You have known me to say, "Circumstances do not change the promise."
One day this week, God set me up.
I was preparing to take my morning prayer walk, and I felt God pulling me to go ahead and "read the red" before my walk. (If you normally read my blog, you know that I read a verse or more of the words of Jesus at morning and bedtime.) The verse that I read was Mark 5:39: "Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth" (KJV). The New King James Version reads, " 'Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping.' "
What I did not know was that the moment I stepped out of my house I would step into circumstances that challenged God's promises to me and the overwhelming evidence that He has been answering prayers. My normal response to such evidence is to panic and worry that things are worse than I thought. I would usually go into intense prayer, begging God and trying to manipulate Him into doing things my way to make things "better."
A few seconds into my working into a frenzy, I remembered the verse and God's preparing me. Why was I extremely close to making a commotion? I have prayed and prayed, and God has answered in more ways that I know. I KNOW that He has this, that He is Faithful, and that I can trust Him.
There is no reason to panic! Our prodigals are "not dead, but sleeping!"
That particular morning, I was reminded that we do not have to panic, we do not have to beg, and we do not have to manipulate. We simply have to ask. God is our Father. He loves us, and He has promised to give good gifts to us!
"Why make this commotion and weep? The child is not dead, but sleeping."
Saturday, May 20, 2017
Thursday, May 11, 2017
"Do not be afraid; only believe" (Mark 5:36).
These words have increased my faith.
In verse 22 of Mark 5, Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came to Jesus to ask healing for his little girl. He actually fell at Jesus' feet and begged Him. So Jesus went with Jairus to his house.
On the way, Jesus was delayed by the woman who touched the hem of His garment, and while He was talking to her, someone from Jairus' house came to say, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?" (Mark 5:35).
Does this sound familiar? Does satan lie to you saying there is no need to pray, that your prodigal is too far gone away from God, that he or she can never be saved, that you are wasting your time when you pray for him or her?
When Jesus heard those words, He said to Jairus, "Do not be afraid; only believe."
We've prayed. Jesus has been invited to work in the lives of our prodigals. When our faith is low, we just have to remember these words: "Do not be afraid; only believe." That is what Jesus said.
That is what He says to us. Do not be afraid; only believe.
When Jesus arrived at Jairus' house, there was a commotion, as we would expect. He said, "Why make this commotion and weep?" (Verse 39). Why do we trouble ourselves and fret when Jesus is on the job?
We know what He did next. He told the little girl to arise, and SHE DID!
I believe the LORD is saying that to all of our prodigals: "ARISE! Come back to life!"
And they will.
But in the meantime, do not be afraid. ONLY BELIEVE!
These words have increased my faith.
In verse 22 of Mark 5, Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came to Jesus to ask healing for his little girl. He actually fell at Jesus' feet and begged Him. So Jesus went with Jairus to his house.
On the way, Jesus was delayed by the woman who touched the hem of His garment, and while He was talking to her, someone from Jairus' house came to say, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?" (Mark 5:35).
Does this sound familiar? Does satan lie to you saying there is no need to pray, that your prodigal is too far gone away from God, that he or she can never be saved, that you are wasting your time when you pray for him or her?
When Jesus heard those words, He said to Jairus, "Do not be afraid; only believe."
We've prayed. Jesus has been invited to work in the lives of our prodigals. When our faith is low, we just have to remember these words: "Do not be afraid; only believe." That is what Jesus said.
That is what He says to us. Do not be afraid; only believe.
When Jesus arrived at Jairus' house, there was a commotion, as we would expect. He said, "Why make this commotion and weep?" (Verse 39). Why do we trouble ourselves and fret when Jesus is on the job?
We know what He did next. He told the little girl to arise, and SHE DID!
I believe the LORD is saying that to all of our prodigals: "ARISE! Come back to life!"
And they will.
But in the meantime, do not be afraid. ONLY BELIEVE!
Wednesday, March 1, 2017
My Intimate Moment with the Creator
My last morning in Hawaii I sat on a lava rock wall by the ocean. The sea was in turmoil with waves that crested and landed on the shore, beating the large lava rocks below me. The whales were extremely active in the distance, coming up out of the water completely and landing with the big splash or blowing waterspouts in multiples, evidence of the many whales beneath the surface.
My aha moment, my intimate moment with the Creator of the vastness of all of this, the Creator of fish so large that their tails were distinct even at a great distance, the Creator of such an amount of water that fills the ocean, the end of which I could not see, the Upholder of the power of the waves by the word of His power (Hebrews 1:3) overwhelmed me.
I am asking Him for answers to some pretty big requests. My prayers are full of situations that need a miracle, and in that moment, sitting by the incredible creation, evidence of the incredible God, it was impressed on me so strongly that a God that big can do anything. ANYTHING!
So, sitting right there, I asked.
He reminded me of the promise He's given me.
He can. He will. I am in awe of Him!
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
I am walking in victory while praying through circumstances.
Monday I was talking to a friend about my life in regards to my prodigal, and God dropped this sentence into my mouth.
Prodigals by definition are not in a good place in their lives, and with their life comes so many complications, bad decisions, heartaches, heartbreaks, needs, strongholds, disappointments, etc. My prodigal is no different.
When we know of those times, we pray. We pray through the circumstances.
When God lays a burden on our heart, we pray. We pray until the burden is lifted.
When we are tired of the fight, we pray. We pray until we are strengthened for the fight.
When we suddenly feel anxious, we pray. We pray until we have peace.
Our position is complicated by parent's or grandparent's love. God puts protection instincts into us, fix-it instincts, because that is what it takes to raise a child, but this can get in the way of the work God is wanting to do in their prodigal life, so we have to find our place of rest.
-When God promises, it is done, so rest.
-God is working, so rest.
-God is answering your prayers, so rest.
-When circumstances are hard, remember that CIRCUMSTANCES DO NOT CHANGE THE PROMISE, so rest.
Trust God. Rest.
We are walking in the victory won on the cross, the victory promised in God's true Word, and the victory that He has promised us personally.
Trust God. Rest.
I am walking in victory while praying through the circumstances.
Monday I was talking to a friend about my life in regards to my prodigal, and God dropped this sentence into my mouth.
Prodigals by definition are not in a good place in their lives, and with their life comes so many complications, bad decisions, heartaches, heartbreaks, needs, strongholds, disappointments, etc. My prodigal is no different.
When we know of those times, we pray. We pray through the circumstances.
When God lays a burden on our heart, we pray. We pray until the burden is lifted.
When we are tired of the fight, we pray. We pray until we are strengthened for the fight.
When we suddenly feel anxious, we pray. We pray until we have peace.
Our position is complicated by parent's or grandparent's love. God puts protection instincts into us, fix-it instincts, because that is what it takes to raise a child, but this can get in the way of the work God is wanting to do in their prodigal life, so we have to find our place of rest.
-When God promises, it is done, so rest.
-God is working, so rest.
-God is answering your prayers, so rest.
-When circumstances are hard, remember that CIRCUMSTANCES DO NOT CHANGE THE PROMISE, so rest.
Trust God. Rest.
We are walking in the victory won on the cross, the victory promised in God's true Word, and the victory that He has promised us personally.
Trust God. Rest.
I am walking in victory while praying through the circumstances.
Saturday, January 7, 2017
Another praise report!
A prodigal has moved to New York City, out of the Bible Belt, away from godly family.
However, God still knows where he is and has answered prayers that God would send laborers into that harvest field: the heart of this prodigal.
The way I understand it is that he was standing in line to appear on a TV show when he spotted a group of young people. He told his parents that they looked like they were part of a youth group, something with which he is VERY familiar, because he used to be one! =) Somehow, they struck up a conversation, and one of them is a preacher, and that group of people is in Brooklyn to plant a church! That preacher has kept in touch with this prodigal, and even went to one of the prodigal's concerts (the prodigal is a musician), later saying that he had never been to a rock concert.
I do not believe in coincidence in the life of a Christian. I believe in God's answering prayers! I believe God sent that group and that preacher specifically into that harvest field! Out of all of the places in Brooklyn that the prodigal could be, and out of all the places in Brooklyn that the group could be, they were together in the same place at the same time!
Thanks be to our God, who loves our prodigals more than we do!
A prodigal has moved to New York City, out of the Bible Belt, away from godly family.
However, God still knows where he is and has answered prayers that God would send laborers into that harvest field: the heart of this prodigal.
The way I understand it is that he was standing in line to appear on a TV show when he spotted a group of young people. He told his parents that they looked like they were part of a youth group, something with which he is VERY familiar, because he used to be one! =) Somehow, they struck up a conversation, and one of them is a preacher, and that group of people is in Brooklyn to plant a church! That preacher has kept in touch with this prodigal, and even went to one of the prodigal's concerts (the prodigal is a musician), later saying that he had never been to a rock concert.
I do not believe in coincidence in the life of a Christian. I believe in God's answering prayers! I believe God sent that group and that preacher specifically into that harvest field! Out of all of the places in Brooklyn that the prodigal could be, and out of all the places in Brooklyn that the group could be, they were together in the same place at the same time!
Thanks be to our God, who loves our prodigals more than we do!
Friday, January 6, 2017
Another saved!
My uncle was saved on his death bed, and I am so very thankful! That makes 25! 25!!!!
He was in his 70s and had never given his heart to the LORD as far as any of us knew. He was raised in a Christian home and prayed for by his parents. We have all prayed for him.
And God prepared his heart to be reached and sent someone to simply say, "Don't you think it is time?" And he said, "Yes!"
I am so very thankful!
Never give up!
My uncle was saved on his death bed, and I am so very thankful! That makes 25! 25!!!!
He was in his 70s and had never given his heart to the LORD as far as any of us knew. He was raised in a Christian home and prayed for by his parents. We have all prayed for him.
And God prepared his heart to be reached and sent someone to simply say, "Don't you think it is time?" And he said, "Yes!"
I am so very thankful!
Never give up!
When I awoke this morning, the Holy Spirit laid this psalm on my heart to pray for and to claim for and to speak over my prodigal. It is full of so many things I want my prodigal to live out. It is perfect for where I am in my praying.
"Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations." (Psalm 100 NKJV)
"Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. Know that the LORD, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations." (Psalm 100 NKJV)
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