What Were They Expecting?

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego replied, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God whom we serve is able to save us. He will rescue us from your power, Your Majesty. But even if he doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up.” -- Daniel 3:16-18

This morning I was reading in Daniel 3. Part of that reading contains the verses above, which I read and pondered and prayed about. I felt God say some personal things to me which I wrote in my journal, and then I went on with my day. As I was blow drying my hair it hit me just how much these verses went along with what God was showing me yesterday... see yesterday's post.

What were these men expecting as they stood before King Nebuchadnezzar, whom they had just disobeyed openly? They knew the consequences of their choices. Death had been declared for anyone who would not serve the gods of King Nebuchadnezzar or who would not worship the gold idol he had erected. They expected God to save them. But even if He didn't, their trust was fully on Him. They knew Him. They didn't just know about Him. They knew Him, so they were able to fully trust in Him in all things, in every situation, no matter the outcome.

Lord, help me to really know You, not just know about You, so that I can fully trust You in all things.

What Are You Expecting?

An anology God gave me today:

Today I was baking coconut cream pies for my dad's birthday. The filling was in the crusts cooling and I was cleaning up the kitchen. As I was cleaning, I saw a glob of what looked like coconut cream pie on the counter -- so I quickly grabbed it, anticipating that sweet, silky coconut flavor. Wrong! Instead it was cold, salty, cheesy flavor. It wasn't at all what I was expecting.

You see, my daughter Josie had been fixing her lunch as I was making the pies. She had warmed up some leftover mac 'n cheese and that was what I had eagerly popped into my mouth all the while expecting coconut cream pie. Do I dislike my mac 'n cheese? No! Is it good? Yes! But, it was not what I was expecting.

Doesn't this happen to us in our daily lives, too? We go to an event, meeting, day with family, date with our husbands, our marriages, kids, etc and we have certain expectations as we walk into these things. And then what happens when it is not at all what we were expecting?

My story about the pie/mac 'n cheese turned out not so bad because I like mac 'n cheese.... but what about the time when I was a little girl at a family potluck? There sat a pretty glass plate with the cutest little pickles on it. I grabbed one, my mouth anticipating the salty, dilly goodness of a dill pickle (which I love). As I bit in and the sweet, brineyness of a Baby Gherkin filled my mouth. I nearly threw up! Yuck! I hated it! I quickly spit it out and threw it away. Are Baby Gherkins bad for you?  Do they make you sick? No. Do I like them? No way José!

So, what's the point? What do I do when my expectations are met with something completely not what I expected, or when it is something that I don't like at all? I don't know about you, but I can get upset, hurt, angry, disappointed, started blaming others, give up... the list goes on.

But, what does God's Word tell me?

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. -- Proverbs 3:5-6

He fills my life with good things. -- Psalm 103:5

He knows everything about me. -- see Psalm 139

He knows the plans He has for me -- plans for hope and a future. -- see Jeremiah 29:11

He loves me! I can trust Him! Nothing can happen without His permission! (Lamentations 3:37)

His purpose is to give me a rich and satisfying life. -- John 10:10

He guides my steps. -- Psalm 139:10

He works all things together for my good. -- Romans 8:28

Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life. -- Psalm 23:6

He is for us, not against us! -- Romans 8:31

So, when things don't go the way I expected them to, whether I like the end result or not, I can rest in knowing and reminding myself of all that God's Word says is true. I can trust the One who formed me in my mother's womb, the One who know the plans for me, the One who created the stars and knows each of their names. He holds my future, He knows the whole story, beginning to end. And, oh, does it end well!

Mom in the Middle

In my journey of mothering I am finding myself in a middle place. No longer a brand new mom of many little ones, and not yet anywhere near the finish line, I am smackdab in the middle. I am no longer drowning in diapers and longing for a full night's sleep. I am done potty training and only have one left to teach to read. But, I am by no means done either. I have graduated my firstborn and have four more to go. There are driver's licenses to get, first jobs to find, entrance exams to take. There is Latin to meander through, Algebra, fractions, and Logic. I am finding myself a bit weary, and longing to be where some of my friends are in their journeys. Several of my friends are almost done and dreaming of what the next season of their lives is going to look like. That sounds so good at times. Way too good. 

This feeling has been persistent and I am hearing myself repeating the same old song in my head and outloud. "I am tired if this." I am not feeling excitement about mothering, homemaking, or even homeschooling. I feel blah and uninspired. Then I feel ashamed of feeling that way and try to figure out how to get more disciplined and scheduled and return to a place of joy and inspiration. It always sounds so good in my head, but when it comes to actually working it out....

Don't get me wrong, I love my life, my kids, my husband, and my home. I wouldn't change any part of it. (Well, maybe that's not completely true... There may be a few things I would change...) But, during this past year I found myself a bit lost in the sea of three Challenge aged kids and two Foundations (one also in Essentials) aged kids. (We are a part of a wonderful Classical Conversations community.) I wasn't sure of my role anymore and found myself feeling a little lost. 

I was sharing a little of this with a friend yesterday. As I was talking, she started saying the words, "Do not become weary of doing good." She said this with grace and kindness shining from her eyes, and I felt myself nodding in understanding. The Lord was whispering to my soul, "You are weary, Christa. I understand. Come to Me. Tell me about it. I will give you rest and I will restore you." 

May we never tire of doing what is good and right before our Lord because in His season we shall bring in a great harvest if we can just persist.  

So seize any opportunity the Lord gives you to do good things and be a blessing to everyone, especially those within our faithful family.  

-- Galatians 6:9-10 VOICE

So, this mom in the middle is feeling hope. I see my need to turn from my weariness and turn to my Saviour. The verses below are all verses He sent my way today. I pray they feed your soul as much as they are feeding mine. 

Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard? The Eternal, the Everlasting God, The Creator of the whole world, never gets tired or weary. His wisdom is beyond understanding.  

God strengthens the weary and gives vitality to those worn down by age and care.  

Young people will get tired; strapping young men will stumble and fall. But those who trust in the Eternal One will regain their strength.  

They will soar on wings as eagles. They will run—never winded, never weary. They will walk—never tired, never faint.  

-- Isaiah 40:28-31 VOICE

Abide in me, and I in you.  

-- John 15:4 KJV

I have been crucified with the Anointed One—I am no longer alive—but the Anointed is living in me; and whatever life I have left in this failing body I live by the faithfulness of God’s Son, the One who loves me and gave His body on the cross for me.  

-- Galatians 2:20 VOICE

I know that in me, that is, in my fallen human nature, there is nothing good. I can will myself to do something good, but that does not help me carry it out. 

I am absolutely miserable! Is there anyone who can free me from this body where sin and death reign so supremely?  

I am thankful to God for the freedom that comes through our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One!  

-- Romans 7:18, 24-25 VOICE

So now, my little children, live in Him, so that whenever He is revealed, we will have confidence and not have to hang our heads in shame before Him when He comes.  

-- 1 John 2:28 VOICE

The Word, Strength, and Rest -- Joshua 1

Let the words from the book of the law be always on your lips. Meditate on them day and night so that you may be careful to live by all that is written in it. If you do, as you make your way through this world, you will prosper and always find success. 

This is My command: be strong and courageous. Never be afraid or discouraged because I am your God, the Eternal One, and I will remain with you wherever you go. 

-- Joshua 1:8-9 VOICE

“Remember what Moses, the servant of the Lord, commanded you: ‘The Lord your God is giving you a place of rest. He has given you this land.’"

-- Joshua 1:13 NLT

True Joy

It’ll be like that for those the Eternal One ransomed from captivity to return to Zion, Jerusalem. And they’ll come singing with joy. 

Overwhelming, never-ending joy will crown their heads with happiness and delight while desperation and depression melt away. 

Eternal One: I am the One who comforts you and gives you peace. So why are you afraid of human beings? The children of men are only grass; they’ll wither and die. 

Have you forgotten Me, the One who made you and the whole world, who stretched out the skies and made sure the earth’s foundations?

Yet you constantly worry about others—how they hate and might harm you. But their anger counts for nothing. In an instant, those who cower in fear and trepidation will be free to go in confidence; they won’t die in chains or suffer from hunger.

Because I, the Eternal, am your God, I can make the oceans roil with storm and roll with great waves.They call Me, the Eternal, Commander of heavenly armies. 

I have given you My words to speak and protected you with the shadow of My hand. I am the One who pulled the skies tight and made the earth rock solid. And I am the same who said to Zion, “You are indeed Mine!” 

-- Isaiah 51:11-16 VOICE

Singing of Your Strength in the Morning

But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love;

for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble. 

You are my strength, I sing praise to you;

you, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely. 

-- Psalm 59:16-17 

Wrapped in Light

There is a sure way for us to know that we belong to the truth. 

Even though our inner thoughts may condemn us with storms of guilt 

and constant reminders of our failures, 

we can know in our hearts that in His presence 

God Himself is greater than any accusation. 

He knows all things. 

My loved ones, if our hearts cannot condemn us, 

then we can stand with confidence before God.

-- 1 John 3:19-21 VOICE

My thoughts fill my head

Blocking my way

Mists of words swirl

I am blinded 

Feeling lost and alone

You, Lord, You are Light

You hear my heart's cry

You, God of the angel armies 

Wrapped in a cloak of Light

There is no darkness in You

None!

You take my hand

You show me the steps to take

As I walk in Your Light

I draw close to You

Close to those around me

Bless the Lord,  O my soul! 

He holds my hand

He calls my name 

He gently leads me in the way I should go

Bless the Lord, O my soul!

"I am the light that shines through the cosmos; 

if you walk with Me, 

you will thrive in the nourishing light that gives life 

and will not know darkness." 

-- John 8:12 VOICE

The Lord wraps himself in light as with a garment. 

-- Psalm 104:2 NIV

God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 

-- 1 John 1:5 NIV

I will take you by the hand and keep you safe.

-- Isaiah 42:6 VOICE

Deep Calls to Deep

Anchoring My Thoughts

The Lord reigns forever... 

-- Psalm 9:7a

•

...the righteous stand firm forever. 

-- Proverbs 10:25b

•

The fruit of righteousness will be peace; 

the effect of righteousness will be 

quietness and confidence forever. 

-- Isaiah 32:17 

“Abraham believed God and trusted in His promises, 

so God counted it to his favor as righteousness.” 

-- Romans 4:3b VOICE

•

So for the person who does not work, 

but instead trusts in the One who makes the ungodly right, 

his faith is counted for him as righteousness. 

-- Romans 4:5a VOICE

•

...God who creates out of nothing and 

holds the power to bring to life what is dead... 

-- Romans 4:17b VOICE

In fact, his faith grew as he gave glory to God... 

-- Romans 4:20b VOICE

•

God saw his faith and counted him as righteous; 

this is how he became right with God. 

-- Romans 4:22 VOICE

My Father, 

I will anchor my self, my thoughts, 

and my will in these facts: 

You are.

You rule in heaven and on earth.

You call me "righteous" because I am in Jesus, your son.

No matter what it may seem, I will stand firm forever. 

(Prayer from "You Are My Hiding Place" by Amy Carmichael -- devotional readings arranged by David Hazard.)

Revive Me

For the highest God above, who is and always will be, the only One who is holy has this to say: 

Eternal One: I live in the high and holy place,  I am with the low, the weak, and the humble. I renew their vitality and revive their strength.

-- Isaiah 57:15 VOICE

Thank you for hearing me, for seeing my need and responding through Your Word. You are high and lifted up, You are holy. I come humbly before You and ask You to revive my heart. Amen.

Settling for Leaky Cisterns

My people are guilty of two evils: They have abandoned Me, the spring of living waters; And instead, they have settled for dead and stagnant water from cracked, leaky cisterns of their own making. -- Jeremiah 2:13 VOICE

It has been a long time since I have written on my blog. A really long time. Recently, a friend contacted me and shared with me how the Lord had used His Words here on my blog to draw her back to Him and His Word a few years ago. I had no idea this was going on as I humbly put forth what He was showing me as I read His Word and sought after Him. 

Today, because of her email, I cracked open this old blog and scrolled back to the time frame she had said she began reading. And wouldn't you know it, the first post I read had a verse in it that just leapt off the page at me and pierced my heart. God's Word never returns void. And it was then that I realized that I was missing out on what is best for me.

You see, I have been doing good things with my time, lots of good things. And because of all the good things I have been doing, I have been worn out and weary and needing to refresh and renew.  But, instead of seeking what is best to refresh me, I was filling up on mindless things that filled me up and kept me from thirsting for deep draughts of Living Water. While I had been reading the Word almost every morning, it just was not satisfying me as it had before. 

The Lord spoke, in His gentle, quiet way, and helped me see what's been going on and why I have been dissatisfied lately. Hence the verse above. He lead me there and helped me see I had been drinking from broken cisterns while He alone has refreshing, revitalizing, Living Water.

On the last day, the biggest day of the festival, Jesus stood again and spoke aloud. Jesus: If any of you is thirsty, come to Me and drink. If you believe in Me, the Hebrew Scriptures say that rivers of living water will flow from within you. -- John 7:37-38 VOICE

Back when I was regularly writing on this blog, how I used it as a sort of response to what I had read in the Word that day. Allowing the Streams of Living Water to flow from within me. It was like the final step of my time with the Lord. For awhile now, it seemed like something was missing from my quiet times. And now, I think I know what it was. How thankful I am for Jesus, my Life, my Salvation, my Source of Living Water.

Responding out of a heart filled with praise, they congregate before the throne of God and constantly worship Him day and night in His temple.The One seated on the throne will always live among them. They will never be hungry or thirsty again. The sun or blazing heat will never scorch them, because the Lamb who stands at the center of the throne is their shepherd and they are His sheep, and He will lead them to the water of life. And God will dry every tear from their eyes. -- Revelation 7:15-17 VOICE

Compassion and Mercy

The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. 

He will not constantly accuse us,nor remain angry forever. 

He does not punish us for all our sins; he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve. 

For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. 

He has removed our sins as far from us as the east is from the west. 

The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. 

-- Psalm 103:8-13

Summertime!

Time to read, relax, refresh.

A stack of new books waiting to be cracked open and savored.

Music drifts out of earbuds snug.

Ponder, consider, breathe.

Walks in the park with my sister-friend.

Drawings, novels, earrings, cookies, Lego flowers, clay figures.

Creative juices flowing all around.

Glimpses of the future shining through the fog.

Sandy toes, sunburn on my nose.

Flip flops, beach towels, soggy suits.

Bees buzzing in the fence hugging blossoms.

Sun bringing life and light. 

Summertime and the livin' is easy.

Relax

Source: vintagerosegarden.tumblr.com via Christa on Pinterest

What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, 

to not be so preoccupied with getting,

 so you can respond to God's giving.

Steep your life in God-reality, 

God-initiative, God-provisions. 

Don't worry about missing out. 

You'll find all your everyday 

human concerns will be met.

Give your entire attention 

to what God is doing right now, 

and don't get worked up 

about what may or may not happen tomorrow. 

God will help you deal with whatever 

hard things come up when the time comes.

Matthew 6:31, 33-34

Always There

Look to the Lord

and His strength;

seek His face always.

Psalm 105:4

•

As I look around,

ahead,

back,

it can all just crash over me.

I feel a little lost 

in the whirlwind.

I can't keep up. 

I need peace.

I want clarity.

I've been so serious,

uptight.

I want to lighten up,

relax,

enjoy.

Even as I speak 

what is on my heart,

You respond.

•

What I'm trying to do here is to get you to relax, 

to not be so preoccupied with getting,

 so you can respond to God's giving.

Steep your life in God-reality, 

God-initiative, God-provisions. 

Don't worry about missing out. 

You'll find all your everyday 

human concerns will be met.

Give your entire attention 

to what God is doing right now, 

and don't get worked up 

about what may or may not happen tomorrow. 

God will help you deal with whatever 

hard things come up when the time comes.

Matthew 6:31, 33-34

Thank You, Father!

Once again You show me 

that You are Sovereign — 

that You go before me,

that you know what is in my heart

even before I do.

Thank You Jesus 

for being my 

Strength and my Shield,

my Rock!

My Vital Need

You have said, Seek My face 

[inquire for and require My presence as your vital need]. 

My heart says to You, 

Your face (Your presence), Lord, 

will I seek, inquire for, and require 

[of necessity and on the authority of Your Word].

Psalm 27:8 

Your Presence is my vital need.

How quickly I forget

and get distracted

or start thinking some

thing

is my vital need.

Inquire for --

ask.

Require --

need.

My heart knows

Who it needs. 

My heart cries out to You.

My mind takes a while to catch up.

[What, what would have become of me] 

had I not believed that I would see 

the Lord's goodness in the land of the living!

Wait and hope for and 

expect the Lord; 

be brave and of good courage 

and let your heart be stout and enduring. 

Yes, wait for and hope for and expect the Lord.

Psalm 27:13-14

He is here.

Because He is here

and because I can expect Him

I can be brave

and courageous

my heart can be strong

and I can endure.

I will wait.

I will hope.

I will expect.

I will inquire.

I will require.

For He is my Vital Need.

Choosing Joy

Always be joyful. 

Never stop praying. 

Be thankful in all circumstances,

 for this is God’s will for you 

who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Always joy?

Always pray?

Thankful always?

How is that possible?

Christ in me.

Pure and simple.

He alone is adequate

to face every situation. 

He is alive in me. 

My joy comes when I remember that.

As I rely on Him

and seek to be available to Him

I am talking to Him more.

Praying more.

He is enough.

That's where the thankfulness comes from.

Thankful that He is able.

I don't have to be.

Lord, please help me walk in this truth,

because this is where 

joy, prayer and thanksgiving come from - 

faith in You.

•

"God is limited only by the measure of our 

availability to all that He makes available

to us for in Him dwells 

all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 

and you are complete in Him

(Colossians 2:9-10)."

-- The Indwelling Life of Christ

by Major W. Ian Thomas

Let Be and Be Still

Let be and be still, 

and know (recognize and understand)

 that I am God.

 I will be exalted among the nations! 

I will be exalted in the earth!

The Lord of hosts is with us; 

the God of Jacob is our Refuge

 (our High Tower and Stronghold). 

Selah 

[pause, and calmly think of that]!

Psalm 46:10-11

This is what the Sovereign LORD, 

the Holy One of Israel, says: 

“Only in returning to me 

and resting in me will you be saved. 

In quietness and confidence is your strength. 

But you would have none of it.

Isaiah 30:15

Shhhh, be still.

I know that it is hard. 

I know you don't understand. 

Quiet now.

Remember what I have told you.

I have not left you on your own.

I am right here with you.

I will never leave you.

Come to Me.

Tell Me what is on your heart.

Lay your burden down at My feet. 

I hear you when you call to Me.

I am at work. 

Remember to thank Me.

Your thanks shows Me that you trust Me.

Thanksgiving keeps your focus on Me,

on what I am doing,

what I am going to do.

I hold your future.

I know the plans I have for you.

You only need to be still

and know

that I am God.