II Timothy 1:7; Psalm 117 - "Alive & Breathing"

God woke me to the song Alive & Breathing and directed me to read Psalm 117. In The Passion Translation it reads:

Let everyone everywhere shine with praise to Yahweh!
Let it all out! Go ahead and praise him!
2 For he has conquered us with his great love
and his kindness has melted our hearts.
His faithfulness lasts forever and he will never fail you.
So go ahead, let it all out!
Praise Yah!
O Yah!

Wow, God! You knew I needed encouragement to praise You through these 'tough' days. You always know exactly what I need and provide emotionally, mentally, physically, financially, and most of all spiritually. This song speaks volumes to me.

Joy still comes in the morning
Hope still walks with the hurting
If you're still alive and breathing
Praise the Lord
Don't stop dancing and dreaming
There's still Good News worth repeating
So lift your head and keep singing
Praise the Lord

Woo hoo, God! This is what He gave me to preach Sunday. Psalm 61 shows how He gives us peace, hope, and courage to be who He has called us to be. This song shows how He gives us joy and hope to continue on through 'tough' days so we can be who He has called us to be. It seems like He is trying to get a message across to me. I need to get better at praising God no matter what is happening in my little world. I need to not allow the enemy any open door into my life. The only way these will be accomplished is by being more intentional on standing on II Timothy 1:7. I must allow God to empower me so His love will flow in and through me.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for this song and Scripture that encourages me greatly to praise You through these 'tough' days! Thank You for always being with me and loving on me! Thank You for Your Word that encourages me to be surrendered fully to You! Lord, I pray for Doc to be able to have nourishment today. I ask that You continue to be His strength as he deals with the effects of the chemo and the pancreatic cancer. May You be greater than his pain and side effects today. I also pray for: Peggy, Wanda, Kathy, Patti, and Joni as their Momma goes to the doctor today; David as he gets moved to Edwin-Shaw; Daniel as he awaits Petscan results; Mike Hignight as he deals with pain; Police Chief Clancy's biological and blue family as he passed away; ones who have COVID19, their family, and families of those who have passed away from it; and so many others who need to feel Your touch. Lord, I pray You will cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with more of You. May You ooze out of my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts today in a new, different way. I praise You Father for keeping me on-track. Thank You for the blessings from yesterday and the ones ahead in this day! Thank You for safety for many who are traveling! Thank You Jesus for being The One I Praise! Amen. 

II Timothy 1:7 - "Another In The Fire"

Every time we were awake during the night the Lord had the words to 

There'll be another in the fire
Standing next to me
There'll be another in the waters
Holding back the seas
And should I ever need reminding
How good You've been to me
I'll count the joy come every battle
'Cause I know that's where You'll be

Yes! Throughout these 'tough' days I have His joy in my heart. He gives me exactly what I need to encourage my heart. Yesterday as I made sweet bread and gave to three neighbors and made a birthday dessert for another neighbor I was blessed. I also was blessed to have the energy to pick up the junk from trimming the bushes the day before and lead Bible study last night. Spending time watching TV with my honey was another blessing. I praise His Holy Name for giving me encouragement! I praise Him for reminding me of the joy He puts in my heart! I am so blessed to be where I am in my relationship with Him. Knowing He is my empowerment to do what He puts before me is another blessings. As I stand upon II Timothy 1:7 I know His love is oozing out of me. Woo hoo! Oh how I pray I get better at sharing Him with others. That is what He put us on this earth to do. I do not like to do anything just half-way but like to accomplish things put before me the best way possible. I think that is why I enjoy reading and studying His Word. I want to learn more. I desire to have as much knowledge as possible to put along with the love and devotion I have in my heart for God. I don't ever want to stop learning. 

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for Your encouragement! Thank You for the joy You put in my heart! Thank You for being in the fire with me! Thank You for cleansing me so You can fill me! Thank You for being my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts throughout the day ahead! Thank You for giving Doc another day of life! May his pain be less in the day ahead. May he be able to eat and be nourished and be able to function. Father, go before us and give us what we need to not just get through whatever lies ahead but for You to be glorified through the day. I pray for protection over all in the path of the tropical storm and pray against it intensifying and hitting us. Thank You for Debbie getting out of the hospital and David preparing to move to Edwin Shaw tomorrow! Thank You Jesus for being My Fire Protector! Amen.

II Timothy 1:7; Psalm 73 - "Even If"

The Lord took me to Psalm 73 this morning. After reading it in different versions I settled into The Passion Translation. The first part of this Psalm speaks of how we look around and see people who are not following Him seem to be living a very blessed life. A lot of times it appears like they have no problems in the world. They are happy, carefree, and go about their daily lives with no issues. Outside appearances do not always reflect the heart. People who are not following Him are finding 'happiness' in the world. That will not last. When we follow Him, He will be our eternity and that is where true contentment is found. Verses twenty-three through twenty-eight are ones we all need to remember.

23 Yet, in spite of all this, you comfort me by your counsel;
you draw me closer to you.
24 You lead me with your secret wisdom.
And following you brings me into your brightness and glory!
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? You’re all I want!
No one on earth means as much to me as you.
26 Lord, so many times I fail; I fall into disgrace.
But when I trust in you, I have a strong and glorious presence
protecting and anointing me. Forever you’re all I need!
27 Those who abandon the worship of God will perish.
The false and unfaithful will be silenced, never heard from again.
28 But I’ll keep coming closer and closer to you, Lord Yahweh,
for your name is good to me. I’ll keep telling the world of
your awesome works, my faithful and glorious God!

Yes! Even when we long to have a 'quiet' life with no problems He is there to draw our focus back on where it needs to be. I get weary with all that is going on in our life. Sometimes I just wish life could be 'normal' but then I realize there is no such thing. I am thankful for the reminders of this Psalm. I must continue to trust God through every second of every day. But when I trust in you, I have a strong and glorious presence protecting and anointing me. Forever you’re all I need! Yes! Trusting Him...walking in His presence...allowing Him to lead me where He desires. That is where my best life will be found. As I stand upon His love and empowerment as II Timothy 1:7 tells me I will be blessed in abundance. Praising Him throughout the 'tough' days is the best way to live. Giving Him glory when life is falling apart is the best way to use our time. Knowing He is answering our prayers even when they are not the way we desire gives peace in the midst of the storms of life. Having the knowledge that when He leaves mountains unmovable He knows what He is doing gives comfort.

They say it only takes a little faith
To move a mountain
Good thing
A little faith is all I have right now
But God, when You choose
To leave mountains unmovable
Give me the strength to be able to sing
It is well with my soul

I know You're able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone
I know the sorrow, and I know the hurt
Would all go away if You'd just say the word
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for the reminder that You know best! Thank You for being Who I need and filling my needs! Father, sometimes I don't know how I am going to get through another day and then You remind me I am not alone on this journey. Lord, cleanse me so You can fill me to overflowing with more of You. May You be greater than me today through my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts. Lord, once again I pray today would be a better day for Doc. I pray he would be able to get up out of bed and be able to function. Thank You for giving me the desire and strength to take a walk last evening! Thank You for him waking up hungry! I pray the food will stay in and provide nutrition for him. Lord, I also pray for: Daniel who is having a pet scan today; Avanel who received results from her testing; families who are making decisions about the upcoming school year; Terri Long; Mike Hignight with pain; Debbie Handwerk and her family; safety for Bob and Beth as they travel today; and for the enemy to get a swift kick as he is making people say and do nasty things with COVID19 issues such as masks. Thank You for being My Hope! Amen.

II Timothy 1:7 - "Nobody Loves Me Like You"

The Lord woke me to Chris Tomlin's song Nobody Loves Me Like You. He knew I needed encouraged. He knew I need to remember just how much He loves me as the days seem to get harder and harder. 

Mountains, You're breaking down the weight of all my mountains
Even when it feels like I'm surrounded
You never leave my side, oh oh oh 

Nobody loves me like You love me, Jesus
I stand in awe of Your amazing ways
I worship You as long as I am breathing
God, You are faithful and true
Nobody loves me like You

I know He is always with me. He sees the tears and knows the hurts of my heart. I know His empowerment is the only thing getting me through these days. I know His love will be enough for whatever happens today and in the days ahead. I know all of these things but sometimes as a human being the tears have to fall. Some days are just too much and I need to remember He is there to take me into His arms and comfort me. Praise His Holy Name! I am so thankful for the encouragement He gives with songs and His Word. I am thankful for friends who will listen and cry along with me. I am thankful for people who are praying for us. Plain and simple. I am thankful. If I did not have II Timothy 1:7 to stand upon, I would be a mess. 

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for Your love! Thank You for the ways You encourage me through music and Your Word! Thank You for another day of life with my honey! Thank You for lessening Doc's pain yesterday for him! Father, may today be a day where he can get out of bed and function. May it be a day where he can eat without being sick. Lord, I pray he will feel Your supernatural empowerment today in a mighty way. I pray for him physically, mentally, emotionally, and most of spiritually. I pray for a cleansing in our spirit so we can walk in Your empowerment today. May we represent You better today than yesterday. Lord, I pray for my meeting this morning at the building. May You shine through my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts. Thank You for appointments I made yesterday for getting estimates on the tree work! May You continue to guide me and give me wisdom and protection. Thank You Father for My Loving Heavenly Father! Amen.

II Timothy 1:7; Psalm 98 - "Praise You In This Storm"

The Lord woke me with an urgency to read Psalm 98. I read it in different versions and settled in with the New Living Translation. It begins: 

Sing a new song to the Lord,
    for he has done wonderful deeds. 
His right hand has won a mighty victory;
    his holy arm has shown his saving power!

I needed this reminder this morning as we start a new week. There is always something we can praise Him for when we stop and think about it. No matter what is happening in our little world we are assured God is with us. If we grumble like the Israelites during their trek across the dessert, we will be miserable. We must keep our focus on Him and not our circumstances. Sometimes that becomes hard when things keep happening but it is not impossible. I am reminded of what I said in the sermon yesterday about life being the pits. When life gets overwhelming, we need to taste and see that the Lord is good and spit out the hard stuff. It doesn't mean our troubles will go away but it does mean God will be our strength through whatever happens. What does that look like when you receive 'bad' news from the doctor? What does it look like when your prodigal child doesn't return? What does it look like when you lose a family member? It will look different for each one of us because God makes us each unique. The one thing that is not different is God must be our focus. We must stand upon II Timothy 1:7 in His empowerment and love to get through the 'tough' days. We must never give up on Him because He never gives up on us. This Psalm ends:

Let the sea and everything in it shout his praise!
    Let the earth and all living things join in.
8 Let the rivers clap their hands in glee!
    Let the hills sing out their songs of joy
9 before the Lord,
    for he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with justice,
    and the nations with fairness.

When we keep our focus on Him and allow Him to empower us through 'tough' days, we will be blessed in the knowledge we will spend eternity with Him. It does not matter what happens on this earth as long as we stay focused on Him. He will give us His supernatural strength to praise Him through the storms of life.

I was sure by now
That You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen", and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God who gives
And takes away

I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For You are who You are
No matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise You in this storm

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for this Scripture and song this morning that encourages me greatly to stay focused on You and praise You no matter what happens! Thank You for loving me so greatly! Thank You for being our strength during these 'tough' days! Lord, I pray today will be a better day for Doc with less pain. I pray he will be able to eat and function better today. I also pray for Your supernatural empowerment in both of us. I pray for a cleansing in our spirits so You can give us exactly what You desire. May You shine brightly through us whether we leave the walls of this house or not. Thank You Jesus for being Our Empowerment! Amen.

II Timothy 1:7; Jeremiah 29:11 - "Your Name Is Power"

This picture is one I will always treasure. The smiles on our faces showed God working in and through us through radiation treatments for the cancer found in my breast. It shows His strength during 'hard' times. God is so good! He desires to be everything we need. During the night He woke me once to pray for pastors who are going through circumstances that are pulling on their faith greatly. He had me pray they would not give up but instead would press into Him more than ever before.

• Pastors who have lost a spouse and doing ministry on their own.
• Spouses of pastors who have lost their spouse and trying to find their place in the church since they are no longer the pastor's wife or husband.
• Pastors who are taking care of spouses with illnesses or are dealing with illness themselves.
• Pastors who are being ridiculed for the decisions being made during COVID19.

There is so much stress in our world today even among believers. It saddens my heart. We should be digging deeper into His Word, praying more genuinely, sharing His love more, etc. Instead we are arguing over masks and statistics; verbally abusing one another; have a nasty disposition; etc. I cannot begin to imagine the hurt our Heavenly Daddy is feeling through all of this. We need to get to the point in life where we realize He knows what is happening and He knows the ending. We need to call upon His name when we feel like doing or saying something not of Him so He can empower us to live as He desires. II Timothy 1:7 tells us not to fear but instead to stand in His love and empowerment. That does not mean we aren't to use the brain He gave us when making decisions. We need to allow Him to make the decisions for us. We need to listen to His voice and walk in obedience to Him. We should not be going off making decisions out of our flesh. He woke me to the song Your Name Is Power this morning...

You're the only answer to the darkness
You're the only right among the wrong
You're the only hope among the chaos
You are the voice that calls me on
Louder than every lie
Our sword in every fight
The truth will chase away the night

Your name is power over darkness
Freedom for the captives
Mercy for the broken and the hopeless
Your name is faithful in the battle
Glory in the struggle
Mighty it won't let us down or fail us
Your name is power
Your name is power

Yes! There is such freedom in a life sold-out to Him! He is ready to give us exactly what we need even before we realize the need. He is ready to love on us with His love when the world is trying to tear us apart. He is ready to catch us when we feel like we are falling. Plain and simple. He is ready for us no matter what the circumstances.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for my time of praying for pastors during the night! I was so tired when I went to bed I wasn't sure if You would get me awake or not. I am so thankful You did. Father, I pray for my pastor/husband who continues to deal with extreme pain from the chemo. May You give Doc healing in his body. Father, we continue to pray for complete healing on this earth, sooner than later but most of all we pray healing is in Your will. Lord, You had me pray during the night for pastors in specific circumstances. May You be so real to those: who have lost their spouse; spouses who have lost their pastor/husband or wife; pastors with illnesses themselves or spouse; and all pastors as decisions are made during COVID19. You also had me pray specifically for Mike Dennis, Mark Koch, Brad Stacy, Libby Newman, James Pomerich, and David Johnson. I pray these pastors will be abundantly blessed by You today. Lord, I also ask blessings over the sermon You gave me for today. I pray You will engage my mouth and brain to work together. It's been a tough few days and my cognitive skills have suffered. Lord, be greater than MS in me today as I am Your obedient servant. Cleanse me of anything not of You so You can empower me. Thank You Jesus for being My Empowerment! Amen.

II Timothy 1:7; Romans 8:28 - "The God Who Stays"

Throughout the night when we were awake God had the song The God Who Stays going through my mind. He does stay with us no matter what we do or don't do. When we miss an opportunity He puts before us, He doesn't leave us but instead stays right beside us. If we do something we shouldn't, He doesn't turn His back on us but instead loves on us. What a blessing to be in relationship with Him.

You're the God who stays
You're the God who stays
You're the one who runs in my direction
When the whole world walks away
You're the God who stands
With wide open arms
And You tell me nothing I have ever done can separate my heart
From the God who stays

I love the word picture from this song. He runs toward us when we feel like everyone else has turned their backs on us. He is always there with His arms open so we can run into them. His strength is our strength as we accept it. His empowerment is ours as we live a life of obedience to Him. I love how the song continues...

My shame can't separate
My guilt can't separate
My past can't separate
I'm Yours forever
My sin can't separate
My scars can't separate
My failures can't separate
I'm Yours forever
No enemy can separate
No power of hell can take away
Your love for me will never change
I'm Yours forever

Yes! Nothing we do can separate us from His love. The enemy may fight hard to take us away from God but he can't win unless we allow him. God loves us so very much and desires to see us succeed in a life sold out to Him. He doesn't want to see us fail. My thoughts go back to two verses this morning. As I live out His love and empowerment of II Timothy 1:7 I will realize Romans 8:28 in a great way. Woo hoo!

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for getting us through the last forty-eight hours! Thank You for Your strength and empowerment! Thank You for a little more rest last night! Thank You for Doc getting a little relief from the pain! Thank You for providing Michelle at the pharmacy when the pharmacist said 'no' to filling the medication! Thank You for the cost of the medication being affordable when it was denied by the insurance! Thank You for our friends Terry and Miriam who came and prayed with us, brought flowers and a gift card! Thank You for our friends Elizabeth and Ron who gave us a Food Lion card! Thank You for Terra's surgery going well; for a family member getting the report of no cancer from a pet scan; and David being kept at the facility another week! Thank You for providing strength in the day ahead to do whatever You put before me! I know of some things but I'm sure there will be other things You desire. I pray for work to be completed at the building today and for my sermon to be finished this afternoon. Lord, cleanse me so You can fill me. I'm feeling like I'm running on empty in my physical and emotional tanks but I know You will provide. Thank You for being My God Who Stays! Amen.

II Timothy 1:7; Psalm 34:8; Romans 8:28 - "Child In Your Arms"

I was thinking about that saying ‘life is the pits’ as I put a cherry in my mouth and spit out the seed. I ate the sweet part of the cherry and spit the hard part out. Isn’t that what we do when we are going through ‘hard’ times? We lean into Jesus more and allow His sweet taste to be in us while we ‘spit out’ what is ‘hard’! Taste and see that the Lord is good (Psalm 34:8). Yes! That is exactly what I need to do today after a night of little sleep, a trip to the ER, Doc’s pain returning after I got him back home, etc. Urgh! Taste and see that the Lord is good. I am going to remind myself of this verse throughout the day. I am going to bask in His presence so He can fill my tank to overflowing with more of Him. I am going to be more intentional in standing in His love and empowerment as II Timothy 1:7 encourages me to do. I can ‘do’ this day because He is my strength. He is right here with me. Not only that but He knows what I am going through and what I need to get through it. ‘Life is the pits’ is something I can relate to but it also is something that reminds me of Who is with me to get rid of the ‘hard’ parts. They may not go away but they will be taken care of by my Heavenly Daddy. I am in awe of Him. He loves me so much and never gives up on me. I cannot give up on Him either. I must continue to fight the good fight of faith as He led me to preach on last Sunday. The sermons are as much or more for me as for others. Yesterday He reminded me of Romans 8:28…And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. It doesn’t say ‘some things’ but it says ‘all things.’ I must remember God is taking the ‘hard’ days we are going through and using them for His glory as we allow Him.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for doctors, hospital, medications, etc. that are available when we have a need! Thank You for loving us so much that You are always with us! Thank You for continuing to be with Doc as he experiences this awful pain! Lord, we need to feel Your presence...we need to feel Your strength. Cleanse us so You can fill us to overflowing with more of You. I don't know what is ahead in this day but I know I need Your strength. Father, be with Terra as she has surgery today; David as he continues to recover from his accident; Debbie and her family; and all who are going through 'hard' days. Thank You for being My Heavenly Daddy! Amen.

 

II Timothy 1:7 - "Reason"

I woke up this morning to the song Reason that Unspoken sings on my mind. The beginning of this song is probably how many people feel about 2020.

This year’s felt like four seasons of winter
And you’d give anything to feel the sun
Always reaching always climbing
Always second guessing the timing
But God has a plan a purpose in this
You are His child and don’t you forget

Wow! This describes this year to a 't'! It seems like nothing has gone 'right' yet when we stop and think about it God is still in control. I thought 2020 was going to be the year Doc was healed from pancreatic cancer. So far that hasn't happened but he's still alive and breathing and that is a miracle in itself. I thought 2020 would be the year I was ordained but the service has been postponed once again. I thought 2020 would be the year we moved into the church building. That hasn't happened yet but we sure are closer than we have ever been. "I thought..." That's what I get for thinking...lol. 2020 has been challenging but God continues to be in control of every aspect of my life. What I think is not always what happens but it definitely is what God desires to happen. I just have to continue living in His empowerment and love as II Timothy 1:7 directs. I have to remember the enemy wants me to fail but that cannot happen when I remember...

His love is the reason
To keep on believing
When you feel like giving up
When you feel like giving in
His love is the reason
To keep on believing

Yes! I must not quit walking in His will. The only way I can continue is by living a life of obedience so I can not only hear His voice but I can do what He directs. Woo hoo! His love and empowerment will see me through these 'tough' days with COVID19. They will see me through the 'tough' days with the cancer in Doc's pancreas. His love will heal my hurts and give me the strength to put one foot in front of the other today as I function on little sleep. His love will empower me to not only get through the day ahead but will shine brightly through me as I allow Him. Woo hoo!

Dear Jesus, 

Thank You for this song that encourages me to stand upon II Timothy 1:7 in a more intentional way in the day ahead! Thank You for the strength You will provide as I function on little sleep! Father, I pray just as we prayed last night for today to be a better day for Doc. May he feel Your supernatural strength today in a new, different way. May his body function with Your supernatural empowerment. Lord, cleanse me so You can fill me with more of You. I need Your supernatural strength in a mighty way today. I pray for clarity as I meet with the tree service and as I finish the sermon You have given me to preach Sunday. Thank You for friends who continue to pray for us! Lord, You are so good in all the ways You encourage us! Thank You for being My Reason! Amen.

II Timothy 1:7; Numbers 6:24-26 - "The Blessing"

Every time we were awake during the night the Lord had the song The Blessing going through my mind. He does bless us in abundance even during the 'tough' days with Doc's health. Yesterday was a blessing with having the money to pay for the HVAC repair with no worries because friends had been obedient to the Holy Spirit's nudging to send us money. We have insurances, taxes, etc. due in the summer and normally have money put back to cover all of them. Due to COVID19 the ways to make the extra money were no longer available. Therefore, it was looking bleak but God provided. What a blessing! The words to this song come from Numbers 6:24-26. The song continues with...

May His presence go before you
And behind you and beside you
All around you and within you
He is with you, He is with you
In the morning, in the evening
In your coming and your going
In your weeping and rejoicing
He is for you, He is for you

Yes! This explains what life is like when you live in His presence. He is with You in every aspect of life. He went before us and provided for the HVAC repair. He knew our need before it ever happened. The people who sent money to us did so before the leak began. That was really cool because there was no open door to fretting over how it would be covered. God provided before the need. Wow, God! 

• He provides for emotional needs when the tears start. 
• He provides for the mental needs when the weariness gets in the way of making clear decisions. 
• He provides for the physical needs when I feel like I can't put one foot in front of the other to keep moving.
• He provides for the financial needs before they are even realized.
• He provides for the spiritual needs in time of being in His Word and being refreshed like last night as I spent time getting my tank filled.

Plain and simple. He provides. Woo hoo! Last night one of the things that He brought out to me is we must know the difference between our 'wants' and our 'needs'! We also need to remember when we pray for His will, we must be ready to accept it! What a blessing to dig deeper into Scripture I have studied many times and yet be reminded of truths that may have gone along the wayside in my thinking. I know the only way I can stand on II Timothy 1:7 in the day ahead is to be living in His presence. That is where I will find the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to stand in His love. Oh how I desire for people to see/hear Him instead of me today.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for providing for my needs and sometimes even my wants! Thank You for going before me and providing exactly what I need, sometimes before the need is ever realized! Thank You again for those who provided for our HVAC repair! Thank You for putting us together with repairmen who walk with You! Thank You for Doc waking up this morning and wanting breakfast! Father, be with the oncologist today as they determine if he will have chemo or not. I pray he will feel better today and if he does have chemo I pray he will have strength to endure the side effects. Lord, continue to be with: Mike Hignight; Debbie Handwerk and her family; Kandi Brooks; Cassie Garrison; Daniel Ingram as he awaits his pet scan; Judy Sampson; Craig Rench; David Laurilla; my friends with him in treatment; and many others who are going through difficult days. Lord, I praise You for Rhonda Hair's granddaughter doing well through another treatment and for You being with my Momma yesterday as it was their wedding anniversary. May Your presence be realized by all. Thank You Jesus for being My Provider! Amen.

II Timothy 1:7; Psalm 117 - "Provider"

Throughout the night every time I was awake the Lord had the words to the song Provider going through my mind. This song has been prevalent in my heart over the last week or so. I know God is encouraging me. I also know I must be missing something since He continues to put it before me. The writer, Cade Thompson, wrote of this song: God is in the details and I wanted this song to remind people of that. It’s real. He cares about the details. He cares. That in itself should be enough to get us through 'tough' days. But what if it isn't? What if we get to the point where we don't know how to pray anymore? That is where I was last night when Doc and I had our prayer time before going to sleep. I'm not giving up praying for him to be healed but I need to take a step back and ponder upon what a healing looks like for him. I don't know if God will miraculously heal him but I know He could. I don't know if God will heal him through doctors, medication, treatments, etc. but I know He could. I don't know if God will heal him through death but I know He could. Plain and simple. I believe God will heal him. The hard part is in the waiting. It is so hard to watch him suffering from pain and side effects. After almost fifteen months I am to the point where I do not what to pray. This song says...

Even on my darkest day you show me where the light is
You’re my Provider
And when my strength is gone I know where to find it
You’re my provider

These are some dark days we are living. Not only are we contending with the cancer in Doc's pancreas but we also have COVID19 to deal with. As I said in the sermon Sunday, 'we cannot give up on God.' He has always and will always be faithful in loving and providing for us.

You have always been
You will always be
Your faithful hand is holding onto me

Yes He is faithful and yes He is holding onto me. I would not be able to get through these days if He wasn't. I cannot forget this truth. He won't let me forget it. This morning He took me to Psalm 117 which is very short with only two verses. It reads in The Passion Translation:

A praise psalm
1 Let everyone everywhere shine with praise to Yahweh!
Let it all out! Go ahead and praise him!
2 For he has conquered us with his great love
and his kindness has melted our hearts.
His faithfulness lasts forever and he will never fail you.
So go ahead, let it all out!
Praise Yah!
O Yah!

Woo hoo! We need to praise Him through the 'tough' days. We need to allow Him to live in and through us, especially in the 'tough' days. He will be faithful to us and we need to be faithful to Him. The more we praise Him, the easier the 'tough' days will be. The more we focuse on Him instead of our situation, the better He will be able to empower us to live as He desires. I praise Him this morning for starting my day off with encouraging my heart to stay focused on Him. I praise Him for this song and Scripture that point me to Him. I praise Him for knowing exactly what I needed today. Plain and simple. I praise Him!

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for this Scripture and song that encourage me greatly as I begin another day! Father, empower me to stand upon II Timothy 1:7 in a more intentional way today. May You cleanse me so Your words, actions, attitude, and thoughts will ooze out of me. Father, may today be a better day for Doc. May the pain be less, the side effects be less, his strength to increase, and You to shine brightly through him. Father, as we said last night we don't know how to pray anymore. We know You are here for us and we also know You are not going to leave us. Strengthen our faith, Lord, strengthen our faith. Lord, I pray for our dear friends who are facing something new today as one goes into treatment. Be so very real to both of them and let them know You are not going to leave them during the 'tough' days they are experiencing. May their faith grow and not diminish through this time. Encourage their hearts with putting people around them who will love them with Your love. My heart breaks for their situation. May You be greater than what is going on. Thank You Jesus for being Our Provider! Amen.

II Timothy 1:7; Lamentations 3:21-23 - "The Way (New Horizons)"

The Lord had the song The Way (New Horizon) going through my mind every time we were awake throughout the night. This song reminds me of how God is with us no matter what we go through.

Through every battle
Through every heartbreak
Through every circumstance
I believe that You are my fortress
You are my portion
You are my hiding place 

I believe You are the Way, the Truth, the Life 

Yes! He is our strength to get through 'tough' days. He empowers us to not be fearful of what is ahead but instead to rest in the knowledge that He is with us and always will be. He reminded me of the ten things I spoke of in the sermon He gave me to present yesterday. We all need reminded from time to time how to fight the good fight of faith. Paul told Timothy in II Timothy 6:12: So fight with faith for the winner’s prize! Lay your hands upon eternal life, for this is your calling—celebrating in faith before the multitude of witnesses!  This is what we all need to do! We need to keep pressing forward to our eternal home in heaven. I am going to strive to be better at these ten things so I can be more focused on Him.

Ten Things We Can Do To Fight The Good Fight of Faith 

1.            Continue to walk toward God; do not look back - Philippians 3:12-14   

2.            Live for God not the world - Colossians 3:1-2   

3.            Allow God to live in and through you - Ephesians 3:14-19 

4.            Allow trials of life to strengthen you - James 1:2-3 

5.            Keep active in your spiritual life - Romans 8:6 

6.            Live a life where you can hear His voice and walk in obedience – John 10:27       

7.            Live out your testimony – Matthew 5:14-16

8.            Be bold in your witness – II Timothy 1:7

9.            Never quit learning more about Him – James 1:5

10.          Don't quit saying 'yes' to God – Proverbs 3:5-6

As I strive to stay focused on Him, I will realize His love, strength, empowerment, peace, etc. more than ever before. As I stand upon II Timothy 1:7 the Holy Spirit will empower me to stay strong even when I am feeling overwhelmed. Woo hoo! I don't want to live a life filled with fear and doubt but instead want to live the life He has called me to live. The song continues...

It's a new horizon, and I'm set on You
And You meet me here today with mercies that are new
All my fears and doubts they can all come too
Because they can't stay long when I'm here with You

These words remind me of a Scripture my dear friend Anne gave me a few months ago and then again last week. Lamentations 3:21-23 reads in the New Living Testament:

Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning!

Woo hoo! Praise His Holy Name! Jeremiah wrote these words during 'tough' days after watching the fall of Jerusalem. He saw how God brought judgement down for the sins of the people. Even though Jeremiah was experiencing 'tough' days, he still had hope in God and was confident in His love. That is exactly what we need to do when we experience 'tough' days. We need to stand in victory with Him! He has already won the war when He gave His Son to die for our sins. What we are going through on this earth is no surprise to Him. He knows the end of the story and we must be willing participants in His story until the end comes. As we are, He will love on us with a great love that shows us mercy and grace. We must remember to stay focused on Him and not what is happening. As we do, it allows Him to use us as He desires.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for the message You put on my heart to share yesterday! Thank You for giving me voice to present it even with a sore throat! Thank You for the way You continue to bless us through these 'tough' days! Lord, cleanse me so You can fill me so I can stay focused on You! May You be my words, actions, attitude, and thoughts in a mighty way today. I pray anyone who I see or talk to will feel Your presence ooze out of me. Lord, it was another rough night for Doc. I pray for relief for him. I pray for Your mercies to be upon him in the day ahead. I pray for healing and strength in his physical body; encouragement in his emotional body; and focus in his spiritual body. Lord, be greater than his aches and pains. Thank You for him eating three meals yesterday! I cherish when we can sit at the table together like we did twice yesterday. Thank You for friends like Anne Fairbanks who encourage me greatly with Scripture! Thank You for everyone who takes time to check on us! Thank You for songs that encourage me! You are such a good Daddy! I love You so much and am thankful for You in my life. I cannot even begin to imagine how people get through life without You. Oh Father, empower me to do better at sharing Your love with others. I pray You will be with my friend Cassie who is going through some 'tough' days to realize Your love in a more intentional way. Thank You for being My Portion! Amen.