Just want to share something I read the other night.
It comes from the book WHY? because you are anointed! by T.D. Jakes:
"Many times we pray for things, but we don't recognize or understand the answer to our prayers. Remember, in all things God has a divine process and order by which He operates everything on earth.
We ask for strength, and God sends us difficult situations to make us strong. We pray for wisdom, and God provides us with problems that provoke us to come up with solutions and develop wisdom. We ask for prosperity, and God gives us strength to work and wisdom to invent. We ask for a favor, and God gives us responsibility. A large percentage of our success is the result of our eating the bread of adversity and drinking the bitter waters of affliction.
'The genius of success is to be able to see the good that hides in every situation. As a pessimist sees obstacles in his opportunities, so an optimist sees opportunities in his obstacles.' Tribulation worketh patience."
Thank you Bishop T.D. Jakes for that middle paragraph. We ask for so much from God and don't see it when He is giving us the answer. Sometimes the answer is right there in front of our eyes, right there in the "difficult situations" and "problems" and "responsibilities". Make sure to open your eyes to what is going on around you and see if this is the answer to the prayers you've been praying.
Jennifer
Monday, February 22, 2010
Devastated for a friend............
Here I am - a women who believes with all of her heart everything about God that I know and have learned over the years. So when a tragedy struck my friend and she loses her only child (only 6 years old), I start to wonder how and why. Then I start to walk around in some kind of fog and in some sort of daze as I question what has really just happened to my friend and to her family. I start to feel as if I don't even know who I am anymore.
Basically my friend's precious 6 year old son went to his friend's house (who was only 7) for his birthday. The mom was going to take them to the movies that evening. When my friend couldn't get in touch with the mom, she called the police (around midnight Friday night). The police met her and her husband at the friend's house . The police brought a dog with them to pick up the scent in hopes of finding something, and they were led to a pond that had frozen over behind their home. When the police officer shined his light on the pond, there was a hole in the ice. Their hearts sank. The fire department and divers were dispatched on the scene and after several hours they brought out the two boys and the mom's body. The police said the mom must have tried to jump in to save them and she drowned as well.
Did God abandon them? Should we just accept this as a part of life? Do we just suck it up even though our hearts are broken? After a while this begins to even work on our confidence in God. We know that we are important to God, but LIFE has a way of chipping those beliefs away, toiling with our mind and our emotions, leaving us to question things that we should already know the answers to. We may even feel that it is our fault somehow and think about ways that we could have done better, or that we could have made this not happen or even ways to change what has happened.
Life is truly a battlefield. I pray that you never have to experience the nightmare my friend is living through right now. It feels like sometimes when we get knocked off our balance by this wave, the minute we stand up another one hits us and the wipeout is even more severe the second time than it was the first. Sometimes you feel that you can't even catch your breath. You may even ask yourself that if God truly is a good God and if He is in charge, then why? Why did this have to happen? Why to such an innocent child and family? Why Lord? Why?
After the many tears and praying, I decided to research this thing called tragedy and why it happens to so many of God's people. I was led to this verse:
John 10:10
"THE THIEF COMES ONLY TO STEAL AND KILL AND DESTROY; I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE, AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL......."
We are at WAR!! We just don't get it in this life. There is a spiritual battle involving all the forces of Heaven and hell, and it is being played out right here before our very eyes on Earth.
These are desperate times which call for desperate faith. Faith in ourselves or others is meaningless and will lead us to disappointment and loss, but putting your faith, putting my faith, in an all-knowing, all-powerful God means everything.
If you don't remember anything from this post, remember this always: HE IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER. No matter if you lose a child, a spouse, a friend, a parent, your health, your job, your home, your marriage, or whatever else that life throws our way sometimes, FAITH has to be the center...the very CORE of our lives. Faith is what pleases God.
Look at Hebrews 11:6:
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
When tragedy strikes in our lives, no matter what it might be, hit the floor on your knees and cry out to God. Place your faith in him, and He will strengthen you. But remember that if you try to handle things on your own and with your own strength, you will be weak and lost.
I challenge you this week no matter what your burdens are, to give them to God and memorize this scripture:
Matthew 11: 28-30
"Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
I can't imagine being paralyzed by the kind of circumstances my friend is enduring at this time. I know my faith would be challenged. I think the hardest thing for me is knowing that I can't just put on my "fix it hat" on and "fix" this for her. I want to erase the whole thing as if it never happened and make her pain go away. There are so many of us that are so desperate for a healing, and not just a physical healing, but emotional healing, religious healing, mental and financial healings, the list can go on. We must keep the faith. This path is not easy and God never promised us that it would be. But He did send His only son to die for us and take the sins of the world so that we would have everlasting life. His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. I praise Him today that life does not end here. We have a citizenship to another place called Heaven.
Father I beg you to move on Deena's behalf today. Help her Father to keep the faith. Lord, you gave us emotions and as certain ones arise in Deena as she grieves over the loss of her only son, be there for her Father, to hold her in your arms. You know Father what it is like to lose a child, to give up a Son. You have felt her pain Lord. Please give her peace and heal her broken heart. You are a mighty God. She needs to draw off of your strength. Be her refuge Father. This is a sad time in her life. Tuck her under your wings of refuge. I praise you Father that you have us in the palm of your hands. Thank you Jesus for the veil being torn so that we have direct access to you.
Trying to keep the faith in all of this world's devastation,
Robbie
Basically my friend's precious 6 year old son went to his friend's house (who was only 7) for his birthday. The mom was going to take them to the movies that evening. When my friend couldn't get in touch with the mom, she called the police (around midnight Friday night). The police met her and her husband at the friend's house . The police brought a dog with them to pick up the scent in hopes of finding something, and they were led to a pond that had frozen over behind their home. When the police officer shined his light on the pond, there was a hole in the ice. Their hearts sank. The fire department and divers were dispatched on the scene and after several hours they brought out the two boys and the mom's body. The police said the mom must have tried to jump in to save them and she drowned as well.
Did God abandon them? Should we just accept this as a part of life? Do we just suck it up even though our hearts are broken? After a while this begins to even work on our confidence in God. We know that we are important to God, but LIFE has a way of chipping those beliefs away, toiling with our mind and our emotions, leaving us to question things that we should already know the answers to. We may even feel that it is our fault somehow and think about ways that we could have done better, or that we could have made this not happen or even ways to change what has happened.
Life is truly a battlefield. I pray that you never have to experience the nightmare my friend is living through right now. It feels like sometimes when we get knocked off our balance by this wave, the minute we stand up another one hits us and the wipeout is even more severe the second time than it was the first. Sometimes you feel that you can't even catch your breath. You may even ask yourself that if God truly is a good God and if He is in charge, then why? Why did this have to happen? Why to such an innocent child and family? Why Lord? Why?
After the many tears and praying, I decided to research this thing called tragedy and why it happens to so many of God's people. I was led to this verse:
John 10:10
"THE THIEF COMES ONLY TO STEAL AND KILL AND DESTROY; I HAVE COME THAT THEY MAY HAVE LIFE, AND HAVE IT TO THE FULL......."
We are at WAR!! We just don't get it in this life. There is a spiritual battle involving all the forces of Heaven and hell, and it is being played out right here before our very eyes on Earth.
These are desperate times which call for desperate faith. Faith in ourselves or others is meaningless and will lead us to disappointment and loss, but putting your faith, putting my faith, in an all-knowing, all-powerful God means everything.
If you don't remember anything from this post, remember this always: HE IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, AND FOREVER. No matter if you lose a child, a spouse, a friend, a parent, your health, your job, your home, your marriage, or whatever else that life throws our way sometimes, FAITH has to be the center...the very CORE of our lives. Faith is what pleases God.
Look at Hebrews 11:6:
"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him."
When tragedy strikes in our lives, no matter what it might be, hit the floor on your knees and cry out to God. Place your faith in him, and He will strengthen you. But remember that if you try to handle things on your own and with your own strength, you will be weak and lost.
I challenge you this week no matter what your burdens are, to give them to God and memorize this scripture:
Matthew 11: 28-30
"Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
I can't imagine being paralyzed by the kind of circumstances my friend is enduring at this time. I know my faith would be challenged. I think the hardest thing for me is knowing that I can't just put on my "fix it hat" on and "fix" this for her. I want to erase the whole thing as if it never happened and make her pain go away. There are so many of us that are so desperate for a healing, and not just a physical healing, but emotional healing, religious healing, mental and financial healings, the list can go on. We must keep the faith. This path is not easy and God never promised us that it would be. But He did send His only son to die for us and take the sins of the world so that we would have everlasting life. His ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts. I praise Him today that life does not end here. We have a citizenship to another place called Heaven.
Father I beg you to move on Deena's behalf today. Help her Father to keep the faith. Lord, you gave us emotions and as certain ones arise in Deena as she grieves over the loss of her only son, be there for her Father, to hold her in your arms. You know Father what it is like to lose a child, to give up a Son. You have felt her pain Lord. Please give her peace and heal her broken heart. You are a mighty God. She needs to draw off of your strength. Be her refuge Father. This is a sad time in her life. Tuck her under your wings of refuge. I praise you Father that you have us in the palm of your hands. Thank you Jesus for the veil being torn so that we have direct access to you.
Trying to keep the faith in all of this world's devastation,
Robbie
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
" I am Hungry"
God uses the most creative ways to minister to us or to simply get our attention. A few days ago I was in a hurry; I had just picked up one son from his grandmother and needed to pick up my other two plus their friends. I had an early morning meeting and my mind was going in a hundred different ways. I was in the car, trying to listen to my nine year old, Beth Moore,on one of her CDs, plus drive in a busy city with traffic. I came to a red light. I looked ahead a saw a man with a sign that read, " I am hungry". Usually the signs read.. Will work for food, etc. This man was not on the side of the road, but walking up and down, and in between 4 lanes of traffic. What I was thinking... WOW they are getting brave, walking through the cars. The man was walking my way. One car gave money, then another. I was impatiently waiting for the light to change, to avoid him coming my way. The man in front of me held his hand out of the window as if to say stay strong, or hang in there. The light changed to green. I heard my son digging for change and trying to get the window down so that he could give the man the quarter that he had found. I quickly rolled his window up and told my son that the light was green and we had to go. The man found his way to the side of the highway and I drove on. This event has played over and over in my mind. I read books on how to raise compassionate and unselfish kids, etc. But I just missed a great opportunity to show my son humility and kindness. I am sorry for that, and pray for God to give me another chance. I also thought later that the sign read; " I am Hungry". Is he hungry for food, or simply for God, or hungry for a better life, another chance. We let so many opportunities pass us by each day to make a difference. To let others see Jesus in us. I am going to slow down and try to see the little chances God gives me. I want to be like Jesus, but as much as I want that, I want my kids to be like Jesus. Father forgive us for always being in a hurry. Help us enjoy time with family and friends. And when an opportunity comes for us to help someone in need, help us see them with your eyes. Thank you father for being patient with us.
Amy
Amy
What do you want God to do in your life today? Ask for it and then Wait for the Father to move.
I pray for God's hand to move amongst His children today and stir up a hunger to draw closer to you Lord in these last days.
Instead of asking God to move, let's move God with what we are asking. Think about it.
Jennifer
I pray for God's hand to move amongst His children today and stir up a hunger to draw closer to you Lord in these last days.
Instead of asking God to move, let's move God with what we are asking. Think about it.
Jennifer
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
SIN
Sin will take you deeper into the pit than you ever wanted to go and it will keep you longer than you ever want to stay...............author unkown...
The Gift.........................
My mom gave me the most beautiful little picture frame with my favorite verse.
(Psalm 91:11): For he shall command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways...
This has been the most comforting verse to me I have ever known. When I was first saved,which hasn't been that long ago, I had a lot of fear, and that verse gave me so much comfort (yes I am a woman with a past...lol!!). So when my mom found it on a tiny little frame I couldn't believe it. I held that little tiny frame so close to me. Even though it was cheap in price, the meaning meant more to me than gold. I slept with it every night by my bed. It meant so much to me to be able to see that verse where I slept at night. One day my dad came for a visit. Now my dad has lived a very hard life with some of the choices that he has made. But when he was here something in my spirit said "give that to your dad". It was the softest little whisper in my heart. I thought, "No God. Anything but that. That means so much to me, that is my verse". I was actually trying to bargain my way out of giving that precious verse away. I knew it would mean nothing to my dad. I knew he would sit it down and never give it a second thought. It had no money value but it meant everything to me. That was God's word that comforted me through so much fear. I continued to feel this ever so gentle nudge to be obedient. So I did give my dad that tiny little picture frame with my verse, and I explained to him how much it meant to me. He looked at me like I was crazy. But he took it and has to this day never mentioned it again. I have often thought about that little frame with my verse and have searched high and low in every christian book store that I have been in to find another one but...nothing.
I guess it has been around 2 years ago when that happened, and as one of my bible study classes (Esther) was ending the group presented me with a little box. Now, they had never heard this story before. I had never shared it with my class or anyone for that matter. As I unwrapped this little box, I opened it up to find the most beautiful silver bracelet I have ever seen. I noticed there was a verse engraved around it. When I picked it up to read it, I screamed. There it was...my verse...engraved all the way around that bracelet. On the inside was engraved Psalm 91:11.
Wow I am still touched by this as tears fall down my cheeks as I write this now. The class had no idea. When one of the women in the study went to purchase the gift (the bracelet), she said there were several verses to choose from and "something" (hmmm...what could that "something" have been?) nudged her to get that one.
WOW isn't God amazing. His ways are not our ways , his thoughts are not our thoughts, his timing is so different from ours. He cares about the little things. That little tiny picture frame has turned into now the most beautiful bracelet that you have ever seen, and I am now wearing my favorite verse around my wrist.
Praise Him today and be obedient. Listen to the tiny nudging of the Holy Spirit and sit back and watch God work.
Thank you Jesus for caring even about the little things. Praise you Father! You are worthy.....
Always attempting to walk in obedience,
Robbie
(Psalm 91:11): For he shall command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways...
This has been the most comforting verse to me I have ever known. When I was first saved,which hasn't been that long ago, I had a lot of fear, and that verse gave me so much comfort (yes I am a woman with a past...lol!!). So when my mom found it on a tiny little frame I couldn't believe it. I held that little tiny frame so close to me. Even though it was cheap in price, the meaning meant more to me than gold. I slept with it every night by my bed. It meant so much to me to be able to see that verse where I slept at night. One day my dad came for a visit. Now my dad has lived a very hard life with some of the choices that he has made. But when he was here something in my spirit said "give that to your dad". It was the softest little whisper in my heart. I thought, "No God. Anything but that. That means so much to me, that is my verse". I was actually trying to bargain my way out of giving that precious verse away. I knew it would mean nothing to my dad. I knew he would sit it down and never give it a second thought. It had no money value but it meant everything to me. That was God's word that comforted me through so much fear. I continued to feel this ever so gentle nudge to be obedient. So I did give my dad that tiny little picture frame with my verse, and I explained to him how much it meant to me. He looked at me like I was crazy. But he took it and has to this day never mentioned it again. I have often thought about that little frame with my verse and have searched high and low in every christian book store that I have been in to find another one but...nothing.
I guess it has been around 2 years ago when that happened, and as one of my bible study classes (Esther) was ending the group presented me with a little box. Now, they had never heard this story before. I had never shared it with my class or anyone for that matter. As I unwrapped this little box, I opened it up to find the most beautiful silver bracelet I have ever seen. I noticed there was a verse engraved around it. When I picked it up to read it, I screamed. There it was...my verse...engraved all the way around that bracelet. On the inside was engraved Psalm 91:11.
Wow I am still touched by this as tears fall down my cheeks as I write this now. The class had no idea. When one of the women in the study went to purchase the gift (the bracelet), she said there were several verses to choose from and "something" (hmmm...what could that "something" have been?) nudged her to get that one.
WOW isn't God amazing. His ways are not our ways , his thoughts are not our thoughts, his timing is so different from ours. He cares about the little things. That little tiny picture frame has turned into now the most beautiful bracelet that you have ever seen, and I am now wearing my favorite verse around my wrist.
Praise Him today and be obedient. Listen to the tiny nudging of the Holy Spirit and sit back and watch God work.
Thank you Jesus for caring even about the little things. Praise you Father! You are worthy.....
Always attempting to walk in obedience,
Robbie
Thursday, February 11, 2010
God's Amazingness Seen
As I read what other's write days after we write about things, I am reminded how everything with God is circular. He circles us with His word, with His answers, and as we praise Him and our praises go up to him, His glory comes back down to us in return...as in a circular motion. Again, I see His hand moving and stirring among His people as I read similar, almost word for word at times, stories like the ones we have shared on our blog.
There is one topic in particular that I read on another blog that was posted today and we were circled with it yesterday and blogged on it. God is bringing unity amongst His people. And I'm not talking about people that know each other, or even live in the same city or state. These are complete strangers. But there is a common ground that God is speaking to us about.
He never ceases to amaze me. He never stops being the most amazing and unpredictable Father. He opens up His huge arms and pulls His children in tight and wraps us with His love and His word and in that moment I see another glimpse of who He is, another piece to the puzzle that He is allowing me to put together. And I beg for more of it, for more of His awesomeness and amazingness and splendor and all that He has to offer to me as His child.
Thank you Father.
I love you Father.
In love with the Father
Jennifer
There is one topic in particular that I read on another blog that was posted today and we were circled with it yesterday and blogged on it. God is bringing unity amongst His people. And I'm not talking about people that know each other, or even live in the same city or state. These are complete strangers. But there is a common ground that God is speaking to us about.
He never ceases to amaze me. He never stops being the most amazing and unpredictable Father. He opens up His huge arms and pulls His children in tight and wraps us with His love and His word and in that moment I see another glimpse of who He is, another piece to the puzzle that He is allowing me to put together. And I beg for more of it, for more of His awesomeness and amazingness and splendor and all that He has to offer to me as His child.
Thank you Father.
I love you Father.
In love with the Father
Jennifer
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