Comfort During Uncertainty

  "The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me........"

                      This thought from Psalm 138:8 speaks volumes to the stage of my life
                       in which I now find myself. I have so many questions that I feel need to be
                       answered. Will my dvd presentation be the best that it can be? Will I ever
                       find that special someone and get married? Will I raise the support that I
                       need in order to get to the Philippines? It sounds trite but true: God's got it
                       all worked out- it's all in His capable hands. I worry and stew and claw my
                       way out of uncertainty, when really I should just wait upon the Lord and
                       trust that He has my back, that He will make everything beautiful in HIS
                       timing.

                       Maybe you, my Friend are going through a season of uncertainty- of plaguing
                       questions that hammer against your spirit, causing unrest and worry in your
                       heart. God's Word has been a comfort to me and I trust that these verses will
                       be a blessing to you, as they have been to me.

                       Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out
                       of them all. - Psalm 34:19.

                       Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will
                       be exalted in the earth. -Psalm 46:10.

                       Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not
                       in thy book? -Psalm 56:8.

                       Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own under-
                       standing. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
                       -Proverbs 3: 5 & 6.

                       A man's heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps.
                       -Proverbs 16:9.
 
                       He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: - Ecclesiastes 3:11a.

                       As a gospel song goes, "God's Word changes lives." His Word is quick and powerful
                       sharper than any two-edged sword. It has the Power to bring comfort, healing, peace,
                       and is relevant to any situation we may face. And though this is not a saying found in
                       the Bible, its a quote by Elisabeth Elliot that has made me think:

                       Waiting on God requires the willlingness to bear uncertainty, to carry within
                        oneself the unanswered question, lifting the heart to God about it whenever it
                        intrudes upon one's thoughts.

                       May I encourage you to wait upon the Lord, continue to serve Him and stay faithful
                       to Him. Faith is being certain of what we do not see, trusting that He Who sees every
                       thing will reveal to us His will, if we continue to look to HIM for guidance.


                     
                       
                      

Blessings Poured Out From My God!

 

 

 

 

 

 

"When upon Life's billows you are tempest-tossed

When you are discouraged thinking all is lost

Count Your Many Blessings

Name Them One By One

And it Will Surprise You what the Lord Hath Done!"

 

This song is perfect for how my day went today. First of all, I'd like to say that I was not feeling very spiritual today. I just did NOT want to do any work today- I was feeling burned out, and had the feeling of "I just do not want to do deputation anymore." Well, my God was understanding. Let me Recount the Blessings He graciously poured out to me today! :

1. He allowed me to spend time in His Presence, worshipping Him.

2. I won a Free Book!! I had commented on Dannah Gresh's blog entry, and she chose me as one of the girls to win her newest book: "Get Lost- A Girl's Guide to True Love," all about making your relationship with Christ first priority. Wow. I had prayed that God would let me win, and He did!! I'm going to be getting this in the mail. :)

3. I didn't have to call any pastors today, and one called me from California! God gave me a meeting for June at Central Coast Baptist Church! Whoo-Hoo!

4. I went to the UPS store to print out copies of my February prayer letter to send out, and they did an absolutely Marvelous job!! The paper was high-quality, the font was gorgeous, and the picture and header came out beautifully, too! Praise God!

5. I received an email from Bro. Sparks' brother, who said they would love for me to come down to California, and that it would be okay for me to present my ministry at their church! Thank you, Father!

6. I got a nice email back from a girl I met while at a church in Everett.

God Blessed me out, today!! But it was so nice to just relax today. I don't spend enough time worshipping my God. I need to. "Be still and know that I am God." That isn't easy for me to do. But when we worship God, everything else falls into place- it really does!

 

"There shall be Showers of Blessing,

This is the Promise of Love,

There shall be Seasons Refreshing,

Sent From the Savior Above!

Showers of Blessing

Showers of Blessing We Need

Mercy-drops 'round us are Falling

But for the Showers We Plead."

 

 

 

 

 

 

Faith is the Substance of Things Hoped For, The Evidence of Things Not Seen

                     "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."
                      God has been teaching me about Faith, lately. The other day, I was struggling in
                      my faith, but why? Because I was putting my faith in my own ability, my own
                      desire to see things come to pass. I forgot that true Faith is never about me. It's all
                      about Him. That's why it's called Faith. Faith is not believing that God can. It's
                      believing that God will. When we stand upon Christ, circumstances and other
                      events will threaten to shake us, but when we fix our eyes on Jesus, we remember
                      that "he will never suffer the righteous to be moved." Let us then look upon our
                      Savior with eyes of Faith, trusting Him for the outcome. "For by him all things
                      consist."

A Children's Song with a Lot of Meaning

Mountain-Moving Faith,

Lord, Give me Mountain-Moving Faith.........

I will Ask and Never Doubt,

Soon, I'll Hear the Vict'ry Shout!

Nothing is Impossible With Mountain-Moving Faith!

~Mountain-Moving Faith, written by Ron Hamilton

 

Today, I was struggling in my faith. I'd been doing that a lot lately. I am a missionary on deputation getting ready to go to the islands of Samar and Leyte in the country of the Philippines. And it's been quite an interesting journey so far. When I started down this trail in June of last year,  I embarked with a sense of fear, trepidation, but a sense of calm/peace as well. Since that fateful day where I presented myself before my church family and told them I believed God was calling me back to serve Him in the Philippines, the road has been winding. I have been able to travel to different churches here in Washington, mostly, but God has given me some interesting experiences. A car battery giving out, and having to get a replacement, while on a trip, giving a a kind of devotion on how God never leaves us, especially when we decide to follow Him, etc. Lately, though it's seemed like the Lord really wants me to wait upon Him. Being the kind of person I am, it's very difficult for me not to "give God a hand," so to speak. I don't like to wait for things to happen. But if there is one character trait the Lord wants to develop in me, it's that of faith. I must come to Him like a little child, understanding Him with eyes of faith, believing in His promises. That's why I think the Lord laid this simple children's song in my mind, a few minutes ago. When listening to Patch the Pirate tapes as a child, I always enjoyed this catchy little song. But the words are wonderful. It reminds me that if I have faith "as a grain of a mustard seed," Jesus says that I can "say to this mountain, remove hence to yonder place, and it shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible unto you." Wow. Remind, me Dear Lord, to have faith- the kind that moves mountains.