God Still Moves Mountains

What is it that is impossible in your life?

Guess what, our impossible is now possible.

God still moves mountains.

Fireproof

"Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand it."

Since my house fire in '07, I have had many other "fires." In fact, I believe that my first fire was training for the next fires that came.

I had lived at my home for about 5 years without insurance. I finally did it, and I am not saying that it was the insurance that caused the fire, but I am saying that it was God that got on my butt to get the insurance.

My mom had always been my insurance policy. She died and I had to find other ways to do things. I didn't have her to rely on anymore, I had to be an adult. I got married, I got insurance for the condo.

The night of the fire, I got down on my knees, crying. "Why God? Why now? The first thing Job did was praise you, but I don't know how to..." and with that, I realized that I indeed WAS praising God.

Praising God is not saying "things are okay God, I'm fine, thanks." Praising God is being open and honest with Him, going to God with your deepest feelings and needs. Praising God is choosing HIM first. Praising God is seeking His heart.

I have realized that this world is fallen, and God doesn't cause everything that happens in this world. But what he does do, it take it and use it for good.

Everything was happening it seemed all at once, and if I wasn't part of a church family, I don't know where I would be. In fact, its all still happening. Life happens, life goes on. But what I love about my church family is that they love me, pray for me, support me, guide me, call me out, and hug me. They are Jesus in the flesh to me.

In the Bible, you read about "The Refiner's Fire" in which silver is placed so that all of its impurities are burned out of it, so that it shines brightly and reflects the face of the refiner. I think that THAT is what being fireproof is, burning out the impurities in your life. That is what God does, he gets rid of the sin in your life, making you more the way he intended. Leading you into a life that is truly life.

As hard as it is, being put in the fire, I love coming out. Don't stop refining me Lord!

Blessed is the one who trusts you

I literally broke down on Tuesday.

I let myself get so overwhelmed in my emotions, and the depression took over.

Thank God for Dave.

He got me tissues, got me water, and got me centered.

I was able to go on. We had things to do.

Waiting for him to get something for me while in the car, the phone rang. It was a new friend. She wanted me to come over. No one just calls for me to come over, ever. God must have prompted her. It was His timing. On that, I was totally settled. While I couldn't do it, just her inviting me meant the world to me.

We cleaned out Dave's car. It was officially totaled by the insurance company. He was just sitting at a stop light -- BAM!!! Sore back, inconvenienced, and stressed. But that is just life. People make mistakes and we have to pay for them, even though we didn't do anything wrong. We leave on Monday. Will we get a car before we go or after we come back?

What type of car? And what will happen on this trip? Will we be able to afford another car right now?

I don't know.

I do know that God is in control, and when I trust him, things happen beyond my explanation. Thanks God.

It only gets worse before it gets better -- you are not alone

I find that when I am really challenged, and I am set to win, I find the most opposition.

You see I truly believe, I truly know that I am set to come out on top. As a Christ-follower, I know that God uses things others intend for evil for good. (Genesis 50:20) Joseph had to be a prisoner of the Pharaoh before he became second in charge. I know that God causes all things to work for good for those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). I know that I will have to endure many trials for a little while, but it will be followed by great joy (1 Peter 1:6).

I know that trials develop endurance, endurance develops character, and character develops hope. I know this hope does not disappoint. (Romans 5: 3-5)

I can go and quote scripture after scripture about why I should hang on. I can sing "Rescue is coming..."by David Crowder and "Hold Fast" by Mercy Me and know God is talking to me. Why? Why can I do that? Isn't it hard?

Yes, it is hard. But, I know this... every single time I have put myself in the hands of the Lord, he has NEVER disappointed. He never lets me down. How can I? Because the Lord is God, not a mere human, he is so much above us that we can't even grasp. He never changes. He never lets go, even when I do.

And being broken, going through the hard stuff, only makes it easier for me to lean on God, because in the words of Simon Peter "Lord, to whom shall we go, you have the words of eternal life." (John 6: 68) Men and women are just mere humans, made from dust, yet God created us, certainly he cares for us (eg: Matt 10:29-31).

One of the many ways He cares for us is through community. I have so many people who love me and care for me. And even though I know the Lord is always with me, it helps to know that so many people care as well. These friends help me to stay standing when it all seems impossible. They keep my eyes focused on the Lord when they dart elsewhere. They can "be Jesus" to me through their actions and heart.

So, yes, its gonna get worse, I know that... but I can confidently stand with God on my side and many friends to hold me up.

God's advice for me: shut up!

"God gave you a mind. God gave you reason. God gave you a unique sensitivity; its built into your spiritual system, and each persons system is tuned differently. God want to reveal his will to you and to teach you while you are waiting. So while you are waiting, don't start searching for spooky stuff. We walk by faith, not by sight (2 cor 5:7). Get into his word. Get on your knees. Accept counsel from those who are maturing and balanced believers, solidly biblical in their theology and in their own life. And wait. Wait! Don't try to read the stars, and while you're at it, stay away from people who tell you they can. The answers are not on your palms or in some astrology column or in the flash of a crystal. However, there are tangible things to connect with. Passages of scripture that bring comfort and insight. Messages that enlighten and enliven. Certain people you respect. Tap into those, wait, and listen with a sensitive ear. Like Esther, don't rush into big decisions. And may I be painfully direct? Don't talk so much! Believers who are maturing not only respect God's silence, they model it as well." Charles Swindoll

An Esther invitation

I want things, I make plans.
My plans mean nothing if God is not behind them.

I know God called me for this one purpose.
I don't want to screw it up.
I don't want to go against his will.

You see, its just that my heart is set so heavily on a certain outcome, and I don't know what I would do if it did not end up that way.

I have to get over it now. I have to be ready for it all to happen, good, bad, and surprise.

God is going before me, of this I am sure.

I need to be still.

Esther prayed and fasted for 3 days before going before the king.

Will you join me? If you are interested in partaking a 3 day prayer and fast a'la Esther with me, please email me icanseerightthroughyou (at) gmail (dot) com or message me on Facebook.

If you need more details, they can be gotten the same way.

I will do this not for me, but because God has chosen me "for such a time as this" and I am honored. I do this for His glory. He has the situation under control no matter what I do, I just want to accept his invitation to be a part of something awesome.

God-incidences

Sometimes things just are too funny because they are exactly what is on my heart.

Take www.PerryNoble.com, a blog by a pastor out in South Carolina. I open it up to read just about exactly what is on my heart...

Also thanks to "Helper of Mankind" who never reads my blog, but if she does she knows who she is for the "God appointed" phone call. His time is always best!

Now, with my apologies to Pastor P:

Here are some thoughts that I really feel the Lord has been pouring into me recently…

• “You have no idea how HUGE I am!”
• Right now God is at work…doing things that I am COMPLETELY unaware of…but will reap the results of when He thinks I am ready.
• He doesn’t need me…I need Him!
• I am NOT the source of one single blessing in my life–HE IS!!!
• When HIS vision consumes me I will be both overwhelmed and overjoyed!
• When you play around with sin…there are always consequences!
• If I can accomplish “His vision” without HIS help…then it isn’t “His vision!”
• He leads me step by step–NOT in three to five year plans!
• He is Sovereign and is not surprised by anything.
• “DO NOT SETTLE!”
• God often works through the “impossible” to accomplish the “unbelievable!”
• I need to live in faith…NOT in fear!
• The key to continually taking my marriage to the next level is to stop seeking things from him and to start going all out to serve him!
• The world belongs to Him and not the stock market.
• My responsibility as a leader is to set the next generation up for success.
• So goes the leader–so goes the people.
• I need to have more fun!!!

Can’t wait to see what He says next!!!

stillness

and so I wait

afraid of the stillness

the moments when it is too quiet and you can hear yourself think

i stay up too late... wake up too late

miss out on life, but cannot be present even when in it

fake stories from books and tv take me away

everything stresses me at once

yet I wait

keeping busy so I don't have to deal

torn up inside is how I feel

torn between crying and puking all of the time

torn up inside is how I am

and the words are lost

and the attention is shot

and the tears fall down

moist and full breaking the stillness

but silent

be still

God is here

in the silence

in the stillness

collecting my tears in a jar

sheltering me in his wings

He cannot take the stillness away

but He can be there in it with me

I am not alone

listen with your heart

He is there in the stillness