I find myself circling around the idea of righteousness again today…

Be careful not to do your acts of righteousness before men, to be seen by them.  If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.  Matthew 6:1

It seems to have become avant garde to let others know what you’ve given to, who you are helping, and how wonderful you are because of it…but that’s not what God told us to do.

Yes, I have absolutely been guilty of sharing how I’ve given in the past, and I’ve felt that pricking in my heart that told me I’d be better off keeping it quiet.  I haven’t always been great at heeding that pricking because I’m a sharing person…a communicator…But I know God is calling me to learn more about times to remain hidden.  I’m a work in progress, to be sure…but I am trying.

Lately, I can’t help but wonder what happened to modesty…and is there a link between righteous modesty and sexual modesty?

The decay of a culture often starts in ways that seem very minute or unrelated in the beginning. 

A snowball effect has happened in many different ways, to cause the erosion of what is good…what is pure…what is holy.

It’s time to re-establish godliness.  It’s time to have clear and concise boundaries.  It’s time to allow what is not for the masses, to be hidden by God.  We don’t have to share everything.  It’s the fallacy of the social media machine and even many pulpits.  Some things should remain private.  I can’t tell you how many times I read things people have shared with the world and just wonder…”What are they thinking?”

In my grandparents age people dressed up for life.  Nobody would have dreamed about wearing pajamas out to buy groceries…now it’s common practice.  In my mom’s time people didn’t showcase their family’s issues for the world to see and they operated with propriety.  For the most part when I was young, things were much more innocent.  Fortunately, I was allowed to have a childhood.  Things have changed so drastically since then that when I reflect upon it, I feel a pairing of grief and a desire to return to the old days.  I know my grandparents felt the sameway…and I bet my mom does too.

But little by little, and then by large bites, our innocent world has become a roar of perversion, lust, greed, and parody. 

What if we decided to full stop disconnect from all of that momentum and returned to the hidden place?  It is possible.  We can do it.  We can’t unsee what we’ve seen, but I know for a fact that God can restore innocence.  He did it for me.   I lived a more promiscuous life when I was a young adult.  I married young, then when that fell apart, I made a succession of mistakes.  When I finally had a life changing encounter with God, I wondered if I’d ever be pure again.  Would I ever be able to marry again?  Would I carry the guilt of my errors forever?

The answer came straight from the throne room of heaven and flooded me with the grace and mercy that only God can offer.  He made me pure again. 

He can do so for you too.  He can do so for our nation.  We only need to ask.

But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.  I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ- the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.  I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.  Philippians 3:7-11

As I sat in front of the computer, opened my Bible and asked God what He wanted to speak about…so many thoughts and emotions leapt up in my mind.  I felt I needed to look at the Word, and as I opened it up it fell to these verses…

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.  Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own.  Matthew 6:33-34

In this moment in our history…in this time on the earth…we are called to what we’ve been called to since the beginning of man…

Seek Him first.

Seek His kingdom and His righteousness…

That word…righteousness.

This is the hour to revive righteousness.  At some point the word became like a cuss word because it was unfortunately tethered to self.  Self-righteousness is a killer.  It sabotages.  It dishonors.  It is jealous.  It is sick.  It is the antithesis of righteousness.

For most of my adult life I’ve observed culture take the selflessness we see Jesus walk out in scripture and turn it into selfishness.  We are not called to be self-focused.  We are to be Christ focused.  We often observe the mercy that Jesus extended and use it as an excuse to sin…instead of an encouragement to live a righteous life.  We use His grace and pervert it’s expression by becoming completely self-obsessed.  Sure, we need rest and to tend to our own health, etc.  but not to the detriment of our spouse.  Not to the detriment of our children.  Not to the detriment of our family and friends, etc.

As I continue to turn toward home and family, and away from position and being seen by the world…I feel so much freedom.  I have so much more to offer my husband and kids.  Suddenly, I realized one day, that I was becoming selfish.  I had come into a culture that was drawing me to desire things that I never did desire before.  Filling those desires brought nothing but emptiness.  It carried a nagging feeling that something was wrong, and I was in the wrong place.  We should never ignore these feelings.  We should use them as a gauge to make a pit stop and reassess our current situation and ask God where we’ve gotten off track.  Ask Him if we are where we need to be, or do we need to pivot?

Whatever group we come into alignment with does eventually have influence over us…is the influence around you drawing you into a deeper walk with God or is it drawing you deeper in with a crowd where you are not growing?  Have you stalled out?  These are such important questions. 

As I pulled away from absolutely everything, I found His righteousness again.  I found the simplicity of His gospel and the mercy of His heart.  I found grace.  I found a deeper hunger for the Word.  When you walk out of your current stream and the things of God are what come to the surface, then it just might be that you were becoming unequally yoked.  Being unequally yoked isn’t only experienced in marriage, but also in our close community…and that has everything to do with influence.  Like I said before, when you are around a community all the time, then it’s inevitable that you will become influenced. 

Today I encourage you to take stock.  Look around and ask God if you are teetering on the edge of becoming unequally yoked.  Whether it’s friends, job or whatever…ask God

Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.  For, as I have often told you before and now say again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is their shame.  Their mind is on earthly things.  But our citizenship is in heaven.  And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body.  Philippians 3:17-21

Let’s take today and acknowledge and remember the Lord.  Remember His goodness. 

Praise the Lord!  I will thank the Lord with all my heart as I meet His godly people.  How amazing are the deeds of the Lord!  All who delight in Him should ponder them.  Everything He does reveals His glory and majesty.  His righteousness never fails.  He causes us to remember His wonderful works.  How gracious and merciful is our Lord!  He gives food to those who fear Him; He always remembers His covenant.  He has shown His great power to His people by giving them the lands of other nations.  All He does is just and good, and all His commandments are trustworthy.  They are forever true, to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity.  He has paid a full ransom for His people.  He has guaranteed His covenant with them forever.  What a holy, awe-inspiring name He has!  Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom.  All who obey His commandments will grow in wisdom.  Praise Him forever.  Psalm 111

There are so many rich promises in this Psalm.  He is amazing.  We should always ponder His wonderful deeds.  Read this part again…

Everything He does reveals His glory and majesty.  His righteousness never fails.

When we see God in something, we will see His glory and majesty.  That’s a promise.  That’s a certainty…and His righteousness never fails.

Remember that when you think about our country.  When you consider the hands that seem to be steering our ship to the edge of destruction.  We are one nation, under God.  Under God…and His righteousness never fails.

Righteousness: the quality of being morally right or justifiable.

In a land where it seems that perversion and lies are prevailing…remember, as one nation, under God…we are held with a righteousness that never fails. 

We can choose to lean into that righteousness.  The first step toward changing our nation, begins at home…with those in our closest circle.  Begin there.  Don’t lose hope.  Extend out as He leads and makes the way. 

Never despise meager beginnings.  Those are the beginnings that can change the world.  They are the beginnings that changed the world for us so many years ago, when a baby was born in a manger.

We should return to the beginning…the gospel doesn’t change based on culture.  As the above scripture stated…

He always remembers His covenant.  And…all He does is just and good, and all His commandments are trustworthy…forever true, and should be obeyed faithfully and with integrity.  If we obey Him, we will grow in wisdom. 

All such beautiful promises.  Promises that never change, no matter how much the world changes.  We can always return to the simplicity of God.  His simple and faithful truth.  The Truth.  It never changes.

After writing yesterday’s devotional, I was struck with a thought, “We have given up the wrong things so others could feel more comfortable.”

At churches across America, we seem to strive to make others comfortable.  To make the members of the church feel safe.  To make visitors and non-believers who attend, comfortable…but isn’t it the friction of the gospel what brings appropriate discomfort that leads to repentance and salvation?  Isn’t it the knowledge of hell and heaven that provokes a heart to desire to receive Christ, just as much as the kindness of God?  I believe a good mixture of both does the trick.

I was saved at a young age, but I strayed for many years.  I had deep wounds that kept preventing me from moving deeper in Him, and I had zero discipleship.  What led me to a turnaround years after my salvation, was a stark realization that heaven and hell both existed, and I knew where I wanted to end up…and more importantly (at the time) where I didn’t.  An intense fear of hell fell on me, and it drove me to an encounter with God. My encounter didn’t happen in a church.  It happened in a seemingly random moment with friends.  You know, I’ve had pastors downplay my encounter since it didn’t happen in church, when I believe the opposite should occur.  Shouldn’t we celebrate the power of a God Who moves wherever He chooses?!  Yes!  Absolutely, yes!!  But I digress…

In the years prior to that, the only thing that drew me toward God was authentic worship.  Seeing those few who really worshiped with their whole hearts.  It was never the watered-down church service that drew me.  It wasn’t the appropriately watered-down worship.  It wasn’t men in suits and women with perfect hair.  It wasn’t even elaborate buildings, I cared nothing about that actually.  No, it was those who felt real.  It was what felt pure.  I have always been able to discern the difference between the authentic and everything else. 

The lost aren’t searching for comfortable…their searching for comfort.  Comfort comes from bringing all your mess in and having someone come and scoop you up in their arms, mess and all, and loving the hell out of you.  Literally.  Loving the hell out of you.  Then when they have an encounter with Jesus and all their sins are washed away…they have peace.  That peace that can’t be manufactured and looks like nothing the world can offer.  Oh, how I love that peace.  The Prince of Peace.

The world doesn’t need comfortable…they need Jesus. 

What if we all decided to be more like Him, not just on Sunday in the church building, but every day and everywhere?  We could change the world!

Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.  For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. Ephesians 6:14-15

Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakeable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping Him with holy fear and awe.  For our God is a devouring fire.  Hebrews 12:28-29

I recently came across a reel online that displayed all the criticisms this certain person had been receiving via messenger…and as they popped up, she stood there and finally she said, “If you think I’m too much, find less.  Find less.” 

It was such a simple, yet powerful reel.  I couldn’t stop thinking about it.  Mainly because I could relate. 

For as long as I can remember, I have been criticized by others for being too much.  “You are too emotional.”  “You can’t worship like that in front of the church, it’s too much.”  “People think you are too intense.”  “Tone it down some, you’re too much.”  And the list could go on…

The bottom line is, when I am my authentic self…full of the joy of the Lord…then the world absolutely finds me to be too much.  But should I care?

I imagine that while Jesus was ministering on the earth, many thought He was too much.  Flipping over tables, dining with tax collectors and prostitutes, healing on the Sabbath, telling groups of men to cast the first stone if they’ve never sinned. 

You know who really thinks we’re too much?  The enemy.

There is no lack of lackluster church.  On any given Sunday you could walk into any number of churches and go through the entire service without truly being moved or showing much passion at all.  It’s a sad state of affairs when church leadership is more concerned with being on time and butts in the seat, (which equal tithe checks) than meeting with Abba and allowing Holy Spirit to do what He’s meant to do.  Holy Spirit moves in passion.  Brings us to tears.  Draws our hearts to both repentance and exuberant worship.  The enemy doesn’t want the world to see authentic faith and worship…true love and passion.  He hates all of that.  Why?  Because it naturally draws others in.  God is very attractive.  Authenticity is too.

If you ask me, we could all stand to be a little more, not less.

I have committed to myself and God, to never water my expression of love toward Him down again for anyone.  Not a single person.  If my love and passion for Him was too much, then why did He place it within me?  And if I do need to reign some of it in, then He will show me.

The God of more than enough, placed more than enough within me.  I’m going to choose to be okay with that.

After the men who were carrying the Ark of the Lord had gone six steps, David sacrificed a bull and a fattened calf.  And David danced before the Lord with all his might, wearing a priestly garment.  So, David and all the people of Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord with shouts of joy and the blowing of rams’ horns.  2 Samuel 6:13-15

And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus.  By His death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.  And since we have a great High Priest Who rules over God’s house, let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting Him.  Hebrews 10:19-22

God is a lot of things, and one of those is always good!  He is unequivocally and without deviation, good.  He can’t not be good because good is a part of Him.  He, in fact, is the only One Who is all good. 

This is so important to remember in times like these. 

I get it, we are all walking through some unprecedented stuff right now…but that doesn’t change the fact that God is still good.  I believe even in times like this, we can walk in the consistency of that goodness.  He does prepare a table for us in the presence of our enemies, you know?

We are to always be advancing the kingdom of God, in all times and every season.  This is not the time to pack it up.  As we’ve talked about before, this is the time to advance.  One way we advance is by remembering that God is good and continuing to move in that goodness. 

It’s our job to continue to occupy and have dominion.  We can remember that He has done many good things for us like He promised to do. 

Let’s read the following scripture…

You have done many good things for me, Lord, just as You promised.  I believe in Your commands; now teach me good judgment and knowledge.  I used to wander off until You disciplined me; but now I closely follow Your word.  You are good and do only good; teach me Your decrees.  Arrogant people smear me with lies, but in truth I obey Your commandments with all my heart.  Their hearts are dull and stupid, but I delight in Your instructions.  My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to Your decrees.  Your instructions are more valuable to me than millions in gold and silver.  Psalm 119:65-72

When we suffer, we can count it all joy.  I know this can be a challenge, but with slight perspective shifts we can see that we are in constant training and with training comes discomfort…or suffering.  He loves us too much to just allow us to remain the same.  We definitely don’t want to be like the arrogant…with dull hearts, who are stupid.  We can see around us every day that there is no lack of people like that.  Arrogance is overflowing in many fronts.  Arrogance is the enemy of intimacy…with anyone, but especially God. 

The best moments I have with God are when I lay down everything…stop trying to have it together…lay down all my pride and come to Him like a child.  Childlikeness is a major key to intimacy.  Children expect goodness, don’t they?  They seem to have a way of just thinking everything will work out for them.  I believe we could all benefit from a bit more childlike behavior.  Trusting.  Believing.  Receiving.  Loving.  Hoping.  Allowing ourselves to be excited.  Laughing. 

How about we make an intentional decision to embrace childlike faith today! 

I will, and if you do too, I’d love to hear back from you about how it transforms this day 😊

And calling to Him a child, He put him in the midst of them and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  Matthew 18:2-4

I had a really powerful encounter with God this week. 

I was thinking of others judging our decisions…like to homeschool and home church.  I was imagining their criticisms and wondering if there was any merit to them.  I pondered whether we were truly hearing from God or not…even though I already knew the answer.  I’m of the opinion that even when you fully believe you’ve heard from God and are walking out that decision, it never hurts to check in with Him and ask if you did indeed hear correctly, or to see if it’s time to make a change.

I went to God with all the judging thoughts and arguments, I imagined people saying, “home church isn’t real church” “You shouldn’t forsake the assembly” “Your kids miss out when you don’t have them in youth group, etc” “You are not qualified to be pastoring your kids.” “Homeschooled kids are weird and unsocialized”…and to be clear, I have heard people say most of these arguments that were coming to my mind in that moment…so I know it’s not uncommon for people to take these stances…

Anyway, when I took those criticism of home church to God…He immediately spoke, “Who told you that?”  I asked Him if I was causing my kids to miss out by them not being in youth group and instead having family focused life and worship…His response, “Who told you that was better to go to a church and youth group than to learn and grow within family?”  It carried the tone of “I didn’t say it was better, so why would you think that?”  Then I wondered if Chris and I are good enough pastors for our kids, I mean, are we valid?  He immediately responded, “Who told you that you needed another person to pastor your own kids?”  Our conversation kept going like that when it transitioned into school too.

The bottom line was, He was pulling out religious spirit and ideas from within my heart, that have no basis on God’s truth. 

He challenged me further by saying, “How do you think the settlers and pioneers had church?”  “Your family are pioneers.”  “How do you think the pioneers did school?”  “Where do you think the first churches were held?”  “They were held in homes.” 

Then I began to see, I’ve somehow ingested an idea that our family needs things that we really don’t.  What we really need is to do whatever it is God is telling us to do, regardless of what others are doing. 

It doesn’t make us better or worse than anyone, it simply makes us His.

We are each called to different things, and only He knows the full reason why.  Knowing why isn’t our issue…obedience is all that matters.  Whether I am called to do what is popular with others, or something very different from most, I am simply called to obey.  Obedience and trust.  The cornerstones of a walk of intimacy.

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His steadfast love, that He may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine.  Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.  For our heart is glad in Him, because we trust in His holy name.  Let Your steadfast love, O Lord, be upon us, even as we hope in You.  Psalm 33:18-22

As I walk out this new season of life, I have been spending a lot of time reflecting on seasons past…and even past “versions” of me.  I have realized I am constantly transforming.  When I acknowledge that, it gives me a lot more grace with myself.  My personality is such that I am always wondering what I’ve done wrong when things don’t go well.  When relationships fail, I always wonder what I did to cause it…but what I’m seeing is that, though God does want me to take responsibility for my own actions, I don’t need to pretend that others never do wrong too. 

When I am walking with people and a break or shift of some sort occurs, I am not solely to blame…and sometimes nobody is to blame.  Sometimes, people are temporary in our lives and others are for the long haul.  That’s ok. 

I guess what I’m getting at is…when I reflect on my life through the eyes of noticing transformation, then I have made such large strides…I bet when you reflect on your own life, you’d notice the same thing. 

I know as far as I’m concerned, I need to give myself a break.  I’m not a terrible person.  I’m a growing person.  I make mistakes, I own up to them and I grow.  Those are all good qualities.  I had an epiphany this week that I have allowed other’s opinions of me to make me feel less than…but I refuse to do that any longer.  When I reflect on time with those people, I am realizing that they too have done a lot of wrong.  They are far from perfect, and I have no reason to feel shame.

We all sin and fall short of the glory of God.  ALL of us.  And we are all, yes all, a work in progress.

Now, when I look back, it’s with a lens of accomplishment.  I have come a long way.  I have grown so much.  When you look at your life, can you see it too?  Friend, you have walked through so many seasons.  You have been hurt and healed…seen success and failure…had joy and pain…and you have been transforming, all the while.  Isn’t it beautiful?!

Let’s take a minute today and rejoice!  Rejoice in growth!! Rejoice in every faithful step you’ve taken with God!  Rejoice in the gift of today!  Rejoice just to rejoice!!

It’s time to shake off the disappointment of yesterday.  It’s time to stop worrying about tomorrow.  It’s time to be here and now.  Present.  To be grateful that today, all of your needs are met.  Today, you don’t need for anything life altering.  Today, you have food and clothes, air conditioning and a warm bed, family and friends…when you start to find gratitude for all the every day things, it can change your entire attitude. 

It’s a wonderful practice.  When I used to drive my kids to school every morning, I would thank God for all of the basics and all extravagances.  It really brightens your day when you can find thankfulness in every little thing. 

Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice.  Philippians 4:4

Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they are ever praising You.  Blessed are those whose strength is in You, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.  As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools.  They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.  Psalm 84:4-7

Recently while in prayer I heard, “Annals of Heaven”.  I knew it was significant, but I didn’t know what annals meant, so I looked it up…

Annals: A record of events year by year.  Historical records.

As I sit on this, I hear God saying that I am known in the annals of Heaven.  You are too!

Everything we do…every moment we obey…every life we touch…every time we believe…serve…trust…there is a record. 

Once we are covered in the blood of Jesus…our sins are forgiven, and a new record is kept…a record of our faithfulness.  Isn’t that the MOST wonderful thing ever?!?!?!

God is so gracious to us.  Not only does He forgive our sins, He forgets them…

There is therefore, now, no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.  For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.  Romans 8:1-2

He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities.  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His steadfast love toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does He remove our transgressions from us.  Psalm 103:10-12

It’s so important for us to give ourselves the grace He gives us.  We can ask Him to show us how He sees us.  We will have so much more success in life if we live from the position of being forgiven…and…

We would do well to remember that if He doesn’t deal with us according to our sins, then we should extend that same grace to others.  That reminds me of a story Jesus told…You can read the entire parable in Matthew 18:23-35…but here’s a portion…

“So, the servant fell on His knees, imploring Him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’  And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.  But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, ‘Pay what you owe.’  So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’  He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.”  Matthew 18:26-30

As you might recall the master who had forgiven the first servant’s debt didn’t appreciate the way he treated another servant…

We are not only receivers of grace…but we are equally implored to extend grace.  Now, that is certainly convicting.  We are given so much…but we all too quickly forget sometimes.  Don’t we? 

 I know that I am sometimes guilty of not extending what I’ve been given.  I repent of this.  Oh God, please forgive me for holding anyone to a higher standard than I have myself.  Please forgive me for the times when I have not seen others through the grace You offer.  Adjust my view.  Teach me to do better.  I belong to You.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.

We can make plans, and God gives them success.  We are warned that our motives may not be as pure as we believe them to be.  But we are promised that if we commit our actions to God, we WILL succeed. 

We can make our own plans, but the Lord gives the right answer.  People may be pure in their own eyes, but the Lord examines their motives.  Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.  Proverbs 16:1-3

Commit all your actions to God…that’s the only way to move forward. 

I have spent so much time weighing my heart, examining my motives, being afraid to move forward…yet, when I read the above scripture, I see that all I need to do is commit my actions to the Lord.  I may not be able to trust my own motives, but I can trust Him.  I can lay all my plans at His feet and trust that He will set fire to those I don’t need and fulfill those He desires for me.  It’s a win-win.

When we hold our plans with an open hand and allow God to pick and choose for us, then we will see a lot more success and will operate in far greater peace.

The longer I walk with God, the more I see that though I fear myself in many ways…my fear of God eclipses that and brings me into the promise.  Fear of the Lord…as we’ve recently discussed, is the beginning of wisdom.

Alignment, our whole lives are about this.  Bringing ourselves into alignment with God.  Bringing ourselves into alignment with His timing.  His timing is perfect.  His ways are always right.

When we have our minds focused on Him then our desires will be aligned with His…

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.  The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God.  Romans 8:5-8

This scripture also reminds us why those without Him hate us and Him so much.  Their minds are on death…abortion, domination, etc.  Therefore, their actions shouldn’t be surprising.  They also shouldn’t intimidate us as much as they do…we have the King of the universe inside.  We hold victory in our hearts.  What do we need to fear?  I asked this same question the other day…I continue to provoke you with it today.  We have nothing to fear.

“But now listen, O Jacob, My servant, Israel, whom I have chosen.  This is what the Lord says- He Who made you, Who formed you in the womb, and Who will help you:  Do not be afraid, O Jacob, My servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.  For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and My blessing on your descendants.  They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams.”  Isaiah 44:1-4