The Mighty One

I'm so glad you are here! I hope during your visit you get a glimpse of God's heart for we become what we are gazing at. I pray that God refreshes you and gives you readiness to persevere in what He has for you today.  My desire is to be a blessing to you in helping you know God more and make Him known so I've made these Resources available to you and have the Missional Living blog tab for practical ideas of how to live on mission right where you are. If you are blogger come link up on Friday's for Brag on God Friday. 

"Dividing the three hundred men into three companies, he placed trumpets and empty jars in the hands of all of them, with torches inside. "Watch me," he told them. "Follow my lead. When I get to the edge of the camp, do exactly as I do. When I and all who are with me blow our trumpets, then from all around the camp blow yours and shout, 'For the LORD and for Gideon.' " Gideon and the hundred men with him reached the edge of the camp at the beginning of the middle watch, just after they had changed the guard. They blew their trumpets and broke the jars that were in their hands. The three companies blew the trumpets and smashed the jars. Grasping the torches in their left hands and holding in their right hands the trumpets they were to blow, they shouted, "A sword for the LORD and for Gideon!" While each man held his position around the camp, all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled. When the three hundred trumpets sounded, the LORD caused the men throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords. The army fled to Beth Shittah toward Zererah as far as the border of Abel Meholah near Tabbath. Israelites from Naphtali, Asher and all Manasseh were called out, and they pursued the Midianites. Gideon sent messengers throughout the hill country of Ephraim, saying, "Come down against the Midianites and seize the waters of the Jordan ahead of them as far as Beth Barah." So all the men of Ephraim were called out and they took the waters of the Jordan as far as Beth Barah. They also captured two of the Midianite leaders, Oreb and Zeeb. They killed Oreb at the rock of Oreb, and Zeeb at the winepress of Zeeb. They pursued the Midianites and brought the heads of Oreb and Zeeb to Gideon, who was by the Jordan." Judges 7:16-25 


Just one story in His-story yet so much of God's character to be seen through it. 

Gideon, fearful, doubtful Gideon who once filled and empowered by the Holy Spirit is now standing up in the face of the 450 times the size of his army saying, "Follow my lead." Wow! God is capable of turning the weakest most fearful and discouraged heart into the bravest and most courageous!

And these clay pots filled with light. What a beautiful picture also seen in the New Testament. We are but clay pots. "For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body." 2 Cor. 4:6-11   Once the pots were broken, the light could be seen. The same with us. When we lay our life down, when we surrender, just as a seed dies, Christ's life can be seen through us. How incredible that our Infinite God is able to reveal Himself through His finite creation.

And can you just imagine, "While each man held his position... all the Midianites ran, crying out as they fled." We don't even have to do anything spectacular, just step out in faith, being available to the Lord and He does what He has planned. These guys are just standing there, holding their position while they watch the 135,000 flip out, then run off screaming. My mouth would definitely be dropped. Guess it just takes the tiniest bit of faith, perhaps like the size of a mustard seed, tiniest of all seeds. It's not the amount of faith, it's just that we put it in the right place. The Lord, not ourselves. Our God is able to do the impossible with the tiniest reliance from us. And I might add that the 300 men's faith didn't make God do this. It just allowed them to see Him do it. (Which stands in opposition to the thought, "if you just had enough faith ________ would have happened.") 

Many other people were "called out" as a result of these guys trusting the Lord. So not only do the more we trust God, the more we trust God. The more we trust God, the more others are moved to trust God. We have a God who created faith to grow, I guess much like a mustard tree.

Which of these truths about God stands out to you today? Why?
Is there one you need to keep thinking about today in relation to your circumstances?

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The Entire Series. 
What Have You Missed?

Chapter One
{Verses 1-3} Know-er 
{Verses 4-7} Reliance 
{Verses 9-11}  Bigger Picture 
{Verses 17-19} Prepare for Battle
{Verses 21-2:6}  No More 

Chapter 2
{Verses 7-11} Revealer 
{Verses 11-12} The Lord's Anger
{Verses 14-15} Love Conquers
{Verses 16-19} The Great Rescue
{Verses 22-3:4} The Big Test      

Chapter 3
{Verses 7-11} Willing & Available 
{Verses 12-14} Facing the Enemy
{Verses 15-30} Freedom 
{Verse 31} Comparison

Chapter 4
{Verses 2-3} Beauty of Bridled Strength  
{Verses 8-13} Tons of Nuggets 
{Verses 17-5:31} Where's the Trust      

Chapter 5
{Verses 2-31} Offering    

Chapter 6
{Verse 2} Running out of Darkness 
{Verses 7-8} God Responds 
{Verses 11-12}Redemptive Eyes  
{Verse 13} Questioning Goodness 
{Verse 14} What Strength?   
{Verses 15-16} Just not enough
{Verse 17} Is it really you? {Verse 18-22} Grace Upon Grace
{Verse 25-31 } Courageous Defender 
{Verse 33-40} Courage Giver 

Chapter 7
{Verse 1-8} Mad-Lib 
{Verse 9-15} Stepping Out

I'm linked up with the beautiful ladies at  A Holy Experience, The Beauty in His Grip, Nebraska Graceful, The Wellspring  

#322 Well, to thank the Lord in everything. I've been pretty discouraged today. So Lord, please show me what about this discouragement is worthy of thanking You. I guess that You don't let us stay discouraged. In the end, You will wipe every tear. Thank you Lord that this is only temporary.
#323 The John 3:16 commercial by focus on the family during the Broncos game
#324 That I'm not pregnant (thought I was for a bit there and that was frightening.)
#325 Eden finally cuddling little stuffed animals and not playing with cars all the time.
#326 School starting and the anticipation mounting.
#327 An amazing group of student leaders this semester
#328 An amazing small group at church who signed up to make the students dinners twice a week this semester.
#329 Samaritan Ministries health insurance type thing. So amazing and such a blessing.
#330 Austin taking the boys on a bike ride and time to blog.