P.S. Another late arrival
on the blog page that was languishing in my Drafts Folder. However, it's still timely because prayer is always, well, fitting!
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Do you think God is at work in your life? Have you ever felt His hand on your shoulder or His breath on your cheek?
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Do you think God is at work in your life? Have you ever felt His hand on your shoulder or His breath on your cheek?
I
*know* that God is working in my life. This weekend was another example
of the awesome way He works in our lives and answers our prayers.
We’re making plans to move back to the Midwest which means selling our home in WV.
We’re making plans to move back to the Midwest which means selling our home in WV.
Monday
last week, the realtor came over and we signed on to have him sell our house.
Tuesday he came to take pictures. Thursday our house went
"live" on the MLS.
Between
Friday evening and Sunday afternoon, we had FIVE showings of our home.
And Sunday evening, the realtor came over to present FOUR offers that came
POURING in.
There
have been other times in our life ~ life-changing times, head scratching times
~ when we have turned it over to Him, and all we can do is just sit back in
slack-jawed, open-mouthed amazement at the way God works these things out.
Years ago we were contemplating a move from Washington (the state)
to Wisconsin. We prayed with the children the night before we flew out
for hubby's interview, "Please God, let us know in a big way if this is
the thing you want us to do."
I
read something recently about miracles. Jesus did miracles for people who
had problems. Who
came to Him for help. Who trusted that He would help them. He
didn't do miracles for the boastful or the arrogant or the unbelievers.
Within a two-hour window, my hub was offered the job { boom! } AND
our offer on a home was accepted { Boom! } AND our home back in Spokane had not
one but TWO offers ABOVE our asking price. { BooM! }
He
was letting us know in an undeniably BIG WAY: Yes, this is what I want
you to do! He said--and meant it--"I will be with you."
It
STILL blows my mind, "Look what God is doing in our
lives," gives me goose bumps, makes shivers go up and down my
spine.
Think about it. The God who created the entire UNIVERSE (!!!) can and will take an active role in >>your<< life. You. The girl you see in the mirror every morning.
Think about it. The God who created the entire UNIVERSE (!!!) can and will take an active role in >>your<< life. You. The girl you see in the mirror every morning.
There
are three answers to our prayers: { YES! } and { No. } and { Not now, dear one.
}
We
don't always get the answer we (think we) want. That doesn't mean God
isn't listening. I assure you, that's not true. He listens and He
hears every time we pray. Every word we say. Even when we're so
confused we can't string two sensible syllables together. The groanings
of a believer's heart--He totally gets that.
Sometimes the { No } ends up
being the best thing that ever happened in your life. Doesn't look that
way to begin with, but that's where TRUST comes in. You don't see
the whole picture the way God does.
When we
got married, I looked forward to having babies—expected it would be no time at
all till we had a full quiver. I prayed
fervently to get pregnant with a baby girl.
I was pretty specific; I had this vision of pink frills & ruffles
& lace. (Remember I grew up with
five brothers—so didn’t have much pink frilly stuff growing up!)
After five
years and no babies we decided to adopt waiting foster children. Two boys (ages 10 & 11) joined our
family. We had one day to prepare for
their arrival. We were by then exploring
what might be preventing us from getting preggers—but nothing showed up on any
of the tests. Three years later we added
two more children (boy 9, girl 6) and were very happy with our growing
family.
Our oldest son once asked how old Mom & Dad would be when the youngest graduated from high school, so we figured it out: 42 & 43 years old. Hmmm. We joked that we’d sell the house & all our belongings and buy a motorhome & travel the country. Our daughter would graduate in 2000, and we’d be footloose & fancy-free. Sounded like fun.
Just a few months later, I found out I was pregnant—the same day that I was offered a teaching job in northwestern Montana. What?! And they wanted me to be head-coach of the high school girls’ volleyball team. Are you kidding?
I turned down the job, because I couldn’t imagine all that AND a new baby. A few days later I had a miscarriage. My heart was broken, devastated beyond words but after all those years of waiting I was THRILLED that I had FINALLY gotten pregnant! A glimmer of hope!
My mother-in-law encouraged me to contact the school to find out if the job was still available. It was—we moved (again) and boy-oh-boy, that first year of teaching and coaching was incredible. Summer vacation came along, and almost to the day—found out I was pregnant again! Incredible.
This time I prayed for a healthy pregnancy and secretly hoped for a baby girl, so I was briefly disappointed when I saw the ultrasound—but then rejoiced to see my son wiggling around joyously! Oh the love, the love, the love!
He brought so much delight to our lives, and when he was only 13 months old, I found out I was preggers again—no kidding. A decade of barrenness and suddenly I was pregnant a THIRD time—unbelievable. Anyone who knew me and how much I longed for a little girl was surprised when I told them I now wanted another little boy so they could be buddies the way my five brothers are friends. And what a wonder, God answered that prayer!
Our little boys were four and six years old when I got pregnant again. When anyone asked me what I wanted—boy or girl—I told them I wanted a healthy human baby, no kittens or puppies, just a healthy baby. So what a wonder and blessing when our daughter was born.
The bossy, know-it-all “prayers” from 17 years earlier were NOW answered. And then I realized what a BLESSING it was that God did NOT listen to me when I was ordering Him around.
He knew—all those years earlier—that there would come a time in my life when I would be going through ovarian cancer and would need a lovely daughter by my side, to give me back rubs and friendship, to be my joy and delight.
If God had listened to me, my daughter would’ve long before been gone from home. Instead here she was—at JUST the right time—just as God knew all along.
When I reflected on God’s “long-range planning” done on my behalf, I was humbled and ashamed of my bullying and selfishness. And amazed, too! Once again—AGAIN!—I am a witness to God working everything out. What once looked like a { No } was simply my Abba saying { not right now, Dear Deb }.
It is a challenge at times, when we are faced with difficulties or sorrow, to see the actual blessing that may be a ways off, distant, or even “not on the horizon” . . . but IF we say we believe God when He says “your times are in My hands”, then we must TRUST in His timing.
The other half of this whole issue is believing that even in bad times, there is some good that will be worked. Our whole thinking is very self-centered, that if we don’t get what we want, (1) God isn’t listening, (2) God isn’t very smart, (3) God doesn’t care, (4) then I’ll do my own thing outside of God’s will for me. And when we do THAT, then we whine & moan when consequences roll over us and our families.
My advice: wait on God’s plan. He DOES have a plan—better than your frail little human mind can conceive, dear friend. Way better!
If you're not feeling God's hand on your shoulder, perhaps it's time to review the path you're on. How far away have you wandered? If you think God is silent, maybe you're ignoring His answer. Could it be that you're wresting control from Him thinking you know better than He what's right?
Our oldest son once asked how old Mom & Dad would be when the youngest graduated from high school, so we figured it out: 42 & 43 years old. Hmmm. We joked that we’d sell the house & all our belongings and buy a motorhome & travel the country. Our daughter would graduate in 2000, and we’d be footloose & fancy-free. Sounded like fun.
Just a few months later, I found out I was pregnant—the same day that I was offered a teaching job in northwestern Montana. What?! And they wanted me to be head-coach of the high school girls’ volleyball team. Are you kidding?
I turned down the job, because I couldn’t imagine all that AND a new baby. A few days later I had a miscarriage. My heart was broken, devastated beyond words but after all those years of waiting I was THRILLED that I had FINALLY gotten pregnant! A glimmer of hope!
My mother-in-law encouraged me to contact the school to find out if the job was still available. It was—we moved (again) and boy-oh-boy, that first year of teaching and coaching was incredible. Summer vacation came along, and almost to the day—found out I was pregnant again! Incredible.
This time I prayed for a healthy pregnancy and secretly hoped for a baby girl, so I was briefly disappointed when I saw the ultrasound—but then rejoiced to see my son wiggling around joyously! Oh the love, the love, the love!
He brought so much delight to our lives, and when he was only 13 months old, I found out I was preggers again—no kidding. A decade of barrenness and suddenly I was pregnant a THIRD time—unbelievable. Anyone who knew me and how much I longed for a little girl was surprised when I told them I now wanted another little boy so they could be buddies the way my five brothers are friends. And what a wonder, God answered that prayer!
Our little boys were four and six years old when I got pregnant again. When anyone asked me what I wanted—boy or girl—I told them I wanted a healthy human baby, no kittens or puppies, just a healthy baby. So what a wonder and blessing when our daughter was born.
The bossy, know-it-all “prayers” from 17 years earlier were NOW answered. And then I realized what a BLESSING it was that God did NOT listen to me when I was ordering Him around.
He knew—all those years earlier—that there would come a time in my life when I would be going through ovarian cancer and would need a lovely daughter by my side, to give me back rubs and friendship, to be my joy and delight.
If God had listened to me, my daughter would’ve long before been gone from home. Instead here she was—at JUST the right time—just as God knew all along.
When I reflected on God’s “long-range planning” done on my behalf, I was humbled and ashamed of my bullying and selfishness. And amazed, too! Once again—AGAIN!—I am a witness to God working everything out. What once looked like a { No } was simply my Abba saying { not right now, Dear Deb }.
It is a challenge at times, when we are faced with difficulties or sorrow, to see the actual blessing that may be a ways off, distant, or even “not on the horizon” . . . but IF we say we believe God when He says “your times are in My hands”, then we must TRUST in His timing.
The other half of this whole issue is believing that even in bad times, there is some good that will be worked. Our whole thinking is very self-centered, that if we don’t get what we want, (1) God isn’t listening, (2) God isn’t very smart, (3) God doesn’t care, (4) then I’ll do my own thing outside of God’s will for me. And when we do THAT, then we whine & moan when consequences roll over us and our families.
My advice: wait on God’s plan. He DOES have a plan—better than your frail little human mind can conceive, dear friend. Way better!
If you're not feeling God's hand on your shoulder, perhaps it's time to review the path you're on. How far away have you wandered? If you think God is silent, maybe you're ignoring His answer. Could it be that you're wresting control from Him thinking you know better than He what's right?
"For I know the plans I have for you--
plans to prosper you and not to harm you
plans to give you hope and a future.
Then you will call upon Me
and come & pray to Me,
and I will listen to you.
You will seek Me and find Me
when you seek Me with all your heart.
I will be found by you," declares the Lord.
Jeremiah 29:11-14 NIV
Reflect on the course of events in your
life. Develop a thankful attitude even
when things appear to be out-of-control and sorrow knocks at your door. Live what you believe.
QUESTION: How has God answered your prayers?
You might enjoy these somewhat related (and entertaining) posts:
Plans? God Has One! Save the Towels! Save the Dishes!
QUESTION: How has God answered your prayers?
You might enjoy these somewhat related (and entertaining) posts:
Plans? God Has One! Save the Towels! Save the Dishes!
