Tearing Down Walls

Jehovah Jireh

I'm on yet another journey in my walk with God. The more I trust Him the more I see areas where I have built walls. I'm praying that God will continue to help me tear down those walls and let Him reign completely in my life. There is TRUE freedom in Christ!

 

 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
(2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ESV) 

Then they cried to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction.
(Psalm 107:19-20 ESV)

 “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”
(Isaiah 12:2 ESV)

Can I trust God with my pain?

In Genesis 22:1-14 God shows himself as Abraham's provider. He provides a sacrifice for Abraham. God has provided for us in ways that we will never understand. He provided Christ as our sacrifice Hebrews 9:28. He bore our sins. When we trust Him with our hurts and allow him to open old wounds so that they can be healed then we are able to move forward in our walk and in turn begin to walk others through their ordeals and help them in the healing process.

My goal is to diligently listen to God's word and trust Him to work through my life to glorify Him. This doesn't mean being free of pain, but there is freedom in His word that gives us a peace that passes all understanding. 

    Surely he has borne our griefs
        and carried our sorrows;
    yet we esteemed him stricken,
        smitten by God, and afflicted.
    But he was pierced for our transgressions;
        he was crushed for our iniquities;
    upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
        and with his wounds we are healed.
(Isaiah 53:4-5 ESV)

Lord, Help us to not be wise in our own eyes, but to have your wisdom. Turn our bitter experiences, pain, and sorrow into something sweet that we wouldn't change for anything because we know that you have a purpose and will use those issues in our lives to give you the glory. Help us to recognize that you are better and the goal is to dive headlong into your word and trust you with the outcome of our lives. Help us to be bold for your kingdom and to never forget who we serve. May we be a light in this world.

Everyone Wants to Heal

The Pier

The end of the Pier––

I know I must plunge into this water

But what if, the what if happen to me?

I tremble and shake and cannot decide

if I should jump feet first or go for a dive?

I wish someone could push me so I wouldn't have to decide.

What waits in the water, what lies beneath the calm surface?

Will the waves carry me out to a roaring sea

or gently toss me back to Thee?

A Sequel

Jump, jump, jump ––  you can do it!

Your whole life has been a preparation for this leap. 

Can't you see the Lord has a special plan?

It's not your plan.

He leads you on to places far beyond your reach.

Each event in your life has been designed

by Him for something unique.

Don't be afraid––leap! His arms will catch you. 

You'll never hit the water...

Instead, He wants you to fly!

His love will sustain you, help you grow

You will soar like an eagle high in the sky

Free to be all you were meant to be!!

                                                 Susan Fitch

I know it's been a while since I have been on here, but it seems like the right time to start again. My hearts desire is to see people healed spiritually. I know we would all like to be healed physically, but the truth of the matter is that from the day we are born we are on a trajectory for physical death. Because sin entered into the world we are forever battling our flesh both spiritually and physically. The only hope is in Christ.  Jesus said,  "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me." John 14:6 

There are so many man-made religions but only one way to be forever satisfied. 

In the past I have worked through some of the names of God. I love doing this and am praying that I can share some of that here. So, my next post will be on Jehovah Jireh (God, My Provider).

Sharing Life

The Prayer of Faith

Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain on the earth. Then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit.

My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

(James 5:13-20 ESV)

I've started getting together with some friends at a coffee shop to just get to know one another and learn how we can live life caring for one another's needs. One of the areas I think the American church is lacking in the most is real community. I'm currently reading a book called Radical Together by David Platt and with every page I find myself nodding my head in agreement. One of my favorite quotes from his book is this:

"Is your church and mine willing to put on the table every program we've created, every position we've established, every innovation we've adopted, every building we've constructed, every idea we've formulated, every team we've established, and every activity we have organized? Are we willing to ask God if there is a better way to use the time, energy, and money he has given us for his glory in the world?"

I want to ask myself these questions and apply them to my personal life as well as how I live in community with those around me. There are so many wonderful and great things we can be doing with our time, but ARE THEY THE BEST THINGS? God certainly doesn't want us to act out of guilt and pride when we serve others. If we are, we will only end of failing at our practices and feeling miserable in the meantime. He gives us the grace and power to do His will and won't ask us to perform tasks that He isn't able to accomplish for us. I'm praying for the Holy Spirit to move in a mighty way in my families lives, my churches life, and in my community. I know we are able to do amazing things when God is the one driving us.

Photo Book

Click here to view this photo book larger