Hey, you lovely things! This morning early I got a very touching text from someone that made me start reflecting on so many ways that God seems to go out of His way (if that were possible) to make sure we know He’s got our backs. You know what I’m talking about. Ways that He whispers in your ear or maybe reverberates from the mountaintops that He’s aware of what you’re battling and where you’re hurting. Ways He tells you He has NOT forgotten. Ways He assures you that your prayers are not just hitting the ceiling. That He’s on it and that your life has not for the merest instant been swallowed up in a black hole. That in your WAIT He is at WORK.
So I tweeted these two statements this morning, one right after the other:
First one:
Sit up slack-jawed over all the ways God lets you know He’s got your back. He’ll tell people to pray for you who have no earthly notion why.
Second one:
Per last tweet, I’m glad God can tell people to pray without telling them why. Sometimes I want people in my burden but not in my business.
The responses that almost instantly flew up on my phone exhilarated me and built me up in my faith as numerous people told me that they’d experienced the same gorgeous phenomenon. The one bad (and sometimes GOOD!) thing about Twitter is that the space is too limited to get super specific. Now that my curiosity is piqued, I want to hear some testimonies! Tell your sisters here in this community one way God has done this kind of thing for you. Tell us a specific incident or sight or encounter or correspondence He used to make sure you knew that He was with you, intimately aware of your situation. Girlfriend, you ARE very much on His radar.
Let’s testify about some ways God leaves you thinking something like,
“You hem me in, behind and before, and You lay Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me. It is high; I cannot attain it…How precious to me are Your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!” Psalm 139:5-6,17
In other words…
Can’t wait to hear! Just so you know that no one was posing as your own Siesta Mama in that picture…
And that bleached blond right there loves you.
Few years ago I was walking the beach praying about the youth ministry I was leading. I was walked back to my car this small sparrow kept flying around me. I was a bit freaked out at first but then realised God was showing me He was with me and He had heard
Beth, I need to tell you that seeing you always makes me feel so full of Joy…I’m referring to your picture on the post;) And every.time I read your posts or do a bible study with you, I feel so very loved. It feels like I am seeing and hearing from a tried-and-true friend, a close sister-friend, which is {Jesus’ love}crazy since I’ve never actually even met you in person or even spoken with you. But, oh, do I feel like a kindred-spirit of yours (as do thousands of others I know!)So thank you for your warm, genuine-friend smile and words this morning…made me get all teary eyed. And this is just ONE way that my Jesus reminds me how much HE loves me and thinks of me … how He must smile with delight when His children look into His face and read HIS Words. Oh, for others to feel loved by Him when they talk with me, or when they read my words…to radiate the smile of Jesus to them and for them to walk away feeling treasured and infinitely thought of by the Father.
My husband went on an extended mission trip. During this time, a dear friend’s husband has been away on an extended work assignment. Her love and encouragement has been so powerful– my husband is home now and hers is due home soon. But one day at church I felt God calling me to go to her and hug her, when I arrived she was startled because God was calling her to pray for me! He knows what we need, even before we ask. He has also led me to this MOST encouraging blog, and to a webcast where I was reminded to put on my garments of praise. Praise God, His love never fails, it never gives up, never runs out on me!!!!
Alyssa,
Thank you for posting this. I read it and thought back to a Sunday a few weeks ago that I felt like I needed to go over to a friend and hug her. I had no idea until she told me later that she was standing there thinking about how she wanted someone to be there, and I’m so thankful God used me to be there for her. It’s truly amazing how God shows His love for us!
This morning I was feeling totally overwhelmed and hopeless. My middle name is Joy, but this morning it could have been Despair. I dragged my feet down the lane to the mailbox where I found a Holley Gerth card from a friend that included the affirming words, “a strength in your stride that comes from someone who knows what it’s like to look fear in the eyes and say, ‘You can’t have my joy–not today, no way.'” I had been telling the Lord I couldn’t go on and those words strengthened me and made me look at myself differently. I called my friend to thank her and she told me she had been praying for me and when she saw the card she knew those were the perfect words for me. Amen! Thank you, Lord.
Love this post…only a second to respond so….
I’m at the season of life where I’m seeing an empty nest very soon and very “all at once” it seems like. I can set my mind to whoa is me very easily, but walking with God intensely over the last several years changes everything.
He constantly reminds me all the specific ways He upholds me and keeps me and reminds me He is for our good, His good. I am just so thankful for life with its scariness and disappointments that cause me to run after Him harder and harder. I have stayed in the study of Deuteronomy and how the Israelites continually forgot the Lord. His Words continuously on my heart these last several weeks are “REMEMBER ME”. So every day I have resolved morning, noon and night to stop go to a quiet place for even a couple minutes and REMEMBER. Just remember all the past difficulties and disappointments and scary places He walked me through and it really does bring a smile to my face and strength to my soul – the living out of my life.
There has been a long-term conflict with a loved one headed down a path that concerns me. I have sensed God’s leading in this instance to keep my mouth shut and pray for him and to focus my prayers on God’s work in *me* and my response to the person and situation with love, gentleness, and a peaceful heart.
Sunday night this dear one announced a positive change in direction about one small component of this conflict. The Lord changed his mind so thoroughly and secretly that he didn’t even realize it had been changed but thought the new direction had been the plan all along.
The root conflict remains, but God’s surprising sovereign work in one corner of it was a “token for good” to me to remind me that He’s got my back in the bigger problem.
I hope this makes sense. It meant so much to me that I wanted to testify of God’s work, but I don’t want at all to compromise the other person’s privacy by saying too much.
Like the other commenters, I’ve also experienced someone checking on me “just because” at the exact moment I needed prayer, and conversely a burden to pray for another at the exact right moment. Thanks for the opportunity to share encouragement by testifying of God’s goodness.
Christina,
I can SO relate to what you have said here! I have had an on-going problem for about a year now with a family member. And I ,too, do not want to go into any details, but it’s been very hurtful and ”way out in left field”. Lots of false accusations and such on her side. But last week God brought about a miraculous intervention and some progress was made towards healing I believe.
So thankful to see so many ways God is interceding on my behalf.
Mariyn
My family is in a waiting situation as we’ve been begging God for two years to heal our eldest daughter from an unexplainable headache. We’ve been to numerous specialists and there appears to be no medical reason for the headache that she has had every day for 26 months. It is not a migraine. Well meaning people often ask me if we’ve tried this or that migraine medicine or tell me about their loved one who has a migraine. We deal with this a lot. No medicine touches it and she’s tried many. I grow weary of answering the same questions but I know people mean well and they care. We’ve seen God move in amazing ways in our 16 year olds life. I know God has a plan for us and am believing Him for it. He reminds me that He is still at work when “random” people come up to me and remind me that they are still praying for her. 2 years in and they are still praying for her! If waiting and praying is all there is for us to do now, then I want to do it well.
Laura, I read your post and want you to know I am praying for you and admire your faith and strength. I have suffered from headaches for years….until recently. God worked through my friends and doctor. Long story short, ii stopped eating gluten and my headaches are so much better. It was a true answer fo prayer. I cannot imagine having a headache every day!!! I will be praying for your daughter. She is blessed to have such a wonderful mother. I know you are her prayer warrior. May God guide you both to healing and relief from headaches for your daughter.
I know exactly what you mean. My son has had a headache for 18 months and was diagnosed with pseudotumor cerebri. We have the same problem with people telling us what to try. But also, out of the blue someone will let us know that they are praying. It’s such an encouragement! God is still the God who heals!!!
Laura! I feel led to share:
I personally had a similar situation, not headaches, but years of unexplainable fainting. I exhausted EVERY physician and specialist to no avail. People’s prayers were wonderful, and people’s suggestions were thoughtful but horribly painful because they just simply didn’t understand. Long miraculous story short, I ended up at a physicians office that was trained to use Asyra. It’s frequency waves that are sent through your body and interpreted electronically to pinpoint your body’s weaknesses. Within 30 seconds I was told I had a virus attacking my heart and my fainting was what was keeping me alive. I did a detox and have not fainted once since. I don’t know where you live or what sort of medical access you have, but if you can locate a doctor that has the Asyra, they may be able to offer you assistance. I just know all too well that hopeless feeling. It’s usually chiropractors and homeopathic doctors that practice this. I do hope this finds you well. And maybe it’s not even for you, I just felt led to share, which means it’s for someone!! 🙂
Laura! I don’t know how else to say it, but I just feel so led to share:
I personally had a similar situation, not headaches, but years of unexplainable fainting. I exhausted EVERY physician and specialist to no avail. People’s prayers were wonderful, and people’s suggestions were thoughtful but horribly painful because they just simply didn’t understand. Long miraculous story short, I ended up at a physicians office that was trained to use Asyra. It’s frequency waves that are sent through your body and interpreted electronically to pinpoint your body’s weaknesses. Within 30 seconds I was told I had a virus attacking my heart and my fainting was what was keeping me alive. I did a detox and have not fainted once since. I don’t know where you live or what sort of medical access you have, but if you can locate a doctor that has the Asyra, they may be able to offer you assistance. I just know all too well that hopeless feeling. It’s definitely not your mainstream medical approach, but i was at a place where I was ready to try anything because the quality of my life was so poor. It’s usually chiropractors and homeopathic doctors that practice this. I do hope this finds you well. And maybe it’s not even for you, I just felt led to share, which means it’s for someone!! 🙂
My dear Laura,
I know the desperation you feel to find answers about your daughter’s headaches, firsthand.ill try to be succinct. My daughter had headaches everyday for four years. On a scale of 1-10, they were more often 6-8 and the 10 s took us to the ER. Tried everything. A friend saw dr, David Bucholtz, a neurologist from JohnHopkins,on Good Morning America. His patients don’t have headaches anymore. Shocking. He had written a book on it,Heal your Headaches ,( the cover is unfortunately hokey, but the content works). I bought it, implemented the plan and made an appointment to see him. She was put on two meds: an anti seizure med and anti anxiety one. She weaned off them after a time. But she rarely had headaches all through med school and residency. And now takes 4 liquid Advil if she feels one coming on. They are never as bad as a 5 anymore, and very infrequent. I just spoke with her and she says it was the only thing that works. You may not be able to fly to Baltimore, MD, but this is a verifiable success for my daughter. I will say, the blessing is that I see His purpose in the trial. She can persevere through anything, no matter how she feels. I believe she suffered, and it was a refining and strengthening trial. She is flat out amazing and strong and I ask God to heal your daughter and use this time to her best interest. He already is! He knows what lies down the road, and He is doing a good work in her, even thought it hurts. I see that now, in our circumstance. May your eyes be opened to what He wants you to see. God, bless this sweet family as you bring her headaches to an end and use this time to become a testimony of Your amazing love. In Jesus’ glorious mighty name above all names! AMEN!
As I look at this, it sounds like it was just the two meds, but it was dietary and rest, etc. we came home and found a neurologist who would follow her. Because it worked, she did not change anything.
Laura, your comment has stopped me in my tracks and my heart is heavy for this difficult situation. Praying right now for your precious daughter and your whole family.
He let me know He has my back today through His Word 🙂 I am in a really, really difficult season right now. Last night I kept repeating Psalm 34:17-19 in my head, which I memorized years ago. Tonight I opened up my devotional and the text was about Psalm 34:17. This may be simple, but I felt LOVED. He cares and He sees. Thank you, God!
“The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The righteous person may have many troubles, but the Lord delivers him from them all”
That verse is simply beautiful and I think has more
depth then we can begin to visualize.
17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them;
he delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is close to the brokenhearted
and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
19 A righteous man may have many troubles,
but the LORD delivers him from them all;
I like to take verses in pieces, and put periods where there are
commas. I bet it will be even more powerful to you if you
did that with the first verse 🙂 Just a suggestion 🙂
Thank you Angie, BLESSED ME…and I receive that.
Thank you for sharing This blessed me so much just what I needed today I have tears I saw your post and open to psalm 34 and the words jumped off the page God bless u
The Lord showed me that reading one day
Psalm 143:7 “He heals the broken hearted and
binds up their wounds.” Two step process 🙂
Heal means “to calm” in the Hebrew 🙂
For years I ran from my past.I made a conscious decision when I was 15 years old to cut parts of my life out from my memory. Not realizing that I was walking around with holes in my existence I tried to live as a whole person. Each time my past would surface I would push it back down, I never allowed myself to face my past or to look to see what I was running from. I thought that once I became a Christian the old Georgia didn’t matter, I was a “new” creation in Christ Jesus from that point on. I told myself that the old Georgia is now dead and that appealed to me because I hated the ‘old’ me.
However, I learned later that isn’t what God wanted; HE didn’t want me to erase my past. HE wanted to heal and free me from my past. It was about 6 years ago that in my quiet time God gave told me; ‘I cannot use you, until I can free you.’ I had thought up to that point I was living in freedom.
Then one morning as I struggled with what I was to do, stop running,God lead me to this passage:
Isaiah 54:4 Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth…
I knew beyond the shadow of doubt that God was with me and that gave me courage to face my past. God gently held my hand and we looked together at that person I was running from, me.
Not only did God free me from my past, He restore my heart in areas I had no clue were broken. He also restored a relationship I really never knew existed.
This is one of many times that God has assured me that He does in fact have my back. He is so amazing!
While I am a regular follower of Beth’s Blog, I don’t normally leave comments. With the exception of the Siesta Memory Verse postings, I think I might have posted 3 comments in the past several years since I started following her blog (I am thinking it was towards the end of 2009). I feel compelled to write this because of a promise I made to God in the past couple of weeks.
A couple of weeks ago, I learned after a breast biopsy that I had atypical ductal hyperplasia. Atypical cells are not normal cells but it is not cancer and they do have a possibility to turn into cancer. I received this news one year after almost to the day I lost my mom to breast cancer. I also have an older sister who is currently battling the same disease. Doctors recommended a lumpectomy to examine the cells further to determine if there was cancer hidden within the atypical cells. When I originally heard my diagnosis, I told God that no matter where He brings during this season, my only desire was that He alone be glorified.
The Sunday before my surgery, a lady came up to me after church. I knew that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer last year, but when one of my dear friends called her to give her support, she told my friend that she did not want to talk about it and that no one was supposed to know. I remember feeling so sad for her at the time because she did not understand that God uses the body of Christ to encourage and support each other and that it is OK to be in need. Well… I was amazed when this lady came up to me after church and said, “Mei, I don’t know if you know but I was diagnosed with breast cancer last year. I had a mastectomy and I just had my one year MRI and I am fine. I want to tell you that you will be fine too.” I was so blown away because she was the last person I expected to get support from. It’s amazing how God works…
Later on that Sunday afternoon, as I was sitting on the couch in a state of self-pity (after having had a confrontational conversation with my teenager) my doorbell rang and when I opened the door, there was a teenage girl from our church and her great-aunt holding a pot of flowers. I immediately burst into tears because this was so unexpected. Although I have interacted with this young girl and her great-aunt in the past, we are not close friends so it was so surprising when they showed up at my house. How sweet God is to use these kind people to cheer me up…
The following day, as I went to the hospital for my pre-op, I met this precious lady, Peggy, who registered me for my procedure. As I sat on the other side of her desk, I noticed that she had a plaque on her desk with “Trust in the LORD” on it and she also had a little cross statue in front of it. As I glanced at a picture of a cute little girl wearing a cheerleader uniform, I said to Peggy, “it must be hard doing your job because you encounter people all day long who are anxious about their upcoming surgeries.” “Yes,” she said, “it gets harder and harder because I am seeing more little children who need surgery.” We continued to make small talk and when she completed all the paperwork, Peggy asked me, “Would you mind if we pray together?” “That would wonderful!” I told her. Then she reached her hand out towards me. We held hands and I cried as she said the sweetest prayer over me. I was so blown away at her boldness to not only pray for a stranger in a time of need in her workplace, but to reach out her hand and hold hands together as we prayed. In that particular moment, I was so overwhelmed by the powerful presence of our sweet Savior and Healer…
The day of my surgery, I received a get well card in the mail from the lady at church who had breast cancer. “Hang in there..” it said. Nothing religious, nothing about praying for you but a card indeed to say that she was thinking about me. I smiled to myself and said, “Yes, God is working on her and eventually He will steal her heart, just as He has stolen mine.”
Psalm 63:3 has been a verse that I have continually prayed to God for a number of months now, well before my recent surgery: “Because Your loving kindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.” NKJV
The wonderful news is I DO NOT have breast cancer! I do have to be closely monitored going forward. God is so faithful. His ways are not our ways. I certainly would not have predicted that He would use a stranger and others whom I never would have expected in my wildest dreams to be at the top of a list of people to give me encouragement and support. Yes, He has whispered many sweet things to me in the past couple of weeks and because His loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Him!
I posted already but I’ve really been pondering
this: God has just really pondered me over this one.
HE loved me through scripture; pumped me through friends;
and fed me more through you. Don’t know if this makes
any sense @ all, but it’s just the truth.
“Thank you for this post & the scripture God prompted your
spirit with.”
I wrote in earlier but after reading everyone’s incredible testimonies I had to share another one!
Early November of 2012 I found out I was pregnant but things weren’t looking good from the start. I ended up miscarrying in late december. (This was my second miscarriage in the SAME year). Needless to say, 2012 was rough. But a friend called saying I was so heavy on her heart and she was praying for me. She had no idea about the miscarriage.
Then in January, I flew to TN and visited my old home church in Nashville. A friend slipped me a hand written note sharing how in November and December I was so heavy on her heart, she prayed for me and cried for me having no idea I was going through a second miscarriage. THEN, an old acquaintance greeted me at the church and after some small talk she hugged me tight and whispered in my year “I don’t know if y’all are trying or not, but you’ve been on my heart and I’ve been praying for your womb.” …. I was AMAZED! She had no clue we had miscarried. THEN (as if that wasn’t enough) my husband and I attended a Christian conference and a man who did not know us at all approached my husband and said God gave him a vision of a woman’s womb. The man began to intercede for that woman’s womb, then he found my husband and said “I believe the woman in the vision was your wife” !!!! My husband was blown away. And finally, another young minister who had never met me before prophesied over me… (this was my very first experience with prophecy)… he said MANY things that absolutely resonated with my spirit as truth and confirmation and at the end he said he saw me with a family. I believe it’s true. I will have children some day.
Through my miscarriages I thought God had abandoned me and that He no longer saw me. I grieved and grieved, thinking He didn’t care. All the while, He has had my back, placing me on peoples heart and preparing a way for my future children (whenever and however they may come). God is faithful and I can’t wait to meet my kids… the ones in glory and the ones I will have the honor of parenting here on earth. 🙂
I got a call from K-Love the day I found out I was having a miscarriage. The call went like this:
Me: Hello?
K-Love: Hi, I’m from K-Love. I am just calling to see if there is anything I can pray for you about. Can I pray for you about anything?
Me: Boo, hoo!!!!
Isn’t God awesome?
I’ve had so many times that the Lord has taken care of me- just the right time, meeting just the right need…
Back in 07-08, my two oldest sons were serving in the Army, and were deployed at the same time in Afghanistan, (same airborne brigade, but different units, so they were not together.) 15 month deployment. All I did was pray, and send care boxes- one to each son, each week, and count down the months.
We had some e-mail contact, and I knew they were both in the thick of it- in the wilds of NE Afg. The Lord really had prepared me through the years to not give in to worry, and to make progress in what I call The Trust Journey, but sometimes during those months I would reach the point where I needed a phone call to keep me going.
Invariably, one son (or both!) would call me on the same day! Mind you, they had almost no contact with each other, so I knew a call from both on the same day was definitely a gift from God.
The biggest miracle was that they both came back safely from that deployment, as well as a second year long one two years later,(at the same time, again!)
The Lord is so merciful, and it always amazes me when He provides exactly what I need, whether I know I need it or not. In 2010, I lost both parents in a 2 month span, but I could write for hours on how faithful God was during that time, and how He drew me closer to Him through the Psalms- What comfort!
He is definitely a loving and merciful God!
Laura, Jefferson, Maine
A few weeks ago I endured one of the most difficult days at work that I’ve ever had. Due to some changes that weren’t popular, I was the subject of pretty vicious whispered, and not-so-quiet-as-whispered, gossip. Thankfully I keep a bookmark on my desk that reminds me of Proverbs 31:25, that “she (I!!) is clothed with strength and dignity” and the Lord used that reminder to keep my security in tact. Sadly, I was still stung pretty badly by the well-aimed words.
That night I just wanted to go home, curl up on the couch with my husband, shut out the world and heal in preparation for the next day back in the office. I couldn’t do that, though, because we were having a family birthday gathering at a relative’s house. All the way home that night I prayed for strength to just get through the gathering until I could get home. I even told the Lord that I just wanted to spend the evening at home.
On that same drive home, the relative hosting the gathering called and asked if my oven worked: hers had quit in the middle of fixing dinner! The party was moved to my house.
I immediately saw how intimately God was involved in my day. He showed me that not only does He clothe me with strength and dignity, but He can also make ovens stop working to show His child just how much He cares. I will always remember that night- and praise Him for dead ovens!
About 18 months ago we left a church we had attended for 14 years for a whole lot of reasons. Without going into details, one issue was just a feeling of rejection by some of the cliques among the women. I am still fb friends with many people from there. I didn’t want to regret un-friending them in anger and have not yet had a day where I could say I had a peace about my motives in wanting to un-friend them (i.e. you reject me, so I reject you.) Yesterday – AGAIN – there was something on facebook that upset me, made me go “See!! That’s why we left!” and hurt my feelings yet again.
Just a few minutes ago, I got an email from the new church we have been attending – where I have been trying to lay low, sit in the back and stay out of the political fray. The email from the new church was – “We’ve noticed you’ve been attending here for quite a while and we’d like to give you a mailbox and put you in our church directory.”
That might seem small – but in the context of having felt very rejected over and over, it was quite remarkable to me that someone had noticed us while we were trying to hide and reached out to draw us in. That did not happen in 14 years at the other church – no matter how much I tried to reach out and fit in.
There’s no way anyone at the new church knows what happened or how I feel because I haven’t spoken about it. I loved the “coincidence” of this person emailing me the evening after I’d felt hurt all over again and saying “welcome” in this very tangible way.
Last year, before I even gave my heart and life to Christ, but I was beginning to pray. I found out that my husband’s new job”s insurance would cover me, but not my diabetes for another 12 months. I was concerned that I would no longer be able to stay on my insulin pump. I said a heart felt pray to God that I trusted I would be ok going back on multiple daily injections, but I had much better control of the diabetes on the pump and I truly left in His hands. I went to my Dr. explaining the situation, we started discussing how to make the switch when she asked me to wait while she checked on something she came back with a WHOLE
I too am wandering towards empty nest…after 26 years of mothering, my baby is a junior in high school and she is very rarely home. I ALSO am in the process of trying to get past a hurt from a friendship. Day before yesterday was pretty pathetic and then yesterday I turned on Wednesdays with Beth. I had seen that one before but lo and behold you were teaching in affliction… Psalm 25…i am lonely and afflicted! Perfect timing? Oh yes indeed God has my back! It just tickles me when that happens!
Especially good when you see how He has your back and that He has a sense of humor—Had an MRI Tuesday and was hoping I could lie still and not itch and not get crazy and claustrophobic. I had made a mental list of what I was going to think about to make the time go faster and keep my mind occupied. One of those things was to practice my Bible verses I am learning for the Scripture memory team for HOUSTON. So I am lying there mentally reciting my verses and I got to Psalm 118:5 ” I called upon the Lord in my distress and He answered me and set me in a LARGE PLACE. ” I opened my eyes and looked around that tube tightly surrounding me and just got tickled. I got so relaxed then I almost fell asleep. God and I had a great laugh. (Hope that didn’t screw up the results)
Last year, before I even gave my heart and life to Christ, but I was beginning to pray. I found out that my husband’s new job”s insurance would cover me, but not my diabetes for another 12 months. I was concerned that I would no longer be able to stay on my insulin pump. I said a heart felt prayer to God that I trusted I would be ok going back on multiple daily injections, but I had much better control of the diabetes on the pump and I truly left the concern in His hands. I went to my Dr. to explain the situation. We started discussing how to make the switch when she asked me to wait while she checked on something, she came back with a WHOLE box of the infusion sets that I use ( which very few people use now). A women had recently passed away and the family brought them in case someone else could use them. It was enough to get me through until this month when I am covered. Oh my Glory my first miracle! I still get tears in my eyes from my heart being so full of love. God is so good!
Yesterday, my daddy went to be with Jesus.
To the best of my ability, I pinpointed that the timing of his graduation met w/ the Holy Spirit’s timing of asking me this question:
“Don’t you trust ME to take care of your dad?”
It was one of those rare times where you sense Yaweh’s presence as if HE were directly in front of you. The question came so strongly, it almost felt audible if that makes sense.
What transpired in the next hour was of such reassurance to me that Jesus DOES INDEED HAVE MY BACK, as you say Beth. 🙂
I couldn’t be with my daddy when he passed, but God gave me the privilege of taking care of him and my mom for the past 10 days in the hospital. It was such an honor to encourage, bring hope and reassurance to him that he was going to be free from so much agony very soon.
I am very blessed to have had a dad who taught me about the “Father Heart of God”, by how he loved me.
“O my Strength, I watch for You; You O God are my fortress, my loving God. ” Ps. 59:9
I bet my daddy’s singing his favorite song to Jesus right now…”How Great Thou Art”
Thank you for “listening”.
I have had a burden on my heart for so many years for my brother to really know and love the Lord. His life has been such a struggle. I tried my best to get him interested in God, and scripture and church- be an example and gave him books, DVDs, etc. I have been praying for him for years. Well one day in Jan. I had lunch with his family and the atmosphere at the table was so tense and uncomfortable and I knew the issue was with my brother. His anxiety and discontent had a place of honor at the table and had his full attention. On the drive home, I knew God was going to have me speak to him but I also knew that I could not call him. I had to wait for him to call me. I prayed for 4 very long days for God to not only give me the words but to not let me get ahead of Him and reach out in my anxiousness to “fix” his problems. Well, he finally called 4 days later, and the words just poured out of me. It was all the Holy Spirit- I had no idea I was going to say any of it! This time I knew he was really hearing me and he wanted life to be different. For the next two weeks, I spoke to him on and off and he would tell what he had been readying his Bible and how some of what he read actually made sense to him now. Then one day he called me at work and there was such excitement and energy in his voice, I almost didn’t recognize it. He said he had played basketball the night before and woke up tired and sore and just could not get into scripture reading so he was just going to give up for that day. He went in his bedroom and opened the bottom drawer in the nightstand next to his bed (one he rarely opened) and in that drawer were the Christian teaching DVDs I had bought him in 2009 laying on top. He said he thought if reading isn’t working today, maybe I can watch a video instead. He said it was as if God was speaking directly to him through those DVDs. He now has fire in him to learn and know God’s Word! It’s just amazing the change in him. He is so peaceful now and excited about life again, which is having such a positive impact on his wife and boys. And God was gracious enough to make sure I knew what happened-that when I bought those DVDs years earlier and was so disappointed when there was no immediate change in my brother, that He knew on Feb. 20, 2013 the change would come. He is so faithful and loving and I can trust Him to work and that His timing is always perfect.
so instead of the person being prayed for, i am typically the one that God calls to pray for others. often with little to no knowledge of why or how, which can be hard when and if i get brave enough to tell them. i cannot tell you how many times people have shut me out or got closed off because what i said hit close to home. i dont look to make people uncomfortable or feel like they are on display or to invade privacy but i do know if God calls there is a reason (whether good or bad) and any extra info can mean the world as to how to press in when bringing that person to Jesus’ feet. while i may not always be the most tactful or well spoken i can say the only intention i have if i do ask for information is to be able to do the very best job i can, while its not needed (as the holy spirit is able to guide and lead) its the difference between having a map of the country or having a map of your neighborhood…we dont always need to know every house and number but knowing the area can make such a difference! (sorry i am on a soap box) just something to think about. we arent always out to “know your business” sometimes God just lands you there.
One of my sistas in our Bible Study not only emailed me, but called to pray with me…EXACTLY when I needed it most, even though I didn’t even realize that until she did…and the specificity of that prayer met the issues of concern like a glove-in-hand, second skin so to speak!
God’s good like that…blows my mind!
The Holy Spirit will often place someone on my heart and ask me to pray for them. I always send a text to that person telling them so. It’s awesome to see the HS do his thing!!!
I was sitting on my bed, crying and listening, as my husband was pouring out his confession to me. He had been having an affair, and he was devastated by what he had done. Needless to say, so was I. However, sitting there, I felt God say to me, “You will use this someday.”. A calm and a peace like I have never before, or since, experienced flooded over me. It was the most beautiful feeling in the midst of such an awful circumstance.
God has graciously redeemed the entire situation by using both my husband and me in a ministry to other hurting couples. We work with couples recovering from infidelity, and young men and women entering marriage, teaching and talking about ways to avoid walking the path we did.
It is my life’s greatest mission, aside from raising my daughters.
God gave me a glimmer of hope, a promise, at a time when I thought everything was collapsing around me. He carried me through, and now I get to share that love with others who are hurting.
I may have shared this before:
I was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 36…I had a lumpectomy and was getting ready to head to the doctor for my first round of radiation treatment, when I discovered I was pregnant. Through much prayer and counsel, it was determined that I could safely be treated with radiation during my 2nd trimester.
The day I was to have my first treatment, I was sitting alone in the waiting room, with a flimsy little robe on waiting for them to situate the 2500 lb. lead shield they had manufactured for me and my belly. That I was scared seems like an understatement. I had been reading a book by David Jeremiah that he wrote about his experience with Lymphoma. As I thumbed through it looking for my place, I came across the passage from Isaiah 43:
But now thus says the LORD,
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
***when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.***
For I am the LORD your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.
I had never before felt such a tangible presence in my earthly life of the Lord….
I carried my baby girl to term, she was born, perfect… and she’s now 6 and in kindergarten.
God is faithful and he’s got MY back.
I will just post the blog that I wrote a couple of days back. And maybe to most people they wouldn’t think it fits here, but in a lot of ways it does.
http://serannwil99.wordpress.com/2013/03/06/tearing-down-barriers
There are moments and I mean moments that God just catches me with the most profound thoughts. I love to search and Bible study so much, that when I started working on our annual Women’s event at church I choose the theme:
He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge. Psalm 91:4.
Refuge is a place of security and protection. It is like being in a cradle where God can give us rest and meet our needs. We are covered with His love and He takes away our fears.
Have you wondered how many times the Lord has sheltered you under the shadow of His wings, while destruction passed close by?
David went inside a cave to hide from Saul, but He knew his real protection came from the Lord. Saul found where David was hiding, but he did not kill David. The Lord protected him.
This reminded David of Daniel who was in the lion’s den. God sent His mercy and truth to protect him. The men that came after David had hate burning in their hearts, but David was not consumed. He gave praise to God for His protection. Our God protects us, rescues us from being swallowed up and even being reproached.
When people treat us unfairly or when we endure unjust abuse, we can turn to God for deliverance and vindication.
Satan reminds us of our past. We sometimes think we will never get over struggling with those things that hurt us, but we have a place of that is safe when we turn to the Lord. Like David we can trust in God. He is our refuge. I can have confidence in Him. He will save me and show me His mercy and truth. Satan has a trap set out for us, but God protects his children.
# Under the shadow of your wings – this is a reference to the wings on the ark of the covenant. David was declaring his willingness to come under the Lord’s plan.
The ark held the Law – the physical representation of the spiritual authority of God and the protection that submission brings.
1. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings. Psa. 17:8
2. For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock. Psa. 27:5
3. In the shelter of your presence you hide them from the intrigues of men; in your dwelling you keep them safe from accusing tongues. Psa. 31:20
4. You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Psa. 32:7
5. He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. Psa. 91:1
6. You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word. Psa. 119:114
7. Rescue me from my enemies, O LORD, for I hide myself in you. Psa. 143:9
No matter the circumstances we find ourselves in, our God is the hiding place for our soul. He alone provides the sure foundation in the storms of life. When the wind blows and the waters rise, lives built on his ways and his word stand firm.
This week I learned all this exciting info. and I went to the Christian bookstore later…opened the book “Etched Upon My Heart” by Jill Kelly inside the covered it said,
“God will break our hearts, but He will hold the pieces. He will cradle us and redeem every tear we cry.”
People are hurting and they are broken. This is what I have been thinking…how God sometimes takes us and holds us close to His chest like a little child from the cradle and He gives us a place of security in Him.
As I rest in Him and plan this event at church, people have been calling the church or I have come in contact with women who want to come to hear God’s Word. Sounds like God is working. Hope you will pray with me that God will touch hearts.
When my adult boys were babies, I prayed for front roll parking bc diaper bags, purses, carriers etc… I always got one! They are afults now but you know what? i still get them! rejoice each time The Mighty One is telling me, I am here with you! To brag on God, He hasn’t stopped!
Even now, if they or their lovely wife rides with me, I still get those prime parking places and it makes their jaw drop to the floorboard! Such a witness for my family that he remembers.
My husband said , ” well elaine what about the old lady that might have needed that space ? Beth I must apologize my reply is ” she should have prayed for it”, I am not missing out of the fullness of My God not one tiny bit! And anytime he wants to show he loves me, even by this parking place example. I will accept it with a smile and I will love on me some Jesus right there in Krogers parking lot!
God is in the “nots.” Sometimes we don’t see where God was when we’re in the midst of our problems and trials. I spent years believing that God was present in my life from the age of fourteen on. I couldn’t see where he was in the past because He never answered the three prayers I prayed as an eight year old victim of incest. 1) God would make my father stop and love me. 2) God would kill my father. 3) God would kill me. I figured I was so awful that God didn’t love me or care for me, so I wouldn’t talk with Him at all. I was not raised in a Christian household and only knew God from a few TV church programs. I gave up on God and figured He gave up on me.
It took years – forty of them – before I sought God and the moment I did, God was there embracing me. I used to beg him to show me why He didn’t intervene in my past. He was particularly silent on that arena. I even wrote that letter Beth suggested in one of her Bible studies to Jesus, and asked Him where was He? Silence.
It took years before God answered me – I had to do some forgiving and healing before I would be able to accept His explanation. Had God answered me sooner, it would have driven a wedge between Him and me.
So, where was God? God was in the nots – there were a lot of nots that didn’t happen. I did not get pregnant. Did not go insane. Did not get killed. And He was in a surprising place – He was my imaginary mother and father in my fantasy world. God was there, just not the way I expected Him to be. He is always faithful.
Several years ago I was struggling with a new principal at the school where I teach. One morning as I was getting ready for work and literally crying out to the Lord, I heard a still, small voice saying, “Trust Me, for I am faithful.” I knew without a doubt that God was speaking to my heart. So many, many times throughout the years, God has reminded me of this truth and has demonstrated it through circumstances in my life. I think this is one way that God “has my back.” I am so very thankful that He allows me to walk with Him!!!!
M.J. in Lovington, NM
Wow! “God has your back” Those are the same words we used when sharing for our very first ladies meeting in our new church building this past Monday! Our sharing time of “God had my back” on different circumstances was so special and spontaneous.
A very dear friend (sister in Christ) has cancer and last summer she had been going through problems with her Chemo which I didn’t know. Right about 10:30 one morning her face kept flashing before my eyes (in my mind you know). So I just started to pray over and over again please help her be with her, help her to bear whatever is going on. Over and over again. Later on I saw her Facebook and sent her a message that I had been praying for her. She told me she had not been able to eat it hurt her mouth and she wanted a Coke and it was her break and at 10:30 she went tot he vending machine and so hoped she could drink it and Praise Be to God she did without pain. He heard my prayers. We both cried.
My poor sister is having so much trouble she finished with one type and round of cancer only to be strickened with another and have been in and out of the hospital and having problems. Please pray for Stephanie in Muncie, IN Thank you.
A few years ago I read an article about picking something in nature that you don’t see very often to remind you that God sees you; I chose the red bird. I would see one periodically and it would bring a smile to my face reminding me God sees me. A couple of years later I was a month into a very hard season where the waves were constantly crashing over my head and as I drove down a road I had driven down regularly for years it was like a flock of red birds, at least 20, came up from both sides of my car and flew along with me for at least 500 feet. It took my breath away! It was like God had thrown me a life raft.
My husband is a minister and sometimes a girl just needs a minister who ISN’T her husband. God placed a wonderful lady in my life who pastors a church near ours. She has become not only my pastor, but a great friend. She doesn’t text or tweet or Facebook, but she e-mails. Often when I need it the most, low and behold, there is a e-mail from her. She says that I encourage her and I don’t think she has any idea how much she encourages me. God sure knew what He was doing when he introduced us!
I feel almost silly using this example, but just last night, I was thinking about how grateful I was that God helped pay for my wedding. Over the last three years, eight different children have lived in my home at different times on either a part-time or full-time schedule (five children through random circumstances and three through foster care). Because I spent my money taking care of them while I was single, I really didn’t have anything to put towards a wedding when I became engaged.
Two miraculous things (one from my father and one from my Father) happened before my wedding that paid for a beautiful day. My wedding certainly wasn’t excessive (I get hives thinking about how much people spend on ONE DAY OF THEIR LIVES) but it was perfect for me and Paul. I really felt like God paid for my wedding. Maybe that’s silly, but it sure meant a lot to me.
What a good question! I loved reading down through some of the responses too. Mostly I would say the Lord reminds me through His Word. One of the most amazing things to me, the last time we did the Memorization thing, in 2011, was about the verses I chose. I would choose what to me were random verses that had impressed me for whatever reason. But, then they would turn up all over the place! One time we had a visiting preacher fill in at our church. He referred to five or six verses during his sermon. He quoted them full length, and out of those five or six, FOUR of them were my verses! It just amazed me how often this would happen. A preacher would use them, I would hear them on the radio, Beth would say something about them. I teach an adult ladies Sunday School class, and the verses came up there over and over. It was just amazing to me how much God wanted me to really get those verses!
Dear, dear Beth!!
Just your post this afternoon blessed me. He does have my back and I am not seeing answers in a very hard place but I know Who God is and He sees everything. Scripture shared from a friend this morning and last night an email from our Pastor saying he and our church staff had been praying for our family and were there any specific requests. Our heavenly Father knows our need!
Thank you,Lord Jesus and Beth for sharing.
Irene Talaasen
This Tuesday morning !!! My heart was hurting for my 19 year old grand daughter who is in Nairobi Africa doing mission work for 11 months. She had written saying she felt so far away from God and she had thought being there would bring her closer. At our Bible Study on James week 7 Beth taught on Between the Rains. It was like every word was for my grand daughter. I rushed home to write her all the encouragement I had received. How great is our God !!!!!!!
Several years ago, while still reeling in grief from the death of my husband (he was 47), and desperately needing God’s comfort, I decided to take a Bible study (your “Believing God”). Only a few weeks into the study, two things happened that I knew beyond a shadow of doubt was God letting me know He was there. A friend emailed me a story entitled “The Potter and the Teacup” about the fiery trials that a lump of clay goes through in order to finally emerge as a one-of-a-kind, exquisite piece of beauty. In class two days later, a woman whom I had just met at the beginning of the study showed up to class with a gift bag for me. Opening it, I found a beautiful bone-china tea cup and saucer. She told me that in class the previous week, she had felt God telling her to buy me a beautiful teacup. She knew nothing of the email, and not really knowing me, I’m not even sure she knew I was widowed. But both she and the friend who sent the email listened to God speaking to their hearts and together provided me with a deep assurance that God “had my back” and was walking beside me. In class the next week I shared the teacup story with my study mates. There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. I will be forever grateful to those two sweet ladies witnessing to God’s love. WOW! Is God awesome or what?
GOD has my back!!!
I am not good at sharing, I would write 10 pages just to say that He has delivered me from a very tough spot last night! My meeting started at 8:00pm! Did not know how it would end…2 1/2 hours later, GOD gave me Victory!
He moved 3 key people into seeing my work/ministry as valuable… if GOD can change hearts – GOD can do ANYTHING!!!!!!!!
Scripture He sent yesterday and today – has proven His love for me, His commitment to me … undescribable how amazing He opened my eyes to HIM.
To come today to this post, knowing all He has done on my behalf…GOD HAS MY BACK!!!
I am resting firmly in the LOVE OF CHRIST!!!
When I started my ministry He gave me Rev. 3:7 “…what He opens no on can shut…” Carried me!
Today He gave me again Micah 6:8″…Act Justly and to Love Mercy and to walk Humbly With your GOD.”
1 Peter 4:8 “Above all keep your love for one another at full strength, since love coversa mulitude of sins.”
“I CAN do Everything through Him Who gives me strength.” Phil 4:13
O He my GOD has spoken over me and He alone watches my back! Thank You JESUS CHRIST!!!
Thank you for this post Mama Beth!! I needed a fresh reminder that my heavenly father is with me through this trial I am currently facing. 🙂
Blessings!
God is just Ah-May-Zing!!! Just this morning very early I blogged about the sweetness of God and how he exactly has my back. God is just too, too good!
My church recently held a giveaway of four beautiful baskets of gifts. I did not pray that I would win, but I prayed that God would provide the baskets to people who needed encouragement. I won two of the four! My only conclusion is that God knew every struggle of my heart and wanted to let me know resoundingly that I was His and He was looking out for me, and wanted to encourage ME. A smile filled my whole being.
Two years ago last month my husband and I visited a church where a young man prophesied over me that “your family will be fine.” At the time, it was good to hear but didn’t really hit anything. One week later, my son who appeared to be healthy until the day before he was hospitalized, was diagnosed with chronic myloid leukemia. While at the hospital, I looked over my journal and those words from that young man leaped off the page! I had peace during that entire time.
God not only has our backs, he has our future also!
Follow the way of love – I Corinthains 14:1 NIV.
I have had so many difficult interactions this week and as I prayed for His leadership this is the verse that He gave me. What a blessing.
Thank you for this post. . . very timely to be reminded!! When our adult children would be making destructive choices I would pray and often include, Lord please don’t let them go. . .and I am in awe of how often they will tell me about how some believer would appear on their path and influence them!!! (And remind them of God’s call and purpose in their life) He is soooo good! In ways we cannot even imagine!! And I needed to be reminded of that today!! Thank you!
On Sunday my son texted a conversation with me that made me realize that he has a serious mental illness. This came on the heals of having my daughter declare that she has no faith in Christ any more. Devistated, I cried and prayed all night because, “I didn’t sign up for this!”
The next morning I received an e-mail from an old friend whom I reconected with at Christmas:
“I have been thinking about you and yours frequently, and have been praying and hoping for you. Sometimes the change and positive progress is not tangible, but where God does his work is not always visible to us until a later time. Be encouraged, don’t despair, and know you and yours are lved deeply by your creator!”
Pretty awesome timing if I do say so!
I am loved deeply despite what is going on all around me. He really does have my back!
Thanks for your post – also, amazing timing this week! 🙂
Through Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost For His Highest each morning. Find it here: http://utmost.org/
A few years ago I had a stirring in my heart that God wanted me to get up and go, and he had made it very clear, but I was scared. The same day a friend said she wanted to meet up with me. She showed up with an armload of scriptures that God had laid on her heart to share with me, but she didn’t know why. They were all missions related “Send me” type verses. That was all God needed to tell me. The next day I applied to Moody Bible Institute for a degree in Intercultural Ministry, and I graduate in MAY! He is faithful to love, lead, and encourage us when we need it most! AMEN?!