Speaking to the Lord

Well, it's been a while since I just wrote whats been on my heart. I will admit its been a little difficult to put things straight in my head, life has been all over the place it's hard to put the pieces together. My thoughts have been everywhere, good, bad, moody, frustration, laughter, sorrowful, you name it I've experienced it!

One thing the Lord has been placing on my heart lately is prayer. My prayer life isn't the most consistant, it should be. I know there are things I want to pray about and should speak to the Lord about but many times I either forget, don't have the energy, or simply don't have the words to express it.

A few weeks ago I had the great opportunity to house sit with a dear friend. We both decided that we would pray together before we went to bed each night. WOW!!! It was a wonderful, empowering thing. Being able to sit down with someone and open up about our day, share our hearts and the people in our lives that needed prayer, and then to pray for each other. I wanted to do it every night. I got to thinking "why do I have to have another person to pray with?" The Lord is always waiting for me to speak to him, he desires for me to come to him, to engage in conversation and let him speak back to me. Many times I do say little prayers through out my day but many times there is lots of commotion and noise going on. It is distracting and I can't always "hear" what the Lord is trying to say in response. When I prayed with my friend at the closing of our days, it was peaceful and quiet. We were able to open our hearts, clear our minds, and let the Holy Spirit speak.

I'm still working on this, some days I write in a prayer journal, others days I say simple, short prayers as I drift off to sleep.  In times of distress I have been on my floor, face down, crying out to the Lord. I like writing because then I'm able to go back, read and see how the Lord has answered a specific prayer or see how it is working on answering one. Many times it's not in the way I expected an answer to come or turn out, but it's always the best way. The Lord is teaching me, he is always molding me into the woman he created me to be. He is my Maker and the one I want to be in charge of my life. In order for him to be in complete control I need to speak to him more often, I need to give my praise and express my heart to him. He wants me to lean on him for everything, in everything!

Never Alone!

This isn't my own writing but it's so wonderfully put that I just had to share. I have had the blessing of having friends just like this. And because of their faithfulness to listen to the Lord's instructions in Galatians 6:2 I have been able to climb out of some deep and dark trenches in my life. I hope all who read this enjoy and I pray that we all can be that friend who shares, grieves, and encourages others.

Trenches

by Lisa Whittle

Share each other’s burdens…” Galatians 6:2a (NLT)

There are times all of us find ourselves in the trenches in life — those deep places we can’t seem to climb our way out of.

Sometimes those places involve decisions of our own, where we made a conscious choice to do something that wound up hurting us. Other times, someone made a decision for us that put us there, without our permission.

Either way, there is a great need — a need for someone to understand, someone to listen, someone to be available for us, to grieve with us and cry with us — no matter how dark it may get.

I’ve been in the trenches at different times in my own life. I found myself there when I was in college and my pastor-father was facing potential prison. I wound up there, again, when I partied hard to numb the pain, causing even more for myself. Years later, I found myself in a trench when my husband lost his job and was out of work for an extended period of time.

It was in those moments that I longed for someone to say to me, “I’m here with you. I won’t leave you. You will get through this, and I will love you no matter what.” Because at the end of the day, all of us want to know that there is someone who won’t walk away from us, even when they see how ugly things can get in our biggest moments of struggle.

It is the mark of a true friend. It is a rare find.

I once heard a speaker say how in her community, it was not unusual for people to sit with one another for up to seven days during times of loss and grief. As I listened to her speak, I thought about how amazing and important that aspect of community could be to us in our greatest moments of pain — those moments we find ourselves in a deep trench from which we won’t easily emerge.

Our key verse refers to this beautiful aspect of friendship when it says, simply, “Share each other’s burdens…” For the believer, this is not a suggestion. It is something Jesus expects us to do as we represent Him.

One of the best ways we spread the love of Christ is through our selfless acts of love and serving another. It’s not easy to share in someone’s burden, especially when that burden is great. But it is right. It is good. It is what Jesus does for us.

Many of us have been in the trenches, so we understand this hard position. It is where some of us are even now. Some of the greatest ministry Jesus will ever do in our lives is when we find ourselves in a place we can’t maneuver, claw, or dig our way out of. It is the place He meets us because our desperation finally drives us to Him — a place we most need to be.

Friends, let’s keep our eyes and ears open for the opportunity to get in the trenches and share in the burdens of another. Let’s be willing to be there with our friends who find themselves in a position they don’t want to handle alone. Let’s remember the One who is always present in the trenches with us.

And let’s thank Him for His care, presence and faithfulness in the midst of our needs…the trench moments of our life.

Dear Lord, we are grateful that there is no trench too deep, no place too dark that you can’t reach us. It is because of You we are never alone. Thank You for Your care and faithful love. Help us to share in the burdens of another, and seek You in our greatest moments of need. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

"I Will Rise..."

You may have heard this song on KLOVE or AIR1 recently. I just absolutely love the lyrics and the message behind it!!! No matter what place I am in, the Lord will help me to rise. Not because of who I am but because He lives in me. His power is so much greater! I will rise out of the ashes left from a fire that seemed to distroy everything, the Lord raises us out of those ashes. He lifts us up, dusts us off and makes us clean again.

The New T1 & T2

So I took a vacation this year! My first vacation by myself and it was a lot of fun! Very relaxing and I definitely didn't want to come back home. But that's not what this post is about... it's about my wonderful, beloved sister, and friend Tracy!

I am so blessed to have her in my life. While visiting her in Pennsylvania, her and I were able to catch up, be open and honest with each other, and renew our lost frienship. What a blessing to have a friend that cares so much, she has such a HUGE heart! It was just like old times... cooking, shopping, T1 and T2 adventures! I miss her so much and I want to move to PA just to live close to her. I couldn't have asked for a better friend... she accepts me for me, forgives me when I've done wrong, laughs with me, and encourages me to keep my head up. She reminds me of how amazing our Lord and Savior is, and that he has a specific plan. She has a huge heart for the Lord and she trusts him completely with her own life.
Love you Tracy!

Isaiah 43:1-4a

"But now, this is what the LORD says - He who created you, Tonya, he who formed you, Tonya: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you by name; Tonya you are mine. When you pass through the waters Tonya, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire Tonya, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you a blaze. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Since you are precious and honored in my sight and because I love you Tonya'"

This is a passage that I read in a devotional a few weeks ago. Insert your name where mine is and it can be the Lord speaking directly to you.

Forgiven & Redeemed

"Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;" Psalm 103:2-4

On Easter Sunday, I was baptized for the second time. I have been a believer since the age of five but the past five months have been a huge life change for me. I have come to a new understanding of who Jesus Christ is and most importantly who He is to ME! He has completely turned my life around, made it new. I have experienced His grace in ways I never knew were possible. He has set me free - free from sin! He has given me a new life to live for Him, a second chance to bring glory to His name.

My baptisim was me showing my brothers and sisters in Christ, family, and friends that I choose to live a new life with Christ. He is the center of everything I do. I want people to see the power of God through my life. All I desire for people to see is the new person He has made me, not the sins I have done, but that I have been set free from them. Those sins no longer define me, Christ is who I am. I live only for Him.

As I stood on that stage, the lights were bright. I saw people but I didn't pay attention to who was watching. I was just so excited yet overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit allowing me to take that step of faith. I knew the people I love were surrounding me and supporting me. That moment on stage went so quick! Like BAM it was over! Even though I did have a fear before that day that I would make it about something it wasn't suppose to be about, I didn't let it! It definitely was about my Jesus, my Lord, the Redeemer, the Forgiver. I had victory that day because on that day the King of Kings and Lord of Lords gave me freedom through the Cross!

All the praise and glory goes to Him, the one and only God. And thank you Brandi, Jim, Pastor Paul, the Shellnut Family, Wayne, Sandy, and everyone else who was there to support me! Thank you for making this day possible for me. You are all a blessing from the Lord.

It's Time For Moving Past

The Lord spoke through Jim on Tuesday night. He confirmed some points and truths that the Lord had already been showing me. In 1 Corinthians 7:29-31 Paul writes about the earthly things that can take over our every thought and actions. One mentioned is mourning or weeping, this is true in my own life. Paul tells us to move past these times, don't dwell in them for they will pass away. One day I will be able to be free from the mourning, it won't even matter. It's not for me to worry about, the Lord will take care of it. So why not choose today... to live for a greater and more joyful purpose?!

In the book The Invisible War by Chip Ingram, that I'm reading with my mentor, it spoke about the breastplate of righteousness from the armor of God. Having the breastplate of righteousness frees me from all sin, gets rid of all the unrighteousness in me. I am free, no longer a victim... so why am I still living in it? Reliving that moment over and over. The author wrote "You stand your ground because you believe what God tells you. You are complete in Christ, you are pure in Him, and you reject the trash-talking that evil, demonic whisper is spouting off at you... The time to feel victimized and overwhelmed is over."

I no longer have to live in those heart breaking circumstances. The Lord has given me so many things that are greater, a life full of grace, truth, hope and a future. He wants me to apply the truth NOW, rely on the power that I presently possess. I have so much ahead of me and I don't want to waist my time mourning over the heartache I have experienced. It's time to rejoice because the Lord has rescued me and given me hope, joy and purpose. He loves me and desires to use me for the glory of His kingdom.

So where do I go from here Lord? Where do you want to take me? Teach me? Show me your plan and purpose.