Don't Take A Step Without Him

Well, the year has started out with a bang. I was sick with the stomach virus this last weekend and couldn't keep anything down Saturday and Sunday. Finally was fully recovered Monday night. But Wednesday, yesterday, I saw surgeon for my gall bladder issues and need to have it removed. Scheduled that for February 1st and will be out of work for two weeks. Then a few hours later got a call between client visits that my sister, Brook had fallen at a McDonald's and I needed to drive there to help her. Halfway there I got the call she was being taken by ambulance to St. Francis and had to turn around. She has a broken kneecap and is having surgery today to reattach the muscles and tendons that were pulled away with the break. Ouch. She is in a lot of pain and stressed out not just thinking of being off work for a long time, but taking care of her two boys. Please pray for her quick recovery. Several years back she broke both ankles at the same time in a fall. This is her nightmare, to be in a similar place again. Ugh.

The worst part of it was that the staff at the McDonald's ignored her. The customers just stepped over her and didn't help her either (she fell in front of the door as she was going out). She cried and screamed for help for 5 minutes before a sweet lady in the back heard her and came to her rescue. She stayed with her the whole time, retrieved her purse and made calls for her. She said she was new to Tulsa and hadn't found a job yet so had all the time in the world to be with her and wouldn't leave her. What an angel. Brook didn't get her name unfortunately, she was still having a panic attack set off by being left helpless as no one would help her. Can you believe it? It makes me so angry! Help me Jesus. I don't need to be bitter and angry. It is too easy to go there and stay there, as I have learned. Whew, deep breath. Anyway, talk about a bad day.

The funny, and awesome "God Thing" about it was the sweet woman and the fact that I felt spiritually prepared for a trial that day. My quiet time yesterday morning talked about God being with us always. When we walk the ascents and descents on the mountain trail and rough terrain, we are not overwhelmed by fatigue or trials. We aren't going to jump ahead or take a shortcut to the peak, because we trust You, Lord and know that You are with us. When we seek and acknowledge your presence, always with us, we are not alone. We can make it! But only if we go with You and not off on our own. Too often we forget this and that is where we go wrong and off the path and discouragement sets in. Even if the path seems wrong and not to make sense, God knows. He can see much farther ahead than you. His ways are perfect. Walk in them, and not on your own. (Mathew 11:28-30) (Joshua 1:5 & 9).

Lord, help me to seek You and follow You. Pitiful as it is, I can't do it on my own. I need your help even to seek you! Even in the first step, I can't make it on my own. (John 15:5) and John 5:19). I need help to focus on you and expand my vision to see you in everything---all day---everyday. If we seek we will find you. That is your promise. Help me Lord. I am asking and seeking. I won't take a step without you. (Psalm 27:8) (Philippians 4:7) (Jeremiah 29:11-13).

Don't take a step with out Him. I know Brook won't and I won't. (Again, please pray for a fast recovery for her). (But perfect injury for the analogy don't you think?) (Sorry Brook, love you).

Seek His Still Small Voice

Well, I've started off the new year with two new devotionals I'm reading and I like them. The first one, my pastor recommended because he wrote a week in it. It is a compilation from many pastors, each taking a week of the year. It is good, it is "The Pathway to Discipleship". The one I like even better was given to me by my friend Angela who said she thought it was transformational. I love it too. It is "Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace In His Presence" by Sarah Young. Here is my journaling after reading the two entries today.

I. Kings 19: 11-12 "He said, 'Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord.' And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice."

Matthew 11:28-30 "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

Joshua 1:5 and 9 "No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will not rail you or forsake you."
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

God's voice is not found in the clamor and chaos of earthquakes, fires, raging winds or clamor of this world. It is a still small voice that speaks to our quiet spirit when we are still and listen. He doesn't yell. It is our choice to listen and seek him. Instead of rehearsing and replaying every trouble, fear and hurt, we need to seek Him and His peace. (This is a hard one for me, as I embarrassingly have to admit I tend to wallow like a martyr.) Wallowing in fear and worry only multiplies our suffering and fear, feeding it. Satan loves this. We are only meant to endure each trial once, so why keep repeating it? Multiplying it? Shut out all the voices and focus only on the most important one---God's! There you will find peace and provision. There you will find Him!

2012 His Year, A Year Of Praise!

Despite Jason having two surgeries this last year, 2011 was a great year for us. Jason healed quickly, you provided abundantly for us Lord, and Max was baptized! We feel so blessed, especially when we think back to more difficult years we have survived. God is good. Thank God for that! Literally, "Thank Him!" That is a big part of what this post is about today. Praise. This last week was a little, well, a lot crazy. Busy, and hectic with school starting back. I showed up Tuesday at school to drop kids off and start back my first day at work also, and the parking lot was deserted. Oops. (Do you hear the crickets chirping?). I felt just a little stupid. It turns out that Wednesday was their first day back. Jason met me at my office and took the kids and worked from home since I had 6 clients scheduled in an 8 hour day with travel in between each. Hard to do, but whew, I did it. That was just the beginning of the week. Dad is sick again, Maizie (our dog) keeps stealing food off of the table, and Jason's brother's friend, Jim committed suicide this week. Please pray for the family. It is tragic and devastating. Sooo, more than just a bad week.

Anyway, it was a reminder to me of a time when Jason was close to that point and so was I. Suicide can be extremely seductive. I never realized that until I hit that point and found myself wrapped up in the warm blanket of the daydream, seeing it down to the details. New I had to get help then and did. Not proud of the fact, but it is what it is and a lot of people don't like to admit it until it is too late. I know that Jesus, my family and several friends (willing vessels of Christ-his hands and feet) carried me and Jason. Thank you Jesus! Anyway, enough rambling, but I am so grateful, especially when I see where He has carried us to now.

Knock on wood, but I know 2012 may not be as blessed as 2011, but God is definitely with us. I am so grateful to be aware of it. I am declaring 2012 as "Your Year" Jesus---A year where you increase in me, Jason and my family. Let us hear you guiding us, clearly, more clearly than ever. May our love for you grow bigger than anything else in our lives, even ourselves. This is Your Year Lord. We are yours. (John 3:30 and Joshua 24:15).

Back to praise now. "God sits enthroned on the praises of his people". (Psalms 22:3) "Praise the Lord! Oh my soul! I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being." (Psalms 146:1-2). "Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus." (I. Thessalonians 5:18). We are called to praise, created for it, and blessed by it. Not only does it please God, but it blesses US. It draws God and Jesus and the Holy Spirit close to us. It is a witness to others, a testimony. We are called to praise in times of goodness and thankfulness, as well as times of trials. Even if through gritted teeth. Many times I have praised God half-heartedly and with a bitter and angry spirit just out of obedience and for my children's sake. But speaking words of truth helps changes our heart and perspective and brings us back to God and the reality of His sovereign goodness. "Hoo-Hoo's" did that for me. It blessed me even more than my kids. When we pray and praise it Changes us and Protects us. Satan and his demons can't stand it and flee. When we are praising God, they can't influence us. We are refreshed again in the blood of Christ and the sweet fragrance of praise goes up to heaven to the Trinity. Demon's can't touch us without touching the blood of Christ or smelling the aroma. It burns their ears and nose and touch, their spirit. It also makes us too slippery to get a grasp on. Sooo---Praise On! He is worthy of it. Join me in making 2012 His Year and a Year of Praise in any and all circumstances we encounter this year. Again, Praise On!!!