Transition. It's a scary place. You aren't where you are going, but neither are you where you were.
These words sum up my life for the next few months. Transition. Change. Becoming. Growing. Learning. Trusting. Stretching.
This isn't the first transition I've lived through. This seems like the scariest transition I will ever live through! (At this point) Some mornings I wake up wanting to cry, laugh, sing, and scream all at the same moment. If I look into the future too far, I start getting very overwhelmed. When I start feel like the world is going to crash on top of me, this is the song that I sing:
"So faithful, so constant,
So loving and so true,
So powerful in all you do,
You fill me, you see me,
You know my every move.
You love for me to sing to you,
I know that you are for me,
I know that you are for me,
I know that you will never forsake me in my weaknesses,
I know that you have come now even if the write upon my heart,
To remind me of who you are
So patient, so gracious,
So merciful and true,
So wonderful in all you do,
You fill me, you see me,
You know my every move.
You love for me to sing to you" ~Kari Jobe
You see, it doesn’t matter where I am. It doesn't matter how much my life is changing. It doesn't matter how scared I might be, how worried, or how much the stretching hurts. HE never changes. HE is always constant. HE holds my world in HIS hands. AND..He is for ME. HE loves me. HE's not going to leave me alone in this time. HE's going to be with me every step of the way!
So yes, the fact that I am getting ready to move out of my parents house, halfway across the world unnerves me a little bit. (They live in Togo, West Africa, I will be living in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.A.) No, not every detail is perfectly outlined for me. (This is hard because I like plans, and perfectly outlined details.) But, it's okay. I trust. I hold onto the Master's hand. I bring each day to HIM. When I start to feel like I am going to go insane, I cry out to HIM. HE leads, guides, and directs my path. That gives me peace!
Whoever you are, wherever you are reading this, trust that HE also holds YOUR world in His hands! He knows just where you are at, and He knows where you are going. He more than likely won't tell you every detail of the way, but He'll guide you. Let peace soak into your heart. Trust. Lean. Learn. "HE is for YOU!"
"I know that you are for me,
I know that you are for me,
I know that you will never forsake me in my weaknesses,
I know that you have come now even if to write upon my heart,
To remind me of who you are."
5/30/2011
5/27/2011
Learning to Die
The Lord has really been speaking to me lately about denying self. This has been the topic of every sermon, devotion, or lesson I have heard recently. Tonight was no different. Bro Adams gave a devotion about carrying your cross and following Jesus.
I would like to share with you what God has been dealing with me about.
Genesis 22:2-3 "And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two if his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him."
No questions, no comments, no "But God that's too much." He just obediently "Rose us and went." Isaac, his only son, the son he loved, was being asked of him.
Tonight Bro Adams stated: "Abraham’s attitude on Mount Moriah was, “I don’t have to survive. What I want, what really makes me happy in life doesn’t have to survive today. God’s will that is what must survive.”
Today, what I want, what I desire, my thoughts, my feelings, none of those matter. None of that is important to me. Jesus, His will, His desires, they must survive. They must live on. Even when it hurts me. Even when it's uncomfortable, I must die.
Matthew 16:25-26 says; "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"
That day, Abraham was giving his all, his very precious "self."
Tonight I sit here faced with a question. What will you give. What sacrifice will you make for Me?
You see when it comes down to it, Hannah doesn't have to survive. Hannah isn't important, but, Jesus, his will, his calling, are.
Paul said in Philipians 3:4-7 "Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh I more. circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee, concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ."
Abraham gave all. Paul gave all. What will you give? What will I give? These last few weeks I have been "Learning to Die." Not physically, but spiritually die out to the flesh. Give literally everything to Jesus.
No, it isn't easy. No, i'm not perfect. Yes, there are days when I totally fail. (It's an everyday thing.) Yet, I can't give up. I must die.
So, my question for you is; in these last days when material possessions are everything and people live only for themselves, are you willing to die? Are you willing to give all?
I would like to share with you what God has been dealing with me about.
Genesis 22:2-3 "And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of. And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two if his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him."
No questions, no comments, no "But God that's too much." He just obediently "Rose us and went." Isaac, his only son, the son he loved, was being asked of him.
Tonight Bro Adams stated: "Abraham’s attitude on Mount Moriah was, “I don’t have to survive. What I want, what really makes me happy in life doesn’t have to survive today. God’s will that is what must survive.”
Today, what I want, what I desire, my thoughts, my feelings, none of those matter. None of that is important to me. Jesus, His will, His desires, they must survive. They must live on. Even when it hurts me. Even when it's uncomfortable, I must die.
Matthew 16:25-26 says; "For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?"
That day, Abraham was giving his all, his very precious "self."
Tonight I sit here faced with a question. What will you give. What sacrifice will you make for Me?
You see when it comes down to it, Hannah doesn't have to survive. Hannah isn't important, but, Jesus, his will, his calling, are.
Paul said in Philipians 3:4-7 "Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh I more. circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee, concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ."
Abraham gave all. Paul gave all. What will you give? What will I give? These last few weeks I have been "Learning to Die." Not physically, but spiritually die out to the flesh. Give literally everything to Jesus.
No, it isn't easy. No, i'm not perfect. Yes, there are days when I totally fail. (It's an everyday thing.) Yet, I can't give up. I must die.
So, my question for you is; in these last days when material possessions are everything and people live only for themselves, are you willing to die? Are you willing to give all?
5/12/2011
Book Review: "The Final Summit" By Andy Andrews
This book centers on David Ponders, a very successful 74 year old business man. After suffering the loss of his dearly beloved wife, Ellen, Mr. Ponders finds himself in a pit of despair, feeling unneeded. Contemplating taking his own life, Mr. Ponders soon learns that he is needed to help answer the one question that will save humanity. You will travel with Mr. Ponders as he attempts to answer this question with other figures in history.
After reading the summery I concluded that this book could have some spiritual impact on my life. I was very disappointed that it is not written for that purpose. I would say that this is more like a self help book. Also, I do not agree with everything that was said in this book.
Although the style with which it is written is very easy to read, it did get a bit monotonous in the middle, but it has a very exciting twist near the end. In the beginning it is somewhat confusing, because it follows the book, “The Traveler,” which I have not read. Thankfully, the author gives enough background information that it all becomes clear the more you read.
I enjoyed this narrative very much as a fictional read, but I don’t necessarily feel that it is study guide material. This is simply my personal opinion.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255
After reading the summery I concluded that this book could have some spiritual impact on my life. I was very disappointed that it is not written for that purpose. I would say that this is more like a self help book. Also, I do not agree with everything that was said in this book.
Although the style with which it is written is very easy to read, it did get a bit monotonous in the middle, but it has a very exciting twist near the end. In the beginning it is somewhat confusing, because it follows the book, “The Traveler,” which I have not read. Thankfully, the author gives enough background information that it all becomes clear the more you read.
I enjoyed this narrative very much as a fictional read, but I don’t necessarily feel that it is study guide material. This is simply my personal opinion.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com
5/05/2011
My Jesus Walks On Water
Matthew 14:
25: And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26: And when the desciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, it is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27: But, straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer, it is I: be not afraid.
28: And Peter answered hom and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29: And he(Jesus) said, Come.
And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30: But when he(Peter) saw the wind boisterous, he was afrais; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and sais unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore dist thou doubt?
32: And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
We love to read this story and say, "(tisk tisk) Peter, Peter, why didn't you just trust that Jesus would keep you?" Yet, if you are like me, you do the very thing that Peter did.
We beg Jesus, "Lord take me higher. Higher in you." Then, when he does, we feel the difficult winds and we start to doubt. Knowing that we are sinking we immediately call upon Jesus and he rescuse us asking, "When did you start doubting me?" Just as soon as we reach our "comfort zones" again the wind ceases.
Going higher can be a bit uncomfortable it takes us from the norm to the unorm. In the unorm we are able to feel the winds stronger. If we take our eyes off of our purpose we can become scared out of our minds. But, might I point out that scripture says that he immediately caught Peter. He didn't wait until he was halfway down, or until he felt that Peter has suffered enough. He caught him immediately.
"Oh Jesus, help me. As I desire to draw closer to you, help to realize that you are there. Even when the winds blow, even when I start to feel the force of them you are there. Help me to understand that if I start to sink, you will catch me immediately. Lord, give me the faith to trust you completely with no doutbs."
25: And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea.
26: And when the desciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, it is a spirit; and they cried out for fear.
27: But, straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer, it is I: be not afraid.
28: And Peter answered hom and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29: And he(Jesus) said, Come.
And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
30: But when he(Peter) saw the wind boisterous, he was afrais; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me.
31. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and sais unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore dist thou doubt?
32: And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased.
We love to read this story and say, "(tisk tisk) Peter, Peter, why didn't you just trust that Jesus would keep you?" Yet, if you are like me, you do the very thing that Peter did.
We beg Jesus, "Lord take me higher. Higher in you." Then, when he does, we feel the difficult winds and we start to doubt. Knowing that we are sinking we immediately call upon Jesus and he rescuse us asking, "When did you start doubting me?" Just as soon as we reach our "comfort zones" again the wind ceases.
Going higher can be a bit uncomfortable it takes us from the norm to the unorm. In the unorm we are able to feel the winds stronger. If we take our eyes off of our purpose we can become scared out of our minds. But, might I point out that scripture says that he immediately caught Peter. He didn't wait until he was halfway down, or until he felt that Peter has suffered enough. He caught him immediately.
"Oh Jesus, help me. As I desire to draw closer to you, help to realize that you are there. Even when the winds blow, even when I start to feel the force of them you are there. Help me to understand that if I start to sink, you will catch me immediately. Lord, give me the faith to trust you completely with no doutbs."
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