VALGOOD

“The lazy person is full of excuses, saying ‘If I go outside, I might meet a lion in the street and be killed!'” Proverbs 22:13

I read this verse the other week and cringed. I’ll humbly admit that I’ve become lazy since moving. The scale is proof. So are the way my clothes fit. 😦 And I’ve had a million excuses. Many of them are legit, but they are still just excuses.

The gym I went to in PA had amazing classes – great instructors, energizing music, friendly competition and I left feeling like I had just had an hour of pure fun and not really ‘work.’ Not only were the classes great, the gym offered childcare beyond babysitting. My kids got exercise and enjoyed themselves while I was working out. Now that we’ve moved to MI, the few gyms that offer any kind of childcare have limited hours and terrible classes. And the childcare is basically putting the kids in a room with electronics or a few lame toys – the children are safe but they aren’t having fun. 😦 So, I feel bad taking my boys when I’m not getting an intense workout. So, I mostly skip it.

I loved running in PA. I had my routes all marked out AND I had girlfriends I could meet even in the dead of winter for double digit miles. Most of the streets had street lights, too. But not in Michigan! The roads are DARK! And it is always dark here – the sun doesn’t rise until 8 am and lately it’s been setting around 5 pm. So, running before or after my husband’s out of work has been a no-go. I’m terrified of twisting an ankle on the debris on the running trails (even though I’m grateful there are plenty around). I miss my friends, I’m scared to run in the dark and it’s really cold out. Now I recognize that these are all excuses. I’ve run in weather colder than this – it was just much more enjoyable with friends. And unfortunately, I don’t really know anyone here who runs at my pace and wants to go at the time I need to in order to be home with my kids.

So, I could do an exercise DVD at home. I’ve done them before. But, my little man doesn’t nap often anymore and is a bit in the way. I also feel bad taking time from him to work out. So, I should get up in the morning to work out before the kids are up. And here’s where I finally recognized that I am just being LAZY! I have not been successful at getting myself out of my warm covers in the darkness of Michigan when I’m just feeling sad about losing my former way of life – where working out happened with others and was fun and not in my basement. I remember enjoying time with my friends and dwell on the fact that I don’t have that opportunity now, and I just want to curl up and go back to bed. So I have.

I also know that losing weight and keeping it off are 80% diet and 20% exercise. But, I haven’t been very motivated to say no to food I know isn’t good for me. And even the Bible says that wine is for those who are feeling depressed (Proverbs 31:6-7), so why not have another glass?

But then I read the verse from Proverbs about the lazy person (from the start of this post). I’ve also read how laziness leads to destruction and poverty. The lazy person will have a million excuses that seem valid to them, but the person who desires to overcome laziness must think of a million and one reasons why they CAN succeed. I read an almost identical verse a day later and felt the gentle nudge of the Holy Spirit: “The lazy person is full of excuses, saying ‘I can’t go outside because there might be a lion on the road! Yes, I’m sure there’s a lion out there!'” Proverbs 26:13. Am I going to fear a lion or am I going to fear God?

I also read Ecclesiastes 7:3: “Sorrow is better than laughter, for sadness has a refining influence on us.” I realized that I can take these circumstances and allow God to refine me during this time. Sure, I have excuses. But, I also have two legs that work to carry my body. I have lungs and heart that work well and are in decent shape (glory to God alone!). I have the knowledge of what foods pack on pounds and which ones I can enjoy without a lot of guilt. I have a husband who supports me in my adventures and told me he’d buy me a membership to any gym I find that I’ll go to. I’m not working full time right now (unlike my sweet man!) and can choose when to work out and have a few different options, whether running outside or going to a gym (even if it’s not great) or doing an exercise video in my basement. I have an alarm clock that works. I have cold gear for running in this weather and my mom even got me new knuckle lights that I asked for as a Christmas gift.

No. More. Excuses.

I’m challenging you today – write down every single excuse you can think of. Then call them what they are and recognize if you are being lazy. Pray and then write down ways to overcome the excuse or go around it right next to them. What are some steps you can take toward your goal? Perhaps you aren’t lazy physically but facing other obstacles. Don’t let Satan overcome you with his lies. Look to God’s Word to tell you how to proceed. If you find an excuse you really can’t overcome, pray about it and see how God alone can work. Start with one step. What’s one excuse you can get around today? Overcome laziness, one step at a time…with God’s grace!

Dear Heavenly Father, we fear you alone. You are holy and worthy of praise and honor. Lord, please forgive us for our laziness and excuses. Please forgive where we’ve allowed our circumstances to define us. Instead, we ask that you allow this change to refine us. Make us more like You. God, there are things we may not be able to change. So, we ask for You to work out a miracle for those. And we ask more than that for a miracle in our hearts. Take off the blinders that we may see the excuses for what they are and push us out of laziness into holiness. May we be changed for Your glory in Your time. Thank You for all You do for us. Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for who You are! In Jesus’ powerful and precious Name, AMEN!

“The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives.” ~Psalm 37:23

We had already been driving six hours when the sky turned black and the wind whipped so hard it started to make our minivan feel like it was going to veer right off the road. Before long, the skies let loose in rain so heavy that the road was barely visible. I heard my oldest son praying for our safety in the backseat and the other kids were actually quiet, sensing our tension. My knuckles gripped the steering wheel until they were white, and my husband started searching for local hotels in case we needed to call it a day. But, I truly didn’t want to stop driving – I wanted to go “home.” But, it didn’t really feel like we were going home. God, I prayed, will You help us? Will You please keep us safe? Will You show us wisdom? Should we keep going or pull off? What is the right way?

Backing up a bit, we had left our Michigan apartment two weeks ago to head back to PA for a week so we could be there while the movers packed all our belongings. It was a stressful couple of days as the truck was late and then one of the movers was sick (and touching all my stuff!). And then there was a large amount of things they wouldn’t take. Anything that resembled liquid or perishable couldn’t go on the truck, which included cleaning supplies, kiddo paints, pantry items like olive oil and even lotions and extra bottles of shampoo & conditioner in our linen closet. Our minivan was already full of things we needed to take with us (like coats!) and we carried out half a dozen or more large boxes of stuff we weren’t planning on taking with us but hated to just throw away since they were costly to replace. I prayed and asked God to help us make it all fit.

Originally my husband had been planning on going back to MI on Tuesday and Wednesday while the movers were at our house in PA, but at the last minute decided to stay back with me. God knew I couldn’t have handled these days without him there! On Wednesday the movers weren’t done until after 7 pm, and Shawn grabbed a pizza for us as I went to borrow a broom and a vacuum from my sister to finish cleaning up the last of the dust bunnies that also weren’t moving with us. We ate in our empty house, thankful for the pizza box that doubled as our plates. The boys played with the neighbor kiddos as we finished loading the minivan, which was filled to the brim! I could never have fit it all in myself. My husband has some mad skills in that area!!! We got back to the hotel where we were sleeping that night after 10 pm with two of us working. I couldn’t imagine what would have happened if Shawn had left. It was a sign to me that God cared about every detail and provided for me emotionally and physically when I needed it.

The following Saturday we headed to the beach with my family. My mom rents a house each summer, and my sister plans all the meals. This year we arrived to our beds already made (since we didn’t have any sheets left to bring!) and the house already set up. The boys squealed with delight at spending time with their cousins. They loved the beach – sand and all! Ryan dumped bucket after bucket of water and stayed right at the edge of where it would come onto the beach. Caleb and Joshua adventured out into the waves, staying close enough that we could catch them when they went under (which happened a few times). By the third day, Joshua was even brave enough to try boogie boarding! He was frustrated and in love all at the same time. Shawn & I took turns taking the older boys out further into the ocean, Caleb holding onto us for dear life! It was a blast! And God answered my prayer for safety in the water; we were all alive and well. And it was nice that my sister and her husband cooked all the meals. I much prefer clean-up duty! We had a great time. (And I didn’t even mention our adventures on the boardwalk!) Joshua said, “This is paradise,” which was a good summation of how we were all feeling. Shawn called our vacation “epic” as we left.

While I was tired of living out of a suitcase, I wasn’t quite ready to leave. This was my family – people who I could call and say “HELP!” and know that they would be there if they could be. These were people I enjoyed seeing and being with, and my kids love them too. My family helps me have a ‘comfort zone.’ But, Shawn had an important meeting we couldn’t miss, so we held back our tears as we said thanks for the incredible time and packed our minivan to head back to Michigan. We paid to ship two boxes (of boots & gloves that we’ll need come winter if we don’t have a house yet) and then put the back row of seats down, keeping the boys three across in the middle seat. My mom was amazed we fit everything in (me too!). I thought for sure we’d be making a large donation instead, but my husband packed it like a champ! It was such a relief to me that everything fit. I knew without a doubt it was God answering my prayer that nothing be left behind. Every detail was taken care of!

I drove most of the way home. It kept my mind on the road and not on what I was leaving behind. Our house was gone. Praise the Lord, within three days of us listing it on the market, there was a bidding war and we sold it for more than our original asking price. This was another sign to me that God’s hand was in our moving. There are several houses in our neighborhood currently for sale and while we had spent a small fortune in updates to our house, I seriously wasn’t sure it would sell. I was more than nervous about it, and I remember fervently praying that it would sell as we were preparing to put it on the market. God answered in a big way! Settlement happened Tuesday of the beach week, and we saw the money in our account. We praised God for His faithfulness!

As tears were spilling down my cheeks from leaving my family and our vacation, the GPS told us to go a different way than I was expecting. I had driven home from the beach a bazillion times and never taken this route. Shawn reminded me that we were going to Michigan, not PA. He said with a highly upbeat voice, “Hey, each road we take from here is a new one!” Or something like that. I honestly wish I could remember exactly what he said because it seemed so profound in that moment, like the exact words I needed to hear. Basically, this was a new adventure, a new path, a new journey. We weren’t stuck in the same old rut. We were creating a new path. Through the tears I smiled and thanked him for being truly wonderful. God has blessed me with an amazing man to be my life partner!

The kids did great even though we were all packed in. Near Pittsburgh, we noticed that the truck in front of us was a “North American” truck that looked identical to the one we had waved goodbye to at our house, filled with our belongings that we won’t see again until we settle on a new home. I joked that we were following our stuff home. Shawn said our stuff was in Grand Rapids already, but I insisted “let’s see if it’s the same truck.” So we pulled up beside it, but it wasn’t. It was just the same company. We passed it and kept going, stopping for drinks along the way and then to relieve ourselves from those drinks and then to buy more drinks. It was quite the cycle!

In Ohio, the sky got pitch black and we started seeing lightning. Like I mentioned earlier, I could barely see the road and I was terrified. Which way should I go, Lord? I realized in that moment that I was praying that prayer a lot lately. Which way should I go? What’s the right path? Which house is right for us? Why oh why didn’t we have a home yet so our stuff didn’t have to go into storage where we couldn’t access it? Would you please, please, please give us wisdom, God?

So many cars had pulled off the road, but I saw a big truck up ahead that had lights all over it. I told Shawn that while I was struggling to see the road, I could see the lights on the truck and I was going to try to stay right behind it. So, I did. We weren’t going terribly fast, but the truck was so enormous that I knew I’d be able to stop faster than him, even with all the stuff in our minivan. The rain kept going, the lightning kept crashing, the wind kept pushing our minivan, but I could see those lights and kept driving. As I continued to drive, the rain let up just enough to show me what truck I was following… It was a NORTH AMERICAN!!! I don’t know if it was the same one from earlier in the day or another, but it was a huge sign to me. I praised God! We were “following our stuff” again. Following our home and memories. Following what we knew to be right. We were going home in a sense. I knew at that moment it was okay to keep driving. God was right there with us, protecting us, answering our prayers for guidance. It was a sign! I told Shawn and he smiled and agreed.

The rain eventually let up before we reached Toledo. We passed the truck and kept going home. We made it safely the entire way to our apartment. I was so tired at the end that Shawn drove the last half hour. I had wanted to push through, but I was glad for the break at the end.

I have asked God for signs on which way was the right way to go. Should we move to Michigan? Is this the way? And time after time I have seen that this is what is in the cards for our family at this time. Do I know the details? No, unfortunately. Do we have a house yet? No, and I’ll be honest in that this detail is driving me crazy! But, do I trust that God cares even about the minor details? Absolutely! Our house had sold, my husband was there when I truly needed him, and we were lead safely out of the storm by a “random” truck that wasn’t so random. My reading the following morning included the verse from above: “The steps of the godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives” Psalm 37:23. Every detail matters to God! If you see things and think “coincidence” I think you’re missing that God delights in the details!

If you’re praying for something today, know that God is in the details and will direct your steps if you trust Him. He is my only hope and what gets me through some of these tougher days. He is the reason I’m excited to be on this new adventure. So, I’ll end this post with a verse from this morning’s readings:

“O Lord my God, You have done many miracles for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them” Psalm 40:5.

Father God, all I can say is THANK YOU! Thank You for keeping us safe, for showing us the way, for giving us wisdom, for being Lord over all and every detail of our lives. We praise You today for being YOU! In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!

“Show me the path where I should walk, O Lord; point out the right road for me to follow.” Psalm 25:4

Recently on Facebook, one of my friends posted a story of a woman who was running on a trail and got attacked and was so badly beaten that her husband didn’t recognize her face. I was horrified! Since moving, I’ve done a lot of running alone on a trail that is wooded in lots of areas. As I’ve been running lately, I’ve been praying for safety, for God to protect me, for wisdom of when and where to be, etc. My neck has actually hurt after running lately because I’ve been looking around so much to be aware of who might be behind or beside me! I know that I can’t live in fear, or I’d never go outside. I also don’t know anyone in this area who is available to run with me, and I need the exercise (both physically and mentally!).

This morning as I was reading my Bible, I saw a common theme running through the chapters, and they were so calming to my fears in so many areas that I felt compelled to share them. My reading started with Psalm 23, which many of us know well (although I’m reading from the New Living Translation, so it may be slightly different than what you’re used to):  “The Lord is my shepherd; I have everything I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; He leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to His name. Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for You are close beside me. Your rod and Your staff protect and comfort me.” 

God leads us along right paths! He is with us and He protects us! I had to remember the verse in Psalm 139 that said each one of our days is ordained by God before one of them came to be. He knows us and He knows the future. If we are to endure hardship like Job, it’s not a surprise to Him. He knows what’s coming! He is our guide and we can trust Him!

I continued reading in Psalms and came to Psalm 25:4-5: “Show me the path where I should walk, O Lord; point out the right road for me to follow. Lead me by Your truth and teach me, for You are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in You.” 

It was at this very verse that I realized that God wasn’t just speaking to me about physically running on the right path. He is the One who is directing our very steps to be in this state. We are actively house hunting, and I have been all-but panicking about which school our boys are going to start at because we don’t have a house yet. But, God knows the timing! He has been faithful! As the worship song that I posted previously says in its lyrics, “You’ve never failed, and You won’t start now!” God is leading us through each decision. If we’re listening to Him and following Him, can we trust that He’ll “point out the right road for [us] to follow” as the verse says above? Is God faithful? Absolutely! So, why am I so worried?

So often I need to see things over and over again for them to sink in. Today was one of those days where I was underlining the same verses and saying “YES, God, I hear You!” Psalm 25:8-10 says “The Lord is good and does what is right; He shows the proper path to those who go astray. He leads the humble in what is right, teaching them His way. The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all those who keep His covenant and obey His decrees.” 

Let me pause here. The Lord is GOOD. He shows the proper path even to those who go astray. Even if we start heading the wrong direction, God shows us the path for us. If we’re humble and willing to learn, He will teach us His way! The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness – will He fail? No! Is He faithful? YES! But, who does He do these things for? The verse says all those who keep His covenant and obey His decrees. Yikes! If you’re like me, you know that you’ve sinned. You may look at your past mistakes and say “well, I’m out!” But, the Psalm continues “For the honor of Your name, O Lord, forgive my many, many sins” (Psalm 25:11). None of us is perfect! No one is without sin! The difference between the righteous and unrighteous is the blood of Jesus. It’s confessing with your mouth that you have screwed up and allowing God to cover you with His grace, then making the conscious choice to be faithful to God!

Finally, Psalm 25:12 says “Who are those who fear the Lord? He will show them the path they should choose.”

I needed these words today – God will show us the path to choose! He will show me where it’s safe to run! And He will show us which house is right for our family. He will show us the path that He has for us. There are so many choices that we make in life – forks in the road where we could turn right or left and we’re not sure which is the best to take. In John it says that God’s sheep know His voice. If we’re really listening and seeking Him, we’ll know in our spirits what is right. And we can trust Him and His faithfulness and not be consumed with worry and fear.

Do you feel relieved? I hope so! If not, let’s pray together!

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your words. Thank You that You repeat themes in the Bible so that if we miss it the first time, we will get it when we read it over and over again. Thank You that You lead us. We are Your sheep and You’ve created us to know Your voice. Our days were ordained before even one of them came to be. You know our future and You know the path that You have for us. You lead us into good places. And even when we walk in scary situations, You are there to comfort us and protect us. You show us the proper way if we’re willing to humble ourselves before You. God, just like David said in Psalm 25:11 we cry out “Forgive my many, many sins!” We are far from perfect, but we long to obey You and stay in covenant with You. We do fear You, and we ask right now that You show us the path to choose. I specifically pray for the safety of all my running mama friends (and even those who I don’t know!). Please show us the right path and help us not fear. I also pray for our family in finding a house where we belong. Please guide us! And finally, I pray for anyone praying with me right now as they read. Guide them, God. Show them the way that You want them to go – direct us all, Lord God! We need You! And we trust You. Thank You for being faithful! Thank You for Your UNFAILING love. We trust that You’ve never failed and won’t start today. We honor and praise You for who You are – You are faithful even when we haven’t been. Help us and guide us as Your beloved children. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!

“But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.'” Matthew 24:17

This morning our family was excited to go to church. As we sat in worship after dropping off the kids, the worship leader (a different person from last week) told the congregation that they were about to introduce a new song. He began talking about Matthew 24:22-33, which is below:

Jesus Walks on the Water

²² Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. ²³ After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. Later that night, he was there alone, ²⁴ and the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it.

²⁵ Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. ²⁶ When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.

²⁷ But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

²⁸ “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

²⁹ “Come,” he said.

Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.³⁰ But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

³¹ Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said,“why did you doubt?”

³² And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ³³ Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

The worship leader began speaking and it felt as if it were directly to me. Peter asked Jesus to call him, but then he saw the waves and started to doubt. He began to sink when he let his surroundings overcome him verses keeping his eyes fixed on Jesus.

How I could see so many parallels in my own life! When Shawn first talked about moving to Michigan, my answer was a flat out “No!” Just like the disciples were scared at first (they thought they were seeing a ghost!), I wanted to keep things as they were. No moving, no changing, no growing! But then as we prayed and all my devotions began to be about how God moves us to areas where He wants us and where we can be used, my heart began to change. I sensed that a move was in our future. I believed Michigan was where we were to go. So, when Shawn’s work finally said “You MUST come,” we were like Peter who said “Lord, if you want us to come, call us! Make it clear!” We received so many little (and bigger) confirmations that this is what God had in mind.

But, once we arrived, things have been both up and down. I jokingly put on Facebook some of my minor frustrations – like accidentally burning myself just about everyday from the controls of the shower being backward from home, the plumbing sounding like a prisoner in chains trying to break out of jail cell at 4 am, our kiddo getting sick and even spending HOURS in the urgent care before getting him antibiotics. There have been other more major frustrations, too. I *REALLY* miss our gym. I miss my family and friends, too. I miss not knowing my way around. When asked, “Where would you like your prescription for your son to go?” I told the doctor that I had no idea.

I started looking at the “waves” of our surroundings and my faith in being here started to make me sink. Did we make the right choice? Did we really hear from God? After a late night run last night, I came home and told Shawn that I was in it for the long haul – no matter where God put us, we are a family and we can feel at home. He looked relieved (hopefully I left the ‘crazy’ wife behind at the trail at the lake).

This morning’s church service was a reminder to me of God’s voice saying “You of little faith! Why do you doubt?” I have been sinking even though I knew God told us to “COME!” I have looked at the waves rather than my Savior.

I was prepared to hear a new song, and I asked God to let my spirit recognize it even if I didn’t know it. Well, I knew it well – I had downloaded it on my iPhone before running the marathon. [Please take the time to listen to it below!] I never listened to it during my run, but it was a song that spoke to me from almost the first time I ever heard it. It had such more relevance to me today! The worship leader talked about how God was calling many of us to a new area. Even in physical location! I knew God was talking to me. Tears flowed as we sang the song as a congregation “Spirit, lead me where my faith is without borders, let me walk upon the waters, wherever you may call me… Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander, and my faith will be made stronger, in the presence of my Savior!” Yes, Lord, that is my heart’s cry! May You take our family closer to You – may each one of us know You more deeply, have a stronger passion for You and Your Word. May we not lose sight of the important things in light of these passing inconveniences of life.

I should know better than to wear mascara to church these days. 😉 The sermon was also very good and included verses from Proverbs 30 about how we can learn attributes of wisdom from even the smallest of creatures – ants keep going despite obstacles, locusts work together and don’t fight for position, badgers hide in the Rock to stay safe, and lizards let things go (their tail) to survive. What do we need to let go of to survive? For me, I need to let go of the thought that PA is “home.” If I’m going to make this work, I need to leave the past in the past and look to what God has for us in the future.

The other night, we were in bed about to pray and I was feeling FURIOUS with Shawn’s company for some of the more “major” inconveniences they have caused our family. I was expecting that Shawn pray the “heap of burning coals on their heads” prayer to match my sentiment. Instead, he thanked God that our family was here together and that we were all safe. My anger immediately felt selfish and silly. It’s true. We have all that we need. So, I’m choosing to look for the blessings (and laugh at the things that really will be funny in the future). Whatever God has for us, may we walk upon the waters and not sink because of our own silly doubts. May our trust be without borders and may our faith be made stronger!

Friends, this could be an exciting time rather than a time of loss. I’m looking forward to what God has for us. If nothing else, I feel like we’ve come to a great church! Praise the Lord! We haven’t felt this way in a long time!

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for calling to us, even when we’re scared. Thank You that while we feel scared from “ghosts,” You know the truth of the situation and what You have for us. Thank You for calling us to “COME!” out of our comfort zone and for being there to catch us when we start to sink. Please forgive us for doubting. Forgive us when we turn our focus to our circumstances rather than what we know to be truth. Help us go deeper with You, Lord. May we look back on this time as a time of growth and maturity. May our family grow closer to each other and to You. May we KNOW You, Lord, truly know You. May we worship You in Spirit and truth. May we live our lives to glorify and honor You. Help us not major in the minor but live with purpose and conviction. Please forgive our sins and make us righteous through Your blood alone. May we humbly serve You and walk with You all our days. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!

“But God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it.” Job 33:14

As you may know, our family moved to Michigan this past Wednesday. My husband accepted a promotion at his company, which required him to relocate from Pennsylvania, where all our family and friends are, to a new state (that’s colder, I might add!). We’ve been seeking God’s wisdom and counsel, and we had numerous signs that this was the right choice to make. Still, this has been one of the hardest weeks of my life, if not the hardest.

We left our home in PA, where we brought home all three of our babies. Before leaving, we went room by room and each said our favorite memory in that space. We laughed and cried at different moments our family shared together – whether it was making crafts at the table or cooking together in our kitchen or all snuggling in our master bedroom early in the mornings. When the boys were buckled in our rental van about to head to the airport, I burst into tears and told my husband how much I was going to miss this house. He nodded and said “Me too.”

We arrived and our apartment is fine, but it only had three towels and five of us needed to shower or bathe. It was supposed to have Internet and cable hooked up, but there was a snafu with his company and nothing is working. Even the light switches don’t work and many of the lamps didn’t have light bulbs. I was experiencing so many sweet messages from home – texts, phone calls, face time – and so much disappointment here. I began whining, as you can imagine. Tired, emotionally exhausted, not knowing where anything is or how anything works… missing my gym where I could get my aggression out while my boys were watched while they were getting exercise. Had we made the right choice?

This is where I had one of those “dark moments.” I literally thought about walking away. Saying goodbye to my spouse and even to my kids if necessary and getting a one-way plane ticket home, where there were “normal conveniences” like a telephone that works and 9 x 13 casserole dishes to make a meal.

I was texting back and forth between a friend who told me that she had had a rough week and felt like leaving it all, sort of jokingly. I knew she wouldn’t leave – she loved her family enough that she had already laid her life down for them. And in my responding to her, I knew that God was telling me the same thing. It was okay to have the feeling but to make the conscious choice to stay.

That night I had a HORRIBLE nightmare. I dreamed that it was actually my kids that we were saying goodbye to, rather than the house. They were foster kids about to be adopted by another family and I had to leave them. I was looking at my husband with desperate tears saying I couldn’t – I WOULDN’T – let them go. I woke up. I was disoriented. Where were we? Why wasn’t I in my own bed in my own house? I woke Shawn up in my panic (it’s 3 am, mind you) and through my sobbing tears, I told him that this was IT! I had had enough. I wanted to go home. This stupid vacation was over and I wanted my own space where everything was in its place and we weren’t missing a majority of our belongings. I cried and fussed for over an hour while he held me. I told him about my nightmare and how I had thought about leaving. I confessed I wasn’t doing well despite Michigan being a very nice state with very nice people.

We finally got back to sleep about an hour before the kids came over to snuggle with us and wake us up. I got my Bible out like I do every morning, absolutely hungry for what God had to say. During this time of transition I’ve been reading from Job. I’m not sure if it’s been comforting to hear of his distress or not. See, I know that Job didn’t deserve his calamity. I, on the other hand, am not as blameless or upright. I deserve far worse than what I’ve received! I asked God to speak to me, and here are some excerpts of what I underlined: “But God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it. He speaks in dreams, in visions of the night when deep sleep falls on people as they lay in bed.” (Job 33:15-16). Can you say YIKES?!?! Look what I had dreamed. I was still feeling sick from it… but God had my attention.

Continuing: “He whispers in their ear and terrifies them with His warning. He causes them to change their minds; He keeps them from pride. He keeps them from the grave, from crossing over the river of death” (Job 33:17-18).

Did I need to get over my pride? Yes, I’ll admit. Did He need me to change my mind? Absolutely! Could I ever even think of leaving my kids? No. I would die for them. In many ways, I have died to my own life to give them what they need. And I could do even more…

Continuing a couple verses later in Job: “But if a special messenger from heaven is there to intercede for a person, to declare that he is upright, God will be gracious and say, ‘Set him free. Do not make him die for I have found a ransom for his life.’ Then his body will become as healthy as a child’s, firm and youthful again. When he prays to God, he will be accepted. And God will receive him with joy and restore him to good standing. He will declare to his friends, ‘I sinned, but it was not worth it. God rescued me from the grave and now my life is filled with light. Yes, God often does these things for people. He rescues them from the grave so they may live in the light of the living” (Job 33:23-30).

You and I both know that we DO have a special messenger from heaven interceding for us! Jesus shed his blood to declare that we are upright – God can set us free because there is a ransom for our life. I am here to say just like these verses, “I have sinned and it wasn’t worth it! God rescued me!!!”

I was thrilled to read these passages – that God would seek me out, talk to me where I am and what I was dealing with.

After my devotions, we ate breakfast as a family and went to a church by Shawn’s work. I prayed, “Even if this isn’t the church you have for us, may we worship You here and hear Your word.” The church was great. The children all enjoyed their classes, and worship included the song “I need You, oh, I need You – every hour I need You. My one defense, my righteousness, my God, how I need You!” I sang it with new fervor. The only way I’m going to survive this move is with God. The only way I’m going to survive this life is through Jesus being my righteousness – for I am a sinner in every sense of the word.

The sermon was on Proverbs (which I LOVE the wisdom found in this book – even Job 28 talks about wisdom being worth far more than wealth). The worship pastor was the one speaking, and he said that each day we have little decisions that we make. Little decisions in each moment shape our day. Decisions we make each day shape our week, which forms our months, which then turns into years. Who we are is a function of our choices – even times when choices seem trivial, they are shaping our future. Are we praying with our kids? Are we reading the Bible as a family? Are we eating meals together and talking? Are we choosing to forgive? Are we choosing to love? Or instead are we choosing to fight? Are we choosing to be bitter? Are we choosing to hurt our spouse or our children? He spoke about those verses in Proverbs that say a quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping and it’s better for a man to live on the roof of his house than with a quarrelsome wife. Better a meal of herbs with happiness than feasting with strife. What choices are we making for our house?

At the end of his sermon, he asked anyone who God was speaking to to stand up. I groaned. This was our first service there, but I had tears running down my face most of the sermon. I stood – better to obey what God asks than have the approval of men. Several others in the congregation stood, too. Then he asked everyone to stand (thank God!). He prayed. I prayed. Shawn & I were impressed enough with the church that we went to the “meet & greet” room – something Shawn usually avoids at churches we visit. We met the people there. The woman heard we had just relocated and asked if we had left family behind. Then without warning, she hugged me. I cried again (hey, once the waterworks start, they are difficult to stop). They gave us information on the church and were so genuinely nice. We registered our kids for the Vacation Bible School that starts this week – a choice to get them involved in church immediately.

The kids had a great time! And on the way home, I apologized for being the quarrelsome wife. Shawn & I had a good talk. We still both believe we are supposed to make this work (and other than a sloooowww process of approvals from his company, our house in PA is basically sold anyway!).

Then my devotions that I read to the boys during breakfast this morning was titled “God On the Hunt” with the verse from Joel 2:13, which says “Come back to the Lord your God. He is kind and shows mercy. He doesn’t become angry quickly. He has great love. He would rather forgive than punish.” (The devotional is by Max Lucado called “Grace for the Moment” for kids). The devotion underneath the verse read: “How far do you want God to go to get your attention? If God has to choose between your eternity in heaven and your happiness on earth, which do you hope He chooses? What if God moved you to another land? (As He did with Abraham.) … God does whatever it takes to get our attention. Isn’t that the message of the Bible? God’s never-ending, all-out pursuit of us. God on the hunt. God in the search. Peeking under the bed for hiding kids, searching in the classrooms and on the practice fields for those who are lost. Looking for you because He wants you with Him forever.”

Ah, my heart was struck again! How far does God have to go to get my attention? I had a pretty cushy life in PA – friends, a gym where I spent a lot of time, a house that allowed us to have money for other adventures, family close by, babysitters I could call, etc. But, was my heart where it needed to be? Was I trusting in my own abilities or was I fully depending on God? Was I obeying His commands or had I put Him in a compartment of my life that I took out when it was ‘convenient’? Forgive me, Lord, for losing sight of the important things, or majoring in the minor!

Moving here has given me a new perspective: I can do nothing apart from God’s grace. If He is willing to save me, even though I have sinned, my heart and my choice is to fully obey, fully commit, fully trust, even when circumstances have been literally shaking in my boots. I choose to trust. I choose to be a partner to my spouse. I choose to stay and care for my children. And I choose to make better choices each day in how our day will be structured – what will we focus on? How will we make memories? What will fill our time and thoughts? Lord, help us! We need YOU!

I realize this post has been long, but what about you? What choices are you making each day? How are those choices affecting your future and the future of your family? Does God have your attention? He is speaking…

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your grace. Thank You for bringing us to a place where You have our attention. Thank You for loving us enough to shake things up. Thank You for choosing our eternity rather than our momentary happiness. Thank You for knowing the whole picture and having our best in mind. Thank You for being slow to angry and quick to love. Thank You for punishing us when we need it, but also disciplining us to learn to be better. Thank You for teaching us through Your Word, through Your church and even through times of worship. May we listen and obey! May we follow what You say! Please forgive us of our sins. May we focus our lives and attention on You. Help us make distinct choices for every day that shape our future into a path that leads others to You. Allow our children to know You and grow close to You. May we center our lives on you rather than You working into our busy schedules. Thank You, God, for being all-knowing and all-powerful and yet patient and loving with us. We love You, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!

Have you ever felt God was speaking directly to you? Perhaps you don’t hear His audible voice like Samuel did (1 Samuel 3), but you know in your spirit that God is talking directly to you.

Yesterday I felt that way, and sadly I almost missed it…

Each morning before breakfast, I read my Bible. Yesterday I read Ezra 7-8 where Ezra was traveling to Jerusalem, returning from exile. Ezra 8:21-23 says, “And there by the Ahava Canal, I gave orders for all of us to fast and pray and humble ourselves before our God. We prayed that He would give us a safe journey and protect us, our children and our goods as we traveled. For I was too ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to accompany us and protect us from enemies along the way. After all, we had told the king, ‘Our God protects all those who worship Him, but His fierce anger rages against those who abandon Him.’ So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and He heard our prayer.” (emphasis mine).

Then verse 31 says “We broke camp at the Ahava Canal on April 19 and started off to Jerusalem. And the gracious hand of our God protected us and saved us from our enemies and bandits along the way.” (emphasis mine).

My last blog post was about God’s hand being on us – how I longed for that very thing to change my heart and my desires. Five different times in my reading yesterday morning, I saw the “gracious hand of God” being on Ezra (Ezra 7:6, 7:8, 7:28, 8:18, 8:31). It was far too many to be coincidence – I kept underlining them, just completely in awe of God reminding me of what I had read previously about His hand being on us. I was excited!

The day before I read this, my husband had traveled for work (unfortunately, an experience we have all too often). This time, however, the airline lost his luggage. He never checks his small suitcase but rather carries it on with him but this particular airline insisted that he check it and then promptly lost it. His nicest work clothes were in there, along with the brand new razor I had bought him for Christmas, his nice shoes with his custom orthotics for all his foot injuries, and many other personal belongings, including the pillow that he loves to sleep with. It wasn’t like they couldn’t be replaced but it would cost a lot and some of them were just ‘favorites’ that would be difficult to replicate. My heart sank when my husband told me. He had to go under-dressed to a meeting that he was over an hour late for because the flight had been delayed and then his luggage was lost. I prayed and prayed that the airline would find his belongings! I asked other people to pray, too. His phone was dead and not charging, so we chatted only briefly before going to bed and he said the airline found his suitcase in a different state and was supposed to deliver it by 3 am. I was skeptical due to the time but hopeful. Well, when he woke up, no luggage! He had to wait until the mall was open to buy clothes to wear to work, making him late once again.

Before hearing that he didn’t receive his things, I read these passages in Ezra. I thought about how God kept people safe who worship Him. I prayed that God would keep not only my husband safe but also his things, just like in Ezra. I continued to pray. And I’ll admit that I was angry with the airline when I later learned that it hadn’t kept its promise. I was feeling grumpy and distressed that I couldn’t help my man in any way.

My boys & I prayed together. In the car, I turned on my iPhone to listen to music and “randomly” Audrey Assad’s song “You Speak” came on (I put a video of it below with the lyrics). It says that when our hearts are quiet, God speaks to us. I finally listened. As the music played, I really really thought about what I had read. God cares for us! His hand is upon us! How had I missed that my devotions that very same morning were on almost EXACTLY the situation we were going through? How had I missed He was speaking directly to me? The God of the entire universe cared about our situation…WOW!!!

The boys and I continued to listen to worship music and sing along. My heart had changed; my attitude was improving. I wasn’t angry. I was experiencing a new peace. When we got home, Joshua (my oldest) even asked if he could read out of the New Testament Bible he had found. 🙂 🙂 🙂

Well, needless to say, my husband made it home safely from his work trip WITH his luggage this morning. And I learned something in the process – multiple things, but only one will I share now:

GOD IS SPEAKING! His Word is alive! He’s written these pages to us – this is His love letter. If we’ll take the time to press in, there is so much we can learn! I long to know the heart of God, and I believe He wants us to know Him. He promises to reveal Himself to us as we seek Him. If we truly want to know Him more, we need to spend time in His Word. Even doing that, we can sometimes miss it if we’re not focusing, if we’re not digesting, if we’re not thinking about what we read and applying it.

I am absolutely humbled that God would take the time to write to us, to tell us His story of His love for us. Are you listening as God speaks? There’s no time like now to go and see what He is saying to YOU!

Dear Heavenly Father, THANK YOU for Your Word! Thank You that You love us enough to speak directly to us. You are holy, awesome, all powerful, all knowing, and yet You still love us. I am truly humbled. God, we thank You for answering our prayers. Just like You answered the prayers of Ezra when he asked for protection for themselves and the stuff they were carrying, You answered my prayer for my husband’s safety and his suitcase. Thank You that even the little details don’t get by You. Thank You that Your gracious hand is on us! May we not forget! May we not take it lightly! Please help us to remember, to think about what that means, and to praise You for it. Thank You for protecting all those who worship You. May we continue to worship You, the One and only true God. We are grateful! Help everyone who is reading this to have time with You alone, to know You and Your Words. Please speak to them and help them listen. Thank You, God, again for Your hand in our lives. We love You! In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!

“At the same time, God’s hand was on the people in the land of Judah, giving them a strong desire to unite in obeying the orders of the king and his officials, who were following the word of the Lord.” 2 Chronicles 30:12

Have you ever known that you needed to make a change in your life, and yet you were struggling with where and how to start? More than that, you were struggling with the desire to really change…

Sure, you see your waist line expanding and the scale shows that you need to drop a few pounds. And yet, your favorites from the fridge and pantry are still calling your name. You know in your mind some possible steps to take and yet each one, no matter how small, feels almost unbearable.

Can you relate? I’ve been on this journey a long time and yet I’m feeling this exact same way today. Birthday and Father’s Day celebrations have come and gone, and I still feel the desire to overindulge. And with my Achilles being extremely sore, I can’t even “hide” some of the extra calories by exercising. Truly, though, you can’t really out-exercise bad eating habits. And really, if I’m being brutally honest, it isn’t an eating issue as much as a heart issue. Where do we turn for comfort? Why does laziness win out at times when making something healthy is more difficult than picking up a pizza?

As I’ve been wrestling with this (yet again!), I read the above verse in Chronicles that said “God’s hand was on the people…giving them the strong desire to unite in obeying…” and I couldn’t help but respond “YES! PLEASE!!!” This morning, I read twice that God “stirred the hearts” of the people to respond in obedience  (Ezra 1:1 and 1:5).

God can give us the strong desire to obey. God can stir our heart and make us want to obey more than we want to feed our flesh. And, I don’t know about you, but I *NEED* God to move my heart! I know I should automatically want to, but I’ll be the first to admit that I still struggle.

This reminds me of the story in Mark 9 where Jesus told a man that all things are possible for one who believes. Immediately the man exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:23-24).

We know we ought to believe that God can change us. But sometimes habits have been so ingrained that we struggle to know if reality can really look any different. We believe God can do anything and He can heal others. But, will He really help us? Can we really change? It’s okay to cry out to God and say “Help me overcome my unbelief!”

Not only can God heal us, He can help us overcome our unbelief. He can stir our hearts to do His will. He can put His hand on us and give us the strong desire to obey! So, let’s ask Him to do just that… HE IS FAITHFUL!

Dear Heavenly Father, You are all powerful. You are a holy and awesome God – the One and only true God who created the heavens and the earth. You created our bodies and You have a purpose and a plan for our lives. Lord, we come before you and confess that we are struggling. We want to change, and yet we lack the willpower and strong desire to change our habits. This is all we’ve ever known! But, we lay down our lives before You and give You control. Please put Your hand on us – just like You did for the people of Judah – and give us the strong desire to obey. Please stir our hearts to do Your will. May we want You and Your desires more than we want to satisfy our own cravings and flesh. May we honor You with all we say and do and put the past behind us, pressing on to fulfill our destiny and Your goals for us. Please help us overcome our unbelief! We need You! We ask You to change us! Please make us healthy and thin for Your glory! May we be overcomers, ready to do Your will and serve as Your hands and feet on earth. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!

“…This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.” 2 Chronicles 20:15b

My devotions this morning were too good not to share! I am once again overwhelmed by our Almighty God!

In the 20th chapter of 2 Chronicles, messengers told King Jehoshaphat that a “vast army” was coming to attack him and were already close (verses 1-2). “Jehoshaphat was alarmed by the news and sought the Lord for guidance. He also gave orders that everyone throughout Judah should observe a fast,” (2 Chronicles 20:3, emphasis mine) so the people went to Jerusalem to seek the Lord.

May I interject here that we have a choice of how to respond when we receive bad news – even overwhelming news? We can cry. We can scream. We can panic. Or, we can seek the Lord and ask for His guidance.

From the temple, Jehoshaphat prayed, “O Lord, the God of our ancestors, You alone are the God who is in heaven. You are the ruler of all kingdoms of earth. You are powerful and mighty; no one can stand against You!” (2 Chronicles 3:6).

I think the next step would be to remember who God is! When we feel overwhelmed or discouraged, take a step back and think about all that God has done. Declare all that He is! No problem, no medical diagnosis, no situation is greater than the Sovereign Lord! Say it out loud! Don’t let your present anxiety cloud out your knowledge of Who is in control of all things!

One of my favorite verses from this chapter is next: “O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to You for help.” (2 Chronicles 20:12, emphasis mine).

When you have no idea what to do – when you are powerless to change your current circumstances, cry out to God and look to Him for help! Tell Him that you don’t know what to do and ask Him to intervene! I’ve watched my children struggling with things that would be easy for me to fix. My oldest son, especially, is a fiery little man! If I offer to help when he believes he can do it himself, he’ll shout at me for stepping in and he’ll fight with me that he doesn’t want me interfering with what he’s doing. But, when he’s come to the end of his own struggle, when he realizes that he can’t accomplish what he wants to, and when the frustration gives way to the sweet little boy in tears who comes to me gently and asks me to help him, there’s nothing that gives me more joy than to do what I can to bring him back to smiling. Perhaps, it’s just giving him a suggestion on how he can better attack the problem, still allowing him to do it but guiding him on a better way to complete his goal. But at times it’s me simply doing it because it requires something only an adult can do and a child of his age can’t.

Don’t you see how our loving Father knows when we can solve a problem and guide us in the best path to take to do it? And He also knows when we simply can’t handle it with our earthly bodies but He can step in and fix it instantly?

Going back to the Bible, God spoke through a prophet to His people saying, “Listen, King Jehoshaphat! Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours but God’s.” (2 Chronicles 20:15, emphasis mine).

In case you need to hear this, LISTEN! Don’t be afraid and discouraged by what’s going on in your life. Doesn’t it make you feel better that this isn’t your battle but God’s? Because who ALWAYS wins? You simply need to do what God tells you, and you will OVERCOME!!!

“Tomorrow, march out against them…But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Go out there tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!” (2 Chronicles 20:16-17).

Why would God ask the people to march out? This was a VAST army. Couldn’t God just say “Hey, stay home and I’ll take care of it. Get comfy; make other plans! No worries, it’s already done.” Isn’t that what we want? To wake up and realize that the problem is behind us, rather than needing to face it head on? But, that’s not what happened, and I’m going to make two guesses as to why (again, simply reading the Bible and ‘digesting’ it). First, I think God wants to see our obedience. Do we trust Him? Are we willing to take a stand? Will we follow what He tells us to do, and do we BELIEVE and TRUST that He will take care of us? Second, I think that only from this vantage point can we “watch the Lord’s victory.” You see, when we have an overwhelming circumstance – something we simply can’t do on our own and has us shaking in our boots – only then do we KNOW that we KNOW that God has triumphed for us! Otherwise, this sneaky little evil called pride might come in and we think we defeated the problem on our own. Could God allow us to go through such times so that we can glorify Him and know that He still works miracles?

Friends, I’ll give you an example from my own life. I tried so many diets, I won’t even list them. But, I was still obese! It wasn’t until I finally believed that God could heal me and I began to humble myself and allowed Him to work victory in my life that I began to lose weight. When someone comments on my eating or exercising, I often cringe because I want to explain that it was truly God moving in me. This was a battle in my life that ONLY He could win. And this is just one example of many. The healing of my oldest son (the fiery little man I talked about earlier in this post) is another. And there are so many more I could share! But, this post isn’t about me…

“Then King Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground. And all the people of Judah and Jerusalem did the same, worshiping the Lord” (2 Chronicles 20:18). Now, this demonstrates exactly how I believe we need to respond to God (may I suggest right now?). This response happened BEFORE the people saw the victory; they just received the message that God would fight for them and that He was asking them to march out and take their positions the next day. Before the battle was won, the people were on their faces in worship.

As they marched out for battle early the next morning, Jehoshaphat reminded the people, “Believe in the Lord your God, and you will be able to stand firm” (verse 20).

Again, I pause and want you to reflect on your personal situation. Do you BELIEVE that the Lord your God can do anything? Do you believe that He will heal you? Do you trust that He is for you? Do you know that the battle belongs to Him? The first step to victory is belief!

The next wise thing the king did in our story from 2 Chronicles 20 was to appoint singers to walk ahead of the army “singing to the Lord and praising Him for His holy splendor. This is what they sang: ‘Give thanks to the Lord; His faithful love endures forever!'” (verse 21).

How do you respond to bad news? Do you focus on it? Do you dwell on your misery? Or, do you sing and thank God? Do you sing and praise Him in His holy splendor? Even if I die in battle, I would be honored to end my days singing thanks for God’s faithful love… This act of singing and praising takes our focus off ourselves and back to where it should be. The devil would love for us to be immobilized by our problems, so focused on our own pity party that we’re useless for anything else. But, when we remember to instead trust and praise God, the spiritual battle becomes very real. And we already know Who wins!!! Praise Him!

This is the part of the story that gave me chills: “At the moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves” (2 Chronicles 20:22). The teacher in me has to ask this question. Re-read this verse above and tell me when God gave them the victory.

Now, what should your response be to your situation?

You can read the rest of 2 Chronicles 20 (in fact, I recommend that you read the entire chapter on your own!). But, let me just give you a highlight: “So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, there were dead bodies lying on the ground for as far as they could see. Not a single one had escaped” (2 Chronicles 20:24). Not only that, they were then able to carry the plunder home – it took them three days to collect it all (verse 25)! They then gathered in the “Valley of Blessing” to praise and thank the Lord.

Could this problem turn into a memory of absolute blessing? Could the very thing that makes you feel sick to your stomach today become such an amazing victory that you call it a time of blessing in your life? Do you believe that God can? Do you trust that He will (enough to take your stand)? Have you gotten on your face and prayed, asking the Lord for help and guidance? Have you begun to thank Him, praising Him for His faithful love that endures FOREVER (even today!)?

Dear Heavenly Father, Your Word continues to inspire us. No matter how many times I read it, You reveal new truths and show Your glory and faithfulness. Lord, we thank You for being God of all. You are powerful and mighty and no one and nothing can stand up to You! We confess, Lord, that we are at a place where we don’t know what to do, so we’re asking for Your guidance. God, this battle seems far to overwhelming for us! In fact, on our own, we realize that we are doomed. But, thank You for reminding us that we are not on our own. You created us for this very moment – to reveal Your glory in this time. Lord, You are good! Your faithful love endures forever! Please act on our behalf! Please change the times, the circumstances, the things we can’t. We trust You, and we will obey what You tell us to do. We want to be at the exact place You call us to be so that we can look and see Your victory! May this moment in our lives be considered the “Valley of Blessing” where the enemy meant to destroy us and You rescued us! All for Your glory and renown. May we live for You alone – please be honored by all that we say and do, keeping us from sin and from pride. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!