Elisabeth Elliot on worry

Worry is the antithesis of trust. 
You simply cannot do both. 
They are mutually exclusive.
-Elisabeth Elliot

Birthday Surprise! It's Nicole. part 1

Happy Monday and welcome back to the Birthday Surprise series. Today we welcome back Nicki, or as I now call her Mzungu (white girl). Last year Nicki shared on the Birthday Series about her two week trip to Uganda ( read here part 1 and part 2). Since then, she returned to Uganda for a much longer visit and chronicled her thoughts at FollowtheNicki.com. If you're up for some serious life changing reads, go visit the links. Without further ado, scroll down for the first of three posts by our favorite Mzungu. 

photo credit

Hi everyone!

You know some things I love? Birthdays, for one, so happy 4^th birthday, blog!!  I also love getting to hang out and share some words here on Rak’s space. I love her loud, hilarious, creative and insightful heart, and it’s a joy to share here at her blog. Even better—she asked me to talk Uganda for a few posts! I’m excited by that and I pray you take away some encouragement from this week’s posts with whatever the Lord wants to share with you. So off we go…

  

May 1, 2013 I stepped on a plane bound for Entebbe, Uganda without a clue as to what God had in store for me. He knew.

Questions raged from others on whether this was where God was “really” calling me and for how long. Only He knew.

I had only previously spent two rapid weeks in Uganda less than 9 months before this time. I knew close to nothing about what culture would be like, how awkward the ever-changing weather would be, or how difficult it would be to survive on my own cooking for four months. He knew.

He knew the hardships, the bouts of loneliness, and the depths of intimacy and vulnerability that I would experience. He knew the place I had just walked through with wounds and bruises, and a slightly bleeding heart, and He knew where He needed to take me.

My God knows me. He also knows my absolute confidence when I say that my heart and my life have been utterly transformed because of this crazy leap I took to leave the familiar and cross into the unknown—alone. I am still in awe of the privilege I have been given to share life and ministry with the people of Uganda. The capacity in which I had ever previously served God was easily eclipsed by the glow of relationships birthed, the experience of working alongside churches, ministries and in homes, and the joy of seeing a lost and hurting heart being made alive in Christ.

There was a point where this role of Nicki ended and where the great and awesomeness of God began. This point was an acknowledgment that in order to truly be safe, protected, happy, secure and fully used, I needed to completely abandon myself before God, Creator and Savior. My everything was in Him. My everything is in Him. Uganda pushed me to see beyond myself, my flesh, and to witness the miraculous love of my God. His thoughts and His plans are way above mine; yours too. He knew what I needed and where I needed to go.

All along, He always knew…

photo credit: Nicki, Uganda 2013

photo credit: Nicki, Uganda 2013

photo credit: Nicki, Uganda 2013

a good word.

[photo credit]

Happy Thursday! I'm a week late in sharing this post but not really because God's word is relevant ALWAYS! This past Friday I received a text from a friend in Nashville, TN. She faithfully sends me a verse a day and I do the same. At exactly an hour later, another friend in Miami, FL shoots me a text with a verse carrying the same promise and truth. I was overwhelmed with much needed peace and joy. The Lord is perfect in His reaching out to us... always timely! I pray that they are perfect in reaching you. 

Commit everything you do to the Lord.
Trust him, and he will help you.

Be still in the presence of the Lord,
and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.

Psalm 37:5, 7

Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
and your plans will succeed.

Proverbs 16:3

Commit: to put in trust or charge; 

entrust; to put into place to be kept safe or be disposed of. 

Lyrical Friday - Oceans

Happy Friday!

I am squeezing a little bit of time to post Oceans, a song that has captivated my heart from Hillsong United's most recent album. The lyrics are simple, yet from beginning to end its a spiritual awakening. May your strength be renewed, your faith fortified, and your feet swift to follow Jesus. May the Spirit lead you to where your trust is without borders.

Oceans, Hillsong United

Birthday Surprise. It's Ziemely!

Happy Monday! Today's birthday surprise comes from Ziemely, or as we call her, Zee. I met her this year in our ladies small group bible study yet I feel like I've known her for a lifetime. Though young in the faith, her faith, love, and zeal for the Lord are as contagious as wild fire spreading. Her post is one that we all can identify with and be encouraged by. God bless YOU. 
-

[photo credit]

I am going to be honest and just say it; I use to like being in control. Let me rephrase that, I use to like thinking I was in control. I say “thinking I was in control” because in reality I have never been in control. Even in those moments in which I thought I was, God was always the one managing the situation.

There are many verses that come to mind when I think of control and letting go of the idea of having it. These are verses that God has used to speak to me in times when I was trying to control situations and/or outcomes in my life. 

You can make plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail. – Proverbs 19:21

A perfect example of this can be found in Genesis when Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. Although he experienced difficult times along the way, God was always with him. God turned what an outsider would have thought was going to be an awful life into a life in which Joseph was able to show others what trusting in the Lord looks like.

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, 

“With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. – Matthew 19:26 

There is NOTHING that is impossible with God. I would venture to say for the majority of us, the reason we like “being in control” is a sense of security we get when we think we know how things will turn out in our lives and what will happen next. There are so many opportunities I have had in my life that if it weren’t for God being in control of my life they never would have happened. I never thought I would have passed that class, gotten that job, paid that bill, or traveled there.  I will be forever grateful for all the times I have been wrong; that it was not me that was truly in control. I would miss out on so many things, if only what I thought possible or was capable of doing on my own would happen.

 “Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. 

Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” – Mark 14:36

If even Jesus – God incarnate prayed, we should be praying all the more. Not only did Jesus pray to God, He prayed that God’s will be done. At times, I find myself praying for what I believe is best for me. If we think we know what is best for ourselves, just imagine everything the Lord knows IS best for us. In reality, the best thing for us is for God’s will to be done in our lives. He knows the beginning, the end and the beauty that is the in-between. He wants to give and teach us so much, and the only way that can happen is for us to surrender all.

I pray that we can all remember to let go of that need to be in control and allow God to truly work in our lives. That we not turn to God as our last resort, but as our only resort.

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, 

thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. – Jeremiah 29:11 

Birthday Surprise. It's Nicole. part 2

Welcome back to Nicki's hope story.
Part 1 (click here) was a great read, yet I tell, part 2 will be even better! May the Lord speak mightily to you!
-

[photo credit]

Here is a piece of God's hope story: 

She is eight years old. Her brown face contains a smile that can brighten the darkest of moments. Her big black eyes have potential to catch anyone’s attention, and keep it. She is timid at first glance but once she feels comfortable you have nothing more than a young girl full of joy and laughter and smiles dancing around your waist and holding onto your hand for dear life. She is smart, she is kind, and she is beautiful in every way. She has gone through much more difficult struggles in her short eight years than I have in my twenty-two. She is a daughter of the King. She does not know her earthly father, but she is learning to trust in her heavenly one. Her name is Alijati, she is from Kamonkoli, Uganda, and I am her sponsor.

The Lord has used this precious child to teach me lessons I never knew I needed to learn. Lessons on love that go beyond barriers that we put up around ourselves. Lessons on patience and trusting in our God in Heaven that promises to be our strength, our guide, and our help in times of trouble and need. But most importantly, a lesson on how important it is to be obedient to what the Lord is asking of you, in order to not miss out on the will He has for your life.

God had purposed for me and Jati to connect with each other, and because of this and the desire He placed in me to want to do something bigger than myself, her need and my ability intersected. I am able to provide food and education to a worthy child who would have not fully known these things otherwise. And it goes beyond that. In providing for her and being there for her, I am able to give her the opportunity to know Jesus and experience His love and hope in a tangible way; a way that she has never known because of the struggles she's dealt with.

I have my own dreams that start with love and the desire to glorify God, and end with wanting some precious brown faces in Uganda to know about their Father in Heaven who loves them and is intimately acquainted with them. Maybe your hope story isn't a needy child that you can provide for from across the world. Maybe it’s a stranger across the city or a sibling in the next room. My prayer is that our mighty God would strengthen and equip you to do what you may not even know He’s called you to do yet. Allow your ability and the need He places before you to intersect, so that He may be glorified. Open your eyes, open your heart, allow His love to flow through you and watch your hope story, which is really His, unfold right before you.

"We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our hope and our shield. 

In Him our hearts rejoice as we trust in His Holy name." Psalm 33:4 

photo of Nicki and Alijati, Uganda 2012

photo of Nicki and Alijati, Uganda 2012

Alijati is the beautiful girl wearing the white top. 

Birthday Surprise. It's Denise!

Hello there. Today's guest blogger is none other than my cousin Denise. She's no stranger to the Birthday Surprise tradition, and you can read her post "Trials and Adoration" here. Denise is one of the few people that I can trust and say is a woman of her word. May her story inspire and encourage you to choose contentment over bitterness.
-

[photo credit]

-

Bitterness and Contentment

It was 3:30 am again. I had to be up for work in a couple of hours and my head was throbbing, I was wide awake and I was losing all hope of falling asleep again. Laying there, staring into the darkness of my bedroom, thoughts began to swim through my head, and then, the tears came, burning my tired eyes. This was starting to become a daily thing. I couldn't stand it anymore. My life had been turned upside down and it felt like it had all happened overnight. Was this really happening? Was I still dreaming? Please God, let me fall back to sleep so I can wake up and this nightmare can be over.

Except it wasn't a nightmare, it was very real. I had lost my mother, and my father was marrying a much younger woman, even younger than I. Too many things were happening around me that I could not control. And every time I thought one trial had finished, another one immediately took its place. Everything was spinning out of control and I couldn't make it stop. The truth was, I couldn't stop it, not any of it. This was my new life and I was going to have to live with it, or stay miserable, stressed out, broken and wounded. The good news is that there was a way out and I knew it. I realized that the one who saved me, the one who had been there for me through everything, was still there. My God, who loved me dearly, was waiting with His arms wide open. He would be my comfort, my strength, my sanity.

Everything happened so fast, I should have been grieving but instead I was dealing with things beyond my control. There were times when my emotions took hold of me and I could barely breathe. I realized that if I let my emotions continue to control me, I wouldn't be able to breathe again.

More than any other emotions, what took over me the most was bitterness and anger. I think what shocked me was how quickly it all had happened. I didn't understand why or how it was happening, I just wanted someone to make it stop. However, deep down, I knew that all of this would be used for God’s glory. 

I felt like I couldn't trust anyone else on this earth. My real father was my God. He loved me more than anything. Isaiah 43:1-4, became my passage during this time.

“But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I gave Egypt as a ransom for your freedom; I gave Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.” ~Isaiah 43:1-4

I have a God who loves me and I couldn’t be more content in that thought. He loves me dearly. He can get me through anything. He was more real to me than He ever had been. He did not want me to be bitter and resentful. By holding onto my emotions and feeling bitter towards those around me, I was only hurting myself. No one else was losing sleep over this except me. But most of all it was hurting my testimony. How could I show the love of Christ and be an example to others if all they saw in me was sadness and anger. This is not the way God wants me to feel. It wasn’t easy but by staying in the word of God and keeping an open relationship with Him, everything became better. He spoke to me and comforted me tremendously. I was His daughter, His princess.  I was able to sleep at night and my bitterness slowly melted away. I was able to face things I never thought I would be able to face before and I was able to come home at night and actually enjoy being there. My situation did not change but my attitude toward it did.

We need to be content in all our circumstances. They are there to mold us and make us stronger. I heard a pastor use this analogy this week, he mentioned that when he was a child, his mother would bake and she would have all the ingredients laid out on the counter. He proceeded to try each one, the sugar, the oil, the flour, etc. He said he remembers trying each ingredient one by one. Individually, they tasted horrible, they were not appetizing at all. But when his mother put the ingredients together and baked them, they were delicious. When we look at each of our circumstances individually, they seem horrible, they are not good, but when you look at your life as a whole, these are the things that have made you who you are today, they have made something good.

In the end, I learned that I need to praise God no matter what, whether I am up or down. He loves me and knows what is best for me, even if I don’t understand it. He suffered for me, more than anything I will ever go through on this earth. If there is a situation that you are in that you feel you can’t control, surrender it to God, let Him handle it. If there is a person that you need to forgive, pray for them. You will be surprised at how much your attitude and heart changes toward a person when you are asking for God to work in them. Most of all, never stop worshiping Jesus. He loves you.

“Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.” ~ Colossians 3:12-15

Lyrical Friday - Overcome

Happy Friday to You! 

Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? Indeed the hour is coming, yes, has now come, that you will be scattered, each to his own, and will leave Me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome. the world. John 16:31-33

-

This portion of scripture has been one of great comfort in my life, many times. It is often quoted to those who are in the midst of tribulation and sort of blurted out without giving much thought to it. These words, spoken by Jesus, are so heavy in worth. Jesus has overcome this world: tribulation, hunger, thirst, sleep deprivation, loneliness, poverty, humiliation, betrayal, slander, demonic manifestations, temptation, and the greatest of these, sin and death. Do you hear the treasures of this verse being rattled? All that we are going through, and all that we have yet to walk in to, Christ has overcome. And because He has overcome we can take refuge in His comfort, delight in His hope, glory in His praises and rest in His promises. 

-

I pray that you may be anchored in this truth today, tomorrow and forever. You are in Christ, a new creation, you no longer have to fear as the world does, but you can be of good cheer in the midst of tribulation. Because Christ was not alone when he walked this earth as a man, neither are you. The Father is with you. He loves you and He cares for you. What matters to you, matters to God; no matter how big or however small the matter may be. He is for you, not against you. Trust Him with your life and as you do, you too will overcome this world. 

-

Overcome, Jeremy Camp 

-
Seated above, enthroned in the Father's loveDestined to die, poured out for all mankindGod's only son perfect and spotless oneHe never sinned, but suffered as if He did2All authority, every victory is YoursAll authority, every victory is Yours2CHORUS:Savior, worthy of honor and glory,Worthy of all our praise, You overcameJesus, awesome in power forever,Awesome and great is Your name, You overcame2Power in hand speaking the Father's planYou're sending us out, light in this broken land2We will overcome by the blood of the Lamband the word of our testimony, everyone overcome

one of those days.

[photo credit]

time is 12:30 noon
And thus far, it's been one of those days. What could have gone wrong, did go wrong. I sat in a waiting room for over two hours, that's a lot of thinking. The aftermath: disappointment, feelings of inadequacy and an overwhelming sense of failure. Once I was tired of beating myself up, I remembered the Lord. Good thing my handy dandy iPhone was fully charged. And off to the YouVersion bible app I went. My lot for the day, thanks to the integrity bible plan, was in Psalm 25. 
-
In you, Lord my God, I put my trust.I trust in you; 
do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me. 
No one who hopes in you will ever be put to shame, 
but shame will come on those  who are treacherous without cause. 
Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. 
Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, 
and my hope is in you all day long. 
Remember, Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old. 
Do not remember the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; 
according to your love remember me, for you, Lord, are good. 
Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. 
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. 
All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful 
toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.  
For the sake of your name, Lord,  forgive my iniquity, though it is great. 
Who, then, are those who fear the Lord? 
He will instruct them in the ways they should choose. 
They will spend their days in prosperity, 
and their descendants will inherit the land.
The Lord is a friend to those who fear him. He teaches them his covenant. 
My eyes are always on the Lord, for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies. 
Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in deep distress.
 My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all!
Feel my pain and see my trouble. Forgive all my sins. 
See how many enemies I have and how viciously they hate me! 
Protect me! Rescue my life from them! 
Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge. 
May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you. 
O God, ransom Israel from all its troubles. 
-
My day has been pretty crappy and I definitely identified with verse 17, "my problems go from bad to worse" but I will choose to do verses 20 and 21. I am taking refuge in the Lord and placing my hope in Him. This Psalm definitely calmed me and reminded me to anchor my trust in God.
-
 I don't know if you are having one of those days, weeks, months or even years. But I do know that it' is normal to experience the lows of life. And for every low in life, there is a high hope found in God's word. For me today, the high hope was found in Psalm 25. I encourage you to seek for an anchor, a high hope, a word fitly spoken for your specific situation. You may not find a hopeful word immediately, but I promise you that the search will be successful. God will answer and not forsake you.

you will sing

In that day you will sing:
“I will praise you, O Lord!
You were angry with me, but not any more.
Now you comfort me.
See, God has come to save me.
I will trust in Him and not be afraid.
The Lord God is my strength and my song;
He has given me victory.”

With joy you will drink deeply from the fountain of salvation!

In that wonderful day you will sing:
“Thank the Lord! Praise His name!
Tell the nations what He has done.
Let them know how mighty He is!
Sing to the Lord, for He has done wonderful things.
Make known His praise around the world.
Let all the people shout his praise with joy!
For great is the Holy One of Israel who lives among you.”

Isaiah 12

the ultimate "Couponing" win!

Have I got a story to share with you!

The other day, my cousin and I talked about buying someone a gift. We decided on going to a certain store because we both had a coupon to shop there. The day of the purchase, we found ourselves coupon less. As she was driving I prayed out loud, "Lord, please provide us with a coupon. How? I don't know. Maybe have someone give us a coupon. In Jesus Name, Amen."

Fast Forward 30 minutes later.

We are sitting on the floor at the store, deciding what to choose when a store employee casually walking by us. Of course, I had to stop him. We asked him if they had extra coupons. What a surprise when He said that they didn't have. As if he cared, I carried on to tell him how my dear Mother threw away my coupon. And BAM, with out any hesitation he offers to "hook" us up with a discount if we pay at his register. He walks away. Can you hear the angels sing, "Glooooooooooria! Glooooooooooria!" OK, maybe there weren't angels singing but we sure were grateful. God heard my prayer.

follow me in this story...

It then hit me, that if I use dmy rewards card I would receive a 25% off coupon for my next purchase.  I figured it all out in my head: I buy this other item, get the coupon and then use it for the gift we were buying. I told my cousin and we both agreed on the new plan. Now we didn't have to bother the store employee.

Fast Forward and skip over the scene of me looking at books and home decor
that I didn't end up buying. 

We are at the register and I hand over my rewards card... we have to make sure this is checked so that I can get my coupon. I told the guy to charge me for the first item and explained to him the whole process of getting the coupon for the next purchase... He literally yelled at me, yes, yelled, "Didn't I tell you that I was going to give you a discount?" At this point I'm speechless, the other cashier and customer look over and He is starring at me like I've committed some horrible crime. Awkward moment there. He repeats himself, "I told you I was going to hook you up." Alrighty then, no arguing there. He proceeds to give us the discount (25% off) and He also gives me the rewards coupon that I intended to use.

Though that guy was pretty nice, in an awkward kind of way, the one who is entirely good is none other that My God. He is good all the time. Not only did He answer my silly prayer, but He taught me a few lesson that I needed to be reminded of: He who promises is faithful.

Many times, more often than not, I rejoice over God's promises for my life but then my mind begins to wander and plot ways of making those promises happen. I lack trust in that God fulfills His promises. I too am marked as a control freak, much like Eve/Sarah/Rebekah/Tamar and other women in the Bible who in some way manipulated a situation in there life. I am impatient and rebellious, but the Lord is always faithful to meet me where I am.
 
1. Regardless of my "handy-work" God's hand at work is much sweeter, more satisfying and overflowing with goodness. [He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:5]

2. I could have gone to the other cashier and used my coupon, which would have been OK but in order to receive the "hook" up and walk out with an extra coupon, well, I had to go to the one who promised it to me. Apart from God, we will never be blessed. [But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Matthew 6:33]

3. The store employee could have hid and not taken care of us, or due to my lack of trust and not given me a discount. But his kindness, generosity and integrity to his word was not dependent on me but entirely on his desire to bless me, to bless us. So it is with the Lord, His goodness, His generosity and His Word don't waver nor do they come to a screeching halt because we are unfaithful and/or faithless. God desires to bless us with an abundant and overflowing life. [Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Luke 12:32]

Has God promised you something?

Has He said to you, "Look to me and I will "hook" you up!"

Let's not be a people who are cheated or who cheat themselves from the blessings of God because we take matters into our own hands. Remember that the promises and blessings of God are as coupons than only He can redeem for us.

Let's choose to say:
Lord You said it.
I believe it.
You do it!

Trust

Hola.
As I searched my "archives" I came across a myspace blogpost that I had written way back in November of 2007. After reading this post, I couldn't help but laugh at how the Lord works. This message ties in so well with yesterday's post on Psalm 46. I pray that you may be encouraged and challenged. Read on:













Last night at the Ladies Bible study Laura Cuevas blessed us with a wonderful teaching: Trust! These are my notes and thoughts:

•Trust in an action (choose to trust)
•The Lord is worthy to be trusted
•If someone or something has a piece of your heart, then you can't trust the Lord with all of your heart
•When we isolate ourselves from God and/or godly council we limit ourselves to our own understanding- Jeremiah 17:5-10… read it
•We first go to God and then use godly council to confirm the word of God
•"In all your ways" implies a lifelong journey with the Lord
•"In all your_____" Fill in the blank with every action that you take: In all my thoughts, in all my words, in all my deeds, in all my finances, in the way that I dress, in all etc…
•Matthew 6:33- Who or what do I give your attention to?
•What is my priority?
•Is my time with the Lord, devotional life?
•Check your attitude: What am I willing to give up for the Lord?
•Appearance: Am I acknowledging Him in the way that I dress?
•Am I guarding others by what I am wearing?
•He will direct my path!!! What an awesome promise.
•If I give (fill in the blank with whatever it may be that the Lord is asking of you) _______ to the Lord, then He will reward me... but I have to take the risk of letting go.
•He has a perfect plan for me and He will fight to get me there... if I trust Him to fight for me.
•We each have a divine and unique path like no other. Be content and trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path to his purpose for your life
•Apart from Him we can do nothing. We can find rest in knowing that if we are abiding with Him, trusting Him won't be so hard. Hold on to Phil 4:13.

John 15:5 - I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.
Philippians 4:13 - We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

 

Lately God has me in awe, as I look into the lives of the people closest to me. Overall how he blesses and honors those who trust in Him and acknowledge Him in all their ways. It's so cool. And I'm not talking about their lives being perfect, I'm talking about people who are still in the midst of a trial. And even though they don't understand the how or what of their circumstance, they have purposed in their hearts to trust the Lord. God is rewarding them and the peace which surpasses all understanding is evident in their walk. That peace in visible in the joy of the Lord, which is their strength and they are able to praise Him in their storm. I am also seeing God granting the desires of my friend's hearts because they committed their ways unto Him.

I challenge you to press pause on all your "dilemmas" and make a mental list of those people closest to you. Analyze where they are today. How is their walk? The choices that they have made and are making today, were they spirit lead or did they lean on their own understanding? What was the outcome of that? In troubled times where did they run to first? God? People? Themselves? Alcohol? Drugs? Shopping? Eating? How do they respond to Godly council? How is their prayer life? This may seem like a psycho analysis but it can help you in this delicate area of trusting the Lord with all your heart. If the people closest to you are not, than you most likely won't either. However, if the people around you trust in the Lord wholeheartedly and with out reserves than guess what, their righteousness will be contagious. They will be a source of encouragement for you to continue leaning, relying and trusting in our faithful and loving Father.

Where am I in all of this?

Let's just say that the Lord has me being still. And there is no place else that I rather be. I've discovered that being still, though it may seem like a drag is the best kept secret place. Why? Because if we are being still, seated, steadfast and immovable, then that means that we are letting God be God. The only way to know him as God is to let Him be God. let him reveal himself as God to you and for you. And to be honest, my own understanding is rubbish. The choices that I have made on my own have all been mistakes. So in this journey, I choose to acknowledge Him in all my ways, and even though I don't meet that goal everyday I don't give up. We don't lose hope! The Lord's mercies are new every morning and He knows best... why am I going to step in the way. What the Lord has for me not you, not I and no one can possibly imagine. What He has for you is too great to even begin to imagine. Don't limit yourself. When He says to be still and know that He is God, our response should always be "Yes Sir!" If we let him be God than we have nothing to fear, He created life and is all powerful and all knowing, why not trust in Him? What have we to lose?

Let Go and Let God means letting God direct you into the very best that He has for you. But, and it may be a big but, you have to take action and let go... only you and the Lord know what it is. I'll make it easy for you it's one of two things or both: someone or something. What are you waiting for?

Read:

Isaiah 55:7-9

Habakkuk 3:17-19

Matthew 6:25-34

sitting back

Hi Everyone.
Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the [wo]man who trusts in Him! Psalm 34:8 Lately, I've been doing a lot of meditating, mostly on the goodness of our Lord. He who has promised goodness to us is faithful!

A couple of posts back I was in the dumps, emotionally and physically... it did me good to be there. God has been slowly removing the scales from my eyes to see the world, the church, friends, family and my self differently. April '09 I was laid off of work and a lot of things have changed from then on starting with that day.

I was working in a Flight School (Yes, I am the queen of odd jobs). I really, REALLY, disliked working there but every time I cried out to God for deliverance I never received His peace to walk away. I had a nasty attitude, I cried like a brat, and constantly complained to God for months. That was till I saw my job as a mission field and that day I surrendered my will to Him. Though I never developed a love for the place I did fall in love with the people. My heart soon shattered to pieces for them like a glass of water falling from a pretty little nightstand to a filthy linoleum floor. It was bittersweet the day that after much prayer God confirmed in my heart that my days in this specific job (mission) were coming to an end. Bitter because I had grown in a diving God-given love for the people. But it was sweet, oh so sweet to be out of there.

 The next morning I took my resignation letter to work. Throughout the work day I had countless of opportunities to submit my letter and give my two weeks notice, but each time I did not have the peace of God to do so. And at just an hour before my work day was over I was called into the office along with two other employees. Determined to quit, I took my resignation letter with me disguised in a student file. It was there that I tasted and saw the goodness of the Lord. Before I could even mutter a word about my resignation, we were told, "Due to the economic fall, we see ourselves obligated to close one of our offices and thus laying off three employees. We are terribly sorry, but we have to let you go. We have prepared for you a severance package, along with a letter of recommendation, and you'll be eligible to collect unemployment." My thought that very moment- "Thank YOU Lord that you go before me."  Had I quit earlier that day I would not have received that severance package, nor would I have been eligible to collect unemployment.

I learned two very valuable lessons:
1. Be attentive and obedient to the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
2. God goes before me, therefore I will trust Him with my life.

Upon finding myself without a job I asked God to make me a student of His Word. He not only has helped me be a diligent student, but through His Word has unveiled my eyes to see how short I fall of His glory. His Word has revealed to me dark truths about myself. His Word has also spoken life and grace to me like I have never embraced before. He is stripping me of me and I'm starting to like the process.

And so I come to a place today where all I desire is to be wholly surrendered to Him. I am without a job, without a career path, don't own a home, don't even have a potential significant other...Yet these do not satisfy wholly, nor do they complete me, because in lacking these I find myself wholly satisfied and complete in Christ.

I read this on a greeting card and encourage you with it:

I don't have to figure out why or how or when. God has a plan, and I'm committed to it. That commitment frees me from having to worry about the details. -Barbara Johnson 

God is magnificently good! He has taken care of me thus far, and I don't doubt His care, His love, His provision, or His guidance. I am choosing to trust Him with every detail of my life. From the day that I was laid off, I have been sitting back (being still from worry, fear or anxiety) knowing that God goes before me and works all things our for my good. He does the work, and I do the walking.

 Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying,
“ This is the way, walk in it,” 

Whenever you turn to the right hand
 Or whenever you turn to the left.
Isaiah 30:21

current status: trusting & waiting

hi dear friends.

At the moment I find myself with writers block. My Aunt has been very ill, fighting cancer and being in the hospital. I covet your prayers for her and our family. It hasn't been easy but God and His word are unfailing and a very present help in time of need. I am trusting the promises in His Word. I am believing that His will for my Aunt is perfect and good. I wait upon the Lord being still and knowing that He is God.

For My thoughts are not your thoughts,

Nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD.

“ For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

So are My ways higher than your ways,

And My thoughts than your thoughts.

“ For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,

And do not return there,

But water the earth,

And make it bring forth and bud,

That it may give seed to the sower

And bread to the eater,

So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;

It shall not return to Me void,

But it shall accomplish what I please,

And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Isaiah 55:8-11

Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,

And whose hope is the LORD.

For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,

Which spreads out its roots by the river,

And will not fear when heat comes;

But its leaf will be green,

And will not be anxious in the year of drought,

Nor will cease from yielding fruit.

Jeremiah 17:7-8

You will keep him in perfect peace,

Whose mind is stayed on You,

Because he trusts in You.

Trust in the LORD forever,

For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.

Isaiah 26:3-4

Waiting on the Lord is never easy, and sometimes we don't have a choice but to wait. Thankfully we have His word to help us.

I'm Singing

Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; ‘ For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.’” -Isaiah 12:2

Happy Monday!

Watch this video and be of good cheer. Though the valley may seem intimidating, dark and unending the joy of the Lord be your strength. May this verse in Isaiah and this video minister to you today and encourage you tomorrow. God Bless YOU!

Here is mine: I am on the road to recovery, the Lord is my strength and my song. I am singing.

What is yours?

Consider the lilies of the field...

Hello my beautiful readers. Today I happened to glean in a certain field and stumbled upon a lily field. It was there that I found a challenge for you and for me, not just for 2010 but for all our days.

Let’s first read from Matthew 6:25-30:
“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?”

Consider the lilies of the field, as I gave thought to this phrase I contemplated how different my life would be if I were a lily. The lilies do not worry (I do) nor do they take matter into their own hands (I do this too). The lilies allow God to be their all in all. As I reflected on the lily or any flower I considered their positions, either raised up as if worshipping their Creator or prostrated as in submission or adoration to their Master. How beautiful that dependence is.

So it got me thinking of Colossians 3:2-3 that says “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.” As I visualize my life hidden in Christ, I imagine being wrapped by God, reminiscent of the petals on a flower. I think Isaiah 61:10 says it best, “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” We are hidden with Christ in God and He has clothed us with garments of salvation (how cool is that) and the robe of righteousness (thank you Jesus!). Why then do we insist on not trusting Him completely, with EVERY area of our lives?

In Isaiah 5:1-6, we read of a vineyard built on a very fruitful hill. The vinedresser dug it up and cleared out its stones, and planted it with the choicest vine. He built a tower in its midst, and also made a winepress in it; so He expected it to bring forth good grapes, but it brought forth wild grapes (verse 2). How terrible I thought, as I read this passage thinking of this poor vinedresser. And then, it hit me. How many times has the Lord provided for me, cleansed me, planted me in the right place and expected me to bear Him good grapes but instead I repayed Him with bad ones. I don’t want to deal with just unbelief, lack of trust or worry but also with disobedience, rebellion, covetousness, envy, gossip, addictions and my list can go one. I need to keep myself on check. I am considering the lilies of the field, and considering that my life is hidden with Christ in God. He has clothed me with His Spirit and like this vineyard He has a planted me on a very fruitful hill (His Word).

I pray that this year and all the days of your life you may bear good grapes unto the Lord. Consider the lily in Sgs 2:2, who was a lily among thorns. Set out to be that woman whose trust is the Lord God (Jeremiah 17:7). May you know Him as God Almighty as you surrender to Him every are of your life.
God Bless You and thank you for reading
Raquel