Serving With Significance

Just Believing Him

"When Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. 'Lord', he said, 'my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.'

Jesus said to him, 'Shall I come and heal him?'

The centurion replied, 'Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.'" Matthew 8:5-8

The New American Standard translation says verse five differently: "my son lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly." The centurion was a man of stature and responsibility yet he went out of his way to seek Christ for intervention on behalf of his "son". Perhaps the centurion was asking for his own son or maybe this person was "like" a son to him. Nevertheless, this person that the centurion sought help for was greatly loved by him, and watching his torment had pierced his heart. The centurion knew how to get a job done. By his actions in this Gospel account, he also believed that Jesus knew how to get the job done too.

This last April, my oldest boy was in a "freak accident". The result was one of the most trying moments of our lives. The trauma caused several bulging discs in his neck, severe bone contusion, his left side was numb, tingling, constantly twitching, and had lost almost all strength. His neck and back pain was unrelenting and inconsolable. He walked with a cane and wore a neck brace. He was hospitalized with no remedy offered from the medical field for relief of his physical torment. My boy was indeed "suffering terribly" and to watch such a thing with the inability to help, will indeed try a soul. We all go from "faith to faith". By God's grace, the faith that God gives us upon belief in Jesus as Savior, is tested and purified. This was not the first or even the fifth trying physical affliction that my oldest boy had endured. Here he was a young teen, born with this, misdiagnosed with that, subject to yet another, and now suffering beyond what he could endure. Only the intervention of Christ would do in this case and as a family, we found our faith  being tried yet again.

I look at the centurion from Matthew chapter eight and marvel at his faith. Here we see a gentile, who by typical thought was one who never had an understanding or upbringing that would tell of the love of the one, true living God. Additionally, his employment role was one that represented those that ruled and even oppressed the people of God. In other words, the centurion was an unlikely candidate of such great faith, an amazing faith, a rare faith which garnered a public declaration from God. We know that faith comes from God but how was it imparted in this man's life? Was it an instant revelation as he received the deposit of God's truth in his soul? Did the centurion hear the commotion of his discourses or the miracles that rang through the streets? I ponder if there was a particular eye witness account that sealed the drawing of his soul. Something clearly happened when Jesus walked on the scene of this man's story because the obvious result was that when it came to be exercised or proven, it was revealed as true. The centurion just believed Him. His heart had already responded to God's presence and made a home for it to stay.  I wonder how his faith was challenged, charged, and was it so trusting that other gentiles were inspired too? Either way, this man had great faith, pure faith, unabashed and surrendered faith, and it was proved when desperation was at his door. This man needed a miracle and He believed that Jesus was the source of such a thing. His faith was certain and steadfast; confident and content. He approaches Jesus calmly with the problem already convinced that He held the answer. In fact, the centurion did not need a performance, did not ask for a sign, and even refused a personal appointment. He just believed Him.

That is great faith!

I am familiar with trials and hardships and I am also familiar with God's grace and His indwelling presence that helps us believe in who He is. I love that God honors our faith and answers according to His will and not our works. Jesus does not withhold His witness, His evidence, or His promises from anyone. Therefore, Jesus will answer anyone who calls on Him by faith. He does not play favorites and will oppose any such behavior (Deuteronomy 1:17, Acts 10:34, James 2:9). In fact, the Lord does NOT wait until we are strong either. Instead, He moves perfectly and with great power when we are weak.

"But he said to me, 'my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, insults, and hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

The Lord Jesus lives to love us and will exhaust every effort to do so. This truth is proven in the Cross and how He takes the place of wrath for you and me. 

Believing God starts with baby steps. When trials or hardships come and answers or intervention are needed, these are all opportunities to believe God. The centurion recognized God's power. When we are faced with seemingly impossible situations and are failed by what humanity offers, we will always find out that God is the only one to redeem and rescue. It is God's power that is proven time and time again as diagnoses are banished or staved, and darkness is prevailed by His light. I am grateful for all of my hardships because the Lord has been proven as my great helper in every area that I needed Him for. With the proof that I have collected over several years, I can say by God's grace, I have learned to just believe God. Even when my son was suffering and the days stretched into weeks and the weeks moved into months, it never changed my belief that Jesus was indeed our Healer. Consider a faith in Christ like that of the centurion that grabs the attention of God:

"When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following Him, 'Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.'" Matthew 8:10

Know today that you are loved greatly by the Lord and whatever has come your way, the Lord is with you and is drawing you closer to Himself. Jesus will prove that no matter your background before, He is one who honors your belief in Him"today". Maybe your faith is faltering today or seemingly not there anymore. Allow the Lord to do a work in your faith so that it would be purified and proven true. The more I have gone through, the more "spoils" of God's truth that I have gained. I own them. They belong to me and cannot be taken or shaken from my grasp. I take my spoils and share them with so many others that I minister to in order to inspire their belief in Christ too. I've seen so many start with baby steps in their faith walk and as God answers them, their faith continues to grow. I am convinced and encouraged by the witness of God in my life, the lives of others and from my brother the centurion : when I just believe God, miracles will indeed follow!

"'Then Jesus said to the centurion, 'Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.' And his servant was healed at that moment." Mattew 8:13

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My Portion

Today, I Rejoice- a Poem of Praise

God's Perfect Way

"As for God, his way is perfect:" Psalm 18:30

I liked this scripture from the first time that I read it. I cited it often even though there was so much more to learn about its meaning.

My family has been in a great hardship; a life-changing trial that had leapt upon us. We were engulfed by something much bigger than our worse thought and the toll it took, was great. Within that time, more adverse situations arose and we stood powerless in their presence. Humility was found when I came to the end of myself and I saw that supernatural deliverance would be the only option to meet the challenge.

This was not the first round of rough times for our family and even with that history behind us, there is no “getting used to” the pain. However, the process did provide the experience that revealed to me, “As for God, His way is perfect.” My surrendered humanity understands this Scripture now and it has become my anchor within the storms. This scripture revives my soul when it becomes doused with doubt and allows me to rise as I'm strengthened by its truth. I now rest and find comfort in the bosom of its boast: “As for God, His way is perfect.” Because I have found that His way, not my way, truly ends up perfect.

Until I knew the Lord in a personal way, and watched how He worked within my circumstances, there was a wrestle in the wait and a fight in the frustration. If we don't know Him we may blame Him, accuse Him, or even deny Him. There is no doubt that the pain presses the flesh and tempts it to curl it’s fist toward Heaven. But when you have walked through some things, and look back to see what He has accomplished within them, you too may humbly agree, “As for God, His way is perfect.”

I have found Him there with me, every step of the way. Waiting, delighted, and ready to minister to my soul. He adorns me with grace to endure and lavishes me with promises that prop up my soul. I am helped by my great Helper while I wait on Him to do what He does that is perfect. I do not lack because my Heavenly Father does not lie.

It will never mean that in that place you will be comfortable or fully informed. You may be raw with pain and could be moving one literal step at a time. These moments are not easy for our flesh and they are a test for our faith. But when there is a surrender, and Christ girds your faith and comforts your soul, you will see it: this process that He has for you, is perfect. This word perfect in the Hebrew means whole, blameless, without blemish—something that our humanity cannot fully grasp in the doings of our God. The Lord will not leave anything untouched and will work multiple things out at the same time despite us seeing it at the moment. He will do things perfect. There may be things you want yet the Lord knows what we need. He always goes before us and may be clearing a way that we can't see to keep us safe. There is a timing for things and a way of putting all pieces in play so that there is nothing missing. And when He is done, you will see that His way, His method of doing things, His process, and His goal, is perfect.

The Lord loves you and longs for you to lean on Him in a way that you have not tried yet. He is there waiting to answer the call of your heart and carry the burden on your back. Jesus is a faithful friend and righteous Redeemer. He is close so that He can comfort you, and steadfast to secure your soul. Hard times are not easy, hence the word hard. Yet with Christ, we will make it through and find out how His way of doing things really is perfect.

My Portion

"The Lord is my portion says my soul; Therefore I will hope in him."
Lamentations 3:24

I have sung songs and quoted scriptures about the Lord being "my portion" and until now, never knew what it meant. In looking up the Hebrew translation of this word and studying the context in which this word is found, I was halted by its truth.

My family is in a great time of hardship. We are in the midst of a life-altering event and it has been surrounded by difficulty, touched with discouragement, and tested with doubt. And in this "moment", I have been presented yet again, with : "The Lord is my portion..."

In the Bible, a portion could be a portion of food, a tract of land, or a spiritual blessing based on the definition in the Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of Old and New Testament words. All these things could be narrowed down to one word: provision. The Levites were one of the twelve tribes of Israel and they were the only tribe not allotted an inheritance (Deuteronomy 18:1-2). Instead, the tribe of Levi were to be ministers in the house of God and rely on the Lord for their "portion". As the people of Israel would obey God by bringing their tithe , or a tenth of their portion to the house of God, the Lord would allow part of that to go to the Levites for their provision, or needs. The Levites had to wait on the Lord and because of it, the living God was their portion. They did not have the things or lifestyle that the others had. Instead, the Lord became their everything.

In our most recent trial, my family has been put in a place where we are facing things much bigger than ourselves. This situation hasn't been days or even a few weeks but getting close to a year. Yet in the midst of such lack, we have looked to the Lord alone for deliverance and He has become our portion.  In the midst of our "famine", we are feasting; and despite our sorrows, we are full of joy. Jesus has never failed us whether it is through comfort, encouragement, or food on the table. If our car broke down, He made a way and if a child got sick, He provided help despite our current circumstances. Praise unto God has become our response to anything and everything that has tried to tempt us away from it. The Lord's beauty unfolded in alignment with His word has become awesome to see manifested off the pages of Scripture. Watching the Lord be who He is as our "portion", has caused a renewing of the mind, a fortified faith, and an unquenchable unction to know Him more.

The temporal things, the touch of this world, the weight of material objects, have diminished in their influence and have lost their allure. When the Lord is given room to perform, their is no other room left for anything else to be entertained. My family cannot be moved from our trust in Him as we are safeguarded in such shelter. We are abounding and free in the loving arms of Christ and we are celebrating not shrinking back from the giants that are in the land. There is no battle that belongs to us and no acts to perform for His grace. Jesus moves on behalf of His children in ways that surmount our prayers. We are in held in the hands of God's mercy and because of it, we are at peace. I cannot thank the Lord enough for allowing our family to be put in this place to discover that He is our portion.

 

love,

DeAnna

 

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Today, I Rejoice- a Poem of Praise

I've been physically sick for four months. Despite the tests, no one can give me answers. Ethan's legs are showing more weakness lately. It's as if his Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy diagnosis chases him and catches his heel more often than not lately. We have another situation that needs divine intervention and then Monday night, after ministering at the Recovery House for Addicted Mothers, my transmission goes out.

At first glance, none of this is good. As I was spending time with the Lord and going over our situation, I ended up thanking Him. It wasn't like a dead process that I have walked through before with words that betrayed what my heart held. Those were the moments where I faked my "gratitude" and uttered in the midst of the pain, "Thank you Lord for this trial..." when I wasn't thankful at all. But things have changed. Serious moments have come and gone. Desperate situations where no answer was in the "works" and provision was lost in the famine that seemed insatiable in our lives. I beheld moments of death that blossomed to life and no human could take credit for it. Evidence had been established and was being continuously built on the Rock of our salvation and no one could take it from me. Things were beyond those many times before and this time, an un-contained smile came through as I reflected on our situation. I stopped praying about it and began to praise Jesus for it.It was an overwhelming response that burst from the inside past the petitions. The Spirit of the Living God was excited and caused my soul to be in submission while the celebration ensued.There was more to be enjoyed in the reflection of all my family and I had been through the last few years and are going through now. And in this delight that I held within my soul, these words came out...

 

Without my tests, I wouldn't have any testimony                                         without my hardships, I wouldn't know hope                                                           without affliction, I wouldn't know your assurance                                    

Without silence, I would never rejoice at your sound                                    without pain, I would not be grateful for your presence                                without trials, I could never understand triumphs

Without persecution, I would not have searched for your Promises                without resistance, I would never know your rest                                           without mockings, I could never comprehend meekness

Without my valleys, I would never has seen through your vision              without adversity, I would have never known how you answer              without purging, I would never have realized your perfection

 

Without a cause, you could have no effect.

 

So Jesus, continue to do the work that you have begun in me. Complete it for your glory. For today, I rejoice in  my sufferings. I have seen your face through all of them and you have become the delight in my heart. May I remain in you always. For I soar on your strength and carry on in your comfort. I am not forgotten but known by Him who is Faithful.

I   Am   Blessed.

 

by DeAnna Thieme

copyright 2014

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I have learned to love these moments and am so thankful that they were designed just for me. I trust Him. Hardship is not fun and it is not easy. It is what is produced within them that causes the rejoicing. I rejoice that I am loved by the Lord and that I have a living hope in Christ Jesus.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^a whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

May you be encouraged in the Lord today!

Love,

DeAnna

 

Content to be His

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."  Philippians 4:11-12

My family and I continue on, persevering in this new testing of our faith. Odds continue to stack against us and time is running at a feverish speed. My flesh has been tempted to fixate on the circumstances which invites my mind to begin its own journey toward vain imaginations.  I knew that I was going too far because I no longer felt the Lord's peace but only the world's pressures. I went to the Lord with all that was on my heart and He gently said, 

"Coveteousness is opposite of Contentment"

I needed some teaching, some correction so that a better direction would be my destination. It's easy in trials and affliction to focus on those things that press us and cause discomfort, instead of those things that promise us, that He is there. That's the flesh or sin nature in us, or in this case, the flesh in me. What I had to know was the full meaning of this word "covetousness" that God spoke to me.

Covetousness means to "fix the desire upon, lust after, long for" and I realized that there is no peace in that behavior and the heart motive was not good.

Yes, things were a tough at the time, but were my family and I really in need? I have seen so many in worse situations and others doing far better than us but lacking joy, peace, and hope. I had to realize that I have everything that I need because of the gift of grace that I have received through faith in Christ Jesus. I am abounding, I am rich because I have the Lord's presence in my life.

I think about the great privilege to be called a child of God and how my Lord has never failed me. I recounted the goodness that goes before Him and the power that His hand wields. I recall the times that we were delivered, miraculously, and ministered to intentionally. This Jesus has been everything and in that knowledge, I can be content. There was no need for me to be covetous or fixing my desire on things that don't live. There was no reason to lust after things that cannot love. Jesus covers both those areas and while I live, I need His love.

I was encouraged and at peace knowing with Christ, I was content to be His.

 

 

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It's Coming... Suddenly

God's Goodness Awaits

"Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!" Psalm 31:19

It started pouring out of nowhere fifteen minutes before school let out. Ethan had no jacket and an impending 1 mile ride home on his scooter. My older son went to get him on his bike and was stuck in the sudden down pour. I called my son's cell phone and said, "Let me try and call around to see if I can find Ethan a ride. Then you can bike home quicker..." my other phone rang and it was my husband. I answered, "Let me call you back, I'm trying to work out a ride for Ethan. Little Dirk is on the other phone..." my husband interrupts and says, "I'm on my way home, I'm about fifteen minutes away." I tell you, my husband always has a 9-12 hour shift. Him being able to come home "early" (8 hour day), is a miracle. This is God's goodness.

God's goodness prevails and persists. Despite our trials and circumstances and our fluctuating faith, God's goodness never changes. His goodness awaits us not just in Heaven but on earth. God was working that whole day out for my family without any planning, foreknowledge, or utterance of prayer on our side of things. You see, the same way we plan, purchase, and package a gift for a loved one is the same thing that the Lord does concerning His goodness towards us. When we trust the Lord before the sons of men ABOVE everything/everyone else, He sees that, and takes it into account. He is a God of recompense and His reward is always in His hand.

Jesus tells us that we will have troubles, and surely we do. However, when we trust Him in those troubles, He arises and rewards such faith. The Lord loves us so well that He likes others to see the goodness He has for us revealed that they too would realize such goodness awaits them too. 

This scripture says that God's goodness is being "laid up" or stored away and not just any "goodness" but intentional goodness. This scripture reveals that God is not just storing His goodness for opportune moments, but has "wrought" such things just for us that fear Him.

Wrought means to exert oneself for a purpose; to put forth effort for the attainment of an object; to labor. It means to do so systematically or habitually.

Linger with this truth:

The Creator of Heaven and Earth, the Sustainer of life Himself, is laboring, putting forth effort and exerting Himself for the goodness that He has uniquely created for each and every one of us that fears Him! He loves us so much, that He is putting all of Himself in the preparation, storing, and bestowing of His goodness- systematically and habitually. His imprint, His heart, and His devotion to us is all reflected in the goodness that is being laid up for us just so we can recognize such love and intention from Him as we experience it even in the sight of men on earth. 

I encourage you, despite what you're going through, when I focus on God's goodness, I'm swept away into the eternity that has been placed in my heart. I am no longer fettered to the conditions that surround me as I realize the absolute love that comes from such a faithful God. God's goodness is abundant, great, enduring, satisfying and universal. His goodness is manifested in material blessings, like Daddy coming home early in time to give a ride in the rain, spiritual blessings, and the most wonderful blessing of being forgiven of our sins through Christ Jesus.

Our part is to always rejoice in this goodness, remember this goodness and be satisfied with this goodness. Brethren, God's goodness is unequivocal. I encourage you today, recount God's goodness in your life thus far. Have you received forgiveness of your sins through faith in Christ; your sin debt paid? Have you not been given the Helper- the Spirit of Truth to help you conform to be like Christ and be with you always? Can you see? Can you hear, walk and talk? Has the rain come? Has the sun every failed to rise or has the moon not been there to guide at night? Has the bird stopped it's song? Have you had no prayer answered? Has God's providence not been there despite us noticing? There's so much to God's goodness let us rejoice in it, remember it, and be satisfied while we wait, in faith, for even more of it to be revealed!

"Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear, revere, and worship You, goodness which You have wrought for those who trust and take refuge in You before the sons of men!" Amplified 

My Ziklag Moment

Today, began rough.  My existing set of circumstances braided themselves together in a strong force of declaration.  I saw them, I felt them, and my hands were once again, helpless to change them.  The emotion of it all started to woo my mind to meditate on them.  I felt weary and frustrated.  I kept arresting my flesh in this crazy battle.  "Lord I'm frustrated, but I trust you in all things"  "Lord I'm so tired of this but you always make a way" "Lord I can do nothing and you see it all but you do all things and nothing is impossible with you"  Again, the situations would rise up and emotion would bubble threatening to render my defeated.  I refused to let my flesh succumb to its desire and sought God's face through scripture.  I was in Ziklag and only God could help me.

" ³ When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. ⁴ So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. ⁵ David’s two wives had been captured—Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. ⁶ David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God."

There are times where we have no strength left, when we have wept all those tears and have exhausted ourselves.  But that is only the flesh or the limitation of our humanity.  I love that when we believe, we don't have to stay there or even go there.  I thought of calling some sisters for prayer and that's okay to do, we are one family.  But I wanted to do something different, stretch my faith and be taught by God how to encourage myself in the Lord. Scripture began coming to my mind, Philipians 4:13, 2 corinthians 4:7-9, 2 corinthians 12:9-10 etc. I love Him and I trust Him.  He's gotten me through so many heavy times and I began to tell my flesh "No! you will not respond and you will not get loud" and I began to indulge my spirit with praise in recounting what my God has done for me.  I needed to go beyond my humanity and I needed to progress.  I refused to settle for just an "okay" day or by tonight I can say "well I made it through this one"  I'm not an orphaned beggar that has to just exist.  No, I'm a daughter of the King and I knew I had access to more than that.

We must pursue the promises that God has for us in those impossible moments. Our faith must propel us and encouraging ourselves in His everlasting evident goodness, takes us to that place. David consulted God because He knew by experience that his God has always been faithful and trustworthy in times past. David knew where his "help" came from.

^"18 David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. ¹⁹ Nothing was missing: young or old, boy or girl, plunder or anything else they had taken. David brought everything back. "

It doesn't matter how bad my situation or your situation may look.

^"26 When David reached Ziklag, he sent some of the plunder to the elders of Judah, who were his friends, saying, “Here is a gift for you from the plunder of the LORD’s enemies.” "

I don't know what God's going to do on my behalf, but I trust Him.  In this moment of supernatural trust and thanksgiving, I give to you, my friends, plunder- great riches in the understanding of God's faithfulness.  Encourage yourselves in His goodness and in the fact that we will see it in the land of the living (psalm 27).  Gives thanks during the pain that you are alive today and saved by His grace.  Take your harsh circumstances and rejoice in spirit and in truth, that you'll trust God like David did in Ziklag.  Seek God's face and love Him through it.  

 

Love

your sister in Christ 

Speaking on Sacrifices

After a good walk around the track, I wanted to take a few moments alone to listen for God's voice. I spotted a backless stone bench and decided to lay upon it in expecation of some new revelation.

The stone was thick and cold underneath me , and as I lay there, the open construction left me feeling very vulnerable.  I felt very much like a sacrafice.

I had to ask myself a question and therefore, pose it to the Lord, "Lord, am I being a living sacrifice unto you?"  Sacrifice is such a deep word and it commands respect. 

How far will I go? Will I make the journey to "the mountain" and persevere in my walk of faith?  Will I load my donkey with things that are necessary like the Word?  Will I load myself upon it, all of me, everything of me...my heart, soul and mind?  Will I be willing to sacrifice my reputation on the journey and look "foolish" to the world?  Will I stay on the narrow path of righteousness when compromise calls? 

"  ⁷ But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in^[a] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. ¹⁰ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so somehow attaining, to the resurrection from the dead.

 ¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

philipians 3:7-14

Love

DeAnna

 

The Mindset Of A Sparrow

I've learned  a lot from the birds of the air these last few years.  And Jesus, being such a wise and gentle teacher, used the best illustrations in His lessons for us to learn from.

As Christians, our mind is to be like Christ, yet our old nature and our old habits, known as our flesh, loves to wage war with the new spirit living inside of us.  The Spirit of God dictates new thoughts, new behaviors and new rules.  In following the Spirit, there comes such reward and blessing; growth and change.  Yet living in the world, many of us find it easier to get caught in the momentum of it, especially when it comes to provision.

Having faith in God's provision for you when all seems lost, is not an easy task at first. The only way you can ever see Him reveal His providing measure, is to trust Him- completely.  The sparrows have taught me much in this area, especially when you are being stripped of everything.  Jesus said :

"Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they? " Matthew 6:26

I see these sparrows awaken every morning outside our windows. Many gather and pick up something off the ground in our back yard. Many more come and they too get their fill.  I've never looked to see what it is they pick up as I marvel in their being fed.  As I open up the windows and walk down the side walk, even in rain I hear their bird song. Then I watch them, after they've rested, been fed, sing their songs, they take flight.  I look at them fly away in such purpose.  How free they are to not worry and be filled to a point of soaring! All from the hand of such a mighty and generous God.

I have become like the sparrows and as the Lord has been doing a heart work in me for a few years, my mindset has become like theirs.  The hand of God pouring out His provision on my family lately is nothing short of miraculous.  I've had a hard time comprehending such a generous God who has provided in every area of our lives, to the penny knowing how much we needed, every single time. I try and catch my breath as I stand in awe of His faitfhulness. I'm full with His love and need nothing else as I continue on this journey of faith I've been asked to accompany Him on.  I am free and no longer care for the things I had accumulated through the years nor the influences that surround me.  There is a freedom in trusting Him, in all areas that allows this peaceful presence that I never knew possible amongst pain, disappointment, betrayal, or seemingly hopeless situations.  I know Him, this beloved of mine who is faithful and moves in creative strokes and passionate performances.

There is such a simplicity He is wanting us to grasp in order to be really free in Him.  We need to trust Him completely in order to fly high, high and higher. It's here that we soar above our circumstances without feeling the pressure of them. It's this place of elevation where I am not tied to those things that in the past have easily weighed me down and anchored me to a limited range. I'm at peace, determined to find what He is faithful to offer me; His perfection provision at the proper time. 

"These all look to you to give them their food at the proper time.  When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisified with good things." Psalm 104:27-28

 

Love

DeAnna 

The God of the Hills and the Valleys

" And there came a man of God, and spake unto the king of Israel, and said, 'Thus saith the Lord, because the Syrians have said, 'The Lord is God of the hills, but He is not the God of the Valleys', therefore will I deliver all this great multitude into thine hand, and ye shall know that I am the Lord'."

1kings 20:28

There is something about hills and valleys when you serve the living God.  My valleys used to overwhelm me until I saw the growth that came from them.  In the valley is where the run off comes and where the green bursts of life are evident. Oh, how I love my valleys.

Yes, it is so much easier to be on the hill, the mountain top, and praise God for all that He is yet another thing altogether to do the same when you are dwelling in the valley.

It's in the valley you must gather God's Word to surround you; an arsenal of safe keeping. It's in my valley that I must remind myself that inasmuch as this is difficult and seemingly slow moving, I've been here before.  It's in the valley of your circumstances that many in the world, and even some Christians, may have the limited mindset of the Syrians in the above Scripture.  They would speak out of their mouths : "surely He is the God of only the hills.  This God surely can't be in the valley." 

It's in our valleys we must put down our flesh, our finite outlook, and cry out in praise and thanksgiving for the victory on the horizon.  It's in these moments of encroaching despair or desolation that I must be confident trusting in my God knowing He will perform.

When will we cast off worldly thinking or influence? Do we have no knowledge or experience with the God of Heaven?  When will we see and know that our God is good?  Has He ever left our situations undone or performed in mediocrity?  When will we persevere past all of the negative speaking and boldly say, "wait and see what my God is going to do for me!"  Shall we not prophecy from what we know about the Nature of our God? Shall we not encourage ourselves in His overwhelming love?  We must, in the deepest parts of our soul and all that is within us, trust in the God of the valley, Our Deliverer, Our Beloved.

I hear it, the lies, the law, the facts as stated.  I see it, the examples, the reality, the forebearing future for this situation.  I hear the Syrians and their cry is loud, their evidence established.  Yet there He is, my God.  I see Him, waiting to be trusted once again.  He is enormous over my situation, bigger than life itself.  I know Him, He is poised my God of the impossible.  I've spoken it out loud, in the confidence I know in the face of unbelievers and mockers. By God's grace, I shall not shrink back. How they underestimate you O God, but I know you.  I wait on Him. My Ancient of Days, my Everlasting God and shout out aloud in praise and anticipation. 

Behold, He makes all things new.  May we embrace the new growth that is about the come from our valley!