Faith and Prayer #32

Dear Glorious Saints,
In the last letter I talked about Hebrews 10:23 & 35. “ Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful…So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.”

Then last week I heard a message by Sion Alford that really gave me additional perspective and I want to share my take on what the Lord has been showing him. Sion pointed out the difference between the promise of God and the will of God. He used the examples of David and Joseph and spoke about how they had been given promises from God that were not fulfilled for many years. However, each one of them had to walk in the will of God during those years and more often than not God’s will for them did not seem to reflect His promises at all. But through those circumstances God was working His perfect plan in their lives and establishing the character in them that they needed to be ready for the promise.

Often we try to bend and twist the circumstances of our lives to match the promise rather than seeking and walking in God’s will each day. What I heard was when our situation does not seem to line up with God’s promises we need to trust Him because of who He is and trust that He is working for good in our lives. His will may not always look like His promises, but rather than become discouraged and lose hope we need to continue to seek first His Kingdom and His will to be done on earth. And “all these things,” including His promises, will be given to us as well.

Sion shared what God has been using in his life to make all this real to him. Over two years ago he and his wife believed that they needed to sell their home and move closer to their church. They did all that they heard from God to do, prayed and trusted that He would bring a buyer. After over two years it still did not happen and they could not understand why. Then this July, due to a death in the family, they became the guardians of five children who are now living with them. Two weeks later their home sold. Had it sold earlier they would have bought a house to accommodate their three children rather than the eight they now care for.

God’s plans and His ways and His timing are perfect! We don’t always understand why the promises seem to tarry, but we can always trust Him.

With thanks to Sion,
Marianne

written August 31, 2009

Missing it

I think it was Joyce Myers who had the funny lesson about taking another trip around the mountain. Like, for instance, when the Israelites missed it with God and he sent them back out into the desert for a longer time to think about it and hopefully learn their lesson.

She called it "taking another trip around the mountain."

Ever feel like you keep having to relive the same trials time and time again? Keep getting mad about the same things? Keep bouncing checks? Keep missing appointments? The list is endless. Life seems one trial after another.

One more trip around the mountain. Will I get it this time?

After 95% of the original Israelites were dead, the promised land finally came into view.

Oh, Lord, don't let it be that way with me. Help me to learn Your lessons by at least... the third... maybe fourth time around?

After three grueling weeks, I managed to drag myself out of bed this morning, determined to get back into the habit of having an early morning quiet time with God. I know better than to let that time slip. Every thing simply goes awry when I don't carve out that predawn hour to sit quiet, listen for His call, and take in his words like honey on warm toast. How could I allow myself to start each day without filling myself? Haven't I learned by now I need His sustenance to make it in this life?

I sat at my desk, groggy eyed and empty headed, too early for even my thoughts to start their swarming. "Well?" I ask after downing half my first cup of coffee. As a response to the quiet, I open my journal and write, "Lord help me get back into a routine. The past three weeks have been a blur. I feel like my free time has been squeezed of all excess like a damp rag. I'm weary and I'm begging for a short rest. A time to recollect myself."

I've talked before about John Eldredge's book Walking With God on this blog. This is one book you can not race through. It's one that needs to be savored, re-savored and yet again, savored at least once more.

I heard, "Fall. Third entry."

And it sounded familiar, something I'd visited before. The title read, Until God Becomes Our All, and of course, I've savored this morsel a few times.

You see, I've been struggling with several things: changes, disappointments, readjustment, family... to name a few. The job I'd hoped for didn't come through. So I was bummed. Life itself, ever moving and revolving brings its own changes in relationships, events, time constraints. The job I do have has changed drastically and it's been a struggle to keep up. During all this, my eyes once again moved off my steady rock and onto the wildly lapping waves around me. But at least I didn't sink completely this time. No eye-to-eye moments with a tuna. Not this time.

Yet the distance grows, and will keep growing if I don't throw out my arms and plead, "Catch me, daddy!"

Eldredge wrote, "We see God as a means to an end rather than the end
itself. God as the assistant to our life versus God as our life. We don't see
the process of our life as coming to the place where we are fully his and he is
our all. And so we are surprised by the course of events.

It's not that God doesn't want us to be happy. He does. It's just that he
knows that until we are holy, we cannot really be happy. Until God has become
our all, and we are fully his, we will continue to make idols of the good things
he gives us."

And isn't it easy, when everything is going smooth, and life is good and you need shades the world is so bright. And we slip on those shades and color our vision until He's not the center anymore, but all the things we THINK make us happy and complete.

Such as the job we want.

That perfect relationship.

Perfect, well-behaved kids who are acing all their classes.

He wants these things for us as well, but not at the cost of our relationship with Him.

In Philippians 4:12, Paul says, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want."

That secret, my friends, is found in making God our all. Eldredge also wrote: "As long as our happiness is tied to the things we can lose, we are vulnerable."

Our happiness needs to be tied into the fact that He loves us, no matter what's going on. He loves us even when we don't get the job we want. He loves us even when our kids are fighting and we join in the fray. He loves us when we are being less than kind and caring to each other. He loves us. He loves us and He has our best interest at heart. He only ask to be the center of ours.

Then, as Paul summed up, "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." vs. 13.

I can do everything. Nothing will hinder me. Nothing will separate me from the love he has for me. A love that is wide and far reaching, that goes deep and past my fingertips high. There's no boundaries to it. No end. No beginning. We don't have to earn it. It's just there.

He loves me.

He love you.

forever and ever and ever, amen.

I fall down. He lifts me up

It's inevitable, that we'll find ourselves face down on the ground, spitting dirt, from time to time. Such has been my week.


And it's also inevitable, that the enemy we face in the spiritual realms, being the opportunist he is, will kick you when you're down. And kick you hard.


These occurrences are as likely as Murphy's law.


I had messed up, harming a friendship and my self-confidence. And the enemy, being the said opportunist he is, began telling me all sorts of accusations to break me down, to cause me to give up on myself.



A myriad of emotions can hit us when we hit the ground. Depression. Doubt. Fear. Then skipping right along behind...anger.


That's where I finally got. I became angry at the unfairness of the situation. Sure, we make mistakes, but why does the punishment for it have to seem so severe at times? And maybe it's because I was an only child who rarely got in trouble while growing up, but I don't do well with discipline. Actually, I simply hate for people to be disappointed with me. Even when I was a child, I did my best to please everyone, and it's something I haven't grown out of much.


So my sadness over what I'd caused turned to anger. Not just irritation, but a real temper-tantrum fit. "This isn't fair. I'm done, Lord. I want no more to do with people. I'm not going to do this anymore. When I screw up, the consequences are too severe and I can't handle when I hurt someone. I can't. I wont! Don't ask me again!! Do you hear me, God? Don't ask me to befriend another of your lost children. You'll have to find someone else more qualified to do that."


And I meant it. Foot stomping included... when nobody was looking.


And yet... right in the midst of my fit throwing, He gave me a picture. A mental image of what he thought about my situation.

Sometimes, I can hear his quiet voice speaking, sometimes I feel a nudge. Many times, I see a picture that conveys what God wants to say to me.

He could have been angry right back. It's what I deserved. Instead, he showed me that he was holding me and loving on me despite all the emotions swirling tornadically and tearing up my heart and spirit. He showed me that I was cradled in his arms, and it was okay for tears to flow and dampen his shirt. It was okay to fall limp in his arms. He had me. He wouldn't let go. His love would keep me secure no matter what happened or how I felt about it.

And isn't that his way? To love when we are unlovable? To comfort when we rage? To be compassionate when we sully up and feel full of hate?

During this time, He showed me a verse from Psalm 103:8-12

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,

slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not always accuse,

nor will he harbor his anger forever,

he does not treat us as our sins deserve

or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgression from us.

Father God, thank you for your forgiveness, for loving me when I'm unlovable. For pulling me into your arms when I'm hurting, when wounds have been banged and ache. Thank you for showing me how you feel about me, your compassion, your grace and mercy reign forever in my life. May it reign in the lives of others who read this story and understand that you love them even during their unlovable times as well. We thank you. Amen!

Jc

pictures: Fallen Warrior and Cry Out To Jesus created by myself.

Faith and Prayer #31

Dear Glorious Saints,

As we move through this second month of prayer and fasting I am really encouraged by some of the words from Hebrews 10. In verse 23 the writer admonishes us, “ Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.”

Yes, we should hang on, hold tight, stand firm – however you care to express it- to our hope. Why? Because He, our great and mighty, all-wise, all powerful God, the One who made us the promise in which we hope – He is FAITHFUL! He will do what He said and He has absolutely everything necessary to fulfill His promise.

Think of Him, who He is and all He has done for you. Remember all the ways He has touched your life, saved you, lifted you from the miry clay, set your feet on a Rock, given you eternal life, called you to Himself, loved you dearly and personally. Remember! Remember and know that He is the same, yesterday, today and forever. The One who loved you and was for you then still loves and is for you now.

No wonder the writer goes on to say in verse 35: “So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.”

So let us continue to do what He has called us to do. As we pray, as we call down to earth that which He has declared in heaven, let us be sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. He who promised is faithful.

Standing in hope,

Marianne

Wonderment Wednesday

Praise the Lord, my soul,

all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, my soul,

and forget not all his benefits--

who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

The Lord works righteousness

and justice for all the oppressed.

He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds in the people of Israel.

The Lord is compassionate and gracious

slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not always accuse,

nor will he harbor his anger forever,

he does not treat us as our sins deserve

or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth

so great is his love for those who know him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on those who fear him,

so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

for he knows how we are formed,

he remembers that we are dust.

As for mortals, their days are like grass

and its place remembers it no more.

But from everlasting to everlasting

the Lord's love is with those who fear him,

and his righteousness with their children's children--

with those who keep his covenant

and remember to obey his precepts.

The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all.

Psalm 103:1-19

When We Hurt Eachother

Does anyone really mean to hurt another?

I suppose, when we hurt, sometimes we lash out at others in our hurt and anger.
But purposefully? With intention? Not when it's someone we love.

Yet, it's the ones we love the most that we tend to hurt the most.
Like angry words at a child when they break something valuable.
Perhaps its a spouse who's not measuring up.
Maybe it's simply taking advantage of someone, forgetting they have feelings, or that they have their own issues they are dealing with.
Or it could simply be letting someone down whose put their trust in you.
I don't know why this happens. But the more we love someone, the worse it feels when the hurt comes.

We forget our own humanness. We forget that people are fallible. And the only thing or person of perfection is God himself.

How can we avoid being hurt?

I don't think we can. We are human, and as we've been given the gift of love, so much comes within the pretty package: hurt, guilt, joy, fulfillment, failure, and so much more. We hurt because we love, actually. I just don't think there's any getting around it.

C.S. Lewis wrote:
"To love at all is to be venerable. To love anything and your heart will be
wronged and possibly broken. If you want to make sure to keep it in tact, then
you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully around with
hobbies, attachments and little luxuries, and avoid all entanglements. Lock your
heart up in a safe place like a casket or a coffin of selfishness. But in that
casket, safe and dark and motionless and airless, your heart will change. And it
will not be broken. Instead, it will become ungrateful... impenetrable...
irredeemable.... The only place outside of heaven where you can be perfectly
safe from all the dangers of love, is hell."

I hurt a friend's heart today. And now mine is broken as well. I've been in tears since it happened, and I'm sure they have as well in one way or another.

God gave me this friend and trusted me with a precious heart and I got careless. And it would be easy to blow it off, to say "Well, I apologized and they need to forgive and get over it." But it's not that easy. Sometimes we forget what a priceless gift friends are. We forget the price Jesus paid for us. As humans, we forget each other's value.

I never meant any harm. I made a very bad choice. Unwise. I had thought a lot about it, but I don't think I prayed it through enough. Or perhaps at all. That's so important. Involving God in all we do, especially when it concerns others. It's easy to run ahead and forget to not take a step until you have a tight grip on His hand.

Then your left with a thousand broken pieces and you wonder if it's possible to clean up such a mess. A mess I myself have created. And I don't suppose all the brooms and dustpans, all the superglue in the world can fix it. So I turn to God and ask for His intervention.

Father, I've made a big mess and I need your help to clean it up!

I sit and think of all the things I could have done differently. It's strange how much clearer all the should have dones are in hindsight.

I'm praying that time will heal what's been broken. That God can step in and repair the damage I've so carelessly caused. I'm praying that I'll be given another chance. And with that second chance, that I'll take better care and remember what a gift friendship is. Something that shouldn't be taken lightly.

Father, you gave me that priceless heart to care for. I'm sorry that I got careless. Teach me how to be a good, solid friend. Forgive me. Help my friend find forgiveness as well. Please mend the broken place in our relationship, make it stronger than before if it's possible. Help me to remember this and to never forget what a precious treasure people are. We are all your children, and you love each and every one of us as if we were the only one on the face of the earth. Help us to value each other in that same way. Amen.

jc

Creating a work in progress

We are but a work in progress....


I sit before the easel, blank, white, full of possibilities. I grab my charcoal pencil and sketch a design, forms, images as the completed project forms in my mind. I can see it clear, eyes closed, but once opened again, it's no more than vague lines.

Then, dipping paintbrush into a swirl of color, bristles sweep across white expanse and a thrill erupts in my heart. We are on our way. What will happen? How will it all come out in the end?

More colors. More splashes. Oh, but it's not quite what I had in mind. It's actually kind of messy. I wipe up drips of paint off my shoes and floor.

Almost, as if taking on a life of it's own, the paint and brush sweep, blend, mesh and I gasp, "No, not quiet what I had in mind." I fight back, trying to regain control. Add more yellow. Yet the blue grasp and changes it to green.

In this tug-of-war endeavor of creating, I find I can hear God quiet clearly in the brush strokes.

"I understand your frustration. It's how I feel while I'm trying to mold you and
you have your own ideas. Your own color scheme... Yes, dear one, I
understand completely."

I stop and set my brush down. "I do, don't I? You say yellow and I want orange. You draw a crisp, straight line and say don't cross, yet my toe constantly brushes against, blurring it. Yes, it must be frustrating for you as well."

Yet I don't give up.

He doesn't either.

I wait for paint to dry.
So He waits as well.

I take my time.
So does He.

I am patient.

So is He.

As my project nears completion, I add defining lines, light and definition to each form.


In my life, I feel him doing the same. Setting boundaries. Highlighting the good in me. Defining who I am.


I start off a big mess. A swirl of assorted colors. No real form. But he creates in my mess of a life, a work of art if I'll let him. His masterpiece. Something that bears His name.


And I want to proudly bear his name. I want to be a thing of beauty that brings joy to those who behold the work he's done in me.

In this video, the late Rich Mullins talks about God working in our lives. Later in the clip, he speaks about what God does with the junk we've made of our lives. Turn off the sidebar music as you listen to his wonderful man's wisdom. Hope you enjoy!

It's My Birthday

My grandma was around 86 when she passed away. Today, I'm halfway there.

And I don't say that to be morbid, or down about my birthday. But there comes a time when you simply have to stop and say, "What the heck are you doing?"

While I was in Summer Academy for my teacher certification, one of the instructors said there's three important questions you should ask children to redirect them.

1. What are you doing?

2. What are you supposed to be doing?

3. What are you going to do about it?

I think 43 is a good time to stop and ask these questions.

What are you doing with your life, Jackie? Nearly half of it is passed, are you making the most out of the opportunities God gives you?

Think I'll come back to that one later.

What are you supposed to be doing, Jackie? Are you doing what God's asked you to do? Are you using the talents he's given you to the best of your abilities? Are you staying on the path He's laid out for you?

Uh, can I have some time to think about that and check my notes? I'll get back to you shortly.

Lastly, Jackie, what are you going to do with the rest of your life? What are you going to do with this precious gift of life the Father has bestowed upon you? What?

I really do want to make the most of it. I do, oh, I do.

Father, help me not to waste a moment of the wonderful talents you've gifted me with. Let me not waste a moment of this precious life you've given me. I have so much to be thankful for. More gifts and blessings than a table piled to the ceiling with packages can match. Thank you, for my life, thank you. Help me to make the most of it, for your glory. Amen!

What does the worker gain from his toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on men. He has made everything beautiful in its
time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what
God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for men
than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink
and find satisfaction in all his toil-- this is the gift of God. I know that
everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing
taken from it; God does it so that men will revere him.
Ecclesiastes 3:9-14

Wonderment Wednesday

Your steadfast LOVE, O LORD, extends to the heavens,

your FAITHFULNESS to the skies.

Your RIGHTOUSNESS is like the MighTy MounTains,

your JUDGEMENTS are like the great deep;

You save humans and animals alike, O LORD.
How precious is your steadfast love, O GOD!
All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.


O continue your steadfast love to those who know you,
and your salvation to the upright of heart!
Do not let the foot of the arrogant tread on me, or the hand of the wicked drive me away.


There the evildoers lie prostrate; they are thrust down, unable to rise.
Psalm 36:5-12


(turn off the music on the sidebar for Third Day's Your Love)

Finding the Cleft of Quietness

The Lord said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the
Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by."

Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the
rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind.

After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the
earthquake.

After the earthquake came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.

And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his
cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave.

Then the Lord said to him, "What are you doing here, Elijah?"

When I was a child, I loved to climb high up in the trees, find a sturdy crook in the branches, and sit there, surrounded by greenery, splattered sunlight and a gentle rustling breeze. It felt like I'd entered a whole different world. Swaying... Cool... Soothing. I could sit up there for hours and hours, just thinking... swaying... hiding away in the tree's strong cocoon of shimmering greens.

I still find a need to seek out those solitary, quiet places. Now I'm bit too old to climb trees. Darn it. But I often find myself lured to quiet shady spots beneath spreading branches. I need that quiet. It's where I hear God best.

It's so easy to get swept up in the daily cacophony of noise, stress, demands and pressures. It's so easy forget to withdraw, every once in awhile to those quiet places, whether it be the shade of a tree, cradled in the bough of branches, or swinging on a hammock, or simply sitting quietly at a desk, or a favorite chair.




I need to let the gentle breeze of His voice flow over me, tickling my skin, tugging tresses of hair, gentle air kisses on my cheek, whispered words in my ear. Time to be still before Him. Opportunity to hear Him ask, "What are you doing here? What's your purpose? Are you following mine or yours?"

We need to find God,
and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness.
God is the friend of silence.
See how nature - trees, flowers, grass -
grow in silence;
See the stars, the moon and the sun,
how they move in silence...

We need silence to be able to touch souls.
Mother Theresa

Shut off the music on the side bar and listen to Chris Rice sing "Rock of Ages Cleft for Me"

Oh, let me hide myself in thee, O Lord. Let me hide myself in Thee!




Father, may I always remember you are my rock. You are my place of safety. You are the quiet place where I can seek refuge in a crazy world. Meet me always in those quiet places. Let me always hear your voice come on the quiet breezes. Amen