Perspective :: Five-Minute Friday

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Marianne

I have been laboring in my mind over my kids that learn so differently than me.

In particular, my four and a half year old son who is truly unlike any other child of mine (he is number 7 of 8). He is, in fact, so different from me and any other children of mine that when I pray with him at night, I lay my hands on his broadening shoulders and pray the same prayer – every night.

“May he grow in wisdom and stature and favor with God and with men.”

I hardly know what to pray for this child but this prayer brings me peace every evening as I rest in the faithfulness of a heavenly Father who knows every hair on his head.

Tonight, as I prayed, God gave me a new perspective. He showed me that all of my tried and true formulas for child rearing will be changed/challanged with this one. He helped me to see that I need to look beyond my own understanding to the One who gives understanding.

I have gone from worldly wisdom to that from aboe and the peace – oh, the peace – that surpasses understanding. It does, it guards my heart and my mind as I rest on Him.

Linking up today for 5-Minute Friday:

How to Thrive During Trials

Posted on May 16, 2012 by Marianne

Have you ever been to a retreat or seminar or church service that just met you right where you were? Right exactly where you were in need? I have and last weekend was one example of that. At our yearly women’s retreat on the shores of the wild, blue Pacific Ocean, God met me with a message of personal victory in Christ that I so needed.

Our speaker was Cindy Blackamore, a dynamic, sold-out-for Jesus speaker who has been through more trials in life than most of us can even imagine and yet she praises Him for all of it. Every bit of trial and tribulation brings us closer to Him and if our hopes are properly placed {on Him} trials {and Satan} become tools to draw us ever closer and deeper into fellowship with Him.

The past few years have ushered in a season of trials in my life like I have never known before. A series of tests of faith so completely without any earthly rationale for understanding caused me to come to a place of examining my faith under the fiercest scrutiny. Did I believe God’s promises? Was He indeed faithful? These trials drove me into the practice of incredibly deep and continual prayer.

Looking back at some of those valleys from where I am now, I can see the tremendous growth in both faith in and understanding of God and His ways. Would I trade this growth for a more peaceful life? The honest answer is, “No.” But it was not always this way for me.

So what changed? The way I look at trials.

I used to bemoan my trials and look around for a convenient scapegoat upon whom to securely place all blame. {My poor husband!} Time after time, God showed me that it was a weakness in me that he was seeking to remove or strengthen. God’s word says to pray without ceasing, but which of us when situations are all good, really pray continually? Yes, trials are for us.

In speaking of trials, Paul said in Romans 8:37, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” What does it mean to be more than a conqueror? A conqueror is one that overcomes. As Christians, we are more than conquerors because Jesus has overcme the world. We operate out of victory - the battle is already won!

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:33

Keys to Embracing Trials

Be of good cheer (or as the NASB version says) take courage! Satan wants nothing more than to derail us from our faith. If our hope is in God, the all-loving, all-knowing, all-powerful creator of the universe (and Satan) and our eyes are on Him, we need not fear our present circumstances. He has promised to work it all for the good. (Romans 8:28)

Go to God for understanding. Go to the throne, not the phone. After Jesus rose and appeared to the apostles, they asked Him if He was going to restore the kingdom to Israel. He answered that it was not for them to know the dates and times but…they would receive power from the Holy Spirit. Would you rather know the outcome of a particular struggle or gain the power to overcome through a closer relationship with the living God? Power is better than the answer. God will give you all that you need to get through your trial victoriously.

Trials are spiritual in nature. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12 Satan seeks to steal, kill and destroy. If he can get you to take your eyes off of Jesus and your faith in Him – he has disabled you; whether it be with feelings of fear or of condemnation – either one will have the desired effect of taking you out of the battle.

Therefore, our armor and weapons are spiritual. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Ephesians 6:13 Realize the power that we have in Jesus. Look closely at the Armor of God from Ephesians 6:

Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, {Who is truth? Jesus!}

with the breastplate of righteousness in place, {From where does righteousness come? Jesus!}

and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. {Who is the Gospel about? Jesus!}

In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. {Where does faith come from? Jesus!}

Take the helmet of salvation {Where does salvation come from? Jesus!}

and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. {Who is the Word of God? Jesus!}

When the firely darts start flying – send a few firey ones back yourself. Try this. When you become obssessed with a struggle or trial and you cannot get the thoughts out of your mind, fire a few darts back! That’s right. Begin to fire off some darts into Satan’s camp. Choose something that is unrelated to you and your trial. Ask God what to pray for. It could be sex-trafficking, abortion, or any number of areas where Satan is having success. Watch to see how quickly your trial dissipates.

~~Know~~ Believe that trials are ultimately for our good. Salvation without suffering leads to Pharaseeism. Complacency inevitably accompanies a comfortable life. It is just human nature to get comfy in our own righteousness. Trials have a way of removing idols from our lives. Know that trials have a purpose and rest in that.

Praise through trials. Praise brings balance to trials. Remember His mighty acts in your life. Thank Him for his faithfulness and every blessing that you still enjoy even though you are in a trial. Thank Him for the good that will eventually come. These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16:33

No weapon formed against you shall prosper… Isaiah 54:17a Oh yes, the weapons will form, but they will not prosper.

There is no pit deeper than God’s love. – Corrie Ten Boom

When You Feel Unloved

Posted on May 14, 2012 by Marianne

Her sister was beautiful and desirable while she herself was homely at best – ‘hard on the eyes’ the Bible says. The wealthy young man that came to visit their family chose the younger, more appealing sister for marriage. Yet their unscrupulous father tricks the handsome stranger into marrying the older, homely sister first.

Imagine the pain and frustration there would have been all around as these young hopefuls find themselves in a heart-breaking situation seemingly without any way out.

Have you ever felt that way? That your circumstances {being out of your control} were simply too much to bear? Have you questioned God’s purposes, motivation or even His existence during these times?

I have, and I bet that Rachel, Leah and Jacob {the characters in this story} did too.

Jacob eventually is able to marry his true love, the beautiful Rebekah, but the problems don’t end. Just imagine if your husband had another wife and you get a picture of the jealousies and troubles that continue to plague that family.

So far this isn’t shaping up to be a very inspiring story, however, God says that the Old Testament was given to us to encourage usand to teach us how to have hope.

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans 15:4

Interestingly, though Rebekah is more loved by Jacob, she is unable to conceive. Meanwhile, homely, unloved Leah is fruitful and begins bearing Jacob a string of most coveted sons. When their first son, Reuben, is born Leah believes that God, having seen her affliction, has opened her womb and that “now my husband will love me”. However, though God has seen her affliction, Jacob’s heart is not turned towards her.

When their second son, Simeon, is born, the ever-hopeful Leah believes this might be the key to unlocking her husband’s love for her. Unfortunately, Leah continues to suffer from being unloved and when she bears their third son, whom she names Levi {which means attached} she is still hoping that her poor, tormented husband will feel more of an attachment for her. Her hopes are in vain for it is not to be so.

Some Bible scholars estimate that the period of time between birth and weaning during Biblical times was around 3 years. This period of time in Leah’s life, bearing, nursing and weaning three sons, quite possibly reflects a long period of time.

Have you ever been sifted by a long trial? They are a peculiar experience. They can be used for great purifying purposes that teach all kinds of spiritual truths; solidifying our ability to walk by faith, discern the voice of the Lord among the din of doubts, and perfecting our ability to fight spiritual battles victoriously. Or they can be used to make excuses and give up declaring that it is all too much to bear.

The narrative of Leah’s life continues much the same. Levi is weaned, Leah conceives again and bears a son – Judah {whose name means praise}. Leah says, “Now I will praise God”. Leah has changed her focus from her circumstances to her God.

Another blessing derived from a long trial is our forced, continual prayer and seeking of God. As God strips us of our worldly idols, peircing our wayward hearts and drawing us to seek hard after truth, we come to a place of simple contentment in God and His promises regardless of our circumstances.

Though God was looking upon her and blessing her with children, she had bee focused upon her husband and her love-less circumstances. In doing this she was blinded to the grace that God had already bestowed on her. Leah changed her focus from Jacob to God and was filled with praise.

All who are familiar with suffering know that God promises to work all of our experiences, trials and triumphs alike, for good. {Romans 8:28} Leah, a woman who spent her whole adult life feeling unappreciated, was the mother to half of the patriarchs of Isreal. Through her son Levi came the line of priests of Israel and through Judah she became the fountain head of the tribe from which Jesus Christ himself was born.

Let Leah’s breakthrough be your breakthrough. Develop the habit of living in praise and thankfulness for what God has done in your life. Focus on God and start praising Him. There is no telling what your spiritual legacy will be.

…and when they praised the Lord saying, “He indeed is good for His lovingkindness is everlasting,” then the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God…

2 Chronicles 5:13-14

Dear Mom :: Thank You!

Posted on May 12, 2012 by Marianne

Dear Mom,

For all the times that you served your family and never got a thank you…here goes:

Thank you for having the courage to have loads of kids – even when people looked down their noses at you.

Thank you for giving up so much of yourself to stay home and cook and clean for 4 little ones.

Thank you for your example of a faithful marriage – for better or for worse, in sickness and in health.

Thank you for your example of faith that has been a strong undercurrent in my life – even when I wasn’t walking with God.

Thank you for the joy you brang to me learning guitar and teaching me some chords {even if it was just Kumbaya!}

Thank you for making me cute, then cool, dresses and reversible skirts.

Thank you for taking me to the library often and teaching me the value of books.

Thank you for trying to understand me when I was a prickly teenager {and beyond}

Thank you for putting importance on the important things and being brave enough to say “No”, even when other moms said “Yes” to their daughters.

Thank you for standing by me when we announced our marriage plans.

Thank you for planning the wedding of my dreams.

Thank you for accepting my choices even though you didn’t always agree with them.

Thank you for walking side by side with me as I became a mother.

Thank you that you always brought a gift {for me too} at my baby showers.

Thank you for the amazing gift baskets of food that you brought after every baby was born.

Thank you for coming to stay when the happy hormones wore off, changing diapers, making breakfast, lunch, and dinner and cleaning my toilets.

Thank you for staying up late talking about e v e r y t h i n g.

Thank you for making a way for my kids to have the tutoring that they need.

Thank you for walking with me through my trials and wearing out your knees praying.

Thank you for caring as much about my family as I do.

Thank you for encouraging me in my faith.

Thank you for being my faithful friend that I can always rely on to love me with a Christ-like love.

With immeasurable love,

Marianne

I am linking-up this special Mother’s Day post with Ann at A Holy Experience for The 1000 Moms Project. It is about 1000 people standing up, thanking and honoring their mom publicly. Today, and always, may I honor you, mom. By doing so, this also helps support a mothering educational project in Haiti – a place near and ndear to your heart.