Can you believe it’s already March? I’m still trying to get used to writing 2010, and we’ve already completed two months of this “new” year. Where has the time gone? It’s also hard to believe that those of us that have been working on the Scripture Memory Verse Challenge for 2010 have 4 verses under our belt already! (If you joined us late…don’t worry about it. We’re simply so happy to have you meet us wherever you are along the journey.)

Before I get to the actual memory verse for the first part of the month, I thought I’d catch you up a little on what’s been going on with me since I’ve been a little light on blogging as of late.

Two weeks ago, I began a fast. I completely fasted from all solid foods and only drank water and organic fruit/veggie juices. I actually did a full seven day fast! I’ve completed several fasts before but nothing beyond 3 days. I’m still in shock at how easy the fasting part was. It wasn’t perfectly easy – there were a few (but very few) times of difficulty. However, for the most part, I felt great that entire week. Nobody (other than my family and a close friend or two that I asked to pray for me) even knew I was doing this. I was on such a spiritual “high” the entire time I was fasting. My quiet time in God’s Word was deep and very profound at times, and my prayer time was out of this world. I had 7 things that I focused on during the fast, and I devoted one day to each of those focuses. I feel like I’ve heard clearly from God in response to a couple of items, and I’m still waiting and praying about the others.

By contrast, the week after my fast was horrendous (and, this week is unfortunately starting the same way so far). I went from such a spiritual high to such a spiritual low very quickly. I honestly feel like I’m under attack (and probably am). But, I’m not going to stop trusting God for those things that I know to be true. I’m just feeling a little down these days, but that will change soon too. I just need a little time and a lot of prayer. Regardless, I WILL make fasting a regular part of my spiritual walk from now on. It’s way too important not to, and I feel so close to God during those precious times.

So, in light of the spiritual attack that I feel as if I’m under…I’ve chosen the following verse to memorize for the next 14 days:

Isaiah 43:2 (NKJV)
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.
When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned,
Nor shall the flame scorch you.

Let’s hear it folks…verse, version, your first name, and city!

Be blessed dear friends!

Facts are facts. Yep. Sure are. Facts are facts. Simple as that. However, have you ever had a moment when a fact becomes more than a fact but an actual revelation let’s say? Something maybe that you’ve believed to be true for a long time, but the truth of that belief hasn’t truly resonated with you before…until now? That’s happened to me before – just as recently as last night actually.

I’ve been attending an amazing Bible Study on Tuesday nights, and I’ve been learning some pretty simple techniques to enable me to go deeper into God’s Word that has really revolutionized my quiet time. I’ve actually written about it a little before, and you can click HERE to read my prior post.

Last night, we were studying Isaiah 40:26-31. I’d love for you to actually go and read it before continuing in this post. However, if you’re short on time…allow me to throw out a few key points. In verse 26, God tells us – CLEARLY tell us – that He is Creator! In fact, as Creator, he not only put every single star in the sky, but He named them all! How cool is that! God knows the name of every single star. I can’t count them all, let alone remember their names. For Pete’s sake, I can hardly remember the names of my family members all the time. Anyway, later in verse 28, He also tells us that “his understanding no one can fathom”. No matter how hard we try to understand God, we’ll never be able to fully understand Him. Impossible. However, right before that (in the same verse), He also reveals that He will not grow tired or weary. So, how about that? We’ll never completely and fully understand our Creator God, but He’ll never ever get tired of our lack of understanding. He just wants us to seek Him!

I think the thing that really settled into my spirit as I studied this last night was the naming the stars thing. God named the stars. God knew me before I was even conceived (Psalm 139:13-16). God has even numbered the hairs on my head (Matthew 10:30). God is in ALL the details. Nothing is by accident or chance. I am not by accident or chance. He created ME for a purpose. He cares for ME. He knows ME by name. I am not insignificant to God. Now, before you go blowing this off saying…yeah, yeah, yeah…I already knew that…did you really? Yes – I knew the fact of those things before, but I don’t think I ever really got the truth of that. Or, at least, I needed to be reminded. Friends – that is some DEEP stuff!

If I truly know and believe this, then I have to believe that God cares about every little detail of my life. He knows my wants, wishes, and desires. He knows what I need and what I don’t need. He loves me and cares about me more than anyone else possibly could. He has my best interest at heart. He is Creator God, and He created me. I may not always understand the “whys” of life, but I’m not ever going to understand it all. That’s okay. It may not be easy, but it’s okay. But, I do know this…God…Loves…Me. And, he loves you too!

Be blessed dear friends!