time to give

I read in my devotional a few months ago that even in our "poorest" state we all have something to give.  Ever since reading this I have started to pray "how can I be a blessing to others?"  It's no secret that we've been in a place of financial struggle the last couple of years.  God has used so many people to bless us.  I don't want to be just a "taker" I want to give.  What can I give?  I don't have much, but as I continually ask God to show me ways and show me people in need, He has started to do an even bigger work in my heart.  As I take my eyes off of our situation and our struggles I am given a peace and joy that can't be found anywhere but with God.  Yesterday I read a passage in Isaiah that spoke directly to my heart.  Isaiah 58:7-11 

Is it not to share your food with the hungry

and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter

when you see the naked, to clothe him,

and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,

and your healing will quickly appear,

then your righteousness will go before you,

and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;

you will cry for help, and he will say : Here I am.

If you do away with the yoke of oppression,

with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry

and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,

then your light will rise in the darkness,

and your night will become like the noonday.

The Lord will guide you always;

He will satisfy your needs in a sunscorched land

and will strengthen your frame.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

like a spring whose waters never fail.

 

 

God's blessings to us come when we are focused on others and most importantly focused on Him.  Not that we would serve others only to get something in return from God, but that we would simply want to please Him.  I confess I'm not very good at this.  I am always looking for the silver lining for myself.  But the more I learn about who God is and I see Him blessing me through others, I want to be that person.  I want to give and to do it only for the glory of God.  I may not have money to give or material possesions but I have things that don't cost me in money but cost me in time, effort, thought, love, kindness, and grace.  I can be an encouragement, I can be a prayer warrior, I can be a cook, I can be a babysitter, and so much more.  At our women's retreat a few weeks ago, our speaker talked about how we have a responsibility to come along side those who are hurting, struggling, and in need even in the most simple of ways.  Why is it easier to write a check for a starving child in Africa than to go to a friends house and offer to watch her kids while she gets a break? Watching her kids takes our time, our patience, our love, and our effort.  The simple things can sometimes be the hardest.  My prayer is that God helps me to see the need and be obedient to act.  

 



Is it the endless struggle

Is it an endless struggle or is there light at the end of the tunnel? Most days I know there will be light, I don't even question it, and then there are days like today.  Today seems dark and hopeless.  I want to crawl out of my own skin, find a deep dark hole and bury myself.  When everything is just too much and I can't seem to catch my breath.  Behind my best poker face I am screaming HELP!!! All around me there are people who will never know the depth of what I feel....but God knows. It sounds so cliche but its the truth.  He sees my tears and he hears my inner screams.  He's seen my heart break and picked up the pieces. 

Be Still and Know that I am God

In the midst of the storm of life God says..."Be still..."  It seems so simple and yet it is the most difficult lesson I've had to learn.  How do you trust God when nothing seems to make sense? How do you stand in confident faith when everything goes wrong? How do you know God's unfailing love when you are consumed by dissappointment and confusion?  Those are the thoughts I battle with.  I have experienced moments of incredible faith and strength only to be followed by the lowest of lows where I question everything.  As the days turn into weeks and weeks turn into months and months turn into years, I see those periods of strength become more frequent and the lows become less severe.  But over the past 2 years one thing has remained the same, God's simple instruction to me..."Be still."  When I'm not still my daily life is plagued with manic attempts at figuring things out and worry and anxiety.  Then the Lord gently reminds me that I'm outside of His instructions to me.  He shows me so clearly that peace can only be found when I abide in Him.  What does it mean to claim God's promises? What does total surrender look like for me?  How do I pray effectively, is there some secret formula?  Even in my devotional life I find myself trying to figure it all out.  When really all God asks of me is to be willing.  Willing to obey, willing to trust, willing to love, willing to forgive, willing to repent, willing to surrender.  If I am willing, He is able.  Satan wants to convince me that I have to do so much more than be willing.  He wants me to feel that God is witholding from me because I am not good enough, I don't know the secret handshake of heaven's blessings.  Satan uses this tactic time and time again to consume me with feelings of hopelessness, failure, anxiety, and anger.  So how do I combat the voice of Satan? The answer is simple, more time with the Lord.  When I am spending more time contemplating the voice of Satan there is no room for God to speak.  So I push back the voice of darkness and listen intently to the voice of God and what do you know....He NEVER fails to answer.  I asked the Lord what do you want me to do? I know He's asked me to be still but how? How do I be still in my actions but grow in my spirit? This is what God showed me. 

Romans 4:20,21

He did not waiver at the promise of God through unbelief

but was strengthened in faith,

giving glory to God

and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was able to perform.

 

 

The actions in bold were the only actions I am supposed to take.  Each of these actions is needed to really "Be still."  Each of things will prevent me from trying to take the driver's seat away from God.  So this is my prayer:

 

Lord,

Help me to find peace with You alone, I want to be still

and rest in You.

Let all of the details in my life be worked out by You.

I trust You and I'm confident in Your promises to me.

Forgive me when I fail, and cover me with Your grace and mercy.

Let Your grace be sufficient for me.

 

Amen.