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When God says "No", is He unjust?

4/9/2013

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   Stress.  Have you ever been in a situation where repeated bad decisions or past choices began to culminate into that much feared "train wreck" moment right before your very eyes?  Though hoping for a miracle, secretly your thinking you deserve what is about to hit you because you made those decisions in the first place and therefore you've lost all power or control over the inevitable?  

    This would somewhat describe what has been going on in our home as of late.  We have some decisions to make and yes I have felt a time or two like our backs are against the wall.  I have cried and I have prayed, but today....I poured though the Word of God. I know, what a great idea right? I have a wonderful Bible that was given to me by a dear friend of mine.  I love it because I am a "picture person".  I love it when things are described in such a way that I can see it in my mind and therefore gain a much clearer understanding of how I can apply what I'm reading to my life.  This Bible does just that.  It is called the Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible.

    During my search to find His peace in this impending "storm",  Here is what God spoke to me through Max today:

    There are times when the one thing you want is the one thing you never get.  You're not being picky or demanding; you're only obeying His command to "let your requests be made known to God" (Phill. 4:6)  All you want is an open door or an extra day or an answered prayer, for which you will be thankful.
And so you pray and wait.  No answer.  You pray and wait.  No answer.  You pray and wait.
May I ask a very important question?  What if God says no?
What if the request is delayed or even denied?  When God says no to you, how will you respond?  If God says, "I've given you my grace, and that is enough,"  will you be content?
    Content.  That's the word.  A state of heart in which you would be at peace if God gave you nothing more than He already has.  Test yourself with this question:  What if God's only gift to you were His grace to save you?  Would you be content?  You beg him to save the life of your child.  You plead with Him to keep your business afloat.  You implore Him to remove the cancer from your body.  What if His answer is, "My grace is enough"?  Would you be content? 
You see, from heaven's perspective, grace is enough.  If God did nothing more than save us from hell, could anyone complain?  If God saved our souls and then left us to spend our lives leprosy-struck on a deserted island, would He be unjust?  Having been given eternal life, dare we grumble at an aching body?  Having been given heavenly riches, dare we bemoan earthly poverty?
    Let me quickly add, God has not left you with "just salvation."  If you have eyes to read these words, hands to hold this book, the means to own this volume, He has already given you grace upon grace.  The vast majority of us have been saved and then blessed even more!  But there are those times when God, having given us His grace, hears our appeals and says, "My grace is sufficient for you."  Is He being unfair?
In God Came Near, I've told you how our oldest daughter fell into a swimming pool when she was two years old.  A friend saw her and pulled her to safety.  What I didn't tell you was what happend the next morning in my prayer time.  I made a special effort to record my gratitude in my journal.  I told God how wonderful He was for saving her.  As clearly as if God himself were speaking, this question came to mind:  Would I be less wonderful had I let her drown?  Would I be any less a good God for calling her home?  Would I still be receiving your praise this morning had I not saved her?  
Is God still good when He says no? (from In the Grip of Grace by Max Lucado)


    I was stunned.  Speechless actually as I reflected on the depth of that question.  The question for me was, "If I let you feel the full impact of your choices, am I no longer worthy of your love?"  A flood of memories of everything that He has already done for me, merited and unmerited swam in my mind. It broke my heart.   Am I really that shallow as to think that the God of the Universe, my Creator, my Savior, my biggest Fan, only exists to save me from my bad choices? And, is He only good when He does so?  What if my kids treated me this same way?  I repented and told Him how sorry I was for thinking so selfishly. How can my or any circumstance change who God is and How He feels toward me?  
"Storms" are inevitable in this life (John 16:33), whether we create them or not, but the cool things is, He knows exactly how to maneuver each one so that we come out stronger on the other side (Romans 8:28; Prov. 10:25).  Do we always like His choices? 

Ummm no, but that will never change the fact that He is always working it out for our benefit if we will just trust Him. 
I did find His peace, but not because of His divine deliverance.  I found it in Him and Him alone (Psalm 59:16; Psalm 119:114). I found it in His knowledge of who I am and what I need far better than I do.  I found it in His love for me that far surpasses my love for Him (Eph. 3:14-19).
    Do I believe that He can change my circumstances at any given moment?  A thousand times YES!  I also know however, that He will not, because He loves me enough to let me learn, should this circumstance merit a valuable lesson for my 
future. In a panic, we often forget who God really is, but if we will just seek His Will and His heart, we will find His peace 
no matter the "storm" we face.  Do I know what will happen?  No, but I know that He is the God, MY GOD,
who gives, AND takes away, and I am learning to praise Him either way. :)

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His answer is "YES!"

5/3/2012

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    Have you ever had a day where you've  questioned everything about yourself? 
Am I good enough?  Do I have a purpose?  Am I valuable?  Am I worthy of love?  Will my life ever amount to anything?  I've done too many bad things, can I really be forgiven?  I have dealt with this issue for so long, is it really possible to overcome it?  Can I really start again?  
   When we look through the "world's" eyes, the image it paints of us can be devastating to say the least.  We all too often compare ourselves  to the opinions, of those who decide what is "cool, beautiful, and acceptable" at the time.  We then strive diligently to meet these so called "standards", and just when we think we've got what it takes to run with the "In" crowd, their opinions change and we're on the outs again.  It's exhausting!  
   The "world" is a task master that cannot be pleased.  And with every effort, we can be left disillusioned, defeated and without hope.  When you pose the above questions to the  "world", you will hear it shout back at you with a condemning "NO!"  
    I can't tell you how grateful I am  that there is another voice that we can listen to when it comes to discussing our VALUE as individuals.
Thank God  there is One who not only counters these claims that the "world" holds against us, but He came to prove that not only are YOU LOVED, but that you are SO VALUABLE,
 He gave His own life to save Yours!  Im thinking His opinion is a little more valuable than that of the "worlds" don't you?  He knows what you've done.  He knows what you've been through and yet His answer to every question is "YES!!
    YES!  You are good enough, because I made you... (Ps.139:13)
    YES!  You do have a purpose, it's what I created you for.... (Jeremiah 29:11)
    YES!  You are loved, and I gave my life to show you just how much... (John 3:16-17; Jeremiah 31:3; Isaiah 49:15-16a)
    YES!  If you follow me, your life will amount to great things... (Daniel 11:32b)
    YES!  When you ask Me, you will be forgiven (Rom.8:1; 1Jn.1:9)
    YES!  Through My grace you will overcome...(Philippians 4:13)
and YES! My mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22-24), of course you can start again...
    This is an extremely valuable "Stone" because it signifies just that, OUR VALUE through His eyes.   Learning this has forever changed the way  I look at "world" views, opinions and standards, how I look at Christ, and even how I look at myself.  Talk about freedom!   
    I have actually collected this "stone" numerous times over the years as He has opened the eyes of my heart more and more so that I might see just how deep, how wide and how huge His love really is for not just me, but for all of us. :D.  Somedays it simply takes my breathe away.
    So, the next time you have "one of those days"
and feel like you just don't quick measure up to the "opinions" that seem to change with every season.....
remember the ONE, Jesus Christ, who's opinion NEVER changes about you....
who through your YES to Him, will infuse  your life with Hope, healing, encouragement and victory with His emphatic, "YES"!!
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He's Waiting...

3/31/2012

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    Did you know that the God of the Universe, the One who created all things out of nothing...is waiting to meet with you?
   This "Stone" was given to me a little while ago, but due to the sweetness of it, I thought it worthy to be the very first of my entries. 
     About a month ago, I was really feeling guilty over not spending more time with the Lord, specifically first thing in the morning.  I am so not a morning person by nature and so early morning meetings for me, have been difficult to keep.  I had really  been thinking a lot about the fact that I should be getting up earlier, but at the time, just could not seem to find it within my own physical resourses to do so on a consistant basis. After a couple of days of worrying and praying about it, God gave me a awesome picture one morning... 
    I had barely gotten up and walked into my bathroom when the sweetest picture filled my mind of Jesus, sitting down stairs on my couch, waiting to meet with me.  It may seem silly to most, especially coming from one who's been a Christian for the past 12 years, but it totally took me back to think that the very God of the universe, maker of Heaven and Earth, was sitting on my couch, waiting to meet with me. 
I was overwhelmed by His gesture of love,  as thoughts of His acceptance,  His encouragement  and His unfailing Love for me filled my mind.  He had come not to condemn or chastise, but to encourage me through His Word and His thoughts towards me on my journey with Him. 
Since the day that I committed my life to Him, I have known that He is with me, but this definately made that knowledge all the more real to my heart.  
    My mind was then filled with images of all of the days that He sat there waiting for me to come, and I never showed.  I was too busy sleeping upstairs to come and meet with Him.  This broke my heart, as "Seek Me while I may be found" (Isa. 55:6) rang over and over in the ears of my soul.
    This was not a threat, but a warning, that though He is MORE than willing to meet with me at anytime, the time will come when this option will no longer be available.  So, I did what any good Jesus loving girl would do...I ran downstairs to meet with Him! :-)  I sat in the same spot on my couch that I had pictured Him sitting in, and flipped open His Word where I began to receive His encouragement and strength for that day.  I almost pictured myself sitting on my big Bothers lap while He poured His life into my weary body through His Word.  It was amazing to say the least and I can honestly tell you that I have never looked at getting up early to meet with Him the same again.  No, I have not been perfect at making these appointments, but I can not believe how  my attitude has changed.  Before it seemed to be all about me and how tired I was.  
    Now, it is about Him. He Is the God of the universe, the One who spoke all things into exsistance, and literally made me from nothing. Yet He knows far more than I, that I am nothing without Him...So, He cares enough to come and wait, even on the days that I don't show.  
     As I remember this "Stone" of His faithfulness,  I am truly humbled by the truth of  just how important I really am to Him.  I am humbled at the fact that His loves knows no bounds when it comes to drawing me to Himself and I am totally in Awe at His relentless pursuit of my heart.   The real kicker though, is that I am not the only one He feels this way about! :)  His love is no different for me than it is for you!   I don't know what that does in you, but it has changed my question from  "do I really want to get up and meet with Him",  to " why in the world would I keep Him waiting?"  
   
   "Thank you Lord for your faithfulness and your willingness to come and meet with me even on those days when I felt sleep was more important.  Lord forgive me for the mornings that I have kept you waiting!  Help me oh God to never keep you waiting again. :-) 
In Your awesome name I pray,
                                               Amen"

    How have you made meeting with Jesus a priority?  How have you overcome any challenges that may have kept you from meeting with Him?

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    "Our Ability to see beyond Darkness to a place of Freedom."      
    -Dr. Judith Orloff

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