VALGOOD

“Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.” 2 Chronicles 2:14

I have been reading through both books of Chronicles over the past several days, and I keep seeing two themes emerging over and over again. The first is that God grants success to His people. “And David became more and more powerful because the Lord Almighty was with him” (1 Chronicles 11:9); “So the Lord gave David victory wherever he went” (1 Chronicles 18:6b). About Uzziah: “…and as long as the king sought the Lord, God gave him success…His fame spread far and wide, for the Lord helped him wonderfully until he became very powerful” (2 Chronicles 26:5b,15b). And later, “Hezekiah sought his God wholeheartedly. As a result, he was very successful” (2 Chronicles 31:21b); “Hezekiah was very wealthy and held in high esteem…for God had given him great wealth…And so he succeeded in everything he did” (2 Chronicles 32:7a,29b,30b). There are a number of accounts of those who chose to trust God, seek Him wholeheartedly and rely on His strength; and they had great success in life because God was with them, blessed them and acted on their behalf.

In my own life, there are many times that I have prayed and seen God work on my behalf. I truly think our successes are due to His gifts (even the skills and abilities we have are from Him!) and His blessing in our lives.

So, it’s somewhat troubling to see the next theme that has emerged…the need for humility. Sadly when we start seeing success in our lives, it’s easy to let that sneaky sin of pride get rooted into our hearts. We listen to the lies that it’s our own hard work, our own skills that we’ve made good use of, or our own “good luck” and neglect to praise God for the blessings He has given us. The words HUMBLE and HUMILITY have come up over and over and over again:

“When the Lord saw their change of heart, he gave this message to Shemaiah: ‘Since the people have humbled themselves, I will not completely destroy them and will soon give them some relief.'” (2 Chronicles 12:7a).

“The Lord spoke to Manasseh and his people, but they ignored all His warnings. So the Lord sent Assyrian armies, and they took Manasseh prisoner. They put a ring through his nose, bound him in bronze chains, and led him away to Babylon. But while in deep distress, Manasseh sought the Lord his God and cried out humbly to the God of his ancestors. And when he prayed, the Lord listened to him and was moved by his request for help. So the Lord let Manasseh return to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Manasseh had finally realized that the Lord alone is God!” (2 Chronicles 33:10-13).

Later (when Josiah was reigning): “You were sorry and humbled yourself before God when you heard what I said against this city and this people. You humbled yourself and tore your clothing in despair and wept before me in repentance. So I have indeed heard you, says the Lord” (2 Chronicles 34:27).

God has great power – He has the ability to give us success when we seek Him wholeheartedly and walk in His ways AND He can punish us greatly for our sins. I believe pride is a stench to Him (and to others – let’s be honest, is it fun to be around someone arrogant and proud? Are they easy to work with? Easy to like?). If God blesses us and instead of praising Him, we take the credit and become downright awful to be around, how disgusting is that?

Instead, we can realize success and give credit where it’s due. We can be humble before God and before others. We can openly admit that it’s God’s blessings in our lives that have made us who we are, where we are, and how we live. It’s God’s protection while we sleep, His hand on us as we walk, His grace in giving us jobs and enough to eat, His blessing of joy and peace, and so forth… may we not be proud but rather full of Thanksgiving, humility and respect. Let’s give glory to God!

Father God, we recognize that You alone are the One True God. We see Your faithfulness and give You credit for being Lord and Master. We thank You for the many blessings and successes we’ve realized. And we likewise want to repent for times that we’ve allowed pride to infiltrate our thinking. Help us take every thought captive and surrender it to Your truth and Your Word. We humble ourselves before You today, we seek Your presence and Your will, and we ask that You would help us succeed in doing what’s right, what’s holy, what’s just, what’s pure, what’s lovely, what’s admirable. Help us act according to Your ways. We thank You and praise You. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!

Have you ever experienced a situation where things weren’t going the way you were expecting? You truly believed in your heart that things would be different?

My devotions the last couple days have been too good not to share! You can read the entire passage word-for-word here (2 Kings 5-7), but I’ll highlight two stories within that really struck me (and I’ve been thinking about ever since!).

The passage starts out with a commander of the Aram army who was a respected, mighty warrior but suffered from the skin disease of leprosy. He was basically given a ‘letter of recommendation’ from the king of Aram and told to go see the prophet Elisha in Israel to be healed. So, the commander went to Elisha’s house and waited at the door. But, instead of seeing him in person, Elisha sent a messenger out to tell the army commander to go wash himself seven times in the Jordan River and then his skin would be restored and he would be fully healed of the disease.

What happened next? The commander of the army became ANGRY!!! He stalked away, offended that the prophet hadn’t met with him. He sulked, “I expected him to wave his hand over the leprosy and call on the name of the Lord his God to save me!”and left in a rage (2 Kings 5:11-12).

Thankfully, his officers reasoned with him and encouraged him to obey. So, he followed the instructions and was healed! The army commander went back and thanked the prophet, proclaiming there was no God in all the world except in Israel (2 Kings 5:15).

In my margins, I wrote “God heals us in different ways than what we might expect.” It was a new thought to me – a new perspective. You see,  I expect that I pray and God quickly answers with a divine intervention OR a medical treatment. But sometimes, I need to step back and realize that God’s ways are different than ours, God’s thoughts are higher than ours, and God’s plans are BETTER than ours.

We can be angry, hurt and sullen with our expectations or we can be quick to submit and walk in obedience to God’s truth. We truly can trust that He is working things out in His way and in His timing.

This brings me to this morning’s reading, where this same prophet Elisha was being hunted by the Aramean army (later the king had ordered his execution – even though he had helped his army commander). Elisha’s servant woke up in the morning and saw “troops, horses and chariots everywhere!” (2 Kings 6:15). He was distraught and cried out, “Ah, my lord, what will we do now!?!?!”

Let me pause here and say if you have ever been in a desperate situation with seemingly no way out, then you know how this distress can feel. This man was afraid for his life, and they were surrounded by troops with literally no where to turn… nowhere but UP, that is.

Elisha responded, “Don’t be afraid! For there are more on our side than on theirs!“ Then he prayed and asked God to open the eyes of his servant. “The Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire” (2 Kings 6:17).

If you continue to read, you’ll find out that not only was Elisha not harmed, all the soldiers went home safely (and with a new perspective of who God is, I’m assuming!) through God’s holy plan.

My point is that sometimes we can’t see what is happening in the spiritual realm. My prayer today was that God would open my eyes. May we not be overwhelmed and consumed by what we see but rather focus on the eternal, the important, the help that comes from above, and mostly the Helper.

Whatever you’re praying for today – know that God doesn’t work according to our plans and expectations… He does things absolutely BETTER! And while we may not physically see it, we can trust and know that He’s got it covered. Submit to His plan and pray today, asking for His help and for His vision. May He change our perspective!

The week after Christmas I had an MRI done on my left ankle and foot since I’m still having swelling and severe pain (and I fell back in September!). I got the results after the New Year’s holiday and was devastated to see that my ankle is still broken (although it looks to be healing) but I tore or partially tore three ligaments surrounding my ankle and there is also an abnormality (break or separation?) in my foot, on that same left side where the ligaments and muscles are joined together. I was sad, to say the least. And the orthopedic group was off for the holidays so I was left with results and no one to really explain them. While my internet search showed that this tears and breaks can be normal with a severe ankle injury, they also suggest that eight weeks in a cast should help with the healing. I’ve already done that, and this MRI was taken months later. I started to panic – why is this not healing?

The next morning, as I was taking the kids to school, we opened our morning devotional as we always do. The kids take turns reading to each other, and we discuss what it says in the car. (I know this sounds like we were running late, but we were actually early. I have found that the morning car ride is the best morning time where we are all together with attention given to what’s being read, so it is just what works for our family for morning devotions!) Here was the devotional, word-for-word (borrowed from the book “365 Devotions for Boys”):

WHO’S ON DUTY?

“You clothed me with skin and flesh, and wove me together with bones and tendons. You gave me life and faithful love, and Your care has guarded my life.” ~Job 10:11-12

     Have you ever seen a lifeguard in action? If someone is in trouble, he does not hesitate to jump into action and save a swimmer from harm. When people sign up to be lifeguards, they know that caring for others is their job.

     Did you know that God is your lifeguard? He offers constant care, love and protection.

I heard the words as they were being read and I immediately thought of David in Psalms saying how God created and formed our bodies. But, instead I was surprised to hear the reference of Job (which the kids mispronounced as a ‘working’ job, and I corrected them saying “it’s Job” which sounds like robe). These verses touched my heart all the more then. Anyone who has read the book of Job knows that he had suffered greatly and continued to trust God and cry out to Him. God knew that I was sad. He was reminding me that He has formed our bodies, He knows how to heal and how to save, and He is offering care, love and protection. I felt like He was saying it would be okay.

I have an appointment to see the orthopedic surgeon tomorrow in between classes. I am still having pain, but I am trusting that my ankle will heal (and I’m praying for sooner, rather than later!). The one doctor from the practice emailed that it can take up to four months for torn ligaments to heal. This week marks four months, but I keep reminding myself that if that is an average, it’s okay to be higher than average and someone else’s lower-than-average healing time makes that still an average. That said, I miss running and doing normal activities, and even being able to sleep without waking up with pain. So, please pray that my ankle heals and this becomes just another memory of God’s faithfulness. 🙂

I am reminded that GOD is on duty today. He has not left His throne. He is still in charge. He knows what we need. After all, He created us! If you have anything you’re struggling with today, ask God to rescue you. Even if all you can do is put your hand up (like a swimmer who needs help!), He’s got you! Trust that He is able and ask for His faithful and powerful intervention. Then thank Him as you watch the answer unfold…

The Sunday after Thanksgiving, the sermon at church was about giving thanks in all circumstances. I’ve read about (and even written about!) giving thanks so much that I feel like I *know* it. But obviously I have yet to really learn this valuable lesson.

On September 22, I fell while running and broke my ankle. I was in my glory, listening to music, breathing deeply, sweating and in a great run groove…when I misjudged the lip of the trail (thinking it was flat against the road rather than a raised, uneven surface) and before I knew what was happening, I was on the ground in severe pain. I went to Urgent Care at my husband’s insistence and couldn’t believe when the doctor said that the ankle was actually broken. I bawled. In fact, I cried more at the feeling of being overwhelmed and defeated than I did at the pain of the injury. I cried and cried and cried. No running (which keeps me sane!) was a devastating thought. But, even more so, I already struggle with school, and I really thought that this was the nail in the coffin of getting my degree. If I couldn’t get to class, I couldn’t possibly learn and the last year and a half was literally for nothing. So, I cried some more…

Also at first, I struggled with my crutches to do simple tasks like get to the bathroom. The pain kept me awake at night, so I was exhausted. And physical pain takes some mental bandwidth, and I need all my cognitive capacity for school. So, I prayed. And I’ve felt like I was to give thanks. Even now, God?

In fact, I read Judges 7 shortly thereafter where God picked Gideon to go fight the Midianite army. It seemed impossible! But, God reminds us that NOTHING is impossible for Him. God also told Gideon to send some of the warriors home when they got to battle because otherwise, they would get conceited and think that it was their own strength that saved them. So, 22,000 men went back and 10,000 remained. But, this was still too many – otherwise the men would become proud and forget to thank God. So, God thinned out the number of warriors by telling Gideon to have the men drink from the water and keep only those who cupped water in their hands and lapped it up. With the 300 men who were left, GOD defeated the Midianite army and saved the Israelites.

I felt as if God was telling me that graduating will happen due to His strength and help and not from my own power, intellect and resources. The broken ankle this semester helped me rely on God more. Honestly, I knew God was the One who brought us this far. If I continue hereafter, it is truly for His glory.

Likewise, I’m trying to be thankful for the circumstance. For example, I have a professor who struggles with mobility, and I am better able to relate to him and ask if/when he needs help. I also have more empathy for students who come in on crutches. I was able to get a temporary handicap parking tag, which has enabled me to get to class. I have not fallen again (and I felt super wobbly on crutches!). My kids have learned new tasks and chores around the house as I’m not able to do everything. A very touching moment for me was when I was cooking dinner on Thanksgiving, and I overheard my husband honoring me by telling the boys how hard I work, that even with a broken ankle I still try to make sure that they have a nice meal and everything they need. I don’t remember the exact wording, but I remember being touched when I heard the conversation happening in the next room over. In fact, I would say that the injury has brought Shawn and me even closer together. I told him that I was useless and he’d be better off without me – I cried that I felt like another demanding kiddo to take care of. He said nonsense – he signed up for sickness and health, and we would get through this time together. He has selflessly sacrificed and done chores I normally do, helped the kids and me, and we have survived. I have all the more respect and love for him.

I also have a surreal peace this semester. I can’t worry about being on campus more than I am because I can’t elevate and ice my ankle there, and I truly need to heal. It does no good to worry about trying to get my run in because I physically can’t. I have found that worrying really hasn’t helped anything at all. In fact, physical pain has helped ground me in reality rather than my typical inclination to worry.

Am I 100% healed yet? I wish! Unfortunately, I must still rely on God to get me through, day by day. But, am I thankful even in this terrible circumstance? Absolutely! I’m thankful for healthy kids, a loving husband, enough money to survive, the love and support of family and friends, and even for the injury itself, as I expect that God is using this to teach me and mold me and refine my character. I can’t be proud or believe that it’s my own strength that gets me through each day or to the end of the semester…I *KNOW* that each step has been evidence of God’s grace in my life. So, I’m still learning… and trying to be grateful in all circumstances.

Dear God, we thank You that You love us and work EVERYTHING for our good. We don’t always love the ways that You teach us, but we choose to give thanks for refining us through both the bitter and the sweet. Truly, we have been blessed with all that we need. Thank You for both the good and the bad. May we give you glory for all that You do for us, and may we serve as a reminder to others that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU! In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!

This weekend I had the pleasure of reading a new novel (The Senator’s Youngest Daughter by Kelley Rose Waller) that was such a page-turner, I finished the entire thing in a 24-hour period. It was not only an easy read (with suspense, action, drama and a little romance weaved in), it was also a novel that really makes you think.

Is America today what our forefathers envisioned? How have we gotten to a place where someone’s name recognition means more than what he or she stands for when running for political office? What happens when America sits back and refuses to vote or be heard because what can “just one person” do? What happens when we believe we are entitled to rights versus working hard for earnings? Are programs offered by the government really “free”? What happens when we believe all the lies the media spoon feeds to us?

This is a story in which absolute power corrupts absolutely. We see inside all the propaganda and political lies. Sadly, we also see the results of the masses being discontent with what government is doing but not willing to act on their convictions. Both disbelief in the power of the people and sheer laziness make this nation waver toward an extremely destructive path.

In this novel, one family works together to try to stop the madness and bring true liberty back to America. The Senator’s Youngest Daughter is captivating and fast-paced and makes you want to finish the next page and then the next. Just when you think that the good guys are about to win, a powerful turn of events makes you gasp and shudder. A family’s love and conviction for our nation (and true liberty) help inspire us to be more aware of the current political climate – and decide which side of the fence we want to be on.

This one is a must-read! Whether laying on the beach or curling up next to the fireplace, this book will hold your attention and make you thirst for more…

Have you ever read a passage in the Bible and immediately felt convicted and the need to repent?

I typically read my Bible in the morning, and I’ve read it so much that at times I think that I’ll know what the chapter is going to say. But even with my familiarity with the stories and verses, the Holy Spirit can highlight verses and bring new revelation that brings me to my knees (or truly on my face).

I’m currently reading in Numbers again about how the 12 spies went to explore the Promised Land and came back to give their report of how amazing and fruitful the land was but how big and strong their enemies who lived there were (Numbers 13). While ten of the men spread discouraging reports, two of the spies went against the crowd (Joshua and Caleb, who my two oldest boys are named after) and said “…if the Lord is pleased with us, he will bring us safely into that land and give it to us. It is a rich land flowing with milk and honey, and he will give it to us! Do not rebel against the Lord and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!” (Numbers 14:8-9).

How did the people respond? They talked about stoning these two men (verse 10). The people began “weeping aloud” and “they cried all night” (Numbers 14:1b, emphasis mine) and their voices rose against their leaders in complaint. They started planning on going back to where they came from. Even though they had lived in slavery and seen God’s miracles in their escape, their memories of the past, their hardships of the present, and their now lost hope for the future clouded their thinking, making them strongly desire to go back to the past. They were not trusting God and were looking at their current circumstances rather than the bigger picture of who God is and what He had planned.

I wrote in my margins: “Please forgive me for wanting to go back.” I’ve been homesick this week. Facebook memories of special times with family and friends in the summer, remembering running with friends on the weekends, reminiscing about how much I enjoyed the classes at my gym, thinking of the produce stands where the kids and I would buy fresh fruits and veggies for dinner for cheap, special kid-friendly adventures we used to do regularly … EVERYTHING was making me want to go “home.” Like those Israelites, I too was contemplating my return, even though I KNOW that God had told us to come here. It was a humbling moment to read these verses and know that my reading was not coincidental that morning. I immediately got on the ground in prayer and then afterward called my husband to ask for his forgiveness as well.

How did God respond to the Israelites’ complaints, whining and disobedience? He offered to kill them all and make Moses a great nation instead (Numbers 14:12). But, Moses was humble and reminded God that He was showing the world His power, His unfailing love, and His forgiveness. The Lord graciously pardoned the people’s sin in Numbers 14, BUT He said not one of them would see the fulfillment of His promise, except for Caleb and Joshua. The rest would die in the wilderness and their kids would be the ones who would inherit the land. It made my heart sad, for the people realized they had angered God. But, He did what He said He would do. Only Joshua and Caleb lived to see the Promised Land out of that entire generation.

Today and going forward, may we not be quick to complain but rather have hearts of thanksgiving. May we be joyful ALWAYS. May we spend enough time talking with God and in His Word that we TRUST everything He says. If God promises to move mountains, close the mouths of lions or part the seas, may we automatically believe not only that He can but also that He will! And for the times that we have failed to recognize His goodness and instead look back, may we fully repent and change our thinking by the renewing of our minds. Let’s pray together!

Father God, thank You so much for the truth in Your Word. Thank You that these words are life and written for us to read and get to know You and Your heart. Please forgive our disobedience, our unbelief, our looking back and our loss of hope. Will You give us a fresh revelation of what You desire for us? May we be thankful rather than grumbling, joyful rather than miserable, and in constant communication with You as we navigate the journey You have for us. Keep us from looking back, from longing for the past. Help us remember that Your promises are for our good. You have given us hope and a future! May we rest in Your unfailing love and forgiveness. Help us teach our kids and the next generation the truths of Your Word. We praise You, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!

When recently asked my personal vision statement, I immediately thought of my favorite verses that have served as my “motto” since high school: “Be JOYFUL always, PRAY continuously, give THANKS in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus our Lord” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18). People often question what God’s will is for their lives, and the above verses are clear. No matter what direction we head, no matter what challenges we face, no matter what our present or future circumstances, we are to have joy, we are to talk to God and we are to be thankful.

When we moved to Michigan, I was (ahem) not thrilled. A friend gave me a book on giving thanks and I began writing down throughout each day the things that I was thankful for – little and big things. As I stopped each moment to give thanks, my heart changed and I felt more satisfied and less entitled to “better.” Really, I have been given far more than I deserve. Haven’t you? I bet you could name ten things that were worthy of thankfulness that happened to you within the last hour.

That said, I’ve been sensing a lack of joy in my life recently. I am deeply in love with my husband (something I don’t take for granted), I treasure our three children, I have a great house in a fantastic neighborhood, I don’t question where my next meal will come from, I have friends in multiple states, I am pursuing my dream of getting my PhD, I’ve conquered many items on my “bucket list,” etc. So, why is it that I still struggle with feeling down at times? Why do I get homesick or look back and wish I could go back? I began to realize that I wasn’t experiencing deep inner joy but rather fleeting happiness.

Then I read Leviticus 9:24: “Fire blazed forth from the Lord’s presence and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When the people saw all this, they shouted with joy and fell face down on the ground.” It stuck with me all day that JOY comes from being in the Lord’s presence.  Joy is what comes from being in a relationship with God where you are praying continuously and reading His Word. Joy is when life throws punches but God reminds you that He is fighting on your behalf. Joy is that voice inside you that reminds you that God created the whole Universe for you, died for you and loves you despite your worst mistakes. Joy doesn’t come from attending church on Sunday. It doesn’t come from doing or saying the right things. Joy doesn’t come from trying to do everything on your own. Joy doesn’t come from family or friends. Joy doesn’t come from work accomplishments or skills you’ve been given. Joy comes from the presence of the Lord. Joy is not happiness but goes much deeper as we connect with God.

So, practically speaking, how do you find God’s presence? If you’re missing joy and you feel like you’re being tossed and pummeled like a rag doll in the ocean, then pick up God’s love letter to you – the Bible. Pick up and devour His true word. Soak up His story and purpose. Listen to music that glorifies Him. If you play an instrument, worship Him with your talents. Basically, spend quality time with the Lord just like you would if you were trying to get to know a friend better. If you’re starving for joy, spend time in His presence. Saying “thanks for this food” before dinner likely isn’t enough to truly bask in His presence and experience the joy that comes from seeing God move. Taking time to seek the Lord while He may be found will bring you the joy you crave – joy to live another day to the fullest, joy despite what your day looks like, joy when milk spills on the floor and your car gets a flat tire, joy when your spouse is traveling and you miss him (or her!) like crazy, joy when it’s hot and joy when it’s not, joy that God is great and part of your life.

If you’ve never experienced this joy, if you want to know more about having a relationship with the Lord, please send me a message. I’d be happy to talk with you or help you get connected. If you’re struggling with joy and you would like me to pray for you, let me know! We need to hold each other up!

Heavenly Father, thank You for the joy that we experience when we’re in Your presence. God, we are grateful for Your Word and we want to give thanks in all circumstances, we want to be joyful ALWAYS and we want to pray continuously. I ask that You would provide peace, love, comfort and joy to those dear ones who are struggling as they read this. May they come to know You more fully and enter a deeper relationship with You. Please provide joy as they continue on this journey You have called them to. Please keep us from temptation and deliver us from evil. May we do Your will as we live for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!

“Tell the people of Israel to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you forever. It helps you remember that I am the Lord, who makes you holy.” Exodus 31:13, emphasis mine

The other morning before reading my Bible, I asked God to speak to me through His Word. He continues to be faithful!

I have found myself in a season of worrying again. Fear grips my heart often at night as I toss and turn. I’ve been dreaming of my boys drowning. Why? I have no idea! But when I have this nightmare, I wake up with my jaw clenched so tight that my entire head aches. And I continue to worry and feel sick even after I’m fully awake and realize that it’s just a dream. What if something happens to them? What if I can’t protect my little ones? Then I worry, what if I’m not making the best choices to raise them? Then I continue to worry, what if I’m spending too much time at home and not getting enough research done? Then I worry that I’m juggling too much… and yet another night of sleep is lost…

As I’m reading in the Old Testament right now, I came to Exodus 31 where God is speaking to Moses. He notes that He has a man in mind to do the work who He has filled with the Spirit of God, and who He has given great wisdom, intelligence and skill in all kinds of crafts (verse 3). God continues to talk about this gentleman’s skills and abilities and notes that he is a master at every craft  (verse 4) and that He (the Lord) has given special skills to these naturally talented craftsman (verse 5). As I underlined these verses, I thought about how it is God who gives us our skills and abilities. Those things that we’re good at are not for our own glory or because we are ‘good’ but because God has given us gifts for His work. We can trust that if God is calling us to do something, He will provide the skills and abilities necessary to accomplish the task. (That includes raising children, I think!)

As I continued reading, I came to the verse above that notes that the Sabbath is a day to REMEMBER that God is the Lord who makes us holy. I think we forget or neglect that the Sabbath is a special day and assume that because Jesus healed on the Sabbath that it’s no longer a rule. But I fear that we have missed that the Sabbath was actually a gift from God. Sure, it was a requirement, but when God talks about the Sabbath in His Word it’s for our benefit. It’s a day of rest and a day to remember that God is the One in charge; a day to set aside responsibilities and worry and to rest in Who God is and what He has done.

Why do I worry when God is the One who gives us our skills and abilities? Why do I worry when it’s God who is ultimately responsible for all creation? I obviously need to do my part in obeying His voice and commands, but then I need to rest in Him. I need to put everything aside and focus on the One who answers prayers and lovingly guides us.

This morning my devotions included Exodus 34:21-24 “…but on the Sabbath day you must rest, even during the seasons of plowing and harvest…” Even in our busiest times when we feel like we must keep pressing on, keep going, keep toiling, keep getting just one more thing done, don’t let anything fall through the cracks, keep pushing… God tells us that we are to stop, rest and REMEMBER that He is God. He also notes that no one will attack or conquer the land when His people obey His instructions to appear before Him (Exodus 34:24). In other words, He is the One who protects and provides and will honor our obedience to His commands.

When we feel overwhelmed at all that we have to do, concerned that we’re not doing enough or doing things perfectly right, or even downright worried about how to be everywhere at once as the protector of our kids, we’ve missed an important life lesson. God is the One who gives us our skills, abilities and gifts. God is in charge of us and our protection. God Himself tells us to rest and REMEMBER Him by keeping the seventh day of the week holy and set apart for Him. Exodus 34:14 reminds us that God is passionate about His relationship with us. Are we as passionate about knowing Him? Can we take one day a week and remember Who our help comes from?

I have not been great at honoring this command, but I’m going to try to be purposeful in REMEMBERING Who God is when I start to worry. I will cast my cares on God who cares for us. While I’m doing my best with my kids and with my research, I’m going to give all of it to God, as He is the One who provides the skills and abilities necessary to do what He’s called us to. And if you’ve found yourself in a season of worry and fret, anxiety or fear, or even just feeling down like there has to be more, then I want to encourage you to take a day of rest to intentionally REMEMBER who God is. He is passionate about His relationship with His people, and He is our protector and provider and more…

Dear Heavenly Father, please forgive us that we’ve treated your holy Sabbath as just another day to get work done. Forgive that we have not been intentional in remembering your covenant of love. Thank You for providing healing, forgiveness and life through the blood of Jesus. We don’t want to forget what You have done or take it for granted. And we don’t want to worry when You have everything in Your hands and in Your control. Help us to do our best with the life You have called us to. Please provide us with the skills and abilities we need to do what we need to do. But, help us remember that You don’t guide us to where we will flounder, if we will obey Your instructions and Your Holy Spirit. We ask You to continue to lead us on this journey – may we follow where You call us and enjoy a relationship with You forever. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!

^“When you enter the land the Lord has promised to give you, you will continue to observe this ceremony. Then your children will ask, ‘What does this ceremony mean?’ And you will reply, ‘It is the Passover sacrifice to the Lord, for he passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt. And though he struck the Egyptians, he spared our families.’ When Moses had finished speaking, all the people bowed down to the ground and worshiped.” (Exodus 12:25-27)

Monday morning, I read Exodus 12 and 13 and saw parallels to the holiday being observed, Memorial Day. I saw many folks post things online that said something to the effect of not taking the day for granted as just another day off, but think about those who died for our freedom. Sadly, for many holidays, we just go through the motions of our typical holiday activities (for example, grilling out and going swimming in the freshly-opened pool) without stopping to fully appreciate what the day means. We LOVE the day off work and the time with our friends and family and give perhaps a two-second thought to the real reason for celebration.

The Bible gives very specific instructions for remembering important events. Each year, the Israelites were to take off work and celebrate a ceremony. This time was important and the instructions were to be passed on permanently throughout the generations. Specifically, it was a time to pause and reflect. Children would notice the difference in activities and ask why. Their hearts and minds would be open to learning what was going on, and it was the parents’ responsibility to reply with the truth about what God had done. Each generation was to tell the next of God’s faithfulness – how God rescued the Israelites from slavery, how they lived in freedom because of God’s mighty power and generous care and concern for His people. The parents were to use these celebrations to teach their children, who would teach their children, who would teach their children, and so on…forever!

“On the seventh day you must explain to your children, ‘I am celebrating what the Lord did for me when I left Egypt.’ This annual festival will be a visible sign to you, like a mark branded on your hand or your forehead. Let it remind you always to recite this teaching of the Lord: ‘With a strong hand, the Lord rescued you from Egypt. So observe the decree of this festival at the appointed time each year.” (Exodus 13:8-10). Again in verse 14, the Bible says that children will ask “what does this mean” and again it says that that the ‘holiday’ or festival was a visible reminder.

We have been given a challenging and awesome responsibility to raise our children – not just keep them fed, keep them safe and keep them well-behaved. We need to teach our children about what God has done. We need to instruct our kids about why we observe holidays and ceremonies. We need to show our children the truth and give them opportunities to ask questions to lead them on the right path. Parenting is hard, but it’s of utmost importance. Sadly, it can be easier to focus on ourselves – to check out on electronics or spend our time selfishly pursuing our own passions and goals without giving our little ones the necessary quality time to truly teach them. Recently I’ve seen so many folks saying “what has the world come to?!?!” I think teaching the next generation to fear God and honor the Bible is where a change for the better can take shape. These boys in my home will be part of the leadership of tomorrow. If I want to see the world change, I need to do my part in teaching, reminding, encouraging, and remembering…

Father God, thank You for Your mighty acts and strong power. Thank You for what You did and who You are. Please help us teach our children about You and to fear You. Please reveal Yourself to them through Your Word and Holy Spirit. May we not forget why we celebrate holidays or why we take days of rest. Help us instruct and encourage our little ones to make godly choices for Your glory. May the world be changed for the better, and will You help us as You did the Israelites. Break any ties of slavery to sin and help us live in freedom, light and love. We thank You and praise You. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!

“So Moses told the people what the Lord had said, but they wouldn’t listen anymore. They had become too discouraged by the increasing burden of their slavery.” Exodus 6:9

Have you heard the expression, ‘it might get worse before it gets better?’ The above verse in Exodus jumped off the page to me this week as I read it. The people had recognized that God had “seen their misery and was deeply concerned for them” so they worshiped Him (Exodus 4:31b). But, they weren’t immediately rescued. Instead, their situation got considerably worse. They were ordered to make the same quota of bricks and needed to go gather their own straw and got punished for not being able to keep up with the increased demands.

“So Moses went back to the Lord and protested, ‘Why have You mistreated Your own people like this, Lord? Why did You send me? Since I gave Pharaoh Your message, he has been even more brutal to Your people. You have not even begun to rescue them!” (Exodus 5:22-23, emphasis mine).

When life gets harder, we tend to point our finger at God. Why, oh Lord, are YOU doing this to us? We know that God is all knowing and all powerful, so we believe that hardships we face must be His fault. How often we miss seeing the bigger picture! Moses accused God of not even beginning to rescue His people. But, was that the case? NOT AT ALL! God had a plan. God had a purpose. God had heard His people’s cries. God did not allow His people more hardship than they could face. And God had already sent Moses to begin the process. It got worse (and it was going to get worse still) … but God knew the ultimate outcome was that His people were going to be free. Plus, He was going to “multiply [His] miraculous signs and wonders in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 7:3) and show everyone that He alone was God.

We have read this story before, and we know the ending. But His people didn’t at that time. They had no idea why God would allow their suffering to increase. In fact, when Moses went to tell them the following message from the Lord “I am the Lord, and I will free you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with mighty power and great acts of judgment. I will make you my own special people and I will be your God. And you will know that I am the Lord your God who has rescued you from your slavery in Egypt. I will bring you into the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It will be your very own property. I am the Lord!” (Exodus 6:6-8), they wouldn’t listen because they had become too discouraged.

My dear discouraged friend, let me speak this into your very being, “NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR GOD!” When your circumstances show that only God can rescue you, that’s when He has your attention – and even the attention of those around you – to display His awesome signs and wonders. We serve a living God! A God who is still in the miracle-working business. A God who is still GOOD. Still TRUSTWORTHY. Still full of MERCY, GRACE and COMPASSION. We serve a God who still sees the suffering of His people and remembers His covenant of love. We can call Him Father and trust in His good plans and purposes. If you are feeling utterly discouraged, then I encourage you to shift your focus from yourself to the Holy God of the Bible. The Israelites quit listening, quit believing… but that didn’t stop God from moving.

In case you’re reading and you need to hear this, the people saw the plagues (even experiencing some of them). They had more lows coming, but when they left Egypt, not only were they free, they had ‘plundered’ the Egyptians who had given them gifts of riches and clothing and wealth. They left on a high note with God in their sights. They were FREE… but may we not forget that there was a time where they didn’t listen when God said, “I’m here. I’m listening. I haven’t forgotten. My time is perfect. Trust me.” Today, let this seep into your soul when discouragement sets in. Remember God’s perfect Word and that His story in your life isn’t finished yet…

Father God, we ask You to open our eyes that we may see You. Open our ears during times of discouragement that we may hear Your truth. Open our hearts that we might feel Your love. Open our mouths to praise You alone. We believe that only You are God. We believe that You alone can rescue and save. We believe that You can free us, heal us, make us who You desire us to be. And we believe that Your timing is perfect. May Your Name be glorified in our lives as we wait for You. We trust You to act as only You can. We worship You today. Please forgive our sin that we may worship in spirit and truth. We love You. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!