Tag: God’s Plan

Really, God? That is the battle plan for Victory?

Really, God? That is the battle plan for Victory?

Truth is hard sometimes. Today it felt like a knife ripping through my heart. A Battle was raging within my spirit and I needed to know the battle plan. I needed to know God’s battle plan for my life. When I started my blog in 2010, I started it with one purpose in mind. I wanted just to tell any weary disheartened soul that might find my page; “There is hope in Christ.” Occasionally along this path of blogging, speaking and writing; I get caught in the dream of growing this to where I could do it full time. How glorious it be to be able to make a living helping people find a joyous life in Christ!! Yet, I have been unwilling to compromise and allow advertising on my site; because, I haven’t found a way to control the advertising well enough. I want the message of Christ to go out to the world!! Not a bunch of conflicting commercials that may cause harm.   For me the time, the money and the work I do with this website is a labor of love first and foremost for my Savior and for you whomever might come to read for a while.

smcas0189© Steve Creitz/Licensed from GoodSalt.com

[bctt tweet=”I write because deep within me is a burning passion that I must write. Hope cannot be silent.”]

REFLECTION AND REFOCUS

Today I realized that once more I had allowed myself to become concerned about “growing my numbers and pressing forward to success.” I have been studying, rewording, revamping and doing what all the sources say do. That is not the problem. The problem comes only if I lose sight of the true purpose for which I began this ministry.

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When is Devastating Pain Actually God’s Wondrous Grace?

When is Devastating Pain Actually God’s Wondrous Grace?

When I look back over all the years of my life; I am amazed by God’s Grace. How many times have I run ahead of God? How many times have I tried to help him accomplish his plans in my life, my way-not His? How often have I been impatient or pouted even because I couldn’t see His blessings? How often have I said, “If you would only…., then I could serve you better.” It has been God’s gracious hand that has lead me each step of the way. There have been moments of devastating pain along this journey. Yet, I have found those moments of devastating pain-both physical and emotional; were actually God’s Wondrous Grace working out His plan for my life in spite of me. Much like the life of Jacob, recorded in Genesis. Still Jacob made God’s “faith hall of fame” Hebrews 11, “21By faith, Jacob … worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.”

prcas0633 (1)© Providence Collection/Licensed from GoodSalt.com

[bctt tweet=”JACOB WAS CRIPPLED THAT HE MIGHT BE CROWNED, BROKEN THAT HE MIGHT SEE GRACE, AND …”] JACOB WAS HUMBLED THAT HE MIGHT RECEIVE GOD’S SOVEREIGN BLESSING.

WHY WAS JACOB LEANING ON HIS STAFF?

Jacob had wrestled with God throughout the beginning of his walk with God. He wanted to do things his own way.  Pride, arrogance, and fear all were part of his life. There came a moment in his walk with God, that he came face to face with the truth of his utter unworthiness. It was a moment of devastating pain that allowed Jacob to actually see God’s Wondrous Grace. God touched his hip and he fell to the ground. He would from that day forward walk with a limp and require a staff to lean on; but, it was there that he realized God’s Grace gave him life. None of his own works could make him worthy. All that God bestowed upon him was a gift of a Sovereign God who would accomplish His plan for Jacob’s life because God chose to and not because Jacob deserved anything. That is Amazing, Wondrous Grace!! Join me as I tell you Jacob’s story.

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CAN A SHATTERED HEART BE THE CATAPULT TO JOY?

Faith that makes you fearless and Joy Unimaginable–Can a shattered heart be the catapult to joy?

Let me begin with a huge apology.  For the first time in the 5 years that I have been posting I had to do a complete rewrite.  For those of you who have read the first posting and it really meant something for you; I will gladly send you an email copy for you.  Let me try to explain why I felt I had to rewrite the entire blog.   This morning’s writing was an attempt to “improve” my writing.  I realized after  I got to work that I had drowned you in my history I was hoping to help you see the awesome love of God who remained so faithful to me. I wanted you to know how He patiently took my hand to teach me of how much He loved me; even when I got it all wrong?  He loved me when my theology was all wrong; and, He loved me when I turned my whole world upside down.

follow Jesus

WHERE CAN I BEGIN:

Let me begin by saying my whole purpose for writing.  The very reason I began this blog or wrote any of my books has been to reach out a hand of love to any of the readers that came by.  This week I began taking classes in how to reach a larger audience and so instead of just listening to my heart; I tried to construct a blog the way “it should be.”  But I got it wrong.  What I meant to say this morning is: are you hurting? Have you or are you in the midst of an abusive relationship?  Have you known aching, desperate loneliness?  Have you ever believed you weren’t pretty enough or good enough to be loved?  If so, please understand; I have been there.  I do not say that with any pride or badge of honor.  I just want you to be aware that I know how that feels.  I know the fear and despair of facing cancer all alone; too afraid to tell your children that the doctors don’t think your chances are very good.  I know what it is to go paycheck to paycheck while at the same time trying to hide the truth of your financial devastation from your children. You don’t want them to suffer from your mistakes.  I know what it is to have good meaning christians question your faith or say “that it must be your sin that prevents God from blessing you?” And I know what it is to desperately cry out to God in the middle of the night, “Oh, God; why can’t I get it right?  How can you love me when I keep failing you?”

GOD’S GRACE:

The truth is–God’s grace has been there every step of this journey.  He has been Sovereignly present. He has been step by step transforming me.  He loved me way too much to leave me the way He found me.  Instead, inch by inch and glory by glory; He is changing me into the image of Christ.  (2Corinthians 3:17-18) I want you to know that He loves you.  You are never too deep, too far, or too lost for Him to find you.  I know; because I have been there.

 

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The Keys to Miraculous Faith

Fearless Faith and Awestruck Joy-The Keys to Miraculous Faith

She was a beautiful bride, the fairytale story as she married the prince. What anticipation and joy she had as she watched the nieces and nephews be born. She waited and prepared the nursery, longing to be blessed with a child. Year after year passed and she remained barren. She tried to keep up a smiling face before her husband whom she loved so much. She so wanted to be the perfect wife; but, no child came.

faith isoriginal photography used by permission of Jim Peregoy

Her tears had long since stopped when her husband told her the news that God had called him into a new land and that through his seed would come the promised blessing of all the nations. The Messiah would come to abolish sin and establish his kingdom. Once more she began to hope—could it be that God would now bless her with a child?

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Faith, Strength, and Hope in the Cross of Christ

Power-filled Positive Living—Chapter 19C—Faith, Strength, and Hope in the Cross of Christ

This world, this earthly journey at times will break our hearts. There are moments in which the pain and sorrow is so great, rising in our chest that we think we cannot take another breath. We are so wearied by the constant turmoil, heartache, and desperation that surrounds us. How do we take another step forward, even a tiny step; when, there is no strength to go on? How does a mother’s or a father’s heart find a tiny sparkle of hope when they know their child is hurting? We so wish we could do something, anything to make their pain go away; and, alas our hands are tied it seems. We pray until we have no words left to say, silence fills the room and everything seems a loss. How do we find that mustard seed faith to move the mountain before us, when we are so laden with pain, guilt, or despair? That seed of faith that tiny ray of hope, and those whispers of joy can only come from God. It is God who, “hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son…16 For by him (Jesus Christ) were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: 17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist”(are held together) Colossians 1.

Cross of Hope

You see, I can tell you there is a hope and a joy that rises out of the ashes of all your shattered dreams; because, I have been crushed by the weight of this world over and over again. Too often at the end of the day, I fall to my knees and cling to the rock of my salvation; only to then in the morning awaken to a renewed strength, a miraculous joy, and a peace of knowing, my Father has the answer to my desperate question. Suddenly, I realize; He alone needs to know the answer and I can trust Him.

Each time when life seems too hard, I am reminded of these three things.

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