Good Monday morning! Before I say another word, I want to thank everyone for praying for me – I feel SO MUCH better! I still have no concrete answers to the “why” of my digestive pain, but have been cleared of the “scary” options and that in itself is a huge relief! For the last three days I have felt like a new woman, and I am so very thankful. So… a huge THANK YOU to Jesus and to all of you who invested in me through prayer {and through tangible blessings}. I am so grateful for you all!
As we start a new week, I thought I’d share a few pics that make me smile. 😉
Absolutely true on this last one! HaHa! 😉
We had a wonderful Sunday in our church yesterday, and a sermon Sunday morning that sent us to Habakkuk 3:17-19. These verses have been favorites of mine since James was in Seminary and we were struggling to make ends meet. We learned something valuable during that time – something that we were able to teach our children several years ago when we landed once again in a season of struggling financially. We learned not to base our joy on the presence of “physical blessings.” Just like the seasons of weather, physical blessings will come and go. Instead, we must learn to base our joy in the ONE thing that never changes – the LOVE of GOD for us, and His Salvation of us.
If we can rejoice in nothing else in life – this is HUGE enough! Because it is in times of leanness that we are reminded of the temporariness of this world. It is not really our home, and it is NOT all there is to life. What we are living now is just a breath compared to the future awaiting us in Heaven.
If you are struggling right now, I pray that these verses bring a smile to your face today:
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
and there are no grapes on the vines;
even though the olive crop fails,
and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields,
and the cattle barns are empty,
18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord!
I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!
19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength!
He makes me as surefooted as a deer,
able to tread upon the heights.
Habakkuk 3:17-19 NLT
Now if you don’t have flocks, figs, or olives to begin with, then maybe you can do as I did all those years ago – I personalized the verse by changing those things listed as empty and barren to words like “though the savings account lies empty and barren”… Make verse 17 fit YOUR situation for this moment, then boldly dare to rejoice as you proclaim verses 18-19!
I love how the Amplified says verse 19:
The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!
May the Lord do so to each of us ~ May He be our Strength, our Personal Bravery, our Invincible Army, and may He make us make spiritual progress in our places of difficulty today.
A blessed Monday to each of you~
With love…
