Joshua 1:9

There is a careful balance between living life on the edge versus having a fear of falling off the edge. You see, God does not call us to be comfortable, he calls us to be courageous; there is always excitement and adventure when chasing uncertainty. But there is not always a safety net . . . or so it seems. In the Bible, the Lord charges Joshua to lead the Israelites across the Jordan River to inherit the land promised to them; "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go'" (Joshua 1:9).

Are you living a life led by God's invisible hand or is your hand holding onto what appears to be safe?

1 Timothy 6:6

Choosing contentment means being at peace with our circumstances even when they are not ideal. Paul's contentment is a song of praise in a prison cell.

Choosing contentment means being at peace when things do not go as planned. Contentment is Jonah's decision to finally accept God's direction instead of running from it.

Do your circumstances have you feeling trapped as in a prison cell or in the belly of a whale? Perhaps it's time to sing God's praise or to answer his call on your life? Perhaps choosing contentment is the vehicle that can get you there.

1 Timothy 6:6 "Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment . . ."

Colossians 3:23, 24

Do you ever feel like your life is a list? I know there are times when I do:

Dinner dishes at midnight. Send out group text for ministry at noon. A spontaneous burst into song with children in late afternoon. Watch my daughter swim freestyle across the pool. Snuggle. Give. Bake. Love. Friday night dinner and a movie with my husband. Spend time with Jesus. Quality time with a friend. Level 8 on the Stairmaster for 30 minutes. Scroll through pictures for the scrapbook. Talk with Dad on the phone. Help with homework. Cook dinner. Disciple. Lead Bible study.

So whether we find ourselves in the midst of writing the list or simply checking things off, what is the attitude of our hearts in the process? Who are we doing it all for?

"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." -Colossians 3:23, 24

Matthew 17:20,21

It’s difficult to discover a life more fulfilling than the life that follows in the footsteps of faith.

Do we dare to live like Abraham who had the faith to choose obedience and sacrifice? Or do we merely desire to reap the blessing of counting stars?

Do we fight our own battles with the faith David held onto as he faced Goliath? Or do we simply close our eyes and make a wish for victory?

Do we cling to a faith that commands mountains to move? Or do we live with the kind of faith that keeps mountains standing still?

“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” –Jesus Christ (Matthew 17:20,21)

What do you think?

What do you think of when you read the term "steely determination"? I have some ideas of what you may be thinking . . .

1. I lost my steely determination my freshman year of college.

2. I found my steely determination my sophomore year of college.

3. Every morning I wake up and pour a good strong cup of steely determination before heading

out the door.

4. Just a spoonful of steely determination helps the medicine go down.

5. I feel the need . . . the need for steely determination.

Is there something in life you're trying to accomplish?

Romans 1:16

I am a closet geek who used to masquerade as a party girl for the longest time. These days I can't walk into a bookstore without getting an adrenaline rush, and I am not afraid to tell you that! But I would have never admitted this ten years ago. I also love to write, but when I do, I write out of an overflow of my personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

A friend recently asked me, "You are a Jesus girl, aren't you?"

Absolutely.

But the thing is, I know who I am. Whereas I think some of us have an identity crisis. Do you feel like you are trying to figure out where you fit in? Perhaps you are like me- you enjoy reading, but you're afraid to come across as "too geeky"? And perhaps you are like me in the sense that you love Jesus, but maybe you are afraid of looking too spiritual?

If that's the case, I want to encourage you today to be who you are, but be who you are in Christ!

"I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes . . . " Romans 1:16

Go. Do.

When God's hand is in something, we cannot always see what the outcome will be. We do not know in advance the end result. We can only obey the prompting we feel to act for today. We can only respond to that still, small voice that says Go. Do. It may not always make sense, but once you obey and go there or do that, then the burden lifts, does it not?

Has God been prompting you to do something? Take a step of obedience today. You may feel uncertain because you cannot see the outcome, but be certain that God can!

Contentment

In the midst of experiencing God’s faithfulness to me, I can see clearly that true contentment can come out of suffering. After all, contentment is not something that is fabricated, but rather it is birthed. It emerges from the deep fibers of the human soul after all that soul has endured. It is a taking off of the cast of what was once broken, and allowing rehabilitation to begin.

The waiting place

The waiting place . . . for people just waiting. Waiting for a train to go or a bus to come, or a plane to go or the mail to come, or the rain to go or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow or waiting around for a Yes or No or waiting for their hair to grow. Everyone is just waiting. Waiting for the fish to bite or waiting for the wind to fly a kite or waiting around for Friday night or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake or a pot to boil, or a Better Break or a string of pearls, or a pair of pants or a wig with curls, or Another Chance. Everyone is just waiting.

NO! That's not for you! Somehow you'll escape all that waiting and staying. You'll find the bright places where Boom Bands are playing.

-Dr. Seuss, Oh the Places You'll Go!

Isaiah 9:2

Can you see in the dark? Or do you scramble for something to light your way? Are you afraid of the dark? Or do you no longer sleep with a night light? Do you live among shifting shadows or do you walk in the sun? Maybe it's time to turn some lights on. Or maybe it's time to be sure your lights don't burn out.

"The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined." Isaiah 9:2

Heaven

Does heaven have a travel agent? Because if it's possible, I would like to make reservations now for my heavenly home. You'll find me living at a beach front property with a choir of angels who sing hymns of praise to a reggae beat. I would also like to request an eternal supply of Cold Stone ice cream in the freezer and Starbucks coffee in the coffee maker . . . and top it all off of course with God's constant company. Wanna come over for a visit?

Song of Songs 8:6,7

To be rescued from self by love, to be saved from bondage by love, and to be delivered by love from everything that is deadly to my soul is an opportunity that Christ extends to me, so why would he not also extend such a love to someone else? What if he wants to use me in the process? One of my favorite passages of scripture comes from Song of Songs as the author describes the depth of love; “love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away” (SOS 8:6,7).

How does God want to use you?

Philippians 4:7

Sometimes tears come like rain, relentlessly driving hard, and emotion's tide is a tsunami: all-consuming. Other times, tears come slowly, even hesitantly, as if emotion just peeks out from a corner of the heart. But this time the tears stop altogether. It's no longer time to cower in the rain, but it is time to basque in the sun. It's not the time to run from the sea, but it is time to wade in its shoreline.

Stop hiding behind your heart, and start letting the peace of God guard your heart.

"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 4:7

Describing or Defining?

Details. Deadlines. Dreams. Delays. Daring. Driven. Destinations. Doorways. Dilemmas. Do any of these words describe your life? Or do they define your life? I feel like at any given moment, any one of these words could be the status quo. How about you?

Psalm 40:1-3

In college, I remember singing a song called “Shout to the Lord” and feeling so empty, small, helpless and broken. It was during that song that I said, “Lord, I surrender my life to you” and I immediately felt a huge weight lift off my body. I let go of all that I had been clinging to for so long that I began to shake. It was a huge experience that changed me for eternity. It was wild and it was radical. How could I go from singing the words of Tom Petty, “You don’t know how it feels to be me . . .” to Shout to the Lord, and all in one weekend? Because by the grace of God I stumbled upon a new beginning, not just a new song.

"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God." Psalm 40:1-3

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

God is the Great Architect who unfolds his blueprint for love. It bears a unique design with patience and kindness as pillars welcoming anyone who will come and choose to stay. It is a sturdy framework that remains trustworthy so that when hurricane winds blow or disaster strikes, the design still stands.

Is your blueprint for love a carbon copy of this original, or do you need to make some changes?

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails."

Revelation 3:20

As God listens, he beckons us to come and sit with Him, to hoist ourselves up in his lap and just stay for a while. Like a dear friend, He invites us to talk about what we need and want to talk about. Sometimes we laugh. Other times we cry. Sometimes we feel vulnerable. Other times we feel bold. And still there are times when we simply come with a child like faith.

He speaks to us in return with poetic Psalms. He sometimes greets us with similes and metaphors and parables found in his Word. Then he speaks to us through a friend or even a stranger, through a mentor or spiritual leader. He speaks to us through circumstances as some doors slam shut, and still other doors swing wide open. He speaks gently to our hearts.

What is the condition of your heart today? Is it wide open to the things of God or have you slammed all the doors shut?

Jesus says in Revelation 3:20 "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."