Life Continues, And God IS Faithful

I love how I read a devotional; knowing I've read it before, but this time something different speaks to my heart than it did this time last year.

I enjoyed Sarah Youngs, "Jesus Calling" devotional so much last year, that I decided instead of getting a different one, I would re-read the one I had.

Last years highlights, while great, spoke nothing to my heart this year; but other words penetrated deep.  So deep, I sensed I was to share it with you.

I pray these words touch your heart and bring comfort to your soul, as they have mine.  (The words in bold specifically spoke to my heart.)

KEEP WALKING with Me along the path I have chosen for you.  Your desire to live close to Me is a delight to My heart.  I could instantly grant you the spiritual riches you desire, but that is not My way for you. Together we will forge a pathway up to the high mountain.  The journey is arduous at times, and you are weak.  Someday you will dance light footed on the high peaks; but for now, your walk is often plodding and heavy.  All I require of you is to take the next step, clinging to My hand for strength and direction.  Though the path is difficult and the scenery dull at the moment, there are sparkling surprises just around the bend.  Stay on the path I have selected for you.  It is truly the path of Life.


Psalm 37: 23-24, "If the Lord delights in a man's way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand."


Psalm 16:11, "You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."


I stumbled this week.

Raising two special needs children, medication changes, melt downs, husband's work and school schedule, one car and he has it to save gas trips leaves me "stuck" day after day, taking care of sick puppies (and well), not to mention juggling all the bills to avoid disconnects and managing the rest of the house . . . . . and then throw in a car break down at Wal-Mart at 5:30 p.m in the heat of the day, and I lost it.


I was ready to quit. Not give up on God; but I didn't think "life" was worth "doing good" and making the right choices, just to have to keep dealing with one trial after another, after another, after another.

I wanted a drink so bad, just to escape the reality of it all.

Yes, I know, the reality would have still been there when the "drunkenness was over," you don't have to tell me that, I lived it for too many years.  I'm just saying where I was at the moment.

I also begged for death.  "Let someone else 'deal' and have a life like this, I don't want it.  You picked the wrong gal to carry this load, God.  I am just not strong enough."  (Yes, that's what I said.)

Nonetheless, God didn't take me home.

I didn't drink.

And I still woke the next day.

Chris got up and rode the bus to work/class and life continued.

Since then, the Lord has continued to be faithful with two friends calling to encourage a weary heart; a blessing of help with some major bills and a blessing of $50 which helped cover some of the cost of the car repairs.

2 Timothy 2:13, says it best, " If we are faithless, He will remain faithful, for He cannot disown Himself."

He is faithful my friend.  He is faithful.  Oh to have a heart that never doubts, never waivers and is always steadfast!

This song has been continual on my mind:  I'm Trading My Sorrows!

Thanks for stopping by this week.

My daughter, son-in-law, and his family will be here week after next.  Please be praying for their travel safety!  I can't wait to see them and meet the new members of our family!

Pure Sweetness

If you didn't read yesterday's post, then this will not make sense to you; so you might want to check it out before reading on.

God has always amazed me in His impeccable timing.  Not a "caught me by surprise" amazement, but an aweness amazement.

Last week, a friend of mine gave me the One Year Women's Devotional.  I had wanted to purchase this book, but God clearly told me, "No."  Receiving it from such a special friend, that had no idea I even desired the book, was a sweet nugget from my Heavenly Father.  Later that evening, when I opened to the first devotional, my mouth dropped.  Just days before I had shared how God revealed to me that I was not loving unconditionally.  He showed me that I have not been loving through disappointment.  So I put out a plea from readers and friends through facebook, to share with me how they (you) have learned to love through disappointment.  I am still putting together a lot of facts, opinions, and personal revelations in regards to loving unconditionally and can not wait to share it all with you.  (You may click here to read that post if you'd like.)

I share that detail because when I opened the book, the first devotional was titled, "Hope Does Not Disappoint."  HOW COOL IS THAT!?!  I immediately emailed my friend to ask if she knew (thinking maybe that is why she gave it to me).  Her response came back in all caps, "OH MY WORD, NO!"  I noticed the devotional begins on a Monday, so I waited to start it so I would not have to keep up with what day I read yesterday! 

God is confirming day after day that I am indeed hearing from Him.

In fact, He did it again this very morning.

After sharing with you the struggles I am facing with depression, this mornings scriptures were right on target.

In the Jesus Calling devotional I use daily, I read, "Don't fall into the trap of being constantly on the go.  Many, many things people do in My Name have no value in My Kingdom.  To avoid doing meaningless works, stay in continual communication with Me." 

God sweetly whispered, "You are on the right track, Stacey."

Then I read the reading from the One Year devotional.  The scriptures come from Psalm 42:5 & 11 (but I would like to encourage you to read all of Psalm 42).  (I use the Holman Christian Standard Bible for my daily readings.)

Psalm 42:5, "Why am I so depressed?  Why this turmoil within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God.^"

Psalm 42:11, "Why am I so depressed?  Why this turmoil within me?  Put your hope in God, for I will still praise Him, my Savior and my God.^"

Again, God's timing!  If I had started the devotional in the middle of the week; none of this would have impacted this heart like it did this day. 

The timing was God's timing. 

The devotional was given, when God wanted me to have it. 

I started it when God wanted me to start it, so the devotionals could be read that needed to be read to encourage a weary heart.

As I am typing, the words, "Oh How He Loves You And Me," comes to mind.

Pure sweetness.

Watching Life Unfold

I left this morning in a foul mood. 

The kids are singing in "big church" tomorrow night.  The only type pants Christopher wears are pants with elastic in them.  I hadn't been able to find ANY pants with elastic except for jogging suits; so that is what his wardrobe consists of; and shorts (with elastic) of course.  Kaitlyn's shoes are stained and wearing thin and with her sensory problems increasing; finding shoes and socks she can wear without an emotional break down is a miracle!  She's needed shoes desperately but I was hoping to stretch them out till Christmas . . . no such luck.

After running into Target and finding no pants or shoes in our price range; we made the dreaded run to Wal-Mart.  My frustration was mounting and the "Why's" and "Woe is me's" began to fill my mind.  Discontentment set it.

But . . . . God.

It was then, as I was driving west on Nine Mile Road, heading to Wal-Mart on Hwy 29 that I thought, "Why am I going to Wal-Mart on Hwy 29?  I always go to the Wal-Mart on Creighton?"  Instantly and out of the blue, the Lord reminded me of my prayer in my journal this morning.  It read, "Lord, please let me see Paula today.  It's cold, and you told me to give her (a particular coat that had been donated to Nothing Lost Outreach through a friend) that coat.  Please let me see her.  Please." 

I told Kayla (she was with me) about it and said, "Kayla, I have to find her today.  I don't know where she is and I've only seen her outside of NLO one time.  Lord, please let me see her." 

As you can imagine, my heart leapt with joy as I pulled into the turning lane on Nine Mile Road to turn left on Old Palafox as the thin, frail woman I know as Paula, began walking towards my car wearing only a thin coat with a beanie hat.

Once again, God had nailed it.  He had Paula on my heart this morning, strong enough to journal about it; then used my running around (in the flesh) to bring me back to the Cross . . . to show His mighty hand!  He provided for Paula, through a friend that gave in obedience.  Hallelujah! 

God showed me I was getting all worked up about something that doesn't matter.  ". . . . . . stop trying to be what everyone else wants you to be.  Those children are singing to Me and they could care less what they are wearing; so you shouldn't either." 

I am reminded of my reading this morning in Sarah Young's, "Jesus Calling" devotional.  It reads:

LINGER IN MY PRESENCE A WHILE.  Rein in your impulses to plunge into the day's activities.  Beginning your day along with Me is essential preparation for success.  A great athlete takes time to prepare himself mentally for the feat ahead of him before he moves a muscle.  Similarly, your time of being still in My Presence equips you for the day ahead of you.  Only I know what will happen to you this day.  I have arranged the events you will encounter as you go along your way.  If you are not adequately equipped for the journey, you will grow weary and lose heart.  Relax with Me while I ready you for action.

Ephesians 2:30, "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."

Hebrews 12:3, "Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."

Lord forgive me of my jealous heart and "do right" attitude.  Thank you for showing yourself to me today; thank you for my friend that was obedient to what YOU put on her heart in order to provide for Paula.  Thank you for allowing me to be on the sidelines and watch it all unfold.  Lord, I thank you for opening my eyes and bringing me back to the cross.  I love you, Lord.  I trust you.  Amen.

Paula told me she'd definitely be at NLO tomorrow because it is her birthday (Sunday, October 30th).  We will be celebrating at NLO with a birthday cake (no, she has no clue).  I wonder how long it has been since her birthday was celebrated?  She will be 48.  Please pray for Paula today.

Psalm 118:24, "This is the day the LORD has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it."

Walking, In The Light

Just a quick note about how important detail is to my God.

This morning's reading from "Jesus Calling," referred to judging.  NOT just about being judgemental towards others, but to ourselves.  I had never thought about it like that; but sometimes we really can be our worse critics! 

I was reminded the purpose of why I was created, to KNOW Him and to LIVE in rich communication with Him.  That by me continually judging and being self critical, I am putting a hold on what He can do! 

One of the scripture readings from this morning came from . . . . oh my goodness.  This very second, when I went to double check the scripture reference, I realized, while I read the devotion for today, I read and studied the scriptures for TOMORROW!

This is even "WOWER" than I thought!  See, the scripture reference I read is from Psalm 89:15, "Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O Lord."

The REASON this is so WOW is because of our mail.  Yes, our mail.  I forgot to check it last night.  When my husband came in from taking Kaitlyn to school this morning, he had a hand full of mail.  In it was a card from a friend.  Inside the card was a card.  It read, "I will walk with You, Lord, through the enemy's attack, knowing that YOUR LIGHT on my path signals my certain victory."  (Stormie Omartian). 

OH MY GOSH!  DO YOU GET IT?!  God purposely led me to read the wrong (but correct) scripture for today, He purposely let me forget to get my mail (so I would read it this morning WITH the WRONG scripture!)  OH MY GOODNESS!

As I pause and take it all in, because literally as I've been typing the Lord revealed this all to me, I am overwhelmed with emotion as to how much my God loves me.  I don't say that arrogantly, but thankfully. 

We are going through a tough time.  We are months away from losing, having to sell our home.  I've shared this with very few.   After sharing this with my friend, weight loss mentor, and spiritual trainer (I bet she didn't know she was all that! lol) I received a link to this web site.  Tears flowed as the Lord spoke to my heart and showed Himself to me.  When people would ask me how I am, my answer, "I'm waiting on my ram." 

Again, just yesterday, a friend called me.  She had been out of town.  She began to share with me how God had put me on her heart all week.  The more she prayed for me, the more the Lord brought to mind Abraham and Isaac (if you read the link to the web site  you should be covered in awe right now!  So if you didn't read it, go read it now!).  She said, "Stacey, pray that God would show you step by step, not the entire picture.  Do what Abraham did with Isaac.  Abraham trusted God each step of the way.  Abraham didn't know the end of the store, but He knew to take the next step." 

All I can do is sigh in aweness and comfort right now.  I am out of words.  Speechless. 

I will end in this.  I don't know what it is you are going through, but what I do know is that it is real.  No one else 'might not get it,' it might seem petty to some and unbelievable to others, but to you it is real.  May I encourage you today to know that you are valuable.  You are precious.  Nothing you are going through has caught Him by surprise.  He has a plan.  If something is important to you, I can assure you, it is important to Him.

One of my favorite scriptures; one the Lord used to promote healing through the first two years of sobriety is Genesis 50:20.  He has reminded me of this scripture three times this week (and it's only Tuesday!). 

Genesis 50:20 says, "What others meant for evil against you, God means it for good, to bring about His glory."  (That is my translation . . . so please look it up for yourself.)  In recent years, the Lord revealed to me verse 21 of that same chapter.  It reads, "I will provide for you and your little ones."

Seek His face.  Walk in His light.  Ask Him to reveal Himself to you this very moment.  I did this morning, and as you can see, He showed up.

Jeremiah 29:13, "You will find me, when you seek me with all your heart."

Continuing, to Walk in Victory,

Stacey