Pain

Pain, something we all experience. Something that comes into our life at some point or other and is everywhere and experienced by all. Pain can be hard to accept and something we usually want to be through dealing with as soon as we can. But pain has taught me an important lesson. If I allow God to use that pain and I allow Him to grow me using it, the pain feels so worth it. But if I try to stamp it down and dwell on it, the pain just hurts me more and longer than necessary. I am not saying pain is easy or fun, just that God will and does use it, if we allow Him to do so!

Pain comes in many different forms. Sometimes it comes by the hand of someone else, sometimes I can inflict it upon myself, and sometimes God allows things to come into my life that causes me pain but each and every time if I allow God to use it for His honor and glory as well as for my good, in the end it will be worth it.

All the times that I have experienced pain I can say that it has been worth it. Each time, as I allowed God to use it, He has drawn me closer to Him and there have been times that pain has brought dear people closer to me in a way that other things wouldn't have! Looking back over the last year, there have been seasons of pain but always from and through that pain has come many blessings. Right now I am dealing with some things that are causing me pain but the reason I can smile and lift my head up are because I know that God has my best in store and He has a reason for this. He is refining me and drawing me closer to Him and for that I am thankful!

So whatever you may be facing right now, whatever sort of pain, ask the Lord to show you something for which to be thankful in that pain; also allow Him to use it to draw you closer to Him. Even if right now, things seem more than you can handle, trust that the Lord knows best and He will carry you through whatever you are facing!

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

-1 Peter 4:12-14

Fear

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

-2 Timothy 1:7

Have you ever thought about how much of a hold fear can have on you? Maybe it is fear of the future, fear of a problem in front of you, or maybe just a fear of someone or something. Whatever it may be that you fear, remember fear builds a wall not a bridge. Often it keeps you from truly being able to enjoy your life. At one point in my life I feared public speaking and sometimes what the future held, but God did and still is working in my life to remind me that He holds the future and if I trust those things I fear to Him, He will help me face my fears. I enjoy read the above verse that instead of fear we have the wonderful promises of power, of love, and of a sound mind. Another verse that comes to mind is "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love." -1 John 4:18 Many times God has shown me that what I fear often is in my own mind and nothing to worry about. As far as public speaking, it is by far not my favorite things to do but you know what, instead of fearing to teach youth girl's Sunday school at church, I actually don't mind it and enjoy studying the lesson to prepare for it. That was surprising to me but it just showed me that sometimes what you fear, is often in your own mind.

Now when I fear something, I just remind myself that fear is of the devil, and not of God, therefore what I fear I just need to take to God and trust that He knows what is best. So if you struggle with fear, remember that if you give it to our Father in Heaven, He will help you to overcome it and be with you when you face whatever you fear!!

 Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. 

-Isaiah 41:10

Strength from Struggles

Last evening I was at my friend's house after arriving home from our trip to GA. Her brother had some eggs in an incubator and the one chick had hatched with one almost hatched and another that was working at making a hole. We stood there watching the eggs and the chick that was hatched and discussing how if you help the chick hatch, they usually die. While we were standing there, we were watching the chick that was almost out and I had to think how easy it would be for us to help the chick. But in the long run, it would have mean an early death because it needs the struggle of hatching out of the egg, to gain strength for its life outside the egg.

Watching that chick working hard to break out of its egg, got me to thinking how God uses the struggles He brings into our lives to make us stronger. Not saying He doesn't offer assistance but He doesn't hinders the work He wants to do in our lives. Also He never gives us more than we can handle! I know I can see in my own life how the things God had brought me through, have helped me in a tremendous way to face the things I have faced and am facing. I just love how He does know what is best for us and it all comes back to just being willing to trust in Him and being willing to let Him lead and guide us.

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

-1 Corinthians 10:13

My Hope Is Built On Nothing Less

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,
But wholly trust in Jesus’ Name.

Refrain

On Christ the solid Rock I stand,
All other ground is sinking sand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
 

When darkness seems to hide His face,
I rest on His unchanging grace.
In every high and stormy gale,
My anchor holds within the veil.

Refrain
 

His oath, His covenant, His blood,
Support me in the whelming flood.
When all around my soul gives way,
He then is all my Hope and Stay.

Refrain
 

When He shall come with trumpet sound,
Oh may I then in Him be found.
Dressed in His righteousness alone,
Faultless to stand before the throne.

Refrain

 

This song has been running through my head this week. I have definitely come to appreciate this song in a new way lately! I was doing a lot of reflecting this past week, on the past year and looking at the different things that have brought me to where I am right now. I can see God's hand in my life and Him patiently walking alongside me and drawing me closer to Him. It is amazing, when we come to the point of realization that all we need is Christ and all that matters is living for HIM. If our hope is built on Him alone, no matter what comes our way, we will be able to rest in His unchanging grace. There is something awesome about when everything around you gives way, being able to rest in Christ and Him being your only hope! I can say I have experienced it and it truly is the most amazing thing ever! I am just blessed by how God lead and guides us. We serve such a wonderful God! So my challenge to you, even if what is in front of you is really hard, if you allow God to guide you, what He has in store for you, will be way better than what you ever had in mind for yourself!

 

But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

-Isaiah 40:31

Surrender and Allowing God to Work

 

I have been so blessed with the way God has been showing and teaching me things. At one point in my life, I was willing to just live my life, go to church, and pretty much do my own thing without any thought of how God wanted me to live. I no longer want to live that way. I want to live my life for Christ and also that those around me can see Christ in me! I have come to the conclusion that until you really surrender everything to Him and are willing to allow Him to have total control of your life, you really aren't living.

 

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

-Romans 12:1-2

I won't tell you that surrendering to God and allowing Him have total control is easy, because it isn't. Surrendering is a daily process, but the results are so worth it! You are able to live your life in freedom and your life will be filled with such peace and joy! And having that peace and joy in your life is so amazing. It is really indescribable. You almost need to experience it for yourself and when you do, you will understand what I mean!

Sometimes hard things come along that you have to make a decision about. But I have found that by abiding in God and by already having surrendered that area of my life to Him, it is so much easier praying about the problem and then being able to rest in Him. And you know what is so awesome about praying about the problem and giving it to God? It is stepping back and allowing Him to work and seeing the way He works in your life and with the problem. Recently God has shown this to me in a mighty way. I was wrestling with something and just wasn't sure what to do. I prayed about it, sought council and then stepped back and watched God work. He gave me the wisdom and strength to face the things I needed to do. The awesome thing was how He worked everything out, gave me the words to say, and I was able to walk away encouraged and blessed. It has been so amazing watching God work in my life and I am truly excited to see how He will continue to work in my life!

We serve an amazing God and I can testify that He will help you through whatever you are facing and He will give you the strength and grace you need to face whatever is in front of you! All He asks, is that we surrender everything to Him and trust that He knows what is best!

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

-Jeremiah 29:11

Trusting in God

I have a few blog posts running thru my mind but I can only write one at a time :) I guess I will write this one on what I have been experiencing a lot lately, and that is trusting in God and how that has affected my relationship with Him.

February was quite a month spiritually. I had some hard decisions to make, as I said in an earlier post, and through making those decisions I had a choice to make. I could try to handle it all on my own, or I could trust it to God. I chose to trust God and allowed Him to take control of the situation and work it out in the way He saw fit. And you know, looking back, I know the decision I made was the right one. I also know that I didn't do it on my own and only by my giving it to God, was the reason that it turned out the way it has! Along the way, I asked for guidance from my parents and ladies I respect in the church, and they gave me invaluable advice!

Then this past week I had something else come up. I chose to give the matter to God, instead of handling it on my own. And you know, He came through as He always does. He answered my prayer in a way I wasn't expecting at all but I can see His hand in the whole matter. And through this entire process I have been seeing, the more I trust God and allow Him to have His way in my life, the more I want to serve Him. I also have noticed that the more I trust in Him, the more joy and peace He blesses me with! I feel so blessed to be able to serve such an awesome God, who loves and cares for His children!

So my challenge to you, is to trust in God, no matter what you are facing. Give it to God and allow Him to work through you and your situation. He will show Himself strong in you life, but only if you allow Him to!

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
—Philippians 4:6 nasb

Stepping Stone vs Stumbling Block

 

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

-2 Timothy 1:7

 

On our walk of life sometimes it seems like the trials that come our way are bigger than we can handle. But we have to remember, if we are one of God's children, God doesn't mean for us to handle things on our own, although he always gives us the strength we need to face the problem before us. All he asks is that we give the problem to Him, and trust Him to handle it in the best way that he sees fit.  Sure, sometimes that means the end result (or what we think of as the end result), is far from what we want or desire. God doesn't always give us what we want or desire. He gives us what is best for us. And when we come to the end of our life here on earth, and go to live with Him in heaven, we will see the end result and see why things happened the way they did.

So just remember, sometimes life throws us hard things but the best thing we can do is, ask God for help to get thru it and look at it as a stepping stone instead of a stumbling block. Sure its easier said than done but when you look back you will see it was worth it!

Faith and Patience

 

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

-James 1:2-3

 

 Is this our reaction when we go thru a hard time in our life, counting it all joy despite what we are going thru? It isn't easy to be going thru something that is difficult in life but God never said that life would be easy. The more you go thru some of the tough things in life, the more your faith becomes stronger. The thing is though that you have to allow the tough things to make you stronger and not just bring you down and look at them as "bad" things that are happening to us. In my own experience I have had things come into my life which have caused me to lean on God more than ever before. Then the next time something comes into my life, I find it seems to be easier to lean on God and trust in Him  this time because He has proved Himself faithful to me. I think this is probably some of what James was saying here. Also what has helped me is looking at the bigger picture that the immediate trial. If I know that on the other side of what I am going thru I will be farther along in my Christian walk and closer to God that helps put things into focus. Also determine to learn from what you are going thru.

 

Then verse four:

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

-James1:4

 

One definition of patience is "to be constant; steady perseverance". And perfect in this context means mature, not perfect as in doing no wrong. The testing of our faith should produce patience and thru that we become more steadfast and should become more mature in our faith. Then I love how the verse ends, "that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing". It seems that the more we live our lives for Christ and have faith in Him and trust him with the daily goings on in our lives the more we become like him. The more trials that come our way the stronger our faith should become and along with that the more patience we should have.  But most of all we must allow patience have her perfect work because by doing so then may we be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

 

So as you go thru this next week and face the trials and temptations that come your way, remember to look at them as a stepping stone in your spiritual journey and allow it to strengthen your faith.

In His Time

 

I had spoken about trials and everything working together for good and God's purpose in this post. I am going to write a bit about what has been happening in my life as far as trusting in God for a job and waiting on his timing.

Well I haven't had a job outside of working for my Dad since March. I quit the job I was working at in March since where I worked I was icing cakes a majority of the day which caused me to use my arms repetitively. By using my arms so much in the same way day after day, caused my elbow to get tennis elbow which made every day things here at home, with my horses, as well as at work. I got help by going to the chiropractor and he fixed my arms. They aren't totally healed up but they are a lot better than they used to be. Anyway, I say all this to say that I had been in the process of looking for a job even before I quit my job. I was on tour in June with my chorus and then on a family trip with my family so most of June I was gone. I had asked God that I would like to not get a job till after I return from all those things. When we returned I called the nanny service that I was looking for a job thru and she set an interview up with a family that had two girls (the nanny service interviewed me in January but I hadn't gotten any interviews with families since then) . Well that didn't work out so I was kinda wondering what else I should do. Then this past week I applied at a place called Friendship Community which is a place that cares for older people with development disabilities. I went for an assessment on Thursday for that job. I wasn't to enthused about getting that job since I am more comfortable working with children than adults but I figured it was worth a try. You see, I wanted a job that I can work with people and influence them in a small way ;) Well I was no more home from the assessment, and the nanny service called me, telling me that she has a family she thinks would work out for me. She asked me if I am available for an interview that evening yet. I said yes and she said she will call the family and see if it works for them as well.

She called me back in a bit and told me that the interview was set for 6:30. I went to the interview, met the family and the children (2 boys, ages 3 and 6 months), and got to know them a bit. I called Karen (the nanny service lady) after the interview and told her I liked the family and would be interested in the job. She called me Friday morning and told me that I have the job if I want it :) Well I did and got the job. I start in September since the mom is a school teacher. I am so thankful for God's provision and I can see his hand in all this. It was fun being able to work for my dad here at home all summer with the family business but I will be glad to be back doing something I enjoy. (I had been a nanny for two years prior to the 8 months I was working at the cake place and really enjoyed that.) I also hope to make a difference in these children's lives...even if it is in a small way. I feel that I am going to be right where God wants me to be! That is the best feeling in the world...the peace of knowing that God has put me where he wants me to be and I know he will use me as he sees fit!

Fools for Christ's Sake

 

Are you willing to be considered a fool, in the eyes of the world, for Christ's sake? Am I? By being fools for the sake of Christ, we are truly being wise.

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose." -Jim Elliot

 

⁹ For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men.

 ¹⁰ We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised.

 ¹¹ Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwelling place;

 ¹² And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:

 ¹³Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.

1 Corinthians 4:9-13 KJV

 

In verse 9, Paul talks of the apostles being made spectacles. The spectacle idea here, was not a positive one. Paul applies this idea of being a spectacle, particularly to the apostles, but also to anyone who is a message bearer of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The majority of our spectators are not there to cheer us on; instead, they are throwing out taunts, stumbling blocks and trying to get us to falter.

 

Verses 10-13, are a series of contrasts between the apostles and the proud Corinthians (some of whom were believers) who ridiculed them. The beginning of verse 10 says "we are fools for Christ's sake". The apostles were fools for Christ; this doesn't mean they were really fools, only that they were treated as such because of the way they were living out their lives.

 

In verses 12 and 13, Paul speaks of how they (the apostles) were treated. Instead of returning evil for evil, they returned evil with good. They, like their Master, Jesus Christ, were rejected, defamed, and persecuted. This is something that is hard for us, as humans, to do because our flesh doesn't like NOT being well-liked or popular. But for the sake of Christ, are we willing to be called names and not be well liked? The only way we can be triumphant over our flesh, is to lean on Christ and trust Him. Only thru Him are we able to endure anything that comes our way.

 

May we always want to be fools for Christ, and reap the benefits by one day being able to go home and live with Him in Heaven!