A FEARLESS HEART

Do you live with a fearless heart? Or is your life paralyzed by unending fears - many of which the evil one just holds over your head as a "taunt" - all of which may never even become a reality? Does the "what if" have a greater hold over you than the reality of trusting God?

The real question is: "Who do you believe - the enemy - or God?" The evil one is full of lies that cheat us out of the fearless heart that God wants for us. GOD wants us to TRUST His heart so deeply that we live in the reality of what He says and does - all for our good.

Does God know we are afraid many times? Of course He does. He responds to that over and over in Scripture - but always with the command to let go of those fears and trust His heart instead. He reassures us that He will be with us in all that we are and all that we do. His purposes are to bring GOOD to all people - to restore us to Himself.

Joshua 1: 6-9

6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Genesis 15:1

God's Covenant With Abram

After this, the Word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision:

"Do not be afraid, Abram.

I am your shield,

your very great reward.

1 Chronicles 17:26-27

26 O LORD, You are God! You have promised these good things to Your servant. 27 Now You have been pleased to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever in Your sight; for You, O LORD, have blessed it, and it will be blessed forever."

Luke 12:31-33

31 But seek His kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.
32"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys.

Luke 2:8-11

8And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is Christ the Lord. [all Scripture emphasis added]

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[Led Home by the Shepherd]

TO KNOW HIM - EVEN in SUFFERING

Acts 1 (selected)

2 Until the day He was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles He had chosen. 3 After His suffering, He showed Himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.

7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Philippians 3: 8-14

8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. 10 I want to know Christ and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death, 11 and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Pressing on Toward the Goal

12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:17-18

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.
Future Glory

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

To Know Christ - is to know His sufferings. There is joy and great glory in and through the sufferings that we must endure.

I have a new sign over my mantel just below the letters H.O.P.E = which says:

Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass,

It's about finding joy in the rain.

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[Led Home by the Shepherd]

How Deep His LOVE

Ephesians 3:6-19

6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of His power. 8 Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. 10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11according to His eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. 13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
A Prayer for the Ephesians

14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom His whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Can you grasp the fullness of His love? I can't - but I'm trying. He lavishes us with His grace and sometimes it's more than we can take! Praise His Name - JESUS!

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[Led Home by the Shepherd]

GO FORWARD

Isaiah 60 (selected)
The Glory of Zion

1 "Arise, shine, for your light has come,

and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
2 See, darkness covers the earth

and thick darkness is over the peoples,

but the LORD rises upon you

and His glory appears over you.
3 Nations will come to your light,

and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
4 "Lift up your eyes and look about you:

All assemble and come to you;

your sons come from afar,

and your daughters are carried on the arm.
5 Then you will look and be radiant,

your heart will throb and swell with joy;

the wealth on the seas will be brought to you,

to you the riches of the nations will come.

13 "The glory of Lebanon will come to you,

the pine, the fir and the cypress together,

to adorn the place of My sanctuary;

and I will glorify the place of My feet.
14 The sons of your oppressors will come bowing before you;

all who despise you will bow down at your feet

and will call you the City of the LORD,

Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

Psalm 7:17

I will give thanks to the LORD because of His righteousness and will sing praise to the Name of the LORD.

Psalm 37:3-7a

3 Trust in the LORD and do good;

dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
4 Delight yourself in the LORD

and He will give you the desires of your heart.
5 Commit your way to the LORD;

trust in Him and He will do this:
6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,

the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.
7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him. [Scripture emphasis added]

Exodus 14 (KJV)

13 And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will show to you today: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever.
14 The LORD shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace.
15 And the LORD said unto Moses, Wherefore criest thou unto me? speak unto the children of Israel, that they go forward:

Moses was endeavoring to rally all the people in a "drama moment" of acknowleding all that the LORD was doing and would do - but the LORD said, "Don't just stand there - MOVE!" [my personal take].

Many times we are called to "be still" - to know God and His plans. Then other times - when God has already revealed the plan, He tells us to "get moving - don't quit - don't give up - don't delay" because sometimes there is no more time to waste and there could be dangers we are not ever aware of." Had the Israelites just stood there too long - gazing - they could have been killed.

GOD MAKES ALL THINGS BEAUTIFUL and PERFECT IN HIS HANDS!

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[Led Home by the Shepherd]

An UNKNOWN PATH

An Unknown Path
by Stephanie K. Brower

copyright 2008
[Inspired by: Isaiah 42 / Psalm 23 KJV]

I have not been this way before
Yet God assures me, “there’s so much more.”

The paths before me are narrow; unknown.
Yet, it’s only by faith that they are shown.

Like a Shepherd He leads me to drink and to graze,
On His Word, by His Spirit, never ceasing to amaze.

The path is ominous, winding, and steep.
My focus on the Shepherd, I alone must keep.

He’s been here before; checked for danger and snare;
Leading and guiding, even through its despair.

He lights this path, leading step-by-step,

For only today is His manna given, and kept.

Some days seem dark, as clouds gather in gloom,
Yet His faithfulness forever, still comes into full bloom.

On an unknown path, He again bids me ‘Come’!
“Trust My heart; take My Hand, as I lead you home.
Written During :Ready Steps 8-28-08

Isaiah 42 (Selected)
5 This is what God the LORD says—
He who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and all that comes out of it,
who gives breath to its people,
and life to those who walk on it:
6 "I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness;
will take hold of your hand.
I will keep you and will make you
to be a covenant for the people
and a light for the Gentiles,
7 to open eyes that are blind,
to free captives from prison
and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.
8 "I am the LORD; that is My Name!
I will not give My glory to another
or My praise to idols.
9 See, the former things have taken place,
and new things I declare;
before they spring into being
I announce them to you."
Song of Praise to the Lord
10 Sing to the LORD a new song,
His praise from the ends of the earth...
16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them
and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do;
I will not forsake them. [emphasis mine]

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie
[Led Home by the Shepherd]

All In Preparation for....................
SHEPHERD'S WALK
A Path to the Presence of God

In Spite of My Sin

Deuteronomy 30:8-16
8 You will again obey the LORD and follow all His commands I am giving you today. 9 Then the LORD your God will make you most prosperous in all the work of your hands and in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your land. The LORD will again delight in you and make you prosperous, just as He delighted in your fathers, 10 if you obey the LORD your God and keep His commands and decrees that are written in this Book of the Law and turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.

The Offer of Life or Death
11 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. 12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, "Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?" 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, "Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?"
14 No, the Word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.
15 See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. 16 For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. [emphasis mine]

I WILL RISE - Chris Tomlin

CD [Hello Love - clip]

I will rise on eagles wings
Before my God…fall on my knees
And rise… I will rise
There’s a day that’s drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear

And my faith shall be my eyes

Jesus has overcome...

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[Led Home by the Shepherd]

Objects of His Mercy

Romans 9 (selected)
God's Sovereign Choice

1 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it in the Holy Spirit— 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, those of my own race, 4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption as sons; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.

14 What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all!

15 For He says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy,

and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion."

16 It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy.

21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for

noble purposes and some for common use?
22 What if God, choosing to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the objects of His wrath—prepared for destruction? 23 What if He did this to make the riches of His glory known to the objects of His mercy, whom He prepared in advance for glory— 24 even us, whom He also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles? [all emphasis mine]

He did - make the riches of His glory known to the objects of His mercy who He prepared in advance for glory - to all people! Only GOD!

Thoughts to ponder:

How thankful are we for God's MERCY upon our lives today? Do we bring Him glory as a result?

Choosing JOY,

Stephanie

[Led Home by the Shepherd]