Hey, Siestas! Thank you for such an outpouring of support in my blog break. God has already caused it to bear fruit the way I’d hoped. He’s so faithful. I miss you so much and think of you daily. I hope to see some of you Houston area girls at Bible study tonight. I’m so blessed to serve tonight with my friend, Christy Nockels. OK, here’s today’s TOPIC for Talk To Me Tuesday.
Talk to me about a time in your own life when God called you to an area of obedience that was particularly difficult but ultimately (and surprisingly) led to joy. Limit your story to one meaty paragraph so we can read as many as possible. Let’s hear it! I surely do love you girls.
Oh Boy!!!! I was dating a man who I was head over heals in love with. My dating boundries were a little different than his. 🙂 I guess I said no to one too many things and he ultimately broke up with me. I had to see him date another woman because I worked with him at my part time job. I never wanted to lose my testimony to him, so talk about grace!!! It was one of the hardest things I have ever had to face. We are still friends, but he and this woman are living together. My heart still hurts every time I think about it……
So many to consider. He has always dealt with me in terms of obedience.
I think the most life changing was saying yes to marry my husband. We had met and dated (as friends for me, he will tell you he was smitten the day we met) for 6 months. He became my best friend, and I LOVED him, but was not IN love with him. We were both on staff with Campus Crusade for Christ. He traveled and sang. I was in college ministry. When he asked me to marry him I was shocked! I said I needed a week to be alone to seek God about it. I made a pro-con list ( yes, really) and prayed, prayed, prayed. Sought the opinions of 2 close friends,my mentors and my mom. I felt the Lord wanted me to marry Phillip. In obedience I told the Lord I would… under the condition that if the “feelings” were not there within 2 weeks of the wedding date, I would call it off. But I knew HE could bring the feelings on as a confirmation. I was up front with Phillip about it all. He said “I don’t know why God has had my emotions ahead of yours this entire time, but it isn’t to bail out while we wait on His time.”
Many twists, turns, and gut wrenching-times later (keep’n it short!) we did in fact get married 6 months later. I knew God could choose better than me because of my background. 26 yrs. and 4 children later, we are still growing. And it has been tremendous joy, but not without heartache. I cannot imagine doing this marriage thing without God’s leading. He alone is truly faithful! I will forever testify to that.
I think I left out the most surprising joyful part!!! Within 2 months of being engaged (and 2 months worth of wanting to throw-up thinking I just could not go through with this, Lord), I did in fact begin to fall madly in love with this man…Lord have mercy!
I feel like I am in the season of obedience now. Allowing my mother-in-law to live with us and become an everyday part of our lives is what God has asked me to do. I’m being obedient, but sometimes it is hard to see the joy. She had major depression issues in her life. She is recovering from the love of her life committing suicide. She & I could not parent more differntly if we tried. She is struggling too. I sometimes wonder what God is thinking??? There have been moments of His glory…we’ll just keep perservering. His ways are best.
Two years ago November, I was working at an area high school and had become friends with a male teacher there. He made a terrible choice to sext a female high school student and thus was fired and his world came crashing down around him. I felt God calling me not to abandon him. His wife also forgave him and has not abandoned him. I led him to my pastor for counseling. They have since renewed their wedding vows and God brought a new baby girl into their lives..she was born premature at 2 lbs but is a true miracle and source of joy for them. He is enduring necessary cival consequences. But knows that Jesus loves him, and my husband and I chose to be obedient to love them as Christ would and not abandon them when ALL others have. Our walk and joy is deeper because of this step of faith. God also challenged me with a vow of silence as He worked through me to minister to him!
This past June, my husband accepted an appointment with the UM church in a place of the Bishop’s choosing. It came after our having to refuse an “on paper better” appointment. In many ways we’ve come as missionaries to a small, “dying” congregation in hopes of revitalizing it for the kingdom. It’s been a tough transition. Two months after arriving here, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. Thus began an arduous, odyssey of faith that have brought many blessings into our lives as well as pain. On thing in particular… if we had gone anywhere else with our move, I would not be situated less than one mile from my cancer hospital/place of treatment. I take great comfort with the knowledge that long before I knew I had cancer, God knew; God prepared a beautiful place of healing for me in this hospital, in my lovely parsonage that sits in a community filled with retirees (my favorite people group). I couldn’t begin to see then, my now, but it is unfolding beautifully. Faithful obedience yields sacred harvest. I’m living proof.
peace~elaine
I have stories that will take more than a paragraph, so I will choose something easy for today’s answer…
I have plenty of chances for obedience in the area of saying sorry and asking for forgiveness from my husband when we have disagreements. It isn’t as hard to say sorry when I am 100% in the wrong, but it is quite a different story when my husband is also to blame, and I have to say sorry first…everything in me doesn’t want to humble myself and ask for my husband’s forgiveness, but many times I feel the Lord pressing me to be the first one to make amends. I also have to work on not saying sorry to my husband without adding words like, “but you did this to me…”. Often I feel as if God just wants me to confess and repent of my sin, and let Him take care of my husband. When I do as the Lord prompts me to there is a sense of joy and there is peace between my husband and myself.
love this encouragement for my marriage someday 🙂 thanks for sharing!
For most of the last 10 years I have been heavily involved in the young adult ministry (ages 18-30) at my church. It has been something that I loved dearly. The last couple of years it has only continued because of a team of us slightly older young adults have persevered with it through many changes at church. This past spring I was approached by the leadership team for the women’s Bible study at my church to be a part of the leadership for that ministry. I knew that if I said yes to that I was saying no to working with young adults anymore. God made it clear to me that my place was with the women’s Bible study, no matter what happened with young adults ministry, so I said yes. This fall that became harder to follow through on as a new pastor came on board with a passion for young adults and a desire to see something new begin. When I found out this was on the same night as the women’s Bible study, it was really hard to stick with my committment. But, over the last couple of months, I have found that women’s ministry is the area I really love. I always enjoyed working with young adults, but I have discovered that women’s ministry is something I love. I now know that I’m exactly where God wants me to be, doing what He wants me to do in regards to serving in the church.
As we are moving thru Oct into Nov our youngest who is 17 y/o started a Bible Study on Tues pm with a couple of his CrossCountry teammates. He has a heart of Jesus the study is called A call to die. Please pray for Stephen and his teammates to stay focused. The lil school they go to has went to State in Cross Country every yr since 05 This yr State falls on Nov 6 an important date in our life. Matthew, Stephen older brother died of his 3rd cancer at 12 1/2 yrs old on Nov 6. We want to give God all the Glory as this lil team goes… All to Jesus we know Matthew is celebrating his Lord and Savoir everyday… we miss him but not his illness We love you all!!
There was a time in my life when God called me to be obedient to trust in Him alone. I had struggled with this from a very early age. I felt he had failed me because of instances of abuse in my childhood and adolescence. I was raised in a christian home but lacked a personal relationship with Chirst until my early 20’s. I had believed Satan’s lies for many many years. Satan led me to believe I wasn’t worthy of any good thing Christ had for me. Also, that God had left me to suffer this life all on my own. I felt I would never find real love. Instead, I trusted a drug would take away my pain, or atleast numb the pain for a while so “everything” was tolerable. I couldn’t have been more wrong. God was with me even then. He had never left my side. All my efforts failed. But God could bring me through it! God called me to surrender that addiction and trust solely in Him… so that I could fully experience the healing power of his grace. Then comes joy! I have experienced JOY because I know God loves me unconditionally, He will never leave me (and never did), He can use all things for His glory! I have found JOY in the truth of God’s Word and JOY in my relationship with an ever faithful, most true soulmate. No one could be more of what I needed than God!
A little over 3 years ago, God called my husband and I to sell our home. The one we built and dreamed of our whole marriage and the one we had just finished raising our kids in before sending them to college. At the same time, God called me to quit my job at the church – the job I LOVED and wanted to do for the rest of my life. But we knew that we knew that we knew that God called us to do these things even though they made absolutely NO sense. And then, it felt like God left us. We went through a desert that seemed to have no end. We are finally seeing the end of the desert. There has been much testing and much joy. As hard as it has all been – I wouldn’t trade it. We have had opportunities for ministry that we wouldn’t have had if we had stayed – including my leading several Beth Moore bible studies. 🙂 God is faithful and I am thankful.
Two years ago November, I was working at an area high school and had become friends with a male teacher there. He made a terrible choice to sext a female high school student and thus was fired and his world came crashing down around him. I felt God calling me not to abandon him. His wife also forgave him and has not abandoned him. I led him to my pastor for counseling. They have since renewed their wedding vows and God brought a new baby girl into their lives..she was born premature at 2 lbs but is a true miracle and source of joy for them. He is enduring necessary civil consequences. But knows that Jesus loves him, and my husband and I chose to be obedient to love them as Christ would and not abandon them when ALL others have. Our walk and joy is deeper because of this step of faith. God also challenged me with a vow of silence as He worked through me to minister to him!
Right now is my time for trying to be obedient to God’s voice in as I feel like He’s leading me to make a appt with the counselor at our church to finally deal with the abuse I suffered as a child. It so wreaks havoc on my mind, heart and soul. I’m embarrassed at the thought of even having to call the secretary at church because then she’ll know I’m weak…as I sit here by myself I’m even embarrassed by the tears streaming down my face as I write this..But maybe if I take this step it will lead to me making better choices…could there really be joy on the other side? Love ya Siesta Mama…sorry if I’m not always so loveable…
Oh my goodness how can you not read all these comments and just ball…the sincerity of hearts and hearts for God! He is so faithful! I guess for me it was walking away from an abusive relationship I’d been in not realizing how much it was eating away at my soul, not knowing there was sweet freedom on the other side!
I love you.
I am currently out of my comfort zone teaching in our church’s women’s ministry. I’m not afraid of public speaking (I’m a teacher), and I’ve done children’s ministry for years. Women’s ministry, however, requires relationship building and networking, and I am very introverted. Not a group-joiner AT ALL. Plus, I’m single, and what in the world would I do with questions about marriage or children? God has graciously provided me with a class which has a facilitator who keeps track of the ladies in the group, and who really does all the networking so that I can just prepare and teach. The class has responded warmly, and I am hoping that God will use the experience to push me further in the study of the Word.
About 15 years ago my husband was diagnosed with a brain tumor which affected his personality and behavior. He lost his inhibitions and some of his ability to think rationally. About the same time I became aware that he was having an affair. Eventually I left him and moved away from everything familiar, going from a ranch at the end of the road to a large city. Without all the details, over time his cancer progressed until it was terminal. We had been separated for 8 years and I knew God was calling me to go back and take care of him until the end of his life. It was not an easy decision but I knew I had to obey. I never expected to find healing through that act of obedience but that is exactly what God gave me. I am so thankful that I chose to obey and found the genuine healing my heart had longed for all those years. My husband passed away about 6 months after I returned to care for him.
Lynn, I know that had to be a hard thing for you to do and I want to you to know that God knows and He sees and He understands…what you did took alot of Godly love.
May He bless you in an extra special way! in Christ
Laughing . . . I seem to be there now. I have felt the gentle nudging of the Spirit to begin writing a novel for years. The long and short of it is I have self-sabotaged for a long time. I have recently begun hearing the gentle whisper again telling that it’s time. Rather than the usual route of finding at least 100 other things to do, (last time I got a very stressful job) I went and bought “So Long Insecurity.” (Big step for me because it was that or Francine River’s newest novel- you won :o) After reading straight through the first half of the book, I enlisted all the women who are closest to me to start praying me through this thing. They have been awesome- some encouraging and some admonishing. I started the meaty work of the book this week and have been on cloud nine. I refuse to let fear of rejection and fear of failure paralyze me any longer! My cup runneth over!
Praying for you as you write.
Patti Hayes
The summer before my senior year in college, I was asked to babysit for a family in my local church. Now I really needed the money, but was not to excited about working my last “free” summer. I really wanted to be able to do my own thing and plan my wedding for the next year. Having a job was really going to limit my “me” time. I finally felt that if I refused this job, I was being disobedient. So I had to lay down my selfish plans and accept the plans I felt God had for me this particular summer. The two boys were older and didn’t really need a sitter, but a taxi. We spent the summer going swimming, the park, the library, etc. We spent the summer playing and it was a lot of fun! I really had the chance to get to know both of the boys really well. Once the fall came and it was time to go back to school, I was really sad and disappointed that the summer had gone by so quickly. I felt great joy at the end of the summer because I had done what God wanted me to do. Later that next spring, one of the boys unexpectedly died tragically. I was devastated. My parents drove two hours to my school to tell me the news in person. I will forever be grateful for that summer I had with those two precious brothers!
Only one??!! 🙂 O.K., the one that immediately came to mind was one time, much earlier in our marriage, my husband and I were looking at a beautiful, big, old, historic home in our town. We loved it and wanted to buy it, even though it would cost a little bit more than our budget would allow. We had my mom come take a look at the house–she liked it, but didn’t love it. We really loved the house and wanted to buy it–it was big and in the “best” part of town. We decided that we were going to put an offer on it the next day, so we prayed about it before we went to bed that night and left it at that. The next morning my husband looked at me and said, “Well? What do you think?” I had to honestly tell him that I didn’t sleep well that night and that I really felt like we weren’t supposed to buy that house. He let out a huge sigh of relief and said, “I am so glad you said that! I don’t think we should buy it either!” And we didn’t. We have always felt like God spared us from something bad that might have happened if we had bought that house, most likely financial-related since it was more than we had agreed to pay for a house.
Shortly after that, we drove by a house we had always admired (much smaller than the first) and saw that it was for sale by owner. We ended up buying that house for a lot less money than the first and were so happy there for several years until we outgrew it. God is good!
As a teenager, I felt the call to ministry. When it was time to start college, there was a particular Christian university that I really wanted to attend. My dad (although a Christian) would not allow it(various reasons). It was very difficult for me to submit to him… we always butted heads in the arena of what we considered to be “Biblical faith”… but I knew Ephesians 6:1 was certainly biblical, so submit I did. Even though it wasn’t what I really wanted, I pursued a degree in education… because that was something my dad approved of.
I was blessed to stay near my boyfriend (now husband of 8 years)who is a Student Pastor, so I am in ministry by default :-D. (I’m not sure that’s the end of what God has with my calling, but for now it’s where He has me and it’s wonderful). I was blessed to graduate without any school debt, which enabled me to marry the love of my life at a young age. And although I didn’t use my degree for long in the public arena, I am presently using it to home-school my daughter.
Most of all, I find joy in how He has orchestrated everything to allow me to mature in Him… and is still doing.
It is neat to see things from over a decade ago begin to come full circle.
Oh, this is a hard one for me. There were a few areas of obedience in my life that were clear but difficult that have not yet turned into joy. Still painful. I’m wrestling through them with God even today through your Breaking Free study. I’m praying He’ll turn these places from “death” to new life, even after so many years. I know He’s capable. “Help my unbelief.”
Thirty-two years ago my Mom told me she never wanted to speak to me again. Twenty-six years ago my sister and I parted. I was angry at them. I had two young children and my family was deserting me and them. After many emotions I finally forgave them and went on to raise my children and continued my life. Two months ago I was told my Mom was nearing the end of her life and was in the hospital. My defense wall immediately went up but I felt the nudge of the Holy Spirit and knew what I needed to do. I stood outside the hospital and said Jesus you need to be with me because I can’t do it and I went to my Mom and have been granted a gift I could not have imagined. My sister and I have also reconnected and have vowed never to be apart again. When God brings people together He does it in a big way! All praise and glory to Him!!
One of the most trying calls to obedience in my life has been teaching a Sunday School class of rebellious young girls with my husband. It is complicated on many levels, but learning to minister along side of your husband in any area of ministry is a challenge. You throw about 9 lost girls in there, and it can get really intense. Surprisingly after much prayer and letting go, God has really taught me to trust my husband. This was the last thing I thought He was going to do through the class. Imagine that! I have a new appreciation for my husbands ability to listen to the Holy Spirit as he prepares the lessons. I have also learned so much as I sit under his teaching. I have realized that we have very different gifts that completely compliment each others. Not to mention, the girls are learning more and more about the gospel and God’s love. Thank you Jesus!
While on a short-term missions trip, I was asked by the pastor to open a service by sharing my testimony. I immediately said no. I have a speech impediment and I do not do public speaking. The pastor asked me to at least pray about the request. As I prayed, it was crystal clear that the LORD was leading me to share. The hour before the service, I felt as if I was being led to my execution. I was so frightened. I told the LORD that even though I had an outline, it wasn’t enough; He was going to have to literally put Himself on me to speak. I was shaking as I stood to speak, but as soon as I uttered the first sentence, I felt this warm peace and confidence wash over me. My voice was strong and clear. I faltered not one time. I never looked at my outline. The translator never asked me to repeat myself. It turns out that God alone used my testimony of infertility to encourage a barren wife who was struggling in a culture where infertility is scorned. Amazing God. There is none like Him.
God sent me to Africa, by myself, for my first missions trip. I had to leave my children and my husband behind. I was horrified and doubtful about what He would accomplish through me and in me. 3 trips later to the same group of orphans, He has formed incredible bonds and friendships and has planted many seeds. I’m starting a charitable organization now and am once again scared, but the joy outweighs it all.
God called me to leave a denomination that I had been a part of my whole life. It is a false doctrinal church and was a lifestyle/culture/family/safety net/everything you can imagine that I left behind. But I knew I had to obey and where He has led me is bliss, Truth, freedom and His True Gospel and grace. Giving up all that I knew was sad and difficult, but I wouldn’t go back and do it any differently today. Thank You Jesus for delivering me!
We’ve been in the adoption process for 3 1/2 years and twelve weeks ago, we were asked to consider a girl for adoption. I was eagerly taking down notes as they described her, and then they mentioned her age “12”. Aaahhhhh……….out of “the plan”, but we began to pray. With every prayer we lifted, we felt less and less fear and more and more faith and love for our daughter Melissa Brianne. We walked in obedience for our adoption process and let me tell you, she’s a JOY to have in our life. She’s been home 9 1/2 weeks and each day we grow closer and closer. She’s even accepted Christ because of His overflowing love for her. It has made her question “What kind of God loves me so much as to do this for me?” AMAZING, RADICAL, RECKLESS LOVE!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you Jesus for “Brie”, and our other two girls “Katie” and “Sofie”.
Leading a GIRL SCOUT TROOP at my daughter’s school. I pretty mush stepped into the position after much prayer… at the time, there were 18 girls (a multi level troop of, Daisy, Brownie, and Junior- grades K-5). No one else wanted to step up and I really didn’t want the volunteer job either. I had been leading women’s Bible Study groups at my church for the past three years(mostly Beth Moore studies and First Place 4 Health) and felt my purpose was more important with my grown women, “church ladies”. Was I ever arrogant and wrong! God made it clear that was not where he wanted me to continue “leading” in this season of time. I am filled with an unexpected joy as I am in my third year as a Girl Scout Leader. My daughter, Jessie, is a Brownie and we have almost 40 girls that are faithful and committed to Girl Scouts! Each troop meeting I have the privilege to pour God’s love and character into these “young ladies”. As a GS leader, my mission is to help build courage, confidence, and character in these girls to make the world a better place. As a Christ Follower, I am salt and light and hopefully making an eternal difference in some way.
“On my Honor I will try,
to serve God
and my country,
to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout Law” (which, by the way, the Girl Scout Law, is comparable to the fruit of the Spirit, which I have shared with the girls.)
Teri
Corpus Christi, TX
About five years ago, I noticed that one of the Children’s Choir directors at my church was no longer in that ministry. I felt a tugging at my heart then, that I should fill in the gap in that area. I had never led anything in my life. I had only been an assistant to others. Whenever I saw the announcement in the church bulletin that a new Choir Director was needed, I kept getting that nagging feeling that I should be volunteering. Finally, I talked to the Church Music Director and began leading the Children that next Fall. That first year was quite rough for me because I didn’t completely know what I was doing, I just knew that these parents had entrusted me with trying to teach their children how to sing. The next year, I went to a Church-sponsored workshop and learned a few techniques. I was very happy because that meant I didn’t have to “fly by the seat of my pants.” Now, I can’t imagine doing anything else at church. I love the kids and I can tell they love me. The Music Director at my church told me recently that he’s certain I found my calling when I talked to him. I can honestly say, that everything I do and have done with these kids has been because of God. There’s no way I could have done anything like this on my own.
I have been a big sister for about 4 years now. It has NOT been what I anticipated, expected and prayed about. It’s been H-A-R-D! I thought we’d have tea parties and read books and build-a -bear. Instead I drive into a scary housing project; have learned to WAIT, listen, and be supportive after hearing about fights to protect parents from abuse; saving 1/2 of a meal to take home because a mom of this little girl is still hungry, and buy posterboard for a school project becuase a dad refuses to. I have had to make myself go visit that girl (I’m ashamed to admit that), or to call her, or to hang out with her even when she won’t talk or isn’t managing her anger. HOWEVER, I’m so glad I hung in and stuck it out. God is SO good. For every time I’ve wanted to quit or asked, “is this really doing any good?” I have now seen a blessing 10-fold. She is talking more, laughing more, smiling, sharing about school…I would have missed it all had I given up. YEAH GOD!
He whispers in in our ear…you can do it, keep going. He must be so pleased with you!
xoxo rene
Obedience….that’s a toughy….it happens to be in my marriage. Loving unconditionally an unsaved husband who seems to delight in “picking” on me. Especially my christianity or anything having to do God. I have been reminded of Jesus’ sacrifice so often and His unconditional love for me, how can I be any different. I keep reminding Him He was God, I am not. (Like He doesn’t know!! :)) Whenever I think I can’t take anymore the Holy Spirit reminds me what Jesus did for me and would have if I had been the only one. So I keep praying for salvation and that unconditional love for my husband. That I will love my husband with that unconditional love God has called me to love him with. I do love my husband, but “I” have needs, or do I?? I keep forgetting God WILL meet all my needs and usually does. If He doesn’t, I soon know the reason why….He had something else in mind. I know my flesh is being crucified and it has caused me to look at so many situations differently. Praise God for the work He has done and is doing…..I know He will continue to work in me until His work has been perfected.
Years ago God asked me to go to a woman’s Bible Study at the new church we were attending. I had never been to a study and thought this was not for me (I had recently lost my mother and brother to cancer and was in the midst of a deep depression). While the minister was preaching, I heard God’s voice in my head loud and clear. I tried to ignore it, but I went that first day and haven’t looked back. And just to let you know, it was YOU up there on the video, I was crying and truly gave my life to Christ at that point!
After Jon and I had been married for about two years, I was challenged to learn how to apologize without dramatics whenever we had a fight and I was in the wrong. This may not make much sense, but I’ll try to explain. We had this little pattern: we would have an argument that would be going nowhere, I would say, “I’m sorry, it’s just…” and weep and wail and make him feel really sorry for me, then he would apologize, and then the fight would be over. You see, I was manipulating. I was only apologizing in a way that I knew would make him also apologize. I felt the Lord leading me, and a good friend prodding me, to pay attention and truly apologize the next time I was in the wrong. I’ll never forget it. I said, “I’m really sorry.” Then I shut up. He hardly knew what to do. I practically had to bite my lips to keep them shut, but I didn’t make an excuse or shed a single tear. The joy that has come to our marriage from that one act of obedience is truly astonishing. Imagine what God does with much much bigger acts of obedience!
One of the hardest acts of obedience was to go to a new church with my husband. It is a huge mega church with loud music and intense teaching. I missed the little family churches that I grew up in but were drifting farther and farther from God’s word. I cried so long and grieved the close “everybody knows me” things for the first year. God has so blessed our family through these years of obedience.
There were Sundays I was overwhelmed by large amount of people but now I don’t think I can worship in any other way. Now I only see Jesus high and lifted up on his throne when I worship with arms held high. The Beth M Bible study were we drew the Revelation’s throne room in various colors is something I think about every Lord’s day as I worship King Jesus. All glory, honor and praise to Jesus Christ alone!!
Beth, I love this question because I am living in the midst of it right now! A year and a half ago, my husband came to me with the possibility of a job offer in another state– 3 hours away from our hometown and our family and friends. It was a possibility he was really excited about and I was, well, not.
Two weeks after having our third daughter, my husband was offered the job and we began discussing what we should do. We could not come to an agreement and were at a standstill. And it wasn’t a peaceful one! There had been arguments, tears, harsh words, and much frustration on both sides. In my postpartum haze, I begged God for relief from the stressful situation we had put ourselves in.
His answer to me was clear: this was where that promise in my vows to “obey” my husband came in to play. I searched Scripture and knew He was asking me to submit. So I sucked it up and told my husband that I would honor the decision he made as the head of our family. This was not easy for me to do in many respects! Since then, we have had our house on the market for 8 months, endured the crazy schedule of him working 3 hours away during the week and coming home on weekends, and struggled to figure out the next step.
I am still waiting on the joy, but I know it is coming. There have been many big and small discoveries along the way, things I have learned about myself and my God, things my husband and I have learned about each other, and the blessing of many opportunities to trust the only One who knows what is going on anyway!
I have to say that when I was “living in sin” with my boyfriend, I felt distant from God. I grew up in the church and knew what the Bible said, yet I chose to fight and do it my way. We still attended church every Sunday.Well finally after 1 year 1/2 of guilt and shame we got married. I have to say I felt instant peace. 3 years later.. We have grown so much in love with Jesus.
“Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus! then to trust and obey” !!
Can I just shout out.. I LOVED MY PUMPKIN SPICE COFFEE THIS MORNING!
Shannon
Kissimmee, Florida
God asked me to start Homeschooling my three kids ages 6, 5 and 2. I was dead set against it (as I thought Homeschoolers were weird despite the fact I didn’t know any) and I fought against this all summer. It was so evident He was leading us to this in an almost comical way. Anyhow – to make a long story short I finally submitted and dove right in. He led us to curriculum that was PERFECT for our family. Homeschooling has turned out to be an incredible joy beyond belief and I find myself praising God for not giving me my own way and giving in to my temper tantrums and resistance! God’s way is the best way even when we can’t see it!!!
Homeschool! After many prayer I gave up my part time job to homeschool my baby girl. The first day was kind of hard for the both of us and I was wondering if I had made the right decision. The next day my husband (he works out of town in construction)called me and said, “You are not going to believe this!!” His boss just called and told him they were sitting around the office and felt like they needed to do something something for him and so they decided to give him a raise. The raise made up for my loss of income. This has never happened to Tony before and has not happened again. But boy was that a BLESSING. Love you and your family to pieces!!
Love you to seista mama glad that you are bearing fruit from the study. Praying for you and Melissa you go girls.
I feel about God called me to when my life was headed in the totally wrong direction and it was so hard for me to walk away from that pit of mud and muck that I cried myself to sleep at night because I did not know what to do and sometimes it was hard to even go get grocries but thank you to my Wonderful God for His calling me to be His own,
Thank you seista mama this was a hard one for me.
Have a good evening
Carol
I have been involved in Bible Study Fellowship for 6 years and have been teaching in the children’s program for 3 years. This year, I just didn’t want to do it. A wise friend told me that if God wasn’t leading me to do something else then I should keep doing what I was doing. I teach the 1st and 2nd graders and we’re doing Isaiah this year….not an easy book to teach to little kids! In my class I have the daughter of a very good friend. I’ve known this child since she was just a toddler and now she’s in 2nd grade. After her 3rd night in class, her mom told me that on the way home she accepted Christ as her savior! What a blessing God has allowed me to see…I’m so glad to be serving exactly where I am right now!
This happened to me in the last 3 weeks. I saw an announcement in our church bulletin that they needed a Sunday School teacher for 3rd graders every other Sunday. I have avoided being a S.S. teacher for several years as I had done it for so many years. But this time God spoke to me to do it and I did. What joy I had teaching the 3rd graders this past Sunday.
For me, it was leading the women’s bible study group, God’s G.A.L.S. He’d been putting Esther on my heart for a long time. It was painful to be obidient because the beloved leader left the church under controversial circumstances. However we are in our second year now, we lost one leader to another church, but it is so wonderful to share His word with my sister’s in Christ. We just started Daniel last week. He’s brought together women younger and older from our church and the community. It was also hard for me because I am ‘steadiness/conscientious’ (per the DiSC profile I just completed), so taking a leadership role does not come easily for me. Christ has so faithful!! I love all of your testimonies. I am honored to part of this blog’s sisterhood!
The most recent time just happened this past Friday night. I’m not going to say much about it…I’m still rather raw from it, but see the blessings already that have come from it! So thankful for a husband that loves me and is willing to protect his special gift (that’s what he calls me).
During a particularly trying time in our marriage, at a point where I really felt like I needed to make my husband aware of what he needed to change, and when it was looking like I was going to have to make some “moves” to get some things done, the Lord used Priscilla’s study “He Speaks to Me” to speak to me. His Words? “Be still and be quiet.” (!!!) I am here to tell you that that is the most difficult thing I have ever done. However, because He was so very CRYSTAL CLEAR in His instructions, I dared not disobey, and I did EXACTLY as I was told with a GREAT amount of effort. And do you know, the Lord Himself told my husband the things he needed to know, He moved him in the ways He wanted to move him, He changed my perspective in the process, and in all of it, our marriage was not damaged by constant nagging. More than that, it was strengthened, and we came through the time better friends than we had been to begin with. It is my motto now…. Be still, and be quiet. 😉
A year and a half ago God called me to step away from a Mom’s Ministry in my church that I had run for 8 years as well as many other areas of ministry and take a year for renewal and refreshment. I was completely burned out and needed a time of refreshment. It was so scary for me to step away from so much and to say “No” to so many good things. It was also scary because there weren’t a lot of people in leadership that were very supportive of my decision as it left a huge hole. However during that year God was so faithful to not only heal my physical body but also to renew me mentally, emotionally and spiritually. He showed up every single day and revealed himself to me in so many unexpected ways! It was the scariest and yet the best decision I have ever made.
This one is hard for me, because we’ve not told many people. We lost our home earlier this year. After we both lost our jobs, we got behind on everything – to the point we had no food – and we could not get caught up, no matter how hard we tried. (I’m sure some will wonder if we tithe – and we do.) We prayed and prayed for God to save our house, but one day, in the midst of our prayers, He said we had to let it go. So we did. It was so hard. We moved out of our home, without really knowing where we were going or where we would end up. But the Lord took care of us – is still taking care of us – step by step. We now rent a beautiful home, live closer to our children, and our lives seem to be richer and fuller than they were before. All by the grace of God.
I have many stories I could tell of obedience to God, but I think the one I have on the forefront of my mind right now is a story of obedience that is still being written. My husband is a pastor, I am a preschool teacher and have a 10 month old son. After 4 years of schooling, and 5 years of teaching- it is clear to me that I no longer have the drive or desire to teach. I have been fretting for a long time (because a pattern of worry is so easy a comfortable, isn’t it?) about what to do next and how can I ever find my “calling”? I have looked over college courses, explored career changes, even looked into going into some sort of ministry, but have yet to find ANYTHING that sticks out to me. Late one night deep into my worry, I was startled and woken with one very clear thought- “Stop worrying about what you will be and what you are going to do- let Me mold you into who I want you to become.” I had the very urgent feeling to stop completely- to do nothing. It has been 2 months now of my period of waiting in the Lord, and I do know that this is exactly where He wants me…. but I still have no answers- so this story is still incomplete!
(Thanks for listening to a first time commenter 🙂 )
My husband and I were divorced and I thought there was absolutely no possibility of ever reconciling. My husband had not wanted the divorce, but I gave up and left and felt justified in my choice. One night, God spoke to my heart and told me that if I would obey Him by reconciling with my husband, He would heal our relationship and bless us. I obeyed Him and remarried my husband. We have been remarried for ten years now and have had two beautiful children since committing our marriage to God.
Hello Beth,
Moving to Texas a year ago to a small town, found a local church that is very small. This past Summer was approaching and my family has always been involved helping with VBS from our old church and I had asked about VBS for this church and they have only done 1 day and had about 5 kids total. Not knowing, but the pastor approached me and asked if I would take charge and put on a VBS for the church, scared to death I said yes. I started to panic on the planning details of it all. I had to ask God to hold my hand through this. I took this opportunity for an outreach to the community kids. There are only 5 kids total in my church and we had a total of 27 kids come to our church for VBS. One girl was driving by our church on the first day with Grandma and saw our VBS sign and wanted to come. I enjoyed seeing the smiles and laughter each child had everyday. God pushed me out of my comfort zone and glory was brought to our Father.
Karen in Texas
Talk to me about a time in your own life when God called you to an area of obedience that was particularly difficult but ultimately (and surprisingly) led to joy.
I can’t think of just one, but I can say that I very much believe, ” Your word is a lamp unto my feet and light unto my path”, because I’ve lived it. Obeying God before my own family, its SO hard to do at times, but God always blesses me for it. I attend church alone, and have since I was 17, and I have gone regardless of the fit my family had. What God thinks of me and what I do in my life matters more, its SO hard to take the negative comments sometimes, but I want Jesus to be Lord over my life, not the world. As He said on the cross, ” They know not what they do.”…I have learned we obey by believing that’s true, in a very unbelieving world. And also I think my obedience has given me every person in my life, and every oppurtunity…
2 years ago, I could feel God calling me to homeschool my children. I was absolutely terrified, but I was certain that it was the Lord asking me to take on this task. I cried when I filled out the paperwork to un-enroll our daughter from her Christian private school where she just completed half-day kindergarten. I honestly had no idea how in the world I would have the time, patience or drive to teach my children EVERYTHING they needed to learn. I was already a wife, mother, worship leader, and insurance agency owner. Where in the world would I find the time? We are now in the middle of our second year of homeschool and the joy we have experienced is indescribable. God is so sweet to have prompted my husband and I to this decision. We are able to spend so much time together. Homeschooling has been exceedingly more amazing than I every could have imagined. Leave it to God to give us something we never even knew we wanted.
“Fight for your marriage!” were the words ringing through my head as we went through a particularly hard year or more.. There were so many times we both wanted (and were looking for) some sort of “out.” Only – God had different plans for us. We have been really standing on His promises and seeking Him more and more. It’s amazing how God draws those who are faithful to him under His wings! He is fixing broken areas in both of our lives, causing us to fall in love with each other even more! God is so good!