Wisdom for Wednesday - God is preparing us...

Hello there!

I'm in the middle of celebrating my "birthday week" as my husband calls it and enjoying the last few weeks of summer vacation. 

I don't know about you, but the last week of July always feels like my break is over even though I don't officially return until August 21st. I think it is because once August hits, my back-to-school to-do list starts overwhelming me a bit...and I can't stop thinking about it!

Anyway, I'm glad you're joining me for this week's wisdom post. I know I say this a lot, but I LOVE this quote! ;-)

As I've been going through my Bible study, There's a Fly in my Tea (affiliate link), with my online study group, the Lord has continued to use it in my life. I know that seems odd...since I wrote it, but it is the truth! This summer study has been so good for me!

This last week, I encouraged the group to read Genesis 37-50 in preparation for a chapter on service. As I reread these chapters about Joseph, the Lord had me considering this idea of preparation (and forgiveness) as well.

If you are unfamiliar with the life of Joseph, I'll try to give you a brief summary here before I jump in to this quote:

Joseph's brothers hated him, envied him, and wanted to kill him. He was sold into slavery, falsely accused and imprisoned, and then forgotten in prison. He was the only one--he gives God all the credit--able to interpret Pharaoh's dreams warning of the coming famine. Pharaoh then sets Joseph up as ruler over the land of Egypt.

During the famine, Joseph's brothers come to buy food from Egypt, and we get to read about an amazing story of forgiveness and restoration.

Joseph was never angry or bitter.

Instead, he says things like this (emphasis mine):

"...be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life." 45:5

"And God sent me before you to preserve you..." 45:7

"...it was not you that sent me hither, but God..." 45:8

"Fear not: for am I in the place of God?" 50:19

"...ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good..." 50:20

All throughout the story, Joseph has an understanding that God had put him exactly where he needed to be for a greater purpose.

God had prepared Joseph for what he had prepared for Joseph.

And he does the same for us...

God is always preparing us for what He has prepared for us.

P.S. Visit me on my author FB page!

Wisdom for Wednesday - Get out of the boat!

Hey there! Happy Wednesday!

Is anyone else feeling like their to-do list is longer than the summer break they have left?

I mean, I'm looking ahead at my July calendar and seeing August will be here before I know it. And I know my mind will immediately shift to my back-to-school to-do list and all these unfinished summer projects will become...ahem...Christmas break projects (maybe).

Anyone with me? Anyone? ;-)

Oh, well. It is what it is!

Let's get on with today's bit of wisdom.

I love this phrase! In fact, it might be my favorite chapter title from my Bible study, There's a Fly In My Tea! (affiliate link).

This summer I'm going through my study with some ladies in a Facebook group. It has been a great refresher to me (yes, I can still be convicted by my own writing ;-)) and so fun to interact with these ladies as we strive to grow in our walk with the Lord. 

We covered this chapter a couple of weeks ago, and I found myself once again thinking, "Get out of the boat!"

The phrase came from the passage of when Peter walks on water in Matthew 14:22-33. Instead of just focusing on how Peter began to sink when he took his eyes off of Jesus (which is a great lesson), the study includes a portion celebrating that "at least he got out of the boat!"

Getting out of the boat is being obedient to what God asks us to do. Maybe it is steps of simple obedience--spending time with Him in prayer and Bible study--or maybe it is something bigger. 

One of my bigger "getting out of the boat" moments was the writing of the Bible study which I share in the book. Another was when I decided to go back to school and become a teacher. 

This year, I'll be "getting out of the boat" and starting a new position at my school. 

Reading specialist. 

I'm extremely excited...and a little nervous. Sure, I could have stayed in the comfort of my boat (2nd grade classroom), but I knew God was calling me to something different. Stepping out in obedience can sometimes be uncomfortable and a little frightening, but so worth it in the end!

Here's  another quote from the chapter that I love:

I know I'm writing to an amazingly talented group of people--we're teachers after all! So tell me...do you need to get out of the boat? :-)

P.S. I'd love to have you visit my author website and/or Facebook page if you're interested. :-)

Wisdom for Wednesday - Trust

Hi there!

I hope you're having a great week. I'm struggling a bit to get back in the swing of things…and so are my kiddos! WOW! So talkative and getting some of them back into routines...

WOW!

That's all I can say.

Well, that, and I'm a little worried about what my first week back after Christmas break will be like! Ha!

On to the reason you are here on a Wednesday...

Check out this quote from Oswald Chambers about Peter's walk on water:

Isn't that true? 

It is so easy for us to trust God in some areas of our lives, but "…then self-consideration enters in and down we go." 

Chambers (My Utmost for His Highest, June 18) writes about how if we are recognizing God for who He is, we can't help but trust Him. It is only when we focus on the circumstances around us that we become overwhelmed. 

And why should we? 

God doesn't panic! And neither should we!

We can trust Him with every aspect of our lives, not just some of them. Not just the easy things.

I love the way Chambers says it… "Let actual circumstances be what they may, keep recognizing Jesus, maintain complete reliance on Him."

I know, I know. Easier said than done. Why do you think I have to keep reminding myself? ;-)