So my apologies for not writing. I was out of commission in the Bahamas on a vacation. What was truly amazing about this vacation is that I realized that the light that dwells within us can be seen by many. On the cruise I met several people over the course of the week. I was amazed that within minutes into the conversation, we would somehow get to the place where we would both share our faith. When I left for the trip, I never considered that I would meet so many Christians and that we would be able to share the ups and downs of our faith.
The thing that struck me most that no matter what country you live in or state in the USA, no matter what your color is, social status, we all have burdens to bear. We all have crosses in our lives that we are carrying. What became evident is that once I heard other peoples stories or challenges, I began to realize just how blessed I have been. It made the low moments that I have been going through not so low. It also made me realize that no matter where one finds themselves on the journey, we all seem to be in the same place. We are waiting in faith for God to move. We are waiting for answers to questions, we are waiting to see what steps to take next, we are in a holding pattern waiting to be told when to land.
Isn't it amazing that in our differences the one thing we all have in common is that we must wait on God.
We have to trust that he has our best interest at heart.
Psalm 46:10--Be still and know that I am God.......
I don't know about you but I'm getting antsy. We've got to learn how to come together and "Wait together." Then just maybe the wait won't seem so long.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
OH Where OH Where Art Thou............
Where is Boaz? And for my male friends, where is the woman that possess your missing rib? I don't know about others but relationships with the opposite sex have been very difficult for me. First, it's very hard to find, if you think you have found a good match, it's hard to maintain or clearly just not the right person for you. Why is it that in the year 2010, you can meet a person that believes in God, but isn't willing to follow biblical principles? Why is that in our churches the divorce rate is higher than in the secular world? Why does it seem that so many men and woman are in the midst of broken marriages, trying very hard to hold on. When did divorce become the easy way out?
What will it take for Christians to have fruitful marriages that last? How can the church help young men and women prepare for relationships that are healthy even in the beginning stages of dating?
How do we truly achieve and find the love that is describe this passage of scripture:
“Love suffers long, and is kind; love does not envy; love does not promote itself, is not puffed up, does not behave badly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails” 1Corinthians 13:4-8
As I said in an earlier blog. I believe God. But how long must I wait for Boaz?
What will it take for Christians to have fruitful marriages that last? How can the church help young men and women prepare for relationships that are healthy even in the beginning stages of dating?
How do we truly achieve and find the love that is describe this passage of scripture:
“Love suffers long, and is kind; love does not envy; love does not promote itself, is not puffed up, does not behave badly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails” 1Corinthians 13:4-8
As I said in an earlier blog. I believe God. But how long must I wait for Boaz?
Sunday, September 5, 2010
I Believe God...
Today I had an opportunity to celebrate answered prayer. My church came together today to dedicate a little girl whose parents had prayed without ceasing for over 11 years for her arrival in their life. They went to several doctors, they did everything that the doctor ask of them. But God, had another plan. Faith is the substance of things hope for, the evidence of things not seen. They kept the faith. They continued to keep the faith that one day they would produce new life on the earth.
At the same time as we were celebrating a member of the extended family was experiencing lost. She had just lost her mother and she was out celebrating the miracle of life. What struck me most of all is when she said my mother always said, "I believe God." No matter the circumstance, "I believe God." No matter what my situation looks like today, "I believe God." She told of a story where it looked like her mom was going to need to have her leg amputated. And do you know what her response was,"Let God's will be done." She said that her heart was heavy but she knew her mom had gone home to be with Jesus.
One of the things that I learned today was that life is too short. And life is just beginning. We have moments when things are just beginning and we have moments that come to an end. The amazing thing is that we have the ability to see both at once. Today we celebrated birth(life), and at the funeral they celebrated life. To very different moments but the celebration of the same thing, life. I was reminded that in both situations faith was important. You have got to have faith on this journey or you won't have anything.
What are you believing God for? Can you exclaim with all sincerity that, " I believe God." As I got in my car to leave church today there was a song that came over my radio, and it was you guess it, "I believe God." It was a song by Kurt Carr that was a reminder to hold on to the dreams that God has given you. Don't grow weary, keep believing, keep praying, keep trusting and know that not only has God heard your prayer, he will answer. Maybe not on your time, but on his time. It says in Isaiah 55: 8-9, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, "declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
All I can say is , "Believe God."
At the same time as we were celebrating a member of the extended family was experiencing lost. She had just lost her mother and she was out celebrating the miracle of life. What struck me most of all is when she said my mother always said, "I believe God." No matter the circumstance, "I believe God." No matter what my situation looks like today, "I believe God." She told of a story where it looked like her mom was going to need to have her leg amputated. And do you know what her response was,"Let God's will be done." She said that her heart was heavy but she knew her mom had gone home to be with Jesus.
One of the things that I learned today was that life is too short. And life is just beginning. We have moments when things are just beginning and we have moments that come to an end. The amazing thing is that we have the ability to see both at once. Today we celebrated birth(life), and at the funeral they celebrated life. To very different moments but the celebration of the same thing, life. I was reminded that in both situations faith was important. You have got to have faith on this journey or you won't have anything.
What are you believing God for? Can you exclaim with all sincerity that, " I believe God." As I got in my car to leave church today there was a song that came over my radio, and it was you guess it, "I believe God." It was a song by Kurt Carr that was a reminder to hold on to the dreams that God has given you. Don't grow weary, keep believing, keep praying, keep trusting and know that not only has God heard your prayer, he will answer. Maybe not on your time, but on his time. It says in Isaiah 55: 8-9, For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, "declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
All I can say is , "Believe God."
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Love is a process
Relationships are so difficult to maintain and to have in life. We were created right from the beginning of time to be relational when God created Adam and Eve. Even Adam and Eve had there share of problems right from the beginning. I think one of the reasons our personal relationship with God struggles is because we tend to use our human relationships as the model and not the other way around. Think about it, if i have issues with my natural father, I may have a hard time relating to how God could be a father. If my personal intimate relationships don't work out, then I may extend that same doubt to God.
I think all through the bible we see a lot of different types of relationship. If you remember the story of Jacob, Leah and Rachel what a difficult situation to be in with all the parties involved. How must Leah of felt in the midst of this to go along with her father's plan to be deceitful to Jacob? She was marrying a man that loved another woman and her father was the cause of it. She must of initially, been heart broken, even though we know later she does bear Jacob's children. How must Leah of felt in that moment, her dad had set this horrible plan in motion? Both woman may have lost confidence in true love, lost confidence in their father's trust. How do they then look at God through the midst of this situation.? I could only imagine the doubt that had to arise for both women.
How do we get past the broken relationships in our life to have a full relationship with God? I think this is the struggle for most Christians even myself at times. I think when things don't go the way we want or plan, even if it's for a brief moment we may doubt. I think we all live in the place of the father in Mark 9:24, Lord I believe but help my unbelief.
As we journey to get to know God the father better, Jesus the son, and the Holy Spirit better, we have to know that it is a process. Just as we fall in love with earthly people a little bit at a time. Our love relationship with God is exactly the same. However, in reverse our earthly relationships can never be like our relationship with God. We can rest in the fact that God loves us, and we have to work at maintaining and growing closer to God daily.
Why do you believe relationships both earthly and spiritual are so difficult?
I think all through the bible we see a lot of different types of relationship. If you remember the story of Jacob, Leah and Rachel what a difficult situation to be in with all the parties involved. How must Leah of felt in the midst of this to go along with her father's plan to be deceitful to Jacob? She was marrying a man that loved another woman and her father was the cause of it. She must of initially, been heart broken, even though we know later she does bear Jacob's children. How must Leah of felt in that moment, her dad had set this horrible plan in motion? Both woman may have lost confidence in true love, lost confidence in their father's trust. How do they then look at God through the midst of this situation.? I could only imagine the doubt that had to arise for both women.
How do we get past the broken relationships in our life to have a full relationship with God? I think this is the struggle for most Christians even myself at times. I think when things don't go the way we want or plan, even if it's for a brief moment we may doubt. I think we all live in the place of the father in Mark 9:24, Lord I believe but help my unbelief.
As we journey to get to know God the father better, Jesus the son, and the Holy Spirit better, we have to know that it is a process. Just as we fall in love with earthly people a little bit at a time. Our love relationship with God is exactly the same. However, in reverse our earthly relationships can never be like our relationship with God. We can rest in the fact that God loves us, and we have to work at maintaining and growing closer to God daily.
Why do you believe relationships both earthly and spiritual are so difficult?
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