Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10 (NKJV)
It is so hard to be still and quiet in this day and age. I can't count how many times I have been overstimulated in the past month. The stillness is so important. It's in these moments, God comes closest. In these still moments, it's easy to hear God.
David was still. Nathan rebuked David for what he had done to Bathsheba and Uriah. After that Bathsheba's son fell ill. David was still. He laid on the ground and plead for the child's life. 2 Samuel 12:15-17.
Jesus was still. He went into the garden and prayed He was still while he plead with God to do His will.
In that stillness and quietness is when God is the loudest. It's hard to be sit and be still but God does great things in the still. I work hard at being still and some of the greatest thing have come from them. Sometimes being still is removing yourself from daily life. Going on a retreat is often a time when you can be still.
One moment stillness that sticks out is in Mexico. I was working with a group. I was going to take care of the walls and such and the group leader was going to take care of the roof. They were having issues on the roof and needed me up there. They coaxed me up on to the 7ft side. Then they got me up on the plywood closer to the 8 ft side. I was scared to stand up. I was on my knees with my forehead on the plywood screaming "I don't want to stand up" with 2 adult men telling me how great the view was. For just a moment I stopped screaming. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I was still. It appeared to me the whole work site was still. Then I heard it. "Stand up. The view is beautiful. You'll love it. It'll make you smile. Just stand up." I stood up. The amazing thing about where we were working is that is was in a valley but the neighborhood was on a hill. The view was amazing. That was one of the greatest blessing I have ever received on an Amor trip. Thank God for making me a still moment in my life that was magnificent. Has God ever done that for you? Why not? Is it because you haven't' stopped? Please take a moment and be still.
I was paging through my bible the other day and postcard fell out of it. It was from the last Tapestry retreat. Jill Rhodes spoke about God being our refugee. On the card, I wrote what God spoke to me during the weekend. I wrote a piece wisdom I was given but forgot. Sometimes being still mean removing your hands from something. Sometimes being still is letting go and letting God. Do you have something that you need to take your hands off of? I do and I know it's hard but when you let go, and when you are still, you allow the floodgates of blessing to open up. Take a moment and think about that. The floodgates of blessings. Think hard, what do you want more, that thing you are holding on to or open floodgates of blessings?
Take time and be still It is so important to know that He is God. It'll be hard but I promise it will be worth it.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Is it really enough
And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NKJV)
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)
Is His grace really sufficient? Is it really all you need? I can tell you yes. The thing about this lesson is that I think I share with all that I know about His grace being enough and it may not help you at all. I think this is lesson you to learn yourself. You have to personally witness this yourself in order to truly understand it.
But what is grace? Webster dictionary says that grace is unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification and a virtue coming from God. I've often heard it said that grace is getting more than what we deserve. When it comes down to it, we haven't done anything worthy of getting God's attention or having God do anything special for us. Yet He still does it. God loves to make you smile. It's His hobby. That is what grace is. Grace is good taking the weak, small, meaningless things and making the great, wonderful, and amazing.
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NKJV)
The great thing about grace is that God gives it freely, and almost to point where it seems to overflow. God does this because as His grace works in your life He is gloried. He is seen through the good works you do. Grace really is great thing. It flows from Him so that you can focus on Him.
I've learned that His is grace is sufficient. It wasn't any easy thing to learn. God allowed to go to India to help out in an orphanage. The reason for this is so that He could show that His grace is all that I need. The children living in this orphanage had lost their parents or their parents had abandoned them because they couldn't feed them. These children don't have much. In fact all that they own can fit into a backpack. They have these backpacks because my church gave them to the children. They were happy and content. They didn't seem to be in want. They know that God is all they need. I, however, get sad, depressed and upset. I have both my parents, I have never gone to bed hungry, I have all my needs and wants meet everyday. I couldn't fit all my belongings into two suitcases, it wasn't enough space. I didn't think God was sufficient. Something was wrong and a thought process need changing. If God was enough for these children, why wasn't He enough for me? I was the one who had to look for God to be enough. It took time and it wasn't easy, but now I can proudly say that God is all need. God is sufficient.
Just look for His grace and it will become sufficient
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)
It's ok if you don't know that His grace is sufficient. That great thing about God is that if you ask for something that is in His will, He'll give it to. I can assure that knowing God is sufficient is in His will. Just ask. His grace is sufficient.
Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NLT)
Is His grace really sufficient? Is it really all you need? I can tell you yes. The thing about this lesson is that I think I share with all that I know about His grace being enough and it may not help you at all. I think this is lesson you to learn yourself. You have to personally witness this yourself in order to truly understand it.
But what is grace? Webster dictionary says that grace is unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification and a virtue coming from God. I've often heard it said that grace is getting more than what we deserve. When it comes down to it, we haven't done anything worthy of getting God's attention or having God do anything special for us. Yet He still does it. God loves to make you smile. It's His hobby. That is what grace is. Grace is good taking the weak, small, meaningless things and making the great, wonderful, and amazing.
And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NKJV)
The great thing about grace is that God gives it freely, and almost to point where it seems to overflow. God does this because as His grace works in your life He is gloried. He is seen through the good works you do. Grace really is great thing. It flows from Him so that you can focus on Him.
I've learned that His is grace is sufficient. It wasn't any easy thing to learn. God allowed to go to India to help out in an orphanage. The reason for this is so that He could show that His grace is all that I need. The children living in this orphanage had lost their parents or their parents had abandoned them because they couldn't feed them. These children don't have much. In fact all that they own can fit into a backpack. They have these backpacks because my church gave them to the children. They were happy and content. They didn't seem to be in want. They know that God is all they need. I, however, get sad, depressed and upset. I have both my parents, I have never gone to bed hungry, I have all my needs and wants meet everyday. I couldn't fit all my belongings into two suitcases, it wasn't enough space. I didn't think God was sufficient. Something was wrong and a thought process need changing. If God was enough for these children, why wasn't He enough for me? I was the one who had to look for God to be enough. It took time and it wasn't easy, but now I can proudly say that God is all need. God is sufficient.
Just look for His grace and it will become sufficient
Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)
It's ok if you don't know that His grace is sufficient. That great thing about God is that if you ask for something that is in His will, He'll give it to. I can assure that knowing God is sufficient is in His will. Just ask. His grace is sufficient.
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
No need to fear what is to come
And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed. Deuteronomy 31:8
Life is so uncertain. We have no idea of knowing what tomorrow will bring. However there is no need to fear. God goes before us. Sometimes though this thought isn't enough. We feel like we should do things. We want to be in control. There are things we do to help us feel safe and hold fast to this promise.
First really look at what the verse really says. He is the One who goes before you. God has set this example of going before us. God sent Joseph before he sent Jacob and his family do into Egypt. He went before Moses and the Israelites as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. This verse is Moses talking with Joshua. Another great example of this is with Mary the mother of Jesus. Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her what was to come, but Mary wasn't Gabriel first stop. Gabriel appeared to Elizabeth and Zacharias. One reason this happened is because God knew Mary would go to Elizabeth. He goes ahead.
Remember that He is with you. It says over and over again in the bible that God is with you. He also repeat the phrase I won't leave you. If something is repeated it's important and it has meaning. I think that the great thing about about the phrase I am with you, is that when you look at it in the old testament, it is proceed or followed by three very powerful words declares the Lord. The first two definitions of the word declare in Webster's dictionary is state emphatically and authoritatively and announce publicly or officially. The Lord has feeling when he says this to us and He wants everyone to know it. It is something you can rest on and count on.
There are other things that you can do to help you remember this promise.
Be prepared
By knowing what God's word says, it will help you to be prepared and help you to be ready for what is to come. If you know the promises of God you can lean and rest on them when uncertain times come before.
Keep Godly Friends
Those friends that know God can offer support. They pray for you and stand beside you. Others have been there and done that. Their experiences can help you. Some of those friends even have the gift of God's wisdom and they are to share that wisdom with you.
Faith and Praise.
Keep working on your faith. It is something that needs to be growing. As long as you are starting your day trusting Him and walking with Him, you will have no need to fear anything. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3. Praise draws you closed to Him. Praise Him for the times he has gone ahead of you. Praise Him for the times He is near. Praise Him for the times He has been faithful.
Focus on God and His greatness. Exalt Him alone and with others. Pray to Him and He will answer. He will take care of your fear and anxieties. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Psalm 34:3-4
The great thing about Deut 31:8 is that it is a promise you can hold on to. It's amazing. It shows His power. He will go before. He is wherever you'll be next year, but He is also right here with you now. He is getting ready the next place in your life, but He is watching over your day to day needs at the same time. He can't leave us. He gave up too much to leave us.
Life is so uncertain. We have no idea of knowing what tomorrow will bring. However there is no need to fear. God goes before us. Sometimes though this thought isn't enough. We feel like we should do things. We want to be in control. There are things we do to help us feel safe and hold fast to this promise.
First really look at what the verse really says. He is the One who goes before you. God has set this example of going before us. God sent Joseph before he sent Jacob and his family do into Egypt. He went before Moses and the Israelites as a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. This verse is Moses talking with Joshua. Another great example of this is with Mary the mother of Jesus. Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her what was to come, but Mary wasn't Gabriel first stop. Gabriel appeared to Elizabeth and Zacharias. One reason this happened is because God knew Mary would go to Elizabeth. He goes ahead.
Remember that He is with you. It says over and over again in the bible that God is with you. He also repeat the phrase I won't leave you. If something is repeated it's important and it has meaning. I think that the great thing about about the phrase I am with you, is that when you look at it in the old testament, it is proceed or followed by three very powerful words declares the Lord. The first two definitions of the word declare in Webster's dictionary is state emphatically and authoritatively and announce publicly or officially. The Lord has feeling when he says this to us and He wants everyone to know it. It is something you can rest on and count on.
There are other things that you can do to help you remember this promise.
Be prepared
By knowing what God's word says, it will help you to be prepared and help you to be ready for what is to come. If you know the promises of God you can lean and rest on them when uncertain times come before.
Keep Godly Friends
Those friends that know God can offer support. They pray for you and stand beside you. Others have been there and done that. Their experiences can help you. Some of those friends even have the gift of God's wisdom and they are to share that wisdom with you.
Faith and Praise.
Keep working on your faith. It is something that needs to be growing. As long as you are starting your day trusting Him and walking with Him, you will have no need to fear anything. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3. Praise draws you closed to Him. Praise Him for the times he has gone ahead of you. Praise Him for the times He is near. Praise Him for the times He has been faithful.
Focus on God and His greatness. Exalt Him alone and with others. Pray to Him and He will answer. He will take care of your fear and anxieties. Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness; let us exalt his name together.I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. Psalm 34:3-4
The great thing about Deut 31:8 is that it is a promise you can hold on to. It's amazing. It shows His power. He will go before. He is wherever you'll be next year, but He is also right here with you now. He is getting ready the next place in your life, but He is watching over your day to day needs at the same time. He can't leave us. He gave up too much to leave us.
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