Celebrity Status

“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you shall go with this people into the land that the LORD has sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall put them in possession of it. It is the LORD who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” – Deuteronomy 31:6-8

It always seems that inspiration and a word from God can come at the strangest times. As I thought about today and I had finally gotten home from a long strange day and I sat down on the couch, and I was watching a TV episode that shared a story that really spoke a word.

So it was relating interesting facts that have happened throughout history and there was a gentleman that was going to commit suicide and it just so happened that Muhammad Ali was in the area and he heard that this was happening and so he came. And Muhammed Ali stepped up to the window near where this man was standing and he started speaking to him. Saying something to the effect of: You are my brother and I care about you. Here was a man at the end of his rope and a miracle showed up and not just anybody, but a celebrity, someone who tried to make a difference in people’s lives, someone who cared about those around him, and cared about society as a whole, and cared about that individual person enough without even knowing him to stop what he was doing and come see if he could help.

So I find that story interesting one because it just helps show how humans can be at their best and also because as I said before it was a long strange day. I had hopes that it was going to start seeming like normal again as I started out my day today, I had hopes that we were getting back to some semblance of normal but as I’ve stated throughout the weeks, my company that I’m at, is experiencing a total swing from what a lot of companies experience during this pandemic and we seem to be doing incredibly well. Which brings its own challenges and I love my job but it’s just this marathon, this constant grueling, enduring, high-paced marathon and I think part of the problem I’ve been having is the fact that I don’t know where the end is. I don’t know when the marathon is going to be over I don’t know when we’re supposed to be able to take a breath again. I have never been a marathon runner, I’ve never been a Sprint runner, and to just go at this insane high-paced madness for such a long time has definitely taught me some new skills, it’s taught me new traits, it’s taught me new things about myself, taught me new things about the industry, I have just learned and grown so much. And part of where I really related to that Muhammad Ali story today was the fact that one of our higher ups stopped what he was doing today and talked to me. Like really stood there and talk to me, and I feel like God knew I needed that I needed somebody to just reach out to me today, and even though he couldn’t make it better, and he didn’t have any answers, and he doesn’t know when the marathon’s going to be over either he just acknowledged that I am a person, and that right now it’s hard, but that we’re not alone, and that I matter, and that he appreciates me and that just really spoke volumes to me today.

So then as I’m listening to this Muhammad Ali story and as I’m thinking about my day, and the discussion that I’ve had, and the fact that God sent this person to reach out to me today because I just needed it. I remembered that we always have a celebrity with us, a celebrity who cares, and we are just like the story of Muhammad Ali and The Stranger. Now we’re not strangers to God-he does know us but when Jesus died on the cross for us, he died for all of us, and we were strangers to him then essentially, you know what I mean? And when we first start out on our journey we are strangers to God, or at least we feel like we’re strangers to God, as we try to draw closer to this large, ethereal, omniscient, omnipotent being. But he understands and he gets it, and he is like Muhammad Ali, he knows that it doesn’t really matter that we feel like strangers or even if we are strangers. We matter, we matter every single day of the week, we are important to him, and he sent his son to die for us and he is always there to lend out this helping hand and be whatever we need him to be in that moment. We should all take encouragement from the fact that God is always there. We have the biggest celebrity, the biggest most well-known, most important being that there ever was, always there for us always standing by us always. Being on our side there for an encouraging word, just everything and anything that we need him to be. He is always there and he always wants to help us, he always wants good things for us, and he always just loves us unconditionally and that just really struck me today. That sometimes we negate how important and powerful and incredible our number one fan is because I’m sure there are more people out there surprised and amazed by the Muhammad Ali story and surprised and amazed by some of the other stories that are available out there. About incredible things that people are doing and yet we have this incredible God that is doing incredible things all the time and he’s doing them for us he’s doing them for you he’s doing them for me he is just always there for us and always are our number one fan. He’s always willing to support us and do whatever it takes to let us know that he’s always there. And I think I’m going to start taking more time to make sure that I am not taking that for granted because it is incredible. He is the living God, he does love us, and it is a miracle what he has done for us over all these years and that he continues to do for us. And I am just so grateful for that.

Featured

20/20

The eyes of the LORD watch over those who do right; his ears are open to their cries for help. – Psalm 34:15

Hindsight is always 20/20. We always look back and see what coulda, woulda, shoulda been done differently, or we look back and are grateful that things went exactly how they were supposed to. I personally have learned over the years, that I don’t care much to look back, mainly because I don’t live there, but only to learn the lessons needed there. To do better here. To be a better me, moving forward. I believe that, that is truly the only reason to ever look back. There is no reason to dwell on the past and to wish that things could’ve been different. The only respect you can give the past is to learn from it and move on. The other thing, I find most interesting about the past – is that it tends to have some rose-tinted glasses. We look back and think about how good things were and wish we were there, not realizing how we actually felt in that moment. The turmoil that caused that situation, how much younger and less wise we were then, or we only remember the details we want versus what actually happened.

One of my favorite stories in the Bible that has given me so much hope as a Christian, is the story of Sarah and Abraham. Starting in Genesis 11, we see Sarah and Abram start off on their journey to move far away from their families and go where the Lord leads them. We see as God promises Abram to be the Father of many nations. But it’s a vague promise, on purpose, to lead Sarah and Abram to having faith in God for the answer. And, when God gives Abram this promise, Sarah overhears, and laughs. Openly, blatently laughs. She scoffs at the promise. Then, as we all know, she proceeds to try to do things her way. Which is thoroughly unsuccessful really. Then, she waits. Then, she finally gives in to believe that maybe, just maybe, God has his own plan, and he can truly perform this miracle whenever He wants, and it will happen. <— Sound like anyone you know?

Sounds like me. God gives me a promise, and I proceed to stick my nose in there and start trying to do what I think I need to do to make it happen. Instead of letting things progress naturally. Instead of truly sitting back a little further, and really waiting for my cues. I start reading into things, and thinking, this must be what God meant. Instead of the true, rhema moment where there is no question, this is what God meant.

Which, when you read all that, you’re like, “Why would she find this encouraging?” And, I say, good question.

Because then we flip ahead, like way ahead. To Hebrews 11, and the Hall of Faith. Where Sarah is listed as a woman of Great Faith.

And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise.
Hebrews 11:11

She is listed right along there with Enoch and Noah and Joseph. As one of the Greats. Someone who laughed, who tried to do it her own way, and then finally came into the fold. Someone who is by all accounts very human. I really appreciate that they took the time to make sure she was in there. That it couldn’t have been easy. Definitely wasn’t recounted as being easy. Sometimes the most worthwhile things aren’t easy, in fact, more often than not, they’re not easy. So – sometimes you can be deep in the faith like Joseph, just walking along the crazy path that God’s laid out for you, and sometimes you can be like Sarah, essentially kicking and screaming the whole way. And, we’re still going to end up with the Father. Our heart is still in it. Some paths are just easier than others, even though they’re all still part of the same path. Sometimes, it’s just a little harder and it’s more uphill. But God knows our hearts, and as long as we stick with Him, and try to continue to grow and do what is right and walk with the Lord, then we will assuredly make it into the Hall with the others.

I hope you found this encouraging, I hope you see how utterly flawed and human our predecessors are and that you can continue to have hope in yourself and in the Father. His eyesight is always 20/20 on us. He knows exactly where we’re going, and He will always be there with us, every step of the way.

Let’s Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You. Thank you for having faith in us. Thank you for the grace that you give that abounds toward us. That you always care for us, and are there for us, and have only good things for us. Thank you for all that You do, and all that You are. Thank you for your Amazing Grace and Love. May you bless the work of our hands, and the words from our mouths as we go forward, and out into the world. That we bless others, as you have blessed us. Each and every day. Thank you for all that You do, and all that You are, and all that You would have us be. IN JESUS’ NAME!! AMEN!!!

I Choose Joy

*Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.* – Hebrews 11:1

I’ve taken a step back these last few weeks to recharge my batteries, and to take time for the holidays. Which is good, we all need a little breather at times, a moment to refresh and realign ourselves with the Father.

As I had been discussing a bit previously, I had been experiencing a bit of depression. And, one of the biggest things that I discovered during that time, was I choose Joy. I purposefully choose Joy. Whether I felt like Joy or not. I was thankful each day for certain things. I made small goals and accomplished them. I spoke out loud to the Savior of how grateful I am for what I do have. And, although not every day was it successful, eventually, it became more successful than not. And, now I feel more like my old self again. I’m not saying it will work for everyone, but it is worth a shot, and sometimes you have to fake it, til you make it.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
Hebrews 11:1

I have Faith in God, and God wants me to be Joyful. I had faith every day that I would have Joy. And, eventually here we are. I have a note in from a sermon I listened to, “PRAISE is FAITH at WORK”.

I am praising Him for what I do have, I am praising Him for what I don’t have yet, I am believing for an answer. I am living in the answer, not the problem. I choose Joy.

Many times, during these past several weeks, I was reminded of Paul & Silas Praising God while they were in prison. In the seemingly most dire circumstances, they chose Joy – so will I. As I worked through all these things going on around me these past few weeks, I chose Joy. I put my faith in God, Praising Him for all the good things He does every day for me, for others, for everything, and entered His courts with Thanksgiving. Where I was at, was not my destination, just a detour. God wants me to be Happy & I CHOOSE JOY.

¹Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
²    Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
³Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
⁴Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
Psalm 100:1-4

Let us come before him with thanksgiving
and extol him with music and song.
Psalm 95:2

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:15

⁶I wash my hands in innocence,
    and go about your altar, Lord,
⁷proclaiming aloud your praise
    and telling of all your wonderful deeds.
⁸Lord, I love the house where you live,
    the place where your glory dwells.
Psalm 26:6-8

I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
and call on the name of the Lord.
Psalm 116:17

*Quick side note on this Psalm 116:17 – please notice – I will SACRIFICE a thank offering – I believe meaning that we acknowledge that we do not always feel like being thankful and therefore sacrificing how we “feel” and laying it aside to be thankful anyway – To Choose Joy.

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18

Though the fig tree does not bud
    and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
    and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
    and no cattle in the stalls,
¹⁸yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
    I will be joyful in God my Savior.
¹⁹The Sovereign Lord is my strength;
    he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
    he enables me to tread on the heights.
Habakkuk 3:17-19

    and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
    a planting of the Lord
    for the display of his splendor.
Isaiah 61:3

⁹“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ¹²My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
John 15:9-12

Let’s Pray

Dear Heavenly Father, Thank You! Thank You for this day, and all the days. Thank you for sending your Son, and thank you for the celebrations we all had in these past few weeks to celebrate the birth of Your Son – Jesus. Thank You that we all remember the reason for the season as we got ready for some very different celebrations this year. Thank you for your blessings, and for all the blessings yet to come. Thank You for Joy. For the Joy you share with us. For the Joy we find in You. Thank You that you never leave us where we’re at. Thank You for the blessings you shine upon us. Thank You for all you do for us, Father, and all that you will continue to do. IN JESUS’ NAME!! AMEN!!