Have you ever wished God would change your circumstances? Have you ever asked God to remove a struggle that seemed to be overwhelming? It can be frustrating at times when we cry out to God for a different scenario and our prayers are not seeming to get through the roof of our house. It may seem like God is not listening or we are doing something wrong that is keeping our prayers from being answered. I was reminded this morning that his strength is made perfect in our weakness. His grace is sufficient for you whatever you are dealing with. He is hearing your prayers and knows the needs you have. He is at works in ways you cant see today but it will make more sense in days to come. There is nothing wrong with praying prayers for different circumstances as we saw Jesus and the Apostle Paul pray these prayers. However for reasons of His own God allows us to stay put in the struggle. Keep pressing on and stay determined to be faithful wherever God has you today.
blessings
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Dry Times
I find myself loving times of excitement and new things. During those times when days are mundane and ordinary it can be challenging. God is teaching me that He is still on the throne in both the excitement and in the ordinary. He has to build solid foundations in our lives that will allow us to last no matter what comes our way. I was reflecting this morning on Matthew 7:24-27. Jesus is talking about the wise and foolish builders. The wise man had a solid foundation underneath of the home he built and it endured.
You dont have to watch the news long until you can see how many foundations are built on sand. A story ran on the news last night about Jesse James and some of his choices and the effects it was having on his marriage to Sandra Bullock. All of us have been overwhelmed with the Tiger Woods media and his choices. None of the choices these men made were one bad decision. Fondations dont typically explode but they can erode. We see the reality of a structure collapsing in the form of marital and career struggle but the problem originated in the foundation. Thus the reason the Sermon on the Mount ended with the above text. If our foundation does not consist of the teachings of Jesus our lives or ministries or families will collapse in due time. It is not an "if" but a "when."
As a ministry we are in a foundation building time. The lives God is going to entrust us will need stability and long term care. The foundation needs to endure for this to happen. Many people never see the foundation after the home is built and thus do not fully appreciate what had to be laid beforehand. But if it is not done right it will be exposed eventually.
Stay faithful today in doing what God has directed you to do. It may not have bells and whistles attached to it but God is laying foundations in your life that He will continue to build upon. As they say in one of my favorite movies "Cool Runnings"... Peace be the journey! I will add to it by saying "Peace be the daily journey!"
You dont have to watch the news long until you can see how many foundations are built on sand. A story ran on the news last night about Jesse James and some of his choices and the effects it was having on his marriage to Sandra Bullock. All of us have been overwhelmed with the Tiger Woods media and his choices. None of the choices these men made were one bad decision. Fondations dont typically explode but they can erode. We see the reality of a structure collapsing in the form of marital and career struggle but the problem originated in the foundation. Thus the reason the Sermon on the Mount ended with the above text. If our foundation does not consist of the teachings of Jesus our lives or ministries or families will collapse in due time. It is not an "if" but a "when."
As a ministry we are in a foundation building time. The lives God is going to entrust us will need stability and long term care. The foundation needs to endure for this to happen. Many people never see the foundation after the home is built and thus do not fully appreciate what had to be laid beforehand. But if it is not done right it will be exposed eventually.
Stay faithful today in doing what God has directed you to do. It may not have bells and whistles attached to it but God is laying foundations in your life that He will continue to build upon. As they say in one of my favorite movies "Cool Runnings"... Peace be the journey! I will add to it by saying "Peace be the daily journey!"
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
You deserve a breakthrough today
When you seem to be hitting a wall in an area of your life take a step back and pray. This morning was a great reminder of that truth. I had been trying to organize a time of prayer at the Refuge offices here on Waller Ave. It was not getting anywhere and I was getting a bit frustrated. Last week a man approached me and said a group of men had been gathering for prayer and were needing a place they could meet regularly. He asked if I would mind if they met at our offices. This morning we prayed together and I realized this was the prayer group I had been looking for. They wanted to do this every Tuesday morning and wanted to know if that would be okay? It didnt take me long to answer. :)
Is there an area of your life you are frustrated in and not seeming to make progress? Your breakthrough may be coming but it may just be coming from a different direction than you had been looking in. God seems to do that sometimes :)
Someone told me once that when we stop....God begins!
Jeremiah 17:7 says "But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."
Is there an area of your life you are frustrated in and not seeming to make progress? Your breakthrough may be coming but it may just be coming from a different direction than you had been looking in. God seems to do that sometimes :)
Someone told me once that when we stop....God begins!
Jeremiah 17:7 says "But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."
Monday, March 15, 2010
Sexual Wholeness
Have you been stung in some way by the sex industry? I told a group of people the other night that it is hard to turn on the television or computer without feeling the sex industry's effects. The phone calls from guys struggling with pornography keep coming in. This again is tied to the sex industry. I want to stand up and say enough is enough.
My heart is heavy for how many people have been hurt by the sex industry. I feel like we have a unique opportunity within the Refuge to be a voice for sexual wholeness. My desire is that we help women leaving the industry through the Refuge and also gain access to platforms that will allow us to share the heart of God regarding sexuality God's way. I have decided to use this blog in coming days to speak of issues surrounding sexuality. I am taking classes in Atlanta at a ministry called Sexual Wholeness Institute. I want to continue educating myself to be the best representative possible to an onlooking world. I will travel 4 times to Atlanta this year for a weekend of classes.
Here is where I need your help!
I need you to give me feedback on my thoughts and help me see from all angles. Ithink too often Christians are silent on issues regarding sexuality and it has led to shame and secrecy in the Church for those struggling. We preach against sinful involvement but dont always provide safe places for questions and dialogue. I am going to post thoughts and questions and would love for you to participate. My hope is that just as AA was taboo in the church 30 years ago that these issues of sexuality would continue finding a place in the church to be dealt with. Your involvement will help me and will also prepare me better for those I minister to. So here is the first question:
Was your church family a safe place growing up to ask the tough questions without fear of condemnation regarding sexuality? If yes, how was it? If no, tell me about it.
My heart is heavy for how many people have been hurt by the sex industry. I feel like we have a unique opportunity within the Refuge to be a voice for sexual wholeness. My desire is that we help women leaving the industry through the Refuge and also gain access to platforms that will allow us to share the heart of God regarding sexuality God's way. I have decided to use this blog in coming days to speak of issues surrounding sexuality. I am taking classes in Atlanta at a ministry called Sexual Wholeness Institute. I want to continue educating myself to be the best representative possible to an onlooking world. I will travel 4 times to Atlanta this year for a weekend of classes.
Here is where I need your help!
I need you to give me feedback on my thoughts and help me see from all angles. Ithink too often Christians are silent on issues regarding sexuality and it has led to shame and secrecy in the Church for those struggling. We preach against sinful involvement but dont always provide safe places for questions and dialogue. I am going to post thoughts and questions and would love for you to participate. My hope is that just as AA was taboo in the church 30 years ago that these issues of sexuality would continue finding a place in the church to be dealt with. Your involvement will help me and will also prepare me better for those I minister to. So here is the first question:
Was your church family a safe place growing up to ask the tough questions without fear of condemnation regarding sexuality? If yes, how was it? If no, tell me about it.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Segment from Andrew Murray's Book Waiting on God
"All the exercises of the spiritual life, our reading and praying, our willing and doing, have their value. But, they can go no farther than this, that they point the way and prepare us in humility to look to and depend upon God himself, and in patience to wait His good time and mercy. The waiting is to teach us our absolute dependence upon God's mighty working, and to make us, in perfect patience, place ourselves at His disposal. They that wait on the Lord will inherit the land; the promised land and its blessing. The heirs must wait; they can afford to wait.
"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him." The margin gives for "Rest in the Lord," "Be silent to the Lord," or "Be still before the Lord". It is resting in the Lord, in His will, His promise, His faithfulness, and His love, that makes patience easy. And, the resting in Him is nothing but being silent unto Him, still before Him. Having our thoughts and wishes, our fears and hopes, hushed into calm and quiet in that great peace of God which passes all understanding. That peace keeps the heart and mind when we are anxious for anything, because we have made our request known to Him. The rest, the silence, the stillness, and the patient waiting, all find their strength and joy in God Himself." pg. 52-53 Waiting on God by Andrew Murray
"Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him." The margin gives for "Rest in the Lord," "Be silent to the Lord," or "Be still before the Lord". It is resting in the Lord, in His will, His promise, His faithfulness, and His love, that makes patience easy. And, the resting in Him is nothing but being silent unto Him, still before Him. Having our thoughts and wishes, our fears and hopes, hushed into calm and quiet in that great peace of God which passes all understanding. That peace keeps the heart and mind when we are anxious for anything, because we have made our request known to Him. The rest, the silence, the stillness, and the patient waiting, all find their strength and joy in God Himself." pg. 52-53 Waiting on God by Andrew Murray
Monday, March 1, 2010
Wait Upon The Lord
I was reflecting over the last couple of days at times God has come through in different circumstances. Two common traits in all the different scenarios is that He did come through and it did not happen on my time frame. How long are you willing to wait on God? How silly are you willing to appear to others while waiting on God? How often do we miss God's best and settle for just good. These are tough questions to wrestle with and even tougher to live out.
Not every decision is one to sweat over. However it may not be a bad discipline to choose to take 3 days and pray. I have found in waiting upon God that what seemed so clear today can bring a different perspective tomorrow. Wait upon the Lord, be of good courage and wait upon the Lord.
Not every decision is one to sweat over. However it may not be a bad discipline to choose to take 3 days and pray. I have found in waiting upon God that what seemed so clear today can bring a different perspective tomorrow. Wait upon the Lord, be of good courage and wait upon the Lord.
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