Jumpin Jehoshaphat!

Jumpin Jehoshaphat! We said it a lot growing up but I’ve lost the flair for it since moving to a suburb in the Queen City.  The befuddled looks directed at me would increase and my teenagers would fail to see me as cool.  Still, it’s a power-packed phrase and is the perfect exclamation when one is in shock or in awe.  For better or worse, bringing it back is one of my New Year’s resolutions.
Another personal goal for 2018 is to JUMP IN.  Maybe you can relate:  I habitually find a ton of excuses to procrastinate.  Even starting my blog; I’m not ready.  I need to do more research.  It has to be perfect or people won’t read it.  Maybe people won’t like what I have to say. But then faith steps in and I’m reminded to take that first step and trust God for the rest.  JUMP IN.
It’s like swimming at our Blue Hole, a large 15 feet deep section of the river, one of hundreds scattered across West Virginia.  They are hidden gems where the locals cool off after putting up hay or confess their faith in baptisms.  The water running off those ancient Appalachian Mountains is always ice cold so you often hesitate, “hem-hawing” around at first.  Some people like to ease into it, some swan dive, cannon ball, even belly flop—the important thing is simply to get into the water, and sometimes that means just JUMPING IN over your head and trusting God to take care of the rest!
I wonder, what is this year’s goal you are making excuses about?  Pray about it and make a splash.
Thus my imperfect first blog post is finished…Jumpin Jehoshaphat! 
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Side notes:  Jehoshaphat was a biblical king who in faith asked God for water and God not only gave his thirsty army a valley full of h2O, but also delivered the enemy into his hands!  No wonder he jumped! (2 Kings 3)
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“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.  When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown…” Isaiah 43:2

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