God Is!

He is the First and Last, the Beginning and the End!

He is the Keeper of creation and the Creator of all!

He is the Architect of the universe and the Manager of all times!

He always was, He always is, and He always will be . . .

Unmoved, unchanged, undefeated, and never undone!

He was bruised and brought healing!

He was pierced and eased pain!

He was persecuted and brought freedom!

He was dead and brought life!

He is risen and brings power!

He reigns and brings Peace!

The world cannot understand Him,

The armies cannot defeat Him,

The schools cannot explain Him, and

The leaders cannot ignore Him!

Herod could not kill Him,

The Pharisees could not confuse Him, and

The people could not hold Him!

Nero could not crush Him,

Hitler could not silence Him,

The New Age cannot replace Him, and

Talk show hosts cannot explain Him away!

He is light, love, longevity and Lord!

He is goodness, kindness, gentleness and joy!

He is holy, righteous, mighty, powerful and pure!

His ways are right,

His word is eternal,

His will is unchanging, and

His mind is on me!

He is my Redeemer,

He is my Savior,

He is my Guide, and

He is my Peace!

He is my Joy,

He is my Comfort,

He is my Lord, and

He rules my life!

I serve Him because His bond is love,

His burden is light, and

His goal for me is abundant life!

I follow Him because He is the wisdom of the wise,

The power of the powerful,

The ancient of days,

The ruler of rulers,

The leader of leaders,

The overseer of the overcomers, and

The sovereign Lord of all that was and is and is to come!

And if that seems impressive to you, try this for size—

His goal is a relationship with ME!

He will never leave me,

Never forsake me,

Never mislead me,

Never forget me,

Never overlook me, and

Ever cancel my appointment in His appointment book!

When I fall, He lifts me up!

When I fail, He forgives!

When I am weak, He is strong!

When I am lost, He is the way!

When I am afraid, He is my courage!

When I stumble, He steadies me!

When I am hurt, He heals me!

When I am broken, He mends me!

When I am blind, He leads me!

When I am hungry, He feeds me!

When I face trials, He is with me!

When I face persecution, He shields me!

When I face problems, He comforts me!

When I face loss, He provides for me!

When I face death, He carries me Home!

He is everything for everybody, everywhere,

Every time, and every way!

He is God,

He is faithful!

I am His, and He is mine!

My Father in heaven can whip the father of this world.

God is in control, I am on His side, and

That means all is well with my soul!

Everyday is a blessing . . . for GOD is!

{I adapted this from something I received in 2001.  I do not know the author.  10 years later, I believe more fully in every statement made here!  Only by His grace, His mercy and His love!}

It’s About the Lies

That big fear of mine?  It didn’t just come about as my children came of age!

My fear of failing as a mother grew as they grew.

My fear of failing God in my mothering grew as the evidence stacked against me.

What I have learned of our enemy is that he is not creative—he doesn’t have to be.  He just has to know human nature.  And he does.  He has studied us for years.  He plays off our weaknesses . . . which he’s figured out while watching us be mistreated over the years.  

Sinful people have sinned against us.  

Hurting people have hurt us.

And we've reacted.

He saw this young, naïve, hurting-for-attention girl get duped by a man in spiritual authority over her.  And the spin he fed her thoughts was that she was a failure to God. 

Had he—had anyone—spoken those words to her at the time, she would never have agreed.

“Jesus loves me, this I KNOW!” 

But seeds only grow when they are nurtured.  And there is enough sun, water and fertilizer in this world to give the fields of failure a bumper crop!

And in me—the harvest was bountiful.

“How have I failed Thee . . . let me count the ways!”

At age 13, the field was plowed.

In my 40’s, I discovered the field flourishing.

We can deny we are in a battle all we want.  It does not change the facts.  We are.  In a battle!

The battle is real. 

And it is fierce. 

The costs are high. 

Spoils for either side. 

Souls!

I thought all these insecure thoughts were my own!

Not realizing I had a REAL enemy!  An enemy willing to take advantage of my hurt!

I believe now the lie he fed me then was, “You failed God.”

And as I grew older the lie grew with me to, “You will always fail God!”

Every time I did something wrong, or said something dumb, or didn’t accomplish something expected, or made a disaster of something—that failure got filed in the box labeled with the original lie.

Time goes by.  Years accumulate.  Failures rise.

Babies are born.  Children grow.  Young adults now stand before me.

And I realize my fear has frozen me.

Can there be enough grace to save the children of such a failure like me?

How could I imagine raising godly children for the Kingdom?

How could I ever foster a close-knit, loving home?

How could I hope to ever win my children’s hearts to myself—let alone God???

I am a failure to God!

I will surely fail at the biggest task He could ever ask me to do!

So the lie goes . . . Until . . . 

The darkness collides with Light.  

The lie exposed.  

The access point revealed.  

The repentance of sins and renouncing of untruths.

Not only is the forgiveness sweet, but something big implodes within!

Satan’s control.

His lies are the epicenter of his control within our soul—our minds, wills and emotions!

When Satan's lies are exposed, 

his power over us implodes!

So what lies have you believed?

What version of the truth has our enemy fed you?

What hurt from long ago could have given access to thoughts now tormenting you?

Maybe today is the day to ask, seek and knock!

Maybe today is your day for the chains to fall free!

I Have a Fear—A Deep Fear of Failing as a Mom!

I fear I have or I will fail my children.

I fear I have or I will fail God in raising them.

I fear—

What I do or don’t do . . .

What I say or don’t say . . .

What I allow or don’t allow . . .
I fear—

If the “whatever” is not received well by them that in rejecting me, my advice, my council, or my perspective of what is “best for them” . . . 

I fear they will reject God.

I fear they will reject God and it will be because of my failure to mother them well. 

However “well” looks for each of them as individuals.

This is fresh revelation, but I have seen its evidence.

There are so many things in this life that just. don’t. matter!

Loving my children well is not one of them.

I am crazy gone over my kids!

As much as I’d like to take their choice away, I can’t!

Just as grace drew me to my knees as a 20-something, tired-out, masquerading, Christ-following fake . . . 

so grace must draw each one of them.

How I wish I had control!

But I don’t.

All I can do is— 

love them,

pray for them,

discipline them,

while discipling them

the best I can with— 

what they will receive, 

what they will listen to, 

with only the wisdom & understanding grace has gifted up to today.

No one can go back.

There are no do-over’s in parenting.

Regret threatens to devour my sanity!

As I cling to my Redeemer—

He loves, 

He prays, 

He disciplines, 

and He disciples me 

all the while redeeming— 

my mistakes, 

my sins, 

my poor choices, 

my “woulda-coulda-shoulda’s” 

and “if only’s”.

Nothing escapes Him.

Nothing is unredeemable for Him.

Nothing reaches beyond His touch.

Fear cannot coincide with Christ! 

So I repent and let healing waters of forgiveness rush my soul.

This freedom of forgiveness deepens trust.

Only He can save.

I cannot.

I can release!

I can trust!

I can pray!

I can rebuke!

I can battle!

I can encourage!

I can challenge!

I can correct!

I can question!
I can love!

I can Mother my best and trust God for the rest—cheesy, but truth!

"Thank you, Jesus, that fear is not my destiny—only my chains.  It was for freedom that You came—for me as well as for my children.  In the power and authority of your name and in your blood, please break these chains threatening to overtake my joy, my hope . . . my peace.  You love them so much more than I.  You love perfect.  Thank you for perfect love casting out all fear!  You know my hopes, my dreams, my prayers for them—and I know they are safe within Your care.  Abba, I love you!  Abba, I belong to you!  Abba, I trust you!  Abba, You are enough!  In this.  In everything.  You are enough!  Amen."

Do you have a fear threatening your faith today?




{Continued in this post on how Satan feeds our thoughts lies . . .}

Five Minute Friday: Unexpected

Only up since that morning, how could I hope one would come so soon to the feeder when I had rarely seen any visit my yard in the five years it had been mine. 

In my chair by the window, with book in hand I read the words, “You can trust Me, Robin.”  Never is my own name in print.  The sun was beginning to go down as I asked once more for a visitor to the bright red nectar.

My thoughts drifted back to August—and the few days of quiet respite at the lake home of a friend.  I had not expected the new friends I made on the back patio.  Flitting, flirting, flying so close to me and stopping in mid-air to stare me down.  These tiny, playful creations—such a gift to a soul weighed down with overwhelming fear and confusion, to the point where putting the “happy” mask on each morning was becoming effort.  Under more pressure than the heart was created for, joy burst.  They freed sweet joy!

Months and hot, summer days were long gone.  Was I looking for the ridiculous or for a life-line?  Wasn’t I really asking for grace?  He had said I could ask Him anything.  Even for a hummingbird?

I read my name, black on white once more . . . looked up—and saw grace perched on red plastic.

*This is my first attempt at Five Minute Fridays after meeting the lovely, Lisa-Jo at Relevant.  She gives a topic to write on and we are to write, non-stop for 5 minutes with no backtracking or editing.  Wow--was that hard for me!  This was more like 7 minutes because at the end of 5 even I was left hanging! :)  Hope that was okay.*

Keep Your Soul From Trouble

About 5 years ago, while laying in bed trying to fall asleep, this random thought came loudly and with authority—literally taking my breath away—seizing me in panic!

“You are going to die young!”

For days I walked in a stupor.  I had no idea what to make of it, nor what to do with it.

This was before I learned to practice the teaching from scripture, “resist {rebuke} the devil and he will flee from you”.  This was also before I fully understood that Satan feeds thoughts into our minds. 

For a long time, I wondered if it had been God speaking.  Was He warning me I had little time?  Why would He say it in such a way to invoke all kinds of fear?  Was it God or me or my enemy taking advantage of me?  I have since worked through that event and found peace. 

And then when I read this devotional entry* for September 22^nd I about leapt off the couch!

“He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from troubles.”  Proverbs 21:23

Many people have trouble in their soul, which includes the mind, will, and emotions.  But God gives the answer right here.

We’ve all dealt with doubts and fears at one time or another.  Fear often starts as a single thought.  As we dwell on that thought, it produces fear.  And if we continue to dwell on fearful thoughts, fear escalates into panic.

The devil likes to attack your mind with fearful thoughts.  He may say, I’m going to kill you.  You won’t live out your full life.  You’ll get cancer and die.  Most of the time there’s no basis at all for what the enemy is saying to your mind.  He doesn’t care.  He just wants you to dwell on his evil suggestions long enough for fear to take over.

I finally realized demonic thoughts come to our minds because the devil isn’t big enough to pull off his schemes on his own.  He’s trying to convince us to agree with him so he can operate in our lives.

Cast down the enemy’s thoughts the second they come.  How do you stop his thoughts?  Well, you can’t think one thing while you’re saying something else.  So open your mouth and start confessing, “Glory to God!  God sent His Word and healed me and satisfies me with long life.  It’s so good to be well!”

When you start speaking God’s Word, thoughts stop and fear leaves.  That will keep your soul from trouble.

Confession:

I refuse to allow fear and doubt to control me.

I keep my soul from trouble by speaking God’s Word.

I live a long, healthy life, and God will fulfill the number of my days.

{marks of emphasis are my own}

What fear is paralyzing you?

Has a random thought ever entered your mind causing fear, doubt, anger or confusion?

Are you consciously taking your thoughts captive to Christ?

Once a thought is thought over, entertained and spoken it has taken us captive—for good or for evil.  This is how Satan begins the establishment of a stronghold {foothold} in our lives. 

Be careful to not passively receive any thought that pops into your mind!

Get active with your thoughts! 

Take them over before they take over you!

* Mark Brazee; 365 Days of Healing; page 271.

I Am So Excited!

Wednesday I'm leaving on a jet plane with my friend to Pennsylvania!

Through God’s orchestration—and working through some pretty special people . . .

my husband,

my sister and brother-in-law,

and some pretty wonderful friends

. . . I am blessed to be able to attend,

Perhaps some of you will be there as well? 

If so, I would love to meet up with you.  Please contact me privately at Robin_McKay at comcast dot net.

God is the Giver of good gifts! 

How blessed I am to be on the receiving end!!! J

**and we'll be not too far from the Hershey Chocolate Factory!  My mission will be not to drown in one of the scrumptious vats of chocolate!**

Remember Today

Remember today . . .

Whose you are!

Who you are in Christ!

Who God is!

And believe Him, not only IN Him!

Remember today . . .

You belong to God and not this world—

so no envy

no jealousy

no discontent

Remember today . . .

Follow Abba’s guidelines for living—not the world’s

Follow after His heart—not your own

Remember today . . .

To be Holy, as He is holy

To not fear, but trust . . . 

and keep on believing!

Remember today . . .

You are holy, chosen and dearly loved!

{Col. 3:12}

Morning Rituals

Do you start your day in the same way. . . every day?

Most of us do.

Even if our spontaneity kicks in later . . .

Even when our schedule fluctuates . . .

Most of us begin the day with at least somewhat of a morning ritual.

Whether it involves drinking coffee or tea, reading the newspaper, checking the computer, exercise, etc. . . . there’s usually some uniformity to it.

Does your morning ritual protect your mind?

Does your morning ritual guard against the evil one?

Does your morning ritual help you focus on Christ?

Some of us have {or try to have} a regular “quiet time” with the Lord.  Maybe yours is in the morning or perhaps it works better for you to meet with Him later in the day, before bed even.  But what I have learned over time is how crucial it is in the morning to get my mind “stayed on Thee”. 

Because I want the perfect peace promised for the rest of my day!

Because I need it! J

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee; because he trusts in Thee.”  Is. 26:3

There’s no right or wrong here—but I’ve learned it’s important to do something!

After doing Beth Moore’s study, Stepping Up, I continued what she taught us with starting my morning on the floor—face to the floor—in worship and personal expression of my need for Him in my life.  I then recite this prayer of hers . . .

“Lord, I thank you again this morning that you are still God upon the throne of all creation.  You are holy.  Mighty beyond comprehension.  So worthy of my praise and the outpouring of my life’s energies.  Today I gladly give myself to you.  I am convinced that you are always for me.  Obedience to you will always mean Your very best for me.  I’m so grateful that I can come boldly and without shame before Your throne because I pray all these things in Jesus’ name.”

With my face still to the floor, I spend some time in specific adoration and gratitude for all He is doing in my life.  I affirm promises I need to affirm. 

And I say all of this out loud. 

Satan can feed thoughts into our minds, 

but he cannot read our minds. 

I pray A LOT out loud because I want my enemy to know he is not just messing with me, he is messing with God and me!

I finish my prayer on the ground by taking the power and authority that is mine in Christ Jesus, sealing off my mind to influences of the world, tricks and lies of the enemy and my own thoughts and imaginations. (2 Co. 10:5)

Then I re-affirm the following truths out loud I have written on a 3x5 card.  {Some I need to pause over awhile because of what I am currently dealing with or perhaps some repentance is necessary!}

Remember Today . . .

Whose I am

Who I am in Christ

Who God is and believe Him, not only IN Him

I belong to God and not this world—so no envy, jealousy, discontent

Follow Abba’s guidelines for living, not the world’s

Follow after His heart, not my own

To be Holy, as He is holy

To not fear, but trust and keep on believing!

Some days I immediately jump into my prayer journal—because I am desperate to talk with Him more and ask some specific questions, believing for guidance and direction.  Other days I turn to scripture or a Bible study.  Or  I spend all the rest of the morning just praying—laying my heart, my uglies, my children, my concerns, my church, my family, my “whatever” before Him.  Sometimes . . . that takes the bulk of my time.  But I know that although I may be able to snag some time later in the day to read some scripture—having quiet, undisturbed time just to talk to Him and listen for Him most often is only available in the morning before the rest of the family wakes up.

I encourage you to consider your morning ritual.

Are you leaving yourself vulnerable to the enemy simply because you did not take time in the morning to armor up? (Eph. 6:10-18)

I’ll leave you thinking with this quote of Beth Moore’s . . .

"We can choose whether or not we are warriors, 

but we can not choose whether or not we are in a war."

We Are Blessed! Rejoice and Be Glad!

Multiple scriptures profess the steadfast faithfulness of God to remain near us during our time of difficulty.  I am tired today and have much to do in my world, so I can’t take the time to look them up and post them for you.  But Joshua 1:9 is one that pops to mind quickly in these days . . .

“Be strong and courageous.

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” 

Wherever . . . and in whatever!

Four weeks ago today, my life changed in the blink of an eye.

But Abba is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow.

He is only faithful!

He is truly merciful!

We are greatly blessed!

We are perfectly loved!

But I am also flesh and blood— and I struggle, I hurt and I am sad.

I am so grateful for a Savior who loves me in the midst of my weakness just as much as when I am responding strong!

“This is the day the Lord has made.  

I will rejoice and be glad in it!” 

Ps 118:24

My dryer was not drying, now it is fixed—I rejoice and am glad!

My Littles have been sick, but are now well—I rejoice and am glad!

Co-op begins Friday, I am unprepared...but—I rejoice and am glad!

So many have loved & carried us to Abba—I rejoice and am glad!

I do not understand the silence of others...but—I rejoice and am glad!

The medical bills have begun to hit...but—I rejoice and am glad!

I am weepy & struggle to focus on things...but—I rejoice and am glad!

The Fair is on and the Fair is fun—I rejoice and am glad!

We are surrounded by kindness & generosity—I rejoice and am glad!

I miss the voice I have loved hearing since I was 14...but—

I rejoice and am glad!

Affirming Truth vs. Positive Thinking

“What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will understand later.”  John 13:7

I speak these words today not to convince myself all will work out fine or to look on some “bright” side.  This is not me hugging myself while saying over and over again—

"Jesus loves me."

“I know the thoughts that I think toward you,” says the Lord, “thoughts of peace and not evil.”  Jeremiah 29:11

“I love those who love Me; and those who diligently seek Me will find Me.”  Proverbs 8:17

I affirm truth!

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.  “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”  Isaiah 55:8-9
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding."  Proverbs 3:5

This is not positive thinking. 

This is truth proclamation! 

“How precious . . . are Your thoughts to me, O God!  How great is the sum of them!  If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You.”  Psalm 139:17-18

“Thou hast taken account of my wanderings; put my tears in Thy bottle . . . This I know, that God is for me.”  Psalm 56:8, 9

There is a HUGE difference—

“For the Lord your God has arrived to live among you.  He is a mighty Savior.  He will rejoice over you with great gladness.  With His love, He will calm all your fears.  He will exult over you with singing {shouts of joy}.”  Zephaniah 3:17

Positive thinking only temporarily changes my thought process or perspective until something else happens to stir the pot.

Truth is bound to God’s Covenant! 

“For great is Your love toward me.”  Psalm 86:13

“Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which You have done, and your thoughts toward us; there is none to compare with You.”  Psalm 40:5

Jesus is always victorious!

Jesus is never defeated!

“Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands.”  Isaiah 49:16

I truly am rejoicing in the days to come!

“We have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us.”  1 John 4:16

When We Have No Control

My Sister’s son is severely autistic.  Through the years, she has had to learn to surrender her desire to plan, to understand and to control her situation. 

And trust me, this girl likes a plan. 

She LIVES by a plan. 

She lives TO plan! J 

But she cannot plan autism. 

She cannot control how autism controls her day.

But she can trust the Blessed Controller of all things—Abba!

And for 16 years I have witnessed her grow in that trust!

“Tremble {with fear, anxiety or anger} and do not sin;

Meditate in your heart upon your bed, and be still {be silent and wait}.

Offer the sacrifices of righteousness {have your heart right with God},

And trust in the Lord.” {Securely attach yourself in solid confidence to Yahweh—the God who not only made an unbreakable Covenant with you, but Who is incapable of breaking any of its promises!}

Psalm 4:4, 5

As we waited for the Neurologist in Exam Room 2, my insides trembled a bit.  I was bracing for one of the three scenarios we were previously given and, hopeful still, that she would walk into the room declaring hubby’s brain healed.  But that didn’t happen.

She did declare the problem was not Multiple Sclerosis!  Thank you, Jesus!

But MRI’s do not like metals and there was enough blood on his brain (containing iron) that they could not tell with clarity whether or not this was caused by a Cavernoma.  Her opinion is that he suffered a stroke at a certain time and it then hemorrhaged on the day he showed symptoms.


Her opinion???

Have the MRI images she pointed out resembling Cavernoma’s simply disappeared?  Or are they now covered in blood?

How can he have a stroke caused by hypertension when his blood pressure, outside of her office, is normal?

How can there have been so many tests taken, so much blood work and still there be a guess—an opinion—for the diagnosis?

No control!

No control of what’s going on in his cute, little brain! 

No control over a definite diagnosis!

No control on where this takes us!

No control over his recovery!

No control over its costs!

I have no control! 

Yesterday was my nephew’s first day of his senior year of high school.
It was rough.  And trust me when I say, a rough day in his world is much rougher than that for most of us. 

He had no control.

From my big sister, I learn—

to tremble . . . but not sin!

to depend on God . . . alone!

to be still in Him—relax and wait . . . knowing He is in control!

to trust Him . . . with the process as well as the outcome!

to hope in Him . . . with confident expectation!

God IS in control! 

I thought I had learned to let that be enough
     —to let Him being in control be enough for me. 

Today, the learning goes a little deeper.

The Blessed Controller of ALL Things!

Yes! . . . that is who God is!

He even controls the shuffle of songs on ipods!  As He did for me yesterday while in the waiting room of the rehab area of our hospital when my husband was in speech therapy.

This is the list of songs God played for me!  

Each one a love song, 

an encouragement for my faith, 

a boost of remembrance into who He is and who I am in Christ.  

The butterflies were swirling as we awaited the appointment with hubby's neurologist.  I'll share that tomorrow, but I can't help but smile again this morning as I remember His grace gift to me yesterday.

I couldn't help but share them with all of you in hopes that you too feel loved, encouraged and boosted in your relationship with Abba!

Soli Deo Gloria!
To God alone the glory!


My Beloved, by Kari Jobe



Strong Tower, by Kutless



You Are God Alone, by Phillips, Craig & Dean



You Are For Me, by Kari Jobe



I Belong, by Kathryn Scott



Revelation Song, by Kari Jobe (yes...I really like Kari Jobe! :)



I Lift My Hands, by Chris Tomlin

Test Reults Day

The anxiety I awoke to in the pit of my stomach was an unwelcomed, familiar surprise.  There were days when that gripping, nauseous feeling lasted all day.  Days where I was consumed with fear!  And that wasn’t all that long ago.

What a difference Abba makes!

Do you remember that old game show, Let’s Make a Deal?  My “rememberer” isn’t all that great, but I believe a contestant won a certain amount of money and they were given the choice to either keep the money or choose one of 3 curtains, winning whatever was behind that curtain.  Sometimes the exchange was in the contestant’s favor—even winning a brand new car.  Other times, they traded hundreds of dollars for a broken down jalopy.  I don’t now why, but I was thinking of that show while trying to sleep last night.

Right now we have three Neurologists opinions of what is wrong with my husband’s brain.

Behind curtain #1—stroke

Behind curtain #2—multiple sclerosis

Behind curtain #3—cavernoma (a type of brain aneurysm)

Today is the day we find out the results of the CT scan, MRI, MRA, Spinal Tap and exhaustive blood tests.  We have been anxious to get answers, but now I want to flee from the day.  I want to escape hearing any words of diagnosis, treatment and expectations the Dr. is ready to share with us. 

And I am reminded of what God reminds me of so often in our quiet time together:

“Let what I want be more important than what you want.”

I want to go to sleep and wake up with this nightmare over.

I want my husband to return from his trip to Oregon the way he left.

I want homeschooling plans to be my focus for the day.

I want the questions of what our future is going to look like, look more like what I thought!

I don’t want a doctor’s answers...I want God’s miraculous, Divine touch!

We know God heals.

We have prayed for healing.

We believe for healing.

We trust Him with our lives.

And our lives are not a game.  

Monty Hall had no control over which choice the contestants made.
No control over what was behind the curtains.

God does! 

Sometimes we get to choose.  Other times, the choice is made for us.  And while today I am wishing, hoping and praying for a curtain #4 to be revealed at our appointment . . . I am at peace.  A deep peace only possible with Yahweh—our covenant making AND keeping God.

I have learned to trust Him with outcomes.

Now He is teaching me to trust Him more deeply 

in the process He takes to get me there.

What answers are you waiting for today?

Are you at deep peace?

Or is fear consuming you, like it consumes so many of us at times?

“If God is for us, who {what} can {will} ever be against us?” Romans 8:31

“He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things.” (v. 32)

“Who {what} will separate us from the love of Christ?  Will tribulation or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril or sword?”  (v.35)

“But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.  (v. 37)

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  (v. 38-39)

My Pastor reminded us at prayer last night—it’s about praying expectantly!  Not with expectations, but expectantly trusting His Kingdom to come and looking for the good He brings with Him.

I don’t know what to expect at the Neurologist office today.  But I do know what to expect of God—for He can only, always be good!  His Covenant promises assure us of that!

“Thou, O Lord, art a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head.”

Psalm 3:3

“Lord, You are able to give me peace in my heart, the protection and provision I need, the perspective I want—Yours!  You are able to help me in the midst of this difficult situation.  I believe Your promises and I trust You.  Amen”

My Blue Bracelet

Okay . . . I am getting a lot of questions about my blue bracelet, so I thought I should explain it a bit better! J

Several years ago I participated in Beth Moore’s Bible study, "Believing God".  For the duration of the study she asks everyone to wear a blue cord of some kind on their wrist.  The group of gals I was with decided to make pretty bracelets by knotting blue hemp cord and adding a bead or two—I continue to make and wear one today.

The study is based off of Isaiah 43:10:

“You are My witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and My servant whom I have chosen, in order that you may know and believe Me, and understand that I am He.  Before Me there was no God formed, and there will be none after Me.”

And the idea behind the blue bracelet is from Numbers 15:37-41:

The Lord also spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the sons of Israel, and tell them that they shall make for themselves tassels on the corners of their garments throughout their generations, and that they shall put on the tassel of each corner a cord of blue.  And it shall be a tassel for you to look at and remember all the commandments of the Lord, so as to do them and not follow after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you played the harlot, in order that you may remember to do all My commandments, and be holy to your God.  I am the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt to be your God; I am the Lord your God.”

I have never been to Egypt, but I have seen my share of captivity and can testify to the freedom I’ve found in Jesus Christ:

It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.  Galatians 5:1

So my blue bracelet is a constant reminder to me . . .

Whose I am.

Who I am in Christ. 

Who God is and to believe Him, not only IN Him.

I belong to God and not this world, so no envy—jealousy—discontent.

To follow His guidelines for living, not the world’s.

To follow after His heart, not my own.

To be holy, as He is holy.

To not fear, but trust and keep believing (Mark 5:36).

Wearing my bracelet reminds me daily that I am in a Covenant relationship with Yahweh!  My words, my actions, my attitude, my thoughts, my purchases, my dreams and my walk should always be reflecting Jesus.

And this girl needs that visual reminder! J

Live Your Faith!

Three Neurologists, three opinions.

The reality that doctors only practice medicine is disconcerting!

But then . . . I know the Great Physician and He. is. God!

Sadness began to settle in my heart a bit today . . .

oh, and a dose of self-pity I suppose too.  

Sad is somewhat acceptable.  

But self-pity is sin.  

So I closed myself in my room with my journal and my Jesus.

Immediately I am reminded of something our pastor said to us while still at the hospital.  “Give me the hard facts of your situation.  Your illness, your circumstance, your ‘whatever’.  There are no harder facts than God’s promises in Scripture!”

We are lacking hard facts right now.  But even once they figure out all that’s going on in his cute little brain—no matter the good, the bad or the ugly—those medical facts are no harder, no truer, no surer than the promises God has made to both me and my husband.  We are not only man and wife, we are brother and sister in the faith—co-heirs with Christ!

I pray and then I listen . . . and I hear—

“Be of good courage.  You believe!  Believe also in Me!  Process your faith through these daily experiences.  Embrace today—all of it!  I will not let you down.  You don’t need to hear more from Me.  You just need to live what you have already heard.  Live your faith!”

And so, in a new way, I begin to live the faith I believe in my head by walking it out from my heart.

He is good, all the time!

All the time, He. IS. Good!

Thank you for your prayers—Soli Deo Gloria!

Robin

**Sharpies are awesome creations and cheaper than personalized jewelry!  The blue bracelet I wear since studying Beth Moore’s “Believing God” . . . Isaiah 43:10; Numbers 15:37-41.

Peace

The sun sets behind trees of an unfamiliar landscape outside my window.  The scene is absolutely breath-taking.  Every color, each leaf, even the shadows overwhelm my senses.  To be overwhelmed by Abba in this moment is comfort as I mentally lift my Shield against fresh thoughts tempting to overwhelm my spirit. 

I turn to my left.  The man who should be standing and sharing this view with me, the man who has shared my bed for 22 years now lays in his own—eyes closed for a bit of rest before the next nurse comes in to check his vitals or take more blood.  I fight the urge to panic as the surreal moment fails to wrap itself around my mind.  I whisper out loud, “I don’t have to understand it all, I just have to trust You.”  After many repeated whispers, the blood pounding in my ears lessens. 

Peace! 

More scary, doubt-filled thoughts rise.  The Shield rises to meet them . . .

“Do not be afraid, keep believing” Mark 5:36. 

“Those who know Your name trust You, for You, Lord, have never abandoned those who seek You” Ps 9:10. 

“Be still and know that I am God” Ps 46:10. 

Once again I turn to the view outside the hospital window fully reminded of Who holds me, Who holds my husband, Who holds my children . . . Who holds my future.  

This kind of peace is not manufactured by effort of will. 

This peace is Divine—and the Divine is mine!  

I raise my eyes toward the mountains.

Where will my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD,

The Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to slip;

Your Protector will not slumber.

Indeed, the Protector of Israel

Does not slumber or sleep.

The LORD protects you;

The LORD is a shelter right by your side.

The sun will not strike you by day,

Or the moon by night.

The LORD will protect you from all harm;

He will protect your life.

The LORD will protect your coming and going

Both now and forever.

Psalm 121

God's Lesson to Me Today on Anxiety . . .

Anxiety is a self-contradiction to true humility.  

I am His concern.  

Since the humbling process has been allowed to come to me in the permissive will of God and He is using it to accomplish His purpose in my life—

He has it under His control

and me in His care! 

Anxiety wastes today; the good and bad!

The verse that started it all????  J

"Be anxious for nothing . . ." Phil. 4:6