Tag Archives: trusting God

May 24, 2010 · 9:09 pm

Who Knows What the Tide Will Bring.

Kris and I watch the movie Cast Away most every time it comes on television.  I’m not sure why.  There is practically little to no dialogue during the first half of the movie.  Come to think of it… Maybe, we like there is little to no dialogue.  Once you have three children, silence is bliss.

Anyway, we were watching recently and I heard Tom Hanks’ character say:

“I have to keep breathing.  Because, tomorrow the sun will rise, and who knows what the tide will bring.”

Many have inquired about my little surgery and biopsies and whathaveyou.  It was all good, friends.  All good.  I was never really fearful, but there is always an awareness of the fragility of life when our lives are stopped head on with major interruptions and more doctor’s appointments that we care to attend to. 

But, I am a wife.  I am a mother.  And, most importantly, I am a follower of Christ.  I have continue to walk in truth.  I have to keep pressing toward the mark no matter what is staring me in the face. 

While our current situation may look grim or seem hopeless, we have to keep breathing.  We have to keep praying.  We have to keep trusting in our Father who loves us more than we can fathom.  Because, tomorrow the sun will rise, and who knows what God will do.

Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.  Psalm 30:5

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January 26, 2010 · 6:00 am

It’s Hard To Be Still. Anna Gets It Honest.

We lost internet yesterday for a whole twelve hours.  TWELVE.  I know.  It’s amazing we endured as well as we did.  Anyhoo, it was a good weekend, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t add a bit stressful.  Without delving into the details, I just flat out needed to feel the presence of God.  We all know with our heads that in difficult situations God will provide and direct us.  But, we, well, I, can easily become impatient and demand that I see the next chess move immediately.  What comes next?  Where do we go from here?  Do I do this?  Or, do I do that? 

I tend to share my “stuff” with my mom.  Mom prayed that God would give me some sort of wink over the weekend as a reminder of His presence….His providence.  When I woke up Sunday morning, John Henry came into my room with a plate of toast smothered with strawberry preserves.  He said, “I want to take care of you this morning.”  Anna followed suit with a bowl full of Wheat Thins. 

Um, I told her I save those for lunch. 

When I told Mom about the thoughtfulness of her grandchildren, she reminded me, “Out of the mouth of babes…..  God will take care of you.  Rest in His Word and His Promise.”

We went on to church and I heard a song I’ve heard a hundred times before.  It’s MercyMe’s Word of God Speak.  But, this time, I let the lyrics minister to me.  I thought they might minister to you, too. 

I’m finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it’s okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say

Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You’re in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak

I’m finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music, beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice

I’m finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it’s okay

Sometimes, when we are in a place of waiting and trusting, we just need to be still.  We need to trust in His Word.  We need to put it in the God box.  And, we need to rest in the arms of our Father who loves us more than we can comprehend.

Be still, and know that I am God.  Psalm 46:10

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September 29, 2009 · 6:00 am

My Pre-Blogging Life.

Long before I started this Randomness journal online, I had this journal.

journal wp

This book has been in my life since October of 1986.  Susan Woodward (Mimi) gave it to me.  See?

journal - susan wp

That was twenty-three years ago.  TWENTY-THREE!  That would have made me 11 years old.  I pulled out that old journal last night.  I have written in this journal every year since 1986 until 2003.  My very first entry began like this:

Journal entry 86 wp

The title of my entry was “The First Time the Lord Spoke to Me.”  I read through the writing of an eleven year old with a thirty-four year old heart.  I can still remember her and what she felt.  I read about a young girl wanting to hear God speak to her about a situation.  I wanted to hear a yes or a no.  I simply heard a trust that my parents’ decision is the will of God. 

I can remember my father telling me “no” concerning an event I wanted to hear a “yes” to.  I wrote, “Before the Lord spoke to me, I just knew I’d be disappointed if dad said no.” 

When God speaks, it should bring us peace.  It should make trusting Him easier, because His thoughts are so much higher than our thoughts.  It was such a simple concept for me to grasp at age 11.  But, at 34, I forget, on occasion, to be solely dependent on Him and what He says. 

I forget to trust His voice.

I forget to trust His voice in scriptures. 

I need that eleven year old girl to remind me more often that His very voice can calm stormy waters and bring peace to an unsettled heart. 

How do I ever forget that?

Incline my heart to your word.  Psalm 119:36

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April 27, 2009 · 6:00 am

Sometimes, I Just Need To Count My Stones.


Pastor Craig Groeschel of Lifechurch.tv made this statement yesterday:

“God is often doing the most when we understand the least.”

I’m in a trusting place with God right now.  Well, are we not always in a trusting place with God?  But, especially trusting Him more than usual.  Does that sound wrong?  I dunno.  Anyway.  When we don’t see Him moving or we don’t understand, we often question if He is doing anything at all.

He is.

So, what am I doing in the meantime?

I am remembering what He has already done.  I am remembering my stones.  Because, He has proven Himself more than enough times.

Remember what God has already done.  And, rest in knowing that He is doing something.

Mkay?

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July 17, 2008 · 6:00 am

Waiting


My recent faith journey has been a good one.  I’ve seen little miracles along the way, but I still haven’t climbed out of the “dip”, if you know what I mean.  I’ve been saying all the right things.  Praying all the right prayers.  Speaking words of life.  You get the picture. 

And, then I just get plain frustrated.

I question.

I regress.

My friend and prayer warrior, Lynn, reminded me of this scripture the other day:  “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.  They shall mount up with wings as eagles.  They shall run and not grow weary.  They shall walk and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31

(By the way, not many can pray like my dear friend, Lynn).

So what does it mean to wait?  I did a little research, ya’ll.

The word “wait” comes from the Hebrew word, “qavah”  (kaw-vaw’).  You kind of sound like a bird when you say it, don’t you?  It translates “to wait, look for, hope, expect.” 

Apparently, I’m not a very good waiter – in life nor in restaurants, I’m sure.

We’re going to have bumps in the road.  Our faith is going to be tested.  But be of good cheer – He has overcome the world.  So you can bet your bottom dollar (whatever that means) that He will pull you through whatever hard-hitting time is staring you in the face.  And, when you get discouraged – wait.  Hope.  Expect.  And, trust.  Remember the other times in your life when He came through – the other times where He made a way where there seemed to be no way.  This time will be no different.

When we wait upon Him, He renews our strength.  Waiting without Him wears us out.  I’ll stick with Him.  You?

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July 9, 2008 · 6:00 am

In the meantime.


After writing yesterday’s post, I was overwhelmed by not only enormous support, but a love that just reminds me of how truly blessed I am.  I said to my friend, Sharon, “Somebody raise the rod already!”  In other words, I’m ready for my Red Sea to part….like yesterday.

So, what do we do in the meantime?  What does trusting God look like?  I’ve always liked the scripture, “Be still, and know that I am God.”  Psalm 46:10 I can’t tell you how many times I’ve quoted it to myself and even to others.  Truth be told – it sounds good.  But, for a girl like me who gets ants in her pants often, it’s a tough one to swallow, really.  To be still is to trust Him.  His timing just isn’t always ours. 

Joyce Meyer says this about trusting God:

“As we continuously mature in the Christian life, we learn to believe for things not NOW but in God’s perfect timing. Hebrews 11:1 says, ‘NOW faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.’  We can always have faith now, but we cannot always have the manifestation now.  Trusting God often requires not knowing how God is going to accomplish what needs to be done and not knowing when He will do it. We always say, ‘God is never late,’ but He is generally not early either. Why? Because He uses those opportunities to stretch our faith in Him, and we grow during times of waiting.”

Amen, Sister Joyce.

This lady reminded me yesterday how important it is to listen to His voice.  “My sheep know my voice.”  John 10:27 Kitty said that “God continues to call us closer to Him.  ‘Search me O’ God…and know my heart.’”  That’s what I need to do in the meantime….and every day.

And, as for my comment yesterday on the righteous, and how “I hope I fit into that category”, this lady was precious to make sure that I remember that “we are not made righteous by our own goodness but by the blood of Christ!!!”   Can I get an Amen?  So, I want to make sure you all know that, too.  Otherwise, it is all works.  Thank Jesus for His grace.

Since I have a difficult time sitting still, I’m going to use this time to feed my spirit.  I’m going pray.  I’m going to serve.  I’m going to LISTEN to His voice.  I’m going to read His Word daily.  I’m going to read other life-giving books.  I’m currently reading “When the Game Is Over, It All Goes Back In the Box” by John Ortberg.  Good read so far.  Up next on the reading list is “Crazy Love:  Overwhelmed By A Relentless God” by Francis Chan. 

I want to live with a crazy love for Jesus.  I want to live like a Meshach, Shadrach, and Abednego who not only had such a trust in God – and such a crazy love for Him – that they could proclaim before being tossed in a fiery furnace that even if God didn’t deliver them, they still would not bow. 

That’s good stuff.  And, the really cool part is that God did deliver the three young men.  And, He still does.  He is the same yesterday, today, and so on and so forth.

So, in the meantime, I’m going to trust in Him, and pursue Him, because I know He is pursuing me.

How are you feeding your spirit right now? 

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