Sunday Morning

       It’s Sunday morning and I’m running on a lack of sleep- totally my fault of course.  It was busy yesterday, a festival in the morning out in the county and a different one later in the evening locally.  Lots of candy, lack of healthy food, a lot of walking, and opportunities to visit with some people I haven’t seen for a while.  It was a good day, but I’m paying for it today.  A slightly upset stomach (all that sugar, not too good) and unable to go to sleep (did I mention the sugar?)  But it’s all good.  It really is.

       When I contemplate at what time I started liking life again, actually enjoying it, it has just been the past couple of years.  I’m almost afraid I’ll jinx it by writing it in plain sight.  There haven’t been too many times I’ve felt this content in my life.  Don’t get me wrong, my life isn’t that perfect; far from it as a matter of fact.  When you look at my life with natural eyes, you would think, ‘with all that is a physical issue (finances, health etc) how can you possibly be content?’  It’s so difficult to answer that question.

       I know that at this time I understand my Lord more than ever- realizing the second I type that, I am still so very far from really knowing Him the way I want.  The peace and joy I live in has never been stronger.  He is more amazing to me everyday, and in His presence- well, there is just no better place to be.  Living life with Him is the greatest freedom I have ever experienced.  I am truly content in Him.

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

Php. 4:11 

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.  1Tim. 6:6-8 

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. Heb. 13:5

       And yet there is one thing of which I am never satisfied.  There is a part of me that cries out to know my Love, my Lord, my Life, my Breath all the more.  It is like I am always grasping for yet never attaining the complete understanding of Him, and life with Him, which I desire.  I want more of Him in my life.  I want to be more like Him in my life.  I have this never ending hunger to understand fully who He is and to be as close as humanly possible, completely living in the Spirit while doing His will here on earth.  Total surrender.  I hope it’s possible, because it’s what I’m aiming for.  Meanwhile, I plan on enjoying where I am in Him right now.

For today, I think I’ll behave myself a little more by eating much healthier  J

                       …maybe…

Testimony of Prayer

       I need to preface this post with a strange bit of pertinent information you might not know.  Hamster balls are plastic hollow spheres, with holes in which hamsters, gerbils and other small rodent pets are placed, allowing them to run around outside their cages without the risk of getting lost under furniture or in walls. 

Bet you wonder where this one’s going…

       During the worst struggle of my life I was convinced I would literally not live through it (no, it wasn’t when I had cancer).  It was a torturous time that felt like I was being injured by every weapon available to man, and only a couple friends were here to support me during it.  Then my friends -and many strangers as the information was passed on- began to pray, though they didn’t understand the whole picture, and they didn’t stop praying for a very long time.  Many of them will never know the extent we coveted their prayers!

       Within days of the various groups and individuals lifting us up in prayer it felt like I was walking around in a giant hamster ball (really!), and all the weapons coming at me were bouncing off the ball unable to touch me.  What had been so painful became survivable for me all because many ‘someones’ chose to pray for us and put great effort into it.  Besides having the strength to endure hit after hit, I also found my heart began responding to the Lord more openly again.  I don’t know where I’d be today without the prayers of the saints.

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (Jam. 5:16b) ISV

or… The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. KJV

(Remember, through faith in Jesus Christ we are justified and therefore righteous in God's eyes)

with all prayer and supplication praying at all seasons in the Spirit, and watching thereunto in all perseverance and supplication for all the saints, ASV (Eph 6:18)

Pray without ceasing. (1Th. 5:17) 

       Let me just say from the heart, I don’t think I would have survived without the prayers of my brothers and sisters.  I don’t even want to imagine what my life would have been like without them.  Don’t ever trivialize prayer, and don’t take it lightly.  The Lord God, the Creator of all the universe hears those prayers and will help.  Don’t ever think your prayers don’t matter because they are helping whether you see the results or not!  Pray in all seasons with all perseverance (persistence, urgency) and supplication (requests, pleas) for all the saints. 

Thank you to everyone who is praying for someone.  Your prayers are needed.  Keep it up.

Thank You Lord for hearing our prayers and for being with us in all our struggles.

A Simple Matter

And the LORD said unto Joshua, Stretch out the spear that is in thy hand toward Ai; for I will give it into thine hand. And Joshua stretched out the spear that he had in his hand toward the city.  For Joshua drew not his hand back, wherewith he stretched out the spear, until he had utterly destroyed all the inhabitants of Ai.

(Jos. 8:18,26) 

       The people of Israel had already defeated Jericho, and now they were taking on Ai.  The Lord gave Joshua a fairly simple instruction- stretch out the spear in your hand toward Ai- with the promise that He would give them victory.  Joshua had confidence in God, and trusted that He was able to give the victory, so for one who had seen so many miracles perhaps this simple task was not too difficult to do.

       It is several thousand years later, and we are not used to seeing visually apparent miracles the same way, not here in North America anyway.  So, what would you do if the Lord told you to stretch out your pen toward your government buildings and He would stop a bad law from being accepted?  Would you do it?  Would you take time off work, drive all the way out there paying for the gas to get there, and stand out in the public with your arm outstretched pointing a pen?

       What would you say to those who asked you what you were doing? Would you continue when people started laughing at you or looking at you like you were sick in the head, and then when the news showed up to interview you?  How long would you last?  Worst of all, would you even attempt it if you weren’t quite sure it was God’s voice?

       I question all the time.  If my hand had a green light that would come on anytime the Lord was saying something to me, then I would know for 100% it was Him, but there is no such assurance.  Instead, I must live with the uncertainty of wondering.  It’s easy if what you hear goes against the Word because then you know it is not God for He will never void His Word.  So, if it doesn’t go against the Word, you should do it right?  Not so simple a matter anymore.

       We have all our personal flaws that get in the way.  For some, it may be a lack of trusting God to come through, for others a lack of boldness or feeling unworthy to serve Him.  Some might be afraid of what others will think of them.  For me, it is fear- fear of people getting hurt emotionally if I am wrong.  There is enough pain and suffering in this world and I don’t want to be the cause of anymore.  But… I have to remind myself that to not say or do what the Lord wants can also cause others to remain hurt, in pain, or in oppression.

       It’s hard for me to admit these truths to others because it makes me feel exposed, but how will we ever improve if we aren’t honest?  I wish I was 100% certain of the Lord’s voice all the time.  I hope one day I will be and I pray for it often, but in the meantime, I have to do what I think He wants me to honouring that His Word says, ‘And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.’ (Rom. 8:28) and trusting that He will use my words and actions on His behalf for good.

Remember Vicky it can be a simple matter,

   Trust Him.  Trust Him.  Trust Him.  Trust Him.  Trust Him.  Trust Him.  Trust Him.  Trust Him.  Trust Him.