Facing the tests of life

“Unemployment. Divorce. Infertility. An unknown future. The death of a dear one. The illness of a child… The cruelty of an acquaintance… (You name it…)

There comes a time when our faith is tested deliberately by God, not so we will be overcome, but that we might grasp the validity of our faith and know it to be real. From God’s hand comes the cumulative exam designed to reinforce our learning about him and his work in our lives.

Someone likened this process to the kite flyer who takes the string of a kite and runs until the kite ascends into the sky. The kite will not rise without the wind. Wind is necessary to flying a kite, and kites rise not with wind, but against it! So it is with us. We will not rise to patience and maturity unless we ascend against trials.

We must meet our test not with the bleary eyes of a worried novice but with the confidence of a student who is well-acquainted with the words of the professor.

Layer upon layer, God is educating us about how he has worked in our lives and in the lives of those we love!”

Mom’s Devotional Bible

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Resolution V/S Inventory

This year, I decided not to make new year resolutions. The reason, I have noticed that most of my resolutions are not realistic, either some come back every year or I always feel guilty about those I cannot fulfill … So, I chose to do an inventory!

An inventory takes stock of what we have and what we don’t have. Grocery stores, factories, all kind of businesses take inventories. They can even be taken of human spirit, right? How about taking a spiritual inventory?

Let’s begin by looking at what we have. Friends? Responsibilities? Deep feelings? Hobbies? Intelligence? Children? The list can go on! Taking inventory of our possessions, talents and relationships seldom turns up anything unexpected. But, let’s pause here and beware of a danger: sometimes taking inventory of what we do have can actually lead to pride; we begin to think: “hey I’m doing all right!”

The surprise comes when we tally up what we’re missing. Security? Happiness? contentment? Patience? Trust? Peace? Now, what do I do when I discover that my “don’t have’s” outweigh my “have’s” without feeling guilty or stress?

Well, as for me, I can finally recognize my true state before God. How can I move forward if I don’t see and admit what hinders me! While we might imagine ourselves to be spiritually “wealthy,” we are, in fact, bankrupt before God. When we pretend otherwise, we are being deluded by pride. Does this make you uncomfortable? If you’re a Christian like me, talk to God about it (He’ll never judge your feelings) and put Him in control of all that you lack, that you need to improve or change.

For my non-Christian friends, talk to someone you trust, someone who will be honest with you on your “don’t have’s” and help you in the process. Sometimes, we are surprised to discover that when we share with God or ask someone else, our resolutions list is way far from what we really need to improve or change right now or in this year 2016.

I hope you’ll choose God to reveal to you what you lack. Have a great week!

 

 

 

A Picture of PEACE

Today, the sun is brightly shining, six adorable kids are running, screaming in the house and playing football outside. My husband is on call (work) but is home and able to help around cleaning the garage. Life is great right? But, you know what, I feel agitated… The reason? Dear friends are in the hospital right now fighting with their 16 years old boy recently diagnosed with Leukemia…

“The story is told of a kind who held a contest to find the perfect painting of peace. Extraordinary works of art were entered, but the winning painting depicted a raging storm on a mountainside. Lodged in a crevice, a mother bird sat on her nest, protecting her young.” What is wrong with this king? Where is peace in that picture?

Oh wait, such a picture of peace resembles the one I read in my Bible: Mark 4:35-41. The disciples and Jesus were in a boat on the sea of Galilee. Jesus was sleeping when a wild storm came up. As the waves broke over the boat, threatening to sink it, the disciples cried in terror to their sleeping Teacher, “don’t you care if we drown?” At this, Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and the waves and questioned the disciples. Did they have no faith?

Well, my agitation, the raging storm our dear friends and their son are going through, the king incomprehensible choice have their meaning in Jesus response to the storm and his question to the disciples:

Peace is Jesus asleep in a boat in the middle of a storm.

Peace is a calm trust in God in the midst of irritation rather than its absence.

Convinced of God’s control over every detail of our lives, PEACE is the presence of FAITH even when the world around us screams that there is no reason to believe!

PS: This is going to be a long journey for our friends and their boy, If you would like to know more and would like to help, here is the link to the page https://www.youcaring.com/lucas-neudorf-and-his-family-496036

God bless you!

 

 

“Daniel” Women

Yesterday I turned on the tv to watch the news, you know, to stay “informed.” Then, I felt overwhelmed by so many weird and scary stories… The thing that stoked me the most was this obvious sins of all kinds all around us. Ok, don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying I’m perfect and never did something weird or stupid or may be horrible, but at least I have learned with God’s help (like most people) to listen when his Holy Ghost rebuked me and to do my best to change where it is needed. Also, I learn from my mistake or other’s and try hard to avoid it next time.

But, our world seems to just enjoy sin, harming others and themselves and never ever learn from its mistakes! Sins of all kind are around us and inside us. How can we break free from them and be distinctive people in Christ? Daniel, in the Bible (book of Daniel) is part of my favorites characters. Not surprising, our oldest boy is called after him!

Now, how as a woman can I be like Daniel? How to Be a “Daniel” woman? Well, my devotional book says this: “The “Daniel” woman doesn’t walk out on her husband (I add, except in particular circumstances mention in the Bible: 1 Corinthians 7 & Matthew 19:1-8 ), she doesn’t hang up on her mother (God have mercy, I did that sometimes to my mom when our arguments got out of hand, instead of just shutting up or calming down…there’s always another way right? Proverbs 15:1) She doesn’t ignore the needs of her neighbor (to be kept in mind every day, especially in that Christmas season.) She doesn’t insist on playing the game of life by her own rules (sigh…), but rather chooses to play consistently, obediently, sometimes even painfully, by God’s design. She recognizes and respects the bonds of a pledge.” The list can go on…

Dear friends, (Guys, this applies to you too!) a woman who listen to God, disregards the popular beliefs of her day and lives instead by God’s standards (as Daniel did in his day), stands by her commitment, fights for healthy relationships is a “Daniel” woman: a distinctive person of Christ Amen!

 

 

Stuck!

Moses stands on the edge of the Red Sea with the Israelites bleating like scared sheep while the Egyptians bear down upon them. “It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” NIV (Exodus 14:12).

Moses’ response to the Israelites is much like God’s response to us in the unbelievable moments of our lives when the Red Sea blocks our way and the Egyptians of our day are closing in. “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” NIV (Exodus 14:13-14)

Who are the Egyptians bearing down on us today?  What is the Red Sea that threatens our hope? Where the tendency may be to worry, panic, and run, God tells us that we “need to be STILL.”

This day, this minute, STUCK between the Egyptians and the Red Sea, YOU can choose to LAY aside panic and instead BE STILL!

Blessings.

Mom’s Devotional Bible NIV