My Fortress of Faith

 With this upcoming uncertainty, this unknown…

The apparent report, this ongoing struggle…

I need to hasten to my fortress of faith…

I run there…

And He protects me from the lies, the fear, the anxiety…

It is here that the Spirit reveals truth to me

Strengthens my spirit 

Floods me with His delight

Causing the roots of my faith to become stronger, deeper, firmer…

I emerge from my fortress of faith

Steadfast, confident, declaring the goodness of God…

Anticipating that the giant will fall…

The way will be made…

And that the victory is won!

My Shelter of Love

 So many times, I need to come

To my Shelter of Love

To my Shelter, who is Jesus…

I need to come and listen

To His song, His words of endearment

His council, His advise, His longings,

His desire, His view of the circumstance…

His love fills in all the cracks of disappointments

His love lifts the burden

His love removes the curtain and brings the light…

He is my Shelter of Love

My safe and secure place…

Delighted

I watch you sleeping in my arms, hear your little noises, think about how dependent you are on me for your every need,

And I am delighted in who you are as I love, nourish, and watch you become!

I watch you smile, coo, laugh, giggle, reach for that toy, 

And I am delighted in who you are as I love, nourish, and watch you become!

I watch you get up on your knees, crawl toward me, and show me precious new teeth as you smile in satisfaction,

And I am delighted in who you are as I love, nourish, and watch you become!

I watch you take those first steps, as I sing “Happy Birthday” to you and laugh as you create with your cake,

And I am delighted in who you are as I love, nourish, and watch you become!

I watch you learn to count, play with cousins, learn to ride a bike,

And I am delighted in who you are as I love, nourish, and watch you become!

I watch you develop your love for learning, beg to go to Grandma’s house, and play baseball at the park,

And I am delighted in who you are as I love, nourish, and watch you become!

I watch you give your heart to Jesus, worship and dance in His Presence,

And I am delighted in who you are as I love, nourish, and watch you become!

I watch as the light of Jesus shines brightly in you, as you learn to drive the car, and as you mow my lawn,

And I am delighted in who you are as I love, nourish, and watch you become!

I watch as you develop the talents the Lord has given you, serve at church, and walk across that stage to receive your high school diploma,

And I am delighted in who you are as I love, nourish and watch you become!

I watch as you pray and seek the Lord for direction in your life, choose a college to attend, and as I kiss you good-bye,

I am delighted in who you are as I love, nourish, and watch you become!

I watch you lead friends to Jesus, fall in love and walk down that aisle and say, “I do!” And I am delighted in who you are as I love, nourish and watch you become!

I watch as the Lord blesses you with children, as you discover the joy of being a parent, and as you love, serve and nourish your own family…

And I am delighted in who you are as I love, nourish, and watch you become!

All the stages of learning and discovering in life are a delight to me, because you're a precious gift from God to me!

Your Father in heaven delights in every stage, in every season of your life as well.

He has planned these good plans for you and for me! His love, care, and nurture are ever flowing, and bubbling over…because He is love Himself, and has given me you!

Hidden Traps

 Hidden traps

Put there by the enemy

To steal, kill, and destroy

Hidden traps of pride, fear, offense

That steal joy, that rob

from the goodness He wants to give me, that keep me from radiating His nature to my world…

Hidden traps of “poor me,” “I can’t,” or “tomorrow “…

Hidden traps of worry, doubt, disappointment…

Hidden traps of one lie, and another lie, and another lie, to fit the narrative of what I want to believe, of what everyone else is doing, or fits the narrative that is everywhere…

These hidden traps

All set with great anticipation and intent to steal my joy, my purpose, my destiny…

Yes, the traps come in all shapes and sizes…

But God…

He sends His radiant light of Jesus, His Spirit, His Presence, His Word, to expose the trap.

He turns those hidden traps into obvious traps.

He gives new thoughts

And provides a way of escape…

His Light leads me around those hidden traps and gives me an INSTEAD.

Instead of a trap, His light allows me to encounter streams of blessings on the path.

No hidden traps on my path now…

Only obvious sinkholes

Which I gladly avoid! 

Thank you Father for delivering your children from the hidden traps on our path of life. 

Sin

 Sin

Causes my life to be filled with frustration,

Irrepressible anguish and misery

And the pain never lets up…

It removes my strength

Saps the joy of the Lord from my life

And dries up the wells of living water within me…

But…

When I surrender 

And call out to my Life- giving God…

He forgives me, wipes the slate clean

Washes the guilt away…

And the pain disappears…

Confessing my sin…keeps me safe

Surrendering…hides me in Your secret place

And protects me, 

Songs of deliverance and rescue come from my mouth…

And the Redeemer whispers,

“I will stay close to you

I will instruct and guide you along the way…

Just come with me…!

Psalms 32:10 “But when you trust in the Lord for forgiveness, His wrap around love will surround you!”

Flattering Tongue

 The enemy flatters with his tongue

He makes his plans sound safe and effective,

For the common good, equality, unity…

The enemy repeats and repeats his talking points

Twisting words, attempting to flatter, all for the purpose of manipulation…

Oh, but these empty words, these deceitful promises, 

Are lies, straight from the pit of hell

Planned with an agenda to steal…kill…destroy…

O God, 

Tune our hearts to hear truth 

To welcome truth…

To discern truth…

The truth of Your Word, and Your Spirit…

Sometimes it seems like we walk alone on this path of truth…

Truth that rejects the lie, that refuses to be manipulated, and sees through the flattery…

But we are never alone when You are on our side,

You open our eyes to the many who are holding onto truth

And as we stand and walk in Your truth…

We rejoice with exceedingly great joy

BecauseYou are fighting for us…

You are our Hero…

You have good plans and purposes for us…

Plans to keep us and giving us life, and life abundantly!

Praise be to God!

A High Rank

 Humbly, by grace, and all because of the blood of Jesus,

I can proclaim…

I am a daughter of high rank,

Because my Father is the Lord of Lords and King of Kings…

So how can someone of my rank

Fear…for lack of provision 

Fear…for lack of protection 

Fear…an assignment, a report, a circumstance?

How can someone of my rank

Fear tomorrow…or become anxious?

I am from the rank of royalty

My Father is above all other names, principalities, rulers,

He has unlimited supplies

Heavenly manna…

Is there anything my Father cannot do…?

Can someone of my rank be afraid of failing

When heaven is on my side?

Can someone of my rank

Moan, complain, stress

When I have a Father who has good plans and purposes for me and turns everything into good?

How can someone of my rank

Stoop to small thinking

Stoop to offensive 

Stoop to looking for something better

When I already have the best?

How can someone of my rank

Speak harshly, unkindly

When I have been given everything and have so much to give?

The questions could go on and on

But the reality remains…

I am a daughter of a King, a princess

I have been given everything in my union with Christ Jesus

I can only represent my Father well

I can only be as He is, kind, patient, gentle, generous…

I am rich because He is rich

I am safe, because He keeps me safe

I am loved because I am His…

I am a daughter of high rank…

“Walk in a way that is suitable to your high ranks…” Ephesians 4:1