God has the most amazing timing in everything that He does. There have been numerous events in my life where I have looked back and just been stunned by how perfectly timed everything was. For instance, a good friend and I had wanted to get together and share fellowship for a very long time. Unfortunately, our schedules were just chaotic enough that we could never find enough time to get together. On Saturday night, she was supposed to be leaving town to go house-sit (and then be gone for the rest of the week), and I was scheduled to work. Later into the evening, I received word that I no longer needed to work. I was naturally excited about this! Less than 30 minutes later, I got a text message from my friend. She told me she was back in Chadron simply because she forgot a few things. God used His perfect timing to provide a much-needed opportunity for us to have some "girl time" and fellowship. I was truly blessed by the time we were able to spend together.
As hard as it can be, we have to also remember not to rush or delay God's timing. Remember the story of Esther? She was chosen to approach the king in order to save her people. In that day, to seek the king's audience without invitation was worthy of death. She knew she would have to approach the king in God's timing. That's what she did, and God saved her people from being killed. Esther was called to wait on God and His timing "for such a time as this." If you haven't read the book of Esther, I would encourage you to do so!
One more story... I was listening to a pastor speak, and unfortunately I cannot remember for the life of me who it was! I am sure this is due to my poor memory. But, he was telling us that he felt God calling him for six years to become a pastor, but he wouldn't do it. Six years is a long time! Finally after six years, this man "gave in" and became a pastor. The amazing part of this man's story was when he told us that God knew it would take six years for this man to listen and obey. So what did God do? God started prodding him six years before He would need this man to become a pastor. And in God's perfect timing, a new pastor was leading a church that needed him.
"...With all wisdom and understanding, he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment -to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ." (Ephesians 1:8-10, NIV) The part of this verse I would ask you to focus on is the bold. It says, "...to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment." God has certain plans for us that can only be put into effect "when the times reach their fulfillment." Trust in God's timing. You will be so blessed by it!
Monday, July 30, 2012
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Even If the Healing Doesn't Come...
I just wanted to take a short time to remind you of a couple of things. First, God always has a purpose for our struggles and burdens. There is always a reason for the events we encounter in life. The good news is that we don't have to bear them alone. "'Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 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. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.'" (Matthew 11:28-30, NIV)
The next part I would like to share with you are the lyrics from a song by Kutless titled Even If.
The next part I would like to share with you are the lyrics from a song by Kutless titled Even If.
Sometimes all we have to hold on to
Is what we know is true of who You are
So when the heartache hits like a hurricane
That could never change who You are
And we trust in who You are
Even if the healing doesn’t come
And life falls apart
And dreams are still undone
You are God You are good
Forever faithful One
Even if the healing
Even if the healing doesn’t come
Lord we know Your ways are not our ways
So we set our faith in who You are
Even though You reign high above us
You tenderly love us
We know Your heart
And we rest in who You are
You’re still the Great and Mighty One
We trust You always
You’re working all things for our good
We’ll sing your praise
You are God and we will bless You
As the Good and Faithful One
You are God and we will bless You
Even if the healing doesn’t come
Even if the healing doesn’t come
Is what we know is true of who You are
So when the heartache hits like a hurricane
That could never change who You are
And we trust in who You are
Even if the healing doesn’t come
And life falls apart
And dreams are still undone
You are God You are good
Forever faithful One
Even if the healing
Even if the healing doesn’t come
Lord we know Your ways are not our ways
So we set our faith in who You are
Even though You reign high above us
You tenderly love us
We know Your heart
And we rest in who You are
You’re still the Great and Mighty One
We trust You always
You’re working all things for our good
We’ll sing your praise
You are God and we will bless You
As the Good and Faithful One
You are God and we will bless You
Even if the healing doesn’t come
Even if the healing doesn’t come
Even if the healing to your pain never comes and everything seems to fall apart, you can still remember that you have an amazing, faithful, good, and loving God. Please don't leave this page without listening to the song.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Don't Waste Your Life
I just recently returned from helping with Merritt Youth Retreat. This is a camp that takes place at Merritt Reservoir by Valentine, Nebraska. At this camp, students spend an entire weekend playing out on a lake and learning more about God. I was able to serve on the worship team and as a small group leader. The theme of this weekend was "Don't Waste Your Life."
Each time the speaker would give his message, there was something that stuck out to me. He reminded me that God has created a purpose for my life. "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV) Before my life ever even began, my amazing God had a plan for it. Of the 7 billion people (please take the time to fully understand just how big that number is) that are currently living on this earth, God has a plan for ME...measly little me. To think that God created a plan that only I, out of all the people on earth, could fulfill is absolutely amazing. If God created a plan for someone as seemingly insignificant as me, don't you think He has created a plan for you as well? I do. Stay focused on God and His will, and He will make sure you fulfill the plan He created specifically for you.
The next thing I was reminded of comes from Romans 8:28. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." (NIV) God has definitely used this verse in a very real way in my life. When I was 8 years old, I lost my mom to cancer. It was devastating to my family. I just wanted my mom back. I wanted her to brush my hair and stroke my face in the gentle way that would always put me to sleep, but I couldn't have her back. Soon we moved to a new town, and my dad met a new lady. He decided to remarry which meant I would gain a step-mom. My step-mom had a solid relationship with Christ, and she was so bold and courageous about sharing Him with me. I came to know Christ because of the way God used my step-mom in my life. I can honestly say that I would never have given my life to Christ if my step-mom had not shown me the way. As awful as this sounds, if my real mom had not lost her life, mine would have been lost to Hell. Through a horrible circumstance God worked something good.
The final lesson I took away from an awesome weekend of serving God is to live my life in a way that I am not wasting it. When I am 70 or 80 years old, I want to look back at my life and know that I enjoyed my relationship with God, served Him with all my heart, and boldly shared my love for Him with other people. I desire a boldness to reach others for God in the purpose He has created for me. I would be extremely disappointed in myself if I were to look back at my life and realize that I did not share Christ with the people I meet. Maybe there is one person who never hears the Gospel of Christ because I was too scared to share it, and because of me that person has no chance of getting into Heaven. Because I failed at being bold for Christ, that person goes to Hell.
Join me in being bold for Christ. Don't let others be dammed to Hell because you were too afraid to share Christ. "He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.'" (Mark 16:15, NIV) We have been commanded to share the good news with others, and we don't have to lean on ourselves to do it. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV) Don't be afraid; God will give us the boldness and courage we need to share the Gospel with others.
God is doing amazing things in my life and all around me. I hope and pray He is doing the same for you!
Each time the speaker would give his message, there was something that stuck out to me. He reminded me that God has created a purpose for my life. "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV) Before my life ever even began, my amazing God had a plan for it. Of the 7 billion people (please take the time to fully understand just how big that number is) that are currently living on this earth, God has a plan for ME...measly little me. To think that God created a plan that only I, out of all the people on earth, could fulfill is absolutely amazing. If God created a plan for someone as seemingly insignificant as me, don't you think He has created a plan for you as well? I do. Stay focused on God and His will, and He will make sure you fulfill the plan He created specifically for you.
The next thing I was reminded of comes from Romans 8:28. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." (NIV) God has definitely used this verse in a very real way in my life. When I was 8 years old, I lost my mom to cancer. It was devastating to my family. I just wanted my mom back. I wanted her to brush my hair and stroke my face in the gentle way that would always put me to sleep, but I couldn't have her back. Soon we moved to a new town, and my dad met a new lady. He decided to remarry which meant I would gain a step-mom. My step-mom had a solid relationship with Christ, and she was so bold and courageous about sharing Him with me. I came to know Christ because of the way God used my step-mom in my life. I can honestly say that I would never have given my life to Christ if my step-mom had not shown me the way. As awful as this sounds, if my real mom had not lost her life, mine would have been lost to Hell. Through a horrible circumstance God worked something good.
The final lesson I took away from an awesome weekend of serving God is to live my life in a way that I am not wasting it. When I am 70 or 80 years old, I want to look back at my life and know that I enjoyed my relationship with God, served Him with all my heart, and boldly shared my love for Him with other people. I desire a boldness to reach others for God in the purpose He has created for me. I would be extremely disappointed in myself if I were to look back at my life and realize that I did not share Christ with the people I meet. Maybe there is one person who never hears the Gospel of Christ because I was too scared to share it, and because of me that person has no chance of getting into Heaven. Because I failed at being bold for Christ, that person goes to Hell.
Join me in being bold for Christ. Don't let others be dammed to Hell because you were too afraid to share Christ. "He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.'" (Mark 16:15, NIV) We have been commanded to share the good news with others, and we don't have to lean on ourselves to do it. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6, NIV) Don't be afraid; God will give us the boldness and courage we need to share the Gospel with others.
God is doing amazing things in my life and all around me. I hope and pray He is doing the same for you!
Monday, July 9, 2012
The Desires of Your Heart
What do you want the most? What thing or event is more important to you than any other? Is there a desire that just burns in your life? Something you want so badly but do not or cannot have? I do...or rather I did.
Though the desires of one person may be drastically different from the next, we still have one thing in common. We have desires. We have things that we want. Here are my two questions for you. Do your desires consume your thoughts? Do your desires align with God's desires for your life?
I just want to take the time to remind you that God is the only thing that will ever make our lives feel completely whole. He promises us that when we seek him wholeheartedly He will take care of us and our desires. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33) God has bigger and better plans for us than we could ever even imagine. "'I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.'" (Jeremiah 29:11) This passage continues on to tell us that when we seek the Lord with all that we have, we will find Him. When we find Him, He is all we need. Verses 12 and 13 say, "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with your heart." How amazing is it that we can call upon God and He will listen?! When we seek Him first and with everything, we WILL find Him! We can fully trust that God has our best interests in mind.
Seeking God is so important in discovering His desires for our lives. "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4) This verse is not saying that God will give you everything you have ever wanted if you obey Him. It does mean that we can give up our own desires and seek God first. When we wholeheartedly seek God, our desires align with His. Our wants are shaped by our desire to honor, glorify, and love God.
So today, you can give your desires to God and and pray that He changes your will and shapes it to match His!
Though the desires of one person may be drastically different from the next, we still have one thing in common. We have desires. We have things that we want. Here are my two questions for you. Do your desires consume your thoughts? Do your desires align with God's desires for your life?
I just want to take the time to remind you that God is the only thing that will ever make our lives feel completely whole. He promises us that when we seek him wholeheartedly He will take care of us and our desires. "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33) God has bigger and better plans for us than we could ever even imagine. "'I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.'" (Jeremiah 29:11) This passage continues on to tell us that when we seek the Lord with all that we have, we will find Him. When we find Him, He is all we need. Verses 12 and 13 say, "Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with your heart." How amazing is it that we can call upon God and He will listen?! When we seek Him first and with everything, we WILL find Him! We can fully trust that God has our best interests in mind.
Seeking God is so important in discovering His desires for our lives. "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." (Psalm 37:4) This verse is not saying that God will give you everything you have ever wanted if you obey Him. It does mean that we can give up our own desires and seek God first. When we wholeheartedly seek God, our desires align with His. Our wants are shaped by our desire to honor, glorify, and love God.
So today, you can give your desires to God and and pray that He changes your will and shapes it to match His!
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Just His Time
I had barely crawled into bed when I received a startling phone call a short two hours later. My mom was on the other end trying to pull me from a peaceful sleep back into a harsh reality. "Kassy! Kassy! I need you to be awake! I need you to get to the hospital now!"
My body was shaking and my mind was panicking as I made the short and unwanted drive to the local hospital. I spent the less than two minute drive begging God for none of it to be true. "Please God; let this be a false alarm. Don't let it be true!"
As I started walking to the Emergency Room doors, my niece quickly came over to me. As she clung to me with teary eyes and a broken heart, I realized that it was not a false alarm. It was true. He was gone. My step-brother was gone.
With nothing left to do at the hospital, I climbed in my car and let the pain and shock flood me. Sitting in the empty parking lot, I decided to be honest with God...at the top of my lungs. "Why did this happen God?! Why did this have to be a part of your plan?! Why would you let this happen to us?! Haven't we been through enough?! Can't you just give us a break?!"
In the days following my step-brother's accident, I couldn't help but ask God how this could happen. My shock wouldn't allow me to understand. He was the best motorcycle rider any of us had ever known. My dad had the best answer to this question at my step-brother's funeral service. "I didn't understand how this could happen. That man was so cautious and skilled on his motorcycle. He taught me how to ride. Well, the only real answer I could come up with was that it was just his time."
My dad was right. It was just his time. My step-brother taught me valuable lessons that no other person could. Live your life everyday to the fullest. Never pass up the opportunity to make a new friend. Don't underestimate your abilities to change a life by being a friend. Be devoted to your job and your hobbies. Love your family with an extreme passion. Life is short, but use your time to leave a legacy that will live beyond your own years.
God always has a plan. We don't know what it is, and sometimes we won't like it very much. But he promises to always work something good out of what is bad. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28, NIV) I know one thing is for sure; my step-brother is in a much better place than I am. He is peacefully at the feet of my mighty Savior! I can only imagine what it will be like.
My body was shaking and my mind was panicking as I made the short and unwanted drive to the local hospital. I spent the less than two minute drive begging God for none of it to be true. "Please God; let this be a false alarm. Don't let it be true!"
As I started walking to the Emergency Room doors, my niece quickly came over to me. As she clung to me with teary eyes and a broken heart, I realized that it was not a false alarm. It was true. He was gone. My step-brother was gone.
With nothing left to do at the hospital, I climbed in my car and let the pain and shock flood me. Sitting in the empty parking lot, I decided to be honest with God...at the top of my lungs. "Why did this happen God?! Why did this have to be a part of your plan?! Why would you let this happen to us?! Haven't we been through enough?! Can't you just give us a break?!"
In the days following my step-brother's accident, I couldn't help but ask God how this could happen. My shock wouldn't allow me to understand. He was the best motorcycle rider any of us had ever known. My dad had the best answer to this question at my step-brother's funeral service. "I didn't understand how this could happen. That man was so cautious and skilled on his motorcycle. He taught me how to ride. Well, the only real answer I could come up with was that it was just his time."
My dad was right. It was just his time. My step-brother taught me valuable lessons that no other person could. Live your life everyday to the fullest. Never pass up the opportunity to make a new friend. Don't underestimate your abilities to change a life by being a friend. Be devoted to your job and your hobbies. Love your family with an extreme passion. Life is short, but use your time to leave a legacy that will live beyond your own years.
God always has a plan. We don't know what it is, and sometimes we won't like it very much. But he promises to always work something good out of what is bad. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28, NIV) I know one thing is for sure; my step-brother is in a much better place than I am. He is peacefully at the feet of my mighty Savior! I can only imagine what it will be like.
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