"Since ancient time no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides you, who acts on behalf of those who wait for him." Isaiah 64:4
Wait! Wait! Comes the scream from behind. Unsure if the the little boy is speaking to her the young woman turns around. As her blue eyes meet his, "Thank you," comes from his lips. "Thank you for thinking of me. Thank you for giving me life. Thank you for loving me enough to give me to a family that loves me and cares for me as their very own." Tears filled her eyes and began to run down her cheek as she remembered back 8 years to her senior year of high school and the dreaded homecoming dance where she made one mistake and her life changed forever. 4 weeks later she found out she was pregnant, 8 weeks later she chose life and decided to give up the baby for adoption, and 6 months later instead of walking across the stage at graduation she delivered a little baby boy into the loving arms of a family unable to have children of their own.
"Wait!" is what God told her the Sunday morning before the homecoming dance. "Wait!" is what God told her the day she went to have an abortion. "Wait." is what she did after she realized that not following God could and would lead to life changing consequences. "Wait!" is the first word she heard from the little boy that she gave life.
"Wait! Wait!" It's so hard to wait. But if God is telling us to wait we should. He has something better for us. He has a plan that is unbeknownst to us and way better than our wildest dreams. Is God telling you to wait? He's told me, and at first I didn't obey because I thought I knew better. But Oh, if only I would have waited. If only I could take back my times of compulsion, but I can't. All I can do is learn from them and just wait.
"Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for you!" Isaiah 30:18. "Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD." Psalm 27:14.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
People Insult, God Encourages!
"Hear me, you who know what is right, you people who have my law in your hearts: Do not fear the reproach of man or be terrified by their insults." Isaiah 51:7
Sticks and stones may break my bones and words will definitely hurt me, but God heals the wounds of both. You know what the hardest thing about being a people pleaser is? Not doing the things people ask me to do, but allowing someone to deter me from doing the things God has told me to do.
My husband, Brett, is a professional golfer, but he doesn't get paid like Phil Mickelson or Tiger Woods, actually he doesn't get paid at all until he makes it onto one of the tours. That makes for a huge struggle financially in our home, but this isn't something we just decided to do. After being laid off last November we prayed for guidance in Brett's career path for a month and a half when he got the leading to go back into golf. This leading came directly from God because Brett had swore he would never ever go back to golf. We knew without a doubt that this is what God wanted for him to do. Since then many people have put their 2 cents in about what he is doing and there have been some truly hurtful comments. I don't like for people to be upset with me or think down of me, so I allowed their comments to discourage me. When I'm discouraged then I discourage Brett. But God called me as a wife to be an encourager of my husband, and I have allowed others insults to deter me from God's Word.
I am choosing today to put their insults aside because "The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation." Psalm 118:14. And everyday, "I rise before dawn and cry out for help; I have put my hope in your word." Psalm 119:47.
Do not turn from God's truth. Don't allow anyone to deter you from what you know as truth. For if the word you heard was from God, he will strengthen and protect you, "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6.
Sticks and stones may break my bones and words will definitely hurt me, but God heals the wounds of both. You know what the hardest thing about being a people pleaser is? Not doing the things people ask me to do, but allowing someone to deter me from doing the things God has told me to do.
My husband, Brett, is a professional golfer, but he doesn't get paid like Phil Mickelson or Tiger Woods, actually he doesn't get paid at all until he makes it onto one of the tours. That makes for a huge struggle financially in our home, but this isn't something we just decided to do. After being laid off last November we prayed for guidance in Brett's career path for a month and a half when he got the leading to go back into golf. This leading came directly from God because Brett had swore he would never ever go back to golf. We knew without a doubt that this is what God wanted for him to do. Since then many people have put their 2 cents in about what he is doing and there have been some truly hurtful comments. I don't like for people to be upset with me or think down of me, so I allowed their comments to discourage me. When I'm discouraged then I discourage Brett. But God called me as a wife to be an encourager of my husband, and I have allowed others insults to deter me from God's Word.
I am choosing today to put their insults aside because "The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation." Psalm 118:14. And everyday, "I rise before dawn and cry out for help; I have put my hope in your word." Psalm 119:47.
Do not turn from God's truth. Don't allow anyone to deter you from what you know as truth. For if the word you heard was from God, he will strengthen and protect you, "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
More.
"Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more." Ephesians 4:19
A lust for more. That hits me to the core. I constantly wanted more, but more what.....stuff. More couldn't fill me, so what could fill me?
All sins are impure, hence sinning is indulging in impurity, and when we are sinning we never have enough we always want more. The opposite is also true. Righteousness is pure, hence seeking righteousness is seeking purity, and when we are seeking righteousness we know we will never be fully righteous, but Jesus is a spring of living water and He is ever flowing and ever filling us.
"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by it's deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24
When we become believers we should let go of our sinful past and our desires to seek our sinful nature, and instead seek out righteousness and God's holiness. However, sin is still around us and it can be very inticing. For instance, Brett and I struggled with the sin of buying and hoarding. We bought stuff, lots of stuff, the newest things, and as soon as we had it we weren't satisfied and wanted more. Through the trial we are enduring, God has taught us a valuable lesson, and no longer do we want stuff for ourselves, but we want others in need to have. I now long to help those in need, to give to those who don't have.
What is your sin that causes you to lust for more? Is it food, money, sex, gadgets, alcohol, technology, drugs, porn, what is it? We were created to be like God, is there something in your life that isn't Godly? God has called us back to righteousness, to put off our own ways, and to be made new in the way we act, speak, and think. Allow God to transform you.
A lust for more. That hits me to the core. I constantly wanted more, but more what.....stuff. More couldn't fill me, so what could fill me?
All sins are impure, hence sinning is indulging in impurity, and when we are sinning we never have enough we always want more. The opposite is also true. Righteousness is pure, hence seeking righteousness is seeking purity, and when we are seeking righteousness we know we will never be fully righteous, but Jesus is a spring of living water and He is ever flowing and ever filling us.
"You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by it's deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24
When we become believers we should let go of our sinful past and our desires to seek our sinful nature, and instead seek out righteousness and God's holiness. However, sin is still around us and it can be very inticing. For instance, Brett and I struggled with the sin of buying and hoarding. We bought stuff, lots of stuff, the newest things, and as soon as we had it we weren't satisfied and wanted more. Through the trial we are enduring, God has taught us a valuable lesson, and no longer do we want stuff for ourselves, but we want others in need to have. I now long to help those in need, to give to those who don't have.
What is your sin that causes you to lust for more? Is it food, money, sex, gadgets, alcohol, technology, drugs, porn, what is it? We were created to be like God, is there something in your life that isn't Godly? God has called us back to righteousness, to put off our own ways, and to be made new in the way we act, speak, and think. Allow God to transform you.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
God's Love
"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." Ephesians 3:17b-19
Have you ever been in love? Have you ever been the recipient of a love that makes your heart flutter or just skip a beat? Multiply that feeling of love times 1000, and it still wouldn't encompass the love of Christ. No matter how rotten others treat you, no matter what a loved one of yours has done that hurt you, you can look to Jesus and He will fill you with all the love you need and more.
Christ's love is blanketed on us like snow over the earth. Snow covers the grass and the flowers to protect them from the freezing harsh air, it provides for the greenery so that it will be able to live and thrive and not die away; so that its beauty can be shown in the Spring, but unlike the snow Christ's love for you will never melt away and your beauty is glorified in Christ.
No matter what you do you can't lose this love, He will never fall out of love with you. "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present or the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our LORD." Romans 8:38-39. Know that you are loved!
Now it is up to you! You must accept the love of Christ, and share and declare it to the world.
Have you ever been in love? Have you ever been the recipient of a love that makes your heart flutter or just skip a beat? Multiply that feeling of love times 1000, and it still wouldn't encompass the love of Christ. No matter how rotten others treat you, no matter what a loved one of yours has done that hurt you, you can look to Jesus and He will fill you with all the love you need and more.
Christ's love is blanketed on us like snow over the earth. Snow covers the grass and the flowers to protect them from the freezing harsh air, it provides for the greenery so that it will be able to live and thrive and not die away; so that its beauty can be shown in the Spring, but unlike the snow Christ's love for you will never melt away and your beauty is glorified in Christ.
No matter what you do you can't lose this love, He will never fall out of love with you. "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present or the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our LORD." Romans 8:38-39. Know that you are loved!
Now it is up to you! You must accept the love of Christ, and share and declare it to the world.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Grace is Given Freely, But Glory is Revealed through Work!
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10.
What good works are you doing right now?
God preplanned in advance to your creation for you to do a particular work for Him. He is Our Potter, Our Woodworker, Our Artist, Our Creator, and He formed each of us specially to do a good work. Now, I am not saying we are saved by our works for Him, He saved us by His Grace, I am just saying He created us to do good works for Him. He doesn't need us to complete His master plan, He can do it on His own, but He wants to use us and we must figure out what He created us to do and do that to the best of our ability.
Many people ask me about the Florida Baptist Children's Homes, and how they can help there. They feel called to volunteer or give, but are unsure of the needs. Well my main question is always, what are you good at? What do you love to do? Once you figure that out, then you can do that to help. These children do not have the luxury of having parents around to teach them life skills, sports, dancing, or baking, so that is where we can use you.
God created you with a gifting no matter what it might be, and He wants you to use it Yesterday, Today, and Always. Sit down and write a list of things you love to do, and then to the right of that list write a list of people you can help. Match up your to lists and get started. You will be amazed at the good work you can do, and God will be Glorified through you by showing off His work of Art.
What good works are you doing right now?
God preplanned in advance to your creation for you to do a particular work for Him. He is Our Potter, Our Woodworker, Our Artist, Our Creator, and He formed each of us specially to do a good work. Now, I am not saying we are saved by our works for Him, He saved us by His Grace, I am just saying He created us to do good works for Him. He doesn't need us to complete His master plan, He can do it on His own, but He wants to use us and we must figure out what He created us to do and do that to the best of our ability.
Many people ask me about the Florida Baptist Children's Homes, and how they can help there. They feel called to volunteer or give, but are unsure of the needs. Well my main question is always, what are you good at? What do you love to do? Once you figure that out, then you can do that to help. These children do not have the luxury of having parents around to teach them life skills, sports, dancing, or baking, so that is where we can use you.
God created you with a gifting no matter what it might be, and He wants you to use it Yesterday, Today, and Always. Sit down and write a list of things you love to do, and then to the right of that list write a list of people you can help. Match up your to lists and get started. You will be amazed at the good work you can do, and God will be Glorified through you by showing off His work of Art.
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