There is Time • Ecclesiastes 3

"There's an opportune time to do things, 

a right time for everything on the earth."

 

Ecclesiastes 3:1

 •

 

Living in step with you, Father,
trusting You to show me the way,
I will live in the season I am in and
embrace the purpose of this
particular time in my life.

Thank You that there is
time for everything.
I don't have to rush through
or pile on what there is not
time for right now.

Help me to do just what You
show me to do,
not worrying about what
I think I might be missing out on
or not doing.

There is time,
an opportune time for
everything under heaven.

He was Pleased with Her • Esther 5

 

When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court,

he was pleased with her 

and held out to her the gold scepter 

that was in his hand. So Esther approached 

and touched the tip of the scepter. 

 

Esther 5:2
•

He was pleased with her.
So he held out the scepter –
the power of life or death
and called her to him.

How different life in the palace
must have been.
Nothing like her Jewish home
tucked away in exile.

So many things to come
between this man and his wife.

So many differences.

So many things that went against
all she ever knew and believed.

And yet, she pleased him.

She found a way to be pleasing to
her husband in the midst of
all the contradictions.

She had no idea such a test
would come.

She held tight to her God
and the people of her God.

And yet, she was pleasing to him.

Patiently, waiting on God,
she moved forward into the unknown.

Unshakable and Assured • John 16

"This is what I want you to do:

Ask the Father for whatever is

keeping with the things I've revealed

to you. Ask in my name, according to my will,

and He'll most certainly give it to you. 

Your joy will be a river over flowing its banks!"

John 16:23-24

•

"Now we know that You know

everything – it all comes

together in You."

John 16:30

•

"I've told you all this so that trusting

me, you will be unshakable and assured,

deeply at peace. In this godless world

you will continue to experience

difficulties. But take heart!

I've conquered the world!"

John 16:33

You know me inside and out.

You have not left me to stumble around

in the dark, to find my own way.

You know everything. 

You illuminate my way with 

Your light and truth.

Deep inside the Counselor-Friend

translates Your way to my soul.

Life with You is not a guessing game.

It is not smoke and mirrors or 

pie in the sky.

 

Struggles and trials will come.

Mountains to climb and 

dark valleys to maneuver.

These are not a surprise.

You said they would be there. 

I am not alone in the midst of 

the deep water, the ground shaking,

the tempest, the fire-storm.

Trust in You 

makes me unshakable and assured.

Deep peace and joy unspeakable 

wells up as I release my grasp

on my life, this world – 

on what I see with these eyes made of dirt –

and place it all in the hands 

of the One who has overcome the world.

Loved • John 14

"Don't let this throw you. 

You trust God, don't you? 

Trust Me." 

 

John 14:1

 

•

Jesus says this right after He tells Peter 

that he will deny Him three times 

before the next dawn.

I can almost see Him looking deeply 

at each one of the men sitting around Him.

I can almost see Him looking deeply at me.

His words speak to my very core.

It's like He's saying, "Yeah, you're going to deny me. 

I know that. You will fail again and again. 

Don't worry. I'm here. 

Don't trust yourself. 

Trust God – trust Me."

Thank you, Jesus, for knowing me 

through and through... for knowing that I am just dust. 

And yet You love me. 

You want me to live with You forever. 

Thank you that You give me all that I need. 

I choose to trust You.

Who Jesus Is • John 10

"I am the Gate. 

Anyone who goes through me 

will be cared for—will freely go in

and out, and find pasture."

John 10:9

•
 
I love knowing that Jesus cares for me.

With Him I have a safe place, always.

He is the Good Shepherd.

He leads me and guides me.

But I must choose to listen to His voice
and do what He says
and go where He leads.

I have to believe Him enough
to not only listen,
but follow and do what He says.

Lord, please help me
to do more than just hear.

Help me to listen, help me to follow,
help me to do what You want me to do.

•

"I am the Good Shepherd.

The Good Shepherd puts the sheep

before himself, 

sacrifices himself if necessary."

John 10:11

•

"I am the Good Shepherd.

I know my own sheep 

and my own sheep know me."

John 10:14

"This is why the Father loves me: 

because I freely lay down my life."

John 10:17

•

"I came so they can have real and eternal life,

more and better life than they ever dreamed of."

John 10:10

•

You gave all.

You provide all. 

You know me. 

Help me to know You. 

You are who You say You are.

There is no guessing, no wondering.

Simple trust is all I need. 

As I read Your Word and listen to 

Your voice, I come to know 

who You are. 

As I believe You, 

I will live in the abundance

You promise.

I will live in the safety 

and provision

You offer. 

You are my Shepherd

I am without need.

He holds my life in His hands

"Don't be bluffed into silence 

by the threats of bullies. 

There's nothing they can do 

to your soul, your core being. 

Save your fear for God 

who holds your entire life —

body and soul — in His hands."

--

Matthew 10:28

Coldly it comes and grips me.

It silences me as I draw in and begin to fret.

Rehearsing all that could happen, might happen.

My bullies may not be in the form of people threatening to harm me physically.

But in my mind, as that cold fear grips me, my bullies are just as real as any with blood coursing through their veins.

In the midst of the fear I am being lied to.

Convinced that my bullies have power over me.

Power to do harm. To hurt me. To end my life.

A big fat bluff.

That's all that is.

They have no power over me.

They do not determine the length of my life or the destiny of my soul.

When I get really afraid 

I come to you in trust. 

I'm proud to praise God; 

fearless now, I trust in God. 

What can mere mortals do?

 --

Psalm 56:3-4

Pushed to the wall, I called to God;
      from the wide open spaces, he answered.
   God's now at my side and I'm not afraid;
      who would dare lay a hand on me?
   God's my strong champion;
      I flick off my enemies like flies.
   Far better to take refuge in God
      than trust in people;
   Far better to take refuge in God
      than trust in celebrities. 

I was right on the cliff-edge, ready to fall,
      when God grabbed and held me.
   God's my strength, he's also my song,
      and now he's my salvation.  

I didn't die. I lived!
      And now I'm telling the world what God did.
   God tested me, he pushed me hard,
      but he didn't hand me over to Death.

Thank you for responding to me;
      you've truly become my salvation!

 --

Verses above from Psalm 118   

My life is in God's hands.

He controls the destiny of my life and my soul.

Regardless of what happens I know that He is in control. (Lamentations 3:37)

I can rest in Him and trust Him.

"But blessed is the man who trusts me, God,
   the woman who sticks with God.
They're like trees replanted in Eden,
   putting down roots near the rivers—
Never a worry through the hottest of summers,
   never dropping a leaf,
Serene and calm through droughts,
   bearing fresh fruit every season."

 --

Jeremiah 17:7-8