Hurt

Sometimes hurt comes up from behind and sucker punches you. You crumple to the floor, gasping and it gives you a little kick. Just when you think you can't take it anymore, it grabs your hair and pulls...really hard.

It happened to me this past week and just as I swore I wouldn't let myself be hurt anymore, it came in for a second round. At first I laid there. But then something rose up in me. I got up and I cried, "Jesus." I called on His name. And the most amazing thing happened. His peace came. I could feel His love. He knocked the hurt back and away. Thank you Jesus. He's the only one who won't disappoint, He's always faithful.

Enjoy

I don't know about you, but I'm the type of person who focuses on the negative instead of the positive. I've been asking the Lord to quicken it in my spirit when I do this. Jesus didn't go through His short life dreading the cross. Hebrews 12:2 states that Jesus, for the joy of obtaining the prize, endured the cross. So Jesus had joy in His life, despite what He was going to face.

I have so much to be thankful for. Why is it in my nature to gripe and complain? I want to know the Lord in such a way that I continually turn to Him, not focusing on my circumstances.

Lord, this is the day you've made. I'll never have it again. I can face life without dread because of You. May Your joy be my strength. May I enjoy this day to the fullest because it's a gift from You.

Tired

I am tired of trying to fix things. I've tried to fix my kids all their lives, and they've resisted my every effort. My husband, Mark, told me that at church last Wednesday, our Pastor talked about laying our loved ones on the altar. Mark said that was what he was going to do, lay our kids on the altar. These past two weeks have been a real test and every time I ask Mark, "What should we do?" His answer is, "I've laid them on the altar."

Well, that's easy for him to say. Or is it? Do I worship fear and my own abilities, rather than worshipping God? The message on Sunday was on I Samuel 5:1-5, where the Philistines captured the Ark of the God and put it in the temple of their idol, Dagon. When they went to see it, Dagon had fallen with his face to the ground in front of the Ark of the Lord. So they put Dagon back up, but when they came the next morning, they found Dagon with his head and hands cut off, his trunk lying at the threshold of the temple. Our Pastor said that no matter what work of darkness is opposing us, God is not threatened, His power isn't diminished. He confronts my enemies for me.

Lord, I lay all my fears at the altar. I cry out to you, deliver me! Forgive me where I've believed my way was best. Bring your truth into every situation.