Hello Folks! I'm so sorry that I haven't posted a well-written post in a while.:) My schedule has been crazy!
I'll be back on Sunday, so I'll be sure to start writing a post...
Steph
P.S. I know the picture is pretty random, but I love coffee drinks!
I just wanted to do a special post dedicating it to my precious brother and his wonderful debate partner! They have been doing so well! But, the thing that blesses me the most... is that they give the Lord all the glory! They have been shining bright lights! Their humility is beautiful! I love you Alan and Samantha! Your love for the Lord is amazing!
To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1
The beauty in the way God designed the four seasons is that, though each one is distinct, they all work together to bring life and growth. Spring is a period of freshness and new life. Summer sees growth and productivity. Autumn is a time for harvesting the rewards of past labors. Winter is the season of dormancy and closure. Each season has its own unique beauty and makes a significant contribution to life.
Just as God planned seasons in nature, He planned seasons in life as well. Life has its springtime, when we begin new things and look excitedly toward the future. Summer comes and we work diligently in the heat of the day at all that God has assigned to us. With autumn comes the fruition of things begun at an earlier time in our lives. Winter brings an end to a particular period in our lives. Sometimes winter brings hardship, but we remain hopeful, for another spring is just around the corner!
In God's perfect design for our lives, He has planned for times of fruitfulness and activity. He will also build in times of quiet and rest. There will be times when He asks us to remain faithful doing the same work day after day. But there will also be periods of excitement and new beginnings. By God's grace, we will enjoy seasons of harvesting the fruit of our faithfulness. By God's grace we will also overcome the cold winters of heartache and grief, for without winter there would be no spring. Just as it is with the seasons of nature, these seasons in our lives work together to bring about God's perfect will for each one of us.
Devotion taken from, Experiencing God, by Henry T. Blackaby and Richard Blackaby
The stone floor was hard and cold against his head, and it relentlessly whispered to him of no possible chance of undisturbed sleep. A thick film of waste and scum seemed to crawl in every direction. The stench was unbearable. The young man ran his hands through his lice infested hair as he stared up through the opening in the ceiling. The sparkling stars radiated their light as if they were billions of fire flies. The unlimited stormy blue expanse blanketed across the horizon. All of it proclaimed the finger work of the greatest Artist, A Creator that created so many something’s out of nothing. He suddenly sat up and heaved a confusing sigh, in front of him lay a puddle of rain water; he got to his knees and peered into it. His reflection seemed to yell its doubtful questions. Thoughts began to paint themselves on the canvas of his weary mind. Do you still believe that God will carry out your dreams? Look at you! You're in a prison! You were sold by your very own brothers? Your flesh and blood! Dreamer, what makes you think that they will come true? It’s impossible! Your situation is hopeless!
God's promises are like the stars: the darker the night, the brighter they shine.
–Author Unknown
In Joseph’s circumstance, everything around him only seemed to scream that his dreams were impossibilities. What I find to be so amazing is that the Bible never mentions that he became bitter or angry with God. I’m sure he was confused at times...maybe even wondered what he could have done to have all these storms rocking his ship of faith. In the book, Come Away My Beloved, it states, “My Child, I direct every motion of your life, as the ocean bears a ship. Your will and intelligence may be at the helm, but divine providence and sovereignty are stronger forces. You can trust Me, knowing that any pressure I bring to bear upon your life is initiated by My love, and I will not do even this except as you are willing and desire. Many a ship has sailed from port to port with no interference from Me, because Strong Will has been at the wheel. Multitudes of pleasure cruises go merrily on their ways, untouched by the power of My hand. But you have put your life into My keeping, and because you are depending on Me for guidance and direction. I shall give it!” Joseph’s heart was a heart willing to go through anything that would prepare him for the call. May our hearts have that same cry! A soul willing and yielding to the Lord’s direction and guidance...
God has given me a dream, a promise... I am learning daily what it means to have faith that doesn’t quit believing just because of what the clock is telling me. If your dream isn’t fulfilled at a certain time or season that doesn’t mean that it is over. Think of all the incredible men and women in the Bible, ordinary men and women like you and me, who had to walk their lives by faith! We are called to do the same! Hebrews 10:36 states, “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised!” Habakkuk 2:2-3, 4c Then the Lord replied, “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it, it will certainly come and will not delay....the righteous live by faith.”
Brothers and Sisters, we are called to persevere, to believe, and to patiently wait for the promises that he has planted in our hearts, for the dreams that he has caused to blossom in each of our minds. I have to keep telling myself that God’s promises are true and that His plans can’t be thwarted. Job 42:2 “I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.” Praise the Lord! He is faithful, and even though we have to go through life’s storms we can still make it through because we have held tightly to our Savior! Bless you!
Here's a song that I hope encourages you,
My Savior My God
Aaron Shust
I am not skilled to understand
What God has willed, what God has planned
I only know at His right hand
Stands one who is my Savior
I take Him at His word and deed
Christ died to save me; this I read
And in my heart I find a need
Of Him to be my savior
That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior
My Savior loves, My Savior lives
My Savior’s always there for me
My God: He was, my God; He is
My God is always gonna be
Yes, living, dying, let me bring
My strength, my solace from this spring;
That He who lives to be my King
Once died to be my Savior
That He would leave His place on high
And come for sinful man to die
You count it strange, so once did I
Before I knew my Savior
I hope this devotion from the book, Come Away My Beloved, blesses you...
