DTR

 

It’s a girl thing. We want that special guy we’ve been dating to define the relationship. Are we dating exclusively? Am I your girlfriend? Can I call you my boyfriend? Our perception: The time we’re spending together has the potential to be something good, but we need some clarification. It’s just the way we’re wired.

Jesus left no doubt. He clearly defined the relationship He wants with us.

“I know your deeds, that you are neither hot or cold. I wish you were either one or the other. So because you are lukewarm neither hot nor cold I’m about to spit you out of my mouth.” Revelations 3:15-16

How would you define your relationship with Jesus? The status of your heavenly relationship is crucial to every other relationship in your life. The dissolution of your parents’ marriage may have you in a tailspin and maybe you’re confused or angry with God.  This is understandable. Heartbreak is unique for everyone and there isn’t a miracle prescription to make you feel better. How do you ask for God’s help when there are no words? Apostle Paul gave us clear instruction in Romans 8:26. “In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans words cannot express.” Romans 8:26

Approach God in reverence and let the Holy Spirit intercede for you during this difficult time.

Encouragement:

Pain and confusion can easily turn us away from God. Ask Him to help you if you’re tempted to say or do anything out of revenge or anger and He will protect you. Make sure you let Jesus know you want a relationship with Him and ask for forgiveness if you’ve been slack in your relationship. Carve out time with Him every day. Then live in gratitude knowing the healing process has begun.

Know I’m praying for you,

Sherry

 

 

The Promise

Ally felt betrayed. Her father, the man she had loved unreservedly, was going to leave. When he pulled her aside that morning and broke the new, Ally had been too shocked to do much other than stand with her mouth open. Now she went back up to her bedroom, lay on her bed, and cried into her pillow. How could he? She had trusted him with her secrets and her love. She had never even considered the possibility that he would not always be in the same house with her.

Although the story of Ally is fictional, most of us probably felt much of what she did when we learned that our parents were getting a divorce. Sorrow, confusion, and betrayal. Had all of their words been empty promises?

Maybe you have had a hard time trusting anyone since then. Maybe you have even questioned if it’s worth it to rely on people. But there is one person who will always keeps his promises no matter how large the promise or improbable the situation. Not only will God do what he says, but he will do it beyond what we could ever expect! Look at this verse talking about Abraham. “No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised” (Romans 4:20-21).

In the coming weeks I will explore some of the specific promises that God has made to each of us. For now, know that God will NEVER break his word. His word is what created the universe in the first place, and it’s what sustains it right now. Pour your trust into Him, because he is always worthy of more.

Can you think of a specific time in your life where God has kept his promise to you? Are you waiting for him to keep one? Tell me about it by leaving a comment!

His Beauty in Disguise

Psalm 138:7-8

“Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me. The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; your love O Lord, endures forever- do not abandon the works of your hands.”

Have you ever had one of those “Aha” moments? When things suddenly shift into focus and you see God’s work all throughout your life?

For the first time in a long time, you are able to see that the pain, the hurt, and the brokenness have all been a part of God’s perfect plan for you.  You realize that life isn’t about dealing and coping with the painfulness of your situation, but rather seeking to find God’s presence throughout this difficult season of your life.

If you come from a divorced home, my guess is that you rarely get the opportunity to see or speak with others who are experiencing or have experienced far greater pain than yourself. You might find yourself thinking that your life is the most difficult… that everyone else has it so easy… or no one will ever understand how hard it is to trust that God has your situation under control.

I fall into this  trap so frequently. It is a constant struggle to remind myself  not to become paralyzed by my current circumstances; to remind myself that there is hope in my situation and that God is undoubtedly on my side.

I recently met a young woman who lost her sister at age 13 to a rare form of cancer. Now, almost 12 years later, her father was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

This young woman has suffered such incredible loss throughout her young life, and now to be hit again with the reality that she could also lose her dad to this terrible disease is more than one should ever have to bare. As she shared her story with me, I couldn’t help but ask, “Do you ever struggle with your anger towards God for all that He has allowed to happen to your family?” She smiled back at me, and with tears in her eyes she replied, “Not for one minute…yes, we have had to face a great darkness, but we have seen God’s presence in our pain time and time again. We have never, ever doubted His plan.”

God never promised that this life would be easy, but rest assured, He did promise that He will hold our hand the entire way through.

I pray that God will bless you with your own “Aha” moment this week, and that you will be able to undeniably identify His work in your life.

The New vs. Old

So…its 20 days into a new year. Supposedly there is something special about being able to start afresh. In the new year we can choose to do things differently, right?  We could choose to evoke resolutions that we want to happen in our lives. Let’s just be real, those things never last. Two weeks after I resolve to wake up every morning and run, I stop. If its not a habit, then it probably won’t become one unless I try very hard. I heard on the news that a habit doesn’t fully form until you do it for 6 months consistently. 6 months is a long time!!!! LOL.

So what do I do with it all? All being my life and all of its contents: everything I want to change, every uncomfortable characteristic, every unfulfilled relationship, every heartache, and every deferred hope. How can everything be new if the old still exists?

One thing I am learning about my relationship with Jesus is that He is so willing to wait until I give Him an opportunity to work. I can try, try, try and try until I am blue in the face and black in the feet. But something overwhelmingly breaks like a snapped bungee cord and smashes me down to reality when I stop trying and rest. Jesus says: “Live in me, and I will live in you. A branch cannot produce any fruit by itself. It has to stay attached to the vine. In the same way, you cannot produce fruit unless you live in me.” (John 15:4)

When we live in Him, we give Him space to open doors of limitless possibilities for us.

I am reminded of the scripture that says:

“Remember not the former things,
nor consider the things of old.
Behold, I am doing a new thing;
now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness
and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:18-19)

Clearly, God is making a point here. He is going to do something new…fresh..lively..invigorating in the lives of His people. Is this the same God I follow? Yeppers. He can do new things for me too! YAY

I’m finding that there are very few times (maybe never) in my walk with God that He is dependent upon me to accomplish something. The only effort I put forth is to trust Him to make and re-make all that pertains to me.

So… this year, He’ll be my resolution.

I resolve to be open to Christ and to allow Him to… do what He does best. Will you?

 

My Provider

Low Tire Pressure, read the speedometer. “Oh great,” I thought. “What does that mean? A flat tire?” This summer I had been interning at NASA and living with my grandparents. They had generously lent me the car that I was now driving back to my office from a meeting on the NASA campus. “Too bad I never learned how to pump up a tire…” I parked the car in the first parking space I could find and walked the rest of the way to my office. I didn’t know exactly what the message meant, but I wanted to be sure not to do extra damage.

Of course, no one answered the phone at my grandparents house. I put down the receiver. “God, you’ve got this under control. You have always taken care of me before, and I know you’ll do it again. I need to get some more of my assignment done before it’s time to go home in a couple hours. Please send someone that knows how to help me!” Then I returned to the work I had been doing.

About forty-five minutes later, I suddenly had the idea to post my dilemma on the NASA intern discussion forum. To my relief, a friend replied just a few minutes later to say that there was a service garage on campus about a mile from my office! It should be okay to drive that far. “Thank you, God!” I grabbed my keys and walked back to my car. The garage looked deserted except for two men in the parking lot. “Um, excuse me,” I asked, “a warning light just came on and says that my tires have low air pressure. Would either of you know how to put air in them?”

The first one answered, “Oh, we actually don’t work here – we just came to look around. But if you pull your car into the building we’ll see what we can do.” Ten minutes later my tires were eight pounds heavier and I was able to drive home. God had provided again.

Do you worry about the future? That you or your family will have what you need? Divorce can cause a lot of uncertainty about where you will live, where your family’s income will come from, and what life in general will look like. But in the midst of all that uncertainty, you can rest on the fact that God has promised to provide for his children. He knows what you need and will always provide a way. Put your trust in your Lord who never fails.

Leave a comment and tell us, have there been times in your life when you have had to rely on God to get you through? How do you remind yourself that he will provide?