The Battle Does Not Belong to You | Thankful Thursday

I really enjoy counting my blessings with you here on my blog. I am so grateful that God nudged me to start this blog January 25, 2012. I have not been consistent with posting at times, but I am thankful that this blog has served a need for others through the years. Often those struggling through a tough season found comfort and encouragement in something I have shared on this blog. It is my desire to be a source of encouragement to keep us all fighting the good fight of faith. After all, we are all just trying to make it home and if I can help anyone on their journey, I am happy to do so.

If you are having a tough time this year, facing difficult circumstances, finances unbalanced, loved ones who are not in your life or have passed on, it may feel like a real battle out in front of you. Friend, do not be discouraged! Take heart in knowing God is still God. He never changes and if He helped His people before He will do it again. All Judah stood before the LORD with their little ones, their wives, and their children. The Spirit of God came upon Jahaziel and this is two things he told the tribe of Judah and it is the same two things for us today as well.

2 Chronicles 20:15, 17

And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the LORD unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's.

Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you.

What does it look like to be dismayed? It is consternation, distress, alarm, shock, or horror. We may be facing some scary things in the natural, but our God goes before us and fights for us. We only have to be still. We must position ourselves and stand still on the promises of God and watch Him win every battle for us. He has never lost a battle and He never, ever will! You can trust Him when you cannot trust anything or anyone else. You do not have to be afraid or in distress. God has seen you through every trial in your life and He has brought you through them all! His Word tells us He will and our lives show the track record that yes He has done that!

Psalm 34:15, 19

The eyes of the LORD are upon the righteous, and His ears are open unto their cry.

Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

Thank God for hearing our cries. Thank Him for blessing us with His peace and His presence. Stay in His Word and in fellowship with Him.

Psalm 16:11 Thou wilt shew me in the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

I am so thankful my hand is in Jesus' nail scarred hand. He will never let me go. He will never leave me lonely or forsaken. He will never put me in the battle to fight unprotected, uncovered, but will be with me and will fight for me and protect me and cover me under His wings. He will shelter me and I will be safe!

Psalm 62:8 Trust in Him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before Him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

I want to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! God bless you!!

~Bridgett Owens

Happy Thanksgiving | Thankful Thursday

The LORD impressed on my heart to carve out a section of my blog to share what I am thankful for. I started it on a Thursday and decided to call it "Thankful Thursday." Each week I share what I am thankful for. Come back each week so we can count our blessings together.

Friends, my heart is FULL of gratitude this Thanksgiving. Imagine Thanksgiving 2020 in the midst of a Pandemic, God is still moving, He is still working, and He is still blessing. He is still GOOD! 

This Thanksgiving looks so different for me and my family. God has given me new perspective on those who are alone during the holidays. My heart has always gone out to those who have no one to celebrate with. This year I get to see firsthand how lonely and hard it really is, and even in my situation I am not totally alone.

My children are in Indiana, celebrating Thanksgiving with their grandparents, and visiting family and friends. My heart is full of gratitude that they were given this opportunity. I'm thankful for my family who is still with us this year and I am thankful for all the memories I have of those who are not. Since our children are in Indiana, Paul and I planned to spend Thanksgiving with my mother and my aunt in Florida. I am very grateful to still have my mother and it's not as far to their home in Florida than it was to my mother's home in Indiana. I am also extremely thankful that I am able to celebrate with my husband, Paul. It's our 20th Thanksgiving together.

I was exposed to Covid at my new job. Four days later I developed symptoms like Covid and two days ago I lost my sense of smell and taste. I am unable to get tested but I have self-quarantined and thus I am not able to go visit my family because I don't want to spread this to anyone else. My husband stays in another room and thankfully there is a bathroom here in our bedroom, so I don't venture out of this room much. It is lonely and honestly it feels more lonely when Paul is home from work, because we talk from down the hall or sometimes he calls me on the phone! But I am not wallowing in self-pity. I am not the only one affected by this crazy illness and many are far worse than I am. I am very blessed and thankful for all the things I do have.

Today we unexpectedly got an early paycheck. That was such a blessing! Paul went to get us a nice lunch since we did not buy anything for a Thanksgiving feast as we planned to be out of town. I am thankful for the workers at Golden Corral who provided a delicious - I'm guessing - meal for my husband and I. We ate in different rooms but I am grateful for a hot meal and a big cup of sweet tea!

So even though I am banished to my bedroom and it's not the same traditions we have had in the past, I am so thankful for a home, a meal, and the love of those who care about me and are praying for me. (Please ignore the way I look. Real life people! LOL)

PHILIPPIANS 4:12 I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.

1 THESSALONIANS 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

EPHESIANS 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

COLOSSIANS 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

PSALMS 69:30 I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify Him with thanksgiving.

PSALMS 103:2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:

No, this Thanksgiving may not be like we imagined it to be, or wanted it to be, or even prayed it would be. There may be empty chairs around the table from relatives who are no longer with us, those who cannot come because of sickness or shelter-in-place regulations, maybe distance has kept others away, and maybe it is relationship-strain, or whatever the case may be. Please know I am praying for those who are lonely and isolated and feel forgotten or abandoned or ignored. I am praying for God to cover you all with His grace and mercy and love and remind you that you are loved and never forgotten!

To the ones reading this and you may be in a house full of people or a crowded gathering but still feel alone. You may have a beautiful home, a delicious meal, and all the appearances of good things but something is still missing. Is Jesus your Lord and Savior? If He isn't, please accept His free gift of salvation today. Material possessions and experiences can never replace the emptiness we feel when we are separated from God. He is a good, good Father. Regardless of how your earthly father has treated you, God is a wonderful, loving, kind, and generous Father. He adores you and sent His only Son Jesus to die for your sins. What a great time to open your heart to the love of the Father!

I am rejoicing in spite of the situation this year. God woke me up and gave me JOY and it's down in my soul bubbling up. I know this too shall pass and things will change again in the future but if we cling to the unchanging hand of God, we can experience Thanksgiving every day of the year! So from my children: Kadesia and Javan in Indiana...

...and from Paul and me in Alabama...

...we wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving! God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens