Getting Back On Course

Daily Devotional - 7/18/12
In Touch Ministries
Dr. Charles Stanley

Getting Back on Course

Read:  2 Peter 3:17-18

No matter how far away from God you have drifted, you're always welcome back. That's the lesson from Jesus' parable about the prodigal son--the foolish boy who followed a pleasure-filled path to ruin before returning to his father and finding redemption (Luke 15:11-32). Perhaps ruin has not yet come to you, but you know that your heart has grown cool to the things of God. Whatever your drifting story, make this the day that you point yourself back to the Lord.

As with any sin, the first motion toward getting back on course is to acknowledge that you have slipped away from the Lord. Then you confess and repent, which is like turning your boat in the opposite direction and paddling toward God with all your strength. If you're wondering exactly how to do that, I suggest a strategy I use every morning. Before I step out of bed, I give myself to God by acknowledging, I surrender my entire life to You for this day. When something comes up that runs counter to His plan and I consider pursuing it, the Holy Spirit reminds me that I am not my own. Only God's way will do for me.

Every day we choose whether to row or drift. As for me, I choose to vigorously pursue God.
Peter gives a warning to be on guard against attitudes and ideologies that would carry you away from truth (2 Peter 3:17). Instead, choose to paddle your lifeboat toward the Lord by meditating on Scripture, praying, and living obediently. Practicing the spiritual disciplines keeps a heart warm toward God.

Go Through the Fire Without Getting Burned

Go Through the Fire Without Getting Burned | Weekly Devotionals | Media | The ROC | Richmond Outreach Center

Hillsong Live - Forever Reign

Something practical to help us Walk In Victory Over Insecurity today! We're gonna disect this topic but for now, may this song help you "Run To His Arms" as your source of security today!! As the song says, "Nothing compares to His embrace!"

Where The Battle Is Won

Dr. Charles Stanley
In Touch Ministries
Daily Devotional
April 5, 2012

Where the Battle Is Won

Matthew 26:36-56

If you want to experience victory in the conflicts you face, consider how Jesus fought and won His battles. The pivotal battle of His life was fought even before He arrived at the cross. Praying at Gethsemane, He wrestled with the knowledge that He would bear the terrible weight of sin and endure spiritual separation from the Father.

In His special place of prayer, Jesus got alone on His face before the Father and cried out. And when He left that garden, He walked out a victor over Satan, whose sway over mankind was about to be broken on the cross. Jesus would still drink the cup of suffering and separation, but He knew that in the end, He would triumph (Heb. 12:2). That's why He could face His opponents with courage and authority. When Jesus went to confront the arresting party, He was in full control of the situation, so much so that the Pharisees and soldiers "drew back and fell to the ground" (John 18:6). He allowed them to arrest Him, determined to do His Father's perfect will.

If you're in the habit of regularly spending time alone with God, you will come to know His heart and mind. Then, when you encounter major decisions with lifelong consequences, you'll be able to discern the guidance He offers through His Spirit.

When you fully surrender, you place the consequences of your decision into the hands of an all-knowing, all-loving, all-powerful God who holds the past, present, and future. Even when you face staggering trials, you can do so with courage and power that will glorify God and shame the Enemy.

So Long Insecurity, You've Been a Bad Friend To Us!

Do you know how there are seasons of life when there definitely seems to be a common theme of the various struggles you are experiencing? When you reflect on the daily nitty gritty, the burdens and trials great and small, your weaknesses, the thorn in your side sort of stuff, the "thing" that just keeps you weighed down and keeps you defeated, I would even venture to say, the sin struggle you just can't seem to beat, if you really digested all the battles you battle on a daily basis, would there be a common theme or title you would give them in any given season? Is anyone else out there with me?

Assuming there is, and assuming that if I struggle in a particular area, especially when it seems to be a common theme in every area of life I struggle with in a given season, I would venture to say, that God is not only allowing it for my own personal growth but also because there are others that battle a common war. Although transparency in sharing a personal weakness, is never easy, I believe the Lord has prompted me out of my comfort zone because what He wants to accomplish in me, He also wants to accomplish in YOU! He wants to set us all free and wants us to Walk In Victory and then come alongside others and show them how to do the same!

Ok, so who's ready to go on this journey of self-discovery with me on a quest for freedom and victory?! Are you ready? We're better together! None of us can do it alone! So will you join me? You will?! :) Awesome! Ok, let's link arms then, and head into battle as we enter the front lines of this warfare against our souls and the landmines of our minds!

I didn't even know how to label this particular battle until recently. Its not that I only started wrestling with it recently, in fact, as I reflect back on my journey called life, I would go out on a limb and say that I have struggled in this area most of my life as I know it. I just didn't recognize how each symptom contributes to the overall diagnosis until recently, as in probably over the past year or so, as I began dodging fiery darts from every side of this common war and was faced with a choice - I could continue living defeated, which was causing a whole host of other symptoms, I was frankly at my wits end with suffering, or I could engage in the battle and fight back in my quest for the abundant and victorious life Christ paid the ultimate penalty for me to have! As with any good fight, the more I have fought back, the harder the enemy has come at me because he has been challenged and I'd be totally lying if I said there have not been set-backs or that I have it conquered. To be honest, on this side of eternity, I don't know that it will be entirely conquered, but I do believe we can fight back and take back what the enemy has stolen and Walk In Victory to the finish line!

As I faced a vicious attack against my marriage and family last year, I had no choice but to fight back! There's one area I won't let the enemy have without a fight and that's my marriage and family! There's just something about those mama claws coming out and although he knows if he attacks the institution of marriage and family, he can wipe out an entire generation, he better know that when you threaten an overprotective mama bear who takes her role very seriously, he better come armed with some very serious ammunition - and that he did!

Now, I'm surely no Job! But I would go out on a limb and say that I just may be a distant cousin!! :) Just kidding! :) The devil began trying to claim me for destruction as a child but the Lord had a bigger plan! I'm sure he began his quest from the moment I was conceived in my mother's womb, but my first memory of the battle against my very life was at the tender age of 4, when a vicious dog attack SHOULD have claimed my tiny little life, however despite my face being mangled to hamburger meat, my neck shooting blood from a jugglers vein to the tune of in a matter of mere minutes the blood loss would have been significant enough to claim my life, the doctor's claiming my future for plastic surgery to even look "normal," guess what devil? I'm still standing, but by the grace of God, no plastic surgery and but for a scar that blends pretty well with my jaw and can be covered with a little bit of makeup, I think I look pretty "normal." My husband even tells me my scar is a little "sexy!" :) My rebellious teenage son even tells me it makes me look a little, "hardcore" which I guess amps up my coolarity factor - at least in his eyes! :) I should actually be totally offended by being compared to Scarface - as a matter of fact, son, you're grounded! :) But let me tell you the truth, I sure don't "feel" very "normal" or even pretty most days when I look in the mirror and this purple scar on the side of my face that extends all the way down my neck is ALL I see, let alone, as my husband would say, sexy! I mean, let's be honest, mess with the FACE, hence the beauty of a girl, and from a very young age, I began my battle with the affliction of - INSECURITY!!!

Yep, that's the battle, did you catch it?! Ugh! (Cringing)! Like, who wants to admit THAT weakness to the world?! But you know what? That's exactly what compels me to talk about it! The fact that NOBODY is talking about it! Let's face it, if you battle insecurity, you're likely too insecure to admit, let alone, tell anyone that you're insecure! :) Truthfully, though, as I began my journey to be secure about a year ago, I first had to figure out what it was exactly that I was struggling with because I didn't know it was called insecurity! As I began researching in my, "I've had it" moment all of the different symptoms I was experiencing, low self-esteem, jealousy, mistrust, depression, anxiety, overprotectiveness, constant fear and worry over everything, I mean everything, I was emotionally and physically exhausted, I found the common theme of my problems and it was called insecurity. At first I was like, "Well, that sounds a little more sophisticated than, I'm depressed, I have low self-esteem, I'm jealous, I don't trust anyone, etc.! I'm insecure, yes, that's it, that sounds like a classier version of my battle with sin!" :)

And so the Paralegal in me went to work and began researching, analyzing, writing memorandums of law, drafting pleadings, motions, and gathering all the facts and witnesses in the case of Insecurity v. Jennifer Fox! :) Let me tell you, when the devil's the Plaintiff waging war, and you are the Defendant fighting back and you're on trial for your very life in Victory, the Almighty Judge will prevail and it's a good thing, in this particular case, He is in favor of Victory!

So, a couple of years ago, I attended this satellite type conference at my church at the time called, "So Long Insecurity - You've Been a Bad Friend To Us," by Beth Moore. To be honest, at the time, I went just because it was a women's event at my church and I typically attended those sort of things, my girlfriends were going, and hey, my husband was gonna keep the kids for the day and this was gonna be my day out, so I wasn't gonna pass up that opportunity! :) Sure, I took a lot of good notes, a lot of what was spoken on encouraged me, I took a few nuggets of application away, and primarily did what I do every time I attend a Women's, Marriage, Parenting, or Homeschooling Conference - walked away saying what I usually walk away saying, "Well, I thought I was a good wife, mother, homeschooler, etc., until I was just informed of the "right" way to do things and now I realize, I'm really missing the mark!" It was something like this, "I didn't even know what insecurity was, I just attended this thing cuz it was for women, and now I feel, really, well, INSECURE!!" :)

To be honest, I moped around for a few days, wallowing in a sea of self pity, defeat, and INSECURITY and did what I always do after these types of conferences - filed my notes away and moved on with life, ATTEMPTING to apply what I learned but usually falling back on the good ole' reliable way I've always done things, until well, this season of attack on my marriage and family last year, and boy, did I race to the filing cabinet one day in a rude awakening!

So as I re-read my notes, I realized that Beth actually had published a book on this topic. So I asked my husband if we could put it in the budget to go spend $25 bucks on this book, assuring him that he would reap the rewards of my studying this topic! :) He drove me to the book store that day!! :) So of course, I go to the isle where those types of books should be and found precisely nothing! Please do not tell me I'm going to have to go to the customer service line in front of all those people and ask if I can order the book, "So Long INSECURITY!!!" How embarrassing! But I did what all desperate people do, I swallowed the pill of humility and asked. Of course the customer service person looks it up in the system which shows there should be 1 copy of the book in store and was more than willing to personally walk me to the section where there was 1 copy of the book left - of course, misplaced! Figures! :) Now that everyone around me knew I was INSECURE!!! :) Of course it's one of those Saturdays when you're just doing chores, running errands, and find absolutely NO need to dress in anything other than baggie sweatpants, your husbands oversized sweatshirt, hair thrown up in a big ole floppy bun on the very top of your head, no make-up, etc! :) So it's not like I felt like the most confident woman in the store as it was!! :) Where were my great big oversized, cover half my face sunglasses when I needed them?! Reaching to the top of my head where I usually "store" them, Ugh! left em on the dashboard in the vehicle! I was like, "God, this is so not even funny!" :)

So I go to the check-out! How embarrassing! The line seemed a mile long, it felt as if everyone was trying to read the cover of the book I was purchasing, so I flip it over so the ginormous letters spelling INSECURITY weren't showing on the front cover only to find the back cover reading the following:

"You're considering this book because you saw the word insecurity...and all your buried insecurities surfaced. You know you're insecure. So either you rushed to snatch the book up, not caring who saw, or you casually strolled over, hoping no one would see you as you slyly picked it up. You know you need help. (You're not alone.) Maybe you're okay for the most part...but there are those insecurities you could work on. Things could be better. You're wondering, Can I really say, "So long" to my insecurities? (Yes, you can.) Or maybe you're just curious. You're fine. You wonder what on earth there is for so many women to be insecure about. And has Beth Moore, of all people, struggled with insecurity? (Yes, she has.) Whoever you are, this book is for you, because you have it in you to be secure!!"

Ok, so there was absolutely NO WAY to put this book on the counter to pay for it without being mortified! No matter how I set it up there for the cashier to scan and bag, the front and back cover both had me busted! The only thing more embarrassing I can think of to hand her and have her bag in front of an entire line FULL of people is something like, "Help, I'm addicted to porn!" :) :) :)

Ok, in all seriousness, so, I survived the hardest part, or so I thought, purchasing the book. Then God calls me to announce to the world...."Soooooo, I'm insecure! Who wants to journey along with me to be secure?!" :) Well, come to think of it, it could be worse! I mean, He could call me to announce something like, "Help, I'm a Homeschooling Mother Of Four And I'm Addicted To Porn!" :) Now that would be embarrassing! Btw...I'm not addicted to porn!! :) It's just an illustration! Probably a bad one at that! Now don't go startin rumors! :) Just sayin...  :)

So here's what my friend Beth Moore says in the front cover of her book, and so I relay to you:

Dear Friend,

We're insecure. You and me and every woman. (I, Jenn Fox will even add, it's not just women - men are insecure too)! Lately I've been realizing more and more that chronic insecurity is a cultural epidemic, but almost no one is talking about it! And it ticks me off (me too!)

We're insecure about everything from our looks to our worth as women, (and I would add, as men too) from our relationships to our futures, and everything in between. You name it, and we're probably insecure about it.

Let's be honest here. Insecurity makes us miserable. It cripples us. It makes fools of us. It makes us feel worthless. Insecurity has been a bad friend to us. The bottom line is that it's self-sabotage.

Girlfriend, (and I would add, guys), listen to me. Our insecurities are lying to us. It doesn't have to be this way. It's time to say, "So long!" to insecurity. How? First we have to understand it, and the good news is that insecurity is understandable. The even better news is that insecurity is curable.

It's time we girls (and guys) help each other out so we can be the best wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, and friends that we can possibly be. (I, Jenn Fox would add to my guy readers - so you can be the best husbands, fathers, brothers, sons, and friends you can possibly be.) Let's have a chat, you and me, through these pages. I'd be honored if you'd join me on my quest for real, lasting, soul-deep security. 

Beth (and Jenn)! :)

So for now, get your Paralegal on! Put your thinking cap on. Start reflecting, analyzing, jotting down, etc., some personal struggles. Could it be insecurity? How's that workin out for ya?! :) Then decide if you wanna join me next time as we delve into Chapter 1 together: "Mad Enough to Change!"

Generation Church - Captive Heart

My Valentine's Day song dedication I felt very specifically led to for my readers today!

It's Valentine's Day! The day of LOVE!! For some, special dates have been planned, cards, flowers, chocolates and jewelry have been given and received. What a blessing! Embrace it!

For others, maybe you're not feeling very "loved" today. Maybe this day serves as a reminder of a broken marriage, a broken relationship, a loss, a reflection on singleness and lonliness; For teens, a hope that one day you'll experience love when your night in shining armor rides to your balcony on a white horse; For the stay at home mom of young children, maybe you're going through the motions of all that needs to be done today, but feeling isolated, unappreciated, and exhausted; For the parent of a prodigal, guilting yourself with wondering if your child knows they're loved as they go about their wayward path; For the man who has experienced job loss during this difficult economy, perhaps you're feeling like a failure today, like you don't measure up in some way. I don't know, those were just a few specific illustrations I had.

Remember what I said recently about the little things. If you can't afford to go out and celebrate or send your wife a dozen roses at work, perhaps you're in a season of young children and either cannot afford or simply do not have child care for a date night, I think what matters is making that special someone feel special. Little things go a long way to accomplish that. Acts of service, meaning maybe just come alongside her (or him), in an act of service today such as help with dinner, help put the kids to bed, tell them to sit and relax and your gift is to take over the responsibilities at home tonight. Share a special dinner together after the kids go to bed or even dessert. A simple bubble bath, a handwritten note, etc. Speak THEIR love language.

For the broken marriage, it IS possibe to love the unlovely! Love is a choice, a decision. You can CHOOSE love even when you don't FEEL love. For those who have been deeply wounded in some way, "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless thos who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you....do to others as you would have them do to you. If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even "sinners" love those who love them. In doing so you will heap burning coals on their heads." (Paraphrasing) That certainly doesn't mean our motivation should be an attitude of, "Oh, I want to heap burning coals on his head, I want him to suffer, so ok, I'll do what that says!" :) I think it means more that in doing so, loving even the unlovely, the spirit will bring conviction to their hearts. I have a beautiful visual I'll share with you soon but for the purpose of this specific post, I'll stick to my point. But someone please send me a message and remind me if I haven't shared it in the next few days! :)

For those loving a prodigal, I know where you are. Choose to LOVE the prodigal and hate the behavior. You can convey that you love them unconditionally, that your love for them isn't based on what they DO, but that you disapprove of their choices. Be available to them when a door opens and know when to let go when the door is shut. Your best weapon in this battle for their soul is fought on your knees. Stay on them until they bleed! That's love!! And let your prayers be declarations of faith over their lives and futures!

For those experiencing loss, oh how I know that pain as well friend. Can I challenge you to rejoice and celebrate the number of years you had with them today rather than grieve for the time lost.

For the lonely and broken hearted, I challenge you to play this song I have been led to for you. In fact the challenge is the same for ALL of you reading this, but specifically for the lonely or broken hearted regardless of what that looks like for you, get alone in a quiet place. Play this song and really digest the lyrics. Let all the brokeness go, and receive unconditional love and peace and joy that surpasses all human understanding. Maybe you don't even love YOURSELF! Is there anyone else out there who is their own biggest enemy? I think, no I KNOW, if you whole-heartedly embrace this song and can grasp that kind of love, you'll feel whole regardless of your deepest insecurities. And then of course what you need to do is go back and read my last post on the Battlefield of Your Mind and fight the battle of taking captive your thought life and become HIS "Captive Heart!" Be blessed by this song:
   

Job's Secret to Restoration: The Most Faithful Man and His Secret

Sometimes, it seems as though our trials will never end.  Job went through more trials and tribulations than any of us can even imagine.  Yet he went from the very worst possible circumstances to being restored with all of God’s blessings upon his life.  Job went from sickness to health, poverty to wealth, loss to gain, and heartache to joy.  How did that happen?  How did Job go from utter misery to the blessings of God? What was Job’s secret?  If you knew his secret, would you give it a shot?

Let’s first take a look at all that Job went through.  If you don’t know the story of Job, he was a good man; in fact, God said there was nobody like him in the world.  He was rich.  He had 7,000 sheep, 3,000 camels, 500 donkeys, 500 yoke of oxen (which would be like 500 John Deere tractors today), and had ten healthy children.  One day, someone stole his oxen and donkeys.  A fire killed all his sheep.  Then one of Job’s servants said, “All ten of your children have died.”  But that wasn’t all—Job’s body was afflicted with boils from head to toe.  As if that weren’t enough, his own wife looked at him and basically said, “You’re a pitiful wreck!  Why don’t you just curse God and die?”  Later, Job had three friends who came to see him before criticizing him and turning their backs on him.  Through it all, Job stood the test and God consequently gave him twice as much as he had before! He got everything back and then some.  Job lived happily ever after.

Now, what was it that delivered Job’s captivity?  What was it that caused God to say, “Job, you’ve had enough”? Where was his turning point?

Many think God turned Job’s captivity because he had a good attitude through it all.  Although we should have good attitudes—even through the storms of life—that’s not when God turned it around.  We’ve been taught that because Job stood the test, didn’t complain, suffered graciously, didn’t sin, and trusted in God, God decided to bless him.  But the Bible says,

                "And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before." Job 42:10

The word “friend” here doesn’t mean they were friends to him; it means he was a friend to them.  These are the same three friends who criticized and condemned Job.  One friend told Job that it was own fault that he was suffering; that he didn’t know God well enough.  Another friend blamed his suffering on his being a “hypocrite.”  Even though his friends put him down and hurt him, Job began to pray for his friends.  This is when God turned his captivity and restored his blessings.

Truly grasping this verse changed my Christian walk forever, and it can change yours, too.  It taught me not to harbor bitterness or animosity towards anyone.  It reminded me that we should pray for those who despitefully use us.  It reinforced the concept of blessing those who curse us and loving those who hate us.

I believe this verse is the reason I am one of the happiest people alive!  It’s not just because I trust God, although I do.  It’s not because I don’t complain during trials.  I don’t believe it’s because I don’t quit when I’m tested.  I truly believe the number one reason my life is blessed is because years ago, I decided to do what Job did and consistently pray for those who do me wrong.

If Christians will just learn to pray instead of criticize, love instead of hate, and forgive instead of have aught, God can transform their lives like never before.  You will never have the blessings of God if you aren’t right with your fellow man.  The only one you hurt by having the wrong heart condition toward another is yourself.  If you, like Job, need God to set you free from your captivity, try doing what Job did.

Pastor G
Daniel 12:3

Can Anybody Hear Me by Meredith Andrews

The Dark Before the Morning

When I post a song on this blog, it is important for you to know that I don't do so randomly or haphazardly. When I post a song for you, it is almost always something that I have been led to specifically to share with YOU on my blog and the lyrics are typically meaningful and life applicable. I'm no Delilah, :) however, I want to reiterate that I am very intentional in seeking the Lord on how to encourage YOU daily and I specifically believe the songs I select for you have purpose if you really digest the lyrics. The lyrics to Josh Wilson's song, "Before the Morning" are posted here separately from the video which you can watch in the following post, for you to utilize to help you in your journeys. I would recommend printing them out (or writing them out) and post them in a place where you will view them often as a reminder on the hard days to keep fighting the good fight, arming yourselves with the boxing gloves of victory! 

 
"Before the Morning"

Do you wonder why you have to,
feel the things that hurt you,
if there's a God who loves you,
where is He now?

Maybe, there are things you can't see
and all those things are happening
to bring a better ending
some day, some how, you'll see, you'll see

Chorus:
Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
that you still have a reason to sing,
'cause the pain you've been feeling,
can't compare to the joy that's coming

so hold on, you got to wait for the light
press on, just fight the good fight
because the pain you've been feeling,
it's just the dark before the morning

My friend, you know how this all ends
and you know where you're going,
you just don't know how you get there
so just say a prayer.
and hold on, cause there's good who love God,
life is not a snapshot, it might take a little time,
but you'll see the bigger picture

Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
that you still have a reason to sing,
'cause the pain you've been feeling,
can't compare to the joy that's coming

so hold on, you got to wait for the light
press on, just fight the good fight
because the pain you've been feeling,
it's just the dark before the morning
yeah, yeah,
before the morning,
yeah, yeah

Once you feel the way of glory,
all your pain will fade to memory
once you feel the way of glory,
all your pain will fade to memory
memory, memory, yeah

Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
that you still have a reason to sing,
'cause the pain you've been feeling,
can't compare to the joy that's coming

Would dare you, would you dare, to believe,
that you still have a reason to sing,
'cause the pain you've been feeling,
can't compare to the joy that's coming

com'n, you got to wait for the light
press on, just fight the good fight
because the pain you've been feeling,
it's just the hurt before the healing
the pain you've been feeling,
just the dark before the morning
before the morning, yeah, yeah
before the morning

"Hope is not undone, because he is not done!"

"God was not done when Noah was in the boat, Sarah was barren, Joseph was in prison, Moses was on the run from Pharaoh, the children of Israel were pinned against the Red Sea, the walls of Jericho blocked possession of the promised land, Gideon was hiding from the Midianites, Samson was seduced by a woman and blinded, Ruth was widowed, David was mocked as a boy facing a giant, Job’s children were all killed, government officials persecuted Daniel, Jonah was in the belly of a fish, Paul couldn’t get rid of this thorn, and Jesus was put in the grave. God is not done!

Hope is not undone, because he is not done!"

Six Important Links to the Meaning of Hope

www.desiringgod.org

 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Does God Answer Prayer?

The answer is a resounding YES!! My 16 yr old daughter with wisdom by the grace of God beyond her years, came to me last night with a few questions after counseling a friend who came to her in a posture of, "I have no one else to turn to...," and my daughter encouraged her that she can always turn to God. The friend's response was, "To be honest, I've tried to pray and I feel like God never answers my prayers, so I just gave up praying." :( Sadly, a response I hear all too often, and to be honest, have wrestled with in the past myself. It has been so burdensome to me since I had this conversation with my daughter last night that I was compelled to address it.

The truth of the matter is, GOD ALWAYS HEARS YOUR PRAYERS AND HE ALWAYS ANSWERS!! It may not always be the answer we were hoping for, but that does not mean He did not answer. It just means that He has that bird's eye view I've talked about in the past - the parade, I've mentioned where He can see the beginning float, the end float, and each and every float in between, but in our limited human eye, we can only see what the eye can see without the full perspective. He answers as He promises in Romans 8:28, that, "He works ALL things (not some things), ALL things for the GOOD of those who love Him," and that, "If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all - how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" Romans 8:31,32. "He knows the plans He has for you. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon him and come and pray to him, and He will listen to you. You will seek Him and find Him when you seek Him with all your heart. He will be found by you." Jeremian 29: 11-14 (Paraphrased).

There you have it. God's spoken Word. What will you rely on when the troubles of this world seem to have no answers? Your feelings or the promises of a Holy God?

People ask me during a week like last week when the troubles and attacks of this world run rampant - from Sunday to Sunday - one child taken to the E.R. for a head injury (with no health insurance), another child found unconscious near a gas station by a man (I believe sent by the Lord) who called 911 and was taken by ambulance to the hospital for a suicide attempt, followed by being taken to jail due to the events leading up to, and my youngest being diagnosed and treated for Pnuemonia & Strep Throat (again with no health insurance), another family member that I love walking through medical testing to rule out pancreatic cancer, all while attempting to get unpacked, settled, and recover from job loss and relocation; I am asked, "How do you do it?"

The answer is simple. I don't. But God does. HOW possibly in my own stregnth could I stand in the face of such ongoing attack and trial? I can't. I have to acknowledge each and everyday when I awake from very sleepless nights most nights, before my feet hit the floor, "God, I can't do all that is before me today, so I acknowledge my full dependence on you today because in my weakness YOU are strong and I know that I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me stregnth.

Do my daily trials (and triumphs) mean that God does not hear or answer my prayers because things are not going as I have prayed and desire? Of course not! He absolutely hears my prayers and he absolutely is answering and he is also absolutely in control. A great illustration of this concept is through our parenting of our own children. We love, guide, direct, teach, dicipline, etc., our children, however we also know that they have a free will and that they are not puppets on a string, being controlled by our every move. Our ultimate goal is not to control our children, but to train them to make wise choices on their own without us because they have learned the value of consequences and favor for choices made. It is very much the same concept with our heavenly father (except that He always gets it right although we as human parents mess up all the time), that we have free will, he is in control and Sovereign, however, He is not a puppetier controlling us as puppets on strings. His desire is not for us to be robots, but for us to desire His perfect will for our lives because we have learned (through trial and the testing of our faith and development of our character) that honoring His way, is where our protection, blessing, and favor lie.

Is God not answering my prayers when my son chooses a path of destruction? No! That is not God's desire for his life. At the end of the day, I can trust that God is in complete control, he is listening, and anwering and sometimes the answer is not the path we would have chosen for ourselves, but He sees the beginning float, the end float, and every float in between and He knows what Zachary needs (he created him). But just as much as in my adult wisdom, as much as it grieves my heart, I have to make excrutiating choices each day to love Zachary without enabling him, which often means drawing really hard lines with him, I believe God is doing the same. Would I have chosen this path for him? Of course not. His heavenly father does not desire this path for him either. However, he is no less answering my prayers because he is loving Zachary without enabling him, knowing the end of the story that is still being written. He is writing your stories and every Chapter in between and He is not finished with you yet. So don't give up on Him. Don't stop praying! His Word does not return void, He is listening, He hears, and He answers. Aren't we grateful He doesn't ever give up on us?!

I have posted a song below this post I very specifically believe I was led to for YOU. I pray it blesses and encourages you today as you surrender your circumstances, worshipping through them and proclaiming the llyrics, "I call, you answer, and you came to my rescue and I wanna be where you are......"

Came to my Rescue-Hillsong United

Be encouraged by this story to worship through your circumstances - Desert Song follows

Changing seasons of this journey called life.....

Wow!! Listen! Do you hear that beautiful sound of silence?! :) What is this new season of life I just stepped into?! For the very first time (I think EVER in 19 yrs), I just sent ALL the kids (that are still school age) off to school, the hubbie off to work, & other than the dog, I have this entire house to myself!! In my near 40 yrs existence on planet Earth, I have either been a student, an employee, self-employed, a homeschooling mom, or a stay at home mom w/at least one child (if not ALL 4 children) home with me full time, with the exception of the years I worked out of the home full time, in which case, the whole career/family balancing act was a huge challenge for me. In fact, if I think back over the last few years, this would have described a typical day in my life...dialing the number of one of the dear women in my life who have mentored me along in this journey called motherhood (Debbie, Jill, Shelly, Allison, Lisa - to name just a few); Ring, ring..."Hello?" Background noise - baby screaming, dog barking, kids fighting, doorbell ringing...(and if I go back just 2 years ago and really wanted to be transparent - police at the door w/a rebelling 18 yr old)...Me: "Hello  _____, (any of the above mentioned poor souls), I can't take it anymore! I have let this baby cry it out like you said for 45 minutes and she is NOT giving up, I've just finished teaching the 7th grader's Algebra lesson, simultaneously ALL WHILE nursing a baby on one side and pumping on the other, and after 21 problems wrong, we are BOTH in tears! Oh, and while I was teaching Algebra the last 2 HOURS of my life, the baby that won't stop screaming that you told me to let cry it out, has ripped ALL of the next chapter's pages out of our History book, which is likely the trigger that threw the 7th grader into a complete tailspin, hence likely the precise reason my neighbor just left after stopping by to check on us after hearing blood curdling screams of the spawned off temper tantrum from not only finding her History book otherwise vandalized, but you know the old excuse of the dog ate my homework? Well, ours actually just did and do you know where the nearest emergency vet is because I don't think it's digesting very well, just a guess, based on the projectile vomitting from BOTH the homework eating dog and the acid reflux, colic, screaming baby!! Oh, and speaking of this acid reflux, colic baby who has very literally screamed non-stop for 9 straight weeks, the "white noise" of rocking her next to a running vacuum cleaner or setting her bouncy seat next to the washing machine doesn't seem to be producing the desired effect!! And speaking of electronics, do you know what would take the red SHARPIE MARKER off of the letters on my computer keyboard and monitor that my 4 yr old just used as a canvas for her artistic imagination?! And while I'm thinking about the artistic 4 yr old, who by the way is NOT picking up on this whole learning to read thing and insists that the letter D says, d-d-d-PIZZA, the bath she is soaking in doesn't seem to be removing the ENTIRE TUBE OF DESITIN she painted her ENTIRE body with right before she walked in saying, "Booooo, Mommy....I am a ghost!" And speaking of ghosts, I think we may possibly be housing a few, because my house looks like we've been robbed and ransacked and NONE of my children seem to know who is responsible!! Hold on, the police are at the door AGAIN!! I wonder what my 18 yr old did THIS TIME!!! Then again, maybe they're not here on his account! Maybe this has something to do with the fact that someone at Michael's turned me in as unstable as a result of not knowing what the YEAR was to include on the check I wrote yesterday for baskets to organize all this homeschooling stuff that is overtaking my household!! Oh, and did I mention that this baby will NOT stop screaming???!!!!

Oh, it sure is funny to reflect but I am not even kidding when I say that in those moments, you honestly feel like you will be nursing that colic, screaming baby for the rest of your days on earth. I can also tell you that out of all of the Homeschooling Conferences and Parenting Workshops I've attended and all of the books I've read, research I've done, etc., no advice has been as meaningful to me as this...."This too shall pass! You will not be nursing that colic baby through high school, that mischievous toddler will one day learn more appropriate things to color, that 7th grader may not end up a math scholar, but she will in fact one day graduate, and this strongwilled 18 yr old may have to learn some hard lessons from his own mistakes, but God is in control! Second to those nuggets of wisdom from other moms who were just a little ahead, a little behind, and some right exactly in the thick of the same exact season as me, was just knowing that I wasn't alone. God sent just the right people at just the right seasons to come alongside me and mentor, support, encourage, and love me through the victories and the heartaches!

That is my heart, passion, and vision for this next season of this journey called life. To be that Titus 2 model, to mentor, train up, support, encourage, and love on every person God Sovereignly places in my path, and pass it on so that each of them can do the same! I shutter to think about where I would be without those people in my life; where my marriage would be, where my children would be, where my spiritual journey would be, how selfish I would be, how I would have otherwise succumb to trial, etc. I certainly don't have it all figured out! That's the great news though. We don't need to have it all figured out. We need each other. No matter what season of life we are in, we can't do it alone.

We experience the things in life that we experience not only for our own personal development and growth, but to use those experiences to relate and help others do the same. My vision for the child, to the teen, to the single adult, to the newly married, new parents, empty nesters, widowers, etc., is that we not just exist and get by as we pass through the changing seasons in this journey called life, but that we live the abundant life intended for us and walk through each and every season, embracing every success and every challenge victoriously!

So now what? It's almost a little too quiet around here! I never thought I would say that!! :) Well, for the immediate future, I'm going to finish an entire cup of coffee while it's still hot, take a full shower without having to tend to someone or something in a towel still suds up, spend the next week or 2 unpacking all of these boxes, decorating and making our new house our home. I may just spend the next couple of months milking it for every single thing it's worth!! :) Doesn't this sound wonderful? Finishing a cup of coffee, actually taking a shower, getting dressed and putting on a little make-up every single day, keeping a pristine home, no more ransacked effect here, laundry that is caught up rather than overflowing, a trip to the grocery store without bribes, threats, and temper tantrums over the type of cereal everyone wants, being able to cook along with my favorite Food Network celebs and decorate with my favorite HGTV peeps, heck I think I'll even plant my own herb garden and finally take my Ninja out of the box! Did you hear that?! Adult TV stations?! Food Network, HGTV, Days?! No more Nick Jr.!! OMGoodness, I might actually even be able to get back to my Zumba, Pilates, and Kickboxing classes, attend some morning ladies bible studies, meet up with a friend for lunch, and even stroll around Target just because I can!!! :)

Then I guess after the 1st of the new year of this new season, I'll gradually stop milking it and here's a little snapshot of what's to come....finishing up my Life Coach Certification Classes and finally after all these years, launching my vision and dream!! Having a career that allows me to be a full time wife and mother, using everything I've learned from all of those years of being a wife, mother, homeschooler, full time paralegal attempting to balance career and family, owning my own businesses, etc., I've tried it all, to mentor others on how to do the same. Here's what to look forward to: (or maybe dread, idk...)!! :) A new website where you can access way more than a blog! Personal house calls to walk alongside you in everything from marriage to parenting to career to home and time management, budgeting, couponing, meal planning and preparation, home decorating, home organization, teen challenges, fitness, fashion, beauty, etc. Walking in Victory Life Groups and Life Shops, A Walking in Victory Walking Club. For all of you that do not live in the immediate area, don't worry, I'm planning to have phone and email consults and ways that you can participate online!

Stay tuned and in the meantime, remember you are not alone, this too shall pass, and life is a journey with different chapters and seasons along the way. God is not finished with you yet. Embrace today with all of it's joys and challenges. For the teen - enjoy these years. They will pass quickly! Enjoy all of the opportunities that this season holds to learn, grow, mature, build friendships, develop into who you were  placed on this earth to be. Don't waste precious years getting caught up in things that will hinder you from becoming all you were created to be and don't go to the ocean with a teaspoon! You were created for greatness! For the young mother - rock that baby. Slow down and enjoy this season. They won't be small enough to hold on your lap for very long. For those waiting for a report from the doctor or waiting up for a wandering child, what will one hour of worry add to your life? Trust God. For the grieving heart - you will never forget but it will get easier with time. Take care of yourself, take each day as it comes, don't look too far behind or too far ahead. Take each moment with the grace available for that moment. There isn't grace available right now to worry about what you will do 5 minutes from now, but His grace is sufficient for you and is available to you for this very moment. For the man who just lost his job, struggling to provide - do all that you can do to provide and then let go and let Him do the rest. If He takes care of the birds in the air, will he not take care of you?! Fill in the blank with your name and your circumstances and declare to yourself that this is a short season in a big journey called life. This too shall pass, you are not alone, you are not defeated, you were not designed to just get by but to live life abundantly, to it's fullest! Your steps are ordered by the Lord - walk them victoriously!!

Seeking Wisdom for Life's Trials

Well, for all of you who sent the congratulations messages within the last 24 hours, thank you, but hold your applause!! We have certainly experienced our fair share of job losses, new jobs, and relocations as a result, however, this may by far be the fastest turn around time yet!! It certainly does make for great blog material since so many of you seem to look forward to "following" our life's shananigans (and hopefully learning a few lessons from us along the way, as we make ourselves transparent for the sake of ministry)!

So here's the update as wacky as it all seems, well it IS...it's the Fox Family after all! Is anything about us ordinary?! :) So as you know (and if you don't, read my Principles vs. Preferences post to get the overview as to how we got to this point), Harry lost his Project Manager position with his company on September 8th, due to his decision to stand by his principles rather than preferences and not participate in some activities that his boss was requiring him to participate in.

So, for the past near 2 months now, we have struggled to make ends meet as we were just coming to the recovery point of being downsized the year prior to taking that job and relocating our lives to do so. I could give numerous illustrations of God's faithfulness to us throughout this process and creative ways that He has allowed us to get by without skipping a beat. However over the last week as the bank accounts decrease and the opportunities to do odds and ends around the neighborhood fade, bills are due, vehicles desperately need tune ups, etc., and dozens of resumes are sent out daily to no avail in this economy in a career industry that has been hard hit by it, things were looking bleak, and our faith was definitely being tested.

As we yet again did the role reversal yesterday morning and I left for work at 5:30 am and Harry stayed behind and started his to do list which consisted of getting the 2 little girls up, dressed, groomed, fed breakfast, lunches made, backpacks packed, waiting in the carpool line, homeschooling the 11th grader, teaching Chemistry and Geometry, going grocery shopping and cleaning the house, all while aggressively job searching, his self esteem and manhood continued to take a decline as I left him about in tears. For ME, the pessimist, to be running low on gas in my faith tank, would be completely normal, but Harry NEVER loses hope, so for HIM to say, "I need to read this book on breakthrough prayer and spend some time in prayer this morning because I am seriously running out of faith," is a HUGE statement! Understandable when you've just endured extreme persecution for the past 14 months of your life and stood strong by the "right" thing to do and lost your career because of it, only to seemingly watch the "bad guy" win while you suffer and justice doesn't seem to come. Easy to begin to rely on those good ole feelings and what we see, rather than the truth of God's promises and hope despite the unseen, in the thick of testing.

 So back to leaving a discouraged husband as I went to work yesterday morning...within the next couple of hours, answered prayer. The recruiting agency calls to inform Harry that the interview he had last week had resulted in that company wanting to hire him however, there were some negotiations to go back and forth to come up with a deal. That happened, it was a done deal, he was officially hired as a Senior Project Manager (which would have been a promotion) and told to report to the office at 8am today for work. This morning, he got dressed in his business clothes and reported to his new company's main office at 8 as instructed only to find the office locked and no other employees there for work yet. He waited until 8:30 when a Project Engineer showed up for work and saw him there waiting and seemed to know nothing about him starting work today. She called the owner of the company who told her to inform Harry to call his recruiter. He did so, very confused, and was told that the owner of the company emailed her (the recruiter) late last night (which she just received when reporting to the office this morning), that they were pulling back from their decision, and going to re-group and make a final decision at the end of the week.

To back up, we were unsure about taking a position with this company from the beginning after doing some research and finding it was owned and operated primarily by Muslims and as Christians, we were unsure as to how that would all work out and if that was in fact God's desire for Harry. After much prayer and outside counsel, we felt like it was an opportunity on many levels and were excited about it where we had been reluctant. However, we did pray, that if this was not God's will, that He would SLAM the door shut and open another! Well, when Harry called discouraged with the news, my response (after my initial crying and carrying on hysteria of we are doomed subsided), was, "Well, the door can't be slammed shut any further! I prayed God would slam the door shut if He didn't want you there and I guess he slammed it...literally!!"

So, here's my relationship with God...I hung up and said in a pretty "I mean it Mr." voice, "Ok God, are you slamming this door shut? Cuz it seems like you're slamming this door shut! And I'm running out of faith here and after a year of one trial after another, I'm ready to pack it in here, so if you didn't slam that door completely shut and this is just a little kink in the process, I need you to open some sort of door and quickly cuz I'm starting to think that it just aint in your will for us to stay here and throw in the towel and start packin!" :) I'm totally not even kidding! That's honestly the conversation I had in my bathroom this morning!! :) It blows my mind, that He continues to grace me with His patience cuz I'm out of patience with myself!! :)

So there we sat, Harry and I, back at the computer screen, sending more resumes, in tears, discouraged, dumbfounded, angry, confused, every emotion common to man. After ranting and raving about his prior company and how wrong what they did was and how I suspect they are somehow involved in this and how they've ruined our lives, :) a thought came to my irrational mind. And here's the background behind this thought...last year when Harry was offered the job here, another offer was made at the same time for a friend in Richmond. At the time, after much prayer and counsel, and considering ALL factors, it appeared as though we were to take what was behind door # 1! :) However, Harry has remained in touch with that friend over the last year, and there has continued to be mutual interest in a business partnership however the timing just never seemed to be right. So my thought was, what if now is the time? Harry had just talked with the man a few weeks ago and the timing wasn't right then so it was understandable that Harry would have looked at me strange when I said, "Just give him a call!"

Harry did and within 2 hours, conversations went back and forth and he called and said, "Harry, can you start work here in Richmond for me on Monday at 8am?!" Wow! I guess when I told God He better open and close some doors quickly as I was ready to throw in the towel, that was definitely quick! So this is the best 360 life turn yet...all within a few hours, Harry reported to a new job, to find he actually didn't have a new job, to get home and be offered a different new job by the same company he should have gone to work for last year, and decisions were made that we were going home!! Well, technically we are not going home, home, as in back to our house because we are finalizing the closing on that any hour now! But it's totally fine. We're just gonna start completely over with no old baggage and not even reconsidering the contract at this point.

I DO however have clarity on one important question I've had for the past 6 weeks...what to do with these boxes that I just packed and haven't finished unpacking yet since I didn't plan on our entire life turning upside down days after unloading the moving truck and needing to go back to work and not knowing for sure if we would even be able to stay here without Harry's income!! Looks like there was a very good reason I have lived in complete frustration about something ALWAYS changing my plans on the days I had it scheduled to unpack, organize, decorate, and settle into our new home! God knew in advance that it would be a complete waste of my time! :)

Hey, I bet Harry and I could enter some world records in 2 categories (at least) on this one...the record for starting and finishing a new job all in a matter of minutes!!!! And, the record for FOUR address changes at the Post Office in 14 MONTHS!!!! No worries...if anyone wants the title or crown on this one, we are more than happy to pass it on!! Here's to hoping for Walking in Victory over a very, very, very LONG stay at our new office and home address...and going HOME...for GOOD!!! :)

I leave you with this...as YOU seek wisdom for life's trials today...what decision are you facing? Are you at a crossroad in life? Are you facing job loss? Home loss? Marriage crisis? Rebelling child? Don't know how you'll meet the budget? Attack? Persecution? Injustice? Suffering? Depressed? Weary? Battling Addiction? What thoughts and emotions do you need to take captive and make obedient to the truth and promises of God's Word regardless of feelings and circumstances? What do you need to walk in victory over?

Don't lose hope! There is NO situation too big for God! He can change things in a matter of minutes! We are living proof of that! And we are also living proof that sometimes, it means looooong seasons of intense testing as well. This life is a journey, a story, with many chapters, twists and turns, some predictable, some unexpected. Your story is still being written! Some will be more colorful than others. THOSE are the one's that will impact lives, including your own! When seeking wisdom for life's trials no matter what those trials are? Always remember my bathroom conversation with God on 10/26/11..."What He opens, no one can shut, and what He shuts, no one can open..." Revelation 3:8 What open and closed doors are before YOU?

Principles vs. Preferences...Which Choice Will You Live By?

I've posted below a message from one of my favorite Pastors, Charles Stanley, this morning because as many of you know, this message hits so close to home in this particular season. My husband recently lost his job precisely because he chose to stand firm in his convictions, to follow principles rather than preferences, approval, and even his very career. I make this statement humbly only to make a point that this was a prestigious and high paying position lost so the cost was great, however the true cost was sacrificed by the One who made the ultimate sacrifice and so we count it all but loss and stand by the principles of the One who truly sacrificed it ALL!

Along with that stature and salary/benefits package came the following: keeping hours that allowed him to be home and participate in his children's lives at an extremely limited level, 3-4+ hours of commuting to and from Washington, D.C. everyday, in addition to keeping extravagant hours, and worst of all, he was being placed in compromising positions that caused him to have to chose between standing by his principles or putting his career on the line. There are too many illustrations of daily and weekly expectations of compromise over the last year with this company to discuss in this particular post, however, I do want to be specific with a few examples because as I hear reports from others in similar situations, I believe that this is how many companies are choosing to operate in current times for the sake of "team building," in essence sacrificing the "home team," and there are men and women right now as I write, being placed in similar circumstances and I would strongly encourage you to live by example!

Harry from the very beginning of accepting his new career opportunity, was placed in a position where the other Project Manager of the project he was managing was a woman in her mid-30's. Although MY personal preferences in my insecure mind would have been otherwise, that in and of itself is to be expected in current times. Men and women have to work together. That's unavoidable and just part of life. Where it became a little problematic was when they were expected to work long hours together, in an on-site office, meaning the lack of other personnel or accountability, lunch or dinner depending on the hour being brought in for them as they sat in meetings or worked on a project together for hours upon hours, and finally, Harry returning home most nights too late to have any marriage or family time together only to receive phone calls and emails on his Blackberry from her and others at all hours of the night and weekends. Of course when working so closely with someone in this type of setting most waking hours of your life, regardless of the boundaries Harry tried to put in place, unless he was outright rude to her, it became difficult to avoid the conversations that she often attempted to take beyond the scope of business. I grew concerned when we attended a black tie company gala in January and noticed that she felt very comfortable rubbing my husband's back with her hand as we entered the event.

Then in April, Harry was informed that he was being assigned a 21 year old female intern from Purdue University for the summer. He was directly assigned to be her mentor and responsibilities listed in the Memo from Human Resources included training her up within the company, as well as in the industry as a whole, assigning, monitoring, grading, etc., "meaningful" assignments, keeping track of her time and records required with the internship program, allowing her to shadow him at all times, including taking her in his personal vehicle to all job site visits, inspections, meetings, etc.

Here's where we get to standing firm in principles: the memo further instructed that a live web cam meeting had been scheduled for them for the initial introduction from where she was at Purdue University. He was expected to begin building a relationship with her over web cam until her arrival on May 16th, when a formal Mentor/Intern luncheon was scheduled for their in person meeting, followed by a series of orientations that he was to attend with her, followed by weekly formal Mentor/Intern luncheons and dinners he would be required to attend with her, and a Mentor/Intern Happy Hour scheduled for every Friday after work at various locations. The memo stated that a White Water Rafting Team Building Adventure had been scheduled for Mentors and their Interns on June 24th that he was expected to attend with his intern. Now I may be naive, but I am not so naive as to believe that there is a difference in the attire one might wear to the office and what one may where rafting in the river and further, Harry and I were both quite uncomfortable with a 21 year old girl in a bikini holding on for dear life to my husband's waist in a raft as they braved the raging white waters. As the summer progressed there were limousine rides scheduled and going away parties, project parties, staff meetings at Dave and Busters as well as other restaurants, bars, bowling alleys, and even the National Zoo!

Needless to say, Harry and I were both equally uncomfortable with all of the above and he was forced with no choice but to go to his boss and voice his concerns, that he was a married man of faith with children, that he was a leader in his church, that his wife was also on the Women's Leadership Team at church, as well as pursuing ministry, and that he simply was not going to be "dating" his intern at work. Unfortunately, after taking his concerns to 2 different levels of management, he was basically advised that he needed to separate his work from his personal life and that if he couldn't do so, he would receive poor job performance evaluations and ultimately his job would be at risk. His response and following actions were that he was going to stand by his convictions and if it cost him his job, then so be it, he would not waver.

After 5 months of fulfilling his obligations to his intern on a professional level, which was not easy on our marriage (Harry and I will blog together more in depth on this in the near future in a marriage segment) even at that level of this 21 year old girl spending 12 hours a day, everyday with my husband, lunches and dinners being brought in for hours and hours worth of meetings, and then after spending all day together, calling and emailing him on his Blackberry as early as 6:30 am and as late as 11:30 at night and all weekend long, he did not waver on the "team building" social engagements scheduled. The result was that every time Harry found a more suitable replacement for himself to attend a scheduled outside event like the rafting trip or he didn't show up at a scheduled outside event at a bar room, his boss would faithfully call him into his office the next day interrogating him as to his reasons for his absence. The situation grew more intense as Harry stood firm and his boss became visibly hostile with Harry, barely speaking to him most days, and when he did, it was in an angry, demeaning manner, even at one point, THROWING papers across the desk AT Harry. All I can say to that behavior is that his boss should have been thankful Harry was a man of faith in that moment because 15 years ago, well, lets just say, those poor innocent papers would have found themselves down the esophagus of a man pleading for an extension of his existence on this planet! :)

Nonetheless, sadly the end result was this: Harry succeeded in meeting the substantial completion of a fast track project at the National Cathedral (despite setbacks of interns, earthquakes, and hurricanes), on 9/6/11. On 9/7/11, yet another after hours "project party" was scheduled at a nearby pub, an establishment that had already been frequented by the same "project team" on a weekly basis for the past several weeks. As usual, Harry chose to attend his daughter's "Back To School Night" at her school that evening rather than attend the project party and subsequently, the very following day on 9/8/11, he was met in his office by his boss, the Executive Director of the Business Development Unit, and Vice President of Human Resources to perform his "exit interview," where he was falsely and viciously accused by his direct boss and basically escorted from the premises as though he were some sort of criminal.

Where are we today, 1 month later? Well, we certainly didn't go down without a fight. We fought for Harry's job and we fought for justice, meeting with other executives within the company, writing a letter to the President, CEO, and Owner of the company, and even consulting with multiple attorneys to no avail. As with other life circumstances, we have come to accept that this is yet another injustice and trust that a Sovereign, just, loving, righteous God who controls the outcome of the universe will work this out for our good and His glory. Right now, we've lost our income, our livelihood, our 401K, our health insurance, etc. Harry has lost out on 2 project bonuses owed to him for completion of 2 projects that this same boss will now receive his portion along with Harry's, along with 3 weeks paid vacation and other benefits. Harry is left to attempt to find employment in this economy in an industry that has been directly hit hard by this particular economy, at his age where he is almost not even marketable in this particular industry and now with a termination on his record (a termination without cause, but nonetheless, what the record shows, is termination). In addition to those limitations as far as our future livelihood, Harry doesn't even know that he wants to return to an industry where this type of "team building" is the norm. For lack of a better description, the hours, commute, stress, expectations, compromising positions, etc., over the last year with this company has left him completely burnt out.  

In OUR limited view, the future is bleak. We have barely recovered from being downsized a yr and 1/2 ago, leaving us without income for 4-5 months of job searching and finally needing to pack up everything, start over, and relocate our lives, leaving behind a house in VA worth nearly $100K less than what we paid for just a few years ago. Just 3 weeks before being terminated, we had just signed a year lease on a house closer to work for Harry to help with the toll the commute was taking on him. We're sort of left scratching our heads with boxes still packed as to whether or not its wisdom to even unpack them. We literally are on the brink of financial ruin. That is in our limited perspective. But we serve a God that can do anything. He can make what seems impossible, possible. My testimony is evidence of that alone. If the consequence for standing firm in our principles is that we lose everything, so be it. For what does a man gain if he gains the whole world, yet loses his soul. Yet, if the consequence for standing firm in our principles is blessing, so be it. The best job Harry has ever had could be right around the corner. Who knows what the future holds. We have to rely on our manna for today and not be anxious for the future. Every need has been met so far, and we are full of faith that every need will continue to be met.

It's challenging, there's no doubt. Most days I have to preach this to myself as I wrestle. But I very timely awoke to this message on my TV this morning as I went to bed discouraged. I would encourage you to watch the message I've posted below from Dr. Stanley with our story in mind. Particularly, I love the illustration he provides at the end of his message, and I'm paraphrasing, but he gives an example that preference is an unmarked road traveled, weaving side to side vs. principle where the road traveled has a white center line for us to follow which would represent following the safety of God's principles and suppose you were traveling 75mph down a road with no white line and banks on each side. Would you consider that to be dangerous? What road would you travel? The unmarked road where the potential dangers are unknown or the marked road where the the white line protects you from danger? I don't know what you are facing today. But I do know, despite what it looks like from the outside, stand by your principles, no matter the cost and walk in the victory of knowing you did not compromise!

Dancing in the Rain (and splashing in a few puddles along the way)!

Well, since I spoke on the topic "Dancing In The Rain" at a Spring Women's Ministry event in March, I have certainly had more than ample opportunity to put into practice what I preached! We'll talk more in detail about some specific life illustrations in very near future posts, however for now, I wanted to share with you a song that ministered to me in my personal devotional time this morning. It was very heavy on my heart that I needed to share this today. From personal experience in being compelled to share something and doing so in obedience only to hear a future report of how someone needed that particular message in that given moment, I am confident in this: that someone this morning, like me, needs to be inspired, spurred on, compelled forward, strengthened, comforted, empowered, loved, and encouraged to keep "Dancing in the Rain!"

My prayer is that you receive this song as your "umbrella" and go forth dancing in the rain remembering what you have heard me say before; that the purpose of rain is growth!! For me, I'm not at all surprised by the fiery storms that have come in my own life since I ministered to others about how to perservere through and overcome in the midst of the storms of this journey called life! I am surprised at how I have been knocked down a bit. I still declare that I will not be moved and even though the fierce winds of the storm blow, tossing the branches to and fro, even when the flood waters rise over the roof tops, I KNOW that the roots of my tree are firmly planted and rooted in fertile soil and that my house is built and stands on a solid foundation. Although some branches have been broken and a few windows have shattered, as the storm clouds have passed over, the tree of the broken branch is still rooted in fertile soil and the house of the shattered windows still stands on a solid foundation.

So I have had to run for shelter from the storm surge, raging flood waters, hurricane force winds, tornadoes that have spun from favorable storm conditions, the rumbling of thunder and the bolt of lightning. As I look back at my outline I used in my Dancing in the Rain workshop, I've had to do exactly what I told so many of you needs to be done. I've had to run and seek shelter, I've had to rest in that source of shelter, I've had to even pull back and just take refuge for a little while, I've had to examine and determine what has been broken and in need of repair from storm "damage," life has taken some twists and turns and definitely looks a little different than what I would have planned for. Some of the repairs have required different tools to be employed from my tool belt buckled firmly around my waste. Some of those tools put to use have been a crow bar, to peel back every layer and examine meticulously any weaknesses, a few nails of humility in needing to just do what needs to be done regardless of what that looks like, a vice grip holding and standing firm regardless of every outside force that would attempt to cause it to loosen its grip, and a hammer of perseverance, fighting the good fight for what is right even when the end result doesn't look like what we had hoped for.

Those repairs take time and rebuilding anything is a process, but in the end, there have been a few rescue boats deployed, many evidences of grace, mercy, protection, and the sovereign hand of God recognized, and life has to move forward. I can sit in the "darkness" of the storm clouds overhead and cry woe is me, feeling sorry for myself, blaming others, questioning, doubting or even cursing God or I can count it all joy in my suffering, not looking back but persevering forward stronger and wiser with lessons learned and shared with others. So what do I ultimately need to do? The same thing I told so many of you to do 6 months ago: put on your rain boots, grab your umbrella, and go out and splash in the puddles and dance in the rain!

What an amazing picture exists as I draft this post! I'm facing the windows of my home; it is raining outside, I can see the branches of the trees outside the windows blowing, I can hear the wind howling and some objects rattling, but I find it strange that the sun is actually brightly shining over it all! What a beautiful illustration that God is in control! I can't help but be encouraged by an amazing sense of hope, serenity, and peace, that even in the midst of a storm that is still very much overhead, everything is going to be ok. When all else fails, His Word stands true, that this is ALL for my good and His glory!!! Romans 8:28 - Grandma Daley's favorite verse!!

That is our hope! I've said it before and I'll say it again; THE PURPOSE OF RAIN IS GROWTH!! So push the play arrow on the song I've shared below, declare the lyrics with confidence over your circumstances, upload a few others to get you moving in your "dance party," don't worry about what your neighbors think, they probably need a dance party of their own, :) put on your rain boots, grab your umbrella, and go out and DABCE IN THE RAIN (and splash in a few puddles along the way)!!

Walking in Victory Over Temptations and Trials!

From my personal devotional time this morning, my hope and prayer for you is that God used this to not only encourage me today, but to encourage all of YOU today!

TEMPTATIONS AND TRIALS

Temptation and testing (or a trial) are two sides of the same coin.

Satan uses an occasion or a person to tempt us to fall;

God uses the same to try and make us stronger.

We learn this in Matthew 4:1 and the entire book of Job.

In seasons of temptation and trial, it is easy to grow weary and discouraged. Our emotions can be all over the place. If you're anything like me, you can experience every emotion common to man in 1 minute flat! :) We can't rely on our emotions! I'm not suggesting that we should ignore our emotions. We need to tune in to them, identify them, feel them, acknowledge them, etc., because emotions are God given in how He created us, and often it's important to allow ourselves permission to "feel" them because doing so can very much be part of the process in what He is ultimately trying to grow you in.

As the Laura Story song, "Blessings," that I posted last week says, (don't know if this is word for word, but the general gist of what I'm trying to convey): "What if your blessings come through raindrops? What if your healing comes through tears? What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know your here? What if trials of this life, are like mercies in disguise?"

My point is that experiencing those "tears," "sleepless nights," "trials," and even our emotions is all part of the process that our faithful, loving father is trying to accomplish in each of our lives in unique ways. Where we get in trouble is when we stay trapped in those emotions and fail to take every thought or feeling captive and make it obedient to the Word of God, which is the only truth we can truly rely and base our hope on. Our feelings will ultimately fail us IF we do not take them captive, and line them up with the truth of God's perfect Word.

So let me help you out a little with what I read this morning, and although I've read it a gazillion times, it is always faithful to realign my thoughts and feelings with truth. So, let's take a walk through just the first half of James 1.

In my Bible, the subheading is "Trials and Temptations." It says (and I may not quote word for word but the content will be the same, for the sake of serving those reading that have no idea what I'm talking about)! :)

Consider it pure joy, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lackin anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you MUST believe and NOT DOUBT, because you who doubt is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is double-minded and unstable in all he does. (OUCH - that's personal)! :)

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial, because when (I love how God's Word doesn't say if, but WHEN - that's hope) you have stood the test, you will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.

When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; (WOW!! I don't know about you, but that's profound for me who has been guilty of accusing God)! But each one is tempted when, by his OWN sinful desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Don't be deceived, every good and perfect gift is from above, from God, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.

So to sum it all up, how do we Walk In Victory over temptations and trials? We take every thought and emotion captive and MAKE it obedient to God's Word, the ONLY truth we can rely upon and that will NOT fail us or return void! Why should we count temptations and trials as pure JOY? Because, the testing of our faith produces perseverance! Why do we need to persevere? To mature us and make us complete - lacking nothing! What is the one who perseveres under trial? BLESSED!! If you have to print just the last paragraph of this post out or write in on an index card to keep before you on those "stormy" days, then do so! Engage in the battle! Fight back! You don't have to just sit there defeated! Just do what I do...I say things like this last paragraph to myself audibly out loud in my home, as I take my daily walk, wherever it is when my thoughtlife and emotions (exactly where the devil knows he can get to me) come under attack! I'm sure onlookers/hearers think I'm crazy, but those who know me personally KNOW that I always have myself in some sort of predictament anyway so just learn to do what I do. Laugh at yourself, make fun of yourself, etc. You'll be amazed at how effective that alone is in helping you walk in victory!! So feel free to talk to yourself and laugh all by yourself! If you're not talking to or laughing at yourself, you'll be listening to yourself! For me, the 1st choice is best!!

Little White Box song

Walking In Victory in Seasons of Trial!

A 10 year, $75,000 battle for custody of my son who was ripped from my arms and kept from me for 8 long years at the Sovereign hand of my all good, all knowing, all powerful, all loving Heavenly Father who allowed "the King's (Judge's) heart to be controlled (& hardened toward me) like a watercourse and allowed me to be falsely accused, attacked, and persecuted for my own good and His glory?

After 10 years of praying, hoping, & trusting God for a miracle, my deliverance looks like this? A restored relationship with a very broken 18 yr old who is currently living on the streets behind a dumpster, where he also finds many of his daily meals, because he would rather live that way than give up a lifestyle of drugs, alcohol, gang activity, & criminal behavior?

Phone calls from that wayward child at all hours of the night on a regular basis that he is being arrested, being taken to the hospital by ambulance, notify me that he has been in a car accident, or otherwise have me walk him through the process of getting whatever substance he has overdosed on from one day to the next out of his system to save his life?

Recovering from job loss a year ago and the financial devastation that resulted, (from whatever had been recovered from the cashing in entire life savings and selling homes to fight for the above mentioned child to no avail?

A season of attack on my marriage to extraordinary degrees?

A relocation and life transition and adjustment 9 months ago to an area that is an entirely different way of life than what we've ever known leaving all of our support system, family, friends, church relationships behind and having yet to establish those things in this wilderness, walking through it all completely alone?

Just coming out of a time of year that is always extraordinarily difficult for our family at the sobering anniversary of my brother being tragically taken from us?

Concern for suffering loved ones?

Uncertainty of the future?

Can you relate? What storm is in your path in this season? From the daily mundane to the little storms to the catastrophic ones - any magnitude challenges are faith! Right now I want to complain, fret, cry, be depressed, declare woe is me, walk in hopelessness, despair, and defeat. To be honest, there are days, I know in my know what I need to do to engage in the battle, but I simply don't want to and sometimes if I can get past the wanting to, I don't have any energy or fight left in me to! I absolutely have to look up and so do you! So on the days when I know all the things I'm suppose to do to gain victory in my battles but don't want to or don't have the fight to, on the days I go get on my knees and don't even know what I could possibly pray for anymore...I mean, let's face it, in my really huge thorn in my life with my wayward child, I think I've covered it all in prayer over the last 10+ years, on those days, where do I turn?

So what do I do on the days I don't want to battle for faith, I don't know what else I could possibly pray for, it all seems hopeless, etc.? I can turn it all back to praise, take the focus off of me, listen to a song with words that actually encourage me and give me hope worth having, not a false sense of assurity or something that temporarily makes me feel better. But if I truly focus, reflect and declare some things over my situation on the days when all of my own creativity is gone, it's amazing how you're thoughtlife begins to line up with those truths. Once your thoughtlife is lining up with truth, it overflows to your heart, which overflows from your heart to your actions! Try it today! If you're where I'm at today, what do you have to lose? I will post a few songs that have been extraordinarily encouraging to me today! I pray you are encouraged, that your thoughtlife and posture of your heart follows, and in turn you walk in victory no matter what you are facing today!!