From My Journal--Faith, Fear, and Faithfulness

Fear is my feeling that whatever comes will disrupt my "happy spot" or comfort zone. Probably will, but faith says I'll like it on the other side.

Sometimes I will not get the resolution I want to a situation, and it doesn't matter. My job is not to fix the situation or even make it better. My job is to respond is such a way that I am at peace with myself standing before the Lord and saying, "This is what I did. It was the best I knew at that moment. Show me if I was wrong and how to fix it for next time."

Possibly My Greatest Flaw

"Could it be my greatest flaw is fixating so much on my flaws

that I dismiss or ignore His perfect ability to love me and work in me

while working and loving perfectly through me?"

~from My Journal, Jerri Phillips~

Dear God, work in and love me as You know I need today. Show me Your heart for me and Your desire for me so I can be in agreement with you in action, thought, and word. And, Lord, work and love through me in Your perfection because Your perfection is omnipotent and greater than all my imperfections. Keep eye contact with me, and if I turn my eyes, pull them back to you, because I want to see YOU and all You want to do and not be distracted by all I know Jerri cannot do.

I love you so much. You are my heart, and I am overwhelmed by You.

Get in the Saddle Anyway

I have friends making courageous, in-the-face-of-crazy-big-fear decisions right now. On Facebook, I made The Duke my profile picture to let them know I know how courageous they are.

For all of you here who are

making courageous decisions

when careful ones would be easier...

I know you are courageous.
I see it.
It is more than what you are doing.
It is who you are.
And I am in speechless awe of you and your choice to live in faith, not fear.

Feel free to make it your profile picture, put it on your Facebook wall, your bedroom wall, or your fridge, wherever you need it to remind you that YOU ARE COURAGEOUS. And remember:

OBEDIENCE

WHILE SHAKING IN YOUR BOOTS
OR

WITH TEARS RUNNING DOWN YOUR FACE
IS STILL OBEDIENCE!

Book Review: Forsaken by Leanna Ellis

o   

I am not into Amish stories. I am not keen on vampires, BUT Forsaken by Leanna Ellis is one of the best books I've read. Full of truth. Powerful in its revelation of how easily death overcomes when life is absent...and the only antidote...how easily it can be missed...and found.

Forsaken is a story of good versus evil, choices made, forgiveness given (to self and others), and life embraced. It isn't an Amish story or a vampire story. It is MY story...your story...and the story I choose to write by my own actions...and the faith it takes to trust God to somehow make the story beautiful...even when I feel Forsaken.

The Difference

Lots of people can tell you the problems in the world.

What makes the difference is people who choose to find and be a solution.

Big Smile

It rained today.

:-)

Start with Me

I keep hearing people say to pray for rain. According to Deuteronomy 23 the reason for drought in any area of life is sin.

So we pray for for God to forgive our nation.

But look at the verse people keep quoting:

2 Chronicles 7:14
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

It does not say "nation" or "country". It says "people". It is personal.

Seems to me if we want to see our land healed and abundance and prosperity restored we need to ask God to show us our personal sins, ask forgiveness for them, and truly "turn from their wicked ways".

It is easy for me to look in the mirror and think I'm not so bad, certainly not wicked, but it doesn't matter how I see me. It matters who God sees me, so when I go before Him to ask for forgiveness, first I ask Him what He sees, what He wants to change, what He desires to purify. Then I pray in agreement with Him, that what I am doing is sinful to HIM, that His heart is to forgive, and that He desires to purify me for His sake...and mine.

So I'm praying for rain in every area of my life, and I am praying for God to heal my city, my state, and my country. And I'm asking Him to start with me.