“This is the day the Lord hath made, rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalms. 118:24.  Today, actually tonight, I have the opportunity to give my testimony to a Celebrate Recovery group in Emmett, ID.  I’m told the group hasn’t had a live testimony until mine tonight.  They’ve been using video ones.  A few days ago I wrote that Jesus told me He wanted me rejoicing in getting the opportunity to share “our” story with others.  This allows others to experience seeing and hearing how God takes a mess and makes it a message of His love and grace.  I got up and started my devotions and the fear and doubt started to set in as it does on days like this.  I recalled what Christ had directed me to do a few days back and so instead of dwelling on my fear I told Satan I was glad for the opportunity to share and was looking forward to it in Jesus Christ’s name.  I’m probably going to need to do this several times today, but for now, I really do have a sense of anticipation for tonight. “I will be glad in it!”

I delivered a book yesterday afternoon to a man who had contacted me saying he wanted to read it.  He and his wife had children years ago that went to the school where I was principal.  It was nice to visit a few minutes with them.  Then, later in the evening, someone who has become a dear friend told me she is reading my book to her husband.  She knows there is unspoken abuse in his past which he doesn’t share.  I was so touched that she is being so loving to her husband with this.  God bless her and him.

God is truly working with me on obedience.  Obedience I know is something that use to be hated by me as I grew up.  Obedience looked like being silent for hours when we kids were in a room with dad and he didn’t want to hear us.  It also looked like endless work with promises that went unfulfilled.  It also looked like abuse that couldn’t be stopped.  God has abundantly let me know that obedience to Him is not at all like this.  Obedience to Him is the direct path to freedom and joy.  Obedience to Him doesn’t look like twisting what I do to add an element of my wishes into it.  That I’ve learned is called disobedience.  God is perfect in every way.  I want my obedience to Him to be as close to that as possible.  To God be the glory!