God's Place

Since yesterday, I've been thinking about some things I shared here and in the FB live devotion I did. My thoughts were on how nothing surprises God. You'll never hear Him say, "I did not see that coming." Instead, God already has a plan for anything and everything we face. As I shared yesterday, He had already planned the way through the wilderness for His people before He went to Egypt to get them. Nothing took Him by surprise. Not the Red Sea, Pharoah's army, the lack of food or water, giants in the land... nothing was a surprise, and His provision was already planned.

I've tried to bring those thoughts into my caregiving situation. Maybe God doesn't keep things from happening to us - but He's already got the provision ready to go for the journey. God didn't prevent Joseph from being sold into slavery. He didn't keep Daniel from sitting all night in a lion's den. God didn't shackle Goliath so David wouldn't have to face him. That list could go on and on, right?

I propose that God doesn't always prevent things from happening - but makes the way through it - before it occurs. He can do that since He can see all of time all at one time. He's not living second by second like we are - He's already marched through time, so we just need to follow in His footsteps to get to the other side.

In Psalm 68, the NLT says O God, when you led your people from Egypt, when you marched through the wilderness....In my mind, that looks like God marching beforehand (since He's not bound by time) and making the way. I was really excited to find this verse this morning. But what really got me was a couple of verses before that. In verses 5 and 6, it says, Father to the fatherless, defender of widows, this is God whose dwelling is holy. God places the lonely in families... He has a place for the lonely, and He's already got it all set up - before we even realize our own loneliness.

I believe God's place holds the lonely. His space houses those cast away or rejected. We all have a place in Him, and no one seeking Him will be denied. I love how He can make all the provisions for us - before the "stuff" even happens! That blows my mind.

Today, I'll look for His footprints in the wilderness. When I find them, I'll just put my foot where His foot has already been. Instead of wandering around like a chicken with its head cut off - I'll trust His steps each step of the way. I'll just follow His lead - and trust Him to take care of the rest. Will you join me?

God's Plan

 I know that we will never figure out God's plans; we are not supposed to. But there are so many things that leave me scratching my head in wonder. Since yesterday, I've been thinking about the people in the Bible who faced adversity. I noted, first off, that there is no one anywhere in the Bible who did not face some sort of trouble. But this morning, my mind landed on the Children of Israel and their journey out of bondage into freedom. It was not an easy plight.

You know, God could have just picked them up and translated or transported them from Egypt to Cannan. No journey. No losses. No worries. No miracles...

He didn't use what we might think would be the easy way. Instead, He took them through the wilderness to the promised land. Their own obstinance and lack of trust made their journey a lot longer than it could have been. But here's the thing. God had a plan. He didn't bring them out and up to the banks of the Red Sea and then try to figure out what He was going to do. He knew the route, the bumps along the way, and the obstacles they would face, both in the natural and in their own heart.

I was sharing some of this in my FaceBook Live devotions this morning, and I had an epiphany. God has a plan. He knew how He was going to get the Children of Israel to the fulfillment of His promises. He wasn't sitting on His throne trying to figure out what to do. They faced one peril after another - and God always came through. Instead of this picture of Him sitting on His throne wringing His hands, worrying about what might or might not happen next, I saw Him excited. It's more likely that He's leaning way over heaven's portals and eagerly waiting for the next part. 

He knew they would run out of food - so He planned for the manna. It wasn't a surprise for Him. He knew they'd have no water - so He planned to provide water out of the rock. I guess I've always viewed Him as just waiting for things to crash and then doing something. But instead, He's excited. In my imagination, I see Him saying, "I can't wait for this next part!" Because He already has the answer planned. 

Today, I will sit back and trust His plan - because I know He has one that He is excited about! I'll take my thoughts back to those times in my life when I knew that I knew that I knew - He came through. My meditations will be on His care for us. So, I'll trust His plan for today. Will you join me?

Better Plans

 Ever have one of those days where it seems like everything goes wrong? Way, way back in our minds, we know it's not everything, but it sure can feel like it. It's so easy for overwhelm to take over. Yesterday was one of those days for me. I hopped on my treadmill, and it decided something or other needs to be lubed. I have no idea what that means - it'll probably be easier to just buy another one. Lol. Then the blender I use to make my son's blenderized meals quit on me. My computer's been acting up for a while, and it all just piled in on me last night. It's just frustrating, that's all. As if I had enough time to accomplish all the regular caregiving tasks throughout the day, now I have to figure out how to replace these items and shop for them. (I really don't like shopping.)

I know we all have these sorts of days, but it sure feels a little like sparring did and just getting hit over and over again with no way to defend myself. But when I got up this morning to take on these additional tasks along with my regular ones, I knew that it was just another day to trust God. I know better than to try and trust in my own resources - 'cause I ain't got none. There really isn't a better plan than just trusting Him, is there?

I wonder if our Bible heroes thought about "other plans" or better ones. Maybe Joseph could have come up with something "better" than sitting in a prison for all those years. Somehow, though, even through all the adversity, he continued to trust God. We don't really have any way of knowing if he ever doubted that the dream God gave him would come to pass. I mean, seriously, he had to wonder. 

The three Hebrew children were hoping God had a better plan than a walk through the fiery furnace. They had to hope or at least think there was a maybe. Their words still ring true today - our God is able to deliver us - but if He doesn't - we still won't bow. God is able to make all our pain go away - but if He doesn't?  He could heal us and our loved ones in a second - but if He doesn't? He could wipe Covid off the face of the earth - but if He doesn't? If He does, or if He doesn't - aren't we just going to trust Him anyway? I can't think of a better plan, can you?

Today, I'll remind myself that God is indeed still in control, and there is not a better plan than trusting Him. My thoughts will be on the heroes of our faith who trusted God all the way through their adversities, and I'll be committed to doing the same. I'll tell myself that now is not a good time to give up or give in! And I'll trust Him for just one more day - today. Will you join me?

Today's Live along the same lines:

                                                                                                                                                                

True Faith

 Has anyone ever been able to completely and accurately define faith? Faith and love are abstract nouns that we cannot see or touch. They can be difficult to conclusively define. Faith and trust are closely related, and I'm starting to think you can't have one without the other. Hebrews 11:1 tells us that faith is the substance of things hoped for - the evidence of things not seen. Faith is not the thing we are believing for, is it? We may be believing God to provide a house, a vehicle, an income, etc. But those things are not the substance. Faith is the substance. Faith is the evidence.

Hopefully, I just blew all your theology! lol. Having faith in God is the substance of life, I'm thinking. It's not what we own, what we accomplish, or what we even do with our lives. Faith gives life substance. Faith is the evidence - not the "stuff" we get through believing. I'm not sure I can describe it accurately or acceptably. But faith is it.

Faith is that force way down inside our beings. When we are ready to throw in the towel and give up - it's faith that whispers, hold on. When we have cried our last tear, and there are no words left to pray, it's faith that helps us get up and keep going. Why? Because somehow, no matter how difficult it seems, how challenging life becomes, or how hard caregiving becomes - faith is carrying us through. It's faith that sends a hand up through the water's surface when we are sure we are drowning in life's sea.

We've talked about it before, but I was in a group last night that made it sound like if we have faith, nothing bad ever happens to us. Tell that to Jesus, who faced the cross. Explain that to Paul, who was imprisoned, beaten, and shipwrecked. Tell that to Joseph, who was betrayed by his own brothers and cruelly sold into slavery. Tell that to every caregiver who got up this morning, ready to take on another day of caring for a loved one. Whether it's through tears of joy or sadness, physical difficulties of their own, or not being sure of what the next step entails - caregivers get up day after day and keep doing what they do - by faith. Because faith is the substance. 

By faith, David faced and killed the giant. He didn't avoid Goliath by faith. When Moses brought the Children of Israel out of Egypt, they ran right into the Red Sea. To make matters worse, Pharoah's army was closing in from behind. Through faith - they believed in God and crossed the sea on dry ground. That would be the same sea that wiped out Pharoah's army. Moses didn't avoid confrontation or difficult situations through faith; he walked right through them. 

Today, I will remind myself that circumstances do not dictate to me whether faith is present or not. I'll gladly take on the difficulties knowing that God has me - and that's faith, pure and simple. It doesn't mean I'll avoid hard decisions and won't face any giants. But faith does mean that I'll come through whatever life presents before me today. Faith is trusting that God still has me and carries me when necessary. So, I will trust Him for one more day. Will you join me?

                                                                                                                                                            

Got Faith? (The Answer is Yes)

 

When I got up this morning, I didn't want to do anything. Not that that could happen in the life of a caregiver, but it was my thought and my attitude anyway. I didn't even want to read my Bible. (Don't tell anyone!) Honestly, I knew if I didn't do my FaceBook live devotions, someone would be calling to see if I was okay. And I didn't want to talk to anyone either. So, I thumbed through a few scriptures, then settled on one. But I wasn't happy with it, so I pulled out my declarations book. I compiled all the "I will" statements out of the Psalms and put them in a book. I opened it, and my eyes fell on Psalm 28:1 To You I will cry, O Lord my Rock! 

Maybe you don't have days like that. Maybe you don't need a pick-me-up to get you going. But I did today. And I found that when I started reading the declarations and I turned my ugh into some I will's, my mind began to clear, and I could grab hold of Him once again. In short, my attitude changed. What ended up happening was that I encouraged myself with my own devotions. Lol. God is so faithful to meet us right where we are - even in the middle of our messes. 

In I Thessalonians 3, Paul mentions his afflictions and distresses. He said that the faith of the Thessalonian believers encouraged him even in his situation. What's interesting to me is that Paul didn't try to act like nothing bad was happening. He was open and honest about it. That's what I like about the Psalms, too - because until we are honest about our feelings, even if it means we think we don't have faith (we do) - God can meet us there.

Having faith doesn't mean we never face difficult circumstances. It doesn't mean life isn't hard. It does mean that we just keep running back to Him! The fact that you picked up your Bible this morning is an act of faith. If you whispered (or yelled) a prayer this morning - you have faith. If you asked God to help me make it through today - you demonstrated faith. Our circumstances and situations are not an accurate measure of faith. Think Daniel in the lion's den, Joseph in the prison cell, Paul in a shipwreck, Moses on the back side of the wilderness, and Jesus on the cross. These heroes of faith faced such dire circumstances. They trusted God. They had faith. If you are still running to Him - you have faith too!

Today, I will remind myself that the fact I am still seeking Him is a faith indicator. I'll meditate on these stories of saints who trusted Him no matter what they went through in life. I will NOT measure my faith by my circumstances. Instead, I will look to Him to carry me through one more day. Will you join me?

(Here's today's live where I talked myself happy. :-))

The Need

 

I'm just sitting here this morning, thinking about all I need to get done today. I bet you have a long list too. As I look at my must-dos, and what-can-waits and sip a bit of my second cup of coffee, I hear my heart sigh. It's a good sigh - not like those long ones that signal I don't know what to do. It was a simple, gentle, surprisingly content sigh. And as it escaped my body, I heard my heart say, I need You. 

There was no prayer request, not really any prayer at all. I didn't need what God could do for me. I just need Him. It's so easy to get lost in our long list of prayer requests and crazy caregiver thoughts. There were no thoughts of "needs" before the sigh. It actually kind of surprised me too! I just need Him, and it's not even that I need Him to do anything. Just that my soul was welcoming His presence into my day. 

During my morning devotions earlier, I was reading through Psalm 145. David wrote it, but it's a bit different than some of his other psalms. He isn't asking for a thing in Psalm 145. David isn't pouring out his heart about troublesome matters or his enemies, or his dire circumstances. He is just talking about God's greatness. 

And in verse 18, David says that God is near to everyone who calls on Him in earnest. So, I can surmise by that, that He is near. As I heard my heart cry out for Him, He moved nearer - if that is even possible. Maybe it's just that I am more aware of His presence because I want to be.

Today, I encourage you to take a few minutes to just tell God you need His presence - not His presents. :-) I'm going to rejoice in the truth that He is right here - walking this journey with me. I'll take my eyes off the giants that may be out there and look past them to the great, magnificent, loving God. He will me my focus today - will you join me?

                                                                                                                                           

If you enjoy these devotionals, I have others! I've expanded my bookstore on Amazon. My devotionals are available in Kindle or print format. The new Bible study guides are now available on Kindle and in print! Check out my growing bookstore: 

I also recently opened my own bookstore. I'm presently filling it up with my books - check out the ones I have available in eBook format. You can download them and read them on your phone! Dove's Fire Ministries Bookstore.

Over and Over and Over Again

 

My mind is like a locomotive on a circular track. It goes round and round with no clear stopping spots. As caregivers, there are lots of things to juggle. And that's an everyday thing. Every once in a while, surprises happen, too, like someone wrecking our cars, our loved one getting sick, no supplies this month, and so forth, that complicates our already full and complicated mental strain. It's so difficult to find those restful moments where we can stop, right? 

My quietest time is early in the morning. I get up and make my first pot of coffee. While it's brewing, I change and turn Chris. Then he usually goes right back to sleep while I grab that first cup, my Bible, and my journal. If I don't get this quiet, reflective, prayerful time in that time slot, it's usually gone for the rest of the day. I am learning to stop during the day and just read a chapter in a book or unplug for a minute or two. That's helpful. 

In our busy days, it's easy for our thoughts to stray. They take off in a flash and are miles away before I stop and remind myself to reel them back in. Some days, I have to do that all day long, time and time again. And I think God is okay with that - He gets us, first of all. And as long as we are in constant reeling in mode - it's okay because He's got us. So, if we need to pull our thoughts back to God and His word over and over and over again every single day, I believe His peace still has us covered.

In Isaiah 26:3, the Amplified version reads You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and character] is stayed on You, because He commits himself to You, lean on You, and hopes confidently in You. I think it pleases Him that we keep coming back as many times as it takes. Don't you? I think He realizes that our brains are like busy train stations with busy thoughts bustling in and out and about all day long. So, He created and opened up a constant flow of peace. It doesn't turn off, run out, or dry up. We just have to keep coming back to Him (the spout) as many times as it takes.

I love that about Him, so today, I will run to Him over and over and over again. Why? Because I trust Him. He's walked with me through every single one of my todays so far, and I trust He'll be in this moment in today's today as well. I'll remind myself that He is the one I trust. I will let my heart trust in His ever-flowing, never-ending peace today. I'll pull my heart and my brain right up under that faucet and let His peace drench my soul as I continue to learn to rest in Him. Will you join me under the spout?