Janice Hanna's Blog, page 13

Not a Sword, But a Song

One of my all-time favorite Bible stories is found in the book of 2 Chronicles 20. Jehoshaphat was ruling over Israel when the country came under attack from several different directions at once. (Ever been there?) Vast armies were headed their way.

Like any good ruler, Jehoshaphat panicked. No, really. The Bible says he was terrified. But he took his fears and channeled them. He commanded the people to fast and pray. Then he stood before the people and prayed boldly, reminding God of His promises. He cried out (vs. 12): “O our God, won’t you stop them? We are powerless against this mighty army that is about to attack us. We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.”

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been there hundreds of times. Bill collectors were calling. Medical issues loomed large. Relationship issues threatened my peace. The money for the mortgage payment simply wasn’t there.

But look at what happened next: “As all the men of Judah (Jahaziel) stood before the Lord with their little ones, wives, and children, the Spirit of the Lord came upon one of the men standing there.” (vs. 13/14)

That’s how it works, folks. You channel your fears, your worries, your concerns into prayers. Intense prayers. You stand boldly. You stand TOGETHER (with fellow believers). You don’t give up. And when you live like that, God moves supernaturally.

In this case, He spoke through Jahaziel. He said, “Listen, all you people of Judah and Jerusalem! Listen, King Jehoshaphat! This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid! Don’t be discouraged by this mighty army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow, march out against them. You will find them coming up through the ascent of Ziz at the end of the valley that opens into the wilderness of Jeruel. But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the Lord’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out against them tomorrow, for the Lord is with you!” (vs. 15-17)

It’s what happens next that always gets me excited. Jehoshaphat makes a decision that might’ve seemed nuts to some. He sends the singers out ahead of the warriors. He put the worshipers on the frontlines. (Where are my praise and worship leaders?!) “After consulting the people, the king appointed singers to walk ahead of the army, singing to the Lord and praising him for his holy splendor.” (vs. 21)

They squared their shoulders, garnered their courage, and began to sing at the top of their lungs: “Give thanks to the Lord; his faithful love endures forever!”

Look at what happened next!

At the very moment they began to sing and give praise, the Lord caused the armies of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir to start fighting among themselves. The armies of Moab and Ammon turned against their allies from Mount Seir and killed every one of them. After they had destroyed the army of Seir, they began attacking each other. So when the army of Judah arrived at the lookout point in the wilderness, all they saw were dead bodies lying on the ground as far as they could see. Not a single one of the enemy had escaped. (vs. 22-24)

Not a Sword, But a Song

So, just as Lord said (through Jahaziel) the battle was won, not because of strong warriors or great weaponry (at least not in this case) but because worship, praise, and adoration led the way. They proclaimed their victory before they even saw it.

I don’t know what you’re facing today. I don’t know what armies are threatening to take you down. But I do know the very best strategy you can take is to emulate Jehoshaphat’s battle strategy.

1). Admit your fears (as Jehoshaphat did). 2). Pray. 3). Fast. 4). Gather a team around you. 5). Remind God of His promises. 6). Listen closely as Him reminds you that the battle is already won. 7). With everything that’s inside of you, praise Him as you’re marching head-long into the battle. 8). Watch your enemies turn on each other and ultimately fall. 9). Praise Him some more!

For Jehoshaphat the victory was won the moment that first song was lifted. The same is true of your situation. And mine. You’ll notice that I’m always referencing worship songs/lyrics that have impacted my life. There’s a reason for that. I’m a singer. I’m boldly facing my enemies, not with a sword, but a song.

Make This Moment Count

There is transformative power in the gospel of Jesus Christ–power to permanently affect lives, families, cities, and even nations. But it has to start in us, church. We have to activate it.

I know you’re feeling what I’m feeling right now. This isn’t a “normal” time/season we’re in, and we can’t go on as we have in years past, in a lukewarm state. The world doesn’t need a slumbering church…it needs the bride of Christ to awaken and to submit herself to the calling of Esther…”for such a time as this.” Like that beautiful young bride we can help bring hope to a whole generation, but it’s going to require sacrifice on our part, as well as a hefty dose of bravery.

This is our time, church. Don’t let it march right by you as you snooze the opportunity away. Hit your knees. Cry out for repentance. Ask for a radical transformation to begin in your own heart so that your effectiveness will be multiplied to reach others. Then present the gospel message with the same boldness Paul, Silas, Peter, Timothy, John, and others did. . .not a watered-down, culturally sensitive message meant to flatter or cajole, but the real gospel, the one that has the capability of bringing change to hearts and lives.

But remember, they won’t believe it unless they actually SEE it in your life, which is why you’ve got to start at home. . .with you.Make this moment count. You want to be able to look back and say, “I was honored to be part of that movement.”

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

(Acts 1:8 NLT)

A Greater Hunger

I’m very blessed to have so many friends and loved ones who are like-minded in faith and personal convictions. I’ve had several precious conversations with individual family members and friends over the past couple of months. Many of us have been sensing a greater hunger for the things of God, and we’ve been so excited to talk about what we think He’s up to.

There hasn’t been a lot of room left for fear or panic because we’re just so excited about the things we believe He’s going to do. We’re convinced He’s up to something…BIG!

We read in the Bible that God is going to pour out His Spirit in the last days. We see that scripture first in Joel 2:28 (as a prophetic word): “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.” Then we see it repeated again on the Day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit showed up in a major way.

All in for Him!

Peter and the other apostles saw this prophecy come to life in their midst I’m a remarkable way! And God has been pouring out His Spirit ever since, showing off in a zillion different ways over the generations. We’re going to have similar, life-changing experiences as we draw closer to Him in these last days.

I’m already seeing evidence of that in my own personal walk with Jesus. No doubt you are too. Things are beginning to stir in the spirit-realm. Even as evil amps up around us, we should be all-the-more convinced that the Spirit of God will begin to work in and through the body of Christ if we remain diligent and useable. If we will do that, think of the impact we can make on this lost, broken world! This is God’s greatest desire for the church, that we “go into all the world and preach the gospel.” If we ever needed His Spirit to get that done, it’s now.

No matter how hard the enemy works to tamp down the church, she is the bride of Christ and will always have His protection and His love. The church cannot be stopped, any more than a rushing river can be halted. Throw walls up in front of us and we’ll sail over them. Place an ocean in our path and watch God part it. Toss us into a fiery furnace and we’ll come out without the smell of smoke in our hair. (Hey, I’m not bragging on us. . .I’m bragging on God!)

Don’t believe it? Check out this verse from Isaiah 54:17 NLT): “But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed. You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you. These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord; their vindication will come from me. I, the Lord, have spoken!”

I’ve (personally) been energized, knowing others around me are sensing what I’m sensing. . .that God is on the move. It starts with each of us (as individuals) humbling ourselves and genuinely seeking God. If we will do that, He will begin to speak in that still, small voice. . .giving hope for the days ahead.

There will be shaking in the upcoming days. No doubt about it. In the natural, things will seem to be getting worse, not better. These shakings might be unpredictable and (on the surface) look frightening. But, if you’re a child of the Most High God, you don’t have to be afraid. Draw near to Him as never before. Spend time in prayer as never before. Be willing to go deep with Him, deeper than before. Be open to the Spirit of God moving as never before. (He did promise that in the last days He would fill us, and we don’t actually know what that will look like, so we’ve got to be ready!)

And remember, even if you’re not as close to God as you once were (even if you’ve turned your back and walked away) it’s not too late to turn back. He will welcome you with open arms!

More than anything else, look away from social media. Don’t hyper-focus on every little news story (good or bad). (I’m preaching to the choir here!) Don’t let your emotions run away with you. Stay the course. TRUST that His plan is at work and He can manage to run the world without your nose glued to the TV or cell phone.

Get His perspective on what’s going on, sure. Watch Christian news sources, (and/or messages from pastors/evangelists who seem to have their ear tuned to what God is doing….I have a list of favorites, if you’re interested) but don’t allow the fear and negativity to consume you; otherwise you’ll lose precious time that could be spent engaged in building up yourself and those around you.

There will be people who are frightened. Minister to them. There will be hopelessness. Speak hope. There will be fear. Speak peace. There will be brokenness. Speaking healing and wholeness. There will be sorrow. Speak comfort. There will be division. Speak unity by His Spirit. There will be hunger. Make sure your storehouses are full so you can feed those in need. There will be thirsty. Be ready with a cup of cold water. There will be people who don’t look like you, act like you, or talk like you, but they will turn their hearts to God and need someone just like you to be ready to pour yourself out as an offering on their behalf.

Be ready, church. Be prayed up and ready. In short, be the opposite of what you’re seeing in the world right now. And, for goodness sake, don’t stop sharing the gospel, no matter how offensive it might be to some. It’s the hope of the world, the only life-changing message we’ve got! Through the power of the Spirit of God, you can do it!

For I will pour out water on the thirsty land

And streams on the dry ground;

I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring

And My blessing on your descendants;

And they will spring up among the grass

Like poplars by streams of water.

(Isaiah 44:3-4)

A Spiritual Awakening

I’ve had an ongoing fascination with Tasha Cobb’s song, Your Spirit. I listen to it several times a day, usually. I’ve been trying to figure out why it’s impacted me so strongly. Here’s the conclusion I finally came to:

Say you had a cut on your hand. You tried all sorts of miracle cures but nothing fixed the problem. It only continued to get worse, finally festering to the point where you thought it might destroy your whole system. Then, miraculously, you found the ONE THING that could fix the whole problem. You applied that salve and. . .voila! Healing, inside and out.

Our world is experiencing multiple open wounds. These wounds are festering. And we’re trying to apply all sorts of things to fix them: programs, movements, news headlines, rules, sanctions, laws, attitudes. Are the wounds healed? No, they are only getting worse. They fester and cause pain upon pain until many cry out, “We’re not going to make it.” But we WILL make it if we call out to the ONE THING that can make a difference.

We need a spiritual awakening…in the church and in the earth. We need the ONLY ointment that can truly make a difference. THAT’S why this song tugs at my heart with such force. The words are truth for today. It’s NOT by might (we’ve tried that and it ended in destruction to lives and property). It’s not by power (political and other groups have tried that and failed miserably). It’s ONLY by the Spirit of God that the gaping wounds will be healed.

Church, it’s time to hit your knees! Plead for God’s mercy and for His healing–not just over our nation, but our world.

Not by might

Not by power

By your spirit God

Send your spirit God

You called us out

Out of the darkness

Into your love

Into your light

Grace upon grace

Beauty for ashes

You come to us

We come alive

We stand in awe of you

We stand in awe of you

Not by might (not by might)

Not by power (not by power)

By your spirit God (by your spirit God)

Send your spirit God

(Your Spirit: Tasha Cobb)

And Even if He Doesn’t

In the Christmas of 1964 I was five years old. All I wanted to find under the tree was a record player. Back in those days record players looked like little wooden suitcases. (I know, I know…I’m old.) You opened the suitcase and found the turntable inside. Christmas arrived and (lo and behold) there was a package under the tree that was the right size, right shape, right…everything. I could hardly wait! I tore into the paper and (sure enough!) found a suitcase inside. I still remember the excitement I felt as I snapped it open, and. . .found it completely empty.

It was just a suitcase. The disappointment was keen. I couldn’t believe the cruelty of it all. Of course, I went on to have years of fun with that suitcase. I used it for my doll’s clothes. I used it for all sorts of things. But, oh! The depth of pain when my request wasn’t granted. I’d gotten my hopes up. . .for nothing.

Jump ahead 56 years. Tonight I was walking the dogs. As is often the case, I was praying and listening to worship music as we made our way through the neighborhood. I’ve had a lot of really big/intense prayer requests, of late. As we charismatics like to say, “I’m standing and believing” for all of them to come to pass, even the really big ones that seem impossible.
As I walked, I had the most random thought flit through my mind, related to one of my most pressing prayer requests: “What if it doesn’t happen? Then what?” Like a good charismatic I pushed that negative thought aside and said, “It will.”

Just as quickly, I heard it again: “But, what if it doesn’t?”

Ouch. This was getting real. I kept walking, and (without hesitation) told the Lord, “Then You’ll still be God.”

He then began to take me through every one of my prayer requests, (things I bring to Him regularly and fervently). One by one He asked, “But what if it doesn’t happen like this?”

Man. Again I said (to each one): “Then You’ll still be God.”

I rounded a corner and a new (unfamiliar) song came on. I was surprised because I have a playlist, of sorts, and that one has never popped up. But, as I listened, I fell in love with the lyrics:

There is no other name but the name that is Jesus

He who was and still is, and will be through it all

So come what may in the space between

All the things unseen and this reckoning

And I know I will never be alone

And I know I will never be alone

There’ll be another in the fire

Standing next to me

There’ll be another in the waters

Holding back the seas

And should I ever need reminding

How good You’ve been to me

I’ll count the joy come every battle ‘

Cause I know that’s where You’ll be

It hit me: Even if God didn’t answer my requests as I hoped, He was promising never to leave me as I moved forward. Even if I ended up going through the fire (whatever that looked like) He would be in there with me.
Then came the final lyrics (which were as much spoken off the cuff as sung as normal lyrics). They almost took my breath away:

“And even if He doesn’t, I will praise Him!”

“And even if He doesn’t, I’ll stand tall!”

“And even if He doesn’t, I’m not bowing to this world.”

“And even if He doesn’t, I’m not changing my confession.”

“And even if He doesn’t,

I can see the light in the darkness as the darkness bows to Him

I can hear the roar in the heavens

As the space between wears thin

I can feel the ground shake beneath us

As the prison walls cave in

Nothing stands between us

Nothing stands between us.”

There is was. The final answer. The RIGHT answer:

Nothing stands between us.

Nothing stands between us.

Even if He doesn’t, nothing will ever stand between us. It’s not enough to believe that He’s still God and still on the throne. I have to also come to commit that I won’t let anything come between us, should I get the suitcase and not the record player.

Even if He doesn’t. . .He’ll still be mine and I’ll still be His…and nothing will ever change that.

(Another in the Fire, Hillsong United: lyrics in comment box)

No Bending

We cannot expect contemporary culture to bend its will, its wishes, or its wants to conform to our biblical doctrine. Only when man is born again of the Spirit of God will the shackles fall off of his eyes. Then he will see for himself what is right and what is wrong, what is good and what is bad. What is sound and what is unsound.  We cannot expect lost mankind to conform to a salvation they have not yet experienced.  Of course, we need to pray for that continually, especially now, and we need to love people as never before so that they see the heart of Jesus In all we do. Let us use words like “grace” and “love” to do the work they were intended to do: win the lost to a beautiful Savior. 

On the other hand… modern culture (and or a political movement) cannot expect the church to bend its will, either. It’s simply not fair for any group, political or otherwise, to make assumptions that the church should somehow conform to the world.  Biblical doctrine is not up for grabs. It doesn’t change from generation to generation to adapt to the culture. It doesn’t get watered down or become lukewarm like we see in the church at Laodicea. 

To the churches that have been reshaping themselves to look and feel more palatable to modern culture, God has a word for you today: It has to stop. Time is too short to preach a watered down gospel and/or sell yourself out. 

Many of you are in churches that are not willing to take a stand for things you know to be true. You’ve stayed because you love the people, you love the building, you love the pastor. You’ve got a history there. And you love that history.  You’ve  prayed that the message will strengthen as we get closer and closer to the return of Jesus. 

Will it, though? Perhaps those pastors, those boards, those denominations are too frightened because they’re being manipulated by people with money and/or by a cancel culture that will ruin them if they speak biblical truth. So they hide. And they use words like “love” and “grace” in ways they were never meant to be used, to excuse sin. 

I believe it’s time for you to get out of those lukewarm churches, friends. Find a church that isn’t afraid to tackle the hard issues without bending truth. Seek out a church where the Spirit of God is free to move. Seek out a church where truth is truth and there are no gray areas. Seek out a church where the people are willing to go down fighting, even if it means they lose all in the process. (This cancel culture can be brutal but the Spirit of God inside of us is so much stronger!) 

We don’t have time to play around right now, church. We don’t. It’s time to wake up, listen to what the Spirit is saying, and get busy. Run as fast and as far as you can from any church that is not allowing you to do that.  And just by way of reminder:

Write to Laodicea, to the Angel of the church. God’s Yes, the Faithful and Accurate Witness, the First of God’s creation, says: “I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You’re not cold, you’re not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! You’re stale. You’re stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, ‘I’m rich, I’ve got it made, I need nothing from anyone,’ oblivious that in fact you’re a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless. “Here’s what I want you to do: Buy your gold from me, gold that’s been through the refiner’s fire. Then you’ll be rich. Buy your clothes from me, clothes designed in Heaven. You’ve gone around half-naked long enough. And buy medicine for your eyes from me so you can see, really see. “The people I love, I call to account—prod and correct and guide so that they’ll live at their best. Up on your feet, then! About face! Run after God! “Look at me. I stand at the door. I knock. If you hear me call and open the door, I’ll come right in and sit down to supper with you. Conquerors will sit alongside me at the head table, just as I, having conquered, took the place of honor at the side of my Father. That’s my gift to the conquerors! “Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches.”

(Revelation 3:14-22, The Message)

Stay and Pray

I’ve never been a dreamer. Until a few weeks ago I could probably count on one hand the number of dreams I’d had that were memorable. But a few weeks back I began to really dive into the scriptures and to lengthen/deepen my prayer time. I read that familiar verse in Acts 2:17: 

‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.”

That verse triggered something in me (in a good way). I’m (obviously) not a man, but the words, “your old men will dream dreams” jumped out at me. I thought, “How cool would that be, to actually have dreams of significance?” So, I prayed for that very thing. And, at the same time I was praying “God, make me a dreamer in these last days,” I was also praying something else: “God, use my writing in new and exciting ways.” 

Dangerous prayers. 

It should have come as no surprise when the dreams started. I did ask for them, after all. But, to “unpack” them (to ask God about the significance of each one) has been the fun part. I’m not one of those “God spoke to me” types, but I do hear His still, small voice in my heart (and especially when I’ve been deep in prayer with Him). So, it’s been lovely to hear it so frequently these days. I don’t know about you, but I really need His input right about now!

All of that was the preface to the dream I’m about to share. I just had it a few hours ago, so it’s fresh on my mind. Here goes: 

In the dream I’d gone to a restaurant late in the evening with several Christian friends. After eating, we were all tired and very full. We couldn’t wait to get back to the hotel where we were staying. The restaurant emptied and the manager walked our way, looking exhausted. He asked if we would consider staying and helping them clean the back rooms (kitchen and beyond) because they were short on help. The other ladies in my group were too tired and wanted to go back to the hotel. I told my friend (who was driving): “Go ahead and take them back, then come back and get me.” 

They left and I followed the manager into the massive restaurant kitchen. I was SO shocked at how filthy it was. The floor was absolutely covered in bits of food and other debris. The manager handed me a small, worn-out broom, and said, “I need you to sweep all of the floors and then mop.”

Do the Hard Work

This place was HUGE, y’all. Like, it went on for miles. I was so overwhelmed. But I took my (seemingly-ineffective, tiny) broom and started sweeping the outer perimeters, saving the kitchen for last. A young man joined me with his larger broom, and together we made a bit of progress in the outlying areas. I kept going, moving from room to room with my broom in hand. Along the way, I kept stumbling into treasures among the debris on the floor. I had the strongest sense that the manager was going to let me keep the treasures I’d found and I was so happy. 

As I continued sweeping, I soon found myself in a small back room and I heard a man’s voice. I looked over to see an important dignitary on the telephone. He was sharing information that was top secret, and there I was, hearing all of it! I just kept on sweeping, listening to all he said, and thinking, “Whoa. I’m the only one hearing this! How cool is this?!”

I kept working until I came back around to the (still messy) kitchen floor.  The biggest job was still ahead of me. That’s when I woke up. 

I stayed in bed for some time in total silence, just listening, thinking about what it all meant. Then, just as clearly as I’ve EVER heard that still, small voice, I heard the words: “Prayer is the hard work.”

STAY AND PRAY.

That was the message of the dream. 

Stay and Pray



Stay and pray when others can’t. Stay  and pray when you’re tired and don’t feel like it.Stay and pray when the situation in front of you is a massive mess.Stay  and pray when the condition of those you’re praying for seems impossible. Stay and pray when your prayers seems ineffective. Stay and pray when it feels tedious. Stay and pray because there are treasures to be found. Stay and pray because doing so will open you up to hearing that great Dignitary’s voice in ways that others will not, (because you refused to give up). 

For the love of all that’s holy and BECAUSE OF all that’s not. . .stay and pray. 

Praying the Lord’s Prayer

I created this template to serve as a springboard for praying as Jesus taught us in the Lord’s Prayer. Feel free to use and share! – Janice Thompson

Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name!

I praise You because You are holy and worthy of praise!I praise You for WHO You are: healer, provider, protector, etc. I praise You for WHAT You’ve done: so far and yet to come.I praise You for WHEN You move: Your timing is perfect.I praise You for WHERE You move: You move in the areas that need movement.I praise You for WHY You move: You alone know why You need to move.I praise You for HOW You move: You move in unusual ways and always surprise me!I praise You for all of creation and life.I praise You for my family: my children, grandchildren, siblings and so on.I praise You for friends.I praise You for work/income.I praise You for health and wholeness.I praise You for a clear/clean mind.I praise You for Your mercy.I praise You for Your great love.I praise You for the gift of Your Spirit and the power He brings!I praise You because You bless me coming and going!I praise You because You’ve been really good to me.I praise You for being the Author and Finisher of my faith. I praise You for knocking down my enemies!I praise You, my Waymaker!I praise You for the free gift of salvation!I praise You, Miracle Worker!I praise You for the giants You’ve slain on my behalf.I praise You for the angels You place around me to protect me. I praise You for moving—in my heart, life, and circumstances.I praise You for always keeping Your promises.I praise You for the mountains and the valleys.I praise You for Your sacrifice on the cross!I praise You for Who You’ve been to me. I praise You because I’m not just free. . .I’m free indeed!I praise You because Your Name is above every name!I praise You because Your Name is above evil.I praise You that walls are coming down!I praise You for giving me wisdom.I praise You for drawing me close.I praise You for your companionship. I praise You for mending my broken heart. I praise You for teaching me how to forgive others. I praise You for giving me rest.I praise You because You’re a light in the darkness. I praise You for the promise of heaven.I praise You because your grace is sufficient for me. I praise You for the call you’ve placed on my life. I praise You for any gifts, talents, and abilities You have placed in me. I praise You because You’ve anointed me to preach good news. I praise You that I can go through the fire and not be burned. I praise You because I can go through the waters and not drown. I praise You, even when I can’t seem to remember Your goodness.I praise You for the victories and triumphs!I praise You for strength in time of weakness.I praise You because You have plans to prosper me and not harm me. I praise You for fighting my battles for me.I praise You because You’re a good, good Father. I praise You for using me, even when I don’t deserve it. I praise You in hard seasons (when I don’t feel like it).I praise You for answering prayers. I praise You because You’re still in the healing business. I praise You for the revival You are bringing to this land. I praise You for placing a barrier of protection around my family!I praise You because You increase the power of the weak. I praise You because I’ve tasted and seen that You are good, Lord!I praise You that all who call on the Name of Jesus will be saved. I praise You for Your kindness, which leads to repentance. I praise You because You’ve redeemed my life from the pit and crowned me with love and compassion. I praise You, Lord, because Your love endures forever!I praise You when I’m in celebration mode!I praise You with a SHOUT!I praise You in song!I praise You with the dance and with walking/marching!Praise the Lord!

Praise God in his sanctuary;
     praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power;
     praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
     praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with timbrel and dancing,
     praise him with the strings and pipe,
praise him with the clash of cymbals,
     praise him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.

    Praise the Lord. (Psalm 150)

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 

Your kingdom come. . .in my heart.Your kingdom come. . .in my finances.Your kingdom come. . .in my health.Your kingdom come. . .in my family. Your kingdom come. . .in future generations. Your kingdom come. . .in my friendships. Your kingdom come. . .in my decisions. Your kingdom come. . .in the earth. Your kingdom come. . .in my country. Your kingdom come. . .in my state.Your kingdom come. . .in my county. Your kingdom come. . .in my city. Your kingdom come. . .in my neighborhood. Your kingdom come. . .in my attitude. Your kingdom come. . .in my habits. Your kingdom come. . .in my routine/activities. Your kingdom come. . .in my mindset. Your kingdom come. . .in my troubles. Your kingdom come. . .in my worship. Your kingdom come. . .in my job/work.Your kingdom come. . .in my home/house.Your kingdom come. . .in my schedule/daily tasks. Your kingdom come. . .in my perspective. Your kingdom come. . .when I’m exhausted. Your kingdom come. . .when I’m in a good mood. Your kingdom come. . .in my vision for the future. 

Give us this day our daily bread

I trust You for my provision.You will provide all I need when I need it.If I ask for bread, you will not give me a stone. Your Word says You will bless me abundantly, above all I could ask or think. I will never cease to praise You for all you’ve provided. Thank you for my home. Thank you for my job. Thank you for my vehicle. Thank you for clothing. Thank you for furniture. Thank you for shoes. Thank you for food in the pantry and clean water to drink. Each day has its own problems, but I choose to trust, regardless. Give me enough to give back—to your church and to those I love. You provide what is healthy for my body. Give me perspective on which “bread” to eat and which not to eat. I acknowledge that very good and perfect gift comes from you, not the work of my own hands. 

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 

Thank You for forgiving me, Lord. Thank You for tossing my sin as far as the east is from the west. Thank You, because Your forgiveness has radically changed my heart. Thank you for the gift of forgiveness. Teach me to forgive as You forgive. I choose to forgive myself for the times I messed up.I choose to forgive those who have spitefully used me and/or ridiculed me. I choose to forgive those I trusted who let me down. I choose to forgive those who’ve taken advantage of me. I choose to forgive those who have talked behind my back. I choose to forgive the ones who don’t seem to see me. I choose to release the ones I’ve forgiven, once and for all. I choose to forgive childhood hurts. I choose to forgive teenage hurts. I choose to forgive marital hurts. Show me if there are any friends or loved ones I might have hurt, Lord, so that I can ask for forgiveness and mend fences. Give me a heart to reconcile with others. Fix broken places, I pray. 

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

No weapon formed against me will ever prevail. Thank You for fighting my battles, Lord. I need only to be still. Thank You for saving me from the fowler’s snare!Lord, You have never lost a battle. You only know how to win.  I dress myself in spiritual armor that I can withstand the enemy’s attacks. I come against spiritual wickedness in high places. I choose to look away from temptation. I will see good as good and evil as evil. Keep my mind focused on You, I pray. I recognize that people are not my enemy. Satan is my enemy. I will not let my mistakes hold me back. I will keep moving forward. I am more than the mistakes I made yesterday. Greater are You (inside of me) than He who is in the world. Apart from You I can do nothing. I choose to humble myself and pray and seek your face, that You might heal our land. I pray for revival for our land!Give me those to stand alongside when I’m tempted. Help me encourage others to stand strong. Thank You, Father, for being a shield around me. Thank You that the testing of my faith produces endurance. Thank You, Lord, that I can soar like an eagle above temptations and problems. In You, I am strong and courageous.In You, I can rise above anxiety and fear. I don’t have to fear, even when I walk through the valleys. The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy, but You have come to bring life, Lord!May I never forget that You have overcome the world and give Your children peace. If You are for me, who can stand against me?

Green with Envy

(Enjoy this devotion from my soon-to-be-released book, Paws for Reflection (from DaySpring)

Delilah, the little Yorki-Poo, was Mama’s little baby. She slept in the bed with Mama, rode in the car with her to the park, and even shared nibbles of her yummy people food.

Then, along came Roscoe, the Golden-Doodle. That giant oaf came lumbering into Delilah’s life and tried to flip things upside-down! Would you believe he actually thought he could steal Mom’s affections?

Wait! He was stealing her affections! Mom patted him on the head and called him “baby boy” and scratched him behind his ears. What was up with that?

Delilah couldn’t help herself. She snarled and snapped at Roscoe whenever he came near Mom. Surely he would learn his lesson eventually. He’d keep his distance.

Turned out, the one who needed to learn the lesson was Delilah. It took some time for the jealous pup to figure out that Roscoe was here to stay. She finally curbed her envy and welcomed him as a friend.

Maybe you can relate. You’ve earned the favor of your boss. . .or your teacher. . .or a group of friends. You’ve been chosen time and time again to lead the Bible study group at church or sing the solo in the church choir. Now a “Roscoe” has come along and you’re not the favored child anymore. You’ve had to move aside to make room for the new kid in town. . .and you’re not having it.

It’s time for a heart-check, sister! There’s no room for jealousy with God’s girls. Lay it down and let someone else have her turn. In fact, celebrate her moment with genuine heartfelt joy. You’ll win a friend for life and become a little more like Jesus in the process.

No envy here, Lord! I’m going to celebrate the victories of the other women in my life. Thank You for that reminder. Amen.

The Hills are Alive. . .with Messages from On High!

I’m a city girl. Really, more of a suburbanite, I guess you’d say. Give me a house on a small patch of land—big enough for the dogs—and I’m a happy gal. What’s more, I’m perfectly content living in the flatlands of SE Texas, where the only hills are overpasses. (I know, I know. . .some of you are cringing!) Every now and again, though, I love to widen my scope, to see beyond my own backyard. I had the opportunity to do just that when I traveled to the Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference a couple of weeks back. Yep, that’s right. This city girl went to the mountains. Well, more like hills. With redwood trees. And cherry blossoms. And cabins. Lots and lots of cabins.

Now, I don’t want to lead you to believe that I had to rough it on this adventure. These cabins are gorgeous, completely decked out with all the modern amenities. I settled into my home-away-from-home with much anticipation. I couldn’t wait to see what God would do as pre-conference activities got underway. I didn’t have to wait long. Within my first few hours, I’d met all six ladies in my mentoring clinic. We bonded at once. In fact, we bonded at such a deep level that we decided to stick together in an online group until we can reconnect in person next year. We prayed together, cried together, learned together, and watched in awe as the Lord moved in our midst.

When the pre-conference activities ended, the ‘real’ conference kicked off. I consider myself blessed because I was chosen by my good friend and conference director Kathy Ide to mentor in Susan Meissner’s major morning track. I was also tickled to teach two classes of my own, one on Facebook marketing and another on characterization (the Pandora’s Box method). Liz Curtis Higgs was our keynote speaker in the evening services and she blew me away, particularly in light of what she’s facing in her personal life right now. I was also deeply touched by Allen Arnold’s teaching the final night. To say I had the time of my life at Mount Hermon would be an understatement. God really met me there, and what He had to say has shaped where I’m headed next.

So, what did He say? I don’t want to bore you with the backstory, but the past couple of years have been rough. Most of you know that I lost my mother after years of being her full-time caregiver. Since then, I’ve just been coasting along, not allowing myself to really latch on to anything with the same amount of zeal as before. I’m currently attending a Grief Share group, which has helped a lot, but I knew God had more to say. At the conference, the Lord really began to deal with me about digging deeper—with my writing, my prayer/worship time, and even at my church, (where I’ve also been coasting). The specific words God gave me were “Lock down.” In my mind’s eye, I could see a clamp. . .clamping shut.

No more floating. No more skimming the surface. No more ‘just getting by.’ God began to ask me hard questions, like: “What are you DOING with your life?” Not, “What do you WANT to do?” or “What do you PLAN to do?” or even “What do you feel CALLED to do?” He kept asking, “What are you doing. . .NOW?”

Wow. For someone who’s only been keeping her head above water, this was quite a question. So, I’ve made a decision to keep my eyes on the prize, to work smarter, not harder, to finish what I’ve started, and to remain diligent, as best I’m able. You—my sweet readers—probably won’t notice much difference. This transformation is more internal than external. You’ll still see me producing novels, non-fiction devotionals, and even magazine articles. I’m also going to forge ahead with The Happy Writer, a youTube site to encourage writers. In fact, I’m going to take that a step further and develop a teaching/mentoring group, where I’ll teach/lead 10 – 12 writers over a six-week period in a Facebook group. If you’re interested in this program (which will have a price tag attached) just let me know. Details are being ironed out as I type this.

God met me in the mountains. Okay, hills. I have a renewed sense of purpose and vision for the journey ahead. He also surprised me in one more lovely way—I received a special honor on awards night: the Pacesetter award, (sponsored by editor-turned-agent Nick Harrison). I was blown away, but even more excited to be sitting with my mentoring group when the news broke. We celebrated together.

I’ll end this note by asking you the same question the Lord has been asking me: “What are you doing with your life?” Instead of responding, “Well, one day I’d like to do this,” or “Someday I plan to do that,” stop and ask yourself, “Why not today?”

Be blessed, all!