While I am Waiting…

Early in the morning I wake thanking God for His brand new mercies. This is my time alone, just God and I praying, reading my Bible. This is our special time. This is where I can get real with the Lord, he sees my tears, hears my utmost cries for I am not ashamed to let go and give all my wants and needs to my Father. If there are tears to be cried, I cry them alone. If there are hurts or fears to be dealt with, I wait until no one else is around.

It’s easy to lose perspective when you are waiting alone but God has always given me the courage not to give up. I draw daily on His strength and promises which gives me hope instead of hopelessness. We were never meant to walk through life alone. He has promised me that if I listen to Him he will give me all the desires of my heart. "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart" Psalm 37:4

Can you stand still and wait? We stand still, and He works while we wait. Abraham had to wait for 25 years after God's promise before Isaac was born. Isaac had to wait 20 years for his children. Joseph had to wait 13 years before he was set free and put on the throne.

God's timing is not the same as ours. Sometimes He waits so that He can do more for us than we expect. He knows what is best for us, and when He gives us what we’ve been waiting for, it will exceed our greatest expectations!

Draw off God's power and steadfast love, putting your confidence in Him as your rock and salvation--those things make the quiet waiting worthwhile.

Psalm 119:73-80 (The Message)
With your very own hands you formed me;

now breathe your wisdom over me so I can understand you.

When they see me waiting, expecting your Word,

those who fear you will take heart and be glad.

I can see now, God, that your decisions are right;

your testing has taught me what's true and right.

Oh, love me—and right now!—hold me tight!

just the way you promised. Now comfort me so I can live, really live;

your revelation is the tune I dance to.

Let the fast-talking tricksters be exposed as frauds;

they tried to sell me a bill of goods,

but I kept my mind fixed on your counsel.

Let those who fear you turn to me

for evidence of your wise guidance.

And let me live whole and holy, soul and body,

so I can always walk with my head held high.


Wishing you blessings from the Father today!
Becky

Bringing Clarity…

· free from obscurity and easy to understand; the comprehensibility of clear expression

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a new Christian or a mature Christian; sometimes we all need clarity during our Christian walk. To draw strength for our journey we need to seek out what and where the Lord maybe leading.

Our church has called for a 21 day Prayer and fast, we're in the second week of that fast. My hearts desire is for clarity in several areas of my life. Clarity in my Christian walk, clarity in the work place, clarity is the area of service for the Lord, clarity in my personal and family life. I wholeheartedly believe the God who calls us equips us.

Being lead by the Holy Spirit involves the desire to hear and the readiness to obey God's word. The sensitivity to discern between your feelings & His prompting. The love of Christ will be in your mind and the love of Christ will be behind your actions.

"So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won't be doing what... your sinful natures craves" Galatians 5:16

Do I hear God correctly or is this coming from my own desires? Eventually, I find peace in Paul's words:

"Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus" 2 Timothy 1:1

Paul was called "by the will of God." God does the choosing. We may not have a Damascus Road experience like Paul's but the important thing is not how you were called but that you were called. We grow in confidence through confirmation, first through God’s word and maybe through confirmation from a mentor or godly counselor.

"God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:8

"The One who calls you is faithful and He will do it." 1 Thessalonians 5:24

It is clear to me that without God, all our efforts are in vain. We may never fully be able to understand the methods or motives of God, but we are not required to understand them, simply to trust them.

Wishing you many blessings from the Father today and always!
Becky

My Burden is Light

This past week, I have been praying and talking to the Lord about several different areas of my life. The Holy Spirit led me to this scripture—Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

It was the word “yoke” it kept coming up all week long, at church, choir practice, everywhere! Let’s take a minute and look a little closer…What does this word mean exactly? The word yoke refers to a band or something that binds. Now what does it mean to take on Christ’s yoke? His yoke is easy and his burden is light. Christ’s yoke is to submit to his will. Leave your cares totally in his hands, voluntarily, lovingly, and confidently commit it to Jesus! Christ's yoke is easy, it is the very opposite of a state of bondage. Although his yoke is a band, it's a band of love, remember God is love. If at any time he prevents us, or does not allow us everything that we want, it is his love's restraint. He sees that it would cause us harm or hurt, and consequently dishonorable to him; and therefore enlightened love compels him to restrain us. Christ's will is never chance, never impulsive, never selfish, requires nothing of us at any time without the strictest guidelines for our own good.

Have you ever wondered why Jesus uses the image of the yoke? At least two oxen are hitched together by a yoke side by side. Oxen are called "beasts of burden." So why he calls his yoke easy, his burden light? He humbly yokes himself to us. Simon of Cyrene helped carry his cross; he helps carry ours. And he bears most of the weight, if we let him. That's why his yoke is easy. And he gives us His Spirit within (Romans 8:9-10) to give us the inner strength to bear our share of the burden, which is, of course, the far lesser share to begin with.

The other reason the yoke may seem heavy is because we are not allowing the Lord to carry the weight. Maybe we are not keeping his pace. We could be lagging behind or racing ahead of him. Either way, we are chafing and straining. Perhaps we need just to quiet down for a few moments in the green pasture of prayer and adoration to attune our ears once again to the voice of the Master.

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Psalms 46:10

Wishing you all blessings from the Father!

Walking Worthy~Januay 22, 2010

It seems that I have been struggling most of my life striving to achieve my ideal weight. Here I am, 50 years old and I find myself recommitting on my new and improved weight loss journey.

I received a word from God this morning on this very subject. As I stood in my kitchen, chopping lettuce for my salad, He said, "Becky, don't give up, not just with this diet, but in all things." I want to walk worthy in a way that is fitting with who the Lord is, what he has already done for me and what he is going to do for me. I want my walk to reflect Christ in me so he will be glorified. I have adopted this goal, "no matter how fierce or long my battles may seem, Lord, with You I will be able to say,"No-in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." (Rom. 8:37)

God is the only one who can sanctify and make every part of us whole, and He will! He wants us to trust in Him unconditionally and give Him our time. You will never have to wonder if God’s will is for you to be set free from any stronghold, the answer is always YES. Lord, according to Your liberating Word, I was called to be set free, help me serve others in love… (Gal.5:13)

Lord, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—help me to make the choice to think about such things. (Phil 4:8)

Lord God, help me to feed the Spirit and not the flesh! Changing the way I think will change the way I feel!

Wishing you many blessings from the Father today and always!
Becky