Janice Hanna's Blog, page 8

It Might Be Day Seven

By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days.

Hebrews 11:30 ESV

I recently heard an amazing message about Joshua at the walls of Jericho from a worship leader by the name of Tauren Wells. He shared that there is some speculation among scholars that, when the walls of Jericho finally fell, they fell in such a way that they actually became ramps into the city. 

The very thing the enemy had been using to keep the Israelites out turned out to be the very thing He used to bring them in! Wow!  

Fascinating, right?

Hearing this story makes me wonder if God still moves like that today. Is He asking us to participate in the tumbling of walls so that we can gain entry into something far better? If so, what level of participation is required from us? And, equally as important, are we willing to keep walking, even when we feel like giving up? 

I don’t know what Jericho you’re circling right now. I have a few, and sometimes I feel like I’ve marched around the walls of my proverbial Jericho more than my fair share of days. When it comes to prayers for this broken world, I feel like I’m on day 53,625. And when it comes to more personal issues, I feel like I’ve spent years circling those walls and haven’t yet seen them fall. It’s easy to get discouraged. 

Keep Marching!

Today, be reminded that obedience requires marching, even if you doubt the walls will ever come down. Day after day Joshua marched. No doubt it seemed to take forever. But he would never have entered Jericho if he’d taken a hiatus. 

We can’t stop, no matter how discouraged we might get. Remember, the walls of Jericho dideventually fall…and became ramps into the city. And also remember, God required more of Joshua on the final day than in all the days prior. (On that final day he had to circle the city seven times and then the priests were instructed to blow their horns, which is what brought the walls down.) 

This might be Day Seven for you. 

Victory only comes to those who don’t quit. 

Keep marching.

Challenging Thought: When you feel like giving up, what practical steps can you take to keep putting one foot in front of the other?

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 It Might Be Day Seven appeared first on Janice Thompson, Author.

Candy Lane’s Hand-Painted Valentine Sugar Cookies

Beyond the Sea

Cookie Ingredients:

Two sticks (one cup) butter

1 extra-large egg

1 cup powdered sugar

½ cup granulated sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp almond extract

3 cups flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

Royal Icing Ingredients:

4 1/2 tbl meringue powder

1/2 cup + 2 t/l water

1 tsp cream of tartar

1 tbl vanilla

1/2 tsp almond extract

One bag (7-8 cups) powdered sugar

Cookies: 

Mix butter, egg, sugars, vanilla and almond extract until creamy. In separate bowl 

sift flour, baking powder and salt together. Add slowly to wet ingredients. Put the 

dough into a freezer-safe bag and chill (in the freezer for 15 minutes or the 

refrigerator for 30 minutes to an hour). Put waxed paper on the counter and set a 

portion of the dough on it. Set another piece of waxed paper on top of the dough. 

Using doubled paint sticks on either side, roll out the dough and use cookie cutters 

to cut. Bake at 375 for ten minutes or your preference. Don’t over-bake. Cool on 

racks until room temperature. Don’t attempt to decorate until the cookies are 

completely cooled. 

Royal Icing: 

Put all items except powdered sugar into mixing bowl. Mix until frothy (less than a 

minute). Add full bag powdered sugar and mix until incorporated (a few seconds). 

Turn mixer on low and beat for ten minutes non-stop until it’s meringue-like in 

texture. Immediately cover with plastic wrap (touching the icing) and a damp towel 

above that.  Now it’s time to color your icing. Scoop out about a cup of the icing into 

a small bowl and add your coloring gel. Mix thoroughly. Add water, (a few drops at a 

time) to get the icing to desired consistency for piping. (Piping/outlining icing 

should be the consistency of toothpaste. Flood icing should be the consistency of 

honey.) Pipe onto cookies using piping bags with #2 tips. 

The post Candy Lane’s Hand-Painted Valentine Sugar Cookies appeared first on Janice Thompson, Author.

Temper, Temper!

A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

Proverbs 15:18 ESV

Years ago, I was preparing breakfast for my family. I started the process of peeling back the paper on a can of biscuits, then placed it on the counter while I left the room to tend to something else with one of the kids. 

Suddenly I heard a terrible explosion!  

It sounded like a gunshot. My entire family raced to the kitchen. Imagine our shock to discover biscuits now covered the entire room. There were biscuits on the wall, biscuits on the counter, and biscuits on the floor. 

I couldn’t figure out how it had happened. And then I realized that I’d started the process of releasing the pressure by pulling off the outer layer around the can before leaving the room. My actions had actually caused this disaster, though not on purpose. 

None of us dared move until we were sure the explosion had fully ended. Then the cleanup began. (Have you ever tried to clean up sticky uncooked biscuits? They make quite the mess!)

Oh, My!

I got to thinking about how my temper is a bit like that can of biscuits. Sometimes I let life’s frustrations build up, like the pressure inside of that biscuit can. I tuck away my anger as long as I can. Then something happens—often outside of my control—and the proverbial biscuits come shooting out of the can. I make a tremendous amount of noise, and mess up everything in sight with my angry outburst. Then I leave a shocked audience to clean up after me.

How do we stop anger?  

It must be diffused at its root. We have to make a conscious effort not to let the pressure build to the danger point. Otherwise, those biscuits are going to mess up a perfectly lovely room. And possibly ruin a few relationships. 

Perhaps this is one reason the Bible says we shouldn’t go to bed angry. If we let things fester overnight, they’re sure to build over time. Release the pressure a little at a time by giving those situations to God before they get out of hand. Your family and friends will thank you, if you do. 

Challenging Thought: What are some practical ways you can address anger or frustration? 

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 Temper, Temper! appeared first on Janice Thompson, Author.

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.