Oh how thankful I am that God loved me so much to provide a perfect plan for my salvation. I have a hope! A hope that is secure in my faith in Jesus Christ!
Ephesians 1:17-19a "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be englightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe,.." (NIV)
Paul is writing to the Ephesians, and yes possibly to a larger group of believers in the area, letting them know that he is thanking God for them and continually praying for them. Do you have someone in your life that thanks God for you, and the faith that you exhibit? Do you pray that prayer for someone else?
Do you ask God to be filled with His wisdom and revelation? If you ask God, do you know how to get these things from Him? It's a matter of being in God's word, spending time with Him in prayer, and building a relationship with God. He will give you wisdom and provide revelations to you. James reinforces asking God for wisdom in James 1:5 " If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." (NIV)
Do you ask God to open the eyes of your heart (sounds like a good song title!) to be enlightened and filled with God's desires? I know that God has called me to be with Cliff in full time ministry. I know that God has called me to focus on women's ministry. I have a passion for women to grow in their personal relationship with God and to seek after Him. I wholeheartedly believe that within the calling that God has on my life he will clearly define for me what he wants me to do. But the only way that I am going to expect God to reveal these definitions is to truly spend time with Him and allow Him to take control of my heart!
I struggle with God having control of my heart - do I see you shaking your head and saying the same thing. Yes, I admit it, I'm a control freak! (Just ask my family) I can rationalize and acknowledge that God has called me. I can see Him working in so many areas of my life. Where I struggle is seeing God break through my heart and take control of every part of me in my ministry. I have an awesome example of God leading and taking control of someone's heart in my husband. As he moves ahead with challenges facing him in ministry, he seeks God's desires and God's leading in all aspects. Sometimes, my challenges leave me saying, "Am I being the women's leader that I need to be? Am I exhibiting God's love in everything I do? Am I being filled with God's strength or am I operating on my own?"
What does it look like to have the strength and power of God? To truly experience His power, the same power that raised Christ from the dead, I have to have faith and hope. Philippians 3:10 tells us "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death," I am dead to my sin as a child of God. I am free from the chains. Just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glorious power of God, I too have been raised and I'm to walk in a new life, a life that is filled with God's power and strength. Read Romans 6:2-14.
So, when I ask the questions that I mentioned above, I already have the power of God in my life. I already have a hope that He is going to show me what I need to do. Romans 5:5 says "And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." I can't be disappointed! When I cry out to God I have the hope and confidence that He is going to respond. This hope comes from my faith in Jesus Christ - when I asked for forgiveness and turned my life over to Him, He responded - I am forgiven and filled with the Holy Spirit. Hebrews 11:1 tells us that "Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Faith tells me that I have a hope - the Hope, the promise of my Savior, Jesus Christ walking with me through every detail, every circumstance, every trial, every joy, everything that I encounter!
My prayer is that the eyes of my heart will be opened and that I will truly see what God has in store for me each day. I have faith that tells me God will respond and provide wisdom and revelation to me when I ask. I need to ask more often! I am blessed to be one of God's children. I am free from death and moving on with life eternal - Praise God!
Monday, August 27, 2012
Saturday, August 18, 2012
My Strength, My Counsel, My Portion Forever!
A friend of mine shared the following devotional with me today. I want to share it with you. This is from Sarah Young's book Jesus Calling
"Find me in the midst of the maelstrom. Sometimes events whirl around you so quickly that they become a blur. Whisper My Name in recognition that I am still with you. Without skipping a beat in the activities that occupy you, you find strength and Peace through praying My Name. Later, when the happenings have run their course, you can talk with Me more fully.
Accept each day just as it comes to you. Do not waste your time and energy wishing for a different set of circumstances. Instead, trust Me enough to yield to My design and purposes. Remember that nothing can separate you from My loving Presence; you are Mine."
What an awesome assurance that we cannot be separated from God's love and presence - we are His. What an awesome promise that we can call out to God and know that He is walking with us - leading us - carrying us - healing us. The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 73:21-28 (HCS)
When I became embittered
and my innermost being was wounded, I was stupid and didn’t understand;
I was an unthinking animal toward You.
Yet I am always with You;
You hold my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel,
and afterward You will take me up in glory Who do I have in heaven but You?
And I desire nothing on earth but You.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart,
my portion forever. Those far from You will certainly perish;
You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.
But as for me, God’s presence is my good.
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
so I can tell about all You do.
and my innermost being was wounded, I was stupid and didn’t understand;
I was an unthinking animal toward You.
Yet I am always with You;
You hold my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel,
and afterward You will take me up in glory Who do I have in heaven but You?
And I desire nothing on earth but You.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart,
my portion forever. Those far from You will certainly perish;
You destroy all who are unfaithful to You.
But as for me, God’s presence is my good.
I have made the Lord God my refuge,
so I can tell about all You do.
I am so incredibly blessed with the promise that God will not leave me. He will hold my right hand. He will be my counsels. When my heart fails, God is my strength, and my portion. There is a song, You are my Shield or Make me Glad, that reminded me of these promises many years ago when Cliff was in Africa and I was in Richmond, Va attending a Beth Moore Simulcast. The song reinforces the passage from Psalm 73 that I mentioned above. Here are the lyrics from Hillsong United
I will bless the Lord forever,
And I will trust Him at all times.
He has delivered me from all things,
And He has set my feet upon the Rock.
I will not be moved, and I'll say of the Lord:
You are my Shield, my Strength, my Portion, Deliverer,
My Shelter, Strong Tower, my very present help in time of need.
Whom have I in Heaven but you.
There's no one I desire beside You.
You have made me glad, and I'll say of the Lord:
You are my Shield, my Strength, my Portion, Deliverer,
My Shelter, Strong Tower, my very present help in time of need.
My very present help in time of need.
My very present help in time of need.
And I will trust Him at all times.
He has delivered me from all things,
And He has set my feet upon the Rock.
I will not be moved, and I'll say of the Lord:
You are my Shield, my Strength, my Portion, Deliverer,
My Shelter, Strong Tower, my very present help in time of need.
Whom have I in Heaven but you.
There's no one I desire beside You.
You have made me glad, and I'll say of the Lord:
You are my Shield, my Strength, my Portion, Deliverer,
My Shelter, Strong Tower, my very present help in time of need.
My very present help in time of need.
My very present help in time of need.
So, when my heart becomes embittered or grieved I have a hope! I have a promise of God's love, peace, counsel, and strength. He is my portion, forever!
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Christ's Love, More than I can Understand, But All I Need!
Ephesisans 3:14-21
When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
This passage above is Ephesians 3:14:21 New Living Translation. Over the past couple of days I have gone back to this scripture passage, with some knowledge that this was written to the Ephesians, but that right now God intends on me hearing it and for me to receive the truth of His word!
When is the last time you fell to your knees and prayed to God? I was working on the The Psalms of the Ascent several years ago, a Beth Moore Bible study, when I was challenged to go before God face down. I was amazed at what God did in my life. I found a quiet place in my home, took His word, opened the scriptures and laid face down, praying the scriptures back to God. I would be still, and wait for God's leading.
This week I need to be reminded of this stillness, this interaction with God. I need not only to be on my knees, but face down before Him, waiting for His love to flow into my life. For me to trust God fully. I need to be humble and remember, nothing that goes on is about me, but completely about Christ? How about you?
Then in verse 18 of the passage above I was reminded that God's will take up residence in my heart! I know that Christ has been in my heart for many years, but many of those years were just knowing that! John 15:1-17 show us that Christ is the Vine. I am a branch on that vine. In order for me to grow, and truly experience Christ taking ahold of my heart, I need to abide in His love and that means abiding in Him. Trusting Him - completely.
Do you know what it means to have Christ fill your heart so that you trust without question? I struggle with that sometimes. But then, God with His ever loving approach reminds me that He is always here. I don't completely understand His love, but I know that His Love is all that I need. As I begin to trust more and more, I know that the roots of Christ, The Vine, are deep and strong and they will support me and grow me to be a fruitful child. I will still struggle from time to time with trust - but oh how grateful I am that Christ doesn't struggle with loving me and and drawing me back to Him with the assurances of that with Him all things are possible and that with all things I encounter Christ is faithful to walk with me.
Today, I challenge you to lay face down before God. Take the Word of God with you and praise His Holy name, pray His word back to Him, and ask Him to give you the strength and power that only His love can provide.
When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
This passage above is Ephesians 3:14:21 New Living Translation. Over the past couple of days I have gone back to this scripture passage, with some knowledge that this was written to the Ephesians, but that right now God intends on me hearing it and for me to receive the truth of His word!
When is the last time you fell to your knees and prayed to God? I was working on the The Psalms of the Ascent several years ago, a Beth Moore Bible study, when I was challenged to go before God face down. I was amazed at what God did in my life. I found a quiet place in my home, took His word, opened the scriptures and laid face down, praying the scriptures back to God. I would be still, and wait for God's leading.
This week I need to be reminded of this stillness, this interaction with God. I need not only to be on my knees, but face down before Him, waiting for His love to flow into my life. For me to trust God fully. I need to be humble and remember, nothing that goes on is about me, but completely about Christ? How about you?
Then in verse 18 of the passage above I was reminded that God's will take up residence in my heart! I know that Christ has been in my heart for many years, but many of those years were just knowing that! John 15:1-17 show us that Christ is the Vine. I am a branch on that vine. In order for me to grow, and truly experience Christ taking ahold of my heart, I need to abide in His love and that means abiding in Him. Trusting Him - completely.
Do you know what it means to have Christ fill your heart so that you trust without question? I struggle with that sometimes. But then, God with His ever loving approach reminds me that He is always here. I don't completely understand His love, but I know that His Love is all that I need. As I begin to trust more and more, I know that the roots of Christ, The Vine, are deep and strong and they will support me and grow me to be a fruitful child. I will still struggle from time to time with trust - but oh how grateful I am that Christ doesn't struggle with loving me and and drawing me back to Him with the assurances of that with Him all things are possible and that with all things I encounter Christ is faithful to walk with me.
Today, I challenge you to lay face down before God. Take the Word of God with you and praise His Holy name, pray His word back to Him, and ask Him to give you the strength and power that only His love can provide.
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Do you Hear from God?
For many, many years, I have had people ask me, "how do you hear from God?"
As a young teen I remember feeling God's voice leading me. I couldn't explain it, I just knew He was there and telling me where to go and what to do. Why couldn't I explain it? I believe it was me learning about a relationship with God, and I was a baby! As a young adult, I still could hear, but at many times I chose to ignore His voice and direction, and went where I wanted to go and did what I wanted to do. Can you identify with this?
I vividly remember a time when a young man, that I had date as a late teen, and I ran into each other as young adults. (Lets call him GO) We were in the same "Gas Line" (anybody remember those from the 1970's?) and began talking and catching up. This was at a time in my life that I was choosing NOT to hear God. When GO asked me about church, (we used to go to the same church) I stumbled and proceeded to tell him that I wasn't as involved and was doing things that I wanted to do. GO said, 'well, I wondered when you would wake up and realize that there was more to life than church!' I remember stopping everything, my movements, my speech, my heart! Did I really here GO say that there was more to life than church? Really, that meant that there was more to life than a relationship with God, the Creator of the universe, the Savior of my soul. It meant that I had placed my desires, my ideas, my life, before God's. It wasn't about the building that I went to on a regular basis. It was about my relationship with my God! I politely ended the conversation with a 'I see the line is moving. I guess we had better get back to our cars and move along.'
As I returned to my car, I felt my heart start pounding in my chest and moving it's way to my throat. I felt tears filling my eyes. I heard God say, "Where have you been? Why have you been so distant? Will you join me and spend some time with me?" Now did I hear an audible voice - no, but with every beat of my heart, and every tear that fell from my face, I heard every single word! I continued to wait in the gas line to get the tank filled in my car. During that wait, God began to fill my tank! He began to remind me of His love, of His plans for my life; read Jeremiah 29:11 and ask God to show you. I began to hear Him loud and clear as I confessed my sin of walking away, of living my life, and putting my God on the back burner and not being involved in an active relationship with Him!
I had heard from God for years. I chose to ignore Him for some years, and I missed out on so much with Him. As I continued to reach out for God, to grow my relationship with Him, I began to see so many ways to hear from God. God's word tells us that we hear from God. I believe he used Henry Blackaby, author of Experiencing God, to make it clear to me as he wrote -"God speaks by the Holy spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways." Do you want to hear from God? Start with a simple prayer, asking Jesus Christ to forgive you. Ask Him to fill up your heart and soul with His love and grace. Ask Him to teach you through His word. Ask Him to use the circumstances in your life, and other believers in your life to reveal Himself to you.
Psalm 37:1-7a (HCS)
As a young teen I remember feeling God's voice leading me. I couldn't explain it, I just knew He was there and telling me where to go and what to do. Why couldn't I explain it? I believe it was me learning about a relationship with God, and I was a baby! As a young adult, I still could hear, but at many times I chose to ignore His voice and direction, and went where I wanted to go and did what I wanted to do. Can you identify with this?
I vividly remember a time when a young man, that I had date as a late teen, and I ran into each other as young adults. (Lets call him GO) We were in the same "Gas Line" (anybody remember those from the 1970's?) and began talking and catching up. This was at a time in my life that I was choosing NOT to hear God. When GO asked me about church, (we used to go to the same church) I stumbled and proceeded to tell him that I wasn't as involved and was doing things that I wanted to do. GO said, 'well, I wondered when you would wake up and realize that there was more to life than church!' I remember stopping everything, my movements, my speech, my heart! Did I really here GO say that there was more to life than church? Really, that meant that there was more to life than a relationship with God, the Creator of the universe, the Savior of my soul. It meant that I had placed my desires, my ideas, my life, before God's. It wasn't about the building that I went to on a regular basis. It was about my relationship with my God! I politely ended the conversation with a 'I see the line is moving. I guess we had better get back to our cars and move along.'
As I returned to my car, I felt my heart start pounding in my chest and moving it's way to my throat. I felt tears filling my eyes. I heard God say, "Where have you been? Why have you been so distant? Will you join me and spend some time with me?" Now did I hear an audible voice - no, but with every beat of my heart, and every tear that fell from my face, I heard every single word! I continued to wait in the gas line to get the tank filled in my car. During that wait, God began to fill my tank! He began to remind me of His love, of His plans for my life; read Jeremiah 29:11 and ask God to show you. I began to hear Him loud and clear as I confessed my sin of walking away, of living my life, and putting my God on the back burner and not being involved in an active relationship with Him!
I had heard from God for years. I chose to ignore Him for some years, and I missed out on so much with Him. As I continued to reach out for God, to grow my relationship with Him, I began to see so many ways to hear from God. God's word tells us that we hear from God. I believe he used Henry Blackaby, author of Experiencing God, to make it clear to me as he wrote -"God speaks by the Holy spirit through the Bible, prayer, circumstances, and the church to reveal Himself, His purposes, and His ways." Do you want to hear from God? Start with a simple prayer, asking Jesus Christ to forgive you. Ask Him to fill up your heart and soul with His love and grace. Ask Him to teach you through His word. Ask Him to use the circumstances in your life, and other believers in your life to reveal Himself to you.
Psalm 37:1-7a (HCS)
Trust in the Lord and do what is good;
dwell in the land and live securely. Take delight in the Lord,
and He will give you your heart’s desires.Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in Him, and He will act, making your righteousness shine like the dawn,
your justice like the noonday. Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for Him;
dwell in the land and live securely. Take delight in the Lord,
and He will give you your heart’s desires.Commit your way to the Lord;
trust in Him, and He will act, making your righteousness shine like the dawn,
your justice like the noonday. Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for Him;
Notice the last part of these verses - 'Be silent before the LORD and wait expectantly for Him;' Do you want to hear from God - Be silent! Wait for Him. He will be faithful to be there with you. He will be faithful to respond.
I don't get this right all of the time. I struggle just as you do. But I do know that when I seek God, and desire Him, and I am waiting expectantly, I hear from God. Give it a try!
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
Whats Next?
How often do you start a day with a thought like, "this is going to be a great day! I have things to get done, nothing real stressful, so it's going to be a great day!" Then the day begins...For me, my day typically begins with getting up, checking in with my dad to see what's on his agenda and how he slept, spending some time with Cliff , and then settling in with some OJ and my IPAD. When I sit down I read some of the devotionals that I follow, reading the scripture passages that I'm focusing on, and thanking God for another glimse of the beauty he has provided and asking direction for the day. Now the previous statements are what I would consider a normal, "great", day. How often does the day start like that? Not as often as I'd like!
Too often my plans for a great day get sidetracked before I really get out of bed! Does anybody else experience this, or am I alone? Have you noticed that there are things in everyday life that creep in and cause distractions, pulling you away from the quiet and quality time in God's Word or in talking to Him? When the distractions, or interruptions show up, how do you deal with them?
I have been learning over the past 20+ years that there is no "normal" day! Each day is a gift from God and how I interact with the events of the day will make it great, even when there are challenges, distractions, or interruptions! I am learning to Praise God, the provider of everything, every day. The book of Ephesians is rocking my world. I have been reading these scriptures for months, over and over. Each time I read the scriptures I learn something new. Ephesians 1:3 says "Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ , who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens." How can any day be bad, when I can cling to the promise that God loves me so much , that He blessed me with with my salvation through Jesus Christ, and as His child, I am blessed with every, get that EVERY, spiritual blessing in the heavens. I have a promise! I have a hope!
I am going to have a great day! It probably won't be normal, but its going to be great! What about you? Can you find a blessing from God today? Open your eyes, take your next breath, and look around you. Do you see the blessings of God? Are you willing to ask God, What's Next?
Too often my plans for a great day get sidetracked before I really get out of bed! Does anybody else experience this, or am I alone? Have you noticed that there are things in everyday life that creep in and cause distractions, pulling you away from the quiet and quality time in God's Word or in talking to Him? When the distractions, or interruptions show up, how do you deal with them?
I have been learning over the past 20+ years that there is no "normal" day! Each day is a gift from God and how I interact with the events of the day will make it great, even when there are challenges, distractions, or interruptions! I am learning to Praise God, the provider of everything, every day. The book of Ephesians is rocking my world. I have been reading these scriptures for months, over and over. Each time I read the scriptures I learn something new. Ephesians 1:3 says "Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ , who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens." How can any day be bad, when I can cling to the promise that God loves me so much , that He blessed me with with my salvation through Jesus Christ, and as His child, I am blessed with every, get that EVERY, spiritual blessing in the heavens. I have a promise! I have a hope!
I am going to have a great day! It probably won't be normal, but its going to be great! What about you? Can you find a blessing from God today? Open your eyes, take your next breath, and look around you. Do you see the blessings of God? Are you willing to ask God, What's Next?
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