Have you ever watched a foal being born in person or on a video? When the foal stands up for the first time, mama will knock it back down so it does not forget how it got up in the first place.
I believe our struggles are like that. This past weekend my daughter and I had a wonderful day of girl time - shopping and heading to the library. It was like we were standing for the first time in a long time. Then Monday hit - and we got knocked down. She decided to use her old way of dealing with things and stay down so to speak. Instead of getting frustrated right along with her, I got back up. I responded how I should have instead of how I use to. I kept Saturday in mind, knowing that even though we had a wonderful day, God doesn't promise a bed of roses from here on out. But He gave me another glimpse of what could be. He gave me another dose of hope. He's good that way.
Father, thank you for giving us what we need when we need it, in your perfect timing. Thank you for making your desires the desires of our heart. Amen.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Is your heart troubled?
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me." ~ John 14:1 NIV
At three o'clock this morning, I woke up and was wide awake. I laid there trying to get back to sleep, but my mind wouldn't let me. I really needed the sleep and started worrying about that. Then I started worrying about every single aspect of my life. Then I was worrying because I was worrying. What was going on with me?? I do not know why I went so far down this awful path, but I did. Then I realized what I was doing and started praying. The next thing I know the alarm is going off. Hmmmm....when I asked God to please take away my worry, he gave me rest.
This morning I logged in and John 14:1 was staring me in the face. Oh what peace washed over me!
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." ~Matthew 11:28 NIV
Thank you, Lord, for being a Father who always will comfort us and guide us even when we've gone astray. Amen.
Thursday, July 5, 2012
"but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:30-31
I'm an avid reader, and I love to read christian fiction. I don't read them for the love stories, and when that is the main story line, I tend to get bored. What keeps me turning the pages is the relationships these characters have with God and how they include Him in their responses to people and situations. Some are so human, and I can really relate to them. They show me noone is perfect, everyone fails. Others are spiritually so far beyond me that I strive to have their faith or courage or discipline.
I'm reading a series right now and Monday night the main character was struggling with her Broadway castmates. She had started a bible study there at the theater, and the director told her she had to stop meeting. The rest of the cast felt she was judging them. They were entrapped in pills, homosexuality, the big gotchas in their world. She hated that she backed down and didn't fight for the bible study. But then she got her second wind after a group of older ladies (in another bible study) discussed eagles.
I have not looked this up to confirm it's fact, but hopefully it is...
Eagles soar high and crows tend to gang up on them to peck at them. The eagle, being a larger bird, simply has to soar higher where the smaller birds cannot reach him. Crows will always peck at the eagles and eagles can either be beaten down or simply soar higher. And we can either be beaten down or soar higher/closer to God to get away from the crows of this world.
The character went on to have the bible study outside of the theater. She is asked by a homosexual male about whether God loves him because of his sin. The writer did an excellent job here, and explained how everyone fights life long battles against certain sins. It may be pride for example. The difference is that as a christian, you turn to God to help you with it and keep striving to rid yourself of it instead of just living in the sin. It was a non-judgemental response with a wonderful, caring perspective.
On Tuesday, I was was hit square in the chest by a response to my blood drive email at work, which was copied to our entire site and some outside our company. A colleague was fuming about homosexuals not being able to donate at our blood drive. After a couple of seconds, it dawned on me, this is like the challenge in the book. So I focused on God and prayed for him to calm my nerves and give me an appropriate response. I did apologize to those outside the company and responded to this man directly. I simply told him to not reply all to anymore blood drive emails and that it did go outside the company. I wanted to lash out at him and tell him I had to apologize to people and this was completely unprofessional. But I kept my emotions out of it so I would not end up in a fight with the devil. I didn't peck back, but flew harder towards God. I was doubly floored by this since 4 yrs ago, he approached me privately when he first tried to donate. I was not expecting this in the least.
Had I not read that story the night before, I don't think I would have responded like I did. I think I would have gotten very angry and hurt, and said something God really wouldn't have wanted me to. And now I'm praying for this man, focusing on his struggle and that he'll see God's love and truth.
So, yes, I will keep reading my books. Not as a substitute to the bible by any means, but as yet another way for God to speak to me.
Thank you, Lord, for the many ways you speak to us, to bring us closer to you. Thank you for creation and how you use it to show us truths. Please reveal yourself to this man. In your name, Amen.
I'm an avid reader, and I love to read christian fiction. I don't read them for the love stories, and when that is the main story line, I tend to get bored. What keeps me turning the pages is the relationships these characters have with God and how they include Him in their responses to people and situations. Some are so human, and I can really relate to them. They show me noone is perfect, everyone fails. Others are spiritually so far beyond me that I strive to have their faith or courage or discipline.
I'm reading a series right now and Monday night the main character was struggling with her Broadway castmates. She had started a bible study there at the theater, and the director told her she had to stop meeting. The rest of the cast felt she was judging them. They were entrapped in pills, homosexuality, the big gotchas in their world. She hated that she backed down and didn't fight for the bible study. But then she got her second wind after a group of older ladies (in another bible study) discussed eagles.
I have not looked this up to confirm it's fact, but hopefully it is...
Eagles soar high and crows tend to gang up on them to peck at them. The eagle, being a larger bird, simply has to soar higher where the smaller birds cannot reach him. Crows will always peck at the eagles and eagles can either be beaten down or simply soar higher. And we can either be beaten down or soar higher/closer to God to get away from the crows of this world.
The character went on to have the bible study outside of the theater. She is asked by a homosexual male about whether God loves him because of his sin. The writer did an excellent job here, and explained how everyone fights life long battles against certain sins. It may be pride for example. The difference is that as a christian, you turn to God to help you with it and keep striving to rid yourself of it instead of just living in the sin. It was a non-judgemental response with a wonderful, caring perspective.
On Tuesday, I was was hit square in the chest by a response to my blood drive email at work, which was copied to our entire site and some outside our company. A colleague was fuming about homosexuals not being able to donate at our blood drive. After a couple of seconds, it dawned on me, this is like the challenge in the book. So I focused on God and prayed for him to calm my nerves and give me an appropriate response. I did apologize to those outside the company and responded to this man directly. I simply told him to not reply all to anymore blood drive emails and that it did go outside the company. I wanted to lash out at him and tell him I had to apologize to people and this was completely unprofessional. But I kept my emotions out of it so I would not end up in a fight with the devil. I didn't peck back, but flew harder towards God. I was doubly floored by this since 4 yrs ago, he approached me privately when he first tried to donate. I was not expecting this in the least.
Had I not read that story the night before, I don't think I would have responded like I did. I think I would have gotten very angry and hurt, and said something God really wouldn't have wanted me to. And now I'm praying for this man, focusing on his struggle and that he'll see God's love and truth.
So, yes, I will keep reading my books. Not as a substitute to the bible by any means, but as yet another way for God to speak to me.
Thank you, Lord, for the many ways you speak to us, to bring us closer to you. Thank you for creation and how you use it to show us truths. Please reveal yourself to this man. In your name, Amen.
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