Day 2 of our Anniversary Celebration!
In honor of our 1-year Anniverary Celebration, we have chosen several prizes for giveaways this week to thank YOU for blessing us so much throughout this last year! If it weren’t for our dear Sisters, YOU, we wouldn’t be here! So from the bottom of our hearts, THANK YOU for all you do to bless our ministry! We Appreciate You!!
Day 2 — This particular prize is one that I have personal experience with. I implemented this prize in my life last year, and found it to be a lot more than I ever expected from it. I grew in so many ways in my life, personally, emotionally, spiritually! I would highly recommend it to anyone!! But today, we want to bless you with it! What is it, you ask???
TODAY’S GIVEAWAY IS A FREE ONE-HOUR SESSION WITH CHRISTIAN LIFE COACH MEGAN SMIDT!!
Megan has offered this gift to YOU because she truly cares about women! She wants to see women strong, healthy, living their lives intentionally! Able to give all they have to our Lord & Savior! So with that, ONE lucky winner will be chosen at the end of today!
How do you enter for this fabulous prize??? All you have to do is read today’s blog by Jennifer, and then leave a comment about something that spoke to you from her blog! That’s it!! Pretty easy, huh?
DEADLINE FOR ALL COMMENTS TO BE POSTED IS 8PM CST TODAY.
WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED ON OUR FACEBOOK COMMUNITY PAGE ON MAY 11th.
Now, on with our study!!! 🙂
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.
Isaiah 43:1-2
This section of our book speaks of the trials we will go through in our lives (the water and the fire) and how this refinement helps to forge us into the women God created us to be. Refinement is painful. I am not going to sit here and lie to you, my dear sisters. But these trials will strengthen us and, in turn, help us to forge the sword we will ultimately wield – the Word of God.
The troubles we face in this world are either self-inflicted or God-ordained. As humans, we have a tendency to get ourselves into trouble and God will let us face the consequences of our decisions. But, He will ultimately turn our poor decision making for good. He is always good. Always. He wants us to have the best life possible; the life He created us to walk. I think we tend to get caught up in trying to put out the daily fires on our own instead of focusing our attention on the One who wants to put them out for us.
The trials and afflictions we will face are but a blink of an eye from an eternal standpoint. We do not have God’s viewpoint. The things with which we struggle seem too impossible, too heartbreaking, and too hard sometimes. It is just plain tough to see past the pain in front of our eyes. Believe me, I know.
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18
This verse is so very hard to grasp, isn’t it? It is for me. I have to ask God to help me focus on the unseen. It is too easy to focus and become consumed with what is seen, the temporary afflictions that dampen our light and make us doubt our faith. By His grace, His strength, and His power, I can and will do it. Every day, I realize how much I need Jesus…more and more and more.
Friends, God is our Source of power. He is our Source of strength. He is trustworthy. He is good. Always. No matter what you are facing today, God is with you and He loves you so very much. Turn your pain over to Him. Talk to Him. He will help you through it. Turn to His Word. Let it heal your soul. Let His promises soak into your being.
When we are weak…He is strong.
When we are powerless…He is power-full.
When we feel unloved…He loves us unconditionally.
What affliction are you struggling with today that you need to bring to God’s feet?
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Let’s Pray:
Father, this world brings many troubles. Please help us to focus on YOU at all times, so that when trouble does come our way, we will be ready, sword in hand, to defend against the attack. Strengthen our resolve and help us face the pain we may be hiding. Help us to bring our troubles to You and not be held in bondage to our afflictions any longer. Give us fresh eyes to see our troubles from an eternal perspective. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen!
I was just talking to someone about this very subject today. Sometimes when life deals us such hard trials, it’s hard to see God in the midst of it all. But that’s what faith is…the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things unseen. I’m always reminded of the Footprints poem too, when life gets tough, and it makes me appreciate the times that God is in my life. I can’t, for one single moment, imagine my life without God when life gets tough!!
I am also reminded by the footprints picture and poem that God is always present and carrying us through the trials of our life.
Isaiah 43:1-2 is a verse I have stood on through much of the refining God has done in my life. When trials or temptations come my way He promises they will not consume me. Not only that but they will strengthen me – another is 2 Corinthians 4:8-10/ we are pressed on every side but not crushed, perplexed but not in despair. I am thankful every day that He is there through the storms and through the calm.
Both wonderful scriptures Laurie!!
Jennifer, I love your last paragraph, especially “When we are weak…He is strong. When we are powerless…He is power-full. When we feel unloved…He loves us unconditionally.” Oh to burn that in my mind for the times I go through “affliction!”
I also was encouraged and challenged as I read Rom 5:3-5, MSG, from the book. The phrase “…and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next…” really hit home. Patience is one thing I pray for every morning because it is one thing I “run out of” too easily sometimes. I know I need it “for the moment” but I hadn’t thought so much about it “forging the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next.” I need to view the afflictions of the water and fire in my life more, as you have said so well, from God’s viewpoint, His eternal perspective.
Romans 5:3-5 — Awesome scripture Clella. It’s one I need to plaster everywhere in my home! I’m right there with ya Sister!! 🙂 Let’s look ahead to what God has in store for us, as we allow HIm to mold us more and more each day!
Oh how I have held tight to these promises in my life. Especially over these past few years. It’s been so hard sometimes that I felt like letting the rivers just take me BUT GOD. He is closer in darkness and brighter. He kept my feet firm and let me know that He had not left. Faith carried me through. And still does and I’m so grateful to have been molded into a warrior through this. Praise God the Sovreign Holy One.
I would love to pray with you in person one day, Kim! I’ll bet you are one powerful intercessor!! 🙂
I agree!!! 🙂
Jennifer,
I try so hard to let God handle all that come my way. But it is hard. Alot of times I just stuff it and don’t deal with it, which is not good, because it leads to health issues. John 15:7 says ‘If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish and it will be given you. Oh how I need to burn all of that into my soul.
Thanks,
When you recognize it, Tina, lay it down immediately, and then refuse to pick it back up again! Let the devil know that it’s no longer yours to deal with’ he’ll need to go to Jesus, because you gave it to Him to deal with!! 🙂 Love you sweet Sister!
Amen. When all our strength was gone He gave us what we needed to carry on.
Amen, and Amen!!!!
thank you, jennifer, for encouraging us and pointing us to the o.n.l.y. One Who can help us—our Lord! i love where you shared, “by His grace, His strength, and His power, I can and will do it. Every day, I realize how much I need Jesus…more and more and more.” <3 (me, too.)
Thank you Jennifer for these beautiful words of encouragement and instruction. One of my favorite quotes from this section (the ones from your blog have already been quoted in other comments!) is “This life is full of furnaces called affliction.The key to successfully navigating them is knowing that our God is in charge of setting both the temperature and the timer.” – page 110.
Oh yes!! That was an amazing statement, wasn’t it Colleen??!! LOVED that, too!!
I am currently struggling with the economy right now. I struggle with how the country is going downhill. I had an expectation that we would get to retire like our parents did. My Dad is still living nicely on his retirement plan at a ripe age of 87. But, now we are faced with a significant pay cut, through sequester. We went through the Dave Ramsey course offered at our church and we were fairly close to being credit card debt free, but now that has reversed because of major car repairs on both of our cars. We are not in a place to take on a car payment.
I personally am struggling with a life choice of one of our children. When she decided to have children through a donor bank, we agreed to help her when needed. Now, she is living with us and in most cases I am doing the mother duties. I don’t want to be a mother, I want to be a grandmother. You know, spoil them send them home. 😉 These two little boys are the apple of my eye and I love them to death, but their mother is driving me insane, (not really, but you know what I mean.) It just seems that we are going backwards in a time when we should be enjoying our freedom and each other.
Fire and water, tempering us toward Him. I know without a fact that all of this would send me into a deep depression if it were not for Him and He took YEARS to get me to this point of faith. One little tempering at a time. As the black specks of impurities rise to the top of gold when it is being refined, I have had tons of little black specks removed and I have tons more. Thankfully, I have Him to run to whenever the heat gets a little too hot.
Our God is an awesome God, isn’t He Jackie! I’m praying for, and with you!
My husband and I, when we were in our 40’s, endured 6 years of conflict with our partners after one year of starting up the daycare. My partner left one day after her husband threatened to run me out of the center. For 6 long years there were frequent attacks while I was spending 12 hour days keeping the daycare functioning and growing. My partner’s husband accused me of stealing( which of course I didn’t but had to go through a deposition) , told my staff that they should find new jobs because I was going under(during this time he held money so their checks would bounce) I opened a separate bank account with the help of my bookkeeper whom I still have. Accused me of physically pushing his wife which never happened. I can’t remember all the attacks that we went through. If that wasn’t enough refining fire during this same time, my daughter was being stalked by a classmate that she was nice to and never went out with. I have a 20 page program with all the weird things he did to our home and vehicles. Last of what landed him in jail was shooting up our house one morning and my daughter and my husband wrestling him to the ground. He had several knives, and a high powered BB rifle. During this time, I had to TRUST. I claimed the blood of Jesus over my house, and family whenever fear entered my heart. Early on, I had to not focus on the problem but surrender to my Lord. I trusted in what the bible said,” No weapon formed against you will prosper.” Isaiah 54:17 I can’t say that I didn’t think about walking away, but I held onto HIS PROMISES.It seemed like an eternity but I knew who I could trust MY GOD.
Like you said Jen in your blog, God became our source of power, strength, and HE is trustworthy!!
I was convicted by the holy spirit to be thankful for the protection at each step actually building my faith to endure the many trials that were ahead. All through this time, God gave my family our health and safety. I learned to pray for blessings to be showered upon my partners that were attacking us. I prayed for the young boys mind to be protected by God and not allow Satan to influence him.Attack after attack my Lord protected us.God even gave me a sense of humor at times which was a GREAT BLESSING!! This is a gift of my husband but not of mine. God provided ALL during this time. Praise God he is faithful!! We were blessed by Neighbors that had their houses shot up by this individual and one that testified at a trial that got threatening letters from this boy. They stood by us!! James1:4 “And let Steadfast have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” During our trials we lacked for nothing God provided us with HIS Love and companionship, HIS word to guide us and build our faith, and blessed us with compassionate people HE sent to us in our life. God knows what our needs are, during trials and refining fire, we just need to surrender it all to HIM and have faith to believe that HE has a reason and purpose for everything that happens in our lives!!!
WOW!!!!! What a testimony!!!! Thank You for sharing this with us!!! Very encouraging as to what is able to do if we cling to Him!!
amen!!!
My fav section of the blog is Friends, God is our Source of power. He is our Source of strength. He is trustworthy. He is good. Always. No matter what you are facing today, God is with you and He loves you so very much. Turn your pain over to Him. Talk to Him. He will help you through it. Turn to His Word. Let it heal your soul. Let His promises soak into your being.
My afflictions is depression self doubt and anxiety. Eating for comfort or late at night is a big one. Avoidance.
You have your answer, Amy, as to what you need to do when this afflictions come up. As we’ve been learning in the GWS book, the ONLY tool that we have that will ALWAYS SUCCESSFULLY defeat the enemy is the Word! Pray scriptures out loud so your ears can hear the words. Allow your ears to hear your own words speak the Word forth. God promises in Isaiah that His word will NEVER return void, it will do as it was set out to do! that is a promise from Him, Amy! Stand on His promises!! His Word is TRUTH. It is LIGHT into the darkness.
This may sound weird, but just as I typed the words “light into darkness” God gave me a picture to share with you. As you go to the refrigerator at night to feed your body, the light on the inside of the refrigerator comes on, correct? Well, instead of heading for that kind of “light”, head to His Word instead….which is one and only true LIGHT!!
Amy I too had suffered from depression after the death of my father in my 20’s. I went to a psychiatrist for help. At that time I was not a Christian, but this psychiatrist gave me some good advice. He told me to tell the voice of discouragement that would constantly go through my mind to GET OUT!! He also told me not to allow this discouragement to entertain on enter my mind. I went from a completely depressed person that couldn’t get off the couch to a person that wanted to help others in my group within days. Shortly after this, I did accept the Lord as my savior. Now when discouraging thoughts come across my mind, I tell these thoughts to GET OUT in the name of Jesus.We have so much authority and power as a Christian. When you put the darkness out, Light will enter and heal you!!I am sure that the Lord has already used your affliction to minister to others. You WILL be the light in CHRIST to the many that are in darkness of depression!! Christ will use those that understand their pain.Praise God !!
When I’m facing something in my life and feel alone I remind myself that He has called me by my name, He knows what I am going through and He is right next to me walking with me. This alone is reassuring, I know that regardless of how long this trial may be, I am never truly alone
Amen, Sister!!
Thanks. Needed to hear this today having a stressful time at my job.
Lord, you know the trials that Joann is experiencing at her job. I lift her up to You now Lord, and I ask that You give Joann wisdom and discernment. Give her direction Lord about her job. I pray for peace to fall upon her, Your peace Lord, the kind that surpasses all understanding. Let her feel it from the top of her head to the soles of her feet. Open doors that need to be opened, and close those that need to be closed! In the Name of Jesus, AMEN!
I needed this today, there has been things piling up that I know I need to give to God, and when I do, I only take them back, moments or days later. Today I need to give God my fears of finishing my preparations for India, I need to give Him my powerlessness I have been feeling for awhile now, I need to give Him my weaknesses, I need to give Him the burdens that are laying heavy today. He is waiting patiently for me to turn to Him. Thankful for His unconditional love today and always!!
Matthew 11: 28-30, Diane
We are also praying for your trip to India, too!! Can’t wait to hear the details!!
“He will ultimately turn our poor decision making for good. He is always good. Always. He wants us to have the best life possible; the life He created us to walk.”
I loved this quote! It is such a comfort to know that even our poor decisions and our past can be turned into good. I need to remember this!
Yes, it is a comfort, Kristen to know that He turn our mistakes into something GOOD!! I’m so forever thankful. He had a lot of work when He was turning alllllll of my mistakes around!!! 🙂 But so thankful that He did!! Just goes to show that there isn’t one single thing that we can do that He can’t use for our own good!! Right? PTL!
What spoke to me is sometimes God let’s us whe we make the wrong decisions sometimes we do suffer the conquences , and I am so thank ful that God did not let me suffer my conquences He used it all for His Good I am so thankful , I have made some poor decisions in my life and He has used them in my life beleieve me , my flesh is weak but with Him I am strong I saiah 43:1-3 is verses I cling to that He has defintely called me by name and He is with me even when I walk thru the fire He is there , these were my verses when He pulled me from the pit of seld distruction, when I was at my weakest He used those verses in my life powerfully . Those verses are verses I reflect back to on numerous occasions espically lately with my circumstances .
Carol
Over the course of my life I have seen God’s hand protecting me. Many times His hand kept me from disaster or utter destruction. Sometimes from outside sources and too many times from within my own mind. “I have called you by name” this means He called me, Jeanette and “you are mine” Jeanette is God’s because He loves me. No matter what life may send my way I will NEVER be alone.
God knows me. He knows I am a fighter, yet I wonder sometimes if I will fight. I want to and then I don’t do it. Each day I have to choose to fight. Sometimes reveling in His presence is fighting. Maybe not the action part of it, but the stretching, learning key movements to win, and soaking up the fact – God has already won. I know I will lose sometimes, things I want, but God will see me through it. God will always be victorious. Blessings will flow from the refinement.
I shared that my reaction to a situation at work was changed because of this study.
God called me to be a teacher. I knew it in 4th grade.
I have taught 12 years. 2yr olds to 11 yr olds with the exception of 2nd grade. Started out in K, fell in love with K. Just this year I got to go back to K. Then two weeks ago my administration decided to move me to 4th grade. I cried for 3 days. My heart was broken.
God is still God and He is always good. Just my heart was in K.
So, I’ve been fighting that sweet sadness of woe is me, whys, and what did I do or didn’t do.
Talked to my administrators about the decision and God is directing this movement.
I stood right up because of God’s promises and said God is going to use me and I am going to let Him. Maybe not in K, but in 4th grade.
God gave me power to slay those voices: whether from me or satan. So, that is what I am doing every day and each day I’m a little less sad.
He, My Abba, called me by name and has a purpose for my life WOW!