Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that He has promised.
- Hebrews 10:36
You must hold on, so you can do what God wants and receive what He has promised. - Hebrews 10:36 (New Century Version)
I recall a time when I was new in Christ and prayed for patience. It wasn't what I expected. I was thinking everything would be beautiful. Yet, everything was not. I was tired by the time 24 hours rolled around. I was frantic, confused, and angry all at the same time. Then the mother of the church told me, "Melissa...you have experienced patience. God's patience." I have to admit, I don't pray for patience anymore. LOL! I do pray for Godly wisdom and strength to do God's will daily. Coincidentally, I am understanding and appreciating patience all the more.
Did you know it takes patience do God's will. Of course you did. You do it everyday when you go to work, take care of the kids, drive on the road, and executing tasks your chain of command wants done immediately. In fact, you can't do God's will without patience because God's will doesn't happen all at once. No it really doesn't. When does it happen? It unfolds over time. I like to think of it as a time release capsule if you will. You don't know when it is, it just is. And it isn't a mystery, it is God at work.
As you pass each test of your faith, you will develop patience for when God asks you to take the next step of faith. Now that is the total shock for me. That next step of faith seems to be right around the corner especially when I don't want to. You know what I mean? I need to get to my appointment (30 minutes away) and there seems to be traffic ahead at the Monitor Merrimac Bridge Tunnel in VA. I couldn't get around or anything. I called the doctor's office and couldn't get through the first few times. I was concerned because it was one of those things I needed to do before I deploy to Afghanistan. I began to pray about it and then there was this ease. Traffic started moving, and there was an accident on the other side. Had I been impatient by taking matters into my own hands or on time, I could have been involved in that accident. My phone coverage worked and I called the doctor. The secretary told me all was well and that they were behind schedule. Wow.
Are you like that? First you trust that God will handle the situation, but when His solution seems slow in coming, you decide that God needs a bit of help. We all are from time to time. Point is, instead of rushing ahead, you must learn to trust God completely, even if it means having to wait. So, to all my friends in Afghanistan ... your time to redeploy will happen in God's time, and His time is all always right.
Song: Patience (Dream Girls Soundtrack)
I know you have questions
same ones as me
how long has it been
how long will it be
when will come the mornin
we'll drive the night away
tell me when will come the mornin
of a brighter day
yeah
woah patience
little sister
patience
little brother
patience, patience yeah
take eachother by the hand
yeah yeah
woah
patience
little sisters
patience
little brothers
let us walk together yeah
to the promise land
yeah
There's a river
to cross
And a mountain to climb
Patience, patience
its gonna take some time
yeah
We must walk
in peace
its the only, only way yes
If we wanna see that morning
of a brighter day
Patience little sister
Patience little brother
Patience patience
we're gonna find a way
Patience little sisters
Patience little brothers
Until the morn of a brighter day
woah patience till the the brighter day
woah patience till the brighter day
come on come on come on sing it
gotta have some patience
Do you have the patience to let God's will unfold one day at a time?
28 March 2009
The Blessed Assurance Of Our Master
Listen to the Lord who created you..."Don't be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you."
- Isaiah 43:1-2
How many of you have been in situations that seemed to test your very soul, spirit, and heart? Of course, we all have. How did you make it through? Was the confidence in Christ that He would work it out? Was it your mother or grandmother praying over you? Was it when you realized you couldn't do it alone? Or was it all these things and more? I would have to say, it was me hitting rock bottom. I don't mean I was down and out. I mean, I was literally at Jesus' feet crying to Him. One day in particular I had it rough (more so than any other day). I was a single parent and struggling inside. I got tired of trying to make things work (temporarily), and blamed God for not listening to my prayer. Truth is .. He heard me, but I wasn't giving Him anything to work with or in return. I figured I could do whatever and follow Him second. Well, that didn't go too far. I had to seek Him first, accept His will for me, and "truly" believe in what in He needed me to be for Autumn. Isn't that something, how God reveals Himself to you while you're looking in the mirror at yourself.
What I am saying? The circumstances of your life cannot separate you from God. YOU are the sole owner to that circumstance and all it entails. In other words, your hard times don't get in God's way. Your easy times don't get in God's way either. Nonetheless, those hard times are when God's promises to be with you is most clearly revealed through His infinite love and care for you. And for the easy times, remember to give God thanks as well. What we truly need to know is that God is always there ... all you have to do is call, believe, and have hope.
Song: Blessed Assurance
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
Refrain
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
2
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
3
Perfect submission, all is at rest;
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love
When tough times come, are you sure that God is right beside you?
- Isaiah 43:1-2
How many of you have been in situations that seemed to test your very soul, spirit, and heart? Of course, we all have. How did you make it through? Was the confidence in Christ that He would work it out? Was it your mother or grandmother praying over you? Was it when you realized you couldn't do it alone? Or was it all these things and more? I would have to say, it was me hitting rock bottom. I don't mean I was down and out. I mean, I was literally at Jesus' feet crying to Him. One day in particular I had it rough (more so than any other day). I was a single parent and struggling inside. I got tired of trying to make things work (temporarily), and blamed God for not listening to my prayer. Truth is .. He heard me, but I wasn't giving Him anything to work with or in return. I figured I could do whatever and follow Him second. Well, that didn't go too far. I had to seek Him first, accept His will for me, and "truly" believe in what in He needed me to be for Autumn. Isn't that something, how God reveals Himself to you while you're looking in the mirror at yourself.
What I am saying? The circumstances of your life cannot separate you from God. YOU are the sole owner to that circumstance and all it entails. In other words, your hard times don't get in God's way. Your easy times don't get in God's way either. Nonetheless, those hard times are when God's promises to be with you is most clearly revealed through His infinite love and care for you. And for the easy times, remember to give God thanks as well. What we truly need to know is that God is always there ... all you have to do is call, believe, and have hope.
Song: Blessed Assurance
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
O what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God,
born of his Spirit, washed in his blood.
Refrain
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long;
this is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
2
Perfect submission, perfect delight,
visions of rapture now burst on my sight;
angels descending bring from above
echoes of mercy, whispers of love.
3
Perfect submission, all is at rest;
I in my Savior am happy and blest,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love
When tough times come, are you sure that God is right beside you?
15 March 2009
Your Excuses Can't Keep You From God's Calling
"Lord," Gideon replied, "how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family!" The Lord said to him, "I will be with you." - Judges 6:15-16
Gideon thought he had a good excuse to get out of serving God. But the qualifications God looks for are different from what we might expect. Look at what service you are doing for God now in Afghanistan. Look at what your significant other is doing at home right now too. He often chooses the least likely people to do His work in order to demonstrate His power more effectively. Remember the Christmas Candlelight service? The local media was there to cover the event, and we are in a country where serving our God is...let's face it odd/different/politically insain. See how wonderful God is! He continues to move and make a way out of no way.
If you know God has called you to do something (preach, teach, lead the choir, change jobs, stand up for Him), stop trying to excuse yourself. He promises to give you the help and strength you need to get the job done.
Song: I'm Not Tired Yet
by Mississippi Mass Choir
Been working for Jesus a long time
(I'm not tired yet)
Been running for Jesus a long time
(I'm not tired yet)
Been working for Jesus a long time
(I'm not tired yet) Repeat
Been singing for Jesus a long time
(I'm not tired yet) Repeat
Been running by day and praying by night
(I'm not tired yet)
I've gotta get going it's a mighty hard fight
(I'm not tired yet)
No,
(No, I'm not tired yet) (4x)
Are you making excuses to get out of something God wants you to do?
Gideon thought he had a good excuse to get out of serving God. But the qualifications God looks for are different from what we might expect. Look at what service you are doing for God now in Afghanistan. Look at what your significant other is doing at home right now too. He often chooses the least likely people to do His work in order to demonstrate His power more effectively. Remember the Christmas Candlelight service? The local media was there to cover the event, and we are in a country where serving our God is...let's face it odd/different/politically insain. See how wonderful God is! He continues to move and make a way out of no way.
If you know God has called you to do something (preach, teach, lead the choir, change jobs, stand up for Him), stop trying to excuse yourself. He promises to give you the help and strength you need to get the job done.
Song: I'm Not Tired Yet
by Mississippi Mass Choir
Been working for Jesus a long time
(I'm not tired yet)
Been running for Jesus a long time
(I'm not tired yet)
Been working for Jesus a long time
(I'm not tired yet) Repeat
Been singing for Jesus a long time
(I'm not tired yet) Repeat
Been running by day and praying by night
(I'm not tired yet)
I've gotta get going it's a mighty hard fight
(I'm not tired yet)
No,
(No, I'm not tired yet) (4x)
Are you making excuses to get out of something God wants you to do?
13 March 2009
Fond Words
Well the time has come for me to head home. I had a very memorable time while in Kabul, Afghanistan.
I made many friends. I grew spiritually and administered to many service members, contractors, and countless others.
As I take a few days to decompress, meditate, and reflect on all the challenges, headaches, joyous times, and service, I will continue to encourage others because that keeps me encouraged.
This is not the end to my blogs, but the beginning of something new ... God in me ever more.
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.
Psalm 73:26
I made many friends. I grew spiritually and administered to many service members, contractors, and countless others.
As I take a few days to decompress, meditate, and reflect on all the challenges, headaches, joyous times, and service, I will continue to encourage others because that keeps me encouraged.
This is not the end to my blogs, but the beginning of something new ... God in me ever more.
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; He is mine forever.
Psalm 73:26
02 March 2009
The Promise of a Lifetime
As long as the earth endures,
seedtime and harvest,
cold and heat,
summer and winter,
day and night
will never cease.
Genesis 8:22
As I begin to blog this morning in Afghanistan, the rain is pounding down hard. I don't recall a time while here that the rain poured so heavily.
I can remember as a child, I loved playing in the rain (stomping in the puddles) and hated the after effects of the rain. It was the worms that would surface and I was terrified. I remember telling my mother, "I'm afraid of the snakes." And like most mothers in their calm, steady voice would say, "Melissa, those are not snakes. They are worms." That really didn't do anything for me; however, she obviously knew more about it than I did. What was it about? I would I have to find out later in Sunday school.
It was the story about Noah and the ark. As I child, I focused on the animals and his family. Then as I grew, I focused on the people who were stubborn and foolish. Until one day, I got it. It was about a promise. Not just any promise, it was God's promise. And that caught my attention.
The promise God made with Noah. And to my knowledge has never been broken. Of course not, we're talking about God here and not man. What a blessing!
So even now that I'm 40 years old, I like singing, dancing and stomping in the rain. And I still chuckle when I think about my childhood of the rainy days. Don't get me wrong, I see the little worms wiggle about and I have to look up so as not to see them when I walk along my way ... squish ... makes me cringe. I think they are disgusting, yet they have a purpose and were made by God. I digress, it's the part after the rain I love the best. Do you know what I'm talking about? Let me tell you. I look forward to seeing the promise ... the rainbow. It symbolizes so many things to many people, and yet it is the symbol for one true thing. A promise of life.
There is another rainbow I look forward to seeing too. Jesus. He's the ultimate promise of a lifetime that will never cease.
So the next time you are out in the rain, rejoice and stand/dance/sing/shout on the promises of God.
seedtime and harvest,
cold and heat,
summer and winter,
day and night
will never cease.
Genesis 8:22
As I begin to blog this morning in Afghanistan, the rain is pounding down hard. I don't recall a time while here that the rain poured so heavily.
I can remember as a child, I loved playing in the rain (stomping in the puddles) and hated the after effects of the rain. It was the worms that would surface and I was terrified. I remember telling my mother, "I'm afraid of the snakes." And like most mothers in their calm, steady voice would say, "Melissa, those are not snakes. They are worms." That really didn't do anything for me; however, she obviously knew more about it than I did. What was it about? I would I have to find out later in Sunday school.
It was the story about Noah and the ark. As I child, I focused on the animals and his family. Then as I grew, I focused on the people who were stubborn and foolish. Until one day, I got it. It was about a promise. Not just any promise, it was God's promise. And that caught my attention.
The promise God made with Noah. And to my knowledge has never been broken. Of course not, we're talking about God here and not man. What a blessing!
So even now that I'm 40 years old, I like singing, dancing and stomping in the rain. And I still chuckle when I think about my childhood of the rainy days. Don't get me wrong, I see the little worms wiggle about and I have to look up so as not to see them when I walk along my way ... squish ... makes me cringe. I think they are disgusting, yet they have a purpose and were made by God. I digress, it's the part after the rain I love the best. Do you know what I'm talking about? Let me tell you. I look forward to seeing the promise ... the rainbow. It symbolizes so many things to many people, and yet it is the symbol for one true thing. A promise of life.
There is another rainbow I look forward to seeing too. Jesus. He's the ultimate promise of a lifetime that will never cease.
So the next time you are out in the rain, rejoice and stand/dance/sing/shout on the promises of God.
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