Friday, July 20, 2012

~JOY amidst difficult circumstances ~


"Some may see Hope, those who do not know her, and silently think 'how sad'. Hope is confined to a wheelchair and is only able to use her left hand. As a baby she could not do anything by herself. Much like all babies. She needed her mom and dad to feed her, dress her and care for all her daily needs. As she has grown older many of these needs have not changed. We still continue to dress her and care for all her daily needs such as bath rooming, showers, dressing. For the most part Hope finds her body "useless" as she has said in the recent past. However, if you spend anytime around Hope you will be blessed by her JOY. Hope is not a complainer, she goes about life living it fully. Seemingly unaware of her differences or others pity and even rejection at times. Jesus shines through Hope and for those who take the time to stop and listen will be touched by His joy and peace. Hope is like the healthy tree planted by a stream which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. The JOY of the Lord is Hope's strength.

I want to be like that tree. Joy should not dependent on my circumstances. Thankfulness is a way to stay firmly planted in the JOY of the Lord. Those roots grow deep and find the water. So even in the dry and thirsty land ~ trials and tribulations, we can have the joy of the Lord. Because the truth is ~ God will supply your needs according to His riches and glory~ and because of that promise we can have JOY.


Today God answered my simple pray "help me I can't do it" and He did it!!! Thank you Lord Jesus for caring about the small things that are big things to me that attempt to come in and steal my joy.

What is trying to steal your joy? An illness, a disablility, finances, a relationship, circumstances you did not create? The list is endless. Some are temporary and others last a lifetime. Hope's disability is for life, but God has given her pure JOY that is her strength. God will give you what you need too just ask him. There is no magic prayer. He is the living water to our soul nothing else will satisfy.





Monday, July 16, 2012

~The Gift and Gift Giver~

                                               My precious gift
                                         
                                               priceless treasure,

                                                   desireable,

                                           so precious and adored.

                                           Blessing beyond words.

                                Yet the Gift Giver is the one to look to.

                                         Not to be obsessed by the gift,

                            but to appreciate the gift with a grateful heart~

                                            praising the Gift Giver.

                                    A gift cannot meet my every need,

                                             but the Gift Giver can.

                                  My eyes will remain on the Gift Giver.
                                                                                                        Terri Kellogg



I said to the Lord, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing." David wrote in Psalms what he knows is true ~ every blessing and every good thing in life, is a gift from God. They are trusted to us. Owned by the Gift giver. Let us not be obsessed or possessed by our gifts entrusted to us. God describes David as a man after His(God's) own heart. As David did ~ I desire also to keep God as the most important focus in my life. Lord help me keep your perspective on my life.

Is there a "Gift" in your life that sometimes shifts your focus off the Gift Giver? A job, friend, husband, child, ministry...You will know this is true when your happiness becomes dependent on your "gift" or circumstances ~ for nothing will satisfy our soul apart from God first in our life. We are made to worship Him.

I am thankful ~ Thank you Jesus for hearing my prayers and blessing me with a man who leads me and loves you like David.

Wednesday, July 4, 2012

~Where to find rest~

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust...He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. Psalm 91:1,2,4



Do you have fears that keep you from taking the next step God has called you to do? I know for myself it has taken years to recognize fear for what it is. Fear many times is subtle...quiet. Sometimes I hear it trying to sneak up behindme to distract me from my forward movement. Other times in comes in plan view and as I steer clear, it tries to trip me up. I have grown to recognize many faces of my own fears: fear of failure, fear of loss of control, fear of rejection to name a few.

Now, they aren't so blatent, but rather quiet cleverly disguised through the years...For example fear of failure. I would clearly say I am not a perfectionist but I don't want to fail~ who does right? However, sometimes my overthinking a situation in order to make the "best" decision possible. I become the person who has procrastinated unintentionally proving the point of not being a perfectionist. The fear behind that crazy thinking is....fear of failure. It may be hard to follow if this is not your situation.

Regardless, the truth is I do not want to be a perfectionist or a procrastinator. I want to be an obedient child of God. So as I continue taking each cobblestone step forward toward publishing In That Secret Place [which is now published and available on Amazon.com] . I will not look to the left or to the right, because I know my Savior is protecting me, guiding me and loving me along the way and I rest in the shadow of His wings. I do not have to figure it all out ~ I trust in Him who knows the way.

   

What is the fear that binds you? Fear of the unknown? Fear of loss? Ask God to show you and He will. Truth of God's word: Perfect Love casts out fear.(1John 4:18)

Look at the mother swan in the picture above and know your heavenly Father loves you perfectly ~ fear not.