This morning I decided to go to McDonald’s for breakfast because I had a taste for an Egg McMuffin. As I was waiting for my order at the drive-thru window, I noticed a sign inside the cashier’s window informing the cashier that the service time for each customer was to be no more than 10-15 seconds.
“Typical” was the first thought that crossed my mind because we have become a society which does not want to wait for anything. Rather, we expect our lives to be easy and when challenges arise we expect them to be resolved instantly! And, as I drove home in the snow (our first snow-fall of the season, announcing that winter had arrived), the next thought that crossed my mind was “aren’t we lucky that God gives us the winters of our lives so that we can then appreciate the spring times when they arrive!”
“My soul is in anguish, how long, O Lord, how long?”
(Psalm 6:3)
Two years ago (this month), my own “winter” began and, truth be told, there were times when I thought I would never make it through to the other side (i.e. “springtime”). In fact, even as I write this I’m dealing with shooting pains that have no known explanation and no cure, but rather are the residual effects of past trauma (part of my “winter”) and are so excruciating at times that they will actually stop me dead in my tracks.
“So my spirit grows faint within me; my heart within me is dismayed.”
(Psalm 143:4)
The good news is that two weeks ago, after a week of horrible dreams and nightmares, continuous shooting pains, and a brief conversation with my pastor about how to process all of this, I finally had the realization that perhaps I’m the lucky one with these dreams and shooting pains because they serve as a constant reminder that I am completely dependent upon the grace of God (like Paul’s thorn) – otherwise I might be tempted to go it alone! Been there, done that, and it was a complete disaster!
“For the Lord gives wisdom, and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”
(Proverbs 2:6)
I wish I could tell you that this period of winter was completely over and that springtime had arrived but that would be a lie. There are still days when the showers are not hot enough and the shooting pains feel like they are too much to bear. However, I cannot trust my feelings. Instead, I must cling to the promises of God’s Word and to the truth of His character, knowing that while I may feel alone and scared, the truth is that He is right here with me, He is in control and He is God!
“For You are great and do wondrous deeds; You alone are God.”
(Psalm 86:10)
Today's Prayer: O, Holy Father, please help us to always remember that no matter what we may feel, the truth of Your Word tells us that You, and You alone, will deliver us from the depths of despair, but only if we seek You with all of our heart, all of our mind and all of our strength, acknowledging that You alone are God! Thank you for loving us too much to allow us to stay the same, no matter how much it may hurt at times!
✞
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Sunday, September 25, 2011
Food for Thought
"Trials, we must distinctly understand, are a part of the diet which all true Christians must expect."
~ J.C. Ryle
“None are so safe as those whom God keeps; none so much in danger as the self-secure.”
~ Spurgeon
"In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart."
~ John Bunyan
“You can compare yourself to others and tell yourself that you're okay or look into God's mirror and affirm your ongoing need for his grace.”
~ Paul Tripp
“If God’s love for His children is to be measured by our health, wealth and comfort in this life, God hated the Apostle Paul.”
~ John Piper
~ J.C. Ryle
“None are so safe as those whom God keeps; none so much in danger as the self-secure.”
~ Spurgeon
"In prayer it is better to have a heart without words than words without a heart."
~ John Bunyan
“You can compare yourself to others and tell yourself that you're okay or look into God's mirror and affirm your ongoing need for his grace.”
~ Paul Tripp
“If God’s love for His children is to be measured by our health, wealth and comfort in this life, God hated the Apostle Paul.”
~ John Piper
Sunday, September 18, 2011
Cease Striving
A few days ago I was reading through Psalm 46 when I came across this verse:
“Cease striving and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
(Psalm 46:10 NASB)
I cannot tell you how often I have read this verse over the years. The NIV Bible (which is the version I usually read) phrases it this way: “Be still and know that I am God,” and I have meditated on this verse many times. However, this time it really stopped me in my tracks. Maybe because of the way it was stated: cease striving!
According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, to strive means: “to try very hard to achieve something,” and that sums up this past week perfectly.
Every time I did something out of the goodness of my heart, it did not go well. And when I then tried to “fix” it, all I seemed to do was make it worse! In fact, even today I did something that I now regret. And while I did it from a place of wanting to serve someone else, I believe I was wrong to do it.
So this afternoon, I sent an email to this person asking them for their forgiveness. At church tonight, however, it continued to weigh heavily on my mind and I started thinking I should send another email to try and “fix” it (even though I have not yet heard back from them one way or the other). Fortunately, while I was praying about it, the Holy Spirit intervened and brought the words cease striving to my mind over and over and over again, and for that I am truly grateful.
In each of these situations, God knew the thoughts and intentions of my heart. Thus, my job is to stop trying to “achieve” something (i.e. fix the things that have happened this week, including today), and instead cease striving, step back and trust that God will be exalted in the earth (in all of these things). And that is my only heart’s desire – HIS GLORY!
What about you? Do you find yourself constantly in a panic, striving to make thing happen in your life? If you’re at all like me, it’s an easy thing to do. So if I may, I would encourage you to stop, remembering that God is, indeed, in control, and to pray that God would be exalted in your own life, as well.
O, Holy Father, forgive me for all of the times when I have stepped out of Your will and tried to fix everything on my own, only to seemingly make a bigger mess of it all. Instead, may I always remember to cease striving so that YOU will be exalted in every situation, every relationship, and every area of my life.
In His Most Precious Name I pray …
✞
“Cease striving and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
(Psalm 46:10 NASB)
I cannot tell you how often I have read this verse over the years. The NIV Bible (which is the version I usually read) phrases it this way: “Be still and know that I am God,” and I have meditated on this verse many times. However, this time it really stopped me in my tracks. Maybe because of the way it was stated: cease striving!
According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, to strive means: “to try very hard to achieve something,” and that sums up this past week perfectly.
Every time I did something out of the goodness of my heart, it did not go well. And when I then tried to “fix” it, all I seemed to do was make it worse! In fact, even today I did something that I now regret. And while I did it from a place of wanting to serve someone else, I believe I was wrong to do it.
So this afternoon, I sent an email to this person asking them for their forgiveness. At church tonight, however, it continued to weigh heavily on my mind and I started thinking I should send another email to try and “fix” it (even though I have not yet heard back from them one way or the other). Fortunately, while I was praying about it, the Holy Spirit intervened and brought the words cease striving to my mind over and over and over again, and for that I am truly grateful.
In each of these situations, God knew the thoughts and intentions of my heart. Thus, my job is to stop trying to “achieve” something (i.e. fix the things that have happened this week, including today), and instead cease striving, step back and trust that God will be exalted in the earth (in all of these things). And that is my only heart’s desire – HIS GLORY!
What about you? Do you find yourself constantly in a panic, striving to make thing happen in your life? If you’re at all like me, it’s an easy thing to do. So if I may, I would encourage you to stop, remembering that God is, indeed, in control, and to pray that God would be exalted in your own life, as well.
O, Holy Father, forgive me for all of the times when I have stepped out of Your will and tried to fix everything on my own, only to seemingly make a bigger mess of it all. Instead, may I always remember to cease striving so that YOU will be exalted in every situation, every relationship, and every area of my life.
In His Most Precious Name I pray …
✞
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Quote for the Day
"When a Christian shuns fellowship with other Christians, the devil smiles. When he stops studying the Bible, the devil laughs. When he stops praying, he shouts for joy."
-- Corrie Ten Boom
Good words to remember on those days when life feels like it is too much to bear.
✞
-- Corrie Ten Boom
Good words to remember on those days when life feels like it is too much to bear.
✞
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Trusting God
"Trust is not a passive state of mind. It is a vigorous act of the soul by which we choose to lay hold on the promises of God and cling to them despite the adversity that at times seeks to overwhelm us." (-- Jerry Bridges, Trusting God)
Praying that I will always choose to Trust God, even when I do not understand what He is doing or why! And, praying that you will choose to do the same, as well ...
✞
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him ..."
(Romans 15:13a)
Praying that I will always choose to Trust God, even when I do not understand what He is doing or why! And, praying that you will choose to do the same, as well ...
✞
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him ..."
(Romans 15:13a)
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Doing the Hard Thing
Yesterday was tough, and it seemed to become more difficult as the day wore on. By 9:30 pm I was tired, angry and hurt. Very hurt. And yet, by God’s infinite grace, I actually slept well last night (i.e. wasn’t awake the entire night thinking about this situation).
Before I went to bed last night, I spent some time thinking/praying about this whole thing. I also started making some decisions on how to handle it. And while I do not know if they are the correct decisions (that will require much more prayer), and while I know that they are not the best decisions for me and will cause me additional hurt, I do believe that they are decisions that will best protect the other person and their walk with the Lord. (But again, I know it is crucial for me to seek God’s wisdom in all of this, to make sure that it is His plan I am following and not my own.)
“Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.” (1 Corinthians 10:24)
Please do not misunderstand me – I am no martyr! However, if I claim to be a child of God then I must follow His instructions! And since the Bible makes it very clear that we are not to cause one another to stumble, that is the last thing I want to do when it comes to my friend and their relationship with God. (And, yes, I do still consider this person a friend!)
“Do not cause anyone to stumble ...” (1 Corinthians 10:32)
So as I move forward down this path, I pray that God will grant me: peace around the decisions I have made on how to handle this situation; patience to leave it in His hands and not try to “fix it” my way – which would only make it worse, and the ability to trust Him completely and accept the outcome – whether I like it or not – knowing that He is in complete control.
From the very beginning of this relationship with my friend, He knew exactly how it would play out, and He also knows exactly how it will end. As ...
~ Friends for a reason
~ Friends for a season
OR
~ Friends for a lifetime
To God be the Glory,
✞
Before I went to bed last night, I spent some time thinking/praying about this whole thing. I also started making some decisions on how to handle it. And while I do not know if they are the correct decisions (that will require much more prayer), and while I know that they are not the best decisions for me and will cause me additional hurt, I do believe that they are decisions that will best protect the other person and their walk with the Lord. (But again, I know it is crucial for me to seek God’s wisdom in all of this, to make sure that it is His plan I am following and not my own.)
“Let no one seek his own good, but the good of his neighbor.” (1 Corinthians 10:24)
Please do not misunderstand me – I am no martyr! However, if I claim to be a child of God then I must follow His instructions! And since the Bible makes it very clear that we are not to cause one another to stumble, that is the last thing I want to do when it comes to my friend and their relationship with God. (And, yes, I do still consider this person a friend!)
“Do not cause anyone to stumble ...” (1 Corinthians 10:32)
So as I move forward down this path, I pray that God will grant me: peace around the decisions I have made on how to handle this situation; patience to leave it in His hands and not try to “fix it” my way – which would only make it worse, and the ability to trust Him completely and accept the outcome – whether I like it or not – knowing that He is in complete control.
From the very beginning of this relationship with my friend, He knew exactly how it would play out, and He also knows exactly how it will end. As ...
~ Friends for a reason
~ Friends for a season
OR
~ Friends for a lifetime
To God be the Glory,
✞
Friday, August 5, 2011
The Cold Shoulder
For someone who is a professional life coach, and who is pursing a master’s degree in biblical counseling, I couldn’t coach – much less counsel – my way out of a paper bag right now! :D
I wasn’t expecting a marriage proposal! But, I wasn’t expecting the cold shoulder, either, which is pretty much what I received from someone today … right after they were as warm as molasses to the person with whom they interacted right before me.
Two of my biggest struggles in life have been trusting God and trusting others. So when a day like today happens, in which someone I have come to trust explicitly pushes me away (and has done so for about 8 months now), and because this has happened a handful of other times in my life with people I have come to completely trust, and who have hurt me so deeply, it becomes very easy for me to retreat and withdraw from the world.
“Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!” (Psalm 66:20)
Matthew 18:15-17 talks about the fact that if someone sins against you, you should go and talk to them, which makes me wonder: “what exactly did I do, and how exactly did I sin against them,” to warrant such a cold shoulder? Do I need to go and talk to them? Do they need to come and speak with me?
Truthfully, this whole situation hurts. A great deal. And, honestly, it makes me want to go and worship somewhere else because it would make my life a lot easier and a lot less painful – especially because I know that this person is not going anywhere.
I started this blog to help me learn to trust in “His Sovereign Purpose” in my life on a daily basis. So while I pour out my heart to God about this, I also know that He knows why this is happening, and what the outcome of it will be – for all parties involved.
“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him … Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him, God is a refuge for us.” (Psalm 62:5,8)
In the meantime, I hope that I can just let go and trust Him to do what He needs to do – in this situation and in my life – in order to conform me into the image of His Son, no matter how much it hurts. And it really hurts a lot right now!
✞
I wasn’t expecting a marriage proposal! But, I wasn’t expecting the cold shoulder, either, which is pretty much what I received from someone today … right after they were as warm as molasses to the person with whom they interacted right before me.
Two of my biggest struggles in life have been trusting God and trusting others. So when a day like today happens, in which someone I have come to trust explicitly pushes me away (and has done so for about 8 months now), and because this has happened a handful of other times in my life with people I have come to completely trust, and who have hurt me so deeply, it becomes very easy for me to retreat and withdraw from the world.
“Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me!” (Psalm 66:20)
Matthew 18:15-17 talks about the fact that if someone sins against you, you should go and talk to them, which makes me wonder: “what exactly did I do, and how exactly did I sin against them,” to warrant such a cold shoulder? Do I need to go and talk to them? Do they need to come and speak with me?
Truthfully, this whole situation hurts. A great deal. And, honestly, it makes me want to go and worship somewhere else because it would make my life a lot easier and a lot less painful – especially because I know that this person is not going anywhere.
I started this blog to help me learn to trust in “His Sovereign Purpose” in my life on a daily basis. So while I pour out my heart to God about this, I also know that He knows why this is happening, and what the outcome of it will be – for all parties involved.
“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him … Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him, God is a refuge for us.” (Psalm 62:5,8)
In the meantime, I hope that I can just let go and trust Him to do what He needs to do – in this situation and in my life – in order to conform me into the image of His Son, no matter how much it hurts. And it really hurts a lot right now!
✞
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