A WORD BEFORE YOU BEGIN The theme of these four short devotionals is simple: STAND. But standing firm does not mean pretending life is easy or that we always know what to do. Sometimes standing begins by getting quiet with God. Sometimes it means preparing before the crisis arrives. Sometimes it means carrying faith from the mountaintop into the valley. And sometimes it means refusing to be intimidated when the devil makes a lot of noise. Each Devotional Starter is built around moments in the life of Jesus and the disciples - along with a couple of lessons I have learned from a little girl named Scout. My hope is that these pages encourage you not merely to admire the strength of Jesus, but to follow His pattern and trust His power. Wherever you are standing today, may you remember Who stands with you.