Every day Trusting

3-Foot Fall

(taken from a devotional by David Jeremiah)

Trust in Him at all times, you people. ~Psalm 62:8

Recommended Reading ~2 Corinthians 1:8-10

A construction worker was welding on top of a water tower outside Chicago when he unhooked his safety gear to reach for some pipes. At the same time, a metal cage slipped and bumped the scaffolding he was on, sending him to the ground in a 110-foot fall where he landed on a pile of dirt. When the paramedics arrived and carried him off on a stretcher, he had one humorous request; "Don't drop me."

Sometimes we are like that construction worker in our faith; trusting God to save us from the long fall of our sins, yet fretting over the three-foot falls of every-day details. It is easy to trust God with the big things we don't fully understand, but a lot of us have a difficult time putting our trust in Almighty God for the small and personal issues we deal with on a daily basis. The Bible tells us to trust God for everything because He knows our needs even before we ask Him (Matthew 6:8).

If you haven't fully put your trust in the Lord, spend some time casting ALL your cares upon Him, for He knows you intimately, loves you perfectly, and is worthy of your trust in every situation.

It is a glorious thing to know that your Father God makes no mistakes in directing or permitting that which crosses the path of your life. It is our glory to trust Him, no matter what. ~Joni Erickson Tada

Broken Dreams

As children bring their broken toys with tears for us to mend,
I brought my broken dreams to God because He was my friend!

But then instead of leaving Him in peace to work alone,
I hung around and tried to help with ways that were my own.

At last I snatched them back and cried, "How can you be so slow?"

"My child," He said,
"What could I do? You never did let go."

~Author Unknown

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Well, I guess I can admit I needed to hear this one once again.

It's one I've seen before and have actually even copied into my journal some time ago.

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It always hits me between the eyes with truth.

And today, I suppose He just wanted to be sure I took note of it once again. As the daily devotion subscription I received it from made sure to send it to me TWICE. In one morning. On a day I was particularly needing this reminder.

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Thank You, Father. For the messenger and the message.

Consider my hands off of it.

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He gives and takes away...

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As many of you know by now (and are probably sick of hearing about), on August 1st, I was selected as MercyMe's first ever, blogger of the month. And, as many of you know by now (and are probably sick of hearing about), I was THRILLED! I never win anything!! (That's what everyone says, I know, but in this case... it's true...) : ) But, I was just so tickled and honored by that. And was just beside myself that they would send me an autographed c.d. as a way of thanking me for sending so many folks to their blog.

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And I have anxiously awaited it every day since then.

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Then, finally I get a call this morning. Evidently, the mailer containing my treasured c.d. got stuck in someone else's mailbox, in an entirely different neighborhood... and whoever checked this other mailbox discovered my mailer, addressed to me - empty.

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I just thought: "Alright, God... You testing me?"

I was SO crushed! I mean, here's the sweetest gesture from some of my favorite bloggers AND singers and I was robbed of it.

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...for the most part...

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But, then, there was an overwhelming thought that kept interfering with my selfish, carnal thinking...

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"Just wait a minute. What if this could be used in some way to honor God?" (well, actually, it was probably more like: "What if this could be used in some way to honor ME?" - coming from God - 'cause I mean, let's be honest... I was just thinking: "I hope this guy goes down! I hope he gets a flat tire in his get-away car or something!")

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But, the thought of the possibility of goodness coming from it kept pushing those thoughts aside. And, you know, before long, I could feel myself almost getting excited about the many possibilities.

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I mean, certainly, he/she could've just ended up pitching it in the trash. Or selling it and getting some money for it. Who knows.

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But, what if... God used it to speak to someone. Either the person who heisted it or the one whose hands it ends up in?

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What if... their lives are changed by the very words of those wonderful songs? Songs like "I Know" ~ speaking into their hearts:

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I know, I know that God is able I know,

I know that He still reigns I know,

I know that love has found a way.

No matter what it is you're going through

Even if you think you're far beyond where hope can see

I know there is a hand that's reaching out for you

Because He did the same for me

It wasn't that long ago when my own world fell apart,

It fell apart and everything here inside of me said to let go,

You must let go

I found myself crying out to the One who knows my heart,

He knows your heart and holding tight to the few things that I know

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I mean... Imagine! If God could speak those words into the heart of someone who needed them today! WOW! And, I know He can!

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I just feel like He wants to use this in some way. In which case, I am even more honored and excited to have been selected by Him.

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I feel as though He had His hand in this. And He wanted me to know that. For one thing, what are the chances that whoever took it would take it out of the envelope and not just take the whole package? And then, what are the odds that the person who found it would actually take the time to call?

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Then, after just thinking, over and over: 'Well, He gives and takes away'... I walked into the shop this morning and the first song that came on the radio... "Blessed be Your Name"!

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It was like He was right there saying: "I know. I know you were excited to get that c.d. I know that it meant a lot to you. I know how disappointed you are to hear that you won't get it now. BUT, I also know who took it. I know why they took it. And I know their heart. I know you don't see the bigger picture, but I know you know that I do. And I know that despite your disappointment, you're willing to trust my bigger picture... and actually find a little joy in the possibility. And, in that alone, I am honored."

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And for that alone, it was worth it.

Whether they choose to receive the blessing or not.

I have.

Change

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Change. Never an embraced concept for me. Change generally occurs in my life despite my great efforts to keep it from happening.

Comfortable. Now, that's more my style. Familiar. Routine. Unchanging. Yeah, comfortable. That's much better.

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Slowness to change usually means fear of the new. ~Philip Crosby

But, that's just not how life works is it? Life is constantly pushing and pulling you in all sorts of new directions.
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And, if you're a Christian, our God is definitely One who encourages growth - most often through change. UGH! Not easy for an old stick-in-the-mud like me.
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However, I can say that most every time I look back on a big change in my life - I can see it was ultimately for the best. And I'm generally better and stronger for it.

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There is nothing like returning to a place that remains unchanged to find the ways in which you yourself have altered. ~Nelson Mandela

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So, why am I still so resistent to any kind of change? Why can't I just go with the flow? or even hope for something better? Why am I so determined to camp out right where I am? or even desire to go back to where I was? knowing that I'm on a path to better things?

In the Priscilla Shirer study I'm doing, she mentioned Isaiah 43:18-19~

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"Forget about what's happened. Don't keep going over old history. Be alert. Be present. (I keep thinking: must be present to win!) I'm about to do something brand new! It's bursting out - don't you see it?!?"

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She continues on to say: "The Lord wants to do something new in your life. What He has accomplished in your life has been extraordinary, but He doesn't want you to cling to it anymore. He has something new for you!"

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And, I just keep going back to a post that my friend, Jen Rinko had on her blog months ago that has stuck with me. I hope she doesn't mind me using it, but it was the words to the song "Painting Pictures of Egypt" by Sara Groves. I wish I could find it on the playlist, but didn't find it, so I'll share the lyrics with you here:

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I don't want to leave here; I don't want to stay

It feels like pinching to me either way

The places I long for the most; and the places where I've been

They are calling after me like a long lost friend

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It's not about losing faith; it's not about trust

It's all about comfortable; when you move so much

The place I was wasn't perfect; but I had found a way to live

It wasn't milk or honey; but then neither is this

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I've been painting pictures of Egypt; leaving out what it lacked

The future seems so hard; and I want to go back

But, the places that used to fit me; cannot hold the things I've learned

And those roads closed off to me; while my back was turned

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The past is so tangible; I know it all by heart

Familiar things are never easy to discard

I was dying for some freedom; but now I hesitate to go

Caught between the promise; and the things I know

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If it comes too quick I may not recognize it-

Is that the reason behind all this time and sand?

If it comes too quick I may not recognize it-

Is that the reason behind all this time and sand?

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Wow! I mean, if I had the talent, those would've been the very words my heart would pen. It is everything I am feeling right now. God is obviously trying to get me to move out of my beloved 'comfort zone'. I just don't know why I must always make Him drag me, heels dug in, kicking and screaming every time??

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This morning, on the radio: "Don't get Comfortable" by Brandon Heath. (Point taken... thanks. And sorry, they don't have that on the playlist either... maybe I'll post those lyrics next time - just for good measure.) : )

"Do you trust me?"
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Blame it on the little ones, but the other day, in all my recent frustrations about moving on and how exactly to go about that, my mind just kept going back to the movie 'Aladdin'. The part where Aladdin shows up outside Jasmine's balcony and invites her to go for a ride with him... on the magic carpet. And he simply looks her in the eye, hand stretched out and says:

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"Do you trust me?"

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And she knows that she must decide. Should she take the chance of a lifetime and see all this Prince has to offer? or stay within the confines of her structured palace, settling for a 'comfortable' life full of certainty?

And all week long, I kept hearing this very question asked of me.

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"Do you trust Me?"

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Only it's not 'Prince Alla-b00-boo', rather it's the Prince of Peace. Ruler over all of creation. Mighty hand stretched out to me, challenging me:

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"Jessica, do you trust Me?"

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And you'd think by now I would know.

That it would be an almost instinctive "Yes! Of course!"

Of course, I would know that I could entrust my life and my heart to the very One who formed them.

That 'the One Who loved me enough to die for me could be absolutely trusted with the total concerns of the life that He saved'.

And that even though He doesn't promise it to be a smooth ride, He promises to hold my hand the whole way through.

You'd think I'd be ready to take that leap of faith. Right into His arms, wherever they may take me. On the ride of a lifetime. Full of hope. Promise. Peace.

But, you'd be amazed at what fear can do.