{RE:} Renewed Daily

Day by day, my soul is refreshed and renewed! Despite an anxiety producing dream in the night, I awakened with the desire to fall down before the Lord, as I begin this day-now half way through Lent, I thank God for what He has been speaking to me. He is not done with me! I guess I knew that, but in the past, I have been focusing on drawing from the well of my life experiences to this point. This week, I have heard God calling me to step into new things. Moreover, I am being called to do these things from a place of rest. I do not have to do more "work". How exciting and what a relief all at the same time. Doug and I are working on new songs. I have found myself at the piano more than I have been in a long time. Last night, at Fresh Fire, 3 people accepted Christ for the first time and 1 person renewed his faith. "The Spirit is moving over the waters. Come rest on us!" Holy Spirit, I am so grateful. Thank you for what you are doing in Jon and Andrew! Thank you for Kaitlyn and these incredible morning devotions! This is the day the Lord has made. Let us rejoice and be glad in it! God is not done with any of us. He has given us all a hope and a future beginning right where we are!

During my walks I have been seeking my joy and peace and rest thtough celebrating with God that His creation work is complete and with Jesus that His work on the cross and resurrection is also complete. Yet God is still moving in new ways all around me.

I will start with a ha ha on me. Yesterday I was so forlorn because I really felt I was losing my vision totally. I was upset all day. My husband took me to the doctors late in the day, and when I went to find my sunglasses I found that my safety glasses had been removed from my purse. When I mentioned it to my husband he said "oh yeah, I had to take them out yesterday to give you to read your morning Bible study". So, instead of giving me my magnifiers, he had reached in and given me my safety glasses by mistake. My safety glasses have absolutely no magnification and the ha ha was on me! Lol, just thought you might wanna know! As far as today's lesson goes, it is one that I have read over and over again. Because of my seat situation with the lifelong kidney disease, I knew God had me here for a specific reason. It is one that I may never know, but still he moves me on word on the inside and in faith in him. It is a scripture that fills my heart with hope, and knowing that my life with God eventually will be much different eternally.

"Looking to God doesn't necessarily change the situation, but it can change our perspective and give God space to renew us inwardly." There is no truer statement. So many times I've dispared over a situation, became discouraged and wanted to give up and run away. But... when I look to God asking Him to change me from the inside out, to help me keep my focus on Him rather than the situation that's tearing me apart, He changes my perspective and renews my spirit. It's not always an easy task turning things over to God and letting go.

My daily devotional brought me to Acts 3, the lame beggar at the temple gate. His friends brought him as far as the gate and then left him there to beg, when the real treasure is inside. Damn, this hits home. So many gatekeepers. Who are we leaving at the gate in our world? Who needs a phone call or a text of encouragement during this season of Lent? As we turn inward are we also turning outward? I know that most of you here won't see this but God will. He will hear the prayers in my heart. Amen.