#Sunday | Time With God Video Episode 46: Learn to Trust God Like Joseph in the Bible #JesusCalling #BibleStudy

Happy Sunday! It's time for Story Time Sunday, Time With God, Episode 46. Today we will be learning how to trust God even when the odds are against us and we are only given tidbits of information from God. We will learn that even in the bad times, God wants us to trust His plan for our lives and keep ourselves in His Presence while on life's journey.

If you have your Jesus Calling daily devotional by Sarah Young, turn to May 7, 2017 and follow along with me in the video below as we go deeper into this message for us today.

These are the Bible scriptures that help us even more to understand this message:

♥ Genesis 50:20
♥ Psalm 23:4

YouVersion Bible App mentioned in the video can be downloaded FREE to your phone, computer, etc. Get more information here: https://www.youversion.com/apps

Day 7: Dreamsicle - Thawing Out Your Frozen Dreams

Life Lesson (from journal): "God has put us here for a reason and planted dreams within us so we can do our part in seeing them realized."

Chris Shook begins today's lesson by talking about her love for Dreamsicles. She talks about chasing down the ice cream truck as a little girl, just to enjoy that orange sherbet surrounding vanilla ice cream. She relates this experience to our frozen dreams. How some of us have put our dreams on ice and pushed them far back into the freezer and left them to accumulate freezer burn. We have lost our childhood dreams and feel as if our Dreamsicle has melted too soon. We have become vulnerable to doubt and reason.

(From journal): "What does God want you to do about dreams from Him that you once pursued, but have abandoned?" (See Revelation 2:4-5)

My Answer: He wants me to go back to my first loves. Some of my first loves were going to museums to see art, to draw animated characters again like I did as a kid, put puzzles together which challenged my mind, to continue learning how to become an entrepreneur in my own right and ultimately to keep on the course towards a full-time career in the arts.

(From journal): "Some people's "doubt" is a smoke screen for resistance to God. But what is God's attitude toward a genuine doubter?" (Jude 1:22)

My Answer: God says to be merciful to them (the doubter).

(From journal): "When you doubt your ability to fulfill a God-given dream--to achieve something He wants for you--what does God say about His willingness and ability to fulfill that dream? (1 John 5:14-15; Jeremiah 32:17)

My Answer: Fulfilling that dream--God hears us if we ask him according to his will. God has made the Heavens and the Earth, there is nothing too hard for God.


Kerry Shook then came on the audio, or if you are following in the book to talk about how impatience really hinders us with pursuing our dreams. I can definitely relate to this about patience. I want things to happen now and sometimes I forget that time is needed sometimes to prune a situation or make it better for me. I found these examples, Kerry Shook gave from the Bible to be awesome for explaining how even the great men of God in the Bible had to practice patience. Here they are to share with you:

• Abraham - was told that he would be a father of a great nation. He was 99 years old before he had a child!
• Moses - became a leader to guide the Jewish people out of slavery in Egypt. They plight for over 400 years, but first he sent him to the desert to tend sheep for 40 years.
• Jesus Christ - had to wait 30 years before he was able to begin his ministry on Earth.

I mean, now that puts it in major perspective for me because I really do sometimes wonder when are my dreams going to kick start and I guess I know the answer to that now. Even the great men of God had to practice patience and wait for their divinely assigned time to move.

(From the journal): "Satan's doubt-inspiring voice can sound very much like the voice of reason, even the voice of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:13-15). What will you do to obey God's command and claim His promise in (1 Peter 5:8-11)?" Leave your comment on this journal question if you would like.

(From the journal): "When Satan whispers, "You're not up to it," why is this message so convincing? Why is it dangerous?"

My Answer:  Well, this message is so convincing b/c I'm already thinking way outside the box, and you hear so many people saying that acting is competitive and it's really about who you know, so you wonder and then start second-guessing yourself. It's dangerous b/c you've wasted a day, a week, month, or year on the dream or assignments you know you are to continue to work on. You miss opportunities to grow in your dream, experience the beginnings, meet the right people, educate yourself, or prepare for God's many assignments that will advance the dream. This is huge because it happens everyday and even in my own life, I reset my mind to fight against these wavering thoughts b/c this is a real challenge of will and determination. "How bad do I want it attacks!"

(From the journal): "Do you need God's healing? What will you do to claim His promises right now? (See Psalm 147:3) and Isaiah 61:1-3), a promise of the Messiah's ministry to us.)" Leave your comments or feedback if you would like.

Today's Challenge
     Choose a frozen dream that you think God wants you to pursue. If your faith is still weak and your wounds are still deep, He understands if you start with something small.
     Live in dreamland for at least a few minutes. Imagine the end picture if this dream is fulfilled. Describe the steps it would take to fulfill this dream.
     Now pray and ask God to fill you with enthusiastic confidence in Him and His dream for you.
     Write a tentative date for your first step and share it with someone.

Leave your feedback!

Face Time
      My frozen dream is in Your hands, Lord. Help me to trust You to let it thaw out. I choose to believe that, if it's Your dream for me, You'll give me hope, passion, and power to fulfill it. And if it's not, please give me new direction. 
      Please heal me of [describe your disappointment wounds] ____________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________.
      And give me strength to resist Satan's lies. In particular, I'm wrestling with [share your doubts
_______________________________________________________________________________.
      Thank You for Your promises to me. Help me to trust You more.


That's all for today folks! Keep dreaming and leave your feedback or comments!

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Day 6: Monkey Bars - Risking Greatness

One Month To Live Transformational Journey

Life Lesson (from journal):"The only way to risk greatness is to trust God with all areas of your life...He wants us to trust Him to accomplish incredible things we could never achieve on our own."

Kerry Shook begins by talking about his son and his experience, hanging from the Monkey Bars. So he lifted his son onto the Monkey Bars to hang and he was so happy. He dangled there and eventually he started to become tired and wanted his father, Kerry Shook, to bring him down. Kerry Shook told his son to "let go and he would catch him", but his son became nervous and scared and didn't want to let go. Eventually he became so tired that he had to let go and his father, Kerry Shook, was there to catch him as he said he would. The boy became happy again and ran off to the swings.

My Answer: This day truly speaks to me because I still have a hard time letting go and letting God take care of things. I think sometimes thats because I have the strength, so I should do something to resolve a situation or circumstance, but that couldn't be further from the truth. I know that God gives me strength, commonsense, and the will, but I must understand that to trust Him means letting him go before me to prepare my next steps.

Something to ponder from journal: Imagine you were guaranteed pain-free success. Describe five great accomplishments you would love to pursue for God.

My Answer: One of mine was, doing missionary work in a needy country. There is so much violence going on in other countries and even close to our own borders, but I have always wanted to help others in third world countries. I could teach English or be a caregiver.

Leave yours in the comments section of this post. 

I thought these scriptures were great from the journal on understanding God's promises for success and protection over our lives. (John 10:27-30; Romans 8:31-39; 2Timothy 4:16-18)

My Summary of the scriptures:God wants to see me successful, but wants me to learn to lean on Him for that success. He wants me to trust that He is God and that He knows my goings and comings. He knows what is right for me and how I should reach the successes in my life. He will also protect me from the things seen and unseen. He is my shield.

Frankly speaking, I know this may sound a little too religious for some, but I can say personally that this is real. Over the past few days since really making myself vulnerable to this information of a "One Month To Live" mentality, I have saw how the little things I've done on one day, set me up for what I had to do the next day. My concept of "everything happens for a reason" is becoming more about my steps into the right direction toward multiple-purposed life. My desires to act, to live peacefully, to enjoy people and their talents, to share in happy times with my family, to provide to those in need, to trust God when I feel that He is the only one to trust. I have come to realize how my spiritual perspective on life is so important to my physical presence in this life. My connection to nature and other people who share my similar walk, are so important to my advancement. Being able to naturally connect with those similar spirits within other people in this life, leads me ultimately to the purpose God has for me. So, yes, this may appear too religious or outside of the box, but until we tap into our spiritual center of why we are here, we will continue to be lost to life and the trust we have in our God will be null and void.

Who can you trust? I've heard this before by some who have put their trust in girlfriends, boyfriends, husbands, wives, teachers, preachers, and even pets. However, when that trust was broken due to the imperfections of the flesh, they feel violated. The journal says, "Consider the statement, "To know God is to trust Him." Do you agree? Why or Why not? (See 2 Timothy 1:12, Ephesians 3:16-21.) 

My Answer: I agree, because if I really know God, I know that he really has my back and wants the best for me. He will not try to back-stab me or set me up for failure. He knows me better than anyone. Constant connection with Jesus is worth the faith-filled risks because first of all, what do I have to lose if he knows me better than anyone. He will not judge, but lead me to a better solution. So, I believe that is why I don't get too bothered by people who just don't get me, because I don't really expect them to. I am a unique being with a lot of complex levels and it would be crazy for someone to try when they have their own life to tend to. I know that God knows what he's working with because he molded me and that's why I can just live in this life and accept people for who they are and just keep on trekking until it's time to leave this life.

Today's Challenge
What's one risk you want to take for God? Write a list of pros and cons. What are the worst and best possible end scenarios?___________________________________________________.

Face Time
Okay, God, we both know what I've been putting off. And we both know why. I'm putting this situation in Your hands:_______________________________________________________.

That's all for today! Leave your feedback or comments.

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Day 4: Power Surge - Connecting With The Ultimate Source

One Month To Live Transformational Journey

Life Lesson (from journal): "We have to be connected to a power source beyond ourselves--a power source that never wavers, flickers, or leaves us in the dark. We have to move from willpower to the real power that comes from a connection to our Creator."

Chris Shook opens today's lesson talking about how dependent we are on power. If there is ever a flicker of light we are looking frantically for flashlights, candles or anything to give us a source of light. She also speaks about how important it is for us to have "Power" literally to do what we do each day, especially when it comes to making changes in our lives. However, we often try to make the changes with our own willpower and not with a dependence on God's power.

My Answer: I could really relate to this on Day 4, because I am a very independent person who will work hard as nails for what I want and hope for. I sometimes lose focus on the spiritual aspect that consumes me and that's when things seems to push me back to get into a perspective of how I reached a certain point in the first place. From the journal and the scripture they recommend, I understand how important it is to trust in God for guidance and also when I am just not 100%. Sometimes I get confused, frightened, exhausted, and even frustrated, but those are the times when I need to really consult God and get his perspective.

In the journal, they give two ways one can really stay connected to God everyday. To my surprise, it really isn't overly religious or anything, but really taking the time to have constant communication and constant confession. In the journal, it instructs that this can happen anywhere at anytime to yourself, or while you're driving, or you can relate this to how often you speak to your best friend or husband, children. You care for them so you're always talking to them about what's going on with you and that's what they are referring to.

I do tend to use constant communication when I'm on my way to an audition because I really need to get myself centered and ready. I know that when I do get an audition that it is totally meant to be and I need to capitalize on these opportunities that God gives me so I prepare myself. I really feel, especially, how important it is to seek God in constant communication because some days can really be a roller coaster or battlefield. Through prayer it gives me hope that He is with me in whatever decisions I have to make today and in the days to come. Some days all I can really do is send my questions to Him for a better understanding.

With constant confession, Chris Shook says that you don't have to go to your preacher, priest, or church to confess to God. He knows our thoughts and welcomes us to open our hearts to him. I can definitely believe this one because some days, I can be a firecracker like anyone else and leaning on God is the only way for me to refocus and get back on track. When you can't tell anyone else, even your best of the best, about your issues, then He is the one to go to because he won't judge, but will listen and bring a solution to the issue. That's why I always say that everything happens for a reason because I see how things just "magically" turns around for me and gives me new insight and light on things that may have me unsettled.

Face Time
Instead of posting Today's Challenge, I thought that the Face Time exercise in the journal would be great for you on today. Complete these phrases with your own personal need or want, etc.

1. God, I need Your help to stop relying on my own power instead of Yours. Especially when it comes to_________________________________________________________________________.

2. But Your wisdom is endless. Your abilities are boundless. And You care more about me than I can ever know. So I want to live in Your power today. You know what's on my heart right now, so I'm asking for Your help with________________________________________________________________.


If you want to leave feedback or a comment, I would love to hear what you come up with.