Today’s journey started by going back to yesterday’s. In reality I almost always do this because it is my time to reflect. Before I begin my journaling I read what I had written the day before. Jesus had given me insight into “believing” which I didn’t do so well putting into action during the day yesterday. Today I asked the question about living out “belief” instead of falling into fretting, worrying? I was amazed at the message I got in return.

I was told that fretting, worrying, stepping into a temptation are all forms of what we do in our flesh. The Holy Spirit, I was told, lives in our spirit. If we want to access the Power of The Holy Spirit we need to take a “spiritual step” which is to take a step of faith. If I surrender to worry I stay in the flesh and it becomes sin. If, however, I step into surrendering the temptation of worry, I step into trusting. When we do this we take a step into believing. This is where The Holy Spirit can now do His Work. If we cave into temptation by worrying, fretting, using an escape like porn, eating when we shouldn’t, and more, we stay in the flesh. This is exactly where Satan wants us for he is the one in control at this point. I’m sure I’ve known all of this before now. However, when Christ was speaking to me as I journaled, all of a sudden this message took on new meaning. I can do this. The new creation God has made us to be through Christ Jesus can do this! I can step into believing by acting on the nudge I get from The Holy Spirit at the right time. It is putting my trust at the moment in “the nudge” and acting on it. This is believing, this is trusting and having faith.

Today I’m spending a good deal of it with someone I love. It is also someone I fight the temptation to worry about. Christ is telling me to take the spiritual step today and believe that The Holy Spirit Who lives in me will be in charge if I keep my mind on Him. He will nudge and guide if I believe and follow His nudge.

I wrote yesterday about meeting with a gentleman who had contacted me. Yes, we had met and once I realized when, I could recall much more about him. We spent 2.5 hrs together where he opened up greatly regarding his past and present struggles. He is a “believer” who struggles to believe. Boy, do I know that particular struggle. It was one of the first times of late I’ve been able to talk to someone about what believing we are as a new creation is like for me. I could also tell him there is tremendous hope for his own belief to be restored/healed.

In Celebrate Recovery we focus intentionally on hurts, hang-ups and habits. However, we stay too focused on habits for they are far more obvious and tangible. When it comes to hurts, we get lost in the emotional chaos within ourselves and with the belief system we’ve lost from the hurts of past and sometimes present. Satan does have a hay day with all of this and we are helpless to address it on our own. In fact, Satan does his best to keep us believing we can’t talk about this if we are men. This is the story of the gentleman yesterday. I invited him to come to our next set of classes starting next month which addresses abuse of our past and present–Mending the Soul. He is going to strongly consider it he said.

In the night last night as well as this morning when I arose, I’ve battled my own fears for tomorrow for some of those I love. I know I am to praise God for these struggles for it is when He can shed Light into the darkness. I brought this to Jesus this morning and He did such a good job helping me give it to Him and then to trust His Holy Spirit to strengthen those I love as well as me in believing all of this. I feel much like a child learning how to trust mom and dad about something for which I fear but they say they are right there for me. I’ve wondered sometimes if the absence of this help from my folks is the reason for my present struggle with believing? No matter, God today is wanting me to know for certain He, His Son Jesus and His Holy Spirit are Trustworthy and I can Believe with certainty They are with me and with those I love always. God is growing the belief of a new creation in me. I end today’s entry–BELIEVING!

Yesterday I didn’t plan enough time between getting up and leaving for an early doctor’s appointment in Boise–thus no blog. When I’d returned home, my wife Kathy told me my post hadn’t registered for the day. I rarely don’t get up in time to ensure this gets done, but yesterday was my exception. Sorry.

Today I have an unusual thing happening. There is a man who contacted me a week ago wanting to meet. He is finally ready to face “the demons” in his life he has kept in the closet. We talked on the phone a couple days ago and set this morning at 10:00 am to meet. He talked to me as though we know each other well. I cannot place who he is. I’ve racked my brain for any memory I’ve lost, but it all remains blank. I guess I’ll just have to wait until he arrives to know if I do know him or not. Either way, after we meet, I will then know him.

Yesterday, after the doc appointment I had one of my grandsons helping me with yard work. He wants to earn money for school clothes. He is at a very vulnerable age. We have set this Friday afternoon to go school clothes shopping. This morning I was journaling to Jesus about my concerns. When I asked Him what I’m to believe and know for today, His response was immediate. He said I am to not fret but anticipate. I cannot anticipate unless I believe Jesus is Real and is actively working. So today I’m going to believe Jesus is working regardless of what I can see. I believe He is putting together His Plan and I will take my step into it as He sheds Light for the step. Instead of fretting (worrying) I will anticipate, believing Jesus is truly working all the while!

Today I reenter the consulting work with the school district where I spend most of my consulting time. As I was having my devotions I suddenly was made aware that this time I am going into the school as a new creation. I’ve known for years that the promise of being a new creation is for all of us who have accepted Christ Jesus into our hearts. However, believing this to be unconditionally true for me was not there. Today, however, I believe this to be true. It is not something I know, it is something I believe as well as know. I don’t know how this may change anything I do, but I do know that I rest easier knowing it is not me who needs to be the one to help, it is me who needs to point always to the very One who will help as we turn to Him.

There are so many people crises at the present time. In them man has little or no peace. However, Jesus is wanting to be the answer for each and every one. Today I want to be an obedient servant to my Almighty King no matter what the problem or who I’m with. Jesus is always waiting for us to turn to Him and help others do so too.

It has been three years since God had me start journaling to Him instead of to His Son Jesus. He wanted me to know Him, believe Him and trust Him. Now, He is wanting me to do the same with His Son Jesus.

Last night I became aware of a crisis I’ve been praying about. This morning as I started my journaling I found myself wanting to journal to God rather than to Jesus because I now know God is Almighty so I wanted Him to be the one to take charge of this crisis so the crisis will for sure be dealt with properly and overcome once and for all. However, part way through my journaling I was led to address this point with Jesus. Jesus has always been the thoughtful, kind and gentle redeemer and savior. Today though, God is wanting me to capitalize Redeemer and Savior adding to them Almighty and King. Jesus is so much more than the Son of God who brought about our pathway to heaven by dying on the Cross. He was established as King of the Universe, Almighty to save. Today, the crisis I know, I gave to Him!

As I asked Jesus this morning what He wanted me to know and believe, He said, “Believe in Me–Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved–saved from the uttermost darkness. Save–this is what I do. Help those ones you love to see Me as Savior. Savior from Eternal damnation and Savior from their own personal darkness. I AM the LIGHT of the world. No man can come to the Father except through ME.”

All of this I not only know, but today I believe it with all my heart and God is teaching me to believe it in every aspect of my daily living. Jesus is my Lord, my Savior, my Redeemer, and my Friend. How lucky can be man be?!

Today, the journey begins quite late in the morning. I haven’t slept until 8:30 am for so long I cannot remember. However, I haven’t stayed up until 4:15 am for so long I can’t remember! Two days ago Kathy and I arrived at my daughter’s @ 3;30 am to pick up her and our granddaughter for the university visit in Phoenix. 48 hours later (this morning @ 3:32 am) we arrived once again at our daughters to drop them off from the visit.

It was a whirlwind trip and I certainly feel the consequences of it as I sit here. However, I cannot deny the presence of God this morning as I had my delayed devotions. It seemed like ages ago that we were in Phoenix and I sensed Him directing me back to His Son Jesus. Yet, this morning I began to journal to Jesus and all of this was confirmed again. Somehow I know I’m ready to trust and believe Jesus as I’ve never done before. I’ve needed to understand the “power” of disobedience as well as the “overcoming” power of obedience. This morning as I asked Jesus what He wanted me to know and believe for today, He said my first step in obedience is to believe. There is so much I could add to this first step which I now understand. But, it starts with me believing once and for all that Jesus is ALL POWERFUL just as His Father is. He isn’t just the wonderful son of God through man who “made it through life without sin”. He conquered sin through His obedience and He is our Teacher who will help us do the same. I’m ready to be His next student with my full attention on Him.

Yesterday was an amazing trip to Phoenix with all going extremely well. Today we visit the university and afterwards head straight back. It’ll be worth it, I’m sure.

Today’s devotional challenges me to start reaching out to Jesus and His teachings. In so doing to then be fully obedient to them. Somehow Jesus was obedient even unto death. I’m not sure just what God has in mind in this but I am sure of His voice and His leading me now to put my eyes on His Son and learn to obey His Holy Spirits leadings. His words this morning were: “The Holy Spirit awaits your obedience. Only then can you know the righteousness that awaits obedience. I’m ready to step into today with anticipation rather than fear. To God be all Glory!

Today the journey has Kathy and me leaving early, 3:00 am, to go pick up my oldest daughter and oldest granddaughter and driving straight to Phoenix, AZ. We are checking out a university my granddaughter is considering. She wants to be a special education teacher. The only universities in Idaho which have this major are the state universities and she doesn’t want to attend such a big one. Likely I won’t be publishing a blog tomorrow. We will be making a quick visit and guided tour with meetings and then headed back here. It’s a marathon trip but well worth it.

God is good all the time!

Today is a new day and as I walk into it I’ve reflected on the day of yesterday. I have just reread yesterday’s blog entry and for the most part, the day fit right into what was planned. However, there was one specific item which never materialized and it left me very troubled by the end of the day. As I brought it to my Father this morning asking what I am to know and believe from Him for today, He spoke clearly. “If I am to be of assistance for someone, I must first believe I am bringing Light–God’s Light to the picture. I cannot be a Light carrier if I do not see the Light myself.”

In the situation of last evening I could only see frustration, man’s ways and man’s wants. I could hardly say anything for I could see nothing good attach to in words. Nothing was resolved and yet there were no condemning statements–only that sense of hopelessness. This morning God really awakened me to my role first and foremost. If I am to be a warrior in His Army I am to first of all prepare myself for battle. This means I am to believe He is present and allow Him to shed His Light. He only addresses hopelessness, as in the case of last night, as we put the hopelessness up against His Light. It is then that hopelessness is seen as darkness and the evil intent Satan has for it.

Yesterday was a day where I saw much of God’s Light as I walked through it. However, when I got to last night there was no Light shining. Now I recognize it (my part) and I believe. I believe there is an outcome which God will orchestrate. I will do the part He asks me to do and let His Light so shine!

Today has a number of tasks to get done. Some of them are simply chores like mowing the lawn, cleaning the swimming pool and treating the water; others are ministry things for the forthcoming start of Restoration classes in September and Celebrate Recovery’s kickoff in September. There are two other things which I typically would do with much anxiety for they are confronting issues. When I was talking to God about them this morning He was reminding me that doing things His Way enables people to see His Light which gives them direction. He does not condemn, He shows us how to get out of darkness and into Light. This is what He wants us to do when we need to confront someone–do it as He does–by shedding His Light. I can only do this when I let Him be in the lead and I am His servant. I really needed to hear this today and in so doing, all the anxiety left.

Wrapping up the reunion yesterday with the last of our company leaving, I have to say again just how much I loved this time. I got to know some of our family so much better and also got to know some family I didn’t know at all–only names. As I said yesterday, the thing I enjoyed the most was being myself without all the bondage of self-image I’ve carried all of my life until most recently. Being a new creation takes on a whole new meaning when we finally allow God to take the “stains of our past” and make them tools in His tool chest instead of “our identity”. To God be all Glory! How much I love Him!