Last Thursday, I shopped at a Dallas area grocery store that has a kosher market. I posted a picture on social media that included all my incredible finds! I filled each frame of the collage with some of my favorite items from Israel. I had a blast, and couldn’t believe I was in America! But there was one image (more like video) that didn’t make the posted frame, and it’s been reeling in my memory non-stop.
I was in the self check out lane when I realized I didn’t have my rewards card with me (you know, the plastic card that gives you all the discounts, etc). 
So, I asked the guys who were checking out in front of me if I could use their card. One of them smiled, and came over right away to offer a helping hand. Or so I thought. He was friendly at first, and proceeded to punch in his telephone number so I could get my discount. That’s when things changed. His smile faded and he looked at me with total disgust and said, “You know, it’s really ridiculous that you don’t have a discount card, by the way…” Once I picked my jaw up off the ground, I managed to say, “I rarely ever shop here. There’s not one of these stores near me.” He smirked and made some kind of chuckling sound as he rolled his eyes and walked away.
I bagged up my items, laughed to myself as I walked to my car, and whispered, “God…did that REALLY just happen?!” As I got in my car, I prayed, “Oh, NO…I will NOT pick up an offense from this! But God…I really feel like there’s a lesson for me here. Will you help me see it?” I continued to pray all the way home as the offense kept wanting to rise up in my spirit. That’s when the Lord spoke to my heart. He said, “Leigh-Taylor, this isn’t about offense…or even what happened in that moment. It’s about how you and most others want to have the last word. You feel the need to add your two cents.”
I thought about that for a moment. I reflected back on how this guy could’ve just blessed me with his smile and his rewards card, but instead he had to insert his opinion. And that whole encounter based on the negativity of his “two cents” threatened to steal the joy I had felt moments earlier over my imported Israeli finds. And the raw truth? I, too, offer my opinions more oft than I should. Let the teachable moment begin!
I got home and started putting groceries away, when my mind drifted to the biblical account of the widow and her two mites. Since I had heard the words “two cents” from God, I thought that train of thought seemed logical. So, I went to that passage of scripture in Luke 21. I had been thinking maybe there was something about that story God wanted to drive home…but I kept reading, and that’s where I found the treasure He wanted me to unearth. Luke 21:14-19 says: “So make up your minds not to prepare ahead of time to defend yourselves—for I Myself will give you speech and wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute….by your endurance, you will gain your souls.” 
In that passage of scripture, the disciples had been asking Yeshua (Jesus) about the end times, the destruction of the temple, and signs they should be anticipating to let them know the time was near. There are so many parallels to the season we’re in and the instruction and wisdom of Jesus to warn us against the need to defend ourselves. In my example above, I felt the need to defend myself against why this guy thought I was being “ridiculous” in not having my own rewards card. In return, I answered out of my own strength, and the need to prove my case and defend myself. Just as I was being critical of the man for giving me his unsolicited opinion, it dawned on me as I read the scripture that I had done the exact same thing…given my two cents…from a place of defense. Words have power. And if we will wait on the Lord and allow Him to defend us and allow Him to give us words at the right time, we don’t have to worry about losing anything. In fact, we stand to GAIN everything!
So, dear ones, rest today. When others give you their two cents, throw it in the bank and collect the interest by keeping your mouth shut. Trust that God will go before you and give you the words you need, and that He’ll let you know the right time in which to release them.
That’s just my two cents… (smile).
fear and unbelief tend to hang out together. They’re buddies. And they’re two “frenemies” that I’ve decided to kick out of my circle. I have no place for them in my life anymore. I want to be 
The other verse is from Joshua 1:9, “Have I not commanded you? BE strong and courageous! Do not be afraid.; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” So many “be’s” y’all!! While that does in fact make my heart happy, the verse came to mind because of that first BE. I did some studying and found that the Hebrew word chazak is the word used there and means “strength and courage” (& there are 3 repetitions of it in that section of Scripture). The Israelites would shout it while advancing into battle. It was their battle cry, their war hymn…their anthem! I want chazak…and that will come as I BE…and as I declare it to BE!
And sometimes like my trip today, I ignore the first time His voice tells me to make a U turn, or take a right, left, etc. I keep going my own way, thinking I know best. But then something stirs. A knowing deep in my spirit that something isn’t right, and that I need to pay attention to the Voice I hear.
SIFTED 