Read Chapter 1 A Woman’s Heart That Dances

Here’s a chance for you to read Chapter 1 in A Woman’s Heart That Dances. The cover art is by my friend, Kathleen Rousar and you can see more of her art at Kathleen’s website. Then, you can order A Woman’s Heart That Dances on Amazon or at the Quiet Time Ministries Online Bookstore. There is also a companion Study Guide & Journal for both individual use and small groups. I think you will have fun reading this first chapter online - you can even enable the full screen option. I found this great way to put together chapters digitally for you to read - advance each page with the arrows - very cool - enjoy! I’ll post the first chapter of A Woman’s Walk In Grace in the next few days.

Day 51: Jesus, I Live In Your Shadow

Have you learned to live in the shadow of your Lord? Life in His shadow is amazing and wondrous. The psalmist said in Psalm 91:1 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.” That name of God – Almighty – is El Shaddai, the One who is enough for you, no matter what you may face today. He is all-sufficient and can meet your deepest needs, no matter what they may be. So what does it mean to live in the shadow of El Shaddai? Living in His shadow means we have made our home in the Lord, we live near Him, and we commune with Him. We are like the psalmist who said, “For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the LORD God is a sun and a shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.” (Psalm 84:10-11) You can say along with Asaph, “But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the LORD God my refuge, that I may tell of all your works” (Psalm 73:28). Life “in the shadow” is the humble place where Christ is exalted and glorified and we are in the background. He is front and center (see Isaiah 25:4, 32:2). When we are “in His shadow”, it is as though we are in the shade of “a great rock in a weary land” (Isaiah 32:2). I learned the following about the place of His shadow:

He hides me there (Psalm 17:8)
He keeps me as the apple of His eye (Psalm 17:8)
He gives me refuge (Psalm 36:7)
He gives me drink from the river of His delights (Psalm 36:7)
He gives me mercy (Psalm 57:1)
He helps me there in His shadow (Psalm 63:7)
And He causes me to sing for joy (Psalm 63:7).

The best place we can ever be is “in the shadow” of El Shaddai. And to stay in His shadow, we must stay close to Him. So my dear friend, may you experience the rich blessing and comfort of El Shaddai today.

My Response: Lord Jesus, thank You that Your presence is so great, You cast a protective shade over me – You are a rock for me in a weary land – a great refuge and comfort in times of trouble. I choose to live in Your shadow today. May others see Your grace and glory, and Your majesty and magnificence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 50: Jesus, You Make Me Sing In The Storm

Are you in a storm right now in your life? Be encouraged - you can sing even in the storm. Jesus gives you joy and peace not “because of” the circumstances, but “in spite of” the circumstances. David knew the dark storms of life, as is evidenced in Psalm 13. But at the end of the psalm, he was able to say “”I will sing to the LORD, because He has dealt bountifully with me” (Psalm 13:6). Here is a quote from my book Pilgrimage Of The Heart:

“The winds can rage, the sky can be dark, and yet a bird can sit in the hollow of a tree and sing the most beautiful song. The bird is created to sing and God has given it the song. The bird does not sing because of the storm but in spite of the storm. In the same way, there is a point in the trial where finally you are able to turn from despair to trust in the love of God. At long last, you see truths that stand firm, no matter the darkness. Those truths give you a reason to rejoice. They become the words of the song that God gives you in the dark night of the soul. And then, you can finally sing.”

God bless you, dear friend, and whatever is going on, lean in to the embrace of Jesus, and sing.

My Response: Lord Jesus, thank You for being the reason I sing today. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 48: Jesus, You Desire My Devotion

Are you a Martha or a Mary in your devotion to the Lord? Martha was distracted and Mary was devoted. Martha was worried and bothered about many things. Mary was sitting at the Lord’s feet, listening to His Word (Luke 10:38-42). Growing in my devotion as a “Mary”, sitting at the Lord’s feet, hearing Him speak in His Word, is absolutely vital especially when I am faced with pressing difficulties. Today I read in Streams In The Desert: “Often God seems to place His children in positions of profound difficulty, leading them into a wedge from which there is no escape…It is a platform for the display of His almighty grace and power. He will not only deliver you; but in doing so, He will give you a lesson that you will never forget.” When I am a “Mary”, then I can hear the Lord’s encouragement and find strength to face every new day. I can find promises in His Word that tether my soul to Him so I walk with hope and joy. David, the man after God’s own heart, knew this secret. He had developed the habit of pouring out his soul to the Lord and inquiring of God when faced with big decisions. He cried out to God when he was in trouble and relied on God’s strength and help for great tasks. Today, let’s be a Mary, or a David, and devote ourselves to our Lord.

My Response: Lord Jesus, You applauded Mary’s heart of devotion and said she had chosen what could never be taken from her. Today I choose to be a Mary, sit at Your feet and listen to Your Word. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

My Tribute To Bob Hawkins, Sr.

Three weeks ago I received the news that RH “Bob” Hawkins Sr. had graduated from this life on February 9, 2010, and was now at home with his Lord and Savior. Bob Hawkins Sr. was the visionary founder of Harvest House Publishers and launched the writing careers of many bestselling authors including Emilie Barnes and Jim Smoke. He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Evangelical Christian Publishers Association and the Life Impact Award from the Christian Booksellers Association in honor of his leadership in the Christian publishing industry. Kay Arthur said of Bob Hawkins Sr.: “How I loved this man…What a visionary, entrepreneur, and pioneer. I loved his spirit, his heart, his determination.”

I was deeply moved to receive the news of Bob Sr.’s homegoing. Why? Because meeting Bob Hawkins Sr. was a defining moment in my life – you know – one of those moments etched in time that count in a big way for eternity. I had just finished typesetting my book on how to have a quiet time and had uploaded it to the printer.

I was driving home. My cellphone rang. It was Jim Smoke, author of Growing Through Divorce.

“Catherine where are you?”, he asked.

“I’m driving home.”

“Well, it just so happens that I have Bob Hawkins Sr. here – he’s seen your books and he would like to meet you. How fast can you get back here?”

I quickly turned my car around and drove back to the church. I ran upstairs, grabbed some typeset pages from my book on quiet time, and then ran through the sanctuary to the foyer. I will just never forget walking into that little church bookstore and shaking Bob Sr.’s hands and looking into those confident passionate eyes filled with excitement. My heart was immediately won for this new direction and calling in my life, because I saw in him a passion for the Lord, for books, for publishing, and for reaching the world for Christ.

He would often call me after that in those first few weeks and months following our meeting. I’ll just never forget answering the phone and hearing him say, “Catherine, it’s Bob Hawkins!” And then he would talk with me about books and publishing.

Hebrews 13:7 says “remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.”

I have a lot of names written next to that verse in my Bible. Ney Bailey, Bill & Vonette Bright, Josh McDowell, Kay Aruthur, and Jim Smoke. And I have written Bob Hawkins Sr.’s name there, too.

He had a faith to be imitated – he was not afraid to step out beyond human limits and frailties, and believe God for something big, something impossible – even in his fifties, sixties, seventies, and eighties.

God used him, Bob Hawkins, Jr. and all the team of Harvest House to help get my books to people I will never meet who are hungry for God and long to know Him.

Like the girl in Dubai who attended a study of Six Secrets To A Powerful Quiet Time and was so blown away that she said if God had brought her there just to learn how to have a quiet time like that IT WAS WORTH IT.

Or the man in Alabama struggling with drugs and suicide, who received Set My Heart On Fire and gave his life to Christ.

Or the man in prison who found a copy of Walking With The God Who Cares and found hope to continue on with the Lord and share Him with others.

It’s what I call THE RIPPLE EFFECT.

My brother and I used to stand on the side of a lagoon and throw rocks in the water for hours. Why? We always wanted to see who could create the most ripples.

I’m thankful for Bob Sr for he was such a faithful disciple of Christ that his life came upon us with a huge force, and created thousands of ripples that continue on into eternity. And I am just one of those small ripples. There are so many, many more that will continue on until we are all face to face with our Lord. Heaven will tell the story of all that the Lord did in and through one of the great heroes of the faith, Bob Hawkins Sr.

And I am convinced that heaven is brighter today because he has stepped from time into eternity and is now in the embrace of Jesus Himself.

And I am sure he has heard those words that we are all longing to hear: Well done good and faithful servant.

And he now knows – it was worth it all.

Day 33: Jesus, You Lead Me To A Feast In The Wilderness

“Where is the Lord leading us”, we wonder, when He takes us to the desert places. He is bringing us to a greater view of Himself, and our time with Him becomes a feast. We take in His immense beauty, made clearer to our eyes when earthly distractions fade. We feast on His Word, made rich to our souls when nothing else satisfies. When Moses and Aaron went up to Pharaoh to give them God’s word, they said, “Thus says the LORD, the God of Israel, ‘Let my people go, that they may hold a feast to me in the wilderness.’” (Exodus 5:1). David discovered that the Lord prepared a table before him in the presence of his enemies (Psalm 23:5). Jesus Himself invites us to this feast: “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20). Those last four words are rich with meaning: “…and he with Me”. Life becomes a feast with Jesus wherever we are, even in the wilderness. In Him, our hearts and souls experience deep satisfaction and real, true fulfillment. In His presence, there are “times of refreshing” (Acts 3:19). When we are with Him, out of our hearts flow “rivers of living water” (John 7:38). He is the bread of life, and when we come to Him, we will not hunger or thirst (John 6:35). Even Jeremiah discovered the rich feast of His Word: “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart…” (Jeremiah 15:16). Our rich relationship with Jesus cannot be touched by the outward desolation of the circumstance. In fact, if anything, the relationship with Him becomes deeper and more meaningful. So today, if you are in the wilderness, perhaps you can take some time, get alone with your Lord, grab your Bible, your notebook, a few good devotional books, and enjoy a feast.

My Response: Lord Jesus, I love the rich times together that we have, especially in the wilderness places. I confess I don’t like the pain and desolation in the heat of a trial. But I do love knowing You more intimately and the refreshing, healing rain of Your presence. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 32: Jesus, You Have A Plan In The Wilderness

Jesus has a plan for us EVEN in the wilderness. You see this truth most clearly in Moses’ life. Just think about Moses for a moment. He spent his first 40 years in Egypt enjoying the finer things in the courts of Pharaoh. After killing an Egyptian in defense of one of the Hebrews, Moses fled for his life to the land of Midian. According to Acts 7:29-30, we know that he spent another 40 years there in the wilderness with Jethro, priest of Midian and his family. Moses married Jethro’s daughter Zipporah and they had a son, Gershom. Exodus 2:21 says that Moses was “content to dwell with” Jethro and his family there in the wilderness. However, Moses felt the effects of the wilderness for he said, “I have been a sojourner in a foreign land.” And how true are those words! When I am in the wilderness experience, I realize my pilgrim status most acutely and know that I am not at home. And yet, what I need to remember is that the Lord is working out His plan and the wilderness sojourns are part of that plan. He has led me there. Exodus 3 marks the beginning of the next 40 years for 80-year-old Moses, proof positive that age has no bearing on God’s call or His intended ministry for you or me. I always love thinking about Corrie ten Boom who taught and traveled into her 80’s. She was released from Ravensbruck concentration camp at the age of 52 and didn’t begin her public ministry of speaking and writing until after that. So when you read Exodus 3 and see how the Lord worked with Moses there in the wilderness, you can’t help but experience hope and encouragement. No matter whether you are 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, or 100, the Lord has a plan for your life.

So what can encourage us when we’re in the wilderness? First, know that you are not there by accident, but by design. God says, “I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive. I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together, that they may see and know, may consider and understand together, that the hand of the LORD has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it” (Isaiah 41:19-20). In Matthew 4:1 we see that “Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness…” You can know that God has something for you there in the wilderness. He will meet you there Himself, just as He met Moses. Moses (in Exodus 3) was all alone tending the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, in the west side of the wilderness. In other words, he was out in the middle of nowhere, completely unknown and unseen. And that’s how it is in the wilderness—you are in the middle of nowhere, unknown and unseen. Remember, you are never alone. And you just never know when the Lord is going to give you a magnificent vision of His glory and speak profoundly to your heart. Often the greatest lessons come in the school of the desert. You can thrive in the desert for the Lord sends springs in the valleys and makes the wilderness a pool of water (Isaiah 41:18).

Today, I want to include the February 1 reading from Streams In The Desert – it was one of the Lord’s presents to me today on my birthday – I loved it and thought others might enjoy it also. So I’ll close with these great words from Mrs. Charles Cowman’s classic devotional, Streams In The Desert – Enjoy!

“This thing is from me.” (1 Kings 12:24)

“Life’s disappointments are veiled love’s appointments.” Rev. C.A. Fox

“My child, I have a message for you today; let me whisper it in your ear, that it may gild with glory any storm clouds which may arise, and smooth the rough places upon which you may have to tread. It is short, only five words, but let them sink into your inmost soul; use them as a pillow upon which to rest your wear head. This thing is from ME.

Have you ever thought of it, that all that concerns you concerns Me too? For, ‘he that toucheth you, toucheth the apple of mine eye’ (Zech 2:8). You are very precious in My sight. (Isaiah 43:4). Therefore, it is My special delight to educate you.

I would have you learn when temptations assail you, and the ‘enemy comes in like a flood,’ that this thing is from Me, that your weakness needs My might, and your safety lies in letting Me fight for you.

Are you in difficult circumstances, surrounded by people who do not understand you, who never consult your taste, who put you in the background? This thing is from Me. I am the God of circumstances. Thou camest not to thy place by accident, it is the very place God meant for thee.

Have you not asked to be made humble? See then, I have placed you in the very school where this lesson is taught; your surroundings and companions are only working out My will.

Are you in money difficulties? Is it hard to make both ends meet? This thing is from Me, for I am your purse-bearer and would have you draw from and depend upon Me. My supplies are limitless (Philippians 4:19). I would have you prove My promises. Let it not be said of you, ‘In this thing ye did not believe the Lord your God’ (Deuteronomy 1:32).

Are you passing through a night of sorrow? This thing is from Me. I am the Man of Sorrows and acquainted with grief. I have let earthly comforters fail you, that by turning to Me you may obtain everlasting consolation (2 Thess. 2:16-17). Have you longed to do some great work for Me and instead have been laid aside on a bed of pain and weakness? This things if from Me. I could not get your attention in your busy days and I want to teach you some of my deepest lessons. ‘They also serve who only stand and wait.’ Some of My greatest workers are those shut out from active service, that they may learn to wield the weapon of all-prayer.

This day I place in your hand this pot of holy oil. Make use of it free, my child. Let every circumstance that arises, every word that pains you, every interruption that would make you impatient, every revelation of your weakness be anointed with it. The sting will go as you learn to see Me in all things.”
(Laura A. Barter Snow in Streams In The Desert)

“This is from Me,” the Saviour said,
As bending low He kissed my brow,
“For One who loves you thus has led.
Just rest in Me, be patient now,
Your Father knows you have need of this,
Tho, why perchance you cannot see—
Grieve not for things you’ve seemed to miss.
The thing I send is best for thee.”

Then, looking through my tears, I plead,
“Dear Lord, forgive, I did not not know,
Twill not be hard since Thou dost tread
Each path before me here below.
And for my good this things must be,
His grace sufficient for each test.
So still I’ll sing, ‘Whatever be
God’s way for me is always best.’”

Day 31: Jesus, You Give Me A Ministry

I love serving the Lord. The most exciting part of ministry for me is to watch the Lord Jesus change lives. I love encouraging others to step out on the water and use their gifts. Joy fills my heart when I receive an email from someone who has read one of my books and gained a new hunger for God’s Word. I rejoice in watching others form deeper commitments to follow Christ. What an amazing opportunity to join the Lord Jesus in ministry, serve Him, and watch Him do “immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine” (Ephesians 3:20).

A natural outflow of the Spirit’s work in us is ministry. Sometimes we think we need to agonize over God’s will for us in ministry. And perhaps there is a wrestling at times because of a bend in the road when the Lord is taking us in a new direction. But for the most part, our ministry flows out of the Lord Jesus at work in our hearts. He gifts us through the indwelling Holy Spirit, and equips us for His work in and through us. We need to remember that we no longer belong to ourselves, but to Him. It’s His life. And He knows what He desires to accomplish in and through us. We also tend to divide our ideas of ministry into “full-time Christian service” and “secular work”. But ministry in the biblical sense of the word is always full-time. We “serve” the Lord whether we work in a store, an office, at home, or in the church.

One of my favorite passages of Scripture is 1 Corinthians 12:4-6, “There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all. There are different kinds of service, but we serve the same Lord. God works in different ways, but it is the same God who does the work in all of us.” These verses remind us that we are all different—our gifts are different, our ministries are different, and the effects of our ministries are different. For those of us who are leaders, we must be sensitive to these differences and give others the opportunity to use their gifts, and not try to bend people into carbon copies of ourselves. I have met certain people who resent others for not meeting their expectations and for going in unusual directions in ministry. In reality, these brave souls are trailblazers, and are simply following the Lord’s lead in their lives and using their gifts for His glory.

The Lord Jesus leads us all into ministry. We must keep our eyes open for His leading, and maintain a spiritually receptive heart, listening for His direction. When I get big ideas, I pay attention and write them down. I pray about the ministry ideas that are in my heart and mind. If they refuse to disappear, and get stronger, then I just step out on the water (in His strength and power of course), and go for it! The main passions for me in ministry are teaching God’s Word to others and encouraging a deep love and devotion for God and His Word. I long to see revival sweep across the world. And I often think of Jonothan Goforth’s words: “We can entertain no hope of a globe-encircling revival without there first being a back to the Bible movement.” I want others to have a great hunger and thirst for God’s Word. I want them to catch the excitement of having a verse leap off the page and pierce the heart. Why do I feel so strongly about these things? I believe the Lord Jesus has planted these desires deep in my heart over a period of many years alone with Him—studying His Word and walking and talking with Him. He may plant the same kinds of things in your heart. Or He may fill your heart with something else, depending on what He desires to do in and through you. But for all of us, we must heed the words of Paul to His disciple, Timothy: “…fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5). How we fulfill our ministry will depend on the Spirit’s work in us. My friend Dillon is fulfilling his ministry right now through a trip to Haiti, helping those in need. Another friend is fulfilling her ministry praying for others. I have a friend who is a businesswoman, fulfilling her ministry reaching out to thousands of other people in her business. Another friend is raising her boys to be men of God—she’s like a Susannah Wesley—so faithful to her Lord. One of my dear friends paints in her studio, crafting amazing works of art that bless my heart and others as well. And our ministry may change over the years in the different seasons of our life. May we all carry the words of Paul in Acts 20:24 and think about them daily so that we may serve the Lord faithfully all our days on earth: “But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.”

My Response: Lord Jesus, that You for giving me a ministry. May I faithfully finish my course, and carry out all that You call me to do in service to You during my time on earth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Day 30: Jesus, You Hear My Prayer

When you want to learn to pray better and pray more, live in the Psalms. The psalmists are some of the best prayer partners you’ll ever find. This morning I read Psalm 102 and the psalmist’s prayer just blessed my heart. He began with “Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come to You.” What a blessing to know that the Lord Jesus hears every one of my prayers. Psalm 102 is the cry of one who is afflicted. His heart is in trouble. But he knows where to run, and so must we if we need heart-healing and heart-comfort. This person describes where our heart is in the deepest darkest times of life. And perhaps you feel as though you are there now. Then, take comfort from this one, who cried to God: “I am like a pelican in the wilderness; I am like an owl of the desert. I lie awake, and am like a sparrow alone on the housetop” (Psalm 102:6-7). For any in the heat of a trial, these words bring a piece of comfort, for you now have one who has come alongside who knows your heart. And friend, the truth is, Jesus is your companion in your suffering, for He knows as no one else knows. He has walked every road of suffering and is walking with you even now. Take comfort in the fact that the Lord hears your prayer and He will answer: “He shall regard the prayer of the destitute, and shall not despise their prayer. This will be written for the generation to come, that a people yet to be created may praise the LORD. For He looked down from the height of His sanctuary; from heaven the LORD viewed the earth, to hear the groaning of the prisoner” (Psalm 102:17-20). I love that this suffering one was given the eternal view and realized that his words would minister to others down through the ages—and that blessing extends to you and me. May you draw near to the Lord today and pour out your heart in prayer. He knows your heart, hears your prayer, and loves you with an everlasting love.

My Response: Lord Jesus, thank You that You know me through and through and that You love me forever. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Day 29: Jesus, Your Way Is Best

January 29, 2010 by Cath  
Filed under Cath's Blog, The Jesus Year

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If Peter, James, and John could have had their way on the mountain with Jesus when He was transfigured before their very eyes, they would have built three tabernacles: one for Jesus, one for Moses, and one for Elijah (Matthew 17:4). The “good” in Peter’s eyes was living on the mountaintop and seeing the glory. And isn’t that what we would all love to experience? Wouldn’t we prefer comfortable sight living as opposed to the “risky”, and sometimes, uncomfortable faith walking? Living by faith isn’t easy and requires paying careful attention to God’s Word. Paul told his disciple, Timothy, to “fight the good fight of the faith” (1 Timothy 6:12). Oswald Chambers says faith is a fight always, not sometimes. Jesus didn’t stay on the mountaintop. Instead, He led them down from the mountain of transfiguration to the valley of trial. The other nine disciples were unable to heal a demon-possessed man. Jesus told them privately that their inability stemmed from unbelief and the need for prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:20-21). Sometimes the faith-choice will be prayer and yes, even fasting. Then, Jesus told them of the road immediately ahead: “The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him, and the third day He will be raised up” (Matthew 17:22-23). The disciples were, according to Matthew, “exceedingly sorrowful”.

Jesus is teaching me something important about the way I look at events in my life. I am learning that sometimes the way I think is good may not be the best. And the way He leads me may bring sorrow, but is leading to something amazing that I do not yet see. In Peter’s mind, the mount of transfiguration was the place to stay. He just wanted to build tabernacles and live there. But in fact, leaving the mountain that day two thousand years ago, meant I can now experience forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Jesus had no intention of staying on that mountaintop for a long period of time. He took them there, but He did not keep them there for very long. Jesus’ way is best. As I follow His lead, I need to remember to “live by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). He leads me in ways and takes me on travels that require a firm, steadfast faith in His Word. Why? Because His ways are not always the roads I would choose. I need to constantly fix my eyes firmly on Him “by faith” in what He says in His Word. So when I don’t think things are going “my way”, then by faith I choose to follow His lead, and trust that they are going His way.

My Response: Lord Jesus, thank You for showing me this mountaintop experience and teaching me the profound truth of the goodness of Your ways. I choose to say Yes to You and follow You today, even in the times when I don’t understand. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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