Leah Stirewalt

I don’t know whether to laugh or cry or both. I kid you not…this is a true story:

I’ve begun a new scripture memorization journey this year along with thousands of other women that follow the Living Proof Ministries Blog (Beth Moore). I’ll post more about that later in a separate post in case you’re interested in joining the adventure. Anyway…the first scripture that I’m working on memorizing is 2 Samuel 22:31 (NIV): “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.” As I thought about this verse – the SHIELD part of it stood out to me especially. Shield – my protector, knight in armor, guard, first aid kit, etc. I allowed myself to simply meditate on the verse a little, and in particular – the “shield” word. Meanwhile, I began getting ready for work and started picking things up a little around the house before I left. I must have gotten sidetracked, because I dropped a few things off on the table rather than in their normal locations. The picture posted here shows how I found two of the items that I had intended to put away. In case you can’t tell what you’re looking at…that’s my Bible in its cover underneath what else…a first aid kit! Enough said…

It seems to me that just a few short days ago, I spent time blogging about the issue of TRUST, and more specifically trusting specifically in God and His plans for us. No sooner had I posted the blog did I continue reading in my book, The Shack by William Paul Young, that I read these words of Young’s:

“Trust is the fruit of a relationship in which you know you are loved. Because you do not know that I love you, you cannot trust me.”

Now, while these words were spoken to a fictional character by a fictional character portraying Jesus, I can’t help but smile at how my sweet heavenly Father can even use fiction to make truth even clearer. Beautiful words – well written!

I also mentioned how FEAR & UNBELIEF can be a couple of the factors that keep us from giving God our full measure of trust. Again, Young wrote on this so amazingly well, that I can’t help but share:

Mack: “So why do I have so much fear in my life?”
Jesus: “Because you don’t believe. You don’t know that we love you. The person who lives by their fears will not find freedom in my love. I am not talking about rational rears regarding legitimate dangers, but imagined fears, and especially the projection of those into the future. To the degree that those fears have a place in your life, you neither believe I am good nor know deep in your heart that I love you. You sing about it; you talk about it, but you don’t know it.”

Speaking of The Shack…for those of you that haven’t read it…PLEASE DO!!! I can honestly say that it is one of the best pieces of fiction that I have read in a long time. It remains on the best seller lists, and you can find it pretty much anywhere. If you want to be challenged, be transformed, and be blown away in such a way that you will yearn for more of God, then please…take a trip to…The Shack.