wait on Him... Psalm 27:14...

Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage;

wait for the Lord!

Psalm 27:14 ESV

wait... to stay in place in expectation of: await... to remain stationary in readiness or expectation...

---Merriam-Webster.com

Wait... we wait with expectation of something...
waiting in a doctor's office...
waiting in line for the barista...
waiting for a loved one to arrive...
waiting to go out for the evening...

We wait because something is going to happen...
something is coming... and we are ready...

Sometimes the wait is longer than expected...
sometimes we become discouraged and give up... leave...
sometimes... it seems like nothing is going to happen...

So when the wait is long...
moving our eyes to the Lord...
gives strength...
encouragement of heart...
helps us endure...
when we don't the exact arrival time...

I'm doing some waiting today...
waiting to see how it will all get done...
waiting to get my mishap made right...
and it feels a little overwhelming...
because I can't see how it can all happen...

But when I remember... I'm waiting on Him...
the One who wouldn't call me to do something and not make the way...
the One who knows what's next and how it will all fit in...
the One who is my Shepherd who will not leave me wanting...
and remember He is the Sovereign One...
who works out all things...
for the good of those who love Him...
who are called according to His purpose...

Then... my heart stills... expectation rises... and wonder creeps in...

Wait... expect Him to move...
He will...
with just what you need...

inspiration...

Inspiration... it comes from many places...
usually surprising... and unexpected...

Lately my inspiration has been to encourage others...
what a joy...

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love,

any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,

complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love,

being in full accord and one mind.

Philippians 2:1-3 ESV

Ask Him to inspire you to encourage someone...

encouragement...

Encouragement...
I've received some this week...
some actually en-couraged...
some... simply increased pressure...

The sister and I currently teaching... and simultaneously writing... Sister Talk: Resuscitate Your Faith... refer to the process as birthing...

I shared the metaphor with the 22 year old son... who happened to be trapped in a car with me for a half-hour after the birth of the first teaching...

The son received it from his mom... full-blown...
how the writing process equated to labor...
the teaching a birth...
the six weeks study... means SEXTUPLETS...!
no sooner do you birth one...
the labor begins anew...

If you can imagine... he didn't appreciate the metaphor...
That may work for you... but not for me...
I can't see myself birthing anything...

I spared him any further details...
but we talked this week... and he shared an encouragement...
after I voiced doubt about filling blank pages...

Reading Scripture... he thought about me and the birthing of the study...

For you formed my inward parts; knitted me together in my mother's womb. ... 

My frame was not hidden from you when I was being made in secret,

intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance...

Psalm 139:13, 15-16 ESV

God is knitting the Bible study in you...

He sees it and knows it... you can't right now...

but He's doing it...

The idea of Him forming the inward parts of Sister Talk in me... did bring encouragement... understanding mom's don't get to see... or know the babes fully... till they are born...

The picture took me just enough outside the process... to trust God in His forming...

But a subsequent encouragement... did not do the same...

the sister in cahoots tells me... a woman came in the shop and asked about the study...

When are you going to publish the study...?

Are you selling it from the shop...?

I want one when you do...

This one just stirred panic...

like the mom in the midst of hard labor...

receiving encouragement from her husband...

You're doing great honey...

and she lets out a string of expletives...

The labor is in the middle...

it's not done...

you're unsure you can complete...

I don't want to hear that now...

Then an unexpected encouragement... 

from a sister attending The Journey...

another study being birthed...

blessed me with a gift... an encouragement journal...

a day planner to set goals and encourage...

I got one for me too... so we could walk through it together...

This one made me feel special...

and reminded me... all this encouragement...

comes from Him...

Encouragement...

it's what we are called to do...

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging

one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 10:24-25 ESV

Who is He calling you to encourage today...? 

a needed reminder...

"But now listen, O Jacob, my servant, Israel, whom I have chosen.

This is what the Lord says --- he who made you,

who formed you in the womb, and who will help you:

Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, Jeshrun, whom I have chosen.

For I will pour water on the thirsty land,

and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit

on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.

They will spring up like grass in a meadow,

like poplar trees by flowing streams. One will say, 

'I belong to the Lord'; another will call himself by the name of Jacob;

still another will write on his hand, 'The Lord's,'

and will take the name Israel. ..."

Isaiah 44:1-5

Words received... unexpectedly... from a sister in Christ...

Words I needed to hear... read again... and again...

in the midst of doubt... discouragement... uncertainty...

...listen... my servant... whom I have chosen...

This is what the Lord says --- he who made you...

and who will help you: Do not be afraid...

Encouraging words...

reminders that I am His...

a chosen servant...

whom He will help...

I take His Word literally... 

...still another will write on his hand, 'The Lord's'...

A reminder of Whose I am...

I need not be afraid...

He will help me...

blessed... by His encouragement...

In the seeking of wisdom... I find myself blessed... by His encouragement...

He shows up in surprising ways... at just the right time... in the midst of what feels like walking in the dark... there it is... a blessing of encouragement...

He is... the God of endurance and encouragement...

Endurance... perseverance... fueled by encouragement...

Grateful for the blessing... praying He will bless you with needed encouragement too...

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father,

who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement

and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you

in every good deed and word.

2 Thessalonians 16-17

beautiful feet...

The study with ladies completed today... the one started several weeks ago... a spin off of posts first published here... the going deeper into Romans 8...

In preparation for this study... He brought a verse to my attention...

How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!

Romans 10:15 ESV

I came across it in several places... and it echoed through my mind as I prepared...

Knowing the title of the study... Romans 8: The Heart of the Gospel... I considered my feet...

At the time... the only word to describe my feet...? Ugly...

My left big toenail missed a large chunk from a recent run in with a cabinet door... both second toenails black... bruised... from an unfortunate purchase of a pair of walking shoes...

Both big toes sported large callouses... then an infection from trying to remove them in a not so great way (I'll spare you the details)... I finished the course of antibiotics a week before the start of  the study... my feet were in bad shape...

With this verse running through my mind... I wasn't feeling very confident about bringing the gospel message to my table with such ugly feet... but by faith... I did...

Around week three of the seven weeks of study... the verse returned to my thoughts... beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news...

Oddly enough... I was moved to buy nail polish... this is NOT something I do... I've never really been into the nail polish thing... it's just too much trouble... I'm too pragmatic... I can't even remember EVER painting my toenails...

But there I was... standing in Wal-Mart... looking for the perfect shade of polish... one that would coordinate with both pink and red... I brought it home and set it on my bathroom counter as a reminder... beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news...

After the callous fiasco... I had bought a pumice stone for my feet... also something I don't do... About week four of the study I took a look at my feet... they were actually looking pretty good... better than they had in a long time... A friend even commented on them... I'm not one to really consider my feet much... if they don't hurt and I'm happy with my shoes... it's all good..

But contrary to me... I began to wonder... anticipate... what my feet would look like at the end of the study... Anticipation of busting open the nail polish even took hold... beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news...

So today... the final lesson... and I just have to laugh... because He does such interesting things at times...

Sometimes He brings about a physical manifestation... of a spiritual reality... to provide encouragement...

He knew my heart was unsure of what I was doing...
He knew I was taking steps of faith...
allowing Him to stretch me to new lengths...
He knew I would see... and laugh with Him...

Beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news...

So yes... these are my feet... not perfect... but far better than they usually look...

And for me... a confirmation... that it was Him along the way...
Him leading...
Him guiding...
Him providing strength... time... energy...

And no... your feet do not have to be beautiful to bring the gospel message...

His feet... nail scarred... stained with blood...

To follow Christ... is to bring good news wherever we go...
and that makes our feet beautiful...

Our feet take us all sorts of places... and when they are shod with the gospel of peace... they bring His grace... love... peace... and hope... wherever we go...

But He does make me smile... with encouragement... affirmation... through the physical manifestation of a spiritual reality...

Thank You... Lord... for the beautiful feet...

Thank You... for blessing me with the opportunity...

to make them beautiful for You...

welcome encouragements...

During this time of feeling... stretched thin... and at odds...
I've received unexpected blessings of welcome encouragement...

Already... He's revealing His glory... in this thin place...

Grateful for His grace...
His great steadfast love...
His faithfulness that endures forever...

Praise the Lord, all nations!

Extol him, all peoples!

For great is his steadfast love toward us,

and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.

Praise the Lord.

Psalm 117

still... fighting... fear...

Waking thoughts... focused on something new...

A job taken on a couple of weeks ago... something I'd never really done before... one I wanted to do well... and not disappoint...

The past week spent preparing... learning... practicing...

This morning... my waking dreams... centered on this job...

I've noticed... when fear... paralyzes... He often moves me forward... by having me do it first... in my dreams...

There was a time... when anxiety reigned... in my heart... mind... soul...

The initial place fear implanted itself in my life... was with food...

A thought came to mind... I unwisely entertained... rather than dismissing...

Slowly... little by little... the enemy increased the number of foods... I was afraid to eat...
shrimp...
strawberries...
chewing gum...
chocolate...

I know this sounds insane... and had anyone known my internal battle at the time... I'm sure I would've been highly medicated... because the anxieties weren't restricted to just food...

But I remember... as God led me out of this pit... (one I willingly jumped into... believing lies... because the enemy had strongholds in my life...) part of the process... included eating one of the anxiety-ridden foods... in a dream...

I'd wake with the surety... that I was to eat... without fear...
and little by little... He led me out of the pit of anxiety...

All to say... I'm still... fighting... fear...

It continues to try to take hold... take back the ground its lost...

So this morning... when I dreamed of doing the job...
I realized... I'd been dragging my feet because of fear...
and today... was the day... to tackle it...

By His grace... it's mostly complete...

Grateful for the work of learning something new... and dreams to encourage me to step beyond fear...

For God has not given us a spirit of fear,

but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV

behold... He is making all things new...

A dream... and a fire... make me consider my word for the year... new...

And he who was seated on the throne said,

"Behold, I am making all things new."

Revelation 21:5 ESV

The dream... a dear sister in Christ... on the slippery slope of sin...

Not yet at the landslide stage... but quite a ways up the slope...

A fire... in the fireplace... not exactly started yet...

Large logs laid on embers from the previous night... but not burning...

The dream... pressed my heart... caused me to ask questions...

What does grace look like in this situation...? 

continue fellowship...?

cut off fellowship...?

The fire... caused me to grab a poker...

lift the lower log... prying it into a position on the grate... where more air could get under... reaching the embers...

and blow... blow... blow...

Embers grew brighter... flames began to flicker...

A Word comes to mind... 

...a bruised reed he will not break,

and a smoldering wick he will not quench...

Matthew 12:20 ESV

... and the connection with new... Behold... I am making all things new...

He does not put out the ember... even if it's just smoldering...

He blows His Spirit on it... encourages... life... and... light...

And He says... Behold... Look... Pay attention... See where I am working... to make all things new...

My heart fills with a desire... to see like Him...

To see the smoldering wick... as potential... for a blazing fire for Him...

To see the bruised reed... with the hope... of a tree rooted firmly... growing in grace...

To see in Believers... and unbelievers alike... up on the slippery slope of sin... and see Him at work...

I want to encourage... like Him... not be one who snuffs out... and breaks off... the work He is about...

Lord Jesus... open my eyes... draw my attention... let me see...

where You are making things new...

Teach me to encourage... with grace... and love...

I long to be part of what You are doing...

and do not want to crush others... with judgment...

legalism... or pessimism...

Show me how... to blow the Spirit of Life... into the lives of others...

knowing where to stand...

As processing continues... I know where I need to stand... to listen... and wait...

On The Cornerstone...

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,

but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members

of the household of God, built on the foundation

of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus being the cornerstone...

Ephesians 2:19-20 ESV

Reminded... I do not want to step off the Cornerstone...

Reminded... I belong to Him...

Reminded... of His love... grace... goodness...

Reminded... He is at work... even when it doesn't look like it...

Encouraged... to stand firm... on The Cornerstone...

[email subscribers' click here to view on YouTube... or click post title to view on Jeremiah's menu...]

Lord... I do not want to move off The Cornerstone...

keep me firmly planted... rooted in You... and Your Word...

Amen...

encouragement...

What a joy... to receive the blessing... of offering encouragement...

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ,

if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit,

if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy

complete by being like-minded, having the same love,

being one in spirit and purpose.

Philippians 2:1-2

Is there someone He's calling you to encourage today...?

He is straight...

Another interesting attribute...

Seeking Him... for how to praise Him... in preparation for ministry... He says...

Straight...

A word I heard... but almost dismissed... it came so quickly... quietly... and yes... seemed odd...

So I decided to go to the psalm he reminded me of earlier... to see what it said about Him...

Sing to him a new song;

play skillfully on the strings, with loud shouts.

For the word of the Lord is upright,

and all his work is done in faithfulness.

Psalm 33:3-4 ESV

The word... upright... it catches my attention... especially since it refers to His Word... and I go to the original Hebrew...

yashar... straight, upright, correct, right.

---Enhanced Strong's Lexicon

I tell Him... OK... You are straight...

Seeking more on this aspect of His character... leads me to Merriam-Webster's (11th Collegiate Ed.)...

straight... adjective... 1 a: free from curves, bends, angles, or irregularities... b: generated by a point moving continuously in the same direction and expressed in a linear equation... 2 a: lying along or holding to a direct or proper course or method... b: candid, frank... c: coming directly from a trustworthy source...

As clearly as He is fresh... He is straight...

This attribute... He brings it to light at a time I'm off-balance... because of others' handling of His Word...

My own thoughts... askew... with questions of doubt... Am I wrong...? Are they right...?

And I sense Him saying... not only is He straight... but His Word is straight... clear... trustworthy...

The meaning of His Word... is not hidden in such a way... as to require unbending... twisting... manipulating.... to discover it's truth...

He is a straight talker...

All the words of my mouth are righteous;

there is nothing twisted or crooked in them.

They are all straight to him who understands,

and right to those who find knowledge.

Proverbs 8:8-9 ESV

His course... straight... it does not change to suit the times... 

The sum of your word is truth,

and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

Psalm 119:160 ESV

His Way... the same proper course today... as it was yesterday...

Straightforward... trustworthy... that is our God... and His Word...

He has me convinced... settled my doubts...

I know... and He knows I know... He is straight...

The Rock: His works are perfect,

and the way he works is fair and just;

A God you can depend upon, no exceptions,

a straight-arrow God.

Deuteronomy 32:4 Msg

blessed... by unexpected blessings...

A hug... and a prayer...
from one with her own pain...

An encouraging word...
for writings that leave me unsure...

An update from a loved one...
offers laughter... and assurance...

A day of unexpected blessings...
signs of God... and His care...

I will send down showers in season;

there will be showers of blessing.

Ezekiel 34:26 NIV

encouragement... in waiting...

Today... I've seen evidence of the Holy Spirit at work...

Ensuring a sister's presence at my table to study...

Provision of inspiration...

Fleshing out a ministry through the Body... multiple members required to reveal the plan...

I didn't realize at the time... but seeing Him at work... evidence of His presence... His activity... encourages me in the waiting... for the fulfillment... of desires stirred...

Encouraged to wait... in anticipation... for more...

Ah, Lord God!

It is you who have made the heavens and the earth

by your great power and by your outstretched arm!

Nothing is too hard for you.

Jeremiah 32:17 ESV

words... the power to diminish... or multiply...

Opportunities to diminish others... abound... through criticism... judgmental attitudes... micro-management...

With fresh opportunities before me... I remember a lesson from the Summit... one I need desperately today...

The speaker shared ways that multiply the leadership potential of those around us... but also revealed ways we diminish others... often unintentionally... not recognizing the power behind our actions and words...

A message that convicted... as a mom who has... longing to build up... most likely discouraged and diminished my children at times... without even knowing it...

Today... a critical point... I must resist... the temptation to fall into the pattern of diminishing...

Those around me need... their confidence... competence... and courage... multiplied...

So I remember... and pray...

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths,

but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion,

that it may give grace to those who hear.

Ephesians 4:29 ESV

(my emphasis)

corrupt... to change from good to bad in morals, manners, or actions... rot, spoil... to cause disintegration or ruin...

Corrupting talk... it changes those who hear it... from good to bad... rots... spoils... their spirit... causes disintegration or ruin... in an attitude...

grace... good will, loving-kindness, favour... the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues...

Words that give grace... build up... turn others to Christ... encourage... strengthen... kindle... the desire to pursue His Way...

Those are the words... attitudes... I need to emit today...

Lord... remind me... the diminisher in me is dead...

I am a new creation in Christ... You live through me...

You provide... the words... attitudes... needed today...

apart from You... I cannot multiply... those I love...

I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.

Philippians 4:13 NASB95

overwhelmed...

Today... I find myself... overwhelmed...
by the Gathering...
its beauty...
diversity...
simplicity...

And the power... of the message... the Good News...
that is the Rock... on which He builds...

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters,

stand firm. Let nothing move you.

Always give yourselves fully

to the work of the Lord,

because you know

that your labor in the Lord

is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 15:58 NIV

whew...

Another Summit... a day spent absorbing world-class leadership training...

The message... it pierces the heart... with...
conviction...
encouragement...
inspiration...

My heart hears...
You cannot stay quiet...
Compassion... an inviolable value...
Get over self-consciousness...
This is not about me...
Pour it out...
Do not be a poser...

All delivered... in an atmosphere of grace... and love...

The resounding reminder...

Be strong and courageous. 

Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged,

for the Lord your God

will be with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9 NIV

All a much needed reminder...

Whew... there's another day tomorrow...

Lord... make room in my heart... mind... will... for MORE...

do not allow me... to go away... unchanged...

gracious glimpses... of His compassion...

After recent thoughts on failure to offer compassion... this morning in the quiet... when I came to Paul's words to Timothy... I completely identified... took them as my own...

The saying is sure and true and worthy of full and universal acceptance, that Christ Jesus (the Messiah) came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost.

1 Timothy 1:15 Amp

(my emphasis)

Yes... that's me... the worst...

And I went about the rest of my early morning routine... and it was there... on my treadmill... that God revealed... His compassion... toward me...

A note of compassion... passed through my treadmill read...

Years earlier, when I was still a teenager, I came home to discover that my mother had been in a horrible car accident. I couldn't even drive yet and called a taxi to get to the hospital. I don't remember the first thing about the ride there. ... What I do remember is sitting and crying alone outside the waiting room, as my mother was still in intensive care.

Three women across the family waiting room whispered behind their hands to one another as they furtively continued to glace my way. My mother was in a very bad way, near death, and obviously the news had traveled the floor. Suddenly a different woman approached me. "Is that your mother in there?" she asked. I guess no other details were necessary as I nodded and wiped my sodden face. She walked away and in a short amount of time reappeared, opened a new box of tissues, and passed them to me. Then she patted me on the shoulder, leaned over, and whispered, "Don't worry now. Your mother is going to be all right." 

An angel? No, I don't think so. I think it was just a stranger who had decided the bubble of her world could be broken. That she could cross that crazy, invisible line that seems to hold us back, separate us from one another. In looking back on that moment, there is no question in my mind that the other three women, glancing and whispering behind their hands, were equally sorry for me but they chose to stay in the safety of their private worlds.

These memories remind me that sometimes a simple word, a gentle touch, is worth the trouble. That moving out of the skin of my comfort zone is worth the momentary risk.

---River Jordan, Praying for Strangers 

He tells me... I'm not the worst... and I'm not alone...

All broken people struggle...

And I remember... just yesterday... in the study with sisters... we talked about the importance of sharing our failures... fears... faults... with others...

Testimony... speaking truth in love... it eliminates loneliness... it is a form of compassion...

I hear a word... of encouragement... to step out... and a reminder that I am not alone...

The writer she goes on to say...

I am thinking that our lives will be traced back to the moments where we were selfless. Where we took time to offer a kind word or a listening ear. I'm just thinking that someday it's all going to matter very much.

I don't want to be the one held back by fear... self-consciousness... I want to do what really matters... to Him... for Him...

Lord... thank You for this word of encouragement... this glimpse of Your compassion... help me to remember Your greatest gift of mercy... Your work on the cross... remind me... that You ask me... to do no less than You did for me...

If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ,

if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit,

if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete

by being like-minded, having the same love, 

being one in spirit and purpose. 

Philippians 2:1-2

speak blessing...

Words of encouragement...

I received some this week...

What a blessing...

Don't use foul or abusive language.

Let everything you say be good and helpful,

so that your words will be an encouragement

to those who hear them.

Ephesians 4:29 NLT

(my emphasis)

Lord Jesus... may my words... be a blessing to others...

a Word for the weary...

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart,

as working for the Lord, not for men.

Colossians 3:23

A Word for the day... one sent to a son... growing weary of work... emailed as encouragement... early this morning...

Only I didn't know... it was a Word for me too... one I received a glimpse of this afternoon... in the flesh... lived it... for a moment...

The third day... of hosting showers... for youth on mission...

The third day... of cleaning showers... and bathrooms after...

The third day... the middle of a week... of showers... the halfway... where weariness... creeps in...

Crouched down... cleaning the second shower floor... a heart on the verge of a grumble... the Word... it comes...

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart,

as working for the Lord, not for men.

And then it came into view... these youth... and their leader... these seven... they have worked for others... who needed help... giving up summer vacation... paying to work... for others who will NEVER be able to return... or repay... what has been done for them... sharing the gospel... along the way...

These... they are... the hands and feet... of Jesus... the Lord...!

The load lightened... joy returned...

I am working for the LORD... not men... cleaning up after Jesus... His Body... a privilege... a blessing... to serve... Him...

Lord... continue to open my eyes... to how I work for You... in every situation or circumstance... that I might work with all my heart... for You...