"If you love me, obey my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn't looking for him and doesn't recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. No, I will not leave you as orphans--I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Since I live, you will also live.
When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Those who accept my commandments and obey them are the ones who love me. And because they love me, my Father will love them.And I will love them and reveal myself to each of them." John 14: 15-21
How awesome! What a miracle! We are NEVER ALONE. When Jesus said, "I will come to you," He meant it. What a gift!
but spending time with our Lord should be our first priority. I had lunch with one of my dearest friends yesterday who said something that really makes me stop and think of making sure I stop and smell the roses! She told me (and I'm paraphrasing), "Most of the time we are busy with our 'to-do' list, but as Christians we really should be tackling our 'to grow' list." Wow! How true...
My heart has heard you say, "Come and talk with me." And my heart responds, "Lord, I am coming." Psalm 27: 8
We often run to God in our times of adversity. But David sought God's guiding presence every day. When troubles came his way, he was already in God's presence. He was prepared to handle ANY test. To be in His presence everyday is the key! Believers can call to God for help at any time, how shortsighted to call on God only when troubles come ~ How Our Father must feel! Many of our problems could be avoided or handled far more easily by seeking God's help and direction beforehand. Amen?
but this scripture really spoke to me, considering a new chapter is opening up in my life. A new season... I am moving across town to a new apartment where everything is on the first floor, which is going to be much easier not having to climb stairs! We live in a very beautiful loft apartment with stairs coming up into the apartment, and then stairs leading upstairs in the loft where our bedroom used to be (13 steps in each flight! We moved our bedroom to the cramped bedroom we have on our first level to make it easier for me, and my husband now has his Photography Studio upstairs in the loft. When we first moved here 8 years ago, I was much healthier but over that time my disease has progressed). Those stairs are a major barrier for me. I can do stairs but it's a huge challenge, and by the time I reach the top, I'm extremely exhausted! I absolutely hate doing laundry, because our washer and dryer are upstairs, so I wait until I run out of clothes!
Anyway our new apartment is beautiful too, everything is on one floor- Hallelujah! It's definitely a new season for me, and I will be able to use my scooter or a manual wheelchair in the new apartment, but to be honest with you... I am struggling with that. I know it will help me get around better. I don't know... I'm still struggling! So this scripture spoke to me about the situation I'm in at this moment in time...
"The priests will carry the Ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth. As soon as their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will stand up like a wall." Joshua 3: 13
"So the people left their camp to cross the Jordan, and the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Covenant went ahead of them. It was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river's edge, the water above that point began backing up a great distance away at a town called Adam, which is near Zarethan. And the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry. Then all the people crossed over near the town of Jericho.
Meanwhile, the priests who were carrying the Ark of the Lord's Covenantstood on dry ground in the middle of the riverbedas people passed by. They waited there until the whole nation of Israel had crossed the Jordan on dry ground." Joshua 3: 13-17
In order to cross, the priests had to step into the water. What if these priests had been afraid to take that fist step? Often God provides no solution to our problems until we trust Him and move ahead with what we know we should do. I told you about my river, my obstacle (wheelchair) in my life right now. I need to take that first step. How about you? What's the obstacle in your way?
…this decision is weighing very heavily on me…it will greatly affect things. The first thing I did was pray......God is silent. This is where I need to take Him at His Word. God promises me that He will guide me. Even if I 'm not hearing Him give direction, I must trust His Word and just know that whatever I decide…He has gone before me. The answer will become apparent sooner or later. But of course, I want sooner. Anyway, I was led to read Ecclesiastes chapter 6. Sometime earlier I had highlighted verse 10, so this time my eyes first fell upon this verse. It says,
“Everything has already been decided. It was known long ago what each person would be. So there’s there’s no use arguing with God about your destiny.”
Could this be a confirmation? Is this God reaffirming His guidance to me? I think it is. My Bible Commentary says that God knows and directs everything that happens, and He is in complete control over our lives, even though at times it may not seem that way. So if you’re reading this, please pray for God’s will to be done. Thanks.
...and I just wrote a post for a friend's blog. I think it is awesome and written from the bottom of my heart. I believe it was an inspiration of God. I'll be sure to post it after it has been published, but I thought it would be great to write down the scriptures which helped me write it. I absolutely love the book of Isaiah, it's filled with so much inspiration and encouragement! Well... the entire Bible is!
This is what the Lord says:
"I will go before you, Cyrus (substitute Lori)and level the mountains. I will smash down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. And I will give you treasures hidden in the darkness-secret riches. I will do this so you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Israel, the one who calls you by name.
And why have I called you for this work? Why did I call you by name when you did not know me? It is for the sake of Jacob my servant , Israel my chosen one. I am the Lord; there is no other God. I have equipped you for battle, though you don't even know me. so all the world from east to west will know there is no other God. I am the Lord, and there is no other. I create the light and make the darkness. I send good times and bad times. I, the Lord, am the one who does these things.
"Open up, O heavens, and pour out your righteousness. Let the earth open wide so salvation and righteousness can sprout up together. I, the Lord, created them.
"What sorrow awaits those who argue with their Creator. Does a clay pot argue with its maker? Does the clay dispute with the one who shapes it, saying, 'Stop, you're doing it wrong!" Does the pot exclaim, 'How clumsy can you be?' How terrible it would be if a newborn baby said to its father, 'Why was I born?' or if it said to its mother, 'Why did you make me this way?'
This is what the Lord says- the Holy One of Israel and your Creator: "Do you question what I do for my children? Do you give me orders about the work of my hands? I am the one who made the earth and created people to live on it. With my hands I stretched out the heavens. All the stars are at my command. I will raise up Cyrus(Lori) to fulfill my righteous purpose, and I will guide his (her) actions." Isaiah 45: 2-13
