He is faithful... even when we aren't so much...

Finding Him faithful...
even when I'm not so much...

Feeling comfortable and free...
in trusting Him with me...
but not so much with those I love...
(see my post on Instagram... sistertalkfaith...)

Yet yesterday and today...
He reveals Himself faithful...
even when I've fought to trust Him...
and been stirred up...

Grateful for His faithfulness...
which encourages me...
to be more faithful to Him...

If we are faithless, He remains faithful,

for He cannot deny Himself.

2 Timothy 2:13 NASB

rest in Him... Joshua 1:9...

"...Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.

Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed,

for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Joshua 1:9 ESV

After wrestling with Him...
over too much to do...
I find myself today...
resting in His call...

His call feels great...
and I feel small...

Joshua comes to mind...
called to fill the shoes of Moses...
(talk about a great call...)

Joshua called to seemingly impossible tasks...
lead hundreds of thousands across the flood stage Jordan...
defeat a great walled city with trumpets and shouts...

Along the way... in the midst of the call...
over and over... God assured...
Be strong... be courageous...
do not be dismayed... do not feel small...
I will be with you... wherever you go...

My call... not near as great as Joshua's...
but still... today... seems almost impossible...

And like Joshua...
I choose to rest in His call...
rest in His leading...
and the knowledge... wherever He calls me...
He will not leave me...

wait on Him... 2 Peter 3:13-14...

But according to his promise we are waiting for

new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these,

be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish,

and at peace.

2 Peter 3:13-14 ESV

We are waiting...

in a dark... broken... corrupt... world...

for the promised coming...

of new heavens... and new earth...

in which dwell only righteousness...

While we wait in the dark...

for Him to turn on all the lights...

we have His light in us...

shining as brightly as we will let Him...

He calls us to be diligent in our waiting...

serving Him... staying near Him...

so we may be without a smudge...

and at peace...

Only in Him...

can we be spotless...

seeking His Way...

being quick to confess... repent...

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just

to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9 ESV

Only in Him...

can we be at peace...

resting in Him...

trusting in Him...

The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything,

but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving

let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God,

which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts

and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:5-7 ESV

Confession... forgiveness...

supplication... thanksgiving...

the way we wait for Him to bring Light...

to this dark world...

wait on Him... Isaiah 8:17...

I will wait for the Lord,

who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob,

and I will hope in him.

Isaiah 8:17 ESV

Isaiah... God's voice in the midst of a rebellious people...

Do not do as they do... God told Isaiah...

Do not fear what they fear... you fear Me... 

The Lord will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense...

a rock of stumbling... to those in Jerusalem...

(Isaiah 8:11-15)

Sometimes... people... as a community... move so far from Him... He hides His face... His presence... from all... as discipline...

The rebellious fall... break... become enraged... when God turns His face...

they rail against Him even more... find Him useless... 

But the faithful... like Isaiah... finding themselves in the midst of the fallout... do not fear... do not fall... they continue to wait for... hope in... the One whose face is turned...

To them He is a sanctuary...

their source of hope...

I look at today's cultural climate...

and wonder at the similarities...

so for the faithful... this word is for you...

Don't do what this people do...

don't fear what they fear...

fear Him...

wait for Him...

hope in Him...

and He will be your Sanctuary...

while everyone else... stumbles...

wait on Him...

I will thank you forever, because you have done it.

I will wait for your name, for it is good,

in the presence of the godly.

Psalm 52:9 ESV

On an evening when I'm waiting for Him to make a new way...

I thank Him in advance... based on all He's done before...

Because He has done it... so many times before...

His faithfulness... unfailing...

I thank Him forever... and wait on Him...

His character is good...

and He will do it...!

Hallelujah...!

He has done it...!

Amen...!!!

lean on Him... Psalm 37:1-4...

Fret not yourself because of evildoers;

be not envious of wrongdoers!

For they will soon fade like the grass

and wither like the green herb.

Trust in the Lord, and do good;

dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.

Delight yourself in the Lord,

and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:-4 ESV

Sometimes... we fret... get all stirred up... over evildoers...

who appear to be getting away with murder...!

We wonder why they don't get caught...

why they are allowed to prosper at the expense of others...

His Word tells us... Don't do it...

don't get all bent out of shape... or envious... of those who do wrong...

they will get what they deserve in the end...

He will see to it...

like grass... they will simply fade... wither...

they will be no more...

Trusting in the Lord... we are to continue to do good...

lean on Him... faithfully...

no matter what others are getting away with around us...

We are to befriend faithfulness...

delight ourselves in the Lord... and His ways...

because when we do...

He will give us what we truly desire...

And what we truly desire is what lasts forever...

not the things of this world that pass away...

Trust in the Lord...

lean on Him...

be blessed with the true desires of your heart...

nearing the end...

Nearing the end... seeing the light... feeling the burden ease...

Five weeks of Sister Talk: Resuscitate Your Faith written... (or just about)...

Five weeks of seeing Him show up again and again...

Five weeks of stretching and growing faith...

For your steadfast love is before my eyes,

and I walk in your faithfulness.

Psalm 21:3 ESV

blessings... a la joy...

Most of my adult life... I've had a hard time receiving blessings with joy...

I suppose I believed I didn't deserve joy...
didn't deserve blessings...

As a pragmatic pessimist...
I saw the fleeting nature of joy...
it will pass and leave you flat...
disappointment sure to follow...

It's absolutely crazy...
it's not fun...
it's stupid...

The greatest blessing I've received lately...
is freedom to receive... blessings... with... joy...

I've been absolutely elated... over the littlest things...
just this week... the ordering of a shirt with free shipping...
an unexpected opening for an appointment...

It's odd... at least for me...

Blessings... a la joy...
I accredit to stepping out in faith...
evidence of His faithfulness...
when we are faithful to Him...

You make known to me the path of life;

in your presence there is fullness of joy;

at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11 ESV

floored...

Today... I found myself floored...

floor verb transitive... to knock or bring down... flabbergast, dumbfound...

---Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th Ed.)

Floored by His faithfulness...
Floored by His finding uses for me...
Floored by His work in the lives of others...

It knocked me to the floor...
right down to my knees...
humbled... grateful... amazed...

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than

all that we ask or think, according to the power at work in us,

to him be glory...

Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV

How has He floored you lately...?

a timely reminder...

As I listen to a friend struggle with relationships...
see the chaos... confusion... in the church...
listen to the insanity... being stirred... by the government...
a timely reminder... comes to my thoughts...

For not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful.

2 Thessalonians 3:2-3 ESV

The reason for the craziness in the world...

not all have faith...

The reason for not getting drawn into the craziness in the world...

the Lord is faithful...

Because of His faithfulness we shall not fear...

His purpose will come to pass...

He is not surprised by any of it...

He has all things under control...

My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast!

I will sing and make melody! Awake, my glory!

Awake, O harp and lyre! I will awake the dawn!

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;

I will sing praises to you among the nations.

For your steadfast love is great to the heavens,

your faithfulness to the clouds.

Psalm 57:7-10 ESV

a full day... filled with His joy...

A full day...
to dos... some gone undone...
mishaps...
adventures begun...
unknowns revealed... some still remain...
obedience to His call... where I didn't see a way...
but in it all... evidence of His faithfulness...
and a heart filled with His joy...

Previously... in a day... where stress and anxiety would have prevailed... I only find joy...

Weird... at least for me...

Where... when... have you experienced His joy... in a weird way...?

This is the day that the Lord has made;

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm 118:24 ESV

the wonder of revelation... and seeking Him...

...the mystery was made known to me by revelation...

Ephesians 3:3 ESV

Between the subject of revelation coming up today in the writing for another blog*... and finishing up the series on Psalm 103... I'm left wondering...

You see... the writing that happens these six days a week... just happens...

It's part of my relationship with Him... a call He's put on my heart to experience His daily faithfulness... exercise the gift of teaching... and grow in knowledge of Him...

In the middle of writing the Psalm 103 posts... I was completely humbled by the process... because I approach each day empty... not knowing what's going to be written until it's revealed...

Each time I sit in front of my computer... a blank post page in my face... I wonder... What is going to fill this page...?

The process of going through a specific passage... with a specific purpose... left me feeling like a slacker...

No preparation... no research... or plan... no outline... no certainty of what to share... each time I finished... I wondered... Where did that come from...?

I expect nothing to make sense when I proof... but when re-reading what's written... (yes... a few changes are made...) for the most part... I'm amazed it makes any sense...

Then... I realized... these writings are the fruit of my relationship with Him... 10,000-plus hours spent in His Word... over the last two-plus decades... not because I had to... but because I want to know Him...

Today's writing on revelation for the other blog... brought it all together for me...

...yes, if you call out for insight

and raise your voice for understanding,

if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures,

then you will understand the fear of the Lord

and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom;

from his mouth come knowledge and understanding...

Proverbs 2:3-6 ESV

Revelation from God... through the Spirit... by faith in Jesus... comes from seeking...

Seeking... the process of spiritual mining for spiritual treasures through... prayer... Bible study... and obedience...

It seems these posts... if there is any understanding or teaching in them... are a blessing from Him... a fruit of seeking...

Wonder of wonders...

I'm left amazed...

I pray each of you who venture to this table... find something to whet your appetite for seeking Him...

Dig into the Word... pray... obey...

Ask for revelation...

He is faithful to reveal...

Amen...

*Note... the post on Growing In Faith at FUMC is scheduled to publish April 19... 2016...

still amazed... by His faithfulness...

His faithfulness... still amazes...

Again... I show up feeling unprepared for ministry...
again... He provides... inspiration... words... prayers...

And I'm beginning to wonder...
Is this His faithfulness...
stretching me... to trust Him...
without advanced preparation...?

Because you see... I pray for Him to prepare me for this time of ministry each week... but each week... for the last three weeks... I've approached the time to pray with a blank outline...

I've about decided... this is His plan...
His faithfulness... growing me... in faith...

It seems to be working...
because each time... I see His faithfulness...
I hear Him... providing Scripture to pray...
intercessory prayer to offer...

I imagine... this will continue to happen...
Him... keeping me amazed...
by His faithfulness...

...I walk in your faithfulness.

Psalm 26:3 ESV

great is His faithfulness...

Over the last couple of days...
my faithfulness has not been so great...

I've found myself...
procrastinating...
not using time wisely...
generally ignoring the still small voice prompting action...

But at the end of the day...
things needed doing... got done...
only because...

... if we are faithless, he remains faithful...

2 Timothy 2:13 ESV

Great is His faithfulness...

Have you seen His faithfulness...? despite your faithlessness...?

He is faithful to fill...

Empty... that's how I felt...
approaching a time to lead group prayer...

No space to prepare...
no inspiration...
no time...
left me with nothing...
a blank outline...
in a spiral notebook...

So that was my prayer...
I got nothin'... Lord... nothin'...

Not only was I empty spiritually...
but physically... I was hungry...
and forgot my snack to eat on the way...

Trusting Him to fill...
asking Him to empty all of me...
distractions...
anxiety...
guilt...
to make room for Him to fill...

And that's what He did...
words to pray...
praise...
confession...
thanksgiving...
intercession...
filled what had currently been nothing...

On the way home...
I also realized... the hunger was gone...
He had also filled physically...
by His power and grace...

For he satisfies the longing soul,

and the hungry soul he fills with good things.

Psalm 107:9 ESV

He is... faithful... to... fill...

Where are you empty...? what needs to be filled...?

Go to Him... make room for Him... and He will...

counting on Him to number...

It's only Tuesday...
already the week feels too pressed to finish...
wondering where He will multiply time...
fit in tasks...

Trusting Him... to number my days aright...

Teach us to number our days aright,

that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12

Remember paint by number...?

I hear it's making a come back...

Each part of the picture...

lined off... designated with a number...

for whatever color will complete the masterpiece...

That's what I ask of Him today...

to number each day aright...

show me what comes next...

what color... what task... 

where does it fit...

to make a beautiful... complete... week...

Teach me... Lord... to number my days...

revealing what goes in each moment...

May I approach this week that looks like too much...

with joy... and anticipation... of Your faithfulness...

gaining a heart of wisdom along the way...

Amen...

celebrating His faithfulness...

A day to celebrate His faithfulness...
honoring two who have been evidence of His faithfulness...
for several years...

A prayer ministry preparing hearts for worship...
began some eight years ago...
of which leading has been a joy...
but recently freed to start something new...

Celebrating His faithfulness over lunch...
with the two who've been serving for years...
I shared the news of my leaving...
wondering how it would be taken...

In His faithfulness... He prepared one of these sweet sisters to lead...

She says in response to the news...
If you aren't moving to new things... 
then you're probably not growing...
(or something to that effect...)

Her words... another affirmation of the freedom to move on...

A joy... celebrating His faithfulness... with those who are faithful...

Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens,

your faithfulness to the skies.

Psalm 36:5

The Journey Readings: Week 107... and blessings of His beloved...

Daniel... greatly beloved... by God...

And [the angel] said to me, O Daniel,

you greatly beloved man, understand the words

that I speak to you and stand upright,

for to you I am now sent.

Daniel 10:11 Amp

And he said, O man greatly beloved, fear not!

Peace be to you! Be strong, yes, be strong,

And when he had spoken to me, I was strengthened...

Daniel 10:19 Amp

Twice... during one vision... the messenger assures Daniel of the Most High's favor...

We've seen Daniel's faithfulness in the midst of persecution...

continuing his daily prayers before the Living God...

even though it meant entering the lion's den...

Daniel... in exile... 

far from the priests... and temple...

remained faithful to his Lord...

God treasures those who are faithful...

they are His beloved...

Jesus said...

"... You are my friends if you do what I command you.

No longer do I call you servants, for the servant

does not know what his master is doing;

but I have called you friends, for all that I have heard

from my Father I have made known to you. ..."

John 15:14-15 ESV

Daniel... he comes into the category of friend...

an obedient faithful servant...

elevated to... beloved...

Daniel was blessed to know God's plans...

receive visions... prophecy... and answers to prayer...

God's messenger telling him...

Now I have come to make you understand what is to befall your people

in latter days, for the vision is for [many] days yet to come.

Daniel 10:14 Amp

As beloved by God... 

Daniel was blessed with...

wisdom...

understanding...

knowledge...

prophecy...

These are the blessings of His beloved...

He shares His heart with them...

He tells them what is to come...

He provides wisdom... knowledge... understanding...

The faithful... obedient... beloved...

are blessed with the greatest gift...

a close relationship with Him...

and opportunities to make Him known to others...

Pursue Him in His Word...

through prayer... and obedience...

become His friend... His beloved...

know His blessings...

This week's readings...

Monday             Daniel 11-12

Tuesday             1 Timothy 1-2

Wednesday        1 Timothy 3-4

Thursday            1 Timothy 5-6

Friday                2 Timothy 1-2

failed... again...

Ugh...!
I said I would pray... and I didn't...!
Signed up... on the clock... to fill a space with prayer...
and slept right through...
didn't even think about it before hitting the pillow...

The realization makes me sick...

I failed...
failed myself...
failed others...
failed Him...

In the midst of praying forgiveness...
pouring out prayers for those I was supposed to...
asking Him whose outside time and space... to retroactively pray during the time I failed...

A verse comes to mind...

...if we are faithless, he remains faithful ---

he cannot deny himself.

2 Timothy 2:13 ESV

In this moment of faithlessness... failure...
I trust His forgiveness...
I trust His ability to fill the gap...
I trust His faithfulness to those who are His...
for He knew... before... that I would... fail...

You search out my path and my lying down

and are acquainted with all my ways.

Even before a word is on my tongue,

behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

Psalm 139:3-4 ESV

O Father God... You knew... You know...

yet still You are faithful...

Thank You...

the blessing of resting in Him...

The full to fuller of yesterday...
has proved Him faithful today...

By His grace...
what needed to get done... got done...
received encouragement... in more than one place...

Oh my...
too wonder-full for words...
just thanks and praise...
for the blessing of resting in Him...

For your steadfast love is before my eyes,

and I walk in your faithfulness.

Psalm 26:1 ESV