The power was off, the wind was roaring, and there were lights outside.
My husband went to investigate.
When he returned, he explained the lights were from our neighbor’s truck as they were outside, checking on their horses.
As he spoke he dressed in warm clothes to go check on our animals.
He returned shortly, everything was fine, although rather frightened.
“The sheep and goat said they’d be more comfortable with us in the house, but I said, ‘no’.”
I laughed, “Yes, I’m sure they’d love to be inside, but definitely not happening!”
We prayed together before he left for work.
Less than ten minutes later, I heard the car return.
He came inside to tell me there was so much debris on it road he decided the truck was the best option and left a second time.
He made sure to let me know he arrived in safety and to see how we were doing.
When we lived on the mountain it was a pretty common occurrence.
At first I would allow the power outage to stress me out: “What about washing our dishes? The pump doesn’t work without power? What about food? I can’t cook on our wood stove insert!”
My husband wasn’t bothered in the least.
He’d just go out and hook up the generator.
After a few times of this I began to see there was no need to be upset if we didn’t have power.
God is my provision, not the power company.
Although the power is still out, our house is warm, we have food and water.
I’m enjoying a break from all the busy.
Thanking God for His blessings.
For He is good.
He is faithful.
Philippians 4:19 KJV — But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
He has supplied all our needs and I know He will continue to do so.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your faithfulness. Thank You for the truth of provision coming from You. Thank You that I can look to You and wait for Your direction. Thank You that I can walk through today with joy, not stress, knowing You will handle the details. You will supply our needs. Thank You for Your continued blessings. Please continue to teach me a to rest in You and look to You for my all. I love You, Jesus. Amen.
Like these weeds disrupting the beauty of the landscape, worry often clutters my perspective.
I wrestled with it throughout the month of August.
Then, when I least expected it, God rolled in.
He is always faithful and on time.
And I was ashamed of my struggle, because I know how to walk in trust, I just hadn’t.
Yet, the Lord brought this recent lesson to mind as I was worrying about a different circumstance, two weeks ago.
He followed up the memory with a question:
Didn’t I supply your need then?
“Yes, Lord! You did. I’m so sorry for falling prey to worry. Please forgive me.”
And the peace flowed into my heart displacing worry and removing it completely.
-sigh-
“Lord, thank You. I’m so blessed to have Your patient guidance and direction. I know You will supply all our needs.”
“I trust You, Jesus.”
Anne noticed the change in my demeanor.
“What is it, Mom?”
“Oh, I’ve been worrying about something and the Lord reminded me: He is our provision.”
She smiled.
“Yeah.”
This began a discussion about things she’d been struggling with and we were both encouraged in the Lord.
I am humbled by God and His patient, faithful, teaching.
I’m amazed at how He allows me to admit my faults and brings good out of my errors.
To willingly speak of His lessons and His blessings from my experiences, both good and bad, is a testimony of His power to change the hearts of those who are called by His name.
My prayer is to never chose what I know is wrong, nor to neglect what I know is right, but when I do transgress, that God would correct me quickly and I would be able to grow through the experience.
I can say that He is answering that prayer and teaching me the beauty of humility.
Then, days after this, He blessed my heart with a solution to the thing I’d been struggling with.
And I hadn’t done a thing to solve the problem, He did it.
God is faithful.
God is good.
His ways are perfect.
That doesn’t mean everything is always comfortable and easy.
Rather, it means I am learning daily to rest more and more in His ways, trusting that I can find good in every circumstance, for He is with me.
Praise the Lord!
1 Corinthians 1:9 KJV — God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your faithfulness! Thank You for Your patient lessons, teaching me each day. Lord, it would be easy to beat myself up for my lack of faith in You, but I’d rather spend the time praising You for Your faithfulness! For You have used these things to build monuments in my heart, that I can look at and chose to walk in faith today. Lord, thank You for using these things to grow and strengthen me. I know You are working. I know You are trustworthy. I know You are God and I need not always understand what You are doing, but I can always trust that it is good, because You are good. May my life bring glory to Your name, Jesus. Amen.
I woke up late, probably due to my asthma giving me trouble.
I’d neglected to open the house last night, to allow the cool evening air to circulate and cool down the house.
As I moved around trying to get the lamb’s bottle, make my husband’s coffee, and open the house, I found myself struggling.
(I have so much compassion for elderly people!)
Yet, as I did the required things, the Lord spoke to my heart.
Be thankful.
Yes!
“Lord, thank You for this beautiful day. Thank You for my husband, please be with him at work and help him in all he does.”
After feeding my lamb, I went to open the chicken coop.
The outside door had been difficult for me to open, so last weekend, my husband fixed it.
As I hooked it open I praised God for His blessings, specifically my husband and an easier chicken door.
My sluggishness began to return as I headed to water the garden.
Our hose is newer and often causes me trouble, this morning was no different.
I began to grumble in my heart and the Lord spoke again.
Be thankful.
“Yes, Lord. Please forgive me.”
“Lord, thank You for this hose, as difficult as it is, I am so glad I’m not carrying buckets of water.”
“Lord, thank You for Your provision, how You are making our garden grow. Thank You that even with the loss of so many plants, You have given us much. Lord, I lift up my day and thank You for Your blessings. You know what is in store, please help me to hear Your voice and trust in You completely, waiting upon You for direction.”
I setup the sprinkler, watering the corn, and heard my husband.
He was headed to work, but came out to kiss me goodbye.
We briefly talked and he left an image of his warm smile on my heart.
“Lord, thank You for my husband. I’m so blessed.”
By the time I returned to the house, my attitude had lifted greatly, the physical restrictions were no longer able to rob me of joy.
After all, God is good, His mercy endures forever, what, in this life, compares?
If I suffer, it is a reminder to pray, praise, and be thankful.
Psalm 30:12 KJV — To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your patience with me, such a slow learner. Thank You for Your mercy and grace which never fail! Lord, thank You for reminding me to be thankful. It has been such a joy to turn all things back to an opportunity to praise You. For You are worthy of all honor and glory. Lord, thank You for supplying my needs, especially this week. You know I was not looking forward to our schedule, yet You have stepped in and carried us through. Lord Jesus, You know what is required for today and I rest in Your provision, trusting Your Sovereignty. Lord, please continue to remind me to be thankful, especially when I stray into self-pity. Guard my heart against the temptations of self focus and continue to teach me how to see as You do. Lord Jesus, I praise Your holy name! Amen.
Job 13:15 KJV — Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him.
This statement from Job inspires me to be purposeful about trusting God, and like Job, to maintain my ways before Him.
Especially, when life seems be more challenging.
As I walk with Jesus, I feel it’s important to be transparent.
Yesterday, I was energetic.
Today, I’m not.
Yesterday, my health wasn’t an issue.
Today, it is.
When I got up this morning, the Lord reminded me that I’d forgotten to pay bills last week.
I feel so frustrated with myself when I forget to pay the bills, because it’s rude and unfair to those awaiting payment.
I was writing checks when one amount stood out.
It was a lot more than I remembered paying previously.
After a little investigation, I found out why.
I’d carefully filed last months bill, but hadn’t paid it.
It was our trash service and when I sent Jase out to put the bills in the mailbox he returned with yesterday’s mail.
There was one with red print on the front from the trash service.
The letter inside was very kind, letting us know that due to no payment for the past two months they would be skipping our service and if we still had not paid by next month would be coming to pick up our trash can.
Understandable.
I phoned the office, apologized for my negligence, and asked what week they’d skip.
Turns out my payment will reach their office before the scheduled week to suspend our service.
Therefore everything should be fine without any hindrance to us.
I thanked the lady and hung up.
In the past this circumstance would have engendered emotions of anger with myself, it would have tinted my whole day with a negative attitude.
But not today.
Instead I am praising God for His reminding me to pay the bills.
I’m grateful to Him for the graciousness of our trash company and that our service will not be interrupted, despite my negligence.
I’m thanking Him for some of the things that He is teaching me.
Including these times when I fail.
I’m also praying to see what I need to change in my day-to-day, so that I don’t forget to pay the bills next month.
I want this to be a mistake I learned from.
Because it’s already a mistake I’m praising God for.
Philippians 4:4 NKJV — Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for the truth that You are always worthy of praise. Lord, thank You for yesterday and all the abundant blessings. Thank You for today and the things I find challenging. Thank You for Your wisdom in and through each and every circumstance. Thank You for walking with me daily, guiding and directing. Lord, thank You for reminding me yesterday to purchase stamps so I’d have what I needed today. Lord Jesus, thank You for always being my Provider. Thank You for Your love and patience. I love You. Amen.
Long before we had the fence up my husband called me on his way to work.
“Honey, there’s a pile of chips on the side of the road, some trucker was over weight. Can you and the kids get in the truck and load some up?”
Not being as familiar with that road, I questioned him where it was and then we loaded the truck with shovels, a couple moving blankets, and ourselves.
The pile was easy to find and huge.
We worked together to get a load of wood chips and by the time we were finished I was exhausted.
As I drove towards home I began to pray for energy, fully intending to get a second load, as one wouldn’t be enough.
Don’t be greedy.
The Lord’s words to my heart surprised me.
“Lord, we need more than one load for the garden, what am I supposed to do?”
Trust Me.
This wasn’t an easy thing to hear, because I had never thought of greed as being applied to this type of circumstance.
Yet, I knew the Lord had spoken clearly to my heart that I wasn’t to return and get more chips.
I often pondered this circumstance, trying to find a better understanding of the sin of greed, because obviously my definition was wrong.
I’d always thought of greed as wanting more and more when one has plenty, like King Solomon.
But I began to realize the Lord was showing me that greed is taking what God hasn’t given me.
Just because it’s available, doesn’t mean God is giving it to me.
He brought to mind something I saw many years ago.
I’d been praying for something I needed and couldn’t afford.
My heart felt certain that God would provide.
Then, I was sitting in church and the announcements included a donation of several boxes of the item I’d been praying for. They were sitting by the front doors for anyone who needed them.
I praised God!
He’d supplied my need and I waited for the break to be announced, so I could go look at the donation.
As I walked toward the area, my eyes were enjoying the beautiful weather outside when I suddenly noticed a person from our fellowship.
Their arms were full of boxes as they crossed the parking lot and when I reached the front door it was bare.
Although, I was disappointed at the time, God supplied the need a different way.
Just recently, our church announced that two boxes of bare root strawberries had been donated.
My husband was going to get us some, as we had the place for them, but hadn’t had a chance to buy any yet, I had been given seeds, but not in time to start them in doors.
When he went to where the strawberry plants were he saw that both boxes had been taken by one person.
God worked through these two circumstances to speak directly to my heart about greed.
God has a plan to supply what is lacking in my life, but He wants me to look to Him for those things, not to try to “protect myself”, to fix the problem on my own through hording or robbing someone else of a blessing through taking more than He’s telling me to.
“Lord, I still don’t understand, because we need more chips in the garden.”
Then it hit me, I don’t need wood chips in the garden, I want them.
I want to keep it tidy and not to have to deal with weeds, but it’s not a need.
The Lord has shown me, I often misunderstand what a need is and label wants incorrectly.
Because God supplies all my needs, I can wait upon Him to both show me the difference between the two and I can trust Him to provide as He chooses when He chooses.
This is where my faith is grown, by waiting upon the Lord.
He supplies in ways which often surprise me, like the strawberry patch.
My husband had heard our pastor’s wife was cleaning out her strawberry patch and made a call offering to buy the plants she no longer has space for.
Since he’d only left a message I was surprised to see our pastor at our house the next day with a box of bare root strawberries, which he refused payment for.
Not only that, he carried them to the garden, said he could supply more if this wasn’t enough, and chatted while I planted.
Yesterday, I was blessed by this:
Although our garden still has bare dirt for part of the path, I’m waiting upon the Lord for His plan and thanking Him for what He’s given.
The wood chips have been a double blessing, because the lesson I’m learning about greed is far more valuable then a tidy garden.
I praise God for His Sovereignty in knowing I actually needed less so I would learn more.
Philippians 4:19 KJV — But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your faithfulness. Lord Jesus, I praise You, for You have used so much in my life to teach me about You and about me. Lord, I am humbled and thankful to You for using something so insignificant as wood chips to show me an area I’m liable to fall into sin. Lord, thank You for protecting me from the sin of greed, by showing me my false thinking about what greed really is. Lord, please continue to help me to understand how to wait upon You, how to know the difference between a want and a need, how to be generous and think of others, not just myself. Lord, please continue to teach me how to guard against greed and covetousness. Please bring my heart to attend to Your Word, that I might not sin against You. Thank You, Lord. Amen.
I’m telling God about a circumstance and how long I’ve waited for His answer and Abraham comes to mind.
Genesis 12:7 KJV — And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.
Genesis 13:14-16KJV — And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.
It’s unclear how much time passed between these two promises, but Abram had become very wealthy in that time despite a famine and his trip to Egypt and back.
Genesis 16:3 NKJV — Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan.
Genesis 16:16 NKJV — Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.
Abraham waited till he was in his eighties and then he took the suggestion of his wife on how to “help God” and had a son the his wife’s servant, but Ishmael was not the son of God’s promise.
Genesis 18:10 KJV — And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.
God’s promised son was outside any human plan or ability.
Genesis 21:5 NKJV — Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.
Abraham didn’t know the Lord’s plan and He didn’t realize Isaac would be a foreshadowing of Jesus.
And although Abraham did try to “help” God’s promise, the inspiring part of the story is Abraham’s faith.
Genesis 15:6 NKJV — And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
Abraham waited a long time for God’s promise to be fulfilled and God used him mightily.
And then God’s whisper to my heart:
How patient are you?
God’s way of reminding me to wait upon Him with joy, peace, and patience.
He was faithful in His promises to Abraham, I know He will be faithful with me.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word and for Your servant Abraham. Lord, thank You for taking me back to this story time and again when I’m feeling sorry for myself or thinking I’ve waited long enough. Lord, my patience is supplied by Your Holy Spirit and I thank You for that. Lord, please continue to help me to not quench Your Holy Spirit, but to allow Your fruit to be plentiful in my life. Please help me to be humble, teachable, and patient. Thank You. I know You are worthy of all my trust and Your ways are perfect. Thank You for Your love and salvation. I love You, Jesus. Amen.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalms 23:1 NKJV
I don’t pretend to be theologian.
I’ve never gone to seminary.
But, I’ve raised sheep and I look at this verse through that perspective.
There’s so much meaning contained in these few lines.
“The LORD is my shepherd” means He is in control of supplying my every need.
He is the One who knows where I should go, what lies ahead, and how He will provide.
Thus the line: “I shall not want” is in response to the beginning of God being the Shepherd.
For me it means two things.
It’s referring to the truth that God will supply all my needs.
It’s also a statement: “I shall not want”.
Sheep will stand knee deep in lush grass and try to get their head through the fence to eat the tough old grass growing alongside the road.
Sheep will have plenty of forage in the field, but will refuse to go eat it because they are standing next to the empty feed trough.
It’s empty because of two things: it is not time to feed yet or they don’t need to be fed because there’s plenty of forage.
Yet, some will choose to ignore the field and will remain next to the empty troughs, loudly complaining about the lack of grain.
“I shall not want” is a realization that my Shepherd has provided.
He may not always give me what I want, but He has always provided what I need.
I can choose to thank Him for what He has supplied without worrying about what I will need in the future, without longing for something else.
The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalms 23:1 NKJV
It’s a testimony to build on.
It’s a truth to rest securely in.
It’s my promise both for this world and for the one to come.
Praise the Lord!
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your Word. Thank You for Your promises. Thank You for Your truth. Lord, You have supplied all my needs and I’m so grateful. You have far surpassed my expectations time and again, sustaining me when I couldn’t see how You were going to provide. Lord, if You could handle multitudes of people in the desert for forty years, I know You can handle me. Thank You! I love You, Jesus. Amen
Lord, my heart is not haughty, Nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, Nor with things too profound for me. Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, Like a weaned child with his mother; Like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the Lord From this time forth and forever. Psalms 131:1-3 NKJV
Dear Lord Jesus, Thank You for Your salvation. Thank You that we need not fear. Our lives belong to You. Lord Jesus, thank You for teaching us daily and speaking so clearly to the humble in heart. Lord, thank You that You use those who completely surrender before You. Lord, I choose to completely surrender before You. Lord, this day, this body, this life does not belong to me. They are Yours alone and I acknowledge Your Sovereignty in all things. Lord Jesus, please continue to help the helpless, to provide for the needy, to return the prodigal, to protect the innocent, and to save the lost. Lord, I thank You for all Your wonderous works. Amen.
She’d been looking worried, but I was on the phone with my husband and simply walked past her to continue our conversation out of earshot.
Yet, something had changed by the time I returned to the main part of the house, for she was busy writing.
The paper was handed to me just before bedtime and as much as I wanted to read it, I felt it would be best waiting till morning.
When I read her writing, I was surprised.
I hadn’t realized that my phone conversation about the latest news would engender such fear in her heart.
The first lines spoke clearly of the deep emotion these days of world news are bringing.
As I continued to read I chastised myself for not being more careful with my speech, and for not checking back with her to see how she was processing all that she is hearing and seeing.
At 19, she’s too young to remember many of the circumstances of world affairs, but she’s been taught history and she’s not ignorant of the abilities of humanity to harm one another.
Then, I read:
“I sat at the table, trying to keep from being afraid, that’s when my amazing little brother walked in, set his phone on the table and pushed play on a video.”
“I quickly recognized the Piano Guys playing the Peanuts theme song… Dancing to this song has become something fun we do ever since I moved back from Grandma’s.”
“Laughing, I slowly joined him. My heavy heart started to lighten…The next song he played was by Mercy Me, Greater.”
“At that moment, I felt peace again. I was reminded that I don’t ever need to be afraid.”
“While the world may be falling apart around me, all I have to do is trust Jesus and dance in worship before Him.”
All my self condemnation evaporated.
I praise God for His blessings of truth which even the young can find comfort in.
As I refolded the paper, my heart was reminded of scripture.
Matthew 21:16 NKJV — and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?”
Let each of us learn from the simply beautiful faith of the young: all we have to do is trust God and praise Him.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for Your truth. Thank You that we can find courage, security, and faith in Your Word and Your promises. Lord Jesus, thank You that this world is not our forever home, but we have a much better one yet to come. Thank You for the simple and beautiful faith of the young. Thank You for the trust exampled to us by a small child clinging to their loving Daddy. Lord, thank You for children. Please continue to teach us how to have child-like faith. As my daughter said, may we walk in the truth, trusting and praising You. I love You, Jesus. Thank You for first loving me. Amen.
Psalm 33:4 NKJV — For the word of the LORD is right, And all His work is done in truth.
Psalm 119:160 NKJV — The entirety of Your word is truth, And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.
God has always been faithful.
His Word is trustworthy.
Yesterday, He not only dealt with my fears, He carried me through with ease.
As if that were not enough, He answered prayer and we finally know what is robbing me of my voice, and I am being referred to a Speech Therapist.
When I think about the goodness of God, I am overwhelmed.
Exodus 34:6 NKJV — And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,
For nothing is too small for His notice and nothing too large for His ability.
Psalm 27:13 NKJV — I would have lost heart, unless I had believed That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.
Yesterday, I did.
Praise the Lord!
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank You for answering our prayers. Thank You for Your Word and Your goodness. Lord, thank You for being righteous, holy, merciful, and full of grace. Thank You for Your love and help. Lord Jesus, thank You for guiding and directing. Thank You for Your ways, which are far better than ours. Lord Jesus, I lift up the helpless. Those who are in danger, those who are completely vulnerable. You see each and every one. Please act upon their behalf. Please bring the gift of salvation to those in such great need. Lord, let each and every one of us cling to Your Word and walk in peace knowing we can place all our trust in You. Lord, let the whole earth be filled with the knowledge of Your glory. Amen.
patientlyhopeful 