When Things Seem Impossible

Are you asking the right question?

Read | John 6:5-14

Years ago, our church was preparing to purchase some costly property, and our desire was to accomplish the transaction without going into debt. One week before the deadline, we had accumulated less than half the money; raising the rest seemed impossible. I mentioned our need to the congregation, and after the first service, a young couple came up and gave me the husband’s wedding band to use toward the payment. They insisted I take the ring in spite of the fact that they were barely getting by and had a baby on the way.

During the second service, I pulled out the ring and told about this couple’s sacrifice. Then the most amazing thing happened. People started streaming down the aisle and giving all kinds of things—boats, houses, jewelry, cars. At the end of that service, we had exactly the amount we needed.

Nothing is impossible for our Father. He used an inexpensive ring to raise over two million dollars in one day, just as He once borrowed a sack lunch to feed five thousand people.

We often make the same mistake the disciples did in today’s passage—we ask the wrong question: “What am I going to do?” Instead, we should ask the right one: “Lord, what are Yougoing to do?” God has a plan to guide us safely through every seemingly impossible situation if we will simply trust Him instead of our own resources.

Look to your heavenly Father for whatever you need. He has promised to provide for His children, and He knows the best way and timing to do so.

Running on Empty

''You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!" Psalm 68:35 (NIV)

We were in between moves, living out of suitcases. My husband was working in one state while I was staying in another to sell our home. I had a bad cold, and coughing had interrupted my sleep for nights. I was so tired that the rings under my eyes had rings under them.

When my husband suggested we take time away from the packing, selling, and traveling, just to rest, I mentally listed the reasons we couldn't. How could we manage our many to-do's if we took time off?

In all of these excuses, I was ignoring that I had become very, very tired.

I was tired spiritually as we encountered hurdle after hurdle in the plan we knew God spoke into our hearts.

I was tired physically from a week-long cold.

I was tired relationally as I missed my husband.

Our circumstances weren't awful. I had battled much more challenging ones in the past. So I reasoned that I needed to put on my big-girl pants and just keep moving forward. Admirable, maybe, if you're a machine, but I am a plain ol' human who had run out of steam.

God knew it. My husband knew it. It was time for me to admit it. I needed time to rest and re-connect with God through prayer.

In Psalm 68:35 the Psalmist writes of a living God whose might and power sustained the people with power and strength. I was in need of that kind of help.

The writer of this verse responds to the Lord with great joy and praise. "You, God, are awesome in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God!" (NIV) When we take our eyes off of worthless and powerless gods or even our own selves we rediscover the power and might of God. I needed to take my eyes off of the self-sufficiency of Suzie to rediscover what God had waiting for me.

Kneeling, I surrendered my schedule, time, and need to just keep going. I confessed that I was exhausted and needed my Heavenly Father's strength to complete the tasks in front of me.

That weekend I refueled as I nestled on a couch and prayed for a calm mind that was focused on the Lord, rather than all I had to do. I sat in God's beautiful creation and asked for Him to help me drop my stress over selling our home. I sensed His peace as I rested and took time to get better from my cold.

When the weekend ended, I was me again. It wasn't that I walked away with all my challenges erased, but I left filled up with God's strength.

Maybe you're like me. You are spiritually and physically tired, but you don't feel like you can take time to take a break. You think running full steam ahead is the strong way to handle things.

If we continue to run on empty and never stop to let the Lord fill us up, we will eventually discover the limits of our own strength.

Is it time for a prayer retreat of your own? Your special time with God might be in a park or a quiet place like the corner of a library. It's not the place that matters, but that you find one and take time to meet with the Lord.

We schedule everything else. Why not take time to rest in our Heavenly Father? Let's take a break and allow Him to fill us up as we seek His strength for the days ahead.

Dear Lord, I am spiritually and physically tired, and I have heard the whisper to stop and be refilled. Thank You for the sanctuary I find in You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

I am going away for the weekend to reconnect with God and to rest, so when Monday comes around I can go full force again!!!

Making a List … Checking it Twice

When God tells you to obey him... you do it even if it means waiting for Him to move!!!

 

Mary Southerland

Today's Truth
For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11, NLT).

Friend to Friend
Every year, I make a Christmas list comprised of every person for whom I am buying a gift. Beside each name, I put a dollar amount, a limit of how much money I will spend for that gift, vowing not to spend one penny more than the set limit. (Somehow, the amount I actually spend rarely coincides with the amount I intended to spend. Can you relate?) With every purchase, I then draw a beautiful red line through that name. Done!

I carry that list everywhere I go because sometimes I find a gift during a random shopping trip but mainly because I can't afford to let it out of my sight. There are evil people lurking in my home who will go to any lengths to find that list. You see, I am the Queen of Surprise when it comes to Christmas, so I must guard my list with my life in order to keep my "Queen-ship" status secure. Consequently, the list is hidden in various and unusual places such as a random file on my computer, in my closet, in an old purse, in a sock drawer, in a flower pot – you get the picture. I know where that Christmas list is at all times because it is my gift-giving plan for the holidays.

I wish I were just as concerned about "God's list" for my life; carrying His life plan for me in my heart and mind as I live each day, constantly making choices and decisions in light of that list, guarding it like the treasure map of eternity that it truly is.

Just knowing the plan God has for me does not guarantee success.
I must actually do the plan. That is where the choice to obey comes in.

An obedient heart is a "fixed" heart and is the gift God wants from us this holiday season.

Psalm 108:1
"O God, my heart is fixed!"

Psalm 40:8
"I take joy in doing your will, my God, for your law is written on my heart."

A "fixed" heart is a determined heart, a steadfast heart that is rightly focused on God and His will, His plan. When we choose to follow God's plan, the desires of our heart will line up in obedience to that plan. We will find our greatest joy in pleasing God, in doing His will because that is what we were created to do.

Maybe today is a good time to stop, go back over the list, and review those life lessons we have learned, checking to see where we really are in our walk with God.

Maybe today is the perfect time to revisit the manger to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ by giving Him the gift of obedience.
Let's Pray
Father, I love You. Forgive me for the times when I choose to follow my own will instead of Yours. Teach me how to fix my heart on You and give me the strength to do what You created me to do. I know Your plan is the highest and best plan for me and that I was created in response to that plan. Thank You for the purpose that doing Your will brings to my life. Today, I choose to seek You and obey Your Word.
In Jesus's name,
Amen.

When We Interfere with God's Plan

This devotion touch me big time and made me think that "Waiting" was not so bad!!!

 

 

Sharon Jaynes 

Today's Truth
Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord (Psalm 27:14 NIV).

Friend to Friend
There are some parts of the story of Abraham and Sarah that just leave me biting my nails. I mean, Sarah, what were you thinking? Telling your husband to sleep with your maid? Really?

God had an incredible plan for Abraham and Sarah. While His plan was still accomplished despite Sarah's scheming, her interference caused much heartache and strife. Many times we have a tendency to run ahead of God when we feel He is not acting quickly enough. We connive, cajole, coax, and conspire. We hamper, hinder, hassle and hurry.

Jeremiah 29:11 promises that God has a plan for each and every one of us. "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." He does not need our interference to accomplish that plan. He does require our obedience and cooperation.

I asked my Facebook friends to tell about a time when they interfered with God's plan. Here's what a few had to say:

-I prayed that God would change my husband. I got tired of waiting, so I decided to take matters in my own hands and do it myself. I made a terrible mess of our marriage and the situation only got worse.

-I prayed for a husband, but got tired of waiting on God to bring him. I ended up dating a non-Christian, getting pregnant with twins, and ultimately left all alone to raise them by myself.

-When I was 24, I got pregnant and had an abortion. I didn't trust God with the situation and took matters in my own hands. Years of nightmares, anxiety, guilt, and fear followed. I finally allowed God to walk me through to full repentance and redemption. I knew Christ at the time of the abortion, but didn't believe He could help me get through the pregnancy. While I've dealt with the abortion physically, emotionally, and spiritually, and even share my testimony about God's forgiveness, I will never have the joy of raising that child.

-I lived with a man for 10 years. He partied all the time and didn't want to get married. I prayed that God would change him. Finally I prayed that God would change me and moved out. I cried out to God, "Why am I not enough for my boyfriend?" He answered, "Why am I not enough for you?" Wow! I can honestly say that life with God in control is amazing. His ways have been by far the most exciting and fulfilling time of my life. Listen to his nudges, friends, and most of all, wait for his green light.

-I pushed my husband to take a job that moved us thousands of miles away from family and friends. Everything that could go wrong did go wrong. I know I interfered with God's plan by not waiting on Him to guide us. We are still suffering the consequences.

God has given us a free will and allows us to storm ahead, but He also allows the consequences of our interference to affect our lives. Because of Sarah's interference, Hagar's son, Ishmael, was born. Muhammad, the founder of the Muslim people and Islamic faith, came from Ishmael's family tree. God predicted tension between the offspring of Ishmael and Isaac and we see that conflict raging even today with strife between the Muslims and Jews.

So here's my challenge to you today…let's not interfere with God's plan. Let's wait for Him to act and not take the reins if we feel He's not acting quickly enough. Deal? Deal.

Let's Pray
Oh Lord, forgive me for my impatience. Forgive me for running ahead of You. Forgive me for interfering in Your plans and messing things up. Today, I commit to wait on You. I will not run ahead of You. I will not come up with a plan that suits my wants, my desires, or my fancies. I'll wait on Your perfect plan to be enacted in Your perfect time.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

Now It's Your Turn
In one of Sarah's not-so-finest hours, she blamed the mess THAT SHE CREATED on her husband. Check out Genesis 16:1-5.

Have you ever made a mess of things, and then blamed someone else?

Ouch. My toes are hurting.

More from the Girlfriends
I think one reason we jump in and try to "help" God do His job is because we don't really trust Him. Hard to admit that, isn't it? Would you like to join Gwen, Mary and me on a faith adventure to learn to trust Him more? Then check out our book, Trusting God.  You'll love it. More importantly, you'll love God more!

Already There-Casting Crowns

The Commitment of Love

Ecclesiastes 1:2-11

Read Young Woman Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as enduring as the grave. Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame. Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it. If a man tried to buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned. . . . Young Woman I was a virgin, like a wall; now my breasts are like towers. When my lover looks at me, he is delighted with what he sees. Solomon has a vineyard at Baal-hamon, which he leases out to tenant farmers. Each of them pays a thousand pieces of silver for harvesting its fruit. But my vineyard is mine to give, and Solomon need not pay a thousand pieces of silver. But I will give two hundred pieces to those who care for its vines. Young Man O my darling, lingering in the gardens, your companions are fortunate to hear your voice. Let me hear it, too! Come away, my love! Be like a gazelle or a young stag on the mountains of spices. ((Song of Songs 8:6-14))

Reflect In this final description of their love, the girl includes some of its significant characteristics (see also 1 Corinthians 13). Love is as strong as death; it cannot be killed by time or disaster; and it cannot be bought for any price because it is freely given. Love is priceless, and even the richest king cannot buy it. The love between Solomon and his bride did not diminish in intensity after their wedding night. The lovers relied on each other and kept no secrets from each other. Devotion and commitment were the keys to their relationship, just as they are in our relationships to our spouses and to God. The faithfulness of our marital love should reflect God's perfect faithfulness to us.

Respond Love must be accepted as a gift from God and then shared within the guidelines God provides. Accept the love of your spouse as God's gift, and strive to make your love a reflection of the perfect love that comes from God himself. If you're single, accept God's love. Ask him to show you ways to show his love to others.

The Women of Christmas

Sharon Jaynes

Surely the arm of the Lord is not to short to save, nor his ear to dull to hear" (Isaiah 59:1, NIV).


Friend to Friend
When the writers of the Old Testament penned the words to the long lists of lineages, the so-and-so begat so-and-so's, they usually listened men's names. It was very uncommon to see a woman's name, even though there were a few.
But when we turn the page from the Old Testament to the New Testament, we see God honoring women in a brand-new way. Even in the lineage of Jesus recorded in Matthew chapter one we see four women in addition to Mary in the list! For that time in history, that was quite radical!
Now, if you were going to be part of this liberating radical movement to recognize women in the Holy Scriptures, whom would you pick? I'd probably include Mrs. Noah. She had to be a very patient, submissive wife to be able to put up with all those animals and Noah's wild ideas.
Or perhaps I'd pick Mrs. Moses. Zipporah must have been a very godly woman to allow her husband to travel about in the desert for all those years. And besides, any woman who has a husband in leadership knows the sacrifices she must have made.
Or perhaps I'd pick Sarah. After all, she did bear a child when she was ninety.
But no. Those are not the women God chose to be listed in the lineage of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
He chose Rahab, who had been a prostitute before she was embraced into the Israelites' fold.
He chose Tamar, who had an incestuous relationship with her father-in-law.

He chose Bathsheba, who had an adulterous affair with King David.
And He chose Ruth, who was a woman from a cursed nation.
Oh friend, do you see it? I am so glad that these are the women God chose to be listed in the genealogy of Jesus. Through these women we see that there is no place so far from God that He cannot save us, redeem us, and ultimately use us for His glory.
His arm is not too short to save us from the deepest pit imaginable. That was true for those four women, and it is true for you and me. That, dear one, is the story of Christmas.
Let's Pray
Dear Heavenly Redeemer, I am so thankful that You choose the weak things of the world to shame the wise. I am one of those "weak things" and I am constantly amazed that You chose me and use me for Your glory. Praise You, Lord.
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.

So you are not to far from God for him to use you! So what is He calling you to do?

Kato's Bible Verse

 “How can someone be born when they are old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother’s womb to be born!”- John 3:4