Courage

How can it be the middle of March already? The last few weeks have flown by.  

Here are just a few of the events of the last 6 weeks:

• Packed up our belongings, said goodbye to NY and headed south.
•  Worked tirelessly on unpacking boxes and getting settled.
•  Took an online education class and was able to finish well in spite of the craziness of life.
•  Enjoyed attending part of Avon Park Campmeeting in FL. What a blessing to be in a place with so many world changers and to reconnect with some old friends.

TEAM Appointees

• Spent a week at TEAM headquarters with some amazing people who are following Jesus whole-heartedly!
• Spent a wonderful week in NJ speaking at two different churches. Blessed beyond measure to reconnect with precious friends and make many new friends.  I spoke five different times and the Lord was so faithful to give me what I needed right as I needed it. What a blessing to be around those who are serving Jesus faithfully right where He has called them.  

New friends and old friends

In the midst of boxes, goodbyes, travel, family health scares, etc. I asked Jesus for a word or a verse for this new year.  He was so gracious and gave me a word immediately: COURAGE. What a gift! How grateful I am for a God who meets us in the midst of the craziness and emotions of life.  And it has proven to be a wonderful word.

Maybe it is the transition, maybe it is not knowing what the next day will hold OR maybe it is knowing all too well what the coming months will hold in terms of more transition, packing and goodbyes.  But for whatever reason I have needed courage in a new way this year.  I am so thankful that the Lord gave me that moment of hearing Him whisper in my ear that He was asking me to be courageous this year.  He knew what I needed!  As always He is faithful!

I admit to feeling like I imagine the Israelites felt once they arrived on the other side of the Red Sea. God had worked miraculously, delivering them from slavery and from Pharaoh’s army.  But as I recently watched the story re-enacted on the mini-series The Bible I was struck anew by the story.  

What must it have felt like in those moments, hours, days after the Red Sea?   

Yes, God had delivered them.   

Yes, God had performed miracles.   

Yes, God had given them great promises for the future.   

But what now? What were their days to look like on the other side?  What did God have in mind for their immediate future?

Parting of the Red Sea from The Ten Commandments (1956)

The last few months have been filled with hard days, many times it seemed as if we were standing on the shores of the Red Sea waiting for God to act and time and again He did!  He delivered, He provided, He got us through.  And here we are on the other side of the Red Sea, saying OK Jesus what now?  I have found myself asking Him for courage to face these days.  

Courage to face the known and the unknown.

Courage to do the things that I like to do and the things that I don’t like to do.  

Courage to raise support.

Courage to trust Him more. 

Courage to live by faith.  

Courage to continue to say Yes to Jesus in all areas of my life.  

And yet, just as He made a way in the wilderness and provided for the Israelites every step of the way I know He will do the same for all His children. including me.  He is the God who delivers, directs and provides! What a gift, what a promise! O for grace to trust Him more!