Is God Enough?

Psalm 18: 1-3

1"I love You, O Lord, my strength."

2The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,

My God, my rock, in whom I take refuge;

My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

3I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised,

And I am saved from my enemies.

Is God Enough?

There have been times in my life where I have wondered about this question.  To be quite honest with you I have pondered this question a lot since being on the mission field of a foreign country.  But let me first share with you the first time I truly thought about the words is this question as well as other times…is God enough?  The other questions that stemmed from this one are many!  

Is God enough when my life does not go as planned?

Is God enough when friends move far away?

Is God enough when friends die?

Is God enough when I have to change jobs?

Is God enough when my mom dies?  

Is God enough when I get a divorce?

Is God enough if my husband dies in combat?

Is God enough if something happens to my children?

Is God enough if something happens to my husband while serving on the mission field?

Will my God be enough to sustain me if any or all of these things happen?  

YES~

I know the answer is an unmistakeable YES!  How do I know?  This is the first time I really thought about this question.  When one of my friends lost his life in a car accident on my 18th birthday, I thought about this questions…  

Is God enough?  

Where was He when Ben lost his life in that accident?  He was right there holding His precious child and holding the hands of all those who loved Ben.  He comforted us in our time of grief and gave us what we needed to live life without Ben.  

When my mom was first diagnosed with breast cancer during my junior year of college I thought about this question…

Is God enough? 

At that point in my life I was searching for meaning to everything in my life.  I wanted to know that everything was going to be alright.  But in desiring that I was not truly desiring God’s will for my life or the life of those around me.  So I struggled with the thought of God being enough to sustain me and my struggles.  But He did sustain me and His will at that time was remission for my mom.  

I think that this question really was tested in my life when I was working in my hometown while waiting for my wedding day and I became the victim of rape and kidnap.  My world was torn apart as well as was the fibers that knit my family together.  

Is God Enough?

In the midst of this unspeakable tragedy God was right there holding me, His child, and protecting me from death.  At that moment, I was clinging to all that I knew about God and desired to know where He was when that happened.  He has taught me that what the devil meant for evil God means for good.  (Genesis 50:20 “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”)  I can be a light to those who have gone through similar experiences.  I can give hope for a new tomorrow.  Twenty years later I am giving that hope and being that light for girls in a foreign country.  Loving on them and teaching them about His love for them no matter what they have been through.  I can remember thinking there is no light at the end of this tunnel but God was that light, directing me and pulling me closer to Him.  He never left me.  

Still, is God enough when your loved one dies?  Yes, He is!  He is enough.  He was right there with me when my mom died from breast cancer.  He helped me be an anchor for her.  He used me to show others His love.  He was with my mom while she took her last breath.  He gave me comfort in knowing that she was in no more pain.  She would suffer no more in this world and that we would reunite again in heaven.  

So, if the other questions I ponder do happen soon or many years from now, I can answer the question, Is God Enough with an unmistakeable YES.  Because I can go back to all the times He sustained me before and was Enough for me.  I can cry out like David, saying the Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer!  He is the one in whom I take refuge.  He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  He is worthy of my praise.  

No matter what you have been through or what you may go through today, tomorrow or years from now, may you find comfort in knowing that GOD IS ENOUGH!  Whether you are single, married, widowed, divorced, lost loved ones, lost jobs or even everything…GOD IS ENOUGH.  He will use these things in our life to show us we NEED Him.  We cannot live this life without Him.   Do you believe this?  

Take time today to spend sharing your hurts with God.  Tell Him where you are at.  Let Him help your unbelief.  

Listen to this song:  

http://youtu.be/Yzejd6r9DwE

Healer

You hold my very moment

You calm my raging seas

You walk with me through fire

And heal all my disease

I trust in You, I trust in You

I believe You're my healer

I believe You are all I need

I believe

And I believe You're my portion

I believe You're more than enough for me

Jesus You're all I need

You hold my very moment

You calm my raging seas

You walk with me through fire

And heal all my disease

I trust in You, Lord I trust in You

I believe You're my healer

I believe You are all I need

Oh, I believe

I believe You're my portion

I believe You're more than enough for me

Jesus You're all I need

Nothing is impossible for You

Nothing is impossible

Nothing is impossible for You

You hold my world in Your hands

Nothing is impossible for You

Nothing is impossible

Nothing is impossible for You

You hold my world in Your hands

I believe You're my healer

I believe You are all I need

Oh, yes You are, yes You are

And I believe You're my portion

Lord I believe You're more than enough for me

Jesus You're all I need

More than enough for me

Jesus You're all I need

You're my healer end of lyrics

Your Tongue is a Powerful Tool

Your Tongue Is A Powerful Tool 

Psalm 12: 2-6

2They speak falsehood to one another;

With flattering lips and with a double heart they speak.

3May the Lord cut off all flattering lips,

The tongue that speaks great things;

4Who have said, "With our tongue we will prevail;

Our lips are our own; who is lord over us?"

5"Because of the devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy,

Now I will arise," says the Lord; "I will set him in the safety for which he longs."

6The words of the Lord are pure words;

As silver tried in a furnace on the earth, refined seven times.

Did you know that your tongue has eight muscles?  I had no clue!  When we take the time to learn more about creation and the creator we will continue to be amazed.  While researching more about the tongue I realized the many things our tongues were designed to do.  The muscles in our tongues help us to lengthen and shorten it, curl and uncurl it as well as creating the shape of our tongues.  The flattening and rounding of our tongues help to provide shape and helps facilitate speech, swallowing, and eating. We use our tongues in society and culture to give gestures, as a figure of speech (i.e.. The word is on the tip of my tongue), to create body art, and in some cultures it is used as a source of food.  I have had to have this discussion with my children while at the grocery store recently.  That in some cultures the tongue is eaten as part of a meal.  The looks on their faces were priceless.  

I feel one of the most important things that we can use our tongues for is speech.  Our tongues, even though they are a smile muscle, they hold a lot of strength and power.  Our tongues are usually what gets us in trouble at home with our parents, at school with our teachers, at work and even with our closest friends.  When something comes off the tongue there is not way to take it back.  This is the disheartening part of living life.  We get so caught up in our emotions that words just fly off our tongue like leaves flying in the wind.  How many times has this happened to you?  You are upset with your child, your spouse or your boss and you say things.  Things, that if you really thought about it, you don’t really mean them.  You are just caught up in the moment.  In this psalm, it speaks about how the tongue communicates empty talk (falsehood), smooth talk (flattering), double talk and big talk.  It was a problem then and it is still a problem today.  We as humans continue to have difficulty controlling our tongues and how we treat others.  We must strive to be more like Christ every day and display those pure words to others.  Do you remember your mom or grandma saying, “If you can’t say anything nice, then don’t say anything at all.”  We are to lift each other up with words of affirmation.  Harsh words stir up trouble (Proverbs 15:1). Today, make it a priority to stop and think before you speak.  This is such a teachable moment with our children on how to do this.  I still need help in this area!  If you know me, words just come out of my mouth that should probably stay inside my head.  I get caught up in my conversations and get excited that I just don’t think before I speak.  I was just having this discussion with Josh about two weeks ago.  The good thing about learning another language is that you do a lot of stopping and thinking (or translating in your head) before you speak! 

Just remember, we are all a work in progress.  But we have to put effort into becoming more like Christ.  

Go out today and give words of encouragement, words of love, and words of truth to those you come in contact with.  Your words may be the only kind thing they hear.  

Prayer: Help me to stop and think before I speak today.  Give me the words to say to others that would be uplifting and loving.  Show me someone today who needs an encouraging word.  In Jesus Name I pray, Amen. 

Be Still

Psalm 8: 1-9

1 O Lord, our Lord,

How majestic is Your name in all the earth,

Who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!

2 From the mouth of infants and nursing babes You have established strength

Because of Your adversaries,

To make the enemy and the revengeful cease.

3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,

The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;

4 What is man that You take thought of him,

And the son of man that You care for him?

5 Yet You have made him a little lower than God,

And You crown him with glory and majesty!

6 You make him to rule over the works of Your hands;

You have put all things under his feet,

7 All sheep and oxen,

And also the beasts of the field,

8 The birds of the heavens and the fish of the sea,

Whatever passes through the paths of the seas.

9 O Lord, our Lord,

How majestic is Your name in all the earth!

I wonder so many times like the song, “who am I, that the Lord of all the earth, would care to know my name,  would care to feel my hurt.”  Do you ever wonder this?  When I look around me and take the time to marvel at the wonders of His creation, it amazes me.  To the smallest of details God has put thought into His creation.  Sometimes I get so busy with living life that I forget to LIVE life.  Does that make sense to you like it does in my mind?  If it doesn’t let me try to explain.  I wake up in the morning with my list of things to do and go about my day with the purpose of marking things off my list that I forget to ‘stop and smell the roses’.  God says in Psalm  46:10” Be still and know that I am God.”  He wants us to acknowledge that He is in control of everything.  He pays attention to the smallest of details from the number of hairs on our heads to the stamen and pistil of a flower.  How cool is that!  I forget to LIVE life with the purpose of living for Him. 

When was the last time you took the time to stop and marvel at His creation?  

This morning?

Yesterday?

Last week? 

Or even last month?

Yesterday I took the time to go around our neighborhood to take  pictures of flowers.  Why?  I want to make a book for a friend who loves flowers.  Of course, I can send her flowers in the states but I wanted to send her flowers from Nicaragua.  I can do that with 1800flowers or FTD but I want her to have flowers from Nicaragua.  I want her to see the beauty in these flowers but also to remind her of God’s creation and His love for her.  On this walk I found myself reflecting on His creation not just with flowers but all of nature.  So many times I get distracted by the things in this world that I loose sight of the world.  (Romans 12:2)  I forget to live my life with a kingdom perspective rather than a “me” perspective.  So many times we begin our day incorrectly.  So if today you woke up like I have before with that list of things to get accomplished for the day, take moment right now, and ask God to help you change your perspective so you can LIVE life today with purpose.  Take time during your break time or lunch time to spend quietly with the Lord,  Reflecting on His beauty around you.  

Prayer: You O, Lord are majestic!  You have created the stars in the sky and the creatures of the sea.  You know the hairs on my head!  Thank you for Your abounding love for me.  Thank you for giving me the sight to see your creation whether it is with my physical eyes or in my heart.  Thank you for Who You Are!  

Hook, Line & Sinker

Colossians 2:4

“4I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.”

In light of the midterm elections that took place this week, I feel this particular scripture rings true, even today.  Not just in the world of politics but sadly enough we still find this in our workplaces and our own churches.  We see leaders in the church preaching a false doctrine.  The Gospel + something else.  It is the Gospel alone.  

Do you know the kind of person I am speaking of?  You do.  You know the ones.  The ones who are smooth talkers.  The ones who can persuade you to do things that you would not normally do.  This person is the one who is a leader but they are leading people down the wrong path.

Let’s take a walk down memory lane….

When you were growing up in school, did you have someone in your class or school that fit this description?  Maybe they were the brains in the class.  They could get you to believe anything they said because they must know what they are talking about.  They are the smartest ones in the class.  Or, they were the class jock.  The reason they could get you to believe anything they said was because of their popularity.  Everyone was drawn to this type of person.  Through the ages we have seen this type of person in every scene.  The walk in to the room with a presence about them and we are drawn to them.  At first we don’t quite know why but they have a presence about them that we like.  

It is a slow fade.  

After a little time we are hooked

…by their charm

…by the way they carry themselves

…by their words

Then, BAM!  

We have fallen for what they have said.  Hook.  Line.  And Sinker! 

It’s a slow fade.  

We have given everything we believed away.  

We have been persuaded to believe a lie. 

This lie has been taught to us from someone we thought knew what they were talking about because of their brains, their charm or because of their popularity.  What ever the reason that we put their word over God’s word does not matter.  When we allow others to creep into our heads with a false teaching or persuasive argument they pull us away from the truth.  They pull us further away from God.  They begin to change us from the outside in.  Why?  Because we were not in the word daily, allowing God to speak His truth into us,  we let someone else tell us what His word says.  We let someone else tell us what we should believe.  

The next time you go to church, to a bible study, go into a meeting at work or go vote make sure you have done your part.  You have taken time preparing for the task at hand.  You have read your bible and bible study.  You have done your research so you are prepared to be an active participant at the meeting.  You have researched the candidates that are up for election.  

We must get back to putting forth the effort into everything we do.  

We must have that desire to bring Glory and Honor to God in everything we do.  

We must spend time daily with God allowing Him to speak His truths in us.  

We must allow God to use us to bring others to Christ.   

Prayer: Father, Hear our cry.  Heal our land.  As your word says in 2 Chronicles 7:14 “and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  May the hearts of your people turn back to you.  May we seek You first!  May we look to Your word for the truth.  In Jesus Name I Pray, Amen.  

Listen to the song: If We’ve Ever Needed You by Casting Crowns.

http://youtu.be/VC131P22CZA

Christ Alone

Colossians 2:1-4

1For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, 2that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself, 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.

Christ ALONE

Reflecting over my last month here in the states I have encountered many different perspectives of our life in Nicaragua.  At times it has been humorous to hear peoples comments but on the other hand those same comments make my heart hurt for them.  

We are not saints for what we have done.  We are just being obedient to what God has called us to do.

We did not go just for a year to experience life in another country.  We went with a heart desiring to serve the Lord for as long as He calls us there.  

We are not stronger than you.  We have come to rely on God’s strength each and everyday.

We have the same needs.  We have the same desires.  And, what we have found is that we have to get back to the truth of scripture as a “church” which is called a BODY OF BELIEVERS.  

Reading through Colossians today, I have the same feelings feel as Paul.  I struggle with the hearts of the people here in the US and all over the world.  My greatest desire is for them, even you who is reading this, to be encouraged in Christ ALONE.  Christ ALONE is the one who walks with us each and everyday.  Christ ALONE is the one who gives who the assurance of a tomorrow.  Not a tomorrow guaranteed to live in this place we call “home” but if it is our time to leave this world then a guarantee that tomorrow you will be in your eternal home.  

No matter where you live, so easily we can get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life.  But is this what Christ called us to get caught up in?  NO!  He wants us to get caught up in the life of doing His business.  What is His business you may ask?  His business is loving the Lord your God and loving others.  You may say what about making disciples.  We are supposed to do this as well but Christ summed up the 10 commandments into these two and when you love the Lord and your love others (Matthew 22:36-40) you are obeying what he commands in Matthew 28 for the great commission.  In my opinion you can’t make disciples if you don’t love the Lord and love others.  So we must be filled with His wisdom and knowledge in order to do His business.  We cannot be deceived any longer with the false teachers that are unfortunately so prevalent in our churches today.  Just turn on the tv or visit a church in your area that is preaching a feel good message.  I know my heart hurts for those who are sitting under preachers, teachers, etc who are not preaching God’s word and His word alone.  God Word + anything else is false teaching.  It is God’s Word ALONE that we are to share.  

Don’t think that just because our family has been called to a foreign land that we are any different from you.  We are no different.  We experience a lot of the same things from getting frustrated with school work with our children, driving and the person in the other lane swerves into our lane, to being distracted by the things of this world.  But I am grateful to be where God has called us to be because our family has learned over the last year of our life what is truly important…..Christ ALONE.  

Prayer: Father, turn our hearts back to You.  Take the distractions out of our lives so that we can serve You more.  I know not everyone is called to the foreign mission field but we are all called to be missionaries in our own home, workplace, neighborhoods.  Make me more mission minded wherever You have me today.  In Jesus Name I Pray. Amen. 

Clinging to Life

Do you find yourself clinging to life right now?  I have to confess I am clinging to life.  Clinging to things I miss.  Clinging to relationships with friends back home.  Clinging to things familiar.  Clinging to my first language.  Clinging to everything but what I should be clinging to...the TRUTH of God's Word!  Josh and I had a good discussion last night, which was a major milestone for me.  I have found it difficult to have in depth conversations with my own husband for years.  Why?  Maybe from fear of really sharing my heart and those thoughts being out there vulnerable to what I don't know.  But I felt like a light turned on last night for me not only in this area but in the area of where I am having difficulty.

This step of faith, in coming to Nicaragua, has been one of the hardest things I have ever done but I can probably guarantee will not be the last.  I have had to depend on things other than myself which is what we all should be doing everyday!  We should be clinging to the very foundation of what our life is about - Christ!  Josh reminded, which I knew already but so need reminding everyday, me that I am here in Nicaragua for a purpose.  I have discovered that in the missionary community it is a lot like the military community in that people have reservations of making deep friendships with others for fear of them moving away.  If you know me, really know me you know that is so not my nature.  That is the complete OPPOSITE of my personality.  I want to develop deeper relationships and am not afraid of sharing my heart, all my heart with others.  I have felt God nudging me to get closer with the ladies in our neighborhood but definitely need God's help with this.  Another mom in the neighborhood talked about when she first came it was hard to get into a group that already looked so tight.  We must be willing to open our hearts to have others be a part of our groups.  Because who are we to say someone would be a part of the group or not.  Think about the movie, "Yaya Sisterhood" (one of my favorites) and the diversity of the ladies who were friends.  We need diversity because we can all learn from each other.  We learn how to be a better daughter of the King, a better wife, a better mother, and a better friend when we let down our walls.  Jesus calls us to LOVE but how can we love others if we put up walls and cling to things in this life, instead of clinging to HIM.

God uses the daily things in our life to bring us closer to Him if only we will allow them to do so.  Don't look at the trials as something bad but as a chance to go deeper in your relationship with others and with God.  Cling to the TRUTHS found in God’s Word.  Cling to the PROMISES that He has given.  Cling to not only the CROSS but to the EMPTY TOMB.