Note the word but and the difference it makes in our lives….
“I hear the tumult of the raging seas as your waves and surging tides sweep over me. But each day the LORD pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.” (Psalm 42:7,8)
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My blog will look different this week ‘cause I’m away from my office for a few days. Enjoy!
“God will never, never, never let us down if we have faith and put our trust in him. He will always look after us. So we must cleave to Jesus. Our whole life must simply be woven into Jesus.” (Mother Teresa)
Take a moment to read Psalm 40 this weekend. You’ll find it packed with promises and proof of God’s care for His children.
You’ll also find it filled with challenges to speak up for God, to shout out the good news, and to tell of His faithfulness. “I have told all your people about your justice. I have not been afraid to speak out, as you, O LORD, well know. I have not kept the good news of your justice hidden in my heart; I have talked about your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of your unfailing love and faithfulness” (vv.9,10).
Let’s give God a shout-out today! For what are you thankful? What attribute of God is especially meaningful to you? How has He shown you His unfailing love and faithfulness recently?
Give God a shout-out!
I’ll start. Today I’m thankful for the promise found in this song. Now it’s your turn!
BTW, my September e-newsletter will include a personal story about that song. You won’t want to miss it. You can subscribe on my website home page by inserting your email address. It’s free, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
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Today hasn’t gone as I’d planned. It’s mid-afternoon, and I haven’t even started my to-do list. What’s with that?
Learning to kiss my to-do list goodbye...
Maybe the day’s unexpected phone calls and emails are the result of routinely inviting God to take charge of my schedule. For example, I thought I’d finish preparations for an upcoming women’s retreat and then write my September newsletter. Instead, I ended up meeting a senior couple for coffee and a discussion about missions in Eastern Europe. I also enjoyed phone conversations with two women who are in the midst of major transitions. Interestingly, both of these gals are online friends with whom I’ve had no personal contact until now. Their faith in the face of the unknown inspired and blessed me.
The clock refuses to stand still, and my to-do list refuses to go away. Rather, it grows by the hour. I could stress, but where’s the benefit in that? I think I’ll choose to trust God instead—to believe that He has His own ideas about what my to-do list should look like. When I invite Him into my day, He’ll enable me to accomplish what needs to be done and give me the grace to let go of what remains.
Job got it right when he said, “For the life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being” (Job 12:10). My day is in God’s hands, and I’m learning to be still and rest in that truth.
How about you, my friend? How has your day been so far? What lesson have you been learning?
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We’re living in uncertain times. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to recognize this. One only has to listen to the news: Stories about Libya, Syria, and other warring nations dominate the airwaves. Gas prices soar. The economy plunges. And terrorists continue to terrorize.
I can scarcely believe how life has changed since my childhood, when walking to school or to town alone raised no concerns whatsoever about our personal safety. When locking our doors at night was considered a sign of paranoia. When gas cost thirty cents per gallon. Shucks—we could buy a bag of potato chips and a bottle of soda pop for a quarter. If we returned the empty bottle, the store clerk would hand us a nickel. We felt like we’d died and gone to heaven!
I watch my three grandchildren grow up and wonder what the world will look like when they’re my age…if it lasts that long. What freedoms will be theirs to embrace? What will the moral landscape look like? What financial challenges will they face?
What does the future hold?
No one knows what the future holds, but of one thing I’m sure: God holds the future. No matter how bleak our tomorrows appear, we need not be anxious or afraid when we’re walking in right relationship with Him.
That’s true for believers in the context of global concerns, but it’s also true on a personal basis. Psalm 37:37 brings encouragement in that regard: “Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.”
Note that this verse doesn’t guarantee a trouble-free future. Rather, it promises a wonderful future. Big difference. The former suggests a life free from problems of any sort. The latter suggests a life of depth and richness even in the midst of problems.
What does my future hold? I can speculate and I can hope, but I can guarantee no specifics other than it’s wonderful. How about you? What does your future look like?
Photo courtesy: http://www.dreamstime.com/free-stock-photography-attractive-young-businesswoman-rimagefree2235055-resi3440358
This week I withdrew for a couple of days to the BC coast. Powell River, to be exact. While there, I sat on the beach and read my Bible, journaled, and dug into Wide Awake by Erwin McManus. The combo was exactly what my soul needed.
In the midst of our busy lives, it’s easy to forget or simply fail to draw aside and be silent on a regular basis. The older…(nah, let me rephrase that)…the more mature I grow, the more I understand the importance of doing so. You know, draw apart before you fall apart.
Not everyone has the luxury of drawing apart for several days as I did this week. Sometimes a few minutes is all we can muster. Just long enough for a cup of tea in the backyard or on the couch when the kiddies take a nap. Or a few minutes while dinner’s cooking, or while riding public transit on the way home from work. Do what you can in your season of life; anything’s better than nothing!
Wherever you go, and for whatever amount of time you have to draw apart, focus your thoughts on God. Abandon your agenda, forget your list of prayer requests, and meditate on Him alone. Revel in His presence; enjoy His friendship. Here’s a verse to help accomplish that goal:
“Your unfailing love, O Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths.” (Psalm 36:5,6)
And here’s a picture that might bring this Scripture to life. It’s a scene I enjoyed this week along BC’s coast. I thought you might enjoy it, too.
This photo from the BC coast captures Psalm 36:5,6!
Have a great weekend, my friend!
This is a post I wrote enroute to Europe on June 30th. It was originally used as a guest blog for another site. Thought I’d post it here for you today. Maybe someone out there needs this encouragement today!
I’m writing this at 32,000 feet, somewhere between London and Budapest. My final destination is Resita, Romania—the industrial city that produced the steel to build the Eiffel Tower. My reason for this trip is twofold: to minister among teens and young adults living with HIV/AIDS, and later, to help lead an evangelistic family camp in Poland.
Grace and Gene Fox -- IM Canada co-directors
Upon hearing about this venture, some people said, “Wow, good for you! I’d love to do something like that, but it won’t happen.”
I questioned them. “Why not? What’s holding you back?”
Some replied, “I’m scared to fly.” Others said, “I’m afraid of contracting HIV.” Some said, “I’m afraid of traveling in a country where I can’t speak the language.”
My answer? “Acknowledge those fears and then do it afraid.”
FEAR: FRIEND OR FOE?
Fear wears many faces: the fear of inadequacy, the fear of rejection, of failure, of financial insecurity, of an unknown future, and more. If we don’t recognize and deal with it, it will hinder us from embracing life as God intends and prevent His purpose for us from being fulfilled.
I’ve struggled with debilitating fear in the past, but I no longer let it rule me. I now view it as a catalyst for spiritual growth. For example, I believe that when God gives us tasks that stretch us beyond our comfort zones, saying yes forces us to depend on Him. It guarantees an opportunity for us to experience His presence, power and equipping. Fear, then becomes our friend.
I’ve found this to be true in my writing and speaking ministry. This was not a role I sought. Rather, at age 41, I sensed God telling me to write. He gave clear instructions: interview two specific women and write their profiles. I felt totally inadequate and feared failure. But I said yes and did it afraid.
The result? Ten years later, I’ve written hundreds of articles for more than 40 magazines, authored four books, and produced a Bible study and teaching DVD about—you guessed it—moving from fear to freedom.
My writing ministry quickly expanded to include speaking at international women’s events, writers conferences, and on radio and TV. It’s been a white-knuckle ride, but I’ve experienced God’s presence and power in ways that I would have missed otherwise.
In the FamilyLife Today studio with Dennis Rainey and Bob LePine
I’ve also found this to be true in my role as national co-director for International Messengers Canada (www.im-canada.ca). My husband and I assumed leadership in 2007 after the U.S. office asked us to do so. At first we wondered whether we were qualified for the new responsibilities. One of our roles would be to recruit, train, and lead short-term ministry teams to Eastern Europe. What if no one volunteered? What if our best attempts failed? Humanly speaking, we had good reason to feel scared. But we believed God was directing our steps, and so we said yes and did it afraid.
The result? We’ve witnessed God in action: He provided housing, a rent-free office, an administrative assistant, and short-term volunteers. This is our tenth ministry trip to Eastern Europe since 2007 and we’ve seen spiritual hunger satisfied as men and women have come to understand God’s unconditional love for them. What a thrill to be part of God’s kingdom-building team in the post-Communist bloc.
My tagline is “Leading Women in Fearless Faith.” Does that mean I never wrestle with fear? No. It simply means that I no longer allow fear to intimidate me. Rather, I counteract it by admitting it to God, asking others to pray for me, filling my mind with the truth of God’s word, and then moving forward—doing it afraid. That’s my prayer for you, too.
When God calls you to a task that leaves your knees knocking, say yes and do it afraid. Move forward and trust Him to equip you to get the job done. I guarantee you’ll discover a greater understanding of who God is and what His purposes are for your life.
***
Grace Fox is national co-director of International Messengers Canada, a ministry that offers creative short-term and career service opportunities in the post-Communist bloc – www.im-canada.ca She’s also an international speaker and author of several books. Her latest release is a Bible study and accompanying 7-part teaching DVD titled Moving from Fear to Freedom: A Woman-to-Woman Conversation. Available at Amazon.com and other online stores, and www.gracefox.com (groups discounts available there). Join her on FB – www.facebook.com/gracefox.author.
"The LORD says, 'I will guide you along the best pathway for your life...'" (Psalm 32:8)
Nearly two years have passed since a stranger’s phone call added a new dimension to my writing and speaking career. The stranger was a man from Toronto, a recent university graduate seeking to establish a marketing firm. He was exploring the possibility of promoting Canadian authors as experts in their field.
“I found you online,” he said. “Your work interests me and I want to talk further. Please send me a copy of your last book and several magazine articles that you’ve written. I want to get inside your head.”
That call came within two weeks of my receiving the disappointing news that Moving from Fear to Freedom was going to be remaindered (aka “axed”) for low sales. Thankfully that news later proved to be mistaken, but, in the meantime, it forced me to face the painful death of my vision for that book’s message. I’d also just received a letter from a major player in my writing career, stating that she was moving on to other pursuits.
In tears I’d phoned a trusted friend. “I don’t know what to do,” I said. “Maybe I’m done as a writer, or maybe this is God’s way of changing my direction.”
My friend listened. Then, in her wise way, she said, “I’m going to pray that God will show you the next step.” And that’s what she did.
The stranger’s phone call arrived two weeks later. One thing led to another—a mentoring course with a woman who trains corporate speakers, the joining of a local business women’s network, the winning of a 3-day business management course, and the birth of a new vision that will take me far beyond my church-based comfort zone.
I’ve deliberately moved s-l-o-w-l-y because I want to be sure that I’m not misreading divine cues or rushing ahead of God. I’ve felt no need to move quickly, rather, I’m compelled to lay a strong foundation and build on it with excellence.
Truth be told, I think fear has also contributed to my turtle pace. What if my new pursuit fails? What if I make a fool of myself? What if no one buys into my vision? Moving forward means releasing or revamping present commitments. It means taking a hard look at my schedule, time investments, and more. It means a lot of hard work.
I’m facing change, and change is not comfortable. God knows that. He also knows my misgivings and weaknesses. That’s why, I believe, He prompted me to open a particular book this morning. This book has been sitting in a basket beside my loveseat for who-knows-how-long, ignored ‘til now due to my busy schedule, but ignored no longer. I picked up the book and flipped through its pages. These are the words that caught my attention:
“Many of us need reinvented lives. We are living a rerun, and we need fresh stories, maybe some new characters to enter our story. If you’re going to engage in a journey with God, if you are going to follow the God who created you, if you’re going to explore mysterious, dangerous, unknown, uncertain places—then you need to know how to reinvent yourself. You have to learn how to adapt…
“Because if you’re going to dare to imagine and pursue the dreams God has for your life, if you’re going to create the life of your dreams, you have to be willing and ready to change. The skills and competencies and experiences you’ve had in the past will not be enough for every challenge you will face in the future. They are enough to prepare you, but not enough to sustain you. You must build on the past but live for the future.” (Wide Awake, Erwin Raphael McManus)
Are you facing change today? If so, take heart. Change is sometimes uncomfortable, but you and I can face it with confidence knowing that God directs our steps. He created us, He has a plan and purpose for our lives. He’s perfectly able to communicate with us when our hearts are intent on honoring Him. Besides, He’s promised to lead: “The LORD says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you’” (Psalm 32:8).
With that knowledge in mind, I plan to spend the next three days with God, my Bible, my journal, and Wide Awake. I anticipate asking God to advise me and to guide me through the changes ahead. And I choose to face them with confidence.
How about you? Are you facing changes? If so, what are they, and how are you navigating them?
Photo courtesy: ChristianPhotos.Net – Free High Resolution Photos for Christian Publications
Hubby and I visited Holland in April. While there, a tour guide led us through Corrie ten Boom’s home.
Corrie ten Boom's home in Haarlem, Nederlands
Amazing woman, Corrie was. The author of The Hiding Place, she was a true heroine for risking her life to save Jews and other fugitives from the Gestapo during WWII. Take a moment to read this fascinating account. http://www.corrietenboom.com/history.htm
The tour led us into Corrie’s tiny bedroom. The back wall had been partially removed to reveal the actual hiding place where 6 or 7 individuals at a time found refuge and safety from their enemies. Frankly, while standing in that confined space, I could not fathom a half dozen men and women surviving the trauma of living there for days. No doubt it was uncomfortable and perhaps even claustrophic, but it saved their lives.
The hiding place in which Jews and fugitives found refuge from the Gestapo.
Visiting Corrie’s renowned hiding place brings a new perspective to Psalm 32:7 for me. The verse says, “You are my hiding place; you protect me from trouble. You surround me with songs of victory.” In his troubles, the Psalmist experienced God as his hiding place, his refuge, his place of safety from the enemy. He discovered protection from those things that caused him distress. And in that place, he learned what it meant to be surrounded not by fear, but by songs of victory.
In all honesty, I’d much rather avoid troubles in life. Who needs ‘em, anyway? And yet, they come. And when they do, they always bring opportunities for personal and spiritual growth.
When the enemy of discouragement tries to overtake me, I run to my hiding place—my faith in God—and find safety there. I cling to His promises to care for me, and I find solace. I hang onto His words of comfort and reassurance, and I find hope.
Is it a comfortable place? A place of ease and relaxation? Absolutely not. But it’s the best place. The enemy cannot find me when I seek refuge there, and that’s where I learn what it means to be surrounded by songs of triumph.
How does the comparison between Corrie’s hiding place and Psalm 32:7 shed new light on this verse’s meaning for you?
Yesterday I felt as though I’d been hit by a semi-truck. Is jetlag lingering longer than usual, I wondered? Nah, it couldn’t be. I’m sleeping well at night now, so there’s no obvious reason for feeling so wrung out. What’s going on? I continued my mental scour, searching for a reason to explain my lethargy. And then it hit me: Consider the past six weeks and their accumulative effect on the body.
When we go on extended missions trips, we sleep in a dozen or more different beds. We rise early to attend staff prayer meetings or to catch trains to the next destination. We fall into bed late because of crazy-busy schedules. Every hour between rising and sleeping is spent trying to communicate with people who speak a different language or ensuring that all is well with our programs and the people involved.
Mealtimes are sketchy at best when we travel by train or bus. We also routinely eat different foods than we’re accustomed to. Personally, I don’t eat a lot of wheat products because my body can’t digest them properly. Potatoes are a no-no, too, as are tomatoes. All of these are staples in Eastern Europe, so I either try to avoid them or look for alternatives. When that’s not possible, I eat knowing that I’ll take a hit eventually.
Regular exercise routines are practically non-existent due to time restraints and cultural sensitivities. Granted, we’re constantly walking stairs, but that’s not the same as a good ol’ workout in the gym.
Lack of proper rest, diet, and exercise for an extended period have left me feeling stiff and achy this week, and so I’m doing something about it. I’m ensuring a good sleep at night, eliminating foods that cause me discomfort, and returning to the gym for my early morning exercises. I know these activities will benefit my body and boost my energy levels.
This morning I read 1 Corinthians 6:13-20—“(Our bodies) were made for the Lord, and the Lord cares about our bodies…Honor God with your body.” These verses challenged me to treat my body with respect. After all, if God cares about my physical health, I should, too.
Thankfully our overseas travels last only a few weeks at a time. Even though it’s difficult, I must do my best to care for myself there. When I’m home, I have more control and consistency. It’s my “revamp” time to get my body back on track in an attempt to safeguard my health.
How about you? What challenges do you face in regards to honoring your body? Do you have a regular exercise routine? Special dietary needs? We’d love to hear how you stay healthy.
Photo courtesy: http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photo-sleeping-cat-rimagefree2266848-resi3440358
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