Joshua 10:13-14 (NCV)13 So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped until the people defeated their enemies.These words are written in the Book of Jashar.The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and waited to go down for a full day. 14 That has never happened at any time before that day or since. That was the day the Lord listened to a human being. Truly the Lord was fighting for Israel!
This God stopped the sun and moon so the Israelites could defeat the enemy. So when He promises to pull you out of this pit you find yourself in, He doesn’t just promise a mediocre hand that helps you up. Sun’s and moon’s will stop in their places to lift you up. He fights and He defeats. His heart and soul and every part of Earth and Heaven will fight for you if it has to. Fight to win you back. Fight to bring victory. So great is His love for you.
Him, our waymaker. God. Stopping down, stretching out His hand to lift you up.
Him, our miracle worker. Stopping sun’s and moon’s to give you victory. Expect the impossible to make way for every desire of your heart.
Him, our promise-keeper. Never leaving you. Never forsaking you.
Him, our light in the darkness. You light not just out of the darkness but IN the very darkness. Him. Our hope when all hope is lost.
So, rest easy oh soul. He’s got this.
“you know the problem is we live in a world that is constantly feeding us things like “be on the move.” always telling us to do stuff. we’re never still. we reach a point when if we are actually at rest we feel guilty. but the truth is that we are meant to be in a constant state of rest no matter what we do. not worrying. not striving. so when nothing is happening around you, it doesn’t actually mean that nothing is happening it only means that you need to be still and trust. you’re blessed to be at rest because everything is taken care of. i can only tell you this out of experience. you don’t have to strive for anything.”
one of my faves from my church back in Dubai sent me this when i told her my waiting for the next thing to happen and wanting to move on to the next phase in my life after Oxford was leaving me numb and almost emotionless. thanks wifeeee for reminding me that rest is in the NOW. not when i’ve achieved an x number of things or even if i’ve achieved none. the measure to which i can rest is the measure to which i trust.
fast forward to a month down the line and we’ve brought this testimony to life on the cover of her (very used) Bible! swipe left to see the final product 
(inspired by one of the @hosannarevival designs)
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“Love is large and incredibly patient. Love is gentle and consistently kind to all. It refuses to be jealous when blessing comes to someone else. Love does not brag about one’s achievements nor inflate its own importance. Love does not traffic in shame and disrespect, nor selfishly seek its own honor. Love is not easily irritated or quick to take offense. Love joyfully celebrates honesty and finds no delight in what is wrong. Love is a safe place of shelter, for it never stops believing the best for others. Love never takes failure as defeat, for it never gives up.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 TPT
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He asks us to dream big
to dream bigger, wilder, and bolder dreams with Him
with Him, the paths we map out for ourselves reach heights beyond our imagination
with Him, we find ourselves treading on streets of gold
with Him, even the wishes blown long ago, He catches and holds
with Him, He leads us into a garden of plenty, of promises fulfilled, satisfied, and so much more
with Him, our biggest dreams are just child’s play
because
He goes above.
He goes beyond.
immeasurably more.
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He has called us to OBEY.
Instead, we choose to run.
Away from Him.
We run.
He chases.
R-e-l-e-n-t-l-e-s-s-l-y.
We run back.
Back and forth. Back and forth.
Before Jesus’ ultimate sacrifice, the running back would materialise itself in animal sacrifices.
That’s what we’re so caught up doing; sacrifice after sacrifice after sacrifice.
Sinning.
Repenting.
Sinning.
Repenting.
The cycle never ends.
Yes, we’re allowed to make mistakes. For when we do, grace abounds.
Yes, this world is so full of evil.
Situations turn ugly.
People are unbearable.
The temptations are too strong.
We falter.
We cave.
We need to stop glorifying the sacrifices and the lessons learnt through our running away from Him.
Storms do produce character. But self-inflicted storms that we stir up from our disobedience are not on Him, they’re on us.
And yet, He works even that into good.
He does not demand perfection. Just a heart willing to obey. To take the narrow road.
We need to start realising that the rewards gained, the fruits produced, and the lessons learnt in our obedience are far, far greater.
We need to start telling ourselves that obedience draws us so much nearer to the Father’s heart than every victory over our rebelliousness ever could.
He doesn’t even ask us to do it alone.
The Spirit guides.
The Spirit gives strength.
The Spirit equips.
Allow Him to work.
So how about this; how about we strive to obey?
Dear Summer Twenty Eighteen,
You’ve showed me that “hopeless” does not exist in the dictionary of my great God. Hard hearts can repent. Relationships can be restored. Forgiveness can be sought. Forgiveness can be granted. Families can be brought together.
Thank you for showing me that if it isn’t good, it isn’t the end. No situation is too hopeless. No heart is too far gone. He is still at work.
Thank you for showing me how He lifts up Nehemiah’s amongst us. Drawing themselves out of the comforts of their palaces and placing them amongst the ruined cities. Our ruin. Making our pain their pain. Turning their “your problems” into “our problems”. Tirelessly going around our walls and pointing out all the areas that require work.
Nehemiah’s that testify of His past victories. Nehemiah’s that strengthen our hands to build. Because of them we say “let us rise and build”. Because of them we begin to rebuild. Because of them we see His love. Because of them we believe in His love. These love as He did. Unconditionally. Tirelessly. Putting all else aside.
Summer ’18, you kicked down walls and flung open doors even where windows had no scope of breakthrough. Church seats filled up. His bride came together. Distinctive parts drew closer.
And then there were all the small things. The friendships. This blog. Small desires of my heart, big desires for Him.
Twenty eighteen, your summer might just have been the best one yet. A one where He broke through in the big and in the small. A one filled with love and hope.
Because His plans are still to prosper. Because He has not forgotten us.
My friend, if He can do it for me. He can do it for you!
God.
Wisdom so deep. Power so great.
God.
Mountain mover. Foundation trembler. Sun shielder. Star maker. Star destroyer. Sky stretcher. Water walker.
God.
He does wonders that cannot be understood. Miracles that cannot be counted.
And yet, we think we are worthy enough to question. We think we are wise enough to know what’s right, what’s best. But, like Job says, “Even if I were right, I could not answer Him; I could only beg God, my Judge, for mercy.” “Even if I were right, my own mouth would say I was wrong; if I were innocent, my mouth would say I was guilty.” Who are we to question His ways? Who are we to justify?
These verses aren’t intended to shun or to make us feel worthless. If anything, it should do the opposite. This God, clothed in majesty and armed in strength, looked down at us and found us worthy of His love. And He didn’t just choose to give us life through His Son but chooses to show us kindness and carefully watch over our lives. Now I can rest easy because I know it isn’t all on me. This God is on my side. What more do I need?
So, quit questioning. Start trusting.
The sound of the water is loud; the ocean waves are powerful, but the Lord above is much greater.
Psalm 93:4
The insults, the opinions, the negativity, the bickering, the self-hate, the comparisons, the gossiping, the voices of the internet, the voices in your head, the pinging of your phone. The sound of the water. Loud. Never-ending. Never considerate. Hardly loving. Your body; high enough to hear and low enough to know that one more tug of this water will result in drowning.
And then there’s the uncontrollable. The situations. The church, the family, the future. All the questions. All the uncertainty. Pulling you left and right. Tossing you from one end to the other. For a few seconds there’s hope as you think your toes graze the bottom of the ocean. But who are you kidding, you’re in the middle of an ocean, not by the shores of a beach. So far gone, there’s no sign of hope. These ocean waves. Relentless. These ocean waves. Powerful.
It’s funny how the author says “the Lord above”. Not behind; waiting at the shore. The shore where you once had your life together and when your righteousness was intact. Not before either; the end of the line. Where it’ll all fall into place. Where it’ll all make sense. Nope. Not behind, not before, but, above! Look above because that is where your help will come from. He has the power to piece your life back together. In the now. He has the power to change your situation. In the now. And He isn’t just above literally. He is above it all spiritually. When this fallen, evil world tosses you around like you’re nothing, keep your eyes fixed on Him. On His outstretched arm. His ever-present help; there all along.
He will silence the waters. He will still the waters.
All you’ve got to do is look up and grab on.
He sees.
The worship charisma.
The social media holiness.
The people pleasing.
Saying the right thing.
Doing the right thing.
Your leaves.
Dressing your fig tree.
And He comes toward.
He approaches.
Acknowledging the effort.
Never disregarding.
He stretches out His hand.
Expecting fruit.
He sees the facade.
He wants to see past the pretense.
What a God.
Seeing the hypocrisy.
Still hoping for the best.
He stretches out His hand.
Expecting fruit.
But there isn’t any.
Leaves are good.
Leaves are beautiful.
Leaves are an indication of the season.
But the fruit more so.
It indicates the state of the heart.
Focus on your fruit.
Let the leaves follow.
dani spadigam 