Being Still, Waiting for the Lord

We are back from our Youth Trip... and I have so much I want to share but first I have something on my heart that I want to share today:

I was very encouraged from a section in a book I am reading titled Keep a Quiet Heart by Elisabeth Elliot and I want to share it with you: (this is in honore of a beautiful friend of mine)

The section is titled Waiting...

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord" Psalm 27:14

Waiting requires patience-a willingness calmly to accept what we have or have not, where we are or where we wish we were, whomever we live or work with.

To want what we don't have is impatience, for one thing, and it is to mistrust God. Is He not in complete control of all circumstances, events, and conditions? If some are beyond His control, He is not God.

A spirit of resistance cannot wait on God. I believe it is this spirit which is the reason for some of our greatest sufferings. Opposing the workings of the Lord in and through our "problems" only exacerbates them. It is HERE and NOW that we must win our victories or suffer defeats. Spiritual victories or suffer defeats. Spiritual victiories are won in the quiet acceptance of ordinary events, which are God's "bright servants," standing all around us.

Restlessness and impatience change nothing except our peace and joy. Peace does not dwell in outward things, but in the heart prepared to wait trustfully and quietly on Him who has ALL things safely in His hands. "Peace I leave with you; I do not give to you as the world gives" John 14:27. What sort of peace has He to give us? A peace which was constant in the midst of ceaseless work (with few visible rsults), frequient interuptions, impatient demands, few physical comforts; a peace which was not destroyed by arguments, the faithlessness, and hatred of other people. Jesus had perfect confidence in His Father, whose will He had come to accomplish. Nothing touched Him without His Father's permission. Nothing touches me without my Father's permission. Can I not then waith patiently? He will show the way.

If I am willing to be still in my Master's hand, can I not then be still in everything? He's go the whole world in His hands! never mind whether things come from God himself or from people-everything comes by His ordination or permission. If I mean to be obedient and submissive to the Lord because He is my Lord, I must not forget that whatever He allows to happen becomes... for me... His will at that moment. Perhaps it is someone else's sinful action, but if God allows it to affect me, He wills it for my learning. The need to wait is, for me, a form of chastening. God has to calm me down, make me shut up and look to him for the outcome.

"Trust in the Lord with ALL of your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

"The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe." Prov. 18:10

As we all sit in the moment of His will for us may we all like Mary say with boldness and deep conviction "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." Luke 1:38 and may we be enabled to be more closely united with His will as Jesus "...not as I will, but as you will." Matthew 26:39. May all fear and worry be drowned out as we safely trust in His will for our lives knowing that His is best.

JOYfully in Him,

Steven Van Kranenburg meets his sponsored child

May COMPASSION burn with us drawing us closer to His heart.

I Saw what I Saw ~ Sara Groves

Natures Lesson

I am so drawn to the colors and beauty of Autumn. This season never ceases to amaze and captivate me. To listen to the leaves celebrate joyously above and below as they fellowship in the trees and dance along the pavement. To watch them gently and silently journey through a frozen moment in time to a place beneath them I can not help but feel His peace and His grace. Observing His wonders of nature my heart is softened and gratitude and joy rejoice from with in me and the cross becomes clear in the moment and the so called trials of life are brought into a Christ centered and God gloryfied vision.

Everyday we face our own personal set of trials and struggles that if we look at them with out the lens of Christ will appear hopeless and pointless but with Christ they are seen in a new light, a God honoring, high and holy purpose to bring us closer to the image of His son and to bring about His purposes. Life has a tendency to become overwhelming and hopeless and can at times be extremely painful so it is important for us to keep our perspective clearly focused on God, His word, His Son, His Spirit and His holy purposes and goodness.

JOYfully in Him,

In memory of Christian "Dozer" Drews

My heart was torned open this morning when I stopped by Heart of the Matter to see what today's meme was and instead found a sweet homeschooling friend of mine had lost her precious baby boy, I was completely shocked and left in a place of disbelief. I couldn't wrap my mind and heart around the pain that Marsha and her whole family must be experiencing. As a mother my heart truly mourns the loss of their baby "Dozer" as if I were there with them and oh how I wish I were. I do not know Marsha and her family personally but I have been truly blessed and beyond inspired by her heart through her family blog, she personified the mother I so desire to be and I love listening to her proudfully brag and gloat over her precious boys.

Please... lift this family up to the Father in prayer. Let your heart spill over in love for them and if you would like for them to know you are in prayer for them:

Cards or Correspondence can be mailed to:
David and Marsha Drewsc/o Rachel Harris
12830 N. Cypress
LaneTomball, TX 77377



JOYfully in Him,

They

The grim images were to much for my weary mind at 11:00 the other night. They sank deep into my being gripping every thought and memory leving none to wander, they tried to hide behind happier images and thoughts but found no where to rest before they to were overtaken. I lie awake unable to rest. The room was to dark and they continued to fill my mind... tug at my heart... their pain... their agony... their poverty... their hopelessness... their fear... their weakness... their tears... seemed to begin to take over my soul like a running fountain, closing my eyes had no effect on them but actually made them worse. All futile meaningless thoughts were lost in that moment and contentment and overabundance was found as I began to look around at the vast luxeries that we call necessessities surrounding me... finally I began to drift off with these thoughts hovering in my mind trying desperately to console...


why worry... what can you do?... I have to worry about my own life... they are so far away and there is nothing that I can do to help their souls... Illusions of the mind...

The morning suprised me and for a while they were lost behind the days agenda, but they soon found me again... as I worshiped, fellowshipped and tried to focus on other things. As they followed me they seemed to refine all of the thing in my life and day that have become rusted and faded and as I walked through each thought and reflected on the gifts of grace and thankfulness of the church, I considered all of the things I have to be grateful for with their images in mind and suddenly they began to shine brightly... like thousands of diamonds in a valley of rocks. As I try to push past my consuming thoughts I for a moment listen...

Peace offering catches my attention from the front of the building and we are all called to the front. As I made my way to the front of the building to offer a peace offering of thanks to my God they began crowding my mind and I quickly became overwhelmed by all of them. I stood there before Him lifting my offering up to the alter and I was only able to reach in and seperate one out of the many and I uttered my thankful offering to Him... "Peace, Lord, Your peace that You have left for me and all those who love You, amen." even them.