Will I be offended?
Isaiah 55:8 says For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways declared the Lord.
Often when we hear a word from the Lord we begin to envision, or daydream how things will play out. We daydream about just how things will look, how everything will fit, or work together. Maybe I shouldn't say we. It is crazy how it's more comfortable to say we. So let me say I, because who knows maybe no one else does this. (although I have an inclining that I am not alone) Recently in my life there has been a few events that didn't turn out how I expected. During a time of pouring out my complaint before the Lord He spoke the above scripture to my heart. As I entered into another time of transition, or shifting I felt the Lord told me to just embrace Him. I struggled because I didn't know what He was doing. So walking in blind faith I told the Lord that although I am uncertain what the heck is going on "I TRUST YOU." How do you embrace Him anyway? It sounds good but I didn't exactly know what He meant. Over the past couple of weeks I begin to understand that He was telling me to embrace what He was doing, to embrace the process that He was taking me and my family through. I still don't understand the full picture but He gave me a glimpse of what He is doing and this gave me so much peace and hope.
Time after time I have found myself secretly asking God why, why, why? At times my why would turn into frustration, then into anger, eventually accusation, and offense.
Who am I to accuse God? Who am I to point my finger at Him and blame Him?
All this would simply spring from things not going my way, or the way I daydreamed it. How often I loose sight that He is the Author and Finisher of my faith, that He knows the End from the beginning, that He is Alpha and Omega, and that He knows the plans that He has for me to give me hope and a future. I had to learn to give up all control! It seems so safe when I can control things. But what happens when things aren't in my control? What do I do than? This time around I choose to believe what the word says in Isaiah 55. My ways are not His way...I have learned that it is best to let Him have His way.
HE REALLY DOES KNOW WHAT HE IS DOING!
God always has a master plan, even tho we don't always understand. I pray all the time about Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will Be Done. But when He comes to do His will I trip out. I am so glad He is full of compassion. I can only imagine sometimes how this must look from His point of view! I believe God allows me to get pressed so that what's in me can get out. If you squeeze a grape, it's gonna gush! His pressing or squeezing is motivated by love and compassion, it's full of mercy and grace. 2 Corinthians 4:17 says For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. Don't you wish you could remember this when you are going through?
I know I'm rambling but I believe some can identify with this, and plus it is 2am. LOL! I am choosing to embrace what He is doing. I believe He wants to get that accusation out of me. That knee jerk reaction that I bend towards when things are out of my control. He also wants to touch that area of my heart that can so easily get offended at Him for not going by Jerome's plan. During times when He is dealing with issues of the Heart I am thankful for Scriptures like Isaiah 42:3. I am so thankful for His gentleness.
So be encouraged today if you have found yourself in a time of pressing or squeezing. Surrender to what He is doing. You will also see the good that is in you as well.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Friday, October 16, 2009
I WAS JUST THINKING....
Is It time?
I have been a little hesitant to write anything deep, and personal on this blog. After thinking about the title it hit me that allowing folks to look (I mean really look) into my life is scary. I was scared because of what others may think or say. But I layed man pleasing, and fear of man at His feet. So from here on out I am going to walk in my freedom, because after all who the son set free is free indeed!
Many may or not know that me and the fam have relocated to Colorado. I can truly say there is no place like home. We are living in Colorado Springs, Colorado, attending Freedom Kingdom Enterprises (Apostle Dutch Sheets) Zion has started the second grade, and Hilda and I are currently looking for employment. The move from Michigan wasn't an easy move, it was difficult to leave behind great friends that were more like family. We didn't see eye to eye with many, but we felt deep within our hearts, and within our spirits that is was time.
HOW IS ALL STARTED:
God began to speak to us about our family that lived in Colorado through Isaiah 58:7....and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood. I first took this as, okay I need to call more, I need to write more, or I need to visit more. I stated calling more, and writing more, and actually visiting more. The more I visited the more I realized I had been ignoring a big need. My first thought was they need me! This was partly correct but I actually needed them as well. After spending time in prayer we really felt God was releasing us from Michigan. This was very hard because things were going so well there, and me not wanting to deal with any conflict I probably prolonged a decision that should have been made sooner. The last time I had visited Colorado I realized that my Mom's health wasn't so good. Why hadn't I seen this before? I was just blind to it I guess! I didn't really have peace about remaining in Michigan while things were going on here in Colorado. (there are things I can't mention) So this, the peace we felt in out hearts, and confirmation from some trusted sources we proceeded to relocate. The last two weeks before leaving were very hard for us as a family. Saying goodbye, not really sure how people felt about the move, and the fact that we realized we were only going to be able to take what we could fit in our car was heart breaking. Emotions were flying high in our house, and I really had to step up and be the support my family needed. So did other things get overlooked? Unfortunately yes.
We had to trust that God knew before we did that we couldn't carry everything with us. So we prayed and believed that He would work it all out. This is actually a good picture of how it is when we are moving into a new season. You literally can't carry everything with you from the old season. I was reminded of the camel tryn to get through with all the stuff on it's back. Knowing our car wasn't in the greatest shape, we took a two day trip and turned it into about a week. We stopped in Chicago to hang with family for a couple of days, and we went to IHOP (International House of Pray) in Kansas City, MO for a few days. Both stops were needed, we were so refreshed by friends and loved ones!
Once we arrived in Colorado everything just seemed to fall into place. We got a cool apartment with a great view of the mountains. It seriously looks like the back drop of a nice painting. Our apartment was fully furnished when we got here! GOD IS GOOD! He gave us everything back and some. Our landlords are spirit filled believers, who said that we were an answer to prayer. (How often does that happen?) We have some great friends who live 1/2 block up the street from us and we found a fantastic church with a slammin young adult group. All this is great, a testimony of the faithfulness of God. But the greatest thing was seeing my Mom's smile. Proverbs 13:12 says Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. The smile on her face was a longing fulfilled.
It has been exactly a month and five days since we have been here. This has been the hardest month and five days of our lives. We have had to cling to Jesus like never before, and we told doubt to shut up and because God is who He says that He is! We are currently walking out of a storm holding each other and holding on to God's unchanging and faithful hand! Besides just being with family as much as we can, we don't know what the future holds. Jeremiah 29:11 but He knows so that is all that matters! God is cooking up some stuff that will come forth in due time! But for now we are loving God, each other, and the people He sets in our path everyday!
I am beautifully broken but in the Potters hands!
I have been a little hesitant to write anything deep, and personal on this blog. After thinking about the title it hit me that allowing folks to look (I mean really look) into my life is scary. I was scared because of what others may think or say. But I layed man pleasing, and fear of man at His feet. So from here on out I am going to walk in my freedom, because after all who the son set free is free indeed!
Many may or not know that me and the fam have relocated to Colorado. I can truly say there is no place like home. We are living in Colorado Springs, Colorado, attending Freedom Kingdom Enterprises (Apostle Dutch Sheets) Zion has started the second grade, and Hilda and I are currently looking for employment. The move from Michigan wasn't an easy move, it was difficult to leave behind great friends that were more like family. We didn't see eye to eye with many, but we felt deep within our hearts, and within our spirits that is was time.
HOW IS ALL STARTED:
God began to speak to us about our family that lived in Colorado through Isaiah 58:7....and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood. I first took this as, okay I need to call more, I need to write more, or I need to visit more. I stated calling more, and writing more, and actually visiting more. The more I visited the more I realized I had been ignoring a big need. My first thought was they need me! This was partly correct but I actually needed them as well. After spending time in prayer we really felt God was releasing us from Michigan. This was very hard because things were going so well there, and me not wanting to deal with any conflict I probably prolonged a decision that should have been made sooner. The last time I had visited Colorado I realized that my Mom's health wasn't so good. Why hadn't I seen this before? I was just blind to it I guess! I didn't really have peace about remaining in Michigan while things were going on here in Colorado. (there are things I can't mention) So this, the peace we felt in out hearts, and confirmation from some trusted sources we proceeded to relocate. The last two weeks before leaving were very hard for us as a family. Saying goodbye, not really sure how people felt about the move, and the fact that we realized we were only going to be able to take what we could fit in our car was heart breaking. Emotions were flying high in our house, and I really had to step up and be the support my family needed. So did other things get overlooked? Unfortunately yes.
We had to trust that God knew before we did that we couldn't carry everything with us. So we prayed and believed that He would work it all out. This is actually a good picture of how it is when we are moving into a new season. You literally can't carry everything with you from the old season. I was reminded of the camel tryn to get through with all the stuff on it's back. Knowing our car wasn't in the greatest shape, we took a two day trip and turned it into about a week. We stopped in Chicago to hang with family for a couple of days, and we went to IHOP (International House of Pray) in Kansas City, MO for a few days. Both stops were needed, we were so refreshed by friends and loved ones!
Once we arrived in Colorado everything just seemed to fall into place. We got a cool apartment with a great view of the mountains. It seriously looks like the back drop of a nice painting. Our apartment was fully furnished when we got here! GOD IS GOOD! He gave us everything back and some. Our landlords are spirit filled believers, who said that we were an answer to prayer. (How often does that happen?) We have some great friends who live 1/2 block up the street from us and we found a fantastic church with a slammin young adult group. All this is great, a testimony of the faithfulness of God. But the greatest thing was seeing my Mom's smile. Proverbs 13:12 says Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. The smile on her face was a longing fulfilled.
It has been exactly a month and five days since we have been here. This has been the hardest month and five days of our lives. We have had to cling to Jesus like never before, and we told doubt to shut up and because God is who He says that He is! We are currently walking out of a storm holding each other and holding on to God's unchanging and faithful hand! Besides just being with family as much as we can, we don't know what the future holds. Jeremiah 29:11 but He knows so that is all that matters! God is cooking up some stuff that will come forth in due time! But for now we are loving God, each other, and the people He sets in our path everyday!
I am beautifully broken but in the Potters hands!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
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