Every. Single. Little. Detail.

The LORD directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. (Psalm 37:23, NLT)

Many years ago, I'd say close to sixteen years ago, Mike bought me a pair of diamond studded earrings. Gracie's ears are pierced and the only earrings that don't break her out are earrings set in gold, so she has been wearing the earrings Mike bought me.

About a month ago, she came and told me she had lost the back of one of the earrings. Thankfully, she didn't lose the earring, just the back. I told her it wasn't a problem because we could just buy another back. I expected to be able to replace the back for approximately thirty dollars or so.

I went to three or four jewelry stores and not one store was able to fit the earring. One solution was to have the posts completely redone.  I was really bummed because I really like these earrings, they are very special to me but I didn't want to go to the expense of having them completely redone which would be over a hundred dollars. I put the earrings away until I could decide whether or not to have the work done..

Today, my family experienced the sudden, unexpected, tragic death of a very dear loved one. Of which I won't go into detail in order to protect our privacy. 

Once I learned what had happened, I started packing to go be with my family. As I was standing at my washer, putting clothes in the dryer…I was overwhelmed with grief. I stood there and cried and cried asking God how I was going to walk through this and help my family walk through this. Feeling so weak, I half prayed and half wailed out to Him in overwhelming grief, I said, "I know you are ever present with me in times of trouble when something big like this happens so I draw on Your strength right now in the name of Jesus." 

I wiped my eyes, about to finish loading the dryer, and on the very tip of the inside of the dyer…was the back to my earring. God very clearly spoke to my heart and said, "I am not only in the big things, I am in your every…single...little...detail."

The only way I can explain how I found the back of my earring on the lip of my dryer, after weeks and weeks of doing all the laundry, on the morning of such tragic news, at the moment I was about to fall over in disbelief and grief…is, He truly is in every single little detail of my life.  

Thank You Father, Thank You...for never leaving or forsaking me. Thank You for always being so faithful to be ever present in time of need. You are my Rock and my fortress. I safely hide in You. Thank You for your mercy and grace in my time of need. Thank You for ordering my every step and thank You for showing me, You truly are in every single little detail of my life. I love You Lord.

Deuteronomy 31:6

Psalm 46:1

Psalm 37:23

Lord I come, I confess

Bowing here I find my rest

Without You I fall apart

You're the one that guides my heart

Chorus:

Lord, I need You, oh I need You

Every hour I need You

My one defense, my righteousness

Oh God, how I need You

Verse 2:

Where sin runs deep, Your grace is more

Where grace is found is where You are

And where You are Lord I am free

Holiness is Christ in me

Yes where You are Lord I am free

Holiness is Christ in me

Bridge:

So teach my song to rise to You

When temptation comes my way

And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You

Jesus You're my hope and stay

And when I cannot stand I'll fall on You

Jesus You're my hope and stay

Chris Tomlin

Between a Rock and a Hard Place Moment

Bo, our dog, and I took a long walk on the property this morning that led us through the boat harbor. Part of our walk took us along a concrete wall that was about 2 feet wide. On our left was mud and tall prickly grass that cut our legs. On our right was a huge drop off and boat harbor water with who knows what underneath.

Bo doesn't like water. He stayed right next to me, continually brushing up against me as if to check in and feel safe.

As we walked on the concrete wall, I was reminded of the Israelites when they faced a "between a rock and a hard place" moment. The Red Sea was in front of them and Pharaoh's army was quickly approaching on the other side. (Exodus 14)

The Israelites cried out to the Lord and their leader, Moses. (Exodus 14:10, 11) Being in between this rock and a hard place, they tweaked on their leader and shouted accusations!
(Exodus 14:10-12)

A side note. If your marriage (or any relationship) is in between a rock and a hard place today, don't turn on your leader. Suit up and STAND! (Ephesians 16:13) As the saying goes, "If you are not part of the solution, you are part of the problem."

Moses said, "A'ight, errrbody listen up! C'on now, don't anybody be skeered. Just stand. The Lord is about to show up and do battle. And these guys chasing us are about to be fish food. You see them now, but you will never see them again. So errrrbody, please just stay calm! (Exodus 14:13).

Then Moses, at some point, cried out to the Lord and the Lord tells Moses, "Don't cry, MOVE!" Or more specifically, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving!" That'll preach! If you've been crying over a situation, stop squawking and do something!

Oftentimes I hear, "Well...the Lord...is in control. He is gonna do what He wants to do. All I can do is try to pray." Followed up with a huge sigh and a head hung low while their thought process and their actions remain the same as it has for decades. That is a lazy, defeated, irresponsible, ignorant response to Him and His Word. (James 2:17)

Please allow me to challenge you today. Purposely commit to His Word (2 Timothy 21:5, 2 Timothy 3:16, 17) and "continually brush up" to Him in prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17), and you will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living! (Psalm 27:13) Light affliction, is but for a moment and is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory! (II Corinthians 4:17 NKJV)

When the Israelites were in between a rock (Red Sea) and a hard place (Pharaoh's Army) God delivered, just like He always does! (Psalm 34:19)

Are you facing a "Red Sea" on one side and a "Pharaoh's Army" on the other? Get up and move, do something because God is can show up with a "strong east wind"! He will unleash His mighty power! And you will be filled with awe! (Exodus 14:13-15, 21, 31 NLT)

Please make this confession with me.

Father God, in the name of Jesus, I thank You for being mighty to save! I thank You for saving me! You never said I wouldn't face adversity but You did tell me You would deliver me out of all of it! I thank You for always showing up and unleashing your mighty power in all situations that attempt to rise up against me and my family. You have filled me with awe of You! I love You, praise and worship You my mighty King! Thank You for all the "strong east winds" You have blown in my life so that I could walk through on dry land!






Disclaimer:
In no way is this an attempt to advise anyone to stay in an abusive/neglectful relationship. Nor it is an attempt to advise anyone to move out. Be led and allow wisdom to rule! (Psalm 143:10 and James 1:5)

The Rock

The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety. (Psalm 18:2, NLT)

This morning I woke up with a song on my heart.

On Christ the Solid Rock I stand!
All other ground is sinking sand.

In the nineties, I lived in Alaska. I didn't yet understand Alaska weather and never fathomed the amount of ice and snow I was about to encounter. I didn't have an Alaska car. I drove a cute, little, red, 5 speed on the floor, sports car.

And then...winter came. And when winter came. Oh. My. Goodness.

My transmission consistently froze up and was very difficult to shift. One night, after working really late and while leaving work, my car slowly slid around in the parking and the front bumper of my car lodged up against a large rock. The rock was half as tall as my car. I had slid so slowly that there was no damage to my car. All I needed to do was put my car in reverse, back up, turn around, and drive home.

It was cold. It was dark. It was an area where a half dozen moose could be seen every day. Did you know, moose can be very angry creatures? The news had just reported a woman had been mauled by a bear. I was tired. I hadn't lived there long enough to know anyone to call for help. My transmission was frozen and would not go in reverse. I had all gears...except reverse.

I felt so desperate. I walked around my car looking for a way to push it away from the rock so I could drive forward and go home. I had dress boots on and kept slipping on the ice and snow. I pushed and slid and slid and pushed. The parking lot was empty. I was alone. I got back in my car and with all my strength, I could not force the gear into reverse.

I repeated this scenario many times until I was in tears. I said, "God, what am I going to do?"

I walked around my car again, put one of my feet on the ground (The same ice and snow was still there. And I was still wearing the same slippery boots.) and one foot on the big rock. I gently pushed my car and almost effortlessly moved the car enough to drive it forward and go home.

The Lord spoke to me and said, "See what you can do when your foot is on The Rock?"

Every condition was the same, except, I cried out to God for help. I was really young in the Lord at that time. It was a life changing moment for me. In the cold, dark, icy parking lot, where there were real possibilities of threats, feeling desperate and being alone, after I had tried and tried in my own strength, trying to force the gears, scared from news reports, and having no one to call, God showed me:

He is:

• My Rock!
• My fortress!
• My Savior!
• He is my Shield!
• The Power that saves me!
• My place of safety! (Psalm 18:2, NLT)

He did His part and He enabled me to do my part. (James 2:17 and 2 Corinthians 1:21)

When:

• Life seems cold and dark.
• You've heard the threats, tried with all your strength, and have been slipping.
• You are tired, have no one to call, and you feel desperate.
• An obstacle in your life seems frozen.
• You haven't been able to back up and turn around.

Ask Him what to do. (Matthew 7:7)
He will show you. (Jeremiah 33:3)
Do what He shows you. (James 1:22)
Keep your "foot on The Rock". (Psalm 18:2)

He does it for me, He'll do it for you! (Romans 2:11)

On Christ the Solid Rock I stand!
All other ground is sinking sand.

My prayer for every reader today is to keep our foot on the Rock and come into the knowing that He is the Power that saves us! He is our place of Safety! I declare all negative situations for every reader today be reversed in the name of Jesus! For it is not by might nor by power but by His Spirit! And I declare 2013 to be your best year ever in all areas of your life, in the name of Jesus!

(Psalm 18:2, Job 22:28, Zechariah 4:6, John 14:14)

Please speak this out loud and make this your confession! (Mark 11:23, Matthew 23:37)

I keep my foot on the Rock! I know that I know You, God, are the Power that saves me! You are my place of safety! I thank You, Father, that every negative situation in my life is reversed, in the name of Jesus! It is not by my might, nor by my power but by Your Spirit! I believe and receive, 2013 to be my best year ever in every area of my life, in the name of Jesus! I thank You for it Father, You are good and your mercy endures forever! Thank You for working all things out for my good, I love You Lord!