Counting the Cost and Remembering Why?

A Devotional by Margot Cioccio

It might be time for some better armor!

Luke 14:27-31

And anyone who does not carry his cross 

and follow me cannot be my disciple.

   ²⁸ “Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. 

Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? ²⁹ For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, ³⁰ saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish.’³¹ “Or suppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? ³² If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. ³³ In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.

Have you ever decided you wanted to master some discipline, or to achieve some big goal or dream or to make some significant change in your life. When you first start out everything is exciting and new. Eventually the excitement wears off and you begin to realize that the task you've taken on is harder than you expected. Making changes in our lives takes a lot of work and commitment. Its kind of like the people who each year make all kinds of grand New Years resolutions only to realize a month later that they have given up. 

He who wishes to fight must first count the cost. 

When you engage in actual fighting, if victory is long in coming, 

then men's weapons will grow dull and their ardor will be dampened. 

If you lay siege to a town, you will exhaust your strength. 

Again, if the campaign is protracted, the resources of the State 

will not be equal to the strain. Now, when your weapons are dulled, 

 other chieftains will spring up to take advantage of your extremity. 

Then no man, however wise, will be able to avert the consequences 

that must ensue... In war, then, let your great object be victory, 

not lengthy campaigns.
-Sun Tzu, the Art of War

There are some things that can help you stick to your plan and actually make it to your intended goal. One of those things is to remember why you are making the change. 

If you remember and embrace the "why" the how will follow. It is critical to remember why what you are doing is important, and what achieving it will mean. How will it change your life and impact the lives of others around you. How will life be better or different when you have reached your goal?

What are the reasons you went back to school and why are you staying up late to study. It may be questions of why are you working all those extra hours - what will it feel like to be caught up on bills or to be able to afford that vacation or much needed item of furniture.  It might be the kids and the sacrifices you are making for them to be educated in a way that you desire. It may be your health and loosing a significant amount of weight. Or quitting smoking or some other addictive habit.  We all have things that we want to change in our lives. We need to really know why we want to make that change and somehow keep sight of the why through out the journey to our goal.

Sometimes I find that I have to break big goals down in to little steps. I have to celebrate the little victories along the way. Sometimes we can be trying to do the right thing for the wrong reasons and as a result we will get stalled somewhere along the way to our goal. At that point we have to examine the why and sometimes we need to find a better why that will get us all the way to our goal.

I was asked the other day why,  at age 50 I was taking piano lessons. It adds a lot of extra daily practice time into my already busy schedule. Its pretty un likely for me to achieve the level of skill to be able tour the country doing concerts or to teach. I might be able at some point to keep up enough to play as part of a worship team. Why is it important for me to find the time to practice, to spend the money on lessons?  Unless I can hold on to the "why" I will give up, other things will fill up my time. I do have a very clear why. I was at a big women's conference about 4 years ago. I remember very little of what was said from the platform. There was a moment in that sea of thousands of women that I heard God very clearly say I was to take piano lessons from a lady at church who is now my current instructor.  I thought cool - if Gods telling me to take piano maybe he will zap me with the skill and ability and I'll be playing and writing music in no time.  I have discovered that piano is much more difficult than I ever imagined. I have really had to work. In the process I have discovered deeper whys. It helps to order my mind in a way that it not natural for me. It keeps me in contact with my teacher and friend who has been one of my strongest prayer allies. I have learned that progress comes in little steps and progress continues unless one gives up and quits. There are weeks when I don't get in enough practice time to pass my pieces and I have to spend another week on them rather than moving ahead. Even on those weeks progress is made. I have learned that a big part of the why for me is I want to be able to arrange and write music on the piano. I am actually doing that now and I will do more. I have so much still to learn but I have come to realize that I am not anxious about reaching the goal because I am enjoying the journey to it.

There are other things that God has shown me. Little glimmers of direction off in the future. They are like light houses in the distance, who's beam upon my path keeps me from tripping over the roots and from getting stuck in the ruts.  They give me hope as I travel on my journey.  I know that God's plans for me are good so I hold onto that truth even when circumstances try to tell me other wise. I know that He loves me and that He will help me to figure out His will, His plan and His purposes for my life.
I did not come to this place of trust and faith in an instant it has been the journey of the past 30 some years filled with little steps of faith. I can look back on all the times God has provided when I could not see the answer. I can look back and remember His faithfulness every step of the way and in doing so I can look ahead with faith to believe He will never leave or forsake me. He will be with me every step of the way forward.

Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Help each of us remember the "why" for the things we are doing as we stretch to reach some goal or dream that you have planted in our hearts. Help us to remember how this choice will impact our lives, and your kingdom. Help us to see how what we are doing is helping to mold and shape us to be more and more like Jesus. Lord if we have lost our way and lost the "why" help us to re-discover your plan and purpose for our life. Guide and walk beside us today and every day.

50 Things I Loved To Do As A Kid

A Devotional by Margot Cioccio

Proverbs 19:20-21

“Listen to advice 

and accept instruction, 

and in the end 

you will be wise. 

Many are the plans in a man’s heart, 

but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.”

Well by the time you are reading this, yesterday will have been my birthday. However I am writing this at the end of the day and it is still my birthday. I got kind of side tracked working on a brochure. But hey it has been my birthday and that's what I was into doing with my day. Along with reading all the notes and birthday wishes people left on my face book page. Anyway you can see some images of the 3 fold brochure I worked on for my Life Coaching business or practice, called 50 Thing I Loved To Do As A Kid. I am basically re-working something from my Coach Training Course into a format that will work for my plans and purposes and hopefully help me to strike up conversations with people I meet through out my day. 

Back when I was doing Mary K we were trained how to warm chatter. I made up cute little fold over cards that had lipstick samples. I was pretty good at talking with strangers and did pick up many of my clients in such a manner.  Giving them a gift often opened the doors for a conversation and quite often you found someone who would be interested in what you had to offer.  I tried to do it in a way that I was a blessing and not a nuisance. So I have been thinking about meeting people for coaching through a similar kind of grid. As a result I have been wondering what is the gift, or the sample that I have to give away?  So my idea was to create this brochure of a discovery activity that helps people to remember things that they loved to do when they were kids. Quite often we are so busy that we loose sight of those things. For me one of those things was bike riding. I had forgotten how much I loved riding bikes and as a result of remembering I have really enjoyed going out and riding my bike this summer. Sometimes remembering those things we enjoy helps to bring balance and fulfillment to our lives. Anyway I have created my own little tool for this task and will begin to test it to see if it works.

So our verse today is about the plans we make in our hearts and listening to wise instruction. My plans don't always go exactly the way I originally thought they would go.  I guess I don't generally get to bent out of shape by that because I tend to view life as a journey.  There are some things in my journey that I have control of but then there are other things that I have less control. I can't know how it will all play out but I can do the things that show up on my radar today.

I have been thinking a lot lately about the creative process and the value of being able to hold the mental image of where things are at present and the mental image of the final project at the same time. In doing that I can't always see how I will get from here to there but I know that I will get there. I begin by doing the things that I can do and I don't worry about the future steps just the ones that I need to deal with today. In the case of my mosaic projects like the current one called The Tree of Life I don't yet have a clear mental image of what it is to be yet. So I begin by thinking, praying, studying what I can find written on the subject. You will find funny little sketches on scraps of paper on my desk, or in the margins of my journals. It is a process of discovering the piece of art and trying to discover things about it. I try to take in to account the ideas of others around me. My friend Donnie says it needs to have some dementional aspects to the project. My husband, Marco wakes me up in the middle of the night to tell me a dream he has had about the heavens opening up and a mighty tree with swirling octopus like roots descends and digs itself into the ground. The fruit on the tree when picked is replaced by new fruit. His telling of it was much more elaborate but I was half asleep at the time.
I guess my point is that I always have a plan or a sense of where I am heading or want to go and at the same time I am aware of the present place in my journey. Sometimes it seems like I have a very long way to go but I hold on to the vision. I hold on to the bits of vision that the Lord reveals to me along the journey but I don't spend a lot of time worrying about how I will get from here to there. I do the things that I need to do today, they may seem small and insignificant at first but they are steps of faith that move me just a little bit closer to the thing I see off in the distance. 

Prayer
Dear Lord,
You know the plans we have and the things we want to do. You know the dreams we dream and the hopes we have. You know the steps we will need to take to get from here to there. You know the unexpected curves that will send us along paths we had not anticipated. Help us to listen to advice and instruction and to make wise choices. In the end it is your plans and purposes that will prevail and we choose to trust you to lead us day by day, step by step.

Ps. If you are interested in doing the 50 Things I Love To Do As A Kid actiity,  you can send me an e-mail at princessmargot@hotmail.com with your name and mailing address and I will send one out to you. I do coaching anywhere in the US by phone or instant messaging. Please visit my coaching site for more information.

The Gift of God's Presence

A Devotional by Margot Cioccio

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Psalm 62:5-11

⁵ Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;

   my hope comes from him.

⁶ He alone is my rock and my salvation;

   he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

⁷ My salvation and my honor depend on God;

   he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

⁸ Trust in him at all times, O people;

   pour out your hearts to him,

   for God is our refuge.

                         Selah

Today is my birthday and I realized when I got up this morning that I had forgotten to write and set a devotional to post today. So my apologies to those of you who look forward to this first thing in the morning or just after midnight pacific time. I have to admit that I got "Lost". Actually my family has been watching for the frist time, the old seasons of the show Lost. The one about the people who crash on a weird island where odd things are always happening. I will lay the blame for this on my baby sister, who told my youngest about the show this summer. I had wondered why we could not get him unglued from his computer. He finally convinced the rest of us to watch the show one night. I have to applaud the writers because they leave you hanging, and with so many questions that you keep coming back for more.  

In a far far greater way Jesus does that to me. The gift of His presence in my life and the adventure of each new day walking with Him in His kingdom is astounding. His blessings come to me in so many directions I am sure I am not even aware of them all.  I have generally come in my prayer time on my birthday with my birthday wish or prayer for the year ahead. I find myself coming this year simply with a thankful heart. Sure there are things I could ask for but I am finding myself overwhelmed by the goodness of the Lord's presence. 

Today I am 50! I am thankful for the thoughts of friends who have posted birthday greetings on my facebook page. For the sweet things my family has done to remember my birthday over the past week.

Well I hope you find something in this post that inspires you for your day. I am off and running - kids to school, work, meetings... It all of it God is present and in Him I am truly blessed. 

In the Waters of Baptism

A Devotional by Margot Cioccio

Mark 1:8 I baptize you with water,
but he will baptize you
with the Holy Spirit.”

Today we celebrated baptism at our church. It was pretty cool because it was a mix of folks. A few were long time Christians who just had not ever been baptized but the majority were people who were in the early part of a journey out of some very difficult life circumstances. They were realizing that they need Jesus if they were going to make it at all. They had come to the end of their self sufficiency and life on their own terms.  There was one who had put off baptism because she was waiting till she really felt like she was a better believer.  She realized that baptism was not about being perfect enough. In her mind she was not a good enough Christian and she put off baptism thinking that one day she would be.  There was  a 9 year old child who professed that he was ready to follow Jesus for the rest of his life.  All in all it was a very special day.

I had talked with my pastor earlier in the morning about if John the Baptist had interviewed each baptism candidate to see if they were qualified for baptism. We both agreed that we thought that practice came into the church later on.  In my Bible I read believe and be baptized. In Acts 8:12
But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women."
It does not say they were model Christains walking in complete righteousness and holyness. It says they believed and the next step was they were baptized.

Recently the topic of the sermon was about the baptism of Jesus and why did Jesus need to be baptized.  Was it just a symbolic expression of obedience? Did He just get wet or did something of a spiritual nature happen at the time. In the case of Jesus' baptism there is the account  Luke3: ²¹ When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened ²² and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

Is our baptism just a outward sign of an inward change or does God impart something in that momeent that in some way helps us to better live and walk out our life as a believer?  What was concluded was if it is merely a symbol, than one has been obedient and has gotten wet. If something more happens and we don't follow the Lord in being baptism perhaps we are missing out on something that God really wants to impart to us in that instant. 

I don't know where you are at as you think about baptism. I believe the people who were baptized today recieced an impartation of hands being laid on them and prayers being prayed over them, they went under the waters of baptism and came up into a new life. What will God do in and through those lives? What might He want to do in your?

I feel like I am writing this for someone who has put off being baptized for a long time. Perhaps you are struggling in your walk with the Lord. Maybe this is a confirmation of something God has been nudging you to do.  Maybe you are waiting for the perfect setting or for your own perfection. I just have this strong sense that who ever you are that God is trying to get your attention on this subject. That there is something that He wants to impart to you. While it may simply be just symbolic - what if is more. What if there is something you need that He wants to give you in that instant.

I think of the story of Naaman who had leprosy. He is not from Israel and yet he has heard that the answer and the healing he needs could be found in Israel. You can read the story in 2 Kings 5.  He goes to visit Elisha the prophet who just sends out his messenger to deal with him. Naaman is a very important guy and is quite put off by how he has been treated. He gets just a bit offended and almost misses out on his healing.  In 2 Kings 5: ¹¹ But Naaman went away angry and said, “I thought that he would surely come out to me and stand and call on the name of the LORD his God, wave his hand over the spot and cure me of my leprosy. ¹² Are not Abana and Pharpar, the rivers of Damascus, better than any of the waters of Israel? Couldn’t I wash in them and be cleansed?” So he turned and went off in a rage.
 ¹³ Naaman’s servants went to him and said, “My father, if the prophet had told you to do some great thing, would you not have done it? How much more, then, when he tells you, ‘Wash and be cleansed’!” ¹⁴ So he went down and dipped himself in the Jordan seven times, as the man of God had told him, and his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy.

 My point here is that in Naaman's case he could easily have missed out on the healing he so desired if  his pride and arrogance had kept him from going and dipping himself 7 times in the Jordan.  What if he gave up after the 5th or 6th dip in the water? What if he went to some other river? He would have missed out on something wonderful that God had for him. What about you, what if you are missing out on something God wants to impart to you in baptism?  I don't know who will read this post - I just write them and believe God will use them to encourage the folks God leads here to read these posts. 
If God is nudging you by this post, or if this post is a confirmation to something God has been nudging you about. Its time to take this step of faith.

Prayer:
Dear Lord,
I pray you will help those who are reading who have not yet followed you into the waters of baptism to find the courage take that step of faith and obedience. I pray that you will lead them to a church where they can be baptised,  if they don't already have one. I pray that you would impart something vital for their life in you. I pray it would be that clean slate that they have been wishing they could somehow experience in thier walk with you.  Thank you Lord in advance for what it is you desire to impart in the waters of baptism.

Tree of Life

A Devotional By Margot Cioccio

Ezekiel 47:12 

"Fruit trees of all kinds 
will grow on both banks 
of the river. Their leaves 
will not wither nor will 
their fruit fail. 
Every month they 
will bear fruit because 
of the water from the sanctuary 
flows to them. Their fruit 
will serve as food and 
their leaves for healing.

I have been thinking about the next mosaic project. To bring you up to speed. I posted a poll on face book with choices of projects people might be interested in following like they did the Beloved project.  I had suggested a Nativity, a mosic guitar, a clear project of a lighthouse, one called the Train of His Robe Fills the Temple.  While the poll was open some other suggestions were made. One of those was called Tree of Life. It turns out that was the favorite. So I am at the very beginning of the creative process trying to figure out what that project is.  I feel a bit like Michalenglo studing a block of marble. Some how he was able to see the sculpture trapped inside the marble. He would study it for a long long time before he ever took tools to the stone.  

The creative process is an interesting thing. Once you can see it in your head it is just a matter of the journey to get from here to there. In the book Your Life as Art by Robert Fritz he writes: "Painters use this ability constantly, managing two distinct data points, the painting in their vision and the painting on thier canvas. This is one of the keys to creating your life as art, holding two pictures in your mind at once, the desired state of your life viewed against the actual state of your life."   He calls this structural tension and it is a good thing that propells you towards the desired end. 

I know on the Beloved Project, I saw it very clearly when I made the initial sketch but it took me a long time to be able to get to the next step of drawing it larger on the big board. My vision was too small.  I don't know if it was all of the stress in my life at that time that stalled the creative process but I just could not bring myself to go any further. Then I did get it drawn and was stuck at that point again for a very long time. Again something blocked my ability at that point to feel the piece at that point. 

Something in my heart and mind finnally somehow merged and it was like a light bulb turned on and I could both see and feel the piece. "Life on the road requires recollection of our Love's past deeds on our behalf and his promise of continued faithfulness to us. We need courage and patience and those are strengthened by remembering. We will need memory, which is to say we will need faith. Faith looks back and draws courage; hope looks ahead and keeps desire alive."John Eldredge from The Sacred Romance.  Perhaps the finished Beloved Project is just a rough sketch of a deeper desire. Its hard to explain and Robert Fritz in his books Your Life as Art and The Path of least Resistance probably does a better job than I. Its been a while since I read them- I think I may have to read them over again. 
But there is something powerful in holding in your mind where you are presently on your journey and where you desire to be.  It is out of that that what is in between is like water flowing down hill. It can't help itself it takes that path of least resistance to reaching the desired end. 

The Beloved Project came like a vision. It was just suddenly there and I was doing my best to capture it quickly in a sketch. The Tree of Life did not come with a vision, at least not yet. So I am reading verses and trying to begin to understand what it is that is in my block of marble so I can begin to set it free. You see a first sketch here in this post. I can kind of see angels with flaming swords on the sides and a path way in the shape of a cross that leads up to the tree. The trunk is of Jesus and someone who is loving to spend time with him. They are embracing to form the trunk. The branches are also made of people who are enjoying His presence. Joy swings, and one worships while playing a guitar, others bear fruit or harvest fruit.  

The verse above has been speaking to me today.  They do not wither and they bear fruit because of the river that flows from the sanctuary.  Which takes me to the Tree of Life in His Presence.  The more we are touched by the living water that flows from His presence the more we are transformed and changed into his likeness. 

It will be interesting to see where this project goes. I do know that I have to at least understand the structure of the project, the detail seems to have a mind of its own and comes almost like my hands are directed by the hand of God. I feel that especially when I do faces out of glass. I can't explain how it happens it is well beyond my skill or ability. It is a spiritual communion of sorts with the Holy Spirit. 

Well I should end this - I hope it makes sense and speaks to someone reading.  It took me a long time to grab a hold of the creative process and understand that I could apply it to more than art.  Its ok to make life sketchs, or to experiment with your best guess at what might work, to hypothesize, to dream, to imagine to test it out. Sometimes it just takes someone to believe, we are able to figure things out. I will figure out this Tree of Life project, I can't say for sure how long it will take. Every journey begins with a first step of faith into an unknown future.  Make it an adventure hand in hand with the Lover of your soul.  

Prayer
Dear Lord, 
Help us to understand the art that is our life. Help us to sketch out the rough ideas and to experiment with what the finish project might look like. Help us to ask the right questions to discover and uncover the deep things that are hidden for us to search out. Saturate us with the water that flows from the sanctuary of your presence and transform us for your glory.  

The Value of Encouragement

A Devotional by Margot Cioccio

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Acts11:22- 24
News of this reached the ears 
of the church at Jerusalem, and they 
sent Barnabas to Antioch.  ²³ When he 
arrived and saw the evidence 
of the grace of God, he was glad 
and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.  
²⁴ He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit 
and faith, and a great number of people 
were brought to the Lord.

Its a rainy day here. It seems like it has been gray and raining for days.
I'd very much like to be curled up on the couch reading a book but there is still a long list of things yet to do today.  I have been trying to trust the Lord to order it all and to not worry about how much there is to do and how I will get it all done. You would be amazed how loosing that portion of worry makes everything so much better. I had a chance later in the day to encourage someone along those lines.

I got a note today from someone who has been following these devotionals. Its always encouraging for me to know that you are out there reading. Its nice to know that what I have written has somehow touched your heart. Its funny, I may think something I've posted is under par and then someone comments how it was the best one yet. It reminds me of how important encouragement is in our lives.
It is easy to get discouraged and we all need people around us who will encourage us and point us to Jesus. Even more than that we need to be the kind of people who encourage others.



Today I wanted to talk about a guy named Barnabas. The Bible tells us he was a Levite of the country of Cyprus. If you recall there were 12 tribes of Israel. The Levites were the one who were not given a portion of the land as their inheritance. Instead land was set aside for them with in all the tribes because they were the ones who were set aside to take care of the Tabernacle ( the big moving tent of worship to God) later when the Temple was built they were still the ones in charge of its services and up keep. Any way Barnabas was a Levite designated to serve in the temple and in a subordinate rack to the priests.

It is interesting that Barnabas gets mentioned in the New Testament 29 times. He is the one who went to find Saul / Paul and "took him and brought him to the apostles.  Keep in mind that Saul had been persecuting and killing off the Christian believers until he had an encounter with God on the road to Damascus. You can understand why the leaders of the church at that time might have had reason to be very cautious about a guy like Saul.

Barnabas was one of those people who was able to come along side of Saul and had the credibility with in the church to open doors for Saul - who's name was changed to Paul. Barnabas actual name was Joses. He must have really been quite remarkable because he is called Barnabas which means Son of Encouragement. In Acts 11:24 it says "For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith."
He was a good man which means his character was above reproach. He was full of the Holy Spirit which explains the powerful and effective ministry he had. He was full of faith which is evidenced through his encouragement of Paul and his some what flakey nephew Mark. Who became in his later years a very effective minister of the gospel. He continued to believe in people even when they let him down at times. His faith is also evidenced in his on going encouragement of the church.

So what can we learn from a guy like Barnabas?
• Encouragement is one way we can help others.
• Encouragement opens the way for us to share the gospel with unbelievers.
• We all need people to come along side us and encourage us to move by faith.
• We all need to look for opportunities to encourage others. One never know how far a kind word will go and how many people will be effected by the ripples it creates.

I heard someone say recently" Paul asked: What can people do for God's work - Barnabas asked: What can God's work do for people."  Barnabas and Paul had quite a partnership in ministry. In the early years you will see it listed as Barnabas and Paul later Paul's name is the first name. Which is an indication that Paul had stepped up to take the lead. Barnabas was the kind of person who could step back and allow another to be in the forefront.  In Acts 14:14 it is interesting to see that both are listed as apostles. It reads "But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard this....."
It is also noted pretty clearly in Acts 4:37 that Barnabas was a generous person. "having land, sold it, and brought the money and laid it at the apostles feet." This was not something that he had to do but it was something that he simply had a heart to do.

Barnabas is an interesting guy and one who sets a good example for us to follow as believers. You may not be the person in the background of someone like Paul, but perhaps there are people in your life who are more in the spot light because you have been their Barnabas.  We are not all called to the spotlight and those who are really can't do what they do with out people who are backing them up. I suppose if you are one of those in the spot light folks, I would remind you to look at the folks who have come along side you and don't take their service for granted. 
We are all in this together - for His glory.

Prayer:
Dear Lord,
Thank you for the people in our lives who have been there to encourage us on our journey. Help us to look around and begin more and more to encourage others around us. We all have varied gifts and callings and places with in your church and your kingdom. Help us to be thankful for the people who encourage us and help us to pass that gift of grace on to others.  

A Time to Give Thanks to the Lord

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A Devotional by Margot Cioccio
2 Chronicles 20:21
 
After consulting the people, Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the LORD and to praise him for the splendor of his holiness as they went out at the head of the army, saying:
“Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever.”

I believe more battles can be won by singing than by wringing ones hands in fear or by attacking others. This is one of my favorite passages and if you have not read the whole story, do check it out. I have spent a lot of years in and around worship teams and I am not sure we often realize the spiritual power behind singing our thanks to the Lord.  What ever the difficulty we face. We have choices to make. Will you run around all worried that God will not come through or will you thank him for times he has provided from unexpected sources. We have to make a decision to keep my eyes on him no matter what the circumstances my look like.  He will provide and take care of us.  In this verse today, Israel faced death and slavery at the hands of unmerciful enemies on all sides. They called all the people to fast and pray....

What amazes me is that they all did fast and pray. It should not be so hard to get believers to pray. I think if we really believed we would pray.  If we often don’t really believe we prepare for the worst rather than the best.  If you are facing troubles and difficult situations today stop moaning and wringing your hands. Remember the times that the Lord has helped you before. Start thanking him for what you already have. Today is the right time to “Give thanks to the LORD, for his love endures forever.

Things to Ponder:
What are some of the good things you can thank God for today?


Are there some hard or painful things that God is using to bring transformation in your life?


Can you begin to thank him for the hard stuff too?

Do you really believe that God will answer your desperate cry?
And if so are you responding by faith in some way?

How are you sending the choir out in front of your army?

Prayer :
Dear Lord,
I need your help to stop worrying and to start praying. If you could help Jehoshaphat you can help me and my present situation.  I choose to give you thanks for the things that I am facing in my life at this time. By faith I will go out and sing you my songs of thanks as I go through my day. Be near me and help me - you are my deliverer. I stand secure in you.