Can I give you a bit of advice?
(Well here it is, whether you wanted it or not…)

Keep doing what God is calling you to do.

Even in the hard moments, the unsure moments, the doubts, the fears…even when the enemies darts are hitting right in the bulls-eye.

Keep going friend.

I know it’s partly my age, but I’m a big ball of mushy emotions lately and I’m wondering if that’s where you are too? We won’t go into all the reasons for our emotions being up one moment and down the next, but there’s so much going on these days: a lot the enemy wants to shout at us, a lot we get mixed up in our head about, and a lot that takes us away from the truth of God’s Word. Yet, in the middle of all that… my prayer is for us to be women who encourage other women to speak truth, in love. (Ephesians 4:15)

• I want to be a woman who points other women to Jesus,

• I want to be a woman who shares (and lives out) how to DAILY find our hearts and minds in God’s Word, and

• I want to be a woman who helps bring the focus of our lives back on Him… not on the cares of this world.

So… if we were sitting right here enjoying a coffee or tea together, here is what I would hope to encourage you in right now, today:

Keep on keeping on…as you trust the Lord with Every. Single. Moment.

But how do we live this out on a daily basis?

We depend on our Sovereign, Immutable and Holy God every day.

Look what Proverbs 3:1-8 says:

“My son, (*and daughter) don’t forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commands;
2 for they will bring you
many days, a full life, and well-being.
3 Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you.
Tie them around your neck;
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will find favor and high regard
with God and people.

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not rely on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways know Him,
and He will make your paths straight.
7 Don’t be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and turn away from evil.
8 This will be healing for your body
and strengthening for your bones.”

Friends, if you’re trying to figure this life out, if you’re struggling to know what you should do next, or if you’re just caught in the cycle of the “ups and downs” of this life, can I encourage you to do something?

Will you get on your knees and pray right now?

Take this moment to pray out loud Proverbs 3. Put your name in there at the beginning and read Verses 1-8 from above (or the whole chapter if you have a Bible near by). Then come back here and read this:

We are called to persevere.

Do you hear that? This Proverb (one of my favorites, as you probably already know) shows us that:

• We are to focus on God and His ways, not our ways

• We are called to lean on God’s understanding, not ours

• We are to remember His faithfulness, His sovereign guidance and His care for us…daily

Elizabeth Elliot coined the phrase “do the next right thing” but essentially it’s throughout scripture that we’re to focus our lives on God’s faithfulness. Yes, that means even amongst the hard, confusing and terrible things, we look to Him and praise Him in the storms. Because He is still faithful and good, even when we don’t see it or understand it.

It’s Monday, October 28. Let’s start TODAY by thinking (or dwelling at Philippians 4:8 tells us) on whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely… and remind our hearts of the Lord’s steadfast love each and every morning this week.

Let’s live in the joy of having a Savior who is in total control of everything, and is the ONE constant we can trust in.

In a world that is constantly changing…

our God is unchanging.

And He is the anchor for our souls.

I hope this blessed you in some way. I’ve had this blog post half written for over a month now, but today’s sermon at church really helped finish it for me. (So thank you Pastor Torrey!)

And if you’ve read all the way to the bottom, thank YOU as well!

I’ll be going outside the “norm” of this blog to bring you another post… TOMORROW!

I understand this is unusual, but it's closely related to the thoughts that have been weighing on my heart and mind for some time now, leading me to share something very important (and exciting) with you!

SO… please come back here, or check your inbox tomorrow.

Have a great Monday everyone!

Hugs to all,

Laura McCollough