Janice Hanna's Blog, page 7

Get Onboard the Ship!

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

As individual believers we need to be like the explorers of old. Take Christopher Columbus, who, in 1492, was ready to set sail into places unknown. He had all of the equipment and knowledge available to him at the time but above all of that he had a sense of adventure and he had faith for the journey. God is calling us to have that same excitement in our hearts during these precarious days. We’ve got to be prayed up and ready to go wherever the ship, (our Savior), leads us. 

Similarities

In many ways the modern church is like the pilgrims who boarded the Mayflower in 1620. They were a remnant, not just escaping persecution, but deliberately stepping onboard a vessel to take them on a journey that would open up doors to brand new experiences. They didn’t have to go. They could have stayed frozen in place and missed the opportunity altogether. 

Likewise, the church could sit frozen today and never realize its potential. But, as a unit, those pilgrims took a step toward liberty. Things were not easy. They had to turn back twice because the ship they were traveling with (the Speedwell) sprang a leak. But they never gave up. They counted the cost and kept going, not for themselves, but for future generations they hadn’t even met yet.

Keep Going!

Things might not be easy for us these days, either, but that can’t stop us from moving forward. There will be those, like the Speedwell, who need our assistance and encouragement to make the journey. But they are meant to travel with us. God wants the church to make a conscious decision to step onboard the ship (into a deeper, more passionate relationship with Him) so that our children and grandchildren can have a future. And He wants us to do it with a sense of adventure in our spirits, not fear or trepidation. 

We don’t need to know where the ship will land. In that regard, we are more like Columbus than the pilgrims. But remember, he set sail anyway. Where he landed was a completely different location than where he predicted but the promise he received was so much greater than the one he expected.   

The same is true with us. God is going to pour out his Spirit once we board (commit to go deeper with Him) and the church is going to be the recipient of more power, more love, and more adventure than we have ever known in our lifetimes. But the only way we will see that happen is if we consciously get onboard the ship and head out to sea with Him.

Challenging Thought: Are you willing to get onboard the ship, no matter how rocky the seas may get? 

Read more devotions like this one in a new book Janice co-authored with Louise Looney titled An Overcoming Walk of Peaks and Valleys, now available on Amazon!

The post Get Onboard the Ship! appeared first on Janice Thompson, Author.

Be Holy as I Am Holy

This morning I had a vivid dream. It didn’t last very long, but definitely made an impact.

In the dream I walked into a tiny public restroom, like you would see in an older gas station. There were two toilets, side-by-side, with no wall between them. The bathroom itself was filthy. Really, really filthy. And one of the toilets was nasty, inside and out. So gross.

The other one, though, was pristine. Like, shiny clean. Sparkling clean. Just sitting there in the middle of the muck and the mire, shining and shimmering and encouraging people to come near.

That’s it. That’s the whole dream. Except, while I was still asleep, God unpacked it for me.

He has placed us, His church, His bride, in a world that’s broken and filthy. We’re surrounded on every side by actions, ideologies, etc. that are anything but pure. And it’s up to up as individual believers to respond accordingly to the filth. We’re called to be in the world but not of the world. We’re called to remain clean. Pure. Sanctified.

Whether we realize it or not, the more we look and smell like the world, the less effective we are. If we compromise who we’re meant to be people might be drawn to us (because we look and smell like them) but will being with us affect lasting change in their hearts?

I’m not saying that purity is easily obtained. It’s hard to stay pure when everything around us is a hot mess, but that’s what God requires of us. He calls us to “be holy, for I am holy.”

After I woke up and unpacked all of this, the Lord led me to John 17. This is the chapter where Jesus prayed for His disciples. I noted several key things I’d never picked up on before.

Here are the phrases that Jesus spoke to the Father about us:

“I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours.” Jesus loves the whole world, of course, but in this vital moment He chose to specifically pray for believers, the ones who had accepted His message. That’s us. He was praying for us.

“I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world.” He was about to be with the Father but knew we would have to remain on earth a while longer. And He knew it would be rough going.

“I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world.” We can expect to feel ostracized by the world. It hated Him and has the same opinion of us. (More proof that we’re supposed to be set apart from the world, to live by the word.)

“My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.” We’re here for the long haul. God is not miraculously lifting us out of the muck and mire. We’re dwelling in the dirty bathroom for however long we’re meant to be here. But Jesus specifically prayed for our protection from the evil one.

“They are not of the world, even as I am not of it.” We’re meant to look and smell different, just as He was different. In other words, we need to aspire to be more like Him. I know it’s tempting to want to fit in, to bend to culture to be more relevant. But dirtying ourselves won’t make us more effective. Jesus certainly never did that.

“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” The truth will set us free! And part of freedom is walking in holiness. But it’s a process, one that requires being sanctified, (set apart for a holy purpose).

We don’t like the word sanctification. For many of us, it smacks of good works. But it’s just the opposite! For the believer, sanctification (the process of getting cleaned up and set apart) isn’t something WE do; it’s something HE does in us when we submit ourselves to Him. It’s not a matter of working hard to be pure; it’s a matter of trusting that He already did the work on the cross. We just have to allow Him access to our hearts so that sanctification can take place. And we have to be willing to be changed from the inside-out.

“As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world.” We have an Esther anointing, friends! We were put on this planet for such a time as this. Not to fit in, but to draw people to Him. To impact people, just as Esther did. We’re on a holy mission from God specific to this generation. What an honor and privilege, but what an obligation!

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.” Wow! We don’t know the ones we’ll lead to the Lord just yet, but Jesus does. And He’s already praying for them, too. He sees into the future, to the ones who will be won by our testimony, if we don’t give up. I don’t know about you but that really raises the level of expectation of what He’s going to do.

“For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.” If we’re trying to look like the world in order to win the world, we’ve lost sight of the truth. Jesus clearly meant for us to be set apart. Believe it or not, the world is actually drawn to purity. The broken are looking to be made whole. The lost desire (in their heart of hearts) to be found. When we, His disciples, walk so closely to Christ that they see wholeness as a real possibility, we bring them hope.

So, shine bright, church. Spend quality time with Him so that He can purity your heart (hard as that might be) that you might accomplish all He’s placed you here to do.

The post Be Holy as I Am Holy appeared first on Janice Thompson, Author.

Set Free

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

2 Corinthians 3:17 ESV

Perhaps you are familiar with the beautiful hymn, Just As I Am. The words of that song have edified believers for over 100 years. The woman who penned those remarkable lyrics was Charlotte Elliott, who lived during the 18th century. 

Charlotte was a well-known portrait artist and writer. However, when a serious ailment overtook her at the age of thirty, she became an invalid for life. Charlotte fell into a deep depression. 

Maybe you can relate.

Perhaps you’ve been through low seasons like that, too. Maybe you’ve faced inexplicable relationship issues with someone you trusted. Perhaps you have been down a hard road after a cancer diagnosis. Perhaps you’ve lost a child, gone before her time. Depression can sneak in when you’re facing something so deep. And who could blame you? These things can seem so unfair!

Overcome with sadness and grief, Charlotte settled into her depression, wearing it like an article of clothing. It became a part of her identity. 

One day she received a visit from a well-known Swiss evangelist, Dr. Caesar Malan. He definitely picked up on her depression and distress. And he used a phrase that she would later add to the song when he said, “Charlotte you must come just as you are—a sinner—to the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.”

A Word in Due Season

His words shook her to the core and radically changed her thinking. She experienced inner peace and joy as she’d never known before. And she used this as a catalyst to write a song that has changed the hearts of millions. (Can you even imagine how many have walk the aisle to the altar with these words playing in the background?) 

Charlotte’s story is nothing short of supernatural. And He will do the same for you. No matter where you find yourself today, God will meet you there. Just as you are—messy hair, messy situations, messy life. He doesn’t care about any of that. But He does care about you. Deeply. Totally. Completely. And He loves you too much to leave you there. 

Challenging Thought: Have you ever fallen into the pits of despair? If so, how did you climb out?

Read more devotions like this one in a new book Janice co-authored with Louise Looney titled An Overcoming Walk of Peaks and Valleys, now available on Amazon!

The post Set Free appeared first on Janice Thompson, Author.

Tears for Natalie

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Psalm 147:3 ESV

An amazing thing happens when you find the perfect puppy – something undeniable. A bonding takes place. It’s unexplainable, really, but I speak from first-hand experience. On December 7th, 2002, I fell in love with a beagle pup named Natalie and my world would never be the same. As I drove home with this tiny bundle curled up in my fleece jacket, happiness consumed me. 

The Perfect Pup!

This little beagle babe was everything a family could want—good natured, quiet and loving. We had made the perfect choice. However, our definition of “perfect” was about to be challenged.

Within a matter of days, we realized Natalie had a problem. She struggled to walk and kept toppling over into her food bowl. She would tilt her head and tremor on occasion. I prayed this was normal puppy behavior, but knew in my heart it was not. The next three weeks were riddled with visits back and forth to the vet. The diagnosis was grim, to say the least: Neurological problems. Natalie was diagnosed with Cerebellar Hypoplasia, an under-developed Cerebellum. Since this is the area of the brain that controls motor skills, Natalie’s ability to walk normally and consistently would never improve. 

Now What?

During this particular season of my life, I was pretty dried up, emotionally. I hadn’t cried in years. However, I wept like a baby all the way home from the veterinarian’s office. Natalie never knew the difference. She slept soundly, curled up on my chest. But my heart would not stop breaking. This just seemed too unfair—for her and for us. 

Natalie was only with us for about eighteen months, but during those months God completely opened me up emotionally. Once completely closed, I now found myself free to mourn. To hope. To express joy. To laugh at that pup’s silly antics during her better moments. To sob when the day finally came. All of the emotions were freed up, thanks to a tiny little dog. 

Maybe you’re in a dry season.

Don’t despair! The same God who created tiny beagle puppies created you. He knows and loves every part of you, from your heart to your mind. And He wants to see you walk in wholeness and healing from head to toe! Give Him your emotions, then watch as He opens you up, from the inside-out.

Challenging Thought: Would you say that you are an emotionally open or closed person? How does God feel about emotions?

Read more devotions like this one in a new book Janice co-authored with Louise Looney titled An Overcoming Walk of Peaks and Valleys, now available on Amazon!

The post Tears for Natalie  appeared first on Janice Thompson, Author.

Praise Your Way Through

Jehoshaphat listened to the people’s advice. Then he chose men to be singers to the Lord, to praise him because he is holy and wonderful. As they marched in front of the army, they said, “Thank the Lord, because his love continues forever.”

2 Chronicles 20:21 NCV

King Jehoshaphat ruled over Israel at a time 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. 

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. It’s tough to keep trusting during those seasons!

Jehoshaphat 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. 

The Spirit of the Lord spoke through one of the men, saying: “You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the Lord will be with you.” (2 Chronicles 20:17)

Decisions, Decisions. . .

At this point Jehoshaphat made a decision that might’ve seemed nuts to some. He sent the Levites (the singers) out ahead of the warriors. He put the worshipers on the frontlines of the battle.Those brave souls 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!”

At the moment they started singing, their enemies began to fight. . .with each other. They literally destroyed each other instead of the Israelites.  So, just as the Lord said, 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 even before they 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 plan.

For Jehoshaphat the victory was won the moment that first song was lifted. The same is true of your situation. So, what are you waiting for? Lift your voice and see the victory!

Challenging Thought: Today, lift up a song of praise, even in the midst of the battle.  Then watch God move!

Read more devotions like this one in a new book Janice co-authored with Louise Looney titled An Overcoming Walk of Peaks and Valleys, now available on Amazon!

The post Praise Your Way Through appeared first on Janice Thompson, Author.

The Ultimate Makeover

And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:18 ESV

They’re everywhere.

Those television shows. You know the ones. Decorators transform a room in a day or two. Stylists make over a willing candidate, giving her a fresh new look. The experts re-do, re-shape, re-structure and re-design people, places and things and we watch with baited breath, hoping the results will be nothing short of miraculous.

Improvement TV.

Makeover madness. Why do we love it so much? After all, we can’t even remember the homeowner’s name from one episode to the next. The made-over face fades from our memory as the credits roll, so why do we let ourselves get wrapped up in their lives for thirty or even sixty minutes?  Why do we sit glued to the television set, hoping for satisfactory results?  

Simple. Transformations.

We love the idea of taking something and changing it into something else. Miraculous transformations – the stuff fairy tales are made of. The ugly duckling becomes a beautiful swan. The toad becomes a prince. The once hopeless undergoes a few changes and hope kicks in. Color springs from something once bland and boring and everyone feels better. It makes for great TV.

It also works well in the real world. There is nothing more satisfying than watching someone transform before your eyes, especially for those who know the Lord. An alcoholic lays down the bottle. An abusive mother blossoms into a caring, loving parent. A rebellious teen turns his heart toward home. We watch from the sidelines and cheer for them all. Yes, we love those transformations.

And so, we settle back onto the sofa, ready to kick back and relax. Through the miracle of television, we live vicariously through others. A nip here, a tuck there—and they become something better than what they were. Secretly, we long for change, too, but change takes time and effort, and we’ve worked so hard already. After all, we made some initial changes when we came to the Lord. So, episode after episode we sit in frozen stillness.   

At some point, we need switch from the role of observer to active participant. Truth be told, there are many areas in our own lives that could use a little “makeover.” Are you open to change?  

Challenging Thought: Today, make a list of the areas of your life that could use a little makeover. What steps can you take in that direction? 

Read more devotions like this one in a new book Janice co-authored with Louise Looney titled An Overcoming Walk of Peaks and Valleys, now available on Amazon!

The post The Ultimate Makeover appeared first on Janice Thompson, Author.

He’s Working Behind the Scenes

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:28 ESV

Many years back I was tasked with making a complicated wedding cake for a friend. It required 14 hours of intense work, much of that with poor posture and very little intake of water. I woke up on Saturday morning with what I call a “killer” migraine. 

I had the whole day planned out.

But with the migraine it all felt impossible. 

By mid-morning, I was unable to keep anything down and nothing touched the intense pain. I did what any mother would do. . .I called my kids. 

Within twenty minutes my oldest daughter, Randi, was there to deliver the cake. Her husband Zach just happened to be in the area, and stopped in to help her lift the cake into the car (something she couldn’t have done alone). And in the middle of all of that, my other local daughter, Megan, arrived on the scene, loaded me into a vehicle, and drove me to the hospital. 

A short while later…

The cake was delivered and set up, and I was on my way into a private room in the ER for an injection of migraine meds. These meds, of course, knocked me clean out. But when I awoke a couple hours later, the pain was manageable and I had the satisfaction of knowing the wedding cake had probably already been sliced and served. Everything ended well. 

As I relived that horrible day, I was struck by something I’d never fully considered before: God was already working behind the scenes to meet my need even before I asked. The right people “just happened” to be nearby, ready to sweep in and do the very things I needed, (right down to the son-in-law, who was on his way somewhere else, but had just enough time to swing by and lift that cake). It made me wonder how many times God has worked behind the scenes in advance of my need? Zillions, probably! 

I don’t know what you’re going through today.

I don’t know what sort of crisis you might be facing. But I feel strongly led to tell you that He’s already working behind the scenes on your behalf. There’s no need to panic. He’s got everything in place. Rest in Him. Trust Him. He will work it out for good, I promise. 

Challenging Thought: When you reach the point where the situation in front of you feels impossible, what do you do? Are you able to hand those situations over to the Lord? 

Read more devotions like this one in a new book Janice co-authored with Louise Looney titled An Overcoming Walk of Peaks and Valleys, now available on Amazon!

The post He’s Working Behind the Scenes appeared first on Janice Thompson, Author.

Don’t Do It

When the righteous cry for help, the  Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:17-18 ESV

I once heard evangelist Winkey Pratney share a story about a young woman who was mentally and emotionally disturbed. She fled the country, abandoning her husband and children. This woman wanted to get away from it all, to run from the pressures of life that had apparently been weighing her down. 

The distressed young woman fled to a foreign country, where she subsequently contracted a terrible, life-threatening illness. A period of time went by, and she was unable to earn a living due to her health problems. Penniless, she found herself on a ship, headed home. She had determined that she would not go back to her husband and children. Instead, she would go to her brother’s house. 

Standing at the ship’s rail, this hopeless young lady had a sudden desire to jump overboard. Though she had not made any indication to others onboard that she was contemplating this act, she determined to end it all. Suddenly she felt a tap on her shoulder. Turning around, she faced a man, a stranger.

“Don’t do it,” was all he said.

Flabbergasted, she made the decision not to kill herself. She reached shore with the others on board, and went immediately to her brother’s home. She was so very ill that all she could do was lie on the floor, vomiting blood. This poor woman was without hope. 

Suddenly, lying there, she felt God’s presence in the room. She called out to him. Like a dream, He was there, with her. Miraculously, he healed her, both body and mind. She was made completely and totally whole, and returned once again to her family, where God continued His work of restoration.

Winkey Pratney enjoyed the telling of this story immensely. You see, that young woman was his mother, and when God healed her, He began a healing that would include the entire family, including Winkey. He is forever grateful that God chose to heal his mother, body, mind and spirit. But isn’t that just like our supernatural God?  Isn’t He is interested in every part of us?

Maybe you’ve been at a low point in your life.

You’re standing at the ship’s railing contemplating your choices. Oh, friend! God stands behind you, hand on your shoulder, crying out, “Don’t do it!” Turn to Him and be healed!

Challenging Thought: Think of a time when the Lord delivered you from an exceptionally low place. Today, take some time to thank Him. 

Read more devotions like this one in a new book Janice co-authored with Louise Looney titled An Overcoming Walk of Peaks and Valleys, now available on Amazon!

The post Don’t Do It  appeared first on Janice Thompson, Author.

Divine Encounters

Gray hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life.

Proverbs 16:31 ESV

I went into a local restaurant, ordered a sandwich and looked around for a table where I could quietly sit and write. The place was crowded, far too many people for my liking. I snatched a larger table for four as the busboy started cleaning it. I hated sitting there alone, but with no alternative, I sat, pulled out my laptop, and waited for my name to be called to pick up my food from the counter.

Out of the corner of my eye I noticed an elderly woman sitting alone at a much smaller table. I didn’t pay much attention. After all, I had work to do. My name was called, I got up to get my food and returned to my table to settle in. 

Then I heard a very shaky voice.

I looked up. The elderly woman stood at my table with food in hand. “They took my table,” she said. She pointed to her little table, now crowded with strangers. While she had gone to pick up her food, others had taken her space!   

She asked if she could sit with me and I said, “Of course!” She sat, introduced herself as Evelyn and we talked for nearly 45 minutes. I found her to be extremely social, and completely wonderful. She told me of her children, grown and living in other cities. She talked about how she spends her week, going to aerobics classes, getting her hair done, and visiting with neighbors, who take such good care of her that her children don’t have to worry about living elsewhere. In short, she was the most independent eight-three-year-old I had ever met.

But that’s only half the story.

You see, I was sitting at that very table working on a novel, a women’s fiction piece about five females of varying ages. I had a compilation or “prototype” for every character in the book, except one. That particular character?  An elderly woman who lives alone in the city, has grown children who live elsewhere, and who is looking for things to do to fill her time!  In the end, this “character” ends up being the most critical person in my story, for she ultimately brings all of the other characters together. 

And yet I knew no one like this in real life. Until she sat down to lunch with me. I didn’t have to ask any questions; she willingly shared all the information I could ever need and more. I simply sat in stunned silence, taking mental notes and enjoying every moment in her presence. What a heavenly gift! 

Has the Lord ever surprised you with a divine encounter like that? He’s so good to give us what (and who) we need, right when we need it! 

Challenging Thought: Are you open to surprise encounters with strangers?

Read more devotions like this one in a new book Janice co-authored with Louise Looney titled An Overcoming Walk of Peaks and Valleys, now available on Amazon!

The post Divine Encounters appeared first on Janice Thompson, Author.

Those Messy Storms

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

1 Peter 5:10 ESV

When you live along the Gulf Coast, you grow accustomed to seasonal storms. They blow in, do their damage, and leave as quickly as they came. I experienced the effects of one such storm first-hand. Hurricane Rita made her debut along the east Texas shoreline in October of 2005. A few weeks later, I drove through the area, amazed at the devastation. Billboards, trees, buildings. . .toppled and torn. The entire landscape of southeast Texas had been re-written. 

I shot off an email to a good friend who lives in the area and she responded with an intriguing comment: “You should have seen it before they cleaned up.” Those words stopped me in my tracks. I had been looking at the “new and improved” devastation, the cleaned-up version. I hadn’t seen the real thing.

The Storms We Go Through

My friend’s words gave me pause to think about the storms we go through in our lives and the images we portray to one another in the midst of them. How many times are we beaten and battered, yet rush to present ourselves to a watching world as one who has it all together. Often, we just want to quickly tidy up. Put our best foot forward. Put on the happy face. 

But devastation is nearly impossible to hide. When you’re going through a messy divorce, a struggle with a drug addiction, a battle with depression, it’s tough to pretend everything is all right. I find myself moved by the words of Thomas Hardy, who said: If all hearts were open and all desires known — as they would be if people showed their souls — how many gapings, sighings, clenched fists, knotted brows, broad grins, and red eyes should we see in the market-place! 

The problem is, we rarely let others see.

We hide. We pretend we’re okay when we’re really not. Why is that? Why is it so difficult to let people know what we’re really dealing with?  Why do we struggle with vulnerability? We all go through storms, after all. We should be able to relate to one another in our moments of weakness.

Today, if you’re walking through a storm, reach out to a friend or loved one. Come clean. Share your struggles. And keep your heart open for others who need you during their stormy seasons, as well. And remember, God is bigger than the storm. The winds will die down, and He will have His way. 

Challenging Thought: How have you handled the storms you’ve walked through? Are you stronger or weaker after they’ve blown over? 

Read more devotions like this one in a new book Janice co-authored with Louise Looney titled An Overcoming Walk of Peaks and Valleys, now available on Amazon!

The post Those Messy Storms  appeared first on Janice Thompson, Author.