I am in Texas staying with an older (in age) friend that I often speak about, Elizabeth Gwynn. She is very much like a mother figure to me and I am blessed to have time with her. I do not get the opportunity often.
I pray that each of you have a spiritual mother with whom you can gain wisdom and unconditional love in the struggles of life.
I have noticed that things are really bigger in TX! I would need a step ladder to get in most of the trucks I see on the roads. I got into a bed of fire ants and I now look like I have the chicken pox! The grocery store has one WHOLE row of nothing but different types of tortillas and taco shells. The land is flat and open. They have not had rain in many days and - I kid you not- some of the holes from the dry cracks could swallow me. If I do not return, please send a search party for me!
All the hustle and bustle of the Holidays are over, and I pray each of you have set some spiritual goals in your life for this New Year. As I have reflected upon setting my own personal and spiritual goals for myself I was thankful for new beginnings. Aren't you? I have lived long enough to realize that not all things in our life can be wiped completely out of our life - choices we make effect our daily lives; health issues remain as God wills, etc., but as I was thinking about new beginnings my mind was taken to Lam. 3:19 -23. If you feel as if 2011 was a difficult year, take hold of this promise from the great promise keeper,"I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me; Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
Ladies, we do not have to wait until January 1 to begin anew. The Lord promises that each day is full of "newness" and His compassion and His mercy. PTL!
I encourage you to remain in His steadfast love through the reading and meditating on His word full of promise, correction, hope and nourishment for our souls. As women, oftentimes the greatest temptation that Satan plants into our mind is doubt. Just like Eve! We doubt God's love. We doubt hope. We doubt security. We doubt His word. We doubt His plans for our lives.
We do not know what God, in His sovereignty, will allow to touch our lives in this year. Will you be able to trust Him while on the mountain top and during adversity?
I have a question for us to discuss on this post, so please respond to encourage others.
"If God is perfect in His love and abundant in His goodness, HOW do we take a stand against our own doubts and the temptations of Satan to question the goodness of God? WHAT truths about God do we need to store up in our hearts to use as weapons against temptations to doubt His love?"
Let's be women ready for battle.
I miss our class SO MUCH!! Isn't Angie Smith so refreshing in her honest writing about her doubts and fears? We all struggle with fear and doubt, so be encouraged by seeing others are not perfect. I thank the Lord for each of you and how you encourage me, strengthen me and I always look forward to Wed.! I am praying for you while I am gone and I thank Marilyn for leading as she does.
I love and miss each of you. HUGE HUG ALL THE WAY FROM CORPUS!
"This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. I John 4:9-10
Gail, thanks for your post! It was good to hear from you. I hope that you enjoy your time away.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that you asks this question today. I have been in a sort of funk the last few days, don't really know why, but feeling a little depressed. I can't say that I doubt God's love or goodness but I have and am right now struggling with the why's of my situation. I know that God is in control and that He really does have a plan and that it is for my good, I just don't understand why this phase hasn't ended yet. So, to answer your question on how to handle it, I am struggling but I know that I have to CONTINUALLY replace the doubts/negativity with truth. Truth from God's word, truth that God does care and will always take care of the situation. I know this because He has done so in the past. It is exhausting but I have to fight against it and tell myself truth.
Hope to see you on Wednesdays soon!
Brandy
HOW we take a stand is only through the power of God’s word. We can’t rely on any of our own human thinking and feelings about it. I searched out a few scriptures that have helped me totally trust in the sovereignty and righteousness of God. Also, I really don’t doubt His love because I always remember what Jesus did for me and how He suffered for my salvation. That is the ultimate display of God’s love for us.
ReplyDeleteDeuteronomy 32:4 “He is the rock, His works are perfect and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.”
Psalm 145:17-18 “The Lord is righteous in all His ways and faithful in all he does. The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on Him in truth.”
Psalm 52:8 “But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.”
James 4:7-8 “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Come near to God and He will come near to you.” James is my favorite book of the Bible. It is so practical and convicting, but usually I need a little kick in the pants to get me back on track. God is so good to me and I so do not deserve His love and forgiveness. How can we not trust in his love, his goodness, his power, his mercy and compassion………I could go on forever! I must set my heart and mind on those things above as Colossians 3 continues to roll around in my head. I knew I memorized that for a reason!
Can’t wait for tonight!
Ann
Brandy, I am seventy five years old and God taught me many years ago that asking "why?" is all right, but if the answer doesn't come right away, give it up. Satan can use this to keep a person running in circles for a long time. I know. I have been there. Tell Satan in the name of Jesus to take a hike and take his question "why?" with him. We can't tell Satan what to do, but Jesus can. Anyway, the questions that God gave me to ask were "what?" questions. What is happening here? What do you want me to do about it? When God whispers in my ear "nothing", that is the hardest answer for me to take. It means I have to WAIT and that is hard for a doer. But I can rest in the Lord knowing that whatever happens, it is for my good. Love you. LaVerna
ReplyDeleteLaverna, Thank you for your words of wisdom. I was definitely having a rough time last week and I think that I am coming out of it. Stupid hormones. lol Anyway, I know all of the stuff that you said but was just having trouble staying positive and focusing on truth. Thanks for the reminder. It is very hard to just be patient when we don't understand. I have been through a lot over the past 3 years and have grown quite a bit BUT....there is still so much to learn ( and relearn ). I am trying to just listen and do what He tells me and only when He tells me. Thanks, again for your encouraging words!
ReplyDeleteLove you, Brandy