It's been a few days since I have been able to catch my breath, sit down, and spend some time contemplating life. I have been working a lot of overtime at the dental lab during the past week, and I have had cake orders to fulfill the past two nights. Strain and exhaustion have dominated my waking hours. It is good to finally collapse onto the couch in my silent, sun-filled living room on this blissful Saturday afternoon. My sweat pants and bare feet testify that I have nowhere to go and nothing to do. Perfect.
I have greatly enjoyed spending time with my daughter Zadie this morning. It is rather rare that I get to spend an unbroken chunk of hours with her, and this morning has been rich. She is a little less than two years old, and already she has such spirit and intelligence that I am continually surprised by things she says and does. How beautiful it is to kneel down to explain that her stickers can go on her legs, but not the floor, and have her pat me on the shoulder with her tiny hand. "I love you, too, Mama!" Those are the sweetest words in the world.
I am blessed by the God I serve. Every time I delight in my daughter's presence, my heart fills with gratitude that God has given me new life and the ability to enjoy this precious little girl. My heart used to be so heavy that even Zadie's smiles and laughter could not lift it. God has taken my burdens, and freedom is sweet.
I was thumbing through my Facebook newsfeed this morning when I came across a friend's request for prayer. She was preparing to face a scary situation, and she reached out to us for encouragement and support in preparation for Monday's meeting. As I prayed for her, one of my favorite Bible verses came to mind.
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)
I found the verse in my Bible app and decided to read the whole chapter for my morning devotional time. It is the first chapter in the book of Joshua. Moses had just died after leading God's people to the brink of the promised land. The Israelites had wandered in the wilderness for 40 years because they were too afraid to trust God's leadership after he delivered them from the Egyptians. Chastised and ready to trust God again, they stood at the brink of the Jordan river and waited for God to raise up a leader to take them out of the wilderness and into the promised land. Enter Joshua.
God spoke to Joshua and gave him instructions on how to lead the people across the river and into the land he had promised to their ancestors. God had special instructions for a few of the tribes: the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manassah.
"Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you after he said, 'The Lord your God will give you rest by giving you this land.' Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle, must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites. You are to help them until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the Lord your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise." Then they answered Joshua, "Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. (Joshua 1:13-16 NIV)
God had already given those tribes a place of rest right where they were, but he charged them to go and fight alongside the other tribes until everyone had a place of rest, not just themselves. As I read those verses, I was mindful that God has led me to a place of rest, but He also has me on the brink of a land of promise. I am not alone in this life journey, and He calls me to follow His leadership across the river and into a hostile territory. Even though I have found rest, this is not the end of my journey. I must move forward until everyone has the rest I posses. Like the tribes of Israel, I say, "Whatever you have commanded me, I will do, and wherever you send me, I will go."
Until all of you find the place of rest that I have found, I am here to fight alongside you. My heart is open, and God gives me the courage to do whatever I must to see all of you to the place he has promised you. May our journey together be one of courage and strength.
I have greatly enjoyed spending time with my daughter Zadie this morning. It is rather rare that I get to spend an unbroken chunk of hours with her, and this morning has been rich. She is a little less than two years old, and already she has such spirit and intelligence that I am continually surprised by things she says and does. How beautiful it is to kneel down to explain that her stickers can go on her legs, but not the floor, and have her pat me on the shoulder with her tiny hand. "I love you, too, Mama!" Those are the sweetest words in the world.
I am blessed by the God I serve. Every time I delight in my daughter's presence, my heart fills with gratitude that God has given me new life and the ability to enjoy this precious little girl. My heart used to be so heavy that even Zadie's smiles and laughter could not lift it. God has taken my burdens, and freedom is sweet.
I was thumbing through my Facebook newsfeed this morning when I came across a friend's request for prayer. She was preparing to face a scary situation, and she reached out to us for encouragement and support in preparation for Monday's meeting. As I prayed for her, one of my favorite Bible verses came to mind.
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)
I found the verse in my Bible app and decided to read the whole chapter for my morning devotional time. It is the first chapter in the book of Joshua. Moses had just died after leading God's people to the brink of the promised land. The Israelites had wandered in the wilderness for 40 years because they were too afraid to trust God's leadership after he delivered them from the Egyptians. Chastised and ready to trust God again, they stood at the brink of the Jordan river and waited for God to raise up a leader to take them out of the wilderness and into the promised land. Enter Joshua.
God spoke to Joshua and gave him instructions on how to lead the people across the river and into the land he had promised to their ancestors. God had special instructions for a few of the tribes: the Reubenites, the Gadites, and the half-tribe of Manassah.
"Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you after he said, 'The Lord your God will give you rest by giving you this land.' Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, ready for battle, must cross over ahead of your fellow Israelites. You are to help them until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land the Lord your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise." Then they answered Joshua, "Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. (Joshua 1:13-16 NIV)
God had already given those tribes a place of rest right where they were, but he charged them to go and fight alongside the other tribes until everyone had a place of rest, not just themselves. As I read those verses, I was mindful that God has led me to a place of rest, but He also has me on the brink of a land of promise. I am not alone in this life journey, and He calls me to follow His leadership across the river and into a hostile territory. Even though I have found rest, this is not the end of my journey. I must move forward until everyone has the rest I posses. Like the tribes of Israel, I say, "Whatever you have commanded me, I will do, and wherever you send me, I will go."
Until all of you find the place of rest that I have found, I am here to fight alongside you. My heart is open, and God gives me the courage to do whatever I must to see all of you to the place he has promised you. May our journey together be one of courage and strength.
I absolutely love this! :) So encouraging!
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