they hate WalMart, and I get it, but I have no choice but to do my shopping there due to budget and convenience.  Truthfully, I love a lot of things about WalMart.  But it can be a very strange place, as I was reminded the other day….

Micah, my son, asked to go walk around WalMart just to look at things he’d like to save up to buy.  Chris and I agreed to take him and the three of us and Hannah set out for our visit.  We slowly followed him as he perused many different sections of the store.  We waited patiently as he investigated items and prices and had many laughs as we walked around.  Soon, as was expected, we found ourselves in the electronic section looking at video games.  I noticed a man walk past, and when he did my spirit became very alert.  So alert that I kept track of him by watching his reflection in the glass video game case.  I called my children to my side (which they immediately obeyed because they know my voice and knew something was amiss).  I turned to Chris and said, “Something was very wrong with that man in the orange shirt.  My body is tingling all over in a very bad way.”

I love my husband because he never doubts or questions these “feelings” I get from time to time, rather he began nonchalantly looking around to keep a protective eye on us.  His whole body became firm and at the ready to protect.  As we began to move on in our journey through the store, I was telling Chris what I felt, and suddenly I felt like something was choking me.  I didn’t show it physically, but I felt it and said how I was feeling to Chris.  Then, from what had to be Holy Spirit’s prompting, I had a thought, “Wait a minute!  I have God inside.  Greater is He that is in me, than absolutely anything else.”  So, I began to release the God within me, into the store.  I was saying, “God, You are greater than this.  Come fill this space and send the enemy fleeing.”

Right away the whole atmosphere shifted, and we were at peace again.  We never saw that man again.  We were not run off by a bad spirit we felt there, but instead took dominion over the place because that is what we are called to do.  We didn’t let it rob Micah of his special trip.  We had the victory.  God had the victory.

Prayer Moment:  Have you ever let the enemy bully you out of a place?  I admit, in years past, so have I.  But I’m done with that.  He has no authority over me.  I have the King of kings living in me, what do I have to fear?  Imagine what would happen if we all began to stand on this and release this every where we go?  We could shift major atmospheres.  This must begin to happen more and more.  Have you seen how blatantly the enemy is trying to take territory in America lately?  All we need to do is carry God within us and then partner with Him in these hard moments, and I guarantee we would begin to see changes.  It’s not all about picket lines and signing petitions, it’s about remembering Who we carry.  Take a minute and ask God to give you the courage to carry and release Him into the hard places.  Ask Him to open your eyes to times when He is inviting you to partner with Him to release courage.  I can’t wait to hear from you about experiences you have doing this!

You, dear children are from God and have overcome them, because the One Who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.  They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.  We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen us.  This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.  1 John 4:4-6

One of my nearest and dearest friends is getting married, (will be married by the time this posts) and in preparing to travel to Montana to witness this blessed event, I realized that I needed new shoes.  The wedding is in Glacier National Park in Montana and the weather will definitely be brisk and possibly snowy.  My friend, an avid outdoor person, is having the ceremony outside.  Obviously having open toed shoes wasn’t an option.

I started looking for shoes in McAlester, but quickly discovered I wouldn’t find what I needed here, so I began to plan to visit Fort Smith so I could shop at my favorite shoe store.  (insert blatant plug for “Warren’s Shoes in Central Mall 😉)  God began to encourage me to go one day, and even though I was nervous about the shoes costing too much, I decided to follow His lead and just see what I could find.

While I was driving, I began fussing about spending the whole day traveling and then spending money that I didn’t want to spend.  God snapped His fingers at me and startled me saying, “Lisa, today is about the drive.  I will bless you with shoes, but I want to drive with you today.”  Immediately, I was flooded with a sense of relief and I began to relax.

He spoke to me a lot during the drive there, and when I arrived, I couldn’t wait to meet my mom and go shopping.  When we arrived at Warren’s they had a 75% off rack set up in the center of the store, and they told me they were taking an additional 20% off of that price!  I quickly moved to my size and looked.  Nothing.  Then I thought, “Maybe I should check the other side, just in case.”  Obviously, that was the Holy Spirit because when I walked to the other side, I discovered another section with my size and then I saw them!  The exact shoes I’d imagined when I planned my outfit for the wedding.  With my breath held, I turned the shoes over to see the price.  To my shock and awe, I got a beautiful pair of suede Steve Madden short boots that originally sold for $130 for $28.58 including tax.  Friends, you know that’s a great deal!  I felt washed over with love from the Father.  He certainly blessed me.

Afterward, I had a wonderful lunch with my parents and an extremely joyful and peaceful ride back home, arriving just in time to pick up my kids from school.  It ended up being my favorite day all week.  I really needed the trip.  I also really needed to feel special, and He already knew that.  I love being loved by Him.

Prayer Moment: The moral of my story is, if I had been unwilling to listen to His promptings, none of that day would’ve happened.  None of the blessings.  The boots would have likely been gone if I’d waited, as they were the one and only pair on the rack.  My love tank would’ve been low still and I would have remained lonely…..but God.  When we tune our ears to obey even the most seemingly insignificant instruction, we never know what wonderful blessings we will find!  It’s worth it.  Take some time today and ask God to tune your ear to His voice.  See what kind of blessings you can stumble upon today as a result.  Then journal those surprises so you never forget!  I would love to hear how this turns out for you too, so please feel free to share with me as well.  Go out and be blessed!

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better.  I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe.  Ephesians 1:17-19a