Hiding the Truth in our hearts

Scenerio:
Teaching a fourth grade Social Studies class, with a quick review of the test answers.
Test answers were to be corrected independently for homework.

Student: "Can you just give me the answers to write down, so I can hand in these corrections next class?"
Teacher (me): " No, it's your assignment. I can't just give you the answers and count it as corrections. What would you learn from that? You need to search for your own answers."
Student: "sighhhhhh..."

What I feel the Lord showed me during that lesson was as Christians, we must search for truth, just as that student must search for his answers to the test. As children(or young believers, no matter the biological age) the Word/truth may be given to us, but as we face the tests of life we must call upon that truth ourselves in order to be in line with God's will and make it through. We need to search for the  truth and make them our own, we need to hide them in our hearts.

Yes, learning from a pastor or spiritual leader is important, just as a teacher instructs her students while introducing new information. The student must study independently along the way. When it comes to the test, its up to the student to perform, proving that he or she in fact learned enough to pass successfully.
Just as that student missed some answers to his Social Studies test, Christians will get the tests of life wrong from time to time (we will, and we do). Just as that student had to go back and make test corrections, we must go back, search the Truth, and re-learn what it is God says about that particular test of life. We must continue to search, and learn God's Word. Otherwise, if we ever feel we are no longer a student of the Word, we will fail. We will be missing the humility it takes to depend on God and draw upon Him for truth and guidance.

Hope

When Jesus was in Gethsemane the night before His crucifixion, He cried out to the Father for Him to take away what was to come. Jesus cried so hard, He sweat blood...

Here's a thought when we too go through excruciating trials in life (not to say that any of our trials compare to the profound pain Jesus must has experienced when bearing all our sins on the cross...but we can trust He identifies when we go through any kind of trial or pain)...We need to have hope in the midst of adversity...We need to 'choose Joy'.

"Perhaps we're meant to learn that the richest hope permits the deepest suffering which releases the strongest power, which then produces the greatest joy. Maybe there is no shortcut to joy. Maybe God sometimes frustrates our desire to experience Him in order to deepen it."
Perhaps.
~Larry Crabb: Shattered Dreams

"I sought the Lord and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears, They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed, This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, And saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them." 

Psalm 34:4-7

 This following section is from John Eldridge's "Wild at Heart", a specific section on forgiving our fathers :

[Now you must understand: Forgiveness is a choice. It is not a feeling, but an act of the will. As Neil Anderson has written, "Don't wait to forgive until you feel like forgiving; you will never get there. Feelings take time to heal after the choice to forgive is made." We allow God to bring the hurt up from our past, for "if your forgiveness doesn't visit the emotional core of your life, it will be incomplete." We acknowledge that it hurt, that it mattered, and we choose to extend forgiveness to our father. This is not saying, "It didn't really matter"; it is not saying, "I probably deserved part of it anyway." Forgiveness says, "It was wrong, it mattered, and I release you."]

... this touched my heart because I have been on a long journey of forgiveness. I can testify that forgiveness is in fact a choice. I have to remind myself of that continuously. If anyone else is on a journey to forgiveness with your father, or anyone else for that matter, I hope this has encouraged you to keep going. It is a reminder to me to keep going. I haven't arrived, I am still on a journey. Praying. Waiting. Seeking God's face. Thanking God E.V.E.R.Y. step of the way for HIS loving kindness, His gentle hand, His unfailing Love for me, and His healing touch. Praise the Lord we have a Father in Heaven that can heal all of our wounds. After all, He is our loving father. He is Abba.

The dark before the morning

I read a remarkable story today about a lady who was determined God was calling her away to bible school and that He would provide the means for this. She planned, prayed, and prepared. She still did not have the full amount of money the morning she was to get on a ship and head off to school. Her mom and her went to the docks and trusted God to pay the way. The girl went to the ticket booth and the man at the ticket booth turned her away, she did not have enough money. She went back to the car and prayed with her mother, reviewing and meditating on the verses God had laid on her heart throughout the journey thus far. Before they knew it, there was a knock on the door from a trusted and faithful friend in the Lord and he told them that the Lord had sent him to come with this money to give to her. God provided. He also provided along the rest of her journey. This is Facona Pratney's story. This story was a commentary reflecting the verse 1 Thessalonians 5:24 "He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it." If God promised you something, He will do it. When? How? Where? Why? all these questions we will naturally have along the way. But what we need to focus on is HIM. If it is a promise, His will, He will fulfill it!

I remember waiting and questioning God as my heart laid broken. I was facing some realities that were difficult to accept. A broken family relationship, the terminal illness of a good friend, another year spent single, facing the pain of my past and coming to grips with it so it would stop controlling my life. All of these circumstances had me feeling torn, confused and empty. Yet when God shined the light of His Word into these circumstances there seemed to be an unexplained kind of hope; A glimmer of light. God began to speak His promises, through His Word, into these broken, scarey places. Surrendering to God in these places was and is the best choice I can make. He promises to restore and He has. He promises to comfort and He does and is. He promises to be my strength, my peace, my patience, my tolerance, and my hope. He has done it, and continues to do it.

What is it that you are facing? What has God promised you as you wait for it? A restored relationship? The coming home of a wayward child? Healing to an ill body? The process of grief to take its course? Whatever it is that you are waiting for God on, hold on. Wait. Pray! 

There have been many nights where I have waited for God to come through and heal the brokenness inside. Was it painful? Yes. Grieving in any case, is a process and a difficult one at that... Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Sadness, and Acceptance. We don't necessarily experience these stages in order, but they will be experienced at some point. If you are stuck in one of them, ask God to show you the way out. Ask Him to reveal His promises to you. He will. After all, He is a faithful God. Think of what it is that is holding you back -- what pain you haven't let go of or that you're facing now --If it's hard to believe that this specific problem or hurt can be changed, trust me, better yet, trust HIM to do a good work in your life. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, think back to other things in your life that He has brought you through with victory. "Whoever is wise will remember these things and will think about the love of the Lord." Psalm 107:43 Remember. If you don't have a relationship with Jesus and are waiting for Him to move. Cry out to Him. He will meet you where you are at. Believe.

You may not be waiting at the boat dock for a ticket, but metaphorically you may be. Waiting for God to provide that ticket. A ticket to healing, a ticket to restoration, a ticket to freedom. Go. Ask. Wait. Pray.
 

Check out this video -- this reflect my heart in this blog (And gave me the idea for the title of this post!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=New8i_eX3x8

The past....present...future

As I sit overwhelmed with God's love for me and all the wonderful things He has blessed my life with I cannot help but look back to all of the trials He has carried me through, the restoration He has brought to my life, and to so many of the lives around me. The testimony of God's love and power is all around us; its undeniable.

 I cannot help but look back and thank God for the people that were in my life for a short time as well, that have left this earth. When I look back I realize I used to WISH I could go back, and I would miss them SO much that my heart would stay still in a place of grief. But as John Foreman talks about in one of his songs, "we can't go back". And after all, why would I want to? We are meant for a world beyond the one we live in and see. So, what a milestone this is for me, that "I have my heart set on what happens next..." just as John Foreman sings about.

"And now after all my searching, my questions...I got a brand new mindset...I'm gonna call it home..."

I'm looking forward to heaven, but also realizing that I am where I belong. My heart where God resides, is home. For someone who has moved more than 18 times in her life, to say that my heart is home, here with God (wherever I may find myself) is a HUGE milestone. I have always striven for a place to call home, to REALLY call HOME -- but all this time it was like reaching for a hand full of sand; it just slips through my hand. To be AT HOME with God's love in my heart is where true peace lies. After all, a physical home is a lovely thought (and a blessing to many) -- but it's temporary. 

I am so blessed and grateful for the restoration of God. Although I have many good memories in the past, I wouldn't go back. For I am enjoying the here and now, and think the future, whatever it holds, will be pretty cool too. For God is there.

Step by Step

As I reflect on my friendship with a dear friend who passed away last week, 

I cannot help but think of her as I hear these lyrics ...

"Be strong in the Lord, never give up hope...God's got his hand on you, so don't live life in fear. 

Take time and pray. His Love will find a way. These are the words I would say..." Side walk prophets

http://youtu.be/Q_pDmcQu06U

I find comfort in these lyrics at this time. Even though I cannot imagine my life without her, I cannot deny God has his hand on my life, especially in this difficult time. I also find comfort that He holds her close to Him...Finally out of pain, away from the trials of this life on earth, and in the presence of Joy evermore.

His love has brought me through many trials in the past, through losses of loved ones, through dark territories of my heart that I thought would have gone forever untouched,so I know this is just another 

He will also carry me through.

Step by step.

 I am grateful for all of those in my life that have been praying and who are coming along side of me to lift my spirits, and also those that are allowing me to just cry on their shoulder. I am blessed that I don't have to go through this alone.

I will miss my friend Caroline--I won't pretend I am not grieving, tears come, anger comes, loss haunts me...but I pray that my focus will continue to come back to all I have to be thankful for, for her friendship and love, and how my life was changed because of her. I am also comforted that I will see her again. For anyone reading this, remember to tell those around you that you love them, and take every moment you can to spend that quality time with those you love. Because you never know when it will be taken away.

Life is precious and we only get one shot at it, so... 

"Be strong in the Lord, never give up hope...God's got his hand on you, so don't live life in fear. 

Take time and pray. His Love will find a way. These are the words I would say..." Side walk prophets

http://youtu.be/Q_pDmcQu06U