Bold And Confident

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My young granddaughter taught the lesson. Mommy took her and brother to an indoor jumping place, filled with extreme activity, fun, laughter and challenge. There were many opportunities that took great courage for a 9 year old, but she wanted to push right past the comfort zone into the adventure awaiting the brave. Backing up to the ledge of the high platform, she inched her little heels to the edge. Quick glances over her shoulder proved the drop to be scary but the foam filled box would catch her thrill with no harm done. She had conquered the forward jump with little trembling, but desired the back jump enough to force herself beyond fear.

It was with great excitement that she returned home with the video to prove her accomplishment. I knew that she understood that she had conquered more than a jump. This day was no different than every other day where her Mom was the near-by voice coaching her to step into the dare of adventurous living. A dare to live fully alive facing all her fears.

The following night the lesson was there again through a kid’s movie. The shy and fearful elephant was challenged to “just do what you really love even when you are afraid and then the pleasure of the experience will take over. “ Sadie smiled commenting, “That’s just like me. That’s what I did. It’s true! Go elephant. Sing. Sing loud. You will love it.”

So once again I am blogging about breaking free from comfort living. Stepping beyond the fear. Pushing the ledge and living obedient lives. As we face a fear we gain courage that we can face the new one that is waiting around the corner. We can stand in the face of any fear knowing that God is coaching us along the way to trust Him in all things. I choose to listen to the voice of fear or His voice of truth.

“On the day I called, You answered me; And You made me bold and confident with [renewed] strength in my life.” Ps. 138:3

I want to live like my granddaughter, inching my heels to face my fears and jump into God’s best for me. I don’t want to sit on the sidelines coaching everyone else, but jumping when God says jump. Running when He says run. Climbing when He says climb.

What fear is holding you back persuading you to stay where you are? Have you become paralyzed in your fear? Have you lost your voice? Your confidence?

Call out to Him. He will answer and He will make you bold and confident.

Inch your little faith heels to the edge and trust Him. You may not be able to see the cushions below, but you can trust the One who is coaching you to move forward.

Peter didn’t foolishly just jump into the water, but first asked. At Jesus’ voice to join Him on the water walk, he jumped from the boat. He experienced a once in a lifetime thrill of obeying Jesus and taking those few miraculous steps on the water. He also learned that taking His eyes off of Jesus and looking into the storm, he was snatched by fear and began to sink. But Jesus was there to catch Him and take Him to the safety of the boat. In my opinion, Peter didn’t fail; he grew in many ways that day. I have never read of anyone else walking on water.

What might we be missing by not trusting?

“Trust in the Lord with all of your heart. Do not lean on your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” Prov. 3:5-6

Get Up And Go

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“Get up, let us go from here.” John 14:31

“Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” Acts 9:6

My Daddy had many little sayings that I grew up hearing. There is one I definitely identify with now, “My get up and go got up and went.” He used it when he was exhausted and felt he couldn’t go any further.

I hear his voice saying it when I find myself in a comfortable little hollow on the couch and can’t seem to convince my body to move into action. It’s the simplest of things as getting up to warm a cup of coffee or retrieving the printed document only steps away.

It may come from exhaustion but often times it is sheer laziness. Today, I have a clue of something much deeper going on. My soul, like a broken piano key, can easily become stuck in several settings.

1. Content. As in sitting in church with the people I know or always having dinner at the same place with best friends. Content to just stay where I am instead of putting out effort to move forward and change.

2. Ponder. Thinking things through. Stuck in the mind strategizing, planning and discerning if it is really God, instead of moving by the Spirit. Pondering too long leads to forgetting the last thing I heard.

3. Doubt and Fear. Considering how I will do it; how I will pay for it; how I will get from point A to point B. This one leads back to the first setting to just continue where it is comfortable.

Too much comfort becomes like tacky glue and excessive thinking nails our feet to the floor. Fear shouts loudly creating a barrier. Comfort can be deceptive because it feels peaceful, secure, and right. Pondering can feel like obedience because I am thinking, praying and meditating. Fear might be disguised as wisdom.

This morning’s devotion by Oswald Chambers caused a whirlwind within.

”Whenever God gives us His inspiration, suddenly taking the initiative becomes a moral issue—a matter of obedience. Then we must act to be obedient and not continue to lie down doing nothing. If we will arise and shine, drudgery will be divinely transformed.”

Obedience…Arise…Divinely transformed!

Filled And Satisfied

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When you look into the dictionary searching for the word, servant, my mom’s picture should be there. She loved serving God by serving her family, her neighbors, and her church. She served by cooking and blessing others with kindness. She ran her race well and was completely satisfied loving her husband and children, and anyone else that God put in her path. She wasn’t known for gourmet meals, but kindness. Eating at my mama’s table was an experience of love. She not only delighted in cooking a delicious meal, but serving the meal to whomever was around her table.

Until later years, we never ate from pots and pans on the stove-top. No, the table was filled with bowls and platters. Even when the pantry was bare and payday was several days away, there would always be a bowl full of beans in the center of the table. She took smaller servings making sure everyone had enough and then some. When your portions began to dwindle, she would lift a bowl and say, “Martha, it looks like you need some more beans. “ My favorite was to my brother in law. “Bob, you need some more yams.” After her death, we laughed at how he would take another serving because she said he needed more, but he hated little round candied yams. The sweet tea glass was never half full, because she was watching to be sure you would never run out. She was the servant of her table and she watched for your every need. Her definition of a good meal was when everyone left full and satisfied.

I think Jesus has a similar table rule. You can be certain that His table is always running over, because He is gracious, generous and bountiful. He gave all He had to give. There is never any lack with Him. He’s the God of “twelve baskets full” left over.

The multitude was hungry, so Jesus fed them. He not only fed them, He served them more than enough. Once thanksgiving was offered unto God for the boy’s little bag of fish and bread, Jesus multiplied it. It more than exceeded the need. When all was said and done the scripture says,

“They all ate and were satisfied,” Luke 9:17

The disciples who had questioned Jesus of how in the world they were to feed so many people, now stared at leftovers. More than enough!

What are you in need of today? It’s at His table. He will feed you and feed you and feed you, but you have to come to the table to be filled. He knows what you need and when you need more. He understands when your faith is dwindling or your courage is failing. He knows when you need a friend or a cup of peace.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

He will feed you and nourish you.

You too will leave filled and satisfied.