A couple of days ago I read a friends blog about adoption. They have fallen in love with 4 beautiful children in Guatemala. But.....adoptions are closed between the United States and Guatemala. So the only way these beautiful babies are coming home to the States is through a miracle of God. I commented on her blog that God is SO much bigger than our dreams. I didn't want to "blog" in the comment section of her blog so I'll do it here instead :-) But the truth is, is that God sees so much more for our lives than we could even fathom.
Matthew 7:7 "Says ask and it will be given...." That means He already has it. It isn't like you ask for something and then God says, "ok hang on just a sec. I gotta run to Target and pick it up." He already knows, He already has anything we could ever need. Because His dreams for us are so much more. Maybe it is opening up adoptions, Or maybe it is a solution that we can't even imagine. God is God and He is so much bigger than anything we could dream.
But in the same breath I think how much bigger God is than our greatest fears. He already knows and sees those too. There is nothing that we could fear that God hasn't already seen. As I type, I am sitting waiting on a phone call from one my oldest dearest friends. Her doctor recently removed a mole that has now tested positive for melanoma. She is right now at a hospital being scanned to see if there is any other signs of cancer. FEAR is pretty big this morning. But I know that God is bigger than anything we could dream up to fear.
Monday nights I have a women's group that I lead in Bible study. We are studying the book of Jonah. It is all about Navigating the Interrupted Life. When something happens, like a pregnancy, job change, moving, a call into ministry, etc. and it changes the course of the life you are living.
The first week we learned about "The interrupted life is a privileged life." Being interrupted by GOD is certainly something that should be considered a privilege. God may use many things to interrupt us, but the fact that the Creator of the Universe (who doesn't need us) loves us enough to interrupt our lives and let us be apart of His plan........WOW.... that is a privilege. But this week we learned about "The interrupted Life is the Challenging Life". Now that is the truth! The word challenging is an understatement. Sitting in a doctor's office waiting to hear if it is cancer or not, is a little more than "challenging". But it is most definitely a "Life Interrupted".
Jonah had to go to Ninevah, a hopeless, forsaken land. Because it was there that God showed up. It was there in the HOPELESSNESS that God swept the land and brought a great revival. I wonder if Ninevah hadn't been such a hopeless place, if they would have even noticed God showing up. In a hopeless situation God used a life that was interrupted to change history.
~LL
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Friday, October 8, 2010
11 years ago
Eleven years ago I was young and stupid. ( Now I have only aged a little :-) I had made more mistakes in my 20 years than most make in a lifetime. I have hurt people, hurt myself, and most definitely hurt God. My choices were self serving and short sided.
But somewhere in God's breath of time He decided that He wanted more for my life. He decided a plan for my life that was pure,blameless, and God serving. But I chose differently.
Eleven years ago I was driving the road and became so overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit that I had to pull over. My heart hurt so badly that I thought I was going to be physically sick. I was at a crossroads in my life where I had to choose me or God. I grew in a church and home where not being a Christian wasn't an option. Everyone was. But making God "Lord" was a different story. I had never given up control over my life and up until that point I had been fighting God's plans for my life. That fight had left me beaten up, robbed, and hopeless.
On the day I gave up my life, I also found life. From that point of surrender God began to show me what He had designed for my life. An amazing husband, unbelievable children, and a life in ministry.
I was sitting here this morning reading and came across Genesis 50:20.
The scripture comes from the story of Joseph. Years before, he had been sold into slavery by his brothers and now they had come back to Joseph and begged for his forgiveness. And Joseph answers with
20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
Now I don't pretend to be Joseph and I certainly wasn't sold into slavery by my brother. But maybe I sold myself. Because of my choices I became a slave to my selfishness and sin. So as much as I would like to play the victim and blame other people for my life, it really comes back to me. It was my choices that were going to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
Eleven years later I am sitting in a chair in my home, with 4 children running around, and a wonderful husband walking through the house. We are preparing to go spend the weekend away to celebrate our Anniversary. As I sit here this morning my heart is so full it hurts. I love my life and I am so thankful that I serve a God who wouldn't give up on me. Who stands outside of time and watches bad choices being made and who can turn those choices into ministry for His good. I am thankful to a God who loves me in spite of me.
~LL
But somewhere in God's breath of time He decided that He wanted more for my life. He decided a plan for my life that was pure,blameless, and God serving. But I chose differently.
Eleven years ago I was driving the road and became so overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit that I had to pull over. My heart hurt so badly that I thought I was going to be physically sick. I was at a crossroads in my life where I had to choose me or God. I grew in a church and home where not being a Christian wasn't an option. Everyone was. But making God "Lord" was a different story. I had never given up control over my life and up until that point I had been fighting God's plans for my life. That fight had left me beaten up, robbed, and hopeless.
On the day I gave up my life, I also found life. From that point of surrender God began to show me what He had designed for my life. An amazing husband, unbelievable children, and a life in ministry.
I was sitting here this morning reading and came across Genesis 50:20.
The scripture comes from the story of Joseph. Years before, he had been sold into slavery by his brothers and now they had come back to Joseph and begged for his forgiveness. And Joseph answers with
20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
Now I don't pretend to be Joseph and I certainly wasn't sold into slavery by my brother. But maybe I sold myself. Because of my choices I became a slave to my selfishness and sin. So as much as I would like to play the victim and blame other people for my life, it really comes back to me. It was my choices that were going to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
Eleven years later I am sitting in a chair in my home, with 4 children running around, and a wonderful husband walking through the house. We are preparing to go spend the weekend away to celebrate our Anniversary. As I sit here this morning my heart is so full it hurts. I love my life and I am so thankful that I serve a God who wouldn't give up on me. Who stands outside of time and watches bad choices being made and who can turn those choices into ministry for His good. I am thankful to a God who loves me in spite of me.
~LL
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Change
I love change! For some, for many, change is hard and they hate it. New restaurants, new hair styles, house, town, car, Pajama pants. Nope not gonna change, they are even praying God will hook them up in Heaven with the same stuff :-)
But what can I say? I really do enjoy the newness that change brings. I don't like settling into something for a long time. A job, a house, a pattern, etc. I love changing it up. I am sure you could "Dr. Phil me" and figure out why I am like that, but for now we are just gonna run with it. I realize that there are some things that we should never want to change....husband...... kids....church ....friends.....
For a long time I lived where church would have never made that list. But now I pray it never changes.
Something else change brings is FIRSTS. The older you get, the less and less FIRSTS you get to experience. But if you like change....then you get to experience FIRSTS again and again. Like moving a chair in your living room to sit under a different window.
I have been involved in Women's Bible study at our church for over a year now. That was change for me. For the longest time I have been involved in only children's ministry. Nothing that was just mine. I think God allowed me to step into that new place in my life because He wanted to show me something new ~Friendship. I have had many friends all of my life but none like these ladies. They have prayed for me, loved on me, and laughedat with me. We have definitely grown close through 3 bible studies together. But soon I began to feel that stirring again that was itching for change. It is like my heart becomes unsettled. It is almost like when you have too much coffee and chocolate in one sitting. (ok not really) Sometimes when that begins to happen I have to pray the God will calm my heart. Because I have been known to jump into things when it isn't right. But sometimes I can tell, plain as can be, that it is God doing the stirring. And this was one of those times. We began steps to start our 4th Bible study together. I was sitting back ready to go, but without a book. I just couldn't bring myself to buy it. AND I WORK IN LIFEWAY that sells it. After one meeting together and ALOT of women, I knew God's stirring was for me to step out and start another group.
The next day I made some phone calls to our leaders and they very quickly told me how they had been praying that God would raise up a new leader. (Isn't God so great like that?) The next week, I went back to that Bible study to announce that a new group would be branching out of that current group. We asked who would be willing to give up their seat and go with me. Only 1 person raised their hand. (huh?) I left that night and had a LONG conversation with God. I cried over the women that I was going to leave. I love my group. And now God was calling me to go and no one was really following. Crap! Was I not listening? Was this not what I was supposed to be doing? Was God talking to the person next to me to go and I was ease dropping?
A couple of weeks later we had a small groups push at church. We have the most amazing Small Groups Pastor who worked crazy hours to pull this day off. He kept telling me how great it was that I hardly had anyone in my group, so that left tons of spaces for new people to sign up. I even started telling myself that. But deep down, I felt deflated and lonely. I just didn't understand why God would call me out to leave this group that I love so much and to do it alone. Then I got an email....One of the sweet ladies in that group began telling me how she had been praying very hard about what to do and God was leading her to come with me. Then one of my best friends lets me know that she will be coming. I was thrilled. At least there would be 3 people :-)
Our first service happened and everyone came by to sign up for small groups and I had ONE person sign up. Really? God? What are you doing? Humbling me that is for sure. So with a smile on my face and a little bit of a hidden attitude, I greeted round 2 after the 2nd serve. And it was there that we had 15 ladies sign up. (Side note-all in all I only had spots for about 5-6 ladies). I ended up having to call people and place them on a waiting list.
God is so faithful. He really does know the plans He has for us :-) I had do do a little repentance praying after that day at church :-)
A little over a year ago, God led me to a place of rest. I rested in the comfort of loving friends and the grace of God. But last night God led me into a new place a new first, where I get to be that "rest" for someone else. I get to be the loving friend to 12 new ladies. The next 7 weeks we will be walking through a study on Jonah. And it is all about God interrupting our lives and taking us somewhere we never planned to go.
~LL
But what can I say? I really do enjoy the newness that change brings. I don't like settling into something for a long time. A job, a house, a pattern, etc. I love changing it up. I am sure you could "Dr. Phil me" and figure out why I am like that, but for now we are just gonna run with it. I realize that there are some things that we should never want to change....husband...... kids....church ....friends.....
For a long time I lived where church would have never made that list. But now I pray it never changes.
Something else change brings is FIRSTS. The older you get, the less and less FIRSTS you get to experience. But if you like change....then you get to experience FIRSTS again and again. Like moving a chair in your living room to sit under a different window.
I have been involved in Women's Bible study at our church for over a year now. That was change for me. For the longest time I have been involved in only children's ministry. Nothing that was just mine. I think God allowed me to step into that new place in my life because He wanted to show me something new ~Friendship. I have had many friends all of my life but none like these ladies. They have prayed for me, loved on me, and laughed
The next day I made some phone calls to our leaders and they very quickly told me how they had been praying that God would raise up a new leader. (Isn't God so great like that?) The next week, I went back to that Bible study to announce that a new group would be branching out of that current group. We asked who would be willing to give up their seat and go with me. Only 1 person raised their hand. (huh?) I left that night and had a LONG conversation with God. I cried over the women that I was going to leave. I love my group. And now God was calling me to go and no one was really following. Crap! Was I not listening? Was this not what I was supposed to be doing? Was God talking to the person next to me to go and I was ease dropping?
A couple of weeks later we had a small groups push at church. We have the most amazing Small Groups Pastor who worked crazy hours to pull this day off. He kept telling me how great it was that I hardly had anyone in my group, so that left tons of spaces for new people to sign up. I even started telling myself that. But deep down, I felt deflated and lonely. I just didn't understand why God would call me out to leave this group that I love so much and to do it alone. Then I got an email....One of the sweet ladies in that group began telling me how she had been praying very hard about what to do and God was leading her to come with me. Then one of my best friends lets me know that she will be coming. I was thrilled. At least there would be 3 people :-)
Our first service happened and everyone came by to sign up for small groups and I had ONE person sign up. Really? God? What are you doing? Humbling me that is for sure. So with a smile on my face and a little bit of a hidden attitude, I greeted round 2 after the 2nd serve. And it was there that we had 15 ladies sign up. (Side note-all in all I only had spots for about 5-6 ladies). I ended up having to call people and place them on a waiting list.
God is so faithful. He really does know the plans He has for us :-) I had do do a little repentance praying after that day at church :-)
A little over a year ago, God led me to a place of rest. I rested in the comfort of loving friends and the grace of God. But last night God led me into a new place a new first, where I get to be that "rest" for someone else. I get to be the loving friend to 12 new ladies. The next 7 weeks we will be walking through a study on Jonah. And it is all about God interrupting our lives and taking us somewhere we never planned to go.
~LL
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