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.
When my husband and I were in the wedding planning stages, I had asked a ‘friend’ to be in my wedding. I knew I shouldn’ve asked her but I did and she accepted. Over the following months, the Lord was pressing on my heart that I needed to cut the ties with this ‘friend’. I didn’t want to and was a little nervous about the ramifications (socially). Well, I had found out about some decisions she had made that were not something I was proud of and really kind of embarrassed that I knew her. So I had to end the friendship. There was a verse that someone shared with me that said it all (sadly, I don’t remember the verse) That was over 6 years ago. The Lord has proved to be faithful as always. I didn’t face any serious social ramifications and those that I did face didn’t bother me (just Satan trying to convince me otherwise).
Wow! So many times, but I had to move to Camp Grizzly, a Boy Scout Camp, for 8 weeks this summer, which meant giving up internet, cell phone service, TV, you know basic 21st century (where I am very happy to live) for that time. Getting away turned out to be very refreshing and gave me a much better perspective on life and what was really important! I went through withdrawals for the first couple of weeks, though. Good thing I had six more weeks to enjoy it after that!!!!
Oh, by the way, 15 years ago today, I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior! Yay!
18 years – same day – yeah
Awesome, same day!
Praise God!
Praise God! So awesome!
God has called me to lead the Single Adults Ministry at my church four years ago. The hard part is getting singles who are more concerned about dating then God’s Word. How can I get them excited and wanting to participate. Anyway I will teach what God gives me and keep going.
I will not despies small beginnings.
In 2007 God first called me to go to South Africa on a mission trip. It was hard because I was leave behind a 3 and 1 year old, some of my family was not supportive, and then I got a stomach bug the day before we left. However, it was such a blessing and I’ve since gone back 2 more times–and now, this year, God has called my husband and me to adopt an African daughter. Obedience isn’t always easy, but it sure has been a great testimony to God’s glory in more ways than I can write in one paragraph. 🙂
Hey Beth,
My story is that my best friend from school has previously never had any openness with God, and has always acted like it doesn’t matter. But, in about June, while we were working on a group project together, I started a conversation, and she was extremely open to everything I said! I was so filled with joy! She is clearly still learning, but she had a major breakthrough!
Thank the Lord!
Hannah-12 yrs.
I want to play! I’m just having such a hard time finding something that was a hard obedience that ultimately led to joy that isn’t too scary to share in this forum. So while I continue to contemplate, can I share what my 9-yr-old son said the other night? I was doing my Breaking Free study near him, and decided to read each Scripture verse out loud as I came to them so he could be hearing God’s Word, too. After a while he said, “Mom, when you talk about Beth Moore, it seems like she’s your personal friend, cause you’re like, ‘Bethie…’.” 🙂 Love you, Bethie! 🙂
International adoption! China! Hubby and I in our mid-forties with 3 bio kids. Leaving in a month to pick up our 8 year old. Huge faith leap!!!
We moved to Portland, Oregon, from Maryland for my husband’s job. All of our family and friends live on the east coast, so we were on our own. I felt the Lord call me to immediately volunteer because there had been a 40-year flood in Portland. I obeyed and ended up helping Sheila clean up her ruined home. When she realized how I had obeyed God, she “adopted” me as her own, and she ended up being a mother to me and a grandmother to our son when he was born. Trust and obey!
I want to preface that with my story, I do not mean to offend anyone. I know there are women of many denominations here, all seeking a deeper relationship with Christ. But this is my story. My journey from a place of dark despair towards the open arms of a bright, colorful, yummy life in Jesus Christ.
At the end of 2009, God led my family, and me rather abruptly out of the Mormon Church. After 14 years of trying to be the “best little girl in the world”, I was less “well” than I was in 1996 when, as a single mom I converted with my then 6-month-old son.
This year, this new life for us, my oldest son now 15, my new husband and our four-year old boy, has been so fraught with turmoil, it may as well be hilarious.
Financially, we have been nearly ruined. Where I had been taught I should be self – sustaining. I am having to rely on the Lord completely, for every single thing; every dime, everyday. After a lifelong journey through depression, the attacks have only intensified. Where I was taught to plan and execute my own destiny hoping only after, that God would bestow his blessing on my plans. I am now being told to wait quietly while he heals me, for His plan and His purpose. In bizarre contrast to the depression, I am not a waiter. I am a doer, mover, worrier, planner, solver, controller and general wiggler. This is my call to faith and to obedience. Is there Joy? Not often, I mean not often easily. But it is always there to be found. Now I believe there is hope.
So, I would like to say thank you for three very distinct things. First, thank you for allowing your studies to remain on you-tube. I have had some VERY dark dangerous days where Jesus was my” here and now” salvation through those videos. Second, thank you for teaching me to pray my index cards. I had zero actual “tools” in warfare. Finally, in the spirit with which it is intended, I hope. Thank you for showing me there will be a place for even my kind of crazy in this Body of Christ.
My prayers are with you.
A couple of years ago God decided it was time for our family to change churches. I really did not want to. I am not big on change and there were so many in the church that I loved even though there were some that had hurt our family. I told my husband that we would try out a few new churches and possibly come back to this one. Well we found a great church and have never looked back. We couldn’t be happier at our new church and don’t even think about going to our old one anymore. Do we miss some of the people…yes, but we have an amazing new church family that we love too!
Last week I felt like God was asking me to give up blog reading for several days. And it was hard. Which was telling me that I was embarrassingly, but truly addicted. Yuck. But as I walked in obedience in this small(but big) area, I felt like my mind was less cluttered. And my heart was quieter and more tender towards Jesus.
isnt it something how so many entries on here have to do with relationships. and addictions of some sort or another. isnt that something? and how jesus loves us, through them, and lets us be the vulnerable yet bold creatures we are sometimes, and still just loves us through each new day. i mess up everyday ,even on here i mess up, but jesus lets me live another day and come back and say so. thanks to all who’ve shared. and thanks for being on here tonight with me. goodnight.
9 years ago, the Lord called me to Dallas Seminary. At the time I lived in Saginaw, MI. I didn’t know anyone in Dallas. I had never visited the school. I just knew the Lord wanted me to go. I had a good life in Saginaw-good job, good friends, good church, good home, precious dog, etc. But it was clear as the Lord removed those things one by one that He wanted me to make this huge leap of faith! While I didn’t end up finishing school due to health and money issues, I did meet what will be lifelong friends and grew by leaps and bounds in my relationship to the Lord. Even though things did not turn out like I thought they would, the Lord has a plan and His timing is perfect. And I’ll never regret saying “I’ll go, Lord”. All praise to Him! 🙂
Well, when I met my husband we knew very quickly that marriage was in our future. We both had been in other relationships but we made a decision very early on that we would not kiss until our wedding day! You talk about difficult! We knew that kissing easily led to other tempations and we wanted our relationship to be right before the Lord. So, at our wedding ceremony in 1999 we shared our very first kiss in front of all of our family, friends and of course, our Lord. We have been very blessed by our decision and have something very special to pass on to our 3 little girls!
One of my closest friends had betrayed my trust in a very painful way. As I was crying out to God, in the midst of deep grief and pain, God took me to what I call “forgiveness school.” All of my own shortcomings–spanning my entire life–flashed through my mind. I realized that after all of the things God had forgiven me, I had absolutely no right to EVER withhold forgiveness from anyone. I was filled with joy at the reminder of the magnitude of God’s grace. When I intentionally forgave my friend, the pain of the betrayal began to fade away. The relationship with my friend was not mended instantly, but all barriers for reconciliation on my part were immediately gone. Memories of “forgiveness school” help me focus on releasing hurts in order to guard my joy!
When I was 22 I was dating and unbeliever for 3 years which the word of God clearly shows is not His way! I was terribly convicted by the Holy Spirit that this was not what God had for me. So despite my feelings of losing friends, being lonely and losing the person that I was “in love” with i listened and obeyed the Holy Spirits pull on my heart and broke up with him. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done since of course he didn’t understand. But it was also hard to take a step of faith and believe God but I did. I’m still waiting for that right one that God has for me, but I will not give up hope because God never failed me through those lonely times and because of my obedience in that one step I can now take steps of obedience in other things. I was afraid of being alone after I broke up with that guy but God truly blesses you once you obey!
Right now I am wanting to be obedient. My husband who is a non-believer moved out almost two weeks ago. My marriage was and has been far from perfect but this was still a shock of enormous magnitude when he announced he was leaving. I had recently begun to pray for God to give me a heart for my marriage and to want to be a better wife instead of just wishing for my marriage to be better.
I am seeking wisdom and strength as I take it day by day and praying to walk the right path and just praying for the courage to show kindness and patience and love and not let the bitterness of rejection take hold.
I know my God is so big and there is nothing He can’t do, but for me to be obedient and at peace of whatever His will may be for me and my two daughters. God is so faithful and I know joy will come in the morning!
I love reading through all of these posts. Truly a blessing.
michelle in VT
Last year I felt like a door of opportunity opened for me to teach at the Christian School my kids were attending (same school as your niece Beth!). After months of interviews/teaching observations, the job was given to the principal’s wife. Although I was encouraged by the principal to apply and go through the process, the result ended in his wife taking the position. I could have turned bitter, jealous and angry, instead I obeyed God by accepting the results and God’s will and this year I am now “job sharing” with her and enJOYing it so much!! God’s timing is perfect!
About eight years ago, my world as I had known it came crashing down. Although I knew in my gut that something wasn’t right, my husband kept saying he was fine — I was just imagining things. Then one day I was listening to him as he began to confess the lies and hidden sins that would cause him to lose his job and our home. It was unthinkable that I was hearing these things from my beloved husband of 30 years, father of our four children and one of the most godly men I have ever known. For a few moments everything moved in slow motion and I heard nothing but a dull roar. Then I heard these words coming from my mouth, “I don’t know what the next few months or years holds for us. There may be times ahead where I am so mad at you I don’t want to be in the same room with you, I may cry, I may scream. But I promise you this — I will be here with you at the very end. I forgive you.” People have asked me how I could so quickly forgive him. I just know that God has told us to forgive. It is not my right choose if I forgive or not. In obedience, I forgave him. I knew I had to. Yes, there were times during the next few months that I was mad and cried and probably even screamed a time or two, but those times gradually diminished as God renewed our lives and our love for one another. Recently, we celebrated the dedication of our ninth grandchild (all of them 7 years and younger!). Four generations of family from both our side and our son-in-law’s family gathered to witness and rejoice in this sacred occasion. Only minutes after pictures were posted on Facebook, I received a precious message from a dear friend who had walked by my side during those turbulent months. She said, “I am weeping tears of rejoicing as I look at these wonderful pictures of so many gathered together. Do you realize all of this is possible because you chose to walk in forgiveness?” I re-read her sweet note and realized I hadn’t thought about all of that in many, many months. But I realized that because I was obedient in forgiving, God had restored what Satan had tried to steal. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness!!
8 years ago, when God called me to be a missionary. I was a single 36 year old girl, with a good job, living 2 miles from all of my family. God called me to an Indian reservation in South Dakota. 800 miles from my family, with no job. I quickly fell in love with the people there. 5 years later, God led me to a single pastor here in South Dakota. We married, (when I was 41) and when I was 43, I gave birth to our precious daughter. Her name is Della. We named her after one of the Native American ladies I ministered to on the reservation. Man, what if I had not been obedient??? God has blessed me beyond my wildest dreams!!!!!!! I am still a missionary, but able to serve along side my husband, and with my daughter. Praise the Lord!!
I was obedient to God when He had me go to a church I did not want to go to but I discovered that the women there had never done any type of Bible study at all, just what they got on Sunday morning from the pastor. I ended up leading the women in Jesus, The One and Only and they loved it so much that we did Breaking Free next and the women in that church came alive!! The pastor was amazed at how they were coming alive in their spiritual walk so he sat down and watched some of your teaching videos himself to see what all the change was about! I ended up moving on but the women kept doing your studies. Turned out that God of ours knew exactly what He was doing, imagine that!! I was amazingly blessed from the whole experience!
October, 2008 my husband left me – words cannot express my devastation. My 3 young children were devastated. I could never describe the pain that I was in. We did not speak, except as needed about the children. The next 6 very dark, depressing, sad, mostly hopeless months were spent turning inward and asking God what I needed to change? What did I need to learn? What did I need to do to be a better person, wife, mother? I learned, felt, knew what it meant to put it all in God’s hands – I would be OK – as long as God showed me the way. My prayer: “God, please show me (and my husband) the way. I pray that we both have the desire, patience, perseverance, and strength to do your will.” I had NO idea what the end result would be, except that God loved me and had a beautiful plan for me. Two years later, my husband and I are very happily back together. We have a marriage that we never would have had, had we not lived our JOURNEY…of pain, perseverance, strength. Besides the marriage that I had always wanted, God used this unspeakably painful journey to bring me closer to HIM – I have no doubt!
Our baby girl, Faith Marie, was called home to be with Jesus on September 26, 2010. We found out during our 20 week ultrasound that she had multiple defects and, without the Lord Himself healing her, she would die. We lived out our pregnancy, believing Him to be all He is and had a perfect day with our baby girl. Our story and Faith Marie’s legacy of all the Lord has done for us and how good He has been throughout this journey is on ourstoryoffaith.blogspot.com. We have been blessed beyond measure!
Oh, LaTisha. Know that we pray for the Lord’s great comfort to you in this time of loss and grieving. He loves you so!
LORD bless you!!! May HE strengthen you in your Spirit and soul, heart and mind!
May God continue to shower your family with blessings. Jackson is quite the little man! Your journey was/is filled with faith and I thank you for sharing it with us.
For way too long the relationship between my husband and our oldest son (he’s 31) has been nearly non-existent. The condensed version is that father hasn’t forgiven son for following the school and career path father felt son should follow. His feelings are hurt and he feels rejected and even though I know he would like a relationship, refuses with everything he can muster to make the first move. Pride! For about two years I kept a list of all the things I felt my husband had done to promote this distance with the intention of confronting him with it and expecting it would cause him to change his ways. I even prayed for the opportunity to share my list – did I mention that I tried every which way to manipulate circumstances? Eventually God convinced me to stop carrying that list around with me and more than that, He told me to get rid of it! How could I do that – I wouldn’t remember everything on it!! I didn’t want to, but I obeyed. Part of the weight was lifted, but it wasn’t until I told Him to remind me that I really do trust Him, that I know He hasn’t forgotten about this and will deal with it that I shredded the list. I don’t know what He’s up to – but I know that He knows. And that’s enough. A huge weight has been lifted. The situation hasn’t improved but I no longer bear the responsibility to fix it and am actively trusting the One who does.
I am being called to wait. My husband and I are separated and have been for over a year. Divorce has never been spoken of and when it enters my mind my God tells me to wait. I know that the things I sow in tears I will reap with shouts of joy. God will bless my obedience one day if I stay in His will.
This past year has been filled with difficulty and pain. A year ago this week, my mom was diagnosed with stage iv breast cancer. I had just arrived in Spain to start dissertation research. The two months I was there was torture, but God drew me to Himself every day to get me through. I came home a month early to take care of my mom, but God sent me back to the other side of the country (I live in the Southwest, my parents on the East coast) to go back to work. I went, feeling He had opened the doors so I should take them. I was miserable not being able to take care of my mom, but within two months he brought the man who is now my fiance into my life. I wasn’t looking for a husband, but God brought him at just the right time. Life is still very hard, but God is sustaining me daily.
My delightful adopted son has ADHD and they told me when he was in 1st grade that he would have to be held back… and I was devastated. They told me he would never read on level, never be on par with his age group and were disruptive and I was crushed. And God asked me not to give up but preserve. And I went against common advice and began the work- And I looked for tutors, I read books, I called people and sobbed after every call. And one woman heard my sobs and recommended a teacher to me who was willing to tutor and be a partner with me. When I met her she took my hands and prayed – what a gift she was Christian. And we worked with him each year and fro 5 years. And it was hard – it meant advocating for him at school, my husband spending long hours of homework, teaching him bible study stories to encourage him, even singing praise songs at night on the phone when I was on business trips to encourage him, developing summer programs to mimic school, finding books techniques interest to help him and reading them myself. And each am and pm praying over it all and asking God for guidance. Teaching him at every point that God loved him and was in his corner – in spite of the grades. Thanking God for every good teacher who worked with us. And I worked through all the tears and frustrations on both sides, every single day. and now he’s in 7th grade and we were shocked to realize this year that he excelled in sol , was placed in an advance reader class in school and that he just loves to read (I now joyfully read with him) and best of all he prays so sweetly and deeply- his faith so strong it’s awesome. It was and still is so hard but the joy of what God and my son are doing makes it worth the while. .
By far the most difficult season of obedience for me came 4 1/2 years ago. My husband had spent the previous year in Iraq and while there, God called him to full time ministry (just a mere 150 miles from where Abraham was called….how cool is that?). Anyway, he immediately surrendered and our journey into ministry began. We’d spent several years active in church leadership but full time ministry is unbelievably different–and very difficult. However, to see people come to Christ or watch that moment when someone finally has victory are some of the most joyful and amazing times.
it happened this year. in july I was asked to be a teacher for a woman’s retreat at my church. while I was at youth camp with the students God told me that I say “here I am Lord, send me..oh but not there God. You’ve called me to lead students and lead people into Your throne-room through leading worship, but not teaching! not me.” He made me say yes to the retreat and it was phenomenal!! even the things I was self-conscious about after my teaching, God had people specifically point out those things to say how God spoke to them. He is so faithful and does not treat us as our sins deserve.
God told me to leave a job and go home, no backup plan; just trust Him, disobeyed for six months and reaped huge consequences. Gave in to His will and turns out I resigned one job, came home and gained another and also served my mom while she recouperated from a herniated disc in her back. God is faithful and is to be trusted regardless of what He asks of us. Joy and bliss will follow along with blessings, but disobedience will reap a whipping that only God could render and it is never a good thing, but lesson’s learned by golly….
God took our family to ecuador to serve in an orphanage several years ago. One of the day trip ministries required going to the local dump to feed the people who lived there. As we got off the bus, our children and all the other children were given bags of animal cookies to share with the children and soccer balls to kick around with them. As I got off the bus hundred of people more moving toward us and the realization hit me that they were coming from card board boxes and make shift huts from broken pieces of wood. They were so dirty. They had no water. Many of them had not washed their faces or brushed their teeth in months. As they lined up to get hot soup and bread, I stood in shock at the condition of these beautiful people. I was almost paralyzed with saddness. I must have looked a mess. At that moment I began to pray. Oh Lord, why am I here? What can’t i move? Im supposed to be loving these people.
do to help these people
That was the moment that God spoke to me. There was a pretty young Mother with three children. She was holding 2 and was was clinging to her leg. “Hold her little baby so she can get her soup can filled.” He told me, so I put my best smile on and reached out for the precious baby girl in pink flannel footie pajamas. The sweet woman handed her over to me happily, and as I sat her on my hip she made a crinkly noise. I began to pat her and as I did I realized that her pink zip up jammies were stuffed with animal cookies. I began to laugh and show her off, as God spoke to me again. “I’m right here with them.” He said. Now take the joy I have given you, and share it with them.
Six years ago, we lost everything, our 50 year old business, our home, our family, everything. Our eldest daughter married a terrible drug-using man. She is MMH with a seizure disorder but was over 21. We had to let her go to the system because we did not have the resources, insurance, to help her. We had to move 1200 miles from our family and start over. We had to leave our teen daughter in Ga. because the hope scholarship would allow her to go to college. We moved our teen son to Iowa to go to his JR and SR year in HS. We have a mentally ill maternal mother who needs our help but yet God has taken us out of the ability to help any of this family. I am at a loss and feel so lost. We have two grandchildren by our MMH daughter that had to go to the system too and we wanted to help them. I pray every day that God will intercede and help us yet everyday I wake up to the same problems, please pray for us. I was a good Mom. My heart is breaking and I feel so lost. I love our God but why does He not help me. Either intercede and fix the problem or give us peace. I hope you don’t think ill of me for venting. I really need somebody to help me. I do not know what to do. Our God is an awesome God.
Carla, I don’t have any answers, but I will pray for you and your family, and yes, our God is an awesome God.
Much love,
Patti Hayes
Carla, I will pray for you too.
Hi Beth.
It was my 45th birthday on Tuesday, Oct 19.
I’ve had such a rollercoaster ride in the over 20 years since I found God. Some of my highs – I went on the mission field to 3 different countries over 7 years; I married my college sweetheart and we now have 2 beautiful children; I have been so blessed to have taken your studies in the last 2 years and they have been an anchor to my soul that has at many times felt swept out to sea in the last few years. My lows – my husband succumbed to temptation at work and though he has cut off a very destructive relationship, it has been a battle to recover; my teenager was being deceitful about her relationship with a boy but was called by her own conscience to talk to me about it.
Today, though, I feel that with my God, I can scale this mountain. I see that God will use this to deepen our bond as a family. He will use something meant for evil to become good because I am learning from you that He loves ME!
Thank you for your ministry to us. I will keep praying for you.
I was continuing my education and perusing a certificate that would further my career as a teacher. I loved every minute of that intense, year long, course, even though it meant sacrificing time with my husband and friends. I knew that it was God’s calling in my life at that time to be a teacher and love on those little ones. Towards the end of the course, I discovered that I was pregnant. Though it was not “in the plan,” I was overjoyed. However, at only twelve weeks along, my baby went home without me getting to hold him in my arms. As overjoyed as I had been, I was devastated. My grief turned into depression preventing me from finishing out the course. Mercifully, I quickly turned to God and over the next few months, He met me in my grief. When the time for the course came around the next year, I was ready to tackle it again. I went through all the same material faithfully and meanwhile, as God is faithful, He blessed me with another pregnancy. I tried to negotiate with my teacher to finish the course early as my due date and the course due dates were at the same time! However, God revealed to me that I would have to let go of my desire to receive accolades for all the work I had done, (twice!) and focus on my growing family. That was a hard choice for this over-achieving girl to make. Even though I am still literally paying for the course I did get the certificate for, God has blessed me far beyond I could have ever imagined. I get to hold this beautiful baby girl in my arms and incredibly, even more beautiful than she, is the way God met me in my darkest hour and gave me the strength to obey His calling.
Having had numerous “bad experiences” with women’s Bible studies, I have refused to take part in the women’s ministry program at our church for the last 5 years. However, a few months ago, I felt God prompting me to participate in the upcoming study…Breaking Free. I’ve done the study before, so I was a little puzzled why God put it on my heart. I called the Women’s Ministry Leader telling her I was interested (she also happens to be my mentor)and she just laughed. She told me that God placed my name on her heart to lead one of the groups, but knowing how I felt about women’s ministry, but she was hesitant to ask. Anyway…we’re 5 weeks in and I LOVE IT! I went to your conference in Lowell and after the first night, I guess I walked out looking a little shell-shocked. My husband asked what was wrong and I truthfully told Him that I thought God was leading me to women’s ministry. He was as surprised as I was. So here I am, currently writing a 30 day devotional for our women’s ministry program and loving every minute of it. Thankfully, I was obedient in doing the study because God has blessed me with an INCREDIBLE joy in a very unlikely place!
About this time last year, I found out some information that made staying where we were (church) almost impossible for me. I begged God to change my heart because I did not want to leave our friends, but at the same time, that was the reason I wanted to stay. We switched but ended up going back because I really thought God had given me peace over the situation. (truthfully, I didn’t love our new “home”) We went back and nothing had changed and it felt as if God was saying peace would continue to ellude me. So, I did the hard thing and told my husband again that it just wasn’t right. I was invited to go with a friend of mine to her church, and I loved it. Now, here we are almost 5 months later and here’s what has happened……
It’s a better curriculum for my kids and there spiritual growth has been exponential. I have friends again and they have been an enormous blessing. My faith has grown as God has gone out of His way to let me know this is where we are supposed to be. My husband, because we are now 20 minutes closer to church, has joined a discipleship group and actually confessed to me last week that he is extremely happy we made the change. It wasn’t easy, and in many ways embarrassing to leave, come back, and leave again, but it clearly was the path we needed to take!
I was traveling on business to Boston and ate alongside a co-worker at the former t.v. show, Cheers, bar. I got to know the lady next to me who’s brother, we realized, had attended the same seminary as I did. She however, showed no spiritual interest. I felt the Lord prompting me to ask, “ask her if she believes I love her.” I argued back, “what about my co-worker? What would she think? What would this lady think?” We parted ways, and I didn’t ask. Feeling remorseful, I returned to my hotel and called her and chatted (she told me where she was staying) but again hung up without asking! I called her again and said, “You must think I’m crazy, but I have to ask you a question.” When I asked her, it was as if I’d read her deepest heart cry. The walls tumbled down and she opened her heart to me and God….
thankfully God continues to challenge me in several areas for surrender through obedience .. but one of the biggest areas for both me and consequently my family, was several years ago, God challenged me to give up TV .. cold turkey. He challenged me to ‘take inventory’ of my TIME .. if someone looked at the time I was spending in my day what would it say to them? Was I surrendering my life to God’s plan .. or the world? … wow! It was not easy, for certain, but God changed my ‘craving’ to follow a show almost to a distaste for it .. before long there wasn’t even a hint of wanting to turn on the TV ~ it made it’s way out of our family room, to being unplugged and set aside. The joy started surging in my life immediately, our marriage, our family … because what I was ‘putting in’ myself was also changing ~ I had time for reading God’s word .. for really sinking my teeth in it, learning, sharing, caring .. and our family started giving, both within our family, spreading to our neighbours and outside in the larger community. God has such an amazing plan for us when we surrender through obedience .. the Joy is unspeakable! I am thankful every day that this stronghold was broken .. myself and my family are free! My husband and I are much more connected than we were before ~ my girls are 11 and 13 and they would far rather talk to their mamma, read, study God’s word along side of me, help a neighbour, go for a walk, plan a meal for a friend~ The Joy of the Lord is my Strength! Amen!
I was about to start my senior year at Texas A&M and I felt Him leading me to leave to intern at a church for a year. I knew this would probably lead me to not get that coveted aggie ring or diplomoa. It was the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make, but it ended up teaching me so much– about Him, life and ministry. I struggled through my faith that year alone in Dallas, outside the Christian bubble at A&M. But it was that time of literally wrestling with the Lord that has solidified my belief in Him forever. Plus, that year my health issues spiked up again and it put me in Dallas with the best specialist I’ve ever had. I ended up coming back to Houston to finish my degree and got the perfect job after that. And since then doors are flying open for ministry that I don’t know I would’ve had if I’d stayed in my comfort bubble at A&M.
Oh Mama Beth! How timely all this is! I am doing the summer Bible study right now and it along with this is like God shouting at me. I have been really struggling with work and not liking, ok down right despising my job. So the first thing that I started to hear from my wonderful God was obedience, then this weeping forward and “long obedience” bussiness that Kelly teaches about. Then He started bringing it up EVERYWHERE! In other devotions, on the radio, in my reading — and now here! Then today I did the lesson in session 2 of Ruth on work and oh my goodness!!!! God is soooo funny! I know that this season at work is calling for obedience and it is going against all that is in me to do it. But thank the Lord He sent this message through you all all my dear Siesta’s that there is JOY in obedience! Not there yet because I’m so stubborn, but I know joy is on the way. Thank you Mama Beth — I love you!
Recently the Lord asked me to homeschool our 6 year old daughter. I was completely torn in half because I was scared I wasn’t capable. He kept taking me back to “above all else guard your heart.” Long story short, she did not feel safe at school and even at 6 was the victim of intense bullying. I finally did bring her home and I am watching her walk away from her fears and shyness daily. She has alway done well wth the work but has been on the border of selective mutism and now she’s making conversation with anyone who will stop moving long enough for her to get started. LOL
A few years ago I was at an LPL in Phoenix. Your comments, Beth, about being wary of compromising situations in relationships (very paraphrased) – were hard for me to hear as I was afraid to state any boundaries in my current relationship because I didn’t want to rock the boat! However, the loving way you shared it, planted a seed! Then I started listening to your weekly web broadcasts & reading “Get out of that pit” and conviction grew. I believe God gave me the strength to state my position & be obedient, which also helped my boyfriend be strong. I believe by setting those boundaries, it helped to define where the relationship was going … which was scary … but God has abudantly provided far & above what I had ever hoped for! We got married and have a beautiful home – which I had never expected! Praise the Lord for His loving kindness and unending mercies!!! He is always revealing new things – thru you, others, life, and His Word! 🙂
God called me to throw a surprise party for my step-mom during a time when I was finding it very difficult to love her. She didn’t react the way I had hoped she would. She was less than excited about it. She actually didn’t even want to come to my house, but my Dad told her what was planned and that we were waiting for her. The bottom line is I felt God call me to do and I did it…cheerfully, knowing He called me to do it regardless of the response I got. I knew I was honoring God. I was being obedient and that was reward enough.
Just recently God has changed my marriage. I was hopeless and craving love. I began to pray that God would change my husband when I was reminded that I am responsible for me and not him. So, in obedience, I changed my prayer. “God change me, and help me to be the partner you designed me to be even if I receive nothing in return. God give me a renewed and deeper love for my husband.” Needless to say, He answers prayers. My husband was involved in a terrible car accident not even a month later. I was consumed with thoughts of life without him, and in that moment I was given a renewed love for Him. God saved my husbands life and at the same time, He saved my marriage. Everyday since gets better and better! He is faithful to His people, and obedience to Him may not go without trial, but the reward is a blessing!
Thank you for all your stories. They are encourgaging me as I’m walking through storms and choosing obedience rather than giving up.
this time in my life is the most difficult time I have ever been in. My heart is raw and my faith has been weak at times but God has been faithful to give me times of joy to hang on to and my past with Him is so strong that I know he will deliver. I know I have share before of my son breaking his femur. He has been through four surgeries and he continues to be in pain. He is only 19. They have discovered it is nerve related now and we are now going that route. He had to withdraw from the University of Arkansas which he loved. My other son just began a new private Christian school and is having a hard time making friends at 16. He’s on the basketball team and doing very well. The teacher’s say “He always has a smile on his face and is so respectful” but as he says to me “Mom, that doesn’t mean I’m not hurting inside. My oldest son is blossoming like crazy so for that I am extremely grateful :). I praise Him in the midst of it all but would love to be delivered. I’ve had some really mean people tell me some really mean things during this hard time and attack my spirituality which hurts but I know my God is faithful. Thanks for the prayers. Sorry this is late.
When my husband committed adultery, I knew I was called to forgive. So, I did. The ungodly relationship continued for another 5 years, and eventually he left me and divorced me after 20 years of marriage and two wonderful children – a very ugly, public divorce. I never stopped loving my husband and continued to believe God. God taught me so much during the two years we were apart. When God turned my husband’s heart home, I knew God had spread His love abroad in my heart for him. Many thought I should not reconcile, but God never released me from my husband and marriage. We remarried. Our son gave me back to his dad, our daughter stood as my maid of encouragement. We have been back together now for almost 10 years. I am so thankful that God’s Word held our marriage and family together. Joy unspeakable!! And we get to celebrate two anniversaries every year! :0)
When God called my husband from the pastorate into active duty military chaplaincy, I dug in my heels and said no. I wanted for my children what I didn’t have growing up: The same home and school system from Kindergarten through high school. Praise God He changed my heart and saved my marriage in the process. Now I’m a part of an active, vibrant ministry for military wives called Wives of Faith. He is good!
PS: I’m going through the Esther study now at Randolph Air Force Base chapel 🙂
Awesome!
Thank you for being there for military wives! Our military families need STRONG wives to be there for them. Many times when the military member is TDY or deployed, the wives/husbands that stay at home need outside support. Your ministry is a gift from God to all your wives!! You are a blessing!
God has made it so clear to me during the recent months that I am supposed to become a missionary midwife. To serve women in need around the world and to let them know about Jesus.
It is difficult for me to leave everything behind, to step up and serve. Please pray for me! Thank you so much Siestas!
Wow, well I am in the middle of it! For several years my husbands company was encouraging him to make a significant move, from the Maritimes to London, Ontario, and I would not even hear of it. No way! I am way too close to my family to be a 16 hour drive from them! I want my kids to grow up with their cousins, and knowing their grandparents well! Then God started working on me. As usual, he used you, Beth. I studied the Patriarchs, who were called to “Go”. I studied the tabernacle, and began to feel my heart being prepared for a change. After the decision was finally made, I studied Esther, and felt the support of my dear sisters in Christ as we bonded over how tough it is to be a woman, but that God can give us the courage to face the task. Now I’m in London, and I’m lonely and still often wonder WHY I’m here, but I know beyond a doubt that God has led us here, and that He WILL bring joy out of this trial. Praise God, He’s faithful daily and reminds me that He is here with us so far from those we love!