The best way

Isaiah 55:8-9

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

Let me be completely transparent with you for a few minutes.  I am honestly struggling with this lesson right now!  I know that the Lord’s plans are so much better than I could ever figure out.  The hard part is waiting on his timing. 

Have you ever wanted something really bad and thought that the timing was right.  You prayed on it and felt that doors were being opened then all of a sudden, a door gets slammed in your face? 

It is during times like that, that we have to remember that our thoughts and ways, are not his thoughts and ways.  Knowing this is hard however when you truly trust in the Lord, his way will be so much better in the end.

Today I encourage you to pray that you will wait for the Lord to revile his thoughts and ways in your life.

Our Journey to Adoption, Part XII - Premature Peace

On June 17^th, the day before we were scheduled to get permanent placement of the kids, I got a text from the current foster mom about schedule conflicts with transferring the children. My heart sank as I wondered if they were changing their minds about transferring the kids. I wrote back and offered to pick the kids up that afternoon if it would help! After several texts back and forth, it was agreed I would meet them at 4:30 pm that afternoon!

As my sister said, children often arrive at an unexpected and unpredicted time and sometimes premature! We can think we aren’t ever ready for the drastic change they bring, but as we rely on the Holy Spirit inside us, He gives us what we need when we need it! Plus, getting our kids a day early gave us premature peace that the current foster family wasn’t going to change their mind and keep the kids.   

Jesus gave premature peace to His disciples. A few hours before Jesus was arrested, He gave His disciples wonderful words of wisdom and peace (John chapters 13-17). They had no idea they would need this a few hours later.

John 14:25-27 ²⁵ “All this I have spoken while still with you. ²⁶ But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Whether we know or have no idea about the challenges we are about to face, we have access to the Holy Spirit for wisdom and peace. He can help us choose to not be troubled or fearful. How will you and I allow Him to train us now so we can have premature peace? Then, no matter what personal, professional, physical, or parental challenges come our way, we can continue in peace, experiencing the permanent peace Jesus offers!   

Alice

This Is Me!

But now, this is what the Lord says—
    he who created you, Jacob,
    he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
    I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through the waters,
    I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
    they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
    you will not be burned;
    the flames will not set you ablaze.
For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
    Cush and Seba in your stead.
Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
    and because I love you,
I will give people in exchange for you,
    nations in exchange for your life.
Do not be afraid, for I am with you;
    I will bring your children from the east
    and gather you from the west.
 I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’
    and to the south, ‘Do not hold them back.’
Bring my sons from afar
    and my daughters from the ends of the earth—
everyone who is called by my name,
    whom I created for my glory,
    whom I formed and made.”  Isaiah 43:1-7

Most people would say that if you are socially liberal like me, it means you’re not Christian.  Now people want to get into long discussions on each stance that is represented, but in reality, here is what matters.  I am a firm believer that Jesus lived, died, and was born again freeing me from my sins.  I live for Him because of it, and I fight vehemently to live a life that He would be proud of.  I get a lot of grief from both Christian and non-Christian.  There is nothing perfect about me, and have failed at times to live a life God would be proud of.  But I keep trying and growing each and every day.  I get up, and I pray that I do better today than I did yesterday. Furthermore, God knows my heart for Him.  It’s the one thing that’s always been steady in my journey.  I truly love God, and most people see that in what I say and how I act.  He’s been so good to me!  He’s proven multiple times how real He is real in my life, and this year, He even reminded me that He’s known me all along.  So I have no shame burdening me.  I have a bunch of people who love me and keep me spiritually connected.  This is me.

God does not make mistakes.  Yes, we make them.  Some of us may make more than others, but there is something beautiful that we sometimes forget.  God is always with us.  It does not matter where we are in our life, and we matter no lesser than anyone else in their journey.  We are all on the same journey trying to find God and praying for clarity on how to best serve Him.  God gave us all a purpose, and it is not for someone to tell us what it is.  It is only the voice God whispers in our ear and His Holy Spirit within us that moves toward it.  This does not mean to follow your heart totally oblivious to His word.  In fact, I would say we must make every step knowing what His word says so as not to deceive ourselves with what just feels right.  And then, pray when your heart and His word are in conflict so that you will find His guidance, love, discipline, and surety.  This is how we grow closer to God.

God loves us unconditionally.  He gives us so much, and the first and most wonderful gift is that thing called grace.  It allows us to learn more about Him, and be encouraged even when we struggle and fall for as Isaiah 40:30-31 says:

Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

So do not focus on the person you are or who you once were.  Don’t be discouraged by where your path has taken you or what someone says you are.  Be proud of how God made you, and continue to learn more about who God is and what He wants you to be.  What has discouraged you about your journey of faith that you can take to God today?  How can you be reassured of His love for you just as you are?  My prayer is that no matter where you are, be assured of God’s love for you, and embrace the wonderful person God made you by proudly accepting and saying, “This is me!”  Amen.

Tues Devo: The chase ends

1 John 1:1-4 “What was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life- and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us- what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father,  and with His Son Jesus Christ. These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete.” (NASB)

Hello,

This past weekend I spent a good amount of time reading through the book of 1 John, and some things really stood out to me. The first verse that struck me was verse 4, where John talks about his joy being complete. It struck me because like many of you (I assume) I am easily pulled into the mentality of pushing for more. It could be for more responsibility at work, more appreciated by others, more connection with family, more time to do personal things. But we have to watch that push. More is not wrong – but when it becomes the decision point of whether you have joy or not…..then it is wrong. Our joy has a completion point, it is in the person of Jesus Christ and the relationship His work on the cross brings to God the Father.

We can chase after things – but we don’t need to chase Joy, we have it through Jesus already.

Have a blessed day – I pray this reminder is valuable to you as it was to me.

Will Hill