We will be starting our next bible study in a few weeks.
Pursuing More of Jesus by Anne Graham Lotz is the study that we have felt God laying on our hearts to do.
We will be posting each week different thoughts and prayers from the study as God leads us along into a deeper walk with Him.
If you are hungry for more of Jesus' love and wisdom and want to explore the lessons that Jesus shared with His disciples, then join with us in this study. Anne Graham Lotz will take a look at the later part of the Gospel of John.
We are excited to begin another study. This study is different from a lot of the ones we have done in the past, but we know without a doubt that this is the one that God has for us to do.
Pray and see if God would have you follow along with us in this study. We are always here for questions and discussions and hope that God will continue to open the doors through this ministry for us to share His love through our lives here on earth.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
A Daughter to the Best Father in the World
Yesterday at church, our worship leader stopped to speak to the congregation about spending time talking to the Father. God wants us to be quiet at times and listen to Him, and then there are times when God wants to hear us talk to Him. The church began to talk to God, began to enter into worship by talking to our Father (yes we are a spirit filled church so things can get a little loud sometimes). As I stood in God's presence, I began to speak to Him about being His daughter. I began to want to be His daughter and know what and how to be His daughter. I've never thought about this for long, but as I stood there in His presence, tears began to fall down my face as I realized what that really meant. Sure I know that I am a daughter of the king. But yesterday I started to think hard on what that meant. What it meant to be His daughter.
You see, I compare a lot of what goes on in the spiritual realm to my earthly experience here physically. I had a very loving father, although it was not shown to me with physical touch or even words of affirmation or encouragement. My dad was one of those men that was very hands off. He used to even say that he told my mom that he loved her when he married her and if he changed his mind he would let her know. He didn't believe that he should have to say it everyday. He believed that actions spoke louder than words, and that words can be so empty sometimes. So, instead he showed his love by provision and protection. Now don't get me wrong, if I had a problem and needed to talk, my dad was there to listen and he would tell us that he was proud of us when he was. But when he did, we knew it was true. My dad just didn't feel us up with empty words that didn't match his actions. What my dad said was from the heart. My dad would still go to the end of the world for me. If I needed him to protect me from harm, he would. If I needed financial support, he would provide. He would never want to see me suffer or hurt or be in pain.
I started to compare God to these actions. I stood in church and started to see God as my earthly father was for so long. As a child, my dad would never throw me into a burning fire and tell me to walk through it to get to the other side and hope for the best. The only way my dad would tell me to go through it was if he knew that it was better on the other side. And even then, my dad would be right there with me to walk me through it (or run), holding my hand the whole time, or carrying me close to his chest, trying to protect me from the flames of the fire. Yes, I may get burned in places and have a few spots when I got to the other side of the burning fire, but my dad would gladly take the entire consumption of the flames for the safety of his daughter.
Our God is like this. Sometimes we are faced with "burning fires" in our life. But, God doesn't expect us to go through it by ourselves and then report back to Him and let Him know how hot the fire was or how many burns we got along the way. No, He is there to walk with us through it, even carry us through it so that we aren't in harm of being consumed by it and dying from it.
Yesterday I saw God holding my hand, as His daughter, and walking me through this fire (and believe me I have been through some fires in my life).
I want to know and learn how to be a daughter to the Father of all Fathers. I want to know how to raise my own children so that their "grandpa" will be proud of them. I want to have my Father's acceptance and approval, and yes, discipline.
I have known, loved and served God for a very long time, but yesterday I saw a different role, a different characteristic, a different walk that I must take with Him.
I was reading the other night in a book, and it spoke about myrrh and how it is not pretty to look at. It is bush-like and not pretty to look upon and it even has a bitter taste to it if you were to put it in your mouth. BUT, if you take myrrh and crush it, it puts off the most beautiful fragance. The more it is bruised and crushed, the louder the fragrance that it puts off.
Sometimes we have to be bruised and crushed until a fragrance comes off of us. Sometimes we have to go through a really big fire and get bruised up a bit so that we come out smelling better. And, then when we walk into a room, people will know that we have been in the presence of God because of the fragrance that comes off of us. It will be recognizable.
I want to thank God for my earthly Father and for blessing me with an example to look at and compare and learn from. My dad is the best dad in the world and I love him more than words can express.
I continue to want to be the best daughter to my earthly father and to my heavenly Father. I want to continue to grow to be the woman of God that I am meant to be. I want to radiate with a fragrance that draws others to me and makes them wonder what it is "I am wearing". I don't WANT to be crushed and bruised and hurt, but if it means that I get closer to the characteristics of the Father and I come out "smelling" better, then I am open to whatever God takes me through...because I know that my heavenly Father will be right there, holding my hand, shielding me with His arms and body, carrying me when I can't walk and getting me through to the other side so that I can shine for Him.
Teach me, O God, how to be the best daughter a dad could ask for, one that makes you proud to call me your own, and one that shows the characteristics of her father in the most useable and loving way.
I love you dad.
Your Daughter,
Jennifer
You see, I compare a lot of what goes on in the spiritual realm to my earthly experience here physically. I had a very loving father, although it was not shown to me with physical touch or even words of affirmation or encouragement. My dad was one of those men that was very hands off. He used to even say that he told my mom that he loved her when he married her and if he changed his mind he would let her know. He didn't believe that he should have to say it everyday. He believed that actions spoke louder than words, and that words can be so empty sometimes. So, instead he showed his love by provision and protection. Now don't get me wrong, if I had a problem and needed to talk, my dad was there to listen and he would tell us that he was proud of us when he was. But when he did, we knew it was true. My dad just didn't feel us up with empty words that didn't match his actions. What my dad said was from the heart. My dad would still go to the end of the world for me. If I needed him to protect me from harm, he would. If I needed financial support, he would provide. He would never want to see me suffer or hurt or be in pain.
I started to compare God to these actions. I stood in church and started to see God as my earthly father was for so long. As a child, my dad would never throw me into a burning fire and tell me to walk through it to get to the other side and hope for the best. The only way my dad would tell me to go through it was if he knew that it was better on the other side. And even then, my dad would be right there with me to walk me through it (or run), holding my hand the whole time, or carrying me close to his chest, trying to protect me from the flames of the fire. Yes, I may get burned in places and have a few spots when I got to the other side of the burning fire, but my dad would gladly take the entire consumption of the flames for the safety of his daughter.
Our God is like this. Sometimes we are faced with "burning fires" in our life. But, God doesn't expect us to go through it by ourselves and then report back to Him and let Him know how hot the fire was or how many burns we got along the way. No, He is there to walk with us through it, even carry us through it so that we aren't in harm of being consumed by it and dying from it.
Yesterday I saw God holding my hand, as His daughter, and walking me through this fire (and believe me I have been through some fires in my life).
I want to know and learn how to be a daughter to the Father of all Fathers. I want to know how to raise my own children so that their "grandpa" will be proud of them. I want to have my Father's acceptance and approval, and yes, discipline.
I have known, loved and served God for a very long time, but yesterday I saw a different role, a different characteristic, a different walk that I must take with Him.
I was reading the other night in a book, and it spoke about myrrh and how it is not pretty to look at. It is bush-like and not pretty to look upon and it even has a bitter taste to it if you were to put it in your mouth. BUT, if you take myrrh and crush it, it puts off the most beautiful fragance. The more it is bruised and crushed, the louder the fragrance that it puts off.
Sometimes we have to be bruised and crushed until a fragrance comes off of us. Sometimes we have to go through a really big fire and get bruised up a bit so that we come out smelling better. And, then when we walk into a room, people will know that we have been in the presence of God because of the fragrance that comes off of us. It will be recognizable.
I want to thank God for my earthly Father and for blessing me with an example to look at and compare and learn from. My dad is the best dad in the world and I love him more than words can express.
I continue to want to be the best daughter to my earthly father and to my heavenly Father. I want to continue to grow to be the woman of God that I am meant to be. I want to radiate with a fragrance that draws others to me and makes them wonder what it is "I am wearing". I don't WANT to be crushed and bruised and hurt, but if it means that I get closer to the characteristics of the Father and I come out "smelling" better, then I am open to whatever God takes me through...because I know that my heavenly Father will be right there, holding my hand, shielding me with His arms and body, carrying me when I can't walk and getting me through to the other side so that I can shine for Him.
Teach me, O God, how to be the best daughter a dad could ask for, one that makes you proud to call me your own, and one that shows the characteristics of her father in the most useable and loving way.
I love you dad.
Your Daughter,
Jennifer
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Are you comfortable where you are?
Sometimes I will get this excited feeling and I don't know why. I usually will stop and think about what is going on and usually it is nothing special, but I feel my spirit jumping inside. I always get a good feeling when this happens, anticipating the unknown.
We have no idea what God has in store for us. But I know that the Holy Spirit that lives inside of me knows. And He wants to give away the secret, but can't. We have to wait.
Robbie, Jennifer, and I often ramble off all the things that we feel God wants us to do. But then like Robbie mentioned in her post below, we will fall into a pit. Satan is scared of what will happen if we fulfill all that God has for us. So he will bring up things from our past, or tell us lies that will hurt our feelings, make us mad. etc. And this will buy Satan time and maybe even souls. Like I always tell my kids, "How hard can it be? We have been over this and over this. You should know the answer by now.". But unfortunately we don't. We are like weeble woobles, but we are the ones that fall down.
Robbie mentioned earlier to me that we all have a purpose in this life. I personally do not want to miss it. I sometimes think that maybe I am more comfortable in the pit. I'm sometimes safe in the pit. I have salsa and chips in this pit. Not really funny, but Robbie and Jennifer know that I love salsa. I know Jesus as my personal Savior and my name is written in the Lambs Book of Life. Wow, that sounds so great. But in the pit I am not ministering to anyone. I once heard (Greg Lorie I think said this) "salvation is free it will cost you nothing. Following Jesus will cost you everything.".
So once again I'm going to say put on your armor and get out there. God will never leave us nor forsake us. It is the little things that please Him.
One little story. Robbie, Jennifer, and I are critical care nurses. Jennifer and I work at night. Last night I took care of this lady that had been neglected and was in bad shape. I knew that she had very little time left. I don't even know if she understood what I said as I gave her a bath, but I felt the need to ask her if she knew Jesus. She was on the ventilator and could not respond. I wish I would have told her that Jesus loves her and for her to pour out herself to Him. Hopefully I will get that chance. But anyway I coaxed another nurse in the room to help me with her hair. It was a mess. I told this nurse that today may be her last day on this earth, and I wanted her to look good. I also mentioned to this nurse, who loves Jesus, that one day this patient will come up to her in heaven and thank her for taking the extra time to fix her hair. The nurse, who really did not want to help, started to take extra time and effort.
Just one day at a time, one moment at a time, lets make a difference for Jesus.
We have no idea what God has in store for us. But I know that the Holy Spirit that lives inside of me knows. And He wants to give away the secret, but can't. We have to wait.
Robbie, Jennifer, and I often ramble off all the things that we feel God wants us to do. But then like Robbie mentioned in her post below, we will fall into a pit. Satan is scared of what will happen if we fulfill all that God has for us. So he will bring up things from our past, or tell us lies that will hurt our feelings, make us mad. etc. And this will buy Satan time and maybe even souls. Like I always tell my kids, "How hard can it be? We have been over this and over this. You should know the answer by now.". But unfortunately we don't. We are like weeble woobles, but we are the ones that fall down.
Robbie mentioned earlier to me that we all have a purpose in this life. I personally do not want to miss it. I sometimes think that maybe I am more comfortable in the pit. I'm sometimes safe in the pit. I have salsa and chips in this pit. Not really funny, but Robbie and Jennifer know that I love salsa. I know Jesus as my personal Savior and my name is written in the Lambs Book of Life. Wow, that sounds so great. But in the pit I am not ministering to anyone. I once heard (Greg Lorie I think said this) "salvation is free it will cost you nothing. Following Jesus will cost you everything.".
So once again I'm going to say put on your armor and get out there. God will never leave us nor forsake us. It is the little things that please Him.
One little story. Robbie, Jennifer, and I are critical care nurses. Jennifer and I work at night. Last night I took care of this lady that had been neglected and was in bad shape. I knew that she had very little time left. I don't even know if she understood what I said as I gave her a bath, but I felt the need to ask her if she knew Jesus. She was on the ventilator and could not respond. I wish I would have told her that Jesus loves her and for her to pour out herself to Him. Hopefully I will get that chance. But anyway I coaxed another nurse in the room to help me with her hair. It was a mess. I told this nurse that today may be her last day on this earth, and I wanted her to look good. I also mentioned to this nurse, who loves Jesus, that one day this patient will come up to her in heaven and thank her for taking the extra time to fix her hair. The nurse, who really did not want to help, started to take extra time and effort.
Just one day at a time, one moment at a time, lets make a difference for Jesus.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you.... Isaiah 43:2
Do you ever ask God "where have you been?"
"Why did you let this happen?"
Maybe you just don't understand something going on in your life, trying to figure out if it is being allowed by God or is it Satan who has been granted permission to sift you?
Remember that God is moving even when he is silent. He may be drawing near to you and you have not noticed. Maybe your own tears are blinding you from his presence! Just maybe you can't hear his gentle whisper in your heart because you are so caught up in your own self. Get to higher ground so you can hear him better. Don't remain in your own self pity. Satan wants to take you back to square one. He wants you to start completely over. You have to get out of your pit. It can become a habitual cycle over and over again. One of the Yahweh sisters and I laugh because we are constantly falling into our own pit. We offer each other our make believe tools. She will even text me and say, " Do you want to borrow my tools to get out of that pit, just make sure you return them I might need them tomorrow." (Amen)... Surround yourself with Godly friends that can help support you when you are down. Friends that can lift you up when your wings don't remember how to fly. If you don't have this pray for God to send you someone that is walking with God that can give you Godly advice and help when you need it. I am so blessed to have the Yahweh girls; and if I need prayer I text and I know they are hitting the ground on their knees for me. They love me with all my imperfections. So today I thank you God for these precious women in my life.. Remember that Satan is like a roaring lion walking around ready to devour you and your life at any minute.
God doesn't always protect us the way we feel that we should be protected. He doesn't always keep us from suffering. But what he does promise in HIS word that HE will be present with us in the midst of our suffering and pain.... He said, "Fear not....When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.... For I am the LORD YOUR GOD...YOUR SAVIOR;...YOU ARE PRECIOUS AND HONORED IN MY SIGHT, AND ...I LOVE YOU"...Isa. 43:1-4......
Blessings,
Robbie
Do you ever ask God "where have you been?"
"Why did you let this happen?"
Maybe you just don't understand something going on in your life, trying to figure out if it is being allowed by God or is it Satan who has been granted permission to sift you?
Remember that God is moving even when he is silent. He may be drawing near to you and you have not noticed. Maybe your own tears are blinding you from his presence! Just maybe you can't hear his gentle whisper in your heart because you are so caught up in your own self. Get to higher ground so you can hear him better. Don't remain in your own self pity. Satan wants to take you back to square one. He wants you to start completely over. You have to get out of your pit. It can become a habitual cycle over and over again. One of the Yahweh sisters and I laugh because we are constantly falling into our own pit. We offer each other our make believe tools. She will even text me and say, " Do you want to borrow my tools to get out of that pit, just make sure you return them I might need them tomorrow." (Amen)... Surround yourself with Godly friends that can help support you when you are down. Friends that can lift you up when your wings don't remember how to fly. If you don't have this pray for God to send you someone that is walking with God that can give you Godly advice and help when you need it. I am so blessed to have the Yahweh girls; and if I need prayer I text and I know they are hitting the ground on their knees for me. They love me with all my imperfections. So today I thank you God for these precious women in my life.. Remember that Satan is like a roaring lion walking around ready to devour you and your life at any minute.
God doesn't always protect us the way we feel that we should be protected. He doesn't always keep us from suffering. But what he does promise in HIS word that HE will be present with us in the midst of our suffering and pain.... He said, "Fear not....When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.... For I am the LORD YOUR GOD...YOUR SAVIOR;...YOU ARE PRECIOUS AND HONORED IN MY SIGHT, AND ...I LOVE YOU"...Isa. 43:1-4......
Blessings,
Robbie
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WE HOPE THAT YOU ARE BLESSED BY WHAT YOU READ HERE AND OUR DESIRE IS TO BRING YOU CLOSER TO THE FATHER THROUGH OUR STORIES. IF THERE IS SOMETHING YOU WANT US TO BLOG ON OR HAVE A COMMENT (GOOD AND BAD) ABOUT SOMETHING WE HAVE BLOGGED ON, PLEASE LET US KNOW.
WE HOPE TO ADD SOME PICTURES TO THE SITE AS WE BLOG SO THAT YOU CAN RELATE TO US AND GET TO KNOW US BETTER. IF YOU EVER HAVE ANYTHING YOU WANT TO SEND TO US TO ADD ON, YOU CAN EMAIL IT TO US. WE ARE NOT THE WISEST WHEN IT COMES TO COMPUTERS BUT WE ARE FIGURING THINGS OUT.
GOD BLESS EVERYONE OF YOU THAT READS AND KEEPS UP WITH OUR CRAZY BUT BLESSED LIVES. WE ARE WHAT YOU READ HERE...SIMPLE WOMEN TRYING TO GET TO KNOW THE FATHER EVEN MORE THAN WHAT WE DO RIGHT NOW AND BE USED FOR HIS GLORY IN WHATEVER WAY THAT IS.
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
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
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