Trusting as the Days Go By....

Our pastor is taking us through the book of Hebrews on Sunday mornings. It has been so encouraging and convicting. Today we focused on chapter 11:17-22.

As he taught on faith and trust and worship in and to our Resurrected Savior, I was contemplating my early morning devotions. I was thinking about the fact that I have been doubting (AGAIN) and relying on my own feelings for obedience and surrender. I have opened my mouth wide and loud way too often before I speak and hurt those around me; mostly because I have been focused on self...not my Lord.

"By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, 

My faith will be tested by God too.

and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, 'Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.' 

My faith should drive me to total obedience.

He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which figuratively speaking, he did receive him back."

My faith should bring a willingness to surrender.

By faith, Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. By faith, Jacob when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. By faith, Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave direction concerning his bones."

My faith should show confidence in things not seen.

This is faith that only God can gift with and bring to fruition in a believer's life. I don't know about you, but oh, how my faith waivers. I want to know this faith more and more. I want to overcome my doubt. So my mornings must start with love and devotion to my Savior by making Him priority. Opening the Word and getting on my knees is the best way to start.

P.S. These points were part of Pastor Shealy's outline.

A Prayer for Healing

My Dear "Hoss",

Remember this? "You are my sunshine; my only sunshine. You make me happy when skies are gray. You never know dear; how much I love you. Please don't take my sunshine away." This was one of my favorite songs I would sing to you as I rocked you each night.

Well, today, you are far away having surgery on your hand. I would give anything to be there with you and maybe, embarass you while I sing this song. (Little do you know right now, I will be seeing you in a tad over 24 hours) The last three years have been a struggle. You remain close to my heart. Though at times I feel it breaking, I know God is holding it together.

My prayer for you, today, is that you will find your comfort in Christ alone. I know this incident with your hand is not a coincidence. I know this was a divine interruption in your life. This bull, this beautiful bull, God is using to refine you and draw you. I have confidence, that in the greatest amount of pain, this is when we cry out to the Lord. "Hoss", may this be what it takes to move in your heart.

I love you more than words can say. I know one day you will know this too. I'll love you fovever, my little bear.

Complete Surrender

As I am reading through Surrender, by Nancy Leigh DeMoss, I am struck by the fact that my heart fights against this.

I am prone to anxiety. I am, at times, racked with worry. I have not surrendered my son completely.

I must.

Nancy quotes a poem by Ann Blocher before she went home to be with the Lord. She fought the battle with cancer, and in the midst of this, wrote these beautiful words:

Yes, Lord! Yes and Amen!

"Can you trust Me, child?

Not only for ultimate eternity,

of which you know next to nothing,

and so are not tempted to meddle-

But for the little span of your life between

the Now and Then, where your envision

decline and separations and failures,

impairments, pain, bereavements, disappointments-

Do you find Me qualified to Lord of your last days?

Oh-yes, Lord! YES, Lord! Yes and amen!

Can you trust Me, child?

Not only to synchronize the unthinkable

intricacies of creation-

But to work together for the good the gravities

and tugs within your little orbit,

where your heart is pulled by needs

and lacks you wish, but are destitute, to fill-

Do you find My resources adequate

to feed both the sparrow and you?

Oh-yes, Lord! YES, Lord! Yes and amen!

Can you trust Me, child?

Not only for the oversight of nations

and creations not of this world-

But for those beloved ones I committed

to you and you committed to Me-

Do you believe Me trustworthy to perform

the good work begun in them

until the Day of Jesus Christ?

Oh- yes, Lord! YES, Lord! Yes and amen!"

-pg. 204-205, Surrender by Nancy Leigh DeMoss