"When you can't trace His hand, trust His heart."  A friend shared this saying with me recently.  I had never heard of it, and love it.  It's actually a song title I've included below.  The lyrics say “our father knows what’s best for us.  His ways are not our own.”  I tend to often think of the word “best” as meaning I’m going to get vegetables with no butter or salt instead of a savory burger or dessert all the time.  And who wants that.  But Noah Webster says this about the word “best”: 

1.   Most good; having good qualities in the highest degree;
2.   Most advanced; most accurate;
3.   Most correct or complete;
4.   The best. … the utmost power; the strongest endeavor; the most, the highest perfection; 
5.   In the highest degree; beyond all other

      I see “best” is also “good” to me.  “According to your love remember me, for you are good, O Lord” (Psalm  25:7).  That’s His heart, His character.  So "when you can't see or trace His hand in your life and what He is doing, trust His heart.  That according to His character and His heart, He is preparing something that is best and wonderful for you.

If you would believe in yourself like God believes in you, you will prosper and cause others to prosper.  Believe that He has chosen you for good works because He entrusted you to carry something this world needs so that they may also increase.  Believe that He has blessed you with skills, talents, wisdom and spiritual gifts to increase others.  He believes in you because He believes in Himself in you.  It is impossible that He did not chose you for something!  God doesn’t create for nothing nor does He save and make us new creations for nothing!  Discover your identity in Christ, know who you are and do what He has given you plans, authority and trust to do. This is where greater fulfillment is.
#discoverwhoyouareinHim #believe #castoutdoubt #sabotagefearnotyourself #carryitout

"For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do"  (Ephesians 2:10).

Waking up one morning in a very broken state of life, I heard God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit agreeing over me saying, “We can rebuild her.  We have the tools.”  If you grew up when I did, you’d know those are the words to the intro of the weekly sci-fi show “The Six Million Dollar Man” airing 1974-78’.  Astronaut Steve Austin was in a spaceship crash and scientists rebuilt him with bionics in surgery, costing six million dollars.  I had to pull up the video below.  Listen to the words and insert your own name in it.   

“Denise Flynn…we can rebuild her…We have the tools…We have the capability…  Denise Flynn will be that woman.  Better than she was before.  Better…Stronger…Faster.”  
  
Don’t you love it!  No matter what's going on right now, no matter how broken you are, if you go through it right with God, you will come out healed and better.  Lean into God.  Use Him for His healing love and power. Know that He wants to love on you and help you.  Keep your attitudes toward him and not turning away or  lacking trust and hope.  Don't become bitter.  Be obedient. In doing so, we can count on His promises to rebuild us.

 “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds" (Psalm 147:3).

“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces
perseverance;  perseverance, character; and character, hope.   And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”  Romans 5:3-5 
 
     Yeah, these promises can be yours at the cost and sacrifice of Jesus.  Look out for YOU…future Six Million Dollar Man and Woman in process of being rebuilt right now!

    Is there something you want to do that you know you should not?  Is it fantasizing over a hot
looking girl or guy?  Have you been having a little fun with letting lustful thoughts of them stay in your
mind?  Are you finding it difficult to give something or someone up for the sake of honoring God and the better intentions and direction He has for your life?  Is there a way to live better according to God’s word that will not be easy for you as far as the discipline required on your part?
     Whatever it is you find challenging at this point, know that whatever you are not wanting to do, but do… or whatever you find hard to be without, but carry on forward without it, you can offer the challenge, the pain or the discomfort up as a sacrifice and offering to God.  

     Numbers 28:1-3 NIV says: 
“The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Give this command to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Make sure that you present to me at the appointed time my food offerings, as an aroma pleasing to me.’ 3 Say to them: ‘This is the food offering you are to present to the Lord: two lambs a year old without defect, as a regular burnt offering each day”.

     Let’s pull this apart and look inside at it.  

     Verse 2:  “See that you present to me at the appointed time the food for my offerings made by fire,
as an aroma pleasing to me.”  So you’ve got something "ungood" I’ll call it going on. it's a struggle inside of you.  If you give it and consider God’s feelings above your own (that’s the sacrifice and offering part) God is going to take it as something good…”an aroma pleasing to me”.

    Verse 2:  “an offering made by fire”…Are you going through the fire right now?  The situation is hot and trying you?  If you are responding right to the fire, or right to the conviction you are in (by God’s ways), you are being purified.  You are being made more into His image and going more to where He wants to take you.

    Verse 3:  “as a regular burnt offering each day”…Each day you give it all to the Lord as an offering…”Lord, this is (whatever you feel), but I’m offering up my plans and taking on yours instead. 
May you find me and my offering pleasing to you like a fine aroma.”  

    God will find this pleasing.  It smells good to Him.  It refreshes Him you may say.  And whenever you do something toward God, He rewards you.

     Generally, people feel most comfortable and free to be their truest selves when they’re around someone who they believe loves them deeply.  I have experienced this myself as well.  Their best
conversation comes out.  Their cutest humor and uniqueness comes out.  Their biggest smiles and laughter comes out.  This is because they know they’re loved…nothin’ to prove extra.  Some may call this a “chemistry”.  It’s certainly a chemistry that takes the pressure off.

     Well…God loves you…truly.  And He’s always around you.  So feel free to be your truest self, who He made you to be, how He made you to flow, regardless.  No intimidation.  Freedom.  “Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17).  Let the “You” flow.  Let the blessings flow.  You just may be the one who others begin to be themselves around then!  Be YOU!

     Feel free to be yourself with God too as you talk to Him.  Tell Him what your heart wonders.  Tell Him what your heart feels.  Be comfortable with Him, because He does love you. 

    Last weekend I hosted a SURPRISE birthday party for my 17 year old son and a very good friend, Jerry, turning…older (age hidden to protect the innocent–lol). During the weeks of secrecy, preparation and tales, Jerry along with our friend Dave helped move someone from home to home. They worked so hard and late to be a blessing.  Jerry texted me a few days after the move asking if our group could hold a special time of honor for Dave at an upcoming event.  I said, “Sure!”
     Little did Jerry know that at that very time frame, God was busy planning and pulling things and people into place to honor and surprise him just days ahead!  My thoughts were "if you only knew!"
     Stop thinking God’s blessings are for everyone else. His blessings are for everyone else and
YOU!  His abundance is for everyone else and YOU, if you’ll only believe!  “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes” (Mark 9:23).  It takes faith and the knowing that God will be good to you too if you are also obedient!  
    I know that when I’m waiting a long time for something to come, change or occur, I’m happier when I’m believing for it than when I’m in discouragement or doubt.  And God knows that’s how that works, for He created “hope” too.  "Put your hope in God" (Psalm 43:5).  I love my surprises!  
    It was fantastic to surprise Jerry with a party of joy and celebration of his life and who he is.  A day after, Jerry said it was "one of his best days ever".  God wants to give you your own “best days ever”.  He wants to see your face light up and your smile go wide.
    God is all about “showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments” (Exodus 20:6).  And notice, the translation says “showing love”; believe and expect your prayers to show up in form.
    Lord, I thank you in advance for the pleasant surprises you have stored up for me.

     After the wandering Israelites had roamed in the desert of confusion for 40 years, the Lord’s command for them going into Canaan was this:  “‘When you enter the land I am going to give you, the land itself must observe a sabbath to the Lord. For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. But in the seventh year the land is to have a year of sabbath rest, a sabbath to the Lord. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards.  Do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the grapes of your untended vines. The land is to have a year of rest.  Whatever the land yields during the sabbath year will be food for you—for yourself, your male and female servants, and the hired worker and temporary resident who live among you” (Leviticus 25:2-6).
      Are you spinning your wheels getting nowhere but hurt and confused with men or women?  Do you need a rest from dating or relationships?  Time away from the frustration of trying to make something work with the opposite gender?  Maybe you've been sowing in the wrong places or at the wrong times?  Do you need some time just for YOU….no straining…to rest your land?  Maybe it’s time for a relationship Sabbath…time to step away from romantic relationships.  One definition Noah Webster gives the word Sabbath is an “Intermission of pain or sorrow; time of rest.” …rest your emotions…get or regain your bearings.
      In this scripture, the Lord instructed the Israelites to take "a sabbath of rest, a Sabbath to the Lord".  Would it make sense to rest from relationships and do it with Him in mind.  This Sabbath time, a time of rest, is for the Lord and you together…time to establish a relationship with Him, time to grow in closeness with Him and develop yourself and life with Him…a time solely with Him.
      As the scripture says, whatever and all this Sabbath time yields will be for YOU.  And the people
closest to you will also reap the food or benefits as you rest, heal, grow and flourish.             
      If it’s called for, consider this Sabbath as doing something nice for yourself, for the Lord, for the others around you.  Rest your land.

     “It's Monday and I can't get you off my mind  :-)”  he wrote.  Can you feel the excitement and the longing in that statement?  Can you sense his captivation of her?       
      I have daydreamt about a man before. You can spend quite a bit of time in it; before you know it, even an hour.  There you sit going over and over the lines said to each other and imagining the ones you hope to hear/say with a smile upon your face and every feeling going as
deep as your bones.       
      Have you ever daydreamt about the Lord before?  Have you ever laid your head on your pillow and let His tangible presence come around your head and heart?  Have you sat in deep adoration lately and thought about all His amazing qualities—all His love, all His kindness, His tenderness. 
Sometimes I don’t want to move out of that place of bliss.  I could sit forever in His sweetness.  I love to sit and focus on His beauty, letting His splendor roll over and over in my soul.    Have you soaked in His loveliness allowing each good feeling to overwhelm and  touch your soul?  Have you let your thoughts toward Him well up within you and become a runaway consuming day dream of real peace and wonder?  Reflect on His ways and flawlessness; let your attention go toward Him; there’s nothing or no one else around so important or pure.  Let Him claim your mind.
      Reflect. He is the King of my heart, soul and mind.

     Kevin Levar is one of my newest, favorite music finds.  Listen to the words of his song “What a Love” (below) all the way through.  Up front, Kevin sings how he can only love his wife as deeply as he realizes how much Jesus loves him.  He sings how he can only forgive his wife as he realizes how deeply God has forgiven him.        
     Consider the measure here…the measure of a man.  Let’s get our God love down first and our love will go deeper within to ourselves and to others.  I can’t love you true unless I know what real love is, and God is love.  “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:8).  The MORE I know God, my Father through Jesus and the Holy Spirit, the more I’ve got to give you. 
     We thank you God for your immeasurable love and faithfulness.
     Kevin Levar and his wife have a very interesting testimony of their singleness, celibacy and becoming man and wife.  Older age does not leave you out of love.
     "What a Love" God gives.