We are studying Isaiah 40:12-31 this week in BSF. For verses 21-26, one of the questions we were asked was; which phrases or thoughts for Isaiah's instruction encourage you to look to God in life's challenges? Why?
I chose "...and calls them each by name." I started to explain why, I said things like God knows me, He created me, by His power and mighty strength he will keep me. I found myself writing a little note to myself from God. That inspired me to write this:
Dear child,
I know you are struggling right now;
Its ok, I've got you,
You can let go.
I will not let you fall.
I know your heart
And I understand.
Run into my arms;
There is freedom waiting for you.
Take comfort in the strength you find there.
I know sometimes you feel so alone,
And I know you know that's just not true.
I am always there when you need me.
I will never let you down - you can trust me.
Take peace with who you are.
You're exactly how I created you to be.
Feed on my word - it will satisfy your hunger.
Love,
Your Heavenly Father.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Beautiful Feet
Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10: 13-15.
It has all started with a comment that a good friend said to me; it was basically that I have a ministry going with women. That comment kind of bothered me because it reminded me of times in the past where I think I have failed with some women that God had put into my life. I really do have a draw toward helping women, though. I have never really thought about in the past because my focus always seemed to be on children.
Some believe that in order to get to the adult that you need to go through the child; focus on getting the child interested in coming to church and the parent will follow. I am starting to think that way of thinking needs to change. We need to start with the adult, especially the wife and mother. I believe that the woman has alot of influence on her family, especially when it comes to emotional or spiritual things.
I know from my own personal experiences that starting out in a new church is very difficult, especially if you are coming into a church as a non-Christian or a new Christian carrying a lot baggage. It can be hard to find your place and feel like you fit in, or to find the courage to be yourself. And when you have that baggage, those past issues that you need to face and deal with, it can take forever until you are even ready to begin to face them, and overcoming them can take a lifetime. We, as a church, need to be prepared to be there for these people, and we need to be prepared to be there for the long haul. No matter how redundant their issues my seem, or how tired or frustrated you may become listening to their issues, you have to stop and think about how they must feel; wanting so bad to overcome and no matter how hard they try they feel sometimes like it will never happen. They don't want to feel like a burden, they just wanted to feel loved and like someone truly understands them. They need a hand to hold, a listening ear, a word of encouragement and a shoulder to cry on.
I have found myself falling back into a depression. I think some of it is the weather, but I know that a lot of it is because I have pulled myself away from God. I feel Him pulling me in a direction and I am fighting Him, again. I am letting doubt and fear stop me from being obedient. I have been so bored. I love my women's group but I am so utterly bored with it. I have this wonderful opportunity to teach children about God and I have been so bored with it. I want to get out and make a difference. I want to reach the ones that are difficult to reach; I want to go to them, not wait for them to come to me; I want to have beautiful feet (just like it is written in Romans 10:15). I feel that draw to help women in need. But, like I said, I have been fighting that. One reason is because I am not sure how to make that happen. I am either at home, BSF or the grocery store. I am just not sure where God wants me to go to meet these women, and then there is the doubt and fear that I allow to stop me. I think of past failures and convince myself that I am just not adequate for the job.
This is a verse that really stuck out to me from my BSF lesson; partly because part of it is a verse that a friend pointed out for me to read in the past. I stuck my name in part of it to make it more personal to me.
Comfort, comfort [Tammy], says your God. Speak tenderly to [Tammy], and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken." Isaiah 40:1-5
God, I want beautiful feet. I want all of mankind to know you personally through your Son Jesus. Give me the courage and a willing and obedient heart. Help me to take my gifts and use them in a way that brings you glory. Help me to be aware of the opportunities you lay before me. Help me to stay close to you and trust in you completely. I recommit myself to you today. I will not give up!
It has all started with a comment that a good friend said to me; it was basically that I have a ministry going with women. That comment kind of bothered me because it reminded me of times in the past where I think I have failed with some women that God had put into my life. I really do have a draw toward helping women, though. I have never really thought about in the past because my focus always seemed to be on children.
Some believe that in order to get to the adult that you need to go through the child; focus on getting the child interested in coming to church and the parent will follow. I am starting to think that way of thinking needs to change. We need to start with the adult, especially the wife and mother. I believe that the woman has alot of influence on her family, especially when it comes to emotional or spiritual things.
I know from my own personal experiences that starting out in a new church is very difficult, especially if you are coming into a church as a non-Christian or a new Christian carrying a lot baggage. It can be hard to find your place and feel like you fit in, or to find the courage to be yourself. And when you have that baggage, those past issues that you need to face and deal with, it can take forever until you are even ready to begin to face them, and overcoming them can take a lifetime. We, as a church, need to be prepared to be there for these people, and we need to be prepared to be there for the long haul. No matter how redundant their issues my seem, or how tired or frustrated you may become listening to their issues, you have to stop and think about how they must feel; wanting so bad to overcome and no matter how hard they try they feel sometimes like it will never happen. They don't want to feel like a burden, they just wanted to feel loved and like someone truly understands them. They need a hand to hold, a listening ear, a word of encouragement and a shoulder to cry on.
I have found myself falling back into a depression. I think some of it is the weather, but I know that a lot of it is because I have pulled myself away from God. I feel Him pulling me in a direction and I am fighting Him, again. I am letting doubt and fear stop me from being obedient. I have been so bored. I love my women's group but I am so utterly bored with it. I have this wonderful opportunity to teach children about God and I have been so bored with it. I want to get out and make a difference. I want to reach the ones that are difficult to reach; I want to go to them, not wait for them to come to me; I want to have beautiful feet (just like it is written in Romans 10:15). I feel that draw to help women in need. But, like I said, I have been fighting that. One reason is because I am not sure how to make that happen. I am either at home, BSF or the grocery store. I am just not sure where God wants me to go to meet these women, and then there is the doubt and fear that I allow to stop me. I think of past failures and convince myself that I am just not adequate for the job.
This is a verse that really stuck out to me from my BSF lesson; partly because part of it is a verse that a friend pointed out for me to read in the past. I stuck my name in part of it to make it more personal to me.
Comfort, comfort [Tammy], says your God. Speak tenderly to [Tammy], and proclaim to her that her hard service has been completed, that her sin has been paid for, that she has received from the Lord's hand double for all her sins. A voice of one calling: "In the desert prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all mankind together will see it. For the mouth of the Lord has spoken." Isaiah 40:1-5
God, I want beautiful feet. I want all of mankind to know you personally through your Son Jesus. Give me the courage and a willing and obedient heart. Help me to take my gifts and use them in a way that brings you glory. Help me to be aware of the opportunities you lay before me. Help me to stay close to you and trust in you completely. I recommit myself to you today. I will not give up!
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