God Is Watching over His Word

I love the many little ways God speaks to us and reveals Himself.

Last week, I spent the bulk of my time preparing for and being part of a conference with our church family and others from our region. I was a little hesitant, but I wrote to my web design clients that I would be out for the week and took a break from writing my blog for the majority of the week. I wondered if my clients would be upset that they didn’t have full access to me. I also wondered if the people who regularly read and interact with me on my blog would fly away to a new spot. That’s exactly what the enemy tried to get me to believe.  It’s funny how we are tempted to believe that the things God provides or asks us to do are the real focus and we couldn’t possibly set them aside. I’m not going to lie, I was a little bit panicked, but I did it.

When I woke up Monday morning, I had a fax from a client who had had a contract for a couple months but never signed. It was now signed and ready to go! When I logged into my blog, I was very surprised that the numbers of pages viewed and visitors were virtually the same. Now, I don’t go by numbers (been released from that curse), but it just showed me again that I can trust His leading always. When I place things in His hands, there is an assurance of provision.

⁶ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, ⁷ casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.

Every Need Supplied

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
~ Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)

Our church drama team has spent the last four months preparing the biggest production we’ve ever done on our own. Countless hours were spent memorizing and practicing lines, preparing props and sets, rehearsing and praying for our audience.

Saturday evening’s presentation went off without a hitch. Sunday morning, the snow started. Roads quickly got bad, and the wind polished ice made them worse. My police officer husband texted me to just get home from church, and don’t go back out onto accident strewn streets.

My heart sank to think of all the people who had planned to see the second night’s presentation. Postponing until next Sunday and competing with the Super Bowl seemed like a poor Plan B. So we simply prayed that if it might be His will, God would sufficiently clear the skies and roads for the show to go on.

He did. A good sized-crowd turned out. And then God answered more prayers, when five people asked for a pastor to contact them and two more made decisions to follow Jesus.

God knew people had a need. He used our presentation to begin meeting it. He gave us peace about the possiblity of cancellation—another need met. He gave us the gift of seeing the fruit of our labors.

That one is simply a gift. I thank Him for meeting needs. I thank Him for the gift of being used by Him.

Cache of Hope

Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of him who was dead, said to Him, “Lord, by this time there is a stench, for he has been dead four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not say to you that if you would believe you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:39-40 NKJV)

I don’t know about you, but I have the audacity to invite God to step in to bring me life in a situation, and then hesitate and draw back when things get messy.

And the earth quaked, and the rocks were split, and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many. (Matthew 27:51-53 NKJV)

I know well that no matter how far gone a situation, no matter how long it’s been laid at His feet, the fact that I’ve not yet received my anticipated answer to prayer doesn’t mean that the Lord doesn’t yet intend to surprise me with a response bigger than anything I might have imagined.

image source: thecampagn.com

Behold, there were very many [bones] in the open valley; and indeed they were very dry. And He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” So I answered, “O Lord GOD, You know.” Again He said to me, “Prophesy to these bones … ” So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, an exceedingly great army.
(Ezekiel 37:1-10 NKJV)

I rejoice that God is bringing life in a relationship I thought dead. I am exceedingly grateful that I belong to a Creator Who delights in bringing life, light, and love wherever He is invited.

Thank You, Lord, for a cache of hope deeper than my doubt.

Testimonies: January 6, 2011

Today I am thiankful to God for my family and friends. We often don’t realize just how much support we do have but when times gt tough, our families are still there. Yes, we have problems, but through them all, we work through them and God does all the restoration and healing from that moment on. We never know how long each of us has. We could be here today and gone tomorrow. so please cherish your loved ones on a daily basis, pray for each other, and most of all, love each other.

Old from the New

As new as I felt when I became aware of the Holy Spirit working in my life, I am being renewed to understand that Jesus wishes to constantly renew me. He makes me a new creation when I am born again. And He wishes to give me new life in Him everyday.

That’s the work He’s doing right now. Perhaps He needs to bring me to a place of feeling old to renew the desire to be something new. While I don’t enjoy the former, I’m excited about the latter. I’m feeling older and slower these days. I sense that a renewal of spirit will exceed the weakness of flesh—if I will cooperate.

Thank You, Lord, for making all things new, EVERY day.

Hungry for Jesus

This year has been filled with amazing and crazy changes. A year filled with struggle and letting go, sickness and slow healing, dreams and the road to its fruition. All an amazing adventure.

The answers, waiting, and praying have made me so grateful to know He holds me. Everything, everyone, and all my dreams are safe in His hands. Even in falling apart, I’m safe in His arms.

This Christmas season I have grown so hungry for Him. His story of this season. His reason for coming. His truth in the celebration. It has me excited and expectant for more of Jesus. Even in the middle of all that goes wrong. In spite of the stressors that come with living out my dreams. In it all, the hunger joyfully grows as I find more of Him.

Our house has been decorated with messages that fill my soul and lift my spirit every time I pass. I stop. I read. I think on the life words. We’ve also decorated with fun things so we laugh and enjoy.

I’m breathing in Celebrating with Jesus by Max Lucado. I’m feasting on Today in a Manger by Ian Strachan (thanks to Bonnie).

I received some extra special gifts when Dayspring tucked these, our Love Came Down mugs, into my shipment. Free for reviewing with Dayspring. They were exactly the ones I had wanted! One for David and one for myself. A privileged second gift. A book I put off buying and then last night found in our discount bookstore — One Incredible Moment by Max Lucado.

He knows the desires of our hearts and longs to grant them. He rejoices in the desires that line up with His, for us. He knows where we are financially, emotionally, physically, spiritually, and relationally.

He knows it all. He knows us well. Still, He pours such grace and mercy. He outpours into us true love.

It all leaves me joyfully hungry for more of Him.

The Lord of Wonders

If my mustard seed faith has gotten me this far, I know that it will carry me through to the end.

When I was saved in the summer of 2009, I knew that I would lose people along the way. I was just a tiny bit sad about it but I knew that God was there not only to hold me but to remind me that He is the Lord of Wonders.

As I have written about my life, childhood, one of my responsibilities was to raise my two little sisters. Because of how we were all raised, we all had very contentious relationships with each other as children and as adults.

I kept my relationship with my baby sister a secret for many years because we knew it would cause a circle of problems if the others knew that she and I were talking. It would take hours for me to explain why (: but its how it was for us as we grew up.

When I was saved though, things changed, I had changed, was changing. I spoke of the Lord openly, spoke of marriage restoration as the Lord put in my heart. Spoke of family healing and most of all, I no longer saw life the same way. Because of my stand for my marriage, my little sister thought me in denial and that I needed to go see a therapist. She would tell me that my husband would never come back and that I needed to move on. I would tell her lovingly that when the Lord puts something in your heart to do, you can’t say no to God, you can try but its better to get it right the first time otherwise you will be in a world of hurt. I told her I had walked a very difficult life without God in my life, now here He was offering a new life, I wasn’t about to turn my back on Him when for the first time in my life I had peace.

As a result of those conversations, her anger towards me intensified and came to a head one day when she asked me to never speak to her or her family again. I backed off and waited.

It’s been over a year and a half since I last spoke to her. Patiently waiting on the Lords timing. Waiting for Him to do what needed to be done, praying for her that somehow He would show her something that would turn her life in a different direction.

My little sister is in the hospital. My mom told me yesterday and she also told me that my little sister wanted to speak to me; she wanted me to go see her, to stay with her, to help her.

I was surprised because I thought this was going to be a long time coming.

But here she was.

I called her, she was in the hospital, and as soon as she heard me say my name she started to cry.

I told her it was good to hear her voice. I told her how sad I was for her that she was back in the hospital. I hoped she would get better. She wanted me to come but because of my work commitments I could not go right now. I told her I would ask my other sister to see if she could go.

As she spoke to the nurse at one point, I prayed over her really quietly so as she would not hear me, I did not want to upset her. I asked the Lord to heal her, to help her get home.

I let her go and told her I would speak to her later.

I then called my other sister, who still holds anger in her heart even though she says she doesn’t. She is a tough one, so much like I was. She had not spoken to our sister for about seven years and didn’t feel that there was a need to go in that direction. I calmly spoke to her and told her she is reaching out to us and we are her sisters, we have to reach back otherwise we will lose her. I let her go, she said she really didn’t want to get involved, I told her to feel better because she too is having medical problems, and I told her that I would see her during the week.

A few minutes later, that tough cookie sent me a text asking me when, if she could go, when would she have to be there and for how long. I smiled because I knew that somehow her heart would be convicted. God does convict.

I spoke to my baby sister a little while ago and she sounds much better and she told me she feels better, I will call her later on.

The Lord is the Lord of RESTORATION & of WONDERS.

Never doubt His word. Never doubt what He can do. I know my husband is coming home. I know the Lord will put together that which was broken. I know the Lord hates divorce and I know the Lord loves us no matter what. Unconditional love.

Thank you LORD.