Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
I'm finding it fascinating and comforting how God is leading me to verses about faith and hope these days. It is very appropriate. Being in the midst change and seeking the will of God is a trail of ups and downs. There are days where I'm simply distracted from what's going on and oblivious to the fact that God is working out the details. And yet, there are moments when it is brought right to the forefront of my thinking because it is so obvious that God is working out the details. The back and forth of needing information and feeling at peace about knowing nothing is something I wrestle with at times. Recently, God has placed into my spirit a peace that is not my own so that even when I want to know something, I am calm in with walking in faith and not knowing anything. This is not of my own will as I am incredibly impatient on the whole. Faith is being assured in God's love for me and waiting with expectancy for His will and timing in my life.
Saturday, April 22, 2017
Friday, April 21, 2017
God's Plan
Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to proser you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
This verse is one that continually comes back to me. This is God letting His exiled people know that He is working on their behalf while they are away from home. He is telling them to take heart and live a life of seeking the Lord. That is my current mission, to seek God. I am in transition and the only thing I know for sure is that the Lord is working on my behalf. When I begin to worry, I think on Jesus. When I begin to question, I quiet my mind and think on Jesus. When I try to plan for what's next, I think back on the events that have led to this moment and remember God's faithfulness. My focus for the past few months has been on God and His plan. His plan is very unclear to me, at this time, but I lean on verses like Jeremiah 29:11 and let Jesus hold me in my moments of weakness. For when I am weak, He is strong, and I am experiencing that at a new depth. Seek Him and you will find Him. Truth.
This verse is one that continually comes back to me. This is God letting His exiled people know that He is working on their behalf while they are away from home. He is telling them to take heart and live a life of seeking the Lord. That is my current mission, to seek God. I am in transition and the only thing I know for sure is that the Lord is working on my behalf. When I begin to worry, I think on Jesus. When I begin to question, I quiet my mind and think on Jesus. When I try to plan for what's next, I think back on the events that have led to this moment and remember God's faithfulness. My focus for the past few months has been on God and His plan. His plan is very unclear to me, at this time, but I lean on verses like Jeremiah 29:11 and let Jesus hold me in my moments of weakness. For when I am weak, He is strong, and I am experiencing that at a new depth. Seek Him and you will find Him. Truth.
Thursday, April 20, 2017
Who's In Control?
Psalm 75:2 You say, "I choose the appointed time; it is I who judge uprightly."
Timing is everything. This is something I am learning in a new way. I am waiting on God's timing, taking action when He moves me and being still when He tells me. Being still is the harder of the two for me. I am a woman of action. I like to get things done. I like to wield my hand and use the skills and talents I have to accomplish great things. This is a time in my life where God has been very clear that I need to be still. He has set me in a situation where He is about to show His ability, His skills and talents, so to speak. I have been instructed to be still so that God can do what only God can do. Whatever is next on my journey will not have anything to do with me, my skills, or my talents, that much I know. God is doing something that only He can do, to humble me and show me that I often lean on my own strength and my own abilities. The problem is that I thought I was always good about giving God the glory, but in my heart I was controlling much of what happened on my own. Now God is moving in order to receive the glory that is His due and I could not be more excited about that. I am not even close to being in control of what God is up to nor do I have a clue what He is doing. He just gives me little glimpses here and there to keep my soul at peace and my hope alive. In His time, He will reveal what's next and it will be of Him and not me. I love that story!
Timing is everything. This is something I am learning in a new way. I am waiting on God's timing, taking action when He moves me and being still when He tells me. Being still is the harder of the two for me. I am a woman of action. I like to get things done. I like to wield my hand and use the skills and talents I have to accomplish great things. This is a time in my life where God has been very clear that I need to be still. He has set me in a situation where He is about to show His ability, His skills and talents, so to speak. I have been instructed to be still so that God can do what only God can do. Whatever is next on my journey will not have anything to do with me, my skills, or my talents, that much I know. God is doing something that only He can do, to humble me and show me that I often lean on my own strength and my own abilities. The problem is that I thought I was always good about giving God the glory, but in my heart I was controlling much of what happened on my own. Now God is moving in order to receive the glory that is His due and I could not be more excited about that. I am not even close to being in control of what God is up to nor do I have a clue what He is doing. He just gives me little glimpses here and there to keep my soul at peace and my hope alive. In His time, He will reveal what's next and it will be of Him and not me. I love that story!
Wednesday, April 19, 2017
Jesus' Heart
Luke 14:2 There in front of him was a man suffering from dropsy.
At first, I focused on the fact that Jesus shows compassion on this man in the next verses and heals him. But then, I realized, He was at a Pharisee's home and what was this man doing there? The Pharisee was obviously trying to catch Jesus in performing a "thou shalt not" because I don't recall Pharisees hanging out with sick people. The best part of this whole interaction is that Jesus reveals His heart and the hearts of the Pharisees. Jesus' heart is to love people and care for them. That, I would have thought, was the Pharisees purpose as well, to love people and care for them. And yet, they were so focused on the "Thou Shalt" and "Thou Shalt Not" that their hearts were completely lost. Oh, but we are not any better than the Pharisees. We find ourselves looking at our list of dos and don'ts and try to keep as many as we can. I believe Jesus looks at us in these moments and the verse then reads, "There in front of him was Abbie suffering from the sin condition." Jesus looks on me with compassion and offers his healing sacrifice and His transformational grace. He offers me His death as my own and gifts me the Holy Spirit to change my heart. The list of dos and don'ts becomes a thing of the past, and I can live with freedom in Christ. My heart can only love people and care for them, as I have been loved and cared for; no more focusing on their dos and don'ts.
At first, I focused on the fact that Jesus shows compassion on this man in the next verses and heals him. But then, I realized, He was at a Pharisee's home and what was this man doing there? The Pharisee was obviously trying to catch Jesus in performing a "thou shalt not" because I don't recall Pharisees hanging out with sick people. The best part of this whole interaction is that Jesus reveals His heart and the hearts of the Pharisees. Jesus' heart is to love people and care for them. That, I would have thought, was the Pharisees purpose as well, to love people and care for them. And yet, they were so focused on the "Thou Shalt" and "Thou Shalt Not" that their hearts were completely lost. Oh, but we are not any better than the Pharisees. We find ourselves looking at our list of dos and don'ts and try to keep as many as we can. I believe Jesus looks at us in these moments and the verse then reads, "There in front of him was Abbie suffering from the sin condition." Jesus looks on me with compassion and offers his healing sacrifice and His transformational grace. He offers me His death as my own and gifts me the Holy Spirit to change my heart. The list of dos and don'ts becomes a thing of the past, and I can live with freedom in Christ. My heart can only love people and care for them, as I have been loved and cared for; no more focusing on their dos and don'ts.
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
We Are Never Lost
John 3:16 God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life.
I was prompted to use this verse, but with a version I had not read before. It's interesting how different translations bring a whole new thought to mind as you connect the known to the new. The word lost is the one that caught my eye today. I have felt a little lost at times this year, not knowing what is coming next. In those moments, I have turned to Jesus and told Him my worries, my struggles, my hopes, and my dreams. I think it all comes back to Mom's statement of, "Jesus knows what to do". He really does. He is my rock. He is the one who understands exactly how I feel at each moment. I do not feel lost when I am in His presence. I feel heard and loved. I feel understood. Knowing what Jesus went through to save the world from sin, to save me from my sin, reminds me that my struggle and my uncertainty was/is His too. That is the beauty of having a risen Christ. He goes with me so I am never lost, even when the way is uncertain...Jesus knows what to do.
I was prompted to use this verse, but with a version I had not read before. It's interesting how different translations bring a whole new thought to mind as you connect the known to the new. The word lost is the one that caught my eye today. I have felt a little lost at times this year, not knowing what is coming next. In those moments, I have turned to Jesus and told Him my worries, my struggles, my hopes, and my dreams. I think it all comes back to Mom's statement of, "Jesus knows what to do". He really does. He is my rock. He is the one who understands exactly how I feel at each moment. I do not feel lost when I am in His presence. I feel heard and loved. I feel understood. Knowing what Jesus went through to save the world from sin, to save me from my sin, reminds me that my struggle and my uncertainty was/is His too. That is the beauty of having a risen Christ. He goes with me so I am never lost, even when the way is uncertain...Jesus knows what to do.
Monday, April 17, 2017
A Spirit of Hope
Zephaniah 3:12 But I will leave within you the meek and humble, who trust in the name of the Lord.
What does it feel like to have God refine your heart in a way that leaves the meek and humble? Refinement is not comfortable; it is not easy. Being refined requires specific grace from God that sees, with the heart, all that God intended you to be from the very beginning, which enables you to walk in peace with a spirit of hope. In refinement we are able to build our trust in His name because we experience God's faithfulness. Hardships draw us near, and His love can get soul deep where we have true need of the Savior. Then we experience the faithfulness of our loving God. Being refined is what brings Heaven to us on earth. We are joined by Jesus and transformed by the Spirit through the faithfulness of God. We are loved, and there can be no question of that. I'm trusting in the strong name of Jesus, at this very moment, that He is working on my behalf, because I am experiencing His work in, around, and through me. I pray He leaves within me the meek and humble as I move forward on this journey with Jesus.
Sunday, April 9, 2017
At It Again
Well all, I think I'm going to start posting again. My life journey is taking an interesting turn and I'm finding I need this writing thing. God and I have had lots of conversations already this year and I'm lamenting the fact that I haven't been writing about it all. It's amazing how God moves and His timing is unbelievable. Be watching for the posts to begin! I'm thinking it will be the Monday after Easter. After all, the resurrection wasn't the end, it was a beautiful beginning!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)