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Just Walk In by Natasha Medina

In my personal Bible study the past 5 weeks I’ve been studying the Exodus and journey of the Israelites with Moses toward Canaan. Today was the beginning of week 6 in the study where Moses hands the baton to Joshua as becomes God’s chosen leader of Israel. One of the first contrasts noted is the difference in reaction of the two men when they were called. In Exodus 3 where Moses is called by God Himself Moses seems to almost try and talk God out of choosing him for a leader. He brings us all kinds of “if” situations and excuses why he shouldn’t be the man. In Exodus 17:10 where we first meet Joshua we see none of this excuse giving; instead we see obedience and a “just do it” kind of attitude. Thirty-eight years later we see Joshua take on the responsibility of leading the Israelites into the Promised Land with that same courageous spirit and attitude that he had when taking up the fight against the Amalekites. In today’s study I noticed a common theme of belief and courage. Believin...

Father's Day 2011

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My dad is a very interesting individual. I’ve always said and believe that the two coolest people in the world are my dad and Johnny Depp. Even his name is strange. Roy Rogers Humphrey. Yep, Rogers with an “s”. He was named after the actor. Even stranger is the fact that he grew up to be a horse trainer. You can’t make up this stuff. Roy Rogers has all sorts of great characteristics about him. He is an amazing bass player, unexplainable horse whisperer, and a great dad. He seemed to be a great husband as well. As a small child we went to church together, ate every meal together, and rode our horses together (didn’t your family do that?). My dad would come home from travelling and bring in a doll he’d seen in a store for me or something nice for my mom. He’s a very thoughtful man. Of course, he’s a cowboy so he’s also pretty tough. The things I remember most about my dad are those things that let me know just how unique and special we are as a pair. For instance, every year on the ni...

Learning from Failure; Moving Toward Success by Natasha Medina

I’m not an expert on a lot of things but I am an expert in the abstract skill of “bounce back ability.” Without this skill you will never move on from the failures of your life and move toward success. The catch is: in order to “bounce back” you must first have a failure. Failures are just a part of life. To be honest I see no such thing as failure in life unless of course a person never tries anything. That is the only true failed, wasted life. God has put us here for so much more! Mary Kay Ash always said that she’d “failed forward to success” and failed forward she did. Starting already retired and with only $5,000 and 9 girls (a week after her husband passed away) amidst a sea of negative influences telling her she’d be broke within her first year, she began a small cosmetic company that has become in less than 50 years a debt-free billion dollar per year corporation with over a quarter of a million consultants operating in 35 different countries. Not too shabby for a lady who al...

God Has Plans for You by Natasha Medina

Jeremiah 29:11 reads “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” (NIV) God knows the plans. The New King James Version puts it this way, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” God has thoughts concerning you. As if those 2 statements (God knows the plans. God has thoughts concerning you.) weren’t enough His thoughts and His plans for your peace and hope!! Think about your life. What is your outlook? Is it hopeful and positive or do you have a negative outlook and down thoughts about it? The latter is not what God intends for you. You are significant. You matter. I love what Rick Warren says in his book The Purpose Driven Life. “Bringing enjoyment to God, living for His pleasure, is the first purpose of your life…[This] proves your worth. If you are that important to God, and He considers you valu...

God of Excellence by Natasha Medina

I don’t serve a mediocre God therefore I am not a mediocre child. The Bibles says in II Timothy 1:7 “For God has not give us the spirit of fear; but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” Think about for such a second. Meditate on it. Meditation is simply focused thinking. Focus your thinking on each of those words and what they mean. Fear. Power. Love. A Sound Mind. The Message paraphrase puts it this way “God doesn’t want us to be shy with His gifts, but bold, and loving, and sensible.” The English Standard version uses the word “self-control” instead of a “sound mind.” The New International version uses “self-discipline” in its stead. God has given us these gifts. What God has NOT given us is fear. It’s been said that 90% of what we fear in life (maybe higher) never actually happen. We fear invisible things, made up things, imaginary things, things of the past. There are all kinds of fears. We have not been given this fear and God does not intend for you to live in it. I John ...

For His Glory...by Natasha Medina

See the Blog Below the Song... This Is the Stuff Performed by Francesca Bastistelli I lost my keys in the great unknown And call me please 'Cuz I can't find my phone This is the stuff that drives me crazy This is the stuff that's getting to me lately In the middle of my little mess I forget how big I'm blessed This is the stuff that gets under my skin But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing It might not be what I would choose But this is the stuff You use 45 in a 35 Sirens and fines while I'm running behind This is the stuff that drives me crazy This is the stuff that's getting to me lately In the middle of my little mess I forget how big I'm blessed This is the stuff that gets under my skin But I gotta trust You know exactly what You're doing It might not be what I would choose But this is the stuff You use So break me of impatience Conquer my frustrations I've got a new appreciation It's not the end ...

East to West

I wrote this years ago in an airplane on my way to Las Vegas for (of all things) a wedding. East to West by Natasha Ann Medina I feel so high as I look down at clouds Almost in an instant miles away from where I began From roaring ocean waves and sandy beaches To rock mountains and dusty trails Yet in the great scheme of it all In the narrowness of my mind creeps the thought You made those crashing waves, dusty roads, and Clouds over which I am soaring You made east and west, the ocean which Contains them-You made them all I never feel small except in the times of thinking When I realize I marvel at the things You’ve made Then I am mindful of how You Made me in Your own image Then I begin to feel very small For the Creator God who spoke all Creation into existence, The sun, the stars, each canyon low, each mountain high, Calls me daughter, sees me as friend Then I begin to feel high again For I am fearfully and wonderfully made In Your Own image You loved enou...

Faithful One

by Natasha Ann Medina You hold on so tight You would never let go if You could Though I fight and bite Your hands Then lick the sores You love me just the same Do I make you cry? I must so often break Your heart What's so special about me But You living in me? Undeserving of Your love You are the Faithful One. Faithful to me Unchanging Always the same You love me Never any less Impossible to love more Undeservingly so You are faithful to me I praise You I thank You So worthy of all praise When I fall You still hold me Your hands are upon all my days Your blessings Without measure Shower my life, my love, my ways With just a whisper You will deliver Faithful to me throughout all my days

Blessed

Blessed by Natasha Medina I cannot be cursed For before me sounds The Shout of the King Hell’s weapons Cannot prosper against me For surrounded am I By the fiery, protective swords of angels. On each side, Before and behind, I’m shielded by angels’ wings. No dark force or evil way Can penetrate such a hiding place. The Shadow of the Almighty Is stronger than any iron wall. My God is my Fortress, Mighty, Strong, and Faithful. No foe dare turn his face this way. What shall I fear? Fear itself. For only the fear made from my head As it lies can toy with my peace. For every foe, every weapon, every enemy My Savior, for me, has shown defeat. I CANNOT be cursed. I am blessed. Hear the Almighty’s Shout, “She is Mine! Beware!”