10.16.11
Posted in Christian living, Inspiration at 3:45 pm by Administrator
“For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. … We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” — Romans 12:3,6-8, NIV
When I read this scripture in the past, I always would feel this is God’s way of bringing us down off of our high horse, whenever we would think of ourselves “too highly”. But recently I was studying this same passage and the Holy Spirit revealed another way to look at this…
I think that the enemy has used this scripture to feed our insecurities, making us feel that we aren’t good at something so we should give up. Rather, I feel that its purpose is to teach us that what we do is by faith, not by our own skills or abilities. Romans 12 speaks about using our gifts in proportion to our faith, rather than how good we are at doing it!. This really got me excited, because in my own skills and abilities, I would say that I’m not that great at teaching or preaching but when it comes to my faith, well I can honestly say that I can believe for really big things when it comes to God! By faith, I can see myself preaching to the multitudes, by faith I can feel God’s power flowing through me like electricity and changing the lives of others. By faith, I can see myself moving as he leads, always ready to go where he sends me.
Is that thinking too highly of yourself? I don’t believe so. I think its using the measure of faith that God has given you. Do I think I could do all of those things? Of course not! That’s the wonderful thing about faith, you know that its not according to your skills or abilities, it is all about what you’re able to believe God is able to do in and through you. And that is where I can believe big! What can you see when you use your faith? How big can you believe?
Whether it is to one or one thousand, when you speak, speak with the faith God has given you. Prophesy, teach, encourage, give, lead and show mercy from the Spirit — not through methods, but from the Spirit, from the portion that God has gifted you with.
Permalink
01.30.11
Posted in Christian living, Inspiration, Reflections at 9:52 pm by Administrator
Matt. 22:1-3,8-14The Parable of the Wedding Banquet 1 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 “The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. …8 “Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.’ 10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 He asked, ‘How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?’ The man was speechless. 13 “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.’ 14 “For many are invited, but few are chosen.”
As I read this parable I think of the classic story of the “Emperor’s New Clothes” which teaches how flattering words can deceive. As we look at the body of Christ today, I wonder how many churches are filled with naked people who have been flattered into believing that they had a form of godliness through words and works, while the Lord sees their wretched nakedness.
Rev.3:17 says, Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked—
The Wedding Feast is open to all who he calls, which are many. They come to the banquet, still soiled and dirty from the things of the world. But on entrance, they are offered a wedding garment, God’s righteousness, spotless and white, which covers their filth.
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.—I Cor. 5:21
Some did not feel the need to clothe themselves in that righteousness, which is the only thing that would make them worthy to be in the presence of the King. They may have believed that the invitation alone made them worthy of being in the presence of such majesty. Others may have thought that they were good enough to be there because of all the things they did in their community, surely that is why they were invited. Others may just have felt they wouldn’t be noticed and would just blend in with the others and not be seen for who they really were. But the King in his purity and justice, could immediately see their nakedness for what it was… and was forced to separate them from his presence.
The wedding garment was offered freely to all who came. Without it, their sin was exposed, and they were disqualified from the feast. The King wondered why they didn’t receive the wedding garment and confronted them with the question.
The guests were speechless… (not realizing their own deception, maybe?) – too used to a works based salvation that is preached in so many of our churches today?. Or is the gospel so seeker sensitive that it waters down the message of the cross, just to increase numbers and revenue? My question is this: Is your church body proclaiming the kingdom through the only way, Jesus? There is only one way into the wedding banquet and that is through the work of the cross. That invitation is offered freely to all regardless of your condition, however, there was a dear price paid for that entrance.
As you enter into the courts of the Lord, remember to put on that wedding garment of righteousness. You will find that it changes your way of thinking. You are no longer a resident of the streets (the world), but are now an heir to the kingdom. You are not there based on your own accolades or achievements, but solely by grace, through the One who paid the price. Thank God for that. And thank God, because of that, I’ll see you there!
Permalink
11.12.10
Posted in Christian living, Inspiration, Reflections at 2:02 pm by Administrator
Now that this year is winding down, I am reflecting on the past twelve months and seeing such provision and favor compared to the previous year of pruning and tearing away. One of the things I had desparately prayed for in 2009 was that God would restore a sense of security in my life which I always had, but seemed to have been stripped away. It isn’t security in the conventional sense, as I could always feel secure even in the midst of upheaval and change…. it was a spiritual security, that no matter what was going on in my life, I always had a sense that God was in it and He was in control… when I had that, I could face anything!
So if nothing else, in 2010, God reminded me that I indeed am in the middle of his plan for my life… maybe not as far as I should be, but at least I am walking in the steps that He has for me. One thing I am so aware of lately is the passage or rather slippage of time. I am constantly battling my flesh to sieze the day and try to break through the rut of the day to day and take hold of my destiny. I don’t want to find myself years later saying “what if?”
One of the ways that I challenge myself is that when life is just progressing in an uneventful way– work, home, family time, sleep, work, home, familytime, sleep, WEEKEND!!, work, home, family time…. you get the picture! I will sometimes stop, reflect on where I am, and ask God if I should be doing something else… am I challenging myself to a radical faith walk with Jesus? Is this the place I am supposed to be, the work I’m supposed to be doing and call that I am fulfulling? When I do this, Its a reality check and God reminds me of the the things he has asked me to accomplish at this time and some of it is just time consuming and mundane! At other time, I am procrastinating and that is what is causing me to fall into the rut so I get out of my comfort zone, repent and get back to work on fulfilling that which I have vowed to do before God. I may have to steal the time away as I am doing this morning before I go to work, or sometimes I give up one of my precious Saturdays and really put my all into completing a task. One by one, I work on the tasks that the Lord has set before me to do and as I complete each thing, I am seeing Gods hand of favor on my life. I sense his pleasure and I am amazed by his love for me.
God is patient, he is kind, he will not condemn you or punish you when you slack or fall back into the day to day routine, but if you want to see Him smile, if you want to feel the fullness of his pleasure, than I challenge you to step back, take a look at your life and ask him if you are doing what he has called you to do. Don’t wait till its too late and your life is full of “what ifs?”. Ask him what you can do for his kingdom today!
Permalink
04.10.10
Posted in Inspiration, Reflections, Shanan News at 6:40 pm by Administrator
Psalm 116
After what seemed to be months of living in survival mode, things were finally quieting down to where I could spend some quality time with the Lord, more than my regular “Breakfast of Champions devotional” each morning with Andy Elmes (see link on my facebook profile) and scheduled events such as church and life groups. So I made my coffee and sat on my couch early one morning and opened up to the following psalm:
1 I love the LORD, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.
2 Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live.
3 The cords of death entangled me,
the anguish of the grave came upon me;
I was overcome by trouble and sorrow.
Wow! Thats where I was this past summer! That was my cry to God daily as I questioned everything I knew to be true — thinking somehow I must of missed it– lost my way somehow. I was entangled and in anguish. I was overcome by trouble.
4 Then I called on the name of the LORD :
“O LORD, save me!”
5 The LORD is gracious and righteous;
our God is full of compassion.
6 The LORD protects the simplehearted;
when I was in great need, he saved me.
This is the testimony of the last six months of my life! I remember crying out to the Lord and asking him for relief from what seemed too hard for me at the time… I remember even telling him what I hoped to find– a place where I would be needed and count for something in the kingdom — to fulfill my purpose on earth rather than just doing time..
7 Be at rest once more, O my soul,
for the LORD has been good to you.
8 For you, O LORD, have delivered my soul from death,
my eyes from tears,
my feet from stumbling,
9 that I may walk before the LORD
in the land of the living.
Being aware that I am in a position that He placed me in, I am convinced that God wants me where I am, for whatever amount of time, to serve his purpose for this lovely congregation that is special to God’s heart and plan for this county. This church that I am now working for (not my fellowship but my place of employment), though a traditional mainline denomination, it is filled with a remnant of sold-out lovers of God who are serving Him faithfully.
It seems like at that moment I felt God saying to me, Have you truly thanked me? Are you realizing how far I have brought you out of the pit and into my purpose? I was stopped in my tracks as I sat amazed at this revelation of God’s goodness in my life. .
10 I believed; therefore I said,
“I am greatly afflicted.”
11 And in my dismay I said,
“All men are liars.”
There was a point in my time of struggle that I began to believe the negativity around me and fell into a dark place of cynism and anger which I began to believe I lost the favor of God in my life and that I had no future. Such an evil trap! Don’t fall into it!
12 How can I repay the LORD
for all his goodness to me?
13 I will lift up the cup of salvation
and call on the name of the LORD.
14 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people.
At that moment I was reminded of a vow I had made to the Lord months ago that I had not completed. Immediately I went back and gave that day to work on finishing that vow and I will continue to follow through with that.
15 Precious in the sight of the LORD
is the death of his saints.
Truly dying to self , not dying to emotion as my pastor and friend Val says, but dying to our own wants and looking to God to know whats best for you, more than you even know yourself
16 O LORD, truly I am your servant;
I am your servant, the son of your maidservant [c] ;
you have freed me from my chains.
17 I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
and call on the name of the LORD.
18 I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
in the presence of all his people,
19 in the courts of the house of the LORD—
in your midst, O Jerusalem.
Praise the LORD
I remain in a place of praising God for all He is doing both in my life and in the lives of those who are committed to love and serve him. This year is a year of great expectancy, knowing that he can rescue us from the pit and release us to do his will in these last days!
Permalink
10.11.09
Posted in Christian living, Inspiration, Reflections at 8:14 pm by Administrator
As I look back over the last three weeks…only one word comes to mind – Grateful! It is the emotion that you feel when you see the hand of God on your life. There are other words that come to mind as well, and that is, exhausted, overwhelmed, challenged, slammed, swamped, and so on. You get the picture! In other words, I’m grateful that God provided a means to live that I thoroughly enjoy and yet I’m overwhelmed by the workload as I try to transition and juggle my real estate business (of which I still need to make ends meet) and this new and very demanding position as adminstrator of a large and busy church! Since I know that God had a hand in me getting this position, I must trust that he will give me the strength to endure this challenge.
Immediately the enemy was involved, as on my very first day of work, I stepped out of the shower to find the bath mat wasn’t there (and my habit is to dry off while standing on the mat)– but to my dismay, I stepped onto the slippery wet floor and fell backward onto my left hand. Sharp, excruciating pain shot through my arm and I lay there wimpering and crying on the floor. I really thought I had broken my wrist. I cried out to God and felt a warm tingling sensation through my arm. I finally recouped enough strength to get up and attempt to one-handedly dry myself off and pull on some clothes. Artie and the kids were in the kitchen and didn’t hear me at all so they were surprised when I came out of the bathroom crying in pain. We quickly iced up my wrist and Leana found her old sling from when she broke her wrist a few years ago. I took 3 advils and headed to my job. It made everything a bit more difficult as I couldn’t put any pressure on my wrist at all for the next several days and so it was very stressful. It wasn’t getting better so by the weekend I had to rest my arm and let it heal. After two weeks, it was getting back to normal. Meanwhile, I was feeling flu-like symptoms that were increasing as the week progressed. I knew that I was pushing myself physically, because each night I was having to follow up all my real estate work till almost midnight and finally collapse into sleep.
I felt that life was attacking me full throttle and I visualized myself as a football player constantly playing defense. I could never advance any ground — I kept getting pushed back by the opposing team. Finally, Saturday morning, our Church had a ladies meeting with an amazing lady, Lynn Swart, sharing with us. She prayed for me and I just felt that overwhelming sense of relief that comes when the Lord hears your cry. She spoke a word of knowledge over me that she sensed my battle-weariness. She prophesied that I would no longer be on the defensive but begin to take the offensive in the Spirit. To stop just holding my ground, but begin to start taking back the ground that was stolen. Praise the Lord!
No matter what we face, no matter how difficult the task, we have a God that knows what we need in order to accomplish what is before us. We trust, we move forward, we believe and we remain… Grateful!
Permalink
09.02.09
Posted in Christian living, Inspiration, Reflections at 4:40 pm by Administrator
I am just in a place of awe when I think of how quickly circumstances can change when you serve the Living God. We have had a very different summer, and though I was blessed with an incredible experience in Africa in June, I returned to a time of extreme testing. This battle was not only a test of the ablility to live day by day in the simple grace and peace of God, trusting him or our daily bread, but it was also a battle of the mind– a time where I questioned why God would allow me to go through such a time of stretching. My daily prayer reminded the Lord that He promised not to give us more than we could bear. My daily experience however, was often crying out to the Lord that I felt it was indeed more than I could bear. Many days I felt crushed under the weight.
Yet, through it all and looking back, there were pockets of moments that I would feel so incredibly blessed. Like the mini-vacation we were able to sneak away with the kids, with my parents traveling with us and sharing the gas expense, we got to visit the beautiful North Carolina mountains for a few precious days. We stayed in a cabin together with our great friend and her kids by her gracious invitation.
Again, it was madness to go, and I was in the middle of a few business deals that were being interrupted by the lack of signal in the woods where the house was. I would drive miles out to town just to check my messages. The kids had such a wonderful time which overruled any of my inconveniences. My parents enjoyed keeping up their record of 42 years of going to NC for the summer (even if it was only a for a couple of days.) And I enjoyed the break from the thick humid heat of the Florida summer.
After returning and facing the giants of my life’s circumstances once again, I would come to the battle refreshed and renewed with hope and grace. Each mountain must be climbed individually and I press on trying to focus on the one before me rather than the range beyond it. As I reach the top, I survey the scene and look for the path ahead that the Lord has chosen for me. Sometimes that path looks harder than the others, but I have decided to trust Him and I plow ahead. Every once in a while I discover that beyond the shadows, an oasis of rest and refreshment is there, waiting for me.
I am finding one of those currently as the Lord has blessed me with an opportunity to be a blessing to others through a job that I’m really going to love. (I prayed that I would be able to love what I’m called to do as the grace for the housing market has definately worn off! –check out last months blog!) This would be more of an office job, working with people and in a church environment. Love it! Of course I keep my realtors license but now more on a part time basis and it will be a bonus rather than trying to survive off that income (or lack thereof).
God promises us he will give us rest. He knows what we can handle even if we don’t. Be encouraged that no matter how dark the days seem, there is an oasis of rest just beyond your view. Press on and trust Him!
Permalink
08.19.09
Posted in Reflections at 3:00 am by Administrator
Lately during my study time with the Lord, I keep finding myself gravitating to the book of Habakkuk and believe it or not, I find it absolutely relevant to our country’s situation right now. I am working as a real estate agent and have found in this last year such an injustice happening in the world with the whole banking/mortgage fiasco. Let me preface that I am a non-political person, and this rant is not along those lines at all. I am purely stating the situations that I am commonly faced with in my line of work, and have often discussed at length with other realtors and mortgage brokers and customers that I am dealing with. It is a growing frustration among fellow commission based individuals, who are truly wondering where, if and when they will get thier next paycheck.
Since the market crashed and the housing bubble burst, I can guarantee that almost all of the “greedy” manipulative investors that helped cause this whole bubble are long gone. What remains now mostly is honest hardworking folks who have been unsuccessfully trying to stay afloat in this upside down market environment. These people have seen their business income decline, jobs eliminated, standard of living shift downward and thier good name disintegrating as the economy has not improved enough to pull themselves out of the hole thats been dug.
Of course, if we are honest, we got here ourselves by getting caught up in the same greed and overspending of the early part of this decade. However, many of us have spent the last couple of years really trying to do the right thing, foolishly using our home equities to pay off debts, or cover living expenses while hoping tomorrow would be a better day. Whether it was to hang on to our businesses, try to ride out this recession and plunging market values or just to keep our heads above water to protect our credit worthiness, time has run out for many of us. People (including me) with previously stellar credit, long histories of success in their fields of expertise and distinguished reputations are finding themselves along with others in the line to receive food packages, or to apply for a salesclerk job at a local retail store.
These are tough times we are in to be sure. However, I see a parallel in the book of Habukkuk, where God is actually responsible for sending the oppressors to take Israel captive. Verse 6 of Chapter one states: I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwelling places not their own. They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor.
It was a needed correction in thier time as it is in ours and God is sovereign to use both the just and the unjust to perform his deeds. Yet the prophet questions God’s wisdom in using someone so evil to cleanse them of unrighteousness.
Verse 13: Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves? God assures Habukkuk that He is in control and when the time is right He will come to rescue Israel.
Like the days when this was written, the Babylonians (shall I say Banks or Big Money?) of our time will eventually overtake us as well. They are bigger, more powerful and out to protect their own interests rather than the interests of a community. Beaurocrats are making the rules as they go and not taking into account the emotional suffering of the parties involved. Rather than actually helping the situation, they have created a monster of a system that is swallowing up homes and livelihoods and spitting them back out to the highest bidder.
The greedy have returned, this time taking what we have attempted to hold on to with our blood, sweat and tears and are getting it for a fraction of the cost. In the end, they will turn a profit and the oppressor will rule over the weak and ruined.
As I walk through houses now empty and abandoned I can sense the pain and sorrow of what was once a home. Hab.2:9 says: “Woe to him who builds his realm by unjust gain,… you have plotted the ruin of many peoples, … the stones of the wall will cry out and the beams of the woodwork will echo it. “ This injustice will not go on forever.
God promises he will deliver us from the wicked. Hab.3:13 says, You came out to deliver your people, … You crushed the leader of the land of wickedness, you stripped him from head to foot. God will intervene and crush the oppressor of the nations. Again, this is not political. The evil of this greed-motivated economic condition is world wide and the people behind the scenes who are responsible for giving banks the legal power to be loan sharks, extortionists and dictators are the guilty ones in this scenario. They have always been here and have been in control for many decades, and God knows who they are.
But the good news is, no matter what man may do to us, he cannot take away our relationship with God. No matter how bad things get, no matter what the loss, I stand firm and declare:
17 Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
— Hab:3:17,18
As we continually put our faith in God, he will lift our feet to high places, he will comfort us in the shadow of his wings. As we put our hope not in man or man’s ways but put our trust in the Lord. He is faithful to do exceedingly, abundantly more than we could ask or think.
Also, for those of us who are in a more secure place, who have not been as affected by the downturn of the economy as critically as others, remember not to look down on your brothers and sisters who are suffering. Don’t be too quick to judge in these perilous times. Ask the Lord what you should be doing for those who are less fortunate. Rather than voicing your opinion, maybe you should be reaching out a helping hand or praying for those around you. Sometimes all it takes is a phone call of encouragement to help those who are going through hard times to feel less isolated and forsaken.
I have gained a heightened sensitivity to those emotions and can relate to the sense of being abandoned by God. I have questioned my faith, my sanity and anything else that can be questioned during this incredible time of struggle. In the midst, I have also sensed overwhelming love from God my Father as He becomes my all in all.
Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. –Ps.73:25,26
Like so many others who feel like they are living out the book of Job, let us encourage ourselves in the Lord. As we look together to the hills towards our help, lets hold each other up. Let my abundance feed your lack. Let your skill meet my need. Let’s be brothers and sisters to each other and lets see Kingdom living being birthed out of the ashes of despair. We can turn what this enemy meant for harm and plop it on his own head as we grow in unity and strength working together in love.
Permalink
07.02.09
Posted in Christian living, Inspiration, Reflections at 1:48 pm by Administrator
28″And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. – Matt.6:28-33
When I returned from Africa almost three weeks ago, I was filled with a renewed hope and vision for my life and ministry. It has been an incredible challenge since returning home, to remain “Kingdom minded” as I walk through some of the most insecure times of my life. Even though my circumstances may be dire, and I have no concrete idea of what the Lord has in store, I have been living in a state of contentment and peace. It is absolutely the opposite of any sane person to feel the “well-being” that floods my soul. Any time I begin to feel the panic rising, I am reminded of the goodness of God and that his promises to me are true. I have been seeking his Kingdom and his righteousness in my life and his promise to me is that all the things we normally worry about will be taken care of.
I don’t think that is an excuse not to physically try to sustain oneself, however, and when you are doing all you can do and still not seeing a manifestation or fruit from your labor, then the only thing left to do is to trust and look to Jehovah Jireh, from whence cometh my help! I can’t look to this contract or to that person who owes me money as my source, but I must look to my Father in heaven for the provision I need to continue. If he chooses to use that contract, or that buyer or that debt to provide for my needs, then so be it. But I cannot depend on those things, my dependance must be on God. When you do that, you become free of offence, free of holding anything over anyone else and able to move on easier when something or someone fails to produce what is promised.
Search my heart Oh God and see if there is any wickedness or unforgiveness in me. Am I resenting someone for not reciprocating my good will towards them? Am I keeping track of how much I am giving or sacrificing for the sake of others? Lord, help me to do things with no thought of gain. Help me to live my life in order to please you and serve those you put in my path. Let me rest in the fact that in this world, I have need of nothing but you and if everything I “have” is lost, I will still have you!
I refuse to cave in to fear and anxiety, but will continue forward, always hoping, always trusting and always praising my God! For He is able to do exceedingly, abundantly more than I could ask or think, according to His riches, … For my father owns the cattle on a thousand hills, and he is faithful to do what he has promised!
Permalink
06.23.09
Posted in Christian living, Inspiration, Reflections at 4:51 pm by Administrator
As I look back over the last six months, it has been quite a year! I have felt like this time has been one of immense spiritual growth, personal testing and an extreme stretching of my faith. I have had to hold on in the midst of negative circumstances and fight off waves of doubt, anxiety and dispair. In all these things, I am always reminded of the truth of God’s Word and his precious promises to me. Whenever I was tempted to wallow in self-pity, I am challenged by the Holy Spirit to look around me and be greatful for the many blessings that I have, and to know that no matter how bad things seem, I am still blessed. I am still content. I am still trusting that one day I will look back at this time and marvel at the lessons learned.
Each day is a new challenge to examine my ways, to search my heart and motives, are they acceptable to God? Am I furthering the kingdom with my actions? Am I redeeming the time? Am I building relationships? Is there selfish ambition involved or is my heart truly to serve those I come in contact with? These are hard questions to ask oneself. But I find that we cannot survive in this present time without taking a strong look at our inward man — examining our ways and living life in light of eternity.
We are seeing now in this economy how temporary the things of this world are. As I wake up each morning I am faced with pressures of life that I have never experienced before, I am filled with a hope that my God is greater than any obstacle in my way — He loves me and when things get difficult, I can run into the shadow of his wings. He is literally my fortress and my deliverer. My hope and the lifter of my head.
I just returned from an amazing trip to South Africa. It was literally a free trip, using my mileage that I had accumulated over the many years that I have travelled and I had friends and places to stay once I arrived. I took almost a thousand pictures (thank God for digital!) and felt the favor of the Lord in every step of the way. I attended a conference for women and also was able to see where my pastors have come from and what they have left behind to plant this church in Flagler County.
The experience of taking this step alone was enough to energize my faith once again of how it feels to be exactly where God wants you. I sensed the Lord’s pleasure even as the thought crossed my mind that this was “madness” for me to go in the midst of my present circumstance. It was absolutely stepping over the cliffs edge to take this trip at all as when I set out, as I had no idea what to expect and how it would all be accomplished. But wonderful people were put in my path, the way was made, and provision was there when I needed it.
Now as I have returned and hit the ground running, I desire to take my renewed faith and begin to believe for his guidance in what is ahead. I am running in the fog, but I trust my Dad that he is right here with me and is teaching me and preparing me for something new. Help us all to put our hope in Him! 
Permalink
02.24.09
Posted in Reflections at 7:07 pm by Administrator
What a month! This year started out well with both Artie and I getting busy in our jobs and I was finally able to write a few contracts during this buyers market in real estate! I was exercising daily and having wonderful time with God on my morning walks!
By the end of January, however, everything started going awry as first Josiah then I got this flu bug going around. He missed a few days and I had a few bedridden days. Artie and Leana were sick too, but neither one of them will give thier body a rest. It seemed pretty widespread as even in my job, many of the people that I had been working with were also fighting the bug.
Somehow between that and some unusually cold mornings, my walking schedule has gone kaput and I can’t seem to get it back. Seems like I’m always late for something and have too much going on to take the time out. Last week I had a customer that kept me very busy each day looking for houses and I would come home to emails about a forclosure closing that was causing me alot of stress. Everyday seemed like a new problem and for a few days seemed like it was falling apart. I would collapse at the end of each night and it would all start up again the next day.
Thankfully, my closing miraculously all came together at the last minute. There was no doubt in my mind who orchestrated that and I was able to give God the glory as my customer was thanking me for making mountains move. I knew it was a result of prayer and I was able to tell her so.
I guess I’m learning that even in our so-called secular jobs we can see the glory of God! Having been in full time ministry for so many years it was easy for me to believe God for miracles when I was “saving the world”. Now that I’m just trying to make a living, I found it hard to believe for God to be the provider. If you don’t work, you don’t eat is how the saying goes, but lately, I was working and I still wasn’t “eating”. Being self-employed is the ultimate walk of faith, because you can’t send out a newsletter asking folks to donate to your mortgage payment! (Although any donations will be gladly accepted!!!)
Its been a real time of learning that even when I’m not living a sacrificial life helping hurting kids in the inner city, that God still loves me. He knows that I would rather be doing that than selling real estate to be sure, but this is where I am at the moment and no matter how much I want something different, I must remain faithful to what is before me, give the best I can give to the people he sends me and pray that someday I will understand all this.
In what I am doing now, I am meeting new people regularly and being able to be a light of hope to those who are sometimes in a bad situation or full of fear because of the times we are in. To those who may be taking advantage of other peoples desparation, I can make a stand for doing the right thing (even if it causes me to lose a sale — and it has). I am able at times to share my faith when an opportunity presents itself, however its mostly the impression that they are left with, that there is something different about me, that causes people to ask me questions, rather than me having to try to bring up the subject of God. They usually ask me why I’m so honest or why I can be so happy and laid back when others realtors are only after the biggest commission and making quick money.
I still HATE the uncertainty of my life right now. I don’t like not knowing how the next bill will be paid and even though I finally may be getting a check this week, not knowing how long it will be before I see another one. I am living a trust walk with my Lord and he has promised me that He will not leave me or forsake me. He is training me to wait for his guidance and to obey his voice. I am learning to rely on Him for everything I do and to take nothing for granted. It is not an easy thing to do.
Permalink
« Previous entries Next Page » Next Page »
