I remember my first trip to youth camp. My girlfriends and I were so excited that we were finally old enough to go to camp! There were weeks of anticipation waiting for the day to finally arrive when we would board the bus with the rest of our church youth group and head western Maryland for youth camp.

Preparing for the trip was a lesson in following directions. It wasn’t just about what cute summer outfits you would wear and be sure to pack your Bible. They gave me an itemized list of what to bring. That list went right down to the deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste and hair brush! Very, very detailed. And I went over it like an inspector! Making sure I had every last thing in my bag or on my person before climbing aboard, stowing the bag, waving goodbye to my mom and dad, and squealing for joy at my first church camp. I had NO idea what it would be like but I was ready to fully engage!

There’s a reason why the camp gave us a detailed list of what to pack for the week. They wanted to make sure that we were fully prepared and ready to experience all that the week of camp would bring us. The other day as I was reading Ephesians 6:10-18 (ESV) I was reminded of that prep for an experience I was headed toward but had no idea what it would be like. Verse 11 says, “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” There’s a reason Paul gave instruction for each part of the armor. Every part of it is important. We’re heading into this day and we have no idea what it will hold. But packing everything God told us in His Word to pack, or put on, is critically important to be prepared for what we will experience in the day ahead. Don’t skimp on the preparation. He wants us ready and fully engaged!

“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.“ Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT)

Some of my favorite memories with my kiddos include music. Concerts, cd’s, tons of rehearsals and listening to the radio. Music has always been like a second skin to our family. It’s been part of our celebrations and helped us get through hard times. Music has connected us to our faith and it’s poured out of us back to our Heavenly Father as an alabaster sacrifice.

In the evening with the lights dimmed and my babies tucked in my arms I would rock them and sing to them. The simple, quiet melody that broke through the stillness calmed my littles and calmed me as well.

Did you know that God sings over you? His heart is so full of joy over you that His joy spills out over you in song! Oh that we could hear that heavenly melody – when we’re having trouble sleeping at night; when we’re struggling with anxious thoughts that steal our peace; when angry feelings or dark depression threaten to drown us – may we get still, breathe deep, and listen… for our Abba Father singing His song of great joy over us.

The storm came up so fast so we took shelter under the pavilion. The rain poured down. There was thunder and lightning nearby and then it happened. Lightning struck the ballfield right next to where we had sheltered. It was so close we could feel the electricity from it. Our son, Cody, was just a little boy. He immediately wanted me to hold him and he nearly choked me he was holding on so tight. The tighter he held onto me the more tightly I held him close to me.

For years after that experience if Cody even thought there could be a storm coming he would get very anxious. If we heard thunder in the middle of the night we could count the seconds until Cody jumped into bed with us because he was frightened. He knew that we loved him and when he ran to us he felt safe.

Life can be scary at times. Storms can take all kinds of shapes and sizes in our world. You might be facing a health crisis, a financial storm, a family or work challenge. First, know that God Almighty loves you. He is with you and watching over you. When we find ourselves in a storm, run TO Him! Hold onto the Lord. His love can calm every fear you are struggling with today.

“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT)

Consider this: the God of the Universe, Savior of the world, chooses to live in my heart and yours. The intimacy of His presence in us, knowing our thoughts and what our hearts long for, is such a precious gift!

Jesus left heaven to walk among us. Fully man and yet fully God. Mighty to save…and save us He did! Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT) says ‘He is a mighty Savior.’ This promise came to the people of Israel before the New Testament was even written down. Jesus was and is and always will be a mighty Savior! When we ask Jesus to be our Savior He fills up the space in our heart that only He can fill!

God takes great delight in you and me…with gladness…the Scripture says. We bring Him joy!

“For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” (Zephaniah 3:17)

Imagine what it must have been like in the days of the minor prophets in the Old Testament. Being the one who brought the message of God to the people. Being aware of the Lord’s intentions and carrying the responsibility of communicating them to God’s people… such responsibility! Speaking the truth in the good and in the difficult.

Zephaniah contains one of my favorite Bible verses so rich in promise, assurance and comfort. I wonder if he knew there was a time very near when God would be silent for 400 years and there would be no prophetic words spoken to the people of God? Hear Zephaniah’s chapter 3 verse 17 “For the Lord your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs.” Zephaniah 3:17 (NLT)

Before the Messiah had come and before the Holy Spirit was sent to dwell within them… God spoke thru His prophet, Zephaniah, that He was living among them. What a comfort to know God is living among us and today an even greater comfort is that His Holy Spirit lives IN us. If you feel lost or you struggle with finding your center these days – remember Zephaniah 3:17 – The Lord your God is living among you! Take comfort in Him.

Psalm 42:6-8 (MSG) gives us such a clear visual of life when things are not going well for us. Listen to how the Psalmist responds to hard days….and what God does in response:

“When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse everything I know of you,” (when I’m sad or anxious, I remember and speak out everything Your Word has revealed to me of You)…
“From Jordan depths to Hermon heights, including Mount Mizar.” (from the depth of losing someone or something dear to me – to finding great success or accomplishment – and even when I am on the edges of following You)…
“Chaos calls to chaos, to the tune of whitewater rapids. Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers
crash and crush me.” (the deepest part of me is overwhelmed and nearly crushed under the deepest parts of You)…
“Then God promises to love me all day, sing songs all through the night!” (it is then I am most aware that God has promised, and He is Faithful, to always love me; even singing songs over me all through the hardest parts of my day when I can’t see the light)…
“My life is God’s prayer.” (if prayer is my communication with God there is something so reverent in knowing God is speaking to the world around me through my life)…

Deep is calling deep today. Set your mind on what you know of God and keep remembering. Know that He is loving you all through the day and in the dark God is singing His Song over you. Let your life be God’s prayer.

“I’ll just read the Cliff Notes!” The ONE TIME in high school that I didn’t read a book for English Literature that had been assigned reading I grabbed a copy of the famous bright yellow and black covered summary from the local bookstore and read it instead. It didn’t end well. The exam on the book required details that weren’t found in the Cliff Notes. The teacher knew exactly which of us had chosen to skim the details and read the summary instead. We were graded accordingly.

There’s nothing that can help us get to know and understand the heart of the main character better than to read the whole story. Cover to cover. Summaries can give us another reader’s thoughts and conclusions but reading the whole story, complete with twists and turns, challenges, battles and victories for ourselves, opens the door for us to connect with the author on a much deeper level.

So it is with reading The Bible. It is God’s story. Reading it cover to cover gives us revelation of God’s heart for us. I heard someone say the Bible is the only book where the author is in love with the reader. God is found on every page and the more we read the more we can know God’s faithfulness, goodness and kindness. The nuances of His ways. The very heart of our King. He tells us in Jeremiah 33:3 (MSG),  ‘Call to me and I will answer you. I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.’ What a promise He’s given us. Find God in the pages of HIS story and open your heart to learn the mysteries He’s ready to reveal.

A friend of mine answered a phone call from someone she thought she knew. The caller ID even said the name of the company. So when the caller explained the reason for the call stating that unless my friend could fill in the missing data her account was in jeopardy of being closed. Instead of hanging up and calling the company directly to verify, she gave her personal information to the caller and instantly she was scammed.

Sadly, scams happen every day. Identity theft. Stock market crash. Deals gone bad. Things happen that can jeopardize our financial security. When we put our trust in a financial plan, a nest egg, a retirement fund … it all can change in a moment. It IS wise to plan for the future, but it should not be where we put our trust.

Luke 12:33-34 (MSG) tells us, “Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can’t go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bank robbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.”

God’s math is even better than girl math! When He tells us to be givers…generous and mindful of those in need… we cannot outgive God. That savings account will never run out or be stolen. God is the Keeper of our accounts and the way we make deposits? Be kind and generous to those in need. Something happens to our heart when we give. It makes us long for heaven even more. For where our treasure is – that’s where we long to be.

Matthew 4:2 (NIV) reveals the measure Jesus took to prepare to be tempted by the devil. “After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” The Holy Spirit led Jesus out to the wilderness(verse 1) knowing He was about to face temptation. Knowing there was a very big test coming Jesus prepared physically and spiritually. 40 days is a LONG time to go without food! But Jesus knew this coming confrontation with the enemy would be significant and full of purpose.

It’s at the very next verse that the devil showed up. Just as Jesus revealed that He was hungry the devil taunts Him to turn stones into biscuits. Isn’t it just like the enemy to come at us tempting us with the very thing he thinks could make us stumble?!! Even though Jesus was hungry He resisted the devil and used the Word to combat him. In fact, as the enemy came at Him three different times, with three different temptations, Jesus spoke the Word in every situation.

When we are called to a fast, whether it is food, or tv, or social media; whatever you are letting go of or giving up, it is really important to fill that void with prayer and the Word of God. The devil WILL try to come at you. The most important weapon we have to combat the enemy’s temptations is the Word! His name is Jesus. Filling up on Jesus and knowing His Word is our best defense in times like these.

A friend of ours came to stay with us for a week recently and one night we started reminiscing about the years we traveled together in a music ministry. Oh the stories we told about those days. The good old days! We laughed til we cried and we laughed some more. We remembered friends we’d kept in touch with through the years and some who are no longer with us. The irony of our storytelling evening was that we were telling these stories to our kids who are now the age WE were when we lived those days!

We’ve probably all remembered different chapters in our lives with particular fondness and may have even referred to them as the good old days. Don’t you wish you knew THEN that those days WERE the ones we would look back on and perhaps even long to repeat?! What if we are actually living the good old days NOW?!! Wouldn’t it be wonderful to KNOW…some day I’m going to look back on this time and remember it as a time we will wish we could repeat?!

Psalm 90:12 (NIV) is a prayer request to God. “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” What you and I are doing today is part of the wonderful story God is writing in us. Each encounter, every quiet time, work day, doctor appointment, vacation and errand running day is in God’s plan for us. Savor the moments today. Not only might we look back on today as a good old day but God tells us that it will make us wiser for it too.