How are you today friend? Are you hurting? Are you suffering? Are you holding back tears of pain, of an uncertain future, of regretful feelings, of damaged relationships, of never ending financial problems, or of what seem to be broken dreams? What is causing this pain you feel in your being today?
Although I do not know, and may never know, you should feel secure to know that The One who saw this pain before it presented itself into your life, also sees and knows how it will walk away from your life. He has a plan. He sat down and before your first tear ran through your cheek, he had intricately mastered out the exposition, the rising action, the climax, the falling action and the grand resolution to the story of your sweet life. He is our Author, whose words create and whose words demolish, but whose words also restore.
Why do we allow the burdens and pain to keep us back from living a sweet and joyous life? If we know and believe that God is the Author of our life. Then why do we continue making our fears the only thing we think of and rob us of our happiness?
"Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment." Matthew 9: 20
"When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.“Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?” The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.” When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith."Matthew 8: 5-10
So it is trusting and it is faith, that moves mountains. It is believing in Him that melts His amazing heart. It's not trusting by words, but trusting with actions that makes Jesus turn around and see us touching his cloak. It is faith, that amazes him and causes Him to direct healing into our bodies.
Can you trust Him? If not Him, who will you trust? The doctors who have pain themselves, the bank that can be there today but be gone tomorrow, the friend who can only provide limited comfort? Trust Jesus, He is reaching for you today to wipe away all your tears today, He wants to wash away all your fears. Will you let Him? Can you sing with me, "I trust in Jesus, my Great Deliverer, my Strong Defender, the Son of God, I trust in Jesus, blessed Redeemer,my Lord forever, the Holy One, the Holy One!"
Prayer: "Father God, my Strong Defender, life is hard, but You remain God in war and in peace. I pray that You would help me trust more and more each day in You. Amen!
10/17/2011
10/12/2011
Labor of Love
I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love.
I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them. Hosea 11:4
My day had started at 5:45 am. It was 9:30 pm and I had still things to get done before heading for bed. My feet throbbed, begging for rest and my back felt like it was about to break.
The worst part of it all, is I knew the next day, I would have the same routine. How I wished for someone to take over!
It is the way of life for so many f us. Many hours of work and just enough rest to go at it again.
Not too many years ago, I sat crying desperately. My heart throbbed with pain from the many hours of work that had been put into something dear to me. It was a repeated routine day in and day out with just enough rest in between. I was beyond exhausted, confused, hurt, and overwhelmed. Many times I heard His voice, but refused to listen and the promise of peace that He offered. I refused to believe.
So many grow accustomed to the routine and the hurt that comes with it, because we refuse to believe that there could be anything different than what we've already tried.
We walk repeatedly in the heat with our sight downward, afraid to look up only to be disappointed that nothing could be different, and so we continue with our labor.
Oh, but if we were to only look up long enough, we would see Him standing there with ties of unmeasurable love!
Far from a scolding for wanting to do things on our own, He instead leads us gently to a quiet place where the heat of the sun doesn't tire anymore. Where He takes our face in His hands, dries our tears and says, 'My son, I will carry your load.' There He takes our yoke that has burdened us for so long. That yoke that we've carried around making us slaves to pain that leads no where.
When we hand over the load that He is so willing to carry for us, we will be given the life that was intended for us. A life where the only overwhelming thing is His peace and grace showering us each day.
Prayer
Father, thank you so much for noticing me when I needed you most. Your love for me I will never be able to comprehend. Thank you for giving me life and peace in knowing that you are the One that carries my load, when I can't.
Amen.
I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them. Hosea 11:4
My day had started at 5:45 am. It was 9:30 pm and I had still things to get done before heading for bed. My feet throbbed, begging for rest and my back felt like it was about to break.
The worst part of it all, is I knew the next day, I would have the same routine. How I wished for someone to take over!
It is the way of life for so many f us. Many hours of work and just enough rest to go at it again.
Not too many years ago, I sat crying desperately. My heart throbbed with pain from the many hours of work that had been put into something dear to me. It was a repeated routine day in and day out with just enough rest in between. I was beyond exhausted, confused, hurt, and overwhelmed. Many times I heard His voice, but refused to listen and the promise of peace that He offered. I refused to believe.
So many grow accustomed to the routine and the hurt that comes with it, because we refuse to believe that there could be anything different than what we've already tried.
We walk repeatedly in the heat with our sight downward, afraid to look up only to be disappointed that nothing could be different, and so we continue with our labor.
Oh, but if we were to only look up long enough, we would see Him standing there with ties of unmeasurable love!
Far from a scolding for wanting to do things on our own, He instead leads us gently to a quiet place where the heat of the sun doesn't tire anymore. Where He takes our face in His hands, dries our tears and says, 'My son, I will carry your load.' There He takes our yoke that has burdened us for so long. That yoke that we've carried around making us slaves to pain that leads no where.
When we hand over the load that He is so willing to carry for us, we will be given the life that was intended for us. A life where the only overwhelming thing is His peace and grace showering us each day.
Prayer
Father, thank you so much for noticing me when I needed you most. Your love for me I will never be able to comprehend. Thank you for giving me life and peace in knowing that you are the One that carries my load, when I can't.
Amen.
10/07/2011
Blessings Not Found in Stores
"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal
Matthew 6:19-20
My son grinned from ear to ear as proudly held up his folder. His behavior clip at school had remained on the color green. It was a great achievement for him, as before this, his folder looked like confetti had blown up with the yellow, orange and red circles from weeks past.
'What are you going to buy me?' he asked
'I'm going to give you a BIG high five and an extra cookie at snack time.' I answered
The screams and cries that followed really surprised me, but also upset me.
It was crazy that he could only associate a reward with a new toy. Anything else seemed meaningless.
In his eyes he had done a good enough job to deserve something new.
But a lot of people are wired that way. We believe that as long as we live by the book, that we should be showered with constant blessings. And blessings are great to receive, however, the problem is when the blessings we expect to receive are those that are material possesions.
When those blessings don't appear in our life, we sulk and throw a tantrum beginning to wonder why God doesn't send more money, a new car or the ability to travel like the neighbors or co-workers. Especially when with our earthly eyes, we see them dishonoring the Lord. And we begin to associate blessings with material possessions.
So this begs the question of God's prescense in times of need? Is God absent when our car battery dies and money is tight already? Has He stopped blessing us when we can't seem to catch a break from our constant sicknesses? Has God withheld His blessings when months pass and your loved one seems to stray further away?
Although the answer is no, some may believe that He's not choosing to bless us. We may even begin to wonder what we are being punished for. We expect to see our life easy going if we're abiding by His word.
But God's true blessings are those that you cannot swipe your credit card for. His blessings are those that are eternal.
God showers us with blessings that will produce patience, virtue, faith, wisdom, courage and perseverance.
These are the kind of blessings that God showers with, when to the world we seem the least blessed. These blessings do not rot or fade away. Instead they bring us closer to the Father, which is the great reward of all.
Prayer
Lord, I am humbled today by your presence which never leaves. I thank you for all the blessings that you pour in my life, and I pray that you open my eyes to recognize each and every one of them. Thank you Abba Father for how much you love me that you would give me something that never fades away but draws me closer to you.
Amen.
10/04/2011
Changes
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11
My four year old wowed me yesterday. He made a very mature decision for his age and I was very impressed. Last week, Sebastian's principle moved him to another classroom with a new teacher. According to the principle, it was to improve his communication skills and get him to get out of his shell. She said Sebastian was very shy and quite in his previous class and she thought it was due to the fact that this was Ms. Bussy's, his previous teachers, first year teaching Pre-K, and therefore taught at a very strict and rigorous level. However, she said, "Ms. Collins, has been a Pre-K teacher for years and is known to help shy kids, become more social and open up to the class more.
Sebastian hated the change! He cried all week hoping to get moved back to Ms. Bussy's class, however, that was not an option. I asked him all week if Ms. Collins did anything fun and asked what was he learning. His reply would always be, "she is not fun, and I learned nothing!"
At the end of the week the principle asked me if Sebastian was enjoying his new class and teacher. I told her no, in fact he cried every morning on our way to school, he wanted his old teacher back. She was surprised and said he could decided where to go and she would move him back if that was Sebastian's choice. All weekend he told my husband and I that he wanted Ms. Bussy back and did not wish to stay with Ms. Collins. Monday as we were headed to school and ready to talk to the principle about moving him back, out of nowhere, he said, "Okay, I'll stay with Ms. Collins!" I stopped and asked if that was what he truly wanted. He said yes, He explained that Ms. Collins was actually a lot of fun and she taught them with songs, and stories, and Ms. Bussy did not.
As I drove back home proud of how mature my son was becoming, I thought of how we, as adults hate change so badly. God acts like Sebastian's principle at times. He sees a better opportunity for us and decides to move us from where we were comfortable at. He knows it may take sometime for us to adapt, but knows all the benefits that will come out from this change. We all wish things could stay the same. We wish we could always stay at the same comfortable job with co-workers we've learned to work with, we wish our salaries never decreased and we could remain at least stable forever, we wish our kids remained innocent and little, we wish our place of worship never had any changes like new leaders, or problems, we wish our life could sail smoothly with never a change of direction. However the God who sees it all. The God who knows your yesterdays, your today, and your tomorrows, knows what is best for you. O but how we act like the four year old child who prefers to stay where it feels safest.
You know the changes you have been trying to avoid. You know what you have been ignoring and not wanting to make a leap for it. What is that change God has been trying for you to make in your life? Has he been nudging something for you to do differetnt with you children? With your job or career? With your ministry? With your dreams? With your time? With your money? What is it? Ask God to reveal it, He will. "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3 Be mature today like Sebastian and surrender your comfort zone and obey those gentle nudges He has been giving you. I like what Oswald Chambers say's, "When you agree and obey with God's puposes, He will bring not only your conscious life, but all the deeper regions of your life which you cannot get at, into harmony."
My four year old wowed me yesterday. He made a very mature decision for his age and I was very impressed. Last week, Sebastian's principle moved him to another classroom with a new teacher. According to the principle, it was to improve his communication skills and get him to get out of his shell. She said Sebastian was very shy and quite in his previous class and she thought it was due to the fact that this was Ms. Bussy's, his previous teachers, first year teaching Pre-K, and therefore taught at a very strict and rigorous level. However, she said, "Ms. Collins, has been a Pre-K teacher for years and is known to help shy kids, become more social and open up to the class more.
Sebastian hated the change! He cried all week hoping to get moved back to Ms. Bussy's class, however, that was not an option. I asked him all week if Ms. Collins did anything fun and asked what was he learning. His reply would always be, "she is not fun, and I learned nothing!"
At the end of the week the principle asked me if Sebastian was enjoying his new class and teacher. I told her no, in fact he cried every morning on our way to school, he wanted his old teacher back. She was surprised and said he could decided where to go and she would move him back if that was Sebastian's choice. All weekend he told my husband and I that he wanted Ms. Bussy back and did not wish to stay with Ms. Collins. Monday as we were headed to school and ready to talk to the principle about moving him back, out of nowhere, he said, "Okay, I'll stay with Ms. Collins!" I stopped and asked if that was what he truly wanted. He said yes, He explained that Ms. Collins was actually a lot of fun and she taught them with songs, and stories, and Ms. Bussy did not.
As I drove back home proud of how mature my son was becoming, I thought of how we, as adults hate change so badly. God acts like Sebastian's principle at times. He sees a better opportunity for us and decides to move us from where we were comfortable at. He knows it may take sometime for us to adapt, but knows all the benefits that will come out from this change. We all wish things could stay the same. We wish we could always stay at the same comfortable job with co-workers we've learned to work with, we wish our salaries never decreased and we could remain at least stable forever, we wish our kids remained innocent and little, we wish our place of worship never had any changes like new leaders, or problems, we wish our life could sail smoothly with never a change of direction. However the God who sees it all. The God who knows your yesterdays, your today, and your tomorrows, knows what is best for you. O but how we act like the four year old child who prefers to stay where it feels safest.
You know the changes you have been trying to avoid. You know what you have been ignoring and not wanting to make a leap for it. What is that change God has been trying for you to make in your life? Has he been nudging something for you to do differetnt with you children? With your job or career? With your ministry? With your dreams? With your time? With your money? What is it? Ask God to reveal it, He will. "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3 Be mature today like Sebastian and surrender your comfort zone and obey those gentle nudges He has been giving you. I like what Oswald Chambers say's, "When you agree and obey with God's puposes, He will bring not only your conscious life, but all the deeper regions of your life which you cannot get at, into harmony."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)