This past weekend I was privileged to speak at a girls retreat with a wonderful group of about 45 high school girls. I had been sick all week and was even thinking about canceling on thursday because I felt so horrible. After praying about it I came to the conclusion that it was spiritual warfare and the devil was not going to get victory even when my body felt weak. We left the church and headed straight to McDonalds for dinner, where 2 of our girls fainted, paramedics were called, one girl went home sick and of course sent our schedule out of whack. By the time we got to the camp grounds I was just praying for victory over the weekend that I felt had already been attacked, and asking and expecting God to move. We had a great weekend with sessions on intimacy with the Lord, purity (heart, mind and body), relationships with Christ being our true love and the only one who can fulfill our needs, and then ending with waiting on the Lord.
I totally lost my voice by saturday morning. I knew I was speaking on saturday afternoon and so I didn't talk for two hours and just prayed that just like the Lord provided enough manna for each day for Israel that He would give me just enough voice to get through speaking. He is so faithful and so good to me, because He did just that! I had enough voice to get through my part, and I was so grateful that the Lord blessed me with that :) The Lord is still just working on my heart in so many ways, showing me that waiting on Him is not just a one time thing but a continually surrender no matter what circumstances. Here is a short glimpse of what I taught on
1. In all seasons of life we all have trials, testing, and unknowns. Its during these times that we have a choice to either take matters in to our own hand or rest in the shadow of the almighty, waiting on the Lord and finding contentment where He has placed us.
2. The Journey of waiting is about the growth and lessons along the way. "Its not the end result that matters but the journey that brought you there."
3. I used the story of Abraham and how he waited for 25 years for a son, and it was in those years that He grew with the Lord, believe on Him, and then when he had the most awaited and precious earthly treasure the Lord tested him and showed him that the greatest treasure was the Lord. What obedience, faith and trust Abraham had in the Lord!
Thats just a portion of what we talked about. May you lean and rest on the Lord during your season of waiting on Him. Know that he has placed you here for a reason and a purpose. Be available to grow and be used where the Lord has placed you!
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Wait for the Lord- Dr. Charles Stanley
From August In Touch magazine by Dr. Charles Stanley- INCREDIBLE article on waiting on the Lord!!!
"Right timing is critical in a believers walk with the Lord. However trusting His timing in important decision, uncertain direction, or pressing needs is extremely difficult when everything within us cries, "Do something!" Because we want action, waiting for God seems so passive.
To wait for the Lord means to pause for further instruction while remaing in the present circumstance. It is a purposeful, expectant focus on God- a choice to be actively still and quiet in out heart, listening for His voice and watching for His intervention. The wait is not for events to work out as we want, but rather for God's will to be done. The Lord's voice often comes to us through His Word. Because this is His instruction book for our lives, quiet meditation on Scripture is essential. Sometimes when I read my Bible, a passage will jump out at me. The guidance I'm seeking is right there, almost as if it has my name written on it.
At other times, God will use changed circumstances to redirect us, or He will motivate another person to give guidance, However, always remember that any voice offering us direction must align with the Lord's will as revealed in His Word; otherwise, it is not from Him.
The first step in waiting for the Lord is submission to His choice of how and when He will act. What are you hoping God will do? Are you seeking Him or the thing you want from Him? Because He alone knows what is best for you, let go and trust His choice."
"Right timing is critical in a believers walk with the Lord. However trusting His timing in important decision, uncertain direction, or pressing needs is extremely difficult when everything within us cries, "Do something!" Because we want action, waiting for God seems so passive.
To wait for the Lord means to pause for further instruction while remaing in the present circumstance. It is a purposeful, expectant focus on God- a choice to be actively still and quiet in out heart, listening for His voice and watching for His intervention. The wait is not for events to work out as we want, but rather for God's will to be done. The Lord's voice often comes to us through His Word. Because this is His instruction book for our lives, quiet meditation on Scripture is essential. Sometimes when I read my Bible, a passage will jump out at me. The guidance I'm seeking is right there, almost as if it has my name written on it.
At other times, God will use changed circumstances to redirect us, or He will motivate another person to give guidance, However, always remember that any voice offering us direction must align with the Lord's will as revealed in His Word; otherwise, it is not from Him.
The first step in waiting for the Lord is submission to His choice of how and when He will act. What are you hoping God will do? Are you seeking Him or the thing you want from Him? Because He alone knows what is best for you, let go and trust His choice."
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Your season for His splendor
Sometimes in our seasons of waiting we wonder if we are making a difference or making use of the wonderful season we are entrusted with. We desire so much to be making the most the present and often wonder if we are actively waiting or passively standing.
I am in a time of singleness which I have often spoke of on this blog, and this most certainly is a time of waiting. All of my best friends and family are either married, engaged or in a serious relationship. I work in student ministry and sometimes feel inadequate or feel as if the students would rather hear from others about different issues because they are in a "relationship." This has been a struggle for me whether or not God was using this time to bring Him glory through the good and the bad of waiting.
Well this year at camp I was asked to be on a panel of six ladies in a session called "Just for girls". In this forum the students would write down a question anonymously and then the panel would pass questions out to the different woman to answer. At the beginning the two leaders handed me several questions about "waiting on God" "What to do when you want a boyfriend but also want to wait on God's timing?" or "How do you deal with feeling left out cause you don't have a boyfriend?" and others along the same lines. I received questions from those wonderful woman and heard them say "you would be great to answer these." When I read those questions to myself, I almost began to cry. It was as if the Spirit of God just sat down next to me and said "Im going to use every season, and every hurt in your life to bring glory to my name IF you let me." I was overwhelmed that the sweet Lord would take my life and use it as a testimony for these girls. I couldn't believe that my story could help someone else or that they would want to hear it.
It was a privilege to be able to tell them about my season of life and let them know how the only thing that can fill a loneliness is the Lord. I was able to share about the precious and tearful times I have had with the Lord. I also was able to explain that its hard and its a real hurt but so is the REAL and amazing satisfaction and hope that only Christ can bring, IF we turn it over to HIM. I explained a little bit about waiting on the Lord and how that practically looks like and how it really FEELS like. I was reminded of the verses " Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed......(ps 25:3) Sitting there speaking to a room filled with high school girls speaking of waiting on the Lord, God reminded me that no one who waits on Him will ever be ashamed.
Be encouraged that no matter what your season if you give it ALL to the Lord, He will use it for His glory, even when you aren't aware of it. His purpose will always prevail. Remain faithful where He has placed you and watch Him use your season for His splendor!
I am in a time of singleness which I have often spoke of on this blog, and this most certainly is a time of waiting. All of my best friends and family are either married, engaged or in a serious relationship. I work in student ministry and sometimes feel inadequate or feel as if the students would rather hear from others about different issues because they are in a "relationship." This has been a struggle for me whether or not God was using this time to bring Him glory through the good and the bad of waiting.
Well this year at camp I was asked to be on a panel of six ladies in a session called "Just for girls". In this forum the students would write down a question anonymously and then the panel would pass questions out to the different woman to answer. At the beginning the two leaders handed me several questions about "waiting on God" "What to do when you want a boyfriend but also want to wait on God's timing?" or "How do you deal with feeling left out cause you don't have a boyfriend?" and others along the same lines. I received questions from those wonderful woman and heard them say "you would be great to answer these." When I read those questions to myself, I almost began to cry. It was as if the Spirit of God just sat down next to me and said "Im going to use every season, and every hurt in your life to bring glory to my name IF you let me." I was overwhelmed that the sweet Lord would take my life and use it as a testimony for these girls. I couldn't believe that my story could help someone else or that they would want to hear it.
It was a privilege to be able to tell them about my season of life and let them know how the only thing that can fill a loneliness is the Lord. I was able to share about the precious and tearful times I have had with the Lord. I also was able to explain that its hard and its a real hurt but so is the REAL and amazing satisfaction and hope that only Christ can bring, IF we turn it over to HIM. I explained a little bit about waiting on the Lord and how that practically looks like and how it really FEELS like. I was reminded of the verses " Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed......(ps 25:3) Sitting there speaking to a room filled with high school girls speaking of waiting on the Lord, God reminded me that no one who waits on Him will ever be ashamed.
Be encouraged that no matter what your season if you give it ALL to the Lord, He will use it for His glory, even when you aren't aware of it. His purpose will always prevail. Remain faithful where He has placed you and watch Him use your season for His splendor!
Saturday, July 24, 2010
He is good and does good
No matter what season you are in, God is good and does good.
Psalm119:68
"You are good and do good; Teach me Your statutes."
During life moments where you think the time of answer is not drawing near remember that no matter what affliction you are facing God is a good God and He does good. Your phase of waiting is not a time where you sit around eagerly waiting for an answer but a time where you are eagerly seeking the Lord and listening for His instructions with each step you take. Sometimes seasons of waiting are long and very hard, and sometimes they are short, but regardless of the length we must hope in the Lord that His timing is the perfect.
In this particular chapter the psalmist is experiencing great affliction and difficulty yet He is proclaiming and clinging to the fact that God is good, and asking the Lord to teach him HIs statutes.
"It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes."(Ps 119:71)
When was the last time that you thanked the Lord for this season of waiting in your life? Are you learning His statues and clinging to His word for hope during this season? Ask Him to teach you His word, and cling to the fact that God is a good God who wants good things for His children.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Show me Your glory
"Then Moses said, "I pray You, show me Your glory!" Exodus 33:18
When was the last time that you asked God to show you His glory? Do you live in such a way during your season of waiting on God that you expect Him to show up in a mighty way? Our God is a great and mighty God worthy of so much praise, and He can deliver us from any affliction and can do so in such a way that only He can get the glory.
Live in such a dependency and expectancy that you trust God to show you His glory!
God has been working in my heart during this sweet season of waiting, to ask that His glory may be shown and revealed to me in a special way. Take some time today to ask the Lord to open your eyes to His glory.
When was the last time that you asked God to show you His glory? Do you live in such a way during your season of waiting on God that you expect Him to show up in a mighty way? Our God is a great and mighty God worthy of so much praise, and He can deliver us from any affliction and can do so in such a way that only He can get the glory.
Live in such a dependency and expectancy that you trust God to show you His glory!
God has been working in my heart during this sweet season of waiting, to ask that His glory may be shown and revealed to me in a special way. Take some time today to ask the Lord to open your eyes to His glory.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
High school Camp
I haven't written here in a LONG time but I have been really busy so I am going to try and post about the last couple of weeks. :)
A couple of weeks ago I had the privilege of going to high school camp as a counselor, I had my sunday school girls who are so precious and are in 11th grade, along with an incredible co-coucilor. We brought hundreds of students and prayed for weeks and expected God to work in great ways. I had to be at the church at 3:45am and then we checked all of the students in and began the long trip which went good, since we didn't loose any students :). We hadn't been at the venue for very long when I was faced with some very difficult news about a girl in our high school group who was struggling with some serious things. I knew that the devil was already at work trying to discourage and test us before the week had even started. I began praying very specifically and frequently for that student and the hard issue they were facing. The week progressed after I heard story after story of huge hurts in the lives of these students, and then being able to lead them to the greatest and only Healer. I counseled with issues that I never thought I would ever encounter and subjects which the enemy was using to attack this generation. I was blown away each day at how the Lord specifically answered every single prayer and broke through the hardened walls of these students hearts and spoke to each need. One night the speaker began to speak on a subject and the tears began to flow from my eyes, it was the very subject that the girl I had been praying so hard for was dealing with. The Holy Spirit worked in such a powerful way that night and I was in such incredible awe at how mighty and sovereign our great Father is.
One of the highlights of my week was interviewing several of the men in leadership with my co-counclor about modesty. We interviewed and asked hard questions about what a modest girl looks like and acts like. This subject had come up several times earlier that week and we had given biblical council but also wanted the girls to hear from a guys perspective. It was a wonderful and eye opening experience. After several other of the leaders hearing about it we were asked to make an additional "Just for Girls" session one afternoon and share the interviews. It was such a neat experience to see how the girls eyes were opened up to how a guy works and how we can encourage our brothers in Christ.
There were many other incredible stories, moments of ministry and funny memories to share but too much for a post. Here is a picture of my group from camp.
A summary of this week= To God be the glory GREAT things HE alone has done!
Friday, June 4, 2010
Yearning for more
"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, And in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning, yes, more than those who watch for the morning." Psalm 130:5-6
This passage talks about waiting on the Lord, deep in our souls- expecting Him and waiting for His to come more than people who expect and wait for the morning. We know morning will arrive but we must get through the day first. In your life you may be hoping for a "morning" to arrive but you must finish "the day" first. Expect, wait, and look for God to act, but don't miss out on the day He has for you. Through all the waiting find hope only in His word (v. 5) which never fails. May you cling to Jesus and hope in His word as you finish this waiting season "a day" and yearn for the "morning."
This passage talks about waiting on the Lord, deep in our souls- expecting Him and waiting for His to come more than people who expect and wait for the morning. We know morning will arrive but we must get through the day first. In your life you may be hoping for a "morning" to arrive but you must finish "the day" first. Expect, wait, and look for God to act, but don't miss out on the day He has for you. Through all the waiting find hope only in His word (v. 5) which never fails. May you cling to Jesus and hope in His word as you finish this waiting season "a day" and yearn for the "morning."
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