31 Days of Encouragement - Finished

31 Days...it's been awesome :) They say if you can do, or not do, something consistently for 21 days then it becomes a habit, a new routine.  I believe that.  Sometimes in the day in and day out of whatever we may be walking, it's easy to forget why we started.  The "routine" of it all, can become something that we have become used to.  Sometimes we just need to look back and remember.

God called me back to writing almost 2 years ago.  Writing in a way I had never known before.  God also called me into relationship with Him unlike any I had ever experienced.  All my then 17 years of walking with Him prepared me for this.  Yesterday, a hard day for me, I had to make a choice yet again.  I had to remember why I even began this journey, what was it that He was even asking of me that has brought me here? In the beginning, I was in such a place of pain and confusion that inevitably, I came to the point of having to choosing what road I would take.  The world said one thing, but the One Who was in my heart said something quite different.  It's your choice baby girl.....which way....and I promised Him that I would do it His way this time.  Because my way had circled me right back round to where I started from, only worse off in so many ways than when I had begun.

I started this journey because I believe that He does know best.  I believe in my faith.  I believe that God loves me and He has a plan, even on the days when it downright stinks.  I believe I have a purpose.  I believe in miracles.  I believe that He Who began this work in me isn't done. I started this road to honor a commitment, a vow that I made.  I started because unconditional love is something you have to give away long before you can ever hope to have it come back to you.  But I found that the greatest love already rested in my heart.  The love of a Father for a daughter.  The love that was willing to wound so that healing could come.  I started this because I just didn't know how to do it any other way this time.  And He will finish it. Thankful.

31 Days of Encouragement - Watch

Daniel 6: 17-22

17 Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den and a stone was brought in and placed over the opening to shut the mouth of the den. The king himself sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his nobles. That way no one could tamper with the pit and nothing could happen to change Daniel’s fate. 18 The king retired to his palace and spent the night fasting. That evening he stayed to himself, turning down his regular evening musical entertainment. When he finally went to bed, he could not sleep. 19 When first light of morning finally arrived, the king got up and didn’t waste any time returning to the lions’ den. Darius can hardly wait to see what has happened to Daniel, who has become indispensable to the king. 20 As he drew near the den, with anguish in his voice he called out to Daniel, hoping somehow he was still alive. Darius: Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, the One you have served so faithfully, been able to rescue you from these hungry lions?

Daniel (to the king): 21 Long live the king! 22 As soon as you shut the mouth of this den, My God sent His heavenly representative to shut the mouths of these hungry lions so that they could not hurt me. He has rescued me because I am as innocent before Him as I am before you, O king. I have done you no harm.

Daniel 6

I was reading about Daniel in the 6th book of, well, Daniel.  And the commentary that I was reading along with it suggested something interesting.  Yes, the story of Daniel himself is interesting and exciting...a nail biter :)  But if you look past it, you see the story of the King.  You see Daniel knew God, His character and what He could do.  And he was at peace during this trial by lion.  But the King....he was up all night!  Wondering and worrying, what would happen.  Surely this God of Daniel's would save him...surely He would rescue him.  And he watched.  How many times does God call us to go through things and, of course, it changes us, strengthens our faith, calls us into a deeper relationship with Him.  But maybe these moments are less about us and way more about others, those who maybe be watching.  Those who see us day in and day out, go through things that seem unfair and downright awful at times, but how do we respond?  I don't always get it right.  But as I look back over the past year, the things I have faced, what He's asked of me, I can only pray that He has been glorified and that as much as it has changed me, it would serve more to turn hearts to the One who can shut the mouths of lions...and we need only be still.  Thankful.

Behind the Scenes - Restore

Joining Crystal Stine and the girls for Behind The Scenes today......

I spent some time Saturday with friends, new and old.  Friends I have not been around all that much in the past couple years.  Life happened and things changed and for a season, we didn't see each other.  But I smile because God gives us new opportunities.  To be able to go back sometimes, even though much has changed and still love and be loved by many of those who were such a beautiful part of my life.  Blessed that even with all the water under the bridge, that it still leads to a place that holds many precious memories and people that will always be in my heart.  Thankful.

31 Days of Encouragement - You

Maybe today you need to hear that.  I do.  You are ok, just the way God made you.  You have a purpose. You are a very important piece to the puzzle.  No one else can fill your space.  No one else can be you. You are unique and one of a kind.  You don't have to fit into a mold, be like the person next to you or do things just like everyone else.  Your words and your feelings matter.  Some days we all just need a reminder.  You are ok.  Thankful.

31 Days of Encouragement - Faithful

The darkness won't last for ever.  The hard times will serve their purpose and new days will come along. With each night, there is also a dawn.  Some days you might have to walk a ways on your own to do the things that He has called you too.  And those times are the scariest.  But He is faithful.  He will not leave even in the darkest of night.  To hold true sometimes to what He is asking of you is sometimes the hardest. Be still and let Him do His work.  Thankful.

31 Days of Encouragement - Sunday Scripture

Exodus 14:19-20 (Voice)

19 God’s messenger, who had been out front leading the people of Israel, moved to protect the rear of the company; the cloud pillar moved with him from the front to the back of them. 20 The cloud pillar took its position between Egypt’s and Israel’s camps. The cloud cast darkness by day yet it lit up the sky by night. As a result, the Egyptians never got close to the Israelites the entire night. 

I was looking for something entirely different this morning, when I started reading this verse, something stuck with me.  When the Israelites got to their miracle, first they got scared.  They didn't know they were at their miracle.  God told them just be still.  What was in this day, would not be ever again.  It was coming.  But in the darkness with the enemy seemingly winning and nowhere to run, it felt like the Lord had led them to destruction, not to deliverance.

All the while it seems, as God led them out, He had sent a messenger to lead them.  And before the deliverance, he moved.  God's messenger moved to the weakest point, where they were most vulnerable. And what had been sent to lead them, moved behind to protect them.  The cloud that led them served as a barrier, the messenger, their protection.

I get a little confused at times when I am up against something and it seems like I have no direction again, like I've been left to figure it out on my own.  This reminded me that sometimes, He already has the way ahead set.  Like the Israelites, sometimes there is only one way to go forward and what we need is protection not from what we face, but to keep us from running backwards, to hold us while He works forward on our behalf.  Exodus 14:14 told them that the Lord would fight for them, they just had to be still.  He was making a way.  But movement forward outside of God's timing would have sent them drowning and movement backwards would have been death too.  Sometimes He closes us in.  Maybe you feel like that today.  I'm feeling a little trapped between what was and what is coming myself.  It makes me a bit anxious. But He meets us where we are you and me.  Learning to trust when it seems like all is lost is a hard one. But we can do this.  He has set us up for success.  Let's hold fast to what we know and His character.  He's got us wrapped up in His protection.  Thankful.

31 Days of Encouragement - Roads

Some days we have to come face to face with the reality of things.  Perhaps we wish them different, but here they are.  What will we do with it?  I have to say this has been long and it sucks a good bit of the time, but then sometimes, it really doesn't.  Sometimes, I get to push out of my comfort zone and have to look at things that aren't so comfortable for me.  And in the end I find out a little bit more about myself and the girl I truly am becoming.  And I like her.  I'm finding more and more that to get to the ending you want, you gotta go through some rough patches and some places that are down right ugly.  But I'm believing this road He has called me to is gonna get me there.  Thankful