God's Unexpected Encouragement
If we are open, we won’t miss God’s divine instruments of encouragement.
Some of our greatest encouragements can come in the most unexpected ways!
When the two spies entered the land (Joshua 2), they were discovered and had to quickly find a place to hide. No one would look for two Jewish men at the house or a harlot—right? Little did they know that God would use Rehab to encourage and protect them. I’m sure they didn’t see that one coming!
We see in our own life that God often uses unlikely people to accomplish His perfect will in our lives. He will use them to give us a good dose of encouragement, confirm His will, His calling, or just to point us in the right direction. God is creative in who and how He uses people in our lives. If we are open — looking and listening — we won’t miss His divine instruments. Don’t discount the unlikely as a messenger from God. Instead, be open to Him using anyone. Who knows what will become of them and how the Lord may in turn use you in their life like the spies were used to save Rehab’s life. Just some food for thought on this Wednesday!
- Michelle Randall
Clinging to God's Promises
God never commands us to do something without first giving us the promise that we can do it with His help.
Are you the type of person that likes to hear the good news or the bad news first?
I prefer the good news!
It’s always nice to hear something positive before the negative—something encouraging before the difficult! The Lord knows this about us, and that’s why He gives us plenty of promises in the Bible to encourage us as we head into difficult situations.
Joshua needed encouragement as he stepped into Moses’ big shoes. He was young and not as experienced as Moses, yet God called him to “get up and go” and lead the people into the promise land. Joshua was scared to step into the role that God had prepared him for. So, before giving him more specifics on what he was to do, the Lord gave Joshua three promises to hold onto…
Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you. Joshua 1:3
As I was with Moses, so I will be with you. Joshua 1:5
I will not leave you or forsake you. Joshua 1:5
God never commands us to do something without first giving us the promise that we can do it with His help. He reminds us that we aren’t alone and that He has called us. He is faithful and He will do it!
Has the Lord called you to something that is bigger than you? Are you wavering in your faith? Scared? Afraid of the unknown? You’re not alone! Joshua felt the same way — that’s why the Lord repeated the statement, “Be strong and of good courage,” to him 4 times in Chapter 1 alone! (Joshua 1:6, 7, 9, 18)
The Word is always the remedy to worry, fear or anxiety. Go to the Word and grab all the promises you can! Trust me, it works! You’ll be recharged in your faith as you are reminded that you aren’t alone — He is with you and will NEVER leave you! God is already on the other side, and He will give you the strength and courage that you need to walk forward in what He has called you. Be encouraged today that He is for you, and if He is for you, who can be against you? (Romans 8:32)
For He who calls you is faithful, who also WILL DO IT. 1 Thessalonians 5:24
For we walk by faith and not by sight. 2 Corinthians 5:7
- Michelle Randall
Trusting the Lord
God is true to His Word.
1311 Calle Batido, San Clemente, California 92673
What a journey it’s been to walk this walk of faith these last two years. Trusting the Lord for the words “more,” “new,” and “out” that He gave me on January 1, 2020 has been tough. The journey for a new home has been yet another test of my faith. But He remained faithful even when we are faithless. He is true to His Word. All the tears, prayers, and moments of frustration were all worth it! For Jesus really does do exceedingly, abundantly more!!! More than we could’ve ever hoped for or even thought possible. So here we are, literally entering a building the size of the Ark, and we couldn’t be more excited to watch the Lord work.
If you are in a place of doubting God and His perfect timing and will for your life, hang in there—He has a good plan, a perfect plan, that will exceed your expectations! Trust Him for more and He will deliver.
We appreciate your prayers and invite you to our first service on May 1. Come celebrate the goodness of God with us at Calvary South OC, located in San Clemente.
- Michelle Randall
Waiting on the Lord
Waiting on the Lord is the cure for weariness.
As I sit here before the Lord today and reflect on these past 2 crazy years, I am reminded of the Lord's great faithfulness to us.
January 1, 2020, He gave me the words OUT, NEW and MORE—little did we know what was ahead of us as the world would shut down and He would do something NEW by calling us OUT of our physical church building and into a huge parking lot to do MORE than we could’ve imagined!
January 1, 2021, my word was simply RUN. The Lord was faithful to grant us and our incredible staff the endurance to run hard and fast the whole year, doing things and stepping out in ways we never had before.
January 1, 2022, my word is WAIT! Yes, wait! Isn’t it crazy after a year of running that my word is WAIT? Not to the LORD! That’s exactly how He works… Isaiah 40:31 is, I believe, my verse for the year: “But those who WAIT on the Lord will renew their strength. They shall mount up with eagles’ wings, they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint.”
You see, it's when we WAIT (trust, hope) on the Lord that we are strengthened. It’s in the waiting on the Lord that we are able to “mount up” as one would on a saddle and find stability from slipping around. It’s when we WAIT on the Lord that we also gain stamina and endurance (the ability to continue in an unpleasant or difficult process or situation without giving way).
Do you find yourself waiting for something or someone this new year? Try shifting your wait (weight) onto the Lord, and you will see a renewed strength, a constant stability, and a supernatural stamina that can only come from Him.
WAITING on the LORD is not to be confused with waiting in line or waiting in traffic. WAITING on the LORD is proactive. As we WAIT, we are seeking, knocking, trusting and resting in His promises.
Psalm 38:7 reminds us how we are to wait: “Rest in the Lord and WAIT patiently for Him.” And Psalm 37:34, “WAIT on the Lord and keep His ways, and He shall exalt you to inherit the land.”
We WAIT on the Lord by spending time with Him. By being silent and still before Him. By listening to His still small voice. By learning from Him in His Word. By serving Him. By using our gifts for Him and by being consistent in fellowship. When we WAIT like this we see a renewed strength, a constant stability, and a stamina that doesn’t grow weary. Waiting on the Lord is the cure for weariness. Waiting on Jesus allows us to soar above the storms of life and see things with a completely different perspective.
Wait on the LORD; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the LORD! Psalm 27:14.
- Michelle Randall
WONDER Christmas Dinner
We had a blessed 3 evenings at our annual Women’s Christmas Dinner!
We had a blessed 3 nights celebrating the best gift we could ever receive - Jesus. We praise God for the wonderful things that He has done these past 3 nights at our annual Women’s Christmas dinner. Thank you for all who attended and especially for those who came to help serve. This year, we hosted 3 dinners for 280 women each night. We hope you were as blessed as we were, celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus with worship, fellowship and a message of WONDER and hope with Michelle Randall.
