Wednesday, June 30, 2010

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

Friday, June 25, 2010

Lyrical Friday - My Future Decided

Hi Friends! 
I've been busy catching up with Family & Friends. I can't wait to have spare time in my hands to share with you what great and mighty things the Lord has been revealing and teaching me. 

On another note, the Uth Nation Peru Team is home. This past Wednesday the youth took over the service, from worship to skits and testimonies of the trip. Real soon, you'll being reading a short testimony from one of the youth kids. 

Anywho, today's song is one that we have recently started playing in youth group. We have a rocking band led by the youth kids. My Future Decided is by Hillsong United. Here you go:

Thursday, June 24, 2010

Flames from James


Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  [James 4:7]

Friday, June 18, 2010

Lyrical Friday - Burn Us Up

Good Friday Everyone! When Lyrical Friday was inspired by a midweek service where the message was delivered by the worship band through songs. Today's song is straight out of the Bible. Read the book of Daniel and have your world rocked. Enjoy today's song and if you don't know the story get your Bible open and read it.

God bless YOU!!!

Burn Us Up, Shane and Shane 

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Peru Update & Prayer Request

Hi Friends.
For a quick update on the team in Peru you can click HERE. Thank you for your prayer support.

Calling all Prayer Warriors.
Her name is Rosita and she has a cyst in her knee area. Her job is a little rocky right now and she may be unemployed soon. In the next week or so she will be seeing a doctor. Please pray for her as the Spirit of God leads you. I will keep you posted in the days to come.


         
  Blessed be the Lord,
         Who daily loads us with benefits,
         The God of our salvation!  
Psalm 68:19  


Monday, June 14, 2010

Paper or Plastic



This short film reminded me of one of my favorite verses found in the book of Hosea, 2:14 "Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her." How precious is the love of God. He does not relent but like a gentleman He pursues and speaks tenderly to me, no matter how unfit I feel about myself.

Saturday, June 12, 2010

Peru

Hi Friends.
Uth Nation (youth group at my church) is sending 19 amazing people to serve the people in Peru. They leave tonight and return next Sunday. Please keep them in prayer.
Here are their names:

Jose Sr
Jose Jr
Chris V
Chris M
Alex
Christian
Joey
Tommy
Pinito
Michi
Dominique
Sarah
Jasmine
Annie
Tiffany
Melissa
Tatty
Andria
Sammantha

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things,Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, “ Your God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7

Friday, June 11, 2010

Lyrical Friday - You Are Mine


Hello Dear Friends!
I recently came across Enter the Worship Circle and as soon as I heard 'You Are Mine' it became an athem. I am currently reading and studying the book of Isaiah. God has certaintly taken me on a most beautiful journey through this book and I can't get enough of it. So naturally, hearing the lyrics to this song confirmed once again what He has been speaking to me... I am His.

But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O [enter your name here], and He who formed you, O [enter your name here]: “ Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. Isaiah 43:1

I pray that through this song you may be reminded of this great truth. In the words found in Song of Solomon: my beloved is mine, and I am His. God bless YOU!

You Are Mine, Enter the Worship Circle


maybe i don't have the strength
maybe i don't have the faith
you brought me here in forty years
when i know this trip should take a week
i've shed my tears and shed my blood
been outran some by the flood
and winter steals my songs away
in all of this i've come undone
.
when you walk through the water
i will be with you
when you pass through the river
those waves they will not overtake you
when you walk on the fire
those flames they will not touch you
you are mine
you are mine
.
i've been a child
i've been a slave
and i've grown bitter
and learned to pray
i've packed my bags and started back
the cost is just too high to pay
.
when you walk through the water
i will be with you
when you pass through the river
the waves they will not overtake you
when you walk on the fire
those flames they will not touch you
you are mine
you are mine.
you are mine.

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