Karrie

I never met her. I don't even know her last name. What I do know is that she was 9 years young, she was deeply loved and her life, although too short, was not in vain.

Her name was Karrie.

Our small group began praying for Karrie several months ago.

We prayed for healing. That wouldn't come.
We prayed for answers. That we'd never receive.
We prayed for peace and comfort. That would be difficult to accept.

But most of all, we prayed for God to be ultimately glorified through her. And for that, He proved Himself faithful.

On Tuesday, August 30, at around 7:30 a.m., sweet Karrie flew into the arms of her Savior, Jesus Christ. It was a bright and sunny morning. And as I read the news I fell to the ground and I wept.

Wept for a little girl I never had the privilege of knowing personally.
Wept for a mother's baby girl whose tears she would never get to wipe away again.
Wept for a father's daughter whose arm he could never walk down the aisle.

I wept.

And then I remembered Jesus wept too. (John 11:35). And he weeps with us now. He knows our pain and He feels our suffering.

And He loves.
And He cares.
And He aches.
And He blesses.

He gives. And He takes away.

And our assignment isn't to understand.
Our assignment is to trust. And obey.

And praise Him anyway.

And so I choose these things.

Not because I understand.
Not because I have the answers.
Not because it makes any sense at all.

But because I believe in a God who is GREATER than any circumstance!
Because through our suffering there is hope.
Because there is power in the resurrection of Jesus.

I choose hope.

I didn't know Karrie. But I look forward to meeting her on the streets of gold one day.

Until that time... I will trust. I will hope. And I will ask God to use my life to glorify Him.

Finding JOY in the JOurneY,



www.wendybender.blogspot.com

The Daily Discipline

My daughter has been on a "tooth brushing strike" here lately. Just this summer, really. She doesn't want to brush her teeth. She claims she's not certain why she has to do it and how it makes much of a difference. She's constantly making excuses for why she can't. I mean really. How much sense does it make that you shouldn't brush your teeth when you're just going to eat again and get them dirty?

I guess it's a phase that many girls her age go through. Maybe? Hopefully it's not just mine! TELL ME it's not just mine!

The other day we were talking about her next dental check-up. She asked me when it was and I told her it would be coming up this fall. I told her, "You don't want to have the dentist examine those teeth and get after you for having not brushed them, right? Because he will know!" Her response was, "He won't know. I can just brush them REALLY good the night before my appointment!" She then proceeded to "show" me how good she could fool him by grinning that big smile revealing her freshly cleaned teeth from just minutes before our conversation. "See mom! They're white and you'd never know I hadn't brushed them for a few days!"

Indeed... her teeth SMELLED fresh.
Indeed... I could tell that she had worked hard that evening to polish them up and get them to APPEAR healthy and well cared for... but the truth was it was a cover up for what was really happening on the inside of those teeth and gums.

And it got me thinking. Isn't this how we are a lot of the time with our faith and with our walk with God?

I see it countless times. We long for the healthy relationship with Him. We long for closeness and intimacy with the Father. But reality is that it takes some work, on our part, to make that happen.

We want things from God. We pray for things like healing, protection, strength, patience, mercy, balance and peace. But we forget that we have a role in this relationship. We want the benefits from a relationship with the Creator of the universe - but we are quick to forget that there are things God wants to teach us through our trust and obedience.

God longs to give us the desires of our hearts. He does. There's a biblical promise that proves this to us. Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart." The word delight comes from the Hebrew word, anag, meaning “make yourself moldable and pliable”. He needs for us to make ourselves available to Him so that He can mold us into the person He created us to be. If we aren't able to keep in close relationship with Him and yield to His molding and plying, then He can't use us for the greatness He has called us to! And He certainly won't be able to give us the desires of our hearts.

In close examination of the the second action word in this verse, give, we learn the Hebrew word, nathan, means, "to ascribe or write, add, and apply." You see - God has already provided for us everything we need for this life. Galatians 5:22-23 says, "But when the Holy Spirit controls our lives, He will produce this kind of fruit in us: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." If we were created in His image, and we were, then all nine of these characteristics are true about us. We have been given all that we need to survive this battle here on earth and it's God's desire to release these to us, but we have to be willing to come before Him broken, availavle and ready to do the work required to fulfill our end of the bargain.

All too often I hear other Christians say things like, "Where was God when this was happening?" And, "I'm just not hearing from God." I hear things like, "God must have forgotten about me", "My life is a mess", "I can't get on the right track" and, "I can't feel this 'joy' that others talk about." And my response to them is almost always the same, "What are you doing to cultivate your relationship with God?"

You see - it's not a one-way street... this relationship with God. In fact, a relationship is never a one-way street. It's a shared road of responsibility. I have to give something in order to get something. It's just the way it works. Galatians 6:7 says, "Remember that you can't ignore God and get away with it. You will always reap what you sow." Like those teeth that Chloe has been ignoring. If she continues to ignore the health of her teeth, it will only produce a poor check-up at the dentists office this fall. Our spiritual lives are the same way. If we neglect the health of our relationship with God, we will produce a harvest of "decay and death." (Gal 6:8 NLT)

We must get to the place where we are fully and completely dependent on Him. Realizing that apart from Him we can do nothing. We must develop a daily discipline of loving Him apart from what He can do for us. Instead of focusing on Him only when we are at the end of our rope, we need to throw Him the rope and let Him lead us to the greatness He has prepared in advance for us.

Spending time... quality time... with God daily is essential for our well being. It isn't a suggestion or an option.. it is a necessity. Just like tooth brushing daily is necessary for the health of our teeth, spending time with God with praise and gratitude, studying His word and meditating on His promises daily is essential for the health of our spiritual bodies.

In my Daily Devotional book entitled "Jesus Calling", Sarah Young writes about our walk with the Father this way,

"Keep walking with Me along the path I have chosen for you. Your desire to live close to Me is a delight to My heart. I could instantly grant you the spiritual riches you desire, but that is not My way for you. Together we will forge a pathway up the high mountain. The journey is arduous at times, and you are weak. All I require of you is to take the next step, clinging to My hand for strength and direction. Though the path is difficult and the scenery dull at the moment, there are sparkling surprises just around the bend. Stay on the path I have selected for you. It is truly the path of life."

I encourage you to stay with it. Stay in constant communion with God and see what He can and will do FOR you and THROUGH you. Remember - if we DELIGHT (make ourselves moldable and pliable) ourselves in the Lord, He will GIVE (add and apply) us the desires of our hearts.

Psalm 37:23-24, "The steps of the Godly are directed by the Lord. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand."

He's ready. Are you?

Finding JOY in the JOurneY,



www.wendybender.blogspot.com

Praise You Anyway

God... remind me today that YOU are in charge. Not me.

Help me to be satisfied with WHERE I am and with WHO you are.

Help me to realize the things that I NEED may not always line up with what I WANT and that's okay. Because you love me THAT much and You have great things planned for my life.

I have made the decision that I am going to PRAISE YOU anyway.

Through my tears... I'll praise You anyway.
Through the pain... I'll praise You anyway.
Through my doubt... I'll praise You anyway.
Through my fear... I'll praise You anyway.
Through the storms... I'll praise You anyway.
Through the sickness... I'll praise You anyway.
Through the rejection... I'll praise You anyway.
Through all my failures... I'll praise You anyway.
Through the suffering... I'll praise You anyway.
Through the persecution... I'll praise You anyway.

Even if that means standing ALONE.
Even when I don't FEEL like it.
Even when others don't AGREE.

You have never failed me.
You have never given me more to handle than strength to overcome.

You are FAITHFUL.
You are MERCIFUL.

You are GOOD. ALL the time.

And I will choose to praise You anyway.

Amen.

Open Prayer Request

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Phil 4:6,7







At noon on Friday, June 17, my husband, Trevor, will be undergoing a pretty major operation. Like many surgeries, this procedure has a laundry list of complications attached to it. And because of all the complications he had with a previous surgery, this has left us a bit concerned about this next one.

We have been told that he will be ICU recovery for 1-2 days, in a recovery room for 4-5, and out of work for 4-6 weeks. Outside of open heart surgery, this operation is a pretty big deal.

I'm reaching out to anyone out there who would be willing to pray on behalf of my husband and our family over the next several weeks. Some specific prayer requests include:

1.) Wisdom and alertness for the physicians, nurses and staff who will be operating and assisting in the O.R. with Trevor.

2.) Zero complications from the anesthesia (this is a major concern from his last procedure).

3.) For God to remove the fear and anxiety from us as a family. Specifically for Chloe, our 10 year-old, who is scared for her daddy.

4.) For complete healing and restoration for Trevor.

5.) For a quick and full recovery.

While we are confident that God is in full control, we still remain a little overwhelmed. We serve an amazing, all-powerful God who is merciful and righteous. So we are holding on to these scriptures with all we have...

Isaiah 43:2, "When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you."

Deut 31:8, "Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.”

Isaiah 41:10, "Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."

Psalm 46:1,"God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble."

Thank you for your willingness to partner with us to pray for Trevor and our family during this time. Your petitions to God on our behalf mean more to me than you will ever know.

Finding JOY in the JOurneY,



www.wendybender.blogspot.com

Spring Cleaning

It's springtime here in Michigan. And I just love spring. It's such a beautiful time of the year. A time for new beginning, fresh starts. Everything smells good. The trees are starting to bud, the flowers are beginning to bloom. Days are longer... afternoons are warm and nights are crisp. And I know I may be weird - but one thing I enjoy every spring is a good deep spring clean. I know, I know - I'm really not right - but of all the gifts and talents God didn't bless me with - cleaning IS one of them He DID bless me with. And I've always prided myself on my ability to clean. I keep a pretty clean house... I vacuum almost daily, I scrub floors, I dust tables, I do the laundry, I do the dishes... and for the most part, our home is generally clean. Now I didn't say that my house is clutter-free, that's a different story (as my husband would say), but I am a pretty good house cleaner.

Last week I decided that as part of my spring cleaning routine, I would clean our refrigerator out. Completely. And so it began pretty early that morning. Everything came out and every shelf was cleaned. No - scrubbed. I remember stepping back after I was all finished to marvel at my work. A clean fridge. One more thing to check off my list. And so I began putting the food items back into the refrigerator. But then it dawned on me... some of these items are expired. As I carefully placed each item back onto the shelves, I realized that some of the items were rotten. Spoiled. And needed to be tossed out. I'm ashamed to admit that some of these items had expired months ago - which only proved that it had been SOME time... too long as a matter of fact... since I had done a good deep clean of my fridge. And the number of things that needed to be purged into the trash that morning were mind-blowing. And what started out as a pretty full fridge, ended with a need to make an emergency trip to my local grocery store!

In Matthew 5, Jesus, referred here in scripture as the Rabbi, was gathered up the mountainside with His disciples to teach the crowds that had gathered. What he taught them has become known as the Sermon on The Mount. Here, Jesus taught on The Beatitudes. Beatitudes are known as supreme blessings. Blessings meaning "happy, fortunate and blissful." The Beatitudes demonstrated that the way to heavenly blessedness is opposite of the worldly path people normally follow to find happiness. In the beatitudes, Jesus describes the character of true faith.

In Matthew 5:8 Jesus says this, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God." I love the way this passage of scripture is written in the Message version... "You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world."

What is Jesus saying here? How do we have pure hearts? What does that look like and how is that lived out?

I think Jesus is asking us to make sure that our insides are in check.

You see - I think we can fool just about anyone. But we can't fool God.
People around us - they see what's on the outside, but God sees the heart. And I believe that it's the heart, not the head that we need to be most concerned about.

Oh we're good pretenders. We can fool anyone into believing that we have it all together. We go to church, we put on make-up, we do our hair, we brush our teeth, we say the right words of encouragement to neighbors and friends, we dress our kids nicely, we kiss our spouses in public... but behind closed doors - we're a mess. Just like my refrigerator, I was fooling everyone. My kitchen looked clean. My counters looked neat, even the outside door to my refrigerator was wiped down and shiny - but inside... inside that refrigerator was some rotten, spoiled stuff that needed to be tossed out!

My prayer every day of my life is this, "Jesus, fill me up with your presence today. Less of me, Father, more of You." But folks, the only way can have a pure heart - a heart like His - is to begin acting like Jesus. To begin asking Him to remove the junk from my life so that I can have a pure heart.

Jesus teaches that even though we are in the world - we are not to be part of this world. This world is not our home... we are to be set apart. We are to look different. Every day as Christians, we have an opportunity to minister to those who don't have a relationship with Christ. We have a calling on our lives to show the love of Jesus to those who don't yet know Him... the question is will others scratch their heads and say, "They have something different - I want what they have!"

That "something different" starts with a pure heart.

It's not what we do - it's who we are. God is concerned with our hearts - not how smart we are - not what kind of cars we drive - not what kind of houses we live in - not how good we can act or how much we can smile - He is concerned with our character and what's on the inside of us.

When I think about Godly character and a man who's heart was pure, I think about King David of the Old Testament. David was a man of many colors. Pulled from the comforts of his life as a shepherd boy, the youngest and smallest child in a family of 7 sons, David was possibly the least likely to become King of Israel. David - the least likely to succeed was the same man who slayed Goliath and would later go on to make His heavenly Father proud of Him. However, at close examination of David's life, he made some mistakes. Somewhere along the way, he got off track and encountered a dark side - human sin. David painfully proved the depths to which one can fall after reaching such heights, but even still in Acts, chapter 13, verse 22, God called David, "A man after my own heart."

Max Lucado wrote a book entitled, "A Cast of Characters". In this book, Max talks about common people in the hands of an uncommon God and has written a chapter on David. Here's what he has to say about King David:

"God called him 'a man after my own heart'. He gave the appellation to no one else. Not Abraham or Moses or Joseph. He called Paul an apostle, John his beloved, but neither was tagged a man after God's own heart. One might read David's story and wonder what God saw in him. The fellow fell as often as he stood, stumbled as often as he conquered. He stared down Goliath, yet ogled at Bathsheba; defied God-mockers in the valley, yet joined them in the wilderness. An Eagle Scout one day. Chumming with the Mafia the next. He could lead armies, but couldn't manage a family. Raging David. Weeping David. Bloodthirsty. God-hungry. Eight wives. One God. A man after God's own heart? That God saw him as such gives hope to us all. David's life has little to offer the unstained saint. Straight A souls find David's story disappointing. The rest of us find it reassuring. We ride the same roller coaster. We alternate between swan dives and belly flops, souffles and burnt toast. In David's good moments, no one was better. In his bad moments, could one be worse? The heart of God was a checkered one!"

In Psalms 139:23-24 David pleads with God by saying, "Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting."

This should be our prayer daily. Asking for God to search us - to examine our hearts - to test us and know our thoughts. Having pure hearts means trusting in a God who is filled with grace and mercy. What is impossible for man (including having the purest of hearts) has been made possible by God.

In 1 Corinthians 10:31, Paul says, "So whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God." THAT, my friends, is keeping a pure heart!

Having a pure heart is evidenced by the way we live our lives. Do we live with good intentions or do we live with intentionality and pureness of heart? How are we living out pure hearts...

It's in the doing for others, it's in our obedience to God, it's reading His word, it's asking Him for guidance and direction, it's forgiving, it's being thankful not for all circumstances, but IN and THROUGH all circumstances, it's being kind, it's cheerfully giving of our time, talents and resources.

One of the things that has helped me over the years is getting an accountability partner. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 tells us that "Two are better than one". When one man stumbles, and trust me we're gonna stumble, the other can pick him up. Accountability partners are an excellent choice if your desire is to have and keep a pure heart before God. We all need someone in our lives to pull us back. To help us up. To dust us off and set us back on track. God created us to be relational beings and we desperately need one another.

At the end of the day it's this.. Jesus knew what kind of person I was going to be... the kind of person you were going to be... and all the silly mistakes we were going to make - and yet He still chose to go to the cross and die a miserable, painful death anyway! If that doesn't bring joy and peace and comfort - I don't know what will.

My prayer for all of you tonight (including myself) is that we would begin asking God to give us a pure heart. To make us more like Jesus. That God would use our messes, our mistakes and our brokenness, for His glory. That what lives on the inside of us would be revealed on the outside. That what we feel begins to be how we live and how we live begins to be that which pleases God. That we would not just have good intentions to live pleasing and faithful lives, but that we become passion-filled people most concerned about what God sees in us that He wants to use to build His kingdom.

A man after my own heart. Oh how I want to come to the end of my life with God saying that Wendy is a woman after my own heart!

We serve an amazing God of second chances. A God who sees what's on the inside and loves deeply, compassionately and faithfully.

Your story isn't over yet... in fact, it's just beginning. Allow God access to your heart and watch the transformation unfold.

Finding JOY in the JOurneY,

Fear

Fear has set in this week.
It was a doctors visit. Just a visit. All of ten minutes and we walked out paralyzed with fear.

It happens, doesn't it? Sort of sneaks in on you when you're least expecting it.

I've prayed.
I've asked for peace.
I've asked for this fear to be removed.
And yet it remains.
I wake up... it's there.
I go to bed... it's there.

He's my husband. And I love him more than anything else or anyone else in this life. Yet what I know... deep down in my soul... is that no matter how much I love him, God loves him more. And what I've learned over the course of my life is that you can NOT out-love God. You just can't do it. He IS love. It's not just what he does - it's WHO He is. And I can't compete with that kind of love.

He loved him first. He loves him more.
He's not mine, Jesus... he is yours.
And I know that.
But even still it doesn't take away this fear. The anxiety. The dread.

And so I hold on. Tightly. To a God who loves me more than I could ever know.
I hold on. Tightly. To a God who knows about suffering the greatest loss a heart could know... the agonizing death of an only Son.
I hold on. Tightly. To a God who's grace and mercy extends as far as the east is from the west.
I hold on. Tightly. To a God who says, "Don't be afraid for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand." (Is 41:10)
Oh how I hold on. With both hands. A firm grip.

I am loved.
My family is loved.
I am protected.
I am forgiven.
I am chosen.
I am strengthened.
I am victorious.
I am held.
I am carried.

Deuteronomy 31:8 says, "Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord is the One who goes before you. HE WILL be with you; He will neither fail you or forsake you." (emphasis mine).

And so I choose to receive His promise. I choose to be thankful IN my circumstances.

"'For I know the plans I have for you' says the Lord, 'They are plans for good and not for disaster; to give you a future and a hope.'" (Jer 29:11)

"For I know" ... can I trust Him?
"The plans" ... His plans, not mine.
"Plans for good" ... His desires are to see good things happen in my life.
"Not for disaster" ... when we weep, He weeps.
"Hope" ... it's what I choose to hold on tightly to.

And so... I press on. There is still work to be done. Still thankfulness to be demonstrated. Love to be given.

Thank you, sweet Jesus, for THIS day. I will rejoice and be GLAD in IT!

Finding JOY in the JOurneY,

Prayer

Photo Credit













Every Monday morning I ask for prayer requests via my facebook page. And every Monday I receive emails from people who are hurting and are in need of prayer for all kinds of reasons. I hear from women who are going through a rough spot in their marriage. I hear from friends who are struggling with their faith. I receive requests from those who have been sick, struggling to raise children, those overwhelmed by the demands of every day life and those who have been faced with insurmountable odds. I do get most of my requests sent privately to me through my email and I consider it an honor to be able to partner with God on their behalf.

But I want you to know that I take this responsibility very seriously. I have a heart for those who are hurting and many times can relate to the pain because I have been there myself.

But you see - my prayers have changed slightly.

Following my prayer time a couple weeks ago, I really felt like God was asking me to change the way in which I approached prayer for these individuals. Don't get me wrong.... I still pray for healing, restoration and strength, but I've included something so important that I had been missing all along. And this is what I wrote in my journal following this revelation from God....

"When I pray prayers like "Father - encourage her/him today", let me it NOT stop there. Help me to pray that I might be used to BE the encourager."

I think it's time we stop praying safe prayers, asking God to be the encourager, and begin asking God to put ACTION steps to those prayers by asking Him to use US to BE His hands and feet! I don't want to pray prayers asking God to help others get by - I want to pray prayers that would CHANGE LIVES. And I want God to start with me!

For that marriage that is facing divorce - I want to pray boldly that God would use my marriage as an encouragement. That my own relationship with my husband would be the Godly example for these struggling friends. That God would give us wisdom and guide our conversations with these individuals.

For the woman facing challenges in her every day life and the demands at home... being a wife, a mother and a full-time employee - I want to pray boldly that God would use me to be a blessing and an encouragement to my friend. That I would yield to the Holy Spirit's promoting to BE the listening ear and the comforter. That I might offer, in tangible ways, words of hope and scripture references that brings peace.

People are hurting and there is no doubt that they need our prayers. They desperately need to know that God loves them and wants to the best for them - but they also need to SEE this lived out and displayed through us. It is our job, as Christ-followers, to SHOW that love, Christ's love, by demonstrating that love. By encouraging, motivating and uplifting. My prayer daily is that God would use me in a mighty way for His purposes. That when others look at me, they would see Jesus. And this, in and of itself is a pretty intense prayer.

I don't believe that Jesus died on the cross for us to pray prayers that simply get us by. I believe He died so that we can learn to pray boldly and passionately, believing and expecting Him to do more than we could ever dream or imagine. And it starts with using us in a powerful way that draws others closer to Him.

My prayers are changing. I'm asking God to start with changing me first so that I can be used by Him for big things.

Ephesians 3:20 says... "Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think."

He's ready to use us... we just have to ask!

Finding JOY in the JOurneY,

Forgiveness

I can't stand to listen to the news any more. I can't. Every time I do - I am left with too much sadness. My heart bleeds for the tragic stories I hear. Every one of them. The other night I literally recorded 12 stories reported by a local station of which 10 were NOTHING but complete and utter devastation. I heard about rapes, murders, house fires, floods, sickness, car accidents and robberies. Almost every one of the stories was BAD news.

I made a resolution quite a long time ago NOT to let that be the last thing my brain absorbs at the end of the evening. But - I have to admit, there are times I just want to check out what the weather will be the next day - but that means listening through the first 15 minutes of depression.

In NO WAY am I downplaying any of these tragedies. I know they are real. People are hurting. People are losing jobs. Neighbors are killing neighbors. What was foretold centuries ago is becoming our reality. These are some hard times and we are, in fact, in the middle of a war zone.

Makes me wonder what God is thinking as he looks at this world He so masterfully created. Does His heart break? Do our actions disappoint Him? Have we made a mess of things? I believe the answer to all of these questions is yes. Nothing catches Him by surprise, but I bet He had better things in mind for us!

Last week I began journaling some of my thoughts regarding the depravity of these times, which in turn led me to something entirely different. It led me to begging God for forgiveness that I know I, personally, don't deserve. Below is my heart-felt prayer:

Father God, forgive us for the MESS we've created. Forgive us for the times we've chosen something or someone else instead of You. Forgive our selfishness. For the times we made it ALL about US and not about You. For the times we've placed You on the shelf, only to pull You out when we are at our wits end and in complete and utter desperation. Forgive us for our greed. For the times when we've place greater importance on wealth and prosperity over a personal relationship with You. For the times we negated a private moment with You because we were just "too busy". Forgive us for our envy. For the times we've wanted something that someone else had so badly that we compromised our morals to get it. Forgive us for trying to do it our way for so long. For pushing You to the side because you were "in our way" from getting what we really wanted to get on our own! Forgive us for forgetting to pray. For waiting until a crisis to cry out to you when all You really want is to hear from us daily. Forgive our hostility. For the times we've been quick to judge others and for the times we've allowed bitterness to reign over us. Forgive us for our rebellion and disobedience. We've strayed so far that it's been hard to hear Your voice or feel Your hand. Forgive us from running from You and for heading in the opposite direction You've called us to. Forgive our pride and for "keeping score" against our enemies. Forgive us, Father, for the MESS we've made. Thank you that Your word proclaims that forgiveness ought to be offered seventy times seven and that You are a God of second chances. Thank You that You have chosen to erase the scoreboard so that our slates are clean! Teach us, Father, how to be better stewards of the gifts You've provided us with. Help us to not take another breath for granted. Thank you for Your unwavering grace and mercy! We are NOT worthy! Amen.

1 John 1:9 (NLT)
"But if we confess our sins Him, He is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong."

Finding JOY in the JOurneY,

The Silence

I just love my morning quiet time with God. Many of you who know me - know that I really don't do "quiet" well - so this has always been a slight challenge for me. It may be my A.D.D. or something - but I have a real hard time being still... and... well... quiet. But my mornings with God are so RICH that I yearn for this time daily to hear from Him.

I've learned to keep a journal over the last few years so that I can write down things that God is revealing to me during my quiet times. And it's been an amazing experience.

A couple days ago God really got my attention about something I've struggled with for a long time, and that's the Silence of God. If you're a Christ follower you probably know what I'm talking about. You've been praying about something, for a long time, and it seems like He's just silent. You're not hearing the word no, and you're not hearing the word yes... in fact, you're just not hearing anything at all.

I've gone through countless times in my life when I LONGED to hear from God and He chose to remain... silent. And it wasn't pleasant.

There are times when my husband and I get into disagreements about something. And sometimes, these "disagreements" turn into heated debates. It happens to us all, right? Words are exchanged that are unloving and before you know it - a disagreement over a very silly issue has exploded into something far bigger than either of us anticipated.

My husband is the "calmer" spouse. I would say he's probably more "rational" than me and certainly goes out of his way to avoid conflict. Me, on the other hand, I am the "over-reactor", the one who's more "bull-headed" and enjoys a spicy debate every now and then. When I get upset - I"m often ready to tackle the issue at hand, whereas he tends to push it off until we've had time to cool down.

He's much wiser than me.

So it's no doubt that his avoidance of certain situations during a heated debate are... well... frustrating. Sometimes when I'm defending my side, all I really want is for him to defend his side. When I raise my voice to convince him as to why he should see it my way - often my desire is for him to raise his voice to convince me as to why I should see it his way. Debaters are funny this way. Sometimes, we just want you to RESPOND in SOME way - ANY way so that we know you've heard us.

I think sometimes God is like that. He's the calmer one. He's more rational. And sometimes... He chooses to be silent.

Isaiah 55:8 says, "'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways', declares the Lord."

God doesn't think like we think. His ways are not the same as our ways and certainly His timing in answering our prayers is different than our timing.

2 Corinthians 6:2 says, "'At just the right time I heard you. On the day of salvation I helped you'."

AT JUST THE RIGHT TIME. God's time.

Make no mistake about it - He hears you.

He hears your cries for a job.
He hears your prayers for a sick parent.
He hears your plea for a baby.
He hears your petitions for a spouse.

He hears you. He knows the desires of your heart. And He's going to answer your cries. But sometimes, He chooses to be silent for a little while because His ways are not our ways and His power is not limited by our time frames and deadlines.

Here are the words I wrote in my journal the other day concerning the silent seasons of my own life. I pray that you consider them as encouragement during the silent seasons of your own life.

"Dear God, thank you for the silence. It forces us to...

...come in closer to you
...bend our ear to listen better
...sit before you with our knees bent - eyes fully focused on you
...sit upon your lap and BEG for you to speak.

Amen."

Finding JOY in the JOurneY,

Prayer Request

My heart is heavy this morning for a woman I don't even know. For a family I've never met. Her name is Joanne Heim. And even though I don't know her, I do know that she needs our prayers. In fact, she needs a miracle.

I've seen the request for prayer on many of the blogs that I follow including Angie over at Bring The Rain. It appears that Joanne had a stoke a couple days ago. Her daughter found her after she'd collapsed and was seizing on the basement floor. She has significant brain swelling and needs as many prayers as possible!

You can check out Joanne's site here... her husband is updating the blog as new information is available.

Thank you friends!

Step Into The Water

I was studying in my quiet time the other morning and I ran across something that spoke so deeply to my heart that I wanted to share it with you.

This particular lesson was entitled, "Step Into the Water". It started out with this... "Be bold and willing to move when God directs - even it the "water" (your different circumstance) has not parted yet."

Here is my own, personal reflection...

Joshua was Moses' assistant who took over the leadership of Israel. Joshua was 90 years old when Moses died and passed his baton of leadership over to him.

First of all - imagine for a moment being Joshua. Moses was considered to be the greatest of all the Old Testament prophets, one in whom the Lord knew intimately. My Bible commentary says, "Not until John the Baptist was there another prophet greater than Moses." Can you even imagine being Moses' successor??? Can you even imagine for a second trying to fill THOSE shoes??? WOW!

To top it all off... Joshua's very first assignment as told in Joshua 1, was to lead God's people across the Jordan River to the land that was promised to them.
God was leading Joshua and the Israelites to overtake Jericho which was west of the Jordan River, a river which flowed heavily with water. And even though he was quite certainly scared, God promised him that "everywhere you go, you will be on the land I have given you" (1:3). Joshua, even though he MUST have been overwhelmed by the task put in front of him, had the promise of God to carry with him. Joshua 1:5 says, "No one will be able to stand their ground against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you." I don't think it's a coincidence that the Lord says THREE times between verses 6 and 9 in chapter 1, "Be strong and courageous". THREE times. You think He was trying to get his attention about something? I don't know about you - but MANY times I need God to tell me something three times before it finally sinks in! Shamefully, sometimes more than that!

We go on to read about the success that Joshua had in leading the Israelites across the Jordan River. The priests were given instruction to, "Lift up the Ark of the Covenant and lead the people across the river"(3:6). And so they started out. Joshua explained what was going to happen next, "The priests will be carrying the Ark of the Lord, the Lord of all the earth. When their feet touch the water, the flow of water will be cut off upstream, and the river will pile up there in one heap" (3:13).

I want to stop there for a minute and consider the fear that these priests must have had. A new leader, new territory and now you want us to have enough faith to risk our lives by getting into the water?! I can hear them now trying to make excuses for why staying home and watching a little football seemed like the safer choice! But - that was not God's plan and that's not what happened. We read on about the priests obedience and the sacrifice they made for the higher calling from God. We read about the fulfillment of God's promise to Joshua in chapter 3, verses 15-16, "Now it was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the River's edge, the water began piling upstream, and the water below that point flowed on to the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry." Then the people crossed over near the city of Jericho.

There are many lessons in this story of Joshua leading the people across the Jordan River. Lessons on faith, obedience and trust. But there is something else I think God wants me to learn here. It wasn't until the priests put their feet into the water that is parted. It wasn't until the priests took that first step of faith... stepping into a rapid flow of water... that the water finally stopped flowing and temporarily dried up allowing the people to cross and ultimately God's promise to be fulfilled.

I believe the same promise that was made to Joshua is the same promise God's making to us! He will be with us. He will not abandon us!

It got me thinking... What is it that God is calling me to do for Him that seems a bit frightening? What am I doing right now in my life that requires THIS kind of faith? Joshua faith? What am I so afraid of? Perhaps God is calling me to TAKE that first STEP of obedience so that He can part the waters in my life!

My lesson furthered my thinking on this... "Is God asking you to do something beyond your abilities and comprehension? Maybe you see only the waters ahead. Step out in faith if He is leading you to move. He will part the waters to accomplish His assignments. Future generations will be blessed because of your faithfulness to trust in God's provision in your life." (Chris Adams)

I've been thinking about those first steps and what they might be in my own life...

Maybe God is asking me TRUST Him more with what is His anyway.
Maybe my first step is believing that He is who He says He is and He can do what He says He can do.
Maybe my first step is strengthening my prayer time.
Maybe my first step is saying no to some things so that I can say YES to the bigger things God has for me.
Maybe my first step is letting go of the things I hold so tightly to and allowing God full control of not just some of the areas of my life - but ALL of them.

There are so many first steps that we can take. If God is leading - then we have to be willing to move. The ball is in our court.

What step will we take toward the amazing things God has in store for each of us? How will we respond to His instruction to step out into the flowing waters and trust Him with the rest?

God is waiting on you... what's your first step of faith?

Incidentally... after Joshua fulfilled his assignment of leading the Israelites, Joshua's glory day came... Joshua 4:14, "That day the Lord made Joshua great in the eyes of all the Israelites, and for the rest of his life they revered him as much as they revered Moses." WOW! Being obedient to God is worth it! It may not always bring this type of glory and that's okay.. it's not man's approval we seek anyway - it's God's. After my race is run I pray that God will be so pleased by me that I might hear... "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" (Matt. 25:23)

Press on friends,

Sun Stand Still Book Review

Wow! I just finished an AMAZING book! It's entitled Sun Stand Still, written by Steven Furtick. Steven is the lead pastor of a church called Elevation in Charlotte, N.C. The book is a MUST READ for anyone willing to step out in faith and ask God for the impossible.

This book challenges readers to consider living with what he calls Audacious Faith. It's explained this way... "What you consider possible for your life will expand beyond anything you've ever imagined. Radically, suddenly and irreversibly."

The book is based around and Old Testament story that we all know probably from Sunday School "back in the day". The story is of Joshua tucked away in Joshua 10 and tells about this type of audacious faith. "As the chapter opens, we read that five opposing Amorite armies were planing to attack. Having decided to strike first, Joshua led the entire army toward the Amorites on an all-night march. Sometime during that march, God spoke to Joshua. He told him, 'Do not be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of them will be able to withstand you.'" "Victory wasn't complete, and once it got dark the rest of the Amorites would slip away... but Joshua was determined to fight on." There's more to the story that I am leaving out, but what's most important to this section of the book is that Joshua wasn't like most people. He realized that the enemy must be destroyed and even though the sun was going down - he was determined to keep fighting until he won. This is where his audacious faith began. As the book reads, "Joshua sized up the situation, summoned all his available courage, and delivered one of the most gloriously unorthodox prayers in the entire bible:

'O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.' (verse 12)

Joshua had the audacity to ask God to make the sun actually stand sill... to freeze time on behalf of his people. And guess what? God did just that:

'The sun stopped in the middle of the sky and delayed going down about a full day. There has never been a day like it before or since... Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!' (verses 13-14)

I'm telling you that I believe this single book has the potential to change the way we look at our faith, our prayer life AND the amazing plans God has for our lives!

Here are some my personal favorites. I'll admit there's a LOT. I think I highlighted more in this book than in any other book I own and I guarantee it will be re-read over and over again. I hope you enjoy...

"If you're not daring to believe God for the impossible, you're sleeping through some of the best parts of your Christian life."

"If the size of your vision for your life isn't intimidating to you, there's a good chance it's insulting to God."

"If you want to experience God's blessings, audacious faith is not optional."

"Accomplishing the impossible is all about seeing the invisible."

"When God speaks, He does not stutter."

"How would your general outlook shift if you woke up every morning, not just to a to-do list, but to goals and activities that flowed from your vision?"

"Extraordinary moves of God begin with ordinary acts of obedience."

In regard to God igniting a vision in you... "Stop waiting around for the big bang. Pay attention to the subtle clues and the still, small voice (of God). God lives in that place too."

"If God is calling you to make a big difference, he usually starts in a small way - a flaming bush that only you will notice."

"God longs to pour out on all of us if only we'll get serious about using everything we've got for His glory."

"But when you give all you've got for the cause of the One who gave it to you in the first place, the effects of your investment will literally reach the heavens."

"Before you swim out any further, be sure that God is the One leading you out into the deep waters."

"A lot of times, out greatest fears are rooted in personal insecurities. The perspective of faith enables us to see who we truly are in Christ. God is on our side. Through Jesus, we are righteous. We are cleaned. We're accepted."

"Audacity isn't the absence of uncertainty and ambiguity. Audacity is believing that God's promise is bigger than my perhaps."

"Hearing from God is terrifying. If He wrote His will in the sky with fire, and airlifted you through the clouds to the completion of your assignment, obedience would be natural. But then faith wouldn't be necessary, would it?"

"When you reflect on God's vision for your life, you should be overwhelmed."

"The great things God will do through you are going to grow in the soil of persistence, obedience, and sacrifice."

"Before God can bring His promises to pass in your life, He has to strip away all the stuff that keeps you from trusting Him wholeheartedly."

"When God takes something or someone out of your life, He's just clearing space on your hard drive for an upgrade."

"The key to unlocking your audacity is not to take the most bizarre risk you can think of, then blame the outcome on God. The key is getting a clear and correct view of God, believing that God is actually who He says He is. And that He can do what He says He can do."

"I've noticed that most of us don't have a hard time believing that God's grace is real - we just have a hard time believing that it's really available to us."

"Many people would say God can still use you despite your failures. I want to take it a step further. God's grace is so audacious that He will use the failure itself to show off just how capable He is."

"Nothing you've ever done is so repulsive that God can't redeem your potential and love you through it."

"Audacious faith does not guarantee a crisis-free life. But audacious faith does enable you to seize the opportunity to see God's glory in the midst of every crisis in your life."

"The glory of God often shines the brightest when the sun goes down... and we keep our eyes on Jesus anyway."

"You'd never see how strong God is if there were no opponent for Him to overcome in your life."

"God didn't send Jesus to throw in the towel and call off all our fights. God sent Jesus to step into the ring and fight our battles."

"Sometimes God lets the sun go down so that He can be our only light."

"Maybe the greatest Sun Stand Still prayers God will answer over the course of your life will be the audacious prayers of faith you pray for others."

"If you're going to have the audacity to ask God for something, you'd better be ready to act!"... "No wonder so many of our prayers aren't answered. We pray for a miracle, but we fail to make a MOVE!"

"Hope is a desire. Faith is a demonstration. Hope wants it to happen. Faith causes it to happen and acts as if it's already done."

"Vision begins when you hear the sound of God's voice speaking something to your heart."

"What God has done among us is so big that there's nobody to blame but Him!"

Now.. go. Get the book. You won't be disappointed!




http://www.amazon.com/Sun-Stand-Still-Happens-Impossible/dp/1601423225/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1293473228&sr=8-1

Monday Moments with God

So... I am starting something new on my blog. It's called Monday Moments with God.

I have been abundantly blessed with such wonderful people in my life who have prayed for me. I mean, diligently prayed for me. I have felt these prayers through some of the darkest hours of my life... and I have appreciated their petitions to God on my behalf more than I can ever say.

So... I'm choosing to give back.

I've chosen to designate Monday as the day that I will pray for YOU! I find it an honor and a privilege to be able to serve this way and will pray for any and all requests that I receive.

Now - this doesn't mean that the only day I'm going to pray for others will be on Monday... please know that I am in prayer DAILY... however, I want to provide a way for my friends and followers, to be able to share their hearts with me. You may submit a prayer request by one of the following ways:

Comment on my facebook page

Comment here on my blog

Email me (wbender73@yahoo.com)

Thank you for allowing me to partner with God on your behalf. Again, I consider it an honor and privilege to PRAY for you.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Prayer Needed

I ran across this link through a blog I follow a couple days ago and I have felt burdened to pray for this family.





Mark Lamberth was in a dirt bike accident on Saturday afternoon, December 13. It appears that the damage to Mark’s brain is severe and irreversible, but his family and friends are praying for a miracle.

You can read more about his condition through the blog that was created for him here.

Will you join me in prayer for this family? I don't know them, but God certainly does and they need as many prayers as we're willing to give.