Spiritual Attack? God is in Control!

"Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you;
The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;
You shall cry, and He will say,
'Here I am'" (Isaiah 58:8-9)

This verse has been my salvation lately. When I read this it speaks volumes to me. I am clinging to the promise of a healing for our church. I am clinging to the promise that the glory of the LORD will be our rear guard. I am clinging to the promise that when we call, He will answer. I long to hear Him say, "Here I am".

I have debated about this post. I have hesitated about sharing with all of you about what is going on in our church. But as I thought about it, the Lord impressed upon me that I should share for several reasons. I share this so you can all bind together and pray for us. I share so I can relate what the Lord is doing in my life and the life of our church. I share so that others who may be experiencing the same thing, can be encouraged and perhaps enlightened.

My husband and I have had the privilege to serve at our current church - Goodwill Baptist Church - for almost 3 years. It is a wonderful, loving, spirit-filled and awesome church. We have grown in number and in spirit over these 3 years and are on the verge of God doing great things in our church.

About 7 months ago, the attacks started. A deacons wife was diagnosed with breast cancer and is currently undergoing treatment. She is not doing well physically at this time as the chemo is taking it's toll on her.

A few months down the road, J.D. - another deacon - is diagnosed with brain cancer. The doctors will not give him any treatment due to the location of the mass. He has now had 3 or 4 small heart attacks and is taking several nitro pills a day. The doctors will also not do a heart cath or any other procedure due to him being so weak.

Over the next month or so, 2 deacon families were involved in an attack against the family unit. Suffice it to say, we have 2 hurting families and a hurting church, and are beginning the healing process in that venue.

About 2 weeks ago, another deacons wife suffered a stroke. She was transported to Shreveport for surgery to stop the bleeding in her brain and since the surgery has remained sedated and intubated. She is now unresponsive and has a staph infection as well as pneumonia.

On Wednesday, another one of our deacons was diagnosed with a cancerous growth in his throat/neck area. He has already lost the feeling in his tongue and has been told that surgery is not an option. As he prepares to go to Little Rock for some experimental treatment, he is playing the waiting game.

So you see, that is 6 deacon families that are under blatant, heavy, spiritual attack that comes straight from the devil. We have no doubt that satan is waging war heavily against us at this point. But I can tell you in no uncertain terms, that satan has met his match in Goodwill Baptist Church. Our church will NOT buckle under to a pitiful foe like the devil. He will NOT win any victories. He will NOT defeat us. He will NOT slither in and conquer and divide our congregation.

Our church body is united. Our church body is binding together in prayer. Our church body is forgiving. Our church body is faithful. Our church body is ready for God to be glorified!

Several of us have been meeting late at night to pray in the sanctuary. There is nothing quite like being in God's house in the dark of the night. It is peaceful and intimate.

We are expecting mighty things from God. We are anticipating that God is about to do something so awesome and so powerful through our church body. We know that God has something special for us.

We may be in the valley at this particular moment, but the mountaintop experience is just right around the corner! We are standing firmly on His Word. We are searching the scriptures and hiding the truths in our hearts.

We are allowing God to direct our paths at this time. We are laying everything at His Feet. We are desiring to hear His voice. We are pouring our hearts out to Him. We are crying out to our Lord. We are desiring to seek His Face. To see His Glory. To be found faithful.

"Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the LORD!" (Psalm 27:14)

So for now, we wait. We stand firm. We dig deep. We search diligently. We pray. We seek. We prepare for battle.

"When You said, 'Seek My face,' My heart said to You, "Your face, LORD, I will seek." (Psalm 27:8)

Oh, precious Father, I seek You with all my heart. I desire to grow stronger in my walk. I long to know you deeper. I long to hear you clearer. I long to love you more.

You are my rock. My fortress. My deliverer. My Redeemer. My God. Thank you for what you are preparing to do in our church. Thank you for holding us in the palm of your hand. Thank you for your healing hand upon our church. You are mighty and powerful. You are the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. You are God.

Healing for our Hearts!

"I sought the LORD and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears" (Psalm 34:4)

There probably isn't anyone reading this that couldn't use a little heart healing. Life can be brutal and too many times our hearts are the victims.

Harsh words, betrayals, rejection, apathy - all these can cause deep wounds that go straight to our hearts. Wounds that we can't imagine will ever heal. Wounds that render us weak, tired, worn out and beaten. Wounds that leave visible and invisible scars.

The only thing that can bind those wounds and jumpstart the healing process is a dose of God's Word. A continual dose of God's Word. It needs to drip into our bodies like an IV. Steady and regularly.

Our day should start at His Feet in His Word. We need that precious time alone with God to allow the Word to flow through us and soak into us. As we absorb His mighty Word, it becomes alive in our hearts. When it springs to life in us, it causes us to long for more. It becomes like an addiction.

As His Word becomes active in us it changes how we view ourselves. It changes how we view our wounds. That's when God's healing can begin to manifest itself in such a powerful way.

God's Word tells us that He give power to the weak. He increases the strength of those that have no might. He renews us. He cause us to not be weary.

His amazing love is just the right balm for the brokenhearted.

"Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the LORD delivers him out of them all" (Psalm 34:19)

Many times it is during those dark and uncertain days that we tend to seek God the most. As we are searching with a sense of urgency, we will experience His presence more than ever before.

God uses these opportunities to draw us closer to Him. Although we are more than ready for the culmination of our hurting, God enjoys the process because we cling to Him and seek Him like never before.

Our hearts can move hurting to rejoicing.

We move from brokenness to wholeness.

We bridge the gap between bondage and deliverance.

Our deep darkness turns to the light of Grace.

When we are on our faces in desperation - we get a glimpse of a Holy God. A glimpse of His Splendor. His radiance reflects back to us and we have His peace. We experience healing of our hearts in a mighty way.

Thank you Lord, for bringing us where we need to be to experience what you have for us. Help us to be obedient. Help us to have discernment. Help us to keep our eyes and focus on You.

Joy in His Presence

As you can see I had a busy and fun-filled week with my sweet girls and grandbabies. I had such a blast just being with them and getting such great sugar from them all!

Ashlie (my baby) and her 2 sweet boys made it home from Colorado on Thursday night. As they headed out to our house, Ashlie was greeted by me and Jimbo, her 2 sisters and her nephew and 2 nieces. We spent the next few nights all together and it was such a fantastic time of fun and togetherness. This mama/nana slept so good just knowing that all of her girls and all 5 grandbabies were under the same roof. I was full of joy and contentment.

This week has been a full of sweet times with my sweet Savior. I spent some wonderful time just searching and seeking in the scriptures. It is always amazing to me what God will show you when you just ask Him. He led me to verses that I had seen many times and showed Himself mighty. He led me to verses that I had never seen before and showed Himself powerful. He led me to verses that spoke to my heart and compelled me to dig deeper.

I think that God must be looking down from His Great Throne saying, "What is wrong with you people? I have so much to show you if you would just ask me!"

These past 6 days have proven to be some of the most awesome days as far as spending time with my Lord. There have been several of us that have joined together in the sanctuary at church late at night and allowed the Lord to speak to us through scripture and prayer.

I have never felt His presence so tangibly before. I have never felt Him so powerfully before. I have never felt so close to Him and His sweet Spirit before.

"But my heart stands in awe of Your Word. I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds great treasure" (Psalm 119:161-162)

I have learned that if we are truly seeking a Word from Him, He is more than ready to give it to us. He is just waiting to speak to us and He has so much to show us. We just have to be earnestly searching and eagerly expecting!

His Word is so full of amazing truths. His Word is so full of life. His Word is the very breath that sustains us. His Word is mighty and powerful. His Word is joy and peace. His Word is Truth and Light. His Word IS!

Oh, friends, He has so much to show us and He truly has great treasure in store for us. We just need to be on our faces and crying out for Him to reveal to us the mighty truths that He has for us.

I praise you Lord for your awesome presence. I praise you Lord for your mighty Word. I praise you Lord for the treasure that you have hidden in the scriptures. I will continue to seek you and search for you, and as I continue to find you, I will love you more and more. I will stand in awe of You.

Saturday Steps of Faith

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24)



I join Lisa for Saturday Steps of Faith.

I took a MAJOR step in faith this week, as I quit my job of 9 years. I felt the Lord leaning me toward this for the last few months and have just rebelled against it due to my own insecurities about finances. I finally realized that until I was obedient, I wasn't going to be happy or prosper. I had to come to the realization that if I didn't heed to God's will for my life, I wouldn't be able to continue on my forward trek with the Lord.

So many ways, this week, the Lord has sent me confirmation after confirmation that I did just what he directed. I know that I am in His will and I will continue to listen to His voice as I seek the fullness of what He has for me.

I have been able to minister alongside my husband this week to many in our church family. I haven't ever been able to do this with him and it was so nice and we enjoyed our time together. There have been several people this week that have needed us BOTH and I just know that the Lord KNEW this. He had this all planned because He knew that I was going to be part of this ministry at this particular time.

For however long He allows me this privilege of being used of Him in this way, I will enjoy it and embrace it and I will thank my sweet Savior for this awesome opportunity.

I am believing God for continuing to draw me deeper. For continuing to speak to me louder. For continuing to quicken my spirit.

Each day, I fall more in love with Jesus. I am in awe of Him. I am in awe of His splendor. I am in awe of His love for me.

Thank you Father, for giving me life and for blessing me more abundantly than I can ever deserve. I love You with all my heart. I will seek You with all that I am.

He will do a NEW thing!

There have been 2 scriptures lately that have just pierced my soul and spoken so powerfully to my heart.

"And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. And I will be found by you." (Jeremiah 29:13-14)

"For Your Word has given me life" (Psalm 119:50b)

Each time I read these verses, they breath new life into my soul. They rejuvenate my spirit and they just restore the joy in my heart. I keep them on index cards in my car and on my desk so I can see them many times a day. They are spiritual water that quenches my thirst.

I have never had a season of such seeking in my life like I have had lately.

I have never hungered for the Word of God like this before.

I have never thirsted so deeply and desperately for a Word of spiritual Truth from my Savior like I have recently.

I crave His presence.
I desire His touch.
I long for the Truth of His Word.

Our lives get too busy and too focused on the wrong things. We can start going in the wrong direction and not realize it until it's too late. Our dailyness can take many twists and turns and it can take us through varying trials and testings.

Lately I have been very unhappy in my job. I have worked in the same place for almost 9 years. Things have evolved there into a place I no longer recognized. I had become someone that I no longer enjoyed being. My job had become a burden to my soul and I just felt like maybe it was time for a change. I had been praying about it for awhile.

Yesterday the Lord just impressed upon me, "today is the day. It's time." So I turned in my resignation.

I felt so free when I walkd out of there at 5 PM yesterday. I felt like a giant weight had been lifted off of me. I felt a peace that I haven't felt in a long time.

I pray that during this time of reflection and seeking in my life, that I will listen to God and heed the direction that He points me in.

These next few weeks I plan to do some much needed ministering alongside my pastor husband. There are so many in our church and community that are in need of physical and spiritual healing. I pray that I can be a help to him during this time. I've never been able to go with him and visit and I am looking forward to that.

I don't have any plans other than just letting God show me His plans. I will seek and I will search for direction from Him. I only want to be in His will and I only want to go where He leads.

Remember that sign that I saw in Colorado?

Pilot Vehicle
Follow Me
Do Not Pass

That sign was for me. I have not doubt. Pray for me as I embark on this new experience and as I seek His will. The following verse is one I read this morning. Oh, Hallelujah! God is so good.

"Behold, I will do a new thing,
Now it shall spring forth;
Shall you not know it?
I will even make a road in
the wilderness,
And rivers in the desert."
(Isaiah 43:8)

My face lifted toward Him

I sink to my knees. I fall on my face.

Searching,
Yearning,
Seeking.

Looking for answers. Looking for revelation.

Praying,
Listening,
Praising.

Enlightened, delighted and realizing;

He hears my cry. He cares about me. He speaks to my heart.

He is Creator, Savior, Redeemer, Sustainer.

He is my Comforter, my Strength, my Breath, my Life.

He delivers,
He fills,
He satisfies,
He completes.

He astounds,
He surrounds,
He amazes,
He perfects.

He's present and past. He is light. He is all.

He is brokenness, Holiness, Righteousness, Mercy, Truth.

He is worthiness, faithfulness, forgiveness, grace.

My face turns toward heaven and my hands reach up, thirsting..

Fill me up to overflowing.
Refresh my Spirit.
Restore me.
Equip me.

Satisfy my thirsty soul with a splash of your glorious Splendor.

You are King.
You are Lord.
You are God.

I will worship You and praise You forever.

"Rain down you heavens from above,
And let the skies pour down righteousness;
Let the earth open, let them bring
forth salvation.
And let righteousness spring up together.
I, the Lord, have created it"

(Isaiah 45:8)

Happy Birthday Cody!

Happy 27th Birthday to my sweet son-in-law Cody.

Cody has been a big blessing to our family. We met Cody when he was just a 19 year old kid. In the past 7 1/2 years, we have watched him mature into the fine young man that he is now. He has now been my son-in-law for 3 years.

My daughter, Ashlie, is blessed to have Cody for her husband. He loves her with all of his heart and he has taken such good care of her. He works hard and even works away from home alot to make sure that he is able to provide for his family. Cody loves the Lord and it just thrills my heart to see him grow and mature spiritually. I know the Lord has mighty things in store for him.

I remember when Bryton - their firstborn son - made his entrance into this world. Cody and I were in the delivery room and when that little fella appeared, I could just see the love for that baby all over his face. As they whisked Bryton to NICU, I then got to see firsthand the love and concern he had for Ashlie as she tried to deal with what was happening with her baby.

Cody tried so hard to stay strong for her and together they made it through the tough times. That experience in their lives definitely brought them closer together. By the time Sawyer was born and they went through the same thing, they were stronger and able to handle things better.

Bryton and Sawyer are blessed little boys to have such a fabulous father. He loves his sweet babies with all of his heart. Bryton loves to go "pishin'" with his daddy (just by the little pond). He loves it when he rides him on the 4-wheeler. He just loves being wherever his daddy is. I love how Bryton tells you his name is "Bryton Daddy Cody Huffty". He loves his daddy and I guess since his middle name is his daddy's name, he gets a little confused! Sawyer is still too little to be away from his mommy, but I know as Sawyer gets a little older, he will love his daddy just as much.

I am proud to have Cody for my son-in-law. I couldn't ask for a better husband for Ashlie or a better daddy to my sweet grandsons. I am truly blessed by his presence in our family.

Happy birthday, Cody. I pray that the Lord will continue to bless you and guide you and that you will seek Him with all of your heart.

I love you,

Have Mercy!

"He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy" (Proverbs 28:13)

Basically, this verse is telling (or warning) us that if we conceal our transgressions or our sins, we are preventing ourselves from being able to experience the compassion and the mercy of the Lord.

God can't begin the act of forgiveness if we haven't begun the act of confession.

Confession is an act that we seem to get a little confused about.

Confession isn't just about admitting our sins. It's not just about asking God to forgive us for some wrongdoing or inappropriate thought. It's not something to be taken lightly.

Confession is about repentance. We have to not only be sorry for our sins, we have to fully turn away from them. It's an act of beginning anew. It's an act of turning over a new leaf. It's new mercy.

I can still remember when my girls were little, the thing that disturbed me the most was when they would say mean things to one another. Words can hurt unlike anything else. When I would chastise them about it, sometimes they would flippantly tell their sister, "I'm sorry". But based on the tone of their voice and the expression on their face, it was quite obvious that they didn't mean it one bit!

I would tell them that if they were truly sorry for their wrongdoing it would generate a completely different attitude. Without a changed heart, "I'm sorry" just winds up being empty words with no meaning.

When we confess to God, our confession must be one of complete humility. One of complete conviction. One of complete conversion.

A conversion in our heart causes us to grieve over that sin. A conversion in our heart causes us to gravitate in another direction. A conversion causes us to generate new attitudes and new reactions.

True conviction leads to true confession which leads to a true conversion.

"For the word of the Lord is right. And all His work is done in truth" (Psalm 33:4)

Precious Father, help us to recognize when our lives comes to the point where we need a true confession and a true conversion. Help us to be convicted of sin where we may be unaware. Help us to be grieved in our hearts over wrongdoing. Help us to find the strength to be able to turn away from our sins and never pick it back up again.

Thank you Lord for your Word. Thank you Lord for sending Jesus, that we might have the forgiveness of those sins and that through Him we can have eternal life that comes only through the blood of your precious Son. Thank you Lord for Mercy.

"For your Word has given me life" (Psalm 119:50)

You will find Him, if You seek Him.

“We can allow God to take our greatest hurts and losses and turn them into seed for our greatest spiritual growth”

“But from there you will seek the LORD your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” (Deuteronomy 4:29)

This past week, I have been earnestly seeking a deeper relationship with my precious Lord. I have been digging and searching and seeking and desiring and longing. I have been studying His Word like never before. I have been looking for that more intense fellowship with Him. I have been crying out to Him for just a glimpse. Just a touch. Just a Word. Just Him.

I can’t really explain it, but I have felt such an emptiness these last few days. I experienced a season of serious brokenness one night and then the next morning – woosh… I was just void of feeling. I would listen to my praise and worship music and would get nothing. I would cry out and pray fervently and would get nothing. I would read the word and would get nothing. No matter what I did, I couldn’t “feel” His presence like I so desired. I felt like He had just left me and I couldn’t bear it! I knew He hadn’t – I was standing on the promise in His Word that He would NEVER leave me nor forsake me. I was standing on the promise that if I would seek Him I would find Him. But for some reason, He had me right where He wanted me.

I was face down. I was broken. I was searching. I was seeking. I was desperate. I was hungry. No, I was starving!

A sweet sister sent me to Psalm 119. I sat down at my desk early this morning and began reading. After I finished my daily devotion time and my daily bible reading, I headed right to Psalm 119. I wasn’t expecting anything which I suppose was wrong, but I felt like I was just grasping for straws and didn’t want to get my hopes up.

“For Your Word has given me life” (Psalm 119:50)

I got to that verse and before I could even finish those few words, the tears just started pouring out of my eyes and flowing down my face. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I felt the sweet presence of My Lord and Savior just fall down upon me. Yes! I just started praising Him. Thank you, Lord! Thank you, Lord! I was just filled with such joy at this revelation in my spirit and just wanted to jump and down!

In that small verse, He spoke life to me. In that small verse, He renewed my spirit. In that small verse, He showed me new mercy today.

I feel restored and refreshed. I feel wrapped up in His arms. I feel peace and safety. I feel like I have come home.Why did I feel so lost and empty? Perhaps my heavenly Father wanted a little more of me. A little more of my time. Perhaps to show me how much I need Him daily. Perhaps to show me that my relationship with Him isn't about a feeling. It's just about Him. I needed this reminder of who God really is and who I really am. I am lost without Him. I am nothing without Him. He is my everything. He is my all in all. He is the Word that has given me life. He strengthens me by His Word.

I praise you Lord for who You are in my life. I praise you for showing yourself mightily to me today. I praise you for the promises in your precious Word that I can reach out and hold on to and glory in and hide in the depths of my soul. You are life to me.

Do You Hear Him?

God speaks to us in so many ways. If we stop and listen, we can begin to hear Him in many different facets of our lives.

When the wind blows gently in the trees... I hear Him.

When the thunder crashes like clanging cymbals... I hear Him.

When the rain patters a constant staccato against the window pane... I hear Him.

When the birds sing a sweet melody. When the frogs croak a deep chorus. When the crickets chirp their little song. I hear Him.

He is ever-present in our daily lives. We just have to take the time to slow down and open the ears of our heart and listen closely.

We hear His voice like a flowing river... a mighty thunder.. a crackling lightning flash.

When I see the kaleidoscope of colors in a newly appearing rainbow.

When I feel the warm sensation of the sun on my face.

When I smell the sweet fragrance of freshly mown grass.

When I cradle a newborn baby.

I hear Him.

"Be still and know that I am God, I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth." (Psalm 46:10)

When He chooses silence....

I seek His face - I search His Word - I desire a touch - I crave His presence. I need a fresh glimpse of His glory.

On my face.
Crying out.
Reaching up.
Listening...
Waiting...
Searching...

And when He's ready....

Hearing.

His Water is Life - Saturday Steps of Faith

"Jesus answered and said to her, "Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life." (John 4:13-14)

It would be so easy to read over these verses and not get fully impacted by the magnitude of what that means in our lives. I have been guilty of sometimes just reading the words of the scriptures and not letting it really settle in my heart or letting it reach deep down into my soul and grab hold.

When I read these verses and ask the Lord to open the eyes of my heart, I see the powerfulness of Him embedded in the words.

Jesus is the fountain of Living Water. It provides:

Eternal Refreshment
Unending Satisfaction
Abundant Grace
Everlasting Life

I thank you, Lord for the springs of water that will NEVER go dry! I give Praise to you Lord for providing the never ending flow of sweet water from Your reservoir of life.

I thank you, Lord that I can drink from the streams of Your righteousness.

I thank you, Lord that Your water quenches the unquenchable thirst.

I thank you, Lord that You are the waterfall of eternal life.

I thank you, Lord that the river of Holiness flows from your Throne.

I thank you, Lord that you give us the opportunity to kneel down, cup our hands and fill them with this precious water. As we drink, we savor the taste of your Mercy and your Grace. We savor the sweetness of your Truth. We savor You.

I am believing God today that He will give me the opportunity to share the life giving water with someone this week. I am believing God that He will help me to be discerning and obedient to His Word. I am believing God.

He Delights Me!

"Delight yourself in the Lord and He shall give you the desires of your heart" (Psalm 37:4)

Things that have delighted me this past week:

1. Snuggling between Eli and Mikaela last night.

2. Mikaela (6) giving her Aunt Melissa a dollar for her mission trip to Africa and telling her if she needed more just to let her know. (precious)

3. The sweet smell of the rain Monday. God's fragrance at it's finest.

4. My text message conversation with Yolanda yesterday. (such a delight!)

5. Meeting several new bloggy friends.

6. Drinking coffee with J.D. and Lois 2 mornings this week.

7. Hearing the word "Nana" come out of Mercie's mouth and then those sweet arms reaching up to me.

8. Watching the video by Louie Giglio "Indescribable" AGAIN and being just blown away AGAIN by How Great our God is. He is the Creator and He is powerful and He is certainly Indescribable!

9. Waking up to find that my husband had made coffee and then bringing him a cup of it.

10. The precious videos of Bryton and Sawyer that Ashlie sends me. And the fact that I will see them in about 14 days!!

11. My precious Lord and Savior. He delights me in so many ways every day.

Thank you Lord for delighting me every day of my life. I love you more and more each passing minute. I love how You love me! Thank you for being everything to me.

Delighting in Him,
Beth

Whispers of Love in the Dark

Yesterday my daughter, Megan, and I played hide and seek with Mikaela (6) and Eli (4). When we first started playing Megan and Eli were partners and Mikaela was my partner.

When Megan and Eli were hiding, we didn’t have a very hard time locating them. Mikaela and I just had to listen carefully and we could usually hear Eli’s little voice whispering. Or a giggle. Or both.

There was even a few times that I had spotted their hiding place right off and tried to act like I didn’t see them. I would holler out, “Mikaela, I don’t think they are in here!” and Eli’s precious little voice would say, “Look in the closet!” So, you see, it wasn’t very hard to find Megan and Eli. It was funny to me because it just seemed like he wanted to be found. He just couldn’t stand it if we didn’t find him quick enough. He would help us out and give us hints while still in hiding.

When it was my turn to have Eli for my partner, I was determined to keep that little fella quiet! I even told him that we had to be very quiet and still so his mama and sister couldn’t find us.

As we were hiding in the back corner of Melissa’s closet, we were behind a row of long white bags of formal gowns. We were hidden from sight in the dark closet. We had found a perfect hiding place. We waited for them to come find us and we were very still and very quiet.

Suddenly in the darkness this little voice whispers to me, “Nana?”. Quickly I whispered back to him, “Eli, we have to be quiet”. A silent hush filled the darkness and then…

This sweet little voice whispered, “But Nana, I love you”. As my heart melted and filled with unspeakable joy and love, I whispered back, “Oh, precious, I love you too”.

You see, Eli just wanted that reassurance in the dark that love was there. He just wanted that reassurance that he wasn’t alone. He desired some communication with me.

When we are ensconced in the deep darkness of our time alone with God, we too, long for that revelation of His love for us. We long to know that we aren’t alone. We long to hear His voice. We long for some sort of reminder that He is with us.

We revel in the quiet as we seek Him. We bask in the glory of His definite presence. We savor that sweet oneness that we feel as we commune with Him. We take joy in the intimacy we feel as we meet with Him in the dark recesses of our closets.

And then we long to hear. We long to know. We can’t help ourselves. Our voices whisper in the dark.

“I love you, Lord.”

And in the quiet darkness we hear Him say, “Oh my precious child. I love you, too.”

And then we have peace.

Saturday Steps of Faith - Believing God

I spent the morning with our friend J.D. and his wife Lois. Jimbo and I went to their house to drink coffee and visit (they live about 30 seconds from us). They came in from Shreveport last night and are just waiting to hear from the doctor on what the next step is. We had the best visit and it was so good to get some great hugs out of both of them! I love them so much.

J.D. looks really tired and the medication he is on causes him to be a little loopy at times. He is in such good spirits and is just believing God for whatever His will is for his life. He said he is at peace with God either way. Whether God calls him home or if God provides an earthly healing.

The verse that God gave me yesterday spoke volumes to my heart.

"Jesus replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God" (Luke 18:27)

I am believing God today that His perfect will be done. I am believing God that no matter what happens, God is still God and He is still on the Throne. I am believing God today that even when our circumstances seem bleak, He care about us and for us. He loves us and desires good things for us. He knows best and He will be there to take care of the details. Even when we don't know how we can go on, He knows and He provides the way.

I am believing God today that He will help me to keep my eyes on Him and help me to keep my focus on the eternal.

Today... I am believing God.