Little Moments

 A verse, a Facebook post, a quiet moment.   Common everyday moments that we so often miss.  These are God visits.  And their sweetness is soul warming, comforting, peace giving.   

Lately I’ve been stressing about the future.  We are nearing retirement and there is so much to plan for, so much to think about.  Physically I’ve been down and out causing more drain on my body and mind. Ugh.  I waffle between faith and fear.  But the Father hasn’t left me to drift alone in a sea of fretfulness.  He is right there, hand outstretched to rescue me and plant me on the shores of trust.  My part is to quit jumping back into that ocean.  Lol. I’m still working on this.  

“Why do you spend money for what is not bread and your wages for what does not satisfy?  Listen carefully to me and eat what is good and let your soul delight itself in abundance.”   Isaiah 55:2.  

What am I wasting my resources (spending my peace as it were) worrying about the future.   Housing prices, will we have enough, will the timing be okay....?  Why am I not feasting on God’s faithfulness?  Letting my soul delight in His love and wisdom.  

“The whole purpose of God in redemption is to make us holy and restore us to the image of God.  To accomplish this He disengages us from earthly ambitions and draws us away from the cheap and unworthy prizes that worldly men set their hearts upon.”  A.W. Tiger.  

What is my heart set upon?   Financial security?  Ease? Worldly concerns?   This is not God’s purpose or goal for me.  It shouldn’t be mine either.  We are told in Matthew 6:33 Seek the kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.   That’s all I need to focus on.  Seeking for God’s purpose and He will take care of my concerns.  

This morning as I stood caring for some foster kittens, I reveled in the stillness of the moment, serenaded by birdsong.   It reminded me of God’s promise in Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds.  They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your Heavenly Father feeds them.  And aren’t you far more valuable to Him then they are?  

God is so good.  Why do we so often run from trusting Him?   Why do we waste our peace chasing worry?   We are not called to this!   

Lord, thank You as always for Your patience and Your care.  Keep my mind focused on You instead of the worries and concerns of this world. Help us all to trust You more and make Your kingdom the priority in our lives.  This world is so passing, so temporary.  And yes we want to be cared for and blessed.  But that is Your job not ours.  You will lead us and direct us in the way we should go.  Lord I ask for forgiveness in worrying and not trusting.  Thank You again for these sweet moments.  Help each of us to be on the look out for them!   In Jesus Name.  Amen.  

Exercise faith today.  

Sunday Prayer

As I sat listening in Sunday Service this past weekend, I felt God spoke to my heart about timing.  I get so frustrated with my lack of progress.  I get so tired of feeling like I fail God so often.  In study my Pastor brought up the verse Romans 4:12 Yes, each of us will give a personal account to God.   I sat there listening to the worship songs and started feeling so doomed and defeated.  And then God.....

My Father lifted my head.  He lifted my heart.  And I was moved to pray these words.  Lord, if You don't move a mountain in my life it is because that mountain is where it's supposed to be.  Lord, I surrender to Your plan.  I surrender to the mountain you put in my path.  Help me to let this go and live beyond the brokenness of my life.  Help me to continue to climb and not sit down in defeat.  I can't do this, but You can work through me.  

And then God spoke again to my heart.  Isaiah 55:8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.

What is your mountain?  Or as in my case mountains.  LOL  What is it in Your life that you wish would change, or go away?  Something you've tried to change but persists.  Go to the Lord in prayer and surrender.  Speak peace to your "enemy" mountain.  And in speaking peace to it, your soul will quiet.  A quiet soul hears God and allows Him to work in the deepness of your heart.  Perhaps God wants that enemy mountain to be your greatest victory.   

Lord, we hate our mountains.  The sin that persists, the marriage that never improves, the child that won't leave the world's paths.  Health problems that remain a thorn in our sides, people we cannot understand or get along with....whatever our mountain may be....it remains.  You don't remove it, there seems to be no way around or through it.  Lord, let us understand that You have a good plan for this mountain.  That You have it there for a reason.  If we are being stubborn, then help us release our desires and plans and emotions to You.  Help us submit, knowing Your ways are not only different from ours, but infinitely better.  Lord, it's so hard when we live with things that hurt us everyday, when we feel no relief.  But we can choose peace over frustration when we submit and trust You.  Let us get to that place and be open to Your direction.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen. 

Bring your mountain to God in prayer and submit it to His way, His timing and His love.  

New Lesson, New Perspective

I just finished reading God's Hostage by Andrew Brunson with Craig Borlase.  I love reading books about those who have suffered for the Lord's cause.  Not that I love their suffering or the fact that they do have to suffer, but I love their deep, boots on the ground insight, I love to see their human-ness give way to God's victory and I love the way these stories encourage my own faith and make me pray more fervently for my brother and sisters who are persecuted.  

Andrew Brunson was imprisoned for his faith in Jesus Christ for over two years in Turkey.  His faith was severely tested.  At times he felt abandoned and let down by God.  But he never gave up.  Never stopped communicating with His Father.  I can relate to that (not to the extreme suffering and struggle he faced).  There are times I feel like God doesn't care.  I feel like He's absent from my life.  Yet I am thankful that the Lord gave me a spirit that doesn't quit.  I keep returning to His side even when I hurt.  

Something Mr. Brunson wrote brought a crazy large shift to the way I thought of these times of silence from heaven.   He wrote how he finally realized it was not God's faithfulness, loyalty or love that was being tested but his.  Wow.  Think about that for a minute, or maybe more than a minute.  

When I don't get my way how do I react?  I say in my heart, "God doesn't love me."  "God doesn't care." "God can't be trusted."  But what if I turn this around.  And when I think these things, when I act angry at God for not doing what I want Him to do when and how I want Him to do it am I not showing that I am the one not faithful, that I am the one not loyal, that I am the one that isn't loving?  I am already putting myself above God when I believe my way and my solution is the right way.  Then I let my faith in Him slip away.  

Ok, tough lesson.  But how much more peaceful would our hearts be if we changed our perspective when life doesn't go our way, when trouble comes and even stays awhile, and when we don't get what we think we need or what we want.  Would it not be more peaceful and profitable for us to remain loyal to God's love, knowing His character and heart....and echo our Savior in Matthew 26:39 "...My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”  That's faithfulness.  That's loyalty.  That's love.  That's the way I want to pass the tests of difficulty and suffering.   

Lord, forgive us for being so stubborn.  Forgive us for being stiff necked.  We, like children, want our own way and we forget that You are God.  We forget Your love and Your omniscience.  We live and act like we know better.  Lord, today, I ask that I will pass every test of faithfulness You allow to come my way.  I pray that I will remain loyal and show my love for You by submitting to Your will.  I pray that each of us will pray and believe and desire this every day.  Thank You for another beautiful God visit.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen. 

Memorize Matthew 26:39 and apply the attitude that comes with it.  And please pray for those who are persecuted for Jesus' sake.  They need our prayers. 

Hebrews 13:3 Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.

My computer is being difficult and it may be time to be getting a new one.  Last week it went for service, so if the blog goes down for a day, you'll know I'm working on getting a new one soon so it will be back.  I'm hoping to keep this computer as long as I can, but not sure from day to day if it will work.  Prayers!  

A Blessed People!