I am weak; He is strong

This week has certainly proven that phrase.

Sunday night, I stayed up later than I should have due to worry over Monday's tasks. Worrying is in direct disobedience to many of Jesus' teachings.

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." ~ Matthew 6:34

I disobeyed. :(

Then, after all my worries, I finished up earlier than usual on Monday.

Why did I not just follow Jesus' words?

In the wake of my disobedience and repentance, I praise God for His discipline and forgiveness.

"And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: 'My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.'" ~ Hebrews 12:5-6

"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 transgressions from us." ~ Psalm 103:11-12

I am so thankful the Everlasting Father is so much stronger than I am and lovingly draws me back into His arms whenever I stray.

A good friend said today she read Hosea 6:1-3 and thought of me. 

"Come, let us return to the Lord. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us; he has injured us but will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth." ~ Hosea 6:1-3

One of the neatest parts about the timing of this passage in my life is that I have two more days before I plan to visit North Greenville University, where I still have good friends and good memories! :)

"The Lord will fight for you;

you need only to be still."

~ Exodus 14:14 ~

Peace in the midst of the storm

This past Sunday as I became discouraged and fearful, the youth leader at my church shared (which had not originally been in her plans) about God's greatness from Job 36-40, and those passages encouraged me greatly as my focus returned to the greatness of God rather than my circumstances, so I would like to share Job 36:27-37:24 with you (since there was just an earthquake and a hurricane is on the way).

"He draws up the drops of water,

which distill as rain to the

streams;

the clouds pour down their moisture

and abundant showers fall on

mankind.

Who can understand how he spreads

out the clouds,

how he thunders from his

pavilion?

See how he scatters his lightning

about him,

bathing the depths of the sea.

This is the way he governs the

nations

and provides food in

abundance.

He fills his hands with lightning

and commands it to strike its

mark.

His thunder announces the coming

storm;

even the cattle make known its

approach.

At this my heart pounds

and leaps from its place.

Listen! Listen to the roar of his

voice,

to the rumbling that comes from his

mouth.

He unleases his lightning beneath

the whole heaven

and sends it to the ends of the

earth.

After that comes the sound of his roar;

he thunders with his majestic

voice.

When his voice resounds,

he houlds nothing back.

God's voice thunders in marvelous

ways;

he does great things beyond our

understanding.

He says to the snow, 'Fall on the

earth,'

and to the rain shower, 'Be a

mighty down pour.'

So that all men he has made may

know his work,

he stops every man from his

labor.

The animals take cover;

they remain in their dens.

The tempest comes out from its

chamber,

the cold from the driving winds.

The breath of God produces ice,

and the broad waters become

frozen.

He loads the clouds with moisture;

he scatters his lightning through

them.

At his direction they swirl around

over the face of the whole earth

to do whatever he commands

them.

He brings the clouds to punish men,

or to water his earth and show his

love.

Listen to this, Job;

stop and consider God's wonders.

Do you know how God controls the

clouds

and makes his lightning flash?

Do you know how the clouds hang

poised,

those wonders of him who is perfect

in knowledge?

You who swelter in your clothes

when the land lies hushed under the

south wind,

can you join him in spreading out the

skies,

hard as a mirror of cast bronze?

Tell us what we should say to him;

we cannot draw up our case

because of our darkness.

Should he be told that I want to

speak?

Would any man ask to be

swallowed up?

Now no one can look at the sun,

bright as it is in the skies

after the wind has swept them

clean.

Out of the north he comes in golden

splendor;

God comes in awesome majesty.

The Almighty is beyond our reach and

exalted in power;

in his justice and great

righteousness, he does not

oppress.

Therefore, men revere him,

for does he not have regard for all

the wise in heart?

Sometimes He Calms The Storm by Scott Krippayne

All who sail the sea of faith

Find out before too long

How quickly blue skies can grow dark

And gentle winds grow strong



Suddenly fear is like white water

Pounding on the soul

Still we sail on knowing

That our Lord is in control



Sometimes He calms the storm

With a whispered peace be still

He can settle any sea

But it doesn't mean He will



Sometimes He holds us close

And lets the wind and waves go wild

Sometimes He calms the storm

And other times He calms His child



He has a reason for each trial

That we pass through in life

And though we're shaken

We cannot be pulled apart from Christ



No matter how the driving rain beats down

On those who hold to faith

A heart of trust will always

Be a quiet peaceful place

"Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, "Lord, save us! We're going to drown!"

He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.

The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!"

~ Matthew 8:23-27

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." ~ John 16:33

Case in point

In my home, I am leading a small group through the Truth Project, which outlines how the Christian worldview addresses every area of life.

In the second DVD of the study, R. C. Sproul explains the historical difference between morality and ethics, where morality used to mean what is and where ethics used to mean what ought to be.

“That distinction has been obscured in our day, and people use the term morality and ethics as synonyms, and that leads to what I call ‘statistical morality,” Sproul says.

People see what other people are doing, add up the statistics, and if 51 percent of the people are doing something, it’s normal, he says.

“If it’s normal, it’s good because the good is determined by what is rather than by what ought to be, and in that sense we have a crisis of the loss of the whole concept of ethics,” Sproul says.

Just last night, I witnessed this loss of the concept of ethics first hand.

As a staff writer for a local newspaper, I attended a hospital board meeting, and one of the members had brought in three top officials on the subject.

One of those officials began at least two of his sentences—probably more—with the words, “Many people think…”

In contrast, Jesus begins many of his sentences with the words, “I tell you the truth…”

What is your source of authority?

Two Responses to Persecution

There are two main responses to persecution:

Run and hide.

or

Stand and fight!

For the first option: Run and hide - 

When the enemy attacks, we can choose to tuck tail and run, to turn from God, to shut our mouths, to close our eyes, to cover our ears and to hide away from all our fears, doubts and pains in a futile attempt to seek safety and miss out on all God's work and blessings in our lives and allow the enemy a short-lived victory.

When the enemy attacks, we can stop our teaching and preaching and writing and reading and sharing and living for God to try to save our families and friends from the attacks of the enemy.

But...

Is there actually anything we can do to keep our families and friends safe?

For the second option: Stand and fight - 

When the enemy attacks, we can choose to stand firm and fight hard, to plant our feet on God's path, to open our mouths with His words, to look up into His face, to listen to His promises and to confront face-to-face every fear, doubt and pain that sets itself up against God since this earth is not our home and to partake in God's bountiful feast and unconditional love in our lives.

When the enemy attacks, we can double our efforts of teaching, preaching, writing, reading, sharing and living for God because we know that He is the only One who holds our families and friends in his hands.

Sunday night, a thought flitted across my mind: If I stopped being so open about my faith in God, would my 

family and friends suffer less?

While there may be some truth in that statement, it is a lie from the enemy.

First of all, my family and friends are not in my hands, but God's.

Secondly, God may allow all kinds of trials in any life He chooses.

Thirdly, the devil can attack anyone he decides.

Fourthly and most importantly, Jesus specifically warns against putting even family above God: 

"Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and anyone who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." ~ Matthew 10:37-39

So, I have a question:

 

What will you do?

Call to War!

Tonight, I have felt the attack of the enemy in me and in my family!

I did not want to go to work tomorrow, to do the job God has given me or even to write His stories as has been my dream and joy!

My dad has had frustrations with our computer as he tried to help my mom prepare to teach her class tomorrow.

My mom has had two daughters calling for advice and prayer even as she tries to concentrate on her lesson plans for the coming week.

My sister's little boy would not stop crying to the point she called my mom, desperate for help!

My older brother's youngest girl has a bacterial infection, and they live in Niger, where he teaches history.

The attacks of the enemy seem to be growing stronger as I reach out farther in obedience to all that God has called me to do!

All I have been doing is praying every day for each member of my own family and my pastor's family as well as anyone else God brings to mind, leading a small group from 7-9 p.m. every Thursday for a few ladies who have been attending, sharing in-depth conversation with Godly friends as well as casual friends who need encouragement, writing letters to missionaries in training and writing whatever stories God sends my way or lays on my heart...

The enemy is getting nervous and striking hard, but our God is greater!

"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." ~ 1 John 4:4

"How great is God--beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out.

He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams; the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind. Who can understand how he spread out the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion? See how he scatters his lightning about him, bathing the depths of the sea. This is the way he governs the nations and provides food in abundance. He fills his hands with lightning and commands it to strike its mark. His thunder announces the coming storm; even the cattle make known its approach." ~ Job 36:26-33

And that's just the beginning! Read chapters 37-42 for a bigger picture!

So, who will join the Lord in this battle and stand against the enemy?
Who will take up the sword of the Spirit to slash down the lies of the enemy?
Who will take up the shield of faith to thwart every flaming arrow of the enemy?
Who will fasten the belt of truth to withstand the schemes of the enemy?
Who will put in place the breastplate of righteousness to come against the enemy?
Who will put on the feet that are fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace?
Who will fasten the helmet of salvation to counteract the enemy's threats?

Who will stand up with the Lord and fight as David fought Goliath?!

"David said to the Philistine, 'You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.
This day the Lord will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel.
All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord's, and he will give all of you into our hands."
~ 1 Samuel 17:45-47

Who will be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints?

We need each other because no one can live for God alone!

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen."
~ 1 Peter 5:6-11

And don't ever let the devil tell you that you can "only" pray or the "least" you can do is pray because prayer is one of only two weapons (God's Word being the other one) we have as believers and is the MOST we can do for each other since ONLY GOD can bring transformation, restoration and everything else we need!

"And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints." ~ Ephesians 6:18

"pray continually" ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:17

"Devote yourselves to prayer, 

being watchful and thankful."

~ Colossians 4:2 ~

"Revival In The Land" by Carmen

Attention, all saints of God! Man your battle stations!
Sound the alarm loud and long to all men of every nation!
We’re kicking down the gates of hell and not stopping till they’re level
For the sentence of destruction’s on the forehead of the devil!

Lift your hands in victory, this is our finest hour
For the sleeping giant called the church is rising up in power
Cry loud, spare not, this lion’s gonna roar
We may have lost some battles, but we will win this war

We’ve made it through the fire; our faith in God is strong
We’re a revelation generation with fire in our bones
Filled up with the Holy Ghost, trusting in the Bible
Fasten your seatbelts saints of God, the world is breaking forth in REVIVAL!

Revival, it’s coming to our land
The Holy Ghost is moving just like a hurricane
Revival, it’s coming to our shores
Get ready for the moving of the spirit of the Lord
(Repeat twice)

Revival!
What we’ve been waiting for
Revival!
What we’ve been praying for

From America to England
From Africa to Spain
From Mexico to China
The Spirit of God is being poured out on all flesh
And there’s Revival In The Land.

Challenge: Rise up! Take hold of the sword of the Spirit (God's Word)! Pray! And watch God work! :)

Be Alert!

"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone." ~ Colossians 4:5-6

Not everyone has a Bible--even here in the states.

Never take God's Word for granted!

Thinking = Praying

In a conversation the other day, a good friend said when she thinks something, she has already told God about it.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, "pray continually."

What better way to do just that than to make every thought a prayer?

2 Corinthians 10:5 says, "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

When thinking equals praying, we are able to spend time in the presence of the Lord God Almighty all day long wherever we are!

"How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God." ~ Psalm 84:1-2

God already knows all our thoughts, so it's no huge step to acknowledge His knowledge of our thoughts as we think them. :)

"You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar." ~ Psalm 139:2

Matthew 10:26 says, "So do not be afraid of them. There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known."

Hebrews 4:13 says, "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account."

Every thought will be brought to light, and our thoughts direct our actions.

"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee." ~ Proverbs 23:7 (KJV)

As another good friend emphasized to the youth at our church not too long ago, "What you think about is what you care about, and what you care about is what you'll chase."

What are you thinking about?

Untouched Feast

Last night, I texted a few ladies to see if they would be able to attend the small group I had just started the week before.

As I received a number of valid reasons why they could not attend, I wondered why God wanted me to lead the small group.

Since one lady was definitely coming, I began to cut the fresh bread I had just bought for the evening.

Smelling the freshness, I thought, they don't know what they're missing.

At that moment, God impressed on my heart how often He must feel the same way.

How often does God prepare a feast, invite the guests and wait for us to come--only for us to give excuses and reject His free, benevolent blessings?!

  

This scenario reminds me of the parable Jesus tells in Matthew 22:1-14:

Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying:

"The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.

Then he sent some more servants and said, 'Tell those who have been invitied that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.'

But they paid no attention and went off--one to his field, another to his business. The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. The kind was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.

Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to banquet anyone you find.' So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.

But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in here without wedding clothers?' The man was speechless.

Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'

For many are invited, but few are chosen."

Are you among the chosen?
1 John 5:13 says, "I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life."

• If you have never met Jesus, let me know, and I will be more than happy to share who He is and what He has done for you.

• If you know about Jesus but do not have a personal relationship with Him, let me know what you know, and I will do my best to introduce you to my Best Friend on a more personal level.

• If you are already living fully for Jesus, praise God and rejoice in the blessings to come--whether on earth or in heaven!

Paths beyond tracing out

Ever wonder why God allows certain steps to take place which seem to be headed in the opposite direction He is leading you?

Ever feel as though you have wasted time pursuing a road when God closes that door to open a completely different one?

Ever find yourself discouraged as you wait to see how God plans to lead you through this next phase in your life?

I have.

Yet, the longer I live, the more I see God's plan unfold in all its beauty and complexity.

Romans 11:33 says, "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!"

Just this week, God has shown me, in part, why He allowed an occurrence I did not understand at the time I lived through it.

Last year, as I waited to hear from the newspaper which later hired me, I interviewed at a different newspaper in a small town, where my college roommate lived.

Nothing resulted immediately from the interview at the different newspaper, and I received the position, where I work now.

This past weekend, I visited my college roommate, and I attended her newly established church in the town where I had interviewed with the local paper.

During my visit, God impressed on my heart to write an article about the establishment of this new church, so I did.

Today, I submitted the article to the newspaper where I had interviewed but did not receive the job, and the editor called and said the article would run next week!

If I had not interviewed there almost a year ago, I seriously doubt that I ever would have written the article, but God had a plan for me which I knew nothing about at the time.

Nothing takes God by surprise, and no experience is ever pointless or wasted.

"The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands. And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything, because he himself gives all men life and breath and everything else. From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'" ~ Acts 17:24-28

Hall of Faith - Hebrews 11

What is faith?
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." ~ Hebrews 11:1

By faith...

-we understand that the universe was formed at God's command

-Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did
-he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings
-he still speaks, even though he is dead

-Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death

Without faith...

-it is impossible to please God, because everyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him

By faith...

-Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family
-he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith

-Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going
-he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country

-Abraham, even though he was past age--and Sarah herself was barren--was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise

-Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice

-Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future

-Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons

-Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones

-Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born

-Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter
-he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger
-he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood

-the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land

-the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days

-the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great clouds of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." ~ Hebrews 12:1