Happy Thanksgiving and I'm on Vacation! (And Prayer Request!!!!)

Hi,

Hope you're all looking forward to Thanksgiving. It's a wonderful time to reflect on all the blessings of God.


Some days it is easier to count our blessings than on other days.

If you're having a hard time being Thankful this holiday season, I want to encourage you:

YOU'RE BREATHING! That means God isn't finished with you!

Take heart. There's more blessings to come.

I also wanted to let you know I'll be away from the blogging world till Monday, December 9th! 

If you haven't signed up for my Quarterly Newsletter you should. The next edition comes out Dec 1st., Rick from Planned Peasanthood will be the Featured Blogger. I have some exciting news to share with you there.

Have a blessed few weeks.

"I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus." 1 Cor 1:4

URGENT PRAYER REQUEST-
If you haven't heard about the deal that occurred this weekend with Iran (or if you're unsure why it's such a big moment in history) I beg you to please read this article to help you understand how bad this could be for the future. Many are comparing this to the deal that allowed Hitler to rise unhindered to power. "Munich Agreement of 1938 in which European nations agreed to allow Nazi Germany to annex parts of Czechoslovakia."
Pray! I don't even know what to pray for, just let God guide you as you lift your voice and heart to God.

Cultivating the Cry

(I will be taking the next 2 weeks off- so I’m jumping to chapter 7 in the discussion of “The Fire of Delayed Answers” by Bob Sorge. I apologize for any confusion)

There’s so much I want to say about this chapter- I can’t go into detail, but I want to hit some of the highlights:

1.       As I mentioned in my previous post, God told me this year would be tough- that I would learn how to depend upon HIM. But how did I get to this point in my walk with Christ? Why did He give me such a challenging word?

Sorge says, “He put the cry there, and He destined an answer to that cry.” (pg 99-100) “Jesus never imposes this painful process upon us. Instead, He cultivates within us a great dissatisfaction and a deep cry for something higher and greater... Then, He answers that prayer.” (pg 106).

In the preceding year God cultivated a deep cry in me for MORE OF HIM. And in 2013 God set about answering that cry. Little did I know the amount of pain that would be involved in making room in my heart for MORE of Him. To have more of Him, there had to be less of me.

2.       I’ve also mentioned I have a toddler. Disciplining him isn’t easy. Sometimes I truly believe it does hurt me more than him. While shopping the other day he wanted a toy. I told him “no”. He proceeded to throw a HUGE fit. It would have been much easier to give in and buy him the toy. But for numerous reason’s, the answer was “no”.

Through this book and from my son, I am learning to appreciate God as being my Father.

“God does not discipline us simply to punish us for wrong behavior, but rather to restore us to right behavior.” (pg 101)

I don’t want to break my son or crush him. I don’t want to diminish his will or take away his dignity. I simply want him to learn how to resist giving into all his selfish desires and to think of others. My telling him “no” prepares him for a life time of challenges.

I’m also learning discipline doesn’t diminish my son's love for me- I'm his mommy no matter what. Likewise, I should love God more for who He is and less for what He gives me. I should long to be with Him even when He tells me “no”.

Finally, even in the middle of the biggest tantrums, my son clings to me…but do I cling to God like that?

I should, it’s what God wants.

“How did Jesus respond when the pain increased? He sought God more earnestly.” (pg 102)

3. As you know, I like politics. So it should come as no surprise that this next part captured my attention:

“True Christianity is seen only under intense pressure…The church in Laodicea knew very little persecution. The climate of Laodicea was that of religious tolerance. The Challenge for the Laodiceans was to serve Christ in the midst of a very permissive, hedonistic society. The Laodicean church had become lukewarm because of the fires of resistance had burned low.”(pg 111-112)

A common theme to this book is the need for God’s refining fire to purify us, to make us more interested in building HIS kingdom and less about building our own.

I challenge you to re-read the quote above, but to replace all the references of Laodicea with America.

America needs God refining fire…but can we handle the heat?

Has God created a cry within you?…if so, be ready, He will answer it.

 Join the discussion, “The Fire of Delayed Answers” by Bob Sorge, You can read more about this chapter from: Jason, Sarah, Rick, Dusty, Kari, Glynn,  and Joell. (and possibly a few more people- sorry if I left you out. Please let me know so I can add you to the list.)

Just Jesus- Nothing More

“True faith doesn’t have a contingency plan.” (pg 89)

OUCH!

I’ve told you before (numerous times and in various ways) I like routine, I like to have “control”, and I tend to worry. 

So the above quote from “The Fire of Delayed Answers” by Bob Sorge smacks me like a 2x4. 

Throughout my life it’s been my tendency to not only have back up plans, but to have back up plans FOR my back up plans! 

Talk about lack of faith. 

At the beginning of 2013 God gave me a word to guide me through this year. That word was DEPENDENCE.

I’m so very grateful God warned me of how hard this year would be, otherwise I’m not sure I’d  be blogging now- I’d have crawled in a hole. 

Each time a new trial would come, I kept remembering God’s promise that this year was to teach me to DEPEND on Him- not my spouse, my mom, my church, my friends, etc. 

JUST JESUS- NOTHING MORE!(please tweet)

It’s been a rough year. A year of growth in Christ. 

Without this year I’m not sure I would have ever been confronted with certain things that hindered my obeying God.

I’ve come to the point where I can honestly analyze if I am diligently seeking God or simply asking Him to bless my own efforts. The answer to that varies on the day and circumstance. But I’m growing. 

This year has also helped me realize that true faith believes when no answers are to be found. Faith believes the unknown. 

Like Peter when Jesus wanted to wash his feet, I’ve been known to say “no” because I don’t understand. But I’m slowly learning there is no middle ground in serving Christ. There’s no contingency plan. 

“Jesus is basically saying, “If you don’t allow Me to work in dimensions you presently don’t understand, then you have no part with Me.”” (pg 91)

I’ve also been learning what it means to WAIT on God and not take matters into my own hands. Waiting isn’t an excuse to be lazy, apathetic, or indulgent in this world. 

Waiting on God is about being ready for when He says “go”. (Please Tweet). 

So how do we prepare for His command to GO?

"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."Matt 26:41 NIV

WATCH and PRAY

It’s that simple and that complex. 

No contingency plans. Just Jesus- Nothing More. Watch and pray.

Join the Book club discussing, “The Fire of Delayed Answers” by Bob Sorge, by either grabbing a copy of the book and joining the weekly discussions and/or leaving a comment below. You can read more about this chapter from: Jason, Sarah, Rick, Dusty, Kari, Glynn,  and Joell. (and possibly a few more people- sorry if I left you out. Please let me know so I can add you to the list.)

I'm TICKED and I hope you will be too!

I was brought to tears and wanted vomit as I scanned only three headlines. My soul cried out to God. How could any of these stories be true? How could this happen in America?

 

I haven’t shared Current Events or Political content in a post for a while. I’ve been reserving them for my Newsletters (if you haven’t signed up, I ask that you please do) but I had to share this with you- not so you’d vomit and cry, but so you could pray.

Our nation needs prayers more than ever. 

Here are the stories that turned my stomach. Read with extreme caution! 

Dad Arrested in Sting After Looking Online for Someone to Rape his 11-year- old daughter.

 

Head line speaks for itself. 

Public University Reportedly Paid $24K for Sex Columnist to Deliver Graphic Speech Aimed at Launching Kinky Sex App

 

Evidently Colleges are concerned with making sure students know how to pleasure their partners and have info at their fingertips on new sex positions to try so they have developed a new App. To help launch the App, they paid for a graphic sex-ed talk. Let’s not teach our kids how to work hard or get a job, but let’s make sure they know MORE about sex

You Could Never Anticipate This Happening in the United States of America

My blood boiled as I read this! To say I’m ticked is putting it mildly. Most times that I read disturbing stories I cry and pray, rarely do I want to yell. But I couldn’t get to the computer fast enough to tell you about this. This story is a prime example of the stupidity, lack of common sense, and injustice plaguing our nation.  If you read nothing else (and I don’t blame you, the other two stories broke my heart) I pray that you read this. Our nation is at a tipping point. Please be aware of how precarious a situation we are in. Seek God and truth like never before. 

UPDATE- More to anal search story here.

To sum this story up, a man gets not only a FEW cavity searches and 2 abdominal X-Rays, but also a colonoscopy (after 3 enemas) for a failing to come to a complete stop. What prompted all this: Police thought he was clenching his butt muscles. 

If you’re not shocked, you might want to check your pulse. 

Only God can Save this nation, stop looking to leaders to put us back on the right path. Change starts with YOU. (tweet) 

2 Chron 7:14 NIV, “if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

 

Matt 24

Nothing Compares to God's Word

Last week I wrote about God re-training how we hear Him. How He brings us to the valley so we can seek answers for things we never before thought to question. (You can read it here)

Today, I want to assure you that when you hear from God, whatever it is He says to you- WILL HAPPEN!

“It’s impossible for a word to come from God’s mouth and then be inhibited by any other factor, be it demonic resistance, human carnality or unbelief, the laws of nature, etc.”(pg 86).

I can’t tell you how reassuring that is to me right now!

I’m in the process of learning new ways to hear from God, of learning to trust and obey in BIG ways. Recently, God gave me a Word that caused my heart to be bitterly heavy. God was gracious enough to confirm that Word and re-confirm it. Yet, doubts continued to plague me. 

But when I read the above quote from Sorge, I felt elated! My unbelief is no match for God! (please tweet)

We have these assurances- God’s Word will not return void (Isaiah 55:10-11). God values His Word above His name- (Psalm 138:2). That’s pretty encouraging when you think about it, after all, the Bible says that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord (Phil 2:10-11). 

So if God places more value on His Word than He does His awesomely powerful and holy name, then we had better trust that He can accomplish whatever it is He speaks into our lives.

“When God speaks, your faith or cooperation or resistance are irrelevant. When God speaks, everything changes. “(pg 85-86)

I pray that sinks into your soul, that you find hope and courage to GROW through whatever valley God designs for you.  You can’t go around your valley. You have to go through it, but you don’t have to GROW through it. Free Will. 

Have a blessed week. And remember: Greater is He in me (you) than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4)!

Join the Book club discussing, “The Fire of Delayed Answers” by Bob Sorge, by either grabbing a copy of the book and joining the weekly discussions and/or leaving a comment below. You can read more about this chapter from: Jason, Sarah, Rick, Dusty, Kari, Glynn,  and Joell. (and possibly a few more people- sorry if I left you out. Please let me know so I can add you to the list.)