My heart is wide open
Nothing's hidden from your view
I lay here at your feet, Lord
I long to worship You.
You are my shelter
You are my healer
You are the rock I lean on
The friend that I depend on
You're my provider
You are my counselor
And I take refuge in
The shadow of Your wings
You, O Lord, are my everything
You are beautiful
No one compares to You
Your majesty and grace
leave me speechless.
Words and Music By: Kimberly Waters
All rights reserved Copywrite 9-22-09
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Open Your Ears And Listen!
Romans 12:2 NLT, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will know what God wants you to do, and you will know how good and pleasing and perfect his will really is.”
Isn’t it funny how often you hear people say, “I wish God would let me know what I need to do”, yet their actions speak differently? I mean, take for instance, John Doe. John Doe is a good man, has a good education, a good job, and provides well for his family. He’s a loving father and husband. He’s faithful to church every Sunday and Wednesday and he’s always in the altar crying and seeking God. Looks good doesn’t it? Well, let’s look closer. Let’s see what God sees.
John Doe wakes up every morning at 5am. He gets a quick shower, brushes his teeth, grabs his briefcase, breakfast and coffee and rushes off to work. With his Christian music blasting, he prays for God to help him be in a witness, but at work, he overhears some buddies of his talking about a party they attended. As they boast of their lude behavior, John knows he needs to walk away but something within him wants to listen. John begins to get visuals in his mind. He knows it’s wrong, but as long as he doesn’t act on them, he should be fine, right?
During lunch, he grabs a quick meal, tries to relax just a bit before heading back to the mind grinding, number crunching career he chose and went to college for. He closes his eyes, has his CCM blasting, but when he closes his eyes his mind begins to wonder. Before he knows it he's began to fantasize about things he shouldn't. He looks over at his Bible in the passenger seat, but says, "No I can handle it." Though he feels guilty he justifies himself thinking, "I'll never actually do these things."
5 o’clock hits. John races out the door, endures the traffic until he finally pulls in at his beautiful home in the suburbs of Whereverville. "Hi honey, I'm home!", he kisses his wife, grabs his kids in his arms and asks them all about their day. Seated for dinner, this close, loving family, sits giving God praise for the delicious meal set before them, completely unaware that the enemy has his sights set on them.
Later John and his family enjoy some quality time together. It would seem they have it all together. It would seem this family would be indestructible, but the enemy has a fool proof plan that he's mastered for centuries.
That night, once everyone is in bed, drifting off to sleepy town, John lays awake and in the quiet, he hears God speak. “John, my son, satan is laying traps for you. Today, you gave ear to a conversation you should have walked away from and closed your ears from listening to me. When the battle intensified with visuals, you allowed lustful desires run freely in your mind. Listen to me, son, if you don’t take these thoughts captive and caste them out, they will overtake you, cause you to become dissatisfied with your wife and family and cause you to begin looking elsewhere for what I’ve already given you. Get up! Come downstairs and spend time with me now. Let me sanctify your mind and help you put your armor back on. The enemy has set his sights on your family and he's begun with you. Let me give you the thoughts you need to think.”
Right now, John has a choice to make.
There are a lot of homes being torn apart today. Many families that we'd say would never be torn apart, are being torn apart. Why? Because the enemy is perfecting his tactics daily. He has no new tricks, just new people to try them on and guess what. He's so subtle that we don't take him seriously in the beginning. John is a good man. He sincerely wants to please God but he's not taking the necessary steps to do that. We are in a war and that war is not with flesh and blood, but with spiritual wickedness in high places. There's a real devil, Satan. The bible says he desires to sift us as wheat. (Luke 22:31) Do you know what that means? In Luke 22:31, Jesus warns Simon Peter about his arrogance and self-confidence. When wheat was sifted during the time of this instance, it was thrown in the air. The wheat would fall and the chaff would blow away. Jesus was warning Peter that Satan had his sights set on him. He had requested to show God and everyone else that Peter was nothing more than chaff among wheat. That he wasn't all he said he was and would never be much more than just mouth... all talk!
Today, Satan has his sights set on each and everyone of us. He desires to embarrass us before the Father and each other and ultimate destroy us. Sin gone unchecked will lead to destruction. You may think you're strong enough to handle things, but you're not. We must put on the mind of Christ and allow Him to renew our minds daily. We must put on the full armor of God, take every thought into captivity that exalts itself against God, take the enemy seriously. There's too much at stake!
1 Peter 5:8-9a NLT
"Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. Take a firm stand against him, and be strong in your faith. "
Isn’t it funny how often you hear people say, “I wish God would let me know what I need to do”, yet their actions speak differently? I mean, take for instance, John Doe. John Doe is a good man, has a good education, a good job, and provides well for his family. He’s a loving father and husband. He’s faithful to church every Sunday and Wednesday and he’s always in the altar crying and seeking God. Looks good doesn’t it? Well, let’s look closer. Let’s see what God sees.
John Doe wakes up every morning at 5am. He gets a quick shower, brushes his teeth, grabs his briefcase, breakfast and coffee and rushes off to work. With his Christian music blasting, he prays for God to help him be in a witness, but at work, he overhears some buddies of his talking about a party they attended. As they boast of their lude behavior, John knows he needs to walk away but something within him wants to listen. John begins to get visuals in his mind. He knows it’s wrong, but as long as he doesn’t act on them, he should be fine, right?
During lunch, he grabs a quick meal, tries to relax just a bit before heading back to the mind grinding, number crunching career he chose and went to college for. He closes his eyes, has his CCM blasting, but when he closes his eyes his mind begins to wonder. Before he knows it he's began to fantasize about things he shouldn't. He looks over at his Bible in the passenger seat, but says, "No I can handle it." Though he feels guilty he justifies himself thinking, "I'll never actually do these things."
5 o’clock hits. John races out the door, endures the traffic until he finally pulls in at his beautiful home in the suburbs of Whereverville. "Hi honey, I'm home!", he kisses his wife, grabs his kids in his arms and asks them all about their day. Seated for dinner, this close, loving family, sits giving God praise for the delicious meal set before them, completely unaware that the enemy has his sights set on them.
Later John and his family enjoy some quality time together. It would seem they have it all together. It would seem this family would be indestructible, but the enemy has a fool proof plan that he's mastered for centuries.
That night, once everyone is in bed, drifting off to sleepy town, John lays awake and in the quiet, he hears God speak. “John, my son, satan is laying traps for you. Today, you gave ear to a conversation you should have walked away from and closed your ears from listening to me. When the battle intensified with visuals, you allowed lustful desires run freely in your mind. Listen to me, son, if you don’t take these thoughts captive and caste them out, they will overtake you, cause you to become dissatisfied with your wife and family and cause you to begin looking elsewhere for what I’ve already given you. Get up! Come downstairs and spend time with me now. Let me sanctify your mind and help you put your armor back on. The enemy has set his sights on your family and he's begun with you. Let me give you the thoughts you need to think.”
Right now, John has a choice to make.
There are a lot of homes being torn apart today. Many families that we'd say would never be torn apart, are being torn apart. Why? Because the enemy is perfecting his tactics daily. He has no new tricks, just new people to try them on and guess what. He's so subtle that we don't take him seriously in the beginning. John is a good man. He sincerely wants to please God but he's not taking the necessary steps to do that. We are in a war and that war is not with flesh and blood, but with spiritual wickedness in high places. There's a real devil, Satan. The bible says he desires to sift us as wheat. (Luke 22:31) Do you know what that means? In Luke 22:31, Jesus warns Simon Peter about his arrogance and self-confidence. When wheat was sifted during the time of this instance, it was thrown in the air. The wheat would fall and the chaff would blow away. Jesus was warning Peter that Satan had his sights set on him. He had requested to show God and everyone else that Peter was nothing more than chaff among wheat. That he wasn't all he said he was and would never be much more than just mouth... all talk!
Today, Satan has his sights set on each and everyone of us. He desires to embarrass us before the Father and each other and ultimate destroy us. Sin gone unchecked will lead to destruction. You may think you're strong enough to handle things, but you're not. We must put on the mind of Christ and allow Him to renew our minds daily. We must put on the full armor of God, take every thought into captivity that exalts itself against God, take the enemy seriously. There's too much at stake!
1 Peter 5:8-9a NLT
"Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. Take a firm stand against him, and be strong in your faith. "
Friday, September 11, 2009
Like Fire
You know there have been so many times when I've questioned, "God can you see me? Can you hear me? Are you still here? Why can't I hear you? Why can't I see you working?" Only to find that He's still here speaking softly. I get so distracted by the sounds of the winds and the rain beating against me that it drowns out His voice, but then He tells it all to cease in our intimate times alone. Oh Hallelujah!! I'm learning more and more what it means to praise Him in the storm and just trust Him.
Sometimes I feel like I can relate so well to Jeremiah, the weeping prophet. His message was never received. He was rejected, his messages were rejected and all because God was rejected by the people. I'm reminded so often of Jeremiah 20. Jeremiah, in obedience to God, is prophesying and Pashhur the priest, the chief officer in the house of the LORD --- the house of the Lord now --- doesn't like what he hears so he has Jeremiah arrested, beaten, wipped and put in stocks. Can you imagine what Jeremiah was thinking that whole night?!?! No doubt he was bleeding, in agony and unable to find a position that didn't strain in ever weakening muscles. For a full night he suffered and, no doubt, questioned God's whereabouts. The next day, when Jeremiah was released, you'd think he'd "like his wounds" and get out of there, but notice what He did.
Jeremiah 20:3-6
The next day, when Pashhur finally released him, Jeremiah said, “Pashhur, the LORD has changed your name. From now on you are to be called ‘the Man Who Lives in Terror.’ For this is what the LORD says: I will send terror upon you and all your friends, and you will watch as they are slaughtered by the swords of the enemy. I will hand the people of Judah over to the king of Babylon. He will take them captive to Babylon or run them through with the sword. And I will let your enemies plunder Jerusalem. All the famed treasures of the city—the precious jewels and gold and silver of your kings—will be carried off to Babylon. As for you, Pashhur, you and all your household will go as captives to Babylon. There you will die and be buried, you and all your friends to whom you promised that everything would be all right.”
Can you imagine what Pashur was thinking? I'd like to think that he saw God radiating through that tired and wounded man of God. I'd like to imagine that he felt God's overwhelming conviction, but the fact is, people don't always recognize God's voice. How about Jeremiah? Here he is prophesying with such boldness. There was no time for fear, no time to think "what's going to happen to me after this?" I believe He was so overcome by the presence of God, so saturated in God's anointing that he didn't have time to think about what He was saying, it just came out. Notice what Jeremiah goes on to say.
"O LORD, you persuaded me, and I allowed myself to be persuaded. You are stronger than I am, and you overpowered me. Now I am mocked by everyone in the city. Whenever I speak, the words come out in a violent outburst. “Violence and destruction!” I shout. So these messages from the LORD have made me a household joke. And I can’t stop! If I say I’ll never mention the LORD or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am weary of holding it in!
I have heard the many rumors about me. They call me “The Man Who Lives in Terror.” And they say, “If you say anything, we will report it.” Even my old friends are watching me, waiting for a fatal slip. “He will trap himself,” they say, “and then we will get our revenge on him.” But the LORD stands beside me like a great warrior. Before him they will stumble. They cannot defeat me. They will be shamed and thoroughly humiliated. Their dishonor will never be forgotten. O LORD Almighty! You know those who are righteous, and you examine the deepest thoughts of hearts and minds. Let me see your vengeance against them, for I have committed my cause to you. Now I will sing out my thanks to the LORD! Praise the LORD! For though I was poor and needy, he delivered me from my oppressors."
Like Jeremiah, we're called to proclaim a message that at times will not be received. We will shed many tears along this journey, but like Jeremiah, when God's presence overpowers us, we have no choice but to proclaim His truth. It's like fire shut up in our bones.
Sometimes I feel like I can relate so well to Jeremiah, the weeping prophet. His message was never received. He was rejected, his messages were rejected and all because God was rejected by the people. I'm reminded so often of Jeremiah 20. Jeremiah, in obedience to God, is prophesying and Pashhur the priest, the chief officer in the house of the LORD --- the house of the Lord now --- doesn't like what he hears so he has Jeremiah arrested, beaten, wipped and put in stocks. Can you imagine what Jeremiah was thinking that whole night?!?! No doubt he was bleeding, in agony and unable to find a position that didn't strain in ever weakening muscles. For a full night he suffered and, no doubt, questioned God's whereabouts. The next day, when Jeremiah was released, you'd think he'd "like his wounds" and get out of there, but notice what He did.
Jeremiah 20:3-6
The next day, when Pashhur finally released him, Jeremiah said, “Pashhur, the LORD has changed your name. From now on you are to be called ‘the Man Who Lives in Terror.’ For this is what the LORD says: I will send terror upon you and all your friends, and you will watch as they are slaughtered by the swords of the enemy. I will hand the people of Judah over to the king of Babylon. He will take them captive to Babylon or run them through with the sword. And I will let your enemies plunder Jerusalem. All the famed treasures of the city—the precious jewels and gold and silver of your kings—will be carried off to Babylon. As for you, Pashhur, you and all your household will go as captives to Babylon. There you will die and be buried, you and all your friends to whom you promised that everything would be all right.”
Can you imagine what Pashur was thinking? I'd like to think that he saw God radiating through that tired and wounded man of God. I'd like to imagine that he felt God's overwhelming conviction, but the fact is, people don't always recognize God's voice. How about Jeremiah? Here he is prophesying with such boldness. There was no time for fear, no time to think "what's going to happen to me after this?" I believe He was so overcome by the presence of God, so saturated in God's anointing that he didn't have time to think about what He was saying, it just came out. Notice what Jeremiah goes on to say.
"O LORD, you persuaded me, and I allowed myself to be persuaded. You are stronger than I am, and you overpowered me. Now I am mocked by everyone in the city. Whenever I speak, the words come out in a violent outburst. “Violence and destruction!” I shout. So these messages from the LORD have made me a household joke. And I can’t stop! If I say I’ll never mention the LORD or speak in his name, his word burns in my heart like a fire. It’s like a fire in my bones! I am weary of holding it in!
I have heard the many rumors about me. They call me “The Man Who Lives in Terror.” And they say, “If you say anything, we will report it.” Even my old friends are watching me, waiting for a fatal slip. “He will trap himself,” they say, “and then we will get our revenge on him.” But the LORD stands beside me like a great warrior. Before him they will stumble. They cannot defeat me. They will be shamed and thoroughly humiliated. Their dishonor will never be forgotten. O LORD Almighty! You know those who are righteous, and you examine the deepest thoughts of hearts and minds. Let me see your vengeance against them, for I have committed my cause to you. Now I will sing out my thanks to the LORD! Praise the LORD! For though I was poor and needy, he delivered me from my oppressors."
Like Jeremiah, we're called to proclaim a message that at times will not be received. We will shed many tears along this journey, but like Jeremiah, when God's presence overpowers us, we have no choice but to proclaim His truth. It's like fire shut up in our bones.
Friday, August 28, 2009
You Whisper Softly
You whisper softly,
"Daughter, draw near,
I'll take your sorrow,
replace your fear.
Yesterday is gone
Today is at hand
I hold your tomorrow
Come walk in my plan.
You'll hear other voices
As you walk along
They'll try to distract you
and say you're alone.
But do not listen
No don't give them ear
I'll never leave or forsake you
I'm always right here.
Don't faint in well doing
Be of good cheer
The race is almost over
The ending is near.
There's work to be done
No time to waste
Take heed, my daughter,
Do not haste,
Be careful on this journey
Be wise in all you do
I'll give you My wisdom
And I will guide you.
I'll wrap my arms around you,
Carry you when you're weak,
I'll be a shield around you,
Wipe the tears from your cheek.
Come to me, daughter,
Hear the words I say
You are my love
and I'm with you always."
Written By: Kimberly Waters
Date: Aug 28, 2009
"Daughter, draw near,
I'll take your sorrow,
replace your fear.
Yesterday is gone
Today is at hand
I hold your tomorrow
Come walk in my plan.
You'll hear other voices
As you walk along
They'll try to distract you
and say you're alone.
But do not listen
No don't give them ear
I'll never leave or forsake you
I'm always right here.
Don't faint in well doing
Be of good cheer
The race is almost over
The ending is near.
There's work to be done
No time to waste
Take heed, my daughter,
Do not haste,
Be careful on this journey
Be wise in all you do
I'll give you My wisdom
And I will guide you.
I'll wrap my arms around you,
Carry you when you're weak,
I'll be a shield around you,
Wipe the tears from your cheek.
Come to me, daughter,
Hear the words I say
You are my love
and I'm with you always."
Written By: Kimberly Waters
Date: Aug 28, 2009
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Frustration
Fit to be tied,
I want to run.
Ready to ride
Into the setting sun
Far, far away
Anywhere but here
Somewhere else
As long as it's not near
I want to feel
The cool breeze blow through my hair
I want to feel
Something other than eyeballs that stare
Why are people full of complaint
Why are people so full of hate
If only something could be done
But wait it has
You gave Your only Son.
Yet they reject even Him
They'd rather live and die in sin.
So what am I left to do
Share the Gospel anyway
and leave them without excuse.
I want to run.
Ready to ride
Into the setting sun
Far, far away
Anywhere but here
Somewhere else
As long as it's not near
I want to feel
The cool breeze blow through my hair
I want to feel
Something other than eyeballs that stare
Why are people full of complaint
Why are people so full of hate
If only something could be done
But wait it has
You gave Your only Son.
Yet they reject even Him
They'd rather live and die in sin.
So what am I left to do
Share the Gospel anyway
and leave them without excuse.
Recaptured Vision
God's sweet, soft voice once called my name
so many years ago.
I responded with "Yes, my dear Lord"
Though His question I did not know.
As He embraced me in His strong, gentle arms
My heart released it's joyful praise
"I will serve you, O Lord. I will go where you lead.
I will proclaim Your name all my days!"
My heart was so intertwined with His
It mattered not what he'd implore.
My answer would never be withdrawn or be swayed
I was ready for whatever He had in store.
Or was I?
I dare not speak in vain.
What's this He's asking of me?
This is impossible! I'm going insane.
You've called me to witness
You've called me to shine
You've called me to speak out saying
"you'll open the eyes of the blind"
You've showered me with blessings
Taught me to play and sing
You've set my feet on this winding path
telling me you will lead.
I'm trying hard to follow
I'm trying hard to keep up
Sometimes I try to jump ahead
and sometimes I want to give up
This is impossible for me, Lord
This is so out of my league
I'm not strong enough for this, Lord
I beginning to feel fatigue
The way is sometimes clouded
Perhaps I've gone astray
No wait, I think I hear you
Keep talking, please don't delay.
Your voice brings me comfort
It's the security I need
Cause when I can't see Your hand at work
Your voice safely guides me.
I've stumbled several times now, Lord
I've fallen and skint my knees
I never realized, way back when,
How difficult this would be
But I won't turn back
No I didn't speak in vain
I'm proud to be a Christian
I want to proclaim your name.
I'm a soldier in Your army, Lord
My battle scars are old and new
My vision has been impaired at times
Cause I took my eyes off You.
Now I'm firmly rooted and grounded
I know in whom I believe
I will keep my eyes fixed on Jesus
I will not be deceived
You called my name then and I answered
Today my answer is still the same
The vision is recaptured
My heart cries "yes!" over and over again!
Written By: Kimberly Waters
Date: August 26, 2009
so many years ago.
I responded with "Yes, my dear Lord"
Though His question I did not know.
As He embraced me in His strong, gentle arms
My heart released it's joyful praise
"I will serve you, O Lord. I will go where you lead.
I will proclaim Your name all my days!"
My heart was so intertwined with His
It mattered not what he'd implore.
My answer would never be withdrawn or be swayed
I was ready for whatever He had in store.
Or was I?
I dare not speak in vain.
What's this He's asking of me?
This is impossible! I'm going insane.
You've called me to witness
You've called me to shine
You've called me to speak out saying
"you'll open the eyes of the blind"
You've showered me with blessings
Taught me to play and sing
You've set my feet on this winding path
telling me you will lead.
I'm trying hard to follow
I'm trying hard to keep up
Sometimes I try to jump ahead
and sometimes I want to give up
This is impossible for me, Lord
This is so out of my league
I'm not strong enough for this, Lord
I beginning to feel fatigue
The way is sometimes clouded
Perhaps I've gone astray
No wait, I think I hear you
Keep talking, please don't delay.
Your voice brings me comfort
It's the security I need
Cause when I can't see Your hand at work
Your voice safely guides me.
I've stumbled several times now, Lord
I've fallen and skint my knees
I never realized, way back when,
How difficult this would be
But I won't turn back
No I didn't speak in vain
I'm proud to be a Christian
I want to proclaim your name.
I'm a soldier in Your army, Lord
My battle scars are old and new
My vision has been impaired at times
Cause I took my eyes off You.
Now I'm firmly rooted and grounded
I know in whom I believe
I will keep my eyes fixed on Jesus
I will not be deceived
You called my name then and I answered
Today my answer is still the same
The vision is recaptured
My heart cries "yes!" over and over again!
Written By: Kimberly Waters
Date: August 26, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Trust & Obey
"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11 NLT
This morning I woke up to Jeremiah 29:11 repeating in my heart. Sometimes, I believe, we ask to know God's Will to feel that the sense of purpose for our lives. One we know our calling, we want to know the next step to take, the next plan of action and while all this is fine and dandy, the next thing we do seriously messes us up. God speaks. He tells us where to go, what to do and you know what we do? We begin to try to logic His reasons, His motives and how all this is going to work in our favor. We are such "me, me, me" driven people. We want to know how His plan is going to benefit our lives. Guess what. It's not about us! That's the first lesson we've got to learn. His plan, His purpose, His Will it's all about Him! He is the alpha and omega. The beginning and the end. The author and finisher of our faith. Everything revolves around Him -- not us. The second lesson to learn is to trust and obey.
I home-schooled my son for preschool. I started out desiring to teach him the basics, but what I found more often then not, God was teaching me the basics. It never failed almost ever lesson I prepared for my son, God prepared a lesson for me too. One such lesson was when I presented my son with a connect-the-dots worksheet. He's first questions was, "What is it, mommy?" I said, "You'll find out by connecting the dots." This worksheet was designed to help teach him to count, if it were numbers and the alphabet if the dots were marked with letters. This also taught him how do draw lines from one point to another, how to hold his pencil and the educational reasons keep going. For me, I learned that we are just like my four year old son. We want to know the purpose behind the design and we connect the dots we begin to get frustrated, feel confused, lost even because, unlike the worksheet, we don't always see the next dot to go to. This is where we learn to trust and just obey.
When I rededicated my life to God in 1998, I had so many questions. "Lord, what is Your will for me? Have I messed up Your perfect plan for my life? Oh God please use me! Don't allow me to mess up again. Show me Your Will and help me to follow you." It didn't take long for God to answer me. He guided my heart with these words, "Daughter, I love you. You will marry a preacher. Don't date anyone who is not a preacher." No those weren't His exact words but that pretty much sums it up. He let me know what to stay away from and what to focus my attention on... His Word! His desire was to be my companion and, in His time, He'd send me the man He created for me and in 2000 He did just that. Our journey together hasn't always been easy. We've faced many hard trials together in the ministry and in our personal lives, yet through it all, we're learning the art of surrender, trust and obedience! God asks us all to surrender ourselves to His purpose and to trust Him. Our vision is impared by all that we can't see, but He sees the finished product, the final masterpiece. He knows all things, sees all things and instructs us accordingly.
Now, I have a huge problem. Maybe you do too. When God points me in a direction, tells me what to do, where to go and what to say, I instantly begin pondering the reasons. I want to know why, how, how long, what is this leading to and let's not forget the "how does this benefit me". I'll admit it. I'm guilty. I'm an -over- analytical person. I love to study people and why we do what we do. I'm bad about listening to someone speak, but reading their body lanuage and facial expressions more. I read "between the lines" more than I hear what they're actually saying. This is impossible to do with God. First of all, just to state the obvious, we can't see him. Secondly, because we can not comprehend His ways. Job 37:5 says, "God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend." Ecclesiastes 11:5 says, "God’s ways are as hard to discern as the pathways of the wind, and as mysterious as a tiny baby being formed in a mother’s womb." We can read and study God's Word until we can quote it back and forth, but we'll never fully understand and comprehend God. It's impossible. God reveals Himself in small doses through out His Word and I'm convinced He does the same in our lives.
I have many friends, but only two best friends. It takes time to get to know someone, to trust someone and to find that special something that sets them above the rest. Building such a relationship requires time, effort and the "want to". The relationship grows with time and experiences, until one day you look back and find that with each experience you've learned to trust them more. The same can be said for our relationship with God. Our relationship with God will determine how well we trust Him. As we spend more time with Him, He reveals Himself more and more and allows us insight into His heart, His purpose and His plan.
Today you may be trying to connect the dots. You feel confused, lost and wondering what's next. Let me encourage you. Don't allow yourself to be distracted by those things you're not meant to understand and focus your attention on God. We're not meant to live life like a giant scavenger hunt looking for clues to paste the pieces together. We know our mission (Matthew 28:19-20). We know our final destination (John 14:2) and we know that God's Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105). Now let us trust Him to lead us and guide us according to His divine plan, knowing that He has it all planned out and can and will sustain us in our journey.
Let us pray.
Dear Lord,
We praise you and magnify your name. Thank you for being patient with us, for allowing us to be apart of your perfect plan despite our many shortcomings. Thank you for helping us to realign ourselves through Your Word. Father, we don't understand Your ways, nor do we understand your reasons. Please forgive us for being selfish and wanting everything to make sense to us. Please help us to accept the plate you set before us and be satisfied with your plan for our lives today, for we know you will take care of tomorrow. Touch our hearts, open our eyes and ears and fill us with your peace and joy. Encamp Your angels angels around us and keep us with your mighty power. We desire to please you and you alone, O Lord, to give you glory and honor and praises. We surrender ourselves to your Will today. Use us as you please. In Jesus name, Amen.
This morning I woke up to Jeremiah 29:11 repeating in my heart. Sometimes, I believe, we ask to know God's Will to feel that the sense of purpose for our lives. One we know our calling, we want to know the next step to take, the next plan of action and while all this is fine and dandy, the next thing we do seriously messes us up. God speaks. He tells us where to go, what to do and you know what we do? We begin to try to logic His reasons, His motives and how all this is going to work in our favor. We are such "me, me, me" driven people. We want to know how His plan is going to benefit our lives. Guess what. It's not about us! That's the first lesson we've got to learn. His plan, His purpose, His Will it's all about Him! He is the alpha and omega. The beginning and the end. The author and finisher of our faith. Everything revolves around Him -- not us. The second lesson to learn is to trust and obey.
I home-schooled my son for preschool. I started out desiring to teach him the basics, but what I found more often then not, God was teaching me the basics. It never failed almost ever lesson I prepared for my son, God prepared a lesson for me too. One such lesson was when I presented my son with a connect-the-dots worksheet. He's first questions was, "What is it, mommy?" I said, "You'll find out by connecting the dots." This worksheet was designed to help teach him to count, if it were numbers and the alphabet if the dots were marked with letters. This also taught him how do draw lines from one point to another, how to hold his pencil and the educational reasons keep going. For me, I learned that we are just like my four year old son. We want to know the purpose behind the design and we connect the dots we begin to get frustrated, feel confused, lost even because, unlike the worksheet, we don't always see the next dot to go to. This is where we learn to trust and just obey.
When I rededicated my life to God in 1998, I had so many questions. "Lord, what is Your will for me? Have I messed up Your perfect plan for my life? Oh God please use me! Don't allow me to mess up again. Show me Your Will and help me to follow you." It didn't take long for God to answer me. He guided my heart with these words, "Daughter, I love you. You will marry a preacher. Don't date anyone who is not a preacher." No those weren't His exact words but that pretty much sums it up. He let me know what to stay away from and what to focus my attention on... His Word! His desire was to be my companion and, in His time, He'd send me the man He created for me and in 2000 He did just that. Our journey together hasn't always been easy. We've faced many hard trials together in the ministry and in our personal lives, yet through it all, we're learning the art of surrender, trust and obedience! God asks us all to surrender ourselves to His purpose and to trust Him. Our vision is impared by all that we can't see, but He sees the finished product, the final masterpiece. He knows all things, sees all things and instructs us accordingly.
Now, I have a huge problem. Maybe you do too. When God points me in a direction, tells me what to do, where to go and what to say, I instantly begin pondering the reasons. I want to know why, how, how long, what is this leading to and let's not forget the "how does this benefit me". I'll admit it. I'm guilty. I'm an -over- analytical person. I love to study people and why we do what we do. I'm bad about listening to someone speak, but reading their body lanuage and facial expressions more. I read "between the lines" more than I hear what they're actually saying. This is impossible to do with God. First of all, just to state the obvious, we can't see him. Secondly, because we can not comprehend His ways. Job 37:5 says, "God thunders marvelously with His voice; He does great things which we cannot comprehend." Ecclesiastes 11:5 says, "God’s ways are as hard to discern as the pathways of the wind, and as mysterious as a tiny baby being formed in a mother’s womb." We can read and study God's Word until we can quote it back and forth, but we'll never fully understand and comprehend God. It's impossible. God reveals Himself in small doses through out His Word and I'm convinced He does the same in our lives.
I have many friends, but only two best friends. It takes time to get to know someone, to trust someone and to find that special something that sets them above the rest. Building such a relationship requires time, effort and the "want to". The relationship grows with time and experiences, until one day you look back and find that with each experience you've learned to trust them more. The same can be said for our relationship with God. Our relationship with God will determine how well we trust Him. As we spend more time with Him, He reveals Himself more and more and allows us insight into His heart, His purpose and His plan.
Today you may be trying to connect the dots. You feel confused, lost and wondering what's next. Let me encourage you. Don't allow yourself to be distracted by those things you're not meant to understand and focus your attention on God. We're not meant to live life like a giant scavenger hunt looking for clues to paste the pieces together. We know our mission (Matthew 28:19-20). We know our final destination (John 14:2) and we know that God's Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path (Psalm 119:105). Now let us trust Him to lead us and guide us according to His divine plan, knowing that He has it all planned out and can and will sustain us in our journey.
Let us pray.
Dear Lord,
We praise you and magnify your name. Thank you for being patient with us, for allowing us to be apart of your perfect plan despite our many shortcomings. Thank you for helping us to realign ourselves through Your Word. Father, we don't understand Your ways, nor do we understand your reasons. Please forgive us for being selfish and wanting everything to make sense to us. Please help us to accept the plate you set before us and be satisfied with your plan for our lives today, for we know you will take care of tomorrow. Touch our hearts, open our eyes and ears and fill us with your peace and joy. Encamp Your angels angels around us and keep us with your mighty power. We desire to please you and you alone, O Lord, to give you glory and honor and praises. We surrender ourselves to your Will today. Use us as you please. In Jesus name, Amen.
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