Here’s a list of mental health related posts from the Soul H2O Blog that help when your mental health is waning.
Faith & Lace With Shelby Discusses about my daughter’s cross to bear and God’s grace with a link to her podcast interview on the Soul H2O Radio & Podcast Show which just happens to be the #1 listened-to episode!
The one who is victorious will, like them,
be dressed in white…
I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but
I will announce before my Father and his angels
that they are mine.
Revelation 3:5 NIV…NLT
YOUR ROYAL ANNOUNCEMENT
On May 19, 2018, the world joined in on a truly royal celebration with the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, still Duke and Duchess of Sussex. I thought it was very appropriate that at the same time in Canada it was our annual Victoria Day holiday weekend, commemorating the late Queen Victoria’s birthday.
The monarchy was forefront in the conversations of most everyone as millions watched the marriage nuptials. Across in North America, early morning parties were planned with girls of all ages dressing up in white wedding gowns, attempting to live vicariously through Meghan Markle; a regular girl turned princess.
Here’s a picture of me celebrating the wedding drinking the official royal wedding tea blend 🙂 {Notice the properly positioned pinky}
Even though Harry and Meghan’s wedding did veer from some of the monarchist traditions, the formality of royal announcements was a part of the day. Just hearing, “Oh Yeah, Oh Yeah! All rise. Now entering, the Duke and Duchess of…” makes you curious to see who’s entering. As for me, a girl brought up at the dragstrip, this all seems like a foreign language, but it sure helps me to grasp the weight of these words in Revelations.
John records in Revelations 3:5 that if you are a part of those who are victorious by overcoming to the end, three things will take place.
Jesus will dress you in white; symbolizing our right-standing with God through Christ. Since your position now is a daughter of the King, you’ll be dressed like one.
Jesus will write your name in permanent marker, never to be blotted out of the Book of Life.
Jesus will make, YOUR ROYAL ANNOUNCEMENT!
Jesus will introduce you to the Father and His angels! To think that Jesus is going to announce your entrance into heaven is mind-blowing! Who are we that Jesus, The Son of God should give us such a royal announcement?
Through your faith in Christ: you are adopted into THE royal family, you’re an heir, holding the position of a son, as a daughter of the King of Kings! That’s why you’re worthy of such an honour! In case you’re still finding it hard to believe, this truth is confirmed at least three times in Scripture. Jesus himself says in Matthew 10:32 and Luke 12:8 ” Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven.”
In case you’re still finding it hard to believe, this truth is confirmed at least three times in Scripture. Jesus himself says in Matthew 10:32 and Luke 12:8
“Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven.”
As I studied this verse in the original Greek I became completely overwhelmed with wonder of God’s grace and His goodness. When describing those who will be introduced by Jesus, the words are translated in our Bible versions as one who overcomes, conquers or is victorious. The original says they are those who “subdue (literally or figuratively) conquer, overcome, prevail, get the victory”1.
Let the knowledge of WHO you are, your royal identity as a daughter of the King and the future hope of, YOUR ROYAL ANNOUNCEMENT help you to be a victorious overcomer, conquering whatever this world throws your way!
Prayer
Father, I thank You for Your awesome gift of grace. You give to me what I don’t deserve. Open my spiritual eyes to see myself as Your child, a worthy heir and daughter of the King. Help me to overcome so I make it to the day Your son introduces me to You! In Jesus name…Amen.
Revelations 3:5
Matthew 10:32
Luke 12:8
Luke 10:20
Royal Video
Here’s an interesting video to watch of Her Majesty the Queen of England and the royal family being announced just for a luncheon! Such pomp and circumstance.
See the INTRODUCTION FOR THIS SERIES in the #SoulH2O post two weeks ago Celebrating the Women of The Christmas StoryThe series is talking about how each of the #ChristmasWomen were:
CARRIERS – OF THE PROMISE & PRESENCE OF GOD
THE MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN – ELIZABETHwas the first Christmas Woman celebrated. I talked about how she protected the promise of God. Last week celebrated THE TEENAGER – MARYdiscussing how she was willing to be inconvenienced to carry the promise and very presence of God, Emmanuel: God with us.
Read on to learn about our last Christmas Woman everyone’s been wondering about…
THE SENIOR CITIZEN…
Since I’m totally breaking my format for #SoulH2O devotions with this series, I decided to share the whole of Anna’s story with you (a whopping 3 verses) because so many of you have commented or sent me messages saying you can’t wait to see who the Senior Citizen is. This lets me know that many of you don’t know who she is, so you probably don’t know her story and she’s absolutely a woman worth celebrating!
The Prophecy of Anna
“Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple. She was the daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher, and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years.Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four.She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer.She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.” Luke 2:36-38 NLT
Anna is the last of our Christmas women. She was the only woman who didn’t carry a physical baby in her body, but there is no doubt in my mind that she carried the promise and presence of God to the people in her day.
Anna knew what it was like to face hard times. She was widowed at a very young age and never had any children. During Jesus’ time, women who weren’t married didn’t hold much value in their society so this fact lets you in on how “unimportant” Anna could have seemed to many in her day, but Anna was a prophet. She spent her days serving in the temple, worshipping God with fasting and prayer.
It was out of this lifestyle that she heard from God and shared His messages to His people.
There’s so much that sticks out in my mind about Anna, but the words waiting expectantly from Anna’s life-story just jump out at me and Christmas really is a time when people are found waiting expectantly.
WAITING EXPECTANTLY
For centuries children on Christmas Eve have hung stockings by the fireplace and struggled to fall asleep with nervous anticipation of what Santa will bring in the morning. My kids were no different than the masses.
In order to help my kids be able to fall asleep on Christmas Eve I started a tradition where they were allowed to open one gift at bedtime. That gift was always a pair of new pajamas and a book. Not the most exciting gift, but it created the atmosphere I hoped for. Brandon and Shelby would change into their PJ’s and were allowed to read their new books before lights out. The PJ’s made for nice pictures on Christmas morning and the books helped them fall asleep.
Waiting expectantly on Christmas Eve is pretty simple for kids since they know the next morning is Christmas day and they can see wrapped presents under the tree.
The way Anna and others waited expectantly for the promise of God to be fulfilled wasn’t so easy. Anna had been waiting for about 60 years. She was doing all the right and good things while waiting but she had been waiting for oh so long! She never gave up hope waiting for the promised Emmanuel, the Messiah…JESUS to come.
Maybe you’ve been waiting a long time for your promise. Maybe you feel like too much time has passed and you need to “move on” or “give up”. I pray Anna’s story restores your hope and gives you faith to believe. Know that at Christmas and always, God keeps His promises and fills you with His presence while you wait.
Prayer
Father…I thank You that you’re not like Santa doling out gifts I don’t need. You make promises to me and fulfill them in Your perfect timing. You know exactly what I need and what’s best for me. Help me to trust You and Your timing. May I live with a special expectancy this Christmas carrying my Promise from You and Your Presence within so I can share it with the world when my promise is ‘born’. In Jesus Name…Amen
ANNACARRIED THE PROMISE AND THE PRESENCE OF GOD…
I WANT TO BE LIKE HER.
Soul H2O Radio & Podcast Christmas Series- The Brave Senior Citizen & Brave Cyndi
During the Christmas season, were running The Brave Christmas & Christian Women Series. Episode 50 is Part2 ofThe Brave Senior Citizen & Brave Cyndi. In This Series, were Celebrating The Women of The Christmas Story and a few of their contemporary counterparts.
Cyndi Desjardins Wilkens isn’t a Senior for a long time but an author and quadruple amputee who shines the light of Christ at Christmas and every day throughout the year!
If you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.
#Dare2Share Post in the Comment Section below and bolster the faith of someone else!
If you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.
This post: Celebrating The Women Of The Christmas Story – The Teenager Post was Shortlisted for The2017 Word Awards in the Category of Article-Inspirational/Devotional and WON!!!!!
It was also featured on the #GraceandTruth #Linkup by Aimee Imbeau
I hope that one day, this will be what inspired the book!
“And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her..” Luke 1:38 ESV
For most of my life, I’ve had a skinny, scrawny type of frame. My ankles and wrists are not much bigger than a small child’s, but that all changed when I was pregnant.
This picture was taken the night I went into labour with my son Brandon. I’m not sure if my hair or pregnancy belly is larger??? I will say there was a shadow behind me from that cheap camera I owned.
Being truthful, I don’t think there was anything left small on me at that point. My feet had swelled, my lips felt blown up, my face was puffy…nothing was comfortable anymore. Sleep seemed unattainable.
Trying to find a comfortable position with a yoga ball attached to my tummy was impossible. How I gained over 50 pounds for a baby who was just 9 pounds 9 ounces doesn’t make sense (if it weren’t for all those bacon-cheese hotdog cravings I fulfilled).
I can attest to the fact that carrying a baby was inconvenient, uncomfortable, stretching, tiring, and yet…the most wonderful time of my life!
MARY – The Pregnant Teenager
I imagine it was similar, but a whole lot more inconvenient for Mary. Teen pregnancies aren’t often easy. There’s a certain stigma High School aged girls face when they announce they’re pregnant. I doubt Mary had it in her school planner to get pregnant, especially by someone other than her fiancé.
How do you explain it to your family and friends that ‘you’re not pregnant because you’ve done something you shouldn’t’, it was because you allowed the God who created the universe to use your womb?
Nothing about Mary’s pregnancy was convenient, comfortable or easy; yet this teenager accepted God’s plan for her life with the words,
“I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
No, but God don’t you know how hard that is…don’t you know what that will cost me…don’t you know what people will say…don’t you know what Joseph will say…he may leave???
Mary was carrying the promise and the very presence of God – Emmanuel, God with us inside her womb and it cost her.
Carrying the promise and presence of God isn’t convenient, easy, or comfortable, but it will be the most incredible adventure of your life; if you yield to God’s will, done God’s way.
It’s impossible to carry a baby without getting stretch marks but oh, it’s so worth the scars. Be like Mary; willing to be inconvenienced so you can carry within your heart the promise and the presence of God, so that through you the world will see Emmanuel, God is with us!
Prayer
Father…I’m overwhelmed at the thought that YOU want ME to carry Your promises and Your presence to the world. I don’t feel worthy and I’m afraid of the cost. I’m sorry for trying to take the easy-way-out. I open my heart and my life to You. I’m willing like Mary to carry Your promises and Your presence, so the world may know YOU, no matter the cost. In Jesus Name…Amen
I’m willing to be inconvenienced to carry the promise and the presence of God to this world!
You can find the full story of Mary’s involvement in Jesus’ birth Within these portions of Scripture:
Luke 1:26-38 An Angel Meets Mary, Jesus Birth Foretold
Luke 1:39-56 Mary Visits Elizabeth
Matthew 1:18-25 Angel visits Joseph
Matthew 1:27 Emmanuel: God With Us (Prophesied in Isaiah 7:14)
Luke 2:2-6 Mary gives birth to JESUS: The Promise & Presence of God
Soul H2O Radio & Podcast Christmas Series
During the Christmas season, were running The Brave Christmas & Christian Women Series. Episode 49 is Part2 ofThe Brave Teen Mom & Brave Single Moms. In This Series, were Celebrating The Women of The Christmas Story and a few of their contemporary counterparts. PeggySue Wells is an author and speaker who hosts an online ministry for Single Moms at SingleMomCircle.com
GET READY FOR NEXT WEEK’S #SoulH2O Devotion in the Series THE SENIOR CITIZEN
WANT WEEKLY REFRESHING?
If you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.
For the next 3 weeks before Christmas, I’m going to release 3 posts Celebrating The Christmas Women. I really wanted to title this series: The Teenager, A Middle-Aged Woman, and The Senior Citizen I Want to Be Like, but I thought it was a little long 🙂
Parts of these posts I shared in a message at Christmas events. There’s just so much to the lives of these women that I can’t get away from their stories and how it relates to the birth of Christ. I want to share these snippets of their stories with you so you can see the hope of Christmas, our hope in Christ as we learn from these women and begin to model the character they lived.
Each of these women were:
CARRIERS – OF THE PROMISE & PRESENCE OF GOD
All three of these women carried inside of them the promise of their savior, the Messiah. The Christmas women all spent time in the presence of God so, when God’s promises were present in their lives they immediately recognized them. Each woman’s life in the Christmas story affected people around them as they pointed the world to Christ.
These three believed in the promises of God and trusted in God’s timing. It’s my greatest desire to be like the Christmas Women, to carry inside of me the promise and the presence of God. I want my life to affect others so they look to Christ, to live out a strong faith, believing in His promises with a confident trust in His timing to fulfill them.
It’s my prayer, that by the end of this series you want to be like these women too.
So let’s begin our Christmas Festivities,
Celebrating the Women of The Christmas Story!
The first woman in the Christmas story…Jesus’ Story…is actually:
THE MIDDLE-AGED WOMAN
“When Zechariah’s week of service in the Temple was over, he returned home.Soon afterward his wife, Elizabeth, became pregnant and went into seclusion for five months. “How kind the Lord is!” she exclaimed. “He has taken away my disgrace of having no children.” Luke 1:23-25 NLT
Luke starts his gospel account starting with the record of a couple named Zechariah and Elizabeth and he tells us this couple was old, that was his way of saying Elizabeth was passed the age of child-bearing. One day while working in the temple, an angel tells Z that Elizabeth his wife is going to have a child, and not just any child.
Their child would be the one prophesied about in Malachi 4:6. He wast to be the forerunner for the Messiah.
“And he will go on before the Lord…to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (NIV)
It’s pretty clear from Z’s reaction that he had long since given up on the dream to have a child before the angel came to meet him at work. Z didn’t believe and as a sign from God that God could do what He said, Z was unable to speak for 9 months, until the birth of his son.
ELIZABETH
On the other hand, Elizabeth immediately believed and because of her faith, Elizabeth carried John the Baptist; the one who would prepare the way for the Christ, in her womb. Elizabeth protected the promise of God inside of her by staying secluded for 5 months, she took extra precautions to make sure the promise of God inside of her was able to grow and mature. Elizabeth didn’t let anyone talk her out of her promise from God. She didn’t allow anything to stop it from being birthed.
Be like Elizabeth… Protect the promise of God in your life. Luke 1:24
This Christmas, think about the promises God has given you as a believer in His Word and the one’s He’s given to you personally. Protect those promises. Give them room to grow in your heart, your mind, and in your life so you can see them birthed like the baby, John The Baptist.
ELIZABETH CARRIED THE PROMISE & THE PRESENCE OF GOD…I WANT TO DO THE SAME #ChristmasWomen
Prayer
Father…I thank You for all the promises in Your Word and for speaking directly to me. Help me to put a shield around your promises so they will have room grow so I’m able to carry them to full-term; watching Your promises be fulfilled in Your timing. In Jesus Name…Amen
Soul H2O Radio & Podcast Christmas Series
During the Christmas season, were running The Brave Christmas & Christian Women Series. Episode 48 is Part1 ofThe Brave Middle-Aged Christmas Woman & Brave Cheryl.In This Series, were Celebrating The Women of The Christmas Story and a few of their contemporary counterparts.
Now, I know we’re supposed to focus on Jesus and we will be but I think it’s good to take some time and recognize the impact some of these brave women had in the Christmas narrative and in our world today. I know you’re going to be inspired by my friend, Cheryl Nembhard. She’s a TV & Podcast Host, Speaker, Author, & Social Justice Advocate.
You can find the full story of Zechariah and Elizabeth in these portions of scripture:
Luke 1:5-25 John The Baptist Birth Foretold Luke 1:39-56 Mary Visits Elizabeth Luke 1:57-66 Elizabeth gives birth to the Promise of God
Did you like the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion? Then you’ll love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women and I hope you’ll Subscribe to receive weekly Soul H2O devotions.
GET WEEKLY REFRESHING
This devotion was originally posted on December 5, 2016.
#Dare2Share Post in the Comment Section below and bolster the faith of someone else!
This devotion was inspired by the Soul H2O Radio & Podcast Episode with Melanie Stevenson, Bringing Your Soul Into Focus. Hope you get refreshed from both Soul H2O media offerings. 🙂
Bringing Your Soul Into Focus
Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. ~ 3 John 1:2 NKJV
Eye Examinations
I was first prescribed to wear glasses in Grade 10. Since then, I’ve started going yearly, for an eye exam; you know, that enjoyable experience when an optician or ophthalmologist shines the brightest flashlight known to mankind in your eyes… ya, that one. Then, there’s a part when the doctor swings the phoropter in front of you, a big lens machine and through a series of examples, shows you two different lens prescriptions and you’re supposed to decipher which helps you better read the Snellen Eye Chart. Everywhere, doctors ask their patients, “#1 or #2?”
You Need To Focus
Your answer is the process by which the eye doctor determines your prescription. Doctors keep asking you this question until finally you can see clearly, when everything is brought into focus. It’s interesting with all their years of schooling and expensive instrumentation, the doctors cannot prescribe you the proper lenses if you don’t properly discern which lenses bring your eyesight into focus.
You have to focus, to decipher what brings you focus.
Soul Examinations
You’d be wise to begin regular examinations on your soul, like you do with our eyes. You need to start bringing your soul: your mind, will & emotions into focus, in order to live healthy. If you’re going to live out today’s verse and prosper as your soul prospers… then, you’re going to have to direct your focus on your soul in order to experience soul health that leads to health in all areas of your life.
Bring your soul into focus, as clear as an eye-exam and make it healthy!
Prayer
Father… I ask that you would help guide me in the process of bringing my soul into focus. It doesn’t come naturally but I know Your Word is telling me I can and even prosper in it! I thank you for giving me the ability to prosper in health of my body, soul and spirit! In Jesus Name…Amen
Do you struggle to bring your soul into health?
Yesterday’s Soul H2O Splash Online Event with Melanie Stevenson and I took the message of BRINGING YOUR SOUL INTO FOCUS one step farther with 10 TIPS TO HELP BRING YOUR SOUL INTO FOCUS… You can watch if you are a member of the Soul H2O Splash Private Facebook Group.
Become a Ministry Partner & help Sherry continue to share Refreshing from God’s Word to thirsty souls!
3 John 1:2
1 Samuel 16:7
Luke 16:15
2 Peter 1:3
If you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you’ll love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women from our Legacy Works Online Store.
Get ready to find out how you’re called to be a mover of mountains–breaker of chains…
Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. ~Matthew 16:18 NLT
Last night I woke up to yet another allergic reaction to a medication I was put on last week to combat a reaction to a dental procedure. My tongue felt swollen and I feared the constricting sensation in my throat. I know what it’s like to have severe allergic reactions that have landed me in the hospital, twice.
Staying up to see if it would pass, I took a shower, googled and prayed. At one point I felt the sensations decreasing and ok to lay down. I fell back asleep.
So, let’s just say… I didn’t go to bed thinking of gum drops and lullabies 🙂 BUT… God woke me up in the morning with the words of a song playing in my head that gave me hope to all the situations in my life that had probably helped to trigger allergic reactions in my body (stress has a way of doing that).
“Mover of Mountains, Breaker of Chains” was sounding off like a record player skipping on repeat.
Mover of Mountains
I don’t know if you’re like me, but I have a few mountains that need moving. Mountains in the realm of the Rockies… looming large over the valley below. Struggles that can overwhelm, steal my sleep and rob my joy… without God’s voice in my life.
With God’s voice in my life, problems are dwarfed in the magnitude of His greatness, His goodness, His presence. Through reading Laura Harris Smith’s book, Seeing The Voice of God, I know that waking dreams, songs or thoughts in your mind are very important and you shouldn’t discount them.
Breaker of Chains
Thankfully, Google helped me find the right song that I was hearing. The lyrics of You Cannot be Stopped were like a healing balm to my heart and emotions. As the song kept repeating “There’s nothing that can stop our God”. I was reminded of today’s verse. NOTHING can stop God, not His plans, purposes or His church.
Nothing Can Stop Our God
I’m comforted to know that the church isn’t a building as our brains like to think. The church in the original Greek used in this verse is “ekklesia” or in literal terms, “to call out from or to.”1 “The church” refers to the people God has called out, to live for Him… that’s YOU! God is building His church on the rock of your life… well, He wants to!
Mover of Mountains—Breaker of Chains
It should comfort you to know that God doesn’t just tell you that you can do something, He promises to show you the way. In the next verse, right after today’s verse, Jesus assures you of the authority you hold over your life; when He says, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16:19) In Mark 11:23, Jesus also emphasized a believer’s authority when He said, “I tell you the truth, you can say to this mountain, ‘May you be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’ and it will happen. But you must really believe it will happen and have no doubt in your heart.”
Because God’s given you the keys to unlock the doors that keep you bound and the authority to move mountains, you can be like Zerubbabel who helped lead the re-building of the temple after the Israelites came out of captivity. If you press on, your legacy will be talked about like his.
“Nothing, not even a mighty mountain, will stand in Zerubbabel’s way; it will become a level plain before him! And when Zerubbabel sets the final stone of the Temple in place, the people will shout: ‘May God bless it! May God bless it!’” (Zechariah 4:7)
You have what it takes. Now, use your key and open the door that is holding you bound because God wants to show Himself as the, “Mover of Mountains—Breaker of Chains” in and through you!
Prayer
Father… Help me to believe in the truth of Your Word and the authority you’ve given me to govern my life. Help me not to fall into self-pity and low-level-living when you’ve promised a mountain-moving, chain-breaking ability for me to access. May I discern… and use the keys You’ve placed in Your Word for me to live an overcoming life. In Jesus Name…Amen
DRAWING FROM THE WELL
Matthew 16:18
Matthew 16:19 connected to: Isaiah 22:22 and Revelations 3:7
Mark 11:23 (similar in Matthew 21:21)
Zechariah 4:7
#musicpic SONG: You Cannot Be Stopped by Phil Wickham, Chris Quilala Youtube Video: https://youtu.be/T2a0QW4V0aM Soul H2O 2020 Spotify Playlist: Online | On App
If you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you’ll love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women from our Legacy Works Online Store.
Praying this devotion helps you see the season beginning to change in your life!
Early this August, we followed our normal family tradition and celebrated Shelby’s birthday at the trailer. While my immediate family was there, my cousin was driving by, stopped and honked. So, we all went out by the fence to say hello.
As we were talking, I noticed leaves under our feet, then I looked at the two trees on either side of us. I was shocked to see yellowing leaves and mentioned it to my niece. I told Todd and thought it strange for trees to be turning when it was a blistering hot summer day. I’d never seen trees begin to turn during the beginning half of August.
NEVER.
It felt like a holy noticing. Everyone else was focussed on my cousin but God turned my eyes to the trees.
Was God trying to speak to me through the colour of the leaves?
Was the season beginning to change for me?
Back At Home
My Instagram Story that day
I love to walk in the morning and spend some time with God as I’m getting some exercise. About ten days after Shelby’s birthday party, on another one of those blistery hot August walks, I stopped to take a picture of the deep blue sky contrasting the dark green trees, when I noticed leaves on the top of three trees slightly turning yellow.
I thought maybe I was going crazy, but by the time I was done my walk, I had seen three trees with a little bit of yellowing leaves… on August 20th… in Leamington, Ontario; the southernmost point of Canada. We live in the “southernmost point of mainland Canada”, marketed under the motto, “Sun Parlour of Canada”. We’re actually on the same latitude line as northern California and Rome.1
Needless to say, fall leaves in summer are NOT NORMAL here.
Pictures from my walks Aug.20-26, 2020
By the week following, on August 26th, I saw my first tree with red leaves (the last picture here). Season’s Changing.
CRAZY.
Normal Season Changes
I’ve never seen leaves turn this early. The website ToDoOntario.com site and others confirm how, “Ontario fall colour reports begin mid-September and continue through October.”2
Leaves don’t change in August… but they did, and I took notice.
Each walk I felt the Lord directing my attention to these pre-mature colour-changing trees amidst the green ones. I felt the Lord directing my eyes and whispering to my soul, the season is changing… and change it is.
Today is September 15th and more trees have changed colour and lost leaves. We could have raked leaves around our fence at our trailer on Labour Day Weekend even though most trees in the park were dark green.
As I read Esther 4:14, it had new meaning, given all God’s been speaking to me lately. Mordecai’s words to Esther when she almost missed noticing the changing season, struck me this morning, “For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
While I read this verse, the Lord kept reminding me about Isaiah 43:19, “Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert.”
Nudging You…
I feel the Lord pressing me to not stay silent but write and nudge your level of holy noticing. Pay attention to His “Godwinks” to you, like the turning trees to me, and ready your heart for the sudden opportunities this new season change will provide.
Rub Your Eyes
Plainly, keep your eyes peeled because God has something up His sleeve for you to do and I don’t want you missing the destiny He has for your life. Esther almost missed hers, don’t miss yours.
And… don’t get distracted looking for something BIG. Most of God’s opportunities don’t start with something ground-breaking or earth-shatteringly obvious… but small, unimportant to us but life-changing, nonetheless. So, rub the sleepy out of your eyes and see what God is about to do… through you!
PRAYER
Father… I ask you to open my eyes and help me see what you’re doing. Remove the distractions that seek to steal my attention from what you’re about to do. May I live out every detail of the destiny your have for my life. In Jesus Name…Amen
This post, From Advesity To Adventure was originally posted on November 18, 2018 when Todd and I got back from Guatemala… for the third time. I just felt it needed to be released again.
I woke up thinking about the Soul H2O Podcast Epidode #28, Seasons of Growth in Adversity (which also features and interview with Todd, my daughter and Peggy Kennedy). That reminded me of this devo and it encouraged me, so I pray it will do the same for you!
Here’s the Soul H2O Devotion…
From Adversity To Adventure
This resurrection life you received from God
is not a timid, grave-tending life.
It’s adventurously expectant,
greeting God with a childlike
“What’s next, Papa?”
God’s Spirit touches our spirits
and confirms who we really are.
We know who he is, and we know who we are:
Father and children.
And we know we are going to get
what’s coming to us
—an unbelievable inheritance!
We go through exactly what Christ goes through.
If we go through the hard times with him,
then we’re certainly going to go
through the good times with him!
~Romans 8:15-17 The Message
For the past two weeks, Todd and I were in Guatemala!!! This is our third trip because the people have gotten into our hearts. We’ve only been home a few days and we’re planning to go back.
The crazy part is we started journeying to Guatemala before we ever became romantically connected! We discovered at the beginning of our dating relationship that we both wanted to go back to Guatemala. With the encouragement (or maybe a little hounding) from Sam Welten of Possibilities International, we went last March to help with a teen missions trip. While there, I was asked to run a women’s event. It went so well they asked us back this year with a team of women who would coordinate four women’s events across Guatemala and build houses for families in need.
I was blessed to have this opportunity because a horrible thing went on in my life. For two decades I was in an unhealthy marriage that ended with a very difficult divorce. Todd and I would never be married if we both hadn’t had to go through the disappointment of divorce. My life has been a series of hard times followed by incredibly awesome experiences. I can honestly say; every struggle has made the good times all the sweeter. With God, you can go from adversity to adventure!
ADVENTURE THROUGH ADVERSITY… TO THE EXCITING STUFF!
I chose to use Eugene Petersen’s Message paraphrase of the Bible for this week’s Scripture reference because I love how he words this passage. {Side-note; did you know he’s Canadian too? A Canuck just like me… OK, back to the devo} What Petersen’s meaning when he compares the Christian life by saying:
This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life.
Is that the Christian life isn’t for lifeless, dead, boring people. It’s a life resurrected. Jesus came to give us life and life more abundantly! Yes, you’re going to have problems, but yes, you’re going to experience the good stuff. Begin to live adventurously expectant of what God destined for you. A life lived for God is an exciting adventure! You won’t be bored. You may be hanging on for dear life at times, but it will never be a lackluster existence. I’ve found, that with each step I take towards God’s purposes for my life, the more attention-grabbing my journey gets. Seeing how God connects me with the right people at the right time, watching where He directs me to go and recognizing who He’s leading me to go with are all born out of exhilarating escapades!
So, if you’re finding life a tad bit drab… ask God to show you what HIS plans for you are and take the first step on your exciting new adventure!
Prayer
Father… Help me not to live small. Your plans for my life are big, exciting, adventurous plans. Let my heart line-up with your will so I can experience all that you have purposed for me to do. I will live expectantly asking “What’s next, Papa?”. In Jesus Name…Amen
Right before we went to Guatemala I did a Facebook Live to update and encourage people. It’s what inspired this devotion.
We want to thank all the individuals who gave to help fund this missions trip and make it a reality. Below are links to a few of them. We’d love for you to support them with donations or your business J
Possibilities International Founder Sam Welten has been friends with Todd for decades and taking teams on humanitarian trips almost as long. He’s a heavy-hitter for the Kingdom bringing his ‘lemony goodness’ around the globe. Affectionately telling people to ‘Get off the Sauce’ and do something with your life! https://iam1ru.com/ShoppingCartTrip.aspx Fall Medical/Build/Ladies Event
Sew On Fire Ministries Wendy Hagar is one lady full of adventure! Following God’s call, she started this ministry in her home, now a 9000 square foot warehouse filled to the rafters! Wendy vicariously travels around the globe as she sends out humanitarian aid with a loving touch. The women on her team sewed bags and gave us an abundance of stuff to put in them for the women of Guatemala, along with dressed for little girls, a wedding dress, and shoes) http://www.sewonfire.com/
Tim & Stephany Mercer’s Century 21 Local Home Team in Leamington, Ontario These amazing friends of ours have the biggest of hearts! Adventurously stepping out into the business God purposed for them to start. They offer their time, talents, and treasures to build God’s Kingdom. (Donated funding to build a home for a family in dire need and their 7 kids) https://www.localhometeam.ca/
Goodness Project (Donated Clothes and Nailpolish) My cousin Bill & his wife {my BFF} Rachelle Fletcher are reaching out to those in need and providing emergency disaster relief across Canada and the US. They are two of the most giving people on the planet who have man an earthquake effect for God’s Kingdom opening wide God’s love into broken, needy places! https://www.teamgoodness.com/
Keep It Real Ministries (Donated Encouraging Hats) Laura Bronson is a Youth Minister and Graffiti Artist who impacted our kids as teens and continues to influence youth for Christ as she has expanded Keep It Real ministry to include a team of Graffiti artists! http://ikeepitreal.ca/
If you liked the refreshing in this #SoulH2O devotion, you’ll love my latest Soul H2O Devotional book: 40 Thirst Quenching Devotions for Women.
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves; ensure justice for those being crushed. Yes, speak up for the poor and helpless, and see that they get justice. Psalm 31:8-9 NLT
I’m grieved.
Literally sick to my stomach with all that has taken place and what is taking place in our world.
Covid-19 deaths and lockdown, racism, killing by those who are called on to protect, false, part-truth news reporting to cause division for profit or popularity, corrupt political and business leaders abusing their power, depression, anxiety, suicide, financial struggles, hunger, starvation, broken, hurting people acting out of their woundedness and division being spread in countries, cities and homes around the globe with much worse affects than the current plague.
If we don’t see a change soon, I’m fearful of where this will take us given the current trajectory of events.
Please read this post with the filter of love, a desire for unity and longing deep in my heart to break down dividing walls; not build them up.
Answering The Call
This is just me, answering the call of Proverbs 31:8-9 to speak up for the crushed, poor, and helpless with hope they will receive justice. I pray you’ll answer the same call to speak righteousness, justice, and truth in love.
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. Psalm 89:14 ESV
GEORGE FLOYD—The Crushed
On May 25, 2020 the world changed forever. George Floyd, an innocent man, lost his life because of a corrupt, racist group of police officers who abused their power and murdered him in front of a horrified audience. This one incident has brought to the surface a longstanding stronghold of racism towards black people that has been allowed to fester for centuries.
I don’t believe there’s any going back and I hope we make a change for the better, quick before too many lives are lost.
THE COVID FLUSH
I believe the isolation of Covid-19 Lockdown is bringing to the surface many old wounds that need to be healed, issues that were overdue to be dealt with and problems that have been ignored for much too long: globally, nationally, in our hearts and homes.
God is allowing long-standing strongholds to surface, so they can be severed.
I pray we recognize this and begin to make the changes necessary because it seems all hell is breaking loose. Anarchy has ensued because there is a loss of confidence in the government to care, protect or have people’s best interest at heart but rather to dominate. I hope you do not see my words as condoning the looting or vandalism, I do not condone illegal behaviour, but I also don’t condone government officials or other evil-acting persons who abuse others, even taking a life. All life is precious.
UNITY
During Lockdown I’ve been trying to stay positive and see God at work in people’s lives, which I believe He is, I could see it while online attending another global prayer meeting with Unite714. Praying for unity in this world.
UNITY: This is the heart of God.
UNITY: This is the nature of God.
God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit; the triune God, three in one… complete unity, and that’s what He wants for His kids; the people of this world. There’s not a one He doesn’t love. Not a one He didn’t die to save.
SIGNS OF UNITY GROWING
Favourite Photo & Video From The Protests
Why? This picture gets me very emotional because the white police officer is holding this black woman like a son protecting his momma. She’s looking at him and has her arm around him, trusting him to protect. It’s the way it should be. It’s beautiful. I also love that this picture of a protest to show that American people believe black lives matter has only a few distinctively black protesters, most are white. #unityindiversity
My Favourite Video. This police officer is one of many who are breaking down barriers of racism and bringing healing to his community. He and many other law enforcement officers are leading the way to reconciliation.
I want to see the positive but I feel a shift in the atmosphere, the battle is raging and we need to pray. I can’t ignore how I see the enemy rearing his ugly head, having a heyday.
John 10:10 records Jesus saying:
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10
THE THIEF
The thief Jesus is talking about here is the devil and his tactics haven’t changed over time. The devil visits every age to steal, kill and destroy. On the contrary, Jesus comes to give live to the full. I see God at work in hearts and I also recognized the work of the enemy as I watch the news in the murder of George Floyd, the abusive, overhanded government response to protests, how evil-acting people have brought damage to bring on police brutality, the wrongful vandalism, looting and violence taking place.
Don’t you see the thief at work in all of this? If we keep trying to fight an enemy with skin on; instead of the real enemy, society is headed for complete disaster.
You can be sure the enemy, the devil is behind the hatred, racism, abuse, injustice, corruption and all manner of godless behaviour you’re watching play out on your screens. Embracing hatred and placing your rights above another’s brings division, just what the enemy wants. Divide and conquer are his plans for all relationships. We have to stop letting him win. Stop falling into his traps. Stop partnering with his plans.
Don’t displace your anger, place it where it needs land… with the chief-thief.
If you want peace, if you want love to rule, you have to recognize… this is a spiritual battle we’re all engaged in and you have to fight a spiritual war with spiritual weapons of prayer, fasting and declaring God’s purposes over the future. You cannot overcome hatred with hatred.
Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good. Romans 12:1
A PROPHETIC POST?
In 2016, I wrote a post and shared about an article by Lecrae; the three-time Grammy Award winning Christian rapper, who shared how he just like George Floyd had a police officer put their knee to his neck… yes to the Christian rapper who was falsely being accused of having a gun… which he didn’t. There was one statement he made that rocked me to the core.1
You can’t wipe away a 500-year trauma in 50 years.
If you’ve ever had to deal with hurt in your past, I think you can understand this. The crazy part is that when I went searching through my blogs, I found this post was the one I wrote the night of the election where Donald Trump took the vote and became President. Penning it after being woken up by the Lord with a Phrase running through my head, “Looking for a David, not a Saul.”
In the post, I wrote, “As this phrase kept waking me up, I thought of the difference between David and Saul as leaders of their nation. Both men were appointed by God in their position, both men started off well, but only one man finished well.” I believe how Donald Trump deals or doesn’t deal with this atrocity will decide if he has the heart of David or Saul.2
I know we need to pray for him to govern as God wants. I’m praying Donald Trump will govern like a good father, firm but loving and accepting.
THE DEVIL’S DESTRUCTIVE WAYS
I’m heartsick when I hear about racism.
I was appalled watching the murder of George Floyd and many other black people. I’m horror-struck watching the news where I see police officers tasering teenagers until they’re incapacitated when they were just driving home in their car and didn’t know about the new curfew. Broken as I watch law enforcement beat people, throw tear gas, pepper-spray children and drive overtop of people.
If you don’t believe me check out Shaun King’s Podcast Episode Shown here and his Instagram account that is chronicling some of the police brutality. @shaunking Research for yourself in the links below, I’ve seriously been researching this for years.
I was angered when I read an email from a girl who teaches online business as she shared her experience when driving home and facing a protest ahead had to hear her five-year-old daughter who had witnessed police brutality ask,
Mommy, I am a little black. Will the police kill me when I grow up?
No mother should ever have to be asked a question like that. I’ve had countless black friends share over the years how they’ve experienced racism and the fear associated with police harassment, wrongful arrest and abuse. “A 2015 study found that unarmed blacks were 3.49 times more likely to be shot by police than were unarmed whites.”3 This shouldn’t be.
FURIOUS
I’m furious and praying the other three police officers are charged for their part in the murder of George Floyd. We serve a God of justice and this injustice is not His ways.
My heart was broken as I read an article from the Harvard Public Health Review and other sites, detailing the disproportionate homicides to black people when police are involved. I don’t want to post them but I will share links with you to do your own research and face the harsh reality that racism is rampant and it’s not just in the US. On Canadian soil there have been great injustices to minorities over the centuries so we can’t throw the proverbial first stone. We need to clean up our backyard before we could ever look down with a condescending eye.
SHAREABLE—BUT NO COMMENTS
I have chosen to make this post shareable but not allow comments.
In the past when I’ve shared anything remotely political or controversial, there have been comments written that twist my words to imply I’m saying something I did not mean.
REFRESHING & REAL
I want to hear your thoughts, I just don’t want arguing, fighting, and hurtful words shared on a blog purposed to bring a refreshing word, backed with Scripture to help a hurting world walk through the difficult times. I know that’s what God’s Soul H2O Devotions to provide but I also know that sometimes there are bitter things in our water supply that must be cleared out in order for the fresh water to flow.
That’s why I feel this post had to be written and shared.
SEMANTICS
I pray you hear my heart and if I have written anything with words that mean something different than I have intended them to mean and they offend you, please let me know. I understand that I’m not a millennial. Sometimes words have changed meaning over the years and between different people groups. Trigger words that conjure up hurtful feelings. If I have unknowingly used any of these, please share with me.
HOW TO RESPOND
If you have questions or comments, PLEASE write, DM, or message me personally. I will respond to as many as I’m able but sometimes I just do not have the time to reply to all. Know that I will do my best to read them all, pray and hopefully be able to respond. Depending on the response, I may have my team help me read through. I care about your viewpoint and your heart.
This is a call, for all Christians to pray. Pray for unity, pray for healing of the black community for past atrocities, pray for racism of any kind to be removed from all our hearts, pray for corruption and abuse to end. Pray for the love of Christ to fill the earth!
Here’s a picture of me celebrating the wedding drinking the official royal wedding tea blend 🙂 {Notice the properly positioned pinky}
Still wondering who the Senior Citizen is?
Since I’m totally breaking my format for #SoulH2O devotions with this series, I decided to share the whole of Anna’s story with you (a whopping 3 verses) because so many of you have commented or sent me messages saying you can’t wait to see who the Senior Citizen is. This lets me know that many of you don’t know who she is, so you probably don’t know her story and she’s absolutely a woman worth celebrating!
This post: Celebrating The Women Of The Christmas Story – The Teenager Post was Shortlisted for The2017 Word Awards in the Category of Article-Inspirational/Devotional and WON!!!!!
This picture was taken the night I went into labour with my son Brandon. I’m not sure if my hair or pregnancy belly is larger??? I will say there was a shadow behind me from that cheap camera I owned.
