Good Monday morning, Sweet Things! I hope you are well and prospering in your souls. I am, thank You, Lord Jesus. But it’s no contradiction that I’m also still navigating through a season of concurrent weakness – like my limbs all weigh a hundred pounds – and sadness – like my soul weighs a thousand pounds. I’m trying to get insight into it and gain whatever wealth God wants to give me through it. I wouldn’t be here if I had nothing to gain from it. Scripture assures us of that as children of God. I’m one of those weird people who – as a loose general rule – often wakes up in a buoyant and talkative mood so these days are madly rushing by at a maddeningly glacial pace. I decided last week that, if I wasn’t going to be ushered out of it as quickly as I’d hoped, I’d at least ask God as sincerely as I knew how to use it. To teach me through it. To grant me revelation through it. Growth through it. Dependency. Humility. Living words. I’ve also asked Him to shed light on an area of blackness in my heart that I really, really do not like. We’re working on that.
So, yesterday morning before church I felt Him prompt me to pray with added expectancy toward our church service. That’s not hard for me to do. I love my church so much. I’ve never found church life more fulfilling than in this young fellowship of believers. I pray consistently for God’s powerful, life-breathing Spirit to fall on our senior pastor (my son-in-law Curtis) and on our children’s pastor and our worship teams. That’s my joy. Countless others pray the same things and we often get to behold with great gladness God’s merciful responses to the pleas of our congregation. There is ripe fruit, red and plump, already hanging on the limbs of this toddler tree.
But this time, I felt like God also impressed upon my heart to pray with elevated expectancy for words specifically pertaining to my own condition. My own wondering and pondering. I prayed for everyone in our service but I made a special effort to ask God before I ever arrived in the parking lot that my own ears would be open and that I’d receive the Word wholeheartedly. I prayed that last week, too. And probably the week before. But this time I felt a more! from God. Go to the Scriptures like a starving man clawing for bread.
It’s a weird thing about pain. The deeper it goes, the wider it opens your mouth to the Spirit. Psalm 81:10 “I am the Lord, your God, the one who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide and I will fill it!” I need Jesus right now. Like you, I always do but I feel its serrated edge against the grain of my selfishness right now. I need His strength. His joy. His hope. And that means that, if I want to, I can sing every word in our worship time as if my life depends on it. I can hear the phrases I’m singing echo somewhere down in my soul, looking for a place to land. I can mean them in a way I don’t have to mean them when life is less mean…if you know what I mean.
Isn’t that the way it goes? It is only in a season like this that I get what I constantly beg God for: an intense relationship with Him where I can sense His Presence and where His Word is life and breath to me. Where the Cross is so much dearer. Where His Spirit seems much nearer. Where I love Him more than anything I can see or touch. That glorious place of the thinning veil.
I couldn’t write fast enough during the sermon yesterday. Our pastor preached from 2 Kings 4 about Elisha and the Widow’s Oil. The widow was in need. Curtis told us that, in our humanness, we despise being in need yet without need, there is no room for the miraculous. He said miraculous provision is our birthright – that we were born again out of profound, unparalleled miraculous provision and that we are meant to experience it often and until our last breath.
He asked us the question, “Do you want to live in the midst of supernatural provision?” and I do! So I wrote down on a stick note, “I WANT TO LIVE IN THE MIDST OF SUPERNATURAL PROVISION.” Yes, Lord, I surely do. Curtis said so much of the time we live the Christian version of ordinary because we either have so much or are satisfied with so little that we can simply take care of ourselves. By all means let’s put to use what God has given us. That’s good stewardship. But let’s not get ourselves in such a self-sufficient rut that we end up missing the supernatural. Wonders can happen when we’re in a place desperate enough to look for them and have the patience enough to wait for them and the prayer life enough to ask for them.
Curtis also said that “If we look around our lives and we have everything we need, then we may need to live a bigger life and set better goals.” The God-nodding kind. The Word-believing kind. The Gospel-living kind. Nothing about Curtis’s quote is in opposition to Biblical contentment. We’re to be content in whatever circumstances we’re in. We’re talking here about fighting the urge in our excess to be content in our self-sufficiency. To see little of God because we need little from God.
And, Girl, it hit. I HAVE A NEED. And I left church yesterday strangely appreciating it. I don’t know how I’ll feel about it by Wednesday but for right now, I’m thinking that an acute need is a good thing. A hard thing. But a good thing. I have never wanted to live a self-sufficient life with purely natural, utterly explainable provisions. I want to live in such a way that I know – I absolutely know – after a long, hungry spell that, when the sun comes up warm and gold and the ground shimmers with manna, only God could have done that.
That’s glory.
Total, unabashed, unspared, unshared credit.
YOU DID IT, LORD. YOU DID WHAT I COULDN’T DO. YOU DID WHAT NO ONE COULD DO. YOU GAVE ME WHAT I DIDN’T HAVE. MADE ME WHO I COULDN’T BE. TOOK ME WHERE I COULDN’T GO.
If I have presence of mind, I’d want to be able to whisper on my deathbed something like, “I’ve seen His wonders. Now, scoot over, everyone, and let me see His face.” Move and let me praise Him.
So, that’s my word from yesterday. I bless the Name of our merciful, patient God for His kindness to give it. Did you walk away from your church with one, too? Then, take a brief paragraph and tell us what it was. Get specific about one point and keep it succinct and direct. Wouldn’t that be a great way to build one another up around here this week? As we encourage one another in our pursuit of Christ, we want to encourage one another in local church life as an essential part of it. (Not the only part, by any stretch of the imagination but an important part.) Body life. It’s Christ’s way. If you didn’t get a particular word over the weekend – if perhaps you had to be out of church or you helped in the nursery or you were there but you just felt off and detached, you’re welcome to share one of ours today. They’re free for all. That’s God’s way. His Word is still alive on Monday.
No matter what yesterday was like, maybe today, after a long hungry spell, you might see the ground shimmering with manna and decide to bend down on those knees, scoop up a handful and eat.
Many, O LORD my God,
are the wonders you have done.
The things you planned for us
no one can recount to you;
were I to speak and tell of them,
they would be too many to declare. Psalm 40:5 NIV
This wasn’t from my church, but a lesson the Lord reminded me of this past week- that I can trust Him to “hurt me.” Oswald Chambers says, “to be hurt by Jesus is the most exquisite hurt conceivable.” I had blogged about it this morning.
When we were stationed in Alaska, I loved getting to see the glaciers and walk on them. I learned that they are that pretty aqua blue because the pressure of snow was so great that it changed the shape of the crystal- which changes the way the light reflects back so we see a different color… you may be at glacial speed, but I bet whatever the source of the pressure you feel will certainly let you see Him in a different light so you know His character better, and that others will see Him differently through you, too. Love you.
Thank you Beth for sharing. Jesus teaches me so…. much through you. I asked God “what do you want me to know about my family?” instantly I heard the word “Healing” in my spirit. I then came across the verse in Luke 1:45 ” And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord”.
I know that He is the healer of all things broken, and I know only He can heal the hurts in our family. I believe Him….. He is Faithful!!!!!
Hi Beth,
Praise God for meeting us in our every need!
I just wrote a blog post on lonely mothers and how believe it goes deeper than the longing to have an adult conversation or being cooped up in the house. I believe there is this void in all of us that is only meant to be filled up with fellowship with God. I found so many scriptures on this sweet fellowship –
…and he is the one who invited you into this wonderful friendship with his Son, even Christ our Lord.
1 Corinthians 1:9
I think Curtis is right. Without need there is no room for miraculous, and the miraculous is fellowship with God Himself!! I don’t know if we can ever grasp the privilege it is that we get to have this intimate relationship with God not only for eternity, but right here on Earth!
Blessings, sweet Beth
Beth,
I want to praise God with you and reveal what I learned from my own experience as I read your blog. God’s timing is perfect—so perfect. As He fills one part of the body up, he allows another part of the body to be in need, so that we can minister to one another and Glorify Him in so doing. I have ready your blog, and sense you need, and coincidentally, we are just starting the Esther study, where you reveal a season of not feeling that God has revealed Himself to you. As I was hearing those words in your study, I knew that I had experienced joy on that day because God had revealed His great love to me.
You are loved with an everlasting love, and the everlasting arms reach out to hold you—Elizabeth Elliot used to say in her broadcast. Take that word from Elizabeth. The everlasting arms reach out to hold us tightly, and keep us safe. Let the body of Christ encircle you and remind you that in our need, we are made whole with his Everlasting love.
Hey Beth, our sermon yesterday was on Living with Regret. 2 Cor 7:2-11. That repentance restores and leads to the cross, regret leads to despair. We must trade our regrets for repentance by having faith in God AND that we have to keep having our faith because satan is in the business to keep bringing it up. Keep taking it to Jesus and trusting Him. (I have made many mistakes and have learned to quit condemning myself (Rom 8:1), but the regrets….it was so good and I am so thankful for my Pastors). Thank you for sharing!
Beth,
Thank you for your transparency this morning! Our pastor began a short series yesterday called BECAUSE YOU ASKED and you can only imagine how difficult this is to share considering the time restraints of the service. But God really helped him out because he was as clear as he could be and as plain as “white bread” with the answers! I was so proud of our sweet pastor for taking a STAND on things that are so clearly RIGHT or WRONG, without apology or hesitation. So, my day of worship was like a breath of fresh air yesterday and I came away KNOWING God is STILL on the throne and in CONTROL, no matter our earthly circumstances! AMEN! : )
Beth,
Thank you so much for sharing your heart and your life.
Our message in church yesterday was on the stewardship of the Good News…As His servant, I am a steward and I am to invest it and expand it–meaning I accountable to HIM to share this Gospel message with lost friends, neighbors, and co-workers.
Oh, that I would BE Christ to those around me. I do not want to live the ordinary, but to really be a part of the mystery of the Body and so united with Him that others would be drawn to Him through me. O empty me and fill me with You! (Phil 2:1-4)
Our retired Pastor taught on II Timothy 3. I was really struck by verse 5 which says “having the appearance of godliness but denying its power”. I have a tendency to buy into the “latest and greatest” thing whether that be nutrition, exercise or Bible Study. To truly study the Bible all I need is a BIBLE. I need to be more discerning about the information I read and refer to as truth. I need to run the things I fill my brain with through the litmus test of scripture, especially in these times when men and women who claim to be believers will try to promote their own agendas.
I will surely need a new computer if I cry on it anymore. Thank you for this “word”. I also love my church and my pastor, Curtis Jones. Boy, did I get a “word” yesterday. I am of an age that losing some of the ones around me is a natural thing. We all die!! There is cancer all around me and my loved ones now. I have a great need to pray over this. But my one greatest need is over a loved one who is young (56 yrs.). She has cancer and is valiantly fighting her fight with the Lord’s help. She has two devoted grown sons but has not yet experienced grandchildren. This is a desire of my heart for her. Maybe that is a trivial need in this world but I feel it heavily on my heart. I thank our Almighty God for our Spirit-filled pastor and a “word” I much needed.
We learned 4 Principles to a series titled-“Follow Hard”. 1. How the Lord leads you one time does not mean that he will lead you that same way next time. 2. A rocky start does not mean a crash landing. 3. Not knowing where you’re going doesn’t mean you’re going nowhere. 4. Being knocked down doesn’t mean being knocked out. I took my straw with me to church today and drank this all in!!!! Praying for you Beth!!
yesterday the Word I received was: there is Hope. in everything there is hope. it’s one of the things God wants to build in us, which means we often have to go through the process of unmet expectations which leads to suffering which leads to perseverance which leads to the building of His Character within us which leads to hope.
And . . . we have a choice . . . we can choose hope.
Hi Beth!
Thank you for your words today. You are an encouragement to me.
Praise God! I am living in the midst of God’s supernatural provision. I am having a hard time accepting this, because it’s been such a difficult time leading up to now (and I have friends who are jealous, in spite of what it took to get me here!). God has taught me so much, and is now using my experiences to comfort and encourage others. I don’t want to lose that dependency on God! It’s SO easy to just be quiet in the face of the jealousy, or to defend the blessings I have received. God is good, all the time. I know this now. I am loved. God has purpose for the suffering and the joy. I am excited for whatever He has planned for me, day to day and beyond.
God is with you. May His peace rule in your heart no matter what.
Beth, thanks for sharing, even when you are experiencing a difficult time. It is comforting to know that others go through tough times too, and God goes with us all the way!I experienced a wonderful day of worship in our church yesterday, through the music and the message. Our pastor’s message was from John 9. He brought out that the blind, man who Jesus healed, when asked who healed him, first referred to Jesus as a man (v.11). Then in verse 17 he said he was a prophet. What really touched me was v.38, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.
Yes ma’am…our pastor passionately preached the word from Acts 2:42-46 and asked if that very section of scripture was written right now, what would be said about the fellowship of believers, or the church in America right now. How do we look compared to how they looked and that commission that we need to change what needs to be changed. Basically as you said in your James study…Live it!! I am blessed to be in a great bible believing, holy spirit receiving church lead by a group of God-fearing and God-loving men. May we all fulfill our purpose in the body of Christ and building the church so that daily our number is being added to!
My pastor was talking about trials and difficulties in life and that if you are experiencing need or diffuculty that is God’s blessing because He is drawing you to Himself. On the other hand, if you experience nothing but comfort and ease in your life it’s not God’s blessing it’s His wrath. Hit me like a ton of bricks, because I sometimes look at others who seem to have it easy and have a bit of jealousy because I assume they must be doing something right and I’m doing something wrong. I pray that I would never want to sit in that place of comfort where I have no need for Jesus. I’m so grateful that He keeps bringing me home, even if it causes some momentary discomfort.
Beth, thank you for sharing your heart. My daughter has recently left her family and I have felt the weight of the world on my shoulders. I have so wanted to DO something to help. When I read this I realize this could be as much about what I need from God than what she needs. I pray for her continually and have realized I need healing too. Thank you sweet sister for being so transparent that God’s words through you can touch any of us with any problem. I needed this………
Burden…we are sheep, sheep are not burden bearing animals! I’m waiting for the total revelation of that word and what ALL it means for me, I get some of it (been bearing an extra 100lbs for a long time), but I know that God will have it work a whole lot more than just that! I praise you LORD!!!
With tears streaming, I have received my Word…”I wouldn’t be here if I had nothing to gain from it.” Thank you for sharing your heart, my appetite for His Word is stirred. I will seek His purpose for this dark place with an expectant heart…
“miraculous provision” “desperate need” Those are my words from yesterday. In our “pick yourself up by your bootstraps” and “you can do anything you set your mind to” society, it is difficult to admit being needy. Yet the pride of self-sufficiency keeps us locked in a quiet, lonely desperation. Oh the joy and the freedom of being face down in desperate need, awaiting miraculous provision. Thank you for sharing your words today!
I was out of town & able to visit my home church. They had a special communion service… the sweetness of God’s Spirit was thick. We were challenged not just to ask things of God, but to ask God in that time to specifically speak to us what he would have us hear.
I was recently diagnosed with a neurological disorder… I have suffered from the effects of it for decades, so honestly even though we don’t have solutions yet, just having the diagnosis was a relief. So I was having a hard time understanding what about it was causing me to have a “hard time” emotionally, when I was simultaneously validated (and certainly no worse off than yesterday at this point).
God told me: My illusion of control is busted. I mean, I have a head knowledge that control is just an illusion here in humanity, & I have made leaps & bounds in progress against my inner control freak, praising God that HE is in control because I certainly don’t want to be! Or don’t I? That’s a lot easier to apply to “situations” than it is to my own person. Now I have irrefutable evidence that my body does undesirable things I have zero control over. And that’s hard. But like you said, I’m thankful that God is shedding the light on the dark places of my heart. My mentor shared a good word with me a few weeks ago. “Realizing new things about yourself can feel scary, but exposing things is another step in the direction of healing. Thank the Lord for exposing it and tell Him you trust Him to fix it.” In a nutshell: my word is that I am still harboring strongholds of control, and due to the length of time my hands have rusted shut holding onto it all, it may take the spiritual version of the jaws of life to pry it all loose. But I’m ready to start that process, as excruciating as it may be.
I had also prayed to receive the Word yesterday and boy it hit me! We learned about perspective. My problems and sorrows seem bigger than this world until I see someone elses; or I read of your pain. It changes my perspective! Paul’s perspective was very different than what mine would have been chained to a Roman soldier. “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”- Phil. 1:21.
He thought the very thing they chained him for was the very thing he prayed for, to preach into Rome *am I right?* So while I’m alive Christ will live in me, and hopefully people can see Him in me and his Word flow through me.. and if I die I gain it all.. I get to see my heavenly Father whom I love more than this world!
Thank you for continuing to be real Beth, it is such an encouragement to me and I look forward to reading your posts and gleaning from what you are learning through your own experiences with the Lord.
I’ve had a very hard 6 months, with my husband and I experiencing two miscarriages in the 8 months we’ve been married and recently losing my precious grandma to cancer. So as I sat in service yesterday my heart was anxious and broken as it has been for a while now. It was the kind of service that overwhelms your soul, one you don’t want to end, you just want everyone to stay in their seats, to not move around, not discuss lunch plans or anything else but to enjoy with each other the Lord’s presence. He was near, and He spoke loudly through our Pastor as he shared through tears to continue standing on Truth, to fight the good fight, and to not give up no matter what comes your way, no matter who opposes you, no matter what the gov’t does, no matter what your feelings say, no matter what heartaches we experience…..I so needed that message, and still do. I like you felt that I couldn’t write fast enough during the message, and I plan on going through my notes and seeking God in prayer to continue the work he has been doing in my heart through this season of my life. You are so right, we do have a hunger for God more when life hurts. Continuing to pray for you during this season, knowing He is faithful to sustain and strengthen you. Thanks again for ministering to us women the way you do.
2 kings lesson also! Israelites were digging a ditch in preparation for the work God was going to do. We need to put some effort into preparing for God’S purpose for our life. effort into getting into the Word, praying, studying, etc. preparing a ditch for God to work in. The pastor was focusing on being open to world missions, so my little addition is that we should prepare by going out and getting a passport, that way there when God says, ” Go!”, we are ready!
Yesterday our text was out of the very precious Luke 7….(you know the one)…the woman with the alabaster jar. Gets me every time.
And yet, a fresh perspective came out of the lesson. When Jesus asked the Pharisee “Do you see this woman?” the point was driven home about how often we don’t SEE people, when we look right through them, avoid eye contact with our waiter at lunch, keep our eyes down passing one another on the street.
I struggle with a neurological issue that causes me to lose equilibrium…it has become a depressing blackness over me at times….yesterday after worship we went to a nursery and I couldn’t walk with my husband because of this issue. So I went and sat on a bench while my husband shopped alone….and for the first time in a long time I saw it NOT as a burden, reminding me of what I couldn’t do but as an opportunity to sit right there with Jesus and really SEE people as they walked by. Really take notice of them. He’s vastly interested in people, you know! He reminded me that, although I couldn’t join my husband buying trees and flowers, I COULD sit there with Him and really see His dearly loved people and that is something hardly anyone does anymore.
I was really blessed by just sitting there. I may be lamenting my health issue later in the week, but my perspective has changed for today.
Teach me, Lord, to wait. With You.
Thanks for sharing this it touched my heart. How often do I look right through people. I appreciate your perspective change of sitting with Jesus and really seeing the people He loves.
Wow. I needed this reminder to look and to see those around me. So much of the time, I’m in my own little world, forgetting that God wants me to use Christ’s eyes to see others. I also needed to be reminded to spend time just sitting with God! Thanks for passing on this message and the inspiration to try to change my perspective on a few things that I consider burdens but that could used for Him.
To be between a mean rock and a mean hard place is exactly where God had placed me for several days. He is the only Rock to be between and well, it still can be a hard place. But, this Sunday when He opened my eyes to the reason I was between a particular mean rock and the mean hard place He said ‘not by my might but by my Spirit.’ Zech 4:6b) I had been doing service for Him in my strength. (And maybe, just living day to day too.) Instead of a stick note, it’s in gel ink on my left hand! I will think of the widow’s oil today, as the Holy Spirit protecting me from the friction of the hard place.
My pastor is preaching a series on Job. And many of our staff, our senior pastor included, are ready for it to end because it appears that we all, in our own ways and circumstances, are having Job-like seasons. But the inescapable truth that we are holding onto for dear life is this:
“Nothing…absolutely nothing, happens in our lives that does not first pass through the hands of God.”~Pastor Craig Bridgers
I needed to know that God didn’t somehow miss the sideswipe that knocked me off my feet. He allowed it. But Job 42:10 says “And the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than the beginning.” He’ll give back to me more than what was lost.
I got me a Word! Hope you all did too.
I love your heart. I recently watched a powerful Jim Kaviezel interview where he said things similar to Curtis’ message.
I did get a few words this weekend. For a while I have desired to improve my prayer life and seek deeper things than instant relief, and Saturday an opportunity presented for me to lead a study on that topic. I too have a significant need right now, and have been asking God what my mindset should be through this.
Also, while praying yesterday, it felt like God gave me a slight glimpse of one huge thread. It seemed I could have written a dissertation on the subject, but I kept it to a short post:
http://michelencindy.wordpress.com/2012/06/03/iron-the-double-edged-sword/
So thankful for y’all.
This ministered to me deeply. Thank you for sharing. I had surgery about a month ago, an ever since then I have terrible nausea and can’t seem to hold anything down. I am desperate for Him and His healing touch.
Beth, our pastor is using the greatest sermon ever spoken as his source, The Sermon on the Mount. Yesterday, he spoke on serving two masters. The one thing that stood out to me, he gave us a list of 10 checkpoints to see where our faith walk needs improving. We are to grade ourselves on each point from 1-10, 1 being the lowest and 10 being sainthood. Number 4, “When you pray, do you tend to just list things you want, or do you consistently tell God that you’re available and willing to do whatever He wants? Like the song we sing, “Spirit of the Living God…Fall afresh on me. Melt me, mold me, fill me use me…” do you really mean it?” Wow, that hit me between the eyes. Then, this morning, in my daily devotionals it asked us to read Psalm 71.Oh my, what a powerful psalm, what a powerful prayer.
Siesta Mama,
I missed church yesterday, due to waking up with a nasty migraine. However, the rest of my day was blessed by God. My Mom and sister, sister-in-law and niece took my 93 year old grandmother out to get her some new clothes. Nani, has recently moved to my Uncle’s house and we are thrilled because now she is closer to us, so we can spoil her rotten, GRIN. So, I felt like the Queen’s handmaiden yesterday, just picking out clothes, bringing them to her to get her approval. She was all smiles yesterday, we got a wheelchair for her and pushed her around the mall and she kept saying she felt like a princess. Oh, happy day. God was with us the whole afternoon, we had such a wonderful time. I am so unbelievably blessed by an amazing, fun family that I just adore and love. Yesterday, I was on my knees eating manna and basking in His glory. I also want ‘to live in the midst of supernatural provision.’ A very worthwhile pursuit, one I will continue to search for because I have a need. I need more of God and I don’t ever want to find myself self-sufficient and content, that would be boring. Thanks for sharing and please let Curtis know that his words spoke to me too. Have a great Monday 🙂 Andrea
Beth, I really wanted to write you today and ask you a question. This is probably not the right time. I realized that my daughter, who has Down syndrome, has so totally captured and captivated my heart and I realize I want Jesus to capture and captivate my heart in the same way. Though He has done miracles in our lives, and I love Him it is not enough, if I can’t say He has totally captivated me. Do I cling to Him? Yes! Is He my everything? Yes. He is my all in all. He is my everything. But were I to let down my guard and totally come to Him without my selfishness, what would He ask me to sacrifice? I fell that is what is holding me back. I am to afraid of the cost. I so badly want and desire and pray for that total love of heart, soul, and mind. Any thoughts would be so helpful. Meantime I will continue to pray and seek.
Aimebelle, I hesitate to respond because I would hate to give bad advice. Yet what is on my heart is the question – do you realize that the way you feel about your daughter is the same way Jesus feels about you?
Jesus knows your heart and your desire to love Him fully, and He will keep calling you deeper. But right now, this moment, He loves you more than you can imagine. With your imperfect heart, with whatever might be holding you back, He loves you so very much, just as you are.
Keep seeking Him with all your heart, dear one, but also rest in His grace and in His promise that there is NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Funny enough Beth, my Word yesterday came from your book; “Get out of that Pit!” God’s plan for me is to be out of that pit. His Word this morning for me was that He has trusted me with this and will use it for my good. Waiting for my feelings to catch up to this truth. Thank you so much for your words. They have been like life to me.
I love that fresh Word you received from God out of Curtis’ mouth. Isn’t God good? Praying my precious Beth that God will continue to just thrust new revelation down upon your sweet head and minister to you in only the way He can.
“Sometimes God wraps His glory in Hard circumstances” – read that in Anne Graham Lotz book this week….
Yesterday 6/3 Louie brought the word! Every Sun is anointed however yesterday seemed to have extra unction. He preached John 15. Here is the link to watch it when it goes up later today. http://www.passioncitychurch.com/watch/
PRUNING. Seems applicable to your post. Ouch & Amen.
I also spent my time before church asking for God’s presence to be evident. I so desperately need a word from Him and asked that my ears be opened to hear Him. I could not wait to meet with Jesus! I can so amazingly say that when it feels like God is distant and not caring about my situation, that He planned a whole service just for me. Every song, every word in quiet prayer time, and every word of the sermon was poured out to fill my hungry soul. Probably the most simple of words spoke to me. Pastor Jo-Ann preached a mighty word from Matthew 4:1-11. She reminded us that temptation is NOT weakness. Just because a fortified city is attacked doesn’t mean that the attackers got in. That meant so much to me as I face a huge season of temptation. As I stand in the battle with my life hid in Christ with God, I can be assured that temptation will come, but just because it comes doesn’t mean it will get in. I have to stand and never compromise to the plan of the enemy. I’m so thankful that God cares enough about His children to know when they are hurting and need to hear His voice. It is so cool to know that He even wants to speak to us. Praise Him!
My heart was happy yesterday after a long season of heaviness! I so needed His Light to shine in the dark place! And like you I dont know what Wednesday will bring but for now I am going to enjoy the little Joyous moments I am experiencing!! And expecting them to become BIG Joyous moments!!God is so good!!!
Girl, I’m right there with you. I have a NEED! I’m in a sad and hard season. A season of tough junk. Nothing huge but just sad. and I NEED Jesus to show me lift up my head. I NEED Jesus to light my path. I NEED Jesus today, right now , in this very moment.
I’m praying for you, Beth. I don’t know your situation, just like you don’t know mine, but I know there is a sister in Texas that is hurting. I don’t need to know anything more.
Our sermon talked about God’s patience with us. We want to classify God’s patience in human terms and human reactions. Through various Old and New Testament verses, the guest speaker showed God’s profound level of patience with mankind, including having his Son die on the cross for so many that curse His glorious name and denounce Him. It was a very profound sermon.
The word I received today was exactly what I needed. The lesson was from Philippians 1. This is the nugget that is rolling around in my mind this morning: the test you endure today may be the testimony you share tomorrow. Brilliant! I don’t have to understand why I’m being tested or facing this trial. I just have to trust that God does and that He has a plan for me and that plan is good!
This is what I am processing from yesterday!
Some truths delivered by Nathan Hamilton from Genesis 1:1 of all verses. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1
Truth: God exists.
I am only good when existing in Jesus Christ.
When we SEE God for who He truly is, it demands a RESPONSE.
Much like Isaiah, an ordinary good man who saw God and RESPONDED. See it here.
Isaiah 6:1-5 “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two wings they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” At the sound of their voices the door posts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lip, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”
Our response is our reponsibility. But, make no mistake, if we see ourselves in the light of who He is, it demands a response.
going through a very difficult time this past year…. but I keep hearing through various ways…. “do i praise God because He’s good to me or simply because He’s good.”
and loving the verse from Joel 2:25..
“I will repay you for the years the locusts have eaten —”
Beth, thank you for sharing this today. These words are exactly what i have been needing to hear for several weeks now. God showed me the Neon sign i have been asking for!!
Have a major house cleaning of your mind.
Keep your mind filled with the right thoughts and there wont be room for wrong thoughts.
when negative thoughts come, we will have to say “sorry, there is not room for you in my mind”
Phil 4:8
The Lord has been leading me in a new direction professionally and it is very exciting but it is also scary. Any where the Lord leads either personally or professionally can be scary because he calls us out of our comfort zone where we are in control and into His where He is in control. Scary and exhilarating all at the same time. Leaning on His understanding and His timeline for everything, well, that can be scary and difficult for us that like to have control. In my church yesterday we had the privilege of Doug Fields speaking, (we get him next week too, just an amazing speaker) he spoke on Eph 3:14-21, and although Doug was speaking about being Refueled, the Lord made this scripture very personal to me in my present situation,
“16) I pray that out of his glorious richeshe may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in you inner being so that xhrist may dwell in your hearts through faith and I pray the you being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fulness of God.” OH Amen Beth! If I keep myself full of His Spirit and focus on Him He will lead me, He will fill me to the measure and through Him it is no longer scary. This spoke volumes to me! Oh how I praise you Jesus for being my everything1
Just found this today. Thank you so much for sharing. I always find so much inspiration in your comments, whether they come from one of your Bible studies, from the times I’ve seen you on television, and now from your blog. I always learn something, and I appreciate the way you explain things; it’s so much easier to understand. God bless you!
Beth, Your way with words is a blessed gift from God. You are able to express the things that we feel in our hearts, but can’t seem to put into words and i thank our precious and caring God for you. Your message really hit me! So often we prod along in life thinking we are doing it all by ourselves and the miracles that God does perform we miss. I so don’t want to miss the miracles anymore. Life is tiring and I need to acknowledge God’s provision.
Just like Naomi and Ruth didn’t just stumble back into Bethlehem and into Boaz’s field, it was God’s plan. Small miracles led them to the biggest one of all. One word that came up in our Bible study of Ruth, was hesed, God’s complete loving kindness. It also came up during the sermon. You should have seen all the Sunday school girls looking at each other to see if the others heard it!
Praying for you in this season! Like Marybeth Chapman says, “May I steward this well.”
I received a word about loving unconditionally and how to apply it right now: love with my eyes, ears, appropriate touch, my words and all my heart. Since we are going through some issues with our oldest daughter, this was perfect and healing for us. Thank you for asking.
What a great post. I needed to hear this today. Sounds like you have a wonderful Pastor/Son in Law. God Bless and praying!
Wow! Our pastor was teaching about David and Goliath. He was focusing on how true god-fearing leaders are the first on the field as was David! David was completely sure that God was going to take care of that giant! He was so dependent upon the LORD he had no doubt. God wants to do the miraculous in our everyday lives. He has been showing me that I do depend on my self-sufficiency rather than His power. Our pastor challenged us to trust God with what we have as David did to face Goliath. And he also mentioned the Widow’s Oil too! She started with what she had. Thanks so much for sharing Beth.
1 Timothy 6:6
But Godliness with contentment is great gain.
If we don’t get what we ask for, it wasn’t going to be good for us. Don’t grumble and complain. Nestle, don’t wrestle. (Corrie Tenboom) When we are discouraged it is actually a hint that we are “conceited and understand nothing” vs.3. Because in complaining about what God has given us, we are thinking that we could have done better.
Oh boy, did I need to hear this yesterday. So it didn’t turn out the way I intended? I’m just going to wait and see how much better it is going to be when God reveals His purpose for this season.
Resting in the shadow of His wings.