"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9
God has been doing some amazing work in my life lately. I am definitely in the middle of one of those amazing times during your walk with the Lord where you can just feel Him, sense Him working and hear Him speaking to your soul in so many ways. My friend and I are leading a womens' Bible study Thursday evenings and the book we are studying couldn't have come at a better time for me personally. I have been brought to tears while preparing study materials more than once, and I am not one who cries easily. The way God spoke to me today sent chills and warmth through my body at the same time. One of our studies coming up will be on dealing with loss and asking God "Why". Last year me and my family went through some major loss in several different areas of life and let me tell you, "Why" was all I asked, almost with every breath I took. I went through a roller coaster of emotions, shock, anger, sadness, despair, hope, thankfulness, and then back to shock. Now I am in the healing period of my life. I can feel God healing the deep wounds the loss left me with and this study was exactly what I needed. There was a section the book we are reading "Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl" that says this..."Trying to come to grips with the fact that God could have prevented my deep grief but didn't is a bit like trying to catch the wind and turn it into something visible. It's an answer we could chase our whole lives and never get. And sometimes this chase simply wears people out. They turn and walk away, whispering,'I tried, God, but You didn't work for me. You hurt my feelings and I dont' want anything to do with you anymore.'...It's understandable really. We are told from an early age that God can do anything and we've read stories about Jesus helping people. But how do we process such beliefs in the face of loss? Whether the loss of an opportunity, the loss of a relationship, the loss of ones health, or the loss of a loved one, the loss of any kind hurts. We too often ask the wrong questions: Why did this happen? Why didn't you stop this God? Why were my prayers not answered? Why? Asking why is perfectly normal. Asking why isn't unspiritual. However if asking this question pushes us farther from God rather than drawing us closer to Him, it is the wrong question...We can't see the full scope of the situation like God can; therefore we must acknowledge that his thoughts are more complete and that he is more capable of accurately discerning what is best in every circumstance. if asking the why question doesn't offer hope, what will? The "what " question. In other words: Now that this has happened what am I supposed to do with it?"
As I was reading this I remembered that Jonathan, my husband, had a note card with something written his mother had written on it that was to this effect and by some miracle (God!) I knew exactly where that note card was! See Jon's mom passed away very suddenly last June. She was only 59 and this sudden loss turned our families world upside down. I was very close to my mother in law and she was a wonderful Godly woman with years worth of Godly Biblical wisdom that she shared with anyone who was in need. I have missed those long conversations about God and His Word. I quickly found the note card with her handwritten words and this is what it read
"We ask God many questions. The right one is "What do you want, God?" "What does God want for this area?" "Don't focus on circumstances, focus on God, what does he want?" I sit here with tears of joy as I write these words. God is still using my mother in law! She may have written this for herself at some point but I know God meant this for me, right here, right now on March 22, 2010, at a time when I would need it most! It's amazing how I am here dealing with losing her, being healed inwardly by the Lord, and yet he still uses the one I am asking "Why" about to help heal my soul! If that doesn't give you "Godbumps" I dont' know what will!
Monday, March 22, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
He Goes Before Me
"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged." Deuteronomy 31:8
Once again as I was preparing for this weeks Bible study God touched my heart deeply. Not thirty minutes had passed since I had been talking to a friend on the phone and one of the topics we discussed was what to do about our children's schooling this upcoming fall. My son, my sweet first born, is headed to kindergarten this fall and I have been in turmoil about where to send him. I know my preferable choice would be the local Christian school a few minutes down the road, but at this present time we don't have the monthly allowance in our budget for tuition. So I have been left with public school or homeschooling. (Unless God chooses to do a financial miracle and make it possible for him to attend that Christian school) I get quite nervous and concerned about the size of the classes at the public school, along with what my son may be exposed to and what kind of teacher he might get. I would so prefer him to go to a school where what we believe and teach here at home is backed up at school and where the class size is much smaller. I have never really felt like homeschooling is my true calling in life, but I have been fearing public school so much that I have made that an option for our family. After talking with my friend (who I hope reads this and understands how completely encouraging she has been through this school situation and I am extremely grateful for her words of advice) I realized that God can and WILL take care of my child no matter where he is, as long as we are following His plan for our family. Then as I sat down to do some Bible Study I found this verse and it was as if God were speaking directly to my soul..."Because the Lord himself goes before me, my family and my son, and will be with us He will never leave us or forsake us. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
God has already gone before us and has taken care of the school situation. I do not have to be afraid I do not have to be discouraged that perhaps my son may have to go to public school for kindergarten. We will take it day by day and if God decides to make a way for our children to attend a Christian school he will clearly provide the means to do so. No matter what, He, our faithful loving Father, has already gone ahead of us and worked things out! Is there something in your life that you are afraid of? God is going before you, working it out! Trust him, don't be afraid or discouraged, our God is faithful to do what He promises!
Once again as I was preparing for this weeks Bible study God touched my heart deeply. Not thirty minutes had passed since I had been talking to a friend on the phone and one of the topics we discussed was what to do about our children's schooling this upcoming fall. My son, my sweet first born, is headed to kindergarten this fall and I have been in turmoil about where to send him. I know my preferable choice would be the local Christian school a few minutes down the road, but at this present time we don't have the monthly allowance in our budget for tuition. So I have been left with public school or homeschooling. (Unless God chooses to do a financial miracle and make it possible for him to attend that Christian school) I get quite nervous and concerned about the size of the classes at the public school, along with what my son may be exposed to and what kind of teacher he might get. I would so prefer him to go to a school where what we believe and teach here at home is backed up at school and where the class size is much smaller. I have never really felt like homeschooling is my true calling in life, but I have been fearing public school so much that I have made that an option for our family. After talking with my friend (who I hope reads this and understands how completely encouraging she has been through this school situation and I am extremely grateful for her words of advice) I realized that God can and WILL take care of my child no matter where he is, as long as we are following His plan for our family. Then as I sat down to do some Bible Study I found this verse and it was as if God were speaking directly to my soul..."Because the Lord himself goes before me, my family and my son, and will be with us He will never leave us or forsake us. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."
God has already gone before us and has taken care of the school situation. I do not have to be afraid I do not have to be discouraged that perhaps my son may have to go to public school for kindergarten. We will take it day by day and if God decides to make a way for our children to attend a Christian school he will clearly provide the means to do so. No matter what, He, our faithful loving Father, has already gone ahead of us and worked things out! Is there something in your life that you are afraid of? God is going before you, working it out! Trust him, don't be afraid or discouraged, our God is faithful to do what He promises!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Making Motives Matter
"I know, my God, that you examine our hearts and rejoice when you find integrity there. You know I have done all this with good motives, and I have watched your people offer their gifts willingly and joyously." 1 Chronicles 29:17
As I was preparing for Bible study this week I came across this verse in First Chronicles. It sent chills down my spine because I was looking for a different verse, dealing with this same thing and yet God led me to this passage! I love "God moments"! During this Bible study we are going through the book called "Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl" by Lysa Terkuerst. So what does a "Good Bible Study Girl" look like? She is someone who reads her Bible daily, gives generously to others, is kind, compassionate, caring, friendly, volunteering her time and energy to the church or good causes, etc and so forth. All of these things are an outward show of right and good things. Here is the key to becoming more than just a good bible study girl...MAKING MOTIVES MATTER! God doesn't care about what we do outwardly, he cares about the motives behind those actions. Are you kind and friendly and giving and volunteering here and there out of you love for God and other people, or because you feel obligated or "it's the good thing to do" or to win praise from people? So many times I have found myself being the "Good Bible Study Girl", doing this and that, running here and there, all in the name of doing what is good and right, while inside I'm less than thrilled because I'm tired or have taken on too much. God wants us to focus on a few things and do them well and completely out of our love for him and other people, not taking on every good thing that comes our way because we feel that is what a good Christian does. Make your motives matter, weigh them out and see if they are pure. As this verse tells us, God rejoices when he finds a heart filled with integrity and pure motives!
As I was preparing for Bible study this week I came across this verse in First Chronicles. It sent chills down my spine because I was looking for a different verse, dealing with this same thing and yet God led me to this passage! I love "God moments"! During this Bible study we are going through the book called "Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl" by Lysa Terkuerst. So what does a "Good Bible Study Girl" look like? She is someone who reads her Bible daily, gives generously to others, is kind, compassionate, caring, friendly, volunteering her time and energy to the church or good causes, etc and so forth. All of these things are an outward show of right and good things. Here is the key to becoming more than just a good bible study girl...MAKING MOTIVES MATTER! God doesn't care about what we do outwardly, he cares about the motives behind those actions. Are you kind and friendly and giving and volunteering here and there out of you love for God and other people, or because you feel obligated or "it's the good thing to do" or to win praise from people? So many times I have found myself being the "Good Bible Study Girl", doing this and that, running here and there, all in the name of doing what is good and right, while inside I'm less than thrilled because I'm tired or have taken on too much. God wants us to focus on a few things and do them well and completely out of our love for him and other people, not taking on every good thing that comes our way because we feel that is what a good Christian does. Make your motives matter, weigh them out and see if they are pure. As this verse tells us, God rejoices when he finds a heart filled with integrity and pure motives!
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