Proverbs 16:2 - "Stronger"

The Lord woke me up this morning with the words to Mandisa's "Stronger" going through my head...

This is gonna make you stronger
Gonna make you stronger, stronger, stronger
Believe me, this is gonna make you Stronger

I sure don't feel very strong right now. In fact, I feel like I am falling apart. Actually, I am falling apart emotionally. But then the rest of the song came to my mind and I was blessed in knowing it will be alright because it is His will that we are going through all of this.

'Cause if He started this work in your life
He will be faithful to complete it
If only you believe it
He knows how much it hurts
And I'm sure that He's gonna help you get through this

When the waves are taking you under
Hold on just a little bit longer
He knows that this is gonna make you stronger, stronger
The pain ain't gonna last forever
In time it's gonna get better
Believe me
This is gonna make you stronger

I don't understand how the 'pain' of saying goodbye will get better but I have to trust Him that He will enable me to get through these tough days. He created me with the emotions I have so it is no surprise that I hurt to the point of tears. He loves me and would never do anything to hurt me. He is not moving us to hurt us but rather to grow us. He is not moving us to make us fearful but rather to enable us to depend upon Him in a whole new way. He is not moving us because He doesn't love us but rather because He loves us so deeply. He is not moving us to cause problems in the Willard Church but rather to enable them to grow to a whole new level. "This is gonna make you stronger" is for all involved in our situation...us, our family, our friends, the Willard Church, our District and the Beaufort Church. 

This morning He drew me to Proverbs 16. There is so much richness in this chapter but He took my focus onto verse two. Wow, God! You are so good! We were content where we were but You saw we were needed somewhere else. We were comfortable in doing what we have been doing for the last fifteen years but You saw we needed a challenge. We were happy living near family but You saw we needed to depend more upon You. We were blessed with our financial situation but You saw we needed to be stretched so our faith and trust in You would go deeper.

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for the way You encourage me so greatly! Thank You for Your love that encompasses me so much! Father, You are so awesome! You are so great! I want to be more like You. Would You please fill me to overflowing with Yourself today so people will see and hear You through me? Would You give me Your boldness in my love? I pray for those who are hurting emotionally over our move including myself. Would You fill us with Your peace? Would You enable us to feel Your loving arms wrapped around us when the tears start to fall? Father when I am emotional it drains my physical tank. Of course, You already know that but I just need an infilling of You in every aspect of my being for today and the days ahead. As I work on school work today I pray for clearness in my thinking. Enable me to rest in Your strength today. Thank You Jesus for being The One To Probe Me. Amen.

Matthew 5:6 - "Clean"

The Lord woke me with these words this morning to a song that Natalie Grant sings....

There's nothing too dirty that You can't make worthy
You wash me in mercy
I am clean.
There's nothing too dirty that You can't make worthy
You wash me in mercy
I am clean.

Washed in the blood of Your sacrifice
Your blood flowed red and made me white
My dirty rags are purified
I am clean

Wow! What a blessing for this reminder!  His love, mercy and grace are the only thing that can cleanse us. If it were not for Jesus dying on the cross, our cleansing could not happen. I love the words "My dirty rags are purified..." Yes! He purifies us! He cleanses us! He makes us whole! Woo hoo! I was so thankful yesterday for the words from Dr. Berke when I thanked him for all he has done for me over the last twenty-two years. "Thank you for all you have done for me!" I am not sure of what those words meant but I do know many times he has told me my faith is what gets me through tough times with MS. He has watched me come through some pretty tough times leaning on the Lord's strength. I believe that is where his statement came from. There's richness in his statement as he is a Jew. I pray my life will continue to effect his life as he reflects back on our time together. I am so grateful for the way the Lord uses me for His purposes. 

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for Your love, mercy and grace that enables me to be a tool for You to use as You desire. Thank You for all that Dr. Berke has done for me over these years. I pray You will go before me and direct me to my new neurologist. I also pray for my blood count to increase so there would not be anything that would have to be done. But if Your will is to have it that way to reveal something, so be it. Lord I am tired in my physical and emotional body and the day ahead is full. Would You give me an added dose of You to accomplish what You desire of me? Would You fill me to overflowing with You so I do not get crabby in my tiredness? Would You crank up my joy so I can live this day in a good attitude? I guess I am asking a lot but I know nothing is impossible with You! Thank You for being The One To Clean Me! Amen.

Matthew 5:6 - "More Of You"

My first thought this morning was "I can't do this" and the Lord quickly reminded me "Yes you can, on My strength not Your own." Alrighty then...today is a day even a 'normal' person would cringe at but with being physically, mentally and emotionally drained I am nowhere close to 'normal'! I am grateful for my friend who prayed over me last night and for my new friends who called us. The Lord knows what we need and He provides. I am grateful for Doc's sermon yesterday for Pentecost. It was exciting to have 25+ people seeking sanctification. It was also exciting when I heard the story of what happened in the men's Sunday school class. It was definitely a sign from the Holy Spirit for the container of forks to crash right at the moment Doc was telling them in order for even a saved person to be at peace they must surrender to the Lord and be sanctified. The Spirit was so real in the service yesterday. As Doc said, that is one of the reasons it is hard to leave. It is as though the Holy Spirit got ahold of people which in turn made a milestone in the church and now we are called to leave. The bold faith Doc preached about yesterday is where we are living. But I never want to stop where we are. I want to go even deeper. I pray for my Willard church family to continue what the Holy Spirit has started. I pray for my Beaufort church family to be hungry for more. I feel like I am living on a teeter-toter. I am praying and loving on people in both churches. I look to the past and reflect upon all the ways we did life with our Willard family and am blessed. I look to the future and dream of ways we will do life with our Beaufort family and am blessed. But in the midst of reflection and dreaming I have to do life in the moment and that is where it is hard. School, last meetings to wrap-up ministries, packing, time to meet with friends for 'one more time,' garage sale, last doctor appointments here....the list goes on and on yet I struggle with energy, crying and thinking. Someone told me the other day "this too shall pass"....praise God for that reminder! When we get moved, I may 'die' for a few days just to get caught back up. I am so grateful for the healing in my body that enables me to do what I am doing. God is so good! I am also grateful for the way the Lord continues to open doors which confirm this step of faith. As fears start to creep into my mind, I am reminded of a quote by Bernadette Devlin....

The will of God will never take you to where the grace of God will not protect you. To gain that which is worth having, it may be necessary to lose everything else.

I praise His Holy Name for this truth. I also praise His Holy Name for a godly husband who listens to God and leads me down the same path. In his sermon yesterday Doc said something about how when you look into someone's eyes, you know their heart. He continued that when we focus on Jesus we will know what. He desires of us. That is so true. The deeper my walk goes with Him, the more I hear from Him and know His will. Last night my friend shared how her co-worker made mention that she is crying out to the Lord more throughout the day. This co-worker is not a believer but I pray she will see Jesus in my friend and one day soon realize she needs him in her life. 

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for yesterday...for today...and for tomorrow! Thank You for Your strength You provide in abundance! Thank You for friends who listen when You send them to encourage me! Thank You for giving me a hunger and thirst for more of You! Thank You for loving me so greatly! Thank You for blessing me so greatly! Thank You for Your Holy Spirit that is at work in many lives in the Willard Church. Father, today is a day full of traveling many miles and seeing many people. Would You please fill me with more of You so people see and hear You through me? Would You give me an abundance of Your love that will ooze out of me for people? Give me boldness in all I do. Thank You Jesus for being My More! Amen.

Proverbs 31:25 - "You Are Loved"

"You are loved..." Praise the Lord for the depth of these words! I love when He gives me a song in the mornings to set the day off on the right foot. The day ahead is another crazy one. It amazes me how many things can be in the same day. These words are ones I am holding onto today...

We're not made to be superheroes,
Photoshopped, all size zeroes
We're a light not expected
But not quite perfected yet.
Look up see the sun is shining
There's hope on a new horizon
Calling you, calling...

Yes! I am not a superhero but I do have His strength to enable me to do what He desires. Nothing more, nothing less. His desires are my desires. I will stay focused on that and He will provide exactly what I need for these days. Once again He reminded me of Proverbs 31:25...

It was so cool yesterday how He favored us in so many ways. The house appraisal, the business at the title office, the quickness of getting Doc's medicine, selling furniture...over and over He showed us His favor. One of the biggest joys of my day was us laughing together! I did not get one box packed yesterday but I had fun in the midst of our chaos with being with my husband and laughing. I am so grateful we were able to laugh at the craziness instead of yelling or fighting. Woo hoo! That was definitely God's favor being shown on us.

Dear Jesus,
Thank You for yesterday and for the day ahead. Thank You for Your love, mercy and grace that enables us to walk in the doors You continue to open for us. Lord, You are so awesome in the way You brought laughter into our day yesterday. I pray for more of the same today. Father, as we minister in different ways today I pray You will ooze out of us. Fill us to overflowing with more of You so people will see and hear You through us. Thank You Jesus for being My Filler. Amen.

Proverbs 31:25 - "Breathe"

Yesterday was one of those days when you finally get to the end of it and look back you wonder how you survived. It is then you see how Jesus was with you throughout all of the craziness. The words to "Breathe" were the first thing I thought of this morning. As I was singing them I realized two or three times when I got in the truck yesterday this song came on the radio. That was definitely a God thing. When I asked at Wal-Mart if they had any individual donuts, the clerk explained the baker called off so another baker was still working on them. Then she proceeded to ask what kind I was interested in. I said it didn't matter I just wanted one and to surprise me. My surprise was when she brought me my favorite kind from there! Yep, I thanked God for even that little thing He orchestrated. Praying with Kelly after my massage was God's way of encouraging me. Coming across one of my favorite pictures of my Daddy when I was packing was a God thing. Praying with a newly widowed lady in the parking lot of Sav-a-Lot was a God thing. Hearing my Momma testify to witnessing to a young Jewish man was a God thing. When there was an emergency at the vet and Mordecei wasn't taken to surgery until after 2, I figured he would end up spending the night but he came home. Praise God for another blessing! The day had been so chaotic that Doc was unable to go with me. I was concerned with getting him up into the truck but he jumped right in. Yep, that was a God thing. When I went to pay the surgery bill, it was fifty cents less than the estimate. That was a God thing...He blessed us by answering our financial prayers. Having the roll-top desk get sold and picked up before I even advertised it was a God thing that was another answer to financial prayers. After I picked Mordecei up from surgery I had to stop three times because of his bloody drool. The one time I was blessed by God pointing my eyes into the direction of these flowers/weeds/whatever they are. It was amazing how there were thistles growing in the middle of them. Who knows, maybe the flowers themselves are weeds but God made them beautiful no matter what they are. After seeing them as I continued driving there were tons of them in the fields I had not paid attention to before. God said, "Look at what I do with something people see as unimportant. I make beauty. Do not let anyone go before you who feels unimportant. Your task is to make people feel important and beautiful." Wow, God sure was busy yesterday in my life yesterday! I go back to the chorus of "Breathe" and laugh a little...

Breathe, just breathe
Come and rest at My feet
And be, just be
Chaos calls but all you really need
Is to just breathe

Once again I am reminded of Proverbs 31:25. He is My Strength in the chaos we are living in right now. He showed me yesterday just how much that statement means. He loves me. He is not going to allow me to fall but instead is encouraging me to continue on with the path He has set before me. He already knows the finances. He already knows the timing. He already knows every little aspect of the days ahead. Woo hoo! That gives me freedom to not worry but instead to be at peace in the chaos. Praise His Holy Name!

Dear Jesus,
Thank You seems so inadequate for all the ways You blessed me yesterday! Lord, thank You for being so very real. I also want to thank You for closing my mouth at times when frustration was so great as Doc and I were working through printer issues. I praise You for him and ask for an added blessing of peace and strength to be over him as we continue through this chaos. I won't ask for the chaos to be taken away because as I saw yesterday the chaos is where my biggest blessings are found. I do pray for strength to continue in my physical, mental and emotional beings. As I started to panic yesterday over the garage sale next week it was if I could feel Your arms around me telling me to allow You to have control over the sale. It is Yours. You know every little thing that needs to be in the sale, how much is needed to come from the sale and when I am to get prepared for the sale. It is Yours and for that I am truly thankful. Father, bless my day today with You going before me. Be my words and attitude. May people see You shine through me in a glorious way today. Woo hoo! I am so excited for this day! Thank You Jesus for being My Biggest Encourager! Amen.

Proverbs 31:25 - "Just Be Held"

There are so many hurting people in this world. The Lord woke me up singing Casting Crowns "Just Be Held" and the tears began flowing and I prayed for...

• the grandmother concerned over the home life of her granddaughter
• the fathers who lost his wife's and are faced with raising their children on their own
• the wife who is dealing with her husband having side effects to prescriptions
• the mommy that is dealing with her son's cancer coming out of remission
• the family who need closure to the death of a loved one without having a body
• the man in excruciating pain with a broken back
• the man awaiting cervical surgery
• the one dealing day-in and day-out with the effects of cancer in her life
• the women dealing with pain in various areas of their bodies from falls
• the man who feels like a failure in his job
• the men dealing with health issues related to diabetes
• several I know who are graduating to make decisions based on what the Lord desires of them
• the one who is struggling to make the 'right decision' as far as their career goes
• the mom who has made some recent decisions based upon what the world wants
• the woman who is allowing bitterness to eat her away and it is effecting her children

Oh how I pray they will know the Lord is near. I pray they will realize people are praying for them. I pray there will be someone in their life to be Jesus to them. These lyrics say it all...

If your eyes are on the storm you'll wonder if I love you still
But if your eyes are on the cross you'll know I always have and I always will

And not a tear is wasted
In time, you'll understand
I'm painting beauty with the ashes
Your life is in My hands

So when you're on your knees and answers seem so far away
You're not alone, stop holding on and just be held
Your world's not falling apart, it's falling into place
I'm on the throne, stop holding on and just be held
Just be held

Yes! When we focus on Him through tough times, His presence is made known clearly to us. May these ones I am praying for know Him intimately so they can have His peace. I think of the Scripture the Lord most recently gave me...

No matter what lies ahead in our life when we are surrendered to Him life will be a lot easier to handle. We will not be living in our own strength but rather in His strength. That is where we find perfect peace!

Dear Jesus,

I pray You will bless my prayers today by drawing closer to those I prayed for. Lord, speak to them through people they will listen to. Some know You, some are in relationship with You and others have never accepted You into their hearts. Father, become so real to all of these ones. I also pray for You to use me today to encourage those I come in contact with. Fill me to overflowing with more of You so people will see/hear You through me. Thank You Jesus for being The One To Hold Me. Amen.

Phil. 4:13; II Tim. 1:7; Joshua 1:9; Jer. 29:11-14; II Chron. 20:15b; Prov. 31:25 - "Good, Good Father"

Last year on this day I was blessed with my last full day working as Medical Chaplain. It was a day of such blessings. There were so many who I prayed with that needed to see Jesus through me. There was a death that people needed to hear the comforting words of Jesus through me. I had a physical melt-down the day before and wasn't sure how I would be able to even 'do' the day but the Lord was my strength. This morning He reminded me of just what He is to me as I awoke to "You're a good, good Father..." Yes! He is so good! The day before this day last year was the way He stopped me in my tracks. He had told me to go deeper and I thought I was doing as He wanted but I was not giving Him my full attention. Life was still full of 'stuff'...some good, some just busyness and not His business. The nine months that followed took me deeper into my relationship with Him so I was enabled to see more of Him. I remember a few months ago where I told Him, "OK Lord. I don't know where You are taking me but I am hanging on for this wild ride!" Wow...if I would have only knew then what I know now, I would have probably been terrified! I remember comparing life to a roller coaster. I don't like them and several times I didn't like life throughout those nine months. But this morning He reminded this life I am living is what He wants me to live. Wow, God! I need go deeper in my relationship with Him so I will have His peace 24/7. Right now I know it is there but through the tiredness and cloudy thinking I am not always feeling it. These words say it all...

Oh, it's love so undeniable
I, I can hardly speak
Peace so unexplainable
I, I can hardly think
As You call me deeper still
As You call me deeper still
As You call me deeper still
Into love, love, love

Yes! It is in His Love that I will be enabled to continue down this path He is leading me down. It is in His Love that I will strengthened in my physical, mental, emotional and spiritual being. It is in His Love that He will flow in and through me. I so desire to be exactly where He wants me to be. I do not want any obstacles to get my way...thoughts of "I can't do this" cannot be my mantra. No! Instead I will stand upon many verses that give me His strength! 

• Sheila can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
• God did not give me a spirit that makes me afraid. He gives me a spirit of power, love and self-control. II Timothy 1:7
• "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9
• "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” Jeremiah 29:11-14

I am so blessed as I think/read these words. He is My Strength. He empowers me to be strong in Him. He goes before me. He brought me out of captivity...out of the busyness of this world to do His business. I may not have been happy with life over those nine months of 'captivity' but I sure am thankful He brought me out of it. I think of the story of King Jehoshaphat in II Chronicles 20:15b where the Lord tells Him: "Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God's." The nine month battle I went through was His. He took me through it to strengthen me. The desire of His heart was for me to go deeper in my relationship and I am so thankful He did not allow me to give up. Victory is sweet! Today and the days ahead I will stand on the verse He gave me Sunday through Doc's sermon...

Dear Jesus,

Thank You for being My Good, Good Father! Thank You for loving me so greatly! Thank You for being the One I worship! Lord, I ask for an added dose of Your strength today. My tank has been depleted yet after our time this morning it is filled back up. Thank You for knowing exactly what I need and providing it to me. Lord, today is a new day. You know what lies ahead and I pray You will bless me through it and You will be blessed through me. Father, direct my steps...give me Your words when I speak...may Your love show through me.  Fill me to overflowing with You not me. Thank You Father for being My Strength. Amen.