Elisabeth Elliot on worry

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

I'm Single... today

Hi, I'm Raquel and I'm Single. I am no Relationship expert, and the direction of this blog has never been about one or the other. But the Lord has called me to address the season of singleness with those who are single... and think they are ready to mingle! LOL

Let's be real, If you're single, chances are you want to change that status. And so do those around you, those who want to fix this "problem" for you. I am guilty of both. From the beginning of time, looking at the first human ever created, the Bible tells us that it was not good for Adam to be alone. Reading Genesis 2 brings a question to mind, why was it not good to be single?  I'm no theologian or Bible expert, but I can tell you from my experience why being alone is not good, and it comes from Ecclesiastes 4:9-10, "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up." And to this problemo, God has made a solution: God sets the solitary in families- Psalm 68:6. 

In my loneliest moments of being single, I have seen the hand of God shift my sorrow into gladness as He placed me in family-type settings. For example: Bible study groups/small groups, friends, coworker, new family members, ministry opportunities and I'm sure I'm leaving out other family-type groups that have been a three-fold cord in my walk with Jesus. God has shown me that in my season of singleness, I am not alone. Yes, the cliche thing to say would be, "You are not alone; God is with you." But truth is, He is with you AND He also places the solitary in families. We pray for companionship and He does answer our prayers; not necessarily in the form that we want it, but He satisfies our lonely hearts. If you don't have a family-type group, pray for one. Pray for a three-fold cord friendship in your life. It may come in the least expected form, but when it's from the Lord, woah! is it good. (It may just be that ministry opportunity that you are running from).

I don't know your situation, I don't know your season in life or even how long the season will last, but you are in it today, so what are you to do with it? Matthew 6:34 answers this question for us, "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." What this means to me is, if I am single today, it's because the Lord wills for me to be single, so today I will be the best single I can be for His glory. My encouragement and challenge to you my single friend: be the best single today. I don't know what the Lord has for us tomorrow. We'll worry about that when it comes. 

Signing out, 

The Single Lily

Follow @whereismyboaz on Twitter 

I am a Martha

Happy Monday!
Today's post comes from my wonderful friend Carolina. I read this last night and identified so much with her struggle. Praying that God may speak to you in a very special way through her. From one Martha to all the Martha's out there, this word is for you:

It's strange how the first place I thought of sharing this was on the blog, not sure why. I come here feeling heavy, lonely, confused. I joke saying this is my "quarter life crisis" but it really isn't, this is a petty issue that I have rolled into a huge snowball of sillyness.

I am Martha, I am the person who has 35 things to do, 5 places to be, all in one day. It's a bit absurd, thinking to myself this is healthy, normal. I've come to realize that I'm martha (Luke 10:38-41). I'm that girl that gets herself so busy, and preoccupied that she doesn't even see Jesus is a guest at her house.

I don't want to worry, I don't want to be anxious about things anymore. God revealed to me that my "god" were my life plans. I had such a tight grip on them, they were MINE and no one else's. No one was allowed to interfere, I was shaken to my core realizing this is what is preventing me from coming to Jesus fully.

In the multitude of my anxieties within me, Your comforts delight my soul. Psalms 94:19 I remember this verse way back when, It made me feel hopeful that there is someone greater who can comfort me. The enemy is fighting for my attention, he wants me to fall on my face and let my desires/worries lead me to a place where I exclude God from everything.

FOR HIS YOLK IS EASY AND HIS BURDEN IS LIGHT.

I want to feel His love again, I need to immerse myself in His river. Taking steps to fall in love with my savior...MY JOY IS NOT FOUND IN THE INCONSISTENCIES OF LIFE BUT IN THE CONSISTENCY OF GOD.


*Seed Planters by Caro on this blog click HERE.

As I wait...

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34

Never under estimate the power of God, nor His methods. Yesterday someone who has no clue of my prayers, my struggles, my thoughts sent me this verse. What a timely word it was. Thank You Jesus.

At this very moment I find myself in search for an answer to a very deep prayer. I know that before God gives me a green light, He wants to prepare me for the road ahead. But in the searching and waiting I have often found myself in a traffic-jam-like anxiety... you know, the one where you feel you can't move. But then God reminds me that I should not worry about tomorrow. He will use my daily gleaning in His word, through a song or even a faithful messenger, like yesterday.

As I wait on the Lord, I rest in peace knowing that my life is in His hands... what have I to worry about? In our darkest moments let us hold fast to the promises He has given to us in His word. There is light at the end of the tunnel always- with Christ!

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,  to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

More than a haircut

One thing I absolutely fear is getting a haircut. The thought alone of a bad haircut makes me nervous. Thank God I have a wonderful "hair lady" named Gina that I trust with my life... well, the life of my hair that is. Besides her, I have no one to trust, not even myself. I must confess though, I did cheat on Gina, but only once and believe me my hair paid the price.

This week I stopped by the hair salon and placed my beloved locks in the hands of the master, the big kajuna, the great Gina. I came in and without a word she knew why I was there and what she would do. Without any hesitation from my part I sat at the hot seat and surrendered over my life to her... that is, the life of my hair. For the next 15 minutes I without shame, eavesdropped on a few conversations around the salon. I then proceeded to watched a little bit of the tv program they had on, replied to a few text messages and then it hit me: this is more than a haircut, it's a picture of me and my God!

So, the question came to me, "Do I trust God, my Creator, my Savior, my friend with my life like I trust Gina with my hair? Think about it, I walked in to her presence with ease. I then sat at her seat. I trust no one but her. When she began working on me I didn't hesitate, worry or become anxious with what she was doing... I simply let her do her thing. Have I given God that much control of my life? Can I walk into His presence with great confidence? Do I sit with Him and spend time chatting with God like I do with Gina? Do I trust Him and Him alone with my life? How is it then that I worry, when He who holds my precious life, will only do good for me all the days of my life?

Another question came to mind, "Am I allowing God to chisle away those areas in my life that are dead, wasting away and/or dishonoring Him? Geez, if I allow Gina to cut away all the dead ends and even more how can I not let the God who created me and knows what's best for me prune away those areas that He sees need to be cut off? The more of Me He removes,the more I begin to look like Him.

Jesus should be our Master, our Big Kajuna, our Great God- at ALL times. Living as a Lily among thorns is a challange that requires pruning every so often, more often than anything. Allow the Lord to be that hair dresser that transforms you from dull to radiant. Trust that He knows what He is doing. And if you don't understand what He is doing trust that the end product will be worth the wait. Surrender total control to Him, today!

Going back to my haircut. Gina did what she has always done successfully, she gave me a fanta-bulous haircut. Needless to say, she is a keeper!

*********************

Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Abide in Me [God], and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. -John 15:2,4
*
She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. -Proverbs 31:25
*
Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. -Hebrews 12:11
*
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into His image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord. *2 Corinthians 3:18