Day 323 Praise

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne with the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, singing: "To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be praise and honor and glory and power, for ever and ever!" The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped. Revelation 5:11-14


Praise is music to God’s ears. God loves to hear His children offer Him praise. How can you make God happy? Praise Him! Why should God be praised? He is our Creator, our Redeemer and our Comforter.

Praise releases the power of God. Praise is our expression of gratitude for His mighty acts of power and His surpassing greatness. Praise releases your life into the hands of God. Praise releases the Holy Spirit within you to call upon His almighty authority. Praise releases your spirit to sing of His awesome greatness!

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Psalm 150:6

Day 322 Guidance you can Trust

Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser. Let those with understanding receive guidance. Proverbs 1:5


Ever seen the book, The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success? It gives "guidance for life." Here's a sentence from the first chapter:“If I embrace the present and become one with it, I can experience a fire, a sparkle of ecstasy throbbing (!?) in every living cell of my being.  I’m on a cosmic journey, star dust twirling and dancing in the eddies and whirlpools of infinity.”

Please. Whirlpools of infinity? That's what happens when the toilet won’t stop running. This book was a bestseller....People actually made decisions based on this stuff!

When it comes to seeking guidance, there's a better plan. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and useful for teaching us what is true and making us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.” It says that everything we need for guidance in life is in the Bible, either specifically or in general principle. It’s right there, laid out for us.

Examine God’s Word. Does the decision you are considering fall in line with the clear teaching of Scripture? If not, don’t do it. It doesn’t matter how good the decision looks or how great a promise it is supposed to be, or how much it will enrich you, or how happy it will make you. If it doesn’t line up with God’s Word, the answer should be “no.” Why? Because later, there will be some consequence that you won't like.

Read a little bit of the Bible everyday. Don’t feel guilty for not reading the entire New Testament on Monday and the entire Old Testament on Tuesday. Just read a little bit everyday. The more you read, the more you’ll be familiar with God’s guidance for your life.

Let God's Word grow into your heart, and it will bear fruit in your life. Then, when you’re faced with a decision, it will come to your mind and you’ll know the kind of direction God wants you to take.

Day 321 Nothing Wasted

Then I said to you, “Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place.” Deuteronomy 1:29-31

 The Israelites had traveled through the desert for more years than they wanted to count. Spies were sent out to inspect the Promised Land, and when they came back, the men reported that the people already living in the land were larger and stronger than them The people of Israel were scared. They cried out to Moses and asked why God had brought them there to die.

Then, Moses said something along the lines of, “Quit looking forward and being paralyzed in fear. God will fight for you! Look at all He has done in the past. He carried you in your time of need. He guided you in the darkness when you couldn’t find your way and was with you in the light when things seemed easier and clearer. Trust in Him!” It's a good reminder today.

There's a saying: “Life’s a lot like rowing. You only know where you’ve been.” We usually don't know what lies ahead of us, but we know where we have been. Even when you don't know what's coming next in your work or life, God is with you. The Israelites demonstrated to us over and over that it's easy to forget how God has carried us in the past when challenges face us ahead.

If you're wondering where God is, or feeling paralyzed with fear over what is next, hold tight to this:  The Lord, Sarah's God, who is going before you, will fight for you as you find your next job and place in the world. God will carry you as He has done before, as He always will.

Day 320 Moses

The book of Deuteronomy says that there has never been another prophet like Moses. Moses spent 40 days on a mountain talking with God. He spent so much time in God's presence that his face glowed with it.

But Moses didn't get all of his advice and answers directly from God. Deut. 18:24 says that "Moses listened to his father in law..." Moses went to Jethro, his father in law, for good advice. The same way, God uses other people to speak to us.

Sometimes God puts people into our lives who give us wise advice. Other times he gives us people who set an excellent example of handling tense moments with grace. God has regularly chosen to work within communities.

We (erm, me) like the idea of being self-sufficient. We don't want to need help from other people. But, God calls us into a community of believers We grow closer to God as we enjoy fellowship with others. Life can be simpler, less stressful, when we realize that God can speak, lead, encourage, and caution us when we make it a priority to develop relationships with other Jesus-followers who are willing to speak the truth to us in love.

Holy Spirit, thank you for the gift of fellowship. Work in Sarah so that she can offer your insights to others and be ready to receive your wisdom as well. Amen.

Day 319 Powered by...

The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear it's sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit. John 3:8

Today is Pentecost, the day we remember the way the Holy Spirit's power was evident fifty days after Jesus arose from the dead.

Practicing spiritual disciplines is a bit like wind blowing the turbines on a wind farm--we can mistakenly think that our spiritual growth is powered by our disciplines. But really their practice is just a vehicle that helps us grow nearer to God.

The disciplines don't compel the Holy Spirit to work on our behalf, but develop the habits that draw us to God where we are better positioned to be propelled by the Spirit's power when he moves.

Holy Spirit, prepare Sarah's heart to be moved by you so that she is ready to respond whenever you call her. Amen.

Day 318 We, the Unwilling

We, the unwilling, led by the unknowing, are doing the impossible for the ungrateful. We have done so much, for so long, with so little, we are now qualified to do anything with nothing. Mother Teresa

Day 317 One Day at a Time

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Matthew 6:34


Do you know this saying, "The two days that people worry most about but should actually worry about the least are yesterday and tomorrow." We can't control either of these. They're out of our grasp and a waste of energy

When we don't waste our worries on yesterday or tomorrow, we are...free to live in the present. Today you can make decisions about your life. Today you can set your course, take off in a new direction, or alter your path. Sure, you'll still make your share of mistakes, and you'll still have worries. Each day brings enough to be concerned about, but they get unbearable when the worries of the past and future gang up on us too.

Jesus teaches us to live one day at a time. He knew that so much of what we worry about is out of our control. He wanted us to understand that God gives us today. As we live our lives seeking Him, we are in a safe place. Jesus promises that our heavenly Father will provide us with everything we need.

Do your best to live today, just one day at a time! Most of the things you worry about will never come to pass! And, when you find yourself tempted to worry again, remind yourself that, “Your heavenly Father knows all your needs, and He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern.” Matthew 6:32-33

Day 313 Your Strong Defense

Satan's power is in the lie. He has no power over you except what you give him when you believe his lies. You break his power when you expose the lie. Scripture says, "We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one." 1 John 5:19

 

Since Satan's primary weapon is the lie, your defense against him is the truth. Dealing with Satan is not a power encounter; it's a truth encounter. 

 

When you expose Satan's lie with God's truth, his power is broken. That's why Jesus said: "You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:32). That's why He prayed: "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. . . . Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth" (John 17:15, 17 NIV ). That's why the first piece of armor Paul mentions for standing against the schemes of the devil is the belt of truth (Ephesians 6:14). 

 

Satan's lies cannot withstand the truth any more than the darkness of night can withstand the light of the rising sun.

 

Lord, give Sarah your boldness today to defeat the enemy's lies in her life and in the lives of those around her. Amen

Day 312 Invisible Harvest

Levitcus 23:15-17 And you will count from the day after the sabbath, from the day that you brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Until the day after the seventh sabbath you will count fifty days; and you will offer a new meat offering to the LORD. You will bring out of your houses two wave loaves of two tenth deals made from fine flour and baked with leaven. These are the first fruits unto the LORD.

In the Old Testament, God commanded Israel to count the Omer (the Barley Harvest) beginning the day after the sabbath during Passover, 50 days to the Biblical Festival of Shavuot (Pentecost).

Amazingly, even though the Jewish people had no land--or harvest to count--for almost 2000 years, they continued to count the Omer--counting a harvest that did not exist! When the Jewish people returned to the Middle East, the barley harvest was restored, and now they count the Omer as they did in ancient times, with an actual harvest.

So. If the Jews in dispersion could count the days of a non-existent harvest in expectation of a divine blessing which they earnestly hoped for, then they set an excellent example for us who trust in the Messiah.

Since faith is the conviction of things NOT seen, we also, can begin to give thanks for blessings we're praying for, but have yet to receive. A job, a broken relationship, financial difficulties…..all these are trials that test and mature our faith.

We can rejoice in them, even as we give thanks in the expectation of victory, restoration, and a harvest of righteousness that is on the way. May these come to many of us by Shavuot, this year (May 27th).

Thank the Lord for the blessings you're about to receive — they're on the way!

Day 311 It's a Crazy World!

In this crazy world, there's an enormous distinction between good times and bad, between sorrow and joy. But in the eyes of God, they're never separated. Where there is pain, there is healing. Where there is mourning, there is dancing. Where there is poverty, there is the kingdom.

Henri J. M. Nouwen

Day 309 A Prayer of Blessing

May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You. Psalm 33:22

Have you ever watched a child fall asleep in a parent's arms, especially at a large gathering? The tired child usually falls asleep in the most precarious of position...with his or her head cocked sideways on the parent’s shoulder, one arm hoisted around Mom or Dad’s neck while the other dangles. It’s an awkward position for both parent and child, but the innate relationship between the need of the child and the love of the parent instinctively leads the parent to shield the young dreamer from disturbances. Rest is available to the child as he or she trusts Mom or Dad’s loving care.

I love the psalmist’s use of the words, “rest upon us.” It makes me think of gently laying a soft, warm blanket across the shoulders of someone who needs protection from wind, rain, hot sun, or cold. The words bring visible comfort, an audible exhale, and relief from the daily barage of stress, pain, burden, anger, hurt, and disappointment.

The other phrase that compliments those words in this verse is, “even as we put our hope in You.” How amazing is it that the blessing comes in the act of hoping? Not before, not after, but during the act of trusting comes the blessing of rest. Another translation chooses the word mercy instead of rest. What an even greater blessing when we think of rest in terms of mercy.... Who doesn’t need this gift?
               
Take a moment to pray this passage as a blessing for yourself and the people around you today. It might sound something like this, “May Your unfailing love rest upon Sarah right now, even as she puts her hope in You. Amen.”

Day 308 Prayer for a Safe Journey

The Traveler's Prayer (in English)

May it be Your will, God, our God and the God of our fathers, that You should lead us in peace and direct our steps in peace, and guide us in peace, and support us in peace, and cause us to reach our destination in life, joy, and peace, and return us in peace. Save us from every enemy and ambush, from robbers and wild beasts on the trip, and from all kinds of punishments that rage and come to the world. May You confer blessing upon the work of our hands and grant me grace, kindness, and mercy in Your eyes and in the eyes of all who see us, and bestow upon us abundant kindness and hearken to the voice of our prayer, for You hear the prayers of all. Blessed are You God, who hearkens to prayer.

(in Hebrew transliteration)

Yehi ratzon milefanecha Ado-nai Eloh-einu veilohei avoseinu shetolicheinu leshalom vesatzideinu leshalom vesadricheinu leshalom vesismecheinu leshalom vesagi’einu limechoz cheftzeinu lechaim ulesimchah uleshalom (If he intends to return immediately, he adds: vesachazireinu leshalom) vesatzileinu mikaf kol oyeiv ve’oreiv velistim vechayos ra’os baderech umikol puraniyos hamisragshos uva’os le’olam vesishlach berachah bechol ma’aseh yadeinu vesitneini lechein ulechesed ulerachamim be’einecha uveinei chol ro’einu vesigmeleinu chasadim tovim vesishma kol tefilaseinu ki Atah shomei’ah tefilas kol peh. Baruch Atah Ado-nai shomei’ah tefilah.

Day 307 Pushing Higher

From William Tozer:

If Satan opposes the new convert he opposes still more bitterly the Christian who is pressing on toward a higher life in Christ. The Spirit-filled life is not, as many suppose, a life of peace and quiet pleasure. It is likely to be something quite the opposite. Viewed one way it is a pilgrimage through a robber-infested forest; viewed another, it is a grim warfare with the devil. Always there is struggle, and sometimes there is a pitched battle with our own nature where the lines are so confused that it is all but impossible to locate the enemy or to tell which impulse is of the Spirit and which of the flesh. There is complete victory for us if we will but take the way of the triumphant Christ, but that is not what we are considering now. My point here is that if we want to escape the struggle we have but to draw back and accept the currently accepted low-keyed Christian life as the normal one. That is all Satan wants. That will ground our power, stunt our growth and render us harmless to the kingdom of darkness. Compromise will take the pressure off. Satan will not bother a man who has quit fighting. But the cost of quitting will be a life of peaceful stagnation. We sons of eternity just cannot afford such a thing.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. Ephesians 6:10-11

Unmistakably clear from scripture is the fact that as believers we are in warfare. God has provided armor, weaponry and strength for the battle (Eph. 6:10-18). It remains for us to use it! Otherwise we are in danger of becoming POWs.

O Lord, I want to be strong in You. Thank You for the armor and weaponry with which You have equipped me. I go today in Your strength.

Day 306 Enjoy Life!

Do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:6,7

Sometimes I work too hard and take life too seriously. Last week, I noticed flowers in my backyard in bloom, and I had missed the process of blooming. Life is too short. Sometimes we need to sit back and enjoy God's gifts. An old man named Jeremiah (not the prophet) was getting to the end of his race, and as he reflected on it, this is what he wrote.

"If I had my life to live over again, I'd try to make more mistakes. I would relax. I would limber up. I would be sillier. I know of very few things I would take seriously. I would take more trips. I would climb more mountains, swim more rivers, and watch more sunsets. I would do more walking and looking, I would eat more ice cream and less beans. :) I would have more actual troubles and fewer imaginary ones.

"We tend to live sensibly and sanely, hour after hour, day after day. Oh, I've had my moments, and if I had it to do over again, I'd have more of them. In fact, I'd try to have nothing else. Just moments, one after another, instead of living so many years ahead each day. I have been one of those people who never go anywhere without a thermometer, a hot water bottle, mouthwash, a raincoat, aspirin, and a parachute. If I had it to do over again, I would go places, do things, and travel lighter than I have.

"If I had my life to live over, I would start barefooted earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. I would play more. I would ride on more merry-go-rounds. I'd pick more daisies."

Pick some daisies.

Day 305 Born of God

To all who received him, he gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a parent's will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.... From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another! John 1:12-13, 16

Day 304 Metamorphousthe

When we are followers of Christ, our spiritual growth requires radical renewal--metamorphosis. The Greek word for metamorphousthe, tranformation. Paul talks a lot about it. Romans 12:2 says that we are to "be transformed by the renewing of our minds." The salvation Jesus offers is a moral, spiritual, and mental transformation that takes place in this life.

The thing about living a transformed life is that WE can't do it: it is something God does in us...he reshapes us and transforms us into something new and wonderful. We are "being transformed." God is the agent of transformation. Through his power we "are being transformed into Christ's likeness" (2 Cor 3:18).

God's transformation comes through the renewal of our minds. In Greek "mind" means understanding, attitude, and entire way of thinking--our worldview--or the lens we use to see, interpret, and respond to the world around us.

Thinking biblically comes from passionately soaking up what the Bible says and letting it inform the way we think about God, suffering, poverty, sex, love, justice, forgiveness, truth, healing, and what it means to be human.

Day 302 There is a Time

A Time for Everything

There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,  
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.

Day 301 Hwy. 395

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. Hebrews 12:1-2

One summer,  a church youth camp went to Mammoth Mountain ski resort, legendary for its beauty and grandeur. It's in California's high Sierras and is majestic and breath-taking. I thought of you in this story, because the camp counselor who was driving the teens to their destination realised that she would be driving on Highway 395 for over four hours....four hours with no place to stop, driving a van filled with 14-year-old girls. Ugh.

What's on Hwy 395? Nothing. Aside from the occasional dust devil swirling through the barren miles of dirt, there is nothing to see, nowhere to stop, no radio stations to tune into, and little intelligent conversation to be had.

"I was bored," she said. "The students were bored with my questions, and my constantly asking, "Can you talk a little louder? I've gone deaf from too many years in youth ministry standing in front of speakers." It was a four-hour odyssey of pain.

"Then…finally…we rounded a bend, climbed steeply for three miles, and we saw the peak of Mammoth Mountain peering at us from above the cloud. The air cooled. The sun appeared more spectacular, more serene, and brighter. The mountain range was etched against the horizon like a watercolor painting, resplendent in orange, red and gold. Arriving at Mammoth after driving highway 395 was like departing from hell and entering heaven.

"We got out of the car, stretched, inhaled deeply, and soaked in the beauty. To be honest, I was tempted to drop to my knees and confess that along the way, I had been thinking about where I could bury a few of my students. ;)

"Reflecting on the drive, I relearned something I already knew but always tend to forget. Regardless how challenging the journey, the right destination makes the trip worth it."

This is true in our faith lives as well. The uphill and downhill portions that you travel through life are all worthwhile. The curves and detours of life’s challenges can bring wonderful blessings when we trust in God and allow Him to shape us. The long stretches of normal life are enriched when we encounter the beauty found in relationships with family and friends. The miles you go to build a close, intimate relationship with Jesus is so worth the investment of time and effort.

And one day, arriving in heaven will make the journey on this earth seem like such a short drive...even if your life has been like one long road trip on Highway 395. You'll round a bend, feel a cool, fresh whisper of wind on your cheeks, know you've been raised to a higher elevation.

Until then, keep driving, my friend. We're all in this together.

Day 300! Sarah Next

I needed to wash my hair, but the shampoo would not cooperate. I shook the bottle once, twice, and more times – each shake progressively more vigorous than before; but the shampoo remained unmoved inside! I wanted to give it freedom; admittedly a freedom to benefit me.

There are times when I have stayed unmoved in my thinking: when I approached a crossroads in my life, and refused to take another path, preferring to choose my own path.

Sometimes God tries to shake us up! He wants us to move from our comfort zones and reach out and trust His promise. He wants us to recognize His longing to give us more than we can imagine while here on earth, as well as an eternal kingdom filled with His freedom!

Why do we stubbornly refuse to cooperate? We choose to remain unmoved – snug inside our mindset. When we are either comfortable or we are stuck, we keep ourselves from the growth and the amazing blessings that God wants us to enjoy!

Hebrews 12:28. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom, which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

Abba, we seek Your guidance and ask that you keep shaking Sarah up in order to get her attention to what You want her to do for You next. Amen

Day 299 Why

I would go to the deeps a hundred times to cheer a downcast spirit. It is good for me to have been afflicted, that I might know how to speak a word in season to one that is weary. Charles Spurgeon

Day 298 Strange Fruit

Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. Hebrews 13:15

Day 297 Story

But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations. Psalm 33:11

Guess what--time really does seem to move faster and faster the older you get. It's comforting to know that my time on earth is not the whole story, or even a pinprick of the story. God’s story—His plan for the world—is continually unfolding, and everyone has a role to play.

I'm also thankful that I'm part of God’s story! God chose to give people temporary charge of the planet, and as Christ's followers we are temporarily in charge as God’s ambassadors—His personal representatives and messengers to enlarge his place in the hearts and minds of people. With these duties also come responsibility and accountability....there really will be a judgment day when we will have to give an account for our stewardship.

I'm thankful that we are not just another lemming in a crowd of 7 billion who are on the way to the end of the cliff! What God said to Jeremiah applies to every person on earth: “Before you were born, I knew you; before you were born, I set you apart” (Jeremiah 1:5).

In God’s story, you matter SO much! We may not be able to see beyond the current chapter of how our lives play out in His story. But as Christ-followers, I do know this: our most important tasks involve doing the necessary things that lead to growth in our relationship with Jesus so that we can, in ever-increasing fashio,n reflect Jesus in all we do.

In this way, we pass on this unfolding story of what God has done and what He is doing in the world to following generations. Then, at the end of our days, we can be greatfully assured that we have kept God’s story moving along.

Day 295 Not Either-Or

His master replied, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!"
 Matthew 25:21

Some would describe the first two servants in this parable as “successful.” Jesus, however, described them as “faithful.” Are the two completely separate? Not necessarily. Faithfulness sometimes brings earthly success, but more importantly, faithfulness brings eternal reward. Does that mean we should work to be successful? You bet!

But as we work toward success, we should do it faithfully to Jesus' call on our lives--His call to excellence and to invest in his work, whatever we have been given...gifts, talents, time, energy, hope. When we are faithful, He can bring about whatever type of success He desires in our lives.

Day 293 When is a Stick not a Stick? When God says so.

Moses answered, “What if they don’t believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you’?” Then the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” “A staff,” he replied. Exodus 4:1-2

One day, while Moses was tending sheep, God got his attention through a burning bush. When Moses investigated, God spoke. He called Moses to return to Egypt and lead the effort to free God’s people from captivity. There was just one problem: Moses didn’t want to go.

Moses offered excuses as to why he shouldn’t be the one to go. “I can’t speak,” he told God. “They won’t believe me,” he explained. “Please send someone else,” he pleaded.
               
God told Moses, “Hold out your staff and drop it.” The staff turned into a snake, then God turned it back into a wooden staff. Why? To prove His limitless power and control over all creation. Still, I find it interesting that God didn’t tell Moses to run over and tear a branch off of a tree. He didn’t send him home to pick up a weapon or to a marketplace to buy a new outfit. Rather, God told Moses to use what he already had: the staff of a shepherd.
               
We're all like Moses. God calls and we feel inadequate or ill prepared for what He has for us. We come up with excuses (even some good ones!) and plead with God to send someone else, anyone else.
              
I can picture God shaking His head and sighing, saying, “I want you to go. Can’t you see that I have given you everything you need? Don’t you know by now that in those areas of your life where you feel weak, I am strong? Don’t be afraid. I am with you.”

It can be scary to answer God’s call. But, when you feel Him tugging and leading you, have faith. You can trust him. Let Him use just what you have. With God’s strength, you can do it.