November 25, 2024

He Still Speaks to Us

October 24, 2014 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

Then Moses said to Him, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up there.”
Exodus 33:15

In one translation (TLB), the verse actually says, “For Moses had said, “If you aren’t going with us, don’t let us move a step from this place.”  Moses had a great relationship with God. In fact, the Bible says that He would speak to Moses ‘face to face’.  Moses did not actually see God’s face, but He and Moses were extremely intimate.  They spent a lot of time with each other, like real good friends.  Exodus 33:11, “The Lord would speak to Moses…as a man speaks with His friend.”

I am sure that Moses had the utmost respect for God.  I’m sure that Moses didn’t talk to God like we talk to each other.  Yet it says that God was speaking like a friend.

Do you know that He still does that today? And let me ask you this: Are you so in love with Him that you don’t want to take a step without God?  {I am.}  Every morning I ask God to go  before me.  To go to the store before Me and guide my every move.  I need His Presence. For in His Presence there is peace and hope and love and joy!  And the list goes on….

God still makes promises to us today, just as He did to Moses. God also sent mighty angels to go before Moses and the Israelites and show them the way to the place that God had promised them—the Promised Land.  God promised Moses that He would succeed.  Moses wanted more of God.  See, Moses didn’t just want the victories that God was giving Him.  He wanted God more than anything.  To me, this is a challenge for all of us today.

See, sometimes, we focus on what God can do for us instead of what we can do for Him and how much we love Him.  Instead, we should want more of Him and His closeness.  Would you give up those victories for communion with Him?  Think about that for a minute….  I would trade it all for the relationship and the talks we have and the closeness I feel with Him.  He is our Creator and He is our everything.

Do you know Him?  Or perhaps have you moved away from Him and are having a hard time finding your way back?  Let me guide you today in a prayer that will change your life forever.

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~   ♥   ~   *

Dear Heavenly Father, I know I am a sinner.  I know that I need forgiveness. Thank You for sending Your Son to die for me and for taking my sins away.  I know that I will live in eternity with You.  Help me to open my ears and eyes to more of You.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

If you prayed that prayer with us today, will you let us know in the comment section?  We would be honored to pray with you and for you; and answer any questions you may have!

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Look For The Lord

October 17, 2014 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

“O storm-battered city, troubled and desolate.
I will rebuild you on a firm foundation of sapphires
and make the walls of your houses from precious jewels.
I will make your towers of sparkling rubies
and your gates and walls of shining gems.”
Isaiah 54:11,12

I remember the first time I really read this verse…I was sitting in my “school room,” where I homeschooled my youngest two at the time.  A room I had so much pride in.  I had washed the walls, and put together shelves, and organized a bin with books and file folders and teachers’ planners, and all things education.  I had worked for the past 9 months in this home, cleaning out and making it a warm and inviting place where we as a family were beginning to heal from a hard season.  A place where we gathered in the den and watched ‘Dancing with the Stars” and had dinner picnics.

But on this day, I was looking to God’s Word for hope as Kyle and I faced the hard decision to let this house go.  This is the first verse that I turned to.  On this day, God was my Restorer.

See, He speaks to us in the manner that we need—at the exact time we need Him.  He will be what you need Him to be.

As I looked up verse after verse, I was overwhelmed by just how much God loves me and you. I know that on that particular day, God knew that I needed His amazing promises of restoration and redemption more than I needed words of conviction.  He is our Father, and our Creator.  He knows it all before any of it happens.  His grace goes before us and softens the hard things.  In that season, I saw so many little bread crumbs of manna.  A lot of times I wondered why did any of this really have to happen and did it really have a purpose.  And then I would go to His Word and read something like this:

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace,
Who called you to His eternal glory in Christ,
will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
1 Peter 5:10

After you have gone through _________, Jesus will restore you and God will strengthen you!  In other words, it will all be worth it and God will get all the glory.

Through the hard season, I was given a strength and endurance that I never had before.  And God knew that I would need that strength later on in life and He conditioned me for it.  So I learned to rejoice in this.  As Romans 12:12 says,

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

All trials and struggles keep us on our knees before God.  We learn to rely on Him and not ourselves.  Sometimes there is nothing we can do except rely on Him.  And really, those are the most beautiful times.  We have to trust Him and His goodness.

The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.
Exodus 14:14

You only need to wait on Him.  He knows what you need.  He will come through.

And last, I want to remind you that you can make it through this.  Whatever you filled that blank in with, you can do this.  His power is enough and His strength is made perfect in our weakness.  And rejoice, knowing that He loves you and He has already conquered and defeated this for you.

But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you,
for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness,
so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
2 Corinthians 12:9

  *  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Let us pray:  Dearest Lord, You are amazing and awesome and so worthy of our praise.  You know our coming and going and You are in control of everything. Your Word is full of hope and Your Holy Spirit guides us to exactly what we need.  Thank You for hope in the horrible, and for giving us treasures in the trials.  You have been there with us…through everything…holding us and loving us.  You are enough and You are always for us.  And for those still unsure, please give them the reassurance that they need to lean wholly on You for everything.  In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

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Drawing Circles

October 10, 2014 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.
Matthew 21:22 ESV

I remember looking in my cabinets and truly wondering how was I going to feed them today.  ‘Empty‘ not only described the pantry and refrigerator…but it also described me.  “How could God just allow this?  I have been His for so long.  I pray and I read my devotions. What else can I do?” I thought.

My prayer life had always been important to me.  I remember when I was growing up, I would talk to Him all day long.  As I got older, married with kids, my prayers were more like “God is great, God is good” and “Now I lay me down to sleep.”  Not that those are  wrong prayers, they just weren’t enough to move the mountains that were before me.

I decided to do a prayer walk.  I made a route in the shape of a big circle and visualized my problems being in the center.  I made a prayer circle.  Every day I walked that circle and talked with Him and prayed to Him and asked Him to do the impossible—to miraculously provide.  And He did!  It didn’t happen overnight but, little by little, He creatively gave us our daily bread and manna.  Then it hit me: God knew what I needed…He wanted to make sure I knew what I wanted!  He wanted specific prayers, asking for specific things.  He didn’t want just the superficial.  He wanted me to ask Him for the impossible!  Anything less, really, is insulting to Him.  Why?  Because those prayers really don’t require divine intervention.  Our God likes to part Red Seas and make suns stand still and drop manna from Heaven.  That is what He loves to do for us.  (Isn’t He amazing?)

God loves keeping His promises to us and He loves doing impossible things for us.  And the bigger the miracle, the better because God gets more recognition and glory.

What promise are you needing today?  I encourage you to get a piece of paper or a prayer journal and draw a big circle.  Write the big impossible thing that you need in your life right now in the middle of the circle.  Then pray every day for a whole month about this circle and see what God can do.  It may take more than a month because He is not on a time limit.  God does things in His time.  But be patient!  He will answer!  God is for you! He wants the greatest things for your life.  And He wants all the glory so that all those around you will see His hand in your life and want what You have!

I don’t know your circumstances today.  Maybe you have been praying specifically for something and it feels like it is never going to happen.  I encourage you to fast.  Some things only come through prayer and fasting.  Look up all the different fasts that you can do and choose one that works for you. And always remember to thank Him—even before the miracle—showing that you have  faith that He is going to come through.

He loves you!  He wants so much for your life. He wants your biggest requests! Your life will be so full of Him. And remember, who you become is determined by how you pray.

When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days.
And I was fasting and praying before the God in Heaven.
Nehemiah 1:4

Let us pray:  Dear God, You are awesome. You are kind, just, and faithful.  And You love us so much.  You have the power to move mountains.  Thank You for loving us and for hearing us when we pray.  Help us to be specific, and not to be afraid to ask You for those big things that we need right now.  Nothing is too much for You.  Help us to be faithful and to persevere even when it seems like You don’t hear us. We love You. We believe You can…and will…part the Red Seas in our lives.  And when You do, we will give You all the credit and all the glory for, without You, we are nothing.  And for those who are not quite all believing, I pray that You give them the courage to give it all to You.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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When You Need Grace

October 3, 2014 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

Do you ever wonder where God is during all your comings and goings? Do you think that He is so into what He has planned for the world that He’s forgotten your daily life? You know that He wants to be with you more than anything else. He wants a relationship with you and to be included in your thoughts and plans, even the ones you think aren’t worth mentioning. I’m not saying that He doesn’t already know, He just loves to hear your voice when you talk with Him.

All relationships are give and take…and the one you have with God is no different. He gives and He takes. “What does He take?” you ask.  He takes and bears all of your burdens. Psalm 68:19 says that He intends to take our burdens. He wants you to lay them all at His feet because He is able to carry it all, yours and mine. He may not take it all away but He will definitely carry you all the way through.

Praise be to God our Savior, Who daily bears our burdens.
Psalm 68:19

Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you.
1 Peter 5:7 KJV

He takes our cares and worries and daily bears our burdens for us.  So what does the Lord give?  Mercy!  We can trade our hard times and burdens for His mercies.  He gives us compassion.  He gives us love.  He gives us patience and understanding.  He gives us His hand to hold onto, as a stronghold in place of our fleshly holds.  He gives us a new day, a new morning to start again, and He does it every single day!

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning, great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV

So, it goes like this: We carry a backpack full of hard, difficult burdens. We add to it day in and day out. We fill it until one day we break and spill and we have lost all hope. We are in a dark place and we feel like God is not helping. Then He, in the form of the Holy Spirit, nudges us to let all of it go and trust Him with it. We, in turn, trade our burdens for His mercy.

I know that for far too long I went my own way. I let my strongholds completely control my life and I lost all of my ability to make choices. My flesh chose for me. I almost lost it all. But God! He was always there. Oh it didn’t happen overnight. It took me a long time to get to that hopeless place and it took a awhile to see the full hope. Slowly, the more that I relied on God and the more that I walked closely with Him, and the more I read His Word, I began to change and I laid it all at God’s feet and He gave me mercy and grace.

I got my “new mercies.”  I got to start over.  All because Jesus died to save us all from ourselves and God takes all our hard and bears it.  And you know what?  You can too!

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Let’s pray: Dear God, You are the Almighty God and You are awesome.  Your love bears all things and You give us so much.  You are able to do all things that we ask of You and so much more.  Great is Thy faithfulness!  Lord, we have all sinned and we have all carried our burdens for too long.  Today, we lay them at Your feet.  We ask that You take them from us.  We cannot do this alone anymore.  Give us Your mercy and grace, oh Lord.  Give us a heart to serve You.  And to love all Your children.  You are our Refuge and we are so grateful.  And, Lord, if there is anyone reading this today that needs Your grace today, help them to let their hurts go and to trust You today. Let them know there is hope in You.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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When You Need Rest

September 26, 2014 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

Then, because so many people were coming and going
that they did not even have a chance to eat, He said to them,
‘Come with Me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest’
Mark 6:31

I love rainy mornings and lit candles and quiet moments with just me and Him. The world quiets, cell phones and all screens are turned off, and I am His. I read His love letter to me and we talk endlessly.  I catch Him up on my week (like He doesn’t already know).  I tell Him how great and amazing He is. And He pours into me, and I know I am loved.  My own prayer retreat right here.

In the verse above, Jesus’ disciples had been preaching and driving out demons and healing people all day.  They anointed people with oil in His name.  They were pumped up, can’t you just imagine?  Yet Jesus knew they were exhausted and needed some downtime.  He told them to go with Him to a quiet place and rest.

Now, rest can look different to all of us. It can be quietly reading a book, or running on your favorite path, or putting your feet in the sand.  Just a retreat with your Maker. It must be important to Him since the word ‘rest‘ in mentioned 585 times in the King James Version.  Here are just a couple of the ones I found:

Psalms 55:6, 7
Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! I would fly far away to the quiet of the wilderness.

Exodus 33:14
The Lord replied,”I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest-everything will be fine for you.”

I feel so refreshed and so loved by God right now.  His words are so comforting, ‘everything will be fine for you’, He means you!  He wants you to be with Him and we are the ones that benefit. Psalm 4:8 tells us, “I will lie down and sleep in peace, for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

What do you need rest from today?  Have you been struggling with a stronghold that has overtaken your life?  It started out as fun but now it is out of control.  Or maybe you’re the only one fighting for your marriage and you’re exhausted and ready to quit. Maybe you’re a single mom and you love your children but you just need one minute to yourself…or you could very well lose it.  Even the bathroom isn’t private enough.  Maybe you just need to get back in to having that quiet time alone with Him everyday. Whichever situation you are in today, He is calling you to lay at His feet and leave all your baggage at the foot of the Cross—at the feet of Jesus.  There is nothing in the world more important than spending time with Him…reading His Word, and listening to what He has to tell you, and just talking together.

  *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   *

Do you know Him?  Is He Lord of your life?  If your answer is no, I encourage you to ask Him today to come into your heart.  Would you pray this prayer with me?

Dear God, I know that I am a sinner. I need forgiveness. I believe that You sent Your Son to die on the Cross to save me from my sins. Please, Jesus, come into my life today to be my Lord and Savior.  Walk with me through this life.  I don’t know all there is to know about You but I’m ready to be Yours.  In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.

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Yes in Christ

September 19, 2014 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

For no matter how many promises God has made, they are ‘Yes’ in Christ.
And so through Him the ‘Amen’ is spoken by us to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 1:20

( I urge you to read verses 12-22; click here.)

As children of the King, let us ask ourselves a really hard question—are we known by the things we don’t do or the things that we do?   When I was a teenager, I definitely was known for the things that I didn’t do.  I didn’t go to bars, I didn’t go places alone with a boy (so  no one would get the wrong idea), and I didn’t drink.  I was so busy saying what I didn’t do that I forgot to live a life that said ‘YES!’ to Him.  Oh I did do a few things like visit nursing homes, and talk to the school new kid.  But if there was gossip, I was in.  I’m so thankful that my life now is about so much more.

As Christians there are things that, of course,  we shouldn’t do.  And most of us have the common sense to know what those things are.  But if we really want to influence those around us, then we should show Jesus in all things that we DO do!  Do we have a servant’s heart?  Is it obvious to those around us that we love them and all of His people?  Or are we living in judgement, making it our business instead if God’s.  My pastor said it perfectly:

It’s our job to love them…it’s the Holy Spirit’s job to convict them.  It’s Jesus’ job to lead them and God’s job to judge them.

If we could remember that, there wouldn’t be a person on earth that felt lonely or unloved.  And we would attract others that want what we have.

God’s Word says that Jesus is the “YES’ of God!  After all the laws of the Old Testament—all the ‘do nots’, and after all the sacrifices that we made—He sent His Son to be the ultimate sacrifice.  He tore the veil and the chasm was closed that stood between us and our Heavenly Father.  Now we can go directly to God Himself and ask whatever we need to.  God is now known for His positives.  Are there still things that are ‘NO’ in His Book?  Yes!  He says ‘no.’  to many things but He says it in love.  We are to say ‘no’ to the cravings of our flesh. And say ‘yes’ to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to fill us up.

When we are a new creation in Christ, God wants to be known to us as a ‘YES’ kind of Father.  ‘YES’ to joy even in the hard and difficult  times in our lives. Even when we have nothing, we still have everything in Him that we need, and we are to praise Him.  And He wants us to live out this ‘YES’ so that all will see and know that we have something amazing and life changing—We have Him!!!  And He gives us the ability to love the unloveable, to reach out to those in need, and accept rejection from others with grace.

So today I challenge you to answer this question:
What does your ‘YES‘ look like?

(If you haven’t accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, I urge you to do so.  Are you ready for peace? Joy? Unconditional love?  He is all those things!  He is waiting with open arms!  Pray the prayer below.)  Let’s all pray the sinner’s prayer today…

Dear God, I know that I am a sinner.  I need forgiveness.  I am tired of living life this way. I surrender my life to You.  I believe that You sent Your Son to die for my sins and He rose again so that I could spend eternity with You and live my life free from sin and condemnation.  Send Your Holy Spirit today to guide and direct me.  I love You and I thank You.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Ruth, Naomi, and Grace

September 12, 2014 by

The Book of Ruth was written to help us all see God’s grace in our lives and to help us trust His grace even when the clouds are so thick that we can’t see the road.  We also see how, in our own lives, God acts to turn our setbacks into stepping stones for joy and that God is always working on our behalf…for our good.

Naomi’s gift in Ruth: Naomi’s whole life caved in when she lived in Moab and God gave her Ruth.

And Ruth said, Urge me not to leave you or to turn back from following you;
for where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge.
Your people shall be my people and your God shall be my God.
Ruth 1:16

Ruth has a commitment and a love for God. Because of that, she had a deep commitment to her mother-in-law, Naomi.  Ruth 2:12, Ruth goes to Judah with Naomi to take refuge under the shelter of God. She left her own home and family to serve her mother-in-law.  God was turning Naomi’s setbacks into joy—even when she didn’t see His grace.

Ruth 1:12, Naomi suggests that Ruth will not be able to remarry but little did they know that God was preserving a wealthy man after God’s own heart, named Boaz.  In Ruth 2:20, Naomi realizes that God is behind the meeting of Boaz and Ruth.  God’s lesson is this—in every loss we endure, God is already plotting our gain.

See, God was always at work in Naomi’s life and in her setbacks.  She loses her husband and sons…God gave her Ruth.  No children?…God gives her Boaz (Ruth and Boaz meet and they give Naomi grandchildren.)   So many lessons in this story show how God replaces the losses we endure, and He is so loving and faithful to do so.  Our lives, as we serve Him, may not go along perfect and straight, but God sees that we do get there.

The Book of Ruth wants us to learn that God’s purpose for our lives is to show us something far greater than ourselves and our circumstances.  As well as a life full of joy and peace and love abundant.  He wants us to know that when we follow Him, our lives have meaning; and that everything we do in obedience to Him, no matter how small, is significant.  He also wants us to know that the best is yet to come.  Stay the course, follow Him always and hang on for the greatest adventure of your life!  It’s gonna be wild, it’s gonna be great, and it’s gonna be full of Him!

  *  ~  ♥  ~  ✞  ~  ♥  ~  *

Do you know Him?  He loves you and wants the best for you.  He has a life planned for you that is full of blessings and is to give you joy and so much more. If you do want to know Him, then pray this prayer with me:

Dear God, I know I am a sinner and I need You.  I believe that Your Son, Jesus died on the cross to save me from my sins.  I want You to come into my life and be my Lord and Savior.  I trust You and I love You.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

{If you prayed this prayer, let us know in the comment section below.  We would love to talk to you about this decision you’ve just made.}

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Hosea and Gomer-A Story of Redemption

September 5, 2014 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15Then the Lord said to me, “Go and love your wife again, even though she commits adultery with another lover. This will illustrate that the Lord still loves Israel, even though the people have turned to other gods and love to worship them.”

Hosea 3:1

We all have battles.  Sometimes we may want to give up.  Fear becomes too much.  His Word is where I go to get through.  There you find hope in the ones who have gone before us and we see where God was faithful over and over again. The story of Hosea and Gomer is a portrait of God’s faithfulness toward His people who go astray.

Hosea had a lot of knowledge that he probably wished he didn’t have.  See his wife, Gomer, had been unfaithful (to say the least).  Actually, she had sold herself into bondage and Hosea had to buy her out at a huge price.

So I bought her back for fifteen pieces of silver and five bushels of barley and a measure of wine.

Verse 2

Gomer did not love herself enough to believe that anyone else could love her. She didn’t think she was good enough to have a husband, especially one who loved her so much.  She eventually left him, believing a lie from the enemy that she wasn’t loved.  Hosea couldn’t have been really happy about the fact that she didn’t accept his love and trust.

Don’t you feel like you are looking at the face of God while you read this story? Don’t you hear Him saying to His people that no matter where they have been or how far they’ve gone away from Him, that He desperately wants them to return to Him?   Just like Hosea didn’t leave his wife in bondage, God never leaves us alone for too long in our desperate situation.

At that time I will plant a crop of Israelites and raise them for myself.  I will show love to those I called ‘not loved’.  And to those I called ‘not my people’, I will say, “Now you are my people, and they will reply, “You are our God!”

Hosea 2:23

Don’t we serve an amazing God?  There is no one in the world like Him. No one gives chance after chance.  No one will work so unceasingly hard to show us affection after affection.  God is God and I am not…His very name calls for us to bow down and worship Him for always loving us.  Even in our sinful nature, He understands and has mercy on us.  Patience and grace and unfailing love are ours and it’s unconditional.  We can’t do anything to make Him love us any more or any less.  And He uses our own shortcomings to quiet our souls.  He uses any means to take our worst decisions and turn them around for His glory and our good.

This I know for sure—there will be battles today.  Anxiety may creep in and we may have some tough times ahead.  BUT we will NOT be left in that place for long. God never leaves us even through our anger and fear, and repentance.  And when we hit our bottom, He gives us His hand that reaches us wherever we are and pulls us out.  He places our feet on a firm foundation.  He is faithful and true FOREVER and He will lead us through mountains and valleys and He will always take hold of our hand…Hosea’s and Gomer’s, mine and yours!

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

Let us pray: Dear Lord, You are a loving God. You know us through and through, and You have an amazing plan for each one of us.  Thank You for Your grace and mercy that You so freely give.  And when we are going through the valley, You never let go of our hand.  And just like Hosea and Gomer, You give us chance after chance!  You, too, bought us with a huge price—the death of Your Son Jesus.  We will forever live with You because of Your sacrifice.  Help us Lord, to have the same love for each other.  And that we will go to any lengths to share the good news of You with all who will listen.  And if a friend has gone astray, we will never give up on them.  We love You and we praise You.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Where Is God?

August 29, 2014 by

encouragementbloggraphicromans15

You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.
Psalm 56:8

There has been so much heartache this past week. I have heard many question where God has been lately and has He taken a vacation? And He reminds us in His Word that He is sovereign and He is to be trusted in all things. “He gives and takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord” (Job 1:21).

In my little hometown of Jackson, Mississippi, a precious young athletic football player lost his battle and passed away.  One minute he is running down the field, the next in a hospital, and his parents and friends are devastated.  No one expected it, but His Creator knew.  In the town of Birmingham, Alabama another precious young woman is visiting home, doing laundry, and eating one last meal with her family before she heads back to school.  Her parents say it was a joyful occasion and full of laughter.  In a blink of an eye, she is with Jesus.

In Jackson young people from rival schools are coming together to pray. Across town, a young person plans a prayer vigil at a public school. The kids come voluntarily at 6 a.m. to pray for this family that they do not know.  In Birmingham, the girl’s father says that we will not call her accident a tragedy but a triumph because she is with Jesus now.

And when the question is asked, “Where is God?” the answer will be—He is exactly where He was when His own Son died on the Cross.  He is watching His children hurt; and the Holy Spirit is moving and comforting all those who lost someone and all those who don’t understand.  God is in the young people who are gathering for prayer vigils.  He is with the parents who are devastated and He will carry them when they can’t put one foot in front of the other.  He is with the family of that young woman who was taken too soon…yet…right on time. He was there when the young man’s parents donated his organs and a 14 year old got a heart.  And He is with us now.

Yay though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.
Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Amen.

Psalms 23:4 and 6

As His Word proclaims, He really does bottle up our tears.  The Creator of the universe keeps track of all our sorrows.  That’s how much you matter to Him.

 *   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

Do you know this Lord, the Creator of the universe?  Do you have His hope to cling to?  If the answer is no, then I ask you to pray a prayer with me and ask Him to be Lord of your life.

Let us pray: Dear Lord, I know that I am a sinner and I need a Savior.  I believe that Jesus is Your Son.  I believe that He died on the Cross to save me from my sin.  I ask You today to come into my heart and walk with me daily.  In Jesus name I pray, amen.

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For This Child I Have Prayed

August 22, 2014 by

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Hannah was strong.  So strong that God knew she could handle a really big struggle.  Hannah was not able to have a child.  (Hannah’s story can be found in 1 Samuel, chapters one and two.)  Oh, how her husband loved her though.  However in those days, having a child was extremely important, especially having male children to carry on the family name.  She longed for a baby to love.  Not to mention that a woman’s identity back then was based on child bearing.

It wasn’t long until her husband, Elkanah, took a second wife named Penninah.  She was able to give him many babies.  The house was full of children but none of them were Hannah’s.  Penninah constantly talked about her ability to have children in front of Hannah and taunted her and mocked her.  Can you imagine the pain that she felt?  Her arms aching to hold her own little one and her feelings crushed under the constant berating of the other wife.  Her depression was overwhelming.

She decided to fast and pray for a child.  She made a vow to the Lord that, if He gave her a son, she would give him back to Him.  Hannah knew that the source of her being able to get pregnant was not her husband but her amazing, faithful, powerful God.  She prayed from the depths of her soul and named exactly her desire…and He heard her.

And she made a vow, saying,”O Lord Almighty, if you will only look
upon Your servant’s misery and remember me,
and not forget Your servant but give her a son,
then I will give him to the Lord for all the days of his life,
and no razor will ever be used on his head.
1 Samuel 1: 11

The Bible says that she didn’t pray out loud so men could hear; she simply moved her lips to the Lord.  He heard her and answered her prayer and gave her a son.  His name was Samuel, meaning “heard by God.”

So in the course of time Hannah conceived and gave birth to a son.
She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the Lord for him.”
Verse 20

God hears us, too.  He understands us and our pain and He longs to take it away. He loves us so much and always does what is best for us. I will admit that I don’t always understand the ‘why’ of what I am going through; and I sometimes get really frustrated.  But I remind myself that He is sovereign and knows the bigger plan that will give me the blessed life that He has in store for me.

Hannah trusted God. And she remembered her promise to Him.   When she had weaned her little boy, she fulfilled her promise to God.  I’m sure it was painful to pack his little bags and take him to the tabernacle and leave him there with the priest.

And she said to him (Eli), my lord, I am the woman
who stood here beside you praying to the Lord.
I prayed for this child and the Lord granted me what I asked of Him.
So now, I give him to the Lord.
For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.”
And he worshipped the Lord there.
Verses 26-28

Samuel grew up to be one of the most influential leaders in Israel’s history.  All because Hannah was a great mother and she was totally devoted to her Heavenly Father.

What are you asking God for?  Do you need provision?  Are you struggling to have a baby?  Healing from an illness?  What are you believing Him for?  Nothing is impossible for our God.  He is the God of the impossible.

For with God nothing shall be impossible.
Luke 1:37

I have seen and experienced so many miracles that would have been impossible—if not for Jesus.  God wants you to believe that He can and He will answer your prayers.  He also wants you to name them specifically.  Yes, He knows what you want…but He wants to know that you know what you want.

And last, He wants you to thank Him for what He is going to do in your life. Ah, that is showing that you have faith that He will do what He says. He will come through for you. It will be in His time, but He will!

*   ~   ♥   ~   ✞   ~  ♥   ~   * 

Let’s pray: Dear Lord, what an awesome privilege to come to You in prayer, knowing that You are hearing us when we seek You.  We believe that You will answer us and will give us exactly what we need.  Lord, when we are weak and doubting, help us to remember all the times that You have been faithful and answered us and given us what we need.  Forgive us when we take our eyes off You and we put our doubts in place of You.  Thank You for being in charge of us and for each blessing that You have planned for us.  We love You and we praise You.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

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