WHY GOD? WHY?

In the past few days I have had many close friends say that it felt like life was pressing in on them.

In these situatuons,  I’ve turned to the word of God.
I’m not some wonderful bible scholar.. I totally cheat! I go to google, I type in my issue (fears, anger, whatever) add scripture to it, and it magically generates truth for me to read or share with others.

The last few times I have shared with friends in serious trouble my words seemed predelivered or better yet a friend said to me "You have no clue Heather. It is so easy to say things like that to someone but it is not easy for them to live it. Everything can't be generalized by common statements like that, you know what to say to someone who experienced the same pain you had. You had the ability to comfort them but you have no experience in this area.  We are still struggling with WHY." 


As I sit here in bed pondering the hurt of several friends,  I will agree I have no clue what the pain feels like to loose a mom in my teens, to loose a baby in my arms to an unexpected death, to come down with colon cancer with no notice, to loose my son to sin and drugs, to loose my husband in an accident. These are a few of my friends situations these days.

I can tell you it makes me feel a dark overwhelming feeling of ‘Your losing.. so just quit!’  Do you know that feeling?

Like you’re spinning your wheels, hitting road blocks or just can’t get your darn head on straight to focus?

Job in the bible lost everything. Remember a few paragraphs I said that I go back to Gods word.
This is what I discovered in the wee hours of the night. When I pondered the pain of my friends.

In the book of Job, in the Bible, Job asks the question WHY he has had to suffer the loss of his family, children, and health. God does answer, but Job cannot bear the answer.

 He is too small and God is too big! God speaks to him out of the whirlwind, (Job 40:1-5 NRSV) And the LORD said to Job: {2} "Shall a faultfinder contend with the Almighty? Anyone who argues with God must respond." {3} Then Job answered the LORD: {4} "See, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. {5} I have spoken once, and I will not answer; twice, but will proceed no further."

Again in (Job 42:2-3 NRSV) talking to God, "I know that you can do all things, and that they can thwart no purpose of yours . . . Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know."

The Bible tells us that we could not understand the answer, even if we received it!

Add to that, even if we could understand it, it would not help in our grief because they [those we lost] are no more.

The answer to the question why would do nothing to take away the sorrow and pain from the loss of our children or loved ones. Our cry why, is not to increase our divine knowledge but to take away the pain of our grief.
In reality we are not asking why after all. We are just using the word to cry out, "God take away the pain of my grief." "God it hurts so much to lose this child I loved so much." "God I hurt!" "Help me in my grief."

It is at this point that God offers us the answer to our true cry.

We stand at a turning point. Jesus Christ invites us to . . . (Matthew 11:28-30 NRSV) "Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. {29} Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. {30} For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

God's loving hand in Jesus Christ is saying "Come to me" and I will answer your true question, how can the pain go away.

Jesus said, (Matthew 5:4 NRSV) "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."

I have no answer to my friends grief and I have never came passed that pain in my story. However, I believe in Jesus and His power and truth. I will never understand and will never try to give my thoughts. It's to hard for me to comprehend.

I lay in my bed and the only thought I had for my friends was
JESUS  JESUS  JESUS.

It is only after we have been broken that He creates holes in us that allows His presence and blessing to fill those voids. All broken in differant ways. That I hate because some broken way more then others.

God will not give bread that has not been broken. Rejoice in the breaking because after the breaking comes blessing.

JESUS JESUS JESUS

 

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DO YOU HAVE A VISIONARY FRIEND IN YOUR LIFE?

As I was putting in my contacts this morning a thought came to mind...

I wear contacts to see things in a distance more clearly.

Honestly,without my corrected lens I would not be able to distinguish if I was looking at a cow or horse on the side of the road. I can make out cars but the individuals inside are nothing but blurry flesh and a large sign makes me squint till my eyes close.

With my contacts my vision is CRISP, FINE TUNED and full of FOCUS.

In a very similar way I need help to focus and fine tune my life and direction with God.

I tend to be a BIG DREAMER and many times my dreams are bigger then my current set of circumstance and many times everything in front opposes the dream.

Are you a BIG DREAMER?

Do you find your current set of circumstances opposing what God placed inside your heart?

When we have difficulty sorting out our dreams and desires due to a set of circumstances we need a leader an older dreamer to help us focus and make out what God has for us ahead in the distance.

JOSHUA was an amazing leader in the bible. He came up behind many younger dreamers and was able to lead them in their God victories. Joshua was a leader that was known for His ability to keep a clear vision for God and make clear what sat far off in the distance. Joshua was a VISIONARY!

Do you have a Joshua in your life?

Someone to be like a pair of contacts, once you put them on things seem crisp and more clear!


It's vital friends for us to search out someone known for their ability to keep a clear God vision for themselves and others.

I am grateful for those leaders in my life.

My dreams are moving forward into New and fresh opportunities. A true leader cares about what God is doing in your heart and helps clear your land so you can use your God given potential.

Do you believe you have the capacity for more but your vision is blurred by obstacles and challenges?

Relationships
Church Doctrine
People
Sin

These name just the start of a long list of obstacles and challenges. When a Joshua comes into your life they can help give you discernment and vision to move or change your current set of circumstances that seem to hold you back!

Today's verse I want to share with you is in JOSHUA Chapter 17.

¹⁵ “If you are so numerous,” Joshua answered, “and if the hill country of Ephraim is too small for you, go up into the forest and clear land for yourselves there in the land of the Perizzites and Rephaites.”
¹⁶ The people of Joseph replied, “The hill country is not enough for us, and all the Canaanites who live in the plain have chariots fitted with iron, both those in Beth Shan and its settlements and those in the Valley of Jezreel.”
¹⁷ But Joshua said to the tribes of Joseph—to Ephraim and Manasseh—“You are numerous and very powerful. You will have not only one allotment ¹⁸ but the forested hill country as well. Clear it, and its farthest limits will be yours; though the Canaanites have chariots fitted with iron and though they are strong, you can drive them out.”

Everything I have highlited in green is Joshua giving the younger a clearer vision and focus by helping them move forward in their set of circumstances!

I love that he encourages, spells out step by step what to do and gives hope for their future!

Do you have a Joshua in your life?

Friends, you are powerful and God has a great plan for your life. Do not settle for your current set of circumstances but rise above them and begin to CLEAR out what belongs to you in Christ Jesus!

Blessings,

CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST

TAKE A MOMENT TO REFLECT ON MATTHEW 27:32-54. THE CRUCIFICTION OF JESUS.

Jesus experienced hard times, the road to the cross was no small matter.

We need to believe that when we also go through sufferings the result will be GOOD. Jesus endured the cross because he seen the outcome in our individual lives and was satisfied.

The pain was crushing but the outcome was Good.

GOOD FRIDAY

To endure means to outlast the the devil and stay steadfast as you carry your cross, your circumstance. Stay focused as you let the trial do whatever its going to do in your life but you must know that God will take that bad thing and turn it to GOOD.

Allow your GOOD FRIDAY to be a reminder of the pain and hurt we come passed but remember the Passion of Christ was about the resurrection! We will all experience a Resurrection in our circumstances IF we love God and really desire his will for our lives. Please trust him this good Friday and allow his GOOD PLANS to take effect in your life.

Today Repent, Name those ugly sins that keep creeping into our lives because nobody is perfect!
These ugly sins crucified Him. Name them:  Gossip, your idols and angry heart, your lies, envy and pride. See what caused His stripes, Nail them to a tree in your mind. Die to the old you. Feel His wounds. Touch His pain, be washed with His blood.


Have you took time to be crucified with Christ today?

This Morning my kids asked if we could go shopping and I said yes. I was thinking we could get some Easter skirts and last minute things. I then remembered the importance of setting aside some time today to reflect on Gods goodness in spite of our selfishness.
Quickly I switched the day around and told the kids we would shop tomorrow.

Today we all laid our Cell phones in a basket for a few hours and just rested!

However,
the kids  decided to go help an elderly man at the end of our street weed his yard and make it look nice. I was blessed by their sacrifice. The mall? or weeding another's yard?

Today we will enjoy a Lamb dinner and celebrate what Christ did for us on the cross.

The Perfect Sacrifice the Perfect Lamb


Enjoy your Good Friday!
Blessings,

Below is a great EASTER breakfast recipe to prepare the night before so you have time to keep everything flowing Easter morning!

2 medium (or 3 small) sized apples, peeled and chopped

1 1/3C steel cut oats (uncooked)

6 Tbs brown sugar

3 Tbs butter

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 Tbs flax seed (totally optional)

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp vanilla

1 1/2 C milk (I used 1%)

1 1/2 C water

Combine all the ingredients, cook overnight on low and enjoy!

PRAYING THROUGH A CHILDS ROOM

Spiritual housecleaning from time to time is important!
Especially in our teenagers rooms.
Today I felt the nudge to just sit on my sons bed and pray.  Satan wants our children and he will win them over in any way possible. He can choose alcohol, drugs and any other addiction or lure to attack our child. With our support and prayer we can help them stand firm!

Temptation can happen to anyone because of exposure.

In high school our teenagers will be exposed to many things. I do not write this today because my son is in danger, I write today to get AHEAD of any danger!

I was taught years ago to pray through rooms of my home on a regular basis. My spiritual mentor encouraged me to remove any posters, books, games, magazines, pictures that may not be glorifying to God. I have started that way back with my children and we always use Gods word to explain and encourage why it may be offensive if we find JUNK.

With the media and junk in today's world I have to do a random spiritual housecleaning in my kids rooms.

When you do this, you claim your home, your child and all aspects to be set apart for Gods glory!
This sounds like its easy and what everyone desires... a clean home. But I am here to tell ya that this takes work.


In my favorite book called THE POWER OF A PRAYING PARENT, you will find a section titled: Praying through a child's room. I took this book today into my sons room and read that section and asked God to teach me and allow me to pray, stand firm and get ahead of the enemy for my son.

Way to many moms are struggling today with hurts and disappointments because of strongholds that the enemy has introduced to their children.

Temptation is in front of our children daily... TV, radio, Ipods, billboards, popular music and movies. I feel we should take time and break any yoke of the enemy and cleanse from anything unholy and unseen. This is no stupid superstitious ritual, this is a powerful "Murphy's oil" type cleaning friends!

Anoint your child's room so the Holy Spirit can be invited to dwell there and CROWD OUT ANYTHING THAT WAS NOT OF GOD.

I prayed over his pillow, ipod charging dock, his radio and the room in general. May sound weird but weird is my normal!

I encourage you today parents to PRAY over your child's room even before the need arises!

Dear Jesus,
I invite Your Holy Spirit to dwell in this room, which belongs to (name of child).
 You are Lord over heaven and earth, and I proclaim that You are Lord over this room as well.
 Flood it with Your light and life. Crowd out any darkness which seeks to impose itself here, and let no spirits of fear, depression, anger, doubt, anxiety, rebelliousness, or hatred (name anything you've seen manifested in your child's behavior) find any place here.
 I pray that nothing will come into this room that is not brought by You, Lord. If there is anything here that shouldn't be, show me so it can be taken out.
Put Your complete protection over this room so that evil cannot enter here by any means. Fill this room with Your love, peace and joy. I pray that my child will say, as David did, "I will walk within my house with a perfect heart. I will set nothing wicked before my eyes" (Psalm 101:2-3).
I pray that You, Lord, will make this room a holy place, sanctified for Your glory." Amen.

If you're struggling with any issue at this time know today it's never to late to allow God to take over!

Blessings,