pursued

Expect: Counting on God’s Promises Not the World’s

DevotionalsMarch 12, 2019March 12, 2019

It can be easy to expect our due rewards if we follow all the rules. God does not promise an easy life or guarantee earthly rewards. He does promise to pursue and love us even though we don’t deserve it.

There’s a story in scripture most commonly known as the prodigal son. Tim Keller calls it the story of the two sons in his book The Prodigal God. I know I read the book when it first came out, but I read it again recently and it touched a tender spot in me…

Rule Follower

Jesus tells a story about a man who had two sons (Luke 15:11-32). One son asked for his inheritance then took it to live loosely and fast. When this son wakes up and all the money is gone, he decides to return to his father and ask for forgiveness. The father forgives the wayward son and throws a massive celebration. A celebration that causes the son who stayed behind to be irritated and upset. I am that older son.

Keller says that people tend to fall into two camps. They look for satisfaction in either moral conformity or personal discovery. It’s pretty easy to see which one I fall into. I have always been a rule follower. I liked coloring in the lines, knowing how things are going to turn out, and depending on clear expectations. Knowing I can expect a + b = c. But, most of us know life doesn’t work this way…

Does It Matter?

There are really very few things we can count on. The older I get the more I know this to be true. As a young person, I poured myself into education, my children, my home. These weren’t bad things. I put my efforts there because I knew the scriptures commanded it. But my heart was not in line with my obedience and this is a problem.

I don’t know why it is hard for me to believe that I am unconditionally loved and accepted, but it is. I see that in the things that make me angry and discouraged. When one of my children struggles, I can quickly think: I don’t deserve this. The older brother was mired in this type of thinking. He told his father, “I have not even asked for so much as a goat” (Luke 15:29). This really cuts to the quick. Inherent in this conversation is a realization that all of his hard work didn’t seem to matter; that the son who left and wasted resources still got a celebration.

What to Expect

There is another parable similar to it where a man hires workers (Matthew 20:1-16). Each worker is hired later and later in the day and when the day is over, they all receive the same pay. The ones hired in the morning are pretty upset that they do not get more than the ones hired later. But, the manager says, “Did I not clearly tell you what to expect?” (Matthew 20:13).

Hasn’t Christ clearly told me what to expect. There will be suffering in this world. He will see me through to the end. I am loved with an everlasting love. I can quickly think I am not getting what I deserve. But there’s something better. Something I cannot see with my eyes or touch with my hands.

Never forget your promises to me your servant, for they are my only hope. They give me strength in all my troubles; how they refresh and revive me! Proud men hold me in contempt for obedience to God, but I stand unmoved.

Psalm 119:49-51, NLT

What can I do when I find myself angry that others get what I want or think I deserve? I confess it to Him, who wants to celebrate with me. He knows I will be tempted to rely on my own righteousness and this will cause me to fall into despair and even pride. But the Father was generous and patient with both sons. He wanted both sons to come to celebrate.

This world has a way of making us think we aren't getting what we deserve. But God promises something better. Something we cannot see with our eyes or touch with our hands. Click To Tweet

God knows my heart and how tempted I am to rely on something besides His cross. He knows I am tempted to rely on my own ability to do the right thing until I just can’t push any harder or do anymore. The Lord pulls me to Himself and listens to my confession: all my running has been like chasing after the wind. He is good that way.

God did not pursue me because He knew I could figure this all out and turn my life around. He pursued me because He knew I could not. I am tempted to think I can with a little more effort. But thanks be to God, it was not my effort that drew Him to me. And it does not draw Him to you either. He forgives. He changes us. God looks for the lost coin and sheep. Even the ones who don’t think they are in need. I am grateful for that kind of God. I know you must be too.

Matthew Henry

darkness, grace, pursued, Oh Lord Help Us, Christian, women, mentor, ministry

Grace: Allowing God to Pull Us Out of Our Darkness

Devotionals, Stay SaneOctober 4, 2018January 13, 2019

Darkness is overwhelming. Especially when we have dug our own holes. But God has pursued us through our darkness, and sits beside us, waiting to pull us out by His grace.

There was a point in my life where I sat cross-legged in a very dark hole. Thoughts of shame filled my mind as I thought about the previous night’s endeavors; and the night before that, and the night before that. I had convinced myself that the shame I felt was normal. That I was simply living the life those around me lived. I was acting the right way, participating in the right things, and talking about the right stuff.

I was doing it all “right,” but it left me so empty and that emptiness cultivated into dirtiness. I was so sure that my mess of a self, would never know anything outside of that dark place. And I fed that lie for about two years.

The Darkness Began…

That lie began with the combination of worldly standards and personal stubbornness. I didn’t truly know God at the time. I knew of Him but didn’t have a relationship. So, to me, He wasn’t offering anything better than the circumstances I was in. He wasn’t showing up. I was so lost in the sea of “fitting in” that my heart was hardened to His call.

By going from a rough home life to the college life, my rebellious stamina took over. It happened so fast that I didn’t even realize I was drowning in the enemies lies.

But God…

He never stopped pursuing me. He never stopped calling me. I believe we often must break down to our knees in order to realize how much we need Jesus. He orchestrated the people I needed in my life to boldly step out in faith and talk to me. To love me. The only thing I knew about God was that He was “good.” So, why did I feel so broken?

Because I didn’t truly know Him, I hadn’t received Him, and I didn’t understand my need for Him. The lies of the enemy manifest in the cultures we live in through the pressures and demands of our peers. I believed the lie because those around me did too.

But God…

Rescued

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.

Ephesians 2:8, ESV

There is no such thing as too far gone. There is no such thing as too dirty. We have a King that is not afraid to step down from His throne, meet us where we are and rescue us. So, if I had never hit the bottom of that hole, I might have never climbed out. If I had never broken down, I might have never realized my deficiency. If the trials and struggles didn’t happen, I might have never cried out to God.

He knows what we need to surrender. He has the power to open our eyes and ears to Him and that decision has nothing to do with our shame. Our shame has already been cleansed by the cross. Our dirt has already been washed clean by our Savior. We have already been forgiven by the overwhelming grace of God.

There is no such thing as too far gone. There is no such thing as too dirty. We have a King that is not afraid to step down from His throne, meet us where we are and rescue us. Click To Tweet

Jesus Conquers

You see, the truth is that the culture I was following and the people I was mimicking, need Jesus too. The truth is that the ones who were degrading me, the ones who were judging me, and the ones who decided I wasn’t enough, need Jesus too.

I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

John 8:12, ESV

We start off in a darkness. We start off living in a sin-filled world. We are automatically thrown into temptation and betrayal. BUT God says He has a way out. God says He is the light that thwarts the holes we recklessly sit in. Learning this truth only grew my relationship with God deeper.

It taught me the cruciality in hating my sin and loving Jesus. It taught me love conquers evil, every single time; but that that conquering doesn’t necessarily mean a bloodless one. It can mean hurdles and hurt just as much as joy and peace. The point is, because of the truth we endure it all.

Gift of Grace

So, what do we do with this truth? If you are currently sitting in that dark hole. If you are feeling the grip of shame and the chains of inadequacy, if you lie awake at night replaying the mistakes over and over again- let go. Know, that those who have put you there, whether it be others or yourself, know that both culprits desperately need Jesus. And that, my friend, let’s you off the hook and gives God all the power.

Knowing that it is neither on you or them to be flawless or perfect is so freeing. The gift of grace is a gift for a reason, we don’t deserve it. But that’s not a worry in His divine plan and unconditional love for us. He wants us to know Him and to run to Him. So, He is right there next to you in that dark hole just waiting for you to take His hand and open your eyes to His light.

Amy Hornbuckle is a writer full time, wife to Dillon, part-time Children’s Director at her church, and is passionately pursuing the word and walk of God. Her online ministry is designed to help you do the same by providing biblical resources and content. Learn her intentional method of studying God’s word, called the Jesus Meet Me method.

Outside of the ministry, she is an adventure junkie who loves to take her dog hiking, camping, trail running, paddle boarding, essentially anything outside and you can find her there!

Ministry: www.takeawalkministries.com Instagram: www.instagram.com/takeawalk.ministries

valued, worth, identity, Oh Lord Help Us, Christian Mentoring, Women of Faith, Spiritual Growth

Valued: Living Confidently Because We Know Our Worth

Devotionals, Stay SaneJuly 25, 2018September 8, 2019

When we put our identity in relationships, we can question if we are valued. People are going to let us down. This post discusses where we find our worth.

It started simply enough. My friend shared some good news. Only she didn’t share it with me first. I heard about it from another friend… A friend had a physical need and I was there front and center. When I was facing my own storm, I did not hear from her for weeks and then she never mentioned what we both knew I was going through… A good friend canceled plans and didn’t try to reschedule.

Each time, I tried to convince myself that my friends’ actions were unintentional and that my friends were really not trying to hurt me. But I was hurt, and ignoring the way I was feeling was actually making it worse. I started distancing myself from these friends. What was going on?

My identity…

A lot actually. The biggest issue was in the area of identity. God used these situations to show me the depths of my heart. When the relationships in my life were going well, I had a tendency to think well of myself. But when I began to feel unnoticed or worse unwanted I began to see what my heart was really clinging to.

Who am I when no one notices me? Do I matter if my friends don’t care or show up? I had to admit that for me the answer was a hearty no. I was feeding off the attention of others.

Who am I when no one notices me? Do I matter if my friends don’t care or show up? I had to admit that for me the answer was a hearty no. I was feeding off the attention of others. Click To Tweet

My jealousy…

This wasn’t a new problem for me. I can remember in 2^nd grade being friends with Kellie and Kathy. We were the 3 Ks. I can still remember the day I found out that Kathy had been invited to Kellie’s house to spend the night and I had not been included. I was devastated. How could they leave me out? I knew I could not let them know how much it mattered to me. But, man it mattered. This led to making assumptions about how they felt about me. I never asked them then how they felt… I just made it up… Therefore, I must not matter.

This kind of thinking followed me through high school, college, and even marriage and parenting. My heart had begun to rely on the subtle lie that my worth was based on how others perceived me and treated me. If I was wanted, valued or important, I was noticed, pursued even. That was a recipe for disaster. One that helped me see what I had been missing even as a believer. It’s a simple but profound truth.

My pursuer…

He pursued me.

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8, NIV

People were never intended to define me or to give me worth. That was God’s job. In my desire to be pursued, I had missed the biggest pursuer of all- Christ. I still have to work on this mindset. My heart still yearns to be noticed and validated, but I must allow God to validate me. That takes a lot of practice and a lot of “taking thoughts captive.”

My help…

I’ve seen a few things help:

I have had to admit that I have an addiction to relational idolatry. I depend on the relationships in my life to give me significance. This is so hard to fight. I have to confess and ask for forgiveness where my relationships are sin and where they have taken places in my heart that really belong only to God.

Because I am prone to think I only matter if I am pursued or valued by others, I have to speak the gospel over myself again and again. The gospel tells me that Jesus pursued me when I was hostile to him. My worth is based on His actions not mine.

I have to be quick to admit my wrong and ask forgiveness from those I have offended and I have to pray about situations in which I have been offended. This may lead to me going to that person or it may mean I can lay this hurt down with Jesus.

We can rest in the worth that Christ has given us. Our worth does not have to rely on the hope from friends, or anyone else in life.

I lift up my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the maker or heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:1, NIV

Jon Del Rivero

Beloved: We are Pursued Even Through Darkness

Devotionals, Stay SaneFebruary 22, 2018September 8, 2019

We all have dark times of our lives where we think we are hidden from God. Times we want to be hidden from God. Yet, we are His beloved. We are recklessly pursued through any darkness. Our Creator fights for us.

Psalm 139 was the very first passage of scripture I ever memorized and not out of intention. Through Psalm 139, I learned a little something about God. He prepares our hearts with words He knows our lives will need. It’s as though while He was knitting us together, He weaved scripture throughout our entire beings. This passage has followed me through my whole life, without me ever forcing it. That can only be God.

For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

Psalm 139:13, NIV

Beloved Book

My beloved book. My most favorite book as a little girl. I knew I still had it. I’ve moved between 9 and 10 times in my adult life. I knew I kept this book. So, here I am, destroying my house to find it. I can picture the items packed along with it. I can see the box. The garage? The boys’ room? Under the beds? Mass destruction in my home, so I can find my beloved book.

I picture what it looks like, what the years have done to it. I remember specific pages and what they say. My book. Voiced by my parents. Hidden in my heart during scary times at night. I think of the countless times I read it to my stuffed animals and my brothers. Over and over, I chose this book. To the point the covers went missing; the pages are waring and fading.

Darkness

Out of the nest; on my own. I would describe my first flight as dark and broken. Shadows pursued and preyed on me; sensing I was without my “knitting”. A second flight came. Unfortunately, it was even darker. Full of pain that still likes to haunt me. I would describe that second flight as a void. Lonely, empty, without.

February is almost gone. It used to be, I couldn’t wait for this month to end. February has been a brutal month in past years. It seems like everything I considered to be ugly in my life, has fallen in this month. Though I don’t remember specific dates, the conglomeration of events left me dreading the feelings of February.

Most of these events stemmed from my separation from God; from my rejection for my “knitting”. Though I never denied His existence, I didn’t invite Him to dwell either. I stopped pursuing Him. Surely, He didn’t see me hidden in the mess. I was ashamed, broken, depressed. I actually thought if I didn’t pursue Him, He wouldn’t pursue me.

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?

Psalm 139:7, NIV

Beloved Words

I did not give up. I even dreamed about where my book could be. The attic! I have an attic; poorly lit, extremely hot or cold depending on the month, and an undesirable area of our home. There it was. Nestled with the books I imagined; in the box it has always been in. I fought through the mess, the uninhabitable parts of my home and found my beloved book!

God Is With Me -Debby Anderson; Based on Psalm 139

While I was searching, I could picture two of the pages. These were the pages that my little mind needed most. The pictures helped remind me no matter what, God is there. They brought comfort when my imagination got out of control and helped me remember to not be scared. The words were simple to grasp. I learned to rely on these words. “He is with me.” I tucked them deep in my heart. My treasure.

God Pursued

I am a treasure to God. I’m His beloved. I was the one lamb, lost from the ninety-nine and pursued by the Good Shepherd. Like my book, I was worn, faded, hiding in invisible covers. And, like my book, my world was torn apart so I could be found. The weaving never unravelled, it only tightened the more I was pursued.

In my darkness, God fought for me. He battled in the mess I thought I was hiding in. He never forgot about me, never left me alone, never gave up. I was (am) His. I can picture Him, bleeding from the briars that grew on my heart, pierced with the sins I gave power to, bruised by the hatred I had for myself. Yet, He prevailed. I tried to hide in the depths. I swam in shame and brokenness. Yet, God prevailed. He was there. Through divorce, medical rooms, abandonment, depression, alcohol… the list is longer still…. He was there. He never stopped fighting for my existence, my life, my heart. God fiercely pursued.

The Lord is with us, wherever we are.

This beautiful watercolor, painted by Katie Braswell, is available as a digital download in the Oh Lord Help Us Shop.
It will remind you of God’s ever present comfort.

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In my darkness, God fought for me. He never stopped fighting for my existence, my life, my heart. Click To Tweet

Captured: A True Story of Living in the Love of Christ

Devotionals, Stay SaneJanuary 18, 2018July 30, 2019

It can be tempting to view ourselves as victims when we find ourselves in difficult circumstances. Instead, we need to see that God is actually pursuing us. This is a true story of a lady who found herself captured, and her intimate experience of Christ’s love.

It is not uncommon for a friend to ask for prayer for another friend or acquaintance. It is not even uncommon to get updates about the particular situation that you were praying for. I, however, have the uncommon opportunity to share with you this story of a friend of a friend.

Our group of ladies from church were praying for weeks for a friend who had suddenly found herself in a detention center (aka prison). When asking for an update, it was not the story I was expecting, but one I knew I had to share. She graciously agreed to let me share this part of her journey. Please know, this is not about politics, or what views you may hold about immigration. This is a story about the goodness of God and the love of His son, Jesus.

Captured: Being Pursued

Early in May of 2017, Cindy, her husband, and their 2 daughters were traveling from Raleigh to Charlotte to report into the immigration office per the advice given to them by their immigration lawyer. They had applied for a visa in 2014, but were still waiting for approval. They were told to continue reporting in every 6 months until it was approved, and they would be in the clear. This time though, they knew things may be different. Never before did they fear deportation. Neither of them held a criminal record and they were doing all that they had been told to do. Laws were changing, however, and they knew in their gut they would need to be prepared for things to not go as smoothly as before.

When it was their turn to report in, they took her aside, separating her from her family. The officers began asking questions like, “Are you pregnant?” and, “How is your health?” Never before were these kind of question being asked. Then the bombshell. She would need to go back to Honduras to wait for the visa. Effective: Immediately.

Instantly, the officers were placing her in handcuffs, not allowing her to hug her two daughters, or kiss her husband. They were saying their goodbyes through glass, her daughters seeing her like a criminal. Bravely, she told her husband that everything was going to be ok, and he needed to call their friends and their church. While Cindy was coming to grasp the reality of her situation, her husband was told he could return home with his daughters, but would need to essentially deport himself back to Honduras.

Captured: Unexpected Grace

From Charlotte, they were transferring her to a jail in South Carolina, complete with an orange jumpsuit. Cindy was only in this location for a day, but with no windows, and no sleep, she has no recollection of the time spent there. She only knew the despair she was feeling and that she could not survive this on her own. She prayed, “God I can’t do this. You have to take care of this and my family.” Then, in the midst of her jail cell, peace that simply does not make sense, washed over her. In that moment she knew that whatever was going to happen, it was going to be ok.

During that day in the jail, she met three other ladies who were also detained for immigration. They, however, had been there for a few weeks. One of the ladies reminded her, “You know that our citizenship is not here. It is in heaven.” Cindy and these three ladies were continuing to connect their lives together during a seven hour drive to Atlanta, the location of the detainment center. Upon their arrival, other ladies were kind and helping them to figure out their new situation.

Quickly, they were connecting with a lady who had been leading bible studies and praying for all the detainees. The women were hungry to learn. Daily, they were studying the Word, wanting to read and learn all that they could. Not all of the ladies participating were believers. Some had never read the bible before. Through contacts from Cindy’s church, bibles were sent for the ladies to each have their own. Other ladies had never experienced baptism. One day, one of the ladies said, “We have water here, why couldn’t I be baptized?” So the ladies were gathering buckets meant for storage, took them down to the showers, and began baptizing.

Captured: THE Church

She was constantly receiving letters and cards offering prayers and words of encouragement. A couple of ladies from her church drove 7 hours to visit her for just a handful of minutes. Numerous letters were being sent to the senator on her behalf. At one point other detainees were wondering if she was famous. No, she explained, just loved and cared for.

“It isn’t because I am this amazing person, it is because of Jesus and the love of God.”

They are the only latino couple in an all white church, and they often found themselves questioning whether they were in the right church. Before, they felt love and support; but through this experience, God was confirming to them that truly did have love and support. Now, they know they are in the right place. Their church became THE church, not just A church.

Captured: A Rescued Relationship

Cindy acknowledges that before her detainment, she was living the life of a lukewarm christian. She prayed so often while she was in that place, and she saw that this was the relationship she was needing to have with God. She is grateful for the opportunity to have an impact on the lives of the other ladies she met there, but she is most thankful that this experience was instrumental in saving her marriage.

One night, weeks before her detainment, she was out with ladies from church at one of their homes. When she arrived home, he accused her of cheating on him. To put it very simply, it got ugly. No longer did she want to live that way. She was praying for God to mold her and change her. She was praying for their marriage to change. Before, he didn’t appreciate all that she did for their family. Now, he felt broken and desperate for their family to be whole again.

Captured: Christ’s Love

All in all, Cindy was in the detention center for 22 days. In those 22 days, her love for her husband and his love for her became secure. They are no longer living separate lives, but instead have a bond holding them together. In those 22 days, she learned what it meant to truly pray. She was no longer a cold Christian. In those 22 days, lives were going through a transformation that will go and transform their own circles, continuing to ripple. In those 22 days, a church in North Carolina put into practice the words of Christ.

Then the King will say… ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was… in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we… see you… in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these… you did it to me.’

Matthew 25:34-40, ESV

Without bond or the requirement of wearing an ankle bracelet, she was free to return home. Home, where family was. Daily she was praying it would be the day she would be able to go home to her family. She knew she had a purpose there, but she was still longing to be home with her husband and daughters. The day they said she was going to be able to go home, she fell to her knees and gave praise to God.

Captured: Freedom

Because she was allowing the Lord to pursue her in the midst of suffering, she now lives a life knowing how much the Creator loves her. She always knew that God was with her, providing and protecting her, but the way He was showing her love, and all that she was learning…

“I would go through all this again. It is all in His hands.”

She admits she was living a prideful life, but is now living with humility. The Lord put her through fire to create a masterpiece. She is now a better wife, mom, sister. Instead of thinking how she can change her husband, she prays what she can do to make their relationship better.

Arriving home, her home was full of friends and family. A rainbow filled the sky. Her nephew pulling her over to see it says, “Look Cindy, God says hi to you!”

He loves us fiercely, therefore, He pursues us fiercely!

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She found herself captured, and intimately experiencing Christ's love. Click To Tweet

Mario Azzi

He loves us fiercely, therefore, He pursues us fiercely!

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Ready, Prepared, Perspective, Risks, Pursued, Loved, Strength, Faith, Glory

Get Ready

Devotionals, Stay SaneOctober 4, 2017January 13, 2019

When getting ready to face the unknown, we must be prepared, change our perspective, and take risks. The Lord is loving, strong, and longs for His glory to be known.

There has been a recurring theme in my life over the past couple of weeks. And one day in particular that caught my attention. Perhaps it take multiple times of smacking me in the face with something in order for me to understand. Perhaps I need to pay attention to what is happening.

Over the past few weeks, I have been doing the Ready Study by Heather Dixon. It is a study on the book of Joshua, chapters 1-5 and teaching how to be ready when we are facing unknown circumstances. I also have been reading through Draw the Circle by Mark Batterson. It’s about praying often with boldness, and is a 40 day prayer challenge. And during my runs I have been listening to Cast of Characters by Max Lucado. In this book he connects our lives with the lives of people in the Bible.

Well, on one day the phrase “Get Ready” came to my attention in 3 different ways.

First, in the study by Heather Dixon, where she says this:

I was sitting on our screened-in porch listening to the early morning songs of my backyard bird friends when God told me to get ready.

Three months after God told me to get ready, I was in the emergency room with two aneurysms. I lost 10% of my kidney tissue. Not long after that, my left carotid artery ruptured. I underwent two precarious surgeries to repair it. I was soon diagnosed with Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome – a genetic connective tissue disorder that makes my blood vessels, arteries, and organs prone to spontaneous rupture. There is no cure for Vascular Ehlers-Danlos. There is no treatment. There is only a prescription from the doctor to prepare your bucket list and live your life well. The average life-expectancy of someone with VEDS is 48. Indeed, God wanted me to be ready for something. I am convinced that God led me to Joshua’s story as a gracious warning for what was to come. It was the truths I learned in Joshua 1-5 that helped me stay strong through months of uncertainty.

Then, later that day I was listening to a podcast where Heather was being interviewed, and I heard this segment of her story being told again, with her saying, “get ready.”

Finally, in the late afternoon as I sat down to read in Draw the Circle, I couldn’t believe my eyes when the title for day one was, “Get Ready.”

Okay Lord, I get it. It’s time to get ready.

But for what? Is it something good? Is it something bad?

I remember a time in my life where I had a similar whisper in my spirit. I can still tell you where I was when I heard it. I had this feeling of peace, and a general all-is-right-with-the-world kind of feeling. And then the feeling shifted to, what is about to come?

Wow, did life ever shift. In the following months we experienced three deaths in the family, including my mother, as well as moving to a new state with a new job and no friends. My world, and my faith, were shaken.

But this time, I say “bring it.”

Getting Ready…

Be Prepared. In the Ready Study, Heather Dixon talks about how God will prepare us for our battles beforehand. That “He does not call you where His feet have not already marched.” The Lord knows what is coming, He is not surprised. He promises to prepare us for the work to come.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10

The Lord knows what is coming, and promises to prepare us for the work to come. Click To Tweet

Change Perspective. In the chapter about David in the Cast of Characters, Max Lucado shares how David could see the giant and how large he was, but more than seeing Goliath, he saw how powerful God is.

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword and with a spear and with a javelin, but I come to you in the name of the Lord of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.This day the Lord will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head. And I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel,and that all this assembly may know that the Lord saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the Lord‘s, and he will give you into our hand.”

1 Samuel 17:45-47

Take Risks. In Draw the Circle, Mark Batterson (who is also sharing about Joshua), challenges us to step out in faith and be willing to get our feet wet. Notice that God didn’t hold back the water and then tell them to go forward. He told them to get in the water first.

And when the soles of the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off from flowing, and the waters coming down from above shall stand in one heap.”

So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), the waters…were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.

Joshua 3:13-17

Final Thoughts…

Do I believe God’s power is bigger than my giant?

Do I face the unknown with boldness?

I honestly do not know if I am headed toward something good, or something bad. None of us know what the day will bring. But… I do know that whatever is to come, I will be prepared for it. I do know that, even though I may not be able to handle it, God can. I do know that God wants good things for me, so if walking through difficult times will bring me closer to Him and bring glory to His name, I am willing to step out in faith.

What are you getting ready for?

PS…

These are the books I referenced, all of which I recommend:

(These are affiliate links. Which means if you purchase from that link, Oh Lord Help Us gets a small percentage at no extra charge to you. It’s not much, but it helps with the cost of keeping this blog up and running. You can read the Disclaimer page if you would like to ~~fall asleep~~ get more information.)

NeONBRAND

What Are You Running From?

Stay SaneJuly 17, 2016July 17, 2016

In this post we are discussing the temptation to run away from difficult circumstances and instead change our perspective so that we see that the Lord is pursuing us.

I’m a runner. I’ve been running since I was 14. It is a part of who I am that I love. It is my stress release, and my sanity. Trail running, road running, short, long, fast, or slow. I love being out there experiencing every inch of my journey.

I’m also a runner. I’ve been running my entire life. It is a part of who I am that needs to change. It causes stress, and threatens my sanity. When things get tough, I flee the scene. I hate putting myself out there experiencing the difficult parts of my journey.

When my husband and I moved away from our hometown, my mother was very ill. Fighting to stay alive actually. A month after we left, she was gone. Being in a new city, with a new job, no friends, my “therapy” was to run. That was when I trained for my first marathon. A couple years ago, after my second miscarriage, I told myself I didn’t care. That it was ok because there were other things I would rather be doing. I ended up running my 15th, and fastest, marathon after that.

Now don’t get me wrong, of all the things people can do to cope with grief, running is a pretty healthy one. But eventually I needed to stop running. I needed to deal with the pain. I needed to let God catch me before I totally shut down and shut Him out.

Disclaimer: There are times in life when it is necessary to run away. For instance, God told Joseph to get up in the middle of the night and to flee Egypt with Mary and Jesus. We are not always supposed to stand and fight like David did with Goliath. But even if we do need to flee the scene, we must allow our hearts to see that the Lord is moving us in order to pursue us and to bring us closer to Him and to believe that truth.

“Runners” are people who…

Avoid situations by removing themselves from people or places that make them feel uncomfortable.

This could be walking away from relationships that become too close (leaving us feeling vulnerable), or too difficult (not wanting to deal with the pain of solving conflicts). Or we stop going to church/stores/events/etc. because something or someone offended us. We can’t live life hiding from everything. Eventually we will run out of people to hide from and find ourselves all alone, with God still pursuing. Eventually we will come face to face with Him.

Stay busy to distract themselves so that they don’t use mental or emotional energy that will cause them to feel pain.

This could be letting ourselves be consumed with work, or hobbies, or even good deeds. This can be a fine coping mechanism for short periods of time, but running from pain and heartache will eventually leave us drained with nothing else to give. Eventually we collapse with exhaustion. Eventually we look up to see that God is holding us while we rest.

Try to answer their own prayers, being impatient with God’s timing.

This may seem like a way to tackle things head-on, but it’s still running. Only, instead of running away from God, it’s running ahead of God. We end up lost in dark, confusing places. Eventually we have to call out asking for guidance. Eventually we will see the path that leads to His peace.

What if…

When things get tough, instead of trying to escape, we stayed still and let the Lord meet us in our place of suffering?

When circumstances arise that feel like we are being attacked, we saw them as opportunities for Jesus to pour out love on us?

When matters seem to be forgotten by God, we waited (and waited, and waited…) instead of fixing things ourselves so that we could see His incredible power?

Does this mean that the pain we experience isn’t real? Nope. It means that that real, gut-wrenching pain we feel is going to bring us into a deeper relationship with our Savior if we allow it to.

Does it make it easier? Nope. At least not in that moment. But it does give us hope, and hope is a beautiful thing.

Do you believe that God is pursuing you?

Running…but God has pursued you.

Replacing the Lies

Love, Stay SaneMay 22, 2016May 22, 2016

After months of brainstorming, planning, critiquing there is now a shop of items offered through this little blog. I’m excited to tell you more about it, because it is more than pretty jewelry, or cute apparel. Please allow me to share my heart with you.

We have all had encounters and experiences in our lives that have planted a seed of doubt. They have made us question our purpose, our value, ourselves. These are lies that have been whispered to us repeatedly, and if we don’t acknowledge them, they can make us less effective and destroy our influence. These lies feed our defensiveness to protect ourselves from feeling weak. Our weaknesses can hinder us and cause insecurities, but those same weaknesses, if we acknowledge and address them they can bring us strength and give glory to God. Let’s change the repetition of lies. Let’s replace them with the truth of God.

Afraid, but GOD…has loved you.
Running, but GOD…has pursued you.
Broken, but GOD…has redeemed you.
Messy, but GOD…thinks you are beautiful.
Striving, but GOD…says you are enough.

I believe in a God, and that He is good. As C.S. Lewis wrote in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe:

“Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “… Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

I also believe that there is an enemy that wants to destroy our influence and ultimately our lives.

This message that I want to share I believe is from God, and I believe the enemy wants to keep me silent and to keep you from hearing it. This past week, I felt completely under attack mentally and emotionally. To make it worse, I was attacked with each of these lies that I am telling others to replace with truth.

I felt afraid that people would reject me. I wanted to run away from this project. I felt defeated and broken in my spirit. I felt like my life was out of control and messy. I felt like I needed to strive to be different and felt envious of others. And when I realized that I was struggling with the very thing I was speaking against, I felt like an imposter. Who am I to be sharing this? This is the exact response the enemy was looking for.

The morning after I realized all of this, my oldest son woke up and wanted to tell me about a dream he had. In his dream, he was with Jesus and they were fighting demons. He wanted to know what it meant. I told him that I believe we are constantly in a battle. And that is why it is important to put on the armor of God that he has been learning about at church.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. Ephesians 6:10-18, ESV

Shortly after this, my middle child woke up and he started talking about his dream. In his dream he was standing in our living room and people were trying to break in and attack us. Yikes.

After sharing this with my mother-in-law, she shared with me:

…Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. Revelations 12:10, ESV

The enemy accuses us of being imposters, of being weak, of being sinful. BUT, he has been thrown down!! He has been defeated!! Hallelujah, there is a NEW truth!

Yes, I would say that the enemy doesn’t want you believe the truth. The enemy wants you to be afraid, running, broken, messy, and striving…

but GOD….

Oh ladies!! This is where it gets good!

but GOD…

That means the story changes!

but GOD…

It means there is hope!

Afraid, but GOD…has loved you.
Running, but GOD…has pursued you.
Broken, but GOD…has redeemed you.
Messy, but GOD…thinks you are beautiful.
Striving, but GOD…says you are enough.

Here is the truth: You are loved by the Almighty, and He is pursuing you in order to redeem you. He has made you beautiful, and because he has loved you, pursued you, and redeemed you; you are enough!

I wish you could hear the excitement in my voice! I wish I could tell you to your lovely face! I wish I could rejoice with you right now as you are reading this!

The items in the shop are simply to help remind us of the truth and to change the repetition of lies that we have listened to. I pray for us all to change the dialogue in our minds and to live the abundant life that Jesus told us about.

Here are several of the items.

Click on any picture to take you to the shop to see all of them.

I will be in the Louisville, Kentucky area Memorial Day weekend. If you live in that area, and would like to eliminate shipping cost by picking them up from me while I am there, simply select “Pick up” when checking out and send me a note. xoxo