Several generations passed.

400 years of captivity.

40 years wandering the desert.

The Promised Land in sight, then out of sight, then in it again. Amazing victories. Devastating losses. Seasons of sin. Periods of rejoicing and serving the Lord.

Finally, the death of Moses. It wouldn’t be long. All they’d waited for was about to be realized. The promise they’d clung to their whole lives, generation after generation was about to come true.

Tomorrow, Joshua said, God would do wonders in their sight.

Tomorrow came.

Not with battle cries or conquering. Not with settlement or recognition from anyone outside. We have no records of trumpets sounding or angels singing or any other fanfare. As with many moving days, the excitement was mixed with the practical aspects of relocating. It came with memories of the last massive move: the exodus from slavery in Eygpt.

Tomorrow came by entering the way they exited- on dry land. God, in a moment, had a river standstill and pile up in a heap so that His people would visually see what had always been true: God makes the way.

They entered after Him and crossed over before His presence.

Their feet stood, at long last, on the Promised Land.

Tomorrow came and went.

It was still days, months even, before the land was officially claimed, in the sight of all people, as their own. There were still wars to be fought and victories to be won in the name of the God Almighty. The land still had to be divided, people would need to stake their claims and build their homes. All of the establishing was left to do.

The past was behind, the promise was the present.

God stopped a river in their sight to remind them of who He was and where He was in the midst of the move and the promise: present.

Sometimes we look for the big victory. The recognition and affirmation that we have indeed arrived. We crave a sense of being established, of permanance. Our idea of promises realized looks big.

God reminds us the promise that He will always be with us is realized every day.

God reminds us the promise that He will always be with us is realized every day.
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God makes a way so that we might recognize, in knowing and following Him, a present far greater than the promise. We live in the presence of the promise-maker and promise-keeper.

{A version of this post was originally published here.}

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LINKUP party is open! This week, my friend @BethanyMcIlrath reminds us that we have a record in Scripture and in our lives saying that we can trust God's promises
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The post The Promise of Presence appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

“All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.”  Matthew 5:37

Are you afraid of saying no? I am!

What a gift that Scripture doesn’t condemn the word no. Rather, the Bible highlights the importance of keeping your word, whether it’s a yes or a no.

Every no is a yes to something else, and vice versa. 

Imagine if Jesus was as uncomfortable with saying no as so many of us are.

What if, instead of saying “get behind me, Satan!” to Peter, He said “you’re right, Peter. I’ll stop all this talk of being killed because it’s too dark and too uncomfortable.” What if instead of taking a rest from time to time Jesus wore his human body down with non-stop healings, miracles, and other ministries, preventing himself from going from town to town?

It wasn’t by saying yes to every opportunity, to every person in power, or to spare other’s feelings that Christ saved the world.

It wasn’t by saying yes to every opportunity, to every person in power, or to spare other’s feelings that Christ saved the world. @BethanyMcIlrath
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In order for Jesus to do much of what He came to do, He had to say no. He had to say it firmly, assuredly, and without going back on His word. When Pharisees and others told Him what not to do, Jesus said no. When His own brothers urged Him to attend a festival and reveal Himself, He said “no,” citing God’s timing.

Perhaps most important about Jesus’ yes was that His response was to God first.

Every no Jesus spoke was to preserve the yes He gave to the Lord.

I suspect many of us say yes before we ask the Lord or consider what He has asked of us. We justify it, trying to explain away our yes  as selflessness, responsibility, or making the most out of every opportunity. Maybe we even justify our yes  in the name of the Lord, and fear saying no to others as if every no is a selfish offense to God.

But His Word challenges the notion:

“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ” Galatians 1:10

If you also go through your day feeling like yes is always the best answer, think about who you are saying yes to. Is it the Lord?

Does your “no” protect your “yes, Lord?”

{A version of this was previously published here}

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The post Your No Is As Important As Your Yes {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

So I’m letting you peek into my personal journal for twenty thoughts I hope encourage you and bring life to your soul. Some thoughts the Lord gave me in the past, but are helpful now. While others are fresh inspiration from the Lord.

Wholeness And Forgiveness

(1.) If people add injury to my pain, they are broken people in need of wholeness from Christ. Broken people break people. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” Psalm 147:3 ESV.

(2.) I must cling to the only sure hope in the darkness. Jesus. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” John 1:5 ESV.

(3.) Lord, place the cross and the blood of Jesus between me and the enemy, and between me and difficult people and circumstances. There’s nothing Your redemptive blood doesn’t cover. And there’s nothing it can’t redeem.

(4.) When we refuse to forgive others or even ourselves, we are limiting God. We are saying He’s not able to give us supernatural ability to forgive. We are putting ourselves as a god above the God who is so loving, so merciful, and so kind that every time we repent, He gladly forgives.

If people add injury to my pain, they are broken people in need of wholeness from Christ. Broken people break people. “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” Psalm 147:3 ESV. #journal #broken @FridayKaren
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New Mercies And Promises

(5.) I’m so thankful for the power of prayer: that mountains still move, seas still part, mana still rains from heaven, and because God can raise the dead, ashes turn to beauty again.

(6.) Even if the world seems to stop spinning. Even if dark clouds seem to hijack sunny days. And even if life seems void of another sunrise or sunset. The Son holds the world and me in His hands (Psalm 95:4). The Son shines His face on me and gives me peace (Numbers 6:25:-26). And the Son rises with healing in His wings and with new mercies every morning (Malachi 4:4, Lamentations 3:22-23).

(7.) Lord, I know all your promises are “Yes” and “Amen” in Christ. So help me trust that there are countless and hearty yeses and the loudest Amens at the end of this path (2 Corinthians 1:20).

(8.) God IS a good, good Father and I am confident goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life (Psalm 23:6). Lord, as I walk through a valley, help me to turn and see the footprints of goodness and mercy behind me every step of the way.

Strength And Restoration

(9.) The Lord is my strength, my song, my salvation. The LORD is a Warrior! MY warrior! (Exodus 15:2-3).

(10.) Lord, I’m claiming a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit, that You may be glorified (Isaiah 61:3).

(11.) In Joel 2:25, the Lord promised to restore the years the locusts had eaten. And if you know the total, devastating damage caused by locusts. And how they consume everything in their path…any form of life and vegetation. If God can restore that kind of damage and death and nothingness back to life and wholeness…He can do it in my life.

(12.) I am loved. I am chosen. And I am redeemed. I am free.

Grace And Open Arms

(13.) Romans 12:1-2 calls for me not to be conformed to this world. Instead, I’m called to offer myself as a living sacrifice. But it’s hard to be a living sacrifice when I keep crawling off the altar of God’s holiness.

(14.)  Whether it’s hard circumstances, unfulfilled dreams, strength for new things, or hope for the future: God is faithful as God. God is faithful to His callings on my life. God is faithful to me. “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful” Hebrews 10:23 ESV.

(15.) Rules never saved anyone. Rule-keeping never provided grace. But the blood of Jesus covers my sins and provides amazing grace…saving grace! It’s not about rule-keeping, but obeying the Almighty God and His Word.

(16.) God’s always waiting with open arms. There’s no better, safer, or stronger arms than the arms of the Almighty.

Romans 12:1-2 calls for me not to be conformed to this world. Instead, I’m called to offer myself as a living sacrifice. But it’s hard to be a living sacrifice when I keep crawling off the #altar of God’s holiness. @FridayKaren
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Battles And Victory

(17.) The Christian life isn’t about “arriving” as if there’s nothing more to learn or overcome. It’s about arriving to a better place—a stronger place as a believer.

(18.) God steps into my mess as soon as I decide to step out.

(19.)  I stand as victor because Christ was victorious.

(20.) In a spiritual battle, the enemy holds no power over me. Satan is not God’s equal, he is powerless before the Almighty who fights for me.

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Linkup is open, share your blog! @FridayKaren lets us peek into her journal for thoughts about wholeness, forgiveness, God's mercies and promises, valley journeys, and grace. #blog #journaling
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The post 20 Life-giving Entries in My Journal {Recharge Wednesday LINKUP} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “SO SHALL YOUR DESCENDANTS BE.”  Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform. Therefore IT WAS ALSO CREDITED TO HIM AS RIGHTEOUSNESS.” Romans 4:18-22

I was on my way to lunch and as I approached my car, I read my license plate’s frame: “No worries – God’s got it covered!”. I started laughing at myself, thinking of the irony of the statement as I searched my heart that day. I was having one of those days – the devil was on to me, attacking from every front, trying to destroy my testimony, trying to limit my vision to only what I could see at the moment.

Then I read about Abraham and his faith. He did not regard his old body and Sarah’s dead womb. He knew that “God had got it covered”. Looking at the obstacles ahead of him and his limited resources, he chose to trust God, obey and wait on Him. Because of his faith, he has become, as God promised, the “father of many nations.” (Genesis 17:5)

“He received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had while uncircumcised, so that he might be the father of all who believe without being circumcised, that righteousness might be credited to them.” Romans 4:11

This passage of Scripture stirs my heart up! That is because Abraham’s life was marked by mistakes, sins, and failures – just like mine. But because of his faith – and his faith alone – he inherited the promise and was found righteous before God.

Abraham inherited the promise, not because of his good works, his good days or bad days, but because of his solemn trust in God and His Word. That completely changes the paradigm of righteousness – my righteousness is not based on how I behave, on the bad days I have, but based on the faith that I placed in Jesus as my Savior and Lord, wherefore I inherited God’s righteousness and His promises.

My righteousness is not based on how I behave, on the bad days I have, but based on the faith that I placed in Jesus as my Savior and Lord, wherefore I inherited God’s righteousness and His promises.
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And so, on days when my not-so-perfect heart attitude causes me to think I may lose God’s promise, Abraham reminds me that nothing can ever move God’s love and acceptance. It is on those days that I teach my heart to cling to the promise Abraham received and that I inherited in Christ Jesus: the promise that, no matter what happens, God’s plans and promises for my life will be fulfilled.

All I have to do is to trust and obey. One step at a time… Through the rough patches… When people and circumstances threaten to bring the worse in me…  It is in those situations that I must remind my heart that the challenges presented are used to conform me to His image, while He works on the rough edges, teaches me to love unconditionally, forgive always.

On days like that, I remember that worry and fear are simply a waste of time because God’s promises do not change. Sometimes I may not see where He is leading, but I know His plan is perfect and will unfold in His perfect time. Abraham saw his body get older, Sarah’s menopause come, and kept on believing. He kept his eyes on his (unseen) promise.

Sometimes I may not see where He is leading, but I know His plan is perfect and will unfold in His perfect time
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 “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” Hebrews 11:1

What is the prize that lies before you? Your Promise Land? Something you have been eagerly waiting for?

Do not lose heart, my friend. The One who promises must deliver! Just tell your heart to believe.

As for me, I went back to my car that day and looked at my license plate with less cynical eyes. For I was reminded that when life is full of uncertainties and circumstances deny a glimpse into the Promise, I can trust that Calvary is still the sacred ground where fears and doubts melt away, and where all God’s promises to me were already fulfilled.

Thank you, Jesus, for purchasing, not only my forgiveness, but also the right to confidently believe!

When life is full of uncertainties and circumstances deny a glimpse into the Promise, trust that Calvary is still the sacred ground where fears and doubts melt away, and all God's promises to us were fulfilled.
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“Who’s that?” I ask.

It’s not my business. I don’t especially care. I’m just being nosy (usually because I’m bored.)

My husband’s reply is often, “It’s Jesus.”

I roll my eyes. He smirks. It’s our bit.

But sometimes when we play that little game, I think about how nice it would be to get a text from Jesus.

He doesn’t need to say anything in particular. It’d just be nice to be reminded that Jesus is thinking of me. That’s He’s with me and wants to talk. Anytime. All the time.

What I forget is that…He is.

Jesus may not text us like our friends do, but His text says...
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-He is listening (Psalm 138:3)

-He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7)

-He is paying attention to us (Matthew 6)

-He is with us (Joshua 1:9)

This is the case ALWAYS. All the time. Anytime. 24/7.

Before I text my people, I often wonder if I might be bothering them. Bugging them. Especially if it doesn’t seem like they text me back as much as I text them.

Jesus is never bothered by His people. (Ask the disciples…some of them really tried to test His limits!)

Even when we feel like there is “no reply,” we can trust that……

…because Jesus made a way for us to approach God’s throne of grace freely

…because He choose to dwell among us…

…because He chose to send the Holy Spirit to live in us

…because He paid the highest price to have us with Him for all eternity, knowing all that entails

……..He actually never gets tired of hearing from us, including us, and being with us.

To remind myself of this, I set up “texts” from God. You can, too.

I typed His wonderful name in as an event on my calendar for random times, on random days. My phone now occasionally buzzes like I’m getting a text. My screen flashes a reminder of the One who is graciously near all the time. Just a name. That beautiful, wonderful, highest, most loving name:

….And I’m able to tell my guy when he asks who’s texting: “It’s Jesus!”

Join me?

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LINKUP PARTY is open for Christian Bloggers! This week, @BethanyMcIlrath tells us that she has been receiving texts from Jesus. You can too! Super cool idea. JOIN US?
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