This may sound harsh but, I consider my present living conditions a pit. I live in a rental property and I am not happy about my living situation. I moved here three years ago and I know that God brought me here. Having made that clear now let me give you my testimony about this pit.
When we first arrived in this house we encountered plumbing problems. Then the kitchen cabinets wore out. We are without a few working shelves and drawers. The windows don’t open and close properly and several are missing screens. I could go on forever about the repair work that is needed here. The bottom line is I have spent the last 3 years despising the house, the neighborhood, and the circumstances surrounding how long we must remain here. I have spent a great deal of time complaining about this pit and whining about how long it will take God to move us from here to somewhere better.
Recently, I decided to stop complaining about my struggles and to focus on seeing God everywhere in them. I want to learn something new about Him in all that I experience. I started with my pit because this morning I was complaining…. again. I got in the shower (For those who have never heard me say this…God talks to me in the shower)…As the hot water beat on my tired body I began to pray. I asked God to move me to a better place but this time I also asked him to show me where he is in this situation. Like always, he answered.
He reminded me of Joseph. Joseph began his journey with the Lord from a pit. His pit was empty and had no water. (Gen 37:24). In the pit, Joseph was left and his brothers thought he would die there. But God had a plan to deliver him and use him. As I recalled the story I compared my current house and living conditions to Joseph’s “pit”. For me this house is empty and has no life giving water… (Even the water outside does not work)
If you know follow the story, you find God’s hand on Joseph until he got to the palace. While in the shower God showed me his hand on my life even in this pit.
A few things I noticed:
1. God taught me how to fight for my children using the weapon of His word. My middle daughter hates her bedroom. She complains of bad dreams and fears that someone is coming to “get her”. I posted psalm 91 over her bed. We pray it every night. We play the Bible on CD in her room at night and I spend many nights praying over her.
2. God showed me the importance of teaching my children to pray. They must be able to seek God for themselves. My son sleeps next door to his sister and often wants to protect her. I hung a framed prayer written by my father over his bed. It is entitled “Mother’s Teach Your Son’s To Pray” by Hailey Bernard Ellis. By age 3 he could pray openly and with great faith for our family.
3. God humbled me. Our house is very outdated. Many things are broken and need repair. I pointed out every one of them. I wanted my husband to feel guilty enough to hurry up and move us. Then the recession hit. I heard about families who lost homes. I knew several. They would be glad to live in mine. I was convicted and humbled.
4. God still blessed me.
I recognize some of my daughter’s spiritual gifts.
My children now turn to God when they are afraid.
I have been delivered from a huge bag of spiritual bondage.
I have been freed from some unhealthy friendships.
My husband has been freed from strongholds.
My husband has been freed from past hurts.
I can see my husband’s determination to have the best for us.
My children are flourishing in school and developing godly character.
5. God has shown me gratitude. My pit has 4 bedrooms, 2 full bathrooms, a finished basement, and space for my children to play. The “Wives On Purpose Ministry” meets here each month, and I have even entertained 29 people for a sit down Christmas Eve dinner. All in this pit! Not so bad after all right?
6. God reminded me of that he is sovereign (above all else). If I continued to despise the place where I live then I am despising the God who brought me here.
7. God gave me another chance to worship Him. In the shower I began to give thanks and praise for all I had received in the pit. No harm had come to me. Major appliances were working. My family is closer because we have survived some hard times. We are all growing in Christ Jesus.
Today I can see clearly the blessings I received while in a pit and I am standing still to see the salvation of the Lord… Because I know that Joseph went from his pit to the palace…. Palace here I come!!!!
Are you in a pit of yoru own?
Where have you seen God's hand?
If would like to share your thoughts and do not have a blog click on comments and choose anonymous from the drop down menu . You may leave your name in your comment if you'd like.
I love to hear your thoughts.
Lisa
10/22/2009
Write It All Down
Today is a great for me because I can praise God for his promises! I suppose I should feel that way every day, but many days I praise because God is worthy… not because I feel like it. Today is different. It is different because of what I read.
Last night I read my journal entries and sermon notes from the entire year. I read my life’s story until I found myself reading the New Year’s Eve sermon notes from 2007 http://www.fbcglenarden.org/ . That is when I began a new journey with the Lord.
I cannot begin to tell you all that has happened in me, my family and my life since 2007. That really does not matter. What does matter is that I share with you how it gave me the praise I have today. You see God gave me a word in 2007. The verses preached and my journal entries spoke to my heart and I wrote them down. I lived through 2007 and 2008 listening to God and writing the messages down. I have recorded prayers, devotions, and promises. God made me some promises.
A few weeks ago, I decided to list all of the recent promises God made to me. I wrote 3 pages in my journal! Last night, I read them too and my heart pounded fast and I got so excited. My insides were tingling as I realized that God was doing some great things FOR ME!!!! He had promised!
I could not have read these things last night if I had not written it all down. (Three years of living in three notebooks). My mind gets bogged down with living day to day. My body gets tired and my emotions make me weary. I must write in order to hear the Word clearly, gain understanding, and renew my hope. I believe in a journal.
Today I can rejoice and sing a new song because of what I wrote.
Today I can go to God and pray his word back to him.
Today I can stand and believe him for what he told me.
Today I can praise him for his promises!!!
Even if you are not a journal writer, please consider finding a way to write your story. Any kind of book will do. Just get in a quite place and write what you hear from God. Allow Him time with you. Give him a chance to speak to you. Write what he says and don’t forget the promises.
It will give you praise like never before. Don’t take my word for it…
Jeremiah 30:2 says Thus says the Lord God of Israel, write in a book for your self all the words that I have spoken to you (NKJV).
Praise God today for what he is doing in your life and in your marriage. He is worthy!
Lisa
Last night I read my journal entries and sermon notes from the entire year. I read my life’s story until I found myself reading the New Year’s Eve sermon notes from 2007 http://www.fbcglenarden.org/ . That is when I began a new journey with the Lord.
I cannot begin to tell you all that has happened in me, my family and my life since 2007. That really does not matter. What does matter is that I share with you how it gave me the praise I have today. You see God gave me a word in 2007. The verses preached and my journal entries spoke to my heart and I wrote them down. I lived through 2007 and 2008 listening to God and writing the messages down. I have recorded prayers, devotions, and promises. God made me some promises.
A few weeks ago, I decided to list all of the recent promises God made to me. I wrote 3 pages in my journal! Last night, I read them too and my heart pounded fast and I got so excited. My insides were tingling as I realized that God was doing some great things FOR ME!!!! He had promised!
I could not have read these things last night if I had not written it all down. (Three years of living in three notebooks). My mind gets bogged down with living day to day. My body gets tired and my emotions make me weary. I must write in order to hear the Word clearly, gain understanding, and renew my hope. I believe in a journal.
Today I can rejoice and sing a new song because of what I wrote.
Today I can go to God and pray his word back to him.
Today I can stand and believe him for what he told me.
Today I can praise him for his promises!!!
Even if you are not a journal writer, please consider finding a way to write your story. Any kind of book will do. Just get in a quite place and write what you hear from God. Allow Him time with you. Give him a chance to speak to you. Write what he says and don’t forget the promises.
It will give you praise like never before. Don’t take my word for it…
Jeremiah 30:2 says Thus says the Lord God of Israel, write in a book for your self all the words that I have spoken to you (NKJV).
Praise God today for what he is doing in your life and in your marriage. He is worthy!
Lisa
10/20/2009
When God Answers Your Prayers
As I live and pray and work for the Lord, I also struggle. I talk to God all day long about what he wants from me and what he wants to do through me. I ask him what’s next. I watch for him to show up all over the place and make every effort to welcome him into the most private places of my heart. I desire to live for Jesus but to successfully do so… I need prayer.
When I wake up in the morning to late to have devotions, I need prayer.
When I stay up all night with a sick child, I need prayer.
When I drift into the car ahead of me, I need prayer.
When my prayer partner goes on vacation and I think I cannot pray without her, I need prayer.
When I must treat an enemy like a friend, I need prayer.
When my house begins to literally fall down, I need prayer.
When I cannot utter my own prayer, I need prayer…..
Have you ever felt like this? I tell you this has been my life lately BUT…. when women pray God shows up! I have been the beneficiary of God’ presence because you have prayed….
In the last few days…
• God spent time with me at night because I was up late. He spoke when I read my Bible at 11:00 p.m. instead of 5:30 a.m.
• He healed my son of the fever, vomiting, and diarrhea in a few days instead of weeks.
• The car I drifted into was driven by a woman I know. Neither vehicle was damaged. She even asked if I was OK.
• While my prayer partner is on vacation and I have been able to pray for her trip, her family, and her blessings.
• God has made even my enemy bless me by sending a kind email
• He has also given me the promise of a new house
• A friend called just to let me know she was thinking of me
• Another friend sent an email that she had just finished praying for me
And just when I thought I was drained dry… I got on the Wives On Purpose conference call for marriage and those women prayed for my strength and renewal! God really does answer prayer. He has answered your prayers for me and I am grateful…
Our husbands need prayer too. What would happen in our marriages if we prayed for our husbands the same way? How often would we see God’s changing hand on their lives if we prayed for them every day? It sounds silly but we should try and remember our husbands in our daily prayers…The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17). We will see God answer…. Our husbands will be thankful just like me!
Lisa
When I wake up in the morning to late to have devotions, I need prayer.
When I stay up all night with a sick child, I need prayer.
When I drift into the car ahead of me, I need prayer.
When my prayer partner goes on vacation and I think I cannot pray without her, I need prayer.
When I must treat an enemy like a friend, I need prayer.
When my house begins to literally fall down, I need prayer.
When I cannot utter my own prayer, I need prayer…..
Have you ever felt like this? I tell you this has been my life lately BUT…. when women pray God shows up! I have been the beneficiary of God’ presence because you have prayed….
In the last few days…
• God spent time with me at night because I was up late. He spoke when I read my Bible at 11:00 p.m. instead of 5:30 a.m.
• He healed my son of the fever, vomiting, and diarrhea in a few days instead of weeks.
• The car I drifted into was driven by a woman I know. Neither vehicle was damaged. She even asked if I was OK.
• While my prayer partner is on vacation and I have been able to pray for her trip, her family, and her blessings.
• God has made even my enemy bless me by sending a kind email
• He has also given me the promise of a new house
• A friend called just to let me know she was thinking of me
• Another friend sent an email that she had just finished praying for me
And just when I thought I was drained dry… I got on the Wives On Purpose conference call for marriage and those women prayed for my strength and renewal! God really does answer prayer. He has answered your prayers for me and I am grateful…
Our husbands need prayer too. What would happen in our marriages if we prayed for our husbands the same way? How often would we see God’s changing hand on their lives if we prayed for them every day? It sounds silly but we should try and remember our husbands in our daily prayers…The Bible tells us to pray without ceasing (1 Thess 5:17). We will see God answer…. Our husbands will be thankful just like me!
Lisa
10/14/2009
One Crazy Morning
Some days it seems like life is crazy and I am going crazy too. Some days like today, I wonder how to hold on when everything and everyone has turned to chaos. Have you ever been there?
Yesterday, my daughter, Hailey, was out of school. We spent the entire day together. It was good bonding time only last night she wanted to sleep in my bed. After much debate and some tears, I got her to sleep in her own bed… BUT, I sat with her until she fell asleep. Yesterday, my son, Gavin, came home from preschool. He whined and fussed all evening. He was tired and worn out. Yesterday, my biggest girl, Rachel came home sad. The work load in 10th grade is getting the best of her and she is struggling to keep an “A” in all of her classes. Yesterday, all of my children needed MOMMY….
Last night, I settled them down. Hailey went to sleep at 9:30pm. Gavin fell asleep at 11:00p.m. Rachel was still awake doing homework when I fell asleep at 11:30 p.m. What a late night for us all. That was my yesterday.
The emotional pull from my children yesterday and the lack of sleep last night was draining on me. I needed time with God to be ready for today. Somebody please tell me why I was looking at both Hailey and Gavin at 5:00 a.m. They were climbing into my bed! They were trying to get to MOMMY….and Mommy was trying to get to God!
It was pure chaos getting ready for school this morning. Gone was my quiet time. Gone was my time of peace and gone was Daddy’s patience with us all.
After dropping the kids at school, I stopped the van and sat for a while. God is not a god of chaos! I tried to pray… that was full of chaos too… Have you ever felt that way?
I looked up at the sky. The clouds were puffy and white but the sky seemed gray. That is how I felt. I wanted to quote every scripture I knew. I wanted to praise God with a song. I wanted to be righteous. I look to hills where my help comes from. That was all that came out. Tears began to fall down my cheeks. Jesus help me!
Jesus, help me! Jesus, give me patience! Jesus, help me make it today! Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!
The tears fell as I started the van and headed for home. I drove and some verses came to mind. I began to sing “The Promise” by Y’anna Crawley. If you have never heard it, google her and listen. Her song will bless you.
I arrived home and sat some more. Jesus, help me today. My life seems crazy. I have so many things on my mind, but I am depending on you to be my help. Please be my peace. You are my God and there is none like you. I love you Lord and I trust you. Help me! I am counting on you and I believe you are able to do more than I can ask or think. Help me. I love you Lord in the midst of what seems like chaos. You are in control… I began to pray and praise my God.
My prayer seemed as jumbled then as it sounds now BUT… when life seems crazy and I feel crazy. I know my God still hears me. He hears you too…
If you have ever been here, share how you made it over. I would love to hear how God met you in a crazy moment.
Lisa
Yesterday, my daughter, Hailey, was out of school. We spent the entire day together. It was good bonding time only last night she wanted to sleep in my bed. After much debate and some tears, I got her to sleep in her own bed… BUT, I sat with her until she fell asleep. Yesterday, my son, Gavin, came home from preschool. He whined and fussed all evening. He was tired and worn out. Yesterday, my biggest girl, Rachel came home sad. The work load in 10th grade is getting the best of her and she is struggling to keep an “A” in all of her classes. Yesterday, all of my children needed MOMMY….
Last night, I settled them down. Hailey went to sleep at 9:30pm. Gavin fell asleep at 11:00p.m. Rachel was still awake doing homework when I fell asleep at 11:30 p.m. What a late night for us all. That was my yesterday.
The emotional pull from my children yesterday and the lack of sleep last night was draining on me. I needed time with God to be ready for today. Somebody please tell me why I was looking at both Hailey and Gavin at 5:00 a.m. They were climbing into my bed! They were trying to get to MOMMY….and Mommy was trying to get to God!
It was pure chaos getting ready for school this morning. Gone was my quiet time. Gone was my time of peace and gone was Daddy’s patience with us all.
After dropping the kids at school, I stopped the van and sat for a while. God is not a god of chaos! I tried to pray… that was full of chaos too… Have you ever felt that way?
I looked up at the sky. The clouds were puffy and white but the sky seemed gray. That is how I felt. I wanted to quote every scripture I knew. I wanted to praise God with a song. I wanted to be righteous. I look to hills where my help comes from. That was all that came out. Tears began to fall down my cheeks. Jesus help me!
Jesus, help me! Jesus, give me patience! Jesus, help me make it today! Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!
The tears fell as I started the van and headed for home. I drove and some verses came to mind. I began to sing “The Promise” by Y’anna Crawley. If you have never heard it, google her and listen. Her song will bless you.
I arrived home and sat some more. Jesus, help me today. My life seems crazy. I have so many things on my mind, but I am depending on you to be my help. Please be my peace. You are my God and there is none like you. I love you Lord and I trust you. Help me! I am counting on you and I believe you are able to do more than I can ask or think. Help me. I love you Lord in the midst of what seems like chaos. You are in control… I began to pray and praise my God.
My prayer seemed as jumbled then as it sounds now BUT… when life seems crazy and I feel crazy. I know my God still hears me. He hears you too…
If you have ever been here, share how you made it over. I would love to hear how God met you in a crazy moment.
Lisa
10/10/2009
A Matter of Trust
I wrote this to share with the women at New Song Bible Fellowship Church http://www.newsongbiblefellowship.org/ . I thought you might enjoy it too.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. Isn’t that what the writer of Proverbs said? (Proverbs 3:5). This verse is one of my favorites and I read it often. Why does it mean so much to me? I am glad you are curious enough to ask.
My husband’s grandfather, John C McLaughlin, was a wise man of God. He lived his life according to the scriptures because he spent his time getting to know Jesus. He was a remarkable man and I loved him. I called him “Daddy Mac”.
I spent many hours visiting with Daddy Mac and most of our conversations were dominated by talk about the Lord and reading the Bible. One day I asked Daddy Mac if I should return to college and finish my degree. He quoted this verse instead of offering his own opinion. It sounded like this “Lisa, just trust in the Lord. Don’t lean on your own understanding”. The next verse reads; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight (Proverbs. 3:6)
Is it really that simple? I wish I could say it was for me. The truth is often I don’t trust the Lord. When faced with a big decision or bad situation, I lean unto my own understanding. I waste time and energy trying to work it out. While I’m busy making plans, arrangements, and a big mess of my life, God is waiting to make my path straight.
After leaving Daddy Mac, I thought long and hard about the verse. (Some call it meditating on the word). Do I trust God enough to take me back to college? It had been a few years since I was a student. Could God work out paying for classes? How would I get the money and time off from work? There I was leaning unto my own understanding. I read the verse again and started to acknowledge Him. The God who made heaven and earth was telling me to return to school. The God who has all power in his hands would write my work schedule. The God who had provided all of my needs would pay for classes. He did not leave me nor forsake me and I graduated with honors.
My trust grew as I read and memorized the scripture. Now I trust Him with all my heart. I finally stopped leaning on my own understanding. I fully acknowledged Him in all of my ways and He really does direct my paths.
What about you? Is there any special verse directing your path right now?
I would love to hear about it. Share your comments and your verse below.
Many may be blessed by your story.
Lisa
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not unto your own understanding. Isn’t that what the writer of Proverbs said? (Proverbs 3:5). This verse is one of my favorites and I read it often. Why does it mean so much to me? I am glad you are curious enough to ask.
My husband’s grandfather, John C McLaughlin, was a wise man of God. He lived his life according to the scriptures because he spent his time getting to know Jesus. He was a remarkable man and I loved him. I called him “Daddy Mac”.
I spent many hours visiting with Daddy Mac and most of our conversations were dominated by talk about the Lord and reading the Bible. One day I asked Daddy Mac if I should return to college and finish my degree. He quoted this verse instead of offering his own opinion. It sounded like this “Lisa, just trust in the Lord. Don’t lean on your own understanding”. The next verse reads; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight (Proverbs. 3:6)
Is it really that simple? I wish I could say it was for me. The truth is often I don’t trust the Lord. When faced with a big decision or bad situation, I lean unto my own understanding. I waste time and energy trying to work it out. While I’m busy making plans, arrangements, and a big mess of my life, God is waiting to make my path straight.
After leaving Daddy Mac, I thought long and hard about the verse. (Some call it meditating on the word). Do I trust God enough to take me back to college? It had been a few years since I was a student. Could God work out paying for classes? How would I get the money and time off from work? There I was leaning unto my own understanding. I read the verse again and started to acknowledge Him. The God who made heaven and earth was telling me to return to school. The God who has all power in his hands would write my work schedule. The God who had provided all of my needs would pay for classes. He did not leave me nor forsake me and I graduated with honors.
My trust grew as I read and memorized the scripture. Now I trust Him with all my heart. I finally stopped leaning on my own understanding. I fully acknowledged Him in all of my ways and He really does direct my paths.
What about you? Is there any special verse directing your path right now?
I would love to hear about it. Share your comments and your verse below.
Many may be blessed by your story.
Lisa
10/06/2009
Just Say Thank You!
I woke up this morning sleepy as usual. I gathered my things and went downstairs. I am in the habit of sitting down with Jesus after I make coffee and gather my Bible, pen, journal, and devotional. Today, I couldn’t find my Bible. How do you sit down for devotion time and not have your Bible?
I was too sleepy to look for it and didn’t want to go back upstairs. I might wake up my son (then I would have no time at all). So...I sat there. I was still and the house was quiet. It was still dark outside and I could hear crickets chirping. I began to feel the presence of God. He showed up to sit with me!
I began to picture Jesus getting up on so many mornings. It was often still dark. The disciples were often still asleep. He just went away to be with the Father. He didn’t have a Bible either I began to chuckle. As I took a sip of coffee, I remembered:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God. (John 1:1-2)
Even without my bible, I was with God. The living Word of God was sitting with me on my couch. Then I remembered so many verses in my bible. I had indeed hidden the Word in my heart. I had Jesus. I had God with me!
All I could do was say THANK YOU!!!! I repeated it over and over again. As I thanked the Lord for being with me, many things came to mind. I just repeated Thank You:
• For loving me enough to be with me
• For coming to live inside of me
• For giving me another day to serve God
• For allowing me time to worship in my home
• For keeping my children asleep so I could be alone
• For holding back the time so I would not be late for school
• For giving me a family at all
• For giving me a heart for my husband
For… For… For ….
The list was endless so I just kept saying Thank You Lord. For being so good to me. Then I rememberd
His goodness will follow me all the days of my life. (Psalm 23:6). I was refreshed, blessed, and ready to face the day.
I finally stood up and asked the Lord to take control of my heart, my time, my life, and my day. I asenced the steps and woke up my children. As they dressed for school, I walked back into my room. I began to give my husband soft kisses. I kissed his cheeks, forehead, and chin. I kissed him until he woke up. When his eyes opened I looked up to the heavens and whispered THANK YOU all over again!
Some days we just gotta give thanks!
Lisa
I was too sleepy to look for it and didn’t want to go back upstairs. I might wake up my son (then I would have no time at all). So...I sat there. I was still and the house was quiet. It was still dark outside and I could hear crickets chirping. I began to feel the presence of God. He showed up to sit with me!
I began to picture Jesus getting up on so many mornings. It was often still dark. The disciples were often still asleep. He just went away to be with the Father. He didn’t have a Bible either I began to chuckle. As I took a sip of coffee, I remembered:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
He was in the beginning with God. (John 1:1-2)
Even without my bible, I was with God. The living Word of God was sitting with me on my couch. Then I remembered so many verses in my bible. I had indeed hidden the Word in my heart. I had Jesus. I had God with me!
All I could do was say THANK YOU!!!! I repeated it over and over again. As I thanked the Lord for being with me, many things came to mind. I just repeated Thank You:
• For loving me enough to be with me
• For coming to live inside of me
• For giving me another day to serve God
• For allowing me time to worship in my home
• For keeping my children asleep so I could be alone
• For holding back the time so I would not be late for school
• For giving me a family at all
• For giving me a heart for my husband
For… For… For ….
The list was endless so I just kept saying Thank You Lord. For being so good to me. Then I rememberd
His goodness will follow me all the days of my life. (Psalm 23:6). I was refreshed, blessed, and ready to face the day.
I finally stood up and asked the Lord to take control of my heart, my time, my life, and my day. I asenced the steps and woke up my children. As they dressed for school, I walked back into my room. I began to give my husband soft kisses. I kissed his cheeks, forehead, and chin. I kissed him until he woke up. When his eyes opened I looked up to the heavens and whispered THANK YOU all over again!
Some days we just gotta give thanks!
Lisa
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