When I colored this picture, I loved that FAITH was the foundation for: studying God’s Word, the challenged/convicted/changed heart and then living out and shining what we claim to believe – so that others experience Christ. Max Lucado said, “Faith is trusting what the eye CAN’T see….Eyes see storms, Faith sees Noah’s rainbow.” Love this!!!
Was very blessed to have the older three back from camp. Goodness they talked and talked about how their lives were changed and how much they saw the Lord working in their lives. I love talking to my kids and seeing them be challenged and have opportunities to fail and succeed so they know how to respond to difficulties and challenges that they will face in life. I am so thankful for their sweet friends and leaders who pour into them all the time. What a blessing!
So blessed yesterday. Got to eat lunch and celebrate with Gene after his last Chemo treatment. He tells me he’ll be up there evert once and awhile… But, have been so blessed by he and Gloria. Such Warriors and encouragers to me and great huggers and laughers! Just been a blessing to get to know them.
I have been waiting on a few things to arrive and get done. I was super pumped about getting the cards to just put out wherever. And we had ordered these pink bracelets mainly for the soccer girls…but also got a few extras. Pink is my soccer coaching color. My brother Mike was super sweet to design and order the grey bracelets as well-fits more with brain cancer. We are trying to be able to get these to people as we can. So if you see us, or remind us – would love to give you one!
Scott has been super good to be my walking partner at night. He and I walk around our loop and really just try to decompress about so much stuff! I am thankful for the time, the sunsets, the breeze, the energy and the time with him and whoever else decides to join us! One of my sweet high school players got this FIERCE shirt for me on her vacation. Love it -right color and right message! Thanks Rachel Studdard!
I am so thankful when I get up in the morning and everyday….I mean everyday…the Lord reminds me of all the battles the Israelites were in, how many warriors, arrows, shields and victories and I’m thinking Lord you could’ve put me anywhere you wanted in your WORD during this journey and you put me in your perfect spot in your perfect book. Seriously, could God be any better? I’ll answer for you, no.
To read about how David had to battle against King Saul and then the Philistines in 1 Chronicles 11-14 is amazing. Seriously you should look at these passages. The perfect warriors were assembled, with the perfect skills, waiting on David’s commands and then stepping out to battle completely confident in what the Lord would do.
12:20 When David went to Ziklag, these were the men of Manasseh who defected to him: Adnah, Jozabad, Jediael, Michael, Jozabad, Elihu and Zillethai, leaders of units of a thousand in Manasseh. 21 They helped David against raiding bands, for all of them were brave warriors, and they were commanders in his army. 22 Day after day men came to help David, until he had a great army, like the army of God.[b]
THE ARMY OF GOD! What a picture!
It goes on to say in Chapter 14
13 Once more the Philistines raided the valley; 14 so David inquired of God again, and God answered him, “Do not go directly after them, but circle around them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. 15 As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move out to battle, because that will mean God has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” 16 So David did as God commanded him, and they struck down the Philistine army, all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.
David and his men were prepared to go where the Lord led them. God promised to lead them and to strike down the army. And David believed God – he LIVED out HIS FAITH in very real and hard battles. I read and honestly was trying to do the quick math, never my strong suite in school but, he assembled some 350,000 soldiers to battle – seems big enough, right? YET GOD provided the first strike – so that the men would know and be able to say GOD DID IT. My favorite words…remember?? BUT GOD….
As I moved to the end of Acts Paul was in Rome proclaiming truth to the Jewish leaders and most important people in Rome.
23 They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus. 24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe.
While David battled nations, Paul battled hard hearts. Unable and unwilling to see what God was doing right in front of them. For Paul’s listeners, choosing to believe would mean a changed way of living, that would be questioned and frowned upon. They spent too much time going to others for their opinions, instead of sitting and going to the Lord himself and asking Him – show me if this is real?
The passage goes on to say this:
25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: “The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet:
26 “‘Go to this people and say,
“You will be ever hearing but never understanding;
you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.”
27 For this people’s heart has become calloused;
they hardly hear with their ears,
and they have closed their eyes.
Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’[a]
28 “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!” [29] [b]
Paul loved the Jewish people, he was a Jew. He desired for HIS people, God’s people, to understand and know Jesus as their Messiah. But, they struggled with this Truth. The kingdom Jesus brought was different than what they expected and THIS surely wasn’t what God was talking about. Their hearts became hard and they never heard a word or Truth. Paul spent the rest of his ministry to the Gentile people. That’s me! Paul didn’t leave town, he lived out his faith each and everyday by proclaiming what God had done in his life.
30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!
As I read this passage, I thought about Paul’s passion and I cried. He so desired people to find Jesus, he has been in jail, beaten, shipwrecked, spit on and more terrible things. All of this SO THAT people would hear the TRUTH. I wept because people rejected Christ and what He did for them. I wept because the truth is, I asked for the Lord to use me however…and this was his journey for me…and yet, there will be those who will hear all the Lord is doing in my life and CHOOSE to reject Him and harden their hearts. That is incredibly heart breaking for me. Because we all will have a journey to take. Without Jesus I would be a stinking mess. I would be hopeless and joyless. It’s only because of Christ that I have the Faith to stand and I walk forward without Fear.
If you were to be in a battle…how would you respond? Goodness the Lord desires to battle with you and for you and is ready waiting for you to come to Him and ASK. The more we spend time together, the more in love with my Savior I am. Let me encourage you, it’s never too late. Strap on the shield of faith get out those bow and arrows and get ready and be prepared to battle and even rest – because he will go before you and you won’t believe what he will accomplish in and through you! #hopewarrior
You guys have been so good to pray for me thank you warriors:
- Pray that these toxins are leaving my body everyday – don’t really want them hanging around
- Pray for continued opportunities to minister to people
- Pray that I can make a final decision about cutting my hair… probably going to do it:)
- Pray that I have continued strength and energy to minister and get ready to coach!
- Pray for the tumors to be shot down and out! My Angels are battling fiercely and doing an amazing job
- Pray that I can remember every request that I desire to pray for during treatment