Short and sweet

My oh my…where do I begin?!  I’ve been wanting…pretty much craving…to sit down and write another blog post, but I literally can’t find words to put down (writers block?!).  Well, at least not a whole idea from start to finish, with words to fill in the middle.  I’ve actually started 3 or 4 ideas (one thought the Lord gave me while in the kitchen making Joe’s birthday pies last week!) and I’ve written or typed them out, in a “rough draft” sorta idea, but I just can’t seem to get it all together to finish them.  I’ve even started my very first recipe post – are you ready for this?? – for homemade tortillas!  And they’re totally from scratch (with an extra bonus included…Slow cooker refried beans!)  Boy are they delicious!!  I’ve got all the pictures downloaded into Lightroom (yes, folks, I actually thought to take pictures of the whole process!), and they are ready to edit…and they are still sitting in Lightroom, ready for me to edit…nope, they didn’t get done all by themselves…  Sigh.

Between having more batches of company, and now getting ready to leave for family camp early tomorrow morning, I either don’t have time to sit and think and write, or when I do have a few minutes there is just no “creative juices” flowing from this girl.  At all.  So frustrating.

This morning, after reading my Bible, I grabbed my Springs in the Valley book (the second book to the one I’ve talked about before, called Streams in the Desert).  I was looking for some words of encouragement…and the Lord gave me just that!

So I thought I’d share the little devotional with you (and hopefully when we get back from family camp, my writers block will be over and I can come in here and type away…I hope!!).

This devotional is for March 1.  (Hey!  Who said we had to read them in order?? 😉 )

I pray its a blessing and encouragement to you…

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“Pass through the host…armed.” (Joshua 1:11,14)

Pass through, pass through, nor sit among
The hosts encamped around.
The glorious Victor paved the way,
Put all His armour on you may.
With shield of faith held well in view,
Thy song ere long – “He brought me through!”
– E.N.P.

After a step of faith most persons are looking for sunny skies and unruffled seas, and when they meet a storm or tempest they are filled with astonishment and perplexity. But this is just what we must expect if we have received anything of the Lord. The best token of His presence is the adversary’s defiance, and the more real our blessing the more certainly it will be challenged. It is a good thing to go out looking for the worst, then if it comes we are not surprised; while if our path be smooth and the way unopposed it is all the more delightful because it comes as a glad surprise.

But let us quite understand what we mean by temptation. You, especially, who have stepped out with the assurance that you have died to self and sin, may be greatly amazed to find yourself assailed with a tempest of thoughts and feelings that seem to come wholly from within, and you will be impelled to say, “Why, I thought I was dead, but I seem to be alive!” This, beloved, is the time to remember that in temptation the instigation is not your sin but only the voice of the evil one.  – Dr. A. B. Simpson

Why does the battle thicken so –
The darts rain fast upon my breast,
While missiles hurled with cruel force
Ring loud against my burnished crest?
Above the din I seem to hear
My Captain’s voice in accents clear,
“Because your shield is down!”

Why does the enemy advance
And hem us ’round on every hand
While we, the army of the Lord,
Can scarce his arrogance withstand?
Above the shouts I seem to hear
My Captain’s voice in accents clear,
“Because your shields are down!”

Ah! Now it’s brighter – now I see
The enemy is taking flight,
And lo, the banner of the Cross
Streams red against the morning light;
But as they flee I seem to hear
My Captain’s call in accents clear,
“Let not your shields go down!”

– Thomas Kimber

Failure in our faith is fatal. Faith is our spiritual shield protecting us from the darts of the devil. Lay this shield aside even for a moment, and disaster follows. Any departure from the living God is the result of unbelief.

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Keep your shield of faith up, my friends!  God is still on His throne!

Hope you all have a great week!