Serenity

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference. -Niebuhr

Embracing the Struggle, and Leaning on God in Silence

So, what DO we do when things don't turn out as we thought they would? We took the step of faith and everything didn't fall right into place... What happened? Did I miss something? Did I miss God?

Somewhere along the way I think I was duped into thinking following God meant everything was going to go just as I anticipated "by faith" it should go. That somehow following God or doing His will was somehow hitting the heavenly "Easy" button and everything should go smoothly, especially when I take that step of faith. "If God is in it everything will fall into place," I believed.

While there is truth in that - God does take care of His people - there is no guarantee of not having difficulty along the journey, at least that has been my experience. Honestly by now, I feel I need to be real with myself and my experiences and instead of looking for the easy road, anticipate the difficulty, the struggle, the journey. Maybe that seems like a lack of faith to some, but my faith isn't as big and bold as I used to think.

But there is something to the struggle... it is in the struggle that we find new strength. Hopefully it's His strength. It's in the struggle that we cling to Him, and we gain confidence as we see Him provide and lead and comfort us time and time again.

I also believe I am seeing another truth play out in my life in regards to going through difficulty - It seems we gain confidence in Him through our silence.

In the past I have tried to move God's hand and favor through heartfelt prayers and hyped up faith. Over the last few years I feel a deeper strength that seems to come through silence, peace, and the Sacraments. I believe that peace and rest in difficulty has also come through a greater experience of His real, personal love for me.

So, what do we do when difficulty arises after we have made a move of faith or tried to make a change for good?

Actually I was hoping someone else had the answer. :)

I'm not sure what else to do but embrace it, knowing God uses difficulty to mold us and shape us into His Image. Difficulty is part of life. He never said we wouldn't experience it, but He did say He would walk with us through it.

An Anglican priest and friend of mine recorded these words as part of a song once, "It is in returning and rest we shall be saved, in quietness and rest shall be our strength."

So, I will (try) to quietly receive the difficulty, and trust His wisdom and peace will come through silence.

Battle Trust

What do you do when the battle wages on? Who do you look to when things get difficult?

It's my natural inclination as a problem solver to look to myself to solve the problems or difficulties I face. When a crisis hits, I usually try to find the solution in and of myself. Then, when all else fails, pray.

I feel the Lord turning me to Him along all of life's bends and turns - to go to Him first. To look to Him for the solution, instead of to myself. To look to Him with faith and patience, enjoying the day and not worrying about tomorrow - knowing it is Him who holds the 'morrow.

When we face trials and difficulties, God is trying to work something for good in our lives. Will we go to Him to seek what it is He is looking to do? Will we seek Him for the solution? Will we find our rest in Him or try to find it in our ability to control our situation? Will we allow Him to do the work He wants to do in us, and let Him do it His way, and in His time?

I haven't always been good at these things, but I do feel the Lord is helping me to depend more on Him rather than myself when I am fighting in the trenches of life. I suppose it is better to learn these things later rather than never.

So what about you? What do you do?

A Prayer

A brother in the Lord and friend of The Chapel where my family and I worship came and spoke yesterday morning at our service. He spoke of the Father's delight in us, His children, and how experiencing His love and delight provide the foundation and motivation for change in us. But we must experience His delight.

He talked about the church's lack of joy, and how it stems from not knowing the Father's heart for us. [You know, it's funny... I'm not sure if he, Tommy Green, explicitly spoke the specific things I have written here, but still, it's how the Holy Spirit spoke to me through the message.]

I found myself, as Tommy talked about God delighting in us, almost rejecting such a notion. It's a concept that I have heard and known for years in my Christian walk, but it's just that, a concept. I'm not sure if I have ever truly experienced, or ever truly believed that the Father, the Creator, could truly delight in me.

Me? How could He really enjoy me? How could He delight in me?

I'm OK with God delighting in others. But me?

I fall so short. I'm so inadequate. I'm not good enough. How could the Creator, the Holy One, in whom there is no sin or unrighteousness, truly delight in me?

It would seem I should be OK with this notion after years of walking with Him, but I'm not. Sure, I might be able to muster up some faith and believe this to be true, but it's only been head knowledge for me. I know in Christ I have peace with God and can enjoy His grace, but delight? That's like, actively rejoicing over me! Does God really do that?

If God truly delights in me, and truly finds joy in me, then I want to experience that delight. I want to experience the joy and peace that I believe, or have heard, comes from that experience.

And then I want to walk in it. Never to leave His delight.

I'm one who I feel lacks true joy. And from what I can understand and at least conceptualize, if I knew and experienced the Father's delight in me, it would produce that joy and freedom in my life.

Lord, please help me to experience and truly know how you really see me, and how you delight in me.

Sick Babies

Please pray for us. We have two very sick kids and a sick Mama. (And Moms aren't supposed to get sick!)

Thank you!

Prayer

Jesus beckons us to come away with Him, yet most of us won't heed His voice.

Prayer is what keeps us from a "going through the motions" Christianity, yet we won't prioritize it.

The late Leonard Ravenhill said no man is greater than his prayer life, yet we try to run ministries without prayer.

Jesus said that He is the Vine and we are the branches and apart from Him we can do nothing, yet our prayer life, or lack thereof, says we think we don't need Him.

Most of us are too busy to pray. Too busy to get away with the Master, too many other priorities that come before the Lover of our soul.

We hear about the need to pray, yet most of us never change. It costs too much. So I guess preachers don't preach on prayer anymore - maybe because it's not popular, or maybe because they themselves don't pray.

So what about you? Will you sacrifice to pray? What are you willing to lay down to be with the Master? For most, the cost is too high. They'll hear something just like this, and there will be

No. Long lasting. Change.

So what about you?

Blessed

Our trip to NY to be with family during the loss of my Grandmother was such a meaningful trip. The time with family was priceless and meant so much to me. With my sister and I living out of state and my other siblings and cousins starting their own families or dealing with busy schedules, one evening all together makes for special memories.

Though it was an emotional trip, continually fighting back tears it seemed, it was a blessed trip. My Grandmother was a good woman who knew the Lord, so I can't even imagine what it is like for her right now, in heaven with Jesus! Many wonderful things were said about her, and I am thankful for my "Grandma" the Christian heritage she and all my Grandparents have passed down to all of us, as I now do my best to share that heritage with my children.

We greatly appreciate all prayers for us and my extended family during this time.

Blessings.

24/7

I want to take a moment to put a plug out there for those who may not be aware of the ministry of IHOP. First and foremost, we must establish that I am not talking about pancakes (however, some good pancakes can be good ministry at times!) No, IHOP, as in the International House of Prayer.

IHOP is located in Kansas City where the heart of our [IHOP's] missions base is night-and-day prayer with worship (as written on their website). IHOP has 24/7 prayer and worship going on in what is known as the Prayer Room. Not only that, they broadcast the ministry of the Prayer Room live via the web, 24/7 as well.

I would encourage you to visit the Prayer Room as it may be what you need in the middle of the day, or as a way to start your quiet time with the Lord in the morning, or simply to have playing in the background as you go about your day (take the prayer room with you as they have an app for iPhone too!).

I would also encourage you to check out our local (based in London, KY) expression of a house of prayer by visiting One27 Hop here.

Be blessed in His presence!