Author: thischicksinpeace

Have you been wondering “what do I do now? What CAN I do? How can I help? How can I grow?”

My mind has been a- buzz with those thoughts all week. I’ve been trying to figure out where to start…

So far, here is my answer:

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus~the Author and Perfecter of our faith. Who, for the joy set before Him, ENDURED the cross -SCORNING its shame- and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

(Hebrews 12:2)

Jesus is our perfect example of how to maneuver in an unsettled, violent, and seemingly unjust political-social climate where oppression is palpable and visible.

In the midst of it all, He showed us -and IS showing us- there is still GOODNESS here.

Did you know that YOU were the joy that that this verse speaks of?

This joy~ our salvation, our freedom from the bondage of sin, our redemption from the chains of despair, our restoration into a loving relationship with God and ALL His people whom He created~ is what made it possible to endure the cross.

Pray with me:

Lord God,

Hear our cries.

Hear our plea for justice, mercy and grace.

Forgive us for when our eyes have been closed to the hurts of your people and our hearts have been hardened to their cause for we did not feel it was OUR cause.

Help us to seek and find You in the midst of today.

Open our eyes to Your goodness.

Show us where to be Your light in the darkness and pain that surrounds us.

Cleanse us from our own sin so we can show grace to others who are not walking with You or are different from us.

Show us how to love as You love.

Amen.

I am the vine, you are the branches. The one who remains in Me bears much fruit…apart from Me you can do nothing ~John 15:5

Feel like you are strung out trying to accomplish something?

Feel exhausted in making an effort to do the right thing over and over?

Feel frustrated in making an attempt to move forward when doubts and fears keep pulling you back?

Return to the presence of God- in Him we CAN bear much fruit.

Reconnecting to the vine that provides nourishment is essential.

#exhuasted #doingtherightthing #iamthevine #presenceofgod #icandoallthingsinchrist #endurance #perserverence #changedperspective #changeyourperspective #john15

If you’ve ever wondered about me….

I made a choice ten years ago.

That one choice healed my grieving, hopeless,despairing heart…

That one choice carried me through a devasting marital crisis~ and then restored my marriage…

That one choice broke the chain of alcoholism that threatened my children by exposure to it…

That one choice brought a passion into my life to live purposefully…

That one choice redeemed every hurt I ever had and used those tears for glory…

I put my faith in Jesus and entrusted my life into His hands.

But as for me?

It is GOOD FOR ME to draw near to God…I have placed my trust in Him and have made Him my refuge…

Why?

That I may tell of all His works.

(Psalm 73:28)

We have been told to #stayhomestaysafe for approximately 64 DAYS in Michigan.

For most of us, our homes have become our refuge and safe haven. Our homes have become our offices, classrooms, vacation destinations, and private restaurants.

Many, here in Michigan, have chosen to use online delivery services in the place of going out, even to grocery stores.

Many, here in Michigan, have had their personal choice to go to work taken from them as their careers were not deemed “essential” (whatever THAT means).

Many, here in Michigan, have not been able to receive certain health services because those particular needs were not considered essential/urgent/emergent/necessary either.

What did we do?

We stayed home. We stayed safe.

Two nights ago, after an ENORMOUS deluge of rain in Michigan, my sump pump decided to “take a break” due to being severely overworked…needless to say, its “reprieve” made quite the manageable mess in my basement.

We found ourselves to be GRATEFUL that the issue was discovered before going to bed that night and that Meijer was still open until midnight so we could get additional fans to help dry the area out.

We were thankful to have dodged a bullet of basement disaster and loss.

Then, yesterday, the news broke about a neighboring community…The massive Tittabawassee River is flooding and destroying dams.

People are being forced FROM THEIR HOMES DURING A PANDEMIC due to the rush of destructive water heading their way!

They are being removed from their safe haven and place of refuge.

Their in-home classroom is now removed from them as an option to teach and learn….and, quite possibly, their actual school could now be in danger of receiving damage that will impact the return -to -school options for the fall.

Their in-home office and supplies gathered are now not within reach as they evacuated and took only what was “essential”.

People are losing their pictures gathered over years of married life, their clothes, their toys, their furniture, their cars…

Those THINGS that have entertained you for these past 64 days?

They are now GONE for them…perhaps temporarily as they wait for the water rush to abait or maybe permanently due to water damage.

My question becomes~

Where do the people go in an evacuation during a pandemic?

Do others open their doors to strangers when they have been struggling how to/when to open their arms to grandparents and friends out of concern of physical safety??

We have been SOCIAL DISTANCING for 64 DAYS and now a great need to BE PRESENT has occured…

What do we do?

How do we help?

How do we overcome a respectful fear of an unseen virus to help our MICHIGAN neighbors in need?

I don’t know.
But I sure am praying for a way to be revealed.

Again,what REALLY matters in life is being further revealed to us first through a pandemic and now through a flood..and what little control we actually have is also being stripped away.

I learned a long time ago to ask a question of myself:

what is it that truly centers me (grounds me, roots me in place)?

Can it (whatever or whomever IT may be) be taken from me?

I found, in my time of reflection, that I need something that will secure me to my core when those things that I place high value on are gone from my life for one reason or another.

I need something that will not and cannot be shaken.

I need something that has never changed and nor will it be changed -no matter the circumstances.

My faith is Jesus Christ is my it…my something.

There is nothing else.

In Revelation 1:8 we are told

“I am the Alpha and the Omega” {the Beginning and the End}, says the Lord God, “Who is {existing forever} and Who was {continually existing in the past}, and Who is to come, the Almighty {the Omnipotent, the Ruler of all}”.

When disaster comes, fear overwhelms, illness strikes, heartbreak happens, depression darkens my vision, anxiety cripples me, uncertainty panics me…my faith is what sustains me.

When the call comes to evacuate, you take what you can grab as quickly as possible…

A change of clothes, medication, the pets and maybe their food, most likely a phone charger, food or water to last a few days…

If you are like me, you better be praying you have gas in the car!

Other than that, you take what is inside you and that is what you find sustains you…not the limited supply of food or clothing.

My faith has become a shield that protects me from severe injury through a battle…but only if I learn to wield it right and become strong with it.

If I have not practiced holding or using my shield and only looked at it collecting dust in a corner or occasionally carried it with me to church on Sunday’s then I am not ready for battle with it.

I am better off than those who never got their shield at all because I already have it…but, I am not prepared on how to use it to its fullest possible potential.

My faith bolsters me as it takes a beating…it sustains me even if I fall underneath it.

Psalm 62:2

He alone is my rock and my salvation, my defense and my strong tower; I will not be shaken.

What centers you?

Can it be taken?

Will it shelter you and sustain you?

If you have questions about it, let’s talk…

I am thinking about the Shield of Faith today…

Ephesians 6:16 reads

Above all, lift up the protective shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t have to physically dodge flaming arrows in my day to day life so holding up a shield seems cumbersome.

However, the above-mentioned evil one does toss his weapons my way on a regular basis. What is used against me looks like

Doubt

Fear

Anxiety

Depression

Feelings of lack of value

Uncertainty of my ability

Loneliness

Insecurity

Need I go on?

The “attacks” can come from multiple sides all at once some days…or can be endless barrage of artillery hammering at me…it can go on and on with no reprieve….or it can resume where it left off once I’ve relaxed from the strain if it lifted temporarily.

Any of that sound familiar??

There is a saying that’s says “kicked while still down”… and I’ve had those days for sure.

HAVE HOPE!

This is where picking up the shield of faith comes in!

Hebrews 11:1 tells us that FAITH is the confident assurance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen {the conviction of their reality; faith comprehends as fact what cannot be experienced by the physical senses}.

So this shield of faith we are to pick up means we hold tightly for protection what we confidently believe in…what we have assurance of…what we comprehend as fact based on things that we cannot see.

We stand behind this protection to shield us from those fiery arrows of doubt, fear, despair, etc…

If I believe through faith that the Joy of the Lord is my strength…then I will be strengthened.

If I believe through faith that I can do all things through Christ…then I can accomplish immeasurably more than I can imagine because of Christ in me.

If I believe through faith that Jesus will never leave me and has given me His great Comforter-the Holy Spirit…then I am not alone in my suffering.

If I believe through faith that the truth has set me free…then I am no longer condemned nor am I in bondage to those chains of anxiety and depression any longer.

If I believe through faith that I am a new creation in Christ…then my shame and regret can no longer define me.

If I believe through faith that I am more than a conqueror… then I will overcome my addictions, hurts, and habits.

If I believe through faith that I am made in the image of God and that my Savior died for me while I was still in sin…then I know I am loved, forgiven, and valued.

If I believe through faith that God has a plan for my life…then I can live with purpose.

THAT is our shield of faith we hold up in defense.

THAT is the protection our shield of faith offers against weapons used to damage us, wound us, paralyze us.

Pick it up.

Strap it on tightly.

Link it with other believer’s faith to bolster both you and them.

Stand behind it with confidence.

Stay firmly rooted as your faith shelters you through life’s storms.

Psalm 59:16-17

But as for me, I will sing of Your mighty strength and power;
Yes, I will sing joyfully of Your LOVINGKINDNESS in the morning;

For You have been my stronghold and a refuge in the day of my distress.

To You, O God -my strength- I will sing praises;
For God is my stronghold (my refuge, my protector), the God who shows me mercy.

Trust me.
I do not feel like singing JOYFULLY every morning. Today is one of “those days”. Frankly, yesterday was even MORE so.

However, the REMINDER given here to do so because of WHO GOD IS and WHAT HE HAS DONE FOR ME is necessary and needed.

Even if I don’t FEEL like singing I can still GIVE PRAISE.

Give it a go and see how your mood lifts.

Psalm 52:9
I will thank You forever because You have done it- You have rescued me and kept me safe!

Two months ago I was terrified when Covid-19 crossed the ocean into the US. As an RN in the hospital, I knew my exposure risk was going to be VERY high. As an immune compromised person, I knew that I was even more susceptible to contract ANY virus~ let alone this “new” Covid-19.

I did not know what to expect and fear began to consume me.

Then, March 25, I was required to be tested for the Coronavirus due to a nagging cough/cold I could not shake. Considering my risk for exposure and my immune suppression, it seemed fairly logical to want to rule this out before I returned to work.

I have not felt so vulnerable to a disease before (and I had just been exposed to active TB the week prior).

On March 26 my Covid test came back NEGATIVE and with that result came a rush of RELIEF. I could safely return to work and resume my life.

In that moment, I determined to quit letting FEAR rule me!

Yes, I take precautions…even somewhat extreme precautions depending on the situation. That, however, does not mean I am living in fear~ it means I am choosing to be WISE given the information we have been given regarding prevention.

It has been a process for me…a mind battle to be certain…but it is one I choose to INTENTIONALLY wage in order to have PEACE in my mind and heart.

Fear ROBS me of peace. It STEALS all joy. It INHIBITS my ability to show kindness to others because I am only concerned for myself. It HINDERS me from being an encouragement to others ~how could I lift the spirits of another when my own are dragging me down?

It took DAILY time with the Lord.
It took FREQUENT discussions of His goodness and mercy.
It took REMEMBERING His faithfulness.

All this was MY choice.

I am NOT a captive to fear! I am no slave to those bonds! I HAVE BEEN SET FREE TO LIVE VICTORIOUSLY THROUGH CHRIST!!!

Since March 26, I continue to work at the hospital and I have continued to be kept SAFE while there.

I believe that is of the Lord…He has drawn me to this place and has shielded me in His grace.

Therefore, I WILL thank Him forever!

How many times have we asked ourselves that question?

What if this happened and not that?

What if I said this and not that?

What if I went there and not here?

What if I bought that and not this?

What if I made that choice and not this one?

I wonder how different life could be for many of us if we had made one different choice?

Makes you think, doesn’t it?

Many of our financial situations would look different based on a choice or timing of a purchase.

Our career path would look different if we had chosen a different focus in college or chose to go/not go to college.

Our spouse choice could look different if we had chosen to settle for Mr. Wrong instead of waiting for Mr. Right.

We may suffer less nightmares if we had chosen to stay home and not gone to that party that night.

That car accident may not have happened if you had chosen to go the other way or left a few minutes later/earlier.

The list is endless.

And the what if’s can be haunting.

In my life, I wonder what life would have looked like if I had stayed the course and continued my walk with Christ that had begun in high school.

What would have become of me if I did not make the choice to have my first drink of alcohol in college?

I would have remained pure quite a while longer -that much I can say- and my “first time” would not have left me with unloved regret.

However….if I was not the girl my husband met – the drinker, the party girl, the reckless funny gal that I was – would he even had looked twice at me?

Not too sure how he could have considering we met at a bar in East Lansing on a Saturday night.

If I had not met him….I would not have met and loved his sister whose life dramatically changed my own.

If I had not met him, I would not be the proud Mrs. Barber I have become and the mother of two amazing Barber sons that act just like their incredible father.

On a different note, I wonder, if I could have the same passion for comforting others that I have because of the comfort I have received from the Lord if I had not experienced the despair of grieving a person in a manner that required me to search for a comfort that would be all healing?

Would I be the woman I am today without the experiences I have lived through?

Probably not.

As a wise friend often tells me~ is that good, bad, who knows?

It just is.

I am who I am.

2 Chronicles 22 tells of an interesting “what if” situation.

If this would have happened then that never would have been possible.

In this passage, Queen Athaliah murdered the remains of the entire royal line in the house of Judah after the death of her son King Ahaziah.

King Ahaziah was the king of the kingdom of Judah. We are told that he was wicked and trained in evil ways under the influence of his mother (Athaliah). He was murdered leaving no one to retain the power to rule over the kingdom

This act prompted the queen mother to make the most evil of decisions.

2 Chronicles 22:10

Now when Athaliah the mother of Ahaziah saw that her son was dead, she rose and destroyed all the royal family of the house of Judah.

This was no act out of grief or love.

The Amplified Bible states this:

Most of the royal heirs that Athaliah murdered were her own grandchildren. She wanted to stamp out the Davidic dynasty and bring Judah back under Israelite control.

Satan had been diligent in his attempts to thwart the plans of God, and because the Davidic line was directly linked to the Messiah, this would have been a strategic move.

IF SHE HAD SUCCEEDED THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO BLOOD LINE OF JUDAH LEFT TO FULFILL THE PROPHESY THAT JESUS FULFILLED UPON HIS BIRTH IN THE ANCESTRAL LINE OF DAVID.

What if??

Thankfully, verse 11 tells us that a daughter of the king (Jehoshabeath) took the infant son of Ahaziah to keep him safe! The son, named Joash, was kept hidden for six years while Queen Athaliah ruled. He was raised by a priest named Jehoida until the time came for the truth of his survival to be revealed.

Athaliah’s reign was short lived and her plan to end the legacy of David’s line failed.

But…what if?

The Lord is working His plan for good in all situations. He never rests. He never stops. His plan will never fail.

Pharoah tried to stop the Israelite’s from multiplying in number by killing all the baby Hebrew boys; but, God had a plan for Moses to be rescued AND to also be raised in Pharaoh’s palace prior to becoming the leader that set the people free.

King Herod had a plan to kill all the Hebrew baby boys in an effort to stop the prophesied Messiah from being born; God had a plan for Jesus to be born safely in a manger before fleeing to Egypt with His parents for safety.

God overcomes evil with His good.

His promises have not failed and nor will they ever.

What an encouragement that is!

What if He didn’t?

Life without a belief in Christ looks a lot different…it is a perspective that this is as good as it gets….that our suffering is purposeless…that there is no hope for good to triumph.

I am grateful that I believe.

Psalm 20:7

Some trust in chariots and some in horses,

But WE will remember and trust in the name of the Lord our God.

What makes you feel safe and secure?

Locked doors?

A house high above the flood plane?

A basement in tornado season?

Seatbelts?

A face mask?

A vaccine?

Those things all have something in common with chariots…..they are man made.

Why do tangible things give us a sense of so much security and yet our trust can waiver in the One who keeps the earth in perfect distance from the sun?

Is it because we can see the mask that supposedly keeps the invisible germs away from us as if it were some kind of a magical barrier?

Is it because we can make the effort of choosing safety ourselves by heading to a basement or clicking a seat belt and, therefore, we are suddenly impervious to destruction?

Is it based on our effort that we become SAFE?

Remembering, recalling, retelling

WHO God is,

WHAT God has done,

WHY God chooses us,

HOW God has been faithful to His people

AND TO YOU AS WELL OVER THE YEARS IN YOUR OWN LIFE

will help you to gain confident trust in the safe, strong, loving, merciful, righteous arms of our Savior.
Repeating the wonder of His grace that you have seen in your life brings Him to the forefront of your mind as the MIGHTY WARRIOR WHO SAVES.

Suddenly, you don’t need horses and chariots, basements and vaccines for safety and security…for you have perfect peace as you rest in the presence of who created you.

In His presence, He is all we need.

In His presence, you are made whole.

In His presence, you are strengthened to face your troubles be they a tornado or a virus.

Remember to trust in the name of our Lord.

Here is an interesting thought:

We are called to live by faith and not by sight.

What does that mean?

Perhaps it means that we are to live life without having all the answers.

How many times do we ask God why?

Why now?

Why this way?

Why him/her?

How many times do we ask how long Lord?

How long until I get what I am asking for?

How long before this is over and life can return to “normal”?

How long must I/they suffer?

It is not wrong or unusual to want to have all the answers….

In fact, knowing the answers helps us to feel secure, safe, certain, confident.

Sometimes, we may think, that knowing the whole story could give us better understanding or closure.

Knowing all the answers also puts us back in the driver’s seat…

back in control…

back at the helm of our life.

Right where we think we want to be.

And yet….do we really have all that control over things when we think we know all we need to know?

Are we really in charge of all the variables that come our way?

Does knowing all the details change anything that has happened?

Does having all the information bring you comfort when nothing has changed?

The perspective we see is from our own limited viewpoint…our own experiences…our own opinions.

We are unable to see all the details that are occuring all around us and, therefore, we actually have zero control after all.

Why is that?

Why does God allow us to sit and wonder?

Why does our Savior not answer our demands to know?

Why does our Lord seem to “withhold” information from us?

It is because HE is God and I am not.

Think about it this way…if I know all that I want to know – all that I demand to know –

where does faith step in?

Where is my dependency on God?

Where is my need for God suddenly?

In this world, people do not want to need for anything.

People do not want to need others.

People do not want a supposed “weakness” that tells the world “I need help”.

However, we are created to live symbiotically with God, with creation, and with each other.

God desires us to have a relationship with Him in that we have the freedom to lean on Him, talk to Him, listen to Him, to seek His will for our lives, to worship Him.

He showed us how badly He desires that relationship with us through the willing sacrifice of His Son.

He desires us to have faith in Him, to trust Him, to follow Him, to praise Him even when we do not know or understand what is happening, why it is happening, when it will happen, or how long it will go on.

After all,

WE ARE TO WALK BY FAITH AND NOT BY SIGHT.

(2 Corinthians 5:7)