Cling to Your Life Preserver

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KRRCQ9bcAc

Made to Fly ~ Colton Dixon

“Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me.” ~ John 14:1 AMP

Have you ever been in one of those seasons where wave after wave attacking you caused you to turn your gaze from Jesus, and inevitably, your grip, as well? And when that happened, the next wave made you believe you were going to drown. I’ll confess that happened to me.

Our summer break hasn’t started as relaxing as I would have liked. Within the first two weeks we needed a major fix on both vehicles, and then my back locked up while we were camping. Then, just after God brought us through that (including healing my back--Praise God!), the girls got burned. At first we assumed it was a sunburn, but 48 hours later, it appeared more like a chemical burn, causing me to feel completely helpless and overwhelmed. Thankfully, after getting some outside help, it’s calmed down a lot and is almost gone. Honestly, though, the attack on the girls scared me. I felt helpless when I didn’t know how to “make it better”. By the end of the day, yesterday, I realized just how drained I was and how cranky I was acting towards others.

Fortunately, God wasn’t bothered by my crankiness, and led me to John 14:1. After just glancing at the words, I realized that I’d let trouble into my heart, but it was time for it to go!

When going boating, you put on a life preserver, because if the unexpected ever happened, you’d be prepared. Ephesians 6:13-15 tells us to put on our spiritual armor, because we’re in a spiritual battle. Though the breastplate of righteousness and shield of faith sound like they’d drag you to the bottom, they become the straps, binding you to Jesus, your Life Preserver. The next time you’re being beaten by a churning sea, don’t let go of your Life Preserver to try to swim to shore faster. Instead, lean into it, letting the Lord use the waves to push you to shore, as you keep clinging to your Life Preserver, never shifting your gaze or releasing your grip.

©Heather Potts 2021

He's Moving

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9VomNXhKj4&list=RDw9VomNXhKj4

O Praise Him ~ David Crowder

Then he continued, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.” ~ Daniel 10:12 NIV

When Savannah as 9 months old, one of our cars died. But we were OK living with one car, until a few months later when that one died, too. But instead of panicking, we had peace. We fasted and prayed for a week, asking God to fix our cars, believing that He would move.

At the end of the week, the cars were still dead, but that doesn’t mean God wasn’t moving. A friend, who lived nearby, worked just a few blocks from my office and offered to take me to and from work every day. And on the weekends, they leant us one of their cars, so we could buy groceries or go to church. This lasted a month or so, but God wasn’t done moving.

At that time, we were a one-income family of three, with no extra money to take on a car payment. Some of our friends and family chipped in and gave us $300 to put towards a new car. In the world’s economy, $300 won’t get you anything. But in God’s economy, it was all we needed.

At the same time that our cars died, some other friends were trying to sell a car on Craigslist for $2,000. When they heard our story, they called us and offered to sell us their car for, guess how much. $300! For $300 we got a working, new-to-us car.

When Daniel needed an answer, he fasted and prayed for 21 days. On the 24^th day, an angel of the Lord appeared to him and said that as soon as Daniel humbled himself and prayed, heaven heard and began to move. What do you need from God? What answers have you been seeking from Him? Even if you haven’t seen or heard the answers yet, don’t give up; don’t lose heart. Because as soon as you humbled yourself and began to pray, God heard you and He began to move.

©Heather Potts 2018

More

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfVd5x9W1Xc

So Will I ~ Hillsong

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts. ~ Isaiah 55:7-8 NKJV 

What is it You want to be for me in this situation that You couldn't be at any other time? ~ Graham Cooke

Things have been crazy since moving here. Although we didn't get any of the things we were hoping for and have had to put on hold some of our dreams and desires, God filled in the gaps with friends and family to walk with us.

Still, these last two + months have been particularly hard. The temp job Brad had ended early for reasons outside of our control. As this stretch of unemployment gets longer, the weight feels heavier and hope seems farther away. Additionally, Savannah’s heart popping, though not serious, has increased in intensity, scaring her. And our only car has been acting up, worrying us that it might die or cost more than we have to fix it. Originally we planned on taking care of it with our tax return, but have since had to use our tax return to supplement our income.

But things change when God speaks. On April 24, I was listening to Graham Cooke, while driving to work. He said to ask God that question. Sitting in the parking lot at work, I prayed and asked God the question. I was prepared to wait days or weeks for an answer. I got out of my car, entered the building, turned down the hallway, and God said, "I AM the Lord Who Provides."

That day I had peace. The next day, my boss/team gave me a $50 gift card for Administrative Assistant's day. That evening, after our life group, one of the guys in our group was able to fix our car for FREE! That Friday, Savannah got adjusted at the chiropractor. She went more than a week without complaining of heart popping. And God has moved in many other ways, too.

Even though Brad still hasn’t found a job, what I realized is that God did answer my prayer, just not how I expected. We've been praying for Brad to get a job because it fills our need for provision. But instead of asking God for His desired way to meet my need, I only asked Him for mine. I love how God not only knows more, but can both humble and quiet me in a breath. And though we are still asking God to provide the work that will fulfill Brad and cover our needs, there’s a peace in the waiting when He whispers, “I AM the Lord Who provides.”

Whatever you are going through and facing today, don't forget that God sees and knows more. I both encourage and challenge you to ask God, "What is it You want to be for me in this situation that You couldn't be at any other time".
©Heather Potts 2018

Butt Co

Taste and see that the LORD is good.
Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

~ Psalm 34:8 NLT

The second day of our move to Wisconsin was crazy! Not too far into our drive, our rental truck was acting up, so we pulled off the highway and waited for the mechanic to help us. Somehow the truck reset itself and we were fine. But a few miles down the road, the same thing happened and we pulled off again. This time, it would take a mechanic 89 minutes to get to us. During our long wait, I tried to take the girls to a playground across a 6-lane highway, but I turned wrong. Unfortunately, by the time we got there and went to the bathroom, Brad was ready and we had to leave, because we wanted to get through the major cities on Sunday.

Twenty miles later, we were tensely driving through heavy Atlanta traffic. And then hours later, we began traveling through the Tennessee mountains. I could feel the tension in my whole body, as I worried about Brad driving the huge truck up the mountains. As I looked at the cliffs on either side, I said, “I need a scripture to bring me peace.” And Holy Spirit reminded me of Psalm 34:8, which is often interpreted as experiencing God’s goodness. Because of His Word, my perspective changed. Instead of being intimidated and fearful by my surroundings, I enjoyed the beauty and was awed and inspired by all that I saw. A little while later, as we sat in a traffic jam, I was reminded of the sign I had seen just before we’d had the truck issues. It was then that I realized we had just entered Butt County, Georgia when all the truck issues began. I laughed so hard—a much needed release.

Don’t you just love how the story of your day changes when you see it through the heart of the Lord?

Holy Spirit changed my day, attitude, and outlook, simply by reminding me to experience the goodness of the Lord. What’s going on in your life that needs a change of perspective? Ask the Lord to help you experience His goodness and joy, even in the middle of Butt County.

©Heather Potts 2017