Just Hold On

    A few days ago I almost threw this plant in the dumpster. My kid’s purchased it for me for Mothers Day. I admit to not having a green thumb but I did my best to care for it and do right by it. Seemed no matter what I did, it simply kept dying until it looked like there was no hope. It was fully brown and all leaves and stems totally appeared dead.  

It was storming outside the time I thought I may just go ahead and throw it out. I struggled with that thought and didn’t have peace about doing it so I just left it. It was storming anyway.  I just figured Id probably deal with the next day. I was sad about it. I had done everything within my power and it just seemed like no matter what I did there was no hope for it. 

The next afternoon I came out to grab it and take it to the trash when I spotted new  teeny tiny bright green growth coming from the very base of the plant. I wish then I had taken a picture but I didn’t. I was dumbfounded. The day before that thing was dead….or so I thought….no hope of survival it appeared. 

That was two full days ago….now look at it!!  The Lord spoke to me very clearly on this in my spirit. He showed me… just when you think its over, hopeless, defeated….God has other plans and makes himself known. I NEEDED that reminder. 

Reminds me of an old Jason Crabb song we sing “Just hold on…, our God will show up, and He will take you through the fire again. “

Don’t jump ship in the midst of the storm, you might be closer to the other side than you think. Preaching to myself. 

Hebrews 6:18-20

God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie,we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be greatly encouraged. We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.

Steadfast To the Other Side

 With 4 weeks left, we are at the end of the school year, or at least pretty stinkin’ close.  I am currently grading research paper rough drafts on communicable and non-communicable diseases on all 130+ of my students, and I have to really really focus. I’m weary. We are all weary.  We are also doing state testing in the mornings with students and it is stressful.  When I leave work I often feel mentally drained.  If you have ever been a teacher, or live with a teacher, you probably understand this.  I was telling my best friend that I had a day last week that I literally came home and went to bed at like 4pm and slept hard.  It is the final push of the school year with students, and to be honest we are all tired but trying hard to stay focused to finish strong.  Have you ever seen an overtired toddler respond to stress? Its never a good thing for anyone.   There are probably memes out there joking about the reality of such circumstances. 

     At the beginning of a school year it takes a little bit of time to get into the groove of things and reminders to stay on task.  It is hard to come off of summer schedules and get back into the school routine, it takes focus and determination to get back into that groove.  Mid school year we are usually doing pretty well, and fairly focused, etc…  but then by the end it is a battle again as everyone is exhausted.  It can be the same way with our faith walk as well. 

Many times, we begin standing strong in faith for something, however, as time passes, we become weary and begin to let go of our faith stand. It becomes harder and harder to stand in faith and almost impossible to press forward.

Galatians 6:9 says, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”

The Amplified Bible says it like this, “And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.”

Yesterday I was out walking with my dog.  The smell of fresh cut grass got my attention.  It seemed like winter weather had lasted forever.  I am now seeing and smelling buds on trees blossoming and it is actually starting to feel like spring.  God was showing me as I walked how the dead things have to be removed to make room for growth and new blooms.  Even the grass, even though I can just now see the green, was rooting and growing and moving upward and onward beneath the surface. It is so hard when you are tired of “winter” and dont see the evidence of “spring” you become weary in the waiting. We have to trust that He is indeed doing a new thing. I have noticed something similar in my own personal life. 

     When I am pressing through a challenging season or standing in faith for a breakthrough – there always comes a time when I become weary. When it feels like I don’t have the grace to stand in faith another moment. I didn’t always know this – but I have learned that it is in that very place, I must take a deep breath and push with all my might (much like the last push before a baby is born, if you have given birth you know what I mean) and press on through.  We have to press so that new life can come through.  If we stop pushing during birth, both mother and baby could die.  In faith, it feels like sometimes the grace is no longer there to press in, still, I must push on through anyway. Why? Because it is on the other side of that ‘moment’ that breakthrough comes. I can’t count the number of times this very scenario has taken place in my life.  Currently I am in a place of having to keep pushing and pressing through because I know that the other side is closer than I think.

Hebrews 3:14 says, “For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.”

The Amplified bible says it like this, “For we have become fellows with Christ  and share in all He has for us, if only we hold our first newborn confidence and original assured expectation [in virtue of which we are believers] firm and unshaken to the end.”

Steadfast to the end. That is where we must stand. And it’s not always easy. Let's be REAL - it is stinking hard and some of the most difficult times we have ever had to deal with, but we must continue steadfastly. 

I don’t know where you find yourself today. Perhaps you are weary.  I understand more than you realize from my own perspective.  If so, look for those in your life who are full of faith, who will help you walk that last mile or help you push that final push and remind you why you are. Whatever you do, hold your confidence steadfast to the very end. When you do…you will reap! You have His Word on it.

Gods Peace

 I once heard a statement that caught my attention. It was “if you protect your peace, your peace will protect you”.  I also had a friend that used to tell me all the time “Go where your peace lies”. I pondered those statements for a few days.

While I knew it was true, I was searching for a scripture to confirm it. I do not have to look very far.

 

Philippians 4:7 says, And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

I found some interesting things as I began to study the word ‘keep.’ In the Strong’s Concordance, this word means; to be a watcher in advance, to mount guard as a sentinel (post spies at gates); to hem in, protect, keep.

It further means; to guard, protect by a military guard, either to prevent hostile invasion, or to keep the inhabitants of a besieged city from flight.

 

As I have shared with you before, peace is an aggressive weapon. We now see, it is also a guard and a protector. Yes, peace is a weapon, a guard, and protection. Yet before you can possess this wonderful blessing you must first have peace in your life, your heart and mind.

 

Sadly, these days, peace is not something I sense on most people, not even on Christians. Personally, I struggle to find that place at times.  I am learning more and more how to find that peace.  I don’t think people realize the power of peace. If they did, they would fight to obtain Gods peace and to maintain His peace.

 

Jesus said in John 14:27, Peace, I leave with you, MY peace, I give to you.

Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

 

Can you see what God has given us, according to this scripture? He gave us HIS peace. The same peace that carried and protected Him through crowds who wished to stone Him. The same peace that carried Him through the cross. The same peace that carried Him, that garrisoned about Him, through hell. The same peace that led Him out to rise again. THAT peace is the peace He has given you and me. A peace that rules and reigns if we allow it to. This is a peace that protects and guards.

 

So, how do you begin to get this peace? That answer is found in Isaiah 26:3.

You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You because he trusts in you.

 

We can’t keep our mind on the problems, challenges and what is going on in the world and walk in peace. 

I am guilty of struggling with this.  We must keep our mind on God, His Word, and His promises. Then and only then will we walk in this God kind of peace.

 

Once we have peace, we must protect it. We can’t allow things or people to come in and steal our peace. And trust me, the enemy will do everything in his power to steal your peace. However, he can’t touch it if you don’t allow him to.

 

Jesus gave you His peace. It is yours. Yours to keep, or yours to let slip away. I can tell you from experience, nothing compares to the peace God gives.

Nothing. Once you truly lay hold of His peace and begin to walk in it, you will fight to keep it.

 

Peace is a weapon – one that will guard and protect you – all the days of your life.



Just as the scripture says, that peace will watch out for you and warn you in advance. It will garrison about you and protect you. It will help you to stand your ground when things try to invade your atmosphere. Peace is an aggressive weapon and a strong protector. Combine Gods peace with praise and worship…. Mountains will move!! And that peace….it is yours for the taking. In Jesus Name!!