Warnings and Obedience

First, I must apologize for not updating this blog as frequently as I should. We have had some major changes in our lives lately and I've gotten a little bogged down with daily living. God has worked in our lives recently in ways I would have never imagined. I am amazed at how He chooses to bless us regardless of how poorly we've handled our lives.

We moved last week. My one year old has discovered the joy of climbing and finds our moving boxes utterly delightful objects on which to practice his new skill. What is most entertaining is the way, despite countless warnings from his parents who know what's best, he will climb to the top of a box only to realize that he doesn't quite know how to get down. He then commences to sit down and cry until one of us finally has mercy and rescues the pitiful thing.

This reminded me of a picture of my life following the Lord. Throughout His Word and through Holy Spirit leading, I am warned of dangerous areas that I should avoid. Yet, human nature and my sheer stubbornness causes me to explore the territory despite the obvious warnings. Then I get myself in a mess that I have no clue how to get out of. In hindsight I sit down and wallow in my self-pity, knowing I did something completely out of the Lord's will and completely disobedient. I have no option but to sit down and cry out to the Lord until He has mercy on me and rescues me -- yet again.

As I grow in the Lord, the same mistakes are made less often and I learn from my past experience. Just as a baby will eventually learn that some heights are simply dangerous, children of the Lord eventually learn how to heed His warnings and not tread choppy waters. But until that time, we can know that according to I John 1:9, when "we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." So when I do mess up (and I know I will, for I am human), I have confidence in the redeeming power of my Savior to hear me when I repent and give me a fresh start.

Just to be clear, this does not mean that I have license to do whatever I wish and then ask forgiveness later. God will not be mocked. But if I keep a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit and ask for revelation about any unconfessed sin, I know my God is faithful to give me that revelation. Grace does not replace our responsibility to be obedient. Obedience is always the shortest distance to God's will and the most blessed path to take.

I am thankful that God will never give up on me. Because I have given Him good reason. But, just as I want to bless my children, my Heavenly Father wants to bless me. Praise His Name, I'm a child of the King!

Making Plans

Wow, May 11th was quite awhile ago!  I have been a little slack with this blog over the past couple weeks.  Our lives have been very eventful lately and just sitting down for quiet time with God has been a struggle.  But I just have to share with you what I learned from my Master yesterday!

I was reading 2 Corinthians 1:12 - 2:4.  We have a few pretty major decisions we are currently praying about and a verse in this passage leaped off the page at me (isn't it exciting when that happens?).  It was in Chaper 1, verse 17.  "When I planned this, did I do it lightly?  Or do I make my plans in a worldy manner so that in the same breath I say, "Yes, yes" and "No, no"?"

So I examined myself and found that most often, I make my plans lightly, in a worldy manner, saying "Yes, yes" and "No, no" in the same breath.  Frequently, I allow myself to just float an flit about being tossed by every breeze that comes my way.  But in this Scripture, God has called and is calling me to put some thought and, more importantly, prayer behind my plans.  Because, let's be honest, they're His plans to begin with.  And make no mistake.  He will have His plans carried out, whether we are immediately obedient or not.  

Mere humans are the ones who make things difficult on themselves.  Am I suggesting that a Christian's life is all sunshine and roses?  Absolutely not!  But if we are joyously obedient at the beginning of our decision-making process, we experience peace, understanding and assurance throughout the entire process.  

So my challenge to myself and you, dear readers, is this.  Test decisions against the Word of God.  Then pray for clarity, understanding and assurance that the decision is the correct one.  Once I receive that revelation, walk confidently in the knowledge that I made the right decision and - here's the key - do not allow myself to be tossed by the first breeze that comes my way.  Expect winds and storms and be steadfast and unmoveable in my faith.

Prayer Update

Well, we had quite an eventful week!  I asked you to pray specifically for us to have opportunity to be a testimony for Christ and He was faithful to give opporunities around every corner.  

But the biggest opportunity was on the way out of town.  We were traveling with some people and we stopped at a traffic light and I hit the gas and  . . . nothing - no power, our car just completely died.  How can people think God does not have a sense of humor?  We were asking for opportunities and what bigger opportunity could we have than an expensive car repair on a road trip?  We got to demonstrate patience, faith, kindness, gratitude, self-control and peace, just to name a few.  We also got to be living testimonies to the provisions God has for His children.  Every single detail was taken care of seamlessly and we didn't suffer AT ALL.  

Praise His name!  

We still request your prayer on the financial matter mentioned in the last post.  While it is definitely temporarily controlled, there are still loose ends that need completely tied up.  I am completely faithful in the power of my God to work in the situation and know that He already has plans much bigger than I could ever ask or imagine.  

Blessings dear ones and thank you for your prayers and encouragement!

PLEASE PRAY WITH US!!

Over the past few months, I have been writing to both be an encouragement and be encouraged.  You see, it encourages me to go back and read what God is doing and has done in my life.  

I find myself today needing to ask for encouragement from my fellow believers in the form of some fervent prayers.  I hope you are reading this before Friday, May 1st.  I need to ask all the readers of this blog to pray specifically for God to do two things for us.  Please start right now and continue through May 9th.

First, could you agree with me in prayer for a specific financial need?  I won't share details for the world to see, but if you could just petition the Lord for me in the area of finances, He will, of course, know what I am praying about.  

Secondly, our family has an opportunity coming next week to either be positive or negative testimonies for Christ.  We will be in a specific situation that will cause us to simply share our daily lives.  These folks we will be sharing with are certainly separated from the Lord.   Whether as believers living out of fellowship or unbelievers completely separated, only God knows.  Regardless, we have been given a great opportunity to show how attractive our differences are.  Please pray that God will open doors, that He will make it blatantly obvious that the door is open, and that we will walk through the doors with grace and peace.  Most importantly, pray that God will use us strategically to bring two souls to Him for His glory, honor and praise!!

Thank you in advance for your commitment to pray with us!  We need it more than mere words can express.  Of course, you can expect a report on the blessings your prayers have accomplished when we return.

Makes me wanna shout! Hallelujah, Thank You Jesus!

Today is Sunday.  The Lord's Day.  These days I find I cherish my Lord's Day more and more.  I'm not sure if it's because I'm getting older, or because I've known the Lord longer or because I'm going deeper with Him every day.  A combination of them all, I'm sure.  What a precious gift God has given us to corporately worship Him.  And how thankful I am to have been born in a country where we have the freedom to do so.  

I find myself being more and more open in my worship as time goes on.  Those of you who know me know I am a vocalist.  But true worship is so much more than music.  And freedom to express that worship is a privilege and a joy!  Worship takes place anytime we honor and bless the Lord.  For me, that includes raising my children, keeping my home, supporting and encouraging my husband, praying with a friend, studying God's Word, and, yes, music.  I've heard Beth Moore say before that if we really GOT what God has done for us, we couldn't help but express our joy!  And I wholeheartedly agree with that statement.  

Think about it dear one!  He met you right where you were.  He sent His only Son to die and suffer shame and hatred so your sins could be forgiven.  He KEEPS you by the same power that raised His Son.  He pursues you every day because He is jealous for a deep relationship with YOU.  The words to one of my very favorite songs continually play in my mind.  Notice the acts God has done for us . . .

When I think about the Lord

How He saved me

How He raised me

How he filled me with the Holy Ghost

How he healed me to the uttermost

When I think about the Lord

How He picked me up

And turned me around 

How he placed my feet

On solid ground . . .

Now read the REST of the song for the only response we can have after a work like that!

. . .  Makes me wanna shout!

Hallelujah!

Thank you Jesus!

Lord you're worthy!

Of all the glory!

And all the honor! 

And all the praise!

How can you not wanna shout?? How about leap?  Run? Dare I say, DANCE with some holy joy!  Look what He did.  Look what He's doing.  Look what He'll do.  Go ahead and shout a little, I'll wait . . .  

If the words to that song don't do it for you, why don't you spend a little time in the Psalms?  Psalm 40 is one of my personal favorites.  "He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand." (v. 2).  Or how about Psalm 34 "I will extol the Lord at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.  My soul will boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.  Glorify the Lord with me; let us exalt his name together." (v. 1-3)  Exalt His name with me, saints!  He is worthy!!  If this doesn't make you wanna shout Hallelujah, thank you Jesus, you'd better check your pulse!  You might need to visit your Healer!

God Speaking

I'm on a mission to learn about God's plan for some very specific situations in my life.  I'm wondering how you discern God's voice in your life.  What tools do you use to be absolutely certain He has spoken to you about a specific situation.  I know there are many others who would love some practical life application tools to help them know that what they're hearing is indeed God's voice.  Please comment.  How do you seek His voice on specific matters?  Are you a still listener (meditating on His Word quietly)?  Do you ask for a specific Scripture for confirmation?  Do you keep a journal, then go back and read how He's spoken to you through your own thoughts?  Prayer walks?  What is your familiar way to seek God's voice?

Please leave your comment.  I'm just so thrilled to see how God speaks in the lives of fellow saints.

Lessons from my children

Wow, last week had so many things I want to share with you that I could write for days.  So I'll spare you and pick one theme that seemed to prevail in my life last week - God speaking to me through my kids.  How humbling!!

I got to witness God immediately answer a prayer by my son that directly affected our lives.  It was incredible.  I was honored to be able to point out to him that he will never have to wonder if God listens to his prayers.  He will never have to wonder if God loves him.  I told him when he starts to feel those things to remember that moment.

Then later in the week, I cried with him while he was very sad over a situation with a neighborhood playmate.  He felt like he wasn't liked anymore.  I reminded him what a cool kid he is, but more than that, I got to remind him that God had just showed him earlier in the week how much he meant to Him!! 

But God used that situation to teach mom a very important lesson that I'll never forget.  God is sad when we are sad.  He hurts when we hurt just as much as a mother hurts with her child when his feelings are hurt.  God is miraculously, gloriously showing me more and more how much he loves me and wants a deep relationship with me.  He's teaching me how he is not a God waiting for me to make mistakes, but rather, he waits for me to seek closeness with Him.  

I hope your children never have to face hurts from other children.  But the reality is that children deal with this sort of thing every day.  Just like adults.  How often are you hurt by other human adults?  Often, I'm sure.  We have a parent to run to to cry on their shoulder.  And He hurts with us, just like we hurt with our kids when they come to us.  Remember this during those times and be encouraged.  There are lessons from the Lord in every act of every day.  Our job as believers is to have our eyes and ears open enough to see and hear the lesson, then apply it!