When Our Strength fails and Gods Strength Prevails

       All of us go through hills and valleys in life. We have days when our strength is completely helpless, and we feel like we can't go on. We have days when our whole world feels like it's falling apart. However, through it all, I can honestly say that God is good! I'm realizing every day that even on my bad days, I just have to remind myself of all of life's many blessings, and look at it, and say, "God is good...even then!" This past week, I've been learning a lot about trusting in God. Learning to completely surrender and give my all in all, to Christ. It's when we come to that place in life, when we completely surrender to Christ, and take up the cross, and follow Him, that God's strength is seen. We can't it on our own. It's only through Gods grace and mercy that I make it every day. 

     This past week, some family members and I were talking about struggles in our own lives. Struggles like, having doubt, worrying, stressing out about things, feeling like a failure at life, second guessing ourselves... the list can go on. But, I came to a stopping point this past week. Some family members came over to our house this last week, and we prayed. We prayed for Gods goodness and mercy to prevail. We prayed for Gods grace and strength to take over. There's a breaking point in every Christians life. A point where we have to literally give up, and fall upon Christ. I love how Paul Washer says it, "Repentance, is simply giving up! To stop fighting against God, and to stop attempting to gain your own salvation through your own works; to literally give up and fall upon Christ."
     I came to a breaking point a couple years ago. A point where I realized that I don't have strength to get through each day. I can't make it on my own. Some days, I still think I can... but it's in those moments, that God uses us the most. God is continually refining us. I'm constantly reminded in James 1:2-4, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." We can't get through life on our own strength, only in Gods. In 2nd Corinthians 12:9, we read, "And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness..."
     Man will fail us every day of our lives. God is the only one who never fails! He is faithful to the end, and with us every step of the way! So, when we feel like we can't go on anymore, just know that God will give you the strength to get through each day... we need only to seek God and ask.

Is God Good All Of The Time

     Recently, my husband and I were talking about how we always praise God when everythings going well, but that when we have pain and strife upon us, we're not always good about knowing that God is good even in the midst of the storm. He's still Soverign, and on His throne, even then! It got me to thinking, praying, and reading the Bible a lot. I posted this a couple years ago, but I thought I'd share it again. Please share and enjoy. :)

When the cancer is in remission, we say, “God is good.” When the pay raise comes, we announce “God is good.” When the university admits us or the final score favors our team, “God is good.” Would we, and do we, say the same under different circumstances? In the cemetery, as well as the nursery? In the unemployment line, as well as the grocery line? In days of recession as much as in days of provision?
 Is God always good? 

    For Brian and Christyn Taylor, the question is more than academic. During this last year their seven-year-old daughter was hospitalized for more than six months with six surgeries for a disease of the pancreas, Brian’s job was discontinued, several family members died and another was diagnosed with brain cancer, and Christyn was pregnant with child number four. Life was tough. She blogged: 

     Multiple hospital stays with my daughter were exhausting, but I held faith. Losing Brian’s family members one by one until there was only one left, who was then diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer, was incomprehensible, but I still held faith. Being hospitalized seven-and-a-half weeks with a placental abruption was terrifying, but I held faith. I held to the faith that God works for my good, and though I did not necessarily understand the trials, I trusted God’s bigger, unseen plan.

     God and I had a deal- I would endure the trials that came my way as long as he acknowledged
 my stopping point.  He knew where my line had been drawn, and I knew in my
heart he would never cross it. He did.

     I delivered a stillborn baby girl. With my daughter Rebecca still at home on a feeding tube and her future health completely unknown, it was a foregone conclusion that this baby we so wanted and loved would be saved. She wasn't. My line in the sand was crossed.
My one-way deal with God was shattered. 

     Everything changed in that moment. Fear set in, and my faith began to crumble. My “safety zone” with God was no longer safe. If this could happen in the midst of our greatest struggles, then anything was fair game. For the first time in my life, anxiety began to overwhelm me.

We can relate. Most, if not all of us, have a contractual agreement with God. The fact that he hasn't signed it doesn't keep us from believing it. 

I pledge to be a good, decent person, and in return God will…

save my child

heal my wife

protect my job

(fill in the blank)__________

only fair, right? Yet when God fails to meet our bottom-line expectations, we are left spinning in a tornado of questions. Is he good at all? Is God angry at me? Stumped? Overworked? Is his power limited? His authority restricted? Did the devil outwit him? When life isn't good, what are we to think about our God? Where is he in all this? He's there!...Go to part 2 for the rest:
http://daughterofdestiny-generation78.blogspot.com/2014/02/is-god-good-when-life-isnt-part-2.html
Excerpt from Max Lucado's Book "You'll get through this"

Trusting God in Every Area

This past week, I've been learning how to trust God even more.
We all go through phases in life that we don't quite give our all to Christ. We may give parts of our life to God... but what do we really "surrender" to Christ?
We say that we trust God in all things, but what happens when our faith is tried and tested? When we find out that a loved one has passed, or when we find out that our loved one has cancer. Do we trust God that Is He's in control of everything even then? Do we trust that He is still sovereign over all?
I can remember 13 years ago, when my mom was pregnant at the time with child number 5. She carried to full term, but baby Grace ended up being a still born. During this time of loss, my parents became so close to Christ, because they knew it was part of His plan and His will. It wasn't easy at first to accept that they had lost a child. My mom had her up and down days of trying to figure out why God had chosen to take their child away. My mom began to realize, it was never her child. It was always Gods child.

6 Weeks later, my mom was pregnant with my sister, Joy. The realization that God gives and takes away in the blink of an eye, was unreal. My sister, Joy, ended up having a cleft lip and pallet. She wasn't breathing when she was born, and then my dad talked to her and said, "Joy! Joy!" The doctor said to keep talking, and so my dad did. Joy responded to my dads voice, and started to breath.

I couldn't help but think of how we respond when God calls us by name. In those moments that we might have gone astray, or  feel lost, scared, and alone, God is with us even then.
9/11 was just a couple days ago. The day in history that has been marked as a terrorist attack. Many asked, "Where was God when _____?" we all might have doubts like that; but what do we choose to do with those thoughts? Do we choose to trust God, and know that He has a will and plan that may defer from ours? I pray that in my trying times, that God uses it for His glory, and not my own.

"In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us." ~Psalm 62:7-8~

"As for God, His way is perfect... He is a shield to all who trust in Him." ~Psalm 18:30~

"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~

The Prodigal

A couple weeks ago, my siblings and I watched a Christian Comedian movie. At the end of the movie, they talk about the Prodigal son. I didn't think about this before, but they said that those time that we feel like God has moved away from us,
it was “us” that moved away from Him. 

If we think about it...

God “waits” for us. If “we” seek, “we” will find, if “we” knock, the door will be opened...

I found a couple verses that I thought would be helpful.

Deuteronomy 4:29

But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul."

Matthew 7:7-8

 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."

Luke 11:9-10

“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks,

it will be opened."

All of us have gone through trials, and all of us have had the chance to either move away from God, or toward him. Whatever the reason for our trial, God was there the entire time. He never moved away from us! He's been faithful throughout everything!

All of us know the story of the Prodigal son. Maybe we've experienced it first hand, or we've known someone that has. Whatever the case may be, remember that we need to "seek", "knock", and "find". God's there in the midst of everything; He's just waiting for "us" to open our heart.

MY HEART, YOUR HOME- Christy Nockels 

Come and make my heart Your home 

Come and be everything I am and all I know Search me through and through ‘Till my heart becomes a home for You

CHORUS

A home for You, Lord 

A home for You, Lord Let everything I do
 open up A door for You to come through And that my heart would be a place Where You want to be…

CHORUS

You are my portion, filling up everything You are the fortune,
that’s causing my heart to sing That it’s amazing… That You could make Yourself at home with me

Life is hard, but God is good!

A few nights ago, we watched a movie called, “The 5^th quarter”. It was based on a true story.

This son-Luke, he was coming home from school with his friends, and he get’s in a car accident, and is tragically killed. The story tells about how the parents, Luke’s 2 brothers, and his sister cope with the tragic loss.
One of the parts of the movie is when Luke’s oldest brother is talking with his friends, and he is very angry and confused. He yells and says, “why would a loving God allow bad things to happen to good people?”

…isn’t this a good question? Why do bad things happen to good people?

Without me going through certain trials in my life, and without my parents losing a child; I don’t think that I would be where I’m at today. As much as I ask “Why?”, I also say, “Thank you God!”
Going through trials are hard! But God is good!!!
Thinking about all the trials you’ve been through personally, wasn’t God there? God never left! He was faithful, and he stayed by your side when you least expected it. He was the one who was carrying you.

"...He will never leave you nor forsake you."
Hebrews 13:5

Giving Thanks ...even when it hurts!

We will be going on vacation on Monday, so I will write my Thanksgiving post now.

There are so many things to be grateful for, but are we grateful for our trials and tribulation?
Are we thankful that God gives us Joy in the midst of our trials?
Are we thankful for both the good and bad?
Make a list of each and every little thing you are grateful for. Trust me, it will fill a lot of pages. I'm thankful for my eyes, nose, mouth, heart, ears, family, love, siblings, friends ... well, you get the point.
Are you thankful for your family? Maybe you had a fight the other day with a family member, or friend. Are you still thankful for them?

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV /Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Ephesians 5:20 ESV / Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Psalm 107:1 ESV / Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!

Psalm 7:17 ESV / I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.

Thanksgiving Delights:On Thanksgiving Day we’re thankful forOur blessings all year through,For family we dearly love,For good friends, old and new.
For sun to light and warm our days,For stars that glow at night,For trees of green and skies of blue,And puffy clouds of white.
We’re grateful for our eyes that seeThe beauty all around,For arms to hug, and legs to walk,And ears to hear each sound.
The list of all we’re grateful forWould fill a great big book;Our thankful hearts find new delightsEverywhere we look!

~By Joanna Fuchs~

Finding Joy in the midst of our Tragedies

Do you ever find in life that you are overwhelmed? Do you feel like you suffered the greatest loss of all history? That maybe you can't even live the next few hours because you can't even bear it. Find rest in the arms of God!!! He's been there! He knows how you feel...and he is there to comfort us. He's there to tell us, that no matter what happens, no matter what tragedies we go through...He will always be there, in the midst of those trials carrying us through it; And through it all, we can say, "It Is Well with My Soul!"

• 1st Peter 1:6-7, "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ."
• I have found that Max Lucado's book, "In the Eye of the Storm" has helped me gain insight about how much God cares about us, and how much he loves us.
  
  • The Video Below is the song,"It Is Well" with a little history behind it, sorry if it's a little blurry. Enjoy!
  • Copy and Paste the Link below if it's too blurry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8_EfDqF7YI