He Knows My Name

As many of you know, MBC kids will be leaving in the morning for  Children's Camp 2011.  I am so excited!!  Our theme this year is, "He Knows My Name".  This morning,  I was reading over the bible studies we will be doing with the children, and God really spoke to me.

Jeremiah 1:5 says,"Before I made you in your mother's womb, I chose you. Before you were born, I set you apart for a 

special work..."

God spoke these words to Jeremiah.  As I researched a little on the internet, I found that many sources say that Jeremiah was around 8 years old when God spoke to him. WOW.  The Bible says God told Jeremiah that He set him apart for a special work. The Message translation says, God had "holy plans" for Jeremiah.

As I prayed over this devotion, and for the 11 year olds I'd be teaching this weekend, I realized that many times as adults we undermine the importance of these children.

Will you please pray for every tender little heart and the leaders that will be going with us this weekend? May these children not let anyone treat them as if they are unimportant because they are young.  We must teach them that they are examples to believers with their words, their actions, their love, their faith, and their pure life (1 Tim 4:12).  

Each year I go to camp with these kids, God teaches me new things from them...from their faith...from their love...from their attitudes. 

What can God teach us from the younger generation? I know I have learned a lot from the teenagers at our church.  Their selfless acts of service never cease to amaze me. 

We must continue to teach these children that He can use them, and He has amazing plans for their lives. May we never look down on them or make them seem as if they aren't important in God's kingdom.  After all, they are the future Church. They are the future pastors, worship leaders, missionaries, etc...What are we teaching them? By our words? By our actions?

 

What is God calling us to do?

"What are you looking at??"

 Hey Friends!

I have been meaning to blog all week, but there have been a few unexpected things come up, and I just haven't had time to sit down and do it.  God woke me up early this morning, and as I had my quiet time, He gave me some words that I'd like to share with ya'll.


Tuesday night, I went to a ladies' fellowship with some church friends, and our interim pastor's wife shared a devotion with us entitled, "Look Up".  Her words (which were clearly God's words) were so timely for me.  My family continues to face trials and unexpected events, but God remains faithful. I have to admit that when I went to the fellowship I was very discouraged and tired. It's amazing how being with fun, loving friends allows us to let go of some of the worries we are facing-even if for a moment. 

During the devotion, God made me aware of the fact that I wasn't focused on Him.  I was focused on how I could settle everything down, how I could "fix" the problems I was facing, how I could organize it all and many other things.  Mrs. Caldwell (the lady who did our devotion) kept saying,

"Look Up"

  God spoke to me and I realized that I was looking everywhere but up...and for those few moments that I was looking up, I was questioning Him, and telling him how unfair life is. And although, God wants to hear the depths of our heart, I wasn't looking to Him for guidance. I was simply going to Him to complain and whine-I wasn't looking to Him in trust.  I wasn't claiming His promises. She shared numerous bible verses that were filled with God's promises.

These are just a couple that spoke to me:

 "I look up to the hills, but where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, who  made heave and earth." Psalm 121:1-2

"Give all your worries to Him, because He cares for you."
1 Peter 5:7 

So, I guess my challenge to you is "What are you looking at?"  I was made aware of a list of things that I was looking at Tuesday night-and Christ wasn't on that list. He has promised us to never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5)...I'm so thankful for that promise.  Isn't it amazing that even though we may lose our focus, He never leaves our side?

Even though we face trial after trial, He is faithful. 2 Peter 1:4 says, "Through these He gave us the very great and precious promises." 
 
I know I have mentioned it a previous blog, but I am reading 1000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp, and the overall challenge of the book is to list 1000 gifts.  The Lord has really been dealing with me about my thankfulness. So, as we face these trials-and we know they're coming because His Word tells us they will, couldn't we make a list of our gifts?  When Satan attacks (and he will!), can't we name God's promises? Can't we list our gifts? That is what I've been trying to do...try it-you'll be amazed at the things God has given you..I sure have been.  It's just a matter of being constantly aware of the things surrounding us that are gifts from God. 

Friend, we have to trust Him...and His promises.  Look to Him.

"Let us hold firmly to the hope that we have confessed, because we can trust God to do what He promised." Hebrews 10:23

I have posted a youtube video of a song that has really spoken to me this week. I hope that it does the same for you.

"The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads."

Psalm 145:14

What if...

 I know many of you have heard Laura Story's song, "Blessings" but I just had to share it on this blog because it has spoken to me in so many ways.  It is exactly what God has spoken over me for the last few months.

Our family has been through many trials recently, but God has constantly reminded me that He has a purpose in our pain.  It is through this pain and suffering that He has taught me many lessons and has grown me in multiple ways. My prayer life will never be the same.

Over the past two years, I have learned so much about life.  Maybe it's because I'm getting older,or maybe it's because I'm paying closer attention...I'm not sure. Whatever the reason, the Lord has taken my family (the Bollings and the Reeds) through some pretty tough trials.  We were faced with the decision of trusting Him and allowing Him to do His will or not trusting Him and constantly worrying and questioning Him.  I can't tell you that I didn't have my questions, and honestly, I still do.  I have wondered, "How many trials can you take us through at one time, God?"  I have even made the statement to my sister-in-law (via text) that "It's always something!"  She reminded me that it's through our suffering that we learn to pray.  How true that statement is. I came across this quote while studying,  "The greatest opportunity to glorify God is when you are walking through the fires of affliction and trials" - Bob O'Bannon  I had to ask myself, "Do I glorify God or do I whine about what I'm going through and beg for sympathy from others?"

Romans 8:28 tells us, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." We may not see it at the moment, but He is working EVERYTHING for our good.

I challenge you to look at the circumstance you are in right now and try to find how God is working it for your good.  There may be things that we never know why they happen while we are on this earth, but be assured that He is faithful to complete His work in us.  One of my favorite pastors in the world said, "You're either in a trial, coming out of a trial, or about to go through a trial." So, we must stay ready!

The lyrics for "Blessings" are below.  I have added some  pictures of times of trial that I KNOW without a doubt that God was showing us His mercy even in our suffering.  

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering

All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near

 

What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near

We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough

All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win

We know the pain reminds this heart

That this is not, this is not our home

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy

And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

-Laura Story ("Blessings")