Posts Tagged ‘God’

God is Waiting ~ Contagious Love: Wk. 7

The story is told about an old man who was becoming increasingly concerned about his wife’s hearing. He was convinced that she was on the verge of being stone deaf. But no matter what he did, she wouldn’t admit there was a problem.

After months of trying to convince her, he had had enough and decided to prove his point. He entered their living room where his wife was seated, facing the fireplace. From behind her he said in a clear voice, “Honey, I love you. Did you hear that?”

Nothing.

He walked halfway across the room and repeated, “Honey, I said I love you. Do you hear me?”

No response.

Finally he walked over, stood in front of her, and shouted, “I love you. Can you hear me now?”

She looked up from her knitting and replied, “Yes, dear, and for the third time, I love you, too.”

I often act like the husband in that parable. There are times in my life when I’m convinced that God is not talking to me. But in reality, if my relationship with God is distant, I am the one who moved.

We all want to hear from God. To know His will. To feel His love. But like any relationship, growth doesn’t take place automatically. Instead, a deep relationship with God requires an overall approach to life in which we organize our day around staying close to him.

Here are some habits that will help you as you seek God.

1. Make Time. Listening takes time. Relationships can’t be rushed.

2. Minimize Distractions. Minimize any external clutter that distracts you as you talk to God. Give Him your full attention. What could be more important than listening to the author of life?

3. Be Silent. Stop talking and take time to listen.

4. Have a Receptive Heart. Be open to receiving what He has to say, not just His words of tender mercy but also His challenges that will help you grow.

God is not about quick answers and microwave relationships. What He wants is to develop a relationship with you that will be constant, intimate, conversational and transforming.

He is waiting right now. How about you?

Sign up for our Virtual Bible Study, “Contagious Love,” to receive the audio teaching and handout, as well as the homework – or to get more information – Just click the link below:

Click Here for “Contagious Love – A Virtual Bible Study on 1 John”


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What’s Shaking in Your Life?

by Susan Fleming

What mountains have been removed in your life? What hills are shaking? Jesus told us that in this life there will be tribulation and distress. Hard times will surely come. And if nothing is shaking in your world today, it will one of these days.

“For the mountains may be removed
and the hills may shake,
But My lovingkindness will not be removed from you,
And My covenant of peace will not be shaken,”
Says the Lord who has compassion on you.
Isaiah 54:10

We know that Jesus has overcome the world and has triumphed over sin and death. But what does that do for me today? Now, in my circumstances? When my mountains are removed and my hills shake?

“Another tropical storm has formed…”
“The devastation is widespread…”
“There were no survivors…”
“I’m sorry. We did all we could…”
“I don’t love you anymore…”

I’ll tell you what it means to me. Through Jesus Christ, God has opened up a way for me to be in fellowship with Him. And wonder of wonders, He loves me! No matter what difficulties arise in my life, no matter how challenging circumstances or people become, no matter what else I lose, He still loves me. No matter how rocky the road, how rough the seas, how rebellious my heart – He still loves me.

He says, “My lovingkindness will not be removed from you.” His lovingkindness… His kind intent towards me, His mercy poured out on me, His grace lavished on me, His unfailing love engulfing me… never to be removed, never less because of my foolishness, never withheld because of my unfaithfulness. “I love you,” He whispers to my heart, and I am filled with joy unspeakable.

And He says, “My covenant of peace will not be shaken.” It’s His covenant – He designed it and initiated it and guarantees its fulfillment. I am no longer at enmity with Him, no longer guilty of high treason, no longer condemned for my sin, but He has purchased my peace with Him at the ultimate price – the blood of His very own Son. And I stand before Him, not just acquitted and free, but adopted and loved!

I know only a little of what that covenant means to my life, but He knows the full extent of it, the complete intent of it – and He doesn’t just live up to the part of it that I understand, but He promises to live up to the whole thing, forever. All the ramifications that I cannot even fathom – He will see it through. It’s a little like my friends’ adopted son – he doesn’t have a clue about the responsibilities his parents have assumed, and he has no ability to make sure he remains their son. They don’t limit their activities on his behalf to what he thinks they should be doing – it’s much bigger than he can imagine.

We know that this world, and all that is in it, is passing away. The mountains in our lives will be removed, and the hills will be shaken, but if you belong to God, His steadfast love will not be removed from you, and His covenant of peace will not be shaken.

What effect does God’s covenant of peace have on your heart today? Leave us a comment and let us know.


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When God Says “Shop”

by Kim Avery

  • Please stay tuned for a brief posting delay.

Did that sound impressive and official? I hope so because the unofficial story is that I forgot to take my post for Transformed on Tuesdays with me on my 4th of July vacation.

So, today’s originally scheduled wise and inspiring thoughts (if I knew how to put a smiley face here, I would) will be delayed until next Tuesday. Instead, for your current reading enjoyment I’ll share my latest chapter in the misadventures of Kim.

Are you ready?

I forgot to bring any clothes on our vacation! Yep, none, except for what I was wearing. Not very smart, was it?

It all began with my clever thought to save suitcase space and the dreaded vacation ironing by putting all my clothes on hangers. The plan was to hang them in the back of the Suburban and then they would be crisp and ready to wear once we reached our intended destination.

Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men (and Kim). Somehow life never quite conforms to the spreadsheet I submit.

Eager to begin our 4th of July Holiday, everyone pitched in to pack the car but no one seemed to remember that my hanging clothes were still in the closet – hanging.

Oblivious, the first two hours of our drive were awesome because what I didn’t know didn’t bother me. Until… Until my helpful hubby happened to glance at the back of the car and sweetly asked where I had put my clothes.

Oops!

Hmmm, why didn’t he ask me that a little closer to home?

There was nothing to do but laugh and assume that it was God’s will for me to do a little shopping. Being the very obedient daughter of God that I try to be, I bowed to His greater plan with a surprisingly submissive spirit and gleefully hit the mall in Atlanta.

It really wasn’t such a bad way to begin a vacation after all.

The whole experience was just another reminder of that awesome biblical truth, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose” Romans 8:28.

How is God putting a smile on your face today?


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Be All That God Created You To Be ~ More Goals to Consider

Jump start your week by prayerfully pondering some more of the things that God may be calling you to as you engage in His transformation process.

Each Tuesday on Transformed on Tuesdays you will learn how to become more and more the woman God created you to be. Then, you can drop by each weekend to find a short list of ideas to get your creative juices flowing. Some of the ideas won’t be for you but others will be just what God has in mind.

Begin today to be all that God created you to be. Imagine the possibilities. You could…

Plan and take a vacation.

Increase your ability to process more information without getting overloaded.

Accelerate your personal growth.

Accept your family more and try to change them less.

Reduce the conflict in your life.

Regularly add money to your savings account.

Start a new business

Identify the triggers that cause your adrenaline to race so that you can choose a different approach.

Read great books that will inspire you.

Design a personal and spiritual growth plan.

True transformation is hard. Changing the habits of a lifetime takes prayer, planning, practice, self-forgiveness when you fall short, and the ability to make adjustments along the way. Many women find change easier with the help, encouragement, support, accountability, and wisdom of a life coach walking by their side. Consider taking a minute to explore how life coaching can help you.

What change are you going to begin incorporating into your life today?


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The Two-Edged Sword of Sovereignty

by Susan Fleming

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord
And whose trust is the Lord.
For he will be like a tree planted by the water,
That extends its roots by a stream
And will not fear when the heat comes:
But its leaves will be green,
And it will not be anxious in a year of drought
Nor cease to yield fruit.
Jeremiah 17:7-8

Not too long ago I heard an ad for a call-in show with a radio pastor. A young girl, maybe 5 years old, asked why God had let something bad happen to her. The pastor told her that while God protects us sometimes, there are other times when He just doesn’t. I was left with an ache in my heart for the little girl who didn’t hear the whole story. Does she think God doesn’t care what happens to her? Does she think He isn’t powerful enough to protect her?

And what about us? What do we think about God when we face dark days? Do we feel more favored when we “escape” difficult times than when we are forced to walk through them? Are we indeed more favored? The sword of God’s sovereignty cuts both ways.

I remember once when my daughter was in the hospital, enduring a painful procedure. She begged me to make it stop. Which would have shown her more love: to shield her from the pain at the expense of her health (and that of the child she was carrying), or to allow it to continue so she could be restored to health?

Thankfully, God does not always choose the hard path for us. This past week, twice, He spared me, protected me, from the hard path. On Tuesday, I took some follow-up medical tests and received a favorable report – no cancer. And on Thursday night, I was at the library. I started to leave, had a thought about something else to research, and stayed a little longer. During that 10 minute delay, another woman left the library and was mugged. It could have been me, but it wasn’t.

While I rejoice at His goodness to me, I am also aware that if He had chosen a different path for me, He would be no less good, no less merciful, no less loving. And His protection would not have been less – it would just have been different.

The key, I think, is what Jeremiah speaks of – trusting the Lord. We must trust Him implicitly, knowing that regardless of our circumstances, His everlasting arms will hold us up. Our roots must go down deep into the well of living water so that when the heat scorches and the drought threatens, we will not waver in fear and anxiety, but will, through the abundant provision of the Holy Spirit, continue to yield fruit.

What I wish that pastor had said to the little girl is this: “God loves you very, very much. He always wants what’s best for you, and He makes sure you get it. Sometimes it’s something that seems good to you, and He delights to see your joy. But sometimes what’s best seems very hard to you. When those times come, He’s right there with you, and wants to fill your heart with comfort. He wants you to trust Him and love Him and cling to Him, and He has promised to get you through.”

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