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"Praying For You"
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Where are you in your spiritual journey?
Whether you came here seeking information about music, or comedy, or maybe some encouragement, I pray that you are ministered to and rejuvenated while you visit.
This is the page where I will post devotions or conversation periodically.
January 19, 2008 - "Life is a Curve Ball, Mom!"
While explaining to my son one afternoon about life's "curve balls", trying to impart a wee bit of wisdom, he staggers me with a simple retort. "Life IS a curve ball, mom." It may not seem like such a big deal or all that much of a difference, but I think our humanness longs for comfort and stability, and we EXPECT occasional blips in the road, but when life keeps hammering us with constant 'blips', what then? Perhaps, like Job, we don't expect Murphy's Law to strike a Christian! Why would God allow that? Maybe our perspective needs some tweeking - perhaps, like Job, we can ask ourselves, "Can I receive only blessing from His hands?"
In walking through some of the most painful times in our lives, why is it that there can be a peace that surpasses all understanding? Is it because, although we have been trained to despise discomfort and 'blips', or curve balls, it is these very things that draw us closer to God, where we truly have the greatest peace?
It is a mystery, indeed - how we get a wrong expectation on a 'perfect life', become disillusioned when God lovingly pulls the rug from underneath our feet, (hence stopping the idolatry of having the 'perfect life' as an idol), then see how God takes something that seems like it is solely a futile exercise in pain, and makes it into something beautiful. The trick is, do we believe this? Surely God would not allow pain into our lives for anything else than making us more like Him.
May God help us to rejoice in our sufferings - as Paul encouraged us to do, and see what a thing of beauty God fashions from something that seems worthless.
May 31, 2007 - "Night Owl"
Ok, so I have just pulled an "all-nighter". This is an event that typically takes place in college, so why am I doing it now, when I need to be awake for my kiddos tomorrow (ah-hem) in an hour? Peace and quiet. The Lord put on my heart that He wanted to give me a song, so I went downstairs around midnight. As I worshipped the Lord, I got excited, and it was hard to go back to sleep. (o: I cherish these quiet moments - even if I am tuckered the next day - time to be still before the Lord, and perhaps to also catch up on the "stuff" of life. I am reminded of how Jesus wanted His disciples to tarry with Him while He was in the garden, and they could not stay awake. Can we stay awake with our Lord? Believe me, I am often very tired, largely due to Fibromyalgia, but there is a joy in sneaking out by myself to spend some time with my Abba Father. I am truly amazed at how He gives me the energy I need the following day. (Coffee doesn't hurt either - thank you Lord for coffee beans!) (o: Before I went to the IMMA conference, the Lord woke me up to write a new song, "How Can I?" I started to complain (can you believe it?) in my heart - why can't I ever get songs at a decent hour? Quickly the Lord showed me my poor attitude, and I was filled with an inexpressible awe that I get to write songs for my Lord. Me?! Truly, I am just waiting eagerly as I worship on the keyboard, and then a song comes. Well, obedience to get up and write that song was very important, as that was the first song I sang at IMMA. I pray it touches the folks who will see it on T.V., wherever they are all over the world.
So, in a nutshell, when the Lord calls us to do something uncomfortable, like go without food or sleep, it can be hard to deny the flesh, but oh what blessings that come from obedience and from feeding our spirit! If you find that you are not getting that time with the Lord, and you are not an early morning person, just ask the Lord to show you when/how you can seek Him. He just might wake you up in the middle of the night, or speak to you in the middle of the day. Yield to the Holy Spirit when He beckons to you - you'll be blessed for it!
May 2, 2007 - "Real Life"
I have to chuckle as I write this journal entry, as the title conjures up many images in my mind of my journey through marriage, motherhood, and just life in general! The Lord gave me a song about real life this past week, and it is a stitch! I hope to record it soon, to encourage wives/moms out there! I have the joy of being a wife to my wonderful husband, leading a homeschool group of wonderful women, homeschooling and raising our 5 wonderful children, being able to write and sing songs for our awesome Lord and Savior, dealing with various health issues, and trying to keep a schedule and my home clean! (o: Oh, and everyone happy?!?!
There have been many times when folks truly wonder how "I" do it. Well, I don't. Yeah, I know, there she goes again, claiming God is doing it for her, or through her. But it is so true!!!! Um . . . I really don't. In other words, it is God working through me whenever you see anything good or amazing, but when you see the house a mess, it is also me saying, "I don't do it". Get it? Sometimes I have to choose what is really important and necessary. That means some things get a little messy around here sometimes, but it'll keep. (o:
I laugh when people talk about how organized I am. Organization? What's that? I do try to be somewhat organized, mind you, but when the limitations of my own set in, or emergencies crop up (every 15 minutes, at least), let's just say I am grateful to make it through each day, and that I aspire to actually step outside and gaze at the sun! I actually did it today! The other day as I walked out to assist my husband in clearing wood out of our back yard, one of my sons said to me, "Mom, what are you doing out here?" Well, that's pretty bad and revealing. It is important to smell the roses, and I guess I need to work at that. Funny thing, we don't watch t.v. except for national emergencies, and yet life is so intense, I don't know where I actually had time to watch t.v. before.
Ok, I am rattling on, guess that is not very organized of me. Guess I wanted to encourage you ladies out there (and any men, too!) that God sees our labor, and it is not in vain. He knows our "real lives", and His grace is abundant to aid us in the midst of any and every situation. So press on, folks, and live your real life all for God's glory. Nothing is too small or too big to serve Him with - do it all for His glory alone! Catch ya later!
April 18, 2007 - "Peace that surpasses understanding"
Are you going through a particular storm in your life? I've heard it said that if you aren't, just wait - it's a comin'! I am continually amazed at the grace of God that can give a peace that truly does surpass our understanding - in the midst of turmoil or great uncertainty. How blessed we are, children of God! That we have an ever-present refuge Who strengthens us and enables us to see past our circumstances. What an awesome God!
Have you ever looked back at an old journal you had written in, or reflected on what God has brought you through? The Israelites were told to remember, and when we do, our faith is bolstered to trust, once again, that our Sovereign Lord knows the end of the situation we are in. My husband and I can look back at God's incredible grace through job loss, disease, illness, miscarriage, etc., and I am sure you can too - and marvel at how He enabled us to walk through whatever trial came our way. When disappointments come, friend, we can run into His arms.
We are, like you, walking through our own troubles in this world (that Jesus promised we would have). But when I consider the difficulties God allows in, I come back to the incredible kindness of our God, Who does not just let us be perfectly comfortable and far away from Him. Our little idol, comfort, sometimes causes us to wonder about the character of God, when He dries up the vine that gives us shelter (that He provided), or allows calamity to come our way. But why do we think we deserve comfort? Oh, that we could have God's view on comfort and suffering!
Whatever you are walking through, reader, it is my sincere prayer that you will now feel the embrace of our loving God, and know confidently that He has not forgotten you. He is good in all He does. Thank You, Lord, for loving us enough to allow affliction to Your servants, that we would draw nearer to You! Psalm 119:67-72
God bless you guys and may He help us all to abide in Him more and more, and encourage one another all the more as long as it is today.
All For Jesus,
Denise
February 28, 2007 - "Worshipping a Mystery"
Did that title capture your interest? Not sure it is the most fitting title, and as I dive into this subject, I confess I am utterly amazed and fascinated by it. What? You may ask? Well, the fact that we are called to worship God, a Being so very different than ourselves - of triune nature, which is so difficult to fully grasp here on earth - One Who is so Holy, so beyond what we could ever think or imagine. How do we do that? How do we "wrap our arms" around truly worshipping God? The Lord gave me a song a couple weeks' back about this, and I love to worship Him with it. When we ponder His greatness (or, at least, what level of pondering we are able to do, in compared to his infinite wisdom and majesty), if we are not completely taken aback at the thought of God, being so very Holy and good in all He does, completely taken and delighting in Him, are we truly worshipping?
Ok, this is a tough subject. Coming from another angle - when we contemplate His greatness, the fact that He counts our every tear, He numbers our hairs, counts the stars, and cares for our deepest need to our slightest care, I think we are dumbfounded to be able to express the worship He deserves, and moreover, unable to do so.
What then? He knows we are dust - that we are finite, and yet when we seek Him, He gives us a glimpse of Himself, just as He gave to Moses, and other seekers throughout the years. More than a glimpse, and we'd be toast, really. But our souls so desperately need more of Him, and to worship Him with all that we have and are. So, we have this command to seek after the Lord and His righteousness, to worship Him in Spirit and truth, and all the while cannot fully grasp (or anywhere near) grasp Who He is that we are worshipping. God knows that. And in His infinite wisdom, He draws us to Himself and calls us to come rest in Him. He doesn't need our worship, but we need desperately to worship Him. In the mystery of worshipping a God that we know in part, there is an even greater mystery of the purpose of our praise. God inhabits it, and while it's all for and about Him, we are blessed by worshipping Him truly from our hearts.
What an awesome, all-knowing God we have. Oh how much we need to seek Him more. The mystery unravels the more we worship, but ultimately, as we stand in complete awe and wonder of Him, we are not fully capable of worshipping Him the way He deserves. But, one day, we shall see Him face to face, and worship - unhindered by our lack of understanding, unhindered by the things of this world that distract us. Praise God! Oh, may we get a closer glimpse of You, Lord, and worship You with all of our heart, mind, soul, and being.
November 28, 2006 - "Draw us near, Lord"
Boy, am I glad that I said I would write in this journal "periodically". (o: Confessions of a mother of 5 - don't overcommit yourself - or it won't happen, then you will feel guilty!
Alright - what mental picture do you get in your mind when you think of drawing nearer to the Lord? Do you envision yourself in His arms? On your knees? Singing a worship song? How do we draw near to the Lord - truly?
The Lord has been so good to give me songs again, after a wee little break following the adoption. Praise God! One song He gave me just a few days ago is about truly drawing nearer to Him. (Hence the motivation for this devotion). (o: While He gave me the words for this song, I was struck by how it is our human tendency to "hold something back" while in the midst of "drawing near" to Him. What a paradox this is! We are putting ourselves in a place, where we are saying, "I need You, Lord, take all of me!", and yet we are deceiving ourselves by holding back in that moment.
Have you done this? Maybe you don't even realize you are, or have. Sometimes you recognize this in yourself when you are wanting to have your "quick" devotion time (sometimes very dutifully), and wanting to do it "McDonald's style". God understands, right? He knows how important everything is down here, and how we just don't have the time . . . if we are truly still (what is that?) we might be afraid that God will actually desire for us to connect and have fellowship with Him - and this will take from our idol, called time.
Oh how I struggle with this, too, friends! We live in an age where we are all overstimulated, and the simplicity of seeking God is overshadowed by our schedules. May God help us to number each day aright, and that, by truly seeking Him. The wise men forsook all to seek Him many, many years ago. I am sure that required quite a sacrifice on their part. Can we forsake some additional sleep? Can we make the noise stop to truly "realate" to our Maker? I pray the Lord causes us all to remember this holiday season and always that it was a relationship with Him that first drew us to Him. An intimate relationship, as this is between a loving God and His creation, grows deeper and deeper, and requires (not as a duty, though it is a choice, but as a desire) that we spend more time with Him. God help us to do this!
July 4, 2006 - "Let Freedom Ring"
Happy 4th of July, everyone! As I write this journal entry to you, I am feeling so blessed to live in the U.S.A., following a 5-week journey to Russia for the adoption of our new son.
When I think of the way of life here that we so often take for granted, and the incredible sacrifice of our men and women in the service, I can only say from the bottom of my heart, "Thank you, so very much for laying down your life that we could be free, and worship God freely." That is certainly not enough, nor could I express the gratitude that overfills my heart. But I hope that my song, "He Loves His Country" is an encouragement and a tribute to those who are or who have served our country. The sad thing is, when we are so blessed, we often truly do not see it. Instead, we can become enslaved and utilize that freedom for sin. Christ died and paid the ultimate price through His pain and suffering that we could go and live a free, abundant life. Is His death in vain? Or can we truly echo the sentiment of Martin Luther King, Jr., who said in His famous speech, "Thank God Almighty, we're free at last?" Are you free today? Free from having to serve your flesh and it's sinful demands?
I know as I hold our new son, Samuel, and ponder what the Lord allowed us to grasp him from, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for God's mercy on this wee one. Does Samuel realize what he was just rescued from? I don't think so, but I know he is immensely happier. Do we realize what we were rescued from as Christians? I mean truly recognize that there is no good thing that dwells in our flesh, that apart from Christ every perversion is possible. WE'RE FREE!! Praise God!! Liberated from the old decayed way of life, into a new abundant life. Wherever you live, if it is in a free country, then you are free to exercise this faith. But if not, then I know the freedom that is in Christ is sufficient and enough to help you tarry and rejoice in the freedom you do have as a Christian. Let that freedom ring in your heart today as you think of your "independence day from sin". Eternally free when we are in glory, and also free to choose to rely on the grace that is in Christ, and to turn away from sin. It is my prayer that today we would thank God primarily for His grace in our lives that He would choose us as His object of affection and grace, and that He would set the slave to sin free!!
May 12, 2006 - "A Place of Rest"
Wow, life is full of adventure, and often seldom a moment to rest! In the past few weeks Martha over here has been nesting like any expecting mother would do - to the extreme! Painting with bargain paint from Lowe's, putting borders up in my children's rooms, then all of a sudden the phone rings . . . and we are finally off to Russia for our second, and Lord willing, final trip! We can hardly wait to hold Artur (a.k.a. Samuel) in our arms, and call him son. While the nesting has been serving a purpose of getting our house in order before the addition of our fifth child, admittedly, I hear a voice crying out to me, saying, "rest"! Do I hearken to this voice? Well, when my sometimes stubborn will pleads for a little more nesting time, the Lord can allow our physical bodies to just collapse. How about you? Do you feel like you just want to collapse? So many demands in this life - so many "to do's". How in the world can we be like Mary, when things are never completely done? Perhaps the Lord, in His incredible wisdom, knew some of us "type A" folks would find it hard to leave anything undone until the next morning, when He said, "Today has enough worries of its own - don't worry about tomorrow." If you find yourself maxed out and overcommitted, the Lord might also be asking you to prune, or to rest from certain obligations, or wonderful ministries which can zap your energy when done in our own strength. Perhaps getting our house in order sometimes means to rest and reflect and seek the Lord's will for your family, rather than always be in a frenzy. As a wise friend recently imparted to me, our children will always be a part of our lives, but the urgent things will not. May God grant wisdom to us as we seek to understand what it means to be diligent, yet resting in Him. Praise God once we have accepted His free gift of salvation, we enter into that rest! No more striving to earn our way to Heaven, just incredible abiding in Him. One last word - rest. (Had to say it). God bless!
March 18, 2006 - "Anticipation"
I pray you are all well and walking/resting in the incredible comfort and joy that are ours in Christ Jesus. As I write this journal entry, we are in anticipation of the moment when we will meet our new son, whom we are adopting from Russia. Well . . . we finally received the phone call, and we are scheduled to fly to Russia in two weeks! Words cannot adequately describe the incredible range of emotions we have been experiencing over here. The waiting is more difficult than we thought it would be, and I have learned afresh how my flesh does not like to wait. Did I mention that my flesh also does not like to fly? (o: This process has been humbling, as the Lord has peeled back layers and shown me that the level of trust and faith that I have is scarcely a mustard seed, compared to the deep walk He longs for us to have with Him. On one hand, I feel absolutely nuts to be traveling overseas - I am a home girl - enjoy being at home, with my husband and children, home educating, and ministering at churches. But travel across the world to grow our family? Do you ever feel as if you just want a trial to be over? God is so about process and character, and we are just saying, "Ok, Lord, this hurts - can't you just zap that character into me, and let's call it quits on this trial?" I think we all know the answer to that sentiment - more trials - and this from a LOVING God. So, if you find yourself in the "waiting room", whether it be the fact that you are on the verge of something wonderful that will bring a time of respite for you, or you are waiting through intense pain, anguish, and suffering - God is there, and He is able to comfort in a way that the world cannot contemplate or understand. He is good - all the time. What a true comfort that is! One final thought - if the thing we are in anticipation of is something we are trying to derive joy and meaning from, we might be waiting a long time. True, complete joy comes only when we are found in Christ - He alone is our joy. Anything else can give brief pleasure, but He alone can satisfy our deepest need. So, drink deeply of Him, whether waiting (hopefully abiding), or busy as a bee. He loves you so very much! God bless and please cover our family with prayer as we prepare to begin yet another new adventure!
February 11, 2006 - "You Are Chosen"
Greetings! It is snowing here in Virginia, and I am enjoying a moment of rest as we give in to the urge to the children running around and playing in the snow outside. (o: Today has been a day of reflection and wonder at our incredulous, Holy, Awesome, loving God. We just received news of who our new son will be, whom we are adopting from Moscow, Russia. Here he is:
When I think of the high price it is to adopt our little Samuel (Artur) from Russia, I am amazed at the highest price that was paid by Jesus Christ, our Savior. Sure, flying to a foreign country with our 4 children, and staying there for 4-5 weeks is radical, but even more radical is leaving Heaven above, to come and be born as a fragile human being, then lay down that life to adopt us! How beyond words it is that we were chosen in Christ Jesus before the foundation of the world. Thanks be to God that we were chosen! Little Sammy doesn't yet know that he has been chosen. Do you? God loves you so very much. We just need to accept that love. How ridiculous it would be for an orphan to refuse the love of a parent who has chosen him, yet all too often we don't recognize the kindnesses shown to us by our heavenly Father. He is a loving, good God, and His ways are the best! Maybe you feel like an orphan - maybe you feel unseen by God, hidden from view. God has not forsaken you, and loves you utterly. Turn toward Him and receive His gracious, abundant love - you are chosen by Him! One last thing - sometimes God will call you to be out of your comfort zone. God's path and ways are the best, but He has not called us to live a perfectly comfortable life, but rather, a holy, obedient life - and that, by the grace of Christ Jesus alone.
December 15, 2005 "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!"
What a gift we have been given through Jesus Christ, our Lord! Though we have heard the story often, this time of year provides for another opportunity to reflect on God's humility and unsurpassing love for you and me. How can we convey this love without using words that will just sound like buzz words, and perhaps not reach our souls with a better understanding of God's selfless sacrifice? How can we comprehend what it would be like to be God of the entire universe, yet be born into human form, fragile and trusting? As a mother of 4 children, I was in awe when I first laid eyes on each one of them. Watching them grow has been a source of delight and wonder for me. What must it have been like to be the Father of an only Son, to then offer His only Son on our behalf to ultimately die the most painful, humiliating death? What a gift Jesus truly is - God incarnate - God amongst us! I pray you and I truly celebrate His gift this Christmas - a gift far beyond superficial celebrations, or cultural icons. Celebrate the life we can have in Jesus! New life! May God be with you this holiday season and throughout the coming year!
September 15, 2005 "A Timely Refreshing from God"
Do you ever feel like the daily grind of life has just worn you down? Do you ever wonder if relief is in sight? When will God allow a moment's rest from the trials or let-downs that appear to encompass you about? God is so good! (I had to say that!) My computer crashed and burned about 2 weeks ago, and I can truly say that the Lord warned me about it, but I took His warning as a prompting to me that we need to not be too reliant on our computers. Had I only taken that prompting as, "hey, you might want to back up all of your files"! But, then I would not have the treasure and beauty of what the Lord taught me in the midst. I was not dismayed about my computer dying, though Alfreda will be missed. (Just kidding - I don't name my computers!) The workload and painstaking efforts to restore my computer are what I could have really fretted about, but when you see everything in your life - good and bad - as coming from the hand of God, then you inwardly rejoice, because you know God will not only supply the strength needed, but will use it for GOOD in your life!
My computer had all of my mp3 files, professional and family photos, homeschool documents, worship leading slides and documents, taxes, etc. But when you don't have a computer, you suddenly realize that perhaps we do rely too much on these fallen tools. Anyway, the purpose of this devotion (better get to that)! is to reflect that after Murphy's Law has smacked us severely, and we feel like things will never ease up, God will send a refreshing - and things will be BETTER than they were before the trials began. If we will but seek Him, and hang onto Him, He will give us the strength that we need, and restore us. The amazing thing to remember in the midst of difficulties is that our God has a purpose in the trials He allows into our lives.
August 17, 2005 - "A Joyful Servant"
"Mom, can I clean the whole house?" "Yes?" "This will be a day to remember . . . " The glee my son had at being able to clean the house was a joy to me today, as I had poured myself out to serve at a function recently, and had been playing the role of driving my two oldest children to Choir Camp this week, 8 hours there each day with my younger children. Isn't it amazing how the Lord sends help and refreshing when we need it? Often the accuser/discourager can come and remind us not only of our shortcomings, but also cause us to question whether all of our efforts are truly worth it. "Oh, yes, they are beloved!" the Holy Spirit whispers in my ear. Whether it is home educating our children, staying at choir camp all day long 5 days in a row to be there for your children, rising early to make special foods for them, staying up late to serve your husband, or being their for a friend in a moment on the cell phone, all of these things are my joyful service in the Lord. (Even when you have Strep Throat!) How blessed I am to be able to serve my family. How blessed I am to help train our children in righteousness, to help them discover their God-given talents, and to have the incredible delight in watching them grow in Jesus and as little people. My youngest turned 5 years old today, yesterday my second child turned 9. I've heard it often said that time flies by, and it surely is true! All the more reason to spend each precious moment of this life fully for my Lord. Serving others where called, and serving my family foremost. Serving His church, too. From mopping a kitchen floor to washing soiled clothing, to holding a precious one in the midst of a bad dream, what a joy these tasks are to me!! Certainly the monotony of our daily tasks can wear on us, but when this happens, to offer it up to the Lord and recognize that we are serving the King of Kings makes our work lighter, and, if we really see His purpose in it, our work becomes a joy.
July 26, 2005 - "Godliness with Contentment is Great Gain"
Hello. I pray that you are blessed as you visit on this website. Are you resting in Jesus? He loves you so very much. Andy, the kids and I just returned from giving some concerts in PA over the weekend. Little did we know what the Lord would have in store for us to glean from Him on our little adventure. It all began with a blown tire on Friday night, the air conditioning dying in the wee hours on Saturday morning, and then a flat tire on Saturday as we pulled up for our first concert. In the midst of these happenings, what a peace God gave us. Thankfully, we had joined a club that morning which would rescue us should the "unlikely" event occur where we would break down. What grand timing! Inconvenienced? Yes, but how sweet to walk with our Savior through such times. The morning following the air conditioning dying, sleeping in a Wal-Mart parking lot, God provided a wonderful refreshing breeze. In my Spirit, He whispered, Denise, would you be content if I took away the breeze? Immediately in my mind flashed an image of Jonah, when God had provided a temporary shade to comfort him. Jonah was not content when the Lord saw fit to take it away. My heart cried out, "Yes, Lord!" - "By Your grace I will be thankful, no matter what You choose to do!" "You are sovereign, and You are good - all that You do is good!" Well, the Lord had the glorious breeze blow all the more, and then He allowed the flat tire right as we pulled up at the church. Laughter abounded. even in the midst of an inconvenience, God was so good to have us be where we were supposed to be, and we were able to set up and rehearse while we waited for this day's rescuer. Oh to be truly content when life throws a curve ball. Maybe it is a painful twist or turn, or a lonely new chapter in your life. No doubt about it - life is hard - but for those who have Christ in their life - the resident Holy Spirit is our enabler, and the battle is the Lord's! May God comfort you to find a comfort in Him through sweet surrender of your will to His - to be content in whatever circumstance(s) He has allowed into Your life. You are His treasure and He delights in you! Oh - one more thing - I prayed this past weekend that the Lord would grant that this ministry is not just a temporary blessing to those whom He allows us the privilege to minister to - we were thrilled to discover that there were 2 salvations following our concert on Sunday morning! Praise God!
June 25, 2005 - "I Run to You"
As I journal this note to you, I breath a sigh of relief, as I am recovering from a bad case of Chicken Pox. 400+ bumps later, I am thankful to be alive, (o: and thankful for God's healing. God is so faithful, so true to His Word - He will use all things together for the good of those who are in Christ Jesus. In the midst of pain, He gave me a song, called, "I Run to You". As we are told in Scripture to endure hardship as discipline from a loving Father, I seek to know what the Lord can show me in the midst of life's curve balls. The message of the song is, do we really run to our loving heavenly Father? How often do we placate our sorrows and dilemmas by numbing ourselves with temporal things that occupy our mind, so that we can escape life's painful moments? Maybe we think we run to God, and, just maybe, when we really search deep within, we see that we are seeking Him "just enough" to "get by", instead of completely yielding ourselves to Him, trusting in His goodness, and His sufficiency to enable us and sustain us through life's trials? There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. If the Holy Spirit is nudging you that you need to be more surrendered, closer to Jesus, don't resist Him - God's plans for you are good - even when they don't look like it at first glance. Run to Him and lavish in His presence, and stop feeling guilty about not having the "perfect" devotion - just run to Him wherever you are! He loves you.
June 8, 2005 - Patience
I am sure you all have heard that you should not pray for patience. Hmmm . . . watch out if you actually follow this advice. Better to be surrendered and trust God's hand. If He leads you to pray for patience, I'd recommend following the leading of the Spirit! Why is it that folks don't want to pray for patience? (o: As I write this little entry to you, it is actually quite therapeutic, as my CDs are STILL not here. Notice the capital letters in the word "STILL". But when my heart begins to become anxious, or I wonder why things are just not going according to "my" timing, that's when the Holy Spirit prompts me to once again yield and trust in Him. I liken it to the child who will not trust and fall back into his/her parent's arms. Why would any loving child not trust a loving parent? And yet it is fear that grips the heart of the child. Mistakes happen. "Mom or pop could accidentally drop me." But where is fear for the Christian? Perfect love casts out all fear. This does not mean that we will not have moments of trial or consternation, but it does mean that we do not have to stay there. If we fear that God will not supply our needs, we are trusting in only what we know. That is not faith at all. May God grant to us that we may trust in Him - sometimes blindly, even when our circumstances around us want to encourage us to become impatient, or to fear. The Lord bless you and draw you nearer to Himself!
May 11, 2005 - Striving
Psalm 46:10: "Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
Thank you for stopping in. How are you doing? Are you hanging onto Jesus? Perhaps you've allowed discouragement or disillusionment to cloud your vision, or maybe you are more encouraged than you have been in awhile. Wherever you are at in your journey, I hope the following words minister to your heart. You don't need to strive to be accepted in His sight. You could never be acceptable in His sight if it were not for the sacrificial death and resurrection of Jesus, given for You. Cease striving, and enter into His rest. May His Holy Spirit illumine for us what this means.
The phone rings, the keys are lost, the baby's crying, the bills are due, you just lost your job, or you just received a diagnosis for a difficult disease you are beginning to walk through - even at times like these, though under great pressure, we can walk with the peace of Christ that surpasses all understanding. So why do we come, place our burdens at His feet, only to pick it up again? We live in a very stressful time. Jesus knew stress, too. How did He handle it? He came apart from all of the things that pressed in on Him. Susanna Wesley's refuge was underneath her apron - that was the only respite she would find - and yet His strength and grace were enough in those brief moments to refresh her soul. Come apart and ask of the Lord - is there pruning that needs to take place in your life? Take His yoke upon you - let Him steer. (Pun intended!)
In Christ's Grace, Denise Dovel