Through the years of studying the bible I’ve owned several different versions. There was a stretch of time where I just used one bible/one version. The NIV. It made it so easy for me to understand scripture. During that time I wrote side notes, underlined, drew stars as needed, etc. Heck i was bible journaling before my time. hahaha Then as time went on I bought up a couple of other bibles, was given a couple as gifts, and now days I use several of them to go back and forth and read scriptures from various versions for a certain purpose.
Today I want to share a scripture with you as a comparison between the NASB and The Message.

When you pass through the waters I will be with you;
And through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned;
The flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the lord your God
Isaiah 43:2-3 NASB version
NOW…..
When you’re in over your head, I’ll be there with you;
When you’re in rough waters, you will not go down.
When you’re between a rock and a hard place,
It won’t be a dead end because
I am God, your personal God.
Isaiah 43:2-3 The Message Version
I have clung to these verses over the last 13 months. Started out hanging by a thread….. I kept telling myself that I wasn’t going down, I wasn’t drowning, I wasn’t being consumed with the fire of grief… I just kept telling myself GOD was ABLE…….
These particular verses from The Message are screaming my name. The very first sentence… “when you’re in over your head. I”ll be there with you”… really GOD? “Do you know how over my head I am?” “YES really” , he has been saying. Truth is He’s been saying that throughout my life.
I would be lying if I didn’t tell you that I still sit and cry some days, i’d be lying if I didn’t tell you that my heart is still breaking over losing Dennis, I’d be lying if i said there weren’t still days that I just want to give up BUT….. then I read these verses again and I am reminded that there is NOTHING that I could ever encounter that GOD can’t handle and walk me through. I read them quiet often.
***********I want to challenge you to do something.*************
I want you to write down The Message version on a piece of paper and tape it to your refrigerator. ( I know you will see it there cause you got to eat) and I want you to leave it there for a week.
BUT that’s not all….. I want you to read it out loud every time you go to the refrigerator for the entire week. ( if your willing to accept this assignment please respond with a K) Let’s get the word stirred up this week.
See how God can get in that. See how much HE can lift your spirits with that. JUST SEE…….
‪#‎Betheversion‬ ‪#‎lifechanges‬, ‪#‎wordsofencouragement‬,‪#‎IAMGOD‬

Do you remember at about the age of 17 you were forced to decide what college, how far from home, and what kind of degree you were going to get?? It was that turning point from “my parents are so dumb to well, Maybe my parents aren’t so dumb” you remember thinking , “if i could only get out of the house… Things are gonna change. I”m gonna be in control of my OWN LIFE. Then the rent came due, refrigerator was empty, you realized the clothes didn’t wash themselves and no one was there to wake you up every morning. SHOCKER…..
I know in my own life I’ve had many JOBS…… lets see i’ve done everything from working on Capital Hill to owning a state approved Day Care and there is a lot of ground in-between. Taught school, owned a nail salon, built spec homes, wedding photography, chamber director and much more. GOSH reckon what i’m gonna be when I grow up. My biggest dream was to be a Radio City Rockette Truth is I wasn’t tall enough nor skinny enough, but I could KICK. ha ha We flew to Houston one year to see them perform LIVE. Best Birthday present ever.
Dennis was so different from me. He had the same job for 30 years, didn’t like change, but always encouraged me in all my endeavors. When ever I wanted to change something around this house I knew to do it while he was gone cause he would have to think about it for six months. ha ha Thank goodness there was never anything that I changed out or did that HE didn’t like. WELL if he didn’t He never told me. haha
One thing i’ve realized through all these jobs is that money will NOT make you happy. I’ve had it and i’ve been without it. Climbing the ladder of success is sure to damage you if your focus is nothing more than climbing the ladder. Good works are honored. Each of the jobs i’ve had has molded me in some way. I’ve always said that I know a lot about several things but i’m not a master of any. I still stand by that. No expert am I.
Many have ask me “so what do you do these days.” My answer is always the same, “what ever God says do”. I love having the availability to just talk to folks, love on folks, comfort folks and when God leads, pray with folks. I use to be in a hurry all the time but GOD has been using this Healing season to slow me down. I am on a JOURNEY with God , one that has been amazing. One that has hurt, has been tiring and one that has made me question so much about myself. I am going to take some time off from social media, get togethers, added chores as I get closer to HIM. See what HE desires for the rest of my life. I’ve always been one to want to know the beginning, the middle and the end and that will wear you out.
If God is calling you to higher ground, go there, Even if you don’t know what that is yet. Like Abraham, just go, be willing, obey. If God has taken something away from you don’t allow it to crush you, ( i mean crush you to the point that you can’t function ) I’ll be willing to bet HE has something better for you. If you look at JOB in the bible it will show you a glimpse of that. He lost it all but what did GOD do? Returned favor and blessings to him. IF God has said to STAND then what are you waiting on. The people who were really blessed by JESUS in his day where the ones who SOUGHT AFTER HIM.
I think a lot about the woman with the issue of blood. She was so desperate that she just fell into the crowd to touch the hem of his garment. Would we have done that or would we be too proud to seek HIM like that. Her spirit and expectation made Jesus turn around and say, “somebody touched me, for I perceived power going out of me.” WOW… Do we cause Jesus to turn around, to take notice with our desire of HIM.
I’ve ask myself many times over the last 13 months, “are you ready to go where He is wanting to take you?” I don’t mean to some HIGHER PLACE as in better than you. I just mean to something NEW, to a closer relationship with HIM, a challenge that i’ve never encountered. GOD is always wanting to take us to higher ground. He isn’t finished with us until HE calls us home. That’s good news. What about you, are you earnestly looking for new opportunities with GOD? Are you seeking HIM like never before OR do you already know what you want to be when you grow up???
Grow me up Lord in a way that my life can be used by YOU. Grow me up Lord in a way that my words always glorify you. Grow me up Lord in ways that I can’t even fathom … Grow me up in YOU….