Posted on July 7, 2017
Seek First Project: That Next Step Is A Doozy! (Day 37)
Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying. – Hebrews 2:14-15
So life happened.
Wednesday, I was just moving right along. We are actually traveling out of state right now to see where our new home will be. My husband just accepted a job after being out of work for three months. We live in our camper.
Anyway, things were perking right along when it happened. I stepped backward, only there was nothing there but air. Ten inches later, I landed in a hole and proceeded to complete the backward fall with my head pointed downhill. I knew I was in trouble, because I felt a huge pop as I fell.
I have a tibular plateau fracture. It happened when I hit after the drop. My foot landed with such force, it slammed the upper and lower leg bones together. One corner broke completely through.
This really got me to thinking about something. Sometimes it’s not the fall that gets us, it’s that unexpected landing.
Sometimes the hard-packed earth of reality seems to just rush up to meet us. Sometimes where we place our feet has no give at all.
Worries, fears, anxieties… they are unforgiving.
And so, I decided to give myself grace. See, when I started out on this year-long journey to Seek First, I knew that I wanted this to be daily… as in every single day. So I pondered naming this day, Day 36, because that’s the one I missed due to injury.
But then God taught me a beautiful lesson. And I thought you might need to hear it, too.
Sometimes we miss a day.
Sometimes life just races ahead while we’re stuck in pain in bed. Sometimes when we hit that ground with a sure step, the force of it all just does us in.
And so there is no Day 36 in the Seek First Project.
And that’s okay.
Today, I want you to examine yourself. Where are you in need of a little grace, granted by you?
Dear Lord, thank You for reminding me that grace is something that can put worry in its place. I love You. Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on July 5, 2017
Seek First Project: I Have the Power (Day 35)
He gives power to the weak
and strength to the powerless. – Isaiah 40:29
When I was growing up, I loved to watch a cartoon about Shera, Princess of Power! She would hold her sword up high and yell, “I have the power!” (She was the counterpart to Heman… he also had the power.) I wanted to be her so badly!
I pretended to be her.
In a way, I still do.
It’s only pretending to imagine that I have the power. Over anything, pretty much.
That’s where the worries come from, right? From not having the power. Look back at your list of fears you made a month ago. Do they not all stem from being powerless in that area? Mine do.
We have the power to do one thing.
Surrender to Jesus. Surrender it all.
We do have that power.
Today, let’s remember how the situations were worked for our good, when we had no power at all. We know Who did that!
Pull out your photo albums or old journals and reminisce a little.
God of Eternity, it’s so hard for us to let go of the reins. Give us the strength to take on only the easy yoke you’ve promised! In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Posted on July 4, 2017
Seek First Project: Come Boldly (Day 34)
Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. – Ephesians 3:12
Hopefully the work we’ve done with our fears this past month will help us to come boldly before our God.
Remember in the beginning of this project, we made a list of fears in our journal? Well now it’s time to expound on that.
I want us to spend some time with God when you go back and look at this list of worries. Then, I want us to come boldly into His presence.
Make a list in your journal of the very specific things you are asking God to do in Your life right now. Use your fears list as a general guideline, but if things have come up since then, go ahead and include new requests.
God wants us to ask, Dear Ones. Have you?
Dear God, we come boldly before Your throne today. Embolden us. Comfort us. Remind us to ask. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on July 2, 2017
Seek First Project: Frantic With Fear (Day 33)
When Saul saw the vast Philistine army, he became frantic with fear. –1 Samuel 28:5
This is a feeling that is so familiar to me! Have you ever felt frantic with fear?
An army of giants. An army of them. I can barely even imagine what that would be like, to be surrounded by an army of giants.
Maybe that’s what your life feels like right now.
But God, our God, isn’t just a giant slayer. No, nothing as simple as that.
Our God is the One who emboldens a small shepherd boy. He’s the One who chooses a weapon as simple as a small stone in a sling. He’s the One who gives courage, who ensures victory, who uses the unexpected to achieve the unbelievable.
This is the God we serve. This is the God who has named us His own.
Find a stone today. If you want, you can paint or draw on it. You could write a special word on it. But choose one that reminds you exactly what our God can do when we’re frantic with fear.
I’m praying for you.
Abba, Father, please touch each frantic heart reading this today. Please allow them to feel Your peace, to know that You are in control. To know that You care. And so do I. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Posted on July 2, 2017
Seek First Project: From the Least to the Greatest (Day 32)
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Shelly
Updated on June 30, 2017
Seek First Project: The One Who Comforts Me (Day 31)
“I, yes I, am the one who comforts you.
So why are you afraid of mere humans,
who wither like the grass and disappear?
Yet you have forgotten the Lord, your Creator,
the one who stretched out the sky like a canopy
and laid the foundations of the earth.
Will you remain in constant dread of human oppressors?
Will you continue to fear the anger of your enemies?
Where is their fury and anger now?
It is gone!” – Isaiah 51:12-14
Today, let’s do some good stretching as we remember our Comforter and His might.
Reach to the left, as you remember the canopy of stars God stretched in the night.
Reach to the right, as you recall the horizon stretching as far as the eye can see. He did that.
Stretch your arms above your head, bringing to mind the peaks of the mountains the Creator stretched across the lands.
Try to touch your toes, as you ponder the ocean depths that your Abba stretched within its boundaries.
Lengthen your back as you contemplate the lengths Christ went to, to have you with Him forever.
Rotate your neck as you realize His love that knows no bounds.
Wrap your arms tightly around your own shoulders and pull gently, and feel the release that comes with that hug. Release your fears for the day into your Master’s very capable hands.
Lord God, I don’t know why I’m so afraid. I don’t want to remain in dread and fear. Thank You for loving me as mightily as You do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on June 29, 2017
Seek First Project: What Happens When You’re Shaken (Day 30)
For I will give the command and will shake Israel along with the other nations as grain is shaken in a sieve, yet not one true kernel will be lost. – Amos 9:9
I read the verses in scripture about God not allowing the righteous to be shaken. About how we are not shaken, because He is our fortress.
But can be honest here? Some days shake me.
They shake me to the core. Even my faith gets little cracks that threaten to race ahead and grow ever larger.
The list is pretty endless of the earth-shaking, faith-shaking, just-plain-shaking things that can enter our lives each day.
That’s why the verse above gives me so much peace.
This world can shake us. Shake us to our very core. Shake even our faith.
…yet not one true kernel will be lost.
We’re in good hands, Dear One. Fear not, we will not be lost.
Unshakeable God, thank You for keeping Your promises to hold us sure and steady, even when it feels like we are shaken to the core. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on June 28, 2017
Seek First Project: The Seeds to Sow (Day 29)
The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. – Matthew 13:22
Today’s verse about dealing with our thorns, is about what to plant in their place. What kind of seeds should we nurture instead of those worries and fears and anxieties?
God doesn’t leave us guessing!
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness. – James 3:17-18
We are called to be peacemakers.
But here’s the stickler. We are called to make peace, even in our own lives! Does this surprise you? It surprised me! I have never thought of it that way before!
The seeds we are to plant in our now-ready ground are seeds of peace. The Living Water will make it grow.
Here’s today’s challenge:
Forgive yourself. Give yourself a great big hug and forgive yourself for those thorns that have grown up in your heart. Forgive yourself for failing at worrying (again).
For today, no looking back. Just plant the seed and let Christ water it.
Let’s see what grows.
Our God, cleanse us with the Living Water. Help peace to grow in place of the thorns. Give us the strength to forgive ourselves and begin to plant peace, starting within our own hearts. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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Shelly
Updated on June 27, 2017
Seek First Project: This Fallow Ground (Day 28)
The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. – Matthew 13:22
We’re working on our thorns this week. And the soil that’s been wasted by the thorns.
The soil is what we’re focusing on today.
Sow with a view to righteousness,
Reap in accordance with kindness;
Break up your fallow ground,
For it is time to seek the Lord
Until He comes to rain righteousness on you. – Hosea 10:12
I’ve been pretending to take that fallow ground in my hands and just crumble it. I’ve been imagining the seeds that God will plant there when the soil is made ready.
Today, we’re making stress balls. Take a balloon, pour flour into it using a funnel, then tie it closed. If you’d like, you can draw on it with a sharpie! I drew a picture of a seedling on mine, so I would remember.
Each time you use this stress ball, imagine that it’s that fallow ground you’re reclaiming from the thorns.
Father in Heaven, I want the soil of my heart to belong only to You and Your seed. Help me to crumble those worries as You remove the thorns. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
Updated on June 26, 2017
Seek First Project: Among the Thorns (Day 27)
The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced. – Matthew 13:22
This verse really hit home with me today. Talk about conviction!
I have heard and received God’s word. I love Him with all that I am and all that I have!
But how easily do the worries of this life crowd out the message? Oh, much too easily!
How quickly am I distracted by the lure of wealth? Financial stability is a constant worry of mine.
The bible likens these fears to thorns. When a thorny plant grows, it is difficult to prune without getting hurt! It’s often easier to just leave it alone and let it grow. We all know that without proper pruning, the plant will no longer flower properly and can grow wild and out of control! The thorny plants are weeds that take over the nutrients in soil, stealing them from the plants you want to nurture. In this way, they become the only thing growing in the area. In fact, if they’re not carefully uprooted, shoots will spring up again and again from bits of root cuttings that were left behind. They are tenacious!
Sounds a lot like worry, right? The scriptures also tell us how to combat these thorny worries.
Let’s take these answers one day at a time, okay?
Our verse to focus on today is this:
Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
He who guards himself will be far from them. – Proverbs 22:5
We are to guard ourselves, our very souls, from these thorns. When I think of being on guard, one passage comes to mind.
A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. – Ephesians 6:10-18
Today, when you dress, make a point of thinking of each piece of clothing as a spiritual armor. Wear a belt of some kind. Put shoes on your feet. Pray and picture yourself holding up your shield of faith. Wear a physical head covering today, to remind yourself of your salvation. Carry your sword with you wherever you go.
For the next few days, we will be looking at ways to combat those thorns in our fertile ground.
Heavenly King, I love how the bible doesn’t just present the problem in our lives, but it fully explains how to begin to make real changes. Of course none of those are possible without You, and we are so grateful for Your patience and for Your presence. We love you. In Jesus’ Name, Amen…
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May God Bless You,
Shelly
