Month: April 2012

A to Z: Z is for Zenith

Zenith

The point of culmination; the peak

My heart is so full right now. I have tried to sit down and write this final post and I simply can’t do it without tears and a heart ready to burst. Last night we sang a song, that beautifully describes the Zenith of the believers life, the culmination of our fight to finish well, to walk worthy, to not bend under the trials, sorrows, and hardships of life . If you were to ask me “why Jody, why do you fight to overcome? Why do you live for the “Forever“, for the intangible and unseen? This is my answer.

My Atonement, Belief, Confession, Death, Eternity, Forever, Grace…….all these culminate and will merge in one glorious moment, the day I will rise, when he calls my name!

Please worship and glory with me as you listen to this song by Chris Tomlin. Revel in these words from Revelation. Allow these lyrics  to refresh your heart with truth, glory and hope. He is the Zenith of life, and the day I see Him face to face I will proclaim “It was worth it all, for Worthy is the Lamb!”

Revelation 22:1-5 (Esv)

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb 2 through the middle of he street of the city;also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5 And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

There’s a peace I’ve come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There’s an anchor for my soul
I can say “It is well“

Jesus has overcome 
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

[Chorus:]
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain 
I will rise on eagles’ wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise 

There’s a day that’s drawing near
When this darkness breaks to light
And the shadows disappear
And my faith shall be my eyes

Jesus has overcome 
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

[Chorus:]
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain 
I will rise on eagles’ wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

And I hear the voice of many angels sing,
“Worthy is the Lamb”
And I hear the cry of every longing heart,
“Worthy is the Lamb”
[x2]

[Chorus:]
And I will rise when He calls my name
No more sorrow, no more pain 
I will rise on eagles’ wings
Before my God fall on my knees
And rise
I will rise

A to Z: Y is for Yahweh

Y is for:

Yahweh

I would like to share an article written by Betsy Childs. As we celebrate the Sabbath and Worship the God that Is, Was, and will Be savor and glory in who He is and what he has done for you. Hallelujah, to God be the Glory!!!

Hallelujah!

By Betsy Childs
This name was precious to the people of Israel, and God proved the truth of his name over and over. He saved his people by delivering them from the Egyptians and bringing them through the Red Sea. He sustained them through forty years in the wilderness, saving them by giving them manna, quail, and water from the rock. He delivered the Promised Land into their hands, destroying their enemies. Even in times of Israel’s rebellion, God mercifully sent his prophets to call them back and remind them of his name. The prophets also called the Israelites to look ahead, for someday God would bring them salvation in the form of the promised Messiah.

The Incarnation of Jesus Christ brings even more meaning to the name Yahweh. God not only showed himself present by being on Israel’s side and remembering her cause, He actually became physically present. Jesus was present not merely to empathize with us; he came to accomplish our salvation. It is quite possible that several times Jesus intentionally identifies himself with Yahweh, such as when Jesus told his questioners, “I tell you the truth, before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58). The significance of Jesus using the phrase “I am” would not have been lost on his Jewish listeners. Jesus was the fulfillment and ultimate confirmation of God’s name. As Elmer Martens summarizes, “The name [Yahweh] is anything but empty. The name carries overtones of presence, salvation defined as deliverance and blessing, covenantal bondedness, and integrity.”

When we sing the word “Hallelujah,” it is a reminder that we serve the God who revealed himself to Moses and led his people by a pillar of fire. We praise the God who revealed his plan through the prophets. We exalt a God who did not hide Himself from us, but revealed to us his name. This God even walked among us, and through a painful, humiliating death, He accomplished our salvation.

But the word “Hallelujah” should not only cause us to look back on what God has done; it also urges us to look forward. The apostle John reveals to us that this word will be used in heaven. He writes, “After this I heard what seemed to be the loud voice of a great multitude in heaven, crying out, ‘Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God….’ And the twenty-four elders and the four living creatures fell down and worshiped God who was seated on the throne, saying, ‘Amen. Hallelujah!’”(Rev. 19:1,4, ESV).

Every time we sing “Hallelujah,” we are preparing ourselves for an eternity of praising Yahweh. We can be reminded that God will finish the salvation he has started. All heaven and earth will witness the salvation of the Lord and the vindication of his name. God has demonstrated his saving presence in the past, and He will demonstrate it again when Jesus returns in glory.

A to Z challenge: X is for eXist

eXist

1. To have actual being; be real.
2. To have life; live
3. To continue to be;
At the heart of why I strive to overcome and want to overcome in life, is the existence of God.  I am compelled and driven by a desire to fight, obtain, and conquer not out of fear, self preservation, or gain,  but out of sheer delight and love.

 

My heart was bound to His the day He took my place on the cross and died the death I deserved. His Grace, mercy and love did not stop there, for my entire life He has walked with me hedging, protecting, correcting, loving, giving, and transforming me from the inside out.

 

To suggest that God does not exist and that I can not prove it, when I am standing before you as living proof He  lives, rules and reigns in the affairs of man, is ludacris. It would be akin to the pharisees who demanded Jesus prove He was God’s son after he had walked among them for years doing sings, wonders, and miracles. If man refuses to accept what has all ready been said, done and proven, nothing more will.

 

God is not a genie bottle to be rubbed or shaken in order to receive what we want or need. No man has the right to demand God prove Himself to be who He claims by performing a series of tricks or magic acts. He created the world, He foretold the wondrous plan of His redemption of man, and then He came and fulfilled every word of prophecy written about His birth and life. He lived in submission and obedience to His Father, taking upon Himself the sins of the world. He Bore the punishment of all mankind on the cross, enduring a violent, gruesome, excruciating painful death and then He defeated sin and death by rasing from the dead. If none of these things move a man’s heart, nothing will!  Man can’t reject all this and then sit in his living room and cry out for God to prove He exists by making  a,b, & c magically appear. God will not oblige an unbelieving heart. You will never discover “Truth” by setting out to prove it doesn’t exists.

 

It is akin to an total stranger telling me my sister Amy does not exist. Amy lives seven minutes down the road. She is an amazing wife, mother, and friend. For over twenty years she has given much to me on both a physical and spiritually level. She has blazed trails for me my entire life, always going before, making my path a bit easier to walk. She has offered advice and at times cold hard truth that was hard to swallow but spot on. She loves me, and I love her. We are family. Her impact in my life is monumental and I would be lost without her. I am a better person because of her. I have become a better wife and mother because of her wise and godly council. She has rubbed off on me and often times people remark  how alike we are, and that they can tell we are family, sisters, related.

 

Those of you living on the other side of this computer screen have not and can not see Amy, but it would be illogical for you to say she does not exist simply because you have never met her or received a phone call from her. It would be illogical to declare is impossible that Amy has ever given me advice, gifts, or visited me in my home simply because you were not present when she did so or because she has never done the same for you.

 

To declare that you have searched extensively online, read books, and asked those around you if she exists and they said no, proves your conclusion that she can not exist would be illogical. No matter what research, books, or opinion you form, you can’t make Amy disappear from my life nor could you disprove the physical, mental & spiritual impact she has had in my life. I could produce physical records that verify, her existence and accomplishments. If that were not enough, I could present thousands of others who have met her personally and benefited from her life, but if your heart is bent on her not existing, chances are you would not accept this proof either.

 

To emphatically demand Amy does not exist would be foolishness yet this is the logic of so many seeking to prove God doesn’t exist. They set out, not to find Him, but to prove He can’t possibly be real. They seek proof to substantiate their claim using the research and writings of  others who don’t know God, but they will never accept the living testimony of millions of men and women past and present who stand as living witness to His presence and the liberty, freedom, and transformation He has given to them .

 

Yesterday I wrote about the wisdom that is from above. Without God’s grace poured out,  opening the hearts and eyes of man, this wisdom is foolishness.  Until God opens the eyes and heart of man, up is down, right is wrong, reality is fiction, and death is life. Do you know someone shackled by unbelief? Is your heart burdened for one who can’t see truth and freedom when it is  standing before them beckoning?

 

Would you join me, committing to pray for loved-ones, friends, co-workers, acquaintances, and neighbors whose eyes and hearts are blinded. We are surrounded by so many who have never experienced the triumph, hope, joy, and peace you know and revel in. Will you lift up those who remain shackled and imprisoned though hope and freedom is just inches away? He has overcome the evil one, victory is His, it is ours, and it can be theirs!

 

“Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world”

A to Z Challenge: W is Overcoming requires Wisdom

Wisdom

1. The ability to discern or judge what is true, right, or lasting; insight.
2. Common sense; good judgment
3.a. The sum of learning.
4. A wise outlook, plan, or course of action.
5. the ability or result of an ability to think and act utilizing knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense, and insight.

1. The Need for wisdom

Proverbs 4:6-8 (ESV)

6 Do not forsake her (wisdom), and she will keep you;
love her, and she will guard you.
7 The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom,
and whatever you get, get insight.
8 Prize her highly, and she will exalt you;
she will honor you if you embrace her.

I Love this verse, it makes me laugh. Here is my Jody paraphrase
“You want to know what wisdom is? Here it is, You need wisdom and you better get some! How is that for a direct and blunt verse!
You need to value it, prize it, and pay whatever is necessary in order to obtain it.”

The acquisition of wisdom begins with the understanding and acknowledgement that I don’t have it and I need it!

2. The Source for Wisdom

James 3:13-18

13 Are there any among you who are really wise and understanding? Then you should show your wisdom by living right. You should do what is good with humility. A wise person does not boast.

14 If you are selfish and have bitter jealousy in your hearts, you have no reason to boast. Your boasting is a lie that hides the truth.

15 That kind of “wisdom” does not come from God. That “wisdom” comes from the world. It is not spiritual. It is from the devil.

16 Where there is jealousy and selfishness, there will be confusion and every kind of evil. 17 But the wisdom that comes from God is like this: First, it is pure. It is also peaceful, gentle, and easy to please. This wisdom is always ready to help people who have trouble and to do good for others. This wisdom is always fair and honest.

18 People who work for peace in a peaceful way get the blessings that come from right living.

Rule #1, When seeking wisdom as it relates to life and eternity, ‘”Source” is everything!

The wisdom that matters, liberates, and empowers is not earthly, it is spiritual. Man’s wisdom is faulty, and prone to change based on circumstances and emotion. The wisdom of the world says do what is best for you, what feels good, what gives instant gratification. Man’s wisdom denies the validity of faith in the existence of something greater than himself while at the same time demanding faith in itself. The wisdom of man is at its core selfish, leaving others in a wake of shattered dreams and broken hearts.  The wisdom of man does not liberate or empower, it shackles and oppresses.

The guiding principle of a man seeking wisdom from within himself is in essence “I am god, I will decide what is right, true, and just.” This presents a problem because if every man adopts this line of reasoning and wisdom, the word would be filled with billions of self-seeking gods, all  attempting to  co-exist in harmony with others, who live with not only opposing views and goals, but violently conflicting ones.

Wisdom demands a source for its existence. Can created, corrupted men claim to be the author and creator of wisdom? We can not look to ourselves or within ourselves, or to fellow-man for wisdom. If you need wisdom and do not have wisdom, it stands to reason you’re not going to be able to sit in the middle of a dark room & meditate wisdom into existence from the depths of your soul.

3. Wisdom requires Grace:

With grace wisdom can liberate, without grace it shackles.

1 Corinthians 1:18
For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 3:19
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.

Wisdom is not always easy, nor is it always fun. Sometimes wisdom illuminates my heart and energizes my spirit but there are other days when it requires sacrifice. Restraint,  suffering, and sacrifice can be a frequent companions in our search for wisdom.

While the acquisition of wisdom and it’s application in my life might involve some blood, sweat, and tears, its fruit is liberating and well worth the sacrifice. When I am in a situation where I need God’s wisdom to overcome a sin, endure a trial, or even offer encourage a struggling sister, I find it helpful to ask for God’s grace so I will willingly and obediently receive his wisdom, before I actually ask for the wisdom.

Without God’s grace wisdom is foolishness, light is darkness, and weakness flaunts itself as strength.

Are you seeking and searching for wisdom? How is your life spent daily? Do you spend your hours, energy, and affections seeking her and searching for her?

Is your heart burdened by a friend, loved one, or co-worker who lives in darkness, shackled by the foolishness of the world.  Pray for Grace. Pray that God would open their eyes to the light of the gospel of Truth! Grace clears the way for wisdom and truth!

Seek her, search for her, cling to her and do not let her go!

Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get it!

Five Minute Friday: Community

Today I join The Gypsy Mama and a community of amazing, passionate, like-minded women who are writing about community.

“So let’s spend our five minutes of writing today, sharing about community. Fight it, love it, hate it, hurt or healed by it, we were certainly built for it.

Set a timer and just write. Don’t worry about making it just right or not.

Go all in with your words.

Are you ready?”

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. Please visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments.

OK, are you ready? Give me your best five minutes on:

::

Community…

For many years I robbed myself of the gift of community. Insecurity kept me prisoner to my pew, yard, and home. There is risk when you step out and make yourself vulnerable, but  praise God  for the times He kicks us out of the nest. Over the past year or so I have learned the rewards oc community far outweigh the risks!

The Lord knew I needed a community of believers, women who would speak the truth in love. Women who accept me for who I am, while not allow me to make excuses for being anything other than who I am supposed to be in Christ, “A new Creation.”

It is encouraging to fellowship with women who share the same passions, struggles, emotions, and battles I do. We are all in different seasons of life. Some with tiny boppers, some with teens, and some with empty nests. There is seasoned and tried wisdom in our community. Women who have experienced death of spouses, children & parents. My community has suffered through infidelity, broken hearts, and tragedy. All of us have felt the loving and gracious hand of God upon our lives and as a community we come together to bind up, encourage, challenge, exhort, and even rebuke one another.

Community isn’t just a luxury, it is a necessity!

A to Z: V is for Victory!

Victory

1. Defeat of an enemy or opponent.
2. Success in a struggle against difficulties or an obstacle.
3. The state of having triumphed.

I Cor 15:42-45, 50-58

42So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

43It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

45And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit……

50Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

51Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

58Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

“Death is swallowed up…..Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory”

Are there any other words as sweet and liberating as these? Over the last few weeks, I have blogged about the atonement of Christ that gave me freedom from the condemnation of sin. I spoke about the liberating power of faith, truth, grace and God’s love. What a great way to wind down this challenge, by speaking about the ultimate fruit and reward of our battle to Overcome and to walk worth of the amazing gift we have been given.

The truth is alive within my heart. Grace has been poured out upon my life. God’s love has transformed me from a condemned sinner to an adopted daughter and joint heir of Christ. I am His and He is mine. My death was swallowed up when Jesus rose from the dead. He bore the sting of death on the tree fulfilling the law of the Righteous and True, the Only Wise God.

Because He is, I have Overcome!

Thank you Father the the Victory that is mine through you!

A to Z: U is for Overcoming Unbelief

Unbelief

Hebrews 2:18
For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

 

When Jesus walked this earth, we are told He was tempted and suffered just as we are. Our pain and suffering moves Him with compassion. Our Father understands our pain, weaknesses, and needs but what He will never tolerate nor allow is a faithless unbelieving heart. He is True and Faithful and in Him is no deceit or variableness. He has never failed to prove Himself to be who He has proclaimed Himself to be,  nor has He ever failed to fulfill the promises He has given us.

 

Unbelief  is an extremely dangerous thing to harbor in our hearts, and scripture spells out clearly what happens when we allow unbelief to take root and grow in our lives.


Dangers of Unbelief:

1. God can not work in a heart of unbelief

Matthew 13:58
And he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief.

2. A heart of unbelief leads to a heart of stone & Rebuke from God

Mark 16:14

Afterward he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table, and he rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen.

3. Unbelief steals our peace and keeps us from finding “rest”

Hebrews 3:19

So we see that they were unable to enter (into rest) because of unbelief.

Unbelief = Heart of stone = God’s Rebuke = No Rest….

Hebrews 3:5-30 (ESV)

A Rest for the People of God

7 Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says,

“Today, if you hear his voice,
8 do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion,
on the day of testing in the wilderness,
9 where your fathers put me to the test
and saw my works for forty years.
10 Therefore I was provoked with that generation,
and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart;
they have not known my ways.’
11 (I)As I swore in my wrath,
‘They shall not enter my rest.’”

12 Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. 13 But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end. 15 As it is said,

“Today, if you hear his voice,
do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”

16 For who were those who heard and yet rebelled? Was it not all those who left Egypt led by Moses? 17 And with whom was he provoked for forty years? Was it not with those who sinned,whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient? 19 So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief.

 

When my faith falters and the trials and burdens of life press down upon me, I find victory to overcome unbelief by remembering, recording, and recounting the goodness of God. My history with Him is the lifeline of my faith. He has never forsaken me or withheld His love or goodness. Who He was yesterday is who He will be today and tomorrow. There is no room for unbelief. 

 

What has become bigger in your life, your problems or the “Solution” to your problems?I Overcome unbelief by switching your focus from the problems to the “Truth.”  Remember yesterday’s A to Z! “The truth will set you Free.” Hear His voice, believe His words, overcome your fears, pain, anxiety….

A to Z Challenge: T is for Truth

Truth

“The quality of being in accord with fact or reality.

Fidelity to an original or standard.

That which is considered to be the supreme reality

and to have the ultimate meaning and value of existence.

John 8:32
And you will know the truth,
and the truth will set you free.”

What do you say to the friend who suffers in an invisible prison, held captive by a smothering blanket of depression? How do you comfort the grieving woman who has miscarried her fourth child and has to bury that tiny life and with it her dream of being a mother? What can you say that will encourage the single woman who sits alone her apartment tormented by insecurity and the unfulfilled desire to “just be loved by somebody?” What words can sooth the raw aching heart of a wife who has stumbled upon the sordid details of her husband’s infidelity? How do we find hope when life seems hopeless?

The Bible tells us that Truth is the key to freedom but it is not merely the presence of truth that liberates. This is evidenced by the fact two people can go through similar circumstances with totally opposite results.

 In “The Passion of the Christ” Pilots wife makes a profound statement to her tormented husband who has begged her to explain the truth.

“What is truth Caludia? Do you hear it, recognize it when it is spoken?

Pilots wife replies, “Yes I do, don’t you?”

Pilot answers back  “No. How? Can you tell me?”

With sorrow Pilots wife whispers, “If you will not hear the truth, no one can tell you the truth.”

 

Truth has the power to liberate and conquer BUT only if that truth takes root deep within our heart and soul. Once truth is heard it must be received, seized, and hidden deep within our needy hearts. It is here, in that deepest part of man’s heart that faith gives voice to truth.

To the hurting and needy I say, it is in “The Truth” that you will find freedom, but if you will not hear truth, you will not experience freedom.

Are you willing to hear the truth? Are you willing to have the scales washed away, so that you can see life as it truly is? If you are hurting and looking for answers, your only hope is found in Him who is “Truth” and who offers that truth to all mankind.

John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us,
and we have seen his glory,
glory as of the only Son from the Father,
full of grace and truth.

John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through me.

Will you listen to His message and plan for your life? He posses the truth capable of setting you free.

Are you seeking to comfort or council a friend imprisoned in hopelessness? Unless they are willing to hear the truth and to allow its roots to be buried deep within their hearts and minds, the truth will not do them any good. The first thing they need is prayer, that their ears would be opened.

A to Z: S is for Overcoming the Challenges of Single Life

S is for Single

Overcoming the challenges of Single life

When I was 28, I could recall a number of vividly painful moments when the world around me seemed to flaunt the relationships and opportunities I yearned for yet had not experienced. I would like to suggest a valuable piece of advice for those of you with single friends.There are certain times you should avoid telling a single woman she should enjoy her freedom and take advantage of all the amazing opportunities she has been given because she is single. Avoid these obvious nuggets of wisdom on valentine’s day, weddings of siblings or close friends, major holidays, or when 90% of her friends have just left for a special “couples only” retreat. If you are brave enough to do so, be sure to protect your face while bracing for the dreaded “Hairy eyeball” because it is coming!


Myth: I am Lonely because something is missing from my life.


For years, I dutifully attempted to exploit the benefits of “single awareness day.” Honestly, I did enjoy my freedom but many days loneliness and uncertainty pushed my faith to the edge. An entry from my journal describes the emotional battle I engaged in so frequently as a single woman.


8/27/00
“Life is so very interesting & complicated. Each day becomes a painful mirror into the imperfections and weakness of body and spirit…. sometimes I struggle so violently to cross over from knowledge to experience.” 


Crossing over

If you are single, how do you cross over? How do you transform your desires and emotions  so that they line up with what you profess to believe? As I walked through life, seeking God’s peace and direction, I discovered a truth that empowered me to cross from knowledge to experience. The key was found in my understanding of God’s name and nature.


The more time I spent in His word and in His presence, the more clearly I began to understanding that my single status did not interfere with His love for me or His desires for my life. Being single didn’t mean I was waiting for God’s best. God’s ultimate plan for my fulfillment and happiness wasn’t a gift that would be handed to me on my wedding day. Every new day of life I was given, whether single or married, would be filled with all the goodness and love God could give me. His offering of grace, mercy, peace, and love was the same to every one of His children. Our Heavenly Father does not withhold love.My marital status didn’t need to change in order to obtain purpose, peace, and happiness but my perspective did.


The Truth of the Matter

If it is impossible for God to lie, then I can cling to any promise of truth I find about himself in scripture. This brings me to how I overcame the feeling that I was missing something I needed in order to be content and happy because I was single.


Psalm 84:11-12was the key.


The Lord God is a sun and a shield

The Lord will give grace and glory

No Good thing will he withhold to them that walk uprightly.

O Lord of Host, Blessed is the man that trusteth thee.

Are you ready to have your faith supercharged? These verses will do just that, because they present an intimate glimpse into an amazing attribute of your Father’s nature. These revelations provide a foundation you can anchor your desires and dreams upon.  Verse 11b is an integral key to the kind of faith able to sustain and empower you as you accept the Lord plan for your life.


Verse 11 states that each morning the Lord is present and ready with “every good thing” you needed in order to get through the day. Christ faithfully prepares and will pour out upon you, to overflowing, all the strength, encouragement, wisdom, and blessings you need. Anything truly necessary to navigate through the trials & temptations, joys & sorrow, excess & need today is at your disposal. Your loving Father is there with it all, so that tonight you can testify to the world and for the Glory of God,


“My Father has withheld nothing!”


As a single woman, some of the emptiness I struggled with was the result of an attempt to peer into the future to see if God’s will lined up with my desires. By doing so, during momentary periods of discontent, I trampled over hills and valleys paved with His Grace, Glory, and Blessings.


As I struggle to be content with my life (yes it is still a struggle today), the Lord still uses these verses to rebuke me with the truth, my emptiness is the result of a self-imposed, narrow sighted, earth-bound vision and a failure to look at life with spiritual eyes.


My prayer has become, “Today Lord,  give me eyes to see, that I might not miss even the smallest blessing that you, in love and Mercy, have prepared for me.” These verses spoke to me as a single woman and they still minister to me today. This promise sustains me as a mother of three when my days consists of mounds of laundry, disappointments, and mundane trials of life.


We should never hesitate to enter into the presence of  the God who formed and knew us intimately before we uttered our first cry. As we place our will at his feet in humble submission, may we never lose sight of the fact he has all ready given His best, His most precious and beloved Son. He will withhold nothing of lesser value.


When you have unburdened your heart and submitted your will to His, do not forget to gather up your basket with faith unmovable, and eyes set to the heavens. Purpose to recognize, accept, and receive  “every good and perfect gift” prepared for your life by the Creator of the Universe. You may be missing a ring, an invitation to a couples party, evenings with company, but you are not missing the key to happiness, peace, and fulfillment.


How full will your basket be tonight when you lay your head upon your pillow? Did you see, accept, and use all he prepared for you today?


What are some other myths about single life you struggled with? What advice can you offer to women enduring the challenges of single life?


What truth about God encourages you heart, chasing the shadows of unbelief away?

A to Z: Overcoming Rage

Rage

1a : violent and uncontrolled angerb : a fit of violent wrathc archaic : insanity
2: violent action (as of wind or sea)
3: an intense feeling : passion

 

Have you even had a “Mirror Moment“? A time when God smote your heart into a puddle by lovingly placing a mirror smack dab in front of you face. An unforgettable instance when He gave you a glimpse of just how ugly and unnatural a specific sin was in your life?

 

I remember one of my many “Mirror Moments” with great clarity and disgust. My sweet little Mollie had done something wrong. There was no rebellion or disobedience in her act, it was just a kid’s-will-be-kids moment. I opened my mouth and with my tongue, I let her have it. My words lashed out with precision, cutting deep into her vulnerable defenseless heart. Before the last word was out, wham the mirror dropped. My rage was parted by the chastising hand of the Lord. With the cloud of anger parted, I could see my precious child and look into her wide eyes. I saw the ugly effect of my sin upon her spirit and I was undone. Oh how I wanted to grab those words and shove them back inside my mouth.

 

At that moment I hated who I was. I despised the anger and wrath that ruled my heart. I knew I needed help and I cried out to the Lord for mercy, forgiveness, and a transformed heart. Thus began a painful yet loving journey to overcome rage and anger, and at the heart of it all selfishness.

 

Please  join me here as I share a story about one way the Lord did/has/is transforming my heart. The story is titled ‘I asked for Patience. The Lord gave me children, three of them.