I never pass up a penny I see on the ground.🙌🏻

The story goes that a husband and wife were invited to spend the weekend at the husband's employer's home. The wife was nervous about the weekend. The boss was very wealthy, with a fine home on the waterway, and cars costing more than her house.
The first day and evening went well, and she was delighted to have this rare glimpse into how the very wealthy live. The husband's employer was quite generous as a host, and took them to the finest restaurants. The wife knew she would never have the opportunity to indulge in this kind of extravagance again, so was enjoying herself immensely.
As the three of them were about to enter an exclusive restaurant that evening, the boss was walking slightly ahead of her and her husband. He stopped suddenly, looking down on the pavement for a long, silent moment…
The wife wondered if she was supposed to pass him. There was nothing on the ground except a single darkened penny that someone had dropped, and a few cigarette butts Still silent, the man reached down and picked up the penny.
He held it up and smiled, then put it in his pocket as if he had found a great treasure. How absurd! What need did this man have for a single penny? Why would he even take the time to stop and pick it up?
Throughout dinner, the entire scene nagged at her. Finally, she could stand it no longer. She casually mentioned that her daughter once had a coin collection, and asked if the penny he had found had been of some value.
A smile crept across the man's face as he reached into his pocket for the penny and held it out for her to see. She had seen many pennies before! What was the point of this?
"Look at it." He said. "Read what it says." She read the words " United States of America " "No, not that; read further." "One cent?" "No, keep reading." "In God we Trust?" "Yes!" "And?" "And if I trust in God, the name of God is holy, even on a coin. Whenever I find a coin I see that innoscription. It is written on every single United States coin, but we never seem to notice it! God drops a message right in front of me telling me to trust Him? Who am I to pass it by? When I see a coin, I pray, I stop to see if my trust IS in God at that moment. I pick the coin up as a response to God; that I do trust in Him. For a short time, at least, I cherish it as if it were gold. I think it is God's way of starting a conversation with me. Lucky for me, God is patient and pennies are plentiful!

~Author Unknown

Testimony Tuesday
I have another awe inspiring video for you all. This video reminds me that when some unforeseen event occurs in our lives, we need to remember perhaps God has a greater more important event in all of this where He will be glorified. This is so good!

Me: “Lord, what do You want me to know today?”
God: “Those who look to Me for understanding and call upon Me for wisdom will receive instruction and discernment as needed while I lead them in the way they should go. I will never forget your cries for help and will continue to be with you all along the journey of your lifetime.
“You cannot see what lies ahead, so trust the One Who can. Walk closely with Me, and I will teach you amazing things you would never see or comprehend on your own. I delight in sharing My heart with you.”
Ps. 16:7 (NIV) ~ “I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.”

Happy Monday friends!
Every year around this time I love to share this sweet video. It just makes me smile.
Enjoy!

https://youtu.be/suowe2czxcA?

Testimony Tuesday

Good morning warriors.

I want to share this powerful video testimony. I believe this video was meant for me personally, because I’ve been praying for what “seems like” a “hopeless” situation. Although “seems like” and “hopeless” are strong phrases used here, it’s a calculated phrase the enemy loves to put in our minds, but what I know of God and what I choose to believe of His character and how much He loves me; I know He is still good and He hears my prayers. And that is because I choose to trust Him at His Word. This is how faith stays strong. This is how you defeat the enemy that wants to use phrases like I mentioned above to make us doubt, and derail our trust in the Lord.

So with that, the verse below is what came to my mind right away when I was watching this video.

'Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, '
Ephesians 3:20

I hope you’re are greatly blessed as much as I was by this video.👇

Blessings,
—Paula
@CallToBattle

Thank you @KimFairchild I needed this right now.

This man just exudes the joy of the Lord!

Me: “Lord, what do You want me to know today?”
God: “Blessed are they who hear My Word and obey it. I will walk closely with them, leading and directing them in the way they should go. They will not be shaken when storms come, for I will be their strength and their shelter. They will lean on Me, and I will hold them up. They will never have reason to fear. Fear has lost its power at the cross of Calvary. ‘It is finished.’”
Ps. 91:1 (NIV) ~ “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”

Testimony Tuesday
1 of 3

Dear faithful warriors, today’s testimony is going to be slightly different, because it’s my testimony of what I am going through. I debated whether I should share but I felt like Papa wants me to share some things with you. Things you most likely have already gone through before or are currently in the middle of.

So, by sharing my own vulnerabilities, I draw encouragement, because I know I am not alone in my trials. And when those trials come there is always hope as we draw closer to the One. God wastes nothing. All of our sufferings is for His glory. He builds, He tears down, He refines, He perfects, He heals, and He transforms. All of it filtered through His loving hands.

Some of you already know by now my family is going through a couple of heartbreaking circumstances.

My son Ryan’s beloved wife Jennifer is dying of a rare form of cancer. She is on hospice as of this writing. And is not expected to make it before the New Year.

She remains in the hospital and her kidneys are shutting down. Both my son and I were confident she would begin to improve rapidly once hydrated. But, she is tired and extremely weak, in a lot of pain and is not improving. She is weary of fighting.

There are many people including myself that are praying for a miracle for her. To be honest, it doesn’t look encouraging.

And as if that isn’t enough pain to deal with, I just had my little companion kitty Miss Tina Binx that I’ve known for nine years put to rest just yesterday. The vet came to my home and my daughter and I said goodbye to her as I held her. Yes, she may be just a pet for others, but she was my companion. A gift from God I was assigned to take care of during her illness while suffering with cancer. Both my daughter and I did the ugly cry together, if you know what I mean.

But here is the most incredible part of these two events. God has been present, He is with us—with me, my family, with my son and his family.

Earlier, I started questioning why these things were happening this time of year. The timing of everything couldn’t be more worse I thought.

How does one make it through what is suppose to be a joyful time of year with news like this?

I have not been in the Christmas mood since we heard the news that my daughter in law’s time on earth is short. Sadness has seemed to usurp my joy for the season…so I thought.

My friend Jenn W. had forwarded me a beautiful Christmas song. While listening to the song a thought came to my mind, and I heard the voice of the Papa say “Why not this time of the year?”

Papa, was answering a question I had earlier asked Him—“Why this time of year, Lord?”

And then it hit me. That question I mentioned earlier…”How does one make it through what is suppose to be a joyful time of year with news like this?”

I’ll tell you how…”Because there is always hope even in a season of heartbreak” as the Lord answered my question.

-2
We are reminded of One who is our ONLY hope even during this time of year.

I began to ponder the mystery of the timing of everything happening. Perhaps, some of you have had events in your own lives that the timing couldn’t have been more worse.

So I did a word search on the subject of Hope…though I understand the word hope, but what does it really mean for us that we have a hope in Christ? We don’t trust in hope, we trust in Him because is our hope, our only hope.

Per Webster’s: Hope is to cherish a desire with anticipation: to want something to happen or be true. To desire with expectation of obtainment or fulfillment.

When Christ was born, I can only imagine how those who were anticipating their Messiah to come were anxiously waiting for the fulfillment of the noscripture written hundreds of years ago. They had HOPE!

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6

“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.”
Psalm 62:5 ESV

““And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.”
Psalm 39:7 ESV

“…but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.
Psalm 147:11 ESV

So what did you do? You cry out to Him.
Even David who had enough troubles of his own cried out to the Lord.
David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. He didn’t wait for someone else to strengthen him. He didn’t say, “Well LORD, if You want to strengthen me, that’s fine. I’ll just wait here until You do it.” David knew that the LORD’s strength was there for those who wait upon Him, so he strengthened himself in the LORD his God. God’s strength was there for David all the time, but now he takes it for himself and will strengthen himself in the LORD his God.

“And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.”
1 Samuel 30:6 ESV

Hope in the God who will hear.

“Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
Romans 5:2 ESV

-3
In some strange but familiar way God is using this season to teach me about the hope we have right now. Where would we be without our Savior? I believe we know the answer to that question.

Here are some things Papa is teaching me right now:

Sometimes it isn’t about the answer to our prayers. Yes, we prefer our prayers to be answered according to our own selfish desires (I admit). But, just maybe it is more about what we learn about His will for us while we are waiting for the answers to those prayers.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, an all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:33 ESV

Sometimes He reminds me of how weak I am so that I remember how strong He is.
Allow God to surround you with good people even strangers. They bear the presence of God Himself to comfort, encourage and strengthen you. We draw strength in community.

Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 
For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 
Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 
And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV

God does not eliminate all hardship when we are following Him closely. Pain has helped me grow. Because, when we suffer, our faith in God has a chance to grow.

Like Job, sometimes the Lord takes away to teach us to surrender. I am learning it is okay to lament about the pain you are experiencing, just don’t let it change your mind about trusting in Him. God hasn’t moved. He is the same today, as He was yesterday. We trust him, even though we are given no explanation as to why these things were allowed—we haven’t lost hope.

“Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him. Even so, I will defend my own ways before Him.”
Job 13:15

God doesn’t give us what we can handle; He helps us handle what we are given. He is there with us.

“…My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

Even when you know you are to surrender everything to Him but still have doubts of a favorable outcome, YOU HAVE A HOPE! That cannot be taken away from us. His name is Jesus Christ our redeemer. And that my friends, will never be lost, it will never succumb to a final end. It is everlasting, it is eternal, because Jesus came, and He lived, and He died once for all. He is our ONLY hope!

“For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.”
Job 19:25 ESV


Blessings,

—Paula
@CallToBattle

A friend gave me this candle to display in my window last Christmas. The story behind the Christmas candle in the window goes back to a popular traditional Irish Christmas decoration, harkening back to that ancient Christmas Eve when Mary and Joseph could find no shelter. The symbology of a lighted Christmas candle indicated our homes would be offered as a safe haven for travelers seeking shelter.