As I was studying today and reading my devotionals I came across this quote. It said, 'Remember it is the very time for faith to work when sight ceases'. And we know that 'without faith it is impossible to please the Lord'. (Hebrews 11:6) These words made me think of my great Pastor during the past year. I watched him come into the church, sometimes in a wheelchair, in order to do the one thing he loved so very much, and that was preach the Word of God. He would come in just to say "hello" and during that time his words of wisdom would ring throughout the sanctuary. Many times he would tell us what he was going to preach if he was feeling better. He would give us the scripture reference, three key points, along with a teaser packed with so much fire that it left you wanting more. That was the kind of Pastor he was. His love for God came across in everything he did. Many times he would tell us that he didn't know what tomorrow would bring but he was going to keep on serving God, trusting and believing each and every day.
As I have stated on many difference occasions, I learned many things from my Pastor. One thing I learned that has carried me through adversity and uncertainty was to have faith in God. I used to wonder about Hebrews 11:6. I wondered why God would say that you could not please Him without faith. I remember Pops breaking it down for me. You see, when you don't have faith you are more likely to take the wheel, trying to orchestrate your own outcome as if you know what is best. You are spending so much time trying to figure out how to fix the situation that you no longer hear the voice of the Lord. You are no longer walking with God; you are walking ahead of Him. Instead of spending time in the Word and in communion with God, praising Him in advance for what is about to happen, you spend your time worrying. Think about it for a second. When you have faith in God , you have the confident assurance that He is going to do what He says He will do. It isn't about what you can see; instead it is about believing in the Word of God and standing on the promises. God is the only one who is able to bring help during our most extreme, difficult moments. The storms of life may be raging and He is able to say peace be still. Your heart may be broken, only God is able to mend your broken heart. Even as I write these words I am reminded of a song that simply says,'I don't know about tomorrow. I just live from day to day. I don't borrow from its sunshine, cause the skies may turn to gray. I don't worry about my future, for I know what Jesus said. And today He walks beside me, for He knows what lies ahead. Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand. But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand'. It's time out for putting your faith in manmade things. They can be here today and gone tomorrow. But one thing I know for sure, one who never changes and that is my God. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He promised to be with me through it all and I'm holding Him to it. When you pray, pray with expectancy! Know that God hears and He answers prayers. Ask Him to help you with that urge to take over control. He can and He will. Have faith!
Most Gracious Heavenly Father,
Father I thank you for who You are. In a world where there is so much change and uncertainty, Lord you are my constant. I can come to You and I know that everything is going to be okay. I thank You for not always giving me what I ask for but instead looking down the road to see what is best for me in the long run. How many times, O Lord, have I moved ahead of your divine plan for my life to what I thought I needed. Help me not to complain as You work things out on my behalf, instead help me to have faith. I may not know how things are going to works out but I know that they will work out for my good and for Your glory. I believe it and I know that it shall be even as You have said. Thank you for loving me and caring for me in spite of my many faults. Lord I want to be more like You. Show me the way. It is in the precious and wonderful name of Jesus I pray Amen.
Showing posts with label Pastor A.G. Woodberry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pastor A.G. Woodberry. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Thursday, September 15, 2011
New Math
It is so frustrating some days helping my daughters with their math homework. Math was my favorite subject in school but this 'new math' is frustrating. All these extra steps to get to a simple solution. I have been reading over Pastor Woodberry's sermons about Elijah, specifically a sermon entitled "An Unusual Request taken from I Kings 17:8-11. In this text you find Elijah at a dried up brook in the midst of a drought.
'Then the word of the Lord came to him, "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you. So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said,"Bring me a little water in the vessel, that I may drink. And as she was going to bring it. he called to her and said. "Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand." I Kings 17:8-11
The story goes on to say how the widow told Elijah that she only had a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. Yet Elijah insisted that the woman make him a cake first and then make something for her and her son. Now I don't know about you but there have been months where I have looked at my bank account and then listed my bills. I then looked back at my bank account trying to figure out how I was going to buy groceries and keep the lights on. And not only was I taking care of myself but there were children who were depending on me as well. As I look back on the situations now I see how there was not one night that my family went without. The bank account might have read $0 but the pantry said 'full'; Anybody shouting yet! When I think about how many times what I saw on paper showed negative but God made it to where I never skipped a beat. I praise God. You see, God is able to take what we see as a minus and turn it into a positive. Or as my Pastor said,"You're sitting there looking at the paper and seeing 1+1 =2 and God is looking at it and seeing 1+1 =8. That's what I call 'New Math'. 'New Math' is where God is able to take our limited resources and turn them into blessings overflowing.
If you read the remainder of the story you find that the widow did as Elijah asked. (Sidenote: Your blessing may be tied to your being obedient to what God or His vessel is telling you.) She made the cake for Elijah first and afterwards Elijah, the widow and her son ate for days. 'The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty (v.16). Stop stressing about what you don't have and instead start praising God what you do have. You might not have that perfect job right that pays you for what you are worth. But you can praise God that the job you do have God has allowed it to stretch to meet your needs. Someone reading this may be sitting in a house knowing they are behind on their mortgage or driving a car that you know should be repossessed. Maybe you have been sitting at home wondering when things are going to get better. I challenge you today to embrace the 'New Math' concept. Stay obedient to God and His Word. Put Him first and watch how He fulfills His promises in your life. Sometimes its hard to see past what is staring you right in your face, the phone ringing, the bills coming in the mail, the doctor's report, a loveless marriage, a broken relationship. Just know that God is able to take all those things and turn them around for your good and His glory. You just have to trust Him!
Our Father which are in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Lord I come to You today believing Your promise knowing that if You said it, it will come to pass. I'm trusting You. I know in my heart that trouble won't last always and in spite of everything I see, I can still have joy. Father I praise You because I know that even though the sky is cloudy right now, the sun will shine again. Lord I am asking you to remove all distractions...both people and things...that stop me from living in Your will. Thank you for answering my prayer. I will continue to give Your name the praise. In Jesus' Wonderful Name I pray Amen.
'Then the word of the Lord came to him, "Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow there to feed you. So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks. And he called to her and said,"Bring me a little water in the vessel, that I may drink. And as she was going to bring it. he called to her and said. "Bring me a morsel of bread in your hand." I Kings 17:8-11
The story goes on to say how the widow told Elijah that she only had a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. Yet Elijah insisted that the woman make him a cake first and then make something for her and her son. Now I don't know about you but there have been months where I have looked at my bank account and then listed my bills. I then looked back at my bank account trying to figure out how I was going to buy groceries and keep the lights on. And not only was I taking care of myself but there were children who were depending on me as well. As I look back on the situations now I see how there was not one night that my family went without. The bank account might have read $0 but the pantry said 'full'; Anybody shouting yet! When I think about how many times what I saw on paper showed negative but God made it to where I never skipped a beat. I praise God. You see, God is able to take what we see as a minus and turn it into a positive. Or as my Pastor said,"You're sitting there looking at the paper and seeing 1+1 =2 and God is looking at it and seeing 1+1 =8. That's what I call 'New Math'. 'New Math' is where God is able to take our limited resources and turn them into blessings overflowing.
If you read the remainder of the story you find that the widow did as Elijah asked. (Sidenote: Your blessing may be tied to your being obedient to what God or His vessel is telling you.) She made the cake for Elijah first and afterwards Elijah, the widow and her son ate for days. 'The jar of flour was not spent, neither did the jug of oil become empty (v.16). Stop stressing about what you don't have and instead start praising God what you do have. You might not have that perfect job right that pays you for what you are worth. But you can praise God that the job you do have God has allowed it to stretch to meet your needs. Someone reading this may be sitting in a house knowing they are behind on their mortgage or driving a car that you know should be repossessed. Maybe you have been sitting at home wondering when things are going to get better. I challenge you today to embrace the 'New Math' concept. Stay obedient to God and His Word. Put Him first and watch how He fulfills His promises in your life. Sometimes its hard to see past what is staring you right in your face, the phone ringing, the bills coming in the mail, the doctor's report, a loveless marriage, a broken relationship. Just know that God is able to take all those things and turn them around for your good and His glory. You just have to trust Him!
Our Father which are in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Lord I come to You today believing Your promise knowing that if You said it, it will come to pass. I'm trusting You. I know in my heart that trouble won't last always and in spite of everything I see, I can still have joy. Father I praise You because I know that even though the sky is cloudy right now, the sun will shine again. Lord I am asking you to remove all distractions...both people and things...that stop me from living in Your will. Thank you for answering my prayer. I will continue to give Your name the praise. In Jesus' Wonderful Name I pray Amen.
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
I Won't Complain
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Psalm 147:3
Early Saturday I received some disturbing news, that someone I love very dearly went from labor to reward. The pain has been unbearable. Even as I sit here in my room typing, my heart is sad. I've spent the past few days thinking of all the things he taught me over the years and I decided to take this week to share some of those things that have helped to grow me into the spiritual woman I am today. Today while driving and listening to one of his many sermons I thought about all the things he had shared with me. One very important thing I learned from him was 'patient endurance'. What is patient endurance? It is a development of heart and character which manifests itself in an endurance of wrong or affliction with contentment, without rebellion of will. Just as if he were standing right here in front of me, I can hear him clearly saying as though he could read my thoughts, "Why not you?", when I was questioning why the Lord chose me to go through this storm. (And many times he did know without me having to say one word.) I recall many times when I wanted to give up, when his words would encourage me. I remember many days sitting in my room reading over sermon notes and listening to one of his cd's to lift my spirits. How his prayers were one of the one's that helped to will me back to life many years ago.
Many of us who love him will never know the pain that he had to go through these last few years, or even the last few weeks but one thing I know is that he never lost his faith. I sat and watched time after time how people tried their best to bring him down and yet he kept right on standing. He trusted God to see him through. I never studied the Word the way I do now until I sat under his teaching. I had always memorized scripture but to actually sit and break down a verse line by line, word by word, didn't come until I heard him in a Wednesday night Bible study. He taught each lesson with such fire that you couldn't help but want to experience some of it for yourself. What he had on the inside of him was contagious! He had to share it with others. And many times after preaching, full of the Holy Spirit he would sing the words below.
I've had some weary days; And some sleepless nights
But when I look around; And I think things over
All of my good days; Outweigh my bad days
I won't complain.
Sometimes the clouds hang low; I can hardly see the road
I ask a question, Lord; Why so much pain?
But he knows what's best for me; Although my weary eyes they can't see
So I'll just say thank you Lord
I won't complain
God Has been so good to me; He's been good to me
More than this old world or you could ever be
He's been so good, To me
He dries all of my tears away; Turned my midnights into day
So I'll just say thank you Lord
I won't complain.
He wanted me and others to know that things weren't always going to be good. In fact there were times when things would be downright unbearable but as long as you trusted God and put your hands in his hands and allowed him to lead, guide and direct you everything was going to be alright. You might have to cry sometime, the clouds may hang low. There might be several days were the sun doesn't shine but keep on believing. Keep on trusting. Hold on. Don't complain. Praise God in every circumstance. Even in the midst of the grief that I know so many of you feel who were touched by the life of Pastor A. G. Woodberry (and even for those of you who may not have known him who are reading this), be encouraged. Never stop trusting God. Stand on His Word. Nourish your personal relationship with God. Know that through it all He will see you through.
Father I come today with one request, walk with me. Right now my heart is heavy. Thank You for the life that my dear Pastor lived and how he was an example to me and so many others. It is in times like these that I've come to realize that I can't make it without You. I'm asking You to wrap your arms around his family. Be with them during their quiet moments. These are not the best of times but Lord I'm trusting You to hold my hand and help me make it through. I know that You have the power to heal my broken heart and repair my broken spirit. I'm leaning and depending on You and thanking you in advance. Help me to be there for others during their time of need as Pastor was for me over and over again. I will continue to give your name the praise. In Jesus' Wonderful Name I pray Amen.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)