Posted in Journal

Driving through the Storms

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“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 12:2

“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.” ~ James 1:5

Yesterday, while driving to a women’s retreat Sister Frankie and I were caught in a terrible rain storm. It was hard to drive through it. Easier as long as the road had a rough surface but when suddenly it changed and the surface was smooth –  there were more reflections and more mist and it was close to impossible to see the lines or where you were on the road. So of course, the Lord uses all things and He started speaking.

What lessons about driving through the storms did the Holy Ghost impress on my heart that can be applied to the storms of life?

Pray! Pray! Pray! – Before, during and after the trip we prayed…not just for ourselves but everybody on the road. We make it a habit of always praying before every trip and most times many times along the way.

Get in the center lane – I had a long way to go on the road I found myself. I wasn’t going to need to exit. We debated getting off the road but I didn’t know the area off the exit any more than I knew the road I was on so I felt wisest to keep going and then because I knew I wasn’t going to need to exit, I got in the center lane. To go through the storms of life we need to get in and stay in the center of God’s perfect will. Not to the right or not to the left of it. Get there and stay there.

Focus – I was having a really hard time seeing the cars in front of me and beside me but there happened to be a great big boat right in front of me. (Now, is that God or what?) Sister Frankie called it the LifeBoat. I got my eyes on that big LifeBoat. He was easy for me to see and easy for everybody else to see. I felt they would be cautious as they passed him. For sure we should always be careful who we follow because following the right person or thing can get you through the storm but if you aren’t careful you can follow someone down the wrong path…right to hell. Get your eyes on Jesus, into His Word, and in places of prayer and worship.

Keep going – Once our eyes were set, we just kept on going. It needs to be the same in life. Keep going. Will we mess up? Yes, probably. When you do, get back up. If You hurt someone along the way ask for forgiveness and then get back up. If you sin, repent and get back up and keep going. It is much more dangerous to stop on a stormy road or in the storms of our lives than it is to drive on through the storm…because it is always harder to get back onto a busy highway.

Remember where your Help comes from. At the worst time, I looked and the boat was ahead of me but a distance ahead of me. In the rearview mirror, I looked and I could see that NO ONE WAS close to me behind. No one was to either side. And not only did I feel safe but I had that song going through my mind. “It May look like I’m surrounded, but I’m surrounded by You.” God protected me by keeping everyone away from me during the worst part of that storm.

Praise JESUS! NEVER STOP PRAISING HIM!!!! I thank You, Lord, for taking us through to safety.

So let me close with this. What did Sister Frankie and I see when the storm cleared?

  • Multiple cars in ditches that looked as though they had played follow the leader right there into the ditch.
  • MANY Cars pulled off the sides and the median now trying to get back into the flow of the traffic. They were then causing more backups.
  • Cars spun around, wrecked and trucks jackknifed and totally blocking the road. Someone, for some reason, had made the wrong move likely due to unclear lane changes (now there’s a whole other message).

God bless you all!!!!

 

Posted in Journal

Today I am Reminded…

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Sand heart

Yesterday I wrote about the difference between walking in a sand dune as opposed to walking in wet sand and how much easier it is to walk when the sand is wet and compacted. I had another thought this morning. If the sand is too wet and the water isn’t being released by evaporation or by flowing elsewhere it can create an environment for quicksand and that can be a dangerous situation to try to walk through.

Today I woke up feeling like if I don’t get a handle on a common feeling bombarding my mind it would be like being stuck in quicksand.

What was this feeling? I wanted to quit!!! My thoughts were – what is the need of me in this present place? What do I do that can’t be done or what do I bring that can’t be brought by just about anyone else out there? Now, these are not thoughts I naturally head toward. I am not prone to quit so I have to scream, GET behind ME, satan. I am calling him out and exposing his lies. In warfare prayer, I asked the Lord for help and cast down the thoughts and imaginations and a few moments later the Lord replaced them with some reminders. Just a fairly normal Tuesday in my office but then a fax showed up and as I read it this flowed out of it like a fast-moving stream.

 

Today I am Reminded…

Today I am reminded that some people face hard things that unless revealed we know nothing about. That some face these hard things, not of their own choosing and they don’t deserve it. Today I am reminded that some in trying to navigate those things lose sight of and even the will to be who God created them to be. Today I am reminded that some are just plain tired of fighting it alone…even if they made a choice to go it alone. Today I am reminded that when they lose their sight or their will or their fight the resulting bondage manifests itself in many ways.

Today I am reminded that some battles are so obvious but some hide theirs with gold and glitter and glamorous attire, riches. If you look at them and see the things that surround them; see their success and status you have no idea of their pain. The truth is that if we are completely honest we think we ourselves would be happier with more money and more worldly status so we can’t imagine they are not.

Today I am reminded that  I was that person.

Today I am reminded that the Bible says in Romans 2:4 that it is the goodness of God that draws men to repentance. I am reminded to have compassion and love people as they navigate no matter the bondage they may be in and no matter how it manifests. I am reminded that if I truly love like Jesus loves then they will see Jesus (the goodness of God) in me. After all, God is love.

Today I am also reminded of how much I wanted someone, anyone to see me and care about me and what I was going through. Today I am reminded that someone did come along and they cared. That one person had compassion on me and loved me enough to speak the Truth but to do so while staying alongside me. I am reminded of one person that wasn’t afraid of my baggage. One that lived out the “greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world.” Today I am reminded that I saw Jesus in that one person and I wanted what they had. I wanted Jesus in my life.

So, truly, even more, today I am reminded of my God and Father that sent His Son, Jesus, to die for me on the cross. For me! Today I am reminded of a God that showed me His grace and mercy and His compassion when I was at the bottom of the pit and on my way to hell. I am reminded of how His goodness drew me to my knees crying out in repentance; asking for forgiveness for my sins; asking Him to help me live a holy life; to help me live only for Him. Today I am reminded of a God that forgave, saved, delivered, healed and turned my life around. I am reminded today of what a beautiful blessing repentance is to you and to me!!!!

God used that one person that loved me as He loves and today I am reminded to be that person for others. I am reminded that when I don’t love, others aren’t seeing the goodness of God in me. What if we all loved? What if God wants to use your next encounter as an opportunity for someone to see His goodness and be drawn to repentance? I am reminded today just how much He loves everyone and each one we encounter.

Today I am in tears at the reality of the hard things some face and are forced to now navigate.

Today I am reminded to love.

Posted in Hiding His Word

Rest

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If you read yesterday’s blog post you know that the Lord spoke about being in a “holding pattern” but how even in the holding pattern He used the blog to spread His Word into approximately 80 more nations of the world to reach a total of 100 nations to date.

Later on in the afternoon, someone called with a message for one of our clinicians. The message was “Psalm 4:8.” Nothing else. Of course, the message peaked my curiosity and of course, I looked it up and the Holy Ghost used that short message to speak to me also about rest. Holding patterns and rest certainly have some things in common. I know that if God can use a holding pattern then He can certainly use our rest, God ordained rest, in many divine ways as well. Below are a few definitions of the word “rest.” I have highlighted those that especially spoke to me.

All else is the Word of God and some of what He has to say about the subject of rest. We could all say many things about rest and the need for it … but His Word truly contains all the words we need. These verses are good scriptures to “put in our memory banks” (as one of my childhood Sunday School teachers used to say). Hide them in your heart today before you need them in the night hours or moments when you feel overcome by weariness.

 

What does it mean to Rest?

Rest (noun) – The refreshing quiet or repose of sleep; refreshing ease or inactivity after exertion or labor; relief or freedom, especially from anything that wearies, troubles, or disturbs; a period or interval of inactivity; mental or spiritual calm.

Rest (verb) – to refresh oneself, as by sleeping, lying down, or relaxing; to relieve weariness by cessation of exertion or labor; to be at ease; to be quiet or still; to cease from motion, come to rest; stop; to become or remain inactive; to stay as is or remain without further action or notice; to lie, sit, lean, or be set.

 

What does the Bible say about Rest?

Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4 Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength: ~ Isaiah 26:3-4

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. ~ Psalm 23:1-3

Return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the Lord hath dealt bountifully with thee. ~ Psalm 116:7

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him.6 He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved.7 In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.8 Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah. ~ Psalm 62:5-8

I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.5 I laid me down and slept; I awaked; for the Lord sustained me. ~ Psalm 3:4-5

For thus saith the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your strength: and ye would not. ~ Isaiah 30:15

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. ~ Matthew 11:28-29

Thus saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein. ~ Jeremiah 6:16

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

I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety. ~ Psalm 4:8

 

My Prayer for you today

Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all means. The Lord be with you all. ~ 2 Thessalonians 3:16