fear and dismay: conquered

I began with an old favorite that needed to be brought back to the forefront of my mind:

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

–Joshua 1.8-9, typed out from memory. How did I do?

Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed.

Dismayed: horrified, shocked.

Dismay: the feeling that has accosted my soul regularly in the last 5 years.

Emmanuel: God with us.

Emmanuel: the antidote for fear of what may be and dismay over what is.

He is my strength and my courage.

This is the victory that has overcome the world — our faith. (1 John 5.4)

a year for memory

My New Year’s Resolutions look strangely similar every January: know Jesus… That pretty much sums it up! That’s the only goal I feel bound to, and it’s a freeing kind of goal.

But there are so many ways that happens, and a fresh start is a good time to reflect on how I can walk by the Spirit in the coming months, where the Lord is leading me to grow or take ground, how He wants me to steward my life in a way that will bring more communion with Him.

The last few weeks, I’ve been increasingly aware of my glaring need for repolishing and resharpening my sword. The hundreds of scriptures that have been hidden in my heart are growing dusty and hard to find at just the right moment. (And as we are in a war, there are lots of moments that call for a sword!) So this year, no grand Bible reading plan. Just a list of about 52 verses that I can memorize/review and meditate on each week.

Yes, meditate. That will be the tricky part, since I’ve gotten very good at memorizing with the kids in the morning and not giving it another thought the rest of the day. (Thus the rusty and dusty issues.) I am so excited about revisiting practices that were second nature to me ten years ago. Time for 3x5s and back pockets! (So, no more yoga pants, I guess.)

*****

My list, for those who may be interested. I’ll choose some of these to be “family” verses, and some just for my own memorization.

Psalm 34.1-10
Ephesians 6.10-13
Philippians 4.6-8
Isaiah 40.28-31
1 Corinthians 15.58
2 Corinthians 9.6-8
Romans 12.1-2
1 Peter 3.8-9
2 Corinthians 12.9
2 Corinthians 4.16-18
Romans 3.23
Romans 6.23
John 14.6
Romans 8.28
Joshua 1.8-9
Romans 10.9-10
1 John 3.16
Matthew 11.28-30
Galatians 5.16
Philippians 2.3-7;14-15

*****

Here are some passages we learned this past year (which I need to meditate on!), many of which I learned when I was a girl and loved. Passing them along for any moms out there wanting to make their own list!

Ephesians 2.8-10
Psalm 23
Psalm 100
1 Peter 1.2-8
Colossians 3.12-17
Proverbs 6.6-9
1 Thessalonians 4.16-18
Mark 12.30
Galatians 5.22-23
Romans 12.10

*****

What are some of your favorite, life-giving verses? Pondering that question the last few days has been so invigorating for me — suddenly I’m overwhelmed by how alive scripture has been and is in my life. I am so thankful for the Word of God. (Makes me want to memorize Psalm 19! Maybe next year. :-))

this week

This week has been:

— tray after tray of cookies from oven. Happy little ones licking beaters. Christmas carols playing while we laugh and talk and frost and sprinkle. Boys excitedly setting up our cookie tins, assembly-line style, and filling each one. Excitement over bringing them to grandparents and neighbors and post mistresses and anyone they can think of.

— children playing hockey in the basement, sledding and burrowing and frolicking for hours in frigid temps, Legos and duplos and even a movie, and books when Mama needed a bit less stimulus (ha!) Joyful, sparkling, anticipating. Three days of me baking, and they were only helpful.

— pauses. This season I love that speeds right by, it requires pausing. Reflecting. Praying as I pack the cookies, repenting as I light the candle, receiving as I sing the Good News. Remembering the treasure and responding with my gift of all.

light.

I snapped at my son.

I do that, you know.

I sin.

Between me, you, and this curse-laden world, we’ve got a world of hurt.

That’s why this is so amazing.

Redemption: He bought us from the tyranny of sin. He paid in blood; He paid in full.

How glad I am to light this candle tonight.

Arise, shine. Your light has come.

mud pies and gold mines.

I’ve been feeling a bit overwhelmed by all of the dirt around here. Mine, theirs — all of it.

That’s not a faith perspective.

It’s just far too easy for me to see all the dirt and start feeling like I’m working in a pig pen instead of a gold mine. That I’m wallowing in mud instead of digging a foundation.

The dirt really is there. It’s not a figment of my imagination, or gross exaggeration by a melancholy idealist — I’m a mess, they’re a mess, we’re all a mess. But how will I respond?

Will I simply marvel all the more at a glorious Savior who redeemed me? Will I see the dirt for what it is — and thrill at the faintest glimmer of gold?

While we were yet sinners, Christ died. He wasn’t deterred or overwhelmed by dirt. Not even a whole-world-full.

I want to be like that.

I want to be like Jesus.

*****

One of my favorite people, full of gold to be discovered:

thanks, from me to You.

Here we are, on the eve of a wonderful celebration. A day to stop and just say, Thank You. What a gift this day is, in and of itself!

In recent years it’s struck me that being thankful is very “on trend.” It’s kind of popular. But somehow, somewhere in its rise to fame, Thankful has become synonymous with Positive Thoughts.

That’s not what it means, I tell my children.

Thankfulness inherently is an acknowledgement of two parties: you, the recipient, and another, the giver. And being thankful without acknowledging the giver is rather like mailing a thank you card with no address.

Thankfulness is a chance to remember who we are and where we stand. It’s an invitation to embrace humility. And joy.

So I ponder this. Tomorrow, I want to respond to that invitation. I don’t want to simply look around me, take note of the good things I enjoy, and proceed to feel good. I want to treat thanksgiving as what it is: a chance to humbly say, All I am, all I have, the very breath I breathe, is a gift. A gift from a Giver.

Now thank we all our God
With heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done,
In whom the world rejoices.
Who from our mothers’ arms
Has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love
And still is ours today.

*****

Moments of blessing far beyond what I deserve (what joy and freedom!):

Hi, I'm Danica.

Post Category → faith

fear and dismay: conquered

a year for memory

this week

light.

mud pies and gold mines.

thanks, from me to You.