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Peaceful Confidence

We are faced with things in our lives that challenge our faith, that bring us to our knees. I have been facing a particularly difficult storm in my life. A valley of the lowest kind. Have you ever been there? When it feels like this is a storm you may not make it through? Perhaps you are there now.

Everything around you giving way. My world twisted & shook. Rocked to my very core, like nothing I had ever encountered. Does it seem like the mountain top just seemed too high to even try to get to, the valley too great a distance to travel? I’m so weary. Are you weary? What could we do? Do we give up?

No. It took some time to figure things out but as God walked with me…I began to have a peaceful confidence.

I have peace, peace given to me by Jesus. Peace given to you. His very words are:

“Peace I leave with you. My peace I give you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” John 14:27 (NKJV)

Peace is a fruit of the Spirit. (Reference Galatians 5:22) Instead of fear or anger, I choose to have peace reside within me.

I have confidence. Confidence that I will get through this. That you will get through this. Hold on. He will be our confidence.

“For the LORD will be your confidence, and will keep your foot from being caught.” Proverbs 3:26 (NKJV)

“Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.” Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)

I believe that GOD is well aware of all things and that includes my situation (yours too) and He will protect us.

“But the LORD is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3 (NIV)

He will give you and I strength to stand up under the pressure of our trials and He will not give us more than we can bear.

“No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful; who will not allow you be tempted beyond what you are able. But with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV)

He will give us His peace as we wait for His timing to restore all things that were taken by the enemy, satan.

“So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten….” Joel 2:25 (NKJV)

He will equip us to work with Him at what He wants to accomplish through each of us according to His will & purpose.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

I will keep reading His Word. I will keep pursuing my relationship with Him. I will keep praying and asking for strength & wisdom. AND I know this sounds so weird…I will thank Him for this trial, this storm, this thorn in my flesh right now. (Reference 2 Corinthians 12:7-10)

This storm had brought me to my lowest place however, it has raised me up into a relationship with my Lord that I would never had found! The closeness I share I am most grateful for. I am not liking this storm but I can bear it. I am not strong, but He is! I will boast of His strength!

I am enjoying this peaceful confidence I have in knowing GOD is STRONG & TRUSTWORTHY. You can have the same peaceful confidence. Just ask Him. He is a good Dad!

Wonderfully Made

One afternoon when I was in Aruba, I met this girl (I think she’s a girl). She was hanging out at the pizza place and when I walked by, she came over to the edge of the deck and watched me closely. I took a couple of pictures and this one makes me think she is saying, “Hey, this is my good side!”

It makes me think of how wonderful God made all things. The creativity in this iguana, all the iridescent colors, the spikes, and the scales. As I was looking at the scales, I noticed several different types on the same iguana!

Doing research I learned that Iguanas have varying types of scales covering different areas of their body, for example, there are some large round scales scattered around the neck area and they overlap. The scales on the top trunk of their body are thicker and more tightly packed than on the belly. The scales have a variety of colors that seem to glow in the sunlight. I noticed a white button sized bump under her neck area. What is that? It is a round scale known as a sub-tympanic shield or helmet scale. Some biologists speculate that it is used as a ‘bluff’ eye to ward off predators. Neat!

God created this iguana with such beauty but also equipped her to survive the Aruba heat. She finds shade under bushes or uses her razor sharp claws to quickly climb in the trees. She is far from defenseless. Part of her defense is her tail. On average over half her length is her tail. She uses it for balancing when climbing, as a wavelike propellant while swimming, and as a formidable whip-like weapon. She is also a master of disguise, using camouflage to hide from predators. So cool!

Wonderfully made and equipped to thrive in her environment. So are you and I.

We are wonderfully made. Our Father God says so.

“I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.” Psalm 139:14 (ESV)

Created in His Image. God’s Image.

“So God created mankind in his own image,
in the image of God he created them;
male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27 (NIV)

I will praise God for all the beauty as I look around this earth He created for us! I am thankful I got to spend some time really looking at the beauty in this girl and she was happy to show me her best side!

His Eye is on the Sparrow

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs on your head are numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value that many sparrows.” Matthew 10:29-31

My husband, Michael and I were sitting in our living room recently. We have a big picture window with bird feeders attached on and around the window. A sparrow was sitting on one of the feeders and kept looking in. It would fly up to the glass and put its feet on the window like it was trying to fly in. It did this over and over. I had to put a decal on the window so it wouldn’t hurt itself.

Michael said , “God’s eye is on the sparrow and I know He’s watching me.” I had heard that line before. I looked it up and it is a song written by Civilla Durfee Martin in 1905 and music written by Charles Hutchinson Gabriel in 1905. Part of the song goes like this…

“Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come,
Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home,
When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He:
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me;
His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.

Refrain: I sing because I’m happy,
I sing because I’m free,
For His eye is on the sparrow,
And I know He watches me.”
‘

“The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” 2 Chronicles 16:9

It got me to thinking about how much God loves us and thinks about us. He is watching me. He is aware of my situation. He searches the whole earth for us, for me and for you. He protects and strengthens His children. We are valued. The very hairs on our head, He has counted and He knows!

Not one thing happens in our lives that He is not aware of, that He is not in control of, or that He cannot help us with. I am full of joy to be called His child…how about you?

Read the whole story about the song at https://www.blueletterbible.org/hymns/h/His_Eye_Is_On_The_Sparrow.cfm or listen to it here Cyber Hymnal Website

Laughter

I was feeding my grandson, Kaleb some carrots. He really likes them! I was giving him a bite and my face was close to his. We were deep in conversation as he enjoyed his lunch. He was making faces and smiling at me. That’s when it happened…

No time for me to react. As he smiled so sweetly at me, he sneezed. A BIG sneeze. Aaaa, ahhh….choo! Carrots went flying all over my face! I was covered with orange carrot freckles & baby spit!

I just had to laugh. I laughed so much my belly hurt. It makes me think of all the blessings I have in my life. All the times I can choose joy!

“A man (or woman) has joy by the answer of his (or her) mouth and a word spoken in due season , how good it is!” Proverbs 15:23

How we react to situations effects the outcome. I know this situation is silly, is light and invokes laughter. How can I not laugh. Kaleb had the biggest grin..not knowing what was so funny. Buy Grammy was laughing and that made us both happy.

Sometimes things happen to us during our day and perhaps we react in anger or another emotion and that makes us miss the moment to speak or react in JOY.

JOY, JOY, JOY…I choose to speak and react with JOY