Trusting the "Unknown"

This Saturday comes with a Hurricane!  Although I am much too far inland to feel the greatest effects, we are experiencing some rain and A LOT of wind.  I have always enjoyed watching storms progress.  Watching the clouds move across the sky and the rain take many forms as it is whipped about by the wind and crashes into the ground...Rain has always been my favorite weather :)  

I recently have rediscovered my love for reading and am currently reading a book called "The Hidden Flame" by Davis Bunn and Janette Oke.  It's the second in a series about the growth of Jesus' followers following his Crucifixion.  It was while reading this morning that God spoke to me...  Here's what I read:

"...'Please, God, just let me serve,' she prayed silently as she sat, hardly aware of the crowd that streamed by, but her words brought no feeling of peace.  No sense that he was listening.  She couldn't have explained which pained her more--a troubled heart or an injured leg.  But even as she struggled a quiet voice inside whispered that here was a new opportunity for her to trust her Savior.

Again she prayed.  Not merely for wisdom, but for submission.  Would she ever be ready--and willing--to let God work out the details of her future?...'help me trust you, Lord,' she prayed..."

We've all been there (whether the situation or circumstances are the same or not).  Praying to a seemingly unlistening hearer...with no comfort of peace, no answer, no quick fix, no sign that we are even heard...and yet, in a quiet whisper, "...here is a new opportunity to trust your Savior..."  Every moment of every day is a NEW opportunity to TRUST your Savior!  I often find myself feeling as this character feels...wondering "Would she ever be ready--and willing--to let God work out the details of her future?..."  It's so difficult in our flesh to trust our future to the "unknown"...  BUT, it's NOT UNKNOWN!  True, the outcome may not be known, we may not know what exactly to expect, we may even be tempted to take care of things in our own power because we struggle to wait...    STOP for a second...    We DO know that Christ came and died and ROSE again!  We DO know that He works all things to the good of those called according to His purpose! (Romans 8:28)  So, we DO know what to expect, friends!.. We can EXPECT GOOD!!!!!  And we can ask God for help!  We can ask anything in Jesus' name (according to His purpose) and it's already done in Heaven! (John 14:14, 1John 5:14)  So ask.  Pray for wisdom.  Pray for submission to His will.  Pray for trust.  Pray for his help.  (...yet you do not have because you do not ask.-John 14:14)  And remember, sweet friends, every event in life (good or bad) is a new opportunity to trust our savior!

Church

There is nothing more soul refreshing than time with the Body of Christ!  I tend to forget this.  The world tries to make us believe that all we need to "be refreshed" is a good night's sleep or another coffee or an hour at the gym or some meditation or a yummy plate of food or 3 mindless hours in front a the TV or reading a book or whatever thing the world tries to fill you with...

The truth is, none of these things can truly satisfy.

The truth is, all of these things are ways the enemy tries to pull you away from encouragement.

Granted, all of these things can be good in moderation, but, God created us FOR relationship with Him and with His body (the church).  The Church can mean many things; a close friend, a sibling or parent, a group of friends on a Friday night, or Church on Sunday morning.  The thing we need to be aware of, be on guard against, is that Satan tried to convince us that we don't need this (and sometimes he succeeds).

I know that I am never more refreshed than when I wake up early and get to church...and I know that's because CHURCH is what I am created for...  Reading the Bible is good, and we are called to store up the word of God in our hearts, BUT, we need relationship and help in this world!

When I lack some kind of "Body Gathering" during the week, everything suffers.  I become more short tempered.  I bristle at anything anyone says or requests of me.  I have no desire to help or to be a help.  I can not love as Christ loved.  The body teaches us and reminds us of the ways of Christ so that we can be filled and overflow to those outside the body.  What keeps you from the body of Christ?  From Church?  Are you beleiving the world when they say you can get by without going to Church on Sunday (or any other day)?

Do not be discouraged...

This week has been pretty good but pretty difficult! ...SOMETHING good is BOUND to come...  That's my prayer anyway!  God can do ANYTHING!

I've committed to reading through the Bible...no set time frame just going through at my own pace...I just started the book of Joshua.  What miracles the Lord did before the eyes of the Israelites!  Joshua 1:9 has become somewhat of a mantra for me this week:

"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.”

Sometimes the fact that He IS with us is the only comfort we have...and it's all the comfort we need!  There is NOTHING to be fearful of, no matter WHAT is going on in life because God is with us.  Death has been defeated!  The battle is won!  And even death (as scary as it is) is more gain and triumph than we could ever imagine because we have erternity to look forward to!  Life on this earth is difficult...it's the only garuntee we have.  But, be strong and courageous!  Live life FOR Christ, allowing HIM to overflow from your heart into your actions/conversations/relationships, and there is NOTHING to fear! (Easier said than done for sure)  That's why God gave us the Holy Spirit and Prayer!  Talk with God.  Listen.  Only He can and WILL give you the strength to carry out the good work he has started in you---and he will cary it through to completion! (Philippians 1:6)

love and prayers,

XOXOX

Victory in Jesus!

Here we are on Sunday again...I'm sorry this isn't as consistent as I want it to be, thank you for bearing with me :)

I am always amazed at how the Enemy can pick out just the "right" lie for each and every day.  Some days it might be how you look..."you're not pretty...that doesn't look good...why are you even trying?...," he says.  And, wouldn't you know it, that's JUST what causes you to have a bad day.  Or maybe he attacks your job performance, or your relationships, or your mood, or any number of things, but each time he chooses the ONE thing that keeps you from puting one foot in front of the other that day (and it may be different every day).  The POINT is, that's his goal.  He wants you to fail.  He wants you to be upset, cower in the corner, snap at your friend, tell yourelf you are any less that what God made you....  The TRUTH is, we have already won the victory(1 John 5:4: ...for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith)!  God has given us the power to say:

"Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men." Matthew 16:23

And the cool part is, Satan HAS to listen!  (I so need to hear this today!)  Satan's hateful half-truths have been coming at me from all sides...and it's hard to say "no" to him (John 8:44: You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.)  But, God has given us the power!  Praise the Lord!  Even though it's hard, it IS possible...and sometimes we need to tell him more than once to remove his influence from out path...all the while guarding our hearts and minds from his constant attack!

So, tell that bad day to get behind you and move on in JOY!  Chirst has won!  The victory is ours!