"45 for HIM"

The second "45 for HIM" prayer meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday September 11th at 6:00 p.m. This meeting will be held in the fellowship hall. As this date will commemorate the events of September 11, 2001, we will include our military and our country as two of the prayer topics for the evening. As our title suggests, this meeting will take "45" minutes or less. Please prayerfully consider joining us for this event.

Am I Saying Yes?

As I prepare for the upcoming fall bible study from the book “What Happens When Women Say Yes to God’ by Lysa TerKeurst, I have many thoughts and emotions running through my mind.

Of course I am excited, and expectant of the change and growth I am preparing to experience in my heart; but, at the same time I ask myself, “am I the right person to teach this class?” I have wondered, “Am I really prepared to say ‘yes to God’ in all aspects of my life?”

Actually, this question is not a new one for me. I have been asking the question for well over a year now. Each day I seem to find one more thing I need to lay at His feet and allow Him to take total control of.

Let’s see; first I had to lay down my health; after being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Someone asked me once, shortly after I was diagnosed, if I had prayed for God to cure me. When they asked the question, I was taken quite off guard. I realized that the thought had really never even occurred to me. I had suspected that I had Parkinson’s even before the official diagnosis came, and so acceptance of the fact came almost too easily. That is not to say that I wanted to be a Parkinson’s patient; but I felt at peace with the diagnosis and prayed that God would somehow allow me to use my disease as a way to tell others of His love and that He would somehow use my situation to draw people to the redeeming love of Jesus.

Next, I had to lay down our quest to adopt, and say yes to God’s direction in that area of our lives. When I did get the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, James and I called our adoption agency and tearfully told them that we would need to cancel our licensure and petition to adopt. We believed that it would be next to impossible for us to be chosen by a young birth-mother to parent her infant child, given that she would be presented with many other families, where both adoptive parents were healthy. However, God’s timing is always perfect. Our agency asked us to wait for a little while before making any big decisions and to pray. After some discussion, and much prayer, they convinced us to keep our licensure open. It was just a few months later when the adoption agency called us to ask if we would consider foster care for Gabe, and his adoption is now going to be official, making him a “Butler boy.”

All along the past year, throughout the stress and joy of the foster-to-adopt process and adjusting to the changes within my physical body, I have had to continuously lay things at the foot of the cross. If I were to share all of the things I have given over I would be able to fill volumes. Each day I find something else in my life that I need to surrender, in my quest to die to self and become more like Jesus.

My devotion and commitment to Him have grown in so many ways. My precious Jesus has faithfully accepted my dark emotions, my ugly stains, my sinful struggles; and replaced them with hope and joy that come from His abiding love and merciful grace. Some of the things that I have surrendered I have always believed I could handle on my own, prior to being humbled by Parkinson’s disease, and the increased stress level of being a full-time Mommy again. It is so amazing and awe inspiring to feel the transformation in my life as God is at work flexing His muscle in and over my life! I am learning a little better each and every day how to rely on His strength; as some days, I have no strength left of my own.

Someone once said that, “If life is going along smoothly human nature is to think that we can handle any situation on our own power. However, if we stay just outside of our comfort zone, we must rely fully on our faith in God and count on His strength to see us through.”

That is where I find my life now, just outside of my comfort zone; and I praise Him for allowing me to be in that “slightly out of control place.” I pray that I may remain just outside of my comfort zone where I am forced to rely fully upon Him. May I never become so comfortable that I begin to take back the things I have already laid down, or to erroneously think, in my own human vanity, that I can handle it on my own, and begin to rely on self once again!

So, as I further ponder the question, “Am I the right person to teach this class?” I pray that God, in His infinite wisdom, will continue to find ways to remind me . . .

. . . “No, my sweet child, but I AM.”

Please pray with me, my sisters, that I never forget Who is in charge!


Are you seeking for Gods blessings upon your life? Would like to join me in my quest to allow God to conform the darkness from the depths of my heart? Come out and grow with me as He continues to teach me what I must lay down to be able to “Say Yes to Him!” The study will begin on Sunday September 9th at 6:00.

We will begin each meeting with prayer asking the Holy Spirit to join with us. We will prayerfully consider how to have hearts open to receive His leading. And, we will share a time of praise and worship, through singing, before we open our books to allow Him to guide us through the study time together.

As for me, I look forward to the changes He will make in my life; are you game to join me?





Thoughts to Consider:

“What item, task, behavior, thought, or thing has God been nudging you to lay at His feet?” Are you willing to “say yes to God” and lay it down?

“Today, are you relying on your own strength, or counting on God’s unfailing mercy to carry you through?”


Application:

“Consider any area, thing, person, item, etc., in your life that you may desire to retain control of for yourself. Ask God to reveal to you how you can fully trust in His ability to manage that area, thing, person, item, etc., better. Prayerfully release whatever He brings to you mind to Him, and then allow Him to bless your life as the weight of that burden is lifted from your shoulders.”



Scripture reference:

Philippians 3: 12-14 (MSG) ~

“I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.”


Ephesians 4: 22-24 (NIV) ~

“You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”



James 4: 7-8 & 10 (NIV) ~

“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

The Lord is my Strength and My Song

It’s 8:30 a.m. Saturday morning and 85 degrees on a hot, muggy, Midwest August day. Luckily, I’m lying in bed this morning with a well deserved cup of coffee and book. My weeklong dream, which began on Tuesday at 4:50 a.m. when that stinking alarm went off for the second time, had finally come true. After 50 plus hours at work, time with my husband, family and home; I was exhausted and I deserved this little siesta. My integrity, strength and wisdom had been tested at every turn this week at work. I was stressed; every evening had been consumed by something, I just didn’t know exactly what. I was exhausted in every fiber of my being and I was finally getting to rest; and boy, did I deserve it!

Then a tug at my heart spoke, “Run with me”. It was the Father speaking ever so gently. How dare He interrupt my quiet time? Hadn’t He provided this time for me to be lazy? Didn’t He know how desperately I needed to rest? But again, He tugged at my heart ever so softly, “Join Me this morning in My world.” He paused, and then added, “Now!” And, as I lay there, consuming energy I did not have, attempting to rationalize in my feeble manner why I should lay in bed and rest rather than join my Father I soon realized I was to be obedient and run with Him this morning.

I pulled my bed head hair into a pony tail, donned a pair of shorts, grabbed a water bottle and headed out the door without putting any deodorant on. I had decided to walk the first ½ mile; after all it was excruciatingly hot and then perhaps I might go farther. You see, I didn’t want to be outside getting dehydrated and ruin my whole free day, did I? (Oh my, how I love to busy my mind to rationalize; instead of listening. Do you think perhaps I could be stubborn??!!)

I reached the ½ mile point, noticed the clear blue horizon awaiting me when I heard a flapping noise behind in the distance. I turned to see a great flock of birds with white bellies flying overhead. I don’t know what species they were but they were beautiful, their powerful presence gracing the sky. How awesome a moment to be outside in His world!! I began to hope they would swoop down and pick me up as they flew overhead as by now I was running, my breathing was labored and sweat was running down my back, into my eyes and my legs were heavy. My body didn’t feel right, I was tired. The flock drew closer; their flapping was close and distinct as they swooped down directly overhead; then straight up into the clear blue horizon dancing one direction and then the next but always together, in sync, as if they had an invisible leader. It looked like fun and the grandeur of the moment swept my thoughts away and finally this stubborn soul began to listen to Him. “See, I am leading you to My grandeur, had you stayed home you would have missed the miracle of my guidance, this beauty I wanted to share with you this morning. Listen to me. I love you more than anything, more than this flock of birds, I will guide and direct you in every turn of life; I will strengthen you at every turn, just listen to Me!”

Suddenly, His world and arms engulfed my entire being; His presence renewed every fiber within me. I was re-energized body, soul and spirit, my faith was immediately strengthened. I could sense the mightiness of His presence and see His world with brilliance as never before. The corn stalks were deep green, stout and straight due to His handiwork. The beans now were taller than the wheat stubble; a perfect yellow butterfly with black spots danced merrily about the roadside. I heard the locusts’ exuberantly from the woods and the birds chirped endlessly on in tune. God’s world was in perfect order and he wanted me to join Him, to let Him lead me and put His perfect plans in place; His order in my world. He wants to teach me how to make my world more like Him.

My heart tugged again to remind me He knew the number of birds in each tree and provided for each one all year long. I learned through my sweat and struggle that today He had provided a gift for me as never before. The gift of His unconditional love for me; His holiness to enjoy and bless my heart and soul in a way I could never have imagined. He strengthened me physically, mentally and emotionally during those 4 miles under His presence. I soon prayed for forgiveness of my stubborn spirit and selfish heart for I would have missed His plan for me today had I not listened to His tug to join Him in His world; to be present with Him.

Ladies, I challenge each of you the next 90 days to spend 90 minutes a week in His world and anticipate His tug on your heart during that time. Listen to Him. Find a tree, plant or flower and watch the transformation that will occur the next 90 days. The power of transformation you will see is just a small portion of the power His transformational plan holds for your life. However, first you must enable yourself to access that transformation. I encourage you to move past what might be in your daily schedule to spend 90 minutes a week for Him.

Joanie and I would love to hear from each of you what happens when you let go and let God have 90. And if you would like to share with us on the blog, via email, letter or personally we would love to hear from you. Our prayer is for you to understand that each of us struggle with many of the same priorities, time issues and being just plain tired about life, but Joanie and I are learning to put ALL in God’s hands and pray about it. We want you to be a part of our learning and growing, too.

Please join us at WE GROW and let Him begin to show you His plan for your life.

Sweet blessings to each of your lovely ladies,

Resa
08/04/07


P.S. The flock of birds was waiting for me in the field ½ mile from my house. They flew up in all their grandeur and led me back home. God is awesome, isn’t He!!!

“Dear God, you my shield, my provider, my father, you think of me even when I don’t think of you. I praise you for always being in my life!!”

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above; and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.” James 1:17

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

Carried Along by the Spirit

As I was reading from God’s precious word today, part of a verse of scripture captured my heart and set my mind on a fanciful journey. The words I read were from II Peter I:21, “For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.” (NIV – emphasis mine)

Although this passage is written by Peter and is referring to prophecy spoken by men, through the Holy Spirit, as I read the words “carried along by the Holy Spirit,” a different sort of picture painted itself across my vision. I saw my life, and how it could be; no, how it should be, if I would take my selfish desires out of play and turn every issue, even my every breath over to direction by the Holy Spirit.

If I were to live this way how much more would I accomplish? How much more loving would I act? Would I react to people and their needs with more compassion and offer much more grace, grace, grace? Would my selfish desires begin to take a backseat to selflessly serving the Lord and seeking to promote His kingdom?

This same chapter of God’s word gives us me even more insight and wisdom for living a Spirit filled life. II Peter 1: 3 – 4 says: “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (NIV ~ emphasis mine)

I can see it, I can feel it; dear Lord, I can almost taste the sweetness of it! Living a life of Godliness; a life where I can escape the corruption in the world caused by my evil desires! But, the key to it all is found in “Him.” Through the knowledge of Him! To get there I must read His word, I must converse with Him, I must humble myself to listen and then act upon what the Holy Spirit speaks to me.

This is no easy task because before long, sometimes before I have even closed my Bible, or finished my prayer, life comes along and smacks me in the face! I’m human; I struggle with anger, envy, selfishness, pettiness, greed, etc., etc. I am going to sin. I am going to stumble and fall.

What I have learned over the pages and years of my life is that it is okay to fall. The goal is to not allow satan to keep me down long. I am to reduce the time curve that I allow myself to stay wrapped in sin and away from my precious Savior’s will for my life. When I fall, I must confess quickly, my very life depends upon my restoration of God’s grace. I do not want to stay in the dark for long. I need the living water that Christ alone provides. I need my comforter; my guide the Holy Spirit; not just today, but every day, every minute.

“Oh Lord, you know that I desire to serve you as one who is “carried along by the Holy Spirit!” Soften my heart and shape my mind to receive the words that the Holy Spirit whispers softly to me. May I have the courage and conviction to act upon the direction that I am given. Help me to filter every thought, every desire through You! May I always seek to serve only you!”