Weakness is His Strength

Many know this story; but for those of you who do not... Gideon was a man of God. In the book of Judges, we read chronicles of how he led Israel. His name means "Mighty Destroyer." But it was his  faith, not his name sake, that led to the destruction of massive armies. 

In the 7th Chapter of Judges, Gideon led the Israeli army against the might forces of the Midianite and the Amalekite Armies.  He had with him well over thirty thousand fighting men.  They were a force like no other in that time; and, many had heard of their strength and valor. The Army of Israel knew of the fear they struck into the hearts of other nations.  

God also knew of Israel's pride and how Israel would boast of their accomplishments.  He needed the Israelite people to trust in Him alone; not in their own strength. So, being a God like no other ("Remember what happened long ago, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and no one is like Me." Isaiah 46:9), He made a decision like no other.  He advised Gideon to send some people home. All but 300 men. Gideon was to attack two of the strongest armies of his time with only 300 fighting men. 

Judges 7:7 The Lord said to Gideon, “With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. Let all the other men go, each to his own place.” 7:8. So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others. 

God was with Gideon and he gave him and Israel victory.  God blessed his faith and his obedience. Gideon believed in God's power...not his own resources. 

Our God is a God of numbers (among other things). I wonder, in my life, what are the areas where I am putting faith in my own calculations and not in my God. My finances? My family? School? What if I used my shield of faith to combat the large numbers this life threw at me instead of counting on my breastplate of righteousness to deflect their attacks. 

Father God, El-Shaddai~ My Provider, I take my hands off of this World and its devices. I trust in You and know You alone are supreme. I need Your perfect strength to fight all of my battles. I let go of the faith I have in myself. I put all hope in You. 

"But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9

Why Not All of It?

One by one, little by little, mountains have moved in my life. God is slowly giving resolution to some pretty tough trials I have been facing lately. These trials include all areas of my life: physical, mental, spiritual, emotional, and financial. Looking back, I see His footsteps walking along beside me on the path I have trudged.

I stand on His promise to rescue me from the financial hardship I have been thrust into. I have witnessed Him change the hearts of banks and creditors against whom I thought there was no hope... Then I remembered His promise of blessings and provision to me; and, the words He spoke over me. Three years ago, as I was praying over my finances, He said to me, "I am going to do something in your finances that will shock and leave in awe all who hear of it." I was overwhelmed with joy! WOW! What is He going to do? Then I lost my job after the market crash... afterwhich, I lost the ability to walk and landed 170K in medical debt.... now I find myself in foreclosure.

To date, 160K in medical bills have been paid! I am walking.... wait... I run! I now have a job; and, am starting to see the debt slowly diminish. With the recent lottery frenzy that swept the land, I prayed, "God, why don't you just let me buy a ticket and win the lottery? That would take care of all of my debt and would definately leave all in shock and awe!"

This morning He replied...

Deuteronomy 7:22 "The Lord your God will drive out those nations before you, little by little. You will not be allowed to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you."

Wait..... what?

Little by little, the Lord is eliminating my debt. He knows what is best. He also knows that if He were to wipe out all of my debt in one sweep, the "wild animals" increasing around me may cause me more harm than the debt itself would have.

Thank you my God for being patient and loving enough to, little by little, fulfill the promises You have made to me. There is no one faithful like You!

Deuteronomy 7:9 "Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commands."

It's Not What You Know; It's WHO You Know

Connections are an important part of everyday life. Today, the right connection can help you land the "big breaks" you are hoping for. I know all to well that it takes knowing the right person in order to have the best outcome for any given situation (i.e. the right job, the best deal on a car, waiting in line at a sold out event...). As a Christian, your life should center around one connection. . .One unmistakably important connection.

In the 1940's Ira Stanphill, a music instructor and song writer, didn't seem to know much about life. His wife left him, his world started to fall apart, and he sank quickly into a deep depression. He didn't know what to do. His life skills had not prepared him for life's setbacks.

Hebrews Chapter 11:1 "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

Ira hoped for a better life. Like so many of us he had tried to work out the problems in his life through the knowledge he has. He hoped his circumstances would turn around; however, he knew he couldn't rely on his own knowledge. With all the uncertainty in his life, it is amazing that he was able to put his faith into anything. . .let alone a God he had never seen. But He did. He left his problems with the One he knew would have the answers. When he did, peace flowed over him like a melody, and he was able to pen the following song:

I know Who Holds Tomorrow

I don't know about tomorrow;
I just live from day to day.
I don't borrow from its sunshine
For its skies may turn to grey.
I don't worry o'er the future,
For I know what Jesus said.
And today I'll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.

Many things about tomorrow
I don't seem to understand
But I know who holds tomorrow
And I know who holds my hand.

Every step is getting brighter
As the golden stairs I climb;
Every burden's getting lighter,
Every cloud is silver-lined.
There the sun is always shining,
There no tear will dim the eye;
At the ending of the rainbow
Where the mountains touch the sky.

I don't know about tomorrow;
It may bring me poverty.
But the one who feeds the sparrow,
Is the one who stands by me.
And the path that is my portion
May be through the flame or flood;
But His presence goes before me
And I'm covered with His blood.



Just like Ira, I don't know about tomorrow; but I do know Who holds it.... and I know Him who holds me. I know that His plans are not to harm me; but rather to prosper me. I hold fast to Romans 8:18 that through my faith in Him, His glory will be revealed in me.

1 Peter 1:6-9
"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

I know Who holds tomorrow! I love Who holds tomorrow! I trust Who holds tomorrow. It is Who I know. . . AND don't forget He knows you and me ~ Psalm 139.

Take My Life and Paint it Right

The Master Painter! What imagination an artist must have to envision a masterpiece in lieu of a blank canvas! Me? Well, I see a big white sheet of paper. I can't imagine the thoughts of those who viewed the Sistine Chapel prior to Michelangelo. To them it was just a 12000 square foot building. A chapel designed for worship and nothing more; however, to the artist, it was a masterpiece in the making. He saw the total picture.

The book of Micah was written by the prophet Micah sometime between 742 and 687 B.C. It was a time of absolute mayhem in the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Both kingdoms were skipping from one horrible king to another. The armies of Babylon had torn down the temple. The people lived in constant fear of being murdered, tortured, or taken into slavery. But in chapter 4, the prophet Micah begins to speak of a coming peace. Not just peace, but prosperity and restoration of the kingdom. Wow! Was he out of his mind? Was he blind to the destruction around him?
No. It seems that Micah had gotten a glimpse of the whole picture. He believed in the promise of God and knew, despite what was going on around him, God would deliver. Micah 4:12
"But they do not know
the thoughts of the LORD;
they do not understand his plan,
he who gathers them like sheaves to the threshing floor"

God's ways are unsearchable. We will never be able to understand.
Romans 11:33 "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable His judgments, and His paths beyond tracing out!" Why is it that I do not understand what is going on in my life? I believe it is because I cannot see the whole picture. When I look at me, I see an empty painter's canvas. Here and there are a few brush strokes of color. But by no means a work of art worthy of display. Nope. Museum quality it is not. But then again, I am not the painter... just the canvas.
See there is an artist whose works are beyond beautiful. His imagination is more than any could hope to duplicate. No one can fathom His mysterious ways; however, they know His art is oh so beautiful to behold. Sometimes, people question His work. What is it going to be? How can He make beauty out of this mess of paint? When will He finish? But He sees the total picture. In His mind, there is no mess...only beautiful colors to work with. And, with a lot of patience, in His time, a master piece develops. Breathtaking in its own rite...


Wow that I could only catch a glimpse of the painting of my life! Sometimes, the promises He has made to me seem so far away. But, knowing it may be a brush stroke or two before it is complete makes the problems I am facing this hour seem so insignificant for my life time. I have to remember that some strokes of the brush are more difficult and some colors are darker than others. But those thumbnails are so tiny compared to the complete picture of my life.

God that I will have the strength today to make it through the uncomfortable minutes of my life; help me see the beauty of the hour. I love you God.