Hope deferred makes the heart sick... -Proverbs 13:12 (AMP)
Have you ever felt like you were on a roller coaster ride of emotions? At times I have been on that roller coaster going from hopeful to hopelessness and back again. I have been thinking a lot lately about hope deferred and how it makes the heart sick.
I think that the life of Sarai turned to Sarah is a perfect example of hope deferred, or delayed.
Sarai waited for over a decade for God to give her the son that He had promised to her. She waited and waited for her promise to be fulfilled yet remained barren. Talk about hope deferred, waiting each month for ten years only to find out that the time was not yet.
Sarai's hope deferred was so great that she began to blame God and decided to take matters into her own hands. She told her husband to sleep with her maid so that the maid could act as a surrogate mother. Oh the joy that must have come at the birth of that child...but it did not last long. Because that was not the plan that God had from the beginning, the joy soon turned to strife as the women could not get along.
Thankfully we serve a God who sees us not with the imperfections that we have, but as who He has destined us to become. He saw Sarai not as "Sarai - noble woman" but as "Sarah - princess". Her Father the King of Kings returned to her and promised once again that she would bear Abraham's child. Sarah laughed at that for she knew that the time for her to bear children had long passed...but God's plan was still valid.
Look at the second half of the proverb that I started with.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick,
but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.
-Proverbs 13:12 (AMP)
God has placed desires in each of our hearts, but how do we open the door for Him to fulfill that desire? We open the door by faith.
God says that Faith is:
The assurance, confirmation, and the title deed of the things we hope for.
The proof of things we do not see.
The conviction of their reality.
It perceives as real fact what is not revealed to the senses.
-Hebrews 11:1 (AMP)
One thing that we know to be true is that God will never leave us or forsake us. (Hebrew 13:5) God will always be there for us especially in the middle of our worst trials. Hope displaced can crush us if we expect God to stop the trial immediately and fix the situation. Our hearts can leap for joy as we see a small crack in the clouds above, then sink to our stomachs as darker clouds move in. If we expected God to end the storm, He appears to have failed us. If we expect God to remain with us in the storm, He has kept His promise to never leave us.
I have told you these things so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.
John 16:33
Place your hope in God today and remember His promise to never leave us.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Friday, August 6, 2010
Strength And Dignity Are Her Clothing
Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure...
- Proverb 31:25 (AMP)
I would love for my Heavenly Father to say that about me. Wouldn't you love for your Heavenly Father to say that about you. That is what we all want, right?
But, the thing to remember is that we are not fighting against flesh and blood in this life. So the strength that we will need to accomplish God's will is not physical.
Ephesians 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
I do a lot in a week's time. I manage to raise three children, hold down a part time job outside the home, and help my husband keep his own business afloat. However, that is not where my true strength and value lies. And it is a good thing too, because some weeks I just don't get it all done!
...a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, "Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me." But the Lord said to her, "My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her." - Luke 10:38-42 (NLT)
Jesus taught this truth to Martha over two thousand years ago. But it is just as true today. The woman God describes in Proverb 31 understands this.
She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task]...- Proverbs 31:17 (AMP)
How much time do you spend girding yourself spiritually for the daily tasks that God gives you? Time sitting at His feet, just like Mary did.
Sometimes, it's easy to be so busy running around doing things for God, that you forget all He really wants is your heart. God’s desire from the beginning of time has been to walk and talk with us, for His presence to be our constant source of comfort and strength.
The thing is, I can really relate to what God wants…
Sometimes you may hear me complain about the hours that Joe spends at work trying to provide for us. Sometimes I feel like he works so much that there is no time left over for us. I don’t know if you can relate to this or not but sometimes I feel like I would rather have time alone with my husband than to have him constantly working - even though I know that he is working for my sake.
God feels the same way about us. He would rather have time alone with the one He loves, than all of our work - Even when the work we are doing is really for Him.
Just as it is only in the time that Joe and I spend alone nourishing our relationship that we grow as a couple, it is only in that time we as women spend alone communing with God that He can give us the strength that we will need to be the women He designed us to be.
I am still searching to find that strength and beauty that God has hidden inside of me. I am learning that it is in the time that I spend laying at His feet in fellowship with Him that He can truly clothe me in strength and dignity.
Find some time today to pour yourself into His word and give God time alone to speak with you.
- Proverb 31:25 (AMP)
I would love for my Heavenly Father to say that about me. Wouldn't you love for your Heavenly Father to say that about you. That is what we all want, right?
But, the thing to remember is that we are not fighting against flesh and blood in this life. So the strength that we will need to accomplish God's will is not physical.
Ephesians 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
I do a lot in a week's time. I manage to raise three children, hold down a part time job outside the home, and help my husband keep his own business afloat. However, that is not where my true strength and value lies. And it is a good thing too, because some weeks I just don't get it all done!
...a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, "Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me." But the Lord said to her, "My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her." - Luke 10:38-42 (NLT)
Jesus taught this truth to Martha over two thousand years ago. But it is just as true today. The woman God describes in Proverb 31 understands this.
She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task]...- Proverbs 31:17 (AMP)
How much time do you spend girding yourself spiritually for the daily tasks that God gives you? Time sitting at His feet, just like Mary did.
Sometimes, it's easy to be so busy running around doing things for God, that you forget all He really wants is your heart. God’s desire from the beginning of time has been to walk and talk with us, for His presence to be our constant source of comfort and strength.
The thing is, I can really relate to what God wants…
Sometimes you may hear me complain about the hours that Joe spends at work trying to provide for us. Sometimes I feel like he works so much that there is no time left over for us. I don’t know if you can relate to this or not but sometimes I feel like I would rather have time alone with my husband than to have him constantly working - even though I know that he is working for my sake.
God feels the same way about us. He would rather have time alone with the one He loves, than all of our work - Even when the work we are doing is really for Him.
Just as it is only in the time that Joe and I spend alone nourishing our relationship that we grow as a couple, it is only in that time we as women spend alone communing with God that He can give us the strength that we will need to be the women He designed us to be.
I am still searching to find that strength and beauty that God has hidden inside of me. I am learning that it is in the time that I spend laying at His feet in fellowship with Him that He can truly clothe me in strength and dignity.
Find some time today to pour yourself into His word and give God time alone to speak with you.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
The View Of Me
This past week I have had a bit of identity crisis.
Twice in one day last week, perfect strangers walked up to me and said, "Do I know you from somewhere?" After responding that I was not sure, they both made the same statement..."I know, you must be Travis Godley's daughter!" I am not sure how they came to that conclusion, but I guess I am a lot more like my Dad than I care to admit.
Then there was what happened in church this morning. Our pastor is out on vacation so we had a fill in minister. He and his wife sat in my Sunday School class before Worship Service. I am sure that I gave him my name as we introduced ourselves. However, during his sermon he wanted to mention something I had said in class, so he referred to me not by my name, but by "Little Joe's Wife." It was pretty funny at the time, but got me thinking nonetheless.
I am viewed differently depending on who is looking. To some people I am Travis Godley's daughter. To some I am Little Joe's wife. To some people I am nothing more than a stranger passing on the street. To three little boys I am Momma and to my husband I am wife. All of these people view me in different light, but how does God view me? What name would He greet me by?
John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
God calls me His child.
John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
God calls me His friend.
1 Thessalonians 1:4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,
God calls me chosen.
Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
God calls me a citizen of heaven.
No matter how anyone else in this world sees me, God thinks I am pretty great. He loves me, He chose me, He sent His Son to die for me, and He has given me a home in Heaven. He calls me His child...and that is the only identity that really matters.
Twice in one day last week, perfect strangers walked up to me and said, "Do I know you from somewhere?" After responding that I was not sure, they both made the same statement..."I know, you must be Travis Godley's daughter!" I am not sure how they came to that conclusion, but I guess I am a lot more like my Dad than I care to admit.
Then there was what happened in church this morning. Our pastor is out on vacation so we had a fill in minister. He and his wife sat in my Sunday School class before Worship Service. I am sure that I gave him my name as we introduced ourselves. However, during his sermon he wanted to mention something I had said in class, so he referred to me not by my name, but by "Little Joe's Wife." It was pretty funny at the time, but got me thinking nonetheless.
I am viewed differently depending on who is looking. To some people I am Travis Godley's daughter. To some I am Little Joe's wife. To some people I am nothing more than a stranger passing on the street. To three little boys I am Momma and to my husband I am wife. All of these people view me in different light, but how does God view me? What name would He greet me by?
John 1:12 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
God calls me His child.
John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
God calls me His friend.
1 Thessalonians 1:4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,
God calls me chosen.
Philippians 3:20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,
God calls me a citizen of heaven.
No matter how anyone else in this world sees me, God thinks I am pretty great. He loves me, He chose me, He sent His Son to die for me, and He has given me a home in Heaven. He calls me His child...and that is the only identity that really matters.
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