"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."
Perseverance... not an easy task sometimes, well really not easy any time is it? The very definition of perseverance is 1. steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement. 2. (Theology) continuance in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation.
Earlier this year I was watering one of my flower beds. I had already spread mulch down a few days earlier and was pleased to see some of the plants that I had planted in years past springing up through the mulch ready to showcase their beauty again this year. But there was a little area that I knew that at the very end of the fall season last year in a last ditch effort to see if anything would come of it, I threw a mum that I really felt was already dead and gone in the ground and covered it up. I really didn't expect it to do much because I had let it die after it provided fall decoration for my front porch, but what did I have to lose? To my amazement there was a tiny patch of green coming up through the mulch where I had planted the mum. I wasn't sure at first if it was the mum or I had yet another weed thriving ready to drive me crazy throughout the growing season. But I kept watering and as I continued to watch, sure enough that little mum sprung back to life. I don't know how it did it... it was neglected, depleted of any moisture and pretty much discarded but it persevered. That little plant decided it still had life in it and I can't wait to see it bloom this fall as it was so big and beautiful last year before I thought I killed it.
That mum reflects to me how we sometimes give up on things in our life that matter because things become difficult, obstacles occur and little encouragement do we receive from one another to persevere. But somehow, the living water of the sweet Holy Spirit wells up within us and spills out providing the strength we need to press through and keep up the fight. We push through whatever is tossed on us and we grow inspite of it, maybe even because of it. Maybe it was one little word by a friend, a stranger or maybe even hearing the whisper from our savior telling us... be steady under trial, stand the test... the crown of life is just ahead, hold on!
Do you feel that the trial you are going through today is just too much, that you can't stand the test? Have you prayed and felt your prayers go unanswered and that you can't make it? Persevere... there is reward in your efforts and they don't go unnoticed. God will see you through whatever is burying you, trying to take the very life he's given you away. Remember the second definition, "continuance in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation." Walk in grace, walk with your head held high knowing that sometimes the journey is difficult and others may toss us aside giving us up as a loss but we have a Savior who never does. He holds the watering can to restore us, to allow us to bloom again and show the world what it looks like to withstand the trial and come out stronger.
Blessings,
Heather
Monday, July 30, 2012
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Do I have your attention now?, James 4:7-10
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up."
So did this passage get your attention? How did it make you feel, at peace or convicted? I think that's point, to open our eyes and remind us that our lives are not our own. All we have, all we do belongs to our God even the joy, the laughter, the mourning and the gloom. It is all his for we are all his.
The past couple of weeks have been an uphill climb for a precious family that I hold near to heart and in deepest prayer. However, three young people's lives were forever impacted by a single moment, a single accident that will forever change them in some way. God has been merciful and he has given them each a new day and reminded their families of the gift they have in each of them. When I went to see the mother of the one young lady, Katy, you could see the pain in her face. I felt the pain in her heart as she stood powerless in a hospital waiting room having to give all control over to the doctors to save her little girl. I remember one of the first things she said to me in that hospital... "this was God's way of getting my attention wasn't it Heather, He's got it." Cosmic two by fours are so difficult and we don't understand them but in all things the scripture tells us that he has a plan and a purpose. It's hard to see that and understand that when we are in the middle of our crisis but if we look close enough, if we listen hard enough we see him and we hear him comforting us and drawing us near to him.
My girlfriend has for the longest time, maybe always, been a believer. Her children were raised in the church, they've learned hard lessons in life but they have incredible faith. During this time of Katy's recovery, that faith has been tested but not once have they given up on the healing power of God or on knowing that he is always with them. Nicole and I were standing in prayer claiming healing over Katy's broken body, there was such a sweet peace in that room because we knew without a doubt that she'd come through and we'd see her open those beautiful eyes and once again smart off to us. Ooohh, how many times in the past has that been an annoyance but when you think it could have been the last time it's really all you want to hear... you want to hear the fight in that amazing girl lying there and fighting is what she is doing, she's coming back from her time of rest in the father's arms and he's giving her back to all those who love her so that we know who he is and what he can do when we draw close to him. He doesn't have to be in the miracle business, he chooses us, he sets us apart and when we are humbled... he lifts us up. While in that room as Nic and I were holding hands finished in prayer and talking with Katy about how she was a light, a superstar... the lights in the room came on. No one was there to turn those lights on but God was there, that light that we all see in our Katy is the very light God placed in her and at that moment he reminded us.
Katy has a great story to tell when she wakes, a wonderful testimony of how God sent angels to watch over her, to find her and to get her in the care of healers. God began healing Katy instantly through the touch of others around her and the prayers of the faithful lifting her up. I pray we never forget that God wants our attention on him, not all the drama that can bring us down. "Come near to God and he will come near to you."
Please continue to lift Katy and her family in prayer. She still has a lot of healing to do, the family needs strength and encouragement. I pray today as I wrap up this blog, that all say a thank you to a very loving God for the blessing of knowing this young lady and being part of her miraculous story. Don't give up, even when life seems to come crashing down and throws you for the count... YOU have a God that doesn't give up and he loves you with an everlasting love. All you have to do, call on him, believe in him and accept him as Lord and Savior of your life. Katy will one day tell you that it's the greatest thing she ever chose to do.
Blessings,
Heather
(Katy... when the day comes that you can read this for yourself, know that you dear one have touched many lives. ~~ Love you, Mama2)
So did this passage get your attention? How did it make you feel, at peace or convicted? I think that's point, to open our eyes and remind us that our lives are not our own. All we have, all we do belongs to our God even the joy, the laughter, the mourning and the gloom. It is all his for we are all his.
The past couple of weeks have been an uphill climb for a precious family that I hold near to heart and in deepest prayer. However, three young people's lives were forever impacted by a single moment, a single accident that will forever change them in some way. God has been merciful and he has given them each a new day and reminded their families of the gift they have in each of them. When I went to see the mother of the one young lady, Katy, you could see the pain in her face. I felt the pain in her heart as she stood powerless in a hospital waiting room having to give all control over to the doctors to save her little girl. I remember one of the first things she said to me in that hospital... "this was God's way of getting my attention wasn't it Heather, He's got it." Cosmic two by fours are so difficult and we don't understand them but in all things the scripture tells us that he has a plan and a purpose. It's hard to see that and understand that when we are in the middle of our crisis but if we look close enough, if we listen hard enough we see him and we hear him comforting us and drawing us near to him.
My girlfriend has for the longest time, maybe always, been a believer. Her children were raised in the church, they've learned hard lessons in life but they have incredible faith. During this time of Katy's recovery, that faith has been tested but not once have they given up on the healing power of God or on knowing that he is always with them. Nicole and I were standing in prayer claiming healing over Katy's broken body, there was such a sweet peace in that room because we knew without a doubt that she'd come through and we'd see her open those beautiful eyes and once again smart off to us. Ooohh, how many times in the past has that been an annoyance but when you think it could have been the last time it's really all you want to hear... you want to hear the fight in that amazing girl lying there and fighting is what she is doing, she's coming back from her time of rest in the father's arms and he's giving her back to all those who love her so that we know who he is and what he can do when we draw close to him. He doesn't have to be in the miracle business, he chooses us, he sets us apart and when we are humbled... he lifts us up. While in that room as Nic and I were holding hands finished in prayer and talking with Katy about how she was a light, a superstar... the lights in the room came on. No one was there to turn those lights on but God was there, that light that we all see in our Katy is the very light God placed in her and at that moment he reminded us.
Katy has a great story to tell when she wakes, a wonderful testimony of how God sent angels to watch over her, to find her and to get her in the care of healers. God began healing Katy instantly through the touch of others around her and the prayers of the faithful lifting her up. I pray we never forget that God wants our attention on him, not all the drama that can bring us down. "Come near to God and he will come near to you."
Please continue to lift Katy and her family in prayer. She still has a lot of healing to do, the family needs strength and encouragement. I pray today as I wrap up this blog, that all say a thank you to a very loving God for the blessing of knowing this young lady and being part of her miraculous story. Don't give up, even when life seems to come crashing down and throws you for the count... YOU have a God that doesn't give up and he loves you with an everlasting love. All you have to do, call on him, believe in him and accept him as Lord and Savior of your life. Katy will one day tell you that it's the greatest thing she ever chose to do.
Blessings,
Heather
(Katy... when the day comes that you can read this for yourself, know that you dear one have touched many lives. ~~ Love you, Mama2)
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