A Timely Reminder

Dear Ones -

The following was posted on my old blog site and spoke to my spirit today.  I feel like it is a timely reminder to share once more.

~ W

Reflections: Life’s Winding Road

October 02, 2009

I’m in a reflective mood today – probably as a result of this being October and the start of fall. I enjoy the feeling I get at this time of year. Can’t explain it – could be that October means that my favorite holiday isn’t too far away. No, it isn’t Halloween! My favorite holiday is Christmas. I’ve always gotten excited from October to December as far as I can recall. My fondest memories are from my childhood in Long Island, NY when we’d have snow and it really could have been a picture from Currier & Ives.

Another reason is that, including the first part of spring; this is a time where I find myself seriously reflecting on my life. Part of that comes from the fact that I do yearly newsletters to send with my Christmas cards to family and dear friends and I have literally 12 months of memories, achievements and so much more to share.

You could say that this time of year finds me looking at where the winding road of life as brought me from and where I am headed. I don’t look back so much to chastise myself, though I do have plenty of regrets and dreams that I didn’t fulfill. I think many of us find ourselves in this place. It’s not so much the looking at where I’ve been, but the looking forward – like the picture above – to see what lies ahead, within the view. There are still unknowns and bumps along the way; however, there is just something exciting about the journey. Like this quote I found, it eloquently says what I feel about this faith journey I am currently on:

“Faith isn’t the ability to believe long and far into the misty future. It’s simply taking God at His Word and taking the next step.” ~ Joni Erickson Tada

His Word says that He has plans for us to give us a hope and a future. What it doesn’t say is how long that future is. Our days are not ours; He has already set aside the number of days for each of us. When our number is called, that is it. Several years ago, I wouldn’t have cared about this fact. Since being saved by grace in 2000, all I desire is to know Him, to live my life in a manner that is pleasing in His sight (not the sight of man), to be a living testimony. The one hurdle I have had is growing in the faith.

It’s so much like when you are a child and you have growth spurts – you get growing pains. Your joints hurt, your bones feel like they are going to pop right through the skin. With faith, at least my experiences, I have felt like my heart was going to explode from the pain. See, my journey has taken some major turns that I couldn’t have foreseen at the time I was saved – starting with the demise of my marriage. I knew my marriage wasn’t stellar; but I still knew that running away wouldn’t solve any of the issues. I knew I was being abused; but I thought it was what I deserved. It was only after I knew that God didn’t design that for me that I realized a supernatural, spiritual change would have to occur to save my marriage. So I began praying for my husband, began steadfastly living my life in Christ around my husband hoping he’d be so hungry for the same and want to come to Christ too. The problem was/is – he doesn’t believe in God. I was unequally yoked. I had to step aside and let God take over. When decision to divorce was made, I did have a peace about it. So, I don’t regret the decision; I regret all the pain we both inflicted to each other during the marriage. Some things just can’t be taken back after they are said.

But then, there are the turns in the road that bring joy and blessing. If you’ve kept up, you have seen some really good stuff about Kimberly. There was a time when I was told that she’d never walk and that she would be delayed in ability to learn (I am now sure that the doc we had then in TX was not trustworthy or qualified to make those statements), so to have her physically growing into this beautiful young lady, who is WAY capable of learning and excelling, is truly a blessing. I love my baby girl very much and daily tell her this because I don’t want her to ever doubt that or think that I don’t. It goes back to earlier when I said we don’t know the number of our days – so I do my best to tell those I love how I feel and do at least one thing each day that gives God glory.

I am looking forward to the turns in the road that lie ahead. I am hopeful that on this journey – both life and faith – there will be happy surprises and realized goals. Oh, I know that I’ll still have the bumps and even big, gaping potholes from time to time; but I am equipped with the Master Navigator as my GPS and know that I can trust Him at all times. I don’t have to be anxious when sidelined on the side of the road or at those times when I am forced to stop. I know that these times of tribulation (also promised in the Word to occur) are only temporary and serve to grow me that much more. It has taken me a long time to accept that statement, and I am a little surprised that I even said it (much less shared with you!). You know what? Joy always comes in the morning!

I’m going to leave you now with another quote I found when searching for inspirational quotes on faith. I do hope your winding road and journey, whatever it is, is blessed and you find a way to be a blessing – no matter how little you may seem to think it may be, it counts largely.

“Faith is no irresponsible shot in the dark. It is a responsible trust in God, Who knows the desires of your hearts, the dreams you are given, and the goals you have set. He will guide your paths right.” ~ Unknown

Times of Uncertainty...or are they?

Social media is buzzing with posts about these current events in Israel being the start of the Rapture or even the return of Christ Jesus, which based on what I have been able to research are two different events altogether.  Both, however, are just the start of the Tribulation period and, for me, the true indication that God has completed the work He began at the start of Creation.  I have also found that there have been several other times in history where Christians were convinced that the End Times were in their lifetime - so far six different wars in or over Israel in the last century.  Uh-oh...this means this current conflict is the seventh (seven meaning completion).  However, I go back to God's Word and find many times where there is mention of the destruction or end of this world and yet a promise at the same time that we are not to fear these things.  God promises a future and a hope; He promises to be our strength and protection; He promises to restore and bless; and His love never ends.  He even promises a new Heaven and new Earth - what that means I have not yet learned, but I am open to discovering as God chooses to reveal it.  

Does all this mean that I have "rapture anxiety"?  I don't know, honestly.  I am not fearful of leaving this corrupt and sinful place that was once created to be a place of great beauty and peace - at least that is how I see Eden at the very start being.  Furthermore, I am not fearful of standing before God in Heaven because my confidence is in Christ Jesus, now and forevermore.  Perhaps the only lingering feelings of remorse are from the past - which I have to daily shed because they no longer have any power over me in Christ; they are filthy rags that I have taken off.  I am now clothed in grace and mercy that my Father adorns me in.  And yet I do hold onto faith the size of a mustard seed and the promises of hope and a future because I desire to witness my own daughter married and starting her own family so that I can see the fruit of His work in and through Kimmie and Dustin.  These two young adults are passionate about living righteously before God and men, sowing seeds of salvation for the harvest yet to come, proclaiming the redemptive work only accomplished by Christ Jesus.  Maybe it is foolish of me to have such hope, but I do not believe that God would answer prayers for a spouse, child, provision, healing, or other desire of the heart just to wipe it out as if it was of no value.  Everything created by God has purpose and worth - and He says nothing from Him returns void.  

I do believe that a revival and awakening started in 2022 and is only gaining momentum, though it appears the noise of it has quieted.  Not sure exactly why, but just because the noise is less robust does not mean the work is done.  The events happening now in Israel are definitely a wake up call for all of mankind - not just Christians - to recognize the great evil that permeates through every weakness of ours: greed, selfishness, pride, hatred, prejudice, jealousy, and lack of compassion.  Yes, my dear Christian friends, we are also not immune to these venomous traits despite our conscious efforts to ward them off.  There are times when I still find myself swallowed up by one or more and then being convicted by the Holy Spirit to seek forgiveness from God and those who I harmed with these traits.  Be assured, none of us wakes up determined to harm another person and yet, when we are not careful of our sinful nature, we can do great harm without realizing it is happening.  

Personally, it grieves me to watch those I love and admire be on opposite ends of what they believe - whether that is spiritual or political or moral.  I have come to a point when I meet with others to use the disclaimer "let us agree to disagree in this area" and then continue to fellowship and love on them.  There will be a day when we all will be in one accord when we are bowing before His Throne.  Following are scriptures that support what I have stated here - whether you agree or not is not the issue:

Romans 6:6-7 Holman Christian Standard Bible

6 For we know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that sin’s dominion over the body may be abolished, so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, 7 since a person who has died is freed from sin’s claims.

2 Corinthians 5:17, 20-21 Holman Christian Standard Bible

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, and look, new things have come….20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, certain that God is appealing through us. We plead on Christ’s behalf, “Be reconciled to God.” 21 He made the One who did not know sin to be sin[a] for us, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

Jeremiah 29:11 Holman Christian Standard Bible

11 For I know the plans I have for you”—this is the Lord’s declaration—“plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Proverbs 23:18 Holman Christian Standard Bible

18 For then you will have a future, and your hope will never fade.

Proverbs 24:14 Holman Christian Standard Bible

14 realize that wisdom is the same for you. If you find it, you will have a future, and your hope will never fade.

Galatians 2:19-20 Holman Christian Standard Bible

19 For through the law I have died to the law, so that I might live for God. I have been crucified with Christ, 20 and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 6:14 Holman Christian Standard Bible

14 But as for me, I will never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. The world has been crucified to me through the cross, and I to the world.

Ephesians 2:10 Holman Christian Standard Bible

10 For we are His creation, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time so that we should walk in them.

Acts 24:15 Holman Christian Standard Bible

15 And I have a hope in God, which these men themselves also accept, that there is going to be a resurrection, both of the righteous and the unrighteous.

2 Peter 3:13 Holman Christian Standard Bible

13 But based on His promise, we wait for the new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness will dwell.

Mark 13:4-27 Holman Christian Standard Bible

4 “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign when all these things are about to take place?” 5 Then Jesus began by telling them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. 6 Many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and they will deceive many. 7 When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, don’t be alarmed; these things must take place, but the end is not yet. 8 For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of birth pains.

Persecutions Predicted

9 “But you, be on your guard! They will hand you over to sanhedrins, and you will be flogged in the synagogues. You will stand before governors and kings because of Me, as a witness to them. 10 And the good news must first be proclaimed to all nations. 11 So when they arrest you and hand you over, don’t worry beforehand what you will say. On the contrary, whatever is given to you in that hour—say it. For it isn’t you speaking, but the Holy Spirit. 12 Then brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child. Children will rise up against parents and put them to death. 13 And you will be hated by everyone because of My name. But the one who endures to the end will be delivered.

The Great Tribulation

14 “When you see the abomination that causes desolation[e] standing where it should not” (let the reader understand), “then those in Judea must flee to the mountains! 15 A man on the housetop must not come down or go in to get anything out of his house. 16 And a man in the field must not go back to get his clothes. 17 Woe to pregnant women and nursing mothers in those days! 18 Pray it won’t happen in winter. 19 For those will be days of tribulation, the kind that hasn’t been from the beginning of the world, which God created, until now and never will be again! 20 Unless the Lord limited those days, no one would survive. But He limited those days because of the elect, whom He chose. 21 “Then if anyone tells you, ‘Look, here is the Messiah! Look—there!’ do not believe it! 22 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and will perform signs and wonders to lead astray, if possible, the elect. 23 And you must watch! I have told you everything in advance.

The Coming of the Son of Man

24 “But in those days, after that tribulation:

The sun will be darkened,

and the moon will not shed its light;

25 the stars will be falling from the sky,

and the celestial powers will be shaken.

26 Then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great power and glory. 27 He will send out the angels and gather His elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.

 

Mark 13:32-35 Holman Christian Standard Bible

No One Knows the Day or Hour

32 “Now concerning that day or hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven nor the Son—except the Father. 33 Watch! Be alert![a] For you don’t know when the time is coming. 34 It is like a man on a journey, who left his house, gave authority to his slaves, gave each one his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to be alert. 35 Therefore be alert, since you don’t know when the master of the house is coming—whether in the evening or at midnight or at the crowing of the rooster or early in the morning.

Matthew 25:1-13 Holman Christian Standard Bible

The Parable of the 10 Virgins

25 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be like 10 virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the groom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were sensible. 3 When the foolish took their lamps, they didn’t take olive oil with them. 4 But the sensible ones took oil in their flasks with their lamps. 5 Since the groom was delayed, they all became drowsy and fell asleep. 6 “In the middle of the night there was a shout: ‘Here’s the groom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 “Then all those virgins got up and trimmed their lamps. 8 But the foolish ones said to the sensible ones, ‘Give us some of your oil, because our lamps are going out.’ 9 “The sensible ones answered, ‘No, there won’t be enough for us and for you. Go instead to those who sell, and buy oil for yourselves.’ 10 “When they had gone to buy some, the groom arrived. Then those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. 11 “Later the rest of the virgins also came and said, ‘Master, master, open up for us!’ 12 “But he replied, ‘I assure you: I do not know you!’ 13 “Therefore be alert, because you don’t know either the day or the hour.

Isaiah 55:10-11 Holman Christian Standard Bible

10 For just as rain and snow fall from heaven

and do not return there

without saturating the earth

and making it germinate and sprout,

and providing seed to sow

and food to eat,

11 so My word that comes from My mouth

will not return to Me empty,

but it will accomplish what I please

and will prosper in what I send it to do.”

 

Isaiah 65:17 Holman Christian Standard Bible

A New Creation

17 “For I will create a new heaven and a new earth; the past events will not be remembered or come to mind.

Revelation 21:1-4 Holman Christian Standard Bible

The New Creation

21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea no longer existed. 2 I also saw the Holy City, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.

3 Then I heard a loud voice from the throne:

Look! God’s dwelling is with humanity,

and He will live with them.

They will be His people,

and God Himself will be with them

and be their God.

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes.

Death will no longer exist;

grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer,

because the previous things have passed away.

Revelation 3:10 Holman Christian Standard Bible

10 Because you have kept My command to endure, I will also keep you from the hour of testing that is going to come over the whole world to test those who live on the earth.

So, my friends, let us not be fearful or anxious about what we see because I do believe there is much more work to be done.  The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  We must continue to proclaim the gospel in words and action while we have breath in our lungs and blood in our veins.  I refuse to be a porch chair Christian watching the skies when I can be actively sharing Christ with those He brings me in contact with.  While doing so, I will cling to the hope He has put inside my soul and live.  Only He knows the number of my days and hairs on my head.  

Be Blessed and be a blessing ~

W

One Number That Is NEVER Busy - God's Phone Number

 A few weeks ago I posted about "Perseverance In Prayer" that was influenced by my personal quest to memorize Scripture using The Joshua Code by O.S. Hawkins.  This post is a continuation of this topic on prayer - specifically God's faithfulness to hear our petitions.  The verse reference was Jeremiah 33:3 "Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things which you do not know."  The first part of this verse is an assurance from God that we can call on Him and He will answer us.  The following part is a promise of revelation that He will tell us of things far and above what we already know that have not yet happened (read Ephesians 3:20).  

You see, prayer is a two-way form of communication and a way for our relationship to strengthen with God.  The more we pray, the stronger our faith becomes and the deeper our confidence in that same faith gets.  Like the psalmist writes in Psalms 1:3 "He is like a tree planted beside streams of water that bears its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers."  A tree that is nourished by water will have strong roots that run deep, much like one who has a healthy prayer life will be nourished by the Holy Spirit and that nourishment will only work to making our faith go deeper and stronger.

The part we express in this two-way communication is the actual prayer, or talking part of the relationship.  Hawkins reiterates what many psychologists and counselors know as fact: "to have a positive and productive relationship, there must be verbal communication" (page 65).  This is also true when we pursue our relationship with God - there MUST be communication.  If we fail to express ourselves verbally to our loving Father, the health of the relationship will deteriorate or die.  We simply cannot let this happen - prayer is vital for our own spiritual growth!  As Luke illustrated in his gospel, communicating with Him causes our hearts to burn when we hear from Him and, Hawkins states, when we hear from the Lord, God opens the Scripture to us (Hawkins, 2012).

There are four truths that we can take from a healthy prayer life: 1) God desires to fellowship (have relationship) with us; 2) God knows what is best for us; 3) God teaches us lessons by way of our prayers when answered as we ask or not; and 4) God reveals things to us about His character, His plans, and His love for us.  These truths, when examined, show three things: why we pray, when to pray, and how to pray (Hawkins, 2012).  Hawkins (2012) illustrates prayer as being like a symphony - "the Bible is the score, the Holy Spirit is the conductor, and we are the instruments".  Furthermore, when we talk to God in prayer, He becomes real to us.  Another tangible benefit from prayer is that a new dynamic to our Bible reading forms.  Simply put, the reason why we pray is because God knows better than you and I about what we really need this side of Heaven.  Hawkins (2012) states it this way: "[a]s we read God's Word, the Holy Spirit leads us in our prayer life, and we actually begin to pray the Scriptures for ourselves and for others."  1 Thessalonians 5:17 exhorts us to 'pray without ceasing' - in other words, live in a constant state of communion with God as we set out about our work and witness.  We can take our cues from Jesus, the One Who was without sin, as to when to pray: day and night; in good and bad times; after great accomplishments and before great temptations of life.  In all circumstances, He prayed - as should we.  Lastly, how we pray is important. 

There is a formula of sorts to prayer that Hawkins (2012) outlines as the right combination of humility and honor to God. He states that prayer should begin with confession, or agreement with God, that our sin is not to be minimized just because it may not be as bad as another person's transgression. Sin itself is what made the cross necessary.  In our confessing, we should shine light on the sins related to our words, actions, thoughts, and omission (knowing to do right but not doing it).  God promises us that "if we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" [1 John 1:9].  From here, we move to the prayer of thanksgiving - thank Him for material blessings, physical blessings, spiritual blessings, and for the people who are important to us.  Next comes the prayer of praise where we thank God for what He has done - for who He is!  Recognize Him for His wonderful characteristics of goodness, patience, holiness, and mercy.  After the prayer of praise, the next step is the prayer of intercession where we can boldly come to the throne of God on behalf of others (family members, friends, national and local leaders, unbelievers, and those who have spoken against us).  Through prayer, we learn to be less selfish and more mindful of the needs of others. This is followed by the prayer of petition where we ask God for anything and everything that He has laid on our own heart.  Lastly, there is the prayer of communion - and this is the part of prayer that is more than just mere words - it is where we become still and listen to God.  

As part of the chorus in "Honey In The Rock" states:

I keep looking, I keep finding
You keep giving, keep providing
I have all that I need
You are all that I need
I keep praying, You keep moving
I keep praising, You keep proving
I have all that I need
You are all that I need

Be blessed & be a blessing ~

Wendy

Looking Ahead: A Birthday Post

 

There comes a time in life where we find ourselves reflecting back on the life we've lived, oftentimes landing in a pit of regret.  At least that is what I have found to be true - for me.  Now that my 56th trip around the sun is less than 48 hours, I felt the time was right to write down the lessons that I have learned so far as well as what I hope for the future - however much time God blesses me with in order to further live as a living testimony before others.

Over the twists and turns my life has taken (the ones that I can recall, that is), I have experienced more than many people realize or have knowledge about.  For this post, however, I am only going to reflect on the lessons that truly had a profound impact on me.  The first lesson: I am resilient.  Though it was hard to see in difficult situations, I can confidently say this about myself.  By definition, a resilient person is one who possesses "the ability to withstand adversity and bounce back from difficult life events. Being resilient does not mean a person doesn't experience stress, emotional upheaval, and suffering. Resilience involves the ability to work through emotional pain and suffering." From the years of bullying endured in school to the abuse experienced in my marriage, I have bounced back from these challenging life events - albeit a bit shaken, but still able to stand again.  That is not to say that my feelings were not stomped on beyond recognition - they were.  What I can say today is: no matter the difficulty faced, I can stand firmer against it and, should I stumble, know with certainty that I will stand once more.  there is a motivational sign in my office that says, in part, "sparkle in my eye and a smile on my face. yep, I'm ready for the day...bring it on!"

The second lesson: I possess tenacity. Thinking of examples from my life to illustrate this strength has proven to be a bit more work for this old gal. After all, the definition of tenacity (on the surface) is not what I think of my traits at first: "the quality displayed by someone who just won't quit - who keeps trying until they reach their goal." I know many might think that of me because they have watched me be focused in light of my other trait of resilience.  Focus and tenacity, for me, are two different things entirely.  however, after reflecting on my life, I can see that I do possess tenacity in that I do have a blend of determination, persistence and grit when it is applied to the goals I have set for myself.  I don't want to let go of what I am pursuing, especially if that objective serves to help me grow as an individual.  Being born in the hot month of July, my zodiac sign is the crab (Cancer) - a crustacean that has a hard shell and no backbone (okay - I know that not having a backbone is not really a great thing from the lens of human qualities i.e. being able to withstand adversity and be courageous).  I have a nightshirt that lists a few qualities/traits of someone born under this sign: nurturing, tenacious, imaginative, affectionate. My dad used to tell me that I had the tenacity of a bulldog (meaning that it was not easy for me to let go once I had a hold of something I wanted - like a dog with a bone).  Using the crab again, I have a hard shell and pincers that apply a force many do not expect me to have.  All in all, when applying tenacity to myself, I can agree wholeheartedly with possessing determination (focus), persistence (endurance/longsuffering) and grit (courage/resolve; strength of character).

The third lesson: I am optimistic. This last lesson likely does not come as a shocker to those who truly know me. For as long as I can recall, my tendency has always been that of a glass half full perspective. Despite being bullied in school, I was inclined to (after the required tears were shed) remain hopeful that those who bullied me would become my friends. Despite mental illness and abuse, I remained hopeful that my marriage would survive - and though it did not survive as I hoped, I personally did and successfully protected my daughter from further trauma witnessing the domestic violence that was going on. Furthermore, being a single parent who had to rewrite her goals and envision new dreams, I remained optimistic about my daughter's life experiences in the face of her own challenges - refusing to let anyone tell me otherwise.  Lastly, having been separated from two great jobs under no fault of my own design, I allowed myself the time to mourn the lost income before dusting myself off and putting on my optimistic lenses once more.  The outcome of the optimistic perspective?  Refocus and redirection.  You see, no matter what you set out to do, the first steps are to have focus and direction - see where you want to go and chart the path to get there.  Optimism is vital when initially chasing one's dreams; but most notably when one finds themselves hitting a large obstacle that knocks them off course.  Then they must re-focus (renewed vision for where one wants to go) and then re-direct (discover a new path to get there or identify the right way to get back on the initial path taken).

These three lessons are the ones that have truly impacted me over these 56 years of living - more so in the last 35 years than any other. I am certain that they will continue to impact me for the remainder of my days allotted to me by my Creator, my Father - God.  My only desire is to make the most of these lessons, as well as any others that I learn from, so that they leave a fingerprint on those who come after me. A legacy of sorts, perhaps. A moral of the story, certainly. An illustration of a life filled with joy, blessing, and love - definitely.

Be blessed & be a blessing ~ 

 

 

 

 

 

Persevering in Prayer

  The hardest part of living as a Christian, at least for me, is holding on tight to faith that God, our Father, is truly present in our struggles. Please note that I did not say it is impossible to have faith that God is present, but hard to hold tightly to that faith. Face it - life deals out a lot of garbage at those of us who believe in the One Who created all things with a fiercely burning fire that will not be snuffed out! Though we are new creations in Christ, we still have remnants of our old selves, and this is where we live: in the middle of spirit and flesh. I know that I naturally want to find pleasure and instant satisfaction (flesh), but the fact is we now have to understand that those are temporary gratifications - that the focus needs to now be examining why our flesh wants the immediate satisfactions and then allow our spirit to help us in denying our flesh if it is not going to glorify God. See, in the flesh, we want to glorify ourselves - but when we glorify God, our spirit is the victor in the war waged between flesh and spirit. All we do should now be done to give glory to God, not ourselves. Our flesh and spirit war with each other daily and, in obedience, we must regularly submit ourselves to God, Who created us for a greater purpose than that which we could achieve by our own will. After all, His ways are higher than our ways and His thoughts higher than our thoughts (Isaiah 5:9).

    It is in this space of submission to God that I want to camp for a bit. You see, it is in our daily exercise of submitting that we flex our spiritual muscles to persevere, to be steadfast, in our walk to be light and salt in service to God. What I have noticed is that we have many ways to be steadfast: in prayer, in service, in our actions, in humility, and in our walk of faith. The way I would like to highlight in this post is being steadfast in prayer. Recently, I resumed reading "The Joshua Code" by O.S. Hawkins (2012) in an effort to memorize key scriptures to help build my faith and to write the words of God on my heart. I was struck deeply with the exhortation found in Matthew 7:7, "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you", in which believers are told to continue asking, seeking, and knocking. Allow me to share what I gleaned from this simple instruction to persevere in prayer. The hardest part of prayer is going beyond the presenting of the petition (asking) to God. We often mistakenly think that asking is all there is in prayer life. Truth is, we also must press and persist in our prayer life (the seeking and knocking). Following are the lessons I have learned from my reading of "The Joshua Code" about persevering in prayer.

    In Ephesians 6:16 we are told that "[i]n every situation (to) take the shield of faith, and with it you will be able to extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one" - which just supports how important prayer is in preparing us, but also strengthening us for the battles we encounter.  Hawkins (2012) explains that having a vibrant and virtuous prayer life, along with Scripture memorization and meditation, are vital to having a victorious Christian life. We know that the Father talks to us through the Word and we speak to Him by way of our "prayers of praise, petition, and intercession" (Hawkins, p. 50). In addition, Hawkins explains that the effective prayer is framed, or encased, in His will for our lives. What I took from this first level of prayer of presenting our petitions is that we do have the promise of receiving from God, without a question or doubt. Because we know His will in a situation, we can come boldly to the throne of grace, and have assurance of heart (confidence) that we will receive (Philippians 4:6; 1 Kings 8:45). The hiccup is that we are, as humans, often too proud or rely on our own strength to ever humble ourselves to ask for help - whether from another person or *gasp* God (which is utterly ridiculous since God provides for all our needs). I remember a time when I was too proud to ask for help with the daunting task of yard upkeep after my divorce. I had this feeling that I would be judged harshly if I asked for help - and I certainly did not want to be judged for a failed marriage must less the fact that yard work had gotten to be more than I could tackle on my own. Simply stated, by my own resistance to lay aside my pride, I was allowing my flesh to win and, as a result, was selfish. Nobody likes a selfish person, nor do we set out to be selfish, but that is what being too proud produces. We all know that pride goes before a fall - so it must be dealt with through submitting to God and His will. Personally, I strive to always be in line with and found in God's will.

    The second part of Matthew 7:7 speaks to seeking - or as Hawkins (2012) says "pressing a petition". This is the kind of prayer where a believer does not know the will of the Father in a situation/struggle and seeks until he or she finds it. In essence, a deeper form of prayer that comes from a level of maturity as it sets self aside and is propelled by the deep yearning to know God's will as it pertains to the situation or struggle being faced.  This pressing consists of an intense search for the heart of God in addition with consistent, habitual Bible reading. The result of pressing a petition is the promise that the believer will find God's perfect will for his or her life - just do not give up in this pursuit. Nothing of God will be returned void to those who have faith in His perfect plan for them. I am reminded of the times I wonder what my purpose on this side of Heaven is when the Holy Spirit will snap me back and bring to mind the fact that God created me for a purpose - His purpose. I may not have conscious knowledge of that divine purpose (His will), but I can rest knowing that He will not allow it to be unfulfilled (Jeremiah 29:11; Psalms 40:5).

    The third part in Matthew 7:7 speaks about persisting with a petition (knocking). If you have ever gone to someone's home and their doorbell was broken, you have knocked on a door. You also realize that this requires much endurance since you could be knocking for a LONG TIME! Maybe even found yourself muttering under your breath "where in the world is my friend? Why won't he answer the door?". Hmmm - have you ever wondering if Jesus would have said that of us when He stood at our door and knocked (Revelation 3:20)? Beloved friends, our Father sent His Son so that none of us would perish but have eternal life - Christ came down from Heaven to gather His sheep who had wandered astray and bring us back into the flock - His Flock! He chased after us - not the other way around. Let that sink in. If God did that for us, then how can we not take all our worries boldly to the throne of grace and lay our petitions before Him? Now, the idea of persisting could look a lot like pestering or nagging God - right? But, it is not that at all.  In my reading, Hawkins illustrated this level of prayer as being much like raising children. When a child is small, parents teach them to ask for things like juice, toys, or snacks. As they grow up, parents teach them how to seek after or pursue their desires such as exceptional grades, college education, a career, or something they are passionate about. But because parents do know what is best for their children, they will encourage them to exhibit a level of endurance or real earnestness to do so until doors are opened for them. In other words, parents continue to encourage their children to not give up. This thought comes back to me - "If at first you don't succeed try, try again". My parents have always offered supportive encouragement to their three kids - and that has continued with their grandchildren as well. It is the ever-present exhortation to keep moving forward, even against great adversity, until the object of pursuit has been obtained. However, there are times when, even with the greatest of steadfastness, the pursuit ends with disappointment. Hawkins (2012) explains that because God always answers prayer that we must understand the 4 Ds of prayer: direct, denied, delayed, and different. Sometimes our prayers are answered almost as quickly as they are lifted in the way we requested. Every now and then, prayers are denied - because He knows what is best. Yet, other times, the answer does not come quickly (is delayed) and we can get discouraged. But be of courage because God does hear and responds. Lastly, some prayers are answered differently than how we would expect - again because God knows what is best for His children.

    One last nugget I would leave is this: perseverance builds our character traits of patience, gratitude, respect, and appreciation. The first two traits stand out to me like neon! We must have patience with prayer because the answers are not always immediate. We must also have a heart of gratitude (thankfulness) when it comes to our walk of faith - especially in our prayer life. 

Until next time, be blessed and be a blessing ~

W

    

    

 

 

God is Good...All the Time!

Dear Readers (or just me someday in the future),

In my last post, I was feeling despair after having lost the job I had maintained for ten years.  But the despair was not so much a woe is me as much as I lamented about not having prepared for the end of employment.  I fully trusted God to open the door to a new opportunity and He did!

I owe much praise to my Father above Who goes before me and also to my earthly father who has some amazing connections in this city.  It was at a function he attended that he struck up a conversation with a local business owner.  She said something that resonated with my dad, who then shared that statement with me: "It's not what you know, but who you know" that started a chain of events that floored me.  Within a few days of that conversation at a unrelated function, I found myself gainfully employed - with benefits!  

Most of you know that I have been struggling keeping my medical care stable with ObamaCare options and have often complained that I really needed to secure a job with benefits in order to drop what I have.  In about a month, I will be able to do just that!  To say I am grateful is an understatement.  Humbled?  Yes.  Relieved?  You bet!  So far, the best outcome is that I am no longer stressed to the point of raising my blood pressure.  My anxiety is also lessened and I am finally excited to come to work and tackle what lays before me.  I no longer had excitement with my former job - mostly due to the stress and anxiety that were covering me daily.

Do I hold animosity towards my old team?  Nope.  It just comes to the fact that we had different views of direction that was being taken and I voiced concerns that they did not share or want to discuss.  That's okay.  I'm better for having had the experiences there and I have skills that I did not have before.  Skills that can still be useful in my current job or beyond.  Nothing to be negative about.  I do still have moments where I feel concern for them and such, but then I let go and take another step forward - no looking back.

Be blessed and be a blessing.  

~ Wendy

Charting A New Course

 

This is a difficult post for me to be writing because it symbolizes the reality that I find myself.  I am unemployed again.  The job that I spent the past ten years in is now a part of my past.  Looking forward is definitely daunting and finding the light in this a challenge.  But I will not despair!  I will continue to put my hope and confidence in my Heavenly Father who has provided the way for me to go, who remains faithful to care for my needs daily, and who loves me without ceasing.

God knows the number of applications I have submitted and the reason why only two potential employers have responded.  He also knows the perfect place where my skills can be used and where I can grow personally and professionally.  If you recall, I wrote recently about change and how it is a constant process every living thing experiences.  Yes, this change took me a little by surprise, but I cannot say that I was floored by it.  The environment I was in no longer fostered a sense of unity or support for the work we did - individually or as a team.  Additionally, there was an increasing amount of toxicity that made each day filled with uncertainty.  I can only describe it as being like my marriage where I was walking on egg shells constantly.

Despairing will only prevent me from stepping out in faith, so I will not allow myself to go to that place.  I am more than confident in my skills from over 20 years in the clerical/client services field and know with certainty that God will open the door when the time is right.  In the meantime, I will take any assignment from staffing agencies and keep hunting on my own.  Yes, I am disappointed to find myself pinching all the pennies I can in the waiting.

Of course, as is pretty typical for me, when it gets bad, things happen to worsen the situation.  I just found out earlier this morning that I need a root canal and, it can't be done without my parents' generosity and support, under sedation since local anesthetic is not enough to give me comfort and prevent my nerves from causing endless interruptions of treatment.  Ugh.

If you find time to lift me up in prayer, I certainly do welcome them.

Be blessed & be a blessing.