Thank you for sharing in my Living Intentionally journey as I embark on a Perspective Challenge to discover what it means to hope in the Lord. 

Romans 5:3-4
And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings,
because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
perseverance, character;
and character, hope.

Learning to hope in the Lord is a slow and tedious journey where God is about the business of  totally transforming our character — character that is produced through perseverance, and perseverance that is required in the face of suffering.  Through sanctifying us, God is seeking to reveal Himself not only to us but also others.

Ultimately, as we grow deeper into understanding the character and nature of God, our life perspective shifts, enabling us to experience a sense of inner peace regardless of the circumstances, expectations, or disappointments.  This peace captivates and calls others to see what’s going on in our hearts and look beyond our circumstances to find the source of our faith.

Through embracing God’s hope for today instead of striving for an outcome for tomorrow, we also learn that God is faithful in the midst of a trial.  Our faith becomes contagious.  God’s gift of  hope is poured into our hearts, enabling us to live a life surrendered to the His purpose. It is hope that does not disappoint, as we lean into His arms and embrace His plans.  And miraculously, His glory spells hope in our hearts, as He pens our story hearts for others to read!

His love breathes hope in our hearts, giving life hope to those around us.

Have you received this gift of His hope?

Are you surrendering to His plans?

Is your heart proclaiming God’s glory to others?

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Welcome to WFW!

There are very few rules, in fact the beauty of this ministry is the creative expression that God reveals Himself thorough. We marvel at the creativity that participants post! It’s a blessing!  We encourage the ” post behind the picture,” or the reflections that many of the participants share. We ask that for WFW that participants refrain from using non-biblical. If you’ve got the time we also encourage you to visit a few of the WFW contributors! It’s always a blessing to see the Scripture and story that creatively appear across the screen.

WFW is not about books, authors, artists… it’s about God and HIS WORD ONLY. WFW is about celebrating the gift of creativity through God’s Word and sharing the creative Word!

Please join myself and some other wonderful ladies as we share the creative gifts God has blessed us with by signing into to the Link below to participate in WFW!Learning to hope in the Lord is a slow and tedious journey where God is about the business of totally transforming our character — character that is produced through perseverance, and perseverance that is required in the face of suffering. Through sanctifying us, God is seeking to reveal Himself not only to us but also others.

 

 ”For you are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for you to do.”

I like that. I like that a lot. Knowing God has a specific plan for me makes me happy. However, in my little human head I can really jack that up with something I call “My Agenda for the Universe!” Somehow that really gets in the way of God’s agenda. In other words, I have gone to God seeking His will based on what I think is best. Anybody?

“Yeah but,” you say, “what is God’s will for my life?” Ah, now were are getting down to the nitty-gritty. Let’s see, um…okay, here’s how you know.

There are a couple of things you have to do (taken from Paul in Romans 12:2 NIV):

1. Offer your body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God.
2. Don’t conform to this world
3. Instead, be transformed by the renewing of your mind, THEN
4. You will be able to know His good and perfect will.

Simple

The thing is, however, sometimes we like to do that in reverse order.

1. Know God’s will for my life, THEN
2. I’ll stop doing all the junk I’m not supposed to be doing, THEN
3. I’ll let the Spirit do His job of changing me, THEN
4. I’ll live a very sacrificial life to God doing that which He showed me to do.

Yeah, ouch for me too.

In order to know the will of God (whether or not it has anything to do with you, which, in mercy, it does), we must first be humbled and abandoned to the work of the Spirit in us. There is too much flesh noise to discern His voice from ours if we are not humbled to the voice and word of His Spirit daily.

God’s will for your life will be most readily and perfectly exposed to you the more humbly you yield to the Spirit.

Hearing from the Spirit takes an elevated sense of Him living inside of you. It takes your effort of abandoning your self, your flesh, your dreams, your whatever and inwardly turning to His control and presence. No assumptions. No planning the future for Him. It is an active advance on a passive state before God. This state remains tense, ready to hear His voice at any given moment. It’s an inward, private place of worship and humility.

Abandon.
Know the Word.
Learn to quiet your heart to Him.

And you will know His will.

Recently I went through my kitchen gathering the best looking fruit from here, there, and yonder, pulled out the prettiest bowl I have then spent hours arranging it just so. I wanted it to look good when I brought my bowl of fruit to the master chef.

When I set it before him he grinned. “Now let’s see what I can do with it.” Then he dumped out the bowl, scattering the fruit across the work table.

I gasped, trying to hide my dismay. “I spent hours gathering and arranging that fruit.” I will cry to God Most High, to God who accomplishes all things for me. ~Psalm 57:2

The master chef smiled and nodded as he picked up his knife.

That’s when I noticed the cutting mat, peeler and knives laid out. Or maybe that’s when I quit ignoring them and thinking he meant to use them on someone else’s bowl of fruit.

With great speed, he peeled several pieces, then quartered and chopped and tossed them back into the bowl. Some he squeezed, sprinkling the juice across the other fruit before discarding the mangled pulp. Some he slivered or sliced, and others he chunked. When all the fruit had passed beneath his knife there was only a small amount in that pretty bowl I brought him.

I was heartbroken. All that choice fruit reduced to what I saw as a measly amount that barely half-filled the bowl.

But the master chef smiled and stirred. “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” (Isaiah 55:8)

From one of his many cabinets he pulled dainty dessert cups and scooped fruit into the cups. He filled them, added a dollop of cream, a sliced and fanned berry, and set them on a pretty serving tray. His intention all along had been to create a fruit salad from what I brought him. So much better than just a plain piece of fruit.

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. Phil. 1:6

Being peeled, cored, sliced and diced isn’t fun. It’s painful, pushes us past what we think our limits are and and reduces the volume in our bowls. Submitting to the Master’s knife yields more of what He wants in our lives.

The Lord will accomplish what concerns me; Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting; do not forsake the works of Your hands. Psalm 138:8

Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in
Christ Jesus.

In my previous post, “The Prayer that will Change Your Marriage” I said I would share the difference between praying for or about your husband. I pray that this will encourage you.

“Dear God, I’m so frustrated with my husband! He never hears me! I feel like I’m invisible! He doesn’t engage me! I love him but I just can’t seem to make him change! He’s a good man but he needs You to do something inside of him! I can’t take it any more! He needs to change and I pray in Jesus Name for this change to happen quickly, please God!!”

Or…

“Abba Father, I am so grateful for my marriage. I love my husband very much and I know he loves me but we are having some problems and we need Your wisdom, direction and divine intervention. I feel as though he doesn’t hear my heart on certain issues and perhaps I’m not hearing his. I want us to speak lovingly to each other and be patient with each other during this time in our marriage of disagreement. I ask for Your divine intervention—help us to see and hear You in the midst of our marriage. Please help us to glorify You in our marriage and to love each other in a manner that is pleasing to You. I trust You and I place every care in Your hand. I love You and thank You for working in my husband’s heart and in mine. I pray in Jesus Name Amen.”

Which prayer do you think represents a wife who is praying about her husband? Which one represents that she is praying for her husband? What is the difference between the two prayers?

The first prayer represents a wife who is frustrated and perhaps feeling as if there’s no hope for her marriage to change. In her frustration she prays about her husband as opposed to praying for her husband. The second prayer is a wife who is also frustrated and in need of God’s touch in her marriage but she has made the decision to pray for her husband, herself and their marriage. The difference is the second wife is determined to see her husband through God’s eyes and not through her frustration.

The difference is mind-set and view point. Everything in our lives is based on a decision. We can operate out of the angst of a situation or we can pray out of a heart to see it resolved God’s way. That’s not always easy when you’re dealing with problems in your marriage that are hurting you.  I was the woman in example one in the first few years of our marriage. I prayed about my husband. I adored him but I wanted him to change. I prayed with the focus on his problems until God showed me I needed to first pray for God to change me. I also needed to pray for my husband through God’s view of him rather than praying about him through my eyes of frustration.

A few years into our marriage I became the wife in the second example. I prayed Lord, please change me. I also prayed for God to change my husband and to bless him and our marriage. I prayed for our marriage to honor the Lord. This type of praying matured me spiritually and opened the door for my husband to give his life to Christ. For several years the road wasn’t easy, but the journey was worth it!

If you don’t already, pray for your husband not about him. Pray for him by name. Make it personal. Pray for him through God’s eyes not through the frustrations you may feel. I invite you to pray and speak the Word of God (Bible) over your husband for that is God’s perfect will for him. Here’s an example:

Abba Father, I lift my husband Peter to You. Thank You for working in his heart in ways seen and unseen. Thank You for blessing our covenant. I love Peter deeply and I am so thankful, Abba, that we can see Your hand of wisdom, direction, love, strength, peace and purpose in our marriage. I pray Your divine favor over Peter spiritually and at his place of employment. I pray for Peter to continue to grow in the knowledge of Your grace and mercy. I pray for Peter to continue to walk in obedience to the leading of Your Holy Spirit. May Peter continue to be a living witness for Your Son, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Thank You Abba for keeping Peter safe from all harm and for keeping Peter in clarity and peace of mind. I pray for Peter to remain humble before You. May Peter’s life give You all the praise, honor and glory. I pray with a heart of gratitude in the precious Name of Jesus! Amen and Amen.

Feel free to use this prayer as a starting point and use your husband’s name and please consider these questions:

1. Is your marriage filled with the joy and peace of God?
2. Do you pray for or about your husband?
4. Do you pray for God to change you as well?
5. What is the next step you are prepared to do to cooperate with God in the wholeness of your marriage?

Begin to pray for your husband and yourself daily. Pray for your marital covenant without anxiety and you will see the peace of God step in and soon you will begin to see your marriage through God’s eyes and that’s a beautiful sight to see!

In the Christian community, it’s easy to lump all negative emotions as sin. We read commands to rejoice during trails and assume depression is failure, but Biblical joy is not a temporary, surface emotion. According to John C. Hutchinson, author of Thinking Right When Things Go Wrong, “The biblical teaching of joy or rejoicing has more to do with confidence in one’s convictions than it does with emotion.” Joy is a deep assurance that God is good even when life is not. This is not an emotional stance, but instead, a choice of belief.

Emotions aren’t good or bad. Throughout Scripture we read accounts of faith-filled men and women continually used by God who went through periods of depression and experienced intense anger. Elijah grew depressed and wanted to die. In the Psalms David expressed moments of great pain. Job poured out his heart in an expression of raw, honest emotions.  He even accused God of hunting him down like a lion. Yet God didn’t condemn Job, but instead, reminded Job of his limited understanding.

Be honest. God already knows how you feel and what you’re thinking anyway. Praying through your feelings will help draw you to God.

We may wonder: “Is it okay to be mad at God?” This makes me think of my relationship with my daughter and the countless times she’s been mad at me.

When our daughter was eight we moved and it hit her hard. One day, she scrunched her pudgy face, balled her fists and yelled, “I hate you!”

That hurt. A lot. Not because of her words, but because I saw the pain beneath them. What I wanted most was not to scold her, but to hold her. To draw her into my arms and to comfort her with my love.

Psalm 103:14 tells me God feels the same about us:

13 As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; 
14 for he knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust.

Draw near to God and resist the urge to pull away.

Emotional pain, whatever the cause, has a tendency to lead to isolation. No matter what we are going through, no matter how we may feel, God wants to be our all-in-all. He wants us to draw near to Him, trusting in His love and unfailing nature, even if everything we see points to the contrary. James 4:8 makes us a promise:

“Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.”

Whether we feel Him or not, God is there. He won’t leave, no matter how much we rant or rave.

Drawing near to God during our times of trial helps, but often it’s not enough. It’s also important not to isolate ourselves. God placed us in a family of believers for a reason. His desire is that we would turn to one another during our time of need.  The world values independence, but God encourages interdependence.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 reminds us of the importance of living in community—of leaning on others during our time of need:

 9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: 
10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. 
But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.

When dealing with unemployment, this can be hard. We live by an unspoken, faulty belief that says, “If you work hard, you’ll find success.” But the Bible says differently and promises we’ll experience difficulty. Yet, no matter what happens, everything is first filtered through the hand of a loving God. Which means every tear and heartache has a purpose.

We know this intellectually, but that truth can be hard to grasp. It’s easy to assume God is somehow against us or we are being punished for some unknown sin.

I believe this view comes from a misunderstanding of the word discipline. The Bible tells us that God disciplines those He loves, and in our “time-out” world, we’ve come to equate discipline as punishment. But the word itself, paideuo in the Greek, means “a child under development with strict training” – properly, to train up a child (país), so they mature and realize their full potential (development).

When I think of God’s discipline—His training to maturity—I remember my time as a track coach. I had two types of athletes: those who came to spend time with friends and those who came to win. During practice, I focused on those who wanted to win, and I pushed them hard, watching them closely, driving them to their brink in order to bring out their best.

Intentionally focus on the unchanging nature of Christ. God is a God of mercy, love, and truth who always does what is right. His every action is rooted in love because He loves us deeply and is intimately involved in our lives. His goal is not to break us, but instead, to raise us up like a prize athlete, victorious and free. Like Job, we may not always understand why we must go through trials like unemployment. We may react with intense anger and despair, but God remains faithful and promises to carry us through it. Knowing this allows us to be honest and authentic with our emotions, and to draw near to God in confidence, knowing He’s on our side.

As we begin Week 3 of the Legacy Bible study, we are pondering the issue of God’s faithfulness to keep His promises. In today’s video I offer two things to consider in regard to the promises of God. I hope you will join us as we examine our faith in light of God’s promise keeping ability.

NOTE: Are you receiving your weekly emails? If you signed up to be part of the study and are not receiving the Tuesday and Friday emails, be sure to check your spam and quarantine item folders.

It is never too late to join us for the Legacy Bible study. Because the videos will be available here at the Internet Cafe Devotions site, you can join any time. Would you like more information on the study or a way to join us? Go here.

Do you need to order a Legacy study workbook? Go here to order.

I paused after playing my answering machine message to listen closely. The voice on the other end sounded familiar, but I couldn’t quite put my finger on which of my friends was “me”.

Preoccupied with the mail, I hadn’t focused on the message the first time. So, I replayed the message, and listened carefully to the mystery caller.

“…I was just checking in with you. I have something to tell you, but I wanted to tell you in person. So, call me. I hope y’all are doing well. We are headed out for a while, but you can call me tonight. Bye.”

Frozen in my spot, I stared at the blinking “1” on the machine alerting me to the message. Who was that? I racked my brain, berating myself for getting old. I know that voice. Who is that? Grabbing the phone to scroll through my caller id, I started worrying about the caller’s tone. She sounded like the something she needed to tell me was bad – like she was reluctant to say it.

I found the number that matched the time of the message and didn’t recognize the digits. Knowing I didn’t know all my friends’ cell phones by heart, I hit redial.

“Hello?” She answered immediately.

“Hey, it’s Carol.” Still not recognizing the voice, I hoped she would reveal her identity.

“Umm…” she paused. I knew it was coming. Some horrible news like – she saw me dig my underwear out in church and was appalled or she heard a group of people laughing as I walked past wearing cowboy boots with my skirt.

I wasn’t prepared for what she said next. “I don’t know you.”

Huh? I explained. “You left me a message on my machine earlier about needing to tell me something.”

She snickered through the phone, “Whoops! I wasn’t paying attention. I must have had the wrong number. I’m so sorry!”

I hung up chuckling to myself, but quickly realized that wasn’t the first time something similar has happened. I often mistake that little voice in my head, believing it when it tells me I’m not attractive or I’m not that great at writing and should give it up. I question my calling. Sometimes I think it’s my own conscience, but many times I believe it’s God.

Except it’s not. It’s satan. (I won’t even honor him with a capital letter.) Regularly, I’m distracted with other things and convince myself I’m familiar with the voice I hear – sure it’s a Friend. Then I head into a downward spiral of negative self-talk believing the message I’m hearing is Truth.

I should know better, but when you’re always rushing, it’s an easy mistake to make. I know God’s voice. He is convicting, not condemning. He only speaks in Truths, not in what-ifs. My God builds up instead of tearing down.

Have you been getting mixed messages? Stop and listen carefully to the voice you’ve been hearing. Don’t question your calling when you aren’t sure of the caller. Make sure you know who is on the other end of the line because they just might have a wrong number.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27 NIV

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! 2 Corinthians 5:17

My mattress had seen better days. Better decades, actually. We’d invested in it a year after the hubby and I got married, and it was wonderful then. King Coil with a pillow top. Ever so comfortable.

But that was then. This is now. Marc and I are hardly newlyweds – in fact, we’ll be celebrating 18 years of wedded bliss in just a few months. Which makes our mattress. . .old enough to be in high school. And drive.

And like most teenagers, it started giving us trouble. It poked and prodded its pointy coils at us – sometimes even drawing blood. It had lumps and sags, holes in the pillow top, and all sorts of other inconsistencies that made it hard to cope with. Neither of us had been sleeping very well for a while. It had become a real pain in the neck (not to mention lower and upper back, legs, and shoulders).

Finally, we decided the cost of sleep loss and pain was high enough to warrant some monetary investment. So, we spent an afternoon testing new mattresses (one of the coziest afternoons of my life. Just sayin’.), until we found one that fit our taste and budget. And a few days later, our pokey, lumpy teenager was replaced with ten inches of form-fitting memory foam – as soft and cozy as a baby’s skin. Our sleepless nights, aches, and pains were gone (or at least greatly diminished!).

Kind of like salvation. Before Christ finds us, our lives are full of the pokes and lumps of sin – just like our old mattress (and your average rebellious teenager). We cause pain to those around us, and to God, as our bodies, minds and souls, warped by sin, can’t help but go against His will and design.

But when we are saved, we change. God no longer sees us as lumpy, torn, pokey and too old to be effective. We are new: fresh and undamaged.

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.” Isaiah 1:18

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. Ezekiel 36:26

My mattress came with a ten-year warranty. But the best part is – salvation is forever. It will never run out, and I’ll never have to replace it. Sleeping on my new mattress may be “heaven” now – but salvation, and my time in the real heaven with Christ? Eternal.

I sat on a narrow stretch of land between two waters. On one side was the rushing Big Thompson River. On the other, a calm pool. The water all came from the same source – traveling from high in the Rocky Mountains – but the experience was different.

Do you prefer calm or rushing waters in your life? Why?

As I round the next bend down the mountainside, will I ask for peace and serenity…or boldness, presence and provision? What about you?

 THANKING Stephanie Ackerman today for sharing her AMAZING talent with us today! Stop by and remind her just how talented she is!

Welcome to WFW!

There are very few rules, in fact the beauty of this ministry is the creative expression that God reveals Himself thorough. We marvel at the creativity that participants post! It’s a blessing!  We encourage the ” post behind the picture,” or the reflections that many of the participants share. We ask that for WFW that participants refrain from using non-biblical. If you’ve got the time we also encourage you to visit a few of the WFW contributors! It’s always a blessing to see the Scripture and story that creatively appear across the screen.

WFW is not about books, authors, artists… it’s about God and HIS WORD ONLY. WFW is about celebrating the gift of creativity through God’s Word and sharing the creative Word!

Please join myself and some other wonderful ladies as we share the creative gifts God has blessed us with by signing into to the Link below to participate in WFW!