She can laugh…
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Proverbs 31 uses “she can laugh at the days to come…” to describe this “famous” (or infamous some tired women might say!) wife of noble character.” My aunt also wrote a book by that title when I was in college, so it has been a significant phrase to me!
As I was standing in my kitchen a couple mornings ago, getting ready to have tea and chocolate with Jesus, I looked up and saw this:
I had bought the sunflowers as a gift for some women in a summer discipleship group as a visual reminder that our beauty comes as we turn our faces and strain toward the Son, just as sunflowers do. “Those who look to Him are radiant and their faces are never covered with shame.”
The plaque behind that was a gift from a friend and is one of my favorite names of God…The God of Angel Armies. “I know who goes before me. I know who stands behind. The God of Angel Armies is always by my side. The One who reigns forever, He is a friend of mine. The God of Angel Armies is always by my side….”
It struck me that morning that, if the first picture is happening in my life–I am turning my face toward the Son and gaining His beauty–and then by faith I’m believing that He is The God of Angel Armies who is always by my side…
I really CAN laugh at the days to come!!!
My desire is to live as a Proverbs 31 woman–a radiant face, a BIG God and lots of laughter at the days to come.
Faith…from the classroom to the field
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Faith…BELIEVING God for who He is, what He says, and what He does.
A new favorite faith song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_YJ4vddbJJo
I have been in “school” learning about faith recently, and this class has been a tough graduate level course. Having known and walked with Jesus since I was 5 years old, I thought my “faith” education was pretty well-rounded, but I was moved from the classroom to “the field” in this last season. Here are some of my lessons–some new insights along with some known truths that have been under “divine review,” as I like to call it.
Faith…
- Is grown in the darkness of no “sight.” “…Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the LORD and rely on his God.” Isaiah 50:10 “We live by faith, not by sight.” II Corinthians 5:7
- Waits…ALOT and often for a LONG time. Hebrews 11 has many accounts of waiting. Not a favorite for me.
- Is in some way foundational to my healing and the answering of my requests. “Jesus turned and saw her. ‘Take heart, daughter,’ he said, ‘your faith has healed you.’ And the woman was healed at that moment.” Matthew 9:22
- Is proved genuine through suffering. “These [suffering of grief in trials] have come so that your faith…may be proved genuine…” I Peter 1:7
- Is a mystery. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Heb. 11:1
- Is not legitimized by the “outcome” but by the process of faith itself. “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised….”
- Is NOT the same as reason and often isn’t “reasonable”: “Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed…without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead…and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God…” Rom. 4:18-21
- Is a HUGE weapon in times of battle–a shield. “In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.” Ephesians 6:16
- Is VERY pleasing to God. In fact, “without faith, it’s impossible to please God.” “…But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” Heb. 11:6 and Heb. 10:38
- Is ultimately in the person of Jesus Christ and for His glory. “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23, I Peter 1:7
His love and commitment to teaching me is amazing and persistent. I’m thankful for my Father’s “hands-on” classroom, even though it’s often “pain that brings gain.”
Planted for the Summer…
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It’s been a refreshing summer of being “planted” in one place–getting time with family and friends and staying put in the Midwest–at least most of the time.
I’ve gotten to be part of weddings, discipleship groups, a birth, a new dog, sickness, parties, grieving, birthdays, children’s ministry, and just…well, life in one place with its kaleidoscope of color, variety, pain and beauty. Here’s a pictorial “taste” of summer:
Though I have not been flying around the world, the world has flown to me, which I also love! I’ve had the privilege of hosting ministry families from Germany, India, Romania and various other parts of the world and the US.
There have also been times of healing prayer with people this summer–for freedom, for growth, for breaking of generational and personal strongholds! I have experienced firsthand Paul’s words that “Our weapons are not worldly but mighty through Christ, to the pulling down of strongholds.” Amazing!
I’m so thankful for our King and His kingdom and for the various ways that He calls me to serve. He planned good works for me to do before the foundation of the world, and though I can’t really get my mind around that, I love being a part of His work.