Guess What God Said to Me….Is He Telling You the Same?

Keep doing what I’ve called you to do, and trust me. I heard the words clearly, and I knew of course their source. I used to pray that God would speak to me clearly. Then I realized He always does. It’s merely a matter of whether I’m listening – not to mention making the decision to obey. These words that came to me just moments ago did not surprise me, of course. It’s not as though I haven’t heard them before; I’ve heard them countless times to be truthful. The Lord has a way of reminding me – and reminding me – that my job is to do His will while His job is to do the same. His will. So much for the groan I just uttered as I learned that one of the ministry’s sponsors is dropping her usual donation amount. This comes on the heels of losing a bunch of sponsors this past year, not to mention realizing in the past week that the donations are not keeping up with the budget, causing me to cut back and to watch over every penny. Okay, so that’s not all. My annual income right now is extremely low, and I’ve been holding off on some stuff that needs to be done on my property which is rented by the ministry. Groan, ugh. Reminder? The Lord is my provider. The Lord is the ministry’s provider. Yes, I remind myself. Yes, others remind me. Then the Lord speaks to me, in His usual fashion. Keep doing what I’ve called you to do, and trust me. His usual reminder. My usual response? Ugh. Oh no. But God –

Little did I know when God gave me the name Walk by Faith Ministry years ago just how much I would need to do just that. Walk by faith. Little did I know when I got a new last name that God meant business when He gave me the new name Love. Reminders, reminders. So many reminders. God doesn’t just call us to “walk by faith.” He calls us to “walk in love.” Better yet, He teaches in His Word that faith works how? By love? Faith works by love! Talk about a double whammy. Reminders, reminders. God wants me to continue to do what I’ve been called to do – regardless of the finances. As if that’s not enough, He wants me to TRUST Him. Seriously God, seriously? Yes, seriously. God doesn’t just mean business. He means serious business. Serious FAITH and LOVE business. Go figure. God’s not about to loosen the reigns on me. You better believe it’s an interesting challenge to be called to preach and teach the very lessons I am continuing to learn, not to mention continuing to be tested in. Lessons, lessons. Reminders. So many. Walk by faith. Walk in love. Trust God. And you wonder why I need so many reminders. Carry on. How easy it would be to plunk down on my big (okay, not so big) derriere and refuse to get up. How’s that for walking by faith? How’s that for walking at all? Not.

So as I reach down to scratch paralyzed dog Mr. Simeon’s allergy-itchy face who is doing his best to scratch himself with his big hound paws, I can’t help but confess that God is right on. Of course He is. Now’s not the time to quit. Now’s the time to keep on walking. There is work to be done. There are people who need to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There are people who’ve heard the Gospel that need love and encouragement and teaching of God’s Word. There are others who need to be confronted with His Truth with tough love. There are people suffering, hurting, lost, broken, abandoned, abused, forgotten, bound, dying, bruised, battered, homeless, impoverished, people near, people far, people everywhere that need to know the love of Jesus Christ. There is preaching and teaching to be done, writing and publishing to be done, streets ministry to continue, encouragement and love and God’s Word to be poured out, not to mention 16 mostly special needs & senior rescued dogs in my care that need love, time, attention, food, veterinary care, medications, walks, oh, and yes, the list goes on. So what does God have to say about all of this?

Simple. Clear. Abundantly clear. Keep doing what I’ve called you to do, and trust me. Where oh where will the financial support come from? But shouldn’t – ? Shouldn’t – ? What about – ? No. No. God did not tell me to worry. He told me to trust Him. And to continue. To press forward. To walk forward. To believe, and know, that He will continue to provide. However He chooses. In whatever way He desires. Through whom He desires. Exactly what is needed to continue my passionate pursuit of Him and His will for my life. May His will be done! May His name be glorified!

Therefore, being always of good courage, and knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord— 7for we walk by faith, not by sight— 8we are of good courage, I say, and prefer rather to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. – 2 Cor. 5:6-8 NASB

And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it. – 2 Cor. 1:6 NASB

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love. – Galatians 5:6 NASB

Please visit Walk by Faith Ministry at https://www.walkbyfaithministry.com.