Before the Words Are Spoken....

  "For your Father knows what you need

before you ask Him."

Matthew 6:8

This week I have begun a new class in my college education experience: Spiritual Formation. My first paper was to write about my Relationship with Christ; I completed it late Sunday evening. Today was a difficult day for me. There were some concerns I had that I didn't feel God was addressing and I am battling with some confusion as to where I am supposed to be and what I am supposed to be doing. I spent a few minutes down at the waterfront on my way home from the post office and told the Lord I really needed some direction.

When I returned home, I had an email from the professor stating he had graded my paper and he gave me an "A" on it. So, as I always do, I pulled the paper back up to remind myself of what I had written. This is my paper:

I was raised in a Christian home by parents who were second-generation Christians. We attended an Assembly of God church in Fairfax, Virginia. My earliest memories are of sitting beside my mother on a hard wooden bench while Brother Keller preached long sermons. We often joked that no matter what time he started his message, he was going to preach for an hour. We had children’s church on Sunday mornings led by a grandmotherly type woman named Sister Long. I loved this woman dearly; she was the first one who encouraged me to sing and always had a hug and a quick smile for the children.

My grandmother lived with us and her bedroom was right off of mine. I remember her nightly ritual was to let down her long hair, which she wore in a bun, and then get down on her knees beside her bed and pray for each one of her children, some which were not living for the Lord. Her deep love of God and faith and trust in Him made a huge impression on this little girl.

I do not remember the exact date or instance when I accepted Jesus as my Savior; probably one of those Sundays in Sister Long’s class. But I do recall the night I was baptized in the Holy Spirit. We had moved to Houston, Texas by then and I was about twelve years old. We had an evangelist come and speak at our church; I was there with my older sister. At the end of the service, they called for anyone who wanted to be baptized to come to the altar. Many people left the service, but I felt this tugging at my heart. I went to my sister and told her I thought I was to go down to the altar and she encouraged me to do so. But something was holding me back. Finally, she took me by the hand and went with me. It was a night I will not forget; His love washed over me and the Holy Spirit filled me with such peace and strength and a beautiful prayer language. I would not be honest if I said I totally understood what was happening at the time, but I knew that I had received something very special from the Lord.

The years have flown by and now I am almost 52 years old with children and grandchildren of my own. So many times I have been tempted to walk away from it all. But I am reminded that it is by His strength and because of His love that I am where I am today. God has rescued me over and over again; He has provided for me, healed me, and forgiven me time and time again. And still I am amazed and overwhelmed by His love. That He would call me to be of service to Him, that He would equip me to that work and that He would pick me up when I falter is beyond anything I could imagine.

Many years ago when my children were small and we were going through some really difficult times, I was just certain that God had forgotten about us and we were on our own. But He reminded me of Jeremiah 29:11-13, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart" (NIV). He not only had not forgotten me, but He has plans for me and my family. then came the gentle reminder to call to Him and seek Him with all my heart. That was the key: He had not gone anywhere, I had; and it was time to return to Him. 

My life verse for now is Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God." I do not have to do it on my own; He is God and He has it all under control.

By the time I had finished reading my paper, I was in tears. God had reminded me with my own words of all He had done for me in my life and of all that I had to be thankful for. He then reminded me that He has the plans, and my job is to seek Him. He's got it all under control.

My God is so amazing!!!!

Monday, Monday....

“Because of the Lord’s great love [mercy] 

we are not consumed,

For His compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness.

Lamentations 3:22,23 (NIV)

As I awoke this morning, while still lying in bed, I thought to myself, “Another Monday has come….”

Most people dread Monday. The weekend is over and they head back to work or school. Back to the same old routine they followed the week before. That monotonous schedule can sometimes be the catalyst for many of us to fall into “ruts” we call life.

But as I lay there I realized that is much to look forward to on Mondays.

It is a day of new beginnings.

It is a day to take the message we heard in church on Sunday 

...and live it out in flesh.

It is the day to reflect on things that perhaps did not work well last week,

... and determine that this week we will make changes.

It is the day to set aside those things we call “failures”

... and start fresh.

It is a day to take that first step of faith 

...and do what He has called you to do.

God's mercy is new and fresh every morning. But as you start your week today, consider that this Monday morning will be the beginning of something new and fresh God has for you.

~Begin it with hope and expectation. 
~Walk through it with determination and intentionality. 
~Finish it with thanksgiving and praise.

TGIM.... Thank God it's Monday! 

The Hardest Thing...

"Come, my children, listen to me;

I will teach you the fear of the Lord."

Psalm 34:11

The hardest thing I have ever had to do in my whole life is..... trust. 

I am a "fixer". I have always been a rather independent person and convinced that I can fix any problem or situation that arises. But invariably I myself in a situation that is beyond me and I have to let go of it and let God handle it. I do not know why I cannot just allow Him to take care of things from the start; but time and time again I run off  on my own determined to solve the problem. And there He is, waiting for me to surrender it to Him.

The very definition of the word trust means to "rely on or place confidence in someone." When it comes to the things most important to me, like family, that is very hard for me to do.

Life is changing. My children are growing up and some are beginning families of their own. When we moved here to Washington there were just four of us, in our own little corner of the world. Now,  twenty three years later, there are ten of us and we are beginning to spread out.They are making decisions on their own now and following the direction in their lives that they feel God is calling them. They are facing crises of their own and as much as I still want to be their Mommy and fix the things in their lives that they struggle with.... it's time to surrender them. 

And I don't want to let go....

I have done my best to "teach them the fear of the Lord. It is time to let them go and trust God to handle their crises as they come.  For I know that as much as I love them, He loves them  more. Their names are engraved on His hands and are ever before Him (Isaiah 49:16). He has not forgotten them; He knows them by name. 

Father, You have never failed me or forsaken me. Every time I fully surrender and place my trust in You, miracles happen. So today I am choosing to trust my children and their lives and families to you. Guard them, protect them, provide for them, lead them in the paths of righteousness for Your Name's sake. Give them wisdom to make right choices and surround them with Your love. For they were Yours before they were mine. I trust You....

"In repentance and rest is your salvation, 

in quietness and trust is your strength." 

Isaiah 30:15

Purpose & Joy...

"Make my joy complete . . . 

being in one spirit and purpose."

Philippians 2:2 (AMP)

My sister writes a blog entitled Purpose & Joy. While I do not want to steal her subject, my day today had a Purpose and it brought me Joy. So... maybe I could be a guest writer for her blog... what’cha think, Sis?

Today began as any other day... I had some errands to run, clothes to return and/or exchange, groceries to buy - nothing special. But I had a friend of mine on my heart. She had sent me a text yesterday asking me for prayer covering for a meeting she had to go to. While that was all her message said, I knew in my spirit this was no ordinary meeting. I messaged her back and told her I was praying for wisdom, favor and peace. And I encouraged her to speak only the words the Holy Spirit told her to say. 

So, this morning as I ran around, I was thinking of her and wondering how she was doing. One of my spiritual gifts is giving. I love to give little things to people I love just for no reason. While I was at the store, I picked up a little bag of  chocolates and a card, wrote a little note in it with the intent of dropping it off at her office. I felt I had a purpose and it was giving me a lot of joy. I was smiling on the inside and out because I could imagine my friend’s laugh (she has a GREAT laugh) when she opened it.

That's when the enemy tried to steal my joy...

My car key is a fob that electronically locks the doors. I always lock my doors with the fob so that I know I haven't left them in the car. Today as I got to my friends office, I jumped out of the car, slammed the door and went to "click" the key only, it wasn't in my hand. I turned around and there it sat in the car seat . . . behind the locked door. 

Are you kidding me?

I have never... I repeat NEVER in thirty-six years of driving, locked my keys in my car! 

My husband drives a transit bus and was on the road;

The spare key was at the house;

My children left at home are too young to drive, and besides...

I have the car!

I ran inside the office and asked for my friend, determined to achieve the purpose I set out to do and not lose the joy it was giving me and, I hoped, that it would give her. While I waited for her, I called my oldest son and asked him if he would mind going to my house and get the spare key and bring it to me. He graciously said yes. 

My friend only had time to come out and get the gift and a hug me before she ran back to work. I went back out to my car and waited for my son. As I stood there waiting, I thought about what my reaction to this inconvenience could have been. 

There are so many times in our lives when we let these little "hiccups" in the road ruin a perfectly good day. The Bible refers to them as "little foxes that ruin the vineyards" (Song of Solomon 2:15). It really is the enemy's way of trying to steal our joy; and the sad thing is that many times we allow him to do so.

I know, some of you are saying, "You're blaming the devil for locking your keys in the car?" Well, yes... I guess I am. You see, if the steps of a righteous man are ordered of the Lord (Psalm 37:23) then I believe anything that would prevent me from doing what He has asked me to do is from the devil. I refused to let the devil ruin my joy in fulfilling my purpose of giving my friend a gift of encouragement.

But here's my point . . .  if God has called you to out reach and love on someone, be it for encouragement, comfort, support, whatever the reason, then that is your purpose. And in fulfilling that purpose, He not only gives you joy, but it brings joy to those you are serving.

So . . . what is your purpose for today? Who do you know that needs a little joy dropped into their life today? Maybe it's you! No matter what the enemy throws your way, do not let it prevent you from fulfilling your Purpose & Joy!

'Lena