Father, lead me

A song that I listen to over and over again is "Lead Me," by Sanctus Real. The entire song is actually directed at men, challenging them to be the husbands and fathers that God has created them to be. But each time I listen to the song, my heart breaks. The song speaks of leading children, and how we can't lead them without first being led by our Heavenly Father. I try so often to do things on my own, and oh, how I repeatedly fail.

I have these pictures around our house, and like a moth to a flame I am drawn to them. 

 

I know in most families there are "daddy's girl" and "mama's boy" - but not in the Castleberry Clan. In our house, we have a Mama's girl and a Daddy's boy.

These pictures serve as a daily reminder that I have two beautiful eyes looking up to me, watching my every move, learning, becoming. I am afraid that I don't always portray what I want her to see (impatience, frustration, quick temper). I am thankful that not only are God's mercies new each morning, but Ella Beth's are as well. I want to give her the best of my life - not the leftovers when I'm too busy wasting time on the computer or on my "cool" phone. I don't want to leave her hungry for love when I can choose to give up everything else.

Father, help me to daily make the choice to put her first, before myself. Father, lead me that I may be a better example of Your love for my daughter. Give me the discernment to focus on what truly matters in this life, and give me the courage to leave everything else behind. Ella Beth is a precious gift that you have put under my care. Help me not fail her. I pray that You shine through me so that she can see how deeply she is loved.

So, Father, give me the strength to be everything I'm called to be.
Oh, Father, show me the way to lead them.
Won't you lead me?

To lead them with strong hands, 
To stand up when they can't
Don't wanna leave them hungry for love -
chasin' things that I could give up.

I'll show them I'm willin' to fight,
and give them the best of my life
so we can call this a home.

Lead me 'cause I can't do this alone.
Father, lead me 'cause I can't do this alone.

Sovereignty and Truth

Lately, my readings have led me to God's sovereignty. I decided to look up the definition of sovereignty.

Sovereignty: status, dominion, power, authority; roalty; supreme and independent authority

Do I truly trust in the Sovereignty of God in my life? Do I truly trust that God has my life under His complete authority? There have been times in my llife when I would have said no.

Most certainly, during the times of Ella Beth's sickness I totally and completely lacked confidence in God's sovereignty. I doubted at times whether or not God was truly in control, and to be completely honest there were times when I even questioned God's existence. I dared Him to prove Himself; prove His love for me. If He truly loved me then I dared Him to heal Ella Beth.

Wow. Looking back now, I am just thankful that God didn't put me in my place! But, I have learned that God can handle my honesty. He can handle my questions. He can handle my fears.

More and more as I spend time in God's Word, my heart is being filled with His Truth. I am learning to replace my false beliefs with the Truth that God has given to all of us. But this does not just happen automatically. One thing I have learned over and over (and over!) again is that God wants all of us to search for Him; to find Him. It's in our searching that we find what we need and want most. Of course, we must be sure that we are looking in the right place - and that place is always, always in TRUTH. Our hope for life, our hope for love...it all lies within TRUTH.

Romans 8:31 "What, then, shall we say in response to these things [sufferings]? If God is for us, who can be against us?"

2 Corinthians 4:18 "So we fix our eyes on not what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

Psalm 46:1-2 "God is our refuge and strength, and ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea."

Isaiah 12:2 "Surely God is my Salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The Lord, the Lord himself, is my strength and my defense; he has become my Salvation."

TRUTH: God is for us. God loves us. God is our strength. God is our only Salvation.

New Each Morning

Renewing Your Mind

This morning my devotion really struck a chord with me. In my journey to become content with where the Lord has me in my life, I have been learning to take my thoughts captive. Romans 12:2 is a verse that I memorized while I was in Haiti and have hidden in my heart. It is also a verse that I come back to often on my journey...many times daily, and honestly some times more than once a day. Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." (emphasis added)

I am in the Birds on a Wire mom's group, and we are going through NPMi's HOPE curriculum. HOPE is about taking off our "flesh" (sinful nature) and replacing it with the Spirit of Christ.

I come back again and again to another verse that I memorized while I was in Haiti: Philippians 4:12 (emphasis added), "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." The process of taking off our flesh, of renewing our minds, must be learned. I am a sinful person by nature, but I can learn to take off my own flesh and replace it with that of Christ's. By taking my thoughts captive, renewing my mind to believe in my heart the promises of Christ and then living out those promises, I am able to fully live in the Presence of my Savior.



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I hope God will speak to your heart through this devotion.

February 2, Jesus Calling by Sarah Young



I am renewing your mind. When your thoughts flow freely, they tend to move toward problems. Your focus gets snagged on a given problem, clingling round and round it in attempts to gain mastery. Your energy is drained away from other matters through this negative focus. Worst of all, you lose sight of Me.

A renewed mind is Presence-focused. Train your mind to seek Me in every moment, every situation. Sometimes you can find Me in your surroundings: a lilting birdsong, a loved one's smile, golden sunlight. (Remember my new Habit #1 of 2011 - to count my blessings? Even the smallest of blessings are still straight from our Heavenly Father and He doesn't want us to miss them.) At other times, you must draw inward to find Me. I am always present in your spirit. Seek My Face, speak to Me, and I will light up your mind.

Romans 12:2; Psalm 105:4