Never Say Never

I have spent over a year pouring out my heart about my spiritual journey as we have made the transition to a new life in North Carolina.  For many years now I have enjoyed writing and sharing small devotions and encouraging others.  I've made a few changes to my blog and I hope to reach more people.  I invite you to 'follow' my blog, subscribe to updates, leave comments/questions, and share it with your friends.  I am human...I am imperfect - I promise to humbly share my heart and what God is doing in me - you in turn, won't feel alone and can say, 'I'm glad I'm not the only one!'


As I was looking at my blog I considered changing the name of it.  I chose the name "Never Say Never" in August 2011 when we realized that "Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails." Prov 19:21  We began to learn this when our plans were not the same as God's plan and we chose to follow Him and step out in faith - not knowing what was before us.

I started thinking about the name though and realized it can stand for so much.  It's not just 'never say never about moving to a new state because God has different plans.'  I'm realizing that we should never think that God is not big enough to do anything! He is able!  With God - ALL things are possible.  He's taught me over and over that I should never say that He can't change things in us to become more like Him.  Don't limit Him.  I have written mostly about faith and trust in Him over the past months.  That is the majority of our Christian journey - trusting Him. Believing and trusting that He is who He says He is and He will do what He said He will do.  And when it comes to faith we should never say, 'that is impossible!'

I want to have the kind of faith like Mary, mother of Jesus had.  In Luke 1:45, Elizabeth said of Mary, "Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”  She believed Him, even when it did not make sense and even when it was going to be hard in so many ways.  I want to believe what He promises me, obey His lead, and have faith that He has my best in mind.

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts."  Isaiah 55:8-9

So, why would I claim to know these 'ways' of His - saying I'll never do this, or be this or accomplish this or sin in this way, or serve in that way.  The Lord directs our paths - and I don't know where those paths go and what is along them.  Claiming 'never say never' is acknowledging that you really do not know what the future holds - even when you try to plan it out.  More importantly, by claiming your trust and faith in Jesus, you can navigate through this life with less anxiety and fear about not being in control and 'knowing' what is going to happen.

My prayer is that I can encourage us even though we do not know what tomorrow will bring.  It is hard to have faith.  God knows it is hard for us.  He says, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." (Matthew 17:20)  Never say never!

What Faith Can Do by Kutless

Everybody falls sometimes
Gotta find the strength to rise
From the ashes
And make a new beginning

Anyone can feel the ache
You think it's more than you can take
But you're stronger
Stronger than you know

Don't you give up now
The sun will soon be shining
You gotta face the clouds
To find the silver lining

I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do

It doesn't matter what you've heard
Impossible is not a word
It's just a reason
For someone not to try

Everybody's scared to death
When they decide to take that step
Out on the water
It'll be alright

Life is so much more
Than what your eyes are seeing
You will find your way
If you keep believing

I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do

Overcome the odds
You don't have a chance
(That's what faith can do)
When the world says you can't
It'll tell you that you can

I've seen dreams that move the mountains
Hope that doesn't ever end
Even when the sky is falling
And I've seen miracles just happen
Silent prayers get answered
Broken hearts become brand new
That's what faith can do
That's what faith can do

Even if you fall sometimes
You will have the strength to rise