Today while I was at prayer group I had a compelling feeling I needed to share some words that came to me. But due to my own fears and my own inadequacies I did not feel strong enough to share what I had received. As I listened more and more to others share their messages, I became more and more anxious to share what I had received as everything confirmed what I had written. But as I got more anxious, I also got more hesitant. I could feel my heart pounding. I could feel my pulse racing. I wanted to share but there was something holding me back. Mike and Rita kept asking if others had more to share. I kept silent even after I heard more words encouraging to share. I kept the words and the message to myself.
After prayer group I was approached by Maria. I do not know her well. I see her every week at group. In the few short weeks that I have seen her, I have seen a change in her that is amazing. I have seen her grow and become more bold in her faith. It as somewhere I knew she was not just a few weeks before. During group Maria had shared a word that I knew was speaking directly to me. I knew that these words were meant for me to hear. But still my own fear and my own human nature would not let me share the words I had written on my paper. When she approached me, she asked me directly what was the message I had to share. I was not sure exactly sure what she was referring to but in a small I knew. I knew the words she shared were meant for me to hear so I could be more bold and stronger in my faith. I showed her the words and message I had received during group. She asked me why I did not share during group. I told her of my fears and inadequacies and she reminded me that it is not about what I think I need to share but what God wants me to share.
I know now that I need to be more bold in my faith. More bold than I already am. More bold to share the truth that I know. More bold so those who do not believe can believe. I worry that others will see me and think that I am not sincere or genuine. Others will see my youthful appearance and think that I do not have the knowledge or experience to be able to share the word of truth. But Maria reminded me that it does not matter what others think. I should not worry that others do not believe me or in my sincerity. God has given me this faith and this fire and it is up to me to share. It is up to me to get the word out there for others to hear.
I am reminded of the lessons we learned tonight. I need to let the light inside of me burn bright. I need to let His light shine brighter. I need to go forth and witness.
Lord help me to shine-radiate-emit.
The message I wanted to share:
Radiate my love.
Let my love emit from your whole being.
Shine for me.
Showing posts with label Faith Sharing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Faith Sharing. Show all posts
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Thursday, December 25, 2008
The best Christmas gift ever given AND received
What was the best Christmas gift that you have ever received? Was it something that you still cherish today or is it just a memory of a Christmas from long, long ago? I know as a child growing up I received some really nice Christmas gifts that I truly enjoyed. I remember a finger paint set I got once when I was 5 years old. I had so much fun with it, too. Where is it now? I don't know. It was long gone once all the paper and paint were used. It was just temporary happiness. As all the material gifts we receive at Christmas time.
This year I received the best Christmas gift ever. It wasn't something material but something very special. Something I know I will cherish the rest of my life.
It all started a few weeks before Christmas. I was on my way home from a long day at work. I had no plans for the evening but Johnerick was in my neighborhood so we decided to have a nice dinner together at Golden Corral. It started off as a pretty normal dinner. We enjoyed our buffet, conversation, and fellowship. At the end of dinner, we both had realized that we had no cash to tip our waiter. We could have easily just eaten and run without tipping the waiter. He may or may not have noticed. But we felt bad. We had nothing to give him. Not even a penny. So we told him on his next day at work we would stop by and not only tip him for that day's service but also for this evening's service. We had vowed to come back and double tip him for his service. He was not expecting us to come back. But being a woman who is true to her word and a devout Catholic I knew I couldn't just eat and not come back. So Johnerick and I made plans to return that following Friday to give Henry (our waiter) what he deserves. So enter the following Friday. Johnerick and I had every intention of returning. And we did. Both of us with cash to properly tip Henry. When we got there we immediately asked about Henry. We were hoping he was there as he said he would. We wanted to sit in his section so that we could not only tip him for Friday's service but also Wednesday. When he saw us there he was just speechless. He wasn't expecting us to return but being people who are true their word we came back. He led us to our table and we had a nice dinner. He came up to us and talked with us a few times as a good waiter should. And out of the blue I made a suggestion I didn't know how he would take it. Being a devout Catholic (and Johnerick a devout Christian) I asked if and when Henry had a free moment I wanted to pray with him. I have never made such an offer in public before but I have felt more inclined to do things like that when I am so moved by the Spirit to do so. I wasn't sure how he'd take it or if he'd even sit with us. But a little while later Henry came and sat with us. So I bowed my head and prayed. I prayed thanking God for Henry and the service he does at work for his customers. I prayed thanking God for allowing Henry to be touched by us. I prayed for blessings for him and his family. After we were done praying, Henry again was speechless. He told us that twice in the same night was he rendered speechless by us. He said never before has he had someone offer to pray for him. He said the prayer was so beautiful. He was so touched. He even told us that a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders. I knew we had done a good deed. I told Henry to pass it on. To share it with others. I know that even if he didn't even if it was just for that one night Henry was a changed man. We opened his eyes to a new experience. Johnerick and I walked out of there changed forever. We knew we had made a difference in his life.
How amazing God used us at that moment to minister to Henry. How amazing that God allowed us to touch Henry on that day. This was and is the best Christmas present ever given AND received. Not only did Henry receive monetary tips but also spiritual ones. I am lucky to have had this experience.
I hope that you too can make the difference in some one's life. It can change the hearts of many.
God bless you this Christmas season and always.
This year I received the best Christmas gift ever. It wasn't something material but something very special. Something I know I will cherish the rest of my life.
It all started a few weeks before Christmas. I was on my way home from a long day at work. I had no plans for the evening but Johnerick was in my neighborhood so we decided to have a nice dinner together at Golden Corral. It started off as a pretty normal dinner. We enjoyed our buffet, conversation, and fellowship. At the end of dinner, we both had realized that we had no cash to tip our waiter. We could have easily just eaten and run without tipping the waiter. He may or may not have noticed. But we felt bad. We had nothing to give him. Not even a penny. So we told him on his next day at work we would stop by and not only tip him for that day's service but also for this evening's service. We had vowed to come back and double tip him for his service. He was not expecting us to come back. But being a woman who is true to her word and a devout Catholic I knew I couldn't just eat and not come back. So Johnerick and I made plans to return that following Friday to give Henry (our waiter) what he deserves. So enter the following Friday. Johnerick and I had every intention of returning. And we did. Both of us with cash to properly tip Henry. When we got there we immediately asked about Henry. We were hoping he was there as he said he would. We wanted to sit in his section so that we could not only tip him for Friday's service but also Wednesday. When he saw us there he was just speechless. He wasn't expecting us to return but being people who are true their word we came back. He led us to our table and we had a nice dinner. He came up to us and talked with us a few times as a good waiter should. And out of the blue I made a suggestion I didn't know how he would take it. Being a devout Catholic (and Johnerick a devout Christian) I asked if and when Henry had a free moment I wanted to pray with him. I have never made such an offer in public before but I have felt more inclined to do things like that when I am so moved by the Spirit to do so. I wasn't sure how he'd take it or if he'd even sit with us. But a little while later Henry came and sat with us. So I bowed my head and prayed. I prayed thanking God for Henry and the service he does at work for his customers. I prayed thanking God for allowing Henry to be touched by us. I prayed for blessings for him and his family. After we were done praying, Henry again was speechless. He told us that twice in the same night was he rendered speechless by us. He said never before has he had someone offer to pray for him. He said the prayer was so beautiful. He was so touched. He even told us that a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders. I knew we had done a good deed. I told Henry to pass it on. To share it with others. I know that even if he didn't even if it was just for that one night Henry was a changed man. We opened his eyes to a new experience. Johnerick and I walked out of there changed forever. We knew we had made a difference in his life.
How amazing God used us at that moment to minister to Henry. How amazing that God allowed us to touch Henry on that day. This was and is the best Christmas present ever given AND received. Not only did Henry receive monetary tips but also spiritual ones. I am lucky to have had this experience.
I hope that you too can make the difference in some one's life. It can change the hearts of many.
God bless you this Christmas season and always.
The true meaning of Christmas
How sad that we forget the true meaning of Christmas. We get so bogged down with shopping and finding that right gift for that special someone that we often forget what Christmas is truly about. We forget the reason we even celebrate Christmas. Christmas has become such a secular holiday that we have already forgotten the religious reasons we celebrate Christmas. Christmas has become so much about decorations and all things secular that we forget why we REALLY celebrate Christmas? Do you know what Christmas is about? Do you remember why we REALLY celebrate Christmas? Is Christmas just about Santa Claus and getting that right gift from that special someone or for that special someone? Not at all. Christmas is about one thing and one thing only and that is the birth of our Lord Christ Jesus. I have in the past given into to all the hype and spent an excessive amount of money trying to find the right gift if not giftS for everyone in the family. And now I am reminded again this year since I had no money to really give gifts that Christmas is NOT about having the right gift under the tree but about celebrating the birth of our Lord. On this day, Christ was born. On this day, a Savior came into this world to save us from Satan's power. On this day, God became man so that we may never die but live eternally. Today at Mass I was reminded of how special today is. Not because we get gifts but because have already received the greatest gift of all and that is God's only Son Jesus Christ. What more can we want if we have Christ Jesus in our lives? What more can we ask for? Is that perfect gift going to be there in the end? Only God will be there. Let us be reminded of the true meaning of Christmas this holiday season. Let us remember that Christ came on this day to save us.
Bible reading to share: My favorite story of Christmas can be found in the Gospel of Luke. It is the story of Mary and Joseph traveling through Bethlehem when it came time for Jesus to be born. It tells how he was born in a manager. It talks about Jesus' humble beginnings in a manager because there was no room in the inn. Read it for yourself and be reminded why we celebrate this day. Luke 2: 1-14
Bible reading to share: My favorite story of Christmas can be found in the Gospel of Luke. It is the story of Mary and Joseph traveling through Bethlehem when it came time for Jesus to be born. It tells how he was born in a manager. It talks about Jesus' humble beginnings in a manager because there was no room in the inn. Read it for yourself and be reminded why we celebrate this day. Luke 2: 1-14
Friday, November 14, 2008
Thy will be done
Who am I to doubt the Lord God Almighty? When God has a plan in mind then He makes it happen. If it is His will, then it will be done. We know. We are taught in the words of the Our Father...Thy kingdom come, THY WILL BE DONE on Earth as it is in Heaven. Isn't that just the truth? I am reminded time and time again that through God our Father there is NOTHING that is impossible. If He wills for it to be done, then it will happen. There will be a way for it to happen. He will make it happen. When we are physically not able to do something for someone else, then He will provide another way through someone else. Who are we to doubt that God the Almighty would not make it happen? Every time I doubt God, He just reveals to me that if it is His will then it is going to happen. But time and time again, I doubt our Lord. Who am I to doubt our God Almighty? Should I not have already learned from the past experiences that God can make anything happen? Through Him there is NOTHING that is impossible. We place all our faith and trust in Him and He makes everything happen according to His will. We need to trust in Him always that He is the one to ultimately provide for us. We must try to live according to His will. We must live as He intends for to live. Let His will be done and not ours. It is not by our will or our way that we are here and things happen. It is only by His will and way that we are here. Who are we to doubt? Who are we to question God when things happen? Everything happens by His will and way. It may not happen how we wanted it or planned, but by how He master designed it. We will see in the end that His will and His way was the BEST way for it to happen. His way was the way that it was meant to be. Live out your life according to His will not yours. Pray that His will be done. When I pray the Our Father, I pray intently on the words "Thy will be done" It is a struggle for us. We are human and we give into our needs and wants, but we know it is not about what we want. Pray that we live our lives according to His will.
Let Thy will be done!
On a side note, Thanks be to God for putting JE in the right place at the right time for His will to be done! (which is what inspired this whole blog to begin with!)
Let Thy will be done!
On a side note, Thanks be to God for putting JE in the right place at the right time for His will to be done! (which is what inspired this whole blog to begin with!)
Saturday, November 8, 2008
James 1: 2-4
Written November 7, 2008 at First Friday Adoration St Margaret Marcy Catholic Church Winter Park, FL
James 1: 2-4
"Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
My friend Kenny at work is always reminding me of this passage. Every day at lunch I tell Kenny about my stress and current struggles and every day he repeats this same verse. I think and ponder closely its meaning and what it is trying to teach me. I share with you the teaching in this blog.
I know that living a life faithful and devoted to God does not mean I am free from hard times. Having a close personal relationship with Jesus Christ might sometimes present us with more trials and tribulations. Satan knows that we know and love God and that angers him. He wants us for himself so he will do what he can in our weakness to get us to renounce God and follow him. He desires our hearts as much as God does. He is looking for that tiny opening. He seeks just the tiniest of openings so he can come in and try to get us to turn away from God. Each time we have difficult times in our lives Satan uses that as an opportunity and window into our minds and souls. He knows we are weak and vulnerable. But if we read James 1: 2, we are reminded in our times of trial and difficulty to "Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials..." Still find it in our hearts to praise and give thanks to God. Satan sees this and he is angered. He cannot have our heart because it belongs to God. God claims victory over us and Satan is thwarted again. These trials and hard times are a testing of our faith. They challenge our faith and how we are going to act and react. Satan waits for that moment we might defy or deny God. This is his chance. But instead we give praise and thanks to God for He is good. We even thank God for that trial and hardship we are facing. Have you ever thought to praise and thank God in the bad times? Do we not praise and give thanks to God for the good things and blessings in our lives? It is easy to give thanks and praise when times are good, but what about when times are hard and rough? Do you remember to give praise and thanks then, too? Why do we need to give thanks and praise during these times? It is as James 1:3 says "the testing of our faith produces perseverance" What does that mean? It means are a strengthened and lifted up during these times. We are given strength and courage to continue on. With the help of God we can and will overcome. We are reminded we cannot do it on our own. We cannot get through it by our own means. We must do it with the help of God. God gives us perseverance to get through it and move on. We must let perseverance be perfect. We must let it run its course and take it to the end. It says in James 1:4 "let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." How beautiful is that...lacking in nothing. What does that mean? What is that saying? In that trial and hardship God provides everything that we need. There is nothing that we need to get through it but what God gives us. We know He provides for our every need. So why not so in our times of great trial? Should the Lord not provide us with anything and everything we need to survive this trial? God is an awesome God. God is a great God. He provides anything and everything we need and/or desire especially in our times of trial. He gives us everything we need to persevere through the trial. We are reminded in Psalm 23: 1 "The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want." The Lord provides us everything we shall ever need or want not only in times of joy but also in our times of trial. Every day I am reminded by my friend Kenny that if I put all my faith and trust in the Lord then there is nothing I shall need or want. Even in times of trial I shall persevere and lack in nothing. I am reminded over and over again in my fellowship and friendship with Kenny how awesome and amazing God is. He provides for all our needs and desires even in the times of need and trial. Through my faith and belief in God and His Son Jesus Christ I am lacking in nothing. I thank God for my friendship and fellowship I am able to have with Kenny every day even if it is for such a short time. I am reminded of the passage Matthew 18: 20 "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in their midst." I am reminded that even if only two are there in fellowship there the Lord God is among us. I am reminded through God I am lacking in nothing.
Put all your faith and trust in the Lord God even in the trials and you will lack for nothing.
James 1: 2-4
"Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. And let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
My friend Kenny at work is always reminding me of this passage. Every day at lunch I tell Kenny about my stress and current struggles and every day he repeats this same verse. I think and ponder closely its meaning and what it is trying to teach me. I share with you the teaching in this blog.
I know that living a life faithful and devoted to God does not mean I am free from hard times. Having a close personal relationship with Jesus Christ might sometimes present us with more trials and tribulations. Satan knows that we know and love God and that angers him. He wants us for himself so he will do what he can in our weakness to get us to renounce God and follow him. He desires our hearts as much as God does. He is looking for that tiny opening. He seeks just the tiniest of openings so he can come in and try to get us to turn away from God. Each time we have difficult times in our lives Satan uses that as an opportunity and window into our minds and souls. He knows we are weak and vulnerable. But if we read James 1: 2, we are reminded in our times of trial and difficulty to "Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials..." Still find it in our hearts to praise and give thanks to God. Satan sees this and he is angered. He cannot have our heart because it belongs to God. God claims victory over us and Satan is thwarted again. These trials and hard times are a testing of our faith. They challenge our faith and how we are going to act and react. Satan waits for that moment we might defy or deny God. This is his chance. But instead we give praise and thanks to God for He is good. We even thank God for that trial and hardship we are facing. Have you ever thought to praise and thank God in the bad times? Do we not praise and give thanks to God for the good things and blessings in our lives? It is easy to give thanks and praise when times are good, but what about when times are hard and rough? Do you remember to give praise and thanks then, too? Why do we need to give thanks and praise during these times? It is as James 1:3 says "the testing of our faith produces perseverance" What does that mean? It means are a strengthened and lifted up during these times. We are given strength and courage to continue on. With the help of God we can and will overcome. We are reminded we cannot do it on our own. We cannot get through it by our own means. We must do it with the help of God. God gives us perseverance to get through it and move on. We must let perseverance be perfect. We must let it run its course and take it to the end. It says in James 1:4 "let perseverance be perfect, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." How beautiful is that...lacking in nothing. What does that mean? What is that saying? In that trial and hardship God provides everything that we need. There is nothing that we need to get through it but what God gives us. We know He provides for our every need. So why not so in our times of great trial? Should the Lord not provide us with anything and everything we need to survive this trial? God is an awesome God. God is a great God. He provides anything and everything we need and/or desire especially in our times of trial. He gives us everything we need to persevere through the trial. We are reminded in Psalm 23: 1 "The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want." The Lord provides us everything we shall ever need or want not only in times of joy but also in our times of trial. Every day I am reminded by my friend Kenny that if I put all my faith and trust in the Lord then there is nothing I shall need or want. Even in times of trial I shall persevere and lack in nothing. I am reminded over and over again in my fellowship and friendship with Kenny how awesome and amazing God is. He provides for all our needs and desires even in the times of need and trial. Through my faith and belief in God and His Son Jesus Christ I am lacking in nothing. I thank God for my friendship and fellowship I am able to have with Kenny every day even if it is for such a short time. I am reminded of the passage Matthew 18: 20 "For where two or three are gathered in my name, there I am in their midst." I am reminded that even if only two are there in fellowship there the Lord God is among us. I am reminded through God I am lacking in nothing.
Put all your faith and trust in the Lord God even in the trials and you will lack for nothing.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Forgiveness and Loving your enemies
About a week ago, (October 24-26) I attended the Catholic charismatic conference. This was my first experience (and not to be the last) at a charismatic conference. But it was not my first experience with charismatic Catholicism. Having been involved with SFC for the last year I have been introduced to a whole new level of my Catholic faith. One that I have grown deeply passionate about. It has helped me grow deeper in my relationship with Christ. It has helped me to foster the gifts I have received from the Holy Spirit including the gift of tongues and wisdom and knowledge. Through my experiences God imparts teachings about His Word. I share them with you in this blog as I am inspired to do so.
One teaching that God inspired on me is a teaching on forgiveness and loving your enemies. He taught me about forgiveness after hearing Maria Vadia speak at the charismatic conference. She touched on having a forgiving heart. I learned I had a lot of forgiving in my heart to do. The way I had been living out a part of my life was not a forgiving or loving way. He presented this teaching for me to share with my friends Ronald and Anne but I share it here with all of you so we all may benefit and be reminded of our call as Christians.
In the Bible what does Jesus say is the greatest commandment? In Matthew 22: 37 Jesus tell us the greatest commandment is "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." As faithful Christians this might not be a great challenge. What is a real challenge for us as Christians is what Jesus states is the second greatest commandment. In Matthew 22: 39, Jesus says "The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Why is this so hard? Because who do we say our neighbor is? EVERYONE Even those who have done wrong against us. That is our challenge. Jesus also teaches in Matthew 5: 44-48 that we should love our enemies. Our enemies are our neighbors too. Even those who do bad love those who love them so what about us Christians?
Before leaving Naples, I had a friend who had been saying bad things about me. She had slandered my name to all the people I had known while I was in Naples. I was so angry and was so hurt. I tried to forget it but the more I thought about it the more angry and upset I got. Every time I would speak of it I would be filled with anger and hate. I carried that anger and hate inside of me. I may not have let it show, but each time I spoke her name the spark was lit and the fire of anger was burning through me. While at the charismatic conference, after hearing Maria speak, I realized that I was not doing what God had called me to do as a christian. Not only was I not loving my neighbor and enemy but He had reminded me of another passage on forgiveness. In Matthew 18: 21-22 Jesus teaches about how many times we are to forgive. He says, "Not seven times but seventy-seven times." So does that mean after seventy-seven times I can stop forgiving? No. In the Bible the number 7 represents a completeness and totality. We are reminded that we must forgive not just the first time someone wrongs us but each time they do it. God has forgiven us of ALL our sins no matter how many times we sin them over and over again. So how much more for us as Christians to forgive those who have done wrong against us? We must forgive them each time they do wrong toward us. We need to ask God to bless them and grant many blessings upon them. Pray for a conversion of their hearts so that they can mend their ways. If we do not have forgiving hearts then that keeps us away from the love of God. Do you want to be separated from the love of God? Now that we know God and Jesus we do not want to be separated from the love of God. Now that we know true peace and happiness we never want to be separated from that.
So let us have forgiving hearts and forgive not once but each time someone does wrong against us. Remember the words Jesus taught us to pray in the Our Father "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."
One teaching that God inspired on me is a teaching on forgiveness and loving your enemies. He taught me about forgiveness after hearing Maria Vadia speak at the charismatic conference. She touched on having a forgiving heart. I learned I had a lot of forgiving in my heart to do. The way I had been living out a part of my life was not a forgiving or loving way. He presented this teaching for me to share with my friends Ronald and Anne but I share it here with all of you so we all may benefit and be reminded of our call as Christians.
In the Bible what does Jesus say is the greatest commandment? In Matthew 22: 37 Jesus tell us the greatest commandment is "You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind." As faithful Christians this might not be a great challenge. What is a real challenge for us as Christians is what Jesus states is the second greatest commandment. In Matthew 22: 39, Jesus says "The second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Why is this so hard? Because who do we say our neighbor is? EVERYONE Even those who have done wrong against us. That is our challenge. Jesus also teaches in Matthew 5: 44-48 that we should love our enemies. Our enemies are our neighbors too. Even those who do bad love those who love them so what about us Christians?
Before leaving Naples, I had a friend who had been saying bad things about me. She had slandered my name to all the people I had known while I was in Naples. I was so angry and was so hurt. I tried to forget it but the more I thought about it the more angry and upset I got. Every time I would speak of it I would be filled with anger and hate. I carried that anger and hate inside of me. I may not have let it show, but each time I spoke her name the spark was lit and the fire of anger was burning through me. While at the charismatic conference, after hearing Maria speak, I realized that I was not doing what God had called me to do as a christian. Not only was I not loving my neighbor and enemy but He had reminded me of another passage on forgiveness. In Matthew 18: 21-22 Jesus teaches about how many times we are to forgive. He says, "Not seven times but seventy-seven times." So does that mean after seventy-seven times I can stop forgiving? No. In the Bible the number 7 represents a completeness and totality. We are reminded that we must forgive not just the first time someone wrongs us but each time they do it. God has forgiven us of ALL our sins no matter how many times we sin them over and over again. So how much more for us as Christians to forgive those who have done wrong against us? We must forgive them each time they do wrong toward us. We need to ask God to bless them and grant many blessings upon them. Pray for a conversion of their hearts so that they can mend their ways. If we do not have forgiving hearts then that keeps us away from the love of God. Do you want to be separated from the love of God? Now that we know God and Jesus we do not want to be separated from the love of God. Now that we know true peace and happiness we never want to be separated from that.
So let us have forgiving hearts and forgive not once but each time someone does wrong against us. Remember the words Jesus taught us to pray in the Our Father "Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us."
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Prayers
Isn't it amazing how God knows our hearts and our deepest desires? He knows everything that we are hoping for before we even pray for it. He knows it even when it is just a mere thought in our minds. It is way back in the deepest part of our mind yet God knows it and knows that we desire it. Before we even utter the words in prayer God has already heard our prayer. He has already started to answer it before we are even able to formulate it into words. If God desires for it to be then He answers the prayer. If it is not of God's ultimate plan then He will reveal that to us too. In whatever way He reveals the truth we always know that His way is the best way. We realize that His way is far better than anyway than we ever could have planned or imagined. God is an awesome God and He reveals those truths to us. Don't stop praying. Keep praying for your deepest desires. If God wants them to happen, He'll make them happen in His way and in His own time. Answers to your prayers don't come when you want them to happen or even how you want them to happen. They are answered in God's way in His own time. They might not be answered how you want them to be answered or how you had it planned out in your head, but you will realize that His way and His answer is the right one. God hears and answers all our prayers. He just does it in His own way. Sometimes God's greatest gifts are what we think are unanswered prayers. We often don't realize that what we think are unanswered prayers is just God's way of revealing His truth. We think that just because we didn't get the answer we wanted to hear that our prayer isn't answered. But if we stop and think and look at the truth that God has revealed then we will see that He in fact has answered the prayer. God is a loving and caring God. He answers all our prayers. We have to be open to hear HIS answer and not expect our own solution. Be open to God's truth. Open your heart and mind to hear what He is telling you. Don't expect an answer but be open to the truth that He is going to reveal.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Surrender to God's Will
Originally written as a Facebook note. Copied to MySpace and Friendster. Written September 19, 2008
Have you surrendered yourself to God's will? Have you put all your faith and trust in the Lord? I have one piece of adivce... Surrender yourself to God's will. You'll never forget the day that you did. I am at a point in my life where I have totally and completely surrendered to God's will. I am no longer in control of my destiny. It's in the hands of God now. It's not about what I want or how I want it, but what God has planned for me and how He wants it done. It's His will not mine. I had plans in my head on how my life should be and where I wanted to go. I thought I knew what I wanted and how I wanted to get there. I had designed a plan for myself based on what I wanted and how I wanted it done. I now know that it's not about what I want and how I want it done, but what God wants and how He wants it done. I have surrendered to His way and His will and His ultimate plan for me. I have come to realize that His will is far better than any plan in my mind or any master plan of my design. His way is far better than any way we could have planned it. He makes all things happen in His time and His way and in ways that are best for us. He knows what is best for us. He allows all things to happen to us both good and bad. He allows them all to happen to make us stronger people and to witness to His awesome power. A lot of things have happened in my life. Both good things and bad things but they all happened by the grace and will of God. They have happened to make me a stronger person so that I can witness to God's grace. I have allowed God to use me and mold me into the person that He meant for me to be. I am becoming the person God has always wanted me to be. I have had faith before. I have always believed in God. I have had strong foundation in faith all my life. But I have NEVER have had tasted life like this. My life could not be going better than it is now. Sure I have my bad days. Life isn't always good times, but now I am better equipped to handle the bad days. I turn around and offer it up to God and He carries me through it. I put my trust and faith in Him and He gets me out of the bad times. He sees me through it. He guides me along the way. I offer it all up to Him. I allow Him to mold me. I am 100% open to His way and His will for me. I have opened my heart and my life to Him and I am in a much better place for it. I am happy. I have never been this happy. I couldn't want or hope for anything more in my life than what God has planned for me in the last few weeks. Life has never been this good. I have never been this happy. I have known peace and happiness before. In the past I had tried to obtain this same sense of peace and happiness in my, but on my own. I tried my will and my way, but it wasn't until I left it all up to God did I obtain that ulitmiate sense of peace and healing. He has done so many things in my life. I am a different person than I was this time a year ago. I am a different person than I was a few weeks ago. God has transformed me and He continues to do so. This transformation is not over. It goes on and on. He has healed me in ways I have not expected or even hoped for. He has changed and molded me in ways that I have not even yet prayed for. They were just mere thoughts in the back of my mind, but only God and God alone knew what was best for me. And He made them happen. He knew what was in my heart of hearts and He changed me. I have grown so much in the spirit over the last few months. I am so alive in the spirit. God ives in me. I live each day for God. I try and live out God's will for me everyday. I owe my life to God. I owe everything to Him. I owe my life and happiness to Him. I never knew life could be this good. I never knew I could have this much happiness in my life. I never knew I could have this much peace in my life. I can barely look back and imagine what my life was like before I knew God. The pain and struggles of the past will always be a part of me, but I'll never forget the day that I surrendered to God's will. I'll never forget it because that's the day I really began to live. Everything is just falling into place as God has it planned for me. I am truly thankful for all the family and friends who have inspired me on this journey. I am thankful for Johnerick and Christine who have been there for me through thick and thin. They have been there for me when I was down and out and it the pit of pits. They have been there to love and support me no matter what I was going through in my lfe. They have been my rock and support. I am thankful for people like Tina, Juve, Cathy J, Ate Dobbie, and Ate Chelly for inspiring me to have faith. For witnessing the awesome power of God and how He has worked in their lives. I saw all the amazing things He has done in their lives and I was inspired to strive for that same peace and happiness that can only be obtained by knowing the Lord.They have set an example for me of what it means to have faith. I never knew I could have faith like this. I never knew I could know and love the Lord as I do today. I never knew that I could be such an awesome witness to His awesome power. I could go on and on forever abuot how amazing God has been in my life, but I do have to get some rest and get to bed. I'm sure I'll write more later. I'm sure I'll have more to share about how God has continued to mold me and change me. I want to continue to be that light for Him. I want other to see the peace I have in my life and I want them to desire it.I want them to know that they can have it too. Just have to surrender to God and His will. You won't reget it.
Have you surrendered yourself to God's will? Have you put all your faith and trust in the Lord? I have one piece of adivce... Surrender yourself to God's will. You'll never forget the day that you did. I am at a point in my life where I have totally and completely surrendered to God's will. I am no longer in control of my destiny. It's in the hands of God now. It's not about what I want or how I want it, but what God has planned for me and how He wants it done. It's His will not mine. I had plans in my head on how my life should be and where I wanted to go. I thought I knew what I wanted and how I wanted to get there. I had designed a plan for myself based on what I wanted and how I wanted it done. I now know that it's not about what I want and how I want it done, but what God wants and how He wants it done. I have surrendered to His way and His will and His ultimate plan for me. I have come to realize that His will is far better than any plan in my mind or any master plan of my design. His way is far better than any way we could have planned it. He makes all things happen in His time and His way and in ways that are best for us. He knows what is best for us. He allows all things to happen to us both good and bad. He allows them all to happen to make us stronger people and to witness to His awesome power. A lot of things have happened in my life. Both good things and bad things but they all happened by the grace and will of God. They have happened to make me a stronger person so that I can witness to God's grace. I have allowed God to use me and mold me into the person that He meant for me to be. I am becoming the person God has always wanted me to be. I have had faith before. I have always believed in God. I have had strong foundation in faith all my life. But I have NEVER have had tasted life like this. My life could not be going better than it is now. Sure I have my bad days. Life isn't always good times, but now I am better equipped to handle the bad days. I turn around and offer it up to God and He carries me through it. I put my trust and faith in Him and He gets me out of the bad times. He sees me through it. He guides me along the way. I offer it all up to Him. I allow Him to mold me. I am 100% open to His way and His will for me. I have opened my heart and my life to Him and I am in a much better place for it. I am happy. I have never been this happy. I couldn't want or hope for anything more in my life than what God has planned for me in the last few weeks. Life has never been this good. I have never been this happy. I have known peace and happiness before. In the past I had tried to obtain this same sense of peace and happiness in my, but on my own. I tried my will and my way, but it wasn't until I left it all up to God did I obtain that ulitmiate sense of peace and healing. He has done so many things in my life. I am a different person than I was this time a year ago. I am a different person than I was a few weeks ago. God has transformed me and He continues to do so. This transformation is not over. It goes on and on. He has healed me in ways I have not expected or even hoped for. He has changed and molded me in ways that I have not even yet prayed for. They were just mere thoughts in the back of my mind, but only God and God alone knew what was best for me. And He made them happen. He knew what was in my heart of hearts and He changed me. I have grown so much in the spirit over the last few months. I am so alive in the spirit. God ives in me. I live each day for God. I try and live out God's will for me everyday. I owe my life to God. I owe everything to Him. I owe my life and happiness to Him. I never knew life could be this good. I never knew I could have this much happiness in my life. I never knew I could have this much peace in my life. I can barely look back and imagine what my life was like before I knew God. The pain and struggles of the past will always be a part of me, but I'll never forget the day that I surrendered to God's will. I'll never forget it because that's the day I really began to live. Everything is just falling into place as God has it planned for me. I am truly thankful for all the family and friends who have inspired me on this journey. I am thankful for Johnerick and Christine who have been there for me through thick and thin. They have been there for me when I was down and out and it the pit of pits. They have been there to love and support me no matter what I was going through in my lfe. They have been my rock and support. I am thankful for people like Tina, Juve, Cathy J, Ate Dobbie, and Ate Chelly for inspiring me to have faith. For witnessing the awesome power of God and how He has worked in their lives. I saw all the amazing things He has done in their lives and I was inspired to strive for that same peace and happiness that can only be obtained by knowing the Lord.They have set an example for me of what it means to have faith. I never knew I could have faith like this. I never knew I could know and love the Lord as I do today. I never knew that I could be such an awesome witness to His awesome power. I could go on and on forever abuot how amazing God has been in my life, but I do have to get some rest and get to bed. I'm sure I'll write more later. I'm sure I'll have more to share about how God has continued to mold me and change me. I want to continue to be that light for Him. I want other to see the peace I have in my life and I want them to desire it.I want them to know that they can have it too. Just have to surrender to God and His will. You won't reget it.
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