Karen

Friday

Karen Friday’s passion in moving an audience to laughter, tears, surprise and deep reflection started in elementary school with oratorical contests. She not only possesses an affection for words (just ask her family), but she also cherishes God’s Word. Knowing Jesus more and making Him known is a mission she carries out through speaking, mentoring, writing and blogging. In the blogging world, Karen is referred to as Girl Friday where she shares a central message: You are never far from hope. Her heartbeat is helping followers of Christ live with authentic hope and faith in real life. Karen has published both devotionals and articles and is currently working on her first non-fiction book. She considers her life as a pastor’s wife and women’s ministry leader a sacred calling. Karen and her husband Mike reside in East Tennessee and have two grown children and two grandchildren. The entire family is fond of the expression, “TGIF: Thank God it’s Friday.” They owe Monday an apology.

More from Karen Friday

Abiding Under God's Wings

She flew away when I opened our front door. Inside the edge of my wreath, I found the beginnings of her nest.

I realized our constant door activity was a risk to any eggs she’d lay.

So I acted quickly in taking my wreath down to force this mama bird to build her home elsewhere.

A few days later, high on the River Birch branch inside our courtyard, I spotted a newly built nest. I imagined her caring for her babies by protecting them from storms and predators under her wings.

As God’s children, we need a safe shelter. Because life’s storms and a predator (Satan) often put us in danger. Or maybe we wonder how to rest in the Lord and the best time to take flight and soar.

Look at Jesus’s words,

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”Matthew 23:37 And now, look, your house is abandoned and desolate.* OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) (ESV)

Our redeemer wants to gather us under His wings—if we are willing. Then these benefits follow.

Refuge under His wings. The Lord’s wings provide protection and security during stormy seasons and the enemy’s harmful intent.

Psalm 91 describes our refuge:

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.’” (Verses 1-2, ESV)

“He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.” (Verse 4, ESV)

My research uncovered an astounding discovery. Pinions make up the outer part of a bird’s wing, including the flight feathers. Birds are unable to take flight while covering their babies. It simply is impossible.

The Lord never leaves us, never flies off during threatening times. And He never forsakes us. We remain secure under His wings.

David knew this security,

“Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.”Psalms 57:1 Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy! I look to you for protection.I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings until the danger passes by. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) (ESV)

David prayed as he hid in a cave, fleeing from Saul who wanted to kill him. The cave wasn’t his refuge, but the shadow of the Almighty’s wings.

Rest in His care. We often fail to break from the busyness that leads to burnout, which depletes our soul of joy. Our weary bodies and hearts, our what-if’s and our anxious thoughts all contribute to this breaking point.

“For you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.”Psalms 63:7 Because you are my helper, I sing for joy in the shadow of your wings. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) (ESV)

To rest is an intentional position of the heart. Just like the sound of morning birds chirping in the morning sun, our joy is found in the Son.

The end result of resting under His wings? Joy!

Renewal from His shelter. Merriam-Webster defines renew as, “to make (something) new, fresh, or strong again.”

The heavenly Father restores us and makes us strong. And after each renewing under His wings, we really are ready to take flight and soar—until the next renewing season.

“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles.”Isaiah 40:31 But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles.They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) a (ESV)

Let’s resolve to remain under His wings for refuge, rest and renewal.

I’m nestled there now. Are you?

All Shook Up

As we pulled into the parking lot, all 17 pounds of her started shaking.

Our dachshund, Sadie, required shots and an annual exam at our local vet. She recognized the building and tried to make a beeline for the exit during the visit, then stayed all shook up until we arrived home.

Decades ago, a song by Elvis conveyed a time he was all shook up. Why? A closer look at the lyrics and we solve the mystery. Falling in love shook up Elvis Presley. Needless to say, his famous words relayed a kind of shook up we view in a positive light.

On the downside, life gives us plenty of not-so-good reasons for an all-shook-up experience. We lose a job. Our dear loved one passes away. Our child turns wayward. We receive a troubling medical diagnosis. Broken relationships or a hurting marriage rob our joy. An injury inflicted upon our soul seems to never go away.

Each of these and other factors leave us shaking in our boots or whatever our choice of footwear.

Yet, in 20 short words, God’s Word shows us how to overcome in the shaken-up department. It’s not by combing through lyrics to a love song. But this Scripture offers a two-fold plan to keep us stable and grounded.

“I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” Psalms 16:8 I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) (ESV)

With a closer look at the words of David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, we solve the mystery. Here’s how to transform from our all-shook-up mentality to God’s I-will-not-be-shaken mindset.

I set the Lord always before me.

Not just sometimes or when I feel like it. And not if I have time — always.

The book of Hebrews assures we have received ...

“a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe.” Hebrews 12:28 Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) (ESV)

This is how we set the Lord before us. We come into His presence daily and often to offer acceptable worship.

God is set before us and not the world. Our focus is on Him.

You see, the choice is ours whether He is before us or on the sidelines of our life. Or, if we are all shook up.

I keep the Lord at my right hand.

The adage, He was my right-hand man, means someone who helps and supports us the most. (dictionary.cambridge.org)

David makes it clear. God is his right-hand God. And He’s our right-hand God.

The Lord gives us the most help. If we seek the Lord and keep Him near, we discover He’s our best support system. And it’s the because-factor in Psalms 16:8 I know the LORD is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) . Because the Lord is at our right hand, we will not be shaken.

For present and future times when life threatens to shake you up, remember the two steps.

Set the Lord always before me. Keep the Lord at my right hand.

Supernatural Power

I’m praying for you to have peace which surpasses all understanding.

My heart meant well. I’d talked and prayed about this kind of peace mentioned in Scripture umpteen times for friends and loved ones. It became my go-to thing to say. What a good pastor’s wife should say. For me, it turned trite. But I soon discovered it goes much deeper and is more substantial than ever imagined.

A friend, Cory, faced surgery. Sending her a phone text, I asked how she was doing and expressed how I was praying for her to have peace. Cory admitted to being afraid, her mind thinking of all the what-if scenarios.

So I called to pray with her, quoting Scriptures about peace. She needed comforting peace and words to hang on to with all her might. We talked and prayed to a God who hears and cares about us.

I knew Philippians 4:7 Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) by memory. Still, I never totally got it. I just knew if it surpasses all understanding, it must be good. The best peace available.

As soon as the call ended, I picked up my Bible to read the passage. My mind thinking, there’s something to this. I first read the verse before it:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) (ESV)

There in black and white on the pages of God’s Word, we find the preliminary cause for unrest. “Do not be anxious.” Then we come to the word “but.” Instead of being anxious, we pray, adding thanksgiving to our requests. We replace our anxiety with a thankful heart.

The desired outcome?

“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) (ESV)

Here’s the wow factor. Feast your eyes on these synonyms of surpass by Google: “excel, exceed, transcend; outdo, outshine, outstrip, outclass, overshadow, eclipse; improve on, top, trump, cap, beat, better, outperform.”

Folks, there you have it. God’s peace is better and beats anything I muster up in my own power. It trumps anything the world offers us. God’s peace outshines it all.

God’s supernatural and so is His peace. It transcends all natural forms. It outdoes. It overshadows. It outperforms every single time.

And when you thought it couldn’t possibly get any better, it does.

“For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed. But my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10 For the mountains may move and the hills disappear,but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken," says the LORD, who has mercy on you. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) (ESV)

What a promise! A guaranteed pledge God’s peace is never eliminated from our lives. It exceeds everything else out there. God never breaks promises. He’s the true promise keeper.

God forms a peace covenant with us. It’s at our disposal every time we take anxious thoughts to Him. When we make our requests known to Him. By praying with thanksgiving to Him. Expecting peace from Him. And knowing the best peace comes from Him.

Philippians reminds us our peace lies in Christ Jesus. Christ made peace between us and God on the cross and He’s still in the peacemaking business.

Cory’s surgery and her road to recovery went well. I continue to pray for my loved ones and myself to find the road to peace when we have troubled hearts.

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.” John 14:27 "I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don't be troubled or afraid. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt) (ESV)

It’s supernatural peace. Peace with superpowers.