“The Lord Provides” Don’t be anxious, or selfish, greedy or envious, but instead be patient. You know He loves you and never forgets or overlooks you. HE IS GOD… and nothings gets past Him or keeps Him from you. In this way, mature because you know the Lord will Provide.

The Lord provides and He takes away, as He sees best, but never stops loving you…never does His character change. He is always good, always God, rich in Love, abounding in faithfulness.

So be steadfast… “Slow and Steady” yet “Strong and True”

Each month we have been coming up with a word to help describe where we want our hearts to be in the midst of it and then another word at the end of the month helping to sum up how we felt the month went. While in my earlier blog I said that my Thailand month could be summed up in two words “AWE” and “SOME” ๐Ÿ™‚ if I had to put it into one word it would be “STRENGTH”. I feel like God really showed me it was ok to walk out my life in my strengths and to not be held back because I think that other people might be offended if I’m using “too much” strength or walking “too boldly”. God has gifted me with wisdom, knowledge, boldness, and strength and for me to hide everything “under a bushel” as it were, as to not offend others or to keep them from comparing themselves, isn’t depending on God but it is depending on my own strength to keep people from falling into a pit.

I dont belong under a bushel… and if my boldness causes other men to be in their fears then I need to pray that they don’t fall into them but that God brings them out. Obviously there is a level of discernment that brings direction in this not to be boastful or prideful, but the strength that comes from God doesn’t usually accompany these two.

God has been challenging/testing/strengthening me in my resolve and steadfastness. And in so, moving from me the zeal of “battle or glory” and putting in me a heart of flesh that is content in the steadfast process. Not confined to only be following the feeling of heightened emotions (zeal), or discouraged by the downtrodden hearts of mismanaged unbelievers. To place in me a heart that is patient in life and faithful in prayer; weakened in my own strength but persistent in the strength given to me. Not being envious of others or arrogant over others because I know everything is provided to them by the same One that allows in me everything I am.

Not ashamed of my strength because it is not mine; to hide or to boast, but it is only what the LORD has given to/taken from me so that His will may be carried out (Humbling, no?). And not because He forced His will in me, but because in my free will and love for Him, I willingly chose to give my life (even my body) to Him so that He might carry out the good work in me which He started at the beginning of time. (Jer 29:11) (Rom 8:29) Don’t worry, God won’t inhabit your dreams, body, or anything unless you want Him to… so thats good news. ๐Ÿ™‚

I’m learning only to be thankful in Him, through good or bad, unto my very life. I can’t be anything other than myself and I can pray all the time that God brings me the desires of my heart but its only God who can work to bring life in the heart of someone else.

I didn’t mean to go that deep when I first started, but this has really been my heart lately and I’m glad that I got this opportunity to share it. I hope it in some way blesses you too. ๐Ÿ™‚

Love Love,
Joshua

Be Patient. Be Strong.
Stay dangerous in Jesus.