For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Intercessory prayer is not only our responsibility but it should be our honor. We must pray for those who are in our lives because God has placed them there. Nehemiah prayed on behalf of his Jewish brothers and sisters who sinned against God, and we must do the same with not only our brothers and sisters in christ, but those who don't know the Love of our great God. We must pray from the ones we see who are what we might call unlovable and those who fill us with frustration or fear. We must instead ask and allow the Lord to fill us with compassion and a mouth that prays for mountains to move in their lives and claiming victory over the battles in their hearts and minds. Absolutely nothing is too big for our God.
From the fullness of His grace we have all received one blessing after another. ( John 1:16 *NIV )
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. ( 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ) ; He will never leave you nor forsake you." ( Deuteronomy 31:6 )
Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what he has done for you! ( 1 Chronicles 16:8 )
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all now and always! Amen! ( 2 Corinthians 13:14 )
"Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: yet I will rejoice in the Lord. I will joy in the God of my salvation." (Hab. 3:17, 18.)
OBSERVE, I entreat you, how calamitous a circumstance is here supposed, and how heroic a faith is expressed. It is really as if he said, "Though I should be reduced to so great extremity as not to know where to find my necessary food, though I should look around about me on an empty house and a desolate field, and see the marks of the Divine scourge where I had once seen the fruits of God's bounty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord."
Methinks these words are worthy of being written as with a diamond on a rock forever. Oh, that by Divine grace they might be deeply engraven on each of our hearts! Concise as the form of speaking in the text is, it evidently implies or expresses the following particulars: That in the day of his distress he would fly to God; that he would maintain a holy composure of spirit under this dark dispensation, nay, that in the midst of all he would indulge in a sacred joy in God, and a cheerful expectation from Him. Heroic confidence! Illustrious faith! Unconquerable love! --- Doddridge.
Last night I heard a robin singing in the rain.
And the raindrop's patter made a sweet refrain,
Making all the sweeter the music of the strain.
So, I thought, when trouble comes, as trouble will,
Why should I stop singing? Just beyond the hill
It may be that sunshine floods the green world still.
He who faces the trouble with a heart of cheer
Makes the burden lighter. If there falls a tear,
Sweeter is the cadence in the song we hear.
I have learned your lesson, bird with dappled wing,
Listening to your music with its lilt of spring-
When the storm-cloud darkens, then's the TIME to sing.
This was my last official Sunday as an intern at this church. I was standing there during worship, and realized I was sitting in the very same seat that I had been in the first time I went to Crossbridge, the day before I met with Chris (shown in the video) and Joey to see if I would be a good fit for the ministry...Does time fly or what? This sunday was our Youth Sunday where Chris, our Youth and Student Pastor spoke, and our youth band led worship in the regular service. I loved the music and the teaching and am so thankful for what the Lord is doing in the ministry and all the things He has shown me through it. I am so thankful that the Lord knows better than I do of what I am capable of doing. This ministry has truly blessed me and grown me in ways that I never anticipated and I will be forever grateful.
Sometimes my life feels uncertain and my heart feels shaky, but then I remind myself I serve a God who is a solid rock, one who is always constant and forever faithful, and I MUST keep my eyes on HIM, not myself or my cicrumstances. That is where I find rest in my soul. God's character does not rely on our actions. God's character stays the same throughout all things, and Praise Him for that truth.
"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:4-7
I've started a study on Nehemiah and in the first chapter it goes through Nehemiah's prayer. What I love is that the first things he turns to after hearing news is turn to the Lord. It's a wonderful reminder that through everything we must make the choice to not turn to friends, resources, or relationships, but to God as our first response when trials happen. Here is his prayer:
“O Lord, God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and obey his commands,6 let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s house, have committed against you.7 We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses. 8 “Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations,9 but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’ 10 “They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. 11 O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.”
God deserves our time and devotion of prayer with Him daily. God hears us and is so powerful. As kelly Minter says in the Nehemiah study, "...but we must remind ourselves that we do not serve a human king with feet of clay, bound by the limitations of flesh and sin. He lives outside of time, beyond our limited strength, and holds all things in his hands."
Today I woke up singing the single verse "Our God is Able", and as Im thinking about the rest of the song, it's so encouraging and so true that God is truely able to do far more with and in our lives than we could ever imagine. If you're going through a valley, God will make a way to bring you through it and up to the mountaintops. If we continue to rely on God, trust in him, and follow His ways, he will guide our paths.
..Alittle ridiculous I know but lately i kept thinking "Lord I just want someone to bring me some flowers", for no reason in particular other than the fact that I absolutely love getting flowers and having them around. So low and behold, I've gotten flowers within the span of a few days. A single rose given to be by a friend in efforts to help give a homeless man a meal, and my pretty little boquet of purple and green by my friend as a thank you after me watching her dog a few weeks ago. So unexpected but so thankful that the Lord would give me the little desires of my heart...and not just one time, but TWO. This made me think of the two bible verses "Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart" (psalm 37:4) and where in ephesians 3:20 it calls him the one "who is
able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine." Imagine the fact that these are just flowers. How much more can God answer the big (and actually relavent) desires of our hearts? This simple little thing is a reminder to me to that God sees ours hearts, knows our futures, loves us, and has got us in the palm of his hand.
Luke 12:27-31 :
“Consider how the
lilies grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all
his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God
clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into
the fire, how much more will he clothe you, O you of little faith! And
do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about
it. For the pagan world
runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.
But seek his kingdom,
and these things will be given to you as well. "
"Remember, you are loved with an everlasting love and underneath are the everlasting arms."-Elisabeth Elliot
I love God's word and the comfort that it shines into my soul.
"He makes me lie down in green pastures., he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul."
-psalm23:2-3a
"Oh, love that will not let me go.
I rest my weary soul in thee
I give you back the life I owe
And in your ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be
My life is not my own
It's yours
My life is not my own
I know it's yours
Oh, light that follows all my way
I yield my flickering torch to thee
And my heart restores its borrowed ray
That in your sunshine's blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be
So light a fire in my heart
And I'll burn for you
So light a fire in my heart
And I'll burn for you
Oh, joy, that seeks me through the pain
I cannot close my heart to thee
I trace the rainbow through the rain
And feel the promise is not in vain
That morn shall tearless be
So anoint me with joy
And joyful I will be
So anoint me with joy
And joyful I will be."
Here is an email I received from my grandmother today...
"I woke at midnight not feeling to well, but after a while
I felt I was hearing from the Lord, Beverly, your a chosen vessel still even in old age. The Lord has called me to a life that has been different. I so want to treat people the way the Lord has treated me. I have wanted most of all in Life that my family would live strong for Christ. I thank Him they do. I have been under the protection of the Lord my whole life. This midnight hour, I do know that He has spoke into my heart I am a chosen vessel for Him & always have been. I know that I so want to do what He wants me to do. Because of His mercy, I can press on, the Spirit of God is in me & on me daily, I do not ask for things, I don't have to, as He has promised to keep me as I have put Him first in my life, He daily does more than I can ask or think. The Lord has chosen to give me life on earth, & He will chose when that is over. As my Paul said to me one day... after his first heart attack, "Beverly, when its over its over" He spoke with no fear, Just Victory.... He did say, we are all afraid of something we have never done before, & its not so bad. God is still God over sinful people, sick people, needy hurting people. He is the only one that can move across their lives & bring victory. We must be given to prayer. I know I am the least of people, but He has still loved me & taken care of me. He will still answer my prayers. I want to keep the faith & press on. There is a place of very high stairs, & the top Jesus is waiting there when we have completed our journey here. Remember His Love for you will not fail.. Praise His name. Beverly"
I hope we all remember that, as his children, we are vessels for his glory. If we are here on this earth, He is still most certainly working in and through us no matter our age or our circumstance. He is faithful always and we must continue to have endless faith, hope and perseverence.
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has
called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14
I woke from a dream yesterday morning. In the dream a friend came to me crying and he was upset because of some sort of loss and so he and I starting singing healing songs aloud although our lips weren't moving. I don't remember the lyrics but I held the paper with the song in front of me and saw the musical notes on it and began to pour it into two cups. As I tilted the paper, with my friend standing next to me watching, the paper turned to liquid and poured into the cups. I drank it and handed the other cup to him and he drank it. Then we began walking next to eachother up a steep hill that was really soft, green grass and we talked as I watched his legs wobble while we went up the hill and he turned to me talking and as we continued going up, I woke up.
--
I have an idea of what the Lord may be trying to tell me with this, and I am comforted in the fact that I feel the Lord is showing me the condition of the hearts of both my friend and me and the long steep walk that needs to be taken. I feel a peace in knowing the Lord is guiding us both through a time of healing in different ways. I feel I've been a small glimpse of God's view point and the uncontional love he has and has also allowed me to have. I am not sure why I am the one helping him giving his the cup of healing water but I do believe that he is using this to show me something more than I already see right now. I am so thankful the Lord brings healing to our souls and he is more than capable of restoring all of our broken spirits.
This dream also makes me remember the importance of the "songs" that are in our hearts and what we sing and proclaim daily. I'm now rethinking what I've been saying in my own heart. My prayer is that I can sing songs of praise, miracles, healing, joy, peace and unconditional Love for my God, my own self as God would have it, and for his children. What if everyone sang song of praises to our magnificent God every day and focused not on ourselves but on his wonderful little miracles in our lives that we sometimes pass up and take for granted? What would my life look like if I held this song in my heart constantly?
Big changes seem to be happenening, mostly Ending and Pressing On actions, and I feel the Lord so closely in my life and know in my soul that I am in the palm of his hand. Whether it's Kenya plans coming to an end, needing to distance myself from relationships, letting go of worries about my unknown future, I know my God is in the works of something great and unknown to me. The other morning I pulled into the church parking lot for work (I am a youth intern) and before I got out of my car, I asked of the Lord to just show me what he's doing concerning all the these things. I open my bible to Micah.
Micah 1:7-9
“Therefore I will make Samaria a heap of rubble, a place for planting vineyards. I will pour her stones into the valley and lay bare her foundations. All her idols will be broken to pieces; all her temple gifts will be burned with fire; I will destroy all her images..."
It all seemed so clear. There are things in my life that the Lord is needing to strip away so that I am to the point where he is absolutely the only thing I rest my hope in. We all have things in our lives that are good in and of themselves, but we sometimes we take these things and rely on them as a part of out worth, security and identity. It was made known to me that he was ridding me of my idols and also the "stones" that have been weighing me down, so that he can lay bare all of my foundations to where he is the only thing on which I stand so that I can better be his vessel and coming out shining on the other end being a "place for planting vinyards". In all of this, he will "enable me to tread on the heights". In this I am comforted in that there is always hope because God is always working in us and will never leave us nor forsake us.
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
19 The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,he enables me to tread on the heights.
Praise God that HE is in CONTROL! I am so thankful that as we walk with the Lord and live to please Him that he prunes us, adding all that we need , and cutting out the things we do not. Pruning may be painful, uncomfortable, and yes at times difficult, but it's so necessary for growth and to fulfill the task and purpose ahead. In all of this His plans are to bring Glory and Honor to His name in and through us. I am more than honored that He has called me to be his precious daughter and fulfill his purposes. My prayer is that He continues to prepare and prune us to best serve Him in this beautiful life with Him. i LOVE my amazing GOD. May we forever lift up His name. [John 15:1-8, 16]..15 "I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away;[a] and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.
5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will[b] ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
16 "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you."
[The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." job 1:21 ]
“I am your best friend, as well as your King. Walk hand in hand with Me through your life. Together we will face whatever each day brings: pleasures, hardships, adventures, disappointments. Nothing is wasted when it is shared with Me. I can bring beauty out of the ashes of lost dreams. I can glean Joy out of sorrow, Peace out of adversity. Only a Friend who is also the King of kings could accomplish this divine alchemy. There is no other like Me!" -Jesus Calling by Sarah Young
I am overjoyed at what the Lord has done and will continue to do to use me as his vessel in this life. In the devotional above, I am struck by the word alchemy. A really basic definition for it is “the process of turning something common and ordinary into something beautiful and of great value”. As I am thinking about the upcoming year and what’s to come, I am overjoyed by the divine alchemy the Lord has in store. I know I can only predict a tiny glimpse of what the Lord has up his sleeve, but I know one thing that will certainly happen: Change. I believe the Lord has already long been changing all of us no matter what age and forming us so we can look more and more like him every day.
