I'm Trusting in the Lord With All My Heart!

When I lived in Tulsa and headed up a Life Group in my home, I bought several of these little plates to give to the gals on their birthday. I'd add some yummy treats to the gift, but the words from Proverbs 3:5, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart" was the most important part of the gift. I had one plate left and when I was getting a plate for my scrambled eggs yesterday morning, I randomly pulled that one out. I took the message to heart. I knew God was giving me the nudge I needed. When I got in my car, on the seat was this penny. I embraced the message that God was wanting me to get. He knows me so well.

When I have these encounters, I don't take them lightly. I consider them divine, coming straight from "Heaven Central". If there's anything about my childhood that I treasure the most, it was my upbringing in a church and family that taught me the importance of memorizing scriptures. I can't begin to tell you how many times when I was in a situation that I needed a quick word of encouragement and support, and I would recollect God's Word that I had stored in my heart. “Guard my words as your most precious possession. Write them down and also keep them deep within your heart.” (Proverbs 7:2)

Jesus wasn't at all random with getting His point across to those who followed Him and needed an encouraging word. He used fish, a bird, a well, water, bread, salt, a candle, etc. My faith tells me God was intentional with those words to me yesterday just as much as He used object lessons with those He taught as He walked this earth.

I'll admit I've been in a season of wondering while I was wandering. I wondered what my future would hold, who my friends would be, when and what my ministry in this season would look like, and how I can best make use of the time I have remaining on this earth. Then right in the midst of my wondering about the what, who, when, and how.....a simple plate and a penny told me, AGAIN, to simply TRUST in God. The rest of that Proverbs 3:5 says "and lean not to your own understanding". My mind says "You need to figure this out" but God says in Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In ALL your ways, acknowledge HIM and He will direct your steps."

Once again, God got the last word....and His words are always the "word in season" that gives us the assurance that He's got this so all we have to do is to TRUST! Has He given you one of His object lessons recently? I'd love to hear it!

The Apple of God's Eye

Day 290 of Photo Inspirations -- The Apple of God's Eye
My niece posted this first photo yesterday -- she and her husband were making character pumpkins for their daughters.  Immediately, I shared that photo with a dear friend from my Life Group that maintains an attitude of being present with God throughout her day.

And, in doing so, God surprises her and shows up in so many amazing ways -- ways that she knows He's with her AND giving her sweet messages throughout her day.  For instance, she is always seeing big eyes everywhere (also pictured here are some she's sent me or I have sent her throughout our days) and she correlates that to God watching her and His reminder to her "to keep your eyes on ME!"    I know she is the "APPLE OF GOD'S EYE".  And when I thought that -- I found  scriptures where "APPLE OF GOD"S EYE" is used many times.

Psalm 17:8 "Keep me as the APPLE OF YOUR EYE"; hide me in the shadow of Your wings."

Deuteronomy 32:10 "In a desert land He found him, in a barren and howling waste. He shielded him and cared for him; He guarded him as the APPLE OF HIS EYE"

Zechariah 2:8,9 - ‘For this is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘After he has honored me and has sent me against the nations that have plundered you--for whoever touches you touches the APPLE OF HIS EYE".

Proverbs 7:2 says ‘Keep my commands and you will live; guard my teachings as the APPLE OF YOUR EYE".

Isn't God and His Word so amazing?  Taking a deep dive into those words' meaning, I found that we are considered "the pupil" of God's eye, or the center of His eye or vision. I think we could safely say we are the center of His attention.   With audacious passion, He loves us so much He always keeps an EYE out for us.   The Lord in return asks us to think the same of Him AND His Word.  He wants us to keep HIM as the APPLE OF OUR EYE -- focusing on Him, watching for Him, seeing Him literally in EVERYTHING!  After all, He IS our God, and deserves OUR attention.

I pray today that you will ‘guard His teachings as the apple of your eye.'

Hiding His Word in Our Hearts

Day 160 of Photo Inspirations -- Hiding His Word in Our Hearts
Memorization of scriptures has been pivotal in my having a joy-filled life, unwavering faith (most of the time), perseverance in tough times and learning to jump high hurdles (obstacles).  I sincerely believe that God's Word represents life and power, and is the greatest treasure we have in living an overcoming life.  

In Kids Church, we had "Sword" Drills -- that's when the leader would call out a book of the Bible, chapter and verse, and then we'd hustle to be the first one to find it in our Bible, stand up and read it.  That fun game taught us how to find scriptures, and it taught us the words of the scriptures.  Then we'd memorize scriptures during Sunday School and Vacation Bible School.  I learned so many scriptures.  Why were my parents and teachers so convinced that we should commit ourselves to scripture memory?  Because they knew it was the greatest key to our future success.  Early on, those scriptures were simply "words", but facing responsibilities and the normal challenges of "living life", those "words" became more valuable than the greatest treasure I could ever have.

In Proverbs 7:2, we read "Guard My words as your most precious possession. Write them down and also keep them deep within your heart.”  One of the most powerful ways that we can transform our lives, resist temptation, make wise decisions, and counterattack the enemy when he comes knocking on our door with his dumb fear tactics -- is knowing God's Word. Psalm 119:105 says "Your word is a lamp to guide me and a light for my path.”

The more we know what God says, the more we are going to know how God thinks, because the will of God is found in the Word of God. It strengthens us when we're weary.  It comforts us when we're sad.  It gives us hope during times of crisis. 

A couple of days ago, I was called back to the medical center for an ultrasound as they found abnormalities on a "routine" test they'd done a couple of days before. Before the test, during the test, and waiting for the results of the test, I recalled so many scriptures:  "Him I will keep in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on me."  "By the stripes of Jesus, I am healed." "Peace, be still."  "Peace be with you."  "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God."  "Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD my God is with me, wherever I go,"  

By the way, the report came back -- "nothing to be concerned about". I praised and thanked God.  But what if the report had come back the other way?  Then I expect the same would hold true.  I would trust and believe and meditate on God's Word that would give me comfort, hope, healing, and strength.  I encourage you today to take this prescription:  "Read, meditate and memorize God's Word for it will be sweet music to your heart. light for your pathway, and healing to your soul in your best of times and in the lowest of times.